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Maggie's Story

By: rwsteward



The brakes on the CTA bus screeched as Maggie's stop came up, just as they did every day, year after year. The late spring day had turned dark and cold as brisk winds whipped through the trees sending a chill down her back. Maggie grabbed her coat and tightened its collar around her neck as she walked the four blocks to her home. It was Friday; the start of the weekend, but Maggie had no plans. This weekend would come and go as they always do, and she would be all alone. Her face was expressionless as she dragged her way back home. Each step she took seemed like her last. 

Maggie looked pale, worn out and beaten. Her once long and wavy cinnamon-red colored hair that used to tumble down her shoulders and onto her chest, was now tied up in a loose knot upon her head. The once vibrant twenty-five-year old required all she had to make it through another day at work. Wearing no makeup and dressed in a long, drab-colored skirt and sandals, she could almost be mistaken as a bag lady picking up cans along the curb.

When she reached her home, the old wooden porch gave out a slight creak as she stepped up onto it. A quick fumble with her keys and she entered her home. 

"Hello Winston. How was your day today?"

A large tabby cat greeted her at the front door, rubbing his face along her ankles. 

Inside her home the blinds were pulled down halfway, giving the house a semi-dark Goth like appearance; a cross between twilight and dusk. A stack of Cosmopolitan magazines was spewed out across the coffee table, pushing several empty Chinese take out boxes to one side. A lone fish swam endless circles in an aquarium next to an end table. The clock on the VCR forever flashed twelve-pm as a few skirts were hanging on various doorknobs, while some shirts hung from the door jambs. A stack of dirty dishes over ran the kitchen counter. Between the overflowing laundry baskets and Winston's litter box, the house had an odor, a combination somewhere between a men's locker room and a bottle of ammonia. 

"What a day Winston, I'm really glad to be home."

Winston arched his back and rolled over trying to nudge a belly scratch from Maggie.

Maggie fell back into the couch exhausted and stroked Winston's belly, except for a ticking clock on the wall, the sound of his purrs filled the otherwise, silent home. Maggie was alone with nothing but her thoughts and her fears.

As she sat down on her couch her mind began to race, generating thoughts of things that happened and things that were yet to be. Suddenly, Maggie dropped her head into her lap and started to softly cry.

"Oh kitty, why did he have to die? Why? Please tell me why he had to leave me?" 

The more her mind raced; the depression she had been battling with these last few months took on a new strength beating her up using her own thoughts. As she sat in silence, alone in the fog of her mind, the internal dialogue she had been fighting to keep under control all this time begun to spew out. 

"I'm so very alone! No one wants me. No one loves me. I wish I was dead. I wish I had never been born."

More and more of her internal thinking came to life adding more fuel to her depressed mood. Perhaps it was the weather, the gray skies and all, but her mood was growing darker as the minutes of the day melted into the infinite realm of time.

"Oh Winston, I'm so lonely." 

Soon her crying intensified, sending rivers of tears down her cheeks and onto the couch. Grabbing a pillow, she hugged it with all her strength, as she pulled her knees up against her chest. She began to cry uncontrollably as she rocked back and forth. Maggie slowly started to lose her grip with reality, her mind a cocktail of negativity. 

"Oh God, I'm losing it!" she cried out with such intensity that, Winston jumped down and hid under a chair.

Maggie started to cry hysterically. The very fabric of her being was being pulled apart till the threads that held her conscience to the logical world began to unravel. As her mind started to disconnect from reality, she began to fall into the abyss of deep depression. 

She reached out for the phone lying on the coffee table, but her hands shook so violently, she couldn't pick it up. She made a second, then a third attempt, at last holding the phone in both hands. She tried to focus on the phone's display, but her eyes were having trouble focusing through her tears. Finally, she entered a number in the speed dial. The phone began to ring.

"Hello."

"Joyce…"

"Maggie is that you?"

"Joyce, I don't feel so good," she said trying to keep the phone to her ear.

"What's wrong honey?"

"I'm tired of being alone. I… I don't want to live anymore… Oh Christ, I miss him. I just want to die. Please make the hurt go away…"

"Maggie! You still there? Maggie, listen to me Maggie. Answer me Maggie!"

"Joyce, you've been a good friend."

Joyce could hear Maggie crying in the background and tried again to get her to talk.

"Maggie, listen to me. Did you take you meds today?"

"A few…"

"Maggie, I'll be over as fast as I can. Now you have got to promise me you won't hurt yourself. Do you promise me?"

Joyce heard no reply.

"Maggie, I'll be there as soon as I can. You just lay on the couch with Winston to keep him warm till I get there, okay? Maggie, if you don't promise me, I'll have to call the police, you don't want them to upset Winston do you? Promise me Maggie. I'll be right over."

"I promise…" Her voice grew softer.

Now Dale Earnhardt would have been proud as hell of Joyce as she made her way down Chicago's busy streets and over to Maggie's house. Pushing and at times exceeding the speed limit, running though yellow lights, time seemed to slow to a crawl as Joyce fought traffic. Her mind was racing. Did she make a mistake by not calling the police or EMS? Would she find Maggie in a bathtub of crimson-red water? Perhaps she would just tire and just fall asleep.

As Joyce pulled into Maggie's driveway, she could smell the heat from the brakes and hotness of the car's engine. Not stopping to shut the car's door, Joyce ran to the front of the house and she pushed the door open. 

"Maggie! It's Joyce! Are you okay?"

She heard nothing but the tick-tock of the wall clock. She called out again, "Maggie!"

Then she saw her, lying on the couch, one hand outstretched on the carpet; several empty pill bottles were within reach.

"Oh no! Sweet Jesus no!"

Joyce checked and found a pulse, her breaths were slow and shallow, but she was still alive.

"The phone! God, where's the phone!" Joyce shouted in desperation, franticly scanning the area with her eyes searching for the telephone Maggie had used to call her.

"911 Operator. What's your emergency?"

"My friend! She's taken an overdose of pills! Oh God, please hurry!"

"Do you know what kind and how many?"

"They're ah, mostly antidepressants, some others, I don't know!"

"Are the bottles near by? Can you read them to me?"

"Molipaxin, Yentreve, and Alprazolam. They're all empty! Oh my God, you got to hurry!"

"The system has your address up, and I have dispatched both an EMS and EMT squad to that location. They're in route and should be there within a few minutes. Do you want me to stay on the line with you?"

"Just tell them to hurry. I'll be here."

With that, Joyce hung up the phone. She placed Maggie's head into her lap and stroked her long hair with her fingers. "It will be fine. It will be just fine. You will see. It's going to work out just fine. Oh Maggie, suicide is not the answer Maggie. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem."

Joyce looked out at the oak tree in Maggie's front yard, the tree was in bud, and she wondered if Maggie would get to see the oak bloom again next spring. In the silence of the room, Joyce could at last begin to hear sirens in the background, growing ever louder as each second ticked into history. 

At last, the squads arrived and they began taking vitals on Maggie. "She still with us," one of the medics called out, "Dispatch, we have a twenty-five-year old white female, approximately one hundred twenty pounds, with a possible drug overdose."

Joyce heard cracking over the radio, "Start Ringers, D5W, transport as soon as possible."

"May I come with her?" she asked one of the paramedics.

"Okay, you can ride with us to Mount Sinai Medical Center."

As the squad rumbled though Chicago's streets, Maggie was still clinging to life drifting in and out of consciousness. Tubes, wires, and other medical equipment were attached to monitors. They beeped and chirped together amid the drone of the ambulance's sirens. And while none of this made any sense to Joyce, when the EMT tending to her called out, "Step on it Paul, Step on it! Faster buddy, gotta go!" Joyce instantly knew Maggie's was teetering on the knife-edge of life.

From the perspective of where Joyce was seated, she by chance looked up into the rear view mirror and for a second locked eyes with the driver. He could tell in her eyes the desperation and fear she felt. He pushed the accelerator to the floor, and the mighty Allison diesel responded in kind with the roar of a thousand caged tigers. The ambulance lurched forward with enough force Joyce had to grab the hand strap. The boost turbines fired up with an angry wail, jamming volumes of air and fuel into the engine. They screamed so loud that for several seconds, they drowned out the sound of the sirens.

"We need to get there in one piece, Paul!" the EMT called out from Maggie's side.

They had cut her shirt off and were attaching more wires and patches to her chest, connecting even more electronics to her. As both EMT worked on her, one reached over and pulled a red box from the side floor and opened it up. 

"Charge to 500 joules." 

The machine in the box let out a high-pitched 'ta-weeeeee,' and Joyce could see a display counting up. Several seconds ticked by, and a small red light blinked ready.

"Is she having a heart attack?" Joyce asked trying to be heard above the noise within the ambulance.

"No, but I like to be ready just in case." 

