Lisa and I have known each other since high school but we didn't actually start dating until she graduated from college. Then we dated on and off for about five years before we both settled on each other and married in a pretty lavish wedding at her parent's beachfront property. While both of our families are pretty well off financially, Lisa decided to be a school teacher and I went on to work outside our families businesses.
Lisa has an older sister Lynn and a younger brother named Clark. While I grew up with an older brother myself, he was killed in an automobile accident when I was just twelve. My parents never really overcame their grief and it had a big impact on me as well. I loved my brother dearly and I guess that's why it seemed so foreign to me that Lisa and her two siblings seemed to be so distant with each other.
Clark is a nice enough man, but as soon as he was able, he left their home and moved away. Lisa doesn't say much about him other that he lives somewhere in Los Angeles. Lisa and Lynn too have a pretty cold relationship. Perhaps that comes from their parents, who might take care of their physical needs, but never seemed to show any of the kids' real affection. But I'm beginning to sound like a psychiatrist and I'm far from qualified at doing so.
While Lisa's parents have a difficult time showing love, they do believe strongly in family appearances and a few times a year at Thanksgiving, Christmas and at least once during the summer, typically around July 4th, we all get together at their home or beach property. While Clark never attends, Lynn and her husband always joined Lisa and I at their parent's home.
While Lisa's parents have hinted at grandkids, none of us have gone down that path yet and it may be longer for Lynn who divorced her husband after eight years of marriage.
Both girls are gorgeous brunettes although Lynn is taller and perhaps more striking physically. Actually, she is definitely more glamorous but seems to have an edge about herself. She has always reminded me of Catherine Zeta Jones, the actress from the Zorro movies. She's 5'7", a good five inches taller than my wife.
I have always had the impression that Lynn didn't like me very much. Not from the first time we met and has really only had the most superficial things to say to me. Then again, she doesn't treat me any differently than Lisa so I pretty much dismissed it. Things all started to change last Christmas though when Lisa's family invited us to their place for the week.
I'm in sales and things are fairly dead that time of year between the first week or two of December and the first week of January, so we normally head to their parents house back in our hometown. While Lynn still lives in the city, since she was going through a divorce she sold her house and moved back in with her parents for a while.
It was our third night there when we were invited to a Christmas party with some of our old high school friends. We were ready to get out of the house and Lisa asked Lynn if she would like to attend with us. Lynn seemed to ponder it for a while but the idea of staying in with her parents or going into the city herself didn't seemed appealing so she decided to join us.
The party was great and I saw a lot of my old friends but one in particular was a girl I dated in high school, Patricia, or Trish as we all called her. I struck up a conversation and though I went off talking with others I seemed to gravitate back toward her. She is a very pretty blonde with blue eyes that always disarmed me.
I guess we both had too much to drink because by the end of the night we were out on the back deck of the house. There was one of those outside gas heaters which kept us fairly warm but the next thing I know Trish is sharing how her marriage wasn't what it used to be. Her husband Carl, who himself was in the house sharing hunting stories with any guy that would listen, according to Trish, hardly ever touched her. When he did, it seemed to be for his pleasure only before he moved on to other things.
I'm not sure if it was the drinks, her story, the blue eyes or the love that was never quite extinguished but I soon found her in my arms as we kissed. Her plump lips were just as sweet and soft as I remembered as her tongue probed my mouth first. I felt her chest against me as my hand rubbed the contours of her back.
I know what we were doing was wrong and I should have never done anything like that but any resistance I had was broken down by the alcohol and Trish's warm touch as she wrapped her arms around my neck.
Both of us were startled by Lynn's voice, which sent shiver's down my back. I never heard the door open or feel her presence as she said in a very straightforward voice, "Lisa's looking for you. She wants to leave."
Both Trish and I looked at Lynn who seemed to give my former high school sweetheart a once over with her eyes before she turned and walked back inside.
"I'm sorry, so sorry. I got carried away. Are you going to be okay," Trish asked as she looked at me. My face still probably betraying both my shock and concern.
"Yea, don't worry about it," I said back as I took her hand. "Hey listen, if you and Carl, and its none of my business...but life's too short ...you know?"
I saw the smile on Trish's face, "Yea, I know. You happy?" she asked.
"Yea, yea I am," I shot back. And I was. I had driven off the path momentarily and my actions in the last hour were suspect but I was happy with my marriage. I had a wonderful wife, a good job, and a fantastic life. What I didn't count on was the road ahead.
Driving home Lisa sat up front with me and Lynn behind her in the backseat. "So where did you get off too? I couldn't find you anywhere," Lisa inquired breaking the silence.
"Just talking with friends outside...but I was headed in. I was ready to call it a night," I lied as I looked in the rear view mirror to catch Lynn's eyes staring right into mine. The glare seemed either one of contempt or resentment and I was very anxious wondering if she would say anything on the ride home about what she saw.
While she didn't like her sister, it was her sister and I always had the impression she liked me even less. Would she tell Lisa she had walked outside to see me in the arms of another woman? It was after all just a kiss and was going no further but it would be hard to explain and likely hurt Lisa.
Lisa knew Trish and remembered our relationship well. Trish was just a year younger and we dated in high school and were featured pretty prominently in my high school annual. Lisa was actually six years younger and was in junior high school when I was dating Trish, I'm not sure there was any jealousy there, but she certainly would be crushed to hear I was on the deck kissing an old high school flame.
I was relieved when we arrived home and Lynn headed straight upstairs as Lisa and I chatted with her parents about the evening before we all turned in. Lisa and her mother made plans to get up early and go Christmas shopping, so she dressed for bed, gave me a quick peck on the lips, said goodnight, and it was off to sleep.
When I awoke the next morning she was already gone as I made my way downstairs. Her dad was also gone, leaving just Lynn and I at the house. She was already downstairs having coffee and a bagel looking over the paper, when I trudged in and made myself a coffee.
I wondered if I should even bring up the events of the prior evening but I also didn't want to live in a state of panic with a cloud hanging over my head, "Lynn, about last night," I began as I saw her peering over the paper. "I had a few too many drinks and things got a little heated, and, well, nothing happened or was gonna' happen," I reasoned. "And, I'm sorry it did. I've never done that before and I hope, we can keep it between us. I mean even though nothing happened, Lisa would be hurt, and I'd appreciate it if we could just drop it."
