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 ï>¿The Swim Team by Arkfisting

   The Swim Team Ch.  08

   The girls learn about the orgy and Barry finally gets a clue.

   The house was quiet when I got home.  I was concerned until I remembered
Brenda saying the girls were spending the night at Ivory's house.  It was
just as well.  I didn't think I could deal with whatever was bothering
Brenda after the night I had.  What started as one of the most mind-blowing
sexual encounters any man could hope to have ended up putting me smack-dab
in the middle of Dennis and Kelly's drama.  I needed a shower.  Even though
it was after one in the morning and a shower would usually wake me up, I
needed to wash the feelings of betrayal and the soil of anonymous sex away.
Besides, I was still covered in whatever oil Austin used that had dried on
me to a sticky residue.

   I slept fitfully.  My dreams filled with images of Austin and Diane,
Bethany, Karen, and Tina, hell even Dennis and Kelly joined the orgy in my
mind.  But it wasn't a sexual orgy.  It was a cacophony of copious coupling
with no deeper emotions.  Disembodied penises slid into phantom pussies. 
Hands touched and caressed bodies.  Mouths found each other, but one was
indistinguishable from another.

   Then Carrie was there.

   Her face banished all the cocks and cunts like light driving away
shadows.  For a while, I basked in her radiance, warmed by her love.  But
then the warmth faded, and Kelly and Dennis appeared.  Red hair laying
across a naked back as I fucked her, spreading out like a fire threatening
to consume me.  Carrie was there fanning the flames, playing with her
pussy. So was Bethany, Karen, Tina, Austin, and Diane.  They were all
joined in a sapphic orgy, fingers touching everywhere at once.  I couldn't
tell where one body ended and the other began.  Then Kelly was riding
Dennis' cock, but her face changed.  It was Carrie fucking Dennis, crying
out in passion, pinching her nipples.  They were surrounded by hard cocks
already spewing cum, drenching their bodies in slimy white liquid which
pooled around them, rising like a flood threatening to drown them all.  And
Carrie was loving every minute of it.  Every splash of strange semen making
her cry out in orgasm.  Kelly and Carrie were drinking the flood of cum as
they swam in it, their bellies distended from their ravenous appetite, and
growing larger.  Soon, they both looked like expectant mothers ready to
deliver in a pool of cum.

   I jerked awake in the darkness, panting and sweaty.  I sat up as
memories of the dream played out in my mind.  Despite the sexual nature,
the dream was not a turn on.  It would occur to me later that the only
women I knew who were not caught up in that sexual frenzy was Brenda and
Linda.  I went to the toilet and had to stretch my shriveled dick just to
be able to get a grip on it as it was trying to hide inside my body.

   After the dream, I did manage to get enough sleep that I didn't wake up
when the girls returned the next morning.  I slept until the smell of bacon
pulled me from a thankfully dreamless slumber.  My bed bounced as someone
jumped on it.  I rolled over to see sunshine embodied smiling at me.

   "Good morning, Mr.  B!" Linda exuded youthful exuberance.  "We figured
we let you sleep long enough.  It's Sunday, which means pool time!  You
need to get up if you want to swim with us before the team gets here for
practice."

   "Right.  The swim team." I rubbed my face.  "Gimme a minute.  I'm not
awake yet."

   "Well hurry," her radiant face beamed at me, warming my soul.  "BB fixed
breakfast.  You don't want cold eggs."

   The eggs were good.  The girls were happy.  Brenda didn't bring up the
fight we had, and I didn't want to.  At least not now.  I still had a lot
to talk about with her, but evidently I needed more time to figure out how
to do it.  I opted for a more benign topic.  "So, how much did you raise at
the car wash?"

   "Oh, I don't know exactly," Brenda said between bites.  "Austin was
collecting the money, but we had cars lined up for blocks all day.  We had
to get a couple hundred bucks easy."

   "Cool.  When did you two get home this morning?"

   "Oh, about 8, I think," Brenda said, stabbing the remains of her eggs.

   "Yeah."

   "Kinda early," I said.  "I'd've thought you would've stayed longer."

   Brenda sighed.  "Mr.  Johnson took the family to church.  He said they
needed to pray for Ivory.  So, we came home."

   Understandable.  It was just a week ago that Landry attacked Ivory.  It
must still be fresh in their minds.  "How are they dealing with it all? 
You said your friend Austin was quite upset."

   "I don't know about her," Linda said.  "She left after the car wash.  We
didn't get to see her before we left...Ow!  What was that for?"

   Brenda fixed a hard look at her friend.  "Sorry.  My foot slipped." Her
face didn't communicate the same message.

   The feeling that something was going on kept getting stronger.  I was
more resolved that I needed to have that conversation with Brenda, no
matter how argumentative she got about it.  I had to find the time just as
soon as we had a moment alone.  "Well, I'm sure they are taking care of
themselves," I said at length.  "And that they appreciate your caring
attitude." I shoveled the last of my breakfast in my mouth and grabbed my
plate.  "I'm gonna get my suit on.  You two clean up and I'll see you in
the pool."

   The swim team showed up after about an hour.  Coach Thomas had them
swimming laps at the call of his whistle while I puttered around the house
lost in thought.  The weekend was almost over, and tomorrow was Brenda's
first meet of the season.  Fortunately, it was in Springdale, about an hour
away, so there was no problem with the natatorium this week at least.  I
was counting on getting with my sources for the funding they promised so we
could lock in the rest of the season.  Of course, I had to make sure I was
finished and in Springdale before Brenda stepped onto the diving block.

   And, of course, Brenda's big birthday was coming on Tuesday.  Big things
looming in our lives, and I couldn't shake the feeling that big changes
were coming, too.

   Brenda came in as the rest of the team was filing out of the backyard
after practice.  "Dad, is it alright if I go with Ivory and Tommy to their
house?"

   "Is everything okay?"

   "Yeah, I think so.  She seems a lot better today.  I just need to talk
with her and her sister about some stuff."

   "Stuff?" This was unusual.  I'd never known Brenda to be evasive before.
"Is there a problem?"

   "Oh, no.  No problem.  Austin's at Hallstead and Ivory is planning on
going there.  I haven't applied there, and I have some questions for them
is all."

   I sat back in my chair.  I wasn't all that familiar with Hallstead,
though I understood a lot of Brenda's classmates did attend there since it
was so close.  It was state supported, so the tuition was relatively low,
but it was more prestigious than most smaller state schools.  Even still,
she had acceptance letters from much better schools already and stood to
get more, so I couldn't see the attraction.  But it was her education.

   "Oh, okay.  Well, don't stay out too late.  Will Linda be going?"

   She scrunched her forehead.  "Uhm, no.  She has no interest in
Hallstead."

   Another puzzle piece.  The girls have been planning on being roommates
in college ever since they were little.  They planned out their whole lives
together.  When they were kids, they even play acted a dual wedding.  "And
you do?"

   "Well, Austin has been talking about how great it is and how much she
loves it there.  I just want to know more about it before I decide."

   "I see," I said, not entirely convinced.  "Just be home in time for
dinner."

   "Thanks, Daddy." She stopped for a peck on the cheek before bouncing to
her room to change.

   After she left, I glanced out the doors to the pool where Linda was now
swimming alone.  She was still in her Speedo, but that girl could make a
burlap bag look hot, so I was more than content to watch the water play
over her spandex-encased figure.  Her butt clenched as she kicked her legs,
and I could see the rounded tight muscles between splashes of water
cascading over them.  My cock stirred in my shorts when she twisted from a
freestyle to a backstroke, and her breasts broke the surface of the water.

   I shook my head and rose from the chair.  Indulging such thoughts was
pointless unless I wanted to rub one out, and I didn't.  I made my way
poolside as Linda stopped by the diving blocks.

   "You look ready for tomorrow," I said as I squatted by the edge of the
pool.

   "I'm feeling pretty good about it." She smiled up at me as the water
dripped from her lovely face.  Her eyes darted from my eyes to points lower
for only a second.  I hoped I hadn't fallen out of my shorts or something.

   "Looks like it's just you and me for the afternoon," I said as she
pulled herself from the water.

   "Brenda left?" She seemed surprised as she took the towel I offered.

   "She wanted to talk to that Austin girl about her college options.  I
don't understand why.  I thought you and she had already narrowed down your
choices."

   "I thought so, too." Linda looked past me for a moment, as if seeing
something I couldn't see.  "We discussed Hallstead earlier, but we agreed
that it was only if we couldn't get in at one of the Ivy league schools."

   "Maybe she just wants to get more facts before ruling it out as a
choice."

   Linda's face flickered with distaste, as though remembering the taste of
a sour grape.  "Right." She said, then, under her breath she added "Or
maybe Austin wanted to sweeten the pot."

   I had no idea what she was talking about, but I had to find out what was
coming between her and Brenda.  It was killing me seeing them drift apart
like they seemed to be.  "Linda, I've gotten the sense that some trouble's
been brewing between you two since Landry was arrested.  Is there something
I need to know about, or maybe something I can do to smooth things out?"

   Linda's eyes darted to mine as if looking for a sign of something.  I
watched them read my face for an eternal second.  I reached out and took
her hand.  "Linda, I know things are really stressful in your life right
now.  Let me help you get through this." Her eyes watered and her lower lip
trembled.  I pulled her to a chaise and sat down next to her.  "I want to
be here for you.  But you need to talk to me, so I know what to do."

   "It's Austin.  She's putting ideas in Brenda's head.  Making her think
about things differently.  We had a plan.  Now, Brenda wants to change
things.  Do things differently."

   "Have you told Brenda about your worry?"

   "She knows how I feel.  She knows what I want." Linda looked me up and
down.  "She was on board with our plan until the party.  Now she's all
about Austin's ideas.  Austin got Karen and Bethany to agree to go to
Hallstead, and she wants Brenda and me to go too."

   "Well, I don't know Austin, but I do know my daughter, and Brenda has
always been a pretty good judge of character, and she's always known her
own mind.  I doubt Austin can make her do anything she doesn't want to do
or do anything that she knows is wrong." The argument Brenda and I had the
day before rose, unbidden, to mind.  Did I know her as well as I thought? I
thought I knew Carrie, too, but it seems I was wrong about her as well, if
Kelly was to be believed.

   "I hope you're right."

   "Just have faith in her.  She'll do the right thing," I said, rubbing
her back through the damp towel.  She leaned into me, resting her cheek on
my chest.  I wrapped my arms around her and stroked her soft, reddish locks
as they spilled over her back.

   "Thank you," she whispered.

   "What for?"

   "For everything.  For being you.  I don't know what I'd do without you."
Her arms slid around me, and I was once again taken by how comfortable it
felt to have her next to me.  How well we fit together.  "Could you just
hold me for a while, please," she said.

   "For as long as you please, sweetie." I kissed the top of her head and
she sighed.  We stayed that way until dinner.  We cuddled and talked.  She
told me about the boys she dated, and I was surprised that there were so
few lately.  I told her about Carrie and how much I missed her.  We cried.
I told her stories about her parents in college, and we laughed.  The whole
time, our arms never left each other.  It was only when dinner time
approached that we uncoupled to fix something to eat.  It was when she
wasn't in my arms that I realized how much I missed having that level of
intimacy in my life.  That was also the first time I didn't think of her as
a little girl, or as my daughter's best friend.

   *****

   Monday morning started like any other.  The girls were both gone to
school when I got up.  I managed to get several of the promised donations
credited before lunch, so I was quite pleased with myself.  At that rate, I
was confident we could fund the team.  I made it home with an hour to spare
before I had to leave for Springdale.

   I was heading to the kitchen for a snack when I heard someone pulling
into the driveway.  I stepped out to see who it was but stopped short when
I rounded the house and saw Dennis getting out of his car.  He didn't carry
himself like someone stopping by for a friendly visit.  Shit.

   "I need to talk to you, Barry." His tone wasn't hostile, but it wasn't
cordial either.

   "Can we do this later?"

   "No," he said without pausing as he advanced on me.  "No.  I think we
need to do this now.  I think you owe me an explanation.  And an apology."

