The Guilded Lily Ch. 05: Mandy's Tale

Chapter 5.

Mandy's Tale.

Mandy Jacobs.

* * *

I was delighted to see Corrine back and smiling, holding hands with her elusive lover, Milla. Poor Corrine had met her on holiday then lost touch with her. It had taken almost nine months for private detectives to locate her. Corrine had travelled to Poland to bring Milla and her daughter Maja home, and I had just settled them at Corrine's flat.

I waved to them as I drove towards home.

* * *

Traffic was light crossing Birmingham in the afternoon, and I was almost home when I noticed a yellow lorry coming towards me, down the hill. The driver swerved and was going too fast for the city traffic. I pulled over to the nearside to avoid him when the driver of a parked car opened his door. The lorry slewed out to miss it and skidded across to my side of the road. "Shit!" I muttered the curb was too high, and I had nowhere to go.

My eyes went wide as I watched the enormous front wheel of the truck hit the wing of my car.

As if in slow motion, it mounted the car, crushing the bodywork.

The windscreen shattered, and my world went black.

* * *

I sensed noises. Voices. Urgent shouts. A persistent beeping sound. Somehow I drifted away from it, hearing it all fade.

* * *

I was aware of sounds and light. A grey light seen through my eyelids. I tried to open them, but nothing happened.

I listened, concentrating on the sounds. Distant conversation. I couldn't make out words.

Nearby, the soft bleeping of some electronics. Maybe a hospital?

I heard footsteps on a hard floor. A voice.

"Now then Mandy, I'm just going to change this drip for you. Got to keep your fluids up, haven't we?"

"That's it, now I will turn you a bit. There, now I can change this dressing."

Mandy. That's me. Mandy Holmes. No... Jacobs... I'm married... no... he died. I have children.

Two girls, Rebecca and Rosalind. I try to speak, to ask where I am, how long I've been here.

Where are my twins? Nothing comes out. I can't move, can't open my eyes, can't feel anything.

I struggle to make some movement, some kind of sound. Nothing works. I'm close to panicking now. All my memories flood me at one time, overwhelming me. I try to calm myself.

The voice is back again, female, friendly. "That's your dressing changed. It's healing well. I will let your visitors in now. I'll be back to check on you later."

So, I must be in a hospital. I have a dressing, so I must be injured. Oh, why can't I remember what happened?

Footsteps approach. "You've made a right mess of yourself haven't you, Girlie!"

Jim. It's Jim. No other man calls me Girlie now. The relief. Someone I know is here. I know I can't make them aware of my thoughts, but maybe I'll find out why I'm here now.

"Right, Girlie. I going to sit here until you get better. The doctor told me that some patients in a coma report being able to hear visitors talking to them, so you're stuck with me until you wake up."

A coma, that's why I can't move. I'd heard about coma patients being aware of sounds. I'm so glad Jim's here.

"That lorry made a mess of you. They had to cut the car from around you. You've got a broken leg and arm, but it's that bump on your head that's keeping you flat on your back. Crystal, Shelly and your girls send you their love. The girls are fine, they know mummy's in hospital, not well.

We made the weights room into another bedroom, and Corrine and Milla moved in until you're better. Milla's looking after Becky and Roz for us. Just you concentrate on getting well."

My girls were okay. It sounded like everyone was rallying round to help. Jim said a lorry?

A memory. A yellow lorry, going too fast. Swerving towards me. Glass breaking.

It all came back. Dropping Corrine and Milla off, driving home, the lorry. I'd been injured in a crash. Oh, how I wanted to move, to say something.

Jim was talking again. "The lorry driver lost control of his truck when the brakes failed. The police are investigating if it had been properly maintained."

I heard more footsteps. "Come and have a seat, Mrs Holmes."

Thank you, Jim, call me Sylvia. Any change?"

"No."

My mother was here. I wanted to reassure her, tell her I was okay. Though I knew now, I wasn't okay.

"Hello, Mandy, my love. I brought you some lovely flowers. The nurse has gone to put them in a vase for you. Pretty chrysanthemums, your favourite yellow ones. You'll get to look at them when you wake up.

Mother, always trying to take care of me.

Chrysanthemums. I remembered being a child at the old house in Redditch where I'd grown up. Dad loved gardening. The back garden filled with every type of vegetable, his precious glasshouse where he nurtured young plants and pampered his tomato plants was the centre. He'd saved up for it, and it was his pride and joy.

The front garden was a small square of grass with a flower border. Lobelia and Alyssum populated the edges, but the main show was his prized Chrysanthemums. I'd loved the yellow ones, and throughout the Summer there would be a vase of them in the house, with pride of place at the centre of the dining table.

I thought back to those simpler times. My parents sitting on the couch, holding hands, watching TV. Me playing with my Barbie and Ken on the floor. My Barbie and Ken had two children, Sally and Tom, represented by two 'baby' dolls. I fed them and rocked them to sleep, cuddled them and changed them. I always wanted a sibling, a brother, like in my doll family. Mum told me her body was damaged, and she couldn't have another baby.

Mum was speaking again. "I'm going now, love. Jim will stay with you until you get better. I'll come in every day with Crystal, in the afternoons, to give Jim a break. My taxi's waiting. I'll see you tomorrow."

