Chapter 18

That night in bed, I was holding Kate in my arms her back against my chest. I leaned over and kissed her neck trying to sort out the thoughts running through my head. I was about to throw out a phrase that most couples feared the most.

“Can we talk for a few minutes?” I asked.

“Um ... sure.” Kate replied.

“I’m trying to figure out some things and if you feel uncomfortable answering just tell me. The first thing, I can’t figure out is why would a man married to you go looking for another woman. You’re beautiful, intelligent, have a great job and a tornado in the bedroom. Make no sense to me.” I asked.

“There’s a lot of things you don’t know but I guess it’s time you did. First, Brandon and I only had sex twice before she got married. Both times were hurried and turned out horribly. Brandon got off both times almost immediately once before he even was in me. The second time he lasted maybe three or four strokes then shot off. I figured it was just because of us trying to hide it from our parents and being in a car both times. I figured once we got into bed things would be a lot better. I was wrong.” Kate started.

“Brandon has a premature ejaculation problem and I tried a lot of things to try and help him. I would beg him to make me cum a few times then I would take care of him. He wouldn’t go down on me, he said it was disgusting. So his foreplay was fingering me for a few minutes then he was ready. If I needed to cum back then, I would take care of it myself.” she continued.

“I purposely masturbated a few times when I knew he would walk in on me hoping he would join me. I tried twice and he seemed disgusted with me both times. He called me a freak once. After that I basically gave up and maybe once every few months, I would meet Jackie and fuck her brains out.” she finished.

“Wow, I had no idea.” I replied.

“I know you didn’t.” Kate replied, rubbing my arm.

“So basically after that, I watched a lot of porn and masturbated all the time. Sometimes, I did feel like a freak. The only time I felt comfortable was with Jackie.” she sighed.

“You’re not a freak, Kate ... you’re amazing in bed.” I replied.

“Thanks Tim, that means a lot to me.” she answered.

“What I can’t figure though is why does he want to get back with you?” I asked.

“Because any woman interested in even a little sex won’t enjoy being with him. They won’t stay for long that’s for sure.” she responded.

For the next two months or so everything went very well for Kate and I. She became an asset to the financial floor and we were even able to keep our relationship a secret thus far. My relationship with her family was great except for her mother, which did not surprise me. But most importantly Kate was still going to the gym and working out with me every night. It took me years to get to where I wanted to get physique wise. But Kate on the other hand seemed to grow by the day. Kate’s thighs were awesome and had grown four inches in size. She was consuming over two thousand calories a day and at least two protein drinks a day. Looking at Kate in the shower, it was amazing how much she had transformed her body.

Brandon let the apartment go and sold everything else and was living back with his parents still whining trying to get Kate to take him back. He knew Kate had moved in with me and everyone knew we were sleeping together although we did not advertise it.

Christmas was approaching once again and this would be the first time I would not be alone in several years. I had grown quite fond of Kate and truthfully, I was probably in love with her. That word had never been used between us because I knew I was afraid to say it. How could I possibly love anyone like I did Michelle? Was it even possible?

Kate and I had already went out and bought a huge tree and decorated it. It was in the living area and Kate had already started buying presents and wrapping them. Kate placed them around the tree with name tags on them.

Kate and I sat down one night and tried to make a gift list for her parents and grandparents. This was really the first year Kate was in position to give some nice gifts. Kate’s mom had mentioned on more than one occasion how much she loved Kate’s watch. So, Kate bought her a similar rose gold Michael Kors watch. She also purchased a nice Michael Kors purse for her mom as well. I pitched in with her and we bought her father an Omega watch which I really liked.

When it came down to her grandparents it became really a challenge. As people get up in age it becomes harder and harder to shop for them. Most were beyond the curve on tech products and buying clothes were impossible. Since Kate knew her grandmother always loved to wear a robe at night, Kate found a really nice robe and Bloomingdale. She bought one for Maw Maw and one for her mom in different colors. She also found the softest pajamas I had ever felt and bought Maw Maw two pairs of them. She found a pair of soft slippers to go with them and purchased them as well.

Kate bought some clothes for her dad, mostly shirts and jeans as well. The tree was surrounded by presents spilling out on to the floor. I was able to get Kate a Rolex Lady Date Just 26 in Mother of Pearl Rose Gold and Steel for a great price but it was all I had under the tree for her. A few days later, I stopped at Sak’s and found a nice black leather jacket on sale. They wrapped it for me and I hid it against the back wall and covered it with several existing packages so you could not see it.

With less than two weeks remaining the only one left on our list was Pops. Kate and I were both lost so Kate reached out to her dad looking for ideas. Ben Jackson admitted as well, Pops was always the hardest person to buy a gift for. Ben admitted that Pops needed a new wallet and money clip but he could not think of anything else. I knew just the place and stopped and got an alligator wallets and ostrich money clip. Kate loved the both of them and she wrapped them and placed them under the tree. At the spur of the moment, Kate and I decided to have Christmas at my house. It would give everyone a chance to see the house and I was hoping to get us closer together.

