Commitment

Commitment

happyhugo

Romance, Cheating

22,587 Words

Copyright (C) 03/13/09

 

Readers score 7.68

For some teenagers the pledge of abstinence works.
For others, never, and they need adult guidance
through these times. Man and woman with
cheating spouses come up with an alternative
to abstinence. No graphic sex.

copyright(c)3/13/09

I was in the garage when I heard Whitney get out of her car in the driveway and enter the house. I didn’t pay any attention as I was waiting for my car to come back from the service center. It didn’t seem important to me if I made my presence known to my wife. We hadn’t been getting along that well lately and why stir her up when I didn’t need to.

The phone rang and without thinking I reached and picked up the receiver, bringing it to my ear. Whitney answered it before I could say anything. “Hello, Whitney here.”

“Hi, can you talk?”

“Yes I can lover. Jake isn’t home so we can say anything we want to. What did you have in mind? How’s your cock hanging today or is it standing tall?”

Whoa. What was going on? I had never heard Whitney talk like that. Hell, she never even used that inflection in her voice, or ever said the words I was hearing. I heard some of the raunchiest phone sex between my wife and this unknown man. It was so bad, I tuned it out while my mind turned to Whitney and our life together.

We were coming up on twenty years of marriage. I worked for a corporation across town and Whitney for a real estate management firm. We have two kids, Aileen, the oldest, is eighteen and Jimmy, is sixteen. Whitney had never been too affectionate or demonstrative, but I always thought she loved me. Sure, we were having a rough spot at present, and she was snapping at me over little things.

Her snide remarks were starting to bother me too. What hurt me the most was her letting the kids do it also. I brought them up short, but they always looked to their mother and she either defended them or excused them. Jimmy wasn’t too bad for he was a nerd and just naturally smarter than his dad, or so he thought anyway. Secretly I was proud of this, but sometimes he could hurt me severely. Lately though, he seems to have withdrawn from his mother. At times he acted as if he wanted to say something to me, but pulled back when I questioned him about it.

Aileen was sometimes like her mother with her comments. She had a boyfriend, Mikey, and I suspected that it was with benefits. Whitney never seemed to pay any attention to how her daughter was dressed or acted around this boy. I kind of liked him, especially lately. Sometimes while watching the two together, I got the feeling they were adults already.

I tuned back into the conversation I was eavesdropping on, as arrangements were being made for a tryst next Friday. I gather this was a weekly affair at a motel and I heard a rehash of their lovemaking that had occurred only yesterday. My name came up a few times and what I heard didn’t make me very happy. I was being taken for a ride and I decided right then I was getting off the train. I had a whole week to plan and find out more of what was going on.

I deduced that it was imperative that this affair be kept hidden until Aileen went away to college, so I would pay the expenses for her. When they commented that it was as important for Mike Jr., to be kept in the dark as well, it came to me that this was Mike Damson. He was Aileen’s boyfriend’s father. I had never met Mikey’s father or mother, but I was going to.

It is weird to hear your wife having phone sex. It is weird also to realize how fast love can fly out the window. Before my wife hung up my love for her was gone. When the conversation was over, I walked down the street and met my car coming from the service center. I took the mechanic back and returned home. I walked in and got a bitchy question, “Where have you been?”

I stared at Whitney before answering. Yup I decided, love was all gone. “Oh, my car needed servicing and I waited for it. It took forever.”

“Well, you should have had them bring you back so you could mow the lawn.”

“I’ll do it now. I’ll have time before lunch.”

“Okay, remember you haven’t taken me out to dinner for awhile. Why don’t you do it tonight?”

“Sure.” I turned around as Aileen and Mikey came in. “Hey Mikey, call up your Mom and Dad. I’m taking Whitney out for dinner. I’d like to meet your parents and this would be a good time. Invite them and tell them I’m buying.” The two kids went off to Aileen’s room to call.

Whitney blasted me as soon as they were out of hearing. She was furious! “Why did you do that? If I wanted them, I would have invited them. Why did you interfere? You always make a mess of things.”

“Hey, I thought you liked Mikey. You let him crawl all over our daughter. What if he gets her knocked up? Shouldn’t we know who we are dealing with?” We heard Mikey and Aileen coming back.

“Mr. Chapman, Mom thinks this is a great idea and thanks you. Dad wasn’t too happy because he said he had something to do, but Mom persuaded him. You didn’t say if Aileen and I are invited. Are we?”

“Of course, that is why I asked. I thought that was understood. We’ll have fun and all get to know each other better.” I went out and mowed the lawn, leaving Whitney seething behind me.

My wife was still pissed when we all got into my caravan. Mikey and Aileen were way back in the third set of seats and playing grab-ass in a fun sort of way. Whitney rode in silence. Me, I felt the freest I had in a long time and I didn’t care what Whitney thought. She had lost any hold she had ever had on me when I heard her on the phone this morning. I looked in the mirror and spoke to Mikey, “Hey, Mikey, what is your mother’s name?”

“It’s June, Mr. Chapman and it fits her. You know, warm and friendly. She isn’t as pretty as Mrs. Chapman, but she is nice looking, or I think so anyway.” I loved the way the kid stuck up for his mother.

Aileen put in her two cents. “Mikey’s Mom is very nice and I like her a lot. You guys will love her. I’m glad you asked his parents out. I’ve only met Mikey’s dad once. He is always busy or off somewhere.”

I pulled up in front of Mikey’s house. He ran in saying he was going to put on some suitable clothes. I said to Aileen, “Go help him change, but don’t get tied up too long.”

I got back, “Oh Daddy, you’re awful.” She did go in the house behind him, though.

Whitney exploded. “What in hell is the matter with you? You’re acting like a crazy person. Let’s go meet these people, and for once, behave yourself.”

I had slipped that about being tied up in because I had heard those very words uttered over the phone just a few hours earlier. Whether Whitney got the connection now, I couldn’t say, but I’m sure she would at some later date. I just grinned at Whitney.

June came out and asked us in while Mikey was changing. I questioned the “Mikey” but realized that with a senior and junior in the house, it was inevitable. Mike Sr., was looking stiff and unhappy when introduced. He shook my hand, but just acknowledged Whitney from across the room. Mikey and Aileen came down from upstairs, both looking flushed. Aileen flashed me a look and I smiled back at her when she couldn’t totally suppress a giggle.

Mike got in front with me and June and Whitney sat behind us. The two young people were way in the back whispering to each other. Mike tried to make conversation by asking what I did, as if he didn’t know. He must have had some idea after being shacked up with my wife for hours on end, but maybe not. They could have been too busy screwing to talk about their respective spouses.

I played it straight by telling him I was a grant and patent writer for a large corporation. I spent most of my time buried in a small office with a two person research staff. All I got from Mike was an “interesting” and I could see he wasn’t impressed. I returned the question by asking what he did and he said he sold stocks for a broker. So I said. “You’re a salesman then?” letting him know I wasn’t impressed by his job, either. I glanced in the mirror and could see Whitney glaring at me, while June was smiling at the by-play that was going on in front.

Things thawed a little over dinner. It had to, with the two kids and June all being upbeat and friendly. The kids were all excited about going to their upcoming colleges. Mikey was going out west and Aileen was staying close by, here in the east. I asked the question, “I thought you two were in love and might be planning on making it permanent?”

Mikey said, “Oh no, we are just friends. We started going together so Aileen wouldn’t be getting hit on by all the boys so much. It has been a perfect arrangement for both of us. We knew we would be going different ways eventually after high school, so we made a short-term commitment which ends when I get on the plane heading west.”

“Are you okay with the way this is turning out Aileen? Neither one of you is getting hurt or anything?”

“It has been great, Daddy. We took a vow and I haven’t looked at another boy and Mikey hasn’t looked at another girl. It just shows that a committed relationship can work. We’ve been happy, too, and I think when we both find someone to marry, we will still be friends.”

“There have been other benefits as well.” This was June entering into the conversation. “They each have had a chance to explore the opposite sex without any jealousy or fear of disease and give themselves a lot of pleasure in the meantime.”

“You knew all about this then?”

“Yes, I caught them fooling around and it seemed like a perfect chance to talk to them about life. Mike and I have only been with each other. We were both virgins when we married. ( I thought ha, I’ll bet.) Sometimes I have wondered if maybe it would have been nice to have experienced a little more before we committed ourselves to each other for life. Don’t you feel that way Mike?” June said this while looking at her husband. Boy, if she only knew, I was thinking.

“You aren’t mad are you, Daddy? Mom wouldn’t ever discuss sex and you were just afraid some boy was going to get into my panties and knock me up. Mikey’s Mom seemed to have the perfect answer.”

“I wish I had thought of this way for young people to start learning about life.” I reached across the table and patted her hand. Mike and Whitney, who I think were usually the more outgoing when in a group, were trying hard to act like they didn’t know each other and to me it was so obvious. Just so out of character that even Mikey and Aileen were puzzled by their actions, too.

*******************

There was a live band tuning up. June and the kids wanted to stay and I was having a ball, making Mike and Whitney nervous. I bet they thought this night was never going to end. Mikey and Aileen went out on the floor and stayed there doing all the dances, fast and slow. The four of us sat and watched. I asked Whitney twice to get up with me, but she adamantly refused. Mike never even asked June.

“June, I guess it is up to you and me to uphold the older folks. Would you dance with me?”

“I’d love to, but I’m not very good. It has been years.”

“It has for me too, but let’s see what we can do.” The first dance happened to be a waltz. June and I fit together perfectly. When the band finished playing that number, we were way over on the far side of the room, where I felt comfortable holding her as close as I wanted to. No objections from her either. Just as I let her step back, she looked at me saying, “I could learn to like this. That was heavenly.”

Before I could answer, the band struck up “The Chicken Dance.” This was one I could really get into and June after a couple of seconds, got the moves down pat too. Mikey and Aileen were drawing closer as the dance progressed and when it ended we had a group hug and laughed as hard as we could from the fun of it all.

We returned to the table, finding Mike and Whitney up and ready to leave. Whitney stated, “I’m leaving. I’ll take a taxi if I have to.”

I had my fun. I didn’t want to push it, so I agreed to take everyone home. Aileen and Mikey wanted to stay, so I handed out cab fare and I took June and Mike home. June was gushing about what a wonderful time she had and thanked us for inviting them. She promised they would return the favor soon. Yeah, maybe.

Whitney had always been able to bitch at me long enough so I would apologize and beg her forgiveness. I was beyond that now and when she kept hearing “Yes, dear” it just made her madder. I agreed with everything that was wrong: my inviting the Damsons, the place I chose to eat, the meal and the dance. Especially staying to dance. She said Mike was an ass and hardly said anything all evening. I said that Aileen was puzzled, as the one time she met him, he was quite friendly. She had also commented that I was acting strange, too.

I decided to give her more, so I said, “Don’t you think that was wonderful, the way June helped with the complexities of the kids growing up? They’ve done a good job of it too. I’m proud of our daughter.”

“What that woman has done is to turn our daughter into a whore, and I’m not going to stand for it. I’m going to forbid it. So there!”

“Whitney, look at me. You will not say anything about it to Aileen or Mikey. The arrangement those two made and kept shows how adult they are. They are adults now, although they may not have been when they made the commitment. You keep out of it. For once someone did something nice and I won’t have it torn apart. Do you understand?”

“Well, it was not that woman’s place to advise our daughter, especially on the subject of sex.”

“What about Mikey? Are you saying she didn’t have a right to protect her son?”

“Well, whatever.”

What do you know? I won one! Argument, that is. Later, as I lay in bed in the spare room, I thought maybe I’d try to influence Jimmy in the same way. It would depend a lot on the girl he chose. Of course he might be a horny little bastard and wouldn’t settle for one chick. I settled for one and look where I am.

I slept in the spare room all week. Thursday, Aileen came to me and asked what was up with me and her Mom. “Your Mom is still pissed about me inviting Mikey’s folks out last week. That is what she is saying anyway. I know it is something else. After last weekend, I’m feeling you are adult enough to hear something I know about your mother. It is pretty bad.”

