This is the thirty-second episode in a series entitled "Courtesan". If you have not read the previous thirty-one episodes of this series, I encourage you do so before beginning this chapter.
"Courtesan" is romantic story about a dominant hot wife and her submissive cuckold husband. While they have a deep and abiding love for each other they do lead an alternative lifestyle. If this subject matter offends you or makes you feel uncomfortable, I strongly suggest that you find something else to read.
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After Kelly's Mercedes disappeared around the corner I went back into the house. As I walked into the kitchen I glanced at the clock on the wall. It was five minutes to four, too early to make dinner.
I decided to use the time to catch up on some household chores. The events of the past two weeks had disrupted my daily routine so the house wasn't as orderly as I like it to be.
I started by giving the kitchen a thorough cleaning. I'd just finished washing the linoleum floor when the telephone rang. I assumed that it was Ellen calling to tell me about the meeting with the man who was interested in buying The Crier.
I picked up the telephone. "Hello?"
"Hi Timmy, it's Mandy."
"Hi Mandy, aren't you supposed to be meeting with Tonya, Kelly, Keisha and Antoine right now?"
"We just finished. All of us are still in Tonya's office. We'll be leaving to have dinner at the Goldenrod in about ten minutes. Timmy everyone says hi."
"Tell them hi for me."
"Timmy all of us love your idea about buying a smaller house and building an addition. We're going to tell Martin about it at dinner. I'm sure that he'll agree that it's an excellent plan."
"I think it's the only way we can get exactly what we want."
"That's what we think too." Mandy paused for a moment and then she said, "Timmy I called to ask you for a favor."
"Sure, what is it?"
"Do you remember that when I was telling you about the problems between my mom and dad I mentioned that I thought it might be helpful if he could talk to a man who didn't mind that his wife partied with other men?"
"Yes, I remember."
"Timmy could I bring my dad over to your house for lunch tomorrow? Kelly's right here. She suggested that we get together at your house rather than at a restaurant."
"Mandy, I have to work in the morning."
"I know, but Tonya and Kelly said that you're done at 10:30. We could have lunch at noon or even 12:30. It doesn't have to be anything fancy, soup and sandwiches would be fine. I'll help you with the preparations and cleanup. Please Timmy, he really needs to talk to you. The only men he's ever talked to about this are those macho assholes at his office and you can just imagine what kind of advice they've given him."
"Mandy, I'm only twenty-four. Do you think he'd even bother to listen to anything I have to say?"
"Yes Timmy, I think he will listen to you. He knows you're a friend of mine and that I value your opinion. He also really wants to get back together with my mom. I'm absolutely certain that the idea of being a cuckold husband excites him and I think he's just as submissive as you or me. I've been trying to encourage him, but he needs another man to tell him that this lifestyle is okay."
"All right Mandy, I'll do it; but you have to promise me that both you and Kelly are going to be there."
"Don't worry, we'll both be there. Timmy if you give me a shopping list I'll go to the grocery store for you while you're at work."
"Thank you Mandy, but I don't think that will be necessary. If we have lunch at noon I'll have plenty of time to stop at the store on my way home. I would appreciate it if you could help me prepare the food."
"Timmy I'd love to do that. We'll get my dad to help too. Both of us want to learn how to cook."
"Would you like to learn how to make Quiche Lorraine?"
"Quiche Lorraine! Timmy that would be wonderful. Will you have enough time to do that?"
"We might have to wait until 1:00 to eat, but if you and your dad help me we can certainly do it. We could make a spinach salad to go with it."
"Just a minute Timmy."
There was a pause. I could hear talking in the background.
After a moment Mandy said; "Timmy, Kelly just told everyone that your quiche is fabulous. Now Tonya, Keisha and Antoine want to come over too."
"Will that upset your dad?"
"I don't think it will. He wants to meet my friends and if he realizes that all of us approve of this lifestyle it might actually help."
"All right, go ahead and invite everyone. Once I start making quiches it's just as easy to make three as it is to make one."
"Timmy it's time for us to leave for dinner. I wish I could invite you to join us, but tonight it's a business dinner. Martin, John and Wendell are going to be there."
"I know, Kelly told me all about it. Don't worry, I understand."
"Thank you for agreeing to talk to my dad tomorrow."
"Hey it's all right. I think it's going to be fun. I'm already looking forward to it."
"So am I. Goodbye Timmy, I'll see you tomorrow."
