This story is the twentieth episode in a series entitled "Awakenings". If you have not read the previous nineteen episodes of this series, I encourage you do so before beginning this chapter.
I remind you again that I write cuckold stories. While I try to make them loving cuckold stories, they do depict an alternative life style. If you're offended or upset by stories about sexual attitudes and behaviors that are different from your own I strongly suggest that you find something else to read.
The following Tuesday I woke up in a state of excited anticipation. That evening Jeanne, Ruth and Abby were planning to go to the Goldenrod Supper Club to meet men who were attending the trade show at the Civic Center.
As I stood in front of the bathroom mirror shaving I thought about Ruth's husband, David. I was certain he had to be every bit as excited as I was. David and I had been close friends for well over a dozen years. He was going to be sitting at the Goldenrod bar that night watching another man seduce Ruth. Realizing that I envied him, I wondered if I'd reached a point where I could sit next to him at that bar watching another man seduce Jeanne.
Smiling as I rinsed the excess shaving cream off my face, I recognized that I was now not only capable of doing it, I was looking forward to the time when I could do it. I started to wonder why? How could I possibly be excited about watching Jeanne with another man. Remembering what Amy, Mel and Jeanne were trying to teach me, I stopped myself. Why and how weren't relevant questions. It excited me and didn't affect anyone else. That was all that mattered.
I quickly dressed and went down stairs. Mel and Amy were in the kitchen. Breakfast was yogurt and granola. Amy handed me a bowl while I poured a cup of coffee.
As soon as I was seated Mel said, "You're looking particularly chipper today. Are you excited about tonight?"
"Amazingly, I am."
Mel raised her eyebrows. "Amazingly?"
I shrugged.
Amy smiled, "Mel our friend is learning."
"Yes he is."
I smiled.
After breaksfast Amy and I cleaned the kitchen while Mel prepared for her first cottage date. As usual Mel and Amy had a full schedule. They were each entertaining two gentlemen in the cottage.
I played golf. I didn't shoot a very good score. It's hard to focus your attention while you're picturing your wife and another man rolling around naked on his hotel room bed.
By the time I returned to Mel and Amy's house it was a little after three. Mel was back from her 1:00 pm date. Already showered, she was sitting in the living room reading. After a quick shower, I joined her with my lap top computer.
As I sat down, she asked, "How was your golf game?"
"It was okay. I played by myself. That was probably better."
"Why?"
"I'm a little preoccupied with what's going to happen tonight."
Setting her Kindle down, Mel said, "I would think you'd be getting used to it by now."
I shrugged. "Jeanne's meeting a new man. That makes it exciting. I also wish I could be at the Goldenrod with her."
"With her?"
"Not with her, but sitting at the bar with David, watching."
"Maybe it's time for you to go home."
Shaking my head, I said, "I don't know. Seeing her dressed up for her date with Derek Fischer is still a painful memory."
"You've both changed since then."
"I know, but I'm afraid that if I go home too soon I'll be anxious around Jeanne. She'll pick up on it and then she'll be anxious too. That mutual anxiety could end up destroying our marriage.
Mel nodded.
"I'm also afraid that passing time will be a problem."
"Passing time?"
"The anticipation of what's going to happen tonight is killing me. Every minute feels like an hour. I can't imagine what it will be like sitting at home alone waiting for Jeanne to return from a date. Right now I have you and Amy to help me. When I'm on my own I'm afraid the waiting will be unbearable."
"You have David. Maybe you need to cultivate that friendship."
"I'm sure that will happen. David and I have always been friends. Since it appears we're now going to be sharing a common lifestyle, I'm sure we'll become even closer friends. While I agree that will help, it won't completely solve the problem. Jeanne and Ruth won't always be going out together, especially if both of them end up with boyfriends."
"Then you're going to have to learn how to pass the time while Jeanne is on a date." Standing up, Mel walked over and turned on the laptop computer that we now kept attached to the television in the living room. Watching porn movies had become a regular activity at Mel and Amy's house. "I think this is a situation where we have to fight fire with fire. What would you like to watch?"
