One of my guiding principles is that context is everything. To understand this new episode of my Neighbor series I recommend you read the first three chapters in the collected form I recently edited and posted
As usual, this work, and series, is pure fiction and any similarity to real people, places or events the is purely coincidental.
Neighbor Ch. 4
The email reply from Kelsey was curt. The follow-up story Jim wrote that included a prominent apology for high jacking her sequel to his original effort, seemed to have been accepted through Kelsey's brief but possibly bitter response.
"Works for me. Publish and be damned."
Jim thought, "Shit. She's still pissed off at me. 'Be damned', what the fuck does that mean?" He fired up his laptop and submitted the story to Literotica. Jim felt he was flushing away something he should have left alone.
He texted Kelsey this time.
Done. Look for it in a few days.
Jim still hoped he could open up a more constructive dialogue, but there was no reply. An hour later, he telephoned but it went to her message box.
The day was fine. Jim decided on a long walk to think about Gee's next steps in the recovery of her libido, as she had asked. As he strode around the park, Jim kicked around in his mind Gee's uncertainty as to how far to take her latent exhibitionism, and how much he could tolerate. Jim did not know how to advise what path she should take.
In spite of his undertaking to consider Gee's situation, Jim thoughts were dominated by and kept returning to Kelsey's lack of response to his earlier text and telephone message. With the hall-pass from Gee to fuck this sexy neighbor, Jim cursed the fact Kelsey chose this moment to ignore him. Life was decidedly unfair in Jim's mind at that moment. He felt sorry for himself.
His almost two-hour brisk walk calmed Jim down. When he arrived back home, he noticed a Kia Soul in Kesey's driveway. He knew it belonged to her mother. He felt a wave of relief pulse through him. He understood why Kelsey had not replied. Her mother was visiting. He was puzzled though. He could not recall seeing the Kia Soul when he left for his walk, but, he rationalized, he was not looking for it and could have easily missed it.
After a drink of water and shower, Jim decided to boost his ego with a drive in his Audi R8. The mid-morning traffic was light, and he was able to open up on a section of road he knew was free of radar traps. He felt much better after this blast of speed well into three digits mph. He loved his Audi almost as much as the Ferrari. He knew he risked having his prized vehicle impounded if caught travelling at excessive speed. It just added to the rush of adrenaline. As he returned home, he smiled to himself and thought he'd catch Kelsey later.
Jim left the Audi in the driveway. He ran the hose from the tap in the garage. He always rinsed his special autos down after taking them out, even though it was not dirty. It was his loving ritual to pay homage to the elegant curves of the bodywork and power under the hood.
Out of the corner of his eye he noticed, Kelsey's mother moving towards the Kia Soul carrying a sports bag. She did not look at him. After backing out, she drove the few hundred feet to stop at the end of Jim's driveway. She got out. Jim observed her as she walked towards him. She was an older version of Kelsey. Attractive, with larger tits and wider hips. He remembered her name. Susan.
Susan smiled as she approached Jim. "Good job on the Audi," nodding in the direction of the low-slung vehicle. "Maybe you'll give me a ride sometime? Looks like fun."
Jim thought that giving this lady a ride would be a lot of fun. But he said, "That sounds like a plan. Thank you for the complement. Like to keep her clean and shining. It's Sue, isn't it?"
"I prefer to be called Susan. Yes. And you're Jim, if I remember right. Your wife is Gee." Jim was momentarily puzzled that Susan knew his wife.
"Right on both counts. Visiting the grandies?" Jim gestured towards Kelsey's house.
"Yes." Susan paused for a moment. "Well, not really." Jim looked puzzled. "Kel had an accident. She's in hospital."
Jim was stunned. He felt his stomach clench. "What! What happened?"
"I'm not quite sure. Looks as though she tripped over one of the kids' toys as she took a text message in the front hallway. She fell headlong into the bottom of the stairs broke her arm in two places and hit her head badly. She knocked herself unconscious and has a huge goose egg on her forehead. As luck would have it, I arrived shortly after her fall. I was just dropping by to pick up some clothes she had for the charity I work with. Anyway, she's in hospital with her arm in a cast. They are keeping her overnight in case there is concussion or worse."
"That's terrible. Anything I can do to help?"
