“Enough excuses. Get the pumps working and drain the site. Just do it. Your guys can work in the rain. They won’t melt. I’m going to phone your manager and inform her what an awful job you’re doing.”
His face is red. Don’t have a heart attack. I’d let you die. You’re scary. I’m out of here.
Not again. He’s drunk. God, I hope he’s got brewer’s droop. Just the smell of stale beer on his breath makes me want to puke. No, he’s stumbling toward me.
“Come on, gorgeous, give me a kiss.”
I’m Jo, and that monster is me.
“Get off me.”
He’s too strong. Yuck, he’s kissing me and pushing his tongue into my mouth.
This is my chance. He’s gone to get another beer from the fridge.
Time to run. Where can I go? I’m not dressed. That monster ripped my clothes off. I know, the bathroom. I can lock the door from the inside. He’s so drunk, it’s only a matter of time before he passes out.
I heard him walking around downstairs.
“Where are you?” The front door opened and then slammed shut. “Hun, don’t play hard to get. I know you love playing hide-and-seek. This is making me angry.”
He’s coming up the stairs.
The bathroom doorknob moved.
Please hold... please.
“Come on out. I know you’re in there.” Thud, thud, the door shook but held. “This isn’t fun anymore. I need a drink.”
Thank God, he’s going. I can still hear him bumbling around downstairs. That’s the fridge door he’s slammed. He’ll pass out soon... I hope.
* * * *
Joanne shook Gordon. “Wake up. You’re having a nightmare. It’s withdrawals. You haven’t had a drink for over twenty-four hours.” She slapped his face. “Wake up,” she screamed.
Gordon opened his eyes, but he was still shaking.
He’s convulsing, and his eyes... they’re white. She shouted, “You’re still asleep. Gordon, wake up and come back to me.”
She slapped his face a second time.
Slowly, Gordon stopped shaking, and his eyes gradually returned to normal. Joanne held up two fingers. “How many fingers do you see?”
Gordon slurred, “T-two.”
She changed and held up four fingers. “And now?”
Gordon’s face changed. He looked scared. “Four. What happened?”
“You were having a nightmare. It’s over now. You’re okay.”
She pulled him close and cuddled him as if he were a child. “It’s all right now,” she whispered.
Gordon mumbled, “I don’t deserve you. I’m a drunk with a nasty temper.”
Joanne slowly rocked back and forth and continued to hold him. “It’ll be fine, trust me. You gave me a scare. You were screaming in your sleep. Can you remember your dream?”
“It was a nightmare. I was walking in the shoes of my victims. A guy at work... I screamed at him, and I got him fired. It was simply vengeance. Then I became you, cowering in the bathroom, while I, in a drunken rage, tried to bash the door down. Did I do that? I don’t remember.”
“Yes, you did.”
Gordon cried as she held him.
Chapter Four: New Beginnings
Joanne woke with a start. She still clasped Gordon’s head to her bosom. I guess this weekend has proved I still love him, but only if he’s sober. She carefully climbed out of bed and stripped off her corset. Can’t believe I slept in it. She shook the dress and hung it back in the wardrobe, then folded the fishnet stockings, the garter belt, and the brassiere. Look, there’s a soiled linen basket. Don’t remember seeing that last night, but we were a little busy. The sex was out of this world. We were animals. I need a shower.
She dressed and headed downstairs. Wonder if they have any coffee? She rang the bell at reception.
A young woman came out from the back office. “Ah, Mrs. Baily. I hope you slept well. Before you ask, we don’t do breakfast, but we do have fresh coffee and Danish pastries. Would you like me to bring you a carafe and a selection to your room?”
“Yes, please. What time do we need to check out?”
“There’s no rush. Normally, our guests check out by noon, but if you require longer, there’s no additional charge.”
“Noon should be fine. I hope you don’t mind, I wore the dress left in the wardrobe.”
“Mr. Cobler had it placed there specifically for you. Did it a fit all right?”
Joanne smiled. “Perfect.”
She went back upstairs. Gordon stirred. He rolled over and opened his eyes.
“Jo, I don’t know what to say. Honest, I didn’t know.”
“Hush, it can wait. I’ve ordered coffee and pastries. We can eat it out on the veranda and watch the world go by. Go get a shower.”
Someone knocked on the door. “Hurry, it’s our breakfast.”
Gordon jumped out of bed. Two steps and he was in the bathroom. My, he does have one sexy body. She opened the door.
The young woman asked, “Where shall I put your coffee and pastries?”
“Please put them out on the veranda.”
“No problem.”
Ten minutes later, Gordon joined her. She poured him a black coffee. “It’s good. I’m afraid I ate most of the pastries, but I did leave you one.”
Gordon drank his coffee in silence.
Joanne turned and stared at him. “That’s enough, spit it out.”
“Why haven’t you left me?”
“I may, don’t push it. Strangely enough, this weekend has given me hope, but you have to change.”
Gordon sat down.
Joanne poured him a second cup. “For one, you’re a nasty drunk. That has to change.”
