108 comments/ 148605 views/ 33 favorites Misplaced Jealousy By: Slirpuff I'd like to thank Capshroud2000 for all his help in catching my errors and making the story flow a lot better. * When I was in my middle to late teens my hormones ruled about ninety percent of my brain. If I wasn't thinking about sex I was dreaming about it. Doesn't every teenage boy? A Playboy magazine or the glimpse of a little cleavage almost always put me over the top. What made up the other ten percent? Why cars and motorcycles of course. School was also in there also, but at about two percent it was just enough to get me through. I spent my twenty's in lust of every female that walked the planet. I lost my innocence and virginity on my twentieth birthday and screwed every girl I met, at least in my mind. I tried college but ran out of money after only one year. I met the love of my life, Ann, went into the Marines for two years, and then married her as soon as I got out. My sex life was something out of a wet dream. We tried every thing and christened every room of our one bedroom apartment at least twice, including the counter tops. Our playground was a king size waterbed that took up eighty percent of our small bedroom. As I said, I was in lust with Ann and her with me. After two years of marriage we went in debt up to our eyeballs, after buying a small two-bedroom house. To my horror, Ann came up pregnant and gave birth to our first son nine months later. Someone had shut, let me rephrase that, someone had slammed the friggin door shut on my carefree life and I wasn't happy about it. In those days if you found out you had a bun in the oven, you didn't "take care of it." You just sucked it up and went on with your life. Our cute two-seater was replaced with a "family" car and we no longer went somewhere just on a whim. We had to plan for it and take the house with us now. Lovemaking went from nine times a week to about two or three; a new baby will do that to you. "Oh well, it will get better when he gets a little older," I thought. But it never happened. Such is life. Our thirties were spent trying to make ends meet. We now had one more son and a new and larger home; because two bedrooms were no longer enough. Along with a larger home came a bigger mortgage, which meant longer work hours. Overtime was no longer a luxury but now a necessity. We now didn't buy everything we wanted. A new word had been added to our vocabulary; needs. Needs not wants now ruled our lives. We planned and saved for each purchase. Any left over cash at the end of the month was put away for a future emergency or to pay down one of our credit cards that had suddenly come out of nowhere. We were a happy family, but my stress level was on an all time high. Lovemaking was now something we had to work into our busy schedules. It wasn't that great sex of old. More like, "hurry up," or "not so loud, the kids will hear us," type of sex. Our twice a year "Date Weekends" where one of our parents would watch the boys were now spent getting to know one another all over again. Ann complained that she had lost her shape and was going to go on another diet, which meant that I would be on the diet with her. At 5'3" and no more than a hundred and thirty pounds she was still hot in my eyes. I thought her long nipples and thirty-four C breasts still looked great and even though she no longer had a twenty-one inch waist, her muffin top gave me something to hang onto when we made love. Since she did all the cooking, my portions went from decent to dismal. I'd put on a few pounds and was no longer the skinny runt I'd been in my twenties and early thirties but was far from being fat. The sex was still good. However, we now did it only once instead of the two or three times a night like we'd done when we first met. Over a forty-eight hour period that weekend, we did it five times and Ann accused me of trying to wear it out. "I'm not as young as I used to be," she complained. "I can't do it all night like we used to." Neither could I, but at least I didn't need that little blue pill yet. Our forties were spent trying to get the kids out of the house. With our pay increases over the last ten years we now had a little more disposable income even with two boys in college. Thank God for school loans. Luckily they both went to the local college so we didn't have to pay room and board but their other expenses sky rocked. It was all worth it when they both graduated and moved out of the house. Yes! Empty nesters at last. However Ann replaced the kids with other activities ranging from going to the gym, dance classes and finally diving into politics. From our thirties to the forties, our lovemaking never increased, but it also never decreased either. "My time was coming again," I kept telling myself. The fifties were suppose to be "our time." The kids were off the payroll and for the first time in years we could do what ever we wanted. We took a couple of cruses and I thought we'd be in for the time of our lives. Then something hit I'd never planned on, menopause. "It wasn't fair, it just wasn't fair," I kept saying over and over to myself. My wife went through her change and I went through one of my own. Her hormones went crazy and her mood swings went off the charts. She tried for a while to control everything through food and herbs but that failed miserably. Finally she went to the doctor and got "drugs" to control her body chemistry. She still had the temperature fluxuations and didn't cry at the drop of a hat, but still had occasional mood swings and night sweats. All of this was bad, but the final nail in the coffin was when Ann lost her sex drive. Not all of it mind you, just enough that once every three weeks was more than enough for her. I had suffered through my thirties and forties knowing I had something to look forward to and I kind of felt cheated. I'd done my job for the last twenty years, and could now do it in my sleep. I'd advanced to a point, that my pay was now over double from when I'd first started and all the stress from years back was now gone. I was like a "reborn" teenager. My wife couldn't get pregnant no matter what I did. We had no more money issues and my sex drive was now off the charts again. Ann had basically kept her sexy shape and I was always trying to get a little of it. Hell, I was trying to get lot! "For Christ's sake Steve, can't you control yourself? I'm trying to make dinner and can't do that and fend you off also," she yelled at me. "Then let's skip dinner and have a little fun. Remember when we used to live on love?" I said trying to get a kiss. "Back off bucko or you're never going to get any," she replied trying to finish our dinner. "Was I upset? Yes. But what the hell was I going to do? Cut her off?" I said to myself. So after a while I just let it slide. I didn't make any advances and waited for her to be the aggressor just to see how long it would take. Or how long she could hold out. After about a month, Ann told me she appreciated me not being all over her and grabbing her every time she walked by. "I can't believe it," I said to myself. "She thanking me for not having sex with her. I needed a plan," I said to myself. Ann and I went to spinning on Thursdays and Fridays and the gym usually together on Monday's and Tuesdays. I was pretty friendly with two women at spinning and one at the gym so I decided to see if they'd help me get my sex life back on track. "You want me to do what?" Beth asked as Cindy looked on. "I need you to flirt with me," I told them. Not right in front of her but when she's there, if that makes any sense," I told them. "Let me get this straight, you want us to make Ann jealous? And you think that this is going to help you how?" Cindy asked. "I just want her to think that other women find me attractive and desirable, so maybe she'll appreciate me a little more," I told the two of them. "So this is all about sex?" Beth asked. "I told you he wasn't getting enough Cindy," Beth laughed out loud. "Look Steve, Ann and I are friends and I don't want her pissed off at me. We'll play your little game but only for a short while. And if it gets out of hand, we're done. Ok?" "Thanks guys, it shouldn't take too long. It's just that I'm trying to jump-start our sex life, that's all," I told them and it wasn't a lie. Tammy from the gym also said she'd go along with it and thought it might be fun. She like me was a runner and we'd run and talked on the treadmills more than once. I didn't know exactly how old she was, but was younger than I was. She had the typical runners body, tall, slim, small boobs and short blonde hair. She was good