“Does she have another man? That must be it. She has fallen for someone else and is in love.”

“I don’t know if it is love. From what I heard, I think it is just sex.”

“I don’t believe that. Mom doesn’t even like sex. She has said so several times.”

“Well she likes phone sex. She has even promised to rent a motel room with some guy tomorrow afternoon and evening. I’m going to watch the motel and get a picture of her going in and coming out with whoever it is.”

“How do you know this?”

“I picked up the garage phone accidentally and listened in when she didn’t know I was home.”

“Are you going to confront her?”

“No, not until I get some pictures.”

“Will you tell me who it is?”

“I’ll pretty much have to. I can’t stand being married to someone who is unfaithful.”

“Oh Daddy, I’m sorry. I’m going to stay out of her way until you find out. I can’t bear to look at her. Are you going to tell Jimmy?”

“Not now. He is young and wouldn’t know about these things.”

Aileen laughed. “He knows more than you think. He might even know about Mom. He is pretty smart. Maybe I’ll ask him.”

“No, please don’t.”

********************

I was sitting outside the motel at three p.m. on Friday. I saw Whitney drive up and park around back where her car wouldn’t be easily noticed. Five minutes later Mike drove up and parked beside her. Whitney got out of her car and started walking towards the front entrance. Six minutes later she came out and went up to the second tier. She waved at Mike who was still in his car. It was going to be a long wait I suspected, before I had anymore taping to do.

Three-quarters of an hour later, I saw Aileen’s car drive up to the entrance. Jimmy got out and went inside. What the hell? He came out almost immediately, and was driven over to where Whitney’s car was parked. When the car doors opened this time, Aileen, Jimmy and Mikey emerged and headed for the stairs. Jimmy had a bouquet of flowers in his hand.

They were moving too fast for me to catch them, so I just stopped and taped them going up the stairs, pausing before room 203. The door closed behind the three kids as they went in. It was fifteen minutes later before they returned to ground level. Aileen looked to where I was standing by my car and gave a little cautious wave. She pantomimed for me to wait until those upstairs came down. The kids then got into the car, stopped at the office again and drove off.

My wait this time was about ten minutes. I could see Whitney crying and berating Mike as they came down the stairs. He was giving it right back to her. They got halfway to their cars when they saw me. It was time for me to leave when they started for me. I stopped at a buddy’s and left my camera and the tapes, and then went on home. The three kids were waiting for me when I got there.

“Where is Mom?” Jimmy asked. He was pretty subdued. Well he might be, for I had no idea what he was confronted with when he opened the door to room 203.

“I don’t know. What in hell possessed you kids to go over there to the motel? How in hell did you know where it was anyway? How come you took Mikey with you? Does your mother know about this?” I directed this last at Mikey.

He shook his head no. Aileen said, “Slow down, Dad. First of all, Jimmy knew all about Mom and Mikey’s father and we decided he should be with us. We couldn’t let Mom or Mike get away with this after you found out about it. We didn’t think you standing outside a motel taking pictures would be enough evidence for you to divorce Mom. We just went ahead and did what we thought we needed to do.”

“How did you know where to find the motel? I never said anything.”

Aileen explained. Jimmy has been bugging the phones for months. When you said you overheard Mom on the phone, I knew Jimmy would have a tape of it. I asked him and he did. He told me who the man was so I called Mikey. That explains why it was so weird last Saturday between Mom and Mr. Damson.”

“How did you know your brother was bugging our phone? Did you catch him and how?”

“He tried to blackmail me over something I said to Mikey.”

“And?”

“He wanted some money or he would tell you.”

“What happened?”

“I slapped him and said I was going to slap him every time I had a chance. He figured it wasn’t worth it. That is why you didn’t know.”

“Sis gave me the money later, though.”

“That’s just because you said you were sorry.”

Jimmy spoke again. “Dad, you know you shouldn’t discuss your business secrets over the phone without a voice scrambler. There are corporate spies out there who would love to know some of the things I know. It also would be a good idea to run a bug scan over your office too.”

“Okay, we will talk about it later.”

“Mikey, how are we going to tell your Mom about this? Should we wait and have him confess?”

“I wish that Aileen and I could bring her to your house so you can be present when I tell her. It is going to be very hard on her. It will help if someone that understands what happened is with me.”

“I can do that. Go get her then.” I waited for them to leave and then started questioning Jimmy. “How long have you known about your Mother?”

“Since Valentine’s day. That is when the sweet talk started. They have been having sex since the middle of May. It seems as if Mom is addicted. I would have told you Dad, but I couldn’t think of a way so you wouldn’t be mad at me. I’m sorry.”

“What did you do in the motel office?”

“I went in and asked for a key so I could put some flowers in her room. Me being a kid, there was no question, just the way I figured. You saw us go up the stairs and I just unlocked the door and we went in.”

“What happened then?” No kid should see his mother doing this kind of stuff. This is what worried me when I saw all of the kids get out of the car.

“Mom and Mikey’s dad were in the bathroom fooling around taking a shower. Aileen and Mikey walked right in and opened the shower curtain while I stayed by the outside door. I didn’t want to see either one, honest. Mom screamed and old Mike started swearing.

“I was kind of scared. Then they started begging us not to tell you or Mikey’s mom. Sis told Mom to put a robe on and come out into the room. She screamed and started crying when she realized I was there too. That’s when Sis told her that you were outside. We left. I didn’t do anything wrong did I Dad?”

“No Son, of course not. Don’t think about what your mother has been doing either. Just try to forget it.”

“Dad, if you and Mom get a divorce, can I live with you?”

“That’s a long way down the road, and the courts will have to decide, but they will take your wishes into consideration.” We heard a car stop out in the street. It was Aileen’s.

June followed Aileen in looking mystified as to why Mikey had insisted she come here with them. I told her we had some sad news. “The kids and I have discovered that Mike and Whitney are having an affair. Mikey wanted support when you were told. I’m so very sorry.”

June stared at me and then turned to her son. “Mikey, you tell me what you know about your Dad.”

“Mom, Mr. Chapman accidentally picked up the phone when it rang last Saturday morning. He picked up just as Mrs. Chapman did. He overheard some phone sex between her and an unidentified man. That is when he invited us for dinner, not knowing it was Dad that was the man he had overheard. We all saw how different Dad acted, but we didn’t know the cause.

“Yesterday Aileen questioned Mr. Chapman about why he and her mother weren’t getting along. He told her about the phone call and said he was going to record the two going into the entrance of the motel for evidence. He wanted to see if he could find out who her lover was. Jimmy put things together as he had been taping phone conversations. He has been doing this with a recorder he built himself. Aileen talked to him about their Mom and he knew already and had known for several months who and what was taking place.

“When Aileen learned the identity, she came to me. We went to the motel a short time ago and caught Dad and Mrs. Chapman in the bathroom together taking a shower. I can’t believe Dad did this to you and to me. What are we going to do?”

“I guess I had better get a lawyer. What are you going to do Mr. Chapman?”

“The same. I am going to insist that Aileen still goes to college and I’m keeping Jimmy here with me as long as I can. I’m going to ask Whitney to leave and find her own place. She works and I won’t support her.”

“I want Mikey to keep his schedule, too. Just because his father messed up is no reason for Mikey to lose his education. I wonder where Mike is now?”

“They didn’t stay in the motel room. I taped them coming out. They didn’t look happy, either with their situation or each other.”

I looked out the window when I heard a car pull into the driveway. It was Whitney, and Mike was with her. “June, you and Mikey can step into the other room or upstairs. In fact why don’t all of you disappear until I see what is going to happen.”

Whitney came in with Mike behind her. “Aileen’s car is out front. Is she here?”

“She is upstairs.”

“Jake, we have to talk. I don’t want a divorce and Mike doesn’t either. Can’t we get beyond this, somehow? We’ve been married a long time. It would be terrible to have it come apart now. How did you get on to us, anyway?”

“Whitney, think back to last Saturday morning when Mike called. Think of what you said to each other over the phone. And what you were planning to do to each other in the motel today. Some of it almost made me puke. I also find out that you have been saying these things to each other since last Valentine’s day. And I found out you have been screwing since May. You want me to get over it? Bullshit. No way!”

Whitney started to say something and I cut her off. “That isn’t the worst part. My son was fifteen when this all started and he has heard everything you two have said to each other over the phone. The kid didn’t dare tell me, but he knew all about his slut of a mother and the man that was father to his sister’s boyfriend. It is a wonder he hasn’t cracked up. These may be issues he will have to contend with for the rest of his life.”

Whitney was crying openly. Mike spoke, “I should go and talk to June and see what kind of a story Mikey has told her. Can you give me a ride?”

“Mike, I already know all about you two.” I turned and June had come into the room, followed by Mikey. “I don’t want you ever near me again. When you leave here, you go get your things and you will not be sleeping in our house again.”

“Whitney, why don’t you pack your bag and when you give Mike a ride, you won’t have to come back. Aileen is upstairs. Get her to help you if she will. I’m sorry our marriage has to end like this.” Whitney got ready to leave. Aileen gave her mother a hug, but Jimmy wouldn’t even look at her. I carried the suitcase out for her. “Call and let me know where you are, Whit. I’ll try and smooth things over with Jimmy. He is pretty sensible and if I can get him to talk, he’ll be okay. Goodbye.” I watched as her car backed out and left. Most of my anger left with her and I felt only sadness.

June and Mikey stayed just until they figured Mike had removed his stuff. Aileen took them home and then came back to this empty-feeling home. Jimmy stayed in his room and Aileen and I sat at the kitchen table and talked. She wanted to know if I wanted her to stay away from her mother. I said no, of course not. I also asked in the short time before she left for school to be kind of a mother to Jimmy.

I wanted him to know about the committed relationship that she and Mikey had. “He has heard more about sex than most people do in their lifetimes from listening to his mother and Mike on the phone. Try to make him see that this isn’t love and isn’t a normal way of life. It is just two people gone wrong, with consequences. He may feel he is partly to blame, but he isn’t. These things are always found out eventually. Somebody up there sees to that. My accidentally picking up the phone was what was preordained. Make him believe that if you can.”

“You’re quite a guy Dad, and I think we will be all right when we get this behind us. Maybe even Mom too.”

***********************

Mikey and Aileen left for college, but before they did, lawyers had been hired for the impending divorces. This should have been a happy time, but there was no evidence of it. Aileen spent some time with Whitney. My wife had moved into a small one bedroom apartment which surprised me. Aileen passed the word to me that when Mike and she had left that fateful day, they went back to the motel room. Mike was planning on carrying on like they had before the kids burst in on them.

This is the time Whitney realized what she had done and the attraction for Mike was just sex and the excitement of hiding the affair. Their relationship ended that night. Mike was unhappy about this and continued to call, but was turned away each time. Whitney told Aileen that she could not see how I could lose the love and attraction I had for her so quickly. Whit had to realize she had been treating me like shit for the last couple of years.

I let Whitney furnish her apartment with extra furniture from our home and take what kitchen utensils she needed. Jimmy and I went on a pizza and cold cereal diet interspersed with fried chicken and burgers. It was a lonely and sad existence for all of us, especially with Aileen away at school.

Aileen was home for Thanksgiving and very distressed at how Jimmy and I were living. When she found out Jimmy had not spoken to his mother, she berated him until I stepped in and asked her to stop. “Damn it Dad, we were a family once and we are still related in one way or another. I’m going to ask Mom to come and cook dinner and we are going to sit down and talk. You guys are killing yourselves the way you are eating and the house is a mess. Nobody is getting on with their lives and you just have to. Mom is no better at this than you two. She just sits around and cries.”

I agreed to the dinner. I couldn’t call it a Thanksgiving dinner for I didn’t see anything to be thankful for. I had Jimmy promise to be civil to his mother. Aileen had me out shopping for the food with a list that Whit had given her for me to fill. I couldn’t find some things that were on the list so I was going into different grocery stores looking for the items.

