Gift from Beyond

[TheCentaur]

OOC: Open via PM to one or more women. My character is Zack, a 45 yr old widower, 6'0" 190 lb. Good physical condition.

IC:
That drawer. You know the one. Every couple has one. Usually in the nightstand. It's been nearly two years since I opened that drawer, first because my wife Mary got too sick from the chemo. After she passed away, I had no real reason or desire to. The family came and helped me clear out her clothes. That was rough. But it's not like I could help with this task. I figured its been over a year - time to clear this thing out, I guess.

I opened the drawer and there was something new, was one of those decorative flags Mary used to like to put out during holiday seasons. This must be a valentine's day flag, I guess, it just had a simple heart on it. In it was a note in her handwriting:

Zack,
If you are reading this, its probably many months after I have passed. Hey, I know you. You've always been faithful to me. You also always kept our sex life very interesting and loved to help me explore my fantasies. I want to let you know how much I appreciate that.​

It's true. We would always talk about what our fantasies were and after some time I would do all the leg work and set it up: different foods, toys, role playing, light bondage, you name it. Never anyone but the two of us, but boy did we do about everything two people could. We did have a lot of fun doing that.

My friends always reminded me how lucky I was to have you. Most of them weren't a lucky. I guess that's partially why a lot of them ending up getting divorced. I'd like you do something for me. I'd like you to help my friends, any of them who still want to, fulfill their fantasies. I discussed this with them before I left. All you have to do is hang this flag out side and they'll know to contact you. I honestly can't tell you who'll take you up on the offer, but I know you'll make them happy. Don't feel guilty (remember this was my idea) I also know you'll have a lot of fun doing it.

Love eternal,
Mary​

Wow. This was a lot for me to absorb. I cried some, missing Mary, but most of the evening I spent just in a daze, wondering what to do before going to sleep.

The next morning I woke up refreshed. I had a great night sleep. I had also decided to grant my wife's wish. It somehow it felt right. I knew once I got into it I would have loads of fun. So I found the flagholder outside and hung up the flag.

 

[Maid of Marvels]

Janine Hendershot

Janine wrapped her hands around the mug of coffee wondering where the years had gone, but mostly she wondered where the love had gone. It was almost Easter for pete's sake and Jeff wasn't going to be home. Again. Maybe she should be used to it by now, but even so... If she had wanted to be a nun, she'd have joined the convent twenty years ago instead of getting married.

The years hadn't been unkind to her. Afternoons at the gym had kept her in shape, though there was a slight sag now in her breasts and she was slightly fuller in the waist. Her hair, still uncolored, hadn't lost its sheen and surprisingly enough neither had her eyes lost their sparkle. In her mind's eye, Janine had simply "ripened" rather than aged and that was part of what she didn't understand. Aside from the seemingly obligatory once-a-month bonk, Jeff just wasn't interested. Nor had he been for a long, long time.

If she were a different sort of person, she ought to... But she hadn't and probably would not. Janine chuckled to herself, suddenly remembering the proposition Mary had put to them all before she died. Not that she would have gone, of course, but she used to look for that flag every now and again in a morbidly curious sort of way, wondering which, if any, of the others would take her up on the offer.

"Well, this isn't getting anything done, that's for sure" Janine announced to the cat who was rubbing up against her legs. "And thanks for that, Smokey," she added, reaching down to give his tail a gentle pull. "I needed to know someone cares, even if it's just you."

Setting the empty mug into the sink, Janine ran water into it and headed upstairs for her shower. She had some errands to run and she thought she might stop by Blockbusters to rent a flick or two. Something romantic. Something Jeff would never watch, but something she would enjoy. Even if no one else did lately, she was going to treat herself.

The weather was unseasonably warm so Janine dressed accordingly; a floral print that hugged her curves on top and flowed freely around mid-calf and a pair of matching heels. As an added boost to her flagging ego, she'd put on sexy underthings, not caring that no one would see them but her. This was going to be her day and she meant to enjoy every bit of it.

