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Building A Perfect Life

By: SW_MO_Hermit



All through school and even before, Don Brown and Tammy (Tamara) Stone had been a pair. From the first day of school when their mother's had put them on the bus together they had sat with each other, played with each other and, later, learned about the opposite sex with each other. Unfortunately, Don had a dream—a dream that not even the love of Tammy or the needs of the family farms could dissuade him from following. Don had fallen in love with the sea when he began reading history in school. 

Don, like his mother was a voracious reader and one day in the school library he found a book that would change his life—Carry on Mr. Bowditch—a book about a young boy that had ran away to sea and learned navigation. He rose to Officer's rank and became a fantastic mathematician and navigator. Don spent many hours sitting in his room dreaming of going to sea after he read that book.

From the first book on sailing ships he branched out. He read history of all the great naval battles and the great ships that fought in them. He read about the clipper ships sailing across the pacific to China and he dreamed.

Of course, it didn't hurt too much that his father was a little bit hard for him to live with. Young Donald was like many young men. He liked to play and screw around. He knew what his chores were on the farm but he would rush through them so he could read more history, historical novels or science fiction. Oh, yes, he fell in love with the works of the old school Sci-Fi writers too like Robert Heinlein, Poulson, Pournelle and many others. He would rush through his chores and many times do a poor job so he could get back to reading or down to the river that ran through their farm and fish or swim.

The summer he was 18 his parents were building a new house and his father always gave him a long list of work to do during the day while he was occupied with a part time job in town or with more pressing farm work. Of course to Don this work was not as pleasurable as reading or spending time on the river or with Tammy so he either didn't complete his jobs or did them in a haphazard manner. This resulted in spirited discussions with his father.

One day Don had spent much of the evening rereading about WWII submarines in the book "Down Periscope". He read about the Wahoo and her cohorts during the battles in the Pacific. The next morning his father told him he had to carry bricks up onto the scaffold so they could brick the new house. Don started the work but...well, about 9 a.m. he quit to go to the local town for a drink. While he was there he saw a sign about the Navy Recruiters office in the next large town and began dreaming about the sea once more.

Somehow, when he left to return to the farm his car turned toward town and the rest is history. He found the recruiter in the office and bought the spiel. Before lunch he had signed on the dotted line and had even been taken to the local MEPS for his testing and physical.

At 3 p.m. Don returned home to his very angry father who was doing the work he had assigned to Don. When Don got out of his car Howard came down from the scaffolding and started for Don. He said, "Where the hell have you been son? I told you to get the bricks up on the scaffold so we could lay some this afternoon and when I got here you were gone. If you weren't so old I would warm your ass! No get your gloves and get to work. We'll have to work until dark to get the work done I had scheduled for today."

Don's mother walked up behind Howard and looked at Don. Her face seemed worried and she cringed when Don opened his mouth to speak. He said, "I joined the Navy today. I leave the middle of August."

Don's father stopped his yelling in mid thought. His face turned white and he walked off after his wife Barbara put her hand on his shoulder and said, "Howard I told you if you didn't take it easy on Don he was going to leave."

Don watched his parents for a moment then put on his gloves and returned to work. That evening he had a date with Tammy and he was excited to tell her what he had done. He knew she would be happy for him. Don rushed through work and finally at dusk his father cleaned up the masonry tools and put them away. He and Don rode back to the old house in silence, neither spoke a word. Don rushed through his shower and took off without supper to see Tammy. He didn't have far to go as her parents owned and operated the farm next to his families.

Don rushed up to the door of Tammy's house. She had seen him coming down the road and met him with a smile, a hug and a deep kiss. When they broke apart Don saw her mother standing in the kitchen door watching them and smiling. She said, "Hello Donnie. You're late tonight." She looked at him a moment longer and sighed then continued. "For once I'm not sure if we want to hear the explanation or not. I talked to your mother earlier and she was crying about something you had done today. I..." She took a deep breath and continued, "From what she said I don't think any of us will like it so why don't you just come on in and tell us before we die from worrying about your news?"

Don smiled and almost bounced into the room. He grabbed Tammy's hand and pulled her along with him. He never noticed the scared look on her face as he pulled her to the couch and sat down then pulled her down beside him.

He looked over at Mrs. Stone and said excitedly, "I joined the Navy today. I leave in two weeks for recruit training then I come home for a month and go to the fleet for three years. I..."

Tammy screamed, "WHAT! Don how could you? What about our plans, what about college this fall? How could you do something like this without even talking to me about it?"

"Tam, I've talked to you about the Navy lots. I don't understand what you're talking about. You knew I was thinking about going into the Navy. I just got...well, I don't know, I saw a poster today and went in to talk to them about it and, well before I knew it I had signed up and even have a job if I can pass the class. I'm going to be a Fire Control Technician."

"What? Don you could get on the Rural Fire Department here. Why do you want to go into the Navy to be a Fireman? Oh, I can't believe you did this!"

"No, Honey, a Fire Control Technician works with electronics. I will operate and maintain radars and computers that aim the guns and missiles for the ships. When I get out I can get college credit for the education and I can even take courses while I am in. This won't mess up college too much and I will have the GI Bill to help us when I get out in four years. We'll be set then!

"Get out! I can't believe you did this to me!" Tammy hit Don with her fist and ran down the hallway to her room. He sat there with his mouth open in total shock. He looked over at Mrs. Stone and saw her watching him with sorrow on her face.

Mrs. Stone sighed and said, "This wasn't the smartest thing you ever did Don. I think she'll get over it but you have a really pissed off young lady here now."

Mrs. Stone walked into the kitchen to return to her work and Don sat on the couch. After a few minutes he walked down the hallway to Tammy's room. She was laying on the bed crying as she talked on her phone to one of her girlfriends. He sat on the bed beside her and began rubbing her side and back as she cried. Finally she hung up the phone and turned to him. He wrapped her in his arms and held her until she quit crying. All the time he told her how he did it for them, about the GI college benefits and he reminded her of his dreams to go to sea and see the world.

Tammy hugged him to her and replied, "But Don we could go to college and get an education then we would have a good job and we could take trips and see the world together. Now I am here all alone for four years while you run around and play. Don I don't want to be without you that long. How could you do this to us?"

Finally after almost an hour Tammy agreed to go out with Don as they had planned but the evening was not as enjoyable as the rest of their dates had been. There already seemed to be a wall growing between them. The next two weeks things were touchy between the two young lovers and the adults in both families. Don was excited about leaving but also sad to leave his girlfriend and parents.

Finally the day of departure came. Seaman Recruit Donald Brown stood outside the departure gate with his parents Howard & Barbara Brown and almost fiancée Tamara (Tammy) Stone. He was struggling to remain dry eyed and to keep his voice from breaking. He could see the tears glistening in his mothers' eyes and running down her cheeks. His father's voice had been unnaturally hoarse when he had wished him goodbye and given him a self conscious 'man hug'. This would be the first time the small group of neighbors had been separated for any length of time since he and Tammy had been born. Their parents had been neighbors and friends all their lives and they all knew Don leaving would leave a hole in their lives.

Don gave Tammy a last kiss and walked through the departure security gate. He was so excited. He was off on the adventure of a lifetime. Almost before his family was out of sight he had forgotten them and dreams of adventure were running through his head.

When Don arrived at the airport in Chicago he looked for the sign he had been told to find directing all new recruits to their ride. When he found the sign he found three 'real' sailors and a large number of new recruits just like him. He gave the Petty Officer Second Class (PO2) his name and was checked off the list. The PO2 looked at him for a moment, pointed to a chair and said, "Sit over there with the others. We'll leave in a few minutes if the other assholes on my list ever get here."

Finally three other young men arrived and the PO2 walked to a position in the center of the seated recruits. He said, "All right. Listen up you people. I'm PO2 Carver and I am supposed to get you to base and turned over to the in processing people. I hope you got some sleep on the planes because you sure aint agonna get any here tonight. Now when I call your name answer 'here Petty Officer' and line up over there by PO3 Lincoln."

After the names had been verified once more PO2 Carver walked to the front of the group and said, "OK, follow me and we'll get you on the bus. Now I don't want any horseplay and I expect you to move rapidly and carefully."

Don managed to get a seat by the window and spent the entire trip looking out of it. This was his first time to fly, to ride a bus or to be more than 60 miles from his home. He was so excited he didn't know what to do. When they arrived at the base he was impressed. It was still early enough some of the sailors to be were marching to and fro. The streets were clean, the buildings large and neat. He couldn't wait for training to begin.

That was one of the longest days of his short life. After getting off the bus they were ushered into another building where the in processing began. They handed in their orders and other paperwork they had been instructed to bring. It was placed in a folder and given back to them to carry. They began going through a long line answering questions, signing papers and so forth. They were marched through a building where they were measured and issued clothing, and then on to another where they were issued bedding. Finally they were outside once more and lined up together. Late in the afternoon they were all marched to the Chow Hall where they were instructed to place their bags on the ground and take one step backwards.

The new recruits were allowed to file into the mess hall for evening chow then. All throughout the process more senior men were pushing them to hurry, hurry, hurry. Don only got about ten minutes to eat after he got his tray of food. He was lucky however because most of the recruits had spent their meal time visiting instead of eating. Many had only eaten a bite or two before one of the men who had been yelling at them all afternoon forced the recruits to stand and leave the tables. They carried their trays and filed past the scullery where they left their mostly uneaten trays full of what, to many, was barely edible food.

Don was one of the lucky ones who didn't leave hungry because on the farm he was used to eating fast so he could get back to the field. Of course being extremely hungry helped him eat rapidly. He had almost cleaned his tray when they were forced to leave. Some of the men who had been visiting a lot got almost no food that night.

After leaving the chow hall they fell back in on their bags and were marched back to a large drill hall. It was full dark by now so they needed the lights inside. 

