Please read chapters 1,2&3 before this.
It was six months or so since John and Ann had visited the sex club. Ann had told Rob and Shel all about that night from her viewpoint and said that while she enjoyed the experience very much she was in no hurry to repeat it.
Once a month John and Ann had a sex night at John and Shel's house while Shel stayed over with Rob. Sometimes when John had bought tickets for a show or concert which Shel didn't want to see Ann would accompany him, they would possibly have sex in the car in a secluded spot on the way home. Shel may have suspected this was happening but never asked about it, Rob didn't have any interest now in Ann's extra marital sex, he was happy that she was sexually content, but without the lying and cheating of an affair with a stranger.
"I'm worried about Rob," Shel told John after arriving home from Rob's house in the morning after an Ann and John sex night. "He seemed to be short of breath after coming up the stairs to bed last night."
"Did you shag him? That would really have left him puffed out." John replied.
"Typical male response, make light of any health problems, don't forget he has that high blood pressure problem. But I am concerned, I'll have a quiet word with Ann when we see them next weekend."
"Good idea, but come to think of it Ann did seem a bit distracted last night, certainly not her usual nymphomaniac, wild sex self. I just thought it was hormone levels or something. I wonder if she has noticed anything amiss with Rob?"
Three days later at 6am John's bedside phone started ringing. "Who the fuck is ringing at this time?" He wondered.
"John, John, it's me Ann," came the near hysterical voice from the speaker. "It's Rob, he's had a massive heart attack, I'm with him now at the hospital, I'm so worried, I need you to be with me now."
"Ok, we'll both be with you in 30 minutes, is he in Newcastle General?"
"Yes, the intensive care ward, please hurry, I'm so afraid."
By now Shel was awake and had started dressing, "I got most of that, so let's get moving, you drive."
On arriving at the hospital John and Shel rushed up to the intensive care ward to find Ann pacing the floor looking ashen faced.
"Thank God you are here," she cried as both John and Shel took her into a hug.
"Have the doctors said anything more about his condition?" asked Shel.
"No, as far as I know they think they have stabilised him, but they also told me that it was a very serious heart attack and they are very concerned."
"All we can do is wait and trust the doctors, Ann you and Shel sit down and I'll go and find us some cups of tea." Ordered John.
An hour passed very slowly, Ann clinging to either John or Shel and alternating between optimism and despair.
A doctor entered the waiting area and slowly walked towards the trio, "Mrs Rawlton?" He enquired.
"That's me," said Ann rising to her feet, John and Shel standing up either side of her.
"I'm so very sorry to have to tell you that Robert died five minutes ago, he had another massive heart attack and nothing we could do was any use. He was unconscious at the time so would not have suffered at all."
Ann crumpled in a flood of tears and would have collapsed onto the floor if not for John and Shel supporting her, then gently lowering her onto a chair. Shel and Ann clung to each other sobbing uncontrollably.
The doctor quietly said to John, "We will leave Robert where he is for now, give her a little while and then see if she wants to spend a little time with Robert to say goodbye. Will you take care of the formalities?"
"Of course, anything I can do to lighten the load on Ann, she will be coming back to stay with us, no question about that. Thank you so much for your efforts."
A few hours later Ann was in an armchair in John and Shel's house starring silently into the distance.
"Shel, here are Ann's house keys, will you drive over there and pick up any stuff she will need for at least a week being with us and check the security of the house. I'd go myself, but you will know what she wants in the way of clothes more than me," said John.
In less than an hour Shel was back with a suitcase full of Ann's clothes. "I doubt you want any food, but will you have a cup of tea then try and get a little rest upstairs please Ann, I've got your stuff sorted in the spare room."
"I'll try. Thanks for looking after me, but what will I do now, so much stuff to be sorted out and I haven't a clue where to start."
"Don't worry about that pet, we will help with everything."
"It's no good I can't sleep, my mind is churning over and over," announced Ann coming back into the living room an hour later.
"Tell you what, Shel will you make a light meal for us all, say an omelette, then lets spend the evening recalling the good times we all had with Rob. We'll raise a glass or two in his memory, then pack Ann back off to bed." Suggested John.
The mini wake lasted until 1am, tales told of memories of Rob.
Shel led Ann upstairs and helped her change into one of Rob's old T Shirts which she had brought back that afternoon. Ann was delighted to be sleeping in something of Rob's even though she was absolutely swamped in the garment.
"Oh Shel, you and John have been so kind to me, I honestly don't know what I would have done today without you both."
"Of course we are here for you and will be for as long as you need us," said Shel giving Ann a long, tight cuddle."Now, get into bed and try and get some sleep."