Author's Note:
Thanks to my editor, Saltysooner, who helped with character conversations, grammar and much, much more.
Lovers' Dilemma: recap of the end of Chapter One
Once lonely geeks, Alex and Peggy found each other and developed a romantic love affair that has gone on for six years. They pledged their love to each other, and have been true to each other through many adventures.
Now they are faced with a dilemma. Sara, Peg's cousin that Al met when Sara was still in high school, is now a college graduate in her early twenties. She called Peg and said there was a crisis in her life.
Arriving at their home on a Friday evening, she confessed that she is a lesbian, but is unsuccessful at lovemaking. She also admits she has had a crush on Peggy, and wants Peg and Al to teach her to be a sensitive lover, using Peggy as her lover under Alex's instruction.
Peggy sent Sara to bed, and is going to discuss options with Alex.
*****
I poured two scotches and joined Peg at the kitchen table.
"Peg," I said, "your cousin is a mess. She knows how devoted we are to each other, and what she asked for tonight has to be out of desperation."
"I know, Al. I've never seen her talking crazy like this. She knows there's no one for me but you. Honestly, you know I've talked about lesbian fantasies with you during sex, but the thought of actually doing it with another woman is out of the question. And doing it with a relative is just so wrong."
"Yeah, but there has to be
something
we can do for her. Even if we got her some sort of . . . training aid, there's not much I could really do. She needs a real woman who is responsive to her actions so that she gets reinforcing feedback. You know I'm not going to sit in a room with them and direct or critique her on having sex with another woman. This isn't Cinemax, and I know
you
wouldn't want to sit there with me watching your cousin having sex."
"Well, you can't just tell her what to do. She said she tried reading about romantic sex, but she just doesn't get it," Peg replied.
"Is there anyone you can call who can help?"
"Let me think for a minute."
We sat there for fifteen or twenty minutes going over all of the people we knew. We had some gay and lesbian friends, but they were all in relationships and we doubted any of the lesbians would stray outside their own partners.
"Wait a minute!" Peg said excitedly. "There's a manger in the Avionics Division. She moved here eight or nine months ago. It was for a promotion, but I think it was also because of the diversity policy at our company."
---
A decade ago, an attempt to steal company secrets was foiled when an employee came out of the closet rather than give in to blackmail. Our CEO, Armand Whittenstone took the opportunity created by that incident to make sure the company's policy was clear that no discrimination because of an employee's sexual orientation would be tolerated. Open mutually-consensual discussion of orientation was encouraged.
"I consider
every
one of my employees to be family," Armand said in an address to the workforce. "As a Christian, it is my duty to make sure my family is protected and comfortable here at Whittenstone."
Because of that open and tolerant policy, many employees came out, including a couple of Peggy's friends.
Since they can discuss sexual topics, some of Peg's friends, both straight and gay, revealed their love of sensual sex, and Peggy told them what a romantic, sensual lover I am.
Peg told me about some of their lunch conversations that could make a Sailor blush.
Borrowing a line from Quentin Tarantino's
Pulp Fiction
, I replied, "When you little scamps get together for lunch, you're worse than a sewing circle."
"Oh, you know how us gals are," she replied. "We like to share recipes, makeup secrets and sex technique tips. When I told them how great a lover you are, two of the bi ones asked me on the QT if I was interested in a threesome with them."
"When I told them that you took me completely off the market six years ago, they were disappointed, but we're still friends."
---
Back at our kitchen table that night, Peggy thought of one woman who might be able to help solve Sara's dilemma.
"We have a manager named Mandy, and she's bi. She's hot for some guy who's a big shot over at some med-tech company. And guess what? Her sister died a couple of years ago, and the hunk was her brother-in-law. Or
is
her brother-in-law. I don't know if the status changes when someone dies."
"Anyway, she is in her forties, she's really experienced, she's brilliant and she's really hot."
"Sounds good, so far. Anything else I need to know about her?"
"She likes single malt scotch."
"Call her."
Peg got out her Smartphone and looked up the contact for Mandy. She dialed her number and put the phone on speaker.
"Hello?"
"Hi Mandy, this is Peggy. I've got Alex on the line with me. Sorry it's so late."
"It's okay. Hi, Alex. So, what's up?"
"Al and I want to know if you would be interested in doing a favor for us and my cousin, Sara."
"What kind of favor?" Mandy inquired.
"It's kind of hard to explain but it's sexual in nature," Peggy said apologetically.
"A four-way? I thought you weren't interested," Mandy said with obvious curiosity.
"No, it's not that . . . well, it's kind of that . . . but not really . . ." Peggy's voice trailed off as she hit a brick wall trying to think of a delicate way to bring up Sara's sexual dilemma.
I said, "Mandy, it's Alex again. It's not about us; it's about Peggy's cousin. She's having a . . . uh . . . sexual crisis . . . and Peggy thought you might be able to help. Are you free for breakfast tomorrow? We're not real comfortable discussing this over the phone and it would help a lot for you to meet Sara in person."
"I'm intrigued. Yeah, I'm free tomorrow. My guy's out of town this weekend at a convention. What time and where?"
"Someplace out of town. This is a bit delicate, and I don't want friends running into us and interrupting. There's an IHOP on Daniel Webster Highway in Nashua. How about eight am?"
"IHOP on DWH. Eight tomorrow. Great! See you there."
Peg said, "Mandy, you're a lifesaver. I'll owe you."
"Right you are, you cute pixie, but you'll never pay me what I
want
. Goodnight, Alex, you lucky dog!"
"Bye, Mandy," I said and hung up.