Private Pleasures

Chapter Six

She wasn't certain exactly what she had expected, but certainly not this. Stepping from the elevator, she found herself in a big room with a pale creamy carpet so plush she wasn't certain she could stand up in her high-heeled shoes. The lower half of the walls was paneled in oak. The upper half was wallpapered in a large elegant floral pattern in quiet tones of greens and coral on a cream-colored background. The ceiling was oak coffered, and the lighting was subdued. There was a couch covered in a pale gold silk brocade, a row of matching single chairs, and a mahogany coffee table on one side of the room. On the other, there were two beautiful wood desks with matching computer workstations, where two women of indeterminate age worked. They did not look up as the elevator opened and Nora entered the room.

A third woman, however, dressed in a nicely tailored wool tweed suit in shades of gray and lavender came forward, smiling. Her hair was salt-and-pepper in color, cut short, and styled beautifully. "Mrs. Buckley?" She held out her hand to shake Nora's hand. "I'm Margaret, Mr. Nicholas's personal assistant. Come this way, please. He's waiting for you." She turned and moved down the room toward a set of carved and paneled mahogany doors at the other end of the room.

Nora followed, amazed that she could actually walk in her stylish sling-backs. There was an empty desk next to those doors, opposite the other two. As she moved by those desks, neither of the women seated bothered to look up. They seemed to be very busy with whatever it was that they were doing. What were they doing? Nora wondered a little nervously.

Margaret knocked on one of the carved doors and, opening it immediately, ushered Nora inside. "Mr. Nicholas, Mrs. Buckley is here." Then she turned and retreated through the doors, closing them behind her.

Once more Nora was surprised. She had thought Mr. Nicholas would be French or Italian perhaps. She pictured a man in his early forties, suave and sophisticated, tall and well tailored, with dark hair and a lean body. The man who now came smilingly forward, his well-manicured hand outstretched in greeting, was nothing at all like that, except perhaps for his well-tailored dark pin-striped suit. He was short. Perhaps five feet and seven inches. He was in his late fifties, or possibly early sixties. His hair was wavy and gray, and obviously styled. His feet, she noticed, were small and he wore beautifully polished dark leather shoes. Her father had always worn shoes like that.

"My dear Mrs. Buckley, how very nice to meet you," he said. His voice was cultured, with just the slightest hint of a British accent. "May I call you Nora?" He took her hand and, tucking it in his arm, led her to a mulberry-colored velvet brocade couch that was set before a blazing fire. On the butler's tray before the couch was a silver tea tray. "I thought you might be ready for a small nibble, my dear."

"Thank you," Nora managed to say.

"Green or black?" he asked her.

"Green would be lovely," Nora responded. "Would you like me to pour?"

"No, no, my dear, I shall do it."

He picked up a delicate china cup and saucer in one hand, and a silver teapot in the other. Nora watched, fascinated, as the pale green gold tea poured from the silver spout into the round cup. She reached out to take it from him. He then poured himself a cup of tea from the other pot.

"Milk? Sugar? Lemon?" he inquired politely.

"Lemon, please," Nora said, reaching out to take a tiny silver fork to snare the round, and put it in her tea.

"At this time of night I far prefer cambric tea," Mr. Nicholas said, liberally adding sugar and milk to his cup. He smiled at her, and nodded to another plate on the tea tray. "Biscuit?"

Nora reached for a chocolate biscotto. "Thank you," she said. "I love these, but they are so expensive. It's a lovely treat." She took a bite, crunched it down, and then sipped at the tea, which had the faint aroma of peach.

They sat in silence for a short while, drinking their tea and eating the cookies on the plate. It was a bit, Nora considered, like the Mad Hatter's tea party. She had to swallow back a giggle at one point. Finally her companion spoke.

"Kyle tells me you have some questions regarding The Channel," Mr. Nicholas said, engaging her with his dark eyes. His eyes were mesmerizing.

"I would like to know," Nora said, coming right to the point, "if it would be possible for me to remain in The Channel for a short time."

"Why?" he asked her.

"I am in the midst of a rather nasty divorce," Nora began, but he stopped her, waving his hand.

