Who Can Say?

"Oh god yes, Carl. Just like that."

I sucked in her tits, as much as I could, and started suckling. I used my tongue to stimulate her nipples. When she seemed to grow restive I switched, and dropped my hands to her waist. She had on a pair of full slacks. They dropped as easily as her top had come off. Dear Beth was standing in front of me in only her panties. I gave a quick feel to her ass and pulled her panties off. Now she was naked. Beth had not been a mere victim of my sexual aggression. She'd divested me of my shirt, and then my pants. She was drawing my underwear down as I was drawing down her panties. My erection flopped out of my underwear and almost hit her in the face.

"I guess I did that, Carl, didn't I?"

"Yes, you did. There's only one way to fix it."

"Oh good."

I led Beth over to the couch and raised myself over her. A quick check showed she was wet and waiting, fully aroused. I slammed into her, bottoming out on the first pass.

"O god Carl, I've missed this. You are the sexiest guy. Fuck me, Carl. Fuck me long and hard."

One or the other I could manage, I told her, but not both. We slammed into each other and we both came, a quick but satisfying encounter for each of us.

Beth and I sat around naked with each other, just chatting. She did tell me that she thought, with all her husband hunting, she was trying to find someone as nice as I was. I'd met most of those jerks, and I didn't think so. Whatever she was looking for, it wasn't me.

I got something out of the freezer and we ate. Next step was the bed in my bedroom (formerly our bedroom), and we fucked again. Beth stayed the night, as she usually had in the old days, and we had another bout in the morning. It had been nice to have a warm body in the bed again.

"Carl, I could get used to this, waking up with you wearing an erection."

"I don't think so, Beth. It's too soon to even think about it. Even if it wasn't, you like to wander and I'm a stay-at-home kind of guy. We're not compatible that way, no matter how good we are in bed."

"Maybe you're right. Maybe you are. Do you mind if I drop by for some of that mind blowing sex, at least until you get attached again? Hopefully, it will be to someone I can corrupt."

"Be a fool to say no, Beth. You're not the type to be my woman, but you are certainly a fine woman."

I think this was about the time Min gave birth to Flora, but I'm not positive.

Joanna and I got together and sorted out who was going to get what. There were a few debts. I could buy her out of the house if I wanted to, but I didn't see the point in a mortgage all over again, so we agreed to sell the house. I'd stay in it and pay the costs until it sold. We'd get a divorce, irreconcilable differences or something. In our state we only had to wait six months. Neither of us had any great reason for the divorce, but I wanted the closure. She was happy enough if I was going to pay for it. Joanna didn't ask for spousal support.

I had my lawyer turn our agreement into legalese and she signed it without a qualm, even though her lawyer wasn't sure about the support clause. She told him she wasn't going to ask a man she didn't want any more to keep paying for her.

Once all the formalities were over and I had the final divorce decree - it came just about the time the house sold - Joanna dropped over one evening for a farewell fuck.

As usual it was hot sex.

"God, Carl, you drive me crazy, but there's no better sex out there."

Those were her parting words, sort of a mixed blessing, and I haven't spoken to her since. She's probably all right, since she knows I'll help if she needs it.

I'd sent the kids an e-mail to tell them Joanna and I had split. Min sent a response to tell me I was welcome at their place any time at all, for as long as I liked, and the kids would love to see me. Jason said he was sorry to hear that we'd split up, but I was welcome etc., and if he could do anything for me to let him know. He offered to come back if I needed any moral support, but Min couldn't leave the kids and her job. He told me I should have seen how much her employer pouted when she took the time off to have their children, and the size of the bouquets they sent.

It sounded like it might be a good idea to take some accumulated vacation and go see the kids. They seemed to be getting along great, and even though I'd had lots of pictures, I had never met the grandchildren in person. Carl was getting old enough to call me on the internet, but it wasn't the same.

I told Min my plans and said I'd get a hotel room for a couple of days (I couldn't really afford any more at that time) so I didn't impose. I figured the kids had probably managed a two-bedroom bungalow somewhere, and even sleeping on the couch would make things really crowded for them now they had two children.

