"Anne Marie Wilson for Mayor" (A chapter from "Helping Out")

[Alice2015]

"Anne Marie Wilson for Mayor"

(A chapter from "Helping Out")

You got here from here.
When this thread is concluded,
you can return to the Main IC Thread
with the same link above.

​

Anne Marie Wilson's house
Thursday, April 3
7:30 p.m.

Viola knew that the collection of concerned citizens who would be at Anne Marie Wilson's home tonight would include at least two leaders of Toland's faith associations, so she intentionally tried to dress down in jeans, a blouse, and her leather jacket covering the latter. And yet, as she strolled up the walk and -- being spotted by one of the meeting's attendees -- had the door opened for her entry, she still got up and down surveys by all of the men, even the preacher-types.

"I'm sorry I'm late," she apologized, explaining that Maxine's dinner had run late with conversation about the Mayor being the primary topic of conversation. Not knowing whether or not anyone had actually explained the details of the Bill and Sharon Bradburn's situation, Viola decided to shy away from mentioning the couple's troubles and instead asked, "So, what did I miss?"

Without hesitation, their hostess's pastor stood and announced, "Anne Marie has graciously agreed to have her name added to the ballot in the position of Mayor."

Viola looked to the mother of three for her reaction and wasn't entirely sure what she was seeing in the woman's face. If it were at all possible, the expression seemed to be a combination or excitement, fright, anxiety, pride, and the need to puke ... all at the same time.

As if they were afraid that Anne Marie might suddenly tell them she'd changed her mind, the guests all suddenly began approaching the woman to hug her, shake her hand, give her their appreciation, compliment her on looking like a new woman, raising three boys so well on her own for the last year, and more, all seemingly at the same time.

For her part, Viola simply stood out of the way near the home's entrance, waiting for the others to finish with Anne Marie and make their way back out to their cars. The reaction to Viola from the others varied a great deal: both pastors offered their hands and thanked her quietly for the financial contribution of which they were aware but of which Anne Marie was only about to discover; all four men -- religious leaders and otherwise -- allowed their gaze to fall to her breasts, which she'd attempted to keep less obvious tonight yet failed; and all of the women gave her a polite smile, a polite if unenergetic handshake, and a curt thank you for being here.

It was only after the last of the other guests were out the door that Viola held up a bag with the recognizable shape of a bottle of champagne and asked, "Mind if I stick around a bit and make up for being late?"

 

[DreamingOfMyEx]

Anne Marie's house
Thursday, April 3rd, 7:37 p.m.


There is a difference between knowing you're being manipulated and being totally unaware. There is also a difference between allowing it to happen, and not. It was not so very long ago Viola could have had Anne Marie as besotted as the minor kingmakers who'd just offered her the throne to Toland - though by different methods. Methods such as the one Viola was using on her now.

Being fashionably late for the meeting, knowing that would make the biggest splash. (Or was it fabulously late?) This woman she'd never met imposing herself upon Anne Marie's domain, putting her on the defensive. This woman of immense wealth - and therefore influence - who had the whole town talking about her. Knowing the harried mom's attention would be divided four or more different directions. And the champagne - it no doubt just happened to be in the console of her car? And all this, after the little informal committee of people she looked up to had softened her up with the bombshell proposal.

But Anne Marie wasn't going down that easily. Perhaps it was the Contessa in her who wasn't about to roll over and play dead for this mysterious outsider.

She had also been a teacher - a Middle School teacher. Not that easily manipulated.

Viola held up a bag with the recognizable shape of a bottle of champagne and asked, "Mind if I stick around a bit and make up for being late?"

"Not at all, I think that's a wonderful idea. I've been looking forward to meeting you. Hold that thought ..." Then she pulled out her phone, focusing on scrolling down to her mother-in-law's number while still talking to Viola. "I'll just drop the boys off at their grandmothers - you can ride with us. Oh, and put that in the fridge if you like" she pointed in the direction of the kitchen. "Hi, Mom, can I drop off the boys for a little while? There's something pressing I need to take care of."

 

[Alice2015]

Anne Marie's house
Thursday, April 3rd, 7:37 p.m.

