Aston Marlowe - Lisa_s stepmother

"I-I want to apologize to you, too, Shirley," the attractive teenager quickly followed, training those tear-dimmed, almond-shaped eyes levelly onto her. "I-I've… I've been terrible… like a spoiled brat and… and I'm ashamed. I-If you'll both forgive me, I-I promise to make it up to you."

Shirley was speechless, unable to hold back the tiny rivulets of tears trickling down her cheeks. Frank's happy smile alone was enough to have brought them, but Lisa's added expression of sincere regret was too much. She had to excuse herself for a few moments.

Vince Rivers watched it all with inner amusement, sitting back in his chair and sipping at his coffee. Some fucking soap opera… "A Day with the Douglas Family" or, "Her Bladder's Too Close To Her Tear Ducts"! Big Daddy, you're a dumb stoop, Rivers thought, and if you could've seen your honey's mouth stuffed with my hard cock last night you'd begin to get the picture. But just as well that you are a dummy, because that's going to make it a hell of a lot easier for me… and today's the day, I'm thinking.

At the same time, the scheming con man was as much taken up with the way his pet, Nomad, was clinging to the side of the curvaceous young Lisa. This was something new, and there was no question but what the big animal was following his telltale routine of thigh-rubbing! Vince watched the way the pretty teenager still leaned onto the table as she talked softly to her father, his greedy eyes too filled with the sight of her full young breasts rippling beneath the silky blouse she wore to hear anything that passed between them. She obviously wasn't wearing a brassiere – the little hardened nipples of those lushly quivering mounds showed in clear ovalled shadows straining against the sheer material of her blouse. The sexy bitch! As sure as hell, the mutt had scored with her! And maybe last night! Sure, what else? That's where he'd been all night – in her room!

"There now, baby, it's all okay," Frank Douglas said, patting his daughter's small white hand reassuringly. Even in the torments of his hangover, the big man couldn't remember when he'd felt as good. "Look now, you dry those pretty eyes… and promise me you and Shirley'll get aquainted today."

Lisa smiled through her tears. "I promise, Daddy," she whispered. "Now, I better go powder my nose."

Frank watched her trip lightly from the room with Rivers' German shepherd not a half-step behind her. Christ, he had no idea what ever had come over her, but he wasn't about to question it. This might just be one of the happiest days in his life… if he could just find himself man enough to be a real husband to his young bride.

"It takes a lot of inner something to do what she just did right in front of a stranger, Frank," Vince Rivers said, interrupting the older man's plaguing, never absent shame. "You should be proud of her. She's a fine, lovely girl."

"Damn, you don't know how proud I am of her, Vince… of them both… and I guess I don't have to tell you that it's been a trying six months," Frank replied with a shake of his head. Then in a lowered voice, "But I think it's going to iron itself out between them now… Yes, I think it is."

"You're a lucky man having two beautiful young women who love you," the younger one said, doubting very much that the booze-blooded old fool decorating the head of his table had the slightest notion his guest was laughing up his sleeve… and that was putting it mildly.

But Shirley, re-entering the room with Lisa and Nomad behind her, easily read Vince Rivers' ridiculing tone of voice, and a sharp sensation of shame clutched at her belly. God, no matter what, she could never really forgive herself for the sluttish way she'd betrayed her wonderful husband last night with this evil man. She might learn to live with the salacious memory of it, but there was no way she could ever atone for it.

"No, don't get up, darling," Shirley said. "We can seat ourselves this time, can't we, Lisa?"

"I think so," the younger girl gaily answered, her winning smile almost secretly radiant. In truth, she couldn't remember when she'd felt so unburdened of petty hates and animosities, all of the vicious little hang-ups which had been needling her for months now… and she knew deep in her heart that only Nomad was responsible! He had gloriously made a woman of her – a thrilling enlightenment that she had awakened to that brilliant summer morning like the bursting rays of the sun at dawn! God, she was happy, and she reached beneath the table to pet the massive head of the animal resting against her thigh who had made it all possible. "We… Shirley and I… are going shopping together sometime today!" she beamed at her father. "We haven't planned it out yet, but we'll probably be spending some of your money, Daddy."

"Great! That's what it's for, eh Vince?" Frank replied, grinning from eat to ear. "And speaking of money… how's the plant beginning to look to you, young man? I don't like to sit on deals too long."

"I know what you mean, Frank," Rivers replied, assuming his business disguise. "Quite honestly, I've pretty much made up my mind… favorably that is, if you still want a partner. I'd like a couple more days to check over my notes before I call in my own attorneys to handle the legal end for me."

"Of course… I don't want to push you… but well, I'm anxious to unload the operating end of things," Shirley heard her husband say, a stronger impulse of uneasiness gripping her stomach. She couldn't help but think of an innocent lamb being led to slaughter as she watched the expressions on both men's faces. God, someway, somehow, no matter what it cost her, she had to bring Frank to his senses, make him know the type of man he was dealing with.

"Good mornin', everyone! Here it is and I'm sorry to have kept you all waiting so long!" Rachael beamed, wheeling in a cart filled with covered dishes and fresh coffee. "We've got scrambled eggs, bacon, hominy and tons of toast on the menu this morning, and anybody that doesn't like that breakfast just ain't hungry!"

Shirley swallowed tightly as the big woman chuckled, then winked at her. She looked at Frank to watch his reactions, tensing as her husband's eyes began to widen beneath a furrowed, questioning brow.

"Hominy?" he repeated.

"Yes sir! Ain't nothin' lie it to stick to your ribs and keep a man going! You agree, Mr. Douglas?" the smiling, robust woman put to him.

"Hell yes, I agree!" Frank exclaimed, his face broadening in a warm grin. "I haven't had hominy in twenty years!" Then, to Shirley, "It's about time we got a real cook around this place, honey."

It really hadn't dawned on Shirley until after Frank and Vince Rivers had left for the plant in their separate cars. Lisa had decided on a swim, asked her to join in, but the troubled young bride had wanted some time alone to decide just what she was going to do to stop Vince Rivers from really swindling the husband she loved, and she was positive that those were Rivers' crooked intentions. If anyone in that house knew their guest for what he was, she did! Her excuse with Lisa of having several letters to write was readily accepted, and after picking up a cup of coffee laced with brandy from Rachael, she had gone to her room, thinking en route of the argument Lisa had told her she and Paul had and that the teenager would like to discuss girl-to-girl with her.

Shirley had entered her bedroom wearing an elated smile at just the thought of Lisa wanting to discuss her love-life with her. She couldn't remember being any more happy over an unexpected turn of events than she was at the beautiful girl's show of character at the breakfast table. And she was truly sorry… that was the marvelous thing of it all, the gorgeous young angel had felt it, said it, and meant it! Who said the younger generation lacked depth?