As Joyce looked around within the ambulance time appeared to slow down. The voices from the radio and even the EMTs working on Maggie seemed to be talking as though they were a record being played at the wrong speed. Every movement appeared to be in slow motion.

Suddenly, the brakes started to squeal, and the ambulance slowed as it pulled into the hospital. Time appeared to catch up with Joyce, and the turmoil inside the ambulance returned. Arriving at the hospital, the ER staff started working on her even before she was completely out of the ambulance. Joyce reached out and grabbed onto a doctor's arm. 

"Here! I picked up the empty bottles she had on the floor."

The doctor smiled back and said, "Great thinking. You might have just saved your friend's life!"

Maggie was whisked back to the ICU room. It just seemed that every doctor and nurse in the hospital descended into that tiny ICU room. It was touch and go for a while, but Maggie survived her brush with death that day. She was moved up several floors of the hospital and into the mental health ward. Forty-eight hours later, Joyce was allowed to see Maggie. She was half-asleep in her bed when Joyce walked into her room. 

"Maggie, it's me, Joyce. How you doing?" 

Joyce brushed Maggie's hair from her eyes and held her hand. 

"Who's there?"

"Maggie, it's Joyce."

Maggie perked up a bit and opened her eyes, trying to lock focus on the face leaning over her.

"Joyce I'm so sorry. I just wanted to stop the pain. That's all, just stop the pain."

 "It's okay. Hush now. What happened is what has happened. You can't change what is in the past, only what is in the now. You can't even control the future as that has yet to happen. You can only do the now, and right now, you need to get better.

"Here, I brought you some clothes and some other items you'll need. The hospital staff told me you will be here for a week or so. I talked to your doctor, and he told me he would try some different meds. He needs time to see how you react to them. He's got counseling set up, and Maggie, it really is important you go."

"I'll go." Maggie replied in very soft voice.

"That's the way to think! You need to talk to a professional and the counselor will help you deal with the feelings and the pain with issues you had in your past."

Maggie remained in the hospital for ten days, she attended the classes, and she took her medications. She improved quickly and the doctors released her from their care.

While Maggie was in the hospital, her friends came over, cleaned the house, opened the blinds and put out flowers to brighten the home. Joyce brought her home early on a Saturday morning.

"Now you and I have got to make a deal. If you're having a bad time, a bad day, you need to call me." Joyce said with authority.

"I will. I really will. I'll be fine."

"Well just in case, you're not so fine, here, take this. It's my phone number along with the national suicide hot line, 1-800-273-8255." Joyce stuffed the paper into Maggie's shirt.

Maggie hugged Joyce and opened the door to her home. It was brighter than she remembered it. Winston came running, purring as he came into the room.

"Hello handsome! Did you miss me?"

Winston turned his motor up more and just purred and purred away. His purring smoothed over the rough edges Maggie was feeling; the feeling of being alone again.

The old oak tree came into leaf and summer quickly sped by. Maggie did have a few nights that were bad, but true to her word, she called her support group and they rallied around her, helping to keep her footing on the ground. 

As summer gave way for autumn, the leaves of the oak tree turned auburn red mixed with brilliant yellows, then slowly, one by one they fell to the ground. In what seemed like a blink of an eye, snow began falling as winter again took control of the windy city and blanketed the area with ice and snow. The holidays came and went, and Maggie did manage to go to a few Christmas parties; she even had a date or two. Although nothing clicked with the guys she dated, it felt good to her to be out and about. 

The dark long cold days of winter beat her up a bit, but her good days were starting to outnumber the bad days. Slowly the days grew longer, and again the oak tree in her front yard was in bud.

****

Maggie used to run and had participated in several marathons. While never coming in the top five, she always managed to finish each race and with good numbers. The running kept her figure toned and lean. Maggie's long legs gave her an advantage over most of the other runners. She just needed to work on her time.

So it was on a late spring day that Maggie had stopped along a running and bike trail to catch her breath. She had been pushing herself to the point she needed to stop, resting her hands on her knees. With her hair tied into a ponytail and wearing sweat soaked pants and shirt, she was quite a sight. Suddenly, she heard gravel flying and the screech of bike brakes.

"Hi!"  "Hi!" Maggie said, never looking up.

"I'm Drew. You know if you took up bicycling, you won't get as winded. Easier on your knees, too."

"My knees are fine."

"What's your name?" Drew asked as he moved toward her a bit, still straddling his bike.

"Margaret, but my friends call me Maggie," she said as she finally looked up at the voice coming from the bike.

"Well Margaret, you should consider giving bicycling a try," Drew replied as he pushed on the bikes pedals and sped down the trail.

Then perhaps a hundred yards or so down the path he stopped. He started to think things over then pointed his bike back toward Maggie and peddled back. Again, he pulled alongside her, gravel flying as he skidded to a stop. He took his bike helmet off and placed it under his arm. He had sandy blond hair and bright brilliant blue eyes with a smile that went ear to ear. Unlike the muscle bound guys that pump iron in the park, Drew was tone, and sleek with an athletic body just geared toward bicycle racing. Wearing a bright yellow shirt, and brown shorts, he could have been at home running along a beach in California. Maggie looked up at him this time and returned his smile.

"Margaret would you like to go for some pizza and a drink or two at Smiley's this evening?"

"Why would I want to do that with you?"

"It might be the best offer you get today for a free dinner. You're cute! What do ya say?"

"I don't know. I mean I don't know you. You could be a serial killer or something."

"Well I'm not a serial killer."

"That's what Ted Bundy said."

"You know, I bet you watch too many Forensic Files shows on the Discover Channel don't you? I'll tell you what, I'll meet you at Smiley's then. How would that be?"

"No! I don't want to do that. You can pick me up at my house. I don't live too far from Smiley's and we can walk there. Don't try to pull anything as I have some very large and mean ex boyfriends. I'll tell them where I'll be going and if you hurt me, they'll pull you through a knot hole, feet first!"

"Damn that would leave a mark! So, how about seven-pm then, Margaret? Yeah almost forgot, what's your address?"

"It's Maggie. My friends call me Maggie," she repeated before handing him a slip of paper to Drew with her address on it.

"See ya at seven then!" Drew said as he peddled down the trail.

As Maggie headed down the running path, she couldn't figure out why she agreed to a date with a stranger that fast. He seemed nice, good looking too. But, it was his demeanor that seemed to say he was the real thing.

****

She waited outside her house and at the appointed time Drew arrived as he had promised. Maggie was wearing blue jeans and a sweater, her hair was tied up in a ponytail and she looked fresh and upbeat.

"Well you look very nice. I have to say, you clean up rather nicely."

As they walked toward their destination, they chatted about nothing of importance. Finally, they made it to the restaurant.

"Well what do you want on your pizza?"

"I really don't care," Maggie said, "I'm easy."

"Guess you can't go wrong with the basics. How about pepperoni and cheese?"

"Sounds great!"

As they waited for the pie to bake, Drew looked over to her and said, "You have the prettiest greenest eyes I've ever seen!"

Blushing Maggie just smiled back.

"Well I guess I should be the one to start. Let's see."

"My name is Drew Carter. I'm twenty-five. Never been married, never fell deeply in love. I've had several girlfriends but cupid's been a piss poor shot when he tried shooting at me. I dropped out of college because I kept changing my major. I wanted to be a doctor, but found I enjoyed coding computer software more. At twenty my buddy and I started our own company dealing with SQL databases, and we now have about fifty or so employees. I was born and raised here in Chicago. Oh yeah, I like to cuddle on the couch with the one I love watching TV along with long barefoot walks along a beach with the girl I love while under a moonlit sky."

Maggie loosened up and began to laugh. "Isn't that what all those single ads say?"

"Well you can't go wrong with the basics. Maggie you have a beautiful smile."

"Thank you. Well let me see, I'm also twenty-five. My name is Margaret Herrington, and I work for a company in downtown Chicago. I also was born and raised in Chicago. Both my parents are dead. I have no siblings. My best friend is Joyce whom I've known since high school. I had four years of college majoring in business accounting. I've been in love but never married. I've…"

Maggie grew silent and looked down at the floor.

"Hey, that's a good start and look just in time as our food is coming out."


Maggie's Story



They continued to make small talk about their likes and dislikes and quickly found the restaurant was about to close. As they made their way back to Maggie's home, she quickly brushed her hand across his. Drew reached out and touched her innocently. When they made it back, Drew stood on the sidewalk in front of Maggie's home.

"Well this is the awkward part isn't it?" Drew said.

Maggie leaned in toward Drew and gave him a quick kiss on his cheek. 

 "I had a nice time, and yes I will."

"Okay, I'm lost," Drew replied.

"I had a good time, and I know you want to ask me out again, so I said yes, I would enjoy going out again with you."

"Well, I'll be. Good looking and efficient, too. How about this Saturday evening then?"

"Same time?"

