My Mind Storm, not Desert Storm

I want to thank Mobydick2019 for proofreading and editing my story for me.

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I know you’ve heard it before many times but our marriage was wonderful, until the day it wasn’t. I thought Lisa and I had the perfect marriage. At least for the past 21 years.

A little background, I had just got home from the big sandbox in 1999 and had decided to stay with my parents and go back to college and finish up my degree. When I started college right out of high school, I joined the Marine Reserves on campus figuring a few weekends and six weeks in summer would give me my military requirement but just after I finished my freshman year, I was called up.

Somehow, I ended up being a sniper. Well, I really knew how to shoot because my father had worked with me a lot, showing me how to make long-distance shots, hoping I would join him in his Northwoods hunts. I just couldn’t see killing a harmless animal but I did like blasting targets, no matter how far away dad placed them. Anyway, after basic and A.I.T. I was sent to Camp Baharia in Fallujah. Our C.O. was Lieutenant Derrick Becker and he had already been there for a couple of years as had most of the team. I was the new kid on the block and their new sharpshooter. I took a lot of ribbing until the second recon when the L.T. told me to take out a raghead standing by a fire in front of a large cave, giving instructions to about a dozen heavily armed warriors.

“Kid, make it count, then keep taking the bastards out while you can,” he whispered to me. “Blake and Cooper are within range and will be firing as soon as he drops, got it?” I checked my rangefinder and it was just shy of 1300 meters, I checked the smoke from the fire and it was moving slightly east at half a klick. I set the scope for the windage and elevation and readied myself. I listened to my heartbeat and controlled my breathing. Haji was moving around and I had to wait until he was right over a younger man, trying to impress something on him as he had been doing over and over. Only this time when he did it, I squeezed the trigger and his head exploded, covering the young man with his brains and then Blake and Cooper began firing grenades, then blasting away like crazy with their M-16s.

The L.T. was firing and I began picking targets and nailing them. When it was all said and done, the 7 of us had taken out 22 bad guys and found a large cache of weapons and explosives. We pulled the bodies into the cave, piling them on top of the explosives and set the timer on a satchel charge, and made a beeline out of there. As we exited the cave, we were pinned down by someone shooting at us from the hillside where we had just come from. I was trying to get a fix on the flash and all of us were firing where we thought the sniper was. All the time we were scared shitless that that big cache of ammo and explosives might take us out when it blew.

Then the L.T. said, “I see him. Cover me!” and took off running like a madman, screaming and cursing as he ran between the scrub brush and rocks. Did I mention that Becker was a giant of a man? I mean Hulk big. 6’10” tall, 245 lbs. 48″ chest, 20″ biceps, 32″ waist, 42″ inseam, and size 16 shoes. Apparently, Haji didn’t know what was coming after him and got up and ran. I picked him off within the first 10 meters and we all ran like our lives depended on it, which they actually did. We had just made it around the hill when the blast went off and the falling rocks and debris pelting us caused more damage to us than we had incurred fighting, not to mention our ears ringing for days afterward.

Becker saved our butts more than once and we became very good friends. Five years later, I was hot tired, and really missing a shower or bath but I was so good at my job that I was enjoying my duty of taking out the enemy over a mile now. Lt. Becker had taken a seven-man patrol out deep into Iraqi back territory looking for a bomb-making and training facility that was supposedly deep in the mountains. It was rough going but Becker’s jovial attitude kept us all in good spirits. As we passed a small herd of sheep, he said, “Look, it’s a flock of Taliban hookers. Anybody wants a piece?” We all laughed. That laughing caused an old man to sit up and look at us. He then waived his RPG at us and smiled, then set it back down. Becker went over and talked with the guy for a good ten minutes.

When he came back, he said, “Guys, intel was wrong, the place we want, we passed about 5 klicks back. The old guy said to look for the broken tree with the tire in it and go east.” We did and eventually found the place. Hell, there were hundreds of Taliban there. Becker took pictures and relayed the GPS position to command and he was told to get out of there. It took us 3 days to get back to the border.

We were running late and it was just getting daylight and we only had about a hundred meters to get to the base when Cooper, who was bringing up the rear, went face-first into the dirt, blood gushing out the back of his neck. We dove behind a dirt mound and Blake and Pauly ran to Cooper and pulled him to the mound with us, only it was too late for him. His face was gone. We were scouting to see if we could find the sniper.

I thought I saw a flash and set up on my haunches to get a fix on him and squeezed off a round just as I saw his next flash. The Lt. yelled as the sniper’s rifle fell down the rocks so we figured that I had got him. Only when he looked over, I was on my back with a hole in my neck. Becker threw me over his shoulder and with his fingers blocking the blood, ran with me back to our pick-up point. The others brought Cooper’s body; it was a somber night. The medics patched me up then I was flown to Germany then home. The bullet had nicked my neck bone and I had to wear a neck brace in the hospital for nearly two months before they finally cut me loose.

When the taxi pulled up in front of my home, I barely recognized it. My father had been a nut about keeping his lawn and flower garden a showpiece and now the grass was nearly a foot tall and the flowers were full of weeds. As I rang the bell, mom greeted me with a big hug and I asked where dad was.

Mom got a tear in her eye and said, “He’s in the house Martin, two months ago your father had a heart attack and the paramedics had to use the defibrillator on him to revive him. They did emergency surgery on him and found blockages in his heart and near his lungs. The doctors took him off all salt, alcohol, and tobacco products. When he got home, he gave up. Now, he just sits in his chair and stares at the TV, waiting for me to bring him his food. All he does is yell at me when he wants something to eat or drink. He won’t talk to me and often won’t even sleep in the same bed with me, he sleeps in his recliner. I probably shouldn’t be saying this but your father and I still had a reasonably active sex life before the incident. I mean we usually had our Saturday fun naps, if you get my drift. And occasionally one of us might start something mid-week and just before that, we were really starting to reconnect and go at it like newlyweds.” She had a half-smile with a tear running down her cheek as I held her tight.

