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Chapter Twelve

Tuesday, October 21, 1958

Gloria picked up Mark at his grandparents. On the way to town she had to stop at a diner for a cup of coffee. Mark wanted to go to the library right away, she needed to do clothes shopping first. Just a bit so it wouldn't be too wearing on the young boy.

Mark seemed entirely satisfied to wait in the toy department while she found a dress and several pairs of heels with straps. She made her purchases and asked for them to be sent to Johnny's house later that afternoon. It was so easy when you had money, she thought. Her shorts and halter-top were no longer opprobrious when those helping her saw she was serious. And that she had serious money.

She collected Mark, noting the toys he wanted to show her; she thought a present was in order, maybe later today.

Mark remembered most of his letters from yesterday when she showed them to him on signs in the store. She began to teach him new ones as they left.

It was a short drive to the library.

Mark was excited about the books and ducks in the small lake behind the building, equally excited.

She left Mark in the children's department and walked to the desk to see if Matt was available. He was barely visible in a room behind the desk, talking on a telephone. His jacket hung from his chair; his shirtsleeves were rolled up partially on his arms.

Gloria saw that he was tanned all over, not just his hands and face. He noticed her and smiled and for some reason she blushed. She instantly remembered the old freighter last night, the mattress on the floor of a room, a group of men standing around watching as another fucked her. Kitty was somewhere else, with the captain maybe. They'd become quickly separated. She remembered the sailors' grins, some missing teeth, most needing a shave, their grins and their tattoos, their odd accents, Australians she later learned; their kindness to her.

Matt waved, mouthed "noon" and returned to his call.

She waited with Mark, showing him letters, telling him what the pictures were.

At noon Matt appeared. He smiled down at them; both had spread out on the floor. "Still have a date?"

Gloria nodded. Mark looked up.

"Same place as yesterday?"

Mark jumped up. He looked at Gloria. "Can I have a cheeseburger?"

Gloria picked up the books and began to sort them.

"Someone will do that," Matt said. He helped her up. "You look stunning."

Gloria glanced down at herself, then up. "I was wearing the same thing yesterday."

"You looked stunning yesterday. I forgot to tell you." He hadn't released her hand. "Ready?"

Gloria held out her other hand to Mark. They walked out of the building then around back to Matt's blue Ford. Mark wanted to chase ducks.

"If you save some of your bun from lunch, they'd like that," Matt said.

Mark looked at Gloria.

"They would," she said. Matt opened the back door for Mark, helped her into the passenger seat in front. While they drove, Gloria wondered how she would ever tell this nice man, nice normal man, who she was. That she was a cheap whore who sucked sailors' cocks and let anybody fuck her. That she asked every man she met if he wanted her to suck their dick.

Every man she'd asked so far, had.

Johnny drove his new Buick today. It was a huge car; sometimes he wished he had a sporty two-seater like Maeve's but that wasn't always practical. Maeve sat beside him in a red summer dress with large white buttons down the front. Two buttons were undone at the hem, two at the bodice. She is so beautiful, Johnny thought. Kitty sat in back, making faces at him in the rear view mirror. She wore her obligatory slacks, shirt and sandals. She looked fresh, although she and Gloria hadn't gotten back until around five. Maeve had found both of them curled together on the bed in the garage this morning.

"Randall is helping us find a house for you, Kitty," Johnny said. I've already spoken to Maeve about it, but I promised we'd be very appreciative for his efforts."

"We meaning you and me, Kitty," Maeve said.

"That's right dear, you and Kitty." He looked into the rearview mirror. "You'll like him. He's an impressive young man."

"Sounds odious," Kitty said.

"No, he's impressive." Johnny parked the car behind a late model Ford on the street, in front of a house with a For Sale sign.

Johnny held the car door for Maeve, then Kitty; all three walked to the house. "I'll go in for a minute with you two, but I have some business I need to attend to." He knocked on the heavy wood door. "I'll be back in the hour."

"That doesn't leave us much time to be properly appreciative," Maeve said. Kitty grinned at Johnny.

