In the late 2020's, American post pandemic society has changed. There is more emphasis on family. Nowhere is it more evident than in our small, southern community. Women, who were once focused on career, postponing or even forgoing, motherhood, have a new outlook on life.
So many of them lost or quit their jobs during the pandemic that a new direction in their lives evolved. With their careers derailed, they turned their attention to family and children. When the children started leaving the house for preschool, kindergarten and elementary school, they sat down and reevaluated their futures -- jobs, careers or family?
For most, the reality of the lost job experience translated to lower initial salaries and truncated careers. With their spouses, they did the math. The cost of wardrobe, commuting, day care and other job expenses when compared to the potential income left little or no actual profit. For many, it was an actual loss of family income. Add the cost of refresher education courses and the decision was a no brainer. It was financially and emotionally better to skip working and focus on the family. The called themselves "Tradwives."
Their decision to become stay at home mothers disturbed, and even angered, the strident feminist women who called them "traitors," "cowards" and "anti-feminist." But for these women, they were the ultimate feminist, women who evaluated all the options available to women, not just the anti-male options, and made a conscious decision to be wives and mothers. They embraced the responsibility of running a household, easing their husband's tensions and guiding the educations of the next generation. They also had significant free time to expand their social contacts and expand their knowledge of a wide number of subjects that interested them. They offered their time to worthwhile charitable organizations and weekend dinners with friends.
Margo and Sally met years ago while walking their new babies in their carriages and strollers around the neighborhood. The first few meetings were coincidental but eventually they coordinated their schedules and walked together at the same time every weekday afternoon. Within a few weeks, they were joined by Deirdre, DeDe to her friends.
As they walked, they shared their experiences with their children, problems, issues and solutions. They were helpful to each other, frequently watching someone's child while the mother needed to perform some necessary function, like going to the market, a salon, doctor visit or overseeing some work in their house. The freedom they provided to move about without having to take a child with them was invaluable and appreciated by all. It fostered a substantial friendship and trust between the trio of women.
Their schedule expanded to include coffee and a snack at one of their homes after their afternoon walk while their children slept or played with each other. When the children were old enough for preschool, kindergarten or elementary school, the afternoon coffee gatherings continued.
As time passed and trust in each other strengthened, the conversations turned to more personal topics such as household finances, relationships with their husbands and sex. Margo was the first to mention the loss of intensity of the sex with her husband. Sally immediately agreed with her while DeDe remained an interested listener.
Over time, they discussed the issue in greater detail. Hesitantly, Sally proposed a solution. "Margo," she said, "you need a lover."
"I have a lover," Margo responded. "Dennis is my lover."
"Dennis is your husband," reminded Sally. "The same husband you're concerned about the loss of sexual intensity with," she added.
"Just what are you suggesting?" asked Margo. "Are you saying I should have another man on the side? Cheating?"
"It worked for me," admitted Sally.
"What!" exclaimed Margo. "You're fucking some other guy in addition to your husband."
"You make it sound sleazy," defended Sally. "It's actually very empowering. It's done wonders for Mark and me. We were on the same course you're describing with Dennis and it's changed all that. Our sex life has renewed intensity and the more I see my lover, the more intense sex is at home. It's changed me and it's changed us."
"Who is he? When do you see him? How do you manage to keep it secret? Does Mark know?" The questions just rolled out of Margo.
"He's an old friend. I've known him since high school. Long before I met Mark. We were never romantically involved. Just friends. I never lost contact with him. When sex with Mark began to lose its fire, I needed someone to talk to and he was available. One thing led to another and the rest is history and my married life is dramatically improved," explained Sally.
"Damn," commented Margo. "I never had a hint."
"It wasn't important to tell you and the fewer people that know the less chance of repercussions," admitted Sally.
"So, Mark doesn't know?" asked Margo.
"No, he doesn't," confirmed Sally.
"Does he suspect?" asked Margo. "After all he has to be aware of the improved sex at home."
"I don't think so," answered Sally. "And even if he did, I doubt he'd confront me."
"Why?" asked Margo.
"It's the improved sex at home. He's a guy. He'll never risk threatening the good sex we have. Anyway, he's thinks that women have emotional cycles and the sex is better when I'm feeling better about myself. I have to admit, he may be correct in his opinion."
"How often do you see him and how do you manage it?" asked Margo.
