Life Isn't Always Fair By DG Hear Not a lot of sex in this story but hope that you take the time to read it. A big ‘Thank you' to Mistress Lynn for her ideas and her editing. "Jim, are you interested in going on a three day cruise?" my friend Bill asked. "I thought you were taking your latest girlfriend, Gail. Weren't you going to surprise her with the cruise on your three month anniversary? What happened?" "I dropped by where she works at her lunch time. She was making out with her ex-boyfriend in the parking garage when I got there. So I guess I'm the one who got surprised," Bill replied. "So, what happened? What did you do?" "She saw me and her mouth flew open. Don't know if she was scared, surprised or both. She quickly locked her door and put her boobs back in her bra. I told her to roll down the fucking window or I'd break it." "What did the guy do during this time?" I asked. "He was putting his cock back in his pants and zipping up. Wouldn't be surprised if he shit himself. Gail rolled her window down about two inches. I called her a worthless cunt, a cheating bitch, whore, slut and anything else I could think of. "I showed her the cruise tickets and she started to cry. I told her it was too late, she had made her choice. Then I pointed at the asshole she was with. I really wanted to kick his ass but neither one of them was worth going to jail over. I did tell him if I ever saw him alone that I would beat the living shit out of him. Before they said anything, I got back in my car and left," Bill said. "So, what's next?" "She called me on the cell to apologize. I told her to go fuck herself; she didn't get a second chance. Now I have this extra ticket for the cruise and I thought you might want to go along." "Why me, Bill? Can't you find another girl to go? There are probably a lot of women who would like to go." "Since I'm not taking Gail, I thought I would just go and see how lucky I get. This is an adult cruise. It's mainly for singles and romantics. Plus, I have to find someone who can get off work to go. Since your dad owns the business, I figured you wouldn't have a problem getting three days off," Bill said. Jim shrugged his shoulders and grinned. "I'll let you know later." "Okay, Jim. I'll see you tomorrow. It's time for me to get home." It's about time to tell you a little about myself. I'm Jim Taylor. I've been married, divorced, and almost married again. I was first married when I was a kid; well, I was twenty, but acted like a kid. When I was about to go into the service, I asked my girlfriend to marry me. I wasn't in love with Kim, but I sure the hell was in lust. My dad told me not to get married. He said I was pussy whipped and thinking with my dick. Of course, I went ahead and married Kim against his advice. To this day I don't know why I did it, probably to spite dad. Kim was a looker but also somewhat of a slut. She married me figuring she would get a check every month from the government. I will say she was one hell of a fuck. We pretty much did an all-nighter the day before I left for basic training. I wrote to her whenever I could, and she answered a couple of my letters. I was home for two weeks before being shipped off overseas. We fucked like rabbits the entire time I was home, but something seemed different. She asked to go out with her girlfriends a couple of times. When I caught her talking on the phone, she abruptly hung up. She always had an excuse. Something told me she was cheating on me, but I didn't have the time to check into it. Three months after I shipped out, she wrote and told me she was pregnant. Of course she said it was mine. I wasn't sure what to do. Then she told me she was moving to Iowa; she had family there and it was lonely where we lived. I was getting letters from Kim telling me how she missed me and that the baby was doing fine. She had moved into an apartment building near some of her friends. This sure sounded suspicious seeing she couldn't have met and made friends with so many people in such a short time. There was no way for me to find out if anything she told me was true. If the kid was mine, I could accept that. But I didn't want to raise someone else's kid for the next eighteen years. I did the only thing I could; I asked my dad for help. I explained the situation to him and he agreed to check into it. He gave me the third degree for being so stupid in the first place though. Looking back, I realized I should have listened to him from the beginning. My dad owned a construction company. It was started by his father and then passed down to him. He was worth a considerable amount of money and had over a hundred people working for him full time. I know he also paid a number of people under the table. In the business circles, people considered dad a powerful man, one not to mess with. I figured that was why Kim wanted to move away. In our state, my dad could keep a watchful eye on her. Even though he and I didn't always see eye to eye, he was my father and I respected him. I believe he really tried to do his best for his family. Dad wrote back that Kim was indeed pregnant. She was living in a commune of sorts with a man named Jerry Hadley. They lived in a big apartment building, where the other people there were quite wild and free. I called Kim telling her what I had heard. I didn't mention that my dad checked on it for me, but she probably figured that out anyway. She told me in no uncertain terms that the baby was mine, and that I was going to pay for it. That was when I realized all she was interested in was the monthly check. She added that there was no way she was going to divorce me, and there was nothing I could do about it for the next three years since I was overseas. She told me how pitiful I was and that I wasn't half the lover as Jerry was. I was becoming a mess, so I called my dad to see what I could do. He told me he would take care of it. If the baby was mine, then I would take responsibility. I wasn't going to shun my duties as a father. Dad later wrote me and told me Kim about freaked out when my dad showed up at her door. "The child I'm carrying is Jim's and he will have to support it," Kim said. "As soon as the baby is born, we'll do a DNA test. If it's not his, I will personally take you to court for any payments and expenses that Jim has incurred. If my son is the father, then I will see that you get child support until he is out of the service. When he's back, we will go for custody proving your living conditions are undesirable for raising my grandchild," James said. "You can't do that! Who do you think you are? It's my kid and I'll raise it any way I please," shouted Kim. "In fact, I'm not even giving Jim a divorce until he's out of the service." "Kim, I have a counter offer for you. I'm willing to make a bet that it's not Jim's child. After I leave here, I'm going to the clinic and find out how far along you are. By the size of your belly, I'm betting Jim was already overseas when this child was conceived. You can stop this silly game and save all of us a lot of trouble. I'll give you twenty-five thousand dollars today if you admit Jim isn't the father and give him a divorce." "I'd get a lot more than that in spousal payments and later child support." "Jim is filing for divorce. I'm taking the papers to the courthouse. Your spousal support will stop very soon. You might get one or two more checks. As far as the child support goes, we'll know if you get anything as soon as the baby is born. It's your