Love and Marriage
I hope you enjoy this ode to those of us who have had a long and happy marriage. It's not always been rainbows and sunshine, but still a long (almost 48 years) and happy one. And yes, I'd do it all over again in a New York minute. Please be sure to vote and comment - that's how I can become a better writer. Enjoy!
Love and marriage, love and marriage
Go together like a horse and carriage
This I tell you, brother
You can't have one without the other
"Frankie, you got that right, that's for sure," thought Pete Davis, as he sat in his home office one afternoon. "Too bad I found out too late."
Reminiscing about his former love life, Pete thought back to his distant past. Growing up, he was very much a loner. He grew up as the only child of parents who never knew where their next meal was coming from. They provided for him as much as they could, but they never had the type of jobs that paid much.
His mom was a part-time waitress at a diner and his dad was a day laborer who skipped from job to job. Never making much money, they relied on church giveaways, food banks, soup kitchens, and whatever they could scrounge up. They loved Pete, but could never provide much of a childhood for him.
Christmas gifts, if any, were found at second-hand stores or the leftovers from church bazaars. Their Christmas tree was artificial, one that had been found thrown out one year on the curb. Birthday gifts were non-existent, and any 'new' clothes he got were second or third hand.
But through it all, his parents loved Pete. They read to him when he was young, and once he learned to read, they encouraged him to use the library as much as possible. They never missed a parent-teacher conference, and were as happy as could be on his graduation day. He had gotten a one year, full-ride scholarship to State University, and it included room, board, and tuition.
"Just think of it, Pete. In four years, you'll be the first one of our family to graduate with a college degree. Dad and I are so proud of you."
"Mom's right. There's not a parent in this crowd prouder of their child than us. Our only regret is that we couldn't provide more for you over the years."
"That's ok. I know how difficult it's been for you, and I know you did your best for me. I know how much you both love me, and I can assure you that I won't disappoint you at college. In fact, I've already talked to someone at the school, and they've hooked me up with a part-time job, helping in the computer labs. That way I'll have my own spending money, and you won't have to give me any more than you already have.
"I love you both so much."
Growing up, many subjects in school mystified Pete, but numbers weren't one of them. He could look at a math problem, and once he understood the theory behind the problem, could usually solve it in his head. He was the same with computers. Once he understood how they worked, he was able to take them apart and put them back together, and have them working better than before. So, when he set his eyes on a university degree, he knew his direction -- computer science, computer engineering, business, and accounting.
Because of his home situation and his crushing insecurity, Pete never had many friends as he went through school. He had a couple of friends who were like him -- introverted and, because of their shared interests, nerdy. None of them ever had a girlfriend, nor did they ever have a date. Consequently, heading to college was something of a culture shock, to say the least. His first roommate was a total opposite of Pete. Jack was a football player, and when he wasn't at practice or in the gym, he was out partying with his buddies. Jack seldom went to class and often brought one night stands back to their dorm room. Pete lost count of how many nights he tried to sleep with his noise-cancelling headphones on. He got some relief when Jack went too far one night with his friends and tried to gang-rape one of the cheerleaders. They were all drunk, but the girl wasn't, and she had grown up learning several different martial arts -- and ended up kicking all their asses. One of her friends heard the commotion and called the campus police, who in turn called the local police -- and Jack and his buddies first found themselves in jail, and then expelled from school.
Pete knew the girl, who even though gave off the persona of a stereotypical ditzy, blonde cheerleader, was in fact one of the smartest people he knew. She was majoring in business and accounting, and only did the cheerleading to help stay in shape. And Pete was totally taken with her shape -- and with her. Cindy Richardson was tall, at almost six feet. She had long, blonde hair that was usually pulled into a ponytail, and deep blue eyes that seemed to bore right through you; long, lean legs, a tight ass, and a taut stomach, all topped off by breasts that seemed to defy gravity. In short, she was a college guy's walking wet dream.
Weeks after the incident, Pete was working in one of the computer labs when he heard someone swearing at the back of the room. Looking up he saw it was Cindy, and she was having problems, yelling at her computer.
"Oh son of a bitch. If I lost this, I'll toss you out the window, you piece of shit."
Heading back to see if he could help, Pete was once again taken by how beautiful Cindy was. Even now, when she looked like she could cry, he was almost struck silent. But this was his job, and he needed to help her out.
"I sure hope you don't follow through with your threat. The university really hates to purchase new computers."
Looking up with fury in her eyes, Cindy saw Pete smiling at her.
"Something I can help you with, Cindy?"
Seeing Pete, Cindy's face softened.