looking, in great shape and was sure to get Ann's attention. We decided that it would be best if we met at the gym and went out together for a run. This way we could both get in our normal workouts and be together outside of Ann's prying eyes at the gym. My plan was all coming together. Cindy and Beth made it a point to talk to me before and after class. I helped Cindy adjust her bike and Beth asked if she could share my water bottles because she'd forgotten hers. It took about two weeks before Ann started to really notice and finally said something one night after class while I was talking to the two of them. "Come on Steve, I'm hungry and I want to get home," she yelled to me. "Just a second hon," I said as I went back to talking to Beth and Cindy for another ten to fifteen seconds. "I'll see you guys tomorrow," I told them as I turned and walked over to our car where Ann had been waiting. "What took you so long she asked?" "We were just talking about the class and comparing Chris's to Jamie's class, that's all." "Well I'm hungry so lets get moving," she said looking at me. When Tammy asked me to go out for another run in front of Ann, I thought she was going to have a cow. "Hon because of your knees you can't run anymore and it's nice to have someone to run with for a change. I'll just meet you at home when we're done," I told an agitated Ann. Thursday Cindy touched my arm while laughing at a supposed joke and Beth gave me a hug for helping her adjust her foot pegs at Friday's class. Ann just stood there looking at us and when I came back to the car I could tell she was ready to exploded. "They're getting way too friendly," she said starting in on me. "What are you talking about? Ann, it's Beth and Cindy. For Christ's sake, they're just being friendly. I'm not sleeping with them am I?" "I just don't like them touching you. Neither one is married and I don't want them getting any ideas," she said to me as we pulled up to our house. "Ann, listen to yourself will you? You feel threatened by Cindy and Beth?" "I guess you're right," she said still looking at me. When I came home twenty-five minutes late from the gym after a run with Tammy I was bomb barded with questions. How come I was late? Where did we run? And why didn't I call if I knew I'd be late? "Ann I don't carry a cell phone with me when I run and it was such a nice night we decided to do an extra mile," I told her. "We swung around by the hospital and then ran by her apartment before stopping in for a glass of water before coming home," I told her. "You stopped at her apartment?" she asked. "Yeah, just for a second so I could get some water," I told her in my most sincere voice. "She really has a nice place and though it's a little small, she has a huge bedroom." The seed was planted. "What the hell were you doing in her bedroom?" Ann yelled back at me. "She just gave me the tour while I finished my bottle of water. What's for dinner?" I said intentionally changing the subject. "I don't want you in any damn girl's bedroom, do you hear me?" she now shouted. "Ok. No more bedrooms. Happy now?" I asked. "Now, what's for dinner?" It had been a while since we'd had sex, and when Ann asked if I was interested that night, for the first time in our marriage I begged off. "You don't want to have sex with me tonight?" said a flabbergasted Ann. "I got a cramp in my leg on my run today, and it's starting to tighten up again," I told her. "If you want, I can get you off with my fingers or tongue, but that's about it. Why don't we wait for a day or two until I up to snuff," I asked. "Shot down for the first time ever. How does it feel Ann?" I thought to myself. "Fine. That's just fine," Ann said to me. "Just let me know when you're up to it," she said in an annoyed voice. It was another four days before she brought it up again. "How come we never have sex any more?" Ann asked Thursday night after dinner. "What are you talking about? We have sex all the time," I replied. "It's been twenty six days since we last had sex, I've kept track." "God it doesn't seem like it's been that long. Are you sure?" She threw a calendar at me. "Look for yourself. April 16th is the last time we had sex." I looked at it and April 16th was circled in red. "I'm not saying you're lying, it just doesn't seem like it's been that long," I told her. "You don't kiss me, hug me or even imitate sex with me any more," she said in an accusing manner. "Hold it a minute. Aren't you the one who was always complaining about me being all over you? That I was acting like some loved starved teenager and you wanted none of it? Or, maybe it was someone else who thanked me for leaving her alone," I said sarcastically. "Make up your damn mind Ann, either you want sex or not. Which is it?" Not to be upstaged Ann took the offensive. "Well if you're not getting it from me Steve, who are you screwing? I'll bet it's that tramp Beth or maybe you're doing the tour of Tammy's bedroom again," she said getting even angrier. "Ann, I'm not getting sex from anyone but you, and not much of that either it looks like," I said with a smile hoping to defuse the situation. It didn't work. "If I even think your cheating on me I'll cut the son of a bitch off," she yelled back at me. "It was a joke hon. It was just my own sick way of making a joke," I tried to tell her before she stomped out of the room. I tried to initiate something that night but all I got was her back. "Maybe you should call Beth or Tammy. Maybe they've got the damn time!" was all she said. Ann was pissed right through the whole weekend. I tried to apologize a couple of times but got nowhere. Hell my plan was worse than a failure. At least I was getting "something" before, now I was getting less than nothing. Tuesday I went on a run with Tammy. At least I had a friendly face to look foreword to every other night when we ran together. "Tonight I need you to push me hard. I've got a 10K on Sunday morning and I want to see just how fast I can run it," Tammy explained. We'd been doing her pace for the last month, and today she wanted to do my pace. I started off a little slow for the first half mile and then picked up the pace for the next mile and a half. "Have you gotten old on me Steve or is this the best you've got?" she mocked me. "Alright girl, hold onto your thong and see if you can keep up with me," I shot back. I took it up more than two notches as we did the next three miles at almost race speed. At a quarter mile from the finish I started yelling at her to pick it up. "Come on girl, move it. Don't wimp out on me now." I yelled at her. When I could see her apartment building I started to sprint. "Come on Tammy, push it, don't leave anything in the tank, I yelled as we both gave it our all." I thought she was going to puke when we hit her parking lot. "Nice job," I told her as we both walked around trying to get our breath back. "If you run like that Sunday, no one will touch you," I said giving her a high five before she gave me a big sweaty hug. "Thanks, I needed that. Sure I can't talk you into doing the race with me Sunday?" "I told Ann, I'd take her to brunch at Tony's, to make amends. She's been on the rag for the last two weeks and I'm trying to get on her good side, and maybe in bed to," I said with a smile. "Well come on up and I'll get you some Gatorade and send you home," she said as we walked arm in arm into her building. After two small glasses, I headed out for the two mile run back to my house. I didn't see Ann when I came through the door so I headed up to take a much-deserved shower. I showered, shaved and brushed my teeth. I was just getting out of the shower when I saw Ann in the doorway. "Washing away the evidence?" she said with her hands on her hips. "What?" I said not believing what I thought I'd just heard Ann say. "You heard me," she said turning around and walking down the hall. "Now what the fuck did I do?" I said as I finished drying off. I found Ann pacing back and forth in our bedroom. "I can't believe you slept with her. You're almost old enough to be her father." "Ann, what the hell are you talking about?" "Don't play dumb with me. I'm not that stupid," she shot back at me. "I followed you two today. After your run I saw the two of you heading for her apartment arm in arm. I waited for you to come out and left after ten minutes. