0 comments/ 11743 views/ 3 favorites Adopting Janie By: egmontgrigor2010 CHAPTER 1 Drinking recklessly and becoming too loud, Russell Lawrence was spoiling the tone of the party and the hostess said kindly to Chase Lawrence, "Darling do you think you could ask Russell to moderate his behavior?" "Yes of course Katie." Chase went up to Russell who was sounding off about the inability of CEOs these days to stand up to board chairman. She waited until he finished and said, "Russell I want to go home." "We'll go later," he said. "I'm enjoying myself." "Russell please take me home." "Frig off Chase," he said, pushing her away. Chase fell quite heavily, not expecting to be pushed. She was helped to her feet and she sat in the kitchen with Katie until she stopped shaking. Katie then called a cab and said, "I'll get Mike (her husband) and Lenny (her brother) to take Russell's car keys and then evict him. Russell is drunk and pugnacious. The walk home ought to sober him up." Chase waited in the kitchen for her sterile husband. Russell had demanded Chase give up her career as a successful professional theater actress and sometime assistant director. He believed, because his mother had told him, that by not working Chase would increase her chances of becoming pregnant through having less stress and more rest and longer sleeps. That didn't work and he bullied Chase into having a series of tests and then the medical specialist invited Russell to submit to tests. Russell had said sure, anything to help prove to Chase that she was the problem. However the tests proved emphatically that Russell was sterile. Before he went to sleep that night he apologized to Chase for putting her through that hassle when he was the one as fault because he was "firing blanks'. At first Russell didn't want to talk about it and then he began joking about it and his behavior slowly changed. He began to drink more heavily and his manner, whether he was drunk or sober, became more aggressive. Chase worried about this but he refused to seek help. Thinking back she thought what an asshole she'd been and recalled her mother saying when her daughter began dating Russell regularly that she could easily find a more gentlemanly man. Chase had been quite upset with her mother over that. God how dumb can you get, she sighed. She groaned when she heard Russell yelling at her and then began banging at the locked back door. Chase had left the front door open for him and the outside light was on. "Locking me out of my own home you bitch," he said slapping her across the mouth as she opened the door and he charged in. "Humiliating me in front of my friends by having Katie get me chucked out of their home and her husband taking me car keys off me. You deserved to be whacked," he said. Chase braced for another slap but he caught her by surprise and kneed her in the belly. She sank to the floor gasping for breath and in intense pain and was left lying there by her husband who went to bed. Being only thirty-two and gym fit, Chase recovered quite quickly and made a mug of coffee and took it to the guest bedroom and locked the door. Russell banged on the bedroom door in the morning and asked her to get up and get his breakfast. "Get it yourself." "Bitch." And those few words were their last conversation. Crossing the end of their street without halting at the stop sign, Russell drove straight in front of a loaded dump truck and his vehicle was partly flattened. He died at the scene, the truck driver suffering just a couple of bruises. The post-mortem established that the deceased had a blood alcohol count within the legal driving limit. Chase had not wished her 40-year-old company accountant husband to die, and certainly not to die so horribly. But it saved her going through the trauma of divorce that she'd decided to initiate while drinking coffee late the previous night. She was now a wealthy widow or would be when the insurance monies and the payments from the firm where Russell had worked for the past twenty-six years, where in her bank account. She settled into being a grieving widow and reminded herself and talked about the good times she and Russell had enjoyed. There had been many although most occurred during their early years together. The first romance (most other people would call it sex) that Chase had in months emerged after she engaged an investment consultant. Pauline was a thoroughly charming and very beautiful redhead. On her second visit to Chase's home she'd accepted the late-afternoon invitation to stay on for a drink. They exchanged personal information about themselves and Chase learned that Pauline was having a tough time with her husband. "You mean he bullies you?" "Well he's always done a bit of that but has never hit me. The problem is he has sex with other women, two of to my knowledge. I found him with one woman and the other woman, called me to apologize after she broke up with him. She wanted me to know what a nasty man he could be." "My goodness. That would take some courage." "Yes and I thought so too." Chase and Pauline was sitting on the same sofa and Chase reached across and patted Pauline just above the knee and said supportively, "As I see it you have the choice of attempting to ignore it or confronting you husband about it." "Yes I agree. Chase could you touch my leg again. It felt so delicious." That ought to have warned Chase to back off but she was relaxed and in support mode and so she patted Pauline's thigh again. "Oooh that's so lovely. Pull up my hem if you wish." "Why?" "To allow my to really feel the softness of your hand." "But you are wearing stockings." "They are thigh highs so move your hand higher up." "Pauline I can't," Chase said, feeling embarrassed. The consultant had trained to be persuasive to clients and to manipulate them if necessary. "Is there something about me that scares you Chase?" Chase was quite shocked. "No not at all." "Then you won't mind if I kiss you?" "You mean a sexy kiss?" "What kind of kiss would you suggest Chase?" "A... a friendship kiss." "You mean like this," Pauline said. She moved over against Chase and placing an arm around Chase's shoulder drew Chase into her and kissed her lips softly and unhurriedly. "How was that?" Pauline asked, pulling away but leaving her arm around Chase to control the limit of how far they could part. ""Now you kiss me." Chase had thought that was a beautiful kiss. Now that she realized Pauline was up to she was not concerned. She'd had a couple of female liaisons at college and three years ago had taken part in a huge groupie at a party following the closing session of an all-female theater workshop where she'd been one of the presenters. Moreover Pauline already had her feeling sexy and her new friend was very attractive indeed. One of the things Chase had liked about her relationship with Russell was it had been built around sex. She loved having sex and actually didn't mind if it became a little rough and the "I'm sated'' feeling as she staggered out to the bathroom ready for deep sleep after a pee and cleaning up had emerged as one of her great joys in life. But then as Russell had begun to allege she was infertile the clouds gathered over her joy. To her astonishment Chase began picturing Pauline's inflated nipples and, oh, images of a swelling pussy