Free Geoducks Are for Lovers by Daisy Prescott Page B

it for a while, he moved on to the next hunt.”
    “He never cheated on me, Selah. I know he had many flaws, but infidelity wasn’t one of them. His career became more important. Chef’s hours aren’t conducive to a happy home life. We hardly ever saw each other.” 
    “I’m not saying he did cheat. His crimes were taking you for granted and his despicable mother.”
    “You have no idea. She would send baby presents to us. Subtlety wasn’t her forte.” Maggie puts down her fork, completely without an appetite to finish her salad.
    “Ugh. Horrible, horrible woman.” Selah shakes her head, and then finishes her bagel.
    “Why all the talk about Julien and Madame Armand?” 
    Selah picks up a caper from her plate. “I’m trying to figure out why you’re cloistering yourself away. You’re gorgeous, smart, successful, sexy… want me to go on?”
    “Who’s cloistered? I’m not cloistered. As you pointed out, I have a hot neighbor who you think is ready and able at any time. I haven’t felt like myself for the last few years, so dating hasn’t even occurred to me. John is a good friend, and I don’t want to ruin the friendship with sex.” Maggie feels they are getting dangerously close to a sensitive subject.
    “I’m fine, Selah. I swear. Spinster life suits me.” Maggie jokes, hoping to lighten the mood.
    “But that’s the thing. You aren’t a spinster. You shouldn’t act like one. Find someone to have sex with. Nothing better for your mind, body and spirit than an orgasm with another person.”
    Maggie tries to remember the last time she had sex. It was definitely before she moved back here. Or shortly after. Wait… has it been three years since she’s had sex? Ugh. Selah is right, she does need to get laid, but she isn’t going to admit this to her. 
    “I’m fine. I swear.”
    “Have sex. You’ll feel better. Have sex with Gil. He seems willing and ready.” Selah teases.
    “Ha ha, now I know you are joking.”
    “I’m not joking. You and Gil have a great sexual energy. Always have. Well, until the French Incident. I think even after you met Julien, but you buried it under a mound of camembert.”
    Distracted by the image of a giant pile of cheese, she ignores Selah’s point.
    “All I’m saying, and I’m saying this with love, is I don’t want to watch you hide your life away on the beach. Love more, laugh more.”
    “You sound like a greeting card.”
    “Shoot me now. I can give you this whole speech again sans the treacle if you want.”
    “Nah, it’s okay. I get the point. No hiding, get laid.” 
    “In a nutshell, yes. Ding ding ding… we have a winner.” Selah fakes enthusiasm.
    “With the discussion of my non-existent sex life over, how about we go pick blackberries?”
    “Will said berries be turned into delicious carbs? Cause if no one is going to get laid this weekend, we might as well eat all the carbs.”
    * * *
    When Maggie parks in the small, gravel area on the side of the narrow road, Selah’s face is full of doubt.
    “Is this even legal? I don’t want to get arrested for stealing berries.” 
    “Completely legal. I know the people who own the land.” She hands Selah a plastic tub with a long loop of string through the top she pulled from the trunk of the car.
    “What do you want me to do with this?”
    “Put the string around your neck, so both hands are free to pick and eat berries.” Maggie puts her tub around her neck to demonstrate. 
    Selah shakes her head in disbelief. “Remind me why we’re doing this again?” 
    “Because this is a good reminder of how much work goes into picking berries. You won’t complain about the price next time you buy them at Whole Foods,” Maggie says, walking toward the far end of the berry bramble.
    “This could get tedious fast.” Selah eats a berry.
    “Less eating, more picking. So, since we established I have no sex life, let’s talk about who you’re having sex with these days.”
    Selah sighs. “No