"I am aware of that, my dear. My question was, why do you want to remain within The Channel for a time?" he said.

"I have never been happier than when I am here," Nora said. "I just want to get away from my reality for a little while. Not forever. Just for a little while."

"Anything is possible here," Mr. Nicholas began. "Yes, you could remain with us for a time."

"How would my absence be explained in my reality?" Nora wanted to know.

He smiled a brief cool smile. "You would appear to be unconscious," he answered her.

"They would move me if I were unconscious," Nora said. "How would I return to my own reality if that happened?"

"When you wished to leave us you would indicate your desire to do so, and you would wake up wherever you were, my dear. There is really no mystery to it." He took a deep sip of his sugared tea. "The use of the television is a technology you understand, but it is not really necessary to The Channel."

"If my son came home, and found me in front of the television, what would he see on the television?" Nora asked Mr. Nicholas.

"Of course you would not want J. J. to see you amusing yourself with Kyle, I understand, my dear. These are private pleasures you enjoy, and not for general consumption. Your son would see what appeared to be an unavailable channel, as if you had punched in the wrong station. The zigzagged screen," he explained.

Nora did not bother to ask him how he knew her son's name. He would have said what Kyle said, she suspected. "Is The Channel available everywhere?" she queried him.

"We are given different names in different locations, but yes. We can be accessed all over the world in one way or another," Mr. Nicholas told her as his dark eyes danced with amusement. "Do you know when you would like to join us?" he said to her. "Now that I know your wishes, we need no further notice. You may come when you choose to come, my dear."

"Not yet," Nora said. "I just wanted to know if it were possible, and I may never remain longer than an evening."

"Ah, but I think you will," Mr. Nicholas told her. "Kyle is very charming, and so much nicer than what you have been used to, my dear. Since you have not changed him, I can assume he is performing his duties in a satisfactory manner. Have you grown bored with Rolf? You have not used him recently."

Nora felt a blush heating her cheek. "Rolf is delightful," she said coolly, "but Kyle needed more of my time. Rolf will return to join us soon."

"How intuitive you are," Mr. Nicholas noted, "to understand Kyle's needs as well as your own. He will serve you well under those circumstances. Have I answered all your questions, my dear?"

"Not all, but all I mean to ask you for now," Nora said. Should she be afraid of this man? And yet he was very charming, cultured, and mannerly. There was nothing to be afraid of from Mr. Nicholas.

"One final thing, my dear," he said to her. "If I do you the favor of allowing you to remain within The Channel at your pleasure, is it not reasonable of me to assume that you would owe me a favor one day? Would you agree?" The dark eyes looked directly into her gray green ones.

"Of course," Nora agreed even as a small shiver touched her spine.

He smiled, and then he arose. "Then our business is concluded for now, my dear. I shall look forward to seeing you again one day. Our tea party has been a delightful interlude for me. Shall I call Margaret to escort you to the elevator?"

"I can find my own way," Nora said. She held out her hand to bid him good-bye.

But instead of shaking her hand this time he took it in his small soft hand and, raising it to his lips, kissed it. "It has been a pleasure, Nora. Good-bye."

"Good-bye," she said, feeling a burning sensation where his mouth had touched the back of her hand. She hurried to the door and, opening it, went into the outer office. "Good-bye, Margaret," she told Mr. Nicholas's assistant, and the woman smiled and nodded a farewell. Nora almost ran to the elevator. It opened at once, and stepping in, she saw there was only one button to press. She pushed it with her finger, and the doors closed, and the sensation of rising filled her. When the elevator finally stopped and the doors opened again, she stepped out into her penthouse.

Outside the large windows, the cityscape glowed with a clear night. She drew a deep breath and turned, startled to find Kyle there. "Oh! You frightened me!" she said.

"I'm sorry," he apologized. "You look pale, Red Rover. Come and sit down, and tell me about your visit with Mr. Nicholas." He drew her to the couch, and pulled her down into his arms. "You're shivering."

"Who is he?" Nora asked Kyle. "Who is Mr. Nicholas?"

"I don't understand," Kyle replied. "Mr. Nicholas is Mr. Nicholas."

