It had been three months since her mother had died. Three long months coming to terms with it all and facing the future.
Jean hadn't had much of life she reflected. Her father had died when she was quite young and she was an only child. Her schooldays were normal and when she got a place in college she was delighted but apprehensive about leaving her mother. They lived together in a small bungalow in a small country village.
The college was in the city about 120 miles from her home. She rented a flat nearby. It was a huge culture change for her. She had always been quiet and reserved and found it hard to adapt to the bustle of city life. She did make a few friends and started to settle in.
To her surprise she was asked out on a date by one of the guys in her class. Having been in an all girl school before her contact with men until then was very limited.
She remembered the evening well. They were on their sixth date and for the first time she invited Paul in to her flat when he walked her home. She had made coffee and they sat together on her couch. It felt good when he kissed her and this time when he moved his hand to her breasts she didn't stop him, as she had previously.
Paul responded to this positive response by moving his hand under her sweater and soon he was fumbling with the clip on her bra. She still remembered vividly the sensation of his hands on her full breasts. Her nipples responded to his touch and he fondled and caressed them. He moved her sweater up and she watched the expression of desire on his face when he could see her naked white globes.
Just as he bent to kiss her hard nipples the telephone rang.
Her mother had suffered a stroke and had been rushed to hospital. Jean was needed with her as soon as possible.
Paul comforted her as she cried and when he was sure she would be OK, he left her. The next morning she got the first bus home. She couldn't have anticipated that aside from one trip back to collect her belongings that it would be the last time she set foot in that flat.
That was 22 years ago. 22 years spent as a constant nurse to her mother, tending to every need, feeding, bathing and dressing her.
She kept in contact with Paul at first but they drifted apart quickly. Jean accepted the hand that life had dealt her and lived a lonely life with her mother in the village. While money was not a worry there was little opportunity for her to spend it as her social life was non-existent.
Three months ago her mother had passed away after another serious stroke leaving Jean, at 40, alone, with the best years of her life behind her.
After a couple of months, she sold the bungalow and moved into a modern apartment in the city. She had reasonable typing and computer skills and was able to get occasional work with a secretarial agency.
She enjoyed mixing with people although she was extremely reserved and shy. To help her get back into society she enrolled as a student in a business orientated night course in one of the colleges near her apartment. She was glad to see that the class was a good mix of ages and relieved to find that there were a number of men and women of her own age.
She enjoyed the course and looked forward to the weekly classes. After a while the class was split into groups of 4 or 5 persons, to work on specific projects. This involved more work and meeting with her study group in addition to the classes. They took it in turns to host their study groups in their own homes. When Jeans turn came she was quite excited at the prospect of entertaining her new friends.
The study session went well and when they were finished she offered her colleagues a drink or a coffee. After a while 3 of the others drifted off and she was left with Greg.
Greg was a similar age to her, married with 2 children. They had never really chatted socially before and Jean found herself surprised at how well they got on and how relaxed she felt in his company. When the bottle of wine was finished she was delighted when he accepted her offer of another glass.
As they drank the second bottle together she was flattered by his compliments towards her and brushed them off modestly. Maybe it was the wine, but they were sitting quite close together and when he gently stroked her arm and her shoulder she felt quite warm and feminine.