I went into the house and my father smiled and I asked how he was. He looked like he was going to say something but just as my mom walked into the room he went silent. Dad gave mom a sour look and she looked down and walked out of the room. We went to bed that night and I wondered what else had changed in my return to my hometown. I got up in the morning and as it was a nice day, I threw on some jeans, and my boots, deciding that I needed to tackle that lawn first. I went to the garage and filled up the mower, moving the wheels up to their highest notch. It fired up on the first pull and I began tackling the front yard first. I had done the parkway and along the driveway then the perimeter and was working my way inside when this stunning blond wearing a thin spaghetti strap crop top, silk running shorts, and ankle-high basketball shoes, stops in front of our house and stares at me.

For some reason, I shut off the mower to see what she wants but before I could ask, she says, “Martin? Martin Parker, is that really you?” Now I had no idea who this vision of loveliness was but I nodded. She ran across the lawn and threw herself at me, locking lips with me, her arms around my neck, and one leg around my ass, pulling our crotches together. Her tongue was deep in my mouth yet I didn’t have the faintest idea who she was. She just kept kissing me over and over.

Mom, opened the front door and said, “Martin, Lisa, would you two like to take a break and have some fresh lemonade? I squeezed the lemons myself just a bit ago.”

As we stepped up on the porch, mom said, “Martin, you remember Lisa Olsen, don’t you? You two sure seemed to be hitting it off out there.” She smiled and went back inside, leaving the pitcher of lemonade. Shit, I remembered Lisa as the scrawny tomboy with braces and thick glasses. She was always trying to hang around with us guys. She had no figure, well, it was a stick figure I guess you’d call it. She was thin as a rail with no boobs or any meat on her bones.

Now I kept looking at this angel, no I’d say, goddess. Shit, she had filled out to perfection. Her long blond hair in a ponytail, hanging down almost to her shorts, her perfect puffy nipples pushing out the thin material of her tank top adding to the effect of her 36 C’s. I was guessing her waist as maybe 21 and her ass a measly 30 or 31, no butt. Lisa’s light blue eyes sparkled off her rosy cheeks set my heart afire in seconds.

Lisa was 5 years younger than me at 19 and about to start her second year in college. “Where are you going to school?” I asked. “I need to sign up and finish my schooling. They called me up right after I finished my first year.”

“I’ve just signed up at the new state college they opened last quarter on the other side of town”, she said, “Maybe you should check it out? Want me to take you over there on Monday?” She had this impish smile like she was planning something.

I reached over and patted her firm thigh and said, “Sure, I’d like that, especially getting to spend more time with you.”

Lisa stood up and stepped off the porch and said, “Martin, maybe you should step up your mowing so you can take me out tonight. I think you and I could have some fun, that is if you still country dance?”

I couldn’t believe my luck and said, “What time shall I pick you up?” as I watched her cute ass walking across the tall grass.

She turned, giving me a million-dollar smile and said, “That depends, are you going to buy me dinner, then it’s 7:00 if not, about 8:30.”

“I’ll see you at 7:00 then,” I said as I yanked the starter rope on the mower only this time I went at the grass with a vengeance. In less than two hours I had cut both the front and back lawns then went I went out to the shed behind the garage to check on my old Chevelle that my uncle had given me when I had started high school. Dad and I had rebuilt it from the ground up. It was a 68 SS-396 4 speed that uncle Jack said he needed to get rid of because he kept getting too many tickets in it. Dad and I rebuilt the engine and transmission, then almost everything bumper to bumper. Mom even bought an upholstery machine and worked and reworked the interior. It really was a family project.

One day I came home from school and dad was just pulling out my motor and I asked him what he was doing. He had this silly grin and said, “Martin, go look in the back of my truck.” I walked out there and sitting in the bed of his truck was a brand-new Corvette 454 with 3 — two-barrel carburetors, aluminum heads, and a new set of headers. I couldn’t believe it and ran back into the shed and asked him where he got the motor. He smiled and said, “Martin, a few months ago, I bought $50 worth of chances on this motor setup that was shown in one of the Hot Rod magazines in our lunchroom. Don’t ask me why, I just hoped that I might win it so we could put it in your car to make the others sit up and take notice of you.”

I jumped in and by the next evening, we had it up and running and my dad was burning the tires through the first three gears then he took me to his work parking lot and let me drive it. Holy shit, I had driven the 396 there but this thing was a monster. But I digress, thankfully my dad had kept the tires full of nitrogen and had a somewhat charged battery waiting for me. I put the tires back on and checked the fluids after installing the battery and giving her some fresh gas, my yellow Chevelle SS-454 with the black vinyl top roared to life. Granted it still said it was an SS-396 but that made it more fun when some guy wanted to race. I took it around the block, then down to Pep Boys for an oil change and a new battery and got some fresh premium then headed for the carwash. I made a mad dash home to get ready for my date with Lisa.

I was pulling on my boots when I heard a knock on my door then it opened and my father walked in. He softly shut the door then slowly made his way over to the edge of the bed and sat down, looked at me, and said, “Martin, I can see you are bothered by the way things seem to be between your mother and I but son, I don’t know if she told you what really happened?”

I shook my head no so he continued, “Well a little over nine months ago, your mother began volunteering more and more time down at the community center. When she did, she also began dressing a lot nicer, then sexier and sexier. I asked her about it and she said that most of the people on the large community crew were the upper crust and she felt she needed to be dressed like they were. I accepted it and didn’t think much more about it. Then she seemed to be gone more and more to those damn meetings. She also became more sexually aggressive with me. I mean it was like she wanted to do all sorts of things that we had never done before and it made me wonder where she had learned them. She was sucking my cock and having me trying to do her doggy and all these different positions we’ve never done.

Martin, I was beginning to think she might be having an affair. Quite often if it was a late-night meeting, she’d have to shower before she came to bed. One morning, I checked the laundry hamper and found that on those nights, she was washing out her panties before putting them in there. I think she was getting rid of the cum stains but I couldn’t prove it. Then one morning, right after breakfast, she crawled under the table and began giving me head, and when I was hard, she pulled me down on the kitchen floor and began riding me like a wild woman. I’ll admit it was very good but we had been having sex at least twice a day later and she was orgasming so hard and loud that she didn’t realize that I was having a heart attack, not an orgasm. I tried to get her attention but I couldn’t speak and she just kept riding me harder and harder. The last thing I remember was her screaming in orgasm and the next was waking up in the hospital with all these tubes in my arms and down my throat. She didn’t care about me! She just wanted her own damn satisfaction. I really think she would have been happier if I had died.”

