Note to readers: I have used this dating routine as part of other stories I have written, but it is the main topic of this one. As George Bernard Shaw says, "I often quote myself. It adds spice to my conversation." So, Mr. Shaw has given me sufficient rationalization for plagiarizing ... myself!
There is much sex in this story, but it is mainly ... it's just a story! A story of loves lost, freedoms found, anger, frustrations, recriminations, romance, and love renewed; and as such, should be a good read. I would welcome any constructive remarks you may care to post for this story.
~ ~ ~
I lost wife!!! I was
sure
of it!!!
On a recent concert date with me, Donna informed me,
"Mark, I am leaving with this man, Craig; he is waiting for my call. I told him I had to get rid of my date first!"
She was referring to
me
as the date she had to get rid of! She took advantage of our rules to push me aside, and walk off in the arms of another man! Not only that; she was rather cold, or ... cruel about it!
Sure, we had our problems, but I never expected that from her ... to go that far ... to cross the line! It was the fault of that game we were playing. So, I guess it's ironic that after all of the grief and acrimony, and after all of the tears and recriminations, we ended up again playing our so-called ... "dating game"!
It all started with my growing concern over the direction of my marriage to Donna. We were reaching a decision point—to stay or to split. I had to do something—I didn't want to lose her! We had been married for twenty-four years, and they were mostly good years, that gave us two amazing children now in their late teens—early twenties. They were the lights of our lives, and a large part of our lives for most of our marriage.
With the kids mostly on their own now, Donna had her activities and I had mine! We had been drifting apart for some time—for years, actually. Our son Hank (Henry) was away at college, and daughter Tabby (Tabatha) was working and living away from home. Most of the challenges of building a family and a marriage were behind us.
The solution to this situation, and the start of our recent circumstance, began with a conversation I had with Tom, a friend I had played ball with from little leagues through college. I told him,
"I am worried about Donna. I love her, but she seems to be more distant and less open—if you know what I mean." He thought for a few long seconds and replied,
"You know Mark, I have seen you and Donna at parties, and frankly, I don't see the same verve between you guys anymore. You guys used to be so close, and loving. Now, she dances with every other guy at parties—I saw her follow some guy I didn't know, into one of the back rooms at a party last month. Look Mark, I don't want to stick my nose in yours and Donna's business, but I am your oldest friend, so talk to me!"
"We lost our edge somewhere along the way, and I don't really know what to do about it! I'm losing her, Tom! Look, you and Helen are the most loving couple I know! How do you guys do it ... if you don't mind my asking?"
"We date!"
"Excuse me?"
"I
date
Helen! Every once in a while, I will call her from work, like on a Tuesday or Wednesday, and ask her out for the next Friday night. If she accepts, I stay away, after leaving for work on Friday morning, allowing her time to get ready on her own, like she was single and getting ready for her boyfriend—me! I ring the doorbell at seven, with flowers in hand. She answers the door, and we go out like two kids on a date!"
"Hmm, I wonder if Donna would go for that! It is at least something to try!"
"Well, Helen
loves
it! I usually just take her out to dinner, and sometimes a movie or dancing afterward. We never discuss family stuff; the house, or the kids, since we are boyfriend and girlfriend for the evening. We have learned a lot about each other; things that we were too busy to ever talk about, and our sex-life has improved dramatically. We became better lovers ... and more intimate around the house, more ... touchy ... cuddly!"
"Well ... what if she declines? What if Helen says no to the date? Does she have that choice?"
"Of course, and she has done that a few times! She is effectively single for that night if I as much as ask her. If she says no for a Friday night date, then I have to find somewhere else to be, until about eleven-o'clock Saturday morning when are both married again. I mean we are
always
married, but I give her the freedom to act single. She enjoys having an occasional night off from kids and me—a little alone time is good for both of us."
"Freedom? Can she go out like with her girlfriends or ... someone else, like ... another man?"
"Alright Mark, this is the tricky part. I can't tell her she's single and free, and then impose restrictions so, yeah, she could go out clubbing and have someone she meets there take her home. She could do anything from just letting him drive her home, to inviting him in for a while, to spending the night with him. At eleven the next morning I am back home; God help anyone I ever catch with my wife!"
"Well, what if she wanted to do that every time? She would effectively be a single woman again! Look, Tom, Helen is one damn fine looking lady, if you don't mind my saying so! She would not have any problem finding someone!"
"I don't mind; and I could say the same thing about Donna. I have seen all of our mutual friends looking at her at parties with MILF ideas in their eyes." Then answering my question, Tom continued,
"Helen and I have some restrictions; we cannot date anyone we know, we cannot date anyone from work, and we cannot date anyone more than once, otherwise it is tantamount to an affair! The few times she has said no, she just stayed home to enjoy her solitude."
"What about you on those nights ... if she says no, or wants another man to take her home when you are out on the date?"
"Well, I have never had any trouble attracting the opposite sex—much like you—so if she acts too single, so can I! Mostly I call some of our old baseball friends—you remember I stayed with you and Donna a couple of times. Or, I go to a nice hotel for dinner and maybe a couple of drinks at the bar. I can exercise my options, even if she doesn't, or says no to the date ... but I would never do that!" then he added,