TITLE    : Walking The Path Ch. 04
STORYID  : walking-the-path-ch-04
SUMMARY  : You wanna do what?
AUTHOR   : JayCuck@lit
DATE     : 2014-03-12
CATEGORY : interracial-erotic-stories
FLAGS    : 
TAGS     : |interracial|hotwife|cuckold|


<i>Please Read!!



I want to thank everyone who continues to read this series. I especially want to thank those of you who have emailed me or provided feedback. I really do appreciate it. 



Troll Alert: If you don't like cuckold/hotwife stories you won't like this one. Save your energy and your ugly comments for another story. </i>







The doctor sat down and met my eyes. "Nick. Unfortunately, there is no way it's going to reversible." 



"Seriously? I thought these things could be reversed." I said weakly.



"In some cases yes, but not in yours." He set his clipboard down on the counter and met my eyes. "Nick, I removed at least an inch of tubing and I cauterized both ends. There is no way it's going to be reversed."



A heavy sigh left my lungs and my doctor continued. 



"Now, we can try, if you want. I can open you up again and try and reconnect them." I looked at him hopefully, but he shook his head at me. "You can go through a lot of discomfort, more than a little pain, and end up exactly where you are now. So you tell me what you want to do."



"Fuck!" I said quietly. 



The doctor sat back and picked up his clipboard I watched him scribble some notes on my chart, in a language I'm pretty sure was Russian or Greek. It sure as hell wasn't English. He'd been my doctor for the last 10 years. I trusted him. If he said there was no way to reverse my vasectomy, I believed him. 



"Well. Shit." I said to fill the silence. 



"I know it sucks Nick." He replied. "But if you're serious about having another child, then there are other options. Adoption is one. In-Vitro Fertilization is obviously another, but you'd have to use another donor." 



<i>Another donor, </i>I thought bitterly to myself. <i>I can't even knock up my own wife anymore. </i>



Needless to say, I was feeling pretty sorry for myself as I thanked the doctor and left his office. Nicole and I had started to talk more about having another child. Nicole and I were getting excited about the prospect of another child. I'd heard that most vasectomies were reversible, so the idea of another child had really started to solidify in our minds. 



I wanted a boy. I know. I have two fantastic daughters and I love them dearly. I still wanted a boy. 



It's a guy thing. Testosterone based. It defies explanation.



The drive home was quiet and since my doctor's appointment was in the afternoon, I didn't have to go back to work. I got home early and started dinner. The girls were up in their rooms working on their homework, so I got started on the Tilapia. We all agreed to start eating more fish and seafood in our diet, so I started with tilapia and salmon. I also liked Halibut, but that fish was freakin' expensive. 



Tonight was Tilapia. 



I noticed the girls report cards were laid out on the kitchen counter and I looked them over. All 'A's' for both girls and good comments from their teachers. They did well in school, and while I didn't take it for granted, the girls hadn't gotten a 'B' in a while. Even Jasmine, who was taking pre-AP courses, still turned in A's. 



I smiled to myself proudly, as I got the fish ready, because Nicole and I had been truly blessed with good kids. So far there hadn't been any bad 'phases' or issues with the girls and yes, we realized we're lucky. 



Until recently, anyway. Our luck had run out. No more kids. At least no kids that I would biologically father. 



<i>Old Nick is shooting blanks, </i>I thought dismally. 



I wasn't looking forward to telling Nicole. I knew she was excited about getting pregnant again. She loved being pregnant, despite all the challenges that came with it. Nicole wanted a boy as well. We had two girls and both of us wanted a boy. We mentioned having another child to the girls and they liked the idea. April was ok with it, but surprisingly, Jasmine was pretty excited.



Jasmine. 



My oldest daughter. She's sharp as a tack and already developing a strong, assertive personality. Pretty sure she gets that from her mom. 











Nicole and I worried recently about Jasmine. Not because of boys. Not because of grades. We worried about her, because she'd noticed a change in our relationship. Nicole's relationship with Collin and Cynthia had registered with Jasmine and she now worried we were getting divorced. Nicole and I decided to handle it head-on. 



Surprisingly, the conversation went really well.



At least it seemed to go well. Nicole and I resolved to keep an eye on Jasmine and spend more time with her in the future. 



We still worried. 



What can I say, we're parents. 



In case you're curious, Nicole and I did sit down with Jasmine. It was an awkward and interesting conversation. 



"Are you getting divorced?" Jasmine asked, before we could even get started.



Nicole and I hadn't even sat down yet, but Jasmine wasn't wasting any time. 



April was up in the game room and Nicole and I took Jasmine outside to the patio. I sat a soda down in front of Jasmine and looked over at Nicole. 



"Honey. No." Nicole answered her question. "Your father and I love each other very much and we are not getting a divorce. Everything is fine between us. Actually things are great honey."



"You're sure?" Jasmine asked. "You're not just telling me that to make me go away?"



"Jasmine, stop." I admonished. "We would tell you, if there was even the slightest possibility that your mom and I were divorcing. We're not and that's the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth."



Jasmine nodded. "Ok."



"Jas. What questions do you have? What do you want to know?" I asked. "You're mom and I will answer any questions you ask."



"Cynthia." Jasmine said quietly. 



I glanced at Nicole and our eyes met. I raised my eyebrows at her and she nodded.



"Honey. Cynthia is a very good friend of mine. We met recently and just seemed to click." Nicole paused and took a breath. "Cynthia and I are also attracted to each other and that's what you saw. I apologize that you saw us kissing. I'm not ashamed of Cynthia, or our relationship, but we should have been more careful around you. I'm sorry." 



"But you're not leaving dad?" Jasmine asked. 



"No. Jasmine no." Nicole leaned forward. "I'll never leave your father."



"Did you know?" Jasmine looked up at me. 



I nodded. "Yes Honey. I know all about Cynthia. You're mom isn't cheating on me or hiding anything from me."



I knelt down next to Jasmine and looked her in the eyes. I smiled at her. "Jasmine. Your parents aren't divorcing, separating or breaking up. It's just that we've decided to explore a few thing----."



"Ahh. Stop!" Jasmine interrupted quickly, holding her hands over her ears. "That's enough. It's gross to think of you two together and I don't care if you're swingers. As long as you're staying together, I'm happy. I like Collin and I like Cynthia, but I'd hate both of them, if they came between you two." 



There was a pair of collective thumps as my jaw hit the ground, followed quickly by Nicole's, and we stared at our oldest daughter. 



I recovered first. 



"Jasmine, what the heck do you know about swinging?" I asked. 



