59 comments/ 54772 views/ 21 favorites Women: Conniving, Scheming... By: carvohi Some opening remarks: First, thanks to Harry R for so diligently proofing this story. Second, I want to express regret regarding the short story 'Just One of The Things'. It was a 4:00 a.m. dark of the night thing. One commenter's admonition was especially poignant. He reminded me many LW readers are suffering from unhappy break ups, and my story was excessively painful. For that I'm sorry. Hopeful of some reprieve Iron Dragon has completed a sequel to my morose tale. He allowed me to read it, and it should be posted soon. I hope his story affords me some redemption. Third, I have two more stories I want to finish in the next few days. My last chapter to Revelations is almost there, and I have another LW, a longer one, that could be interesting. Fourth, about this story. One of the protagonists you'll find is electronically handicapped. Criticisms of her inadequacies pertaining to terminology and purposes would be superfluous so don't bother. Additionally, I've taken poetic license regarding times a divorce might be finalized. I've kept the eastern story site vague; it could be in any state. Also remember D.Q. Steele in his classic When We Were Married did the same. Last, if you think the female protagonist cries a lot bear in mind raising females is always high drama. I want you to enjoy this story. It's about infidelity, discovery, unhappiness, divorce, and recovery but from a less seen perspective. Have a good time. Here goes. * I remember the first time I saw Delwyn, that's Del to his friends, I'd agreed to go this political seminar with my older sister. My oldest sister's name is Vonda. By the way my name is Sherry, as in Sherry Van Dyke. All three of my siblings; I mean Vonda, Nancy and Chelsea are older than me, and like our mom and dad, they're all right wing, conservatives. Yes, they're Republican to the bone. I guess I'm the black sheep of the family. I'm a left wing liberal. In fact I'm about as left wing as they come. Don't get me wrong; this story isn't about politics, but it was politics that got the ball rolling. Let me tell the story, and you'll see what I mean. We were all sitting around the table in my mom and dad's dining room. Anyway this was three years after I saw Del at the seminar I just mentioned. My sisters, their husbands, and my parents were all riding me about the president. The president by the way is a Democrat, he's black, and he's a little on the liberal side. My oldest sister, that's Vonda, she was married to Del, and she was giving me this raft of poop about the president. She was telling me how he's a liar, he's corrupt, his birth certificate is a fake, he's not really a Christian, and he well...you know...he's just not like us. Now I'd heard all this crap a hundred times before, but since I was the youngest of my dad's 'four misses', I was expected to 'tow the mark', be a 'good girl', and not argue with 'my elders'. Not this time! This time I decided to fight back. I fought back for my self-esteem, for the president, but also for another reason I'll leave unmentioned. My oldest sister, Vonda, was a woman I secretly hated with the kind of blind passion that would have made Osama Bin Laden proud, not that I liked him in any way shape or form. She was waxing profound about how the president had committed all these 'high crimes and misdemeanors', and he should be impeached by the House, brought to trial in the Senate and removed from office. I'd had enough. Vonda is the oldest and certainly the hottest of the four of us girls. She's a cool 5'6", weighs a taut 140 lbs.; she has light sandy colored hair, light blue eyes, and the kind of body men have gone to war over. I mean she has a classic set of hard nippled, pear shaped 36Cs that just make me want to puke. Add to that her classic wasp's waist, a perfect heart shaped ass, and an absolutely gorgeous face and you've got everything I'm not. Vonda's a college graduate. I am too, as are my other sisters. She graduated from the local university, the names not important. Every city has a couple' they're the big colleges with a handful of token dormitories, but where almost everybody else commutes back and forth from home or from an apartment to school. Vonda got her training in the medical profession, and emerged as a Physician's Assistant. She got a pretty good job at the local hospital, and in a couple of years she was promoted to head PA. in the cardiac unit. Don't ask me the details. I majored in English Literature and since then got a job teaching tenth grade English at one of the public schools. Among the four sisters I'm the least successful. They all say it's because I'm the stupid one, and that's why I'm a Democrat. Who knows? Maybe they're right? Well here we were sitting around mom and dad's dining room table, and everybody was throwing dung on the wall about the president just to see what might stick. There are these two senators, one from Arizona and another from South Carolina who've been doing it for years. Vonda was the loudest, and to me, the most obnoxious. I had heard just about enough. I hope everyone's still reading. This is where it starts to get good. I gave Vonda one of my best hairy eyeballs, and asked her, "Vonda how many hours do you put in a week at the hospital?" Now this is an old song of hers; how she's always on call, and how she has to put in all these long hours. Vonda stiffened her back in pride, glanced at her loving husband, that's Del, and answered, "I guess about seventy hours a week." I had her, "You're that incompetent?" She looked at me like I was really stupid. My dad started to say something, but I put up a hand and held him off. I looked back at my ever loving older sister, "This is America. In America most people put in around forty hours a week, actually thirty-seven and a half given a half hour off each day for lunch. You say you put in seventy hours so it means it takes you nearly twice as long to get done what everybody can get done in forty." Vonda flared back, "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. You..." I cut her off. I wasn't anywhere near finished, "Hold it," I said, "There's only four reasons I can think of why someone would be putting in that many hours. One I just mentioned; you're incompetent. If it's not that, then it must be you're afraid of your ass." Vonda was getting mad, and as I looked around the table I knew no one was on my side. I was used to that so I went on, "I mean you work all these hours and you don't complain? Come on. Seventy hours? You must be dead on your feet. You know how that works Vonda dear. Seventy hours! Hours like that must wear you down. You must be exhausted. Damn it sis, tired and fatigued people make mistakes. In your line of work a mistake could mean death! You haven't murdered anybody lately have you?" Now everybody was up in arms. I wasn't finished, "OK, you haven't killed anybody. You're not incompetent, and you have asked for help. But I said there are four reasons why someone would work that many hours." My mom said, "Can't we change the subject?" Vonda wasn't hearing it, "No let my little sister finish her rant." God did I have her now. I went on, "Reason number three. You work seventy hours a week because you don't want to go home." It got real quiet. I pushed in the knife, "You stay at work because it's less stressful at