This story is fictional. Any mention of a person, place or thing is coincidental and does not give an accurate portrayal. No one under 18 engages in sex. Warning: This contains a small amount of mild male-male sex.
I appreciate the many comments. Two people wanted to read the apology sooner, and several people found the beginning of part 2 confusing. The end of part 3 explains why part 2 opens the way it does. The complete story comes in four parts. I uploaded the final two parts on the same day, meaning Literotica determines when they post.
To recap, Cliff and Emma fell in love after she was told her husband had died in a bomb blast in Jerusalem. Norman survived the bombing and after nearly three years of captivity, the Israelis found him and returned him to the United States. The conflict and change required by all the people involved form the basis of parts two and three.
In early March, Norm had improved enough that the physicians said he could go home, provided he had a certain level of care. Emma and I met with the lead physician in her cold clinical office. Her words provided warmth.
"I've reviewed his records," Dr. Grace Chen told us. "For someone who has suffered as much as Norm, his recovery is miraculous. His motivation is high. Based on our conversation, I believe you both offered the incentive." We went over his medications, especially those to curb the recurring pain.
Since he wanted to keep the same therapists for now, I invited him to stay with me until he progressed enough to live with minor help. My unit was on the top floor of a five-story condo complex. Less than a year before I purchased my unit, the owners renovated the public areas of the condos and made it completely ADA compliant with an elevator. I moved furniture around in my apartment to allow access to everything with his wheelchair.
Emma and the kids visited each weekend. Because I couldn't be home all the time, the two families paid for a man to come in when I was gone to watch Norm and help him exercise.
Bill, the caretaker, was in his mid-40s and a 20-year veteran of the Navy who earned a degree in physical therapy after he left the service. His wife cooked at a local restaurant and was always bringing us leftover food. He showed me how to lift Norm properly when necessary and how to help him do the exercises he needed. I could see how his body filled out and the tremendous strides he made over the past several months.
Before he left the hospital, Emma and I spent several sessions with Norm's current therapist, Dr. Peter Throckmorton. He talked about PTSD and gave us instructions on how to cope with his mental issues as laypeople. Emma had a Ph.D. in psychology, but she hadn't dealt with PTSD that much.
I had a few sleepless nights when Norm had nightmares. Dr. Throckmorton said I should never interrupt his sleep or get near him, especially as he grew stronger. "He won't want to talk about his dreams, but always tell him you will listen when he wants to talk." He opened up about some of what happened, but it was obvious there were things he didn't want to talk about. His favorite way to avoid the topic was the phrase, "I was passed out (or delirious); I don't remember what happened."
Since I spent so little time at home, I filled the condo with used furniture when I moved in. Bill helped me get rid of the couch and one oversized chair. In its place, we installed a set of bars he could use to practice walking, a circular bike, and a small weight area. We kept his bed in the same bedroom where Dave slept when he visited.
The three of us often talked about baseball. Norm and I shared work stories. He took a law degree but concentrated on financial issues in the state department. We talked a lot about the current economy and the upcoming elections.
While Norm suffered bodily injuries, his mind remained sharp when he wasn't taking too many meds for his pain. He explained how banks and other lending institutions were bundling subpar loans and selling them as top-rated packages. "All that needs to happen is for enough loans to default. It will be like an enormous ball of thread that takes time to unravel, but when it does, watch out."
We figured out how much money I could afford to lose. Norm lumped part of his settlement with the government in with mine and invested in companies that sold insurance to lenders who purchased the subprime loan packages. We stayed out of the stock market itself.
We shared life experiences and became good friends. I told him my story about Kate and Melanie. He told me of growing up near Truckee and his father's subsequent move to a nut orchard north of Sacramento as the lumber industry declined.
Because Dave and Bri wanted to see their father whenever they could, Emma and I struggled to find time for private activities. Norm continued to urge Emma and me to continue our love affair, but it didn't feel right to me.
After his 18th birthday in March, Dave wanted a private conversation. "I'm old enough now to talk about the physical parts of a relationship," he said. "I've spoken with both dad and mom. I can see how much dad and mom love each other. I can see how much mom and you love each other.
"Maybe because you have been part of our lives in this time of need, I'm not having the same issues accepting you that some of my relatives are. Fate put us together, and I'm always grateful for you being there for us.
"Bri and I have discussed this in generalities. We don't object to you and mom showing your love for each other physically, especially since dad agrees. Please don't make a big deal about it."
He blushed deeply. "If you and mom want to take a weekend and head for Vegas or something, I'm saying I'm okay with it. So are dad and Bri. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
"I do, Dave. I appreciate the offer. We'll take you up on that soon." After consulting, we agreed on a Vegas trip on the first weekend of April. She called me two weeks beforehand.
"There is a swinger's club east of Vegas where Norm and I went several times. It requires a current clean STD certificate. You don't have to, but if you're going to be part of our lives, you need to see what kind of lifestyle Norm and I lived."
His parents had purchased a special van that included a lift for wheelchairs. He could use the ramp to get inside the van and lift himself into the driver's seat. To drive, he used special hand controls. Bill drove us to their house on Friday afternoon. We took her Lexus and spent the weekend in Vegas. During the nearly four-hour trip, we talked non-stop.
"If we're going to make this work, the three of us need to spend more intimate time together," she said at one point. "Have you ever taken part in group sex?"
"No. While Kate wasn't the only woman I slept with before we married, my experience wasn't wide. I've never been involved in group sex. But I've read about such things."
She nodded her head, turned and smiled. I'd been around her enough to read this smile as her naughtiest.
"Over the next few months, I'm going to share things I've never mentioned before. Please don't think badly of me. If we continued dating, these subjects would have come up, but I didn't want you to think I'm promiscuous or anything."
