0 comments/ 19156 views/ 4 favorites Looking for a Frugal Woman By: EgmontGrigor2011 CHAPTER 1 Riley Hall found out his Australian wife of seven months intended to divorce him for 'irreconcilable differences' and he mused about that. He had no idea what her beef about difference problems with him were but she'd become a pain in the ass in recent months, at him all the time to work longer to earn more money to buy the things she wanted. Jesus, what a selfish woman. Anyway, she'd left the rented house, taking most of her things, leaving just junk, and taking some of their jointly owned things as well, like their car. The note she'd left pinned to the kitchen door by the carving note read: 'I'm leaving and will divorce you on the grounds of irreconcilable differences you lazy asshole with the brain of a bird and you scratch your balls too much for my likening. I blame my mother for this. She urged me to marry you, pretending I was pregnant. Good riddance. Unloved Diane.' Well at least she had the decency to keep her blathering short. Riley packed his things, called their joint solicitor to give her his mother's address in America where he could be contacted about the divorce. "What divorce?" "Diane has moved camp, taking our only asset which is our car, and left me a note saying she will be seeking a divorce because I don't earn enough money to finance her spending aspirations." Julie said she had no knowledge of this and Riley said neither did he until he read the note half an hour ago. "Well you can't just clear out Riley. We'll need you to complete the legal processes if Diane goes ahead with this threat." "Tough. She can work through those problems without me. I'm not staying around here." "Are you returning to America?" "I haven't decided," Riley lied and cut the call. He'd packed two bags and would leave everything else. Diane had wanted to rent the expensive property and proceeded to complete the rental agreement without his involvement so if she didn't keep on paying the rent, she'd be the one the debt collectors would chase. He grinned and pocketing her note took a cab to the airport and to his delight secured a seat to LA on a flight leaving just after midnight. At the airport, Riley paid to get a photocopy of the I'm-Divorcing-You letter and posted that with a signed and dated note to Julie stating that he consented to the stupid bitch Diane (nee Banks) Hall proceeding with her intention to divorce him but as she was the initiator it was up to her to meet all costs herself. Riley walked into the house in Kansas next evening at dinner time and said, "Hi mom." "Omigod it's Riley. Darling what a surprise." "Are you here for money," his dad said suspiciously. "And hi to you dad," Riley said as his mom rushed to hug him. "Where's Diane?" "I have no idea mom. She walked out unannounced and left a note saying she wants a divorce." "Oh no you can't do that." "Why not mom?" "Because I want grandchildren." Their only child grinned. Five days later Riley (31), who'd been lecturing at university in Australia on American Literature, secured work as a subeditor on a small town newspaper and went to Innes Falls. The editor had studied Riley's web page and although believing Riley was over-qualified for the position, hired him because applicants were few and all who'd been interviewed so far were considered unsuitable, most never having worked on a newspaper before. It also helped that Joe Lind, the editor, knew Riley' father who published a smaller newspaper. Innes Falls was a pretty town backing on to wooded hills and had a 27-mile long lake a one end. The river had been dammed to form that lake for the generation of hydro-electricity and that was the end of the town's falls and the bickering about the loss of that natural feature had continued for about forty years. But the old diehards had mostly died or moved on and the survivors found the younger generation wasn't interested in hearing about a natural feature now buried under 20 feet of water and tons of silt. The Bugle was a lively morning newspaper that served three other communities and a large hinterland, with 55,000-plus copies being printed daily expect Sunday. The thin, bespectacled and balding Joe Lind eyed his new recruit who had an athletic build, stood six feet and had blond curls and blue eyes. "Your father told me you married in Australia, so where's your wife." "Dunno mate?" "We speak American here." "Oh yes. She walked out on me and her whereabouts is a mystery to me." "My wife and I are left with our youngest daughter who's looking for a husband." "Sorry Joe, I have no desire to commit bigamy. Also I'm thinking of becoming celibate." "That's not healthy Riley." "Oh? Tell me about it?" "Um that's the extent of my knowledge on that subject." "But you want me to have sex with your daughter." "Jesus Riley, my wife would lecture me if she thought I'd suggested that to you." "Then what are your suggesting?" Joe scratched his neck and said he suggested they continue with Riley' induction. They toured the editorial department where Riley met Joe's youngest daughter Beth, who was news editor. She had a lovely manner and a great smile. But being 5 ft. 3 in. and perhaps 30 pounds overweight she fell outside of his concept of a sexually attractive woman. No doubt she had a good brain and possibly was a great cook and liked movies and watched sport on TV, but first things first. The chief copy-editor Meg Peebles was thin but also sexually unattractive and was introduced as Beth's best friend. Meg appeared dour and rather listless but the other four in the subbing team, Maria, Ben, Mike and Katja greeted him enthusiastically because they'd been carrying the load of being one person down for almost five months. His impression of