Convicted

The thing? The something? I'd come home early because of a toothache. It was a Friday night. And, cliché of clichés there was a strange car in the driveway. A Chevy Impala as it happened. It was a nice car, pinstriped, front end lowered, chromed pipes; it was a kid's car. I knew who the owner was without a doubt. Well, I knew his first name: William.

I parked on the street and went inside. They were making a lot of noise. I made myself a drink—straight Canadian on the rocks. I dallied. What was I going to do? I was a tough guy. I could probably mess the guy up. But, six years for doing that very thing to another guy kinda put the boff on that.

I stirred my drink completely unnecessarily, and thought things out. If I went in and stopped it, how would she handle it from her end; I didn't give a rat's ass about how he'd handle it. And, if I did stop her what would be the bottom line after the fact.

Could I deal with losing her? Could I just accept the fact that she was a whore and would never really stop? The supreme irony, if that's what one might be inclined call it, was the fact that I wasn't really angry. I was what? Maybe amused would be the best way to describe my feelings. Hell I didn't know, but it was something like that.

I decided to just wait and let them dictate the scene. I went into the den and turned on the TV. The Yankees and Red Sox were at it. The birds were up three to two; it was the top of the sixth.

"What's that?" said Rhena.

"Huh? I don't know. The TV?" he said.

"Get off of me and get dressed," she commanded. He did as he was told. I was up and making my second drink when they came down the hallway. They had to pass me. Did I say I was amused; well, I was.

He froze. He was no more than five feet from me. A handsome kid. Tall and skinny with wild brown hair and an out of place mustache. I decided to be nice.

"How yuh doin', William?" I said. "Want a drink?"

"Huh? Wha..." he started. Rhena rounded the corner and came to me. No, that's not right; she placed herself defensively between the kid and me. She was clearly worried.

"Arthur, please..." she said.

"Relax, Rhena, I'm not going to do anything untoward. Just relax."

"Kid?" I said, holding up an empty glass?

"No, no sir," he said. "He was clearly scared to death.

"Had to come home early, honey, toothache. Danny's covering," I said.

"Arthur? What's going on? You are way to calm. Something's going on," she said.

I sighed. "Nothing. Well, I'm having a drink. You want one just say so; I'll make it for you. We'll talk later. Just relax, I'm not going to go off on you or the boy or anybody. I've learned my lesson in that regard. Okay?" I said.

"Arthur—okay—and yes we will talk if you want.

"William, I guess you better be going. I'll walk you to the door," she said.

I heard her whispering to the kid, but I couldn't make out what they were saying: making a date for another time, warning him not to push me; it had to be something like that. I'd be asking her.

"He's gone," she said coming back into the den. I was again watching the tube. The birds had scored another run. I liked the Red Sox. My favorite team if it came to that; it kinda put me in a good mood.

"I'm sorry, Arthur. I couldn't—can't—help myself. I guess you'll be wanting to divorce me now. I am so sorry. I am also grateful you didn't well, you know," she said.

"Divorce you? I'm not going to divorce you. Do you want a divorce?" I said.

"Well, no—but..."

"Look, Rhena, I finally get it. Well, I think I do. You love me right enough, but you're basically a whore. Not a socially acceptable thing to be in most circles, but not all that uncommon either.

"When I first got out, Danny told me about how he and his wife got on. You'd like her by the way, a real nice lady. Anyway, what he said made me think. I mean she's a paid escort, one that puts out when called upon to do so, but she always comes home to Danny; and, as he told me; she has never become emotionally involved with any of her—uh—clients," I said.

"Arthur, wait just a damn minute. You're not going to divorce me?" she said.

"No," I said.

"And you are not mad at me for—well—William," she said.

"Jury's still out on that one," I said. "But, insane with rage like I was with Kursk? No." She nodded.

"So—what do we do now?" she said.

"That's kind of up to you," I said.

"Me?"

"Yes, you still hot to trot?" I said. At first she looked perplexed, but then a smile started to spread across her face.

"Well, you did kind of interrupt us in the process. So, yes, I'm afraid I was kind of left hanging," she said.

"Well, since you did help me get rid of my hornies that first time after I got out; well, I guess I do feel the need to reciprocate," I said.

"Well, then do so," she said. I was smiling now as I led her to the couch.

"We'll still be doing some talking after the fact here," I said. "Never doubt it."

