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Dan's Life

By: DG Hear



I would like to thank my two great editors for making my story so much easier to read. Thanks to LadyCibelle and Techsan. If you find errors when these two are finished editing, it is because I change things at the last minute.

*

Chapter 1: What happened to my life?

I was sitting here in the restaurant going over my life. I have had a lot of wild things happen to me in my lifetime. Wild might not be the operative word. Strange, weird, different would all fit. Maybe my life was normal, maybe everyone had similar lives but just don't talk about it. No, that can't be, unless everyone spent time in prison.

I put in my time for a crime I committed. You see, I killed a man. I got fifteen to life and now I'm out. According to the judge I had extenuating circumstances. So, wow, I'm out in only fifteen years. At least I got out five years earlier then expected with time off for good behavior. 

Fifteen fucking years because I killed a man who I thought was raping my wife. If I had known what I know now there would have probably been two dead bodies unless I would have been able to just leave. I'm a man and at that time I had a lot of pride. 

Let me explain life and how I see it. People around us act some way and we react to their action. Boy, that sounded dumb, let me give you examples. 

I'm standing in an aisle in any store. A couple is there and the wife bends over. I'm standing next to the husband or whoever and we both see the woman's panties and the crack of her ass. I'm supposed to ignore the scene but I can't. The man sees what I'm looking at and smiles at me. How am I suppose to take it? I would love to say, "Nice ass. Mind if I touch it?" Yet the man just stands and stares at his wife's ass too. I'm never sure what to say or do.

I go in another aisle and the woman has no bra on and I see her big tits and her nipples. I start getting a hard-on because my brain doesn't know any better. I want to reach out and grab this lady whom I don't even know by her tits. She has every right to wear or not to wear a bra. Do I have a right to look at her breasts? Good question!

Girls and women wear hip-huggers. They hang as low as four or five inches below their belly button. Get close enough and you see the light fuzzy hair on the lower belly and to me it's a turn-on.

All the movie stars push sex and are married time and time again. The movies themselves are all about sex. Now television is all about sex. So when I'm out in public I look at every woman and I think about sex. However some women, I would never want to get near with a ten foot pole (well, unless you've been in prison for fifteen years) and there are others that I would almost go to jail to get hold of, until I settle back down into reality. 

To young people today all those things and lifestyles are normal but for us slightly older people, especially those who have been out of commission for awhile it's sexy as hell and very confusing.

I'm not even sure where to began my story. There is enough information in my head to write a book. I guess I ought to start with telling you about my formerly wonderful marriage that ended in divorce when I went to prison.

Rita was my wife of nearly ten years. I had just gotten out of college and was a regular guy looking for a job. I went to this one firm and as I was waiting to be interviewed I kept looking at the receptionist. Damn, what a cute girl/woman! At twenty-two, I looked at women as a younger guy would. They were girls, broads, gals, or women, all the words were interchangeable with me. I kept smiling at the receptionist who was Rita. We started a conversation and eventually I asked her out. I got the date but not the job.

I did find a job selling hardware products. It was a good paying job, I received both a salary and selling bonuses. Life was turning out to be pretty good for me being fresh out of college. A girlfriend and a good job, I was on my way to a successful career and life. I proposed to Rita after just a few months and we were married by the mayor of our town. I couldn't have been happier.

We bought a nice home and started a family. After a year we had a son and two years later a daughter. As far as I knew life was good. We had our problems but we had our good times too. Our life went on probably like all your neighbors. We did things with our kids, took them on vacations and had the usual neighborhood barbeques. I didn't suspect my wife was anything other then true and loving to me. I know I was to her. I had many chances for affairs since I was on the road a lot but I did my best to be a loving husband and not stray. I do have to admit it was hard at times but I had my pride and always put my family first.

We decided to put in a swimming pool for the kids - well, actually it was for all of us. That's what I'm trying to say. I never saw it coming. I thought we had a loving marriage, a good relationship. I must have been walking around in never-never land with blinders on. Rita seemed like a good wife and mother. Problems and arguments, sure we had them just like every other married couple we knew. Even after fifteen years I still can't get it out of my system. Where the hell did I go wrong?

We had the swimming pool in and were enjoying it. The kids, who were then seven and nine years old, were in the pool all the time. Rita and I would get in after dark and she would take off her little two piece bathing suit and we would do it in the water. I remember the first time we had sex in the pool. She slipped her bottoms off and I started fingering her under water. Then I pushed her against the side of the pool and put my hands under her ass as she raised her legs and wrapped them around me while I entered her. The feeling was so different with all the splashing of the water that we were doing. I came loads in her; good thing we bought the larger pool filter.

After the first couple of times, Rita thought we should get a privacy fence put up so the neighbors couldn't see us while we were in the pool. I started putting up the fence the next day, setting the poles for the fence. I knew it was going to take me a week to put it up by myself so I left all the tools out that I knew I would need like the wheelbarrow and shovels. The only tools I put away were hand tools and electrical stuff in case of rain.

I was supposed to go out of town for a couple of days and told Rita I would finish the fence when I returned. As usual she was pissed at me saying I was never at home like other husbands. I explained to her for the hundredth time that I was a salesman and I had to travel, that was my job. She yelled at me and said I should be at home like other husbands staying at home and protecting my family.

She always said shit like that to piss me off. I told her if anyone tried to attack her we had a pistol in the end table next to our bed. What was a guy to do? Lots of men traveled. Did their wives always complain? Maybe I should get a job where I didn't travel. I would talk to her about it after this trip. It would be a lot less money but at least I would be home. That might satisfy her.

I kissed her goodbye in the morning and told her I would try to be home in two days. I told her to take care and I would call her. She told me not to bother; she might not be home. Again she was playing the 'Woe is me' game. So I left for my trip.

My first night I would be staying only forty miles from home. I usually stayed at the motel so I could get a quick start the following day. After our argument, I thought I would surprise her and come home and do the extra driving the next morning. When I got home, it was getting dark and I pulled in the drive. There was a strange vehicle parked across the street. As a salesman I always noticed things like that. 

The lights were off in the house except for a lamp in the living room. I turned the knob but the storm door was locked so I walked around to the back door by the pool. I heard Rita screaming and rushed to the back porch. There was Rita being raped by a stranger. I heard her screaming but didn't listen to her words. I grabbed the shovel and ran up to the pool deck and hit the rapist as hard as I could on the back of the head and neck with the shovel. I must have hit him three times, I really didn't know. He rolled off of Rita onto his back with blood everywhere.

Rita started screaming again, "You killed him, you killed him." 

I think she was in shock as I ran into the house and called 911. Rita was screaming and crying all at the same time until the paramedics and police arrived. There were two ambulances. One took the rapist and the other took Rita.

The police told me they would have to cuff me and take me to the station and question me. I told them I understood but needed to find out where my kids where. The officer said he asked my wife if anyone else was around and she said our kids were at her sister's for the night. They had planned on being there. I thought thank God they weren't home. God knows what might have happened if they would have been there. 

