140 comments/ 80734 views/ 49 favorites I'll Follow the Sun By: Harddaysknight Jim Fox marveled at how quickly situations could change That very morning, he felt pretty miserable when he woke up. He had suffered through a troubled sleep the previous evening as he considered the best way to tell his daughter, Emily, that he had seen her boyfriend with one of her so-called girlfriends at the mall the previous afternoon. That alone wouldn't have been a problem, but the two had been seriously making out near the entrance of the mall. Jim was quite sure that he knew his daughter well enough to know that she would be very upset about that information. It had never occurred to Jim to not explain exactly what he had witnessed to Emily. He was simply concerned about how and when to break it to her. Her volleyball team was scheduled to play in a district semifinal match in a few hours and she needed a clear head to play her best. Jim had decided to give her the bad news on the ride home after the match. Then Jim turned his thoughts to the meeting he had with his boss earlier that afternoon. He had been called into the office and introduced to an older, heavier man named Ralph Jenkins. Having no idea why he was in the boss' office, Jim shook hands and pretty much kept his mouth shut while he waited to find out why he had been called in. "Jim, we've just completed negotiations to purchase Precision Buffers in Daytona Beach," announced his superior. "You've just met, Ralph, the previous owner. We're taking over on the first of the year and I want you to head up our maintenance staff down there. I know you've been unhappy about your chance to advance here, but you've just been promoted! "You'll be working with Ralph between Thanksgiving and the end of the year. He'll introduce you around and bring you up to speed on their equipment. We plan to eventually replace most of it with machinery similar to what we have here, but that'll be over a period of months so we don't disrupt production too badly. You know our equipment like the back of your hand, so it'll be a walk in the park for you. "The only question I have is this. Are you willing to relocate to Daytona Beach? Included in the sale of the plant was a two bedroom condo that Ralph's company owns. You'll be able to move your family in immediately and live there for all of next year, rent free. By then you should know if it's for you and if you want to buy a place of your own in Daytona. Before you make up your mind, I should tell you that this position will include a twenty five percent increase in your salary. How long will you need to think it over?" "I accept!" was Jim's immediate reply. "My wife has been complaining about the winters here in Pennsylvania. Her biggest fear was that I'd be transferred to the plant in Michigan. When I mention the pay raise and Daytona Beach, she'll be ecstatic. She can transfer her job to the nearest Home Depot down there with no trouble. I'll gladly take that job!" "Then it's settled. Why don't you take my company car and give Ben a ride back to the airport and then take the rest of the day off," suggested Jim's boss. Jim was grinning to himself as he headed away from the airport terminal after dropping Ralph off. All of a sudden, things were looking good. Emily could move to Daytona for her last semester of high school and forget about her loser boyfriend! Everything was finally going his way; and then it wasn't. Jim's wife, Helen, drove a red Camry, much like ten million others, except a kid with a driver's license for a week had backed into the front of her car while it was parked at her work. He bent the front grill area pretty badly. Most of the plastic simply fell off, but there was some bent metal left. The radiator was now prominently displayed. As he drove past, Jim noticed a red Camry with the radiator showing sitting in front of a Best Western motel a couple blocks from the airport! With his heart in his throat, Jim swung into the far end of the parking lot. There was an empty space next to the Camry, so he parked in it. He considered the situation. He wasn't a violent man, but if Helen didn't have a pretty good explanation for parking her car at a motel, there was going to be some serious trouble! As he gradually calmed down, it occurred to Jim that he was driving the company car, which his wife had never seen. The windows were darkly tinted, perhaps a bit more than was actually legal in the state. He decided to simply wait for Helen to come out to her car and see who was with her, if anyone. After waiting a couple of minutes, he realized that just sitting around wasn't enough, so he hatched a simple plan. Helen's spare tire was still sitting in the garage where he had left it after having it repaired a few days earlier. He knew that Helen would call him to bring the spare if she had a flat tire. Looking furtively around, Jim slid out of the car with his jackknife open and sliced the valve stem on the spare tire mounted on the left rear of Helen's car. The tire was flat by the time he climbed back into the rear seat of the company car. Then he slouched down in the seat and waited less than patiently. Half an hour later, he heard a curse very close to his car window, which he had lowered half an inch. "Damn it! I have a flat. Now what am I going to do?" "No problem, Sexy Lady. After a blowjob like the one you just gave me, I'll be happy to change it for you," came a man's response as Jim's world crashed around him. He quietly gagged as his lunch desperately wanted to resurface. "I don't have a spare! My husband never put it back in the car after getting it fixed. It's home in the garage," complained Helen. "What a worthless prick," chuckled Helen's lover. "I always make sure my wife's car is in good shape. I don't want her stranded someplace with the kids. Now I wish I had driven myself rather than ride with you. What're we going to do?" "Let's go back in our room and warm up while I make a call," suggested Helen as the loving couple strolled back to the motel. Jim waited for his phone to ring. He was thinking how he would question Helen when she called, especially when she asked him to bring the tire to a no-tell hotel out by the airport. The only problem with that plan was that his phone never rang! Twenty minutes later, a familiar Honda Civic pulled into the lot and parked on the other side of him. Jim had been thinking that he could never feel any worse, but he was wrong. His daughter, Emily, was delivering the tire to her cheating mother! Emily knocked on the motel door and waited a full minute before the door opened. Jim couldn't tell what Emily said, but she turned around and marched back to her car and opened the trunk. She lifted the tire out and placed it on the pavement as Helen and her boyfriend walked up. "Frank, get that for Emily! She has to play tonight and can't be injured or tired before the match even starts," worried Helen. "Thanks for the concern, Mom. You could've been dressed when I got here if you were thinking about me. I have to hurry to school and get ready for the match. Can you take it from here?" asked an obviously irked Emily. "No problem, Em," replied the guy Jim now knew to be Frank. "As soon as I get it on the car, your mother will drop me off at Home Depot where my car is parked. I'll have time to watch you play tonight. I'll be cheering for you." "Thanks, Frank. Just don't sit too close to Mom. Dad's going to be there and I don't want any drama while I'm playing." "Don't worry. I won't hurt your dad, if I can help it," laughed Frank. "I doubt he'd ever guess what's going on and even if he did, he'd never try me. He knows it wouldn't go well for him." "Frank, I've asked you to not talk about Jim that way. He's my husband and Emily's father. He's a good man and deserves some respect," replied Jim's loving spouse. Emily simply stared at her mother. "Respect? In what world would your actions be considered showing him respect? I just want to graduate before the divorce." "I've told you that I love your father and there won't be divorce! We'll die in each other's arms," insisted Helen. "You're a bit delusional, I'm afraid. Dad won't stand for you having boyfriends and sooner or later, he'll catch you with one." "There's only been one, and Frank's not a boyfriend. We're just friends with benefits," replied Helen. "We probably won't keep this up for very long so we're going to enjoy it while we can. I deserve a little fun after all of the time and effort I put into our marriage." "Dad's put the same amount of time in and probably more effort," pointed out Emily. "Does he have a girlfriend?" "Your father? Hardly," laughed Helen. "He's not the type. You know how shy he is around women. It took him weeks to get up the nerve to ask me out. You're dad is a good husband and father". "Unlike the guy over there?" motioned Emily toward Frank, as he worked to jack up Helen's car. "Frank's a good guy. He's funny, considerate, a good father, and a very good provider." "He cheats on his wife! You just said that Dad's a good husband because he's faithful, which Frank certainly isn't. If he was thinking about his wife and kids, would he be banging a married woman in a sleazy motel?" demanded Emily. "That was cruel and uncalled for!" shot back Helen. "I'm not in the mood to argue with you about this. You need to get to the school and get ready. Frank and I'll be along shortly. We'll be rooting for you!" "For some reason, that doesn't make me feel all warm and fuzzy," retorted Emily. "Keep him away from Dad. Frank doesn't believe it, but Dad can kick his ass." Emily climbed into her Honda and drove away, leaving Helen and Frank alone as he tightened the lug nuts on the wheel. "She's not too happy about us, is she? I guess my daughter would feel the same way if she knew. That's why I don't do anything to tip her or my wife off." "I told you that I didn't realize she was there the day I brought you home. She was supposed to be in school. She understands how it is. She won't