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Take A Chance!

By: carvohi



A Brief Introduction



Hi! This is another try at the Loving Wives genre. I got pilloried on the first one for being too wimpy and too something I never quite figured out. Except for a few extremists I got castigated for being too brutally savage on number two. The third one got me some really helpful comments. Frankly, I thoroughly enjoyed writing story three. Well here's number four. I hope you're all still reading me. This one involves four main people; Calvin, Arlene, Susan, and Devin. It's almost totally fiction, and I especially enjoyed writing it. Sorry, I'm still my own proofreader.





"If you change your mind
I'll be first line 
Take a chance on me"

Cal gets to go first:

"I'd like to be able to come right to the point and tell you how this all happened. I'd like to tell you what it all means. Shit I'd like to even exactly know what happened, but even now it doesn't seem to make a lot of sense to me. Here I was one day thinking I was happily married to the woman I thought I'd spend the rest of my life with, and a few weeks later I'm all alone and totally in the shitter. It's so fucking complicated, and then again it's as simple as learning the definition of the word cuckold if that was even what it was. Well let's try to sort this out. All I can say is you'll be hearing from me, and from the two women who are also at the center of this confusing mess. 

"I guess you could say it all started with the Local Volunteer Fire Company dinner. It was the day of the big ham and oyster supper. It was a big occasion because it was when they got as many people together as possible to eat, buy raffle tickets, play bingo, and just generally contribute as much as they could to the fire company. This year was supposed to be an especially big event because they had their eye on a brand new fire truck they hoped would replace the much older one, a hold-over from the one they'd bought right after the Vietnam War. 

One of the central characters, maybe the most central character, in the big oyster-ham get-together was a girl I once knew named Arlene Brown. Now why was this true?" 

"OK, back to the story. Arlene was just twenty-three when all this started to blow up in my face; she was an unmarried mom with a totally rambunctious four year old little boy. She was important because all the planning, cooking, and publicity for the dinner had fallen in her lap. 

I tell you it's creepy. After bringing her little dumpling into the world back in May 2003 Arlene had decided to go it alone; well as alone as she could afford. She never told anyone who the father was, and that proved to be a point of some gossip for a little while and a major source of consternation for even longer."

"I guess I have to back up a little here. Arlene and I and my wife, or former wife Susan I should say all live, or lived, in the same small town just about forty-five miles northwest of Baltimore, the biggest city in Maryland. Back when I was growing up our town only had about seven hundred people so you know what that meant; everybody knew everybody's business. You just couldn't get away from it."

"The high school I attended was small; there were only eighty kids in my graduating class. I graduated in 2002. While I was in school, that was when I met and fell in love with Arlene, or at least I thought I fell in love with her. I guess I must have because I started nagging her for a chance to take her out, and by the spring of out junior year she agreed. Now don't get this wrong; we were as naïve and innocent as two foals. I tell you nothing happened, or at least nothing happened until we both were eighteen and had graduated."

"Let me get to that. I mean how we got started, and then suddenly stopped; and all that so-called hot steamy sex that never happened that I know most of you are secretly interested in hearing about." 

"Well I want to remind you again my name is Calvin McCabe, but most people all just call me Cal. I'm the only guy you'll need to know about in the story other than maybe my older brother Bob and this other guy you'll probably grow to hate, or at least I hope you'll grow to hate. His name isn't important, not right now anyway.

"OK, well I think I actually might have fallen in love with Arlene the first time I ever saw her way back in the fourth grade. I remember seeing her and telling my mom back when I was nine that I thought I'd probably marry her. Mom said I could probably do a lot worse. She said Arlene came from a good family. I recall how she was just so damned cute. Arlene was a spritely little gal.

Even now at twenty-four I think she's just as cute as the dickens. By the way don't mess with me on ages and some dates. I've been through so much lately sometimes I just get confused, and you know how it is when you start to talk, everything kind of bleeds together. 

Arlene, she stands a diminutive five foot four, weight maybe a hundred and ten pounds; she has dark brown hair she always keeps cut short, and she has dark brown eyes. Actually she's just a mousy little thing, but by now you probably know I like them mousy."

"Here we were in high school in our junior year. I was born In February and Arlene in April. We were both seventeen and as raw and as untested as could be. We started dating in May and by June I was so deeply in love I burst out one night and just told her. Well I think she loved me too, but was a little afraid to go as far as I did. She said she triple decker liked me. Now Arlene was as popular as hell; boys followed her around like flies follow a horse on a hot August day. I gave her my high school ring, and that sort of sealed the deal; in my mind we'd get married, settle down, I'd get a job; we'd have seven or eight kids, and live happily ever after. Too bad it never quite happened that way.

That summer my mom and dad took me, my older brother Bob and my older sister Barbara to the beach for a week. It was an important vacation for a lot of reasons, the most important of which I never understood until later was that was the last vacation we'd ever have with our dad; he had a massive heart attack while on the job later that year, and we'd never get a vacation with him again. 

Well back to the story. We were gone a week, a whole week, just seven days! When I came back I went straight over to see Arlene. I wanted to show her my great tan, and I wanted to give her the Tee-shirt I'd bought her. I knew something was up as soon as I walked in her parent's front door. She was wearing my school ring and looking at it. It didn't take her long to tell me she'd been out on a couple dates while I was away, and she'd decided to break it off with me and start seeing another guy she met named David." 

"I thought, David, who the shit was David? David it turned out was a guy who lived a few miles from us and attended a private Catholic High School in southern Pennsylvania. Didn't that take the cake; the girl I wanted to spend the rest of my life with had dumped me for someone else because she thought he was cuter, had a better car, and because she just knew I'd probably been sneaking around with other girls while I was at the beach."

"Damn it, I hadn't been sneaking around. I had my chances. I'd met a girl from Chesapeake City, but I'd spent half an evening telling her about Arlene and how much I loved her. The Chesapeake City girl got bored and went off with some other boy from Dover, Delaware."

"What a fool I was. I learned quickly that day, first take advantage of every opportunity when it comes, and second Arlene was about as trustworthy as a cat. I blew out of that house as fast as I could, and I didn't see or hear from her again until school started."

"Come to find out when school started back up in September, David, the Parochial School boy, and Arlene never hit it off. Arlene and I got back together. Honestly, I never really trusted Arlene after that summer, and all that fall, winter, and spring of our senior year I didn't know if she wanted to date me because she loved me or because I had a car. Her breaking up with me sort of gnawed at me all that year. I didn't realize it at the time, but I'd always find a way to pick a fight with her just when she seemed the happiest. Like when we went to her grandparents for Christmas and everybody was having such a good time, and I started something that ended up making her cry. I, of course, apologized. Hell I didn't know why I did it; I was just too young and immature. 

High school graduation came, and she and I were still virgins. We kept dating all summer, but we both knew things were going to change soon. She'd signed up to go to some culinary school in Baltimore, and I'd gotten accepted at the big university down at College Park. I wondered if our love, by then I knew she really loved me, would survive the separation. I remembered oh too well our week long separation from the year before." 

I'm Arlene, and now I get to go:

"I really liked Cal when he first asked me out when we were juniors, but I was coming off a pretty bad break up with an older boy, older, he was a senior, and I wasn't ready for another serious relationship; you know one with kissing and hugging each other every day after school and all day every weekend. Don't forget, this was small town America, just getting a free feel was enough to brand a girl a harlot."

Now back to Cal and our junior year. I liked Cal a lot so I agreed to be his girlfriend. He was real nice; he treated me like a lady, but I had to admit it, Cal was kind of boring. All he wanted to do was tell me how much he loved me, how he wanted to marry me some day, how pretty he thought I was, and how we'd buy a house, make a lot of babies, and live happily ever after. Cripes, I was seventeen! I broke up with him."

We got back together in our senior year though, and by Christmas I realized Cal probably was the one for me. Anyway I fell in love. We went on and finished high school, lived it up all summer after graduation, and then August came."

I was eighteen and Call was eighteen so we both were old enough, and I thought we knew what we were doing. We'd both be headed off for different places in a few days, and I loved Cal, I mean I really loved the boy. I decided to give him the one thing a girl can only give away once. Yes, I let him get me."

"We did it in the back seat of his older brother's Camaro. We drove out and parked by a field in the middle of the night, and right then and there, squeezed close together on that back seat I gave him my one and only cherry. Honestly, I hated it. First all it did was hurt. Second, all I thought about was how Mr. Burbidge, the town cop and my father's closest friend, would drive up, flash his big light on us, and my reputation would be ruined. Worse, neither of us knew to bring any protection. Cal went in without a condom. How was I to know it only took one time? I was just a stupid country girl after all. Oh yeah sure, I was in the F.F.A., that's Future Farmers of America for the uninitiated, and I'd raised a sheep for 4H, and I'd been watching cows, and horses, and cats, and dogs, and chickens since I could remember, but who knew it worked the same way for humans too?"

Cal went off to college the next day, and I started my long commute back and forth to the city. We didn't see each other until just before Halloween. The last thing I wanted to do was a repeat of what had happened in August, and I guess Cal didn't either. He had contracted one of those awful fall viruses, and all he wanted to do was sleep. I mean really just sleep. It led to sort of a fight, and I told Call I was going to see other boys. I didn't have anybody in mind at the time; I just knew it was something that would probably really make him mad. It did too. He told me if I was going to see other boys, he was going to date other girls too. That Halloween visit ended pretty badly."

I set out to get even. I met a boy in the city, a kind of nice boy named Gary. I decided to punish Cal so I let Gary get me too. Honestly it hurt just as bad the second time with Gary as it did with Cal. I realized as far as sex was concerned, I just didn't get it. I mean if all I got was feeling sore and guilty, then it just wasn't worth it. 

"Something else had happened though that I'd never planned. Cal and I had done it back in August. Gary got me in November. Since August I'd missed my periods for September, October, and November. I was knocked up."