the big-boned and blonde Katja switched on his sexual antenna and that was good. To the delight of Riley he was paired with her. "You may call me Cath if you have difficulty with my name," she smiled as he struggled to avoid looking at great cleavage. He said he had no problem with pronouncing Katja and asked could she manage the name Riley and she smiled and said softly, "Welcome. It gets a bit dull around here." Then she told him she had an 18-month daughter and lived with the father who was waiting for his divorce to become absolute before marrying her. Still Katja appeared the best partner to work with on the subbing team. He made notes as Katja outlined their systems and deadlines, instructed where to find the electronic Style Book and then Beth took him off to an interview room used by reporters and briefed him in depth. She soon found he was aware of basic procedures, having worked for some years as a reporter and then as a copy-editor on his father's newspapers during his senior high school and college years. "You are the only one of us that has a doctorate." "Oh god, is that a handicap?" She smiled and said of course not. The subbing suite was in the open work-plan news room and their chief sat facing the team who were arranged in a tight semi-circle. Riley had not seen such a layout before and initially though they were seated too closely together but in time found it worked very well as none of them was the disruptive type and inter-communication was excellent due to that layout. After lunch Beth took a call and walked over and handed her phone to Riley, saying. "It's mom". Presumably she meant her mom. "Good afternoon Mr Hall. This is Kitty Lind, Joe's wife. I would be delighted if you could come to dinner on Saturday and enjoy time with us as part of your settling in at Innes Falls." "Um yes I accept with delight Mrs Lind." "Excellent and please call me Kitty," she said and gave him the address and time. Basically the subs worked from 2:00 to 10:00, with one on rotation working from 4 to midnight with that late-finisher responsible to deal with late-breaking news and any glitches with editorial copy detected by production people. Because there was no newspaper on Sunday the subs had Saturdays off and one other day as well. Of course they all wanted Friday night or Sunday night off to give them a two-day break but their fairly regular other day off was arranged by negotiation with Beth who managed the roster. Riley was offered Monday or Tuesday nights and chose Tuesday as his second day off. Riley had decided to resume writing his novel while living in relative isolation and not knowing know other people apart from those he worked with, although he anticipated that would change. But first was the need to find permanent accommodation. The next morning he called at Sampson's Realty and the Realtor Mrs Sampson attended to him because her team of six people were all out or busy. After qualifying him she smiled. "I own a small property that could be exactly right for you. Come on." Riley decided no way would he be shoveled into a dump that everyone else who'd been shown it had rejected. He assumed Mrs Sampson was lying when she said, "This was my late father's hideaway very close to our home but because my four siblings and I were female, he acquired the land and built the cabin to give himself time away from mom and their five daughters. I've known Joe Lind since we were four and at college we were lovers and I was looking forward to the probability of marrying him when Kitty O'Neill caught his eye and that was the end of me. But we remained good friends. Kitty called me this morning and said you might drop in because we are just across the street from that cheap hotel where you are staying." "God that's a homely thing to have happened to me." "You'll love Kitty when you meet her. She's just the sweetest person you'll ever meet. She mentioned she'd meet you at dinner on Saturday and that's good for you because Kitty as a cook is legendary." The cabin was inside city limits, beside the river and within a grove of trees that was part of a riverside reserve that included some sports grounds that occasionally became flood ponding area during exception rain but the cabin was on higher ground and had only been flooded once to Mrs Sampson's knowledge. "Well what do you think?" "Great location and I'll take it." "I haven't mentioned the rent yet?" "Mrs Sampson you appear to be a fair lady to me. Where do I sign?" "Oooh and I like you. Please call me Cassandra. This cabin is a mess and I'll get a crew out here today to clean up. It will be ready for you from tomorrow night and so your rental week will start from the next day." Riley was delighted. It was such a perfect setting for an author and a retreat to bring sexy women, especially if they were married and required absolute privacy. He thought if Kitty was such a lovely woman perhaps he should consider dating her wallflower daughter Beth to get regular access to Kitty's legendary cooking. He was window shopping in the main street when a very attractive woman in a blue Fiesta tooted and waved. Riley assumed that was Kitty O'Neill. Oooh, she appeared worth dating. On Saturday evening Riley pushed the doorbell and heard light footsteps almost running. The door was flung open and the woman whom he'd seen waving on Tuesday came at him smelling of a perfume scented of lilies a smiling, holding out her hand to be shaken. Impulsively he hugged her and she patted his head and cooed, "Oooh you are the kind of man I like." That was said softly, not at all suggestive. Riley knew instantly he more than liked her. "Come in and meet the family," she said. The two other daughters were there with their husbands, all a little older that Riley, and