I settled into my new job working along side Maria. It is such a pleasure working with people that respect you and your boundaries. No crude language, no stares, no one standing behind you trying to look down your top, just do your job and everyone is happy. The only exception was when I had to walk the factory floor to deliver mail to another office. I had to look straight ahead as the guys liked to do a little cat calling. I didn't know why, as I always dressed very conservatively, but I would find out after I met my husband.
I've been here two years now, had dates, but nothing that amounted to anything more than a short fling. I never went back to the strip club, I wanted that part of my life to be history. I was still working on my house, so I really didn't have the time or energy to date. It takes a long time when you work and are trying to do as much of the finishing yourself as possible.
There was a yearly two week shutdown coming up and I was assigned to an inventory group with Maria. Maria asked me to drive to her house and ride with her to work. Then we would go to a local bar/restaurant, as a group from our area was stopping there. Her husband was to meet us there after he got out of work. Friday came and during inventory we were allowed to dress casually. I wore pants and a casual turtleneck top. When your area was cleared you could leave. We had two hard working hourlies with us and we were done by noon.
There was a wall separating the bar and eating area that gave about six feet of space. We gathered at one end of the bar facing each other.
The drinks were flowing and all were laughing and having a great time enjoying each others company.
About two hours into the festivities a man put his hand on my knee and asked if I could let him through. I didn't realize I had blocked the walkway. I said I was sorry and turned to let him pass. When he returned he started talking to a couple of the men I was with. They asked him to join us and he did. Bob introduced Jim to us as an hourly he could always rely on when he needed a favor.
The group thinned down as some left to go home leaving a stool next to me that Jim could sit on. We talked as a group then all my coworkers left except Maria. We decided to move to a table in the eating area as it would be more comfortable and easier to talk. We asked Jim if he wanted to join us as we waited for Maria's husband. To my delight, as I liked him, he accepted with a smile.
We talked about our lives and Jim said he had just received his divorce papers.
I was happy to hear that, as we hadn't discussed our living situations and he wasn't wearing a ring. I said I was too busy working on finishing my house to have gotten married. Jim told us he had been killing time helping his sister and brother-in-law paint walls and stain the woodwork in the house they just had built when they moved back to the area.
I just blurted out without thinking, "why don't you come and help me paint and stain?" I didn't even know where he lived.
Jim asked where I lived and when I told him he said he lived in the next town and he would be happy to lend me a hand. I didn't know what to say but luckily Maria's husband arrived.
