Passion in James County XIII
Nancy's Quest
By D.C. Roi
Chapter twenty-five
Nancy awoke some time later, surprised to find herself lying next to Ben, who was still asleep. She looked at the bedroom window and realized it had gotten dark. She didn't understand why she was here, with Ben. She was supposed to be at Melanson's with George, having dinner. Anger flashed through her mind when she remembered what she'd seen happening at the home of people who were supposed to be her friends. "I...I can't believe George did that to...to me!" she mused bitterly.
Then, as she laid there, thinking, her mind began to clear and she began looking at her situation realistically for the first time. "I...I have no right being angry with George," she thought, as tears filled her eyes. "How...how can I be angry with him for doing what I've been doing?" She glanced over at the young man sleeping next to her. "What I'm still doing! God! What have we done to each other? What kind of mess have we gotten ourselves into?" A soft sob escaped from her.
The young man heard his companion's sob and was very concerned about her. He didn't know what he'd do if she got all crazy again. "Nancy, are you OK?" he asked. He rolled on his side to face her with a look of deep concern on his face.
Nancy shook her head and wiped at her eyes with the back of her hands. "No, Ben...no I'm not OK," she said.
A lopsided smile formed on Ben's face. "I kinda figured that," he said softly. "I mean, you were acting pretty crazy earlier."
"I...I guess I was," Nancy said. She was feeling a bit ashamed of her earlier behavior, and that she had somehow managed to drag Ben into it. "I'm sorry, Ben. I...I'm afraid I...I really did use you this time, didn't I?"
Ben looked puzzled. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said. "How did you use me? Are you going to tell me what's going on?"
"Well..." Nancy said. She paused and took a deep breath. "Do I dare tell him?" she wondered. "God, I have him right in the middle of this, I at least owe him an explanation." She took another deep breath and continued. "Earlier today I...I caught my husband and my best friend..." She stopped. She was unable to bring herself to say the words aloud.
Ben figured out what she was trying to tell him. "You mean your husband's screwing your best friend and you saw him?" he asked, stunned. "Jesus! How could he do that to you?"
Nancy stroked the young man's face softly with her hand. "Ben, I haven't exactly been an angel," she said softly. "You, of all people, know that only too well."
"Yeah, I know, but...Jeez!" he stammered. "We...we didn't do it right in front of him!"
"That isn't really the point, is it, Ben?" Nancy said. "Where we slept with each other, or who saw us doesn't really matter. The fact is, I've violated my marriage vows, probably more than George has."
"What do you mean?" Ben asked. "You mean...I...you know...I'm not the only..."
"Ben, I know this may hurt you," Nancy said gently. "And I feel cheap admitting it, but you aren't the only person I've violated my marriage vows with." She saw the crestfallen look appear on the young man's face and caressed him with her fingers again. "I'm sorry you had to hear that," she said softly. "But you have to know. It...it might help you understand what kind of person I really am. Maybe it will help if I tell you that, of all the men I've slept with, you were the best, most caring lover I had," she added.
"Oh," Ben said, looking a little happier, but not much. "What...what are you gonna do? I mean about what you saw your husband doing?"
Nancy shrugged. "What can I do?" she said. "I...I really can't throw stones, not after the way I've behaved. And...I...I guess I can't really blame George for wanting Fran. After all, she's beautiful, she has a fantastic body, and..."
"But you're really beautiful, too, Nancy," the young man protested. "I...I think you're the prettiest woman I know!"
"It's sweet of you to say that, Ben," Nancy said. "But you haven't seen Fran. She makes me look like a stick."
"I don't think you look like a stick," Ben said. "I think you have a great body. You're built better than most of the girls I know."
Nancy was touched deeply by the young man's compliments. She leaned forward and kissed him gently. "Ben, that's one of the things I like best about you. You really do believe the things you're saying, don't you?"
The young man got a somewhat petulant look on his face. "You make it sound like I don't know what I'm talking about," he protested. "Like, because I'm a kid, I don't know that you're beautiful. That's not true! You are beautiful! And not only that, you're really a nice person, too! It doesn't matter whether I'm a kid or not, I know what I know."