Beth was there 'with her best friend' Meg and in time Riley recognized by the touches and long glances those two were lovers. Joe took Riley's drink order (a beer) and Kitty took Riley's arm and led him over and introduced him to her friend Mabel Jack, husband Rory and their daughter Jennifer. They appeared to be a nice couple but the daughter, Jesus. She was a real peach... peachy colored cheeks, fine blonde hair, amused blue eyes and, as far as he could see, a trim body. "Hi Jennifer," he said, clasping her strong grip and not letting go instantly she eased her grip. "And what do you do." "I'm an associate in my parent's law firm." "Ah I'll need an attorney; is that why you are here?" She frowned. "Of course not. I would require a male as my attorney anyway." The new frown was darker. "But then again I am a big tease." She smiled and her bemused mom said, "Well as an opening conversation, albeit mostly one-way, that would rate as original." Jennifer asked, "Exactly was does a copy-editor do?" Other conversations stopped and Riley knew he was now under deeper appraisal and decided not to pontificate. "We stand between the sometimes grammatically suspect reporters and the more grammatically discerning readers, dress up their work to make it look interesting, look to detect inaccuracies or over-the-top statements in anything that comes before us and we hope to impress our beloved editor." Jennifer said that was explicit. "And what explicitly do you do Jennifer." "I act as an intermediary between my clients and those who seek to punish them for misdemeanors. I operate at the low level of police apprehensions and court appearances at present." "And where do you hope to end up?" "As a senior partner in my parent's practice. And what about you, as an editor?" "Working as a copy-editor is fine at the moment but I intend returning as a senior lecturer at university level in American literature and work for promotion. Either activity fits in with my plan to return to complete my novel." And that brought everyone into the conversation about the unfinished novel. Answering three questions, Riley said he was thinking of abandoning 'Josh Smith's Final Stand.' "You see I have returned from Australia where I went to lecture and while there married an Australia girl seven months ago. She's now divorcing me, being unsatisfied that I refused to take a night job so I could earn more to pay for her increasingly expensive lifestyle. I'm now thinking of basing a novel loosely on that experience." "Do you have a working title in mind for that," asked one of Beth's sisters. "I do and it's for a novel based largely on what happens to the poor guy as he attempts to move forward from the collapse of his short marriage. It will be 'Looking for a Frugal Woman'. They all laughed and Riley said, "Right, that's enough about me." Two days later Jennifer called Riley and invited him to lunch that day. He agreed and in surprised ask how did she get his cell phone number? "Don't you remember Kitty asking you for it at dinner on Saturday?" "Ah yes just as I was leaving. She would have been aware I hadn't made a move on you." "Oh that's very astute. Yes she invited me to dinner to be introduced to you." "Well I'm happy about that." "Thank you," Jennifer laughed and ended the call after telling him where to meet. Lunch was a friendly meeting and he did say he would make an appointment soon to sign on as a client. "What about my mother or father or one of the associates?" "It's you I want." "Oooh. Um Riley, I'm an upfront sort of person. I have been dating the same guy for almost four years." "Lucky you," he smiled and soon after that she said she must get back to the office. "This is on me," she said as she stood and grabbed the bill. "Thanks," he smiled and moved in and kissed her, noticing she didn't look at all surprised that he did that and he felt her kissing back. "Friends?" "Yes I'd like that," she said. He went off to the newspaper offices feeling a little gutted but a couple of days later Kitty called him and asked how he was settling in. "Fine thanks." "I heard today you and Jennifer met for lunch." "Yeah and it went well, as far as I'm concerned, until she told me she has a long-term boyfriend." "That could mean nothing Riley. What I'm about to tell you is between you and me. I suggest if you are interested you apply a little pressure. Her mom says Jennifer is not fully satisfied with Byron and that's why they romance has stalled." "Thanks for telling me that. Do you date Kitty?" She laughed, sounding very pleased with him and said, "That's enough of that you naughty young man." Next morning a courier van arrived and the woman driver said as he came out of the cabin, "Omigod, what a wonderful retreat amid suburbia. You have it made young man." "Thanks," he said, signing for the box. He unpacked six jars of preserved peaches, four jars of strawberry jam, two tins of home-made cookies, a bottle of vodka and a bottle of vermouth and three packs of mixed nuts. At the bottom of the box he found a note: "Welcome to the neighborhood you sweet man. Jennifer drinks vodka martinis. Kitty." Jesus. Suddenly he didn't feel so much alone. Emotionally revived, Riley booted his laptop and headed the start of his novel, 'Looking for a Frugal Woman.' He began: 'Frugal: Thrifty, prudent. Opposite of extravagant.' Moving down he wrote CHAPTER 1 and began with something that had been running through his head, a guy living in a foreign land being devastated to learn in a note left by his runaway wife who was becoming increasingly extravagant in her ways that she had dumped him and would seek a divorce. As the day warmed, Riley moved outside under the shade of a tree where from the picnic table he overlooked the 50-yard wide