Unbundling Tamara

All lof my writing is fiction, and the characters are products of my imagination. This story does have hints of long-ago sexual abuse but no details. If that bothers you, this may not be the story for you. All characters are eighteen years of age or older. I hope you enjoy the story and will take the time to rate it and comment.

***

“Glad you’re doing so well, Mom. What’s that?”

I didn’t particularly like it when my mother called me at work, but she was sharp enough to know that was the best time to get me. I usually didn’t pick up my cell, letting it go to voicemail, then deciding when or whether I wanted to respond. Maybe a little selfish, but, eh. But for Mom, I knew I’d better answer.

“No, I don’t think I need to have all my elementary school papers and tests. I’m not going to look at them.”

I felt a little bad about that–she’s saved those papers for years, but I didn’t need them or even want them. I was sure they’d just get moldy in my basement, and I’d eventually throw them away. Might as well let that happen sooner than later.

“I’m not sure about the furniture either. The high school papers too? I’ll stop by sometime next week, and we’ll figure it out.”

My house was still a little short of furnishings, but I wasn’t sure I wanted the things mother was offering. I remembered a few of them–maybe I could refinish them or maybe paint them or…

“Hey, Mom, someone’s waving at me, so I need to get to work. Sure. And no, I won’t forget to stop by next week.”

I hung up and motioned for Tammy to come in. I wondered what would happen now, as I always did when Tamara Golubev paid me a visit. One thing was certain, though. It would get around to safety before the visit was over.

“So, to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?” I asked, my plastic smile firmly in place.

“You never enjoy my visits, Andrews, so don’t start with the bull.”

“That’s not totally true, Tam. There were several–”

“–times I’d done something stupid,” she interrupted, “and then you got to gloat.”

She’d hit the nail pretty much square on the head. It was always an occasion when Miss Almost-Always-Perfect did something that allowed the rest of us a little snicker. It didn’t happen often, of course, but I savored those moments.

Tam and I had discovered that there was only two months difference in our ages as if that mattered. Except when I wanted to rag her about being an old lady. As always, I wondered what fascinating subject she might be here to discuss. (Read that as argue about.)

“What are we going to do about these earbuds?”

“What earbuds?”

“Half the men down there are listening to music, or blogs, or who knows what,” she said, waving her arms.

“Just the men?” I said snidely, knowing it would ratchet her up about two levels.

“Don’t change the subject,” she snapped back.

I cringed as I often did when Tammy snapped at me.

“We’ve got to get that stopped,” you know.

“What? The earbuds?”

“Yes,” she said, glaring at me.

I put on my “I’m stupid” face to keep her from chewing on me even more, then took a deep breath.

“Safety?” I asked, adding a stupid question to my stupid face. For Tammy, it was always about safety.

“Of course,” she said with a snicker. “I suppose you don’t think it’s dangerous for people to be listening to music or some sports or political blog while they’re supposed to be concentrating on their work or operating some dangerous equipment?”

“I suppose it could be, but at least if they’re listening, they’re alert and awake. I watch some of the guys–and ladies–downstairs, and they look like they’re in a trance. You’re listening to acid rock; you’re awake and ready.”

I never listened to acid rock or anything else of that ilk. It wasn’t my thing, but I could see that, if you were rockin’ to the beat, you’d be awake and ready.

“Do you really believe all that?” she asked, an incredulous look on her face.

I wasn’t anxious to address that since we were just talking abstractions here. I needed to let her see some realities if I hoped to convince her that I was right.

“Let’s walk downstairs and look around, see what’s happening down there, and then we can talk some more.”

“You really think that’s going to help? Just walking around and looking?”

“Like chicken soup, it shouldn’t hurt, Tam.”

She sighed. “Where do you get all these stupid bon mots that you use all the time?”

I just stared at her. What the hell was a “bon mot?” I guess she finally realized how dumbfounded I was.

“Witty sayings,” she added, looking away.

I chuckled. “I don’t know, just very perceptive, I guess.” I figured that would throw her.

“Whatever. Let’s go down.”

We left the office, and I followed her down the stairs, concentrating on the very tight bun that plastered her hair against the back of her head. I wondered if it hurt; it looked so tight.

“See, Tam, now just look around–”

“–Eddie, what do you think you’re doing there,” she yelled, nearly sprinting away from me.

“What, Ms. Golubev?” A wide-eyed Eddie had stopped in his tracks.

“What is this, Eddie? What is this?” Tamara was pointing to the floor.

“It’s a yellow line.”

“That’s exactly what it is, and it was painted there for a reason. All of the skids have to be behind the yellow line and out of the aisle.” Tammy was pointing at two skids that extended about one foot over the line and into the aisle.

“Don’t know who set them like that,” Eddie said, trying somehow to escape Tamara’s wrath.

“Doesn’t matter, Eddie. You’re the lead and responsible for safety in this area, so let’s get them moved back right away.”

“I’ll take care of it, Ms. Golubev.”

Tammy’s standing still, hands on hips, told him she was going to stay right there until they were moved. He started toward a nearby forklift at a jog.

“No running!” she called loudly.

Three more minutes and the skids were moved behind the line. “Thanks, Eddie,” she said and walked toward me shaking her head.

I had my mouth open to say something when–

“–Linda, is that a glass bottle?”

“Sorry, Tammy,” a red-faced older lady said. “My sixth-grader packed my snack today, and I guess we’re out of cans of Coke.”

“Glass is dangerous out here, you know. Go ahead and drink it and then can it.”

Once more, I watched Tammy stand, hands on hips, to watch her orders being carried out. I was beginning to think we were on a fruitless journey here, the earbuds forgotten.

“Now, Marc, where were we?” Her broad smile told me she was proud of what she’d just accomplished.

“Earbuds,” I suggested.

“Oh yeah,” she said, looking around. “I haven’t seen anyone–no, no, no. You can’t stack those three high. She was moving quickly toward some very large boxes.

“We’re out of room. That’s the only place to put them.”

A very young-looking man with a ponytail had obviously only done what someone had told him to do.

“Being out of room doesn’t make it okay to ignore safety rules,” she reminded him.

“Where do I put them, then?” he asked helplessly.

“That’s a question for your supervisor.”

“He’s the one who told me to stack them like this.”

“Just tell him one of the safety people stopped you from doing it.”

“Okay,” he answered feebly, and I was sure he knew he’d be on the receiving end of his frustrated supervisor’s wrath.

“Now, the earbuds,” she said, then added. “What time is it.?

“Five till eleven.”

A look of uncertainty crossed her face. “I have a meeting from eleven till noon. Should we get together this afternoon?”

I sighed. “This isn’t Armageddon happening,” I said. “Since it’s Friday, why don’t we wait till Monday?” I watched her shaking her head once more.

“Okay,” she said, chuckling, and headed off to her meeting.

Another battle postponed.

After work, I went to Rocky’s for a relaxing beer and, if I was lucky, a little conversation. Rocky’s was a small neighborhood bar with very predictable clientele, at least in terms of who would be there on any particular day of the week. That’s why I was surprised when Rocky nudged me when I came in.

“You’re usually here on Saturday. Did she send you a message?”

“Who, you don’t mean Anna?”

Rocky gestured toward the corner booth.

I slid in on the cracked vinyl pad opposite the curly-haired blonde with the fascinating blue eyes.

“Rocky said you probably wouldn’t be here tonight.”

“And, did that disappoint you?”

“You’ve never disappointed me, Marc,” she said, a demure smile on her face.

“And I hope that never changes, Ms. Anna. So, is Friday one of your regular days here?”

“I don’t have regular days anymore; just stop in once in a while when I’m, well, you know.” She shrugged.

I’d known Anna since elementary school, so when she’d say, “you know,” I usually did.

“I was hoping you might be here,” she added, surprising me.

“You haven’t forgotten that Saturday is my day?”

“Oh, no. But I’m busy Saturday.”

The way she blinked and then looked away stroked my curiosity.

“You wouldn’t have a date, would you?” I guessed.

She lifted her eyes to meet mine and smiled. Damn, those eyes were beautiful…and that smile.

“I have a date with Andre.”

“Andre?”

“You don’t know him.” She chuckled. “I barely know him. But I’m going to work at taking care of that.”

What Anna had just told me didn’t align very well with her saying she was hoping I’d be here tonight.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Her look was questioning and a little anxious.

“Just wondering?”

“Why I came here tonight?”

“As always, Anna, you’ve read my mind.” People who knew us wondered why Anna and I didn’t marry, as we were together so often. It just wasn’t meant to be, and we were happy with the relationship that had evolved over the years.

“Why do I always come, Marc?”

