Chapter 7

The past seven years had changed her little, there was now gray in her dark hair which she had made no move to cover. Her figure was just as fine as ever and she glowed with an inner radiance.

"Look familiar?" she commented, nodding towards Rollo and Ruthie. "I saw enough of it with you and Sandy. I know it hurts but try not to let it show. This is a special day for him and it would grieve him if he knew this was causing his best friend pain. She's still single you know."

"Sorry, Mavis. Once bit, twice shy, remember. I'm not interested in a casual fuck. I've got a business to run and it doesn't include being a walking dildo to cure your daughter's horniness."

"It also doesn't include becoming a hermit either!" Mavis flared right back. "If you will remember I have some experience in that area as well. Are you seeing anyone now? Anyone seriously?"

"Jan and I get together from time to time now that she's divorced but only for sex. No one serious."

"Good, then at least you aren't shutting yourself off completely like I did. I told you once before, don't be a stranger, stop by from time to time. You've still never met my new husband, Fred, even after that wonderful wedding present and it's been over a year and a half now." Squeezing his arm against one of her still very magnificent breasts she said quietly, "He agrees with you by the way, he thinks their great tits too. Take care of yourself Rob, you're still special to me."

Not receiving the chuckle she had been trying for, Rob told her quietly, "Mavis, from the way you glow he gives you more than just good sex! You love him deeply and it's returned, I envy you."

Thanking her for the invitation and promising he would take her up on it, he gave her cheek another kiss and moved on. A short time later he bussed Ruthie cheek and again congratulated Rollo before leaving.

Sandy was staying with her Mom as Mavis and Fred had kept her house. That evening she pulled her Mom into her room and shut the door. Somewhat hesitantly she asked.

"Mom, can I get him back? God, he looks more gorgeous than ever. He's taller and really looked great in that suit, he wears clothes well. He grew into a very handsome man and seems so self-assured. Mom, is it too late?"

"How's your Shakespeare dear? 'Me think thou doth protest too much' was the line I was thinking about. But let me tell you something, if you hurt him again I will think seriously about disowning you. I mean that! If I were serious about a fine young man like that I'd talk to someone who knew him well. You know he and your brother were roommates in school and he was Rollo's best man. Also I understand he sees Jan from time to time, a casual thing."

"Mom, I know the difference between a fuck, even a great fuck and being in love. Took a while but I do know it isn't the same thing. Thanks for the tips."

"Sandy, something you might not know. Do you remember the cabinet shop his Dad and Uncle had?"

"Yes Ma'am, 'Cabinets by Mac' or something like that. I tried to find it in the phone book but it's not there, I thought it had gone out of business. Why?"

"They now own that entire complex where that shop was located. The little shop was torn down and in it's place now is the main office space for IMac. Your young friend!"

"Robbie? Even I've heard of IMac, we have their advertising account."

"Ahhh, out of all the ad agencies in this town I wonder why they would pick the company YOU work for? Can't be because of all the great ads you do because your ads are terrible. Obviously the person who's doing them knows nothing about cabinets, who's in the market for cabinets and how to push them. But you still have the account."

"His first year back from school Rob triple the business, that's after more than doubling it during his three summer vacations. Last year he doubled it again and so far this year he has only doubled it! Their building expansion is all that's holding them back now. They don't have room to produce more. And it sure isn't from any great ads by your agency. You ever heard of a place called Home Depot? IMac cabinets are in there, nationwide. SAM'S? In there. As well as two regional lumber companies that are more Do-it-yourself oriented. You young friend is worth Millions already and not yet 25. He's sharp as anyone you've ever met Sandy, lots of companies build cabinets, fine cabinets but they don't MARKET them like he does. Don't try to snow him and don't hurt him again."

"Am I wasting my time then? Why would he want me, he could have anyone."

"Because he still loves you, you stupid ninny! He thought he was being slick but he's been keeping track of you through Jan and Rollo. When your latest love affair broke up, who you were seeing, where you were working. His questions are oh so casual but Rollo says he listens like a starving man in front of a full table of food."

"Mom, where does he live now? I know he's not living with his folks still, I checked."