"He has other houses to show us," Johnny said. "He's dropping everything for us."

Maeve gave a quick nod as the door opened.

A tall young man in a brand new suit smiled broadly at them. "Miss Katherine Parsons?" he said to Maeve.

"That's me," Kitty said. She held out her hand.

"Maeve and I are helping Katherine make her final decision," Johnny said.

The man took Kitty's hand, held it limply while staring in frank admiration at Maeve.

"You have a house to show us?" Johnny asked.

Kitty gave the realtor's hand a shake, then let it go. "Oh, Maeve," she said, edging past him, "look at this."

Kitty stood admiringly in front of one of the most ugly lamps Maeve had ever seen. Maeve looked at Johnny. "Wouldn't one of these be absolutely charming in our rumpus room?"

Johnny whispered to the realtor. "Introduce yourself or we'll be admiring lamps all day."

"Oh yes." He looked from Johnny to Maeve, was stuck for a moment, then moved to Kitty. "My name is Randall Shores. My firm is helping Miss Parsons find an appropriate home."

Maeve turned to him and smiled. "Thank you, Randall." She waved at Kitty who had moved to the couch, testing the springs. "Miss," she emphasized the title, "Parsons is looking for a home she and her young son will enjoy. They're relocating from Charlottesville, you know?" Maeve took a step closer, laid her hand on Randall's arm. "She, and Mark, of course, are distant relatives of our former president, Jefferson." Maeve turned to Johnny. "Is it hot in here?" She squeezed Randall's arm. "I feel hot in here." She released his arm. She walked over to the couch and sat down. "Do stop that bouncing, you silly girl."

Kitty came to an abrupt stop. She gave a soft, "Oh. Sorry." Then she looked at Randall. "Mr. Randall, do you think we could see the kitchen?"

Randall stood staring as Maeve unbuttoned three more buttons at the top of her dress and began fanning herself with her open hand.

Kitty stood, stepped to Randall and took his hand. "The kitchen?"

"Oh, yes." Randall shifted his gaze to Kitty. "The kitchen."

"I have some business I need to attend to, I'll be back in an hour." Johnny looked at Kitty. "How do you like it so far?"

"He's cute." Kitty put her fingers to her lips. "I mean I like this house so far. We haven't seen the bedrooms yet, have we?" She squeezed Randall's arm. "Thank you so much."

"I'll be back in an hour." Johnny stood at the open door. "Randall, you have other houses to show us, don't you?"

Randall swiveled quickly. "Yes, I have lots of other houses."

Kitty tugged on his arm. "The kitchen."

Maeve stood up. "I need to lie down. Are the bedrooms this way?" She paused by Randall and Kitty, opening her bodice quickly, then peering at Randall. "I've never felt this way before." She paused. "So hot."

Johnny said, "It looks like you have everything well in hand here." He shut the door.

Johnny drove to the realtor's office. The receptionist smiled at him warmly. "Mr. Johnson is waiting for you." She stood. "Right this way."

She walked with an appealing sway to her hips. Johnny remembered the first time he saw Kitty walk like that for him. He stepped through the open door with a smile on his face.

"Johnny."

"Peter." They shook hands. Peter motioned to a chair for Johnny. Johnny sank into the soft leather.

"How was it going?" Peter asked.

"A shaky start, but he looked like he was getting the grasp of things when I left."

"These young kids, fresh out of college and don't know a thing." Peter offered Johnny cigarettes. "Smoke?"

"No thank you." Johnny pinched the crease in his pants leg.

"When his father asked me, what could I do?"

"He'll learn."

"Thanks for your offer."

"Maeve and Kitty looked like they were having fun."

"Katherine?"

"The same." Johnny smiled. "They accepted the offer?"

"They did. We can close any time that is convenient for you."

"Friday?"

"Any time that is convenient."

"Two?"

"Perfect."

Johnny stood. "Well, I better head back." He held out his hand. "Thanks, Peter."

"Thank you, Johnny." Peter followed him to the receptionist's desk. "And thank you for the other matter."