An enlisted man in kaki's stood in front of the now tired group of new sailors. He said, "OK now listen up. I'm Chief Salle. These other gentlemen and I are going to be in charge of you apes for the next several weeks. We will be your Company Commanders. Now beginning on the left I want you to count off by fives."

After the count the chief once again began speaking. He said, OK all ones go with PO1 Jensen, all two's go with PO1 Harris, all threes go with PO1 Stewart; all fours go with PO1 Hodges. All you fives got unlucky. You get to stay with me. "

After the new recruits had shuffled over to their respective Commanders they were formed into Companies and training to march began. They were marched around for a short time carrying everything they had been issued then they were marched out the large open doors toward their barracks. It was after midnight when they arrived and was nearly 0100 before they were allowed to go to bed.

All the young men were sleeping soundly when the lights came on and alarms started to ring. The Chief walked down the center isle of the barracks banging a wooden night stick on the bottom of an aluminum dish pan. He was yelling at the top of his voice, "OK you Monkeys. Up and at em. Drop you Cocks and Grab Your Socks. It's time to go to work in this man's Navy."

The new recruits staggered to their feet. Several of them looked at their watches and moaned. It was 4 a.m. (0400 military time) and they listened to the loud speakers outside the building belting out reveille. The second day of their Naval service had begun. The first thing they did the second day was visit the barber where they were given a buzz cut haircut. From there they went to medical where they were poked, prodded, x-rayed and interviewed about previous health problems. They also began a battery of immunizations that would be required before they could complete their training and be sent to the fleet. Those with special skills and training were identified so they could be utilized in the Navy.

As the days rolled by getting up at 0430, normal reveille became easier for all. Some never got used to it and to some, like Don, it was no big deal. Training went on and was by no means too difficult physically but the hours were long. From 0430 to 0500 the men dressed, made their rack (bed), and prepared for the day. First formation was at 0500 then they were marched to breakfast. At 0600 they marched back to the barracks and cleaned it from top to bottom then had to do their past days laundry by hand using a scrub brush. They hung it on a line in the quadrangle then had formation at 0800 for the beginning of classes.

Classes went from 0800 to 1200, then lunch, then classes until 1600. From 1600 to 1700 was free time if they had no demerits to work off. 1700-1800 was supper then they were to study until 2200 only taking time out to shower in rotation. Lights out was at 2200 then they were allowed to sleep until 0430 when the next day started. Sundays were special. Reveille was delayed until 0530 and after morning chow the new recruits could either go to religious services or, if they refused to a 'moral enlightenment' class. After lunch was free time unless there were demerits to work off or a special training need to be addressed. Many times the whole company had to do extra training because of some real or imagined failure during the previous week.

Of course the actual sleep they obtained never did total to the number of hours they were 'allowed' on paper because of having to stand duty. Every member of the unit had duty of some type during at least two nights of the week. They were all sleep deprived and in a bad temper.

Don almost got beat up several times because of his mouth. Don was an even tempered polite young man but he was used to hard work and getting up early on the farm. When there was a job to do he thought it should be done rapidly and correctly and THEN you should relax. He was wont to say to any who would listen that, "I don't know why you all are crying about the work or hours. Hell, I grew up on a farm and this is the easiest money I've ever made in my life. During the summer when we planted and harvested we worked hard physically as long or longer than they make us here." The young men who lived in and grew up in the city seemed to think the opposite to Don and became angry with his attitude and contempt.

Finally graduation day arrived and Seaman Apprentice Donald Brown marched in review in front of his family. After they had graduated he rushed to the reception area to see his family and Tammy. His parents hugged him and told him how happy they were for him. Tammy on the other hand gave him a luke warm kiss and just stood beside him during the reception. He had a whole weekend of liberty then his family and Tammy would go home and he would go across the street for another four months of training in electronics on the main post as opposed to the Recruit Training Depot. After that he got a long leave before he was assigned to a ship for the remainder of his enlistment.

At the hotel Don had his own room with a connecting door to the one his parents and Tammy had. Unfortunately he was not allowed to sleep in the same room with Tammy. He could and did get some free time with her but he felt like something just wasn't right. Finally he asked Tammy what was wrong and she said, "Nothing Don. It's just...well, I've been all alone and we just don't...well I don't know what to do or say to you any longer. I'm sorry."

By the time he had to return to base he and Tammy were more relaxed with each other but Don was uneasy about how she had reacted to him and some of the comments she had made. Tammy had always been a friendly girl but always before if she had male friends they were also Don's friends. Now Tammy was in college and she had mentioned several male friends she hung with. She seemed extremely taken with her new friends and her newfound freedom. Now he was not looking forward to the next four months. He worried about Tam. There was nothing he could do about it however so he went on and his family returned home.

Phone calls and letters to Tammy kept them in touch and up to date with each other but there was a distance growing between them. Don was afraid. Don felt like Tammy was slipping away, growing more remote from him. She seemed more interested in her life than the life they had planned on building together. He kept talking about their future together and how he wanted her to be with him after recruit training but she never gave him any positive hope that would happen. 

The schooling was tough but at least he no longer had to rise at 0430 or go to bed at 2200. Reveille was still at an ungodly hour but as long as he was in class at 0800 and passed all his tests with a 70% score or better he was left alone. He only had to stand duty one day in ten and could go to town in the evenings or weekends if he so chose. Usually he stayed on base during the week and went out Friday and Saturday nights with his buds.

Don learned to drink. He went to his first strip bar and saw much more of the seedier side of Chicago and Kenosha Wisconsin than many people knew even existed. His friends saw to it he got laid. He and Tammy had only had sex twice and he had to admit it had never been anywhere near as good as it was with the three young women he picked up in the bars and fucked in Chi Town or Kenosha. After the third time he got laid though Don quit picking up women. He felt so bad about cheating on Tammy he just couldn't live with himself after so he quit.


Building A Perfect Life



Don still went out with the guys but he drank and had fun then went back to the base and choked his chicken.

His thirty day leave after his training was better than the weekend he graduated boot camp. He and Tammy reconnected. After the first week back they were almost back to the way they had been before he left. She was almost finished with her first year of college and Tammy excitedly told him about all the new things she learned and all the fun she was having.

The third week Don was home was Tammy's birthday. She turned 19 and Don, his family and all their friends still in the area were invited to a party with Tammy and her family. After the meal of burgers and chips Don took Tammy's hand and pulled her away from the table where her presents were. "Honey come here a moment please. I want to talk to you a minute before you open your presents."

Don led Tammy to a spot at the edge of her yard where the light just barely reached. He stood and gave her a gentle kiss then reached into his pocket and pulled a ring from it. He looked at Tammy's glistening eyes and said, "Tammy I know the last few months have been rough on you, on us but I still love you with all my heart. Will you marry me?

Don took Tammy's left hand and held the ring toward her ring finger. He looked into her eyes and watched as she blinked, then licked her lips. He was beginning to become afraid when she finally whispered, "Yes. I do love you Don—but when? I mean you are going away for three years and I have my college and...well what about all my friends and...I just can't drop it all and go away with you now!"

"Tammy, why not? They have colleges where I'll be and it's nearly the summer so you can marry me now and we will move you to the coast when this year of school is over. It'll be great honey. We can see lots of new places and be with each other when I'm not at sea..."

Tammy placed her fingers over Don's lips and said, "Shhhhh. Not now honey. Yes, I'll marry you but I just can't do it right now. This is enough for now and you know that." 

Tammy grinned when she heard some of her college friends yelling. One male voice rose above the others. Don looked over and saw a tall well built man that appeared to be of Mediterranean descent. He said, "Hey, come on back over here Babe. We all want to see ya open yore presents, not whisper in the dark with that sailor."

Tammy gave Don a quick gentle, almost sisterly kiss on the lips then smiled once more, grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the light and her well wishers. She never mentioned her acceptance of marriage to the assembled group and as far as he knew no one was told. It was almost as if her acceptance had been a non-event. Don left the party well before it wound down feeling lost and sad. He kept wondering what was wrong.

The rest of his leave was spent with his family and Tammy but other than a small comment about the beautiful ring from Mrs. Stone no one mentioned the engagement. All she said was, "Well son it's about time you got a ring for my girl. We could be having the wedding this summer if you hadn't gone off to play sailor." She saw the hurt in Don's eyes and smiled a sad little smile then said, "I just hope your decision to do that doesn't jump up and bite you in the ass. Congratulations anyway."

Don asked what she meant but Mrs. Stone only said, "Nothing Don. I just worry about things like most mothers." Of course that did nothing to allay his fears.

Over the course of the next year the only contact Don had with anyone back home was by phone, e-mail and mail. Tammy was especially hard to keep in touch with because of her college and hectic schedule. Sometimes he would go as long as two weeks without a message from her and it hurt. It hurt a lot.

Finally another leave came and Don was able to return home for two weeks. He wanted to surprise everyone so didn't tell them he was returning. It was the middle of the summer so he knew his parents would be home. After all they farmed and had to do most of their work in the summers. Don wanted to surprise everyone at home so badly he decided to rent a car and drive home from the airport. He reasoned he could return it the next day and have Tammy come pick him up in his old truck.

Don's flight arrived just before lunch. By the time he collected his luggage, rented the car and drove the sixty miles to his home it was nearing 3 p.m. He was so anxious to see Tammy he drove straight to her parents' farm, not stopping in town or at his own home before hand. When he drove down their private lane a billowing cloud of dust stretched out behind him. He knew he was driving too fast for the lane but he just couldn't wait to see Tammy. His cock had been hard and straining against his trousers the entire day and by now it ached it had been hard so long. He fully intended to get Tam into his car and down to their parking place by the river as soon as he could. He intended to take her to their place even before he went to see his parents.