“What about Andre?” It was my turn to be confused.

“It’s our second date. He’ll get a kiss, maybe a good kiss if all goes well, but that’s it. If he can’t be satisfied with that, he’s the wrong guy…again.”

“What about you, then?”

“You know me; I’m not satisfied. That’s why I’m here…and you’re here too. We need each other.”

I needed to process what she’d said, even though her words were very clear. Date with Andre, and here tonight to see me.

“Which white are you drinking tonight?”

Anna thought for a moment. “I told Rocky to pick one.” She shrugged.

“I’ll get you a refill.”

I went to the bar, spoke to Rocky, and returned to the booth with a glass of Chardonnay and a Coors Light.

“He says this is the only white he has tonight. So you won’t be mixing your drinks.”

“You ever try wine?” she asked as she took a long sip from the refilled glass.

“I stick to beer, yanno. It’s easier and what I’m used to.”

“You haven’t answered my unspoken question, and I know you got the refill so you could decide what to do. And?”

Decided, I replied. “Your place or mine?”

“Doesn’t matter to me, except there’s no beer at my place.”

“And no wine at mine.”

We shared a laugh at that and, even though this seemed just a little strange, those blue eyes wouldn’t turn me loose, so I paid.

Anna had a new boyfriend, and, for a change, she sounded a little encouraged, although, in this day and age, when guys expected at least a blowjob by the second date, she might be pushing her luck. Still, I looked forward to my time with her and had for the past who-knows-how-many years. We had a very workable arrangement that seemed to be enough to keep both of us satisfied and took away the need for hookups and one-night-stands.

It had all started innocently enough. As I mentioned before, we’d been friends since elementary school, and when we got to high school, that didn’t change but resulted in something very different and unexpected happening. Anna and I had a couple of dates, but we were too much friends for anything to develop along those lines. We each began dating other people, nothing serious, but one day she looked me up, a serious look on her face. With very rosy cheeks, she told me she was terrified that one of the guys would want to do something that had to do with sex, and she had no idea what to do or what the guy might expect. She asked if I’d teach her so she’d be ready when the time came.

It seemed a little sick that, with both of us eighteen years old, she was asking me to give her sex lessons. I didn’t know shit about sex then either, except the misinformation that high school boys share so freely. I timidly asked if she wanted me to explain things to her, and she let me know that would be fine, but she wanted me to show her as well. I went to the public library, sneaked around in the reference area, medical books and stuff, and tried to figure out all about sex. I talked to a buddy I felt I could trust, and he got information from his older brother, and I became an “expert.”

We each found a box of condoms in our parent’s dresser drawers and stole a couple of them to get us started. We experimented and, when we’d figured things out, discovered that we enjoyed sex. So, periodically, we’d get together to see if there was more we could learn and different things we could do. We stopped when Anna began dating Doug, and when they got married, I was sure my times with her were over. When Doug was killed a year later in a motorcycle accident, a sad but needy Anna looked me up, and we’d been at it ever since.

“We never decided,” I said when we got to the parking lot.

“Let’s go to yours. I get dirty looks from my neighbor for a week every time you spend the night.”

“I wouldn’t have to stay the night.”

She looked at me and sent me an adorable smile. “It’s a bit of a waste to get together and only do it once.”

I had no argument for that.

“I’ll even drink one of your beers,” she said, heading for her car. “See you in a few.”

I waited for her at the front door while she parked her car, and as she walked across the parking lot in her short skirt, sleeveless blouse, and small heels, I could see why I never minded getting together with her. Her very engaging look was very appealing, partly because I knew that, once inside, that winsome face would transform into a steamy sexiness that was irresistible. Her inexplicable poor choice of men since Doug was the only thing that kept me in the picture.

“Do you really want a beer?”

“Yeah, maybe two or three. A little buzz makes things, well, nicer, you know.”

“I don’t know, Anna. If things with you got any nicer, I might not survive.”

She laughed as I handed her the beer. “After how many years now, eleven or twelve, you don’t have to smooze me, you know.”

It was my turn to laugh. “If Andre sticks around and plays your game, when he finally scores, he’ll be so blown away there’s no way he’ll let you go.”

“Interesting choice of words there, ‘blown.'”

“No pun intended, but one of your specialties. When’s that going to happen?”

“No plans, just going with the flow. But, since you brought it up, sort of, are you going to hit on that lady you work with?”

“Tammy? I’m not sure she’s hittable.”

“So, are you losing it, then?”

“Whatever I had, I’ve still got, but she’s, well, I don’t know.”

“Now you’ve piqued my curiosity. Tell me more about her. But first, I need another beer.”

Back from the kitchen with two beers, I stared into those blue eyes and tried to think about Tamara Golubev.

“She’s a little different, but aren’t we all? Wears glasses, kind of auburn hair, always in a tight bun that looks like it might hurt. Most of the time, she wears long dresses, I mean six inches above the ankles, long and loose and floppy. She has sweatshirts that must be 2XL, but she’s nowhere near that size.”

“She trying to hide her figure?”

“I have no idea if she has a figure to hide.”

“You said she has auburn hair. What color are her eyes, and does she have freckles to go with her hair?”

“Freckles? There’s no skin showing except for her face…and the light reflects off her glasses, so, no idea on the eyes.”

“Andrews, you’re slipping, man.” She giggled.

Must be the beer, I decided. But was she right? Was I slipping?

“Ask her for a date. Find out what she looks like.” Another loud giggle followed by a big swallow of beer.

“I doubt she’s interested in having a date with me.”

“She isn’t married or engaged, is she?”

“No.” At least she didn’t wear any rings. I automatically checked that with every woman I met.

“I dare you, dork, ask her for a date. She may be hot, hot, hot.”

Anna didn’t know Tammy, and no one who did would describe her as hot, hot, hot. But that was for another day.

“Speaking of hot, hot, hot, do you need another beer, or are you there?” I was sure ready. As I watched Anna take off her blouse, then unfasten her bra and toss it aside, I knew she was ready.

“Take your pants off,” she said, sensuously licking her lips.

“And if I do?”

“Your cock will find the back of my throat very quickly.” Anna dropped to her knees, massaging her breasts and tugging on her nipples, a look of lustful anticipation on her face.

This, of course, was not my first time with Anna, and I wasted no time jerking my pants and boxers off. Almost before I had straightened, her nose was buried in my pubes, her lips and tongue drawing loud groans from deep within my soul. Her hands dug into my buns, and, as her mouth produced a familiar but ecstatic feeling in my overheated body, I knew what was coming next. Sure enough, a carefully manicured finger was probing my ass.

“Anna,” I gasped, looking down to see those blue eyes looking up at me, my erection moving in and out of her mouth. Even after all these years, she was often more than I could handle. It seemed that tonight might be one of those times as Anna wasn’t slowing down one bit. My blood felt like it was boiling, and my crotch seemed to have a mind of its own, twisting and thrusting in time with the movement of Anna’s delectable mouth. The sensations she was producing overwhelmed my brain, and my body wanted only one thing. Watching those blue eyes and her lips sliding back and forth on my cock, I could feel it building and then building some more.

I groaned loudly as I began to spasm, hot liquid filling her mouth with each spasm, my hands filled with that curly blonde hair as I didn’t want it to stop. She pushed forward one last time, then released me with a final swallow.

“Glad you’re spending the night,” I said when my breath returned.

“You didn’t like that?”

I just laughed.

“I love looking at those delicious tits of yours, but you better get that skirt off.”

“As you wish, sir. What do you plan to do to me?”

“I’ll take requests.” I’d said that to her before and wondered how she’d respond tonight.

“I’m so horny tonight; I’m all yours, so do whatever you can imagine.”

That was certainly a different response than I’d gotten before, and, often, I had a very fertile imagination, particularly when it came to Anna. A couple of ideas pushed their way into my consciousness, and I smiled.

“Oh, lord,” Anna groaned. “I’ve seen that smile before. You’re not going to hurt me, are you?”

“Maybe an extra twist on your nipple,” I teased, happy to have the upper hand after what she’d done to me just minutes ago. “Plus, you always look fantastic when you’re naked.”

Anna lay back on the bed, smiling at me, ready for whatever I might have in store. She had an amazingly sultry look, and the way she slowly spread her legs, revealing what had been hidden only seconds before was tantalizing. She lifted her hips, and I began to caress the unbelievably soft and flawlessly smooth skin of her thighs.

“They’re amazing,” I said, watching her chest rise and fall with the change in her breathing as I continued to caress that enthralling flesh that never failed to fill me with renewed passion, despite having done it for years.

“Anna wants more,” she said softly.

