Chapter 5
Lucy was in a fix. Her daughter Amy was flying home soon. There wasn't any way she could hide from her the fact that Barry's girl friend had taken over the house. What would Amy say when she found out that Karen had installed herself in the master bedroom? Amy would be sure to report what was happening to her father. He'd be sure to start snooping around and then the whole sordid mess might be out in the open.
Barry didn't have any influence with Karen although he seemed to have her affection. The only other person she could think to turn to for help was Beth. Even though she'd just met Beth Lucy could see that she commanded Karen's respect. It might be worth a try. Lucy was desperate. Beth had left her card with Lucy so she dialed the number right away to leave a message.
"Hello?" She's there! Thank goodness she works out of her home thought Lucy.
"Beth? Lucinda Wyatt here. I need to see you as soon as possible. It's very important."
"Lucinda? It must be important. I've just come from there. What has happened?"
"Please, I can't talk on the phone," said Lucy. "May I come to see you today? Right away?"
"Well, certainly if it's that important. Give me an hour to change and clean up the place, okay?"
Beth's apartment was in a modest complex near the college campus. The door opened at Lucy's first knock and Beth invited her in. Beth had changed into a simple skirt and blouse. The skirt's hem ended at just above her knees and the young woman had tied her hair back into a ponytail. The overall effect made Beth look like a pretty teenager rather than a sophisticated adult.
"I'm so sorry coming to you like this after having just met you but I didn't know where else to turn."
"That's okay. I'm going to pour myself some tea? Would you like a cup?"
"I'd love a cup," said Lucy.
"So, let me guess. This is something about Karen, right?" Beth had sat down after pouring out the tea.
"How did you know?"
Beth chuckled. "She's always been kind of a wild child as long as I've known her. Where Karen goes, trouble follows."
"You're absolutely right," said Lucy. "I'm afraid I can't go into all the details as they're rather embarrassing."
"That's all right. How can I help you?"
Lucy told Beth as much as she dared and then explained the likely consequences when Amy came home. "Karen respects you and seems to defer to you, Beth," Lucy explained. "She claims to love Barry so that if you can show her that continuing to stay in my home would hurt her relationship with my son as well as possibly doing irreparable harm to everyone else, she might decide to move out and prevent a lot of grief."
"It's true that Karen and I have a good relationship, Lucinda," said Beth. "But that doesn't mean she always listens to me. She's very willful at times and I'm afraid this is one of those times. I'll do my best though."
"That's all I can ask." Lucy sighed. There was nothing else to say. "I guess I shouldn't take up any more of your time. I'll see you on Monday?"
"Well, now that you're here you might as well stay for a session," said Beth. "You do have the time, don't you?"
"I suppose I do," said Lucy.
"Then finish your tea. While you're listening to the subliminals I'll call Karen and try to get her to listen to reason. I wish I could talk Karen into some sessions with me but she's afraid I might turn her into a soulless zombie or someone's sex slave." Beth laughed and Lucy laughed right along with her.
Lucy lost track of time again as she listened to the recording but it was so relaxing she didn't much care. It was hard to believe that her possible savior could have been introduced to her by Lucy's tormentor.
"Ooh. Can't I stay listening for a bit longer," Lucy asked as she felt the earphones being removed.
"Absolutely not," Beth declared. "You've been listening to that thing for an hour."
Lucy felt so relaxed during her session but already she felt a knot of nervousness building up in the pit of her stomach. "Were you able to talk to Karen? What did she say?"
"I'm afraid you're still going to be living with her but it's not all bad news," said Beth.
"Oh?"
"Karen says she'll move out of the master bedroom and into Barry's room with him. She's also agreed not to be disrespectful to you in front of anyone including Barry and Amy. In return, you have to agree not to say anything against her to Barry or anyone else and to end further attempts to kick her out. She says to take it or leave it."
"I'll take it," declared Lucy. It was actually more than she could have hoped for. Lucy probably would have settled for less. It would still be difficult to explain Karen's presence to Amy but Lucy thought she could work around it if the maniac teenager kept her promise. "I'm very grateful to you for your help in this matter, Beth."
"No problem, Lucinda. Remember, you're helping me out too. If you're willing to work with me I'm sure we'll both have successful outcomes."
"I'll do anything you ask of me," said Lucy. She meant every word.
"That's the spirit. For your homework tonight, I want you to write down a list of goals so that we can determine the proper suggestions for your personalized recording. Have you started your exercise program yet?"
"Yes, I've started walking and I intend to dig out some old aerobics CDs I still have."
"Those are good," said Beth. "But I also want you to try something that's fun so you won't become bored and start slacking off."
"What's that?"
"Belly dancing."
"Belly dancing?" Lucy knew about belly dancing as a good form of exercise but she never thought of taking it up herself.
"Yes, it really tones the muscle and burns up the calories. As long as you eat sensibly you'll be in shape in no time at all. Besides that, it's fun and it makes you look and feel sexy."
"But don't you think I'm too old for that?" Lucy didn't want to look and feel ridiculous.
"Of course not," said Beth. "I wouldn't have suggested it otherwise. My own mother is in a belly dancing class and she's older than you. She tells me there are seniors who are in her class."
"I'll look into it," Lucy promised.
"I've already started looking for you," said Beth. She handed Lucy a CD. "This CD contains basic moves and music. I want you to get started right away."