"I think by the end of the week he'll show an unusual willingness to sell houses."

"I hope so." Peter turned. Then returned to Johnny. "That smashing young woman I've seen you with?"

"My fiancee."

"Lucky man."

"I know it."

"Well, I'll see you at two on Friday." Peter turned and walked toward his office.

Johnny left the realtors' sure that the receptionist had winked at him. He shook his head. He couldn't explain Maeve, much less Maeve, Kitty and now Gloria.

Johnny knocked on the door, then opened it. Kitty was stretched out on the couch. She glared at him. "You were gone for hours."

"Thirty minutes." Johnny shut the door behind him. "How's he doing."

"Well, you can hear, can't you?" Kitty sat up. "I thought I was going to get him first."

"Did you notice if there was any beer in the fridge."

"Nothing. Nada." She grinned. "That's Russian. I learned it off a sailor last night."

"Move over then." Johnny sat beside her.

"Any ideas for lunch?"

"There's a nice place out on the beach."

"You're kidding."

"Not the lounge." Johnny put his feet on the coffee table and leaned back into the cushions. "A small place, rough wood siding, great smoked mullet."

"Sounds nice." Kitty yawned. "You'll wake me, won't you? They've been going on for ages." She laid back her head and shut her eyes. She opened her left eye and looked at him. "It's just not the same if you're not . . ."

"I know."

"Guess you do." She shut her eye. "Night."

"Night."

Matt and Gloria sat on the park bench while Mark threw bits of his bun, and theirs, to the ducks that flocked around him.

"Let's see," Matt said. "You're a sitter."

"I used to be an elementary school teacher."

Matt glanced at her.

Gloria watched Mark. "I've done all kinds of things."

"Not married."

"Was."

Matt was silent.

"He's dead, Korea. Killed at some reservoir." She tossed the bit of grass she'd been mangling. "That was a long time ago."

"A long time ago. Sorry to be nosy."

"That's all right. You want to know if I have a jealous boyfriend who collects guns."

"Or knives."

"Or is a strongman at the circus who can bend car bumpers across his head."

"That's scary. I hadn't thought of that one."

Gloria looked sideways at him. "I'm a babysitter. I do other things to make ends meet." She looked down at her hands. "I don't have a boyfriend, but there is someone." She put her hands on her knees. "Maybe you'd better think of him as my boyfriend." She glanced at him. "Is that all right?"

"My feelings aren't hurt." Matt stood up. "I could sit and talk with you for hours, but I've work to do."

"A job to keep."

"Lunch tomorrow?"

"I'll have to check my calendar." Gloria sat up, shut her eyes, and ticked off her fingers. She opened her eyes, turned to him. "Yes. I can have lunch with you tomorrow."

"Looks like it is more than one boyfriend." Matt smiled.

Gloria blushed.

"Forget I said that. I didn't mean to pry."

Gloria gave a quick nod. She watched his face.

"Tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow."

"He's a cute kid, isn't he?"

"He's a great kid."

Matt smiled at her, turned and walked toward the library. Halfway there he spun on his heel, waved at her, walked on to the library.

Gloria shut her eyes. Boyfriends. She shook her head. She wondered what the evening would be like. She was starting to look forward to it. The adventure of walking through a door, not knowing.

Maeve and Johnny sat in lawn chairs on the edge of the lawn, beside the seawall and dock. "It's a nice place, isn't it?" Johnny said.

"I'd be worried with a child this close to the water."

"For us, I meant." Johnny smiled at her.

"I like your house."

"It does have a nice two-car garage."

"This one has a swimming pool."

"Not very private."

"A boat would be nice." Maeve lifted the hem of her dress. "How long have they been?"

Johnny glanced at his watch. "It's been almost an hour." He looked at the water. "I was going to give them another thirty minutes."

"This is more fun than I'd thought it would be."

"You mean college boy in there?" Johnny looked sideways at Maeve.

"Having time off. Relaxing."

"Fucking college boy."