began invading her mind and not without confusion. Sometimes it was a hairy vulva and sometimes a completely bald one and whether or not the images were of Pauline's vulva she had no idea but knew she was aroused and began to seriously think of working up to touch Pauline's pussy. She admired how adept Pauline was at seduction. "Y-you mean touching b-bare thigh," Chase said, faking a stutter and swallowing hard to ensure her sofa companion noticed that=. Oh my Pauline was good. She just smiled and brushed back Chase's blonde fringe and Chase did what was expected of her and lifted back the hem of Pauline's black skirt. The quality black stockings ended with pretty cerise lacy tops and the tan of the flesh just above that indicated that Pauline was no stranger to a sun bed or used artificial tanning methods. Chase placed her hand softly on the upper thigh and just as she expected Pauline began stroking Chase's back and moaned a long oooooh and slowly parted her legs. "Should I touch you higher?" "Oooooh," Pauline moaned and opened her legs much wider and excitement raced through Chase when she saw the damp spot on the crotch of the white panties. Pauline held Chase in that position and whispered, "Kiss me." They kissed, opening their lips and with her head turned in an awkward position Chase was unable to see her hand. She knew what to do, however, and pushed her hand forward and touched, aiming at the wet spot she hoped, and bull's-eye! She heard Pauline suck in breath and then Pauline pulled the crotch of her high-cut panties aside and Chase whispered oooh and a finger eased into a well-lubed vagina. "God I love you doing that to me," Pauline said, and that induced Chase to sink her tongue into Pauline's mouth. She eased it back out and they began tongue flicking each other and moaning and, yes, dribbling. Chase slipped in another finger, turned her hand and those fingers became very busy. They were away. Pauline turned out to be bi and had a regular boyfriend and through that social connection Chase was introduced to guys. She resumed being heterosexual and never had sex with Pauline again. For a while Jack Lund, a divorcee, was immensely attractive to Chase but then she learned Jack was pleasuring another woman on nights when he wasn't with Chase. She said goodbye Jack, leaving the two-timer to figure out the reason for that abrupt severing of their wonderfully active relationship and probably reinforcing Jack's opinion that females were so unpredictable. * * * Three weeks after burying her husband Chase won a position as assistant director for a company producing TV advertising and drama on contract to TV networks and individual stations. Within a month her talent was recognized and she was given her first advertisement to direct. The company specialized in producing 90 second or longer ads that 'told a story'. A guy whose family owned seven supermarkets commissioned a one-off 60-second ad that would run twice each early evening for four weeks on the main TV stations servicing the areas where the supermarkets were located. The brief said simply, "Promote our meat department." The film studio's senior producer said to Chase, "You have talent and this is your big chance. You have a free hand to come up with something original but I'm afraid the budget is shit." Chase correctly took that to mean the budget was near the low end of nothing. She was cycling along her street that evening when she saw a girl aged about seven with a fox terrier on a lead and the dog had a black patch around only one eye and looked so cute. She rode on smiling and that night when almost asleep jerked upright and shouted, "Omigod" probably without fear because there was no one beside her to awake. Next evening she saw the little girl again with the dog and when she cycled back attempting to look inconspicuous and saw the girl and dog enter a property and a guy close the gate behind them. The guy was almost inside when Chase reached the gate and called out, "Excuse me sir." He turned and smiled and said, "Oh hi, the pretty young woman who cycles by most evenings. I thought you must live nearby. My name is Peter Barrett." "Oh hi Peter. I'm Chase Martin." (She had returned to using her maiden name). "Oh I've never particularly like Chase for a name for a person until now." "Thanks," she smiled. "I'm making a commercial film, an advertisement actually for Crest Supermarkets." Peter smiled and said, "How interesting. You look as if you'd have the talent to do that." "Thank you. I noticed the young girl walking the dog yesterday..." "Janie and Patch." "Oh cute names. And I have a wonderful idea to create the minute-long advertisement around those two but of course I require authority and cooperation to achieve that ambition." "Hmmm. I'm not sure. We'd have to discuss this. Would you like to do that now?" "Oh Peter this must be approaching your dinner time." "No problem. I decide what time I cook and who eats it. I'm divorced and am attempting to establish Janie here in this community. Actually with you living near here..." "Yes along the other side of the street at number 43." "Oh great, then Janie and Patch and I would appreciate having someone we know on this street. There are families on either side of us but they appear concerned there is no Mrs Barrett." "Oh that's dreadful." "It will thaw. As least the kids are talking through the fences." "Well Janie and Patch are very welcome to visit me. I live alone. You can call and I'll stand out on the sidewalk and Janie will be able to see me from here." "That is so kind. Well are you coming in for dinner?" "Um I feel that would be an intrusion." "That's nonsense, you are an invited guest," he smiled. "In you come." Patch bounced over to Chase and she scratched under his collar and he liked that and then wandered off. "Janie this is Miss Martin from along the street. We have seen her cycle by some nights." "Hi," Janie said a little shyly and then, "You are very pretty." "Why thanks Janie." "Guys come into the kitchen and we can talk while I attend to our roast dinner." Peter pulled out a chair for Chase and then looked astonished as Janie backed into Chase's legs and Chase pulled his daughter on to her knees and 'they both looked as that happened every day. "You smell nice." "It's a perfume called Eternity Janie. That name means forever but alas the perfume doesn't last." "Daddy owns a pharmacy. He'll bring you as much Eternity as you want." "Janie he won't have any need to do that and anyway different pharmacies stock different perfumes to avoid offering the same selection." "Oh that's so sad." "But hey Janie, we stock the Kelvin Klein range that includes Eternity," Peter chuckled. "There I knew daddy would choose the right perfume," Janie said. "When I grow up I'll have Eternity." * * * The smartly dressed Peter and Janie wearing a new blue dress and Patch, already familiar with Chase's home arrived for dinner. Peter handed Chase a bottle of French Champagne. "Oooh, we celebrate premiere evening in style," Chase said snatching a look at the wall clock and then adding, "You may kiss me if you wish." It was their first kiss, watched by Janie, who'd made no comment. She'd already being hugged and kissed by the woman she now called Chase, having secured her father's approval. Janie gave Patch