I could certainly do that, so I leaned down and began kissing that pale, silky skin. I slowly worked my way along her leg until a welcome musky aroma assaulted my nose. Two more kisses and I was at those familiar puffy labia that hid the enthralling pinkness that I craved. I kissed and licked them to soft moans from Anna, her hips moving back and forth with each kiss. My tongue was anxious for more, and it pressed between her labia, finding a warm and very wet place to penetrate. A deeper moan from Anna only spurred me on.

One hand on each labium, I spread her wider, and there it was, that swollen pink nub that was craving attention. I had decided I could tease us both, and I continued kissing and licking the labia, my tongue penetrating her over and over to louder and louder moans from a lip-chewing Anna who moved her hips, striving to bring that nub into contact with my lips and tongue.

“Marc,” she said, taking hold of my head and pressing it against her. I knew what she was yearning for and was intent on maintaining her yearning. “Please,” she added, a pleading sound to her groan.

I flicked that delectable nub one time to a delightful jerk from Anna. Then one more touch of my tongue and a third. Her fingers were wound tightly in my hair. She was determined to get what she wanted.

“You bastard,” she grunted, her hips pumping up and down. My lips closed on her clit, sucking hard, my tongue rubbing back and forth. I could hear Anna’s breathing change, and when her back began to arch, I released her.

“Oh, fuck.”

I waited a few seconds before pulling her clit into my mouth once more. When her back arched again, I stopped once more, expecting a protest from Anna. She simply waited, knowing it was just a matter of time. I went to work again, this time not backing off until her loud moans and spasms stopped.

“That’s the last time I tell you to do what you want,” she said with a smirk when her breathing returned to near normal. “You want to ravage me now or take a break?”

“If you stay naked, we can take a break.”

We talked for a while, and then I had my way with her, spectacularly satisfying as always.

Afterward, we climbed into the bed, another month behind us.

“Don’t forget about that dare.”

I gave her nipple a twist to show what I thought of her dare.

***

Tammy’s 2X sweatshirt, flowered at that, made me smile when she came through the door of my office. It reminded me of my conversation with Anna and her dare.

“We need to resolve the earbud issue before someone is injured.”

It sounded to me like Tammy had resolved it in her mind. But maybe I could rattle her a little.

“Can you take your glasses off for a second?”

A frown from Tammy. “What’s up with that, Andrews?”

I smiled and shrugged. “A simple request, Golubev.”

“I know you. Something’s going on.”

“Humor me.”

“I may be sorry for this,” she said, looking around as she removed her glasses. “Now what?”

They were green–a very pleasant green at that.

“I, um, just wondered what color your eyes are.”

“You could have asked.”

“I’m a visual person.”

“Right,” she said, smirking.

“About the earbuds. If you’ll go to dinner with me tonight, we can discuss it some more.” There, I’d said it. If I’d smacked Tammy with a two-by-four, I don’t think her expression would have been any different.

“What?” she finally said.

“Dinner tonight with me, cuisine of your choice.”

Tammy’s look softened. “Andrews, are you asking me for a date?”

“Twice.”

“Why?”

“Why do boys ask girls for a date?” I could see her mind working and expected a wisecrack in return.

“Okay,” she said. “What time and Italian is good for me?”

I guess that, subconsciously, I expected her to say no. But it was going to happen. It wasn’t often that Tammy Golubev surprised me. But, like it or not, I was going to have a date with her.

“Is six too early, and Italian sounds great?”

“I’ll leave here at three-thirty. You’re sure?”

She’d lowered her head when she asked if I was sure, and I could see those green eyes looking right at me. I wondered how I’d missed spotting them before.

“I’m sure if you are.”

She smiled and nodded. I’d never seen her smile like that, and it was kind of pleasant.

“See you at six.” And I couldn’t help but wonder what I’d see at six.

Tammy had written her address on a Post-It note, and I’d put it in my GPS. All the way to her house, my mind was racing, hopelessly trying to picture the Tammy that would answer the door. I parked–less than a minute now. I knocked, waited, and then the door opened.

“You look like you just saw a ghost, Andrews.”

Not a ghost, but nothing I’d ever seen before. “At work, you can call me Andrews. On a date, I’m Marc. And where did you come from?”

“Surprised you, didn’t I?”

Surprise was an understatement.

“What were you expecting?” she asked, her cheeks a little pink.

“Honestly, I was asking myself that same question all the way over here. What I found is nothing that I expected, and you have to know that too.”

“Before we go any further, I’m going to ask a favor of you.” Tammy raised her eyebrows as she looked at me.

“No problem,” I said, still in a state of shock.

Tammy held her hands out, gesturing to me and then herself. “This is a secret between the two of us.”

“What? You mean how you look?”

“Exactly, no one at work can know, okay?”

That got my brain whirring. Glossy and wavy auburn hair just below her shoulders, the green of her eyes easily visible without the glare of the fluorescent light; from the neck up, she was stunning. Below that was a bit more of a mystery, but not totally. It wasn’t difficult to see that there was a figure hiding beneath her three-quarter length sleeved blouse and sleek black slacks that covered legs that seemed much longer than they did at work. The two-inch casual heels she wore accentuated that. Why didn’t she want people to know about this other side of Tamara Golubev?

“I’m not sure why, but okay. My lips are sealed.”

“I’m trusting you, Marc.”

The look on her face said way more than her words. Tammy had never spoken to me that way before. It had its effect, and I vowed to myself not to betray that trust.

“I’m curious about your reasons, of course.”

She smiled. “You’ll find out when and if the time comes.”

“That’s cryptic,” I said, smiling back at her.

“Italian?” she said, ready to continue with the date.

“Sure, ma’am. Dominic’s okay?”

“Never been there, but let’s go.”

I went out the door first, allowing Tammy to lock her front door. She put the keys in her purse, then stopped.

“Crap,” she said and unlocked the door. “Forgot to set the security system.” She turned to me. “And I forgot to check the back door.” She was gone for fifteen seconds, then relocked the front door, tugging on it several times before putting the keys in her purse. She took hold of my arm and smiled. “Let’s go, Andrews–um, Marc.”

Everything she did seemed foreign to the Tammy I knew.

I opened the car door, and Tammy slid into the seat. I waited till I was sure she was settled safely inside before I slammed the door, then ran around and climbed in.

“How about this,” I asked. “If we’re talking about something personal, I’m Marc. If it’s business, I’m Andrews.”

“Okay, the same for me,” she said.

At Dominic’s, we were seated in a corner booth, and the warm smile on Tammy’s face made sitting across from her very pleasant. Our table had a candle mounted in a wine bottle, and the flickering light did wonderful things with her green eyes.

“Okay, Andrews, about those earbuds.”

My mouth dropped open. I wasn’t ready for business, but that had been part of her acceptance of the date.

“You really think they’re not safe?”

“Not just me. I’ve read several articles where other companies have banned them.”

I smiled and winked at her. “If I let you win this one, what’s in it for me?”

“You’re getting a little cheeky awfully quickly, Marc.”

I was relieved that she was back to the personal, but she wasn’t hesitant about suggesting I apply the brakes. I hadn’t realized I was speeding up, but she had caught me. Her change in demeanor from work-Tammy had me thinking, and I did have thoughts about all of this, but it was total guesswork.

“I’m not sure whether you’re Marc or Andrews here, but why did you ask me for a date?”

That caught me unaware, and I could tell Tammy knew it. How to answer, though? She’d just said that she trusted me, but if I told her the truth, would things change?

“Just tell me, Marc. You weren’t overwhelmed by my sensational beauty.”

I could almost hear my gears turning, those green eyes boring into mine. I quickly decided that maybe I could massage the story a touch, not lying, just leaving a bit of it out.

“Well, I was with a friend the other night, and they asked me about work. So, naturally, you came up in the course of the conversation, and my friend wondered if I’d asked you for a date. That’s how it came about.”

Tammy looked a little suspicious.

“And am I ever glad I did,” I added, winking at her. “But, since we’re asking questions, and from what I know, why’d you say yes?”

“I guess because I decided I could trust you. We don’t always agree at work, but you’ve always been honest, forthright, and willing to admit when you’re wrong.”

“Thanks. I have a natural question after all of this.”

“I know what your question is going to be, and you may get the answer one of these days.”

I could see that pursuing that subject was a fruitless chase. Perhaps I just needed to be patient, not my strongest attribute.

Seeing the Tammy sitting across from me and thinking about the Tam I knew at work, I was satisfied with that. I recognized there had to be something significant behind it, so I forced myself to relax and be patient. Tammy seemed like she’d be worth it.

“Are families for later too?”