"Fucking college boy." Maeve glanced at him. "I always wondered if I missed anything not going to college."

"Did you?"

"I don't think so." She paused. "Well, I'll never have a college education. But that wasn't what I meant." She flapped her hem several times. "Dating. Football games. Being a member of a sorority."

"You're deliberately enticing."

"You are just beginning to notice?" Maeve held his brown eyes with hers. "You are, aren't you? Women have always been a mystery to you."

"Still are."

Maeve shook her head, smiling at him. "You are so cute."

"Cute as college boy?"

"Cuter."

"I'd better stop there. You and he were pretty loud, earlier."

"I knew you'd be listening."

Johnny smiled. "Every note."

"That's them," Maeve said.

"So this house was good except for the water?"

"Needs a two-car garage."

"Right." Johnny stood. He held out his hand. Maeve stood. They walked toward Randall and Kitty. "Time enough to do another, or should we call it a day?"

"Let's call it a day. Kitty's tired."

Johnny gave her hand a squeeze.

Maeve drove off in her red Thunderbird just as Charles arrived. She gave a honk and a wave as she passed him.

Charles walked into Johnny's house after giving a knock. Johnny sat in the living room with a glass in his hand. He was listening to a record on the hi-fi. Frank Sinatra. Johnny looked up to Charles, "Get yourself something to drink. Kitty is sleeping. Gloria will be here in a half hour or so." Charles walked toward the kitchen. "Gloria needs a nap. Nothing will be happening until nine or so." Charles nodded.

Charles came back with a beer.

Johnny cocked an eyebrow at him.

"You guys are a bad influence." He sat down. "Just one."

"How are things?"

Charles took a sip of beer, set the bottle on a coaster. He shook his hand sideways. There was a brief flash of light on his steel-rimmed eyeglasses.

"Bad?"

"Not bad? Elizabeth is starting to ask questions. I'm never at home."

"The office thing only works so long."

"The office thing works only so long."

"Want to take a break?"

"Not really." Charles relaxed in the chair. "I'm a kid again. Everything is exciting." He paused. "I don't want to lose that."

"Lose the marriage?"

"I hope not."

"Want to talk business?"

Charles sat up. "Sure."

"Okay." Johnny stood up. "The garage is best. I've laid out pictures for the book." He turned off the stereo, took out the record and slid it into its sleeve. "I have to hide this."

"You, too?"

"Me, too." Johnny grinned. "I bet you think I have it perfect here."

"Seems that way to me."

"Seems that way to me, too." Johnny handed Charles his scotch. "Take this in for me. I'll be there in a second."

Gloria walked naked into the garage and saw Johnny and Charles studying a wall covered with photos. Johnny had tape in his hand; he'd just finished moving a photo, replacing it with another. Charles stared at her.

"You look beautiful in your high heels, Gloria," Johnny said.

Gloria took a step forward, looking at Johnny, Charles, back to Johnny. She walked toward Johnny.

"Not me, dear. Charles."

Gloria walked toward Charles. She stood in front of him and smiled brightly. "I want to suck your cock, Charles. I want to taste your come." She smiled so he could see the tip of her tongue move between her lips. She began to kneel.

Johnny stopped her. "Any adventures?"

Gloria glanced at him, then at Charles. "I sucked a man off at the service station this morning." She grinned. "I sucked another off just a few minutes ago, on the way home. A different service station."

Johnny laughed.

"I didn't want to run out of gas." She turned to Charles. "Please?"

"Go ahead, Charles." Johnny walked to the bed, set the tape beside him. "I want to watch."

Charles looked down at Gloria as she tried to unbuckle his pants. He moved her fingers to the side, unbuckled his pants, dropped them, and then his boxers.

Johnny watched Gloria as she took Charles in her mouth. She was less shy now. She seemed to be enjoying herself. He knew from Maeve that a great deal of her sex was . . . acting. That wasn't the right word. Maeve gave a great show. All the time.

Charles held Gloria's head and thrust into her mouth. Her eyes were open, watching him, her palms rested lightly on his thighs.

