Wife Wants a Hall Pass

During the last period of Bobby's soccer match, Linda, Michelin and I were sitting together in the stands. Linda had seen the young man she had named Lancelot, in the crowd. He had signaled for her to meet with him. She whispered and asked my permission to go to him.

I let her stew for a minute and then said, "Sure Baby. You don't need a hall pass to talk with him. Just remember you have a date for this evening."

Linda giggled and kissed my cheek. She asked Michelin to keep me company for a few minutes and then she stood, stepped into the aisle and walked away almost too hurriedly.

I watched her progress until she approached him. While they were still twenty feet apart, he turned and walked out of sight. He walked through the passage into the area under the stadium where the concession stands were. She quickened her step and followed him.

I turned my attention to the sweet girl beside me. We both needed some private time. I wanted to share some of my feelings with her. I wanted to make us both feel better before Linda and I departed.

Michelin watched Linda walk away and then questioned me with her eyes. I said, "I asked her to give us a few private minutes before the game was over."

Micheline looked at me and I could see that she was misting up. She said, "Oh Luke." That is so like you. You are always conscious of the needs of the people around you, especially women. I envy Linda for having you. Bobby is oblivious to my feelings. He would never intentionally hurt me but it seems as though he never has any idea how to make me happy."

I said, "Michelin, he loves you very much. He has gone into full protection mode. His fear that something will hurt you or your baby is very real."

She replied, "I know he loves me and I love him too." She hesitated and then said, "I need him to express that love physically."

I asked, "How long has it been?"

One small tear rolled down her cheek. She answered, "He hasn't touched me intimately since I told him I was pregnant. I wish I hadn't told him. We could have enjoyed our visit with you and Linda. He could have made sweet love to me."

I asked, "Do you understand why Linda and I can't try to make him change his mind?"

She whimpered and answered, "Yes, and you are right. It could destroy the relationship between the four of us. I don't want that. I will suffer through this. After the baby comes, he and I will be the way we were and he will allow me to have you again someday."

I said, "I wanted to have this talk before Linda and I left on our trip. Knowing that you understand makes me feel better. Your little peck on the cheek that you gave me this morning helped more than you know."

She leaned over and brushed her lips on mine. She whispered, "When I am alone in my room, I will think of you."

I whispered, "Someday, I will require you to pay the debt you owe."

She answered, "Dreaming about that day will make me happy."

I saw Linda emerge from the entry where she had disappeared earlier. She walked toward us. I held Michelin's face in my hands and kissed her briefly. Linda stopped, put her hands on the rail and watched the field until Michelin and I were both upright in our seats.

Linda joined us and sat in the empty seat on the other side of Michelin. Both of us held Michelin's hands and enveloped her in the emotion we both felt for her. The three of us remained there quietly the few minutes until the game ended.

Michelin said, "Bobby will expect us to meet him in the field house hallway outside the team's locker room." She continued, "He will be ready to leave as soon as he makes himself sure that none of the boys have been injured. We won't have to wait long."

I said, "When we walk to the cars, I want a minute of Bobby's time in private."

Linda said, "We will walk ahead, take the time you need."

I asked, "Who won the game?"

Michelin laughed at me. "She said, "The Celtics won. The score was two to one. Both of our scores came in the first period and they scored in the second period. Nothing happened after that." After a pause, she said, "You must remember all of that. If you are with Bobby more than a minute, there will be a test." We all laughed.

We only waited a few minutes. Bobby came out of the locker room and tossed a filthy jersey to me. He said, "I brought you a souvenir. You may want to have it washed."

Michelin said, "Give it to me, Luke. I will have it washed for you. I know you don't want that smelly thing riding in your new car for the next couple days."

Bobby said, "Harrumph, quite right." He took the shirt from my hands and gave it to Michelin."

Linda took Michelin by the hand and they walked away together. They were both full of bubbly chatter. Linda was helping Michelin put up a happy facade. The two of them looked extremely fine from behind. I said, "Wouldn't you like to see them do each other on the bearskin rug again."

Bobby chuckled as he answered me. He said, "That is a winter sport, Luke. Without the flicker from the firelight, we wouldn't get the full effect." He was remembering the vision from before. I laughed with him and then he became serious. He said, "I would like to watch them again."