Rita's sister Thelma was a real looker. She was two years younger than Rita and was always dating. She was a chunky sort with big tits and a beautiful face. When she was around me she would always flirt. I thought many times about wrapping my lips around her tits, I really did, but I wanted to honor my marriage vows. I could have fallen for her pretty easy. Now looking back I guess I went after the wrong sister. Funny though that for a gal that went out and was as nice as Thelma that she didn't get married, at least in the ten years I knew her.

When we got to the station the officers took me into a room and started asking me questions. I told them to let me tell them everything I knew and then I would answer any other questions they might have.

I began by telling them about Rita and I arguing and so I thought I would surprise her and come home. When I saw the man raping her, my adrenalin just took over and I grabbed the shovel and beat him with it. All during this time I told them that Rita was screaming. I did mention that the night before Rita said she thought I should be home at nights to protect her and the kids so that was the first thing I thought when I saw the intruder.

The officers asked me if I knew the man and I told them I didn't.

"Have you ever seen him before?" the officer asked.

I told them he looked a little bit familiar but couldn't place him. That's when I got the shocking news. I was under arrest for second degree murder. I couldn't believe it. I told the officer that was impossible. I come home and find a man raping my wife and I stopped the assault and I get arrested.

"We just had a officer come back from talking with your wife and taking her testimony. She wasn't raped, That was her boyfriend and they were having sex," the officer said.

"God, no, it can't be true. Rita is my loving wife. We have two children together. She wasn't having an affair," I cried.

The officer looked at me and said, "Fella, I do feel sorry for you but you killed a man tonight. You took the law into your own hands and now you will have to stand trial for his death."

I fell silent. My mind stopped working. I had no idea what would happen next. The officers put the cuffs on me and guided me into a holding cell and then removed the cuffs.

The next morning I was taken to court for charges and bonding. I was put on a million dollar bond and charged with second degree murder. That meant I would have to come up with one hundred thousand dollars to get released on bond. The only way would be to cash in our savings and maybe a second mortgage. I called the house and only got the answering machine. I never did get out on bond. Rita never answered my calls, in fact she never talked to me alone again. The next time I saw her was in court when she literally testified against me. They say that a wife doesn't have to testify against her husband, but Rita volunteered. Allen, the man I killed, was her boyfriend. It seems that she was going to ask me for a divorce and marry Allen.

I couldn't prove that I didn't know Allen. How do you prove you don't know someone? Allen worked with Rita for the last few months. He was divorced and started to put the moves on Rita. Apparently she fell for the guy and was going to marry him. They have been together for the last couple of months. The prosecution presented a case of revenge against me saying I knew of the affair and wanted to get even and found my chance. I really didn't have a defense against it especially with my wife as a witness for the prosecution. I was doomed.

Rita must have really hated me for killing Allen. She wouldn't even let me see my kids. The only person to come and see me was my brother. Ray is the one who told me all he found out about Rita and the kids. I was to serve a minimum sentence of twenty years to life.

Ray came by every few months for the first couple of years and let me know what was happening. He told me that Rita sold the house and she and the kids moved away, but he didn't know where. He said as far as he knew she was able to even turn the kids against me. He never saw them after they moved. Let's face it, at the time they were seven and nine.

Ray mentioned that he and his family were moving to Florida and when I got out to come and see him. That was the last time I had seen him. I did get one visit from my old boss before I was sent up. He told me he felt that I was set up and he was a character witness for me. He was a decent sort. Of course he had to put on my report that he had to let me go. Legal stuff - you know how it is. I did ask for one favor. I had a 401k savings account that I had paid into for ten years for my retirement. I asked him if he could just hold it and not tell Rita or her lawyers I had it. He said if they found out any other way he would have to turn over the paper work but he wouldn't bring it up. He wished me the best under the circumstances and went on his way.

I need to tell you more about Thelma, Rita's sister. She never visited me but for awhile kept in touch with me. She would write and tell me about my kids and how they were doing. She said Rita tried to turn the kids against me but whenever she got the chance she tried to tell them what a nice guy I was. She always signed the letters, "Love, Thelma." Damn, wish it were true. She wrote me for about eight years. Then the letters stopped. I don't know if it was because of my transfer into another prison. Oh, I forgot - they like to call it a correctional facility. 

I started in Mansfield Correctional and then when they were closing up Mansfield I was transferred to the Orient Facility. There was another Dan Jones in Mansfield at the same time as me and he was transferred to Lucasville Prison in southern Ohio. I was thinking maybe he started getting my mail. That was a joke because we had our own personal number.

In the last couple of letters I received from Thelma, over eight years before, she told me that Rita sold the house and moved in with her. The kids were doing fine but Rita came down with Multiple Sclerosis, a horrible muscle disease. They were only giving her a few years. I know I was bitter against her but to see her waste away would be something I wouldn't wish on her. Besides she was still the mother of my kids. Thelma told me not to write to her because if Rita found out she kept in contact with me that the shit would really hit the fan.

I was now out of prison, back in my old hometown, sitting there having a cup of coffee and inhaling the free air. Let's see, my son would be twenty-four and my daughter twenty-two. I had no idea what they looked like anymore, never seeing even a picture of them in the last seven years since Thelma stopped writing me. Now anytime I saw a young person go by I always wondered about my kids. I hated Rita for what she did to me and our family and would be afraid to see her because I would end up back in prison. I couldn't hate my kids - a parent just doesn't do that. They probably never knew the real story and just think of their dad as a killer.

Now it was time to plan the rest of my life.

Chapter 2: What next?

I found a room to stay at in a rooming house in the old neighborhood. I figured I better go see my old boss if he was still alive and see if Rita ever found out about my 401k retirement plan. I had never told her about it. I might have a few bucks other than the couple hundred I earned at the prison. Hell, with nobody giving me money I was earning it and spending it. Lucky to have anything left.

I walked into the store; it sure looked different. I asked the counter guy if Jim still owned the place and he said he did and was in the back office. I told the guy I was a very old friend and asked if it would it be alright to surprise him. The guy looked me up and down a few times and told me to go on in. 

As I entered the office an elderly man looked up at me and screamed out, "Jesus Christ, Dan, I was told that you were dead."

I looked up at my old friend and said, "No, I'm very much alive as you can see. How's business been, Jim? It's sure good to see you. You're the first friendly face I've seen in fifteen years." 

I stayed there for a good hour and we talked. He told me about all the business changes and about his family growing up. He even offered me a job in the store. He said no man was as good at selling hardware as I was. He wished he could offer me a field job but because of my past, I probably couldn't get bonded right then.

I asked him about my 401k and he said no one ever asked about it and it had been sitting there for the last fifteen years gaining interest. He said he was going to let it sit there and contact my kids at my retirement age and give them the money. I told him to find out what it was worth because I would need funds to get back on my feet. He asked me to stop in Monday of next week when he would have my information for me and also I could start my new sales position. He liked to say that rather then the word job. We shook hands and I headed out of the store.

I was wondering why he thought I was dead. I would have to ask my parole officer about it next week. He would be glad to hear I got a job so quickly. He was a pretty nice guy but I hear he is pretty stern when it comes to parolees.