"Cal came home for Thanksgiving, and we met again. I knew I was pregnant, but I was small, and I'd started wearing baggier clothes so nobody could really tell. I think my mom knew. The first thing Cal asked me was if I'd seen any other guys. He already knew I had because I'd told him on the phone. I remember when I ruined everything. We were at the same place where he got me back in August when I told him that Gary had 'got me' too. He gave me this funny look, and I knew it was over. To him I'd become damaged goods. There wasn't anything I could say. I knew I was pregnant, and I knew Cal was the daddy, but somehow it didn't matter. I'd ruined everything. I never told him. He went back to college, and I continued to commute back and forth to culinary school. 

Cal again:

"Arlene let me do her in August just before I went off to college. I thought sex would be some kind of really great thing. I was a virgin, and I knew she was too. It turned out to be just about the worst night of my life. I never felt so guilty. I loved Arlene. I mean I really loved her. I read all the magazines and the stories how a girl's first time was supposed to be something special, for her it turned out to be everything but.

We got together again for Halloween, but that was a fiasco. I could hardly stay awake, and when she told me she wanted to date other boys well that really pissed me off. I went back to school and started chasing girls with a vengeance. By the time I got back home for Thanksgiving I'd found and scored with one girl, and had another on the line. Honestly, I really liked the sex; it was good, but sex with a girl at college, a girl who'd already been with two or three other boys, wasn't what I was secretly looking for. 

"I went home for Thanksgiving, and that's when my life was ruined. Arlene told she'd given it up to another boy; some guy named Gary she'd met at her school. My high school sweetheart; the first great love of my life, was no better than the whores running around at College Park. I swore off love, swore off Arlene, and vowed to go back and hit on as many girls as I could find. 

I went back home for a day at Christmas, but some buddies and I had decided to try California for the break. So after the compulsory home visit it was off to Los Angeles. Later after semester break we hit New Orleans. I didn't see Arlene again until Easter."

"I went home for a few days at Easter. I'd planned on hitting the beach at Daytona, but had run out of money so I figured I'd hang around at home for a few days instead. I got a wild hair up my ass, and decided to drive over and see how Arlene was doing. I'd thought about her a lot. Honestly I missed her. I even thought about forgiving her for doing it with that guy Gary. Was I surprised! She was as big as house! I didn't stay long. I could tell she was really glad to see me, and I knew she was hoping I'd stay a while and talk, but one look at that belly told it all. The girl I knew was dead. Arlene had become a pig. I stayed and chatted a few minutes, but found an excuse to leave and got the hell out of Dodge as fast as I could."

Back to Arlene:

"Cal came back a couple times during our first year at school. I was pregnant so going back and forth to school was getting harder almost by the day. Cal stopped over my parent's the day before Easter, and saw how it was with me. I was so glad to see him. By then I knew he was the single greatest love of my life, but it took just one look at his face and I knew he was dead to me. He saw me and saw my belly and as far as he was concerned I was just another whore. It would have been funny it wasn't so tragic. I'd had sex two times, hated both, got pregnant on the first try by the one I really loved, and had a second try just to get even with the first and that was worse than the first. Honestly, I swore off sex. I said to myself if I never did it again that would be OK for me."

The baby came right on time; precisely nine months after Cal got me. He was a beautiful little boy, "Of course I named him after his father. When people asked me if the name had anything to do with Cal McCabe I lied, I just told them I liked the name. I think most everybody sort of believed me, but I think my mom and dad knew the truth." 

Time marches on:

Strapped with a baby I decided to stay at home with mom and dad. Where else could I go? They were good to me; they were just about the only people in town who were. With mom and dad's help I worked my way through culinary school, and this occasion, the big oyster-ham do, was to be my first big break. I'd been out of school for nearly a year. I'd worked at one of the diners in town for a while flipping burgers and breaking too many eggs. You'd be surprised how peculiar people are about their fried eggs; some like them snotty, some like them with a hard white and soft yolk, and some just like everything hard. By the time I got the eggs right it seemed most people in town had started to accept the fact I wasn't married, had a baby, and wasn't planning on ever getting married. 

Tonight was my night. If I made good here, tonight, I was pretty confident people would put their trust in me when I opened my own little breakfast diner. I planned to do in just a few weeks.

I looked out on the tables, the seating arrangements, the dessert trays, the prize tables, the raffle sites, and coffee and iced tea stations, the food preparation bins; the trash cans, everything was in place and going like gang busters. People from all over were converging for their big dinner. 

Now people in small towns like mine are for the most part a pretty honest bunch. You got to eat all you wanted; you just couldn't take anything out with you. With the ham, the parsley potatoes, and the string beans that was never a problem. It was always the oysters that kept people on their guard. I'd seen some dinners where grand-moms had dumped whole platefuls of oysters in their pocketbooks so they could sneak them out and eat them in the days to come.

One of the older ladies who was working the dinner for free came up to me, "You got it pretty good girl. What the way you've got the men scooping out the oysters nobody's going to walk away with more than they can carry in their stomachs."

I grinned, "Yes I think I fixed the oyster problem. Each patron gets their own paper bowl, and our servers walk around and dole out three or four oyster at a time."

The old lady chuckled, "I like it that you got the guys to refuse to serve the moochers more unless they ate what they tried to filch first." 

Yes, I thought to myself, it was working pretty well; only one or two old biddies had tried to snitch oysters unfairly. I liked this little preventive action. People liked honesty, and they especially liked it when sometimes it was encouraged with a little shame, and shame had been something I'd grown accustomed to over the past few years. 

So here I was supervising my first big supper and guess who walked in for dinner, Cal McCabe and his pretty new bride Susan. Well he came in with this gorgeous, and I mean gorgeous little blond; they slipped their coats over their arms, came striding right up to my work station, grabbed some paper plates, some condiments, and then they started for one of the tables where some of the farmers' wives had just cleaned off some seats.

Damn I thought; didn't they see the waiting area? Didn't they see there were dozens of people waiting to be seated? Hadn't they gotten a numbered ticket like everyone else? Who did they think they were? 


Take A Chance!



Let me back this up a little. These oyster dinners were big time. People came from all over so they could engorge themselves on as many oysters as their tummies would allow. The custom had always been, and Cal knew it, to get a number, take a seat in the waiting area, and wait to be called to a table. So what was Cal doing, and who did he think he was that he could break protocol and just jump the line?

I was completely taken aback! Of course I'd recognized him right away. I don't think he knew me from Adam. The first thing I realized was how good he looked. The years, all four of them, hadn't hurt him a bit. He looked really healthy and muscular. He still had that trim little waist, but I could see he'd added inches to his shoulders. His hair was a little shorter, and his clothes fit perfectly. He looked terrific! But I knew I couldn't let him jump the line. I was afraid to go up to him myself so I turned to Mrs. Hawthorne, my second in command, and asked her to stop the intrusive couple, I said, "Mrs. Hawthorne would you please say something to that intrusive couple?" 

Mrs. Hawthorne turned and looked at me, "You mean Cal and his wife?"

I played dumb, "Cal?"

She only smiled, "I'll stop them."

I watched as Mrs. Hawthorne went over and reminded Cal and his wife they'd broken an important custom. She must have mentioned me because he looked back in my direction. I know he saw me, but I don't think he recognized me. I blushed anyway. Then he turned, put his arm around his wife's waist and walked her over to the waiting area.

Back to Cal:

I recognized her as soon as we walked into the hall. Jesus I'd forgotten how beautiful she was. There she stood straightening the paper plates just looking all beautiful and demure. I can't recall how many times I'd seen her looking exactly like that in my dreams. She was wearing this pretty white blouse with a big black bow at the neck. Her pleated mini-skirt came to just above her knees, and instead of wearing dark nylons she had on dark blue knee high stockings that exactly matched the color of her skirt. She was wearing dark blue leather shoes with like fat two inch high heels. She still kept her hair short. She'd let her bangs grow out since I'd last seen her, and she was combing them over and across her forehead. I saw her little hooped earrings.

She still had that way of pursing her lips like she was looking for something or somebody to kiss. I almost messed my pants right there on the spot. I looked down at my lovely wife. She was looking up at me. I wondered if she knew what I was thinking.

My wife asked, "You know her?"

I tucked her waist in my arm, and after Mrs. Hawthorne reminded me of the waiting area I whispered, "This is a small town. Everybody knows everybody around here."

My wife pressed it just a little, "You didn't say; do you know her?"

I replied, "We went to school together. We graduated in the same class." I think that satisfied my wife. She didn't ask any more questions. 

Susan, Cal's wife:

"Cal thinks he's clever. He recognized the little squirrel as soon as we walked in. I wonder sometimes why I bothered to marry him. But I know why. For one he's easy to boss around. I also know he loves me, but most of all I married him to piss people off. I had a real boyfriend, I mean a real boyfriend in my senior year, a man a girl could look up to, but he said he wasn't ready for marriage yet. He said he wanted to sow some wild oats first. Damn I'd thought I was his wild oats. His name is Devin, Devin Bradford. Devin's like me, a real Maryland first family type, and a blueblood. My name is Susan McCabe, my maiden name was Susan Calvert; that's right Calvert, as in George Calvert, one of the Calvert's who originally owned and settled Maryland. 

The second person I pissed off was my dad. He expected me to marry someone more suitable. Cal's a nice boy, a little backward, but he's really not my type. McCabe, come on, Scottish? He's one of the ones who came to Maryland after the civil war; not that one, the real one; the one in the 1640's not the 1860's. Back in the 1640's, that was when the Puritans took over in England and killed the rightful king, then they'd hired all those Scottish mercenaries to clamor all over the Catholics in Maryland; that's when Cal's family showed up. 

Cal's family originally settled on the Eastern Shore. His parents came over to the west side of the Bay right after World War Two. My family is known for its tolerance and open mindedness. The McCabe's, aren't nearly so open like my people. My family settled in what is today Charles County. Later we moved to the city, Baltimore City, as in Lord Baltimore. 

My family has been in all the major wars in our country's history. I guess Cal's people have to. The big difference was I guess most of my people fought for the South in the War Between the States, whereas Cal's people mostly went for the North. He and his people have been on the wrong side of history and society since day one. 

Don't get me wrong. I'm not a snob. I have friends who aren't society; why some of my sorority sisters came from the other side of the tracks. We even had some Italians in our sorority; after all they were still Catholic. 