Min must have snorted when she got that e-mail, because all she sent back was a picture of their house, bigger than mine, and the notation that my room was the two left-hand windows. It was a big four-bedroom, and looked pretty classy. They were getting on better than great, it seemed.

Jason picked me up from the airport.

"Gee, Dad, it's great to see you again, and that you have some time to stay with us. The kids will really love a chance to see their granddad in person. You'll love them, I know you will. Carl looks just like your baby pictures. Min got hold of them somehow. Flora is a little like Mom and a little like you, with a good dose of each of us."

A tad effusive, but isn't that what fatherhood is about?

"I gather you're doing really well, Jason."

"Yeah, I've got a great job and it pays well. Min, though, that's where the money is. Do you know her employers almost worship the ground she walks on? She's saved them so much the last couple of years. Her salary isn't all that much, but check her bonuses!"

It was sweet to see how proud of his sister Jason was. His wife, I suppose I'd better learn to call her. It said good things about how right I'd been back when, the time I'd concluded the two of them were so crazy in love nothing was going to keep them apart. It didn't look like anything could.

"Jason, you know I'm happy for you, and proud of the successes you've both achieved, as well as the grandchildren. That's extra special for an old fart like me."

"Dad, you're not old and you're not a fart."

"Thank you, Jason. It was just a figure of speech."

"Better not let Min hear you talk like that. She'll disown you. Her father is ten feet high and glows."

"Nice to know. Maybe I'll get a chance to meet him."

"Oh, you."

We drove into a driveway for a three-car garage. Jason explained that the third bay gave them somewhere to put the lawnmower and stuff. Min had an SUV from work. Apparently she needed it from time to time. The company had figured out that satisfying anything she even might want was the easiest way to keep her. She didn't have much regard for money as such.

As we approached the front door Min just hurtled out and into my arms.

"Daddy," she screamed.

I hugged her tight. She was still my skinny baby doll, my little girl, mother of two though she was.

"Daddy, this is Carl." She presented a three-year-old, standing soberly at the door, not too sure what had Mommy all excited. He may have been looking for the computer or the tablet or the phone, whatever he'd used the last time we talked.

"And this is Flora." Flora was just on a year old, and none too steady on her feet. She held the jamb tightly.

I don't know about ten feet tall, but I did glow, I'm sure. I got down to greet my grandchildren properly. It would be time for hugs when they knew me better.

Min gave me time with them, then herded them (and me) into the house. Jason took my case upstairs. I stayed with my grandkids. I was smitten. I don't know about them, but they wouldn't leave me a half hour later when Min told us supper was ready.

"I hope you like it, Daddy. It's my turn to cook tonight. Jase is a better cook. You can find out tomorrow."

The kids seemed to like it. I don't know. I was so wrapped up in my grandchildren I didn't taste any of it.

After supper a bouncy and incredibly sexy lady flounced into the house. The more I looked the more beautiful she appeared. She had a very cheery, very happy, very caring demeanour. Chloe was the closest I'd ever known to someone like that. Chloe dimmed beside her.

"Oh, Annie," Min introduced me. "This is my dad, Carl, the first time he's had a chance to meet the kids. There's a bad case of mutually smitten going around. You might want to watch yourself.

"Dad, this is Annie. She's got a couple of girls, eight and six, and lives next door. Her husband, unfortunately, died a few years ago, leaving her alone in the world." Min made the last part of the sentence a typical melodrama. "She's good people, Dad, a real sweetheart."

"Dad's divorced," she told Annie in an intense stage whisper.

"Min, you're incorrigible," she laughed. "You know I've been able to fight off most of the men in this state for the last five years. Don't get your hopes up, dear. What's so special about this one that you think I'm in danger?"

"He's my Dad," Min said simply.

Annie worked, although I gathered that between the insurance and the settlement she probably didn't have to. Both girls were in school.

I can't say that I paid very much attention to Annie that first night, pretty and sweet as she was. I was all wrapped up in my grandchildren, the handsomest, smartest kids there were. Then when they'd gone to bed - I helped give them their baths - Jason and Min and I got caught up on all the things you don't tell anyone in an email, or on the phone. Annie left us long before, not wanting to intrude. She had invited me over after school the next day to meet her girls.

