I won’t bore you with what led up to it but one afternoon Kevin and I had a really massive row. Sarah, our 12 year old daughter, was staying at a friends for the weekend so we were able to completely let rip and things did get pretty nasty. It ended with me saying “Well fuck off and this time do it for good.” And he did just that.
When he’d gone and I looked at his empty wardrobes and thought of Sarah I felt awful at what lay ahead for I knew this time it was over. Realising the difficulties that I would have to go through with the divorce and being a 33 year old single mother was disturbing but at least I knew there would be no money worries.
I mooched around the house in a daze most afternoon and I felt lonelier than I ever had before. It was a relief then, when one of my neighbours turned up to return a video we had lent them. She appeared shocked when she saw me and I realised that my earlier crying must be apparent.
“God Mandy what’s the matter?” As I went to reply I felt the emotion welling up in me and I began to cry again.
Toni came in and I found myself telling her about what had happened. She was aware of some of our previous difficulties and as she had been supportive before I suddenly found it all pouring out as we sat in the kitchen drinking a cup of tea that she had made. I told her that this time it was almost certainly over. I explained that Sarah was away for the night and gave her a little more information on what had caused this particular squabble, me finding out about yet another of Kevin’s affairs.
She was very understanding and a helpful listener so she was just what I needed at that particular time. Very organised and matter of fact Toni just sort of took over. “Right you’re coming to mine for dinner, Tom and the kids are away, and I think we’ll get well and truly plastered,” she said making me smile for the first time as she added, “go and get yourself bathed and changed and come round when you’re ready.”
An hour or so later I was in her house dressed in a white blouse and black trousers, bathed with my hair washed and I did feel better as she poured me a glass of white wine from a half empty bottle that I suspected she had already drunk. We had steak and salad and yes we did drink a fair amount before going into her lounge and sitting side by side on one of the large sofas drawn up around a blazing wood fire.
We talked and talked becoming slightly more tipsy and open with each other recounting past experiences and affairs that we’d had. Our legs occasionally touched and several times her hand rested on my knee or wrist as she accentuated points but, as is this is quite normal during “girly” chats, I saw nothing untoward with the gestures merely taking them as acts of kindness and affection on her part.
My mood swings, though, were quite volatile. One moment I was laughing and joking about things and then I would find myself becoming weepy again, more at the possible affects this would all have on Sarah than on anything else.
I remember as clearly as if it were yesterday what then happened. I started crying and Toni took me in her arms to soothe me cuddling me to her as she did so. It felt so comfortable and reassuring being in her arms and I just stayed there for some time feeling better and more confident all the time. I can recall her holding me, the smell of her perfume, the feel of her hands on my back, the soothing touch as she stroked my hair and the pressure on my breasts and legs from her body.
Whilst I enjoyed it there were no thoughts whatsoever in my mind of anything sexual and the emotions she was touching were all to do with my state of mind regarding Kevin and Sarah and the spectre of life alone after all these years. That is until she lifted my head up and, looking me in the eye, murmured in a very husky voice.
“In any case, love, who needs men?” Staring straight into my eyes I saw the slight smile on her face as her lips opened and her head started moving towards mine and I knew then that she was about to kiss me. But the movement was so slow as to be almost imperceptible and I guessed she was testing the water. I could move my head and to all intents and purposes nothing untoward would have happened. Or I could stay as I was and accept the advance. The ball was very firmly in my court!!
I have to admit that at that point I felt the stirrings of arousal. But it also made me feel wanted and needed. Reassured and soothed. But I was nervous and I felt somewhat concerned and not a little confused. Thoughts of Sarah and Kevin rushed through my mind, as did memories of Jen and other women I had briefly “known.” My heart was pounding as I must have unconsciously weighed things up. To turn my head and reject her subtle advance or to stay as I was and invite those lips onto mine? To move and not fulfil what my body seemed to be crying out for or to remain looking into her eyes and to undertake a journey into areas of unknown sexuality for me? I’m not sure that I made a decision as opposed to taking the easiest way out. I did nothing. I simply stayed there and Toni made the decision.
Her lips closed on mine and she pulled my body tighter to hers crushing my breasts to her own as her arms encircled my back and her hands became buried in my hair.
It was pure bliss and joy and my body responded to her immediately. I knew this was what I wanted and I suddenly found a calmness that surprised me for now her hand had strayed from my back and was on my side the palm touching the edge of my breast. Her tongue delving into my opened mouth that was eagerly receiving it. I felt as though I was about to explode as her hand cupped my breast and begin to gently caress it. Kissing and licking at my lips she quite rapidly, but not too quickly, moved on by sliding her hand inside my shirt and right onto the flesh on the top of my boobs that was not covered by the bra.