My "Another Love"

Yes, I DO have written permission from 'RichardGerald' to publish this version of his story.

Author's Note:

Since this is going into "Loving Wives," To any Trolls!!! :)

@@@We all know the only reason you're InCells, is because you're afraid of pussy.

To everybody else,

@@@So I learned about RichardGerald's "Another Love" from a comment on one of my stories from NickTee. So when I finally tracked down the original through the hundreds of variants out there, I was very interested. I saw that Richard has stated that he wanted to write the story of a man who internalized his feelings. And I think the story does a great job of that. He even does a great job of showing that love should be cherished. That it's special. Important.

@@@I -think- where the issue happens for most of us is the wife, Karen. She's just... Well, I didn't invent anything in this version. I just took what was in the original and took it in a natural direction... For me anyway.

Thank you.

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My "Another Love"

@@@I hate airports. My first time in an airport was when my parents dropped me off to join the Navy. The second was a few years later, when I came home for their funeral. That probably explains the dread I'm feeling right now, standing in O'Hare International Airport. I just got here and I REALLY don't want to do this but deep down, I know I need to.

@@@Being here... Well it's just not how I normally behave. I'm usually pretty mild, you know? But because of my wife, Karen, that fu... I take a breath. Then another, trying to calm myself. Last week I took my wife to the airport. Swore I'd miss her. Asked her to come back soon... Yeah...

@@@Karen and I have been married for 26 years. And I loved her madly - every - single - day of our marriage. I only wish the feeling had been reciprocated... Sorry, getting ahead of myself.

@@@We met not long after I got out of the Navy. God, she was gorgeous. She was working a public screening table for the Health Department and I had just failed my blood pressure test. Probably because a hot girl was handling my arm. I didn't have a lot of experience with girls at the time. And by 'not a lot' I mean, None.

@@@My nervousness led to me talking too much, which I think she thought was cute. And that led to lunches and dates and... some of the best days of my life. That led to marriage and a job at the local university and children and a house. A big house. "I don't want a big wedding, but a house would be nice." She said. Yeah. A four story mid-nineteenth-century Victorian row house. A fixer upper. It was a monster. But we did the work and eventually it was perfect. Our son Kevin grew up running laps through the place. We went to work, he went to school, sex was great and three years later we had another son, Oscar. I didn't think I could ever be happier.

@@@But then Postpartum Depression hit Karen like a hammer. I did what I could to help; tried to be there for her, for the kids. But eventually she had to go back to work. Not because of the money but because she needed to do something. Anything, other than just being. I understood and I hoped it worked. And after a year or so it did. She started bringing home various books on how to improve your sex life. Like, "The Joy of Sex" and several others. Our sex life got rekindled and she was back to her old self. Then Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait.

@@@It was 1990 and I was still in the Navy Reserves. I was called up. Karen was a mess but trying to hold it together. The kids were scared. Hell, I was scared but I had to make it through to get back to my family. It was tough but the year passed and I made it home. It took me a bit to get myself together. I worked the flight deck of an aircraft carrier. Men died within arm's reach of me. The experience left a mark.

@@@BUT, with Karen and the boys' help, I got through that too. Life got back to normal. The boys grew up and moved out, some faster than others. Oscar left for UCLA the minute he graduated highschool. But his older brother? Kevin? He took over the fourth floor, went to school at the local college and I wasn't sure if that kid would ever leave. But six months ago, after Grad school, he got a job in Chicago.

@@@We've been to see both of them a few times but honestly it's just awkward. They're grown men now and have their own lives. And we don't have anything in common anymore. So it's always a few days of us standing there not talking. Trying to figure out what we should say and feeling uncomfortable around each other. For me, I mean. Karen has NO problem. Those boys could talk to her about the health of inchworms and be interested. I guess I'm a little jealous of that but she IS their mother.

@@@Then a few weeks ago I came home and Karen was a wreck, grieving for her boys in this empty house. Or so I thought. I'd heard that "Empty Nesters" could hit pretty hard. She had plenty of vacation time, though I had a research project at the University I couldn't leave. So I told her she should go visit the boys. There was no reason why I had to be there anyway. So last week I took her to the airport and begged her to hurry home. That was on a Wednesday. Bastardized from the old Norse, Wooten's Day. Which is an ancient name for Odin... My mind's wandering. Trying to avoid the next part.

@@@It was Saturday... There was a knock at the door.

@@@When I opened the door I saw a small Asian woman standing there. She had on a pair of sexy high heeled black leather boots. With an expensive black dress suit over a gray silk blouse. She looked to be about fifty-two-ish but she wore it well. Something about her made me think of Karen. Something about the way they held themselves, I guess.

@@@"May I help you?" I asked.

@@@"Oui, I am seeking Karen." She was adjusting a large rectangular package, wrapped in brown paper. It was large enough for her to have leaned it against the railing.

@@@We spoke for a few moments, her name was Avril Du Monte. I explained that Karen was out of town but invited her in. I picked up her package for her and followed her into our front Parlor. From the way she moved I could tell she'd been here before. I sat the package on the love seat next to where she had placed herself. She requested some of my wife's favorite tea, Formosa Bai Hao. And once I returned with it and a soda for myself, I sat down in the wingback across from her.

@@@With a curious smile I asked, "Now, why don't you tell me what this is all about?"

@@@"You are as ruggedly handsome as Karen described you. I called this morning on a spur of the instant as I remembered that I had her portrait to deliver. I'm driving to New York for the discussions on Philippe's retrospective exposition at the Museum of Modern Art. I left a message in her mail, but perhaps she did not get it?" She said between sips of tea, as if I should know who Philippe was.

@@@"She left to see our children on Wednesday, I'm afraid. She should be in California, with our son Oscar right now." I told her.

@@@"Oh dear, I should have called sooner. I so wanted to see her hang it. I think it is one of Philippe's best works. Certainly the most lovingly done."

@@@I laughed a little, I'm not sure why. Maybe some sixth sense telling me I really didn't want to be here? But before I could say anything she had set her cup down and deftly untied the bow in one smoothe pull. The paper fell away and there she was. My wife. Karen.

@@@At first, I didn't know what I was looking at. I'm not an expert on art by any means, but I do have fond memories of going to museums with my parents. I do have a passing understanding of the artform. It made me think the artist was a fan of Rembrandt's, due to how his lighting had that golden glow that Rembrandt always had. My mind was trying to avoid the problem.

@@@In the picture, Karen was caught in the act of bending forward to recover her panties from her grandmother's vanity chair. She was completely nude and looked phenomenal. Even now I can admit that. From the green and gold wallpaper I could tell it was our bedroom, even if the vanity had not given it away. OUR - home. That we had bought with my Navy savings and my VA loan. In the bedroom we shared for the last 26 years. The painter had not missed the small suggestive smirk that she was so fond of. The smile that bid you come here and let's see what you got. He was good, probably great, and if it was any other woman? I wouldn't be on the verge of burning the thing! He had painted her with our unmade bed in the background. Avril took one look at me and her smile faded.

@@@"Oh, cherie, I thought you knew... After all, they lived together. They were lovers for years. Oh my god, how could you not know?"

@@@"How?!" I almost screamed. "She's lived with me for almost 30 years! That's our bedroom. With our wallpaper that we hung together. That's our bed!!!" I yelled.

@@@"I should go." She started to rise.

@@@"SIT!" I pointed.

@@@She quickly sat back down while I rubbed my face with both hands. I took in a DEEP cleansing breath and let it out slowly.

@@@"Who are you? How do you know my wife? And who - the - FUCK - is Phillipe?"

@@@Eventually she started talking. Avril's husband, Philippe Du Monte, was a painter. And in 1989 he was hired to restore six paintings vandalized on the South Mall. Shortly after Phil arrived, the affair started. He met Karen in the South Mall over lunch. He worked in the Museum building and she worked in the Tower building.

@@@"We were young and did not wish to miss anything, but mature enough to understand each other's needs." Avril told me.

@@@He traveled back and forth to Montreal, but spent most of his days and nights in Albany. Then, in the summer of 1990 he moved into my house with Karen. Avril visited on a number of occasions. She knew I was away and still married to Karen, but the reason was never explained. Karen took the boys to their home in Canada for Christmas that year. And the worst of all, she went back there to see him every - single - month for the last 20 years of our marriage.

@@@"I just assumed... She spoke of you lovingly and praised you as a husband and father. I understood that Philippe moved in because you could not be with her, and there were such small children... How could you not know?"

@@@I was deflated.

@@@"I didn't know, because she never told me." I sighed.

@@@And even then I thought. "And thank God, I didn't know when I was aboard the Eisenhower!" The thought of making it back to my loving wife and family was the only thing keeping me sane at the time.

@@@"She loves you dearly and with all her heart. Philippe was her second man, her petite passion, her older experienced lover. She did not have much experience. They were, as the saying goes, in love with being in love." She looked at me as if this should mean something.

@@@"You'll forgive me if I can't shrug off a 20 year betrayal, just because you're French." I sighed.

@@@Avril didn't seem to know what to say to that. But she went on to explain that Phil had died a few weeks ago. Heart Failure. He had expressed how he wished for Karen to have the painting and that is why she brought it.

@@@"When?" I asked. When I saw that she was confused by my question, I asked, "When did he die?"

@@@Once she told me the date I realized THAT was the day Karen had broken down. I thought it was "Empty Nester's Syndrome." Because I'm a fool.

@@@"It is magnificent, no?" She asked.

@@@I looked at the painting. "Oh, yes." I nodded. "He has captured the slut in all of her glory."

@@@Avril gasped, "No! No! You must understand theirs was a thing of beauty, innocent love. Please understand," She pleaded.

"There's nothing to understand." I shook my head. "She cheated on me for the last twenty years and she was -never- going to tell me."

@@@"This is all my fault." She almost whined.

@@@"No." I shook my head at her again. "YOU have made sure that I am no longer a fool. And I will always be grateful for that."

@@@"And the painting?" She asked. "It is very valuable. Please promise me that you will see it safely to Karen."

@@@"No." I laughed as I stood and walked to the picture of my whore. Avril started to lean over the picture as if to block me from it. "I'm not going to damage it." I laughed again. "It is a masterpiece. As much as I'd like to say otherwise, he really was a very talented artist." I gently pushed her back out of my way and rewrapped the picture in its protective paper.

@@@"What are you going to do, cherie?"

@@@I stood up and looked down at her. "-I- am going to go into my Den and drink an entire bottle of Johnny Black. But -YOU- and this painting, need to be gone by then. Because I don't know what I'm going to see as reasonable when I get to the bottom of that bottle."

@@@She nodded, there was nothing more she could say. I helped her store the damned thing in her car and saw her off. Then I went back inside and poured myself a triple.

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@@@I woke up in the morning on the lounger in our backyard, my head was killing me. At some point I had started drinking the scotch straight from the bottle. The corpsman in the Navy had told us liquor was a diuretic. Meaning it sucked water out of your system. The hangover is actually a dehydration headache, the same you'd get being trapped in the desert. I needed water. I sat up and unintentionally knocked the empty bottle of Johnny out of the way with my foot. The empty bottle skidded and skipped across the paving stones like it was laughing at me.

@@@I stumbled into the kitchen. Thankfully I was still dressed. More to the point, I still had my shoes on. Which was very relieving when I heard broken glass being crushed under every step I took. I didn't have time to think about it. I filled a glass with cold water and drank it slowly. After several minutes I refilled it and continued to sip it down.

@@@I was finally feeling good enough to look at what was going on with all of the broken glass on the floor. And then Ohhhhh... Her French Press, her floral teapot, her fine porcelain tea cups, her crystal wine glasses. And her coffee cups? If it was breakable and in the kitchen I must have smashed it.

@@@"Huh."