"Hi, Pete. I was just about finished with my paper when this piece of crap computer froze on me. I've been saving all along, but now I can't find my file anywhere. Is there anything you can do?"
"Yeah, let me look. These machines are on their last legs, so sometimes they act up. I'm pretty sure I can find your paper."
Moving off to the side, Cindy let Pete sit in her chair. As he worked, she looked him over, noticing, probably for the first time, how handsome he was. She knew they had some classes together, but she had never given him a second look. She also knew that his former roommate was one of her attackers, and wondered how the two got put together. Jack was good looking, but otherwise a complete asshole. Pete was also good looking, but in a totally different way. His long brown hair dipped across his forehead, almost obscuring his brown eyes. He was a bit taller than her, and he filled his t-shirt out really well. And whatever cologne he was wearing was perfect, and the scent filled her senses.
Suddenly, she was aware of another scent -- her own female scent, which was coming from her rapidly moistening pussy.
"How is this guy turning me on?"
she thought.
"I hardly know him."
With a loud 'got it' from Pete, Cindy's reverie was broken.
"You found it? Oh my god, thanks Pete. Without this paper, I would've been screwed."
"Here, let me show you what happened, in case it happens again."
Quickly, Pete showed Cindy where he found the document and how it got where it was. He saved it to her thumb drive and then to her cloud account.
"That way, you've got it saved in two places, so if you mess one up, you've got another."
Just as Cindy was about to continue their conversation, a loud voice from across the room rang out.
"Hey, computer guy, I need some help here."
Smiling at Pete, Cindy thanked him again.
"See you in class Tuesday."
Later that night, Pete kept playing the encounter over in his head. As he worked, he had felt Cindy right behind him, her breasts pressing into his back. Her hair smelled like springtime, and her perfume was heady. And as he kept looking for her file, he smelled something else -- something he had smelled in his own dorm room, whenever Jack had a girl over. The scent of an aroused woman.
"No, it must be something else. Why would someone as beautiful as Cindy find me attractive? No, I must be mistaken."
But even so, Pete ended up masturbating to the thought of Cindy in bed with him, making love in every way possible. A fantasy never to be acted on, he was sure.
*****
Tuesday morning found Pete sitting in his usual chair in the back of the class, alone as usual. The air was filled with the usual chit-chat of college students looking forward to the upcoming end of the semester. He was scrolling through his phone aimlessly when someone plopped into the seat beside him.
"Pete, thank you again for recovering my paper. I turned it in yesterday, and the professor was pleased with what he looked over. Thanks to you, I think I'm going to get an A."
Blushing at the praise, Pete was tongue-tied for a moment.
"You're welcome, Cindy, but you deserve the credit. After all, you wrote the paper. I only found it on the computer for you."
"Yeah, but if you hadn't found it, my grade would've suffered. So, what do I owe you?"
"Owe me? Nothing. Consider it part of my job to help the computer blind find their documents."
"Sorry, but you're not getting off that easy. At least let me buy you dinner one night. There's a great Italian place across town that's terrific. So, how about Friday night?"
Pete froze for a moment. Here was probably the most beautiful girl on campus offering to buy him dinner. Him! As he fought with himself, Cindy sat next to him with a smile on her face.
"Ok, I accept. But I don't have a car."
"Not a problem. I have one, so I'll pick you up at 6:30. Ok?"
With a smile on her face, Cindy got up to sit with some of her friends. She turned back to him, with a sly look in her eyes.
"And since this is our first date, I hope you look as good as I think you will in something other than jeans and a t-shirt."
And just like that, Pete had a date with the hottest girl on campus.
*****
As usual, when things like this happen, the ensuing week just dragged by. But finally it was Friday, and Pete was both looking forward to the evening, and dreading it at the same time. He was not used to being with other people, let alone a beautiful woman, and worried he'd make an ass of himself. He was not very self-assured, and often stuttered when stressed. And his date was Cindy Richardson, giving him all sorts of reasons to worry about the evening.
At the same time, he realized that she came onto him, so there must be something there. Either that, or she was just yanking his chain, eager to get a good laugh from the evening and his overall discomfort.
He spent time researching what to do on first dates and how to act. He made up a list of possible topics to talk about, and even went so far as to watch videos of Cindy and her cheerleading squad.
Wearing his best slacks and button-down shirt, Pete nervously waited for Cindy to pick him up. Finally, he heard the click-clack of heels coming his way, along with shouts from his dorm mates, cat-calling Cindy. Then there was a knock on his door, and after gathering his wits, Pete opened the door, only to see Cindy wearing an LBD that left little to the imagination.