choice. How sure are you that it's Jim's baby?" Needless to say, the divorce went through and I never did do a DNA test. Dad kept in touch and let me know that the baby was born ten and a half months after I left the states. I never did see Kim again. **** After returning from the service, I began working for my dad at the construction company. I had always loved seeing the finished product of what we built. Something I might mention here. My dad's name was James Edward Taylor. Everyone called him James. I on the other hand was James Elliot Taylor. I was named James after my father and Elliot after my grandfather. I went by Jimmy when I was a kid and then later as I got older everyone called me Jim. Mom didn't want me to be a junior. I dated a lot of different women after returning home, seldom going out with the same one more than three times. After that, they seemed to want to dominate the relationship. I wasn't ready to get serious yet, preferring to play the field and just worry about myself. About two years later, I got involved with Elaine. She was a secretary for one of the firms we dealt with. Good looking, sexy and had some fine attributes. Our sex life together was really good. We became a couple and eventually she moved in with me. I liked her a lot but I don't think I really loved her at the time. The reason I say that is because I didn't know what love was. I liked being with her, and the sex was great, but something wasn't quite right. Maybe we were too opposite; not having enough in common. A couple of examples might be that I was kind of a neat freak. When I took my clothes off, I either hung them up or put them in the hamper. Elaine would just throw hers anywhere. Two days later I would be picking them up. I guess I got the neatness from the service. Elaine always wanted to eat out. I didn't have a big problem with that, but sometimes I liked to have dinner at home and relax. I would just as soon throw on some burgers and watch sports on TV. That was another problem with Elaine. She didn't like sports and figured I spent too much time watching them. Our relationship was like a lot of marriages that I knew, but I had never considered them successful ones. Maybe I was just asking for too much. I had to laugh when I asked my friend Bill, who was married twice, how he knew he was in love. I'll never forget his answer, because I sure didn't expect it. "Well Jim, to be honest, I asked myself if I would be willing to share my partner if I was a swinger. If the answer was yes, then I figured I didn't love her." "You're crazy! What the hell kind of answer is that?" I asked when I finished laughing. "I'm serious! Hear me out. I don't mean cheating. If she did that, then it's goodbye forever. I'm saying that if I found another woman attractive and her husband was willing to swap, would I do it? Would I share my partner? If the answer was yes, then I knew we didn't love each other." "Okay, Bill, I have to ask. Did you ever share your girlfriend, or wife, for that matter?" "I won't tell you whom I shared but I did three times. Two ended up with us breaking up and one in a divorce. I was as much at fault as the women. It takes two if you're going to swing, and changes everything in a relationship. If I'm going to swing with a particular woman, then I shouldn't be in a long term relationship with her. I now know from experience that it won‘t work out." I had to admit the concept really seemed weird, but at least he had an idea about his relationships. It was a lot more than I had going. I was living and sharing a life with a woman and I couldn't see a future with her. **** My sister, Sherry, was getting married, and asked if I would be an usher. I of course would do anything for her. I looked out for her and her girlfriends throughout their school years. She had met her fiancé Brad about a year ago. He came in to do a repair on our computer system and the two of them fell in love at first site. I always wished that I could find someone to spend the rest of my life with that easily. One evening, I went over to mom and dads so Sherry could tell us about her wedding plans. Elaine wasn't interest in coming; she and my sister didn't really hit it off. After all the talk about the wedding, I asked Brad how he knew Sherry was the one for him. "I don't really know. When I looked at her and saw that beautiful smile, I just felt a ping in my heart. I don't remember ever feeling that way before. The more we talked, the more I wanted to be with her," answered Brad. "He looked so good standing there, trying to figure out what to say," said Sherry. "It was because I didn't want to walk away from you," replied Brad. "After Brad ran out of things to say, he asked me if I would go out with him. I smiled, said yes, and we've been together ever since. It was one of the best decisions I ever made," Sherry replied as she leaned over and gave Brad a kiss. "What about you, Dad? How did you and mom get together?" I asked. "Well, it was a long time ago," he said and laughed. "Your mom worked in the bakery. I went in there one day to pick up some donuts. She saw me and started flirting. So I asked her out. She jumped at the idea of going out with me. We hit it off and got married a few months later." Mom reached over and slapped his arm. "James, you know that's not true. I'll tell the kids the truth." Dad was laughing out loud now. "I did work in the bakery. Your grandfather sent someone over to get donuts for the working crew most every day. Your father always volunteered to get them. He would come in acting all mucho, and flirted with me. I did my best to ignore him, but I really liked him. Day after day he would ask me out and I always told him no. He was persistent though. I was hoping he wouldn't get tired of asking me out, because I planned to say yes one day." "And you did," dad said with a laugh. "I'm telling this story now, James. Yes, I did eventually accept, but there is more to the story. My mom owned the bakery and worked in the back. She asked me why I didn't want to go out with that big hunk of a man, meaning your father. I told her that not only was I going to go out with him, but I was going to marry him. He just didn't know it yet. You should have seen my mom's expression. She knew I meant it." "Go on, Mom. You never told us this before," said Sherry. "One day we were quite busy. A couple girls were sitting there eating when your dad walked up to their table. He started talking to them but kept looking at me. I'm sure he was trying to make me jealous. "This guy, who was known as a bully, grabbed my arm when I went to give him his takeout order and said he wanted a kiss. I was scared and told him to let go. He laughed, saying he wasn't letting go till he got that kiss. "Your dad got up, jerked the guys arm, and bent it behind his back. You know, like one of those wrestling holds. Dad said the next time the bully messed with his girl, that he would give him a solid pounding. Then he threw the guy on the floor. "The guy said he was sorry, that he honestly didn't know I was your dad's woman. Boy was he scared. Your dad tossed him his box of donuts and told him to get the hell out. He jumped up, apologized to me, and left the bakery." "What happened next?" Sherry asked. "James came up to the counter and asked me out. I told him since everyone else would be afraid to ask me for a date, I might as well go out with him. It's funny, but I liked him from the first time I saw his arrogant butt come in