@@@There were also pictures missing from the kitchen walls. Prints and photos that she loved but none of them were smashed on the floor. So where were they? I kept sipping my water but made a pot of coffee. Maybe I should check the rest of the house?

@@@I walked into the dinning room. All of her china was smashed but where was her china cabinet? There was enough glass on the floor that I figured I probably slammed it over, smashing its glass panes. But where was the rest of it?

@@@I headed back to the kitchen and poured myself a cup of coffee. As I added cream and sugar I had the vague memory of a bonfire. And I think I was laughing between gulps of scotch. I took a sip of coffee as I walked to the back window. WOW. That's a big ash pile in the middle of my small backyard. But I found the china cabinet, one of its doors had survived enough for me to recognize it. Was that a box spring? From a bed? I sipped my coffee.

@@@Walking through the house I noticed the only things I destroyed were Karen's things. Photos of her and the boys? Gone. Photos of her parents, who were dead? Gone. "Drunk Rob" was a heartless bastard. I smiled as I sipped my coffee. Her mother's old fashioned loveseat, the one that Avril had sat on? Gone. As I walked upstairs I saw conspicuous vacancies of more photos and paintings that she had loved. Guess I know where they are now. Then I came to our bedroom.

@@@Our bed. The two side tables. Her grandmother's vanity!?! GONE! I laughed so hard I had to sit down on the floor, because there was no furniture in here anymore! Her dresser with all of her clothes was gone too. I climbed back to my feet and laughed my way to the closet. Yup, all of her designer clothes were gone. I hope she took her favorites with her to see our boys.

@@@I checked our bathroom and saw a scattered pile of various products dumped on the floor. It looked like I smashed or emptied out any skin creams, makeup or anything else that was hers. I seemed to have been trying to hit the toilet. But it looked like I missed just as many times as I hit. A few looked to be salvageable but I knew I'd be throwing them away when I had to clean this up. I guess "Sober Rob" wasn't much better than the drunk one.

@@@"I gotta get this cleaned up before I sell the house."

@@@My words stunned me. That Freudian slip was my first clue that I knew what I was going to do next. I nodded to myself and went back to the kitchen. Then my phone rang. When I pulled it out of my pocket I could see that it was my son, Kevin. 9:03 in the morning. Man, I really tied one on last night.

@@@"Hey, Kevin." I say as I accept the call.

@@@"Dad! Are you OK?!"

@@@"No."

@@@"... Where are you?" He asked.

@@@"I'm at home." I shrugged. "Where are you?"

@@@I heard him blurt out a small laugh. "I'm at home. Mom's worried, she says you wouldn't answer the phone."

@@@"I was asleep."

@@@"Oh... So, what are you doing now?"

@@@"Cleaning, you know."

@@@"Oh... Well, I'll let you get back to it. Talk to you later." He said.

@@@"Sounds good."

@@@And then he hung up. That was one of our better conversations. I checked my phone and saw that I had missed several calls from Karen and one from Oscar. I started cleaning up the kitchen. I had finished sweeping everything up and mopping when my phone rang again, it was Oscar.

@@@"Hey, Oscar." I actually felt myself smile.

@@@"Hey, Dad. I just got off the phone with Kevin, you OK?"

@@@"No."

@@@"Sorry! Sorry! Stupid question."

@@@I laughed... "You OK?" I asked.

@@@"Yeah, just worried about you and Mom. She really wants to talk to you."

@@@"Well, I'm sorry but that's not going to happen."

@@@"Dad. She's a wreck."

@@@"Oh, I don't doubt she's putting on a great show, but a wreck?.. I can't believe that."

@@@"But..."

@@@"Oscar!" I interrupted. "She's been carrying on a twenty year affair behind my back! A weekend every month she'd fly to Montreal to screw the guy."

@@@"Uhhhh... Wha...?"

@@@"And now I'm supposed to believe she's devastated?... I doubt it." I told him.

@@@"... I... did NOT know that." He said succinctly.

@@@"Yeah. So unless she can somehow talk her way into UNscrewing the guy? I'd rather not listen to any more of her lies."

@@@He sighed. "I'm sorry."

@@@I shook my head, not even thinking about how he couldn't see it. "You haven't done anything to be sorry for. I'M sorry you boys are caught in the middle of this. But for now, yeah. I have to get back to cleaning. I'll talk to you later. OK?"

@@@"OK. Talk to you soon."

@@@And then I hung up. I took in a deep breath and then got back to it. I spent all day that Sunday cleaning up the mess I had made. By sunset I had seven large bags of trash at the curb and the can was full. Along with the metal frames of the box spring, the mattress, the loveseat... Yeah, you get it. I would have to call the city for a bulk pick up tomorrow. I was exhausted, it had seemed like such a good idea last night when I was drunk.

@@@It just wasn't fair. She caused all of this and now she's got our boys to comfort her. What do I have? Our boys were more HER boys than mine. We hadn't been close since they were little... Why was that? And WHY couldn't I go see them? Not with her obviously, but still... I wanted to go upstairs and curl up into a ball. Just cry and not be bothered by anyone. But then... Yeah, she'll be rushing home to make it better. Making excuses and lie after lie just flowing out of her. And I'm just supposed to stay here and wait for that? So that at the end of it all I'll just agree to believe her crap? Again?

@@@I made myself some dinner and sat down with a pen and paper once I had finished my meal. I made a list of the things I needed to do. New bank account, Karen and I had our own but she had access to my account information just like I had hers. I'd prefer a new one at a different bank just to be safe. Tell the University I was taking a two week sabbatical to deal with a family emergency. Rent a storage unit for all of my things that I didn't want her to burn when she got home. Watch her credit card to see when she would purchase a ticket to come home. Rent a P. O. Box for any mail I didn't want her to see. Buy a burner phone for any calls I didn't want her to know about. Change the passwords for my emails and Bank account. Get tested for STDs!?!

@@@That last one had just occurred to me and it hit hard. She lied to me about Phil, how do I know she didn't lie to him about... whoever? All anger aside, I truly did NOT know where she had been.

@@@Checking the computer later that evening, I see that she's booked a flight that will bring her here by 9 a. m. Tuesday morning. I would prefer to have the purchase on my new bank account but there just isn't any time to waste. I'll have to risk that she won't be looking. In my favor is that she probably thinks I'm huddled in our bedroom crying myself to sleep. That would be my usual way of dealing with this sort of thing. But my usual way is part of how I wound up alone and hurt. Sooooo...

@@@In the morning I called the University president to let her know I was taking a leave for the next two weeks.

@@@"What happened?" She asked.

@@@I honestly couldn't think of a good reason to lie. "Karen's been cheating on me for the last two decades."

@@@".......... Oh my God, Robert... Is there anything I can do?"

@@@"Just save my job for me. I'll be back soon enough."

@@@"Absolutely. And uh,... take all the time you need."

@@@I bought a burner on my way to the rental place a few blocks away. Along with a combination briefcase for my laptop and burner. As well as anything else I didn't want Karen to have access to. I rented a small unit and went to the hardware store to pick up a padlock. I went to my bank and pulled out the few certificates I had invested in. They were only a few thousand dollars all together. But they, and 95% of my checking account, made for a very nice Cashiers Check. I canceled Karen's card to my account and took a short trip to a different bank. The Cashier's Check made opening a new account easy. Then I drove home and had an Uber take me to the U-haul place. It was almost depressing how quickly I had everything I cared about loaded into the van. Before long it was stored and locked up. The van was back with U-haul and before Karen had even boarded her flight? Me and my carry-on were on a plane to Chicago.

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@@@Which brings us back around to the dread I'm feeling standing in O'Hare International Airport. Kevin doesn't know I'm coming, which is probably for the best. I don't know what I did to make him so distant and yes, I AM secretly hoping it was something his mother did. But regardless of what the real reason is, we need to get passed it.

@@@Kevin opens the door a few moments after I knock. It's just me, standing there with my one large carry on hanging from my shoulder.

@@@"Dad?"

@@@"Hey, Kevin." I wave. "Can I come in?"

@@@"Um, yeah. Yeah, of course." "What are you doing here?" He asks as he closes the door behind us.

@@@I shrug as I wait for him to lead us into his home. "Thought it was long passed time you and I had a talk."

@@@He nods at me as we enter the kitchen. "Can I get you anything?"

@@@"Coffee?" I ask.

@@@He laughs. "Yeah, of course." I thank him when he hands me a cup, taking a moment to add sugar and cream. "Did you get a chance to talk to Mom yet?" He asks as he prepares his coffee.

@@@I shake my head at him. "What would be the point?" I look at him. "She's just going to lie again."

@@@"Dad." He says, exasperated.

@@@I smile a small laugh at him. "What?"

@@@"She loves you."

@@@"Does she?"

@@@"YES!" He tells me emphatically.

@@@I take a sip of coffee before asking, "How do you know?"

@@@Now he laughs. "Because I KNOW she does. She's loved you my whole life."

@@@"Huh... But -how- do you know?" I ask as I lean across the kitchen island toward him. He was shaking his head at me. Unable to come up with anything. "I'm sorry, Kevin but I need an answer. Because I have some pretty strong proof that she most certainly does NOT love me and probably never has. So what do you have?"

@@@He gave me a nervous laugh with more head shaking. "It's not that simple."

@@@"Sure it is. How do you know I love her? She's the only woman I've ever slept with."

@@@"That's not fair."

@@@"I'm not done." I replied calmly. "How do you know I love her? We bought and improved that house because that was all she ever wanted. How do you know I love her? Because I couldn't bear to go a day without at least a phone call from her... Shall I go on?"

@@@"No. And Mom loves you too."

@@@"Ah." I nodded and took another sip of coffee. "Let's do "How I know she doesn't love me."

@@@"No."

@@@"Oh, I'm afraid it's too late for that, son. Time for both of us to grow up, I think." When I saw that he had nothing to say, I continued. "How do I know she doesn't love me? Because she cheated on me for a year. While I was risking my life on an aircraft carrier for this country."

@@@"She was scared you were going to die. She needed someone."

@@@"That would sound better if she hadn't been sleeping with him for the entire year before I shipped out."

@@@"That's not true." He shook his head.@@@

@@@I shrugged. "Got it straight from Phil's wife. Why would she lie?"

@@@He licked his lips in thought. "Avril?" I nodded in reply as I took another sip of coffee.

@@@"How do I know she doesn't love me? Because she continued the affair with him, once a month, for the last twenty years."

@@@Kevin hung his head and nodded. "Yeah, Oscar told me." His eyes were starting to tear up when he looked at me. "I should have told you. You must be so angry with me." He almost cried.

@@@I grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze. "Hey, hey, this is not your fault. You were just a child."

@@@"I could've said something."

@@@I shook my head at him. "You were never supposed to be in that position. That's not the kind of secret a child is supposed to even know about."

@@@He walked to one of the kitchen drawers and pulled out cloth to dry his eyes. "Well, what choice did she have? She needed Phillipe's support and I was too old not to notice. So she had to ask me to keep it secret. She didn't want me to slip up and hurt you."

@@@"Sooo why didn't they just give him one of the several empty bedrooms in the house and claim he was a roommate?" Kevin's head slowly raised to look at me. "Say he was paying rent to help her with the bills? I mean, they were adults. They went to bed after you boys and got up before you. He could have slept with her the whole time and you never would have known. So, why did she NEED to burden a six year old child with this? Why did he HAVE to live in her bedroom?"

@@@I took another sip as I let that sink in. Yeah, Karen was THAT kind of selfish. I wasn't sure she loved anything other than herself.

@@@"Is that what caused the awkward distance between you and me?" I asked.

@@@"No." He laughed. "Not everything is Mom's fault."

@@@"Well, that's a shame. I was secretly hoping to hang this all on her." I smiled. "So what was the problem?"

