Swinging for the Fences

Chapter 1 - Reminiscing

Catherine sat in the passenger seat of their ten-year-old Honda Odyssey, watching the water flow up the windshield. The wiper kept adding more, the layer swelling and shrinking in time with their travel. Rivulets merged and grew, split, or hung suspended until they overcame some invisible obstacle and raced up and over the roof. The interior smelled of pine air freshener and a hint of manure from the farmland surrounding them.

She looked out the side window past the horizontal droplets, at the rolling hills passing by. The monotonous landscape of pastures was broken occasionally by a lonely farmhouse or a clump of wet cows seeking shelter where they could.

"Penny for your thoughts."

"Huh? Sorry, I was a million miles away." She turned to her husband Jonah. "I was watching the raindrops."

"How are you feeling?"

"A little excited, a little apprehensive. You?"

"Same."

The silence stretched. Despite almost twenty years of marriage, it started to feel a little awkward.

"We don't have to—" she started, as Jonah said, "We can go home—"

They both stopped to look at each other and burst out laughing. Jonah turned back to the road, his deep laugh filling her with warmth. He put his large hand on her thigh and squeezed.

"I love you."

"I love you," she responded, putting her hand on his. They smiled at each other.

"I mean it though, if you want to go home that's entire fine, okay?"

"I know my love, and same. I want to do this though, as long as you still want to." Her fingers slipped between his, his ring pressing into her skin. She spun her own ring on her other hand.

"I do."

They sat in silence for a while, enjoying each other's company. The awkwardness evaporated again into the comfort of a long and loving relationship. Her thoughts drifted to what led to the two of them driving three hours through the pouring rain in the middle of November.

Six months ago, their friends had come over for a barbecue to admire the new pool. They'd known Rick and Tam for over a decade, originally having been neighbors. They had moved away a few years ago, but had stayed in touch despite the distance. Rick and Tam were staying the night so that they could both have a drink and do the long drive back the following day.

The four of them had spent the afternoon lounging around the pool, enjoying the warm weather and the occasional dip. Rick had offered to run the barbecue, which Jonah had gladly accepted. After dinner, they'd polished off a bottle of wine or two, watched a movie, and chatted about their lives far past their usual bedtime.

They'd all been pretty tipsy, and Rick had let slip that he and Tam had started swinging a while ago. Tam had given him a death glare and quickly changed the subject. The rest of the night, Cat's mind kept drifting. Rick was very attractive, and even though she'd never dream of cheating on Jonah, her fantasy ran wild. She couldn't help herself, picturing him and Tam, then him and a slew of beautiful women as Tam watched or joined in or had a dozen men in Chippendale outfits touching and kissing and fucking her. She had to suppress a giggle at the images.

After the four of them had gone to bed, Cat and Jonah were laying in bed, still chatting.

"I can't believe they started swinging!" she whispered.

"Right?"

"You think they go to clubs? Or have people over?"

"Mmm, don't know."