the bakery. My heart went ping whenever I saw him come in," mom replied. "Honey, my heart fluttered from the start too," dad said as he gave mom a kiss. "Hey you two, get a room." I laughed, but I hoped someday I could have a life and relationship like they had. After the stories, I told sis I would be there for her rehearsal dinner. Elaine wouldn't be at the dinner but was going to the wedding. Sherry didn't say anything, since she had told me before that Elaine and I didn't belong together. She gave me a hug as I left and said, "I love you, Jim." **** The day of the rehearsal, we all met at the church. Sherry had four bridesmaids and I was one of the four groomsmen. She and I were talking while we waited for the rest of the people to show up. I looked up and my heart went ping. I swear it did. Standing in the doorway was the most gorgeous woman I had ever seen. She had red hair down to her shoulders, big blue eyes and the prettiest smile on her face. "I didn't know if she was smiling at Sherry or me. Sherry looked up and grinned. The two of them kind of met in the middle of the aisle and hugged. I walked over to the two of them and this woman smiled at me. "Hi, Jim, Sherry told me you would be my partner in her wedding. Don't I at least get a hug? I haven't seen you for so many years." My god, I couldn't remember ever meeting this woman. No, I decided she had me mixed up with someone else, but I accepted her hug. That's when I looked down and saw her belly and realized she must be pregnant. "Don't squeeze her too hard Jim. As you can see, she's going to have a baby. You don't remember her, do you? You used to refer to her as little redhead. My best friend Sarah, ever since grade school," Sherry said. "No, it can't be. The last time I saw you I remember you had pigtails, braces, and glasses." "Yep! That's me. Just combed my hair, braces came off years ago and I wear contacts. I'm a little older and now a lot fatter," she said, pointing to her belly. Damn, why was my heart missing beats. She was just an old friend of my sisters. This wasn't like me. Maybe talking with my parents and my sister warped my mind a little. Surely I couldn't care about this woman already. Besides, she was married and pregnant. I was glad when my sister said we better start the rehearsal, since I was lost for words. I have to say that Sarah intrigued me. I don't know why, but figured it would pass. When I got home after the rehearsal, Elaine asked how it went. I told her fine and that Sherry was really happy. Elaine tried to start an argument about my family not liking her. But I told her if she would go to some of our family dinners instead of going out with her girl friends, they might get to know her better. I got pissed when she said she wasn't about to give up her friends to be with my family. I knew that was the beginning of the end. It's not that Elaine was horrible. We just didn't belong together, and I think we both knew it. The next day I couldn't stop thinking about Sarah. What the hell was wrong with me? Elaine and I showed up for the wedding. Sherry looked so nice in her wedding dress. It was hard to believe my little sister was all grown up and getting married. Elaine sat in the pew near my family. They all welcomed her but she was a little stand-offish. I could tell she really didn't want to be friends with my family. I was talking with the other groomsmen when I spotted Sarah. She looked so beautiful in her blue dress. All during the ceremony, I couldn't get Sarah out of my mind. I found myself watching her instead of my sister. At the reception we were seated at round tables, eight at each one. Elaine sat next to me with my mom and dad on my other side. My sister and her new husband sat on the other side of dad. Sarah and her husband Derek sat next to Elaine. Everyone was in really good spirits, even Elaine. She spent most of her time talking to Derek. It was the first time that everyone but sis had met him. He didn't seem a bad sort, but somewhat on the arrogant side as far as I was concerned. He was a flatterer, telling Elaine how pretty she was. When it came time to dance, I first asked Elaine. Later they had the wedding party go onto the dance floor. I took Sarah by the hand. She smelled so good and seemed so happy. I almost hated it when the song ended. After a while, Derek asked Sarah to dance. She said she was too tired and the song was too fast for her, because of her pregnancy. Then he asked Elaine. She jumped up and headed to the dance floor. I sat and talked with Sarah. "How did you and Derek meet?" I asked. "Well, my parents own a hardware store. Derek was one of the salesmen that always came in. About a year ago, he asked me out and I accepted. He lived in Indiana then, but his area was over a Tri-state. Ohio was one of them. Whenever he came to town, we would go out." "So how long have you been married?" She looked down at the table before answering me. "We were married a month ago. Yes, I got pregnant. I was on the pill but I caught the flu and stopped taking them while I was sick. He came to Ohio the following week. I guess I hadn't taken the pills long enough according to the doctor. "I was scared, but mom and dad said they would help me out. I'm their only child and I knew I had hurt them. They expected better from me and I let them down." She had a tear in her eye as she spoke. "The next time Derek came to town, my dad had a talk with him. Derek asked me to marry him then. I don't know if dad bribed him or what," she said with a slight smile. "I don't think anyone would need a bribe to marry someone as pretty and nice as you." I smiled at her but in my heart I knew I meant it. "Thank you, kind sir," she said to me. "Anyway, last month we went to Las Vegas and got married. We're staying at mom and dads right now. Next week we'll be moving into our own place." Derek and Elaine danced quite a while before coming back to the table. He was flirting with her, and I could tell by Elaine's actions that she was taking it all in. Elaine is a good looking woman, I'll admit that. You can't take that from her, but her personality was on and off. Sometimes she was nice and other times she acted like a bitch. "Guess what Derek told me?" Elaine asked. "He's moving into our sub-division, just around the corner from us. I invited them over next week when Derek is in town. I thought maybe you could get one of your dad's trucks and help move Sarah's stuff." "Do you live in the Fairview addition?" asked Sarah. "As a matter of fact, we do. If you need some help moving your things, I'll be glad to help." Mom and dad overheard what Elaine said. I knew they wouldn't mind helping Sarah and Derek, but I felt they should have been asked properly. Dad smiled. "Sarah, just let us know when and we'll see you get moved. We just need a couple of days notice to get the truck emptied. My, you sure turned out to be a beautiful woman. I remember when you were the little red-haired girl playing dolls with Sherry. Boy, you two sure grew up quick." I got a quick glare from Elaine. She asked me to dance. I guess that was the first she found out that I had been friends with Sarah. "Why didn't you tell me you knew Sarah? Was she one of your old girlfriends that your parents liked?" "Elaine, I didn't see any reason to mention it. After all, she was Sherry's friend, not mine. And no, I never dated her. In fact, yesterday was the first time I saw her in about ten years." Elaine was getting on my nerves. I hadn't done