As I came around the corner at the end of an aisle, a woman ran into me with a shopping cart. I straightened up from rubbing my shin and looked into the face of June Damson. “I’m so sorry, I wasn’t paying attention. I was trying to add sums in my head to see if I had enough money to buy something special for Thanksgiving. Oh, you’re Jake Chapman. Aileen is coming over later today to tell me about school. She and Mikey are still friends and write each other all the time. How are you since our world went bottom up?”

“Taking it day by day. Aileen came home and is getting Jimmy and me straightened out. How are you doing?”

“Fine.” I glanced into her shopping cart, which didn’t contain much except the cheapest store brand bread, some store labeled jelly, a box of same brand corn flakes and six of the cheapest TV dinners. When I looked back there were tears in her eyes. “Well, things have been better. I can’t deny that.”

“Do you have much more to pick up? Why don’t you get what you need and then we’ll get a coffee. Aileen isn’t much on making coffee and I’m in need of coffee and a big, frosted doughnut.”

“I just need to get milk. Coffee sounds heavenly.”

We went into a small coffee shop and June stood just inside smelling the coffee and feasting her eyes on the doughnuts that were lined in rows where she could see them. I ordered a dozen of various kinds and had her sit while I got the coffee. I handed her the bag of sweet things and she chose a large cinnamon sticky bun. She sat picking little pieces off, savoring each little bit of the yeasty flavor.

“Oh, you don’t know how good this is. I thank you for asking me to join you.”

“June,” I asked, “tell me how you are really getting along? You look starved and I swear you are half the size you were three months ago. Remember I held you in my arms when we danced so I would know.”

“I had such a beautiful time that night. It ended all too soon when Whitney and Mike wanted to leave. I puzzled over their actions until you sent Mikey to get me the day things fell apart. Sometimes I think you shouldn’t believe in happiness because it can disappear in a few minutes. Look at right now, I’m happy, but I know shortly that will be gone when we leave here.”

“Are you having money troubles? Didn’t the courts give you enough from Mike?”

“You want to know how things really are? Mike keeps begging me to take him back and I won’t. I found out that Whitney isn’t the only one he seduced. I will say this for your ex-wife. It took him a lot longer to get into her pants than it did the others. From Valentine’s day until May is an awful long time for a man to go after a piece of ass. I guess it was worth it though, for him at least, for he tells me when he finally got to her, she was insatiable and couldn’t get enough sex. He throws that in my face every time he can. He is pissed that she threw him over so quickly when they were found out and takes it out on me every chance he can.”

“How do you mean?”

“The court said the house was to be sold, but I could live there until it was. That was the major asset in our marriage and I don’t think Mike is trying too hard to have it sold. He wants me back so he can go on with the way things were. I know he will promise anything, but I also know he never will keep them. Look what happened to our marriage vows.

“The only work I can find is for minimum wage and I send Mikey what I can. I was hoping to make enough to bring him home for Christmas, but I don’t think it is possible. I’m so lonely I could just die sometimes. Living is so pointless now and the future stretches out ahead of me with no hope of changing.”

I reached over and held June’s hand in mine. “Is there anything I can do?”

“I don’t know of anything. Asking me out for coffee and letting me cry on your shoulder has meant a lot to me. More than you know, actually.”

“It has meant a lot to me, too. June, can I call you and we can go out for coffee again sometime?”

“I’d like that.”

I left June and returned home without finishing my grocery shopping. I thought of the things that June had said about Whitney. Three months for Mike to get into her pants. That was a long time and he must have expended every effort to make it happen. Even this little knowledge of what was going on when I didn’t know about it and the resistance Whit had put up made me feel a little better about her.

Then June said Whit fell for his charms, she had embraced it with everything she had. This alone would keep me from even thinking of any kind of relationship with my ex-wife. I would think she was comparing my pitiful attempts at lovemaking with Mike’s more aggressive sex. That is what must have turned her from me to him in the first place.

I thought about June and the situation she found herself in. Damn it, some of this was Whitney’s fault. I wonder if Whit knew she was just another one of Mike’s conquests or if she thought he was hers alone. Then I thought how much June needed Mikey home for Christmas. Somehow I was going to make sure that happened.

I went in and found Aileen. “Hi, guess who I ran into in the grocery store? June Damson, Mikey’s mother. I bought her a coffee. Has Mikey said anything about his mother?”

“No, not much. He says she never mentions his father. He is hoping his father will send him money to come home for Christmas, but his father doesn’t correspond as often as he did the first month he was gone. Why?”

“I don’t think June is making out very well. She probably wants to keep it from Mikey so it wouldn’t interfere with his studies.”

“How so, Dad?”

“She told me the house hadn’t sold which was supposed to be where her settlement from the divorce would come from. I saw what she was buying for food. She is buying the cheapest food and damn little of that. I bought doughnuts and she chose the biggest and fattest and then nibbled little bites, savoring each tiny bit.

“She is worried Mikey won’t get home to relieve her loneliness for a few days. Your mother caused me and you kids a hell of a lot of pain, but nothing to what she has put that woman through. I wish your mother could see the results of her affair up close and personal. When you go to visit June this evening, take something to eat--something so she won’t think it is charity.”

“You can’t mean she is that bad off, Dad?”

She had cold cereal, milk, bread, jam and a few TV dinners in her shopping cart. They were the cheapest you could buy. Christ, I thought Jimmy and I were bad off having to eat pizza and grinders. By her standards, that would be living like a king. When you go over, look around and see what you can see. I think I’m right.”

“I will, Dad, I will.”

I shouted upstairs to Jimmy. “Jimmy bring that scanner thing you built. This is a perfect time to check out my office for bugs. No one but security will be around. Come on, let’s go fight crime.” Jimmy came bounding down the stairs, laughing at my remarks. Jimmy and I had a pretty good rapport with everything except when his mother’s name came up. I was hoping for some progress with that problem at the dinner table when Whitney came for Thanksgiving.

No, shit! Jimmy found a bug. Well, sort of. It wasn’t activated but it had been at one time. I called security to show what we had found. This excited him because he would have something to write in his report and about something that actually happened on his shift. While he was in my office taking the details, Jimmy was fooling around on my computer. “Hey Dad, is this all the security you have on this machine?”

“It is what is recommended by the company.”

“Well you’d better suggest to someone that it isn’t good enough. If they don’t listen, you’d better buy some security for this particular machine so you know nothing gets stolen from your office. Christ, a ten-year-old could hack into this.” The security guard was taking this all in, but didn’t say anything.

As we were going home Jimmy asked, “Dad, do you think Sis would let me go on a double date with her? I know she is going out Friday night. There is a girl in my class that I would like to ask out. I just don’t know how to act and I won’t ask any stupid questions to embarrass her.”

“Tell your sister that. She might, but you never will know until you ask her. How about the girl, have you asked her for a date?”

“We’ve talked about it, but she is shyer than I am. She did say if I said, ‘Tina, will you go out with me?’ she would go. I really want to.”

“What about her parents? Will they let her go out?”

“I think so. I’ve met them. They know Tina isn’t very popular because she is a geek just like I am. Tina said they worry she will never get to go out anywhere. Since I have been to her house several times, I think it will be okay.”

No one was home when we got there and Jimmy went up to his room to work on a project he said he had going. I sat and reflected on my life. In some ways it sucked. But I did have two great kids, almost adults and soon they would be gone, I had no doubt. It wouldn’t be long before I could start looking for a mate again. Someone that wouldn’t turn from loving wife to a bitch and then finally into a slut. I still didn’t know why either, but I wasn’t going to ask. I was afraid I might learn something about myself that I didn’t want to hear.

What I needed was someone like June. She is the one that had been victimized the most in this whole mess. Mike had stepped out on her, supposedly because he was finding other women that were better in bed. Whit did for the same reason, apparently. If I ever got the chance for sex with June, would it be a disaster because we were both poor performers in the sex department? Somehow I didn’t think so.

I promised to call June for a coffee date. I could do that anytime, even though our divorces were not finalized. Let’s see, our divorces were going to happen a few days before Christmas. That would be perfect. Maybe I could put a smile on her face again. I wonder how that would set with Whit? Um, screw her. Mikey, well I always got along good with him so that shouldn’t be a problem. And Aileen and Jimmy. I have the feeling whatever makes me happy will make them happy. Hey, I guess my life doesn’t suck so bad after all. These were my thoughts as I drifted off to sleep in my chair.

********************

I awoke with Aileen poking me. “Dad wake up. I want to talk to you. I’ve done something you might not like, but it is too late to change it. Mom is coming for Thanksgiving and do the cooking. That was a concession on your part. I have browbeaten her to go and make somewhat of a formal apology to June. We went there this afternoon. June has accepted it, which I think was a wonderful thing for her to do. They never will be friends and I wouldn’t expect it either. This is going to be a very difficult holiday for all of us---soooo, June will be here for dinner.”

I could have kissed my daughter, but I just said, “Okay, she needs a good meal from what I saw this morning. I’m glad you asked her. Your mother really apologized? Wow, I didn’t ever expect that.”

“You’re okay with this then? Good. Tomorrow is bake day, so you keep out of the kitchen. Mom and I are going to be so busy.”

“Sis, now I have a favor to ask of you. Jimmy has a girl he has been wanting to take on a date. He doesn’t know how to act. He heard you make a date for Friday night and wants to ask if he can double date. Would you do this for me?”

“Jimmy with a girl, gees, little brother is growing up. Sure, my date and I are going to the movies and he can tag along.”

“I don’t know anything about the girl, but Jimmy has met her parents and the girl is a geek just like him. Anyway give him a few pointers about how to act, what is acceptable and what isn’t.”

“Okay, I’ll do it, just because he is my brother. Oh, and I am going back to visit with June this evening. I didn’t get a chance to talk about Mikey with Mom there.”

Aileen went upstairs and I heard Jimmy ask his sister. He came down shortly with a grin on his face. “She went for it. Now I have to call Tina. Sis even said we could pick the movie to go to.”

“Well go call her then. It gets harder to do if you put it off. Trust me.”

I thought about tomorrow. Aileen was doing all the arranging and I was being left out. I wanted to be a part of this, not just a bystander. I grabbed the phone and realized that Jimmy was still talking to a girl. I broke in, “Hey Jim, when you hang up, let me know. I need the phone for a few minutes. You can call your girlfriend back.”

Jimmy came storming down the stairs. “Dad, that was rude. She isn’t my girlfriend. I just kind of like her, that’s all.”

“Sure, like her enough to ask her for a date, that’s all. Hey, she’s going to dream about you tonight. Son, you got yourself a girlfriend whether you know it or not. Now get out of here and let me use the phone for awhile.”

“Why, do you want to call your girlfriend?” I didn’t answer.

“Hi June, it’s me, Jake. Aileen tells me she invited you for dinner. I think that’s a great idea. Say, I’m kind of out of this whole cooking bit. I was wondering, do you know how to bake a pie? Aileen said something about buying some from the grocery, but I’d love to have a homemade one. I thought maybe if you knew how, I’d get what you needed and you could do it. If you didn’t mind, of course?”

“Jake, before I answer, I want to thank you for those doughnuts you left in the car. When your wife and Aileen showed up I didn’t have a thing in the house to serve. You saved me from being embarrassed.”

“Oh, I wondered what happened to them. I thought I left them in the coffee shop. So, what about the pie?”

“Jake, you’re just doing this because you know I didn’t have anything to bring for dinner tomorrow, aren’t you?”

“You still haven’t answered my question.”

“I can bake pies. Now get a piece of paper and take down what I’ll need, but you better plan on sticking around while I put them together so you can make your own next time. Bring coffee, I still have doughnuts. And before you suggest it, I’ll tell Aileen not to make pies, because I have it covered.” I hung up and when I went to bed I was a happier than I had been in a long, long time.

I doubled June’s grocery order and threw in a few things I thought she might need (use) including a large can of coffee. I was at her door just before eight in the morning. June had on jeans and a sweat shirt.