"Yup, same time. I'll see you then."

Maggie closed the door behind her and leaned against it. Winston jumped down from the couch and came walking over to her. "Winston I like him."

Drew watched her enter her house before he walked to his car. As he drove back to his apartment he couldn't quite put his finger on it, but Maggie was holding something back. "I guess she'll tell me when she's ready."

They both enjoyed each other's company as their dates grew more frequent. They now walked hand in hand, and at times Drew would put his arm around her waist. Their conversations turned more intimate as they grew closer.

So one day after an afternoon of antique shopping they walked along a pond in the park. A few geese would run up begging for bits of bread, squawking as they moved about. Several small children played with their toy boats along the water's edge. Dusk was beginning to fall as they headed back toward Maggie's home. As they were leaving the park, Drew pulled her from the footpath and behind a large tree into the shadows.

Drew pulled her close with his arms for a moment, then he ran his hands through her hair, tilting her head back. Maggie closed her eyes and could smell the cologne he was wearing. He took his hands and cupped her round soft face, running his thumbs over her high cheekbones. Then he ran his fingers around the edges of her lips, causing Maggie to softly sigh. 

Maggie had been secretly waiting for Drew to kiss her, and his timing had been perfect.

The warmth of his breath was upon her cheeks. She wrapped her arms around him, bringing him tight against her. She parted her lips ever so slightly as she felt her heart pounding in her chest. They touched lips, and she felt his tongue run along her bottom lip giving her a pause, but she opened her mouth and willingly took him in. Her face turned red as emotions filled her being. Maggie's knees seemed to grow weak and Drew had to steady her.

Drew took in the smell of her perfume as he continued to kiss her lips, running his hand down her spine and back up to the nape of her neck He continued to plant small kisses on her ears and cheeks until at last he looked into her eyes.

She opened her eyes then let out a shallow breath and said, "I've been waiting on this for weeks."

She looked around to make sure no one was watching then took one of Drew's hands and placed it on her shirt. She opened one of the buttons and slid his hand inside. Drew found her bra and lifted it up enough so he could run his fingers across her small mounds. 

"These are nice," he said as his fingers explored under her shirt.

"Kiss me again."

Drew bent down and touched her lips with his tongue, causing Maggie to stand up on her tiptoes. More of Drew's kisses overwhelmed her and she grew limp in his arms. Drew withdrew his hand from her shirt and buttoned her up. He ran his fingers over her cheek and smiled. 

"You're quite a catch. I knew there was something about you that attracted me to you that day on the trail."

They went out several more times. They rode bicycles up and down the running trail. Maggie talked Drew into trying some jogging where she ran him into the ground. They enjoyed a ball game or two, and it seemed that every few days they were together. Drew could still tell there was something Maggie was holding back. So on an early Saturday evening they both decided to walk along the bike trail. As they walked, Maggie led Drew over to a bench and motioned him to sit down. 

"Drew, there's something on my mind. We've been seeing each other now for a while, and I just can't keep it from you any longer. There's something I just got to tell you."

"Go ahead. What's brothering you Maggie? You can tell me no matter what it is."

"There was another man. A man I fell in love with. I just can't describe to you how much we were in love."

"What happened Maggie?" 

"His name was Scott. He just loved to fly. He was working on his commercial pilot's license. There was an accident, and well Scott was killed. They called it a microburst and there was nothing he could have done.

"When his parents went though his room, they found an engagement ring. The ring he was going to give to me. The ring I never got."

"I'm so very sorry Maggie."

"After that, my life has been a constant struggle. My house is a mess. I can't seem to go forward with anything. I can't seem to get any dates, and the guys I see are all weird or messed up. Oh, god I didn't mean you Drew; I'm so very sorry. You see what I mean. I'm all screwed up. The past few months being with you have been what's holding me together. I wasn't going to tell you 'cause I feared you'd leave me if you knew."

Her eyes were red and Drew could see she was on the verge of bursting out in tears.

"No offense taken Maggie. You know sometimes it just feels good to cry."

"I've cried way too many tears thinking about Scott."

"How long has he been gone Maggie?"

"He died about two months before my…"

"Before your what Maggie?"

"It doesn't matter. Over a year I guess…I cried…"

"A few more tears won't hurt, now will it?" 

Drew reached around her and held her in his arms. "It's okay Maggie, I'm here." And with that Maggie started to sob quietly as he held her in his arms.

"Let's head back, it's getting dark and you look as though you're beat."

"Yes that would be a good idea."

When they returned, Drew kissed her softly before she entered her home. 

"I'll call you tomorrow."

"Yes I'd like that."

Drew tried to sleep that night but he kept thinking of Maggie. Somehow he had the nagging feeling there was still something she was not yet telling him. The hours clicked by, and still he lay awake in his bed. Finally, he looked over at the clock by this bed stand; it was a quarter to one in the morning. He reached over and picked up the phone and dialed her number. He didn't know whether he would be waking her from a deep sleep or not, but he was deeply worried about her. The phone rang.

"Hello…"

"Maggie did I get you up? It's Drew. I'm worried about you."

"I'm having a bit of a time here tonight. Would you mind coming over?"

"I'll be right over. Give me fifteen minutes."

"The door will be open, just come in. I'll be here on the couch."

Maggie kept her eyes locked onto the wall clock and mentally forced the hands to move. Soon Drew walked in and found Maggie lying on her couch, her eyes reddened from her tears. He sat down on the floor beside her.

"Maggie what's hurting you? There's something else isn't there? I can tell you're holding something back.

"Drew I think I'm falling in love with you."

"Welcome to my world. You know that little cupid guy has been taking pot shots at my heart now for the last few weeks or so. With all that practice, I think he finally scored a bull's eye. Is this why you can't sleep tonight?"

Drew scooted over on the floor closer to Maggie's head and in a quiet yet strong voice said, "Maggie I've fallen in love with you, too. I love you Maggie"

"Do you really? Don't men need sex before they fall in love? There are some things you don't know about me. Some very bad things."

"Like what?"

"When I was in college, I got a date with one of the star football players. I thought I was in love then. After the second date, we had sex. Drew he hurt down there. I had to see a doctor to make things right. He said I was nothing more than a cum catcher, something to hold his sperm. That's all he thought of me. After that, I have a hard time getting intimate with the men I see. I'm afraid they'll hurt me. After all, I'm just a cum catcher." 

"Maggie I'll never force myself on you. When you're ready to go to the next step, we'll take it from there and not before."

Maggie whispered, "You don't understand; I'm damaged goods."

 "You look as if you have all your fingers and toes, both eyes work; I don't see anything damaged.

All the color in Maggie's face just drained from her. She looked as though a jury was about to enter the courtroom with its verdict. Then she softly began telling her story.

"It was a little over a year ago. It happened right here." Maggie said as she sat up right on the couch. She started to shake; her hands trembled trying to pick up a glass of water she had on the coffee table. She took a sip then put the glass back down. She put both her hands to her face in an attempt to hide from Drew. 

"Drew. I tried to kill myself. It was because I lost Scott. Joyce found me and got me to the hospital. A few minutes more and I would have died. You don't want someone like me, someone that's mental. I have to take medicines to keep me from thinking about hurting myself."

"Damaged because you made a bad decision? A decision based on the grief of losing your first love? That's not damaged, Maggie, that's called being human.

"There's nothing wrong with taking pills to help you with your thinking. It's a chemical imbalance in the brain, nothing more. If you're diabetic, you have to take insulin the rest of your life. So what's the difference? Either way, the medicines help keep you healthy. Maggie, you're not damaged goods; you're just fine. Now that you told me about your attempt, do you see me running out the front door?

"As a matter of fact when two people begin to commit to each other, it's the smallest of things that bring them even closer together. I just said it and I'll say it again, Maggie I've fallen in love with you."

Drew took her hand placed it on his chest. Maggie could feel his heart beating inside. It was beating strong and powerful. 

"Maggie do you know there's over six billion people on this planet? That's over twelve billion hands. And of all that and maybe more, there's only one of each of us. Don't destroy the one that's closest to my heart."

Maggie's eyes grew larger, and she asked, "Why didn't you tell me earlier that you loved me?"

"Well I guess I was a bit scared. Scared you wouldn't have the same feelings. But I'm glad I just did. Here you're all tense and tight I can tell it. Lie down on your stomach. A nice back rub will do wonders. Just pull your shirt up a bit."

Maggie rolled over and lifted her shirt till it was almost over her shoulders. She was braless giving Drew unobstructed access to her stiff shoulders and back. Her trim body was exposed to him for the first time as he placed his hands on her skin which was soft and tanned. Her slender waist tapered down to perfect hips. Drew massaged her back without saying a word. After a mere fifteen minutes, Maggie was sound asleep. 