   I grabbed his arm and walked him back toward his car.  "I don't owe you
anything, Dennis.  I had no idea who Diane was.  I just met her this week
and she invited me to that party.  I didn't even know what kind of party it
was before I got there.  I certainly didn't know she was the girl you left
your family for."

   "I didn't leave Kelly for Diane.  I left Kelly for me."

   "So you say, but you said something quite different the other night."

   "Don't turn this around on me," his voice was rising.  "You had no
business there."

   "Look Dennis, I don't know what's gotten into you, but I'm not part of
it.  I didn't know Diane then, and I really don't know her now.  I probably
won't even be seeing her again, especially now that I know who she is to
you."

   Dennis stopped his tirade for a moment as his shoulders drooped.  "Are
you serious about that?  You can just walk away from her after you've had
her?"

   "In a heartbeat, man." And I was serious.  As great as the sex with
Diane was, it wasn't worth the trouble it brought.  "Dennis, Carrie was the
one and only for me.  I don't think there's anyone who can fill her shoes.
Besides, I'm not looking for a relationship." That statement spewed out
automatically, without having to think about it.  I'd said it so many times
over the past six years, it had become habit.  As soon as I said it,
however, it didn't ring true anymore.  Not after what Kelly told me.

   For a moment, Dennis looked sad, but it didn't seem to be about Diane.
He looked at me with pity in his eyes.  "You know, there are a lot of women
out there that would love to convince you different.  Maybe even Diane."

   "Especially not Diane," I shook my head for emphasis, "after what I saw
Saturday night.  She isn't a one-man woman.  She made that perfectly clear.
Your problem is that you think you can change her mind about that."

   Dennis sighed.  "You're probably right." I opened my mouth to say more.
"No," he continued.  "You're right.  I know that.  I've known that, but I
kept thinking...I dunno, that I would wear her down with my persistence."
He looked past me, at a future that didn't include Diane.  The light in his
eyes dimmed when the reality sunk in.  But then he focused on me again. 
"But I'm right about you.  There's someone out there for you, too.  Before
she went all holy roller on me, Kelly and I tried to figure out the best
way to approach you about it, but you were so wrapped up in your memories,
the moment never came."

   "And it won't." I tried to sound more confident in my resolve than I
felt.  The truth was that Kelly's revelation shook my understanding of my
marriage to the core.  But I couldn't talk about it with Dennis.  He would
never get back with Kelly if he knew that I got her pregnant in college.

   "Have you spoken with Kelly since you left?"

   "No." He answered with rapid assurance.

   "Maybe you should."

   "No.  I can't take her pious guilt about sex anymore.  I did it for more
years than any man should have to." He shuffled his feet in the grass.  "I
mean it's not like I want an orgy every day.  Hell, at our age, that'd
probably kill me," he laughed.  "I just want someone who likes to have fun
in the bedroom."

   "I hear you.  But don't ignore how important it is to have a connection
with that person that's deeper than your cock is long.  But that's neither
here nor there.  It's getting late and I'm about to head out to the girls'
first swim meet."

   "Oh?  They're having it?"

   "We got a promise from the district to proceed as long as I could
generate the rest of the funds before the first home meet."

   "When is that?"

   I sighed as the realization hit me in the face.  "Next week."

   "Do you have it?"

   "I have a lot, but no.  No, I don't.  Not even close yet.  But I know
we'll get there," I said with more conviction than I felt.

   "Well, maybe I can cheer you up.  My CFO agreed to a donation.  It's
only a grand, but it's something."

   "It's something." He gave me the numbers so I could arrange the
transfer. He decided against going to the meet even though he wanted to see
Linda compete, but he wouldn't tell me why.

   When I got to the arena, it was late--almost five, and the girls were
all milling around the pool starting blocks.  I looked for a seat with a
good view of the pool.  I spotted Bethany first, with her ample bosom
constrained by her Speedo, and her hair tucked into her cap.  Linda was
next to her, her strawberry-blond tresses still loose about her shoulders
as she spun her cap on her finger.  Brenda, fully ready in her cap and
Speedo to dive in at any time, was talking to coach Thomas as he gestured
to his tablet.  I figured she was discussing the roster, trying to tell the
coach how to run the meet.  That's my girl.  Take-charge and run the show.

   As I climbed the bleachers, I stopped in my tracks.  There, next to a
middle-aged couple were two younger people.  I recognized Tommy Johnson,
Ivory Johnson's Brother, who had his way with Tina, Bethany, and another
girl that night from the now-infamous pool party.  He was in his Speedos
for the meet, and probably talking with his parents before it started.  I
figured that the older couple were his and Ivory's parents, but my shock
stemmed from who was sitting next to them.  I recognized the short bob
blond hair, the athletic figure, the long neck, the graceful features of
her profile as she was facing away from me.

   "Mr.  Brandford!" My name pulled me out of my surprise.  Mr.  Johnson
was looking at me.

   "Yes?"

   "I just want to say how much we appreciate everything you're doing for
the team.  Tommy and Ivory really appreciate being able to swim this year."

   I didn't really focus on what he was saying as I watched Austin turn to
face me.  Her expression went from benign indifference to recognition to
shock.  Her eyes widened and her mouth formed a small "O." I imagine my
expression was a mirror of hers.

   "It, uh, it's nothing, really," I had to tear my eyes away from Austin.
It took every ounce of self-control to do it.  "I imagine I'm not the only
one working on the problem."

   "But to let the team use your pool to train.  That's going above and
beyond.  Tommy here was just telling me how nice your pool is."

   So that's how he knew who I was.

   "Please, join us.  Austin, move over." He slapped his head.  "Forgive
me, this is our oldest, Austin.  She's a Sophomore at Hallstead this year.
And this is my wife, Anne." He gestured to an older version of Ivory.  Very
pretty in a girl-next-door way, but not as regal looking as Austin who had
a good mix of her father's features and her mother's femininity.  "You
already know Tommy, and I'm Tim."

   "Hey, Tommy!" Coach Thomas yelled from poolside.  "Are you planning on
swimming today?"

   "Gotta go," Tommy said as he turned and trotted down the bleachers.

   I sat down on the aluminum bench next to Austin, who hadn't taken her
eyes off me since she saw me.  It seemed an age before she found her voice.
"You're Brenda's dad?"

   "I am." I couldn't form any more words at that particular moment.

   She lowered her voice and leaned closer to me.  "I didn't know...the
other night..."

   "I didn't know either." I imagined she might be concerned that her
parents didn't know about her web persona, or her party habits, and it
wasn't for me to tell them.  "I never would have thought you would be one
of my daughter's friends."

   She tilted her head as though I surprised her.  "Would that have made a
difference?"

   "What?  I meant I...it's just that...I didn't..."

   She smiled and touched my shoulder.  "Don't worry.  I'm just messin'
with ya."

   After I had a second to pull myself together, I smiled.  "I just meant
to say 'it's a small world.' That's all."

   Tim asked me a question about my pool, and he and I exchanged small talk
while the team got ready for the meet.  Austin seemed to delight in
flirting with me when her parents weren't looking.  She touched my shoulder
and forearm a lot as she talked and laughed.  It was difficult to equate
the young woman from the party to the girl with whom Linda had such issues.
Austin was gorgeous, to be sure, but she seemed genuine and intelligent as
well as flirtatious.  On more than one occasion, I felt her hand reach
behind us and tweak my butt as she winked at me.  It took a bit of
self-control to prevent my cock from rising to the occasion.

   "Fancy meeting you here," a feminine voice lilted behind me.  I turned
around to see Diane sitting there.

   "Diane?"

   "In the flesh.  Hello, Tim," she said to Austin's father before turning
to his wife.  "Anne."

   They exchanged pleasantries and Austin acted like nothing was wrong.  I
was confused.  Why was Diane here?  I know she and Austin have some kind of
connection, but what was going on?

   "Don't mind me," she said as if reading my mind.  "I like coming to the
meets.  Takes me back a few years."

   "You were a swimmer?"

   "No.  Well, yes, a long time ago.  But I was talking about when I
coached the team."

   "You used to coach the team?"

   "For almost five years, before I took the position at the district.  I
picked Coach Thomas to replace me.  I had a lot of very good swimmers. 
Many of whom have gone on to compete in college.  One of my girls almost
made the Olympic team."

   "Diane was my coach my freshman year," Austin added.  She gazed at her
mentor with reverence in her eyes.

   Puzzle pieces started connecting in my mind, but I couldn't yet see the
picture they made.  There were still too many missing pieces.

   I tried to keep my attention on the team as they got ready for the meet.
When the officials announced the first heat for the first event was about
to start and the swimmers needed to get to their marks, I saw Linda looking
up at me in the stands.  She beamed a smile at me, then noticed the women
sitting next to me, and her smile dropped like a stone.  She nudged Brenda,
who looked up at me and waved until she, too, noticed who was sitting with
me, then she and Linda began a heated discussion.

   I didn't have time to think too long on it as the swimmers took their
mark.  Tina was the first swimmer for our team followed by Bethany, Linda,
and Brenda anchoring the freestyle relay.  If not for their sizes, it was
difficult telling the girls apart in their team Speedos and caps.  While
waiting in line, Linda kept glancing up and me, then at Austin.  She didn't
look happy.  When she was tagged in by Bethany, she almost flubbed her
dive, and her stroke was not as good as usual.  Fortunately, she managed to
rally for the return and finished strong to tag Brenda in.  My baby girl
drove hard and made up any lost time, easily beating the nearest
competitor. Once Linda exited the pool, she and coach Thomas had words in
the bull pen.  She looked petulant as he talked to her, and I couldn't help
thinking about what Dennis said about her behavior.  When Brenda finished
her leg, she joined the discussion and all three of them seemed to get
agitated before Linda hung her head and nodded.  Brenda put her hand on her
friend's shoulder and led her to a chair while Coach Thomas got the
swimmers ready for the next heat.

   "Linda can do better.  She's off her game," Diane said.  "But Brenda
pulled it out."

   "Did you know that he's Brenda's dad?" Austin's question went far deeper
than her words.

   "Yes, I did."

   "You never told me."

   "Well, I don't tell you everything, Pretty." Diane said this last as a
whisper.  Austin's hand went to her neck, as if feeling for something.

   The rest of the meet was a blur as my mind was churning with the
implications that Austin presented me.  Diane knew Brenda.  She knew Brenda
was my daughter when she...when I...when we...She already knew.  But, then
again, did that matter?  She wasn't her coach then.  She has no effect on
Brenda's academic life.  But what about Austin?  She and Brenda had not had
much interaction since Austin graduated.  Before I retired, I didn't pay as
close attention to Brenda's friends as I should.  That might have been a
mistake.  I rarely was able to attend the swim meets.  If I had, would I
have noticed these connections before?  And what about what Linda told me?
Austin trying to get Brenda to attend Hallstead, when she was pretty set on
an Ivy League school.

   More puzzle pieces were waiting for matches, and none of them had any
straight edges.

   "Barry," Diane said before the final set of events, "could I have a
word?"

   Since we've already been talking, I was curious what she needed to talk
to me about alone.  I rose and followed her to the aisle leading down to
the deck.  "I didn't want to say this around the Johnsons, but I just
wanted to let you know that the district has officially reinstated Mark
Landry to the team."

   "What?  But he's still facing criminal charges."

   "I know.  But Mr.  Landry's lawyers got an injunction against the
expulsion.  He will be allowed to attend until his trial.  That includes
extra-curricular activities.  He even showed up here to swim in this meet.
I had to inform him that district policy specifies that if you don't
practice, you don't swim.  He was not happy."

   "Can't you do something about him?  Mr.  Landry, I mean.  You seem to
know everyone worth knowing in this town.  Surely one of them could do
something."

   "Well, that's something else I wanted to talk to you about.  The fund
raiser Saturday night raised enough money for the district to pay for the
team for the year.  You're off the hook for raising more money, and you get
your pool back."

   "But what about Landry?"

   Her eyes clouded over, and her face said she was about to say something
distasteful.  "He channels too much money in this town.  If anyone goes
against him, they stand to lose too much.  Even me."

   "What if Mark does something like this again?  Surely the authorities
must know that is a possibility.  Even his dad has to know that."

