The Spare Husband, a Short Story

Timing. Bad timing. Married too young, married before all the possibilities can be explored, Jack and Carol Bishop part ways but after the raw wounds heal become friends. Meanwhile, Jack maintains a perpetual letch for Lorna, Carol's bridesmaid. Years later he discovers she always felt the same about him. Bad timing: now she's married. Time had brought about another change in Carol's life, a second husband cut down prematurely, leaving a sadder, wiser and strangely more alluring widow. Jack's consoling takes a decidedly physical turn: now he can't get enough of Carol. She holds out for marriage and Jack, not getting any younger, accedes . . . only to learn Lorna's a free woman. Bad timing.