Based on the original February Sucks by George Anderson. Jim and Linda belong to George and they are NOT my characters. I am just borrowing them.
A silly little tale with Patrick from my story Fixing The Past Ch 01.
If you are expecting realistic or hate February Sucks alternates skip this one.
Patrick is back!
This story diverges as they are walking toward the club. There is no point in republishing an entire page of George Anderson's work.
Friday, March 1, 2046
It was a few minutes after midnight and Linda Blauhauser was in Dublin on a sightseeing trip with her cat fancy group. She had her friends in her cat fancy group and others, but was depressed at her lonely life as far as love and romance were concerned. When she was younger and just after her divorce, men had wanted her... for one thing. There had been a few relationships, but word always got back about her dalliance with Marc and no man wanted their own personal repeat of that humiliation. As the years rolled on, getting dates got harder and fewer until they largely stopped.
Her ex, Jim Blauhauser had dated many and even had some long-term girlfriends, but it never worked in the end. He was broken and simply incapable of the intimate trust a woman needs. They were on reasonably friendly terms and would say hello if they were in the same location, but even true friendship between them was off the table. Years later, Linda had approached him about a new relationship to no avail. Too much damage had been done. They were both alone and seemed destined to stay that way.
She sat in the pub, dressed in her cat sweater much like the other attendees of her group who had all returned to their hotel rooms. She sat with a sad expression despite a faux smile.
The bartender came up to her and said, "Last call. We close in twenty-five minutes."
Linda nodded with a feigned smile.
The bartender asked, "What is the matter?"
Linda looked at the name badge on the bartender that said, 'Patrick.' and half laughed, "The ultimate Irish name, 'Patrick.' Nothing except my whole life is a waste.
Patrick was skeptical, "What do ya mean?'" he said in the stereotypical Irish accent.
Linda said, "Just that. My whole life. A waste. I fucked my life up so bad and I am now alone... and I deserve it."
Patrick looked her up and down, "You obviously have friends. I rather doubt your life is a waste."
Linda said, "I have friends. Other cat ladies. I had the love of my life and I utterly destroyed him. I am a slut who betrayed her man in front of our friends and humiliated him. To this day, he cannot quite manage a permanent replacement for me. He has gotten better emotionally, but not by much and that is my fault. I had a man who adored me and I hurt him beyond words."
Patrick said, "Regret is the most expensive thing there is. I know three things. The first is, I'm the best bartender there is and that makes me the best listener. The second is, that you are the best tipper I have left in my pub. Three is, you are the last person in the bar so we have some time to hear your tale."
Linda laughed, Patrick had a relaxing air about him.
Linda smiled and said, "I guess you could call this a cautionary tale. 'Don't be Linda Blauhauser, the disloyal slut.'"
Patrick winced and said, "Don't say that!"
Linda said, "Thirty years ago, almost to the day, a sports star asked me to dance. He tried seducing me and I let him. It cost me my marriage."
Patrick winced again.
Linda pondered telling her full story and sighed.
Patrick asked, "Well?"
Linda said, "On our tenth anniversary, my husband took me out to dinner at a fancy nightclub with our other friends made up of other couples. Things were fine until a football star named Marc LaValliere came up to our table and asked ME to dance. Marc is gorgeous, rich, and the alpha male of alpha males. I got up to dance with him without a thought."
"We danced several dances and I let myself fall under his spell. He was seducing me and I let him. He suggested that after the dance, I join him for a night of passion. He set up a way for me to leave out a back door and would be parked, waiting for me."
"When we were done dancing, I went back to the table, mulling things and I got my friend Dee to come with me to the bathroom. I explained what happened and that Marc was waiting for me in his car. I was out the door and into his car as we drove to his house while Dee played dumb long enough for me to get away."
Patrick said, "Shiiit! Then what?"
Linda said, "It wasn't straight to bed. He played the seduction just right. We danced. He carried me to the bedroom. Did the whole undress me thing."
Patrick looked sad and said, "And..."
Linda said, "Sex. Mind-blowing sex. The best I ever had."
Linda sighed, "I even had one for the road then showered. He brought me back and I came in trying to act like nothing happened."
Patrick asked, "So. I would imagine he was angry."
Linda nodded and said, "And hurt."
She looked down, "I destroyed him. The one man I stood up in a church full of people and swore myself to... I wrecked his heart and his ego. The ego came back... mostly, but he never healed his heart."
Linda sighed, "I tried to play it off. I was sad that I had hurt him but the sex was so off the charts good..."
Patrick said, "Yikes."
Linda nodded, "So I tried to make it up to him but he refused me for a long while. I even refused a second go with Marc trying to prove I could be a good wife. He wouldn't touch me for almost two months Eventually horny beat pissed off and we fucked."
Patrick said, "So you finally made love again. That's good."
Linda shook her head, "No. He fucked me. He never made love to me again. Did a decent job of fucking me for a while."
Patrick said, "Uh oh."
Linda drained the last of her glass.
Patrick said, "And..."
Linda said, "It took me all that time to realize the love in his eyes was gone. I was his cum dumpster."
Patrick winced and said, "Ouch."
Linda shrugged, "We were friends... sort of and stayed married a while for the kids. Things got moderately better for a while. He never said I love you, but he at least seemed okay being around me.
Linda pushed the glass forward and said, "Hit me!"
Patrick gave her half a glass and did not charge her.
Linda said, "Well, about the beginning of October we even went out together. I was tipsy. We got home and Jim was giving me a good pounding and almost Marc good...
Patrick said, "And I see the train coming down the tracks to run you over."
Linda nodded and said, "Mid orgasm I yelled out Marc's name."
Linda looked down and almost cried, "Jim deflated like a slashed tire, and pulled out."
Patrick said, "Fuuuuuuckkk!"
Linda nodded. He just sat at the end of the bed. I went to the spare room and lay there unsleeping all night. The next morning was Sunday. I simply went to him and said, "I will be at the house at four this Friday. I ask that you serve me privately and I will sign any divorce that is fair."
Patrick sighed and said, "So did he?"
Linda started sobbing and did so until closing time.
Patrick said, "I will get you the Uber."
Linda nodded weakly and picked up the story again, "Yes. He handed me the yellow envelope that Friday at four privately and at home and said, 'You have been served.'. I had it looked at. It was fair. It was a private offer by the best man on the planet that I had thrown away to hook up with a sports sex god. I destroyed a man and he still served me quietly and with as much dignity as could be given, and treated me fairly."
