Anne and Bill brought their 2nd home in quiet suburb west of the big city. It wasn't a starter home but a four bedroom, a home for a family with children. They were ready for two kids and a surprise 3rd if need be.
The happy couple married of five years decided it was time for children with considerable pressure from both families. They decided Anne would stay home to raise the children, just like June Cleaver and why not Bill was making more than enough.
Anne and Bill like their new neighbors, even their neighbor directly behind them Carl.
Bill liked Carl, but not any more than that, he knew Carl's type. When you meet one retired "USMC Marine" you a have met them all, Bill thought.
Bill patiently listened to Carl talk at him for ten minutes straight, when he finally had enough he quickly interjected after a fifth "Once a Marine always a Marine."
"Would you like to join me running in the mornings?" he asked Carl.
"Er..what." replied Carl.
"Running, I run four to six miles every morning. Would like to join me?" Bill repeated."
"No, I sleep in on the mornings," said Carl.
"I have to go in and clean up for dinner now if you ever change your mind," said Bill."
With a wave, Bill left Carl at the back gate.
Bill's and Carl's yards had a connecting gate, the only two houses like that on the block. The reason for this shared back gate was the previous owner of Bill's home, Mrs. Perkins. Mrs.Perkins was best friends with Carl's late mother, they gardened together and nearly did everything together. And to walk around the block to reach each other's houses was inconvenient.
-
Each day Anne and Bill set apart some time after dinner to share a beer and talk.
Anne "It's five months now that I'm off the Pill, I could get pregnant anytime now."
Bill "I'm ready, I'm looking forward to becoming a father."
Anne "Easy for you to say, you got the best part."
Bill "What, getting you pregnant? You're damn right."
Anne "I saw you talking with Carl earlier, isn't he the talker."
Bill "Is he ever! I was ready to chew my paw off."
Anne "The gossip is, that he inherited that house from his mother. she took care of him after he retired to the day she died, he never married or even had a lady friend. I think that's really sad."
Bill "Ha! He never had a lady friend because he probably didn't have any money for whores."
Anne " What! That's not nice to say, Bill."
Bill "You should have heard him out there, according to Carl he is the toughest whore mongering Marine that ever lived. He's not sad, he's just pathetic."
Anne "But still, he's all alone in that house and I know he's not eating right."
Bill "Oh no, well at least he's not a puppy."
Anne "What does that mean?"
Bill sighed.
Bill "It means that you found something that needs help, and you are going to help it."
Bill "Or at least to you have the baby then you will have something worthy of your attention."
Anne was starting to get cross
Anne "You shouldn't be so callous."
Bill interrupted "OK! OK! I don't want to fight over Carl, just be careful he's not as harmless as he looks."
-
The next day Anne cooked dinner early then took a plate of food over to Carl.
Anne "Hi Carl, I know this is unexpected but I made too much for dinner tonight. So would you like a plate, I hate to waste food."
The smell of Anne's dinner made him instantly hungry.
Carl "Wow, now that smells wonderful. Come in and stay a bit we could chat after I eat, If you have time and are so inclined."
Anne "Sure I have time."
Carl opened the door completely and an unpleasant odor assaulted Anne as she entered Carl's home, she entered the kitchen and sat down in the chair Carl offered.
"Just what I suspected, neglect!", Anne thought.
Carl pulled a knife and fork from his dish rack then sat at the table to eat Anne's dinner, to say "eat" would be polite. Carl ate his dinner faster than Anne had ever seen anyone eat before, it took him less than five minutes.
Anne "Well, you must have really liked it."
Carl "Liked it? I loved it, I haven't had a home-cooked meal since...Well since Mom passed away."
Anne "Oh, I'm sorry Carl."
Carl "No. No. Don't be, I not sorry for your generosity."
Carl washed Anne's plate in the sink then handed it back to her with a very genuine
"Thank you.", said Carl
Carl went to the cabinet and produced two tumblers and a bottle of top-shelf liquor. With a couple of ice cubes for Anne, he poured both of them generous drinks.
Anne "OK, just one drink over chat. I have time but not all day.."
Carl and Anne chatted for about a half hour and Carl was kinda charming and pleasant, unlike how Bill and the other neighbors depicted him.
-
Later that day Anne told Bill about her visit with Carl.
Anne "I don't see how you see Carl, he's nice. A little rough around the edges, but that's just a result of a lifetime in the Military."
"Undoubtedly," Bill replied.
Bill "You cooked him a dinner out of pure kindness, he's going to be on his best behavior."
Anne "If all it takes is a little caring to make Carl a better person then I'm willing to do it."
"She is her own person, she is not my property," Bill thought to himself.
Bill "If that pleases you then take him a dinner as often as you like, just keep him from over here."
Anne "I'll take a dinner to him every day because yes it does please me and I agree that the two of you should stay away from each other."
"Somehow this has gotten bigger than it should have." Bill thought.
-
A new routine was added to Anne's day, dinner at Carl's.
One week had gone past and every day Carl and Anne shared a drink and chatted, Anne was beginning to know Carl well or at least his history. Carl may have been on his best behavior but he still couldn't refrain from dominating the conversation and talking about himself.
Anne "Why didn't you ever get married, didn't you want a family."
Carl "I was married to the Corps, never did have a chance to settle down. Never did stay in one place too long to have a relationship."
Carl "That is one thing I really regret is not having a Son after I pass my family name ends."
Anne felt even more sympathy for Carl.
Anne "Don't be so down now. How about I come over and tidy up for you, "If you live in a dingy home you will be blue too."
Somehow that just came out of Anne's mouth without her even meaning to say it.
Anne "If you don't mind me saying."
"That was borderline rude Anne," Anne thought.
Carl "No, you're right the place is a mess, Mom would be furious."
Anne was now cleaning Carl's house and cooking his dinner, she would have never believed it a year ago when she was still working at the hospice."
"I can't tell Bill about cleaning Carl's house he going to think I'm nuts," Anne thought.
-
Over their evening beer, Bill and Anne talked over the day.
Anne "The next three nights IS IT!, I'm OVULATING!"
Bill smiled immediately.
Bill "Really! Wow! Do you think it will happen, Do think you'll get pregnant?"
Anne "I don't know but I'm going to damn well try!"
Bill "HA! And I thought it was going to be the TV again tonight."
-
About two hours before bed Anne comes out of the Kitchen with a glass of water and offers it to Bill.
Anne "Here take this."
Anne hands Bill the water and a blue pill.
Bill "Where did you get this? I don't need this."
Anne "Tonight you will and I got it as a sample from a doctor."