* * *

Jim Blake.

Sylvia kissed me on the cheek and squeezed my arm. "Chin up, Sonny Jim," she smiled. "I'll see you tomorrow."

I smiled and waved as she left the room. Mandy had a side room to herself. She was hooked up to machines and drips and looked a mess. Her head bandaged, the whole right side of her face black and blue. Her right arm and leg were in plaster. They'd said the leg was a simple fracture, the arm was a lot worse. She'd broken both bones in her forearm and also her upper arm. They'd had to operate to pin the bones. Her final major injury was a long gash beneath her right breast where a piece of metal had bounced off her rib. The nurse said she'd changed the dressing on that when she let me in to visit.

I took Mandy's hand. "Talk to her," the doctor had said. "They have proved that some coma patients keep awareness and hear what's going on around them. It helps recovery in those cases if someone they know talks to them."

Hell. What do you say to someone you've known all your adult life? Haven't we said it all?

I remembered the day we'd first met. That's it. Memories.

"You remember the first day we met?" I asked. "Redditch High School. We were 11 years old."

You were tall and skinny, you had braces on your teeth. I'd never have got up the courage to speak to you for weeks if you hadn't come over to me and said hello."

"Do you remember what you said?" I smiled at the memory. "Is that this week's edition of Smash Hits?" I laughed. "I even remember The Kinks were on the cover and you wanted to read the article about them. We met at lunch break so you could read it. I was so excited. It almost seemed like a date to a plump, shy kid like me."

I released her clammy hand and laid it on the bed cover, stoking it. "We saw each other every school day after that. We even started meeting up on Saturdays at the record shop. I used to have to save up for 3 weeks to buy a 7-inch single. Do you remember when I bought you George Harrison's, My Sweet Lord? You played that song to death!"

I stared into space for a minute, reliving the times.

"I remember your first boyfriend, William Smith, I hated him, just because you were going out with him. You told me not to be jealous, as he was just a boyfriend and I was your best friend. Then you asked me if I wanted to go out with Tracey Cooper. I was so shy, you arranged a date for us to see 'Will Wonka and the Chocolate Factory' at the cinema. I held her hand, and after the show, I got a peck on the lips. You teased me because she'd told you all about it. Do you remember chanting 'You're in love with Tracey!' in my ear during class?"

I drifted off into a reverie of my own. We were so innocent then.

* * *

Mandy Jacobs.

Oh God! I never realised you remembered so much. Oh, God, William Smith. I hadn't even liked him a lot, but all my friends had 'boyfriends', and I wanted one too. We broke up because he tried to French kiss me and I thought it was gross.

I remember how we talked about all our dates after that. You used to come round to my house to do our homework together. Mum made you cake and made us sit at the kitchen table and have tea. She said we had to be civilised.

That's when you got your nickname. Dad thought you were my boyfriend and were up to no good.

When we went to study, he used to say, "Keep the bedroom door open, and you behave yourself, Sonny Jim!" I think we were 15 before he admitted that we were only friends.

I thought of the Barbie and Ken 'perfect family' I would have one day. Of all those teenage romances that came to nothing.

You told me about losing your virginity to that Rosemary from the pet shop. I thought she was such a slut! I hung on to mine until I was 18 and at University.

Your voice brought me back to the present.

"I was devastated when you went to University. Even after I left school at 16, we saw each other two or three times a week, but once you went to Birmingham, I only saw you on Sundays."

I thought back to my first year doing accounting at the University of Birmingham. I'd always keep Sundays free and meet you in the city centre. We'd catch up on all the news for the week.

You had girlfriends by this time, and still sidelined them for me on Sundays. You'd got a job as a trainee chef and seemed to date an endless line of what I called your 'skinny waitresses'.

Not that I was fat. I'd filled out to a 'C' cup bra and had broad curvy hips. You seemed to prefer thin girls with little tits and boyish hips.

I remembered my first "real" boyfriend. The one I'd lost my virginity to. His name was Guy, and he had shoulder-length blonde hair. I thought he looked like David Cassidy.

We'd been going out for 3 months and had progressed from kissing to heavy petting. I used to leave my bra off for our dates, and he'd feel my tits and rub my nipples under my shirt.

We'd sit in the back seat of his Vauxhall Viva car, and I'd let him put his hand in my panties while I took out his dick and jerked him off.

One weekend he asked me to go away with him to see a friend's horse racing at Cheltenham. He booked us a room at a local hotel. I knew what he was planning and was looking forward to it. I liked him, and he was kind to me and attentive. He'd be a nice man to lose my virginity to.

We arrived at the hotel on Friday evening. Guy took me out to dinner, and we had the best part of a bottle of wine between us. We toddled back to our room and fell onto the bed.

We made out for a few minutes before we started undressing each other. Guy sat up and unbuttoned my blouse and slipping it off my shoulders. He pulled down the zip of my skirt, and I lifted my hips for him to slide it off me. I sat up and unbuckled my high-heeled shoes, throwing them into a corner. I sat there in bra and panties as Guy looked at my body.

"God, you're beautiful!" he whispered.

