The Other Mrs Hayes

by Ross Richdale

  Pete nodded but to Jessica he still looked sour as he drank that last wine, nodded at Leona and they both left the bar.

  "Clinging type," another guy muttered. "With your young wife who would need that Leona anyway?"

  Brendon grinned at him. "Now don't you start getting any smart ideas, Ken," he said.

  Everyone laughed and the incident was forgotten.

  When the group dispersed half an hour later, Jessica and Brendon retreated to their room. The Smithers were forgotten and they had almost violent sex together in the shower and later in the massive king sized double bed. It was a great climax to an exciting holiday.

  JESSICA SPENT QUITE a while searching through the flash drive of more photos of scenes of their Vancouver trip and a few more group photographs. They often included Leona alone rather than with her husband Pete. Beneath one was an insignificant 'pleasant lady' comment that made her frown. She scrolled down the contents in the flash drive and came to a docx file named Just Notes.

  She clicked on it, a Word file appeared and she began to read. Oh hell, here it was... Brendon in his arrogant way had written an account what had happened that last day in Vancouver!

  BRENDON DIDN'T KNOW whether Leona Smithers had planned it or not. Up until now the walk around Burnaby Mountain Trail was boring, not to mention tiring. He hated walking along these trails at the best of times, walking was for idiots and those keep fit fanatics who wasted their time constantly getting fit or dieting then as soon as they came off their diet they would revert back to their previous weight within a month or so.

  He found himself out of sight behind Jessica and the rest of the group with Leona walking beside him. She was a slightly chubby woman more Stacey's age than Jessica's but had quite a nice figure.

  "God, I'm tired out. I reckon every muscle in my body is complaining." Leona glanced ahead. "Your wife and the others are well ahead, Pete too. I think he's trying to show how fit he is to your wife." She glanced at him. "How did you get such a young fit wife, Brendon?"

  Brendon shrugged. "Just luck I guess. Mind you Pete doesn't seem such a bad sort of guy."

  "Yeah, okay," Leona replied. "But on a holiday it would be nice to branch out."

  Brendon stared at her. Was she coming onto him? He grinned. Why not! She'd be good to contrast with Jessica and Stacey too if it came to that. He used numerous approaches to women but usually it was when they were in a bar or at least partly drunk. Out here in the countryside was different too. The last time he had taken a woman outdoors was on the beach with Jessica not long after they had met.

  "We could find a spot and get to know each other," he said. "If we're late back we could just say we took one of those longer forks. There are several on our map."

  She glanced at him. "You are frank," she replied.

  "Well we are on holiday in an overseas country and who will know?"

  She smiled and stepped in towards him. He placed his arms around her and bent down to find her ready to kiss. She smelt sweaty but there was still a faint smell of perfume on her body and her breath smelt minty. She wriggled in and her breasts touched his chest.

  Hell, he was aroused. He slipped a hand down and squeezed a breast.

  "Cheeky boy," she whispered. "But we'd better find somewhere off the trail. You never know when trampers come along." A hand went down and brushed the fly of his jeans.

  Moments later they came to a small picnic area with a wooden table and nearby was a small concrete toilet block with one unisex toilet. It was one of those modern ones that catered for wheelchairs with a wide door and quite large interior. Why they needed to cater for someone in a wheelchair on a steep trail like this seemed ludicrous to Brendon. Probably designed by some bureaucrat in Vancouver who hadn't even come into the area.

  But he had another thought on his mind as Leona stepped in the door. He followed, latched it so that outside the tiny a sign would state Engaged Occupé. Damned if he knew why the Canadians in this part of the country insisted on having French as well as English signs.

  He turned and watched as Leona began to unbutton her blouse. She was slightly overweight with a layer of fat around the tummy but had enormous beasts. He reached forward, seized her bra and tugged the cups down.

  The frantic lusting sex that followed was with a woman who not only cooperated but led their manoeuvres with comments such as, "Be patient and let me guide you...You are a big man" and so forth as the fondling became intercourse. Luckily her instructions soon changed to screams and moans as he attempted to satisfy her demands.

  He obviously succeeded for she finally just clung on as he penetrated a second time before they both dressed and she told him to leave as she needed to use the toilet.

  He waited outside and glanced at his watch. Hell, they'd been at it for forty-five minutes. Leona came out and grinned at him.

  "So don't tell a damn soul, Brendon. Neither my husband nor your wife needs to know of our escapade. Act naturally when we arrive back but not familiar or too stodgy, do you understand?

  "I guess so. Can we do it again sometime."

  She glowered. "Doubt it. We're all heading out tomorrow."

  "But back home in New Zealand?"

  She sort of smirked. "Oh you are keen. We'll see shall we?"

  DOUG MCCANN WAS THOROUGH in investigating Pete and Leona Smithers. He found they actually lived in Auckland in one of the western suburbs. The interesting news was that Leona had had an abortion at a local clinic a month after that trip to Vancouver that Jessica had told him about.

  Who had impregnated her was unknown but it didn't take long to discover that before Leona married Pete, she had led quite a promiscuous life while attending university. His gut feeling was that given the personalities of the pair it was entirely feasible that Leona had had sex with Brendon on that holiday but there was no way to prove anything.

