Chapter 3: Revelation

A few minutes before noon on Thursday Roger knocked on Mandy’s apartment door. She looked classy and elegant in her cream colored, ankle length, pleated skirt and long-sleeve button-down black shirt, with the top two buttons undone. The outfit was completed by black booties with 2-inch heels. She wore her hair straight in a Jennifer Anniston style, framing her face with a little bit of body.

Roger was less fashion conscious. He wore off-white slacks and a black t-shirt. The ensemble was completed by a khaki cotton blazer and basic brown leather loafers.

“Looking sharp, Roger,” Mandy offered with a peck on the cheek as she answered the door.

“You look pretty good, yourself,” Roger responded.

“Which car should we take?” Mandy asked.

“What do you drive?”

“It’s the Miata over there,” Mandy said as she pointed to a small convertible a few dozen yards away in the parking lot.

Roger turned around to look at her little two seat convertible. “Please tell me you’re kidding. I don’t see me fitting into that car.” At six feet three inches tall, Roger would be eating his knees in the tiny car.

Mandy chuckled, “I see your point. I guess we’ll take your car.”

They got into Roger’s Civic and Mandy started giving Roger directions to Terry’s house. As they started driving, Mandy started, “I should probably tell you a little about Terry and Stretch. His real name is Walter, but everyone calls him Stretch. Their relationship is a little unconventional. But it’s not really my place to give you the details. They’ve been together for about five years now. Terry has two children. Timmy is ten and John is seven.”

“Stretch works for UPS as a delivery driver. The house is Stretch’s. Terry’s mom, Stretch’s parents and Terry’s younger brother will also be at the house today.”

After driving for about ten minutes, they arrived at Stretch’s one-story house in North Palm Beach. Terry answered the door in a navy-blue cotton sleeveless dress with a fitted waist and flared bottom that ended above her knees. Mandy and Terry hugged, then Roger followed the two women into the house bringing the chocolate pudding and pumpkin pies that Mandy had made to the kitchen.

Terry introduced Roger to her mom and Mandy’s mom, who were chatting away at the bar that separated the kitchen from the dining room. Next Terry escorted Roger to the living room where the men were watching as the Lions had just kicked off to the Chiefs. Terry introduced Roger to her dad, Don, her brother, Pete, and Stretch.

The men didn’t talk much during the close game. When it ended, Stretch offered to get Roger a beer. He begged off and suggested that he open the bottle of wine that he brought. Terry told the guys that dinner would be ready in twenty minutes. As they waited, Roger and Stretch started talking.

“Mandy tells me you and Terry lead an unusual lifestyle.” Roger started.

Stretch chuckled, “What did she tell you?”

“Nothing specific.”

“Okaaay...” Stretch responded, then paused for a moment in thought. “Let me tell you how I met Terry. She was at a bar alone and was being very choosey about who she talked to. She ignored the drunken slobs with cheesy pickups. I walked up to her and asked, ‘if she wanted to meet a better class of guy, what was she doing in a dark bar near an industrial park.’ After she thought about it for a second, she reached for her purse. I grabbed her arm and asked if she was free for dinner. With two small kids, she wasn’t, but we exchanged numbers and eventually went out.

“When I showed up for our third date, I discovered she wasn’t wearing panties when I greeted her. That night we had a frank talk. She told me she needed a man who she could trust enough to enter into a submissive relationship. Timmy’s dad couldn’t do it and he left when he found out she was screwing other guys behind his back. John’s dad was the opposite. He loved telling Terry what to do, including unprotected sex and sharing her with his buddies. Once Terry figured out that he was using her, and he didn’t love her, she got away from him.

“We talked about what it would mean for her to submit to me. It involves a lot of trust. She trusts me to take care of her, and I trust her to tell me what she wants and doesn’t want, and what she likes and doesn’t like.

“So, we play some interesting games. For example, you’ll notice that her dress doesn’t go below her knees. When she’s not working, she’s only allowed to wear dresses or skirts that stop above the knee. She’s also not allowed to wear underwear, unless it’s her time of the month. We both get a bit of a thrill out of the exhibitionism. Sometimes when we go out, I tell her to wear a skirt just on the right side of obscene. And about once a month we’ll go out and pick up playmates. We’ll go to a bar and I’ll tell Terry which person to pick up. Sometimes it’s a man, sometimes a woman, or we’ll work together on a couple. We both get a kick out of the variety and it satisfies her kinky and submissive needs.”

As Roger listened to Stretch talk, he just stood there holding his glass with his mouth open. He had heard of dominants and submissives before, but never actually met anyone in the lifestyle. At least, not that he knew of.

“So, you tell her what to do, and she does it?” Roger asked.

