Patience Pays Off - Ch. 02
Β© Lindat817
Preface - You probably want to read the initial chapter of this story before diving in here. There are some things that are referenced in this chapter that came from the previous chapter. As I explained earlier, this story is the result of an email exchange that I had with a reader that I have come to regard as a friend. Again, some of the story is based on actual events and some is poetic license that I have taken. Enjoy.
Patrick and Ashley alternated nights at each other's homes. They couldn't keep their hands off each other. Ashley couldn't believe how much she was enjoying the sex with her son. Up until now she had viewed sex as something that women "had" to do in order to please their mate. But with PJ, she felt things she had never felt before. That included feeling safe. Consequently she felt free to express herself, both physically and verbally. She told her son about the few lovers she had and the many fantasies she drew on from time to time. She became comfortable with masturbating in front of him if he asked her to. And even became more verbal when they were making love, telling him what felt good and where she wanted to be touched. She felt almost liberated... at least behind the walls of their homes.
The good news about living in a small town was neighbors tend to notice everything. It's like the whole town is part of a Neighborhood Watch program. Likewise, the bad news about living in a small town was neighbors tend to notice everything.... Including if a car stays at a home overnight. It wasn't so bad at Ashley's. She had a two-car garage and Patrick took advantage. But he did see his mom's neighbor, Mrs. Ramsey, two mornings as he was leaving. She knew Patrick was Ashley's son, so she probably wasn't suspicious, he reasoned. Still, they both worried that too many overnight stays might look suspect.
Ashley continued to worry about the long-term effects this might have on Patrick and / or their relationship. She continued to look for support by reading articles on the internet but was skeptical about the honesty expressed in them. As much as she enjoyed her new found enthusiasm for sex and the closeness she felt with her son, she didn't know if she should let him find a girlfriend and get married or if they should go "all in" and move in together.
It was a topic that was discussed more than a few times between the two of them. They both realized that if they were going to present themselves as a couple to the rest of the world, they would have to move to a different city where no one knew them as mother and son.
"I have an idea," Patrick offered one Saturday night as they lay cuddling in the afterglow of sex. "Why don't we get away next weekend? Monday is a holiday and we can take Tuesday off also. We can drive to Manhattan or go camping in that state park about 100 miles from here. I think it would be good for us to get away and have some alone time... you know... act like a couple in the real world... what do you think?"
Ashley didn't need to consider it for long.
"I would love that," she said, excitedly. "Especially the camping idea. We haven't done that for years."
"Done," Patrick said. "I'll make the reservations tomorrow."
He kissed her and they fell asleep in each other's arms, just as they did most nights now.
Even though it was only a few days, they were both excited to be going somewhere that no one knew they were mother and son. They could pretend for a short while that they were just another couple. Perhaps most thrilling for each of them was the chance to be affectionate with each other in public. They wouldn't generate gossip if they kissed or held hands like they would in their home town.
They both took off work a bit early on Friday. They called it camping but it was a step or two above pitching a tent on the ground. They were staying in a rustic cabin in a beautifully wooded state park. At 4:30, he pulled into the garage of Ashley's home and put her small suitcase in the trunk and an ice chest with some food and drinks for the long weekend in the back seat. They both climbed in the car and Patrick leaned over and gave his mom a quick kiss on the lips, causing Ashley to blush at the intimacy of the moment. And off they drove, escaping the prying eyes of Mrs. Ramsey.
They had stayed at this park years before when Ashley was married to Patrick's dad. One of the things Ashley was most looking forward to was the isolation. Even when the camp was fully booked, it was rare to see more than a dozen faces over the course of a long weekend. They wouldn't be able to lounge around naked outside the confines of their cabin - but were otherwise unencumbered. In short a perfect place to present themselves to the world as a couple and explore each other's bodies with a limited amount of decorum.
When they arrived at the park office, they both got out to stretch their legs and check in. Once inside, they saw another couple looking at the map of the park hanging on the wall, apparently orienting themselves. Patrick stepped to the desk. A middle-aged man got up from his chair and greeted him.
"Hi," Patrick said. "We have a reservation for two... Johnson... um... Mr. and Mrs.," Patrick blushed.
Ashley suppressed a smile at his awkwardness.
"I mean," Patrick continued to stumble across his words, "Patrick and Ashley Johnson," he said finally, exhaling a deep breath.
The clerk didn't look up, nor did he acknowledge Patrick's nervous behavior. He simply swiped the credit card, had Patrick sign the registration, handed him the key, and gave Patrick directions on how to get to their cabin.
As they were getting ready to leave, they noticed the couple at the wall map looking at them. Ashley blushed, thinking they must realize we are mother and son - but she quickly dismissed the idea - there was no reason to suspect they knew that.
"Sorry for staring," the man smiled, holding the hand of his young companion. "We couldn't help but overhear that you are in the cabin next to ours. I just wanted to introduce ourselves since we might be seeing each other from time to time," he said, extending his hand.
"I'm Dean and this is my... this is Cindy," he said shaking Patrick's hand and nodding towards the shy young woman holding his hand.
"I'm Patrick and this is... Ashley," he stuttered, finding it awkward to be calling his mom Ashley. They all shook hands. Patrick noticed his mom seemed a bit embarrassed, he assumed because - even though they didn't know their relationship - the other couple must suspect that they were mother and son.
"Nice meeting you," Dean said, breaking the awkwardness of the moment. "I expect we will see each other again. Have fun."
As Patrick and Ashley climbed back into their car they both smiled.
"I guess we need to work on acting like we are a regular couple in public," Ashley smiled. "That wasn't very smooth. But that other couple seemed a little awkward too."
"Really?" Patrick asked. "She seemed kind of shy, but I thought Dean seemed okay."
"I would bet a lot of money that Dean is Cindy's dad," Ashley said, looking over and seeing them drive toward their cabin. "She is about your age and Dean is close to mine. Plus they have very similar eyes and noses," she observed.
"Hmmm...," Patrick mused. "Maybe you're right. Maybe our relationship isn't as isolated as we thought," he said, taking his mom's hand for a moment and then starting the car.