brownish flow of water that came from the spillway of the dam five miles to the north. He smiled thinking if that dam ever collapsed he was done for but then so would many other people in low-lying areas of the city. From what he knew, the risk was negligible. The following morning he began looking for a vehicle and by lunchtime possessed a low-mileage black Dakota ST 4x4 pickup purchased from the Dodge dealership half a mile away from the newspaper offices. His thinking was single men were comfortable driving pickups and if Jennifer didn't want to ride in a pickup they could use her vehicle. He called her and left a message. Jennifer called back and said hi, it was good to hear from him. "How are you settling in?" "Fine but I'm a bit lonely." "Oh um perhaps I could find one of my girlfriends who..." "I want you Jennifer. But leaving that aside for the time being, I have a dinner break at 6:00. Could we meet at a bar this evening and...?" "Yes, Frank's Place is near you. Would that suit?" "Yes fine, I know where it is." "I could be a little late but will be there." She arrived dressed in a black business suit and when she sat on a bar stool facing him, Riley could see above the stocking tops to confirm she wasn't wearing tights. He was sure Jennifer had seen the longish glance but she made no effort to close her legs or to swing round to face the bar. "You are looking very beautiful." "Thanks Riley. I suppose you think we'd make a handsome looking couple?" "I've thought about it. What about you?" She looked away and their drinks arrived. "You don't mind me not drinking from a glass?" "No it's fine." "So you have thought about being with me." "God Riley." "I take it that's a yes." She shifted uneasily and then smiled. "Can we continue as friends if you push relentlessly like this?" "Come and see the cabin and decided if you would feel comfortable moving in with me." "Riley please. I might date you but I have no intention of moving in with you." "How old are you?" She smiled and set she bet he already knew and had studied her website. He said ah so she had studied his website and she looked away. Looking for a Frugal Woman "Just give me a chance, that's all I ask." She looked straight at him, unafraid, and asked, "When?" "When you are ready. Now moving on, let me tell you I've started the novel. "Oh god," she said, planting a foot on the floor to drag her chair closer, so close they knees touched. She didn't appear to mind and Riley didn't and even though about running a hand up between her thighs and decided she would find that unacceptable behavior in a public place. They discussed the novel and she asked had he ever met a frugal woman who was happy? "Good point Jennifer, that's really something for me to consider. In fact it may mean me abandoning this novel." "Oh no, there are degrees of frugality. I suggest you talk to Kitty about that. She is involved in voluntary social work two mornings a week and over the years had been involved deeply in community organizations since she gave up her occupation." "Which was?" "She was a family physician for fifteen years." "Good god, she could be a wonderful resource for me." Thirty minutes later Riley pushed Jennifer's skirt back from her knee, patted her knee and returned to where her skirt had rested originally. "I have to go." "That was an usual thing to do to me." "I just felt the desire to do it. Thanks for not panicking." "We can do this a couple of times a week if you wish. It's on my way home." That caught Riley by surprised. "There's no need to be surprised. The more I talk to you the more I seem to like you. You have far more depth than I expected." "Are you frugal?" She laughed and said no but then she lived easily within her income. "Do you live with this guy?" "Yes." She waited and then asked, "No more questions about that?" "No. Just get to have more time with me, that's all I ask." "I suppose you are thinking of me spending a night with you." "In my dreams. Bye Jennifer." Breaking out of the kiss he touched her check at stared at her intently. Although the lighting was dim he was close enough to see the blush spread and that delighted him. God for her to said she supposed he was thinking of spending a night with her, she must have been thinking about that possibility. As Kitty had suggested, he must keep up the pressure Riley called Kitty next day to tell her he'd had a drink with Jennifer the previous evening during his dinner break. She was on her way home. "Good boy, sexy little meetings like that will add up." "Is that how she would view it?" "I really don't know but it would be how I would regard it if I were married or living with a guy." "That's very interesting and you said they would add up?" "I did. The more you get to know someone the better placed you are to make positive decision about them." "I would like to meet you to talk about my new novel that I have commenced. I need to know more about frugal women." "Did Jennifer suggest you consult me?" "Er yes." "Well you two are really advancing conversationally. Yet you should come over here. What about Saturday?" "Um only if Joe will be home." "God Riley, I love you. Dear boy I'm sixty-one and young men no longer have affairs with me and Joe knows it. But never mind, he'll be home and I'll tell me you will be coming to discuss your novel at 11:00 and will be staying for lunch." "Oh thanks. Um tell him I wish to know about frugal women, if they exist higher up in society and how they think." "No I will not. It's none of Joe's business what we talk about but he's free to hover I guess?" "Yes of course. Kitty I adore you." "Yes, yes. First impressions are always great Riley but dear boy you know how to groom my ego. Jennifer will wonder what's got hold of her when