Sunday 27th March 2012
Cochem, in the Mosel Valley
Germany
I gazed out from the spacious apartment overlooking the Mosel River. My wife, Amanda, and I had been celebrating our third wedding anniversary. During five great days, we enjoyed a river cruise and visited local vineyards, castles and small, picturesque towns. We’d finished packing and, within the hour, would be returning to my British Army unit in Paderborn.
I said, “This short break has been great, but I suppose it’s time to return to routine.”
“I don’t have any shifts in the YMCA shop until Thursday, so I’ll be able to relax for another few days.”
“You’ll be able to spend longer in bed and avoid the late snow, but I’ll be in early all week.”
She grinned. “I do enjoy a bit more time in bed.”
*
Two days after our holiday ended, I was asked for a form I’d left at home to confirm my continued military service beyond the end of the year. I didn’t usually go home at lunchtime, even though our married quarters weren’t far from the barracks. I told the clerk I’d fetch the completed form to be processed rapidly to avoid misunderstandings.
I arrived at my flat and quietly unlocked the door to surprise Amanda. I succeeded.
I could hear panting as I closed the door, so I walked carefully along the hall and eased the bedroom door open. For a moment, I stared and listened in disbelief.
Amanda was kneeling on the bed in black stockings and red stilettos. Her head was held between the legs of Stan Jenkins, an unmarried soldier I knew. He was kneeling on the bed, holding my wife in place by her long auburn hair as she gave him a blowjob. Kneeling between Amanda’s legs, holding her thick waist, and thrusting back and forward was Joe Carter.
I knew him, too, because he was Stan Jenkins’ best friend, and they were both in my unit.
I said, “When they’ve finished with you, pack your fucking bags and get out, you slut.” The activity all stopped, and all three turned to look at me. It was difficult to tell who looked more afraid. Amanda’s lips moved silently as she stared at me. I was bigger than either of the two men, who were both about nineteen years old. “As for you two, I’d keep out of my fucking way from now on.”
“Charlie … please!” Amanda’s words ended in a sob as she turned and tried to find something to cover herself. Anything she said was a waste of time, just like our three years of marriage.
The two young men climbed off to the far side of the bed and started pulling on clothes, probably waiting for me to step forward, but I didn’t. I merely clenched and unclenched my fists.
Stan paused after pulling on his pants. “We’re not the first—”
“No, we’re not,” Joe said. “We—”
I ignored the two men and fixed my gaze on the body they’d been enjoying.
Amanda sobbed. “Charlie … they … they forced me—”
I shook my head. “Don’t be here when I get home later today. It’s over between us, so fuck off, and I don’t care where you go. Take anything you want to keep because the rest is going in the bin.”
I closed the door and returned to the barracks, stifling my rage.
I reported directly to my commanding officer, told him what had happened, and told him that I wouldn’t be extending my service but ending it prematurely to get away. Apart from saying how sad the situation was, he didn’t ask me to reconsider and made no effort to stop me.
He said, “I can understand that your position in the unit would be untenable once word got out. Write a brief statement, and I’ll deal with the soldiers involved—”
“There’s no need, sir. You could pull them in and tell them they’ve ended my career because I know how word goes around.”
“I’ll certainly do that, but they’ll also be posted to other units. In the meantime, go directly to the clerk, sign termination of service papers, and take the remainder of your time here as compassionate leave.”
“Thank you, sir. It will allow me to contact a removal firm and deal with packing my belongings into boxes. I’ll sell or give away anything I don’t intend to keep.”
He came around the desk and shook my hand. “I’m personally grateful you’ve maintained your composure and didn’t react violently. There’ll be no need to visit your department or anyone else. I’ll ensure that your sudden disappearance is explained with a credible reason.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Instead of going home and possibly seeing Amanda, I walked into town and went to a bar, still in uniform. After a couple of hours of drinking, I walked home to find that Amanda had done as I’d suggested. Two suitcases and a lot of her clothes were missing, but she’d left some shoes, plus items in the wardrobe and the dresser drawers. She’d probably taken all she could carry and left in a hurry. I couldn’t face using the bed, so I slept on the sofa.
*
The next day, after two coffees to help wake me up and clear my head, I made several phone calls. I contacted a solicitor in the UK to initiate divorce proceedings and asked for some immediate advice. I also contacted our German and UK banks to amend the status of our joint accounts. It took longer than I expected, and I contacted an estate agent in Scotland to organise accommodation to rent or buy. When I had a forwarding address, I arranged for a removal company to deliver a stack of foldable packing boxes to my married quarter’s address. I wanted to pack them myself and asked for the collection of the full boxes to be three days later. I confirmed the details of the proposed delivery address in the UK and the earliest date I’d be there to accept them.
When the empty boxes arrived at the married quarters, it took me two days to pack all my clothes and shoes. I also threw in all the items Amanda had been unable to take with her. The belongings she’d left were all in good condition, so I’d most likely give her things to a charity shop rather than throw them out. I contacted a local German charity shop, and they sent a truck to collect all the domestic appliances and furniture from the married quarters. It was all as good as new.
