Community Involvement Ch. 05

[admin]

My thought processes were in a bit of a state. I had just had sex with the woman my next door neighbour had recommended me to meet. Not only had Michelle recommended me highly, she had arranged the meeting and laid all the ground work. I had to admit, though, Clare was worth the effort. Yet Clare?s questioning about Michelle ?You and Michelle are fucking each other. I could tell by the way she talked about you. Only a lover would be so glowing in the way she spoke, trying to convince me you were the man for the job.? Michelle, I was shit scared for you when she said that.? Again there was silence as I drove. ?I guess I might have over done it?? came Michelle?s meek sounding voice. I kind of got caught up in moment and the possibilities. Sorry.? ?No need to be sorry. But...? Michelle interrupted me. ?So what did she do?? I was not ready to answer this. My silence only seemed to make it all seem so much worse. ?She seduced you!? It was a statement, not a question. ?Or did you seduce her? She is a stunning woman, like I said.? ?A bit of both, I suppose,? I offered feeling guilty. ?I felt I had no choice. I want to go on the tour with you, not just because of your excitement, although that is a large part of it. I really want to go for all sorts of different reasons. You and me together, the opportunity to produce photographic imagery in a paid capacity and the possibility of additional work afterwards, just to mention a few. It?s all too much to pass up. Then she asked those questions and all I could think of was protecting you.? ?I understand.? Michelle sounded deflated. ?It is a bit of shock and I am not sure I know how to deal with it right now. Wait! Come to think of it, she did seem even more keen to meet you after I showed her a photo of you.? ?A picture of me?? I asked astonished. ?You have a picture of me... on your phone?? I assumed it was on her phone, as I knew I had not given her one and I was certain she had not taken any shots of me that I was aware of. ?Yes,? she answered a bit sheepishly. ?I took it that day you were pruning the hedges out the front of your place. I took it from the upstairs front window of my place. The window that overlooks your front yard. You were at the top of the ladder without your shirt on and I wanted a photo of you, so I...? I ignored the photo Ataşehir Escort issue for now. ?So you knew there was a potential for something to happen?? I could not finish the rest of my questions, I did not really know what to add next. So many thoughts started to flood my brain. ?Ray, I am sorry if I have upset you. I didn?t think she would be so, um, so openly sexual...? ?Michelle,? I said feeling relieved that the initial ground had been broken on this subject. ?I am not upset with you. I am rather relieved to have told you, to tell you the truth.? ?Ray, I need some time to think. Could you please not come around? I will call you later this afternoon.? Before I could reply, she had hung up. I drove on in silence. My relief at breaking the news made me feel dizzy, like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. However, the stress of knowing that Clare had deliberately used her very persuasive ways to get me to agree, albeit in principle, to going was starting to replace it. She had asked some telling questions and had voiced some assumptions that were too close to mark for comfort. I did not know how to approach the future at this stage. Maybe Michelle would have some answers when I spoke to her next. If I speak to her next! I had no idea what she thought of my dalliance with the lovely Clare. Michelle?s car was not in her carport when I pulled up in my driveway. I went inside my door and closed it quietly behind me. The enveloping silence a welcomed change from the chaos of the roads and the tangled web that seemed to be building following my ?meeting? with Clare. I was deeply concerned about Michelle, not only about what her reaction to my fucking Clare might be, but I had no inkling of what she was up too as a result of our telephone conversation. Inspire of these thoughts, I busied myself with finding the DVD I had produced following the music tour a few years ago. It took a bit of searching but finally I found the two disk production. I had just inserted the first of the two disks to check they still worked when my mobile sprang into life. I looked at the screen but the caller ID was blocked. ?Do I answer not leave it?? I thought, fully expecting it to be financial institution harassing me for a credit card payment. I decided to Ataşehir Escort Bayan answer. ?Hello.? My voice full of apprehension. The line was quiet of a few