Time for some fun. I don't know about you but I believe moving or remodeling is one of the most stressful events one faces in their life. Whether you hire someone or DIY, problems arise. Some serious, some hilarious. If you have a remodeling story you would like to share send me an email and with your permission I will add it to the stories within the story. It could be anonmyous if you prefer.
The story below I started in 2007 and decided to add to it. What I have below is what I already wrote and it may suprise you. New stories to come.
Enjoy!
Not only was it hot and steamy outside, it was hot and steamy in Isabelle’s shower. To her surprise and it was a surprise Matt walked in buck naked, smiling and whispered in her ear, “it’s time.” “We’ve been playing this game long enough and unless we do something about it promoting the book together will be next to impossible." Isabelle had no time to think. The heat was getting to her, not just in a humid sweaty sort of way, but burning from the inside. She could no longer control her physical body. She was losing control while pure lust took hold. Matt grabbed her from behind and slowly twisted a wet washcloth that allowed the water to trickle down her breasts. He was standing so close to Isabelle that she could feel the swelling of his groin getting harder and harder, touching her skin, making her weak in the knees.
“Damn it,” shouted Isabelle. This is the part of the dream where she always wakes up. Whether it is her sub conscious or a ringing phone, she can’t or won’t finish the dream. What’s stopping her? Guilt she thinks. It makes her feel like she is cheating on her boyfriend. It is two days before she is to begin the book tour for Contractor Chronicles. The book will be talked about on television talk shows, radio and a variety of book signings. Matt agreed to join her, at least part time to promote the book. After all, the book is based on contractors, one in particular. Who better to help with the story then the man the book is about?
Isabelle 5”7’, weighs 155 pounds, has thick dark brown almost black hair with some loose curls that reach the middle of her back. Her eyes are hazel and she thinks on the dull side. She wants captivating eyes like Matt that draws a person in. She is however just as captivating as he is. She has an aura around her that takes most people by surprise. She looks like your average suburban soccer mom and knows she has an effect on people, but didn’t understand why. She met her ex-husband Sam during college. They both went to a private university in Rhode Island. She earned a degree in elementary education, Sam in graphic design. They dated for two and a half years and married when they were both twenty-three. Isabelle eager to have kids made Sam promise they would start a family right away. They tried and tried but to no avail. Isabelle sought out the best fertility specialist, but nothing worked. After spending more money then they had, Isabelle’s dream to have kids came to an end. It made no sense in Isabelle’s mind. She was a wonderful teacher, loved her third-graders, and made each and every one of them feel special. Maybe she wasn’t meant to have kids of her own because others needed her more. Fair or not, that’s the way it was and she felt cheated. Over-time she became bitter and depressed, refused to go to support groups or take anti-depressants. In her mind going to a support group meant that she was giving up on having a child. Her marriage ended because of her obsession with having a child. Ending the marriage was mutual but not what either of them had in mind when they married straight out of college 10 years earlier. Isabelle now 35 and divorced for 2 years has since agreed to go on anti-depressants and has been in a serious relationship for the last year with Zack. They met when a friend of Isabelle’s set then up. He is a sales manager for an exercise equipment company. Because of his job he travels more then Isabelle likes and not at home with her in Rhode Island. She understands, but is in a place in her life where she wants more, and is worried the only thing that will satisfy her is a child.
Isabelle met Matt through the publishing company she works for as an assistant editor. She gave up teaching when she accepted the reality that there was very little chance she would ever be able to give birth and she wasn’t ready for the emotional roller coaster adoption could bring. Working with children everyday was more then she could handle.
The publishing company assigned Isabelle to edit Matt’s story. The connection was almost instant. He is 44, has wavy dark brown hair, brown eyes and arms as big as Hercules, not to mention his contractor skills adding to his good looks made most, but not all men, wince. His soulful eyes, strong arms along with a personality that was pleasing yet not overwhelming, captivated women. It’s as though his good looks were as much a blessing as a curse. Currently Matt was single with two ex-wives, no kids and an assortment of friends, mostly women. Matt wondered what his clients would think about the book he wrote, Contractor Chronicles. The stories are true but the names are changed. Will they see themselves in the book? Some will.