Lucy looked at the picture on the box. It showed a costumed belly dancer in a sultry pose. She found herself nodding her head. Yes, hadn't she just promised Beth she'd do anything asked of her? Besides, it might be fun and fun had been missing from Lucy's life for too long. "I'll get started right away."
"Fine," said Beth. "That's the attitude I want you to have. I also want you come back tomorrow at this same time. I've decided to turn you into a whole new person. You won't be able to recognize yourself before long."
"I can hardly wait," said Lucy.
When Lucy got home Barry was there and already helping to move things around again. "Do you want me to move that clothing back in from the garage, Mom?"
"No, thanks," said Lucy. "I've decided to give that stuff away to the church's thrift store and buy a whole new wardrobe."
"That's great. I'm glad you and Karen are trying to work things out with Amy flying back."
"Oh, Karen told you? Uh, yes. I'm glad too," said Lucy. "I guess I owe it all to Beth."
"Beth is a sweet lady," said Barry. "I like her a lot."
Karen walked into the bedroom at that moment. She was attired in a short sun dress. "Did you have a nice visit with Beth, Mrs. Wyatt?"
"Yes, I did," said Lucy. Karen's sudden polite manner was a bit unnerving but Lucy preferred it over her surly attitude. "Your dress looks quite nice," she said trying to be polite in return. "Did you pick up some clothes while I was gone?"
"Oh, no," said Karen. "Beth was holding my belongings for me and I just pulled them out of the back of her car while you were listening to the CD. It's not much." She twirled quickly causing the hem of her dress to float up and exposing most of her thighs. "Barry just loves how my legs look. He says they're my best asset. Do you like them?"
"Uh, yes," said Lucy. What a silly question to ask a woman thought Lucy. "I guess I should go start dinner."
"I'll help," Karen volunteered.
"Come on, then." Lucy would try to make the best of a bad situation.
Karen was surprisingly proficient in the kitchen and Barry helped out with the dirty dishes so Lucy had plenty of time to write out her goals and review the tape. Lucy had hoped to do it in the privacy of her own room but Karen walked in when she'd barely got past the introduction.
"What do you want," asked Lucy.
"What are you watching," asked Karen. Lucy sighed. She hoped it wasn't the beginning of Karen going back on her word.
"I'm watching a CD Beth lent me. She wants me to practice belly dancing as part of my exercise routine." Lucy braced herself for the derisive comments that were sure to follow.
"Cool! Can I watch with you?"
"If you'd like," said a relieved Lucy. That wasn't expected she thought. The CD consisted of warm up exercises and some basic moves. It was pretty easy so far as Lucy was concerned. She considered herself a pretty good dancer in her younger days. She'd start the very next day.
"I want to practice too," declared Karen. "I bet Barry would love to see me in a belly dance costume."
"I wouldn't bet against you," said Lucy. Well, if it kept her out of trouble Lucy wouldn't mind Karen keeping her company while she practiced.
Lucy was glad to be back in her own bed that night. She had changed the sheets right away. Now Lucy could sleep in peace without wondering what Barry and Karen had been doing in the bed the night before. Just as she was about to drift off to sleep Lucy's door opened and she saw a silhouetted figure walking toward her. It could only be Karen. Lucy would see about putting a lock on her door.
"What do you want, Karen? I need to get some sleep."
"I need to get some sleep too," said Karen as she crawled into the bed beside Lucy. "But Barry's bed is so small and he likes to sprawl out when he sleeps so there's hardly any room for me."
"You can sleep in Amy's bed until she comes home," Lucy offered.
"Yes, but that bed is too soft." Karen giggled. "Barry's bed is too small and Amy's bed is too soft but your bed is just right. Sort of like Goldilocks and the Three Bears." She giggled again.
"I don't want you sleeping with me," Lucy insisted. "I'll give some money to Barry tomorrow so he can go out and buy a bigger bed."
"But what about tonight?"
"I thought you promised Beth you'd be more respectful toward me," said Lucy.
"I promised Beth I'd be more respectful toward you when anybody else was around. Do you see anybody else around? Would you prefer to sleep with Barry? I'll wake him up and send him in to you and then I'll sleep in his bed tonight. How does that sound?"
"It sounds terrible, Karen. Please don't wake Barry up. It was wrong to do what I did with Barry and it was wrong to do what I did with you." Lucy sighed deeply. "What am I going to do with you," she whispered more to herself than to Karen.
"I've got a cunt full of Barry's sperm," said Karen changing the subject. "Do you want some?"
"Please, no," exclaimed Lucy. She could imagine Karen scooping it out of her cunt and offering some to her.
"I don't blame you," said Karen. "I wouldn't want to get it second hand either. Who do you think will get pregnant first, you or me?"
"I-I don't want to get pregnant," whispered Lucy. She was aghast when she thought about it. It was certainly a possibility. Her periods were still regular and there definitely wasn't any protection used either time with Barry.
"I do," said Karen. "Every time Barry and I make love I hope I'm pregnant with his child. I think it'll just be a matter of time before we start calling you Grandma."
Lucy could feel herself blushing. Grandma! The thought of becoming a grandmother made her feel even older than she felt a moment before. It would even be worse with Karen the mother of her grandchild. Why couldn't Barry be attracted to someone like Beth?
"Good night, Grandma," said Karen. She kissed Lucy on the lips then turned over and went to sleep. Lucy didn't think she'd be able to sleep with Karen lying by her side but she did.