seconds, typical of banking call centres. ?It must be a bank,? I thought to myself and decided to hang up. ?Hi Ray, It?s only me,? came the sweet voice of Clare on the line just as I pulled the phone away from my ear. I nearly cut her off. ?Clare!? I exclaimed. The thought of her calling so soon catching me by surprise. ?I have you on speaker phone, just so you know.? That piece of information was good to know but why was she calling? ?I also have a visitor.? ?Oh?? ?Hi Ray.? It was Michelle. ?Michelle...what are you doing there?? My mind was awash with possibilities. ?Michelle called and asked to see me ASAP. It seems she was concerned about our meeting this morning.? Clare?s voice was measured yet still warm and welcoming just as it had been when I met her earlier in the day. ?I take it you mentioned what transpired?? ?Yes, I had too. It is not every day that I get offered a position like you outlined.? ?Exactly. I even told Michelle it would be a pleasure to have you under me.? Clare?s deliberate double entendre was not lost on me and I could only guess Michelle understood it as well. ?I am sure you did,? I replied smoothly. ?Michelle, have you got any concerns with what Clare has told you?? ?None at all. She has been up front and honest with me. In fact, she was grateful that I put the two of you in touch.? ?It was her front that started all this,? I thought to myself, remembering the way she filled her blouse and the button that popped. ?If the truth be known, Clare?s idea of being ?put in touch? would be a physical interpretation of the phrase as well.? ?I have told her of our unique situation.? Michelle?s comment caught me by surprise. I decided it was best to try to follow any leads she might lay down. ?Me being your photographic assistant and all, and that was why I was able to speak so highly of your credentials.? ?Of course,? I agreed, smiling broadly, bordering on straight out laughter. ?What a wonderfully devious little minx you are, Michelle?? I thought. It was an amazing and quick piece of thinking the way Michelle had manoeuvred the circumstances back in our favour. Escort Ataşehir ?I only have room in my budget for one paid position though,? Clare added. ?That is fine. I will be a subsidised parent on the tour, so no drama,? Michelle added quickly. ?So all is resolved,? Clare stated. She seemed eager to end the discussion and then she added... ?However Ray, I still need to see that DVD and get the personal information I need. I will contact you early next week, before term ends.? She was about to conclude the call, when I heard her say something quietly to Michelle, and she then addressed me again. ?Are you around during the holidays?? she asked. ?Yes, although I will have my daughter to consider.? ?No problem. I will contact you and let?s see if we can get together during the holidays if next week does not work out.? The call ended. I sat at my desk astounded at the quick thinking Michelle had employed to save today, as the saying went. Just as I was about to start the DVD, to ensure it was a complete copy, my phone buzzed again. It was an incoming text message from Michelle. ?All good. Can you met me at my place tomorrow first thing?? ?See you at 9.30,? I replied. ?Cool.? Michelle?s response was accompanied by a smilie face. This was quickly followed by a perplexing addition. ?Come prepared.? I leant back in my swivel chair and sighed with relief. The ill-ease I had felt about the prospect of the tour and the meeting with Clare, had seemed to have passed. I still had to consult my own family though, but that bridge could be crossed at a slightly later time. That night I could hardly sleep. Rampant thoughts of Michelle and Clare kept me awake. Added to this was the nervous excitement I felt following Michelle?s request for me to see her in the morning. Being right on time, a trait I always pride myself on, I rang the doorbell and eagerly awaited the sight of Michelle. The day was bright and warm, despite the overnight Autumn chill. The recent run of warm sunny days made any thoughts of winter remote. The light breeze barely ruffled the tree limbs and the air was full of the sounds of Rainbow Lorikeets playfully squabbling over the native flowering trees. The tall Liquid Amber in Michelle?s front yard was in its full autumn display, its branches slowly losing its red leaves, creating a carpet of red across the lawn. ?Come in if you?re good looking,? Michelle?s voice floated down her hallway. ?The door is open but if you could close it behind on your way in, that would be good.? The only sound was the occasional clink of breakfast dishes being washed up so I made straight for the kitchen.