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what the two of you were doing in there." "Ann have you lost it? Just listen to yourself. I went in to get a couple of glasses of Gatorade, that's all. There was no hugging, or kissing and certainly no sex. If you want lets go to bed right now, I'll show you I've still got a full tank." "You're never going to touch me again," she spit back at me. "I guess I should have thought before replying. "What else is new," I said which only pissed her off even more. Our emotions took over as we traded insults like a couple of little kids trying to hurt the other as much as possible. Her small dick shot brought out my unintentional knockout punch. "How would a dried up shell of a woman like you know anyway? Bad move Steve," is all my brain said. I tried to back track for the next twenty minutes after the bedroom door was slammed in my face. I sat down in the hall, with my back up against the door, and listened to Ann cry non-stop for the next two hours. After that it was quiet. I knocked on the door a few times but got no response. I went down stairs to the kitchen, fixed something to eat and spent the night on the couch trying to figure how to get my ass out of this one. I woke up somewhere around 6:30 and went upstairs to an empty bedroom. The bed was messed up but she was gone. Sometime during the night Ann had she snuck out of our house and went somewhere. I showered and got dressed for work. It was a long day. I e-mailed her at work a dozen times asking for forgiveness not before filling up the voice mail account on her cell phone, without getting a reply. After work I drove around looking for her when I came home to an empty house. Ann walked into the gym and looked over the workout area before spotting her. Tammy was just getting off the stepper, wiping the sweat off of both her and the stepper when she felt the blow that put her to her knees. Ann had come up from behind her and swung with all her might from somewhere out in left field. "Leave my husband alone," she shouted. "Find your own man and quit sleeping with mine you slut." Ann had picked on the wrong girl that's for sure. She was starting to turn away as Tammy got to her feet and cold cocked a surprised Ann, laying her flat out. "Bitch, don't you ever lay a hand on me again or I'll clean the floor with you. I'm not sleeping with your damn husband, but after this if he asks me, I'll be more than happy to oblige him. It's not my problem you can't keep your man satisfied," Tammy said as she walked away. Ann lay there for about twenty more seconds before one of the trainers helped her to her feet. Misplaced Jealousy "Are you ok?" he asked. "No. I don't think I'll ever be ok again," she replied as she walked out as a stunned group of people looked on. "I'll never be able to show my face in there again," she said getting into her car. The knot on her face, right below her left eye, started to throb and swell up as she pulled into her son Kenny's drive way. His wife Lisa met her at the door and asked what the hell happened to her face. "Lisa, questions later, just get me some ice will you please?" A frozen bag of peas on and off for about twenty minutes reduced the swelling, but Ann could see that she was going to have one hell of a shiner. "Ann who did this to you?" Lisa asked. "I did it to myself," was all she would say. "When Kenny came home, shortly there after, he had a cow when his mother wouldn't tell him how she'd gotten the black eye. "Dad didn't do this to you did he?" "No. Your father has never laid a hand on me in all the years I've ever known him. He's been the most kind and understanding man I've ever known. I'm just sorry I drove him away. I hope his next wife will be more to his liking." Kenny finally got me on my cell phone. "Dad, you've got to get over here right now. Something's wrong with mom and she not quiet right in the head. I don't know what happened but I think you should take her to the hospital right away," my son told me. I never would have guessed Ann would be at Kenny's because Ann didn't care much for Lisa. She thought Lisa pushed Kenny too hard so they could have the finer things in life. Who would have known? "Ann what happened to your face?" I asked as I walked into the living room. "Steve, let's just go home." Ann said standing up and grabbing my arm. It was a quiet ride until Ann spoke up. "Tammy and I got into it at the gym. I told her to stay away from you after I punched her. She punched me back and told me she wasn't sleeping with you. As you can see, I got worst of our exchange," Ann said as we pulled into our garage. When we got into the house I should have grabbed her, told her how much I loved her and that she was all I cared about. Instead I did something really stupid. I told her the truth and that I was just trying to make her jealous. As I tried to explain what I did and why, she just looked at me saying nothing. But that didn't last long. Mount Saint Ann was about to erupt. "Let me get this straight. You set this up with Beth, Cindy and Tammy to make me jealous so I would have more sex with you? Is that right? You let me make a complete ass of myself in front of thirty people at the gym because you wanted back into my pants? All this was just some sick game of yours? Is that all you think of me? Just a toy, a plaything for you to put your dick in and get off with? What happened to me being your loving wife, you partner, the mother of your damn kids?" Ann said as she peppered me with question after question. "You miserable piece of shit, get the hell out of my sight," Ann screamed at me as she stepped forward. "Ann I did it for us," I tried to say as she hit me with her fists all the while screaming at me to get the hell away from her and out of her house. Ann pick up the canisters off the counter and threw them at me along with anything else she could get her hands on. I'd never seen her this angry as she kept yelling and screaming at me to leave. I left for no better reason than to defuse the situation and to let her cool down. But that didn't happen. When I came home later that night she was gone. I found out later she had gone back to my son's house. Thursday, after I'd left for work, Lisa came over to the house and got some more of her clothes. I spent the rest of that week eating crow and trying to get Ann to talk to me. I found out later, that she'd talked to both Beth and Cindy and laid into them as well. As I said, my plan backfired miserably. For the next week, I called, sent e-mails to her work and even went over to my son's house to talk to her. Nothing worked. "Mom doesn't want to see or talk to you dad, Kenny told me. "Just let me talk to her for a minute," I pleaded with him. "Sorry dad, I think you really screwed up bad this time," he told me. Friday I got the surprise of my life. "Mr. Stephen Moore?" the man asked as I answered the door in my running clothes. "Yes, can I help you?" "You've been served, have a nice day," he said handing me a manila envelope. I didn't even read the paperwork. I was in my car in two minutes later heading for my son's house. My son met me on the steps. "You son of a bitch, you let me get blind sided," I yelled at him. "Where the fuck is she?" "Her and Lisa took off because they knew you'd be here sooner or later." "Well then I'll just wait for them God damn it." I told my son. "Can't let you do that dad," Kenny told me. "Why the hell not?" I asked. "Mom asked me not to," was his only reply. "Well, you'd better call the cops now, because I'm not fucking leaving." The little prick did just that. I was escorted off his property and twenty-four hours later I had a restraining order against me. I got angry and changed the locks on the house. Two could play that game. My other son, Jimmy, tried to mediate what was going down but everyone told him to stay the hell out of it. It got real ugly when Ann tried to get her clothes from the house. Lisa and Kenny came to the door, but I wouldn't let them in. "Get the fuck off my property or I'll call the cops," I yelled at them through the door. "Dad, just let us get mom's clothes," he asked. "Can't. Unless you have a court order and receipts, she's not going to get squat. I've got half a mind to have a little bon fire in the back yard to get rid of some of the crap in the house," I told them, as Kenny got mad and tried to force his way into the house. The police escorted a pissed off Kenny and Lisa from my property. Payback's a bitch. I tossed the divorce paperwork into the trash and told her I wouldn't sign them. I didn't get a lawyer and avoided hers at every turn. I never returned phone calls, e-mails and never answered the door if I didn't know who it was, same at work. If she wanted a divorce, she was going to have to work for it. I thought maybe with time, she'd soften a little. Guess I was wrong. After six months of wrangling, I thought I was gaining a little until Ann started