Task Number 4(1)

Nathan found Kevin at a small table in the rear of the bar, slugging back a beer. He approached the table, stood for a moment and waited for acknowledgement. After a few minutes, Kevin looked up at him, his eyes red and glassy.

"May I sit down?" Kevin gestured for him to sit and Nathan took a chair, his eyes on the young man. "Are you all right?"

"No!" Kevin spat, sucking more beer back, anger pinching his features. "I'm not fucking all right!"

"Mr. Marcus, we are in a public place. If you can't control your temper, maybe it would be a good idea for us to go someplace more private."

Kevin stared at him for a long time, wishing his ire upon the driver but relented, realizing that his behavior was childish. "Sorry."

"I'm not sure what I can do for you, but your sister asked that I come and find you."

"What for? Why does she care?"

"She's your sister, Mr. Marcus. She cares about you."

"No, she doesn't." Kevin swallowed, finishing the beer. "She's a whore!"

"I don't think that's fair, Mr. Marcus."

"You don't think it's fair? Who the hell care what you think?"

"Women are not subjected to the same standards as we are, even though they should. If a man sleeps with more than one woman, he's a stud. If a woman sleeps with more than one man, she's a whore."

"So?"

"You know what I'm saying, Kevin. I know you're not that drunk."

"No, but I'm trying."

Nathan ordered another round and sat back with his Canadian Club and Pepsi, his eyes on Kevin. "What is it about Kelly Jo that makes you so upset?"

"I don't know her any more!"

"Forgive my language, Mr. Marcus, but that's bullshit."

Kevin stared at the black man, heat rising in his face. "What the fuck do you know?"

"Don't think that just because I'm a limo driver, that I don't know things. I happen to know a lot about human nature."

"Just what is it that you think you know?"

"I know you love your sister."

"Wow." Kevin took a long drink. "You're a great rocket scientist, Nathan."

"No. I know youlove your sister."

Kevin's eyes darkened with rage. "You don't knowanything!"

"I know more than you think I do." Nathan took a long sip of his drink. "Kelly Jo is a very beautiful woman."

"I know that."

"And she is an adult."

"I know that!" Kevin shouted, then took a breath. "I'm really sorry, Nathan. I don't mean to take it out on you."

"I know you don't, but you have to face your feelings or you'll lose her."

Kevin took another drink and looked out across the dance floor, his beer cold and his brain hot.

*****

Kelly Jo's breath was warm against her neck and Ashley awoke giggling. She felt like a million dollars, her pussy cream dried and sticky between her thighs and Kelly Jo's soft body plastered to her back.

"Good morning." Kelly Jo hugged her from the back, kissing the nape of Ashley's neck. "How do you feel?"

"Fantastic." Ashley turned in her arms, touching her face with her fingertips and her lips with hers. A thrill raced through her at Kelly Jo's ardent response. "Even better since I'm here with you."

There was a knock on the door and Kelly Jo arose, slipping on a robe and answering it. Nathan stood outside and she invited him in. He gave her a warm smile and offered one to Ashley who still lay under the covers.

"I see that this wasn't just a task for you two."

Ashley blushed and Kelly Jo sat next to her, rubbing her back lightly. "No, it wasn't."

"So are you an official couple now?"

Kelly Jo looked at Ashley who blushed a second time and intertwined fingers with her. "If she'll have me, yes." Ashley's eyes filled with tears and she gave Kelly Jo's hand a squeeze, nodding happily.

Nathan's smile widened, then he noticed the camera. "May I take the camera?"

"Yes. The tape's inside."

"I was authorized to offer you an additional $1,500 if you would do it again, but I can see that it won't be necessary. I'll just give you the money. It's obvious that you've already earned it." He gave them each a stack of money. "Congratulations."

"Thanks."

There was another knock on the door. This time, Kevin came in, looking the worse for wear. Nathan handed him a thousand dollars and silently departed, camera in hand. Kevin turned to his sister and the girl in the bed.

"So you did it?"

"Yes, we did." Kelly Jo leaned down and pressed a kiss to Ashley's pink lips. "And we plan to keep doing it." She turned to her brother. "Ashley will be going home with us when this is over."

"Home with us?"

"Kelly Jo, I don't want to be a problem."

"You aren't a problem, Ash. Not to me."

"So I have no say in the matter?"

Kelly Jo nodded. "Not unless you'd like to find another roommate."

Kevin's heart crumbled as he watched the play of affection between his sister and Ashley. It was obvious that they had come to care a great deal for each other in the short spanse of time. But how could he stand to watch them love each other when all he wanted was to love Kelly Jo.

"No, I don't want another roommate. I love you, Kel. Whatever you want, I'll go along with." He stood and walked to their side of the bed, giving her a hug. "Welcome to the family, Ashley."

Ashley accepted his embrace, thanking her lucky stars that she had answered that invitation.

*****

Beverly Johansson awoke to the bright morning sun, feeling happy and excited. She couldn't remember the last time she'd awakened feeling like this. Last night had been a dream. Dinner among the twinkling lights of Atlantic City with two handsome men in attendance. Shane was turning out to be a good friend and she would never have thought that in a million years. He was not the type of person she would have chosen for a friend, but then, she was learning that a lot of things she'd previously thought were wrong.

On the other side of the bed lay an array of magazines, all featuring big women. Shane had insisted on buying them when they'd passed a book store and she was floored to see so many selections, all featuring big women! At first, hatred for her mother burned fiercely within her. She thought of all the opportunities that she might have had but James had talked her out of her anger. Everything happens for a reason, he'd said. Maybe she wouldn't have been mentally prepared to handle that kind of life.But, oh! She was ready now!

James. He was an odd sort. He was a TV personality so every facet of his life was polished and publicized. The first day, he had seemed not to want to have anything to do with her because of her weight. But she had noticed a change in him. A very subtle change in the way he looked at her. She wondered if he was as lonely as she was. Probably not. As handsome as he was, he could have his choice of women. Maybe she was next on his list of conquests. She wasn't sure why she didn't quite believe that. Maybe it was because he hadn't paid much attention to the other girls.

A knock on the door broke her reverie and she pulled on a robe. James stood there, his black and silver hair combed to perfection, matching with his dark blue blazer and creased khaki pants.

"Good morning."

"Morning."

"I just stopped by to see if you were going to breakfast."

"I was planning to. Just being lazy, I guess."

James smiled. "No harm in that." He paused. "Well, do you want me to wait or meet you downstairs?"

"I'll meet you downstairs. It shouldn't take me too long."

"Are you sure? I'd be glad to wait."

She knew that he was just being nice. "That's all right, James. You don't have to."

His shoulders seemed to slump a little. "Okay. See you."

Beverly shut the door and started to dress, her mind on other things when she noticed something peculiar.

Her pants were loose. She'd lost some weight.