She rolled her eyes at me. "Dad. C'mon. I'm not a baby. HBO has the show 'Big Love'. There's 'Sister Wives' and even Showtime has a show called 'Polyamory'."



My jaw dropped open again, but Jasmine ignored me and looked at Nicole. 



"Trust me. The information is out there and it's not all that hard to find."



"Uhhhh." My cracker-jack wit at work. "Jas--."



My daughter smiled at my expression and shook her head. 



"Dad, there are lots of alternative lifestyles today."



I finally found my voice and began to articulate some words. "I know Jasmine, but--." 



Nicole cut me off.



"Jasmine, have you actually seen any of those shows?" Nicole asked and then glanced meaningfully at me. 



I held my hands up. "Hey, don't look at me."



"No mom." Jasmine interrupted, before Nicole could really accuse me. "But some of my friends at school have seen them and they talk about them." She snorted and shook her head. "The guys think it's great of course, but most of the girls think it sucks."



Jasmine looked at us and threw up her hands. "I mean, why should the girls have to share one guy? Kind of unfair, if you ask me. I mean, why can't a girl have more than one guy?"



"Well---." I started. My face got really hot. 



"Jasmine---." Nicole started at the same time. 



We both stopped and looked at each other. Neither one of us was sure how to proceed. 



Jasmine saved us with a smile and a laugh. 



"Mom. Dad. It's ok. I was just worried you might be breaking up and getting a divorce. If that's not the case, fantastic. Problem solved, worries gone." 



"Are you sure honey?" I asked. 



"Yes, definitely." She laughed. "Believe me, the last thing I want to have is a discussion about sex and alternative lifestyles with my parents. It's embarrassing enough at school."



Ok. She had a point. Those discussions were never easy and it was hard to determine who felt more awkward, the kid or the parent. Nicole leaned over and put her arm around me and Jasmine smiled. 



"Besides, I like Collin and Cynthia and so does April."



Nicole got up and hugged her daughter. "Will you promise to come to one of us, if you ever have questions, or worry about anything?" 



"Yes Mom." Jasmine drew out the word 'mom', like only a teenager could. 



And that was it. The sum total of our conversation with our fourteen (soon to be fifteen) year old daughter, who was much more sophisticated than we gave her credit for. Nicole and I left her room and walked downstairs, holding hands and trying to process that really weird conversation. 



"What do you think?" Nicole asked me. 



"Uhhh. It sounds like she knows more than we do about alternative lifestyles." I joked. 



Nicole admonished me softly. "Nick. Be serious." 



"Seriously. She does know about alternative lifestyles and, more importantly, she seems to accept them. I'm a little concerned that she knew about all those shows, but kids these days have access to so much more information than we did."



"True." She looked at me. "You're not watching those programs are you?" 



I laughed. "Are you seriously making this about me?" I asked. 



"No. It's just that we have every channel available and I thought you might have watched them." 



"No Nicole. I'm definitely guilty of watching the Soprano's and Spartacus and Black Sails, but not the shows she mentions and I have a filter on all of our TV's."



"Ok. Let's just keep an eye on her going forward. If we see her grades slip or if her personality or attitude changes, let's call a family meeting."



"Sounds good." I squeezed her shoulder as we walked down the steps. "We have Parent-Teacher meetings in about a month, so we can check in with her teachers as well."



"Good idea baby." 



"Hey." I stopped and Nicole looked up at me. "Do you think a 'girls-talk' is in order? I mean Jasmine may have questions that she won't ask in front of me. You and Jasmine are close and I'm just thinking you should have a 'Spa Day' or something and talk about boys, birds and the bees, hardcore porn." 



I winked. "Girl stuff."



I threw the last part in as a weak attempt to lighten the mood. It worked and Nicole laughed and pushed against my chest lightly. A second later, she grew serious and nodded. 



"Great Idea, Nick. I'll schedule us some time this weekend."



"Cool. Can we go get naked now?" I asked and leered at my wife. 



"Sure. Call Collin and get permission and I'll meet you in the bedroom. We can take off that CB (chastity belt) and you can fuck my brains out." She smiled at me and pinched my ass. 



Unfortunately, I got Collin's voicemail and Nicole was unwilling to bend the rules. No fucking that night. Nicole did put on some extra sexy lingerie and gave me a little show, before she slid under the covers and snuggled up against me. 



Strangely, I was happy as I drifted off. 











Nicole came to have lunch with me the next day at work and we ate in my office. It wasn't a routine yet, but she did come down to have lunch with me about 3 times per week. It was cool and both of us enjoyed it. 



"Nick. I wanted to ask you something." Nicole began slowly. 



"Sure babe." I replied and stuffed my mouth with more salad. 



"Well, we're doing much better financially now." She replied with a smile. "And I was thinking about quitting work. I'd like to be a full-time, stay at home, mom." 



I stopped chewing for a second and looked over at her. As I mentioned earlier, Nicole and I both came from pretty poor households, so I'd always expected both of us to work. Nicole had a point though, my new position more than covered her salary and we'd recently paid off our house, so we were pretty solid financially. 



Still, this was coming out of the blue, so I wondered if I'd missed something. 



"Is there anything wrong Nicole?" I asked.



Nicole shook her head. "No baby. There is nothing wrong. Actually, things are really, really good for us right now."



Relief flowed through me and I replied. "Ok. Just wanted to make sure. Why now?" 



"Well, I've been thinking about it ever since you got promoted, so it's not new. For me anyway." She hesitated and then continued. "The situation with Jasmine, really made me stop and think about our lifestyle. It's been great and a lot of fun, so I don't have any regrets."



I interjected. "But?"



"But it comes at a cost and I probably should have seen that sooner. The cost is our time together as a couple, but also as a family."



Nicole reached over and squeezed my hand. 



"You've been picking up the lion's share of the work and you make most of the money. It's not fair. It's not fair to you and it's not fair to the kids. If I stay at home, I'll have more time to spend with the girls and you."



"Wow. Ok." I replied. 



"C'mon Nick. Are you going to tell me you weren't thinking the same thing already?" 



I nodded. "Yes. I was thinking the same thing, but you've been so happy lately." I shrugged. "I didn't mind. I wasn't about to suggest you stay home though, because I know you've always liked working."



"Well, we have options now that we didn't have before."



"True." I smiled over at her. "Can you believe where we are today?"



"I know. It's crazy."



"We barely had enough money for gas when we got married. Now we're in a position, where you can stay at home."



Nicole laughed and nodded her head. "Pretty cool, right?"



"Yea. It is."



"Well, Mr. Successful?" Nicole teased. "Can I stay home?"



"Baby, of course you can stay home, if that's what you want." I smiled at her. "You know I can't refuse you anything." 



