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Picking up the Pieces Ch. 03

By: REGade



Chapter 3: Fourth Date

"I hear you helped the Browns start their car today," Peggy said.

They were on their way to Brian's house. He wondered how she could speak so casually about something he had done that day. Had she forgotten what they were about to do? 

"Yes, I had to push their car out of the garage so the jumper cables would reach. I'm going over in the morning to back the car in the garage. If it happens again I won't have to strain myself."

"That was nice of you," she said.

They became quiet for the rest of the ride. There were some tense moments as they entered the house. Peggy took Brian's hand, and led the way down the narrow corridor to his bedroom. 

He helped her with her coat, took it to the closet to hang up, hung up his own coat, and when he returned, she was standing next to the bed, wearing a black bra, black panties, her knee-high stockings, and shoes, having discarded the long skirt, blouse and jewelry. 

Brian surveyed her shapely body and found it to be very appealing. As he got within reach, she pushed his suit jacket off, and loosened his tie. A minute later he was down to his jockey shorts and his clothes had joined her skirt and blouse on top of the suitcase he used to store his underwear and socks.

Their lips were joined, and Brian's hands roamed Peggy's back, down to her panty-covered ass, up to her shoulder blades, and back down. 

Her hands were busy too, massaging his back and playing with the cheeks of his ass. The kisses became hungry expressions of passion.

Brian pushed Peggy to a sitting position on the bed, removed her shoes, and then her stockings. She lifted the top sheet and blanket, and crawled under them. He followed. 

They enjoyed the heat from their bodies as they became accustomed to the cold sheets. Brian moved his lips from her mouth, first to her earlobe, and then to her neck. Peggy tipped her head back to give him better access. He moved his lips lower, to the valley between her breasts, and on down to her tummy, lingering there as she arched her back. 

Lower still, he nuzzled her sex, blowing hot breath through the thin material of her panties. Peggy dropped her back and opened her legs, beginning to moan now.

Brian felt her hands on his head and heard the moans become louder. He played with the material, using his tongue to push it against the outer lips of her pussy. 

"Brian," she whispered. He didn't answer.

"Brian," she whispered again. He didn't answer.

"Brian!" she whined, like she was in pain. 

He stopped moving the soggy material around, and looked up at her. 

"Take them off," she said, lifting her ass off the mattress.

He pulled the panties down her legs. She dropped her ass, and opened her legs again.

"Yes!" she said when his tongue made a full swipe of her slit. "Please do that."

He teased her pussy lips, swinging his tongue from side to side, inserting inside her as far as he could, avoiding her clit until she was begging him, "Don't stop! Oh God, please don't stop!"

That's when he flicked it, once, twice, and she pounded her heels into his back, begging him to stop, which he did.

Brian pulled his shorts off, and used his arms to support his body above her, waiting for her to stop gyrating. Her eyes opened, blinked, and looked surprised to see him, like she'd forgotten where she was. 

Once she got her bearings, Peggy's lips broke into a broad smile. He smiled back. Then she became serious, rose up, put her hands behind her, and removed her bra. 

Her breasts were small, but Brian gazed admiringly at the way the nipples protruded proudly. He dipped his head to the valley between her breasts, and licked one of the nipples tentatively. Peggy placed one hand at the back of his head, and used the other one to search for his penis. 

She gasped when her hand came into contact with his cock, wondering if it would fit.

Her small hand on his cock caused Brian to push his pelvis forward, making contact with her wet pussy. 

Peggy became confused. His lips sucking on her nipple was driving her insane. She wanted him inside her, but it had been so long. She felt the head of his cock nudge the entrance of her vagina. She threw caution to the wind, spreading her legs wide, and bracing herself for his next lunge. 

It didn't come. What was he waiting for?

"Are you protected?"

"Huh?" she asked, removing her hand from his cock, and placing it on his back while lifting her ass off the mattress, trying to capture more of his cock. Her right hand joined the other one to tug on his ass.

Brian was lost in the euphoria. A small voice was speaking to him, but his mind was beyond listening. Her hands were on his ass, urging him to enter her. He pushed forward, heard Peggy's grunt, pulled back, and buried his cock in her. 

"Oh, my God, oh, my God! It feels so good," Peggy was saying. 

Brian agreed. It did feel good, and he hadn't even started moving yet. He forgot about protection and began to move, pulling out and thrusting, slowly at first. 

Peggy wrapped her legs around his ass, and met his thrusts. 

It had been a while for Brian too, and he wanted to make it last as long as possible, but he yielded to Peggy's insistence to speed up.

"Sorry," he said. "I'm sorry."

Peggy was on auto-pilot and couldn't stop. She locked her feet, and thrust her pelvis upward until she felt the last of three spurts of cum enter her. She removed her hands from his back and collapsed on the mattress, breathing hard.

"I'm sorry," Brian repeated, supporting his body to give her room to catch her breath.

"It's okay," she said, smiling, looking truly happy. 

Brian kissed her. It was meant to be a short, tender kiss, but Peggy's receptive lips turned it in to a long, tongue-grinding show of affection.

His cock came out and she unlocked her legs from around his ass. She rolled him over on his back, and continued to kiss him, let her breasts dance on his chest, and exclaimed about how good it had felt to have him inside her. 

He accepted her kisses, admired her breasts, and let his hands roam her back. Sometime during this exchange he thought he heard her say, "It will be better next time."

Brian felt cum collecting on his stomach, but didn't say anything because he was enjoying having her nude, carefree body astride him.

"There's so much about you that I want to know. I had a list of questions that I intended to ask at dinner. Now that you've had your way with me I'll probably never get a straight answer," she said, feigning a pout.

"Ask away. I'll answer your questions and I'll be truthful."

"How old are you? When is your birthday?" 

"My birthday is the same as Amanda's. I was twenty-three."

"My God! I just made love with a younger man. Why didn't you tell us it was your birthday?"

"That was Amanda's day. How much older are you?"

She counted on her fingers, and leaned down to kiss him before saying, "One month and three days. I was twenty-three on Valentine's Day."

"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked, pulling her down for a short kiss.

"A girl doesn't tell a guy her birthday, especially when he's younger. That was our first date and I had a good time," she said, leaning forward to kiss him.

"Would you have changed your mind about having sex tonight if you had learned that I was younger while we were having dinner?"

Peggy was thoughtful. "I don't know. I might have put it off until you were older. I know so little about you. Do you have siblings?"

"I have one brother and one sister. Glen is four years younger than me and Ginny is sixteen."

"I'm an only child," Peggy offered, leaning down to kiss him. 

"What else would you like to know?" Brian asked. The cum had crept down into his pubic hair, and was beginning to coagulate. 

"I want to know everything, but I only have one more question for now. How big is your cock when it's...?"

"Hard? Were you going to ask how big my cock is at dinner?"

Peggy looked away, blushed, and said, "I had it planned to hold up my spoon, and asked if it was that long." 

"You were going to use the silverware as a measurement tool? Why didn't you bring a measuring tape?" he asked, incredulous.

"I didn't want to draw attention to what we were discussing. If you had been truthful, you would have said that you are longer than the spoon. I had planned to have you hold up your knife, and show me how long you are. If you had been truthful I would have changed my mind about coming home with you."

"I'm not that big," Brian said, laughing. 

Peggy leaned down, kissed him, and placed her lips next to his ear. "You are that big, and it's fat, too, but it fits just right, doesn't it?"

Brian put his hands on her ass and brought her breasts in line with his lips. Peggy fed them to him, changing from one to the other until she was moaning. 

He rolled her over on her back, and let her feel his cock stab blindly at her entrance. She took it in her hand and ran it up and down her slit a couple of times before placing her hands on his back as a signal that she was ready. He pushed forward, and little by little he sank to the hilt. 

"You're big and you are fat, and it feels marvelous, doesn't it?"

"Hmmm," he said, beginning to move. 

"I'm glad you didn't show me how long you are on your knife. I wouldn't have come home with you."

"Stop teasing me."

"Do you think I'm a tease?"

"I think you're a good fuck."

"That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me. I love fucking you," she said, locking her ankles behind his ass and letting her hands roam his back.

"I love fucking you, too."

That was the end of their talking. He fucked her harder, and heard her cry out, causing him to stop until she thrust her pelvis upward, encouraging him to keep going.

She cried out again, but used her hands to pull his ass into her. If either of them felt the cum in his pubic hair, they were too consumed with what they were doing to mention it.

Brian wanted desperately to bring her to orgasm this time. He knew by her halted breathing, and by the way her legs were dangling against his ass, that she was tiring. Thinking that he couldn't go on much longer, he asked, "Can you?"

Peggy forced a laugh. "Didn't you hear me, Honey? I had two big ones."

"I want to give you one more."

"It's...not...it's okay. I want you to come."

"Ahhhh," he said, when he felt her pussy contract, release and contract again. "Ahhhh!"

He tried to hold his weight off of her, but she pulled his chest down to mash her breasts. Several minutes passed before either of them could talk.

"Did you mean it?" she asked.

"What?"

"That I'm...you know...a good fuck?"

"I love fucking you."

"I love fucking you, too."

"Was having sex the surprise?"

"Yes, but when I felt how big you are I became frightened. It's been so long, and I didn't know if I could take it."

"Does that mean you knew it was going to happen tonight? You had this planned?"

"Brian, are you that dense? I changed your sheets yesterday."

"Ah, so that's like a sign. When I find that you've changed my sheets I'll know that we're going to have sex."

"Not necessarily. I may not always change your sheets. I may just move us to the other side of the bed," she said, laughing.

"I am dense. I need a sign. Can't you wink a certain way?"

"I could wink, but you could wink too. Why should the girl be the one to initiate sex? I would like you to make a move on me every so often."

"It sounds like we going to be doing this often."

"Honey, you are dense. I think everyone else knew that this was the night. My parents could tell. I believe Amanda even knew, and those girls we saw at the restaurant, Gladys something and Martha, they thought we were already having sex. Hell, I knew it was going to happen that night your ass was rubbing against mine in my dad's truck."

"You did?"

"Why do you think I jumped down in the boxcar that night?"

"To see how much water was coming in?"

"It was dark down there. I couldn't see anything, remember? I wanted you to help me climb out of there."

"But Peggy, you hadn't told me about Matthew at that point. You were pretending to be sour on all men."

"Okay, so I can't explain why I wanted to feel your hand on my ass. I just did."

"You're a complex girl. I think I love you."

"You're complex too. It's getting sticky and stinky in this bed. Kiss me, and we'll get cleaned up."

"You're awfully demanding," he said, as he lowered his lips for her to devour. 

They showered quickly, and Brian changed the bed while Peggy made scrambled eggs. It was nearly three AM when he walked her to her car. 

It was now Sunday, March the twenty-sixth, but the twenty-fifth would be the date they would remember fondly in later years. 

Brian slept late on Sunday morning, awoke refreshed, and walked over to the Mendon home to pick up his truck. He wanted to see Peggy, but when she didn't come outside, he assumed that she was still sleeping.

They had answered each others' questions the night before, but so much remained unsaid. He wasn't sure how he felt about having unprotected sex. Was he sorry that he hadn't stopped? Definitely not. Was he concerned that she was tricking him? Definitely not. Would he do it again? Definitely. 

Harry came out of the house, and offered to bring the latest load of inventory over to Brian's barn. The truck was packed, and it took about three hours to find storage space for all the items from the pharmacy. They opened some of the boxes, and talked about prices the items would bring, but Harry said that was Peggy's department, and Brian agreed. 

He no sooner got home and opened the door when he heard his phone ringing. Hoping it would be Peggy, he answered on the second ring.

"Brian, I don't want to pester you, but you said you would back the car in our garage today," Edmond Brown said.

Brian answered that he was on his way. As it turned out, the Browns had a list of tasks that they hoped Brian would help them with. There was a leaky faucet in the upstairs bathroom, and a safety bar to be installed in the downstairs bathroom. Mr. Brown offered payment, and when Brian declined to accept anything, Mr. Brown took him downstairs to the basement, asking him to discard some of the junk there. Brian worked all afternoon for the Browns, arriving back at his house in time to receive Peggy's invitation to have dinner with her family.

Harry and Mary seemed to take it for granted that their daughter was head over heels with Brian, and that the feeling was mutual. Although Peggy didn't demonstrate her affection for Brian, there was a mood in the air that could erupt into a full-blown explosion at any moment. Amanda didn't attempt to disguise her feelings for Brian. She sat on his lap and listened attentively as he read stories that she had heard dozens of times before. 

Peggy told about meeting her two classmates at the new restaurant the evening before. She laughingly referred to them as being envious that she was with Brian. 

Brian denied that the classmates showed envy, and changed the subject by telling about his day doing odd jobs for the Browns. 

"They're taking advantage of your generosity," Peggy said, but Brian said he didn't mind. 

After putting her daughter to bed, Peggy walked outside with Brian. They sat in his truck, making out. 

"Come home with me. I'll bring you back in time to get a good night's sleep."

"I can't stay with you every night. My parents like you, but my mom warned me to take it slow."

"What's her concern?"

"She doesn't want another train accident. I don't either."

"Peggy, it wasn't your fault. Nothing like that is going to happen to me."

"It was intentional. He was headed the wrong direction."

"What do you mean?"

"Matthew knew the train schedule. He crossed that track every day on his way home from work. He must have crossed the track, and turned around so that the train engine would run into the driver's side of his car."

Brian saw that she was shaking. He pulled her to him and kissed her forehead. "I see your point. I'm surprised that the authorities called it an accident."

"They thought he may have been returning to work or was going after something that he had forgotten. They checked his cell phone records and found no evidence of recent calls. I told them that I hadn't asked him to pick up anything on his way home," she said, beginning to sob.

"Peggy, it's been nearly two years. I'm not suggesting that you forget about it, but you've got to shake it off."

She pulled away. "How can you be so dense? Don't you see that you are at the center of it? I am shaking it off?"

Brian reached for her and she jumped back into his arms. "I'm at the center of it?"

"You were a tremendous help. Last night was my breaking out." 

"Hmmm, if last night helped, how many more times do you think it will take for you to completely break out?"

She mumbled something unintelligible. 

"What did you say?"

"SIX HUNDRED! It will take SIX HUNDRED more times, just like last night," she said, laughing, kissing him, and breaking up.

"Is that all? I was hoping for more."

"Honey, six hundred is what I need to get right with the world. After that, it will be a bonus."

"When do we start?"

"I'll be there when you get home from work tomorrow, and I'll stay all night if you want me to."

"I'd like that."

"You understand why I can't stay every night. Amanda would forget who I am."

"I understand."

"And besides, I couldn't take that big thing of yours every night."

"I'm not that big. You're teasing again."

Peggy moved to the other side of the bench seat. She leaned against the door and put her feet in Brian's lap. "We never got around to discussing business last night."

"That's right. What do you want to discuss?"

"Do you think we could convince Mr. Bennett to loan us some money to build a new barn?"

"I don't know. What are you getting at?"

"We need more storage space, Brian. We could replace the old barn with a replica. It could be built with a loft that would double the space. Aren't you getting tired of having those cartons in the living room? I would like to make space for some furniture. But we need to pay off your mortgage before we build the new barn."

"Gee, I don't know if he would loan me any more money. I've only been paying mortgage payments a few months. Anyway, why do we need to borrow money? Isn't there enough in the cash box?"

"It would look strange if we paid contractors with cash. We would have to deposit it in a bank in order to write checks. Besides, I like the idea of having cash on hand for a rainy day."

"What we're doing is illegal, Peggy. We'll get caught eventually if we continue doing business this way." 

"I know. We'll file papers and do everything legal, but right now we need a loan to build a new barn."

"The April payment is coming up. I'll speak to Mr. Bennett."

"I'll go with you."

Her offer struck him as criticism of his ability to negotiate. "I'm perfectly capable of talking and listening to people. That's what I do for a living."

"I know you are, sweetheart, and I admire your slick way of explaining things, but I want to go...please."

"I'll call him tomorrow and see where he's going to be. I always have to track him down."

"Tell him we'll have dinner in his café on Wednesday evening. He can meet us there between six and seven."

Brian agreed, and walked her to the door. "Tomorrow night will be number two," she said as they kissed goodnight.

Their conversation had created a dozen new questions. She'd used the word 'we' often when speaking of building a new barn. Was she planning on keeping their 'cash' in the box for a rainy day fund? Would she be willing to co-sign for the loan? Would she require that her name be added to the deed? And finally, should he pick up some condoms for their second night together?


Picking up the Pieces Ch. 03



He had to admit that he liked her ideas. The old barn was a fire-trap, and the roof leaked. A new barn would improve the property. It could be wired for electricity. He was already designing a lift in his mind, or a dumb waiter to transport the goods to and from the loft. 

Work was just like any other Monday, hectic with calls being backed up longer than usual. Brian kept his cool, answering the same questions to the same callers, repeatedly. It was twenty minutes after ten when he realized he'd missed his morning break. 

He became aware that his manager was standing behind him, waiting for him to finish the call he was taking. Brian motioned to the call screener that he was going to be off-line for a minute while he spoke to the manager. She shrugged, acknowledging his silent message. He removed his headphones, and stood to see what his manager wanted. 

"Brian, we have a new employee," Robert said. "Erica, this is Brian. He's going to show you the ropes."

~ Peggy met him at the door, welcoming him with a long wet kiss, and saying dinner was in the oven. "We have some time if you're in the mood?"

After the day he'd had at work, Brian could think of nothing better than rolling in the sack with Peggy. "You're damn right; I'm in the mood."

He hardly noticed the table set up in the living room as they made their way along the narrow corridor on their way to the bedroom. 

Peggy turned and lifted her arms. Brian pulled her T-shirt over her head, noticing the way her nipples stood at attention. 

She loosened his tie, and was unbuttoning his shirt when his hands found the top button of her jeans. He noticed that she was in her stocking feet as he kicked off his own shoes. She stepped out of her jeans, revealing that she wasn't wearing panties, and then unbuckled his belt, letting his pants drop to his ankles. He removed his shirt. She lowered his shorts, and from a squatting position, she looked up at him. 

From what he saw in her eyes, a mixture of desire and expectation, Brian thought she was going to take his cock into her mouth. 

Instead, she rose to her feet, bored her nipples into his chest, and offered her lips to be kissed. He rubbed her back, all the way down to her ass, and back up.

"I've been looking forward to this moment all day. You feel so good. I'm wet, and I see that you're ready," she said, as he backed her toward the bed.

It was better than their first time together. They were more relaxed, and confident that they were satisfying each other. They didn't talk. They communicated by little grunts, gasps, and in the case of Peggy, sharp fingernails stabbing Brian's back. 

He lost track of her orgasms, and as he released his cum inside her there was no thought of the consequences of having unprotected sex. 

He rolled off, and they lay on their backs, staring at the ceiling. 

"I knew we were going to have fantastic sex when you put your hand on my ass," she said, still catching her breath.

"When we were dancing at the party?"

"No, when you were helping me climb out of the boxcar, like I told you."

"I don't remember putting my hand on your ass," he said, sliding his hand under her butt, and squeezing her ass.

"Didn't you feel a connection to me when we were in that dark enclosure? That's when I knew we were going to have sex, and that it would be fantastic."

"I felt a connection to you when we shared the seat in your dad's truck, but I don't remember putting my hand on your ass. Maybe it was wishful thinking on your part."

Peggy lifted her body off the mattress, and lowered her breasts until they were mashed against his nipples. "Who's the tease now?" she asked. 

"I'm just saying that you transformed from being sour on all men to imagining that my hand was on your ass awfully fast. I think you wanted my hand on your ass so much that you believed it really happened."

Peggy was thoughtful for a minute, kissed him, and then said, "Perhaps you're right. I know something has happened to me since I met you. I mean, we just had unprotected sex. I'm twenty-three and old enough to know better, but somehow it seemed like the way it should be."

"I've been meaning to bring that up. I thought about it later, and decided I was prepared to accept the consequences."

"What do you mean?"

"I told someone that we were engaged today."

"You didn't!" Peggy yelled, rising to her knees. "Is that what you mean by accepting the consequences? Do you think I'm trying to trick you into marriage?"

"I worded it wrong. I didn't mean it would be consequential to marry you. Actually, it would be nice to come home to you every night."

"Forget it, Brian. I've been married, and believe me; I'm not prepared to answer the telephone to hear some police officer tell me my husband got hit by a train."

"Is that the reason you won't consider marriage?"

"Not really, there's something else. We're in business together. It would never work."

The bell on the oven interrupted their conversation. Peggy went to the bathroom, came back and put her jeans and T-shirt on. Brian hung his work clothes in the closet, selecting a pair of short pants and a T-shirt to wear. Since Peggy wasn't wearing panties or a bra, he went commando also.

"What's this? Where did you get the table?" he asked as they walked through the living room on the way to the kitchen.

"My dad brought the table over this morning. Those are samples of everything in our inventory. I have three dealers coming here later tonight. I told them there will be a two hundred dollar minimum for each product grouping, and they all agreed."

"What's a product grouping?"

"Each dealer will pick a product group he or she wants to specialize in, such as toothpaste and soap, or children's books and vocabulary builders. I made lists of ten different groupings to be sold to the dealers for two hundred dollars per lot. Why don't you look them over while I put dinner on the table?"

Brian took a seat at the kitchen table and watched her bend over to open the oven door. "Did anyone ever tell you that you have a nice ass?'

Peggy turned, frowning, trying to hide a blush. "Look at the lists. I want you to pull a few kits of each list while I'm doing the dishes. They'll be here beginning at seven-thirty."

"Who's going to want to specialize in toothpaste and soap?" he asked.

Peggy was not amused. "Someone will jump at the chance to make one hundred percent profit."

"What was our cost?"

"More than the teddy bears, but we'll realize a profit of one hundred and fifty on most of the groupings."

Brian whistled. "We've got to become legit as soon as possible."

"I agree. If Mr. Bennett finances the barn, we'll incorporate and start a bank account. Is that okay with you?"

"Peggy, I wouldn't challenge any of your business decisions, even if I disagreed sharply, not after the sex we just shared."

She turned, aghast. "You don't think I let you fuck me so you will agree with me, do you? Please tell me you don't believe that."

"I think you had sex with me because you wanted to. You said you were hot for me the minute I got home. I believe you."

She was holding a steaming casserole dish, seemingly mesmerized by the way their eyes were locked. "Thank you, Brian. I believe you, too."

She sat down, and ladled a huge portion of the casserole onto his plate. "Did you phone Mr. Bennett today?"

"Yes, he'll meet us at the café on Wednesday night."

"Who did you tell that we are engaged?"

"Robert brought a new employee to me for training. You remember Robert from the party. He's my manager. Anyway, sometime this afternoon I got the impression that the new employee was making a play for me."

"Oh my, I hope this new employee is a female."

Brian laughed. "Erika is very much female. I may have used our engagement as a defense mechanism, but really, I meant it when..."

"The bread! I forgot my mom's bread!" Peggy shouted when she smelled something burning. She jumped to her feet and pulled the burning bread from the oven.

She was obviously upset when she returned to her seat. Brian tried to console her. "This is very good, even with out the bread."

"Mom sent it, knowing how much you liked her bread."

"We won't tell her it burned," he said, grinning at her. It worked; Peggy grinned back. 

"Is Erika cute?"

"I guess you could say that she's cute."

"I'm glad you told her that we're engaged, even if we're not."

"You're not angry? News spreads like wildfire in that office. By tomorrow, every girl will want to know if I'm engaged to the gorgeous girl I brought to the party. Is it okay if I say it is you?"

"You better, but don't get any ideas that I would accept."

