George Orwell said, “the more a society goes away from the truth the more they will hate those who speak it.”

Undoing the Wrappings of Lies Part 1

Thanks to a little virus

The Past

I was lucky I grew up in a society that no longer exists even in small-town America. Back then even in our small town, it was dying. It was a time when riding the streets with your two-wheeler made you the king of the road. Our parents believed in the society they had helped to create and gave us the freedom to roam about.

For the boys and me in our early teens, our greatest challenge was how close we could get our bikes and bodies to the paved roads when in a steep long curve going downhill. Without the safety equipment required these days. Between the three of us, we were always trying to outdo each other. The faster, the more dangerous the ride, the greater thrill achieved.

Billy Moon, Jack Peters and I, the no-nonsense horse's ass had been best friends since we were knee-high to a grasshopper. We all lived on the same street less than twelve houses apart. My parents’ house was in the middle. I was the oldest the other two were one year younger.

Our parents had agreed at an early age in our lives that if the three of us got caught doing something we should not that we would all be treated the same. We soon learned we did not have one set of parents we had three.

Many a time the three of us had our asses spanked by one of the fathers who had reached the point where he reached the limit of putting up with our crap. The other two fathers, when told about it, would say be thankful it wasn’t me because it would of being a lot worse. Today, the two other fathers would have sued the one.

It did not matter that one family was African American, the second were Hindu’s who had moved to the states to escape the caste system of their former society and changed their names to assimilate or that my parents were white.

They were united in dealing with us until we graduated high school. The three of us had been that close growing up. The three families had a lot of backyard barbeques together and were friends. Their morals and principals once known bonded them together.

Today they would all be branded as racists because they treated each other as equals and we all know that cannot be allowed. After all our society requires that there must be a group of people to hate regardless of the truth.

They all believed they were only as good as their ‘word.’ It was time where you still trusted and respected your neighbor and worked with them to make your community better. They had not been taught by our educators how to truly manipulate people, the system, and its power to our advantage.

After my generation graduated from school the educators started teaching the children their rights and how to use them against their parents. I did not understand that until I had become a parent. The growth of me-ism exploded.

It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon, and we were in the middle of one of the biggest downhill curves that we knew of when the little five-year-old girl ran out into the roadway in front of us.

Since I was the closest to the curb, I had a choice to hit the child or take myself out. I made a choice that today would be considered stupid by most because we all know life has no value. Crime is only a crime if you get convicted. Get away with it and its figured the sucker got what he deserved.

I took the spill, hit the curb, and went head over the handle of my bike rolling across a front lawn. The little girl's two older sisters saw me flying from their living room window and came out.

I did a real good job of getting myself pretty scraped up. Both my knees and elbows were bleeding. The little girl got her ball and started walking back onto the yard as if nothing had happened.

My front tire was ruined as was the rim. I was thinking it would take a month of allowances at least to get it fixed. I was standing up by the time the boys got turned around and came back. I had hurt myself so badly I had tears in my eyes.

The little girls' two older sisters came out and were helping to clean me up. Billy Moon and they went to the same Catholic school, so they knew each other. From that day forward I was known by them as Billy’s friend who had hurt himself to keep their sister safe.

Yes, the three of us all attended different schools. I was the only one that went to a public school. It was a time when religious differences, political differences, and sexual differences were kept behind closed doors and not discussed publicly not even in our schools.

Parents back then were left to raising their children, nowadays they are encouraged to stay out of it. The village knows better. Your just an idiot that knows nothing. Challenge what is being taught may get your child kicked out unless you got the cash to buy your way out of it by paying somebody off.

The only thing important is money and how to get it. As one forty-year-old man said to me recently, I can take money from anyone. ‘Take’ in the dictionary means to gain possession of legally or illegally. Sadly, one statement like that says so much about the environment we all live in.

After gathering up what was left of my busted up two-wheeled bike, I started to walk back towards my home which was just over a mile away. Both the girls around my age decided to walk halfway with me to make sure I was all right. None of us had keys for our parent's doors because our doors were never locked.

Little did I know how much that little event would end up affecting my life.

*******

It was during the last year of high school that I decided to become a physical therapist after multiple discussions with my school counselor. She thought with my characteristics’ that I would be perfect for it. Not because of my educational qualifications but because of the history of my part-time employment.

She had watched me when her mother was in the nursing home recovering from having a serious illness. I volunteered part-time in the assistant living section and was well thought of. I had the reputation of being thoughtful, patient, compassionate, and credible. If I could not answer their question at the time, I found the information needed to provide them with it.

What amazed her was that I had the natural ability to get these older people to trust me. The simple act of keeping your word spoke volumes to them. It resulted that I learned things that they had told no other. When important things affecting their wellbeing came out, I got others on it. That was why she felt with my concerns about the general health of them would complement me in the career she wanted me to consider. An added plus was my inborn ability, to be honest.

It took me three years to become a Doctor of Physical Therapy. I went through a program that trained me in the procedures of diagnosis and treatment. It also got my body in great shape because I was using my muscles in unique ways. The coursework covered topics in anatomy, physical therapeutic applications, and exercises needed for the treatment of some unusual injuries.

My instructors seemed to take my interest in it seriously because I would physically try the exercises until they were second nature with me. One thought I was overdoing it and took me aside to have a long talk about it.