tell. It would break up our marriage and she doesn't want that," assured Helen. Jim sat in a stupor in back of the company car long after Helen drove away. If finding out that Helen was cheating on him hurt a lot, learning that his daughter knew about it and accepted it totally crushed him. When he finally came out of his daze, Jim realized that it was time for his daughter's volleyball match to start. He had never missed one in her entire high school career. That was about to change. Jim drove back to the parking lot at work, picked up his own truck, and drove home. He had no appetite, and even less desire to see his wife and daughter. Sitting at the kitchen table, he drank a few beers and tried to plan some sort of future for himself. He had to appreciate the irony of feeling like he was on top of the world one minute only to have everything turn to shit the next. He considered the possibility that Helen might not even want to go to Daytona now that she had a lover. The more he thought about it, the more the entire situation hurt. He'd always been faithful and worked hard to provide for his family. He didn't deserve what Helen had done to him. He always thought that she enjoyed their love making. Then he considered how Helen had actually been unusually amorous since Labor Day. It was obvious that she had been fucking him more so he wouldn't get suspicious! She knew that if she kept him well laid, he'd be happier than a pig in shit and never suspect a thing. Sadly, it had worked perfectly! Jim thought about the fact that Helen didn't know his company was buying a plant in Florida. If he told her that he was being transferred by the company, she'd assume it was to Michigan. She'd never consider moving there, especially at Thanksgiving time. He could move into the condo in Florida and have time to work his way through his marriage problems without Helen harping on him. She could get laid every day by Frank! She and Emily would continue to live in Pennsylvania while he enjoyed the sun and surf of Florida! The more he thought about it, the more he liked it. It wasn't much revenge, but it was a start. He had the weekend and the upcoming week to prepare for the move. He would head out for Daytona right after Thanksgiving. His loving wife and daughter would think he was driving to Michigan, so they wouldn't even suggest that they go with him. Jim felt a little better once he had a course of action plotted out. To avoid Helen and Emily in the short term, he grabbed four Dramamine and washed them down with another beer. He knew from experience that it would require a bomb to wake him up before the sun came up. He went to the master bedroom and gathered the clothes he would need the next morning. He carried them into the spare bedroom. He brought his toiletries and razor into the second bathroom. Then he closed the door to the guest room and crawled into bed. He fretted for about ten minutes before sleep claimed him. "He's home," observed Emily as she saw her father's pickup parked in its spot in the garage. "I wonder why he didn't come to school to cheer for me. I hope he isn't sick." "It looks like he drank most of a six pack," pointed out Helen as she preceded Emily into the kitchen and saw the empty beer cans on the table. "That's not like Jim. I hope he's okay. I'll go check on him." Helen was surprised when she didn't find Jim in bed. She walked back into the kitchen to speak with Emily. "He's not in bed. He wasn't in the garage and he's not watching TV. Where do you think he is?" "There are only a few possibilities," replied Emily. "We can look in the basement and the laundry room, although I don't think Dad even knows where that is. Then there's my room and the spare bedroom." The two women finally discovered Jim sleeping in the guest room. Their attempts at waking him proved unsuccessful as he continued to breathe deeply while clutching his pillow. "I think he may be drunk," suggested Emily. "I've never seen him drink too much before, but he sure acts like he did. I wonder why he missed my match and why he's been drinking." "Let's ask him in the morning," responded Helen as she closed the bedroom door. "He may be feeling ill. Sometimes he sleeps in here so he won't give me whatever bug he has. He'll definitely feel like shit in the morning, so don't make him feel any worse about not showing up tonight. "Frank thought you played real well," added Helen. "He thinks you may get a scholarship offer." "Why is it so hard for you to understand that I don't give a shit what Frank thinks?" asked Emily petulantly. "As far as I'm concerned he's a cheating asshole and if I never see him again, it'll be too soon." "You shouldn't feel that way," protested Helen. "Why can't you just be happy for me? I enjoy him. He makes me feel young and desirable." "I guess it's because I can't stop worrying about Dad. I don't think this will set very well with him when he finds out about Frank. It'll break his heart." "That's exactly why he can't find out. I give him all the loving he wants, so he's not losing anything. Frank is just getting the extra that your father can't handle." "Keep telling yourself that, Mom. I really doubt that Dad will think about it that way. And if you keep this up, he will find out, but it won't be from me," stated Emily flatly. "If you don't tell, he'll never suspect a thing. I know your father. He trusts me completely," responded Helen as Emily just turned and walked to her bedroom. Jim's eyes opened around five AM and he was wide awake. He quietly dressed and left the house. He had just finished his breakfast at IHOP when his cell rang. "Jim? Are you okay?" asked Helen in a concerned voice. "You didn't come to Emily's match last night, you slept in the guest room, and you left the house early on a Saturday morning. This isn't like you." "I realize that. I just thought I'd become more unpredictable and do things on the spur of the moment," answered Jim before he disconnected the call and turned his phone off. Jim spent the morning in the plant, making sure he had his tools and everything else that belonged to him loaded into his pickup. He was going to need them for his new position. As the day went on, Jim found himself better able to cope with his situation. He realized that he couldn't change the past, but he could do his best to have a decent future. He'd be working in a new place, meeting new people, and enjoying better weather. He was determined to the make the situation work for him. Jim also realized that he needed to keep his move to Florida a secret for the next few days. Thursday was Thanksgiving. He'd be completely packed by then and ready to leave early the next morning. Helen and Emily would think he was headed for an even colder climate. He was determined not to say anything to make them believe otherwise. It was late afternoon by the time Jim walked into his house. Helen lit into him as he washed his hands in the bathroom. "You don't ever hang up on me!" yelled Helen. "You missed Emily's important match, which they won if it matters to you, to get drunk and pass out in the guest room. Then you sneak out early to avoid me and hang up when I call out of concern! I suppose you expect me to make dinner now? You can starve as far as I'm concerned." Jim would have felt guilty and apologized profusely to Helen two days ago. Now he realized that her anger really didn't matter to him. What the hell did he care if she was happy or not? He simply nodded and walked back out the door. Ten minutes later he was ordering ribs in a local sports bar. Jim was surprised that he was actually able to enjoy himself. He drank a few beers and talked football with the other patrons. It was almost eleven when he returned home. Helen and Emily were sitting in the living room watching an old movie. "So you've decided to grace us with your presence?" asked Helen snidely. "Don't expect to sleep in my bed until you apologize to Emily and me for acting like such a jackass." "Okay," was all Jim said as he passed through the living room and made his way to the master bedroom. He quickly gathered up clothes for the next day and took them to the guest room where he immediately stripped down and climbed into bed. "He didn't seem very concerned that you were so upset," observed Emily after Jim had disappeared from sight. "He acts like he's fine with sleeping in the guestroom." "You don't know your father," chuckled Helen. "He won't be able to hold out more than a night or two before he comes crawling back into my bed. He knows when he has it good." "I guess," replied a dubious Emily. "I just hope he doesn't find out how good Frank has it." "Please stop mentioning his name," insisted Helen. "I intend to keep that a secret, so I'd appreciate it if you'd stop bringing him up." "I guess you enjoy being the one to 'bring him up', if he isn't already up for his wife," countered Emily. Helen stared at her daughter, hoping she'd show some shame for speaking that way to her own mother. When Emily first caught her with Frank, Helen thought it might actually simplify things. It would be one fewer person to lie to, and Emily was much more observant about her mother's activities that Jim ever was. Emily had agreed to keep Frank a secret, mostly because she didn't want her parents to divorce, but she was becoming increasingly disrespectful. Helen was finding it difficult to be both a good mother and a willing mistress when her daughter knew she was playing both roles. Then there was issue with Jim. What had gotten into him the last couple of days? She couldn't recall any disagreement, or slight. He was just behaving poorly and she wasn't going to tolerate it. He'd come to his senses before long. The sex she shared with him was far too good for him to go without for very long. She was certain of that. I'll Follow the Sun Sunday morning found Jim up early again. He ate breakfast at IHOP again and then went for a long walk in the park. It was a cold, peaceful November morning. He enjoyed the brisk breeze in his