Due to the books release Matt was reflective and thought back to Ms. Sinclair, the straight-laced accountant whose basement he remodeled four years ago. She was in her mid forties, a brunette with short hair that framed her face, a small frame with delicate features and small breasts to match. Her hips had a slight curve to them. Her stomach was flat. She looked to be 5”6’ and Matt guessed 120 pounds. Not bad for a women in her mid forties who had a sedentary job. The way her clothes laid perfectly on her body and the way she strolled across a room would make one think body image was very important to her. Matt’s overall impression of Ms. Sinclair was one of reserve, not risk until the day she showed up at Matt’s front door. It was a several months after Matt finished her basement. He assumed there time together was over and was well into his next few jobs.
“Please, come in.” Matt suggested not sure as to why she was there. Matt led her into the kitchen and asked if he could take her coat. “Sure,” she said, and to Matt’s surprise underneath the coat, nothing. Her skin glistened, and no words came out of his mouth. Ms. Sinclair did all the talking. “I couldn’t take a shower at home this morning because we have a leak that is coming from the shower and your house is on my way to work, so if you don’t mind may I use yours.
“Mine?” was Matt’s response.
“Yes yours, you can join me as long as it stays between us. You can call me Mandy.”
“Who is this woman?” wondered Matt. Was she the uptight accountant he assumed she was or women with a wild side she hid very well.
“Nice bathroom” she told Matt. “Of course, that is what I would expect in a contractors home.” Hurry up she told him. I have a meeting in one hour.” Matt already dressed and ready to start his day quickly undressed and joined her in the shower. Matt not usually one for a lack of words was speechless. Let me wash your back, Ms Sinclair suggested. Matt complied and couldn’t hide his excitement. Mindy Sinclair knew it and rubbed up to him as close as she could while washing his back. She continued down his rather nice ass and the back of his legs. Matt took over and poured shampoo into his hands and rubbed it gently through her hair. He leaned into her as the water poured down her head rinsing out the shampoo. If what was going to come next did not involve sex, Matt felt as though he would explode.
Mandy Sinclair was no angel at least in the biblical sense. To Matt, she was heaven sent. She stepped out of the shower, grabbed a towel, dried herself first, and then she towel dried Matt. She grabbed his hand and they walked toward his bed. She pulled him down onto the bed and began to kiss his forehead. She told him to close his eyes and not open them. He complied and anticipated what was to come. She kissed his
chest, his stomach, the inside of his legs, everywhere she could think to raise his level of anticipation. By the size of the bulge coming from his groin area she was succeeding. He had enough she thought and told him to open his eyes. He did and without warning took over. He was all over Mandy and she was not complaining. They flowed together like waves in the sea. Up and down, with an occasional crash, then back to a soothing flow.
After about twenty minutes of raw sex Mandy got up and quickly put on her trench coat and went out to her car to grab the bag she packed with clothes. She returned to the bedroom, went back into the bathroom, alone this time to quickly clean up and get dressed for her upcoming meeting. She kissed Matt one last time before leaving the bedroom and whispered in his ear, “I need my shower fixed. This was fun but I can’t get away with it every day.”
“I understand.” He said “I’ll give you a call after checking my schedule.”
As quickly as Mandy arrived she was gone.
“What the hell just happened, Matt wondered? He prided himself on reading woman but Mandy was an unexpected surprise.
With the book tour beginning in two days the similarities between Matt and Isabelle were obvious but neither of them could see it. They both tried to fill their life with distractions, but on the inside, they were lonely. The book helped Isabelle use her writing and marketing skills. Matt simply enjoyed spending time with Isabelle. He wonders if a man and a woman can truly have a platonic relationship. Isabelle and Matt have been meeting for almost a year and the sexual tension in the air could be cut with a knife. The emotional bond they shared was getting to him and he didn’t know what to do about it.
Belle knew more about Matt than his family, or his ex wives. She has been writing his story for almost a year and as far as she knows he hasn’t kept anything from her. You would think if she wanted to sleep with the guy there was nothing to stop her other than guilt. Or, it could be the fact that she does know as much as she does and some of it frightens her. She could easily let her emotions take over and deal with the consequences. She doesn’t know if she is ready to face that. At heart, she is a free spirit with an analytical mind. The two don’t always blend well. The analytical part usually takes over. It’s a safe way for Isabelle to live, but not always authentic.