I had to explain that I thought my ability to correctly show them how to do the exercise would greatly aid me with their rehabilitation. He had to admit that I had looked at it logically but had to admit that my approach was so different from other students that they had become concerned.

The course I signed up for had clinical clerkships where we were integrated into an existing program under the supervision of licensed physical therapists. It gave me practical experience in the different methods of physical therapy including rehabilitation and acute care.

By the time I graduated I had six job offerings. The people I had worked with, in the clinic had praised me for making what seemed difficult easy. For some reason, the knowledge that I was receiving registered differently in my mind then my fellow students. It was something that I did not appreciate.

One vet was having difficulty adjusting to the latest model of his artificial leg. The professional working with him was getting frustrated because of the lack of improvement shown by the vet. Nothing he had tried seemed to help. He was still having a lot of problems in his ability to adapt to it. I started asking myself why?

By accident, I noticed that on his existing good leg his foot naturally spread towards the outside, showing a natural imbalance in his lower leg muscles caused more by what he had inherited through genes than anything else. This caused his whole sense of balance to have changed over the years.

His inner leg muscles were being dominated by the outside ones and had been most of his life. As a result, when he wore the artificial leg, it was straight, while his real leg leaned towards the outward side it was creating conflict with his own body.

I went to talk to the science and tech department explaining my problem. With their help using a three-D printer, we were able to create an aid that allowed the artificial leg to fit in a new way.

With my supervisors’ approval because all else had failed I positioned the artificial leg to mirror as much as possible his good leg. The vet did not want to try it but after explaining why I had done I was able to convince him to try it.

He could not believe the difference as soon as he stood up. It felt more comfortable and natural to him. Within three days his walking difficulty was gone. The pressure and pain that he was having on his good side seemed to disperse. He no longer was walking with a limp. There was a vast improvement in his balance. It was the first time my supervisor and I had seen him smile in weeks.

He seemed to have a different outlook about himself when we finally told him we had done all we could. We saw the look of pure joy on his wife's face when he took her into his arms and danced around the room. She said it was the first time he had danced with her in years.

My instructor was amazed because I had reversed the normal thinking and adjusted the equipment to work better for him instead of trying to get him to adapt to it. He sent a glowing recommendation concerning me into the school. When hospitals were recruiting the graduation class, they were given copies as part of their recommendations.

I explained to him that the textbooks did not take into consideration that each one of us had naturally adapted to what our DNA had supplied us as we were growing up.

Any aids and equipment should be flexible enough to adapt to what the person needs. I would later learn by running into him years later that simple act had improved the quality of his life. Each time his artificial leg was replaced he had the part I had created, remade to change the artificial leg before using it.

At my graduation from university, I had three sets of parents come to see it. Of the three of us childhood friends, I was the only one who had continued with my education after high school. Each set of parents was honored to be there because they had all been the greatest influence on my life.

I do not think I will ever forget that as soon as I got my diploma from the dean and started to head off the stage. The retired vet a captain was there in full uniform to salute me.

That was the day I told them I was coming home to work in the Southeastern Missouri Hospital system. Of course, after moving back home to my parents’ house until I established myself, they had to throw a welcome home party.

Jack Peters had gone into the Marines; Billy Moon had gone back to India to find himself a wife and they had no clue if he was coming back. I think that both of their parents were hoping I would take an interest in my friend's sisters.

*******

One of the first clients I dealt with at work was a lady who had a knee replacement the day before and I had her up walking the hallway with my support when her granddaughter came in. For some reason, as I was walking the client back to her room the young lady kept watching. I just figured she was pleased with how supportive I was with her grandmother like any family member would.

The young lady was not someone I would write home about, but she was a nice-looking young lady with short brown hair styled to compliment her long face. With hazel eyes and an average figure, she was like a lot of the girls I went to school with. Nice but not nice enough to get my attention.

After getting the client back on the bed I told her I would come back to work with her again later after she had rested.

Just as I was leaving the granddaughter said, “I got it! Your Billy Moon’s friend who took a dive to avoid hitting my little sister.”

I smiled and said, “That was years ago. I am surprised you remembered. I did not recognize you. My name is Russell Brophy nice to see you again.”

“It was a scary moment when June and I realized we had lost sight of Mary. We were supposed to be watching her while mom was having a shower,” she said. “I’m Kimberly Taylor the middle one.”

Her grandmother watched us as we chatted, saw a natural attraction, and spoke up, “Kim, I think you should buy the nice young man dinner and thank him for saving your ass back then.”

“Nana shush,” Kim said. “Russ could be married.”

“Are you young man,” Her grandmother asked?

“Nana!” Kim said while blushing.

“No, I am not,” I said. “If you promise to work extra hard over the next few days before your released, I will agree to meet your granddaughter for supper if she allows me to pay.”

“Well then it’s all worked out, isn’t it,” Kim’s Nana said with a smile.

I could hear Kim whispering under her breath to me, “You don’t have to do this. I can tell later that we met, and it didn’t work out.”

“Sorry can’t do that she’ll know when she cross-examines me,” I said, “what the truth was.”

We arranged to meet at Charlie’s bar and grill and began developing an interest in each other. Kimberly worked part-time for our local fox tv station and did a small five-minute video clip on current happenings in our area. She was taking courses to become an elementary school teacher at the university. She could also be seen helping in weather reporting on the weekends when needed.