Viola could see the wheels'a turning in Anne Marie Wilson's brain, and she wondered just what the woman was thinking of her becoming involved in a situation -- the upcoming Mayoral Election -- in which Viola herself couldn't even be formally involved, meaning vote.

"Not at all," Anne Marie answered. "I think that's a wonderful idea. I've been looking forward to meeting you."

"And me you, too," Viola said with a widening smile.

She'd heard a great deal about Anne Marie, the basics over the last two weeks but the majority of it after the situation with the Mayor had arisen. But there was a lot more to be learned, Viola bet. That was true about most people in this world, including Viola herself.

She delivered the bottle of mid-cost Champagne to the fridge, giving the contents of the fridge and a nearby open cupboard a quick study. She could see by the quality of some of the food that Anne Marie cared for the health of her children; she could tell from the rest of it that she was also your typical mother and could easily use another 12 hours a day to tend to said children.

Time cheats us all, mothers and non-mothers alike, Viola thought to herself. She returned to the living room, asking with a tone of humor, "How can I help with getting the boys ready for transport?" She laughed softly, confessing, "I should state that I don't have children, don't have sibling or close friends with children, and, therefore, know very little about children or what it takes to get them safely from Point A to Point B safely..."

She'd been picking up some sort of a harness-looking thing from the floor as she was talking -- it could have been for the safety of a child in or out of a car or for the control of a horse in a corral -- and asked playfully, "Like, what's this for?"

 

[DreamingOfMyEx]

Viola seemed to be easy enough to deal with so far, but it was still early.

“Oh, children are just like other people, only more so” she responded rather cryptically, but went on to explain. “If I tell them we’re going grocery shopping or to church, the house looks like the burning of Atlanta scene in Gone With the Wind, bodies lined up on the streets, untold suffering, moaning and groaning and begging for relief. But when I tell them we’re going to grandma’s, they line up like obedient little soldiers on their way to an ice cream store.”

“Ice cream?” The oldest was peeking around the corner.

“And then there’s the selective hearing phenomena. No sweetheart, we’re going to see some of your favorite grandparents.”

That brought a round of cheers from all the children.

--

Anne Marie chuckled at the question about the harness. “To be frank, I don’t know what it is. I saw it in a thrift store and thought it might be useful. Sometimes it’s used to keep the baby in the stroller. Other times we use it as a harness for the oldest one to pull the stroller or a wagon when he wants to be especially helpful. I’m sure I’m using it wrong, but it seems to work anyway. For all I know, it could be ….” She stopped abruptly, as if she caught herself about so say something inappropriate. “Well, for some other use.”

She couldn’t image it was some sort of adult kinky bondage gear. It was too big to hold wrists or ankles, and too small to fit around an adult’s torso. In fact, she had never even thought in those terms until … now.

--

“Most mini-vans come with built in child safety seats… which … come on baby, put your arm through here, you’ve done this before … which TM here is just about to outgrow. TM by the way stands for Thomas Michael.”

On the way to grandma’s house, Anne Marie pointed out a few points of interest. Of interest to her, anyway. Perhaps it was a way of establishing herself as a lifelong resident of Toland, not an outsider – though if that was the case she was hardly aware of her intent.

“Not all the falling down buildings were from the 1980’s” she pointed to an old brick building whose roof had blown away at some point in antiquity. "That was a bank, about a hundred years ago. And beside it was the old Sheriff’s office and jail, back when Toland was the county seat. A fire wiped out most of the buildings on the other side of the tracks around the turn of the century.” Then she smiled at Viola. “Sorry, I guess I was channeling my own grandparents. I mean that other turn of the century.”

Kyle’s parents seemed nice enough, though they were hardly living the high life. The house was old and could use a bit more “fixing up” but they kept it clean and organized and safe for grandchildren. Something in Anne Marie’s demeanor told them she would explain later.

 

[Alice2015]

Anne Marie explained about children being just like other people, which Viola found to be unlikely. Although she'd never had nieces or nephews, let alone any of her own, she knew what hellions they could be when they wanted to be. She found it incredible that the widow had such an amazing handle on her three boys Three boys! Three young boys!

To the question about the harness, Anne Marie chuckled, saying, “To be frank, I don’t know what it is." As she explained how she used it, she paused at, "For all I know, it could be ... Well, for some other use.”