Tammy was silent for several seconds, then burst out laughing.

The puzzled look on my face only brought more laughter.

“You mean your family and my family, not our family.” More laughing.

My face reddened that she’d even thought that. Tammy was watching me closely, and her laughing stopped, a big smile covering her face.

“I didn’t… um, I, well…” I stammered, watching that smile get even larger.

“Don’t apologize; it was me. But I’m glad to see those rosy cheeks.” She reached across the table and gave my hand a gentle pat. “My family is, well, a little too typical of today, I guess. My mom and dad separated when I was twelve or thirteen.”

I gave her a sympathetic look because I remembered how hard it was for me, even at 19, to lose my dad, and I’m sure it was even harder for mother, although she didn’t share her feelings too readily.

“I actually wanted to go with my mother, but there was a custody fight, and I didn’t end up getting too much of a say in it. It was an ugly divorce which surprised me since I hadn’t seen it coming. Maybe I was just naive.”

Tammy stared off over my head, and I could tell that even remembering was almost more than she could handle. Maybe I could help a little.

“Yeah,” I said, “I lost my dad at nineteen, and even that was hard. I can’t imagine what a divorce with split loyalties must be like, particularly at such a young age.

“Keep going,” she said. I want to hear about your family.”

We finished our dinners and talked more about family, Tammy providing sketchy details about hers, and I sensed she wasn’t inclined to provide more details yet in our brand new relationship. I was fine with that, curious, of course, but willing to go slowly. I was twenty-nine, and she was close to that, so we didn’t have forever if we wanted things to progress normally. My definition of normal, at least.

I drove her home, both of us still talking full-speed, and, when I walked her to the door, I wondered. She looked at me, smiled, and those glossy lips moved toward me, but right past mine to my cheek, where I received a slightly longer than usual kiss.

“Thanks for being who you were tonight,” she said, still close enough that I could feel her warm breath on my face.

“I’d like to be that same guy on Saturday if that’s possible,” I replied, longing to lean toward her and kiss those lips but able to stifle the desire.

“Oh?” she said, smiling.

“Different venue. How about a picnic at Watterson park at 10?”

Her smile continued. “Okay. What shall I bring?”

“I’ll take care of everything this time, but if you have a specialty you love to prepare, surprise me.”

“I think I surprised you today, so we’ll see if I can keep my streak intact.”

Other than appearing on Saturday stark naked, nothing could surprise me the way she had tonight. Thank heaven for Anna’s dare. I’d have to get her something nice to repay her.

We said our goodbyes, and Tammy went through the door, my eyes glued to those black slacks that covered a surprisingly good-looking butt.

***

I stopped by Tammy’s office early the next morning and wondered if last night had been a dream. What I saw was what I always saw when I stopped by her office, but remembering last night helped me send her a smile.

“Good morning, Golubev.”

“Ah, Andrews, you’ll be happy to know I got with HR this morning, and the ‘no earbuds’ policy goes into effect tomorrow.” A big smile from Tammy.

“Even quicker than I thought, Gol–” I needed a change. “Can I change something?”

“Something important?”

“Could be, I guess.” I looked around to make sure we were alone. “It’s awkward to call you Golubev, except when I’m mad at you. How about Tam for work and Tammy for the other?”

“Sure,” she said simply.

Unfortunately, our picnic had to be postponed due to a rainstorm–for three consecutive Saturdays, but that didn’t mean that Tammy and I didn’t get together on five or six occasions, and I got several more kisses on the cheek, the last few being a little “breathy” if that was possible for cheek kisses. I was anxious for a little more, but Tammy seemed very content with the way things were going, and we were certainly getting to know each other a little better, even though she was still quite private about personal things.

One day I received a surprising call.

“Hey Marc, it’s Anna.”

“Hi, Anna,” I said, wondering where this conversation was headed.

“Can you meet me at Rocky’s this evening?”

That didn’t help a lot, but I decided not to ask the question.

“Is six good?”

“Perfect, see you then.”

She didn’t always announce her intentions, although they were usually the same, so her being vague this time didn’t concern me too much. What did concern me was Tammy. We’d only been dating a short time, but there was something I sensed about her, a kind of vulnerability I couldn’t quite put my finger on. It affected me, though, and as I thought about Anna, I thought differently than in the past. I’d just have to see.

I left work a little early, so I could stop by Mother’s as I’d promised. I wasn’t excited about looking at old school papers, but since she’d saved them all these years, they were important to her. I might just go ahead and take them home.

We talked for forty-five minutes, Mother catching me up on all the family news… and gossip, of course. And, as mothers do, she asked me when I was going to find a good woman. I let her know I’d had a couple of dates, and it seemed my whole body was smiling. That was a new feeling.

I loaded the car with several boxes of papers, kissed Mom goodbye, and headed for Rocky’s, curiosity making me a tiny bit nervous. There were a number of possibilities, some more palatable than others.

“Hey, Marc, the usual?” Rocky called as I came through the door.

“You got it,” I said, looking around but not spotting Anna.

I was halfway through my Coors Light when Anna came through the door, or rather, squeezed through the door on the arm of a tall, dark stranger, a gigantic smile on her face.

At least some of those possibilities appeared to be eliminated.

“Marc, this is Andre,” she said, nearly bubbling. “I think I told you about him before. And Andre, this is my oldest friend, Marc.”

We shook hands, and I immediately liked Andre. The fact that Anna seemed totally enamored with him may have colored my thoughts. Seeing her like this filled me with joy as well.

Anna ordered her white wine, type unknown as usual, and Andre ordered a Coors Light, which gave him a few more points in my scorebook.

We laughed and talked, had more wine and beer when Anna remembered something from our last meeting.

“Did you ever ask your co-worker for a date?”

I smiled, picturing Tammy.

“I like that smile,” Anna said.

“I did, and, well, she’s been very surprising.”

“You look kinda happy.”

“So do you.”

“Yeah. I wanted you to meet Andre, so you’d…” She paused and giggled. “So you’d know why we won’t be getting together like we have in the past.”

She’d said what needed to be said. I understood what she was saying, and Andre was still smiling, although I hoped he didn’t know the complete meaning of what she’d said.

“You have a jewel here, Andre. Take care of her.” I was sure she was taking care of him.

“I will,” Andre said, and the way he looked at her told me he was serious.

A hug and a kiss on the cheek from Anna, and I was on my way home.

***

Tam and I saw each other a normal number of times during the week, and there were no crises to deal with, and, finally, it was a bright and sunny Saturday morning. I’d filled a big wicker basket with lots of picnic goodies, including a bottle of wine. I was curious what surprise she might have in store for me and was anxious to see how Saturday picnic Tammy would look. I knocked, and the door opened.

She had legs, mostly bare legs, and bare arms as well. She also had a big smile and an auburn ponytail. With very little makeup, her freckles were enticing. I couldn’t restrain myself any longer.

“Tammy, get mad if you want, but you are one good-looking woman.”

“Why would I get mad at a very nice compliment like that.” She leaned forward, and I got another kiss on the cheek. Knowing what I knew about Tammy and realizing it was only a peek at the total person she was, the cheek-pecks were endearing. But I was determined to see if more than that was possible.

“I just, you know.”

“You’ll learn,” she said, and I wondered if I was reading too much into that simple remark. The transformation from work Tam to outside Tammy was fascinating, and I hoped that wasn’t the only thing keeping me here. I didn’t think so.

“Let me get my contribution for today,” she said and was gone for twenty seconds.

Eyes wide, I said, “Did you read my mind?”

“I did okay?”

“Cherry pie. How’d you know?”

“Like you said, I read your mind. It was easy.”

“In that case, I better watch what I think,” I said, laughing.

“Too late.”

I took the pie from her, set it on a table, turned, and hugged her. I felt her stiffen, so I stepped away. She was biting her lower lip but gently extended her arms toward me.

Carefully, I stepped between them and hugged her once again, and the stiffening was still there but much less severe. There was much more to Tammy than I knew today, but I was determined to find the answers.

I held her tightly, my face buried in her hair, a wonderful citrus aroma filling my nose. Slowly she relaxed, her arms closing around me as she returned my hug, tentatively at first, but finally more completely.

“Thank you,” she said, smiling at me as we parted.

I wasn’t sure what I was being thanked for, but was very happy she had said it.

Tammy went to the back door, carefully locked it, then tugged on it three times. Next, she went to the panel on the front wall.

“Would you do me a favor?” she said.

“Sure.”

“Step outside the front door, wait ten seconds, and then open the door.”