A few minutes before 8 PM Sandy pulled into the apartment complex where Rob lived. When she tried to go passed the reception area and to the elevators she was stopped.

"May I help you Madam?"

"I'm here to see Mr. MacIntire in 12B."

"I'll see if he is home, and whom shall I say is calling?"

Sandy waited while the receptionist checked. When he came back he was shaking his head.

"I'm sorry Madam, Mr. MacIntire is entertaining and he says he doesn't need any, whatever you're selling."

At 8:30, at 9, at 9:30 and at 10 she tried again. Every half hour she had them try and she always got the same answer. Shortly after 10:20 the elevator opened and Jan walked out. Seeing her there Jan greeted her warmly.

"Why didn't you come up. I'm sure Rob would love to see you."

"Jan, I've been here since 8pm and so far he doesn't want to see me. At least that's what the receptionist keeps telling me."

Turning from her she confronted the receptionist, "Jules, have you been talking to Mr. MacIntire or to Herman?"

"It was Herman, Madam."

"I thought so, I'm taking Ms. Johnson up to 12B. You are NOT to call ahead to let him know. If you do Jules you will need a job in the morning, do you understand?"

"Yes, Madam."

Taking Sandy by the arm she led her to the elevator and punched 12.

"Why would he listen to you Jan? Do you own the building or something?" Sandy laughed.

"This is a Co-op, dear. The tenants own it, I just manage it for them. I HIRE the people who work here as well as FIRE them so, Yes, he'll listen," Jan explained in dead seriousness.

When the elevator stopped Jan motioned her to the right and stayed where she was. Sandy walked slowly down the hall until she came to the only door in that direction. There was a "B" on it. Pressing the buzzer she waited for the door to be answered.

"What did you forget this time, Jan," Rob said as he opened the door with a large smile. Up close he looked even better than when she had seen him at the graduation earlier. Seeing who it was his face blanked. "Oh, sorry, thought it was someone else."

"Who's Herman? I've been in the lobby since 8 trying to see you but was told you didn't want any."

"Herman is my Valet/Butler/Bodyguard/Man-Friday. He understands that when I'm entertaining I don't wish to be disturbed."

"May I come in? I'll only take a minute."

"It late and I don't think that's too good of an idea, do you?"

"Please, Robbie."

Shaking his head, he stepped aside and ushered her in. She was surprised by what she found. The place was very neat and very well decorated. There was lots of space and room to move. None of the clutter and crampedness of many apartments.

"I had a decorator do it. I told her what I wanted and this is what I got."

"Nice. Lots of room. May I sit?"

Taking her into the sunken living area he offered her a choice of seats. Not knowing how to approach what she wanted to say she just looked at him and blurted it out in one go, "Is there still a chance for us Robbie? Any chance at all?"

Seeing him shake his head again she heart was sinking towards her feet when he said, "You, Jan and Rollo are the only ones who call me that anymore. Mom and Dad even call me Rob now."

Standing there, waiting quietly, her heart back in her throat Sandy watched him. She still hadn't taken any of the offered seats.

"I fucked a lot of females these last eight years trying to get over you. Tall ones, short ones and medium sized ones. Red heads, blondes, brunettes. Oriental, Spanish, French, Norwegian, German, Greek, Arab, Turk. You name it and I fucked it but I never found one I could make love to. I don't know, Sandy, I don't know," he said quietly. Then he walked away. A second man approached, obviously Herman, who motioned towards the door.

"This way Miss. Mr. MacIntire has retired for the evening."

"Herman, I'm Sandra Johnson. At one time Mr. MacIntire and I were in love until I foolishly threw it away. He can't leave now, not like this. I NEED to know if there is any possibility, any way we can get back together."

"This way Miss. Mr. MacIntire has retired for the evening," Herman repeated, "He had tears in his eyes Miss, something I've never seen him do before. I didn't say that Miss."

Grabbing his arm and kissing his cheek Sandy allowed herself to be led to the door. As it closed behind her she floated down the hall to the elevator and down to the lobby. On a high from the mere possibility that there was still a chance however small. As she started to leave Jules, the receptionist stopped her.