When Don's rental car slid to a stop in front of the Stone home Mrs. Stone opened the kitchen door and stood just outside on the patio. He could tell she was angry with him from her stance. She stood with her hands on her hips and a scowl on her face. He knew she would forgive him though when she saw him. Don rapidly got out of the car and started around the front of it toward her.

Mrs. Stone face showed shock and she pulled her hands to her face covering her mouth. Her eyes took on a haunted, almost frightened look and she said, "Don! What are you doing here? I didn't know you were coming home!"

Don grinned at her and said, "Yeah, I didn't tell anyone. I was only granted the leave a couple weeks ago and I wanted to surprise everyone." He was looking around as if he was searching for something then he finally said, "Where's Tammy? I have really been dreaming about seeing her!"

Delores Stone looked around wildly then she sighed and said, "Don Tammy's not here Son. I"

"Oh. Well when will she get back? I see her old truck over there. Is she in the field somewhere or"

"Don, she's gone for the summer. She and unh...some of her friends and she are in Europe for the summer doing some kind of course and seeing the country...I...I can't believe you forgot that. I mean"

Don stood in shock. He looked at Mrs. Stone and felt his stomach lurch. Finally he found his voice and said, "No, she never mentioned any trip to me. All she said was she wasn't taking any summer classes this year and wanted to take it easy, to have a relaxing summer. She said she wanted to just have fun this summer. I guess she didn't think I would care about my fiancée running around Europe with a bunch of...Oh, FORGET IT."

Don turned and walked back to his rental car. He started it and returned to the highway in another cloud of dust. He never looked back to see the tears in Mrs. Stone eyes and he certainly didn't hear her whispered comment. "Oh, Honey I hope this doesn't come back to haunt you. I'm afraid you're going to lose that boy."

Don's family, on the other hand, was overjoyed when he drove into their yard in a billow of dust. His father started for the slowing car with a questioning look on his face. He knew the vehicles of all the neighbors and wondered if he was being blessed with a sales call or a bunch of religious fanatics. When the door opened and Don stepped out his face broke into a smile and his pace picked up. He yelled for Don's mother. When she came from the back yard she saw the two men of the family locked in an embrace. She hurried to add her welcoming hug to the group.

Don enjoyed touching base with the few friends he had that still lived in the area. Of course it was wonderful to see his family also. His family was shocked when they found out Tammy was gone and doubly shocked when they found out she had not told Don she was going. One time when they were talking about her his mother looked at him in sadness and said, "Don, Honey. I don't know about that girl. We love her like a daughter but, well, I just worry she's enjoying her college too much. I'll pray for you both but sometimes the lord moves in mysterious ways you know."

His leave ended way too fast even without the company of Tammy. His parents took Don back to the airport on the last day of leave. When he returned to duty he would be boarding a different ship, one that was to deploy to the Gulf. He was excited. He was now a Petty Officer Third Class and expected to have some men working under him in the new job. It would be his first time in a supervisory capacity. His ship, the USS COLE (DDG 67) was almost new and she was beautiful.

Don reported aboard and quickly settled into his new job. He enjoyed working on the equipment and guiding the lower ranking men he supervised. He quickly became a favorite of his superiors and was treated as such. Their deployment was nearing its midpoint when the ship went to Aden, Yemen to refuel.

Shortly after mooring the crew began to congregate on the mess decks for lunch. There was a roar, the ship lurched and the mess decks were filled with fast moving shards of metal and dark smoke. The lights went out. Don's head was ringing and his right side hurt. He could hardly breathe. The General Quarters alarm was bonging away but Don was having trouble moving. He knew he had to hurry to his station but something was wrong. He felt so weak. In the dim light of the battle lanterns he could see a gaping hole in the side of the ship and many of his comrades were lying on the deck unmoving. He pulled himself to the nearest and began trying to remove the debris from them. He uncovered three of his friends when the world went dark once more.

Don woke up once more in a white compartment on a hard, cold bed. He had no idea where he was. His moan when he tried to move brought a strangely dressed man from another compartment. "Ere Now Yank. Just you lie still before yew tear out all them stitches me and the Doc put inter yer."

"What, unh, where am I?"

"Oi Mate. Yer on Her Majesties Ship Marlborough. Yer'll soon be moved onto one of yer Yank Hospitals I suppose but ye jus rest now for a while."

True to his new friend's word Don was soon moved on to a US base at Landstuhl Germany at the Army's Regional Medical Center.

The evening of the attack both the Brown and Stone families were made aware of the attack. Since they had no one on the ship as far as the military knew the Stones first heard of the attack on the news while at supper. As soon as they listened to the news Delores called her friend Barbara.

When she answered the phone Mrs. Stone could hear Barbara crying and she felt her own stomach lurch. "Barb, it's me. Oh, please...is Don..."

Barbara cried louder and through her tears she managed to get out, "He's not dead but the Navy says he was one of the ones that got hurt. He's stable and not in danger but the officer didn't know more..." she began crying louder and hung up the phone.

Mrs. Stone looked up at her husband and said, "I'm going over there. Don got hurt. You call Tammy and if you can't get her send an e-mail. I don't know when I'll be back."

The next couple days were extremely painful for both families and Don. Of course Don's pain was physical but the emotional pain was terrible for the two families back in the States also. Even worse there had still been no return e-mail from Tammy and she had not phoned home either. Her father had left a message on her cell phone to call, that it was important but he had decided not to tell her Don had been injured. They had no idea if she even knew the ship had been damaged or for that matter if she cared. When she had returned from Europe she seemed like a different girl. She had spent two weeks at home then left for college opting to live in a rented four bedroom house with some friends. The few times she had contacted her family she seemed to be withdrawn and somehow sad, unwilling to open to them any longer. 

Finally on the sixteenth of October 2000 Tammy returned home for a visit. It had been four days since the damage to the ship and Don's injury. She came into the house late in the afternoon having driven home after her last class.

Tammy came into the house and walked up to her mother. She gave her a kiss on the cheek and said, "Whew. I'm glad I'm through for the week. My classes are a bore and now we have to listen to all that drivel about the Cole bombing. Who cares if a bunch of idiots tried to bomb a darn old ship?"

Mrs. Stone looked at her only daughter in shock and replied, "Tammy! I can't believe you just said that! Don't you care at all for Don or our men in uniform? How could you!"

"Oh Mom! Of course I care about Don but he's the one who left me you know. So his precious ship got bombed. So what?" Before she could think or stop her reaction Delores' hand shot out and she slapped her daughter. Tammy looked at her with a shocked expression as the tears welled up in her eyes. 

"Oh, Honey." Mrs. Stone reached out and pulled Tammy to her in a gentle hug. "I'm sorry I did that but sometimes lately I don't understand you at all. You have changed so much since you started college and especially since you went to Europe. Sometimes I don't think I know you any longer."

After she had hugged Tammy a while longer Mrs. Stone held her at arm's length and began talking once more. She said, "Honey Don was one of the ones that got injured. We don't know much about his injuries but that he is stable and is either in Germany or will go to Germany to a hospital."

Tammy stared at her mother in shock. She covered her mouth with her hand and began to shake with silent tears. She pushed from her and ran to her bedroom where she threw herself onto the bed.

Mrs. Stone followed and sat on the side of the bed. She just sat and gently rubbed the back of her daughters head, smoothing her hair as she cried. Finally Tammy wailed to her mother, "Oh, mother I've ruined it all. I've been acting like a spoiled little Bitch. I don't deserve Don any longer." Tammy wrapped her arms around her mother and buried her head in her ample bosom then she continued talking. "Momma I really screwed up this time. Momma, I'm pregnant and, and it's for sure not Don's baby. It happened when I was in Europe and I don't know who the father is. Oh, Momma, I'm so sorry!"

Delores gasped and felt her stomach lurch as her daughter's confession sank in. "Oh no, please lord not that Tammy! How could you?"

When her father came into the house the two women brought him in on the news and then they sat around trying to come up with a solution. Tammy was adamant she wanted to keep the child. Her parents had wanted her to abort and try to keep her infidelity from Don. Finally Tammy said, "NO! it's my body and my baby. I screwed up but I can't kill my child. I already love it and I just know Don will too."

"Honey I'm not too sure about that," said her mother. "You didn't see Don this summer when he came home to surprise you and found out you had gone off to Europe with a bunch of boys. I think his love for you began to die that day and from what his e-mails to us and his parents say it is not very strong now. You have been ignoring him in favor of your new friends and he is hurt. Honey this may be the final straw. Even without your past problems very few men will put up with a wife or fiancée that spreads it around like you have."

Over the course of the next several weeks Tammy began to send more e-mail to Don and to try and call him more. For the most part she was unsuccessful because he had limited access to computers and his phone. They did talk twice but the conversations were very short and not very loving. It was almost as if they were just two friends conversing now. Tammy had not told Don about the baby. She and her parents had decided to wait until he came home hoping they could do some damage control if they saw him face to face.

Finally in late October the Navy transferred Don to a hospital closer to home and his parents went to see him. They offered to take Tammy with them and were hurt when she refused. By then of course his injuries were known. He had shrapnel wounds a broken left arm and a badly broken left leg. He was to remain in hospital until just before Thanksgiving then he would be home for the holidays on convalescent leave. He would return to duty after the first of the New Year.

Finally the day arrived for Don to return home. His whole family and many of their friends and neighbors met him at the airport. He came from the plane in a wheelchair pushed by a pretty stewardess. His face broke into a big smile when he saw everyone waiting on him. His head kept turning from side to side, looking for someone. He was looking for Tammy. Finally he saw her behind and to the side of his and her parents and his grin got larger. He directed the stewardess to push him toward them.

When he got close enough his mother, then Delores, Tammy's mother leaned down and gave him a hug and tearful kisses. Both fathers smiled and shook his hand. Tammy held back almost as if she was afraid of seeing him. Finally Mr. Brown reached for her and pushed her toward Don. 