Viola's mind was going the same direction, and she giggled as she held it up to her body. "I dunno. I could probably make it work, but it'd be snug." She laughed again, held it out with her thumb and the tip of her index finger as if she'd just picked up a creamy pair of panties, and dropped it on the couch. Again, she laughed.

They got the kids into the minivan, buckling them into the available safety seats. Viola asked, "Should I go back and get the bondage harness, or..." Another laugh, and they were on their way. Viola's mind was already rolling with her next money-distribution effort. How can I get a newer, larger, safer vehicle into Anne's driveway without it appearing that it came from me? Time to give Edward a call. Her hacker coconspirator would have an idea.

Anne Marie talked about the town and what it had been through over the centuries. Even though she knew the general history of the town, Viola was learning little things that she couldn't now know would guide her money spending in the future.

When Anne Marie apologized for channeling my own grandparents, Viola quickly told her, "No, no! Don't apologize. Our families are what make us who we are."

That, of course, was all too true with Viola Richardson. Her father had made her what she had been and what she was today, both.

At her In-Law's home, Viola found herself very surprised by the pair. Kyle's father was probably the first man in Toland who hadn't enjoyed a double take at the delicious blonde's body, instead maintaining full eye contact with her as he offered his hand out to her in greeting. Ironically, it was the man's missus who conspicuously looked Viola up and down and said, "My Lordie, girl. You've got a body built for sin."

Viola couldn't help but laugh aloud, even blushing as she responded, "I don't know whether to take that as a compliment ... or--"

The woman laughed, came forward to hug Viola, pulled back and said with a wink, "I had that same body at your age--" She nodded her head toward her husband, smirked, and finished, "--and all it got me was this guy."

They laughed again as the woman looked to Anne Marie and corrected, "And if got me a son ... who got me this beauty here." She moved to Anne Marie for a hug, too, just before being savaged by all three boys who wanted gramma attention.

 

[DreamingOfMyEx]

"You're bringing them back tomorrow at noon. Why don't you just let them spend the night?"

And with that, Anne Marie had no responsibilities, nothing she had to do, nowhere she had to be, until it was time for Contessa to start getting ready to make some videos the following afternoon. For that matter, she could even start getting ready earlier.

--

Anne Marie was mostly quite on the way home, taking the same route back whereas if she wanted to continue the tour she would only have had to move over a block to the north. She had a little thinking to do, and some mental rehearsing.

--

Ironically, she happened to have two expensive champagne glasses - part of a set she had purchased for Contessa - a complete set suitable for bubbly, white wine and red, as well as brandy snifters, and various sizes and shapes of glassware for every alcoholic beverage commonly consumed in the Western World, and a few from other parts. They were all intended for house number two, but it had been easier for her to wash them in her own larger sink with her own larger dish drain. Once they made the trip next door, they would be Mitchell's responsibility.

Glasses filled, Anne Marie practically made a little hop, planting her ass on the sofa and crossing her legs (in what her grandfather called "Indian style") - she could have almost passed for a high school girl gossiping with her bestie about the hot new guy at school, only her tone was just a little more adult.

"So, What's the story, Wishbone? Some random woman steps off the cover of Vogue, wins millions in a lottery, and comes to a random dung-heap of a dying town to spread money around for no apparent reason other than she wants to help a bunch of total strangers? Color me skeptical. I don't get out much, and I'm no math major, but the numbers I'm hearing seem a little high up on the too generous to be true scale. And now, I find myself running for Mayor of that town - Five of the most trusted people in my life - and you - made the decision for me. So why don't you tell me: What's the true story? And I warn you, I was a school teacher."

That last part was meant to say "I'll know if you're lying" - though Viola might not know the code. Anne Marie just didn't want to use the expression "I'll know if you're lying" just yet.

 

[Alice2015]

After serving up two glasses of celebratory Champagne, Anne Marie started strong with, "So, what's the story, Wishbone?"

Viola laughed at the lucky token reference. There were a lot of people in Toland these days thinking they'd gotten lucky -- hit the jackpot -- with her. She couldn't help but wonder often what they were going to feel when they finally learned that Viola Dean was actually Viola Richardson, Robert The Rapist Richardson's daughter. It would come out one day soon; Viola was certain of it.