“Morning June, am I too early? I don’t know how long it takes to make pies.”

“Actually it does take quite awhile, so I’m glad you came early. Jesus Jake, how much stuff did you buy? Where in the pies am I going to put steak, hamburg, and hot dogs? You’ve got ten pounds of sugar and ten pounds of flour and a box of Bisquick, bacon and sausage. You’ve even brought some maple syrup. I haven’t had any of that for years. Oh, I get it, you want pancakes for breakfast. I’ll make them, but before you go, we are going to have an understanding on the rest of the groceries.”

I sat and drank coffee while I watched June make the pies. She put together an apple, a pumpkin and a lemon meringue. June said mincemeat used to be a favorite for Thanksgiving, but people didn’t go for it so much anymore. “Why don’t you go on a tour of the house while I’m busy? Maybe you can see why Mike hasn’t put it on the market.”

I slowly walked through the rooms. The house had a nice layout. The cellar was tight and dry with a nearly new heating plant. The only problem that I could see was the fuel tank was less than a quarter full. I bet June never gave fuel a thought. I went up to the second story. There was a huge master bath and two very large bedrooms. This should be a three bedroom. I would ask.

“What did you think? Pretty nice isn’t it? I’m going to hate to have to move.”

“I saw two bedrooms upstairs. Isn’t there a third?”

“Sure, down the hall by the bathroom, there is a coat rack in front of that door. There is another door into it behind the bathroom door. You don’t see it unless the bathroom door is closed.”

I went and looked. Sure enough and it was a really pleasant room. I came back and sat down.

“Anything else I should know about?”

“June I don’t want to scare you, but what are you doing about fuel for the winter? You haven’t more than a few days left.”

June stared at me and I thought she was going to faint. Instead she started to cry and sank into the chair across from me. Putting her head down she started sobbing. “What’s the use of living? I wish I was dead.”

I got up and went over and put my hand on her shoulder. “Hey, I’ll give you five minutes to cry and get it out of your system, and then we will see what you can do to get out of this mess Mike has put you in. Have you got the agreement from your lawyer saying what you can do with the house? Let me look at it if you don’t mind.” June went into the living room and brought back a metal box. Opening it, she handed me a document. I read it and then re-read it.

“June, according to this, you can do anything with the house you want yourself, including selling it. If at the end of a year you don’t buy Mike’s share out, which isn’t much by the way, the property is to be appraised. The first viable offer is to be accepted. I’ll bet Mike thinks you will let the house go downhill and he can make a low offer. He will have the house back and you will get little or nothing out of the divorce. He is trying to pull a fast one on you.”

“But that won’t fill the oil tank.”

“No, but you have some other options. What about a roommate, or roommates? What about leasing all or part of the house? That could be a distinct possibility and would solve your problems.”

“What do you mean, lease part of the house? How could that work?”

“If you were happy with that bedroom and bath down the hall and kitchen privileges, you could rent or lease the rest. The house in this shape and location would give you at least a thousand to twelve hundred a month. That would help you wouldn’t it? You could lease the whole house, but you would have to rent for yourself then.”

“I wouldn’t know how to go about doing anything like that. How would I find somebody?”

“How would you feel about renting or leasing to a gay couple? Before you answer though,” I paused, “how are my pies coming?”

“Oh my God! I forgot them.” June flew out of her seat and checked the pies.

She was almost laughing when she turned around to look at me. “Guys or girls?”

“Guys. There is a gay guy in an office two doors down from mine. He is desperate to find quarters for him and his partner. He has to be out of the place he is in by the last day of this month. That’s about a week from today. I can call him if you want. They have enough money I’m sure, and they keep a low profile.”

“Would you do it if you were in my situation? Be honest, now.”

“No, I would want gay girls.”

June had to look twice at me before she realized I was kidding. “Call him, so I can sleep tonight.”

“Find me the phone book then.”

Greg and Sammy were there within the hour. I think maybe it was the smell of pies that did the trick. Greg, my co-worker, was twenty-five, and Sammy, his partner, was twenty-nine. They left behind the first month’s rent and a security deposit. Knowing what was needed for paperwork temporarily, I wrote an agreement in long hand and I signed it as witness.

I called the oil company and they promised a delivery late that evening. When the pies came out, I drove June into town to the bank. Just in time too, for the banks closed at noon. I went into a hardware store and had some keys made for the new tenants.

“Jake, I have just one more errand. I have to mail this letter. There is a check in it so Mikey can fly home for Christmas.” I never saw a person change so much as June did in just a few short hours and in the right direction, too.

I went home and met Whit coming from the house. “Hi Jake. Aileen and I have baked fresh, home-made rolls. We have the veggies all peeled, and the turkey is almost thawed. I’m glad you didn’t get too big a one. Nobody eats as much as you think with all the side dishes. I’ll be back early in the morning to put the bird in. Do you think it was okay for June to offer to make the pies? She looks as if she doesn’t have much income and I hope it won’t be a burden for her. I suppose as long as she was invited, she felt obligated to contribute.”

“One other thing. Maybe before she gets here, you and the kids can sit down with me and I can apologize to all of you. I hope Jimmy will at least speak to me someday. Aileen doesn’t like what I did to you, but you’ve been pretty good about it. I have a couple of other things I want to mention, but I’ll wait until tomorrow. You know it is weird walking out this door and realize that this isn’t my home anymore. I didn’t think at one time I would miss it, but I do. Take care.”

I didn’t say anything as she turned and went out to her car. Coming in the house, I found Aileen in the living room. She came up and gave me a hug. “I saw you meet Mom. I watched you and I figured you don’t hate her too much. You don’t love her. She is just someone you know. I’m right, aren’t I?”

“Pretty close. I suppose if I keep seeing her off and on, some of the affection I had for her will develop into a real friendship. It will take awhile, but it could happen.”

“Dad, you’ve got a very big heart, you know? I’ll bet by the way you smell when I get close to you, that you have been baking pies.”

“Yes I have and I want to brag a little. I think I’ve just done something for someone that I’m so proud of. Yesterday there was no way in hell that Mikey was going to get home for Christmas. The check is in the mail so he can.”

“You didn’t give June money did you? If you did, what do you expect in return?”

“Sis, I did pay for the stuff to make the pies. I did not give June anything more than that, except I figured out a way so she wouldn’t be so broke. Mike was planning on taking advantage of June, and through her ignorance, it was going to happen.

“I found someone to lease the house. June has retained one room with bath and has kitchen privileges. The living room is a common area. She has already received enough money to fill her empty oil tank and send Mikey fare home. Not only that, she won’t be alone and I’m sure her tenants will help her if she needs it.”

“You did all of that and it didn’t cost you anything? I bet after the problems June has had, she must think you are God. You aren’t planning on taking advantage are you?”

“No, I’m not and believe it if you can, I’m still married and I will remain that way until I have a paper that says I’m single. To me those vows I took are still in force. Is that good enough for you?”

“Wow, someone I know has values.”

******************

The turkey was in the oven and now it was time to talk. Whitney was very surprised and pleased when Jimmy said good morning to her. Whitney started the discussion by saying, “This may be kind of weird for a family to listen to the mother and wife confess her infidelity. However it happened and I got caught, which was inevitable. I’d like to say right now how sorry I am for the pain I have caused all of you. Someday, I’m hoping each and everyone of you will forgive me.” She looked at Jimmy who hadn’t met her eyes since we sat down.

“I have no defense. I will say that people often have different desires and fantasies. For nearly twenty years Jake and I were, I’d like to think, a loving couple. Over the last two years, something went wrong in my thinking. This was not your father’s fault, only mine. I became short with him when I spoke and picked up on every little imagined slight. Even you kids got into the habit of putting him down.

“Things really started to change one day when I was out shopping with Aileen and Mikey. Mike saw me and put the move on me. It was exciting to have someone flirt with me and I returned it. I guess Jimmy could tell you more about that than anyone else. My fifteen-year-old son was listening to me on tape when I talked on the phone. I was, and am, more ashamed over that happening than anything else I have ever done.

“He can tell you when I succumbed and how during the week I flirted and built up the anticipation for the next encounter. He can’t tell you, because I never voiced it to anyone, the shame and degradation I felt the next day after each encounter. These encounters were always on Friday. By Tuesday I was starting to think about the Friday coming up and Jimmy would have more filth to listen to. There were thirteen of these times when I had no thought of any of my family, just the lust and the satisfaction of it.”

“Thank God, Jake heard me and you kids put into play the way to stop me. I would like to tell Jake before you two kids, that I returned to the commitment I made years ago that night. I have not had sex in any form and haven’t wanted to. I won’t until I have a paper that says I am absolved of that commitment. The only way I could have sex would be if your father took my hand and led me upstairs. I know that isn’t going to happen so again I am asking for forgiveness.”

There was total silence around the table. I had a clearer idea of what happened, but something was still missing. Jimmy answered that by asking a question. “Mom did you do all those things you talked about week after week and were they as good as you said they were going to be?”

“The anticipation was as good, I don’t deny that. When Saturday came, though, I was sore in mind and body. Sex with Mike was very rough and often more painful than I thought I could bear. I think the pain was to assuage the guilt I was having for cheating on the husband I had at home. The phone sex during the week was to build Mike up to where he would hurt me on Friday and take away my guilt. The problem was the guilt wouldn’t stay away. It was a vicious cycle.”

I interjected, “You should see a professional about this, Whit.”

“I am Jake. That is why I wanted to talk to all of you together. As soon as I started getting answers from her, I felt it was time to ask for some little forgiveness. Jake, sometime in the future the shrink will answer why I treated you as I did. I want to reiterate I have a lot of respect for you. I think back to the love we had years ago. I changed, but you never have. I hope someday you will find someone that will love you as I did back then. Please don’t stop looking for somebody to make you as happy as we once were.”

Our little meeting broke up and again Jimmy made it all worthwhile when he said to his mother, “Mom, I guess you are not as bad as I thought you were. I can understand a little more of why you did those things. That Mike though, he is the one I can never forgive.”

**********************

“Hi Jake. We have time for a quick coffee before we load up the pies. Let me tell you something. I cried myself to sleep last night, but it wasn’t like the other nights. Last night I cried because I was so happy. This is truly a Thanksgiving day.”

“It is for me too. Whitney has been seeking professional help and did some explaining about what she has found out about herself and why she turned to Mike. Our little session ended with Jimmy more on normal terms with his mother which I am thankful for. My worry has always been that I did something or did not do something to turn Whit away from me. I don’t think Whit was as much to blame as I first thought. I do think your husband is a total asshole and most of the blame lies at his door.”

“I agree that he is an asshole and thank God he is soon going to be my ex. Does all of this mean that you and Whitney are getting back together?”

“No, Whit understands that any love I had for her is gone. She hasn’t asked me to drop the divorce and take her back. She wants my friendship though, and that I can accept. There is no way we cannot interact because of the kids, so it will be much easier if we treat each other as people that have disagreed on something, but still have a common bond. So what have you been up to besides crying with happiness?”

“I’ve been very busy. Greg and Sammy came by late in the afternoon. They kept eyeing that apple pie, so I used some of the stuff you brought to make them one. You don’t mind do you?”

“Of course not.”

“I think I am going to like having them around. They helped me get my room ready by moving some things for me. They asked what I was going to do with my furniture and when I said I was going to store it until it could be sold, they made an offer. I accepted it, so now I have more money to put in the bank. And I feel sorry for them some. Greg’s folks are okay with his lifestyle, but Sammy’s parents have pretty much disowned him.

“I do have a favor to ask. When Mikey comes home for Christmas, could he stay at your house? He and Aileen are still friends and they should have a lot to catch up on.”

“That’s a great idea and you can feel free to spend some of the holidays with him at my house. Hey, we have to get going with those pies. Dinner will be on the table if we don’t hurry.”

The house smelled wonderful. I carried the pies in and set them on the sideboard. Aileen came quickly to June with a hug and welcome. Jimmy smiled and said hi. I could tell that Whitney was uneasy because she didn’t know what to say. This wasn’t her home anymore and with the unusual issues between her and June, it was awkward.