"I know. But fuck me first," she said. And, I did.

I took her missionary her legs splayed wide and her slit oozing her juices. The smell, the smell was almost overpowering. Woman smell, there is simply nothing like it; I was rock hard, and I was not gentle as I rammed my cock into her. She came, I came, I rolled off of her and lay panting beside her. We'd had far more imaginative sex in the time since we'd gotten back together, in the time since I had gotten back; but this more or less quickie was more satisfying, and no; I couldn't begin to say why.

We showered, made to get something to nibble on, and put on the coffee. I needed that cup of coffee; she opted for a coke. The nibbling was done on tuna sandwiches.

"You've been doing him right along haven't you?" I said.

She sighed. "Yes," she said. I nodded.

"And your promises to me?" I said.

"Made in good faith when I made them, but when I talked to him, told him we were done. The little shit cried. He is only a kid after all. Great cock, eight inches plus, and he has staying power; but, he's still just a kid, and a whiny one.

"For the record, you on the other hand are a man, a tough nasty ass man who's been around and knows the ropes. His dick is twice yours, but his assets pretty much end there."

"All of the above being true, and I do believe you, why didn't you keep your promises; I mean you said you meant to," I said.

She sighed again. "Like I said, he cried. I felt sorry for him. So, I consoled him, and told him that maybe I could figure a way for him and me to do it once in a while. It wouldn't be like before, but once in a while. You were never supposed to know. But, then, I made the fatal blunder of assuming your schedule would be normal, and we could do it here."

"Why here? You were taking a risk," I said.

"A minimal one. I decided to do it here in case you made a call home while you were working, something you've done more or less daily ever since we got back together. As for you coming home early; well, who the hell would have bet that a fucking toothache would be my undoing!" I laughed.

"Yeah, who'd have thought it," I said.

"You're laughing. Am I, can I, assume we're still good?" she said.

"For now. You gonna keep seeing the kid?" I said.

"Would it doom us if I did?" she said. There it was. If I said no would she really stop? Maybe, she'd been caught. But, then again, maybe she'd just be more careful. The real question was did I give damn? Did it bother me? Thinking about it at that moment; it really didn't bother me. What did bother me was the possibility that I could lose the best piece of ass I'd ever had, and with it the woman I did consider my soulmate, that in spite of the kid.

"Would you leave me if I said to let him cry and dump him," I said. She hesitated.

"No, you're more important to me," she said. She'd hesitated. I made the decision.

"How often are you doing it with him?" I said.

"Before you came back three and four times a week. Now once every couple of weeks?" she said. "Always here, and always on nights when you closed at the bar," she said.

"Okay, keep your super dick, but keep to the same schedule. Do not increase it, and use the guest room for crying out loud, not our bed. Jesus, that pissed me off," I said. "Our bed is where you and I make love, commit ourselves to each other. Okay!" I said.

"Really!" she said. Her look was disbelieving, but excited too.

"Yes, I guess, really.

"I saw his look tonight when he'd been caught. He's afraid of me, and well he might be. But, that said, he has nothing to fear, so long as he doesn't get arrogant or try to do you more than a couple of times a month. I can live with that much. I lived without pussy for six years. So, so long as I feel good about who you love—me—I guess I can live with a little scheduled adultery."

She got up from her seat at the table across from me, came to me and kissed me lovingly. "You won't be sorry," she said.

"Well, that's my hope," I said.

"Arthur, one more thing. I have to say, I really appreciate it that you didn't mess him up. I know you could have; and well, again, I appreciate it that you didn't," she said. I nodded. The kid had gotten a free pass, but it was a one use only. If he stuck to the rules, he'd be okay. If not—not.

"No problem," I said. "Just make sure he sticks to the rules," she nodded.

We'd been back together for almost a year. I'd be thirty-eight in a couple of months, but I felt older.

******

"You caught her fucking some snot nose kid?" said Danny, as he set my drink down in front of me. We'd been talking and I'd been sharing for the past little bit.

"Yeah, I did," I said. "Pissed me off too, I mean them doing it in our bed. But, she won't be making that mistake again. Of that I am quite certain."

"And you let the kid live, and her too if it comes to that," he said.

"Yeah, well the possibility of going back inside is something of a deterrent if you get my drift," I said.

"Yeah, I can relate," he said.

"You say you're going to let her have her little side game?" said Danny.