She laughed and leaned over and gave me a little kiss. "Thank you." She said softly. 



"When are you going to give your two week notice?" 



Nicole looked at me sheepishly. "I gave it this morning." 



I almost choked on my salad. "What?" I asked surprised. "Baby. You are absolutely terrible." 



"I'm sorry Nick." Nicole replied softly and grinned at me sheepishly. "I just got fed up this morning and I've been wanting to spend more time with the girls anyway. Our last conversation with Jasmine, has really made me realize I need to spend more quality 'girl' time with Jasmine and April."



"I understand." I said and then asked. "In the future, can we talk about stuff like this before you make a decision though?"



"Sorry baby." Nicole got up, came over and sat in my lap. "I'll make it up to you." She said seductively. 



"Yea Right." Sarcasm dripped from each word. "First, Collin has to actually answer his phone."



Nicole laughed and then played with my tie. "I called him this morning silly. You're all mine. When we get a free moment, we'll get the chastity belt off you and have some fun." 



She leaned down and kissed me softly. 



"Ummmm. I can't wait." I said and kissed her again. 



Nicole patted my chest and looked down at me. 



"Don't forget we're meeting Collin tonight for dinner. He said he had some stuff to discuss with us tonight." She said lightly. "Actually he wanted to talk to you mostly."



"Stuff?" I teased her. 



"Yes. Stuff." She said and punched my shoulder lightly. "It's a technical term."



I laughed and Nicole stood up. Lunch was over and it was time for one of us to get back to work. She blew me a kiss as she walked out of my office. 



I opened the file for the large construction account I was working on and made a note to schedule a meeting with my boss. My team and I were ready to start building 'what-if' scenarios and firming up our numbers. The preliminary meetings went well and the owner of the construction business and his risk management team wanted us to provide them a proposal. 



Our company has a nifty little chat program that allows employees to chat with each other anywhere in the building. I sent Sheila a note and asked her if she could stop by my office. A few minutes later, she popped her head in. 



"Hey Nick." She said lightly. "What's up?"



"Will you develop two test-quotes for our Construction account?" I asked. "We need to do a guaranteed cost option, as well as a loss sensitive option for this account. Throw in any additional coverage options you think make sense and let's meet early next week to discuss them."



"I'm on it chief." Sheila replied, after taking a few notes. 



"How are things going with your mentor?" I asked.



Sheila brightened immediately. "Great. She's so knowledgeable. I've learned a ton from her, in just the short time we've been working together."



"Excellent. I'm glad to hear that Sheila." I replied sincerely. 



Sheila left my office with a smile and I looked at the closed door, after she left. Ever since I'd met her coming out of Collin's restaurant, Sheila had been much cooler towards me. While I was glad, she was focused on business, I still worried that something else might be bothering her. There were no more discussions about the firing range or happy hours after work. 



<i>That's a good thing, dude. </i>I reminded myself. 



My cheeks puffed up, as I exhaled loudly and tried to focus. A part of me, and not a small part, missed Sheila's flirting and innuendo's.



<i>Oh well, </i>I thought to myself. <i>It wasn't going anywhere and it was a professional risk. </i>



The rest of the afternoon passed pretty quickly and Nicole's boss called to say she was sorry Nicole was leaving the company. We talked for a little while and she mentioned that if Nicole changed her mind, she'd hire her back anytime. It was really nice to hear and I'm sure she told Nicole as well. She also said that Nicole was free to leave today, instead of working the next two weeks. That was a little surprising, but it was also nice as well. 



I left work at normal time, but Nicole was cleaning out her desk, so she was going to be late. 











Nicole entered the house on her cell phone, talking and laughing with someone. The tone in her voice gave me the impression that it was Cynthia she was talking with, because Nicole was hanging on every word. It had been almost three weeks since we'd seen Cynthia and I knew Nicole missed her. The feeling was obviously mutual.



"I'll talk to Nick, honey. I promise." Nicole said quietly and listened into the phone. "That does sound like fun. Ok. I'll talk to him and see if we can make it happen."



A short pause. 



"Me Too." Nicole said sincerely. 



I could tell Cynthia was begging Nicole to visit her in Dallas and I knew Nicole wanted to go. 



<i>What was that last part? </i>I wondered. <i>Me Too?</i>



"Hey baby." Nicole said as she ended her call with Cynthia and gave me a kiss on the cheek. 



I smiled at her briefly and turned back to the fish. 



"Report cards." 



I motioned to them on the counter, with my spatula. 



"Oooh." Nicole said and picked them up, scanning them and smiling widely. "We have great kids." 

<hr pg="2" />"Yes we do." I agreed. "I was thinking we could reward them."



"Really? With what?" She asked. 



"I don't know. Maybe a weekend in Dallas?" I said with a smile. 



Nicole squealed and hugged me tightly. I got several kisses and a pinch on the ass. 



"I love you." She said after a minute. 



"Love you too." I replied. "Want to clear it with Collin?" I asked. 



"Sure. We're seeing him tonight anyway." She said. 



"That's true. I'll get the girls taken care of for dinner." I asked. 



"I'm going to get ready ok?"



"Sure thing baby. Are we driving together tonight?" I asked. 



"No. I'll leave right after dinner for Collin's house." She said easily. "I'm not sure if I'm spending the night at Collin's, so you and I may have some time together tonight."



"I'd like that. A lot." 



It was weird how this conversation was now common between Nicole and me. We'd worked out a system, where if Nicole was spending the night with Collin, she'd stay at our house until the girls went to bed and then head over to his house. If she was just going on a date, she'd meet him after work, go on the date, and then come home. 



Occasionally, she'd spend the night after a date, but most times she came home. It allowed her time with Collin, but also maximized her time at home as well. It wasn't perfect, but with kids and busy schedules; it worked for everyone. 



Now that she was going to stay at home full-time, our system would obviously have to change.



"Gotcha." I said and fished out a Tilapia filet and put it on a plate. (get it...fished?)



"What time?" I asked. 



"8:30." She said lightly. 



I nodded. "Cool."



"Great." She said lightly. 



Dinner was ready and we all sat down to eat. Nicole and I praised the girls for getting such good grades and comments from their teachers. We talked about taking a trip to Dallas for the weekend and the girls were all for it. April even asked if Cynthia could hang out with us and Nicole said she'd check with her. 



Jasmine concurred and said it would be fun to see Cynthia again, because she was 'cool'. I glanced several times at Jasmine throughout dinner and I couldn't detect any changes in her. She didn't treat her mom or me, any differently. I don't know what I was looking for, I was just looking, and I honestly didn't see anything. 



