Shy Ethan
Natalie met Ethan at a neighborhood brewery.He was twenty-three, recently moved to Chicago, and so shy that he nearly left after realizing her husband was home.
Home and Guests
Stories that begin with a ring at the door.
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The Old Friend
Natalie’s college friend Elena came to stay for a long weekend after a difficult divorce.
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The Young Handyman
Anton was a young maintenance worker hired to repair shelving in our basement.
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Another Invitation
After a birthday party introduced Natalie to two men at once, we spent a week replaying the experience.
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The Neighbor in the Storm
A violent summer storm isolates our country house, bringing a drenched neighbor, a power outage, and an attraction that refuses to end with the rain.
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The Arranged Guest
A carefully arranged meeting with a complete stranger turns into the couple’s most deliberate and unnerving experiment.
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Movie Night on the Bed
A private movie night with a longtime friend turns into the first real test of the couple's new rules inside their own bedroom.
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The Emergency Repairman
A Saturday storm, a blackout, and an emergency repairman named Owen turn an ordinary service call into a night neither host will forget.