I’m sure I looked a little puzzled but did as asked. When I opened the door, an alarm sounded, and I jumped. The alarm stopped, and Tammy quickly tapped in the four-digit code that canceled the alarm.

“I like to test the system every once in a while. So far, it’s always worked.” She smiled at me.

Safety seemed paramount with Tammy, and I wondered if it was in more ways than I knew at the moment. I’d just have to see. Parts of Tam were present in Tammy as well. I wondered what else, if anything, also carried over.

She picked up her apple pie, and we headed out for our picnic.

At the park, we found a deserted grassy area under some maple trees, and I spread the blanket I’d brought, plopped the basket in the middle, and we sat down.

“What’s in your poke?” Tammy asked.

I laughed. “My gramma talked about a poke, except it was a paper bag.”

“Ugh. I’m not sure why I said that. My mom used to say it, and I couldn’t stand it then, like most of the things she said.” The look on her face changed drastically when she spoke of her mother.

I watched carefully as Tammy spoke, knowing there was much more about her that I didn’t know. I had already vowed to listen carefully to what she said and how she said it, and what words and tones she used. I wanted to see what her eyes would tell me, and the same for facial expressions. I wanted to know the message hidden in her silences and what things I could learn from the words she didn’t speak. It wasn’t one of my strong points, but I was going to do my best.

“Well,” I said, “my basket is full of surprises.” I opened the lid at one end. “For an appetizer, we have a bottle of Chardonnay and two glasses.” I glanced at Tammy, noting a slowly forming smile. “Also in here are two Italian subs, a delicious, in my opinion, pasta salad, strawberries, grapes, and avocado, a whole avocado that we can slice and eat if you’d like to do that.”

“I would. I can’t believe you brought a whole avocado.”

The look I was receiving warmed me significantly. Tammy had a way of doing that with her eyes and face despite her physical reticence.

“Where shall we begin,” I asked, realizing it was only about ten-thirty.

“Do you think the food is safe here?”

A puzzled look crossed my face.

“If we go for a walk first?” she added.

“I’m willing to chance it.”

Tammy looked hesitant, then glanced at me. I think my big smile erased her reluctance. I held out my hand and watched her watching our two hands joining, our fingers intertwined. Once more, she looked at me, and this time she smiled, her green eyes literally sparkling.

Walking along the well-worn path through the tall trees, flowering bushes, and occasional darting animals, with the smell of the outdoors surrounding us, and with this lady and her auburn ponytail holding my hand, was as satisfying as almost anything I had ever done. She was neither beauty queen nor super model, but simply, at least to me, an extremely appealing woman, appealing and a bit mysterious. Maybe that was a part of her appeal, the unknown part of her that I was determined to uncover.

“I don’t think I can remember the last time I was picnicking.”

“I thought all families went on picnics.”

She looked away from me.

“I suppose,” she said, which told me a lot by what she didn’t say.

“I hope you enjoy this one.”

“I already am,” she said, her smile returning. “You make me happy,” she added, not looking at me again, and I realized how hard it had been for her to say it.

I put my arm around her shoulder and squeezed her, then stopped walking and turned her so she was facing me. Her eyes were locked with mine, but the look on her face was one of uncertainty. What now?

“Do you trust me, Tammy?”

“I’m getting there, Marc. I’ve never trusted anyone like I trust you. Never,” she added.

I grasped her cheeks with both my hands, realizing that if I did what I had suddenly decided to do, I was committing myself to something, to her in a very special way. Slowly I moved toward her keeping my eyes on hers, ready if she’d tell me to stop but praying she wouldn’t.

Our lips met tentatively at first, but when she didn’t resist, I simply kissed her, a four-second warm, and I hoped loving, kiss. I pulled away slowly, smiling. Her eyes never left mine as I tried to read her thoughts. A quick nibble of her lip and then a small smile came my way as she took hold of my hand. I thought she might be trembling just a tiny bit. We started walking again.

“I’m hungry,” she said. “I didn’t eat any breakfast. I was, well, too nervous.”

I stopped walking. “Nervous?”

She was looking at me, a helpless look on her face. I think she wanted to tell me more but wasn’t quite ready yet.

“I always get a little nervous when I’m going to be around Marc. Andrews doesn’t make me nervous at all,” she said, chuckling. “But,” she added quickly, “it’s a good nervous, you know, like before you perform some music or something in athletics. You’re nervous, but it comes from…” She paused. “Excitement,” she added, looking away.

“Well, I get that too. Being with Tammy is exciting.” I watched her take a deep breath when I said that.

Almost back to our picnic spot, it was Tammy’s turn to stop walking and tug on my hand.

“You never ask about what’s wrong with me,” she said, and I could feel her hand trembling.

“There’s so much right with you that I don’t worry about the other.”

She was looking at me intently now, chewing her lower lip.

“You mean that, don’t you.”

I didn’t reply as I could see her gathering herself, and I wondered what was next. It didn’t take long to find out as she stepped forward, put her arms around me, and laid her head against my chest.

“Thank you,” she said softly into my shirt, then stepped back. “Let’s eat. Race you there. She took off running.

What was it Winston Churchill said? “It is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma.” Substitute “she” for “it,” and you had Tammy. I was determined to solve the mystery, and I think she was about ready to help me.

I was no slouch at athletics, but she beat me back to the blanket, stumbling as she got there and falling onto the blanket. I had to admit that it was all I could do to keep from jumping on top of her, but common sense overrode passion, and I sat down beside her.

We ate part of our subs, a good bit of the delicious pasta salad, and then tossed grapes and strawberries at each other’s mouths, laughing hysterically the whole time. I’m sure the few others that were around thought we were teenagers, out for some time together. As we laughed, and talked, and enjoyed being together, my mind was at work, savoring this time with a lady who I found fascinating but anxious to learn all there was to know about her. As a grand finale, we sliced the avocado and ate the whole thing.

“This is the first time I’ve ever done this,” she said, a smile on her face.

“Done what, eaten a whole avocado?”

“No, silly, gone on a picnic.”

She was giving me a peek, but I didn’t want to push too hard just yet.

“Really. That’s pretty amazing. You’re pretty amazing.”

“There are a lot of things I’ve never done that, well, normal people do.”

“Go on,” I encouraged, but she was silent, looking at me for long seconds, then looking away.

I handed her a strawberry and watched her put it in her mouth, chewing slowly and swallowing.

“I don’t know,” she said. “Some things that ordinary people do are very hard for me.”

“I’ve seen that from you, and don’t feel bad about it. You said a while ago that you could trust me, and I’m not sure there’s anything that could make me break that trust.”

“That’s the part that’s scary. Not you, but me.”

“I’ve got an idea. If I can arrange something, will you spend the rest of the day with me?”

“Arrange something?”

“Two people that I want to meet you. My mom and my best friend.”

A terrified look came onto Tammy’s face.

“No, no, it’s not a ‘meet the family’ thing. Well, maybe a little,” I added, chuckling. “She’s always after me about getting a girlfriend and…”

The look that came onto Tammy’s face nearly melted me where I was sitting.

“Girlfriend?” She bit her lower lip. “Is that what I am because I’ve never been a girlfriend before.”

One more glimpse.

“You’re more my girlfriend than anyone has ever been before, so I hope it’s okay.”

“It’s…it’s wonderful. Just remind me ever so often, okay?”

I reached for her as she reached for me, and the hug came from both of us, no stiffness or trembling from Tammy this time.

“The other one is my best friend, Anna.”

“You have a girl as a best friend?”

“She’s not exactly a girl anymore, but we’ve known each other since second grade. She knows more about me than anyone else, so I’d like for you two to meet.”

“I don’t know, Marc,” Tammy said, hesitancy in her voice.

“Trust me?”

“You keep saying that, and I have to answer yes each time.”

“Let me make a couple of calls.”

“I’ll clean up here while you do it.”

Often, Lady Luck didn’t seem to be smiling on me, but today was one of the exceptions. Mother was home and anxious to see me, and Andre was out of town, so Anna was free to meet at Rocky’s, too. I explained to Anna that this was to be a similar get-together as the last time we had met, and she was excited to meet “us.”

As we headed to Mother’s house, I could tell that Tammy was very nervous, and I didn’t blame her at all, even though I wasn’t yet sure what was causing it.

“Nervous?” I asked to get the conversation started.

“I’m sorry.”

I chuckled. “Nervous is okay, sorry is not. I’d be nervous if I were meeting your mother.”

Her face stiffened. “You’d be worse than nervous if you had to meet her.”

One more glimpse. I filed that look and that comment in my Tammy folder.

“I guarantee that Mother will love you. Are you okay with getting a gigantic hug from her?”

“What if she doesn’t want to hug me?”