"I've got to know your reasoning. Why wouldn't you accept if I asked you to marry me?"

She looked perturbed. "We've been over this. For one thing, we've only known each other a few months. What do we have in common? I don't know what you like to do. For instance, what was your major? Then there's the threat that marriage would destroy our business arrangement."

Brian held his plate for second helping of casserole. "We have lots of things in common. I like your cooking, and we have some common interests."

Peggy smiled. "What do we have in common besides great sex and our business interests?"

Brian took a bite of his new helping of casserole, and chewed thoughtfully. "There's the love angle."

Peggy dropped her eyes, and whispered, "That's true."

"You're right. We haven't known each other very long. I won't bring up the subject of engagement again until you're ready to discuss it. For your information, I studied software engineering in school, but I have no practical experience because they stuck me in customer support. I have other interests, too. I bought this acreage because I would like to raise vegetables. Last night, I thought about your idea to replace the old barn with a replica. We'll wire it with electricity and put in some decent lighting, and I envision some sort of pulley system to elevate our stock to the loft. Does that prove that we have common interests?"

Peggy was smiling at him. "You enumerated all of those interests without mentioning sex. Don't forget that."

Brian grinned at her and Peggy grinned back, until she became serious. "You mentioned a pulley system in the barn. It's got to be foolproof. I know you and my dad will take the proper precautions, but we'll hire workers someday, and they may not be as careful as you and dad."

"You sound like you have our future planned."

"I envision a flea market out front next to the road, so don't think you're going to use the whole front yard to grow vegetables. My dad has a tractor and he'll plow some of our front yard for you to use."

Brian was furious. She was making plans for 'his' property like she had joint ownership. He knew he had to get out of the kitchen before he said something that he would regret later. He took the product lists, the key to the barn, a flashlight and headed for the door, turning, "Why does your flea market have to be in 'my' front yard?"

"Brian, the road crests at 'your' driveway. It is a much saver spot for traffic to turn in than down the hill."

Brian blinked, realizing the logic in her statement. "Oh," he said, before heading for the barn. 

He made quick work of selecting the items for the dealers, and carried them to the house. 

"I shouldn't have jumped to the conclusion that you are taking over 'my' front yard," he said, watching her expression to see if she was accepting his apology.

"I shouldn't have sprung my idea for a flea market on you like that. I have too much time on my hands, and make plans for our future without consulting you."

They only had time for a quick hug before they heard a knock on the door. Brian had met the dealers before. He watched Peggy explain the items in each grouping, quote the anticipated selling price for each product, and stress the mark-up the dealers could realize. The first two dealers took two kits each, which entitled them to buy other items that were in short supply.

"How much do you think we made on those two deals?" Brian asked while they were waiting for the third dealer to arrive.

"We took in nine hundred and sixty dollars. I believe our profit is seven hundred and twenty. You can check the spread sheets for an accurate figure."

Brian took a dislike toward the third dealer. He brought his brother with him, and called Peggy 'babe' or 'doll'. When one of the guys took exception to a price, Brian stepped forward. "Our prices are fair and fixed. We charge everyone the same and they are satisfied with a one hundred percent profit. If you prefer, my fiancée will take your name off the call list. It's up to you."

"No, man, we'll pay your prices. I didn't know about your engagement. You're one lucky son of a bitch," the dealer said, glancing at Peggy. His brother nodded his agreement.

"For future reference, my fiancée does not go by 'babe' or 'doll' and my mother is not a bitch."

"Sorry, man, I didn't mean anything by it. Your prices are fair. Please don't take me off the call list," the dealer said, spreading bills on the table so Peggy could see that it was the correct amount.

"I don't want them coming around when I'm not here," Brian said when the brothers were heading down the driveway.

"Haven't you noticed that I schedule the younger male dealers to come when you are here? I let the older couples come any time. They're all harmless, just trying to make a few extra bucks on weekends," Peggy explained. She was facing him, looking up into his eyes. 

Brian put his arms around her, and whispered in her ear. "Are you using me?"

"Yes, I use you to protect me from unsavory characters, and I use you to make me feel good. Brian, I liked hearing you tell those guys that I'm your fiancée. I believe you are using me, too."

"How do I use you?"

"You told that girl at work that we're engaged. You used me to shield you. You also use me to make you feel good."

"Would you like for us to make each other feel good?"

"I thought you would never ask."

They locked the door, and went into the bedroom. 



Picking up the Pieces Ch. 04



Chapter 4: Amanda's Mom in Action

"What's the knife for?" Brian asked.

"I'm going to measure you," she said, matter-of-factly.

He let her undress him. She got down on her knees, knife in hand. "How should I go about this? When a guy says he'd nine inches, where does the measurement start?"

"Just don't stab me with that," Brian laughed.

"It's a butter knife, Silly. There are no sharp edges," she said, patting the underside of his cock with the blade.

"That's cold," he said, feeling his cock twinge in response to her touching it with the knife.

"It looks like it needs some encouragement. Would it help if I take my shirt off?" she asked, smiling up at him when she saw his cock respond to her suggestion.

"Yeah, that would help."

She pulled her T-shirt up, and raised her arms for him to pull it the rest of the way. 

"Did anyone ever tell you that you have nice breasts?" he asked.

"Do you like them?" she asked, seductively.

"There're not bad, considering that you are an older woman."

She smirked, concentrating on placing the knife handle against his pelvis, and checking where the head of his cock ended on the blade. "It seems bigger when it's inside me. Do you think it would help if I took my jeans off?"

"It's worth a try."

Peggy worked the zipper and lowered her jeans, exposing a spot of dark pubic hair above her slit. She sat on her butt, and pulled the jeans from her ankles. "Did that do anything for you?" she asked, placing the knife in position again.

Brian's cock grew to its full size. Peggy marked the place on the knife where the head ended, and looked up at him. 

"Perhaps some stimulus would help," he suggested.

"Such as?" she asked, sounding naively interested. 

"I don't know if it would work or not," he said.

Peggy knew he was toying with her, but she couldn't resist playing along. "Brian, I want to record a true measurement. This looks like seven inches to me, but if I tell my girlfriends that I got fucked by a seven inch cock, and it turns out that stimuli would have increased it to eight inches, I can't very well go back and tell them that I was wrong. They would accuse me of exaggerating. Now tell me what you have in mind."

Brian knew that he was really seven and a quarter inches. He also knew that his cock would not get any bigger, no matter what she did. But now she was toying with him.

"A warm mouth and some tongue action might make it grow to seven and a quarter inches."

She slapped the knife blade on the underside of his balls, and he thought he would pass out from the surprise. "A quarter of an inch is a quarter of an inch," she said, wrapping her lips around his cock's head."

"Oh, my God!" Brian exclaimed when he felt her tongue rotate the circumference of the bulb. She pulled off and checked the length, as if she could tell if his cock and grown a quarter of an inch. 

She had the head back in her mouth when Brian decided he'd had enough stimuli. "A warm pussy might make it expand to its full size," he suggested.

She pulled away again, holding his balls in one hand and the base of he cock with the other one. "And where do you think we could find a warm pussy to try?"

"You have one, don't you?"

"I...I suppose mine would work, would you like to try it?"

"Stop teasing me and get on the bed. I'm going to fuck you doggie-style," he said.

She jumped on the bed, and looked back at him. "Is this what you had in mind?"

He pushed deep into her on the first thrust, and didn't stop thrusting.

"Brian, Honey, I'm sorry that I teased you. I promise to never do it again. Brian, Honey, keep fucking me, please don't stop. Brian, I love you, please don't stop fucking me."

She shrieked when she felt his cum spurt inside her. He held on to her hips, keeping her from collapsing on the bed. They were both gasping for air. 

She turned and crawled toward him as soon as he pulled out. "Did you hear me, Brian? Thank you for letting me use you. You're the best thing that ever happened to me."

They kissed, and he cupped the cheeks of her ass in his hands. She stayed the rest of the night, and they made love the next morning, this time with Peggy on top. 

"Call me if you get a chance," she said as they were saying goodbye.

Brian called her at ten AM while he was on his morning break.

"Has news spread that you are engaged?" she asked.

"Yes, everyone knows."

"Good, now those girls I saw at the party won't hit on you."

"What's new there?"

"My mom asked me if it was good. I told her I thought you got it in all the way."

"She didn't say that, and you didn't either," he laughed.

"She used code words. She asked me if I had a good time. It means the same thing. I said 'Yeah.' That's the code word for 'he got it in all the way.'" 

"Am I going to see you tonight?"

"Not tonight, but we have a date tomorrow night. I need you to bring more inventory in from the barn."

"You're using me," he said, accusingly.

"Yes, and I'm going to use you tomorrow night," she said, giggling. "Listen to me. I sound like a sex-starved slut."

"You're funny," Brian said as they hung up.

That phone call became a standard practice. Peggy never called him at work, but she looked forward to his daily calls. If it didn't come exactly at ten AM, she knew he had been held up and would call as soon as he could. She always tried to be funny and provocative, limiting the business talk as much as possible. Brian didn't try to hide the fact that his calls were to his fiancée, although discussion of becoming formally engaged stopped as soon as he realized she was fearful of committing. 

~ Mr. Bennett was not receptive to loaning them the money for the new barn.

Peggy wore the same red dress she'd worn to the Valentine's Day party. It was cut low, and showed a good amount of cleavage. 

Mr. Bennett, an older man, sat across the table from her, and gave Peggy his full attention when she spoke. 

"We're planning to build a new barn and do some other improvements. I'm sure that you can appreciate that we'll be increasing the value of the property," she said, batting her eyes for effect.

"I sold the property to Brian Driver. How does this concern you, Miss?" the elderly man asked. 

"We're business partners," she was quick to say. 

"We plan on operating a flea market when the weather turns," Brian added.

"What if we pay the mortgage in full, Mr. Bennett? It would need to be in cash?" Peggy asked. 

Mr. Bennett scratched his chin, as if he were considering their proposition. 

"Is this money ill-gotten?"

Peggy looked around at the other customers in the café before shielding her lips with the back of her hand. "No, Sir, it was earned through honest efforts and ethical business practices. We're just not ready to declare our partnership."

Mr. Bennett was quick to respond. "In other words, you're opposed to paying taxes on your earnings."

"Certainly not, Mr. Bennett. We plan to incorporate and operate by the book once we own the property. I'm sure you can appreciate our need to get this jump start," Peggy said, appealing to his sympathy for the struggling business person.

"I have a bookkeeper. She's carrying the mortgage as an asset on the books. How do you propose that we handle this transaction, Miss?"

"We're not asking that you deposit the entire amount at one time. As long as we know that you will accept cash, we can go ahead with the improvements. We'll pay twelve payments per month for the next nineteen months. You must make cash deposits every day from this café and the hardware store next door. Some of your tenants must pay by cash also. You can simply add our payments to those cash deposits," Peggy reasoned. 

Mr. Bennett clearly didn't like the proposition. He raised one more issue. "I suppose you'll want to avoid paying the interest?"

Peggy smelled success. "We'll pay the appropriate amount over the next nineteen months. All we ask is your word that you will give us a receipt each month, and a clear title when we make the final payment."

Mr. Bennett glanced at Brian before nodding his head. "You've got yourself a very inventive business partner, Brian."

"I know, thank you Mr. Bennett," Brian said. 

Peggy looked pleased by the older gentleman's compliment, and Brian's agreement that she was inventive, but only for a second or two. She slid a fat envelope across the table, along with a prepared receipt. 

Mr. Bennett felt the envelope, and seemed to know that he was to sign the receipt, which he did, commenting that his bookkeeper was going to kill him. 

"There's still the matter of the barn, Mr. Bennett. Will you loan us the money to build it?"

It was obvious that Mr. Bennett was quite taken by the young woman, but he was also cunning, savvy, and cautious. 

"I'll need a day or two to think about loaning you more money. I'll tell you right now that I'll need to see plans for the barn, and the payments will have to be by check."

Brian assured the older gentleman that they would pay him by check. They shook hands and the elderly gentleman told them their meal was on the house. 

"What was your college major?" Brian asked on the way home.

"Home economics, but I didn't graduate. I got pregnant at the end of my junior year and we couldn't afford tuition and doctor's bills too."

Brian was apprehensive. Would Mr. Bennett keep his word, or would he let his bookkeeper talk him out of accepting cash payments? Also, they were clearly breaking the law. Would Peggy agree to enter into a formal business agreement before they were found out?

"I can't do this," he said. 

They argued half the night, Peggy saying that she just wanted to get a head start, Brian contending that he wanted to be able to sleep at night. At one-thirty they reached a compromise. They would incorporate, each being an equal partner, and since Mr. Bennett had agreed to accept cash, they would use the cash in the box to make monthly payments. 

There were some loose ends, such as how to bring the existing inventory onto the books, but both were anxious to make love and they agreed to resume talking the next day.

The red dress was no sooner off when they moved into a sixty-nine position. It didn't take long before Peggy shouted in ecstasy, declaring that she'd had a big one. Brian had never been harder. He turned around and entered her while she was exclaiming about the way he had made her orgasm.

It only took thirty minutes to wear each other out, and they slept soundly, causing Brian to be late for work. 

"Did you get into trouble?" she asked when he called her.

"I took a lot of kidding. Everyone thinks they know why I was late."

"They would be right, wouldn't they?" she asked.

~

April was a busy month. In addition to incorporating their business, they came to agreement with Mr. Bennett, began construction on the new barn. Also, Peggy and Amanda became permanent residents in the small house. 

Everyone was pleased with the new arrangements. Mr. Bennett was relieved when Brian told him they had decided to become law-abiding business people. Harry and Mary were sad to see their daughter and granddaughter move out, but they were happy that she had found a stable, loving, partner. Amanda was happy with her new living arrangement. It didn't occur to her that the three of them were cramped. Peggy accepted the silver wedding band Brian gave her to wear, but she refused to make it official. Her legal name was still Stover, but she often went by Margaret Driver when the mood suited her. Most people knew that they were not really married, but no one made an issue of it.

They advertised the flea market in local newspapers and trade magazines. Ten dealers purchased table space the first week, eleven with Peggy's table. Not wanting to compete with the dealers, she sold only collectibles at her table. 

Harry and Brian took turns directing shoppers where to park. Mary and Peggy took turns tending Peggy's table, and they all took turns keeping Amanda out of harms' way.

Harry relieved Brian, and he went to Peggy's table to get a cold drink of water.

"We should sell soft drinks," he said to Peggy.

"I'll look into to it. We should have coffee available on those cold mornings, too."

"And donuts," Brian said, and they both laughed. 

A customer stopped at the table, and became interested in an old brooch. Brian was having a second cup of water when he saw Mary coming from the house. She was carrying Amanda, who had just awakened from a nap. 

"Da," the little girl said, pointing to Brian. He looked at Peggy, whose mouth shot open in disbelief. Brian and Mary were equally shocked.

Peggy became so distracted that she didn't hear the customer.

"I'll take it," the customer repeated, sounding annoyed.

"Da," Amanda said as she and Mary got closer. She held out her hands, and almost jumped into Brian's arms. 

Peggy, clearly stunned by her daughter's first word, asked her mother to complete the sale. She joined Brian and Amanda, kissing both of them, and putting her arm around his waist. 

Later that night, they were in bed when Peggy berated Brian for steeling her daughter's affection. "I'm not going to let you read to her any more. You've been teaching her to call you Da, haven't you?"

May was an equally busy month. 

Brian let it be known that he had never been this contented. He had never been busier either. He was making slow, but noticeable progress at his job, and he was busy every night and weekend, working on the barn, helping Peggy with business decisions, playing with Amanda, or doing odd jobs for the next door neighbors. 

By the middle of May sixteen dealers were renting table space every week. They hired two teenagers, John to help park cars, and Sara to tend a snack bar where they sold hot and cold drinks, donuts, popcorn, ice cream, and even hot dogs.

John Larkin was a take charge kid, while Sara was reticent, and required more supervision. 

Amanda's vocabulary was increasing almost daily. Peggy cautioned Brian that he would have to clean up his language. "She tries to imitate every thing you say or do."

"I hope she doesn't imitate every thing I say or do to her mother," Brian said, causing Peggy to blush.

Everything was running smoothly until the chief of police showed up, complaining about the traffic slowdown on the road. He said that if they wanted to hold the flea market next week; they would have to hire an off-duty police officer to direct traffic. 

That night, Brian and Peggy went to bed too tired to make love. 

June 2000

Mr. Bennett was a frequent visitor to the flea market. He pretended to check on the amount of business they were doing, and the construction progress on the new barn, but Brian accused Peggy of stirring his libido. 

John and Sara were invited to work Saturdays, keeping the weeds under control in the garden, and cutting the grass where the dealers set up. 

"It's Mr. Brown," Peggy whispered, handing Brian the phone one Saturday morning.

Brian spoke to the neighbor, and said he would be right over. "They can't open one of the upstairs windows," he said to Peggy when he hung up.

"I'm going with you," she said, and off they went, Brian carrying a small toolbox, and Peggy carrying Amanda.

Amanda stayed downstairs with Mrs. Brown while Brian and Peggy followed Mr. Brown upstairs. 

It only took a few minutes for Brian to free the window so it would open and close easily, but when he checked other windows, he wouldn't leave until they were all operating smoothly.

As he always did, Edmond Brown offered to pay Brian, but as usual, he refused to take anything for his time.

"Did you see the way the wall-covering is fading and peeling from the walls?" Peggy said when they were on their way home.

"Yeah, it's in bad condition," Brian agreed.

"Did you see the furniture?"

"What's wrong with the furniture?" he asked.

"Nothing, it's old and it's beautiful. Those antiques would be worth thousands."

"There's more in the basement. Next time they call, I'll find an excuse to take you downstairs so you can see it."

Three significant events occurred in June.

1) The barn was finished. Brian, Harry and John moved the inventory from the old barn while Peggy and Amanda supervised. Much to Sara's ire, she was assigned to weed control, and Mary helped. Mr. Bennett stopped by to see what his money had financed. 

2) Brian was promoted. His new responsibilities included training new employees and monitoring their response to customer's questions. In addition to an increase in pay, Robert had outlined a career path that he envisioned. Peggy invited her parents to the celebration. Amanda shared her cake with Da.

3) Peggy waited until her parents had left and Amanda was asleep before she rather nervously told Brian that she was pregnant. 

"I guess this means you'll have to marry me," she laughed.

"Can't you be serious? This is no time to joke around," Brian scolded.

"I know it's serious, and you know that I have a bad record with guys I let take me to the altar. Your name will go on the birth certificate. Isn't that enough?"

"I'm not going to let a train hit me, but it's up to you. The offer is always open if you change your mind."

~

That's how they left it. Brian didn't want to be a pest, and Peggy thanked him for it. As her tummy began to expand, Brian thought she would change her mind about becoming Mrs. Brian Driver. He even went to Harry for a private talk. When Harry wouldn't pass judgment on his daughter's decision, Brian consulted Mary.

"She's happy the way things are. Be content that the baby will have your name, Brian," Mary said.

Brian, although elated that he was going to be a father, wondered why he had let this happen without getting a marriage commitment from Peggy.

Meanwhile, Peggy was preparing Amanda to accept her little brother or sister. "You talk to her," she said to Brian. "I can't make her understand."

Brian saw this as an opportunity. "Would you like to be my little girl?" he asked Amanda.

The child thought for a minute, and nodded her head, throwing her arms around his neck.

"Your mom and I are going to have a new baby. You'll be a big sister, and I think you should pick out its name. Would you like that?"

Peggy was delighted at how Brian had piqued Amanda's interest in the new baby. They suggested names, which Amanda usually rejected. She wanted to name the new baby Sara because she was fond of the teenager that came to her house to work on weekends. It was clear that Amanda wanted a little sister. 

Peggy took every opportunity to accompany Brian when he went next door to perform a task for the Browns. Once she earned Mrs. Brown's trust, she learned that the antiques had been passed down through the families. 

Brian was not surprised when he learned that Peggy had volunteered to help with housework for the Browns. She washed the china and glass pieces that were stored in cabinets throughout the house. She had Brian bring antiques from the basement, which she washed or cleaned, and repackaged to be returned to storage.

The visits to check on the Browns became more frequent, often occurring in the middle of the night when one of the old people became concerned about their mate. Peggy often went with him.

Brian watched Peggy size up the rooms in the Browns' home. He almost knew that she was longing for the opportunity to redecorate the rooms, making changes in her mind, deciding how her family would use each room. 

Brian conceded that they needed more space. The new barn was overflowing with inventory, often expanding into the living room of the small house. 

Nor was Brian surprised by the frequent visits by Mr. Bennett. The elderly gentleman was obviously consumed by Peggy and the fetus that was growing inside her. 




Picking up the Pieces Ch. 04



"He says I remind him of his daughter," Peggy confided in Brian.

"He has a daughter?" Brian asked. He knew that Mr. Bennett was a widower, but had never thought about his having children.

"She lives in New Jersey. She sends pictures of her husband and son, but Mr. Bennett hasn't seen them in years."

"That's sad," Brian said, thinking that he should send pictures to his own family. Peggy agreed. 

Their business was expanding every week with more dealers. The inventory was moving, and they hired a third teenager, Janis, to operate a produce stand. 

Each month, they had dinner with Mr. Bennett at his café. At the end of the meal, Brian would hand him a check for the barn, and Peggy would slide an envelope full of cash across the table. Mr. Bennett would grimace, but pocket the envelope, never stopping to count the contents. 

August 2000

John and Sara left for college, saying they would like to work the following summer. Peggy assured them that they would be welcome, and asked their advice about two new teenagers she had in mind to hire. 

October 2000

"I had to turn down an excellent buy today. A floor covering business is going out of business," Peggy told Brian as soon as he came through the door.

"If it's that good of a deal we could rent a trailer and park it out of sight behind the barn," he offered.

"Yes, we could, but that's not the point. The weather will change soon and we'll have to shut the flea market down."

Brian looked at her, knowing there was something behind the last statement. "And?"

"We need to operate year around, Brian. We need a building."

"Ah," he started to say, but stopped when he saw that she wasn't finished.

"We'll put up a building and offer space to ten dealers on weekends."

"Peggy, we've only been in business a few months. Where do you propose to get the money for a building? Do you know how long it would take to build?"

"It's not good for a new father to become emotional, Da."

This brought a smile to his face, and he was deliriously happy when Peggy came to him. "I want to adopt Amanda," he said, springing it on her without thinking about what he was saying.

"She loves you dearly, Honey, and I do too, but I don't think she's old enough to understand."

"She understands better than you think. She didn't turn me down the way her mother did."

"Hmmm, it might be good if you were her daddy. It would be your job to explain to her if she gets a brother instead of a sister."

"Does that mean that you agree to the adoption?"

"I'll agree to your adopting my daughter if you agree to our building a building."

Brian pulled away. "That's cold. Would you really trade your daughter for a building?"

Peggy pushed her expanding belly against him. "She already thinks she's your daughter. I'm just agreeing to make it official."

"If I agree to a new building?"

"We'll borrow the money from Mr. Bennett. If we break ground soon, a steel building will be up by the first of the year."

"I'll call Mr. Bennett tomorrow," Brian offered, and Peggy asked him to make the call that evening.

Mr. Bennett invited them to come to his house the following evening. Although Brian had not told him the reason for the meeting, Mr. Bennett must have suspected it was about another loan. He had his bookkeeper there.

The house was a small Victorian style structure, located in the older part of town where small lots, and tree-lined streets were the norm. 

"This is Mrs. Nixon. She keeps me out of trouble."