Nora bit her lip. "He is so urbane. He treats this as if it were a normal occurrence, and damnit, The Channel isn't exactly your everyday recreation."

"Do you really want to question the very thing that brings you so much pleasure, Red Rover?" he asked her gently. "Ask yourself what your life would be without me, without The Channel? When you return to your own reality, Nora, don't you feel stronger for having been here?"

"Yes!" she said. "Yes, my life has been so much better since I found The Channel," Nora agreed.

"Then don't question how this has come to be, Red Rover. I'm here- The Channel is here- just for your enjoyment. No more second-guessing, okay?"

"Okay," Nora agreed. "Now, kiss me, slave!" She raised her face to him.

His lips brushed hers tenderly.

"Take off your shorts," she commanded, and she helped him remove the single garment, twisting her body so that she might begin to kiss and lick at him. He stretched his length, his heels pressing into the carpet. Nora's tongue lapped at the flesh of his chest. She would lick, and then she would blow, and then she would tease him with her hair. Inch by inch she covered his torso with her homage, moving slowly, slowly until she buried her face in his dark pubic hair, breathing in the scent of him, kissing his mound. Her hand wrapped about his penis. Her tongue swiveled about its head several times. She licked at it. Then she put the tip in her mouth, and sucked on it. "Mmmmm," she said, and drew him deeper into her mouth and throat.

His big hand began to caress her bottom, smoothing around the pale flesh. Her mouth was driving him wild. She would draw on his knob until he was at the point of explosion, and then stop, letting him throb within the cavity of her mouth unfulfilled. Then when the tension had eased, at last she would begin again, teasing him to the point where he thought he would burst, only to stop. His hand wrapped itself in her hair, and he pulled her head up. "It's time for madame's riding lesson," he told her. His dick was sticking straight up. "Get on, Red, or else!"

"Or else what?" she taunted him, and then she shrieked, as he pulled her over his knees and smacked her butt hard several times.

"Get on," he said again, pulling her over, pushing up her skirt, and lowering her onto his cock. "Ahhh," he breathed as he slid inside her hot silken vagina. "Now, that's better. "Now I think we'll go for a trot, a canter, and a gallop, mistress."

Nora began to ride him. Slowly at first, then increasing her tempo until he began to moan. His eyes were closed, and the look on his handsome face was utter bliss. "Good horsey," she teased, and her fingers dug into his shoulders. His hands wrapped themselves about her waist.

"Lean back so I can go deeper," he told her.

She arched her body, leaning backward, and felt his dick slide deeper into her fevered maw. She squeezed him with her vaginal muscles, and he groaned low. "Oh, very good horsey," she told him. "Ohh, that's nice, darling."

Suddenly to Nora's surprise Kyle released his hold on her waist, and sliding his palms beneath her buttocks, he slowly stood up, still impaled within her. She wrapped her arms about his neck so she wouldn't fall as he carried her to the end of the couch and pulled his swollen penis out of her body. Before she could ask he was turning her facedown and laying her across the wide rolled arm of the couch. He pushed her legs apart, and she felt his cock pushing between the cheeks of her ass. "Kyle!" she gasped.

"You can do this, Nora," he told her. "I won't force anything, but I knew you were ready earlier. Just trust me. I'll stop if you say the word." He put the tip of his penis directly in the center of her anus. "Just feel it there, Red. Aren't you just a little bit curious? When I put my finger in before, you squeezed it tight. Let's just try." He pushed her hair aside, and tenderly kissed the nape of her neck.

"You'll stop if I say no?" she asked nervously.

"I promise," he told her, pushing her dress up.

"It feels so big," she said.

"It is big, and it's going to feel really, really good," he whispered hotly, and he gently pushed his penis against the tight little hole. "Just the tip, baby. I'll just put the tip in at first." He could feel her muscles beginning to relax, and he moved carefully, telling her, "You control me, Nora. Push back, baby."

She could feel him, but she wasn't in the least afraid of this so-called sexual taboo. She had always been curious, but she had never dared tell Jeff. After all, a man who would call his wife a slut because she wanted a little spanking would have gone berserk at the suggestion of anal sex. "Ohh!" Suddenly she felt the tip of his penis push through. It was a unique sensation, but he hadn't hurt her.