face, mostly because he knew he wouldn't have to experience the cold once he moved to Florida. He returned home shortly before noon with a six pack. He turned on the TV, popped open a beer, and began to watch all of the pregame bullshit while he waited for the Eagles game to be broadcast. Helen made a point of ignoring him for the first hour, but then she stomped into the garage and drove off. Helen came home at six thirty and the second game ended a little after seven. Noticing there was no sign of dinner; Jim switched the TV off and left the house. Twenty minutes later, he was once again eating ribs and watching the football in the local sports bar. The Eagles had defeated the Giants, so he found himself smiling much of the evening. They were playing the Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day and Jim looked forward to watching them annihilate The 'Crygirls'! "Dad's been acting a little strange lately, wouldn't you say?" questioned Emily as she and her mother sat in the living room. "He usually watches the game on Sunday nights. Did you guys have a fight?" "We've hardly spoken," replied her mother. "I told him he'd have to apologize for missing your match and drinking too much before he'd be allowed back in my bed. Before that I told him I wouldn't be cooking anything for him until his attitude improved. He'll miss my cooking, as well as my loving, soon enough. He'll apologize before long." Emily and Helen were watching a movie when Jim came home. The football game had become quite one-sided by halftime, so he left the bar. He walked past his wife and daughter and into the spare bedroom. Closing the door, Jim peeled down to his underwear and slid between the sheets. The next several days were stressful for Helen. Jim maintained his silence, which drove home the point that he wasn't about to apologize. She had never seen him act so defiantly toward her and it caused her concern. To top it off, she had another flat tire at the motel when she met Frank Tuesday afternoon. She decided that two flat tires were no coincidence and she would never use that motel again. Luckily she had taken the time and effort on Monday to have her spare tire repaired and once again Frank changed it for her. Jim spent Monday packing the clothes he wanted to take with him. Tuesday morning he gathered all of his personal items and tools and packed them in his truck. He moved his remaining clothes around in the closet so it still looked quite full. He wondered if Helen would notice that he didn't take his cold weather clothes with him. On both Monday and Tuesday afternoon, Jim drove to the Home Depot and watched for his wife to leave. On Monday, she left at her normal time and drove to the nearby grocery store to shop. He followed her until he was sure that she was going home before he turned his truck into the lot of his now favorite bar for dinner and Monday Night Football. "Dad's not coming home tonight?" asked Emily as she joined her mother at the dinner table. "Who knows? He doesn't speak to me and he's still sleeping in the guest room," replied Helen. "I don't know what's gotten into him." "Is it possible he found out what's gotten into you?" asked Emily. "You told him he couldn't sleep with you, and you wouldn't cook for him, so what reason does he have to come home? Maybe you should just forgive him and cook a nice dinner for him tomorrow night." "I can't. I'm meeting Frank tomorrow. You'll have to have leftovers. I'll be home a little late." "So much for only giving Frank what Dad can't handle, huh Mom? You're skipping dinner and treating Dad like shit, but you'll bang Frank's brains out? Somehow it sounds like Frank is getting the better of the deal." "At least Frank's not being an ass!" insisted Helen. "He treats me with respect and doesn't get drunk or hang up on me." "Could it be because he's getting into your panties on a regular basis that he's being a nice guy?" asked Emily. "Does he take out the garbage for us, mow the lawn, paint the house, or pay our mortgage?" "Of course not! What's your point?" demanded Helen. "Frank doesn't have to do anything but show up with a hard on, and if he doesn't have one, you'll probably help remedy that problem," answered Emily. "Dad does all of those things, and a lot more. Frank plays hide the weenie and you think he's a great guy for that. You don't expect him to help around the house in any way. He doesn't have to escort you to your social activities, or sit in the hospital waiting room while you're having you leg set after falling down the stairs. You expect a lot from Dad and withhold what you should be gladly giving him while giving it to Frank, and he's done nothing to earn it besides squeezing your ass and telling you how sexy you look." "Your attitude is not acceptable!" snapped Helen. "I'm your mother and I expect you to show me some respect." "And Dad expects you to treat him with respect and be faithful to him, but it sure isn't happening," retorted Emily with heat. "Maybe respect is earned and not demanded." Emily made a point of stopping her father that evening as he passed through the living room on his way to the stairs. "Our district championship game is tomorrow at the gym at State. We play at four. Think you'll be able to make it?" "I'll check my schedule and see what I can do," responded Jim noncommittally before he continued up the stairs. "I think he's upset with me, too," lamented Emily. "I haven't done anything to piss him off, but he sure doesn't seem interested in anything I have to say." "I'm telling you that he's in a weird mood," soothed Helen. "He's unhappy about something and lacks the communication skills to tell us. He'll be there tomorrow." "Look, his truck is in the garage," sobbed Emily the next evening. "He could have come to my match. He just didn't feel like it. Why is he angry at me?" "That's a very reasonable question," agreed Helen sadly as she listened to her daughter cry. "Let's find out what's going on right now." Once again, they discovered an emptied six pack on the kitchen table with no Jim in sight. "It's only eight o'clock. He can't be in bed already," stated Helen with concern. Once again, they were unable to rouse Jim from a deep sleep in the guest room. Defeated, the two women returned to the living room. "Tomorrow's Thanksgiving Day. Are you going to let Dad eat with us?" "Of course. His parents are coming, as are mine. It's his house. I would never try to keep him away. He knows that. I hope he's acting better by then. I invited company to drop in around four." "Who did you invite, Mom? Please tell me it isn't Frank!" "Frank and his wife are coming over. I think he and Jim will get along great. They both love football and hunting. They have a lot of things in common," reasoned Helen. "The problem is that one of the things they have in common is between your legs," pointed out Emily. "Husbands don't normally like sharing that with hunting buddies or fellow football fans. You're showing classic signs of guilt and subconsciously wanting to be caught. This is a really bad idea." "I just think that they'll get along fine. Jim needs more friends. Frank would be good for him." "You've really gone off the deep end. There's no world where having those two in the same room could ever be a good thing," insisted Emily. "We'll see," replied Helen. "I think you're in for a surprise." Jim rose early Thanksgiving morning. He drove to a small diner that was open until noon and had a quiet breakfast. He walked back into the house at nine AM. His senses were assaulted by the smells of turkey, potatoes, gravy, pie, and numerous other foods being prepared. "We'll be sitting down at noon," greeted Helen. "Our parents will be here a little before then. Would you like a drink or anything?" Jim shook his head and moved to the living room where he sat down and turned on the TV. He knew that Helen was trying to offer an olive branch, but he no longer had much interest in anything she had to say. He greeted her parents warmly when they arrived. They were gracious people that had always treated Jim well. His parents pulled in a few minutes later. "I have an announcement to make," proclaimed Jim as the family passed food around the table. "I'm being transferred to the company's other plant. I'll be driving out tomorrow morning. The assignment will last at least until spring, and maybe longer. Helen was stunned. Why hadn't he mentioned this sooner? She could never be able to leave that quickly. And if she was, would she be willing to move to Michigan? That was probably why Jim had been acting so strangely the last week. He knew Helen would never agree to moving away from her job to freeze her ass off. "This is awfully sudden," observed Helen's mother. "Helen never mentioned it. Will she be going with you, or will you wait to see how permanent it is?" "I'll be going alone," replied Jim. "It wouldn't be fair to ask Emily to switch schools and Helen to give up her job. I'll just have to suffer alone for a few months." Both sets of grandparents began discussing the weather in Michigan and how cold it would be, while Helen and Emily shared a glance. Both were thinking the same thing. Jim was upset about leaving his family and heading for a frozen wasteland. No wonder he had been out of sorts! After dinner, Jim, his father, and Helen's father settled in front of the TV to watch the second half of the Eagle game. The Cowboys had a 17-0 lead at half and it only got worse from there. All three were disgusted with the lack of effort from their favorite team. They were watching the pregame show for the second football game when the doorbell rang. Jim wasn't paying much attention until Helen cleared her throat from the foyer. "Hey, everyone! I want you meet a couple of friends. This is Nancy and her husband Frank. She then proceeded to name each person in the room. Jim was the last one to be introduced. Jim was on his feet by the time Frank reached him. Frank was grinning like a Cheshire cat. He wore a Dallas Cowboy jersey