The Brown House.
Christine's sister, Nina, was visiting along with her three kids and husband, John. Christine regularly had her sister over so her kids could use the pool. Nina was older than her sister and had married John the week after their high school graduation.
Christine and John had been wild in their younger days and spent the first few years of their marriage sowing wild oats while climbing the corporate ladder. John had taken both Christine and Alice to bed many times in the early days. Sometimes alone, sometimes with their husbands, and always with his wife's wife in the same bed.
It was only after several years of marriage that John and Nina decided to have kids. They agreed to curtail their uninhibited lifestyle while their three kids were growing up. That meant John was only sleeping with Nina.
Being surrounded by beautiful women that he could bed wasn't easy for John. In addition, it was hard for John to hide his physical reaction to the women around him while he was wearing shorts or a bathing suit.
Because of this, John routinely excused himself from these gatherings. Instead, he'd usually grab a bottle of Woodford's Reserve Bourbon whiskey from the car and go see his friend, Todd.
Todd and his wife Ellen lived in the fifth house on the cul-de-sac, the second couple to move into the neighborhood. Todd and Ellen had both been career military, never having kids. After retiring, they'd gone on to second careers, then third careers.
Todd had an advanced degree in technology and made a lot of money in the private sector before becoming bored. He'd started as a cop in the military and returned to his roots as a cop. Todd became a police officer with the small local department while Ellen taught middle school.
John had been in several of Ellen's classes and had run into Todd in an "Official" capacity as a high school student. Todd had always impressed John with his calmness, understanding, and fair and firm presence. He liked and admired both the Torrance's.
They were considered the anchors of the cul-de-sac, always being there when their neighbors had needed them.
Todd answered the door and immediately invited John in. Todd had come to expect John's visits when he and Nina brought the kids over to Christine's to use the pool.
"Where's Ellen," asked John, "out with her sister?
"Ellen is living with her sister. I'm on my own," replied Todd.
"What!" exclaimed John, "you guys and been together 45 years, what the hell happened."
Todd took the bottle from John, saying, "I'd rather drink than air dirty laundry."
Two hours later, John covered his drunken sleeping friend with a blanket and left him on his couch to recover.
When he got back to Christine's, it was just turning dark, his kids had been fed and were upstairs using Uncle Ken's game gear, leaving Christine, Kenny, and Nina, now joined by Alice and her son Tom together in the kitchen.
As soon as John walked in, Christine asked him, "What's going on with Todd and Ellen?" the tone of the question leading him to believe his sister already suspected something.
"There's have a problem," said John.
"I haven't seen Ellen for a while," said Christine, "is she OK?"
"Ellen is living with her sister. It took me a while to get the story, helped by bourbon." said John. 'let me organize my thoughts, and see if I can make sense..."
John thought for a moment before telling the story, "Todd and Ellen have been married for 45 years. It's a strong marriage, but not a passionate one. Todd is, like several men you ladies know, highly driven. He said he could never remember a time when he wasn't horny.
"He likes women, not girls, women, and has no sexual hang-ups. However, he does have several rules. First, he has no use for non-consensual sex. According to him, the worst thing any person could do is force their partner to do something they don't want to do.
"The next no-no is to fail to give more pleasure than you receive. No 'Wham bam, Thank you, ma'ams' in Todd's world.
"Cheating is a huge no-no. Todd's words were, 'some promises are meant to be kept. If you are expected to be monogamous, you stay monogamous.'
Ellen is the opposite. She has no use for sex. According to Todd, she tried the first few years of the marriage, but eventually, 22 years ago, they just stopped having sex.
Because of Todd's beliefs about sex, he couldn't force her, nor could he cheat. But, because he did and still loves her, he stayed in a sexless marriage. As a result, he hasn't had sex in 22 years.
Recently things heated up on the cul-de-sac. Ellen was coming home from a walk and heard what she thought were screams coming from Alice's back yard," finished John.
"Oh god," exclaimed Alice, looking at Ken, who was shaking his head.
"Yup," continued John, "Ellen looked over the fence and saw my nephew, Kenny, with Alice bent over the pool fence, hammering her like hell. Ellen went home and complained to Todd. Todd told her in no uncertain terms that it wasn't any of her business. Alice and Kenny are adults, and if they want to enjoy each other, more power to them.