the hospital than at home. Maybe you don't want to go home and face Del. Maybe Del puts you on edge. Maybe Del makes you unhappy," I didn't want to do this. Del was special, everyone will find out how special later, but I had to go on. I added, "Maybe Del upsets you? We all know he wants kids, and you want your career. Do you hate to go home because he reminds you how you let him down?" God was Vonda burning up. I think I hit some of the truth, but I still wasn't done, "Vonda what's reason number four?" Vonda had always been jealous of me. I was the youngest. I was daddy's baby. She was the oldest; dad always held her to a higher standard. Vonda glared at me and snarled, "OK smart ass; what's reason number four?" I had her! Gosh I really had her! I pulled out my hammer and my stake and drove it in her bitchy heart, "Vonda the fourth reason's the worst. You work seventy hours because maybe you're not actually working seventy hours. Damn it Vonda you work at a hospital! There are beds everywhere. You're young! You're hot! There are all these sexy doctors, and they're all over the place! Doctors Vonda! What does Del do? Del is a damn camera man." I have to back up here. Del got his degree in some kind a communication electronics thing. He works at one of the local television stations in the news department. Whenever we watch something on TV, and we get the images and stuff; it's somebody like Del behind some kind of camera taking the shots. No one knows he's there; it's the kind of job that's important but he's the technician, the expert who always remains anonymous; anonymous, that's a word that is easy to grow to dislike. I hated myself, but at that moment, that was exactly where I needed to be. I looked at Del, "Del maybe you ought to get some of those tiny voice activated recorders. Slip one in Vonda's cell phone. She'll never know. Slide one under her car seat. Next time you visit her at her office in the hospital hide one behind a chair. Maybe you should install a G.P.S unit in her car somewhere." . I had Vonda in the corner of my eye. I knew I was being a bitch, but at that moment, at that precise instant I knew the truth. Vonda, my oldest sister, the family role model, was a lying cheating whore. I glanced briefly at Del. I felt like I'd just strangled a puppy. He knew it too! I had to go on. I was driven. I was mad. I was insane, "Yeah Del hook up a G.P.S. Check on her car. Sure she's always at the hospital, but maybe, just maybe, sometimes her little Honda might be parked in front of the Holiday Inn down on Crowell Bridge Road." Vonda went ballistic, "I don't have to listen to any more of this. Sherry you make me sick!" I knew it was time to back off. I'd done what I wanted to do, now I could go back and play the politics game. "I'm sorry Vonda. Everybody knows I made it all up. We all know you're a dedicated worker. You do work a real seventy hours each week. You love your home life. You do love Del. You'd never cheat on him. God everyone knows you and he are the perfect couple. I only said the stuff I did to show everyone how easy it is make someone look bad. Sure I guess the president's made some mistakes. Don't we all? I mean look how easy it is to tear up someone as honest and as dedicated as you Vonda. Crap, think of the job the president has. I bet he puts in seventy hours each week too." My dad finished the discussion and me off, "I'm glad that's over. Sherry I've told you before to keep your views off the table. What you've said today was way over the line. I think it's time to move on." I looked at Vonda, "I'm sorry sis. I didn't mean it." Honestly, I meant every word. Gary, that's Nancy's husband piped up, "How about the NFL draft. Which team do you think made out the best?" From there the conversation went off on a new tangent. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ I've got to go back to the beginning again. Remember I said Vonda and I both met Del for the first time a political seminar. Let me explain how that happened. Me, I'm twenty-three now, but back then I was only twenty and still in college. Vonda is five years older than me, so back then she was twenty-five. I walked into the seminar first, and right away I spotted this tall handsome man seated about half way between the dais and the back door. There looked to be seating for maybe fifty or sixty people. I tell you he was stunning. He looked to be about six feet tall, and around a hundred eighty pounds. He was built like a brick shit house. I'm sorry I cussed, but he was really something. I don't mean he was all muscle bound, far from it, he was just so well put together. He was lean and muscular, firm looking biceps and forearms; even seated I could tell he had a great ass. He was wearing this loose fitting Tee shirt, but by loose I mean it was loose in all the right places while still tight in all the other right places, that means like loose around the waist but tight across the shoulders. He was no muscle man, but the shape of his body from his waist to his shoulders made this perfect V. He had the slimmest hips; my God, if I was a man, I'd have had a hard on! I don't mean I'm gay or a lesbian or anything, I mean, well...you know what I mean. He was dreamy. He had medium dark brown hair with red highlights. It was kind of mussed up like he needed to run a comb through. That wasn't true, what he needed was for me to run my fingers through it. He had brown eyes; they were pretty brown eyes. By that I mean they weren't the typical dark shit brown; they were a lighter shade of brown. They looked really cool; he had this sensitive vulnerable look. He needed a hug. God, he was a force of nature. I wanted to just run up there, wrap my arms around him, kiss him, and ask him to marry me! He was sort of glancing around in that quasi-self-conscious way people who are alone someplace and don't know anyone sometimes get. I didn't want to go up and introduce myself; I wanted to go up, sit on his lap and kiss him. Just then my sister showed up. I looked at her then back at gorgeous and asked, "You know him?" Vonda looked him over then shook her head, "No." I asked her, "Isn't he just beautiful?" I was already having these fantasies where I'd kidnapped him, taken him to some hidden cabin, and raped him till he agreed to marry me. She gave me one of her condescending older sister grimaces, "Him? You're kidding." I shrugged it off. She's my older sister, she knows. I gave him a second look. I guess he wasn't that hot after all. Just as soon as I polished off my fantasies about Prince Charming Vonda took off straight for him. She walked straight up and perched herself on the chair right beside my Mr. Right. I watched in stunned disbelief as my oldest sister, my heroine, swept right by me and proceeded to steal my vision quest right away. By the time I got to where they were Vonda had introduced herself, found out he didn't have a girlfriend, and arranged an after seminar coffee clutch at the nearby Starbucks. I got there. Del, I found out his name was Del, was camped out on an aisle seat, and Vonda had usurped the spot right next to him so I couldn't get anywhere near him. Vonda introduced me as her 'little sis still in school'. Off and on I listened miserably to my sister as she whispered in my dream man's ear all the things I wished I knew to how say. The seminar droned on for ninety minutes followed by a brief