Ethan Evie And Leah

Thank you for your continued support of my stories.

There's no descriptive sex in this one.

Many thanks to Thegeros for the well-considered and sensible comments.

Enjoy.

Ethan, Evie & Leah

Evie

Evie Simpson was getting a dressing-down from her father, Robert Simpson, for the umpteenth time.

"Evie, you need to get a hold on your life. You're not a naughty teenager any more. You're a young adult and I expect you to behave like one. Your mother and I brought you up better than this. We've tried to engender in you the traits of decency, respect and loyalty. For goodness sake, Evie, you've been detained by the police for possession of illegal substances!"

"DAD! It was just some weed and some "happy pills". I'm just having a bit of fun. It's just a misdemeanour amount," Evie responded, pleadingly.

"I call BULLSHIT on that! I wouldn't be surprised if your "bits of fun" get you into serious trouble. Despite you having a good job, you're always asking for money to pay your rent. Where does your money go? You socialize with dubious characters. I've never seen you with the same guy twice. Your behaviour is bordering on promiscuous. I don't want you to get a "reputation". Your Uni friends say you have changed and not for the better. You need to settle down. You're an attractive 25-year-old woman who is establishing a promising career."

Robert took Evie's hands in his. He looked at her with a tear in his eye and said with absolute sincerity, "Evie, your mother and I want you to enjoy your life. You only get one - but you have to understand that there are boundaries. When you are old, I want you to be able to look back on your life with pride. I want you to be surrounded by people who love and respect you. We've spoken about this time and time again. It stops now. If you don't sort out your life, we will have no alternative other than to disown and disinherit you. Am I making myself clear?"

"Yes, Daddy," She answered between sobs. Evie was terribly upset after the lecture from her Dad. Until that moment, she believed that she had things under control. Maybe that was not the case. Maybe it was her brief stay in the local lock-up before her Dad bailed her out. Maybe it was the picture that her Dad had painted of her. Maybe it was his threat to disown her. While the temptation to continue with her "lifestyle" was strong, she admitted to herself that it was not sustainable. She needed to "settle down". That meant easing up on the pills and the weed and the men. She needed to change her approach to socializing and dating. She needed to look for "quality" and not "quantity".

Ethan

Ethan Davis is a good guy. He has a degree in Electrical & Electronics Engineering and a Master's degree in Editing & Publishing. Since his graduation, his professional life has gone from strength to strength. So much so, that he was able to ditch his salaried position as an editor and establish his own, albeit very small, company. He carved out a niche where he edits technical engineering articles and papers for scientific journals. He has that magical ability to turn "geek speak" into "plain English".

He works out of the house in the suburbs that he purchased from his Mom following the passing of his father. He has converted the attic into a well-appointed and modern office.

Three journals keep him on a retainer - the idea being that Ethan makes himself reasonably available to undertake their work in preference to others. It's kind of like a "Golden Handcuff" arrangement which, to date, has worked very well for all parties. Pretty good for a 30-year-old.

Ethan's family life was great. He was really happy that his Mom found a nice guy after the passing of his Dad. He considered his sister, Michelle, and his brother, Tony, to be his closest friends and confidants. The only hole in his life relates to female companionship. Ethan was painfully shy in the presence of women. He was also completely naïve about their mysterious ways. He'd had a few girlfriends over the past 10 years but none turned out happily. He didn't loose too much sleep because he firmly believed that "good things come to those who wait".

As Ethan was his own boss, he was able to allocate some of his time and resources to mentoring young engineering students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. He assists his students with subsidised fees, technical instruction and practical experience. His efforts have resulted in 15 underprivileged students graduating and progressing into engineering employment. He has been recognised by the community and the engineering fraternity alike.

Evie and Ethan Meet

Ethan is a quiet guy. He doesn't like to be the centre of attention. Tonight, however, he finds himself sitting at the head table at yet another benefit dinner and he has to make a speech. He understood that they were a necessary evil but that didn't make them any easier. He'd rather be at the proctologist. To make matters worse, his sister had called earlier to say that she wasn't able to be his "plus one" and he had to go stag. He was sitting in his tux feeling very uncomfortable and out of place despite being surrounded by dozens of men in tuxes.

