Chapter 3
I awoke on Monday morning feeling better than I had for days. After a bout of very enjoyable sex with Chris, I slept like a baby. None of the other worries I had entered my mind while I slept soundly.
As I sat down to have my breakfast, I looked next door to see if Marie had made it safely home from visiting her mother. Her car was there. I decided that I would go and see her after I showered and dressed.
She was busily cleaning the kitchen sink when I stuck my head past the back door, and called her name. She gave me a big smile as she invited me in, I think I blushed, then smiled shyly. She walked to the door to greet me and gave me a hug. "I heard you had a good time yesterday," she said, holding my shoulders and grinning at me. My face was burning as I blushed again. "Oh, Jess, you are really embarrassed about this, aren't you?"
I nodded, "Yes, I am, thought I have no idea why. You seem to be completely at ease with the whole thing."
She hugged me again. "Of course, it was my idea, wasn't it? I thought about it for a long time, long enough to be comfortable with the risks." We moved through the kitchen to the family room and sat down together, side by side on the big couch. She continued, "My biggest worry was, and still is, that Chris and you will fall in love. I know he's had the hots for you forever, ever since you moved in, and he is such a prize himself, I should know, shouldn't I?" The smile had disappeared to be replaced by a tear in the corner of her eye. "Promise you won't take him away from me, Jess. Please."
It was my turn to hug her. "I'd never do that, Marie." She forced a smile as she looked at me. "If you're worried, this can stop now, and we can pretend it didn't happen." I suggested.
She seemed to ponder the possibility for a while before answering, then a real smile crossed her face. "Nope." She said. "I really am convinced that this will work out. Chris was so relaxed when I came home last night. He tried to downplay how good the sex had been with you. I guess he was trying to spare my feelings, but I finally got it out of him. You must have felt very satisfied as well." I blushed again, I couldn't help it. There was something too weird about your neighbor and best friend asking you whether or not her husband had fucked well enough you the day before. All I could do was nod my head. She could see that I had some loosening up to do, so she changed the subject.
We talked for quite a while longer. She had mentioned how relaxed Chris had been when she returned from her mother's the previous evening, but I noticed a profound change in her as well. She was very much at ease with me and with herself. We spent some time talking about the neighbors and work, but soon it was time to leave. I had things to do. As I was going out the door, Marie stopped me. "Jess, Chris said you're having some kind of trouble right now, but would tell us about it later. I just wanted to say that if there is anything we can do to help you, please say so."
I turned away, afraid I might burst into tears, then turned back and let her hold me for a minute or two. Finally I managed to whisper, "I'll come to you if I need help, I promise."
Back in my own home, it took a while to regain my composure. I sat and mulled over the things that were said and decided that I would continue on the course as it was now set until something made me change my mind. Having made that decision, I turned my mind to the other fire I had to fight: "Walter and Holly. Hmm. Holly and Walter." I wondered if they went out with friends, his or hers, and what those friends called them. "Shit," I thought. "I've got to stop thinking this way." I got up and went to the writing desk in the den, sat down and extracted a pad of paper from a drawer. I wanted to make a list of the various things I had to look into. A personal bank account, Bobby, the private investigator, the lawyer...what else?
I was part way through the list when the phone rang. A clear, deep voice spoke. "Jess? This is Bob James calling. How are you?" He sounded young. Somehow I had expected a different voice, sort of raspy from too many cigarettes and too much whiskey, one that fit with the picture of a private eye that I had in my head. Someone like Sam Spade, from the old movies. We spoke briefly, making an appointment to meet at a family restaurant the next morning. My day went quickly after that.
Walter phoned to say that he had a meeting with a client that evening, and wouldn't be home until ten. I had to be at the shop at noon, so I hopped in the shower and washed up and was on my way by half past eleven.
It was a deadly slow day for ladies wear. By three, my boss decided to send Toni and I home and cover the rest of the afternoon herself. I really didn't have anything to do at home. Sure, I could have done some laundry, or weeded my prized flowers, but I just wasn't inclined to get started on any of that kind of stuff, so I poured myself a glass of wine, and sat down in the den and wondered how my meeting with Bobby James would go tomorrow. I wondered if he was as good looking as he sounded. My thoughts moved on to Sunday's tryst with Chris, and I wondered how long it would be before we could get together. I closed my eyes and went back to the previous afternoon in my head. I could feel his hard, hot cock filling my mouth, then my pussy. My thoughts turned to his tongue slithering up my labia, and without being conscious of doing so, I brought my hand under my dress and my middle finger pressing down on my pubic mound over my clit. The orgasm, while not comparable to the several that Chris had induced, still shook me thoroughly. When I came out of that daze, I realized that I was exhausted, both mentally and physically. This past week, Walter, Holly, Chris and Marie, were starting to take their toll on me. I slipped my shoes off, lay back and closed my eyes.
I awoke with a start. Christ, how long had I slept? I looked at my watch: 8 o'clock.
Hungry as could be, I whipped up a quick meal, then, leaving my mess in the kitchen, I dragged myself upstairs and fell into bed. I didn't hear Walter come in, and when I awoke in the morning, he was already up and dressed for work. I thought he might fill me in on how his trip had gone, which would have to have been lies, of course, but he hardly said two words as he left for the office.
My long sound sleep had left me refreshed and ready to face what would be the beginning of a new adventure. I rose and showered and dressed for my meeting with Bobby James.
He had suggested that he would leave his name with the hostess, so when I arrived at the restaurant, I was taken right to a booth where a very good looking young man was sitting. The feeling I had when talking to him had been correct. Rather than a rugged looking individual wearing a fedora and sporting a couple of days worth of stubble, there sat a clean shaven hunk with short dark hair, dressed casually in khakis and a sport shirt and tie.
"Jess?" he asked. I nodded. He stood and shook my hand. "Bob James. I'm pleased to meet you. Won't you sit down?" After I settled into the booth he asked, "Coffee? Tea? And how about something to eat?"
I glanced at his coffee cup. "Coffee would be good. Are you eating?" I asked.