Chapter 3

Had Eddie known about the tête-à-tête which occurred after his tryst with Gloria, he wouldn’t have been blind-sided when Holly came up to him three days later and simply said:

“Mom wants you to come over this afternoon and fuck her. I’m staying late for play practice.”

Eddie flamed in embarrassment and Holly smirked. While he was trying to pick up his jaw from the floor, Holly added:

“Mom and I have no secrets from each other. Don’t fret. She’s got it bad for you, so you’d better be nice. I could always talk to the football team and have them gang up on you.” she warned.

Eddie was taken aback, but recovered by saying:

“Thanks, Holly. By the way, if Greg needs any pointers on how to properly fuck you, have him ask me.” he retorted.

Holly turned crimson, and was about stalk off, but cooled down and said:

“I’m sorry, Eddie. I shouldn’t have been such a bitch. You’ve been so nice to Greg and me, and I owe you. You and mom have fun.”

So, Eddie visited with Gloria, and they took pleasure from each other that afternoon, and many others. Gloria did not monopolize his time, and after they had been lovers for nearly a year, her needs diminished to once or twice a month. She was astute enough to realize Eddie was seeing others, be it other adults, or a new group of teens. They never discussed his other conjugal liaisons, each concentrating on their own private relationship. It worked well with them. Due to Gloria’s satisfying sex life, her upbeat demeanor was noticed at her work, and it enhanced her supervisor’s opinion of her, resulting in earning her a promotion and raise in salary, which Gloria felt was long overdue. Of course, this success caused her to try and give more of herself to her daughter and her lover, and it became an upward spiral, much to Gloria’s credit.

Although Eddie and Gloria didn’t discuss sex with others, Gloria did mention, in passing, that Holly and Greg had consummated their relationship and Holly reluctantly revealed Greg was not in the same class as Eddie, but she was still adamant that sex wasn’t everything and Gregs’ other qualities balanced things out in her mind and heart. As things turned out, Greg and Holly stayed together the remainder of high school and entered the same college, where they were both active in all college productions. During a production of a Shakespearian play in their junior year, Holly had an affair with an understudy to Greg’s role. He ended up fucking her socks off and Greg became history. She married her new lover and finally admitted to her mother that sex may not be everything, but it accounted for a lot in the beginning of a relationship.

Eddie remained Gloria’s sole lover through the remainder of his high school years and as graduation neared, she requested a couple extra sessions, telling him she wanted to store up for what she expected to be a long, dry spell. By this time, his mother had remarried, and he and his mother moved in with his new stepdad, which quickly saw conflict between the two men. Eddie’s new habitation was more than double the distance between him and Gloria, but for Eddie, it was worth the trip. When he announced to all that he was joining the Navy, rather than stay around his stepdad, Gloria felt justified in her seeking Eddie’s extra visits. As she watched Eddie Nolan cross the rostrum to receive his diploma, Gloria Busch was two months pregnant with Eddie’s child. She never told him.

Eddie entered Navy boot camp and went on to electronics school, choosing not to return home between the two assignments. After school, he reported to his first ship, which was readying for deployment to the Mediterranean. Consequently, it was more than two years before Eddie could go home for a visit to his family. It wasn’t just for visiting. His mother was in quickly declining health and he was there with her as she drew her last breath. In some private moments they had before her passing, she shared her thoughts about their sexual relationship. She thanked him for being her lover, at a time she had been going without, and said she regretted nothing about their intimate times together.

While Eddie was home to see his mother, and after her subsequent funeral, he felt a need to visit some of his old friends. Knocking on Gloria Busch’s front door, he was apprehensive. They had exchanged a few letters while he was in boot camp, but then the letters ceased. The door was opened by a man Eddie didn’t know.

“May I help you?” the man asked.

“Uh, I was looking for Mrs. Busch.” Eddie replied.

“Well, it’s Mrs. Franklin, now. I’m her husband. And you are?”

“I’m Eddie Nolan. I used to date her daughter Holly, and I got to know Mrs. Busch, er, I mean, your wife. I’ve been away in the military, and I thought I would stop by and find out what has been happening with her and Holly. I’m sorry if I’m intruding.” Eddie informed.

“Not at all, Mr. Nolan. My wife is cooking supper, but I’m sure she’ll be glad to see you. Please come in. What branch of the military are you in?” he invited.