dating and making sure I knew about it. She was going here and there and made sure she rubbed my nose in it whenever she got the chance. "Tom said I was the best lay he's had in years," Ann's e-mail to the house read. "Just thought you might like to know that not everyone thinks I'm some dried out shell of a women." The enclosed picture of her in bed with him was enough to ruin this week and the following six months. I wrote off Ann, Kenny, Lisa and for a while my other son Jimmy. I'd done something stupid and lost it all. I went into a deep depression and ended up on meds and with a psychologist, a female no less. Once a week I would pour out my heart and tell her what a stupid ass I'd been. But after three months, She made me realize, it wasn't entirely my fault. From day one, I kept a journal writing down my feelings about Ann and everyone one else. I lamented how I'd let my life get out of sorts and how Ann and I stop communicating. I started going on trips, for work, for the first time in ten years. It kept my mind off my troubles and my feet grounded. Every once in a while I'd run into someone I knew and they say how sorry they were to hear that Ann and I broke up. Then they'd add that they'd seen her with so and so, like I really wanted to know that. I stopped going to spinning and dropped my membership to the gym. No use running into other people I knew, who it seemed took great pride in telling me how well Ann was doing. The only constant in my life was, I still ran like a man possessed. I was on a long run one Sunday morning when I heard a familiar voice behind me. "I thought you moved or died," Tammy said catching up to me. "Just inside," I told her slowing down so she could keep up. "I feel responsible for what happened," she said stopping. "Wasn't your fault, I started it and looks like I finished it," I told her. "Well, you look like shit. Why don't you stop by some time and I'll fix you a home cooked meal, you certainly know where I live." "I just might take you up on your offer when I get back in town. I'll at least call. How about that?" I told her. "Well, I'll let it slide this time. Remember you owe me a call when you get back," she said as she gave me a big hug and kiss. I planned on taking four days vacation before heading out on a two-week swing calling on our customers in the North East. It was supposed to be a P.R. trip; it had been my boss's idea. "Get the hell out of here for a couple of weeks. You're going through the motions and you need to get your head and ass wired together again. Do the N.E. territories and I'll see you back here when you're done. I reminded him that I'd put in for a few days of vacation. "Ok. So, I won't see you for three weeks. It's not like the world is going to stop revolving if you're gone for a while. Just make sure Kathy is up to speed and your team leaders know what to do. Have a good trip, get laid and I'll see you when you get back." Tuesday morning I woke up in almost a good mood. I grabbed a pair of shorts, my running shoes and headed out for a long run. The weather was perfect and I was using the time to clear my head and to plan where my life was going to take me in the next couple of months. "I think I'll sell the house. It's too big for just me and I can rent an apartment until I figure out where I'm going to end up. I'd taken a few bucks out of the bank and had bought a small one-bedroom condo in Sarasota Florida. I now planned on retiring there in the next three or four years. Ann and I had talked about it years ago, and it looked like I was going to do it all by myself. After passing the big Catholic Church I impatiently waited at a stop signal across from the school. I almost crossed against the light, because I saw only one car coming, but for some unknown reason I decided to wait. The light turned green and I started across, so did a group of school kids with their teacher on the other side. What made me look I haven't a clue. Only that I looked to the right and noticed that the car wasn't slowing down. I yelled for the kids to get back on the curb but they just stopped to watch the crazy man yelling at them. I did the fifteen-yard dash in world record time even with my arms completely outstretched. I pushed all ten kids including the teacher back, knocking most of them to the ground. That's all I remember. I tried to open my eyes but only one cooperated. I had a hard time focusing and getting my brain to work. I saw two faces looking down at me as I tried to say something. "Can you tell me your name? Who is Ann?" they asked. I lifted my head up a little then everything went black again. The next time I awoke, I felt something pressed against my forehead. It took me a couple of minutes to try and take everything in, but I was still at a loss. I raised my right arm and saw nothing but tubes, same as my left. A dark haired angel with olive skin was wetting my lips and putting a few drops of liquid into my open mouth. I think I probably looked like a baby bird trying to get a juicy worm. "Don't try to talk. You've been in an accident and are in the hospital. Don't try to lift your head, just relax. Do you know your name?" she asked. I could hear the question and I understood it. It's just that my body wasn't responding and I couldn't reply. I got frustrated and the next thing I knew I was in la la land again. I had indeed managed to push everyone back onto the curb and beyond. That is everyone but myself. The driver eventually tried to break but ended up hitting both of my legs while I was in midair pushing everyone back. The force of the collision spun me around like a top and my head and body smashed into the side of his car. I ended up with two broken legs, four cracked ribs, a punctured lung, a concussion and a broken nose along with a ton of scraped and contusions. I was a mess. The teacher said I called out the name Ann just before I lost consciousness and went into a fifteen-day coma. The nurse told me I did come out of it, but after about two minutes I was out for another five days. I had no identification on me and my face was swollen and pretty scraped up. The local news station played up the story of a local hero who had risked his life to save a first grade class and teacher. No one knew who I was and they were asking for the public's help in identifying me. They listed my description but never posted a picture of my face because it was such a mess, but no one came forward. Tammy was eating dinner and watching the news when they asked again for help in indentifying the hero jogger. When she heard it had been by the big Catholic Church on Tenth Street she put her fork down. "That's our route," she said to herself. She'd missed most of the story and called the news station. "The jogger," she asked. "Can you give me his description again?" "He's about 5'10 or 11" tall, brown hair and about 175 pounds they told Tammy. Do you think you know who he is?" they asked. "I need to make a quick call. I'll get back to you," she replied. "Pick up damn it, pick up," she yelled into the phone. "Screw it," she said racing out of her apartment, jumping into her car and heading out. "Please, please, please don't be who I think it is," she said to herself as she pulled into Steve's driveway. His car was parked up by the garage and after pounding on the door for about five minutes she tried to look in the windows. "Can I help you?" a man asked as she came back around to the front of the house. "Have you seen Steve lately? I'm a friend of his and I can't seem to find him," she explained. "Last I heard he was going out of town for a couple of weeks, but that was a while ago. I mowed his lawn the last two times, but no I haven't seen hide nor hair of him. It was a real shame that he and the misses broke up, he took it pretty hard," he told me. "Do you have a key to his place?" I asked. "I do have a key, but only for emergencies." "Take my word for it, it's an emergency," Tammy said loudly. It looked like someone left to pickup the newspaper and never came back. Coffee was made but not started. Bagels and butter were on the kitchen table and the light in his bathroom was still on. "What hospital is he at?" Tammy asked the news station writing it down and heading out again. "Just lock up, I have a bad feeling I know where Steve is," she said driving away. "His face was still puffy and swollen because of his broken nose. The cuts had started to heal and it didn't take more than a minute for Tammy to make a positive identification. "He's mention the name Ann a few times and he's no longer in a coma, but is not totally back just yet, his personal nurse told Tammy. When