anything wrong, yet here I was defending myself. Every time she heard about a woman I dated, she questioned me. I never asked her about any of her old flames. In fact, I didn't want to know about them. When we got back to the table, she asked Derek to dance. I guess it was her way of getting back at me for something I never did. Derek jumped at the chance. I could see that Sarah wasn't overly happy about it but she let it go. I didn't like the way Elaine was acting but I didn't want to make a scene at Sherry's wedding. She and Derek must have danced through four songs or more. I talked with Sarah and my parents. They asked Sarah about her wedding. "Well, not much to tell. We just went to Las Vegas, got married, stayed a few days and came back home. Derek had to work the following day." "What about Derek's family? Did they attend your wedding?" asked mom. "No, Derek's an orphan. He said he grew up in one foster home after another. He doesn't have any family that I know of. It really made me feel sorry for him. But now he has a wife and a child on the way. I just wished he didn't have to travel so much." "How often does he travel?" asked dad. "He's gone around four days a week. It really gets kind of lonely. At least mom and dad have been there. I'm not sure how it will be after we move." "Whenever you get lonely, just stop by," I said as I smiled at her. "You'll be right around the corner." I looked over at dad and wondered if he could see through me. I was hoping I wasn't wearing my feelings on my sleeve. This was a no win situation for me. After Elaine and I went home, we argued again about me not telling her I knew Sarah. Then she started telling me what a wonderful person Derek was, how he was a good dancer and had such an outgoing personality. She pissed me off when she said she wished that I was more like him. "Elaine, there's nothing holding you here. You're free to leave and find a guy just like Derek any time you want." I was so pissed that I just got up and went to bed. I was asleep by the time Elaine joined me. We went through our daily life. I was tired of eating out all the time, and decided that I was going to cook at home more often. Most nights I got home before Elaine and fixed something for dinner. I had cooked for myself ever since I returned home from the service and enjoyed it. About twice a week Elaine would call, saying she was going out with the girls. I really had to wonder if she was being honest with me. The days that Elaine wasn't going to be there I went out with the guys or to the gym. I hung out at one of the sports bars not far from the condo, having a few beers and watching whatever was on the big screen TV. One Saturday I told Elaine I was going over to the bar to watch a game. I went home a little earlier than usual. Elaine had a towel wrapped around her when she walked out of the bathroom. She looked surprised that I was home already. She told me that Derek had stopped by to ask if I could get a truck and help move some of Sarah's stuff the next day. The first thing that crossed my mind was did they do anything? Why the shower in the middle of the day? I didn't care much for Derek and I didn't really trust Elaine. Ignoring Elaine, I called over to Sarah's parent's house. Sarah answered the phone, so I told her I would be over the next morning and help move her things to the condo. She said she had a lot of clothes, boxes of odds and ends, and her bedroom set. When I asked her what Derek had, she told me he had already taken his personal items to the condo. He didn't have much since he had lived in a small furnished apartment before. "Jim, we want to take you and Elaine out for dinner as a thank you for helping," Sarah said. "You don't have to do that," I replied. "It's the least we can do." I borrowed a small truck from dad and had my friend Bill help me, as well as Derek. Everything was moved in just a few hours. We put the furniture wherever Sarah wanted it, too. All the boxes were marked which room to put them in. She was a very organized person, kind of like me. "I'll start sorting and unpacking everything tomorrow. Since Derek will be gone, I'll have the time to do it." "You can't do any heavy lifting," I said. "If you need something moved and Derek isn't here, just give me a call." Bill took the truck back to the shop and I went to pick Elaine up to meet Sarah and Derek at the restaurant. Derek told us more about his job and bragged about being one of the top salesmen for the company. "I'm proud of you Derek, but I do wish you could be home more," said Sarah. "It's my job and I love it. You knew before we got married that I would be on the road half the time. I'm working to make a home for us. Someday I'll get promoted and will be able to travel less. Right now we need all the money we can get with the baby on the way." "Derek, money isn't a big problem. My parents offered to help us out if we need it." "I don't want your parent's money. I can support my own family," Derek said in an angry voice. "I'm sorry, honey. I didn't mean to make you angry," Sarah replied. After his small rant, Derek began talking with Elaine. She laughed at most everything he said. I think Sarah felt a bit uneasy but kept her cool. I began to think about what Bill had said about women. ‘If you're willing to share them, then you're not in love with them. It's just the sex holding you together.' I watched Elaine and Derek talking and flirting with each other. Then I looked over at sweet Sarah smiling at me. I thought to myself that I would swap Elaine for Sarah in a heartbeat. The only problem was I wouldn't want to give Sarah back. After leaving the restaurant, I told Elaine I was getting sick and tired of her flirting with other men. "You don't own me! I can act any way I want, with whomever I want. You're getting to be such a bore." "I know you're cheating on me. There's no use trying to deny it because I have proof." I didn't have shit, but deep down I felt she had been cheating on me for a while. She just stared at me. "What? You had me followed? I can't believe you would do such a thing. You really are a bastard. So, what happens now?" I couldn't believe she didn't even try and deny it. "I want your ass out. The law says you have to be given thirty days notice even though you never contributed anything but your ass to this relationship. You can sleep in the spare room till you find a place. Maybe you can move in with one of those girlfriends you're always going out with." "Stupid bastard, you aren't half the lover that my boyfriends are." There was the truth. She had been with more than one guy since we got together. Then I wondered if Derek was one of them. I couldn't say too much more because I had no idea who any of the men were. I guess on one side my pride was hurt, but on the other I had known this wouldn't last much longer. The next day at work, I told Sherry. Apparently she had heard about Elaine cheating, and that was one of the reasons she disliked her so much. Sherry hadn't told me because she didn't have any proof. Over the next week, Elaine was never home when I got there. Some of her things were missing, so I figured she had found another place to stay. I didn't contact her; it was good not to see her. I was putting in longer hours just to stay away. We shared a condo but that was about it. Whatever she bought and paid for out of her money was always spent on herself. I paid the rent and all the utilities. As far as my finances and credit cards were