"Mrs. Allen would like for you to visit her, Madam. She's in 103."

Looking at him questioningly he answered, "Your friend Jan."

Following his directions Sandy was knocking on the door to 103 a very short while later. Opening the door in her robe Jan invited her in and followed her into the living room.

"How'd it go?"

"I have reason to believe he still likes me. Whether we can go on from there or not I don't know. Jan, I fucked up, I threw away the best thing I've ever had, I know that now, how do I get him back?" Sandy asked with tears in her eyes.

"Anyone but you Girl Friend... Do you know what he was doing all the time you were waiting in the lobby? He was fucking my brains out trying to get over seeing you today! I still love sex, he and I get together from time to time for a good ol' fashioned Fuck Session but not like tonight. My pussy's sore, my asshole's sore and it's a wonder I can close my jaw! We fucked for nearly three hours and he only came ONCE! And you have reason to believe he still LIKES you? Sweetie he's still in LOVE with you,... you stupid bitch!"

"I owe him more than I can ever repay, my LIFE, no exaggeration. My last husband was about to kill me, literally and he got me out of it. Sandy, he remembers his friends. His attorneys wouldn't tell me what their fee was, just that I couldn't afford them. I got a decent settlement, I got the help I needed to get my life back and he got me this job. And if all he wants from time to time is a Fuck Session, then I'm his girl."

"Sandy, I know from first hand experience how to hurt people so it'll never show, on the outside at least. How to turn a normal human into a quivering mass of jelly, begging desperately to do whatever the person causing the pain wants done. It was done to me, more than once. What I getting at is don't hurt him again. DON'T! My friend or not Sandy, I'll make you hurt like you have never in your worst nightmare ever imagined. Like was done to me by a master. You cause him a second, an instant of pain and you better run and never come home. Do we understand each other? If so and under those conditions then I'll help."

Looking down at her feet, the tears coming harder, Sandy said, "You better start then Jan, I just did. Herman will swear he didn't say this but Robbie had tears in his eyes when he left me."

"There'll be more tears before this is over. That's not the pain I mean, deliberate pain is what I mean. You're going to cause each other pain, heart-ache and tears from time to time but not deliberately. Deliberately and I WILL step in Sandy. Call your Mom and tell her you're staying here with me. I have a second bedroom. We need to talk, catch up on things."

They didn't use the second bedroom, neither of them wanted to sleep alone that night. Sandy stayed a second night also catching up on some of the horrors that had happened to Jan, trying to figure out a way to make a move on Rob, Sandy's many affairs and so on. By the second morning Sandy was feeling better but not much. She also understood that while Jan was no longer the sweet, innocent, near Nympho she had known she was still her friend and willing to help if she could.

Calling Rollo she made plans to visit with him before he and Ruthie left for their new jobs. When she explained what she wanted he suggested that Sandy come to their apartment as there were some things that Ruthie could fill in that he couldn't.

"You caused an awful lot of sighs of discontentment sister-in-law," Ruthie told her after she was shown into their apartment. It was a very nice place, not what one would expect of newly married college students. "There were an awful lot of unhappy females whom Rob didn't chose because he was still in love with you. If it walked, was female and wanted to fuck, he fucked it! Not only that he did an excellent job of it from all the reports we got back. Girls talk too remember. We used to sit around and compare different guys on campus. When someone mentioned Rob MacIntire there were lots of sighs and shy smiles. And the worst thing I heard about him was from one of the really round heels we had. She complained of being sore for three days and having to walk straddle legged after being with him, but from the little smile she had while she was saying it, she thought it was worth it!"

"We had some real Foxes set out after him and that was before he became IMac. A man with money is chased even more than a good lover. And a good lover, who has money... !"

"Did you know that IMac holds some Computer patents? Rob has a Law Firm on retainer and had one of the associates check into Patent Laws and so on. It seems that the company we're going to work for has a little clause in their contracts that is non-negotiable. They don't pay royalties to their employees, any patents held by employees are usable by the company without compensation so... IMac holds the Patents and we get the royalty checks. We really wanted to work there so this how we got around that provision."

