It was summer, and the days marched on. Jessie didn't resign, but she turned all the household finances, though none of her money, over to Gary. He took the department head's job at the high school. He put his house up for sale, and, being in an upscale low property tax suburb it went quickly. He bought a new sofa bed, a clothing rack, and a small bureau for the cellar. There was a small bathroom with a shower and basin so he wouldn't have to go upstairs for any of that. Jessie signed up for some writing classes at the local state college. Dorothy enrolled at the community college, then she and Melanie got jobs at the Walmart. Katy got a new boyfriend. Jessie was getting everything she wanted. He appeared to be clueless... as usual, and then something else popped up.
Jessie continued to talk about quitting the firm. She even signed up for evening writing classes, and of course she had to be a bitch about everything. Milquetoast that he was Gary was downstairs doing everyone else's laundry when she bounced in.
It was August, Jessie was wearing a white cotton blouse, collar opened at the top and a pair of light brown culottes. Her hair was back in barrettes, her legs were tanned and lean, no pantyhose, just knee high socks and white sneakers. She looked shorter, but then she wasn't wearing heels, and she looked younger. He enjoyed the sight.
She danced over and did a tidy little pirouette. "Like what you see," she asked?
He couldn't help it, he smiled.
She smiled too, and then said, "Too bad, you're not getting any." She turned around and swished her ass at him.
He noticed she was wearing a necklace he'd bought her years ago, a thin gold chain with a heart shaped pendant. Inside the pendant was a picture of the two of them. She saw him looking at the necklace and stopped smiling. As he turned back to the wash he heard something metallic clink against the side of the washer. When he turned around he saw the necklace on the floor.
She wasn't done, she got right behind him. He could smell her perfume; she pushed her chest up against his back. He could feel her hard firm little tots. She whispered, "Miss me don't you."
He didn't turn around. He ignored her. He heard her storm back up the steps. It occurred to him; she'd been doing a lot of that lately, wearing provocative little girly outfits, filmy tailored blouses with several of the top buttons undone, and very tight and very short shorts or skirts. She was taunting him. She'd done it before.
He picked up the locket and necklace and went back to the wash, but not for long. Seconds later she was back down, "Where's my necklace?"
Gary turned around and shrugged.
"Give me my necklace," she demanded.
"No," was his reply.
Jessie sidled up and got him turned around with his back to the washing machine. "I need my necklace," she said.
"People in hell want ice water," he answered.
No answer, serious as hell Jessie stepped between his legs; putting her hands on his ass cheeks she leaned up and pressed a kiss on his lips. He kissed her back. She found his penis, and from outside of his shorts she twisted and pulled as fast and as hard she could. Watching him writhe in pain as she grinned maliciously.
The pain was sharp and intense, but Gary quickly recovered and retaliated. He grabbed her wrists, twisted her hands behind her back, turned her around, and lifted her halfway atop the washer so that the base of her back was jammed painfully against the edge. With great speed he clamped his mouth on hers and savagely bit down on her lips. He stepped back and watched her crumple to the floor.
Grasping a painfully abused mouth, blood oozing from torn lips, she cursed, "You bastard. You ignorant stupid mother fucker!" Crying, crawling clumsily to her feet she clenched her hands in tiny fists and charged, "I'll kill you for this. I'll kill you you worthless bastard! I hate you!"
Gary grabbed her wrists again, and again wrapped her arms behind her back. He pulled her in close and kissed the top of her well tousled sweat moistened head. He whispered, "Shut up Jessie, just shut up."
She wilted. He loosened his grip. Her arms went around his waist. Coughing and hiccoughing, head against his chest, she let him pet her. Between muted sobs she murmured, "My necklace."
He whispered back, "Go upstairs. Go to the den. I'll bring it to you there."
Putting the base of her palms to her eyes to wipe her tears away she nodded, eyes cast downward she fled back up the stairs again. Gary finished putting the load in, and started up the steps, thinking about the past winter.
He remembered back in January and February when he was truly alone he had his places, restaurants and such. Gary liked Appleby's and a seafood place called the Taylorsville Inn. On occasions when he wanted something special there was a more upscale place close to the city called the Fox Inn. Jessie knew his eating habits, and while he had G.P.S. access to her she had the same access regarding him. He knew she was watching; he'd seen her car near his new house. Once he saw her in her car across the street from his school. If she hated him so much, why she couldn't leave him alone, and if she was so busy at work how did she find the time?
She kept doing the oddest things; things that didn't make any sense. Several times he recalled coming out of school and he'd see her Mercedes parked just down the street. She'd watch him get in his Jeep, and drive away. One time he deliberately drove by where her car was parked; she squinched down low in her seat like he wouldn't see her. How childish was that?
She knew Thursday nights were his usual nights out. He was always alone, but twice she showed up, and both times she had some young man, probably a lawyer, clinging to her arm. The guys always looked like someone out of G.Q. magazine, and she was always dressed to the nines. Jessie was a beautiful woman, but since December he never could quite figure her out.
Once he was at the Taylorsville Inn eating some fresh Haddock when she showed up with one of her young champions on her arm. He discreetly watched her as she scanned the restaurant. She smiled when she spotted him. She let her hero help her out of her coat and seat her. A waitress went over, they ordered, and Gary remembered somberly watching as they chatted. Jessie was really making a big deal out of her assignation. She kept touching her companion's hands and leaning in close to his face. Before their meal arrived, but after their first drink she got up slowly and very sexually swiveled and swayed her way to his table. She got up close, leaned down, and placed her hands on the edge of his table in such a way he had to see the deep cut of her decollate. Her blond hair was short, parted perfectly, barely reaching her neck, a few strands played fondly down her forehead and over one eye. Her makeup was perfect; cherry red heart shaped lips, a hint of color on each cheek, her pale blue eye shadow made her eyes look even lovelier. She gave him a venomous smile and said, "I bet you miss this don't you."
He remembered feeling numb when she said, "Yes Jessie I do."
She stood back up, all 5'6" of her; she straightened the front of her shimmery black dress, smoothing her hands over her breasts. She smiled again, turned and walked away. He stayed and finished his meal, but the light and fluffy Haddock might as well have been sand. She'd ruined his evening and ultimately his whole weekend.
She'd only done that one time. He guessed she felt like she didn't need to after that. Yeah, it'd been a tough and lonely winter. He couldn't say why, but he spent way too much time trying to understand where everything had gone so wrong. He'd always loved her. He always listened to her. He'd supported everything she did. He knew what despair was. If it hadn't been for his girls he didn't think he would have made it.
And now it was summer, he was back in her house, and she was trying to pull the same stunts again. "Not this time," he said to himself. He could say it, but it still hurt. He felt like a fly trapped in a web. He crossed the living room and entered the den. She was there on his old lazy boy... waiting.
Walking over, pointing to the loveseat he said, "Over there." She complied, while he went to the desk drawer and retrieved a brush and comb he knew she kept there. He pulled her to the floor. He sat behind her, took out the barrettes, and started to brush out her hair, "I always liked your hair short. I'm glad you're wearing it that way again. When it's longer it looks stringy and makes your face look thin."
She sighed.
He added, "You're very pretty in the outfit you have on. The blouse looks nice on you, and the pants complement your tanned legs. You've always been a pretty girl; that was the first thing I noticed about you, that and the way you frowned."
"Frowned," she said.
"You always had a frown on your face. You scared most people off with it."
She retorted, "I didn't frown, maybe at you, but nobody else."