My weekend tryst
The rain was pounding into the steamy windows of the cab sideways it was coming down that hard.
"I'm sorry missus but this is getting dangerous, we might have to pull in for a bit." The cabby hollered above the rain.
It suited me, I was in no rush to get home. "It's ok, better safe than sorry." I replied.
We pulled into a side street just off the main highway, the steam was coming off of my bare legs as they dried in the heat of the car. My umbrella sat in the footwell slowly dripping to the carpet.
The cab driver woke me from my daydreams with "It shouldn't be too long, it looks like it is easing a little. Bloody April showers they say, it's more like a monsoon out there! Were you waiting in it long?"
"No not too long, maybe five minutes or so."
"Well, we will have you home in the warm soon. This will pass quickly, don't worry."
Don't worry he says! unfortunately that was all I have been doing for the last two hours.
I had a text reply to my message that said, *Good, but we need to talk.* He didn't reply to my last text.
Shit, shit, he has taken it so badly. That was all I could think of, my journey home was going to be torture. Not as bad as his whole night had been I imagine, but torture nonetheless.
"Two or three more minutes and we will try again ok?"
Came the cabbies dulcet tones from the front.
"No rush, honestly. Its ok."
I really was in no hurry to see Tom now. First thing this morning he was all I could think of, I could not wait to run into his arms. Now I am full of trepidation and fear, how will he react when he sees me. The no-nonsense six word reply to my almost an essay to him really shook me. I had written all of my emotions, my feelings of my night down as a text message to him first thing, as I awoke. It was full of my love for him and I get back that! Fuck, what have I done!
Our wedding anniversary dinner was all booked in our favourite restaurant, the one in which Tom proposed to me some fifteen years previous. I asked Mario to make sure that our table, the one in the back corner was ours for the night.
Mario's daughter Denise met us at the door and took our overcoats.
"Lovely to see you both tonight. Caroline may I say you look stunning, new dress?"
She had her dad's way with words, she made you feel special and welcome every time.
"Yes, and thank you. Tom bought it especially for tonight."
"He has good taste, you look fabulous in it." She smiled at Tom and led us through to our table.
Tom had bought me a beautiful pale blue Channel cocktail evening dress with matching shoes and bag for the night, it must have cost a small fortune. It fitted me like a glove and was not overtly sexy, but it showed just the right amount of back and cleavage to get glances from all as we made our way through the tables. It finished just above my knees showing the baby blue high heels off to great advantage.
The champagne was waiting in a chilled bucket with two glasses for us as we were seated. Tom looked as good as I could ever remember him in his new silk suit, he was such a handsome man and a wonderful husband. The babysitter had been arranged to stay over and we had a suite booked in town. The evening was perfect. I loved this man with all my heart, I had a tear in my eye when he raised his glass to me.
"Caroline, I love you. I want to grow old and wrinkly with you. I want to walk with you hand in hand on the beach with our grandkids. I was blessed by the angels the day I met you." We clinked glasses, "To us." He said.
I picked up my napkin and dabbed my eye, Denise had not left yet and was looking down at us. She was clutching her hands together and her eyes were watering too.
"Can I borrow one?" she laughed, "God, you two are beautiful." She said as she walked away touching the napkin to her face.
We sat holding hands across the table like newlyweds. Talking small talk of our days at work, the kids, just general life stuff. Denise knew us well enough to know what we liked and two prawn cocktails arrived at our table. The waitress asked what we wanted for our main dishes. I chose the lasagna, Tom had the linguine.
I sat gazing lovingly into his eyes playing footsie with his lower leg. He was a wonderful man, I could not ask for a better father to our children than him. I am a lucky woman.
Most of my friends would never say so, but I know they lust after him. I have noticed the looks from across the room when they thought I was not aware or looking.
The only fault he has, is our love-life. Over the last six months it has nearly ground to a halt. I tried everything from exotic lingerie to pills to internet porn. Nothing seemed to float his boat. Our age difference is a big contributing factor, we both knew it would probably happen but I was still not ready when it did. Tom is 64 and I am 37. He is almost twice my age, we met when I was hired as an assistant to his P.A. The moment I saw him I knew I was fated to marry him. He held himself with such presence and authority, within three months I was smitten.
I was very inexperienced with men, I had a few boyfriends before but none were what I was looking for. He became only the second man to make love to me, he was wonderful.
We married two years later on my 22nd birthday. My dad hated him at the time, calling him a cradle snatcher. My mum saw exactly what I saw in him, a powerful, handsome man that loved and would provide for me. Dad has come around over the years to see he was hasty and they get on great now.
We make love only on rare occasions now, nowhere near as often as I would like and then it is only usually because of me asking for it. The problem is, it is mostly with sex toys. I can tell when Tom is not in the mood because he brings out the vibrators soon after we start, and that is becoming more and more often. I long for the intimacy we used to share in the bedroom but it is starting to wane. I need to feel him inside of me.
We still kiss and cuddle out of the bedroom but that just tends to frustrate me more. Tom mentioned the other day that he needs a surrogate to stand in now and again. I joked that I would find one, he laughed back "Hurry, you are wearing this old man out!" what surprised me was his reply seemed to have a serious undertone to it.
I need him to take me like he used to do, to take charge and control me. I miss that so much, and we have had a too many arguments about it lately. He says it is pressure of work, I know that is a lie because he has less of a workload now than he has ever had. I do realize it is because he is getting older and he is losing his sex drive but mine is higher than ever. I have to resort to my rabbit to relieve my frustration every day, if not sometimes two or three times a day.
I love him with every fibre of my being and make sure to tell him as often as I can, I know the feeling is mutual. He does such romantic things on the spur of the moment, flowers, presents, the only thing that is missing these days is passionate sex. Which brings me to Tom's proposal.
We had finished our mains and Denise had bought Tom a large brandy and myself a Bacardi with coke. Two minutes later she returned with a beautiful cake, the icing on top read *Tom and Caroline. Happy Anniversary.* There was a card with it sealed in a small white envelope.
"Read the card when she is gone," Tom whispered to me.
I thanked Denise and waited with anticipation for her to leave. Tom handed me the card saying, "I love you with all my heart Caroline."
I opened the sealed envelope and unfolded a sheet of pink perfumed paper.