We passed through the gate into the parking lot. The girls were twenty yards away. They were leaning on the Bentley and looking at my TR3. My little blue car seemed to glow in the sunshine.

I said, "Bobby, stop here for a minute. I asked the girls to give us some time. I have something I want to say to you."

He smiled and said, "Sure thing, Luke. I am all ears." He was speaking Texan. Linda wasn't listening to him.

I said, "Brace yourself, my friend. I am about to broach a hard subject. This tactic worked once before. It helped you to decide to marry that beautiful young girl standing over there. You know the one. The one you love so much." I paused long enough to take a deep breath and then I pulled the trigger. I spoke softly so the girls wouldn't hear. I cocked my head sideways. I said, "Are you out of your fuckin' mind? Do you not know anything about women?"

Bobby's face showed shock. I think the beginnings of anger were there too. His eyebrows went up, his eyes widened and his jaw dropped open. His blood pressure went up enough that his face flushed red. He was trying to speak.

I prepared to be attacked but fervently hoped that wouldn't happen. Bobby is a big man and I was sure he could handle himself. I tried to maintain control of the situation. I said, "Don't talk. I want you to listen."

His mouth closed but his eyes became slits.

I thought, "Oh fuck. He is still full of adrenaline from the game. I might have fucked up the timing of this speech. I said, "Now I want you to listen." We had a second or two of quiet time. He didn't pinch my head off or anything. I continued, "I had a few minutes of private time with Michelin during the game. She informed me that you would not give her a hall pass to be with me. I understand that and I think she does too. What is worse, she said you haven't made love to her in six weeks."

His muscles relaxed and his shoulders slumped. He wouldn't look into my eyes. He seemed to be studying something on the ground. "I'm afraid to Luke," he said. What would happen if I injured her or the baby? It is hard for me to do without sex too."

I stole a look at the girls. They had quieted down and they were looking our way. I resolved to keep my voice down so they couldn't hear.

Just above a whisper, I said, "Bobby, Michelin knows that you love her and you are afraid. Fear is not a trait she wants to see in you. Her hormones are raging inside her. Women need the emotional love that you are giving her. Beyond that, she needs you to express that love physically as well. Damn it, Bobby, she needs you to fuck her. Psychologically, she needs to know that you are going to stay with her and help her rear the child. You do plan to help with the child, don't you?"

He raised his gaze to peer into my eyes. I held my hand up with my palm toward him. He didn't speak.

I said, "Of course you are." I paused and then said, "Sex is how you transmit those assurances that she needs to her subconscious."

I said, "I wish I had a drink." I think he thought I was through.

His face brightened. He said, "I have some fine scotch in the car."

I said, "I'm not through. I am going to tell you what to do because you are too stupid to figure it out on your own."

He asked, "What should I do?"

I answered, "Put that beautiful girl in the big bench front seat of the Bentley. Draw her very close to you while you drive. Take her to your victory party and give her a little wine. Dance with her yourself some and let the boys dance with her. That will make her feel pretty and desirable. Stay sober. You will anyway, you are driving. Take her home and make love with her." After a slight pause, I said, "Damn it, Bobby, if you can't fuck her let her fuck you. That will work too."

Bobby started walking toward the girls. I reach out. I touched him and he stopped in his tracks. I said, "I have one more thing to say. I am going to be gone for a few days. If Michelin doesn't have a big wide smile on her face when I get back, I will have a conversation with Uncle Artair. I will tell him you are mistreating his favorite little girl. He and I will kick your ass." We were still talking Texan.

Bobby actually chuckled. He put his big hand on my shoulder. He said, "It is a waste of your time to threaten me. I know that there will never be a physical confrontation between us. We truly are friends." He hesitated and then asked, "Are we to rescind our no switch agreement at the time of your return?"

I answered, "No Sir. I don't have a dog in this hunt. Linda won't give me a pass to be with Michelin during this visit. Her fear is that our relationship with you and Michelin might suffer. She doesn't want to lose you."

We walked toward the girls. Bobby said, "Michelin will be smiling when you return."