The young lady sitting across the table from him introduced herself, "Hi. I'm Evie Simpson. I'm a "plus one" and it seems that my date has abandoned me so he can schmooze with more important people."

"Hi, Evie. He must be a fool. Your dress is perfect and you look radiant. I'm Ethan Davis and my date, who is actually my sister, bailed on me at the last minute - some lame excuse relating to sick children - and I had to go stag."

While they were both laughing at their misfortune, Mayor Ray Wallace arrived at the table. Ethan stood and the two hugged.

"Ethan, you look pretty sharp for an old guy."

"Ray, I can still run rings around you," Ethan responded with a laugh.

Ethan introduced Evie to the Mayor, "Mayor Wallace, I'd like you to meet Ms Evie Simpson. She noticed that I was sitting here like a shag on a rock and rescued me."

Mayor Wallace extended his hand, "It's a great pleasure to meet you Ms Simpson. Ethan's a lucky man to have such beautiful company. Any friend of Ethan's is a friend of mine."

Evie almost melted with delight.

Turning his attention back to Ethan, Mayor Wallace said, "Ethan, on a serious note, I hope your speech goes well. I know it's not your favourite part of the job but it is, nonetheless, an important one. I hope your words tonight will inspire others to follow your lead."

Ethan looked at his friend, "Thanks. I'll give it my best shot - if this damn monkey suit doesn't drive me crazy beforehand. Ray, if you were a true friend, you'd help me escape. You're supposed to know people in high places."

Mayor Wallace laughed and confessed that he feels the same way, "Imagine that, Ethan, a politician that doesn't like wearing a tux. Please remember that you accepted Linda's invitation to come and BBQ with us soon. She's waiting for your call."

"Yes, Ray. I'll call her this week and sort out a date."

"OK, if you'll excuse me, I've got to go and press the flesh."

The Mayor turned his attention to Evie, "Evie Simpson, it was a great pleasure to meet you. The City thanks you for looking after Ethan. I hope you have an enjoyable evening."

Evie blushed, "Yes, sir, I'm sure I will."

As if meeting the Mayor wasn't enough, no sooner had he left when Callum Barclay, the President of NatTech, arrived at the table.

Evie exploded to her feet and stood to attention.

Callum looked at Evie with surprise, "Now there's a face that I recognize."

"Yes, sir. I'm Evie Simpson and I work in your Logistics Division."

"Of course, Ms Simpson. How's NatTech treating you?"

"Very well, sir. I find my job to be interesting and challenging. The people I work with are friendly and professional."

"Excellent. Good to hear. Would it be OK if I had a quick word with Ethan?"

"Of course, sir. Would you like me to excuse myself?"

"No, no. I feel guilty for interrupting. My 12-year-old daughter, Emma, knew that Ethan was attending tonight's "soiree" and between them, they cooked-up something."

"Ethan, my friend. How are you? You look ...

uncomfortable

, as usual."

"Well, Callum, I'm as well as can be expected."

"Apparently, you and Emma plotted something at our lunch last weekend."

"Yep, we agreed that I would give her a signed copy of my book. Apparently, not only do I have to write some nice words, but I have to provide the book as well."

"Ha Ha! That's my girl. She told me to tell you that she wants to become a "twitcher"." Callum added.

Ethan laughed and handed a package to Callum.

"Thanks for doing this, Ethan. You know she adores you."

"She's a good kid and, thank goodness, she takes after her Mom."

Callum thumped Ethan in the middle of his chest.

The two friends hugged.

Callum Barclay turned to Evie, "Well, Evie, I apologize for the intrusion. Please handle him with care. He's a bit of a "fish out of water" at these things."

"Yes, Mr Barclay. I'll go easy on him."

Evie thought that she had hit the jackpot. Ethan appeared to be a handsome, nerdy, single, well-connected guy. He was certainly "husband material". She was sick and tired of going on dates with a procession of chronic losers whose sole objective was to get into her panties and her dope. She was sick and tired of her parents treating her like a naughty child. If she played her cards right, she'll have a ring on her finger and, maybe, one through Ethan's nose, inside of twelve months.