I guess I love Cal, sort of. He's smart at what he does; he's in things like financial planning and business management. I majored in Art History. Heck, I agreed to move out here to 'Hickdom' didn't I? There was another reason though. My boyfriend, I mean Devin, he got a job in Frederick, and Frederick's only about an hour from where we are right now. We've already talked. He's bored and lonely. Am I going to cheer Devin up or what?

Yeah, sure, I love Cal, but I'm not having his kids, and I'm not staying out here in 'Cow Paddy Land' any longer than I have to. I have to admit Cal's good with horses. I like horses. I have two; both purebreds. Cal likes to talk about this family out here that have this horse farm loaded with what Cal calls therapy animals. He says these are horses that have been neglected or abused that this family has adopted and cares for. Cal said he used to work there when he was in high school. He said that's where his brother taught him to ride. He says they use the horses to work with disadvantaged and abused children; that's the therapy part I suppose. Look, I love horses, all horses, but sometimes you have to draw the line; if they're too bad off isn't it more humane to just put them out of their misery and turn them into dog food? 

Look, I've got my money, but Cal's still got to get his. I'll hang around till something, or someone better comes along, then I'll take my cut of what he makes and move on. Yeah, I love Cal, he's got prospects.



Back to Arlene:



Mrs. Hawthorne smiled at Arlene, "You used to date the McCabe boy once didn't you?"

Arlene smiled at no one in particular, "Yes ma'am, back in high school. That was a long time ago."

Mrs. Hawthorne took her plate of potatoes and started for a fresh table, "Yes, it's been what, four years?"

Arlene looked up, "Yes, four I think, a long time."

The rest of the dinner went off without a hitch. Cal and Susan, along with everyone else got their ham and oysters. I kept busy supervising what everybody else was doing. Every now and then I glanced over at Cal's table. He looked really happy. He had a beautiful wife, he was at the start of a great career, or at least that's what I'd heard, and he'd bought a house on Quality Hill, or so I heard somebody say. Quality Hill is a stretch of really nice older homes in what everyone agreed was the best part of town. I mean I hadn't snooped or anything, that's just what I'd heard. 

There are other nice streets in town. There's Catholic Hill too, but Cal, like me, is a Methodist. I didn't think he'd ever buy on Catholic Hill.

Arlene goes on; it's a few weeks later:

I got my breakfast diner up and running. It's just off Main Street at the north end of town; a great, really convenient, location for men and women on their way to work to stop in, grab a cup of coffee and a bagel, and for the locals to stop in after a morning's work to order up a heap of eggs. 

I get in around 4:00 a.m., and open up at 5:00. My mom takes care of little Cal in the morning. He's in pre-K, and like his dad, he's doing pretty good, smart I mean. I stay open till around 1:00 maybe 2:00 in the afternoon, then I clean the place up, and get everything closed in time for when little Cal awakens from his afternoon nap. Then he and I play and stuff till it's time for both of us to go to bed.

I'm starting to worry about little Cal. He's a good little boy, and I love him to death, but he needs a man around. Now I have my dad, but he's getting up there. Little Cal's going to need a real father figure someday. They're plenty of eligible guys, and I know I could pick any of them, but I'm looking for the right fit. So far Mr. Right just hasn't shown up yet. Well, that's not exactly true.

Day in and day out at the Breakfast Diner:

It's kind of interesting seeing how you get your regulars, your short timers, and your checker outers. Every morning like clockwork the really early birds start to show up. I had a friend of mine; a guy I really like, a guy I think would like to take our friendship to another level, cut out a drive through. Now I can get more people through. I had to hire on a young housewife to help me. Her dad owns a dairy farm and her husband helps with the morning milking so she's up early anyway. She gets in around 5:30 and works till about 9:00. This gives me time to work the counter, the tables, and the booths. I have a twelve stool counter, four small tables, and six booths; it's not a mountain of work, but it keeps me on my toes. 

Like I said I have my regulars. Cal started showing up about the fifth week I was open. He first started to get in around 5:30, but since my helper, Mary, that's my housewife helper, started, Cal began showing up a little later. He sits at the counter; he buys a cup of coffee and usually a bagel, sometimes he'll order eggs. 

Stupid me, I was worried he'd start using the drive through window, but he said he likes the taste of fresh brewed coffee when it comes in a ceramic cup. If he keeps coming I'm thinking about buying him his own personalized cup. I could do that for all my regulars; it would be a nice way of showing them my appreciation for their patronage. I could set up a shelf out in the restaurant where they could get their own cups. 

He always looks so good in the morning. He always wears a nice suit. Since the weather's gotten warmer he's been taking his sport jacket off. He looks really sharp in those crisp, freshly starched, white shirts and his dark suspenders. There's something about suspenders on a young man. Cal's got this tiny waist and these broad shoulders. When he takes his coat off I swear I almost swoon. 

Big Cal so handsome; he doesn't know the secret I have. He's a daddy, and every night I put his little boy to bed. Each evening, after I read to my baby his bed time story I tuck him. I can see more and more of his dad in him all the time. I thought if I could have more like him, I'd make the sacrifice and have the sex. That'll never happen though; there's no way I'll ever see his daddy in my life ever again, not like that. My Cal has those same big brown eyes, and that same sweet smile. I know my boy is going to grow up and be just like his dad. 

Big Cal comes in every morning and we talk. He likes to talk about his wife and all the things they plan to do together. It looks like Big Cal's going to have that big family he wants. I just know he's going to be a great dad. I like listening to all his plans. It makes me glad that he's so happy. 

Susan's plans:

I got a text message the other day from a sorority sister. We'll translate it from text speak for the uninformed, "Hey Sue, Devin's in Frederick, he's a lawyer, and he's making big money. He's not married, and he was asking about you. I told him you were just a few miles away. Don't be surprised, and don't be a stranger."

I texted back, "Keep me up to speed. If you get a chance let our boy know what my phone number is."

A week later I got my first text from Devin, "Susan, I've missed you. Heard you married Cal. Good choice. Maybe we could get together, you know talk."

I texted back, "I don't work; nothing to do around here except teach school, and that's a definite zero. Hey let's meet up."

A day later from Devin, "My schedule's loose. How's your?"

I sent right back, "I'm good. You want to meet?"

Devin hit back, "Any time."

I responded, "There's a little eatery in the town where I live, a dive really, run by some homeless chick or something, a breakfast place. I've been there a few times; the place is dead after 1:00 till it closes at 2:00 or so. Want to try it?"



The next afternoon Devin and I were in a booth at Arlene's breakfast diner. Devin started first, "Gee, Susan I've missed you."

I replied, "I've missed you too Devin. Betty Lou says you're doing well in Frederick."

"Yeah, the city's growing fast, lots of new business. It's in a good location, not far from D.C. and the night life down there."

I sighed, "I miss going out at night. There's nothing to do around here; the place is absolutely dead."

Devin was sympathetic, "That's too bad Susan. I know you married a boy from around here. He's a nice guy; a little backward though."

I answered, "Yeah Cal, the honor student, got a job near here working for a banking conglomerate or something. All he does is work. He never wants to go anywhere or take me anyplace."

"Oh yeah, Cal McCabe, country boy, likes sheep and cows and such. I still sometimes wonder how you ever ended up with him."

I smiled, "He made the best offer."

Devin grinned, "Too bad; you should have held out. I hear there was another suspicious character hanging around your place."

I winked, "Is he still available?"

Devin winked back, "Could be, depends on how bored you are."

++++++++++++++++++++++

For next twenty minutes Susan and Devin rehashed old times at college. They talked about the parties, the tricks they played on classmates and friends. They talked about all the fun they'd had each year on Spring Break, those special intimate times they shared just before and right after graduation. 

Susan silently reflected on the last time they'd been together. It had been just a week before she'd married Cal. That last weekend with Devin was perhaps the happiest she'd ever been. Too bad Devin never popped the question. She'd have gone to him in a minute. Well she considered, that was a long time ago, nearly a year.

++++++++++++++++++++

Finally Devin announced, "Look I've got to cut out. I have an appointment in Washington." The last thing he did was leave me his home and office phone numbers, "Call me if you get bored." 

I took the numbers and quietly coded them into my cell phone. I used phony names-just in case.

++++++++++++++++++++

Arlene spent most of that afternoon cleaning the grill and the oven. She noticed Susan; she remembered who she was. She wondered who the man she was with was. It never occurred to her anything might be wrong. Oh she knew about marital hanky-panky, but she'd never lived in that kind of world; and besides different married couples came in and met with each all the time. She figured the guy was probably someone doing something to the new house Cal had bought. She finished her work, and went home.

The Clock Keeps Ticking:

Cal was a hard worker; his clients and his bosses soon took note of the uncanny ability he had in anticipating the ebbs and flows of the markets. The harder he worked, the more successful he became, the more success he had, the more they piled on him. He found himself going in early every morning, but staying later and later each night. Sometimes he didn't get home till eight or nine o'clock. Dead dog tired he barely had time to get a shower, wolf down a little food, and slump off to bed. The only free time he found he had was the few moments each morning he spent at the breakfast nook. Cal noticed an unpleasant dichotomy had begun to emerge.

The evenings had their predictable litany. It sounded somewhat like this.

I'd walk in the front door and Susan would be waiting, "Cal I want to go out tonight."

I'd respond, "Not tonight honey; how about Friday?"

"Oh come on Cal, I'm home alone all day long. There's nothing to do around this one horse town."

I'd respond, "You could help out with the Womens' Auxiliary. Maybe you could bring your horses up. I have friends at several farms. They'd be delighted to stable your horses. You could find some friends and go horseback riding. I know a bunch of women who ride regularly, every morning in fact."

Susan would react, "Cal I want to go dancing."

I'd reply to that one, "I could do that. Have you ever taken up clogging?"

"Clogging? Clogging! Come on Cal, I mean real dancing, you know something at a nightclub, a dance club!" 

"Gee Susan I don't know. Is there a place around here like that?"

No she'd reply, "We'd have to go in to Washington."

