Chapter 3 Getting to Grips with the Role
On the Monday, I got up and prepared breakfast for us. Anne was in a mood, morning never were her forte, she was an evening girl so she grabbed a quick slice of toast as she rushed out the door. She was late and blamed me for forgetting to set the alarm, even though the bloody thing was on her side of the bed! So it was not the best start to the day.
I struggled to get the kids ready for school, John was being antsy about eating his breakfast and Pamela would not be hurried. Just like her mother I thought! Eventually we got out the door and walked the mile to John's school. Pamela was still at kindergarten as she was not old enough yet for the 'big' school. The other mother's were all standing around at the school gate talking as I reversed my steps after depositing our both kids at their respective rooms. It had started out as a warm early summer's day when we had set out form home, but just as I left the school, the heavens opened. Shit, I thought that's all I need. I had come out with just a light top jacket and without a raincoat, I was going to get soaked!
A large 4x4 Range Rover pulled up and the window came down. It was one of the mother's who had been standing at the gate talking when I had exited the school. She simply said. "Get in before you get soaked."
Once I was in the car and safely belted up, she introduced herself as Andrea Carter and asked for directions to my home. I gave her the route back to my place and as she drove I took the opportunity to take a good look at her. She was an attractive lady, dark hair and even at that time in the morning she had taken the time to apply her make up and make sure her hair was in perfect. Andrea had that easy gracefulness of movement and seemed to have a confidence of one who has been there and who knew she was attractive. She was a competent driver and fast. As she shifted gear, her short skirt rode up a little revealing her shapely thighs. She must have noticed me watching her and turning her head slightly said, "Will you recognise me again if you see me?"
I blushed and apologised. "I'm sorry I did not mean to stare, but I do feel as if I should know you."
She giggled and said. "Don't you remember that gawky girl in Secondary School who sat next to you for a whole year?"
At once I recalled her name. "Andrea Niven, I never would have recognised you. You are so changed from when I last saw you, but then again it must be nearly twenty years ago! Your family moved away during Year 2, but I never knew you had returned. How did you recognise me?"
She just laughed and said. "You are quite distinctive, what with your red hair and spectacles. If I was in any doubt, your identity was confirmed when I asked the head teacher who you were."
"I've noticed that you are always the one to drop your kids off nowadays, your wife isn't ill is she?"
So I proceeded to give her the quick version of my new role as house husband. By then we were at my home and I asked her if she had time for a coffee. She had and we made a quick dash up the path in an attempt to beat the rain. I apologised for the state the house was in, but she just laughed and said, "You should see mine at the moment, I just leave everything until after the school run and blitz it when I get back."
She was very easy to talk to and I found myself responding to her questions. She asked how I liked being a full time house husband and I moaned about how hard I was finding it, especially the cooking.
She said. "That's easy sorted, what are you planning for tonight's meal?"
I replied. "Something fairly simple, probably sausage roll, beans and chips."
"We can do a lot better than that. Have you any mince beef and pasta in the kitchen larder?"
I had a quick hunt through the freezer and found some mince and I also found a tall jar with spaghetti and brought them to the table. She asked for tinned tomatoes, garlic and bay leaves and I managed to find everything. She then helped me prepare the sauce and gave me a lesson on how to cook the spaghetti.
Coffee and cookery lesson finished, Andrea looked at her watch and realised we had spent most of the morning together. She kissed me on the cheek and as she got to the door, turned and said. "Some of us mothers get together every Wednesday morning for a chat and coffee, why don't you join us? You may get some more cooking tips from the others."
"I don't know, hadn't you better check with the others before inviting me. After all, they may be uncomfortable with a man around spoiling their girly get together?"
"Just leave them to me, I will give you a lift after we drop the kids off Wednesday, OK?" she asked.
I nodded and replied. "I will look forward to it."
For the first time in ages, I felt as though I had something to look forward to outside of my marriage and running a household.
Anne made no comment about the meal that evening, but the kids certainly noticed and complimented by saying that it was even better than mum's. Not the most discrete thing to say, but that's kids for you. Later when we were in bed, Anne asked me where I had learned to cook spaghetti, so I told her about meeting Andrea and her help.