It was time to face the music as I headed to the last known address of Thelma. Damn, she was such a nice woman. I was wondering if Rita was still living with her and what about my kids. I was really nervous as I took the bus over to their street. The area didn't look like it had changed at all. Some of the houses were a little run down while others had facelifts. New siding and windows. I could see Thelma's place and had to stop before getting there. I wasn't sure how to approach her. What if Rita answer the door? Boy, was I nervous as I climbed the few stairs and knocked on the door.

From inside the house I could hear a female voice saying, "Hold on, I'll be right there." It sounded like Thelma. I was turned around with my back to the door looking down the street when I heard a voice behind me say, "Can I help you?" through the screen door.

I turned around and looked at Thelma looking back at me. "Oh, my God, my God, Danny, is it really you? My God, my God," as she opened the screen door. She came out and put her arms around me. She started crying. Other than being a little older she looked just as good as she always did. I know I shouldn't say this but having those big soft breasts pressing against me was starting to get me a little warmed up.

"My God, Danny, they said you were killed in prison. God, I'm so happy to see you," as she kept hugging me. "Come on in, Danny, please come in." She seemed to calm down a little.

Before I stepped in, I asked her about Rita. I didn't want to go in if she was there. "Danny, Rita died two years ago from MS. Please come in and we can talk about everything."


Dan's Life



I felt saddened when I heard that. Even though I hated what she did she was my wife for ten years and mother of my children. Hmm? My children what about them. I had lots of questions when I entered into Thelma's house. As soon as I entered the living room Thelma turned around and hugged me again. She put her head on my chest and cried. For the next few moments, I just held her.

God, she was so soft, so warm, my eyes were starting to tear up. "Danny," she always called me Danny, "Would you like something to eat or something to drink?"

"Thelma, I'm not hungry at the moment but coffee would be good. I have so many questions and I would love to just sit with you over coffee and talk." She poured each of us a cup; she remembered I took mine black, and said we would be more comfortable in the living room.

As we set our coffee down, she asked me to wait for a minute because she had to check on Danni. I thought for a second and said, "Danni? Who is Danni, Thelma?"

Thelma looked at me and said, "Oh, my God, I forgot you didn't know. Danielle is your granddaughter. We call her Danni. Beth named her after you." I got up and followed Thelma into a bedroom where there laid sleeping the cutest little girl I had ever seen. Tears immediately came into my eyes. This was my granddaughter. My little girl who I last saw when she was seven had gotten married and now had a daughter of her own. Thelma said she was my daughter, Beth, and her husband's child. Danni was about two and a half years old. God, I wanted to hold her so bad. Thelma whispered that I could hold her later but right then we have a lot of catching up to do. She took me by the arm and we headed back into the living room to start our talk.

"Where do you want to begin, Danny?

"Maybe you should tell me all you can about Rita and then we can go from there to happier things," I said.

"Rita started having an affair after that fellow, Allen, started working there. I suspected there might be a problem of some kind because, whenever you were going out of town, the kids came to visit me. The first few times I didn't think much about it until it became a habit. I would never deny having your kids here. I love them as though I was their mother."

"Thelma, excuse me for saying so but you are a very beautiful woman. Why didn't you ever get married and have a family? You're so great with kids."

"First off, wise guy," she smiled at me. "I've had a lot of offers for marriage. I always thought I should love the man if I were to have his kids. I was in love with one man so much but he was taken. I never found a man that could meet my standards of the man of my dreams. I dated and yes, Danny, I had sex with men I liked a lot but the love wasn't there. I had your kids here all the time so it wasn't as though I was childless. I just never met another man that met the high standard I had set. I've had a happy and good life so far. Who knows what the future holds?"

"I wish Rita thought like you. She married me and lived with me for ten years and I guess I didn't meet her standards." 

Thelma butted in. "I'm sorry, Danny, Rita was a fool. I know she's dead and I miss her as a sister. She gave up a dream life and for what? A fucking cock? I'm sorry, Danny, maybe I shouldn't feel that way but she was wrong, totally wrong. She had it all and threw it away and by doing so ruined your life and deeply hurt her kids. I lost respect for her when I found out about Allen that dreadful night. I loved her as a sister but felt like killing her myself. We argued and argued about what she did till the day she died." Thelma started crying, so I moved over to the couch next to her and held her.

After she regained her composure she continued. "Rita kept dating. I guess it was her way of getting even with you. I had the kids about half the time. After a couple of years, Rita was starting to get sick. Her muscles were giving out. She went to the doctor and that's when she found out she had MS, Multiple Sclerosis. She was able to work for about two more years and then it became too much for her. That's when I suggested she sell the house and move in with me. She was on medical leave and then Social Security. I kept my job as a cashier at the local market. We did all right financially, using the income from selling your house and our jobs. About two years ago, Rita passed away. The kids had already gone out on their own and it was just me and Rita living here at the time."

"What a wonderful sister you are. You took in your sister and her two kids and took care of them. What about your life, Thelma? You've brought all these problems into your life and took care of others."

"It was family, Danny. I did it for family. Hell, my life isn't over, I'm only in my early forties and, if you don't mind me saying so, I still look pretty damn good." She smiled again.

"I don't know of a prettier sight unless it's that little girl in the other room," I replied. "What about my kids, Thelma? What can you tell me about them?"

"They're great, Danny. At first Rita tried to turn them against you but they were spending so much time here and kept asking questions about you and when they got older I told them the truth. Their mom had an affair and you thought she was being attacked and tried to protect her. They broke down and cried. They love you Danny or I should say loved you. They think you're dead also. What happened, Danny? How come you showed up dead?"

"Tell me exactly what you did. Maybe we can figure this out."

"Well, I was writing to you in Mansfield and then one day your letter came back and said you were no longer there. After a lot of telephone calls we - that's the kids and I - found out that you were transferred to Lucasville."

"Wait, Thelma, I never went to Lucasville. I was transferred to the Orient facility. Go on with what you did."

"We called the Lucasville facility and they asked you're number. We didn't have it. We didn't know if it was the same as your old one or not, so the guy told us to give him your name. We told him Dan Jones and that the Mansfield facility said you were transferred there. He said he would check into it and call us back. He called back the next day and said, 'I'm, sorry to inform you that Dan Jones who was transferred in from Mansfield was killed last week in a prisoner uprising.' He was sorry but the body was cremated and he would send us any records if we liked. We told him that wouldn't be necessary and hung up. The kids and I cried. We told Rita later but she didn't have a lot of expression at the time."

"So that's what happened, The other Dan Jones was transferred to Lucasville and was killed and I went on to Orient. I sure missed not receiving your letters. That was the only thing that held me together for eight years. Seeing the pictures of the kids and the great stories you always told me. If I didn't know any better I would have thought you were in love with me." As I looked at Thelma, it looked like she was going to reply but didn't.

"Well, anyway, Danny, let me tell you a little about your family. I'll began with Beth and Ed or Eddie, were high school sweethearts. They dated ever since the tenth grade. Ed is a good man, Danny. He reminds me a lot of you. He's hard working, always puts his family first and is in love with his wife." 

I closed my eyes for a second when Thelma said that. At one time I really did love Rita but not anymore.