@@@He shook his head in thought. "You were just never there."

@@@That surprised me. "You mean when I went to war?"

@@@"No, I mean..." He sighed. "Even when you were home, you weren't home. You were either reading, working on your computer or doing any number of things other than being with us."

@@@I had to think about that. "I'm sorry, Kevin. I didn't realize." I shook my head at him. "That's how my dad was with me. I guess I just thought, that's how fathers are supposed to be. I didn't know you wanted to spend more time with me... Why didn't you say anything?"

@@@He shrugged. "Part of it was how guilty I felt whenever I was around you."

@@@My eyes got bright as I pointed at him. "Ah hah!!"

@@@"Shut! - Up!" He laughed. "We would've had problems even without Mom's secret."

@@@"Yeah, probably. " I nodded.

@@@"So what do we do now?"

@@@I shrugged again. "We're not dead yet, so we work on this." I ended as I pointed back and forth from him to me.               We talked until it was evening and then we went to a local cafe that specialized in Chicago style pizza.

@@@We were stuffed. We managed to waddle our way home to play XBox until it was time to sleep. The next day Kevin had to go to work. While I spent my time taking in a few sites. I made sure to stop in to a local clinic and get a blood screening for STDs. I didn't believe Karen had given me anything but I wasn't going to risk it either. I made sure they had my new burner number, P. O. Box and a new e-mail I had created.

@@@I got home long before he got off work but entertained myself with a book. Right about the time he should have been home, I heard a knock at the door. When I answered it I saw a 5 foot 3 inches tall, flat chested white girl with brown hair and eyes. She was wearing jeans, black work boots and a black T-shirt that said "NOT Boring."

@@@"May I help you?" I asked.

@@@She smiled. "Hi, I'm Laura. I was looking for Kevin."

@@@"He's not home from work yet." She nodded in reply. "Are you a friend of his?"

@@@She nodded again. "Kind of, we take the same bus to work in the morning but we don't always catch the same one home."

@@@I was just thinking how she had a midwestern accent, when I noticed her just nodding at me.

@@@"And - you - are?" She inquired with great emphasis.

@@@"Oh! Sorry, I'm Robert." I said as I extended my giant meathook of a hand to shake hers.

@@@It took her a moment as we shook hands for recognition to set in. "Kevin's Father!"

@@@She looked far more relaxed once she had made the connection.

@@@"Did you want to come in and wait for him?"

@@@"Should a little girl like me really go into a house alone with "Man Mountain Mongo?"

@@@That took me back a step. Not literally, but I am a large man.

@@@"I wouldn't say "Mongo." I replied, trying to keep up with her devious smirk.

@@@"MmhmMmhm and once I'm in there, would we be having -tea- in your "secret" basement?" She did air quotes for the word secret.

@@@I tried not to laugh. "Would you prefer coffee?"

@@@"Ohhh." She smiled. "Why didn't you say that sooner? Lead on, fair Duff!" With that, I ushered her in and led her to the kitchen. Where I started pouring us some coffee. Yes, I am in fact addicted to the stuff. "Not quite the dungeon I was expecting." She commented as I handed her a cup.

@@@"Well, you'll have to forgive him. He's still decorating." I smiled. We spoke for a few more moments before I asked, "So, are you Kevin's girlfriend?"

@@@She grimaced and waggled her right hand at me. "Not really. We're in the early stages, "talking at the bus stop" but not to the "hanging out" part yet."

@@@"Ah." I nodded.

@@@Just then we heard the door open. "Hey, Pop! I'm home!"

@@@"I'm in the kitchen with Laura!" I called back.

@@@"You let her into the house?!" He yelled in mock alarm from the entryway.

@@@When I looked at her, she gave me the "Buddy Christ" two handed finger point with a wink and a smile.

@@@"I am only now beginning to feel the weight of my mistake!" I yelled back.

@@@"Yeah, I bet you are." He smiled as he came into the kitchen. "Hey, Laura." He said as he headed to the fridge for a soda.

@@@She nodded back at him. We chatted in his kitchen for a while before deciding more XBox was in order. I had found the old "Crash Team Racing" available for download last night and wanted to fire it up. It was an old cartoon racer but you could play two at a time. Loser hands the controller to the next person. And I soon discovered, Man, that girl can cuss. We were having a blast. Evening had fallen and we were just starting to discuss what we wanted to eat when Kevin's phone rang.

@@@Kevin pulled it out, looked at it and said, "It's Mom."

@@@Laura looked confused when she saw him check with me before answering it.

@@@"Go ahead. I don't want her filing a missing persons report." I told him.

@@@I heard what sounded like a short surprised laugh escape from Laura.

@@@"Hey, Mom." I could guess what she asked him when he replied, "I'm playing on the XBox with my friend Laura and Pop."

@@@"He's there!? Can I speak to him!?" Was loud enough that we could hear it.

@@@Kevin looked at me. I shook my head.

@@@"No." I said.

@@@"That's a definite "No." Kevin told her. Again we had a pretty good idea of what she asked next when, "I didn't call you because I didn't want to talk to you..." Laura frowned in confusion at that. "Because he's right. Why DID you have to drag me into this? I was only six." Now Laura looked concerned. "... So I still believed in Santa Clause but you weren't able to convince me that your lover was just a guy renting a room?!"

@@@Laura excitedly patted my knee several times. "I'm getting the fucking popcorn!" She exclaimed, as she jumped out of her chair and rushed to the kitchen.

@@@Kevin looked at me. "He was there for me when your father wasn't." He sneered.

@@@"Nice." I nodded with disgust.

@@@"... He told me he'd be home in a couple of weeks." He said as he looked at me for confirmation. I nodded to him to let him know he was correct. I could hear the popcorn popping as Laura came back to lean against the door jam for the kitchen. "I'll ask. Hey, Pop? What happened to the furniture, pictures and all her clothes?"

@@@I gave him several nods before saying, "I burned em in a bonfire."

@@@"Holy shit, Dude!" I heard Laura laugh out at the same time that we heard, "WHAT!? Those were designers!!! Why would he..." It kind of died out after that but I'm pretty sure I could hear her crying.

@@@"Yeah. Uh huh. Goodbye, Mother." Kevin said unemotionally before disconnecting the call.

@@@"OK." Laura smiled. "What - THE FUCK - is going on?"

@@@"Well,.." I said.

@@@But then the microwave dinged.

@@@"Hold that thought!" She yelled as she raced to bring back the popcorn. She brought in a large bowl of the stuff, set it on the coffee table and flopped back in her chair. "ANNNNND Go!" She announced as she leaned toward me, eating the treat and looking very excited.

@@@"OK." I began and then went on to tell both of them the entire story from the moment I met Kevin's mother. Kevin was quiet the whole time but Laura, though to her credit not often, DID interject on occasion.

@@@Like when she squinted at me and shook her head before saying, "I don't think you can fuck your way out of Postpartum Depression." And when she looked at Kevin in shock. "You spent Christmas with these people?!"

@@@"I was six!" He whined loudly.

@@@Not long after that I took us out to eat, dragging Laura along with us. She seemed to be good for Kevin. She seemed honest, which at this point in my life I realized was of the utmost importance.

@@@The rest of my time in Chicago was spent seeing the sites with Kevin and Laura. Taking them out to eat at all the places they hadn't gone to yet, and it all went by much too quickly. Soon they were seeing me off on my flight to LAX to see Oscar. I was not completely sure what all of the problems were between me and Oscar. But I'm pretty sure the biggest one was supposed to be me NOT knowing he was gay. Compared to my issues with Kevin, this was gonna be a cake walk.

@@@Oscar and Mark greeted me at the airport. My tall lanky and muscular boy greeted me with a firm handshake and smile. Mark was a handsome well built young man but not as tall as Oscar. He gave me a stout hug. Not to be mean but Mark was Super gay. Not sure how these guys thought we wouldn't know. I hugged Mark back and asked how they were doing as we headed to their car.

@@@"Do you need to go to baggage claim?" Oscar asked.

@@@"No." I smiled. "Traveling light this time."

@@@Oscar drove us to a Mom and Pop cafe that specialized in Carne Guisada Tacos. I didn't know what that was.@@@

@@@"My friend Rodney says they're malicious!" Mark commented as we headed into the cafe. "... After trying them I took it to mean, they're so good they're evil."@@@

@@@They -were- good. Spicy slow boiled beef in a heavy brown gravy, served on a flour tortilla. I had four. We talked about my stay with Kevin and what we did in Chicago.@@@             

@@@"Who's this Laura, you mentioned?" Mark asked. "I've never heard him mention her before."

@@@I laughed and described her to them. Ending with, "She's funny, smart and seems very nice. I like her a lot."

@@@"So a possible new girlfriend for him then?" Oscar asked with a smile.

@@@"I certainly hope so." I nodded. "Now, before we get to MY elephant in the room. Let's get to yours." They both looked a little scared as they glanced at each other. I picked up Mark's left hand and looked at his ring finger. "No tan line, so no ring yet?" I asked as I looked from one to the other. Letting Mark have his hand back.

@@@"Um... Well... Uh..." Oscar stated quite clearly.

@@@"Right." I nodded. "Mark, would you care to expound upon that?"

@@@"No, I would not." He laughed. "But I am curious about YOUR ring finger."

@@@I laughed and held up my left hand, the bright tan line almost glaring in its defiance.

@@@"No chance of saving the marriage then?" Oscar asked.

@@@"Did we ever have one? A real one, I mean."

@@@"Well, of course you did. You guys were happy." He said.

@@@"But how happy could we have been if she was sleeping with another man that whole time?"

@@@Oscar was about to say something but looked at Mark. Mark gave him that "He's got a point" shrug. I watched as Oscar just sort of deflated.

@@@"Would you quit it, it's not the end of the world. You have what seems to be a healthy relationship, with a man who seems to love you. That's a heck of a lot more than most of us have."

@@@"Seems - to love him?" Mark smirked.

@@@"Cut me some slack, Mark. I'm pretty beaten up right now."

@@@Mark nodded at me. "That's fair."

@@@Oscar looked like he wanted to ask something but hesitated.

@@@"What is it?" I asked.

@@@"It's not important."

@@@I laughed. "With everything that's happening, it probably is."

@@@Now he laughed a little, before asking "What DID you do with your wedding ring?"

@@@My eyebrows rose as I blew my cheeks out. "Uh, I don't know." I shrugged. They looked mildly stunned. "I may have thrown it into the bonfire?..." I trailed off trying to remember but never came up with a solid memory. "I mean, I drank a LOT of scotch that night." They laughed. "But I don't know if I remember pitching it into the fire or if it's just a case of I want to think that's what I did." I shrugged again.

@@@After a few moments of silence Oscar asked, "How did you know?" I wasn't sure what he meant and it must have shown. "About me and Mark." He clarified.

@@@"Oh, you touch each other. Like us sitting at the table here. If this was your condo and one of you was about to go get a soda? Before you get up you'll touch the other's arm or shoulder and ask, "I'm grabbing a soda, did you want anything?.. It's a couples thing."

@@@"Well, shit." Oscar said to the table.

@@@Mark and I just laughed at the poor kid. He'd thought he'd done such a good job of hiding it.

@@@I spent the next several days seeing the sites with Oscar and Mark, they really were a cute couple. I got a phone call on my burner from the doctor, my STD screen was clean. And all in all it was a great visit. I hugged them both goodbye at the airport and landed back home Friday afternoon.

@@@When I walked into the house it looked like no one was home. Cool. I walked through the house, she had replaced several of the things I had burned. A new loveseat in the Parlor. New bed and dresser in our old room, along with a new nightstand. More clothes in the closet... Yes, I WAS tempted to burn it all again. But self control restrained me, except for the evil laugh that emanated from me when I first had the thought. Someone looked to be using the bedroom across from ours. I suspected it was Avril, the clothes in that closet just seemed to be the kind she would wear. I walked up to the fourth floor and took Kevin's old room. Once I had my things put away, I headed downstairs and began cooking dinner for three people.