I didn’t know what to say. I looked at him and asked, “Dad, have you ever said this to mom?”

He scowled and said, “HELL NO! Besides, if she was cheating on me, she’d never admit it, now, would she?” I could see tears forming in his eyes. I sat next to him and tried to put my arm around him but he didn’t feel it was right for men to show affection to one another and stood and walked out of my room. I tried to put what he said out of my mind and was going to have a talk with my mother soon.

I was wearing a short-sleeved western shirt, Wranglers, my cowboy boots, with my dad’s old Stetson in the back seat when I pulled up in front of Lisa’s house. She rushed out and immediately squealed saying, “God, Martin, I didn’t think you still had your baby. Damn, she’s pretty!”

“Not nearly as pretty as you,” I said to her. She was wearing a long-sleeved lady’s western shirt with the sleeves rolled up and tied at her navel instead of having it fastened and it was obvious she wasn’t wearing a bra, just like this afternoon. She was wearing a pair of pink cut-off Levi’s, that was cut to the pockets, showing off nearly half of her butt cheeks, carrying a pink cowgirl hat with sequins, and western boots with 4″ pointy heels. Not what I’d really call cowboy boots but sexy as hell. She definitely got my attention. Nearly swallowing my tongue, I asked, “So Lisa, where am I taking you?”

She hopped into my car and scooted over next to the driver’s seat. I was sure glad my Chevelle didn’t have a console. I started the car up and again asked, “Where to my lovely princess?”

She smiled and said, “Sam’s Dry Gulch Roadhouse.” She could see my confused look and said, “Just head out Highway 14 until you see the sign and turn right. You can’t miss it. Well, I guess you could because it actually sets nearly a half-mile off the highway.”

As we headed out, I shifted through the gears and Lisa had her hand on top of mine on the shifter. As I got on the highway and shifted into fourth, she pulled my hand down into her lap, so my hand was resting so close to her crotch I was having trouble concentrating. Lisa didn’t seem to be the least bit bothered by my hand being nearly on top of her pussy so I left it there as we drove on, listening to some Charlie Daniels and Willie Nelson. Sam’s was a fun place where we started with these king-sized burgers and beers. I was worried because I knew Lisa wasn’t 21 but she said everyone there knew her and she had a fake I.D. she used so it was OK. We danced nearly every dance and I was happy that I hadn’t forgotten how to line dance, two steps, and swing, and we closed it down at 1:30.

We were nearly home when Lisa told me to take a right turn up this run-down road. It was between two old walnut groves then turned to the left and started uphill. It got to the top and it was a magnificent view of the city. Lisa got out and was twirling around with her arms out, saying how beautiful it was up there. She then flew into my arms and threw one hell of a lip-lock on me as she tore off her shirt and unfastened her cut-offs, letting them fall between her legs, kicking them off of her boots. She wasn’t wearing panties and was shaved smooth. She began to unzip my pants then undo my belt. Breaking her kiss she said, “Come on silly, get undressed. I want you to make love to me. I’ve been dreaming of this for so many years you can’t believe it, hell I can’t believe it.”

I was fumbling with my shirt and Lisa already had my boots, jeans, and underwear off so she grabbed my shirt and damn near tore it off of me. She then pulled me to the front of my car and laid down on the hood, placing her feet on the bumper and said, “Martin, don’t disappoint me,” as she grabbed my hardened shaft and guided it into her silky wetness. As my shaft invaded her silky wetness, she said, “Take it easy on me, you’re a big boy and I’ve never been with anybody. Give me a little time to get used to that big thing of yours.” I only took short strokes, barely inching in a little at a time until I was balls deep and Lisa was clawing my back, arching herself up to meet me.

Oh God, was she ever tight and hot. I hadn’t had any sex since the beginning of my freshman year and then I was so drunk I don’t remember half of what went on. Lisa put her feet into the small of her back and was moaning as we kissed. She broke our kiss long enough for her to scream that she was cumming. I picked up the pace and gave her a few more strokes and she did it again only now her pussy was squeezing my cock and I felt an orgasm building. I was going to ask her if she was on the pill or if I should pull out but before I could, I exploded, filling her pussy with spurt after spurt of my cum. Lisa was digging her nails into my sides with every spurt of my cock and squealing in delight.

Afterward, we lay together on the top of my hood until I began to get cold. I kissed her lips, then her nose, and said, “Damn, that was a welcome home that I will never forget. But I don’t have the luxury of the heat of the engine or a body covering me so can we get our clothes back on and get back in the car?”

Lisa giggled and said, “Sure, Martin. Damn, I’m so glad I waited for you to return. So many guys have tried to get in my pants but I knew you were the one for me. You do know that I’ve loved you for years, don’t you?”

I hadn’t really thought about it but she was a living doll and could really fuck. I asked her if she was on the pill and she told me that she had been for a year now due to getting her period on track, not because she was sexually active. She kissed me saying, “Martin, you were my first.”

The next morning as I came down to the smell of bacon cooking, and saw mom making a pitcher of orange juice at the sink. I walked up behind her and put my arms around her waist and she turned around like she was going to give me a kiss before she realized it was me. “I’m sorry,” mom said, “I was hoping that was your father. He has been so cold to me ever since his heart attack and I don’t have any idea why. He won’t talk to me, he just keeps shutting me out.”

I gave her a very big hug and asked her to sit down at the table with me so we could talk. She brought over two cups of coffee. I took a sip, then took mom’s hands in mine. This was very hard for me to say. “Mom, when you were doing all that community service work, were you having an affair?”

My mother jumped up, knocking her chair over backward and she yelled at me, “Martin Allen Parker, why in the world would you accuse me of cheating on your father?” She picked up her chair and sat back down but she was as nervous as can be.

I looked at her and said, “Because father thinks you were. He said you were exhibiting all the signs, dressing sexier, being gone more, coming home late, taking a shower as soon as you got home, washing out your panties to hide any trace that might be left. Being wilder during sex, instigating wilder sex than you ever have before. All these things mom, really make a man think his woman is cheating on him, and when you were so involved with your own orgasms that you didn’t even notice that he was having a heart attack, it really broke his heart and his love for you. Now tell me, were you having an affair?”

Mom began crying and jumped up and ran into her bedroom, slamming the door. Fuck I felt bad for bringing it up but something had to be done.

