A few evenings later I got a call asking if it would be ok for a visit the next day as there was something she wanted to ask me, so I wasn't surprised to see their car pull up just after lunch but I was surprised when she got out, said something to him through the open door and then saw him drive off again.
I opened the door before she reached it and she swept past me into the hall with a 'Hello, I need to talk to you.'
'Oh hello Ellie........nice to see you again......how are you?.......Heard from the kids recently?!' I said loudly to her receding back as she made for the kitchen.
'What?....Oh yes.....Hello Ellie.'
'Sorry about that but I need to ask if you will do something for me.'
'Why did Michael drive off? Has he finally seen sense and dumped you?!'
An icy glare accompanied her response.
'No he hasn't!' then her manner softened, 'but I need to talk to you in private so I've sent him into town to pick up some shopping.'
We chatted more normally as I made some tea then I sat at the table opposite her. She seemed a little agitated and anxious and kept glancing at the closed front door.
'Ok, what's so private and urgent?'
For the first time in a very long time she suddenly looked a bit sheepish.
"Look.....don't jump down my throat but......Dan has asked me to go away with him to a long weekend yoga seminar.'
She looked warily at me as if I was going to explode.
'Dan being the lover of the moment I presume?'
She stared at me looking for any sign of disapproval.
'Ok......so?' I shrugged my shoulders
She took a deep breath.
"Well.....it's Michael.'
'What about him?'
'I don't want him sitting at home fretting about things.......so I was wondering......'
She looked round the kitchen then back at me. Then in a rush and with a reddening face she almost blurted out 'I was wondering if you might ask him to do a bit of decorating.....or if there was anything you needed fixing.'
I could see and feel the apprehension in her comment. In all honesty though she was right, several years without a mans presence had left a few things that needed doing, a jambed window, a wonky wardrobe door and several other bits and pieces. A lick of paint here and there wouldn't go amiss either.
'He's very good at things like that,' she went on rather urgently, 'and I'm sure he'd enjoy doing it.'
He'd enjoy a lot of other things too I thought to myself.
'Have you discussed this with him at all?' I asked, 'I mean about you being away for the weekend?'
'Well.... I've mentioned it a couple of times but he hasn't said anything,' she hesitated, 'in fact as soon as I started to talk about it last time he got up and walked out of the room. I don't think he is very happy about me going.'
'I'm not surprised, he probably knows exactly what you are up to.'
She looked at me knowing what I said was pretty accurate.
'You really want to go don't you.'
She nodded. 'It will be good to learn new things and practices.'
I laughed out loud.
'Oh come on Deb, we both know you are going for the sex and not the yoga! I know you too well.'
She at least had the decency to blush but her lack of response didn't deny it.
'How long is this 'long weekend'?'
'Friday to Monday so we would have to leave here Thursday afternoon and get back about lunchtime on Tuesday.'
'So I was wondering if he could come over here on a couple of days to do things for you?'
I looked at her and thought for a minute.
'So what you are saying is that you want me to be a distraction for him while you are merrily fucking your brains out with Don or Dan whatever his name is?'
She didn't say anything but just kept looking straight at me, her cheeks bright red now.
I thought about it before I answered her. It wasn't often that opportunities like this arose, to get one over on my overbearing and somewhat arrogant sister and to take my relationship with Michael to a mutually enjoyable level.
'Ok, I'll do it!'
The surprise on her face was priceless. 'Really?!' Clearly not the response she was expecting
'But only on two conditions though.'
'Yes?'
'That he comes and stays here from the Thursday to the Tuesday..........and you are fully aware that I shall be fucking him as often as I can get his cock hard!'
This time it was the shock on her face that was priceless.
She stared at me, mouth and eyes wide open. 'WHAT?!!!'
'You can't do that!! He's my husband.' she shouted. 'No way!!'
'He's your husband alright but how long have you been ignoring his needs while getting yours satisfied elsewhere?!' I went on. 'When was the last time you fucked or even sucked him? Wanked him off? In fact had any intimacy with him at all?!'