his dinner and then joined the adults in the TV room. "I've told the MacDonald's and the Bryant's that I'm on Channel 8 in an advertisement at about quarter past six tonight," Janie said. "Who are those people?" Peter asked. "The immediate neighbors' children on both sides of your home," Chase giggled. "I think it's time we did something to break the ice." "How." "I'll help you organize drinks for the neighbors say at 4:00 on a Saturday." "But they might be otherwise engaged." "You call Mrs Bryant and Mrs MacDonald and then arrange a mutually convenient date and time." "But they might say no." "Peter would you like me to arrange it for you?" "Oh yes please. And the drinks and the food. Would a couple of hundred be enough money?" "Half of that will be sufficient. It's just an icebreaker Peter. I've had hosting experience. I haven't told you this but I'm a widow. I was married six years and then my husband was killed in a vehicle accident." "Omigod." "Then that's why you are so experienced and know what mothers do and can tell daddy what to do." "Perhaps so Janie but my husband and I didn't have children." "Did you want children?" "Yes." "That's enough Janie," Peter said. "No it's fine Peter but I guess Janie already knows what she wished to know." "Yes daddy. See how Chase kinda knows everything." "Darling can you say kind of rather than kinda?" "Yes Chase. It's easy to do that. I'll try to remember." * * * The ad began with Janie dressed in a white t-shirt, blue jeans and white and blue sneakers and wearing a cute pink felt cap asking, do you sell meat?" "Yes truckloads of it young lady, said the elderly stooped and skinny man at the doorway. He was wearing a jacket marked 'security'. "Come on Patch, let's go to the meat department." The camera shot on Patch's face indicated he was decidedly interested. "Sorry young lady, animals are not allowed on food premises." "But you guys claim your supermarket excels in customer service." The guy rubbed his chin. "Wait here Little Lady. We DO offer the best in service." The screen was filled with the supermarket's logo and the slogan, "Best in Supermarket Service" The next clearly unlikely shot showed six butchers wheeling meat out in glass cabinets. Janie held up Patch and took him along the cabinets, starting from the left. Halfway along the fourth cabinet his tail began waggling furiously. "That's it, that one." Janie cried excitedly. "And how much would ma'am require," asked the tubby, red-faced butcher. "Ten pounds, twenty pounds." "Let me see. I have fifty cents to spend on meat." The butcher rolled up his eyes and the skinny security guy said, "Pierre, we take pride in our service to customers seriously. Please return with 51 cents of that cut to one of our youngest and most valued clients. She will then shop here for her entire life." "Perhaps," said the butcher darkly and called, "Get this meat back into the chiller guys. At least the little bitch is happy." "The fox terrier is male sir," said a butchery assistant. Janie and Chase who'd viewed the completed clip at the studio several times looked bemused at Peter, who was practically rolling on to the floor he was laughing so much. "God this will become an advertising classic," he chortled. "What does daddy mean?" "Just the best ad in its class darling perhaps beyond this city as well." "Well I thought it was pretty interesting and funny. Didn't we work hard to get it right?" "Yes dear. And your check should arrive in the mail any day soon. What would you like to do with all that money?" "Give it to you to be my mommy." Chase, who'd just stood, sat down with a thump and Peter was staring at his daughter in alarm. "Leave it Peter." "Sorry." "It's perfectly okay and so understandable." Chase had thought about asking Peter and Janie to stay the night but now with his face set like that it didn't seem to be a good idea. Janie was asleep in his arms as he was leaving and then Peter left Chase devastated when he said, "Thank you, we had a great evening. Um Chase I would be obliged if you had a little less to do with Janie. You influence over her appears to becoming too much for my liking." Chase still had tears running down her face when she fell asleep, feeling she'd been abandoned. Next day was Saturday and she had placed her home with a property management company to be managed and let as a fully furnished house and then packed her personal things and moved into a downtown hotel. She was required to work out only two weeks' notice and when that was completed moved to a larger city almost 500 miles away but not before visiting Peter's older sister. Jennifer listened to what Chase had to say and sympathized with her but said Peter had lost Carol when she walked out on him and would now fear he was in the process of losing Janie to Chase. "But I would have shared Janie with him, becoming his partner if that's what he wanted." Adopting Janie "I know Chase but we both know Peter is not ready for that. His heart pines for life how it used to be with Carol." Chase sighed. "Yes I know." "What would you like me to do for you, not that I can offer you much hope?" "Thanks," Chase sighed and handed across a letter addressed: 'To Janie, from Chase'. "Could you give this to Janie one day if you believe she is in the position to seeing me again. It includes my cell phone number." "Yes of course but I have no idea how I'd even know if that occasion arose." "You'll know Jennifer," Chase said simply and smiled. * * * Within two days of relocating, before she'd even found suitable accommodation, Chase had won a job at a flourishing regional theater that received sufficient local government funding to pay the salaries of the chief administrator and theater director plus the new position of drama coach. It was acknowledged that Chase was over-qualified for the position of drama coach but she persuaded the interviewing panel to accept her on a binding contract for one year. There was a café two doors down from the theater and after her late morning interview Chase went there for early lunch but the woman behind the counter said it was too early at 11:15 to serve meals. The starting time for those was, as stated on the wall, was from 11:45. "Please couldn't you make an exception?" "No I'm sorry ma'am." "Oh a lady with a feeling of entitlement that she is an exception," she heard a guy coming up behind her say. Chase turned and saw a well-dressed guy with an attaché case. Chase felt her blood rising to the boil but his next comment defused her. "Young women with a sense of entitlement and who are firm but not rude about it are rare and ought to be nurtured. Come through to the kitchen and I'll cook for you." "Is it permitted to upgrade a request to be made an exception and spoil a lady?" "In your case yes because you have a swell figure and good looks." "Mr Campbell can do what he wishes ma'am. He owns this establishment but a warning ma'am, he's not much of a cook." Chase smiled at the woman and thanked her for such concise and valuable information. "Can you managed an omelet, either ham or chicken?" Mr Campbell grinned and said that dish was his specialty. "Please call me Alan." "Hi Alan and thank you. I'm Chase Martin." He looked surprised. "What the actress." It was Chase's turn to be surprised. "That period of my life ended almost