Charles stiffened, he held her close to him. Gloria shifted on her knees, from side to side, looking like she wanted to pull away, wanted to stay.

Charles released her head; she gasped. A line of come dripped from her mouth as Charles pulled away. She brought her hand up and wiped the come, then licked her fingers. She held Charles' eyes while she did this. She grinned, rose to her feet. "You taste great, Charles," Gloria said.

Charles looked quickly to Johnny then back at Gloria.

Gloria took a step toward Johnny. He rose. "Johnny, I want to suck your cock. I want you to come in my mouth."

Johnny shook his head. "You need to nap. You have a busy night ahead of you." He took her arm. Gloria was looking over her shoulder at Charles, a shy smile on her face. Johnny led her to his room and tucked her into his and Maeve's bed, next to Kitty.

Johnny and Gloria kissed. "I'll wake you for dinner," he said softly.

"Then?"

"Then," he said.

"Don't forget me," Kitty said in a mumble.

"How could I." He kissed her ear then left them.

Johnny was talking with Alex about cropping a few of the photos, when he heard the garage door open. He turned and saw Gloria standing.

She looked down at her bare feet. "Shit," she said. "Sorry, Johnny." She stepped into the room and walked to Johnny. Alex watched her. On the other side of the room, Michael and Charles stopped what they were doing and stared. She had a striking figure.

Maeve was right, Johnny thought, she isn't plump.

Gloria said, "Hey guys, I want to suck your cocks and have you come in my mouth. Yum. Yum. Yum." She stood in front of Johnny. "But I have to cook dinner first." She knelt. "Johnny, there's a very sad girl in your bed. You need to talk to her. You need to be very careful and say exactly the right thing. Understand?" Gloria stood up. She turned and left the room.

Johnny stood, "I'll be back sooner or later," and followed. He turned at the door. "Hot dogs and beer okay with you?" He saw their nods. He shut the door behind him.

Gloria was in the kitchen leaning against the counter, watching him closely when he entered.

"I'll fix dinner. Make yourself a drink, sit down." Johnny walked out, down the hall, then the other hall to his bedroom.

The room was dark, the only light was from the hall. He walked carefully to the bed, sat on its edge. "Kitty?"

"Johnny."

He saw a shape move under the covers. He reached out his hand, touched the covers, felt her move under his hand, turn.

"Johnny, I want you to fuck me." She paused. Her voice was higher pitched than normal, shaky. "I want to be with Mark."

"You can't do both at the same time, can you?" He rubbed her shoulder, or maybe her breast. It didn't matter.

The covers shook. "No." She said it again. "No."

"They why don't you go home and be with Mark." He felt her stir.

"I can do that?"

"Of course."

"You'll still like me?"

"Kitty, you know I'll still like you." He tugged the covers down so he could see her face, mostly shadow. "Kitty, you know I love you."

She shook her head.

"Kitty, get dressed. If you leave soon, you'll catch Maeve before she takes Mark to your parents."

"I want you to fuck me."

"We'll sneak a quickie in tomorrow." He stood. "Get dressed. Gloria and I are making dinner. Be with Mark." He sat in a chair in a corner of the room.

Kitty sat up, climbed slowly out of bed. "The schedule?"

"Schedules are made to be broken. Get dressed." He paused. "I'll just sit here and watch you." He stretched out his legs. "I'm going to talk a little, too." He saw her stand. "Watch and talk."

Kitty walked to the dresser, found her shirt, slipped it on.

"Kitty, would you be able to live on ten thousand dollars a year? Do what you want, save for college, everything?"

Kitty nodded. She stepped into her slacks.

"That's two days a week at the motel. The rest of your time is yours."

"What about you?" She fastened her slacks, drew the zipper.

"What about me?"

"Don't you want me around?"

"Of course I want you around. Why do you think I found a sitter."

"Gloria is . . ." Kitty stepped into her second sandal, walked over to Johnny. "Johnny, don't do anything stupid and lose her." She bent and kissed him. "I better get going. I'm sorry. Tell the boys . . ."