"Is it okay?" he asked.

In reply she pushed back on his cock carefully. The feeling of fullness was incredible. She gasped softly. "My God, Kyle!" She was coming, and she couldn't help it. She wasn't certain she liked it, but she had wanted to try.

"I'm all the way in," he groaned. He didn't move at all. Just stood encased within her denseness. The sensation for him was wonderful. She was so tight.

"I know." She squeezed him with her rectal muscles, and with a sob he came. She could feel the spurts of his juices, and finally he shuddered, finished.

It was then he withdrew slowly and carefully from her, pulling her up, and holding her tightly in his embrace. "You are the most incredible woman," he told her.

"Another adventure," Nora laughed weakly. "I think I need a drink."

"Me too. Can you pour us one while I go wash off Big Dan?"

"I'm still hot," she told him.

"Me too," he said, and she looked down to see his penis still hard.

"Go wash. I'll pour us something, and meet you in bed," Nora said.

There was champagne open on the bar. She poured them two flutes, and took them into the bedroom. She could hear him showering as she set the narrow goblets down, and pulled her dress off. He came out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped about his loins, and looked at her, naked but for the garter belt and stockings.

"Don't take those off," he said. "I love fucking a woman in a garter belt, Red."

She handed him one of the champagne flutes. "Here's to garter belts," she toasted him with a grin.

"Garter belts!" He raised his flute at her, and drank the champagne down in a single gulp.

They put the goblets down, and sliding to her knees, Nora took him in her mouth again. Her fingers dug into his buttocks. The smell of soap on his skin was intoxicating. Within the briefest time he was ready again, and they fell on the bed. He pushed her legs up, and thrust himself into her warmth with a sigh. He moved on her slowly, slowly as they enjoyed this nearness, and when he found himself beginning to get bored he pushed her legs straight up, and drove deeper into her, thrusting and withdrawing, thrusting and withdrawing until she was sobbing softly.

Why had she never had sex like this before The Channel? Nora wondered. Every movement he made she felt acutely. When he raised her legs all the way up, leaning against them, his dick had gone deeper than she had ever felt. She could sense the impending explosion coming. "Yes!" she sobbed, and then it happened, and they came together in a wild burst of lust. She actually swooned with her pleasure, and when she revived she curled up against him, and he tenderly enfolded her in his embrace.

"Will it always be like this?" she asked him.

"Until you tire of me," he said softly.

"I'm not going to tire of you," she reassured him.

"Good," he told her. "I don't want to lose you, Red."

"You're jealous of Rolf, aren't you?" she asked him.

"I don't like it when you do other men, Red."

"But I may want to now and again," she warned him. "I've led a very circumspect life up until now, darling. But you'll always be here for me, and I'll always want you more than I want any of the others."

"Are you going to remain in The Channel?" he wondered.

"Not tonight, Kyle. I'm saving that for another time. Maybe I never will. I don't know. The Channel has become my refuge, I think, but I'm not ready yet to disappear from my own reality. Mr. Nicholas says it will appear as if I am unconscious when I do. I'm not sure I want to frighten my family like that."

"What if I said I wanted you here with me always?" he tempted her.

"I don't know," Nora answered. "If we were together all the time, would we grow bored with one another, Kyle? I don't think I'd like to spend my life in this apartment, as wonderful as it is. If I could be in my reality like I am in The Channel. If you could be with me there instead of here. It would be perfect, I think, darling."

"Your husband wouldn't like it if you looked like this and had me as a lover. He might even consider coming back to you. Is that what you want, Nora?" He was angry, and definitely jealous.

Nora pulled out of his embrace, and looked down into his face. "No, Kyle, there are no circumstances under which I would want Jeff back. He's a pig. You are the man for me. You're tender and gentle. You're thoughtful of me. And, my darling Mr. Gorgeous, you aren't bad on the eyes. And the best thing is that as long as we are here, we'll always be the same, right?"

He smiled up at her. "Right, Red!"

She smiled back. The phone rang then, and they heard the wake-up call. "I might as well go now," Nora said. "We've certainly had a busy evening, haven't we?" She got up from their bed.