The girls disappeared upstairs after dinner and Nicole vanished into our room to get ready. Of course, that left dad with the dishes and clean-up. 



Yea, I got the short end of the stick, but I didn't complain too much. 



I had it pretty good.



Nicole was getting ready when I walked into our bathroom. Actually, she was almost finished, but she was still in her underwear. 



<i>Holy Shit. Does she look good? </i>



She was wearing a matching bra and thong panties, stockings and a garter belt. I didn't recognize her lingerie and it looked very expensive, but it was worth it. I stopped to admire my wife and simply enjoyed the view. 



"Nick." Her voice brought me back to reality. "Will you fetch the dress, I laid out on the bed?" 



"Sure baby." I said and walked out to get the dress. 



I held it up and examined it briefly. The material was light, satiny and felt very expensive. It was a wrap-style(?) dress that looked really short. I wasn't sure it would cover the lacy tops of Nicole's stockings. I shrugged and brought her the dress. 



Nicole winked at me and stepped into the dress, drawing it up slowly and settling it in place. The zipper was in back, so she turned around and let me zip her up. She did a slow 360 in front of the mirror and made a few last minute adjustments. 



"No bra?" I asked. 



"No. This dress provides enough support." 



I nodded and let my eyes travel down her curvy form. The dress did cover her stockings, but just barely and it showed off every curve of her body. I could just barely see her nipples through the fabric and it was very titillating. Nicole leaned forward and gave me a little kiss on the cheek.



"I'll see you at the restaurant baby." She said and left the bathroom. 



It didn't take me very long to get ready and I checked in with the girls, before I left. They were both relaxing in the game room, watching a movie. They reminded me that they'd love to go to Dallas for the weekend, as a reward for getting such good grades. I got hugs from both of them.



Jasmine was ok with watching April, so I left for the restaurant. 



Collin had chosen a new restaurant that was fairly exclusive (of course), so I was looking forward to trying some of their food. I'd only picked at dinner, so I was still hungry. 



When I arrived I gave the hostess my name and she led me back to a circular booth. Collin and Nicole were sitting close to one another, talking and laughing together. Anyone looking would see a gorgeous couple, enjoying dinner and each other's company. Collin had his arm around Nicole and he leaned down and kissed her softly, his arm stroking her bare shoulder. 



Nicole sipped her drink and looked over at Collin for a moment and started to speak, but stopped when she saw me approaching. She looked a little guilty, which was unusual, and she moved slightly away from Collin. 



For his part, Collin handled it smoothly and smiled at me as I walked up to the booth.



"Nick." He said, extending his hand. "Glad you could make it." 



We shook hands and I slid into the booth. Collin and Nicole adjusted themselves, so that they were facing me across the half-moon, circular booth. Once again, they were the couple and I was the third wheel. 



"Thanks Collin." I replied and looked over at them. "Have you two ordered yet?"



"Just drinks." Nicole said quickly. 



The waiter came over and took my drink order and gave me a menu. We all talked about the day and I found something that looked good. A few minutes later, we all ordered and enjoyed our drinks. 



"You look like you've lost some more weight Nick." Collin said. 



"I'm glad to say that I haven't lost a single pound." I replied proudly. 



Nicole cocked her head at me, clearly confused, but Collin nodded in understanding. 



"Glad to say?" Nicole said. 



"I've been lifting weights baby. I've lost some fat weight, but gained some muscle weight, so I'm feeling pretty good." I replied with a smile. 



Nicole winked at me. "Wow. You go Nick." 



I smiled back and looked over at Collin. 



"So Nicole said you had some things you wanted to discuss Collin." I asked. 



I hated suspense and wanted to get right down to business. 



Collin nodded. "I want you to quit your job, Nick." 



I stared at him dumbly. <i>He couldn't have said, what I just think he said, </i>I thought.



A wide smile cross his face and he held up his hand. 



"Let me explain." He paused. "Nick, are licensed to sell insurance?" 



I raised my eyebrows at him. Of course, I was licensed, it was required by the state and by my company. 



"Yes." I said simply. 



"What's the total insurance premium for John's accounts? For everything, all in." He asked. 



The answer came to mind immediately, because it was our biggest account. "Just over $6 million, in combined insurance premiums and other products." 



Collin nodded as though he expected that a number that high. I watched him carefully, but he had his poker face on and I couldn't tell where he was going. 



"On average, what's the commission your company is paying?"



"It varies by line of business and product, but if I had to guess, I'd say around 10 - 12% on an overall basis." I said carefully. "But John didn't use an insurance agent, his company came to us directly." 



"So, if John did use an insurance agent, your company would pay him approximately $600k in commissions. Is that right?" 



I nodded. "Yes and we'd probably also pay a bonus as well. Insurance Agents typically earn commissions, plus production bonuses, from insurance companies. 



Collin nodded and smiled at me. 



"What's up Collin?" I asked. 



Collin didn't answer me directly. "Nick, what do you know about my business?"



"Uhh. Not much, I guess. You manage other people's finances and investments." I replied. 



"That's correct." Collin said, nodding to me. "Most of my clients are, or were, athletes, who get paid large sums of money, and I invest it for them. Do you know what my average commission is?" 



I shook my head and he replied simply. "5%." 



"Wow, I thought it would be larger." I replied. 



"I know right." He laughed. "You know what the most frustrating part of my job is?" 



It must have been a rhetorical question, because he continued almost immediately. 



"Seeing business go out the door." 



"What do you mean?" I asked. 



"Well, I can provide is investment advice and financial planning. Candidly, I'm damn good at it." He replied. "What I can't do, and what I have no interest in doing, is insurance. I fucking hate that shit!" 



I nodded, because I wasn't sure what to say. 



Collin waved a hand dismissively. "Anyway. My clients have to go somewhere else for their insurance products. Occasionally, I lose a client to another firm that provides both financial planning and insurance. That really pisses me off. 



I agreed. "Yea that sucks." 



Collin leaned forward. "It does suck. Now if I had a partner, who was licensed to sell insurance and someone who had their real estate license, I wouldn't have to give any business away." 



Collin looked at me for a second.



"Nick. I want you to quit your job and go into business with me. I want you as a partner."



Silence hit the table like an atom bomb. 



Collin smiled at us. "Listen, it makes all the sense in the world. Nick, you are licensed to sell insurance and you understand that marketplace." He took a breath. "Nicole you have a real estate license and you've worked in the mortgage and real estate side of your company."



"If we were to form a partnership, I'm confident we would be extremely successful."



Nicole and I looked at each other for a long moment. 