he was in the coma, the church would send someone every day to read to him and is currently picking up the tab for his medical treatment. He's kind of our resident celebrity," the nurse said with a smile as she gently pushed the hair off his forehead. "His name is Stephen Moore and he lives at 1725 Southeast 12th Street," I told her as she wrote it all down. I gave her the name of the company he worked for and told them that Ann was his ex-wife. I gave her my name and phone number and told her to keep me abreast of his condition. I can't believe that no one noticed Steve was missing. Shit didn't his work even bother to check on him when he didn't show up? How about his kids? Then I remembered that since the divorce Steve no longer talked to them after they'd taken Ann's side in the divorce. I was going to call them when I got home, but the news station beat me to the punch. "Breaking news," they cut in on one of the evening soaps. "The Saint Mary Church hero has been positively identified as Stephen Moore of Orlando Florida," the spokesmen announced. "He is still in Mercy hospital recovering from his injuries. The only words he's spoken since his heroic effort was to call out the name Ann. So Ann, if you're out there, Steve's looking for you." Even the national news stations also picked up on the story. I guess everyone wanted to hear some good news for a change. Everyone pretty much found out all at once. Family and friends of Steve all called each other and swarmed the hospital to be met by a totally pissed off Tammy. "He's been in a coma for thirty days, and no one missed him? What kind of family does he have?" she shouted at them as they all gave one excuse or another. "All he wanted was his perfect life back, his two sons and a wife he loved more than life itself. And instead of talking to him and trying to work it out, you all blind sided him and tossed him on the garbage heap. You all make me sick. So go back home to your wonderful lives and leave him the fuck alone, because none of you deserve him. I guess he showed everyone what he was made of and so did the bunch of you," she said as she went back into his room. They mulled around for a bit, talked to the doctor and gave the hospital all the medical information they needed. Tammy was sitting by the side of the bed, holding his hand when Ann walked into the room. "Get the fuck out of here," Tammy shouted at her. "You gave him up, he's no longer your husband to kick around. So go back to your boyfriend and your new wonderful life because as God is my witness I'll drop you where you stand if you're not out of here in the next ten seconds," Tammy said getting to her feet. Ann started to cry and walked out. She talked to the doctor and gave him her cell and work number and told him to make sure she was notified of any change in his condition. She next went to his house and her old neighbor greeted her as she pulled up. "Isn't it something else? Steve put his life on the line saved all those kids without even considering the consequences. When he gets out the whole neighborhood is planning on throwing him a big party. I hear that teacher stops by to see him every day since the accident. She calls him her knight in shinning armor. I guess I can't blame her," he told me. I asked if he still had the key to the house and if he'd let me in. "I guess it'll be alright. Everyone was surprised when the two of you broke up. You're husband took it pretty hard, but I guess you already knew that." He let me in the house and left. I had no idea what I was even doing in Steve's house. I hadn't been back since he changed the locks and Kenny had picked up the rest of my stuff. Nothing had changed. Hell, even the empty hangers were still on the floor in the living room where he'd dumped my clothes. I walked upstairs to what had used to be our bedroom. Besides my clothes missing, it was exactly the same except for a few holes in the wall where Steve had probably taken out his anger. Opening the drawer on my night table, I found all my stuff was still in there and Steve's was piled with a stack of loose-leaf notebooks. I sat on the bed, grabbed his pillow, brought it to my face and smelled it. It was Steve's scent all right as I continued to hold it against my chest. I put the pillow against the headboard and lay back on his side of the bed looking up at the ceiling. What made me grab the top notebook I'll never know? It's just that I did and opened it. It was Steve's latest journal. "I never knew," is all Ann said to herself as she started to read the outpouring of emotions Steve had put to paper. His heart and soul were all layed out in these four notebooks. It took me almost three days of non-stop reading to get through all four of them. About half way through, I though maybe I shouldn't be reading them, but I couldn't stop. Misplaced Jealousy He talked about our life together, the good times, the not so good times and the breakup. I had no idea he loved me so much and how I'd hurt him the last fourteen months. I never knew about his depression or about his plans for our retirement. I cried until my tear ducts were empty. I cursed myself as he wrote that he'd forgiven me but couldn't forget what I'd done. By the end of the week, I went back to the house and returned his journals. I went down stairs to the den and powered up his computer. Shit, he hadn't even changed his password as I went into his AOL account and checked his e-mails. I deleted all the garbage and made a note to call his boss tomorrow. When I saw the e-mail I'd sent him all those months ago I started to cry all over again. He had saved it and when I opened up the picture I thought I was going to die. I had sent it for no other reason then to inflict as much pain as I could, and it looks like I did just that. I almost deleted it, but it wasn't my computer any more and I had no right to even be in the house much less Steve's computer. Day by day I got better. The patch came off my left eye, and my nose would need surgery down the road to straighten it. My ribs were healing and also my legs, but they itched like a son of a gun under the casts. Luckily I only had a slight concussion and no brain swelling but I wasn't back to normal just yet. The doctor said the best thing for my body was being in the coma. It had time to heal on it's own without me moving around. My private nurse Debby waited on me hand and foot. I no longer needed around the clock care so she took care of my needs during my waking hours. The only time I felt uncomfortable was when she gave me the sponge baths. When she started below the belt I always got a hard on, I guess I was getting better. Once I tried to apologize but she told me not to worry about it. "If you couldn't get hard, then that would be something to worry about," she said with a wink and a smile. I guess she was right. Tammy came most days after work and so did Connie, the teacher I'd saved. She brought thank you notes from all the kids and said when I felt better; they were all coming to the hospital to see me. She was a single mom of about forty-one with a twelve-year-old girl. I told her she didn't have to come every day, but she insisted. "You gave me and my daughter a second chance. It's the least I can do to make sure you're comfortable and your needs are being met." Connie would come everyday at 4:00 and read to me for about an hour. For some reason with her there I felt calm and relaxed; and her being nice looking only made me anxious for her daily visits. Tammy came about 6:30 and usually brought her dinner. I was stuck eating hospital food but every once in a while she'd sneak me in a Big Mac. I'd put on about eight pounds and it had all gone to my gut. We shot the shit and she usually left by 8:00. I never saw my kids or ex-wife, but Tammy said Ann came around every once in a while. "What do you mean a cane?" I yelled out at the doctor. "Isn't there another operation you can do?" I asked. "Your right leg was broken in two places and is healing well, but it's your left leg that was really messed up. You've got two pins holding everything together and we still have to go back in later to take out a bunch of bone chips. Steve, I'm just giving you the worst case senero, that's all," he explained to me. "I'm sorry, I won't buy that. Doc. I'm a runner and have been all my life. I don't have much of a life outside this room anymore, and now you're telling me I won't be able to even do that anymore. I won't accept that," I told him. What else could go wrong? Work was great. The team stepped up and I told them more than once how much I appreciated it. Kathy kept me updated and