When all else was organised, I made another call and booked myself and my car onto a ferry from Zeebrugge to Dover. After the crossing, it would be a long drive up the length of England to reach Scotland, but I wouldn’t be in a rush to start my new life alone.
I drove away from Paderborn less than a week after finding my wife simultaneously satisfying two randy soldiers. It was a sight I had difficulty putting out of my mind. Amanda’s fuller figure had been held firmly between two eager young men, and all three of them on the bed had been unaware of me until I spoke. Before I’d said anything, I’d stood in the bedroom doorway watching as if it were a live porn show. When I thought back to it, the only difference was my lovely wife of three years was the porn queen.
I’d slept on the sofa during my final nights in the married quarters because every time I went into the bedroom, I saw my voluptuous wife being taken willingly at both ends and loving it.
*
Thursday 7th April
Drumry, near Clydebank
Scotland
I stood on the balcony of my apartment, looking out towards the River Clyde, which was less than two miles away. For a moment, I recalled standing on a balcony overlooking the Mosel River a couple of weeks earlier. It struck me how rapidly my circumstances had changed. I’d lived in this flat for a few days and was delighted to hear confirmation from the removal company that my boxes would be with me the next day.
When shown around the flat, I chose to buy rather than rent. It was explained that I could keep the furnishings or have them taken out. I’d gotten rid of our furniture before leaving Germany, of course, so having seen that everything in the flat was modern, I opted to keep the kitchen appliances and all the furniture in the main bedroom, spare bedroom, and living room. There was also a box room with a large window, so it would be ideal to set up as a study. On the second day, I had a computer desk and chair delivered.
On my third day, my solicitor said Amanda would not contest my divorce application. I’d taken half of the money from our joint account, and instructed the bank to close the account immediately after the other account holder had withdrawn the balance.
I didn’t have a full-time job, but neither did I have any financial worries due to an investment account I’d had since I first joined the army. The cash there had been saved and earning interest for nearly eighteen years. It was the one secret I’d kept from Amanda during our three-year marriage. I had intended to surprise her by using those savings to put a deposit on a house, but I was now buying the flat I’d moved into.
My monthly military pension was substantial, but with the expense of daily living, I was thankful I’d studied online to learn about proofreading and editing. What had been an enjoyable pastime for the past six months would now become a part-time job, and I could work from home.
In the evening, I strolled down the hill into Clydebank. I went into The Atlantis Bar on Kilbowie Road, sat in a booth, and slowly drank a pint of lager. One drink followed another, so several beers, and a couple of hours later, I set off back home. The alcohol had some effect and made me feel tipsy, but I didn’t realise how much I’d gone off the taste of lager.
I’d been a beer drinker in my younger days, but more recently, I had switched to brandy and coke or white wine. Local wine had been one of the deciding factors when I’d booked the romantic winter break among the vineyards of the Mosel Valley in March. It had been a nice holiday.
As I ambled back up the hill and saw the apartment block ahead, I was reminded I was alone in the flat. Suddenly, my three years of marriage were thrown into perspective.
Perhaps I wasn’t meant to be married and sharing my life with someone else.
This new flat and this area would be the base from which my new life would continue, but as much as I thought that way, I continued to get flashbacks to when I last saw Amanda.
At least I know she enjoyed the last fucking she had in our bed.
I stepped out of the lift on the top floor and walked to my flat. I was in number 8 and had yet to learn who lived in number 9 or 10. It wasn’t important because although I was usually sociable, I wasn’t ready to start making new friends. I had a couple of bottles of white wine in the fridge, and one of them would be my friend before I went to bed.
I switched on my new large-screen television and stared at the channel options.
“Internet on the TV?” I murmured. “I haven’t tried that yet.” After supplying an email address and password, I was gazing at the internet on a screen much bigger than my laptop. I logged in to my email account, found a few Spam messages, and got rid of them.
I had one message from a possible new client.
From: G. Roper
Subject: Proofreading and Editing
‘Dear Mr Monroe,
You were recommended in an author’s group on social media.
I’ve already had three non-fiction books published by a big publishing house. My latest story is erotica, which the company will not publish.
I’ll be honest with you from the outset and tell you that my new tale is about me and my life since becoming a crossdresser. It’s still relatively early days for me, but I was eager to produce a story about my journey so far. During our early communication, I’ll refer to myself as both Gerald and Geri, my alter ego. I hope you don’t find it confusing. I prefer Geri.
If this is something you’d consider proofreading, I’ll be happy to pay the appropriate rate.
Best regards,
Gerald, aka Geri,’
I nodded. “I’ll read this again in the morning, my friend, when I can think straight.”
I considered watching the late-night news but decided against it. I didn’t need negativity, so I finished my glass of wine and went to bed thinking about my prospective new client, Geri.
***
Katya Cumming Erotica 