@@@I heard Karen and Avril come in an hour later.

@@@"That smells fantastic." I heard a woman with a French accent comment after the door had closed.

@@@"Robert!" I heard Karen exclaim to the sound of her high heels quickly clacking across our marble entryway.

@@@I had just enough time to turn around before she hugged me tight, burying her head against my chest.

@@@I had my arms out to the side, refusing to touch the slu... I took a deep breath and released it. "Please get away from me." I stated calmly. I could see Avril smiling in the doorway of the kitchen, until I spoke. The smile faded as Karen slowly stepped back out of the hug. "Thank you." I said before returning to the salad I was preparing to go with the lasagna in the oven.

@@@"You still haven't forgiven me then."

@@@I looked at her. "No." I shook my head quickly.

@@@"What are you making?" Avril asked.

@@@"It's a salad to go with the lasagna in the oven. Have you two eaten yet?" I asked as I glanced over my shoulder to look at them.

@@@Avril said, "No, cherie." While Karen just shook her head.

@@@"Will you let me explain?" Karen asked in a teary kind of weak voice.

@@@"After dinner. Now..." I looked at Karen. "I doubt you've gone two weeks without getting more wine. So why don't you go grab a bottle of red to go with our meal? While Avril catches me up on what you two have been doing while I was away."

@@@Karen nodded. "Sure." She said before heading to the small wine fridge we kept in the basement.

@@@Avril tells me they're working on an exhibition of Phil's work. There are of course difficulties dealing with the museum bureaucracy. There are almost 600 pieces of work in Phil's dossier. The problem being that many of the people who own them refuse to do anything short of selling the pieces. But the price is more than the museum wants to spend.

@@@"So, a lot of negotiating." I said, as Karen came back with the wine.

@@@"Oui." Avril laughed.

@@@Karen went to the cupboard as I pulled the pan of garlic bread out of the oven. The lasagne still had a few minutes to finish.

@@@"We only have plastic cups." Karen commented as she came back with a small stack of three red solo cups.

@@@"Be happy you still have a house." I smiled at her, as I set the pan on the stove top.

@@@She quickly schooled her expression and tried a different tack. "How was your time with the boys?"

@@@"Very good, actually."

@@@I then went on to give them the highlights of my trip, while serving us salad and setting the table. I talked about Laura and how I hoped that worked out for Kevin. And about my "outing" Oscar and Mark. Well, not "outing" but making them aware that I knew. Judging by their reactions, the laddies were not surprised with the information. We started in on the salad and the bread as I talked.

@@@Once I served them the lasagna, Karen asked nervously, "What are your plans now?"

@@@"Well, I wanted to get home before the weekend. To have a few days to deal with any..." I paused and looked at her. "... difficulties that might pop up." I went back to cutting off a piece of my meal as I continued. "And returning to work on Monday."

@@@The meal was quiet but good. And the wine was not bad, though I've never been a fan. When dinner was over, Avril volunteered to take care of the dishes. Karen asked if we could talk now. I agreed, might as well get it out of the way. I followed her to the Parlor. Once we were seated she took a moment to compose herself before looking at me.

@@@"You have always been my one true love..." She implored. "But I had another love... I met a wonderful man who was there for me when I needed him. First, he helped me sexually when I was in a terrible situation. Then he took care of my children and me when I was left alone."

@@@Then she went on to tell me how before she met Phil, she no longer desired me physically. How she stood little chance against his charm and sophistication. How it only took him three weeks to get her into his bed. How at the time she felt no guilt but she knew she would.

@@@Not that she ever claimed anywhere in all of this that she ever DID!

@@@Then she went on with how we lacked experience and technique. Which is what Phil showed her. How to participate, be active and receptive. She was almost reverent when she described how everything Phil taught her, she went on to teach me. She told me how having two hot studs at the same time was making her crazy with lust.

@@@Admittedly, that last comment did nothing to dull the "slut" image I had of her in my head.

@@@And then for some, GOD - ONLY - KNOWS - WHY - reason. She admitted how the very - day - she dropped my clueless ass off at the airport to go off to war. She came home to find him sitting on the front stoop with a suitcase at his feet.

@@@He had been visiting Avril on weekends. Now Avril came to visit them. Those nights he slept with her, but he and Karen still coupled during the day. The girls soon became friends and she even went to their home in Montreal. And it was the best Christmas because she felt like part of the family. She had a position, a place. Phil left two days before I got home. The affair went full force for a year after that. She explained how I should remember how I was not myself, so she was still leaning on him.

@@@For the next twelve years, they remained close friends, almost family. She called him every other week at a minimum. And arranged a monthly out of town trip so they could be together. Until a stroke took her Philippe away.

@@@Now she sits there waiting for my response. With an expression that says somehow all of that should make everything better. And honestly, after hearing it? What I'm thinking is how grateful I am for taking two weeks to get away from this nutjob. If she had told me this two weeks ago? I'd probably be in jail for murder. I am NOT condoning violence against any woman. But two weeks ago? I was so hurt that I don't think I would have been able to control myself. I take a breath and lean toward her.

@@@"I never had another love. You - were - all I needed."

@@@Then I stood up and went to my room, thanking Avril for cleaning up the kitchen on my way through. Back in my room; I collapsed on the bed, pulled a pillow to me and hugged it like a child. I didn't cry, but only because I was all cried out.

@@@After two weeks of mulling over all that Karen had done? Dredging through all of my memories of who she was, instead of who I thought she was? I believed I had a pretty good grasp on what happened. On what brought us here. But now? Now the truth was, I had spent the last 26 years married to a God damned sociopath. Feelings would be difficult for her to understand and awkward to feel. Meaning, a two week old puppy struggling to climb over the rest of the litter to get to you. Would make you laugh and smile. But for Karen it would only elicit a "Huh." For her, fucking Phil felt good. So it was good. No sin. And empathy? Her ability to understand just how heartbroken I was? Why I was hurting?...

@@@She was simply chemically incapable of understanding that. Empathy just did - NOT - exist. And deep, deep, DEEP down I understood it wasn't her fault that she couldn't.

@@@The one thing I knew for a certainty now, for a fact, was that I would NEVER have revenge. There just wasn't any way to break her heart. Clearly she didn't love me. From how she treated Kevin, and yeah I have no doubt she would have included Oscar if he'd been older, I was confident she didn't love the boys. Hell, she probably didn't actually love Phil!

@@@So: Killing myself wouldn't hurt her. Taking her son's from her wouldn't cause her any pain, not really. Her parents were already dead so I couldn't even pull a Cartman. That's from that episode of "SouthPark." Where Cartman kills a kid's parents and grinds them up into chili before tricking the kid into eating it.

@@@The old adage, "The best revenge is to live a happy life." Yeah, I always hated that thing. But now, I really didn't have any other choice. She wasn't worth going to jail for and I had no way to hurt the vicious bitch. So the best I could do was "The best revenge... yadda yadda yadda."

@@@I was back in the F-14 Tomcat with the pilot, "Coldfoot." Suddenly the bird plummets out of the sky and I just keep saying, "Restart." Over and over again. Unlike the real thing, when I told him to dump the fuel and go to the reserve tank, I just keep saying "Restart." In reality the fuel had been bad and the good fuel in the reserve tank allowed the F-14 to restart and saved our lives. In the nightmare I want to say that but can't get the words to come out. So we fall to our deaths and crash into black water. I jerked awake, covered in sweat.

@@@There's a knock at the door to the small external porch. I climb my way to my feet and go to answer the door. Avril strides in on stiletto heels.

@@@"Mon Dieu, such a scream."

@@@"Thank you?" I shrug.

@@@"I was sitting on the upper porch when you cried out. The view of the University at the crown of the hill? So beau."

@@@"Glad you like it."

@@@"You have a beau home. Bigger than our house in Mont Royal, but far too much for two people. Even those who intend to live apart." She ended in a scolding tone.

@@@I simply nod at her sagelike comment... That was sarcasm.

@@@"We must talk." She said, turning to look me up and down. "You are an attractive man. You should not be sleeping alone with your nightmares."

@@@I admit it, I liked where she was going with this. "I agree."

@@@"What a foolish man you are. The most belle woman, who loves you, is sleeping alone with her own bad dreams in the same house."

@@@I smiled. "You are most welcome to join me anytime, Mrs. Du Monte."

@@@"I was speaking of Karen, Monsieur."

@@@"Oh." I frowned. "No, that's a terrible idea."

@@@She shook her head at me. "Coffee would be nice as we talk." She said before sitting at the table in the Living/Kitchenette area of this floor.

@@@"You don't want tea?" I asked.

@@@"No, coffee this morning. We have serious things to discuss." It takes me a while to get the coffee started. I leave it brewing as I start to go and get some clothes on. "Do not get dressed. I'm an older woman and enjoy the male form. Do not deprive me of my pleasure."

@@@I shook my head with a smile for her as I continued to my bedroom. I pulled on a pair of khakis, slipped on a pair of deck shoes and pulled a T-shirt on. Then got back to the coffee pot in time to pour us two cups.

@@@"I take cream and sugar. Not black and bitter like some barbarous American man." She says with a hint of laughter in her voice.

@@@I frown in confusion as I put cream and sugar in both of our cups. "My father told me only alcoholics drink their coffee black. And he would've known." I end as I set her cup in front of her.

@@@I take my seat and wait for the fun to begin, as I take my first sip of coffee.

@@@"We have much in common," Avril Du Monte began. "We have married persons of passion..." She went on to give me some of her history. Her mother was a Japanese war bride to a French Canadian father from Montreal. She was the fourth child, the last and the only girl. She went on to describe how she had met Phil at college. He was a professor and her a young naive girl. She explained how their two daughters were only a few years old at the time but she could see the discontent inside of him. "A great talent and a great appetite for life." She told me. "What would you have me do? Hold him so tight I strangle the life of our love?" She said -she- was the one that mentioned opening their marriage to others. But she could see the relief in him.

@@@She was always sure to select lovers who were young boys with no experience. Boys who were no threat to Phil. Supposedly, he did the same. Until Karen. It was her worst fear, a woman so perfect. But then she made Avril love her! Then Karen's husband was gone, Avril didn't know why but Phil moved in. Avril swore Karen grieved for her husband. And Phil had stepped in to play the good and faithful lover until the end. She told me she was never more proud to be the wife of Philippe Du Monte. It was Karen's husband who had somehow failed her.

@@@Not 100% sure on what she hoped that comment would get her. But I kept my reaction calm and steady. Then she told me about their Christmas, how my family became part of her family. How Karen would always be her sister and that nothing I do would change that.

@@@... We'll see.

@@@"I am lost without my Philippe." She said.

@@@She ended by telling me how selfish she was the day she brought that painting. How it was thoughtless. How she knew better. "Please forgive - us?" "We? - did not mean you hurt."

@@@Those struck me as some odd turns of phrasing.

@@@"I am lost without my Philippe. I need my sister. She has a part of him, and I need that part. Please. Please, I beg you... forgive her. It was not sin... Only love."

@@@She was weeping uncontrollably. I stood up and walked over to grab a box of Cleenex before walking back to her. I rubbed her shoulder gently to get her attention and gave her a tissue from the box.

@@@"Merci." She said, as she began drying her eyes. It took her a bit to compose herself and by the time she looked up I was drinking my coffee. "Nothing?" She asked. "All of that, and it means nothing to you?" She asked weakly.