She asked. "Do I have any reason to be jealous?"
"Of course not, she's just on old friend helping a man in trouble."
We kissed and said goodnight.
On Wednesday, I met with Andrea and she introduced me to two other women at the school gate. June Hall was about twenty two and stood about 5ft 4" tall. She had what is politely called a fuller figure, but had an impish laugh and I thought we would get along ok. Pat Rollo was taller and older at around twenty eight and was quite plain looking at first sight, but as I was to find out later, with her war-paint on and some foxy clothes she would be a match for anyone.
I got into Andrea's car and the other two followed in their own cars. We parked outside a large detached house. Andrea unlocked and let us in. With a cheery wave to Pat, she said. "Pat can you give Gordon the tour but avoid my bedroom, I have not had a chance to tidy up in there yet. As we walked round the house, I quickly saw that the furnishings and decoration certainly lived up to the exterior impression. Wow, I thought this life style is a bit out of my league and I was getting nervous about how they would view our home when my turn came around to play host.
"Coffee's up," called Andrea and we returned to the conservatory and proceeded to put the world to rights. I made little conversation at that first coffee morning, not that I did not want to contribute, but I was taken slightly aback at the topics discussed. They started as I had suspected with the usual neighbourhood gossip. They discussed a married woman who lived nearby and was having a torrid affair with her personal trainer, or so it was rumoured. The girls made no allowance for me being male and simply continued their discussing the 'slut' but that led onto their comments about their own husbands failings in bed and out. It was as if I was one of them and not part of the male gender. In a way it was flattering that they did not perceive me as a threat or as someone who was going to rat out to their husbands at the first opportunity. On the other hand, I was dismayed that they almost discounted what I would make of their openness about their spouses.
Soon it was approaching lunch time and Andrea said. "Time for today's cookery lesson. Gordon can't cook, so I suggest we each think of a dish that's easy to prepare and that a complete beginner can make. No offence intended Gordon, but you did say your were a novice."
"Only in the kitchen." I retorted with a smile and they all had a giggle at that.
With the cookery lessons, scribbled notes and phone numbers to call if I had a problem with the preparation I left and walked home, my mind in whirl.
That evening I tried out one of the recipes and got the buzz from the appreciative noises coming back at me. I was getting to enjoy cooking, now that I had found it was not as difficult as I had first thought.
Anne was curious about this new found talent and when I explained where I had learned about the ladies coffee mornings and cookery lessons, promptly christened the group 'Gordon's Harem'. It was only later on that she took to calling them 'Gordon's Coven'.
Saturday evening came round and Anne was as excited as I had ever seen her. She had denied me any sex all that week, she said she wanted me at my peak on Saturday and I was so randy I would have fucked the hole in a doughnut, given the opportunity.
She had dressed in a cream coloured dress, I think it what's called a shift dress. It was fairly low cut and exposed the top of her full breasts if she leaned over. It also terminated just above her knees, but it clung to her like a second skin. She asked if she should wear a bra, but I said. "Don't bother, I love it just the way it is, anyway it will spoil the line of the dress. She accepted that with a grin and warned me that she was only wearing the dress, a thong and her shoes. "You don't think I'm overdressed do you?" she said with an impish grin on her face.
We arrived at Jim and Pat Cairns address and I was stunned by the size of it. This was no suburban house in a upper class district, but a veritable mansion set in it's own grounds. We had to stop and press a bell to get the gates opened before we could proceed up the driveway. There were four large expensive looking cars parked outside and I couldn't help but feel envious of the owners. Compared to our slightly battered four year old Ford, they looked like Formula 1 racing cars.
Jim Cairns was waiting at the door along with his with wife Pat. Introductions were made and he welcomed us into his home. Once inside, Jim took both of us aside and saying he wanted a quick word before the evenings activities got underway. He explained that the people we were about to meet were all experienced swingers and that in order to protect each other from any problems they had a few ground rules he wanted to impart.
"Rule 1 – We don't believe in using condoms so contraception is the responsibility of the ladies.