“Look gang, this isn’t going to work if we stop and think about the past. Today let’s just enjoy our meal and think about the future. I am so glad everyone is here. I mean that, too. It has been such a long time since I have had three beautiful women to sit at the table with Jimmy and me. I assure you this is a feast for my eyes as well as it is for my tummy.”

The mood lightened and the awkwardness disappeared. Aileen told about college life and how she was handling being away from home. Jimmy surprised us all and announced he had a date for tomorrow night. This was news to Whit who exclaimed that her boy was growing up. June just smiled and said she remembered Mikey’s first date and how nervous he was.

She then went on to tell all about the changes that were happening in her life. “My life has changed overnight and it all happened when I agreed to make a pie. I can’t believe it. I’ve gone from wondering where the money for the next meal was coming from to actually having a little in the bank.”

Whitney, curious, asked what turned things around for her and how. June gave me more credit than I deserved for my suggestions, which I discounted by saying that I just knew someone in the gay community. The old adage of “it isn’t what you know, but who” seemed to apply. Dinner over, I sat in the living room, watching football, too full to move. I was also watching the women in the kitchen cleaning and putting things away.

For once I took the time to compare Whitney and June. Whitney was taller and more svelte than June’s shorter more compact figure. June did need to gain back some of the weight she had lost with her restricted diet. She even now was the more buxom and her derrière had kind of a bubble shape that I admired.

Not aware that I had been staring at June, I was brought abruptly back to the present when Whit said, “You could do a lot worse, Jake. Maybe my unfaithfulness may lead to more happiness than you ever had with me. I hope so. The Lord might even overlook some of my transgressions if that happened. Now walk me to the door while I thank you for a happy day that I never expected to have again.”

We stepped outside and she turned to me. “May I have a kiss Jake, to make my day complete?” I watched Whit walk down the walk and get into her car. If it was such a happy day, then why was she crying?

June said she had to work the next two days and asked me to take her home. I was invited in, but refused. I suppose it was foolish because I knew if I went in I probably would not be sleeping in my own bed tonight. “June I would love to, but I really want to finish one part of my life before I start a new one. Three weeks is all. It seems like a long time, but it will pass. I would like to kiss you, though.” I almost changed my mind about not going in the house before we finished the kiss.

I don’t think Jimmy slept that night. I could hear him restlessly prowling around downstairs. I guess I didn’t get as much sleep as I usually do either or I wouldn’t have known how much he was up. Aileen had been out with friends and she came in about two. She saw my light on and knocked on my bedroom door.

“Hi, can’t sleep?”

“No. It was quite a day wasn’t it? I was just lying here thinking.” 

“You can’t fool me, Dad. Who were you thinking about? Mom or June?”

“Well, both I suppose. I know in my heart that if your Mom and I got back together, we would have a good marriage to the end of our days. That would be nice for you and Jimmy if we were a family again. The thing is, your mother was a bitch for a couple of years and then went off and did her thing. I don’t think she ever gave much thought to me in that time. Just to be thrown away like that has hurt so much, it has killed the love and any passion I had for her. She could have said something anytime and I would have listened.

“June has had much the same thing slam her in the head as I have. There is just something she has about her that your mother never will have. Look how she came up with this short-time commitment between you and Mikey. That is a crazy idea on the surface, but it did just what it set out to do. It kept the wolves off both you and him.

“You didn’t have to get your sex in a back seat of a car somewhere. You had advice on how to keep from getting pregnant. She provided a place where you could do your sexual exploration without fear of interruption. She also made you see that this wasn’t to be taken lightly. The vow of commitment she made you take was a stroke of genius.

“I made a vow to your mother which ends in three more weeks. I could have followed June into her house tonight and I most likely would be in her bed right now. Maybe I am being too subtle with June, but I want to prove to her if I make a commitment I will keep it. If I have sex with June before I end what I had with your mother, how can she be sure I will keep any vow I make with her?”

“You are really old-fashioned, Dad. I think Mom was more stupid than she realizes. If you and June do hook up, she is going to be one lucky lady. Then again, June has been more of a mother to me at times than Mom, so I know you will be getting a gem. You write to me about how you are making out, promise?” It was good to talk to someone and Aileen was an understanding listener.

***************

I saw Jimmy and Aileen off on their double date. There was nothing for me to do. June worked eleven in the morning until seven in the evening. Damn it I thought, I’m going out for a beer. I hadn’t done that for awhile. I had heard about a bar where they had a country ensemble. Maybe listening to a few cheating songs would make the next few weeks go faster.

The place was crowded, but I was lucky as a booth emptied just as I walked along the west side of the room. I slid in and a waitress was there to make sure I didn’t pick up the tips lying on the table. “Say Miss. The place is full. If you see a couple come in, point them my way and I’ll share the booth. I just want a few brews and listen to the music.”

I bought the first round when she brought an older couple, Joe and Pia, over to join me. We didn’t talk much, just sat and listened to the music. When the band went on break, I became aware of some bragging going on in the booth behind me. I really perked up when I heard Whitney’s name mentioned and I recognized Mike Damson’s voice. I heard a blow-by-blow description of how he seduced my wife. When he tired of that he said how he was making it difficult for his wife because she divorced him. Joe and Pia were disgusted. I said nothing.

I slowed down on the beer I was drinking. When I heard Mike getting ready to leave and knew he was leaving alone, I excused myself and had Joe let me out of the corner where I was sitting. I believe in seizing the moment. I watched Mike come staggering towards me in the darkest corner of the parking lot. I never was a violent man, but you never know what is lurking somewhere beneath the surface.

I had seen Mikey driving his father’s car last summer so I knew which one was Mike’s. As he was getting his keys out, I landed one under his ear--a hard one. Down he went, out cold. I debated as I stood and looked at him and decided he had not felt any pain yet. Two good kicks to the ribs, one swift one to the nuts and then I put my foot on his face and ground it. He still didn’t feel any pain--he would in the morning though.

I nonchalantly walked to my car and drove home. I went in and went to bed. I searched my mind for any regrets about what I had just done, but couldn’t find any, so I went to sleep.

At eight the next morning, I picked up the phone and dialed. “Coffee?”

“Doughnuts,” is what I heard and what I was hoping for.

June had on pajamas and a heavy robe. “Christ you don’t even give a girl time to get dressed before you show up. Greg and Sammy stayed their first night last night. I hope you brought enough doughnuts.” She went to the foot of the stairs and shouted, “Coffee and doughnuts, you guys.”

“Okay Mom.”

June blushed. “The guys decided to make me their honorary mother. That’s all right isn’t it?”

“Good for all of you.”

“Uh, Jake, I get the feeling you might be spending some time here, off and on. That right?” Greg was fishing.

“In a word, yes, but for a few weeks, just coffee. Basically we are friends. My daughter went with June’s son until they went away to college so we have that common bond. Something more may develop between us at some later time.”

“June, for God’s sake don’t sell the house out from under us. Sammy and I haven’t officially moved in yet, but we love the neighborhood, the house and how close we are to our work.”

I said, “Why don’t you ask June for an option to buy the property? She has to have a lawyer draw up the paperwork on your lease. This would be an ideal time to include it. That is the way my wife and I bought our home.”

June was nodding her head in agreement. I continued. “Do you guys need my van for anything? It is a lot bigger than your car for moving.”

“Gee, can we? That would let us get all moved by the end of the day. Thanks, Jake.” I tossed him the keys and they left the keys to their car on the table for me to use.

We had coffee and when Greg and Sammy finished they took off in my vehicle to get a load of stuff. June said she was going to get dressed and went down the hall to her room. I heard a car pull up outside. A couple of minutes later there was a knock on the door. I went to open it and there were two police officers.

“Is this the Damson residence?”

“Yes it is.”

“Is Mrs. Damson in?”

“Yes she is. Come in. I believe she is getting dressed at the moment. I’ll call her.” I went to the hall entrance and shouted, “June, there are two police officers here to see you.”

“Okay, I will be right out. Ask them if they want coffee.”

They didn’t. “This isn’t about her son Mikey is it?”

“No. Who are you and what is your relationship to Mrs. Damson?”

“My name is Jake Chapman. I guess I am June’s friend. My daughter and June’s son Mikey were going together before they went away to school.”

“How come you are here in the house this morning?”

“June has rented out part of her house. One of her new tenants works with me. He has my van to move his stuff in. That is his car out front. I brought doughnuts, and June made coffee. You just missed them, but they’ll be back in a couple of hours. Actually I was just leaving and I was coming back late today to get my car.”

June had heard this exchange as she came down the hall brushing her hair. “What is wrong? Why are you here?”

“We came to tell you your husband was injured at a bar last night. His injuries are pretty serious, but not life threatening. He is in the city hospital. We can transport you there if you don’t feel like driving.”

“That won’t be necessary. My husband and I are in the middle of a divorce. I kicked him out for cheating on me so if he got into a fight it is nothing to me.”

“Okay then, we had your name listed as his wife so we came to inform you. We’ll be going along. Have a good day.”

After the police left June and I speculated about what might have happened to Mike. Not having any information concerning his injuries, the topic soon dried up. I didn’t stay long and left for home. Jimmy and Aileen would be up and I was curious as to how the double date went last night. June said as I left, “I suppose I should go to the hospital and see how badly Mike is hurt. Mikey will want to know and I’ll call him before I go to work.”

Aileen and Jimmy were sitting around the kitchen table joking with each other when I came in. Aileen had a smirk on her face and then started openly laughing. She was cracking up as she told me about last night. “Boy Dad, what I’m going to tell you is something you never saw coming. You have never met Tina, Jimmy’s friend have you?”

I agreed that I hadn’t and looked at Jimmy who was smiling, as well as his sister. Aileen went on, “When I drove up to Tina’s house Jimmy asked me to go to the door with him, for his parents were concerned about who would be the chaperone. Jimmy knocked on the door and it was opened immediately by a really huge black man. Jimmy gave him a hi five and a ‘Hi Jackson’ and passed by him into the house, leaving me facing this giant. As I stood there with my mouth open he said, ‘Come in little lady. I’ll have to work on that boy and tell him when to introduce people. I’m Jackson Smith, Tina’s father. You must be Aileen. Come meet my wife.’

“Jackson escorted me to where this beautiful blond woman was standing and introduced me to her. Her name is Portia. I guess Jackson and Portia are about the same age as you and Mom. Jimmy and Tina came in and said they were ready to go. Tina is as lovely as her mother, only with a light brown complexion. Her features are much like her mother’s, only I think she will be a couple of inches taller soon.”

I turned to Jimmy, “You didn’t tell me your friend was black.”

“You didn’t ask and it didn’t seem important, anyway. Besides Tina is only half black. What am I supposed to say, ‘her Mom is white.’ Since when have you ever asked a question like that? You never gave me an idea that you were racist.”

“I’m not, son. It makes no difference to me. Let me ask you. Didn’t you take your sister to the door last night, just so you could shock her? I’m surprised, that is all. That smirk you two had on your faces when I came home--you both were trying to do the same thing to me weren’t you?”

“I guess.”

“Okay, then, did you have a nice date?”

“I did until my jerk of a brother and his girl showed me up in front of my date. It didn’t bother me much, because he is just a one-time date. I have had three more years of school than Jimmy and when I mentioned a problem I had in math he sat right there and gave me the answer. Tina, the little squirt, argued philosophy with my date and had him so tied up with lines of thought he was speechless. If I take Jimmy out with me again, he better play dumb.”

“Sorry Sis, I was just trying to help. If you follow what I said though, that whole problem will fall right into place for you. Not only that, but all the problems that come after. Hey, you got it made with a brother like me to solve your problems for you.”

“You did all right. My date last night was a dumb-ass anyway. Dad, I have to get my bag packed. You are taking me to the airport tomorrow morning aren’t you?”

“Yes. You make sure you visit your mother as much as you can. She is pretty lonely and she misses you. I still can’t get over how stupid she was.”