"Wow. I don't know what to say." I said slowly. 



"Just hear me out, ok?" Collin asked. I nodded and took a large drink of Scotch. "It's perfect Nick. I know the quality of your work, from your business with John. It's outstanding and you're not a bull-shitter." He laughed quietly. "Actually, you're the exact opposite of a bull-shitter, so we're going to have to work on that a little."



Collin's smile disappeared and he looked at me seriously. 



"We also know each other very well. Aside from my son, I can't think of anyone I'm closer to than you and Nicole. I trust you and I know you and Nicole trust me."



"Nick. I've talked to John and his risk manager is leaving the company. Technically, he's not getting fired, but he's pissed everyone off so much, no one wants to deal with his shit anymore. As a result, he's getting a great severance and a chance to spend more time with his family."



"I can't say I'm sorry to see him go." I said seriously. The dude was a prick and he'd been giving my staff a hard time about a few minor issues. 



"Yea. No one is sorry to see him go." Collin replied. "Anyway, John is interested in hiring an insurance agent. He's convinced the board that it's in their best interest to have an independent insurance agent handle their risk management and insurance programs."



Collin paused dramatically.



"Do you know anyone, who is licensed to sell insurance, who understands John's business and knows what type of insurance he has currently. Someone who would walk in the door and provide consistency and continuity, in their business?" 



Collin looked at me meaningfully.



<i>Holy shit, </i>I thought. <i>He's right.</i>



Simply put, if I left my company and became John's insurance agent, I'd walk into an account that paid $600k a year in insurance commissions. Honestly, the commission revenue was probably higher, but it was a good round number to start.



I still hesitated and Collin pushed his case. 



Collin leaned over and spread his hands. "We could form a partnership or a corporation very easily. We both have the right licenses and contacts to get started right away and hit the ground running." 



"I have a small, but growing list of new clients and you would be able to handle their insurance needs immediately. We wouldn't have just one insurance account. All of my clients have separate businesses that need insurance. All of them."



"Wow." I said simply. I considered it for a few moments and glanced at Nicole. "For arguments sake, let's say I'm interested Collin. What would the process be to get started?" 



I didn't think it was possible, but Collin's smile got even bigger. 



"Nick, I've already set aside $250k to start up my company. I'd like you to put up the same amount, so we're equal partners. We share all revenue and bonuses 50/50. I'd like you to run the insurance side of the business and Nicole can handle any real estate stuff that comes along." He took a breath. "Let me be clear. When I say run the insurance side of the house, I mean exactly that, run it. I don't want to be involved in that part of the business at all. It's your baby."



Collin's voice slowly became persuasive and I got an up-close and personal view of how he sold his services. He was good. He didn't use slogans, cheap sales talk or canned language. 



"Our initial funding of $500k will easily find us office space, pay our expenses and even salaries, if we hire employees, for the first year. Our commission revenue, with the clients we'll start with, will also fund our operations, so we may not even need to touch our original $500k"



I looked at Nicole and her expression was stunned. Collin didn't waste any time and continued. 



"My commission revenue is under $500k right now and the commission revenue from John's account is $600k, so we'd be starting with a company revenue of just over $1 million. We're profitable from the first day Nick. How many start-up companies can say that?"



I nodded. "Not many." 



"Damn right." Collin said dramatically. "If you get the sports team out of Dallas, our insurance commission revenue alone would be over $1 million." Collin paused. 



"Nick how'd you like to work for yourself and double, maybe triple, your salary at the same time?" 



"Holy shit Collin." I said breathlessly. 



It may sound far-fetched to folks outside the insurance industry, but it's not. The situation Collin described was fairly common in insurance and I'd heard it before. Individuals would work for an insurance company, because they provided the best insurance training available, and it provided the opportunity to work on a variety of different products. 



A few years working for an insurance company, provided the foundation for a lot of people to move into selling insurance directly to customers and getting paid commission. It didn't work for everyone and there were more failures than successes, but the ones who were successful were generally very successful. 



"I need time to think about it Collin and discuss it with Nicole." I said slowly. 



He nodded. "I get it Nick, but we don't have much time. Maybe a month, max! John doesn't do insurance and he needs someone to take over for his Risk Manager quickly. He's already had preliminary conversations with other board members and they are agreeable to you replacing him as their agent."



"I understand. It won't take that long." I said. 



Collin nodded and smiled at me. "It would be cool to work together Nick." 



"I don't know Collin." I replied carefully. Collin's eyebrows rose and surprise washed over his face. "I'd like to work with you and I've always liked the idea of owning my own business."



"It's the cuck thing right?" Collin asked. 



"Yes. It's the cuck thing. Since we've already got this 'relationship' going on, I'm not sure it's a good idea to mix that with business. If we're partners, we're partners. I'm not your sub, your cuckold husband, or anything other than your partner. Strictly business."



Collin nodded seriously. "Yea, you're right and I agree. That's the only way this will work." 



Collin looked at Nicole. 



Nicole looked confused and lost at that moment. Emotions played over face like a playground and it was obvious she was conflicted. This was potentially a fantastic opportunity for us and it offered a level of personal success and professional freedom that we'd never even considered.  



There's always a cost though and the cost in this case, was her relationship with Collin. 



It had to end. 



I had asked Nicole, not too long ago, if she would stop seeing Collin, but that had been a theoretical conversation. 



Distant. In the future. 



Collin's offer had just brought the end of their relationship into stark, immediate contrast. No longer was it in the future. It was here, now and right in our faces.



I leaned forward. "Nicole, what are your thoughts?" I asked. 



She shook her head and gave Collin and me a shaky smile. "Well, I guess I better enjoy the next month then, shouldn't I?"



Collin and I exchanged a glance. Nicole looked over at me and looked back at Collin for a long moment. Eventually she spoke. 



"I just quit my job to stay at home with the kids and I want to see that through." She smiled at Collin and me. "I'm probably not the person you want handling the real estate portion. I don't mind helping out, but I want to spend more time with the girls. That's more important."



Collin nodded and shrugged. "I understand. Why don't we cross that bridge when we come to it? It would be a very good problem to have and I don't think it would be difficult to find you an assistant or someone who can take over when you need to leave." 



"We can discuss it further, baby." I added reassuringly. "I agree with you and the girls need to come first. Besides, I still need time to think about this whole thing anyway." 



Collin nodded. "Nothing is going to be settled tonight." 



Silence settled over the table and we all sipped our drinks. Fortunately, our food came and we were able to focus on something else. We ate in silently, all of us wrapped in our own thoughts and unready to give voice to our concerns. 



