Jeff gets a surprise visit from his sister-in-law.
I was sitting at the breakfast table looking out at the forest sipping my coffee. Retirement has been good. I just finished the house a few months ago and I was at a point I could finally get up without a pre planned day. So a leisurely breakfast was just what I needed.
"You look relaxed." Sharon, my wife was just entering the room and touched my shoulder on her way to the coffee maker to retrieve the cup that had been sitting there while she got ready for work. She loves her job writing children's curriculum. It allows her the needed sense of purpose and accomplishment. "It feels good to have time now doesn't it?
"It does. I think I'll launch the skiff and set a few crab pots, see if I can catch enough for dinner."
Our house that we just finished building is only a mile from the Pugent Sound and I love that its easy to get the boat in the water and fish or crab, and now that I was done with the house I would have more time for these kinds things that I loved doing.
"Don't forget your taking me to the airport this afternoon. Remember? I'm going to Denver."
She reached down and took my hand and looked at me. "I'm sorry about last night, I know it's not fair to you..."
I cut her off mid sentence. "Don't worry about that. If it's not comfortable and it's not pleasurable for both of us, I'll...well its not like I can't take care of that on my own."
Since menopause and a hysterectomy Sharons sex drive was basically nonexistent. Last night she knew I could use some relief and gave me a hand job that I knew she really wasn't into. The result was a little lack luster I guess.
This was a little bit of an uncomfortable reoccurring topic. I was trying my best to adjust to our aging together. We have been married for a long time, 42 years. And in the past we had a great sex life. And for me at 62 I still want to be sexually active. But it didn't seem to be in the cards for us. And I didn't like the idea of cheating on her. And really I'm not sure how to even go about that even if I was inclined to.
"I know you can, but I also know its not what you really want. If you want to solve this with someone else I understand, I just don't want to know about it."
"What?! I can't do that. Go behind your back to have sex with someone else? No! I could never do that to you."
"It's not behind my back when I'm giving you permission. Just don't fall in love! I still need you! Come on, how else is this going to go away? It's ok. I love you and I know you love me. Its not about finding love, its about you being happy and fulfilled. I know it's not the perfect solution, but we don't have one of those. I'm not going to suddenly get horny and your not going to suddenly get less horny. We've been married for a long time, I know you."
"I'm going to launch the boat, what time do I need to pick you up to go to the airport?"
I was pretty uncomfortable with our conversation. I really didn't want to talk about having sex outside of my marriage.
"Pick me up at 2:00." Sharon could understand my resolve and knows me well enough to let me think about the seeds she has planted. So she was fine with letting it go for now.
My mind was swimming when I went out to hook up the boat trailer, I couldn't believe Sharon was suggesting I go outside of our marriage to get laid. In 42 years I haven't ever gone out on her. It's not like I never had been tempted. In the last couple of years it has been especially hard resisting looking at other women when I'm not getting any at home.
All the way to the launch I tried to consider how that would even work. I just didn't see how it could, or with who.
I put it out of my mind and went out and set the crab traps. I'll pick them up tomorrow morning. That should be long enough to hopefully catch enough for a dinner. Easier now that it's just going to be me I thought to myself.
It was a beautiful day, as I looked around the sun was out, it's one of those days you come to savor in the Pacific Northwest. There wasn't any wind and the Sound was flat calm. Still cold but I'll take all the sun we can get this time of year.
With the pots set, I returned to the launch ramp and got the boat out of the water and took it home.
I went down stairs to the walkout basement that I have a workshop and a small brewery set up in. I built this place with the intention of having both a wood shop and my brewing equipment in separate areas. For so long I had to drag out all the brewing equipment when I wanted to make beer. Now it's in it's own space, set up all the time and it will be easier to not have move it all the time.
My thought at this time was to get my boil kettle cleaned up to use as a crab boil pot. I wouldn't smell up the house if I cooked it out here in the brewery.
The time came to get Sharon to the airport so I picked her up at work and off we went.
"Hey you." She pecked me on the lips as she got in the car. It was a short 30 minute drive and when we were almost there she said. Don't forget Sam's coming in also, you'll probably have to wait for her for a little while, her plane is landing in a few minutes. She says she didn't check any bags so it wont be too long I'm sure."
"Wait, she's still coming? I assumed with you leaving she would delay her visit. I mean she's coming to see you..."
"She comes up to see us and more than that take a break and get a change of scenery."
"Really? What am I supposed to do with her in the house? What if I had plans?"
"Oh, you know Sam, she's easy to have around. She'll either fit into your plans or she'll be fine on her own." She had wry smile and wrinkled her nose and pecked me on the lips. "You'll figure it out. Love you. Make a couple of laps around the terminal, she knows to look for you."
She closed the door to my truck and wheeled her small luggage bag toward the terminal. Before she got to the door she turned around and blew me a kiss with a big smile.
It wasn't unusual to have Sharons' sister Samatha come up from Southern California to visit, she does a few times a year. She and her sister are close, Sam is five years younger and has been divorced for a couple of years. I suppose she first started to come out to see us when they started to have problems in their marriage. The practice has continued since and it's always good to see her. She fits right in, and like Sharon said she is easy to have around. Her and I have always had a good relationship that could get a little spicy and flirty sometimes. We like each other and Sharon knows we do and has never acted jealous or threatened by it.