Mike

By Terrence K. Absher

As the book starts, Mike is widowed. Mike is a story about two adults as they make a new life. They set boundaries to control his sister and Janet's college friends. You watch the girls talk as they plan for marriage of Mike's sister and Janet's college friends. Due to a family accident, a male child joins Mike's household. You see James mature, marry, and pass on the family values to his new family. Between visits for food, you meet the grandparents who helped them. It is the author's pleasure to offer for your casual reading Mike.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jul 29, 2021
• ISBN: 9781640272125

Book preview

Introduction

In this story, we meet Mike and Janet. They, through love, become one with a routine for living. With no children, their love is open to each other. Learn how they share their love and teach the next generation to live and love. Learn about the gift of a son. See Mike and Janet teach James the family ways. You will see James fall in love, raise his family, and pass on the family values. The book takes place in LA County and ends in Arizona. This book’s title is Mike.

Mike

Mike has arrived home from work. He is one of five chief fire inspectors for the county fire arson division. Mike completed his college degree in chemistry. Mike has been a captain of a ladder truck for five years. Mike is now thirty-five years old. He is recently widowed.

As he pulls up to his home, he sees his housekeeper’s car. As he enters his home, he calls for Janet. Janet responds, Good morning, Mr. Mike. If you would take your shower and dress in shorts and shirts with sandals, I will prepare your eggs, toast, and juice.

He replies, Thank you. Mike turns and walks into his bedroom with adjoining bath. He sees on his bed his fresh clothes and towel.

Mike smiles to himself. This Janet knew my wife. They must have talked about how I eat and relax after a twenty-four-hour shift. Mike showers, dresses, and returns to the kitchen counter for food. Janet greets Mike. Are you ready for juice? I will cook your food.

Mike replies, Yes, please.

Janet sets four ounces of OJ at his place setting. She sees a man in his midthirties, black wavy hair, and five foot ten inches tall with a weight of about one hundred seventy-five. He has a firm build. She smiles to herself for she has his photo enlarged from the January Charity Fireman Calendar. As Janet prepares his food, he reads the morning paper.

Janet then asks, May I scramble your eggs with bell pepper and mushrooms today?

Mike nods his head, then asks, How long have you been cooking my food?

Janet smiles. Two months since your May passed.

Mike says, I know you were our live-in maid and a friend of my wife. Please tell me how many years you were friends.

Janet speaks, Mike, we were friends since the third grade. If you think back, we were also college roommates when you first dated May. That was fifteen years ago. Here is your eggs, toast. Eat up and take your nap. While you are sleeping, I shall go to the grocery store. Is there something special you need?

Mike shakes his head.

As she turns to leaves, he sees her pick up a list, her purse, and car keys, turns, and waves. Mike then realizes Janet is the same build as his late wife. He sees a person five foot six inches with honey-blond hair. Her appearance is always clean and tidy. Yes, she is easy to look at even though she is his wife’s best friend. He reminds himself he needs to settle with her any wages she has coming. He is not sure because his wife took care of the household bills. Then it hits him she is going to the store for food, as she has many times this past two months. He must repay her for any grocery money she has spent.

Talk before Supper

When Mike wakes up from his nap, he smells coffee. He walks into the kitchen. She hands him a cup of coffee. Janet is wrapped in a towel and advises Mike she is going to swim laps before she starts supper and asks if baked potato with grilled green beans and green salad with eight-ounce steaks are enough for supper. With a sip of coffee in his mouth, Mike nods. Mike holds up one finger. Janet stops.

Mike says, After your swim, we need to talk about you, money, you staying here now that my wife is gone.

Janet replies, Yes, we can talk. Please come out side and lap swim after me. Then while we both rest, we can talk. Janet walks out on the patio, enters the pool, and lap swims. As she exits the pool, Mike enters.

When Mike exits the pool, he joins her in the shade. Each has a chair. Each placed a towel after drying. Janet speaks, You and I both know your wife’s health was failing. She and I went to the bank, and she put me on all your accounts so I could help. I have kept a ledger of all expenditures and receipts. I have kept your household accounts current. My college degree is in accounting. I am a CPA. The ledger is easy for you or the family accountant to balance. I have kept no wages for I have lived here rent-free. Do these statements answer any questions you have?

Mike asks, Janet, you have full knowledge of my trust and all my personal accounts and my wife’s accounts? She smiles and nods her head. May I ask, what else do you know about my home?