Brian shook hands with the bookkeeper, but Peggy only smiled. Her attention was drawn to the contents of a large cabinet. "This is Sandwich glass, isn't it?" she asked Mr. Bennett.

"Sandwich glass was my wife's passion," he responded, obviously impressed with Peggy's knowledge of the old glass. 

Mrs. Nixon steered Brian into the next room. "George has become fickle. He's infatuated with your wife. It's my job to protect his interests, and I'm opposed to his loaning you any more money."

Brian didn't correct her assumption about their marital status. "Mrs. Nixon, we're not taking advantage of Mr. Bennett's affinity for my wife. We have a sound business plan, and we would like the opportunity of presenting it to him without your trying to influence his decision."

"Why don't you make your case to a bank? That's how most businesses get funds to expand."

"We haven't been in business very long. Most banks need more of a track record."

"Exactly, I have the same concern about how long you will remain in business if you extend your debt."

"Will you at least agree to listen?" Brian asked, appealing to her sense of fairness. 

"Mrs. Nixon agreed to listen to their plan, but Peggy had already succeeded in securing the loan. Hearing this, Mrs. Nixon reiterated that she would need to see a financial report. 

"You'll have it tomorrow," Brian offered, to which Mr. Bennett slapped him on the back, saying that he was a 'good man.'

"How did you pull that off?" Brian asked as soon as they were in the car.

"I took his hand and placed it on my tummy."

"You don't even let me feel your tummy," Brian said, not trying to hide his hurt.

"There's nothing to feel yet, Silly. Mr. Bennett didn't know that. He asked how much we needed, and I told him. Anyway, you did your part by keeping that bookkeeper occupied."

They went home, and Peggy showed him the building design she'd been working on. Brian offered some ideas for changes, and then he worked on the financial report he had promised the bookkeeper.

Their lovemaking reached new heights that night. Peggy had her building, and Brian was going to adopt Amanda.

"Did you see the antiques in that house?" Peggy asked Brian the next morning. "The Sandwich glass is rare, and the roll top desk is priceless. I wonder what else is hiding in the other rooms."

"The dining room furniture looks old," Brian offered.

January 2001

The steel building went up fast, but the interior finish, HVAC, and fitting the vendors' booths took longer than planned. In the meantime, the inventory had overflowed into the house, making it necessary for Amanda to temporarily give up the second bedroom. 

Matthew's parents filed their objection to the adoption of Amanda. They had a point; Brian and Peggy were not married, and Peggy had no intention of becoming Mrs. Driver. In the end, the judge saw it Brian's way, and indicated that she would make the adoption official within the year. Brian sent photos of his new family home, and received cryptic remarks for his troubles; 'How can you adopt the daughter of a woman who refuses to marry you?' and 'How well do you know this woman?' and 'What sort of woman becomes pregnant with someone she doesn't want to marry?'

After a tremulous grand opening, the new building became a popular shopping place on Saturdays and Sundays. Ten dealers signed leases for the booths. There was also space for a snack bar, and Peggy's booth. Dealers that had missed out on the opportunity, petitioned Brian and Peggy to be put on a waiting list in case they built another building. Peggy was all for it, but Brian put his foot down, saying that the baby told him not to let 'his' mother take on more responsibility.

Brian was convinced that the baby would be a boy, but Amanda was holding out for a sister. She reluctantly consented to the name 'Phillip' if it turned out to be a boy.



Picking up the Pieces Ch. 05



 Chapter 5 Peggy gets her way

February 2001

It began snowing on Friday night. It was just after midnight when the police called, asking for Brian. 

"Your name and phone number were found in Mr. Brown's pocket. Edmond and Edith Brown were killed in an automobile accident. Do you know their next of kin?" 

At first, Brian blamed himself for not checking on his neighbors when it started to snow. Where were they going that was so important? He didn't know if the Browns had children. He drove his truck next door, cleared the snow from the street to the garage, let himself in, found their address book in the kitchen, and called the only Brown. It turned out to be their son, who first showed shock, followed by skepticism that Brian was being truthful about his parents' death. Brian gave the phone number and name of the police officer who had contacted him. Eventually, the son thanked Brian, and said he would break the news to his sister. 

After several more telephone calls, Brian volunteered to meet the brother's flight on Sunday. Thirty minutes later the sister called, giving him her flight's time of arrival. 

Not a single dealer objected to Brian closing the business on both days, but Peggy was concerned.

"We'll miss two days of sales," she protested.

"Every business in town will be closed this weekend. Anyway, you're in no condition to be out in this weather."

Amanda agreed. "Mama in no condition."

They laughed, and Brian thanked his daughter for agreeing with him. 

Peggy persisted. "I have a shipment arriving on Monday. Where will I put it?" 

"I'll rent a trailer and hide it behind the barn. If the shipment really shows up, I'll be here to accept it. I'll take a few days off."

"What would I do without you? What would we do without your Da, Amanda?" Peggy asked, kissing her daughter, and then kissing Brian.

Amanda insisted on going to the airport with him, and of course, the flights were delayed due to the weather. Both brother and sister had decided to bring their spouses, something Brian was not prepared for. Needless to say, the Camry was overloaded with five grownups, a child, plus luggage.

Wayne Brown and his sister, Melinda Caper had numerous questions about the sudden death of their parents. After repeatedly telling that he didn't know what had happened, Brian lost his temper. 

"My daughter is not yet three years old," he said, hoping they would take the hint that she was too young to hear about death.

"What was your relationship with our parents?' Wayne Brown's wife asked.

"We live next door to the Brown's, don't we Amanda?"

The little girl was sitting on the lady's lap, and happy to answer a question that she understood. "They nice to me." 

"I did odd jobs for your parents, little things that Edmond couldn't handle."

"Do you have a key to the house?' Wayne Brown asked.

"Yes, I'll give it to you after we get you inside."

"Dad must have trusted you."

"I checked on them from time to time, or your dad called me when he wanted something done. I don't know why they didn't let me know they were going out last night. It must have been an emergency," Brian said, still feeling guilty for not plowing the Brown's driveway before he went to bed.

Brian unlocked the door, and handed the key to Wayne. "My number is in their address book. Call me if you need anything," he said, picking Amanda up and heading for the car. 

The telephone was ringing as they went through the kitchen door. "It's the people next door," Peggy said, handing him the receiver.

"Mr. Driver," the woman's voice began. "We can't find anything. Would you help us?"

As Brian discovered, what they needed was advice. It had been years since Wayne and Melinda had visited their parents, and their spouses had never met the older couple. Brian made arrangements for a meeting with the only mortuary in town, contacted their parents' lawyer, took them to the bank where the Browns' safety deposit box was located, and when Wayne's wife said she was starving, Brian took them to Mr. Bennett's café to have a mid-afternoon meal.

"We'll need an appraisal of the property. Do you know a realtor we can list it with?" Wayne asked.

Brian had heard Mr. Bennett speak of Lois Banks. She handled his rental property, but Brian didn't know if she did appraisals. The Browns' home would be tricky because of the un-kept condition, and the busy road would be a drawback, but the acreage would be very desirable to some buyers. 

"I know a realtor. Shall I set up an appointment?" Brian asked, and it was agreed that the sooner they could put the property on the market, the better.

Brian waited until he got home to contact Lois Banks. He had never met the woman, and wanted to make sure she was competent before he recommended her to do the appraisal. Lois agreed to come to the house at ten AM on Sunday.

"It may be best if we act like we know each other," he warned.

"How many children do you have?" Lois asked.

"Amanda will be three next month, and Peg is expecting," Brian answered.

"I'm going with you," Peggy said.

"I don't think that's a good idea. It's slick and dangerous for you to..."

Peggy was already on the phone, making arrangements for Mary to watch Amanda the next morning.

They delivered Amanda to her grandparents' house, and drove to the Brown house. Brian supported Peggy on the walk from the car to the house like she was a china doll. 

"Really, Brian, I'm not going to fall. You weren't this careful the night we made this kid," she chided him. 

Brian was introducing Peggy to the two couples when the door opened. Lois Banks was attractive, flamboyant, and aging gracefully. 

"Margaret, pregnancy agrees with you. Have you chosen a name yet?" she asked, going to Peggy before turning to Brian. "Where's Amanda?"

"She wanted to come, but she'd met the Browns and the Capers yesterday. She's entertaining her grandmother this morning. Melinda, this is Lois, the realtor I was telling you about. Lois, this is Wayne Brown," he said.

Lois shook hands with the two couples, but she was already writing the newspaper advertisement. "Spacious kitchen with panoramic view of the sweeping lawns, magnificent great room, multi-purpose room that could be used as a home office or a down-stairs bedroom, just look at the size of this bath. This house won't be on the market long. Let's see what we have upstairs."

Wayne, Melinda, and Brian followed Lois upstairs, but Peggy remained with the spouses. Lois inspected the three bedrooms and second bath, exclaiming about the size of the rooms, closet space, and views from all the windows. She acted as though she didn't notice the peeling wall covering, scuffed floors, and stained tile in the bathrooms.

She quoted a price, which Wayne took exception to, believing that the house and acreage should fetch much more. "How long would it take to sell?" he asked.

"I'll take a ninety day exclusive, and have a buyer moved in at my price, but if you hold out for your price it will take longer, and you'll probably be looking for another realtor at the end of my exclusive," Lois said, speaking frankly. Brian liked the candid way she expressed her opinion. 

"I grew up in this house. It's solid," Wayne argued, and Melinda agreed with her brother.

They were back downstairs. Lois addressed the group.

"The house is going to need some work. I can put you in touch with a paperhanger, a painter, a floor finisher, and a tile setter, but you will still need new bathroom fixtures, appliances, possibly a new heating system. What do you plan to do with the furnishings?"

Melinda scoffed. "Burn the junk. It's been around forever, and I've always disliked it. I prefer modern."

Brian felt a tug on his sleeve, and followed Peggy to the far end of the room. 

"Let's buy it," she said.

"We can't afford their price," he objected.

"The antiques are worth the price of the house."

"It would take years to unload this stuff at a fair price."

"We'll take years to pay them."

"They won't go for that. Can't you see that they're anxious to get their money and forget they ever lived here?"

Peggy arched an eyebrow, and Brian could see that she was determined to buy the house. He pulled her to him, kissed her forehead, and watched as she went into action. 

"Lois, may we see you for a moment?"

Lois conferred with Peggy and Brian. It only took Peggy a few seconds to outline her plan. 

Lois went back to the siblings. "Mr. Brown and Mrs. Caper, if you care to list your property with me I'll accept it at the higher price." 

The brother and sister were obviously dubious, almost knowing that Lois was up to something, but they were anxious to settle the estate quickly, and signed the listing form.

Next, Lois drew up an offer from Driver Markets, Incorporated, and presented it, pointing out that Brian and Peggy would take the property as is. Wayne and Melinda rejected the offer, saying they would not agree to be paid their shares over the next twenty years.

Peggy was distraught that they were not going to get the house and especially the antiques. Brian consoled her. Amanda wanted to know what was wrong with mommy. 

Harry and Mary commiserated with their daughter. Mary made beef stew and served it with her home made bread. As they left her parents' home, Peggy told them that she was happy to be going home to the small house. "I have a loving husband and a precious daughter. What more could I want?"

Brian was taking a few days off from work so they slept late on Monday morning, only to be awaken by a ringing telephone.

"This is Clifford Weston's secretary. Mr. Weston wants you to attend the reading of Edmond and Edith Browns' will."

Brian hung up in dismay. "The lawyer wants us at his office at ten," he told Peggy.

Wayne and Melinda were shocked to see Brian and Peggy enter the lawyer's office. They objected to the intrusion into their privacy, but the Mr. Weston assured them that the Drivers were named in a codicil, which their parents had signed a few months before. 

The codicil was read first. It praised Brian for his unselfish attention to the Browns' needs. There was a list of dates when Brian and Peggy had come to their aid. They said that they were entitled to one-third of the property. Wayne and Melinda complained, saying that their parents' minds must have been failing, and that they would sue before they would permit the Drivers a share the estate.

Peggy excused herself, and while she was out of the room it was revealed that Wayne and Melinda would be entitled to all liquid assets, less expenses. Mr. Weston referred to the assets as a sizable sum, and by the time Peggy returned, Wayne and Melinda softened their stance toward Brian and Peggy receiving the inheritance as stipulated by their parents.

"We'll accept your offer, but we'll need payment in full. Naturally, you'll be responsible for one third of your friend's commission."

Brian knew that he and Peggy did not have the cash to make the deal, but he did want to make one point. "I just heard that you are responsible for all expenses. That would include the realtor's sales commission, would it not?" he asked, looking to Mr. Weston for the answer. 

"That would be correct," Mr. Weston said.

"We'll have the money tomorrow," Peggy said, and whispered something in Brian's ear.

Brian offered to drive Wayne and Melinda back to the Brown residence, but they declined his offer, saying that they would be busy with the lawyer, the mortuary, and the bank for the rest of the day.

"You've got Mr. Bennett wrapped around your little finger," Brian teased Peggy. 

"You had the Browns wrapped around your little finger. I never liked the way they prevailed on your good nature, but I must admit now that your generosity paid off. Those good deeds you did turned out to be very profitable."

"Taking Amanda with me didn't hurt. Edith adored her."

Peggy smiled at him, and Brian smiled back.

March 2001

Driver Markets, Incorporated took position of the former Brown residence on the fifth of March. 

Brian was torn between his work at the office, renovations on their new residence, running the markets on weekends, and caring for Peggy, who was having a difficult time during her last weeks of pregnancy. 

Their indebtedness to Mr. Bennett was weighing heavily on Brian. Peggy's words of assurance, 'check the cash box' did little to cancel his concerns. "I think you're nervous about becoming a father," she teased.

"I'm already a father," he contended. 

Peggy smiled, and said, "Yes, you are." 

Phillip Driver was born early on the sixteenth of March, 2001, one day before his older sister turned three. She and Brian celebrated with her grandparents, and then they went to visit Peggy and Phillip in the hospital. 

Amanda was apprehensive. She didn't understand why the new baby took so much time, holding the attention of her parents. Brian took her with him to work on their new home each night, asking for her advice when he started a new project.

They started in the upstairs, discarding the old mattresses, bedding, and the Browns' clothing that had been left behind.

Harry helped when he could, but the work went slowly because Brian could only devote four nights per week to the house. He needed Friday night to prepare for the dealers to operate on Saturday and Sunday. 

Although Peggy could not participate physically, she operated behind the scenes, bringing in new inventory, keeping the bills paid, and most importantly, choosing the wall covering that Brian was learning to hang in the upstairs bedrooms, bath and hallway.

Brian called to check on Peggy during every break. It always began with discussion of the business, but usually drifted to other subjects, mainly their relationship.

"I love you so much."

"I know you do. I love you, too."

"I'm sorry that I can't show you how much I love you."

"Don't be sorry. I'm fine."

"Would a blowjob help?'

"Peggy, I told you that I'm fine."

"Don't go next door tonight. I'll give you a blowjob."

"Stop teasing me. Be serious," Brian said, grinning to himself.

"Come straight home."

"I promise not to let a train hit me."

"Now you're teasing me. Am I really that paranoid?" she asked.

"Yes, but I love you anyway."

April 2001

Peggy paid her first visit to the former Brown residence. She had Phillip in her arms. 

"See how hard your old dad is working? Do you think he needs help? She asked her young son.

"I help Da, mommy," Amanda said.

"We don't have the funds to pay professionals," Brian pointed out. 

"Yes, we do. Besides, Phillip and I need you and Amanda at home with us. We miss you."

Brian had to admit that she made sense. They hired workmen to finish the downstairs, and although they didn't replace the appliances or bathroom fixtures, the fresh paint and wall covering made the house look like new. 

May 2001

Peggy invited a few people to a housewarming party. In addition her parents, Mr. Bennett brought his bookkeeper, Mrs. Nixon. Lois Barns brought her husband.

Amanda took the visitors on a tour of the house. She was especially proud of her room. "That is Phillip's room, but he's afraid to sleep by himself so he stays close to my mom."

Peggy didn't want to leave Phillip at night, so she invited Mr. Bennett to have dinner with them each month when the mortgage payments were due. He demanded to be paid by check for the building and the new property next door, but he accepted envelopes filled with cash for the original property. 

Mr. Bennett always wanted to know how their business was doing, and often spoke of his own businesses. It was clear to Brian that Mr. Bennett held Peggy in high esteem. 

"If he was not seventy-something, I would be jealous," he teased Peggy after the elderly man left.

"I'm like a substitute daughter to him. He never sees her, and seldom hears from her. I wonder what drove her away."

"It's like the Browns' children. I wonder what drove them away."

June 2001

John returned from college to work the summer, but Sara found work elsewhere. 

One of the projects Polly had planned was for John to plant evergreen seedlings at the rear of the properties. She assigned another teenager to help John plant the first thousand trees, something that would be continued each year. 

It would be years before he trees would be ready for cutting, so Peggy made a contract with a tree company to deliver two truckloads of Christmas trees before December 1. 

The warm weather was bringing new customers to the market on weekends. All aspects of their business were prospering. The dealers were happy, Brian was happy, and Peggy was happy. The small house was set up as an antique shop, and customers were clamoring to pay the prices Peggy set for the contents of the former Brown house.

One Friday night, Brian came back from setting up the market for the next day. He was tired and needed to get some rest. Dealers would arrive early, and customers would be right behind them.

"Why aren't you in bed?" he asked Peggy.

"Dance with me, Brian."

"Are the kids asleep?"

"They're sleeping like babies," she said, pushing him into a chair and unlacing his shoes. 

They danced in their stockings on the newly refinished hardwood floor. It was obvious that Peggy had just stepped out of the shower. Her hair smelled fresh, like lilacs in the spring, and she felt soft in his arms. 

"Are you happy, my sweet?"

"I'm ecstatic. Are you happy?"

"Would you be happier if we were married?"

"It doesn't matter. You're the mother of my children. That's all I need to know."

"I would you know, if it would please you."

"Stop teasing me. We both know why you don't want to get married and its fine with me, really."

"If you change your mind..."

"Stop!"

"Because I love you more..."

"Stop! I know your position on the subject. It's not that important to me any more."

"It's not that important since we have Phillip?"

"Yes, but before that, since you let me adopt Amanda."

She unbuttoned his shirt, and kissed his chest. He lifted her shirt over her head, and kissed her neck, down to her breasts, and on to her tummy. They drifted toward the stairs, as if the bedroom was drawing them to it. 

Except for their socks, they were naked when they reached the bedroom. They lay down, and Brian continued to kiss her, and run his hands over her arms, back and front. 

After ten minutes of this treatment, Peggy took his hand and placed it against her sex. "I won't break," she said.

"Are you sure it's all right?"

"I'm sure," she said, reaching for his cock. 

He groaned. "Don't be surprised if you make that thing go off."

"You haven't gone all these months without doing something to relieve yourself."

"Well...maybe."

She laughed, and pulled roughly on his cock. He responded by pushing his finger into her pussy. 

It seemed to take forever for him to maneuver into position, and then she had to guide his cock to her opening. "It's all right, really it is," she said, feeling him moving slower than she liked.

Once he got going it was quite enjoyable for both of them. They finished with a flurry, fatigue setting in. Brian fell asleep, and Peggy soon followed, a contented smile on her lips.

"You're getting old before your time," she chided him the next morning. "I thought you would be good for at least one more time."

"I'll catch up with you tonight."

"Promise?" she asked, and watched him grin at her.

The marriage issue was a forgotten subject, but Brian became the sexual pursuer, and Peggy was always receptive to his advances. She was opposed to taking precautions, saying, "If it happens, so be it."

"So be it," Brian echoed. Should she become pregnant again, he would rejoice. If nothing happened, he pledged to try again. Peggy agreed with his view of the subject. 




Picking up the Pieces Ch. 05



September 2001

Three significant events occurred that month. First, Amanda's adoption became official. They tried to explain what it meant to be Brian's daughter. He would always take care of her, and her last name would be changed to Driver.

As far as Amanda was concerned, nothing was changing. She was now three and a half years old, and had accepted Phillip as a member of the family. She beamed when strangers admired him, "He doesn't talk yet, but I'm teaching him."

Amanda didn't know how difficult it had been to convince the judge to sign off on the adoption. She had called them into her chamber, separately. Brian didn't know how Peggy had answered the only question the judge was interested in knowing.

"Why aren't you married?"

"Peggy is my wife in every way, except that we have not exchanged vows in front of an official. We share the same bed, we're partners in business, and she bore my son. She has a fear of making our union official because of the way Amanda's birth father died. Peggy believes he took his own life because he wasn't prepared for being a father. She feels responsible for his death."

The judge shook her head, but signed off on the adoption. Brian was relieved that he didn't have to tell the judge about Peggy's offer to marry him if it would make him happy.

The second event occurred three days later when terrorist hijacked commercial flights and killed thousands of innocent people. Like most people in America, Brian and Peggy watched the news, and shook their heads in dismay. Like most of their fellow citizens, they had no answers for what took place that day. 

The third event took place when they gave Mr. Bennett the final payment for the small house and the land where their business was located. Mr. Bennett actually looked reluctant to accept the envelope.

"We still owe you for the building and this house," Peggy said. "We'll expect you to come to dinner and collect our checks."

"I hate to take your money. Does this empty that cash box?" he asked.

Peggy just smiled at her elderly friend.

March 2002

Phillip became one year old on the sixteenth, and Amanda reached age four on the seventeenth. Their birthdays were celebrated on the same day, a tradition that would continue for years.

In addition to Harry and Mary, three little girls about Amanda's age were invited to the party. She opened her gifts, and brought each one to Brian for him to inspect. 

Mr. Bennett dropped by with gifts for the children, but didn't stay long, saying that cake and ice cream didn't agree with him. Prompted by Brian, Amanda thanked Mr. Bennett for his gift. He smiled, saying she was welcome. As an afterthought, she said, "Phillip would say thank you, too, if he could talk. He's only one, you know."

Later, they celebrated Brian's twenty-fifth birthday, and Peggy gave him a special gift, another tradition that lasted years. 

November 2002

Peggy called Brian at his office, something she'd never done before. He always called her during his break.

"It's Daddy, they think he had a heart attack."

"How is he?"

"He didn't make it, Brian."

"I'll be there in thirty minutes," he said, wondering how she could remain so calm. 

Brian found Peggy and the kids at her parents' house. She went to pieces as soon as she saw him. "Don't let Amanda see me. She won't understand."

But it was too late. Amanda had seen her mother burst into tears. She was mimicking Brian, hugging Phillip, and saying, "it will be okay."

"Where's Mary?" Brian asked.

"She's in her room," Peggy said, trying to dry her tears.

"Amanda, go to your grandmother. Hug her, and tell her everything will be okay."

"Should I take Phillip?"

"That would be a good idea. Your grandmother would like to hug him too."

Brian lowered Peggy to the floor, and held her. "They're both gone. Cry as much as you need to, but don't blame yourself. It's not your fault. Use me, let me hold you, hit me if you want to, but don't blame yourself for what happened."

"I would never hit you, Brian," she sobbed.

"You need to get it out of your system. I'll try to explain this to Amanda, but right now I want to take care of you."

"You wonderful man, how did I get so lucky to have you come into my life?"

"Does that mean you'll marry me?"

He felt her body stiffen, and realized he had said the wrong thing. 

"I'll marry you. It will be my honor to me Mrs. Brian Driver."

They kissed, and Peggy cried some more. Eventually, she went to the bathroom and splashed cold water on her face. Next, she went into her mother's bedroom and told Amanda to go with Brian. "Your daddy wants you to help him make supper."