Finally dinner ended and we said goodnight. I headed home and Nicole left with Collin. Nicole looked unusually pensive, when we parted, and I wondered what was going through her head. 



<i>How attached to Collin is she? </i>I wondered. 



The girls were still watching TV in the game room, when I checked on them. 



<i>I need some scotch, </i>I thought dryly. 



The patio beckoned, so I grabbed a cigar, a glass of scotch on the rocks and sat outside. 



What do you do when you're offered a fantastic opportunity? But you're already comfortable where you're at? 



How much risk do you take, in pursuit of your dreams? 



At what point does one choose security over success? Or more success?



How much success is enough? 



Can I live with failure? 



Is it right to risk my family's future for more money?



Can I live with myself if I let this opportunity pass me by? Pass us by?



My head was spinning. Yes, I'd always wanted to work for myself. Sure, in this case, I'd have a partner, but no boss. I'd be the boss and running my own division of the company. I'd be walking into a huge account that paid fantastic commissions and bonuses, so I wouldn't be starting from scratch. Collin had an existing client list that provided a ready-made pipeline of prospective insurance buyers. 



Building relationships with new clients was the most challenging part of any business and Collin already had existing relationships. His clients would simply be moving their existing insurance business to our firm. 



<i>Our firm? </i>I thought suddenly. <i>You're already thinking of it as your firm?</i>



Collin mentioned a starting budget of $250k from each of us. 



That stung. A lot. 



We had the money, but it was just about everything we'd built over the course of our marriage. All my investments, the kids college funds, hell everything but our emergency savings. 

<hr pg="3" /><i>Fuck me! </i>I thought. 



Anxiety, and more than a little fear, welled up within me. If this failed, we'd lose all the money we'd built up. Nicole and I wouldn't be the only ones to suffer. The girls would lose their college fund as well. Collin was confident we'd knock the ball out of the park, but Collin was confident about everything. 



The passengers on the Titanic were confident they'd reach the states too!!! 



The Donner Party was confident it would reach the west coast. 



The point?



<i>No one plans to fail, but it happens all the time.</i>



The backdoor opened and Nicole walked out. She was dressed in sweats and a t-shirt and she looked amazing. She walked over and sat at the table. 



"What the heck?" I asked.



Nicole shrugged. "I wanted to come home and be with you." She admitted. 



"Wow. That's fantastic. Is everything ok with Collin?"



"Yes. It's just that neither one of us was feeling romantic, after our discussion at dinner." She replied and looked out across our backyard. She had something on her mind.



"Collin also mentioned that he'd reconnected with someone in his past recently. Apparently, they had a brief, but intense affair, and never really got over it. Both of them were married at the time, but she recently divorced and reached out to him."



"Oh. Wow." I looked closely at Nicole. "Honey. Are you ok?"



Nicole nodded and wiped her eyes. "Yes. I'm fine." She got up and sat on my lap. "Collin and I both knew it was going to end between us eventually. We were never going to be together as a couple. I wasn't going to leave you and he always said he wasn't interested in a serious relationship."



"But now he is?" I added. "And it's not with you."



Nicole sighed and kissed me softly. "Honey, I didn't want a serious relationship with Collin. Honestly. I'm just sad that we're ending, that's all."



"I understand baby. It's been a helluva ride hasn't it?" 



"Yes." She smiled at me. "Collin was never comfortable with Cynthia anyway. He was always nice, cordial and friendly, but I could tell that he wanted me all to himself."



"I see. So is it over between you two?"



Nicole nodded and wiped her eyes. 



"Yes. We both agreed that we'd stay friends, but that our relationship is over. Finished."



"Wow. I expected it to end differently, I guess."



"Me too."



Silence decided to make an appearance and Nicole went inside to open a bottle of wine. She rejoined me a few minutes later and she brought the bottle of Scotch. 



Nicole refilled my glass and sat back down on my lap. 



"Open your mouth." She commanded. "And close your eyes."



I laughed out loud, until I saw that she was serious. "What?"



She tweaked my nose and smiled at me. "Just do it Nick."



So I did. A second later, I felt her slip a pill into my mouth and the rim of my scotch glass touched my lips. I took a sip of Scotch and swallowed the pill and opened my eyes. 



"Ok. What the fuck Nicole? Are you drugging me now?" 



She gave me a naughty smile. "You'll see." 



"So." She said as she sat my glass of scotch back down. "What do you think of Collin's offer?"



"It sounds too good to be true." I replied immediately. "We'd be risking a lot and if it failed, we'd be in a really tough spot."



"If it succeeded?" She asked.



"Nicole, if this succeeds...." I paused. "We'll have everything we've ever wanted and more."



Her eyes widened at my response. 



"Seriously honey." I continued. "This deal has the potential to deliver a level of freedom and financial success that few people ever accomplish."



"Stop it." Nicole chided me. "Quit with the big words and just come out and say it."



"Honey. We'd be rich. Really Rich. The kind of rich that lets you retire early and sail around the world. We'd have a business that lets us hang out with famous people and party with them and shit." I added that last part with a serious drawl. 



"Yea. You're a big party animal."



"Ok. Ok. Seriously." I looked up at her. "There really isn't an upside limit honey."



"Wow."



"Yea Wow."



We sat in silence for several moments, enjoying the night and each other's company. Finally Nicole looked down at me and smiled.



"You want to do it, don't you?" She asked. 



I smiled up at her. 



A few minutes later, Nicole and I were both naked, and I was completely free of the chastity belt. We'd put it back in its pouch and put it away. Neither one of us was sure how long it would stay there, but for now it was history. 



The pill? Cialis. 



I'm not sure where she got the prescription, but the little pill Nicole gave me was Cialis. Let me tell you something. 



It works!



The first time we made love it was quick. Embarrassingly quick. 



Nicole didn't mind. She held me close and whispered that she loved me repeatedly. It was nice. Actually, it was much better than nice. We were coming together again, without anyone's approval or influence. It was just us again. 



It was great.



Unbelievably, I was ready to go about 20 minutes later. Hooray for Cialis!



I slid inside my wife the second time and it was delicious. My cock was rock hard and the feeling of penetrating my wife completely was amazing. Since I'd just orgasmed, I had more control than normal and I was determined to use it. 



We started in the missionary position, but I quickly moved her on top of me, so I could watch her ride my cock. Nicole smiled, before throwing her head back and thrusting her hips hard against me. Her moans were like music to me, because they were genuine, and signaled that she was close, very close. 



A few seconds later, she shuddered and cried out, as an orgasm ripped through her body. Her breasts swayed invitingly in front of me and I leaned up and gently licked her nipples. 



"Oh god. Holy shit!" She exclaimed. "Wow that was good."