Although her parents were still strong Catholic’s she was not into the church even though she believed in God she did not associate with any of the religious organizations primarily because of how her catholic schooling had affected her growing up. She learned that I was agnostic about the whole religious thing.

The next day as I worked with her grandmother, I got asked all the usual questions which I answered with tact. There was only one question I would not answer her and that was if I were going to ask her out again.

When Kim’s grandmother left that Friday, her daughter and her husband had come to take her home. I was just returning from the outpatient center after completing four hours there. We ran into each other in the main lobby while they were waiting for her husband to get the car from the parking lot.

During the conversation, Kimberly’s mother learned about the story of what I had done years ago. I had to smile because all of us kids back then had done a lot of things that our parents did not know about. It was about six o’clock when I pulled up to Kim’s apartment. I guess she was waiting for me because by the time I had parked the truck and got out she was coming out the front door.

Kimberly at that time had a height of five foot six. I was five foot nine. I was more interested in her personality and good nature than her body. I had already decided by that time that we would most likely end up being friends.

I guess that is why we hit it off because neither of us was ready to settle down. We had about an hour to eat before heading over to the university for a Concert Band and Wind Symphony in the Bedell Performance Hall. We decided to go to a newly opened Mexico restaurant, and we were disappointed. The quality and flavors were not there.

The theme for the evening's performance was called ‘Earthscapes’ a musical representation of the geography of our planet. From the beautiful and tranquil to the rugged and unforgiven, it was a non-stop two-hour progression of music without a single voice during the performance. On the huge wall to wall screen behind the band was inspirational changing pictures of the type of land the music represented.

We left the concert holding hands talking about how unique the experience had been because both of us had never done anything like that before. It was funny because we both had enjoyed it.

“I wonder if what we witnessed tonight was like what those silent movies were like when they had a live band,” I said?

“If it is it must have been just as wonderful and inspiring to those who witnessed it,” Kim replied. “What inspired you to choose this for our first date?”

“Other than a movie theater it was the only thing I could find that still has tickets available,” I said. “It was so different that it appealed to me.”

We had just gotten back to my truck and as I unlocked the doors Kim’s cell went off. It turns out her grandmother was having a backyard barbeque on Sunday after church and wanted to make sure that she would be attending. Kim said that she would be attending but would not be coming alone.

“You will have to pick me up about three,” Kim said. “Let me warn you when the family gets together that here will be tricksters testing you to see if you can handle it. To them, it’s their test to see if you will fit in.”

Sometimes the greatest relationship starts from something simple. Time would prove that for Kimberly and me that was true.

*******

There was a whole group of cars when we pulled into her Nana’s farm. As we got out, we could hear the voices in the back yard. Turns out not only was all her family there but so were a lot of her uncle and aunts and their children. Nana, when she saw me with her granddaughter, smiled in pure glee. Kim and I knew we had made her day.

Kim had been right her family tried a few stunts and I let them go right by me as if I had not caught on. Both Kim and her Nana knew better. While we were busy eating when one of her uncles brought me a straight double shot of sour mash and a large lemon figuring he had finally found a way to get me to lose my temper.

I asked him for a shredded knife which he immediately got me one. I sat at the picnic table and cut the lemon cut into eight sections.

I said to the uncle who had brought me it, “Are you up for a challenge?”

He said, “Sure.”

“Okay you will have to do what I do, with these two items you gave me,” I said.

Figuring he had no way to lose he said, “Okay it’s on.”

He watched me as I used my thumb to peel the lemon flesh apart from the lemon skin. Then stick that peeled flesh section into my mouth and eat it as if I were eating an orange. When half of the lemon was done, I took half of the double shot he had given me gargled it in my mouth then downed it in one swallow. I repeated the process until everything was all gone.

Someone had gotten him the same thing he had brought out to me. Everybody roared because he tried but could not do it. He thought he was getting one over me and I had gotten him.

“Just so you all know,” Kim’s Nana said. “Russell Brophy is nobody’s fool he knew what you all were doing all day and let it go knowing that he would get one of you in the end. Russ has got a good head on his shoulder and if you try your stunts again, you’ll answer to me.”

After that, I was accepted by them all. By remaining calm about their childish stunts, I had earned their respect because they had learned that I could play their games better than they could.

It was as she was speaking that Kim’s sisters finally showed up. That was the evening that Kim learned that she had major competition. After introductions were done Kim had to explain to her sisters how we had met and who I was.

From the moment Mary learned who I was she refused to leave my side. I guess the story of my taking myself out had been exaggerated and expanded a hundred times. In all sense of the world, Mary at the age of thirteen had a huge teenage crush on me so did her older sister June.

After thanking Kim’s Nana for the meal, we prepared to head out to the movie theatre. We ended the night down by the river taking a walk getting to know each other a bit better.

June and Mary tried to cause problems for Kim and me before we got serious, but they soon found out that I was not into playing their game. It was me that kept Kim from getting worked up with her sisters.

It was just after my next birthday that my life took a turn. My grandfather died leaving me the family home. My dad agreed with me that I would have to have everything updated if I were going to keep it.