I knew Susan was unhappy, but I worked so hard, I had so little time. I always replied, "We'll try, how about the weekend?"

She'd always reply, "Oh never mind."

On the other hand there were the mornings at the breakfast nook.

Arlene would greet me with a fresh bagel or mix up a batch of scrambled eggs, sometimes just a scrambled egg sandwich, or on special occasions she'd fix up a stack of pancakes and fried eggs. I liked breakfast food, and Arlene was great at fixing it. 

It was like Arlene was so concerned. She'd see me in the morning and say, "Gosh you've got a new shirt or a new tie on." Then sometime she'd look all sad and say something like, "Cal gee are you getting enough sleep. You look really tired. If you don't slow down you're going to get sick." 

I knew what it was. Arlene paid attention to things; not just with him, but with everybody, but I thought especially toward me. She seemed to know my moods, when I was tired, when I was irritable about something, or when something had really gone my way at work. I started to look forward to the few minutes I had with her each morning.

Then deep inside, I wondered why she'd never gotten married. I also wondered about the kid she had. I'd never seen the child, and Arlene never mentioned him. I'd heard her talk about her son to some of the other patrons, but they all always had to ask first. She never volunteered. I remembered that guy; Gary had been his name. Was that the guy who got her pregnant? Was her child Gary's? I thought about that sometimes. In fact lately I'd been thinking about Arlene a lot. It made me feel a little bit guilty; like I was cheating in a way on my wife. Maybe I should stop going to the Breakfast Diner? 

Time Stops for just a second:

I decided I'd stop going to the Breakfast Diner on the way to work. I started fixing my coffee and eggs and having a bagel at home. That lasted for about two weeks until Susan started to complain about the dirty dishes and cups in the sink when she got up. 

She'd say, "Cal you know I'm not an early riser. I'm never up before 10:00 a.m. and the idea of having to clean your dirty dishes and wash out grimy fry pans the first thing I get up is a serious irritant. I thought you liked the food at the Breakfast Nook."

That did it for me; just two weeks away and I was back at the nook.

Was I ever surprised and shocked. The first morning I was back Arlene almost tackled me, "Where have you been?"

I only nodded and started to say something.

Arlene didn't give me a chance, she said, "Sit down here. Let me whip up a batch of cakes and some fresh fried eggs." She poured me a big coffee. I noticed the cup she used had my name on it.




Take A Chance!



"Wow," I said, "My own cup."

Arlene grinned, "You rate buddy." Then she unconsciously upped the ante, "You remember I always triple decker liked you!" 

All those old memories swept back over me. Sure I remembered our high school break up, the memory of that first post-graduation Halloween, that guy Gary, and the sight of her big pregnant belly intruded slightly, but they were quickly swept away by all the good things the happy times, those wonderful occasions when we were a couple. I remembered how deeply and completely I once loved her.

Then I ruined it, "You have a child don't you Arlene?"

She instantly went on guard, "Yeah, I do."

I blindly pushed on, "Boy or girl?"

She tersely replied, "Boy."

I asked, "Really what's his name?"

Arlene murmured, "Calvin."

I was stopped cold; her child was named after me. I replied, 'Oh, well, got to go now, see you tomorrow." I left. I spent the rest of the day just thinking about Arlene, her boy, and the fact that she'd tagged him with my name. It didn't make sense.

Tongues a Wagging:

The average person can't fathom what it might be like living in a small town where too many older people have too much time on their hands. You get a situation like that and the gossips will go hog wild.

Everybody that grew up in their fair town knew at least some of the Calvin-Arlene story, and those that didn't were more than willing to fabricate something. But what really got the tongues a going was how the two former lovebirds acted once they were around each other each morning. Most everyone agreed the two youngsters probably didn't even know what they were doing, but everybody else sure did, all the old folks that is. Just a few little snippets of the gossip are enough to tell the tale.

There was old man Martin. He'd worked for the railroad for fifty years, and ran the station for most that time. Accustomed to being up before dawn as it was, he was a regular at Arlene's little shop. Willing ears all over town heard his observations.

There was his one Monday comment, "Do you see how Arlene waits till the McCabe boy gets to her place. Then just before he takes his seat she's at it unbuttoning the top three buttons on her blouse and a tucking it in so she can show him her cleavage. I tell she's trying to make an impression"

Not to be outdone Mrs. Wilkins, housewife and neighbor to the Browns, "You ought to see the way that girl works when young Cal shows up each morning. She just skips around there in her little mini-skirt just a making sure he gets the best seat at the counter so she can lean over and talk to him."

Mrs. McElroy always had a good one, "I think she rolls her mini-skirts up a notch or two just before Cal gets to her place."

Just listen to Mrs. Harkins; the widow from down the street, "My goodness, don't you love it the way she looks herself over in the mirror as soon as she sees his car pull up. My Lord she primps and pampers like a school girl so she can look just right when he walks in. I tell you, every hair in place, lipstick freshened, eye-shadow redone, hands all freshly washed so he can see her clear nail polish, and mascara done up just right."

Now don't get me wrong cited Ms. Owens the town old maid, "Don't you see how that young man frets over his hair, and adjusts his suspenders so they're just right before he walks in the diner. You'd think he was headed for a job interview!"

My lands piped in Mrs. Abernathy one morning, "That boy doesn't walk in into her little diner he makes a grand entrance. He sure wants to make that big morning impression. I think he practices his smiles just before he goes in the door, just so he can look his best."

Then old Mr. Clackenbush might have capped it off with something like, "I just don't know how long he's going to able to hold that marriage together with that young blond girl, what with our Arlene looking so pretty and sexy for him each morning."

+++++++++++++++++++++

Yes sir the gossips were out, and out in force, but they weren't talking about anything everybody didn't already know. Young Cal McCabe and that pretty little Arlene Brown were a couple that was meant to happen. Everybody'd known it ever since he'd chucked that first rock at that sweet little thing way back when they were in grammar school.

Time moves on:

Arlene went home that night and played with her little darling extra hard. Her little lad, her sweet lovable little man meant more than to her than anything. He'd become a little talker too.

Little Cal cried out, "Mommy you're playing too much with me now. You're squeezing me too tight. Stop now." 

She picked him and held him so close, "Oh you're my little hero, my special little man, my oh so special little soldier. I love you so much I could just eat you up."

Then he asked her the question he asked every single night, "Mommy can I go to work with you tomorrow?"

Arlene tried to keep him away from the diner as much as she could. There were good reasons for that. First it was dangerous. He was a busy bee, and hard to keep up with. She was always afraid he might climb around on the furniture or maybe get caught or burned on the equipment. Then second, he always ended up becoming something of the center of attention. Everybody and his brother wanted to pick him up, but he was just too much her little boy for her to be comfortable with that. Third, it always drove people to speculation. She'd never let on who the father was, and whenever he showed up for any length of time people would start whispering, conjecturing, and conferring, and it always led them back to the fact he was born out of wedlock. She didn't want her mistake to interfere with his happiness. Then there were the men, the machos, the protectors. When little Cal was around there was always somebody ready to take her on, make her as they said 'an honest woman', some guy was always ready to be the 'stand up', the guy who'd say, "Arlene you need a man for that boy." She knew that, she just knew none of them fit the bill. Then last there was Big Cal; what if he saw her boy and realized how much alike they looked. He'd know then for sure! That was what really scared her.

"Mommy, take me to your diner. I want to see all the people."

She gave in, "OK, maybe later this week."

"What day mommy?"

"Maybe Thursday."

"OK, mommy, oh boy!"

Susan:

Susan checked her cell phone. There were two numbers. She punched in Devin's office phone, no answer. She tried his cell and left a text, "I'm bored, Susan."

Five minutes later her cell phone rattled away. She picked up, "Hello."

It was Devin, "Susan?"

She lost her composure for a split second, but recovered. Unconsciously she fixed her hair, "Oh Devin, you called back."

He commented, "You said you were bored."

She whispered, "It's terrible. There's nothing to do."

Devin felt a tightness in his loins. Susan always got to him. He hadn't been with anyone in three days. He reached down and scratched himself, "Want to get together?"

She replied, "Just to talk."

He offered, "How about that breakfast place in the north end of your town?

She answered, "Thursday?"

He completed her thought, "How about 1:00 p.m."

She sighed, "See you then." As she turned off her phone she said to herself it's just a meeting to talk. I'm not going to do anything. We'll just talk. She knew better.

Big Cal's First Dilemma:

I kept wondering, worrying, "Why did Arlene name her boy Calvin? I've got to look into this." I decided to take Thursday off. It was the best day; most people were out playing golf or something on Thursdays anyway. I'd go in early as usual. Check for any messages, any fast breaking activity. If there weren't any emergencies, then I could take the rest of the day, drive around town, and ask a few discreet questions. All night Wednesday I sat and made lists; who should I see, who would be most amenable to questions, who would be the most likely to keep my visit to themselves? I settled on a few older people. I'd ask them, and if I got up the nerve I'd go visit Arlene's parents.

That Thursday morning I didn't go inside the restaurant; I got my coffee and bagel at the drive through. I think Arlene noticed; I imagine she thought that was odd.

++++++++++++++++++++

Arlene watched Cal drive away. Damn she'd bought a new blouse and worn it this morning just to show off for him.

++++++++++++++++++++

I went in to my office, found nothing going on, left a note for my secretary, and left. 

My first visit was to old Al Matthews. Al was nearly eighty years old and ran the barber shop. He was closed on Wednesdays, but l knew he was always open for business first thing on Thursday. I used to go to Al's for a cut. Al had one style. It didn't matter what you asked for, if it wasn't a child's buzz, it was an old fashioned G.I. whitewall. I wasn't going for a cut, but if it meant getting the sides of my head scraped clean I'd let Al do it. 

When I got there four men were already lined up for 'the cut'. I sat down to politely wait my turn. Pretty soon I realized I didn't need to ask Al hardly any questions. The men were all older, they'd lived in town all their lives, and they seemed to have read my mind.

Old Mr. Benson owned the Tire Store. He glanced over at me and then back at one of the other patrons. I knew what Mr. Benson was about to say was indirectly aimed at me, but he looked at Jared Tucker, "You see Arlene's little boy lately?"