Is Matt more obsessed with Isabelle, or is Isabelle more obsessed with Matt? Isabelle has a stable life, a hard working boyfriend, and a new career in writing. What is it about Matt that she can’t let go of? It may be that when she is with him she lets go of her obsession of having a child, at least temporarily. Or, is it unfinished business from a previous life? If you believe in Karma, it might. Neither Matt, nor Isabelle can explain the connection they share. It’s transparent, but yet neither of them can nor will give in to their emotions. Maybe fear has them trapped. Feeling so connected so quickly is overwhelming and down right terrifying, when one, or both are not free to act on them.
Matt thought he would have a hard time falling asleep knowing the debut of the book would be the day after tomorrow. However as soon as his head hit the pillow he was out. In-fact he was sleeping so soundly that Isabelle had to call him from her cell phone to get him to answer his front door.
“Matt, did you forget I was coming by today. I’m at your front door.
“No, I wouldn’t forget you. I simply overslept. I’m coming.”
Matt threw on a pair of shorts and ran to open the front door. He sleeps in the nude and didn’t think that his naked body was the best way to start their last day before the book debuts, maybe to end the day he secretly hoped.
“Good morning, Matt. I picked up donuts for us.”
“Great! Would you mind making the coffee? Obviously I need to get dressed.”
“You look fine to me,” Isabelle said with a smile that turned Matt into an awkward schoolboy.
“I know you want me Matt, but first things first, coffee and donuts.” Matt knew Isabelle would regret it if they slept together. The timing wasn’t right. She wasn’t as ready as she pretended to be. He could see it in her eyes. She reminds him of a turtle. She’ll stick out her neck when she feels safe but still finds comfort knowing she has her shell to protect her. Once they make love there is no going back. Not for him and not for her. With his charm and good looks Matt can sleep pretty much with any woman he wants, and he has more times than he cares to admit. But Isabelle is different. He’s afraid to hurt her and possibly hurt himself.
“Chocolate for you, cream filled for me,” said Isabelle as she got the coffee mugs, cream and napkins.
“I’ll miss our Monday mornings of donuts, coffee and storytelling,” Matt said.
I’ll miss them too, but I have some great news. My publisher thinks it is great you’re going on the road with me to promote the book. Part-time Matt reminded her. Can you handle a month on the road with me?” asked Isabelle.
“I think so? Time will tell.”
“What does your boyfriend say?”
“He’s not happy, but understands how hard I’ve worked on the story and won’t hold me back. We will need separate rooms of course.
“Okay, enough publicity talk. Are we going to do a sequel?” Matt questioned Isabelle.
“That will depend on whether the people who buy the book want more. If they find the stories interesting, and we can think up more to write about I don’t see why not.
“I hope so,” Matt spoke up. “I’m still alive and we can’t leave our readers with a lot of unanswered questions.”
“I have a question, what happened when you went back to fix Mandy’s shower?”
“Jealous?”
“No, curious.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, that’s what they all say.”
“Jealous or not, what happened?”
“I went over a couple weeks later and it turned out to be a simple caulking job. She got right to the point. Do you want to take a shower before or after you fix it?”
“Mandy, I said. This shower needs to be re-caulked and dry before it gets used. As much as I enjoyed our shower together I need to fix the caulking or were talking major water damage over time.”
“No problem, I have another shower in the hall bathroom. You do the caulking here and I’ll wait for you to finish.”
As I finished the caulking the doorbell rang. No shower this time I thought.
“Matt, this is Bridget. She’s part of my swingers club.”
“Your swingers club,” I asked very confused.
Yes, she said, Bridgett, my husband Bob, Myself, and seven others, two married, three single make up our little group. We occasionally ask others to join us. I’m asking you.
I told her that she is a beautiful woman and that I like sex as much as the next guy, but I’m not into group sex.
“Okay then, we will stick to contractor only work,” Mandy replied looking disappointed.
“What do I owe you, she asked?”
I told her $75.00 would be fine.
She went to get her purse, grabbed her checkbook and left me her swinger’s card, “in case you change your mind,” she said.