@@@"I never said that." I shook my head as I reached across with my right hand and gripped hers. "Your pain is not funny. I have no doubt that you loved Phillipe, deeply. Desperately." I felt her grip tighten in gratitude as she gave me a little nod and a smile. "... But this next part will not be pleasant."

@@@Her expression cooled quickly before she gave me an irritated shake of her head.

@@@"Phillipe never loved you."

@@@"Ha!" She laughed harshly with a few nods. "You are so angry with Karen that now you wish to hurt me. Lash out at those around, yes?"

@@@No, Avril. No." I said softly. "I am an engineer." I used my hand to show three different points in space as I said, "A connects to B to move C... Facts are what I work with. They're what I understand. And after talking to you and Karen, I have a very clear picture of who Phillipe Du Monte was."

@@@She shook her head at me. "You refuse to understand."

@@@I nodded before saying, "You chose boys who were no threat to Phillipe. While he took whatever he could get..." She interrupted me with another laugh. "And when he came across a woman who did threaten you? He did not forsake her, he actually moved in with her the first chance he got. And I have no doubts that if I had died first, she would have called him that day and he would have come running."

@@@"You do not know that."

@@@"He did it before. You would only have him on the weekends, loving him at night while he screws her during the day."

@@@She shook her head in disappointment at me. "You are a child, trying to understand the thoughts of adults."

@@@I nodded again. "... Did he ever paint your portrait?" I whispered to her.

@@@"Ha." She twisted her head away from me. "Ha... You..." I could see her fighting to keep the tears away. Until she quickly looked at me. "Espèce de salaud!!!"

@@@Then she slapped me as hard as she could. When my head didn't move she did it again and again. I had been hit harder. It really did feel like murder mittens. She slapped me until she came around the table to hit me and pound on my chest. I pulled her onto my lap and held her. She eventually gave up on hitting me and just cried into my shoulder.

@@@I started to think she had fallen asleep when she whispered, "Why would you tell that?"

@@@I pulled back enough to look into her puffy red eyes. "Because you've wasted enough of your life on Phillipe Du Monte." She shook her head at me again. I wiped the tears from her eyes with my thumbs. "When you decide that you want to be cherished?... Adored? When you decide that you want to know what love is supposed to feel like? Supposed to look like? Come see me." Then I leaned in and kissed the tears from her left eye.

@@@Suddenly she was very jerky as she awkwardly jumped from my lap. Not self confident at all now. She couldn't figure out where she was supposed to look.

@@@"I thought those were just flirtings."

@@@I shook my head with a smile. "No."

@@@"I..." She looked around. "I have to..."

@@@And then she left.

@@@I reached over and took her coffee cup. "More for me."

@@@I kept myself busy around the house, minor repairs and what not. I was just about to get started on lunch for the three of us when Karen found me.

@@@"What is going to become of us?" She asked.

@@@"Do you care?"

@@@"Of course I care."

@@@I shrugged. "Why?"

@@@She let out an exasperated sigh. "Because you're my husband. I love you."

@@@I squinted at her. "I can't tell if you're lying, or if you just don't know what the word means."

@@@"Of course I know what Love means. You're important to me."

@@@That was an odd definition. I absentmindedly cocked my head at her.

@@@"Let's try this a different way, what do you want to become of us?"

@@@She thought for a moment. "Could we just, for a little while, pretend that it didn't happen?"

@@@My eyes got huge. "Uh, NO."

@@@"Please?"

@@@I sighed and shook my head. "I feel like I'm going to say this a lot, what do you mean by that... exactly."

@@@"I need to help Avril with the exposition, that starts in January. Can we hold it together until then?" She asked.

@@@"Take all the time you need." I said.

@@@"Really?!" She was all bright eyed.

@@@"Yeah." Because from my standpoint it changed nothing. Then she rushed and hugged me tight. "Get off me."

@@@She stepped back. "Sorry. I thought..."

@@@"Uh huh. I have to make lunch, go do something." I said as I walked to the kitchen.

@@@The rest of the weekend went pretty smoothly. The ladies and I only talked at meal times and Avril was keeping her distance from me. I would catch her giving me glances but they didn't look like ones of curiosity. So much as confusion.

@@@Monday I headed back to work. Lis, my assistant, had done a great job of keeping everyone safe, motivated and on track. The team was steady, at least one thing in my life was being consistent. It felt so good to feel normal again. I did make a point to start Zoom calling my sons once a week. I also bought my own XBox and we started having gaming times when we got together on-line on the weekends.

@@@And then it was October first. Now under normal circumstances I prefer to be alone with my thoughts. Introspective as it were. Stoic, thoughtful... Pensive?.. But on October first Avril's daughter, Simone, showed up with her five children. Two step kids from her husband, and the three younger ones that were hers and his. That was when I learned that October 13th was Canadian Thanksgiving. And everyone was coming here to celebrate it and support Avril with her project for Phil!?

@@@"What do you mean -everyone-?" I enunciated.

@@@"You are upset?" Simone asked nervously.

@@@Karen, Avril, Simone and I were sitting in Karen's Parlor while the kids tore through the house exploring.

@@@I shook my head gently. "I'm not upset, it's just that no one told me." I glanced at Avril. Who instinctively looked at Karen. I gave a small laugh. "Of course."

@@@Karen sighed. "I thought it would be less of a fight if you found out about it after everyone was on their way."

@@@I nodded. "That does sound like you." I smiled. I don't think she understood I was being sarcastic. "Who - is coming?"

@@@I sighed as the list just kept going on and on. Simone's husband, her sister, Suzanne and her husband and their two kids, and the two Grandmothers. And two uncles, Luc and Theodore. And of course, our two boys along with Mark and Laura. The little cretins hadn't mentioned it. I would guess because they probably thought it was funny!

@@@"We have plenty of room, it'll be fine." Karen said.

@@@"Yup." I nodded and sagged into the chair. "Yup."

@@@"... We should check on the enfants." Avril commented, before standing up and walking out of the room to find the children.

@@@Karen shook her head with that bemused smile she liked to put on, when she thought I was being cute. Simone had followed them but stopped at the doorway to look back at me. "I am sorry, Monsieur. I just assumed you knew."

@@@"I've been hearing that a lot lately." I laughed.

@@@She squinted in mild confusion, before giving me a slight nod and leaving the room. A few days later her husband arrived. A very nice man, attentive father and he seemed truly impressed with our home. I took him on a tour while we discussed houses. That first week seemed very tame. So I did not have any warning on how interesting it would get until the sister arrived.

@@@Suzanne showed up with her husband in tow, along with their two children. I made my greetings along with everyone else and didn't think anything was amiss. Until I saw Simone practically dragging Suzanne out of the room. I smiled as I saw the two sisters practically touching foreheads as they whispered to each other. I headed off to my Den.

@@@"So you are the mysterious Uncle Robert'."

@@@I looked up to see Suzanne standing just inside the doorway. Simone stood behind her with an almost nervous air to her.

@@@I smiled at them. "Please come in, have a seat." Once they were seated I asked, "Would you care for anything?" I have soda and fruit juice in the mini-fridge. They each took a soda. "And I would hardly call myself "Mysterious."

@@@She took a moment to look around the room before looking back at me. "It seems very empty here." She said gently.

@@@I nodded. "All of the books and certificates and awards and trophies had to be put into storage for safe keeping."

@@@She looked confused. "Safekeeping from what?"

@@@"Life." I smiled.

@@@She nodded and began a staring contest that stretched on and on.

@@@"Why have you never come to see us?"

@@@I shrugged. "I didn't know any of you existed until a month ago."

@@@A short sharp yelp escaped Simone. Suzanne looked concerned. NOT confused though, I think they might have already guessed that.

@@@"But..."

@@@I waited. She shook her head.

@@@"But Aunt Karen said..." She ended with more head shaking.

@@@"I doubt she actually said anything. Much easier to simply imply it. That way she can always make up some excuse when the truth comes out."

@@@There were a few more moments of Suzanne shaking her head in confusion.

@@@"How are you not furious?" She asked.

@@@"Who says I'm not?" I smiled.

@@@"But you are not angry with us?"

@@@I shook my head. "No, why would I be? You've done nothing to me."

@@@"... You are not angry with Pa-pa'?"

@@@"I -despise- Phillipe." The venom in my voice gave weight to my comment. Both ladies leaned back into their chairs. "But not for wrecking my home, that was all Karen's doing. No, I hate your father for how he treated your mother."

@@@"He loved Maman." She defended.

@@@"I'm not seeing it." I shook my head.

@@@"... It is rude to attack a man when he is not here to defend himself."

@@@I laughed before replying, "A fact for which he should be grateful."

@@@She licked her lips in thought before looking at her sister. Simone gave her a quick nod.

@@@"What are you going to do?" Suzanne asked.

@@@"Now, that is my secret." I smiled. "But!" I held up a finger. "I will do nothing against you or any member of your family." I put my hand down. "I am very grateful to Avril for making me aware of all of this."

@@@A few days later Grandmother Aimi Lefebvre, Avril's mother. Grandmother Sara Marie-Pascale Du Monte, Phillipe's mother, both arrived. That Saturday our boys arrived and quickly seized the basement as theirs. I asked if Laura minded sleeping with three guys.

@@@"That was the main selling point for this trip, Big boy!" She smiled sleazily and winked at me.

@@@I HAD been sleeping in the basement for the last couple of days. But now that the kids were stealing it, "We're sleeping where?"

@@@"Please, it's only until next week when they've all left." Karen told me.

@@@I shrugged and sighed with several shakes of my head.

@@@"Please, it would be too hard to explain."

@@@"For who?" I asked.

@@@She sighed. "They don't know how things stand with us..." Actually, I suspected they did but chose not to say anything. I did NOT get the impression that the sisters had kept our conversation secret. "... It's just a few days." She said.

@@@"Well, it's that or a sleeping bag. So, OK." I sighed.

@@@I spent the rest of the day visiting with everyone. Grabbing some gaming time in the basement with my kids. And making sure the guests had everything they needed. Come evening, I was exhausted. I went to bed early. I did pull on a pair of pajamas because I did NOT trust Karen. She was too stupid not to try something.

@@@I was in the F-14 again; "Coldfoot" had the stick, we were falling to our deaths and all I could say was "Restart." I jerked awake when we hit the water.

@@@I was sandwiched between two naked women.

@@@Even with my heart racing a mile a minute I had time to think,"Cute."

@@@"A bad dream again?" Avril asked as she rubbed my chest.

@@@"It's OK. It's OK, you're safe." Karen whispered, just like she had done so many times over the years.

@@@I could feel her rubbing the other side of my chest. I nodded and lay my head back down, trying to get control of my breathing. That would hopefully slow my heartbeat. I could feel their soft breasts pressed against my chest. Their scratchy little muffs rubbing against my hips whenever they moved their legs. I managed to go back to sleep. I would deal with this in the morning.

@@@Avril was up and in the shower when I awoke. Soon she walked back into the room naked and without a bit of shame. Like many men, I awoke with an erection of great magnitude. When I felt the bed move, I saw that Karen was sitting on the edge of the bed just as naked. The women exchanged air kisses and then Karen noticed me.

@@@She leaned over and said, "Come shower with me, it'll save time."

@@@I watched Avril, still naked, calmly seat herself at the dressing table and brush her hair. She was so small but utterly perfect. Karen pulled me out of the bed and into the bathroom. She tried to help me out of my sleepwear but I swatted her hands away.

@@@"Don't do that." I frowned.

@@@She looked disappointed but what was she expecting? You flaunt a couple of hot bodies in front of me and I just forget that you're a cheating whore? It's gonna take a bit more than that before I poney up the money for another STD screening. She turned and started the shower. I put on deodorant and brushed my teeth. A quick comb through my hair and I was back in the bedroom.

