by Jw Grodt
“I just learned today that I have to leave next Tuesday. Be gone two or three days.”
“Where to this time?”
She got that look, that nervous look like she was worried about him being gone. Brad noticed it and wondered if it was because of what happened last time Jared was away.
“I have to go to St Louis to meet with a big client who’s upset with the way things are going on their project. It’s not my account, but the boss thought I should handle because, as he put it, ‘I have so much common sense and can disarm folks with facts’.” He looked at Brad and added: “It’s a trait I got from Mom.”
His son’s tone sounded almost accusatory. Or maybe Brad was just being paranoid. He shook it off. I’ll have to work fast to get them completely into the townhouse before he leaves, but with everything already lined up, it shouldn’t be a problem. I don’t want her here alone with me anymore.
Brad awoke to a gorgeous Friday morning with blue skies and sunshine. With any luck, tonight would be the last night she would be under his roof. He smiled a smile of relief as he got up and headed for the bathroom to shower.
After a productive and satisfying workday he drove home, replaying his plan over and over in his head. He couldn’t wait to see their expressions when Jared and Nicole saw their new home. At least, that’s what he kept trying to tell himself: his child’s happiness would be his happiness. But thoughts of Nicole were lurking, just under the surface of his parental pretense. He kept envisioning her body. He became erect as he drove along. He fell into titillating fantasies. The flow of traffic would snap him back to reality and he would begin to talk himself out of his lustful trance. April is the one. April can save me from Little Miss Sweet Cheeks and her see-through nighties and her pouty looks. She is a mature woman. She is everything I could possibly want sexually, at my age. He vowed to bed April as soon as possible. She was the antidote for his fantasies and the remedy for his waking up each morning with soiled sheets and a guilty conscience.
After dinner, Brad sat with Jared and Nicole in the living room having lemon meringue pie and coffee. Ok, I’m going to miss the little tramp’s cooking. He pressed the side of his fork into flaky pie crust.
More discussion about Jared’s work ensued. He apologized to Nicole. “I’m sorry I’ve had to be away so much, babe. But, the money is good for both of us. Sooner or later we can get a place of our own.”
“It’s okay, honey. Your dad takes really good care of me.” The look she shot Brad was like a bucket of ice water over the shower curtain.
What did she mean by that? With a trembling hand he sipped the last of his coffee with difficulty.
“Well, it’s late and I have a few things to take care around the house before we visit with Bill and Jean. I think we should leave around ten-thirty, okay with you?”
“Sure, Dad. No problem,” Nicole looked at Jared as she responded. “Goodnight.”
Brad went to his room and got ready for bed. He suddenly remembered that he wanted to tell Jared and Nicole to dress in semi-formal attire to meet his supposed friends. He really only wanted them to look respectable in case April or the previous owner happened to be around. He walked out of his bedroom and when he got to the end of the hallway, he stopped. He could see Nicole’s nude torso over the back of the sofa. She was moving up and down. He watched for several minutes as she pleasured herself on top of his son. He was at once both aroused and jealous. He returned to his room and jacked himself with visions of Nicole playing through his mind. When he was spent, he fell into a restless sleep: his last thought was of Nicole on top of him, her head thrown back, eyes closed, begging him for more. Never once did April enter his mind.
* * *
He awoke early on Saturday. His eyes opened and he felt the dried residue on his fingers, then guilt. He thought about the coming day and resolved once more that he would make his plan work—all of it. Including April. She would be the one-step program for his addiction to Nicole. All he had to do would be to be with her. One taste of April and he could forget his son’s wife. He was certain of it.
He dressed and bounced into the kitchen. He told himself he couldn’t wait for their expressions of joy and gratitude when he revealed his surprise. Jared was sitting at the table on his laptop. Nicole made coffee and sourdough toast and presented him two slices, already buttered, along with his newspaper. He ignored the complacent feeling he had when she waited on him. He refused to acknowledge that her prancing around with her tits falling out everywhere, waiting on him hand and foot, turned him on uncontrollably.
At half past nine, Brad put down the newspaper, stretched and said “Well, I think I’ll get ready for our brunch.”
Jared turned off his laptop and said, “Yeah, me too.”
“As I said last night we’ll leave at ten-thirty. Oh, and maybe you kids should drive separately, in case you want to leave before I do?”
Jared looked relieved to have an out. “Good idea!” he said.
At the appointed time they hopped into their respective vehicles and Jared and Nicole followed behind him. Brad pulled up in front of the row of townhouses and they pulled into a space beside him. He pretended to walk toward the unit next door, next to the one with the big red ribbon on the door. They followed along and when he reached the door he turned and smiled.
“Aren’t you going to knock?” Nicole asked.
Brad at once leaped off the porch and ran next door. He spread his arms and called out “Surprise!”
The two were silent for a moment or two, taking in the scene. Jared looked at the beribboned front door and then looked at Brad. “Nikki,” he said in a tone of realization, “I think Dad doesn’t want us living with him anymore.”
Nicole had a look of confusion and disbelief. “Dad, what does he mean?”
Jared rolled his eyes and spoke before he could say anything. “I think he’s trying to tell us that he bought us this house, silly!”