"I'm glad you liked it." I replied, chuckling a little. 



Nicole moved her hips on me and gave me a naughty smile. 



"You're still hard." 



"Yes-I-Am." I said happily. 



"Good." Nicole replied and moved off of me. She turned around and positioned herself on her hand and knees. She looked over her shoulder at me and patted her ass. 



"Take me Nick." She said softly. 



My jaw dropped open for a second, but I recovered quickly and moved behind Nicole. Once again, I slid inside her easily. I held myself fully inside her, enjoying and savoring the sensation. 



Nicole was mine again, all mine.



My hands gripped her hips and I pushed inside her gently at first, getting a rhythm, and then harder, faster. Our bodies moved perfectly together and Nicole pushed back against me, meeting my thrusts and allowing me to fully penetrate her. 



Nicole's hand found my wrist and she gripped it tightly. I looked down at her and our eyes met. 



"Nick. Don't be gentle baby. Please." She begged. 



She pulled me down on top of her, so that she was laying completely prone on the bed and I was on top of her. This position allowed me to really push inside of her, without having to focus on keeping my balance. Nicole moaned loudly again, as I thrust into her. 



"Harder." She breathed. 



That was it. All the encouragement I needed. 



I savagely pushed into her, pulled out slowly and then ripped back into her. It was primal, urgent and Nicole loved it. Needed it, for some reason. I felt her orgasm again underneath me. I'd made my wife orgasm twice in the same night. 



With my cock. 



I was used to using my mouth to get her off, but not tonight. Tonight, I took Nicole completely with my cock. I wasn't as big as Collin, but it didn't matter. Not to Nicole and not to me. Collin was history and it was just us again. 



Nicole's hand reached back and stopped me from pushing inside her again. I rolled off and she lay on her stomach, breathing heavily, and recovering. I gently reached over and moved her hair out of her face and smiled at her. 



"Wow. I should have gotten you some of that much earlier." She said tiredly.



"I'm not going to ask where you go it, but wow, it sure works. Doesn't it?" 



"Oh yes." She replied. 



I rolled off the bed, shrugged into my robe and checked the living room. Empty. A few seconds later, I returned to the bedroom, carrying a few bottles of water and handled one to my wife. 



"Here you go." 



"Thank you."



Nicole had moved back on the bed and was propped up by some pillows. She was still naked, still gorgeous and I was still very ready to go. I lay on the bed next to her and we swigged our water and smiled at each other. 



"I love you." She said brightly. 



"Love you to honey." 



"You got any left?" She asked. 



We both knew what she was talking about and I nodded. "Hell yes." 



Nicole didn't reply, she just put her water down and slid down to my waist. She slid my entire cock into her mouth a few times, before looking up at me. 



"I want you to finish in my mouth, ok?" 



"Whatever you say baby." I replied happily. 



My eyes closed, as the sensation of an amazing blowjob, washed over me. I expected it to take a while, but honestly, Nicole was very good at sucking cock. It was only a few minutes later, that I felt my orgasm building and my hips shifted slightly. 



Nicole must have sensed my arousal, because she hummed lightly as she took me deeply in her mouth. Her head bobbed up and down methodically and her lips clamped over my cock. 



It came in a rush. 



I moaned loudly as I felt myself release in her mouth. Nicole held her mouth still and gripped my hips tightly. She swallowed quickly and licked the head of my cock. 



"Ahhhhh." I said, laughing softly. "It's sensitive baby." 



She smiled at me. "I know."



We both went into the bathroom to wash up and then slid beneath the covers. Nicole moved next to me and held me tightly. 



Everything felt right. 



In balance. 















<center><i>Six LONG Months Later</i></center>



"Nick." Collin's voice carried over from the doorway. "I'm outta here dude. You spending the night or something?"



I looked up at my business partner. 



"Nope. I just want to finish these optional quotations. We'll have an easier time winning Taylor's business, if we can show him, and his business manager, a few options." I looked down at the papers in front of me and shook my head. "I'll be saving him a lot of money and getting him better insurance coverage. We're in a good spot with Taylor."



The client in question, Taylor McDonald, was an all-pro wide receiver, in the National Football League. The guy was worth millions and Collin handled the bulk of his money. Taylor's business manager asked me to review the insurance he had on his real estate holdings and his franchise businesses. 



As I suspected, his insurance was cobbled together and resembled a patchwork quilt of policies and coverage limits. Each time Taylor bought a property or opened a new business or new location, his current insurance agent, just wrote another policy. It was an easy, but lazy and expensive, way to insure his businesses. 



Collin walked over. "What are you thinking?" He asked. 



I leaned back in my chair and smiled up at him. 



"I've got a plan." I said simply.



Collin laughed. "Oh shit." We both laughed, before he asked. "Tell me more."



"I've asked three national insurance carriers to look over Taylor's operations and put together a comprehensive program that provides coverage for all of businesses and real estate holdings." I paused. "Right now, everything is being held together with duct tape and spit and it's costing him a fortune."



Collin grabbed a chair and motioned for me to continue.



"My goal is to get him with one insurance carrier and insure everything he's got. The benefit to him, is that he'll have seamless coverage, a single point of contact for coverage, claims and billing. Since we'll be combining everything with one carrier, he'll receive significant discounts, and we can save him money. Finally, since we've got three insurance companies competing with each other, I can guarantee him, that no other insurance agent will get him a better deal."



Collin looked impressed and he nodded his approval at me. 



"Sounds great." He said. "Handle it man. Taylor's pretty influential in the league. We'll get a lot of referral business, if we can help him out with this part of his finances. Truthfully, his business manager isn't the sharpest tool in the shed. He doesn't really understand insurance either, so he just went with whoever offered the cheapest coverage."



"Yea. That's obvious." I replied. "We still presenting our options to Taylor on Friday?"



"Yes. It's the only time he's available, so we've got to be ready to go on Friday."



"I'll be ready." I said confidently. "I've already chosen the insurance company and their product and one of their VP's is coming out to attend the presentation. We won't need him, but it never hurts to have a company representative there, just in case."



"Excellent." Collin stood. "See you tomorrow Nick." 



"See ya."











Once Collin left, I was the last one left in our offices. I got my desk organized and sat back in my chair.



<i>Six months, </i>I thought. <i>A very long, six months.</i>



Collin and I had been in business for six months and sometimes it felt like six years. 



I looked out the window. It was a nice view. 



Collin and I had gotten lucky and we secured office space in a brand new building on the 14th floor. Demand for office space in this building and in this area of town, was high, but Nicole knew the real estate developer. She'd worked with him before, at her last job. 



