Author's Note:
This story involves M/F sex, a troubled marriage, a robot, serious punishment and near future setting. If that is your thing, then read on.
If you like it and want more, then leave positive feedback.
Thanks to Setokaiva for the feedback.
-------------------------------------------
Kara sat on the couch. She'd been there for fifteen minutes... or was it two hours? She looked at the mess in front of her. Old papers and laundry were strewn across the floor. She didn't even want to look in the kitchen, she knew there were dirty dishes that needed her attention.
This morning, like every morning, she had started out with plans to do better. But rather than the workout she had planned, she had instead made herself an ice cream sunday, with extra chocolate sauce. And those dishes, too, were also sitting in the sink. She'd get to them later, she told herself.
Then there were the short videos she'd watched to just relax her mind. The type of short videos you can always want to watch just one more of, and then find that 2 hours had just passed. She'd get to the laundry tomorrow. Maybe tomorrow.
The door opened and her husband Ron walked in.
"Hey, Kara, it was a tough day at work. What's for dinner?" Ron sighed, with a tired look in his eyes. He called again, "Kara, Kara?" when she didn't respond.
Kara was mindlessly scrolling through her social media feed, oblivious at first that her husband had walked in. There were the typical click bait articles and a list of vacation photos of people she had known in high school, waving and smiling with their partners. She was surprised when she looked up to see her husband. Was it the evening already?
"Kara. Kara. Hello!? What did you do all day? Did you go shopping like we talked about?"
Oh shit, thought Kara as she stopped scrolling. It was six o'clock and she hadn't gotten anything done.
"No, no. I didn't." She paused with a sigh. "Look. Can we just order some take out? Maybe pizza?"
"We had pizza last night," Ron said gently. He looked disappointed. "Kara, I want to eat real food. The deal is, I go out and work, and you handle the house. I'm doing my best, but this isn't working. Something has to change."
Ron looked like he was about to get angry and then stopped himself. "Kara, I'm worried about you. Did you even go out at all today?"
"I just got carried away with some different things." They both knew "things" was a code for wasting time. These "things" didn't even give Kara satisfaction. They were just ... easier.
"Kara, this has to stop. You can't just keep hiding away, we can get you some help."
Like a flash, Kara was off the couch, and in Ron's face. "I don't need help. I don't want help. Look, I had a little bit of an off day today, but that happens sometimes. I'm fine how I am."
"Well, I'm not fine!" He retorted. "This place is a mess. The dishes aren't done. I have to do the laundry tonight if I want clean clothes tomorrow."
"What do you want from me? Someone that just cleans up after you?" she spat.
"No, I want a wife. I want someone to love me. I want some kindness... I want some affection." The last part, he said a little more quietly. He reached out and put his hand on her shoulder.
"No, not tonight," she pushed him away firmly. She turned her back to him and started scrolling on her phone. Then she walked to her room and closed the door.
Ron retreated, dejected. He wanted to get angry. He wanted to tell her to get it together. He wanted... he wanted to just be held.
Instead, Ron ordered the pizza, did his laundry, cleaned the kitchen and then the living room. Later that evening, before he went up to sleep in the guest room, like he had the last few months, he stopped by Kara's room.
Clothes were strewn across the floor and the lights were out. Kara was on her phone. He didn't know what she was doing, it could have been watching videos or scrolling, he didn't care at this point.
"Kara." She didn't respond. "Kara!" He said in a louder voice.
"What?" she drawled, annoyed.
"Tomorrow, I'm getting some help... For me."
"Fine, do what you like." she said.
"Kara." he started, "I'm sorry we fought. Something is going on, but we'll get through this. Together, okay?"
She didn't respond. Ron walked slowly back to the guest room. He slept as soon as his head hit the pillow.
Ron dreamed that night. He dreamed about how things were when he and Kara fell in love. They had been inseparable. Hopelessly in love. They laughed and talked late into the night about their favorite comedians and mutual friends. They planned different musical duets they would perform together.
Kara had been a passionate lover in bed. She painted and sculpted. She had a whole slew of friends that did rock climbing, volleyball and late night dinner parties together.
Ron dreamed about Kara's body. When they first met, she was a ten, not just to Ron, but everyone knew it. With her strawberry blond hair, tight athletic body and cute face, she had drawn looks.
But those dreams were now only just dreams. Those memories were now no longer his reality.
The next morning Ron woke up with a big grin on his face. Not only had he had a great dream, he was happier than he had been in months. There was a solution to his sad life, and Ron made enough money to make it happen. He just hoped Kara would be willing to make it work.