I said, "Good, I didn't want to have to kick your ass anyway." I paused before I added, "That was a hell of a soccer game, a two to one victory. You are a hell-of-a-coach."

We joined the girls and observed the pleasantries as we bid each other goodbye. Michelin allowed me to hold her close and maybe I held her a little too long. Linda kissed Bobby goodbye. Bobby and Michelin left before we did. I explained to him that I wanted to study our map for a few minutes before we hit the road. I saw him pull her close and put his arm around her before they passed out of the lot.

Linda asked, "What was your conference with Bobby about? You seemed to be a bit animated."

I answered, "I think I talked our big Celtic Warrior into fucking his wife. It has been six weeks since they had sex."

Linda answered, "I know. Michelin told me earlier." Then she giggled. She said, "I'm going to try to talk you into fucking your wife." There was another giggle and she blushed a bit at her own rude remark. I laughed with her.

I consulted our map and memorized the best route to the first place I wanted to take Linda. I folded the map so that I could refer to it should I need to. As I was fastening my harness, I asked Linda to tell me of her encounter with Lancelot.

She said, "I allowed him to kiss me. We were slightly naughty with one another." There was a lull while I absorbed that. She said, "He wants to be a lot naughtier with me."

I asked, "Do you want to be naughty with him?"

She replied, "Oh Luke. You know I do." She hesitated and then said, "I told him of my desire but also that he was having a run of bad luck. I couldn't play with him when we met before because I was committed to the Laird and I can't play with him this time, because I am committed to you."

I said, "In the King Arthur stories, Lancelot betrayed the king. Lancelot was a trusted Knight of the Roundtable but he had an affair with the Queen behind the Kings back. Is that what is going on here? Is your Lancelot trying to go behind my back?"

She raised her voice when she answered. She said, "Absolutely not. I would not allow that."

I leaned over and kissed her lips. I said, "I know that Sweetheart, but he might not." Then I asked, "Why didn't you bring him to our seats and introduce him? There were plenty of empty seats around us."

She answered, "He knows that I slept in the Laird's bed at least one night. He has deduced the significance of your relationship with Michelin. He knows Bobby and Michelin well and doesn't want to risk offending them in his pursuit of me. He was avoiding Michelin, not you."

I asked, "Well, when am I going to get to meet him?"

She giggled and said, "In about ten minutes, if you want to. I explained our hall pass system to him. I explained to him that you allow me to choose my lovers but I am only allowed to be with men that you like and trust. He wants to meet you. I'm sure he wants to entice you to like and trust him." She giggled and blushed again. Sometimes the blush is phony. She can do that at will. I laughed with her.

She went on, "He gave me directions to a small inn about three miles from here. He said that he would buy our lunch if we would meet him there." She giggled again and said, "That is a big deal for a Scotsman."

She leaned over again and kissed me. I closed my eyes and pictured her dressed in one of my long-tailed, white, dress shirts. That is her sexiest look. It is what she wears when she wants something from me. She whispered, "Take me there, Luke. I want you to learn to like and trust him.

I cranked up the car and she gave me directions. Like always, I experienced a small pang of jealousy. This time it seemed a little worse than usual. I didn't have another beautiful woman to help take Linda off my mind. I wished that we were driving to the special spot where I had wanted to have a picnic with her.

Lancelot's directions were spot on. We found the inn exactly where he said it would be. I had parked the car and was helping Linda to her feet when the younger man approached us. He said, "Mr. Bowman, my name is Eric Littleton. I am the one who asked your wife to bring you here. I would like to spend what time we can share over lunch."

I responded to him. I said, "Please call me Luke. We will accept your lunch invitation. Linda has told me so much about you over the last year that I feel as though I know you. However, I did think your name was Lancelot." Linda giggled behind me and I caught them smiling at each other. I said, "Please lead the way."

Inside the door, a young waitress met us. She led us straightaway to a round table that Lancelot had already spoken for. I wondered if the round table had any significance. I looked around the room and noticed that all the tables were round. The table was special. Its specialty was the view. If we sat here long enough we would see a beautiful sunset over a distant range of low hills. I didn't intend to be here that long.