concerned, she didn't have access to any of it so I wasn't worried about it. About two weeks passed before I realized some of my things were missing. Kitchen items like the toaster and coffee pot, and linens. By then pretty much all her stuff was out of the apartment. I was pissed because that meant I had to go and replace all those things, and I wasn't the best shopper. That evening I called Elaine. "I'm going to change the locks. I wanted to break up in a nice way but it didn't happen." "Moving out is the best thing I ever did. I never should have moved in with you in the first place," she yelled. I thought about yelling back but knew it would be useless. "Have a nice life," I said and hung up. I figured she took every thing she could get in her car. Good thing she didn't own a truck or I'd probably have to buy a whole house full of furniture. After grabbing a beer, I went outside to sit on the porch. That's when I saw she had taken my porch chair too. So I sat on the step and tried to figure what to do next. When I looked up, I saw Sarah walking up the street. She had the biggest smile on her face when she saw me. "Hi Jim, long time no see." She became serious for a moment. "I heard about Elaine from Sherry. Sorry things didn't work out for you." "Elaine took a lot of my things, including the porch chairs. You're welcome to sit if you like. What brings you this way anyway?" I asked as I scooted over. "The doctor said I needed to exercise more and suggested walking. I have been walking every day but you haven't been home." "Sarah, is Derek away right now?" "Yes, as a matter of fact he is. Heck, he's gone all the time. I really hate it but not much I can do about it. Why do you ask?" "Would I be too forward if I asked you to go shopping with me? Elaine cleaned me out pretty good, so I need to replace several things. I don't even have a coffee pot now." "I'd be happy to go with you. Would you mind if we went inside so I can get an idea of what you might need. Besides, I need to use your restroom," she said, looking a little embarrassed. "That makes sense to me. And the restroom is down the hall on the left," I said, opening the door for her. She walked past me and sort of waddled down the hall. When she came back into the kitchen, I was leaning against the counter. "We can get some of the things you need right now, and maybe the rest another day," Sarah suggested. "That sounds good. We'll have to take the pickup since that's all I have." "All right, let's go," Sarah said, smiling as she went back outside. I helped her get into the truck, actually pushing on her backside. "Sorry," I said. She just laughed. "It's okay. I thought it was funny. The extra weight sure changes the way I move. Thanks for helping me." We had a fun time shopping for essentials like a coffee pot, toaster and a microwave, among other things. I let Sarah choose everything. The checkout people all smiled and asked us when our baby was due. Sarah told them in about three months. I assumed she didn't want to tell everyone that we weren't married. That would just make people wonder about us. One cashier told us we made a beautiful couple. Sarah smiled and thanked him. Another asked what we were having. "We're having a daughter and naming her Angel Dawn," said Sarah. "She let me pick out the name. Well see you again, since we have to start picking out our baby's furniture," I replied, grinning as we left. Sarah relaxed on the drive back to my condo. I hoped the shopping hadn't worn her out too much. "Thank you for all the help. This was the first time in my life that I enjoyed shopping." "I enjoyed it too. Thank you for asking me to go along. By the way, did you mean it when you said you would take me to pick out the baby's furniture? I was planning on going tomorrow and Derek won't be home till Friday." "You bet I did. I'll call you tomorrow to let you know when we can leave. Maybe we'll catch a bit of dinner while we're out." "Sounds good," said Sarah as she smiled. "Now it's time for me to waddle on home. See you tomorrow." The next morning I told Sherry how Elaine took many of my things. Then I mentioned that Sarah had gone shopping with me. I know I was laughing all the time I was talking, telling her how we kidded the cashiers. "I'm going to help Sarah get baby furniture tonight, and then take her to dinner." Sherry stared at me and smiled. "You really like Sarah, don't you Jim?" "Yea, she's sweet and funny and enjoyable to be with. I feel sorry for her too. Derek should be home with his wife." "Jim, I have something to tell you. Please don't get your shorts in an uproar." "What the hell do you mean?" "I never told you while we were growing up that Sarah always said she loved you. I know it was puppy love and all, but I don't think she ever forgot." "Sherry, she's married and going to have a baby. I don't think she loves me. We're just friends." "Jim, I love you both. You're my big brother and she's my best friend. I don't want to see either of you get hurt. Please try and understand what I'm saying. She's lonely and I know you care for her. I know you better than any one. I'm just saying..." "Sis, I understand. I wouldn't do anything to jeopardize her marriage. Maybe I shouldn't be alone with her too often. You have a point there. Why don't you come shopping with us for the baby furniture tonight? I have to go because we need the pickup for the furniture." "That sounds good. I'll call Sarah and let her know you invited me along. God, why didn't you two meet a year ago?" Sherry asked. I knew Sherry was right. I had to keep my distance. I guess my feelings for Sarah were beginning to show, and I couldn't let that happen. The three of us went shopping, then to dinner. I did my best not to be flirtatious. Back at Sarah's condo we took the furniture in. I did most of the lifting and carrying. "Sherry, I don't know how I could have made it without you two helping. I love you both so much," said Sarah. What did she mean by love? Some people toss the word around like it means nothing but to others it has true meaning. How I wanted to say, "I love you too Sarah," but knew better. Every day that I got home early, I would see Sarah walking. We would sit on the porch and talk. Often she shared her hopes and dreams for the baby. She never mentioned Derek much except about him not being able to come home at certain times. Many times I could tell she thought it was a mistake they got married. She could have raised the baby on her own. Now she was alone most of the time anyway. Sarah admitted that her parents were giving her money to help pay the bills. They had rented the condo for Sarah and Derek. His credit rating wasn't good enough so Sarah's parents cosigned for it. They only put Sarah's name on the lease because they didn't trust Derek all that much. Sarah or her parents bought most all the furnishings. So far she hadn't told Derek because she knew he would get mad at her for accepting money from her parents. Yet he contributed very little to the family's household. Since I loved to cook, I invited Sarah over for dinner a couple nights a week. I always asked Sherry and her husband too. I was really trying to do the right thing, to be friends with Sarah, even if it hurt me inside. I wanted her to be part of my life though. One evening I got a call from Sarah. "I know this sounds silly, but do you think you could come over and change some light bulbs for me? I don't want to get up on a ladder." "I'll be right over, Sarah." When