I smiled and unbuttoned his shirt, pulling it off him and depositing it on the floor. I reached for his belt, but he stood up and undid it for me, snapping the button open and lowering the zip of his jeans.

I helped him step out of them, admiring the bulge in his underpants.

"Is that for me?" I asked.

He grinned. "This is what you do to me. Can I take your bra off?"

I reached behind me and unfastened it for him, then paused so he could uncover my 'girls' himself.

He stared wide-eyed. "Stunning," he exclaimed, "I've always loved to play with them but to see them in all their glory... Oh, Mandy, can I make love to you?"

"I'd be disappointed if you didn't," I giggled. "You know it's my first time?"

He nodded. "Yes, and I'm honoured that you think I'm worthy of the task," he teased in a mock posh accent. "Honestly, I'll be as gentle as I can," he said, serious now.

I stood up and moved in front of him, taking his hands, I put them on my waist. "Take my panties off," I whispered. He hooked his trembling fingers in the elastic and slipped them over my hips and down my legs. I kicked them away, and his hand reached for my trimmed blonde pussy. He stroked the fur, then ran his finger up my slit. I gasped.

"You're wet."

"Yes," I said, "for you. Put a finger in me."

Guy slipped his middle finger into my pussy a few inches, and finger fucked my dripping hole. "Come and kiss me." Guy stood, keeping his finger inside me, as his mouth found mine.

His free hand came to the back of my neck, pulling me in deeper, as our tongues duelled.

I reached between us and grasped his rigid prick. He moaned. "So good!"

I pulled his underwear down and exposed his hardness. Pulling his hand from my pussy, I pushed him back onto the bed. I knelt beside him and took hold of his cock, bringing my mouth towards it.

"Mandy?"

I looked at him. "I've never done this before, so help me," I said.

"You don't have to... Oh!" He protested, as I lowered my mouth over his cock and sucked it. I smiled. "Am I doing okay?"

"Mmm hmm!"

I went back to sucking, occasionally licking the length of his shaft. I'd watched a porno movie with a girlfriend and tried to imitate what I'd seen. Guy seemed to like it.

After a couple of minutes, he sat up. "Can I do you now?" he asked.

"I didn't think boys liked to do that," I said.

"To be honest, I've never done it. You must keep me right this time," he smirked.

I moved to lay back on the bed and Guy slid between my legs. He lowered his head, I could feel his breath on my slit. His tongue delved between my pussy lips, pushing upwards, flicking over my clit.

I gasped. Guy's head shot up, and he looked at me. "You okay?"

"Yes. That little button at the top," I pointed to it, "is my clit. It's the most sensitive part of me. If you're gentle with it, you'll make me come."

"You know this how?" he demanded.

I giggled. "Girls masturbate too."

He smiled and went back to the job in hand, tickling my clit with the tip of his tongue before licking my pussy lips and entrance.

"You sure you've never done this before," I said.

"Uh-uh."

"Well, just keep going," I sighed.

He carried on licking, probing, tickling until my body shuddered. I groaned and lifted my hips from the bed, pulling his face into my centre as I came.

"Uhh Uhh Uhh Ooohh!

I slumped to the bed, pushing Guy's head away from my sensitive slit. "Enough."

Guy slid up the bed, wiping his face with the back of his hand. He grinned.

"Was that okay?"

"Shut up and kiss me!"

He kissed me, his tongue slipping into my mouth. I pulled back.

"So, that's what I taste like."

"Oh shit," said Guy, "I'm sorry, I'll brush my teeth."

"No, silly. It's not so bad... unless you think it's gross or something?"

"No. I kinda like it. I'll be doing that again if you'll let me."

"Promise me you will," I grinned, pulling him in for a kiss.

We made out for a few minutes. I could feel his hard cock against my thigh.

"Do you have a condom?"

"In my wallet," he said, leaning off the bed to reach his jeans.

"In that case," I said, "it's time."

He opened the packet and slid the condom onto his hard prick, rolling on top of me.

"Uhh Uhh!" I said. "I'm told this will hurt to start with. I want to be on top. Do you mind?"

Guy looked at me. "I'm not all that experienced," he said. "I've only done it 3 times, always with me on top. This will be the first time not in the back of a car."

I smiled at him. "Thanks for being honest. Let's learn together then."

I straddled his hips and lifted his hard cock up from his belly. I lined it up with my soaked pussy and dropped down. Guy groaned.

I pushed him in until I felt resistance, then pulled back, slipping him in and out a few times. I braced myself, closed my eyes and dropped my full weight onto guy's straining prick.

"Mmm Ahhh!"

"You okay?"

"Yeah," I gasped, "I felt it tear. It's going off now, though. I'm gonna go slow to start."

"You're in charge," he grinned.

I sort of shuffled back and forth for a bit, then felt fantastic as I fucked my hips up and down on Guy's penis. I could feel my muscles twitch after a few minutes and knew I was close. I gasped as Guy thrust up into me as I pushed down. He looked at me, concerned, and I nodded. He smiled and carried on.

Soon we were thrashing our bodies together in a frantic dance. I stiffened and cried out my passion as my orgasm shuddered through me. I'd just come back to earth when Guy's cock seemed to swell inside me, and I heard his groan as he shot his hot cum into the condom.