I left in a daze. I didn’t know who Mandy Sinclair was. Was she a room mother with two kids’ or a sex addict who picks up men like groceries? I left feeling very used. To Mandy I was a piece of meat. Was I prime rib? Was I a tender and tasty strip steak? Or was I a hot dog? She was a fascinating and intriguing women but her lifestyle was not for him.
“I’m in shock. Why did you leave that out of the book?”
“To protect her kids I suppose.”
“That was very chivalrous of you.”
“I’m not just a guy with an amazing smile, a good sense of humor and arms like Hercules. I have a heart.”
“I know that.” and after saying so Isabelle gave Matt a kiss on the cheek. “I can see below the surface of those charming good lucks.”
He wanted to kiss her so bad it was actually painful. He held on to the pain knowing that kissing Isabelle before they were about to spend a month together on the road could only lead to chaos.
“Matt, I now wonder what else you kept out of the book?”
Let’s leave it at this. I haven’t lied to you, but I have left some stories out.
That can be our next book, Contractor Chronicles, Behind Closed Doors.
“Sounds intriguing” said Isabelle and left it at that.
“Can you spend the day with me?”
“Why Belle,” Matt said with a suspicious tone in his voice. What do you have in mind?”
“I want to go over each chapter in the book so when we promote it we’re in-tune and ready for any questions that may come up.
“I’m yours for the day, said Matt, whatever you want.”
She wanted to say, I want you, but didn’t.
Okay then, let’s start with the first story, Charlie and Hanna’s house.
Chapter 1
First story, Charlie and Hanna’s house.
When one thinks of the girl next door Hanna would be a perfect example. She is the type of girl all moms want their son to marry. A devoted, honest, compassionate person who some would call angelic. She had red wavy hair, fair skin with some freckles but not enough to cover her entire face. She is 5”4 and tips the scale at 115 pounds.
Charlie is Matt’s best friend. They have been best friends since kindergarten. Charlie is now a veterinarian and married to Hanna. When all the girls would chase Charlie at recess, Hanna would swing on the swings and tell whoever would listen that one day she and Charlie would marry. Hanna wasn’t your average child and that worried her parents. As she got older and entered high school her parents begged her to date other boys. Why only Charlie her parents would ask and Hanna always replied, he’s my soul mate. Charlie was a straight A student and loved animals. He dressed for comfort not style. Some of the girls would ask Hanna what she saw in him. You’re so pretty they would say. You could have any guy at school. Hanna’s reply, “I can see what you can’t and that is why he loves me and not you.” That usually stopped the questions even though many of the girls didn’t understand. Doesn’t she care that he looks and dresses like a slob? The truth was Charlie and Hanna had something most people never do and that is a fearless approach to love. They never allowed the opinions of others to override their instincts, including the concern of Hanna’s parents.
After getting married they bought a small house in the same neighborhood they all grew up in. Littleton, Rhode Island. It was a small farm house on five acres of land. Loving animals like Charlie does they have enough land for many animals including Hanna’s favorite, horses. The horses are her relaxation. Like Isabelle, Hanna too wanted kids but was having trouble conceiving, unlike, Isabelle Hanna became pregnant after three years of trying with in-vitro fertilization. She became pregnant with triplets. The only problem stopping the joy was the size of their house. It was a two bedroom, small kitchen, and one bathroom. Charlie asked Matt for help and being the good friends that they are, Matt could hardly refuse. He offered to do the labor for free, since money was tight after spending whatever it took to try and conceive. Matt’s only request was to be godfather to the girls. Since he has no children of his own he considers being the godfather to his best friends children an honor. In 4 months Charlie and Hanna would be the proud parents of three little girls.
Working at Charlie’s was a job Matt enjoyed. He liked both Hanna and Charlie and whenever he finished for the day dinner was with Hanna, Charlie and whoever happened to stop by. It was as social as it was work. Normally Matt tries not to get involved with his clients but as you will soon find out, it wasn’t always easy to do. Matt managed to fit a day here and a day there to work on the addition. Three more bedrooms were added a large kitchen, two more bathrooms and a huge family room. It’s not as though land was a problem. As it turned out, Hanna’s parents learned to love Charlie as if he was there own son and helped with the money to pay for the addition, which in turned helped Matt finish the job sooner than expected. With the extra money from Hanna’s parents additional carpenters were hired to finish the job and as kind as Matt’s offer was, Hanna’s parents insisted on paying him.