For a second, Drew thought about sliding her PJ bottoms down just a bit to touch and caress her butt. However, his respect for her overcame his curiosity and Drew pulled her shirt back down. He picked her up and gently carried her to her bed. He covered her with some blankets and kissed her on the lips. He noticed a teddy bear sitting on a shelf and placed the bear in her arms. Drew picked up a few pillows and a blanket for himself and settled in on the couch. Winston joined him that night.

The smell of bacon drifted through the house awaking Maggie in the process. She walked into the kitchen to see Drew cooking breakfast.   "Good morning Maggie. You know you look good even when you get out of bed in the morning."

As Maggie rubbed the sleep out of her eyes, she let out a soft, "Thanks Drew."

Maggie looked into the living room and saw the blankets and pillows lying on the couch.

 "You mean you didn't…"

"Nope! Never even thought about it. If, and when you're ready, you'll let me know. Oh by the way your cat snores."

"Oh Drew, you're the best! It's not a matter of if, it's just a matter of when, that's all. I'm still gun shy. Other than Scott, all the men I've ever dated wanted just one thing from me. I really needed to hear what you told me last night."

"I was thinking last night Maggie we've been seeing each other now for quite a few months. You've always worn jeans. I just have a feeling you really do own a pair of legs. I tell you what. Let's have a dress up date. If you'll do a dress, then I'll do a suit and tie. We'll go somewhere a lot more uptown than a pizza shop. I know the perfect place, too. Black tie only! What do you say? It's on my nickel!"

"I really don't have anything that's in style and the skirts I do have go all the way to my ankles. I'm not really into skirts or dresses. I don't have a thing to wear that's not drab or worn-out."

"Well then I guess you and I need to go for a bit of shopping today! Looks like the bacon's done. Have a seat and let's eat!"

Maggie got dressed, and they headed out for a shopping trip, taking a detour so Drew could get some fresh clothes on the way. As Maggie shopped, she hid her purchases from Drew, keeping him in the dark as to what she had picked out. Several hours later, she was done.

"Well when do I get a private show?"

"Humm…How about this Wednesday?"

"Wednesday it is."

That Sunday evening they spent it on the couch watching movies together. Maggie felt more at ease with him and surprised them both when she came out to the living room wearing short PJ bottoms and a tee shirt. She cuddled up with Drew, and they munched on popcorn as they watched the TV. 

 "Well this is one down. One to go," she said.

"What?"

"You said you liked to cuddle together and watch TV. You said that on our first date. That's one!"

"Come over here," Drew shot back, pulling Maggie closer in his arms.

****

Drew was anxious as he drove to Maggie's for their Wednesday date. He was excited by the prospect of seeing his girlfriend in something other than blue jeans.

He knocked on the door, and he heard her call out the door was open. As he walked into the living room, Maggie came into view. Drew just stood there frozen. He was speechless.

Maggie had purchased a short black dress that stopped several inches above her knees. A gold necklace hung from her neck. Makeup adorned her face, highlighting her eyes and high cheekbones. Her red hair fell in curls like a river of lava flowing across her shoulders and down her slender back. Black pantyhose and black high heels accented her long muscular legs. She clutched a small black purse to her side. As she turned around in front of him, she asked, "Well you like what I bought?"

Drew was absolutely thunderstruck. At last, he regained his composure and said, "WOW! My buddy would say something like, 'did it hurt when you fell from haven,' but that's corny."

Maggie laughed and said, "Oh my! That really is corny."

"So, what broke your fall?"

Maggie laughed again and walked over to Drew to straighten his tie a bit. Drew wore a Hart Schaffner & Marx pinstriped suit with a sea blue tie that accented his blue eyes. "You clean up very, very nice yourself." 

Wrapping her arm around his, they walked to the door. She stopped and kissed him softly and said, "You know we make for a good looking couple."

"I was just thinking about that. Yes, as a matter of fact, we do look great together, don't we."

Dinner was outstanding. They sat in a dark corner of the restaurant and talked about things that were pushed aside. They talked about how Drew started his company and how much he wanted to be a doctor but gave it up for other interests. She told him stories of her college days and how she and Joyce used to run around during high school. All the while, Drew would brush up against Maggie's legs with his hand. Finally, Maggie looked over to him and under the table took his hand and placed it high up on her thigh, then she pushed his hand under her dress. Drew's face brightened up as he slowly enjoyed the treat she gave him.

"You really like this don't you?"

 "Yes I have a thing for legs."

Maggie laughed, "You men and your hang-ups. At college I went out with a guy that had a thing for fingernails. He would come over and polish and paint my fingernails for hours at a time. I could be sitting butt naked with unshaven legs and cold cream on my face. It's didn't matter a bit to him. We dated only a month or so, then I told him to move on."

"What happened?"

"Well one time he was working on my nails, and I was just sitting there reading a book, when all of a sudden I felt something warm hitting my hand. I looked up, and he was standing in front of me masturbating on my fingers."

"God! Now that's creepy!"

"Sure was but, I really hated to see him go. I had the best manicured nails on campus!"

Drew squeezed her thigh and said, "Well then this is rather mild then?"

"This is fine, it really is," Maggie said as she touched his hand under her dress.

On the ride back home, Drew kept his hands on her legs till at last he pulled the car up her driveway. 

Drew opened the car's door and they walk to the front door hand in hand.

"Would you like to come in and sit with me?"

"Maggie I'm sorry I just can't do that tonight."

"Why not? You and I've cuddled up on the couch lots of times before, why not tonight?"

"Because the way you look tonight, the way I feel tonight, that's why. I promised you I would never push for sex until you're ready. But just looking at you standing here in the shadows, well it's more than I can handle. I know within seconds once we're inside I'd try undressing you. I never want to hurt you so; I can't come in. It's that simple."

"Drew, it will happen. I promise you it will."

"Tonight?"

"Drew I…"

"I understand, I really do."

With that Drew leaned Maggie back and kissed her while he whispered into her ear, "I love you Maggie." And he turned and walked off the porch. 

She watched him get into his car and drive down the street, then she went inside her house. Maggie closed the door behind her and kicked off her heels sending them flying across the room. As she leaned on the front door she started to slowly slide down to the floor. Winston jumped off the couch and waddled over to her.

"Oh god, Winston, what did I do. I just destroyed everything! I can't keep turning him down."

****

It was Friday morning when the phone rang. Maggie was ready to head out the door and to work. She grabbed the phone.

"Maggie? It's Drew."

"Hi Drew! I was just leaving for work. I planned something special for our date tonight. I haven't heard from you. Is there something wrong?"

"That's why I'm calling. I won't be able to keep our date tonight. Mike and I got called out to go fix a computer problem out of state. We'll be leaving for Midway airport in an hour and will fly out from there. This just popped up. I just wanted to let you know."

"Was it what I said Wednesday? Maggie asked; her voice growing more intense as she spoke. You know about sleeping with you? I'm really sorry." 

"No! That had nothing to do with this. A hospital we work with is having some major problems with the new computer system, and we have to go and make it right. I'll be back early Saturday evening."

"Is there anyway you could just drive? I really don't like your getting on a plane. Please Drew. Please tell me you won't go on a plane. I just know something will happen. Something bad… Something bad will happen to you as it did Scott. Please promise me…"




Maggie's Story



Drew could hear Maggie's voice raise pitch, as she grew more worried, her anxiety building within her.

"Maggie it will be just fine. It's a short flight. Mike and I will be fine. I promise I will call you as soon as we land. When I get back Saturday evening, I'll call. Tell you what, I'll come right over and we'll walk down to Smiley's for pizza. How's that sound to you?" 

Drew could tell Maggie was upset and worried about this plane trip. 

"Your doctor gave you some meds for the anxiety, why don't you take some, it will dull the edges and help you calm down." 

"Okay, I will. Drew…"

"Maggie?"

"Drew, I love you." Maggie whispered into the phone. "I'm sorry about Wednesday night. I mean it with all my heart. I'm sorry. I'm going to make it up to you. I really will."

"Don't worry about what happened the other night. I'm still here. I know you love me Maggie. I love you, too."

"But…"

"It hurts me to know I can't see you this weekend. I'll hurry back as soon as I can. No matter where you are I'll hold you in my heart. I'll see you Saturday evening."

With that Drew hung up the phone. Her mind raced as it flooded her with memories of Scott's death. 

Maggie worked through the day and while she thought of Drew, she remembered his soft touch and the way he stroked her hair when she laid her head down on his lap. She smiled thinking of the gentle way he caressed her breasts under her bra at his apartment. He never pushed for anything more. She smiled again to herself and quietly decided the next time they're together, Drew would have her.

As Drew had promised, he called as soon as the plane was on the tarmac. Although Maggie was still full of anxiety about his return flight, she dealt with it better than even she thought possible.

Saturday evening came at last. The air was still and heavy with humidity. Off in the distance quiet rumbles of thunder could be heard. 

