David Chapter 5-7
David, his Wife and his Best Friend -A marriage in trouble
Good Intentions Gone Awry-Part 2 of 3
If you didn't like Part 1, don't bother reading this part. An angry David doesn't get to explain the facts of life to Linda until Part 3 when the pressures of work have reduced to allow him time to sort out his personal life. Linda won't be happy with the end result. Part 2 deals mainly with the personal interplay of Linda with Tom and Adam and the development of personal gratification becoming an increasing part of their existence straining the marriage even further. Thoughts of David don't figure too highly in their activities. Sometimes one can never fully understand what drives people to do the things they do. To think nothing like this could actually happen is just a product of a limited imagination and/or thought process. The BTB crowd may like Part 3 a little better.
Despite the increased numbers of people now following my stories and the number of times this story has been favourited the scores are very low. I must confess, that puzzles me somewhat. Perhaps the low scores are just because the subject matter is not so nice. Life is not always nice. Can't please everybody. Ultimately though it doesn't matter, the story is what it is. As many people have favourited Part 1 as those who have hated it, so all's good. All parts were already written with a little tidying, successful or otherwise, up just needed and I will not be changing anything.
Chapter 5
It had now been almost three weeks since Linda had returned from an unsatisfying trip back home to visit David and things were not going well with their marriage. David's increased pressures at work only exacerbated the lack of communication between him and his wife. His unhappiness and growing anger with Linda combined with feelings that he was increasingly certain now, that the end of his marriage was all but inevitable, increased his reluctance to speak with her, for fear he would prematurely say something that could never be taken back. During that three week period they'd only spoken briefly by phone four maybe five times with each call ending badly when Linda still could not tell her husband when she might be returning home. Whilst he had his suspicions, he wanted to be absolutely sure before he pulled the plug on their marriage. He had though, already tentatively started making plans for divorce once, if, he had proof of infidelity.
Adam arrived at Tom's on Friday afternoon as he had normally done for the last few months, strangely enough though, the visits more regular since Linda had arrived. Tom wondered if this time there might be a little awkwardness as to how Linda and Adam would greet each other given that if things went as planned, they would at some point during the weekend be having sex. Normally they would briefly hug and Linda would then leave the boys to do what boys do until dinner time. This time they clumsily hugged, separated and laughed as Linda said, "Well, that was a bit awkward. Are you as nervous or apprehensive as I am at the potential change in our friendship?"
He laughed and replied, "Oh thank God. Yes... Yes I am. I thought it was just me. I've never done anything like this before and I'm not sure what the protocol is," and laughed.
He took a deep breath and said, "Why don't we just continue as we've normally done these last few months and play it by ear."
Both Adam and Linda audibly sighed with relief as Linda said, "Yes. Thank you Adam. That sounds good. Let's just relax and enjoy the warm sunshine before potentially delving or should it be diving," as she giggled and added, "into the deep end."
Everyone now knew that if things went as planned, the relationship between the three would change one way or another. The awkwardness of the early afternoon had passed as they did their normal things and by the time Linda, assisted by Tom, had dished up dinner everyone seemed to be comfortable. They spent the evening playing cards, talking, and nibbling on cheeses and fruit accompanied by some glasses of the excellent local red wine before Tom said "Well, I believe bedtime approaches."
Tom wanting to be sure everyone was okay asked, "What's it to be guys? There is no pressure on anyone. We can go ahead with what we had discussed or we can just do as we have done, continue as we have these last months and forget we ever contemplated anything else."
Adam and Linda fidgeted in their chairs slightly with neither seemingly prepared to speak first.
"Linda, you are the key here. We three are possibly considering doing this for me, for my health and I hope for you too. I would hope I might finally be able to satisfy you as well if you decide to go with it. It is asking a lot of you, and God knows, you have already given me so much so there is absolutely no pressure to go ahead if you don't want to, have changed your mind, or have any doubts whatsoever."
"If you need more time to think about it, take it, as once this genie leaves the bottle there ain't any putting it back?"
Linda looked down briefly before raising her head to look at Tom, then Adam.
"The way I see it, Tom, is that this is something that apparently... obviously... really... means a lot to you and the only reason I am here is to try to help you spend your remaining time in as happy and comfortable an atmosphere as I and your remaining friends can make it. You are asking me, and Adam, to do something that previously really excited you and raised your spirits. We are here for you and if that's what you truly want, and Adam still agrees then I say..." and she took a deep breath before continuing, "I'm prepared to give it a try."
"If it works it works... and if that is the case perhaps maybe we can do it again sometime, if it doesn't, it doesn't, then we stop straight away. Even if only one person has doubts or doesn't want to do it anymore, we stop immediately. That part is non-negotiable for me."
After a brief pause, she continued, "I had difficulty with the concept initially. I was shocked, then angry, but then I thought that I've already given so much, put so much on the line, and it seemed to work, it seemed to help you, so didn't want to waste all that effort," she laughed, "So if it's what you really want Tom", and repeating herself said, " I'll give it a try."
"So do we have a third?" asked Linda, giggling as she looked at Adam.
"What can I say?" he replied, "If you guys are all in, who am I to refuse?" as he chuckled.
"Tom?" Linda queried giving him an intense, serious, look. "This could backfire on all of us you know."
"I've known you two for many years. If I didn't think this would work, I probably would not have suggested it, even though when I first raised the issue with each of you separately, there was the possibility of rejection, maybe even a loss of friendship, but I followed my gut. I trust you guys, I believe in you guys, and you have been with me through some extremely difficult times. Whilst what we are planning could certainly backfire on us, I don't think that will happen."