   "In my experience, entitled brats like Mark Landry are never held
accountable for their behavior, least of all by their parents."

   "If only there was some way to make Mr.  Landry see that his son is
hurting his business."

   Diane tilted her head when I said that and thought for a moment until a
sly smile curled the corners of her mouth.  "You may be onto something
there."

   *****

   We won the meet handily.  Brenda and Bethany were the top scorers for
the girls, and Tommy and one other guy topped the leader board for the
boys. Linda scored well, but lost points for her heat in the relay, putting
her in third.  I went down to the deck to find the girls, but they had
disappeared in the throng of students and parents.  That was unusual. 
Brenda almost always waited for me after a meet.  Of course, up until I
retired, I didn't make that many meets, but she knew I was here, so why
would she leave without a congratulatory hug?

   By the time I reached the parking lot, the mass exodus had begun, and
the driveways were jammed with people making their exit.  Brenda's car was
not in the parking lot, so she must have left quickly.  Something in my gut
told me to get home fast.  It was a long drive with a lot of questions
running through my mind.  I couldn't put the pieces of the puzzle together,
and it frustrated me.  After what seemed like days, I pulled into the
neighborhood.  When I got to the house, Brenda's car wasn't in the
driveway. I went into the house and nothing was amiss, but I couldn't shake
the feeling that something was wrong.  I whipped out my phone.

   After the third time ringing to voice mail, the next call went straight
to voice mail.  She was ducking my call.  Why?

   I texted her.  "Call me."

   No reply.  "Brenda, I need to talk to you.  Call me now."

   Still no reply.  I pulled up the find my phone app and saw that she was
on the road, heading in this direction.  But she wasn't coming from the
meet.  It looked like she was coming from the Mitchell's part of town.  I
watched as she pulled into the driveway before I put the phone away and sat
in the chair facing the door.  When she opened the door, she locked eyes
with me, and that foreboding feeling broke the scale.

   "Why didn't you answer my call?"

   "I wasn't ready to talk to you yet," she said as she took a seat in the
chair across from me, skipping the couch.

   "Why not?  What's going on?"

   She looked at me in silence.  I watched her eyes move across my face as
if trying to read me.  Her expression was almost the same one she wore when
Dennis showed up for dinner.  My anger was building at her silence and just
as I was about to snap she stopped me with a question.

   "Where were you Saturday night?"

   The question was so unexpected and uncharacteristic for her that I
couldn't form a reply, and sat there opening and closing my mouth, looking
like a fish sucking air.  "Excuse me?  Last time I checked, I was the
parent in this house," I said after I managed to string some words
together. "Where do you get off asking me a question like that?  And what
does that have to do with why you wouldn't answer my call.  And why you
took off after the meet before I could even congratulate you?"

   "I'll be happy to tie it all together for you.  Wrap it all up in a nice
little bow.  Just as soon as you answer the question."

   "I'm not accustomed to being questioned by the child I brought into this
world." Anger flared as I spat the words.  All the questions that have been
plaguing me for the past two weeks had graduated from a simmer to a rolling
boil.

   Brenda flinched at the volume and force of my words, but she showed no
signs of backing down.  She moved to speak again, but I cut her off.  I was
building up into a roll.  "And another thing, since you brought up
Saturday, what was with that tirade before you left?  You have never
addressed me in that manner, and it was undeserved and inappropriate.  I
don't know what has gotten into you lately young lady, but you will not
talk to me like I'm some guy off the street.  I am your father and I
deserve your respect."

   "Respect?" The word erupted like a geyser.  "I'm supposed to respect a
man who fucks my friends?  Oh, yeah, I heard all about your performance
Saturday night.  The whole team knows about it.  Austin made sure to fill
us in on the details of the 'fan'," she formed air quotes with her fingers,
"she fucked at an orgy!  She said you were fantastic in case you were
wondering."

   I blinked.

   "Yeah.  She was singing your praises all day yesterday and today before
the meet.  Of course, I didn't know she was talking about you until we saw
you sitting all cozy with her and coach West in the stands.  Then it all
fell into place.  Poor Linda was heartbroken.  The two guys she loves most
both screw her over the same month.  She almost scratched the meet.  I hope
you're happy." Tears were running down her cheeks, but my anger wouldn't
let me feel sorry for her.

   "First of all, I had no idea who Austin was when I came to the meet. 
And she didn't know who I was either."

   "Oh, so I'm supposed to feel better that it was some anonymous hookup?
That you just went fucking the first cunt you found?" Her words were slaps
to my face and heart.

   "Wait just one damn minute young lady!"

   "No," she shouted.  "You wait.  You were just telling me how important
it was to be in a relationship with someone before having sex.  How much
more meaningful it would be.  Do you remember that little piece of advice,
Dad?  You told it to me like six hours before you were fucking anything
that moved!"

   "Brenda!"

   "I can't believe this.  You're such a hypocrite.  'Do as I say, not as I
do' must be your personal mantra.  And you're not even sorry!"

   "I'm not used to having to explain myself to my child," my jaw was so
tense the words slid between my teeth.

   "Is that your default argument?  I'm a child?  So, what, that means I'm
not worthy of respect?  That you don't owe me an explanation?"

   She was right, and I knew it, but in that moment, through the haze of
anger, I couldn't admit it--even to myself.  "Brenda Brandford!  You do not
talk to me that way.  You're a kid, yes.  You don't know everything, no
matter how smart you are.  Until you can remember that I'm the adult in
this household, you can go to your room!"

   She jumped to her feet, her eyes blazing in anger.  "Oh, so now I'm
banished?  Do you want me to go sit in timeout like a preschooler?  Well,
I'll do you one better.  I will go to timeout.  But not in your house.  I'm
going to Austin's!"

   "Oh no you don't!  You are not to leave this house, young lady.  Am I
clear?"

   She looked me dead in the eye, her gaze dripping with contempt. 
"Yes...Sir!" She sneered.  "Crystal."

   She spun on her heel and marched to her room.  I expected to hear the
door slam, but she merely closed it, which was less satisfying.

   I paced from the living room to the kitchen three or four times making
busy work.  I cleaned the sink, wiped down the counter, I even dusted the
entertainment center; my mind was racing a mile a minute.  I was an idiot.
I know I have no great child rearing wisdom, and I don't have access to the
most brilliant minds on adolescent psychology, but even a ten-year-old
could tell me I handled that poorly.  I needed to calm down and give Brenda
a chance to calm down.  Once we had both collected our thoughts, we could
approach the topic more rationally.  Yes.  That's the ticket.

   When I had not heard a sound from her room for almost twenty minutes,
the silence got the better of me and I approached her door.  I lifted my
hand, then caught myself.  Would it be better to wait until she broaches
the subject?  Maybe she needs more time.  No.  This needs to be resolved
sooner rather than later.  I lifted my hand again, then balled my fist. 
Then again, why shouldn't I wait?  Isn't it too soon?  I shook my head,
took a deep breath, and tapped my knuckles on the door.  "Brenda?"

   No answer.  She was probably still brooding.  I tapped again.  "Brenda,
honey, I want to apologize for yelling at you."

   Still silence.  "Brenda, we need to clear the air.  I'm coming in." I
twisted the knob and pushed the door in.  The first thing that caught my
attention was the curtains blowing in the breeze of the open window.  The
screen was missing.  Brenda's bed was empty, and her closet stood open,
several bare hangers dangling from the rod.

   *****

   I didn't know where the Johnsons' lived, and I didn't dare try to call
Diane for directions.  That would make matters worse.  I could have gotten
the address from Linda, but if she felt the way Brenda said, she wouldn't
be talking to me either.  Besides, even if I went over to the Johnsons',
the fight would just escalate.  I couldn't very well swoop in, toss her
over my shoulder and incarcerate her in her room.  Hell, she ran off once,
she'd just do it again.  I sat at my desk and held my head in my hands.  I
couldn't understand what was happening.  Brenda had never been so defiant
before.  She had never disobeyed me like this.  I was at a complete loss.

   I went to bed early alone in an empty house but getting to sleep was a
difficult task as I kept replaying the argument in my head.  What I could
have said, what I should have said, and what I didn't say kept repeating in
my mind and threatened to drive me insane until the doorbell startled me
from my thoughts.  I glanced at the clock, surprised to see it was 10:30.
No one ever rings a doorbell after nine with good news.

   I wrapped a robe around me and looked at the silhouette in the opaque
glass of the door, illuminated by the porch light which had come on as soon
as someone passed the motion sensor.  I could make out the feminine figure
before I opened the door.

   "Kelly," I said after deciding not to ignore her.  "What brings you by
so late."

   "My daughter," she said as she stormed past me.

   "Please, don't wait outside," I said to an empty porch.  "Do come in, I
insist." I pushed the door closed and followed her path to the bar.  She
had already pulled out a six-year-old bottle of Maker's Mark and a glass.
Just one glass.  "Oh, no, thank you.  I don't need any."

   She cocked her head at me and her aggravation at my sarcasm slapped me
in the face from across the room.  "You asshole," she said after downing
her first shot.  She had another ready to go in seconds flat.  Something
was different about her.  She was dressed in a short skirt and halter, but
she had cut her hair.  The blond locks were now a short red bob with white
tips.  She had let the natural red grow out and got rid of most of the dye
job but left enough to make it interesting.  It was captivating, or would
have been under other circumstances, as was the tight skirt.  "I have been
trying to reach you all weekend, and now you send my daughter to me in
tears.  Are you trying to hurt me for sharing my secret with you?"

   "What?  Of course not.  I would never do anything to hurt Linda." I
crossed to stand beside her at the bar.

   "Then why did she come home crying her eyes out?  You had to do or say
something."

   "Well," I took a deep breath and straightened my back as I considered
how much truth I should share.  I decided on all of it.  "...if what Brenda
told me has any relevance, she may be upset that I went to a party Saturday
night."

   Confusion twisted Kelly's brow.  "Why on Earth would that bother her?"

   "It was a special kind of party." I grabbed the bottle from her.  She
looked at me like I hadn't finished my sentence.  "Like the parties we used
to go to.  The one's you told me you liked so much in college."

   Realization dawned on her like a sunrise.  "Oh.  Oh!" She blinked.  "But
why would that upset her?  You didn't try to take her, did you?"

   "God, no!  I'd never do such a thing.  In fact, I wouldn't have gone
myself if I'd known beforehand.  She and Brenda were over at their friend
Ivory's that night." I grabbed a rocks glass and poured myself a hefty
splash of my own before walking over and dropping onto the couch and put
the bottle on the coffee table.

   She came around and sat on the edge of the cushion next to me, and her
eyes searched my face.  "I...I didn't think you were into that scene,
Barry."

   "I'm not.  Not really.  I was invited by a woman I met at the district
office when I was trying to raise money for the team.  I guess she was into
me." I shrugged.  "Things happened.  But I don't know why Linda is so upset
by it.  Other than she knows the women."

   "Women?  As in more than one?" Kelly's eyes widened as the thought
struck her.

   I shrugged again.

   She downed her next shot and poured another.  As she reached, I noticed
her top pull across her chest, highlighting her nipples standing proud
through the fabric.  "How do you think she knows them?"

   "One of them was on the swim team, the other is a former coach."

   Kelly's face hardened.  "Diane West?  You fucked Diane West?" Judging by
the reaction, evidently Kelly knows the name of Dennis' lover.  The anger
flashed but then faded as resignation settled in.  "I guess I shouldn't be
surprised," she said shaking her head.  "Why should she be satisfied
ruining just my life."

   "Kelly, I had no idea who she was or what was going on.  As far as I
knew, she was just a young woman who wanted to spend time with me."

   "And you fucked one of Linda's classmates, too?"

   "No, she graduated two years ago."

   Kelly sat there in silence until it started to get uncomfortable.  Then
she sighed.  "Barry, I'm so sorry.  I didn't mean to upset you the other
day.  "If what I said had anything to do with..."

   "Stop right there.  I'm a grown man, I don't make decisions based on
emotion." I knew it was a lie as soon as I said it, but it popped out there
before I could think about it.  "And besides, I didn't know it was that
kind of party before it was.  That kind of party, I mean."