"Tomorrow?" he asked.

"Yes," she promised. "J. J. won't be home until Monday late." Then turning, she walked back into the living room, and placed her hand on the television screen. The now familiar pop sounded, and she was back in her recliner. Reaching for the channel changer, she clicked the set off, and standing up, she went upstairs to her bedroom. She needed a shower, and she was exhausted. Kyle was a tireless lover. Going into her bathroom, she pulled off her nightshirt, and then she stared shocked. She was wearing a green lace garter belt, and sheer stockings. This had certainly never happened before. Nora shivered. Well, if she had ever needed any proof that The Channel was real, this sure as hell was it. She couldn't wait to tell Carla. She undid the garter belt, and laid it aside, rolling the stockings off her feet. Showering quickly, she fell into bed.

She awoke early the following afternoon and, reaching for the phone, called her best friend. "Come over," she said. "I have something to show you."

"Be there within the hour. We're just up after the party. Kids left at sunrise for the mountains. I'm bushed. God, they danced till dawn, and the music! Thank God we're all friends, or someone would have called the cops for sure."

"Funny," Nora laughed, "I never heard a thing."

"Ohh, I know what you were doing," Carla singsonged. "See you shortly."

Nora dressed, and as she did, she felt a slight soreness in her ass. I can't believe I did that, she thought, but it was really exciting. I'm not sure I'll do it again. She pulled on her shorts and a T. Going down to the kitchen, she considered making coffee, but she didn't want coffee. She wanted iced tea. There was some of that mixture left from yesterday. She was still tired. Yesterday had been a big day, and then last night's activities had added to it all. Pouring herself a glass of the cold tea/lemonade mix, she went out onto the terrace by the pool, and sat down.

It was a beautiful late June day. The sky was clear, and the sun hot on her shoulders. There was a faint breeze. The water in the pool lapped against the steps. She had roses in bloom- reds and pinks and whites in one corner of the yard, yellows and peach and apricot in another corner. She got up, then sat back down on the top step of the pool, and dangled her feet in the water. It was so quiet. So peaceful. How she loved it, and she wanted it always to be this way. And it would be. She wasn't going to let Jeff take her home away from her. She heard the gate creak, and turned.

"Hey," Carla said, coming into the yard. "Whatcha drinking?"

"The stuff from yesterday. I'm pooped, and I always get extra thirsty when I'm tired like this. Go help yourself if you want some."

"What I want is to know what happened. You sounded really spooked when you called, Nora."

"Did you ever bring back something from your visits in The Channel?" Nora asked her best friend.

"Something? What do you mean?" Carla said.

Nora got up. "Come into the house." She led the way, going upstairs, Carla following. In her bedroom she picked up the garter belt, and the stockings. "I came home last night in these," Nora told Carla.

"Holy crap!" Carla breathed. "You don't own anything like this."

"Nora Buckley, this reality, doesn't. But Nora Buckley of The Channel does, and I was wearing them last night when I woke up."

"Pretty snazzy." Carla grinned. "Just what is your fantasy?"

"Penthouse apartment, Mr. Gorgeous, and a masseur named Rolf," Nora replied with a half smile.

"What's Mr. Gorgeous's name?" Carla pried.

"Kyle," Nora told her.

"And he likes you in green lace garter belts," Carla said.

"It matched my wrap dress," Nora said. "I could hardly visit Mr. Nicholas unless I was properly dressed."

"Boy, two guys don't satisfy you, and you got three? You're almost as bad as I am," Carla chuckled. "Every time I recruit a new crew, I screw 'em all before we set sail."

"Mr. Nicholas is the administrator of The Channel," Nora told her friend. "I wanted to meet him because there were things I needed to know, questions that only he could answer. I could hardly go to his office looking like a tart in my blue silk shorty robe," Nora said.

"There's someone who actually runs The Channel?" Carla asked, sounding surprised. "And you met him? And he has an office? What's he like?"

"Sure, someone runs it, and yes, I met him, and his office is out of Architectural Digest, old-money edition, and he…" She stopped for a moment. "He's nothing like I thought he would be. I was thinking Louis Jourdan, or Ricardo Montalban. In fact on reflection he reminds me of that nineteen-forties-movie character actor, Claude Rains. He has two secretaries and an assistant named Margaret, and we had tea before a fireplace, with chocolate biscotti."

