Note: It's been a few years since I last wrote, so this will be a quick 'warmup' effort before I begin a much longer story I have in my mind. Enjoy!
*****
The only good part of finding myself in my mid-thirties was the fact I could afford to live in a nicer condo. I moved in a couple years ago and quickly determined I was one of the youngest single residents. That was fine, but opportunities to make new friends were few and far between.
I decided to become active in the condo association by volunteering for the 'social committee.' One of our duties was to deliver welcome packets to new residents. What better way to meet people, right? Little did I know.
One of my first assignments was a couple who moved into unit 444. I knew nothing about them other than their names, Doug and Beth. The day after they took possession of the condo, I dutifully rang their doorbell with my welcome packet in hand. When the door opened, I was looking up into the face of a man around forty years old. I was so used to delivering the packets to retired couples that he had to see the surprise on my face.
"Can I help you?" he asked.
"Yes. Hi," I stammered. "My name is Traci and I'm with The Oaks social committee. I wanted to deliver your welcome packet and answer any questions you may have about the community. If there's a better time, I can leave the packet and come back later."
"Not at all," the man said kindly. "My name's Doug. Come in."
It was early evening and he was dressed as though he hadn't been home from work long. Suit pants and a button-down shirt, minus tie, gave the impression of an office worker. He was not a strikingly handsome man, but had a pleasant face and nice body.
As we passed the kitchen and walked toward the family room, he asked if I wanted a drink. I declined and Doug motioned for me to take the couch. He sat in a recliner with a half empty glass of what looked like whiskey on a table next to him. He took a drink while I explained what was in the welcome packet. He gave no impression of being interested, so I put it aside when I was done.
"Tell me what I need to know about The Oaks," Doug said.
"First of all," I replied, "is Beth home?"
"Oh, no. She's at work. She'll be home in a couple hours."
"Maybe it would be more convenient if I could talk to you both," I suggested.
"We could arrange that," Doug said calmly. "But, tell me about you."
We quickly exchanged glances and I considered how to proceed. I'm old enough to recognize when a man might have more than small talk on his mind and, for some reason, this struck me as one of those times. I decided to play along until I felt even more uncomfortable than I already did.
"I'm in 390," I began. "I'm a paralegal and may, or may not, decide some day to enter law school."
"Are you single?" Doug asked, taking another drink.
"Yes."
When I didn't add anything to that, he said, "I'm sure that's by choice because you are very attractive."
"Everything I do is by choice," I answered abruptly, already feeling more uncomfortable. "Marriage has never appealed to me."
"But you like men, right?"
"I tolerate them," I replied.
Doug smiled and put his near-empty glass down.
"I like you, Traci. I like women with an attitude," he said, confusing my rudeness for boldness.
"I really do need to go," I said, standing. "Tell Beth to contact me if she wants to meet."
Doug stood and walked toward me faster than I could make my way to the door without jogging. My back was to him when I felt his hand on my arm. I froze in place.
"Don't go," he said calmly, his face just inches from my right ear.
"I have to...," I began.
He forcibly turned me around to face him. The look on his face scared me and I tried to pull my arm free. His grip tightened and he moved closer.
"We have plenty of time, Traci. Stay for a while and I'll show you what a real man can do to you."
The smell of alcohol was overwhelming and I turned my face away.
"Let me go," I demanded.
Doug tried to kiss me, his mouth landing on my cheek instead. He pushed my hand to his crotch and I could feel his hard cock.
"See what you do to me, Traci?"
"Let me go before I scream."
Doug finally released my arm, but moved both of his hands to the front of my t-shirt. They brushed against my tits as I turned.
"You'll come back," he said. "You won't be sorry when you do."
That was the last thing I heard as I rushed out the door and back to my condo, shaken but in one piece.
About twenty-four hours later, my doorbell rang. I rarely get visitors and my mind flashed back to the episode with Doug. I prayed it was not him as I opened the door. Instead, I saw a cute, petite woman with short blonde hair smiling at me.
"Hello," I said.
"Hi. Are you Traci?" she asked.