Two days later, mom asked me to go to lunch with her. We went early to Cozzenti’s, a great little Italian restaurant on the far side of town. When the waiter asked if we wanted to start with a glass of Chanti, mom said, “No, I’ll have a double scotch on the rocks, please.”

I thought, ‘What the hell, mom drinking hard liquor before noon?’ but kept my mouth shut and ordered myself an Arnold Palmer. When the drinks got there, mom and I clinked glasses then she downed her drink and asked the waiter for another. I felt some very bad news was forthcoming. So, I asked, “Mom, do you really need booze to talk to your only son? I’m here to listen, not to judge or berate you. Whatever you tell me, stays between you and me. I won’t say anything to dad unless you want me to. Alright?”

She squeezed my hand and I noticed a few tears trickling down her cheeks. She wiped them away and began her tale. “Martin, I volunteered because your father was constantly berating me. It seemed that I couldn’t do anything right. The bacon was either under or overdone, same with his eggs. No matter what I cooked, he found fault in it. It was the same with almost everything, even my driving, which I might say was a hell of a lot better than his. Anyway, Annie, my friend asked me if I’d like to help her on a project down at the community center and I jumped at the chance to get away from your father for a while. Annie and I were making up flyers and had to go through all the names to verify that the addresses were still the same plus check if the people were still alive, to tell you the truth.

When going through the names, I saw the name, George Fitzpatrick. That name really took me back. George Fitzpatrick was my first real boyfriend through most of my high school years and I had such a crush on him but his family moved away before our love could truly develop. I copied his information and it said that he was a widower and I decided to pop over to his place and see if it was the same George Fitzpatrick from all those years ago. It couldn’t be, could it?

When I knocked on his door, my heart melted. He was still so handsome. He had a full head of hair, a strong flat stomach, he was wearing some shorts and sandals and looked like he had been sun tanning. I mumbled that I was from the community center but before I could get anything else out, his face broke into a huge smile and he said, Gina, is that really you? As I nodded, he threw his arms around me and passionately kissed me, gently pulling me into his home. I found myself getting so wet and turned on that my mind wasn’t thinking clearly. I asked him if he had thought about volunteering down at the community center trying to keep myself from doing something stupid right then and there. George asked me all sorts of questions and I guess I answered them pretty well because the next morning, he was there bright and early. He also brought in two dozen doughnuts for everyone which made them happy.

I could see several of the other women setting their sights on George but he seemed to be staying at my side as much as possible. The next day several of them were dressed up, definitely trying to get George’s attention. Push-up bras, short pencil skirts, very tight yoga outfit, not to mention my friend Lisa who was wearing this sheer, almost see-through, summer dress that showed her pink bra and G-string as plain as day. That’s when I decided I needed to up my game and began to buy some nicer dresses and things to show him that I could still be sexy. Your father never said one word to me about my new outfits or make-up. All he wanted to know was if I had made his lunch for him and where the hell was it. Martin, he knows damn well I put it in the refrigerator in a container with his cookies and some fruit every day. Then he wants to know when I’m going to be home and what’s going to be for dinner and when I tell him, he normally tells me that he doesn’t like that.

George always took me to lunch and often out for dinner if we had to work late. One evening, instead of going straight home after dinner, he walked me into the lounge and bought me drinks and we danced. God, son, I hadn’t danced in years. Your father says his corns hurt too much for him to dance so he can’t be bothered. During the slow dances, George was holding me so tightly that I could feel his erection pressing against my crotch. I was hoping I wasn’t going to leave a stain in the front of my dress as I was leaking so much, I could feel it running down my stockinged thighs. Then he leaned in and kissed me and I kissed him back. Martin, if he had wanted to have me right there on the dance floor or take me out to his or my car and make love, I would have said yes without a thought about your father.

But George was a gentleman and when the dance ended, he said, “Gina, I think it’s time we got you back to your husband. I wouldn’t want to tarnish your reputation.” I knew he was right but I was so disappointed. I got home and your father was snoring in his recliner so I covered him up and went to bed but was thinking of George.

That’s when I decided to go shopping and get myself a new dress. While at the mall, I decided to go for the full meal deal and went to Victoria’s Secret and purchased some very sexy undergarments and stockings, then a few stores down and purchased some 3′ strappy heels to go with my new dress. I then went to a hairdresser there and got a new hairdo then asked them if they could do a Brazilian wax job on me and when this young gal asked why I told her I was meeting an old boyfriend, she smiled and said she’d throw it in for half price. I just wanted to look super sexy for George.

I called Mary over at the Community Center to find out if George was there and she said that he called and when he found out that I wasn’t there he said he didn’t think he would be in today so I decided to head over to his place. I rang his bell and when he opened the door, his eyes lit up and he let out a wolf-whistle. He then quickly pulled me inside, shut the door, pulled me to him, and kissed me deeply. His one hand was behind my neck as our tongues darted about in each other’s mouths. Then his other hand slipped under my dress and found my wet panties and he dipped a finger, then two into my wetness. Your father and I hadn’t made love in ages, maybe even months.

My hand went to his crotch and I found a very nice-sized cock and began to rub it a bit. I then slid my hand beneath the elastic of his shorts and got to feel his hot flesh and felt him flinch as his cock began to grow and grow. George reached under my dress and pulled down my panties, then somehow wiggled out of his shorts and sat down on his couch and pulled me up so I was straddling him. He guided his hot, hard, huge manhood into my soaked pussy, stretching me like never before. Martin, I orgasmed three times before he even bottomed out and each one was bigger than the last. He then began to move me up and down on his shaft with a few inches still left to go. I was orgasming so hard and soaking him and his couch but I didn’t care. I wasn’t thinking about your father or it being cheating, I just knew that this was the best sex I had ever had in my life and it was like a drug. After I came at least a dozen times, he pulled me off of him then placed me over his couch and took me from behind. His hands held my hips and he began to plow into me with a renewed vigor. He was hitting places that had never been touched by a man before. His cock was pushing against my cervix and stretching me so he could get more of his delicious cock deep into my pussy.

