ATONEMENT by S. W. Frank

talk and he ’d see where it led. If they clicked maybe he’d consider the fucking part. “Have a drink with me ,” he grinned , when she beamed excitedly he added , “and dinner if you’re hungry. Let someone wait on you for a change, how about it?”
    Sonia smiled, “Tu esposa, how will she feel about it?”
    Alfonzo’s grin widened, “Isn’t it how you’ll feel about it that matters?”
    The double-entendré brought a knowing smile to Sonia’s lips. Alfonzo hadn’t lost his touch with the ladies. She scurried to clock out then joined him for dinner and several drinks. During the evening he found the conversation wasn’t particularly stimulating or partially substantive. He learned she lived alone, had no interest in going to college, liked her waitressing job because she got big tips, she’d done some modeling, swim-suits mainly, her hobby consisted of going to clubs and partying with friends. Party-girl, social-diva is actually how she described herself. He drank too much, while listening to her talk about herself. Funny, he thought, eight years ago he might have thought her hot and interesting. She did have nice eyes, though. He focused his attention there, “Where do you live?”
    “On Cinco calle .”
    Convenient, a nice stroll of three blocks. “Let me walk you home.”
    “Sure.”
    The upscale restaurant not only served great food , but also complimentary condoms in the men’s restroom . He’d grabbed a few from the ornate soap dish, just in case!
     
     
                                             
     
                                               ***
     
     
    Sonia’s one bedroom apartment was cramped, filled with bulky furnishings more suitable for a house. He sat on the floral sofa. It was comfortable and he sort of sank there like a marshmallow, watching through sleepy eyes as she excused herself and went to the bathroom. He tried calling forth the old Alfonzo, the one who’d slept with countless women , stayed detached and split immediately after the sexual act. Strange, he didn’t emerge and what’s more strange was the enormous guilt he experienced being there. He thought to leave but he was beat. His head fell backward on the cozy little couch and Alfonzo conked out.
    A buzzing against his thigh brought him awake. Groggily, his eyes tried to focus and he cleared his throat while reaching for the pesky metal bee inside his pant pocket.
    “Um, yeah…what?” He asked as he tried clearing the fog of sleep from his brain.
    “ Hun, is everything okay, I called the house and Anita said you hadn’t come home and weren’t answering your cell, what happened?”
    He was fully awake, now. Hell, he wiped his eyes, noticed he wasn’t home and stood, “Yeah…yeah…I’m good. I fell asleep at the office…”
    “ Bueno you’re up. I’m making French toast, you want some?” Sonia shouted from an adjoining room. 
    Alfonzo froze.
    ‘ I’m b usted !’
    Silence ensued; a very long uncomfortable nothingness. He didn’t say a word and Sonia stepped from behind the petition wall with a whisk in her hand, saw him on the phone, grimaced then mouthed ‘ sorry’ before tip-toeing away.
    Alfonzo’s face drew tight. He might’ve lied his way out of this had it not been for Sonia’s interruption but presently he was in no position to do anything except deal with the aftermath.
    Selange’s composure made him flinch, “Okay…go eat breakfast with your girlfriend and tell her your wife said thanks for feeding you. Bye!”
    That was it, an anti-climactic and sarcastic response then she hung up.
    He considered calling Selange back then changed his mind. He got busted in a lie, plain and simple. He had no justification or excuses for it. Besides, she was probably furious and who wouldn’t be. First, he had to get home, say good-morning to the children, change clothes then make an appearance at a shareholder’s