"Goodbye Mandy."
After I hung up the telephone I took a minute to think about what I had to do to get the house ready to entertain a group for lunch the next day and then I went to work.
I'd just finished vacuuming the dining room when the telephone rang again.
This time it was Ellen.
"Hello Timmy."
"Hi Ellen, how did your meeting go?"
"Timmy, I'm not sure. I met with Alan Barkley and two other men for over two hours. They never made an offer. I'm still don't even know if they're actually interested in buying The Southwest Crier. Mostly they seemed to be gathering information. They asked to look at the financial records."
"Did you let them see them?"
"Yes I did. I couldn't think of any reason that I shouldn't. I'm going to lose the paper anyway. I'll cooperate with anybody who might be willing to do anything that could help me reduce my debts."
"That does make sense Ellen. Did anything else happen?"
"Yes, they asked me how much money I'd want for The Crier if they did decide that they'd like to buy it."
"What did you tell them?"
"I told them that all they'd have to do is assume my debts. Timmy right now just being able to walk away from The Crier debt free would be an unbelievable blessing. It would allow me to try to find a regular job. I could actually get medical insurance for my kids again."
"What did they say to that?"
"They told me that they'd get back to me in a couple of days."
"I'll keep my fingers crossed for you."
Ellen laughed. "Thanks Timmy, you're a good friend."
"Are you still going to try to get out the next issue of the paper?"
"I have to, people have paid for advertising space."
"When would you like me to come in to help you?"
"Could you help me with the final editing Thursday afternoon?"
"I'll be there around 11:00 and I'll stay until we're finished."
"Timmy I have to go. I promised Sarah that I'd pick her up after volleyball practice." She paused for a moment and then she said; "Timmy thank you so much for everything you've done, you really are a wonderful friend."
"You're welcome Ellen. I'm just glad that I can do something to help you. Call me if you hear anything more about the sale of The Crier."
"I will Timmy, bye."
"Bye Ellen."
After I hung up the telephone I picked up the vacuum cleaner and carried it into the living room. As I vacuumed the carpet I thought about Kelly and me, Elvira, Mandy and her parents, Kirby and his store and Ellen and her kids.
Elvira was wasting away and on the verge of dying from grief when Kirby intervened and saved her life. Kelly and I were separated and on the brink of divorce when Martin Jackson, Tonya, Mandy, Wendell Tyler and others interceded and helped us resolve our differences.
Tomorrow I was going to meet with Mandy's father, a man I'd never even met and try to help him reconcile with his wife. I was very nervous about doing it, but Mandy was my friend. If I could help her I had to do it.
As I continued vacuuming I wished that I could think of some way to help Kirby and Ellen. They were both wonderful people and good friends. They deserved a break; but no matter how hard I tried I couldn't think of anything that I could do that would help them solve their problems.
After I finished in the living room I vacuumed the den. By the time I was done with that room it was nearly 6:00. I decided that was enough housework for one day, it was time to stop for dinner.
I put the vacuum cleaner away and went into the kitchen where I sauteed a small diced tomato, several sliced mushrooms and a quarter cup of Italian sausage. Once that was ready I added a handful of grated mozzarella cheese and made my favorite omelet. While the omelet was cooking I opened a bottle of Australian Shiraz and toasted a thick slice of French bread coated with a mixture of butter, olive oil and garlic.
I poured a large glass of the wine, set it on a tray with the omelet and garlic toast and carried it all into the den where I turned on the television and watched the news while I ate my dinner.
Over the past year my wife's work schedule had caused me to spend a large number of evenings eating dinner without her. I'd learned that taking the time to prepare a nice meal made a lonely night much more palatable.
As soon as I was finished with my omelet I carried my dishes back to the kitchen, cleaned up after myself, poured another glass of Shiraz and returned to the den.
I turned on my laptop computer, tuned my FM radio to a classical music station, sat down and started writing the story I'd promised Kelly. By the time I finished the story it was 10:30. I quickly proofread it. After I was satisfied that I'd corrected most of the glaring grammatical errors I printed a paper copy and set it on the side table.
Once that was done I turned off the stereo and switched on the television. Monday Night Football was still on, the Colts were playing the Jets. The Colts had a six point lead. There was just over a minute left in the game. The Jets had the ball. I sat down and watched.
The Colts held on and won the game. It didn't really make any difference to me. I didn't feel any allegiance to either of the teams. I was just trying to kill some time until Kelly got home.