seven years ago." "I recall my mother saying more than once that Chase Martin was the most talented, intuitive and co-operative actor she'd even directed." Chase gasped. "Claire Thomas-Campbell is your mother?" "Yeah well we've dropped the Thomas handle now she's retired. I give her a call to join us for early lunch." "Oh please do that. She drove me hard but I came to respect her immensely, even to love her." "That's my mom. Dad and my sister Annie and I respect and love her as well. She's that kind of woman." Alan handed the attaché case to the woman. Please take out the cash for the front counter and put the bag in my office Maria. Oh the cheesecake special should be showing $1:75 a slice and not $2.75 which is the regular price." "Oh my mistake. Sorry." "That's fine. It was solved through good teamwork. Um what is the recipe for omelet?" Chase laughed and told his to get out the things she wanted and she'd cook but first to call his mom. "Oh call mom, yes. God you are efficient." "I'm just female Alan." Maria walked off cackling. Chase considered herself tall at just on 6-feet and reasonably solid but the screaming woman who ran at her yelling and slammed into her was 6 feet 3 inches and 180 lbs. If Claire hadn't had Chase in a hug in all probability Chase would have smacked backwards through the wall into the storeroom. "Oh Chase, my darling protégé who abandoned me and oh you poor darling, the death of your husband." "Yes and all that and more," Chase laughed. "I recall your bouquet, two dozens mixed roses. I took them back home and many of them lasted well into the second week. Oh I have to cook our lunch." "You sit with me and talk. Here's Alan with the drinks. I suppose Maria said he owns a café but can't cook." "Something like that?" "Cat's piddle. He's a top chef." That meeting proved to be fortuitous. When Claire found Chase was staying at a hotel said firmly, "You are out of their in the morning Chase and will move in with us for a few days." Claire was staggered that Chase was drama coach at the theater where she was honorary technical director. "What does a technical director do?" Chase asked. "Fills in all the gaps so that we come out at the other end with first-class productions. It is just ridiculous a person with your experience and latent has been hired as a drama coach." "Well the interviewing panel was reluctant to hire me but I suggested a year's contract to make them more confident that I would not walk out on them." "A year? Oh that's fine. In the meantime you'll be nominated to compete for lead roles." "What do you mean when you say in the meantime." "Darling how would you like to become professor of directing on a fat salary at Arden College, the premier college in this city? The professor of directing Kathy Fowler retires in a year's time. I'm a consultant to the college in theater and I'll be totally open about my connections with you." "They'll want a professor who is currently teaching." "No dear, they'll want someone steeped in theater and drama and who knows about teaching. Make a success of your new position as drama coach and that would practically sew up that position for you." "But what happens if I find I prefer adult theater?" "That you don't go to college. In that case if you are not going for an acting role you ought to consider applying for the position of director of some of the productions. The theater has a very busy schedule and operates almost exclusively on volunteers. It sometimes has a production playing and two even sometimes three upcoming productions in rehearsal and it touring productions book into the theater. It really is all go for a regional facility." Claire placed Chase into the guest suite and said she would accept only a small weekly contribution towards accommodation and meals. "I'm sorry Claire but I cannot accept living here in such hotel-like surroundings and paying such a pittance for the privilege." "Well I'm not taking any more money from you." "Then in a few days I shall move into permanent accommodation elsewhere." "You can't move out. I'd like you to live here." "Then I must pay realistically for the privilege." They stared at one another until Claire sighed and said Chase had her over a barrel. "I insist on paying $800 a month for this suite and meals and for that it's a steal." "It's extortion," Claire cried. "You trying living in a long-stay hotel and pay for every meal for a month and see what that costs. What I'm offering you is a steal for me and I have money and can easily afford it." "All right, all right. We have a deal," Claire said. "An if Alan chooses to sleep with you that's okay by me and Tony (her husband) won't need to know." "Alan interested in me? Christ Claire what dope are you on?" Claire shook her head. "Chase Martin, until this very minute I would never in a million years had regarded you as naïve." Chase shook her head in disbelief at the thought that Alan would be interested in her. Women would go potty over a guy with his rugged looks and who drove a near new cream Porsche Cayman S. Alan didn't arrive home before Chase had gone to bed that evening. Although the café closed early at 9:00 and operated only weekdays he was usually not home until after midnight on any night, "Being on the town" as his mother called it and Chase assumed that meant booze and fast women. Chase next saw Alan the following day when she went to the café for lunch and he came over and sat with her, bringing a bottle of wine and two glasses. She stared at him wondering. "What?" he grinned. She looked away embarrassed and he reached across and took her hand and asked was she coming on to him? Chase's face turned the color of beetroot. "Don't fret," Mr Smooth said. "I regard this as a huge compliment. So I take it we date Saturday night?" "Yes," she squeaked and gulped down her wine, knowing he was grinning at her. She calmed and said, "Alan there is something you should know. Although I'm six years younger than you I was married for almost seven years. Then my husband died in a road accident." "So what is it that you wish to tell me?" "What I just told you... that I'm a widow." "But I knew that. Mom told me when I called her to invite her to have lunch with us the first time you came into the café asking for special treatment and mom said yes that would be you as you tended to act as if you were graced by entitlement and that assumption is why you are such a damn good actress." "Oh god," Chase said and held out her glass. "Sorry you are limited to one glass of wine. You have to return to your briefing by the theater director." "How do you know I'm having four hours of briefing today?" "Mom told me." "Oh of course. Has she told you when to sleep with me?" Alan grinned. "She did say this morning I'm to try like blazes to date you this Saturday night. She added she and dad would be away for the night." Chase gathered herself and in acting mode said grandly, brushing back her fringe, "Oh I wonder why I'm not surprised." Alan looked quite impressed. * * * It was an extra-ordinary date although one that Chase found it easy to forget and to decide to never date Alan again. Alan had said he'd arrive home at 6:15 to get ready and Chase was ready from not long after 5:00 in case he arrived early. Alan arrived just before 7:00 and kissed her like a