Thelma continued, "Beth and Ed wanted to get married right after high school. I told them I thought they were too young but Beth said, 'Aunt Thelma, I love Eddie, I really do. I've lost my father and my mother will be gone any day now. I love you, auntie, but I need Eddie.' I knew she meant it and I gave her my best wishes. Eddie works hard at the big automotive factory and is a welding apprentice. He will be making big bucks some day. Beth works as a cashier at the same store as me. We both work part-time and on different shifts. That way one of us is always here for little Danni."

"What about Mike, Thelma? What happened to him?"

"Oh, you would be so proud of him. He went to the local college and graduated with honors. He said he was going to be a salesman like his dad. The only difference is he sells computers and runs his own business out of his home. You also have a grandson named Mike Jr. who is three and a very beautiful daughter named Rachel. Now we have to find a way of breaking the news to everyone without them going into shock."

As we were talking a little girl came in wiping her little eyes calling for 'nanny.' God, what a beautiful child. She walked over and Thelma picked her up.

"Danni, there's someone I want you to meet. This is your mommy's daddy. It's your grandpa. She looked over at me and smiled. I didn't want to push it the first time so I just said, "Hi, sweetheart. I'm so very glad to meet you," and I kissed her hand.

I figured it was time for me to go. I stood up and Thelma said she would call the kids that evening and tell them I stopped by. We would make arrangements for me to meet everyone at the same time so there wouldn't be a problem of who saw me first. I gave Thelma a phone number of where I was staying. They had a payphone in the hallway for the renters to use. I need to go shopping and pick up a few things. I had to wait till Monday to find out how much money I had coming.

I hopped on the bus and got off at a store to pick up a few groceries. I had a small inset kitchen and one big room with a bed and couch in it. I didn't even have a TV but I never watched much anyway. We always had lights out by the time the good programs came on. As I got back to my apartment, I was walking past the phone and it rang. I looked around and didn't see anyone so I answered it. "Hello" I said.

"Is Mr. Dan Jones there please?" It sounded like a young female.

"This is Dan. How may I help you?"

"Daddy, you are alive! This is your daughter, Beth. I'm at Aunt Thelma's and she told me you were here." She was crying. "Daddy, I miss you and love you. Can you come by Aunt Thelma's tomorrow? I already called Mike and he will be there too."

"God, Beth, I love you too, honey. I met the sweetest little girl today. She's beautiful just like I remember her mommy being." She was still crying. "Yes, honey, I will be there. It's been so long since I saw you. Take care now."

"I love you, daddy."

"I love you too, Beth, and always have." Then I hung up. I walked into my room and started crying, only they were tears of joy.

I couldn't sleep. I was a nervous wreak. I got up and went out for a walk. I had to do something. I was about to see my family for the first time in over fifteen years. I had two grandchildren and a daughter, and a son-in-law. Then there was Thelma. What was not to love about Thelma. Beautiful, happy-go-lucky, loving, caring, took care of her sick sister and raised my kids, now she's there for the grandchildren and for me. She was a one in a million and I married her sister.

The next morning the phone was ringing in the hall. I answered it and it was Thelma. She said she didn't think about me not having a car and would be by to pick me up around 3:45 P.M. Everyone would be there for the cookout. It was Friday so everyone thought it would be fun, since no one had to work the next day.

Thelma was right on time. I went down the street earlier and bought a new shirt and pants. Then I looked at my shoes and picked out a new pair. It felt like I was going to an interview, one I really didn't want to fuck up. Thelma honked the horn even though I was sitting on the porch swing waiting for her. I knew she did it on purpose. I smiled at her as I walked to the car. When she pulled up in front of her house I was a nervous wreak. I was almost afraid to get out. Fifteen years since I saw my kids and now they were grown adults. 

I stepped out of the car and a young woman came running down the stairs crying, "Daddy, daddy." Beth wrapped her arms around me and cried. "I missed you so much, daddy, and then we thought you had died."

I squeezed and hug her and cried right along with her. By then everyone was on the porch. 

My son Mike came down and hugged me also. "Hi, dad, so glad to see you." 

I hugged him and then we all went into the house and the rest of the introductions were made. 

Beth introduced me to her husband Ed who put out his hand and said, "So very glad to meet you, sir, and just so you know, I really love your daughter." 

Beth still had tears in her eyes and picked up Danni and said, "You met Danni yesterday. She was named after you, dad. Her name is Danielle," which I knew since Thelma told me the day before. 

She handed Danni to me and said, "Danni, this is grandpa. Give him a hug and kiss." 

The little girl came to me and put her arms around my neck and gave me a big hug and then kissed me on the cheek. I did the same back to her and handed her back to Beth.

Mike said, "Dad, I want you to meet the love of my life. This is Rachel."

I looked at Mike and asked if it was alright to give her a hug. 

She answered for him and said, "I won't break, dad. And you can hug me anytime." 

She called me dad as I wrapped my arms around her and gave her a big hug. 

I looked down and a little boy looked up at me and said, "Hi, pawpaw, my name is Mikey. I'm three years old but next month I'll be four." 

I picked him up and gave him a hug also and said, "I am really glad to meet you Mikey."

He leaned over and whispered in my ear, "We're going to have a party for you. We have to go to the patio."

I whispered back, "Okay, Mikey, you lead the way."

We all stepped out on the patio and there was a big banner that read, "Welcome Home, Dad" and was signed by everyone. I knew Mike must have taken the time to make it on his computer. I sat down on a chair and cried. I couldn't help it. All these years I had no one. Here was my family, and I couldn't be any happier at the moment.

Everything was great we talked about old times. We laughed together and we cried together. We even talked a little about Rita. I knew the kids loved their mom right to the end but hated what she did to me. Thelma asked Mike and Ed to bring the boxes and bags of my belongings upstairs. She told them where to find the stuff in the basement. They came up with a few boxes and two garbage bags of stuff. Thelma said it was the stuff left over that the kids didn't keep, old books, a few trophies from bowling. 

They would pull out different items and I would tell about them. After they heard the stories they asked if they could keep some of the items. I guess the items mean more when you knew why I had kept them and where they came from. The garbage bags were filled with my old clothes. I asked Thelma where all my clothes went to. I knew I had a lot more than two bags of clothing. She said that Mike went through everything and took whatever he could use, then Ed went through the remainder and took items for his welding job.

I looked over at Ed and asked him if he wore my old clothes for welding? He looked at me sort of funny and said, "No sir, I cut them up and used them for rags." Everyone started laughing. I guess my stuff was outdated. I reached in the bag and pulled out a silk Hawaiian shirt, blue with yellow flowers on it. 

"Wouldn't this even make a good rag?" showing him that shirt and about three others.

"No, sir, silk, rayon and nylon don't make good rags," he replied.

"I see I have three pair of jeans. Mike, don't you wear jeans?"

"Not bell bottoms, dad." Everyone was laughing again.

Then Ed said, "So you know, sir, denim isn't good for rags either."

The other bag contained underwear, both boxers and briefs. "Mike, don't you wear underwear?"

"Yes, I do, dad, but a man doesn't wear another man's used underwear. It just doesn't happen." 

Well, everyone was laughing. I thought 'good thing they weren't in prison.' There we had no choice. You got the underwear they gave you.

"Ed, underwear is made of cotton, good for rags."

"Yes, sir, you're right, but people have a tendency to say strange things when you use underwear as rags."