"About twice a month. I don't need more than that and you don't think that all those doctor's appointments I have are actually to see doctors," Sally replied.
"You mean I've been watching your kids while you're off fucking this guy?" asked Margo.
"That about sums it up," Sally said.
"What's in it for him?" Margo asked.
"Mark? I think that's obvious," answered Sally.
"Not Mark. Your lover," clarified Margo.
"I honestly don't know and I don't really care. He's married but I don't believe it's something that improves his marriage. Actually, it supports secrecy since he has something to lose too. Maybe it just supports his ego. That's fine with me as long as treats me respectfully and fucks my brains out," said Sally.
"Damn," said Margo. "And you think my marriage, my sex with Dennis, would improve if I had a lover?" asked Margo.
"I do," agreed Sally.
DeDe continued to be an interested listener.
"How would I even find a lover?" Margo proposed.
"It's not that difficult," interjected DeDe.
"Wait," exclaimed Margo. "You too?"
"Me too," agreed DeDe.
"Fuck. I seem to be the odd woman out," Margo observed. "How did you find a lover?" she asked DeDe.
"He came to me," said DeDe. "He mows my lawn every Tuesday."
"You're fucking the lawn guy?" asked an incredulous Margo.
"Not every Tuesday but often enough," explained DeDe. "It's been a profitable exercise. It's a constant nudge improving my sex with Chuck and he charges fifty dollars to mow the lawn. When we have sex, he doesn't charge me and I pocket the cash."
"Incredible," commented Margo. "And Chuck isn't suspicious?"
"Not at all. We keep cash in the house to pay for services like mowing the lawn. I have to keep the fifty dollars since it has to disappear from the jar when the lawn is mowed. If Chuck is home, I obviously can't have sex with the lawn guy and he pays the guy instead of me."
"And that works?" Margo wanted to know.
"It does," agreed DeDe, "and there are other advantages. For example, the lawn guy is significantly younger than I am and his youth and stamina brings welcome virtues to our fucking."
"Damn, I am missing something," commented Margo. "But how would I ever meet someone? It isn't as easy as an old friend or seducing the gardener."
"Margo, honey," said Sally. "Just turn up your radar. You've been out the game for a while but you haven't lost your mojo. He's out there somewhere. He's waiting for you but he doesn't know it yet. Pay attention to the men you see every day. Add a smile, more cleavage and a wiggle in your walk and he'll pop up like a puppy wanting a treat."
"Sounds predatory," commented Margo.
"It is. Trust me. More than one man is going to suspect you're on the hunt and respond," said Sally.
Margo thought about her friends and their "friends" and made a decision. She turned up her radar and engaged her mojo. Sally was dead on. Almost immediately, men from the clerk in the post office to the kid bagging her groceries were more apt to talk to her and prolong the time they had together. The grocery clerk was suddenly wheeling her cart into the parking lot for her and loading her groceries in her car. He had enormous appeal but she had to write him off. He was too young. Probably jailbait.
She began to focus on her son's second grade teacher. He was about her age, maybe a couple of years younger and, if he taught second grade he probably had a real interest in kid's welfare and that was a plus in her book. Her meeting with him after school for a parent's teacher's review went well past the scheduled appointment time and she sensed interest on his part.
When they happened to be in the same fast-food restaurant for a quick Saturday lunch, they shared a table and, when he took her hand over the table and proposed they have dinner someday, she was convinced and they exchanged phone numbers.
She called him Monday after school and proposed dinner Thursday night. Dennis was traveling for business and wouldn't be home until Saturday afternoon. Margo arranged for her kids to sleep over at Sally's, something Sally enthusiastically agreed to once she knew Margo's plans for the evening.
Margo dropped her kids at Sally's right after school and went home to prepare for her "dinner date" later in the evening. She bathed, a soothing hot soak, did her hair and makeup and dressed provocatively, not sluttily. She met him at the restaurant at the hotel downtown. The restaurant was well known and she wondered how he managed to get a reservation in such a short time.
They were seated in a semicircular booth on the side of the dining room with a starched white tablecloth, a small vase of flowers and a candle. They sat on the same side of the table, appropriately spaced apart. He took charge of the menu and ordered appetizers and a white wine. Dinner was filet mignon for him and a perfect seafood platter for her with more wine.
