Grace and I worked for hours together unpacking boxes and putting things in the perfect places. All during this time, we got to know a lot about each other.
I learned that Grace was quite the artist as we hung many of her own works around the house. One painting in particular was of a former lover of hers, Bethany. She was lying on a day bed, which now occupied Grace's sitting room which would soon to become her art studio.
Bethany was partially wrapped by a red satin sheet, slightly exposing her ample bosom. Her pussy was covered, but her long, slender legs were quite visible. Her milky white skin glistening in the candlelight. Her long flowing dark hair seemed to be blowing gracefully in a slight breeze. I later learned that Grace had turned on a large fan to blow onto Bethany to create the effect.
Five o'clock rolled around before either of us knew it. If not for me being near the large bay window of Grace's studio, I would not have seen David pull up in our driveway in his beat-up Dodge Ram that he used for work at the garage.
"Uh-oh," I gasped, turning towards Grace. "David's home. I need to leave before he gets really upset. He's already going to be angry with me for not having dinner on the table for him."
"Would you like for me to walk you home, Desiree?" Grace asked, a hint of concern on her face.
"That's ok, Grace." I assured her. "I don't want him going off on you for keeping me away from my 'Wifely Duties'."
"I understand, dear." Grace replied. "But just know that I can take care of myself."
We hugged each other as I rushed down the stairs and got to the door. Grace was right behind me.
"What about your crystal tray?" she asked.
"I can pick it up later...or tomorrow." I assured her as I went out the door and across the street to my own home.
When I got to the door and glanced back over at Grace's house. She was standing in the doorway watching me closely.
Once I opened the door and stepped in, the shouting began.
"Where the Hell have you been and why is there no supper on the table?" David yelled as he met me at the door.
"I...I was helping our new neighbor...get settled in." I whis-pered softly.
"New neighbor, huh?" David replied, almost calming down...just a bit. "Who is he?"
"Our neighbor is a woman, David." I told him. "Her name is Grace."
"A woman?" David said as he went to the door and looked out the window, seeing Grace still on the front porch. "She's hot."
I thought about telling him that Grace was a lesbian, but as jealous as he is, not to mention how much of a ass he is...he'd just get mad again.
I went into the kitchen and whipped up a quick meal for Da-vid and sat it on the table. While he ate (he prefers to eat alone these days), I went upstairs and ran him a hot bath. These are the day to day chores I have to do to keep what's left of our marriage together.
I, then, went to the bedroom to set out his pajamas and turn down his bed. Since his football and work injuries, we have had to get two separate twin beds. David's is as hard as a rock while mine is considerably softer.
Just then, I heard David's angry voice shout from the kitch-en.
"What happened to my lunch meat?"
Shakily, I descended the stairs and paused at the kitchen door. Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the door, eyes lo-wered to the floor.
"I...I fixed a welcome dish for Grace. I..." but I didn't get the chance to finish as David hauled off with his fist and hit me hard. I fell to the floor whimpering and pleading for him to not hit me again. David just scoffed and stepped over me and went upstairs to take his bath, leaving me crumpled on the floor, my nose bleeding and my left eye began to swell up, almost to the point of closing. I just whimpered for a few more minutes before collecting myself and staggered over to the table and clean up David's plate and dispose of his empty beer can.
Still aching from the punch David gave me, I sucked it up and continued to clean up the kitchen. Washing the dishes be-came difficult as my nose continued to steadily drip down into the soapy water. David refused to get a dishwasher, saying that as long as I was able to I was going to wash them by hand.
That night, I slept on the couch. Something David made me do whenever I pissed him off.
It was around eleven o'clock when there was a light tapping on the front door. Groggily, and only having use of one eye, I stumbled slowly in the darkened house and finally found my way to the front door.
"Who...who is it?" I asked softly, as to not wake up David.
"It's me, dear. Grace," she replied just as softly.
I turned and leaned my back against the door, closing my one good eye and sighing softly.