with 'Romo' in big letters across the back. His grin increased as he stepped up to Jim and stuck his hand out. "Hello, Jimmy. I've heard a lot about you." Jim had done a masterful job of keeping things bottled up, but this was simply too much. Frank was showing as much disrespect as he possibly could, especially since he was in Jim's home. He was laughing at Jim, laughing at his favorite football team, but mostly at his inability to keep his wife. Jim suddenly reached his limit! With no warning, Jim kicked Frank between the legs hard enough to lift the man off his feet. When he bent over to clutch his throbbing groin, Jim's knee met Frank's face with a sickening sound. Frank dropped to the floor in the classic fetal position as blood spurted from his smashed nose. No one else moved for several seconds. Then Nancy screamed and dropped down next to her husband. Helen raced to the bathroom and vomited in the toilet while Emily collected some ice in a cloth. She handed it to Nancy who gently applied it to Frank's face. Jim was as stunned as everyone else by his actions. Not knowing what else to do, and feeling the disapproval from the others, he grabbed his coat and walked out the door. Jim didn't stop for the night until he left Route 81 and had traveled for a while on Route 77 in Virginia. He rented a room in Hillsville and fell asleep within minutes. When he woke in the morning, he turned his phone back on. His mailbox was full which did not surprise him. He listened to a few messages before he decided to delete all of them. His mother, Helen, and Emily had all called, demanding to know where he was and what he thought he was doing. Jim decided to maintain his schedule and pointed his car southward on Route 77. As he drove, he kept replaying his actions of the previous day. That prick Frank had it coming, but what would the ramifications be? Would he be pulled over by the highway patrol and arrested? Would he lose his job before he even reached Daytona? Would Helen divorce him now? He realized that he should have listened to his messages to get a feel for the situation. He decided to leave his phone turned on, but not answer any calls. He would check the messages after the caller gave up. He hadn't been on the road for half an hour when his cell rang. He checked the ID and saw that it was Helen. He waited a couple of minutes and then checked his messages. "Jim, please call me. I know the transfer upset you a great deal, but you've got to get control. Frank is going to be okay, but he needs surgery on his nose. He won't press charges. Please call me." Jim drove through the morning and into the afternoon. He arrived at the condo at five PM. As promised there was a lockbox attached to an outdoor water faucet. He had been given the combination via email a few days prior. He was able to open the box, remove the key to the front door and move in. It was well after seven by the time he had his clothes unpacked and his personal belongings unloaded. He parked his truck in the garage, made the bed up and went to sleep. Since it was Friday evening, he'd have two days off before reporting for work. While moving in, he had noticed several minor issues with the condo, so he decided that Saturday would be a good time to get the condo into better repair. Jim began to worry about Helen calling his work and finding out about the Daytona plant and then deciding that she should join him. That was the last thing he wanted, so he made plans to call her Saturday morning. "Hello, Helen? This is Jim, I..." "Where the hell are you? We've been calling you all night. Your phone was turned off. What is wrong with you? Frank has a broken nose and a slight concussion, all because he cheers for a different football team! Have you lost your mind? When will..." Jim pushed the 'end call' button, turned the phone off, and began making a list of things he would need from the local Home Depot. An hour later he was back at the condo with washers for the kitchen faucet, a lockset for the front door, a filter for the A/C unit, various cleaning supplies, and a thirty pack of beer. At noon, he called Emily's cell. "Hey, Dad! I'm glad you called. All hell broke loose around here after you decked Frank. The ambulance came and dragged his sorry ass to the hospital. Both sets of grandparents worried that you'd lost your mind. Mom was afraid we'd be sued. I had to clean up the blood on the floor while Mom took Nancy to the hospital. I think she apologized to her a hundred times." "Other than that, anything interesting happen?" asked Jim. "No, it's been pretty quiet. Oh, there's one other thing," added Emily. "Mom is livid that you hung up on her again. She was just getting warmed up when you disconnected. "Yeah, I could tell," replied Frank. "That's why I called you this time. I've settled in at my new digs and I'll be reporting for work Monday morning, just in case anyone wonders where I am, like the police." "Don't worry about that," chuckled Emily. "Frank isn't pressing charges, although I think his wife wanted to. The cops won't be looking for you. So why the secrecy about your transfer? Is that why you've been acting different the past week or so?" "The day I was told about the transfer was very revealing for me. I started thinking about where I was in my life and where I needed to be. One conclusion I came to was not to take any more shit from people, including family. No one's going to respect me if I don't respect myself," answered Jim thoughtfully. "I kind of lost my way over the years, but I getting back on track." "Hanging up on Mom and laying Frank out are two examples of not taking any shit?" asked Emily. "They're pretty radical departures from your normal behavior." "I guess so, but I feel a lot better than I have in some time, so I guess it's working." "Are you okay, Dad? Is your health okay? Are you having any problems we should know about?" asked Emily with concern. "Not really. You and your mother know my problems. I'm sure of that," responded Jim dejectedly. "Just tell your mother I've settled in and to not worry about me, if that was even a possibility." "Okay, Dad. I'm going to call you now and then. Will you accept my calls," questioned Emily. Jim found it extremely hard to maintain his anger at his daughter. He loved her without reservation, but her lack of respect for him was difficult to accept. He knew he didn't want to cut her out of his life entirely. He had already mellowed some compared to his original anger the day he learned his wife and daughter had teamed up to deceive him in the worst possible manner. "As long as you don't call while I'm working, I'll answer your calls," replied Jim after a little thought. "What about Mom? Can she call you?" pushed Emily. "Will you answer her calls now?" "If she wants to call to tell me what an asshole I am, she can save herself the trouble," retorted Jim immediately. "If there's an issue with the house or the family that I need to know about, she should call. Is that fair enough?" "It'll have to be, won't it? I'll let her know. Good luck in your new job and stay warm. Is it really cold there now?" "Actually, it's better than I had dared hope," replied Jim. "I'll do fine here, so don't worry about the weather. Goodbye, Em." Once Emily placed her phone in her lap, Helen began asking questions. "What did he say? Did he apologize? Is he afraid to come home? What did he say about me?" "He doesn't seem to be afraid of anything. He said he's decided that he's not going to take any more shit from anyone. That's why he laid out Frank and why he keeps hanging up on you. If you ever want to have a conversation with him, it looks like you'll have to be more respectful and considerate," summed up Emily. "Respectful? He's the one that beat up a guest in our home just because he wore the wrong football team jersey! He's the one that keeps hanging up on me! I'll give him a piece of my mind the next time I talk to him," promised Helen. "That's exactly what he was talking about. You won't give him a piece of your mind, because he won't listen. He'll just hang up on you. Frank's the only one that'll be getting a piece of anything from you, unless you get another boyfriend or two." "Why do you persist in making such crude, demeaning comments?" demanded Helen. "Mostly because your behavior is crude, demeaning, and extremely disrespectful," retorted Emily. "Frank was grinning at Dad like crazy. I know it was more than about the Cowboys beating the Eagles. He was laughing at Dad because he's tapping Dad's woman. That's enough to make any normal man go ballistic." "But Jim doesn't know about Frank and me, so he couldn't have felt that Frank was trying to rub that in," reasoned Helen. "Well, he sure knew that Frank was being a total asshole and put him in his place. You don't walk into a man's house and laugh and disrespect him. Any man would get angry, even if he didn't know his wife was the other guy's personal slut." "I'm not going to listen to that kind of talk anymore!" yelled Helen. "You're living under my roof and you'll show me the respect I deserve, whether you think I deserve it or not!" Jim was relaxing by the pool Wednesday evening when his phone rang. Glancing at the ID, he saw it was Helen and let it go to voicemail. A few minutes later, he checked for a message. "Jim, I know you're screening my calls. Please call me back. We need to decide a few things about the house. Who's going to clear the driveway when it snows? Should I sign a contract for fuel oil delivery? What company do we use? Please call me." I'll Follow the Sun Jim listened to the message carefully. He didn't detect any anger, so he decided to call Helen back. She had some valid questions. He didn't want her and Emily to have any safety or health issues. "Thanks for calling, Jim," answered Helen calmly. "I'm concerned about the things that you normally handle for the house now that the snow season is here. Could you tell me what I need to do?" "I'll sit down, make out a detailed list, and email