Don reached his arms out for Tammy then gave her a surprised look. A slight frown came over his face and she blushed. She gave him a quick peck on the lips and said, "Welcome home Honey." Before Don could answer she faded back into the crowd. Now the rest of the town folk and friends greeted Don. He kept looking at Tammy with a frown on his face. Finally he turned to Mrs. Stone and said, "Tammy sure seems to have gained some weight. She looks pale too. Is she OK?"

Tears welled up in Mrs. Stone's eyes and she wiped them with her fingers then said, "Yes Don. Tammy's fine. Let's just get you home then tomorrow we'll all come over and see you. I'm sure she has a lot to tell you."

That night was one to remember. It seemed the Brown house had never been so full. Don's older brother and sister and their families were there and all evening friends dropped by to see Don. He kept looking for the Stones though and they didn't show up. Finally he asked his mother about them and he saw her grimace. She said, "Honey I've invited them over tomorrow so we will have some time to visit without all the uproar from the rest of our friends. You and Tammy need some alone time right now and you couldn't get it with her tonight."

It was after midnight when Don got to bed and much later than that before he got to sleep. He was so exhausted he slept in and his mother had to wake him up at ten the next morning when the Stones arrived.

Don came down the stairs slowly being careful with his crutches. Grinning he rushed to Tammy as fast as his condition would allow. She let him hug her but turned her head when he tried to kiss her. She stepped back and sat on the couch between her father and mother. Don's face showed his hurt, even a small amount of anger. He looked at her then the other adults and asked, "What's the matter? Why do you all look like we're at a funeral? Hey, I'm OK and in a few months I'll be out of the Navy and we can begin planning the wedding. They think they will give me a small disability pension because of this damn leg but they promised I will be able to walk and do farm work with it still. It's not the end of the world you know."

Don stopped talking when Tammy broke down in tears. Her mother wrapped her arms around her and pulled her to her chest. Finally Tammy wiped her face and turned to look at Don. "Don," she said. "I...Don I'm pregnant. I..." She licked her lips and looked down at the floor then took a deep breath and continued, "I don't know who the father is...I...I went to Europe with a bunch of guys you know and a couple of girls too of course and...well, I ran out of pills and, and, well we all lived together and used the same room and I unh, well I guess I was acting like a little slut all away from home and, well we all slept together and.. I suppose I was still angry with you for leaving me and going off on your own to see the world. I decided if you were having fun I could too. Oh, Don, I'm so sorry but I still love you and want to be married to you."




Building A Perfect Life



Don just sat and stared at her, then at the family. His face got red and his eyes shot fire. Before anyone else could say anything he lashed out saying, "You little Bitch! Now I know why you never talked to me about your trip or even let me know you were going. You FUCKING SKANK! Now I know why you didn't write me or call when I was in the states. You were too busy fucking your damn college friends. Well Fuck You. Get the hell out of my face. I don't need your kind of love."

Tammy was crying so hard she could hardly breathe. Her parents were looking at Don with anger in their face and his parents were looking at him in horror. His mother said, "Don, how could you talk like that? I thought you loved Tammy. Cursing her and calling her names won't solve your problems."

"I don't have any problems Mom. After I get my ring back from the Skank she's the only one with a problem. Oh, I guess I do have a small problem. I can't seem to pick a monogamous wife. Well, at least I found out about her before I screwed up and actually married the skank."

Mrs. Stone was staring daggers at Don as she and her husband rose, helping Tammy from the house. She was crying so hard she could hardly see. At the door she pulled free from her parents and turned to face Don. She said, "Don, I'm so, so sorry. I still love you but I was so angry with you going off and leaving me I guess I just lost sight of what was important. I was so lonely and I needed to be held. I'm sorry."

Don stood and stumbled to the stairs without saying a word to anyone. He spent most of the remainder of the day alone in his room. He did eat a sandwich his mother brought him for lunch.

The days passed and Don recovered, making several trips to the nearest military post—Ft. Leonard Wood, MO—for medical checks and physical therapy. His promotion to PO2 came through just before Christmas. He was learning to live without Tammy in his life but it was hard.

He would see her occasionally in town and she would look at him longingly. He felt sick inside as he watched her belly swell with another man's child. Finally the holidays were over and Don returned to his base.

The last few months of his enlistment were long and lonely. He almost tried to reenlist but when he broached the subject to his medical team they told him his injuries were such that he would be medically refused. The fun had gone out of life for him and he had no desire to do anything any longer. Nothing mattered to him any longer. He just wanted to get away from it all. Finally he was discharged, three years and ten months after enlisting. He had lived part of his dream. He had gone to sea and seen the world but it had cost him dearly. He had lost the love of his young life because of it and because of his injury he would never walk normally again.

Don had saved much of his money during his enlistment with the intent of using it to support his new wife when he returned home. Since he was not now going to have a wife any time soon he decided to trade in his old truck for a newer one and drive home. He would collect the mileage instead of letting the navy purchase his airline tickets.

The day he got out Don's first stop was the local Ford dealership. He bought a truck he thought he would need when he returned home. They had a nice two year old F150 SuperCrew 4X4 with low mileage. From the looks of the truck it was a city truck and had never been off paved streets. Don got it for about half what a comparable new one listed for.

Don did not tell his parents when he was getting home. He just took off driving and took his time. If he saw a place he wanted to stop he did but six days after he mustered out he was driving down the street of his home town of Steelville. Nothing seemed to have changed and he was smiling. He even saw and waved at a couple of friends. It was late evening and Don decided to stop at the local young people's hang out for a while before he went home.

When he drove up and parked some of the young teen agers glared at him. To them he was a stranger and intruding on their space. Finally a couple of older boys recognized him and greeted him. He was standing drinking a Coke talking about the Navy when he glanced out the window. Across the street at the local store he saw Tammy putting groceries into her old truck. She then leaned down and picked up a small child from the cart. 

The child was obviously of mixed race. It appeared to be part Hispanic or perhaps Italian. He felt his stomach clench and roil as he remembered how she had slutted around. He remembered her European trip had wandered through Germany, France, Spain and Italy. Apparently her college friends were not the only ones she had shared sleeping accommodations with. Of course from what he had heard during the 'Leave From Hell' she had been staying in what they called Youth Hostels over there and even camping out a lot. There would have been ample opportunity for her to sleep with one of the locals.

Tammy gave the child a kiss then proceeded to strap it into a child seat before she got in behind the wheel and drove away in the direction of her parents' farm. All at once Dons desire to visit left him. He threw the half empty Coke cup away and got into his truck. He followed Tammy out of town but turned into his families' driveway.

He drove into the barnyard and parked in his usual place beside the old Oak tree. The porch light came on and his mother appeared in the kitchen door. Don got out of the truck and grabbed his overnight bag from the back. By the time he reached the patio his mother had screamed in joy and came to meet him. He was hugging her tightly when he looked over her shoulder and saw his father coming out the door.

After a happy reunion they all entered the house for an evening of visiting. At one point his mother asked, "Have you called Tammy and let her know you are coming home? She asks about you almost every time I see her you know."

"I saw her and her little bastard in town but I didn't talk to her. We have nothing to say mom. And no, she doesn't know I am coming home and I have no intention of looking her up. That ship has sailed and I don't intend to try to board it. She fucked our life away and now she has to live with the consequences."

"Oh, Don how can you be so cruel? That girl still loves you with all her heart. She just made a mistake and believe me she is paying for it. She has to put up with a lot of guff around here. As far as I know she has never dated anyone since she got back from Europe. He mother said she dropped out of college and of course she moved back home right after she told you about her accident. I know she works at the feed mill in town for the Fielding's and never dates anyone from around here. She told her mother she was waiting on you to get your head out of your ass and realize you still belonged together."

"Well mom that dog don't hunt. She better get used to the idea we DON'T belong together. Now if you're going to keep up with that crap I'll just move on. I'm done talking about it."

The next two days Don just wandered around the farm relaxing. He still loved the place and was looking forward to getting back to work. He had taken enough college courses and received enough credit for his navy training while he was gone to have an Associate's Degree. He didn't know if he wanted to continue on and get a Bachelors Degree or not. He got the catalogue from the local university to help him decide. Don still had almost thirty thousand dollars in his bank accounts that he was going to use for college if he decided to go.

One day Don was driving down the road between his parents' farm and their neighbors. He had driven down that road several times since coming home because it was the one he used to get to the river and his favorite swimming hole. This time Don saw a for sale sign hidden in the brush and weeds. The place between their farm and the Stone place was for sale. It was only 80 acres but there was 60 acres of good cropland that the family could farm and the other 20 acres was along the river and mostly wooded. This was the place the swimming hole was on and Don especially loved the portion of the place that bordered the river.

Don remembered there was a nice cave above the flood line and back from the river about three hundred feet. He hadn't been there while swimming and decided to look at it before he went home. The previous owner had power ran down to the cave and had built some small picnic shelters and a snack bar along the river bank. He rented a few canoes and camping spots for several years before insurance and other expenses got so high he just quit. 

Don drove onto the land and walked around this time instead of just joining the two or three people swimming in the river. He felt more relaxed when he was at the cave than he had been in years. He found a comfortable looking spot and sat watching the young people laugh and play in the water and on the river bank. Occasionally a canoe would float past. He returned to his truck after he had sat listening to the peaceful sounds for a while. Don returned to the road and called the number on the for sale sign. Over the course of the next several days he and the owner negotiated the sale of the land. It had been for sale for several months and the owner wanted to get out from under it.

He had been asking $160000 but Don pointed out there were no buildings on the land, no well or other improvements and the cropland was not prime. The end result of the negotiations was that Don purchased the land for $145000 with $15000 down and the owner carrying the mortgage. Don figured the other $15000 could be used to put in a well and some type of living quarters. 