question and answer session, but it didn't matter. I was so sick in love, but my sister had stolen the man of my fantasies right out from under me. I hated her. After the seminar Vonda dismissed me like I was some child, "Honey you should run along home now." Damn, she told me to go home! She said she and Del were going out for coffee and maybe some sandwiches later. I'll admit it I wanted to cry. I saw him first! I even pointed him out to her, so what did she do? She derided him to me, and then went right off and stole him! To make a long story short Vonda found out what he did for a living, thought it was interesting and decided Del was the guy she'd marry. I think she did it just to spite me. Hell, she already had a boyfriend. She dropped boyfriend number one like a hot potato, circled Del like a shark, and in three months she landed him. Then she had the temerity to ask me to be one of her bridesmaids. I, of course, agreed. My heart was broken. I walked down the aisle that day in some ugly green dress, while my sister was waiting in the rear all in white. I walked down toward Del, my Del, and was I ever crying. I wasn't crying because Vonda was happy and getting married. I was crying because she was stealing my one true love right away from me. God I remembered his every visit to our house. I recalled every time he showed up to take Vonda out. He and I would talk. We were so much alike it wasn't funny. I knew, and I think he knew too, I was sister right, while Vonda was sister wrong. Did I say I hated my sister? +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Look I'm not hot like Vonda, but I'm no wallflower either. I can hold my own. I just don't go after every guy I see. Vonda and Nancy were the ones who always had to have boyfriends. I'm not like that. When I was in high school I had my own car. All we girls had our own cars. As soon as we turned sixteen our dad made sure we knew how to drive a standard transmission, and we each had our own set of wheels. OK it might have been big and slow, and it might have been a gas hog, but it was mine. Dad wanted to make sure we'd never have to be dependent on some guy. He even made sure we got Karate lessons! There's a story about that, and I'll tell it in a minute. Look when I went out on a date I'd meet the guy at the place. I drive myself there so if I decided I didn't like the layout I could just go back home. I did that a couple times too. Honestly I never dated much, never had a steady boyfriend in high school or in college. That's what made Vonda's trick so mean. As soon as I saw Del I knew. I mean I just knew. And then she grabbed him right away from me. So I'm not hot like Vonda, and I'm not so sexy as Chelsea or Nancy, but I'm all right. I'm 5'4". I weigh in at 120 lbs. I have brown hair I keep a little long but usually no one can tell because it's in either a bun, pig tails, or braided. I have green eyes, a pale complexion, and I'm the only sister with freckles. I think the other three are jealous of my freckles. Look I'm not big; I think to say I'm a 34B is a stretch, but I have a good shape, and I'm not bragging when I say that of the four of us I have the nicest personality. Guess what else? I'm twenty-three and I'm still a virgin! How about that! I mean if I were a man like Del I think I'd want to be with me first. Like I said I'm small. Dad made sure we all got Karate lessons. Well there was this boy in high school, a bigger boy, a football player. He started hounding me for a date. I was never going to go out with him. He had a reputation; not that all football players had reps, but he sure did. He wouldn't leave me alone. One day in school while classes were changing he tried to corner me so he could feel me up. I ran into the girl's lavatory. He followed me! He tried to grab me so I flipped him and put him on his back. He got really hurt, not his feelings, his back! He missed like three games. Guess who got suspended for three days! They suspended me! The vice-principal said I was guilty of aggravated assault. He said I shouldn't have done what I did. Hey, did I follow muscle head in the boys' lavatory? That's my Karate story. No one believes me today, but that really is a true story. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Between me and my sisters I'm the last one still living at home. Vonda and Del are married. Nancy's married to Gary, and just a while back Chelsea moved in with her boyfriend Hank. So when everyone left later that afternoon after the big discussion at the dining room table I was left at home alone to face the music. Mom eyeballed me first, "I'm ashamed of you Sherry. Vonda loves Del. She'd never cheat on him." What could I say? I answered, "You're right mom. I was only trying to make a point about how easy it is to make things up about people." Dad hit me then, "You should keep your politics to yourself. Your crazy liberal ideas will only get you in trouble." I wasn't going to take that, not even from dad. I gave it back to him, "Yeah I know dad. Remember I studied Nineteenth Century American Literature. Someone should paint a scarlet 'L' on my blouse." Women: Conniving, Scheming... Dad laughed, "You're hopeless." I laughed then too, "I'm your daughter daddy." That ended our little post family gathering melee, but it still didn't change what I knew. My sister was getting her ashes hauled at the hospital, and the man I loved was being made to look a fool. Face it I knew Vonda was a cheating bitch, and I'd decided I was going to be the one who rescues Del. As far as the Van Dyke girls were concerned Del was about to go from the frying pan right into the fire, because I was simply burning up for him! +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ I'd been keeping an eye on Vonda for nearly six months, but how I came to realize what she was up to came about completely by chance. Del worked at the news station. He put in long hours, but thanks to the way things worked at the station most of his time was put in during the day. Vonda's workload seemed to be erratic; she'd get called back in at all kinds of odd hours. Since Vonda couldn't seem to keep up with her professional work and her home responsibilities she occasionally called me in to help out. I was always glad to do it since I wanted to be around Del as much as possible. Me helping out led to some disquieting discoveries. Vonda was too sure of my naivete or she was just careless; either way I started to pick up the signs that something just wasn't right. I'm a virgin. I know at twenty-three that sounds like I'm not very modern. But being a virgin doesn't make me a simpleton. I know the difference between a woman's natural excretions and semen. OK, I'm not exactly a virgin in the purest sense of the word. A couple boys in college tried the old dry pump, or is it hump, outside my clothes. I let them get away with it a little bit, and oh yeah, there have been some fingers up in there, but they've only been my fingers. Yes, I play with myself, and before this is over everyone will know who I fantasize about when I do. When I first started helping out I'd change Del's and Vonda's sheets every now and then. It was OK by me, and if once in a while there were some damp spots from a little loving I wasn't bothered, a lot jealous maybe, but never bothered. Over time it became pretty obvious Del and Vonda's intimate moments, at least in bed, were