Paris Waterman
Renewing Things with Scotia (and Barry)
It was Thursday when Mark got the call, but it was Scotia, not Marcie.
"Hi Mark, how are you?" she asked, somewhat coyly.
"I'm fine, how are you?" he countered, trying to keep the disappointment out of his voice.
"Good, really, good" big pause.
"How do you feel?" He asked sincerely.
"Oh, I'm fine. Fully recovered. You were quite good at what ... um, we did together. I ached and hurt for a day or so, but nothing was damaged and in two days I was as good as new." she said very matter of factly.
"That's good. That was my intent"
"I know. Um, I mostly called to say thank you. I know that's awkward for both of us, but I needed what you gave me. I needed it bad," she finished.
"Yeah, I know. Well it sounds strange, even to me, but 'You're welcome' is the only response that comes to mind," he replied.
She laughed, "Yeah it does sound strange, but it's appropriate. And, err, Mark?"
Uh-oh, he thought, "Yes?"
"Let's do it again, okay?"
There was a silence from both of them.
Ultimately it was Mark who spoke first, "Have you discussed this with Barry?"
"I knew that would be one of your first questions, but I need to know if you're willing before I approach him. It will be difficult for him, and if you say no, well, I don't know what I'll do. Probably something stupid, you know?"
There was a short pause before she continued. "Anyway, I need your answer first!" she said, baring her soul.
"Scotia, I'd be lying if I said I hadn't been expecting this call. I have. You have to go through Barry, if he asks me to do it, well then, the answer is yes. I did enjoy our time together. I think you know that."
"I'm really glad to hear that" she said, obviously as excited as I was, "I'm sure you'll hear from Barry soon!"
The phone went dead. Mark was both exhilarated and nervous. It was quite the rush; he'd wanted this to happen with Scotia but having met Marcie and being so taken with her left him apprehensive about continuing his dominating relationship with Scotia.
He decided to tell Marcie the truth. She seemed fairly open about sexβshe had told him about Aniah and other skeletons in her closet and he hadn't expected that and she had listened without interrupting him when he opened up about Rana and her Iranian family and how they'd been separated seemingly forever. So he decided to call her and discuss Scotia with her before her husband pinned him down one way or the other.
She answered on the second ring.
"Hello?"
"Hi Marcie."
Marcie's knees gave way and she stumbled to the nearest chair and sat.
"Mark ... how are you?"
"I'm fine, more importantly, how are you?" Have you been behaving?"
She giggled like a little girl, pleased with hearing that husky voice of his and that he got right to the point.
"Um, well I masturbated after you left. That was the bad girl in me. But I stayed home and didn't roam the bars looking for Mr. Goodright, or whatever his name is."
"I think the name's Goodbar, but I don't care about him. I care about you. Listen I want to talk to you."
"Anything ..." she whispered.
"What?"
She fought to control her voice and finally said: "You--you can talk to me about anything, Mark."
Worried about revealing his coming contact with Scotia, he failed to read anything into her words.
"Yeah ... well, remember I told you about this woman that wanted me to dominate her?"
"The councilman's wife ... yeah."
"She just called me. She wants another session. I told Scotia her husband had to approve it. I was trying to buy time. It wasn't the best thing to tell her. Seems he's going to call me and tell me it's okay."
"Dug yourself a hole, huh?"
"Yeah, seems so."
"So do her."
"You--you don't mind?"
"Of course not. Why should I?"
"I ... um, I thought we had something ... a connection ..."
With her next words Mark was positive he heard a different sound in her tone, one of forbearance and tolerant of the acts he would be partaking of with the other man's wife.
"Hey, if both of them are up for it, why shouldn't you? Um, what if anything are you getting out of this?"
"He's in a position to discourage certain people from using my services. My architectural services, I mean," then he laughed and Marcie joined him.
"Do her!" Marcie said, "And by the way, my sponsor said that we might as well get on with whatever we're going to do and see where it goes."
"Oh! Really?"
"Yeah, ain't she sweet?"
"Tell her I love her too."
"No way! She'll think you want in her pants. She's an addict too, you know."
"Tell you what, when I hear from the husband and learn what's what, I'll call you and maybe we can set a date."
"A date? For what?"
"You know what it's for. I'm going to fuck your brains out and you're going to do the same to mine."
"Sounds like a hellofa date."
"It will be." They were both laughing excitedly as they ended the call.
______________________
At 9:45 the following morning he heard from Barry.
"You were right. I guess I knew you would be. We need to talk about Scotia. How about lunch again today, the usual place?"
He sounded quite calm, even cheerful. Mark suspected that he had warmed to the idea somewhat.
"I really can't today. Full schedule. How about a beer after work instead. Besides we might both need one to talk about this" Mark countered.
"Okay, that works too"
They arranged the details and hung up.
They arrived at almost exactly the same time, found a corner table and ordered a couple of beers.
Barry seemed to be pretty much himself as they talked in generalities for a few minutes. Finally Mark broached the reason for our meeting.
"Barry, this has to be one of the strangest things I've ever got myself into!" Mark laughed quietly.
"No shit, I know what you mean. If anyone would ever have suggested I'd be involved in something like this I would have called them crazy, but now . . ."
"I assume Scotia approached you about, well about more of the same?" Mark asked.
"Yes. Well you said she would."
"What did she tell you?" Mark was trying to discern if she told him she'd already talked to him.
"Look, I know you're in a bit of an awkward situation, don't worry about. She told me she called you, but you told her she had to talk to me. I appreciate that, really I do." Barry seemed sincere.
"Well, I didn't want to keep it from you, but I didn't want to rat her out if she hadn't told you either. Thanks for letting me know" Mark said, relieved.
"So what did she say?" he inquired of Borelli.
"Well, she told me that after your, uh, your, last time together she realized she'd really missed that part of her life and that if she and I are going to get along she needs it as safe outlet. She keeps trying to reassure me that it's not about me, but I know it is, to some extent at least. Anyway, last night she asked me if I could be okay with it again and if so, would I ask you again.
"I told her I'd have to think about it. Then this morning I told her I'd talk to you today. And here we are" he explained.
Mark was elated. She hadn't told him she'd already asked him!
"Have you thought some more about our conversation on this?"
"Shit Mark, the better question is 'have I thought about anything else?'"
"Well?"
"I really have thought about what you said. I'm convinced that if I can't fulfill her needs, sooner or later, best friend or not, our marriage isn't going to survive."
"I think you're probably right man. I hate to say it, but I do" Mark said earnestly.
"Besides, after that Sunday night, and thinking about what you said, I think I might enjoy myself more than I had ever thought possible in the past" Borelli said pensively.
"I guess that means you're willing to give it a try. And don't forget what I told you, the two of you may have to meet in the middle and find something that works for both of you. It doesn't have to be perfect, or meet either of your needs 100%. If Scotia loves you like she says she does, and I absolutely believe she does, then I think this will work, as long as you can accept it, maybe even enjoy it and not find it a repugnant task you do for her sake. And if you'll let me help like we discussed, I think you probably can!"
"Well, I'm convinced I have to try. How bad can it be?" Barry said with a mischievous grin, the likes of which Mark had ever seen on his face before.