What I did was divide the ten-acre parcel into three sections. I sold one section as land and then the second with the house. It made me enough that I could build my house without much extra cost. After getting it done, I had a twenty thousand dollar mortgage but was left with a five-bedroom three thousand eight hundred square foot new home with the master on the main.

That is when Kimberly and my relationship started to change. Accidents can happen when you get overheated and boy did it ever. It took three months from the day she broke the news for us to get married. Five months later a little blonde hair blue eyed angel came into the world. Juniper Mae weighed six pounds and immediately was Nana’s favorite. In quick succession, Tammy Lynn, Betty Joe, and James Earl named after my dad followed.

Present-day

I was sitting in my office as the head of the Physio Department of the Southeastern Missouri Hospital when the reality of our world changed. Kimberley my wife now an elementary school principal and I had been married for twenty-two years.

Our four children were either in high school or away at university working on their dreams. Within the next year, we would be empty nesters adjusting to being just the two of us again. To be honest I was ready for it.

She on that Friday was in a meeting in St Louis because it was teacher improvement day and there were no classes. The state had scheduled a conference she had to attend. It was going to be a two-day event, so she had driven up Thursday night.

That was when the order came down to bunker down and stay at your residence unless you were part of those who were employed in essential services. Our governor left it to each county to decide for their area. St. Louis was being hit the worst. At that time, we had one case locally.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

I decided to stop at the local Walmart on the way home to pick up some basics even though we were well stocked. I am glad I did because the panic had begun. As I walked in a lady was heading to the checkout counter with two carts full of toilet paper.

I grabbed a cart and went directly to that section to get the biggest pack I could find. Then I went around picking up the basics that we might be low on. As I went around the aisles picking things up, I ran into the vice principal that worked with my wife.

For me, it was a total shock because I had been told by Kimberly that they were going together.

“Hi Shauna,” I said. “I thought you were going to St. Louis for the education seminar?”

“What seminar,” Shauna asked?

That was when I knew something else was going on. If there was no seminar, why did June’s husband a high school teacher have to attend it? When I got out of the wally world, I called June from the car to tell her what I learned. She agreed to meet me at my house.

After putting away the groceries I went into our credit card account and found that the deposit for the hotel room had been reported but not charged. I called customer services and got them to release the address of the hotel.

Using an address search, I was able to get the name and phone number of the hotel where the charge had come from. That was when the front doorbell rang.

“Come on in June the doors open,” I yelled.

June came in with her little sister Mary who had just gone through her divorce. Her former husband a doctor had been caught cheating with one of the nurses who worked in his office. Mary had found out about the affair when he got served with a summons to appear in divorce court.

After getting both of my sister's in-laws a glass of white wine I suggested to June that we text our spouses telling them of our governor’s declaration asking them to supply us with the hotel they were staying in and the room number.

Whatever they were doing at that moment it was apparent that they were not together because the details that came back to each of us when compared were the same.

A simple text message had disclosed their affair. I picked up the phone and called a social blogger who was well respected and followed in the state. I told him I had just got off the phone from talking to my wife and had learned that one of the hotel's quests was now in the hospital with the virus.

He asked which hotel, so I told him. June was giving me a dirty look partly because I had not done anything close to lying in my life.

“Mary and June, I said that because I want to find out what Kimberly and Thomas will come up with as an excuse.” I continued by saying, “When they have to reveal to us what we already know.”

“What do you think will happen, Russ,” June asked?

“The suspicion will be enough with the panic going on to force the hotel and all those in it to be quarantined for at least two weeks,” I said. “That will give us time to find lawyers and file for divorce.”

Jill laughed and said. “God, you have screwed them. It is funny but it is not.”

With that said, Jill went into her cellphone and did a few things. Mary noticed her and asked, “what are you doing?”

Canceling all our credit cards and transferring most of our funds into saving because my husband's debit card does not have access to it.” Jill said. “Let my sister get stuck with the bill.”

Mary had a big grin on her face when she said, “Russ when my sister is served, I’m coming after you and this time I won’t accept no.”

I smiled because sometimes fate puts a gift horse right in front of you and I was looking at one. Many of the nights I had made love to my wife it was Mary I was thinking about. I loved my wife, but I had never been in love with her. I am sure she had felt the same way about me. We both knew that if she had not have gotten knocked up, we wouldn’t have married.

It was Mary that suggested we should turn to the local station. We have either Fox or CBS both owned by the same corporation. On Fox, they ran repeats of the same news program. I turned it on. The news was devastating.

The problems in our state were primary in St. Louis where the governor had ordered a complete shutdown. Every other county he would leave it to the local officials to decide how to handle it. All nonlife-threatening surgery was canceled to prepare for what might be coming down the road.

That sad thing was at that time we had one case in our county but on Monday I would be reviewing staffing to start layoffs. Every medical office across the country would be affected. Even though on paper you had clients scheduled none would show up.

*******

My son James bounded through the door just after his two aunts had left to inform me that going forward, he would be staying at home getting the rest of the school year online. One of the teachers had gone through the pickup window at Arby’s and told him.

I guess he saw the look in my eyes because he asked, “Dad what's wrong?”

“There was no special educational conference that your mother had to attend,” I replied.

“Then what is she doing and who did she go with,” James asked.

“She’s shacked up with your Uncle Thomas in a hotel in St. Louis,” I said. “June and I both sent them a text message asking for the hotel and room number and they texted back the same location and room number. June is taking it hard Mary is staying with her.”