@@@"You are not showering?" Avril asked with concern. I shook my head as I pulled out some winter slacks and a long sleeved button down. I was reaching for a clean pair of socks when she said. "But Karen was going to help you with your..."

@@@She tailed off as I slowly stood and turned to face her. I may not be huge but I'm big enough for her to spot it through a pair of pajama pants. Avril was staring at it. I threw the socks on top of the clothes I had set on the bed. Then walked over to her. My cock was only a few inches from her face. Separated by a thin layer of cotton.

@@@"I don't want Karen to help me with it."

@@@Avril's eyes came up to meet mine.

@@@"I want you to do it." I said.

@@@With wide eyes and her mouth gaping open, She licked her lips. Then shook her head and glanced at the bathroom. We could hear Karen in the shower. Avril shook her head more resolutely.

@@@"No. I am sorry but that would not be proper."

@@@I laughed. "So, her fucking Phillipe behind my back was petite passion. But you helping me with this is improper?" I nodded a few times. "It's starting to sound like anything Karen wants is bon. And anything she dislikes is bad." I leaned down to her. "I don't think it's so much as you being sexually mature, as it is you being in a cult." I smiled.

@@@She looked like she couldn't choose the right insult for the moment. So I started to turn to get dressed but she grabbed me by the waist and pulled me back in front of her. With an "I'll show you" look on her face, she pulled my cock out.

@@@"Mon Dieu."

@@@I tried very hard not to look smug as she gawked at it. Which was good, because her eyes glanced up at me just before she ran her tongue from the base of my dick all the way to the tip. I cleared my throat. It had been a while. She smoothly engulfed the head of my cock in her mouth and began to suck. She could only fit about half of it into her mouth but she began to stroke the rest with her right hand. I watched her as she performed a masterful act of fellatio.

@@@After she had bobbed back and forth several times, I began to pump my hips with her. I could tell my juices were starting to flow when she closed her eyes and hummed contentedly.

@@@"Mmmmm."

@@@I kept pumping into her soft little mouth. While she kept sucking and moaning, enjoying the moment. A few minutes later I could feel the end approaching.

@@@"Avril?!"

@@@"Mmhm. Mmhm." She nodded, as she opened her eyes and got serious about her work.

@@@I was pumping into her much faster by this point and had both hands on her head. Soon, my eyes crossed and I saw stars as shot after shot went into her mouth. I could hear her choking down my cum but she never stopped slurping. Much too soon I came down and looked at her. Avril had the most adorable look of contentment on her face as she slowly sucked out the remnants from my cock.

@@@"Thank you, Avril." I whispered as I cupped her cheek.

@@@"Mmhm." She hummed as she let my cock slide from her mouth.

@@@I put it away and bent down to kiss her gently. Just then I heard the shower cut off and couldn't help but let out a disappointed sigh. That actually got a giggle for me from Avril. I stepped away and pulled on my socks then started to pull on my pants.

@@@"You're not dressed yet?" Karen asked, stepping out of the bathroom still drying her hair.

@@@I shook my head. Just before pulling my shirt on.

@@@"What have you two been doing?.. Avril?!"

@@@"Nothing!" Avril glared at her just before waving her arms in my direction. "We were talking." She ended with a shrug.

@@@"With your tits hanging out!?!"

@@@I was calmly buttoning my shirt while watching the scene.

@@@"What did you do!?" Karen yelled at me.

@@@Now I shrugged before slipping on my shoes. She glanced at my crotch then whirled back around to Avril. "How could you do that!? You knew I needed to be the one to do it!"

@@@I heard Avril give out a frustrated growl as I slipped out the door. I closed the door and looked around the hallway to find... no one? Both grandmothers must already be up, they were the only people on this floor with us. I headed downstairs to the kitchen. Unfortunately Karen and Avril's argument was loud enough to follow me. And it DID indeed seem to be getting louder. I stopped short after entering the kitchen, everyone looked to be in there.

@@@"I'm guessing this is your doing, no?" Grandma Lefebvre asked.

@@@"Yeah." I nodded seriously as I sat down to breakfast.

@@@"Why, Avril!? He's supposed to be mine!" Could be heard clearly in the kitchen.

@@@Grandma Du Monte commented. "Your wife is -supposed- to get the -best- of treatment, Monsieur McDonald."

@@@I spooned some eggs onto my plate. "Well, she should've thought of that before she screwed your son behind my back."

The Grandmothers looked at each other while the rest of the crowd paused in shock.

@@@"... She must have had her reasons." Grandmother Lefebvre said with a concerned shake of her head.

@@@I forked some of the bacon onto my plate before saying, "The only reason she ever gave me was that when she met Phillipe, she was no longer attracted to me."

@@@I grabbed some toast as the Grand Dames cringed at my comment. Most people are smart enough to know you NEVER tell someone that. I ate my breakfast, while everyone else whispered in French.

@@@"Enough!!!" Avril bellowed in the doorway. She had turned her back to us in order to face Karen. "He wanted me to do it, so I did! YOU made this mess! Not ME! I am just trying to help!"

@@@Avril turned back and walked over to the table before sitting next to her mother. Karen obviously couldn't face the room, so she went elsewhere.

@@@"Can I get you anything?" I asked her.

@@@She squinted angry little Japanese Canuck eyes at me. "I think you have done enough."

@@@"I just stood there." I shrugged.

@@@"Oh! You are the clown now? With the jokes?" She nodded with that "about to go borderline psycho" smile women get when they're really not amused.

@@@"I was trying something new." I said weakly.

@@@"I do not think I like your new." She squinted.

@@@"And I have to get to work." I smiled at everyone before I rushed out of the room.

@@@I could hear Mark quietly chanting, "Run. Run. Run."

@@@While Oscar stepped into the space I passed through, to block any possible pursuers.

@@@Work had been good, a new government contract. A jet engine design that no one could get to work. An engine with enough thrust to put an aircraft into orbit. In theory. My team was ecstatic. For me, it was a wonderful distraction from Karen but eventually I had to go home. Even in the dim porch light, I could see Avril waiting for me. Unlike Karen, she actually had a reason to be upset with me. I sighed a sigh of fatigue and walked toward her.

@@@"What is it going to take for you to forgive her?" She asked.

@@@I shook my head. "Has she even admitted she's done anything wrong?"

@@@"She is in agonie'. She is tormented with how she has hurt you, Robert'."

@@@"Really, Avril?" I smirked. When she didn't say anything, I continued. "When she was giving me her whole..." I wave my arms a bit. "It was Love" speech. She said she was not ashamed of what she did, and not sorry. She hated that I found out. And she quickly added "and that I had been hurt." She said, "it simply was not fair, neither of -us- had done anything wrong." I shook my head at her. "That sound like anything I should accept, to you?"

@@@She was quiet for a minute. "We were hoping to do something special for you tonight." She said.

@@@I took a breath to buy myself time to think. "Is this something YOU want?"

@@@"Absolument."

@@@I leaned down close to her mouth. And gave a small laugh when she involuntarily jerked away at first. She was still unsure about me, which I thought was cute. I gently kissed her, giving her upper lip a small lick as I pulled away.

@@@"That sounds fine." I smiled.

@@@I put my things away before making my rounds through the house. Uncle Luc was a phenomenal cook and created most of the meals we ate while the family was with us. I always made sure he had everything he needed and helped with any of the more mundane parts of making our meals. I wanted to be sure he knew I appreciated the wonderful food he cooked for us. After that I would hang out with my kids for a while. Before chasing the little Canadian rugrats through the house. "Uncle Robert' "The Bear" was a very popular game. Dinner was great and the conversation, like always, was interesting.

@@@They were very interested in the new engine. Their family didn't have any engineers so it was a topic they were not used to. Thankfully, being a teacher allowed me to dumb it down to layman's terms. While keeping the subject intriguing. Our Basement kids took their shift at dishes. So the rest of us retired to a few different rooms for more conversion and drinks. Karen made sure to sit next to me, which didn't make me happy but... I guess I just didn't see the point in making a thing out of it.

@@@Soon enough it was time for bed. So I said my goodnights and followed the ladies up the stairs to the room that for many years I shared only with Karen. The table lamp lit the room with a warm glow as we entered. Both of them turned toward me and waited for me to close the door. With the door closed and locked I turned around just as the two women kissed like lovers.

@@@"You two do this often?" I asked.

@@@"Rude." Avril laughed.

@@@"This is our first time together, we want it to be with you." Karen said.

@@@First time together? Sure. First time either of them had kissed a woman? Unlikely.

@@@I watched as Karen undressed Avril to reveal white lace underwear. Then they seemed to lay back into the bed. Avril returned the favor, leaving Karen in a bold shade of green lingerie that flattered her red hair.

@@@"We could use some help." Karen said as they slid onto the bed.

@@@The truth is, No. Karen was not worth the cost of another STD screening... But Avril was... I walked toward them, unbuttoning my shirt.

@@@"NO, that's our job, just come to us. We need you." Avril said.

@@@"Très bien." I smiled, which got a laugh out of Avril.

@@@They began removing my clothes as we kissed. Sometimes Karen, sometimes Avril and sometimes all three of us running our tongues together. When they began to pull my underwear down, kissing and licking their way through the task.

@@@The minute my boxers were tugged away, both women began to lick my cock from base to tip. I had a fistful of each one's hair. I was letting them lead, just reminding them that I could control them at any time. After several moments of enjoyment on my part I decided to be a "nice" guy. I used my handhold to bring Karen to the head of my dick before slipping the tip into her mouth. Avril continued to lick and suck on my shaft as Karen slid back and forth. I leaned down and unclasped Avril's brassiere, letting it fall to the floor.

@@@I maneuvered Avril to the tip and released Karen's very impressive breasts. As she glided up and down the side of my shaft. I rubbed them all over as they pleasured me for several minutes. Patience sucks but it has its place. Not too soon I tugged down Avril's panties before laying on the bed. Avril was so small that it took no effort to lift her up and let her slide down my cock as her eyes went a little screwy. Karen looked unsure of what she should be doing. So I began to take her panties off as Avril was getting settled. The small woman was already moaning as I pulled Karen over to straddle my mouth. I heard her moan as I began to lick her. Then she almost wailed when I began to suck on her clitorus.

@@@I could hear the ladies moaning and playing with each other. I couldn't see much from where I lay but it sounded like they were helping each other to enjoy the moment. Thankfully they were both very aroused, so it didn't take much effort to get their orgasms started. I could feel myself about to reach the point where it would be hard to stop. So it was with an understandable groan of disapproval from Karen, that I slipped out from under her.

@@@I kissed Avril gently as I slid my dick out of her. Bending Karen over I worked my way behind her to slip in while her hips were raised. It took no prodding on my part to get Karen to start working on Avril's next climax. Avril clung to the footboard gasping for breath, while Karen's tongue and fingers drove her mad. Karen is a useless slut but she had a great ass! With her orgasms making her hips swing madly from left to right. While Avril was trying, rather poorly I might add, to keep quiet. It was no wonder I groaned out a huge orgasm of my own. I pumped several rounds into that sluts cunt. And it took several thrusts before I could bring myself to stop.

@@@The girls looked satiated. So they were quite surprised when I stepped off the bed to face them. Gripping each one by their hair I brought them back to my cock.

@@@"Get this up." I commanded.

@@@Suddenly they were in a mad rush as they began licking every inch of my dick. Their efforts ranged from both of them sucking on my testicles as they pumped my shaft. To quickly taking turns gagging themselves on me. That last part was the one that got me. There was just something about a woman being willing to do that just to please me, that made my dick hard.

@@@Once I was back up, I layed Karen back and bent Avril onto all fours. Avril went to her task with her eager little ass wiggling at me. Karen was cuming again long before I finished sliding into Avril. The moans and groans I was getting from Avril as I fucked her. Were almost as arousing as the sight of her tiny little tight ass bouncing and quaking as I pumped into her.