Janet smiles then says, I know of the great love you and she had for each other. I am here because of the love I have for both of you. Mike, I need about thirty minutes to change and fix my part of supper. May I request you change back into your shorts, shirt, and fire up the grill? I will bring the steaks to you. Mike stands and helps Janet stand, and both walk to change. As in many nights, they work together and prepare the evening meal. This time the difference is Mike is aware of Janet’s kitchen skills. Mike also notices she has on shorts with blouse and sandals. He smiles when he notices her toenails are not painted. As Mike seats, he can smell her perfume.

After supper, both help clear the table. Mike says, It was our custom to dance after supper. With your permission, may we start dancing after our evening meal?

Janet speaks, Mike, remember, it took two of us to wear you down for a night of sleep. I do like dancing, and I ask that you go with me as my escort to the grand opening at the new museum. Please know people may talk about us. With your help, I also need two more escorts for two other ladies on my committee.

Mike looks puzzled. Janet speaks, Mike do you have two single men who work with you, with your standards, that would like to meet two ladies for an afternoon of art, food, dancing, and later a steak dinner back here to end the evening?

Mike replies, I must think about this, and I have one request, that I be permitted to meet the two ladies in question first. Now may we dance?

Janet smiles. Yes. I too have a simple request. Mike looks

surprised.

Janet then says, "We are not married, so please no belt buckle

polishing."

After the dancing, Mike asks, Janet, please put the bank ledgers on the bar, and I will review first thing tomorrow.

Janet nods, then she says, Mister, bend down so I may give you a good-night kiss. He bends, and she kisses him on the cheek. She then says, Your bed’s that way. Mine’s this way. See you at 7:00 a.m.

Second Day

When Mike enters the kitchen, he is wearing last evening’s clothing. As he studies the bank ledgers, Janet enters the kitchen. She has her sandals, shorts, and T-shirt on. It is apparent to Mike she needs coffee. As the coffee is being made, she cuts a bagel on half and toast both halves. She gets out the cream cheese and a clean knife. She has two four-inch plates for the two half bagels with cream cheese. She pours the coffee and slides one cup to Mike. She is still not awake. Mike smiles to himself and then says, I need my good-morning kiss. She leans over the counter and puckers. Mike kisses her lips. Now she is awake.

She asks, What just happened?

Mike replies, I ask for a good-morning kiss, and you responded. Is there something you wish to tell me? Janet shakes her head no. Then without talking, she scrambles four eggs and heats white flour wrap. She then pours a second cup of coffee. She slides the wrap and coffee to Mike. Janet then looks at Mike.

Janet speaks, Now that food is fixed and I am awake, may I have a thank-you kiss? Mike stands and leans forward and puckers, and Janet plants a kiss on his lips. When they separate, she licks her lips. Mike looks surprised. As they eat, they stare at each other.

Mike speaks first. Thank you for the food. May I give you another kiss?

Janet responds, If I walk around this counter, can you control yourself to just a cheek kiss?

Mike smiles and shakes his head no. Janet then says, Then it is better if I stay here for we both have short fuses.

Mike speaks, You know about me. I do not know about you. Please tell me about yourself.

Janet speaks, I have been here for about a year since we knew your wife was terminal. Janet freshens up both coffees. My friend, your wife, knew I was fond of you. She had told me about your life together. On many occasions, I would come over to swim, and she would talk about you. I would talk about the jerks I was dating. Since we were friends since grade school, it was easy for us to talk. As she talked, she recognized my love for both of you. She made me promise that I would declare my feelings for you when the time was right. My friend, I now think the time is right. Mike looks surprised.

The Letter

Janet says, Mike, I have a letter your wife wrote to you. After the kisses, I think you need to read her letter. The letter was sealed by her. I have not read her letter. If you wish, I will retrieve the letter from my nightstand.

Mike replies, Yes, please get the letter for me. Janet leaves the counter for her bedroom. She retrieves the letter from her nightstand. Janet returns to the kitchen, where Mike is sipping coffee. She hands the letter to Mike.

Mike takes a knife and opens the letter. He reads it to himself.

My love,

Janet is a fine lady. She is my best friend. We both have shared your love. She will make you an excellent wife. I love you. Please let her take a place by your side.

I always loved you.

Mike folds the letter then returns it to the envelope. He looks up at Janet. She smiles.

Janet asks, Sir, may I speak? Mike nods yes. Janet speaks, I do love you, and now that you know, may I stay even if it is only as your housekeeper? Please recognize your wife and I were the same sizes and shared clothing. With your permission, I will continue to care for her and my clothing and have your uniforms laundered. I have no baggage or diseases. She requested that I be checked before I joined your household. I have not been with any other men outside of your home. I am on the pill, and she thought you, my dear, were sterile. Since you only make love to your wife in total darkness, it was I when she became weak. She would excuse herself and go to the bath. There she stayed until I returned and she then returned to your bed. Please forgive us. I see the time I spent with you as a duty to a sick friend. For us it was our way for me to fall in love with you. Please forgive us. If you wish, I will pack.

