This is a continuation of my recently published part 1. This would more accurately fit into Romance but I prefer that stories stay within the same category so I put it in LW with part 1.
Disclaimer: As you read this story, keep in mind that I try to include something for everyone, and some people are always looking for mistakes. So, if you find any errors, please remember that they are there for a reason.
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Poke-Her Night Ch. 2
Henry starts anew.
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I had to get out of this city. Everything I saw reminded me of Shelley. I wasn't necessarily looking for a permanent move since all my friends were here as well, but I did want to get away for a while. Unfortunately, I didn't have the money to go without working.
And then I remembered a program that my company offered. Like most companies, we were always looking for the most efficient way to do things, and the differences in our facilities meant that the best way in one place wasn't necessarily the best for another. This resulted in a program they developed that essentially allowed personnel to take a temporary transfer to another facility to learn how they did it and how that could be adapted to their own facility. These were 6-month assignments and were perfect for what I needed. I applied and was on my way across the country just two weeks later.
My time there was unremarkable. Everyone was very kind but knowing I was a short-timer made me wary of creating anything more than friendly working relationships or short-term physical ones. And yes, I mean one-night stands, during which I was meticulously careful about the use of protection, sometimes to the disappointment of that evening's partner.
When I returned to my hometown I didn't advertise it. I just moved back into my apartment, thanked the guy that had been sub-leasing it, and went back to work. I guess word got around because I was back for about 3 days when I got a call from Warren.
"Hey buddy. Welcome back."
"News travels fast."
"Steve-o saw you leaving Left Field last night and spread the word that you're back."
Left Field is a local sports bar that chose its name solely so people could talk about someone (or something) 'coming out of left field'. Sometimes it even worked.
"Yeah, I was planning to keep a low profile for a while. So much for that, I guess."
"Yep, that's over. We're starting poker night again. Same schedule so I expect to see you Tuesday."
"Warren, man, I don't..."
"If you don't show up I will find you and drag you there, and you know I can do it." He paused. "Bill will be there."
Now he had my interest. The end of my marriage had caused me to retreat into myself quite a bit so I didn't have the latest news. I knew that Bill and Donna had been trying to work it out while Shelley and I were divorcing and were still together when I left, but that was the extent of my knowledge.
"How're they doing?"
"Still together but we don't know much more than that. Both you and Billy cut yourselves off while you recovered so we'll all find out together I guess."
"All right, I'll be there."
Tuesday came quickly, and as much as I had been dreading it in the days prior, as the day itself progressed I found myself looking forward to it. I think I was just anticipating the idea of getting back to some sort of normal, and hanging with my friends was a big part of that.
With no one to go home to, I ended up at Warren's house far sooner than I expected. I rang the bell and Maureen opened the door, breaking into a wide smile when she saw me. She wore an oversized gray sweatshirt and an ankle-length denim skirt.
"Henry! Gosh, it's so good to see you."
I stepped inside and she gave me a tight squeeze, which is no small feat considering her petite size and that I stand just over 6 feet.
"Hey Mo, how've you been?"
"I've been okay. I'm glad the games are starting up again. I've missed you...guys, all of you guys. You're the first one here. Warren isn't even home from work yet."
"I couldn't find any other way to kill time. Need help with anything?"
"I'm just making the sandwiches. I'll take some help."
We walked into the kitchen, where she had a few varieties of bread laid out and a few packages of lunch meats. She handed me a small rubber spatula.
"Everyone like mayo so put some on every slice of bread. I tend to do this assembly line style."
I did as I was instructed and then moved on to putting on slices of cheese. This was followed by lettuce and tomato and finally the meat itself. I found I really enjoyed myself. Maureen is incredibly sweet and cheerful, and it had been a long time since I had done anything really social. We talked about nothing and laughed at just about everything. It felt good.
And then Bill arrived. With Donna.
Bill actually walked in first and I gave him the handshake-man hug combo and I was glad to see him. And then Donna walked in seconds later. I was immediately upset, and seriously considering walking right out the front door. For the moment, I just walked into the living room. A minute later, Bill spoke.
"You all right, buddy?"
"I wasn't expecting her to be here."