"Some random woman steps off the cover of Vogue--" Anne Marie continued.

Once again, Viola laughed. She sipped at her bubbly, responding with a questioning tone, "Thank you...? I think?"

Sometimes, women used such words with more jealous venom than honest sincerity, and Viola didn't know Anne Marie well enough to know which applied in this case. Of course, her hostess had no reason to be jealous, Viola believed. Anne Marie was a beautiful, curvy woman who was without a man only because she'd lost her husband and likely wasn't ready to get back out there in the world. Viola had no doubt that if she took Mrs. Wilson dancing in Capital City, that half a dozen men would be asking her to put their names on her dance card ... and then have her carve their names into her bed's headboard.

Anne Marie spoke of Viola's Lottery cover story, saying, "Color me skeptical."

"I don't blame you, Anne," Viola said, quickly asking, "May I call you Anne...? Anne Marie is cute and all, but I think Anne fits this new look of yours much better. I was told that you dropped a lot of weight over the last year." She smiled, adding, "Feels good, doesn't it. The energy, the desire to be involved again in things that you avoided before. I went though my own ... well, my mother called it my fat stage ... when I was in middle school. I dropped it and suddenly, wow, life was something new ... something fresh."

They talked about the Mayoral race, to which Viola said, "Yes, about that. Why the hell do I care, you're wondering? I don't live here. And I can't vote here." She sipped more Champagne, then explained, "I've been spending time with Martha Griggs, the Toland City Chief ... oh, I don't have to tell you who Marti is. Anyway, we've struck up a friendship, and she told me about the grants that Toland recently won. Marti tells me that there has been some disagreement on exactly how that money should be spent by the City. Mayor Bradburn's ideas are ... well ... let me just say that they aren't what I would have done with the money if it had been mine."

Of course, the $700,000 and $300,000 grants had come from Viola, though, only Marti knew this. Deputy Connor Evans had suspicions about it, because Toland was getting another grant for a second Resident Deputy -- something he should have known all about but didn't -- and he just didn't see this being entirely coincidental after Lottery Winner Viola Dean arrived.

"And while I don't really want others to know this," Viola continued, "I have also offered to establish a Foundation to fund a tutoring station, likely inside City Hall for now but eventually in one of the currently abandoned schools. I told Marti that I would fund the Foundation with an initial $1 million. It will be open to boys and girls, men and women, of all ages and backgrounds, nationalities and languages. We're going to start with the basics -- reading, writing, arithmetic, etcetera -- then expand to other courses as the need arises."

She sipped again, wondering whether or not Mrs. Peterson (Wilson) would ask about music, seeing how that had been one of her courses. If asked, Viola would tell her with a smile that that was absolutely in the plans.

"The issue is that the current Mayor doesn't see the need for some of these plans," Viola continued, emptying her glass with a gulp and holding it out toward her hostess for a refill as she smiled and said, "But I am led to believe that maybe you have a different way of thinking."

 

[DreamingOfMyEx]

May I call you Anne?

"Sure, that's fine." Because only people who don't know me call me Anne, and you don't know me.


"I went through my own ... fat stage ..."

Seriously, bitch? You damn sure don't know me well enough to be taking liberties like that. "It is .... liberating ... in many ways" Anne Marie whispered - just trying to provide a little feedback, hoping to keep her talking.


"I've been spending time with Martha Griggs, the Toland City Chief ... oh, I don't have to tell you who Marti is. Anyway, we've struck up a friendship..."

Is that what you call it? So the plot thickens, maybe. Or maybe it doesn't thicken, it just adds another layer of interesting.


For the past few days, Anne Marie has been full of trepidation and longing, and had only one thing at the forefront of her mind: Contessa. Will she be a success? Will she make Anne Marie rich? Or at least financially secure? And Mitchell, along with her. Just how frequently will Mitchell need to masturbate during their video sessions? Will Contessa make him do it in front of her?

Contessa and Anne Marie both knew Viola wasn't coming clean. She'd obviously sidestepped the question, thinking that turning on the charm and waving money under people's noses would make them forget what questions they wanted answered.

