The weather was decent for this time of year, with only a smattering of snow on the ground and the temperatures mild. Mary gazed out the window, sipping coffee while watching the little birds flit about the feeder and bounce around in the branches of the now leaf-less Cherry tree. Chickadees, wrens, and a few others hopped and bopped around, keeping her entertained with their cute antics. She let out a wistful sigh and wondered when Tom would be home.
Every year he travelled just before Christmas, usually arriving home just in time for Christmas Eve. Last year he had been delayed, claiming it was weather-related, and was not home until after Boxing Day. She had spent Christmas alone, and became suspicious after checking the weather channels and not seeing any delays or storms. A few inquiries to airports showed his flights had left and arrived on time, and a call to his workplace confirmed he was scheduled to be off for the week, including New Years.
Mary was fairly certain he was having an affair with his assistant, Claire. She had started with him two years ago; a bright, young, attractive brunette with a nice smile and a fit, petite body. The first time she met her, Mary felt a tingle of warning, a little flutter in her stomach that set off a warning bell, and made sure to ask about her frequently. Tom would talk about her regularly, answering her questions about any boyfriends and telling of her difficulty in finding the "right guy." They had started travelling together the past summer, and although it made her uncomfortable and leery, she knew it was a normal part of his job. He had travelled with his other assistants and Mary had never gotten a bad vibe. Claire was a different story.
The coffee in her mug was cold. After dumping it in the sink and rinsing the cup, she filled it again and moved to the living room, curling up in the corner of the couch. The fleece blanket she pulled over her legs was light but warm, and her mind returned to Tom. Things between them were not as they should be, and she mulled it over in her mind, knowing it became worse when menopause started. The doctor had assured her it was normal, and that many women experience it in their early forties. At first he had been supportive of her mood swings, lack of energy, and loss of desire, but as the months passed he became distant and less affectionate. Her attempts to talk with him were not very successful, with him being understanding for a short time, then pouting and complaining about their lack of sex.
He didn't seem to understand that it had nothing to do with him. Her desire for sex, or any type of physical affection, was just nonexistent, her body uncomfortable with the changes: hot flashes, mood swings, depression, lack of energy and disrupted sleep were taking their toll on her. She assured him it was normal, and it would pass in time.
He spent more time at work, less time with her. Many evenings they would eat supper together, then he would retreat to the basement to watch sports, or go to his office and spend hours on his computer. She felt slighted, but also relieved, when this happened. She could relax, sleep, or read without the tense atmosphere he created, and in the months that followed they had become roommates who just shared a house and a bed. Tom had stopped asking for her attention, and the few times she had made herself available to him, offering a blowjob or letting him fuck her breasts, both of which he loved to do, he had accepted. He was unsatisfied, though, saying he could tell she didn't want to do it, and declined her next advance. It had been almost a year since they had any type of physical interaction.
When December arrived, he had booked his travel plans without even telling her, announcing the day before he was to leave that he would be gone. Her pleas to have him reschedule were ignored, and for the first time in twenty years there were no Christmas lights or decorations in their yard. Mary had put up the tree, adding the gifts underneath, and expected him to return as he usually did. He didn't, though, and when he finally did arrive a few days later, he had little to say.
He had sheepishly opened his numerous gifts after handing her a single package, a small wrapped box with a red bow that contained a gift card to a clothing store she liked. She had given him a list of things she would have liked, but obviously he had settled on the easiest thing possible.
"You can get whatever you want," he explained. "You mentioned your clothes don't fit properly anymore."
Mary had been gracious about it, saying she understood how hard it would have been for him to go shopping while away on business, even though he could have had his assistant do it for him. He had not responded, just giving a shrug and saying he hadn't thought of that. She had known then that it was over, and just wasn't ready to admit it.
The knock on the door startled her. The mug went on the coffee table and the blanket on the floor when she moved to the window and looked out. It was Sara, the neighbor from across the street, holding a box. Mary opened the door.
"Hi, Sara."
"Hi, Mary. This package was on my step, but it's for your address."
"Oh."
Mary checked the package and confirmed it was for their address, taking it from Sara.
"Thanks. It must be something Tom ordered."
"Your Christmas gift, maybe?" Sara giggled.
"Maybe," Mary replied. "I see you have your lights up?"
"Oh, yes. We put them up the other day. I guess you will be doing yours soon?"