"Get going." Johnny stood and followed her to the front door. "Will you be able to house hunt, tomorrow?"

Kitty nodded slowly. She looked back at him and smiled shyly. He could see her eyes were red from crying.

"Kitty, I promise you, by the end of the week, we'll have a house for you and Mark."

Kitty smiled, she held out her arms to him. "I love you."

"God knows why. I'm a pimp." Johnny hugged her. "Need gas money?"

She shook her head, went out the door.

Johnny watched her start his old Chevy, pull out the drive. He walked back to the kitchen.

Gloria stood next to the sink. She had her high heels on, a glass of scotch, neat, was on the counter beside her. She smiled shyly at him. "Sorry."

Johnny took a sip of her scotch, smiled at her. "Why?"

"Everything."

Johnny shook his head and opened the refrigerator. "I promised the boys hot dogs. I sure hope we have some." He grinned at her. "Ever fuck for hot dogs?"

Gloria shook her head. She grinned back.

"Hot dogs. And buns." He looked up. "There is a special way to do hot dogs, anyone ever show you?" He laid the wieners and buns on the counter. He got out a saucepan and filled it with water. He set the pan on the range. He took out relish, catsup and mustard from the refrigerator, set them on the counter. He glanced at her. "Are you game?"

She stood straight. "I guess so."

"Here's what you do." He took down the tin of potato chips from the top of the refrigerator, opened it. He opened a cupboard, found a basket, opened a paper napkin and laid it inside.

He dumped all but one of the wieners into the boiling water. He filled the basket with chips. He opened a cupboard under the counter and found two trays. He stood. "Ah, paper plates." He opened a cupboard by the refrigerator and found a package. He walked over to the counter and took another sip of Gloria's scotch. "I hope that's okay."

"Sure."

"Okay." He put the basket of chips and condiments on a tray. "Take these to the boys. Do the sexiest walk you can. Fondle their ears. Whisper sweet nothings. Remind them about swallowing their come." He grinned. "Then come back here."

Gloria took the tray, passed Johnny giving him a kiss on his cheek. She came back at the same time as Johnny was laying the cooked wieners on a plate. He looked sideways at her. "Okay. Now's when we cook the hot dog the special way." He held up the uncooked wiener. "This is yours."

Gloria took it.

Johnny smiled. "Just for show." He picked up the tray of buns and hot dogs. "You follow me." He paused. "I enter the room, go to the table, put the tray down. Then you come in." He watched her.

Gloria gave a quick nod.

"These hot-dogs were cooked a special way. That's what you say. Put it into your own words. You show them the hot-dog and say, see."

Gloria nodded. She held up the hot-dog.

"Then you shove in up your pussy, work it in and out, moan. Do a show." He paused. "Standing is nice. On the bed is nice." He glanced at her sideways as he passed. "That's how you cook a hot-dog"

Gloria followed him. "That's sick." She pressed against him as they walked together. "You really are a pimp."

"Gloria, I've been a pimp for only a few weeks longer than you've been a whore."

"Okay, I'll do it."

"Great. Maybe the boys won't notice my poor cooking." He grinned at her. "This is the first time I've cooked hot dogs."

"And this is the first time I've cooked hot dogs the special way."

"Don't forget to cook the hot dog especially well," Johnny said. "That's the one I'm eating." Johnny grinned over his shoulder at her.

Gloria stopped. "Is that safe?"

"Goodness knows. I think so. Unless you caught something from a sailor or fisherman."

Maeve walked into the garage and closed the door quietly behind her. She stood and watched them. Alex was shooting pictures as usual. His thin body danced around the bed in the center of the floor. Charles sat over at the table by the refrigerator. Both were naked. Michael was spread out on his back. Gloria knelt, resting her body on her elbows. Her hands were on Michael's crotch, her head turned sideways so Maeve could see her face. Gloria held Michael's cock in her hands, she was rubbing her cheek with it.