it to you," promised Jim. "I should have thought of those things." "You will come home for Christmas, won't you?" asked Helen. "Mom and Dad have invited us to their place for Christmas dinner. Your parents want us on Christmas Eve. They keep asking if I've talked to you. It's pretty embarrassing when I tell them that I haven't. They say you aren't taking their calls either." "I don't know what my schedule will be. I'll be home if I can. You can tell them that much. You can also explain that I'll start taking their calls when they start speaking to me in a civil manner. Every message I get, even from my own mother, is threatening and insulting. I don't need that shit," insisted Jim. "Okay, I'll tell them, although I doubt it will do much good. They weren't too happy about the way you treated Frank, or the way you disappeared afterward," responded Helen carefully. "Then there's no reason for me to stop in for Christmas, is there? I'm not going to have your folks, or even my folks, give me the third degree and treat me like public enemy number one. If they want me there because they enjoy my company, it's one thing. If they want me to show up so they can ream me a new asshole, I'm not interested," stated Jim. "You can still come home!" sobbed Helen to Jim's surprise. "Emily and I will be glad to see you, and we won't make any stupid comments, if we can help it. Don't you miss making love to me?" There it was. Jim had no desire to have sex with Helen. Hearing her and Frank together had pretty well ended those feelings. He thought about the best way to respond. He could fudge a little since he hadn't slept with Helen since he found out about Frank. "I've always enjoy our lovemaking. Every time we've ever made love, it was special for me," responded Jim, although he did neglect to mention it was only because he didn't know he was getting Frank's sloppy seconds. "Me, too!" sobbed Helen again. "You're the best lover ever and I really miss you in my bed. Please come home for Christmas. See if you can spend Christmas week with us." "I'll have to see about that. They don't normally give people that week off on the spur of the moment because so many ask for it when they put in for their vacation schedule. I'll let you know," promised Jim. "I'll email you all of the people you need to contact to prepare for the snow season, too." Helen was smiling as she put her phone down. "He's the best lover ever?" repeated Emily. "You'd better not let Frank hear that. He seems to think he's on the top of your list, his wife's list, and who knows who else's list." "I've asked you to show some restraint when making comments about Frank. Your father actually is better than Frank, so it wasn't a lie. Frank's more exciting, but not better." "I'm sure that Dad will cling to that bit of good news when you explain it to him that way. He'll be proud as a peacock. His wife says he's better than her other lovers. That's the kind of recommendation a husband can brag about," observed Emily as her mother left the room in tears. Jim was enjoying his new life. He managed to spend time at the pool every day. He became tanned and more relaxed as the days went by. He had no trouble understanding the equipment at the plant and was confident he would be able to keep the place running smoothly. The one thing that surprised him was the number of widows, divorcees, and otherwise unmarried women that populated his condo complex. Without exception, they seemed to enjoy his company. Once it became known that he was a handy with tools, he was constantly in demand. It didn't bother him since the ladies always baked something for him to take home, or gave him a home cooked meal, or left a bottle of wine or a six pack of beer by his door. It was a few days before Christmas and Helen had been pressuring him to make the commitment to drive home for the holiday. Jim had just finished repairing Mrs. Struther's closet door when he turned around to find her standing naked by the bed! "I'd like to repay you for your kindness, Jim," smiled the middle aged widow. "I don't have a lot of extra cash, but I do have a lot of pent up desire and needs. Will you make love to me?" Jim was torn. He had never been unfaithful. In fact, he had only had sex with one woman in his life. Susan Struthers had large firm breasts and great legs that went all of the way up. She was a very desirable woman, and not just for her age. "Susan, I've got to settle some things in my marriage. I'll have a better idea of where I stand after Christmas. I've never cheated on my wife, but she may not be my wife much longer. In any case, I'll either ask you if the offer still stands after the holiday, or reconcile with my wife. I have to admit that the chances of reconciling are slim at this point." "I understand," nodded the widow as she pulled a robe over her shoulders. "The dumb bitch didn't appreciate what a gem she had and cheated on you, didn't she? I'll still be here and the offer will still stand after the holidays. You know that I'm not the only lady here that has needs that aren't being met, don't you? "All of the girls like you. You're always a gentleman, always gracious and willing to help, and we all know we can trust you. If you decide your marriage is finished, you'll find a lot of ladies willing to console you," predicted Susan Struthers. Jim called Helen and told her that he'd try to be home Christmas Eve. He was surprised at how happy that seemed to make her. He realized that he missed Helen and Emily and he owed it to them, as well as himself, to settle the issue one way or the other. With that in mind, he started driving north three days before Christmas. He drove over half way the first day so he'd some time to shop on the second day and still get home the evening before Christmas Eve. He was even willing to visit his parents for dinner on Christmas Eve. If they were too miserable, he'd simply leave. It was nine o'clock when he pulled onto his street to find numerous cars in his driveway and parked on the street. Jim recognized several of them. It appeared that Helen was having her usual informal holiday party for her friends at Home Depot. As he approached his front door, he was able to see into the kitchen. There, big as life, was the fucking asshole, Frank. Not wanting to have anything to do with him and screw up the festive mood, Jim went around back and opened the Bilko door that led to the basement. It was mostly unfinished and he'd be able to hang out there until the party was over and Frank was gone. He dozed on the old sofa he had dragged down a few years prior. He woke up almost two hours after he had fallen asleep. He listened but didn't hear much noise coming from upstairs. He went back outside and looked around. Only one strange car remained. Jim wondered to whom it belonged as he again made his way to the front door. Once again, he looked into the kitchen, but this time Helen was with Frank. He was squeezing her left breast as he kissed her! Jim immediately felt all of the old rage come back. He stopped himself from barging in and attacking Frank. He had gotten away with it once, but it was unlikely he would again. He decided to sneak upstairs and wait to catch the two lovers in the act. Then he'd take some pictures with his phone and tell the slut to go to hell and head back to Florida. It seemed like a good plan, but it wasn't to be. Jim had no trouble getting into the house and moving up the stairs undetected. He slipped into the guest room and waited with the lights off and the door cracked open slightly. About twenty minutes later Helen came up the stairs and went into the master bedroom. Jim heard the shower turn on and that pissed him off. The bitch was going to take a shower and get all squeaky clean for her lover. Frank was still moving around downstairs when Jim had an inspiration. He stepped into the hallway and unplugged the nightlight before returning to the guest room. As Frank was about a third of the way up the stairs, Jim reached out and turned off the hall light. He knew from experience that it would be extremely dark on the second story, but he would be able to see the silhouette of anyone climbing the stairs by the dim light from the street. Frank mumbled something when the lights went off, but kept moving up the stairs. Jim stepped from the bedroom and stood at the top of the stairs watching Frank come toward him. When Frank had just three steps to go, Jim lashed out with his right foot. He felt his heel connect with Frank's jaw. The man went over backward so fast Jim was amazed. With the dim light, he was able to see Frank skidding down the stairs like a bobsled on a straight away. He hit the bottom of the stairs and his momentum carried him out into the center of the living room. Once there, he remained completely still! Jim could hear the shower running so he knew that Helen had not heard the various sounds a man makes when he bounces down the stairs head first. Jim was once again thinking as the rage he had been experiencing began to dissipate. If Frank died, he'd be in really deep shit!" Frank moved quickly down the stairs, stepped over Frank's prone body, and left the house. Two hours later, he was over a hundred miles away and determined to add a lot more miles before he stopped. It was almost dawn when he finally pulled into a cheap motel and paid cash for a room. He slept four hours and once again headed his truck south. As he drove, he considered his situation. He had assaulted a man. It could be a very serious situation, depending on whether Frank survived or not. How had things come to this? Jim realized that he needed to stay away from Frank and Helen, or he's wind up in prison for murder. They just weren't worth it. He also admitted to himself that he felt lonely and lost without Helen. Up until recently, she and Emily had been the center of his universe. They had betrayed him and he needed to move on. At noon his cell rang. It was his parents' number, so he let it go to voicemail. He had no stomach