   "But you never joined in back in college."

   "Back then, I had Carrie.  I didn't want anyone else.  Now I have no
one, so I didn't see any reason not to have some fun." That was as true a
statement as I had made about the whole incident up until then, and I
blinked at the epiphany.  I had been living in a void for six years.  A
void where I intentionally avoided real intimacy.  It never occurred to me
before that moment.

   "Why didn't you in college?  Carrie would have gone for it."

   "Shut Up!" My anger flashed without warning.  "Don't talk about Carrie
like that!  Besides, we're not talking about my wife.  We're discussing
your daughter."

   "Barry," Kelly spoke like a mother trying to educate a recalcitrant
child, "What you did hurt my child.  And why you did it has everything to
do with Carrie."

   "Look, Kelly," I began, then paused to swallow the vile words that first
threatened to issue forth.  "Dennis told me about your resurgence of faith
and morality.  Don't come into my house and spread that around here and
expect a good reaction." My gut tightened and I couldn't explain why.

   "My faith has nothing to do with you, Barry.  It is between me and God.
I wouldn't think about preaching to you."

   "Well, thank you for that."

   "But I think perhaps you and I have a similar problem."

   "What are you talking about?"

   "I returned to my mother's church because I felt guilty about what I had
done.  I felt that the miscarriage and Linda's medical problem were
punishments for enjoying sex too much."

   "That's a bunch of malarkey.  Are you saying I feel guilty?  I don't
feel guilty about anything."

   "Don't you?" She fixed a pointed look at me as if expecting me to change
my answer.  When I didn't she continued.  "I avoided sex because of what I
thought was a punishment for enjoying it too much.  I felt guilty.  You,
sir, are avoiding relationships because you feel guilty about Carrie."

   "What do I have to feel guilty about?  I didn't kill her.  A stupid
infection killed her.  There was nothing I could have done about it."

   "That's not what I'm talking about.  You feel guilty whenever you think
about getting serious with someone else.  You think you'd be cheating on
her.  That guilt is what keeps you alone."

   I opened my mouth to argue with her, but no words would come out.  I
wanted to rage at her impudence.  I wanted to scream at her gall.  I wanted
to tell her she was so wrong.  But nothing.  I could say nothing.

   "Barry, Brenda talks to us, you know.  When she comes over with Linda.
She tells us about you and your lack of social life.  She has been so
worried about you.  She was heartbroken when you didn't keep seeing that
woman you met at parent's night," Kelly smiled.  "She told me she was going
to try to find someone for you one way or another.  Did you know she was
hoping you would see that sales rep again?"

   Brenda knew about Tammy Faircloth?  How could she?  I was so discreet.
"No...not...what?"

   "Ask her.  Is she in her room?  Get her out here."

   "I can't.  She's not here.  She was mad at me, too.  She left.  I think
she's at her friend Ivory's."

   "Oh."

   "Which is weird, because Ivory's sister Austin was the other girl I was
with at the party."

   "Oh!  Seriously?"

   "Yeah.  And that's not all.  Ever since Austin came back, Brenda's been
acting odd.  And there's been some tension between her and Linda, too."

   "It's not Austin's fault," a faint voice came from the foyer.  I spun my
head around at the unexpected sound, my heart stuttering.

   "Linda, I said to wait in the car until I came for you," Kelly said.

   She was standing against the door frame, one hand twirling a lock of her
wavy hair, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible.  "You were talking so
long.  And...I wanted...I needed..." she started to sniffle as tears welled
in her eyes.

   "Baby," Kelly went to her daughter.  "Shhh.  Now, now." She pulled Linda
in for a hug, and the little girl wrapped her arms around her mother.  She
looked just as fragile as she did that Sunday night she came to stay with
us.

   "What do you mean it's not Austin's fault," I said as I joined them and
led them back to the couch.  "You and Brenda didn't start having problems
until she showed up."

   "That's not true.  It just didn't get to the point it is until she
showed up."

   A light bulb turned on in my mind.  The looks between Linda and Brenda,
Linda coming home from school upset, the sleeping on the couch, that scene
by the pool the morning after the pool party, the picture on the puzzle was
starting to take shape.  "Linda, does it have to do with your birthday
party.  With what happened after everyone left?" Linda's eyes grew wide. 
She clearly didn't expect that I knew anything about what happened.  "I
know Bethany, Karen, and Tina have a very...familiar and intimate
relationship.  I tried to talk to Brenda about it the other day, but she
snapped at me and stormed off."

   "Oh, my God," Linda murmured.  "You know about that?"

   "What are you two talking about?" Kelly kept alternating looking at me
and Linda.

   "Well?"

   She looked like a defendant on the witness stand afraid to testify.

   "Linda, you can tell us." Kelly stroked Linda's hair.  "Whatever it is,
we can get through it together."

   "It's more than just that.  It's...well..." she looked at Kelly like she
was the district attorney trying to beat a confession out of her.  I could
understand her reticence, especially since Kelly was so down on casual sex,
and the swim team seemed to be all about casual sex.  Linda had to think
her mother would judge her harshly.  She definitely judged Dennis rather
harshly.

   "Linda, I don't think you have to worry about shocking your mother.  I'm
sure she'll understand what you want to say."

   "But it's a sin.  She's always told me."

   "She won't think any less of you, sweetie.  Will you Kelly?" I leveled a
look that communicated my warning.  "She probably understands better than
you think she does."

   Realization washed over Kelly's face, and a series of emotions followed
too fast to keep up.

   "I know there's a lot of sex going on between your teammates." I rested
my hand on Linda's shoulder.  "I saw some of it at the party.  Is that what
is bothering you?"

   Linda shook her head.  "Not the sex so much.  I mean everyone does it,
right?" She cast a sidelong glance at her mom, then looked right at me,
almost accusing in her gaze.  "You obviously do."

   Ouch.

   She continued.  "It's more than that.  They've made a plan, the other
girls, I mean.  I guess it's more like a club.  They try to one-up each
other with how outrageous they can get."

   "And Austin started it," I said finishing her sentence.  It made sense
to me, since Austin ran a cam site, and the party and all.  It had to be
Austin.

   Linda's expression changed to one of sympathy.  "No.  Brenda did."

   My world stopped.  I couldn't draw a breath.  No coherent thoughts came
into my mind.  My vision blurred, and then everything went dark.

   *****

   "Come on, sleepy head!" Carrie was pulling my arm trying to get me off
the couch.  "You have to see this!"

   I watched her smile beaming at me as she pulled me to my feet, and I
couldn't help returning a grin.  I stumbled over my shoes, which I had
kicked off earlier just before I landed on the couch.  We had been
scrambling to finish the last details on the house before our housewarming
party.

   When Carrie came back into my life, everything once again seemed right
with the world.  My job was a joy, the contractors stopped dragging their
feet and finished the construction on the house, we furnished it together
with a fusion of a little of my taste and a lot of hers, and life was good.
We married in a simple ceremony, just us, Carrie's parents, Dennis and
Kelly and a smattering of coworkers with whom we were close.  Being an
orphan and an only child would have left my side of the aisle a little
sparse if we'd had a big, traditional wedding.

   We'd just come back from our honeymoon and were looking to settle into
our new home.  Granted, we'd been living in the house the whole time, but
now it was official.  Now it was finished, and it had been done with our
own sweat and tears.  We were looking forward to a party to christen the
place properly.

   Carrie led me out to the back yard.  I had been trying to figure out the
best use for the space.  It was a good-sized lot, if not huge.  I could put
a basketball court back there.  Even with my bad leg, I could still play a
passable game.  I thought maybe a gazebo, or perhaps a pergola with an
outdoor kitchen.  That was the way I was leaning until Carrie weighed in.

   "Okay, okay," I laughed.  "What is so important you have to drag my sore
body out here?"

   "Just this," she stepped aside and did a Vanna White wave of her arm
across the back yard.  She had driven wooden stakes into the soil and tied
yellow ribbon between them in the shape of a large rectangle that took up
most of the yard and ran right through my dream kitchen.  "What do you
think?"

   "I think it's the prettiest ribbon-stake-box I've ever seen."

   "Silly," she batted at my shoulder.  "It's our pool."

   "A pool?  Needs cleaning.  Look at the algae buildup."

   "Aren't you the funny one."

   "Why a pool?  I thought we were going to do an outdoor kitchen."

   "We still can.  Imagine coming out and swimming, then making dinner and
sitting out by the pool all day."

   "It sounds great, but if we're going to do a pool, I don't know if this
one will do.  Besides, you didn't take into account the plumbing, the
filter equipment, and a pool house to keep all the maintenance stuff in. 
Doesn't leave much room for a kitchen."

   "Well, I'm sure we can figure it out."

   "You're pretty set on this, eh?"

   "It'll be fun.  Besides, Brenda will love it."

   "Brenda, huh?" Our future first-born was already spoiled, and she hadn't
even been conceived yet.  "Have you even thought about a name for a boy?"

   "Sure.  Brendan."

   I shook my head.  I had already come to the conclusion that for the
foreseeable future, some of my decisions were going to be made for me.  The
pool wouldn't come about for a couple of years after Brenda was born, but
it was a forgone conclusion that it was going to happen.

   That evening, Kelly and Dennis came by along with some other friends. 
Freddy Silmers was one of the new programmers at my office and we got along
pretty well.  He joined the team right out of college, so he was a couple
of years younger than me, and single.  I also invited Sylvia Grafton, a QC
analyst who was also single.  It wasn't my idea.  I honestly never cared to
play cupid, but Carrie thought Freddy and Sylvia would make a cute couple.
They didn't.

   The night of the party, Carrie and I dressed casually.  I was in long
shorts and a polo shirt, and Carrie wore a summer slip dress that hugged
her curves perfectly.  Of course, everything she wore hugged her figure
perfectly.  Freddy and Sylvia arrived about fifteen minutes apart, and when
Carrie introduced them, I could swear icicles formed around them.  No
chemistry at all.  I would tease Carrie about it for years.  During the
party, I did see Freddy bounce from group to group looking like he was
having fun, despite the failed setup, so I let it go.  Eventually, he
gravitated to Dennis and Kelly and spent a lot of time laughing with them.

   At one point during the evening, I was standing in what would be the
deep end of our future pool talking with Sylvia and another friend when I
realized I hadn't seen Kelly or Dennis in some time.  I made my excuses and
went looking for them when I spotted Carrie coming out of the house.

   "Hey, babe.  Have you seen Dennis or Kelly?"

   She glanced around, "Uhm," she said with a little hesitation, "I thought
I just saw Kelly heading back out here.  I think she was in the toilet."

   "Oh, okay.  I would just hate to miss them if they left."

   "They wouldn't leave without saying something," Carrie said.  "I need
another beer." She made her way to the table we set up as a bar.  As she
walked away, I noticed her dress was on inside out.  I made a mental note
to tease her about it later.  When I turned around, I almost ran into
Freddie coming out of the house.

   "Hey, Fred.  There you are." I slapped him on the shoulder.  "Having a
good time?"

   "The best.  I don't think I can ever thank you and Carrie enough for
your hospitality." His face was flushed, and he seemed out of breath, but
happy.  He grabbed a beer from the table and wandered off.

   I went into the house and almost ran into Kelly coming out of the spare
bedroom that would eventually become Brenda's.  Her hair was mussed, and
her face was flushed, so I figured she and Dennis had found themselves time
for a romantic interlude.  Given what I know of them, I didn't begrudge
them grabbing a little piece of each other when the mood struck.  I was
thinking of grabbing Carrie myself.

   "Hey, Kelly."

   "Oh!" She jumped then covered her mouth.  "Barry, you startled me." She
quickly tried to tame her fiery hair.  "I thought you were outside."

   "I was, but I hadn't seen you or Dennis for a while.  I wanted to make
sure you're okay."

   "Ever the gracious host," she said, patting my shoulder as she walked
past me.  "Come on, let's go outside.  I need a drink."

   I imagined she and Dennis worked up quite a thirst, so I followed.  I
figured Dennis would follow along in due time.  I know they must have had a
good time, because nine months later Linda was born, and two weeks after
that, Brenda came into the world.