"He looks out for his friends and we didn't even ask him. When we told him about what we had developed he asked what we were going to do with it. When we told him he wouldn't let us do it. He paid us ONE dollar for the process, had it patented and turns over the Royalty checks to us. That's why we could get married last year, why we have such a nice place now. We've already made more from the royalties than we thought we'd get by selling it outright and it's still cutting edge, we'll collect from it for several years more. It's even set up so we can make upgrades, include them under the same Patent family and get royalties from them also. The checks are mailed to his Legal firm who takes a percentage and forwards us the rest along with a full report of how much was earned, what was taken out and so on. Makes it much easier at tax time. I'm not even pregnant and our children's full education is already paid for, even if we have the six Rollo likes to kids me about."

"Don't hurt his hon, I could never forgive you even if you are Rollo's sister. He has been a great friend to both of us when we needed a friend so don't you dare hurt him," the attractive little blonde told her.

"I'm not trying to hurt him Ruth, I want him back. I want back what I threw away because I was too young and too stupid to see what I had. Mom and Jan told me the same thing," answered Sandy.

"God! Jan! If you deliberately hurt him and she finds out about it she'll kill you. I'm not trying to frighten you, I'm trying to WARN you. She will kill you. He saved her from being killed and you wouldn't believe the pathetic mess she was. When she got out of the hospital from all the physical damage that had been done to her, she was in therapy for over a year before she was even half way normal. For a long time he was the only male who could enter the room with her without her screaming. Then she allowed Rollo in and from there the rest of the world. And when I say therapy I mean in a closed, locked ward. For the first month Rob slept there every night because she was afraid and couldn't sleep otherwise. It was either him or they shot her full of meds. Can you imagine what he went through? A normal, sane person willingly being locked in that place just to help a friend, and he did it for weeks!"

"They put a bed in there for him to sleep on, he had to be touching her for her to sleep. If he got up to pee during the night she was instantly awake because he wasn't touching her. When Rollo started visiting her he had to be at least 20 feet away or she would be so scared she would curl up into a ball. Slowly the distance got closer until they sat across the table from each other. They did that for over a week, him visiting each day, before she finally reached out and touched him. When she finally did touch him and saw that it was really him she jumped across the table into his arms and cried like a baby. That animal she was married to should be castrated and never let out of prison."

"She never told me any of that, she just said it was bad."

"Sandy, I know about Jan and Rollo, he told me. When he would come home from visiting her I would hold him while he cried about his friend. After she finally saw he was real, that he wasn't going to hurt her she opened up. They released her from the locked portion a few weeks later but she stayed in therapy for months after that. As far as I know Sandy, no one's ever held Rob and let him cry."

"If I wanted to get someone back, someone as wonderful as that man is, I'd hold his and let him cry all his pain out. Let him see that others care about him and his feelings also."

"Ruth, does Herman know about this? Does he know about all the problems Jan went through? Would he help me with this?"

"Yes, yes and yes. I don't know the story on Herman but it's something similar. He's like Rollo, he loves Rob as much as a one man can love another and would give his life for him willingly. A man tried to barge in on Rob once, Herman hit him one time, ONE TIME and that man had to be carried away in an ambulance."

They talked for several more hours, the last few Rollo was there as well. Rollo told her of things that Ruthie didn't know, that he hadn't shared with her.

Saturday afternoon Sandy called Rob's apartment, Herman answered. "Herman, this is Sandy Johnson, do you remember me?"

"Yes, Miss."

"I take it that Robbie is within hearing of you?"

"Yes, Miss."

"Is he going to be home about 2pm tomorrow and does he have plans for the evening?"

"Yes and no Miss, I know of no such.

"Yes, he'll be home, no, he has no plans, got it. Is there anything really important going on at work Monday and Tuesday? I want to try something and if it works, even if we don't get back together he is going to be emotionally drained and need some time to recover. Herman, I've talked with Mrs. Allen and to my Brother and his wife. I know what she went through even if she didn't tell me all of it. Rob still has all that poison inside him and needs to get it out. I think I can help."