I got there, she looked so sad. "What's was the matter?" "I'm supposed to be a newlywed, yet Derek doesn't act like he loves me. I'm just this fat red head with the big belly." She started to cry. "Easy Sarah, that's not true. You'll be having the baby soon, and things will probably change after that. Maybe Derek can find a job here in town." I took her in my arms and let her cry. If I had my way, I'd kick Derek's ass clean into next week. Didn't he see the wonderful woman he had? What the hell was wrong with him? God, she felt so good in my arms. I knew I shouldn't be holding her but I didn't want to let her go. I wanted to kiss her and make everything better, but I knew that would be one big mistake. I let her go and told her if she ever needed to talk, just give me a call. I would always be there for her. I went home feeling sad. I finally found someone I could really care for, and she was married. Worse yet, her husband was an asshole. Damn, damn, damn! Sherry and I talked the next day. "You haven't dated since Elaine left. Maybe you should go out and find someone, Jim." I understood what she was saying. She knew I cared for Sarah and I needed to find someone else. "Would you mind going out with a couple of my single or divorced girlfriends?" Sherry asked. "Maybe later, Sherry. Right now I'm trying to get my head on straight." "Okay, let me know whenever you're ready." I didn't need to explain, she knew where I was coming from. "Thanks, Sherry." The following weekend, Sarah and Derek came walking down the street. I said hello to both of them. "I'm sorry to hear Elaine left. That must be a big change for you, having the place alone. Where did she move to?" Derek asked. "I have no idea where she went. I think she moved in with a boyfriend or two. If I ever find out who she cheated on me with, I'll probably just beat the shit out of the guy for spite." I had no such plan but it did make Derek look a little nervous. "Sarah, how long do you have before the baby is due?" I asked, changing the subject. "I went to the doctor yesterday and he said one or two weeks." "Good luck to you. If you need me for anything, just give me a call." Derek didn't seem too happy with that statement but knew better than to say anything. The following Tuesday I got a call from Sarah as soon as I got home. "Jim, my water just broke and Derek isn't here. He left for Indiana yesterday. Is there any chance you can take me to the hospital?" "Of course, I'll there in a minute." I rushed out the door and drove around the corner to Sarah's place. She was sitting on the porch with her suitcase. I put it behind the seat and helped Sarah up into the truck. We both laughed when I had to push on her butt again. "This is beginning to be a habit," she said and laughed. "But a fun one," I said. She gave me a list of papers for the admissions desk when we arrived. I also had a list of phone numbers of people to call while they checked Sarah. Mainly it was Sherry, whose phone was busy when Sarah had tried to call her earlier. When I talked to Sarah's parents, they said they would get to the hospital as soon as they closed the hardware store. I tried Derek's number over and over but it kept saying out of area. That just pissed me off even more. What a creep she had for a husband. When I went up to her room, the nurses let me in. They probably assumed I was the husband. I sat next to her, holding her hand while I told her about the phone calls. I don't know why I did it but I leaned forward and kissed her forehead. She didn't say anything, just gave me that beautiful smile. Sherry got there and the three of us talked. Brad, Sherry's husband, was outside the hospital trying to reach Derek. When Sarah's parents arrived, Sherry and I walked outside to let her be alone with them. Brad told us he finally got through to Derek. He said Derek wouldn't be able to be there till late the next day. Again I had to think what a fuck-up for a husband he was, never there when she needed him. We went back up to the room. Sherry told her what Derek had said. Sarah wasn't at all surprised, since Derek hadn't been there for her yet. Sarah's parent had a few harsh things to say about Derek but waited till they were out of Sarah's room. When it was time for the delivery, the nurse asked what family members were going to be in the room. They needed garments and masks. Mrs. Johnson was the only one going in. The nurse gave me a mean look but didn't say anything. I guess she still thought I was the baby's father. Finally the nurse came back. "She's one beautiful little girl. You can go in now," she said, looking at me. Mrs. Johnson looked surprised to see me, but just kind of smiled. The nurse handed me the most beautiful little girl I had ever seen. I swear I had tears running down my cheeks as I looked at Angel Dawn. I walked over to Sarah who was sitting up and handed her Angel. She sure looked like her mother, which was a good thing in my opinion. Everyone else came in to see the baby. Sherry looked over at Brad and said, "I want one." "Honey, we'll start working on it as soon as we get home." Everyone laughed at that. Sarah thanked me several times for being there for her. Even her parents thanked me. The following day, Sherry and I went to visit Sarah on our lunch hour. She looked so happy holding her little girl. Apparently Derek had called to say he was sorry he couldn't make it back in time for the delivery. He would be there to pick her up in a few hours and take her home though. Derek showed up, but I didn't want to be around him so I didn't see Sarah for a few days. She was going to take two months off from working at the store. Her parents were going to pay her anyway. After that she thought she would make a place in the back office and take Angel to work with her. Of course, Grandma Johnson was all for it. In the following month, I saw Sarah and the baby a couple times a week. I would make something for dinner and take it over. Once in a while Sarah cooked for me. Those few hours the three of us spent together were some of the best times. We would laugh and take turns feeding the baby. Sarah even had me change the little one. I felt like I was all thumbs but it made Sarah laugh. I loved to see her laugh. That's when I realized I was falling too deeply for a family that wasn't mine. I knew I had to do something about it. My friend Bill recently broke up with his girlfriend and asked if I wanted to go on a cruise for a few days. I thought the best thing for me was to go away, get laid and take my mind off Sarah. I talked with my dad and told him I would be taking a few days off for the cruise. Sherry was glad to see I was trying to get out more too. I let Sarah know I would be gone for a few days so she wouldn't worry if she tried to get hold of me. She actually said she wished she could go. Derek had told her that he would take her on a cruise someday. Now that she had the baby, she figured it would be a while. "I hope you have a great time. You deserve it. Bring us back a souvenir," she said as she smiled. "It's going to be a long weekend. Derek called and said he wouldn't be home till Monday. Maybe I will go stay with mom and dad since you won't be dropping by." I leaned over and gave Angel a kiss on the forehead. She was a little sweetie, just like her mother. "Lucky little girl," said Sarah. I don't know why I did it but I turned around, put my hands on Sarah's face, and kissed her tenderly for maybe three seconds. When I realized what