When I nodded, she said, "I'm Beth. Do you mind if I come in for a moment?"
"Not at all. I've been anxious to meet you," I told her.
"Same here," Beth told me as we walked into my condo. "I believe you were at our place last evening and I missed you."
"Yes," was all I said.
We sat on the couch.
Beth said, "I really appreciate the stuff you brought us. It's all very useful."
"Thanks," I told her. "I hope it helps you get settled."
"It will."
After a short pause, Beth said, "I also want to apologize."
"For what?" I asked.
"For anything my husband might have said or done," she said. "He starts drinking when he gets home from work and sometimes...well, sometimes he's not...the same. I hope he didn't..."
"It's alright, Beth," I said. "I'm a big girl. I understand."
"If I can make a suggestion," she said contritely, "try not to be alone with him again. It may not be...safe."
I smiled. "You don't have to apologize for anything, Beth. But I will take your advice."
"Good. We haven't made any friends, yet, and I'd hate to lose one right off the bat."
"Speaking of which," I said with enthusiasm. "A week from Wednesday we are having a wine tasting party at the clubhouse. You guys should come and meet some of the neighbors. We hope to have a good crowd there. The official invites should be going out tomorrow."
"That sounds great, Traci. I'll definitely plan on it."
We chatted for a while before I said, "How did you meet your husband?"
I saw a slight blush cross Beth's face and she answered, "Well, it's not something I'm real proud of and some people don't approve."
"I won't judge," I assured her.
"I'm a few years younger than Doug and we worked together," she began. "At least, he was a supervisor and I was a peon. When he started to pay attention to me, I was flattered. I was just a kid. He asked me out and I said, 'I thought you were married.' He said he was, but was going to get a divorce, blah, blah, blah. I mean, I was so stupid, Traci. We went out a few times and it got...physical, you know. Six months later he actually got a divorce."
Beth grinned and said, "Well, damn. Now he's asking me to marry him and I thought, 'Sure. He's rich.' So, we got married. That's when I truly found out about his drinking."
"It was a problem?" I asked.
"Hell, yeah. He can't stop. Then he gets...aggressive."
"Does he hurt you?"
"Oh, no. I mean, I've never had to go to a doctor or anything," Beth said. "He's just rough."
"And you're not into that," I said.
She shook her head. "I put up with it. I'm not really sure why, Traci. It's so weird."
"Still, you don't leave him," I said.
For the first time, I saw emotion on Beth's face. Her lip quivered and she told me, "I...I can't. I'm afraid to. I'm afraid of what he might..."
She burst into sobs and I moved over to put my arm around her. Beth cried for a while on my shoulder before making any attempt to regain control. Finally, she was able to say, "I'm sorry, Traci. You're the first person I've ever talked to about this. Not even my family. I just can't...I'm so confused by the whole thing. I don't know what to do."
"Just know I'm always here for you, Beth," I told her. "You are welcome to come here any time of the day or night. I'll always let you in."
"Thanks," she sobbed. "That means a lot."
That was my introduction to Beth. Not only did I find her undeniably attractive, but now I also felt an obligation to help her out of her personal Hell. I thought about her day and night; the pain she possibly had to put up with every single day when she got home from work. I tried to convince myself it was her fault for not leaving, never having been in a similar situation myself.
I didn't hear from her for a week. Then the wine tasting party arrived and I prayed Beth would be there. Residents slowly trickled into the clubhouse and soon it was filled with the sound of constant chatter. It was a larger crowd that I had expected and half an hour after the first bottle was opened the room was packed.
Then I saw her. I was focused so intently on Beth that it took a moment to notice Doug standing near her, talking to another woman. I was hoping to get Beth's attention without having to go over there and interacting with Doug. Luckily, she saw me. I motioned for her to come to me.
"Hi," she said cheerfully when we were together. "Nice party."
"Thanks. I'm happy with the crowd so far. I'm so glad you came."
"Wouldn't miss it," Beth said.
"Do you mind if we go back to another room and talk for a second?" I asked her.