for explaining to his mother why he wouldn't be at dinner on Christmas Eve, or why he had assaulted Frank yet again. Half an hour later he worked up the nerve to listen to the message. "Jim, this is your father. Call us when you get this. All hell has broken out at your house. Helen and Emily are fine, but things have happened that you need to know about." "Hello, Dad. I just got your message. What's up," asked Jim when his father answered the phone. "There's no easy way to tell you this, Son. That damn Frank guy was at your house again last night. It was kind of late and he fell down the stairs and got hurt pretty bad. He has a broken jaw, a broken arm, some cracked and broken ribs, plus another concussion. "His wife went ballistic when she found out he was at your house. He had given her the impression that he was working late on year-end inventory at Home Depot. She got to your place before the medics had him loaded into the ambulance. I guess she slapped Helen and called her every name in the book. She even tried to dump her husband off the gurney, but the police stopped her. To say she was upset is an understatement. "That all leads us back to Thanksgiving when you laid the prick out. We were upset with your apparent violent attack on a guy simply because he wore a Cowboy shirt. Now that we have a little clearer picture of what's going on, your mother and I want to apologize to you. We should have known you wouldn't do something like that without good reason. We're proud of you son. You showed more restraint that I would have." "Thanks, Dad. How's Emily? Was she home for all of this?" asked Jim. "That's another problem. Your mother and I had a pretty serious discussion with her this morning. She was staying with a friend last night, but she admitted today that she knew Helen was spreading her legs for that asshole. Your mother chewed her a new one. In Emily's defense, she said she knew you'd dump Helen's cheating ass and she wanted the family to stay together until she graduated. She was going to tell you then. Needless to say, we were pretty disappointed and I can't imagine how you feel. Your mother told her that she had betrayed you every bit as much as Helen had. There were a lot of tears, but we all hugged at the end." "Thanks for the support and for setting Emily straight," replied Jim. "Son, where are you really? I know you said you were transferred, but now that I know the problems you had, I wonder if you didn't just move into a motel or rent a room here in town. Even as angry as you were, moving to Michigan in December is pretty drastic." "The company bought out a smaller one in Daytona Beach. I was promoted and relocated down here. They gave me a big raise and a small condo. I'm the maintenance supervisor," bragged Jim to his father. "Florida? No shit! That's great. Would you mind if your mother and I visited you in February? We'll have enough of winter by then." "Any time, Dad. You're always welcome. Please don't tell Helen where I am. I don't feel like putting up with her shit right now." "I hear you, Jim. It's unlikely that we'll be speaking to her about anything. I would suggest that you talk to Emily. She's feeling pretty low about this whole mess. She thinks you must have known Helen was cheating because you've been so cold to both of them. Did you know that Emily knew about it?" "I have to go, Dad. We'll discuss all of this later, when the dust settles. Thanks for understanding, and for helping Emily. I love you both," stated Jim as he ended the call. He arrived back at his condo at dusk on Christmas Eve. It was going to be Jim's first Christmas alone and he was feeling depressed. He turned on the TV, opened a beer and sat down on the couch to vegetate. He was still brooding when his doorbell rang. "I saw your lights on, so I came over to wish you a Merry Christmas," greeted Susan Struthers. "It isn't good to be alone on Christmas, for either of us. The fact that you're back tells me you didn't reconcile with your wife." "That's a safe assumption," admitted Jim. "Her boyfriend was going to camp out in my bed. I hate crowds, unless it's a couple of women, of course." "How about one woman? I might crowd you a little, but I don't think you'll mind it at all," added Susan suggestively. Jim mulled her offer over for a split second before accepting. "I'd like that a lot. I have to warn you it's been a while for me and I must not be very good at it or my wife wouldn't have gone looking for strange cock." "I really doubt you were the problem. When a man is as gracious, unselfish, and kind as you are in everyday life, it's a pretty good bet that he'll be wonderful in the bedroom," replied Susan. "Let's get the first one out of the way so we can really enjoy the next one. Do you have condoms?" "No, I haven't used one in twenty years," answered Jim as he realized he had a lot to learn about dating again. "Your partners will appreciate that you have them. It's the healthy, considerate thing. There's a lot of STD's and even AIDS being passed around by people our age and much older, thanks to that blue pill. Plus your wife has been playing around, so who knows what she may have given you. We'll use condoms that I brought but I won't be doing any oral on you until you get tested. Is that fair enough?" asked Susan. It was, and Jim had a great Christmas Eve. After tossing the third spent condom into the trash, Jim considered how once again his life had taken a full 180 in a very short time. He could still perform, and from the way Susan raved, he could do it quite well! His anger at Helen and Emily began to fade as he replaced it with happy memories that improved his self esteem. He still felt the hurt, as well as the void their actions had created in his life, but he was finally coming to grips with it. People did bad things, even good people and even to the ones they loved. Susan helped convince him that life was indeed worth living. She slipped out his door while it was still dark on Christmas morning to avoid condo gossip, but agreed to meet at the heated swimming pool later Christmas Day. That evening, Jim enjoyed a home cooked meal and another round of love making with Susan. He returned to his unit by nine PM, again to avoid creating gossip. There was little doubt that more than a few eyes had seen him enter and leave Susan's condo. Jim's phone rang a few minutes after he returned home. "Dad? You didn't make it home for Christmas, but I don't blame you. Mom's a mess and I feel like crap, too. I'm so sorry about what we did to you. I knew better but I was selfish. I wanted you guys to stay together until I graduated." "It's all water under the bridge," responded Jim. "I won't lie. You both hurt me a lot. I never guessed that your mother was so unhappy with me. I never dreamed that you'd go along with it and even help her keep it from me. I'm trying to get past it, but it isn't easy." "That's the weird part. Mom isn't unhappy with you. She told me that you were a good husband, father, and lover. She just wanted to try something different and she regrets the hell out of that idea now. Did you know about Frank and Mom on Thanksgiving when Mom invited him to the house?" "Yes. I should apologize for losing control like I did, but the damn guy was rubbing my nose in it. He had a Cowboy jersey on, but it might as well have had 'I screwed your wife' on it rather than 'Romo'. I just snapped at the level of disrespect both he and your mother showed me." "I understand totally. I was glad you decked him. I saw that stupid grin he gave you and I knew he was gloating. Mom insisted it was because of the Cowboy shirt, but that's never bothered you before. Did you skip my last two matches because you were upset with me?" "Yeah, I guess I did. I'm sorry about that, but when Frank said he'd be there cheering for you, I knew I couldn't go. I'd be in jail right now if I had," predicted Jim. "You heard Frank? You were there when I dropped off the spare tire? You were the one that cut the valve stem weren't you? You wanted to see if Mom would call you for help, so you could make her confess. Instead, I got in the middle of it! I'm so sorry, Dad. I really was selfish and stupid and I'm paying for it now." "Don't beat yourself up over it. I should have just confronted your mother on the spot, but I'm finding that I have anger issues. I probably would have put them both in the hospital." "I doubt that, Dad," responded Emily. "You just aren't the kind of guy to hurt a woman, especially your wife. Frank is a whole different story. Gramps told you that Frank fell down our stairs the other night. He's pretty screwed up, but he's expected to make a full recovery, although it'll take a while. "Guess what I found in the basement. It was the new laptop you must have left for me over Thanksgiving. That was thinking ahead. Thanks so much. I'll use it a lot, especially when I go to college next year," promised Emily. "Glad you liked it," responded Jim as he realized that he had forgotten the gifts he placed on the sofa in the basement. "Did you find the one for your mother, too?" "She cried like a baby when she saw the pearls. That was a nice gift, and it really made her feel even lousier for the way she treated you. It's funny I didn't see those gifts a few days before Christmas when I was in the basement looking for more tree lights. Thanks for being such a good father for so many years. I'm just starting to appreciate you like I should," confessed Emily with a slight sob. I'll Follow the Sun "Don't feel bad. I thought my folks were dumber than a box of rocks when I was your age. They sure learned a lot in the next few years," chuckled Jim. "I just want you to be happy and have a great life. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine." "I love you, Dad. I might even find a way to get to Michigan to visit you this winter," suggested Emily. "Em, I didn't exactly tell the whole truth about my transfer. The company bought out a smaller one in Daytona Beach. That's where I'm living now. If you'd like to visit me, I have a spare bedroom. There's a pool just outside my door and the ocean is a couple of blocks away." "Are you kidding me? If Mom and I had known that, we'd have gone down with you! Oh, I guess you didn't really want us, did you? We didn't deserve to be with you after all of the hurt we caused. I don't blame you for not telling us. We lied to you every day, so you were entitled to not tell the whole truth at least once. This will really put Mom over the edge." "You don't have to tell her, although it's no secret any longer. I'll email her my address so we can work out the divorce through the mails and I won't have to drive back up there," reasoned Jim. "I was afraid to ask about that. You're going to divorce Mom? I understand it and don't blame you at all. I warned her you would when she was seeing that clown, but she believed that you'd never find out. I just wish things had turned out differently. Good night, Dad. I think I'll try to get down to visit. You haven't seen me in a bikini lately. I'm starting to fill out pretty nicely." "Oh great! Now I have to go out and buy a shotgun," joked Jim. "Good night and Merry Christmas." Emily had just put her phone back in her pocket when her mother walked into the room. "Did I understand that your father isn't really in Michigan? Then where is he and why did he lie to us?" "He's at his company's newly purchased plant in Daytona Beach," replied Emily. "He didn't lie to us. He said he was being transferred to a different plant and he was. We didn't know they had one in Daytona, so we assumed it was the one in Michigan. He didn't tell us because he was there when you called me to bring the spare tire to the motel. He heard the whole conversation and he knew you were in a cheap room getting your brains screwed out by Frank. He didn't feel like he owed us any consideration at all." "Why didn't he say something then? Was he afraid of Frank?" quizzed Helen. "Afraid of Frank? What the hell is wrong with you?" demanded Emily. "He mopped the floor with Frank's ass. Frank's no match for Dad in a fight, or in raising a family. You keep trying to find fault or a weakness with him so you can justify the unforgiveable. I'd strongly recommend that you don't treat your next husband like you have Dad." "Next husband? What did your father say to you?" asked a worried Helen. "It's hard to believe, but he's had enough of your cheating and lying. He feels divorce is the next step. I told you that he would when he found out." "I don't want a divorce. I don't love Frank. I hardly even like him. None of this would've happened if he hadn't fallen down those stairs!" whined Helen. "Have you not been listening? You were doomed the day I delivered your spare tire to the motel. Dad was there and saw and heard everything. He knows how we disrespected him. He knows you lied, he knows you cheated, and he knew it when he punched Frank out on Thanksgiving. You were a 'divorced woman walking' by that time. This mess isn't Frank's fault. It's yours. He made his own mess. Maybe you two can hook up now that his wife is divorcing him," suggested Emily. "I don't want that jackass! I want Jim back," sobbed Helen. The next day was even worse for Helen. Emily called her father to explain the new problem. "Mom got a letter from the state health department. Her boyfriend had blood work done while he's in the hospital and he's got an STD. Mom has to get checked, as well as tell them everyone she's had sex with. You're on her list, although I'm not sure how far down it you are. You'll be getting a letter pretty soon." "Wow! I guess I should have seen it coming. I'll make an appointment today. Thanks for letting me know right away. I appreciate the concern and consideration." "It's the kind of treatment a man should expect from his daughter. I was lost there for a while, but I'm back on track now. Take care, Dad." Jim made an appointment to be tested immediately. He had to hand it to Susan for being smart enough to be prevent the spread of any STD's that Helen may have given to him. On the way home from work, he purchased a bunch of different types of condoms. When he got home, he dug out a big mixing bowl and almost filled it with the condoms. He put the bowl on the nightstand by his bed. He promised himself that he would never be the cause of some nice lady catching a nasty disease that was so preventable. New Years came and went. Jim received the results of his blood work and was delighted to learn that he was disease free. Jim's spare time was filled with requests from the ladies of the condo to do handyman chores. He was becoming increasingly in demand. One night when he mentioned it to Susan, she admitted that she mentioned to a couple of 'the girls' that he was very capable in bed. They were sworn to secrecy, but it she admitted that it was possible they may have 'let it slip' on canasta night... to a room full of women, most of whom were not married. For whatever reason that the ladies liked him, Jim found himself stopping at the pharmacy on a regular basis to keep his condom bowl full. Without exception, every lady that entered his bedroom would rummage through the bowl looking at the condoms before selecting one, or two. They all seemed pleased that he was so thoughtful about his health and theirs. It had simply added to the legend that was Jim. One afternoon shortly before Easter, Jim answered his door to find Emily standing there with a small suitcase. Before he could speak, she threw herself into his arms and hugged him tightly. "I'm so sorry, Dad! Please forgive me, and please let me stay with you for a few days, but I'll leave if you want me to." "I'm just surprised to see you at my door. Come on in and I'll show you the room you'll have," offered Jim. "You're always welcome here. You look all grown up!" "I told you that I've finally been filling out in the right places," laughed Emily as she spun around so Jim could admire her from all angles. "I'm wearing the same bra size as mom, although I'm probably filling it out better now. Mom's getting pretty thin. "I hooked a ride down with the Sheards. They're going to Orlando, but were nice enough to go out of their way and drop me off here," revealed Emily. "I guess I knew you'd let me stay. It's spring break and I'll only be here four days then they'll pick me up to head back to the snow and cold. This place is really nice. I bet you love living here." "It's not as big as our house, but it has everything I need, including a heated pool just outside the door," agreed Jim as he watched Emily tour the condo. "Wow! It looks like you must be getting everything you need!" laughed Emily when she discovered the bowl of condoms in his bedroom. "Good for you, Dad. You deserve some fun after the way we crapped all over you. I won't be any bother to you. I'll just sit by the pool and soak up some rays while you're at work. What is that orange orb in the sky? I seem to recall seeing it at some point, like maybe July 4th two years ago." "When I get home from work tomorrow evening, we'll go out to dinner. There are lots of great places to eat around here, especially if you like beer and ribs, or steak, or seafood," continued Jim. "I'll take you to one of the places the guys from work hang out so they can see what a beautiful daughter I have." The next evening found Jim and Emily sitting at a rib joint and having a good time. "Why did you ever forgive me, Dad? I don't know if I would have if I had been you. It was pretty awful of me to help Mom cheat on you like that. I hate that I did it and I truly regret it." "I'll give you the short answer," replied Jim. "I'm way happier with you in my life than I was when you weren't. I'm selfish in that regard. It makes me happier and that's one of my life goals now." "I'm sure glad that you feel that way. I hope you always happy to have me around," stated Emily sincerely. "We've always been close and I hated it when I realized that I had driven you away. "Is there any chance that you'll ever forgive Mom? She's not doing very well without you. She's lost weight and she hardly ever goes anyplace. When word went around about Frank having STD's and his sex partners needed to be tested, half the people that worked in the store were scared shitless. "It seems that Frank got the STD from a new cashier that had recently been hired. Between the two of them, they infected quite a few of the work force. Mom was the only manager to get it and it was pretty embarrassing for her," recalled Emily. "She came home in tears a few times. To her credit, she stuck it out and she's finally accepted the fact that she really screwed the pooch when she cheated on you." "Emily, your mom and I had a deal. We were partners. Partners have to be honest with each other. They have to trust each other. I don't trust her anymore," admitted Jim. "I thought you'd feel that way, especially after I met your harem at the pool today. It was almost embarrassing to have so many women asking me about my dad. I was able to determine from the way that they talked about you that at least four of them sleep with you. My father's the condo stud," grinned Emily. "Seriously, they all think you're a sensitive, honest, good looking guy that happens to be pretty good in bed." "I don't know about all of that. I do have a couple of lady friends that drop by now and then. I don't think they feel like I'm anything special. It's more like I'm available," suggested Jim modestly. "Mom really screwed up," observed Emily. "Can I come down as soon as school is out and find a summer job here? I'm going to look into getting admitted to a college down here. If it's close by, could I live with you? If it isn't close enough to commute, could I still spend weekends and holidays with you? Mom and I haven't been getting along too well. It was really bad at Christmas when the shit hit the fan with Frank, but we're just not close anymore. Her cheating bothered me a lot more than I realized at the time." Jim readily agreed to Emily's