between the two of us, everything got done and on time. My checks had been going into my savings account but none of my bills had been paid for the last couple of months. I guess I wasn't thinking straight, who else would be paying my bills but me. When the bank sent out a foreclosure letter and said that my insurance company had dropped me, I was pissed. It took only one call to each to explain my dilemma. "Do you really want to be known as the company who dropped me while I was in a coma after saving ten little kids?" I told the insurance company. I used the same line on the mortgage company and they even went so far as to drop all the late fees. However, it was time I made some decisions, especially when it came to the house. I contacted a realtor the next day and had it put on the market. Ann was going to get half, but it was time to cut my losses and move on with my life. At ten weeks, I was sent home with an in-house nurse. Guess who? Because I had no one at home to care for me, Debbie was assigned the task. She set herself up in the guest room and only spent the nights when I was having problems. Tammy and Connie still came over most nights even though I told them it wasn't necessary. Kenny called and Jimmy came to see me the day after I got home. They both apologized for not being there for me. I told them to forget about it, I had. I did tell them I'd put the house up for sale. "You can't sell the house dad, where will you live?" they asked. "I'll find an apartment close to work and in a couple of years, I'm moving south anyway." "Have you talked to mom about it?" Kenny asked. "I haven't talked to your mom since last year, why in the hell should I talk to her now?" I asked. "Please, just leave her ass out of it ok? I already know what she thinks of me anyway." Friday night, Tammy, Connie and her daughter Rebecca put together a pajama party. We had pizza, beer and pecan pie. I wasn't suppose to drink beer, because of the painkillers, but I had two anyway. It wasn't until 10:30 that I found out the real reason for the sleep over. Tammy took Rebecca to the store to restock the refrigerator and Connie came into my room in an out fit that would raise the dead. "I know it's been a while, and I know you can't do much, but tonight I need to do this for you." "Connie you don't have to do this," I replied. "I know that, I want to though," she said covering my mouth with hers. It had been a long time. I shot off as soon as Connie wrapped her hand around my dick and stroked it once. "A little horny were we?" she asked kissing me again. "I figure you must have at least three more in you after all this time," she said shoving her tongue down my throat as she opened her top. "Damn casts," is all I could say to myself as I played tongue tag with her as my hands got to know her beautiful breasts on a personal level. Feeling them, kissing them and sucking on her nipples almost made the pain in my legs worthwhile. I pushed the envelope when I slid down on the bed and asked if she'd ever sixty nined. "This way we'll both get something out of it. And don't worry, you won't crush me," I said with a smile. Connie's full bush rested on my chin as I partied her hair lips and feasted on her clit and honey pot. The way she was moving and moaning brought a smile to my sticky face. "At least I can still eat pussy and get her off that way," I thought to myself as she deposited her fluid all over my face. I'd been trying to hold off for as long as I could, a man thing, but I now let loose with everything I had. She drained me before heading for the bathroom to spit. "That was nice, that was really nice," Connie said wiping her mouth with a warm washcloth before cleaning off the dried coating on my face. "One of these days I'm going to get the nerve to swallow, I've just got a hang up with doing it," she said finishing up my face. "Now if I just had an after sex cigarette, everything would be perfect," I told her. "You smoke?" "Nope. But since I don't, I'll take a nipple in place of it." Round three was better than two. We had to stop when the rest of our guests showed back up. When the casts came off, it was both a relief and burden. I was scheduled for physical therapy three days per week to start. I would take a cab to the clinic, let them make me cry, and then go home. My therapist was a large black woman who was unmerciful and took no prisoners. She pushed me to the breaking point and beyond. "So you're the runner?" she asked. "How come you're such a wimp? Do you ever want to run again? Or are you going to be content with a pair of crutches?" she said mocking me. As I said, I worked until I cried and then worked some more. "I'll show that damn doctor," I kept saying to myself. "Mom wants to see you," was all Kenny said on the phone. "Why?" "How the hell should I know?" he replied. "Do you ever want to see me again?" I asked. "Because if you do, quit the damn games. You're not high on my list of favorite people right now, and if you bull shit me any more you'll be off the list completely. So let me ask the question one more time, what the hell does she want?" "You. She's been watching you from a far, working with the doctors and therapists on your rehab. She's afraid to talk to you because of everything that went on just before and after the divorce, that's all. So, what do I tell her?" "Have her come over Saturday morning after 10:00 and I'll talk to her. Hell, I might even be civil to her," I told my son. Friday night Connie had something going on and Tammy stopped over on her way out on a date. "Ann wants to see me," I told her. "I know, I've been talking to her for the last couple of months," she replied. "And you didn't tell me?" "It was shortly after your accident and after I'd laid into your family that she stopped over. She apologized for the scene at the gym and we started talking after that. She kept tabs on you and wanted daily updates on your condition." "Before or after fucking her current boyfriend." "That's a question for the two of you. I suggested that she talk to you herself. That's why she's coming over tomorrow," Tammy told me. "I know you've got a lot of mixed feelings about her so you've got tonight to ask yourself all the tough questions. I'd love to stay but this is something you've got to do by yourself for yourself. So have a good evening, don't get too drunk and I'll see you tomorrow afternoon for a full update," she said kissing me on the cheek and running out. I took Tammy's words to heart and I didn't get too drunk. Just drunk enough that I didn't have to re-feel the pain Ann had put me through. Just enough that all the anger that I'd held inside for so long didn't have a chance to fester again. Drunk enough not to carry my journals downstairs and burn them in the fireplace. Finally drunk enough that I fell asleep by 10:15 and got a full nights rest. The pain in my leg woke me at 7:30 and two pain pills later I was making coffee and having breakfast. By 9:00 I was on the exercise machine I'd rented in the basement trying to make my leg work the way it was supposed to; and not having a hell of a lot of luck. When I heard the front door bell it took me almost five minutes to get out of the torture chamber and up the stairs. "Come on in," I told Ann as I hobbled into the kitchen for a bottle of water. "Can I get you anything?" I asked. "Not right now." Grabbing a cold one out of the refrigerator, I made my way back to the kitchen table and flopped down on a chair wiping the sweat from my forehead with a hand towel. "That's enough of a workout for this morning," I said slugging down about a third of the bottle. "Well Ann, it's your dime, what do you want to talk about." "About us Steve," she started. "Ann, there is no us, you threw that away a year ago, or have you forgotten?" "I remember and have regretted my decision ever since then." "You didn't look like you were regretting it too much when you were fucking Tom and decided to share your experiences with me. I hope he was worth all the trouble," I said sarcastically. "I guess I deserved that. I was so mad at you for your little games that I think I went a little nuts for a while. I'm sorry about what I did." "You don't have to tell me how sorry you are, or apologize for what you did, that's for someone who gives a shit and I don't any longer," I told a surprised Ann. "So if that's all you've got to say, it's been nice, but I've got a lot of things to do today and it now takes me now forever to do them." "Can't you give me, us another chance? Don't you have any feelings left for me at all?" Ann asked. "I did. I really did for a long while, even after your graphic