  More important though was that Pete did believe it and this ultimately led to their marriage breaking up for a short time not long after her abortion. She, however, had returned to the fold, so to speak, probably attracted back by the money Pete earned as a partner in an Auckland company, OnPoint Property Development. This company tended to buy older houses in middle class suburbs, sub-divided the sections for townhouses, with often three, each on three hundred square metres of land, built on the old imperial measure quarter acre sections.

  He noticed that the company had half a dozen projects going at once and their finance was tight with the sale of the new townhouses needed to pay for development costs of newly purchased land. It appeared that the banks involved, two of them, were quite generous in providing money when sales fell through or new townhouses were delayed.

  On the surface, the Smithers were a happily married couple who tended to be at the edge of the social elite in the city. However, with a little digging he discovered that Leona in particular had several discrete affairs with men in their social circle. Pete had attempted to tone down his jealous streak probably in an agreement to get Leona back and was, at the moment having an affair with his secretary. Leona probably knew about this but in both cases the pair kept their indiscretions unmentioned to each other.

  "I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT Brendon has antagonised many associates over the years and has a loose moral attitude towards life," he said when he reported back to Jessica at a coffee bar not far from her home. "There is, however, no evidence that he made contact with Leona Smithers at any time since that Vancouver trip. I doubt if she has anything to do with his disappearance."

  "But there could be a different woman involved with Brendon?"

  Doug grimaced. "Undoubtedly. Brendon needs the security of having a woman or possibly women in his life to booster his fantasies. I am following leads on his activities and will get back to you all when there is anything to report." He glanced at Austin that Jessica held in her arms, "How is the little fellow?"

  "Fine. Sleeps well and is putting on weight."

  "And you?"

  "Coping. Stacey is still a great h
elp. Better than Mum, actually." Jessica smiled slightly. "Oh I know Mum's heart is in the right place. If she would only ask at times rather than tell."

  "Sounds a typical mother," Doug replied. "She's affected by everything, almost as much as you or Stacey." He stood up. "But I must away. I have another case that is the other way around; a jealous wife is convinced her husband is having an affair."

  "And is he?"

  Doug shrugged. "Doubt it but convincing the wife of that fact is the problem. Again, their marriage is on the rocks and she needs somebody else to blame."

  CHAPTER 6

  Laurie actually loved his position as school office manager and secretary at Lexington Avenue School. He had held it for almost as long as Stacey was principal and had heard that he was one of the first new appointments she had made since her arrival. The Board of Trustees had left her to make all appointments outside the actual teaching staff and usually just relied on her opinion for them, too.

  Before his arrival he had had a few difficult few years when Gwen his partner for a decade had just up and left. They had no children and in hindsight, he realised that their relationship had been just drifting. He didn't blame her for he had been tied up in a small business that was failing. The original idea of providing support and services to other small firms was good but modern technology had really superseded what his company offered. Why pay for advice when it could be found free on the internet? He ended up selling the firm at almost a loss to a larger company that was really only interested in his clients so it soon disappeared as an independent name.

  He needed an income and applied for the position at Lexington Avenue School as a stopgap position. It was, though, in many ways similar to what he had been doing in his firm but had the advantage of a reasonably good salary and a good employer. At first he found Stacey Hayes quite a demanding person but knew that she had a huge responsibility in dragging a run-down school into what was now a sort after one that competed with other local schools with new innovative programmes. She had also forced out two drifting long-serving teachers who had retired early and another woman was told that if she didn't improve her attitude, she was not welcome to continue as a staff member.

  She did, however, appear to appreciate his work and listened to his advice about some of the outdated procedures on the administrative side. The Board of Trustees also made few demands and more often than not, listened to his suggestions about companies who offered the best deals for bulk purchases or similar items. Often the ones that appeared to be the cheapest were, in the long run, not as good as ones where a long term contract on say the provision of cleaning materials saved the school a considerable amount. Stacey too, now tended to leave the mundane side of school administration in his hands while she concentrated on the academic and professional side where schools were different from just business firms.

  Gradually, almost in spite of himself, Laurie had found that he was drawn towards his principal. He chastised himself for she was a married woman who, seemingly, had a happy marriage to a local accountant Brendon. He had met the guy on a few occasions but was not impressed by him. Oh he was friendly enough, perhaps too much so, being almost gushy but somewhat shallow in his approach to others.

  Now though, Stacey was having problems. He knew she was under stress but, as far as he could tell, it was nothing to do with school life. Here she was as efficient as ever but did perhaps become more blunt with teachers that he knew were inclined to be lazy, not that Stacey would call them that. She also snapped at him on occasions but inevitably apologised about it later.

  He told her about the rumour about her sister and her meeting her mother. It was also rumoured that her husband had just walked out on her and shifted in with another woman

  ''Oh Laurie,'' she had said. ''I'm sorry for snapping at you. If only the story was that simple."

  For perhaps the first time he had reacted and reached out to give her a hug. "I've said nothing," he whispered. "If you'd like to confide in me, I promise that it'll go no further."