brother and that had disappointed Chase who'd been expected their first 'real' kiss. Claire and Tony, an attorney, had left early that morning to attend a two-day law seminar. Claire had told Chase she was always reluctant to go to such events. She'd be socializing in a virtual vacuum with a bunch of social climbing women who regarded talking about past law seminars and conventions as if attendance and experiences were revered like an art form. Claire had Chase screaming in laughter when she said dryly, "Half of the non-lawyer partners are bimbos who look at me blankly when asking what I did as a career. I say retired thespian. Some seem to think it is my saying lesbian with a lisp while the other half appear wondering if it's a level of prostitution they are ignorant about." After that brotherly kiss Alan dropped a hand casually on to one of Chase's boobs and rested it there and asked was she interested in having sex before he went off to get ready to go out. Of course she eased his hand away and smiled and said no. He walked away whistling, calling into the kitchen to grab a beer and leaving her to get her own drink. Of course she muttered, "You ape." This was the first time Alan had been a disappointment to Chase but the night was not yet over. When they went out to the car he went to the driver's door and called hop in. Well he would be used to dating bunnies wouldn't he and Chase knew other men who never politely opened the passenger door on the first date although some would when leaving for the designated area for seduction. Conversationally Alan was brilliant, as Chase anticipated he would be and he had her almost believing he had some depth to him but he irritated her by constantly looking at other women and even perform a thorough breast inspection whenever a waitress bent to deliver food or drink. On the drive home he gently probed into her background, asking questions like how old was she when she first had sex, did she enjoy sex and how often did she have it. Normally Chase would have kissed him at the door like a sister and gone off to her suite and locked the door. But Chase was feeling the need to have sex because she'd gone without for quite some time. When they entered the house and as Alan kicked the door shut, Chase wrapped into him and delivered her sexiest of kisses. The guy actually appeared most surprise and she almost heard his motor start. Chase half expected him to have a boob out and his tongue down her throat within ten seconds. But no, he pulled back from that first real kiss and looking deeply into her pale blue eyes said grandly, "You are so damn attractive and sophisticated Chase that I scarcely know what to do with you." "I know," Chase warbled. "Fuck me." In a flash Alan had both her boobs out and his tongue rammed into her mouth. She felt herself lubing and thought of a leaky fire hydrant as he carried her to her bed and tossed her on to it and he kept his focus on her as he stripped. His dick was surprisingly short but fat and as she would soon find out his fingers were splendidly long and he had her writhing and gushing from intense cunnilingus within two minutes of commencement of its administration. "Oh boy, I can see you like sex," he said. "Yes," Chase managed between her gasps for breath. "No I don't require you to suck me," he said, pushing her flat on to the bed. "Place your feet over my shoulders." "Er one of your feet over each of my shoulders... the outer part of my shoulders," he coached. Chase squeezing one of her breasts and embarrassed that he would be thinking she was not up to bimbo level. He drove into her and added a finger and she he pushed a long finger into her butt. She screamed into a big orgasm. "Jesus," he said. "Um is that the end of you?" "Oh no, I can climax multiple times." Chase found the look of relief on his face quite comical and thereon concentrated on putting everything into it to maximize her enjoyment. Three hours later that included rests, he rolled off the bed and muttered thanks, leaving the four used condoms where he'd thrown them. "Bastard," Chase muttered as she wearily picked them up to dispose of them and to run a bath. CHAPTER 2 Three months after settling in at Clayton City, Chase received a call from Jennifer Kerr, Peter Barrett's sister. "Oh hi, of course I remember you," Chase said. "Have you news for me about Janie?" "Yes but just in a general way. She has just gone home after spending a long weekend with David and me. Peter has met a new lady and they went to her home city for Peter to meet her parents for the first time and we were asked to have Janie." "Oh then how is she?" "She's fine and brought Patch with her. After the repeated screening of that advertisement you placed her in Janie says she has lots of friends and everyone in her neighborhood knows Patch and many people called him by name." "Oh that's lovely. Did she say anything indicating the level of relationship with her father." "Well I was interested about that too but I failed to learn much apart from the fact that daddy is very attached to his lady friend but Janie did indicate she doesn't like the woman who's not sweet and pretty like her mother was." Chase said that was understandable because Janie probably regarded the woman as an intruder and Jennifer said that was very likely. "Janie and I didn't mention you and I found no reason to give her your letter but it had to open it to get your phone number. Chase said that was okay. "Why I'm calling is during the school break Peter wants to go on a two-week hiking trip with this woman, Terri French, and I have agreed to Janie staying with us and Patch will be placed in a boarding kennel. During the second week of that stay David will be away at a medical convention. I was wondering whether you would like to stay with Janie and me during that week, I mean if you'd like to do that." Jennifer told Chase the dates. "Oh Jennifer what a wonderful offer but regrettably I can't do that. I will be in final rehearsals of a play I'm directing and have been chosen for the lead female role. Every evening I'll be committed for three to four hours." "Wow you are a busy lady and just as well I didn't mention to Janie..." "Jennifer, no wait. I have an idea. You bring Janie here on vacation for that week. I'll pay the travel costs and the costs of accommodation. I'll take a double suite in a reasonably good quality hotel and Janie can room share with you." "Ooh, that sounds lovely. I haven't been to Clayton City but understand it's a lovely place. But I'll pay our travel costs and two-thirds of the accommodation costs." Chase countered. "Here's the deal Jennifer and it's a clean arrangement. Let's agree to split costs down the middle." "You sound very determined." "Good thinking Jennifer," Chase giggled. "Deal?" "Yes," said the older women. Let's settle financially on the final night. That is very generous of you. I had thought of sending Janie to you unaccompanied but then thought Peter might explode over that. He's so unpredictable these days. I'm hoping this Terri would help sort him out. A good bit of sex can do wonders for a man." They giggled over that and ended the call after arranging for Claire to email details once she had booked the flights. Chase had found she'd thought less about Janie as she became more involved