becoming less frequent. All right, no problem, people come home tired, they don't have the energy, but I was helping with the laundry too. Look it was no problem for me to throw a load of sheets in the washing machine, and occasionally I might have tossed in a few of Del and Vonda's under clothes. Del wears boxers. I prefer a man in boxers. I think those tighty-whities are more for kids than men. Sometimes I'd hold his boxers to my nose just to get smell his pee. I know that sounds crazy, but I loved everything there was about the man. Most of Vonda's panties are like mine; maybe soft cotton, some derivative of polyester, and an infrequent pair of silks. Like I said, I know a woman's natural excretions from a man's spunk. I found spunk in Vonda's panties! What was spunk doing in Vonda's undies? Aha, that sounds like a quickie! But a quickie at home; wouldn't that mean she'd have time to change panties? Yes, of course! But what if the quickie was someplace else; say at the hospital or in some motel room, then there might not be an opportunity to change. She'd have to slip back on the panties she was wearing. Geez, what if the quickie was when she was leaning against her desk at work? Heck, the panties would go down, the fun would occur, and the panties would be pulled right back up without any chance for a clean-up. I wasn't a math major, but I knew how to add. I put two and two together, and the two together certainly weren't Del and Vonda. That really got my goat. Del and my sister had only been married for like three years, and now two and a half years into the deal and Vonda was already fucking around. Was she just a promiscuous bitch, or was this something more? Vonda's my oldest sister, and until lately my greatest role model. What she did always meant everything to me, but I had to face what I'd already known about her. Vonda had been a busy girl in both high school and in college. I heard her private talks with Nancy. They used to compare notes about their boyfriends; both of my older sisters were little whores. Vonda's premarital indiscretions were continuing right on after marriage. I guess that wouldn't have mattered; except this time she was hurting Del, and I loved Del. Of course I could be completely wrong, but in times like these I knew I had to trust my womanly intuition; for a man that would be his gut instincts. Vonda was cheating on her husband. Sooner or later she'd get caught. I knew Del; he wouldn't stand for it, he'd blow her off. That's where it got scary for me; if he caught Vonda he'd surely be suspicious about me. He might suspect I knew something. Even if he didn't suspect that I knew something I was sure he'd never go for another Van Dyke girl. If he caught Vonda on his own, my chances with him after the break up would be nil. My world, my future came into focus. I had to see to it that Del found out about Vonda, but I had to be in on the discovery with him. I had to appear to be on his side. Heck, I was on his side! That was even scarier; if Del and I worked together he still might not want to have anything to do with me. I was Vonda's sister. If he dumped Vonda and went for me, which is what I prayed for every night, he might not want to be around Vonda ever again, but her being my sister sort of guaranteed that he would be around her at least some of the time. I was excited about the prospect of exposing Vonda, but I was terrified that Del wouldn't let me be the one to pick up the pieces of his broken heart when it was over. What if he left her, and then decided to skip town. He had a great job. Good cameramen are always in demand, and I knew in my heart he was the best cameraman in the state, probably in the country, maybe even the whole world! He could go anywhere and probably name his own price, but what about me? Heck, I was a measly high school English teacher. I only got my job because my dad knew somebody on the school board. English teachers are a dime a dozen. If Del moved on I'd have to follow him, but I'd never get a job teaching school again. What if I ended up working someplace as a waitress? Would Del still be interested in me? I mean even with Vonda's memory tied around my neck I think he would, but waitresses and store clerks and stuff work long hours for low pay, they never have the time when they're not too tired to play. Oh awful, I might end up in another place, doing a terrible job for no money only to get to watch the man of my dreams fall in love with somebody else again. I couldn't do this! I couldn't start wallowing in self-pity about things that might never happen. I had to get Del to leave Vonda. If I could do that, I knew I'd get him. I just knew it. Well there it is; that's why I grabbed the chance at the dinner table to go after Vonda. I'd laid my cards on the table. Now it was up to Del. He had his choices. He could continue to play the fool. He could go after Vonda alone, or maybe, just maybe he'd say something to me. I'm at his house three, four days a week. He has my cell phone number! I thought of that really old ABBA song from way back in the olden days, way back in the 1970's. What was it called; 'Ring, Ring, Ring." Yeah I remembered, 'Ring, ring, why don't you give me a call? Oh, oh, oh ring, ring, don't you love me at all?' Come on Del! Call me up! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Del called me two days after my dining room debacle. I picked up my cell, saw who it was and pretended to innocently ask, "Hello, is this Del?" He replied, "Yeah it's me. We have a lot of laundry, and I was..." "I'll be right over," was my reply. Del and Vonda had just bought a house, a small bungalow. It was about a quarter mile from my dad and mom's. I took a quick shower, pulled my hair back, used rubber bands to tie it off in two pig tails, and capped them off with small red ribbons at the ends. I grabbed a simple, thin, white brassiere, and matching cotton panties. Then I found a cheerful little pink cotton blouse; it buttoned up the front and had a simple pointed collar. I left the top two buttons undone. To abet the cheerful innocent look I was aiming at I slipped on a pair of light brown loosely fitting culottes. I added some light brown knee high stockings that matched the culottes, and finished the outfit off with a pair of penny loafers. I skipped the makeup except for a tad of soft pink lip gloss and hint of pink eyeliner, and oh yeah a little pink blush for my cheeks. I looked myself over in the mirror. Yes, I'd captured the sweet innocent look I wanted. Del was going to just cream over me. I could almost see in my mind's eye his man thing as it grew and filled out the front of his pants. I have a story about Del's thing too. I dashed out to my car, my little Nissan, and took off. When I got there Del was waiting for me in the kitchen. I went in the back door. He was drinking a cup of coffee, "Hi Sherry, can I get you a cup of coffee?" I loved coffee, but I'd just brushed my teeth and didn't want anything to spoil my breath, "No thanks. Have you got any juice?" He grinned mischievously, "Pineapple juice?" I pretended I didn't know the secret to pineapple, "Sure," I answered. He poured me a big glass. I pulled a chair around so he could see me. I took a sip of the juice. I folded my hands in my lap, and I leaned forward slightly so he could get a better view of my breasts as they pressed against my blouse. Then I