Tales from Behind the Bar 3
I read a story posted by one of the authors on Literotica that uses the pen name Irishdragon. The story was entitled "Cruise of Deception". It was a rather short story about a married couple on a cruise where they meet a guy from the husbands past. The guy seduces the wife and the story ends with the husband reading the note left by the wife saying she's running of the other guy. As with most stories it left me wondering about the aftermath. The following is my take on what may have happened afterwards. My thanks and respects to Irishdragon for his story. Since this is my first posting to Literotica I would appreciate any feedback the readers and fellow authors may have. Read ya later -- Bishop
Story 3 AFTER THE CRUISE - DAY OF REDEMPTION
"Hey how ya doin? Welcome to the Midnight Bar and Grill. Sam's the name. Samuel Sanders, I'm the owner, chief cook and head bartender of this establishment. It's a good business and we have a pretty decent clientele. Runnin a café and bar is no easy thing though, there's various business and liquor licenses to keep current not to mention sales taxes, liquor taxes, restaurant tax, corporate tax, payroll tax, the list just keeps growing. If not for some of the people and the other benefits it wouldn't be worth it.
Being a bartender means more than just pouring a glass of gin and juice. It's a lot about how you treat the customers. I teach my staff to treat each customer as if they are special even if they aren't. It's a quirky business sometimes. People talk to you and sometimes tell you things they won't tell their best friends. Sometimes you're glad you're NOT their best friends. I remember this guy by the name of Raymond. Over drinks he told me some pretty raw stuff about someone who is very close to me. He ended up running out of town literally. However saying anything more about that may be getting in a bit deep. A good bartender understands that there is an obligation of privacy between the bartender and a customer. It's almost as sacred as that between a doctor and his patient, except where the police may be involved. That being said what I'm about to do may seem to some that I'm violating the right to privacy of my customers but what you're about to hear is already common knowledge and in the past.
The old folks used to say if the haints in the walls could talk there would be no secrets what so ever. In this establishment it's not so much the walls as the booths. Some of the booths have been given special names by the staff. For instance that one in the back there is called the Baxter booth because of the many times that Jeff and Amy Baxter sat there and ate and talked and argued and loved. These days however it isn't used much except by one particular person, but let me run the whole story and you can judge for yourself.
Jeff and Amy got married after what many called a whirlwind courtship. To some it just didn't seem to fit. He was a shy but very smart teaching assistant while she was an outgoing and headstrong athlete. They say that opposites attract and I guess that's what happened in their case. When Amy brought Jeff home to meet her parents I'm told it wasn't the best of meetings. Her father thought she could do much better than Jeff, especially in the physical department. Jeff wasn't mousy or wimpy but he wasn't the tall broad shouldered athletic type either. Despite the rather cool treatment from the parents Jeff and Amy were married and moved into an apartment not far from here. They had their struggles as all couples do but seemed to dote on each other. At least until they left on that cruise.
Some people have called it a Cruise of Deception. Some called it a Cruise of Awakening and/or Dumping depending on your POV. The details of what actually happened no one knows. All we do know is that Jeff returned home – alone. Word soon got around town as to what happened. Jeff met an old schoolmate by the name of Dan on board the ship. Before the cruise was over Dan got off the ship – with Amy. Yeah you guessed it, Amy ran off with Dan apparently after having an on board affair with him.
Jeff was crushed and it was weeks before he seemed to have any life in him. He quietly filed for and got a divorce due to alienation of affection and abandonment. Amy didn't even bother to show up in the courtroom her parents hired an attorney represent her. It was the talk of the town. Jeff basically walked away with nothing. He lost one job but picked up another at the bank and was surprisingly very successful. He now made good money but still lived like a pauper in the apartment where he and Amy had been.
One thing he does do is drop in to the bar every now and then. He talks I listen. He tried to get with a few other women but never really invested himself in it. He was hurt and very bitter at what happened. Can't say that I blame him. Townsfolk didn't take to kindly to his version of what happened. Apparently Amy was the golden child of the town. Her parents called him a liar and swore that he drove their little girl into the arms of another man. Since they were very well respected and this was the town Amy grew up in most people that knew Amy before sided with the parents. No one would believe that Amy would do such a thing. Why Jeff stayed here I don't know. My guess is it was to have a chance to confront Amy and Dan should they ever come back.
I guess that's where the real story begins. It was 11 months after Amy had ran out on him. Jeff returned home from the bar one evening to see the VMS light on his phone blinking. There were 6 messages. He played back 4 of the messages but never heard 5 or 6.
Message 4 said: "Jeff – this is Amy. I know I'm probably the last person you want to see or hear from. I've been in town now for about 3 weeks. It's taken me that long to work up enough nerve to call you. Jeff I – really would like to see you. I – need to see you. Please call me. The number is ___- ___-____. Please Jeff I really need to see you. Call me please.
Jeff was numb for a moment. He didn't sleep that night because he relived the whole nightmare of the cruise over and over again. He found out from some of the ship's crew that Dan and Amy had a number of private rendezvous all over the ship. Several crewmen saw them disembark arm in arm. His humiliation and how it seemed that everyone on the ship was laughing at him haunted him all that night and the next day. Then there were the people here in town. Amy's parents accusing him of running her off. His own father implying that he didn't stand up and fight for his woman. That she ran off with a better man. He was the one betrayed yet society seemed to brand him as cuckold. He didn't return her call.
A couple of days later he came in all agitated holding a note that was left taped to his door. It's from Amy. She says she desperately needs to see him and to please call. He shows me the note then crushes it and throws it in the trash.
Several days later it's Friday night and Jeff is sitting at the bar shooting the breeze with me. There have been a couple of other attempts by Amy to contact him. He was nursing a drink in the midst of his brooding when in walks Amy. She looked as beautiful as I remembered. Jeff didn't see her walk in and nearly fell off his stool when he turned and saw her standing there. For a moment her shoulder length dark black hair and blue eyes mesmerized him. Her 34 B breasts and the rest of that tight petite body still turned heads. Then his anger and grief boiled to the surface. She saw the smoldering emotions in his eyes and quickly averted hers. She spoke softly almost a whisper.
"Hello Jeff."
"Amy."
"You didn't return any of my calls."
"No I didn't."
"I understand. You're angry and you have every reason to be. Jeff I really need to talk to you. In private."
Jeff looked at her like he was about to bite her head off, but she didn't flinch. Finally he motioned her over to their now famous or infamous booth in the back.
"Okay talk."
She opens her mouth to speak but the words get caught in her throat. She closes her eyes to regroup and starts again.
"I'm surprised that you aren't calling me every bitch, whore and slut in the book."
"I have and I still might. What is it you want to talk about?"
"Us."