My son and I were working together to prepare our supper. Since I had my hands tied up in cooking supper when my cellphone message notice rang. I asked my son to check it.

“Dad it’s from mom she’s just been informed as to what is going on. She is letting you know that all who are staying at the hotel have been quarantined for fourteen days. She says she will call you when she gets back to the hotel.” James said. “Should I call and let Aunt June know?”

“Yes, I think you should,” I replied while trying not to smile.

James talked to his aunt for quite a few minutes and got the whole story from her end. He was surprised to learn it was their stupidity that outed them.

We had just sat down to eat when the doorbell rang. James went to answer it. It was Mary with two suitcases of clothing and a few bundles of boxes that could be put together.

She said, “James since I live by myself and don’t have any children, I am bunkering down with you guys for the next two weeks at least.”

James yelled “Dad.” I responded, “She knows everything might as well let her in.”

I got an extra plate out and Mary joined us for supper.

“Whats the cardboard boxes for Aunt Mary,” James asked as we ate?

“These ones are for your father,” Mary said. “June has already got hers for packing up all of Thomas's personal stuff. He doesn’t know it yet, but he has no home to come home to.”

I guess James got a puzzled look because Mary went on to say, “When I discovered that my husband was cheating, I knew he had been lying to me for months. It took until after the divorce was done for me to learn he had been cheating on me for over eight months.”

“James the problem is three-fold,” I added. “The affair, the lie’s and the destroying of the trust that has taken years to build.”

James thought about it for a few then said, “You hear about divorces all the time, but you never hear about the real damage done. It's just not the affair that destroys the marriage it’s the damage done to the other parts of a marriage that most never see.”

“Hell, of a way to have to learn to see the full picture,” I said. “Now you understand why I don’t take sides when I hear about an acquaintance’s divorce. Nothing is black and white even though we logically want to believe that.”

“Any change that mom and you can get past this,” James asked?

“You can’t undo what is done no matter how hard you try,” I replied. “Less than one percent of those who to try to rebuild make it because in the back of their mind they’re always wondering if the spouse is at it again.”

James looked at his Aunt and said, “You have always had a special interest in my Dad can you explain why?”

“I was thirteen when I met your dad,” Mary said. “To me he was legendary. My sisters believed he may have saved my life. He was and still is different from any man I know. Even back then with our age difference, he treated me as an equal. At first, I thought it was hero worship but now I think it was love at first sight. I was jealous of your mom because I was in love with him.”

James's eyes got wide. His aunt was telling him something he did not know but could understand well.

“It was your father who helped me deal with my divorce,” She went on to say. “When your oldest sister Mae was born, I knew I had lost the chance to be with him. I settled for my husband because I could not have him. James, I am here for your father because I still love him. If our relationship changes going forward it is because it was meant to happen not because I interfered with my sister and him.”

“Aunt Mary thank you; it explains a lot of things that I have wondered about, “James said. “There is another question that my three sisters have wondered about for years because Mae keeps talking about it.”

It was shocking to me to see Mary’s face go white. I thought she was deadly afraid of the question my son was going to ask.

“Go ahead James, ask it,” I said. “If Mary can’t answer it perhaps I can.”

“Is there a chance that Dad is not the biological father of Mae,” James asked in seriousness? “I ask because Mae believes a hundred percent that she is not but will not explain to any of us why.”

“Yes, there is. Your mother was seeing someone else besides your dad right up until they announced their engagement,” Mary said. “None in the family can verify what the truth is and have not dared to ask because we did not want to know.”

I had not known. Mary knew it and had kept the family secret for all these years. I had to ask because I had to know. June had married Thomas two years after I had married Kim.

“Was it Thomas,” I asked?

“Not sure,” Mary answered. “It was either him or his twin brother. We still have a hard time figuring which one is which when their together.”

“Does Jill know,” I asked.

“I don’t think so,” Mary said. “Remember back then she was away at law school and out of the picture. When Kim and you started dating, she was home for the summer.”

With that revelation now out, I picked up the phone and called my eldest. She did not answer, and my call went to her service. I asked her to give me a call when she could because it was important but not an emergency.

James said he would clean up the kitchen. After pouring Mary and I a drink we went into the den to have a long talk. I had just put our drinks on the coffee table when she rushed into my arms. Mary was not giving me a chance to hesitate.

She brought her mouth to mine and gave me a kiss that I would remember for years. I could not help but respond in kind. It had been a long time since I had experienced such passion.

Mary had her father's hair color which was a reddish-brown which was currently dyed a dark red with blonde highlights. She had a full rack, a nice slightly slender frame, and was as tall as I was. The shape of her hips caused her to appear to have a long horseshoe-shaped tush. She was built the way I liked females, and she knew it. To her, our eight-year age difference did not matter.

She pulled back and went to say something but before I gave her a chance, I pulled her back into me and returned the same in kind. We stood there locked in each other’s arms as if we were making up for the lost time. When we heard James approaching, we broke it off. By the time he got to the den, we were sitting respectfully apart sipping on our drinks.

“Where should I put Aunt Marys’ suitcases,” James asked as he walked into the room?”

“If I had my choice it would be your father’s bedroom,” Mary said seriously.

James blushed. I laughed and said, “Would you be okay with that James.”

