My husband had just left again and would be gone for another seven to eight months at sea. I had always been faithful to him, but recently his "buddies" were telling me stories about how he isn't when he reaches a port.
At first it tore the heart out of me. Here I was back in military housing taking care of the house and working because he had a gambling problem. I never could seem to keep money in the account. He was out putting into ports and fucking strangers, but he was excepting me to be faithful.
I just had to talk about it with someone and was too embarrassed to tell my family. I confided in my friend Alisha that I just didn't know what to do. I felt betrayed, hurt and frustrated.
Alisha was active duty herself and her husband, Steve, like me, was the civilian. I often went to her house to play cards with her husband and her. When Dan was out at sea, they would invite someone to make a fourth. They would even invite me over for family night with the kids to watch movies and have fun.
"Mary," said Alisha.
"Yes," I replied.
"Have you ever thought of swinging?"
"I never considered it as an option," feeling embarrassed. "I don't know if I could. I m-mean, I've never been with another woman in my life."
Alisha looked at me with her beautiful brown eyes. "Well, if you ever feel a need to be with someone, Steve and I are swingers and we'd love to have sex with you. Don't feel uncomfortable, we've never forced anyone. You'll know if and when the time is right."
I thanked Alisha, but I had so many things whirling around in my head as it was.
A couple of weeks later, one of Dan's shipmates was injured and sent home. Roger had been just one of my many partners while playing cards. I went to the hospital to see how he was doing.
"It was a stupid accident," Roger said. "I slipped and fell and broke it. Doc said I can be released today."
"So," I began. "How's Dan doing?"
Roger looked at me very intently. Just starring into his eyes told me what I needed to know. My eyes started tearing although I tried to control it and I stared down at my lap.
"Go ahead Roger. I've heard a lot of different things from different guys about what Dan is doing."
Roger reached for my hand. "He's a son of a bitch for sure Mary. You deserve better."
He squeezed my hand. I looked up into his eyes while tears ran down my cheeks.
"I'll come back later Roger. I've got to deal with this first" and I left.
As I was walking out to my car, I kept my head down and let the tears fall. I was shaking so bad I was having trouble unlocking the car door.
"Hey stranger! What's new?"
I looked up into Steve's eyes.
"What's wrong Mary?" he came over and took the keys from my hand. I buried my face into his shoulder and started to cry.
"There now, you're in no condition to drive." He walked me over to his car.
"I'll visit Roger later. Let's go home and get you calmed down."
I felt more like I was on remote control as I sat down in the passenger seat. "Steve. I just can't go back to that house with all his stuff. I just can't face it right now!" I cried.
Steve started the car and began to drive, "No. You're coming over to our place for awhile. Alisha is at the airport sending the kids to her mom's for a few weeks." Steve smiled and said, "We're on leave as of now and so are you."
Steve pulled the car in the drive and I followed into the house.
"Now, just sit there and I'll fix you some tea," he said as he started to putter around the kitchen.
I stared off into nothing, feeling nothing ... just letting my mind go blank to match the numbness of my body.
"There we are," said Steve as he set down the cups.
The tea helped bring me back into some form of consciousness.
"First thing Mary, tell me what you need from the house and Alisha and I will go gather it."
I sat just shaking my head up and down.
"Second, we booked a cabin in the mountains and you're coming with us. Come to think of it, I'm going to call and alter it to a two bedroom." He got up and went to the phone.
Alisha came in the front door and saw me at the table. Steve must have signaled her because she walked by me and they left to talk in the other room. When they returned, Alisha came over behind me and put her arms around me and hugged me gently back against her. Just that human, loving response helped more than anything.
"Oh Love," said Alisha and she wrapped her arms around chest and kissed me on the side of my neck. "You just can't stay with him anymore. Why put yourself through this torture," said more as a statement than a question.
"Steve," yelled Alisha.
"Yes."
"Go over to Mary's and pack a bag for her. I think right now what she needs is a hot bath and a nap."
"Ok, but I think I'll stop and see Roger first since I promised him."
"Alright, and let's just order in for tonight. I don't feel like cooking anything and I don't want any leftovers in the fridge before we leave."
Still on remote, Alisha guided me into the bathroom. "Come on Love, strip. Can't take a bath with your clothes on," Alisha said as she started to run the bath. "I'll be right back Mary. Go ahead and get in when you're done."
I striped my clothes off and eased into the hot water. It felt good against my skin and helped revive me although my thoughts were still swirling and tumbling over and over.
Alisha came in wearing a bathrobe and carried another which she hooked on the bathroom door. "There's a robe for you just in case Steve isn't back before you're done with your bath."
Alisha was starring at my body and smiled. "I forgot to add the bubble bath," she remarked and headed to the closet.
"I don't think I really need any Alisha," I said.
"Sure you do." She was returning with a container. "That's what makes us feel special."
She smiled as she sprinkled some in the water. She knelt next to the tub and started to reach in. "Oops! Don't want to get my sleeve wet."
Alisha untied the belt of her robe and let it slip off her shoulders baring her top. She was really in great shape even after having three kids. Like me, her breasts were a size B and quite firm. She bent over the lip of the tub and start swirling the water to make bubbles.
I kept looking at her breasts. "Alisha? How can your breasts still be so firm after three kids?"
She looked down at her breasts and gave a little laugh. "I absolutely refused to breast feed. I didn't want flat breasts like my mom's."
When she rose, the rest of the robe fell to the floor revealing trim tanned legs and a tight rounded ass. She picked up the robe and placed it into the towel rack and came back over to the tub.