Chapter 17: Cards on the Table

“Need to talk?” asked Walt. “I think that’s the understatement of the year.” He said this with a grin. He was gazing at Stacy from head to toe. She was naked and the bed sheet provided little coverage.

Stacy swung her legs off the bed and reached for the t-shirt she was wearing the night before. She slid it over her head and stood. She saw Walt’s boxers next to the bed and picked them up with her foot. She tossed them across the room.

Walt had put on a shirt, then caught his underwear in flight. He stepped into them and followed Stacy to the kitchen. She had already put grinds and water into the coffeemaker the night before. All she needed to do was push a button to start the brew cycle.

As the coffeemaker started to burble, Stacy and Walt checked their phones. Both had text messages from Alexa. Walt had a voicemail to go with his text messages. Walt listened to the message as Stacy found mugs.

“Alexa?” asked Stacy.

“Yeah, you too?” asked Walt.

“Yes. Why’d she contact you?” asked Stacy.

Walt did not answer immediately. Stacy said, “After last night, no more secrets.”

“I’m not sure,” said Walt. “Last night, when I saw you were on the move, I sent Alexa a heads up in case I needed help. When we got back here I did not have a chance to send her a follow-up message.”

“Her message now makes sense. She was texting me to ask how I was doing. If I got home safe?”

Stacy paused, then added, “What would you think if Alexa came over this afternoon? I think she could add a lot to the conversation.”

Walt did not hesitate. “With the work she’s done for you, she probably knows the most about Nikki right now. I’m good if you want to invite her.”

“Good,” answered Stacy. “Finish your coffee, then slip out the back door. Go to your hotel and get changed. I’ll contact Alexa. Do you want her to pick you up, or do you want to drive separately?”

“Let’s come in our own cars. Not sure what we’ll do this afternoon.” Walt raised his eyebrows suggestively.

“One step at a time,” Stacy said. She blushed slightly at the suggestion, though.

Walt carried his coffee to the bedroom. When he returned, his coffee cup was empty and he was fully dressed. He put the cup in the sink, then went to Stacy. He put his hands on her arms and leaned in to give her a kiss.

“I’m headed out. See you in an hour or two.”

Stacy kissed him back. “OK. Jump my fence in the back corner of the yard and go across the neighbor’s backyard before jumping their fence. They are out of town. It will make it less likely you’ll be spotted from your sister’s house. Be careful, good luck, and I’ll see you soon.”

Walt went out the back door. He was glad he parked several houses away and was confident he made his getaway without being seen by either of their sisters.

Stacy drained the coffee pot with her second cup of coffee. She then went to the bedroom for a long, hot bath. She sank into the steaming water and waved the suds away from her face. She slid deeply into the water and closed her eyes as she rested her head on the edge of the tub. She had a lot of thoughts that she needed to marshal before Walt and Alexa arrived.

When the water started to cool, Stacy opened the drain and turned on the hot faucet. When the water refilled she used her foot to turn on the spa’s jets. She moaned in pleasure as they pulsated sixteen points of her body.

It was almost an hour, and two more hot water refreshes, later when Stacy stood and stepped out of the tub. She was not sure exactly how the discussion with Walt and Alexa would go, but she felt confident.

There was a knock at her door a few minutes before noon. Stacy answered the door to find Alexa standing on her porch. She was wearing a short black leather skirt and a gauzy white silk blouse. A black bra was easily seen through her top. She wore black boots that came to just below her knee.

“Wow,” said Stacy as she looked her visitor up and down. “You look ... great! I’ve never seen you in anything but black pants and a dark hoodie.”

“Quite a different look, huh?” joked Alexa as she spun in place, then passed the bag she was holding to Stacy. “This is much more typical than what you’ve seen me in.”

“You didn’t have to bring anything,” said Stacy when Alexa handed her the bag. It contained a bottle of vodka, an orange juice, and two bottles of wine.

Alexa deflected. “The wine is to go with lunch. The vodka and orange juice may be needed later.”

“Lunch?” asked Stacy.

“Walt is going to bring us something. He suggested I bring a bottle of red and another of white. It was my idea to get the vodka and the juice.”

“Great, let’s get to the kitchen and get the table ready.”

Stacy led Alexa to the kitchen and handed her a bottle opener. Alexa opened the wine and set it on the table to breathe as Stacy put plates, napkins, utensils, and wine glasses on the table.

There was a ring at the door. Alexa said, “I’ll get it.”

It took a moment, then Stacy heard two women’s voices approaching the kitchen.

Sandy walked through the doorway just before Alexa.

“Sandy!” exclaimed Stacy. “I did not expect you this afternoon.” She did her best to not sound disappointed at the interruption.

“I didn’t know you were having visitors?”

At that point, the doorbell rang again. Alexa turned and went to the door. She returned with Walt.

“Hi, Walt,” said Sandy. He nodded and said hello.

“Sandy, this is Alexa. She has done some work with a law firm Walt knows in Boston and just moved to town. He thought it may be beneficial for us to meet each other.” Stacy lied smoothly.

To everyone’s surprise, the doorbell rang again. Alexa seemed to be doorman of the day, so she went to the living room. She came back with Debbie in tow.

“I thought I saw you,” she said when she spied Walt in the kitchen. “I’ll admit to being the nosy sister. Or the nosy neighbor. Take your pick.”

Walt greeted his sister, then looked asked, “Would you two like to join us? I brought plenty. Stacy, can you get additional plates?”

Stacy turned to get a plate. Sandy stepped out of the kitchen to get a folding chair. She squeezed it between the seats taken by Stacy and Alexa.

Introductions were made between Debbie and Alexa. Walt opened one of his bags and started placing sushi rolls around the table. Out of the second bag he took crab Rangoon and egg rolls.