I gripped the base of his prick, holding the rubber in place, and lifted off him.

"There's a little blood," I said.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I just didn't want you to freak out."

I lay by his side, my head on his chest, and hugged him. He gave a sigh, pulled me close and nuzzled the top of my head.

"That was the best thing ever."

"I thought so too," I sniggered, "do you have more condoms?"

He laughed. "Is the Pope Catholic?"

"Yes, but I don't think he approves of condoms," I smiled.

Guy tickled me. "Smartass girl!"

I jumped from the bed. "I need to pee," I said, and retreated to the bathroom.

* * *

That was the first of many weekends away with Guy. He was a kind man, and I loved him.

I was devastated when he announced at the end of his final year that he was going to do voluntary work in Africa. He asked if I'd go with him, but I was only halfway through my degree and told him no.

I got letters from him every couple of weeks. Then they stopped. I found out later he got some tropical disease and was at death's door for a while. I visited him when he came back to England, but he was a shadow of his former self, emaciated, angry and bitter.

I tried to reconnect, but he was rude and pushed me away. I never saw him again.

* * *

I realised that it was quiet. Perhaps Jim had left for a while. I listened and could hear steady breathing. He must be asleep.

Time meant very little to me. I don't know if I was aware all the time, or just brief spells.

When I was aware, Jim always seemed to be there. Crystal and my mother came in at intervals. I assumed that was a day apart, though I'd no real way of telling. Jim talked to me, reliving our youth and young adult years.

I was aware of Crystal's voice at one point, talking to Jim.

"The twins seem happy with Milla," she said. "They love having baby Maja around. So do I."

"How are you and Corrine managing the Restaurant?" he asked.

"We're doing great," Crystal said. "She wanted me to be in charge, but I said no. She's far more experienced than me. I'm her Sous Chef. It works."

"Do you have enough staff?"

"Yes," Crystal said, "Pierre sent over a good, young lad who's looking to widen his experience. It took him a few days to get used to being bossed about by two women though."

I heard Jimmy laugh. Then he went quiet for a few seconds.

"It's so hard sitting here watching Mandy like this. I keep hoping for her to come out of it, wake up, but there's no way of knowing how she is. The doctors don't think there's any brain damage. It's just a waiting game."

"I'm so proud of you, sitting here, being an anchor for our lover."

"She is our lover, isn't she?" Jimmy sighed. "How do you feel about the three of us now?"

"I want us to equal, Jimmy. I know I'm the one that's married to you, but I don't want Mandy to feel less a part of 'us' because of that. I hope she knows I love you and her equally."

"I feel the same," said Jim, "I love you in different ways, but I couldn't say I loved one of you more than the other. Is that okay?"

"Of course it is, silly!"

"When she wakes up, we'll tell her," said Jim.

"Maybe she already knows."

Jim and Crystal's conversation stunned me. I'd always felt like I was an 'add on' to their marriage. They were helping with the twins, giving us a home. Yes, we were sleeping together, all 3 of us, but I'd always felt that it was me in 'their' bed.

This was so unexpected. Oh, how I wished I could jump out of this bed and hug them both.

Jim left us for a meal and a break, saying goodbye to Crystal. My mum came in then, and fussed over me, chattering just for something to say. I wished she'd be like Jim and tell me stories or reminisce about Dad.

I realised that day that I wasn't always present and aware. I had no recollection of Crystal and Mum leaving, though they must have said goodbye. Next time I was awake, Jim was back beside me and speaking to someone.

...... "will the stitches come out?"

Stitches? The wound.

A female voice answered. "Tomorrow, I think. The doctor will check them on his round today."

A nurse, then. I wonder if I'll feel any pain?

"You get a coffee and a snack Mr Blake, I'll be here for 15 minutes. She needs the dressing changing and a bed bath."

I heard footsteps retreating.

The nurse's voice close to my ear shocked me. " He's a lovely chap, your boyfriend. I wish I had one like that. Do you like music? I bet you do. I'll tell him to bring a radio in. Better still, a tape player. He can make a tape with all your favourite music on it."

I kind of felt movement. Maybe she was turning me or changing my dressing. Hard to tell.

The nurse chatted about what she was doing, how her day had been, where she was going on holiday. I was glad of the company but looked forward to Jim coming back.

I must have drifted off again because when I was next aware, Jim was back. Maybe I was 'sleeping' within my coma?

"Mandy?" Jim started. "Do you remember when we first got together for sex?"

Did I? Only like it was yesterday.

"It was a Saturday night, and we were in your flat in Moseley. We were both moaning about us not having dates or any chance of finding one. I said we could go out on a date together and you said that was fine, but it was the sex you missed."

I remembered that evening so well. Jim and I never dated, as we never wanted to spoil our friendship. The truth of the matter was that Jim preferred skinny girls with black hair, judging by his track record. I liked athletic types, and Jim was much more of a chunky, muscular guy, who used weight training to stay fit.

I thought we could fuck each other anyway just so we'd get some sex.

I remembered our conversation that day.

"Jim, why don't we become friends with benefits?"

"What does that mean?"