"Hmm, I don't know. Tom may not be back in time, he's away for work."
"Oh. Well, if you want I can ask Greg to do it for you. He's home from college until after New Years, I'm sure he wouldn't mind."
"No, I don't want to impose."
"Don't worry about it," Sara insisted. "He will enjoy having something to do, and spending time with someone other than Mom and Dad."
Mary chuckled and nodded.
"Well, only if he feels like it."
"I will ask him later and let you know," Sara promised.
"Thanks, Sara."
After closing the door, Mary looked at the package, wondering why there was no name on the shipping label. She shook it, not hearing anything move, and went to the kitchen and placed it on the table where Tom usually sat. She returned to the living room and sat down again, curling up with the blanket, and her mind returned to Tom once more.
The past three months had been different for Mary. Her hot flashes has subsided, her always-bloated feelings waned, and her sex drive began to return. She was dropping weight steadily and soon found her clothes fitting well, and the woman in the mirror looked more like a girl than an old woman. She finally used that gift card, buying some skirts, tops, and a few lingerie items, and the girls at the salon helped with a new style and color. Tom seemed indifferent, hardly noticing any changes, and her few attempts to get physical had been rebuffed. He claimed to be too tired, too busy, or just not in the mood, but Mary suspected there was another reason.
"No, there's nothing going on," he assured her. "We just work together. Your imagination is getting the best of you."
Any discussion was redirected, with Mary questioning if she was, indeed, imagining things. Her over-thinking and low self-esteem weighed on her, but deep inside she suspected the truth was not what was he was telling.
A shower was in order, Mary decided, and headed to the bedroom. She stripped down, pausing to look at herself in the mirror. Her large breasts still held themselves proudly, and her slimmer waist gave her curvy hips a boost. She turned and looked over her shoulder, seeing her bum still firm and full, her thighs still smooth and shapely. With a little smile on her face she posed in the mirror, holding her hair up with both hands as if she was a model. Her nipples hardened from the cool air, and she dropped her hands and cupped her full breasts. They were still big handfuls, firm and pillowy, and her nipples thick. Her fingers tweaked them slightly, sending a little jolt to her loins, and she suddenly felt the heat between her legs.
She lowered one hand, running it down her tummy and between her legs, watching herself in the mirror. It had been a long time since she masturbated, something she had never done with a mirror, and found herself intensely aroused. Her fingers touched her folds, getting wet and slick, and Mary forced herself to keep her eyes open as the fingers began to pleasure her. One slipped inside for a few moments, stroking the soft inner walls, and then moved to her swollen clit. Little rubs became intense, and suddenly her need for release became unbearable. The orgasm was intense, making her knees shake and her body quiver, and took her by surprise. She let out a deep breath and plunked down on the bed behind her, letting the warm tingle spread through her body, and closed her eyes.
The warmth of the hot water and the slick feel of the body wash felt good on her skin, and once more she fingered herself to climax, almost falling in the shower when her knees weakened. Her body and mind were wide awake, the dormant feelings arising to the surface, and Mary felt better than she had in a very long time.
The day passed quickly, and she had left Tom three messages by the time she finished supper. Usually he returned her calls fairly quickly, and she decided that he must be avoiding her since he carries his phone with him all the time. Her suspicions became a certainty when he finally called just before ten, quickly brushing her off with voices in the background, one of which she knew was Claire's. He claimed they were with clients, having a few drinks together, and that it looked like things would take longer than expected.
"So you won't be here for Christmas," Mary stated, tired of playing games. "When do you plan to return from your little cheating holiday?"
He was silent for a few minutes as the realization that she knew sunk in.
"After New Years," he admitted. "The return flight is on the second."
"You're a real prick, Tom" Mary spat. "You don't even have the balls to tell me you are fucking that little bitch! Enjoy your fucking Christmas with that little skank!"
"Mary..."
"Fuck both of you!"
She hung up the phone, ignoring the calls that followed, and went to the kitchen. A bottle of wine and a large glass joined her in the living room, and she curled up on the couch with the fleece blanket and the TV muted. It was three glasses later that the tears started.