"I'm not sure. Can I call you later if I think of something? Give me your number." Susan pulled out her cell phone and held it up to me. "Call me now." Jim punched into his mobile the number Susan gave him. Susan's phone rang. "There I now have your number. Must rush."
"What about the kids?" Jim blurted out. He thought for a moment they were being abandoned.
"No problem. Jane's daughter, May, from across the road came over to help, with her little one in tow. She'll stay until I get back. I may need your help then. Must rush off. Bye."
"Give Kelsey my best wishes."
"Only best wishes? I'm sure she'll appreciate them. Very much." Susan winked and rushed off.
Jim was puzzled by the wink and tone of Susan's parting comment.
********
Jim had finished one of the meals Gee had left in the freezer for him to heat up. One of her signature stews. Their land line phone rang. Gee always used this line unless she needed to catch Jim when he was out.
"I thought I'd call you early. Was uncertain if I'd catch you at home. We're going out for a birthday party for Daisy in a half hour or so." Gee was calling from a time zone two hours earlier. "Anyway. Had dinner? What'd you do today?"
"First off, how's the visit going? The family all OK?"
"Yes. Everything is fine this end. What's up?"
"Just finished one of your stews, washed down with an ice-cold lager. The day has been interesting." Jim proceeded to give Gee the events including all his thoughts about Kelsey and her accident.
"Wow. That's been some day. Poor you." Gee giggled. "Screwed with no chance of screwing."
"Isn't that just a bummer. The Fates are telling me something. Like, keep my zipper closed."
Jim was surprised by Gee's next comment. "What do you think of Susan? I know her. Did you know that? When her husband died about two years ago. I recall you were away somewhere. She used to come over to see the grandchildren and Kelsey. I saw her outside initially, and then she'd drop in on her visits for a coffee with me. We probably got together six times. As it so happens, I met her just recently in town, we had lunch. I think I mentioned it."
"I don't recall. When was that?"
"Two weeks ago. On my usual trek into town on my half day off from work."
"OK. Now I remember. You came home about two hours later than usual. All you said was that you met a friend for lunch. I had a brief jolt of jealously at the time thinking it was an old boyfriend. I just let it go. I don't recall you mentioning Susan's name at the time."
Gee sighed. "We had a three-hour lunch. All sorts of girl-to-girl stuff. She's a very empathetic character, and a good listener. What particularly impressed me was the way she has pulled herself together. When I first met her, she was slightly overweight and, in her grief, had let her personal appearance go completely. Now she looks very attractive. Stunning in fact, I bet you fancy her. I think I could myself."
Jim did not know what to say for a moment. He had a fleeting image of Gee with Susan, naked in each other's arms. "Yes. She's certainly a looker. And yes, I could fancy her."
"She could be Kelsey's older sister. And not much older at that. Maybe I should extend my hall pass to the mother as well. I know she's ready for a no-commitment relationship. By that I mean a fuck without strings attached."
"How the hell do you know that?"
"Girl talk." Gee giggled again. "She also knows about my libido challenge. More girl-talk. Hey, maybe you have a match."
"Gee, you never fail to amaze me. I love you so much." Jim was tearing up as he heard the selfless words wrapping around him with loving warmth.
"Of course. Kelsey could get jealous if you go for Susan. Or, once Kelsey's back, it could be other way around. All I'm saying you may have to be discrete. Careful, in fact." Gee's voice seemed to come from smiling lips.
"Oh. You are such a sweetheart. Tell me how it's going for you." Jim's excitement was getting to a point where he had to change the channel.
"Absolutely fine. We have a great daughter and two fine granddaughters. Daisy has just come to me and is tugging me to get going. So, it's bye-bye. Have a good evening and be careful how you behave. Neither gal should be upset after you have left. Love you sweetie. Bye. Oh, and say 'Hi' to Susan if you see her. You can give a hug from me, as a starter. " Gee hung up before Jim had a chance to answer.
Jim hand washed the dishes. Too few to put them in the dishwasher. He was just considering sitting down with a new book Gee had brought him from the library when his cell rang. It was Susan.
"Hope I'm not interrupting anything."
"No. Excellent timing. I'd just finished supper and cleaned up."
"Admirable. Clearly Gee has you well trained. How would you like to come over?"
"To clean up?" Jim laughed.
"Oh, yes. I'll throw in a drink or two by way of payment. Get over here."