"It means we have sex, but no commitment. I don't expect you to mow the lawn or put up shelves. You don't expect me to do your washing or cook your dinner. You get the picture?"

"I guess. No strings fucking. Do we still try to find partners?"

"I think so. We're not going to 'settle' for each other. We need to carry on with our arrangement until one of us calls it off. The important thing is that we stay friends, whatever happens."

"This is kind of weird," said Jim, "We've never even kissed."

"Okay, is that where we should start?"

"I guess."

I sat on the couch beside Jim, put my arms around his neck and pulled him close to me. Our lips met for the first time, and I opened my mouth a little, licking Jim's closed lips. I felt the tentative brush of his tongue on mine.

Soon we were kissing, our tongues tangled together, hands roaming the other's body.

I felt Jim's hand on my breast, tweaking the nipple through my clothing. I gasped, "Bedroom. Now!"

I stood and grasped Jim's hand, leading him to my bed. "Strip!" I commanded as I pulled off my own clothes as fast as possible. I looked across at Jim. He was ripping the clothes from his body too. I stripped off my panties last and threw myself onto the bed, legs spread. "Fuck me!"

Jim stood before me naked. His hard cock looked impressive, and I needed it now.

"Foreplay?" he asked.

"Bugger the foreplay. Get that big dick in my pussy quick."

Jim crawled onto the bed, slipping between my outstretched legs and lined himself up with my slit.

He looked me in the eye, and I nodded to him. He pushed forward, impaling me on his stiff prick.

"Ohhh Fuck!" I groaned. "It's been far too long since I got fucked."

"Me too," moaned Jim. "I may officially be a virgin again."

Jim set up a slow rhythm as he rocked his hips, driving himself into my wet pussy. He speeded up his assault on my hole, plunging full depth with every stroke. I began grunting with each thrust.

"Uhh Uhh Uhh, So good, so fucking good!"

Jim was pistoning in and out of me now, his breath coming in quick gasps. "Can't... last... much... longer."

"Hold off as long as you can," I begged.

I slid my hand down my belly, and my fingers found my clit. I rubbed hard as I felt Jim's cock swelling inside me. Just as the first spurt of his spunk drove into me, I felt my body stiffen, and I shuddered. "Gaaaah!" I squealed, as I thrashed about under Jim's weight.

I came down from my high, just as Jim's cock slid out of my pulsating pussy. He rolled off me, and I crawled beside him, face on his chest, my fingers teasing his pubic hair.

"Fuck, Girlie, that was the best sex I've had in years."

I looked up at him and grinned. "That's the only sex I've had in about six months that didn't involve my vibrator."

Jim looked disappointed. "How did I compare?"

"You'll do," I said. "I'll take you over 6 inches of blue rubber any day."

We both smiled. "Fancy a beer?" I asked.

"Okay," Jim said, "Then do you want another go. Slower this time?"

"Sounds like a wonderful idea." I climbed out of bed and went to the fridge to get our drinks.

* * *

Thinking back to that time gave me a warm feeling inside. It was an arrangement we had, on and off, to this very day. Whenever we were both unattached, we jumped straight back into bed with each other.

Just before I met the man who would become my husband, we'd been fucking each other for close to two years.

I met Colin Jacobs at work. He was the guy that came round with the basket of sandwiches, rolls and goodies at lunchtime in our office. He was tall, with a lanky, runners frame and a trimmed, neat beard. I fancied him right away.

We chatted each day as I bought my lunch, and I found out he was training for the London marathon. I told him I was a runner too, and he asked me if I'd like to train with him.

We met up a few times and got on well. It wasn't long before we were going out on dates, and I called off my arrangement with Jim. That worked well as Jim had an 18-year-old goth girl trying to get into his pants at the time too.

Sex with Colin was great. His runner's stamina astounded me, and we found we could make slow love for an hour or more. He asked me to move in with him one weekend.

"I love you so much, Mandy. I think we've got a future together. Will you come and live with me?"

I smiled at him. "I need to tell you something before you make that offer. It may change your mind."

"Oh, God," He joked, "You used to be a man?"

"No. But I am pregnant."

Colin was silent for a few seconds, then he leapt out of his chair and hugged me tightly.

"That's wonderful. Now, will you move in with me?"

"Okay, if you still want us."

We were married before the end of the Summer, and I gave birth to twin girls just before Christmas.

I was so happy. I had a husband, a family, a marvellous job, and Colin had his own business.

We moved into a new house with our babies and settled into married life. Once the twins were old enough, mum took over babysitting duties, and I went back to work. We still did a lot of running and competed in marathons and other road races.

It all went wrong when our girls were just past two years old. We'd entered the London marathon, as we did every year, and were at the start line together. He and I didn't run together, as Colin was competitive and I would hold him back. We kissed, and wished each other luck, then set off.

It was a little past halfway round when I saw a commotion up ahead. Runners were bunching as if there was an obstruction. I slowed to a walk looking over to see what the problem was when I saw paramedics lifting a body onto a stretcher. The shirt was almost unique, the red, blue, and yellow stripes of some foreign rugby team.

I screamed, "Colin!" as I ran forward, pushing through the sea of bodies. "Let me through."