@@@I have no idea how long that last session lasted but I remember Karen was out. Avril was on the verge of collapse when I finally dumped everything I had left into her. She cooed either from enjoyment or the sign that we were done, I'm not sure which. But I practically fell on both of them and passed out.

@@@It was Saturday, it should have been my day off. BUT the team was excited about that new engine and wanted to get a jump on it. In their defense, they had no idea I was going to bumble my way into a ménage à trois. I shook my head at my life before gently extricating myself from the two sleeping women. It took me about ten minutes to get showered and dressed. When I got to the kitchen I was very surprised to see everyone else in the house was up. "Why didn't they sleep in?.. I would've slept in." My thoughts whined at me.

@@@"Bonjourrr," Said Mrs. Lefebvre.

@@@"Good morning." I smiled at her with a slight head bow. "Why is everybody awake already?"

@@@"You know the young, always somewhere to be. Sleep well?" She asked with a bit of a smile.

@@@"Like a stone."

@@@"I did not expect you to be this early."

@@@"My team at work has a new project, they want to start on it immediately." I shrugged.

@@@She shook her head in disapproval. "Toi chef's are deplorable. Making you work today."

@@@"Oh." I laughed and nodded when I finally understood. "No, it's not my bosses. It's the kids that work for me, the students at the university. They're very excited."

@@@"Ah." She gave a great nod. "And YOU spoil them?"

@@@Now, I nodded in reply.

@@@"I le service breakfast avec Simone and Suzanne. How do you like the eggs?"

@@@"Scrambled is fine."

@@@I had just thanked Suzanne for my plate when Mrs. DuMonte joined us.

@@@"So tell me, are you still hurting, or did your women heal the wound?" She asked.

@@@I gave her a pained smile. "Some things can only be healed with time."

@@@She gave me a noncommittal kind of nod. "We did not expect to see you this early."

@@@"I have work at the University today." I said.

@@@"Hmm, I think you run from your problem."

@@@"No." I shook my head lightly. "Just biding time."

@@@It was obvious she didn't know what to make of that. "I think you are a good man. Dependable in your way, and I believe you love your wife with all your heart. Still, we women have taken your pride. It is a difficult problem."

@@@I gave her a gentle laugh with a small shake of my head as I finished my bite of food. "I am sorry Madame, but you are mistaken on all counts." I said kindly.

@@@That stunned her.

@@@"Suzanne said you were cruelly honest."

@@@I nodded and continued to eat.

@@@"The famille is what is importante. We have our fait ma--our pains, but we find a way to carry on. Karen is a good woman. Her sin was one of love and need. She has paid for it many times over in guilt. She would do anything to take away the pain she caused you. But we both know that is not possible. It is you who must avoid the next sin." She said, pausing and fixing me with blue eyes that had paled with her advanced age.

@@@I wiped my mouth with my napkin, when did we get cloth napkins? Whatever... "Maman, Karen is deplorable. Her sin was one of selfishness. She has paid nothing other than a few tears and she could care less about my pain..."

@@@"That is not true!" She didn't yell but she came close.

@@@I shook my head again. "I have seen no proof to the contrary. What have you seen?"

@@@Now she shook her head at me in thought. "We have spoken many times about this."

@@@"Ah." I nodded. "Words. After all you've seen in life, surely you know how little words alone can mean? Especially when spoken by a known liar."

@@@"SHE's..!"

@@@My eyebrow rose. "... Yes?" I asked but she shook her head quickly. "You were going to defend her again?" She refused to comment. "Here's what I think is happening; for years she lied to you about us, you had your doubts but never acted on them. And now that you see me in pain you feel slightly responsible, which hurts some. So to alleviate your pain you want to come up with some reason, any reason, that would make all of this go away..." She looked at me but didn't speak. "Like accepting more lies from a woman you know is untrustworthy."

@@@"That is pride. You must let it go for their sake. They need you." Mrs. Lefebvre said.

@@@"Pride or not, I will not allow her to hurt me again. That is why I do not surround myself with selfish people."

@@@"And Avril?" She asked. "The women are closer than sisters. United in the absolute love of a man who is no longer here. They have suffered a great loss and women like my daughter, Avril, needs to grieve in the arms of a man. And your wife needs you more than she ever has."

@@@I looked at her. "You understand that talking about both of them at the same time will not make me feel the same for both of them? I will do anything I can for Avril. But I will never again put any faith in Karen."

@@@She sighed before saying, "They are good women and will take bon care of vous."

@@@I could only shake my head some more and smile. I guess it was a French thing? Thinking that getting the last word would somehow change the outcome?

@@@Thanksgiving was fun, it was nice to have children running through the house again. But eventually everyone went home with many hugs and farewells. It didn't seem that anyone had given Karen any of the details of my conversations with the "bon Dames." Because she acted as if us having sex regularly meant that all was well.

@@@The Navy made its appearance the week before Christmas. Admiral Dan "The Kiwi" Dickerson arrived in the company of two lesser ranked officers. The last time I saw Dan, he was a Lt. Commander on the Ike. He was not the most respected of the officers, but he was the most affable one.

@@@"Let me introduce you," Admiral Dickerson began, just as affably as ever. "Rob, meet Commander Jack Marlow and Lieutenant Allison Patrick." He said.

@@@Commander Marlow was a tall, thin, black man. And Lt. Patrick was a petite blond woman. With eyes that seem to move quickly but deliberately. Their uniforms were the only military thing about them. They were NOT Navy. We spent a few minutes with me answering some questions they had.

@@@But soon Dan asked, "Mind if we look around and ask some more questions?"

@@@"You're paying for all this, but I will have to get back to work. My assistant Lis, will show you around." I said before motioning Lis over.

@@@"Just one more thing." He stopped me with his comment so I turned back to face him. "Let me buy you and your ladies dinner tonight, for old time sake."

@@@I laughed. Pretty hard actually. He'd said "Ladies." So he knew about my homelife and that told me everything I needed to know about this visit.

@@@"No." I shook my head with a smile.

@@@"... What?" He asked, taken aback.

@@@"We're not friends, Dan." I smiled. "And we never have been. And the last thing I'm ever going to do is let you into my home, with two people who carry themselves like NSA assets." I said in a kind tone.

@@@Lt. Patrick asked, "Is that attitude wise, when speaking to the man that can shut this project down?"

@@@I smiled at her. "You think too highly of your own opinion, Ms. Patrick. The people that sent you, made their minds up long before they ever cut your orders."

@@@"Narcissist much?" Commander Jack Marlow asked.

@@@"No, but I'm working on it. Now, if you'll excuse me? I hope you have a wonderful tour."

@@@Once the tour was over they all stepped into my office. I asked Lis to step out.

@@@"What?!"

@@@I gave her my best concerned parent face. "It's going to be stupid, petty and hurtful. There's no reason both of us have to sit through it."

@@@She just sagged. "So it's..."

@@@I nodded. "Mmhm."

@@@Once she was gone, "Pretty sure of the outcome. I can't figure out if you're cocky or pessimistic." Marlow commented.

@@@"Just worked for the Navy for too long. Now spill it."

@@@"Rob..." Dan began.

@@@"Dan... The sooner you say it? The sooner I can kick you out of my office, go tell my people and get us working on a new project. So..." I motioned for him to proceed.

@@@The short of it was my team was an unstable set of geeks, many of which seem to be social deviants. While the chief assistant is a lesbian who has never had a relationship that lasted longer than a week. I mean seriously? Do they not have lesbians in the Navy? Most of them have never had a relationship that lasted longer than a week! I had a friend who went to a "Woman's Conference" and one of the competitions was who could load and unload a U-Haul the fastest! And then they came to me. I was in a relationship with two women, one of which was a foreign national and a communist. While my wife's former associations were of equal concern. Though they didn't say why.

@@@Once they were done I said, "Well, it's been lovely. Thank you for coming."

@@@That got me a small laugh from each of them but they did leave. I took in a deep breath and went outside to tell my team.

@@@"...... FUCK EM!!! Let's build it anyway!" Eddy Davis declared.

@@@My eyebrows rose to the roof! I thought they would be devastated. Instead, Professor Cartle, one of our local geniuses, was arguing how we should. The Navy had already assigned several teams to build the engine before us and all of them had failed. Who's to say the next team won't as well.

@@@A TON of excited conversation happened over the next hour. And in the end, we decided I would need to plead our case to the President, the Dean. And the Board. We continued our work but the soonest the Board could be convened to talk to me would be after Christamas. I took a Hard - Pass - on going with the girls to Mount Royal. Those people were great but another week of uncomfortable conversations, for them, would make me feel like crap. I used the time to plan on what I would say to the board, which in all honesty wasn't hard. They would either go for it or they wouldn't. But the quiet was nice. The daily calls from Karen?... Not so much. I think she was afraid I'd disappear again. I thought about it.

@@@But decided against it.

@@@January 3rd arrived with two hot, excited and lusty women fresh from the airport. We screwed like we hadn't seen each other in years. We began in the foyer and screwed our way up the stairs to our room.

@@@The Board was convened two days later and so I went, escorted by the President.

@@@"You ready for this?" She asked.

@@@I shrugged. "I've thought about it and really there's not much at stake. If they like it, that would be great. And if they say "No" we move on to something else.

@@@"Sounds simple." She said, as we walked to the meeting room. I nodded. "Unless they blame you for losing the Navy project."

@@@I know I looked panicked, because that evil woman had that kind of smile on her face. She opened the door while I was still staring in shock at her.

@@@"Professor McDonald, please come in and be seated." The Chairman said pleasantly from the head of the table.

@@@It wasn't long before we got to it. "From what Marcy told us, your team wants to keep working on this engine. You really think there's some potential there?" Mr. Addison, one of the several Board members, asked. Marcy was the University President.

@@@"I do." I nodded. "We see three possible outcomes; either we cannot build it, which we feel is unlikely. The Navy fails to build it and we finish. Or the Navy succeeds with another team. IF they actually get it built it will undoubtedly be different from our engine. So we may not be able to sell the new engine to the Navy. But there's still Lockheed, Boeing and many others who would be interested."

@@@They seemed to like that.

@@@"What's the worst that can happen?" Mrs. Hardigan asked in a "no nonsense" tone. Officially, she wasn't the most powerful Member but she had been on the Board longer than any other member.

@@@"The engine explodes and people die." The Chairman answered.

@@@"Barring that, what's the worst?" She asked.

@@@Marcy shrugged. "They can't do it and we wasted time and money."

@@@"What is the cost, really?" The Dean asked. "We were already talking about demolishing that building before the Navy brought us this offer. We don't have another project to put Robert's team on yet. That was why we scheduled this meeting in the first place, to discuss that. So, what are we looking at?"

@@@"Man hours." One of the other members replied. "But even that... They're all interns except for Robert, Professor Cartle, Professor Kimba and their three assistants."

@@@"Do we have anything... concrete that says your team can build it?" Mrs. Hardigan asked.

@@@I shrugged. "Just our track record. Professor Kimba and I have worked together for over 15 years. The newest member of our team, Eddy Davis, has been with us for two years and has over 9 successful projects under his belt. It may take us longer than expected but we always finish our projects successfully."

@@@And with that, the deal was done. The team was ecstatic.

@@@Avril and Karen were preoccupied over the next couple of weeks, getting the last minute details figured out for Phil's exhibition. While I...? I was still waiting. Not that it had been hard. As much as I still ditested the vile worthless... Well, regardless, the sex with her HAD been great. Lord knows she was built for it. But still, when the call finally came? I was elated! I could finally get on with my life.