“Dad, based on the truth’s we learned tonight,” he said. “Marrying my mother may have been your biggest mistake. I believe Aunt Mary was being honest about everything. Whatever you two decide to do I will support it one hundred percent.”

“Let Mary and I talk things out, we have a lot to consider,” I said, “James we both want to be sure we're making the right decisions for the right reasons. I’ve held my feelings about your aunt in for years.”

“Ok dad, I’ll place her luggage at the foot of the stairs going to the upstairs hallway and let you get back to the kissing,” James said. “Aunt Mary you left a trace of your lipstick on dad.”

When he left the room he was laughing, we were both blushing.

Mary got up and came over with her drink and sat on my lap. Looking into my eyes she got serious.

“If we put my suitcases in your bedroom I’m not moving out,” Mary said. “I’m still fertile and I want two. So, I need to know are you okay with that.”

“No not at all,” I replied with a smile. “You may plan on two, but accidents happen.”

“Then we got a lot of packing to do,” Mary said. “I want all of Kim’s items out of our bedroom this evening. Over the weekend we can move her stuff into my house and my stuff in. That way when she is allowed to come back, she will have a place to stay.”

*******

It took us about three hours thanks to duct tape to pack up all her items. James took the filled, taped boxes, and loaded them in the back of my Ford pickup truck. Mary was determined and while she was putting her stuff away, I stripped the bed, flipped the mattress, and put on a fresh set of sheets. I was downstairs making us both another drink when the phone rang. I knew by the ringer tone it was my eldest Mae.

“Thanks for returning my call, I said. “A lot of things are going on as you know but I need to know an answer to a question.”

“No problem Dad,” Mae said. “What is it?”

“When and how did you find out that I am not your biological father,” I asked?

“Shit! You were never supposed to know,” Mae said. “I overheard Thomas and mom privately talking about it at a family gathering. When I confronted mom later, she admitted it. She also explained that he was not ready to commit to marriage back then and if she had not gotten married because of her family’s believes it would have caused too many problems.”

“Thank you for being honest,” I said. “Just so you know Thomas and your mom outed themselves earlier today. They are both currently quarantined for two weeks in the same room in a hotel in St. Louis. Your Aunt June knows and like me, she will be filing for divorce. I can’t live with a person who has lied to me all their life.”

“I cannot say I’m surprised because I saw this coming,” Mae said. “I would do the same. Who all knows?”

“Just your brother and you,” I said. “I will let you explain it to your sisters over the weekend because I will be packing everything that is your mother's up for storage at your aunt Mary’s.”

“Have you confronted Mom yet,” Mae asked?

“No, the last text I got said she would call me later tonight to let me know whats going on,” I said. “It appears that neither one of them has a clue that we know about their long term relationship.”

“Dad, mom told me that the rest of my brothers and sisters are yours,” Mae said. “They did not start up again until after my sixteenth birthday.”

“I love you, Mae, regardless. Don’t ever forget that,” I said. “James agrees with what I’m doing.”

“Well I might be graduating from home this year,” Mae said. “Nothing official has been stated yet but the halls are filled with rumors.”

Mary had come into the kitchen to see what was taking me so long and had heard part of the conversation. I said goodbye to my daughter then explained to both Mary and James what Mae had disclosed.

“Dad that clears up a lot of questions,” James said. “Aunt Mary at least we know what the truth is. Dad let go of the past and get rid of the hurt as soon as you can.”

“Where did that wisdom come from,” I asked?

“Your mouth when I was dealing with betrayal,” James said. “The best advice I got at that time.”

With knowledge comes freedom. I knew going forward there would be moments but I unconditional love and support to help me through them. Mary just wrapped her arms around me tight for a few. I told James to refresh our drinks and make himself one.

The three of us sat around talking and planning out our Saturday. I told James to accept all the hours he could for now because they would not last. I disclosed that the property was still in the family trust which I now controlled and would not be part of the divorce.

“Kim has screwed herself big time,” Mary said. “Thomas by the time June gets done with him won’t have much left either.”

Both watched me as I turned the cell phone off for the night as I said, “If June has heard from her husband then Kim knows they have been caught. I’m not going to wait for her to call.”

I then plugged it in to charge. Mary asked if we had an extra charger for her phone. James went to the junk drawer and pulled one out. She shut hers off and she set hers beside mine after plugging it in to charge.

One she had finished her drink she said, “I’m going upstairs are you coming.”

I talked to my son for a few just to reaffirm that he was okay with it before heading up. Mary and I did not want to sleep in the master bedroom until we were completely done removing all of my wife’s stuff out. I discovered that Mary had already changed and was in bed. I went into the bathroom and changed into some pajama bottoms before joining her.

We started slowly just cuddling each other and sharing soft kisses. Both of us in our way were exploring the other’s undiscovered country. We had to discover for ourselves what turned each other. It was fun feeling like a young inexperienced teenager again. I do not know when we fell asleep but we both awoke with smiles on our face and picked up from where we had left off.

*******

It was a perfect Saturday morning for both of us. It was a nice quiet intimate time. Two lovers each enjoying the first few hours surrounded by the love created by the two. It was almost noon before we got out of bed.

Mary turned her cellphone on as we waited for the coffee maker to make the first pot of the day. She had two messages on the answering service one each from both her sisters. The sixteen text message left reflected the panic one of them was in.

