Winter and Mike

“Hey Dad, I have a reservation at the Town and Country Inn tonight. Would you go with me? Actually, I upgraded the reservation from a table for two to a table for four. Mom made the reservations two days ago and I found out about it. She doesn’t know you and I are joining her.”

“Sure, I always have fun dining with your grandmother. It is funny your Mom didn’t mention it to me. She said she was staying with Gram over the weekend and I’m always the one to pay the tab when they go out.”

“It must have slipped her mind. Mom has been kind of distracted and absentminded, lately. You must have noticed?”

“I suppose, but I have been so busy at the office lately. The push is almost over and I can devote more time to her now. I’ll tell her tonight when we get there. It will be a nice surprise.”

Pinky was our seventeen-year-old daughter who worked part time for me in my business. She always seemed to favor me over her mother. Up until a year ago, Pinky had preferred doing guy things and Stella wasn’t interested. Now Pinky was split about half and half, mostly from the attention of a boy named Brian, who was in her biology class at school. She also was spending time choosing a college for next year. She was looking seriously at one school that would suit her in a nearby town less than an hour away.

I hurriedly showered and changed. I reflected that the Town and Country Inn was an odd place for my wife to be taking her mother. I had heard the food was only mediocre and the inn itself wasn’t the best one in town by a long shot. This was only hear-say as I had never been there myself. I came down the stairs where I found Pinky ready to leave. If her mother had been distracted, Pinky was worse tonight. She acted as if she had something she wanted to say, but didn’t know how.

I parked beside my wife’s car at the inn and took Pinky’s arm, heading for the entrance. Pinky halted me just before we entered. “Pop, Mom isn’t with Gram. She is with a man. It is you, who is going to be surprised tonight. I’m sorry about this. I found some e-mails when she forgot to close a file on the home computer.”

I was in shock! The minute was here that I hoped would never happen. It took another minute for me to decide what to do. “Pinky, why don’t you wait here, I’m going in and meet this guy. I won’t be long.”

“No! Pop, I started this and I want to be there with you. I want to see Mom embarrassed and me being with you will do that as much or more than with you alone.”

“Okay, let’s be calm about this. If your mother is stepping out on us, there is nothing at this point we can do but confront her. No big scene, now.”

“Yeah Pop, that goes for you as well.” We went inside and the hostess led us to a table reserved in my wife’s name. Stella’s shawl was on the back of the chair and there was a man’s sweater draped over the one across from hers. Neither party were present. Stella was probably in the lady’s room and whoever her date was, most likely was in the men’s room or at the bar.

The hostess put down another menu as we were seated and asked if we would like a beverage. “No, not until we order dinner.” Maybe I should have ordered–I certainly felt as if I could use a drink. I knew Stella was often cheating on me, but I was terribly surprised that she was so dumb to leave her laptop open. Pinky didn’t need to find out about her mother this way.

“Here comes Mom. She hasn’t seen us yet. There is a big man behind her who is headed here too.”

I stood as they neared. When I turned to look, Stella was peering up into the man’s face and it looked as if he had his hand on her butt.

“Stella, Pinky and I thought we would join you this evening. Would you like to introduce your friend? I thought I knew most of them, but this is someone new.” Stella hesitated and her eyes flashed at Pinky. Her face went red and then white. She said nothing for several seconds.

“Mike, this is Howard Rimmer. He is a salesman who comes into our office. I ran into him at the filling station. He offered to buy me dinner. What are you doing here Mike? How come Pinky is with you? She was doing a sleep-over at Cindy’s.” Stella was fast on her feet with the explanation, but she could see I didn’t believe her.

I kept it cool. “Let’s order. We came out to dine and we might as well eat. The questions and answers can wait.” We sat and ordered drinks to come while our meal was being prepared. This Howard was a braggart about everything and proceeded to expound on his many accomplishments.

I think he honestly believed that Stella’s explanation of how come she was here had been believed by Pinky and myself. Stella knew differently. She could tell by the way I was acting that I knew her friend was full of bullshit. After nearly twenty years of married life she could at least read me that well.