   *****

   "Barry!" Kelly's shrill voice cut through the darkness.

   "Whu...what?  What happened?" I blinked as Linda's concerned face loomed
over mine.  Behind her, Kelly's face had a similar expression.

   "Are you okay?  I think you fainted."

   "Yeah," Linda added, "you just kind of dropped onto the couch."

   Then I remembered.  Brenda.  My Brenda.  Part of this Swim Team Sex
club. My mind threatened to shut down again as the thought bounced around
like a pinball, pinging my bells and slamming into my bumpers.  Not just
part of it.  Leading it if Linda was to be believed.  "Are you sure about
this Linda?  Are you sure Brenda was the one that started it?"

   "I was there.  It was at Kiki's, I mean Karen's party last Spring
Break."

   Kiki?  Austin called her cam-show friend Kiki.  That was Karen?  I
thought back to the previous March.  I was busy with a work project back
then.  Of course, I was always busy with projects.  That's why I retired
early, so I could spend less time on projects and more time with my
daughter.  Since I was so busy back then, I never turned her down when she
wanted to go to a sleep over at a friend's house.  "Go on..."

   "Well, I think it was Tina who first brought up the idea of a truth or
dare game.  And things kind of went from there.  Brenda thought it was cool
to dare everyone.  She was the one who made the first, uhm, well..."

   "Yes?"

   "She kinda liked telling them what to do.  The other girls, I mean."

   I've always known Brenda was a natural leader, but I never would have
thought she would do something like what Linda was telling me.  "Alright.
That's enough.  I don't need to hear this.  This isn't the Brenda I
raised."

   "Well, actually," Kelly said with a shrug, "it does make sense.  She can
be a bit bossy."

   "You too?  First, you shit all over my memories of Carrie, and now you
attack my daughter, when she's not even here to defend herself?"

   "She wouldn't defend herself," Linda said.  "She's actually proud of it.
All of them are.  Which is why I'm quitting the team."

   "Linda!" Kelly's voice exploded like a bark.  "You cannot quit the team.
You love swimming."

   "I do.  I really do.  But I can't stay around all of them and their
stupid games.  They wanted to turn tricks for money to pay for the season."

   "Say what?"

   "They want to sell sex for money.  To be on Austin's show doing things
for tokens.  I bet they're on there right now."

   "Oh really?  Well, let's find out." I jumped up from the couch and
marched to my room followed by Kelly with Linda in tow.  I opened my
browser and logged into the site, only to find my browser could not load
the page.  I blinked.  I tried again, only to get the same error.  Well,
fine.  Two-factor authentication was my specialty.  I opened my virtual
machine and spoofed my IP address and hit the site anonymously.  The
account creation page loaded, but it wouldn't accept my log in information.
So, I created a new one.

   When it was accepted, my heart dropped in my chest with a near-audible
thud.  Austin was indeed online, but already in a private room, touted as
Austin and Friends.

   "See," Linda said.

   "Do you know where Austin lives?"

   "Of course, but I don't want to go over there.  They don't really want
me there anyway since I never wanted to be part of their game."

   "Do you have her number?"

   "I have Ivory's, not Austin's"

   "That'll work."

   She dialed Ivory and handed me the phone.  The look on her face told me
she was uncomfortable with the whole affair and would rather be anywhere
else.  After a few rings, someone picked up.

   "Hey, Linda!  Did you change your mind about coming over?  You missed
the party 'cuz Austin's already gone back to school."

   "Ivory, this is Mr.  Brandford, Brenda's father.  Is she there with
you?"

   "Oh!  Uh, hey, uh, hey, Mr.  B.  Uhm...Brenda..."

   "It's okay, Ivory.  You're not going to get anyone in trouble here.  I'm
just worried about her, that's all." The line was silent for a while, then
I heard muffled whispering, like someone covering the microphone on the
handset.  "Ivory," I raised my voice, "I just want to hear her voice and
know that she's okay.  That's all.  Tell her I'm not looking for a fight. I
just want to say I'm sorry and I love her."

   After several long seconds, there was some rustling sounds before I
heard my daughter's voice, and relief washed over me.  "Daddy.  I'm okay.
I'll be home tomorrow after school."

   "Brenda, you know I love you, don't you?"

   "Yes, Daddy.  I'm just upset.  That's all.  Can we talk about this when
you get home from work tomorrow?  It's getting late." I looked at the phone
and realized it was after midnight already.

   "Sure sweetie.  I'll see you tomorrow." I closed the call and didn't
correct her about work.  I still hadn't told her I retired.  I never had
the chance, what with everything that's happened.  "She's spending the
night there," I told Kelly as I handed the phone back to Linda.  "Austin
isn't there, so whoever's in the web show with her, it's not Brenda."

   "Well, you have to feel better about that much at least."

   "I don't know.  Look, it's getting late..."

   "We're staying here," Kelly announced, and Linda's face lit up.

   "Really?" Linda smiled as she looked at me.

   "Kelly, that's really not necessary."

   "Nonsense.  You're distraught and I don't feel comfortable leaving you
alone.  Besides, it's more than a half-hour to my house and Linda needs her
sleep, so she can sleep here.  I know she still has plenty of outfits
here."

   "I do."

   "It's settled then.  Linda will sleep in Brenda's room, and I will take
the couch."

   "No," I said as I stood up.  Fighting about it would just make matters
worse.  And besides, having Linda back under my roof made me feel better.
"I'll take the couch.  You can sleep in my bed."

   I slept surprisingly well on the couch after I made it up.  The entire
day played out in my mind as I tried to drift off, and eventually, I
relented to sleep.  A noise, however, drew me out of my slumber sometime in
the early morning, long before I wanted to be awake.  Anytime I sleep
anywhere other than my bed, I am cued into house noises and anything
unusual wakes me.  I glanced at the clock and realized I had only been
asleep for an hour.

   I lay still for a while trying to discern the noise, but I couldn't
detect anything.  Eventually, with my ears straining, I heard a hinge
squeaking.  Someone was moving around in the house.  Well, I did have two
house guests, so I dismissed it, but I couldn't drift back off.  A pressing
urge told me that, since I was awake, I might as well relieve some pressure
on my bladder.  I rolled off the couch and made my way to the hallway, but
I stopped when I saw Linda at my doorway peering into my room.  She was
wearing my Def Leppard shirt again, and I figured I might not ever get that
shirt back.  It only covered half of her ample ass, and since I could
clearly see her muscular cheeks, either she was wearing a t-back or
nothing. She was so focused on what she was watching in my room that she
didn't hear me come up behind her.  My curiosity got the better of me and I
wanted to know what she was doing there.  Inside my room was mostly dark,
but the bed was illuminated by the glow from my computer monitor.  The
monitor was actually a 36-inch HDTV, so it provided a good amount of light.

   There, on my bed, Kelly was laying atop the covers, her eyes focused on
the computer screen, and her fingers disappearing into the open gash
between her widespread thighs.  It had been more than eighteen years since
I had seen Kelly naked, let alone in a sexual situation, but she still
looked good.  She was naked as a newborn, her breasts rising and falling
with her breathing.  Her nipples were darker than I remembered, and larger
as well, the areole was almost as big as a silver dollar, and her nipples
perched atop them like gumdrops..  Her belly was still firm, and while she
wasn't the pinnacle of fitness she may have been the last time I saw her
naked, she was still hot.  I could hear the squelching of her fingers
plying in and out of her slit as she rubbed herself.

   On the computer screen was Austin's site.  Evidently, Kelly clicked on
the link.  The window was open to Austin's private room, and there was
Austin wearing a Marti Gras mask playing with huge swaying breasts that
could only be Bethany's.  Tina was there as well, pushing a strap-on dildo
into Austin from behind while Karen watched and jacked off her enormous
clit like it was a small cock.  They all wore masks or wigs, but I
recognized their bodies easily enough, which is probably why Austin
disabled my account.  The numbers on the token counter were changing like a
gas pump filling a big rig tank, and the chat window was scrolling so many
messages it looked like the end credits to a blockbuster movie.  She had to
have hundreds of views, if not more, since the show had been going on for
quite a while.

   I stood there behind Linda, both of us watching her mother masturbate. I
could almost smell her arousal, but then I realized, I wasn't smelling that
far.  Linda's breathing was labored as she watched, and her arms were in
front of her, her hand busy doing something I couldn't see from my angle.
Never, in a million years, would I have expected to find myself in that
situation.  I didn't know what to do.  Should I send Linda to bed?  Should
I close the door?  Either of those options would probably mortify both
women.  I felt I was in a no-win scenario.

   In the end, I just backed up to the living room and resumed my position
on the couch, my urge to pee having vanished.  Watching Kelly had an effect
on my cock, but with everything else that happened today, I was not in the
mood to do anything about it.  As sleep was just about to take me, I heard
one of the two of them moan, but I had no idea which.

   *****

   I woke the next morning to the aroma of coffee wafting out of my
kitchen. I found Linda adding sugar to a cup of the brown lifeblood.  "Good
morning," I said as I walked up behind her.  "I thought you didn't like
coffee."

   "I don't but you and mom do, so I thought I'd make you some.  It's no
big deal.  How difficult is it to plug a cup in and push a button?" She
smiled that 1000-Watt smile at me, and my heart jumped.  "But I have to run
to get to school on time.  I'm catching the bus this morning, and I'll ride
back with Brenda."

   "Okay.  Have a good day at school, sweetie." I moved to kiss her cheek,
but she turned, and I caught the corner of her mouth.  The feeling of the
edge of her lips on mine was electric.

   "Oh..." I said pulling back.  "Sorry."

   "No problem." She pulled my face down and kissed me fully on the lips
before giving me a hug.

   "Bye," she said as she grabbed her books and headed for the door.  I was
left touching my lips with my fingers as the warmth of her kiss lingered.

   I shook my head to clear it, picked up both cups, and went back to my
room.  The door was still open, and Kelly was still in bed, but now she was
wearing my Asia concert tee and was under the covers.  She managed to turn
the monitor off when she finished playing last night.  I set her cup down
on the nightstand and took a sip of mine as I sat on the edge of the bed.
She turned with a groan and peeked at me through one half-open eye.

   "God.  Is it morning already?" She stretched her arms to her sides, and
I couldn't help but notice the shirt stretch across her breasts, her
nipples clearly discernable.

   "Indeed, it is, sleepy head.  Time to rise and shine.  Your daughter
made you coffee."

   "Well, there you go," she said with a grunt as she forced herself to a
seated position, "missing a golden opportunity."

   "What?"

   "You could have told me you made it for me and impressed me."

   "Why would I lie to impress you, Kelly?"

   She looked at me like I was the village idiot for a moment before
sipping her coffee.  "That's the million-dollar question," she said after a
moment.  "Why does any man lie to impress a woman?" She cast her eyes at me
under an arched eyebrow.  "Did you sleep well on the couch?"

   "Surprisingly so.  I don't know that I've ever spent the entire night on
that sofa.  I never knew it was that comfortable."

   "God!" She threw her head back and sent her eyes in orbit around her. 
"You are so clueless sometimes!  I wasn't asking you if the couch was
comfortable, Barry."

   "You weren't?"

   "Did it ever occur to you to maybe, I dunno, try to sleep in your bed?"

   I blinked.

   "With me?"

   I blinked again.

   "Together?"

   "Kelly, you...I...but....Linda..."

   "Barry, Linda was in bed herself.  You could have come to bed.  With
me."

   "No, Kelly, I couldn't."

   "Why not?  Because of Carrie?  She's dead, Barry.  She wouldn't mind."

   "Maybe.  Maybe not.  But Dennis is not dead, and you two are still
married.  And he is still my friend.  I couldn't do that to him."

   "I doubt he'd care," she harrumphed.  "Remember, he used to get off on
me being with other people."

   "Yeah, but that was when you played together.  He tells me you two
haven't had sex in ages.  He might take exception to your sleeping with
me," I said.  Then a thought struck me.  "Besides, I thought sex outside of
marriage was a sin.  What happened to that?"

   Kelly shrugged.  "We can talk about that in a minute.  My point is you
probably didn't even think about it.  You are too wrapped up in your
memories of Carrie to even appreciate what you have right under your nose.
Did it even occur to you," she paused and cast a long glance at my crotch,
"or can't you even function that way anymore?"