started, "Before I say another thing I want to apologize for the things I said about Vonda. I just made it up to make her mad." Del's smile faded briefly but returned, "You sure pissed her off. When we got home, once she finished cussing you, she lit into me. She made it clear nothing was going on at her work." God he was hot! He was wearing a pair of snugly fitting jeans that showed off his thin hips and muscular legs. He'd tucked a dark blue Tee shirt inside his pants, he wasn't using a belt, the metal button holding the top of his jeans together was crying out at me. Unsnap me, unsnap me, it kept saying. His tight abs, his broad shoulders and his magnificent pectorals were unbelievable. Del was clean shaven, no beard or scraggly mustache was allowed to hide that beautiful face. His hair was crumpled. It wasn't crumpled like that Kentucky senator's hair; that man's hair always looks dirty. No Del's crumpled up hair looked sexy. He had grass in it. I had to do it. I leaned forward, "You have something in your hair," I picked at it till I got it all out, "there," I said. Geez, I wanted to kiss him so bad. I think he could tell. His hair was so soft, nearly as soft as his big beautiful brown eyes. "You look really pretty this morning Sherry. Did you get dressed up for me?" I knew I was blushing, but why hide it, "I always get dressed up special when I know I'm going to see you," I clasped my hands around my knees and leaned further forward. I knew the unbuttoned top of my blouse left a small cleft; I knew he could see a little bit of my chest. He looked too! "Vonda said you're jealous, and that's why you always go after her whenever we're all together." I couldn't lie. If I did I knew he'd see right through me, "Of course I'm jealous. She married the best looking man in the county, but remember I saw you first. She saw I liked you, she blocked me out, and got to you ahead of me." I saw he was momentarily confused. I guessed he didn't recall the first time we all met, "Don't you remember it was at some stupid conservative seminar. You were on the aisle seat. Vonda ran up and grabbed the chair right beside you." "Oh yeah, I remember now. You were what, eighteen?" "I was twenty, almost twenty-one," I watched him smile. I knew I was losing ground, "I've always look a little younger than my age, but that doesn't mean I don't think like a woman," he grinned at me like I was a kid. I was beaten. Del reached across and pulled on a pig tail, "You're a really cute kid Sherry. If I was a few years younger and not already..." I shut this crap off, "I'm twenty-three and you're only twenty-eight. We're not...," he cut me off. "Sherry you're my wife's little sister." I got up, "You asked me over to help out?" Del stood up too, "I hope I'm not being rude, but I have a lot of work to do outside. My boss wants me in early tomorrow, we're doing something about the landfill and complaints about pollution, and Vonda had to go in again today. Could you..." I answered, "Laundry?" Del nodded. "OK," I responded, "You go on about what you need to do. I'll handle the laundry, change your sheets, and tidy up." He got up close to me. I could smell the coffee on his breath and the grass on his clothes. I wanted to die. He was marvelous! He touched my shoulders with his hands, his firm muscular hands! It was like an electric shock. I wondered if he felt it too. God almighty! My mind was screaming at him, 'Hold me in your arms! Kiss me!' He gave me another silly grin and kissed me on the forehead, "You're a great kid." He turned and walked out the kitchen door. Seconds later I heard the lawn mower. 'Damn, I was just this great kid.' I spent the next three hours stripping their bed and remaking it; the sheets had been clean, no signs of sex. I separated the laundry and did it; one pair of her panties had spunk in them. I vacuumed, emptied the dishwasher, tidied up the living room, and set a bag of trash out for Del to put in one of the cans. I called out, "I'm done!" Del stopped what he was doing; he'd been weed whacking, and came back inside. He smelled of sweat, man's sweat, his man's sweat! I loved it. He and I were facing each other again in the kitchen. He gave me a generous smile, "Thanks sis, you're..." There would be no 'thanks sis's this time. I had something else in mind. I moved over close and took his right hand. Del was right handed, and fortunately for me he'd been wearing gloves while working in the yard. I pulled his right hand down inside my culottes and my panties. I was wet. He didn't fight me, but I could tell he was ready to run. I gave him the sincerest look I could muster, it was sincere too. I'd been rehearsing what I wanted to say all morning. I held his hand against my vagina, "I'm a virgin Del. I saw you first. Some day you're going to marry me. This will...this will..." His eyes were so soulful. I knew if I stayed there one more minute I would cry. I'd beg him to leave my sister. I'd tell him what a rat she is. I pulled his hand away and ran down the hall, grabbed my purse, and crying all the way, got to my car, jumped in, and drove away. I'd blown it. I'd blown it big time. Now he'd never have anything to do with me. My life was over. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ I was wrong. Del called me again, "Hello Sherry?" "Del, yes." "I've been considering what you said at your parent's house, and I think we need to talk." "When do you want me over?" How about tonight? Vonda said she had to go in again." "Seven OK?" "Pizza?" "Cheese and pepperoni." "Gotcha." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ I got to Del's at seven sharp, and parked my car. I didn't bother to knock. I went straight in. Del was in the living room fiddling with the remote control to the television. I walked in, "Del?" He looked at me, and I knew at least for a little while I had him. Tonight I left the little girl home. The pig tails were gone. I'd done my hair up in a tight bun. I was wearing gold hooped earrings, pale red lip gloss, eye shadow, mascara, and a little blush on my cheeks. I wore a thin silver braided chain necklace around my neck. I thought of that old song 'Brandy'. I hummed it all the way over, 'Brandy wears a braided chain made of finest silver from the north of Spain'. Oh God Del you've got to fall in love with me! Tonight I had on a dress, a dark blue item; V necked, empire waist, short smart looking capped sleeves. It was a mini and came to just below mid-thigh. I had on very dark blue high heeled shoes and dark blue nylons. Underneath I wore a dark blue bra and dark blue French cut panties. I was dressed for battle! I walked in, sat down on the sofa, crossed my legs, placed my hands in my lap and asked, "I'm glad you called. I was afraid I scared you off the last time." His answer was straight from the shoulder, "Sherry you didn't scare me off. I know you like me." If only he knew half the truth. He was gorgeous as usual all decked out in a pair of loose fitting khaki trousers, blue button down shirt, and what looked like dark comfort shoes, the type men wore when they were on their feet all the time. I went straight to the point, "You're worried about Vonda." "Not worried exactly, just a little put off." He was still in denial. I had to be careful, "What can we do to put your mind at rest?" "I don't know Sherry; you were the one with all the ideas?" He was getting defensive, bad place