Gordon’s shoulders slumped. “I don’t think I can do that without help.”
“I don’t expect you to. Join Alcoholics Anonymous. I think an anger management course will help, too. I’ll join Al-Anon so I can better understand what you’re going through. If you decide to try, I’ll make you this promise... I will walk the path with you and support you.”
“Do you think it will work?”
“If we both want it to... yes, it will.”
“Do we have time for a walk?”
“We’ll make time.”
They walked down Main Street. Joanne doubled over laughing.
“What is it?”
She pointed to a sign.
He smiled. “Bunion Park. Yes, it’s funny.”
They returned to the hotel at eleven. Two packages were waiting for them at the reception desk.
Joanne immediately opened them. She handed one to Gordon. “This is yours. My favorite shoes . . . they look as good as new.” She put them on. “And they feel perfect. I love them. Hubby, get the bill and pay the man.”
Mr. Cobler came out from the office. “I couldn’t help but overhear. Here it is, Mr. Baily. I hope you enjoyed your brief stay in Slipper City.”
Gordon chuckled. “I think you own the entire town. I don’t have enough cash to pay. Can I use my credit card?”
“Credit is fine.” Ron took the card and ran it through a machine, taking an imprint of the card.
Joanne asked, “You still use a manual machine? Is it even legal? It’s archaic.”
Ron smiled. “And so am I. Mrs. Baily, would you be offended if I gave you a gift?”
“No, not at all.”
He gave her a little box. “Don’t open it until you get home.”
“I promise, and thank you.”
They left Slipper City at noon. The sun shone, and it didn’t seem to take very long before they were heading north on I-15.
Gordon commented, “It’s strange. I’ve driven down this road hundreds of times, and I’ve never noticed that exit until yesterday.”
* * * *
They made record time getting home. As soon as they walked through the door, Gordon said, “Open it. Aren’t you curious?”
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Joanne looked blank. “What... oh, the little box Mr. Cobler gave me.”
She fished the box out of her handbag, opened it, and dangled a little pair of silver shoes. “They’re perfect for my charm bracelet.”
She quickly added them and gave her wrist a shake. “We have a memento.”
* * * *
Two months later.
“Jo, I’m off to the AA meeting.”
“Good, for some reason Al-Anon is delayed. It’s later this week. Do you get your chip tonight?”
“Yes, two months sober... who would have thought? The anger management course really helped, too. I realized that I bottled up all the stress from work, and it had no release. I drank to switch off, but the booze didn’t resolve the underlying issues. I’m a nasty drunk. How did you put up with me?”
Jo stood up on tiptoes and kissed him. “I love this you.”
“That weekend away was the turning point. Did I tell you the Boot Inn didn’t charge us?”
“You mean we had a free weekend getaway? No, we made a thousand dollars!”
“Well, you did, and my Italian shoes are better than new. It still feels like I’m floating when I walk in them. We’ll have to go back to Slipper City and settle up with Mr. Cobler.”
“Let’s do it this weekend. I want us to stay in room number three again.”
Gordon laughed. “You and me both.”
They set off first thing Saturday morning. Traffic was light, and before they realized, the next exit was old town Temecula.
“How did we miss the exit?”
“I don’t know. Let’s head back.”
“The next exit’s the ninety-one freeway. The exit to Slipper City... it’s gone. How’s that possible?”
Joanne answered, “I don’t know. Take me home.”
They pulled into their driveway. Joanne asked, “Are we expecting a package?”
“Don’t think so.”
“Drop me off. There’s a box on the porch. You park the car, and I’ll check out our mysterious package.”
Gordon parked the car and unpacked the luggage. He staggered in via the garage entrance. Joanne’s left the front door open, and a trail of packing paper leads upstairs. He closed the door and followed the paper trail, picking up each piece. They led to the bedroom. He opened the door.
His own personal courtesan stood admiring herself in the mirror. “Hubby, there’s a note from Ron. It says not to worry about the bill. It’s his gift to us, and there’s a PS. Remember to walk in someone else’s shoes.”
About the Author
Stefan Angelina McElvain has always been fascinated with adult erotica, fantasy, and paranormal science fiction.
Stefan is now retired, living in the South Bay, Los Angeles. He’s married, with two sons and two grandsons. Born in England in the early fifties, he relocated to Los Angeles in the late eighties.
Stefan has a degree from Manchester University in physics and a master’s in business from the University of Southern California.
You can contact the author on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/StefanAngelinaMcElvain/
These are other Stefan stories:
Alex, Origins Book One
Journey, Origins Book Two
Going Home, Origins Book Three
Pentagram, Origins sequel
Time Runs Out, Invasion Book One
Resistance We Live and Hope, Invasion Book Two
Time Circle, Invasion Book Three
Cilla’s Journey, Cosmetologist Extraordinhair Book One
Cilla’s Adventures, Cosmetologist Extraordinhair Book Two
This is Cilla Beyond Extraordinhair, Cosmetologist Extraordinhair Book Three
Frosty, the Snow-woman
A Walk in Your Shoes Page 3