The evening was a success. Ethan's speech was received well. Evie and Ethan chatted on and off. Her date returned to the table from time-to-time. He seemed upset that Evie had been talking to the Mayor. At the end of the night, Ethan could see that Evie wasn't going to be seeing her date again. As Evie left, she handed Ethan her card.

Eighteen months later, Evie and Ethan were married.

Trouble in Paradise

After 5 years of marriage, Evie had become restless and unhappy with her lot in life and was looking for something better. Too often, her mind drifted back to her "wilder" days before she met Ethan. Sometimes she longed for those days. Maybe she's thinking about "trading up". Despite his boring job, she was jealous of her husband's success. To add insult to injury, his hobby is wildlife photography and ornithology and he is highly regarded by that community. Before they met, he published a book about suburban birds that has been quite successful.

Evie wants the professional recognition and accolades that her husband receives. She can't understand why Ethan shuns them.

Evie was doing OK in her job as a mid-level manager with NatTech, a large telecommunications company. Despite her fleeting contact with Callum Barclay all those years ago and her subsequent marriage to his friend, her career at NatTech had not achieved the trajectory that she felt she deserved. She's a social creature and happily immersed herself in the social life that comes with her job. She's 32 years old but yearns for the time when she was 22. She likes to "hang" with the younger people in her office and they're happy to have her - as long as she can keep up. Her after-hours activities are increasingly becoming a sore point between Evie and Ethan.

From time-to-time, Ethan tried to participate in her work-related social events but it's just not "him". He always winds up feeling like a 5th wheel. It's also clear that Evie doesn't want him to accompany her. He didn't want to acknowledge that she was drifting away from their marriage.

One day, Ethan received an anonymous email that his wife was cheating him. It came from someone who works with Evie. Apparently, she has a couple of lovers - the main one being a young guy she works with. He has an apartment which is a short walk from Evie's office. The address is 54 Queen's Terrace, Apt 9B. They have regular lunchtime trysts and, on occasion, they take time off work to spend an afternoon together.

Ethan immediately hired a Private Investigator to verify the tip-off. The PI gave him a couple of voice-activated recorders which looked like pens and asked him to place them in Evie's favourite bags. Within 2 weeks, the tip-off information proved to be accurate and Ethan had a detailed dossier of Evie's affair with Mr Adrian Hatton. The dossier included video and audio of the lovers fucking and discussing their relationship. The PI traced the tip-off email to a disgruntled ex-girlfriend of Hatton's.

The PI was able to capture an audio recording of Evie and her lover where they are planning arrangements that will enable them to spend more "personal time" together. Essentially, they agree to fabricate a "new job" for Evie which will require more overtime; some weekend work; and occasional interstate travel. Evie was clearly excited about their new plan and told her lover that her hubby was gullible and naïve and would blindly accept any bullshit she gave him. She also said that she had been having sex with multiple guys for years and Ethan was none the wiser.

Ethan acknowledged that Evie was right about his naivety. He had allowed his love of her to cloud his common sense and judgement. That, however, ended today. He needed to make some important decisions.

A few days after Ethan received the PI's report, Evie arrived home very excited. She told him that she'd been offered a promotion within the company. The new job, however, will require her to spend more time at work - including some weekends. It will also require some interstate travel. Ethan knew this was coming and congratulated Evie on her company's recognition of her ability and potential.

Evie thought she was ahead of the game. She thought she could have the best of both worlds. A loving but clueless husband and a few lovers on the side. Little did she know that she was well behind and that Ethan had assembled a very detailed package depicting her various infidelities.

Ethan and Leah Meet

One day, while sitting in his attic office and thinking about the state of his marriage, he noticed some movement in the backyard of a nearby house. It was a lady in a bikini setting up for some sunbathing beside her pool. He couldn't help but look at her for a while before she removed her top. Ethan felt a little conflicted about his intrusion into this woman's privacy. He decided not to look into her backyard again. He thought that the best way to do this was to move his office down to his front porch.

A few days later, Ethan was sitting on his front porch working. He has always enjoyed greeting his neighbours as they stride past on their morning exercise walks. He thought it was nice to have a connection with his community. When sitting on the porch, he always kept an eye on his bird feeder; hoping for some new visitors. Despite the isolation from his office technology, the fresh air was a welcome change from the stuffy atmosphere of the attic.