“The Navy, sir. I’ve been in about two years, now. I just completed a Mediterranean Cruise.” Eddie admitted.

“My, a pleasure cruise at the taxpayer’s expense.” he snorted.

“It’s actually called a deployment, and we sail around the Mediterranean, ready to respond to any threats to the peace of our ally countries, and their neighbors.” Petty Officer Second Class Nolan boasted.

“Complete with a recruiting commercial. How nice.” he smiled, snarkily.

Ushering Eddie into a living room he already knew, Eddie was thinking how he didn’t like this guy, when he was suddenly attacked by a young boy who came running from the kitchen and crashed into the visitor. Looking up at Eddie, the boy suddenly became shy and ran to his father, hiding behind him.

“Let me go tell my wife she has a visitor. Come on, young man, I think I can get you into your highchair and start feeding you. I’m sure she’ll be right out.” Mr. Franklin muttered.

Looking around Eddie’s head was spinning. It didn’t seem possible that Gloria was married now and had a child already. She must have married just after he left for the Navy. Thinking about it gave him a pang of jealousy, and a little anger. His ire was building, until he heard a crash in the kitchen. It arrested his train of thought for a few seconds. He sensed, then saw someone coming from the kitchen. It was Gloria, and she had a stricken look on her face.

“Eddie? Oh, Eddie. I didn’t think I’d ever see you again!” she sobbed.

“Hello, Gloria. You still look fabulous, but I only wish I were seeing you under different circumstances. I shouldn’t keep you. I’m interrupting your supper time. I wish you the very best of luck, Gloria. Goodbye.” Eddie said, heading for the door.

“Eddie! Wait! Oh, let me explain.” she pleaded, trying to block his exit.

“You don’t need to explain anything. I left you, and barely wrote to you. You had every right to move on. I hope he’s a good man. You deserve the best.” he lamented.

Grabbing his arm, Gloria turned him to face her. There was extreme anguish on her face, and she was still sobbing, tears running down her cheeks, unchecked.

“Eddie, I can’t say much now, but could you come back tomorrow, about one in the afternoon? Aaron will be at work, and Edward will be down for a nap.” she gasped and jerked to look into Eddie’s eyes.

“You named your son Edward? I’m honored, if it was for me, but it’s probably for someone in the Franklin family.” he snorted.

“Eddie, please! I’ll explain everything tomorrow if you can come over.” she moaned.

“Alright, Gloria. I owe you that, and more. For what it’s worth, I’ve thought about you very often. I’ll see you tomorrow, but I don’t want to cause you any problems, so if something comes up, let me give you my cellphone number, okay?” he assured her.

Nodding, she took a proffered slip of paper Eddie had quickly scribbled his number on. Tenderly caressing his arm, she ushered him out the door.

Returning to the kitchen, her husband paused in his feeding of young Edward:

“Well, that didn’t take long. What did he want?” Aaron Franklin asked.

“He just wanted to say ‘hi’ to me, and asked how he could get in contact with Holly. They were quite a couple in high school.” she informed her husband.

“Will we be seeing him again?” he asked guardedly.

“Probably not. He came home on leave for his mother’s funeral, and he was just beating the bushes for old friends. I have no idea when he’ll be going back to his ship.” she revealed.

Gloria’s husband said no more about it, and to outward appearances, the evening returned to normal.

One o’clock the following afternoon found Eddie at Gloria’s door once more. He knocked quietly, remembering her son would be napping. Opening the door, Gloria grabbed his hand and pulled him inside. Closing the door, she threw herself into Eddie’s arms and sought his lips. Startled, Eddie was still willing to accept such a greeting. Crushing her to him, he devoured her lips, memories of previous ardent kissing with this woman flooding his mind. After a minute or two, she broke the lip lock and looking wild-eyed at Eddie began babbling.

“Fuck, Eddie, I’ve missed you soooo much!”

“Gloria, you’re a married woman, now. I can’t be doing this to you. I know I’ve had lots of experience with women, but never married ones. Just tell me what you wanted to tell me, and I’ll get out of here, before your husband catches us.” he snapped.