The wine glass Anne Marie pictured in all Contessa's videos was a prop, to add to the effect, to establish who Contessa was, but the wine inside was real and it was for Anne Marie -- just enough to keep her inhibitions suppressed. It didn't take much alcohol for someone who almost never touched alcohol. By the time she'd finished her first glass of champagne, she was ready for another, and wondering if she - Anne Marie - could seduce Viola if she wanted to.

No, she couldn't seduce Viola. Not the girl-next-door mom of three who seriously needs to invest in her own carpet cleaner. But Contessa could - with just a look. And Contessa wasn't just about overt sexuality. Anne Marie also pictured her as a creature who used any means necessary to get what she wanted, and deception was as powerful a tool in her arsenal as were her stiletto heels. Anne Marie could never seduce Viola, but Viola could seduce Anne Marie, if she wanted - and think it was her idea.

"More champagne?" she asked, getting up from the sofa. "I think I'll have another."

Viola was lying. She'd overplayed her hand - using her charms to charm people whom Anne Marie had known her whole life, in order to manipulate Anne Marie - and thought Anne Marie wouldn't realize what she'd done. Viola saw Anne Marie - girl-next-door and frantic mother of three rambunctious boys with no husband to help - as someone she could manipulate. But Anne Marie had her own secret partner - Contessa. And the number one rule to this game Viola wanted to play is this: you don't play a player.

"I admit to being overwhelmed. I mean ... one minute my biggest concern in life is getting ground up Spaghetti-Oh's out of the carpet, and next I'm running for mayor and talking about thousands for this and a million for that. I'm going to need some time to digest it all."

And I'm going to find out who you are and why you're in Toland.

This time when she sat, it wasn't "Indian style". She would be more demure, legs crossed at the ankles, one arm on the back of the sofa, and leaning ever-so-slightly in Viola's direction. If she was smart she would have refilled her glass with water, or at least diluted the champagne - but it turned out she liked the taste, and liked the way it made her feel.

 

[Alice2015]

As soon as Viola used the phrase fat stage, she was sorry; she didn't know Anne well enough to be talking like a BFF. There was no way to know how living heavy for so many years might have affected the woman's personality. Viola almost apologized for the faux pas but decided it might only acerbate the issue.

They continued finishing off the alcohol, and Viola thought she could see the other women loosening up. Unconsciously, that might have been the reason for Viola had brought the better Champagne with her. They turned to the Mayoral Election, with Anne confessing, "I admit to being overwhelmed." She spoke of going from Mom to Mayor practically overnight. "I'm going to need some time to digest it all."

"You have all the time you need," Viola said with a wide smile, clarifying, "As long as you decide by Saturday."

She laughed softly, then explained her comment; most of what she was about to say, Anne probably already knew. But Viola wanted the woman to understand why this involved her so deeply.

"Saturday afternoon, during the Winter Festival," she went on, "they set up a stage in the middle of Founders Park where anyone who wants to say anything about Toland and its future is free to do so. My understanding is that this wasn't originally intended to act as a political soap box, but over the years, that's exactly what it became.

"Saturday, Bill and Sharon Bradburn is going to be the first to speak," Viola continued. "I'm told that it's traditional for the Mayor to be first one up there. I've been informed ... let's call them people in the know ... that Mayor Bradburn is going to announce he is resigning from the office ... to let a fresh mind lead Toland.

"Anne ... those people who came here tonight," Viola continued, leaning in as if to emphasize how important her words were, "They believe that that fresh mind should be you. You grew up here. You taught here. You have children who will be students in this town--"

Viola stopped short with what she was about to say. Part of her overall plan was to see that the Toland School District was once again teaching and otherwise serving its students here in Toland! Test scores had plummeted with bussing students to Carlson Creek while dropout rates had risen; last year, Toland had seen its worse dropout rate yet, with 1 out of 3 of its Senior Class students give up and either move into the work force, join the military, or get a quickie GED from either Toland County Community College or from one of dozens of internet sites providing them.

Sitting back into her end of the sofa and crossing one long leg over the other, Viola continued, "You are everything the people of Toland need right now, Anne. And while I might not know you well personally ... I think they're right."