Over coffee, Pinky had enough. She brought it out into the open. “Mr. Rimmer tell me, where are you planning on screwing my mother tonight? According to some emails I read, that is what you are up to. Do you have a room here in this sleazy inn or was it going to be in the backseat of her car?”

He should have kept his mouth shut, but he wasn’t smart enough for that. “Depends on your old man. I’ll let him tell me where I can screw his whore of a wife.”

It was my turn to keep quiet, but I didn’t. “Did you bring your mother with you in case you couldn’t find some married woman to screw?” I didn’t know if he was bedding his mother, but what I said certainly touched a raw nerve. He erupted from the chair, turning the table on its side. The coffee and the dessert dishes on it flew everywhere. He came for me.

I’d like to say I held my own––but I didn’t. I did get up twice, though. The last time I went down, I decided to stay there. By this time, Pinky had gone into action. She had her pepper spray out and she got old Howie-boy good—twice right in the face. Stella headed for the exit, but was corralled by the hostess who told her as long as she made the original reservation, she was the one to pay for the meal and the damages.

Rescue and the cops showed up. They couldn’t immediately sort out what happened, so both Howard and me went for a ride downtown. I asked to speak with my daughter, but was denied. I did see a cop hand my keys to Pinky after she asked for them. She at least had a way home. The cops weren’t strong on protocol, they put us in the same patrol car figuring it was safe because they had us cuffed. I got head butted on the way downtown. This again, because I couldn’t keep my mouth shut.

He called my wife a whore, again—I smiled and just whispered, “She is that, mother fucker.” The cop heard him and didn’t hear me. God, I’ll have to stop baiting him. I received a split lip this time. They had to use a stun gun to quiet him so I guess it was worth it. I was questioned for almost an hour. Another detective came in from questioning some of the patrons at the inn and said that Howard apparently started the fracas. I was free to leave, or I could sleep in one of the cells. It was after midnight and I didn’t want to face Stella without some sleep.

I stayed the night in an unlocked cell. The front desk officer came down the row of seven cells and informed me that Pinky was here, asking for me. Damned if I didn’t have to walk by Howard on my way out. I didn’t make a sound, I just mouthed “Mother fucker” when I passed him. He went absolutely bananas. The officer wrapped Howard’s fingers with his flashlight that were clutching the bars trying to break loose to get to me. I smiled. I don’t know if he saw me or not. He certainly wasn’t happy. Maybe incoherent was a better word about the sounds that were coming from him.

Pinky was waiting in her car. I asked, “Where is your mother? Is she at home?”

“Yes, but she didn’t come out of her room. What are you going to do about her?”

“Nothing.”

Exasperated, “What do you mean Dad, nothing? She was about to let some guy screw her. All weekend too.”

“Pinky, you may think your old dad is perfect, but I’m not. You need a little background about your mother and me. When you were ten years old, I was messing with my secretary. Your Mom found out about it. She forgave me when I promised I would never again cheat on her and I haven’t.

“That said, I can understand that maybe she didn’t forgive me all the way and needed to get even. She must have found this guy attractive even though you and I can’t see it. I do think I’ve changed her mind about this particular bastard though.

“I’ll just have to see what she says when we get home. Now, when we get there, you make yourself scarce. Together, we’ll tell you what we decide. Pinky, I do thank you for letting me know about what your mother was up to. You have to let us take it from there.

“Okay Dad, I don’t see how you can keep Mom, but if that is the way you want it, I won’t get involved.”

“Thanks, sweetheart.”

I watched as Pinky backed out of the driveway, headed for her friend’s house. I went into the kitchen. There was a coffee pot most full. I poured myself a cup. I then went to the front of the stairs and shouted, “Come down, Stella. I spent the night in the lockup because of you. Bring some salve for a split lip when you come down too.”

She came down a few minutes after I returned to the kitchen. “Do want to tell me why you decided to screw around with that asshole?”

“I’m telling you diddly. I’ll admit I made a mistake, but I didn’t know it at the time. Thanks for breaking it up.”