I laughed out loud at that.

“Sorry for the outburst, but she will love you.”

Mother was waiting for us as I pulled into the driveway, and she burst out of the front door, down the steps a little more carefully, then hurried to the passenger side door as Tammy swung it open.

A little overwhelmed, Tammy climbed out and was engulfed in the predicted hug.

“That naughty son of mine has been hiding you,” Mom said. “And I don’t know why because he should be proud of you.”

Tammy was looking at me with a “what’s happening?” look.

“Mom, don’t do that to this wonderful lady.” I took a chance, walked around the car, and put my arm around her shoulders, relieved that she pressed against me. “You know I’m proud of her, or I wouldn’t have brought her here. She’s very, very,” I looked into those green eyes, “and one more very special.”

We went inside, and Mother proceeded to entertain Tammy, regaling her with tales of my youth, but when she began questioning her about herself, the look on Tammy’s face cued me that I needed to step in, telling Mom we needed to leave in order to meet Anna.

That we did with a final hug from Mom.

“Well?” I asked as we drove away.

“You’re lucky to have a mother like that,” she said. ” I really like her.”

Another “mother” comment to file away.

At Rocky’s, we were early, and Tammy decided to join me in a Coors Light.

“Nervous?” I asked again.

She chuckled. “I decided on the way here that, if I really trust you, the test of that is that I know you wouldn’t do anything that would be dangerous to me. This is the first test of my decision, and I’m anxious to meet Anna.”

I could feel an even deeper admiration of Tammy, and I could feel my heart swell with feelings for her.

I introduced her to Rocky, and all our beer was on the house, with Rocky telling her what a great guy I was. I sat there shaking my head and watched Tammy smiling at his tales. When more customers came into the bar and Rocky had to take care of them, Tammy looked at me from the corner of her eye.

“Did you pay him for that?” she chuckled.

I shrugged. “He’s a good friend.”

We talked more until Tammy said, “Is that her?”

I turned in my seat to see the blue-eyed and curly-headed blonde headed toward us. A hug and kiss on the cheek for me, and she turned to Tammy, hugging her and stepping back.

“You’re a lucky lady,” she said. “I tried for years to land this guy when we were best friends, but it seemed meant to be that we were just best friends. Now I have Andre, who I love with all my heart, and you have this guy.”

I could see Tammy looking from Anna to me and back. I would have given a year’s wages to read her thoughts. I hoped I knew, and maybe I’d find out before long.

Anna excused herself for a quick trip to the restroom.

“She’s beautiful.”

“She is that.”

“Why didn’t you guys get together?”

“We tried, but we could see quickly that it wasn’t right. I’m glad that happened.”

“Marc.”

“Let me say it again. I’m glad that happened.”

She took hold of my hand and squeezed, and I could see the moisture sparkling in her eyes. I felt warm all over.

Anna returned, and we talked for another hour, with me taking advantage of Rocky’s “on-the-house” Coors Lights.

“Are you okay?” Anna asked when I didn’t answer a question directed my way.

“I’m good, yeah,” I replied, my vision a little fuzzy.

“Can you drive him home?” Anna asked, looking at Tammy.

She smiled. “I think I’d better.”

Tammy took my arm and led me to the car.

“I’m not really that bad, I said, “but you’d better drive.”

Nearly home, I said, “What are you going to do now. You’re at my house with no way to get home.”

She closed her eyes. “What do you suggest?” she asked.

She trusted me, and she was leaving it up to me. My brain was a little fuzzy, but I knew what I wanted.

“I suggest you stay the night.”

“Okay,” she said tentatively.

She trusted me sober, but I was a little tipsy now.

“You’re very safe,” I assured her.

“I better know that by now,” she answered. “Plus, we can talk if you’re not too….”

“I don’t want to drive, but otherwise, please talk to me.”

She pulled into the garage, closed the door, and we went inside, and it was my turn to be nervous.

“Do you need anything?” I asked.

“Just for you to look at me and listen. And, at the end, if you want to…”

“Talk.”

“This is so hard,” she said, and I thought she might be tearing up.

“Can I hold you while you talk?”

“I don’t know, Marc. It’s just…”

“Tammy, trust that I…that I love you.”

“Oh, God, Marc. Don’t say that. You don’t know the whole me yet.”

“I know that, but it doesn’t change anything. Do you believe that I love you?”

She looked at me, those green eyes piercing mine. I took her glasses off.

“There, your face is naked now. And you haven’t answered my question.”

“I believe you may love what you know, but you don’t know the whole Tammy yet.”

“I will before long, right?”

“Yes, you have to know it all.”

I gave her a tight hug which she returned double. We were ready.

“This is awful,” she said when I released her.

“Why, because you’re falling in love with me, and it’s hard to accept that.”

“Marc,” she gasped but didn’t answer the question. “Just listen.”

I took her hand, and she was ready.

“Remember when I told you that my parents separated when I was twelve or thirteen?”

I nodded.

“I didn’t know a lot of what was going on, but my dad and I had been closer than Mom and I had ever been, but after it was all over, I was with her, and Dad sort of disappeared. I found out that Mom had a lot of boyfriends, and that caused the split. I think Dad just wanted out, and that’s what he got. He felt really betrayed.”

I watched her face change, and her eyes left mine.

“Hey,” I said, “are you coming to the hard part?”

Her head nodded several times.

“Okay, well, I’m right here, holding onto you. And remember what I said just a few minutes ago.”

Another few nods.

“I was fourteen and with my mom. The trouble was, I didn’t look fourteen. More like eighteen.”

She squeezed my hand hard, looked away, then back at me, and I could see the tears forming.

“I don’t know, Marc. I knew this day would come, and I’ve planned it, but I didn’t know…”

“That you’d be falling in love with a guy who loves you right back?”

“I guess. I’m just not sure I’m ready for that.”

“There’s a Bible verse about love that says, ‘It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres,’ and then, ‘Love never fails.'”

Tammy’s green eyes sparkled.

“Of all those words, the two most important to me are ‘always,’ and ‘never.'” I waited a few seconds. “Always and never,” I repeated.

“Mother had boyfriends and live-ins, lots of each.” She stopped and took a deep breath. “When she had more than she could handle, she forced me to, well, help out.” The tears came full force. “So that’s what I am,” she sobbed. “I’m a mess.”

I couldn’t wait any longer as I grabbed her and squeezed her against me. Her sobs were shaking us both. I held her tight until the sobbing slowed then faded away to an occasional shaky inhale.

I took her face in my hands and carefully kissed away her tears. When she opened her eyes, she could see my big smile. “I love you,” I said slowly.

“Marc.”

“And I pray you love me.”

The tears began again, but this time they were different. First, they were tears of happiness, and second, they were coming from both of us.

We shared the hugs, the tears, some giggles, and a few sighs as well. But most of all, we shared the feelings that filled the space around us. It was heavenly.

“Everything has been building toward today, you dreading it, and me anxious to hear it. Now it’s done, and despite your fear and trepidation about my reaction, I love you more than ever. Now we move on.”

We were holding each other tightly.

“I may have to go through a six-pack more often. Maybe more good things will happen.”

“I’m not sure I can stand more good things,” Tammy said, sniffling but smiling at me.

It was dark outside by now, and I wondered.

“Since this has been an unusual day, let’s do something different.”

“It’s your place, so whatever you want.”

I thought it was too soon to tease her about the open invitation she’d given me.

“Let’s take a walk, and we can talk.”

“Okay,” she said simply.

I lived in an older neighborhood with lots of big trees and a few old and dim street lamps, ideal for walking with your girlfriend.

I put my arm around her waist and felt her untucked blouse. I thought for two seconds before sliding my hand under the thin material onto her warm, soft skin. I took a deep breath, wondering what reaction I’d get. She squeezed my waist and laid her head on my shoulder.

I couldn’t help but think of Tam as I felt the warm, soft skin under my hand, the tight bun, 2X sweater, and baggy pants Tam. Things were beginning to make sense.

“You’re quiet,” Tammy said.

“It’s a happy quiet; I was just thinking.”

“Yeah?” she said, giving my waist another squeeze.

“About Tam.”

“Ah, yeah, her…um, me.”

“Yep,” I said, kissing her hair.

“When I was seventeen, I left my mother and went to live with an aunt. We tried to find my dad but never could, so when I was eighteen, I got a job and went out on my own. But I vowed to stay away from men, and even more, to make myself so that no man would want me. I did it and was successful for many years. But then you came along.”

“You can thank Anna for that.”

“Let me guess. She dared you.”

I think I physically jolted when she said that. What now?

