That evening I arrived home first and paced the floor. The adventures of the holiday were all well and good in the privacy of anonymity but this was here. This was neighbours and family and work colleagues. Fun is fun but this is serious; where was all this going to go? What if people we knew were witnesses to new adventures? What then? Both of us worked in organisations that took a dim view of adverse publicity, especially that caused by employees indulging in fantasies that resulted in public exposure. Normally Alice arrived home between 17:30 and 18:00. It was now 19:00 and still no word. I had rung the mobile three times but no response. It was turned off. Under normal circumstances I would be worried for Alice's safety should she have been this late home with no warning. That wasn't the concern now. Instead I was concerned and it was not about her safety. It was about what Madeleine had persuaded her to do.
I saw the car's lights on the drive. I put the kettle on and faced the front door. I heard the key and then the door opened and Alice entered her with her usual "I'm home."
This was a sign for us to advance on one another and kiss. We did. A theatrical cough indicated that Madeleine was also here.
I smiled and invited her in.
"I hope you don't mind me coming to stay, Les?"
With as much calm as I could summon up I said no.
"Good it will only be for a couple of days whilst Alice is on leave."
Leave! I looked at Alice, who smiled and nodded. "We've plenty of room and I'm owed plenty of lieu time."
"Ooh kay."
We had a simple evening meal and whilst I cleaned up Alice and Madeleine repaired to the other room and talked during a stream of soaps played in HD. Whilst washing up the thoughts of the afternoon's events played through my mind. On the one side there was the fear factor. Yet on the other there was no denying Madeleine's re-appearance promised adventure. And then again it had been no hardship for me as the episodes obviously left Alice needing intimacy. I convinced myself that providing any future "games" were played away from here, then all would be well, wouldn't it? So I rejoined the conversation in the living room.
"That's agreed then?" (What was?)
"Hi ladies, am I interrupting?"
"Of course not" Alice said, "Come and sit down."
Now there was an interesting development. You see we have two, two-seater settees set at right angles to each other and it is our wont to sit next to each other but on separate settees where they meet at the corner. Only now Madeleine was sitting in Alice's place with Alice alongside her on the same settee. If I sat in my habitual place I would be sitting next to Madeleine but on my settee. That posed too many unknowns for me so I sat on the opposite side of the square: on the window seat. Now what?
They smiled at one another and then Madeleine spoke "We've had an idea. Would you like to hear it?"
"Well, Yes, I'm all ears."
"Alright if you are sitting comfortably, I'll begin." (We all laughed gently at this quip). "We have decided to take up excitement whilst Alice is on leave and I am staying."
"Let me guess, no clothes."
"I shall be dressed throughout."
"And Alice?"
"That depends on the shoot, mood and location, won't it Alice?"
"Yes Madeleine."
"I have a friend Bobby, who has agreed to do the photography. She is very good. Alice has a car so the world is our oyster. Whilst you labour hard and er.. well, long to keep Alice happy, we shall all be at leisure. What do you think?"
"Well, there's always the worry about local and the news getting out. North Yorkshire is one thing but here, well that's very different. I wouldn't want anything threatening what we have here: jobs, cars, house etc."
"Of course not. But nothing ventured, nothing gained. Bobby takes artistic shots so no worries there..."
"And what will happen to the picks? Who will see them? Who keeps copyright?"
"I'll have the copyright 'cos Bobby's a very good friend. As to the audience, that also will be up to me, and only me."
"Hmm. I can see the benefit for you. So what's in it for us?"
"I don't see "us" here, just Alice. The benefit for Alice is evident. Recall our week together and the enjoyment she experienced. Isn't a repetition of that, enough? I tell you what, let me ask her. Alice, sweetheart, do you agree to take your part in the adventure we discussed?"
"What does that mean?"
"Shh Les, let her speak, well Alice?"
"Yesss."