Things would have been fine, except, for reasons she would not explain, Ellen believed Christine, Kenney, Alice, and Tom were fucking each other like rabbits on meth. Does anyone have any idea why she would think that?" asked John, with a devilish smile.
"Ellen would not leave it alone and demanded that Todd call the department and report it," continued John.
"Todd blew up and unloaded on Ellen. He doesn't remember the exact words he said, but years of anger and frustration poured out. The general theme was along the line that just because Ellen was a frigid prude did not mean she had any right to judge others.
He also called her a hypocrite. According to him, he never once entered Ellen during sex when she wasn't wet and ready. She always had to have a towel under her because she leaked so much. In other words, he did not believe she hated sex as much as she claimed. He thinks the real issue is she's terrified of losing control.
He finished by reminding Ellen that a couple of years ago, he'd begged her, literally begged her, to seek professional help because of what her dysfunction was doing to their marriage. Ellen appeared to agree to do so but lied and saw a therapist for her "anger issues" without mentioning sex.
Ellen broke down in tears and left to stay with her sister.
Todd told me they had not started divorce proceedings. However, he wanted to give Ellen time to consider her options. He told her he wouldn't seek female company actively, but he would not ignore an opportunity if one came his way.
The final thing told Ellen was the woman he wanted in his bed was Ellen. That he would never force her to join him, but she could not have it both ways. If she refused to be his lover, he had every right to seek another.
Christine seemed lost in thought for a few seconds before asking, "Todd asked Ellen to seek professional help, and she refused?"
"Yes," said John.
So, this issue has been decades in the making, and not something we caused?" asked Christine.
"I think that's fair," said John.
"We were just the straw that broke the camel's back, then?" interjected Alice.
"Also true," said John.
"OK," said Christine, "We need to think about this. I don't know if there's any way to talk sense to Ellen, but if we can, we should. I feel so bad for Todd. Could you live without Nina for two decades?" said Christine, looking at John.
"Hell no!" exclaimed John, "I wouldn't last two weeks."
Christine seemed lost in thought for a moment before she said, "The girls need to discuss this tomorrow at morning coffee." Then, looking at her son and master, she continued, "I have an idea, but I won't do anything without discussing it with you boys and ensuring we have our master's permission."
The next day.
The four girls had coffee together at 10:00 am every morning, the location rotating among them. Alice and Christine explained about Todd and Ellen.
Christine said, "I need all of you to think about this. If there's a way to convince Ellen to change, we should try. We need to brainstorm ways to approach her."
The other three agreed. Christine continued, "I don't think there is any way to make Ellen change. She'll have to decide she has to change. Right now, she doesn't have to change because Todd won't force her. I think the only choice is to make Ellen understand that Todd has options. My inner slut wants to do something, assuming my master approves. Would any of the rest of you be interested in participating? Show of hands, please?" raising her hand over her head.
Christine's hand was quickly joined with three others, with Mary saying, "I know where you're going. If Todd has several women willing to sleep with him, Ellen will understand her only option is divorce or change. If you're going first, I'm next; Todd may be able to help me out with something," but saying nothing else.
"Would you like to expand..." asked Angela.
"Not until I discuss it with Todd, first, OK?" said Mary.
Mary continued, "Ellen is married to a unicorn and is willing to give up 45 years because of sex. So forgive me if I don't feel any sympathy for her."
"Unicorn?" asked Alice.
"I don't think he's an abuser. He doesn't come home drunk and smack Ellen around. He's not a cheater, and he's made sure they have a nice standard of living. So he's either an idiot or a unicorn. Knowing him, I vote unicorn. Ellen made her bed, and if she won't climb into it, she has no complaint if we do," finished Mary.
During this, Christine had texted Ken and told him she would like, with his permission, to go see Todd, and depending on his answers to some questions, spend some "Quality Time" with him.
Ken quickly replied by group text to all four moms. 'discussed it with the boys this morning. Pending approval by you and the other ladies, we're willing to grant Todd full-fledged membership of the Boys Club. Your call, ladies."
