The Photo Shop
by Candyman666©
All characters participating in sexual activity in the stories are 18 or over. Please don't be afraid to let me know what you think of my stories. This story is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
To help you keep track of the different characters in the series, a list can be found on my author's page in order of their appearance in the stories.
Chapter 78: John and Lizzy finally make it to Antwerp
It was again that time of the year when the tax return forms had to be filled out, and Tanja was busy with her books when the phone began ringing in the club.
"Jack, can you please pick it up and tell whoever it is that I'm busy and can't come to the phone right now, thanks, but put it on speaker if it's really important, and I'll take it."
"Oki Doki!" Jack shouted back. He picked up the ringing phone and said, "Hello, how may I help you?"
"Who is this?" the voice at the other end replied.
"This is Jack."
"Sorry, I think I've dialed the wrong number. I thought I dialed the number of Tanja's club."
"No, no, you haven't dialed the wrong number; you are connected with Tanja's club."
"But you're not Tanja?"
"No, I'm afraid not. As I said, I'm Jack."
"And where can I reach Tanja?"
"Normally, you can reach her here, but she's very busy; can I take a message?"
"OK, can you tell her that John from America called..." but before he could continue, Tanja joined Jack and motioned to him to give her the phone, which he gladly did with this English-speaking person he had on the line. English was not Jack's strong point; he preferred to stick to his native Antwerp dialect.
"John, Tanja. You made it! Are you in Belgium?"
"Oh, hi Tanja, yes, we finally made it, but it was difficult."
"Was anything wrong?"
"Was there anything right? We had a horrible two months, believe me, but hey, I'm glad I caught you."
"Sorry to hear that, but you caught me at a very difficult time."
"Don't tell me that everything is going lopsided with you as well?"
"No, no, it's just that time of year when I have to complete my tax return forms, so I'm pretty busy right now."
"Oh God, I feel for you. That's one of the things I hate as well, but maybe we can meet sometime this week when you're done?"
"I have to be done today; I need to turn them in before five p.m. and then hope for the best."
"So are you free tonight then?"
"Yes."
"Great, then you will appreciate, I hope, that we take you to dinner tonight, and you don't have to worry about preparing food, and we can catch up. Hang on a second, Lizzy wants something...Oh, she wants me to say hello from her as well."
"Please greet her back from my side, and yes, I would appreciate having dinner with you guys. The club is closed tonight anyway, so I have nothing on."
"Fan-fucking-tastic! Only one thing -- we have no idea where we can take you. Can you book something or take us to a place that doesn't require pre-booking?"
"Do you like Italian food?"
"Yes, we love Italian food."
"Great, we can go to Mario's; he always has a table available for me."
"OK, so how do we get together? We don't have a car, so maybe we can take a taxi and come to the club or your place or the restaurant?"
"If you tell me at which hotel you're staying, I can pick you up."
"We're not staying in a hotel."
"Bed and breakfast then?"
"Nope, we're staying in one of these apartments from your friend Grace."
"Really, you remembered that?"
"Hey, if someone gives me a tip on good accommodation, I always take notes. Do you know where it is?"
"I've never seen it. I heard of it from Lew, but I never visited, but don't worry, I'll ask him where it is."
"Is that the Lew you were talking about during the cruise, the photographer?"
"Yes, that's him."
"Great. If you talk to him, why don't you ask him to join us? After what you told us about him, I would really like to meet this guy... and so does Lizzy."
"OK, I'll ask him; he's upstairs."
"What do you mean, he's upstairs?"
"His photo studio is above the club, and his apartment is above the studio; he's my landlord."
"Yes, now I remember you telling me this."
"OK, would sevenish suit you guys?"
"Hey, any time that suits you, Tanja. We're on vacation, and you are the woman who has to work; we adapt to your schedule."
"OK, seven it is. I'll ask Lew if he's free and if he wants to join us."
"Only if he's not busy photographing naked women, mind you. I don't want to keep him away from his favorite pastime."
"He does all kinds of photographic work; photographing naked women is only his hobby."
"Well, I'm gonna leave you now as I understand that you're pretty busy with your tax forms, and we don't want you to miss your deadline, so see you around seven, with or without your house photographer."
"OK, see you then."
Tanja put the phone down and quickly returned to the dreaded job of filling out the forms that would allow the government to plunder her bank account. Just before the deadline of five p.m., she was finally able to submit them electronically via tax-on-web.
"Tanja, all done?" asked Jack, who was still around playing with the electronics.
"Yes, I only hope they'll accept it."
"Yeah, I know the feeling. I've got similar problems with mine, but I pay an accountant to do them for me. It's just not my cup of tea. I can solve any electronic problem, but these tax forms are a complete mystery to me, and I admire you for being able to complete them."
"I only hope to not have to do something with these things anymore for another year."
"Yeah. Hey, will you close up or shall I?"
"No, don't worry, I've got a few phone calls to make, and then I'll close up. So, see you tomorrow?"
"No, I'm not coming tomorrow. Everything works fine, and if something goes wrong, Elisa will take care of it.
"Yeah, she's a real treasure, that girl."
"If it weren't for the age difference, I'd ask her to marry me."
"Come on, Jack, you're not that old."
"Well, we differ by 14 years; that's a lot, especially if she would want to have kids."
"I've heard of couples with a far bigger age difference, and they do work out fine and have kids. Now, if Lew made that remark and wanted to marry Elisa's sister Jada, I would have my doubts. Now there would be a huge age difference, but you?"
"Well, I'm not sure if she would have me."
"All you have to do is ask, silly. A no, you have, a yes you might get."
"We'll see," upon which he walked out.