Maggie wanted to look her best for Drew so she wore a pair of tailored blue jeans with a white blouse, her cinnamon-red colored hair was freshly washed and it cascaded down her shoulders. A pair of white sneakers finished off her fresh preppy look. She even applied some makeup to her face; something she rarely did when she wore jeans. She stood outside waiting for his car to pull into the driveway. Suddenly, there he was, his old Honda with the dented front fender pulled in. Maggie ran down the steps and leaped into his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist.

She kissed him with all her might before her legs let go of their grip around his waist. She stepped back a bit and Drew kissed her deeply.

"I'm so glad to hold you in my arms again. I was oh so worried," Maggie said as she swept away tears from her eyes.

"I missed you, even for only a few days, I wished you were with me Maggie." Drew stepped back to take in the sight that stood before him. "My god Maggie, just look at you! You look absolutely stunning," Drew said as a big grin grew across his face. 

Maggie held his hand and pulled him close to her as they walked up to the porch. 

"Well did you get things worked out? You two weren't chasing women up there were you?" Maggie asked, wiping away the few tears still on her face.

"Naw, the only thing I was chasing was some bad computer code. But Mike, he was about to take a hammer to one of the servers before we found the problem though. We're both glad to get home."

"You know that pizza I promised you before I left?"

"Yeah."

"Well we might have to take a rain check on it. There's a thunderstorm brewing and heading our way. According to the pilot, it's going to be a roof rattler. We'll get soaked walking to Smiley's, so how about we just sit here and watch the storm roll in? We'll walk down after the storm has past."

Agreeing Maggie says, "Here, let's sit on the swing. It's been a long time since I've sat on the front porch swing."

With that the two sat down, the old porch swing moaning as the cables suspending it pulled taut. Drew put his arm around Maggie and played with her hair. Maggie placed her head down on Drew's shoulder and placed both of her hands on his thigh. As the winds from the approaching storm started to increase, Drew looked out at the oak tree in the front yard swaying with the wind.

"You know Maggie, when most people think of being strong, they think solid, thick and unmoving. But did you ever wonder why that oak tree is so strong?"

"It's been there for decades. I can remember playing under it as a child, this house used to be my parent's, and all the neighborhood kids would play on this old tree. It's a strong old tree, that's a fact."

"But did you really take the time to figure out why that is?"

"No, not really."

"Well it's strong because the tree learned how to bend, to move with the wind instead of trying to fight against it. If it tried to remain rigid, strong, and upright all the time the wind would simply tear it apart. The tree learned how to bend."

"But what happens when the wind blows too hard and the limbs and branches break off?" Maggie asked.

"That's true. Sometimes the winds become more than the oak tree can bend with, so yes, it does lose some branches. However, with some sunshine, warm temperatures and a bit of time, the oak tree will re-grow those branches it lost. But, the oak tree survives because it moves with the wind. Its roots, deep in the soil, hold it in place when things get really bad.

"Maggie, if you think being strong is akin to steel and concrete, you're wrong. You need to learn from this oak tree. You need to learn to bend with the wind. If need be, lose a few branches when times get really rough. You need to keep your roots deep into the soil, so you can sprout new branches."

"Like you?"

"Yes, like me."

Maggie lifted her head from Drew's shoulder and looked into his eyes and asked, "What about really strong storms, the ones that can tear the tree apart, pull it out by its roots?"

"Did you notice the other trees around this block? They act like barriers that keep most of the damaging wind from the oak tree. They're like the friends you have, always there to help you through the storms. But sometimes, no matter how many other trees surround you, the storm is too strong and they can't shield you from damage."

"Like Scott?"

"Yes, like Scott."

"If the storm is really strong and does uproot the old oak tree, there are acorns near the roots and if just one would happen to fall in, why in a year a new oak will grow, full of energy, full of life, and ready to take on the world and all it has to dish out."

"Like me?"

"Like you!"

Suddenly, a shot of straight-line winds blew in a sheet of rain, soaking the two to the bone. Running inside the house, they both started to shiver as the cold rain soaked down to their skin.

"Damn! We better get out of these wet clothes," Maggie said as she started to unbutton her blouse. Then she stopped, turned toward Drew, and said, "Here, you finish."

Without saying another word, Maggie reached over and took Drew's hand placing it on her breast. The cold rain made his fingers stiff and hard to move as he picked up where Maggie had left off. Button by button, the blouse gave way; he pulled it off her back and down her arms, dropping it on the floor. 

Drew had touched and stroked Maggie's breasts under her bra on several occasions and he knew Maggie was terribly embarrassed by their small size. He reached around her back and unclasped her bra, then pulled it ever so slowly from her body. She was small, and her breasts appeared like small funnels sticking out proudly from her chest. They were firm, and the cold water had stiffened her nipples till they stuck out like small gumdrops.

"Oh Maggie, they're absolutely perfect," Drew said as he gingerly reached out with both hands and just touched each nipple, both responding in kind, growing even larger before his eyes. His hands retreated; then again he reached over and held both of her breasts in his hands, pulling her closer to him. Drew could feel her heart beating in her chest while he held her breasts then slowly massaging both with his thumbs.

Using both hands, he pulled her wet hair from in front of her eyes and allowed it to lie against her back. Cupping her face in his hands, Drew tilted her head back and traced the outline of her lips with his thumbs, wiping away drops of rain from her face. He could smell the scent of her makeup on her eyelashes and breathed her bouquet in. Her freshly-washed hair smelled clean and breezy as he lowered his face to her head. Maggie closed her eyes and parted her lips slightly. She could feel his warm breath against her cold cheeks as Drew's lips touched hers. They were warm and soft, just like the way she remembered her first kiss with Drew. She let out a soft "Oh" when he broke away.

Drew moved his hands down to her jeans and popped the snap holding them closed and pulled the zipper down. He pushed them down her thighs and stopped. As he reached down to her crotch he touched her through her panties, running his fingers along the outside of the piece of clothing. The wet nylon felt so smooth to him as he reached behind her, caressing her butt. Soon, he had his fingers under the front of her panties and softly stoked her short tufts of hair between her legs. 

Maggie could feel her jeans being pulled down again, as they slid down her wet legs. Her legs glistened from the rain. He untied her shoes one at a time pulling them slowly from her feet. Starting at the top of her socks, he rolled each one down and off her delicate toes. Carefully he pulled her jeans down and off. With fingers in the waistband of her nylon panties, he lowered them down past her thighs. At last, she raised her feet one at a time and the last bastion of her clothing was removed from her body. She stood naked before him; her wet hair laying across her back. Drew took a step back, burning the image into his mind, as he ran his eyes up and down her petite frame.

"Maggie, you're beautiful!"

Maggie started working on Drew's jeans as well as she already had his shirt off. Maggie lowered herself to her knees and continued to pull his pants down. She tugged at his shoes and socks, and at last his jeans joined hers on the floor. All this was having an effect on Drew as his penis was erect and stood out proudly from his young hard body. Little by little she pulled his boxers off, releasing his penis from its prison.

Standing beside him again, she reached down, and stroked his penis slowly between her fingers, her eyes closing as she laid her head against his warm chest. Drew ran his fingers down her spine, and rested his hands on her butt, and squeezing her gently. She released his penis and wrapped her arms around him holding him tightly in her arms. She could feel the raindrops warmed by his body run down his spine and gather along her fingertips, forming into small pools. 

"I love you with all my heart. Don't you ever let me go."

Drew ran his hands over her breasts and started to rub her nipples between his fingers, feeling them grow larger as he continued. Out of nowhere, a flash of bright white light followed instantly by a 'ka-crack' knocked the power out plunging the house into darkness.

Drew laid Maggie down on the carpet and sat next to her. He ran his fingers along her long legs just stopping short of her crotch. Lightning flashes from the storm raging outside reflected in her green eyes. The hammering sounds of the thunder pounded against the side of the house. He examined her body, inch-by-inch, as he moved his hands along her soft skin. Like a child with a new toy, he explored her body in the darkness taking in tactile signals from his fingers. From her long wet hair to the end of her slender toes, Drew touched and felt every inch of her body. A burst of light from a lightning flash would illuminate the room to give him a snapshot of her naked form. She felt so alive, so delicate; so much in love.

At last, he bent down and took one of her breasts into his mouth and began to softly run his tongue around a nipple. She tasted sweet, and he enjoyed the warmth of her breast in his mouth. Running his teeth across her nipple caused Maggie to moan and twist as she lay upon the carpet. Softly she sighed as he continued to caress her in the darkness. 

Maggie could feel his hand between her legs, and she spread herself open to his advances. Drew ran his fingers down from her breasts and found her trimmed pubic hairs above her clitoris. Slowly he went lower until he was over the clitoris and began to massage her clit and as he did so, he could feel it grow larger as he held it between his fingers. Drew moved his hands down further and placed a finger, then a second inside her. Maggie was incredibly wet, and his fingers slid in and out easily.