Brian didn't know where to begin or what he was going to say. He avoided the use of words like 'death' or 'heaven', and when Amanda asked where her grandfather had gone; he admitted that he didn't know. 

Her question, "will you go away someday, Daddy," baffled him. 

"Yes, I'll have to leave you someday, but I'll always be close. You just won't be able to see me."

Amanda cocked her head, as if she was forming a question. "What are we going to make for supper?"

Brian told Peggy about the conversation. "That's enough for now. She's too young to attend the funeral," he said, and Peggy agreed. 

Mr. Bennett approached the family at the burial site, expressed his condolences to Mary, and then turned to Peggy. "Let me know if there is anything you need."

Peggy thanked him, and Mr. Bennett moved on to shake hands with Brian. "Don't hesitate to let me know if I can help in any way."

They didn't discuss Mr. Bennett's offer for three days. Peggy devoted almost all of her time to Mary, grieving. Brian returned to work.

"We're going to need to replace dad's truck," Peggy said.

"You must have enough in the cash box to pay for a new truck."

"Yes, but that money is for a rainy day. You know that," Peggy countered. 

"We could get a loan."

"We haven't established credit with a bank."

"They would loan us the money based on my salary."

"Not at the same rate Mr. Bennett will give us."

Brian didn't want to argue about such a trivial matter. He invited Mr. Bennett to the house. Mr. Bennett stipulated that payments would be made by check, and that Brian would prepare a financial report for his bookkeeper. 

"We could have leased a truck," Brian said after Mr. Bennett left.

"That would have hurt his feelings. Mr. Bennett likes giving us loans. It makes him feel like he's involved with our business."

"Mr. Bennett likes giving 'you' loans," Brian corrected her.

Mr. Bennett was on hand the day the new truck arrived, excitedly pointing to the lettering, 'Driver Markets, Inc.', that was painted on all four sides of the box.

With her father gone, Peggy developed her own network of brokers that specialized in excess goods or companies that were going out of business. She kept Brian appraised as new inventory arrived, and together they established the selling price of each item.

While Peggy dealt with the brokers, it was Brian's job to distribute the items to the dealers. He got along famously with them. Except for two husband and wife teams, they were older females. 

Each Friday night, he would unload skids of goods from the truck. First choice for the newest item was on a rotating basis, but all dealers considered it their duty to complain about the established selling price. If the dealer who had first choice turned the item down, Brian would offer it to the dealer next in line. If none of the dealers wanted the item, Brian would move the skid to Peggy's booth. That's when the bidding would begin, and eventually, Brian would accept the highest bid.

It was not a perfect system, but it worked. There was a lot of give-and-take, and everyone had a good time. 

Peggy didn't attend the Friday night meetings with the dealers because she thought they took advantage of Brian. He always came home exhausted. She would count the money he had collected, make out a bank deposit slip for most of it, and help him undress. She often said that she looked forward to their Friday night lovemaking. "I get to do most of the work," she laughed.

The business was profitable, to Brian and Peggy, and to the dealers. When one of the dealers came to Brian, wanting to sub-lease her booth to a new dealer, he became suspicious. Why would a dealer want to give up a profitable business? After some probing, he learned that the lease was being sold for a high price.

Peggy was opposed to agreeing to the sub-lease. "If a booth is worth that much, why shouldn't we profit from the sale?"

Brian disagreed. "If the booth is worth that much, it proves that we're doing something right. We're making a good profit, the dealers are averaging five hundred dollars for a weekend's work, and customers are coming in droves. I like knowing that our booths are valuable, but we want happy dealers, and if someone wants out of the business, we should let them go."

A compromise was reached. Booths could be sub-leased, but there was no guarantee that the lease would be renewed. This devalued the selling price, and it gave Brian the opportunity of seeing how the new dealer fit in. It was a small group, and established dealers had a say in whose lease was renewed. 

January 2003

It soon became apparent that Mary was fearful of living alone. She was only fifty-seven, and in reasonably good physical condition, but had always lived with other family members. 

Brian and Peggy gave up their home office, relocating it to the larger bedroom in the small house where they had first made love. Mary took over the former office, and they disposed of her excess furniture. 

Brian suggested that Mary's house be rented. That is when he and Peggy learned that the house belonged to their children. A trust had been established before Harry's death, leaving the property to Amanda, Phillip and any future children born to their daughter. 

The house was rented, and the rent, less expenses, was deposited to the children's trust. 

Amanda was enrolled in kindergarten. She would be five soon, and her mind was developing rapidly. At least, that was Brian's opinion. 

With Amanda at kindergarten a few hours each day, and Mary doing some of the cooking, it freed Peggy to spend time in her office. She spoke to brokers on the phone and sold antiques by appointment. 

March 2003

Amanda's kindergarten class was invited to her fifth birthday party, which she shared with Phillip. 

Brian had been concerned about how Amanda would interact with her kindergarten class, but his fears were relieved when he watched her in action.

"This is my little brother. He's only two, but I've been teaching him things, and he's very smart," she explained to her classmates. 

Being the center of attention for a few minutes agreed with Phillip. Brian was proud to see his son smile at the five year old girls and boys. To his thinking, Amanda was right about her brother being very smart. 

July 2003

Brian took Peggy to a company outing. He took a lot of ribbing about having such a pretty wife. "Now I see why you're on the phone every break," said one of his co-workers. 

September 2003

Brian didn't leave for work until Amanda was safely on the school bus. Peggy accused him of being a doting father. 

"You only have one chance to see your daughter off on her first day of school," he countered. 

March 2004

Brian surprised Peggy with a new car. It was a big SUV, and he had paid cash. 

"You had no right to trade in my Camry," she said.

"You're upset that we didn't ask Mr. Bennett for a loan."

"He'll be upset when he finds out that we didn't need his help."

"You need a safe car."

"Thank your dad for keeping us safe," she said, and Peggy was the first to jump into his arms, followed by Amanda and Phillip.

Peggy invited two kids Phillip's age to his third birthday party, but he gave the girls in Amanda's first grade class most of his attention.

Brian told Peggy that their son liked older women.

"Just like his dad," she laughed.

June 2004

John graduated from college, wanting a full time job. They talked to him, explaining that they couldn't pay him the salary he was being offered by large companies as an entry level trainee. John pointed out that he wouldn't need training, and would accept a lesser salary because he liked working at the markets and he saw possibilities for growth. 

John soon proved his worth, and was rewarded by being treated like a member of the family. His girlfriend often came by at closing time, and Brian would invite them to the house to share a beer and a snack. 

December 2004

Christmas tree sales were good for the business conducted inside. The dealers benefited from the increased traffic of families stopping by for a tree.

It was John's idea to place some of the trees at the back of the property where the trees he had planted were growing steadily, but still too young to cut. 

John drove the tractor, and invited kids and their fathers to ride in the straw-lined wagon. Brian had watched John interact with Amanda and Phillip, but he was amazed at the way John helped kids into the wagon while doing a sales pitch to their fathers.  

John's wagon rides to the rear of the properties became a tradition. If it snowed, so much the better. Hot chocolate and fried dough were part of the tradition. Sales soared, and Peggy had to place a last minute order for another truckload of trees. 

John Larkin received a year-end bonus, and announced his engagement to the girl friend, Judy. 

February 14, 2005

Brian came home from work early. He sent Amanda upstairs to wrap Peggy's birthday gifts. Naturally, Phillip was curious, and followed his sister. 

"What are they giving me?" Peggy asked.

"Nothing special, but I have a surprise for you," Brian said.

"Is it a special surprise?"

"Very special."

"Is it something you can tell me now, or do I have to wait until we're in the bedroom?"

"I received a promotion. I'm going to be Robert's assistant manager. It's a newly created position. I'll have my own office and share his administrative assistant. I got a nice raise too, but I won't get regular breaks so I'll have to call you when I can."

"That sucks," she said, before realizing that his promotion deserved congratulations. Mary came from the kitchen and found them kissing. 

"Brian got a promotion," Peggy explained to her mother. 

"That's wonderful, Brian. Now we have two reasons to celebrate," Mary said.

Brian had to go upstairs to find out what was keeping the kids. Amanda was wrapping the gifts for the third time, wanting them to look perfect. 

"How old is mom?" she asked, watching Brian tie a bow on one of the gifts.

"She's twenty-eight today."

"That's old!" Amanda exclaimed.

"Yes, it is," Brian laughed.

"That's old!" Phillip parroted his sister.

Peggy tried to deflect the obsession her children attached to her age. "Your father received a promotion."

"More money! May I have a new bicycle, Dad?" Amanda asked. Phillip chimed in, wanting a new bicycle, too.

"This is your mom's birthday. Let's sing Happy Birthday to her and watch her open her gifts," Brian said.

The new job was not as exciting as it sounded. The position had become necessary because the department was growing so fast. Robert needed a hatchet-man, and Brian often found himself embroiled in petty conflicts that he hadn't known existed before. He considered it a stepping stone to better things, and did his best to maintain order within the department. 

Brian knew that he wasn't devoting as much time to the business as it deserved. He felt that he was losing touch. 

"Would you like for me to quit my job and help you run the company?" he asked Peggy.

"I'd love to have you here, but we should wait until we reduce the amount we owe Mr. Bennett. In fact, we need another building, and we could use a forklift."

Brian knew she was right. He had been thinking the same thing. "Let's add two new buildings, one for expansion, and one for storage. We can lease the forklift."

Mr. Bennett granted their request for another loan, saying that he was happy for their success. "You've come up with a unique idea. Instead of hiring clerks to ring up sales, you've given people the opportunity to own a business. It saves a lot of headaches and you make a decent profit," he said, showing that he had been paying attention to their operation. 

March 2005

Amanda's second grade class was invited to her birthday party. Phillip, now age four, seemed right at home with the older seven year old kids, especially the girls.

Mr. Bennett dropped by and Amanda told Phillip to sit on his lap, wanting to take a picture of them with her new camera. 

Brian overheard one of her classmates ask Amanda if that was her grandfather. "No," Amanda said, "that's Mr. Bennett. He has lots of money."

John and Judy Larkin brought gifts for the kids. Amanda told Phillip to sit between them. He was happy to comply, clowning for the camera. 

"She's maturing," Brian said to Peggy. "I think she's ready to hear about death."

"Do what you think is best," Peggy said, showing that she trusted his judgment. 

Brian and Amanda went for a long ride in his truck the next day, and when they got back, she was clinging to him like she never wanted to let go. She later hugged Phillip, who was mystified by his sister's show of affection.



Picking up the Pieces Ch. 06



 Chapter 6 From Ecstasy to Anguish



January 2006

Phillip, two months shy of age five, was enrolled in kindergarten. Brian rode in the backseat with him, giving him instructions as how to interact with other kids as Peggy drove the SUV. "Don't try to kiss any girls the first day," Brian advised.

"BRIAN," Peggy shouted from the driver's seat. 

"Wait until the second day," Brian said.

"BRIAN," Peggy shouted again. "Do you want to get him kicked out on his second day?" she asked, blushing.

"On second thought, it may be better if you wait until you're my age to kiss the girls," Brian said.

"Now you're confusing him," Peggy scolded him.

She stayed in the car while Brian delivered Phillip to his classroom.

"Did he cry when you left him?" she asked when he got in the car.

"No, I think he was glad to be rid of me."

"I don't blame him," she said, smiling fondly.

When Mr. Bennett failed to show up for dinner, and he didn't answer his phone, Peggy called Mrs. Nixon, his bookkeeper. 

"I was going to call you, Mrs. Driver. George was taken to the hospital this afternoon."

Brian and Peggy rushed to the hospital, but were not permitted to visit their friend. They were told that only family members could see him.

"We're as close to a family as he has," Peggy complained.

The following evening, they were able to see him for two minutes. Mr. Bennett was hooked up to all sorts of equipment. "Go see Mr. Weston," George Bennett was able to whisper before they were whisk from the room.

Peggy phoned Brian at work the next day, telling the administrative assistant that it was an emergency.

"Mr. Weston will see us at two," she said when Brian came to the phone.

"What's this about?" he asked, showing irritation that a meeting had been interrupted. 

"He wouldn't tell me."

"I'll pick you up at one-thirty," he said, thinking that he could work through lunch and leave the office at one.

They were five minutes late getting to the lawyer's office. 

"George Bennett wants you to take over his business interests," Mr. Weston said as soon as they were seated. 

He handed them a document and told them he would expect their decision to accept or reject Mr. Bennett's offer by the end of the week. 

Brian went back to work, dismissing Mr. Bennett's offer. They were not equipped to manage his affairs. By the time he got home, Peggy had had time to digest what was in the document. 

"I think we should do it," she said.

"Have you lost your...are you serious?"

"Listen to this. He's willing to forgive our debt to him if we accept his deal. I spoke to Mrs. Nixon. Fifteen of the sixteen apartments are leased. She says that income will cover our monthly payments to the daughter. The hardware store is profitable, but the café is barely making ends meet. We get his house, as is, the same as this house was when the Browns died suddenly. We made out all right with the antiques, didn't we? Do you have any idea what those glass pieces are worth? The house next door is rented to the town librarian and her friend. Mrs. Nixon says they're contended and not going anywhere. Did you hear me say that he'll forgive our debt? We'll be in clover."

"What about operating funds? Is he leaving us his bank accounts?"

"The cash on hand is minimal. Mrs. Nixon said he cleaned out his accounts and sent everything to his daughter. He must have had a feeling that his health was failing."

Something didn't sound right to Brian. Why had the old man selected them to operate his businesses? Why didn't he put them up for sale? Brian thought he knew the answer; it was Peggy. Mr. Bennett had confidence in her abilities. 

"You really want to do this, don't you?"

"It's a great opportunity for us to expand, Honey."

"Will I need to quit my job and help out?" he asked. In the back of his mind he was thinking that this could be a way out of a job that was not to his liking. It was no longer fun. A new incident took place every day that required a stern hand, something contrary to his personality.

"John will take over some of my duties here. He's very competent and ready for increased responsibility."

Brian tried a different tact. "His house is in poor condition. How much could we realize if we cleaned it up and sold it?"

"It's stipulated in the agreement that we can't sell any of the real estate until we've paid a substantial part of the debt. We can sell the antiques, though. I can't even guess how much they are worth. We'll need to do some fix-up work, and rent it."

"Peggy, we've been together since January of 2000. Do you realize that we've never taken a vacation? Do you realize we don't have any friends outside business acquaintances? All we do is work. The kids talk about their friends going to Disney World. If we do this, we'll never be able to take them."

"We'll go in March. I promise."

Brian was skeptical. "Can I tell them we'll celebrate their birthdays at Disney?"

"Yes, Sweetheart, you can tell them."

Brian was thoughtful. He would need to make arrangements to take time off from work. He decided to wait a few days before telling the kids about the family vacation. "I want to visit some orange groves. We may make a deal to have citrus fruit shipped directly here."

"Now, who has his nose to the grindstone? Is this turning into a working vacation?" Peggy teased. 

"We have a few days before we have to give the lawyer our decision. I want to study the document."

"There is one more wrinkle. It's stipulated that we must retain Mrs. Nixon and Lois Banks," Peggy said, watching him for a reaction to this news.

"That doesn't bother me. They've always had Mr. Bennett's best interests at heart. We should tour the apartment building and that relic where the restaurant and hardware store are located."

Peggy picked up the phone, spoke to Mrs. Nixon, and said, "Done, we'll tour the buildings tomorrow."

That night in bed, Peggy was even more receptive to his overtures than usual. She told him how happy he made her, and how excited his touches made her feel. 

"It's always like that first time you put your hand on my ass when you were helping me out of the boxcar."

"I didn't touch your ass," he said for what he knew to be the fiftieth time.

"Yes, you did, but I must correct something you said earlier tonight. We have not been 'together' since January 2000. We didn't have our first date until Valentine's Day, and you claim our second date was Amanda's second birthday. Our third date was when we had pizza and beer, and our fourth date was March the twenty-fifth. That's the night we had sex together for the first time. So, my dear, we haven't been 'together' since January 2000."

"Technically, you're correct, but I distinctly remember you saying that you knew we were going to have sex when your ass rubbed against mine in your dad's truck. That was January."

"Technically, I knew we were going to have sex the first time I saw you. It was only when I felt the size of your cock that I got cold feet."

"You're teasing me again."

"Hmmm, I love teasing you."

~

Brian called his office to say he would be arriving late the next morning. Mrs. Nixon took them to the apartment building, showed them the apartment that was empty, and two others where tenants permitted them inside. She explained that the building was thirty years old, and required more maintenance than a newer building would require. She quoted the average length of time tenants stayed, and some of the more costly expenses.

Brian was dubious, but Peggy was excited about the prospects of owning the apartment building. "We'll spruce up the landscaping, and buy a new sign. We'll ask Mr. Bennett if he would object to our naming it 'Driver Apartments."

Mrs. Nixon didn't express her opinion about re-naming the complex. She suggested that they tour the hardware store next. Brian had been inside the store numerous times, but he was seeing it with a fresh set of eyes. There were water stains in the ceiling tile, and a collection of dust on some of the stock. The clerks looked lackadaisical, answering his questions in monotones. 

They climbed the rickety stairs to the second story, which turned out to be cluttered with seasonal items, and a collection of goods from bygone years that had not sold. 

"This place is filthy. I wonder if they know what's up here," Brian exclaimed.

"We'll clear the junk out, install hardwood floors, and rent it as a loft," Peggy said, unable to hide her excitement. 

"I don't know if the town would allow people to live here. Anyway, the insurance company might take exception to the space above a restaurant being occupied. There's always the possibility of a kitchen fire, you know," Mrs. Nixon warned.

Peggy was unfazed. "John and Judy are looking for a place to move. I know it would appeal to them if we do a good job."

Brian was considering the costs of bathroom plumbing, kitchen appliances, and repairing the roof, but he didn't want to dampen Peggy's spirits.

They had been to the café several times, but the tour with Mrs. Nixon was a new experience. Neither Brian nor Peggy knew what was involved in operating a café. They peeked in the kitchen, and counted the seating. 

Outside, Peggy looked up at the second floor windows without seeing how filthy they were. "We'll touch up the façade, and name it, 'The Driver Building.'" 

The librarian was not at home, and her partner would not permit Mrs. Nixon to take the new owners through the house. Brian asked if the house was comfortable, and the mousy woman answered that they were quite comfortable.

Peggy would have liked to tour Mr. Bennett's house, but the tour was interrupted my Mrs. Nixon's cell phone ringing. She answered, and the blood drained from her face. "George is...I must call his daughter," she said, fainting into Brian's arms. 

The librarian's partner must have been watching from her window. "Bring her inside," she offered, and Peggy helped Brian support the bookkeeper until they were in the librarian's small living room. 

Peggy ran to the bathroom and came back with a damp washcloth. She revived Mrs. Nixon, who confirmed that Mr. Bennett had died thirty minutes before.

Brian volunteered to make the call to Mr. Bennett's daughter. Mrs. Nixon produced a piece of paper with the daughter's name, Georgia Fanning, and her telephone number.

Brian and Peggy exchanged a look as he dialed the number. As she told him later, "I knew you didn't have the slightest idea what you were going to say. I could tell what was going through your mind."

"What was going through my mind?" Brian asked, watching her forehead wrinkle as her lips formed the words.

"You were thinking, 'what the fuck!' Why is this happening to me again? The Brown's kids didn't give a shit about their parents until it was time to split the estate, and now this chick in New Jersey is chopping at the bit, anxious to find out how much she's going to get. Wait until she finds out we'll have twenty years to pay her off."

"You know me pretty well. That's exactly what I was thinking. She sounded kind of elated to hear that George had died. I'm glad I had that talk with Amanda.'

"I'm glad you talked to her, too, Honey. Do you have to go to work today?"

"I've got to tell Robert that I'll be out for the rest of the week," he said, and Peggy nodded her understanding.

That night when he came home, Brian took Amanda to the couch, and let her put her head on his lap.

"Did mama tell you about Mr. Bennett?" he asked, stoking her hair. 

The little girl nodded. "He's gone. We won't see him again."

"That's right."

"He'll be put in the ground."

"That's right, Honey, but don't dwell on it."

"What does dwell mean?"

"Don't dwell on it means to not worry about something you have no control over. There was nothing any of us could have done. Mr. Bennett had a premonition that it was his time. You don't have to forget him. Be glad that you knew him."

Amanda raised her head. "Dad, what does premonition mean?"

"Premonition is having a feeling that something is going to happen before it actually does."

"Oh," she said, returning her head to his lap. "Mr. Bennett knew it was his time, but that little girl in the cemetery didn't know, did she?"

"She may have had a premonition, but probably not."

"Am I too young to have a premonition?"

Brian was struck with indecision. How was he supposed to answer that? All he could think about was that she needed an answer, and the longer he waited, the more doubt she would have that he was being honest with her.

"I don't know everything, Honey. It you have a premonition, you'll be sure to tell me, right?"

"Okay," she said, raising her head from his lap, kissing his cheek, and running off someplace to be alone.

That night in bed, Peggy snuggled next to him. "She told me about you taking her to the cemetery. She said you couldn't talk when you saw the little girl's tombstone. Were you crying?"

"The little girl was Amanda's age when she died; only it was fifty years ago. Taking her to the cemetery may have been a mistake. I know it affected me to see the stone of a seven year old."

"It's good that you had the talk with her. She accepted Mr. Bennett's death."

"I hope she doesn't begin to think she's having a premonition."

"Stop doubting yourself, Honey. What did Robert say about you taking the rest of the week off?"

Brian laughed. "He was pissed. He asked how many more elderly friends we have. He accused me of devoting too much time to my wife's business. I think he was worried that he might have to actually do some work. You should have seen the look on his face when I told him we're going to take a vacation in March."

"Look at it this way. In twenty years we'll have everything paid off and we can retire young."

"I hope you're right," Brian said before drifting off to sleep. 

He was awakened by Amanda's screams. He ran to her room to find her sitting up in bed, terror in her eyes.

"You had a nightmare. Everything will be all right," he said, holding her small body in his arms.

"It wasn't a nightmare. It was a premonition," she cried.

Brian thought; what have I done? "Forget about premonitions. You're too young to have one."

She tried to explain that it was about Peggy, but he wouldn't listen to her, covering her and telling her to go back to sleep.

The next morning he went to the airport to meet Georgia Fanning and her family. She reminded Brian of her father. She had the same big frame, but she did not possess her father's friendly, outgoing personality. Brian detected that she relied on her husband, Curtis Fanning, to decide when she should talk and what she should say. The son, Curt junior, looked nothing like his parents. He was sixteen, blond, and small boned. He was told to sit in the front seat with Brian while his parents took up most of the back seat.

Brian first took them to the best motel in town, and then to the mortuary to make funeral arrangements. Curtis made all the decisions, and it didn't take long. 

"Next stop is the lawyer's office. You can wait for us in the lobby," Curtis said to Brian.

Curtis, Georgia and Curtis junior were only in Mr. Weston's office thirty minutes. 

"The old man wanted you to operate his business. I told the lawyer to keep a close eye on everything you do. Just so you know, the first time you're late with a payment I'll be on you like stink on shit."

"We still have a couple of days to decide if we're going to accept Mr. Bennett's proposition," Brian said, knowing the decision had already been made.

"That means you'll owe us a ton of money the old man loaned you. I don't care what you decide. Either way, you better be on time with those payments."

"Brian took the couple and their son back to the motel and told then that he would see them at the funeral the following day."

"He's one cute son of a bitch," he said to Peggy later. "I think he's the reason Georgia never visited her dad."

"Don't worry about it, Honey. We won't miss any payments, and you'll never see either of them again."