   That stung, and I didn't like the turn this conversation was taking. 
"Kelly, I'm not impotent.  I have had sex in the past six years, you know."

   "I'm not talking about just sex, Barry.  I'm talking about being with
someone you really care about.  Someone with a deeper connection than just
physical."

   As she said that, I couldn't help myself.  Only one face popped into my
mind.  The same face I'd been thinking about so often lately.  It wasn't
Kelly's face.

   "Barry," she continued when I didn't answer her, "did you enjoy that
party Saturday night?"

   "I had a blast."

   "Did you, really?  Was it really satisfying on a deeper level?  Think
back to the sex you had with Carrie.  Was it even close?"

   I opened my mouth to immediately rebut her assertion, but no words would
come out.  Sex with Austin and Diane was fantastic.  They both did things
to me that I'd never felt before, but if I was being honest with myself, at
the end of the day, I wasn't as fulfilled as I had always been each and
every time with Carrie.

   "Those girls showed me things that I never experienced before," I
offered in a lame attempt to disprove Kelly's claim.

   "I'm sure," she said with a smirk.  "From what I've heard, Diane is a
professional.  But did it satisfy you the way sex with Carrie did?"

   My silence answered for me again.

   "Barry, you need to find someone to share your life.  You're too young
to be alone for the rest of your life, or just hooking up with random
women. Besides, what are you going to do with yourself after Brenda leaves
for college next year?"

   "Kelly," it was taking great effort to keep my voice level as rage
turned from a simmer to a boil, "I don't understand why you're so concerned
about this.  Carrie's been gone for more than six years, but now you're
worried about my sex life?"

   Kelly's eyes watered and her chin tightened.  "Because I know how it
feels to deny yourself passion." Her voice broke and she cleared her
throat. "I haven't allowed myself to feel anything for a long time and it,"
a tear broke free and made its escape only to be wiped away by her hand,
"uh, it cost me my marriage."

   My anger vanished in that moment.  Kelly had never bared herself to me
like this before.  As she sat in my bed, wearing nothing but a long
t-shirt, sniffling and wiping the tears from her eyes, she was so
vulnerable, like she would fall into a million pieces if I said the wrong
word.  I kept my mouth shut.

   "I went to talk to my pastor after you left my house last week, but he
was in the hospital.  The youth pastor and I had a long talk." I handed her
a tissue and she dabbed her eyes.  "I have been so foolish thinking God was
punishing me for my past.  Pastor Mark showed me that I don't have to worry
about my past.  I had a difficult weekend reliving my mistakes.  I know I
can't go back to the way I was in school, but I can't keep living like a
nun.  I have to find a happy medium.  Even if I have no future with Dennis,
I can't live like I was."

   "You should tell Dennis."

   She laughed a sad chuckle as she waved the tissue.  "If he answered my
call, I would."

   I reached over and grabbed my cell from the nightstand and tapped a few
icons.  "Dennis?  Hey, I need you to come by my house as soon as you can
get here.  It's urgent.  No, I'm not bleeding to death.  I just need your
help with something that can't wait.  You'll see when you get here.  Stop
asking me questions and get over here.  Right.  See you in a few." I closed
the phone and caught Kelly's disbelieving eyes staring at me, her jaw
slack. "The ball's in your court.  If I were you, I'd clean up and get in
that outfit you wore last night.  I definitely noticed you in that skirt,
by the way."

   Kelly blushed as she smiled.  "You should have seen me later, then. 
After you went to sleep."

   "You mean when you were moaning?" I waggled my eyebrows.

   Her eyes popped.  "You saw?"

   "Well," I shrugged, "you're not that quiet when you get excited, Kelly."
I still didn't know whose moan I heard last night, hers or Linda's, so I
took a gamble.

   Her blush deepened.  "I guess not."

   "Thinking about anything in particular?" I asked as a harmless flirt,
not anticipating the reaction I got.  Sometimes I ask a question not
wanting the answer I get.  This was one of those times.  She looked hard at
me, the smile fading.  "I watched the girls on Austin's site, and it made
me think about the night I conceived Linda."

   I blinked.  "Oh.  I see.  I was kind of hoping maybe you were thinking
about me."

   "Well, I was, too.  You and Carrie and Dennis and me.  At your
housewarming party.  With your friend, Freddy."

   "I don't understand." That sinking feeling was returning.

   "Carrie had set up Freddy with that woman from your office."

   "Sybil."

   "Right.  Well, they didn't click, so Dennis and I took pity on him and
tried to make him feel included, you know.  Turns out he was funny, and
considerate, and he knew just what to say to make me want him.  Dennis and
I had not played with anyone since Carrie ran off, and I had an itch. 
Dennis was the one that suggested we have a little fun, so he told me to
give Freddy a tour of the house.  I guess he knew it was a ruse, because
when he got me alone in the spare bedroom, he had me up against the wall
and his face in my neck before I knew what was happening.

   "His lips on my skin lit a fire I hadn't felt in a while.  Maybe it was
because he was not Dennis, maybe it was because I hadn't played with anyone
else in such a long time.  I don't know, but I was so ready for him that
when his fingers slipped under my dress and into me, I nearly came right
then.  He caught me when my legs almost gave out and he picked me up and
put me on the bed, his lips never leaving my skin.  Man, was he a good
kisser.  Dennis came into the room and sat in the seat in the corner, just
content to watch me.

   "Anyway, before I knew it, Freddy had my dress up over my waist and he
was licking my little puss like he was born to do it.  He made his tongue
do things that I wish Dennis knew how to do.  I came so quickly, and I
guess I got loud, because Carrie opened the door.  Barry, I know you don't
want to hear this part, but once she saw what was going on, she looked like
she wanted to join us.  I know the look she gets when she's turned on, and
she was turned on watching me and Freddy, with Dennis sitting naked in the
corner jerking his cock.

   "'Sorry,' she said after she swallowed loud.  'I thought you hurt
yourself.'

   "Freddy started to get up, but I grabbed his head and pulled him back to
my pussy.  'Don't you dare stop,' I said.  'She won't mind, would you
Carrie?'

   "'No.  Knock yourself out.  Dennis, why don't you help him out.  You
know how Kelly gets.  She's going to want both of you.'

   "And Dennis got up and joined us on the bed, feeding me his cock while
Freddy ate me to another quick orgasm.  After I came down from that one, I
got up to get his cock out.  Carrie had taken the chair Dennis left, just
watching us.  We shared a smile, just like old times.

   "I knew we didn't have a lot of time, so I focused on Freddy, trying my
best to fuck his cock off while sucking on Dennis.  After a while, I looked
over and Carrie was naked and playing with her puss, trying her best to get
off.  I returned my attention to the men.  Barry, it was so hot, and I
hadn't felt that alive since college.

   "The next thing I knew, Dennis was inside me and fucking me harder than
he'd ever done it.  When he grunted his seed into me, I came again.  After
I caught my breath, I saw Carrie leaving the room.  Freddy was next to the
chair pulling his pants up.  I cleaned up and left Dennis to clean the
room. That's when I bumped into you in the hallway."

   I remembered that night.  I remember Carrie coming out of the house
right before Freddy.  I remember her dress was on inside out.  That would
explain it.  My breath left my lungs and no amount of breathing seemed to
draw it back in.  Only one thought was bouncing around my brain as I
struggled to catch my breath.

   "Did she fuck Freddy?" I finally drew a deep breath.  "Did Carrie fuck
him?" The anger tinged my words and Carrie recoiled.

   "I...I...I don't know.  I don't think so."

   "Did she fuck Dennis?"

   "No!" She didn't pause to think about that.  "I had Dennis with me on
the bed the whole time."

   "But while Dennis was fucking you, Freddy could have been fucking my
wife, couldn't he?"

   She looked at me, her eyes mirroring the pain in my heart.  "I don't
know, Barry."

   I felt I might throw up, so I downed the rest of my coffee as I stood
up. I loved Kelly and Dennis like family, but they seemed hell bent on
ruining my memory of Carrie.  I paced to the door and back.  Kelly just sat
on the bed; the covers still pulled up to her waist.  "You said the night
Linda was conceived.  Are you saying that Freddy is Linda's father?"

   "No," she said without hesitation.  "Dennis is her father, but Freddy
impregnated me.  When Linda got sick five years ago, the doctor told me
that Dennis' blood was not a genetic match for her, so it had to be
Freddy."

   "And Carrie might have gotten pregnant that night, too," I said as I did
the math in my head.

   Kelly looked stricken, like the thought had never occurred to her. 
"Maybe not.  I mean Linda is two weeks older than Brenda.  You could have
gotten Carrie pregnant anytime in that two weeks."

   "Maybe," I breathed.  My world was tilting.  "Maybe not.  I guess I'll
never know."

   "If you have doubts, you can have her DNA tested."

   "No!" I surprised myself at the force I used with that word.  "I don't
need to.  Brenda is my baby.  Now and forever." I fought to keep my world
from spinning again.  "Carrie did not have sex with Freddy that day, and
she didn't have sex with anyone else either.  She was faithful to me.  She
loved me." I was yelling at myself more than Kelly.  I was mad that I could
ever doubt her.  I started blubbering.

   Kelly came over to me and put her arms around me.  She was only a few
inches taller than Linda, but not as tall as Brenda.  I let her hold me. 
"She loved you, Barry.  Never doubt that.  I'm sorry if I made you question
that."

   "No one could make me doubt Carrie.  No one but me.  She deserved so
much more than me." I couldn't help the tears erupting like water from a
fissure in a damn.  I dropped to my knees and Kelly followed me to the
floor.  "Now I've failed her twice!"

   "Barry stop it.  You and Carrie belonged together.  You know that and
she knew that.  She loved you every minute she knew you right up until the
day she died.  Even after.  I'm sure of it."

   We sat in silence for a while.  "You never did this when Carrie died did
you?  You never cried over her?"

   "I couldn't.  I had to be there for Brenda.  She'd just lost her mother.
She needed me to be strong."

   "And you'd just lost your wife.  The first woman you ever loved.  You
need to mourn that loss."

   And I did.  Kelly held me as I cried.

   *****

   It was the summer of 2012, and the sun was beating down and drawing
beads of sweat that took turns burning my eyes as I watched Brenda and
Linda play in the pool.  We had all weathered Linda's mysterious medical
scare, and life was slowly returning to some semblance of normal.  I did my
best to relax into the chaise under the shade of the umbrella but there was
no respite from the heat.  Eleven-year-olds don't seem to appreciate how
hot a dog day in August was as they took turns dunking each other in the
shallow end.  Dennis and Kelly were neck-deep in the other end of the pool
sensibly staying cool, or at least cooler.  It was Linda's birthday, and
the first time we had a pool day since Linda got out of the hospital. 
Kelly had become withdrawn after the scare, which I figured was normal for
a mother in fear of losing her child.  As far as I know, the doctors were
at a loss to understand what had happened, but evidently the treatments
worked, because little Linda was just as playful and vibrant as ever.  I
heard the patio door open and said a silent prayer of thanks as Carrie
handed me a cold beer before sliding into the chaise next to me.  I took a
long pull from my long-neck bottle and cast a side glance as my beautiful
wife of twelve years settled into her seat.  Then she shivered.

   "You can't be cold," I said.

   "What?  She asked as she squirted sun block into her hand.  "Oh, I just
caught a chill.  Maybe we're going to have an early fall."

   "Honey, it has to be more than 90 degrees out here.  I'm sweating like a
stuck pig."

   "Oh, you're exaggerating."

   "Look," I turned and pointed to the thermometer hanging on the patio
wall, its display showed 93 degrees in large block numbers.  "And that's in
the shade."

   Carrie looked confused for a moment before shrugging.  "Oh, well, it
doesn't feel that hot to me."

   She may have dismissed it, and I probably would have, too, except that I
had noticed her appetite had been off lately, and she seemed to be losing
weight.  Still, she was a grown woman, and she knew her own body.  Besides,
she had mentioned she wanted to lose some weight before she got pregnant
again.