"Yes, for now. He's no threat to me. I saw him, talked to him briefly. He's a wimpy little kid with nothing but his youth going for him, oh, and to hear her tell it his cock. Seems it's a bit above average in size. No matter, I'd rather she be fucking him than somebody of substance. So anyway, she'll occasionally be fucking the little shit, and yeah, I'm okay with it at least for now," I said.

"I can relate. My woman and I have the same kind of set up more or less as you know. She occasionally lets a john do her, but it's never anything more than wham bam, and then she comes home to me. Those nights I get my sloppies, but they don't bother me; hell, they kinda turn me on," he said.

As we spoke a man entered and looked over the scene before noticing me, as I was about to find out. He was hobbling some, used a cane for support. Looked to be sixty, but his demeanor was younger; I knew for a fact that he was only forty years old.

"Hello, fuckwad, convict," said John Kursk. I turned and frowned.

"Kursk," I said, unnecessarily. "What do you want?" Danny moved off down the bar.

"Nothing from you. You've already done enough, thank you very much," he said, he said it sarcastically.

"You are more than welcome, adulterer," I said. "Hear you've got a new squeeze."

"Oh, I've got more than one," he said. "Just can't seem to keep the girls away, You know, some of us got it sand some of us don't."

I smiled a very sarcastic smile. "You seem to have aged some since our last little meet up," I said. "I mean quite apart from that." I was pointing to his cane.

"Yeah, well it hasn't seemed to hurt my appeal to the ladies, like I said," he said.

I snickered. I almost felt sorry for the loser. He was clearly not what he once was. That in spite of his bravado.

"Don't believe me? Ask your wife. We don't do it as often as we once did. Too many chickees out there to share my blessings with. But, occasionally, well you know, she's gotta have it every so often just to remind her of what a quality woman she is. You on the other hand, mister pencil dick, aren't quite up to getting the job done, are you?" he said.

I could feel my face and my mood darken simultaneously. I was certain for a flat fact that the asshole was telling the truth. She hadn't stopped doing it with him. She'd slowed down, but she was still doing him, probably at work. She and I would be talking, but, at a time of my choosing.

He strode off snickering to himself. He took a table along the far wall. He seemed to be waiting for someone. It was my early night: I was already off, so I wouldn't need to be sticking around watching him. I left.

I put Brad Kursk and his accusations on the back burner. I had bigger fish to fry for the moment, and life at home was good enough for me to not get too overly messed up in the head over yet another disappointment by my woman. The fact was that I wasn't even really mad, not really. Frustrated maybe. I began to realize that I had a first water slut for a wife and nothing was going to change that little reality. I'd either learn to live with it, or burn a bridge and get the hell outta there. I'd figure out what it was that I was going to do later when it suited me.

******

It was a month later. Marissa didn't call me; she just showed up at the Blue collar. She showed up with a very large man.

"Jesus, HQ-ree-eyest!" I said. "Sean, you're out!" I didn't quite squeal.

"Yes, and that's something else I owe you for," he said. Your idea to have my ladies come and talk for me did the trick. Them, and good behavior for seventeen years made the case. They let me go, no parole either. Like I said, I owe you."

"Yeah, well, you can buy me a drink," I said.

"You got it," he said.

I signaled Maisy. She brought her pad. "Bring a couple of pitchers, Maisy. This is an occasion.

"Yes, it is, mister Reardon, Yes it is," said Marissa. "Veronica wanted to be here, but she has major exams tomorrow and couldn't make it. She will though. This whole family owes you, not just Sean."

"Yeah, well, someday maybe Sean will tell you what he did for me when we were inside. Trust me, I owe him just as much and more," I said. "But, I sure am glad to see you. Man, am I!"

"Yeah, good to see you too," said Sean. "Got out just today. Spent the day with my missus," he gestured toward, Marissa, "and then, well, now we're here."

"Man oh man. Talk about pleasant surprises. So, got any immediate plans? I mean what do you plan on doing now you're out?" I said.

"Well, get a job, and get used to better food, well, you know; you been through it," he said.

"Yeah, I have. We'll talk, but not tonight. Tonight we drink a little beer, eat a few dogs or burgers, and shoot pool.

"But, hang loose for a minute, I gotta go talk to the boss for a second. He's in the back doing boss stuff," I said. I rose and didn't quite run for the office in the back.

"Danny, my bud's out of the slam and he's here," I said. "You still want a bouncer and sometime tender?"