Johnny was behind Gloria, on his knees also, slowly fucking her. All three were naked. Maeve walked further into the room, Alex saw her and they waved at each other, then Alex went back to his photography. Maeve stood behind Johnny. She loved the way his back looked, wide shoulders, narrow waist and hips, dainty round ass. She loved watching the way he moved.

Each one of the three was in their own personal world connected by sensation of one another. All three had their eyes closed. Michael looked like he'd come, he was relaxed, enjoying the softness of Gloria's face and continued touch.

Johnny moved gently. Gloria wasn't being tossed about under the impact of his thrusts. They settled into each other. It was almost like the hands of that Balinese dancer Maeve had seen. Hands placed together, the fingers rippled against one another sinuously.

Johnny came, he held still then relaxed. He bent over Gloria moving his hands from her hips to her sides. He kissed her back.

Maeve walked to the table where Charles sat and pulled a chair out for herself. Before sitting she walked to the refrigerator and got herself a beer. She used the opener to remove the cap. She took a drink then sat down.

Charles smiled at her.

"You next?" Maeve asked. She set the beer on the table.

"I think I'm done." He grinned. "For awhile at least."

"Like her?"

"As a person or as somebody to fuck?"

"Both." Maeve gave a small smile.

"She's nice and she's nice." Charles straightened in his seat. "She's nowhere as nice as you." He waved his hand toward the bed. "But she's nicer than most." Charles turned back to her. "Sweet."

Maeve nodded. Sweet was a good description. "Think she'd make a good babysitter?"

Charles grinned. "If I didn't know you better I'd think you were joking." He paused. "Yes. She has a head on her. Knows what she's doing, has done and is about to do. Methodical." Charles nodded toward the bed. "Without being boring."

Maeve took another drink of beer. She set the bottle down. "I need to spend some time with Johnny."

Charles nodded. "I'm finished. I'll tell Alex and Michael."

"Thanks." Maeve stood. "I'm going to make a sandwich, want anything before you go?"

Charles stood. "No, I'm okay." He grinned. "Johnny and Gloria made hot-dogs." His face became animated. "It was so wild that Alex forgot himself; he didn't get a single picture."

"I'm going to have to watch them, I see."

"You don't need to worry. You're all he talks about. When you're not around. Honest."

Maeve patted Charles' arm. "I enjoy watching them."

Johnny, Maeve and Gloria sat in the living room. Maeve had a Brahm's symphony on the hi-fi. Gloria brightened when she heard the first notes. Johnny looked from one to the other. He'd never noticed if Kitty liked Maeve's music or not. He'd have to pay more careful attention.

"So," he said.

"So Kitty has been rushing customers to spend time with Mark," Maeve said.

Gloria watched them, saying little. She had a glass of wine in her hand, her legs bent under her on the couch. She was tired.

"Kitty can do the motel two days a week. You and Gloria can do the other three."

"I don't like it there," Maeve said.

"I know and I'm working on it. Kitty needs to take home two hundred a week. We need at least eight hundred to do what we need to do." Johnny nodded toward Gloria. "Gloria needs about two hundred a week also."

Gloria started to comment. Johnny said, "You do. Think about it. House. Car. Money in the bank." He grinned.

"You do," Maeve said. "Believe me."

Gloria nodded and watched them.

"Kitty will be with us each day this week to house hunt," Johnny said.

Maeve nodded. "Her house."

"Gloria will sit Mark tomorrow." He nodded to her.

"You're doing a great job," Maeve said.

"Tomorrow night you and Gloria will entertain, or we can have a quiet night at home. You two decide. Kitty will be with Mark."

Johnny took a drink of his scotch. "We have two girls' nights out, Kitty wants to do those. Right?"

"And the costume party. She likes pirates," Maeve said.

"Good." Johnny looked at Gloria. "I want you to stick close to Kitty Friday night." He put his glass down. "And I have a proposition to make you for Thursday night."

Gloria nodded. She glanced at Maeve then turned back to Johnny.