******
With the bank, the library and the cleaner's out of the way, Janine stopped by in at the grocery store and bought two T-bones, some fresh mushrooms and a couple of nice baking potatoes along with the makings for a crisp, green salad. Strawberries and cream for dessert, she thought. There was a fresh crop in from California -- luscious, ripe and juicy.

Next was the liquor store. Browsing the aisles, she even found a pre-made Easter basket filled with all her favorites. Who could turn down Godiva dark chocolate and peanut butter eggs? Giggling like a naughty schoolgirl, Janine added that to her basket, along with a nice Cabernet Sauvignon that she was particularly fond of.

Blockbusters was her last stop, an oldie but goodie -- "Falling in Love" with Meryl Streep and the to-die-for DeNiro. She'd seen it before, of course, but it was just what the doctor ordered... or at least what Janine did.

It wasn't until she was halfway home that she realized she'd taken the long way. One she hadn't bothered with for a long, long time only just now realizing as she slowly drove past Mary and Zack's. There was no sign of him, but a bright flutter of color suddenly caught her eye and she tipped her head to take a better look.

The flag!

It obviously wasn't Valentine's Day, could it mean what she thought? Stepping on the gas, Janine hurried home before she got any bright -- or not so bright -- ideas. It wasn't until she started to put the groceries away that Janine realized she'd bought enough for two.

 

[TheCentaur]

Zack

It was a rather routine day at work, nothing exciting, but a lot of progress was made on the McCormack project. The worst thing about work was going home to an empty house. After years of the kids, who are now grown, it was just too quiet.

I thought about stopping off for dinner on the way home but didn't feel like another restaurant. Maybe I'd just throw a burger on the grill. As I walked in the door, the phone rang. So I grabbed it with the usual "Hello?"

 

[Maid of Marvels]

Janine

Janine was annoyed with herself. Somehow that "evening just for her" had been spoiled because she'd done what she'd automatically done for twenty years. Included Jeff in her plans. Whether on a subconscious level, or maybe just from habit, she didn't know, but she would lay odds he was having dinner with his latest client and would soon be sound asleep in front of the television at the hotel within a half hour of his return.

The image of the flag in front of Mary and Zack's wouldn't leave her be as she finished putting things away. Which of the girls, she wondered, would be the one to take up Mary's offer? They'd all had the same complaints, after all -- husbands that weren't interested in them or sex anymore. Or, for those that were, the guys just weren't interested in anything further than the usual. In the two years since Mary had passed away, she doubted that had changed much, and for some, it might have even gotten worse.

Looking at the clock, Janine figured she'd get the call to her husband out of the way. It was just something she did no matter where he was. She always had and she guessed she probably always would. Picking up the phone, she began to dial...

"Hello?"

Janine drew in her breath. What in the world had she even been thinking? She hadn't been thinking -- that was the whole problem. Somehow, she'd dialled a number she'd engraved in her head for years and the person who answered the phone wasn't Jeff at all... It was...

"Erm... Hi, Zack. It's me, Janine. Janine Hendershot!" She hadn't seen him in months, though they sometimes did run into each other at parties. Please, Lord. Don't let him think I'm calling because of the flag.

 

[TheCentaur]

Zack

Janine Hendershot? Why was she calling. I'd forgotten about the flag after all the work I got done today.

"Janine? How are you? What can I do for you?"

 

[Maid of Marvels]

Janine

Feeling like a complete and utter fool, Janine realized she'd made a mistake. "Erm... I'm sorry. I think I just made a mistake when I dialled. So sorry."

Not waiting for him to answer, she hung up the phone and decided, much like Bilbo Baggins that adventures only made one late for dinner... and she still had one waiting to be cooked.

 

[TheCentaur]

Zack

There was silence on the other line.

Janine & Jeff always seemed to have a rocky relationship. And at various times Jeff had confided in me, well, certain improprieties during business trips. At times I wish I could've let Janine in on it but that would be breaking a confidence, as bad as that sometimes was.

I was waiting for Janine's to speak when the "if you'd like to make a call.. please hang up and dial again" warning came on. That was funny? I was debating whether to call her back when I heard a knock at the door.