I had done, I stepped back. Sarah just stared at me with her mouth open. "I'm sorry, Sarah. I don't know what came over me. I'm so sorry." The thing is, Sarah hadn't pulled away. I'm not sure if she was surprised or shocked at me kissing her. "Jim, you better leave, please." "Sarah, I'm sorry, I don't know what to say..." "It's okay Jim; please just leave now," said Sarah. I turned and left her house. I needed to get away from Sarah before we were both hurt. Going on the cruise was ideal. How do I say this? It was like a love affair between two people who never made love and never talked about it. We did our best to respect each other's situation, but deep down I think we both wished we could be together. **** Bill and I headed off for our cruise. We were flying down to Florida where the cruise ship bus was picking us up at the airport. Bill was eyeballing a lot of women on the plane, hoping a few might be going on the cruise. We talked about how we both needed to get away, have fun, and get laid. Neither of us was out to find romance but just wanted to have a good time. He did tell me that he was able to get a cabin with two separate beds. Good thing, because I hadn't thought about that before. Even though Bill was my best friend, sharing a bed with him wasn't what I had in mind. Two ladies sitting next to us asked about the cruise we were taking. They had overheard us talking. They were probably in their late thirties, and said they were going on the same one as we were. Bill was a few years older than me, and these women were about his age. I thought they looked pretty good; I know Bill did by the way he spent so much time explaining about the ship. If they had any questions, he would do his best to answer them since he had taken several cruises. Before we knew it, we were landing. We exchanged names, adding that if we saw them on the ship, we would like to have dinner with them. They both thought that would be nice. A cruise ship is very large, so you could be on it for days and not see everyone. It all depended where your interests were. Movies theaters, swimming pools, lounges, shows, gambling, and more were available to do on this ship. As soon as we boarded and spent a half hour checking in, we headed for our cabin. It was pretty nice with the two double beds. Once we got settled in, we headed for the poolside lounge. This ship had three pools. We got our drinks and sat around looking at all the sights, mainly women in swimwear. We could pretty much tell right away who was coupled up and which women were looking for a good time like we were. We hooked up with a couple of nice ladies as soon as the ship left the dock. They joined us in the lounge in their bathing suits. It wasn't long before we were having some naughty type conversation. One gal mentioned that a movie was going to start shortly. It was an adult film but not hard core. They allowed bathing suits in the theater, so we went with the ladies. It wasn't long before we were playing touchy-feely games. It had been a long time since I had oral sex in a theatre. It was the start of a nice evening. We stayed paired up with Bev and Violet the whole first day, going to dinner together, and later a little dancing. We weren't sure what to do about the room until Bev said she and Violet had no problem being in the same room at the same time. I'm not a pill user. But I made an exception for this cruise, and was I ever glad I did. Bev and I must have had sex three times before I took a nap. When I woke up, Violet was in my bed. Damn, I couldn't remember the last time I had two different women in the same night. After our little mini orgy, we headed to one of the all night pools and hot tubs. We played in the pool for a while, then Bev and Violet left for their cabin. It was a great first day as we headed back for a well needed rest. We woke up late the next morning, missing breakfast. So we headed up to one of the small restaurants on board and got some coffee and a bite to eat. Just a note for those who haven't been on a cruise. The ship we were on had three meals at scheduled times. Of course these were large buffets and special dinners. Usually all you could eat. If you ever missed one you could always eat at one of the small diners on deck. They had twenty-four hour service at some of them. While there, we discussed the events of the previous night. All in all, it was a lot of fun. I didn't have time to think about Sarah, which was a very good thing. Our ship was docking on an island for the day. We hit the beach and watched all the great sights. They had both a nude beach and one with swimwear required. We decided to hit the one with swimsuits. Both Bill and I had good bodies, but it never hurt to leave a little to the imagination, even for guys. I was checking out the ladies when I spotted Amy and Barb from the flight. I waved to them and they came over and put their towels next to us. They said they spent their first day checking out some of the ship, and gambling. When they asked us what we did our first night, Bill said we saw a movie and spent some time in the pool and lounge. Amy laughed, saying, "I bet you weren't alone." "No, we met some new friends," I said. "We're free the whole day and night if you want to hang out with us today," said Bill. "We can have dinner and those drinks we promised you." "Sounds good to us," said Barb. "Had about all the gambling we could afford." We all pretty much hung together, but eventually Barb paired with me and Amy with Bill. I went to the drink wagons near where we were and got us all frozen daiquiris. After a few hours, we headed to a food buffet set up just off the beach. As a whole, the day was really pretty good for us. Good company, great food, and all we had to buy were drinks. We took the girls on a sightseeing boat that went around the outskirts of the island. All the crew had dressed like pirates. After a few drinks, the girls had no problem sitting on our laps, and didn't seem to mind some intimate touching. Back on the ship, we had to dress up for dinner. We arranged to meet up with Barb and Amy to take in some entertainment and a little dancing. Damn, I loved holding women close to me. I came right out and asked Barb if she wanted to be with me tonight. She knew exactly what I meant. "I was afraid you would never ask," she replied. We went to her cabin and Bill and Amy used ours. Barb admitted that she hasn't been with a man in quite a while. I promised to be gentle and not to do anything she didn't want. It was odd but we didn't kiss much. This wasn't about love; it was all about sexual release. After we both got undressed, I started by gently massaging her shoulders and back. I spent a lot of time caressing her buttocks and thighs. I stayed away from her pussy till I could smell her sex. When I heard her give out a light moan, I dropped between her legs and gave her pussy a good eating till she came the first time. I didn't give her time to come down off her high as I inserted my hard cock into her. Beginning with a slow fuck, I kept it up till she was continually asking for more. I wore a condom but she told me she could still feel me coming. That was the first of three rounds of sex we had that night. The next morning we met Amy and Bill for breakfast. After we ate, we said our goodbyes, and told them we hoped to see them again. They were fun but they were just like us, out to try different things. They didn't want any serious attachments any more than we did. It