Vicky's journey away from being a strait-laced suburban housewife continues.
Any resemblance to actual events, or people dead or alive, is purely coincidental. It's fiction.
Enjoy. There may be more chapters to follow, with your encouragement.
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Arthur went off to work in excellent spirits, announcing as he left, "Fifty more days, tra-la."
"Fifty?"
"To semi-retirement." Arthur left.
It was Monday. Following her mother's and grandmother's habits, Vicky stripped the bed and marshaled all the washing in the laundry room by nine o'clock.
The first wash was well on its way at ten past nine. Vicky was back in the kitchen when Tony first called. She was standing, fully dressed, at the sink cleaning up the breakfast dishes and humming along to a tune from Carmen on her favorite classical radio station. She ignored the call but looked up at Tony observing her from his bedroom window. She gave a friendly wave. She shook her head at him, and he disconnected.
The unwanted calls followed regularly in half hour intervals. She ignored them all as she vacuumed and dusted the master bedroom. With each call her annoyance grew. First at Tony and then at herself for putting herself in this position.
His persistence succeeded. Vicky had stopped for a coffee in the kitchen when the fourth call arrived at ten thirty. She answered neutrally, "Yes Tony?"
"I needed to talk to you. Someone."
"What's the matter?" Vicky detected there an anguish in his tone that was nothing to do with getting into her panties.
"Mom's home." He paused.
"Yes? So?"
"The tool and die shop where she worked closed for good over the weekend. They're bankrupt. She was their bookkeeper. I think she saw it coming, but still it has been a blow for her. She's out of work."
"That's terrible. I'll speak to your Mom if you like?"
"No. I don't think she wants anyone to know." Vicky could understand Mary was processing her situation.
"Is your dad coming home?"
"Not before the weekend. They had a flaming row over the phone this morning. Can I come over. I'd like at least a comfort cuddle?"
Vicky thought, here we go. "No. No cuddles. Let me think if, and how, I can help you and your mom. You be kind and helpful to her. She is the one who is sure to need a cuddle, maybe share one with her. She needs your understanding at this moment. I'll get back to you, but it's not likely before tomorrow. I'll call you before ten tomorrow. Promise." The call ended without another word from Tony.
Vicky liked Mary, Tony's mom. They'd had many lively and interesting conversations over the years. She was a perfect miniature woman. She carried a large bust but otherwise was perfectly proportioned but barely five feet tall. In many ways she reminded Vicky of Dolly Parton to look at, but with beautiful thick auburn hair that she always seemed to wear up on her head to give herself more height. Always impeccably groomed, Vicky had never seen her without high heels or elevated sandals.
A bundle of energy and very loving, Mary never said a bad word about anyone. At the barbeques she always seemed to be looking out for Tony, with a loving look on her face. She'd do anything for him. Now it was his turn to do something for her.
After some thought, Vicky called Arthur. "Hi sweetie."
"What's up?"
"Do you employ bookkeepers?"
"Not as such. No. Why do you ask?"
"You know Mary who lives behind us. She's just lost her job. Her employer's gone bankrupt. Locked the employees out this morning. She needs a job."
"Quite a few of our best Accounting Assistants were once bookkeepers. We are always looking for good talent in this area. Mary's a sweetheart as I remember her, nice personality and good figure. Oops."
"Pig."
"Get her to send a CV in," Arthur gave Vicky the name and email address of their head of Human Resources. "Anything else? Oh, did you contact Elly?"
"I love you. Been doing housework, call her later. Bye."
"Love you. Bye."
Vicky called Tony. "Tony listen to me carefully."
Tony interrupted Vicky, "That was quick. I thought you'd not get back before tomorrow. Can I come over?"
"No Tony. Just listen. I'm going to call your mother. I'm basically going to say that when I called you to thank you for the work you did yesterday you let slip that she's lost her job. Got that? I also spoke to you about doing some more garden clear up."
Tony interrupted, "Really? That's good. I'd like that."
"Stay on focus here Tony. We'll get back to garden some other time. She'll be sure to ask you what you did over here yesterday. You should say I had you do some heavy lifting and started on the garden before I had to go out and stopped you. If pressed, tell her a little white one about moving some big stuff around in the attic. Got all that?"
"Got it."
"I've got a lead on a job for your mom, that's what this is about. But don't you say anything to her. Let me handle it."
After looking up her number and putting it on their phone address book, Vicky called Mary on her land line. "Mary. Vicky Jarried here."
"Hi stranger. What can I do for you?" Vicky could detect the false cheerfulness in her tone.
"I'm not sure if Tony told you I called him earlier. Yesterday, I was desperate and asked Tony if he could do muscle work for me. He kindly came over and did what I asked. Plus a few minutes in the garden before I had to go out. I paid him for his time."
"That was unnecessary. Payment that is. He's sitting around watching God knows what on his computer."
"Anyway, in the conversation we had just now he dropped in that you had just been laid off from work. He tried to take it back, because he knew he had broken a confidence. Tony's a good young man."
Vicky heard her Mary sigh, but pressed on, "Do you know my Arthur is the managing Partner of an accounting firm? I spoke to him about your situation. I hope I have it right: you are an experienced bookkeeper as I remembered our chats."
"That's right. I was three quarters the way to become a CA when I stopped to have Tony. Never did finish."
"My husband says you should send your CV to their HR person. You may wish to put one together. The quicker the better."
"I have my CV ready. I saw this coming and prepared myself. What I didn't appreciate is what a body blow it would be now it's happened."
"You poor thing. I can imagine. Maybe I can't. I've never been such an experience. Got something to write the contact details down?"
"Give me a moment." After a pause, "Fire away."
"The name and email address of the HR person. Here it is." Vicky spelled it out. "I suggest you do it immediately. Get the ball rolling. Good luck. Also, it's long overdue that we get together for a coffee, or better a glass or two of wine."
"Wine sounds better. I'll do a couple of tweaks to my CV and a put together a covering letter. May I mention you or your husband's name? I'll have it over to them by noon."
"Sure. Just mention we are neighbors."
"Thank you so much. No, that's inadequate. You must tell me what I can do for you."
"I'll think of something. Maybe just the pleasure of your company over a bottle of good wine. Good luck. One final thing, Arthur will not, in any way, be involved in a decision to hire you or not. Just so you know."
"I understand completely. The fact you have done this for me is beyond words. Bye."
Vicky felt pleased with herself. Maybe her time with Tony was meant to be. Nevertheless, she had to figure out to keep him at bay or otherwise occupied. She could see how he could become quite a nuisance. The beginning of an idea was forming in her head how she may curtail his unwanted intrusions, but that could wait until tomorrow.
Shortly after lunch she received a text from Tony: I'm on my own. Mom's gone for an interview.
So much for his hinting, Vicky simply replied: Good to know.
She had no plans to encourage Tony, and it was amazing news that within three hours Mary was getting an interview.
She continued with the housework.
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As Arthur entered the house from the garage, he was whistling. As soon as he saw Vicky, he grabbed her and gave her passionate kiss on the lips.