“It wasn’t me, it was Pinky. You shouldn’t leave you personal files open where she can find them. I really thought Pinky and I were going to have dinner with your Mother until I was outside the restaurant when she told me the truth.”

“Is that what happened? I wondered.”

“So, how much are we going to tell Pinky about our lifestyle?”

“We aren’t going to tell her anything. You’re going to scream and yell at me and threaten to kick my cheating ass out. I’m going to beg and plead and cry on her shoulder and then we are going to reconcile and then go on as we have been. She won’t know different.”

“She will if you are dumb enough to let her to find your e-mails, again.”

“I’ll be more careful. Now take me upstairs where I can show you how sorry I am you caught me. How did you get that split lip?

It was a little later that I said, “You know I was shocked when Pinky told me you were out on a date. I thought up until then that you were really with your mother. I think from now on we should mention what we are doing if we go out.”

“Mike, I suppose, but it’s going to take the fun out of cheating if you know about it before hand. You know, we could just tell Pinky what our life style is. We’ve had to sneak around for years. Not so much from each other, but from her.”

“Stella, I think we had better tell her. She’ll hate us both when she finds out we have an open marriage and I go out too. If we tell her, that would take some of her disappointment of her catching you off your shoulders.

“Mike, then you be the one to tell her. I usually pick a better man than Howard to enjoy myself with. I must be slipping. You know I don’t even know what kind of women you screw around with.”

“And you won’t know if I can help it. We’ve been doing this for several years now and it is a wonder Pinky hasn’t caught us before this.”

“I guess. Are you going to have to go to court?”

“Only if I press charges. It looks like you are going to have to pay damages. If I press charges maybe you can get Howie to help you pay.”

“Don’t bother, I called the inn and have taken care of it already. Jesus, Howard was mad. What did you keep on saying to him?”

“I kept calling him a motherfucker. I suspect as mad as he is, he is most likely really doing his mother.”

“Could be. Are you worried about him coming after you?”

“I don’t think he is that mad and I think he will just slink out of town. I guess I’ll get some pepper spray like Pinky has to protect myself, though.”

“When are you going to talk to Pinky?”

“I’m going to call her now. You had better leave if you don’t want to hear what I’m saying.”

“Give me twenty minutes before you call. I don’t want to run into her. You make sure you take the same amount of blame and not hang it all on me. You were the first to jump the fence.”

“Was I really?”

“Mike, that’s an odd thing to say.”

“Stella, you can figure that one out.” My wife of twenty years laughed, knowing immediately that I was aware that she was running around on me several years before this arrangement came out into the open.

Stella left as soon as she made herself up. I sat for awhile before I made the call to Pinky. I poured another coffee and sat at the table with my hands around the cup. I thought back over my life. I left college and went to work for my father. I learned the business inside and out. Pop and Mom retired to the south a few years ago and left the business for me to run. It was profitable and I sent them a check twice a year.

Stella and I had been a couple in high school. She had a fired-up sex drive and she taught me all I knew about sex. We broke up when I went away to college, but were back together when I returned home. Sex was there when I needed it and she got an abortion over my objections when she wasn’t careful. Strong enough objections so when she wanted to get married, I made her promise that if she became pregnant again she would carry it full term.

Patricia (Pinky) Portman was born and I adored her. What I didn’t know was when the doctor had to do some minor birthing repair that Stella had her tubes tied at the that time. It was when Pinky was five before I made Stella admit that she had this done. This was after I went to the family doctor and found out my sperm was fine and that she couldn’t have any more children because of the procedure she requested from the doctor at the birth of Pinky.

I still looked on Stella as my wife because of Pinky, but the closeness that I had for her slowly went away. It was about at this time I found out that Stella was also running around on me. I seldom availed myself of her charms now, like I did this morning. Why not— She couldn’t get pregnant?

Well hell, why was I hashing this over in my mind. I was going to tell Pinky everything about my life shortly. I made the call for Pinky to come home.

“Dad, did you and Mom get into a fight?”

“No, we didn’t.”

“Did you kick her out?”

“No Pinky, please come home and I’ll explain our life and our marriage together. You may come off feeling that I’m worse than your mother ever was.”