   Carrie's master plan was to have our second child ten years after
Brenda, but her career pushed that a year, then my job made the timing
difficult.  A couple of weeks ago we decided it was time, and we had fun
doing our best to make a baby, but we hadn't had any luck so far.  We had
made an appointment for the next week with her gynecologist just to make
sure there was no medical reason for our difficulty.

   That visit was the beginning of a dark chapter in my life.

   The doctor performed routine tests and determined that Carrie's female
parts were all in good working order, but one of the blood results was a
little off.  Not one that would affect pregnancy, so it wasn't why she
wasn't getting pregnant, but the OB/GYN still wanted to consult with
another doctor.  She told us not to worry, and to enjoy our attempts at
procreation.  We took her at her word and made a beeline to the bedroom to
fulfill her prescription.

   A day later, the doctor called back and wanted to see us both as soon as
possible.

   Despite the lump of dread roiling around in my gut, I had no idea what
she was going to say.  That maybe Carrie's hormones were off, and that she
would need injections to get pregnant, or that we would have to try
in-vitro fertilization, or worse, that maybe I was the reason we couldn't
get pregnant.  What we were told made my worst-case scenarios joyous
occasions by comparison.

   "Acute staphylococcus aureus infection," the doctor looked at us over
the rims of her glasses.  Her face was blank, though her eyes cried as she
told us.  Carrie gasped, and I froze.  The only thing I could do was blink.
I'm not sure I was even breathing at that moment.  "Given the results of
your first blood culture," the doctor continued, "it is a particularly
virulent strain.  There are a number of treatment options..." her voice
droned on, and I did listen like my life depended on it--because it
did--but all I could see at that moment was Carrie.  She said that they
would start Carrie on broad spectrum antibiotics immediately and, if it
responded well, with the best-case scenario she could be cured within
fourteen days.  The doctor didn't elaborate on the worst-case scenario.

   Once her initial shock passed, Carrie took out a notebook and a pen and
began taking notes.  Her hand scribbled across the page at light speed
before flipping to another page.  She didn't stop to break down and cry. 
She didn't scream in denial--like I wanted to do--instead, she leapt into
an action plan.  This woman, whom I've loved from the moment I first laid
eyes on her, was still the same effervescent yet no-nonsense force of
nature that I sprayed with foam in that lab class so long ago.

   We went home that night and Carrie immediately began diving into our
records to find our insurance policies and she made a list of the accounts
that needed to be updated.  I cooked dinner and kept Brenda busy while
Carrie did her research.  Her first coughing spell came shortly after we
went to bed.  The spell passed after a drink of water and some cough syrup,
but her breathing sped up.  The fever set in around midnight.  I woke up to
damp sheets and a five-foot-three furnace radiating enough heat to make me
sweat.  Carrie was panting with the effort to breathe, and she wouldn't
wake up when I shook her.  I grabbed my phone.

   "Kelly!  I have to take Carrie to the ER.  Can you come over and sit
with Brenda?"

   "We'll be right there." Kelly closed the call before I could tell her
they all didn't need to come.

   I bundled Carrie up in blankets and carried her to my car.  I laid her
out on the back seat and strapped her in the best I could.  She stirred
only slightly when I moved her.  Her eyes opened, but they were miles away,
glassy, and unfocused.  I don't think she even registered I was carrying
her.  My heart was a trip-hammer pounding in my chest and I had to force
myself to slow down and think calm thoughts.  This is just a fever from the
infection.  It probably happens all the time.  She'll be fine.  Somehow, I
knew I was lying.

   When I had Carrie strapped in and ready to go, she grabbed my hand. 
"Purse," she croaked.  I ran in and grabbed her purse from the desk, where
she had been doing all the work earlier.  As I passed Brenda's room, I
almost woke her up to get in the car, since Kelly had not shown up yet, but
thought better of it.  It would scare her, and she did have to go to school
in the morning.  We'd probably be back before she woke up anyway.  As I
opened the garage door, Dennis was pulling up to the curb.  He carried a
sleepy Linda into the house while Kelly jumped in my car.

   "Drive!" She commanded.

   We made it to the hospital in minutes, where we were greeted by an
initially disinterested nurse, until she touched Carrie's face.

   "She's burning up," she observed with wide eyes.

   "Ya think?" I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

   "This way." The nurse led us to an exam room where she began taking
Carrie's vital signs before I even had her on the exam table.

   Kelly was standing near the nurses' station, afraid to venture back into
the treatment area.  The sign next to her said "Patients and immediate
family only beyond this point." Her hands were wringing the leather strap
of her purse.

   Carrie's cough brought my attention back to my immediate concern.  A
doctor had already appeared and was checking her pupils.

   "When did the fever start?" He asked the question without looking at me.

   "About 40 minutes ago, more or less.  We were asleep.  She got so hot it
woke me."

   "Are there any other symptoms?" He was prodding his fingers under her
jaw.

   "A cough.  We saw her doctor this afternoon.  She has a Staphylococcus
infection.  He put her on antibiotics."

   "Did she take them?" He pressed the diaphragm of his stethoscope to her
chest while he listened to her lungs.

   "Two doses so far."

   The doctor turned to the nurse and began barking orders.  "Draw a CBC,
Hematocrit, type and cross, and blood cultures.  Oh, and a blood gas.  Walk
them to the lab and wait for the results.  Get her records here, stat. 
Hang a liter D5W," he turned to face me, "does she have any allergies?"

   "Not that we know."

   "500 milligrams Penicillin I.V.  push," he finished addressing the nurse
who had dutifully jotted every order on her pad.

   The technicians and nurses darted around carrying out the doctor's
orders, but all I could see was the love of my life lying there in
distress. Carrie's cough came and went, but her fever never broke.  The
doctor had her admitted to the ICU around five in the morning and Kelly and
I stayed with her.  Dennis got the girls ready for school and told them
that Carrie wasn't feeling well, but that she was in good hands, so they
wouldn't worry.  Around six, Carrie woke up.  She was still disoriented,
but she could respond to my voice.

   "Hey, babe," I said through a plastered-on smile.  "Are you feeling any
better?"

   A groan was all I got in response.  Her eyes sought out the sound of my
voice, though, so I knew she heard me.  "B...B...Barry?"

   "Right here," my hand clutched hers for dear life.  "I'm right here. 
Kelly's here, too."

   "My throat hurts," she rasped.

   "I'll get some water," I said, and I went to find a nurse.

   When I returned, Kelly and Carrie were crying and hugging each other,
until Carrie began coughing again.  Kelly backed away clutching her purse
and a crumpled envelope when the nurses came in to try to help Carrie, who
couldn't stop coughing.

   When all was said and done, Carrie had to be sedated and intubated.  The
lab results later said she developed a secondary case of pneumonia, which
the doctors told me is not uncommon in these situations.  I spent the rest
of the day by her side listening to the monitor beep and the respirator
hiss in the darkness of the room.  The nurses came and went, charting her
declining vitals and changing I.V.  bags.  Every time, they looked at me
with pity.  At the end of the day, the doctor finally came in and urged me
to go home.  The doctor told me it could be days before her condition
changed, so, after a feeble protest, I left Wednesday morning.

   Carrie passed alone in the dark hospital room that night.  I was not at
her bedside when my wife died.  I was not there to hold her hand as she
crossed over.  I was not there to say a final goodbye.  I had failed her.

   *****

   Kelly watched me as I dried my eyes and sucked in a deep breath.  It was
as though a boulder had been lifted from my shoulders.  The morning of a
sunny day after a fog.  I felt like I was looking at life through new
prescription lenses after a lifetime of bad vision.  I had been an idiot,
living with blinders that kept me from experiencing life and seeing the joy
around me.  That was gone now, and I looked forward to the day with an
eagerness I hadn't felt in a long time.  I guess a good cry can do that.

   Kelly was putting the final touches on her makeup and hair when Dennis
showed up.  It was still early in the day, but I had showered and dressed,
and Kelly made herself look ravishing in anticipation of Dennis' visit. 
She knew what was riding on the outcome, and she also knew that to get
Dennis out from under Diane's spell, she would have to remind him of the
Kelly he married back in college.  Dennis looked a bit surprised to see me
when I opened the door.

   "You said it was important, so I came over just as soon as I could. 
But, you don't look like you're having an emergency.  In fact, you look
good.  Better than the last time I saw you.  What's up?"

   "It is very important, but more to you than to me.  Come in.  I even
have a Stella for you."

   "Well, this must be an auspicious occasion..." he stopped short when
Kelly appeared with his beer.  His face twisted into a mask of aggravation.
"What are you playing at, Barry?"

   "Just listen to what she has to say, Dennis."

   "I've listened to her preaching for over five damn years," he began, but
Kelly shushed him.

   "I know, and I was wrong, honey," she said putting one hand on his
shoulders as she handed him the sweaty bottle.  "I shouldn't have forced
you into the same exile I put myself into.  It wasn't fair to either of us,
or Linda either."

   She led him to the sofa and the two of them talked together for the
better part of an hour, while I made myself scarce.  I retreated to my room
and checked my phone to see if Brenda had texted, but there were no
messages from her.  I did have a few from a number I didn't know, and when
I opened them, I had to sit down.

   They were from Austin.

   "I can't stop thinking about you."

   "I need to see you again."

   "I want you."

   I had to assume she was used to getting what she wanted when she went
after someone.  I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to have her again. 
She was one of the best looking girls I knew, and she was a sexual dynamo.
But with everything going on, it would just make things more complicated
between me and Brenda.  And Linda, for that matter.

   Linda.  I smiled when I thought about her.  I couldn't not smile.  As
pretty as Austin was, she wasn't Linda.  I was just about to text Austin
back to tell her it wouldn't work out when another text came in.

   "I have something you'll want to see."

   I stared at the message for an eternity of seconds before my fingers
moved.  I texted back before my brain realized what my fingers were typing.
"Where?"

   "Your place."

   I agreed before I knew what I was doing.  How stupid would I have to be
to invite a girl I barely know to my home?  All of the women I had slept
with since Carrie I had taken to hotels.  I never brought a woman into my
home before.  This was Carrie's home.  Also, I didn't want to subject my
child to a parade of different women, didn't want to risk them forming some
kind of attachment that would be torn when I inevitably broke it off.  I
also didn't want to risk letting a potential stalker know where I lived. 
But then again, Austin knows Brenda, so she probably already has my
address.

   I shook it off and went to check on Dennis and Kelly.  I'd given them
the better part of an hour to talk, and I never heard any shouting.  I took
that as a good sign.  When I entered the living room, any doubts about
their relationship vanished.  Kelly was bouncing on Dennis lap while he
sucked on her nipples.  They hadn't even bothered getting undressed.  Her
blouse was hanging off her shoulders, her skirt was bunched up over her
ass, and I could see his cock splitting her pussy below her cheeks while
his pants were bunched up at his ankles.  He still had one of his shoes on.

   I walked around them to the side of the couch and they both noticed me
at the same time.  Kelly smiled beneath her smoldering eyes.  It was that
same look I saw back in college on spring break.  Dennis smiled too.

   He released her nipple and pulled her down for a smoldering kiss.  When
he pulled back he held her gaze while he nodded to me.  "You want him, too.
Don't you?"

   Kelly stopped bouncing and started a slow grind on his crotch before
fixing her eyes on me.  "God, yes!"

   "C'mere buddy.  It's okay.  She's been wanting to taste you for years."
The look on his face took me back almost 20 years, and all I could think
about was the passion.  I didn't think about Carrie.  I didn't think about
Brenda.  All I saw was Kelly and Dennis enjoying each other and expressing
their lust in a primal moment that struck a spark in my loins.  He and
Kelly had their problems, but Dennis always knew how to have a good time.
Here he was, offering me his wife to enjoy without a moment's hesitation,
for nothing more than the simple joy of it.

   My mind flashed for the briefest moment to that Spring Break trip where
I first saw Kelly and Dennis in a group encounter.  At the time, I never
thought about joining them because I had all I wanted with Carrie.  Now,
looking at Kelly, I could see her as a sexy woman who wanted me, and who
was already making my cock hard just looking at her.