"Well, at least I can wear them and the socks. I have ties also, doubt if they will get much use." 

We all were getting ready to eat when Mike asked me if he could talk to me alone for a few minutes. I told him of course. I had no idea what he wanted to say that he couldn't say in front of everyone else.

When we got inside, he looked at me very seriously and said, "Dad, did you know that Aunt Thelma is in love with you?"

I was half-shocked. "What? Mike, whatever gave you that idea?"

"She told all of us dad. We asked her why she never got married and she said the man she truly loved was already taken. We were older teenagers at the time and we weren't afraid to ask her anything. She was always honest with us. Beth asked her who was the man she had loved so much and she said it was you, dad. You were the man she loved. We all thought you were killed so I guess she felt telling us the truth after your death wouldn't hurt anyone. Dad, I just thought you should know. Other than my wife, Rachel, she's the nicest woman I know."

"Thanks, Mike, I really appreciate you telling me. So you know, I would never do anything to hurt her. You are right, she is a very exceptional woman."

We went back out and joined the party. I kept looking at Thelma and she was always looking at me. Mike had told me pretty much what Thelma told me yesterday. I knew I had to do something about it but what? I had been out of prison less than a week and had nothing to offer.

Everyone was getting ready to leave. Mike asked me if I needed a ride home but Thelma said she would take me. We all said our goodbyes and then I helped Thelma clean up what was left of the mess which wasn't much. Everyone had done their part in cleaning up before they left.

Chapter 3: Sex for the first time.

After everyone had left, I asked Thelma if she would sit on the couch with me for just a minute. I had a couple of questions that needed answering. Of course she said yes and I took her by the hand and we sat on the sofa.

"Thelma, yesterday you told me you never got married because the man you loved was not available. Who was that man?"

"The kids told you, didn't they? I thought you were dead and I needed to tell someone. I held it in for so long, I'm sorry, Danny."

"Sorry about what? What I want to know if it's true. Did you love me?"

She took both of my hands in hers and said, "Yes, Danny, I did love you, and for the record," she was squeezing my hands, "I still do and always will." She had tears in her eyes.

I wasn't sure what to say. I couldn't just say I love you too because everything was so new to me right then, I wasn't sure. I wanted to be honest with Thelma. I knew I had to say something since she answered my question.

"Thelma, I don't really know what to say. I have always had strong feelings for you but since you were my sister and I was a married man, I never pursued them. To say I like you a lot would be an understatement. Other than my kids, you are the only other person in my life. Would I like to pursue you or make love to you? Of course I would. I'm confused but I'm not an idiot. However, with that said, I'm afraid of hurting you. I have nothing to offer you and you deserve so much more than an ex-con like me."

Thelma just stared at me. I knew she was thinking of what to say. I had no idea how she was about to respond.

Then she said, "You lughead, yes, I said lughead. How thick is your skull? Didn't you hear what I have told you? I love you, I have always loved you. Not what you own, not what you have, not for money or material possessions but for you. Your heart, the inner being that is Dan Jones, that's what I love. Yes, you went to prison for doing what you thought was right, protecting your wife. I could never hold anything like that against you. In fact I love you all the more for knowing you would protect me. My only problem is how you feel about me. Do you like me enough to make love to me, to hold me, to caress me? I don't just want to be a fuck to you. I want to be your lover, your woman, maybe even your wife."




Dan's Life



Holy crap, how do I respond to that? A woman that's this nice, that is this beautiful, wants to know if I would be willing to make love to her. This question I could answer.

"My God, Thelma, I'm a man. A man that's gone without a woman for over fifteen years. There is nothing I would like more than to have you as my woman. To make love to you on a daily basis, to do everything sexual you ask me to do. Up until yesterday, I had no one. Now I have my family back and even grandchildren. Now you are telling me that I can have a woman that I have really care for and respect and yes, in a way even love and loves me for the real me."

"That's exactly what I'm saying, Danny. Are you willing to take that next step and see how compatible we are? Then she leaned over and gently pressed her lips against mine, so very gently.

We separated our lips a little bit but still close enough to feel the current between us. Then she pressed against me again and this time we were kissing a little harder. She backed away again and then came forward again so we kept kissing until we were devouring each others lips.

"Are you ready for the bedroom or do you want to try and do it right here on the couch," she asked.

"I'm not letting you go anywhere this time. I need you and want you so much."

"I know this is a downer, Danny, but will you be able to do it after such a long time?" she asked.

"Honey, the problem will be getting it to go down after such a long time," I replied.

"Good, let me worry about that," as she reached over and undid my belt buckle and unzipped my trousers. "My God, Danny, I had no idea you were so hard. Let me take care of that for you."

She grabbed my cock in her hand and started squeezing it. I reached over and rubbed her thighs through her pants. "I need to put it in you. I want my first time to be inside of you, please."

She quickly got up and removed her pants and her panties. While she was doing that I removed my trousers and briefs. We were both then naked from the waist down. I sat back on the sofa and she straddled me and lowered herself down slowly over my oh-so-hard cock. We were both in heat, in total want of one another.

"Thelma, I need to tell you, this first time is for sexual release that I have pent-up in me. I promise you I will make love to your whole body later, if you still want me to."

I couldn't believe the feeling, the hotness of Thelma, the emotion of looking down and seeing her juices running down my cock. I had both my hands under her ass as she sped up and down on my hard cock. I told her I was just about there and she pressed down as hard as she could, pelvis against pelvis. She was gyrating back and forth with my cock deep within her. 

I said, "Oh, God, Thelma, here it comes," and I shot the biggest load of my life deep within her. 

She had to raise up and let our combined juices come out of her as it ran down my cock and all over my lap and then some ran down my balls and onto her couch. 

She was screaming, "Give it to me, Danny, give me all you've got. Shoot that load in me, come on, baby, Thelma's here for you. Come on, honey, let it all out." 

She was coming almost as hard as me. Both of us were soaking wet with perspiration. My cock was still somewhat hard and she lowered herself back down. She looked at me and said, "Baby, we have one hell of a mess here but it was worth it."

Of course we didn't plan for it to happen, so we had no tissues or towels or anything. Thelma looked at me and we both started laughing. We knew when she got off my member we would have another flood of juices. I remember stories that I have read where it said a man came a lot and I always said, "Bullshit, I never could come like that." Well, I'm here to tell you that between Thelma and me we made one hell of a mess.

My dick was still plugged into Thelma as I slipped my shirt off. Thelma had to help me as it was stuck to me from our perspiring. 

\

Thelma said, "Oh shit, I'm getting a charlie horse in my calf. I have to get up. Oh, shit. Oh, shit." She was laughing and crying at the same time.

I balled up my shirt and handed it to Thelma and told her that when she pulled up she could jam my shirt between her legs. We were both still laughing. Here we were two people in their forties, me almost fifty, acting giddy like two teenagers who just had their first fuck. I smiled at a laughing Thelma who had tears in her eyes from laughing and crying so hard. She took my new balled up shirt, raised her body off my somewhat soft member and put my new shirt between her legs. She stood up and started rubbing her calf. She was laughing and said she wasn't a teenager anymore and hobbled to the bathroom. 