She called June first and put the speaker on so I could hear both sides of the conversation. June answered on the first ring and spoke first before Mary had a chance to say anything.

“Where are you? I went by your house after Thomas called to talk to you,” June said. “To find that you were not home.”

“I am right where I should have been years ago,” Mary said. “So, what did you want to talk to me about.”

“Thomas is saying nothing happened that they’re only sharing a two-bedroom suite,” June said. “I told the lying bastard that I didn’t believe him because I was looking at the hotel's web page which showed what types were available and hung up on the asshole.”

“We found out that our sister admitted to Mae that Thomas was her biological father,” Mary said. “He only went after you so he could keep in close contact with both Kim and Mae. Their current affair started just after Mae turned sixteen.”

“Hold on you said we,” June said. “Does that mean what I think it does?”

“Yes,” Mary giggled. “I’ve already started moving in.”

“Congrats sis, hold on to him. He has always been one in a million,” June said. “At least this time you’re starting your relationship with each other with honesty and not for ulterior motives. Is Russell as good as we thought he would be?”

“Better,” said Mary, which had me blushing.

“Ok enough talking. I’m coming over I expect the both of you to be dressed by the time I get there.” June said before hanging up.

Mary and I looked at each other and started laughing.

After a few more kisses I turned my cellphone as we were sipping our first coffee. I had five messages left on the answering service. One each from each of my daughters and two from my soon to be ex-wife. Mary listened to them with me via the speaker.

The first message from Kim just let me know that she was stuck in place and that the hotel was not going to charge for the room. The second one was emotional because she had learned that we had all had found out. She asked me not to do anything until she had a chance to talk to me.

I thought to late you stupid bitch. Don’t you realize that I know you have been lying to me all our married life?

“That’s enough of her bullshit,” Mary said. “I’m going to take my sister down.”

With that she sent a text message that read; I made love to my future husband thanks to you twice last night and once this morning. He knows about your affair. In front of him this morning I threw away my birth control pills. Expect to be served before you finish the fourteen-day quarantine.

“Someday I will have to thank the stupid bitch for bringing us together,” Mary said. “Right now, I want her hurting as much as possible because of all the things she’s done.”

I did not say a word I just took her into my arms and gave her a very sensual kiss. After we broke it off Mary said, “If June was not coming here, we would be heading back to the bedroom.”

I called Mae first. Mary got in on the conversation. By the end of the chat, Mae was on board with everything. She had called her sister and explained everything she knew as of last night. They had taken it hard and found it hard to believe. All agreed that their mother had thrown her marriage away.

Mary answered all of Mae’s questions and the two of them were still talking when June showed up with both of us still half-dressed. When she walked into the kitchen she broke out in a huge grin.

“Looks like the honeymoon has started before the marriage,” June said with a giggle. “My early wedding present to both of you is that I am becoming Russ’s lawyer in his divorce against my sister.”

Mae heard what her aunt had said and said via the speaker. “Jesus Fucking Christ it’s going to be a nightmare.”

The three of us broke up in laughter.

After we had calmed down, Mae said goodbye after making sure I would call her sisters. What happened next took me by complete surprise.

“Sis I expect you to convince him to keep our agreement,” June said in all seriousness.

“Russell please do me a favor and kiss my sister as you did me last night and this morning,” Mary said. “After you do, I will explain what I agreed to.”

June you must understand even though she was the oldest of the three sisters in build seemed to be the balance between the two. She was and is designed to keep a man warm during cold nights. Kim my soon to be ex was more pear-shaped. If I had got involved with either of Kim sisters before she got knocked up, I would have been trading up.

So, when June stood up and came to me to share a kiss I was surprised when she took the lead and shoved her tongue into my mouth. I could not stop myself from responding. I expected the kiss to be short, but it was not. I soon found myself responding naturally. When I did June pulled me tighter into her.

“June, reach into his pajama bottoms,” Mary said. “Lead him to our bedroom and make love to him until he needs to rest.”

“Russel until my older sister finds a lover, I told her that if we ever got together,” Mary said. “that I would share you with her.”

June did what her sister suggested. So, did I. As June undressed in front of me, I thanked the gods for arranging my son James to be at work. As soon as we fell on the bed, she was all over me. That afternoon I learned that out of the three sisters she was the wildest one.

She rode me cowgirl style at first then for the second time we went at it missionary. We were both lying their exhausted in the afterglow when Mary slipped in and lay beside me.

With her sister and me, half asleep Mary said. “Do you think my dear future husband and father to be of our future children that you can manage being that and having my sister as your permanent mistress full time.

I didn’t know the answer to the question, but I knew I was going to die trying.

Mary and I just kissed and cuddled. At my age, it took quite a while for me to recover. Once I did Mary slid out of her nightgown and lowered herself down on me. It was our coupling that woke June up.

When I finally came back downstairs both of the ladies were busy making supper as nothing had happened. I went to say something, but I thought better and was glad I did because June spoke first.

“We all realize that we're going to have to have a delicate balance going forward,” June said. “Russel, I love you just as much as Mary does. In the future, we will not be making love in this house its Mary’s domain and I respect that.”

“June and I agree that she needs private time with you at least twice a week,” Mary said. “to look after those chores most husbands do. We will work it out if it is acceptable to you.”