you start banging her. Her man is even duller than Joe and the poor girl had finally admitted that. As you may have noticed Jennifer is not particularly worldly or sophisticated but I think she could be sensational in bed. She's very athletic. Riley are you still there?" "Yes." "Oh I've almost over-powered you. For that I apologize." "Oh no it's fine. It just requires a mind adjustment on my part Kitty. You have far more horsepower for a woman... um..." "Of my age?" "Exactly. Um that's a compliment." "And I realized that. I swim and practice yoga to keep my marbles in tune. I shall see you here at 11:00 on Saturday." Riley immediately made extensive notes of that conversation. He'd decided his heroine would have a dominating mother and Kitty would be the model. That conversation had told him a great deal about Kitty and how she mixed openness and personality to interface so successfully with people. The blonde Katja that Riley was teamed with so that one of them could take the other's specialist activities should one of them become sick or otherwise unavailable, invited him home for dinner that evening. The invitation came as a surprise. Her put her bike in the box of the pickup and as they drove off he said, "Will you boyfriend join us for dinner? "No he's out of town with my daughter. Are you embarrassed to be alone with me?" "No definitely not." "Well you have sex with me?" "Yes if that's what you wish." The 30-year old said she would like that. "Let's go to the bedroom first," Kata said, taking Riley by the hand as he closed the front-door. She was highly excited and that exited him. "Undress me," she said. "I'm not in the habit of being promiscuous but you work closely to me and I feel close to you and this opportunity came up." "Oh good. Um I'm developing a close friendship with a woman." "That's fine. We'll probably do this just the once." Katja was almost as tall and as heavy as Riley and she had sufficient horsepower to leave him almost gasping at times. Her pussy was pretty big but she knew how to squeeze him at the right time. "My boyfriend is smaller than you and he fists me to really get my off," she confided and at that Riley pulled out, ripped off the condom and blasted over her chest and she screamed in delight and she hit her climax. She was great at sex but indifferent as a cook but Riley was more than happy. She'd drained him sexually and he'd eaten worst home-cooked meals. Two days later Riley made an appointment and went to Jennifer's office as a client. "Normally I asked for details of your last attorney to get a copy of your file. In your case you have to decide whether you wish to be traced. But if we don't establish this link you may never know whether your wife proceeds and wins a divorce." "Yeah well you won't have sex with me if you know that's adultery," Riley smiled. "Oh I might choose to be that naughty." He reached for his wallet and handed Jennifer the business card of Julie in Australia and requested Jennifer make full contact with Julie and ask if divorce proceedings had commenced. Jennifer came around her desk to Riley as he rose to leave. "Will you come to my cabin for sex?" "That's a lovely offer. Please allow me to think about it." "May I squeeze a breast, I mean now." "If you feel you must, yes." He squeezed a handful of the left breast and Jennifer made a small cry and slammed into him and kissed him. Riley broke away. "I'm a real menace for you, aren't I?" "You are but I'm not complaining. Off you go." The meeting with Kitty was very productive and Joe was the perfect host at lunch. On Monday, the chief copy-editor Meg Peebles and Riley were listed to take the late dinner break at 7 pm. The newspaper's café was almost deserted and Riley took the opportunity to ask a personal question. "I could be sticking my neck out here but are you and Beth in a relationship?" "Yes does it show?" "I only noticed when you two were together at that dinner at her parent's place when I first arrived here. May I talk to you about it as part of research for my novel? I have no idea of what it's like for girl on girl." "Perhaps it's better than what you think. I can get Beth and myself off once we are running hot by just repeatedly pushing a swollen nipple up and down her leaking pussy with her watching fascinated and me watching her. She goes off with a scream and I follow." "Jesus, I had no idea." What continued was one of the most educating half hours in Riley's adult life. * * * At the office, Riley's flair was noted and soon he was given the 20-page Saturday lift-out magazine called 'Weekend at Leisure' to design and lay out but was not required to do all the subbing and was free to change headings on any articles submitted. He immediately increased the book reviews page from one to two and more advertising was booked in that section and within a month 'Weekend at Leisure' had increased in size by four pages to 24. The three book reviewers were increased to five and Riley soon found himself drawn into the city's literary set and he began receiving invitations to social functions that usually included a partner. He saw that as opportunity to pressure Jennifer. He told her about the invitations when they met for drinks at a bar. "I guess what you haven't asked is would I consider going to some of these functions with you?" "Yes." She said they sounded interesting and if she were free at the time, yes she would accompany him. "But I'm not riding in that truck thing you drive." "Well I'll meet you at the locations." "No I shall call for you." "What if when you are dropping me back at the cabin I lure you in?" "I'll take that risk," she giggled. Hmmm. The phone awoke him at 7:00 next morning. "Hi it's Jennifer. Can we meet urgently for coffee?" He suggested now