~

Amanda went to school the day of the funeral and Mary stayed at home to receive Phillip when he came home from kindergarten. 

The turnout at the funeral was good, an indication that George Bennett had many friends in the town. Brian stood between Mrs. Nixon and Peggy at the burial site, supporting both of them. Afterward, Brian introduced them to Curtis, Georgia and Curtis junior. None of the other mourners seemed to know that Georgia was Mr. Bennett's daughter.

"Did you decide to take the old man's offer?" Curtis asked Brian.

"We probably will accept it, but we have until tomorrow to tell Mr. Weston."

"Like I said yesterday, I don't give a shit one way or the other. I wouldn't mind moving here and overseeing those jerks he had working for him."

Peggy asked, "Are you a business man, Mr. Fanning?"

"I've done all kinds of things. I guess you could call me a jack of all trades, eh, Honey?" he said, looking at Georgia, who was concentrating on her father's grave.

When his wife didn't respond, Curtis continued. "It'll only take us a few minutes to pack. Meet us at the motel in thirty minutes," he said, speaking to Brian.

"I'm going to my office. Red's taxi is right around the corner from your motel. Red is your best bet. He goes to the airport all the time," Brian said, and then to Georgia, "I'm sorry for your loss."

They took Mrs. Nixon home. Peggy assured her that they were planning to take over Mr. Bennett's business interests, and that she was looking forward to working with the bookkeeper.

"You're right. He is one cute son of a bitch," Peggy said when they were alone in the car. 

"Are you feeling all right? I didn't know if you or Mrs. Nixon was going to faint first at the gravesite."

"It was a traumatic experience, that's all," she assured him. 

Brian looked at her, hoping to see some evidence that he was hearing her correctly, but it wasn't there.

~

They went to the lawyer's office on Friday, signed the agreement, and accepted his congratulations. 

"You came out smelling like a rose," Mr. Weston said. "You played George Bennett just right. That was a big nut he was carrying on you."

Brian took exception to the lawyer's assessment that they had played George Bennett at all. The old man had a fixation about Peggy, who was nothing like Georgia, but Mr. Bennett hadn't seen his daughter for so long that he had forgotten that she had a submissive nature and a domineering husband. 

"Would you like to drive by any of our new properties, or go in the café and see what's going on? Brian asked.

Peggy shook her head, making him look over to see that she was slumped against the passenger's door. Her eyes were closed.

"Do you still want to marry me, Brian?"

"I'd like nothing better. Have you changed your mind?"

"I'll marry you. Let's plan to be married when we're on vacation."

"You've made me very happy," he said, looking her way. Her eyes were still closed, and she was smiling.

He had to help her up the stairs. "I don't know why I'm so tired," she said.

He helped her remove her coat, and the clothes she had worn to the funeral, but when he brought jeans and a sweatshirt for her to put on, she was already under the covers. 

"Should I call the doctor?"

"Take care of the kids," she said, in a pleading way that gave Brian a bad feeling. Her eyes were closed, and there was a weak smile on her lips.

He checked on her often, but this being Friday night, he had to go next door to set up for the weekend business. 

At eight o'clock, he told John to finish setting up, and went to the house to find Amanda holding Peggy's hand. 

It took fifteen minutes for the ambulance to arrive, and fifteen minutes more to reach the hospital. At two AM, a nurse in the emergency room insisted that he go home. 




Picking up the Pieces Ch. 06



Mary was still up, sitting at the dining table. Brian shook his head to indicate that he didn't have any news. He went upstairs to find Amanda and Phillip in his bed. He got in bed and pulled them to him. 

"Is mama..." Amanda began, but he shushed her, telling her to try to go to sleep.

Mary woke him at five-thirty, saying the hospital had called. He tiptoed out of the room, getting dressed as he descended the stairs. The same nurse that had sent him away was telling him to come back to the hospital.

As he started his truck he saw dealers beginning to arrive. He could only hope that John was there to let them in. He didn't stop to check.

A doctor talked to him, saying that he wasn't certain what had taken his wife's life, but he thought that a blood clot had lodged in the brain. An autopsy would either confirm his suspicion or prove him wrong. The doctor tried to assure Brian that there was nothing he could have done, but Brian was beside himself and tuned out the doctor's words.

Mary became the pillar that Brian leaned on. She made the funeral plans, did her best to console the kids, and notified distant relatives. Brian refused to come out of the room he had shared with Peggy, brooding.

Mary dressed them for the funeral, and helped Brian comfort the kids. He was like a zombie, shaking hands with people he should have recognized, but didn't 

His sister, Ginny, was his only family member to come to the funeral. She was twenty-one, a college senior and madly in love with a soldier who was on his way to Afghanistan. 

Ginny only stayed a few days, but in those days she bonded with Amanda and Phillip, and eased her brother's pain. When he took her to the airport, he told her how appreciative he was for her coming. "You're welcome any time. Let us know if we can do anything for you," he said to the beautiful young woman he'd always known as 'squirt.'

"The folks should have been here. They're still pretty bummed that you had a child out of wedlock. It's too bad that they haven't met Phillip. They would love him as much as I do."

"She was going to marry me," Brian was able to say as he backed away from his sister. He left before her flight took off, not wanting her to see him breaking up.

Mary answered the telephone, having to tell Richard about her daughter's death, breaking the news to the brokers that called, and telling everyone else that Brian wasn't taking any phone calls.

Mary tried her best to hold things together. She took messages from John and Mrs. Nixon. Brian read them, but showed no reaction that he cared what they conveyed.

Brian let the kids sleep with him. He didn't leave the house, and they didn't either. Mary kept soup warm, but they seldom ate anything.



Picking up the Pieces Ch. 07



 Chapter 7 Doing What's Expected to get by

February 2006

On February the fourteenth, Brian came out of his room and announced to the kids and Mary that this was Peggy's twenty-ninth birthday. "Get dressed for school," he ordered. Tonight we'll celebrate your mom's birthday. She would like for us to have a good time."

"Will we give her presents?" Amanda asked.

"Your darned right, I'll pick them up and you can wrap them," he said, smiling for the first time in days.

He saw the kids off to school, and went to Peggy's office to see if he could fill her shoes. He first returned calls from brokers, only to discover that their offerings for distressed products had evaporated. 

He next called Mrs. Nixon, who gave him the sales receipts for Mr. Bennett's businesses. She told him that she had checks to be signed, and that the cash on hand was insufficient to cover them. He asked her to meet him at the café.

Brian called John Larkin in for a short meeting. John gave him an overview of what had been happening at the market. Receipts were up slightly from last year, but John informed him that all shipments had been received, and the inventory was dwindling. 

Brian could see that the inventory required his attention, but he also knew that there were more pressing matters. 

"Let's go for a ride," he said to John. "We're going to learn the restaurant and hardware businesses."

Fifteen minutes later, they walked into the hardware store and found the older clerk, Mr. Howard, reading a newspaper. There were no customers in the store. 

Brian asked where the younger clerk was, and was told that Larry was on coffee break. Brian looked at his watch and made a note of the time. 

"Mr. Howard, this is John Larkin, my assistant. If John asks you to do something, it's the same as me giving you an order."

Mr. Howard looked up from his newspaper and gave Brian a reticent nod, like he understood, but didn't like being told what to do by someone John's age.

"When Larry comes back, John is going to put him to work knocking the dust off of the stock. I would like for you to impart the knowledge you've gained over your illustrious career in the hardware business to John. He learns quickly. I'll be very interested to hear what he has learned."

Brian knew he was putting John in a tenuous situation, but he wanted to show the two hardware clerks who was in charge. He had confidence that John could handle them.

Before he left the store, Brian took John aside. "When I get back we'll check out the attic. Some of the crap looks like it's been up there for a hundred years. We may be able to sell some of the stuff as antiques."

As he left, he heard John asking Mr. Howard what time he expected Larry to return. Brian grinned, happy to hear John already asserting his authority.

It would be two days before Brian would return to investigate the attic. There were no customers in the café either. He found Mrs. Nixon in a back booth that had been Mr. Bennett's favorite place to hold meetings. She showed him the backlog of invoices that needed to be paid. He carefully checked each one, paying particular attention to the quantities ordered and the prices. 

Brian would be the first to admit that he knew very little about the business of preparing and serving meals, but asked questions, and applied the same principles that had made the Driver Market profitable. 

That evening, they celebrated Peggy's birthday as best they could. Mary prepared a special meal, complete with cake. Brian and the kids broke up during the singing of Happy Birthday, but Mary remained dry eyed, unwilling to show emotion. The gifts that Amanda had wrapped were left unopened at Peggy's place at the table.

The next day, Brian deposited most of the money from the cash box, and signed the checks. 

He and John compared notes, and determined that the new businesses would require close scrutiny. Brian decided that rather than put John in charge of either segment of the business, he would give John full authority to act in his stead, and they would alternate duties. 

He offered Mrs. Nixon Peggy's former office. While she didn't care for the increased responsibility of answering the telephone for the market business and waiting on customers who came in looking for antiques, she accepted the move and adapted well. 

Brian received a call from a woman who identified herself as Sherri Casco. "We have a support group for widows and widowers. Our next meeting is the fifth of March and we would like for you to attend."

"Thank you, Ms. Casco, but I'm far too busy to socialize right now."

"This isn't a social club," she said, before she heard the line go dead.

March 2006

It was clear that Mr. Bennett's businesses were not as successful as the old man had portrayed them to be. Not all tenants in the apartment building paid their rent on time, the hardware business was off, and the restaurant was losing money. Brian kept wondering what Peggy would do in certain situations. 

The dealers were complaining that Brian had lost interest in the market business, and the brokers stopped calling with new opportunities.

He emptied the rest of the cash from the box and deposited it in the bank, but still came up short. Suppliers of food and restaurant supplies threatened to stop making deliveries and vendors of hardware items held up shipments until past invoices were paid in full. 

John put Larry, the younger hardware clerk, to work clearing out the attic. Some of the items went to the antique shop, and others were offered to the market dealers. All in all, the proceeds allowed Brian to balance the books for March. 

Brian needed money and considered selling Peggy's car. Amanda talked him out of it, saying that she and Phillip didn't need to invite their classmates to their birthday party. Phillip didn't understand this, and Brian said their birthday party had become a tradition.

Amanda was allowed to invite five classmates, and Brian helped Phillip chose five members from his kindergarten class to attend the party.

Amanda invited two girls and three boys. Phillip invited all boys. 

Most parents dropped their children off, and were told to come back in two hours to have cake and ice cream while Amanda and Phillip opened their gifts. 

The exception was Marian Keratin, who delivered her son, Tommy, from Phillip's kindergarten class, and stayed for the party. 

Brian recognized her from the bank, and knowing that she could be in a position to give his businesses a loan, endured her presence. 

Marian was a take-charge woman, accustomed to directing the bank's staff. She not only got the two age groups of children to co-mingle, she kept them interested in the games they played. 

Amanda complained to Brian about the way Marian was taking over the activities. "It's my party, and I should say what we play," she said.

"I know, Honey, but try to be nice to her. She works at the bank, and I may need her to loan us some money."

Amanda stomped off, saying she was eight years old and didn't need the lady's help.

Brian didn't mind having Marian's help, and it didn't bother Mary to have the banker direct the activities. 

Brian took several phone calls while the party was in progress, and was amazed each time he returned to see that Marian had the children playing a new game.

"I know what you're going through," she said to him.

Brian looked at her, questioning. Her build was slight. Her dirty blonde hair was bound in a ponytail, and there was a line showing in her forehead, seeking some recognition that he knew what she was saying. 

"I lost my husband last year," she clarified.

"I'm sorry," he said, thinking that was what she wanted to hear.

"It gets better, believe me," she said.

"I don't think it will," he differed.

"You have to make some changes. I moved home, and my dad gave me a job at the bank. It's made all the difference for me. I strongly recommend change." 

Mary told Brian he was wanted on the phone. He excused himself from Mrs. Keratin, and was gone until it was time for cake and ice cream. Marian prompted the kids to sing happy birthday to Amanda and Phillip. 

Brian nearly broke down when he heard the singing, missing Peggy, wishing that she was there to see her little girl become eight and her little boy become five. He left the room, and only returned in time to wave at the parents as they drove away.

April 2006

Brian did some self-assessment, and decided that the banker's daughter may have given him good advice. He knew very little about operating a restaurant or a hardware store. Mr. Bennett's agreement forbade him from selling any of the businesses, but he could lease them to operators who had experience in the business.

He advertised both businesses, and advised the employees that change would be coming. 

He worked nights to get the vacant apartment ready to be leased, and appealed to Lois to sign a tenant. 

When he was late making the monthly payment to Georgia, he received a call from her husband. Curtis threatened to speak to Mr. Weston. Brian assured him that the check was in the mail. 

Sherri Casco tried again, inviting him to a monthly support meeting. Brian gave her the same answer, saying he was far too busy to attend the meeting. ' 

May 2006

Brian was considering calling Robert, his manager in the software firm, to see if he could get his old job back. But like his thought of selling Peggy's car, Amanda talked him out of making the call. 

"We'll get by, Dad. That's what Mom always said."

"Are you sure you're only eight?" Brian asked, giving her an extra strong hug.

Mr. Weston called to say that Curtis had phoned him. Brian told the lawyer about his plan to lease the café and hardware store, declaring that things would improve soon. 

And things did change. Two dealers wanted to give up their leases for space in the flea market. They said they had nothing to sell. Brian assured them that new products were on the way. That was not true, but he eventually convinced a broker to find items in distress. 

Somehow, he made it through the month, coming up with payments to everyone. 

June 2006

Brian was sure that his luck would change, and it did. The kids were out of school for the summer, and had returned to their own rooms to sleep. 

He was in his office one day, spelling Mrs. Nixon, who was making her rounds to pick up the daily receipts.

"What's the price on this piece?" a female voice asked.

Brian went into the other room to find a woman bending over to look into the bottom doors of a huge hutch. It had come from the Browns' dining room, the last piece from the house he now occupied. The hutch was oversized, too large for most rooms, and had not sold.

The woman's red skirt was pulled up in the back, showing the tops of her black stockings. Her legs looked spindly. 

She straightened up suddenly, and turned to catch Brian staring at her ass. She smiled, obviously buoyed by the startled look on Brian's face.

"The tag should be...yes, here it is...twenty-nine, fifty," he said, recovering quickly.

"It's so...big," she commented.

"Yes," he agreed, without admitting how many people had turned it down for that reason.

"I wonder if it would fit," she mused.

"Would you like to know the measurements?" Brian asked, considering how much of a discount he should offer to make a sale.

"I'm no good with measurements. Would you drop by my house and see if it will fit?"

Brian took her name, Doris Kelley, her phone number, and address, promising to call to make arrangements to drop by her house to see if she had a place for the large piece of furniture.

"I hope it fits. I'd love to have it if it...fits," she said, making an 'O' with her lips.

Brian wanted to sell the large, ugly piece of furniture, but he waited three days before taking the measurements and phoning Mrs. Kelley. She said she planned to be at home all morning, and Brian promised not to take up too much of her time.

He arrived at ten AM, and was surprised when Mrs. Kelley answered the door wearing a short robe; open at the front to reveal the plunging neckline of her nightgown. 

He knew as soon as he entered the house that there was not a wall that would be suitable for the large hutch. Anyway, the dining room was fully furnished. She didn't need another piece of furniture. 

Brian shoved the tape measure into his pocket, and turned toward the door, considering giving Mrs. Kelley a lecture. He was a busy man and didn't have time to waste.

"You poor man, you must be floating in excess sperm. I know about your wife," he heard her say, as he turned toward the door.

"Ma'am," he said before turning to see that she had shed the robe, and had the bottom of the nightgown in her hands, ready to lift it up. "Ma'am," he began again. "My wife has only been gone five months. Everything about her is still fresh in my mind, like she's only been gone a few days. I'm still trying to get used to her being gone. Don't pity me."

Brian was out the door and headed for his truck when he heard her call his name. "Don't go, Mr. Driver. Come back, I'll pay your price for the furniture. I know there isn't a place for it in my house. You can keep it. Please come back."

He kept walking, got in his truck and drove to the cemetery where Peggy was buried. He sat down and put his hand on her tombstone. 

"I need your advice, Peg. How much do you think a good fuck from me would be worth? I turned down twenty-nine, fifty today. How much should I hold out for? Do you think I could have gotten three thousand? Thanks, Honey, it's good to hear you laugh. You always have a way of making me feel better," he said, getting up to leave. "Oh, yeah, the kids are doing okay. I'll bring them with me next time."

He received a nibble from someone interested in leasing the hardware store. Brian interviewed the couple, determined that they were qualified to manage the store, and stated the terms of the lease. He thought he had a deal until the husband pointed out the stains in the ceiling tile.

Brian and John patched the roof and replaced the ceiling tile in the hardware store and café. He asked the couple to come back, but they were no longer interested.

July 2006

It was the busy season at the outdoor flea market. Brokers were calling with opportunities, and new products were arriving weekly. The dealers were happy, but Brian was having difficulty keeping everyone paid.

On top of that, a surprise inspection by the insurance company warned him that he would have to replace the outside steps leading to the second floor of the building. Brian argued that the second floor was not in use. He even invited the inspector to check for himself. Indeed, everything had been removed, except a bucket of tar that Brian and John had used to patch the roof. 

Reluctantly, Brian got quotes to replace the stairs. 

Mrs. Nixon told Brian that a Mrs. Doris Kelley had been back twice to look at the antique hutch. She didn't come out and say anything, but Brian got the impression that Mrs. Kelley had intimated something sexual had taken place between them. 

Shit! Was he going to have to fuck her to shut her up? 

Twenty-nine, fifty would come in handy. What would Peggy say? He decided to pay her a visit and find out.

The quotes for the new stairs arrived. Should he ask the banker, Mrs. Keratin for a loan?

Thanks to business at the market being exceptional for the month of July, he was able to pay all the bills. 

The strain of making the payrolls, paying for incoming shipments and keeping Georgia paid was weighing heavily on Brian. He could see that his constant anxiety was rubbing off on John, Mrs. Nixon, and the kids. Mary was the only stable influence on everyone. 

He really didn't need the telephone call from Curtis, complaining that the July payment had arrived late. "I'm going to send the wife up there to have a look-see. Next time your late, I'll come myself."

Brian wanted to tell the jerk to go fuck him self, but he didn't, thinking that his luck was bound to change.

"I'll be glad to pick your wife up at the airport," he said.

August 2006

Brian remembered his sister's promise to pay him a visit that summer as soon as he heard her voice. 

"Congratulations on getting your degree," he said.

"You haven't' heard, have you?" 

"Heard what? Aren't you coming for a visit? We're all looking forward to seeing you."

"He's dead, Brian. Danny was killed two weeks ago. They said it was friendly fire. What the fuck is friendly fire, anyway. Can you tell me that?"

"Ginny, my sweet sister, Ginny, I'm so sorry," Brian said, breaking into a sob.

Ginny, the young sister that he hardly knew told him that her husband had been killed in Afghanistan, that she had accepted a teaching position and that she was not going to be able to keep her promise to visit him and his family. "Barbara has been great. We'll live together and teach at the same school."

"Who's Barbara?" he asked.

"She's Danny's sister. She's a wonderful person."

"That's good that you'll be with a member of Danny's family," Brian said, beginning to pull himself together.

In a way, he was glad that his sister would not be coming. While he longed to console her, Ginny's recent loss would amplify memories of Peggy. He bought an expensive graduation gift, wrote her a long letter, and had the kids create drawings to cheer up their aunt. But when he had the package ready to mail, he realized that he didn't have her address. Hell, he didn't even know her married name. Calling his parents for the information was out of the question. They would criticize him for not staying in touch with his family. Other than an occasional gift for Phillip, he seldom heard from his parents. They pretended that Amanda didn't exist. 

~

Brian didn't have time to dwell on his sister's loss. Nothing was going to keep his other visitor away. Georgia came into the terminal loaded for bear. This was not the same docile demeanor she had displayed before. Brian decided that she was acting as her husband wanted, tough and unyielding. 

He drove her to the same motel where she, her husband, and son had stayed when they came for her father's funeral. He helped her with her bag, and she asked him to wait outside while she changed into more comfortable clothes. When she joined him, she was wearing knee-length pants, a matching shirt, and sneakers. It was mid-afternoon, and they had time to tour the businesses if she wanted. He asked what she would like to see first. 

"I'd like to see the house where I grew up," she said.

Brian was embarrassed. He would have liked to show her how the hardware store and café had been spruced up. He'd also devoted a lot of time to the apartment building. 

"I haven't had time to get your dad's house ready to rent, but its next on my list," He said, apologetically.

He had to stop by his office to get the key. Georgia stayed in his truck.

"This is my main business," he said, pointing to the buildings that housed the market, which didn't look very impressive because it was closed on weekdays.

He hadn't been inside Mr. Bennett's house in some time. It was even dirtier than he remembered.

Georgia didn't seem to notice the dust and filth. She headed up the stairs. He followed.

"This was my room when I was growing up," she said.

"I suspected by the furniture that it was your room," Brian said, wondering how he could compliment her on her taste in decorations. The posters were stained, and peeling at the corners. He didn't see anything worth commenting on.

She opened one of the drawers on the dressing table and pulled out a string of pearls. "I wore these to the junior prom. My boyfriend was Gregory. He was a senior."

Brian tried to think of something to say, but reminiscing about high school was not one of his favorite topics of conversation. He didn't attend his junior prom or his senior prom either, for that matter.




Picking up the Pieces Ch. 07



Georgia plopped herself down on the bed, making the dust from the cover cloud the room. 

"I used to fantasize about me and Gregory on this bed," she said, looking up at him. Didn't she know she was getting dust in her hair?

"Did Gregory spend a lot of time in this room?" Brian asked, encouraged to find a topic that interested her.

She was on her back, looking up at Brian. "My father wouldn't have allowed Greg in my room. It was only my fantasy."

Brian felt uncomfortable standing over her. He sat on the edge of the bed, still looking down. She didn't react to his change of positions, except to stop breathing for several seconds. "What did you and Gregory do together?"

"It was only a fantasy."

"I understand. I was just wondering what happened in your fantasy."

"He kissed me," she said in a low whisper that Brian had trouble hearing. Why was she telling him about a fantasy she'd had twenty years ago? Did she want to play it out?

"Were you afraid your father would come in and find you?"

"My father never came inside my room. I was afraid he might hear us though."

Brian was having trouble picturing the scene. He had to stifle a laugh. "Were Gregory's kisses noisy?" 

"It was me. I moaned when I thought about him kissing me," she said, and didn't blink when Brian leaned over to kiss her on the lips. It was almost like she wanted it to happen. The kiss was brief, ending as he felt her lips move against his. 

"I didn't hear you moan," he teased.

"I only moaned when Greg lay on the bed and he kissed me like the French do," she said, speaking candidly about her imaginary experience with someone named Gregory.

Brian was torn. He thought he heard Peggy laughing at him, telling him that she knew what was at stake. He reversed his body, and lowered his lips to Georgia's, pretending it was Peggy he was kissing.

It was a hot August day, and they were soon engaged in a battle of the tongues. Brian was aware that he had a hard-on, and could feel it stabbing Georgia's oversized thigh. He heard her moan, and became aware that they were beginning to sweat. 

He tried to keep a clear head, measuring each move to duplicate how Georgia had fantasized. When he grazed his hand over her breast, she reacted with a deep moan, pulling him closer. Thinking that he had hit a hot button, Brian unbuttoned two of the buttons, and cupped her bra-covered breast with his hand. 