A policeman stopped me. "I'm sorry, Miss, I can't let you any further." I glared at him, "That's my HUSBAND."

He took my arm and led me towards the ambulance. "This is the gentleman's wife."

One paramedic was doing CPR on Colin, the other nodded and pulled me into the back of the ambulance. He closed the doors, and we were soon driving off, sirens wailing.

"What happened to him?" I asked.

"He collapsed while running," he said, continuing to pump Colin's chest, "his heart's stopped, we'll get him to Accident & Emergency as soon as we can."

It all caught up with me, and I dropped my head into my hands and sobbed. He had to be okay, he had to be.

The ambulance pulled up at a hospital, and they rushed Colin inside. I had to tell a nurse all his details, then sat and waited. After what seemed like hours, a small female Indian doctor came up to me. "Mrs Jacobs?"

"Yes, how is he? How's Colin?"

She led me to a small side room. "Sit, please." I sat in a chair, and she sat beside me and took my hand.

"Are you aware if Mr Jacobs suffered from any heart problems?" she asked.

I shook my head, "No, nothing."

"Mrs Jacobs, your husband collapsed during the race. His heart stopped. Despite our best efforts, we could not restart his heart. He was declared dead a few minutes ago. I'm so sorry."

I collapsed into racking sobs. "Why? Why him? We have two children!"

The doctor held me while I cried, making soothing noises. I slowed my tears and wiped my cheeks with the back of my hand. I looked at her.

She gave a weak smile. "There will be a post mortem, but my best guess is they will find an undiagnosed heart problem, possibly cardiomyopathy."

I nodded. "I don't know what to do now."

"Is there someone we can ring for you? A relative, or friend?"

* * *

I remembered ringing my mum. Her getting family together to get me picked up from London. Taking care of everything. I remember nothing much until the funeral almost two weeks later.

I don't even know who was looking after the twins, though I know they were well cared for.

They lowered the coffin into the ground and sprinkled earth on top. I stood like a statue. I was numb.

Someone took my arm and led me away. "I'm so sorry Mandy, he was a lovely man and a wonderful father."

I looked up at the familiar voice. "Jim. Thank you for being here. It means a lot to me."

"Let me know how you are doing once this is over. I'm still your best friend. We'll get you through this together, Girlie."

He let his grip of my arm go, as other mourners came to give their condolences.

Then I was back in our enormous house, just the girls and me, and no-one knew what to say to me. I grew lonely and withdrawn. I took compassionate leave from work. I did what I had to for the girls, fed them, clothed them. One day, I looked in the mirror and saw someone I didn't know.

She was dishevelled with tangled hair, thin and pasty, wearing the same pyjamas she'd had on for over a week.

I couldn't remember when I last ate or even had a cup of coffee. I lifted the phone and dialled.

"Jim?... It's Mandy... Can you come over? I need to see you, Jim." I hung up.

What seemed like minutes later, though it must have been an hour, Jim was on my doorstep.

I opened the door. "Oh, God, Mandy! What on earth?"

He stepped inside and scooped me up in his arms, carried me to the lounge and set me on the couch.

"Where are Becky and Roz?"

"Upstairs, playing."

He ran off to check on the twins but soon returned. "Okay, it seems you're looking after them. Here's what we will do. We're going to get you into a bath, wash your hair, get you dressed, and pack some things."

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"You're all coming to live with me until you get back on your feet, Mandy, and I'm not taking no for an answer."

I nodded. "I can't do this without him, Jim."

Jim took me upstairs and ran a bath. He stripped off my stinking clothes and placed me in the tub, washing my hair 3 times and combing it out wet. My best friend scrubbed my body, ridding me of the odour I'd almost got used to. He lifted me out, dried me and found clean underwear, jeans, socks and a sweater. Once he'd dressed me he packed a bag with clothes for me and another for the twins, then he called a cab.

Back at The Guilded Lily, we went up to the flat, and Jim took our stuff up to the top floor.

"Okay, Girlie, this is yours for now. There are two beds, one for the twins and one for you. I'll sort out beds for each of you in a day or two. You've got your own bathroom and kitchenette. Cook for the girls, but you'll eat with me, that way I make sure you're eating. You shower each day and change your clothes. If you don't want to do the washing, I'll do it for you. I'm not letting you do this to yourself, Mandy. Do you understand?"

I nodded, "Thank you, Jim. I'll pay you back."

"You'll do no such thing. You'll just get yourself together so you can look after yourself and these girls. That'll be payment enough."

* * *

Jim Blake.

I'd taken a cassette player into the hospital when I came back from a shower and a rest at home, the next day. Crystal had been sitting with Mandy while I was away.

I put on some of Mandy's favourite music and sat holding her hand again. My mind drifted off to when she stayed with me after the death of her husband, Colin.

Mandy had been in a terrible state when I brought her home. She'd been just about caring for the girls but was neglecting herself almost totally. With hindsight, I was hard on her, but it was what she needed. I checked that she showered in the morning and changed her clothes, she ate 3 meals a day with me, and I encouraged her to go out with her twin girls to play, or visit relatives.

Over time, her mood improved. She started cooking meals. First for Becky & Roz, then sometimes, for us to share. She started doing washing and ironing and was soon cleaning the flat.