I had a thought now that Jimmy had his first date. I looked up the Jackson Smiths in the phone book. “Hello, this is Portia.”

“Hi Mrs. Smith. This is Jake Chapman, Jimmy’s father. I guess our kids had a good time last night.”

“Tina did. Thank you for setting it up with your daughter the way you did. That was thoughtful.”

“I just wanted to tell you something about Jimmy’s situation here at home. I am in the middle of a divorce, which makes it difficult for Jimmy in some ways. Jimmy and I live here alone and there is no woman in the house. I have asked Jimmy not to bring any friends home when I’m not here. If Jimmy goes to anyone’s house, I have to rely on the parents there to supervise. Would you do that for me if Jimmy comes to visit Tina?”

“Yes I will. I wish all parents looked out for their kids like this. I worry when Tina goes somewhere when I don’t know for sure what the parents are like. Tina and Jimmy are such special kids with their exceptional intelligence, it creates their own problems. They are too young to know about life, and as smart as they are, we tend to forget how vulnerable they are in this area.”

“That sounds about the way I see things. Thank you for listening to me. Goodbye.”

Greg and Sammy came by and we exchanged vehicles. “We are all moved and a day early, too. Thanks a lot for the use of your van. We just unloaded everything. Now we have to go make a home for ourselves. You are welcome to come visit anytime, Jake. Finding this place for us sure makes the world look a little brighter. You can’t imagine how difficult it is for those of us that are a little different.”

June called me after she got off work in the evening. “I went in and saw Mike. Boy, somebody did a job on him. He told the police there were three men that beat him up. He guessed somebody from the bar must have scared them off before they could rob him. I told him about renting the house and gave the people an option to buy. He is very unhappy about it. I said I had the terms of our agreement read again and discovered that I could do anything I wanted to with it. If I sold it I would make sure he got his percentage.

“I hit Mike again about not sending Mikey enough spending money to live on. Mikey is having to work which cuts into the time he needs to study. Mike is the one that is charged with seeing to Mikey’s education. I asked him about next year’s tuition. He just snapped at me and didn’t answer.”

“What were Mike’s injuries?”

“His face is pretty bad and he may need plastic surgery to straighten his nose. He has two broken ribs.” I could hear her giggle, “And he had to have a ruptured testicle removed. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t laugh, but that ought to slow down his seduction of unwary women. I think there is justice in there somewhere.”

“How are your tenants doing? They brought my van back.”

“About how you would expect young marrieds to do in their first home. It is kind of sweet to watch them. I don’t think they have been together very long. Am I going to see you tomorrow?”

“No I can’t. I am taking Aileen to the airport and I have to catch up on things around here. Look, I have an idea. If I change my hours so I don’t have to go into the office so early, could I come by in the morning for coffee? I think I can have it all arranged by Tuesday morning. I’ll stop over just after the guys leave and I can stay for three-quarters of an hour or so.”

“I’ll be looking forward to seeing you on Tuesday. I hate to hang up, but I suppose I should. I’m not going to say goodbye, I’ll just say goodnight, okay?”

“For God’s sake, don’t ever say goodbye.” I think we both were dancing around something--both wanting to say more to each other, but we knew it was way too soon.

*****************

I took Aileen to the airport. I informed her that Mikey was coming home for Christmas and would be staying with me at our house. June just doesn’t have room anymore at her house. “Is that going to be a problem?”

“No problem. I’d love to have him here, where we can talk over our respective lives in college. We will not be sleeping together, though.”

“Why not? You used to?”

“Because Mikey is being faithful to another girl he found and I’ve met someone that I am interested in too. I haven’t definitely hooked up with him yet, but I am leaning that way. Neither one of us would feel right about going back to the way we were. If room is tight, he’ll have to sleep on the couch. Don’t sweat it, he will understand.”

Monday I went in to talk to my boss and had my hours at work changed to nine to five. Greg went to work at eight, and I was at June’s door before he wasn’t much more than out of sight. June was up and dressed and had the coffee poured as I came through the door.

“Hi, you look nice this morning.”

“You do too. Look Jake, I don’t know if this is a good idea. I thought about you Sunday, yesterday and half of last night. I’m wondering if why I’m so attracted to you is because I am on the rebound? I’ve been hurt badly by Mike. I worry about you going back to Whitney. She is so much prettier than I am and she would jump back in bed with you on a minute’s notice.”

This was a new development. I guess I had been thinking that June would fall right into my arms. I didn’t say anything as I thought about what she had just said. I could understand that she was being cautious because she didn’t want to be hurt again, especially so soon.

“I’m going too fast for you, aren’t I? I’m sorry. I guess I have been thinking about myself too much. June, I haven’t had a woman since last May and little enough for a long time before that. I don’t know when you have been loved last, but it is sometime ago, I’m sure. I suppose I have been thinking with the head of my dick, but I honestly want to tell you, my heart is involved here too. Would it help if I said I will let any relationship we might have develop at any speed you want?”

“It is just that I’m a little scared and feeling shy. I didn’t think I would feel like that again. I remember back when Mike and I started dating. Of course he wasn’t the type to wait for love to develop. I was pregnant with Mikey before I knew it and my father made sure Mike married me. God, if I knew what Mike would turn into, I would have refused to get married. It has been worth it I suppose, as I have Mikey and I wouldn’t give him up for anything.”

“Is that why you arranged for Aileen and Mikey to have the short-term commitment?”

“Yes. Over the years while Mikey was growing up, I asked myself why two people couldn’t learn about sex, enjoy it, still be friends, and then move on with their lives. I suppose it was an experiment and I had no right to manipulate Aileen into such a relationship. When I got to know her, I just had to try. Before they had sex the first time, I brought them together and explained what I had in mind. I took over from Whitney what should have been her job, but she didn’t seem to have any interest in guiding Aileen.

“Aileen is smart. She was worried about pregnancy and how it could destroy the plans for her life. Making them take a vow just as if they were being married was a stroke of genius, I think. Then I talked to them about always being considerate and not making the other jealous. How to protect each other and to keep everything private. You weren’t aware that she was having sex. Whitney knew, but it was a whole year or more before Aileen told her.”

“So how long was I in the dark about this? I know it ended when they went away to college.”

“Just short of two years. On Thanksgiving day when they were both juniors in high school, I arranged for them to commit and have their first sex.”

“God, that is awful young isn’t it?”

“Yes, but you have to look at the two kids and how serious they were. It wasn’t just about having sex either. I made them take on responsible things just as if they were married. Didn’t you notice that Aileen was doing housework at home?”

“Yes, but I figured that was because Whit made her, so she could go do her thing, hassle me and ultimately be unfaithful.”

“That was an unforeseen thing that I hadn’t counted on. Mikey took over a lot of the chores around here at home, which, as you say, let Mike have the time to go and run around on me. The same thing happened with Whitney.”

“Getting back to you and me, you don’t want me to come around for coffee again?”

“That isn’t what I’m saying. I hope you will come as often as you can. I just want to be sure, that is all.” June looked at me, debating whether to say more. “If you picked me up and took me down the hall to the bedroom, I wouldn’t stop you. I don’t feel it would be wise, if we really want to go further together, but I wouldn’t stop you.”

“Okay, that answers a question I was beginning to wonder about. We both have the same desires, we just have to go slow. I take it when you set this up with Mikey and Aileen, they didn’t get to jump into bed immediately. It worked for them, why can’t it work for us?”

“It can. Now you better get along to work or you’ll be late. I’ll see you tomorrow won’t I?”

“I’ll be here.”

The days counted down to the end of my marriage. Whit came by some afternoons and made Jimmy’s and my dinner. She questioned me if I had looked for someone yet. I said give me time. It was as if Whit was trying to find a wife for me. She did not know I was drinking a lot of coffee and telling someone all about my life. I was hearing the same from that someone.

Six days before we were to receive the decree, Whit had dinner on the table when I got home. After dessert, instead of picking up the dishes, Whitney said, “I have to talk. Jake, damn you, what is the matter with you? When are you going to make an effort to find a woman? You are making me feel so guilty. I have found a man that I think will make me happy. He is older than I am. We have just talked and I have told him all about myself and he is okay with my past.

“I really care what happens to you. I want you to be happy. I have more concern for you now than when you loved me. I can see where I took so much away from you by being unfaithful, and it is finally breaking my heart because you won’t do anything to help yourself.”

“Whit, don’t concern yourself. I’m working on it. Ask Jimmy if I’m sitting around moping.”

Whitney looked at Jimmy. “Dad isn’t moping, I can tell you that. He is always whistling and singing and I don’t know why. He never goes out at night and very rarely talks to anyone.”

“Let’s change the subject. I’m happy enough for now. What are you doing for Christmas this year, more specifically, Christmas eve? I thought maybe I would have an open house. Aileen will be home and Mikey is going to be staying here. We haven’t met the Smiths yet and Portia said they would stop by for a few minutes. I can have June come over with her tenants. I’ve invited them, because I work with one of them. If you have any free time, Whit, and would like to play hostess, you can have the job. I would like to meet your new interest, so that would work.”

“Who Is Portia?”

“Ask Jimmy?”

Jimmy was blushing, “I went on a double date with Sis and took Tina. Tina’s mother’s name is Portia and her father’s name is Jackson. Jackson is a cop, but he won’t have to work unless there is a murder or something serious.”

“Well I haven’t made any plans so if you want an ex-wife around, I’d love to be hostess. That will be a Saturday night I think. Perfect. You don’t have to do a thing, either. Aileen will be home and we will do it all. I probably can round up someone to be a date for you if you would like.”

I let out an explosive, “No!” Realizing how sharp that sounded I said, “Please don’t Whit. I can really take care of that.”

“Okay, I just thought you might want to get laid on Christmas eve. Nothing to me anymore, anyway.”

“Whitney! Not in front of Jimmy.”

That was Monday. Wednesday my office phone buzzed. “Mr. Chapman, there is a police officer here that would like a minute of your time.” Oh shit, somehow the attack I had made on Mike was discovered. “Okay Sarah, give him directions to my office. I will speak with him here.”

I waited with trepidation. My mouth hung open when this huge black man came in. He must have been six foot six. This has to be Jackson Smith, Tina’s father. “Hi, Mr. Chapman. We have never met, but I’m sure Jimmy has described me. I’m Jackson Smith. I guess you have spoken with Portia a couple of times.”

“Is Jimmy okay?” My first thought was that something had happened to my son.

“Yeah, he’s okay, but he’s afraid I’m going to kill him.” Jackson had a grin on his face when he said this. I relaxed. There is only one reason a father will kill a boy. Jimmy must have been caught messing with Jackson’s daughter.

“Okay, tell me about it. I thought Jimmy was sick. He didn’t come down to supper last night and I didn’t see him this morning.”

“Well it isn’t anything too serious, but I thought you should know about it. I went home early yesterday. I forgot to knock on Tina’s door and just opened it. Tina was sitting there with Jimmy kissing one of her breasts and he had his hand up her skirt. I still can’t believe neither one heard me. Finally I interrupted what was going on. I said, ‘When you kids finish what you are doing, maybe we ought to talk about this.’

“Jimmy pulled a scram and Tina said he wasn’t in school today. I talked pretty strong to my daughter. She just laughed at me. She is just like Portia, not afraid of me at all. Now I like Jimmy a lot and if anyone is going to feel up Tina, I’d just as soon it was him. Portia is about sick over this because she feels she let you down after you told her what your home situation is. Would you find out if Jimmy is okay and maybe talk to Portia too?”

I picked up the phone and called home. I put the speaker phone on. Jimmy answered. “Hi Jimmy, did anything happen yesterday that you might want to tell me about?”

“Oh jeez, is Jackson after me?”

“No, but you will have to apologize to him. Why didn’t you wait and talk to him when he asked you to?”

“I don’t know, scared I guess. You would be too if you could see him.”

“Well he is standing right here in my office, and I’m not afraid.”