in theater work and was surprised just how intense she felt about Janie's visit. She was almost tingling in excitement. That was the moment when she first thought about the possibility of adopting the 7-year old and what would have to happen to make that happen if the opportunity arose. That evening she told Claire about Janie and Claire was most interested, particularly when Chase said she would have to quit her theater work because it involved heavy evening commitments. "The college position I spoke to you about some months ago remains viable if you become a parent." "Yes and I'd like to begin thinking serious about that." Claire said then she would arrange for the theatre to send some complimentary tickets to the theatre and drama department at the college for the opening night of Chase's directorial debut of 'Debbie Jakes Gets Married'. Smiling Claire added, "With you also playing the role of Debbie Jakes that will that mirror your talents and professionalism or will it what?" "Yes! What a great idea." "Yes and I'll get someone to nominate you to lead the college's three-day theater workshop for freshmen in September. Everyone at the college connected with theater is out in force to observe those sessions to size up the talent of this new intake of students. The college invites an outside to lead the workshop to leave the department head and tutors free to watch and listen unhindered." "Omigod Claire if you can pull that off I'll be in your debt." "But not sufficiently deep in debt to marry my son and calm him down." Chase lost her smile. "Oh Claire, I tried to establish good rapport but it was not to be. We had that one night together and have not dated since but remain civil towards each other as you well know." "It's okay sweetheart. I know the problem. My son is addicted to pussy, the bigger the variety the better." They screamed in laughter and Claire said she'd get her husband to speak to Chase about adoption law and the obligations and the fishhooks in getting through the processes. "Oh god." "Steady on darling, there are some good things to consider. Adoptions in this country are now being granted in increasing numbers to single people providing a network of support from family and friends and agency contacts are in place. Should Janie's father no longer wish to be responsible for her and the Janie has an established relationship with you then the authorities would take those things into account." Adopting Janie "So I should tell Janie I'm willing to adopt her?" "Hell no. No way. Let the initiative, if any, come from Janie and/or her father. Just take opportunities to deepen your attachment to Janie but Tony will doubtless tell you this: avoid discussing adoption with her." On the strength of that Chase changed the booking of the hotel accommodation to a double suite so that she could stay with the visitors to have more time with them. Chase, who now drove a new Buick LaCrosse, met Jennifer and Janie at the airport amid great excitement and Chase was almost brought to tears when she looked up with Janie hugging her and crying to find Jennifer looking at them both fondly. That made a profound impression on her. The hotel accommodation was fine and was within easy walking distance from a children's theme park and twenty minutes after booking in to the hotel Janie was dragging both women through the park entrance. That evening at 6:00 Jennifer and Janie sat in the theater for more than an hour watching the start of rehearsals before they returned to the hotel to eat and the exhausted Janie then went to sleep. Chase arrived at the suite just before 10:00 and ordered a meal to be brought up. Jennifer had eaten with Janie but shared the bottle of wine. "You were amazing on stage. In fact I was blown away by just how good you all were and I regularly attend amateur and professional theater so have some idea about standards. You must be exhausted, changing from acting your part to directing the actions of others in the cast and often taking them through something several times over." ""Mentally exhausted yes, but that's theater. I didn't have to take a role but it was suggested I would be perfect for the part and I do love acting." "It shows. Mrs White the producer told me you are a wonderful acquisition for the troupe and for the theater generally. She says there's been a real buzz about the place ever since you arrived." "That's nice to know. Thelma had never shared those thoughts with me." They talked on and as they were leaving for bed Jennifer hugged Chase and said, "I saw a lot of you and Janie interacting today and thought Janie reacts to you as if you were her mother." Chase burst into tears and Jennifer hugged her and said, "I know, I know. You know I really must talk to my brother. He is not the greatest of care-givers for Janie, not like he was, and he's even spoken about the possibility of giving Patch away if Terri decides to move in with him. Patch and Terri don't like each other." "No that must not happen. Janie adores Patch and I think when she sits whispering to Patch she's talking to him about her mother." "God you and I do think alike," Jennifer said and sighed and said she wished Peter also thought like them over Janie and Patch. "Please try to persuade Peter not to separate those two." "Oh yes, I will. You have motivated me to do that." During that week Chase took the visitors to have early dinner with Claire and Tony, Claire having expressed a wish to meet Janie and Chase knew Tony was taking an interest as well. Two days after arriving home Jennifer called Chase to advise the hiking trip had ended in disaster, being abandoned after two days when they'd both being stung by bees. Terri had been badly swollen and required medical treatment and she'd gone off saying she never wished to see Peter again and Peter had become depressed. "I now have Chase and Patch staying with me and they have settled in well. It was Peter's idea. I had told Janie to say we had spent a week in Clayton City and I asked her not to mention you because her father might not like that. She appeared to understand and was very good about it but as soon as she arrived here she went on and on about you and asked did I think you'd ever marry her father." "Heaven forbid... oh I'm sorry Jennifer. He's your brother." Jennifer laughed and said there was no need to apologize. "He'll always be my brother but that doesn't mean I have to really like him." * * * The local newspaper published an almost rave review about the opening night performance of 'Debbie Jakes Gets Married', hailing Chase's performance as the scatty Debbie as 'utterly charming and convincing' and then 'ranking as one of the top performances even seen on stage at The Founders Theater.' The demand for tickets soared and the six-night season was extended to 10 nights plus a rare Saturday matinee. During that frantically busy time for Chase, she had a mid-morning visit from co-educational Arden College's vice-president for academic affairs Shane Elliot and its professor of directing, Kathy Fowler. After the introductions and Chase poured coffee, Kathy said they'd really enjoyed the opening night of the current play and that was a real credit to Chase. "Thanks on behalf of the team and I know you'll appreciate we are here to talk to you about directing." "Yes