I asked her what I should do and she yelled out to me to sit still and she would be back with a towel as soon as she took a pee. I was laughing when she returned. There she was still with her blouse on but naked from the waist down. She had a wash cloth between her legs and kept reaching down and rubbing her calf. I was sitting there totally naked except for my socks with my belly, cock and balls covered with our combined juices.

Thelma said for me to wait while she got her camera. 

I told her, "Don't you dare." 

She was kidding and started laughing too as she handed me a towel. 

"Danny, I know that was just a fuck but it was the best fuck of my entire life, I really mean it." 

Then she said that her shower wasn't that big and that we really both needed to take one and that I could go first.

When I got up off, the couch she told me that it was going to be my job to clean the stains off the couch the next day. 

I smiled at her and said, "Yes, ma'am," and headed into the shower. 

She came in the bathroom with clean towels. I asked her if she was going to take me back to my apartment after her shower and she said, "You aren't going anywhere tonight, big boy. You made me a promise a little while ago and I intend on making you keep it."

I had every intention of keeping it but I wanted to hear it from her. Besides, I still haven't seen those big breasts I've always wanted to see up close and personal. When I got out of the shower I realized I had nothing to wear. She handed me the briefs she retrieved from my old belongings as well as a pair of pajama bottoms.

She took her shower and put on a negligee and a light robe. She looked stunning with her hair all wet. She took my dirty briefs along with my juice covered shirt and pants and put them in the washer. That way I would have something to wear in the morning.

She took me into her bedroom, where she had a queen size bed. I was standing there bare chested and said I wanted a little equality. She slipped off her robe and I could see her breasts through her negligee. She looked down and saw my member getting hard again through my PJ's. 

"You really want to see my big tits, don't you, lover?" she laughed

"Yes, dear, for the last twenty-five years, I would have liked to have seen them," I replied.

She told me to turn around for a second and when I did she slid off the negligee and got in the bed under the cover. "Okay, you can turn around now."

I climbed on the bed and pulled the cover quickly off of her before she could grab it. She was laughing as she covered her breasts with her arms. I took both arms and pulled them off her breasts and held them above her head. Then I saw these two beautiful mounds that I remember pressed against my chest - big, soft and huge nipples. I lowered my head and took one nipple into my mouth. I let go of her arms so I could squeeze her breasts but do so ever so gently. As I was squeezing them I started gently kissing her on the lips, then her cheeks, working my way down to her neck and then back down to her breasts.

As I buried my face between her twin mounds, she pulled my head down into them. "Danny, most men don't know how to love a woman's breasts but you're so gentle and caring. You make me want you to caress them, to kiss them, to love them."

I gently rubbed her twin mounds, putting my face between them and gently pushing them against my face. I knew before the night was over I was going to titty fuck her and she knew it too.

I slid my hand over her body and began rubbing in a circular motion. "Damn, Danny, that feels so good." I lowered my hand to her hairy mound. She kept it nice and trimmed but covered. I was scratching it through the patch of hair as she kept pushing her pelvis up at my hand. I slid a finger down a little further and began rubbing her nub. "More Danny, more, rub it harder," she said.

"Well, Thelma from this point on, you have to be my guide and tell me what you want, tell me how you like it."

"Oh, God, Danny, rub it harder, yeah, Danny, like that, oh God, so good. Put a finger or two in me if I'm wet, Danny." 

That was not a problem because she was drenched. I slid two fingers into her and pumped away.

I moved to the end of the bed and put my face between her legs while fingering her. I was blowing air gently onto her vagina, opening her with my finger and got closer and closer until my lips touched her ever so wet area. "Danny, you don't have to do that but it feels so good."

"I want to do it, baby. I want my tongue in you. I want to eat your pussy like it's never been eaten before." 

I pulled out my fingers and replaced them with my tongue. I was fucking her with my tongue and rubbing my face all over her pussy. Kissing, licking, lightly biting, anything to make her climax.

She reached down and spread her lips for me while I sucked away. "God, more, Danny, more, God, so good, so fucking good, I'm about to come, Danny, I'm about to come from you eating my pussy. Never happened before, never, God I'm coming, Danny, I'm coming." 

Her juices were all over my face and I kept eating her out with both of her hands behind my head. I ate her until her last spasm stopped and she let my head go.

I had a towel this time and wiped off my face but it still smelled like her juices. I climbed up next to her and started kissing her. I wanted her to know how good she tasted. She didn't hesitate as we open mouth kissed over and over. She felt my hard-on against her leg and said, "God, Danny, I don't know if my pussy can take it so soon after that last climax."

"Titty fuck? Let me put it between your breasts until I come. I promise not to hurt you."

"Okay, big boy, but be gentle with them, at least at the beginning."

I slipped my pj's back off along with my underwear and then I straddled her breasts. Laying my cock between her mounds I push them both lightly against my cock. What a feeling! She laid there with her eyes closed and let me have my way with her. The warmth and softness, I knew I wouldn't last long especially after eating her out and my cock getting so hard.

I was about to come when Thelma asked me to pull back and shoot my cum on her breasts. That's exactly what I did. I came shooting cum on both of them. She smile at me and said, "Go ahead, Danny, rub the creme all over them."

I reached down and rubbed my cum all over both of her tits. God, it seemed so awesome. I rolled off of her and she turned on her side as I cuddled my naked body up next to her, my cock against her ass. As we went to sleep I knew I would wake up in the middle of the night and have my dick in her pussy. That's exactly what happened.

I woke up the next morning and she was still sleeping. I slipped on my underwear and pajama bottoms and went into the kitchen to make coffee. I couldn't help but think of Thelma. In only a few days because of her my whole life has changed for the better. I did have to ask myself if I truly loved her or did I want her because it had been so long since I had been with a woman? Did I love her for all the things she did for me and my family? Of course the answer was yes to everything. No other person had done so much for me. That meant she loved me, but what about me loving her? 

I wanted to be with her, do things with her. I wanted to do things for her. I wanted her to be a big part of my life. I wanted to go back in the room and make love to her again. When I put all these 'I wants' together, they spelled out 'I Love Her' and need her.

My decision was made. I didn't care if it had only been a couple of days. I spent fifteen fucking years alone and I didn't want to be alone anymore. I walked back in the bedroom, removed my clothing and was going to make love to her again. She told me she loved being woke up that way with gentle touches and kisses and the light rubbing massage of her body. 

I had to laugh after she told me that and then said, "Danny, let me go pee before we make love again. If you don't, my bladder isn't going to make it."

You would have thought that killed the mood, but it didn't. When she came back in the room she climbed above my member and lowered herself down once again. She smiled at me and said, "No charlie horses, please." She smiled and the ride began.

When we got up, the coffee was already made so we sat down and talked a few minutes. 

She glanced over at the couch and said, "Looks like we did a number on my couch. Don't forget your promise to clean it before the kids come over and see it." 

I walked over to her cupboard looking for a brush and cleaning solution. Then I went and did my job cleaning the couch, all the while with Thelma laughing at me.

We had to take showers again from all the sex. We worked up a sweat every time. After taking a shower I went into my clothes bag and put on my blue Hawaiian shirt and a pair of my bell bottom jeans. I couldn't believe they still fit. Must have something to do with the prison food. As Thelma came out of the showers I walked up to her and squeezed her to my chest while she was naked. 

