Please read chapters1 through 5 before reading this Chapter 06.
This is a fictional story.
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The Christmas holidays passed without any further experiences between Angie or Mike and me. The following day they left for home to celebrate with her family and prepare for his deployment. Matt spent the day visiting with some of his friends and Melissa. I would learn more about Melissa as time passed. "Liz", Harry spoke bringing me out of a memory, "tomorrow let's go to the mountains for a couple of days. I've made reservations at a B&B for the two of us. Just a little get-away for us."
How could I refuse? It was a beautiful trip; the air crisp and clean and the roads barely traveled. We stopped at an old store filled with antiques and collectibles. It was fun to shop and I believe Harry truly enjoyed it. We arrived at the B&B in late afternoon and met the other two couples staying there then joined them for dinner before retiring.
Harry undressed, as usual, but didn't put on pajamas; he crawled into the bed naked. I looked at him and he smiled. "Don't put anything on. Just come to bed naked with me" he said as he laid open the covers for me.
There was excitement in me, excitement that perhaps his libido had returned and he wanted to make love. I undressed and turned out the lights. The full winter moon lit the room with a blue hue. I could see Harry's eyes following my body as I made my way to the bed. He pulled me to him, into his arms, and held me against his body, then kissed me, wonderfully, fully, passionately, husbandly. I wanted him.
He broke the kiss and edged me gently out of his arms. He moved atop me then down until he was between my outstretched legs. Harry began kissing and licking me and gave me oral pleasure, pleasure he hadn't lavished on me in a long time, and I gave in to his ministrations until my body floated and I climaxed. He moved back beside me and put his arm around me and held me in silence for a long time. He asked me a favor; would I make him cum. I took his flaccid penis in my hand and began stroking and rubbing him. I saw his eyes close at the pleasurable feelings. I moved down and took his softness in my mouth and worked to bring him off. He didn't get erect but he came and I took every drop. It wouldn't be the last time I would do that for him, we would do it often.
We stayed in each others arms for a long time, enjoying the warmth of the down filled covers and our naked bodies touching. He breathed a heavy sigh then spoke. "Honey, I have something important to tell you so I want you to just hold me and be still until I'm finished."
My heart sank as I was sure he knew of me and the kids and was going to ask for a divorce, but why make love to me?
"I, I have an inoperable cancer, one that has taken away my ability to be a man, what I mean is my ability to get an erection, that is the reason I haven't made love to you for so long. I know I've been distant and I was afraid it was driving us apart. The doctors have given me anywhere from 6 months to a year."
I could hear his words but I only felt my own pain. Years ago I had stood beside doctors as they told families their loved one was dying. I had seen their anguish, and pain and now I was experiencing that same emotional roller coaster myself. "No!" I think I screamed, "we'll get second opinions."
"I have; more than one and they all agree."
I began to cry, burying my head against his naked chest, feeling the familiarity of his body and seeking his security. I cried for a long time before he spoke again.
"It will get worse honey, painful and I will lose my ability to work and other things. I've made arrangements for you; insurance, the house, other financial considerations that will make a lot of things easier for me. I haven't told the kids, I thought we would tell Matt when we get home and wait to tell Mike as he doesn't need this worry while he's over there." He paused and took a deep breath. "I'm glad you have Matt and the two of you have your special relationship. It will make things better for you down the road."
"What do you mean special relationship?" What did he know? Did he know about our affair or just that we are a close mother and son? I looked at him.
"Liz, I've known about you and Matt for some time now."
I started to interrupt, but he shushed me.
"At first it really hurt me, I mean I thought about divorce, but then I looked inside where I was hiding this illness from you and hiding the debilitating affects it has on my body and the affect it was and is having on you. Like I said, I thought it was driving us apart. When I came to the realization that I couldn't be the husband I should, I accepted your relationship with Matt and how good it is for you, maybe good for both of you. If you want Matt to know, that is about me knowing, you can tell him, if you wish. I ask that on some occasions you do for me what you did tonight, and that you keep your relationship with him discreet."
What was I to think? My husband had just told me he was dying and that he knew of me sleeping with Matt and that it was OK. I think I loved him more at that moment than I realized. He was thinking of me, not just himself. "Of course I will. You are my husband, my love and my world. You don't need to ask, I will know. And yes, discretion of course."
We talked some more of his illness and his plans, the kind of talk married couples must have when the marriage is about to involuntarily end.