His small partial disability pension for his injuries was enough he could make do with either part time work or his share of the farm profits. If he returned to college his GI education benefits would help even more. He and his father had already agreed on a profit sharing arrangement for the new land and the family farm if Don helped on the places. Don had only been home three weeks and he knew he could not live with his parents. He couldn't fit his life back into their home and follow the rules they had in their house. He was still feeling the hurt from Tammy's betrayal and his mother was friends with Delores, her mother, and her. They visited back and forth routinely and he did not want to see or talk to either of the Stone women. In fact, he didn't really want to talk to any woman right now. He had seen many women shit on their men and cheat while he was in the Navy and he was fed up with the entire gender.

Don decided to enroll in college in the fall. He had a little over two months to solve his housing problem and he set out to do so in a manner that would suit him and be relatively inexpensive. It cost $5000.00 to drill a well and equip it near the cave and camp on his new land. There was a large bluff overhanging the entrance to the cave and Don went to work. He poured a concrete floor under the bluff beside the cave entrance. This floor was 25 by 50 feet and he placed his pipes and heat ducts in the cement. 

Next Don ordered several loads of limestone of various sizes. He built walls on his cement pad for his house then used the limestone to make a rock building. When he finished the shell of his house you could barely see the house it blended into the bluff so well. As he placed the limestone he poured cement between the limestone and the wooden walls of the house so he had 6 inch wooden walls then 6 inches of concrete and another 4 to 8 inches of limestone. He was planning to heat his house with wood from an outside furnace and cool it at least partially with the cool air from the cave.

Of course Don did not work on his new home every day because of the farm work. Other days he spent the entire workday building his home. Some days his father helped him also. When the crops were sold in the fall Don expected a cash infusion to help pay for college and more of his building.

All of this building almost depleted his savings. Don was living in the unfinished shell of the house but he didn't care. He had power, heat and cooling and a well insulated if unfinished building to live in. Don had also poured a nice cement patio under and just outside the bluff area to sit on during his free time. For the first time since he had left for the navy Don was completely content.

Several times during the late summer Don saw a very beautiful woman come to the swimming hole. For some reason she looked familiar but he didn't know where he had seen her or even if he had ever seen her before. She almost always came alone but occasionally she came with one or two other women about her age. She seemed like she was maybe 19 or 20 but who knew. When she came alone she was always careful and did not stay long if others were there. Many times he saw her drive up to the swimming hole and leave without swimming when she saw some rough looking young men there. If there was a mixed crowd of young people swimming the girl would stay longer most evenings. Don never saw her engage in the horseplay that was common among the swimmers. Don had posted his side of the river bank and most people were careful to not come onto his land. There was a much easier access across the river anyway so why bother?

One day Don went to the Steelville Feed and Farm Supply store to order some seed wheat and pay some bills when he came face to face with his past. He had only been into the store twice since he got home and both times he had talked to an older lady. This time when he entered Tammy was working at the counter.

Don took a deep breath and walked up. When she saw him she broke out into a smile and said, "Don. You're sure looking good. How are you today?"

Don clenched his jaw and started to turn away. He forced himself to relax and turned back to the counter. He ignored her inquiry and gruffly said, "I need to pay this bill and order some seed wheat."

Tammy looked shocked and hurt. She got tears in the corner of her eyes and pressed her lips together. "Don, I'm so sorry. I'll get someone." She walked rapidly from the counter.

Don was standing there seething and trying to decide whether to leave or what to do when he heard another set of footsteps coming toward him. With his face still set in an angry expression he turned to talk to the new arrival.

Don stopped in mid turn when he saw the girl from the river. She was almost more beautiful in street clothes than in her swim suit. She was smiling but seemed worried also. "Yes Sir. How may I help you? She said.

Don took a deep breath and explained why he was there once more. The girl smiled and said, "Oh, no problem. We can take care of that right over here." She gestured to the far end of the counter where there was a computer and another register. When she and Don walked down to the new area Tammy came out of the back office and began waiting on the people who had been in line behind Don. She kept giving him sorrowful looks and he could see the tears running down her cheeks. Twice she stopped and wiped her face off with her fingers.

Don watched the girl look over at Tammy several times and stare at him a time or two also. After they had finished their business Don thanked her. She smiled tentatively at him and returned to the office from which she had come. Don turned and left the building. He neither looked at nor spoke to Tammy.

That evening after the business had closed Tammy was getting her daughter from the room the Fielding's had set up as a child care room. It had initially been built for Charlie and Amanda's children but now it was used for children of their employees also. Molly Fielding came up to Tammy and asked, "Ok, why don't you tell me what that is all about. The Browns have been customers for years and there was nothing about that business that you couldn't handle. And why the tears and haunted looks?"

Tammy's shoulders began shaking and she collapsed onto a nearby chair. She looked up at Molly and said, "I was supposed to marry Don. We had been together since before we started school and neither of us ever had another serious relationship. After our senior year instead of going to college with me like we had planned he joined the navy and left. I was so pissed and so hurt that I decided if he was going to run around all over the world and party I would too."

I was pretty wild the first year of college and dated several men but I never had sex with them. Don came back that spring and proposed to me at my birthday party. He wanted to marry and for me to join him at his next post. I told him I would marry him but I refused to do it until he was out of the navy. I was still angry and I didn't want to be all alone that far from home while he was off touring the world so I accepted but never told anyone about our engagement. I wore the ring that night and until he left then took it off."

"The next summer I let one of the boys I ran around with in college talk me into spending the summer in Europe with him and some of his friends. I didn't know it but there were seven guys going and only three girls including me. The other two girls were pretty much round heeled sluts but I didn't know that until we got there. I had met them and thought they were ok but boy was I surprised."

"We stayed in Youth Hostels most of the time but sometimes we camped out. There was a lot of drinking and it always seemed like the friend I let talk me into going always had some grass. Those two girls fucked like rabbits and didn't care if they had an audience or not. The first night there they pulled a train and I was horrified. I wanted to go home but I just couldn't. I told myself I would just go along with the group and enjoy my summer and put up with their lack of morals."

"The next six days it seemed like every night we drank, smoked and they fucked. I kept getting horny watching and listening. I tried to quietly take care of myself but one night Jared caught me. He smiled and I was just messed up enough I didn't run him off when he began kissing me and helping me play with myself. Before I knew it he was fucking me and the others were watching. It wasn't much longer and I was pulling the train like the other two girls. After a while we began trading sexual favors with the local boys and men for extra cash or something we wanted like a better room or even a room in a hotel."

"I kept telling myself I would have that little fling and never cheat on Don again. After all he was probably fucking every woman he could talk into a horizontal position too and he would never know what I was doing in Europe. About two months before we were to come home I lost my supply of Birth Control Pills somehow. I couldn't get more and didn't want mother to even know I was taking them. I told the guys if they wanted any more pussy from me they had to use rubbers. They all agreed they would but that lasted about three days. We got high and the first one or two used a rubber then the rest just did me bareback like we had before. Well in any event I got pregnant with Dora and couldn't face the thought of aborting her. I was sure Don loved me enough to marry me anyway but I guess I was wrong."

"He was one of the sailors injured in the Cole bombing and when he came home on his convalescent leave I was already beginning to show. My parents and I went over to his house the day after he got home to tell him and discuss the wedding. He threw a tantrum and called me a cheating skank then walked out of the room. Until today that was the last time I talked to him and..." 

Tammy broke down crying once more. Molly knelt beside the chair and hugged her then said, "Oh, Tammy. I knew you had been dating Don for some time when we were young but, well when I saw you at college and you were running around so much I just thought you had broken up when he left for the navy."




Building A Perfect Life



"Tammy you know my whole family has been military and many of the men especially have retired from the service. Tammy what you did to Don was probably the most despicable thing a woman could do the man she is supposed to love. They have to have total and complete trust in their women. They have enough to worry about while they are deployed in defense of our country without having to worry about who is fucking their woman that night or if she will end up pregnant. Military wives have a tough row to hoe and have to carry a very heavy burden. They have to go to bed every night their man is gone wondering if they will ever see them again or if they will come home safe and uninjured. Many of them also have to worry about their spouse straying but they do that because they love their men and support their career. If you didn't want to live that kind of life why didn't you just tell him and turn him loose. In the long run you would have hurt him a lot less and who knows, you might even have got him to marry you later if that is truly what the two of you decided you wanted. Now, if I know military men you have no chance at all and you really need to move on. I'll try to wait on him from now on when he comes in but you really need to let it go honey. From the look of his face today it is too late for you. I'm sorry."

"Didn't Don talk to you about his desire to go into the navy? Didn't you discuss the possibility at all?"

Tammy nodded her head yes and said, "Yes but I told him I didn't want him to do it that I had made plans for us and"

"WHAT? Oh Tammy! You just told him he couldn't do it and didn't even discuss it or anything. Just a flat NO? Jesus Girl I bet you began losing him right there. Whatever were you thinking? Oh, sure if you were totally opposed to the idea I can understand breaking up with him but to just forbid him to make a decision like that is, is...you surely couldn't have loved him like a wife is supposed to love her man and dictate to him like that. How would you have felt if he had just told you he forbade you to do something for a career that you had your heart set on? Oh, Honey..."

"Well never mind. That's water under the bridge. Why don't you just go on home and I'll finish up here. If you need to talk more let me or Amanda or even Grandma know."

The next time Molly was at the swimming hole she was just laying back on her air mattress relaxing when she looked up at the bluff the cave was in. She knew someone had built a building up there under the overhang but she hadn't heard who had done it. As she floated she watched a newer F150 pull up and a tall man got out. He opened the rear door and took several bags of groceries from the truck. He began walking around the truck toward the house when he gave a shout and fell.