After work, Ron came home to a similar mess. However, he was not alone.
"Kara, I want to introduce you to someone. This," he said, as he pulled what looked like a young woman into the house with him, "is RoboMaid."
RoboMaid was tall—about five-foot-eleven—and looked like a twenty year old. She had a beautiful sculpted face and the body of a model. She had pert breasts and beautiful thick brown hair with a gentle curl.
She was dressed in a traditional conservative maid outfit. A dark pleated dress that went below her knees was complimented by a frilly maid's shirt and dark, polished shoes. The one thing that stuck out as strange to Kara was a metallic collar that was around her neck. She had seen those collars on prisoners, but didn't entirely understand their function.
"I'm so happy to meet you, Kara," said RoboMaid, almost too enthusiastically. "I'm sure we'll be best of friends." Her voice was not robotic, but instead that of a healthy vibrant young woman.
Kara hated her already. Not just hated, she loathed her.
"I don't want her," said Kara. "Send her back."
RoboMaid pulled a hurt face, lips drooping and eyes darkening.. She turned to Ron with a pleading look, silently asking for guidance.
"She's not here for you," said Ron. "She's here for us. I need someone to clean the house and do our laundry. We need someone to do the dishes and the cooking." He motioned around, pointing to the dishes still stacked by the sink, and the garbage bags stacked against the wall that still hadn't been taken out.;
He paused, and looked warmly right into Kara's eyes.
"We need to eat better. Real home-cooked meals. And look at this," he turned to RoboMaid, "she's already bought groceries. You wouldn't want that to go to waste."
RoboMaid gave a shy smile and held up two bags of groceries. Kara could see fruits, vegetables and other delicious looking food in the bags.
"Come on Kara, wouldn't you at least like to try a cooked meal?" Ron pleaded.
Kara's fingers twitched in agitation. She folded her arms tight around her chest, squeezed her eyes shut, and clenched her jaw.
Just when Ron was about to ask again, though, she let out a long-suffering sigh. "Okay, okay; I am kinda hungry," she muttered., "Also, I haven't cleaned the house. The robot can stay for now, but once I have things under control this week, she's gotta go."
Ron let out a breath of relief. He smiled tenderly, and stepped forward, arms open for a hug. Kara blinked. She fidgeted nervously; but then she loosened her arms, and leaned into the embrace. "That's all I wanted," Ron said softly.
RoboMaid let out a delighted squeal, then said "I'll cook you the best meal ever."
But first, RoboMaid got right to the dishes, making sure to have a clean kitchen area. She moved with a bounce in her step, and washed up all the pots and pans she'd need in just a couple minutes. RoboMaid hummed as she worked, and did it all with such glee, almost making it hard to remember she wasn't human.
And in less than an hour, RoboMaid laid out a few courses—buttered squash, spinach salad with melted cheese, and a tender pan-fried chicken skillet along with a loaf of home-baked bread... She whipped up a tangy fruit salad for dessert while they ate, topped with a dollop of whipped cream. Even Kara had to admit this was great.
Kara turned to Ron smiling, "You remember when we went out to eat by the ocean?"
Ron, was surprised at first. Kara hadn't engaged him in happy conversation in what felt like months. "Yeah, the place where they served the live octopus..."
"And when the waiter turned there was an octopus hanging on his shirt." Kara finished.
They both laughed reliving the strange dining experience. Then Kara surprised Ron again, asking about his day and then being interested in what he said.
Ron smiled broadly laughing and talking with Kara as they took their time eating. RoboMaid was in the kitchen hard at work cleaning while they relaxed and ate. Ron thought this was the most fantastic evening. This was the Kara he had fallen in love with.
"RoboMaid is so realistic. If you hadn't told me she was a robot, I might have thought she was a warm blooded young woman." Kara said. "Does she have feelings like we do? Is she happy to be a servant?"
RoboMaid popped her head into the dining room surprising Kara. "You bet I have feelings. And I am feeling great. You see, I was made to serve and it's what I love doing most. I can feel happy, sad and anything you can feel."
"I've gotta ask," started Kara, "what's with the collar?"
"I can take that," said Ron, trying not to mansplain. "The collar allows us to control her. You see, these robots are so smart and sophisticated. Their neural nets, their minds, that is, are based on ours. Similar motivations, similar feelings. However, they have their place, with us being in charge. The collar let's their masters give them a little nudge."
Kara turned her head, "what do you mean a nudge?"
