Perfect Partners

enough not to expect the earth to move. But she had been hoping for some increased sense of intimacy, a feeling of developing a stronger bonding with him.
    Tonight Letty realized that her most clear-cut memories of those few sputtering occasions in bed with Philip were mostly of his muffled grunts and groans. He had reminded her of a certain familiar barnyard animal at the feeding trough.
    For her part, she recalled only being grateful the entire process did not take very long.
    In reality the engagement had already ended in Letty’s mind even before she walked into Philip’s office a few weeks ago and found Gloria the grad student on her knees in front of him.
    “Philip, I don’t know why you’re calling, but I really wish you would hang up. I have things to do.”
    “We were having problems in our relationship,” Philip said, ignoring her protest with typical arrogance. “We should have faced those problems together. I should have helped you deal with them in a reasonable, mature fashion. I’ve been giving our situation a great deal of thought, and I’ve come to the conclusion that you need professional help, my dear.”
    “Professional help?”
    “Therapy,” Philip explained gently.
    “I don’t think counseling would do me much good, Philip.”
    “Nonsense. It’s just what you need to help you deal with your inability to respond sexually and your failure to achieve a climax.”
    Letty felt herself turning red with humiliation and anger. “Philip,
please
.”
    “I’d be happy to attend therapy sessions with you, of course. As I said, we’re a couple. We need to face these things together. In a way, I suppose one could say it’s my fault we’re in this situation. I should have insisted on the counseling right at the beginning when I first realized you needed help. Instead, I foolishly allowed my own frustration to build up to a flash point.”
    “I’m going to hang up now, Philip.”
    “Out of desperation, I took consolation where I could.”
    “Good-bye, Philip.”
    “Letty, in a way I did it for us.”
    “Good grief, Philip. You expect me to buy that?”
    “You must not hang up.”
    “Why?”
    “I told you, we’ve got to talk.”
    “I don’t like talking about our relationship, Philip. It’s too depressing.”
    “I understand that,” he said soothingly. “We’ll deal with it slowly. I realize you’re under a lot of stress at the moment because of your inheritance. Your friend Connie at the reference desk told me all about your great-uncle leaving you his company. She said you actually plan to run it personally.” Philip chuckled. “That’s quite a responsibility, Letty.”
    “Yes, it is, isn’t it? I’m hoping to use my new responsibilities as a form of sublimation. It’s cheaper than therapy.”
    Letty hung up the phone. She frowned, wondering what Philip had meant about her secretary failing to put through his calls. There had to be some mistake. She would worry about it tomorrow. Joel would be arriving at any minute.
    The doorbell chimed. Letty hurried out of the kitchen. She went down the short hall and opened the door to find Joel waiting with a bottle of champagne in his hand. The label was that of a Northwest winery that was unfamiliar to her.
    “Doesn’t smell like sushi,” Joel said.
    Letty relaxed and smiled back. It was going to be all right. He was here, and he was no longer annoyed with her. She felt inexplicably giddy and unaccountably nervous.
    “Just a little something I whipped up using green gelatin and lima beans,” she said glibly. “You can do the most amazing things with green gelatin. Add marshmallows and you’ve got dessert. Add some of that bacon-flavored cheese that comes in a tube and you’ve got hors d’oeuvres. And of course there’s just no limit to what you can do once you start working with hamburger and green gelatin.”
    Joel’s eyes narrowed. “I do believe you’re pulling my leg, Ms. Thornquist.”
    “I do believe I am, Mr. Blackstone. What I’ve actually got in the oven is lasagne made with some wonderful fresh spinach I found in the Pike Place Market on the way home.”
    “Sounds terrific. Why don’t I come on in and open the champagne?” Joel suggested gently.
    Letty realized she was blocking the doorway. She stepped back quickly. “Yes. Please. Come in.”
    “Nice place.” Joel’s eyes swept over the interior of the apartment, taking in the sweeping view of Elliott Bay.
    “Thanks.” Letty closed the door