Molly watched as he writhed on the ground holding his left ankle. His groceries were scattered around him. She paddled to the north bank and ran up the trail toward him. When she was about twenty feet from him she saw it was Don Brown. She hurried the rest of the way and knelt beside him. She placed her hand on his shoulder and said, "I saw you fall. When you didn't get up I decided you might be hurt and came to see if you needed help. Is there anything I can do? Did you break it or what?"

Don looked up at the woman he had talked to in the store a few days ago. He grimaced and pointed at a small round rock nearby. "I stepped on that damn rock and turned my ankle. This is the leg I hurt in the Navy and I can't recover from stumbles and so forth as fast with it. I think I sprained the ankle but I don't think it's broken."

Don looked sheepish and tried to rise. He finally got up and hobbled toward a chair on the deck. He surveyed the scattered groceries and blushed. He said, "If you would be so kind as to pick up my groceries and help me get them into the house I would appreciate it. I hate to be a bother but that would really help me."

Molly smiled and said, "Sure. No problem." She put the few groceries that had fallen from a bag back into one then picked up the sacks. She walked alongside Don as he hobbled toward his door. When he opened it and stepped back and gestured her inside ahead of him she went.

Molly stopped in surprise when she entered the room. She had stepped into an open floor plan home that was amazingly beautiful. The kitchen was to her left, she had stepped into a dining room. The entire right (south) wall was a bank of windows overlooking the river and the field across to the south.

The kitchen had granite counter tops and stainless appliances. On the other side of a half partition she could see a large living room with comfortable looking furniture. The part of the house she could see was done in warm earth tones. She looked back at Don and said, "Oh this is gorgeous! I never would have believed a house built under a bluff like this could be this beautiful.

Don smiled and said, "Thank you. I designed and did most of the work myself. It's kind of small, only two bedrooms, but I left a way to add two more bedrooms if I ever decide I want to. I really need to sit down and wrap this ankle but if you would like to take a little self guided tour I would be pleased to let you."

Molly smiled and said, "You really wouldn't mind? I sort of watched you build it when I came to swim but I have never seen the building. I'll do it and if you'll tell me where the bandages are I'll even help you with your ankle before I go."

Don told her where to find his ace bandages and some ibuprofen. Molly went off to the master bath for the medical supplies and on her tour. When she came back Don saw the cool air of the house had had its effect on her. Molly's nipples were tenting out her bathing suit top nicely. While she was working on his ankle Don was having trouble not staring down her top. He was very aware or how beautiful she was. His cock began to swell and he became embarrassed.

Molly felt him, then noticed him wiggling in his chair and looked up at him. She blushed when she saw his trousers tenting out and turned her head back to the task at hand. After she finished Don offered her a drink and they moved to his deck to visit and drink their soft drinks.

Dusk was falling when Molly gave a gasp and said, "Oh, it's almost dark and I absolutely have to get home. I never stay at the swimming hole this long and my parents will be frantic if I don't get back." She blushed and continued, "I really enjoyed visiting with you today though. I'll see you at the store maybe or...well I come swimming a lot; maybe if you're home we can talk again?"

Don smiled and said, "Yeah, I think I'd like that. If you get out here just come on up and we'll have another soda."

Don went on with his life. They were in the process of harvesting their corn and soy beans then they had to till and plant the winter wheat. Of course he decided to finish college and that was keeping him busy too. He had plenty of income with all his benefits and the amount of profit from the farm. He was still alone but between college, time passing and his peaceful home he was healing his sorrow rapidly.

In late august Don once again went to the Farm Store to pay a bill. Since he drove past almost daily it made more sense to drop in and pay a bill than to mail it. When he entered the building he saw Molly in an office. She looked up when she heard the door buzzer and smiled at him. She rose and walked into the main part of the building and up to the counter. She moved to the same computer they had used before and said, "Hello Don. What can I do for you today?"

"Hi Molly. Got a bill here I need to pay. How've ya been?"

After he paid Don and Molly stood and visited for almost thirty minutes. While they were talking Tammy came from what appeared to be a break room and stood behind her register. She kept looking at Don and Molly while they talked. Seeing Don and Molly laughing and looking into each other's eyes tore her apart but she remained quiet.

Finally Don looked at the wall clock and said, "Oh, heck. I've been bothering ya for over thirty minutes. I know you have work to do and I have to get back to the place and take care of some chores." He looked at Molly a moment longer then gave her a big smile and said, "See ya next time Molly."

Molly watched Don walk out the door with a smile on her face. Finally she turned toward her office once more. She never noticed the sad look Tammy gave her as she left. The rest of the afternoon Molly was upbeat and Tammy was down in the dumps. Tammy knew she had no reason to feel like she did but, darn it Don was supposed to be hers and it hurt to see him laughing and talking to another woman.

The next Monday the phone on Molly's desk rang and she picked up. Amanda, Uncle Charlie's wife and the office manager said, "Hey Molly got a phone call for ya on three. Sounds like a hunk. You got something ya wantta tell me girl?" Molly could hear her laughing from across the building as she picked up the phone and said, "This is Molly. How may I help you sir?"

There was silence for a moment and Molly was beginning to think she had lost the call when she finally heard breathing then someone cleared his throat. "Uh, Molly this is Don...Don Brown. Uh, I was wondering if you would maybe like to go out to supper with me Friday evening?"

Molly was surprised. For a short time she couldn't think what to say. She heard Don say, "Oh, Bad idea huh? I'm sorry if I bothered you but"

Molly finally found her voice and almost yelled, "NO" she could hear the hurt in Don's voice as he continued, "I'm sorry. I won't bother you again."

This time Molly almost screamed into the phone, "NO, don't hang up please Don. I meant NO it wasn't a bad idea. I was just surprised when you asked me out. I thought I had a business call and just didn't know what to say for a minute. I'd be happy to go out with you Don. I'll look forward to it."

She could hear the relief in Don's voice when he said, "Oh, unh, OK." Before she could say anything else he hung up. Molly sat there with a surprised look on her face. Finally she hung up her phone and just sat staring at it.

Her phone rang again and she heard laughter when she picked up. Amanda said, "The Hunks back on three Mol."

Molly smiled and picked up the line again. After she had said hello Don began talking again. "Uh Molly I guess I screwed up a minute ago." Molly felt her heart fall then smiled when Don continued, "I guess I need to know where to pick you up and we need to set a time..."

Molly laughed and said, "Yeah I guess that would be a good idea at that." They covered that information then visited a few minutes. Just before she let Don go this time Molly asked, "Don where are we going? I mean what should I wear?"

"We can go anywhere you want Molly but I was thinking about maybe some French. I really enjoyed some of the French food when I was there. I hear The Bistro in Centerton is pretty good if you'd like to go there?"

"OH, yes. I've never been but Uncle Charlie and Uncle Jeff talk about it all the time. I'd love to go there with you. Well, I really have to get back to work. See ya about 630 Friday evening."

The rest of the week seemed to drag on for both Molly and Don. They were each looking forward to Friday evening and their date. The only bright spot in the whole week for either of them was on Wednesday when Molly managed to get off to go swimming. Don also had managed to get home early and was sitting on his deck watching the evening draw to a close. He saw a familiar figure come walking down the river bank and slip into the old swimming hole and smiled. He took a closer look and decided it was really Molly. Don hurried into his house and put on his swim trunks then took off down his path to the swimming hole also.

Molly was floating on her back letting the cool water wash the tension away when she heard a splashing in the water. Oh, GREAT, she thought. Now I have to listen to a bunch of loud obnoxious hormonal boys splashing around and trying to get into my pants. After the last couple of days that's all I need tonight.

Molly was surprised when the splashing stopped and she felt a gentle wave hit her air mattress. After that, there was no sound. Suddenly she felt a gentle bump on the side of her mattress and she turned her head to look. There, floating on his back seemingly without a care in the world was Don. She said, "Don whatever are you doing here? I figured you would still be in the field.

Don grinned up at Molly and said, "Luckily I'm not. I was pretty whipped so I quit early today and decided to get some rest in before the next big project." He grinned a little more and continued, "I was sitting on the deck having a cool one when I thought I saw you come down the path. I decided to join you but if you'd rather be alone I can leave."

"NO. I would enjoy the company. I was afraid when I heard you getting in the pool though that you would be some loud obnoxious hormonal teenager but"

Don laughed and said well you're batting .500 anyway. I'm not loud or a teenager but I may be obnoxious and hormonal."

Molly blushed then smiled at Don. "I don't think I believe that."

Don and Molly floated quietly together for several minutes. Occasionally one or the other would make a quiet statement or ask a question but, for the most part they were content to just enjoy each other's company. The current in the deep shady hole was slow enough they only had to paddle occasionally to stay in place so the time was quite relaxing and cool.

Finally Molly paddled her mattress toward the bank on Don's side of the river. He raised his head and watched for a moment then followed. They walked up the bank to one of the picnic tables that were still in place. Molly looked at him a moment then said, Don I unh; I need to find a private place for a few minutes."

"Oh, I'm sorry. Would you like to go up to my place and use the bathroom there?"

"No, I don't want to be a bother. I can just go in the bushes if you would just stay here."

"NO, come on Molly. It's no bother and I am sort of thirsty anyway. We can get a drink and either sit on the balcony or come back down here." Don reached for Molly's hand and pulled her up the trail to his home. He opened the door and escorted her into the house. "Do you remember where it is or should I show you?"

Molly smiled and said, "That's fine. I can find it."

When she came out of the bathroom Molly found Don at the refrigerator. He asked what she wanted to drink and gave her a choice. They took their drink and walked back outside. Don asked, "Do you want to sit here or down by the river?"

"The river I think if you don't mind. It is so pretty and peaceful down there and we have the air mattresses to rest on. I just love how you have kept the grass mowed and done some landscaping. It gets prettier every time I see it."