George pulled out then stood me up and unzipped my dress, unhooked my bra, and said, “Gina, you are still the sexiest girl I know,” then picked me up and took me into his bed and laid me down and we fucked missionary style until he shot me full of the biggest load of cum, I’ve ever had in my life. He really surprised me by kissing his way down my body and then softly kissing my pussy before he began to lick it, then ate me out to several more orgasms. We showered and he had me again in there. We dried off and climbed back in bed and then talked. I told him about you and your father but it was funny, I didn’t feel guilty, at least at the time. I felt so good, so tingly all over, especially my pussy that I didn’t even realize that I was late in getting your father’s dinner started until George mentioned the time. I ran to my car and retrieved my other dress and George let me put it on, though he was pestering me to play again. I’m sorry to say we kept up the affair for another month until your father had his heart attack and that’s when everything hit me that I had been cheating on him. George wants me to divorce your father and marry him. But Martin, I love your father it’s just that I can’t stand his constant criticizing me. Please don’t hate me as I have ended it with George.”

To say I was blown away by her story would be an understatement. For some reason, I wasn’t hungry now but we ordered some breadsticks and marinara sauce before leaving. That was a lot to process. If my sweet loving mother could cheat on my father after being married for almost 30 years, what did that say for marriage I pondered.

Well, Lisa and I dated hot and heavy as our school year progressed and before Christmas, we were living together in an efficiency apartment near the college. At our first Christmas dinner with my mom, she asked, “So Lisa, when are you and Martin going to get married?” I thought Lisa was going to choke on that bite of turkey.

Clearing her throat, she said, “You’ll have to ask Martin on that one, mom.”

My mother looked at me like one of the interrogators did our prisoners and without thinking, I said, “I don’t know, how about in June?” Lisa’s eyes went wide and she flew around the table and into my arms. Mom was ecstatic then started crying. Dad was shaking his head and mumbled a congratulation though he gave mom a dirty look.

Anyway, Lisa and I got married in June and we both studied, worked hard, and graduated getting good-paying jobs in the fields we both enjoyed. I was doing architectural design for a large company and Lisa was doing research for a biochemical laboratory.

Lisa had wanted to wait until we got a house before starting a family and since we were almost there with the down payment, she had gone off birth control. I was sitting at my computer one evening when I got an email from a D. Becker. At first, I didn’t know who it was then I realized it was my old lieutenant and opened it. It was just a note saying he was going to be in our town for a few days and wanted to visit and catch up with me and see how things were going. It gave his phone number so I called. We talked for over an hour and I convinced him to stay with us instead of getting a hotel room. He was there to see about buying an old building in our town and renovating it into a mini-mall. He said he already had nearly a dozen that he had done and was looking for more to invest in. Derrick was working with the Wounded Warrior project and gave those renters a break. He was due in on Friday morning but I had an important meeting with a client and it was Lisa’s day off. She worked 4 ten-hour days, Monday through Thursday so I asked her if she could pick up Derrick from the airport. She said sure she’d be glad to.

Lisa was supposed to pick up Derrick at 1:15, but I didn’t hear anything from her which was ok because I was right in the middle of negotiations with the clients. We wrapped up everything just before four and as I walked into my office, I was about to call Lisa when she called and yelled into her phone, “Martin, you didn’t tell me I was picking up the Hulk!” She had to yell because of the loud music playing in the background.

It was followed by laughter and giggles from her as I heard Derrick yell at the phone, “I really wish you could be here bud. Your little bride really can put away the tequila, you know that.”

Shit, Lisa gets really wild on Tequila. I tried to get their attention and asked where they were but they were both laughing and I could hear country music playing. I hung up and dialed Lisa’s number but it went to voicemail. I panicked and told my secretary I had an emergency and called my boss and told him the same thing and headed for home. Derrick’s phone number was on my computer, I hadn’t kept it on my phone. Dumb, I know it.

I broke the speed limit nearly all the way while continuing to call Lisa to no avail. I ran into our apartment and opened my computer and began searching for emails. Soon I found his email and opened it and got his phone number. I quickly called and Derrick picked up on the second ring. “Martin old buddy,” I heard Derrick’s deep voice say over the rocking country music, “Where the hell are you, Bud?”

Trying to be heard over the music, “I yelled back at him and asked, “Derrick, the question is, where the hell are you two? I have no idea where you guys are?

I heard Derrick say to Lisa, “He wants to know where we are. Where are we?”

I heard Lisa laugh then hiccup and I knew she was drunk as she tried to talk but she was slurring her words. Then I heard Derrick ask someone else and he came back, “That guy said it’s the Dry Gulch Roadhouse.”

I quickly tore off my suit and threw on some jeans and a shirt and boots and jumped in my Chevelle and tore down Highway 14, glad my radar detector was working as I flew past cars and trucks like a madman. My tires skidded to a stop as I reach the Roadhouse parking lot and I ran inside. They were playing a slow song and Lisa was grinding up against Derrick in a way that pissed me off. Her head was on his chest, her tits tight firmly against him and she was rubbing her crotch up and down his leg. Her one hand was behind his back and the other was inside of his shirt, right at his beltline, as if she was trying to get below it. Derrick had both of his hands cupping her ass, pulling her tight to him and he was nuzzling her neck.

I ran up and yanked her away from Derrick and said, “Lisa Marie Parker, what in the hell do you think you are doing?”

I’m glad I had ahold of her because the way she was wobbling, I think she would have fallen over. She was squinting and had a big silly smile and trying to focus on me said, “M-M-Martin, baby, w-w-where have {hiccup} you been? {hiccup}”

I looked at Derrick and was rather pissed and asked him, “Where’s your table?” He led us over to the booth near the back and I got Lisa seated. I asked Lisa, “Honey, have you had anything to eat today?”

Again, with the squinty eyes and silly smile, she reached over to the small bowl and picked up a piece of lime and said, “Maybe-e-e-e bout a dozen or so of deez. {hiccup}”

Just then Lisa laid her face on the table and I gave Derrick a stern look and he said, “Hey man, it’s not my fault. She’s the one that said we needed a drink to celebrate me saving your life. Then when I asked for a double shot of Patron, she said she loved Patron and could drink me under the table, so don’t blame me if she got this way.”

I didn’t know who to be more pissed off at, Lisa or Derrick. I called the waitress over and ordered Sam’s Special burgers for Lisa and I and suggested the Double Hell Chili burger for Derrick. He looked at the menu and smiled when he saw the picture and said, “Yup, you remembered.” Derrick loved his food the hotter the better and the Double Hell Burger came with pickled Jalapeno and Habanero peppers on it.