Georgia became a wild woman, pushing his body aside, raising up, putting her hands behind her back, then pulling him back to her, attaching her lips to his.

He soon discovered that she had unhooked her bra. Brian felt her breasts, squeezed them, and flicked the nipples. Georgia held him close, moaned into his mouth, and turned her body to rub her sex against his hard-on.

But when Brian removed his hand from her breast and placed in at the juncture between her legs, she pulled her lips away. "We didn't go that far."

"Oh, I'm sorry," Brian apologized, kissing her lightly on the lips, and pulling away, thinking that his work was done.

"Greg went away to college, and I had a new boyfriend my senior year." Georgia said, looking up at him, placidly. 

"What was his name?" Brian asked, trying to act interested.

"Nelson, I let him do more."

Was she still fantasizing, or did she and Nelson really do more. "Did Nelson come to your room?"

"Oh, no, my father wouldn't have permitted it."

She'd answered his question. Nelson came to her room only in a fantasy. 

Brian started over, kissing her, now as Nelson, French kissing her, hearing her moan, inserting his hand under her bra, hearing her moans become deeper when he flicked her nipples, and finally taking the leap, moving his hand to her sex.

He felt her hands move between them, and knew that she was unhooking her belt, and then he heard the zipper being lowered. He inserted his hand into the opening she'd made, and felt her moist crotch. 

Brian's mind swirled. Was Peggy watching? Did she approve of what he was doing to make Georgia's fantasy real? What would Curtis do if he found out his wife was opening her legs, moaning into his mouth, and urging him to rub her cunt harder. 

Brian pushed Georgia's panties to the side, inserted two fingers into her slit, and found her clit with his thumb, hoping to make her scream Nelson's name. It worked; "NELSON, YOU DO ME SO GOOD!"

Brian removed his hand from her crotch, and watched Georgia tremble, her eyes closed, and her lips quivering a smile of thanks. 

Brian, thinking his work was done, got off the bed, only to see that he was wrong. She was kicking her sneakers off and lowering her pants and panties. 

This was bad, very, very bad. He knew that if he rejected her now, that his efforts would go for naught. 'Please forgive me, Peggy,' he thought as he unbuttoned his own shirt, kicked off his shoes, and lowered his pants. 

"Hand me my purse, please," Georgia broke the silence.

He found her purse on the dressing table, and handed it to her. Except for white socks, she was now completely nude. There were droplets of sweat rolling from her forehead, and down the valley between her breasts. Her pussy was glistening, and the lips were open.

Brian had never seen a woman insert a diaphragm into her opening before. Georgia's upper teeth protruded over her lower lip, nodding her head to signify that it felt right. She raised both arms and opened her legs, welcoming Brian to her bed.

He got between her legs, lowered his lips to one of her nipples, and felt her hand guide his cock into her opening. 

Doris Kelley had been right; he had an abundant amount of sperm, which he deposited inside Georgia with his third thrust. She made a whining sound to voice her irritation, but moaned contentedly when she found that Brian was not stopping. 

He was relentless, taking out his frustration for having to be her fantasy, fucking another man's wife to get even with Curtis, and thrusting harder when he heard Peggy's laugh of approval.

The springs of the small bed complained, and the dust became mud and the collection of their sweat commingled between their tummies and rolled onto the bed. Brian knew that she was climaxing by the way she locked her legs around his thighs, but he didn't stop thrusting. 

"NELSON!" she screamed. 

Brian was close. Three more thrusts gave him the release he was seeking. He stopped, and looked down at her. She was breathing hard, limp, and smiling up at him. Did she think he was Nelson?

He got up and began putting his clothes on. 

"This place is filthy. I need a shower. Is there any hot water?" she asked. 

"No, the hot water tank is not lit. I haven't had time to work on this house."

"Take me to the motel," she said, in a demanding tone that made Brian think that his efforts to please her had been forgotten.

While Georgia was showering, Brian called Mary to say they would have a guest for dinner. Georgia came out of the bathroom with a towel draped over her body, and Brian watched as she put on panties, bra, a summer skirt, blouse, and sandals.



Picking up the Pieces Ch. 08



 Chapter 8 Doing it for money


Brian introduced Georgia to his family, and excused himself to take a shower. The kids were curious about the visitor, but Amanda suspected the woman was someone special, and warned Phillip to mind his manners, reminding him that Dad didn't make it a habit to invite women to dinner. 

Dinner consisted of their typical summer fare, sliced chicken, salads, iced tea, and Mary's home made rolls. She served ice cream for dessert. 

After dinner, Brian told the kids to go to bed at their regular time, an indication that he wouldn't be back in time to tuck them in. 

Georgia thanked Mary for the meal, said goodbye to the kids, and told Brian that she needed to go to the motel. Curtis would be expecting her call.

"Come inside," she said. "I have some matters to discuss and there won't be time tomorrow, because I have an early flight."

This was good news to Brian. An early flight meant that she would not have time to tour the apartment building or the businesses. "I hope you'll have time for breakfast," he said.

They were no sooner inside the room when she jumped him, threw her arms around him, and swarmed his lips with hers. Did she think he was Nelson, and had another fantasy to play out?

Brian had all the buttons on her blouse undone when the ringing telephone interrupted them.

"Hello, oh, hi, Honey. I was just going to call you...he's not...he's a very nice man...no, he's accommodating and..."

Georgia was moving the receiver to her other ear so she could slip out of the blouse. Brian was unhooking her bra. 

"Don't say that, Curtis. I said he is accommodating. He just brought me back to the motel after having dinner with his family."

Her bra was off, and Brian was cupping both breasts from behind.

"No, he left. We're going to have breakfast before he takes me to the airport in the morning," Georgia said into the receiver before turning her head to accept Brian's lips. She quickly turned her mouth back to the receiver.

"You really can be an asshole sometimes. He lost his wife soon after Daddy died."

Brian found the snaps that held her skirt together at the side. She wiggled her hips to make it fall to her ankles. 

"He's going through a hard time right now. He'll catch up with the payments...you'll see."

Gloria turned to face Brian, pressed her lips to his and her breasts into his chest.

"I have not crumbled. No, being a tight-assed bitch doesn't agree with my personality, but I'm doing precisely as you told me."

She tucked the receiver between he neck and shoulder, and pulled Brian's shirt over his head. 

"Isn't it in the medicine cabinet?"

Georgia held the receiver to her ear while bending down to suck on one of Brian's nipples.

"Check the bedside stand."

A second later she spoke with alarm.

"I did not bring it with me. Why would I do that?"

She was unbuckling his belt when she screamed into the phone, "Don't call me again. I'm going to take a shower and go to bed."

Brian was on his hands and knees, pulling her panties down, when he heard her continue the conversation. 

"He fucked me in my childhood bed, Curtis. The house is filthy, and I was lying in an inch of dust, but I didn't care. It was hot and we sweat like pigs. I was living a teenage fantasy and it was so good. He's eating my pussy right now and Curtis, he's going to fuck me again and this time it won't be a fantasy."

Brian looked up, horrified by what she was telling her husband. She smiled down at him, before replacing the receiver in its cradle. 

Brian got to his feet, and watched as Georgia took her purse into the bathroom. He picked up the discarded clothes, took off his pants, shorts and shoes, and pulled the bedcovers down.

They fucked twice more that night, first in the missionary position, and the second time doggy style after she sucked his cock. She tried to get him to stay the night, but understood when he reminded her that he had young children.

Brian knew breakfast was out of the question the next morning as soon as he saw her coming out of the bathroom. He started stripping off his clothes the second she dropped the towel.

She would have stayed another day if he hadn't reminded her that she would have to call Curtis to let him know. 

He took some satisfaction during their second time that morning, telling himself that he was not only fucking Curtis' wife, he was also fucking the daughter of the man that had fucked him. He thrust deeper and stronger, making Georgia gasp when he came to the realization that Mr. Bennett had secured his daughter's future by getting Brian and Peggy to pay a price he would not have been able to realize from any other buyer.

"You hurt me, Brian," she said, when he shot his sperm inside her pussy.

"That was me you were fucking, not Nelson. Anyway, I thought you liked it rough."

"I do like it rough. It didn't hurt that badly. Do we have time for once more?"

Brian laughed. "Hurry, we're going to have to break the speed limit as it is," he said, slapping her on the ass. She made a pouting face before dashing to the bathroom.

They were en-route to the airport when he asked her if Curtis was still on the line when she was describing the filthy room where they had acted out her fantasy.

"I may be dumb, but I'm not stupid. He would kill me. He accused me of bringing my diaphragm with me," she said in a gleeful voice.

"I heard. How are you going to explain where it was?"

Georgia opened her purse, lowered the car window, and threw the diaphragm onto the busy road. "I guess I lost it," she said, giggling like a schoolgirl. 

"He won't find out what we did, will he?" Brian asked, not really giving a shit if Curtis found out that he had fucked his wife.

"He'll raise hell when I tell him that I don't know what happened to my diaphragm, but he'll never know about last night and this morning."

"I'm glad that you got to live your high school fantasy."

"Thank you for helping me. I guess you know why I did it. I hope my father was watching."

"I hope he was, too," Brian said. "He was always good to us until the end. I guess you know he screwed me on the deal."

Georgia was quiet for a few seconds. "I have some money that Curtis doesn't know about. I'll use some of it to make your August payment. That will be my special gift to you, but don't expect me to ever do it again."

Brian was overwhelmed. "Thank you, Georgia."

"Thank you, Brian, for making my pussy so sore I won't want to fuck Curtis for a month."

They laughed, and kissed farewell at the terminal, knowing that they would never see each other again.

That afternoon, Brian took the kids to the cemetery, and they each spoke silently to Peggy. Brian thought he heard her laugh, and imagined that she said, "That was a profitable night. I told you that you were worth more than twenty-nine hundred and fifty dollars."

Her voice began to fade, and Brian realized that she was focusing her attention on Amanda and Phillip.



Picking up the Pieces Ch. 09



Chapter 9: A Few Chance Meetings

August was a profitable month. With Georgia's promise to forgive the payment Curtis expected to receive, Brian was able to bring in truckloads of inventory for the market.

He began receiving e-mail from someone inquiring about the ads he'd placed to lease the café. Henry Gibbons claimed to have restaurant experience, and from questions Henry asked, Brian became confident that his claims were valid.

Nearly every evening there would be a new e-mail, wanting to know everything from the age of the kitchen equipment to how much competition the café was up against. 

Brian usually knew the answers to Henry's questions and answered them promptly. He had his own questions; was Henry solvent, did he have a family, and how many hours was he willing to devote to the business?

Anxious to award a contract to have the stairs to the second floor of the building replaced, Brian went to Mr. Bennett's house to move the Sandwich glass to the antique shop. 

It was a hot night, near the end of August, and Brian took Amanda and Phillip along for company.

Brian opened some of the downstairs windows, and cautioned the kids not to stir up the dust. 

He put Amada to work wrapping the pieces of glass in newspaper and told Phillip to carefully pack them in boxes, which Brian carried outside to his truck.

On one of his trips to the truck, Brian saw Lois Banks' car come to a stop. This didn't surprise him because Lois was always asking when he would have the house ready for occupancy. He was surprised, however, to see Marian and Tommy Keratin getting out of the car.

"May we take a peek, Brian? I've been telling Mrs. Keratin about this awesome little Victorian."

Brian was trying to think of an excuse to keep them out of the house when Marian spoke up. "Mr. Driver and I are on a first name basis. Our sons are friends."

Brian said something about the house being filthy, but he couldn't refuse Lois' request to show Marian the house. 

Lois led the tour, pointing out features about the house that Brian had scarcely noticed. Marian stopped to chat with Amanda, and Phillip, seeing that Tommy had arrived, stopped packing the boxes to show his kindergarten friend some of the cool stuff in the old house.

Brian followed Lois and Marian, hoping to make the tour as short as possible. They were upstairs, in the very room where Brian had helped Georgia experience her fantasy, when he heard Amanda's scream.

"DAD, COME QUICK, DAD!"

Brian, thinking that she had cut herself on a broken piece of glass, descended the stairs three at a time. 

Amanda had the roll-top desk open, and was holding up an envelope for Brian to see. It was filled with cash.

Realizing that it was one of the envelopes Peggy had slid across the table to Mr. Bennett in payment for their first property, Brian returned the envelope to the desk and lowered the top.

He then took his daughter in his arms, saying nothing, as he looked around to see where his son was. Phillip and Tommy appeared at the basement door, looking guilty for snooping. 

Brian was whispering in his daughter's ear, "You wonderful young lady. Pretend that you were frightened by a mouse," he said, feeling Amanda's small body shake with excitement. 

"What happened? Is Amanda all right?" It was Marian, with Lois right behind her.

"I saw a mouse, but I'm okay now," Amanda said, hugging Brian as tightly as she could.

"Where is it?" Phillip asked. 

"It's gone," Amanda said to her brother.

"When do you expect to have this house ready for sale?" Marian asked.

"The agreement prevents me from selling it, but I hope to have it ready to be leased by the end of the year," Brian said, looking at the banker's daughter. She was dressed casually in a wrap-around skirt that put her legs on display, and a brightly colored top that clung to her small breasts. Brian caught himself checking the way her long neck supported her lovely face. He became aware that she was watching him look at her.

"I'd love to see what you have planned, but I can't wait that long. We've been living with my parents," she explained.

Brian didn't know what kind of renovations he was going to do to make the house ready for occupancy. "I would be glad to show you the plans," he said, wondering what made him say that.

Lois spoke up. "One of the apartments is vacant. You could move in there while waiting for Brian to make the alterations to this fine old structure."

"I really should buy rather than rent. I only have so long to reinvest the money from the sale of our house," Marian explained, looking apologetically at Brian. 

"Let's look at the back-yard," Lois suggested, and Marian smiled at Brian before reluctantly following the realtor outside. Tommy followed his mother, and Phillip tagged along with his friend.

Brian couldn't get the desk open fast enough. "Just as I suspected, all nineteen payments are here," he said, talking to himself more than to Amanda.

"What is it, Dad?"

"Your Mom and I paid Mr. Bennett for the little house where the antique shop is with cash. Each one of these envelopes represents one year of payments, plus interest. He didn't deposit any of it. We've got to keep this from Phillip. He would blab to someone about it."

"Are we going to keep it? Wouldn't that be like...stealing?" Amanda asked.

"No, it's not stealing. We bought all the properties complete with the contents. This money belongs to us, but we can't let others know about it because cash isn't as easy to deposit into a bank as most people think."

Phillip came into the house to find his father and sister in an embrace, laughing happily about something. 

"What happened?" Phillip asked.

"You're too young to understand," Amanda said.

"What did you and Tommy find in the basement?" Brian asked his son.

"Lots of stuff."

"Go back down there and look around. Come back when you can tell me about five things you've seen," Brian said.

"He can't count to five," Amanda said.

"Yes, I can count to one hundred," Phillip corrected her, already headed to the basement door, anxious to show his sister and dad that he could remember five items.

Brian said, "Quick, put the cash in one of the boxes," when they heard Phillip's footsteps on the basement stairs. 

Brian sealed the box of cash, and carried it out to his truck, placing it next to the passenger's seat where Amanda would sit on their way home.

Phillip came back upstairs, naming five things he'd found in the basement. "There's a big box with a handle," he said.

"Show me," Brian said, letting Phillip lead the way to a small safe in one corner of the basement. Brian tried to lift the safe, but found that it wouldn't budge. He opened the door and discovered that it was empty, except for a piece of paper that contained the combination. 

Brian and John returned to the house the next day, and moved the safe to the basement in Brian's house. 

The envelopes were stored in the safe. Brian could estimate the total amount, but he never counted the bills. He shared the safe combination with Amanda, and they never spoke of their find again, except when he would ask her to go downstairs and get a couple of hundred dollars for spending money. 

Brian took the kids back to the Bennett house to move the rest of the Sandwich glass. He researched the pieces in one of Peggy's antique books and priced them, hoping to reap enough to pay for the new stairs leading to the second floor of the building. 

"Dad, I need some clothes for school," Amanda said. 

Labor Day was soon approaching and so was the beginning of school. Why did she wait until the last minute to mention these things?

"We'll go shopping one night next week," he promised.

"Can Tommy come with us?" Phillip asked.

"His mom would want to go," Amanda objected.

"His mom has probably already taken him shopping," Brian said, remembering how efficiently she'd directed the games at the kids' birthday party, how carefully she dressed, and how she always appeared to be the essence of perfection. 

"No, they haven't gone yet," Phillip said.

"How do you know?" Amanda asked, before Brian could get the same question out of his mouth.

"I talked to him," Phillip answered.

"On the telephone?" Amanda and Brian asked, in unison.

"They've been talking almost every day. I thought you knew about it," Mary put in.

Brian picked up his five year old son and set him on his knee. "Do you dial the number yourself or does grandma do it for you?"

"I do it," Phillip said, making sure his sister heard him. 

"He's memorized the number," Mary said.

"Okay, tell Tommy that he can go with us," Brian said.

"What day?"

"Tuesday afternoon, about four. Find out where he lives. We'll pick him up," Brian said.

"His mom will want to come," Amanda warned, and she turned out to be right. 

Brian had to jumpstart Peggy's car because it hadn't been driven in months. He washed the outside and vacuumed the inside. Tommy told Phillip that his mom said they didn't need to be picked up. She and Tommy would meet them at their house.

Amanda wasn't happy about the arrangement at all, and Brian thought he knew why. She wanted to pick out her own school clothes. She didn't need Marian's advice.

Marian and Tommy arrived right at four PM on Tuesday.

Brian sent Amanda downstairs for some money. "How much?" she whispered.

"Four," he said.

"Hundred?"

"Yes."

Marian volunteered to sit in the back with the boys, saying that she would keep them separated. This suited Amanda just fine. She would get to sit up front with her dad.

They split up at the mall, Marian agreeing to pay for Amanda's clothes, and Brian saying he would pay for Tommy's. They were to meet at a restaurant at six-thirty, giving them two hours to make their purchases. 

Brian and the boys were waiting when he saw Marian and Amanda making their way through the crowd. Were they laughing? Were they holding hands?

They got a table for five, and ordered their meal. Amanda wanted to show her Dad what she and Marian had selected, but Marian suggested that they wait until they got home. 

"Okay, but you have to come in and tell Dad why we chose everything," Amanda said, grinning at Marian.

Brian couldn't talk the boys into having a small steak. They wanted hamburgers, and he went along with their choice, but when Marian said she would be content with the salad bar, Amanda joined her.

At the house, Marian helped Amanda with her packages, leaving Brian to make sure the boys kept their purchases separate. 

Mary served coffee and sat at the dining table to watch the kids model their new clothes. Marian scolded Brian for letting the boys select matching outfits, and Brian made critical comments regarding the wisdom of some of Marian's selections for his daughter. It was all in fun, and the kids enjoyed hearing their parents match barb for barb. 

They ended the evening by thanking each other for their help. 

"Is it getting easier?" she asked.

"Not really," he replied.

"It will," she said, as she guided Tommy out the door.

~ The exchange of e-mails with Henry became a jousting match, and continued until the end of the month. Then, when Henry decided to come for a firsthand look at the café, Brian offered to pick him up at the airport. Since they had not exchanged photos of each other, Brian said that his would be holding a sign.

September 2006

Brian was doubly surprised when a tall black woman spotted his sign and approached. "I'm Henrietta Gibbons. You must be Brian Driver."

Brian laughed as they shook hands. Henrietta showed a mouthful of teeth as she nearly blushed at the way she'd deceived Brian. 

He took her to register at the motel, and then to the café for an inspection tour and to have lunch. While Henrietta kept him laughing, she had a serious side, too. 

"How much are you losing, Brian?"

"Who says we're losing money?"

"It's obvious. You have too much help, and maintenance expense to keep the equipment operating is far too high. I'll show you my bank statements, but I would like to use that money to replace some of the equipment. I'll sign a five year lease at your asking price, but I'll need a place to stay until I turn a profit."

"A place to stay until you turn a profit? That could cost me five years of free rent."

"Yes, it could," she agreed, "but give me some credit. It won't take me more than six months."

"Does that mean you'll pay rent when you make a profit?"

"It depends on where you stick me. I'm not particular."

"Is it just you, or do you have family?" he asked. They'd been over this topic, but he needed to make sure she didn't have kids and a boyfriend.

"Just little old me," she said, grinning sheepishly. 

Lois Barns was dubious when Brian asked her to draw up a lease. "You haven't checked her references and you need the income from that empty apartment."

"She showed me her bank statements. She's willing to update the equipment."

Lois took over, showed Henrietta the apartment, and took a check for the first and last month's rent for the cafe, effective October 1, 2006.

The employees were nervous. They didn't believe Henrietta's vow to retain them. Brian didn't either, but he didn't let it stop him from signing the lease.

He took Henrietta to his home for dinner, and then to her motel, saying that he would take her to the airport the next morning.

Brian had second thoughts that night. While he had a good feeling about Henrietta, two questions lingered; would Peggy have put the same faith in Henrietta, and why had she deceived him by withholding that she was a black female? Was she just being cautious? Did she think it would make a difference to him that she was black and female?

He had a signed lease for the café, and he had faith in Henrietta's ability. Giving her free rent would be less expensive than the losses he was taking under the current operation. 

She arrived at the end of September, and moved into the apartment in plenty of time to take over the café. 

Brian arranged for a photographer to be on hand when he welcomed the new owner of the cafe with a bouquet of yellow, long-stemmed roses. Henrietta, not to be outdone, bent down to kiss Brian on the cheek, and that was the picture that appeared in the local newspaper. 

"I have a good feeling about the future of the café," Brian said, to anyone who would listen, but the kiss on the cheek was what people remembered. It seemed to endear Henrietta to the town. 

October 2006

The antique glass was selling well, and the stairs leading to the second floor were installed. Brian called the insurance inspector to ask him to stop by and see the stairs. 

Brian hadn't crossed paths with Marian for over a month, and except for the occasional mention of Tommy, he put her out of his mind. A trip to the bank changed that.

One Saturday morning, Brian left John in charge of the market and took the kids to the bank. He made a deposit, and was herding the kids out of the bank when Marian came out of her office. After greeting Amanda and Phillip, she addressed Brian.

"Mr. Driver, I wanted to let you know that I've decided to buy a house. I would have liked to live in your antique Victorian, but I think its better that I own. I wanted you to know that I won't need the apartment."

Brian didn't respond immediately. He didn't tell her that the apartment was not available, since Henrietta was occupying it. He knew he needed to say something; she was watching him closely. 

"That's good, because I haven't renovated the house yet."

"Is the roll-top desk still available?"

"Yes, it is. I haven't moved it to the antique shop yet. It still needs to be cleaned up."

"I would like to look at it. I have just the spot for it in my new house."

"I'll save it for you to look at," he offered, and that was the end of their conversation, almost. 

Amanda broke away from her Dad's side and looked up at Marian. "My friends liked the clothes we picked out. Thanks for helping me."

Marian smiled at the young girl. "I loved shopping with you. Let me know when you would like to go again."

They said goodbye, and Marian went back to her office to look out her window at Brian and his kids as they walked to his truck. She was first struck by the way he bent down to let both kids put their arms around his neck. She watched Brian labor to carry the load, all three of them laughing hysterically as he made his way to the truck, lowered the tailgate, and they collapsed in a pile on the truck bed.

Marian watched as the laughter suddenly changed to weeping, tears flowing down their faces. Brian was hugging his children, and they were clinging to him, crying. 

Marian was embarrassed to see this public display of emotion. She'd had her times after her husband's death, but she'd never witnessed anything like this. Brian was kissing his children, and they were kissing him back.