 

[landiek]

Landi Kent

Landi was sitting on the porch of her place and watched the night slide into the sweet hues of orange and daffodil yellow softening shades of rose and pale pink against the azure skies.

A quick reflection of her life showed many disappointments and watching the sunrise always seem to set the day in a better shade of grey. Landi lived alone and dispied every second. She was raised in a large family and was always the best care taker. Now being alone depressed her greatly as Roy's voice haunted her thoughts.

"It's not working anymore for me, Landi. I need someone more my age. Hell your twenty years my junior and you run me ragged. I just want out."

"You know Roy, I never twisted your arm to marry me. You asked me after we'd been dating for three months. But if you wanna go be my guest!.... There's the door don't let it hit you in the ass as You run the hell out." Landi watched him go and then she locked the door and cried.

"Ahhhh but good ole Mary, she was the lucky one." Landi sighed as she watched the robins flitter around the yard searching the ground for fat worms to feast upon. "Loving husband.. nice home... close to her family... what I would have given to be in her shoes at least a dozen times."

Landi slowly rose and faced the dawn. Those old shamanistic traits rummaging thru her bones. She stepped in the center of her lawn and raised her arms skywards and in her Cherokee tradition welcomed the day with a song.

When she finished she glances about the landscape and her eyes percieved a scrape of clothe flowing in the sky with a red heart. A smile passed her cheeks as she twirled in small circles.

"HOU CHOONWEH! I'll be damned if he hasn't found the flag!" With that she moved into her house and started planning a surprise visit to the ole widower.

It was midday when she finally compiled her basket. Sweet breads, honey, fresh made strawberry jam, a few sticks of jasmine. She grabbed a woven blanket and some other items that were sacred enough to excuse the visit from her unworded oath of ignoring the urges of womanhood. Of course thirteen years of holding an oath was past the ten year promise that she made. Then she stopped at the door of her house. "You are forgetting something woman."

Landi nodded and walked back into the kitchen grabbing a dark bottle from the upper cabinet and a box. She slide them into the basket and walked to the door.

 

[TheCentaur]

Zack

Zack opened the door and saw Landi standing there. I always thought she was a little strange. She had a basket some food and a bottle. I couldn't tell exactly what was in there but I was getting hungry.

"Landi, what brings you here?"

 

[landiek]

Landi smiled with a bright glow "Actually a little bird said you might be needing a snack." then she chuckled.

She pushed the blanket back on her elbow and then turned her head making the auburn tresses fall away from dropping into her eyes. "I was rather hoping that a picnic in your back yard sounded fairly good."

Landi looked into Zack's eyes then dropped hers quickly. She couldn't quite drop her ole submissive habits as well as some of the others but this time was different. At least in her heart she planned to be different.

 

[TheCentaur]

Zack

"Uhm, OK" I said. I hadn't been on a picnic in ages. "Let's go around back." As we walked back, I spotted the flag and stopped. I looked at the flag then back at Landi and then at the flag. Now it made sense. I also wondered if that's why Janine had called earlier, perhaps getting cold feet.

I began to get nervous. "Y-y-you're here about the flag, aren't you?"

 

[landiek]

Landi looked up at the pole and noticed the flag. At first she debated on trying not to admit it but deep down knew that it would be wrong of her to delude Zack on a mental wild goose chase.

"Yes that is part of the reason that I came." She finally admitted.

Landi couldn't help notice the wide girth of the willow. It would be a superb spot for the picnic. She snapped the blanket open and laid it out on the soft green carpet. Landi sat down and opened the basket.

"I've even brought wine glasses." Smiled softly as her mind rattled on what to say next

 

[TheCentaur]

Zack

"Great," I said, taking a glass. I sat on the blanket and peered in the basket to see what goodies were in there. It certainly smelled nice and my stomach was letting me know it was ready.

"So tell me, what did Mary tell you and why were you so eager to get over here?"

 

[landiek]

"Mary always mentioned her love for you. Swore that she would love you til the end of time. And she did too.. which I might add drove me nuts trying to figure why mine wasn't more like yours." Landi handed Zack the wine bottle and the cork screw. "Hope you like erotic wines.... I mean exotic..."