Mike finishes his coffee then says, You have performed with me as my wife, is that what you said?

Janet nods yes.

Mike speaks, I am a foolish man. I should have known.

Janet shakes her head no. For she told me you’re every move, and she and I rehashed. My dear, I do wish to stay with you. Do you want me to stay? I will sleep in my own room since we are not husband and wife. She told me you requested the dark for lovemaking because of her tattoos.

Mike speaks, "Since you brought up the word tattoo, do you have any?"

She nods her head yes and then holds up three fingers. Janet speaks, I, like your wife, when we were in college, had too much to drink, and we both got tattoos along with her other two friends. Mine is a hawk, rose, tiger. Two of mine are on my hips. A silver dollar can cover each tattoo.

Then I must ask a simple question, says Mike. Are you going to make an honest man out of me since you slept with me? Or are you going to walk away?

Janet replies, I am here. I wish to stay. However, I must tell you since we are not married, I will sleep in my room.

Mike smiles. You say you know me through my wife. You have been with me for two months since she passed. I had no hint of the time or times we were together. Today is Tuesday. Wednesday, I start another twenty-four-hour shift at eight a.m. I will be back to this home by nine a.m. Thursday. Please follow me to the living room. They are standing in the middle of the living room, then Mike drops to one knee. Mike asks Janet for her hand. He then said, I ask you to make an honest man out of me. I ask you to marry me Wednesday afternoon. The neighbor down the hill is a judge. I will call him and ask him and his wife to come to our home Thursday afternoon before supper. I will ask him to bring a license, and his wife can be our witness. Do these conditions meet with your approval?

Janet nods her head yes and then says out loud, Yes, my love, I accept your proposal of marriage. Now I must insist that you do your morning exercises and then swim your laps in the pool.

Mike speaks, I know you’ve been a houseguest, but do you understand my morning exercises?

Janet smiles then says, Yes, but today you will have a small change in that you will wear your walking shorts and T-shirt as you ride your bike and jog on your treadmill. You will then change by yourself and wear a swimsuit while you swim laps in the pool. I will stand on the other side of the patio door in your full view and do my stretching exercises. When you swim, I will ride your bike. When you are finished swimming, you take a shower while I jog on the treadmill. My future husband, does this exercise agenda meet with your approval? Mike nods his head yes. He extends his hand, and they walk to the bicycle. He seats himself and starts his ride. She steps through the patio door, waves, and starts her stretching exercises. It takes one hour for them to complete their exercises and then each go to their separate showers.

For lunch, they have an avocado chicken wrap with iced tea. The lunch is simple and easy to clean up after. They adjourned to the living room, and Mike puts a disk in the player. He then turns to Janet and extends his hand. She accepts. The music starts, and they dance. After several dances, they stand there looking at each other. Janet speaks, I know that look, Mike. You have a question for me. You must ask it for we need no secrets.

Mike smiles. Please, my dear, without showing me, take your finger and point to the location of your tattoo. Janet smiles then takes her index finger and points to her navel and then slides her hand down.

She then says, My friends tell me this area of the female body is her muffin top. If after we’re married, you make love to me, if you wish to see, you must leave the lights on. The other two are on my hips. Mike nods his head.

Mike then says, You use the phrase ‘make love.’ I take it then that you understand that showers are required first. I request no toys in the bedroom. You know the only lubricant I use is coconut oil. When I get home from shift, as you know, I eat a light snack. I prefer to shower and sleep until noon or two o’clock. At that time, you may wake me, and you may find me amorous.

Janet smiles. My dear, I am aware of your sleep patterns, your lovemaking, your likes and dislikes. It is you, Mike, that must learn more about me. I am not bossy. I am here to help you. I must warn you, I know of your sister and her hold on you. Trust me when I say I will not tolerate her driving a wedge between us. She must learn that I am here to stay. That she is welcome to visit. That her visits will be limited to food, swimming, sunbathing with clothing, and pleasant conversation. She will not talk about the past. We in this house, from this day forward, we live for each other and the future.

Mike Makes a Phone Call

Mike makes a call. We hear Mike say, Your Honor, it is I, your neighbor Mike. A friend and I need twenty minutes of your time. Yes, we can be there in five. Thank you for your time. Mike turns to Janet. "Please bring your purse with your ID. We need to go to our neighbors’ for