Betrayal and Redemption

This is a work of fiction and does not relate to actual events. While some authentic geographical points may appear, any person, building, event, company or descriptions thereof are completely fictitious. Issues such as proper birth control and STD prevention are incorporated without specific mention. No one under 18 engages in sex.

Each episode should be freestanding, but reading in order allows the reader to follow the character development better. In Part 4, Joe was presented an unusual situation to act as a surrogate father, which he accepts. This is the follow up.

Thursday, September 12, 2014

Joe parked in a six-story parking garage eight blocks from the downtown offices of Dr. Lisa Muller. Walking helped him transition from his IT job to his personal life. He needed laser focus for his upcoming meeting with Dr. Lisa Muller and Ann Cavanaugh.

Horns honked. The throaty burp of a truck using a jake brake to slow down drifted through the cross-hatched barriers from the streets below.

Confronted with the elevator, he took the stairs instead.

Third floor.

Second floor.

Ground level.

So fast he scarcely noticed. Physical exertion cleared his mind. If all went well, Dr. Muller and Ann Cavanaugh would give him their final decision.

The past three months of counseling with the two women opened Joe's eyes the wonders of a woman's mind. He understood that a woman's mood changed based on her hormones and that she operated like the waves of the ocean.

But Joe never considered that women sometimes concealed their feelings so deep they didn't understand what motivated them. How sometimes they frequently created fantasy worlds to escape the pressures of life.

Dr. Muller started with his earliest memories. The good times with his family before his father's tragic injury in the woods left him unable to work more than two or three hours each day. Before he died, he drank up 60 percent of the settlement he received from workers' comp.

The gradual worsening of his mother's lupus. How his father hid his frustration at both events by drinking. The effect on Joe and his family after his father fell in front of an oncoming car while walking home drunk from the bar.

"I remember the following days as if they were yesterday," he told Dr. Muller. "Everyone said I was the man of the house at 12. They said my mother and sister depended on me. I never realized how much of my youth I had lost. I followed the strongest man in my life, George Schmidt, my Boy Scout leader. His strict principals cost me my marriage."

The man had high principles and strong values. In the absence of his father, Joe adopted Mr. Schmidt's beliefs. The first was that men were the rightful head of the household and that he was in charge of his wife and the family. The second was a scarcely concealed contempt for gay people.

Recognizing the man's impact made Joe understand better why his daughter Casey did the things she did. How much that affected her relationship with him during their marriage.

He gave Dr. Muller his notes he wrote during the six months after Casey told him of her cheating. Only she considered it a way to bring joy into their lives and make them better.

After the doctor read them, she asked questions that caused him to remember things. Memories that time and turmoil had forced into the dark recesses of his mind as self-defense. How his father's injury and resulting alcoholism affected his decisions while married. How he felt about his mother and her perpetual illness. What his dating habits were prior to Casey and since the divorce. She never once assigned blame, even when he told her he currently acted as a consort for older women.

If he tried to blame someone, she softly told him that people often acted based on emotions. "Emotions and feelings are not wrong. They are not right. They are feelings and emotions. We need to decide how we want to respond.

"Anger and blame impede clear thinking. Cutting away the brush of blame opens the mind to new thoughts and new ideas."

Reaching the street level, he wove through the foot traffic, oblivious to everything except those in his path. His mind filtered out the excess noise. Heat radiated from the concrete and from the passing cars. He frequently caught a whiff of diesel exhaust. The current temperature read 91 degrees.

Joe was glad wore a hat for protection. The sun at Denver's mile-high elevation could burn skin almost instantly. Traffic noises continued along with the sound of people speaking on their phones.

Eight blocks later, he arrived at the office tower, which contained her offices. He wanted to use the stairs, but this building kept the doors locked for security reasons. He would take them coming down because crash bars on the inside allowed people to escape.

Marble floors and wainscoting echoed the click of women's heels. Soft light intermingled with the strong sun shining through the glass doors.

He walked cautiously. The 32-story building attracted many people, even at nearly four pm. At six foot two, 210 pounds and extremely fit, he could bowl someone over if they collided.