He took his fingers and applied her moisture to his penis, and as he did so he lay on top of her. His muscles were taut as he held himself above her with his arms, and gently pushed the head of his penis into her sex. Ever so carefully he applied pressure until at last he felt himself inside her. Maggie moaned and cooed like a small child totally unaware of the storm raging outside her home. Maggie however was thoroughly and completely occupied with the storm of emotion raging inside her as Drew slowly stroked his penis in and out. As Drew leaned back onto his thighs, Maggie reached up and threw her arms around his waist, holding him as tight as she could. Their beating hearts seemed to merge into one as Maggie enjoyed her first orgasm. Electricity seemed to flow throughout her being and it seemed that sparks were jumping from her fingers and toes. Drew could feel her contractions pull his penis from within as she became hot with desire, steaming away the rain from her body. 

As Maggie's orgasm faded, Drew felt himself losing his control and he pumped his seed into her sex. He bucked and moaned with every pump, pushing his penis deeper into her. As they both held each other in their arms, lightning flashes threw their shadows up against the wall. The thunder sounded like a giant water wagon crossing an old wooden bridge breaking timber as it lumbered along.

As he grew limp, Maggie continued her hold onto his body as she spoke softly, "Please keep it in me for a bit longer."

"Drew, when you and I first got together, I didn't know it at the time, but now, now I'm sure I won the lottery." Maggie whispered again into his ear as they continued to be locked together, their bodies intertwined as one. "This is the way every woman wants to feel."

As their bodies relaxed, they both lay in each other's arms. Drew played with her hair, now dry, by draping it down across her breasts teasing her nipples with her locks of hair. 

"I wish they were bigger you know. I know how men like women with big breasts," Maggie said to Drew.

"Not all men like big breasted women. I prefer something else myself."

"And what would that be?" Maggie inquired, lifting her head.

"Well I don't really know how to explain it without sounding a bit weird, but I like to see a woman in nylons. Thigh highs, pantyhose, either one is fine with me. Throw in a pair of high heels and I'm putty in a girl's hand."

"You never mentioned this to me, why not?"

"It's a non issue. I don't press it. There are more important things in a relationship than this. However, I surely did notice your legs that time you wore a dress when we went to that nice restaurant. That vision kept me up most the night when I got home."

"You mean you… Why Drew! You did that thinking of me?"

"Yeah." Drew's face turned pink with embarrassment. 

Maggie stood and moved toward the kitchen, "I'm going to get some candles, I'll be right back."

The storm had moved through the area, and yet lightning was still flashing across the sky throwing weaker shadows upon the walls. Then Drew heard Maggie coming back into the room, a candle in her hand. As the light from the candle filled the room with a warm yellowish-orange glow Drew looked up and saw Maggie wearing nothing but a pair of tan thigh high stockings and white high heels.

"Oh-my-gosh!" Drew exclaimed upon seeing her. Drew had yet to get dressed and he quickly became hard at the sight before him.

She walked over to Drew and reached down and stoked his swollen penis. 

"Putty? Seems very stiff for putty to me." 

Maggie pulled Drew to the floor and took his hands, placing them on her nylon-encased legs. He eagerly started to run his fingers up and down her thighs. He would stop at their tops and run his fingers just under the silky material. "Ah, this is a rare treat!" Drew exclaimed. "You've only wore pantyhose once since we've been together. What's up with this?"

"I rarely wear a dress with stockings or pantyhose unless it a special occasion. As a matter of fact, I call these are my marrying and burying nylons."

"Your what?"

"I keep some thigh high hose and a few pair of pantyhose around for weddings and for funerals, hence, my marrying and burying nylons. I don't get invited to many weddings and no one has died in a while, so I just never wear them."

"Is this a special occasion then?" Drew asked.

"Well it's our first time, so I guess that's special. Yeah, it's really special to me."

"I mean the stockings."

"Well I'm no mind reader, but if you like to see me this way, I don't see why it could not be more of an everyday occurrence. You know wearing pantyhose and stockings does make me feel pretty."

"Maggie I really enjoy seeing you like this," Drew said, "You've got a great pair of legs. You should show them off more, especially to me." 

Maggie smiled as she ran her own fingers up her thighs.

"You know I'm getting kind of hungry. I wonder if we could get something to eat at Smiley's now since the storm has moved on?" Just then the lights flickered a few times and at last power was back on. Maggie snuffed out the candle.

"I'll be right back." She walked toward the bedroom giving Drew a shot of her butt as it swayed back and forth as she walked in her heels.

Drew, still naked, was checking his jeans to see how wet they were when Maggie returned to the living room. This time she had some dry pants and a shirt but she was still wearing her nylons and heels.

She sat on the arm of the couch and slowly took her heels off removing them one at a time. "Drew, would you help me here?" she asked.

"What do you need?"

"Oh…Just a little help getting dressed, that's all," Maggie said as she handed him a pair of red nylon panties.

Drew, with a look of confusion on his face, looked down at the garment and took it from her hands. They were very small and had lace up and down the elastic straps. Drew had a hard time trying to figure out the front from the back. 

"Tag goes toward the rear!" She giggled, "Put them on me then pull them up my legs."

He started at her toes and fumbled trying to find the right holes in the skimpy material to place her feet into. When that task was accomplished, Maggie stood and he pulled the soft material up her thighs and to her hips. Maggie reached over on the couch and produced a small white bra. 

"This goes on next," 

Much to the amusement of Maggie, Drew was having a time trying to figure out how the bra went on her.

"Here, it goes like this. Over my shoulders, now hook the snap on the back. Turn the front around and place my breasts inside the cups. There you go."

"Well I've never done this before, and besides I'm a bit overwhelmed right now."

"Yeah, I've noticed. So much for that putty in a girl's hand," Maggie said again, pointing at the erection protruding from Drew's body.

"I can't go out like this, I better put a shirt on," as Maggie grinned even more at Drew's problem that continued to stick out between his legs. She handed him a yellow short sleeve shirt. After slipping the shirt over her shoulders, he began to slowly fasten the buttons down the front. He stopped at the button just above her bra, allowing a bit of it to show.




Maggie's Story



"I like that look."

"You do, do you?"

"Yeah…I sure do."

"Well let's see what's next?" Maggie asked as she looked around the room. "Jeans, it's time to get my jeans on."

Drew reached over to her and pulled at the top of one of her thigh high stockings and started to pull it down her leg.

"Oh no! Those stay on! Pull it back up."

Drew looked up at her face with an expression of surprise and delight. He stopped and pulled the stocking back up to its former position. He gave both stockings a quick tug to ensure they were tight against her skin.

He slipped her feet into her jeans and pulled the tight material up her thighs to her hips. He fastened the button at the waist and gave them one final tug. Drew leaned down and grabbed one of her sneakers then the second one.

"No…Honey, you need to put my heels on."

Drew dropped the sneakers and picked up one of her high heels. He pulled the nylon tightly against her toes and slipped one shoe on, then the other. 

"Not bad for the first time, you'll get better with practice. We need to practice this together. Now, it's my turn. Are you clothes dry enough?"

"They'll do."

"Well then, I guess I should start by getting your boxers on first."

Maggie reached down and picked up his boxers from the floor and motioned him to raise his legs, slipping one foot, and then the other through the openings. As she pulled them up his legs, she encountered his swollen penis.

"I see a problem here. I can't seem to get your boxers up with this thing in the way. I had better take a closer look."

Maggie got down on her knees in front of Drew. She pulled her hair back across her face and over her ears.

"Oh, I see the problem now, it's too big to fit."

Maggie placed her hands on his penis and slowly began to kiss its head. Drew let out a moan and placed his hands down on Maggie's shoulders. Slowly she took more and more of him inside her mouth. She ran her tongue up and down its length, stopping every few inches to place even more kisses along the shaft. She reached up and cradled his balls in her hand, gently kissing them before returning to his penis. She started to increase the speed of which she sucked on him, increasing her tempo in harmony with the moans coming from Drew. 

It didn't take long. "Honey! I'm going to explode. I'm cuming…" Drew said in muffled tones as his body pulsated in rhythmic pumps, dumping his seed into Maggie's mouth. She continued to suck and lick his penis, getting every drop from him, swallowing his entire load. She wiped her mouth clean with his boxers.

Without saying a word, Maggie pulled his boxers up and past his limp penis. She pulled and pushed the drained member and placed it inside his boxers.

"There, problem solved," she said with a grin on her face.

"Maggie I never asked you to do that. I just figured, well you know, we never did much all this time…"

"Well we're lovers now. Anything goes as long as we both enjoy it," Maggie said as she pulled his shirt on and started to button it closed.