  "I know," Stacey replied. "You're a real friend and this whole school is like my home." She smiled slightly. "You know it's like a security blanket when the world is crumbling outside.''

  However, that brief moment was over and she returned to being his principal. Her eyes, though, told him more. She was hurting about something and that brief confession made him determined to get to the truth and help. But what could he do? That private detective Doug McCann she had asked him to contact knew something but what was it?

  AT TWO THIRTY ON FRIDAY afternoon, Laurie walked into Stacey's office to find her studying another document from the Ministry of Education.

  ''Bit late in the week for that?'' he said.

  She glanced up with a pout on her face. ''Why?''

  He just about backed down and was prepared to mutter that it was just a joke but instead he just shrugged.

  ''Well, what is it Laurie?'' she asked.

  ''I know you have had a hard time on the personal front and this Doug McCann has called you several times over the week.''

  ''So?'' She sounded angry.

  ''Tell me to butt out but I know what it is like.'' He had two sensations, one made him flush in embarrassment possibly because of the other. Without warning he found himself erect. Bugger, he felt like a frustrated teenager asking a girl in his senior high school class for a date. Actually, this was the reason he had come into the office.

  ''What is it? '' she whispered but her tone was back to normal.

  ''My partner of a decade just up and left me a few years back. She gave no reason and the only other contact I had with her was when I called her for an explanation. She just said she had had enough and that was it. I never heard from her again.''

  ''And you think that is what happened to me?''

  ''No. You insinuated that it was more complicated than that but afterwards clammed up. All this week you have been distracted and most of the staff are worried about you.''

  Stacey appeared angry again. ''So you have been nominated to come and talk to me?''

  ''Not at all. I am here for an entirely different reason.''

  ''And that is?''

  "Would you like to go to a restaurant for a meal and perhaps a movie afterwards?'' Hell he felt hot in the cheeks and was certain that his erection would be visible if she happened to glance down at his fly. ''I mean, I think you should relax for a while and...'' He stopped, unable to finish the sentence before muttering. ''Oh what a stupid idea. Sorry to have embarrassed you.''

  He turned and almost ran towards the door. However, he was less than half the way across the room when a hand grabbed his arm. He turned and saw Stacey looking intently into his eyes. For the first time perhaps, he realised that she was shorter than him.

  ''Of course I would like to come,'' she whispered. ''What time would you like to pick me up?''

  ''You will?'' he gasped.

  ''The time?''

  Oh hell she looked as flushed as he felt.

  ''I booked a table at Victoriana Views Restaurant at six-thirty. It's near the university and has a variety of contemporary meals.''

  Stacey smiled for the first time. ''And if I wasn't interested?''

  Laurie relaxed. ''Well I could ask Abby.'' Abby was the youngest teacher on the staff, was a bit of an extrovert and seemed to have a new boyfriend every month.

  ''But you'd rather ask me?'' she whispered.

  ''Well she's a bit young and flighty...'' He flushed again. ''Oh hell, you know what I mean?''

  ''Quarter to six should give us time to find a park. Okay?''

  ''Fine,'' Laurie replied, squeezed her hand and continued his walk out of the office.

  IT WAS AFTER ONE IN the morning when the pair drove into Stacey's driveway and she invited him in for a coffee. That was the last thing on his mind but common sense told him to be cautious and not blow what had been a delightful evening with a visit to a local upmarket bar following a nice but predicable movie. Stacey was quite chatty
but not drunk and he had purposely not drunk a lot either.

  He walked into her house and somehow it seemed different than the few other times head visited. Of course, every other time it had been for an informal staff gathering and Brendon had been there. Now it looked like Stacey herself, neat and tidy without being over fastidious.

  She walked across to the bench and plugged in the kettle before turning and stepping towards him. He could smell her faint whiff of perfume and noticed three buttons of her frilly blouse were undone. He could see the swell of her breasts beneath a black bra.

  ''No I am not a frigid old lesbian, Laurie,'' she said. ''This evening I realised that.'' She seized his hands and squeezed them hard. ''What say we have our coffee over breakfast in the morning?''

  ''What?'' he gasped.

  She smiled and kissed him softly on the lips. ''Your male anatomy gave you away this afternoon when you came into my office, didn't it?''

  She glanced down. His fly was peaked, as it had been most of the evening.

  ''My bedroom is the first door to the right. Go and wait there for me.''

  Before he could react she stepped back, turned and almost skipped across the room and out another door. It shut and he found himself alone. He was shaking and more than erect as he made his way to the door in question. Inside, the lights were on and he noticed a double bed with the cover pulled aside. The room appeared to be a spare bedroom with a tidy appearance and just a few items of furniture.

  Now what? He just stood there when he heard a cough and turned. There stood Stacey in the flimsiest shortie pyjamas he could imagine.

  She stepped forward and into his arms all pretence gone and inhibitions cast aside. The first kiss became frantic and when his hands reached down to fondle a breast a warm hand unzipped his fly and found his penis. He almost masturbated there and then but fought to control himself as he lifted her nightie top above her head and tossed it aside.