of course." "You appeared to put every last ounce into your acting," said Shane. "And it seems unbelievable you managed to find the energy and concentration to also direct the production." "Thank you Shane. It really was an enjoyable production to be involved in and you were seeing the results of that delight of actors playing in a show they believed in." "Well yes but even I know some actors have to be led into self-belief," Kathy said dryly. And then adopting a seductive tone she said, "Chase we are here to invite you and persuade you to lead our theater workshop for our new intake of freshmen who will study theater/drama as a major. It runs for three days from the second Wednesday in September." Chase felt excitement welling. "Well thank you for the invitation. I would point out that I am very friendly with Claire Thomas-Campbell, probably known to you simply as Claire Campbell, who some years ago was my influential mentor. In fact I live in Claire and Tony Campbell's home." "Yes we are aware of that," Shane said. "Claire is our advisory drama consultant and it was she who nominated you and Claire also divulge the former working relationship and now friendly relationship she has with you." "Claire had advised me of the possibility of this approach," Chase said. "I can advise I am free on that Wednesday to Friday and my contract with this theater allows me to participate in community activity connected with drama. Therefore with delight I accept your invitation and no fee will be required because that work falls directly within the parameters of this theater's outreach program." Shane and Kathy said they were delighted Chase had accepted and Claire arranged to brief Chase over lunch in ten days' time. The weekend after the run of 'Debbie Jakes Gets Married' ended, Chase stayed the weekend with Jennifer and Janie and Jennifer's husband David, head radiologist at a large private hospital That went really well Janie and Patch were all over her when she arrived. David was charming and Jennifer clearly was delighted to see Chase again. On Saturday afternoon when Janie was at a friend's birthday party Jennifer took Chase to visit Janie's father. Chase was shocked to find how gaunt and lined Peter Barrett had become although he appeared to be happy. He had a 22-year old slut living with him who appeared poorly education and after the visitors settled Peter told her to go out into the garden and pick beans. "I wasn't aware you two knew each other," Peter said, not offering refreshments. "Oh yes, I met Chase just before she left here and we've remained in contact. She called periodically to find out how Janie and Patch were and this is the first time Chase has visited me since Janie and Patch have been staying with David and me." Chase thought that was true. She was surprised Peter hadn't asked how did they meet or why had Chase been enquiring about Janie. Jennifer looked at Chase who took the hint. They had not discussed tactics other than they ought to discuss Janie's future welfare with her father. "Yes Peter. I have developed a motherly attachment for Janie. It came from making that film with her I guess. I'm a little concerned about her future welfare. David and Jennifer had two children who are mostly away at boarding school but there's quite an age gap between those children and Janie." "And you think I'm unaware of that?" That was said a little aggressively but at least Peter was talking to her about Janie and Chase told herself to remain calm. "I had no reason to think you wouldn't be aware about that. I had been thinking David and Jennifer had done their time caring for fully dependent children and I thought I'd really like to care for Janie during the remainder of her educational years." "So this is what this is about. You are here to discuss Janie?" "Yes." "And you are thinking you'd like to adopt Janie?" "That possibility had occurred to me. She and I had developed a bond rather like mother and daughter and my thinking it could easily develop again if close contact resumed." "Are you married?" "No." "Are you living with a guy?" "No." "Then how the hell do you think the authorities would consent to you adopting my daughter?" "It is not important to me to adopt although quite a large number of children, especially older children, are legally adopted by single adults whose character and lifestyle gain approval." "Is that so?" "As an alternative to legal adoption I would accept being authorized to care for Janie as an approved foster parent. My only wish is to have her growing up in her formative years under motherly love." "I suppose you have heard Janie and I began to fight a lot particularly over that damn dog of hers that was her mother's." "No I had not heard about that and that's the truth." They talked on, Peter mostly listening and frowning and smiled triumphantly when Chase conceded the authorities would probably not approve of her being a suitable single parent who was working in theater with a fairly heavy evening commitment. But Chase told him about her prospect of gaining a position of heading the directing department at a college and she imagined the authorities would have no objection of that as a career because it was mostly day work. Peter stood and waited and the women stood realizing he wanted them to leave. On the front porch Peter kissed his sister and ignored Chase who said goodbye. As they reach the front gate he called, "I'll consider having you care fully for Janie if you win that college job. You being in a teaching environment could be beneficial to Janie because I'm sure she's very clever academically." "Thank you Peter," Chase said, almost choking in joy. "Omigod," Jennifer breathed, as they walked to the SUV. "You may have struck a home run." * * * Three days after her return to Clayton, Chase met Kathy Fowler for lunch to discuss the theater workshop. Kathy was surprised that Chase had for some years occasionally presented similar workshops at high schools, colleges and to amateur theater groups. She said thoughtfully, "You could a top prospect for my position when I retire in mid-December." "So you think so?" Chase said casually. Kathy looked at Chase sharply. "Have you been thinking about it?" Chase held out her hands submissively and smiled. "I won't lie to you. Claire and I have discussed it. Um how could I increase my prospects of gaining traction?" "Gaining traction? Oh yes, well conducting this workshop will do you no harm. Look why don't you talk to our VP for academic affairs Shane Elliot. You've met him and I know from what he said you impressed him, although I think that meant as a woman. I suggest you discuss this matter with him." "But what if he's on the selection panel?" "He won't be and neither will Claire be on the panel that will be chaired by Professor Hampton, head of our department. The position will be advertised very shortly because I retire in mid-December." Chase called Shane Elliot next day and he greeted her warmly and congratulated her for staging and acting in one of the Founders Theater's most successful productions ever. He'd said the write-ups in the local newspaper had been very complimentary about her and the theater. "Thanks Shane. Look I have a reason for establishing a close regular link with Arden to raise my profile." Shane said the