She said, "Danny, not again for a little while. I want to get something done today." She kissed me and went into the bedroom to get dressed. 

She was about to put on a bra when she looked at me and I guess I looked like a sad puppy because she smiled, put down her bra and slipped on a shirt. Of course I smiled back. 

We heard a knock at the door. Thelma looked out her bedroom window and I heard her say, "Oh, no, it's Brad." 

Of course I asked who Brad was and she said a guy she dated on and off. I asked her if she wanted to see him and she told me not any more. She had a man in her life now and he was all she could handle. I told her I would take care of it.

"Danny, he's about three inches taller than you and about forty pounds heavier. Please be careful." I told her I had prison on my side. People are afraid of people who have been in prison and also anyone who has killed someone.

I opened the door and this Brad character asked me who I was and where Thelma was. I told him I was about to ask him the same question.

"My name is Brad. I'm a very good friend of Thelma's. Who are you?"

"I'm Dan, Thelma's fiancé. I don't think Thelma needs your services anymore."

"Fiancé? Thelma never said anything about a fiancé or getting married. I want to talk to her right now." I looked back and saw Thelma getting nervous.

"Bradley, I'm only going to say this one time so you better listen very carefully. I'm Thelma's boyfriend. I've been away to prison for killing a man that was messing with my woman. I'm willing to go back to protect Thelma. Do you understand?"

"No woman is worth going to prison for. Tell Thelma it's over between us and I'll see her around," as he walked off.

Thelma came out of the bedroom and asked what Brad said. I know she heard but wanted me to repeat it.

"He said you're not worth going to prison for."

"Am I worth going to prison for Danny? What do you think?"

"Being honest with you, Thelma. To fight someone to get you to go out with me, no, I wouldn't do it. Prison is a really nasty place, but with that said if it was to protect you, yes, I would go to prison in a heartbeat to protect you." She hugged me and pressed those twin mounds against my chest. Damn, they were soft.

The phone rang and Thelma answered. It was Beth. She said she called my apartment and I wasn't there. She wanted to talk with me and wondered if Thelma knew where I might be. Thelma handed me the phone. 

I said, "Hello."

"Hi, dad," Beth talked in a real sexy kind of tone. "Did you spend the night at Aunt Thelma's, dad? Did you sleep good? That couch is kind of small," she laughed.

"I slept great and, no, I'm not telling you anything. I'm still the dad." I laughed. "What do you need, sweetheart?"

"We want to do something as a family tomorrow. Mike and his family and Ed, me and Danni. Of course you and see if you can convince Aunt Thelma to go. We thought we could all go to the zoo and out to eat. We could get everyone into two cars. What do you think dad? Would you like to go?"

"I'd love to go honey and I will try my best to convince Aunt Thelma to go too. I'm pretty sure I could get her to come - I mean go." I laughed while Thelma hit my arm. I handed the phone to Thelma who was still laughing.

"Beth, we would both love to come - I mean go." She had to laugh at her own slip-up. "I'm sorry, Beth, but your dad makes me laugh, he's so crazy.

"Well, you take care of dad, Aunt Thelma, and we will see you around noon tomorrow. Do you want us to pick up dad at his place or do you think he will be sleeping on your couch again tonight?" laughed Beth

"Bye, Beth. See you tomorrow," was all Thelma said.

It was then noon and Beth took my good clothes out of the dryer. She told me we had to go shopping and buy me some clothes. She said she wasn't going to be seen with me in my present clothing, all I needed was a peace symbol on a chain and I could pass for an old hippy.

I told her I didn't have the money to buy clothes right then. She told me not to worry about it and if I wanted to pay her back I could. She just loved doing things for me. I did tell her I would pay her back every cent. I wanted to take care of her, not the other way around. She let me know that I was the man and she realized it. As soon as I could afford it I could buy her stuff if I liked. Right then it was her turn to take care of me.

She got dressed and put on a bra. When she saw my sad puppy face she told me that her tits were only for me to see, not for everyone in the shopping mall. That really made me feel good. I slipped on a pair of boxers and she looked at my dick hanging so I told her the same goes for my dick. It was just for her, not for the whole shopping mall. She was my woman, and my woman was laughing.

We stopped at different stores looking for clothes for me. I still felt kind of funny about it but went along. Thelma told me if I was that worried about it she would put it on a charge card and I could make the payments. That made me feel a whole lot better. The woman always knew the right thing to say to make me feel better. I knew I needed her in my life.

That night we had pretty much a repeat performance of the night before. We made love twice plus all the extra playing around. We would put the average young newlyweds to shame. Life was finally good for me.

We got up early the next morning and ate breakfast. Damn, the woman could cook too. It might have only been eggs, potatoes and bacon but she must make it with love. It sure tasted good.

The kids arrived right on time. Beth said I could ride with her and Thelma could ride with Mike, then we could switch on the way home. Beth smiled at me as I got in the car. 

She knew what I was thinking, that she separated me and Thelma. "Dad, it's only going to be a half hour." 

Of course I acted like I didn't know what she was talking about.

Ed asked me where I got the new digs. He welcomed me to the twenty first century. I talked with them about different things but spent most of my time talking to Danni who was in her car seat next to me. I loved this little girl, my granddaughter whom I only knew for a couple of days. I told her I would push her and Mikey around in a stroller at the zoo. I wanted to be around my grandkids. I still couldn't believe it - my grandkids.




Dan's Life



I did get a double stroller and I was the one to push the kids. I didn't let anyone else have my job. Every time we came to an animal we could feed I walked over and bought some of the food, peanuts and whatnot so the kids could feed them. Most of the food didn't make it near the animals but the kids were having a blast with their grandpa. That's all I cared about.

We went into the petting animals farm and I kept giving the kids food for the animals. They wanted to make sure every one of the animals got something. Beth and Mike had their cameras and were snapping pictures like crazy. I looked up at the cameras and I think everyone saw the happiness in my face. At that moment I was probably the happiest man on earth. Life was good, especially with family around.

I rode back with Mike and Rachel. They sure did make a nice couple. I was really proud of him and told him so. We were having some nice conversation and Mike asked me a question. "Got any good advice for me, dad?"

I thought for a moment and then told him, "Mike, always put your wife and child first in your life, before jobs, money, or anyone else. But most of all love them like there is no tomorrow. That's the best advice I could give you, son." 

I got a little emotional till Mikey started talking about the zoo. I promised him we would go again soon.

Mike said, "How's your back, dad?" He was smiling and so was Rachel.

"Fine, Mike. Why do you ask?"

"When I used to sleep on Aunt Thelma's couch, it used to really hurt my back. I was just wondering if your back hurt you."

"The cots in prison are pretty uncomfortable. I guess I got used to it." I smiled, and so did Mike and Rachel.

"We love you, dad, and hope the best for you," Mike said. We stopped at a MacDonald's to eat and let the kids play. I told Mike it was fine with me. Even their food was better than what I was used to. After we ate, we headed home.

Back at Thelma's, we kissed everyone goodbye and told them we would see them sometime during the week.