“You would be if he caught you with your hand where mine was.”

“You’ve got a point there I guess. I’ve one question and I want an honest answer. This is serious now. Did Tina ever say ‘stop, or don’t do that, or I don’t want to, please stop’?”

“Dad, I admit I started it, but Tina said it felt good so I guess I was trying to make her feel really good.”

“Okay, son, I don’t think Jackson is too mad. We will have a talk about this and set some boundaries, though. Now you call Tina and tell her you are okay. You might talk to her mother too and say you are sorry for causing her some trouble. Can you do that?”

“Yes.”

I put the phone down and turned to Jackson. “So we know what happened and how far it went. What do you want to do about the situation?”

“Beats me. I got my first piece when I was fourteen. I’m surprised he hasn’t made a move on Tina before this. Those two kids have got more brains than twenty people. I know if they want to mess around there is no way we can stop it. I worry about Tina, she is so pretty and I just don’t want her to get in trouble and spoil her future. I think you want the same thing for Jimmy. It has been good having Jimmy around in many ways as there are some real creeps in our neighborhood. ’Course, me being a cop helps some too. I’m sorry Jimmy is afraid of me. I don’t want that. You have any ideas?”

“I might have. I have a daughter too and when she was about the same age as Tina and Jimmy she was running hot. The mother, whose boy was going with her, came up with a solution. I didn’t know about it and I probably would not have gone along with it at the time. It worked, though. It is worth a look at. I warn you, thinking as we do as parents, we might have to give those kids more freedom.”

“You mean let them mess around, don’t you?”

“Something like that. The lady that advised my daughter is a friend of mine. Is there anyway we can all get together and talk about it Saturday?”

“This is important enough so Portia and I will be ready anytime you say. Where do you want to meet?”

“My place I think. I’ll have June there and later I will have to tell my wife. She went along with it when Aileen told her, so she should go along with anything that we decide. I do have full custody of Jimmy, but my wife and I are still friendly. I have to tell you that Sunday is the last day of my marriage. This may be the last time Whitney and I make a decision together while we are still coupled.”

I got home and when I came in the door, Jimmy said, “I called and talked to Mrs. Smith. She said not to worry too much. She sounded madder at Tina than she did at me. When I talked to Tina she said to come on over tonight. I said I was afraid of her father and she just laughed and said he was a pussycat. Do you think it is all right to go over?”

“Yes, go. How much do you like Tina, anyway?”

“More than anyone I ever knew. I can’t believe anyone as beautiful as she is can like me as much as she does.”

“Well don’t worry about things. There are going to be some restrictions put on you two. The Smiths and I, your Mom and June Damson are going to have a meeting about you and Tina sometime Saturday. I want you to be here.”

“Does Mom have to be here? It still makes me nervous to have her around. Sometimes all I can think of is what I heard her wanting to do with old Mike.”

“Jimmy, think of your mother as being sick during the time you heard her on the phone. Sometimes sex is like a drug and for awhile your Mom was hooked. Sex addiction really is considered a disease. Your Mom has been going for treatment and she is being cured. She loves you a lot. It just about killed her when you wouldn’t talk to her.”

“Okay, but I hope she doesn’t say too much. I really like the Smiths and I don’t want them to think I have a dumb mother.”

Jimmy bugged out to the Smiths. He must like Tina more than just a little. For myself, I didn’t know if I had been in his situation if I would have had the courage to face Jackson.

I called Whitney to see if she would be free Saturday. I told her about the problems Jimmy was having. I said that I wanted her present, but Jimmy was worried about her and afraid she might say something to turn the Smiths against him. “This is about my past isn’t it? How do you really feel about me being there? Are you sure you want me? I could get sick or something.”

“Whit, now stop it. I asked you and I want you here whether Jimmy does or not. He is your kid and you do have a responsibility to him. To me too, if it comes to that. I’m asking for some help here. Can’t you give me some?”

“I’ll be there because I do want to help. I promise not to embarrass Jimmy in any way. Is the girl going to be there too? Anybody else?”

“Yes, I am going to ask June Damson. She handled the situation between Aileen and Mikey and it turned out well.”

“I don’t know if I want her there. It was kind of sneaky for her to set Mikey up so he could screw Aileen. I didn’t know about it until a year later.”

“I know. That was my first reaction too, but look how it turned out. Aileen went away to school without getting pregnant or in trouble. She has found someone at school she is interested in and I understand that Mikey has done the same for himself. We are just going to talk and set boundaries. I’m sure June will opt out if she needs to because it really isn’t any of her affair. I just want some input from her, just like I want some from you.”

June was hesitant at first when I broached the subject to her. Over her objection, I asked her to do it as a favor to me. She wanted to know how she could advise the kids when she had no direct involvement. I said, “Let me tell you as much as I know about the Smiths. Ask me any questions about Jimmy. Would you sit down and draw up what you think would work if Jimmy was your son? Do this just as you dealt with Mikey and Aileen.”

“It isn’t the same. How can I do that? I need more convincing.”

“It is just that I trust you so much, June. How about if you sit down and draw something up about boundaries and commitments. Something along the same lines that you think would work for Jake and June starting next Monday. You know, a mini-commitment, long or short-term, if you think that is called for. I hear those two adults are free and over twenty-one.”

June didn’t say anything even when she pulled the chair and me away from the table so she could sit on my lap. I couldn’t say anything either as my lips were being smothered in kisses. “It does look like I might have some involvement after all doesn’t it? Anyway I guess you convinced me. Now you get out of here so I can get my heart calmed down before I go to work. You’d better come over tonight after I get home. We will work on Jimmy’s problem, but no kissing me. Promise?”

June and I worked at the kitchen table. Greg and Sammy were in the living room, and they left us alone. I did get a kiss when I left and I was wanting more, but figured I could wait another few days. Of course I knew there was nothing stopping June and I from falling into bed and making love. I had always stood on principle and I hated to give up on that yet. June understood so we were careful not to get too charged up.


******************

Jimmy was subdued while waiting for Saturday. He did ask me if he was going to be prevented from seeing Tina. I said I didn’t think so.

At eleven Saturday morning, I opened the door to the Smiths. Portia is an unusual name and when I heard it, I envisioned someone with black hair and sharp features. This wasn’t the case with Portia Smith at all. She was as blond as sunshine and had a lovely smile. Tina had her mother’s features, but the tan appearance was drawn from the blood of her father. She had beautiful luxurious wavy hair. The rest of how she looked could wait until I could look unobserved. Lucky, lucky, Jimmy!

As I was being introduced to Portia and Tina, June and Whitney came in together. I introduced Whitney as my wife and June as a friend who had agreed to help sort out what to do about the two teenagers. Jimmy came down the stairs as I was doing this and blushed when Tina said hi to him.

“Jimmy, why don’t you take Tina up and show her your room. She will be interested to see some of your projects that you work on, especially the one you just started.” We watched as Tina surreptitiously held Jimmy’s hand as they disappeared up the stairs.

“June, I asked you to help me with this, but I guess I’m relying on you for most of it. We are on a first name basis here so why don’t you start?”

“Okay, Jake has told me just a bare outline of you, Jackson and Portia. I need some background. Jackson, when did you first become sexually active?”

“Well I was big for my age and hanging out with the older kids early. I guess I was feeling girls up at thirteen and had intercourse soon after I turned fourteen. From then on I had a steady diet of girls and women. Some of the women were old enough to be my mother.”

“Portia?”

I had just two experiences well into my seventeenth year. Neither of those two times were very satisfying either. I was eighteen when I met Jackson.”

“Whitney?”

“I started early. Just barely fifteen I guess. I had so many, I can’t remember. It was just so exciting. I finally woke up and realized this wasn’t love and decided the first decent man I met I would choose to be my husband. I was true to him for nearly twenty years. Unfortunately I regressed and the result is as you know, I’m going to be a divorcee in a couple of days.”

“Jake?”

“I guess I’m in a category all by myself. My parents split and I had several step-moms and step-dads before I met Whitney. I was a virgin and decided I was looking for love rather than just sex. Whit and I married when I was twenty.”

“Since I am part of this, I’ll tell you I was seventeen when I first had sex. I married the man at the very, very strong urging of my father when I became pregnant by him. Mikey came along and is everything a mother could wish for in a son. I thought how if I had only had some guidance and advice from someone, I would have been a lot happier.

“When Mikey reached dating age, I tried to influence him in dealing with his dates. He is a smart kid and when Aileen was introduced to me, I started advising her too. It has worked out better than expected. They both had a chance to travel through the sexual exploratory stage and gratification stage. They have reached adulthood without having to deal with an unwanted pregnancy and with their futures before them. They are still fast friends, but have moved on to other dates and possibly partners.

“The question is, do you want something similar for Tina and Jimmy? I will say I think this will be more difficult for them than it was for Aileen and Mikey.”

Jackson asked why, and June was ready to explain. “First, I understand they both have superior intelligence. That puts them in a class where they will draw lightning from those less fortunate, because they are different.”

“And the other reason?”

“Tina is from a mixed race family. In today’s society that shouldn’t matter, but it will matter for them. Jackson, when you walk down the street in a predominately black neighborhood, you are comfortable. Portia, the same goes for you in a white neighborhood. How do you feel when you are together in a black section shopping in the mall? How about in a white section?

“Another thing, when the kids are in school, do they hang onto each other? Not yet I would guess, but if they become sexually active and do that in a school like they are going to, they are going to draw fire from both whites and blacks. I hope I haven’t hurt any feelings here, I’m just trying to point out some problems, they, and ultimately you, are going to have to deal with.”

“What’s the answer, then? If they have a thing for each other there is no way in hell we can keep them apart.”

“I agree. Jimmy and Tina are right in the mid-range of when the five of us here started to be sexually active. You are going to have to give them strict boundaries that they will have to adhere to. That’s the easy part, anyone can set boundaries. When you fence them in though, you have to give them something so they want to stay in bounds.”

“And that would be?”

“Sex. Boundless sex. All they want sex and a place to have sex.”

Whitney let out a firm, “No! No way.”

Jackson was willing to listen. This was his little girl. His little princess whom he adored. Whom he wanted a future for without a pregnancy that would trap her in a mediocre future. “June, I haven’t heard anything you have said today that I disagree with. I have a feeling you have a path for them to follow--us too, probably.”

“Well I am not finished. Okay, let’s start with Tina’s mother. It is imperative that Tina knows everything possible about sex. Specifically birth control. And Tina just can’t be handed some pills and have Portia say, use these. Every day Tina should be checked up on to make sure she uses them. You might have her fitted with a different device and that is up to both of you to decide. Maybe things don’t go just right. Tina will need her mother right there to hold her and comfort her. The most important thing is that Tina will feel free to talk to her at anytime.

“Jake is going to have to be the one to council Jimmy and I think he is up to it. When something happens that Jimmy won’t understand, he should go right to Jake for answers. The male ego is a very fragile thing and can get blown up over relatively nothing. Any questions so far?”

“Let’s get to the boundary part. What’s that all about?”

I was thinking Jackson knows his daughter and Jimmy are going to have sex and is smart enough to realize it can’t be prevented.

Just as June started to answer, I could hear someone hammering on the door. I went out into the hall and opened the front entrance, to find an irate Mike Damson standing there.

“Is my cunt of a wife here? I want to talk to her.”

“She is here, but you had better cool down some before I let her come to the door.”

“Shit, how are you going to stop me? I suppose your whore of a wife is here, too? What a wimpy bastard you are.”

I stepped as close to Mike as I could so those inside couldn’t hear. “You know Mike, you have an awful habit of running your mouth off. I should think after what happened in the bar the other night, you’d be a little more careful of how you talk about my wife Whitney, and your wife, June. You want more pain like that?”

Startled, he stared into my eyes as the realization hit him that maybe I had something to do with his condition. “You son-of-a-bitch, you did this to me. I’ll report you to the police.”

“You sure?”

“You just wait. The police will be here before you know it.”

I turned towards the interior. “Jackson, this man has a complaint to make. He thinks I had something to do with him getting beat up.”