Min wasn't working the next day. She had some kind of flexible hours thing, and a lot of banked overtime. Min and I and the kids spent the day together, doing parenting things, the things I'd do with Min and Jase when they were that age. Min taught me how she took care of the kids, what their routine was, what they ate and anything else I might need to know if I were alone with them. I agreed to look after them anytime I was there. I was their only grandfather, of course, so I had to love them up special, didn't I? Min and I got caught up on a lot of love, too.

I suppose it was a good thing Joanna and I had parted company, because I was building up a head of steam full of resentment for what she'd deprived me of, when she sent the kids away. She wasn't there, though, and never would be, so just enjoying my daughter's company, and her children, defused my feelings so I could absorb the joy of it at last.

Later that afternoon, Min reminded me that Annie had invited me over to meet her girls. I got cleaned up - playing with kids ought to get you dirty - and dressed in decent casuals.

"Dad, Annie's sweet, but go slow, go real slow."

"What do you mean, dear? I'm not getting hooked up with another woman at my age. Been there, done that, don't want it any more."

"Right," she laughed.

"Be back in half an hour."

Annie's girls were sweethearts. Rebecca, the oldest, was eight, a lovely little blonde with bright eyes and an inquiring disposition. Leanne, the youngest, was six, a very active small person. We had a great discussion, the three of us, then they took me upstairs to see their room. We started playing with different toys, their dolls, their little railway. I helped them set it up, and then we took it down to put away.

"Oh, Carl, we so want to play with the train again," Rebecca begged.

"It's all right, I'll come over again tomorrow."

"Oh goody," Leanne squealed.

I'm not at all sure how they managed to con that promise out of me. Little girls can do that to a guy, I guess. Big girls, too.

Annie invited me to stay for supper. I hadn't thought it was nearly that late.

"Please, Carl," the girls appealed.

"It's all right with Min," Annie informed me. "I knew I had to check with the boss lady before I invited you."

Dinner was really good. I suppose Annie had had the time to put something like that together since I'd been playing with the girls.

The week went on like that. Mornings and early afternoons with Min and the grandkids - wonderful kids, they were. After school and early evening with Annie's kids. I hadn't had so much fun in a very long time. Then my week was up and it was time to go back.

"We'll play with the dolls again tomorrow, Carl," Rebecca determined. "There's a dollhouse upstairs we should clean up."

"Sorry, sweetie, my time's up and I have to go back to work."

"Oh, we'll miss you," both girls cried.

"I'll be back before too long."

Another promise wrung out of me by their obvious distress. I did mean it. I don't make promises I don't intend to keep, especially to little girls. I was preoccupied with figuring out how I could arrange another visit so quickly. Annie stepped up to me as I left.

"They'll miss you, Carl."

"I'll miss them, too."

Annie gave me a quick little peck on the cheek. It was quite nice, and totally unexpected. I'd been thinking of the girls, not her, I guess.

"They'll miss you."

"I'll miss them, too. I promised them I'd be back. I'll see what I can do."

Back at Min's, she asked me straight out:

"So, how'd it go with Annie?"

"Okay, I guess. I didn't spend much time with her. The girls and I spent all our time together. They're sweet kids. I promised I'd be back. Well, of course I will. I want to see more of Carl and Flora, too.

"Min, I hope you don't think I've neglected you on this trip?"

"Never, Dad. I'm so pleased to see you happy.

"Dad, you're welcome here anytime, you know. Anytime at all, with or without warning. The kids have been so happy to meet and spend time with their granddad. You know," she wheedled a little, "you could always move out here. You work for a national company, now you've given up teaching. They have facilities around here."

I hadn't thought of that, though I should have. My excuse was that I'd been spending all my time with two sets of pretty good kids and hadn't thought too much about anything else at all.

Jase drove me out to the airport the next morning. I'd found myself promising Carl and Flora that I'd be back, soon. Min looked radiant as I waved goodbye.

"Dad," Jase told me, "we really do want you near, just as Min said. She's pretty good at getting things done if you run into a problem getting a transfer. You'd be surprised how many people in the corporate world owe her favours."

"I'll think about it, Jase. Right now I'm just basking in the happiness of reconnecting with my family."