Ethan was again distracted by the increasingly parlous state of his marriage. Evie was spending less and less "quality time" with him - preferring to socialize with her work friends - both on work nights and weekends. From time-to-time, she had even begun inventing excuses for being away overnight. He was sick and tired of her flagrant infidelity and was seriously considering a divorce. He truly believed that Evie wouldn't care too much. But for him, divorce would be an acknowledgement of failure. On their wedding day, Ethan had made a number of vows that were important to him as a husband and a person. He rationalized that it was not him that was breaking the vows - it was his increasingly bitchy and absent wife.

As he was sinking further into his all-to-common depression, he saw a lady with a slight limp coming up the street delivering junk mail.

She was about to put a leaflet in Ethan's letterbox when she noticed him sitting on his shady porch working on his laptop. There was classical music drifting from inside the house. It had been a boring day and she decided to say hello, "Hi, can I put some junk mail in your letterbox? I do volunteer work for the local Town Planning Community Action Committee and I'm delivering leaflets objecting to a proposed commercial development that will see the demolition of our much-loved community centre. It's something that my friends and I consider to be really important and we're trying to get the word out."

"Sure, but why don't you just hand it to me. It'll save me a trip."

She smiled, opened the gate and walked up the path through a carefully manicured garden.

"I'm Ethan Davis."

"Hi, Ethan, I'm Leah Hendricks."

Smiling, he took the flyer and shook her hand.

They both had equally firm handshakes.

Ethan immediately recognized her as the pool lady.

"Can I offer you a drink?" He pointed to the cooler near the table.

"Yes please, it's so hot, I'd much rather be home in my pool - but I have a "greater calling" today."

"Help yourself and please take a seat."

"Do you live nearby?" He asked, already knowing the answer.

"Yes, I live in Parton Road. My house must be somewhere over your back fence," Leah answered, pointing vaguely in the direction while taking a sip of her icy cold soft drink.

"This is a beautiful house," Leah said honestly.

"Thanks, it's been in my family for decades," Pointing to several large trees, "My Dad planted those Red Maples the week that my Mom and he moved in."

Leah was sitting comfortably on the porch stairs, leaning against the banister.

"Is it rude of me to ask why you're at home today?" She asked enjoying the leisurely pace of the conversation.

"I work from home. Sometimes, I'm able to work on my front porch but mostly, I'm confined to my office in the attic among the bats, spiders and mice. I edit technical papers for scientific journals. I like it when neighbours such as yourself wander past and just say "hello"."

Just then, a pair of birds arrived at the feeder. "They're beautiful," Leah said.

"Yeah, they're new. They're Northern Mockingbirds and they arrived in the last couple of weeks. This is the first pair of Mockingbirds that I've seen here.

"When I'm not looking at dry and dusty technical papers, I like to consider myself a wildlife photographer." With that, he reached into a pile of papers on his porch table and found a book which he passed to Leah. "

Neighbourhood Birds - Knowing Who They Are and How to Live With Them

".

"Did you do this?" She asked.

"Yep, he said with pride. That's my name on the front cover. It was 2 years in the making and thousands of miles travelling in my campervan. It seems that Ornithologists, Bird Watchers, "Birders" and "Twitchers" like it enough to buy it. It's also popular with libraries. Did you know there are around 123,000 libraries in the United States? It's good for my ego to have the recognition. I rarely get mobbed by fans but I do receive quarterly royalty checks from my publisher."

"The photographs are extraordinary," Leah marvelled as she flipped through the pages. "Are our friends in here?" She asked, nodding to the bird feeder.

"Look up Northern Mockingbirds in the index in the back."

Leah turned to the back of the book and ran her finger studiously down the page while sticking out her tongue slightly in concentration. "Here they are! Page 242." She turned to the page to be greeted with some photos and a couple of pages of text. "That's them!" Leah proclaimed. "It says here that they are famous for their songs but they also mimic other birds and even frogs and dogs. WOW, and they live right here! Who knew?"

"WOW, I didn't know there were that many pages in my book," Ethan exclaimed. "Maybe I should have charged more," He said with a wink. "If you'd like, please feel free to keep the book or even borrow it for a few days. That way, we'll get to have another chat if you return it."