It was in July that I received a letter from my wife Crystal. She was serving a five-year sentence for killing her sexually abusive father and had asked not to be contacted or visited during her time in jail.

She said how sorry she was to hear about Mandy's husband's death and told me to take care of Mandy and the twins. The next part took me aback. Crystal admitted to a lesbian affair in prison. She said it was just for fun, not love, a fuck buddy. The next part suggested that Mandy and I should restart our own 'friends with benefits' arrangement if we wished.

I didn't know how to feel. Okay, she'd cheated on me, but under such extreme circumstances, I wasn't sure it was the same. I didn't know if I felt that an affair with a woman was the same as with a man. I didn't know if she wanted me to 'comfort' Mandy out of love for her, or out of guilt.

I did the only thing I could think of, I asked Mandy.

I found Mandy in her room, just out of the shower. She sat, drying her hair.

"What's up, Jim?"

"I got a letter from Crystal, Mandy."

"Yeah, me too. She said how sorry she was about Colin, and that I was to let you look after me."

"Is that all she said?"

"Mmm Hmm, here, read it."

I read the brief letter Mandy gave to me. "Okay, I think you should read this one." I handed her the message I'd received. Mandy read it, looked at me, then reread it.

"How do you feel about this, Jim?"

"I don't know. It's cheating, but it's a woman, it's not serious, what do you think?"

"I think she's brave to tell you. If she hadn't, would you have ever known?"

"I guess not. What about the stuff about you and I?"

"I'm not ready for that yet, Jim, and I wouldn't want to jeopardise your marriage."

"It's up to you, but I think this is her way of saying sorry... making it right, somehow. Just know that I'm up for it whenever you are."

"Are you sure, Jim?"

"I have to take her at her word," I said. "She didn't lie over the affair. Why send this if she didn't mean it?"

We left it there. I was sure Crystal was trying to make things right between us. I also assumed that she thought if I was going to be with a woman while she was away, she'd rather it was Mandy.

Just a week later, I was awakened by a figure crawling into my bed.

"Mandy?"

"Mmm-hmm, I need a hug."

I gathered her in my arms and held her. She was soon asleep in my arms.

In the morning, she'd gone. As we ate breakfast together, Mandy touched my hand.

"Can I sleep with you tonight, Jim?"

I nodded.

* * *

Mandy came to my room after getting the twins settled that night. She shed her clothes and slipped into bed. She was still a bit too thin, but as good looking as ever.

"Can I kiss you, Jim?"

I leant into her, and our lips met. Her tongue invaded my mouth as her hand reached for my rapidly stiffening cock. She rubbed me for a while, then dropped beneath the covers and took me in her mouth. Mandy licked and sucked me for several minutes before sliding up to kiss me again.

"I need you, Jim. Put it in me."

She lay back on the bed and spread her legs. I rolled onto her and lined my prick up with her wet pussy. I held it at her entrance, hesitating. I moved off to the side and lay back, eyes closed.

"Jim?"

"I can't do it, Mandy."

"What's wrong?" She held me, stroking my head.

"I've been thinking; maybe too much. Crystal hasn't fucked someone else. She's been with a woman, you know, licking, kissing, fingers."

"What are you saying, Jim?"

"I don't want to betray her trust in us. Can we limit what we do to the same? Fingers, mouths, oral, but no fucking?"

"If that's what will make you happy, Jim. I don't want to hurt Crystal either."

"Can you be happy with that?"

Mandy giggled. "Get your head between my legs, and I'll tell you... Oohhh!"

* * *

Mandy Jacobs.

I noticed music playing, songs I knew from my teenage years. Slade, The Sweet, Wizzard, David Cassidy, Donny Osmond, someone was playing all my favourites.

It could only be Jim. I listened to the songs, taking me back to my teen years. At some point, I drifted off again.

The next thing I heard was talking. The nurse again.

"I've taken the bandage off her head. The wound has healed, and the doctor says that the pressure on her brain is reduced, now. The chest wound is healing, and I've left the dressing off that too. A few more days and the cast can come off her leg, but we can't do any physio until she wakes up."

"There's nothing we can do to make her wake up?" Jim asked.

"Sorry, no. You're doing all the right things already. Playing music, talking, It's just a matter of time now."

I heard footsteps, someone leaving.

"How are you doing, Girlie?" said Jim. "Everyone sends their love. Becky and Roz are doing great, they're well behaved for Milla, and love to help with baby Maja. Corrine and Crystal are coping with the restaurant, while I'm keeping you company. Your mum and Crystal will be in later to see you. I'll put more music on for you now. Remember this album?"

"Brrrr! Brrr!" I heard the opening bars of Blondie's 'Hanging on the telephone'. It's been years since I listened to the whole of 'Parallel Lines'.

The music washed over me. Debbie Harry's voice took me away to a simpler time.

* * *

I came back to awareness as the last track of side two played. The song finished, and Jim spoke close to my ear.

"Did you enjoy that, Girlie?"

He sniggered, "How about this, remember this one?"

Oh, God. The opening bars of 'Anarchy in the UK'. Him and his punk rock. I hate the bloody Sex Pistols. I wanted to shout, to tell him to turn it off. I tried to yell or sit up.