When Molly turned to look at Don she felt herself blush slightly. He was staring at her with an intensity that caused her little pussy to spasm and begin leaking. His gaze was flitting from her face to her breasts and on to her crotch and legs. He would look away for a moment and return his gaze to her. She stood staring at Don as he walked closer. He walked up until they almost touched and slowly bent his head forward and gently brushed her lips with his.

Molly took a gasping breath and watched as Don stepped back slightly. Now she was fully flushed. They stared into each other's eyes. Without realizing she had done it Molly stepped up to Don and raised her head for another kiss. She wrapped her right arm around his neck and pulled gently until he once again bent to kiss her.

This kiss started gently then quickly gained in intensity. Their mouths came open and tongues began twisting, writhing against each other as they explored each other's mouth. From a distance Molly heard herself moan and she felt Don pull her tightly against him. Neither knew how long this kiss lasted but Molly felt like it was forever.

Don moved his hands down to her delectable ass and pulled it against his by now throbbing erection. They ground their crotches together as the kiss continued. Finally, Don gently pushed against Molly and they broke the embrace. Molly looked into his eyes then blushed once more and turned her head away.

Don took Molly's hand and gently led her toward the picnic table. He leaned her ass against the end of it and moved until he was standing between her legs just touching her. He cupped her left cheek with his right hand and bent to give her another gentle kiss. He sighed and said, "Molly I..." Don took a deep breath and continued, "Damn girl I..."

Don looked away from Molly and bit his lip then once more he tried to speak. "Molly I haven't felt this way in so long. I don't want to do anything to screw this up so please let me know if I upset you. I'm looking forward to Friday so much and I don't want to do anything to upset you or scare you off."

Molly looked at Don. Her eyes had a faraway look to them almost as if she was looking past him, not seeing him at all. He felt his heart breaking and was almost ready to turn away when Molly started talking. She said, "Don I don't know what to say. I feel something too but...I wanted to kiss you but I don't know where that one came from. I had one love years ago that ended badly. For almost a full year I was so madly in love with him then I found out he was only after me for the family's money and position."

"It was right here at this swimming hole when I overheard him and some of his friends laughing. He was making fun of me and the way I...He said I was inept and not very good and if it wasn't for getting a cushy job he would dump me and move on. He told them after the wedding he would get them on our payroll and they could all live easier. I felt like killing him but I just left and never talked to him again."

"Today while we were kissing I remembered back to those times. We made out a lot here and I am having some of the same good feelings with you I had with him and I'm scared. I want to go with you and I know you aren't like him but the memories ya know?"

Don sat beside Molly and looked up at her. He began rubbing his crippled leg and said, "Yeah, I know. I don't know how much you know about me and Tammy but since you grew up here I figure you know some. Tammy and I used to come here a lot and we were like most kids are. We made out and played and...The memories are here for me too but Molly this is something different I think. My body wants you and I know you know that. My mind says it's not time yet and I will respect that but Molly I want to build new memories with you. I loved Tammy from the time we first met years before we began school until she dumped on me when I went in the service but this is different, it feels different to me. I think, I hope we can build something so much finer than I had with Tammy and, perhaps than you had with that first boy."

Molly sat beside Don and leaned in to give him a kiss on his cheek. She said, "I need to go now Don. Thanks for the use of your bathroom and for the beer. You have nothing to be sorry about." She smiled and continued, "I'm still looking forward to our date. See ya Friday."

Don watched as she bent to pick up her air mattress. He felt his cock harden once more. He gazed in lust as Molly unconcernedly strolled down the riverbank toward her car.

That evening both the young people had trouble falling to sleep and finally, unknown to the other they had to relieve themselves before sleep would come. Each was thinking of the other while doing so.

Friday evening finally arrived. Don and Molly both took off work a little early to prepare for their big night, their first official date. When Don arrived at Molly's house he was nervous but determined to make this a special evening for her. Even though she was 23 years old she still lived more or less with her parents. She was living in a mother apartment over their garage.




Building A Perfect Life



While Don was climbing the stairs to her door he heard a female voice say, "Oh, you must be Don." I'm Molly's mother Evelyn. We have been so anxious to meet you. She has told me so much about you and of course her aunt Amanda has had a thing or two to say also. Of course we heard about your injury and read about you in the papers but that isn't the same as actually meeting someone. We're all in the back if you'd like to come on over. I told Molly I would try to intercept you if she wasn't ready when you got here.

Evelyn pushed past Don on the stairs and opened Molly's door. She said, "Molly Honey. Don's here and I'm taking him to the back yard. Why don't you come on down when you're ready?"

Don watched as Evelyn moved past him once more then followed her slowly to the back yard. When he turned the corner of the house he could see two other women and three men sitting around with beer while a BBQ grill smoked away.

The only people he recognized was the Veterinarian Charlie Fielding and his wife Amanda who worked in the office of the Store and Vet Clinic. He went to them first and shook hands then was introduced to Molly's uncle and Aunt Jeffery and Abby Fielding then her father Zachary.

Zachary looked at Don and said, "Have a chair son and a beer if you want. Too bad you're going to The Bistro or you could just join us for supper. We're doing a couple racks of ribs. I'd ask you to cancel and stay but Molly would kill me. She has wanted to go to The Bistro for some time now and is really excited about it. Maybe if you get home in time we can get in some 12 ounce curls though."

As he was finishing his sentence Molly came around the corner and said, "Daddy don't you dare try to talk him into staying here. He's my date and we're going out. If he doesn't want to go to The Bistro then we'll go somewhere else but I'm not sharing him with you so you can all put him through the third degree."

Don turned when he heard Molly talking and stood speechless. Molly was a vision of loveliness. Her slightly reddish tinted hair was freshly permed and framed her beautiful face perfectly. She was in the proverbial little blue dress that ended mid thigh and had a low cut bodice. The way her breasts jiggled he was sure there was no bra under. In fact there couldn't be as it was an off the shoulder dress and he saw no bra straps. Don felt his cock twitch and he stammered out, "Molly you look fantastic. We have to go to The Bistro now with you looking like that."

When they arrived at the restaurant they were greeted effusively and taken to their table immediately. Like most superb restaurants the lighting was low, the music just faintly noticeable and the tables covered with linen. As they dined and between courses they learned more about each other. It was so pleasant to find they held many of the same beliefs and liked most of the same things. Already Don felt like he had known Molly for years and years. He faintly remembered hearing her name and seeing her when she was much younger before he went into the service. He had never talked to her much until he went into the store earlier in the summer because she was so much younger than he was. Now he was very happy he had decided to pay that bill personally.

When they got back to Molly's home they sat and visited in the truck for a short time. Finally after leaning into Molly for a short kiss Don got out and helped her from the truck. They started for her stairs when Molly grinned and said, "If you're not too tired we could sit on the patio for a while. I don't think anyone's there now and I just want to sit and relax. I'm really not ready for this evening to end."

Don smiled and took Molly's hand then turned toward the back of her parent's house. The two young people sat in a covered glider swing and gently rocked it back and forth. Molly sighed and leaned against Don then rested her head upon his shoulder. She turned her head up to look at him and said, "Thank you for a wonderful evening Don. I enjoyed the meal immensely and I enjoyed being with you even more."

They sat for several minutes silently for the most part, content to just be in each other's presence. Don turned to look down at Molly and said, "You know Molly I'm happy with you. I feel comfortable and I'm so happy to just be with you. I don't feel the need to fill every minute with conversation or action and I'm happy you feel like that too. Most of the other women I have been with always had to be talking or doing something. We never seemed to have time to just be with one another and to enjoy each other's presence or the evening or whatever."

Molly smiled up at him and just said, "Ummmm. Me too."

Finally Don looked at his watch and grimaced. He leaned down and gave Molly a gentle kiss on the forehead and said, "I hate for this evening to end but I really have to go. I need to combine more corn tomorrow and it's already after 230."

Molly stood and reached her hand out to help Don up. She moved to him and gave him a gentle kiss on the lips then said, "Me too. I mean I hate for the night to be over but I have to go to the store tomorrow and work. Thanks again for a fun time."

Don sat in his truck and watched until Molly closed her door then feeling better than he had felt in years he started his truck and returned to his home. Don was so pumped he had trouble going to sleep when he got home. Finally about 330 sleep took him. He didn't wake until after 9 the next morning but that was ok. By the time he greased the combine it was just barely dry enough to begin picking the corn.

Don worked all day, taking time off for a quick lunch and supper. He picked corn until nearly 530 that evening. Normally he would have worked longer but his truck was full of grain and he had to quit until he emptied it. From the way the fields were yielding he still had a couple more days to go before he had all the corn harvested. He decided to take the load to the elevator that evening so he could have the early morning free.

When Don arrived at the elevator beside the Farm Store he saw a line of other trucks backed up across the parking lot. Obviously other farmers had the same idea as he did. He got into line and sat waiting his turn to weigh and unload. As he was sitting in the cab of his truck he looked up and saw Molly and Tammy coming out of the store. It was just after six p.m. and they had closed for the day.

Without thinking Don laid on the horn and rolled the window down. "Hey Molly," he said and waved.

Molly smiled and began moving toward his truck. Tammy stood and watched with a sad look on her face. When she got to the truck Molly jumped up on the running board and leaned in to give Don a gentle kiss through the open window. Tammy clenched her jaws and moved off toward her car, tears trickling down her cheeks.

Molly stood on the running board for a moment talking to Don then she smiled and jumped down without saying anything. Don was surprised and started to ask her where she was going but she had already moved to the front of the truck. He watched as she came to the passenger side, opened the door and slid into the seat beside him.

Molly turned to face Don and said, "There, that's better. You can roll up the window and we'll be cooler in here now. The thermometer said it was still 101 before I locked up."