"Captain MacPherson and his men were impressed with you. They and the crews of several other ships would like to hire your services. Five p.m. Thursday to about noon Friday. Five hundred dollars, you'd get half."

Gloria nodded slowly.

"Interested?"

"How many?" Gloria asked.

Johnny noticed Maeve's smile. "Somewhere between forty and fifty." Johnny watched her. "It would be a long night."

Gloria nodded more quickly.

Johnny turned to Maeve. "You'd have to work the motel Thursday and Friday."

Maeve rolled her eyes. "All right."

Gloria touched Maeve's arm. "I could go with you Thursday. Rent my own room, work until noon, sleep, then go to the port. Or we could work together."

"One in one out, too complicated," Maeve said. "I can," she paused, placing special emphasis on the word, "introduce you to Bob and the owner, if you want. But you better get all the sleep you are able to get before you go to the port."

Johnny nodded. "I can call Alex. He can print out postcard sized photos of you from tonight."

"Except for the hot dog thing," Maeve said deadpan.

"You heard about that?" Johnny asked.

"Just the barest mention." Maeve grinned.

"Twenty-five, fifty or a hundred. One pose or several. You decide. You could sign them. I think the sailors would like them."

"A momento," Maeve said to herself.

"A souvenir." Johnny paused. "It would be between you and Alex. You pay him, you sell them for whatever."

Maeve stared at Johnny. "How do you think of these things?"

Johnny grinned. "So you," he looked at Maeve, "will do the motel Thursday and Friday. And you," he looked at Gloria, "are interested in visiting, briefly, the motel, then will rest. Go to the port Thursday night. Get back Friday, rest, go out Friday night."

Gloria nodded. "I had a good time with the sailors. They were nice."

Johnny smiled. "I'll make the calls, I'll let you talk with Alex. Maybe you can work out a trade." He winked.

Gloria nodded.

Johnny looked at Maeve. "What I don't understand is why you don't like the motel?" He watched Maeve's face.

She leaned toward him. "That's because you've never been fucked in the ass by the motel owner."

"So it's just the owner?"

"Pretty much." Maeve sat back in her seat.

"Maybe we should buy the motel?" He raised a hand. "Not now, but plan to buy it."

Maeve shook her head. "Johnny, there are better places, cheaper places."

"There are?" Johnny gave a quick smile. "Maybe we should investigate."

"Business." Maeve sat forcefully back in the couch.

"One more thing." Johnny took a sip of scotch. "Cooking. Gloria tomorrow, Maeve Thursday, me Friday. Is that okay?" They nodded.

"Then we're done. I need to make some calls. You two chat, then ice cream in bed?" Johnny stood.

Maeve touched Gloria's shoulder. "Dear, you're joining us tonight, I hope."

Gloria gave a quick nod. She looked at both of them, then smiled.

Gloria slept to Johnny's right, but earlier Johnny had been at the other edge of the bed, and she and Maeve had, fucked wasn't the right word. Made love? Closer. While Johnny watched. Then she and Johnny; then Johnny and Maeve; after, Maeve and she a second time.

It had been years since she'd spent the night this close to a man. It wasn't as bad as she thought, there were memories, distant memories. Forty sailors, for hours and hours. She didn't care about the money. Johnny barely realized that, but she saw that Maeve understood. It was a game. Money was one way you kept score, the way Johnny played. The score wasn't as important as playing the game. Hard. Soft. Whatever it took. That's what the game was to her.

Go to the next Chapter.
Chapter Nine | Chapter Ten | Chapter Eleven | Chapter Twelve | Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen | Chapter Fifteen | Chapter Sixteen | Chapter Seventeen | The Schedule

The first part of Switch: a novel is Switch.
The second part of Switch: a novel is The Babysitter.
The third part of Switch: a novel is Comes the Bride.
The fourth part of Switch: a novel is The Revolver.

Disclaimer: Some of the things the characters do in this story are seen as offensive or frightening (even terrifying) by some if not most people. Please don't surprise anyone. Always ask first. Have an agreed upon safe word even if you don't do BDSM.

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