"Really, the guy you told me about? That Sean guy?" he said.

"Yes," I said. I know I sounded excited, and I was.

"You sayin' he might want to work here?" he said.

"Not sure, but he is looking for a job. And, he can definitely do the job—well—the bouncer part. He can learn the rest," I said.

"He on parole?" said Danny. I knew what he meant. If he was on parole he likely wouldn't be allowed to work in a bar during business hours.

"No, he's clear," I said. "He's here with his wife too if you want to meet the family."

"Okay, give me a minute, and I'll be out," I said.

I headed back, and resumed my confab with the Rileys.

Danny showed no more than a minute after me.

"So this is the man," said Danny, coming up to us.

"He is indeed," I said. "Sean Riley, Marissa Riley this is Danny Williams the owner of this fine establishment."

"Glad to meet you mister Williams," said Sean. Marissa nodded her agreement.

"Likewise," said Danny. "Arthur's told me a lot about you. Said you might be looking for a job. We need a bouncer and a sometime barkeep. Sound like something you might be into?"

Sean's eyes opened a little wider expressing his surprise. "Well, actually, it would," said Sean.

"Well good," said Danny. "You can start tomorrow. Turns out I'm a little shorthanded. I was going to ask Arthur here to do a double, but if you're willing we can hit the ground running."

"Mister Williams, you definitely have a deal, and I can't thank you enough. Not out of the joint for a whole day and already got a job. Oh yeah, the Lord is looking after me for sure," said Sean.

There were handshakes all around. Danny took the new employee into the back to show him the stuff he'd need to know and to get the employment app filled out. That left me with Marissa. Maisy was taking care of the few customers other than ourselves for the moment; I'd be owing her for covering for me, and that was cool.

"So, just something else, Sean owes you for," said Marissa.

"Marissa, Sean owes me nothing. He and I, well, we're friends. We met, it's true, under shity circumstances, but we are friends. The day will come, sure as shootin', that I'll need his help and he'll be there. And, maybe down the line I'll be able to back his play again too. It's all cool, but it's not a matter of owing anybody anything. It's just friendship. Okay?" I said. She nodded and smiled broadly.

"Maybe Sean was right," she said.

"About?" I said.

"He said that the day you were sent up was actually a good thing: the Lord's work is actually what he said. It brought you two together," she said.

"Yeah maybe," I said.

******

The city park was only four blocks from the bar. The day was sunny, and the barbecue was hot. Sean and Marissa and their daughter Veronica were there to meet Rhena and Danny's wife Pamela.

The food was good the beer was good and the conversation and all was also good.

Danny and Sean were inordinately proud of their women as was I was of my Rhena—personality quirks notwithstanding. Danny and Pam and Rhena and I had shared a few dinners hitherto, but this was our first outing per se. Sean and Marissa and their baby would now be members of our little group.

I was tending the barbecue pit for the moment when Pamela Williams came up to me.

"Can I borrow you for a minute, Arthur?" she said. Rhena was in conversation at that moment with Veronica and Marissa. Danny and Sean were talking animatedly about a fishing trip they were putting together.

I motioned Sean and Danny to take over for a moment. Pamela and I walked over to a tree offering shade from the early afternoon sun.

I looked the woman askance. "Danny tells me that your Rhena has a sometime boy toy," said Pamela. I sighed.

"Yeah, that's so,. But we have an understanding," I said. "I guess it's something like the one you and Danny have."

"Hmm, yes, maybe," she said. "I don't know Rhena that well, so I'm no expert, but if you want a little advice. Don't worry about her. She's yours. That said, for a few more years she is going to be looking for the occasional bit of strange. It's who she is. I've been at this racket too long not to know the signs. Just go with the flow, Arthur. You'll be the one coming out winner in the end. Anyway, that's my unsolicited two cents."

"Pamela, thank you. It is good to hear your thoughts on the matter. I will most definitely keep them in mind. Again, thank you," I said.

The get acquainted part of the barbecue went off well. We'd all be sharing yards and parks again, about that there was no doubt. And, Pamela's thoughts would indeed be fodder for my thinking for darn sure.

******

"Okay, baby, at the wheelhouse," said Sean Riley. He was smiling broadly as he hung up.

"So you and Veronica are finally getting together for a night out," said Marissa Riley. "The wheelhouse is near the college, right?"