Then, just as quickly, Amanda pulled her shirttail out of her jeans, wiped the tears from her cheeks, and proceeded to dry the tears from her father's and brother's faces. 

Brian helped the kids to the ground. They got in the truck. He made sure they were belted in, and drove away. 

Marian tried to go back to work, but she couldn't get Brian and his children out of her mind. It had been over nine months since the death of his wife, and he was still acting like it happened yesterday. He was pleasant enough, but his vacant stare had looked past her like he didn't know she was there. 

She decided to forget him, resolving not to pursue him. If he called her to say the roll-top desk was ready for viewing, she would look at it. Otherwise, she would let him rot in his own anguish. 

December 2006

Somehow, Brian, Mary and his children made it through their first Thanksgiving without Peggy. 

Except for the hardware store, the businesses were profitable. The cash in the safe helped supplement the salary that Brian took out of the businesses. 

With Mrs. Nixon watching the store, so to speak, answering the telephone, keeping the bills paid, and selling the occasional antique, Brian was free to roam each weekday after he saw the kids off to school.

He cleared the filth out of Mr. Bennett's house, discarded the junk, and delivered some pieces to the antique shop to be sold. He still had not readied the roll-top desk for sale. He didn't know if it was because he was avoiding contact with Marian. Nor, did he know why he deferred making back deposits to either John or Mrs. Nixon. 

Marian had made no effort to see Brian either. Tommy often visited Phillip, but she never came inside the house when she came to pick him up. Sometimes, his grandfather came for him, and other times Brian wasn't there anyway when Tommy came to play.

Brian and John took turns closing the hardware store. While he told the clerks that he trusted them, he said he wanted to keep a close eye on daily receipts, hoping the numbers would improve.

The hardware store closing was about the same time as the café closing, and Brian would often bump in to Henrietta. They got in the habit of chatting, about the weather, about business, or about improvements Brian had in mind for the building. He always offered her a ride home and although the apartment was within walking distance, she would sometimes accept his offer.

Brian discovered that he liked Henrietta as a person. She didn't pry; he didn't either, but he found himself telling her about Peggy, and she told him about her messy divorce. 

The sale of Christmas trees was in progress. John drove wagonloads of children and their parents to the rear of the property to select a tree. Brian often joked that he could give the trees away; hot chocolate sales alone would make the evening profitable.

"Dad, Tommy's coming to ride in the wagon tonight. Can I ride with him?" Phillip asked one Friday afternoon.




Picking up the Pieces Ch. 09



"Is his Mom coming or is his grandfather bringing him?" Amanda asked her brother.

Phillip admitted that he didn't know who was coming with Tommy to select their tree. 

"I don't want you running around bumping into customers and spilling their hot chocolate. I'll call you when Tommy gets here," Brian said. 

"I'll come with him to make sure he doesn't get into trouble, Dad," Amanda said.

"I'm not a baby," Phillip said, but he wanted to ride in the wagon with Tommy, and didn't protest his sister's offer. 

Light snow was drifting in from the north, beginning to cover the frozen ground. The snow created a festive mood and was good for business. Shoppers were coming out of the flea market buildings with bags of gifts in one hand, and a cup of hot chocolate in the other. 

Brian dialed his home number as soon as he recognized Marian's car being parked. The kids came out of the house only seconds later, like they'd been dressed for the outdoors and were waiting for the call. Amanda was holding Phillip's hand, and racing toward Marian's car.

John was returning with a wagon load of kids, their parents, and trees. Brian was there to assist in off-loading the trees and helping the children to the ground. 

"You haven't called me about the roll-top desk. I hope you haven't sold it," Marian said, as Brian helped to support her as she climbed onto the wagon.

"I'll have it ready to show right after the first of the year."

"Promise?"

"I promise," he said.

He met the return trip of the wagon, helped everyone down, and carried Marian's tree to her car. She held both Tommy and Phillip by the hand, and Amanda just tagged along, talking excitedly to Marian. Brian soon discovered that his daughter was hinting to go on another shopping trip.

He was tying the tree to the top of her car, when Marian asked, "Has Sherri Casco contacted you recently? I've noticed that you haven't been to any of our meetings."

"She must have given up on me," he quipped.

Brian was opening her car door when she said she hadn't paid for the tree.

"It's on the house. Thanks for helping Mandy with her school clothes."

Marian hesitated. "We haven't had a cup of your famous hot chocolate. Come on, kids, my treat," she said, and the five of them walked to the snack bar. 

Brian excused himself, saying he had to make sure no one got hurt climbing off the wagon. A few minutes later he noticed that Marian was escorting Amanda and Phillip to their front door. She waved goodbye as she and Tommy were getting into her car. He waved back.

The next morning, he learned that Amanda had been successful with her campaign for a shopping trip. "Marian says it's just us girls. Tommy is going to stay with Phillip."

Brian gave her a wink and a nod, silently telling her to raid the safe for the cash she would need.

January 2007

As the first anniversary of Peggy's death approached, Brian became more and more melancholy. Henrietta must have seen the sadness in his eyes. One night, when she accepted a ride home with him, she invited him in for a drink. 

Brian was astonished at how little furniture there was in the apartment. He suspected that there was a bed in her bedroom, but since the door was closed he couldn't be certain.

"Have a seat," Henrietta said, lowering her long, lithe body to the floor and leaning her back against the wall. She was wearing a black uniform, but she had removed the white apron. The short skirt crept up above her knees, showing where the black stockings ended. She wore comfortable, soft-soled shoes, black of course. 

She noticed Brian look around the room before taking a seat next to her. "I told you that I'm not particular. I work long hours and only need a place to sleep," she said, handing him the bottle of Jack Daniels.

"I know you work long hours," Brian agreed. He'd seen her in the café at all hours of the day. He tipped the bottle back, and handed it back to her.

Brian was not accustomed to drinking whisky, and it didn't take too many passes of the bottle before he was feeling tipsy. The alcohol was affecting Henrietta too, although she may have been pretending that it did.

"Do you remember that I only needed a place to stay until I turned a profit? I owe you some money for rent."

"You already turned a profit? Congratulations! I had a good feeling about you, but you don't owe me any money. Stay here as long as you want."

"I had a good feeling about you too," she said, handing him the bottle.

"It's been a long year, but we're finally turning the corner," he said, beginning to slur his words. He almost dropped the bottle. They laughed and Brian put his arm around her. 

"It's been a year since you bought this apartment building and the restaurant and hardware store?" Henrietta asked, taking a long drink from the bottle before handing it to him.

"It's been a year since I lost Peggy. She's been gone a year."

"I'm sorry, Brian, but you've got to let go."

"We were going to take the kids to Disney World. Peg was going to marry me."

"I don't think you should have any more to drink," she said, taking the bottle. "I don't have a place to put you up for the night."

"Don't worry, I'm harmless."

"I don't know about that, Brian. You're an attractive guy, and it's been a long time since I kicked my old man out."

"I told you not to worry. I only do it for money. You got any money?" Brian asked. He was rocking them back and forth. 

Henrietta didn't know if she should be irate, shocked, or just amused. "Do I look like someone that has to pay for it? Who did you fuck for money?"

"It wasn't just for money. I fucked her to get even with her husband and her father," he said, slumping to one side.

Henrietta didn't find out who the woman was. She struggled to move him into her bedroom and Brian was snoring before she got his shoes and pants off. She covered him with a blanket, removed her own clothes, and got into the bed. 

The night created a level of trust between Brian and Henrietta that neither thought possible. She never offered him a drink again, and they never slept in the same bed after that night. But their friendship was solid. 

It was a one-on-one relationship. Few knew about their friendship. They never went out in public and he never invited her to his home again. They respected each other, even sought the other's advice. 

February 2007

Actually, it was Henrietta that encouraged him to accept Sherri Casco's invitation to a Valentine's Day party. 

"It's been over a year, Brian. Do you think Peggy would want you moping around on her birthday? Who knows, you may be able to help someone who is going through the same thing you've been through," Henrietta said.

Brian called Sherri to say he was coming to the next meeting that just happened to be on the fourteenth of February. 

But something came up and he didn't make the meeting. The Leach brothers, Max and Mark, were interested in leasing the hardware store, and were only in town for one day. They had experience in the business, enough cash to pay for the inventory, and to carry them through the first few months. Brian and the brothers negotiated until three o'clock in the morning, took a four hour break, and met at the café to resume talks. 

Brian introduced the brothers to Henrietta, saying that she'd recently leased the café and was already profitable. 

Henrietta had the same problem as Brian; she couldn't tell the brothers apart. Max was eleven months older, but they could pass for identical twins, from the same hair color, to the same dimple in their chins, to the clothes they wore. 

"Tell me one of you is left-handed," she said, and watched them smile and shake their heads. 

She tried again. "Which one of you has the longest cock?" 

"I do, but I'm married," Max said.

Mark shook his head. "That's not true, and I can prove it." 

"Step into my office,' Henrietta said, and to Brian's surprise, Mark got up and followed her. They were back a minute later, both blushing. She slid into the seat next to Brian. "Not to worry, Honey. You've got them beat, not by much, but still, you define Big!"

Brian was horrified at her actions. "I bought them in here for you to tell them what a great landlord I am, and you turned it in to a contest to see who has the biggest cock."

Henrietta excused herself, leaving the Leach brothers grinning at each other. 

Brian waited until closing time to return to the café. "I'm so ashamed by the way I acted today. While I don't approve of your methods, I must admit that it was you that closed the deal. The Leach brothers are taking over the hardware store at the end of next mouth."

"It's all perception, Brian. Men who think they have the biggest cock feel superior."

"Does Mark have a big cock?"

"I don't know. I told him that you are six inches, and if his was bigger, I didn't need to see it."

"Why did you tell them that I'm bigger?"

"That was to bolster your confidence. You went away thinking that you had the biggest cock and got them to agree to take the deal. Mark told Max what I said about you only being six inches, and they decided to sign the lease."

Brian was past trying to follow her logic. All he knew was that he had a commitment from the Leach brothers, and while he credited Henrietta with playing a part in making the deal, he was still dubious about her methods. 

"Remind me to tell you about the time Peggy measured me. I probably make the Leach brothers look like little boys."

"Why do men want us to think they're hung like a horse?' 

"Why do women want us to believe they have a tight pussy?" Brian countered. 

"Not me. You must be referring to the banker. I've never claimed that I have a tight pussy."

The enormity of their conversation struck him. "I've never known a girl like you, someone I could say anything to and know she wouldn't freak out."

"I've never known a man like you either. If I could find a black man as easy to talk with, I'd never let him go."

"Why does he have to be a black man?" Brian asked, knowing immediately that he had crossed the line.

He needn't have worried. She didn't take exception. "If I was going to take up with a white man, you'd be the first one I would think of, Brian, but I couldn't do that."

Brian wanted to ask her why, but he didn't want to risk offending her. She must have seen the way his lips were pursed. She locked the door to the café, shook it, and turned to him. "You want to know why, don't you? I'm sure that we would be good together. You'd be the right size, and I'd be tight for you."

They were on the sidewalk. The street was quiet, and their bodies cast a shadow from the overhead light. He pulled her close, hoping she wouldn't notice his hard-on. He whispered into her ear. "You don't need to explain. I know we would be good together. I'd fill you up. We wouldn't be able to get enough of each other. We'd always want more, but it would be impossible for us to be completely satisfied. We'd be nagged constantly by the question; 'has sex replaced our friendship?'"

Henrietta pulled her head back, smiling through tear-stained eyes. Her kiss was passionate, lip-sucking, tongue-lashing, and intense. Brian had his hands on her ass and she was dry-humping his cock when it suddenly ended. He was surprised to feel her shaking with laughter. 

"What's funny?"

"I was thinking what you said about our friendship. What if your cock was too small and my pussy was too loose?"

Brian knew it was nothing personal. She had come to her senses, and this was her way of breaking the tension. "You'd tell people that my cock is miniscule, and I'd let them know that your pussy is huge. We'd become enemies."

"That's right. It's better if we keep things as they are. What do you say, friend?"

"I'll walk you home," he said, removing his hands from her ass. 

"Brian, don't temp me. Right now, I want so badly to find out if we would be good together, that I don't trust myself letting you walk me home. Our friendship means more to both of us, doesn't it?"

Brian knew that it was up to him. If he had said their friendship was secondary, she would have taken his hand and pulled him to the apartment. "You're right, friend," he said, and watched her walk away without looking back. Did she know his eyes followed her tall frame until she turned the corner and disappeared?

~ When Sherri called to invite him to the March meeting, Brian declined, saying he and his children were going on their first family vacation.

March 2007

Leasing the hardware store lifted a weight from Brian's shoulders. For the first time in years, he was going to leave the business behind for a week.

Amanda and Phillip were excited about going to Disney World. Mary declined to go, saying she needed to keep an eye on things at home. 

"Dad, can Tommy go with us?" Phillip asked.

"May I invite Tommy to go with us," his sister corrected him. "If you let him take Tommy, I get to take Madge," Amanda argued.

"Why can't you guys enjoy each other's company?" Brian asked, not wanting to be responsible for the safety of two more kids for a week. 

"What if Tommy's mom comes with us?" Amanda suggested.

"She wouldn't want to go," Brian said. He didn't want to be reminded about the roll-top desk; he had not had time to ready it for sale.

Amanda and Phillip wouldn't let the issue rest. They pestered him to take Madge and Tommy with them on vacation. Mary was no help; she sided with the kids.

"I'm getting the impression that Phillip has already talked to Tommy about our trip, and Amanda has told Madge that she's working on me," he said to Henrietta.

They were in her office, having coffee. She finished a telephone call, leaned back in her chair, and propped her feet up on the desk. "Do you want me to talk to the banker's daughter?"

"What the fuck! No, I don't want you talking to anyone on my behalf. If I decide to invite her to go, I'll do it myself," he said, trying to seem indignant, but grinning when he saw the expression on his friend's face.

"Why are you telling me about it, then? I see her when I'm in the bank, and she comes here for lunch sometimes. She asks about you."

"You're shitting me."

"Don't you want to know what she asks?"

"I'm not interested," Brian said, getting up to leave, but stopping at the door. "Thanks for the coffee...okay, what does she want to know?"

"She wants to know if I'm fucking you," Henrietta said, and for a second, he thought she was being serious. "Don't be alarmed. We're not that close, and I wouldn't tell her even if we were...you know, fucking. She always stops me. At first, it was to ask how the business was going, but now it has progressed to how big your cock is, and if I always orgasm."

Brian shook his head, knowing she wasn't going to give him a straight answer. He was opening the door when Henrietta stopped him.

"Face it, Brian. You know you want her to go with you."

That evening when Amanda brought up the invitation of her friend to come with them, Brian went to the phone and called Marian.

"We're going to Florida next week and Phillip wants..."

She cut him off with, "I've heard." 

"Amanda wants to take a friend."

"I know that, too," she said, as if to say, 'you're not telling me anything I don't know.'

"Did Amanda talk to you about this?"

"Brian, would you like for me to go along to help with the children?"

"I could use some help, I'll pick up all the expenses."

A long silence followed, and it occurred to Brian that he had made it sound like he was hiring her to baby-sit. "It may be fun. I'm ready for a vacation, and I suspect you are too."

"That's better," Marian said. They made arrangements to meet at her house the following night to make plans. 

Amanda wanted to call her friend, but Brian said it would be better if he spoke to Madge's parents, a dentist and his wife. Brian explained that it was to be a birthday celebration for his son and daughter. He assured them that Mrs. Keratin was going along to help chaperone the children. Brian could almost hear the dentist's eyebrows rise at the mention of Marian's name, but he saw no reason for further explanation. People would think what they wanted.

Marian had purchased a large home, reminiscent of the Victorian era. Tommy took Phillip and Amanda for a tour of the basement playroom, while Brian sat down with Marian to discuss the trip. 

Brian had reserved a two-bedroom, two-bath hotel suite. There was also a kitchenette and a common room. It was agreed that she and Amanda would occupy one room while he and the boys would occupy the other bedroom. Once the sleeping arrangements were out of the way, Marian let Brian plan the activities. They would go to Disney World two days, lie around the pool two days, take in other attractions one day, and play the rest of the trip by ear. 

"Don't forget shopping," Marian joked.

Except for breakfast, meals would be taken in local restaurants.

"That was fast," Brian said, getting up to leave.

"Would you like to see the rest of the house?" she asked. It would be bad manners to refuse her. 

The downstairs layout was what he expected, large, well-furnished rooms, with lots of artwork and draperies. There were four rooms upstairs, the master bedroom, Tommy's room, a guest bedroom, and an empty room that overlooked the backyard. 

"I can't select the rest of the furniture until I decide where the desk will go." Marian said, looking wistfully at him.

Brian admitted that he had been dragging his feet, but vowed to have the roll-top desk ready for her inspection before they left on their trip.

The desk needed a thorough cleaning, inside and out. Otherwise, the mahogany finish was perfect. 

Marian and Tommy came home on Wednesday afternoon to find Brian's truck in the driveway. Brian and John were waiting to unload the desk and carry it up to the second floor. 

"Mr. Driver, this is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me. If I didn't know better, I would think you're trying to impress me."

"I've been stringing you along for six months. I thought it was time I delivered."

"Do you mind telling me how much you want for it before you carry it upstairs?" Marian asked, smiling coyly. 

"I don't know what its worth. We'll talk about the price after you decide you like it," Brian said, already entering the front door with the heavy desk in tow. 

Marian didn't object. "You know I already love it," she said, willing to accept any price he quoted.

John had been working for Brian since he was a senior in high school and had always been respectful of the boss. But on this occasion, he made an exception. 

"That desk is worth thousands. If I didn't know better I would think you have an ulterior motive."

John didn't know how correct he was. Brian didn't know it at the time either. That was about to change.

"The 'girls' sat together on the flight and the 'boys' sat in front of them. It was the same in the rental car. 

Marian suggested that Madge call her parents to say that they had arrived at the hotel, and then Amanda was chosen to make the same call to her grandmother. 

For the first two days the vacation went as planned, touring Disney World one day and hanging out at the pool the next. The warm weather and the exercise were exhausting and everyone went to bed early.

The third day was less tiring. It was a shopping day, followed by pizza to celebrate Amanda's and Phillip's birthdays. Amanda mentioned that it was also Brian's birthday, and when Marian learned that he was thirty years old, she said, "You're old."

The kids retired to their rooms to play the new games they had received, leaving Brian and Marian to clean up the leftover pizza and discarded wrapping paper. 

"I take it that you haven't hit the big Three-O," Brian said. 




Picking up the Pieces Ch. 09



"I have two months and two days left to enjoy my twenties," she said, smiling. Brian noticed that she had a nice smile. 

She sniffed the air, like she smelled something was wrong. She checked in the girls' room and found all four kids playing one of the new games. 

Brian and Marian settled down in the common room to watch television, but turned it off when there was nothing on that interested them. 

"Is it getting any better?" Marian opened the conversation.

Brian found himself answering her questions, describing everything about Peggy, her physical characteristics, their interests, and things they disagreed about. She even got him to describe the loss that he felt, and what he talked about when he visited Peggy's grave.

It was very late when they went to bed, and got up to find the four kids talking quietly in the kitchen. Amanda suggested that they make it another pool day, and everyone agreed that it was a good idea. 

Brian and Marian took up the conversation where they had left off the evening before. He found that he enjoyed sitting poolside with her while the kids enjoyed the water. 

They chatted leisurely, and when she wanted sunscreen spread on her back, he didn't hesitate to comply. Despite fighting the temptation to compare her to Peggy, Brian found that the two women were very similar. He looked specifically for differences between them. Peggy's hair had been dark, while Marian's hair was dirty-blonde. Peggy had always been direct and to the point, while Marian circled an issue until she zeroed in on the best choice. Peggy was maybe an inch taller. They both had nice tits.

That evening after the kids were put to bed, Brian became the questioner, wanting to know about Marian's marriage. She described Tom as a brilliant scientist who was destined to make a meaningful contribution to mankind, had he lived beyond the age of thirty.

"Were you in love?" Brian asked.

Marian had a far-off look in her eyes. "I was desperately in love with him. It was too bad that he didn't share my feelings."

Brian was shocked. "That's sad," he said, letting his mind rush to how Peggy had told him how Matthew had taken his own life. "I hope he didn't commit suicide."

Marian's laugh was sinister. "Tom was a self-absorbed coward. His existence was too precious for him to even think of suicide. He died from a rare disease that took him quickly. He suffered, but not very long."

She was visibly upset. Brian put his hand on her shoulder, and she moved quickly to sit next to him on the couch. She didn't break-down, but she was shaking. Brian held her for a long time. 

That was the last of the serious talk between them. The rest of the week was carefree. They let the kids decide the activities, and when it was time to leave, everyone agreed that they'd had a good time.



Picking up the Pieces Ch. 10



Chapter 10: Becoming Close

April 2007

Changes in the weather were to Brian's liking. He claimed the constant rain gave him ideas for future projects that would increase his revenue. He envisioned the attic over the café and hardware store as a livable loft. But first, readying Mr. Bennett's house for occupancy became his priority. 

He still visited Henrietta and devoted as much time as possible to keeping up with the kids' activities. He was aware that Phillip and Tommy talked regularly on the phone, and he wasn't surprised when he heard Amanda talking to Marian. 

"Do you ever get the idea that you're missing something that life has to offer?" he asked Henrietta. They were in her small office, going over the work he was planning to have done to the front of the building. 

"When I start feeling that way, I know it's time to change the batteries in my vibrator," she said.

"You remind me of Peggy. She teased me constantly."

"Does the banker lady tease you?"

"I haven't seen her since we got back from Florida. Mrs. Nixon and John make the daily deposits, so I don't have a reason for stopping by the bank. I don't want her to think she owes me anything for the desk."

"In other words, you're avoiding her, and want me to give you some ideas as to how you can see her?"

"Why do you always have to bring her into the conversation? Thanks for the advice; I'll buy some new batteries," Brian said, not trying to hide his annoyance with her as he got up to leave.

Henrietta caught up with him at the door, making their bodies collide. She didn't back off, and he didn't either. "Brian, you don't need batteries. You have a telephone. Use it," she said, kissing him lightly on the lips.

He put his arm around her and pulled her close. "Thanks, Henry."

He didn't intend to follow her advice, but he was touched by her concern. Brian went to the small house and worked the rest of the day, filling a dumpster with rubbish, and filling his truck with items that could be sold as antiques.

He waited until the kids and Mary were in bed before dialing her number.

"I hope it isn't too late?" he asked.

"Brian," she said, recognizing his voice. "It's not too late."

"You once said that you would like to see my plans for the alterations I'm making to the antique Victorian."

"I remember saying that."

"Well, I don't have any plans. I have no ideas, either."

Her gentle laugh was easy on the ears. "Would you like to meet sometime?"

"I'd like to see...talk to you about the renovations," he said, thinking that she could stop by the house when he was there.

"I have lunch at your café sometimes."

"It isn't my café any longer, but...do you think that would be a good idea?"

"Brian, we're just meeting to talk about your plans for the house. Anyway, most people know we went on vacation together."

That was true. They were meeting to discuss renovations to the house. "Would tomorrow be convenient for you?"

"I'll see you there at twelve-fifteen. I hope we'll be able to get a table. That place is so popular now."

"I know the owner," he quipped, as they said goodbye.

Brian found himself looking forward to the luncheon meeting. Henrietta's eyebrows went up when she saw him enter the café. He almost never came in at lunchtime.

"I don't have a table for one," she said.

"Marian's meeting me."

"In that case, I'll give you the last table for four. Congratulations for taking your head out of your ass," she whispered, as she led him to the table. 