 

[DreamingOfMyEx]

Anne Marie thought it strange that someone who had only "lived" in Toland a few days would feel compelled to educate her on what happens at the annual Winter Festival - something she had attended every year of her life except for a brief break for college. She attended the previous year with her three small boys. Kyle was supposed to go with them, but had been called away for some "crisis" on one of the rigs. They would never see him alive again.

Anne Marie had tried to avoid thinking of Kyle, but ...

"I hope you don't think ill of me, but I can use another drink." She didn't mention the loss of her husband as one of the deciding factors in needing another drink, but it was taking the edge off quite effectively. "I usually don't drink at all - but being unexpectedly without children for the evening - and you were nice enough to bring this expensive champagne. Not that I know what campaign costs, I'm just going by the fact the label looks so elegant."

Yep, the alcohol was starting to have some effect on the things she said.

--

She figured the reason for Viola's history lesson was to try to establish some credibility. (I may be new to town, but I care enough to know what's going on.) Anne Marie respected that, to a point, until she remembered that Viola was a manipulator with something to hide.

Should she run for Mayor? If she didn't - someone else would. Someone who didn't realize Viola was trying to manipulate them.

"Alright, I'll confirm my decision to run for Mayor on one condition. My friends call me Anne Marie. I know it might sound too southern, like 'Billy Bob', but it's all I've known my whole life, and I won't be comfortable being called Anne. By my friends, I mean." Yep, two can play this manipulation game.

The room spun for only a quarter turn or so when she stood to refill her glass - or their glasses? - but she managed to remain upright and showed only a fraction of a second of disorientation. "East of Java, indeed" she murmured cryptically. She knew the way to her own kitchen. "There's not much champagne left in the bottle, should we go ahead and finish it off?"

--

"Viola - please don't take this the wrong way, but there's something I'm very very much against, and that's someone driving after they've been drinking. So now I feel like I'm in an awkward position here - I can't force you to stay - all I can do is ... offer ... but in the strongest possible terms. Either take a nap here before you go, or call for a ride. I'm not as concerned about your car being parked in front of my house as I would be if it were ... a man. Man's. You know, belonged to a man. If you were a man, I mean, which you aren't, so I'm not worried."

My god Anne Marie, I think you're drunk (AM says to herself.) And Viola is the most beautiful woman you've ever seen. Except for Contessa - but is she even real? Fuck, what's happening here? Nothing's going to happen. You need sleep, young lady.

 

[Alice2015]

"I hope you don't think ill of me," Anne Marie said, "but I can use another drink."

"Me, too," Viola responded, tipping her own glass to see that it contained just a single drop of Champagne left in it.

"I usually don't drink at all," her hostess explained, talking about the nice bottle Viola had brought.

"It is a good bottle," Viola confirmed; it was a middle of the range bottle, actually, but all that Vance had been able to order in on the spur of the moment when he'd made his big alcohol order a week or so earlier. They had better champagne coming in for future use, which Viola hoped would be future celebrations like this one.

She could see that the drink was beginning to have an effect on her hostess. Viola hadn't meant to get the woman drunk, but at the same time it was nice to see Anne Marie unwind a bit. Again, Viola told herself You don't know her enough to know whether this is unwinding ... or even if she needs to unwind at all.

"Alright, I'll confirm my decision to run for Mayor on one condition," the woman said.

"Of course, name it," Viola responded, feeling good that it was something she would grant; so far, things had been going her way in Toland.

"My friends call me Anne Marie," she said.

"And I want to be your friend," Viola said without hesitation, "So ... Anne Marie it is."

They drained the rest of the bottle of Champagne, after which Anne Marie talked about not wanting Viola to drive intoxicated and spoke of what it might look like having her car parked out front. Viola couldn't help but wonder if Anne Marie had had a man's car -- or a woman's car? -- parked out front overnight any time during the year that her husband had been gone. There would have been nothing wrong with it, of course; she was an adult, her husband was gone, and sleeping with another man -- or another woman? -- didn't mean that she didn't still love him the way she should.

