After a moment or two she gathered herself and released him from the death grip but didn’t remove herself from his lap. She looked deeply into his eyes and saw kindness starring back at her. Finally, she spoke, “Thank you Mike. I could never demand you give me this gift but I’m so overwhelmed to receive it. I can’t put into words what this means to me.”
Martha was suddenly aware she was sitting on her ex-husbands lap and was embarrassed. “Oh my, I’m so sorry. This probably isn’t at all appropriate.” It may not have been appropriate, but it was natural. How many times had she sat with him like this lost in conversation and kisses?
She stood as Mike somewhat reluctantly let her go. “I’m so sorry Dr. Myers, Mike, I was just overwhelmed I didn’t stop to think about where we are.”
The doc just smiled, “You did what came naturally to you Martha. You’re a good person down deep. You do know how to give and receive love, you just forgot somewhere along with way. Given the circumstances it seemed to me to be the most honest thing for you to do. You unabashedly gave Mike thanks for his words from the genuine care you have in your heart.”
Martha had grabbed a couple of tissues and was wiping her eyes. Myers turned to Mike. “Thoughts?”
“I’m relieved doc. First, because I know Martha is being honest with me and I can’t tell you how good that feels. Secondly, I think Martha can now begin to forgive herself. As long as I held my anger and hurt, I would force her to hold her self-hatred. Now she can begin to emotionally rebuild. Finally, I’m convinced our family can have reconciliation on some level and begin to heal.”
“Mike, please don’t ever go into counseling,” Myers responded smiling. “I don’t need the competition!”
Mike then asked what both he and Martha were pondering. “Where do we go from here doc?”
“Well, where do you want it to go Mike?” Again, even though they’d just had a major breakthrough she wasn’t going to do his thinking for him.
Mike looked at Martha and rolled his eyes. “She can be maddening sometimes, can’t she?” Martha couldn’t help but giggle at that.
“I think we should keep coming and talking to you doc. I also think we should probably make some time to begin to rebuild our friendship. Maybe some time together each week, just getting reacquainted. I don’t think we should say anything to the kids yet, it is still too early and my guess is we have a good bit of work left to do. I don’t know where we’ll end up but my hope is in a good place, friends at the very least.”
Myers looked at Martha hoping Mikes words, “at the very least” had not been lost on her. “Martha?”
“Yes, I think all of that is right doctor. When we began, I hoped Mike could find a way to forgive me and we could at least be kind and tolerable to each other at family gatherings. But I think we’re capable of more, much more if we work together with you and with each other as Mike has suggested.”
If they were looking for a gold star or an “atta boy / girl” from Myers they were about to be disappointed. She smiled and simply said, “That sounds good to me. Well, our time is up, I’ll see both of you next week.”
Mike and Martha continued with Dr. Myers and began seeing each other at least once a week. A dinner out, a movie or just taking a walk and talking was comfortable for both of them. They never met at Mike’s house or Martha’s condo, it was always in public and always on the other side of town where they wouldn’t run into Sally, Jim and little Emily. Neither called MJ to fill him in, they just spent time together.
By Thanksgiving their weekly time together had turned into twice a week and daily phone calls. They may not have been aware but they were courting. When Mike suggested they not do Thanksgiving together with the kids Martha’s heart sank. Perhaps her hopes were getting too high, but she was falling in love with him all over again and she thought he had similar feelings. However, Mike quickly picked up on her uneasiness and put her concerns to rest.
“Why don’t you go over in the morning and I’ll drop by at noon for a couple hours. I can watch some football with Jim and play with Em. Then we can meet around five for dinner with just the two of us. I’ll do the cooking. How about you come to my place?”
Martha’s heart was pounding so hard she thought it might break through her chest. She kept her composure. “That would be lovely Mike. Should I bring the wine?”
That got her an arched-eye look. “You’re kidding right?”
On Thanksgiving, they’d each spent time separately at Jim and Sally’s. Mike suspected Jim may be onto them but he wasn’t sure. Later, they met at Mikes and had a lovely dinner together. Mike knew his way around a kitchen and everything was impeccable. They sat at the dining room table chatting until around ten when they decided to clear the table and clean the kitchen.
Around eleven Martha said to Mike, “This has been wonderful Mike, but I should be going. Before she could turn to leave Mike said, “Sit down Martha.” His voice was firm and she couldn’t tell from the look on his face what was on his mind. But she knew that tone and sat back down at the kitchen table.
For the next ten minutes Mike reviewed where they’d been. He spoke in encouraging terms about their progress via time with Dr. Martin and time together. When he finished Martha agreed and told him how happy she was that they were reconnecting on a new level. They couldn’t go back, but they could go forward in a much healthier way and she was grateful. With that she again got up to go.
“Sit down Martha.”
She quickly sat back down, looking at him for some clue as to what he was feeling.
He was glaring at her now. Not with a look of anger, but with a look of predator about to pounce on his prey. She was beginning to pick up on his desire but didn’t want to let on how badly she wanted him. Again, she got up to leave. “I’m sorry Mike, I should be going, I don’t want to assume anything.’
This time Mike didn’t tell her to sit back down, he rose from his chair, his eyes smoldering with desire. He took one of her hands and could feel her trembling. He also felt heat building inside her. In an instant, he picked her up. Not in a loving manner the way a husband carries his new bride over the threshold, but as a man bent on taking a woman who had intentionally gotten his blood up.
He threw her over his shoulder. She gasped in surprise and in lust. She was wet and he could smell her arousal. Her arms were flailing as he carried her like a sack of wheat up the stairs to what had once been their marital bed.
She was kicking her legs and pounding on his back as if she was resisting his power. “Mike, no, please, you can’t, we can’t, Put me down this instant. It would be wrong!” He knew her true intentions. She wanted him, needed him to take her, to use her for his pleasure. She was all woman, and he was all man. He was going to fuck her, and she was lost in his power and force. She knew she was safe with him, but she also knew he was going to have his way. She wanted it more than anything she’d ever wanted in her life.