A queue stood in front of the elevator. He waited. He was still early. He bounced on his toes until the next ping sounded.

He got out on the ninth floor and walked down the tiled hallway to Dr. Muller's office, his soft soles shushing on the tile. Her assistant, Monica Kelly, smiled professionally as he entered.

"You are a few minutes early, as always," she said. "Ann will come out and get you when she is ready." Monica wore a gray blazer with a rainbow-colored scarf offsetting her white blouse. She probably wore black pumps and matching gray trousers, as she often did.

He had learned that she was a lesbian. He had shed his ingrained dislike of LBGT people like a snake lost its scales.

The decor of the waiting area reflected the overall professionalism of the four therapists who worked at Muller and Associates. Cream-colored wallpaper with textured surfaces mixed with soothing, neutral colors like soft blue and green created a calming influence. Here and there, a hand-painted flower like a tulip or a rose interrupted the blandness of the paint.

Soft light from the shaded windows mixed with the subdued lighting of sconces on the walls. The soft beige carpet completed the scene. He ignored the reading material on the scattered tables and concentrated on relaxing before the meeting.

He sat in his chair, his hands and arms falling to his sides while he mentally told himself to relax. Soft music of an indeterminate nature played in the background. Joe heard the whisper of the air conditioning.

Ann opened the hallway door to the offices two minutes before four. He felt a rush of attraction as their eyes met. Despite her conservative clothing, he still felt the connection they had established.

She wore a dark pencil skirt, a white blouse and a dark jacket. Despite the absurdity of the situation, he had fallen in love with her over the past three months. He hadn't told her yet because of the stakes involved. If her decision came out the way he wanted, he would sleep with her to produce a child.

This situation was the opposite of a surrogate wife bearing a child on behalf of a couple. Paul and Ann Cavanaugh had approached Joe after four months of gaining his trust with a simple request. Have sex with Ann because she wants a child.

This was Paul's second marriage. He and his first wife, Brenda, agreed Paul should have a vasectomy after their third child. He was 57 and Ann was 27. She formerly worked as Brenda's nurse during the last days of her illness with colon cancer. Both Paul and Ann wanted someone closer to her age, and they didn't want to use IVF.

"Even if my sons, Chris and Daniel, hadn't undergone vasectomies after their last child, we agreed we didn't want the confusion involved in having one of my sons be the father," Paul said. "Ann likes you. We're happy you want a role in your child's life.

"I'll be in my 70s when the child enters high school. I've been through those days already and I know the stress that creates." No one specifically talked about the obvious. Paul wouldn't be around forever.

Because of the similarities between Paul and Joe's personalities, Ann insisted that she and Joe go through the same counseling as she and Paul did. Like she did with Paul, Ann insisted on no sex until they finished counseling.

"When I discovered my fiancé was cheating on me during my senior year in nursing school, I went wild. You've done the same thing in the years since your divorce. Before I have a child with someone, I want to make sure we are compatible. For me, this is not a one and done. I want the father to be involved in his child's life. Paul agrees."

Ann finished her master's degree in psychology in May. This was part of her internship before she became fully licensed and helped her fulfill her internship requirements. More importantly, the sessions gave them a chance to learn more about each other under the direction of a skilled therapist.

Joe drew a deep breath before he rose and walked across the carpet to follow Ann down the hall. He hadn't even seriously kissed her yet, but the soft sway of her ass caused his prick to move. She was so different from his ex-wife in appearance, but similar in sexual allure and personality. It was like he was getting a second chance.

Casey was almost a white blonde, about five feet four inches, and possessed a curvy body. Ann stood five foot eight with small breasts, a tight ass and long, long legs. She wore her dark hair in a French twist today. He wanted little more than to undo the twist and run his hands through her long hair, to kiss her, to feel her pussy tighten around his cock.

