This is part five of a seven-part novella; it should stand alone, but beginning at the beginning is the recommended pattern. I'm posting all the chapters at the same time so you shouldn't have to wait long for the rest. A
Literotica
Box Set for the summer.
The original idea for this work came following a discussion at the authors' hangout about frustrations with the black-and-white depictions of adultery in the section-which-cannot-be-named. So thanks to all who chipped in to that debate.
As usual, comments, criticism and support welcomed.
*****
Yvonne stood at the open door and watched John as he buttered up a few crisp-breads to go with the plate of diced cheese. He'd found a tray on which he'd put a still dusty bottle of Jameson and two, already half-filled, tumblers.
'Where's that joint then?'
He looked up in surprise and then just stared. Her hair was brushed. It looked glossy under the sharp lights of the kitchen. Her eyes sparkled, all puffiness gone. Fresh make up had been applied and she looked for all the world as if she was ready to set out for the evening. Yvonne stretched out the hem of her dress and performed a perfect curtesy.
John gave her an acknowledging bow, looked over the table, wiped his hands on his trousers and picked up the rather battered-looking jay. She took one of the glasses of whiskey and went to settle herself on the cushion. John lit the joint, picked up his own glass and parked himself beside her.
'You're sure this is a good idea?'
Yvonne laughed.
'I'm
sure
it's a terrible idea.'
She took a toke on the joint and a slug of the whiskey, shuddered at the sharpness and let out a whistling stream of smoke.
'That's better.'
She turned to John with a serious expression.
'Look. I'm a mature woman. My husband is fucking a trollop. But I'm not stupid. There might be a perfectly reasonable explanation.'
She laughed as if dismissing the very idea.
'If there is, it's beyond me at the moment. I'm feeling a bit raw. If Paul walked in now, I'd probably knee him in the balls. But I'm not going to end the relationship or do anything to mess up the twins. I guess this in the
for worse
bit of the whole
do you take this man?
thing.'
John nodded agreement and handed her back the joint.
'I'm going to have to speak to him, and there's a very real possibility that when I do his testicles may not remain unscathed.'
John suppressed a snort of laughter and nodded for her to keep the joint.
'But tonight, I just need a friend who'll help me get shit-faced and I pick you. Tonight's my night for self-righteous indulgence. I know I'll have the hangover from hell tomorrow. Just the right frame of mind and body to confront the lying, cheating son of a wonderful, compassionate, intelligent and witty woman who I'm one hundred percent certain will be completely on my side if she ever finds out about what her child has been up to.'
John waited while Yvonne puffed furiously at the dead roach of the exhausted joint. When it was clear she had finished speaking - for now - he spoke.
'Phew. Some speech. Shall I roll another?'
'Fuck yeah.'
Things calmed down as they sat on the step. They shared stories about past relationship-ends. John admitted that his only regret from his marriage was that his ex-wife needed to get so nasty about the final split, blaming him for the whole thing and in the process muddying his relationship with his two kids.
'I don't know how I could have fought back without making the whole situation worse for them. And me telling a few home truths about their mother now is not going to help. I just hope that one day - and the sooner the better for me - they get their own perspectives and we can start to improve things between us.'
'They're missing out on a wonderful man. My boys love you.'
She leaned over and gave him a sloppy kiss on his cheek before slipping and hitting her chin on his shoulder which rather ruined the moment. They both dissolved into fresh laughter and drank some more whiskey.
Yvonne had John in stitches as she recounted the splits she'd had with pre-marriage boyfriends. Catching one in bed with her best friend; being caught in bed with another's friend. The guy who took her money; the one who accused her of copying his course work - even though he was an engineer and she was studying law. They moved on to speculating about the future.
'I know this is not the time for irrevocable commitments, but I need to start using my brain again. Whatever happens with Paul. Working for you would be a great start.'
She put a finger on John's lips - at the second attempt - to stop him interrupting.
'I won't expect you to pay me unless I make you money. I know IT, I was pretty good at business, bookkeeping and sales. If Jean-Paul wasn't just talking bollocks, I think we can up your profile and get you prices that your works deserve. I wouldn't even mind doing some modelling for you. All the people in your paintings look so... I think
happy
might be the word I'm looking for.'
She looked over at John for his reaction. He was beaming.
'I'd love to paint you wearing that dress. It just seems to shimmer around you. It'd be a fantastic challenge.'
She punched him in the arm. He was instantly confused at her frown.
'Here am I offering to strip off for you. I thought you'd jump at the chance. All you can talk about is this bloody dress. You're as bad as Paul, he's got a thing about big tits too.'
She was slurring her words a little and John wasn't at all sure whether she was being serious as she bounced her boobs inside her dress, peering glassily down her own cleavage as she did so.
'Your tits are stupendous and I think we already discussed company policy on offers of life modelling. I'll have you starkers before the coffee's finished brewing. You're gorgeous, funny, smart and I can't wait for you to start.'
They fell into another hug to seal the deal. Yvonne felt very cold.
'Why don't we move inside? I'm dying to tuck into those cheese and biscuits.'
Like a lot of people getting drunk and stoned together they seemed to find a synchronised wave band. They both staggered upright and found themselves leaning against opposite jambs of the doorway trying to summon up the equilibrium to progress further. John laughed.
'This has been very different from my normal Saturday nights.'
That innocuous remark seemed to spur Yvonne into frantic life.
'Saturday night. Come on.'
She grabbed his arm and started to pull him towards the front room. He was reluctant and insisted on stopping to pick up the plate of food while she grabbed the bottle. She shushed all his questions as she threw herself onto the sofa, located remotes and started pushing buttons energetically until the screen was flooded with the home page of DuckDuckGo, a search engine John had never heard of. Yvonne turned to him with a triumphant beam on her face.