   I stepped over to the couch and Kelly grabbed my pants and had my cock
out in a flash.  Her hand slid up from the base toward the head, rubbing
the skin with the soft heat of her palm sending warm tingles that sparked
my entire body.  Her hip rocking made her nipples bounce as she massaged my
steel.  She licked the palm of her other hand and slid it up the same way
while licking the other.  She smeared her spit all over my hardon with her
hand getting it dripping wet.  In no short order, she milked a drop of
precum from the slit, which she licked off with an amazingly long tongue.
She made a show of licking her lips and groaning with satisfaction as both
of her hands pulled my shaft closer to her face.  Her tongue returned to my
cock and began swirling around the ridge.

   I pulled my shirt over my head while she gave the head of my cock a
tongue bath.  Carrie had once commented that Kelly knew what she was doing
when it came to giving head, and it seemed she was desperate to prove that
to me now.  She pursed her lips and kissed the main vein, sliding her lips
along the length, her hot breath searing my flesh.

   "Does his cock taste good, baby," Dennis hissed as he held her hips,
trying to steer her motion.  "Is it as good as you hoped it would be?"

   "MMM," she moaned.  "So good," she said before sucking the head back
into her mouth.  I felt her tongue swirling around before she relaxed her
jaw and allowed it to bathe the underside of my cock while she tried to
inhale more of it.

   I was torn between throwing my head back, closing my eyes and reveling
in the sensation of Kelly's lips constricting on my shaft, and watching her
eyes as she did so.  That wanton lust that I had seen so long ago was
burning bright in her eyes, spreading to ignite everyone with whom she came
in contact, especially me.  My legs started to tremble from the awkwardness
of our position and the pressure buildup of my impending orgasm, so I
backed away.  Kelly tried her best to keep me in her mouth, but eventually
my cock popped free, and Kelly whimpered.

   She pointed to the other side of the couch.  "Sit there," she commanded
as she pulled herself off of Dennis and knelt beside him on the couch,
presenting her ass to me.  "Give me that cock," she commanded.  "I want all
of it."

   As I knelt behind her, she slurped her husband's coated cock into her
mouth with a throaty "mmmmmmmm".  Her pussy was slick and open, hot pink
flesh peeking from between the moist meaty labia and beckoned me inside.  I
obliged.  I slid the spongy head up and down her lips to pick up moisture,
then drove home slow and steady, feeling her core heat searing every inch
of me as I pushed in deep.  My hands stroked the tight muscles of her back
as I moved inside her.

   I fucked her with slow, languid strokes, punctuated with hard slams.  By
varying my stroke, I hoped to stave off an orgasm for a while.  I didn't
want this interlude to end too quickly.  We were all glistening with the
heat of our joined passion, and my hands kept slipping and sliding up and
down her back from her shoulders to her hips.  We were going at it like
that for several minutes, long enough that I lost track of time, until the
doorbell interrupted us.

   "Shit!" I exclaimed.

   "Who's that?"

   "I think it's Austin.  She says she has something to show me.  Why don't
you guys go to my room?  I'll get rid of her as quick as I can."

   "Austin?  As in that girl you fucked the other night?" Kelly was
smiling, that fire in her eyes flaring even brighter.  "Maybe you should
invite her in."

   Dennis got up, kicked off his other shoe, and dragged Kelly by the arm
toward the hallway.  "We'll be in here when you're done."

   "Bring her with you," Kelly added as the pair disappeared behind my
door. I pulled my pants up and went to the door shirtless, with my belt
dangling open.  I didn't do it to make any statement.  I was just wanting
to get back to the fucking sooner rather than later.

   I was mildly surprised to see two silhouettes through the frosted glass
of the door, and more surprised when I opened it to see Diane standing
there with Austin.  Diane looked every bit as alluring in her form-fitting
business attire as she had when I first met her at the district office last
week, only this time, she was sporting fishnet stockings, and Austin, well,
she always looked hot.  She was wearing a tight purple halter and
boy-shorts combination, that revealed every inch of her femininity.  She
also had on a matching silk choker with the red jeweled heart, similar to
the one she wore Saturday night.  Both women smiled when they saw me.

   "Hey, Barry," Diane said.  "I hope you don't mind that I came along as
well.  May we come in?"

   I turned to look inside as I scratched the back of my head.  I hadn't
thought this far ahead.  I shrugged.  "Sure.  Why not."

   "Did we interrupt your workout?" Austin ran her fingers over my sweaty
chest as she walked past me.

   "Oh, Pretty, he was working out, but it wasn't just exercise." Diane
looked at the couch where Kelly had left her top draped over the back.  The
smell of sex lingered in the room, and I couldn't help blushing when both
women looked at me with knowing smiles.  "Tell me, did you shoo her out the
back when we arrived?"

   I glanced at my bedroom door but remained silent.  Then I heard Kelly
moan.

   "Oh!  She's not waiting for you, I see." She looked at the floor by the
couch, where Dennis' tie and shoes were discarded.  "Or, should I say
they're not waiting for you.  My!  This is a revelation.  See, Pretty," she
turned to Austin, "I told you he would be a good one."

   Austin's cheeks flushed as she breathed deep, the heady smell of sex
fueling an unquenchable fire within her.  She stepped up to me, swinging
her perfect hips with each step, ran her fingers over my chest, then leaned
into my body and took a deep breath.  "Oooh," she moaned.  Her tongue slid
out and traced the bulge on my pectoral before she kissed my nipple.  "You
taste yummy."

   "Uhm," I coughed, trying to clear the rampant lust from my mind,
"didn't, uh, didn't you have something you wanted me to see?"

   "Oh, I do.  I want to show you everything," her fingers kept touching
me, sliding from my chest to my abdomen and back again, leaving a trail of
flames as she went, fanned hotter by a series of kisses.

   A raging fire of passion engulfed me, and I grabbed her by the waist and
attacked her mouth with mine.  Her hot lips parted, and her breath joined
mine as I tasted the passion of her kiss.  Our tongues battled for
dominance in her mouth as my hands held her firm until she whimpered and
trembled in my arms.  When I lifted my face from hers, her eyes were
closed, and her skin was flushed from her face down between her breasts.

   "Impressive," Diane said.  I looked up to see her in a black leather
peek-a-boo bra and panties with a garter belt suspending her fishnets.  She
had a no-nonsense look about her as she dropped her skirt onto the neatly
folded blouse and jacket on the back of the couch.  "You made my Pretty cum
just by kissing her." She stepped up and my eyes were drawn to her stiletto
heels.  The only thing she didn't have to complete the look was a whip. 
She brought her finger to my jaw and turned my head to face her as she drew
close to me.  "I hope you have more of that to go around."

   She kissed me softly at first, almost like she was afraid of being
burned.  I pressed in, wanting to taste more of her lips.  I felt Austin
resume kissing my chest and nipples as I kissed Diane, or as she kissed me.
It was hard to tell who was doing the kissing and who was being kissed.  My
lust wouldn't let me be passive, however, and I pulled her in tighter, my
hand holding her at the small of her back as my other arm supported her
shoulders.  I leaned into the kiss, as if trying to draw every last drop of
passion from her well.  I couldn't stop myself.  It was like I was dying of
thirst and she was the water of life.  Eventually, she brought her hand up
and pressed on my shoulder as she pulled her head back.  I straightened up
and she took a deep breath, her hand still resting on my shoulder.  Her
eyes burned with lustful hunger, and she looked at me like I was dessert.

   "Wow.  You had plenty for both of us."

   "And then some," I said breathlessly.

   She smiled and looked past me toward my door.  "Do you need to get back
to your other guests?  Or...?" The unasked question was a million dollar
one.  Since Kelly had suggested I bring Austin with me, I almost led the
way, but then I snapped when I realized that she probably wouldn't
appreciate seeing Diane.  And there was no telling how Dennis would react.
I didn't get to ponder the question long, however, as I heard my door open.

   "We thought we'd just check...what the fuck!" Kelly stopped halfway down
the hallway.  She was buck naked, her skin still shiny from sweat and her
thighs glistened with moisture.

   "Hi, I'm..." Diane started to introduce herself until Dennis appeared in
the doorway.  Then she blinked in recognition.  "Uhhh..."

   "Oh, I know full well who you are, little Missy." Kelly marched into the
living room, her full breasts bouncing with each step, stopping only to
give Diane a head-to-toe evaluation like a rancher examining a heifer.

   Austin moved to stand by Diane, but I held her to me.  I caught her eye
and shook my head.  Kelly needed this.  Dennis needed this.  Whatever this
was.

   "So, you like fucking my men, do you?  You must have quite the magic
pussy, deary.  I don't recall ever giving you permission to touch my men,"
she stressed the word my, and I suppressed a chuckle at her claiming her
territory.

   Diane rebounded admirably.  "I never did anything Dennis didn't want to
do.  He came to me..."

   "Stop," Kelly commanded with an authority I'd not heard from her before.
"I didn't ask you to make excuses, my dear." She stepped close enough to
Diane that their noses almost touched.  Diane's model caliber looks,
flawless skin, full red lips and jet-black hair inches from Kelly's more
mature grace and beauty, emerald eyes, alabaster skin, and fiery red hair.
Their nipples were agonizingly close to each other, almost close enough to
brush against one another if either woman leaned in just one millimeter,
and I couldn't stop my dick from swelling at the proximity of these two
beautiful women.  "At least Dennis has good taste.  Too bad he kept you all
to himself.  I bet you're a hellcat in bed."

   Diane's eyebrow shot up and she tilted her head.  "That's one way of
putting it."

   "You always get what you want, don't you?"

   A smirk appeared on Diane's face as she started to answer.

   "Don't laugh at me, young lady.  I'm not one of your playthings that
will bend over backwards to kiss your ass.  I'm a grown woman and a mother.
I've put more men to bed than you could ever dream of satisfying.  You
don't scare me." Kelly's fierceness was intoxicating.  I think even Austin
was turned on by it.  Kelly wasn't finished either.  "Maybe you need
someone to put you to bed, little Missy." Kelly reached out and grabbed
Diane through her crotchless leather panties, hooking her fingers in
Diane's pussy as she looked her dead in the eye the whole time.

   Diane gasped from the surprise, and I think from the sensation that
Kelly gave her clit as she held her.  Kelly's gaze never faltered as her
hand began beating a wet tempo against the pussy before her.  Diane gulped
air as she stood there, determined to take it, and not bend.  It was a
battle of wills and neither was willing to lose.  Kelly's face was almost
touching Diane's, her lips, parted from effort, threatened to brush against
Diane's, her breath had to feel hot on Diane's face, but Diane didn't
flinch.  At least not at first.  I saw Kelly alter her arm position
slightly, making Diane groan and close her eyes.

   "Come on you little slut," Kelly said as Diane's head began to sway. 
"Come for me."

   Diane's answer was a soft whimper and a gasp followed by a coo.  Austin
had her arm wrapped around mine and her face against my shoulder.  She
trembled against me.  This was turning her on even more.

   "Yeah, there you go, Missy," Kelly continued.  "I can feel your pussy
firing up.  Burn my fingers, baby."

   Diane's hips ticked, rocking on Kelly's hand, the squelching sounds
Kelly's fingers made in Diane's pussy grew more pronounced.  "Oh, God,"
Diane moaned.

   "There it is.  You're close, aren't you Missy?"

   "Yesssssss" Diane hissed.

   "Should I let you?"

   Diane's eyes opened, the fire raging inside them, the need obvious.  I
could tell no one ever denied her an orgasm, though I know she has denied
others.  "Please..."

   "Tell you what," Kelly said taking her fingers from within the younger
woman, "you give Dennis a good blowjob, and then you can cum."

   Diane looked at Kelly like she'd asked her to perform brain surgery.  It
was a safe bet no one had given Diane a sexual instruction in a long time.
She looked at Dennis standing in the hall, then back to Kelly.  "You want
me to..."

   Kelly took Diane by the arm and led her to Dennis.  "...suck his fucking
cock like a good little slut, Missy." She swatted Diane's tight ass to
punctuate the command.  "When you drink his cum, you can come and see me."
She looked at me.  "You two, follow me."

   Austin and I followed her into the bedroom.