“Not exactly, we each live our own life. But when we’re together, I’m in charge and she follows my directions. It’s kind of like a boss and subordinate situation. The subordinate knows what his or her job is. Sometimes the boss gives him or her a new assignment and the subordinate does it. But if the boss tells the employee to strip naked and dance for everyone, she’ll probably say, ‘fuck you’ and sue the company. Terry trusts me and does pretty much anything I tell her. But, if I told her to jump off a cliff, she would probably say ‘fuck you’ and I’d never see her again. So, I have a pretty good idea what her limits are and guide her accordingly.”

Roger still had a few questions for Stretch, but Mandy came along and grabbed Roger’s arm saying, “time to eat.” She led him to the table.

After they ate, the men went back to watching football and the women went back to the kitchen. About thirty minutes later, the women joined the men in the TV room. Roger got up to stand by Mandy, who was sitting on a stool behind the couch.

“Now that Stretch told me about his relationship with Terry, what do you think?” Roger softly asked Mandy.

“I think they’re two adults who have found partners that work for them. I’ve known Terry since high school and never seen her happier. Whatever the specifics of their relationship, they’re a good fit with each other.”

Roger wanted to get Terry’s point-of-view, but was afraid that his questions were getting intrusive. Instead, he asked Mandy, “What time do you want to leave?”

“I’m good for now. Let’s stay until half-time and then we can go.” She casually replied.

At five thirty, Roger and Mandy said their farewells and got into Roger’s car to head back to Mandy’s apartment. During the drive, Roger asked Mandy, “Would you like to get together for dinner this weekend?”

Mandy looked over at Roger and cocked her head before grinning. Then she said, “Well, I’m going to my parents for dinner tomorrow, but I’m free on Saturday.”

“Okay, so what time should I pick you up, and do you have any food you really like or don’t want?” Roger asked.

“No, I’m not that picky. I can usually find something on the menu at just about any restaurant,” Mandy replied.

-----”Well, I’m still learning the area. Do you have a favorite Italian restaurant?”

Roger and Mandy had a nice dinner at La Rosa. Roger asked Mandy about the West Palm Beach area and her family. Mandy asked about his family and growing up in Texas. She didn’t ask about Stacy, and Roger didn’t offer any information. It was just like millions of other first dates in America every year.

When dinner ended, Roger took Mandy back to her condo. At the door, Mandy asked, “Would you like to come in for a drink?”

With a drawn face, Roger responded, “I don’t think I’m ready for that, yet. But, thank you for a great dinner.”

“You’re not getting off that easily. I really like you, Roger, and I expect to hear from you again, even if it’s just to hang out at your beautiful house. I’m going to make it my personal mission to get you back out into the world,” Mandy practically commanded him.

“Okay, how about you plan to come over next Saturday and we’ll spend the day by the pool?” Roger asked.

“That sounds great, can I bring a friend?”

Roger frowned, then said, “Okay, but just one friend. Baby steps.”

“Okay, one friend.” Mandy grinned, leaned in and gave Roger a peck on the cheek and turned to unlock her apartment.

-----Roger stood there in mild shock at the exchange. He shook his head and headed back down to his car.

When Mandy showed up at Roger’s house the following Saturday, she found him in the kitchen marinating chicken and steak. He already had potatoes wrapped and waiting on the counter.

As Mandy came up the steps to the pool patio deck, she flashed a thousand-watt smile and waved at Roger. Behind her was a beautiful tanned woman with dark hair hanging below her shoulders. Each step the woman took, her hair bounced.

Mandy opened the door from the patio and smoothly moved right up to Roger and hugged him. Caught off guard, Roger slowly put his arms around Mandy and returned the hug. Mandy then stepped back and gestured to her friend, “Roger this is my friend, Christina Fernandez, but she goes by ‘Tina’. Tina, this is Roger Price.”

Roger stuck out his hand and offered, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Tina.”

Tina ignored Roger’s hand and stepped up to Roger and embraced him in a hug. “It’s nice to meet you too, Roger. Mandy has been telling me about you. My condolences on the loss of your family.”

Roger put his arms around Tina and looked over at Mandy with a raised eyebrow. Mandy just grinned back at him. As Roger pulled back from the hug, he responded, “I’m afraid you have me at a disadvantage, Tina. Mandy hasn’t told me anything about you.”

The three of them sat around and talked and drank by the pool. Over the next few hours, Roger learned that Tina was a very busy woman. Her days were spent working as a teacher at Little Sprouts Academy, where she taught three and four-year olds. She also waited tables three nights a week at Señor Gator’s. But, her most exciting activity was cheering on the Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders squad. She and Mandy had been on the squad together a few years earlier and stayed friends.

As the afternoon wore on, Mandy offered, “So Roger, are you busy next Saturday night?”

Roger’s face showed his surprise at the sudden question, but responded, “No, no plans. Why?”

Mandy looked at Tina and, smiling, asked, “How about you, Tina, are you free next Saturday night?”