person to discuss that with if it meant theater was Kathy. "Um yes, possibly." He paused and then said, "Will you be applying for Kathy's position when it's advertised?" "Um yes. Is it ethical for me to discuss this with you?" "I don't see why not. My involvement in selections is confined to professors and senior admin people." "Well perhaps we could meet at your convenience and discuss this?" She imagined the leer and heard him say, "Lunch Saturday or perhaps dinner?" "I would prefer dinner but what about Mrs Elliot?" He sighed and said he ended four years of being trapped in marital hell two years ago. Chase giggled and then said, "Oh god, I apologize. You just made it sound so funny but I guess it was anything but funny." "That's right and there's no need to apologize. Even I can laugh about it now, er after a few drinks. Are you a good cook?" "I believe so." "Then why not come to my apartment Saturday and cook my favorite meal, Chicken Maryland with thin sliced vegetables lightly braised in butter and potatoes boiled in mint followed by apple pie?" "And I'll be judged against your mother's best cooking?" "What, no. Oh I see what you mean, yes. That is very astute of you." Chase laughed. "Well I like your innocence in not having thought that, but cooking nearly as good as you mother would be good enough for me." They made the arrangements and Shane said he'd organize everything. "I've been in my apartment for neigh on two years and have never had a decent meal in it. Mom and dad live in Florida and expect me to visit them and not the reverse." Chase looked up Shane's profile on the Arden website and to be expected he had a PhD and then she found what she was looking for, he was 41, ten years her senior. She sighed. She read through his academic record that had extended up from a BA in public administration and then into science and his last academic post in the teaching field had been as a professor of computer science. Obviously a bright boy, she thought. She found no reference to his cooking skills, or lack of them. * * * Preparing for her date on Saturday night, Chase wondered about just wearing a sheath dress and shoes and then thought a first-date guy would be expecting to undo a bra and then slide his hands down stockings. Then she hesitated and wondered whether Shane, being a senior in college admin, would go for sex on a first date. She better dress formally. But no that would be an overkill and was this really a date? She sat confused. Chase arrived at the apartment with her hair in a ponytail and wearing lingerie, jeans, sandals and a top, little make-up, a pendant and stud earrings. She regarded this as the girl-next-door look... safely conservative, likely to pass scrutiny of critical parents and siblings. Very safe in fact. Shane let her into the apartment with a cheery welcome and at the door he greeted her very warmly and leant and kissed her conservatively, establishing this was a friendly visit. Chase knew she'd dressed exactly right for the occasion because he was wearing an old college sweater, jeans and sneakers without socks and, of course, no make-up she joked to herself. Yes truly an initial meeting of very new pals. She knew then if she wanted sex she'd have to go to one of her other male friends and they were plentiful. It appeared half the males associated with the theater had thoughts about taking her into the props storage room. An easy conversation began, with Chase sipping wine and putting down her glass to continue preparation of the meal while Shane sat on the other side of the breakfast bar and watched her every move. Chase reaching up into a cupboard when he'd said the salt was stored made sure she pressed her breasts forward when she stretched up as a reminder to her host that she was a woman with rather good physical assets. The meal was great and she really didn't have to be told it was. Everything had gone perfectly and the ingredients were of highest quality. "My mom is a great cook but I suspect she'd be stretched to keep up with you." "Oh," Chase said, fluttering her eyelashes, "a superb compliment. Is the cook to be kissed?" Shane kissed her, modestly, and said she deserved more than a kiss but didn't elaborate, much to Chase's dismay. She had to guess and so guessed he meant dirty sex but kept that wistful thought to herself. When Chase left Shane escorted her to her car and kissed her warmly. Well kissed her as Chase thought he'd kiss his mother. Ah well. As she prepared to drive off and Shane called they must keep in touch. She hoped he meant a lot of touching. Two weeks later Shane called to invite her to accompany her to the college president's six-monthly dinner. "Are you sure this will be in order, with me applying for the vacancy? I saw it advertised this morning and couriered my application that I had prepared." "Yes it will be in order. In fact it shouldn't harm your prospects at all. Quite the contrary." Chase interpreted that as meaning she would be doing the right thing. She then consulted Claire. "I've not be to a president's dinner but I understand they are quite formal. The men wear tuxedos." "And the women, black dresses or navy or perhaps dark floral and minimal ornamentation unless it's a tiara or thirty strands of real pearls or a stash of real diamonds." "Correct dear but remember you will not be expected to conform." Surprised Chase asked why was that? "You are professional theater dear and everyone or almost everyone would have seen you on stage recently and will expect you to be outgoing and even flamboyant." "Flamboyancy at Arden College. Are you quite sure about that Claire?" "I would not mislead you darling, knowing this is a career-boosting opportunity for you. I'm a professional consultant Chase and it's my job to know these things. Now I must tell you about your entrance and suggest a little poem for you to relate. I'll know some of the women who'll be there and will ask one to suggest you recite some lines while coffee is being poured." "Are you sure, very sure this is the right thing to do." "Yes darling. Perform well and you'll be an unforgettable hit, and unforgettable personality. Out of your hearing your fellow diners will be saying, 'Our college needs this woman'." * * * Shane was pacing anxiously at the top of the steps of the main entrance to The Great Hall, venue for the dinner. All the other tables had been removed that the sixteen diners would be dwarfed in the middle of the huge room with paintings of past chairmen and college major benefactors hanging on the walls. His phone went. "Shane." "Hi Shane. I'm running a little late. I'll see you inside. Have someone waiting for me and to announce me." "Is this to make a grand entrance?" "Yes." He said, "That's very honest of you but do you think it's wise?" "I have sought advice." "Claire?" Chase giggled and said yes and he said well that was fine. Claire always knew when to do the right thing. Chase walked up the steps from the cab and a young woman dressed in a black and white serving uniform called, "Mrs Martin." "Hi. Actually it's Miss. So when we enter could you call in a very loud voice, 'Announcing the arrival of Miss Chase Martin." "Oooh yes. How exciting. You look gorgeous. I'm Mae Wright and tutor here in American literature from 1910." "It is lovely meeting you Mae."