Brian was reluctant to accept the table, but he knew that Henrietta would be hurt if he turned it down. A party of four, two men with their wives or girlfriends arrived shortly after he was seated. He tried not to pay any attention to them, but he could almost feel their eyes upon him.

He stood when Marian arrived, and helped her with her chair.

They laughed about things that had happened when they were on vacation, and what other diners must be saying about seeing them having lunch together. 

He told her that he had the house cleaned, but they didn't discuss the renovations. 

"It may be better if I stop by when you're there," she said, repeating what he had been thinking all along.

"I'll be there all afternoon," he said, and she agreed to stop by the house at three-fifteen.

With that out of the way, they went back to talking about their children's activities, what a nice spring it was turning out to be, and what the town council had decided at their last meeting.

Marian's visits to the house became frequent, not every day, but she stopped by often to find Brian knocking out a wall, installing flooring, or patching a ceiling. After ruining the jacket of a business suit, she brought jeans and a sweatshirt to change into. She never stayed long. Her visits were restricted to giving encouragement or handing him a tool when it was out of his reach.

There were also late night phone calls to remind the other of something they'd forgotten to mention. 

"When are you going to take her on an actual date?" Henrietta asked.

"Soon," he said, without thinking, "or over the weekend if she doesn't stop by the house."

Marian didn't come by the house, but she called him that night. "Brian, I love the desk, but the chair I have doesn't match. Do you know where I can find one?"

He didn't know, but he offered to check with other antique dealers in the area. It took him most of the next day to find a chair that sounded like it matched the desk. They made arrangements to go look at the chair the following Sunday.

"I'll sit in the backseat with the rug rats," Amanda offered. 

Marian and Brian exchanged a look, and smiled appreciatively at Amanda.

It was a long drive to the shop where the chair was located. Amanda kept the boys busy identifying out-of-state license plates on cars they met, while Brian and Marion talked quietly in the front seat.

The wood on the chair did not quite match the desk. It was a cherry finish, while the desk was mahogany. But the seat had been replaced and the casters were new, and Marian insisted that the chair would be acceptable. 

"I can change the finish to mahogany," Brian offered.

"How long will that take, six months?" Marian asked, playfully tugging at his shirttail. They exchanged a long look, silently promising to get even with each other later.

Brian didn't need help carrying the chair to the car, but he accepted her offer. Likewise, he noticed that the boys didn't complain when Amanda took them by the hand. 

The sun was going down when they got back to Marian's house. The boys headed for the basement playroom, and Brian thought Amanda had followed them. He carried the chair upstairs and placed it in front of the desk. 

"It's perfect," Marian said, jumping into his arms. They were kissing when they realized they had company. Amanda was looking up at them, horrified by the sight of her dad kissing a woman.

"Amanda!" Marian exclaimed. We're just...I was...expressing my...it wasn't what you..."

Amanda was looking down the hall. "It's a good thing Phillip and Tommy didn't see that. They don't know why older people kiss and do stuff. I'm nine now and know about those things."

Marian pulled Amanda to her, and Brian put his arm around his daughter. "You're right, Sweetheart. Those little boys wouldn't understand."

Amanda was hugging Brian and Marian, happy to be included in their adult embrace.

"My Dad and I keep secrets from Phillip all the time. Don't we, Dad?" 

"Amanda, do you think you could keep it a secret from Phillip and Tommy if Marian and I went on a date?" Brian asked.

Amanda nodded her head. "Are you going to kiss and stuff?"

They were still in a three-way embrace. Brian felt Marian's body shake with laugher. "Yeah, Dad, are we going to kiss and stuff?"

"I hope so," he admitted.

"Me too," she said, quickly kissing him before ending the hug.

Although Amanda tried her best to keep it a secret that their parents were dating, it didn't take the boys long to figure it out. Marian would deliver her son to the house, tell him to be good, and leave. Brian would leave shortly afterward, and come home long after Amanda and the boys were asleep. 

Their dates began by having dinner together, ending with a goodnight kiss. Their schedule increased from one date a week to two, then three nights, until Tommy was staying with Phillip nearly every night of the week. 

They were soon the talk of the town, accepting invitations to parties, planning family nights with the kids, or staying in. 

They had no secrets. Marian told Brian more about her marriage and feeling compelled to tell all, he described his night with Georgia. 

Marian was shocked, calling him a whore and a gigolo. But she was an open-minded woman, willing to listen to Brian's explanation. He told her what a jerk Curtis had been, how Georgia's father had misrepresented the profitability of the businesses, and how Georgia had forgiven one month's mortgage payment at a time when he was having a difficult time making ends meet. 

"You did it for money," she said, accusingly.

"If it makes any difference, I turned down Doris Kelly's offer to pay me twenty-nine hundred and fifty dollars."

"That changes nothing. It only makes you an expensive whore." Marian said, and it took her several weeks of thinking about what Brian had said, to reconcile his cheating with another man's wife.

Brian assured her that his night with Georgia was a one-time event, and promised to never let it happen again. 

"Come to me if you get into such dire financial straights that you feel compelled to sell your body for money. I have resources," she said. 

Brian took her to mean that she was in a position to give him a bank loan, but Marian was thinking of the insurance settlement she had gained from Tom's death.

Brian was tempted to tell her that he had his own resources. Too bad he hadn't made the discovery of the nineteen envelopes in the roll-top desk before he felt obliged to help Georgia with her fantasy.

July 2007

He finished his work on the antique Victorian. Marian helped him pick out the wall coverings, and he contracted to have them installed. Lois Banks said she already had several people interested in leasing the small home, and Brian was not surprised at how quickly she brought him a signed lease. He was, however, surprised by the signature at the bottom of the first page. Max Leach and his wife would be the new tenants. 

With the small house out of the way, Brian focused his attention on his last source of revenue, the attic of the building that housed the café and hardware store. The fire chief and the insurance inspector conspired against him, demanding that a fire suppression system be installed in the kitchen, dining area, and hardware store. 

At first, Brian reneged at the costs, saying that a five-year payback was unreasonable. In addition to the fire suppression system, the fire chief had said that he didn't want a band of pot-smoking tenants occupying the space. This infuriated Brian. How could a city employee wield so much power? 

That night, he vented to Marian, saying that he was ready to abandon the idea of making the attic into a loft. She differed.

"Five years is not unreasonable for a payback." she reasoned.

"It's more like six years when you consider the cost of hardwood floors, replacing some of the windows, and decorating."

"Are you forgetting that your girlfriend is in a position to loan you money for improvements?"

Brian had never thought of her as his girlfriend. "The agreement restricts me from borrowing money for improvements or for any other reason."

"The agreement restricts you from borrowing from a bank. What I'm offering is a personal loan. It won't show up on your books. You won't even need to sign a paper?"

"Why would you?" he asked, unable to finish the sentence. 

Marian was a practical woman. She felt an attraction to Brian that she'd felt with no other man. It helped that she found his family easy to be around. Amanda was a precious little girl who needed her guidance. Phillip was a sweet little boy who missed his mother, and Mary did her best to make Marian and Tommy feel welcome in the home. 

"I trust you, Brian. I'm not rich, but I have some money from Tom's insurance settlement that we don't need right now."

"How much?" he asked.

She watched him closely. Why was he questioning her? "Are you testing me?"

"Yes."

Again, she watched him, trying to determine his intent. He had just admitted that he was testing her. She had no reason to hide anything from him. "Tom's insurance amounted to five hundred thousand dollars," she said, offering nothing more. If he asked, she would give him a full accounting of her other investments, but he didn't.

"That's a lot of money. I can't match it right now, but I'm not in the breadline, either. I can afford to pay for the improvements. Thanks for the offer though."

"Does that mean you'll go ahead with the loft?"

"Yes, I believe it does."

""I'll help with the decorations."

"I'd like that," Brian admitted. 

This conversation changed everything. To Marian, Brian had shown that he was not influenced by money. He could have borrowed from her with no strings attached. He didn't. 

She saw him as a positive influence in the children's lives. He showed Tommy the same affection that he bestowed toward his own son and daughter. He was dependable and stable. Was she falling in love with him? Did he have the same feelings for her? If so, what was holding him back from making his move?

Marian's main concern was that Brian was not ready to let Peggy go. She consulted Mary to gain insight as to Brian's commitment to the memory of her daughter. Mary said she knew that Brian would always carry Peggy's memory in his heart. "I believe that if Peggy had married him, Brian would have closure. She left him with the nagging thought of what might have been."

Marian went to see Henrietta, and was surprised to learn how much Brian had revealed to his friend. She not only knew he had fucked for money; Henrietta knew about Doris Kelly's offer to pay for sex. 

Henrietta was candid, offering her advice freely. "Don't give up on him, take a chance. Everyone in town thinks you're sleeping together anyway. What do you have to lose?"

Marian thanked Henrietta, but she wasn't ready to take the next step without assurance that Brian was in for the long haul. Marriage was not her goal. She was financially secure. What Marian needed was a different kind of security. She wanted to know that Brian would give her his undivided love. 

Brian moved his toolbox to the attic and began work on converting the space to a loft. Marian couldn't get as excited about the project as he was, but she didn't object when he worked late into the night. He became obsessed with transforming the attic into a loft. It became his practice to have dinner with Mary and the kids, and then excuse himself. 

Marian often accompanied him, offering suggestions and encouragement. Other nights, he would take one of the kids with him for company, and to make sure he kept in touch with what they were doing.

"Aunt Ginny met someone," Amanda said one night, when they were on their way to his project.

"How do you know?" he asked, thinking he had missed seeing a letter from his sister.

"E-mail." 

"How long have you been exchanging e-mail with her?"

"Forever," Amanda answered, and then, "its okay, isn't it?"

Brian gave her a smile of assurance. "Of course it's okay. What do you talk about?"

"Second grade stuff, mostly. That's the grade she teaches. But lately, it's been all about Randy. He's her boyfriend now. They go to summer school and study together."

"She's already getting serious about someone new," Brian mused.

"It's already been a year since Danny was killed, Dad."

"It's been a year?" 

Amanda nodded. "Aunt Ginny honored Danny's death for a whole year before she looked at another man. I think she wanted you to know that. She hopes you get serious about Marian."

Brian wasn't prepared to receive relationship advice from his kid sister, especially if it was delivered by his nine year old daughter. 

"Tell Ginny we're thinking of her," he said, and watched Amanda grin at him. 

August 2007

As work continued on the loft, other townspeople began to climb the stairs and look through the glass in the door. Lois Banks claimed to have a list of interested parties, all willing to pay the asking price for a chance to live above the café and hardware store.

One evening, Brian was framing what was to become the bathroom and adjacent closet when one of the Leach brothers came into the space.

Brian introduced him. "Marian, this is Mr. Leach." 

"Mark," the young man said.

"He's the one that is still single," Brian offered, still not sure if it was really Mark or Max was having fun at his expense.

It had been Marian's intention to entice Brian into her bed, and this was to be the night. She was wearing shorts, a T-shirt with no bra, and sneakers. Seeing the way Mark was taking in her scantily clad body, she decided to see if Brian had a jealous bone in his body. 

"Mr. Leach, have you seen the bathroom fixtures? They're the latest European design," she said, hoping Brian would notice the way she was tugging on the young man's arm. Mark followed her willingly, but she couldn't tell if Brian looked up from the nail he was driving into the two by four. 

Mark was impressed with the fixtures, and Marian could see that he was impressed with the way her thirty-year-old ass wiggled when she bent down to lift the seat on the commode. 

Brian thought he knew what Marian was attempting. She was succeeding. He would have liked to have told the younger Leach brother to keep his eyes off of his girlfriend's ass, but that would have meant that he was playing into her plans. 

"Honey, Mark wants to lease the loft. How soon can we finish it?" Marian asked.

Mark confirmed that he would like to live above the hardware store, joking that it would cut down on his daily commute to work. It did make sense. Mark would have a vested interest in the security of the property. Also, he would have two means of egress, a complaint that the building inspector had raised if the tenant only had the outside stairs to enter and exit the loft. 

Brian agreed to have the space ready for occupancy by the end of August and the deal was struck. The two men shook hands. Mark left and Brian decided to knock off early. He took Marian home, and when she invited him inside, he was happy to accept. There were some things he needed to tell her.

Marian misunderstood; she thought this was the night. They were sitting on the couch, waiting for the other to make the first move. 

Brian didn't know any other way but to blurt out what was bothering him. "I have you to thank for urging me to go ahead with the improvements. I wasn't going to go through with it until you offered to loan me the money."

Marian, whose mind had been monopolized by the thought of having sex, was stunned by the turn of events. What was he saying? "Why did you do it?"

"It was a matter of pride. You once called me a gigolo. I wanted to prove you wrong, even if I had to use funds that I was saving for my next rainy day."

Marian got up and went to the kitchen, coming back with two glasses of wine. "I jumped to conclusions. You have nothing to prove to me. I know you're not a gigolo."

Brian took a sip of wine. "Thanks for saying that. What you think about me is important. But you have to admit; I did fuck for money," he said, watching her smirk, not getting the reaction he hoped for. 

"Listen to me, Brian. I hold you in the highest esteem."

"I got you to tell me the amount of Tom's insurance settlement. I don't know why I did that. It's not me."




Picking up the Pieces Ch. 10



"Did I make a mistake by offering you the loan? Would it be easier if you didn't know that I have some money?"

Brian drained his glass and placed it on the coffee table. "I'm confused, Marian. I can't decide if I should carry you upstairs to your bed or if I should take you right here on the living room floor," he said, standing up. 

Marian stood up too. "That's the man I've grown to love," she said, putting her arms around his neck. "Whichever way you decide to go about it is fine with me."

He kissed her and she felt his hands on her ass. She was moaning into his mouth when he pulled away. "I'll talk to you tomorrow," he said, leaving her standing in the center of her living room, completely befuddled.

~

Brian was manhandling a sheet of wallboard when he heard a knock on the door. Henrietta was standing on the landing, peering inside. He opened the door. 

"Marian came to see me. What the fuck has gotten into you?" she asked, as soon as she was inside. 

"I don't know."

"Brian, what's wrong with you? I've never known a man to turn a piece of ass down. Isn't she sexy enough for you? She wants you to fuck her."

"Is that what she told you?"

"She didn't have to tell me. She's frustrated. I don't understand you?"

"I don't understand myself."

Henrietta placed her hand on his forehead. "Are you feeling okay?"

He laughed. "I'm feeling fine. I even got a hard-on last night, but I couldn't follow through. I keep thinking that she knows about me fucking Georgia for money. She has some money. She even offered me some of it, but I wouldn't take it."

Henrietta moved in, putting her arms around his neck and her cheek next to his. "Brian, would you fuck me for money?"

"You know I wouldn't," he answered, indignantly.

"You had to think about it though, didn't you? I heard the wheels turning in your head. They were asking how much money I had."

"I didn't have to think about it...how much do you have?"

Henrietta giggled. "Let me ask a serious question, and you have to answer it honestly."

"Okay," he said, enjoying the way it tickled when she was whispering into his ear.

"That night I got wet and everything."

"Yes," he said, remembering the night they stood on the sidewalk, embracing the same as they were doing now.

"We kissed, and it was nice."

"I remember."

"If I had let you walk me home?"

"Yes?"

"Would you have fucked me?"

"I don't know."

"You don't know?"

"It might have ruined our friendship."

"Brian, you've got a fucking hard-on!"

"Okay."

"Okay, what?"

"Okay, I would have fucked you."

Henrietta held the embrace for another thirty seconds before pulling away. "I don't know why I worry about you."

"I'm fine."

"I can see that," she said, looking down at the evidence, grinning. 

She was backing toward the door when he got her attention. "Would you have?"

It took her two seconds to grasp his meaning. "You watched me until I went around the corner of the building, didn't you?"

"Yes," he said, remembering how he had watched her disappear.

Henrietta dropped her eyes. Her lips were moving, but he had to strain to hear what she was saying. "I was leaning against the building and gasping for air. You'll never know how much I wanted to go back and drag you home with me."

"You'll never know how much I wanted to catch up with you."

She lifted her eyes, and they stared at each other for a full minute. "Fuck your girlfriend, Brian. Stop tempting me."

"Thanks for coming to see me, Henry. I'll take your advice, but you've got to do something for me, too."

"Anything, you name it."

"Stop tempting me."

They burst into laughter. Henrietta left, and they never spoke of temptation again.

~

Brian didn't hear from Marian or try to contact her for three days. It wasn't that he was delaying the inevitable; he knew that the next time they met that they would end up in her bed. Thinking about making love to her, planning every move, and anticipating her reaction to his caresses monopolized his mind. Marian and every part of her body were with him constantly. Those three days were the most titillating that he could remember. 

He completed his work on the loft, called the plumber, wall-covering expert, and electrician in to finish up. It was near the end of August when he handed Mark a key.

As it turned out, it was the children that gave the final shove to bring Marian and Brian closer.

"Mom, is Brian going to be my new Dad?" Tommy asked his mother.

The question amused her. "Where did you get that idea?" she asked. 

"Amanda says you are going to be her mother, and Phillip and I are going to be brothers."

"Would you like that?"

"Yeah, I guess. Does it mean that Amanda would be my sister?"

"How would you feel about sharing me with Amanda and Phillip?"

"Would you still love me?"

"Yes, Honey, I will never stop loving you."

"Would you love Brian, too?"

"Yes, I would, but this is very premature. If it should come to pass it would be in the distant future. Let's not make more of something Amanda said until it is discussed thoroughly."

Marian called Brian. "We need to talk."

"I heard. I'll have a talk with Amanda and find out what made her tell the boys that we are getting serious."

"I should be there. If fact, we should all be present to air this out, Mary included."

"Are you sure you want to discuss this with the children before we decide what we want to do?"

"Brian, have you thought about what you want? Do you want to have an affair? Does marriage interest you? I really don't care which way we go, but I know I'm ready to take the next step."

"Amanda is leaning toward marriage, and she has the boys thinking the same way. It wouldn't be fair to them for us to have an affair, but I've got to be honest with you; I've been having some pretty wild thoughts the past three days. I'd like to take you for a test drive if you're game?"

"I'm game."

"Anyway, I know I don't want to have another child out of wedlock."

He heard an intake of air, like she was going to explode. "Brian, you're the most wonderful, considerate man I've ever known. I'm fortunate to have met you. Please don't change. Bring Mary, Amanda and Phillip to my house for dinner tomorrow night," she said.

Brian laughed, and agreed to be at her house promptly at six. 

~

A telephone call changed their plans. 

"Dad, its Phillip's grandmother," Amanda said, handing him the receiver. 

"Hi, Mom," Brian said, not knowing what to expect. He seldom heard from his parents.

"It's your father."

"What happened?" he asked.

"There's been a death in the family. Aunt Elsie is being buried tomorrow and we need you to attend the funeral to protect our interests."

"What's wrong with Dad? She's his aunt. Why can't he go?"

"Brian, we ask very little of you. Surely, you can leave that Christmas tree business long enough to see that we receive our share of the estate."

"What's the matter with Dad? Did you have an accident or something?"

"He's fine, physically, but he becomes confused sometimes. Do you have a pencil and a piece of paper? Take the information down, and don't be late getting to the funeral. No telling what the scavengers will do to pick the carcass clean."

Brian took down the instructions, which were interspersed with useless tidbits, 'Glenn or Ginny would be happy to do this if they were free. He's setting up his practice and she's going to be busy teaching.'

"What's Glenn's practicing?" Brian asked.

"If you bothered to call once in a while you would know that Glenn finished dental school. He's going to be a fine dentist. I suppose you heard about Ginny's husband being killed."

"I heard," he said, wanting to ask his sister's married name, but didn't.

"Do you have everything down on paper?"

"I believe so. Tell me one thing. Who was Aunt Elsie?"

"She was your father's aunt. I understand her husband's family is going to be represented by someone very cunning. Make sure you get our share. Watch out for the lawyers, too. Do you have a decent suit?"

"Yes, Mom, I know how to dress for a funeral."

"It's not just the funeral. Make sure you look professional when you appear in court."

"Court? What are you telling me?"

"Keep us informed. Do you have e-mail and a cell phone? Your father is counting on you."

"I'll do my best, Mom."

He had more questions, but his mother said she had other calls to make.

Mary and Amanda were sitting across the table from him as he dialed John Larkin's number. "We're not going to be able to go to Marian's house for dinner tonight. I have to get up early."

Mary headed for the kitchen, saying that she would prepare a quick meal. 

He then looked at Amanda. "Where did my Mom get the idea that the Christmas tree business is all that we do?"

Amanda gave him a blank stare, but when he finished bringing John up to date, she had the answer.

"I gave Phillip a picture to send to his grandparents. It was the one from last Christmas that showed him on the wagon, and he may have been standing next to a Christmas tree. I remember him asking how to spell hot chocolate."

"Come here," Brian said. 

"Did I do something wrong?" she asked.

He grinned at her and watched the smile come to her face. She climbed onto his lap as he was dialing Marian's number. "You're getting heavy," he whispered. She wasn't. Her body was slim and her face was drawn, making her look older than her nine years.

"We can't come tonight," he began, as soon as Marian answered her phone. 

"Really? I was looking forward to tonight. I was hoping that we would have some time alone to...you know."

"I know. I was looking forward to spending some time with you, too, but I'm being sent on a family mission. I promise that when I get back..."

"When will that be?"

"I don't know. I'm packing for a week."

"Damn you, Brian. You get a girl's juices running and then you take off."

"I'm sorry."

"Will you call me? Will you write?"

"Yes, I'm taking my lap-top."

"Can't you come over tonight?"

"I would like to, but I need to get up early. I have a long drive ahead of me."

"It wouldn't take long," she whined, in a tantalizing voice that almost made him change his mind. 

He told her that he still needed to talk to Mrs. Nixon and she let him end the call. It only took a minute to give Mrs. Nixon her instructions. Amanda was still sitting on his lap, and Phillip was climbing up to join his sister. 

"I'll need underwear and socks for five days. Pack a couple of shirts, two pair of pants, a sweater, shoes, and a pair of jeans. Give me a couple of hundred in cash, too," he said to Amanda.

"Why do you need a sweater?"

"It may be cold near the water, even in summer."

"Why can't we go with you?"

"You don't like funerals. Anyway, I'm going to be busy."

Amanda slid off his lap and went to pack his suitcase. Phillip began to cry as soon as she was gone.

"What's wrong, big boy?"

"Are you going away because you don't want Tommy and me to be brothers?"

Brian pulled his son close. "Believe me, brothers aren't all that great. They'll become dentists and say they're too busy to help out with family business."

"Tommy isn't going to be a dentist," Phillip was quick to say. 

"What's Tommy going to be when he grows up?"

"A crop duster."

"Crop dusters are just as bad as dentists. What are you going to be?"

"I'm going to sell Christmas trees and hot chocolate."

"Good choices. I'm sure you'll do well."

"Dad?" Phillip asked, all traces of tears having disappeared. 

"Yeah, Buddy," Brian said.

"Will we have to move when you and Tommy's mother get married?"

"I don't know. Would moving be a major turn-off for you?"

"Yeah, I like my room better than Tommy's. I like our back-yard better, too."

"You make some good points. Thanks for sharing them with me."

"You're welcome."

~

Three-thirty AM on August 25, 2007

Mary gave him a thermos filled with black coffee and a bag containing two sandwiches and an apple. He kissed her goodbye, and told her he would be back soon. His intentions were good, but his prediction was bad. Four months would go by before he would see his mother and children again. 

Here ends "Picking up the Pieces"

Next: "Electives," and, "Distribution."