The other patron, Jared Tucker, the man who owned and who had run the meat market for nearly fifty years replied, "Yeah, the kids growing like a weed." Then Mr. Tucker looked directly at me, "Hey Cal, you seen Arlene's boy?"

I replied, "No sir, I haven't."

Jared Tucker replied, "You ought to check him out son."

Now Mr. Tucker was one of the older men in town who'd taken me and my brother and sister under his wing right after our dad died. I had great respect for Mr. Tucker; he was one of the good guys. I asked, "Why's that Mr. Tucker?"

Mr. Tucker was his usual laconic self, "Can't say son; just know you ought to look him over."

Then Mr. Barger, another older man and a regular at Al's gave me an enigmatic grin, "Why'd you marry that city gal?"

I started to feel a little uncomfortable. I suddenly realized I'd probably been the subject a not little discussion around the town since I got back with my new wife. I didn't quite know what to say so I just blathered, "Well I guess we met, fell in love, and decided to get married, that's all."

By then Al had finished Mr. Benson off. As the man left he glanced over at me, "Should've done the right thing first son."

That floored me. I looked at Mr. Benson incredulously; I wondered, what did he meant by that.

Things quieted down after that. Slowly but surely Al got all his heads done. He flapped his towel at me, "You're next."

I put up a hand, "No I just wanted to ask some questions."

Old Al slapped his chair with the towel, "You need a cut son."

I got up, for better or worse, I was about to get the sides of my head shaved. As I took my seat I asked, "Have you seen Arlene's boy?"

Al replied, "Gave him his first cut."

I asked, "What's he like?"

Al responded, "What do you mean?"

I knew I was stuck in a briar patch. Al wanted specific questions. He was the barber, he listened, others did all the talking, but I still had to ask, "Come on Al. She named her son Cal. Why'd she do that?"

Al didn't say anything. He just kept cutting away. I felt the hedge trimmers as they whiffed away all my hair. Finally, near the end of the cut Al opened his mouth, "A mom like Arlene's most likely to name her baby after his father."

I got up, paid Al his $8.00. I hope he didn't smell the shit stains in my pants.

My next visit was to Mrs. Hawthorne. Mrs. Hawthorne was a widow woman; her husband Nate had been a truck driver for one of the hatcheries, and later he drove a school bus for the Fletchers; the Fletchers owned several buses and contracted with the local school board to haul the kids. Mrs. Hawthorne was another of my favorites. She always liked me. I knew I'd get the straight dope from her. I pulled in her driveway just in time to see her walk out with a pile laundry. I walked over and started to help her pin the laundry to the clothes line. She didn't say anything; she knew as soon as I saw her with the basket I'd be helping her.

Once we got finished she asked, "Would you like to come in and have a cup of coffee. I made a fresh apple pie last night. I could cut you a slice?"

I missed that sort of thing, and answered affirmatively, "I'd like that Mrs. Hawthorne."

We went in. She made a pot of coffee and cut me a big slice of pie. The pie was really good. I thought the coffee was a little weak, but didn't mention it. 

Mrs. Hawthorne spoke first, "You're looking good Cal."

I answered, "Thanks Mrs. Hawthorne. How have you been?"

She answered, "Well my back bothers me some, and I don't see real well anymore, but other than that and a few more little things like my knees I'm pretty good. Then she hit me, "You're here about Arlene aren't you?"

She got me, "Mrs. Hawthorne what's the story with Arlene anyway. I mean I haven't seen or talked to her in four years. I expected she'd be married and have two or three more children by now."

Mrs. Hawthorne looked down at her coffee cup, "Kind of weak isn't it?"

I smiled, "It's all right. What about Arlene."

She kept her eyes focused on her coffee cup, "Well she had her baby."

I kept at her, "That's all?"

Mrs. Hawthorne looked up at me. I think it was the first time she really looked at me. I didn't like it. Something was real wrong, and I was afraid I knew what it was, "You and she were kind of a couple. When you left she didn't look for a replacement."

I needed answers, but I just wasn't sure what the questions were. Actually I knew exactly what the questions were; I was just too afraid to ask them, I went for it anyway, 'Did she ever say who the father was?"

Mrs. Hawthorne hesitated just long enough to make me wish I'd never come back home, "She named him after his father." 

I wanted to run, but had to stand my ground, "Mrs. Hawthorne I'm not her child's daddy. OK, I'll admit it we did it one time, but that was way back in August just before I went away to college."

Mrs. Hawthorne studied my face. I knew I was about to get it, "Cal you say you and she had intercourse in August?" 

That scared me. Mrs. Hawthorne used the 'big word' and that was something out of the ordinary for someone her age, I told her, "I'm not proud of it. I took advantage. We were both sorry we did it as soon as it was over. I remember it wasn't anything like I thought it would be."

Mrs. Hawthorne took her fingers and started to count, "You say August? Well let's see; September, October, November, December, January." She changed hands, "February, March, April, May. Nine months; that's about right. Little Cal got here in May the year right after you left."

I just sat there. Finally I stood up, "Thanks Mrs. Hawthorne."

She smiled and asked, "Where you headed now Cal?"

I answered, "I need to see Arlene."

Mrs. Hawthorne got up with me and walked me to her back door, "She's most likely still at her diner. Why don't you pay a visit to her mom and dad first?"

I stopped and turned back to look at Mrs. Hawthorne, "You know, you're right." I left right away and drove over to Arlene's mom and dad's. I had a lot I needed to find out. Actually there wasn't much to find out; I just needed to hear it again.

I got to Arlene's parents and checked my watch; It was close to 11:00 a.m. Arlene wouldn't be closing her restaurant for an hour or so; that gave me more than enough time to see her parents. I drove on over.

I got to her parents; pulled in their driveway, got out, and started for the door. By the time I got there Arlene's dad already had the door open for me. He smiled, "Mrs. Hawthorne called." He led me into their living room and pointed to the sofa.

I looked around. The place hadn't changed much since I'd been there. I sat back on the sofa. Arlene and I had spent a lot of time on this couch; it brought back memories, all of them good. I looked around. I bet I spent more time here than I did at my home that last year of high school. They had a big mantle; there were some pictures there I didn't remember.

I got up and walked to the mantle to check out the pictures. There were five of them, and I knew without a doubt I'd done something terribly wrong. By then Arlene's mom had come in. I turned around, "She never told me. Why didn't she say something?"

Her dad answered, "What would you have done if she did?"

"Why I'd have married her. I'd have gotten a job and I'd have taken care of her and my baby."

He walked over and stood beside me, "What about college? What would have happened to your future?"

That was the last thing I wanted to hear, "Aw come on, I don't want to hear that. She was having my baby. She needed me."

He put his hand on my shoulder, "She loved you son. She couldn't do that to you. You had your life. You were going to make something of yourself. She would have only been in the way."

I got mad, "That's bull shit!"

Arlene's mom answered that, "No it wasn't; not to her. I reckon she figured you'd eventually come back. I just don't think she figured you'd come back with a wife." 

Damn it I thought; nothing like being caught between a rock and a hard place, "Why didn't she ever get married?"

Her mom replied, "Nobody ever caught her eye like you did."

I started to stalk their living room. I had no idea how I got into this mess. My life had been so tidy; everything had been so neatly arranged just a few weeks ago. Now everything was all unraveled. I was really starting to feel sorry for myself. Then like a ton of bricks it hit me! What about Arlene? What had her life been like? I asked, "What's it been like; I mean what's it been like for Arlene?"

Her mom answered, "Well you know this is a small town. She wouldn't name the daddy, but everyone sort of figured it out after a while. She wouldn't look at any of the other boys, and you know how tongues like to wag."

I was clueless about what to do next, "What, I guess Arlene is still at her diner. Where's the boy; I mean my boy."

Her dad answered both, "I'm sure she's at the diner, but Cal he's not your boy."

I was already headed for the door, "I have to go." I looked back, "Do me a favor. Please. I mean please don't call her and tell her I'm coming."

Her mom and dad looked at each other, then dad answered, "We'll let the two of you work it out." Then he frowned, "But remember that's our little girl, and he's our grandson."

I wanted to go back and reassure them both, but I just didn't know what to say so I said what was probably the stupidest thing I could've said, "Just don't call her." I was already down the steps of their porch headed for my car.

It really didn't matter if they called ahead. I should have known either Mrs. Hawthorne or one of the men from the barbershop would have beaten me.

At the Breakfast Diner:

Old Jared Tucker was sitting on a stool at the diner. Little Cal had come in just a while ago; he'd been brought to the diner by his grandmother just a little earlier. In fact she'd just barely beat Cal to her house when he had been knocking on her door. Tucker looked at Arlene as she scrambled his eggs, "Saw Cal McCabe this morning."

Arlene flipped the eggs around without looking up, "Yeah he passed the through the drive in and got his coffee and bagel a while ago on his way to work."

Tucker sipped his coffee, "Didn't go to work today. I saw him at Al's."

Arlene kept scrambling the eggs, "Al's?"

"Yeah he was getting a cut."

Arlene smiled as she continued to scramble, "I'll bet that'll look good."




Take A Chance!



Tucker put his coffee cup down, "He was asking about you."

Arlene stopped scrambling for a second. She reached for a plate and slapped the not quite finished eggs on it. She reached over and grabbed two pieces of toast and a couple pats of butter. She turned and not too carefully slid the plate over to Mr. Tucker, "Here you go."

Mr. Tucker asked, "Want to know what everybody said."

Arlene's tongue had frozen inside her mouth, "Not really."

Tucker went on, "It was all about you and your boy there."

Arlene fidgeted with the spatula, "Sorry Mr. Tucker I don't have much time right now."

Tucker started scooping his eggs in his mouth, "OK, just asking."

Arlene went over to the big toaster and dropped four more pieces in. She knew she probably wouldn't need them, but it got her about as far away from Mr. Tucker as she could get."

Mr. Tucker finished his eggs, left a small tip and walked over to the cash register.

Arlene met him there.