"Of course, no, I'm not going anywhere," Viola said, rising to move over closer to Anne Marie. Taking the now empty Champagne bottle from her, then her glass with just a bit of drink in the bottom, she asked, "Whaddaya think we put you in bed ... Anne Marie. It's been a long day, your kids are safe and secure with their grandparents, you have no worries, no responsibilities right now. It's the perfect time for that nap you suggested for me."

 

[DreamingOfMyEx]

"I ......"

"I uhh......"

What was about to happen? Put her in bed? Take her to bed??? Anne Marie was perfectly capable of putting herself to bed. She hadn't needed anyone to put her in bed since she was a child. Would she be able to interpret Viola's meaning if she hadn't had so much to drink? Would she have a clearer idea of what she wanted Viola to be saying if she hadn't had so much to drink?

Definitely on that last part.

"Th.. b...boys beds are... well, Andrew's.. no, I can change the sheets. Or .. the sofa. I'll get you a pillow and blanket."

She didn't move to get a pillow and blanket for Viola. Instead her eyes were squeezed shut in prayer. Please, not my bed. That is mine and Kyle's.

As a good conservative Christian girl, she had never, never considered the remotest of possibility of even kissing another woman. Sex for her was ... well.. her duty to the man she married. Not really even a source of pleasure - but a source of closeness when she needed closeness. And god! how the idea of feeling close to Viola felt to her now!

NO. No no no no no. It's all too much. Kyle. Contessa. The champagne. Don't do anything you'll regret, Anne Marie. It was that little angel on her shoulder again. She refused to listen when the angel tried to warn her away from Mitchell, and and angel had been wrong. Mitchell was a tremendous help to her. But this time - maybe she should listen.

"I.. I hope..." she chuckled. "I hope you didn't think... I've just had too much to drink. This doesn't usually happen."

On the other hand ... she couldn't take her eyes off Viola's lips ... as if they were the most fascinating things she had ever seen.

 

[Alice2015]

"I ...... I uhh......" Anne Marie was stumbling over her words as Viola moved to her, gently urging her to turn toward what seemed to obviously be the home's hallway to the bedrooms.

"Th.. b...boys beds are... well, Andrew's.. no, I can change the sheets," she continued, more obviously now concerning herself with where Viola was going to sleep off her share of the Champagne. "Or .. the sofa. I'll get you a pillow and blanket."

"Don't you worry about me right now, Anne Marie," Viola told her, still steering her forward gently. "Let's find your bed for now."

Viola couldn't know whether it was simply Anne Marie's brain running wild or the way she'd suggested they find the woman's own bed, but either way, her hostess said, "I.. I hope... I hope you didn't think... I've just had too much to drink. This doesn't usually happen."

Anne Marie turned to face Viola as they reached the door of a big bedroom; Viola glanced past the other woman and could tell by the decor that it was obviously the room in which she slept -- in which Anne Marie and her husband had slept. Looking back to the other woman, Viola suddenly caught the expression on Anne Marie's face, as well as the way she was staring at her own lips ... and -- whether Anne Marie knew she'd done it or not -- the way she'd gently licked her own lips in possible anticipation of the pairs of them meeting.

"I wasn't thinking anything of the sort, love," Viola responded with a giggle as the turned Anne Marie again toward the bedroom and urged her forward. When they reached the bed, Viola turned the woman toward her again. She told her with a sincere, meaningful tone, "I will be honest with you, Anne Marie. If you and I hadn't been drinking tonight ... and if I wasn't bucking for the position of Campaign Manager for your Mayoral Election run ... I might very well be tempted to kiss you right now."

She smiled again, adding with humor, "I do want to get you into bed tonight ... but ... alone. So ... where are your jammies?"

 

[DreamingOfMyEx]

Anne Marie responded with a whimper.

It's like when someone doesn't know what they want, when they have a choice between two things and they don't have any idea which one to choose. Then when they make the choice, or when a choice is made for them, only then do they realize which choice they really wanted.

Anne Marie wanted to be kissed.

Not seduced, or made love to, or fucked, she just needed to be kissed.

Could Viola see the hurt and disappointment in her eyes? No matter - there was that part of Anne Marie - that little angel on her shoulder who wasn't celebrating with glee, but trying to soothe the hurt. You have been drinking. You know what it could have led to. What you know you wanted to let happen. It would have been the biggest mistake of your life. Imagine the regret you would feel tomorrow.