“Matt knew this story was hard on me,“ commented Isabelle. I too wanted kids and did everything in my power to have them. I was of course happy for Hanna and Charlie, but not to be a little jealous would be going against nature.
Hanna and Charlie had their three girls, identical triplets, with red hair like their mom and as promised Matt was their Godfather. The girls have a way of keeping Matt grounded. They are now 16, dating and whether they liked it or not Matt screened every boy they went out with. He was their Godfather and he was going to be the best.
“Okay enough of the Pollyanna story” Isabelle chimed in. Charlie and Hanna have a charmed life and yes I’m jealous, so let’s move on.
“Okay” Matt said. You don’t want Pollyanna, how about you strip down to nothing, slowly of course, we walk into your bedroom, or if you prefer stay here in the kitchen. You pull of my shirt, I’ll do the rest and we make mad passionate love and forget discussing the book.”
“I get it,” Isabelle sighed. Enough feeling sorry for myself. I have a good life, an entertaining partner, you, when it comes to writing the book, and an understanding boyfriend even if our communication is starting to lack. I get it. let’s get back to work. Whose story is next?”
“How about the story on Birch lane?” Matt asked Isabelle.
“Sure, let me tell that one.” Isabelle responded.
It started with a simple wooden deck added to 675 Birch Street. Simple enough Matt thought. Until one after one all the woman on the street wanted him to do their bathrooms, basements, grout work anything they could get away with and have their husbands foot the bill. What was a guy to do? It was work, he needed to make a living and never thought how much jealousy would exist between the women living on the same street. His personality is appealing, treats all his clients the same but there are some who he connects with more than others. That’s how the scandal of Birch Street took hold. First he learned never trust a women who says what happens here stays here. Gossip ran rampant on Birch Street and Mrs. Fisher was no different then her neighbors when it came to the spreading of news, good, bad or indifferent. He worked on her bedroom closets, she wanted a built in one and he was more than happy to have the work. She was cute, short blond hair, skinny but not to skinny. She had curves, just enough fat on her so when you touched her you didn’t feel like she would break. Her body was bronze due to tanning beds and pretty much looked like she could be on the cover of any fashion magazine. It wasn’t her good looks that turned Matt on as much as her personality, but they certainly didn’t hurt. He had his pick of women and didn’t sleep with all of them, when he did sleep with a few, the ones he did sleep with wanted them to be exclusive. Jealousy always erupted. Mrs. Fisher was no different. They did have a strong connection, similar philosophies and could talk for hours nothing was off limits. It was nice for Matt. She didn’t play dumb like some of his women clients. She wasn’t afraid of what tomorrow might bring although maybe she should have. It wasn’t long before the women on Fisher Lane knew something was going on between Matt and Mrs. Fisher and that they were sleeping together. If she wasn’t married the only problem would have been a bit of jealousy, but she was and it was only a matter of time before her husband would find out if they continued. The ironic part, she didn’t care. She bragged to the other women how great Matt was in bed and as much as the ladies tried to act indifferent, they were fuming. It was almost as if Matt was the gigolo of Birch Street. Mrs. Fisher wasn’t the only one Matt slept with on that street, there were others and the cat fighting began, until all hell broke loose. He became the bad guy. The ladies referred to him as dirt and soon they all hated him except, for Mrs. Fisher. They felt used. Matt believes Mrs. Fisher felt differently because she was the one he connected with and meant the most to. As much as Matt enjoyed Mrs. Fisher, the affair had to end. Her neighbors were relentless and he didn’t want her to get the idea that they were ever going to be more than friends.
Matt learned after two divorces, he wasn’t the type who could stay exclusive. To some that might seem like a life of freedom and fantasy’s coming true, but Isabelle knew better and inside Matt was lonely and afraid to get involved with anyone for an extended period of time. Isabelle knew she kept him grounded and was grateful for his trust and loyalty to her. He trusted her and her him. Neither of them judged each other and that sort of relationship is hard to find.