Chapter 4: Starting over

Thelma and I got back to the house and we were a little tired. Lots of sex, not much sleep and then walking around the zoo all day. I told Thelma I should probably go back to my apartment because I had to go see about my job the next day and besides we both could use the rest.

"Do you really have to go, Danny? Can't you get dressed here in the morning and take the bus from here. I don't want to say goodnight to you, Danny. If you don't want to make love tonight, that's alright. We can still cuddle."

'Thelma, that's my problem right now. You won't be able to get any sleep and will be going to work tired and worn out. If I sleep with you tonight there is no way I can keep by hands off you. I want to make love to you, in fact as tired as I am I could make love to you right now."

"Then let's do it, Danny. It's seven o'clock and if we start right now we can go to bed and by nighttime we will be ready for sleep. You see, Danny, I want you as much as you want me right now."

We locked the doors, turned off the lights and went to bed for the night. Thelma was right, by ten o'clock we were both fast asleep until the alarm clock went off in the morning. 

I got up first and showered and put on my new clothes. By then, Thelma was up and in the shower. As she stepped out to dry herself, I walked in and kissed and pulled her against me. I told her to have a good day at work and I would see her later. I walked to the bus stop and headed to the hardware store.

Jim was there to greet me and invited me into the office. He told me he had all kinds of information for me. To begin I could have one of two jobs. I could have my sales job on the road with a big salary and incentives. The bonding company saw no problem because my prison sentence had nothing to do with money. In no time, I could be back on my feet. The second choice was I could work in the store. My wage would only be about nine dollars an hour. That would be less than half what I would make on the road sales. He would give me incentives for large appliance sales which would help some.

"Now about your 401k, it's accumulated to over one hundred forty thousand dollars," Jim said.

"My God, Jim, I had no idea it would be worth so much. How did that happen?"

"According to the account administrator, your investments split a number of times and you left them to accumulate and gain interest. The down side is if you take any of it, it would be taxable income and also carry a 10% penalty tax. You can have your money in a few days. If you want to talk to him, here is his name and number. He's right down the street at the bank. As far as the job is concerned I need to know which one you are going to take."

We filled out the paperwork for the job. I filled out the bonding papers also since Jim told me the bonding company had said as long as I handled money I needed to be bonded. So either position I had the paperwork to do. I had mentioned that I would like to go see the bank guy and see what options I had. I needed transportation and had to get a drivers license. On Tuesday I had to see my parole officer and update him on my life.

Jim and I decided I could start work the following Monday. That way I would have time to get a driver's license and be able to make deliveries. I asked Jim if I could borrow his car or the delivery truck if I needed a road test. He had no problem with that and told me to just stop back when I needed it. He would even drive me there if needed. I never realized what a good friend and boss he was. He didn't turn on me like a lot of people did. He was a man I respected and I knew I would work hard for him. Apparently he believed it too.

That evening I took the bus back to Thelma's. I knocked on the door and she came to it. "Why are you knocking, you old coot? Come on in. How did your day go? I want to hear everything."

"Tell me about your day first. I want to hear about your day too. Tell me everything," I replied.

"Okay, I'll go first. Everyone at work said they had never seen me so happy. They all wanted to know what happened in the last few days to make me look and act so young and to glow like I was. I told them an old friend moved back into town and I spent some time with him. They told me I ought to marry the guy if he could make me feel and look this good. Okay, it's your turn." 

"Let's see, where do I begin? I got a job today. I start next Monday." I explained to her my two choices. Big pay and on the road sales or nine dollars an hour and work at the local store nine in the morning to five in the afternoon."

"Which one did you take, Danny?" she asked.

"Let me tell you about the rest of my day first and then I'll tell you. I never told anyone but I had a 401k that was never cashed in. The problem is any money I take out of it will be penalized. I'll tell you more about it in a few minutes."

"What are you doing to me, Danny, making me wait for the rest of the story?'

"It all ties together, just bear with me. I got my driver's license today also. Jim let me use the company truck to take my driver's test. Would you believe I got a probationary license. Geez! A forty-nine year old man with a probationary license. Now I need a vehicle. When I get done with our talk, you and me are going to find me a little truck."

"Where are you getting the money for that, Danny? You didn't cash in all your retirement, did you?"

"Okay, Thelma, let me explain. I had nothing but a few hundred dollars a few days ago. So, any money I have now is money that was unexpected. I want to help my family, my kids. I want to help you if I can, I want a vehicle to get around in. I don't like taking the bus."

Thelma was waiting for the rest. "Come on, Danny. What did you do? Enough suspense already."

I smiled, "I took out ten thousand dollars for each of my kids. You have to understand that I've done nothing for them in a long time. It's not a great amount of money but I'm sure they could both use it and maybe Beth could stay home more with Danni if she wants to. I know Mike could use his for his business or personal use. That will be up to him."

I looked over at Thelma who had tears in her eyes. She knew I had to do this. Pride means a lot to a man. I wanted some of mine back.

I continued, "I took twenty thousand more and opened up a savings account in mine and your name. You need to sign this card and return it to the bank. I want about nine thousand or so to buy me a little truck to get around in. The rest of the money is for anything you feel we might need. So you know, there was over one hundred forty thousand dollars in my account. I left the rest of it there for retirement. I can get it after I turn fifty-nine and a half without penalty."

"What about the job, Danny. Which one did you take and what does it have to do with the savings account?"

"I was going to apply under emergency funding and hope I can get past the penalty. It's fifty-fifty right now whether I'll get it. I can save a bunch on the taxable part if I were married. My tax on it would be more than cut in half."

Thelma was looking at me kind of strangely. "Okay, let me get this straight. I want to make sure I understand this. We make love for three straight days and I think you are asking me to marry you so you can save money on your taxes. Is that about right?"

"Yep, it's right as far as you went. Thelma, I realize I really do love you. Not just the sex which is great but for the inner person who is Thelma. The woman with the big heart, she's the one I love. As far as the job goes. If you agree to marry me, then I'll take the nine to five job. That way I won't ever be away from you overnight. If you don't want to marry me, then I might as well be gone most of the time and make more money. My kids will still be here on the weekends when I come home."

Thelma was crying, "You big lughead, of course I'll marry you. I would even have married you so you could have had your tax savings. God, I love you so much, Danny."

Conclusion:

Well, I took the nine to five job. Got myself a little used pickup truck for about eight grand. I gave each of my kids ten thousand dollars each. They both thanked me and said they appreciated it very much and would put it to good use.

Beth only works two days a week now and Thelma watches Danni those two days. Ed got his welding apprentice and his income took a big increase.

Mike's business is booming. His computer business is in high demand. He is able to turn down any overnight jobs. He said he didn't want to be away from Rachel and Mikey. I don't blame him.

As for me and Thelma, We got married the following weekend. I had to postpone my starting the new job for a week. We went on a short honeymoon to the Pocono's, saw the sights by day and made love by night. That's one thing we never stopped doing - making love. We may have to cut back a little though. You see Thelma is forty-two but she's now carrying our baby. Isn't life great!!!

*

Thank you for reading my story. I hope you felt as good reading it as I did while writing it.

Your comments are always welcome

DG Hear