e-mail. But when you kept piling it on and rubbing my nose in it every chance you got, you kind of killed it all." "But I read your journals. All the things you wrote about us. The past and our future together, everything..." Ann was saying when I cut her of. "You read my journals? How did you get your hands on them?" I asked. "When you were in the hospital, I came into the house and found them. I didn't know what they were until I started to read them. I never knew you loved me so much and..." was all she got out. "Get out, get the hell out of MY house. YOU don't live here any more, remember, YOU WALKED OUT ON ME!" I screamed at her. Go back to you boyfriend or boyfriends and stay the hell away from me," I screamed at her as I stood up and tried to walk out of the kitchen before my leg gave out and I crashed onto the floor. "Let me help you," Ann said as she extended her hand as I lay on the ground. "I don't need your damn help. Don't you think you've done just about enough to me?" I spit back at her as I struggled to stand before falling over again. This time however I felt a sharp pain in my leg as I rolled over. "Please leave. Ann, leave me the hell alone." I said as I lay on my back like a turtle that couldn't upright himself. I heard her start to cry as she ran from the kitchen. The front door slammed and I was alone again both inside and outside. I lay there for at least fifteen minutes before trying to get up again. I crawled on my belly and my one good knee over to the couch before dragging my broken ass up onto it. I was sweating like a pig when I either passed out from the pain or fell back into another coma. When I opened my eyes I knew exactly where I was this time. "You wouldn't listen to me would you?" the doctor told me as we moved towards the operating room. You broke one pin loose and screwed up your leg even worse than it was before," he told me. "Lucky for you, I was here when they brought you in. So relax, you know the drill and I'll see you later tonight." I woke up in recovery to the same nurse I saw for the first time months ago. "Couldn't stay away from me?" she asked. "I missed the gourmet meals and sponge baths, that's all," I said trying to snap out of it. "Relax, get some sleep, and I'll be there when you get to your room." Tammy read me the riot act and ripped me up one side and down the other as soon as she walked through the door. "I leave you alone for one damn minute and you put yourself back in the hospital. Don't you think I've got nothing better things to do than to baby-sit your ass in this place?" she yelled at me. "Not really," I said with my best smile. She laughed; I laughed which hurt like hell. "I found you on the couch with a pin sticking out the side of your leg. You were bleeding like a stuck pig. You're just lucky I came by early to find out about your meeting with Ann. If I hadn't, you might have lost that damn leg, then who would run with me?" Tammy said as she punched me in the arm. "Now that we got that shit out of the way, what happened with Ann that put you back in the hospital again?" "Nothing really. She wanted to get back together and apologized for putting me through hell, that's all," I told her. "And?" "And what?" I replied. "And what the hell did you tell her?" Tammy asked. "What do you think I told her? I told her to leave me the hell alone. That's what I told her." "What did you really tell her? You've been pining over her for the last year. I know you didn't blow it, you couldn't have been that stupid. Tell me you didn't blow it for the second time?" Tammy said with 'the look' on her face. "Maybe I was a little rough with her, especially after she said she read my journals. Can you believe she read them?" I asked. "Steve, I read your damn journals to. When I was taking care of your place, I found them and read them all one weekend. They were quite good actually." "For Christ's sake, has anyone not read them? Maybe we should publish them in the newspaper. That way everyone can know my business," I said with an irritation in my voice. "Well, if you didn't want anyone to read them, you should have put them away." "They were in my friggin bedroom. On my night stand. I don't recall inviting you or Ann into my bedroom for a little light reading. Has Connie read them yet? Or are you planning on xeroxing her a copy?" "Who put a burr under your saddle? Alright, I invaded your privacy. I'm sorry, get over it. How long are you going to be laid up this time?" she asked. "Not a clue. My doctor will be in later tonight to let me know. I'm really getting tired of this place." "Your fault this time. You need anything from home?" Tammy asked. "Just my top journal if you don't mind. Unopened if you please," I said with a smile. "Looks like I've got you for about two to three more weeks this time," the doctor told me looking at my x-rays. After that I'm going to let you go home if and only if, you sit yourself in a damn chair all day long. If not, I'll just keep you here until I tap out the limits on your health insurance." "I'll be good, or at least good enough that you don't catch me," I said trying to add in a little humor. "No joking around this time. One more stupid move like the last one, and you'll be on crutches for the rest of your life." I heard that loud and clear. No more games and no more pushing it. The cost was just too high. "Connie's got a new boyfriend, and she's afraid to tell you," Tammy said Friday night. "She was kind of falling for you but realized it was because you saved her life. After our little pajama party she realized you were just too much older and she felt guilty. She met a nice guy and they've been going out for the last month, that's why she hasn't been around that much. She told me she was going to tell you tonight. So don't be an asshole like you were with Ann, she feels bad enough already." Connie came in about fifteen minutes later. "I need to see Steve alone for a minute," she told Tammy. As we watched Tammy leave Connie got this solemn look on her face. "Lighten up Connie, it's not that bad this time. I'll be out running the streets in a couple of weeks," I told her. "Steve, there's something I need to tell you but I don't have a clue where to start," she said as her eyes started to well up. "Connie, let me fill in the blanks. You've found someone special right?" She nodded yes. "And you feel bad because of what I did? Don't. I didn't set out to do what I did, and I don't expect you to be beholding to me for the rest of your life. You've been given a second chance, use it wisely but use it. Life is too short for you to waste another minute on an old duffer like myself. So get out of here and live. However, if you do tie the knot, I expect an invite," I said with a smile. Connie kissed me and promised to stay in touch. As she walked by my bed, I did give her ass a swat. "Tell your boyfriend from me, that if he doesn't treat you right, I'm going to come looking for him," I yelled as she walked out. "You're a good man Steve," Tammy said as she came back into my room. "She walked out of here with a smile on her face and a bounce in her step." Misplaced Jealousy "Then why do I feel so bad?" "Don't worry sweetheart, you didn't lose a lover, you gained a life time friend." "Tam, why don't you get the heck out of here and go home. You must have a million things to do besides baby-sitting me. I've got my journal and need to make an entry or two. Go home, go out, get laid, do something fun for a change." "I think my baby needs some alone time," Tam said giving me a kiss on the lips for the first time ever. "I'll check on you Sunday. Maybe I'll sneak you in a beer. Would you like that?" "Go. Now." I said throwing a pillow at her. I spent the better part of the next day and a half writing in my journal. My shrink would be proud of me. I thought long and hard about my life and where I wanted to go, and who with, before finally putting my book away at 2:00 am Sunday morning. The only reason I stopped was because Debbie came in, grabbed my journal and told me it was nighttime. "Just five more minutes," I pleaded. "Steve, don't make me get tough with you. You need rest if you ever expect to get out of this place. Don't make me have to give you another sponge bath," she said with a smile on her face as she walked towards me with a wet sponge. Tammy snuck in a Big Mac and a Corona in an empty bottle of ginger ale. Can you say heaven, because that's what it tasted like. She stood guard by the room door until I finished. We washed out the bottle and I had a few mints to mask my breath. "Thanks I needed that," I said repositioning myself on the