to be, "Can I ask you some questions?" "Sure." "You won't get mad?" "No, you can't make me mad." "Promise?" "I promise." "OK, how's the sex life?" He replied, "I don't know. What do you mean?" I asked again, "Are you two having much sex?" "I don't see where..." "Del I need to know what's going on. Tell me how are things with you and my sister in bed." The pizza delivery man rang the bell. Del got up, got the pizza, paid the man, tipped him, and brought the pizza in and placed it on the coffee table, "I'll be right back. Let me get some paper plates and napkins. What would you like to drink?" I asked him, "Got any more of that pineapple juice?" He grinned, "I think I'll have some of that too." Once we got the pizza and the juice out Del answered my first question, "My sex life sucks Sherry." I suppose people by now might be asking something like, 'Why would the husband of an older sister be willing to confide in this kid?' The answer to that is simple. First I'm a woman. I know how to wheedle. I'm crazy for this man. I'd do almost anything for him. Second, well there'd been many times, way late at night, when he and I had long discussions about things. He trusts me. Remember trust is everything; without trust no relationship can survive. I asked, "What she cut you off?" "No worse, she's always either too busy or just too tired. She says she's dead on her feet. Then when we do have sex it's like she'd just waiting for me to get through," he looked at me real funny, "I don't know why I told you that. Maybe we should just forget this whole conversation. " I ignored his comment, "How does she dress now when she goes to work?" Del shook his hand like he was trying to get it to dry, "She bought almost a whole new wardrobe." "Looks nice?" "Sexy as all get out. Sherry where are you going with this?" "I'll ask the questions. How did she used to dress?" "What do you mean, like before?" "Yes before she bought the new clothes." "She'd usually leave wearing her scrubs." "So she's gone from scrubs to hottie. How is she treating you at home?" "You mean when she's home. She's been treating me like shit. It's like I'm nobody; just somebody in the way." I was still sitting on the sofa, but Del was sitting across from me on an easy chair. I patted the empty space on the sofa beside me, "Come sit over here." "What you want to hold my hand?" "Something like that," I patted the sofa again. He slouched around a little, but finally got up and came over. I took his hands in mine, and started to say something but he interrupted me. "What now you're going to play Nurse Sherry..." Women: Conniving, Scheming... Before I let him finish I slapped him. It wasn't a hard slap, but it got his attention. I hurt his feelings more than anything. He put his hand where I'd hit him, "OK, I asked you over. I'll be honest. I'm worried. No I'm more than worried. I'm scared. I think Vonda seeing someone." I'm a school teacher. Tough love, that's what we call it. I told him, "I do too." He got a little snotty, "So what now. I go out and buy a shit load of electronics, and spy on her until I catch her. Then I hire a lawyer, get a divorce, and marry you." By then he'd not only pulled his hands away, but had retreated to the far end of the sofa. I gave him an honest answer, "I like the last part. I mean about you getting a divorce and marrying me." I could tell he liked that even less, but I had to be honest. God I wanted him! I went on, "I need to be completely honest about some things." He rolled his eyes, "Christ honesty from a Van Dyke girl. That'll be a first." That made me mad, "You want the truth don't you?" I saw that might have settled him down just a little, "I'm sorry Sherry. I know you've never lied to me." I was about to come clean, "No I've never lied, but I've been deceitful," I saw that didn't set well. I pushed ahead, "I've played some games with you, and I'm not proud of them. Let me tell you." I watched as he sat back. He was even farther away now, where do I begin. I started, "All right there have been some parties at my parents. You remember the night late last winter when I showed up with the black guy?" Del nodded. "I only brought him to make you jealous. Once we walked in the front door I knew it didn't work. I could see you didn't get jealous that I was with a black man, you got disgusted. I know you're not a bigot, but I never thought about the once black never go back crap. I knew I was in the soup. You remember what happened?" Del nodded again, "After a few minutes he got a call and had to leave." It was my turn to nod, "Yes, I went in the kitchen and made the call. It was a set up. Jerry, the black guy was an old friend. He was in on it. He knew he was only at my parents to make you jealous. He saw your reaction too, and he felt real bad about it. He left. I had to wipe the egg off my face by myself," I watched Del and saw a light go on. He smiled, he almost laughed, "Wait a minute about a month later you showed up with some big football player type who started pawing on you. You..." I interrupted him, "He was another jealousy trick too. Remember that one worked. My dad, Hank, and Gary all pretended to ignore him, but not you. You got his arm and walked him into the kitchen. I don't know what you said, but he minded his manners after that. Later he and I had a laugh. I felt so good. You came to my rescue. That's when I knew." "Knew what?" "Come on Del; that's when I knew sooner or later we'd end up together," I saw Del start to get agitated again. "You set me up with the boy from where, Michigan State?" I nodded. "So what's this with Vonda? Have you been setting her up too?" Uh oh, this could get out of hand, "No Del I couldn't have set Vonda up. But I'll be honest. I know my sister. It was just a question of time. Vonda's always had a wandering eye. I know with all the doctors and internists and stuff sooner or later she might cross the line. Could I have stopped her? Yeah I suppose so. Did I want to? No, if I stopped her I'd never get you. I've always wanted you," I saw he wasn't buying all my reasoning. "Suppose I catch Vonda. Suppose I decide to give her another chance?" "I know my sister. She'll just do it again." "You mean like once a cheater always a cheater?" "Something like that. She has a history." "What makes you any different? You're sisters." "I'm not Vonda. I'm Sherry. I put your hand on my vagina. I mean it. I'm a virgin. I want you Del. I want you like crazy, but it's got to be on my terms," he started to say something. I held up my hand, "I love you Del. I fell in love with you the first moment I saw you. I know what you want, and I know what you need." "Oh yeah? Tell me what I want and need." "I'm not stupid Del. You want children. Vonda wants her career. My career, for what it's worth comes second. I want to be a mom. I want you to be my children's dad. That's the want part; the need part is easy. You need someone who will put you first, make sacrifices for you, you need someone like me; someone who wants only to make you happy." Was I fucking over my sister or what? Well, maybe I was. Call me a scheming bitch I don't care. I know I when I'm right. She's the one who put the poison in the well, not me. I saw he was struggling with this. Heck, he was still married to my sister, and I was getting ready to walk down the aisle to him right over my sister's dead body. I couldn't quit now, "Del you