Jared grinned from ear to ear while Nicole only glared at him from her position on the other porch.
She joined then on the front stoop, Brad quickly unlocked the door and pushed it open. Jared scooped Nicole up in his arms and carried her across the threshold. He put her down in the kitchen while he expressed wonder and amazement at his new home. Meanwhile, she just stood there with a put out look on her face.
Why isn’t she thrilled with this? Julie would have been crazy about this place when she was her age!
“I’ll wait outside while you young folks look around,” he said quietly and went out the front door. He left it open a crack, and after a few minutes he heard Jared say in a pleading tone, “I’ll go ask him now, okay?”
“No!” she shouted back. “I’ll do it!”
She opened the front door and motioned him. “Dad, please come in.”
Brad stepped into the entryway and Nicole jumped up and kissed his mouth. “Thank you so much, Dad! You’re wonderful!”
Jared echoed her sentiments. Nicole cleared her throat and asked “Dad, why’d you do it?”
“Why did I do what, dear?” He was still reeling from her kiss.
“Why did you buy us a house?”
Jared looked as if he too had the same query.
“It’s my belated wedding gift to you both! And, it’s fully paid for! I wish you all the happiness. I got the idea while you were on your honeymoon. It just took a while to pull it off. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I’ve enjoyed getting it for you. Julie would be happy that I did this.”
Jared had tears in his eyes when he hugged him. Nicole was smiling now and acted more excited and sincere. Brad exhaled in relief. His belated wedding gift, while not totally altruistic, seemed to be accepted overall. Temptation was removed from his midst and he could sleep easier at night.
He had made arrangements for a small moving company to come to his house that day and pack up their t
hings. By now the movers were likely well into the project.
“I know I told you a white lie to get you here, but it wasn’t a lie, really. There is an old friend of the family who wants to see Jared and meet his new wife. She is going to meet us for lunch at a place not far from here. Why don’t we pile into my car and go meet her?”
“Sure, Dad. We’d love to—wouldn’t we Nikki?”
“Of course! How could we refuse after receiving such a generous gift? I’ll have to find a special way to thank you for it.” She smiled at him, but her eyes were strangely menacing. It shook him a bit, but he moved on.
“Let’s not keep her waiting, then,” he replied and motioned toward the door.
As he drove them to The Bistro, Brad got a chill thinking about how Nicole had acted back at the townhouse. What the hell is going on with her? Is she angry at the prospect of moving away from me?
He concluded it was just part of his obsession. Soon they would meet the woman who would rid his mind of all his doubts and craven thoughts. April was his salvation.
When they pulled up in front of the restaurant, April was just getting out of her car.
“Excuse me, Miss. Would you like to join us for lunch?” he enquired with dramatic flair.
April laughed and walked over in their direction. She was dressed in a smart pink suit and black heels. “Why, I would be delighted!”
“April! Is that you?” Jared piped up. “I remember you from Mom’s funeral. You were her best friend.”
“That’s right, sweetie,” she said as she embraced him. “And she was my best friend.”
Nicole forced a smile as Jared introduced her. They walked inside and were promptly seated in the same location where Brad and April had sat earlier.
After they ordered drinks, they exchanged pleasantries. Nicole turned to April and in a tone intended to sound casual she asked, “So, April, were you the one who talked Dad into buying the townhouse?”
Brad interrupted. “Actually it was all my idea. April just located the best one, in my opinion.”
“It’s a very expensive gift!” Jared said with gratitude.
“You’re my only son and I know that a young married couple should have a home of their own. Your mom would have wanted to do this for you as well. There’s also a selfish reason, I suppose, and that’s that I want to watch you enjoy your new home. I never believed leaving your worldly possessions to your kids after you’re gone was much of an idea, because you can’t get to see them enjoy it. Besides, I’ll be around for a long time and I’d hate for you to wait that long! Brad winked and chuckled.
“But, Dad, we—”
“No, ‘buts’ about it, son. The house is yours and that’s the end of subject. All I require is a thank-you, which you’ve done.”
“Your father is right,” April added. “It’s good that he can provide this and get to see the enjoyment owning your own home can bring.”
“Wow, I guess that’s why you’re such a successful agent! You can really sell it.” The edge in Nicole’s voice was unmistakable. Brad fidgeted in his chair. Nicole got up and came around the table. She plopped down in Brad’s lap, threw her arms around his neck and kissed him, thanking him profusely. She wiggled her firm ass on her manhood as she did so and Brad thought he would go through the ceiling. He felt blood rushing to his face—and elsewhere. He looked over at April, who had averted her gaze. She smiled as she took a sip from her water glass.
“Dad, don’t be embarrassed when a pretty girl kisses you! Just relax and enjoy it,” Jared said, lightly punching him in the shoulder.
Nicole said little after that. Jared impressed April with his well-rounded knowledge of his field and his memories of his mother. When lunch over, he insisted on paying the check, saying it was the least he could do after his father’s generosity.
Brad walked April to her car. She gave him a curt goodbye, with no hug or peck on the cheek. Was she on to him? Had he been that obvious when Nicole had sat in his lap?