“That is going to never happen, Dad.”

“We’ll see.”

“Is Mom there?”

“No, it is my chore to tell you and see how you feel about us and everything I tell you.”

“Okay, Dad, I’ll be home in a bit.”

Pinky wheeled into the driveway and slammed on the brakes. The car door slammed and she burst through the door. “Dad, I thought for sure you would kick Mom out. You had better explain why not.”

“That why I called you. Sit, I’ll pour you a mug. This is going to be difficult for me and you may not love me anymore.”

“You’ve said that already. Begin anytime, I’m waiting.”

“Okay, I’ll hit the highlights and fill in the details later.”

“Start!”

“First of all, I’m no better than your mother. We have an open marriage. Both of us can go out and screw whomever we want to. We just have to tell the other that we are leaving for the night or the weekend or whenever. We agreed years ago there is always to be one of us at home with you and that condition has been kept. It was difficult as you got older and more aware, but until yesterday it wasn’t a problem.”

“You mean when Mom and you say you have an out of town meeting that I think is work related, you are off screwing someone?”

“Most likely, although not always. That’s the truth. You wouldn’t have suspected yesterday if your mother hadn’t gotten sloppy about not closing her computer.”

“Were you ever going to share this with me?”

“Pinky, when you are eighteen, I was going to tell you, and that isn’t many months from now.”

“Well, thanks a lot. Dad I can’t believe you cheated on Mom. Was it you or Mom the first to start?”

“Pinky, I don’t know when your Mom began cheating on me. I have never asked her, but I do know it was around the time I found out she had her tubes tied when you were born. I didn’t find that out until you were about five. I wanted more children and she never seemed to get pregnant.

“I began looking around myself at that time, but never went out very often. I tell you, having to hide your cheating from your family is a full time job in its self. I was sick of it and arranged to have your mother find out I was bedding my secretary. She said she had to get even so we were both open about it after that. That was when you were seven or eight.”

“So, that’s when Mom knew you were cheating and I suppose she went wild, right?”

“Well, I knew she had been cheating on me for years before that, but someone had to look after you.”

“Dad, tell me how many women have you screwed in all these years?”

“One and that one wasn’t my secretary.”

“You’re shitting me.”

“Pinky, your using foul language has to stop.”

“I know, Dad, but what we are discussing about you and Mom says it is appropriate. Now tell me who this woman is?”

“Can’t, because your mother thinks I have been bonking a number of women when my attention has been on just one person. There are other reasons as well. This woman would be hurt terribly if she knew your mother learned of it. We have worked so hard to keep it hidden from both you and her.”

“Do you love this woman? I mean more than you love Mom?”

“Of course, and the plan of mine was to ask your mother for a divorce when you turn eighteen and then introduce you to this woman shortly afterwards.”

“How is Mom going to take you asking her for a divorce when I’m eighteen. Have you settled that with her yet?”

“We discussed it back when I set up the incident with my secretary. Your mother was wide open with the idea at that time. I don’t think her mind has changed that much after seeing her out last night with the likes of Howard.”

“Umm, I guess. What is this mysterious woman like? Describe her, if you would.”

“Well, Pinky, she is a lot different than your mother. She has curly brown hair that flies in all directions so she keeps it short. A lot of freckles. Those are beginning to fade as she gets older. When I first met her, they were the same shade as her hair. She isn’t as well endowed as your mother, but her breasts are covered with the freckles like her face. Umm, not as tall as your mother either, and her legs are thicker, and her butt’s a little bigger. She has a flat tummy though.

“She giggles when she laughs and most of the time she is adorable and happy. She has had a lot of unhappy moments in her life the same as everyone has. She passes it off as just life. I am going to make her happy when we wed. She certainly has waited long enough for me.”

“I think you should divorce Mom right now. I’ll be eighteen by the time the divorce is final next summer.

“That would me breaking a promise to your mother. I know we’ve not discussed it recently, and I guess the promise is more to myself than to her.”

“Dad, you should get some balls if you love this woman at all. But then maybe you love Mom more than you know.