got the wrong sister. That's all." "What if I told you I love Vonda? What would you say to that?" This could be great. I had some answers, "I know you think you love Vonda. You're sincere that way, but you got confused. Men get like that." I had to change course or he'd start thinking about how much he loved my sister, and then I'd be down the drain again. I took a different approach, "Do you know who bought you all your Christmas gifts last year. Do you know who wrapped them. Your birthday was just a month ago. Want to know who planned the party, who bought the gifts, who wrapped the gifts, who ordered the cake, and the balloons, and the funny hats, and the noise things. Remember we played that blind man's game, and you had to kiss some girl. Who was the girl you kissed. OK I tricked everyone on that. It wasn't easy, but that was me who got the kiss. Oh sure, Vonda paid for everything, but I was the one who did all the work." He was just sitting there with his mouth open. "You did all that?" "Del who's been washing and ironing most of your clothes, making your bed, doing most of your shopping when you didn't do it. Who's been cleaning your toilet when it wasn't you? Damn it Del," I was going to cry. I just cussed too. Now he was just staring at me. "So you'd marry me if I caught Vonda cheating and decided to divorce her." "In a heartbeat!" "Why, so you could make up for what Vonda did?" "No Del, so I could make up for all the time we've missed." "So you think you love me?" "I know I love you," he smiled. I didn't like it. "You're just a crazy kid. You know that?" "No I'm not a crazy kid. Look at me," I stood up so he could see me better. I wished I'd worn a push up bra, "I'm a woman, fully grown, and I'm a woman totally, deeply, completely, and a woman madly in love with you," I could tell I was about to be blown off. "Sherry I think you should go home now. You're a nice kid, a great kid, but you're still just a kid. I'm married. I have a wife. I don't need another one." I was crushed. Once again I felt like my world was spiraling out of control, but I'd been completely honest, no tricks, no conniving, well not much, it was all just me. I told him again, "I love you Del. I want you to be happy. If you'll be happier with Vonda then stick with it, but remember; you can let Vonda keep carrying the flag, but I'm still in the parade," he didn't get it. "What's that supposed to mean?" "It means I'm going to go home and have a good cry. I hope Vonda is playing fair, but if she's not and you want to change sisters, I can wait." He walked me to the door. We shook hands, I went home and cried. I knew I'd lost another round, but he'd been staring at my breasts just before I left. It was something anyway. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ I wasn't home more than a day or so before Del had me on the phone again. I was upstairs in my old room, at my old desk grading essays when my cell phone rang. I had to fumble around to find it, and before I could answer it had gone to voice mail. It was Del. I called back, "Del?" "We need to talk." "I can't come over tonight. How about tomorrow?" "No not here, let's meet at Bixler's Tavern, say tomorrow around 3:00 p.m." I was a little nonplussed; Del was usually at work that time of day. Even so I'd have to find a way to get out of school early. I answered, "Sure, see you there." It had only been two days; something must have happened. I managed to get coverage for my last period class so I got to the tavern a little ahead of time. Del was already there. As I walked to the booth where he was sitting he stood up. I was wearing standard school marm attire; a simple white blouse, knee length A-line skirt, and tan sports jacket. Del was in his jeans and a long sleeved white button down shirt. He looked ashen; something was wrong. As soon as I sat down I asked, "What's wrong Del?" He replied, "You were right." I loved this man. I wanted more than anything to marry him, have his babies, wash and iron his clothes, fix his meals, hold his hand, and do all the things lovers did, but I felt no joy in hearing what he'd just said. I replied, "How do you know?" He pulled out what looked like a small laptop computer. I realized right away it was something else; some kind of electronic machinery I was unfamiliar with. He opened the lid, pushed a button, turned it around to me and said, "Watch." It was a basketball game. It was the NBA game that, based on the date and time in the lower corner, had taken place just the night before in our city's arena. The camera panned around the court, and then up in the stands. All I saw were hundreds of people yelling and screaming at something important that must have happened on the court. I wasn't a big NBA fan; like my dad said, they broke too many basic rules, and none of the teams ever graduated any seniors. My dad said the players were all too big and too talented for the size of the court and the height of the net. My dad was usually right about those things. I looked over at Del, he said, "Keep watching." I looked back at the tiny screen. At first nothing seemed all that unusual; at least not until whoever was operating the camera zoomed in on some of the crowd activity. That's when I saw them. Vonda was sitting beside some man. He was older. He must have been in his late forties at least; grey hair, kind of a dapper appearance, probably a doctor maybe some kind of administrator. They were holding hands; no Vonda's left hand was holding something else. She was obviously stroking the man's penis from the outside of his trousers. Vonda was watching the game, but it was clear she was concentrating on what her hand was doing. The man was smiling. I know my face was turning red. Del must have been the cameraman! How awful for him. I hated, I mean I really hated my sister! I wanted to scream at her! I hated, I mean really totally hated my sister! Oh God, poor Del! I closed the little device, "This was last night?" "She left home a little after 5:00 p.m. She said she had to go back in to complete some paperwork, and wouldn't be back till after 12:00. One of the other cameramen had asked me to spot him a favor. I don't usually do sports, but when Vonda said she needed to go back to work I called my buddy and told him I'd pick up the game. I had no idea..." I asked, "Do you know who he is?" "I met him once. He's a hospital administrator of some sort, names Metzger." This was what I thought I wanted, but one look at his face and I knew this was just too painful, "I'm sorry Del," I reached my hands across to his and grabbed them. He didn't flinch back or anything. He just sat there, "I know I said it's what I wanted, but somehow...I don't know. What are you going to do?" He clasped my hands, "Right now nothing. She's out again tonight. I've got to think about this." God I felt awful. I got up, "Come on. Let's go home. I'll take you home tonight. We'll come back and get your car in the morning." He looked at me, "I just feel so numb. I feel like I'm going to throw up. I don't know what to do." I hated my sister, "We'll get you home. I'll get you on the sofa. I'll stay the night." "She's supposed to be coming home later this evening. She said she had an important meeting first." "It's all right Del," I squeezed his hands, "We'll tell her you had some bad ham or something, and I came over to nurse you. She'll believe that." "Sherry I don't know. I took tomorrow off. I need to think this through." "I'll call in tomorrow too. We'll figure something out together," I was so unhappy, "I'm so sorry Del. I know what I said, but to say it and then see it. Well it's...I'm sorry." He only nodded. It was like he was in shock or something. Of course he suspected something, but to find out while he was on a job; to find out this way. I knew I had to be there for him. I loved him. We drove home to his house in my car. He started to open up a little bit. "Sherry this is the worst. This could be the worst day of my life," he looked over at me. Oh the sad look in his big beautiful eyes. He went on, "Have I done something wrong? Am I not good enough? God Sherry I try to give her everything she wants. I thought we really had something. I never dreamed...I mean...I thought...I thought she was the one. Now I don't know. I just don't know." I was crying. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ I got Del home, and tried to comfort him, "Maybe you should just go lie down, take a nap. I'll rest down here on the sofa. When Vonda gets home I'll tell her you're sick," he looked at me in an odd way. Del's not the kind of person to show a lot of anger, but I could see it coming. He told me, "I'll never sleep in that bed again. I'll never sleep with that woman again. I've had it! I'll sleep in the spare bedroom tonight; he hesitated, then he went on, "Sherry I want you to stay tonight. I'm not trying to hide or anything like that, but right now I'm not real sure how I'll react if I have to see her alone." Del walked over and wrapped his arms around me, "Sherry I guess I should be mad at you too, but I'm not. I mean before the other day at your parents, though I had my suspicions, I was still pretty much in a state of grace." "Del I can't tell you how sorry I am. You know I want you, but I rather thought I could steal you away. I want you. You're all I want, but more than anything I want you to be happy." He hugged me even tighter. I could sense he wanted to cry, or more likely break something. His arms felt so good around me. He wasn't any Hulk Hogan or big football player, but he was big and strong. My head fit neatly right against his chest. I put my arms around him. Though I knew he was hurting; I never felt so peaceful. I softly kissed the material of his shirt right where his right nipple was. Right then I wished I hadn't foresworn making love until after I was married. His body was so firm. He smelled of Old Spice; the same fragrance my dad used. I murmured into his chest, "We'll get through this, you'll see." I felt him stiffen. I'd gone too far. He gently pushed me away, "I need to go lie down. I have a lot of thinking to do before tomorrow," then he broke my heart...again, "Sherry, I know how you feel. Sweetheart I don't want to lead you on. You're a great little sister, but I don't love you." He took his hand and put his thumb and index finger on my chin and then he lifted my head up so I had to look at him, "I'm glad you're here. You're great kid, and I'm sure you'll find someone. I kind of think what's going on with you is more like an adolescent crush than anything. Remember I married Vonda. I love your sister, or at least I think I do. Love is one of those things you can't just turn on and off. I want to give Vonda the benefit of the doubt." I reached up and cupped his face in the palms of my hands. His cheeks felt so good. I leaned up while I pulled his face down. He didn't resist, we kissed. It was a soft gentle kind of kiss; the kind of kiss I expected from a man like him. I told him, "You go on upstairs. I'll hang out down here. When Vonda gets home I'll tell her you got sick from something you ate. I'll find something to fix for supper while you and she work things out." He kept holding me, but only at arm's length, "I'm not going to confront her with anything tonight. It looks bad, real bad, but I still want to make sure, you know?" I nodded, "I'm here for you Del." He smiled and kissed me on the forehead. That was humiliating; not at all what my fantasies were like. In my dreams this was always when he reached out, enclosed each of my breasts in one of his hands, kissed me on my mouth, cheeks, and neck, and then went down on me, sliding his strong masculine hands down my waist and hips to my abdomen while he puckered up and kissed his way down my stomach and over my navel. In my fantasy world I could feel his lips on my labia while his tongue climbed between each fat lip searching for my G-spot. I could feel myself getting wet. I was glad I had on a skirt. If I'd worn the light brown slacks I'd originally planned today there'd be a big juicy spot right where my pants legs came together. Now that would be humiliating! I knew later tonight wherever I slept my fingers would be giving my pussy a workout. I'd do it and pretend it was Del's thing up inside me. I wondered if Del had any idea the affect he had on me. I sat down on the sofa in their living room while Del went upstairs. I was glad I wasn't in that spare bedroom. I bet he broke every light and every piece of furniture in there. He was scaring me. Men are like that; they respond to frustration with aggression. I knew he needed to get it out of his system. Every now and then I involuntarily jumped when I heard something really big get thrown or broken. I only hoped he hadn't broken any windows. He did a lot of yelling and cussing too. Del had never been a hollering or a cussing kind of person, but I heard some of the things he said. I mean I couldn't miss it. Pardon my French but I bet he must have called my sister at least forty-seven different kinds of motherfucker and probably a hundred different kinds of whore. I was sure glad I wasn't that man with her at the basketball game. That man didn't know it yet, but he was in for some real trouble! I hid in the living room and turned on the TV. There was nothing on. It was getting close to 6:00 p.m., and I had no idea when Vonda would get home. I decided to call my dad, and tell him and mom where I was. I punched in the number on my cell phone. My mom picked it up, "Hello is that you Sherry?" I thought, the wonders of modern electronics, "Hi mom, I'm at Vonda and Del's. Del got something bad to eat so I picked him up and brought him home. I'm going to hang out here till Vonda gets home. I think I'll fix dinner for them." My mom told me, "Sherry don't you get mixed up in anything. If they're having problems let them work things out themselves." I replied, "I don't think there's a problem except Del's stomach, but don't worry I'll be careful. I've got to go now." Then I wondered; had last night's game been on TV? What if Del's camera shots made the nightly news? What if Del's close up made the highlights? Wouldn't that just take the cake? I flicked through the channels till I found a station still carrying the news. I couldn't wait till the sports segment came on. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Vonda didn't get home until close to 7:00 p.m. When she walked in she was surprised to see me, "What are you doing here? Where's Deli?" She sometimes called Del Deli; it was some kind of endearment I guess, "He's upstairs. He called me around 3:00 this afternoon. It seems he was out working and grabbed a bite of something that made him sick so I brought him home." "He's upstairs now?" "He's in the spare bedroom."