and she said yes and when they met over coffee fifteen minutes later she dumped him, saying she could no longer have anything to do with him because late last night Byron proposed marriage and she accepted. Shocked by the suddenness of it, the abrupt about-turn, all he could say was, "Well this is it?" "Yes." "Then please transfer my file to your mother if she's prepared to take me on." "Very well." And that was it, abruptly. She departed, leaving him to pay. Well the world hadn't fallen in, he mused. He still has his job, a home, a draft novel under construction and Kitty more than liked him. Riley called Kitty and told her. "Damn." He thought that was a great response. But it was even better when she said, "Come over for breakfast and to talk after 8:30 when Joe will be heading to the office." Riley arrived at 8:45 and almost cried when Kitty hugged him and patted his head and said she was so sorry but in this world many things happened unpredictably. Riley felt a whole lot better and told her so and she looked ever so pleased. "Would you like a woman to date?" "Um yes." "One who might be open to having sex with you?" "God what will Joe say?" She just grinned and said he was such tease. God he loved her. "Do you remember Cassandra Sampson?" "The Realtor, yes I do. She's a lovely women and it doesn't surprise me she's a friend of yours." Kitty smiled and said Cassandra's youngest daughter's marriage had hit the wall after five months because she's unwisely married a guy who was addicted to... to...?" "Pussy?" "Um yes. For some reason vagina didn't appear to be the appropriate word although both are nouns." "One is an informal noun, a slang term, and is used informally. With the other common usage leans you to saying women's vaginas and that sounds, well, rather pompous in comparison." "Wow I do tend to have interesting conversations to you. But back to Cassandra's daughter Kit as she calls herself although actually named Kitty after me. She is sitting at her family home feeling abandoned and despondent. Cassandra hasn't managed to get Kit to seek work but she might be persuaded to come and clean for you and mow your small lawn, knowing you are in the same boat, having been dumped by your wife." "So two losers together eh? What a depressing thought." "Kit's not a loser. She simply awaits re-ignition. But if you're not interested..." "Okay, please see if you can get Cassandra to bring her to the cabin one morning. There is not a great deal of cleaning to do in a place that small but she could come at 9:00 and cook us breakfast and we can chat and I'll pay her fifteen bucks an hour for four hours." "Ten bucks is the going rate in this city for private cleaning." "Well ten bucks and free breakfast and all the coffee she can drink." "Leave it to me. Now would you like my thoughts on the reasons why so many marriages fail as possibly useful information to work into your book?" "God I wish you'd been my age and free when I met you Kitty. Fire away." * * * "This is my youngest daughter Kit that Kitty her godmother spoke to you about Riley?" "Well thanks and hi Kit. I guess you know this place from years back?" "Yes when granddad was still alive," said the unhappy and wan-looking female of about twenty-four. So you know all about me?" "Only that you are the victim of a collapsed marriage and have been sitting at your family home undecided what to do and you might so some little jobs for me in return for a free breakfast and coffee and the chance to converse with a failed marriage recuperating male." "Kitty probably thinks you can get me out of my parlous state." "If she thinks that she didn't say that to me. But I know she finds me interesting and at times amusing." "What would you require me to do?" "Arrive here at 9:00 every morning and cook me a light breakfast. I'll probably be working on my draft novel but will be ready to eat and to talk to someone. You then clean the cabin and then help me with my novel but telling things to me about how you found marriage, how your friends cope with their marriages and cope when things go wrong, if you know about them like that. Then we have lunch and you finish at 1:00 and I'll write till 1:40 or so and then head off to work." "So I'm not expected to sleep with you?" "Good heavens no. I would think that would be the last thing you'd want to do just now. You probably think all men are swine." Cassandra smiled and at hearing that. "Well dad is okay and you sound not too bad. If you must know I called Kitty about you and she said you were lovely and had just been abandoned by another woman." "Yeah Kit well sometimes the crap hits the fan I get splattered." She presented her first smile, albeit a tiny one. "When may I start?" "Now, I haven't had breakfast yet. If you start early you go early four hours later. Kit will be happy during her time here Cassandra, I promise you. Kiss me and head off to work. Call Kit on her phone as much as you wish. And Kit do us both a favor, dump those granny clothes and come here tomorrow dressed in summer clothes, a top and either shorts or a short skirt and bring a hat and a jacket and sunglasses. Think of here as being a riverside resort. That's why I'm in shorts and a polo and wearing sunglasses and nothing on my feet. I wasn't aware you guys would be coming this morning." "See Kit, he is nice and talks sense. Just relax with him, that's all I ask." Cassandra kissed them both and left. "Have you kissed my mother before?" "No." "What do you think of her?" "Well what do you think? She qualified me as a prospective rental client of her firm and then trusted me with this place, probably the first time she'd ever rented it to a stranger. I accepted the offer, believed the rental was very fair and that left me thinking