"No way!" Carla exclaimed.

"Way!" Nora said, laughing. "It was almost bizarre except it was so damned civilized. The tea was that really good gunpowder green, and the biscotti were heaven."

"What did you want to know from him?" Carla said, curious.

"I'll tell you that another time. Just tell me, babe, did you ever come home with a souvenir from The Channel?"

"Other than a hickey?" Carla replied with a grin. "Nah. And I know none of the others have either. They'd freak if they did, and tell. And I'm not certain this isn't creeping me out, Nora."

"It's creeping me out a little too," Nora admitted. "It's like one of those too-good-to-be-true scenarios you read about."

"Hey, we get charged for it on our cable bills," Carla said. "So did this Mr. Nicholas answer all of your questions?"

"I suppose he did, but in a very roundabout way," Nora responded.

"You going to keep going to The Channel?" Carla's dark eyes were curious.

"It's like potato chips," Nora said. "You just can't eat one. Yeah, it helps me not to collapse with fear over this whole situation, especially now that I've met my replacement. She no beauty, but she's pretty, isn't she?"

"She's young," Carla answered. "I figured about thirty, thirty-one. And she dresses well, and she's got a good body. I'll bet she goes to the gym every day. She hasn't had any kids, although maybe she'll have one once they're married. These second wives always like to have one kid to take the attention away from the first wife's kids. They never really feel safe as long as the first wife and her kids are hovering in the background," Carla said.

"Where do you get all this information?" Nora demanded to know.

"Oprah. Dr. Phil. Jerry, and Jenny," Carla said. "And every damned women's magazine has articles on your situation. You aren't the first woman to be dumped by her husband for a younger woman. You won't be the last."

"As long as I get my house," Nora replied.

"Listen, hon, I wouldn't count on keeping the house," Carla said, sitting down on Nora's bed. "Rick says they're going to really have to do a number to even get you half its value in cash. And really, Nora, what the hell do you want this big place for anyway? The kids are practically gone, and you aren't going to have the money to keep it up. It's a lot of work, and we're not getting any younger, babe."

"I'm not letting Jeff take my house," Nora said stubbornly.

"Look, there's a great new condo community opening up right on the old Carstairs estate on the bay. Half the value of this house would buy you a nice two-bedroom, and you would always have room for the kids."

"No," Nora said. "The house is mine, and I'm not letting him have it, Carla. He can have everything else. The kids can take loans for the rest of their schooling. He can cut me off without a penny, but the house is mine."

Carla sighed. There was no point arguing further with Nora. Something was happening to her, and it had begun with her first visit to The Channel. Nora was suddenly exhibiting a strong will, and she was getting thin too. But none of that meant anything because the best Rick's law firm was going to do, the absolute best, was to get Nora the cash value of half of the house's selling price. And that would be a real battle with Jeff's world-class divorce attorney.

Nora spent another incredible sex-filled night in The Channel with Kyle. She wasn't certain when she would be able to get back. J. J. returned home after his mountain sojourn, and immediately started his summer job. He would be heading off to State in mid-August. Sports teams reported early, and he was a member of State's junior varsity, thanks to his scholarship. On one hand Nora dreaded his leaving. J. J. was good company, and he made her laugh. But on the other hand she could barely wait for him to be gone. She needed Kyle, and the passion that they shared between them. It had become more than just mindless sexual games. He was openly and obviously in love with her, and Nora was certain she was beginning to feel the same way.

Her days were filled with all the things a mother does for a son going off to college. She made lists, and bought items she would never have bought for herself, but that she knew he would need and appreciate, like a sandwich maker and a small coffeepot. She and Carla shopped together because Maureen would be going two and a half weeks after J. J. They bought sheets, pillowcases, towels, washcloths, and down comforters. Margo's generous graduation gift to her only grandson had allowed him to buy a nice laptop, and the rooms in State's dorms all had Internet access cable connections. Oh, brave new world, Nora thought, remembering how up-to-date she had been in her freshman year with a small electric typewriter. And as the day came closer for J. J.'s departure, Nora began to pack her son's possessions, glad she was alone and could sniffle over the very worn Clifford the Big Red Dog stuffed toy that J. J. had always loved.