Tucker handed her a five dollar bill; he smiled and nodded toward Little Cal, "He wanted to know about the boy. He was asking who the daddy was."

Arlene nervously handed him his change, "See you tomorrow Mr. Tucker."

He smiled again and left.

Arlene leaned against the counter and tried to reclaim her composure. She looked over at her little man, "You be a good boy Cal."

He looked up, "I will mommy."

There were still several young men in the diner. When they heard Mr. Tucker it started.

Granville Toomey was the first, "That boy's going to need a daddy." He stared Arlene, "Why don't you marry someone; give the boy a last name."

Arlene, face inscrutable, answered, "He has a last name."

Bobby Marshall chimed in, Bobby was just a year or two older than Arlene, he'd been married but his wife left him, "Need a husband? I'll marry you."

Arlene cracked two eggs for the next breakfast, "No thanks, I'm good."

Bobby snidely replied, "I'll bet you are."

Arlene never liked Bobby.

Just then Sam Madison walked in. Sam was in his thirties, and he'd known Cal and Arlene when they'd been running around together. He was also divorced and on the lookout for a new woman, "Leave her alone Bobby."

Bobby took his coffee and left.

There were a few more remarks, but Sam more or less shut it all down. Arlene wasn't happy about the remarks, but she was even less happy that Sam had been able to stop them. It made it seem like he was staking his territory. She'd been through this kind of crap for four years, but now with the diner she didn't want to lose any business over it. She looked over at Sam, "Thanks Mr. Madison. They don't mean anything, and even if they did I can handle it."

Sam knew when he'd been put in his place and he didn't like it. It was common knowledge around town Sam wanted to stake his claim on little Miss Arlene Brown, and considering his size and reputation there weren't many around to seriously challenge him. He quietly ate his fried eggs, dropped off a small tip, and just before he left he added, "You're going to have to decide something soon Arlene."

Arlene tried to make light of the remark, "I'll keep that in mind." Arlene was a little afraid of Big Sam Madison; he could make it hard on her if he decided to force the issue, and what with Cal back she sensed Big Sam might get a little touchy. She was pretty strong willed, but lately even her mom and dad had been after her to choose somebody. She knew one thing; she sure didn't want to choose Big Sam.

The rest of the morning went along pretty quietly. The big morning rush had dwindled to a few late arrivals and the usual retirees. Arlene would soon be able to put things back together, get her boy and head home.

Arlene had just finished cleaning the grill, the last thing she always did when she looked up and there he was.

Cal was standing next to her; he was behind the counter, "You never told me."

Arlene stood up from where she'd been leaning over wiping the bottom of the grill. She took her left hand and wiped away a few errant strands of hair, "Tell you what?"

Cal didn't back down. He nodded to the tyke on the floor, "He's mine."

Arlene walked toward him and got about as close as she dared, "No he's mine."

Cal stepped back slightly, "You know what I mean."

Arlene pointed to the other side of the counter. Cal moved. She looked at him, "No I don't; that's my boy. No one knows who his father is."

Cal was driven by some urge he couldn't explain. He leaned down and picked the little boy up. The boy started to squirm but stopped. Cal just held him for a second. One good look was all it took; he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt. He looked back at Arlene, "This is my boy."

Arlene was already hurriedly moving from behind the counter, arms held out to retrieve her son. Cal kept holding him, "Arlene, this is my son."

Arlene reached out and snatched Little Cal out of his arms, "This is my baby. You just get away."

Cal instinctively understood what was at play in Arlene's mind. He suddenly felt queasy inside. He felt like the rich man in that old book Silas Marner; the man who tried to steal the little girl away from the old man. The last thing he wanted to do was threaten her and her rightful paternity. Damn he looked at Arlene. He couldn't deny it another minute, not another second; he loved her more now than ever. He was trapped and he knew it; he was married to one and in love with another, married to the rich girl who had everything but in love with the girl who really needed him, "No I didn't mean that, not the way it sounded."

She had her boy, "I'm closing up in a minute. You can come back tomorrow. We'll be open the usual time."

Cal wanted to stay, at least for another minute or two, "Arlene we need to talk."

She wouldn't look at him, "No we don't."

"Arlene, please."

Arlene, with her baby on her hip used her free hand to point toward the door, "Out!"

Just then Sam Madison reappeared, "You got a problem Arlene?"

Cal saw Sam; he'd never liked him, there was something brutish about Sam Madison. He looked from Sam to Arlene; no that couldn't be, not with him! He gave her an appealing look, "Arlene, please, can I stop by tonight?"

She pointed to the door and yelled at both of them, "The two of you, out of here."

Cal and Sam both left the way they came in. As they stepped to the sidewalk Sam sneered at Cal, "You should never have come back."

Though Sam was a cool six inches taker, forty pounds heavier, and a man used to heavy work Cal still stood his ground, "Not if it means keeping you away from her."

Sam gave Cal a snarky grin, "Don't get in my way squirt. I plan on taking her over."

Cal just stood there. He'd been beaten up before; he wasn't worried about that, but he had no way he could make any real claim on her. He knew standing up to Sam Madison was a fool's errand, but he couldn't back down on this. Somebody had to fight to keep her out of his hands, "Sam you're bigger, stronger, probably faster, and certainly a better fighter, and I'm married with no legal claim on her, but Sam I'll fight you over this."

Sam just laughed and walked away.

Inside Arlene heard the interchange; it was heartening and disheartening. She couldn't stand the sight of Sam Madison. She was proud of Cal; he'd stood up to Sam Madison, and stood up to him over her. She knew if Sam had wanted to he could've scraped Cal's face all across the concrete sidewalk. She sure didn't want Cal to get hurt, but she wasn't sure what he thought he might be doing about her boy. She looked at the clock; it was nearly 1:00. 

1:00 p.m. just outside Arlene's shop:

Susan was already there waiting on the parking lot. She'd just seen her husband in an argument with some big gorilla. She wondered why he wasn't at work and she was sure glad she saw him before he saw her. Then Devin walked up to the front door. 

Devin spotted Susan right away. If he was ever going to marry someone it would never be her; she was just the wrong type of girl. Sure, Devin was a playful kind of guy; he'd slept with more than his share of girls while they in college. Susan had been a mainstay on his mattress off and on for four years, but she'd danced the horizontal tango with more guys than just him. They lived in a small world; he never wanted to have to walk into a bar somewhere and have some guy brag that he'd already had a taste of his wife. No Susan had been a lot of fun in college, and for right now, what with him unmarried and the girl he really wanted away someplace doing good deeds somewhere in South America she'd be a great fill in. He strode over toward her.

Susan walked toward Devin. Together they strode into Arlene's diner. With Devin on her arm she wondered what she ever saw in Cal. He was a really nice guy, and he'd be a good provider, but she'd been over all this in her mind before; Cal was just the wrong guy, in the wrong environment, he'd be the wrong kind of father for her kind of children, Cal was just wrong, wrong, an all-around big mistake. Well she'd hang around for a while; at least as long as it took to snag Devin, then she'd kiss her ever loving Cal goodbye. Damn, she should have listened to her father. She smiled at Devin, "You look good."

Devin pulled out a chair for Susan, "I've missed you Susan."

She reached out and took one of his hands, "I've been thinking about you a lot Devin."

He squeezed her hand, "You want to go someplace?"

"You have any place in mind?" 

"There's a Motel Six not far from here."

"I'll follow you."

Together, him in his car, her in hers, they drove to the Motel Six, got a room, and slipped inside.

Arlene watched the little love scene, and felt sick to her stomach. 



Much later that same afternoon. 



Cal was all at odds with himself. He knew what he should do; he should set up an account for Arlene in case she needed money, then he should start a separate account for the boy, something for his future, maybe a college fund or something. He had to tell his wife Susan. She wouldn't like it, but if she loved him she'd see the fairness of it. Then he could get on with his life. He wondered how much Susan really loved him. She'd seemed so right down at College Park, but lately he wasn't so sure. He had this unsettled feeling that she was already half way out the door. Well he'd worry about Susan later. First he'd have to work things out with Arlene; that was something he didn't want to do. 

He pulled into Arlene's parents drive for the second time that day. Arlene was most likely already home. He went up and knocked on the door. Arlene's dad answered, "Ah Cal, come on in."

Cal stepped inside, "Is Arlene around? I'd like to talk to her."

Her dad answered, "I'll go get her."

Shortly dad came out from the back of the house with Arlene in tow. She looked at Cal, "What do you want?"

He replied, "Can we talk?"

"What about," she asked?

His reply, "World peace?"

"Get out," was her response.

Cal got serious, "Come on Arlene; if I had known the baby was mine I'd have stayed. I would have manned up, married you, and taken on the responsibility of raising my kid." 

She smirked, "Oh you have manned up. What like you'd have taken it on the chin, taken your medicine, and paid your dues."

"I didn't mean it that way. Look, come on..."

She cut him off, "No you come on. I got pregnant, I had my baby, and now I'm taking care of him. He and I are doing just fine."

Cal got flip, "Yeah and you've got guys like Sam Madison sniffing around your crotch every day. Arlene that scares me; Sam Madison, get real!"

Arlene knew she had him, well a little, she thought she'd play with him, "Sam's not so bad. He's got a good job. He's divorced, but he doesn't have any kids, a girl could do a lot worse."

Cal tensed up; what was he doing? He hadn't seen or talked to Arlene in years, now all of a sudden he was worried she'd go out and get hooked up with someone like Sam Madison, "Look you're little; he's big. He likes to hurt people. He used to hit his wife. Damn it Arlene I've been away for four years and even I know that. I could never allow you to marry a creep like that." 

Arlene laughed, "You are an asshole. You've been gone for four years. You come back with a wife of your own, and you think you can tell me who I can and can't hook up with? Well Calvin McCabe I ought to get up and punch you right in the nose!" She got up, fists raised, and started for him.

Cal waited till she got close enough to where she could hit him. She took her first swing. He reached out and grabbed her arms and pulled her to the sofa. He got her, and hugged her real close as they fell back against the cushions. 