more than kindly of your mother and it doesn't surprise me that she and Kitty Lind are best of friends." "Have you thought about the possibility that I might not return here after today?" "No and that would be your decision Kit. However I already feel we'll get along fine." Kit took a deep breath. "You won't pressure me for sex will you?" "No I assure you of that." "What is it about me you don't like?" "Nothing I'm aware of. But having sex with a stranger is the last thing you need right now." "And you think that's being considerate?" "Yes." "And so do I. What shall I cook for breakfast?" "Bacon and potato mash. I boiled extra potatoes when cooking my dinner last night." Riley noticed the change in Kit acutely. It was like a fruit tree blossoming. She even left on that first day looking decidedly better than when she'd arrived. The following morning she was dressed in shorts and a tight top. "You can see much more of my legs and the shape of my breasts." "So?" She appeared nonplussed. "Why can't you answer?" "It's because I appear unable to think of an answer." "Then I suggest you say you can't think of an answer or be more upfront and say you over-stated the situation. You know I know you have legs and breasts so what's the big deal?" "Riley I overstated the situation. Would you like me to show more of my legs and more of my breasts." "No reserve that unveiling to the day you decide to seduce me." "What?" "Yes what a good choice of word. What was it about what I just said that you didn't understand?" "I never expected you to be so upfront talking to be about sex." Riley sighed and said she now knew differently. "Indeed I do. But I have to say does it matter?" "God you are exhibiting intelligence." She smiled and when she left at 1:00 she held her lips out to be kissed. "You are like a tonic for me," she smiled. "So do you call them breasts or tits?" "What?" She laughed and said, "Yes what was it about what I just said that you didn't understand?" He laughed and said touché and Kit left looking fairly happy for her. Cassandra called him. "I can't believe how successful you are proving with Kit. She's come to my office smiling and says she's happy because you are such a nice guy and she can relax in your company in your environment. You know I had belief deep down you'd pull it off. It's all about her confidence, isn't it?" "Yes confidence and being protected against nasty shocks." "Well thanks for helping me to get my daughter back to her former sparky self. Um just a warning, if she feels so good about you she may fall for you." "Yes and I've thought of that possibility. I'll call you if I think that's beginning to develop and you can lure her from here and steer here into another direction." Cassandra snorted and said that shouldn't be her responsibility. "Someone has to accept responsibility when she is like this and you are her mother." "Well yes I am but..." "The alternative is for me to leave here." "No that would be totally unfair." "Cassandra I promise I'll continue to tread carefully with her. I am engaged in pushing her thinking to reopen her perspectives on life but I'm probably doing all the wrong things." "No please continue. The old belief applies here: time will cure her. You bounced back from your similar predicament according to Kitty. You have understanding." Riley sighed and thought those women had dumped Kit on him for that reason rather than for her need to do some work in a safe environment with someone new to interact with. Then he figured perhaps they had considered all those things as a total package? Editor Joe Lind made a surprise announcement at the Friday afternoon news conference. For the first time the independent selection committee had nominated The Bugle for two awards in then Annual Regional Newspapers Awards in its division of medium-sized (by paid circulation) newspapers. The newspaper occasionally had one of its reporters in the Best Reporter in its division or competed for the Best Front Page but this year Linda Jones had been nominated as Best Photographer in The Bugle's division while the May 21 publication of its 'Weekend Leisure' was nominated for both the division award and the open all newspapers award. Looking for a Frugal Woman Joe told the meeting of the news editor, chief reporter, chief photographer, chief sub-edition and production manager, "This is a red letter day for us, three nominations including our first ever nomination for an open regional award. That issue of 'Weekend of Leisure' was the second issue that Riley Hall has designed and edited." Workers on the newspaper were delighted to learn about those nominations for the prestigious competition designed to recognize and promote excellence in journalism. When Meg accompanied by Beth the news editor arrived at the subbing group and Meg announced Riley's success in being nominated twice in two sections of the award, he was warmly congratulated. Later everyone clapped when the intermediate-grade photographer Linda Jones entered the big newsroom. For a long time people had been calling her The Bugle's best photographer. The awards were still a month away. Next morning Kit arrived and threw down the newspaper in front of Riley and said proudly, "Congratulations," referring to the photo of Linda and him on page 3 announcing the nominations. "Thanks." "Mom found it in our paper before I left home and showed it to dad and me. She's also so proud of you." "Um tell her thanks. What did you do prior to marriage?" "I was recruited by a bank from college and still worked for the bank until the resigned when, to use your term, domestically the crap hit the fan." "Is it okay talking about this?" "It appears so. My temperament must be improving. I was an internal auditor when I