Getting Lisa to eat was another matter but we did. I also had the waitress bring her a chocolate shake. She needed something to try to sober up. It took us nearly an hour for her to be able to hold a normal conversation then she was embarrassed at becoming drunk and apologized to Derrick. As we walked out to our cars, Lisa was still having a little trouble navigating so I took her keys and threw them to Derrick, and said, “Follow us, ok?”

“What are you driving?” he asked.

“Remember that clunker I told you I had fixed up?” I said. He nodded. “Well, she’s yellow with a black top and fast as hell. Think you can keep up?” Derrick just smiled as he jogged over to the far parking lot to find Lisa’s SUV.

I had just gotten Lisa buckled in when Derrick pulled up next to us and he rolled down the window and said, “Shit, you call that a clunker? I’d give my left nut for a clunker like that.”

Lisa yelled at him, “Derrick, turn on the navigation and tell it to go home.” He did and he gave us the thumbs up and took off before I could get in my car.

When we got back to our apartment, Lisa’s SUV wasn’t there yet and neither was Derrick. About 15 minutes later, here he comes walking in with his luggage and carrying a couple of grocery bags. I took his suitcase and put it in the guest room while he and Lisa took the other bags into the kitchen. When I got in there, Derrick had purchased two large bottles of Patron and a bag of limes and Lisa was busy slicing up the limes.

I looked at my wife and said, “Honey, don’t you think you’ve had enough to drink today?”

She grinned at me, a shot glass in one hand and a quarter lime in the other and quickly downed the agave liquor, then the lime and licked the salt off the back of her hand and said, “No, honey, I hadn’t eaten all day and now my tummy is full so I can drink and have fun. Don’t be a stick in the mud, have some with us.”

Derrick chimed in and said, “Come on, Martin, the party is just beginning.” He went into the guest room and came back with a WiFi speaker and connected it to his phone and we now had some rock-a-billy music playing. The three of us were dancing around in the kitchen doing shots. Soon the first bottle of Patron was empty and we moved into the living room where we started on the second bottle. Derrick was telling Lisa about a lot of the things we lived through over in Iraq.

By now I was getting pretty hammered. Derrick and I had been taking turns dancing with Lisa and she was now dirty dancing with both of us. During my turn, I told her it wasn’t nice to give him a bad case of blue balls and she just giggled and said, “It’s nice {hiccup} to know that I’ve still got {hiccup} it.”

I lightly swatted her on the butt and told her to behave herself and she said, “Aww, that’s no {hiccup} fun.”

The song ended and I turned to go use the bathroom and my feet didn’t want to work and I watched as my face did head-on run-in with the floor and I never put my hands out to stop myself. Lisa and Derrick helped me get up on the couch and I tried to explain that I needed to go pee so Lisa helped me into the bathroom and even held it for me. I was holding onto her and the sink as things were spinning around pretty fast. She took me out and got me back on the couch. I watched as Lisa and Derrick danced again only the music had changed to slow love songs, I vaguely remember. Then things got really fuzzy just before going black.

I woke up Saturday morning to my cell phone ringing. My head was pounding and my mouth tasted like the neighbor’s cat had shit in it. Lisa was lying next to me, on top of the covers naked face down and if my head didn’t hurt so much, I would have made love to her but I had to answer the phone. It was my boss and he needed me to come out to his country club and fill in for one of his friends that failed to show for their golf game. I was a pretty good golfer but with this hangover, I wasn’t sure how I’d play today. I popped 4 Advil then jumped in the shower and got dressed. Lisa was still sound asleep so I crept out of the bedroom and found Derrick sitting in our kitchen sipping a cup of coffee. He offered me a cup and I gladly took it. “Thanks, Derrick. You’re a lifesaver, man. My boss just called and he needs me to fill in a foursome for golf this morning. Do me a favor and take care of Lisa when she wakes up. I’m pretty sure she’s going to be hungover too.”

He got this big smile and said, “Don’t worry Martin, I’ll be happy to take VERY good care of your sweet wifey.” I was hungover and, in a hurry, and never paid attention to what he said. I had no idea that my boss’s group was playing 36 holes of golf that day and I didn’t get back until after 6:00. I had let Lisa know when we had lunch at 1:00 not to expect me until then and she said she was fine with that. She said that Derrick was keeping her company.

Sunday, I slept in late. I was woken by hearing the shower running and made my way into our shower where Lisa was scrubbing up. She seemed surprised when I opened the door and asked me to leave until she was done. That was a first. She came out shortly and quickly wrapped herself in a towel. I asked her why she wouldn’t let me in with her and she said, “Honey, we have a guest here and it wouldn’t be right for us to be having sex with him here, would it?”

“I guess you’re right dear”, I said though I really wanted to make love to my wife. As I walked into the front room, Derrick was drying his hair. He had just gotten out of the shower too. I didn’t pay it any attention. Just a coincidence I figured. Derrick took us out to breakfast then driving my Chevelle, he took us to the three properties he was trying to decide which one to buy. He had a realtor’s key and we were able to go inside the buildings. After the third one, Lisa asked if we could go back to the second one and we headed back there.

She walked in and looked around then told Derrick, “This is the one you want. Those beams would make a perfect separation point for walling off the tenant spaces and this front walkway would let all the sunshine in yet keep the people out of the weather.”

I looked at her and said, “What’s the big idea, I’m the architect in the family.”

Lisa giggled saying, “All those nights I helped you study, don’t you think I learned a thing or two. I’m not just some dumb blond, you know.”

Derrick smiled then said, “Lisa, if this is the one you want, then this is the one I’ll buy, but you are going to have to help me design it and pick out the interior and the colors. OK?” She squealed and jumped around like a kid on a sugar high.

Sure enough, he purchased the building and Lisa was taking time away from work to help Derrick occasionally. About a month later, I came home to the house fairly dark, gentle piano and violin music playing, candles lighting the dinner table with two perfectly cooked rib-eye steaks, baked potatoes, candied carrots, and a tall flute of champagne next to my plate. Lisa was wearing a red silk see-through robe with a matching G-string. She walked up to me and planted the most loving, sensual kiss on me than she ever has and said, “Welcome home, my love.”