Nancy looked at him. "Ben, you really mean that, don't you?" she asked. "You aren't just saying that because you want to sleep with me, are you?"
Ben nodded. "Yeah, I guess that's what I'm trying to say. I...I always thought you were beautiful and I think I wanted you ever since I was, like thirteen or something." He began rubbing her arm. "And it isn't just because you're pretty. I think you're a really neat person, too," he added. "I mean, lots of times over the years you helped me with my homework and stuff, and you listen to me when I need someone to talk to. Sometimes even my parents won't listen to me the way you do. You make me feel like I'm a grown-up."
"You are grown up, Ben," Nancy said, grinning. "God, are you ever! Not only that, you're wonderful!"
"Maybe," Ben replied, looking down at the covers. "But maybe, you know, I'm not as great as you think I am."
"Ben, how can you say that?" Nancy asked, surprised. "You've been wonderful to me! You were there when I needed you and..."
"Yeah, but I knew you were hurting and...well...I didn't do anything to help you," Ben replied, verbalizing something he'd been thinking for a long time.
"What do you mean, Ben?" Nancy asked. She had no idea what he was talking about.
"Well...after...after the first time you and I...we...made love," Ben stammered, looking embarrassed, "I kinda thought, maybe, something was wrong. When...when I came over that night, I...I didn't really plan to go to bed with you."
"You didn't?" Nancy asked. "Why did you come over, then?"
"Ah...well...I...I was gonna ask if, you know, there was anything I could do to help you," Ben stammered. "I mean, I think you're pretty special, and the way you were acting, it wasn't like the person I know you are would act. Does that make any sense?"
"I guess it does," Nancy said. She was a bit puzzled, and more than a little surprised. Ben was far more sensitive and understanding than she realized. "I'm sorry, Ben, I...I seduced you when...when you wanted..."
"Don't blame yourself," Ben said, looking her directly in the eye. "I'm just as guilty as you are. I knew you were hurting, I shouldn't have..." He shrugged. "But then when we kissed, I kind of lost control."
"I did, too, my darling," Nancy said. She was touched that he cared enough about her to want to help her. "What were you going to say to me that night?"
Ben shrugged. "I don't know, really," he said. "I...I asked my Mom why people, you know, cheat on their husbands. I didn't mention your name. She said sometimes it's because they're trying to find something they think is missing, or..."
"Ben!" Nancy said, interrupting him. His comment triggered a thought in her mind. "You know, maybe you've come up with the answer I've been searching for."
"I...I don't know what you're talking about," the young man said. "What answer?"
"For over a year now," Nancy said, "I've been behaving foolishly and I haven't been able to understand why. I mean, I've been doing a lot of really stupid things. I've jeopardized my marriage and my future. And, Lord knows, I've probably messed up your life in the bargain."
"That's not true!" the young man protested. "You didn't..."
Nancy laid her fingers on his lips to silence him. "We can argue that some other time," she said. "The thing is, I've been trying desperately to figure out the reason why I've been acting the way I have, and why I haven't been able to stop. I think, maybe, you might just have stumbled onto with the answer."
"I...I did?" Ben asked. "What is it?"
"You might say I've been on a quest," Nancy told him.
Ben looked befuddled. "A...a quest?" he said.
Nancy nodded. "Yes, a quest," she said. "A quest to find myself, to learn who I really am. Or, perhaps, a quest to escape who I thought I was. Anyhow, my darling young man, you're the one who helped me figure that out."
"Ah...OK," the young man said. "Now what?"
Nancy shrugged. She remembered Ted Adamson's suggestion. "Maybe I...I ought to see a therapist," she told him. "Another friend of mine suggested that not too long ago. I don't think that knowing why I'm doing what I've been doing will make me stop. But therapy might help me do that. I've been trying to work up the courage to see a therapist for months now."
"What...what about me?" Ben asked.