We married early; it was what I wanted. A husband, a home, a family. I wanted everything I hadn't had as a child - a real home. I'd grown up in foster care. They were kind. No one hurt me. But it was never real. It always felt pretend. Some saw it as a job. I was a bit of extra money that would go towards a family holiday I would never go onβa new car. I would never ride in. I was some extra pin money.
It would have been different if I'd been adopted. That would have been more real, wouldn't it? I had already outgrown my cuteness when I entered the system at age 7. I don't remember much before then. My friend Helen at work can remember being in her cot. I can't remember much at all before I was 7βbrief swatches of memories. A blue settee and cigarette smoke curling up to the ceiling, but not much else. Helen says it's a coping mechanism. I've blocked it out.
I remember all my foster homes, though. Mrs Bateson was the best. I liked her; she was like a proper grandma. But they decided she was too old. I didn't care if she was a bit confused sometimes. I liked her. I helped her.
I learned from the Johnson family that a husband, wife and children were the best type of family, in my opinionβthe family I wanted to have. Now I was only nineteen when I met David. Dave, as he likes to be called, was the first to show real interest in me. I admit I was flattered that he wanted me. I was very ordinary. I know I had a good figure. Men tended to talk to my chest rather than my face. I suppose it was preferable. My bust was impressive, my face, well, not so much.
Dave was different, although he loved my figure, he seemed interested in me. He listened to me, to what I had to say. We were already married before I realised he wasn't the good listener I thought he was. He had never actually listened, just pretended to.
We had our little flat, and I loved keeping it clean and tidy. Helen said I was like a 1950's housewife and that Dave needed to pull his weight with the washing and the cleaning. I wasn't bothered, though. I liked having someone to love. Finally, to have someone love me.
I knew Dave loved me. He didn't say it, but I knew it. I could see it in his eyes when we were alone, when we made love. Not that Dave would ever call it that. He called it a shag, a jump or a good seeing to. He could be very crude at times.
I'd only been with him, of course. I enjoyed it. I wanted the feeling of being so close to him. I needed the closeness. He was always keen to be with me in that way. Sometimes he was so excited that it was over quickly, but he was always ready to go again. I never refused him. I was a good wife to him. I wanted him to be happy. Looking back, our love life was all about his pleasure, but I was too inexperienced to know the difference.
Dave liked to show me off to his mates. I was happy that he was proud of me. I always made an effort with my hair and make-up when we went out, but it was only my figure that they ever looked at. Dave encouraged me to wear low-cut tops that showed off my cleavage and short skirts. I felt uncomfortable, but if I refused, he used to sulk and make such a fuss that it was just easier to give in. I so wanted to please him.
Then we started to go out less. His mates came over to the flat more.
"Get that little skirt on, you look smashing in that," Dave said.
"No, it's too short. I'll wear it for you when we are alone."
"Give the lads a treat, I don't mind."
So eventually I wore the short skirt. I made them snacks when they were gaming or playing cards. I tried to put the food down carefully on the coffee table so the boys couldn't see down my top or up my skirt as I bent over. That worked until Dave moved the table. We talked about it,
"Oh, let them look. I love showing you off."
So, I didn't complain. I got over feeling uncomfortable. It made Dave happy to let others see what he had. I would have been OK if that was where it stopped. He started to tell me that he wanted to share me with his friends. As much as I tried to make him happy. I couldn't agree to that.
I wanted a happy, traditional marriage and family. That meant monogamy in my eyes. Dave laughed and said that was old hat. I told him no. The only time I'd I refused what he wanted. It was a step too far for me.
He tried everything he could to encourage me, including showing me porn. That was the first time I realised our sex life wasn't all it could be. The women in those films seemed to have a much better time than I ever had. I watched a stranger going down on a willing wife.
"Why do you never do that to me, Dave? " I asked.
"Not for me, Babe, not going to happen."
So, our sex life was all about what he wanted, not what I wanted. It was a one-way street. That made me even more determined to say no whenever he tried to get me to sleep with one of his band of geeks. He constantly pushed my boundaries when he could,
"If you love me, you'd do it."
I replied, "If you loved me, you wouldn't ask me to."
I began to realise that Dave's love came with many conditions, but I refused to let being a whore be one of them.
Things changed when Doug came on a temporary contract at Dave's factory. He was only there for six months. Dave included him with his mates. He was older than us at 38 with sandy hair and a thick, full beard. He had a lovely smile.
He always thanked me on game nights for the snacks I'd made. He brought the trays back and even tried to wash them up. I wouldn't let him, but he talked to me as I washed up. I did eventually let him help. He asked about my week, my day, and my life. He asked me about me, and I knew he was listening because of the questions he asked. I realised that I was starting to look forward to his Friday night visits. It was nice to have someone to chat with other than Helen. Helen teased me about having a crush on Doug. I denied it, but even Dave noticed I was keener to make myself look nice when I knew Doug was coming around.
The truth was, it was nice to have a friend who listened. Dave made me feel stupid sometimes. He always dismissed my opinions if they differed from his. Doug was different. He'd ask why I thought that. If he disagreed, he'd put his own contrasting opinion forward, but he didn't try to sway me; he respected me and my views. I knew that I would miss him when he left.
As Doug's six-month contract was drawing to a close, Dave started on about sharing me again. "What about Doug? He's always in the kitchen having one of your little chats. He's obviously keen to get in your knickers. What about him?"
"No, he's my friend, don't spoil it."
"Ooh, friend, is it? He's the only friend you've seemed keen to tart yourself up for. I'd have thought you'd be gagging for it."
"Doug respects me. He wouldn't use me like that."
"He's a bloke. I bet he's been knocking one out thinking of you for months. So, let's ask your precious Doug and see what he says?"
"Please don't spoil it. I don't want him to think less of me."
"I tell you what, I'll make you a deal. You go along with it, see what he says and then we'll start working on that family you are so keen on having."
I looked at him, shocked; he knew I was keen to have children, to be a real family.
"If he's keen, you have to go through with it."
"Just the once," I bartered. I was sure that Doug wouldn't let me down.