“No, I don’t love your Mom like I love this woman. Pinky, I think I have told you everything and more that your mother has directed me to tell you. What do you think of me now that you have found out that your mom and dad have an open lifestyle?”

“It sucks, but I’m definitely on your side. Your way seems more normal somehow than just getting it on with the likes of that Howard shithead.”

“You don’t have to tell your mother you feel that way. I feel my waiting is almost over. An open marriage never turns out well. You might say my pain is almost over from the waiting and your mother’s pain may just be starting. I can’t imagine the loneliness that is about to come down on your mother, either. I’m so lucky to find a woman who loves me.”

“You’re a good guy, Dad. May I have a hug?”

“Sure, I’d like that. Oh, I think I just heard your mother drive in. Now remember that I have been screwing around on her much like she has been on me. I certainly don’t want her to find out I’ve been seeing one woman all this time.”

“Okay, Dad. I won’t tell.”

Stella came through the door and into the room hesitantly. She looked at Pinky. “Did your father tell you what kind of marriage we have? With it being open, I mean?”

“He did and I think I am old enough to handle you two having a divorce.”

“We don’t necessarily have to divorce, you know.”

“I know that, but you don’t have much life together. I’m just noticing that the love you should have had between you is missing. This wasn’t too much of a surprise now that I know why. The twin beds in your bedroom should have told me earlier.

“You both have been good to me by making sure there is always someone here with me. I’m old enough now to take care of myself. Dad said at one time you discussed divorcing when I reached eighteen. I’m nearly there and will be by summer. It takes time for a divorce to go through. You might as well go ahead and do it now.”

“Are you going to live with me?”

“I guess the court would say I have to and I’m not putting up any arguments when I’m going to be an adult and soon able to make my own choices. I love both of you, although there is this open marriage crap that I don’t fully understand.”

“Mike, am I going to have the house?”

“Depends on how we settle things. I don’t mind if it is you who lives here. I can’t say I have been terribly happy here, but I was comfortable. Cheating and trying to keep it from Pinky was a lot of extra work. If we had divorced years ago before we agreed on this way of life, it would have been better to divorce then. That is how I look back on it, now.”

“I agree. Pinky finding those emails, maybe were just a way to bring this out into the open. Mike, it was unintentional and I was shocked to see you two at my table yesterday. When do you want to sit down and hash out who gets what? I get to have Pinky. I believe that makes me happy. You’ve been a lot closer to her than I have, but maybe we can become friends where we weren’t before. Pinky?”

“I’d like that, Mom. So, I still belong equally to both of you? What about the cars?”

“Why do you care, you have your own and you are working this winter for your father part time to run it?”

“I know, Mom. Why do I care, I guess I felt things here at home weren’t that great? I googled family situations on my computer and divorce came up. There was a list of who and why who should be entitled to what. Maybe I know as much as you do about this. I could guide you.” Pinky’s face was red and she giggled which set us all to laughing.

Later sitting in the living room alone I looked back on what had transpired these last two days. We were still a family of sorts. I gave credit to Pinky and the almost adult she has turned out to be. Stella was the one who was going to file for divorce. I still had some secrets that I wanted to keep hidden until the divorce was final.

When it was final, Pinky would know more of the life I had carved out to find a little happiness that I hadn’t found here at home. I hoped Pinky would be happy for me. Stella, not so much, for the woman I love and she had known each other all through their early life. Stella hadn’t treated this woman with any respect and they had become estranged several years previously. Another period of waiting and I hope this time was going to be short.

Summer and Pinky

The phone rang and Pinky answered it. Her dad Mike, was at a Small Business Sales Convention. Her mother, Stella was off somewhere—She hadn’t explained where.

“Pinky, it’s Dad and I have something I want you to do ... No, I need you to do. I’m going to give you an address. Pack a suitcase for a three day stay. Get in your car and drive the thirty-five miles west to the town of Bridgeman. As soon as you get in your car, punch the address in and follow the GPS direction. You’ll come to a house set back from the road. There will be the name on the mailbox of Adell. Drive in and go to the front door. Ring the bell and tell the two ten year old kids who you are. Can you do that for me?”