“What’s going on?” I asked her. She just smiled like the Cheshire Cat and sat down at her place as we said grace.

I finished a lot quicker than Lisa did and she said, “Martin, why don’t you go take a shower and meet me in bed? We have something to discuss.” I was off like a shot and showered and dried off in record time. Looking at my wife’s sexy body all through dinner had my cock at full staff and I was leaking like crazy.

I came out of the bedroom and Lisa was lying in bed, her arms outstretched for me. I quickly climbed in next to her and kissed her softly at first, then more and more passionately until she stopped me and said, “I have some good news and some bad news, which do you want to hear first?”

Shit, I wasn’t sure I was ready for that. So I looked at my beautiful wife and said, “Ok, my love, give me the bad news first.”

Clearing her throat, Lisa raised her head and calmly said, “Martin, we really need to find us a house and quickly.”

I looked at her and asked, “Why’s that the bad news, darling?” Then it hit me. “Oh shit, you’re pregnant! We’re pregnant! WE’RE GOING TO HAVE A BABY!” I began kissing her all over as she giggled and rubbed my head while I was kissing her belly, even though you couldn’t tell she was pregnant.

Lisa had a fairly uneventful pregnancy except for the fact that our baby was very large and her OB-GYN said that it was necessary for her to deliver cesarean instead of by natural childbirth. Errick Mathew Parker graced us with his presents at 3:30 in the morning weighing 11 pounds, 7 ounces, and was 32 inches long. When the doctor picked him up to slap his behind, he said, “My God, he’s all balls.” Lisa and I laughed.

When I went out to the nursery, who did I run into but Derrick. “What the heck are you doing here?” I asked him.

I swear I saw a tear in one eye as he said, “I hope you don’t mind Uncle Derrick watching over your beautiful son, do you?” I hugged that giant of a man and thanked him for being our friend.

The next morning, when I walked into Lisa’s room, I could hardly find her, it was so full of flowers. As soon as she saw me, she asked me if I had her cell phone and I said I thought it was locked up with her clothes so she called the nurse to unlock her cabinet. She grabbed her phone and pressed a button then said, “Look, Derrick, I really appreciate all the flowers but enough is enough already. I’m going to take some home but the rest I’m donating to the retirement center next to the hospital if that’s OK with you. It is, good. I’ll see you tomorrow. I do too. Bye now.”

I gave her a big kiss just as they brought Errick Martin Parker in for his feeding but I was surprised that Lisa had decided against nursing even though she had told me she wanted to nurse to bond with our child. I never said anything, I just loved watching her with our son.

Lisa did help Derrick with his project from time to time and he was even paying her for her work. One day I happened to see her check from him that had fallen out of her purse and was shocked. It was more than she made at the lab where she worked. She said that Derrick wanted her to put it in a college fund for Errick and not to get my panties in a bunch, so life went on.

Imagine my utter surprise when just a little over four months after Erick was born, I again came home to my home dark, candles on the table, a fancy dinner, and Lisa in that red silk robe again. Setting down my briefcase, I looked at her and said, “You’re not, are you?” She pursed her lips and nodded, giving me her cute smile. I ran to her and picked her up and twirled her around then asked, “Honey, isn’t it awfully soon to be having our second child?”

She kissed me and said, “I guess somebody has some very strong swimmers. I know it will be rough for a while with two in diapers but we will manage. I picked her up and took her into our bedroom where we made love again and again. As I was catching my breath, Lisa said, “You know Martin, your dinner is cold as ice by now.” I chuckled and went out and threw it in the micro and managed to eat some of it.

Lisa’s second pregnancy wasn’t quite as easy as her first, as the stress of having to care for a young one while having morning sickness and everything else that goes along with being pregnant, left her wiped out and very unhappy most of the time. During her eighth month, her mother, Donna, came to live with us and care for Errick and cook and clean. Lisa’s attitude really improved but her Ob-Gyn had told her that sex was out of the question in her condition. At least that’s what she told me.

Suddenly, Donna’s sister had major heart surgery and needed help so Donna had volunteered to be her caregiver. Lisa went on a crying jag. Then Derrick showed up like he did every 3 months or so. Only by now, it was Uncle Derrick. When he saw Lisa’s state and I told him how different she was when her mother was here to help, he got on the phone and called and had a professional healthcare company have two workers there during the day to help Lisa care for Errick and do the housework and then there would be one at night to take care of Errick for her. I told him that I’d pay for it but he insisted saying that with Lisa’s flair for interior design, she has more than made him enough money to cover this bill ten times over. Lisa was crying again, only now they were tears of joy as they hugged for so long as Derrick, rubbed her enlarged belly before kissing Lisa on the cheek.

Derrick came to me and shook my hand and said, “Martin, please give me a call when Lisa is about to deliver your next son. I would really like to hold my new . . . nephew.”

I smiled and said, “You got it, buddy.” Three and a half weeks later I called Derrick and told him when Lisa was scheduled for her cesarean section surgery and he said he’d be there.

I had been pacing the waiting room for about half an hour when I’m grabbed from behind and spun around by Derrick who threw his arms around me and gave me one hell of a hug. Damn that guy was still strong as a bull. I made a mental note to find a gym. “Any news, Martin?” Derrick asked.

“Nothing yet,” I said, “but it took over an hour and a half last time before I knew anything.”

Derrick nodded then asked, “Is there a pop machine around here?”

“Yes,” I said, “but it’s in the basement. When you go out these doors, make a right and go down to the last set of elevators and go down to the basement. Right across from the basement is the cafeteria but next to the elevators are several soda, and other vending machines.”

Derrick smiled and said, “I’m off on a quest, don’t go anywhere until I get back.” I chuckled at that and watched as he ran off. Man, I was so glad we had a good friend like Derrick in our lives. A few minutes late, he returns with 4 lemon-lime sodas and two cups with ice in them and hands me one, sitting the sodas on the small table between us. He then reaches into his valise and takes out several airline-sized bottles of Wild Turkey and pours two in each cup then adds a half can of the lemon-lime soda each and stirs them with his pen. He hands me one and says, “Here’s to Lisa. May her fertile womb produce many lovely children for you two to enjoy my friend!” as he held his cup up so we could toast to my wife. He always a crazy one.