"Yes he does Miss and I wish you luck. As far as the question you asked I'm sorry but not just Monday or Tuesday but there's nothing open for the whole week. I'm sorry I couldn't be of more assistance."

"Thank you Herman, I got it, nothing important for the whole week, I'll see you about 2pm."

"Yes Miss, I'm very sorry also, good bye."

Sandy went shopping after hanging up from her cryptic conversation with Herman. She visited several shop and even the hair dressers. She only wanted a trim so they could fit her in without an appointment. Later that evening she returned to Jan's with her an arm load of packages. Other than to raise an eyebrow Jan saw nothing as she emptied the packages.

At 2pm Sandy was at Rob's door and knocked softly. The door was immediately opened by Herman.

"Where is Robbie's bedroom and can I get to it without him seeing me?"

"Yes, Miss. Down the hall way there and on the left. He's in what he calls the study."

"Can you give me a minute and then tell him someone gave you something for him that you placed on his nightstand, he does have a nightstand doesn't he?"

"Yes, Miss," Herman answered with a smile, "to both parts of that."

Sandy hurried quietly into the room and looked around. She quickly spotted just what she needed. After placing something on his nightstand she ducked into his large walk-in closet. There she removed the robe she was wearing which raised many eyebrows while she had waited in the lobby for the elevator. Peeking through the door she waited for Herman to deliver the message and for his curiosity to get the better of him.

Walking into the bedroom he immediately spotted the small jewelry case on the nightstand. It wasn't the original one but as close as Sandy could find to the original. Picking it up he opened it and sat down on the bed. Inside was a heart shaped ruby necklace surrounded by six diamonds however there was no chain. There was also a card, very worn now from being carried and handled a lot, that had come with the necklace originally.

"I want those both back," she said, stepping from the closet, "when you can truthfully give them to me. I wore out the original chain and kept the replacement."

Standing up as he turned Rob stopped what he was about to say and just gaped. Sandy was standing there with her shiny dark hair in a French Twist, there was just the hint of glitter across her cheek and beside her left eye. Other than that she was wearing very little. Dark nylons held up by a dark garter belt with matching bra and panties. The panties were more lace than anything else and barely covered her bush, the ribbons of the rest of it were pulled high on either thigh. The bra held her breast up and presented them to the world. In the eight years that had passed they had matured some and were even larger and more beautiful than during her teen-aged youth. Their shape was still conical yet the areolas had darkened, defining and setting off her nipples even more. The dark high heels only added to the lovely picture she presented as she had recreated one of the happiest moments of their relationship.

"You once told me that "NO" was the strongest word you knew. NO, Robbie you can't have me, and NO that's not why I'm here. I'm not here to torture you or anything like that but I had to get your attention. I want to talk to you, only talk, that's all. I don't even want you to touch me. Now please lie down on the bed and turn away."

Still in shock he did as she asked.

Sandy joined him in the bed, spooned up behind him and put her arms around him holding him close.

"I didn't say that I wouldn't touch you. I'm holding you now Robbie, tell me about the person that Jan was married to. Tell me about what she went through at the hospital because of him and tell me about what YOU went through at the hospital helping her. Talk to me Robbie, she was my best friend and I wasn't there for her."

"God, that sick fucking animal..." was as far as he got before he couldn't talk anymore. Racked with sobs he shook, pulled her around in front and grabbed her desperately, pulling her to him. "How can anything like that call himself a man, he shames all of us, ' he sobbed. He continued to sob, tears that he had held back for a long time came forth as he spilled them across her. "I've seen jello that had more life in it that she did..." and the sobs took over again. Bits and pieces came out, never a complete sentence as Rob held her and let go of the pain he had endured with his friend, endured for his friend.

It was dark outside when Sandy walked out of the room. Herman was in a chair across from the door. "Herman, Mr. Rob is asleep right now. Would you please let them know at work that he won't be in for a couple of days and could I have something to eat? Something you can serve in a glass? I'm going back in there and I'll only have one hand free."

"Yes, Miss. Thank you Miss."

"Herman, my friends call me Sandy, please use it."

"Yes, Miss Sandy."

