Alta was running late, she was supposed to meet Gwen at home. She could depend upon her husband to keep her best friend entertained until she got there, but was worried what form that entertainment would take.
Trisha had tried to hurry but she was delayed anyway. She flew out of the school and saw her mom waiting for her. As she headed for the car, she tried to see if her mom was mad. She opened the car door, "I'm sorry I was late mom."
Alta took off almost before her daughter was in. "Don't worry about it, it'll be all right."
"I tried to hurry."
"I know, honey, I'm just nervous leaving your father alone with Gwen."
"Why?"
Alta hesitated in answering, "My friend is very pretty; your father is only human."
Trish wondered if her mom trusted her dad, it didn't sound like it. She decided to get her mom's mind off of it, "What do you think dad will give you for Mother's Day?"
Alta chuckled, "Oh I'm sure he'll pick up something, probably at the last minute."
Trish saw her mom driving like a maniac and questioned if she didn't trust Gwen, why was she her mom's best friend. And what did all of this say about her mom and dad's marriage. She hoped that this ended well but had her doubts.
As they approached their home, Trish suggested, "Mom, slow down."
"What...why?"
"Let's go in quietly, sneak in the back door. Let's find out if you can trust your best friend and your husband." She saw the indecision her mom had, "I mean it, because this is the stuff that ends in divorce. Wouldn't you rather know?"
Alta reluctantly slowed down and as they drove up, she parked the car on the street, behind Gwen's car instead of in the driveway. The two walked around the back of the house, and slipped in the back door.
Phil felt himself cornered, "Alta and Trish should be home soon, I'm sorry you have to wait."
Both women heard the airy voice that was Gwen, "It's all right; I don't mind spending time with a handsome man."
Phil chuckled, "Well I guess I should leave you two alone then."
"Don't you think you're handsome?"
"No, I don't, and for good reason."
"I think you are very handsome. Doesn't your wife think so?"
"I don't really know." Trish gave her mom a dirty look.
They saw Gwen shake her long blonde hair, which was a habit of hers. She came near Phil and bent down in front of him, her shirt having a few buttons open. "Not only do I think you're handsome, I can think of plenty of very nice things we can do together." Trish saw that her mom was justified in not trusting Gwen.
Swallowing hard, he stammered, "I-I-I'm sure you can."
Gwen knew men, and what they wanted. She sat down next to him, "I can give you anything you have ever desired. Just think of it..." she put her arms around him, "...I will do anything you want." When Alta and Trish saw Gwen put her hand between his legs, they knew what his reaction was going to be.
Gwen, Alta and Trish were all surprised when Phil stood up. "Gwen, you are beautiful, and I would be lying if I told you that I didn't find you desirable."
"Then come back and let's kiss a little. We can meet this weekend for a nice long play time."
All three women could see the struggle he was having. "I don't understand it Gwen, you can have any man you want, why do you want me? "I'm not handsome or rich or powerful, I know I should be honored that you desire me, but my mind just can't comprehend it."
Gwen wasn't used to not getting her way and her temper was starting to show, "I want to have sex with you, what more do you need?"
"What I need, is what I have. Alta was hurt very badly by someone else, and I have been paying the price for that. I love her, so I'm willing to do that, but I am not willing to add to her pain. Trish watched her mom's face as she was remembering that hurt.
Gwen wasn't giving up, "I willing to do things to you she will never do, think about how good that will feel."
"I'm tempted, but that doesn't mean anything except that I'm a guy that thinks with his dick. But as a husband, I also think with my heart, and Alta had that the first time I ever saw her. I've never been with another woman, she was my first, and I've never cheated on her."
Phil paused, "So, yes, there are things I would like to experience, but she isn't comfortable doing them. And because I love her, I'm willing to give that stuff up."
Gwen pouted, her voice getting sultry, "You don't understand, you can still be with her, and you can have me as well."
"I know there are men whose wedding ring means so little, that they think nothing of wearing it while they have sex with another woman, or they take it off and put it in their pocket. I can't do those things, I don't want to. I'd have to be able to look her in the eye afterwards pretending nothing happened, and she would be able to see right through me."
Phil's face reflected the love of what he was seeing in his mind, "I wake up in the middle of the night and just watch her sleep. I see the moonlight make her softly glow, her chest rising and falling as she breathes. And I thank my lucky stars that this wonderful woman wants to share her life with someone like me." His voice cracked with emotion, "I don't deserve her, but I do love her. Plus, she has given me the most wonderful daughter in the world, a girl that is bubbly and full of life. I'm proud to tell everyone that Alta is my wife, and Trish is my daughter."
Trish felt tears running down her face; she saw that her mom had them as well. She whispered, "Mom," and took a deep breath, "I think dad just gave you the best Mother's Day present you are ever going to get, but it may have cost you your best friend."
Alta swallowed hard, "I don't think the price is too high." A very upset Alta stormed into the room and both Phil and Gwen jumped. She was followed closely by an equally upset Trish. The three women just stared at one another, saying nothing.
Phil would swear he could see sparks flying. He decided that in a sense of self-preservation he should probably just shut up. He figured, if it was hard for a man to argue with one woman, he had no chance with three.
Gwen smiled, "Alta, Trish, I didn't hear you come in."
Remarkably, Alta was talking normally, "You probably didn't or I wouldn't have heard you try to get my husband in bed with you. You are beautiful and I am not. You have money, and we don't. You can have a man do anything you want as easily as that," she snapped her fingers. Alta paused, and then whispered, "Why?"
"I don't know, really." She sighed, "If I have everything you and Phil say, how come I'm so lonely?"
"In spite of what my husband said, I feel that I am the lucky one for the display of love I just witnessed. You said you were my friend, you had no right to try to do this." Tears started running down her face, "Please leave."
They all watched as Gwen just left without saying a word. Trish was amazed that her mom hadn't gone ballistic on her former best friend. Trish knew if Gwen had been the wife in this situation there would have definitely been one hell of a fight.
With arms wrapped around him, Alta kissed her husband, "What's this nonsense about you not deserving me?"
Phil turned red, "I...ah...just..." Luckily he was stopped by another kiss.
Trish waited her turn and then hugged her father, "I love you dad." After a quick kiss, she turned to her mom and gave her a wink, "I think I will find someone to stay the night with."
Alta shook her head, "Not yet you won't."