The table was set for three and I placed Linda in the middle seat. Lancelot and I sat on either side of her and directly across the table from each other. The waitress handed a menu to each of us and offered to take drink orders. Linda ordered the house white wine. I asked, "Do you have carbonated soft drinks? I would like something like an American Coke."

She replied with a most special bubbling lilt in her voice. She said, "We have American Coca-Cola. Is it the same thing?"

I smiled and said, "Yes it is. Coca-Cola will be fine."

Lancelot ordered hot tea. Water was already on the table. The sweet young girl left and we sat there in silence.

Linda seemed to enjoy watching Lancelot sweat. He appeared to be more and more uncomfortable as the silence hung over us.

Finally, he said, "Luke, I am experiencing a most awkward feeling."

I smiled at him and decided to torcher him some. He was already under stress. I heaped a little more on him. I felt the need to test him. I said, "Why? We are all adults here and we all know why we are here." He actually squirmed in his seat.

He said, "I have never pursued a married woman in my life and I never dreamed that I would do so with her husband's knowledge much less his approval. I can't help it. I feel terribly awkward."

I was pleased with his answer. He appeared to be honest with me and with a fair amount of poise. I said, "Let's break the ice gently. Spend a few minutes telling me about yourself. How do you make a living?"

The waitress returned with our drinks. She served us and asked if she could take our food order. Linda went first. She ordered simple fish and chips. I had never tried that. I just followed suit. Lancelot made it three.

He said, "Actually, I don't make a living. I am still in school. I am a postgraduate student at Edinburgh. "He paused and it seemed as though he decided to come clean with me. He said, "I am studying theoretical physics and I hope to get my doctorate eventually."

I asked, "Is there any way to make a living with a degree in that field?"

He answered, "Not really. Jobs are few and competition is great. I will probably stay in academia. I would like to become a professor at Edinburgh." He continued, "I have been living frugally on family money. I received my inheritance a few years ago and invested it. It generates enough money to let me get by. With a professors salary on top of that, I would do pretty well. I also inherited a small land holding a few miles from Wilkinson Manor. It has been profitable but only barely. That is how I came to know Bobby and Michelin."

Our food came and we ate. Our conversation went on and I could see the awkwardness leave Eric.

He said, "Your method of breaking the ice gently certainly worked. I feel more comfortable sitting here with you."

The fish and chips proved out to be the perfect lunch for me and the Coke was a taste of home. I was ready to leave. I wanted to get on with my vacation. I wanted to drive my car and have my wife to myself.

Linda had been sitting quietly. She spoke up. She said, "You guys have talked about everything but the elephant in the room." She asked, "What about me, Luke? Have you learned to like and trust my friend?"

I answered her as if he weren't in the room. I said, "I think I could like him and I will do a background check on him to see if I can trust him.

He said, "Luke, please seriously give thought to giving Linda a hall pass? I have been invited to your party next Tuesday. Two or three hours would mean so much to me. I have dreamed of her many times since we met last year." I understood that and felt that he was being truthful. Linda has that effect on men.

I looked up at him. He was looking at Linda. He said, "Maybe we could have something more at some future time."

I said, "It is time for us to go." Then I looked into his eyes and said, "I will consider it, Eric."

Eric did pick up the check but I left a generous tip for the cute girl with the lilt in her voice. Tips are not expected in Scotland but they aren't unheard of. He walked us to the car. I looked away for the time Linda allowed him to kiss her cheek.

As I was walking around the Triumph, we met at the rear. He held out his hand for me to shake. I took it and he included his left hand in the shake. He said, "There is one other thing I can bring to the table. I have a sister. Please don't think I could ever pimp for her or offer her in trade but she and I have been procuring dates for each other since we were in prep school. Without committing her to anything, I will say that I believe she would take great interest in you."

I didn't say anything. I just tilted my head and looked at him.

He seemed to read something in my face. He said, "I will bring her to the party."

Linda waved at him as we drove away.

I followed the roads as I had memorized the map. In a half hour or so, I realized that I was on familiar ground. I was driving on a two-lane blacktop that Michelin and I had traveled in the little green TR3 the year before. I knew that I only had to follow the road for about another hour and not miss the one turn that would take us where I wanted to go.