At first she squirmed, she struggled, she tried to hit him. It was as though four years of frustration and anger was being released; she wanted too just pound the shit out of him.

Cal just held her really tight against his chest. He could smell her sweet aroma; he'd forgotten how small she was. Her short hair flipped around his face; it was soft and thick just like he remembered. She felt so warm, soft, and delicate. He thought of Susan; she never felt this way, oh she felt good, but never quite like this, like this was where he belonged. With Susan he always felt like something was being held back, suddenly he realized Arlene had stopped fighting; she was just all relaxed, pressing against him. It was like they were back in high school; four years' time seemed to have just evaporated. 

He kissed the top of her head, her sweet precious head. Why hadn't he come back? Why had he stayed away all those years? He knew why; he was angry. He'd thought she'd been carrying some other man's child; it had been his child all along. Why hadn't she called him, why hadn't she said something, he knew the answer to that; her parents had explained it, she would never have let him give up his chance at college. 

Arlene was quietly crying, "Cal I think you should go."

He knew she was right, "Can I see you tomorrow?"

She leaned back up, "You know where I'll be."

He got up. He wanted to kiss her, but decided not to, "See you at the diner in the morning."

She nodded.

As he stepped toward the door, he turned back, "No more Sam Madison, hear?"

She smiled, "Get out of here."

He stepped out the door, "Tomorrow."

She pushed him, "Tomorrow."

Cal got in his car and drove away.

Arlene's mom and dad were in the living room three second later. Mom asked, "What happened?"

Arlene looked at her mom then her dad, "I've got a job to do."

Dad asked, "What's that?"

Arlene answered, "I've got to break up a marriage."



At the Motel Six



Susan checked the clock. It was already 5:00 p.m. She rolled over on Devin, "Devin."

He opened one eye, "Yeah?"

She smiled and kissed his nose, "I have to get home."

He leaned up on one elbow, "When will I see you again?"

"I don't know yet. I'll call you."

He pulled over to the side of the bed, "Don't let it be too long."

Susan was already in the bathroom. She'd need a quick shower, and then she'd have to fix her clothes and make up, "Don't worry, it won't be long.

An hour or so later they'd both cleared the motel.



Time slowly crept on:



From that first afternoon at the Motel Six Susan and Devin continued to secretly meet. They worked out a pattern; they agreed to meet on Monday and Thursday afternoons. They'd make first contact at Arlene's Diner; then travel separately to the Motel Six where'd they'd secure a room and join up. 

Since Susan didn't work and nearly all Calvin's business activities took him to his office or to points south and east of the motel there was little likelihood they'd be caught. So day piled upon day and week piled upon week and the two secret lovers continued their sordid little affair.

Meanwhile, as Cal saw it the good life was starting to fray. 

During those first weeks when Susan, without my knowledge, was in the arms of her paramour I had my own issues. Honestly, had I known my wife was cheating on me I couldn't have done anything to prevent it. You see my employment world was sinking fast. 

Let me back up a little. Arlene and I had graduated from high school in June of 2002. Little Cal had appeared in May 2003. I completed my four years of undergraduate school right on schedule got my B.A. in June 2006, and I was picked up by a major banking firm in Maryland almost immediately thereafter. Then Susan and I were married a few weeks later. 

Throughout the summer, fall, and winter of 2006 the financial services industry was absolutely bullish. Susan and I agreed to buy a house in my old home town, and in the spring of 2007 we moved in. The economy was chugging along so well, and everybody was so optimistic I decided to go ahead and get a flexible mortgage. I knew my salary and the value of the house would far outstrip any increases in mortgage rates. We started shopping churches and attending all the local activities, one of which had been the ham and oyster dinner at the town fire-hall so successfully planned and supervised by my old girlfriend Arlene. 

The spring and summer of 2007 were still profitable for banking, housing, and speculation, but somewhere around Halloween of 2007 I sensed and then started to see a subtle, and then not so subtle, shift in activity. I guess being closer to the bottom of the food chain I may have seen it coming earlier than most, or maybe I was just more aware of the kinds of decisions being made and their impact on the economy. I cast back on what I'd learned and on what I'd heard; it looked like the Savings and Loan Crisis of 1987 and the Millennial Dot.Com Debacle rolled into one. For sure the closer I looked the more deeply I pried the more frightening the signs were. I knew it was coming; we were in for the 'Perfect Storm' the 'Mother of all Financial Calamities' and it was like nobody else could see it coming! Everyone everywhere was grossly overextended, and soon even the safest securities had begun to unravel. 

There was only one solution as far as I could see it, and that was to work harder. But the harder I worked the worse things looked. I started to feel like the dog chasing his own tail I was a rodent trapped in a cage running from corner to corner. There was just no way out, and all that time I kept watching as Arlene kept leaning more and more toward picking someone to marry! 

I honestly couldn't blame her. I hadn't been there, and now every day little Cal looked more and more like he needed a stronger father figure than Arlene's dad. Arlene needed a man. I knew I was that man, but I was trapped in a loveless marriage and in a job that was going nowhere but down. That wasn't the worst of it; that son-of-a-bitch Sam Madison was at her diner morning, noon, and afternoon. I tried to stop over her parents to see her and the little boy, but just as likely she was gone someplace with Sam or with some other man. I tell you that really tore my ass! 

Oh for sure Arlene was nice to me. Every morning I stopped at her diner and got my bagel and coffee. She was just as polite as she could be, but it didn't take me long to realize she was polite to everyone. I wasn't getting special treatment; I was just getting good customer service. I hated it! I wanted more!

I thought my world finally went into the shitter in April 2008. I'd been up all God damned night trying to cobble a piece of economic shit together to keep a couple run down businesses from going under. Susan hadn't gotten in until 2:00 a.m., but shit, by then I knew she'd become a very busy bee. I washed up; got on my best suit for the presentation I'd been working on all night, and hauled my dead ass off to work. I stopped in at Arlene's for my morning coffee and bagel and that's when I saw the ring. I tried to put a good face on it, "Hey you got a new ring."




Take A Chance!



Arlene smiled and replied, "Yeah, I think I got engaged last night."

My world was coming to an end and she was smiling like a fucking twelve year old, "Really, anybody I know?" 

She held her arm out and looked at the ring, "Sam Madison."

"I threw up on the counter."

Arlene went ballistic, "Well look at this. You barfed all over my counter." She started to wipe it up.

I couldn't stay. Crap I'd gotten puke on my shirt, and I was on my way to try to save two shitty companies that combined weren't worth a sandwich and a glass of water at an Appleby's. I got up and literally ran from that fucking diner. I was crying my fucking eyes out by the time I got to my car.



Susan Takes Her Stand:



I'd been talking with Devin. I'd just about had it with Calvin so Devin found me a good lawyer; someone who'd get me away from my husband as quickly as possible. We worked it out, and I signed the paperwork. All that was left was to have someone make the delivery. Devin said he'd take care of it.

Frankly I'm not sure where Devin stands with me. I asked him if he'd marry me if I got rid of Calvin; when he started to hem and haw I knew we'd just been a fling. I didn't care that much for him anyway. What I needed was a fresh start back home in Baltimore; back where the people understood me. I'd see daddy, and he'd help me get hooked up.



Calvin Feels the Crash!



I finally pulled in to work and sat down to arrange my desk. The lawyers and the business heads would be there any minute. It was a moot point. My supervisor came to my office, "Got a minute?"

I tried to smile, "That's about all I have."

He said, "Come into my office Cal," 

He walked into his office. I followed him. He pointed to a chair, "Have a seat son."

Uh oh, good news was never preceded by a 'have a seat son.' I sat down.

My boss went into his little routine. I'd seen it and heard it a few times already over the last few weeks, "You know times are tight. We've been doing a little belt tightening."

I just watched his facial expressions. I knew.

He gave me a rueful smile, "I'm sorry Cal."

I knew it. I was about to be canned. The great melt down had just poured its goo all over me. I thanked him and went back to my office and packed up my personals. I was back on the road in ten minutes. An hour later I pulled in the drive of my house, that great house right dead center on Quality Hill. Susan wasn't home. 

About an hour later I was in the kitchen drinking some warmed over coffee when I heard a knock on the front door. I went and opened it and there was this girl, she looked like some high school kid. She smiled at me and said, "Are you Calvin McCabe?"

I answered, "Yes I am."

She smiled more broadly, "Boy, have you been hard to find." She handed me an envelope, "Sorry sir, but you've been served." 

I took the envelope and looked it over. I knew what it was. I thanked her and went back inside. "Jesus Fucking H. Christ," I screamed. 

In a matter of four hours my long lost high school sweetheart announced her intentions to marry the biggest shit-bird in the county. I'd lost my job, and now my wife wanted a divorce. There wasn't much I could fucking do. I called my brother and told him everything. Then I drove down to the corner liquor store and bought the place out. I wasn't a drinker, but tonight I thought I'd try to make an exception. 

I didn't remember too much after until maybe 11:00 p.m. 



Arlene's Big Plan:



I knew I had to make something happen. Everybody in town knew about Cal's wife, and I was pretty sure he knew too. Heck me and half the county had dropped enough hints! I figured I'd try another Gary, but this time hoping Cal wouldn't run away. When Sam Madison asked me for about the fiftieth time if I'd marry him I told him maybe. That was all he needed. He reached in his pocket and handed me this ring. I recognized it right away; it was the same ring he'd given his first wife. Damn I thought, to him I really was second hand merchandise.

I took the ring and put it on. I figured if the ring didn't scare Cal into action I could always give it back to Sam later. OK, it was probably a stupid idea, but it was better than not doing anything. And I wasn't real worried about hurting Sam's feelings; I wasn't sure he had any anyway.



Bad News Travels Fast:



Bob called Barbara and together they called everybody they knew trying to find their brother a job. There just wasn't anything out there for a man whose only specialty was in something that was ruining the country. 

Arlene got wind of Cal's problem about the middle of the evening, maybe nine or ten that night the same day Cal got served. She was sitting on the sofa with Sam when her mom answered the phone.

Arlene's mom called out to her daughter while she was sitting compliantly beside Big Sam Madison, "Honey I've got some news."