She pulled out the breads and jam, then the jar of fresh honey. She also hoped that he wasn't allergic to Huckleberry wine.

"One time while we were at that little coffee shop at the Big Mall. Mary mentioned how.. well kinky things got.. why you and her were so blessed. I have to admit I was jealous... well I guess it is in my nature to have envy for one that has better ....ummm well" Blushing slightly which was hard to tell with her rosy skin tone.

Landi handed Zack a large slice of bread. "We once talked about our fondest dream.... it was the day that she brought that flag after Valentine's day at the Hallmark."

"Have you ever wished that you had a symbol that told you that someone would made your wildest fantasy come true, Landi?" Mary asked as she glanced at the teal colored fabric with the fushia colored heart in the middle.

"Beautiful flag but too late for Valentine's don't you think, Mary." Nodding at the thought. "Damn, some man that would spirl my yearnings. It would be like dying and going to heaven I suppose."

"What if this very flag represented someone was willing to make that fantasy come true." Mary's face was very determined.

Landi chuckled. "I'd be there in a flurry of thrity minutes or the length of time to run from my place with breads, jams, and huckleberry wine in a picnic basket."

Landi looked at the blanket. Deep inside she always dreamed of this day arriving in fact she was downright screaming hallelujah when she noticed it flying. "she said that this flag would be a symbol of the day someone would make my biggest fantasy come true."

Landi looked back at Zack then grinned "Of course, she never said it would be her handsome hubby doing the fulfilling."

 

[TheCentaur]

Zack

I gave a fake smile as my eyes started to water. "That must've been two years ago" I remembered that Valentine's day well. It had been a year after the last treatment. We'd thought we might have the thing licked, but then we found out it came back and had spread. The prognosis was not good.

"That was the Valentine's Day I surprised her with a trip to Overlook Resort, where we spent our honeymoon. I don't think we did anything really kinky that weekend. We just..." I had to pause to regain my composure. I dabbed my eyes with one of the napkins.

"Sorry. I'll get those brief moments every now and then. I hope you can put up with it. They pass quickly.

"Anyway, Mary said that weekend that she'd make it up to me. I wasn't sure what she was talking about at the time. Last night I found a note from her saying how much she appreciated how I made her fantasies come true and that she'd told all her friends about the flag and she wanted me to make her friends' fantasies come true, if they wanted.

"I really don't think of myself doing anything special. About 7 years ago our sex life hit the blahs, you know how marriages can get that way. Well, one night we were sitting there watching TV and she's watching this show and she sees this, in her words, hot doctor give this woman an exam with some sexual undertones and she says 'Boy, I'd like him to give me an exam like that.' So I came up with the idea and set up our bedroom like a makeshift doctors office one evening when the kids were away. I put on a doctors costume and I had found and took her into my 'doctor's office' and proceeded to give her a thorough exam. We had a blast and things kind of evolved from there."

I took a bite of the bread with some honey on it and sipped the wine. "Sorry, I'm rambling. This is good by the way," I said. Truth is, I'm more of a meat & potatoes kind of guy, but I'm not afraid to try something new every now & then.

"I will admit, however, I'm quite nervous - hence the rambling. Your expectations put a lot of pressure on a guy."

 

[landiek]

Landi listened quietly as she studied his face.

He took a bite of the bread with some honey on it and sipped the wine. "Sorry, I'm rambling. This is good by the way," I said. Truth is, I'm more of a meat & potatoes kind of guy, but I'm not afraid to try something new every now & then."

Landi smiled and replied, "That's good"

"I will admit, however, I'm quite nervous - hence the rambling. Your expectations put a lot of pressure on a guy."

Landi chuckled. "I must admit that I don't have the regular run of the mill sort of thing. And now that I am here.. I feel butterflies in my belly too."

She watched him sit there all patient as she thought about her fantasy. Then she took a deep breathe and revealed her dream.