She managed to get his jeans and shoes on with much less trouble than he had dressing her and in a few minutes she had him fully clothed and ready to go.

As they left, the house Maggie opened her shirt by one more button. Her top fell open exposing more of her bra to the cool air. "You know there's nothing like the fresh smell of the air after a storm. Perhaps the cool air will make them grow," she said with a smile and a giggle.

"What's come over you tonight Maggie? You seem so much, ah how to put it, sexual. Yeah, that's the word."

"Everything just seems to click together tonight I guess."

They made their way to the restaurant and after a quick meal headed back toward her house. As they walked, Maggie placed both her hands around Drew's arm and leaned her head on his chest. Maggie just glowed with contentment, and the love she felt toward Drew. Walking along they came to a spot where the lightning had knocked out a streetlight. Maggie stopped and placed her arms around his neck. Drew dropped his hands down to her waist and held her tightly.

"I'm sorry."

"Sorry about what Maggie?"

"It just seemed that all the guys I have dated just wanted sex, but without the love. I like sex, I really do, but sex without love is just empty. I didn't want to feel empty anymore.

"I fell in love with you after the first several dates. I just didn't want to destroy what I had going with you should all you want from me was a sex partner."

"So that's why you never allowed much if anything sexual between the two of us?"

"Drew I knew it was wrong. It just hurt me to the bone, but I just had to be sure. Christ, there were a few times I had to keep myself from tearing your clothes off. But, I knew if you stayed with me without going to bed with me, well then I would know it was love that kept you here with me and not just the sex. That night I wore that black dress for you, I cried myself to sleep. I tried calling and calling, but you weren't at your apartment.

"I felt something tonight I've never felt before, not even with Scott. I've never ever been undressed as I was tonight by another man. I just can't seem to find the words to tell you what it meant to me."

"Not all men are alike you know."

"Yeah, I've found that out tonight. I've got the best one ever made! Drew when we get back to the house, would you do a couple of things for me?"

"Sure, if I can. What do you need?"

"I guess the first thing I want from you is to undress me again, as you did during the storm. You can take my stockings off if you wish, or you can leave them on me. That's up to you. It wouldn't displease me to model some pantyhose for you if you wish. The second thing I want… no I need is…"

"What Maggie?"

"You don't need to go back to your apartment tonight. I want you to share my bed with me."

"Well let me think…Humm…"

"Drew!"

"Okay, After all, how hard of a decision is it when you're with the most beautiful girl you've ever seen."

She hugged him with all her might, and they embraced into a kiss that lasted for minutes. For the first time, Drew came to her bed. They lay together in each other's arms most of the night just feeling the warmth of their bodies together. On Sunday morning Drew had to leave early to work on a report for his employees about the hospital project.

After Drew left Maggie's home, it was as though someone somewhere flipped a switch on in Maggie's life. She opened up the blinds, pulled out the vacuum cleaner and started to work in the house. Every room in the house was cleaned top to bottom, and everything put into its proper place. 

Next, she headed back into her bedroom with an arm full of large garbage bags. The closet doors flew open, and she began to throw all those old baggy skirts and blouses into the bags. Every one of her old beat up sandals was pitched. Bag after bag she filled, and one by one they went out on the front porch till at last all the old Maggie clothes were gone. Winston had taken a seat on the bed and watched her toss this and that away. 

"Well Winston, it's time for new Maggie clothes!"

Not having a car, she called up a friend. "Cindy, it's Maggie. Could you and I go shopping today? I need a complete new wardrobe. I'll pay for your gas."

*****

It was Monday morning, and Joyce's cell phone began to ring. 

 "Hello."

"Joyce. It's Maggie. Could we get together for lunch today?"

"Sure! How about that little bistro next to our building? One pm?"

 "Sounds great. I'll see you there."

Joyce was working on her date planner and over the top of her glasses she saw the figure of an attractive young woman walk over to her and stop beside the table. 

"Yes, what can I do for you?" Joyce said without looking up.

"Joyce, it's me, Maggie!"

Joyce looked up and promptly dropped her planner on the floor.

"Maggie that really is you. My god girl, what happened to you?"

Maggie was wearing a short blue dress that came down an inch or two above her knees; a silver cross lay upon her neck. Her hair bounced up and down when she walked in her white heels. 

"Let me look at you! Oh Maggie you look fantastic. What's that I see, you're wearing hose, too? Ok, who are you and what did you do to Maggie?"

"You know Joyce, I got into work today at eight as I normally do; when nine o'clock came around I had fifteen emails in my inbox asking me out for a date. When I got back from the eleven o'clock meeting I had six post-it notes stuck to my computer, all asking for a date. I pitched them all. I found what I want with Drew.

"Saturday night, remember the storm that came though? Well Drew and I were on the front porch when the rain blew in and got us both soaked. We ran into the house and before we knew it…"

"You mean you two wrinkled the sheets together? Well it's about time. I bet that poor guy had the biggest case of blue balls in the history books!"

"Come on Joyce, I had to be sure he was the one."

"Well is he?"

"Oh Joyce It was unreal. The storm, the lightning and way he undressed me. Joyce, I've never felt so loved, so alive, in my entire life.

"I asked him to stay that night and he did. He had to leave early Sunday, and that's when I went through the house. I cleaned like no tomorrow. But best of all, I tossed out all my Laura Ingalls clothes as you called them. They're gone. I threw them all away. Even tossed out my sandals. I brought all new stuff. Stuff that Drew would like to see me in. I'm telling you Joyce, that Saturday evening with him changed me."

Just then her cell phone started to ring. "Hello, oh hi Drew. I'm just sitting here with Joyce having lunch. What's up? Camping? I don't know I've never been camping before. When? Saturday afternoon. Well okay, I'll give it a shot.

"That was Drew. Looks as though we will be camping this weekend. He's going to pick me up around noon Saturday, he said to pack light but bring enough for one overnight stop and a second day. Joyce, I wonder what he's up to?"

Joyce asked, "How long have you two been seeing each other?"

"Over a year I guess."

"And he stuck around all that time although you two never had any sex."

"Well we messed around a bit at his apartment. You know, some high school style petting, maybe a little bit more. A few times he would touch me under my blouse."

"Men, they're strange critters. Enjoy the camping trip! I've got to get back to work. Call me when you get back."

Before she knew it, Saturday had arrived. The weatherman promised a beautiful summer day, with bright skies and warm temperatures.

Maggie had the house cleaned in record time and spent the remaining time packing her bag for her first camping trip, carefully choosing what she thought she might need for the trip.

She spent the rest of her time picking out clothes and trying them on, modeling in front of a mirror. As she stood in front of the mirror, wearing nothing but her bra and panties; she looked back at her reflection, and said, "Maggie, you really don't look that bad! Drew is right. I am absolutely stunning! I'm smart, attractive and quite a catch. As a matter of fact, Drew's lucky to have such a fine looking woman as myself!" 

After a few false starts, she decided to go with a short pair of khaki shorts, a short sleeve yellow shirt with white socks and sneakers. She admired herself in the mirror again as she turned about. "Drew sure will like me in this," she said with a big smile on her face. 

As she walked down the hallway, she stopped before heading back to the bedroom unsnapping her shorts as she went.

"Winston, I almost forgot something," she said to the cat as it ran down the hallway.

Drew knocked on her door and stepped inside, giving her a startle as he yelled out, "Maggie, I'm ready to go."

"Drew, I didn't hear you drive up. Did you get the Honda fixed?"

"No, didn't know it was broke. We're taking the other car."

Maggie looked over his shoulder and saw a red Jeep with the top down, bikes mounted on the rear and camping gear already stowed away. She opened the door and took several steps outside, as she smiled at Drew.

"When were you going to tell me about the Jeep?"

"This? I only get it out for special occasions. Where's your bag? We should be hitting the road. The campsite is about a three-hour drive from here. Then we need to set up camp once we get there, as it's hard to do in the dark. This is going to be fun!"

"WOW! Do you look great today!"

"Thanks, I really wanted to look nice for you." 

Maggie ran back inside and grabbed her bag, did a double check to make sure Winston had water and food for the weekend and ran back out.

"Let's go!" Drew opened the door for her and he hopped in the other side. As he pulled away from the curb, Maggie took his hand and placed it on her thigh. Drew's eyes widened when his hand touched her leg.

"You like this?" Maggie asked, "I wore it for you."

Along with her shorts, Maggie had put on a pair of ultra sheer nude colored pantyhose. Against her tanned legs, he could hardly tell she was wearing them.

As they drove along the highway, Maggie's long hair flew out behind her in the wind. Her shorts showed off quite a bit of her legs to the truckers, and they blew their truck horns in appreciation. The whole Jeep was aglow with the love the two had. They both smiled and held hands as they continued toward their destination.

Drew drove the Jeep off the expressway, then through several miles of smaller roads. He pulled up along a dirt road and stopped.