Molly stayed in the cab of the truck talking to Don until after he had weighed and unloaded. He drove his truck back into the Farm Store parking lot and they visited some more. Don's stomach growled and Molly giggled. Almost before she quit giggling her stomach growled also. Don smiled and said, "I'm really too tired to go home and cook. I think I'm going down to the café for supper. Do you want to come too?"

"Oh, I couldn't," Molly said. I can go home and fix some left overs or grab a bite at Mom's. besides you fed me last night and you surely don't want to spend more on me tonight."

"Molly I wouldn't have asked you if I hadn't wanted you to go with me. If you have something to do or...OH! I'm sorry. I bet you have another date. I'm sorry I kept you so long!"

Molly giggled once more and said, "Oh, you. NO I don't have another date." Molly looked down at her hands in her lap and blushed a little then continued, "I...I don't date much Don. Until you I had dated everyone in town I had any interest in and, well, none of them were the one. A lot of the guys are really great guys but there was just something missing. You know what I mean?"

Don smiled and without a word he just started the big diesel engine and put the truck in gear. It was only about three blocks to the café so he moved the semi to an out of the way spot and opened the door, leaving it running. He walked around the cab and met Molly as she climbed down from her seat. When she jumped to the ground Don reached up and placed his hands at her waist to assist. She felt Don's grip tighten then she was lifted slightly and pulled toward him. Her arms went out and she braced herself against his shoulders. His face came toward hers and she was awarded a gentle kiss. Don sat her on the ground then very gently and took her hand in his.

Don turned toward the street and they walked hand in hand the three blocks to the café. As they entered Doris, the operator yelled across the room, "Hi you two. Be right with ya."

When she walked up to the table with their water and the menus Doris said, "Hi Don, Molly. Do you need anything else to drink?

Once again as they ate Don and Molly talked but mostly they enjoyed each other's company. They were comfortable together and once again they felt no need to fill every moment with conversation. They would raise their eyes quite often to look at the other and many times they did it at the same time. Molly would always smile and her eyes were sparkling each time.

Finally after they had been there an hour Don once again said, "I really need to go Molly. We didn't get much sleep last night and I have about 400 more acres of corn to get in as soon as I can."

They walked back to Don's truck hand in hand once more; waving occasionally to someone they knew. Many of the old timers who saw them would smile to themselves. It was already getting around town that Don and Molly were dating and everyone seemed to be happy for them. Well everyone except Tammy and her family.

After the morning break at the feed store Tammy came storming into Molly's office. She was crying and began talking immediately through her tears. "Molly how could you do that to me? I thought we were friends. How could you go out with him? And then when I went to the café just now I found out you had dinner with him there last night. You know how I feel about Don. How could you do that?"

Amanda heard Tammy crying and talking to Molly so she came from her office to investigate. She walked into the room and saw Molly sitting with a blank look on her face while Tammy cried. She wrapped her arm around Tammy and led her to the couch where they sat. she looked at the two young women and asked, "What's the matter here?"

Tammy cried harder and said, "She has been going out with Don and I found out last night she even went to the café with him last night after work. How can I get him back if"

Amanda placed a finger on Tammy's lips and said, "Shhh Tammy. Since he's been home has Don ever told you he might get back with you? It seems like I remember him refusing to even talk to you honey. I've heard what happened between you two and I even heard Molly and you talking several months ago. Honey Molly was right then and she is right now. I took the phone call from Don when he asked her for the first date. She didn't call him Tam. He called her. He called her here at work. I know it's hard honey but if he had wanted to call you he would have."

Tammy you made a mistake, a huge mistake and like Molly told you a mistake that most men can never forgive. You were engaged and were supposed to be a one man woman then you gave what you had promised only to Don for the rest of your lives to other men. You need to let it go now Tammy and move on. If you and Don are meant to be it will still happen but if not you need to move on. You know if you really love something or someone, sometimes you have to set it or them free. Honey, this is one of those times."

By now Tammy was crying so hard her whole body was shaking. Molly rose from her desk and moved to the other side of Tammy. The two Fielding women held the crying Tammy until she stopped. She sat looking down at her clenched hands and said, "I know you are both right but I still love him so much and it hurts so badly when I see him with you or when he won't even talk to me."

Tammy looked over at Molly and said, "I'm sorry Molly. I know it's not your fault and I understand why you go out with him. He is so special. I don't blame you for wanting him too. If he is yours now please treat him right. He deserves so much more than I gave him."

Tammy got fire in her eyes then and glared at Molly. She said, "But I'm warning you right now you Bitch. If you hurt him I guarantee, I promise on all I hold dear that I will make you suffer. I caused more than enough pain to last him for the rest of his life."

Tammy rose from the couch and walked out of the room. She looked into the day care room at her child and smiled then, still sniffling she returned to her cash register.

Amanda and Molly looked at each other a moment then Amanda said, "Molly I know you haven't been dating long. Hell, I guess if you count last night you've only had two dates but I've seen how that man looks at you. He's got it bad and if I'm any judge you do too. I knew about Charlie after I had been with him for three weeks and I understand about these things but she's right. He deserves the best just as you do so if it's not going to work, set him free with as little pain as possible."

Molly looked at her aunt and smiled. "Mandy I've already decided. If he'll have me, he's the one. I'm just waiting now for him to realize that. Oh, Mandy, we don't even have to talk. It's so wonderful to just be in the same room with him and to just sit or look at each other or hold hands or touch. I'm so empty already when he's not here with me."

Amanda smiled and rose. Before she left the office she touched Molly's shoulder and said, "I know Honey. That's what true love is. It just completes you to just be in their presence."

Two days later, just before lunch time Don came back into the store. This time he didn't even stand around, he walked to Molly's door and knocked on the jamb. When Molly looked up her face broke out into a glow and a big smile. Don smiled back and said, "Hey Mol. I had to bring in another load. Ya wanna catch some lunch down at the café with me?"

Molly didn't even answer. She just stood, picked up her purse and walked to where Don was standing. As she passed through her door she took his hand and then she said, "Sure, let's go."

Tammy stood and watched as they walked past her register and out the door. Once again tears slid down her cheeks.

After Don and Molly had ordered their lunch Molly reached for Don's hands. She held both of them across the table top and looked into his eyes. She bit her lower lip and said, "Don we need to talk." Well, like most men when he heard those words from a female his stomach clenched and he became worried.

Molly saw the worry and almost fear run across his face. His eyes looked haunted as he sat and waited for her to continue. She gave him a small smile and continued. "I don't know how you feel about me but I'm afraid I already care more for you than may be good for me. A couple of mornings ago Tammy came into my office crying. She had found out about our date and about me having supper with you the night before."

Molly looked up at Don's face and saw his jaws were clenched and it was reddening in anger. Before he could explode she continued, "I know about you and Tammy, hell the whole town knows I suspect and that's partly what I want to talk about. Don Tammy still thinks, or at least hopes you will take her back. I know you don't want to talk to her but if there's any chance of that happening I need to know and if there's not, could you please talk with her. I have to work with her and she is hurting inside from what she did to you. Even if we don't make it Don you need to get some closure with Tammy. We live in a small town and as long as we are all here we will run across one another from time to time."

"I NEVER," Don said, and then lowered his voice, "I never gave her any indication I would take her back. I can't trust her and I am still so angry with her I can't stand to see her. She lied to me; she hid her trip from me so she could go off with her lover, her lovers I suppose, because she told me the father of that child could be any one of six or seven men. How do I know the next time she got angry with me she wouldn't do something like that again? NO. There is no chance in hell we will ever become a couple again with or without you in the picture."

Molly gasped when Don said that. She tightened her grip on his hands and said, "Oh my! I don't think anyone realizes she did something like that. All I ever knew was she had cheated on you. OH, my! But that still...Honey you need some closure on this and I still think you should talk to her. Even if you move on to someone else after me you need to get things finished once and for all with Tammy."

"Damn it, I thought I had finished things once and for all with that skank. I...Never mind. I'll think about it."

About that time their meals arrived. It was a very somber meal this time, not nearly as enjoyable for either of them as the ones previous had been. They finished and walked back to the store side by side but this time they did not hold hands. Don did not enter the store. He just looked at Molly and said, "I'll see ya later."

Molly felt her heart break when Don just walked away from her. She knew she was right in what she told him but she was afraid. She was afraid that even though it needed saying, that Don needed the closure as did Tammy, that she had hurt Don's feelings enough he would think less of her.

Amanda had seen the two walk up to the door and she saw the tension between them. She followed Molly into her office and asked, "Is something wrong Molly?"

Molly looked up at Amanda and she saw the moisture in Molly's eyes. "Yes. NO. Oh, I don't know. I told Don he really needed to get things straight with Tammy and I just don't know. He seemed so angry and when he left me at the door he was so abrupt I just..."

Amanda sighed and said, "You were right Honey. Those two need to settle this thing once and for all. If the two of you are meant to be this will only be a little bump in the road and if not, it's the best time to find that out you know."

Molly didn't hear from or see Don the rest of the week. She was beginning to believe she had screwed up royally but Amanda was right. Don and Tammy needed to finish their relationship and bury it before...before what?

It was Friday evening and Molly didn't have to work the next day. She went home at her normal time feeling so lonesome she didn't know what to do. She and Don had only been seeing each other for about four months and she missed him so much...

About 830 Molly's phone rang. When she picked it up Don was on the other end. He said, "Molly? I know it's short notice but could you either come over to my house or could I come see you for a moment?"

"What? Now? Why, what's so important..." Molly felt the bottom fall out of her stomach. She thought 'oh, GOD, it's over and...' Molly decided if he was dumping her she wanted to do it in his house so she could get away and go home for a nice cry without worrying about getting him out of her house. She said, "I'll be right over. I'm not sure I want you in my house!"