Once back home, I discovered that it wasn't really home. I didn't have many friends. Who really does in this age? All of the friends I wanted to keep came with spouses. Like most of us, our friendships had been as couples, or at least the ones I'd miss, and I couldn't really impose my single self on them. I actually didn't have any ties.

I talked to personnel about a transfer, but I didn't get a very good response. Then I raised it with one of the vice-presidents I'd met in passing somewhere. He promised to look into it for me. Nothing happened.

I managed to get time off without pay for another week at Min's, and Annie's, a couple of months after the first time. Things had been slow enough that they could let me go. Still no word on my transfer request.

The time went much as our first week had. I spent a lot of time with Min and the little ones, and a lot with Annie and her girls, and sometimes with everyone together. Jase and I had a few good times, too, a couple of nights out by ourselves for a couple of beers. You don't go out to get drunk with your son, but a couple was fine for getting to know him all over again.

Annie and I had graduated to where we didn't have to talk to be happy together. Min smirked a bit, but no one out and out called me on it. Annie and I were becoming close friends, and her girls adored me. Fair enough. I adored them.

On my next visit out to Min's, this time for a couple of weeks, based on vacation and my overtime bank, I mentioned that there didn't seem to be any way to get the company to move on my request for a transfer. Min said she'd deal with it. Min's like me, she doesn't make idle promises, so that surprised me. I couldn't see how a young woman was going to have any impact on the power structures in a multi-national.

It was a lot like the time before, except Annie had taken the two weeks off to be around when I was there. Min was called back to work. I guess there was some problem that only she could solve or something. I never did figure out her work schedule. Jase told me she was a trouble shooter, and a damned good one. Anyway, I volunteered to look after the kids. I'd been a father, and Min had given me the specific training, so I didn't have any qualms and Min didn't either.

The phone rang about ten. It was Annie, from next door. I'd spent a lot of time at her house the last time I was at Min's, mostly playing with her two kids, and the time before, too. The three of us had had some good times. I hadn't paid a lot of attention to Annie, though she was certainly worth paying attention to. She was very good looking and a loving mother. Min thought she was sweet, and whatever I'd seen of her supported that view.

"Hi Carl," Annie said when I answered. "It's Annie next door. I've just made up a pot of coffee and wondered if you'd like a cup."

"Sure, that would be great, but I've got Carl and Flora this morning."

"Bring them with you. It's not like they've never been here before!"

"Be right over."

I guess Min and Jase had become good friends with Annie. Min told me Annie's girls were over to her place a lot and loved helping. They liked the young family on the other side, too, but that family was more self-contained. Jase did the odd little chore for Annie since she didn't have a man around, and she'd long since given up any embarrassment over asking. Annie was a pretty competent person anyway, and there wasn't too much she couldn't do. Sometimes she just needed a second set of hands.

I took the kids over and sure enough they knew where they were. Annie greeted both of them and produced a small cookie for each of them. They were homemade. She turned to me and gave me the same kiss she'd given them. I was surprised.

"Good to see you again, Carl," she told me. "The girls were ecstatic when I told them you'd be here today. I had a tough time getting them off to school."

"I look forward to seeing Rebecca and Leanne again, Annie. They're good kids."

Annie and I sat at her kitchen table while my grandchildren settled in to play in the corner that was, quite obviously, reserved for them.

We chatted about this and that, and then started somehow sharing a few of our life experiences. She had been deeply in love with her husband, Dan, and still missed him, as much for the girls' sake as for hers. He'd been killed in a traffic accident. Annie stayed home for a couple of years, just missing him. She'd dated a bit after that, when some of her friends had prodded her into going out. They thought she needed a man in her life. Annie wasn't sure, and whoever it might be, it hadn't been any of the men she'd met so far.

"I guess I'm not looking, or at least not looking too hard. Life got ever so much better when Min and Jase bought the place next door. Jase is a really kind and loving man, and if I ever do get together with another man, it will have to be someone at least that good. It's hard, too, with children. Not too many men want a ready-made family that's not theirs. Then, the man would have to be good with children, and be a good father, the way Jase is. Or you, I guess, Carl. I'm not used to having a man in my home who pays more attention to my children than to me."