Acknowledgment: My thanks to eluckenbach for again providing invaluable editorial aid.
Dear Reader,
Thank you so much for the insights and advice that you provided in answer to the requests for help in my previous two letters entitled "A Little Help?" and "A Little More Help?" While all of the input has been beneficial, I have not been able to spot any trends as to a particular course, or courses of action. For that reason, I thought it might prove useful, if I explained how this all began.
I was at the airport and I could not wait to see Jo Ann! It was the first time, since our marriage two years ago that we had been apart. Recently her parents had received some very distressing news regarding her mother's health, and she had felt compelled to go visit them. Unfortunately I had obligations that precluded me from going with her, and the five days that she had been away seemed interminable.
Jo Ann was a change of life surprise for her parents. Her siblings were grown and gone from the house when she was born. Consequently, at the unusually young age of twenty-five, she was forced to deal with the anguish caused by her parents deteriorating health as their lives were inevitably winding down.
As her plane taxied to the gate, I felt my heart speed up while I anxiously anticipated catching sight of her. Then I saw her! She was dressed in one of my favorite outfits and I had no doubt whatsoever that she had dressed for me. She was wearing her mid thigh length, hip hugging red skirt that revealed more than it covered of her muscular shapely legs.
She had competed as a cross-country runner in college. I don't remember her having won any first place ribbons, however she won quite a few others. But being an athlete had won her a blue ribbon body that had men climbing out of their graves when she walked through a cemetery. Well, I might be slightly biased. Love can do that.
She was also wearing a black pullover knit top that was tucked into the skirt. This top clings as tightly as a second skin and not much is left to the imagination. It has a V cut neckline that barely hints at cleavage. However the V seems to point your eyes to her breasts, drawing your attention to them. Her breasts are a c-cup, and combined with her erect posture they are a mouth watering sight.
The skirt and top were accented by a wide black patent leather belt with a large silver pilgrim style buckle. This belt creates the illusion that her thin waist is thinner than it is in reality. She was wearing black thigh highs, I knew this because she hates pantyhose and never wears them. She had on a pair of black four inch high heeled shoes with laces that wrap around her legs and tie about half way to her calves. I could hardly restrain myself from barging through security and wrapping her in my arms.
But as she drew closer, I was shocked at how she looked. Her perfect posture was gone. Her shoulders drooped. Her face was haggard and her eyes were red. She almost looked like she had taken a beating. She attempted to force a smile as she saw me, but failed miserably.
I hugged her and held her body tightly against mine as she rested her head on my shoulder and began to quietly weep. I offered her some words of comfort, but she was inconsolable. No matter what I said it seemed to exacerbate her grief and I decided that it was best to keep silent. Tears continued to appear as we picked up her luggage from the carousel. She occasionally dabbed at them with a soaked wadded up tissue.
She wept harder as we began to drive away from the airport. "Is your Mom that bad off?" I asked. This only made her cry more loudly. I waited for the storm to pass. Between sniffles she eventually told me that it was not that. "What is it then?" I coaxed.
"I cheated on you," she blurted as she began to wail.
"What do you mean you cheated on me?" I questioned with rising concern in my voice.
She wailed even more loudly before eventually saying, "I had sex. I'm so sorry."
I felt like I had taken blow to the solar plexus that knocked the wind out of me. My foot involuntarily came off of the accelerator. I steered the car to the shoulder of the two lane egress road from the airport and braked to a stop. Not wanting to believe my ears I asked for confirmation, "You had sex?"
Through occasional bursts of tears she explained, "I didn't mean to, it just happened. Since I had a two hour drive to the airport and an early morning flight, I decided to drop off the rental car the evening before my flight and stay at the airport Marriott.
"I was depressed from visiting Mom and Dad. I also missed you so much. So to occupy myself, I took a shower and decided to lay out the clothes that I planned to wear in the morning. When I noticed my red skirt, I remembered that I had planned to dress for you. I laid out the skirt and this top. I rummaged in the suitcase until I found the belt.
"I always feel a bit tacky wearing these clothes, but I recognize that it is what you like about them. Then I chose my see through black bra with the matching panties. I opened a new package of thigh highs and took your favorite shoes out of the suitcase.
"I was hungry, and I almost ordered room service, but keeping myself busy was helping. So I slipped on the clothes that I had already laid out, and went to the dining room. I ate a club sandwich, signed the check and was on my way back to the room. As I walked toward the elevators, I passed the bar. A drink seemed like the perfect medicine to lift my spirits, so I walked in and found that it was packed.
"There were no empty tables or even an empty stool. I was about to turn and leave when someone called out that I was welcome to sit with them. He was one of three guys sitting at a nearby table for four. I was going to politely decline when another of them said that they would let me buy them drinks. It was the first time that I had laughed in several days, so I changed my mind and walked over to their table. They immediately stood and we shook hands as we introduced ourselves with first names. They were Dave, Gary and Don.
"They were dressed in casual, but obviously expensive clothes. All three of them were remarkably handsome and looked to be approaching forty. I told them that I might not be very good company and explained about my parents. They listened attentively before asking me what I liked to drink. I said that I was in the mood for a Singapore Sling, and they ordered a round while saying that they had strictly been kidding about me buying.
"I learned that they had been close friends and tennis teammates at Stanford. I told them that I ran cross-country. Dave interjected that he lost the bet. He said he had bet gymnast. I told him that I did not believe that for one minute, but I thanked him for the compliment. They were easy to talk to, and I realized that they had already lifted my spirits immeasurably.
"They ordered another round as the conversation turned to their families, and all three of them produced pictures that they carried in their wallets. Don said that they would buy drinks all night if I would let them brag about their wives and children. A couple of hours passed quickly as we talked and laughed. My woes were gone and I was thoroughly enjoying myself.
"They explained that their careers had separated them geographically. Consequently, several times a year they coordinated schedules in order to meet, reminisce and renew their friendship. I excused myself to use the powder room, and they stood in unison. Gary courteously pulled my chair back for me. As I walked to the ladies room I realized that their company was just what the doctor ordered, and I had completely recovered. I also realized that I had imbibed too many Singapore Slings, and I was little bit tipsy.
"Gary was the only one at the table when I returned. He stood and seated me as I asked him where Dave and Don were? He said that they had gone up to the room, but they would be back. There was a fresh drink in front of me, and I took a sip of it while a number of questions were going through my head. He sensed this and told me that it was no great mystery and that he would level with me.
"He said that when they were in college they enjoyed smoking together. As clarification he said that they rolled their own. He further elaborated that they made it a point to stay at a hotel that was within driving distance for one of them. This enabled whoever drove to bring a stash. He said that Don and Dave just wanted to grab a quick smoke.