@@@I made arrangements with my team and headed home to double check I hadn't missed anything. I spent quite a bit of time getting my things ready. Until a few hours later the ladies came home and I had dinner ready. When we finished the meal, I touched Karen's arm and asked if she'd mind cleaning up while I had a word with Avril. When she graciously agreed, I walked hand in hand with Avril to the back door of the house.

@@@"I'm leaving."

@@@Her content smile changed to mild confusion. "I do not understand, mon amour." She smiled.

@@@"I was waiting on something and now it's done. So now, it's time for me to leave this place, to leave Karen."

@@@She shook her head slightly. "... To leave me?"

@@@"I don't know. I know you needed me to get over your grief for Phillipe but that time has passed." I shook my head again. "I think you need some time to figure out what you want."

@@@"Ha." She gave me a cynical smile. "And so you leave me alone with Karen. She will be the mess."

@@@"For about a minute." I laughed. "She'll have me replaced before the month is out." She was shaking her head "No" at me. "And it'll probably only be a day or two after that, that she starts hinting about you joining them." I smiled.

@@@"You are being cruel, she would never do this." When I didn't speak she said, "Can you not have the courage to talk to her before you go?"

@@@"Why? She'll cry and beg and lie. And none of it will change anything. She's gotten everything she's ever getting out of me. I have to look out for my own well being now. But I do hope that you find me. I hope you decide I'm worth it."

@@@She was slow to ask, "Where will you go?"

@@@I shook my head. "I can't say, you'll be too tempted to tell Karen."

@@@She sighed a pained laugh. "Then how will I find you when I "Come to my senses?" She asked.

@@@I smiled. "You're a smart woman, you'll think of something." I said just before I leaned in and kissed her goodbye.

@@@Her kiss was stiff at first but she melted into me after a few moments. We ended in a hug. I told her I was sorry, let her go, put on my jacket and left, locking the door behind me. I walked to the U-Haul with the car trailer towing my old used Lincoln.

<^> <^> <^> <^> <^> <^> <^> <^> <^> <^> <^>

@@@Vegas. Why did I pick Las Vegas? Because it's a place no one would ever guess I'd go. I mean, my idea of DisneyLand is the Smithsonian. No one who knows me would think. "What happens in Vegas..." Yeah, that's just not me. So it was perfect.

@@@A week later I pulled up to a casino, "The Talbot," where I had reservations for a suite. Karen had been blowing up my phone for the first few days but I know Avril watched me drive away in my U-Haul. That, I assumed, would've helped drive the point home. So thankfully, after a few days the calls stopped. Though it was nice to listen to her tearfilled begs and pretend they were real. I found a storage unit for my stuff, dropped off the U-haul and the trailer. And started looking for a house to rent. My laptop allowed me to stay in touch with my team and if there was something that needed me present, I sent Lis.

@@@I'd been in Vegas for almost two weeks when my phone rang. The burner phone. Only a few people had that number. I pulled it out, "Nathan" it said.

@@@I accepted the call. "Hey Nathan, what's up?" I smiled.

@@@"What the fuck did you do?"

@@@I laughed. "What happened?"

@@@"The Morrisons, you remember them don't you? They're the people who bought your home?"

@@@"Oh yeah, nice people. How are they?"

@@@"Well they're pretty upset, you dick." He said with insincere pleasantness. "They went by their new home to drop some things off and now they're getting screamed at by a cursing madwoman."

@@@"That would be Karen, my wife."

@@@"Annnnnd you just forgot to tell her you sold the home? Didn't come up in conversation... ever?"

@@@"Nope." I smiled.

@@@I could actually hear him pinching the bridge of his nose. "Why?" He asked pathetically.

@@@"Uh, mostly because she was screwing another man behind my back for the last 20 years."

@@@"Oh... Yeah, that's bad. Jaysus... payback's a bitch, I guess."

@@@"Yes it is."

@@@"I mean... You know she's still gonna divorce you and get half of the money, right? You don't have to be present for her to get a divorce in New York."

@@@"Nathan, you're like 19 years old. How do you know that?"

@@@"Don't ask." He said miserably.

@@@I laughed. "She can get her divorce, but good luck in finding me or the money. By the time she locks in where I am, I'll just move again and the whole thing starts over. Contrary to popular belief, interstate agencies do NOT work efficiently together." I smiled. "And the money? Well, I'm pretty comfortable with how off the radar it is."

@@@"Still, now I gotta go and deal with her."

@@@"And just how much was your 6% of 2.25 Million for the sale?" I asked.

@@@"Fuck you." He laughed. "If you can't do the math, I'm not gonna help you." I could only laugh in response. "Alright, so I have to deal with her. I'm on my way there now. But what about the Morrisons? They've got a crazy woman cursing at them."

@@@I laughed again. "You tell them, they live in New York. This will NOT be the last time that happens to them!" I laughed.

@@@"Fucker... Alright, it was a pleasure doing business with you, Mr. McDonald. NotAnymore! But it - was."

@@@"Bye, Nathan. Good luck." I said before ending the call.

@@@So one of the things I neglected to mention was, back when I was making my VERY important list of what I needed to do? I had one that said, "Contact a realtor to sell the house." I had to leave to see Kevin so that I wouldn't be there when Karen returned. Because of that I had a small two week pause on that one. But on my first day back at work, I took a long lunch with a Realestate Agent. He wasn't happy about the NO FOR SALE SIGNS. But he understood when I told him I had family members that would harass me if they knew. Not a complete lie. I gave him my burner number, P. O. Box and new email address. Plus, since the house was valued at just under $2.5 Million? His 6% would be huge and was worth more than a little headache. Or so he thought.

@@@He told me the Holidays were not a prime selling time but since I was in no hurry, I didn't see a problem there. The ladies were constantly going to New York to work on Phil's thing. So when Nathan told me he found a buyer, it was not difficult to arrange a tour. Just like it had been easy to arrange his original inspection while they were out. The Morrisons were my third offer and they just fell in love with the place.

@@@We had the closing at Nathan's office, just after the ladies left for Mount Royal. The Morrisons were set to move in officially at the end of January. I put in my two weeks at the University. I soothed their fears by explaining I would still be managing the team but remotely. The project was advancing faster than we expected but if it saw any setbacks? I'd fly back.

@@@I installed a Bitcoin wallet on my laptop and another on a flash drive. When my last paycheck cleared I transferred it to my laptop's wallet along with the funds from the home sale. I then transferred all of that from the laptop to the wallet on the flash drive. Once I confirmed all was as it should be? I deleted the wallet on my laptop. The flash drive went into my secure briefcase and then I went to make the last dinner I would ever make in that house.

@@@Slipping the burner back into my pocket I headed up to my room. I had some good leads on some rentals but nothing had jumped out at me yet. All four of the kids had pressed me not to rush it. They all agreed that even if it was a place I might have to leave behind, I was still starting a new life. So I should hold out for a place that sang to me. Whatever that means. As I approached my room on the 11th floor. I could see a small delicate woman sitting against the door with her knees pulled up and her arms around them. She had been staring at the floor and didn't notice me until I stopped in front of her.

@@@When she looked up, she smiled at me. "Bonjour, ma chérie."

@@@I knelt down and kissed her. "Bonjour, mon amour... What happened?" I knew she was here way too soon for it to have been the sale of the house.

@@@She shrugged. "You were right. Bernard - Goodman works the museum." She said his name like it was something distasteful. "She moved him in a week ago." I laughed and she swatted me. I did my best to look chagrined. She shook a disapproving head at me. "She began with the hinting for me a few days ago."

@@@"I'm sorry." I nodded.

@@@"You are not."

@@@I laughed. "Well, you're here. So, no, I'm not." I smiled and kissed her again. I helped her up and asked, "How did you find me?"

@@@She shrugged. "I packed my things, shipped most home but went to the airport and called Oscar. He was in shower but Mark answered when he saw it was me. At first he would not help. So I told what happened and said, Mark, I am in airport! Now tell me where I am buying a ticket to, so I can go to your father!"

@@@I laughed again. "I'm not his father, you know."

@@@She waved me off. "They all call you "Pop." All four of them are yours, mon amour."

@@@We kissed and held each other for a few minutes. "Did you want to come in?"

@@@"Of course." She smiled.

@@@I opened the door and carried her bags in for her. "Are you hungry? I can order Room service." When she agreed I called down and ordered us some burgers and fries with coffee. The room's minifridge already had sodas in it. I sat next to her on the side of the bed. "What about Phillipe's exhibition?"

@@@She scoffed and shook her head at me. "You are cruel."

@@@"I am not, I'm just worried about you. It was important to you."

@@@"Hmm." She was thoughtful for a moment. "With Karen being..." She shrugged. "herself, it just put the final straw in it for me. She was madly in love with him. She is delighted to put all together for him. His big show... It finally dawned to me..." She hung her head and sighed before looking at me. "He loved her... He loved her more than me."

@@@"I'm sorry."

@@@"Liar." She whispered.

@@@"I do not enjoy seeing you hurt." I cupped her left hand in both of mine. "I -am- sorry."

@@@She kissed me then, so I kissed her back. And as the kiss deepened we began to remove each other's clothes. I suckled on her small breasts, enjoying the gasps she was giving me. A moment later we were naked with me sliding myself inside of her. She held me, with a hand on either side of my face, as I sweetly caressed her with my cock. We would kiss and look into each other's eyes until she climaxed. All too soon there was a knock at the door.

@@@She laughed. "No finish for you, monsieur." She smirked.

@@@"You behave or I will leave them out there to let the food get cold." I grinned.

@@@"Noooo." She whined. "I am starving. S'il te plaît."

@@@I kissed her and got up to wrap a robe around myself. I tipped the Bellboy and brought the cart in. We ate our burgers and had sodas from the fridge while we talked. Soon enough the burgers and fries were gone and she was pulling my robe off. Before she slid down and took my cock into her mouth. I enjoyed that for several minutes before forcing her up and onto all fours. She dropped to her elbows and waggled her ass at me as she looked at me over her shoulder. We took our time, neither of us was in a hurry. But soon enough, we both passed out from fatigue.

@@@My phone was ringing. It was early evening. Avril was face down and passed out. I was laying on top of her, that couldn't have been comfortable. I felt bad but smoothly picked myself up off of her. When I checked the phone it listed the caller as "Karen." "Oh, this should be good." I thought as I answered it.

@@@"Hello."

@@@"Why would you do this?" She had been crying.

@@@"For the money."

@@@"... But it was our home. We spent years working on it." She said in a teary tone.

@@@"Once you broke my heart, I was done with all of that."

@@@"But... I... I loved that house. How could you be so selfish!?" She was crying.

@@@And then it hit me. And my smile grew to a full faced smile. "Oh - my - God." I laughed. "I never thought about that."

@@@"What?" She sniffled.

@@@"I mean, I should've known when you were more upset over your clothes being burned. Then you were over the damage done to your relationship with the boys."

@@@"What are you talking about?"

@@@"The house... I had resigned myself to the fact that I was never going to get any revenge."

@@@"WHAT?"

@@@I mean, it was obvious you didn't love me. And I was pretty sure you didn't love the boys..."

@@@"Fuck you!" She interrupted.

@@@"But it was the house you loved. All this time it was the house. Of course it was. Ha!"

@@@"You heartless fucking bastard!

@@@"Oh, Karen, I can't thank you enough for this call." I laughed.

@@@"You're a hateful, small dicked, worthless sack of..."

@@@I interrupted. "I mean I still hope you die in a gutter, choking on a plague infested cock. But thank you." I laughed.

@@@"YOU SELFISH FU..."

@@@I disconnected the call and turned the phone off.

@@@"Who was that?" Avril mumbled as she settled in to rest her head on my chest.

@@@She was still mostly asleep.

@@@"No one important, my love." I whispered as I kissed her forehead and snuggled in closer.

La Fin.