It would be Christmas Eve night and since we had three empty bedrooms anyone who wanted to stay over could, although I doubted I would get any takers. We had our annual Christmas party at Butler, Land and Reyes and once again had a banner year. Both Kate and I received great bonus checks as did the other employees. Kate had taken the car and went to get some last minute gifts. Kate’s aunt, her father’s sister was in town and would join us on Christmas Eve as well as her mother’s brother, Jack.

I had paid a local catering company to deliver and set up the food in the dining room on the day of the party. As I laid back on the sofa, it seemed like every detail was taken care of. I’m not sure if I was sleeping or dreaming but I was positive I heard Michelle’s voice.

“What are you waiting for, baby.” in Michelle’s soft tone.

I sat up on the sofa as if I had risen from the dead. I was soaking wet with sweat running down my face. I looked around absolutely sure Michelle was in the room. I got up and walked to the closet and grabbed a towel just as Kate came into the house. I closed the door and walked back in the kitchen to see Kate dropping a few bags on the sofa.

“Tim, what’s wrong.” Kate shouted, running over to me.

“I’m ok. I guess I fell asleep on the sofa. Had a bad dream.” I answered, wiping my face.

I went back in the master bedroom grabbed a change of clothing and got into the shower. As I was leaning against the wall with the cool water cascading over me it suddenly seemed clear. I was trying to tell myself to move forward. I finished in the shower, dressed and went to my office. I opened the safe and removed the engagement ring I had bought for Michelle. I opened the box and it was just as stunning as it had been the day, I put it on her finger. In my heart, I knew that Michelle would want Kate to wear it.

I slipped the ring into my pocket and now had to figure out a way to give it to Kate. Later that day I remembered that every employee got a fruit cake in a round tin with a cover. I went into the office and took it off the floor opening it up. It was a round fruitcake with a hole in the middle going to the bottom of the can.

The next day, Kate went to Starbucks to get a coffee, I sprang into action. I took the round tin and opened it placing the ring box in the center circle. It slid down to the bottom of the can and I took a piece of large red tissue paper Kate had used for the presents. I waded up the tissue paper and placed it over the ring then fluffing it up like it was part of the cake. I put the cover back on placed it in an empty cardboard box and wrapped it in Christmas paper. I had just placed it under the tree when Kate walked in. Tomorrow night was the party and now everything was prepared. That evening, Kate and I had gone to the grocery store and were on our way back to the house. Both of our cell phones were programmed into both of my vehicles. So, when one would ring, the driver would have to answer it. We had gotten used to it and really paid it no mind.

Again, the phone rang and without looking at the screen I just hit answer on the steering wheel as I always did.

“Hello”, I said.

“Uh, is Kate there.” a female voice said.

Kate looked up at the screen in the SUV and instantly her face lit up like a child in a candy shop for the first time.

“Jackie, oh my god, what are you doing?” Kate screamed.

“Bestie, why is a strange man answering your phone?” she asked.

“Um Jackie, I’m not a strange man...” I replied.

“What the fuck is going on Katie Bear.” Jackie asked.

“That is Tim Williams, the guy ... Uh ... I’m living with?” Kate replied, shrugging her shoulders.

“Wait you’re living with someone?” Jackie screamed.

“I told you Brandon and I were divorced a few months back.” Kate said, trying not to laugh.

“Kate, you and I need to do a lot of talking.” Jackie giggled.

“You have no idea, Jackie.” Kate replied, squeezing my thigh.

“Well, I guess that spoils my surprise then. I was going to come crash with you for about a week.” Jackie sighed.

“When”, Kate replied excited.

“Tomorrow, I’m flying in at three o’clock on Southwest. It was a surprise.” she answered.

“Oh, we will figure it out Jackie, I call you back as soon as we get home.” Kate promised.

I hung up the call on the steering wheel and could see that Kate was super excited about the call she had just received. Kate had admitted to me that her and Jackie were very intimate many times in their past.

“Kate, it’s not a problem, Jackie can stay with us as long as she likes. We have three more bedrooms.” I offered.

“You don’t mind, baby?” Kate asked.

“Absolutely not.” I replied.

“Ok but Jackie is very outspoken. She will try and embarrass you if she can.” Kate giggled.

“Bring her on.” I laughed.

Kate tossed and turned all night knowing she would get to see her best friend tomorrow. In addition, we had her entire family coming over that night for a party. I had a feeling it was going to be a night I would remember for quite a while.

We both got up the following day and cleaned up a little preparing for the party. The caterers would be here around four and Jackie was going to be landing around three at the airport. Kate asked if I would mind picking up Jackie at the airport so she could get all the food in the warming trays and lay everything out. I told her that would be fine.