request. He was far happier when he was spending time with his only child. She was growing into a woman and it gave him great pleasure to watch her mature. He spoke to her several times a week when she returned to Pa. after spring break. She insisted that he didn't have to drive up for her graduation, but promised instead to start driving to Florida the next day. On Sunday afternoon, Jim answered the door to welcome Emily when he came face to face with Helen! He couldn't think or move for what seemed like minutes, but he knew could only have been ten or fifteen seconds. He managed to recover somewhat. "Come in, Helen. Can I get you a drink?" asked Jim automatically as his brain struggled to determine why she was at his door. "Thank you, Jim. That would be nice," replied Helen as she followed Jim into the kitchen. He poured some ice tea for both of them and took a seat once Helen sat on the other side of the table. "I drove down behind Emily. She told me that she's going to live down here with you. I've transferred my job to Daytona. We need to decide what we're going to do with the house. You never filed for divorce, and we haven't spoken, so I don't know what you'd like to do," concluded Helen. "Why are you moving down here?" wondered Jim. "What do you think is going to happen?" "I think I'll stop freezing my ass off every winter," joked Helen. "Emily's going to college here in Florida, so I have nothing to keep me in Pa. except to be fodder for gossip. I don't know what Emily has told you, but your parents don't speak to me, and my parents aren't much better. I disappointed a lot of people, including myself, but mostly you. "I can't ask you to forgive me because my actions were pretty much unforgivable," admitted Helen. "I'm looking for a fresh start where people don't make jokes about me having 'the clap' and shit like that. I was really glad that I didn't pass that along to you, by the way. I guess you'd stopped having sex with me by the time Frank dropped that gift on me. "I'm responsible for what happened to us. I tried to blame you, Frank, the skank that gave him the clap, even the guy that made the stairs that Frank fell down. I finally realized that it was all on me. I ruined my life and tried to ruin yours, too. If you hadn't found out, you would've enjoyed Frank's little gift with me. I'm sorry about what I did. I marvel at how it I thought that it seemed okay at the time, like I was entitled to a little fling. "I even dragged Emily into it and I'll never forgive myself for that. I almost destroyed her relationship with her father because I was a selfish bitch. She warned me over and over that Frank was an ass and that it would end badly, but I wouldn't listen," confessed Helen. "I'm so glad that you've allowed her back into your life. Your love and approval mean a great deal to her. It used to mean a lot to me before I lost my way. Now that I don't have it, I'd give anything to have it back." "I guess we need to list the house for sale and split the money. I thought you'd file for divorce by now. Isn't Frank single now?" asked Jim meaningfully. "I've heard that he is, but I don't give a shit about that bastard, if that's what you mean. I'm a dumb bitch, but not dumb enough to divorce you so I can be with Frank," replied Helen. "I thought you'd divorce me by now. I gave you plenty of reasons." "I guess I was content doing my thing here while you did whatever you do up there," responded Jim. "You know how I hate to change and getting a divorce would change things a lot. We'll have to discuss it now, won't we?" "I suppose so, if you want one. I'd like to stay married, as much as my past actions refute that claim. I know that you're too good a man to stay with a wife that lies and cheats. I always knew that, but I told myself that you'd never know." "Where are you staying tonight?" asked Jim. "We have some time. We can discuss the house sale and all of the other things that used to bind us together over the next week or two." "I going to look for a motel when I leave here. I saw some just off Route 95. They were pretty close to Home Depot. I start there in a week," revealed Helen. "Emily went for groceries so we'd have time to talk, but she'll be back pretty soon and I should go." "There are twin beds in Emily's room. You could stay there, if it's okay with her," offered Jim. "Wouldn't that make you uncomfortable? I know I'm not your favorite person right now," understated Helen. "I'll be fine, if it's okay with Emily. We'll ask her when she comes in," replied Jim. Of course Emily was fine with her mother sharing her room, for a while. Over the next several days, the three began to return to habits they had shared for years. Jim avoided the pool and the other ladies while Helen was under his roof. He no longer had a desire to hurt her any more. "There are several women that come out to the pool that want to know when I'm leaving," began Helen one evening after Emily had left to go to a concert. "They keep talking about your big bowl of condoms and which ones they prefer. It's pretty funny when you think about it. They've done everything but tell me that I've ruined their sex lives. You've been keeping four women happy, Jim? I'm impressed." "It's too bad you weren't impressed with me before you met Frank," snapped Jim. "I won't apologize for taking pleasure from those ladies. None of them are married and they know I'm not making any commitments. I try to give as much pleasure as I take and they like that." "How about you pleasure yourself with me?" asked Helen. "There are no strings attached to my offer. I just feel like I owe you so much for treating me so well after what I did to you." "I'm not the same guy you remember," insisted Jim. "I'm more demanding and assertive. I tell those women what I want and they seem happy enough to supply it. I never let them stay more than one night in a row." "So have your way with me for a night. I can handle whatever you dish out. I'll feel better about what I did, and I'll make very sure that you feel a lot better!" promised Helen. Jim considered her words for a few minutes and came to a decision. Ten minutes later they were naked on his bed. Helen took his cock into her mouth and proceeded to give Jim the best blowjob she possibly could. She kept working him after he came and soon he was hard again. She slid up his body and prepared to impale herself on his hard cock. "Just a minute. Do you want to choose a condom, or shall I?" asked Jim as he pointed to his condom collection. "Jim, I've been tested. I'm clean and I know you're always safe with other women, so we don't need one. It's better without," cooed Helen. "I'll use this ribbed one. I like how it feels," stated Jim as he rolled the condom over his stiff prick. "Okay, now slide down on that bad boy!" Helen almost protested but realized that Jim had reason to not trust her. She dropped down on his hard cock and it felt even better than she remembered. Jim lasted a long time and rode her in several positions, giving her three separate orgasms before he finished doggie style. "My God!" gasped Helen as she struggled to catch her breath. "That was incredible. You have learned a few new tricks. Thanks, Jim." Helen was carrying her clothes out of Jim's room and into Emily's when she heard Emily's voice. "You guys sure made enough noise! I'm glad you're done so I can get some sleep." Helen wound up staying with Emily and Jim for the summer. She slept in the second bed in Emily's room, but made frequent trips to Jim's. She often told Jim that he was the only man she'd ever have. Jim would simply nod in agreement. Jim noticed after the first night that Helen would count the condoms in the bowl on a regular basis. He soon learned that if the count was down one or two, Helen would be all over him that night. She'd suck his cock dry at least once and ride him for another orgasm and then see if she could get him up for a third round. He realized she was trying to keep him drained so he couldn't service the other ladies in the building. Helen hated that her shift ended at ten in the evening while Jim was home by five. At least twice a week she'd come home to find fresh sheets on his bed and the condom bowl would be light a couple of rubbers. That would lead to a couple of days of Helen doing her damndest to drain Jim's balls for a few evenings. Whenever she slacked off, she would find a condom or two missing. Now and then Jim would bring another big box of condoms home and dump them into the bowl. Helen began digging the empty box out of the trash to determine how many condoms had been added to the mix. She actually began keeping a tab on the number of condoms in the bowl. Since she had to be at work at two, she often spent the morning by the pool. For the most part the other ladies were not unkind to her. It was evident that they all knew her marriage was almost in its death throes and that she had been the one to create the damage by cheating. Now and then one of the ladies would make an observation, or ask a question that Helen knew was intended to send her a message. "Helen, did you pick out the new blue print linens for Jim's room?" asked Susan Struthers one morning. "They go nicely with the curtains and carpet." I'll Follow the Sun "They do, don't they?" agreed Monica Barron. "It's a nice manly color and Jim is a very manly guy." "Jim, you don't need those sluts in your bed," whined Helen that night. "I'll give you all the sex you want. I've been keeping you satisfied, haven't I?" "Absolutely!" replied Jim. "I'd never have anything to do with any of those women ever again." "Then why are there 2 fewer condoms in the bowl tonight? How does everyone know what color your linens are?" asked Helen. "I have no idea," answered Jim with a smile as he nodded toward his hard cock. "Shit!" thought Helen to herself. "I'd better screw his brains out again tonight and give him another blow job before he leaves in the morning. I know he'll be banging those sluts tomorrow afternoon if I don't."