Those were the good days. There were bad days too, like the day she and her attorneys met with Jeff and his attorneys. Her husband, certain of victory, was pompous and unyielding. Nora was certain he had expected her to weep and go to pieces. Instead she had attacked him verbally and told him he would get their house over her dead body. She accused him of stealing the kids' college funds, and when Raoul Kramer had protested, Nora had attacked him too.

"If those accounts didn't belong to the children, why did he show them to the kids every goddamned Christmas morning and tell them that those accounts were their college funds! Jill went through her undergrad studies in three years on the interest from her account. Do you know what your client did, Mr. Kramer? He fraudulently stole those accounts last spring. He went to the kids and had them sign papers telling them it was for tax purposes. What he obviously did was get them to sign paperwork taking their names off those accounts so he could have the money to spend elsewhere. He refused to pay our son's freshman year at State. J. J. has a sports scholarship, but it was our neighbors who gave him the money for his dorm room and meal plan!"

"Jill's tuition at Duke Law is paid," Jeff put in.

"For this year only, because you had to pay it early," Nora snapped. "You've told her you won't pay the other two years, you miserable bastard! You have disenfranchised your own children so you can marry a girl young enough to be your daughter. I don't care that you want to divorce me, and that hurts, doesn't it, Jeff? I'm supposed to be weeping and begging, but I'm not, and I never will. I don't want a penny from you, but the house is mine. If you attempt to take it from me, so you and your trophy wife can begin anew debt free, I will find some way to make you sorry, you can be certain of that." She glared hard at him.

"What the hell has come over you, Nora?" he demanded. "You've changed."

"Gee, have I?" she said sarcastically. "You have been screwing everything that moved but me for years. Now you want a divorce. You don't want to meet your parental obligations. You want to put me out on the street, and make me homeless, and I'm not supposed to stand up to you? Get real!"

"You can get a job," he snapped. "Other women do."

"I have a degree in English literature, Jeff. No teaching credits. No work experience. I don't know one end of a computer from another. What the hell am I supposed to do to support myself? I need to take some classes to get me up to speed, and I'm not going to do it living in a homeless shelter. Besides, Egret Pointe doesn't have a homeless shelter."

Raoul Kramer sighed, and said, "I think I need to take my client back to town and talk to him again. Let's meet again in ten days?" He stood up.

"Look, Heidi and I have been accepted by the co-op board, Kramer. We need to close on our apartment," Jeff told his attorney.

"I'll get you a bridge loan," Kramer said in a hard, tight voice. "This matter is not going to be settled as quickly as I anticipated."

"You said it would be a matter of days." Jeff's voice was strident. "You said it was a no-brainer. Everything was mine. She didn't have a leg to stand on, damnit!" His face was red, and Nora noticed in that moment how much he'd aged.

"That was before I knew her father gave you half of the down payment for your house, Jeff. That was before I knew those accounts were in your kids' names, and you conned them out of them. She's right. It's fraud. Now, I'm certain Mrs. Buckley doesn't wish to encourage your son and daughter to press charges. I'm certain if we reconsider your position, we can come to an agreement that will be satisfactory to us all. Let's go." He turned to Rick. "I'll have Bev call your girl to set up another meeting." He closed his black Italian leather briefcase with a snap, and turned toward the door.

"You've turned into a real bitch," Jeff snarled at Nora.

"Only two good things came out of our marriage, Jeff, J. J. and Jill," Nora told him. "I feel sorry for Heidi. She'll learn soon enough what a jerk you really are."

Jeff Buckley stormed past his attorney and stalked out of the room. Raoul Kramer followed at a discreet pace.

"I'm glad I'm not riding back to the city with him," Rick said with a grin. "Well, I think that went rather well, considering. I think we can get you a half interest in the house, and some alimony until you're able to get a job that will support you. I had already told Kramer about the accounts, but I don't think he gave it much credence until you blew your top at Jeff, Nora."

"This isn't fair," Nora muttered.