"Julia Ann."
"Good choice." Mel started one of my favorite Julia Ann movies. As she returned to her seat, she said, "Now go to that erotic story site we like so much and find a good cuckold, hot wife story. The movie and the story should help you pass the time."
Realizing what Mel was doing, I smiled and said, "I"ll give it a try."
Mel and I sat on the couch. She picked up her Kindle and resumed reading her book. I started reading a story about a wife who was having a steamy affair with her boss. It was a cuckold story, so of course she had her husband's full knowlege and approval. In the third chapter the three of them took a vacation together at a luxury resort in Cancun. The wife and her boss shared a room. The cuckold husband had an adjoining room. The husband's wife and her boss were still too reserved let him watch while they were playing, but the wife loved her husband so she insisted on leaving the door that connected their rooms slightly ajar. She at least wanted him to be able to listen.
I stopped reading and considered that situation. Initially it seemed completely untenable. I couldn't possibly imagine a situation in which I'd be willing to sit in an adjacent room listening while Jeanne and another man played in their room, especially when I knew I was deliberately being excluded, but then I thought about it.
This actually wasn't all that different than a situation I was already resigned to facing when I returned home. I knew there would eventually be times when I would be watching television in my den while Jeanne entertained a man in Tricia's old bedroom. While I wouldn't be expressely excluded, invitations to join them so I could watch would be rare. That would result in me sitting in my den pretending to watch television while I listened to them enjoying each other in the next room.
And then I understood. Fight fire with fire. I smiled. Mel really was brilliant. The sounds of Jeanne and her paramour playing in the next room would make an outstanding background for a Julia Ann movie.
"What are you grinning about?"
"I just figured out how to pass the time when Jeanne is entertaining a date in her play room while I'm at home."
"Tell me."
"I'm going to take your advice."
"Go on."
"The sounds coming from Jeanne's playroom will make a wonderful background for a Julia Ann movie."
Smiling, Mel said, "Very good, you're figuring out how to turn Jeanne's excitement into your own excitement."
"I am." But then my smile vanished.
"What's the matter?"
"I don't think I'll ever be able to get used to watching Jeanne get dressed for a date with another man."
"Seeing her dressed up for her date with that Fischer guy was hard, wasn't it."
"It nearly destroyed me."
"You do understand that she regrets doing that."
"Yes, I know that, but when I go home it's still going to happen again. It's inevitable."
"We'll just have to find a way to make it exciting for you."
"I don't think watching a porn movie while Jeanne gets dressed is the answer this time."
"No, I don't think so either." Mel smiled. "But I do have an idea."
"what is it?"
"Confidence."
"Confidence?"
"That's right. When you see Jeanne dressed up for a date with another man you have to be confident that it has nothing to do with her feelings about you."
"That's easier said than done."
"Sweetheart, Jeanne loves you. All Amy and I have to do is make certain you know that."
"How are you going to do that?"
"Read your story and watch your movie. We'll continue this conversation while we're having our cocktails."
"You're pretty confident."
"Damn right. I'm from Chicago. Girls from Chicago are always confident."
I chuckled.
"Read your story." Mel picked up her Kindle and started reading her book again. It was clear our conversation was temporarily on hold.
Amy returned from her last engagement at a quarter to five. After she took a quick shower the three of us moved out to the veranda for our pre dinner cocktail.
As soon as we were settled Mel said, "Michael told me that he's been anxious all day."
Looking at me, Amy asked, "Is it good anxiety or bad?"
I smiled. "It's good. Actually, I think excited might be a better word than anxious.
Mel and Amy both nodded their approval. Amy said, "You're coming around."
Mel asked, "Would you like to talk about what's happening tonight?"
"I don't know, sort of, but..."
Understanding, Amy said, "You want to hear about it from Jeanne, don't you."
"Yes."
Mel said, "Why don't we play a game instead."