And so I was "loaned out" in a sense to Kathy by my Mistress. Alicia was to leave on Thursday afternoon, and she wouldn't be back until Sunday evening. I got off work that Thursday at about three in the afternoon, went home and helped Alicia pack. When she was ready, I walked her to the car. She hugged and kissed me. I said, "I'll call you tonight at the hotel."
"No. I'll call you each night from the hotel. If you're not in, I'll leave a message. Just keep Kathy company, she's hurting now."
"Okay. I'll keep her company. But, I'd rather be with you."
Alicia smiled at me, a little sadly I thought, "I know you would. I'd rather have you with me. But, Kathy's in need right now, and I cannot be there for her. Just do this thing for me, okay?"
"We'll probably go out to dinner tomorrow night, but I told her I'd fix dinner for her Saturday night, if that's all right."
"Her place or ours?"
"Ours, I think. I'll feel more comfortable here."
"Plus, I might call, is that it?"
"Something like that," I said.
She kissed me again, a long, lingering kiss that promised much. I held it until she pulled away. Damn! I loved that woman!
She drove away, and I felt sad. I had to work tomorrow, first shift, so I went back into the house, made supper, and watched TV until it was time to go to bed. Alicia called at eight-thirty and confirmed that she had arrived in Myrtle Beach safely. I felt a little better, but I still missed her.
The next day, Friday, was a pretty routine day. I had to go to 14 West several times. Kathy was working, and she seemed glad to see me. We decided where we wanted to go that night, and I made it clear that I wanted to be home by about nine, so that I could take Alicia's call.
"Hey, no problem, Phil. We can hang at your place for a while, then I'll head on home." Suddenly, she struck me as being a little uncertain herself about the weekend. I realized that she might have been as uncomfortable as I was with the situation.
Kathy and I met at a local sports bar that evening at six. We sat there, she with her screwdriver, me with a beer, not really saying anything.
"Listen, Phil," she said, "if this is uncomfortable for you, I can go home. I don't want to be a pain."
"It's all right," I said. "You're not a pain. I'm just not used to being away from Alicia, that's all." I finished my beer, ordered another, and a refill for Kathy.
"I can understand that. I thought that Twyla and I were a lock. But, it just didn't work out."
I didn't know if she wanted to go any further, so I didn't respond. Then, she said something that surprised me. She said, "Phil, what were those marks I saw on you in the hospital?"
I must have blushed furiously, because she immediately said, "You don't have to tell me, if you don't want to. I guess the vodka is getting to me. I'm not thinking before speaking."
"Tell you what," I said. "How about if we talk about it at home. I'd rather not here."
"Okay, if that's what you want," she said.
We ate hot sandwiches and chips, had more drinks, and watched some pre-season baseball. The Atlanta Braves were going to be strong again.
We drove over to mine and Alicia's condo. I put some country music on, and fixed her another screwdriver. She was getting a little drunk, and I guessed that she would probably go to sleep before long.
Presently, she started talking about Twyla, and I could tell she was missing the petite blonde.
"I was in love, but she didn't see it that way. I don't think Twyla was really ever very comfortable with her lesbian side. Oops, did I offend you, Phil?"
"Not at all," I said, glad to be off the subject of the marks on my butt.
"I mean," she started again, slurring her words ever-so-slightly, "I mean, she was a great lover, but she was unsure of herself. And," she took another swig of the drink, "she was beautiful, just beautiful. Oh, I'm sorry. I don't suppose you want to hear this."
"Go ahead and talk about it, Kathy, if it makes you feel better. I'm a big boy. I can handle it."
"Yes, I suppose that you can handle it, Phillip," she said. She laughed a little, then began crying softly. I held her, not saying anything, while she cried herself out. After a little while, she looked up at me and said, "I'm tired now. I think I'll go to sleep."
"No problem. Just make yourself comfortable on the couch." I didn't have to say more. Kathy had already kicked off her shoes and stretched out. A couple of minutes later she was breathing deeply. I got a blanket out of the closet and covered her up. I glanced at the clock: nine forty-five. Alicia still hadn't called, and I had to tell myself not to be worried. She was a big girl--literally--and could take care of herself.
As if my mind was being read, the phone rang. I picked it up. "How is everything going?" said the voice on the other end. It was Alicia.
The relief palpable in my voice, I said, "Oh, it's going okay. How's the conference?"
"Some boring stuff, some interesting stuff. Did you see Kathy?"
"Yes. She's asleep on the couch," I said.
"Already? It's hardly ten o'clock."
"Well," I said, "it's those screwdrivers. They'll get you every time. She talked a little about Twyla. You're right; she's hurting some. I expected you to call a little earlier."
"Well, I was with one of my doctor friends," Alicia replied. "We were having wild sex."
"Damn," I said, "I knew that I should have come along."
"Well, you know me," she said, "if I don't get good sex pretty often, there's no telling what I might do. I'm sort of spoiled in that department."
"Me, too," I said.
"Hmmph! All you want is to get spanked."
"And sex," I replied. "I miss you, Mistress."
"I miss you too, Phillip," she said.
"Is everything all right, Alicia?"
"Everything is fine, Phillip."
"You would tell me, wouldn't you?"
To someone not used to talking to Alicia, the pause would not have been noticeable. But there was a pause just before she answered, "I would tell you, Phillip."