"No, it isn't, but the law isn't always about what's right, or what's fair. It's about the law," Rick told her.

"Let the house be appraised. I'll buy his half from him," Nora said.

"Honey, you couldn't get a mortgage," Rick said. "You don't have any credit. Your one credit card is in his name. The phone is in his name. The electricity. The water. The gas. And you don't have a job, nor the hope of one for a while. I'm sorry, Nora. Those are the facts."

"I don't care what I have to do," Nora said, and now her voice was shaking. "I… I'm not going to let him sell my home!" Then she turned, and left Rick Johnson's office.

She didn't tell J. J. of her meeting. No need for him to worry. He was heading off to State next week. She had intended on driving him, but the school was sending a bus all over the vicinity to pick up the new players of the various campus sports on scholarship. This way, it was reasoned, they could begin to get to know one another on their ride up to school. In a way she was glad. She wouldn't have a long lonely ride home. She had bought J. J. one of those prepaid cell phones with three hundred minutes on it.

"Don't use up all your minutes calling Lily," she warned him. "I want to hear from you, and know you're alright. Those minutes should last you until Homecoming Weekend. I'll buy you more minutes then, okay?"

His main concern was that she be alright, but Nora assured her son she would be fine. He was to study hard and play well. "He says he's selling the house," J. J. told his mother. "He can't do that, can he, Ma?"

"I don't want you to worry, J. J.," Nora said. "We're not losing our home. I will not allow that to happen. When did you talk to your father?"

"He called the other day when you and Carla were out shopping. I had just got home from work. I wouldn't have talked to him otherwise. Do you know what he had the gall to say to me, Ma, just before he hung up? Heidi says hi. Like I care!"

Nora laughed at her son's outrage. "I hope you said hi back," she teased.

"In your dreams, Ma!" he chuckled.

And then it was J. J. day to leave her, and she drove down to the Egret Pointe village green, where the bus was going to meet the football, soccer, tennis, swimming, and lacrosse players going to State. There were half a dozen boys standing there and three girls. The big bus pulled up, and the driver got out, opening the baggage compartments. Luggage was stowed, and the kids began to board. Nora hugged her son, and J. J. hugged her back.

"Be good," she whispered in his ear.

"Yeah." His voice was a little shaky.

"Call me when you get settled," Nora told him, pretending she hadn't noticed.

"Yeah, okay." He hugged her again and then, turning abruptly away, got on the bus. He found a window seat, and knocked on the window at her.

Nora saw him and smiled bravely. The door closed. The driver released his brakes with a hiss, and the bus began to pull away. Nora waved, feeling the tears pushing forward. Several other mothers were already crying, and being comforted by their husbands. The bus was gone. She walked to J. J.'s jalopy and got in. She had no one to comfort her. Not here. But she had already ordered The Channel for this evening. She hadn't seen Kyle in several days now, and their last meetings had been hurried ones because Nora was so nervous about anyone, especially J. J., learning her secret. Now, however, she would be alone in her house. Alone to live out her wildest fantasies with her lover. And no one would ever know. It was her secret. Hers, and the secret of all the other women, whoever they might be, outside of Ansley Court.

She thought about the meeting she had had with Mr. Nicholas earlier this summer. When this mess with Jeff was settled, she was going to tell everyone she was going away for a few days, everyone but Carla, and then she was going to take a delicious vacation in The Channel. She would close the den door tightly, and Carla would come and feed the cats twice a day. She thought about waking up next to Kyle, and maybe even Rolf too, in that great big bed, in that sensuous room. Rolfie would massage her every day. She would have a facial, manicure, pedicure. She would demand to be treated like a queen, and they would do it because it was The Channel, where all your fantasies came true.

Nora laughed aloud as she drove along back to her house. And jerky old Jeff back in the city, forced to pay the interest on a bridge loan so Heidikins could have her co-op. She suspected Heidi wasn't stupid enough to let Jeff put just his name on the deed of ownership. Jeff couldn't possibly imagine what a wonderful time his soon-to-be-discarded wife was having getting her brains fucked out by two very virile and handsome young men. Nora was still laughing as she pulled into her drive. Tonight couldn't come soon enough.