I stepped back as Jackson came into the hall. It seemed like Jackson filled it wall to wall. “I’m Lieutenant Smith. You want to file a complaint? What’s your name?”

“Mike Damson and this bastard beat me up the other day.”

“Oh yes, you filed a statement. That was the incident over on the other side of town. I read it. You stated that three men attacked you and you fought them off. Remember you can get in deep shit for lying to the police. Are you saying what happened wasn’t true?”

“I don’t know, but I think this bastard had something to do with me getting the shit kicked out of me. Can’t you check him out?”

“Jake where were you the night this man got beat up?”

“I think June told me he was beat up the night following Thanksgiving. The kids were out. You ought to know, that was the night Jimmy took Tina on a date. Let’s see, I was home alone. I went out and bought beer, I guess and then came home and drank three, I think. I was in bed when Jimmy and Aileen came home.”

Jackson turned back to Mike. “You got a witness or anything?” Mike shook his head. “Personally, I think you had better drop it then.”

“Okay, forget it. Can I speak to my wife?”

Jackson went back inside and told June that her husband wanted to speak to her. I stood by the door. Mike wasn’t finished with me yet. “I still think you had something to do with fucking me up. That’s okay, I was screwing your wife behind your back. If there ever was a born whore, your wife is one.”

June heard this as she came out into the hall. “Mike I suppose that is something to be proud of. What do you want anyway?”

“What the hell is the idea of renting our house to a couple of queers? Where are you staying? With them or this ass-hole?”

“Does it make any difference? As far as the house goes, I can rent it to anyone I want. I informed you it was rented. I had to do something because you didn’t send my alimony check. Now I’m busy in a meeting. If all you are going to do is complain, please leave.”

Mike glared and June stepped closer to me for protection. Just then Whitney came out to see what was holding up our conference. She stepped to the side of me and leaned her hand on my shoulder. June spoke again. “Mike, I don’t think you ought to contact me again. Talk to your lawyer about your rights. I would hate to get a restraining order and have to tell Mikey about it.”

I stood there between the two women. I guess Mike realized suddenly that whatever he thought of me--wimp, ass-hole, bastard or whatever, he was standing all alone facing a man that had more than he ever would again. He turned and walked back to his car.

June just said, “I’m sorry you had to go through that Jake.”

Whit agreed. “I’m sorry too, Jake. I heard what Mike said about me. All of it is true and I can’t take it back, but I’ll change. Will you believe that?”

“Of course Whit. Let’s break for lunch. The Smiths have heard enough of our dirty laundry. June you were getting to the part about setting boundaries for the kids. We will continue with that.

 ************************

“This may not sound too important, but believe me, it is. “No touching! I mean just that! No touching each other in school, on the street, in front of friends, in the mall, at the movies and most importantly, not in front of their parents. Jake can tell you. Aileen let Mikey rub her butt here in this house and he about blew a gasket. He had her knocked up and living in poverty, he felt so strongly about it. So it is one thing to know it is happening, but you damned sure don’t want to see it.”

“Well if they are going to have sex, they are going to touch each other sometime.” Whit was being obtuse.

“Yes, and here again it is the responsibility of the parents to provide a place. I understand that Jackson has already committed a sin that shouldn’t happen. He walked into Tina’s room unannounced. That is unforgivable. When is the last time Tina opened the door and walked into your room?”

June looked at Jackson for his answer. “I said I was sorry.”

“Well it shouldn’t happen. Anyway, the kids should have their own room to do as they please without interruption. They shouldn’t have to feel they have to lock the door either. Trust goes both ways just like with your room.”

“Now, I think they should have a symbol to emphasize the importance of what they are embarking on. This is the beginning of adulthood. I would suggest a pinkie ring for Tina and maybe a charm on a chain around Jimmy’s neck. It doesn’t matter. I would think the kids should sit down and write a vow of commitment. Whether they want to put a time frame on it is up to them. They should remember that their life is going to evolve, so they should be able to change it under a common agreement.”

“This is pretty much how Mikey and Aileen lived the last two years they were home. Aileen is going to be home before Christmas. You and Tina should talk to her, Portia. She can give you more on what works and what doesn’t.”

Whitney was feeling left out. “So when are the kids going to be allowed to get it on?”

I suppose that was a question that was in all of our minds. June had an answer for that too. “I don’t know when they will get it on. As soon as Portia has Tina protected for safe sex. It could happen anytime after that. That is why I said I don’t know. Let them work it out for themselves. Why do we as parents need to guide them in that?”

Whitney, for the moment, gave those present a glimpse of what my life had been before our divorce. “It seems as though you have taken an awful lot on yourself.”

June countered Whitney with a question. “Whitney, when we walked in you said you were going to make an announcement. Now would be a good time to make it.”

“Okay, but you still have to answer my question. Jake, I told you I have someone of interest in my life. Last night he asked me to move in with him. I have never been as lonely in my life as I have since that fateful day. I’m young and I am looking forward to an exciting life with him. I guess what I’m saying is that I’m moving on.” Whit wanted to see if I was going to break up over the abrupt departure of my wife.

I looked at Whit and turned, “June, did you bring me some papers as well as your notes on Jimmy and Tina?” June passed me a paper with a single sentence on it. I looked at it and tore off the bottom half. I scribbled a sentence on it and passed it back.

June spoke, “Whitney you asked if I was taking too much on myself with Jimmy and Tina. Let me read what Jake just wrote and I quote, ‘June, this is to commit my love to you, hopefully for the rest of my life.’ I think that eventually Jimmy is going to have a step-mom. Jake’s note from me says the same. I think we will have these framed as the symbol of our future.”

Whitney looked shocked. Just when I expected her to make a scene, she broke into smiles and wished us both happiness. The Smiths joined in with congratulatory remarks. I looked up the stairway and Tina and Jimmy were sitting there watching us. There was space between them. Jimmy had a smirk on his face.

Jackson was looking a little antsy. “When are you going to tell Tina and Jimmy what we discussed? We better do it soon. Christ, I can’t remember everything that was said.”

Tina had her head down and was shaking from laughter. “Jimmy, you want to tell me about the new project you have been working on the last two days?”

“I can’t because it is illegal. Jackson will probably put me in jail.” He was laughing out loud now.

“Jimmy, I don’t care. He needs the evidence right now.” Jimmy stood up and took a cassette out of his pocket. “Jackson, if I’m not mistaken that cassette holds a full transcript of what was just said.”

I turned back, so I had everyone’s attention. “While I am about it I want to announce something that makes me feel very proud of Jimmy. I was called up to the CEO’s office yesterday morning. It seems that when Jimmy ran a scan for bugs in my office and hacked so easily into my computer, it was written up by the security detail.

“The corporation was concerned enough to hire a security firm to check everything that could be detrimental to their business. There are hundreds of computers hooked up to different networks in the organization. The security firm found that one network was seriously compromised. They found two phones in sensitive areas that had live taps on them. There was one PC supplier’s machines that had backdoor entrances and could be compromised almost at will.

“Jimmy did all this with that little debugger he made. He found the directions on the Internet. Anyway I have the promise for a scholarship for one third the cost of a full four years at any college of his choice. That includes MIT where he said he wants to study. Well done Jimmy.”

*************************

Greg drifted into my office. “Boy, I’m pissed at you. Sammy and I get a new Mom and you come and take her away from us.”

“Haven’t yet.”

“No, but you will shortly. Say, I was wondering, do you suppose it would be okay if we made an offer on her house this soon? If you are stealing her from us, she won’t need a house anymore.”

“I think she does want to sell. Ask her.”

I was still going over to June’s most mornings for coffee. I think I was going to have to cut down on the doughnuts, though. I had gained seven pounds since I had bought the first dozen weeks ago. They looked exceptionally good on June though. It was just a few days until Christmas. Aileen was coming home tomorrow. Jimmy was excited about having his sister on the way home. I had a feeling I would know when Tina and he were able to consummate the commitment they had made. The vow of commitment had taken place on Thursday, following our Saturday, with the parents all there, except Whitney.

Whitney still was on for hostess Christmas Eve. I hadn’t met her man yet, but Whit assured me I would that night. Mikey arrived the same day as Aileen. I guess habits were as strong as ever between them. June had patterned Tina and Jimmy’s do’s and don’ts after what she set up for Aileen and Mikey so there was no touching. Jimmy noticed.

Jimmy came to me the day before Christmas Eve with a question. “Dad, Sis and Mikey have helped with this commitment that Tina and I have going. Sometimes they aren’t very serious and make jokes. Tina would be hurt if I discussed what we do, but can you tell me how to make her the happiest?

“It is simple, son. There is just one tenet. Do everything to please your partner and think of her pleasure before your own.”

Jimmy thought about this for several minutes and then he looked at me. “Thanks Dad, that’s the whole secret, isn’t it.” His face brightened and he went bouncing up the stairs to his room.

I couldn’t believe it when Mikey and Aileen came to me and June on the morning of Christmas Eve. “Dad, Mikey and I both have guests coming to be with us tonight. One is on a flight that gets here in just an hour and an hour later the other one will be landing. They will be staying overnight and most of the week until New Years. How can we make everyone comfortable?”

“I don’t know, ask your mother, she’ll be here soon. Jimmy can stay with the Smiths, I’m sure. June has her room at her home that will be empty. There are three bedrooms here. Is there anyway any of you can double up?” That was the biggest joke of the day. “Don’t worry, we can sort it out.”

What a friggin’ week it was between Christmas and New Years. Four boisterous college kids raising hell. One kid that was waiting to get laid for the first time and a new woman at my side, that I had already fallen in love with and nowhere to practice that love with her. Things did smooth out after a couple of days. Whitney gave me the keys to her condo saying she was going on a cruise.

June got a letter and some papers from Mike giving her full title to the house in lieu of alimony and support for Mikey. Mikey got a letter from his father, telling him that he guessed Mikey would have to find a job. Mike was leaving town and wouldn’t be paying his college costs for next year. “Too bad. Blame your mother for divorcing me.” Mike still wasn’t taking blame for his own actions. Oh well, somehow I would see that Mikey was educated properly.

Mike sounded bitter, but hey, he brought it all on himself. Me, well as I lay with June cuddled up to me I was pretty happy the way things turned out. Things turned out well for Whit too. She found love for herself and was promising to pay Jimmy’s college costs, those that my employer didn’t pay. College was happening a year earlier than planned for Jimmy. He came to me and declared he and Tina could graduate at the end of this year and go to college a year early if they concentrated on studying.

When Jimmy and Tina were here in the house, sometimes we would hear his door close and then sometime later we would hear it open. If you passed by you could look in and see them studying. Jackson said they acted the same at his house. I worried about them not going out and having fun, but they claimed they were doing just what they wanted to do. It was like the Smiths, June and I were incubating a pair of geniuses. Maybe we were. Time will tell.

Epilogue

June is my wife and has been for several years. God, I can’t ever imagine a life without her. We talk often about the success with her thoughtful experiment in exposing our teenagers to pre-adulthood. Guiding the kids through the difficult time when their hormones are raging and their bodies are able to perform. The kids that lack the knowledge to avoid the pitfalls that are lurking out there waiting for them, need someone like June.

Mikey and Aileen surprised us. Unbeknownst to June and me they had a plan of their own. They had unrestrained sex for two years and knew they did not want to give up sex while at school. They both hooked up with partners in college and touted what they had done in high school. Both had a committed relationship along the same lines for their college years. Degrees earned, they chose careers in the same city and soon, together, made the ultimate commitment--marriage to each other.

Jimmy and Tina chose the Boston area for their education. Jimmy went to MIT and Tina went to Northeastern. Located close enough to each other, they extended their original commitment and kept each other satisfied until they were settled enough to marry. They both work for the CDC in Atlanta. Tina in a laboratory and Jimmy doing investigative work on diseases wherever they crop up. Tina has her hands full at home too. Jimmy and her have three children and I understand that in seven more months they are having another.

The End