*****
The warmth of the shower felt good, and the water helped to wash away the tears. Mary let the hot water cascade over her head and shoulders, slowly working the bar of soap in her hands into a thick lather. She turned away and lathered her face and neck, then turned back and rinsed it away. The soap ran down her body, slickening her skin, and she rubbed it gently. She felt her nipples harden, and lathered up again, this time rubbing the bar over her breasts and tummy until she was covered in lather. She put the bar in the holder and began washing herself, closing her eyes and cupping her breasts in her hands. Her thumbs twirled over her nipples, creating a sudden burst of heat between her legs. One hand slid down and the fingers strummed her slit, and suddenly Mary found herself intensely aroused.
She leaned her shoulder into the corner, lifting one leg up onto the little shelf in the shower wall, and slipped her finger inside. The water ran over her while she fingered herself, squeezing one nipple between her thumb and finger, and when her climax neared, she slid the finger out and rubbed it around her clit vigorously. The orgasm came suddenly, jolting her into an orgasmic bliss and making her entire body shake.
After drying off, Mary put on a pair of tights and a loose t-shirt, tied her hair in a ponytail, and began cleaning the house. Her mind drifted to Tom every few minutes, and she found focusing on cleaning helped keep the thoughts at bay. Over the course of the morning, her feelings went from sadness to anger, and by lunchtime she was over her feelings of anguish and planning her divorce. She ignored the calls and texts that came from Tom, blocking him after sending him a single text: "We Are Done!"
She was searching through the mortgage documents and tax returns when the doorbell rang, and she left them spread across the kitchen table to answer the door. There was a man standing outside, and she spoke through the door.
"Hello. Can I help you?"
"Hi, Mrs. Welch. It's Greg. Sara's son, from across the street."
Mary opened the door and looked at the young man in front of her. He was tall, burly, and had obviously not shaved for a few days. The dark stubble on his face matched his dark hair, and although he resembled Sara's husband, looked nothing like the boy she remembered.
"Greg?"
"HI! Been a few years, Mrs. Welch."
"Oh, come in, Greg. I didn't recognize you."
Greg stepped inside, rubbing his shoes on the mat at the door, and grinned sheepishly.
"Yeah, I sprouted up over the last few years."
"Your mom said you were in college?"
"Yeah, my sixth year. I graduate this spring."
Mary did the math in her head, coming to the conclusion that he was now at least 24, if not older.
"So, Mom said you could use a hand with Christmas decorations?"
“Yes. I have lights and a few things for the front of the house that I would like to put up.”
“I can do that for you. Where’s the stuff?”
“In the garage, I will show you.”
Mary led him through a door to the attached garage and pointed to a shelf.
“It’s all up there. The ladder is on the wall, and the cords in the green tote next to it.”
“Okay.”
“Let me get dressed and I’ll help you.”
“No need,” Greg replied. “I do my folks' place all the time. If I do need a hand, I’ll let you know.”
“You sure?”
“Oh, yeah. No problem.”
Greg opened the doors and pulled down the ladder, taking it out front. Mary returned to cleaning, wiping down the coffee table and dusting the living room. She went to the window and watched Greg on the ladder, hanging the lights on the house, and was reminded of the first time she watched Tom do it.
The memory quickly disappeared, replaced by her anger about where he was. She went to the hall closet and pulled out the vacuum, cursing when the cord reel got stuck. She yanked on it, then put her foot on the vacuum and started pulling on the cord as if starting a lawnmower.
“Fucking piece of shit!” she cursed, giving up and shoving it away.
She let out a frustrated sigh and looked up, seeing Greg in the window, laughing. He waved his hand, mouthing “I’m sorry,” and tried to stop smiling. His expression made her feel silly, and she laughed at herself.
Once more she tried the vacuum, and the cord unreeled easily.
“Yeah, you know who’s the boss,” she growled at it before plugging the cord in.
The noise filled the room while she moved around, and when she glanced at the window, found Greg watching her. She continued, feeling his eyes on her, and caught his reflection in the TV. She realized he was watching her ass.
The initial shock wore off quickly, and the idea that he was checking her out intrigued her. She purposefully bent forward, pretending to pick something up, seeing his mouth open as if saying “ooh.” It made her giggle, and she found the idea of teasing him a fun distraction. She vacuumed slowly, keeping her back to him and her eyes on the TV, moving her hips seductively.
Once done, she turned the unit off and put her arms up in the air, grasping her wrists and stretching, slowly turning so that he could see her breasts lift and the shirt tighten around her ample chest. When she faced the window, he was directly in front of her, looking at her with a lusty grin on his face. She dropped her arms down and gave him a little smile, then returned the vacuum to the closet.