We were a little over halfway through our drinks when the doctor came out holding my new son and said, “Ready to clean your son up, Mr. Parker? All 12 pounds, 3 ounces of him. He’s probably going to be a basketball or football player, he’s 32½” long.” I handed my drink to Derrick and he quickly downed both his and mine. I turned to the doctor and a nurse held a box of gloves towards me so I took a pair and was putting them on when I saw Derrick grab a pair.

I looked over at him as he put on his gloves and he saw me watching and said, “What, can’t an uncle help clean up his nephew? After all, I need to bond with him too, don’t I?”

I couldn’t help but snicker and asked the doctor if it was alright if ‘Uncle Derrick’ helped me wash up my new son. Then the doctor asked if we had decided on a name and I watched Derrick’s face as I said, “Yes, doctor. His name is Derrick Allen Parker.” It looked like uncle Derrick was going to pass out. Anyway, we washed up little Derrick, then big Derrick and I took him up to Lisa’s room.

I was carrying him, all bundled up and Derrick was standing right next to me. He quickly went up to Lisa and took her hand and asked, “Why did you name him after me? Please don’t get me wrong, I’m so proud my chest is about to burst open. I just want to know why?”

Lisa pulled his hand to her lips, giving it a kiss, and said, “Because, Derrick, you are always there for me when I need you.” Then she looked over at me and said, “I mean you’re there for us. You have been our saving grace more than once.” Then she pulled him in for a hug. I then brought over little Derrick and handed him to her just as the nurse brought in a baby bottle for my new son. I asked Derrick to take a few pictures for me with my cell phone and he agreed as long as I would return the favor for him.

As he was getting ready to leave, he moved between us and took each of our hands in his outstretched ones and said, “Martin, Lisa, with two young ‘uns this little to care for, I know it’s going to be rough so I’ve asked the agency to have your caregivers stay on for at least the next six months and possibly a year and they have agreed to it. I hope that’s ok with you guys.” Now I knew that Lisa was going to enjoy the help but I realized that having someone there all night was going to put one hell of a crimp on our lovemaking. Then he said, “Oh, Lisa, as soon as you feel up to it. I really could use your advice on a couple of new buildings I just purchased, one is in New Orleans and the other is in Tempe, Arizona. Would you be able to fly down there with me say in a month or so?”

Lisa got this half-smile and without asking me or giving me a choice, she said, “That sounds like it would be fun. I would like to try my hand at it. Maybe give Martin some competition.”

I stuttered, “W.w.what about the boys? How long are you planning on being gone?”

Derrick said, “That won’t be a problem, the nurses will be there. As for how long, that depends on how long it takes Lisa to figure out what we are going to do and find the right contractors that can do what we want. It could be a week; it could be 3 weeks. I hope that’s ok with you.”

Now, what could I say? My wife had just had my son and now she was asking to go on several week trips with my best friend. Shit, why was I even thinking like this? I shook those thoughts out of my head and smiled, giving them my full blessing.

Those three weeks seemed to pass uneventfully as I was busy at work and the boys kept me busy in the evenings. Thankfully, Paula and Terri were good cooks so I ate well while Lisa was gone. The nights alone in bed were the worst though. The night she returned what a fantastic time we had. I think we made love at least six times by the time my alarm went off the next morning. And Lisa seemed to be revitalized too. She went back to being her old self though she was now going out of town to help Derrick about every other month his paychecks sure helped boost the boys’ college fund.

Four years after little Derrick was born, I was woken up by the sound of Lisa throwing up. I went into our bathroom and asked, “Are you feeling sick honey? Do you think you have the stomach flu?” Then joking, I asked, “Or are you having morning sickness?” The dirty look I got didn’t bode well. She started to say something but had to turn and bury her head in the toilet as another volley of bile was trying to exit her insides.

I went into the kitchen and made the boys and myself breakfast. I made Lisa some tea and took it into the bedroom. She was on the bed, her knees pulled up against her chest as she rocked back and forth and seemed to be in her own world. She wouldn’t look up so I bent down so I was looking up and asked, “Should I go get an EPT from the drug store?”

She finally looked at me and said, “I guess it would be best. I’m pretty sure I am though. I missed my last month’s period and this month’s should have started yesterday, then today, well you were there.” I nodded. I drove to the store and picked up a couple of EPT tests just to be on the safe side and both of them showed the pink plus sign. This time the fetus was small enough that her Ob-Gyn told her that she could have her naturally if she wanted, and Lisa did. Lisa’s pregnancy was very difficult this time and she had to spend the last 3 months bedridden. She had a lot of cramping and false labor. She would wake me up with her crying and it hurt me to see her in so much pain but there was nothing we could do about it other than me spooning with her and rubbing her tummy.

Lisa was in labor for 60 hours and big Derrick and I nearly wore holes in the waiting room floor. Finally, this nurse came in and said they were taking her from the labor room into the delivery room but that Lisa had asked for no visitors, even us during the delivery. I wondered why for a while but that was all forgotten when the nurse came out holding Angelica Marie and asked me to clean her up. Derrick and I again did the task, checking out every inch of her 6 pounds, 3 ounces, 22-inch frame. They told us she would be in room 354 after some other clean-up work was done. I was told to take Angelica up there and a bottle would be provided so I could feed her.

We waited for over an hour for Lisa to show up. Her face looked so haggard and when she tried to speak, I softly kissed her lips and told her to relax and sleep, there would be time to talk later. That’s the time the nurse came in taking Angelica and telling us visiting hours were over. When I got home, the boys wanted to know all about their baby sister. I let them sleep with me that night. What a good feeling it was. What I didn’t find out until many years later was that Lisa had her tubes tied after Angelica was born and she never discussed it with me.

I brought Lisa home the next day and life resumed to normal if the hectic life of a family today can be called normal. The boys grew like weeds and had outgrown me by the time they were 14. Derrick was as tall as his older brother and I feel a little stronger. He was also a voracious reader and spent a lot more time reading than trying to impress his friends and the girls. So much so that they skipped him over his sophomore year which put him in the same grade as Errick. Both of the boys were on the football squad and were quite impressive. I had started them in Pop Warner football at an early age and they were naturals at it. Well, big Derrick did give them a lot of tips as he played for the Saint’s second string until his number came up. The bullet he took shattering his heel after I left Iraq, removed any chance of him returning to that sport professionally.