There was something like a click in my head and a flash of light, then pain. My head ached. My leg hurt, and my arm was too many kinds of sore. I opened my eyes. I could see! Blurry and out of focus, but I could see. I tried to make a noise. My mouth was so dry.

"Mandy? Mandy? Can you hear me?"

I was moving my lips, trying to talk. Jim turned the volume of the music down.

"What are you trying to say?"

I croaked through my dry lips, and he brought his ear close to my face.

"Turn... that... bloody... noise... off!"

Jim stopped the tape and burst out laughing. "If I'd know that would wake you, I'd have played it ages ago."

He ran out of the room, shouting, "Nurse! Nurse! She's awake!"

There was a flurry of activity. Lights in my eyes, questions, moving of limbs. I asked for pain relief, and the doctor injected something through the cannula in my arm. I was soon asleep again.

When I awoke again, Crystal and mum were beside the bed.

"Hello, love," mum said. "It so good to have you back."

"Hi, Girlie," giggled Crystal. "Welcome to the land of the living."

I smiled at them. "How bad am I?"

"You're okay," Crystal replied. "The dressings are off, casts are coming off your arm and leg tomorrow. How's your pain?"

I grimaced. "Bearable for now, the arm's the worst."

"Doctor says that will be better when the plaster comes off."

"How long have I been out?"

Crystal looked at mum. "Mandy, it's been six weeks."

I looked at them to see if this was a joke. It wasn't. "Six weeks? Jim sat here for six weeks?"

Crystal smiled. "Yes. He took a day off each week, and one of us sat with you. We had to make him shower and shave. That's where he is now."

"You're so good to me."

Mum stood up, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief. "I'm going to get Crystal and me a cup of tea."

She left the room and Crystal moved closer to me. "Girlie, we need to have a chat... about us. Me, you and Jimmy."

"I heard you talking, you know."

"What?" she asked. "When?"

"You know Jim thought he should talk to me, play me music?" Crystal nodded. "Well, I heard it. I could hear. Not everything, I think I went in and out a bit, maybe slept, I don't know. I heard you the day you talked to Jim. About you both loving me, us being equals. I wanted to cry, to hug you both, I was so happy."

"Oh Mandy, we want you to be 'our' lover, we both love you so much. It scares me we almost lost you."

Crystal leant over to me, and her lips found mine. Her tongue searched out mine and tangled in my mouth. There was a cough from the doorway. Crystal pulled back.

"Perhaps you ought to save that for when you get home," said my mother.

I blushed crimson "Mum... It's..."

Crystal giggled. "She knows, silly! Sorry, Sylvia, I'll try to contain myself."

"Mum?" I said.

"If it works for you three, and you're happy, who am I to criticise? I've spoken to Crystal and Jim. I knew you and Jim were lovers for a while, though you tried to hide it. I could see your feelings for Crystal in that kiss! Tell me you're happy and I'll never question you again."

"I'm so happy, Mum. The two of them mean the world to me. Thank you for not judging me."

We chatted for a bit longer, then I got tired and sore. I asked for more pain relief and was soon asleep.

* * *

Two weeks later, I was sent home. I could walk with a stick, my right arm was improving, but was not full strength yet. The head and chest wounds had healed, and I could get a pixie cut on my hair as they had shaved it off after the accident.

Corrine and Milla moved back home, but Milla still came each day to help with the twins, until I was back to full strength. I found out that Jim, Crystal and Corrine had been taking turns managing my sandwich business while I was in the hospital.

I worked out the wages I would have had to pay a manager for the job and gave them a third each. Corrine accepted as she and Milla needed a bigger flat to make room for Maja. Crystal and Jim refused the money. Jim said he did it because he loved me and Crystal said I could repay her pussy with my tongue later. She got a punch in the arm for that, then a long kiss.

I'd had a room to myself to recover from my injuries and got rid of my walking stick ten days after I got home. That night I decided. I pulled off my sleep tee-shirt, dropped my panties and hobbled over to the main bedroom. I opened the door and found Crystal and Jim cuddling in what was obviously an after sex embrace. They smiled at me.

"What can we do for you, Girlie?" asked Crystal.

"I need sex."

"You've come to the right place," said Jim.

"Is your pussy full of Jim's cum?" I asked Crystal. She grinned and nodded.

"I want it."

I pulled back the covers, and Crystal spread her legs. Her ginger triangle was matted with spunk, and some was dribbling from her soaking hole. I knelt between her legs and dived in.

"Ooohhh!" she crooned. "So fucking good. Fuck I've missed you, Girlie."

I stopped licking for a second. "Missed you too, Red."

I felt movement on the bed, then a wet tongue licked my pussy from behind. I moaned into Crystal's sticky snatch. "Oh fuck, Jimmy."

After a few minutes, I rolled onto my back on the bed and spread my legs. "I need cock, Sonny Jim!"

Jim rolled over me and lined his stiff prick up with my throbbing slit. "Come here, Red," I giggled, "I haven't finished with your ginger puss yet."

Crystal straddled my head and sank her pussy onto my mouth as Jim slid his hard dick into my tunnel. I groaned.

It was good to be home!