She felt warm, finding his attention and the excitement of teasing him slightly arousing. It had been a long time since she had done anything like that, and it made her feel good about herself thinking that a younger man found her attractive enough to ogle.
The door from the garage opened, and Greg stepped in, a sheepish grin on his face.
“I’m all done out here. I put the ladder back, too.”
“Already?”
Mary was surprised that he was finished so quickly.
“Anything else I could do for you?” he asked, his eyes travelling her body.
His obvious gaze made her warm again, and she shook her head.
“Uh, not at the moment.”
“Okay. If you want me for anything, I’m just across the street.”
“Thank you! I really appreciate you doing that for me!”
“It was fun,” he replied. “I enjoyed the view.”
Mary blushed, and Greg closed the door. She went into the garage and watched him cross the street before closing the doors. Returning to the kitchen table, she began looking through the documents she wanted to give to the lawyer, and glanced at the package Sara had dropped off. She cut the tape and pulled a soft envelope from inside, recognizing the logo on it, and ripped it open. The bright red bra, panties, garters, and stockings were soft and silky, and definitely not her size.
"You bastard!"
The scissors made quick work of the set, and the pieces easily fit back into the envelope. After writing a little note -Merry Christmas you little slut - and placing it inside, she taped it closed and returned it to the package, sealing the top with tape. She went to his office for a shipping label, and after addressing it to his work address - Attention: Claire - she arranged for it to be picked up for delivery.
*****
The glass was empty again, and Mary refilled it, despite the fact it was only mid-afternoon. Her phone sat on the dining table in front of her, taunting her to read his texts and check his media posts, and she sipped the merlot while fighting the urge to look. Against her better judgement, she tapped the screen and searched for Claire, finding her quickly.
She looked at the most recent post, a picture of her and Tom sitting on a sunny beach with drinks in their hands and smiles on their faces. Mary took a screenshot of the image, keeping it for her lawyer, and put the phone down on the table. She sipped her wine and stared at the image, feeling the hatred bubble up.
"You stupid little skinny skank!" she spit at the phone. "Thanks for the proof."
She scrolled through Claire's posts, taking snaps of anything relating to Tom, and paused when she found one taken in her home. It was in the living room, next to the front window, the two of them smiling with arms around each other's waist. It was in the summer, and she recognized Claire's sundress from the party last July long weekend. Her heart sank as she realized it had been going on longer than she suspected. The discovery made her feel foolish, and after draining her glass empty, the feelings turned to anger.
She closed out the feed and opened the text messages, deciding to take a look.
"Let's see what kind of bullshit you are spewing, Tom," she said loudly, pouring the last of the bottle into her glass.
The texts were as she expected: excuses, denials, pleas, and outright lies. As she scrolled through them, the tone changed, with him finally admitting he was having an affair with Claire. The last one was an apology, followed with confirmation the he would be home January 2.
"You don't live here anymore!" she yelled at the screen.
The phone clattered on the table. Mary was shaking, and tears began to flow. After minutes of sobbing, the tears ebbed, and she wiped her eyes with a feeling of finality. She stared out the window and sipped on the glass, her mind blank in the silent house, and let out a sigh. She accepted the fact that her marriage was over, that she was now alone, and looked down at her phone. She picked it up and returned to the photo of them sitting on the beach, staring at it intensely.
"Fuck you. Two can play this game," she hissed, an evil grin on her face.
*****
"Hi Sara, it's Mary. I was wondering if Greg was around?"
"Yes, he's here. Hang on, I'll give him the phone."
Mary waited for a moment, looking at herself in the bedroom mirror.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Greg... it's Mary from across the street. Is your offer to help with a few things still open?"
"Sure. What did you have in mind?"
"Oh, just a few things around the house. When can you come over?"
"I can be there in a few minutes if you want. I'm not doing anything."
"That would be great," Mary purred. "Just come inside, the door will be open. Oh, can I talk to Sara again, please?"
"Sure, see you in a few minutes. Here she is."
"Hi, Sara. I hope you don't mind me borrowing Greg for the evening?"
"Not at all. It will give us a chance to have the house to ourselves," she giggled.
"Thanks. You have a fun evening, Sara," Mary teased before hanging up.