Dr. Muller waited for them inside her office. Tall with platinum hair, her body dressed in a black and white suit, she exuded a sense of calmness. The room was designed as a sanctuary, a space where clients felt safe and could explore their thoughts and feelings without judgment. He could smell a slight odor of her distinctive perfume, a scent her husband's company developed. Stripes of sun and shade from the window shades flitted across her body as she moved.

The entire room evoked comfort and warmth with three plush armchairs in muted tones of deep blues, greens and warm grays. The chairs were arranged in a rough triangle to show they all were equal within this space. The décor contained abstract art and serene landscapes with soft, indirect lighting.

He sat in the chair, his hands on his legs, tensed to hear the decision. If Ann turned him down, he needed to start all over at 32. He had grown tired of his role as a bull for older women and wives cuckolding their husbands. It was time to settle down with a woman in the future. While he and Ann wouldn't be husband and wife, he could have a child with her and be part of her and Paul's family.

"Welcome back," Dr. Muller said as she crossed her legs. "I trust your mother is doing better?"

"Yes. She went for a hike in the hot August weather at the beach and overheated. That set off a bad session with her Lupus. Nothing life-threatening, but still alarming."

"I'm happy your mother recovered," Dr. Muller said. "I promised to tell you my overall impressions of your plan today. I won't draw out the suspense, but I think you two understand each other as deeply as Ann and Paul do. I recommend you proceed. "

He let out the breath he didn't realize he was holding. He looked at Ann and he felt the connection deeper than before. Her smile reached into his heart. "Thank you," he mouthed silently before he shifted his attention back to Dr. Muller.

"Before you go, I would like to review several key points, specifically with you, Joe. I want to go back over our conversations about the day you ended the marriage. Can you remember the core concepts we discussed?"

"Yes. You told me you had a theory you wanted to advance. I don't remember the exact words, but what I do recall is this.

"You asked if Casey had an issue with self-confidence. I told you I never saw a lack of confidence. You said nearly every woman, even you, sometimes struggles with self-worth. Even after Ann agreed, I had a hard time believing that.

"At one point, I mentioned the two years we dated other people. Our reason was that we didn't want to enter marriage, having slept only with each other. But you pointed out that even with that brief interlude, we still knew deep down that we would get married.

"I didn't believe you when you suggested Casey sought a solution to our marital issues because of her self-esteem issues. While you pointed out that any comments were only guesses because you hadn't talked with Casey, what my ex-wife did wasn't all that uncommon because of my forceful personality. That perhaps she felt lost in my strength, decided I would turn her down, and felt the need to explore on her own. Sort of sin first. Ask for forgiveness later.

"I protested by saying married people are supposed to work on issues together. You agreed that life is supposed to work that way, but sometimes people want the sense of accomplishment of solving something on their own.

"It took a lot of thought, but I eventually agreed with you. I concluded Casey needed the feeling that she did something on her own to help us. At the time, I understood she believed what she was doing was for both of us. And that was the issue. She did it without involving me."

Dr. Muller nodded in agreement. "Please remember I said that what she did wasn't acceptable in a relationship. Based on what you said, you did not give her a legitimate reason for cheating. She should have told you how she felt. That is the thing in situations like this. People can make the wrong decision for reasons that appear right to them.

"Yes. I remember you saying that. I have considered trying to find her and explain how I misunderstood. But as it stands, I have no way of finding her. My relationship with her family is toxic.

"We agreed to split the profit from the rental of our house until it gained enough equity to produce a profit. I asked my sister, who is managing the property, where Casey's portion was going. She said she transfers the money quarterly to Susan, Casey's mother. I talked to Susan and George before I filed for divorce. It wasn't a pleasant meeting. I doubt her parents would tell me where Casey is."

He looked at Ann to see the effect of his words on her. "I hope you don't yet," she said. "I want as much of your attention during the coming weeks and months as you can give. Pregnancy will be all new to me. Paul will be busy traveling to his new facilities in Louisville. I want the baby's father around."

They continued discussing their situation until time ran out. He agreed to stop sleeping with other women until their situation either fell apart or they became closer.

"I'll step into my office for a few minutes," Dr. Muller said. After she disappeared, Ann and Joe met in the middle. She put her arms around his neck and looked at him.