The final surprise awaited the kids back at the townhouse. When Brad pulled up, they saw the moving van with the movers hauling their things inside.
“You kids might want to stay and organize things. Later, come back to the house for dinner if you wish.” But, after dinner, instead of going downstairs, you will go home!
“A-ha! So that’s why we had to drive separately, so you could arrange to get our things in our new house!” Jared said.
Nicole excused herself to find the bathroom. Jared and Brad sat down on a couple of dining chairs located temporarily in the living room. When Nicole re-entered the room, she put her hands on her hips and declared, “Well, Jared, you were right. Your dad doesn’t want us living with him!” Brad couldn’t tell if she was serious and upset or if she was just teasing and playing along with Jared’s earlier comment.
She went on: “I mean, he’s moved us out completely in the space of a morning! Clearly, he wanted to get rid of us!”
Jared looked at Nicole and then Brad with a puzzled expression. Nicole shot Brad a wink. He took her cue and laughed.
“Well, I figured you kids would want the time to get settled a bit before Jared had to go out of town again. You can treat the next few days like a second honeymoon. You won’t have a tired old man underfoot.”
Jared’s expression relaxed, but Nicole’s look was unreadable.
“Well, kids, I best get home. You have a lot of work to do. See you later.”
“Dad, don’t you want to stay and help?” Jared asked with a sly grin.
“No. I wouldn’t want to intrude on all your fun. Bye!”
He gave Jared another hug and he drove off, heading for his home, his castle, telling himself he couldn’t wait for the peace and quiet that awaited him.
CHAPTER TEN
For the next two nights he slept better than he had in over a year. He heard nothing from his son or Nicole. He was happy to have the house all to himself and to know that Jared had a nice home to go to each night. With her no longer under the same roof, Brad reverted to old habits and began stopping at Kelsey’s after work and loading up on free Happy Hour food. In the mornings, he made his own coffee, buttered his own toast, got his own paper. He was his own man again.
On the third night, he dreamt of her. It was always the same dream: her yielding to him, swooning, her eyes closed, submitting. He would awaken and masturbate in a carnal frenzy, whispering his thoughts of what he wanted to do to her as if she were right there with him. His dreams were so vivid it seemed like she was there. Why can’t I have these dreams about April?
After a few more nights of tossing and turning, he tried to reach April. He left several messages with her answering service. He finally reached her one evening as he drove home from Kelsey’s, feeling confident with a belly full of beer.
“Good evening, Ms. Bennett. How are you this lovely evening?”
“Fine, Brad. You?”
Her tone was somewhat distant and it threw him off. He forged on. “Very well, now that I’m hearing your voice. I was wondering if you might like to go a baseball game with me Friday night?”
There was silence on the other end for a moment or two. Then: “Why, I can’t think of anything I’d rather do. What time are you picking me up?”
“Would five o’clock work for you?”
“That’s perfect.”
“Great!” He hesitated, and then when she said nothing more, he uttered a shaky “Goodnight.”
“Good night, Brad.”
He hung up the phone feeling thankful she had readily accepted his invitation. The more he thought about April, the more enamored he became with the idea of a relationship with her. He was grateful she had accepted his invitation. When he walked in the door he was puffed up like he had hit the Mega-million jackpot.
Then, the house phone rang.
“Hi, Dad.”
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“Hi son, what’s up?” “I tried your cell but it went straight to voice mail. Listen, Dad, Nicole is afraid to stay in the townhouse by herself, and I was wondering if she can stay with you until I return?”
Brad closed his eyes and put his hand to his forehead. Why did I answer the phone? He heard himself whisper “God damn it!”
“What’d you say, Dad?”
“Nothing, son. I have a date with April Friday night.”
“Oh that’s okay, Dad. She won’t care about that. Do your thing.” Jared paused for a moment and then added, playfully, “It’s too early in the game for you to be spending the night at April’s anyway, right?” Jared’s mirth at turning the tables and using his father’s own parenting language against him was clear.
“Well, I guess it’s okay.” Brad was mad at himself for not being able to say no.
“Thanks, Dad. You’re the best! Nikki and I will have you and April over for dinner on Sunday after I get back.”
“You bet, son. Have a safe flight.”
“Damn it!” Brad shouted as he kicked the wastebasket beside the desk across the room. Its contents flew across the living room. He paced back and forth, trying to walk off his anger and then headed for the liquor cabinet for a double shot of Jack Daniels. After he slugged it down he poured another double and nursed it.
No way was he going to let Nicole distract him from pursuing April. He had to simply be one step in front of her. He stood at the kitchen counter and sipped his whiskey, trying to think. Then, it hit him. He grabbed his cell.
“Hi, April! Long time no talk.”
She laughed. “Yes indeed. What’s up stranger?”
“Well, it’s like this. I just got off the phone with my son and he wanted me to convey the message that they love the townhouse and they want to say thank you by inviting you and me to dinner at their place Sunday night. Are you available?”
“Well, it’s really not necessary to thank me; after all, I did get paid. But I am free Sunday and it sounds wonderful.”
“We’ll not call it a thank-you dinner—just friends and family enjoying a meal together.”