"Sorry about that. I keep her pretty close these days. It was the only way I could see playing again. But she would like to talk to you, if you'd be willing."
"To say what?"
"To apologize. I know it won't change that you and Shelley split up, and I wouldn't blame you for telling her to go to hell, but I'd appreciate it if you'd listen."
I thought about it for a few seconds. I didn't really want to hear what she had to say, but I decided to let her say it.
"Fine, I'll listen, but only as a favor to you."
He nodded, then turned and left. About 30 seconds later Donna walked slowly into the living room. There was already tears forming in her eyes. Donna stands about 5'3", which was slightly shorter than Shelley's 5'5". As I mentioned before, she is a little chubby though not fat by any means. She stopped about 3 feet away from me.
"Henry, how are you?"
"I'm fine, Donna. Divorced, but otherwise I'm fine."
"I...I just wanted to apologize for my part in what happened. I know Shelley told you how it started and that wasn't my doing, but I still should've stopped it, if only for my own sake."
"Why didn't you?"
"At first it didn't seem like a big deal. It was all so casual, just catching up with old friends. It was fun and, yeah, kind of exciting. The truths were interesting and the dares were fun. And as we did it more and more the truth is that every time we did it and got away with it we got more confident that we'd never be caught. We never really thought that would happen."
"That shouldn't have mattered, Donna. You shouldn't have been doing it at all."
"I know, Henry, I know, and I feel just awful about what happened to you and Shelley. You guys were so good together I just..." She paused to wipe her tears and get control of herself. "I feel just awful at what we've done and...well, I just wanted to say I was sorry for everything I did. I'm so..."
She broke into tears before she could finish and turned to leave. Damn it, I hate seeing a woman cry. I grabbed her arm and turned her back toward me and pulled her into a hug. She stayed there for a few minutes until she got herself together.
"Thank you, Henry. I'm sorry, it's just hard."
"How are you and Bill doing?"
"Okay, I guess. It's only been about a year so...Things are mostly getting better but some days are worse than others. He doesn't trust me out of his sight. I insisted he start playing cards with you guys again so here I am. I think eventually it'll be okay, but it'll never be like it was. I sure do miss that."
"He loves you, you know. That's why it hurt so much, but that's also why he's still here."
"I think that's more about the kids, but I do believe he loves me. And Henry, please believe me when I tell you that I never stopped loving Bill and Shelley never stopped loving you. It had nothing to do with that, as hard as that may be to believe."
"It is hard to believe, Donna. I don't think real love allows you to do something like that. Would Shelley believe I loved her if I was screwing an old girlfriend a couple times a month? Would you?"
"No, I probably wouldn't, and I pray every day I never have to worry about that. For what it's worth, I'm committed to making this work. I know it'll be hard but I plan to spend my life with him."
"My advice, Donna, is to just love him. Don't walk around on eggshells and worry about every little thing you say. He's gonna keep having bad days now and then but if you keep acting guilty it will just remind him of what you did. Just remember he loves you and wants to work through this too."
"I'll try. Thank you for listening. I know you didn't want to."
"You're right, I didn't. But I'm glad I did. And for what it's worth, I believe you're sorry and won't do it again."
"Too bad you're not the one I need to convince. And Henry...I really hope that one day you can forgive me and we can be friends again. I know it won't be like it was either but..."
"Look Donna, your loyalty will always be to your sister, and I understand that. The truth is that will probably always be between us. But hopefully we can find our way to something that'll work."
"Thank you Henry. I guess that's the best I can hope for."
The game that night went well. Donna spent the evening helping Maureen in taking care of the players, though Donna understandably focused most of her attention on her husband. For his part, Bill made a point of expressing his appreciation to her. He later told me one of the things Donna had told him was that she felt like he was taking her for granted. It wasn't an excuse but it did leave her open to kind words spoken by others. I really hoped they could make it work.
I went home that night feeling better than I had in a long time. I really enjoyed getting back with my friends and wondered why I had distanced myself in the first place. Mostly I think I was just feeling sorry for myself and isolating myself made me work my way through it without having to put on a front for others. But I had felt like my old self and that told me I was on my way back.