"I've wanted this since the first time we went out for dinner that night in March. I ordered steaks from Coraline Denver delivered to my house tonight at seven. It's time to celebrate.

"Paul and I met with Dr. Muller several times over the summer. We discussed whether to go ahead now or wait longer. I can wait a few more years, but Paul wants to spend as much time with our child as he can."

"He said he figured he'd be jealous of a third person in our life so intimately. But he isn't. He doesn't want to wait much longer. With MMP's recent decision to expand at an Eastern location, he's going to be gone more. I'm ready to get pregnant right away. I'm still on birth control, but if you are okay with it, I'll stop soon."

He leaned down slightly and let their lips meet, a soft kiss at first before he kissed harder. He reached for her ass and cupped her cheeks, pulling her into him.

Dr. Muller rattled the door. They pulled apart, both their faces turning red. "I hate to interrupt the lovebirds, but it's time for me to go home and spend an evening with my husband. He's been gone since Monday and I miss him."

Paul and Joe had discussed how to proceed. "I don't want to be around, at least at first," Paul said. "Depending on which one of them I need, my three children will travel to help me set up various components of the business. We'll discuss how to proceed once things settle down. You'll have a good window to spend time with Ann."

Paul went to Nashville on Monday as the company stocked the eastern warehouse and met with retail outlets. He would return Friday night. Over the following two weeks, he would stay in the east.

In Joe's discussions with Ann, they went over her cycle. "Logically, we should only have sex during my most fertile times," she said. "Unless we've had sex before, those times will be awkward. I guess what I'm saying is that I'd like to practice a few times first."

Joe and Ann ate their steaks at her dining room table. The windows afforded them a view of the mountains to the northwest of the house. The décor was simple but elegant. The only light in the room came from a five-candle candelabra to the side.

As they ate, they talked about boundaries and limits. "I'm game for nearly anything," she said. "But since we're new to this, I want to proceed slowly.

"I love Paul. The concept of sleeping with another man while I'm married to him, frightens me. Logically, what we're going to do makes sense. But emotionally, I'm struggling."

He could see the indecision and conflict on her face and in her body. He felt the same way. He drew on his experience as a bull when he met an older woman after she lost her husband and was sleeping with a new man for the first time in years.

"I find your situation is not uncommon. It's worse when a wife has been married for years. No matter what has happened, she has the memories of better times and sometimes feels like she is cheating. Paul showed me your entertainment room. Perhaps a movie."

They settled onto the large sofa in the entertainment room. She sipped a glass of wine. He accepted sparkling grape and apple juice.

The movieFriends with Benefitsbegan playing, with Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis starring. He found her hand and held it. After a few minutes, she pulled his arm around her shoulders and snuggled into him.

Over the next few minutes, Joe felt Ann relax against him. Her breathing slowed until he could tell she was sleeping.

Her falling asleep was important to their relationship. It showed that she trusted him. It was too soon for him too.

This situation wasn't normal for a man like him over the past two and one-half years. He had developed feelings for her and he could tell she had feelings for him beyond a normal friendship. The path ahead would be fraught with obstacles. He was in no rush.

She woke with a start about halfway through the movie, sat up and rubbed her eyes. "I'm sorry, Joe. I had my mind set on making love this evening, but my body is telling me I need to sleep."

He kissed her on the forehead before he stood. "I'm not in a hurry. This is different. I'm struggling too."

"I'm sorry for going to sleep on you. It wasn't what I intended. But I agree. Let's go slow."

"That is fine. We've in unknown territory and we need to become better acquainted. I suggest we try this. After you finish your class on Mondays, let's go out for a drink. We can meet on other nights as we proceed.

"From my experience with other women, I've compiled a list of secluded places that don't ask questions and keep their mouths closed. Does that make sense?"

Over the next two weeks, they got together six times. In addition, Joe joined the family for their Sunday dinners. Even if Paul and not all of his children were present, the family still met. Nancy sometimes brought a date or a friend.