was just about the sex and having a good time. "I'm going to check out this black woman," Bill said when we were alone again. "It's been a long time since I was with anyone dark skinned." "Then I'll go look around the gift shop. I promised someone a souvenir." "Jim, you're here to get your mind off her. You have to understand it's a lost proposition for you," said Bill. "Believe me Bill, I do understand. I just wanted to pick something up for little Angel. Plus, I might look around for another redhead," I replied and laughed. In no time I saw Bill with a black woman. He smiled at me while I walked toward the gift shop. As I went in, I saw a woman with red hair who reminded me of Sarah. When I approached the counter, she turned and smiled at me. I looked down and saw she was pregnant. "I'm sorry for staring; a close red haired friend of mine just had a baby. You reminded me of her when I first saw you." "I guess I should take that as a compliment. Hi, my name is Dorothy, but my friends call me Dot." "Pleased to meet you Dot. Is this your first child?" I asked. "No, this is number three. I have two sons at home, ages eight and four. This will be my first girl, due in another three months," she said with a smile. "My god, you don't look old enough to have three kids," I replied. "I got married to my high school sweetheart ten years ago. We had this cruise planned for our anniversary and I wasn't going to miss it. I stopped in here to get the boys a souvenir." "I came in to buy my friend's daughter a small gift too. I have no idea what to buy a baby a few months old." "You seem close to this woman and her child. By any chance she's not your daughter? I'm sorry; I shouldn't have been so nosy. Please forgive me?" Dot asked. "It's okay. No, my friend is married; I've known her since childhood. I do care for her but the baby isn't mine. Any suggestions?" She held up a little shirt that read, "I love my Mommy". "This is always a good choice." "Dorothy, you seem like a very nice person. Let me ask you something. Would it be wrong for me to buy my friend a souvenir also?" "That's a tough one. Are you good friends with her husband?" asked Dot. "Not really. We're not enemies, but not friends either," I answered. "Well, if you still want to buy her something, make it non-personal, like a book or coasters for an end table." "Thanks for your help, Dot. Not to be taken as a come-on, but from what I can see and the little I know about you, you have one lucky husband. I wish you and your baby the best." I don't know why I said all that, probably because she somewhat reminded me of Sarah. After she left the store, I bought the shirt she suggested for Angel. I know I shouldn't have done it but I also bought a nice necklace for Sarah. I met up with Bill and he told me that the black lady he saw earlier was a play for pay woman. He said she had a friend and if we were interested he had their cabin number. "Bill, do you really want to pay for pussy when there is all this free stuff here for the taking?" "Jim, I was just thinking that it is our last night here on the ship. For a few hundred dollars each we don't have to pretend anything. They will do whatever we want. All we have to do is buy the booze, take a blue pill, and just fuck the night away." "Okay, I'm in. I haven't been with a black woman since I returned from the service. Thinking about it, I had to pay for that too," I said and laughed. We ordered in some booze, and then had all the sex two guys could handle. Those girls were hot and really liked sex. They were students, and planned on using the money for college tuition. The evening went great, and we ended up giving them each a couple hundred extra dollars. By midnight, Bill and I had all we could handle. We thanked the girls and headed back to our cabin for a good nights sleep. The next morning we got up in time to have breakfast. We would be back in port in a few hours. I must admit that I had never gotten laid so much in such a short period of time in my life. For the most part, it took my mind off Sarah, but I knew in just a few hours reality would be setting back in. Bill and I decided to sit on the upper deck and just do some people watching. It was then that I saw Dorothy, the pregnant redhead, with a man. I was stunned and at a loss for words when I noticed the man was Derek. Yes, it was Sarah's husband Derek with Dorothy. She waved to me, and when Derek looked to see who she was waving at, he went into near shock. I know he could see the hate in my eyes even as I saw the fear in his. I walked up to them, and Dorothy began to introduce me to Derek as her husband. "Dorothy, I know Derek, and I need to speak with him privately. Please excuse us for a few minutes." "Honey, it's okay. I'll be right back," said Derek. I grabbed Derek by the arm and pulled him outside on deck. "What the fuck is going on? This woman said she's your wife, and that you've been married for ten years." "Please don't tell Sarah. I'll try and explain," said Derek. "What, that you're married to two women and have children with both of them? Either you are or you aren't. Which is it?" Of course the answer was obvious. "Yes, it's true. I had problems in my marriage before I met Sarah. I was thinking of leaving my wife, and began dating Sarah. She got pregnant and I thought I would marry her. Shortly after we did, Dorothy and I reconciled. Now she's pregnant again." "So you're one big fucking bigamist and liar. You're married to two wonderful women and using both of them." I replied. "Are you going to tell Sarah?" he asked. "No, you are! You have till Tuesday to tell her the truth. After that we'll let the courts take care of it. If I had my way, I'd take your fucking ass and throw you overboard right now. "If you don't tell Sarah, I will. Then I'll come looking for you. This isn't a threat, it's a fact. I suggest you tell Dorothy also, seeing you might be going to jail. Last I heard it was still one man, one wife. I've read about assholes like you but you're the first one I ever met. You make me sick. "Maybe I should just throw you overboard now," I said as I grabbed him and pulled him to the railing. Bill was standing by watching me. "Jim! Don't do it; he's not worth it. I can imagine how you feel. On second thought maybe you should just throw him overboard. I'll be a witness and say it was self-defense." I knew Bill was just pushing Derek's buttons. I'm sure he would have stopped me from doing it. Besides, people were starting to gather around us. "No, please no. I'll tell the truth, I'll call Sarah tomorrow, I promise," pleaded Derek. "What about Dorothy? She deserves to know right away. Maybe I'll go tell her right now." "I'll tell Dorothy as soon as we get off the boat and head for Indiana. I think it would be easier on her then," replied Derek. "God, I can't stand you. Just get the fuck away from me before I change my mind. Remember, I meant every word I said," I remarked as I threw him to the deck. "Come on Jim, let's go get a drink," said Bill. We headed to one of the lounges for a beer while the ship docked. Wetalked about the situation, which really didn't include me except for the way I felt about Sarah. When we got off the ship, there was no sign of Derek or Dorothy. Bill tried to make the flight back easier on me by talking about the good times we had on the cruise. He said there was nothing we could do about Derek, and would just have to let the situation take its course. Life Isn't Always Fair. (Part 2)