I was not going to start arguing with these two women after what they had shown me over the last day so I said, “As long as you both agree that you Mary come first I have no problem with it.”

To show their pleasure in my statement both took their turns sharing a deep kiss with me.

I told them I was going to go into the den and call both Tammy Lynn and Betty Joe. James came home from work while I was doing that. He had gone into the kitchen to find his two aunts preparing supper. His aunt Mary had insisted that he bring me a drink. I was just saying goodbye to Betty Joe when he came in.

“Dad, what's going on,” He asked? “I’ve never seen those two so happy in my life.”

“The best way to explain it,” I said. “is that both ladies are seeing the best days of their lives ahead of them.”

“Could be,” He said. “When I see some female that happy, I just assume she had been well fucked. You didn’t get much stuffed moved care to explain why?”

“Your aunt June has agreed to become my lawyer,” I said. “We spent most of the day working on the paperwork for the divorce petition.”

“Part of the problem is that Mary and I did not get up until about noon,” I admitted. “Then June came over. I had to talk to your three sisters, and they send you their love.”

We were all sitting at the table eating supper when Kim called. I had been ignoring her attempts to contact me all day. Partly because most of the day I had been busy elsewhere. I turned the speaker on.

I answered it as coldly and distant as I could, “Hello Kim. What do you want.”

“We need to start working this out,” Kim said.

“Work what out,” I said. “I had a long talk with Mae. She has agreed to get me a notarized as soon as possible. I think that’s enough reason to be granted a divorce.”

“What does she claim she knows,” Kim asked paying done.

“That Thomas is her biological father,” I replied., “and that you renewed your affair with him when she was sixteen years.”

There was nothing but silence coming from the cellphone. “Kim it is clear that you lied about the paternity to con me into marrying you. I’ve got one of the toughest lawyers in the county representing me so be prepared for a dirty expensive battle.”

“Who is it,” Kim asked? “Maybe they will be willing to be reasonable and work thing out in negotiations.”

“I don’t think so, I think my lawyer will be out for every ounce of blood she can suck out of you,” I said. “Based on what I know I would not blame her a bit.”

“Why do you make it sound like she’s going to out for revenge,” Kim said. “Whatever did I do to her?”

“Oh, a lot,” I said. “Your lover and the father of your firstborn is soon to be her ex-husband.”

“OH God you didn’t, you can’t be that cold,” Kim said.

“He didn’t hire me, Kim I’m doing it for nothing,” June said. “I am going to do whatever it takes to take both you and Thomas down as much as I can. Thanks to the virus you and my husbanded outed yourselves.”

Kim ended the call. Notification of that fact came up on my cellphone’s screen.

James said, “A legal catfight between two women is going to be interesting to see.”

After dinner, we took the truck over to Mary’s place and brought back more of her stuff. While there we decided that her bedroom furniture she had bought after her divorce would be better in our master bedroom.

Sunday ended up being a day where we were moving furniture from house to house along with all the linens and such stuff. James asked me why we were doing it. I responded that women have a thing about using other female's stuff.

If we had not done this over the next few months, we would have spent a lot of money replacing everything anyway.

By the end of the week, we had a full house full of people who were trying to adjust to our home's new reality. All three of my daughters had come home to finish their school year online. It was home but it had changed. My son and I had moved a lot of furniture, as a result, most of the main living area has a new feel to it.

Each was developing a new relationship with Mary. If my children had been in contact with their mother, they did not disclose it to me.

Three-quarters of the staff under me had been laid off. The rest were using permanent time off earned for the period. I had my pay cut by fifty percent and was now working from home also. Mary a Doctor of Optometry had her retail shop and office in downtown Cape. She was at home because it was not considered an essential service. She had laid off all of her employees also.

For the six of us, there were some tense discussions about the consequences of long term behavior and how the truth always seems to come out when you least expect it. Each of my daughters during private times said they had never seen Mary and me this happy. Betty Joe said that Mary was bringing a side of me out that she had never seen before.

I said, “Perhaps it a bit of both. You have been away for about seven months and things have happened that have changed my life in a lot of ways. Perhaps we are both seeing each other in a new light because of that.”

“No, dad, I have heard Mary and you say I love you more times since I have been home,” Betty Joe said. “Then I ever heard mom and you say that in my life.”

“Really,” I said in total surprise.

“Yes dad, that tells me that this relationship is about real love,” Betty Joe said. “Not what we force ourselves to believe love is.”

I guess I was showing some emotion because my daughter came over and hugged me. “Dad love I learned this week when it is real with someone seems to bring the best out in each other. Both Mary and you the way your showing that makes it obvious to us who know you that the relationship is based on a love that is real.”

Over dinner that night with June and her children home it was a madhouse. The cousins were catching up. All were relieved to learn that there still had not been one new case reported in our county. Mary and I learned that she had found a way to have both Thomas and Kim served. She used a courier so they both had to sign for it.

We were thankful that Mary’s house was empty because that was where Mary had me meet June for some private time. When Mary and I headed to bed on those nights. She made sure I went to sleep exhausted.

The day Thomas and Kim got released after having been declared virus-free Kim called Mary to see if her house was available for her to stay in. Mary said no but agreed to help her get some of her belongings whenever she got herself settled. Her parents reluctantly allowed her to move in with them.