“Oh, Eddie, I have so much to tell you. So much to explain. First, Aaron and I have only been married for six months. I met him at a social function, which I rarely attend. I was struggling to keep up with my son and work full time. He became an ardent suitor, and seemed like a nice guy. He offered to support me and Edward, so I felt compelled to take advantage of the offer. He’s been good to me and thinks a lot of Edward.” she murmured.

“So, if he’s not the father, who is, Gloria?” Eddie probed.

Pausing to gather courage, Gloria took a breath, then:

“Edward is your son, Eddie! I was two months pregnant when you left me and joined the Navy.

“Gloria? Fuck, Gloria! Why didn’t you tell me? If I’d known, I wouldn’t have joined. I could have stayed and been here for you. I feel like such an asshole! Oh, Gloria, Gloria” he cried.

“No, Eddie, I did this on purpose. I knew we could never be together because of our age difference, but I wanted a part of you, so I made sure you impregnated me before you left. I ‘wanted’ your baby, my love. I will never regret having him. He’s nearly two years old, now. He’s bright, and happy, and I’d die for him. You couldn’t be with me, but you gave me so much in him. I told Aaron he was Holly’s son, and that I had taken custody of him so she could live her life, and not be tied down with a child like I had been. She went along with the subterfuge, and showers him with attention whenever she comes to visit. Edward will know her as his big sister, which she really is, rather than his biological mother Aaron thinks she is.” she exclaimed.

Eddie had put his head on Gloria’s breast, as she tried to console his wracking sobs by stroking his head and making cooing sounds. After a few minutes of silence, except for the murmurs of Gloria, Eddie lifted his head and spoke:

“Oh, Gloria, I feel like a thief. I’ve robbed you of a supportive companion, and any financial assistance I could have given you. I want to start sending you money to help you raise ‘our’ son, and hopefully get to see both of you, if I come home again. Is there anyway I can get letters to you without your husband finding them?” he proposed.

“You could send them to Holly, and she can bring them when she visits about once a month. It’s no problem for me to send letters to you, and I can enclose pictures of Edward.” she agreed.

“Because you named our son Edward, do you think your husband will make the connection and think I fathered a baby with Holly?”

“He may, but I won’t bring it up unless he does, then I’ll just admit it’s true, but that it’s Holly’s business.” she commented.

“Yeah, and I’ll suddenly be the ‘deadbeat dad’. Last night, I didn’t like his attitude, so I can tell you now, if he ever calls me on it, I’ll probably punch him out!” he boasted.

“Eddie don’t talk like that.” she croaked.

While they’d been talking, after raising his head from her breast, they’ remained in a loose embrace. She hugged him fiercely to her and then pushing back, looked him in the eyes and said:

“Eddie, would you do something for me?” she ventured.

“Gloria, I’d do anything in my power for you. All you need to do is ask.” he answered blithely.

“I want you to make love to me, one last time.” she revealed.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea? What if, uh, Aaron catches us?” he cautioned.

“He works different shifts during the week. Today, he didn’t go in until ten, and won’t be home until around eight-thirty. Oh, please, I’ve dreamed about us in bed again for the last two years. Today is my day to change the sheets, so I’ll do it after we finish. Please, my only true love.” she murmured.

“Am I your only true love, honey?” Eddie inquired.

“You know I’ve loved you since you were sixteen, Eddie Nolan. I mentioned it to you a couple times, but I was afraid to shout it to the world, given our disparate ages. I’m sure it has a lot to do with how well you love me, but you have many other desirable qualities.” she admitted.

“Mrs. Gloria ... whatever, I am honored to take you to bed and make soft, tender love to you.” he whispered to her.

“And, along the way, lover, will you please FUCK MY BRAINS OUT!” she lastly shouted.

“Oh, my, how can I refuse such a demand?

In the intervening years since Eddie had impregnated Gloria, he had not been celibate. There were no chances during boot camp, and during his electronics schooling, there had been scant opportunities to develop many relationships, though there had been a few chances for one-night stands. Eddie, however, was selective just like he had been in junior and senior high. Sailors are reputed to fuck anything that walks, or lays still, for that matter! Eddie Nolan was not your average sailor. As has been stated before, Eddie was not a ‘pussy hound’ per se! Yes, he had a very active libido, and from age fourteen, until the present time, his hormones had controlled him. But with maturity comes discernment.