Chapter 12

Minding House

Robert’s proposal of inviting Bradley to ‘Mind House’ while we were away on our second honeymoon, left me floundering in a sea of emotional confusion.

I could offer Robert no logical reason for disagreeing with him. On the face of it, it was a wonderful solution. As Robert pointed out, it provided a safe and inexpensive method of safeguarding things while giving Rachel an opportunity to get acquainted with her ‘Uncle Brad’!

All I could do was smile bravely and congratulate my husband. Thus encouraged Robert took charge of his idea by phoning Bradley himself! That much I was grateful for in a way.

As Robert made the phone call to Brad, it felt quite bizarre for me to be a bystander while my husband became acquainted with my secret lover!

Then as the call endured, it sounded as though they’d become cheerful long-standing chums!

Eventually Robert was saying that he looked forward to meeting him in due course. Then he passed the phone over to me ... I tried to sound blithe rather than awkward in front of Robert,

“You there Brad?”

When he spoke it was in a modest apologetic fashion,

“Hello Linda ... this invitation from you is quite something ... and such a surprise talking to Robert ... a real nice guy! I’ve ... missed hearing from you Linda.”

Over the next few minutes I played being his big sister; reminding him it would be a serious undertaking of responsibility on his part; and also his chance of being a good Uncle to Rachel; to make a good impression on her!

I quietly underlined to him how grave it could be for him if he ‘messed-up’.

From his sober reply, I felt he’d got my message and when I’d put the phone down I felt somewhat easier about things. Our trip to Scotland was for ten days and we’d invited Bradley for a two week stay. It all seemed in the lap of the Gods for me at that moment.

Before long the day arrived when I opened the door to see Robert arrive with Bradley after meeting him at the bus station. The pair of them clearly revelled in each others company; coming into the house full of chummy macho vibes. Robert proudly presented his daughter to Bradley yet in the glow of their masculinity Rachel and I seemed to be in the shade.

Then little more than a day later both Bradley and Rachel were waving us ‘Bon-Voyage’ as we set off in a cab for the Airport.

Brad’s story ~

The unexpected phone call from Robert felt like a vivid rainbow casting out my dark clouds.

For some time I’d been despondent with myself; having messed up things with Linda on that night in the alley-way; which till then had been running like an erotic wet dream.

I’d never been a Milf chaser as such; my fantasy of choice was young pussy; but when I discovered Linda was willing to play ball, a whole new sexual vision had come into play! It wasn’t one sided; it had been a lustful dance that had taken two to tango. But I’d lost my cool and messed up.

When Linda cast me into the wilderness, I felt that all so familiar isolation of loneliness. I’d blown my chance of belonging; of having some family.

Now, with that one phone call from Robert I had a second chance and I realised there was more at stake than a love affair. I’d been invited into their home; and entrusted with Rachel. It was another chance to belong. ~

The bus arrived on time at Petersville Bus Station and I felt some anxiety as I waited for Robert.

But then he was suddenly alongside me and shaking my hand.

He was a handsome guy in his early thirties; confident with a broad grin.

“Hey! I’m Robert! Your Bradley right?”

His regard for me pulled at my heart; I’d never had a man of his standing treat me with such warmth. I wanted to hug him but instead returned his manly handshake. He took hold of my travel-bag and led me to his four by four and we never stopped exchanging banter until we pulled up in his driveway. As I grabbed my luggage from the car my heart skipped a beat as I caught sight of Linda standing at the door, looking serene.

The sight of her tore at my heart and I realised then how deep my love for her was. We simply made a dutiful peck at each other as she welcomed me in and I began to realise how hard this was all going to be.