bed. Getting ready for the next chapter of my life. "How long Tammy?" I asked looking at her sitting on the chair next to my bed. "How long what?" "How long have you felt this way about me?" I asked again. "A long time. About a month after you first asked me to flirt with you." "Why didn't you say something? It took me a while to put two and two together and then I didn't even believe it myself. What are you forty two, forty three?" "Forty seven but thanks for the ego boost," she said holding my hand. "I was so jealous of Ann. You went to such lengths to get her back and she didn't even care. She went out of her way to get her revenge on you, and for what? Because you tried to put that spark back in your marriage, I would have killed to have a man like you chase me. My husband died fifteen years ago and he took a little piece of me with him. You're the first man I can honestly say that could fill his shoes, among other things." "I didn't know at first but the more time we spent together I felt something but thought I was just imagining it," I told her. "You weren't supposed to know. Hell I didn't fully realize it until I found you at the hospital just coming out of your coma. I was so angry with them, all of them that I was just seething. I read them the riot act and then when Ann came in the room to see you, I totally lost it. I told her that she threw you away and that you were no longer hers to abuse. That's when I realized for the first time, that I wanted you. I wanted to be your Ann." "But, I'm a lot older than you. Just like I told Connie, why would you like an old fart like me?" "How many old farts do you know that can run twenty miles? How many old farts would have given up their lives to save a bunch of strangers. How many would go to the ends of the earth for the one they love? Not too many I imagine. I'm not asking you to sweep me off my feet, shit Steve you can't even walk yet, but to just think about it. That's all." With a big sloppy kiss and a little tongue tag Tammy left and I was alone again for the second time in three days to think about what I wanted. For the next two weeks, Tammy was a permanent fixture in my hospital room. When the doctor came in to check on me, it seemed he was talking more to Tammy than me. "You've got to keep your husband off his feet if he ever wants that leg to heal," he told Tammy. "I'm not Steve's wife, just a friend," she replied. "Sorry about that, it's just that your name is on his chart as a first contact person and I just assumed," he said as he tried to back track. "No I'm not married to Steve or anyone else." A week before I was scheduled to be release the doctor came into my room and read me the riot act for the last time. "Here is a list of things he can and can't do. He needs to exercise his leg but make sure he doesn't go over board. Here's my card with my home phone number on it," he said giving it to Tammy. "Call me anytime day or night if you have any questions or for anything else you might need." Two weeks later I was back home again sitting in my torture chamber trying to strengthen my good leg. After the second month I was making more than a little progress, but not over doing it. With my I-Pod on and the music blasting I never heard her come downstairs. She watched me for a few minutes before saying anything. "If you push it too hard, you're going to end up back in the hospital and I'm going to have to babysit your ass again," she yelled loud enough that I heard her over the music." "Just making sure it doesn't stiffen up on me," I replied. "The doctor said I can start on my other leg in two weeks and by Christmas, I plan on testing it outside. What do you think?" "You'll never learn will you?" "Yes my angel," I said as she came close enough to kiss. When she took one step back and started unbuttoning her white work blouse I knew she had another kind of workout in mind. I got off of the machine and pulled off my tee shirt, dropped my shorts and moved towards her. Her hungry lips cover mine as she almost sucked my tongue out of my mouth. I slipped her sports bra over her head and dropped her skirt. "My favorite flavor," I said as I looked at her red thong moving it to the side so I could get to her honey pot. "I think instead of quick frying it, I'll just heat it up nice and slow. This way I know it'll be nice and tender," I said as I spread her legs and pulled her pussy to my lips. Sitting on the floor, her pussy was the perfect height for eating. Since I'd gotten her to trim her bush short, I no longer had to worry about getting hairs in my mouth. A couple of flicks here, a lick there and driving my tongue totally inside brought her to her first climax. She fell forward pushing me onto my back on the floor with her pussy planted directly onto my face. I continued to feast on her as she now worked her clit with her fingers. She pulled my toy away as she bent down and licked my lips before kissing me deeply. She moved with the speed of a mink as she twisted around and consumed my already hard dick. Her tongue action made me want to cry, cry with joy. I use to think I was gifted at oral sex and pleasing a woman with my tongue. I was a novice compared to her. She took me to such heights; I didn't think I'd ever come down. And her muscle control made me think I was making love to a sixteen-year-old virgin. Even though I wasn't a hundred percent yet; I had the most satisfying sex of my life these past few months. For once I had to cry out uncle when my dick go too sore to even get hard. "God, I hope you don't need that little blue pill yet. But a four hour hard on, that might be something I'd like to try," she said kissing me as I tickled her rolling her over on top of me. "Now, get dressed. We've got Tammy and her boyfriend coming over for dinner and I'm going to need your help." I started to say something about my leg injury but she cut me off. "Remember who you're talking to," she said walking up the stairs still nude. She took none of my guff as she now ruled the roost here like she did at work. You see, she had seen me at my worst and loved me for who I really was. It didn't hurt that she was an animal in bed also." Tammy wasn't happy when I told her that I just wanted to be her B.F.F. I told her the age difference was only one issue and that I valued her more as a friend than a potential lover or mate. We did however test each other out one night just to be certain. It would have been heaven to stay in her arms forever, but sex wasn't everything. I found that out the hard way. When she asked if I was going back to Ann I just shook my head. You see Ann wanted me back because I was easy. I was predictable and she knew she could always count on me to do anything she wished. Ann knew she'd made some mistakes but figured we could both move past them. However, I never could get that picture of her and Tom out of my head, even after I erased it off my computer. Everyone told me I was making a huge mistake not getting back with Ann, but it my mistake to make. Jimmy and I still talk weekly. He told me to follow my heart and to get as much pussy as I could eat. I took his suggestion. My mind was already made up anyway. With my house sold, I moved in with Debby. Her place wasn't huge and I ended up getting rid of seventy five percent of my old furniture. You see, she had a large king size bed and more than a few weekends we never left the bedroom. I guess you could say, "We lived on love." You see that after one of her 'famous' sponge baths we took it to the next level, more than once. Those last two weeks in the hospital were almost the best two weeks of my life. We had plenty of time to talk and get to know each other. We had more than a few things in common and our differences didn't add up to a hill of beans. She was just what the doctor ordered. Speaking of doctors, that's who Tammy is currently dating. The doctor who performed both surgeries on my legs. Even after we talked, she was always around and so was the doctor. It got to the point that he started to talk to her instead of me when he came in the room. After that, it was coffee in the hospital restaurant, than a movie and then dinner and then... well I don't think I have to paint you a picture do I? I now walk with Tammy on weekends and hope to do my first 5K in two months, with Debbie's ok that is. As I said, Debby rules the roost. She never let me forget that if I screwed up, she'd kick my butt and if I didn't believe her, to just try her. Am I happy? Yes. Am I planning on marrying Debby? Not right now, maybe in the future after we move to Sarasota. Would I do it all over again? NOT A CHANCE IN HELL!!!