left." "Wow, well when you are ready to resume that career tell me and I'll mention it to my editor. He is the Rotary Club and bankers are members." "Thanks I'll think about that." "But in the meantime I want you to continue on here." "Oooh thanks. I thought I was getting a hint to quit." Riley smiled and said he looked forward to sharing his mornings with her. Kit looked at him carefully. "Are you interested in me sexually?" "Yes but let's not rush it huh? Look I'm to address a small meeting at Langford Park High School tonight of parents and their senior pupils interested in studying English Lit at college. Would you like to accompany me?" "Why are you asking me?" "To get you out of the house at nights. You could regard it as another step back to normality." "Very well I accept." "Call me if you wish to pull out for any reason. Um should I call for you in a cab?" "Why? You have your cute pickup. It's sportier than most sedans." Riley was pleased about that reaction. But he questioned his growing desire to get his hands around her boobies. Today she was wearing red shorts and a matching red polo, a tight polo and oh man! "Are my nipples showing?" He looked and said not particularly. There was an awkward silence broken when she said, "I'm later getting breakfast. Mom often does corn on toast. Would you like that?" "Yeah, sounds great. Um about your nipples..." "You were just looking there a lot, that's all. I just wanted to draw your attention to that fact." "Oh I apologize." "Don't. You wouldn't look at me like that if you weren't interested." As they were returning from Langford Park High, Kit said, "You were great, wonderful really and most people there recognized that. The head of English was not over-exaggerating in her praise. You made me feel I'd missed out not taking English Lit." "What degree do you possess?" "A master's in banking and finance." "Wow. Then why don't you sign up tomorrow for an online degree in English Lit?" "And wow to you. I'll think about it. Actually it's not a bad idea even if I only study for a diploma. Do you want me to stay over tonight?" Riley tightened his grip on the steering wheel. "It's a good thought." Kit said, "What do you suggest?" "It's not late. We call in at your home and you tell your mother about this intent." "God no, I'm not ready to do that. We should just do it." "Kit, I'm saying this kindly. If you are not ready to face your mother over this then you are not ready to sleep over." They drove on in silence and stopped in the street outside her home. She got out and Riley said good night. "Come in with me. I'm telling mom I want you to have sex with me and dad too if he bothers to listen." "I suggest you do it gently and just say you're sleeping over. It's the best way to present it. Your mom has had a rough time over your marital break-up too." "Very well." Cassandra greeted them both warmly and asked did they want coffee. "No thanks mom. I just wish to collect some things. I've decided I want to stay over with Riley tonight." "Oh." "Mom I wish you could have seen him in action tonight. He had those students and most of their parents hanging on to almost every word. I'm so enthused that I'm thinking of seeking a secondary qualification in English with emphasis on American Lit." "Omigod, Riley must have sounded masterfully. Um this has not clouded your judgment has it?" "No and do I need to tell dad?" "No he's busy in his study." "Come and help me pack an overnight bag mom and you can talk to me privately. Riley help yourself to coffee in the kitchen." "Er right, thanks." Cassandra kissed them both as they left, making no attempt to have a quiet word with Riley. In the cabin they eyed the double bed at the far end. The bathroom was to one side. "Do you wish to just sleep with me or what?" "I wish to be aroused and then gently fucked." "Well let's get going. I'm so glad you desire to do this." Kit said frowning, "Aren't you going to attempt to talk me out of this?" "No because I'd like a gentle fuck too. You are old and smart enough to pull out of this if that's what you decide." "What if I don't really know what I want?" "Kit I think that's highly unlikely. I only hope you're not too big for me." "Oh god," she laughed, darting off to the bathroom and then returned sheepishly to unpack her toilet bag. Kit came from the bathroom to find Riley standing nude waiting to use the bathroom. She looked at his semi-erection and said breathlessly, "Me too big for you? You've got that wrong." He came from the bathroom and went to the bed where Kit was on her back nude. "Kiss me and then lick my pussy." The kiss was slow and long and eventually her tongue entered his mouth and he squeezed the breast his right-hand was palming a little harder and she began moving her hips up and down. Kit broke from the kiss and murmured, "Pussy wants licks and fingers Riley" and that was not the kind of request that Riley was prepared to leave hanging. He worked for some time until Kit was leaking. "Time for you to suck me," he grinned. "No I want it. Put on a condom and push in." Well it was her show. He did what she wanted and within minutes she came and gasped that was enough." They lay together briefly and then she went and showered while he made fresh coffee. She accepted the cup with a smile and said the sex had gone better than expected, that emotionally she felt great. "Let's try again later in the morning. I have a feeling I'll really be into it by then because I'll have my negative thoughts sorted." Riley thought that was a great idea and said so and was rewarded with a soft smile. He had the distinct impression he'd not be in a hurry to change anything in a hurry. Everything was proceeding well and he was feeling very confident about his draft novel. THE END