This is the fifth chapter in the saga of Chris and Chloe Weber. While the story can be read separately, I suggest you read the earlier chapters to understand the full context of what is happening here. For those not familiar with those stories, the two main characters often refer to each other as "brother" and "sister," but there is no incest as the two are not related.
This is a radical departure from most of my offerings and contains no cheating, scheming, plotting or revenge. No one is beaten, shot, blown up, nuked, consumed by flesh-eating fish or sent to an alternate universe, however, there is a reference to an earlier story, "No Mercy." I hope you enjoy this little tale. If so, great. If not, that's fine too.
I realize I could probably have placed this in one or two other categories, but chose to post here as it is a story of consensual sex between a husband and his wife.
As always, constructive comments are welcome and please remember, this is a work of fiction...
July 17, 2010:
Chloe Weber was enjoying a cup of coffee in her mother's kitchen. She had just fed her nine-month-old son, Mike, and the two women were talking about life and love in general. Her husband, Chris, was on an assignment for the paper but would be back later that day.
"Have you read Chris' book," Chloe's mother, Kay, asked.
"Yes, I have. He let me read it before he sent it off to the publisher," Chloe said.
"That was so sweet of him to dedicate it to all of us. It meant a lot to your Dad. Your husband has quite the imagination. Feeding criminals to flesh-eating fish? The death penalty for adultery? Where did get all that?" Kay asked.
"I don't know," Chloe said. "He's always had quite an imagination."
"Well, I'm sure having a muse like you to inspire him helps," Kay said. "So, how are things going with you two lovebirds?"
"Generally, good, but things have changed a lot since Mike came along," Chloe said. Her mother looked at her concerned, nodding her head.
"Yeah, having a child does that, you know?" Kay asked. Chloe looked at her mother.
"Did that happen with you and Dad?" Chloe asked. Kay nodded.
"Oh, yes," she said. "But we got through it. Thank God for Chris' parents, though. We sometimes would take a weekend just to get away for a bit and they would watch you so we could go and take a break. But how are things between the two of you?"
"They're good. Chris is a wonderful father. He plays with Mike all the time and he's really great about helping change diapers and all. It's just, I don't know, different now," Chloe said.
"What do you mean?" Kay asked.
"Well, we used to, you know, play around -- a lot. But with our jobs and Chris' writing and now with Mike, it seems we just don't have time to do much anymore," Chloe said.
"Well, maybe the two of you need to get away for a bit. Maybe take a weekend and reconnect," Kay said.
"We couldn't leave Mike, though," Chloe said. Kay shook her head.
"Nonsense," she said. "You're not breastfeeding anymore and Mike is taking to eating food well enough, so let us take him for a weekend."
"I couldn't do that to you and Dad, though," Chloe said.
"Are you kidding? Your dad and I would love to have Mike for a weekend," Kay said. "You guys can go out to the lake house, take it easy, go skinny-dipping like y'all used to do, have some hot wild sex on the beach, just have fun. You need it, and you know it. Besides, what are grandparents for?"
"Are you sure?" Chloe asked. "I don't want to be a burden."
"It'll be fun. Trust me. Talk to Chris, take next weekend off and go. Have a good time," she said. Chloe gave her mother a hug.
"Thanks," she said. "I'll talk to Chris tonight."
That night after Mike was laid down to sleep, Chloe reached out to her husband.
"We need to talk," she said. Chris looked at his wife and dreaded what was to come. He read all those stories and knew what those four words often meant. Had she found someone else? Was she having an affair? Did she want a separation? He had been gone a lot thanks to his job and things had been a bit strained the last couple months.
"Okay," he said weakly. Chloe poured them a glass of wine. Oh no, he thought. This can't be good. She sat down and took his hand.
"Things have been pretty rough lately," she said. "It's not your fault. I know your job keeps you on the go, and mine does too. And with Mike around, we haven't been able to do very much." He knew she was right. Their sex life had taken a serious hit since Mike was born. What had been a daily thing had fallen off to maybe two or three times a week, if that. It was almost as if their son had built-in radar or something. They never complained, but they were a bit frustrated.
"So what are you suggesting?" he asked, dreading her answer.
"I talked with my mom today, and she suggested we take a weekend and head up to the lake house," she said. Chris was relieved.
"I think she's right," he said. "But what about Mike?"
"No problem. Mom said she and Dad would love to watch him for the weekend. I think we really need this, honey. I know I do," she said. Chris thought a minute and ran over his schedule in his mind.
"Okay," he said. "Let's do it next weekend. I'll tell my editor I need to take off a bit early and we'll head up Friday night." Chloe smiled and threw her arms around her husband.
"I can't wait," she said. "Thanks so much. I think we really need this."
The week went by fast and on the next Friday, Chris and Chloe dropped Mike off at her parents' house before making the two-hour drive to the lake house.
"It feels so strange not having Mike with us," Chloe said as she got back in the car.