“Doesn’t matter,” she chuckled. “it was the only way it would happen.”

I breathed a sigh of relief that brought another chuckle from Tammy.

“Something else is happening that involves Tam and Marc,” I said as we rounded the corner, heading back toward my place.

“What’s that?”

“Egan West.”

“He’s retiring, I heard.”

“And somebody will be replacing him, probably you or me.”

“Uh oh. You mean we’re competing?”

“Sort of, I guess.”

“Doesn’t really matter since, either way, it’s kind of under the same roof.”

I couldn’t believe she’d said that. I stopped walking, turned her toward me, and kissed her.

Back at the house, I made a difficult decision, wondering once again how she’d respond.

“I’m feeling fine now, so I can drive you home if you’d like.” I wasn’t sure I could make myself sound sincere saying that.

She looked at me, a pout on her face. “It’s late. You don’t need to.”

“You sure?” I knew Tammy was still a little fragile, and I didn’t want to push things faster than she could handle them.

A big smile.

“I have two bedrooms,” I said tentatively.

“Don’t be silly,” she said. If you have something that I can wear for pajamas, we can keep each other warm.” She lowered her head and raised her eyebrows as she said that.

That look said more than any words she could have spoken.

I found one of those light-weight breathable T-shirts and a pair of old nylon running shorts, feeling a mite guilty for choosing those, but not enough to change my mind. I picked similar wear for myself and changed into them while Tammy was in the bathroom, changing and possibly using the new toothbrush I’d given her.

She came into the bedroom smiling and shaking her head. I’d known she had breasts, but the shirt confirmed it. The very prominent bumps on the front suggested there were erect nipples underneath as well. And the shorts, a little large, of course, highlighted the legs that were usually much more hidden.

We climbed into the bed, and I prayed I wasn’t dreaming. I’ve mentioned before that Tammy wasn’t a beauty queen or a supermodel, but I’d never felt this way about anyone or anything in my life. When I felt the mattress move as she climbed in beside me, I could barely breathe. I wasn’t sure I could trust myself, so I lay with my back toward Tammy, allowing her to cuddle against me if she chose to.

She did.

“Good night,” she whispered.

“Love you.”

“Love you right back.”

When my heart rate slowed, and drowsiness overtook me, I wondered how she’d be dressed when I’d next see her at work. Then I was asleep.

When I opened my eyes, it was dark, but the warmth I could feel beside me reassured me that it wasn’t a dream. I rolled over to face her and gently put my arm across her warm and bare skin. I moved my arm and felt the same thing. She was bare.

“Take your shirt off,” she said softly.

“Tammy, are–”

Her hand covered my mouth. “Take your shirt off, and if you’re going to use that mouth, use it for something else.”

My shirt came off, and I pulled her against me, her breasts crushed against my chest. This was not a part of my plan, and I somehow had to leave things up to her.

“Just hold me,” she said and kissed my chest.

That was something I could do. This was so much different than Anna.

The next time I opened my eyes, the sun was streaming through the bedroom windows, and a still-asleep Tammy was cuddled in my arms. Her auburn hair was spread across the white sheet, her pale skin, and enticing freckles causing me to smile. I wanted to lift the covers and peek at the mystery hidden there but didn’t as it seemed that would betray her trust, so I simply watched her breathing until her eyes opened.

“Hi,” she said sleepily, rubbing her eyes, which uncovered her just a bit. “Oops,” she added but didn’t rearrange the covers.

“Good morning,” I said brightly, hoping to change things slightly as my body was reacting to her partial nakedness. It wasn’t working, and I could tell she was aware of it.

Tammy smiled. “It’s going to happen sometime,” she said as she tossed the covers aside and sat up, her breasts just a foot from my face. “They’re nothing special.”

I wasn’t going to argue, but they looked plenty good to me, not large but shapely and very squeezable, which I was yearning to do.

“I’m going to stand up now, and you’re going to pull the covers off so I can see you. Fair enough?”

I nodded, anxious to see and happy she was willing to show.

She swung her legs off the edge of the bed and stood up, her squishy and delicious-looking buns right in front of me. She turned to face me, a look of doubt filling her face. I saw more auburn hair and the rest of those shapely legs.

“You’re adorable,” I said, looking at her from head to toe.

“I’ve never been called that before,” she said, her look changing to a smile. Then, “Really?”

“Definitely.”

I threw the covers back, and she didn’t hesitate to look, first at the erection, then my eyes, and back to the erection, all the while biting her lower lip. I didn’t miss the fact that her nipples were very extended.

“Marc, if you have a condom and can be patient, I’m willing to try.”

My eyes widened. “Tammy, you don’t have to.”

“Everything has changed today. Almost everything. Maybe we can change that too.”

Of course I had condoms–they were in the drawer just a few feet from us. But I’d never been in a situation like this. It was the opposite of Anna, for sure. I started to climb out of the bed, but she stopped me.

“Stay right there,” she said. “I see somewhere I can start.”

Tammy climbed onto the bed, and I could see where she was headed. Her hand closed around my cock–the impossible was happening. At first, she just held it, squeezing gently, but soon it was moving, and she was smiling as my breathing became shallower and more rapid. She released me and…

“Tammy,” I gasped as her hand grabbed mine and her lips closed on the purple head. It was a new feeling. But her delectable buns were right there, begging for a touch, I thought. So I caressed the one closest to me as she rolled her tongue around the head. There was something else close to that hand, and it moved without my willing it, to a very warm and wet place. I moved my fingers back and forth, sliding easily on the slippery labia. I felt my cock filling her mouth, and her head was bobbing up and down.

“Tammy,” I gasped, “I can’t… well… just come here.”

She climbed into my arms, and we kissed, tongues probing and dancing to our mingled moans and groans. My hand found a breast, caressing and squeezing its perfect softness, the nearly rock-hard nipple pressed against my palm.

“I never thought I’d say this, but I want you. A corner of my mind is saying,’ no,’ but my body is screaming, ‘YES, YES,’ so whenever,” she finished, pressing her body against mine. “I do want you, and I hope you want me.”

I cut off her words with a kiss. If she was saying yes, then so was I. I twisted my body until I could reach the all-important drawer. I ripped the packet open and sheathed myself as quickly but carefully as I could.

More than ready, I rolled onto my back, pulling her on top of me. She kissed me one more time and took hold of my erection, understanding exactly what I wanted to happen. I vowed to myself that if I felt even a hint of a tremble, we’d try again some other time. But looking at her face, I knew we wouldn’t need another try.

It was happening. I felt myself being pressed against her now swollen labia, then between them, and finally, I was surrounded by that warm and snug place where I’d wanted to be since that very first date. Her eyes held mine again as she slowly lowered herself until she was tight against me. Her tightness was gripping me, and when she lifted her hips, then lowered them again, the feeling was so intense I was sure my entire body was about to burst into flame. The third and fourth time, my hips began to move in time with hers. Her hands were on my chest to support herself as her movements became more impassioned, her gorgeous breasts swinging and bouncing just above my face.

I was about to implode or explode or orgasm like I never had before. Today was just somehow different than any other day or than any other sex I’d ever had. Tammy’s fingers dug into my chest as her hips moved up and down relentlessly until my hands went to her butt cheeks, holding her in place as I jerked and spasmed over and over, filling the condom as she collapsed on top of me.

Breathing hard, Tammy said, “I love you.”

“I love you too, and I’m going to love you even more right now.” I’d just had a toe-curling orgasm, and I wanted her to have one too. I rolled her onto her back and moved between her legs, listening carefully for any sign of protest. One look at Tammy told me she wasn’t going to protest. Instead, her chest was heaving as I spread her legs, the auburn muff glistening with moisture. I slid one finger up and down her cleft, then pushed between her labia and easily inside. As I turned and twisted my finger, her body turned and twisted with it.

I used both hands to separate her, exposing a bright pink nub that I longed to touch and more. I lowered my head, allowing my tongue to caress her labia, then slide up until it touched the nub. The tiny squeal from Tammy made my heart pound, and I longed to hear it again if she was ready to provide it again. Another flick of my tongue, another squeal, and a lifting of her hips, an unconscious act of her body begging for more stimulation. It was simple to accommodate her and me, with my tongue flicking back and forth, the squeals morphing into staccato moans, her hips pressing upward against my face.

That nub was begging for even more attention, so I closed my lips on it, sucking hard while my tongue slid across it. Now her moan was continuous except the times she gasped my name, but it was my turn to be relentless. As her spasms began, I felt her hands grasping my hair, pulling my head from side to side in rhythm with the movement of her body. As her movements slowed, so did I, and I lifted my head when she released my hair.