"There is this private park called Summit's Landing. I have a plot of land there.. not far from the woods and a spring. The pool is rather cool but it is swimming nice. I've always dreamed that the prince of faeries comes and watches me bath in that spring. But i would like to go further then watching.. like being kissed in the moonlight and what happens happens.."

 

[TheCentaur]

Zack

I smirked a bit. I tried to hide it so to not make her feel self-conscious. This was definitely a Landi fantasy, something way different that Mary's other friends would come up with. I was always amused at the things Mary would tell me about her. It would be fun, as I would get to go way out of the box for this one.

"Tell me about this prince of faeries guy. What's he look like. Does he have wings? How's he watching you? From up in a tree? Or would you prefer to be surprised?"

 

[landiek]

"Well lets see, he has long flowing yellowish hair and pixie ears. His wings are transparent. Sometimes he watches from the trees, or that patch of grass near the spring." She closed her eyes and added. "He wears royal shades of purple and a small crown of roses of brightest red and his eyes are the softest shade of brown.. kinda like yours."

Landi took a sip of wine and then smiled. "I sort of see him being very possessive too. After all a lovely maiden doesn't always catch the eye of a Faerie Prince."

 

[TheCentaur]

Zack

I watched Landi as she closed her eyes and started to describe her fantasy. While the fantasy was different - quite different - than anything Mary did, I recognized the similar, evident desire within her. I thought to myself that Mary was wise in her decision to encourage me to do this, it's almost a way to keep her with me.

"One more question. When you say possessive. How do you mean that? Do you mean possessive in a jealous sort of way or in more of a dominant sort of way."

 

[landiek]

Landi looked over at Zack and wriggled her nose. "In some ways jealousy would play a part if there was a threat of another taking his place but on the other hand he is the Prince and used to getting things his way. A mortal can be improper to the Royal manners."

 

[TheCentaur]

Zack

I'm not sure I understood all of what she said, but I understood enough, I think.

"This would mean a lot to you to do this, wouldn't it? I understand there's a full moon this Saturday and forecasts are for clear skies and warm temperatures. Sounds like a perfect night for an outdoor bath don't you think?"

 

[landiek]

"well then Saturday is a date. Can You find the park okay? There is a gravel road to the south of the spring. I can give you a map if you want." Landi drank down the last of her wine.

With a bright smile she leaned over and kissed his cheek. Nothing out of the ordinary on Landi's part. In fact she often gave Mary a kiss when she was overly happy.

Too bad Saturday was three days away.

 

[TheCentaur]

Zack

My mind was already thinking of how to come up with the costume to wear.

"I believe the prince can find the park OK. He'll be there sometime after sundown, not too late where it gets really cold, but late enough so the moon is bright. But he will surprise you with the exact time. His highness sets his own schedule. And be advised he also wears what he wishes." That last sentence was more of a hedge in case I couldn't match her vision exactly.

"And thank you for the lovely picnic this evening." I returned the kiss on the cheek. "It's always wonderful to enjoy a fine meal with a lovely lady."

She left for home and I went inside and began to look around the house for items that might be suitable for a faerie prince.

 

[landiek]

"And thank you for the lovely picnic this evening." He returned the kiss on the cheek. "It's always wonderful to enjoy a fine meal with a lovely lady."

It was a sweet gesture and one that lingered on as Landi went about her daily routine. First off was to make that sheer little outfit that always gets the Faerie Prince's attentions just before stepping into that spring.

 

[TheCentaur]

Zack

After Landi had left, I went in and scrambled up a couple of eggs. The picnic was nice, very nice in fact, but this ol' boy needs something more substantial. As I was finishing them up, I had an idea. I went up into the attic and found an old box of my kids' halloween costumes. Ironically, I used to complain how Mary never threw anything away.

There. I found it. The fairy costume that my daughter wore one year. It probably was close to 10 years ago now, but it was in decent shape. The wings were quite large on a little girl but they're a bit small for an adult male. Still, they were big enough to be visible and would be good for my new costume.

I finished up some items around the house and then went to sleep, reflecting on how interesting and exciting this day had been. "Thanks for a wonderful day, Mary," I said quietly before drifting off.