Chapter 4: When One Door Closes...
In the previous chapters, our intrepid hero (me) came to the rescue of his aunt, who was struggling with her husband's sudden stroke and resulting paralysis. We grew closer than was socially acceptable. Later, I shared her "favors" with her husband; she serviced his needs while I serviced her needs. My mother found out about this fucked-up triangle; she confessed some repressed feelings for me--feelings I most definitely returned. Some weird shit happened on my 21
st
birthday, including me catching Mom fucking Uncle Frank while Aunt Ada was passed out in bed. She left before we could discuss anything that happened. That discussion couldn't be postponed forever...
The semester ended. My second year grades were good, especially in the classes within my new major. I didn't do as well in the bullshit "general education" classes but that's because I was distracted.
I was thinking about my mother, Beth, and how she had acted on the night of my 21
st
birthday. It was impossible to get that night out my mind. No matter how much sex Ada and I had, or what we did, I couldn't stop thinking about Beth.
I was infatuated, I guess you could say. I mean, I loved my mother. Of course I did! But this... all-consuming need... went way beyond that. I loved Beth the way a man loved a woman. At least, I thought I did.
We really needed to discuss our situation.
After school was over, I stayed to celebrate Ada's birthday, then drove the car to Beth's apartment for two full weeks. Ada hired a part-time caregiver for those two weeks, so I didn't feel too guilty about leaving her alone with Frank.
When I arrived at Beth's apartment, nothing seemed to have changed since Christmas. My old room looked the same. The kitchen and family room looked the same.
The only thing that changed was something that couldn't been seen.
I knew it. Beth knew it. We looked at each other for a moment, then I pulled her into my arms for a tight hug. No kissing. No touching. Just a hug to let her know that I was back home. And that I was hers for two full weeks.
We went out to dinner that night, which was an extravagance for us. Beth smiled when she said, "If I'm not paying for your room and board next year, it seems I have some extra spending money. Let's go spend it."
Two glasses of wine each. Of course, I got carded, which made Beth laugh. "I'm exactly twice your age now!"
"You don't look any different than the girls I go to school with."
"Well, I know
that's
not true!" But she blushed anyway at the compliment.
The dinner was really great. We talked about school; we talked about Beth's job. But we didn't say anything of importance. We pretended that there was no elephant in the room.
When we got back home, she poured us both another glass of wine. "I guess we need to talk," she said.
I nodded. "I think it's time."
"Right." Then there was a long, awkward pause that ended with Beth clearing her throat then drinking some more wine. "Right," she repeated.
Okay. This was going to be up to me. I could do this. After all, I had thought about little else since April. "Mom," I said. "Beth. Look at me, please."
She looked at me, holding my eyes as I reached over and put my hand on top of hers.
"It's okay, what we did that night. It's okay. I don't want to pretend that it didn't happen, because it did. And it's okay that it happened." I smiled at her. "More than okay, really. It was wonderful."
"Now you know what a slut your mother really is," she said, looking away from me, her face blushing.
"Look at me, please. I don't think you're a slut--not at all! From what I overheard, you're a woman who gave herself to a man in a moment of
his
need. A kind of selfless act, some might say."
"I sucked his dick but I was married to your father when I did so. What does that make me, Jim? An unfaithful spouse, that's what it makes me." Beth took a deep breath. "And if you heard
that,
you also heard that I
liked
it--and would I have done it again in a heartbeat. I would have cheated on my husband--your father--at the drop of a hat. That's the kind of woman I really am." She scoffed. "Hardly 'selfless'."
I shrugged. "But you didn't cheat after that, did you? I mean, were there any others?"
"No. Just Franklin. Just that one time."
"Well, there you go. Hardly a slut!"
"And then I fucked him while Adelaide was passed out... while you watched us!" She tried to smile. "You perv! You watched me fuck Frank, then you... touched me."
I shrugged again. "You needed a little help over the edge. I wanted to be there for you."
"That's
all
it was? Just 'a little help'?" Her voice was full of skepticism.
I squeezed the hand I was holding. "No. You know it was more." I tried to smile. "The truth is... I wanted it to be me you were fucking, not Frank. I wanted it to be me."
"I know, Jim." She looked away from me again. "You know what I said at Christmas. I was weak for a moment, then I tried to be strong... for
both
of us." She shook her head. "But when I saw you there in Franklin's bedroom, afterwards... after I had my orgasm... the one you helped me with. I just couldn't help myself. Your cock was sticking up and out, dripping with need. I just... I just...
I was so damn weak!
" Tears started to leak out of her eyes.
"I love you, Beth."
She turned to face me again. "I know, Jim. And I love you too."
"No." I shook my head. "I don't think you understand me. I love you the way a man loves a woman. That's why I call you 'Beth' now. Because to me, you are a woman--not my mother. You are a woman I love. A woman I want to make love to, to bring you to orgasm, just the way I did that night in Frank's room. I want to be close to you the way a man and a woman are close. Physical. Emotional. Intimate.
Everything.