She beckoned me with her hand since her labored breathing made speaking impossible, and I responded to her call, crawling up beside her to receive an enthusiastic kiss and be squeezed so hard I could barely breathe. When she released me, I raised up on one elbow and looked at her from head to toe.

“I could never imagine this happening to me,” she said, “and when suddenly it looked like it was happening, I was terrified that I’d disappoint you, but my body took over and…”

“Tammy, you’ve just given me the most wonderful moments of my life, and that body was and is fantastic. Bless its heart for what it’s just done.”

“Every time I doubt myself, you wipe away those doubts.”

I thought I noticed a re-reddening of her cheeks and neck, the color from the sex we’d had having faded.

“What are you thinking?” I asked, smiling at the rather meek look coming my way.

“If…if you, well, have another, um…”

“I have half-a-box, but there’s always the pharmacy.”

If Tammy could have disappeared at that moment, I think she’d have done it.

“It’s just so, well, you know, different,” she stammered, “but I’ll try to get used to it,” she assured me, recovering from her obvious embarrassment.

It was still nearly impossible to relate work Tam to the naked Tammy lying here beside me.

“So, what about Tam now?”

She smiled. “Tam will stay Tam for now, until something else happens.”

Something else happened right after she finished saying that, but I don’t think it was what she was referring to.

***

I think it was the first time Tammy said “no” to me.

When we woke up the morning after the wonderful sex cuddled against each other, that gorgeous auburn hair spread across my chest, I asked her to move in with me.

I guess she didn’t really say “no,” I think it was, “not yet.” It was a “no” with an attachment that made me want to ask, “when?”

But I didn’t.

At work, we still interacted, and when Tam would come to my office in the bulky sweater and pants and the tight bun, my brain pictured a naked Tammy astride me, her breasts bouncing in front of my face, and, of course, I’d react. If she’d see it, she’d burst out laughing and leave the office for five minutes, giving me time to regain control. It got better as time passed but never left completely.

We spent a lot of our time out at Rocky’s since it was “safe” there. People from work didn’t go to Rocky’s, so the other side of Tam wouldn’t be revealed.

We started meeting Andre and Anna there; the four of us got along famously, despite the rather bizarre circumstances that neither Andre nor Tammy knew of yet. Anna and I had spoken of it and decided we should wait to spring that onto our significant others.

Andre was a bowler, and I’d bowled some, so he talked me into joining their bowling team on Wednesday nights. That left Anna and Tammy free to get together and do whatever. I prayed that Anna didn’t have too horrible an influence on my innocent, well, not as innocent as she was, lover. We talked a lot at bowling and, before long, had concocted a scheme that would dumbfound the two ladies–and perhaps a bit more.

It had been three months since that special night at my place, and, anxious as I was for it to happen, I’d managed to keep quiet about her moving in with me. What we did was working well, though, as Tammy never drove home late at night but just stayed with me. We always kidded that it was simply a matter of trying to stay warm, and cuddling together through the night took care of that.

Andre and I finalized our plans–the special surprise was set for Rocky’s the next Friday night. I hadn’t said anything to Tammy other than we were going to Rocky’s, but she surprised me by wearing a skirt and blouse rather than the usual slacks or jeans and some kind of a T-shirt.

When we got there, Anna grumbled that Tammy was trying to show her up as Anna had on the normal Friday night attire.

“Freakin’ place is crowded,” Anna said as we went through the front door.

“It’s Friday,” Andre said, looking around. “It’s always busier on Friday.”

“Hope there’s a table.”

I spotted Rocky and waved, sending him a questioning look. He smiled and pointed, and I directed the other three in that direction. Sure enough, there was an empty table with a hand-lettered “Reserved” sign plunked down right in the middle. Tammy gave me a quizzical look.

“Last time we were here, I told Rocky we’d be here tonight, and he told me he’d save us a table if it got crowded.”

“That’s never happened before,” Anne said as she pulled out a chair.

“Lots of things happen for the first time, right, Tammy.”

She looked away from me, face bright red, while Andre and Anna chuckled at her expense.

“You’re cruel,” Anna said.

“I’ll make it up to her later.”

“Don’t say that to her. It’ll just embarrass her again.”

Before we had a chance to order, Rocky’s new server brought us a pitcher of beer and four glasses.

“Coors Light, right?” she asked, smiling at each of us in turn.

We all nodded, and Andre and I watched carefully as the server walked away.

“She’s kind of young, dickhead,” Anna said, and Tammy laughed.

“No comment for me,” I said, smiling.

“I mispronounced that last word. It should have been ‘dickheads’.”

We poured the beer, took turns teasing Tammy, who was so much easier to tease than the Tam I worked with daily. She was getting comfortable enough with the two “A’s” that she was “giving back as good as she got. That was part of an old saying my parents often used.

“So,” Anna said, winking at me, “when are you going to move in with your co-worker here and save some gasoline money?”

I had avoided the subject since that first time it had come up, but Anna wasn’t in on all of our secrets. Still, I was certainly curious about what Tammy would say. She eyed me, but I shrugged, innocent this time.

“He asked about that already…and…it will happen when the time’s right.”

“Which is?”

I think Anna was trying to help me, but I wasn’t at all sure she was. Tam morphing into Tammy was moving along smoothly, and I was happy with the progress. And, with what was planned for tonight…

Actually, with what had just happened, the timing might be perfect. I caught Andre’s eye and nodded. He nodded back, and we both moved, as casually as possible, which was difficult in the crowded space. But, the crowded space was there for a reason. I stepped around my chair and beside Tammy’s, aware that Andre was doing the same with Anna, both of us getting surprised looks. We’d flipped a coin, and I’d won.

In unison, we dropped to one knee beside our ladies and saw four wide-open eyes and two open mouths. I was first, and the bar was suddenly very quiet.

“Tammy, I never dreamed, even in my wildest fantasies, that I’d find someone like you, and the last few months have been the happiest of my life. I love you more than I can ever tell you or show you.” Looking into those green eyes, her glasses already wet with her tears, I said, “Will you marry me?”

A deep, sobbing breath. “Yes, yes, of course.” Her arms went around my neck, accompanied by loud applause and cheering. Her kiss was warm and carried more love with it than I probably deserved since our first date had been the result of a dare from Anna, who was, at this very moment, staring at Andre, knowing now what was in store for her. I slipped the ring on Tammy’s finger and watched as she couldn’t seem to stop looking at it.

The bar got quiet once more, and Andre’s proposal was similar to mine, but Anna’s response was different than Tammy’s, as I had expected. No tears, a simple “Yes, I will,” and a kiss for Andre that had the crowd shouting, “Whoa,” and, “Get a room.” That was Anna, and I was sure she was keeping Andre entertained after dark.

Lots of congratulations from everyone, and lots of free beer and wine, more than we needed, so that the new server volunteered to drive us home. That worked since Tammy’s car was at my house. The others were on their own.

Feeling emotionally high and a little drunk as well, our driver got a twenty-dollar tip from me, putting the pressure on Andre, who I learned gave her thirty so she’d end up with an even fifty.

Once through the door and inside, she jumped into my arms, legs around my waist, her tongue working to reach my tonsils. We finally collapsed on the couch, Tammy staring at her engagement ring again. To my wide-eyed amazement, she pulled it off and handed it to me.

“Get that stupid look off your face, and put it on my finger again, slowly this time.”

I did as requested, and Tammy spoke as I did.

“As you have asked, and I have agreed to marry you, I promise to move in with you as soon as possible, tomorrow if we can figure it out.”

“Tam,” I said, unconsciously using the wrong name, “i–”

“–Ah,” she interrupted, a big smile on her face. “I’m Tam or Tammy, but there’s only one of us now. You’ll have to help me at work on Monday since I’m sure there’ll be lots of questions based on the different way I’ll be dressed.” She held up her left hand. “I’m sure this will help,” she said, the look on her face causing my heart to pound once more.

I had to laugh at that. Nobody was going to recognize her on Monday. I might even suggest she not wear her glasses to further flummox things. I knew several guys that were going to wish they’d been the one to ask her for the date.

“What are you thinking about?” she asked, probably noting the far-away look on my face.

“Monday, and how jealous some of the guys are going to be.”

“You really think so?”

“Tammy, once we got you unbundled, look what’s appeared.”

“Actually, you weren’t the first to ask me for a date.”

There was something I hadn’t expected. She was smiling at me, one step up.

“You’re dying for me to ask who, so I will. Who was it?”

“Not a very appealing guy. He worked down in shipping, and I was down there one day, poking around and–”

“–Safety issue?” I interrupted. I got an affectionate glare if there is such a thing.