It was only after she was back in the room and removing her shoes that she realized her state of attire or unattire. She giggled at what Herman must think of her as she moved back into the bed with Robbie, holding him as she covered them both with a blanket.

When she woke up there was a glass of something still frothy on the nightstand and the lamp had been turned on. Reaching across she got it and drank part of it before snuggling back into Robbie's arms.

She woke again when he flushed the toilet and watched him through nearly closed eyes as he came back to bed, removing only his shoes and socks. Stretching out beside her again he took her in his arms and pulled her close. When he started to stroke her body she said, "No," softly. "This isn't the time for that, we're here for another reason. Are you ready to talk now?"

Before he could say anything however she raised her voice and said, "Herman, if you're still there, Mr. Rob is ok, I'm ok, go to bed, we'll see you in the morning."

"Yes, Miss Sandy," came the muffled reply through the door.

"Herman, goodnight, thank you," said Rob.

"Yes, Mr. Rob, good night Sir, Miss."

"Now talk to me, turn away, and talk to me."

Rolling over so his back was to her she again spooned with him, put her arms around him and held him while he slowly released the poisons he had held inside himself for so long. This time the words came easier, he still cried and sobbed from time to time but he talked. He described Jan, their Jan who liked nothing in the world better than to laugh, fuck and have a good time, afraid of nothing or no one, cringing at a simple laugh. She cringed often herself and was nearly sick a couple of times as he described some of the things that had been done to her. He was often racked with sobs again as he talked about his friend, her best friend who was too proud to yell for help. As he described her first weeks in the hospital she cried with him. How he spend hours stroking her to soothe her to sleep and when he took a leak he had to do it all over again because she was once again awake, afraid and needed reassurance. She sobbed right along with him as he described her reaction to finally realizing that Rollo was real and not a pleasant memory she had dredged up. She had been afraid to remember good things for fear they would somehow be taken away from her also. This took all night as from time to time the emotional release would overcome him and he would cry himself to sleep.

It was daylight outside when she opened the door to once more find Herman sitting across the hall.

"You don't listen do you? We both told you good night, that meant you were to go to bed, not sleep in the chair there. Mr. Rob should be waking up shortly and he missed his supper. Could we have breakfast? I don't know your routine, do you fix it, is there a cook, does he cook for himself, I don't know?"

"I'll fix you both something Miss Sandy. We normally go out for breakfast but there is food in the house suitable for breakfast. The coffee is ready now, how do you take it?"

"Black with one sugar please, bring it in as soon as it's ready. The smell of a fresh cup of coffee should bring him pleasantly awake. After last night he needs something pleasant!"

This time when she stepped out she had put on her robe. Turning back she took it off, draped it across a chair and was holding Rob close when Herman slipped in to place the coffee on the nightstand.

The coffee woke him but her arms around him startled him.

"It's alright, honey, it's just me. Relax and drink your coffee. Breakfast will be ready shortly."

Sitting up he took both cups, sipped from one and then handed the other to her. "This one must be your's." Looking at her when she took the coffee he shook his head. "Would you put something on, please? Even Superman was weakened by Kryponite and you're packing some very fine kryponite there that is weakening my resolve."

She laughed as she put on her robe, "I've heard them called many things but never kryponite. Better?"

"For what we're doing, yes. For what I want to do, no."

"Don't you think I want that as much as you do? While it might be the right place this isn't the right time however, we're working on YOUR problems, that one'll have to wait."

After Herman served them breakfast they talked as they ate. More poison came out, not just with Jan but other things that had been bothering him, things he hadn't let go of, until he got to her. There he stopped.

"Robbie, I was physically older than you but mentally I was backwards. Females are supposed to mature much faster than males but in my case I didn't. I confused Lust with Love. I acknowledged all the special little things you did for me but... They didn't stick, they didn't really register. I knew you loved me and I loved you for all the things you did for me and to me but I confused your love with our lust. Robbie, I threw it away. I've been through a lot of sessions with a shrink to get to this point. Now I would like it back if possible, all of it. The Love, the Lust, all of it, but not now. Now is for something else. Now is to get rid of some poisons so you CAN love."