"Well here we are. My parents used to take my sister and me camping here when we were kids. There's a lake down there so we can go fishing if we want. The people that own the property know we will be coming in. I called, and they said it was no problem. It's a private camp site, so we'll be here all by ourselves."

"You're not going to take advantage of me are you?"

"Why that never entered my mind," he said with a big smile. "Let's go on in and set up camp." Drew said as he turned the Jeep down the gravel road.

Drew had been camping before and the tent when up quickly. Daylight was quickly fading, and darkness fell upon the two campers. After starting a fire he spread a blanket out on the ground. For the first time in her life, Maggie enjoyed hot dogs cooked over a campfire. They both laughed when her marshmallow caught on fire and fell into the flames. Drew baked potatoes in the fire's dying embers and showed Maggie that popcorn doesn't necessarily come from a paper bag and a microwave oven. For a while, they both lay together taking in the silence of the countryside, something that's rare in the bustling windy city.

Away from the lights of the big city, the sky exploded with stars. The sky looked as though it were ablaze with shattered glass that glowed against the deep infinite realm of space. Drew pointed out some of the planets and a few of the constellations. Maggie placed her head on his shoulder and stared into the sky as he quietly unfolded a white cloth napkin that Maggie could not see.

As the fire was burning down the embers glowed a bright orange. A stray flame would jump up only to fall back down onto the glowing ember from which it came. The weather was quite warm and Drew decided to let the fire burn down before adding more wood. Maggie had leaned herself against Drew's body, watching the fire burn away. She ran her fingers up and down his thigh enjoying the way his skin felt in her hand. Drew quietly began to speak.

"You know Maggie, those memories you have of Scott I can't erase. You will never forget the love you had for him or the love he had for you. But I'll always be here for you no matter what."

Maggie turned her head from the fire and looked into Drew's eyes. 

"I'll be by your side when your head is in the toilet, throwing up 'cause you're sick with the flu. I'll wash your face with a warm towel and still tell you you're beautiful. And when the time comes for Winston to leave us, I'll be there to place him in the ground by the oak tree while you peek out from the window, tears filling your eyes.

"I will fight your demons and slay your dragons. Margaret Jean Herrington… Will you marry me?"

Drew reached out and took her left hand and slid a ring upon her outstretched finger, the ring he had wrapped up in the napkin.

The diamond sparkled in the dying light from the fire sending shards of yellow and orange light across Maggie's hand.

Maggie looked down at the ring upon her finger as tears filled her eyes. Then suddenly, she threw her arms around Drew and cried out, "Yes, a million times yes. I'll marry you!"

Maggie pushed Drew down on the blanket. She was on her knees and looked down at him with loving eyes and said, "Are we all alone?"

"Yes," Drew replied.

"I'd like for you to undress me slowly the way I like it."

"Maggie I've wanted to do something to you from the first day we met."

"And what would that be?"

Drew reached up to the zipper holding her shorts together and pulled it down. A quick pinch of his fingers popped the snap, and they slid down to her knees. Drew could see the top of her pantyhose she wore just from him.

He pulled her closer to him and slowly unbuttoned her shirt and pulled it down and off. Her bra was next, and it fell onto the blanket. She laid down beside him as he worked her shorts down her thighs toward her feet. Slowly removing her sneakers and socks, he pulled the shorts from her slender legs. Drew started at her waist and ever so slowly pulled the transparent hose from her legs and her toes. Maggie was naked except for her bikini panties.

"Just set up, cross your legs if you want to, but close your eyes."

"What are you going to do to me?" Maggie inquired.

"You'll enjoy it. I know I will."

Maggie closed her eyes. She could hear Drew rummaging through her bag.

"Oh! Found them! I knew you'd bring them along."

Drew sat down beside her on the blanket; both basking in the warmth of the fire. "Keep your eyes closed my dear, I'm about to start."

With that Drew took her brush and started to brush out Maggie's long red head. Stroke after stoke he ran the brush through her hair, pulling it back and smoothing it out with his hands. Her hair felt so smooth to his fingers as he guided them through her curls, pulling then taut as the brush flowed across her scalp. He would pull her hair down across her shoulders and lay the soft curls over her breasts, teasing them ever so softly as this pulled her tresses around her enlarged nipples. The brush pulled her hair back over her ears and down her back, flowing like water from the lake. He took his hand, and pulled her hair taut and pulled the brush along her golden red strands.

Maggie had her eyes closed and a smile on her face. She appeared to be almost in a trance like state, then she spoke, "Ohhhhh my god Drew; this is simply heaven."

He worked that brush for almost an hour. 

"I'm not done with my future wife just yet, lay down on your stomach now."

Without saying a word, Maggie stretched out on the blanket, her small panties just barely able to contain her tight ass cheeks.

"Raise your arms above your head, dear."

Drew squeezed out some moisturizer she brought along and began to rub the gel into her shoulders and down her arms. He took the ball of his hands and pressed them against her back, running his thumbs along her spine. Down her midriff and to her waist, he massaged the lotion onto her skin.

He pulled her panties down a bit and applied more of the lotion to her butt cheeks. Down her legs, he went and behind her knees and finally to her toes.

At last he was done. Drew lay down beside her and she raised her head turning his way.

"Drew I've never, never, ever had anything done to me like that. It was simply unbelievable!" 




Maggie's Story



"Some men don't need sex to enjoy their wife and caress her body."

Maggie pulled Drew down and placed a kiss upon his lips. 

 "I'm so happy, so very happy. I'll be the best wife in the world."

"You already are Maggie."

Maggie started to unbutton his shorts and pulled them off. In no time, she had Drew naked and laying on his back his penis fully erect. She swung a leg over him and straddled his penis. She pulled her panty to one side then reached between her legs. With her fingers, she gathered some of her wetness and rubbed it along his shaft. 

"Drew could feel her moisture being rubbed on his penis. "When did this happen?"

"While you were brushing my hair. Thinking of you and your touch almost made me have an orgasm." 

Drew let out soft moans as she stroked his manhood in her hands. She guided his penis up inside her and slowly pushed herself down. Drew grabbed her thighs and squeezed them hard. As she rode up and down on his penis, her breasts bounced in rhythm with her strokes. Drew reached up and pulled at her nipples causing her to scream out with desire. 

In minutes, his face had reddened as Maggie continued to lift herself up and down on his penis. Suddenly and without warning, Maggie stopped and fell forward, placing her hands down on his chest. Her red hair fell down across her face and onto Drew's chest. Drew could feel her twitch as she closed her eyes and bit her lips. Emotion filled her as she quietly contained the orgasm as it ran though her body. Drew shuddered as his body geared up to pump his seed deep inside her. 

"Ohhh Maggie!" 

This was all he could get out before he shot his cum up inside her. He bucked and twisted as Maggie rode out his orgasm still riding his penis. Maggie collapsed in his arms and lay motionless till at last she felt his limp penis slide out of her. Drew rolled her over and began to kiss every inch of her body. From her toes to her nose, he kissed, taking in the scent of his wife.

"Well there's only one thing left do." 

"And that would be?"

"Well let's get our shorts on. Neither one of us needs a shirt!" Drew said with a grin on his face.   They walked toward the lake and as they did, Maggie wrapped her arms around his. Drew smiled down at her and said, "Well this makes number two."

Maggie looked up at him with a bit of confusion on her face.

"You recall our first date? I told you I liked barefoot walks on the beach with a beautiful girl under a moonlit sky."

Maggie smiled up and placed her head on his shoulders as they walked along the lakeshore.

"I don't remember anything about walking around topless?"

"Devil's in the detail!"

****

The sounds of chain saws reverberated though the neighborhood, and slowly their echoes decayed among the din of playing children.

"You know honey; I really hated to see that old tree come down. Its been around since before I was born."

"It was time Maggie. The old oak tree is damaged, and the next strong storm will take it down."

"Here you go Mr. Carter," the tree service foreman said as he handed Drew the bill. 

"Daddy is it time now?"

"Sure is AJ. Go get your digger."

A long red haired child ran past the foreman on the way to her sandbox.

"Drew! Her name is Avery Joyce. Not AJ," Maggie scolded .

"Cute kid, how old is she?" the foreman said as he folded up his invoice and stuffed it in his pocket.

"Three. She'll be three next week," Maggie said with great pride.

Avery came running back with her plastic shovel in one hand while clutching a large acorn in the other hand.

Drew got down on one knee and helped her dig down in the rich earth. Avery placed the acorn into the hole and scratched some dirt back onto it. Maggie dropped down on her knees and helped Avery cover the seed with more soil.

"Will it grow into a big tree mommy?"

"It sure will sweetheart. It sure will."

Maggie reached around and gave Drew a hug. "Avery, sweetheart, it will grow into the biggest tree in the neighborhood. It will grow tall and strong, bending with the wind."