"What's up mom?" 

Her mom answered, "It's about Calvin."

Well her Calvin was in bed so it to be the other one, "What about him mom?"

Mom walked in the living room and stared suspiciously at Sam; then she turned to her daughter, "He's had a bad day."

Arlene threw her mother a smirk, "Really, him?" She played the smirk for Sam's benefit; but in reality she was worried.

Mom scolded, "Don't get too excited. It seems he lost his job today and his wife had him served with divorce papers."

Sam laughed out, "Well the big shot college boy got his comeuppance! Good for him!"

The initial shock hit Arlene like a fifty caliber bullet fired at close range. She'd been watching him for weeks. She knew things were bad all over, and she knew he'd been fighting trying to hold back the tide. She thought he'd been a lot like the old lady trying to sweep back the sea with a broom, and she like most everybody within a twenty mile radius knew his wife had been seeing some guy in Frederick. In fact the only man in town who probably didn't know was Cal.

Arlene looked at her mother, "You're sure about this?"

Her mom looked down at the floor, "Pretty much."

"Mom do we have Bob McCabe's number?"

Mom replied, "I guess we've got it around here someplace."

"Find it will you mom."

Sam interrupted, "You're not thinking of going to that asshole?"

Arlene looked down at her hand, at the ring on her finger. She took it off and handed it to Sam.

He accepted it, "You're not serious?"

"Sam."

Sam looked at her; he looked at Arlene's mother, "You little bitch. Here I'm willing to make an honest woman out of you. I'm ready to give your little bastard a name, and this is what I get?"

She'd known the whole thing with Sam had been just another stupid mistake; another stupid try at getting Cal? She looked at Sam sadly, "Sam, I've got to go to him."

Sam stood up. He wanted to punch her in the face, "That worthless piece of shit ran off and left you. He married somebody else. He never gave a shit about you, and he doesn't give a shit now. You're the stupidest cow in six counties. He was headed for the door, "You watch he'll make a fool of you again." He walked out the front door, slamming it as hard as he could.

Arlene's mom looked at her, "At least you did one smart thing tonight. Here, I found Bob's phone number."

Arlene picked up their house phone and got Bob on the line, "Hello, this is Arlene. Is all this true about Calvin?"

Arlene's mom couldn't hear Bob, but she surmised he was confirming everything they'd heard.

Arlene asked over the phone, "Is there a key anywhere if I wanted to get in his house?"

Bob told her where to find the key Cal had hidden outside. As usual it was on a nail in the shed in the back yard.

Arlene grabbed her purse, she looked at her mom, "Mom, I've got to go to him."

"I'll take care of Little Cal. What about the diner?"

"I'll open in the morning like normal," answered Arlene.

She wasted no time driving to Cal's. She found the hidden key, and opened the door. All the lights were off. She turned on the dim light that illuminated the foyer. She saw him sitting in the kitchen, "Cal?"

He looked up. He'd been sitting at the kitchen table with his head in his hands, probably asleep or in a drunken stupor. He looked awful. Arlene walked to the kitchen, found the coffee, and thought she might put on a pot. The place smelled like alcohol, but he didn't seem to be drunk. He barely moved.

Arlene said, "Had a pretty bad day."

He didn't look up; there were great big tears in his eyes, "You're going to marry Sam Madison."

Arlene noticed he hadn't mentioned his job or his wife's decision to divorce him, "No, I sent him packing a little while ago."

For the first time Cal actually looked up.

Arlene watched what had to be one of the great metamorphoses of modern times. Cal the defeated businessman, the jilted husband, in a matter of not more than six seconds emerged as though he'd just won the billion dollar lottery. He exclaimed, "You did?"

"Yeah."

Cal got out of his chair, "Make some coffee. I'll get the cream and sugar."

Arlene immediately saw, though he'd been drinking he wasn't drunk, more exhausted than anything, "What are you going to do?"

He'd opened the refrigerator and found the half and half. He was working his way to the kitchen counter for the sugar. He didn't use sugar but he knew Arlene did. He waited till she started the coffee before he sat down. 

Arlene had the coffee ready. She poured some in each cup; then she asked again, "Have you thought about what you're going to do?"

He poured some half and half in his cup and took a sip, "Want to take a shower?"

She looked at him like he was crazy, "You on something?"

"I asked you if you wanted to take a shower with me." 

She leaned back in her chair, "You've gone bananas haven't you."

He stood up. He was dead dog tired, but he felt pretty good. In fact he felt damn good. He reached out his hand, "Come on."

"Where," she asked?

"First you and I are going to take a nice hot shower, then I'm going to take you to my bedroom."

Arlene started to say something, but he held up a hand, "Listen, I've got this king sized bed in a house that is so underwater that it'll be a hundred years before anyone ever pays it off. I figure I'll be out of here in a few days. I'll have to sell or give away all the furniture. They'll probably take the car. The John Deere tractor won't last the week. All my suits, my shoes, all my clothes are headed for Goodwill, and I never felt better in my life. I feel like I'm the luckiest man alive!" He pulled her to her feet, "It's been a while I imagine, but let's give it another go."

She was stunned, "You want me to go to bed with you?"

He started pulling her toward the stairs, "That's a start, but I have a lot more planned for you if you'll just follow me."

She followed him up the stairs to the bathroom. God she was tired, but so was he.

They walked in the bedroom. He helped her get out of her clothes. He took his off. He walked her to the shower stall; it was nothing spectacular. He turned on the hot then the cold water. He pulled her in the shower; he spent the next thirty minutes washing her then himself. He washed her short brown hair, her shoulders, her back, her beautiful little boobs, her tummy and her crack. He dried her and then himself off. He led her to the big bed. 

Arlene held back, "Cal I don't know."

He kept pulling, "I do."

She let him lead her to the bed, "Cal I haven't done anything in over four years. Honestly, I don't really like it."

Cal pulled down the bed sheets, and slowly pulled her on the bed. They lay down side by side. He whispered, "Arlene I love you. I tell you I love you. All I want to do is lie here and hold you, kiss you, I want to touch you. If anything comes of it that's OK, if you don't want to take it anywhere that's OK too."

They didn't do anything right away. Oh they kissed, and they hugged, and they explored each other's bodies. He got an erection that would have embarrassed the Empire State Building, but he didn't try anything. He certainly caressed her breasts. He kissed each beautiful brown nipple. He massaged her back and tummy, but when he reached below her navel and she put out a hand to stop him he relented.

She held him, and kissed him, and touched his face, his neck, and his hands and arms, but she didn't do anything or touch anything else. Then she started to think; this was a dangerous activity for her. She hated sex, but she'd only done it twice, and her first time resulted in her little boy, no not her little boy, their little boy. 

She knew without a doubt he loved her, but she wanted to lock this romance away once and for all. If they did it again; if they did it right now tonight she'd have a real hold on him. She decided she'd make the sacrifice.

She whispered, "OK Cal. If you want to do it I'll let you, but you've got promise you won't hurt me."

Cal listened; they weren't in the back seat of a Camaro this time. He was no Colin Farrell, no Justin Timberlake, but he knew how to be gentle.

Cal wrapped his arms around his sweetheart. He took the fingers of his right hand and slowly experimented with the opening of her vagina. For a woman who'd had a baby she was still pretty small. He slowly massaged her labia. He found her clitoris and gently rubbed it. He crawled down and, using his tongue and his lips he slowly and carefully started to make love to her vagina. He could feel her labial lips start to expand. He smelled her woman's juices; he started to taste her moisture.

After several minutes he slowly climbed up and mounted her. Oh so slowly, oh so carefully he began to penetrate her. He was so careful, inward slowly oh so slowly. He carefully; pulled back. This was going to be like what it should have been back on that hot humid August night.

Slowly Arlene started to rise to meet him. She started to rotate her pelvis around and around. She began to flex her vaginal muscles. As if by some magical command they began to rock to and fro in unison.

Cal hadn't been very active lately; it was hard to hold back, but he didn't have to. Arlene started to squirm and nervously undulate. He felt her; she was approaching the moment of truth, so was he! 

Arlene started to shiver, to quiver. She breathed a deep luxuriant sigh. In Cal's ear she murmured, "Oh."

He ejaculated!

It had happened! It had finally happened!

++++++++++++++++++++

They lay there awake all night. They kissed and hugged and explored each other's bodies. Neither had much to say, but they sure said a lot with their eyes. Near 4:00 a.m. Arlene announced I've got to open up."

Cal asked, "Can I help?"

She whispered, "I can't pay you."

He kissed the tip of her nose, "You're talking money?"

She nodded.

He kissed her lips then her neck right behind each ear. He felt her shiver, "A couple fried eggs would be nice."

She kissed him back, "That could work."

They got up. He found a pair of jeans, a dark green Tee-shirt, some socks and a pair of Nikes. 

She drove them over to her mom's and dad's so she could get dressed. Dad was home from work. He gave Cal a pensive smile, "Sorry about your troubles."

Cal smiled right back, "Think nothing of it."

Dad asked, "Have you thought about what you're going to do?"

Cal laughed softly, "Yeah, today I'm going to help Arlene at the diner, and then later I think I'll play with my son. Tonight, if it's all right with you I think I'll join your daughter in her bed right here at your house. And tomorrow I'll figure out what to do with that big house, I'll sign the papers that will make me a free man. In the next day or so, if Arlene will let me I'll buy her a ring. Maybe in a few months you can arrange for a nice wedding for somebody. And then I think I'll get back to work on my original plan."

Her dad asked, "What was that Cal?"

"Why marrying you daughter and living happily ever after.

By then Arlene was back downstairs dressed and ready for work, she'd heard what he'd said. She smiled one of those beautiful smiles he'd loved so much not so long ago, "Sounds like you've got everything all worked out."

Calvin McCabe reached out his hand to the girl he'd loved since that first time he saw her way back in the fourth grade, "Yeah, think I do."

She took his hand, "Know what?"

He leaned down and kissed the top of her head, "No what?"

She looked up into his big brown eyes, "I really triple decker like you."

They both stepped out on the porch. The sun was coming up. It was going to be a beautiful day.