“Dad, Adell is Mom’s maiden name.”

“Pinky, I know. Don’t bother with that now. The kids you find there have a mother in the hospital with some serious injuries from and accident. Call the hospital and find out how bad the woman is so you can keep the children from worrying. You can tell the hospital that the woman is your aunt, with you caring for your cousins. Now get packing.”

“Dad, how are you related?”

“The kids call me Uncle Mike. Their names are Janis and Jeffery Adell, and their mother’s name is Addison. Everyone calls her Addie. When you take the kids to the hospital, tell Addie and the kids I’ll be there the day after tomorrow. Now get packing and get on your way.”

“Okay Dad. Should I tell Mom, about where and whom I’m going to see?”

There was a long pause, “No, I wish you wouldn’t. I’ll explain when I get home.”

“Okay Dad, I think I can figure it out. Call me on my cell in a couple of hours to find out how I’m making out. Bye.”

Pinky rushed around and within ten minutes she was headed for the town of Bridgeman. There weren’t many directions after she hit the highway until she entered the town and had to follow the different streets to find the address she was looking for. She pulled in beside the house, parking in front of the garage. Lights came on over the porch.

Pinky retrieved her suitcase from her rear seat and headed up the steps. There was a pretty ten year old girl holding the door open for her. “Cousin Pinky? Uncle Mike said you were coming to stay with us until he could get here.”

“That’s me. You must be Janis?”

“I am, Jeffery is on the couch, sleeping. Mom’s in the hospital with some broken bones. Can you find out if she is going to be okay?”

“I’ll call, but they may not tell me anything. I’ll take you over to see her tomorrow morning. Do you know the name of the hospital?”

“I wrote it down, but maybe I didn’t spell it right.”

Pinky met the neighbor who Mike had called to look after the kids until Pinky arrived. She left after telling Pinky the kids were worried, but didn’t complain.

Pinky sat down at a desk near a phone. She dialed the number and a woman answered, “Hi, I’m trying to find information about Addison Adell. She is a patient of yours. I’m Addison’s niece and I’m caring for her two children.”

“We don’t usually give out that information. Sorry.”

“Can you make an exception, please? The kids are only ten and really concerned. They know their mother has some broken bones and she was in surgery this afternoon. No one will tell them of her condition.”

“Well let me check. Stay on the line.”

It was ten minutes later when the person said, “Miss, Miss Adell came through surgery very well. She has a cast on her broken leg and is resting comfortably. You can’t visit tonight, but you may come in at nine-thirty in the morning.”

“That’s great. Would you have the night nurse tell her that Pinky, her niece is with her children and we’ll see her in the morning. Thank you so much.” Pinky relayed this to Janis and Jeffery came into the room rubbing his eyes.

“Did you find out how Mom is?”

“Jeffery, I did. I just got off the phone. Do you know who I am?”

“I think so. Uncle Mike talks about his daughter who is very pretty. He called us this afternoon and said you were coming to take care of us until Mom got home or he could get here. He was notified about the accident Mom had by the police.”

“Your Uncle Mike is my Dad and I’m tickled to finally meet you. He is going to call me in a little while to make sure I got here okay. Why don’t you two go to bed and I’ll wait up for his call. Can you tell me where I can sleep?”

“There is Uncle Mike’s room at the head of the stairs. Mom’s room is in the back down here. You can sleep in her bed if you want to and I think Uncle Mike’s bed is made. It is most of the time because he usually sleeps with Mom when he is here.”

“Thank you, Janis. I’ll sleep upstairs in Dad’s bed then. Where are your rooms?”

“Upstairs in the back. We have a big bathroom. There is one off Mom’s room down here.”

“I guess we are all set then.”

“Pinky, I’m so glad you are here.” Jeffery said he was too and they headed up the stairs, leaving Pinky staring after them.

Pinky sat by the phone, thinking, “I’ll just bet that those two kids are my sister and brother, not my cousins. Addison must be Mom’s sister who I have only heard about except for the one time when Gram made a slip. It was a slip that she had another daughter. Gram would never answer my questions about her when I asked about her again.”