Author's note:
This continues the "Ken" story and focuses on Mel, Ken's mother, and her relationship with her neighbor, Pete.
Reading Ken's story isn't required since I believe this story stands alone, but it might be fun to read it anyway.
(Literotica: 26 July 2018 -- https://
www.literotica.com/s/ken-1)
My name is Melonie Jackson Kent. I'm forty-two years old and I've been married for twenty-two of them. My husband is one of the nicest people you'd ever want to meet. He's sensitive, philanthropic and a great provider. He's not a bad lover either. His name is Clark. Yes, that's Clark, like in Clark Kent.
The story, as I've heard it, is that his father was a big fan of Marvel comics and insisted his son be named after the world's greatest superhero. Clark has lived with the consequences of that insistence his entire life. His middle name is Michael. Michael is his father's name. Clark is not particularly fond of that moniker either, given that his father was generally a little known failure at almost everything he tried and who would rather read a comic book than write one. It's my personal conclusion that Clark's father wanted desperately to be a superhero, or at least be near one, so he named his son Clark Michael so he would vicariously be associated with a superhero forever.
As a result, my husband goes by the name Ed. Most don't even know what his real name is and no one uses it except me, when I'm pissed at him.
As I said, Ed is sensitive and often offers to help others, particularly when they have problems. About eight months ago, our neighbor, Pete, lost his wife after a long battle with cancer. Pete is in his late forties and losing Lacie was a staggering blow. Ed spent considerable time with Pete just offering consolation and whatever assistance Pete needed. I cooked meals for him and took them over since he preferred to isolate himself and refused to come to our house for dinner. I frequently joined Ed and Pete in the evenings talking with Pete about his memories and trying to get him to think about the future.
Ed and I also talked about Pete's situation when were home together. "You know," said Ed, one evening after he returned from Pete's house, "Pete's really struggling with losing Lacie's attraction for him."
"What are you referring to?" I asked.
"Well, a man his age is used to a certain amount of sexual activity. It's been over five months since Lacie died and he's been without a woman's touch for a long time. I think its beginning to surface and it's causing him additional discomfort," Ed explained.
"I think you may be right. I can imagine most women would have the same urges if their man was suddenly gone. But what can we do about it? I don't think we can go out and procure a woman for him."
"No, I don't think we can," Ed continued. "I don't think he'd accept it even if we were successful."
We sat there, thinking for a few moments when Ed said, "You know, when we're together, I've noticed Pete surreptitiously glancing at you more often of late."
"Wait just a minute, Clark Michael Kent," I said. "I don't like the direction you're implying. I have no attraction to Pete in that way, nor do I plan to have one even though I have compassion for his situation. I'm not something you can loan out like some garden tool."
"I'm not suggesting either one. I did wonder, however, if he made the first move, how you might handle it."
We left it there that evening.
Ed is a terrific provider. His job pays more than we need and the benefits are outstanding. However, the job does come with some realities. One of the most challenging is that Ed has to travel extensively for the company. Sometimes he's away for a week, or more, at a time. A short time after our discussion, he left for Asia on an important assignment with no firm return date. He couldn't share what the project was legally and he apologized for the extended nature of the trip. When he left he told me he'd do whatever he could to move the negotiations along and he'd keep me informed. He laughingly told me he'd try to give me at least twenty-four hours notice before he came home so I could get the partygoers out of the house and clean up.