"Shut up, angel" she whispered so very very softly. But then Viola was close enough to hear.

"Oh no, not you. I was talking to ... oh, never mind. I ... don't .. well, they're not really pajamas. Just an extra extra ex...." She was going to say extra large tshirt, but the room had begun moving again. "I can undress mys...."

Wait! Was Viola intending to undress her????

-

What you know you wanted to let happen .... Did the angel really know that? That was more than Anne Marie knew.

 

[Alice2015]

"Shut up, angel" Anne Marie whispered very softly.

Viola chuckled at the words before the other woman was able to explain that she was talking to herself and not to Viola herself. She looked around, saying, "I can undress mys...."

The guest caught sight of a large sleeping tee over the back of the chair at the bureau. Heading for it, Viola said, "I got it ... right here." She returned with it, handed the sleeping gown over, and was about to take a step away when Anne Marie teetered. Viola giggled, feeling guilty that she'd encouraged the other woman to drink so much. Should have asked if she'd had anything to eat first.

"I'll step out if you want," Viola told her. "Unless you need help."

She would do whichever Anne Marie asked.

 

[DreamingOfMyEx]

The last thing Anne Marie wanted was to tell Viola - or even ask Viola - to step out of her bedroom.

"There's a - the - narrow door at the end of the hall - is a linen closet. Blankets, pillows, if you don't mind. I wish I could offer you ... well .. There's an alarm but it isn't set, so if you decide to leave before I wake up you don't have to worry about setting it off or anything. Oh, there's towels and things, too, if you need them." Then a nervous chuckle .. "If you want to take a shower in the kids bathroom, it should be clean. Peppa Pig is the body wash and Cookie Monster is the shampoo. Or you can use mine if you want."

 

[Alice2015]

Anne Marie nervously explained about the linen closet and boys' bathroom. Viola only smiled and said confidently, "I'll figure it out, Anne Marie. Thank you."

Her hostess teetered again, causing Viola to reach out quickly to steady her, asking, "Are you okay? Do you want me to help you, or...?"

Viola wasn't trying to initiate anything sexual between the two of them; she wouldn't do that while either of them were intoxicated to any degree. But she was sincerely concerned that Anne Marie got safely to bed.

 

[DreamingOfMyEx]

Anne Marie assured Viola that she was fine. "Besides, the floor is carpeted" she chuckled.

Once she was in bed, she remained awake, having a hell of a lot to think about - but her thoughts kept turning back to Viola. Not wondering what her game was, just wondering ... about her. Viola so much as admitted she was lesbian, or bi, and wanted to do things with her, sinful things, lesbian things, right? And Anne Marie said it would be okay if Viola wanted to use her bathroom to shower, or whatever, wondering if she might come back in.

Then she began to cry - softly. There were a lot of other things on her mind as well, it just took a while for them to come to the surface. Kyle. Contessa. Her boys.

Did Viola think she was pretty? Or was that just another of her manipulations? At least Mitchell thinks she's pretty - that was quite obvious. Oh god, where is that going to go???

Maybe she just needs a boyfriend. Someone closer to her own age, closer in social status, someone ... looking for a woman who doesn't enjoy sex and who has three small boys??? How hard can that be?

Maybe that's why she created Contessa. Someone who was effortlessly strong and confident at all times, got everything she wanted, and had none of Anne Marie's problems.

--

It was still dark when Anne Marie woke, needing to pee. The champagne. She had no idea what time it was. Anne Marie had elected not to have a digital clock in her bedroom - she didn't want the bright light bothering her at night. Neither did she turn on the bright lights in the restroom. A small night-light would provide all the light she needed in the middle of the night.

In the distance she heard a mechanical noise, a "blowing" noise. It was very very faint, but it took only a moment to remember the snow-making machines at the park. They have to begin making snow on Thursday evening in order for a festival to start on Friday morning. How noisy they must be to someone who lives close by. But it's only a couple of nights a year.

Mitchell is probably there now, operating a snowmaking machine she thought to herself. She would have to be careful with him.

Does she check the time? Or go back to bed? Or perhaps she hears something - someone rustling around - downstairs?