It wasn't the top floor, but it was close and we had a good view of the Texas Hill Country. My office was huge, way more space than I needed, but I'd be lying if I said it wasn't pretty cool. Nicole decorated it for me. 



Six months.



The last six months held more excitement, more anxiousness and fear, and more worry than I'd ever experienced in life. It was surreal. Our lives had changed completely in just six months. 



Six months of 18-20 hour days. 



Six months of coming in to work with 1000 things to do, but time enough for only 500.



Six months of 7 day weeks. 



Six months of bad food and brief moments with the wife. 



Six months of seeing my kids right before they went to bed.



Six months of constant work and travel. 







Bottom line....it paid off. 



It wasn't easy, not one bit of it was easy. But it paid off. 



Collin handled the financial planning and investment side of the business. I handled the insurance and real estate part of the business. Nicole helped with the real estate part on a part-time basis and we were actively searching for a full-time real estate and property manager. 



"Endeavor Inc"



That was the name of our company and we were growing fast. John did come through and he moved his entire account over to me. That commission revenue was critical. Yes, Collin and I put up $500k of our own money, but having actual income coming in the door, allowed us to secure business financing and a line of credit. 



Between John's account and Collin's commissions, we were profitable.....barely. Fortunately, the $500k we'd put up initially, hadn't been touched. Our commission revenues paid our bills and allowed me and Collin a small salary. Collin encouraged me to take a larger salary, but I declined. I wanted our money going into our accounts, not my pocket, until we were in business for a year.  



I flew to Dallas to discuss the other sports team's insurance program and they really liked my presentation. Clint was there and he lobbied for us to get his business. The meeting went very well. The only challenge was that they weren't ready to move their account. 



"We love you. You're great. It's just that we like where we're at now. So you're not getting our business. Yada Yada Yada."



It was that kind meeting. <i>Fuck! </i>I was still pissed. 



Clint, the operations manager and John's friend, pulled me aside after the meeting. 



"Nick." He said quietly. "You're going to get our business. I'm serious. We just can't move our account right now. Our policies expire in about ten months and I want you back up about 120 days prior to our policies expiring. You give us the same presentation at that time and I guarantee you'll win our business."



I believed Clint, but no deal was ever done, until the paperwork was signed. There were still a million things that could change in eight months. Collin was confident we'd get the account. He knew Clint better than I did, but he didn't know insurance, and it wasn't just Clint's decision. 



I was skeptical. I also needed more business. 



Collin started referring his clients over to me, so I could look at their insurance. That's where we really struck gold. There wasn't any rhyme or reason to the insurance business I was reviewing. It was chaotic and expensive for each client. 



The first client Collin referred to me was so happy with the changes I recommended, he referred three brand new clients to Collin and me. I was able to do the same thing for the next two clients Collin referred and the results were similar. 



My side. The insurance side, was growing. It was a good story. 



Collin and I started to roll. Our business grew quickly, almost exclusively through referrals from existing clients. I'm also happy to mention that my side is growing faster than Collin's. It's really not a fair comparison though, because when you start at almost zero...any growth is big growth. If we end up winning Clint's account though, the insurance commission revenue will be larger than the financial products revenue. I can't wait to point that out to Collin. I'll also take a larger salary!



Collin's doing well too. His side of the business is solid and growing. Currently, he's under a non-compete agreement with the company that bought his original firm. He can't solicit his old clients for another 12 months. Kinda sucks, but in 12 months, he expects his side of the business to double, almost overnight.



Business is good. 



My old company?



The company were I used to work was not happy when I quit. That's an understatement. The CEO came down himself and talked to me about his plans for my future. He offered me more money, bigger bonuses, but ultimately not much would change for me, if I stayed. When I told him my decision was final, his face grew red and he told me I could never come back and then he stormed out of my office. His reaction confirmed that I'd made the right decision.  



Sheila hasn't spoken to me since I left. 



When I made my announcement, she left the room with tears in her eyes and I haven't seen her since. My team threw me a going away party. Sheila didn't attend. I don't understand it and I can't explain her behavior. It hurts though, because I thought we were friends. I guess maybe Sheila thought we were more than that or hoped that we'd become more than friends. I don't know. 



I miss her though and I wish it had ended differently between us.



Collin and Nicole?



Friends. That's it. I know, I was skeptical too. I admit I was initially suspicious that their relationship hadn't really ended. I worried they were seeing each other on the sly, so I did something I'm not proud of. I spied on Nicole's phone, computer, tablet etc. I checked her Facebook page regularly, her LinkedIn account, everything. 



Nothing. Collin and Nicole ended amicably. They see each other regularly at the office and everything's fine. 



Collin?



He's a great partner and he's never once treated me disrespectfully. Our past relationship, has never come up, not once. Collin did start a relationship with that lady from his past. She's a blond, Viking-type woman. Seriously. She's like 6', hourglass figure, naturally blonde hair and the bluest eyes you've ever seen. She's not as beautiful as Nicole (of course), but she is very pretty and striking. Her name is Valerie and she still lives in New York. They travel to see each other regularly and she seems like a really nice person. 

<hr pg="4" />Cynthia?



Cynthia has almost become a member of the family. Collin suggested we hire her, but I'm not sure that's a good idea. She's considering moving to Austin or San Antonio to be closer to us. Well, closer to Nicole anyway. The girls like her and she stays with us (separate bedroom), when she visits. Their relationship is as close as ever and Cynthia dropped a little bomb on us recently. 



Cynthia's in love with Nicole. She announced it one night, while we were sitting on our back patio. She accepts the fact that Nicole is married, with kids, and she's not going to leave her family. Cynthia loves her anyway.



Nicole is conflicted. So am I.



Jasmine and April? 



They're great. Nicole quitting work and staying at home was exactly what we needed as a family. Jasmine and Nicole are almost like sisters now, even though Jasmine is only 15. It's a healthy relationship and Nicole told me that Jasmine tells her everything. I'm happy. Relieved. April received a love note from a boy at school. 



I decided to clean my shotgun. In front of April.



Me?



"I'm luckier than I deserve", as Dave Ramsey says, or something along those lines.



My life started in very humble beginnings (read poor), and the only things I possessed when I left home were a good attitude and a strong work ethic. I won the lottery, when I met and married my wife (who also grew up poor), and between the two of us we've built a life together. 



It's a life full of happiness, family and good friends. 



It's enough.











Epilogue:



Collin took over our personal finances and I'm happy to say that we're doing pretty well. Collin also insisted that we meet with an attorney for some estate planning. He even took the liberty of having the attorney come to our offices. 



Wanna take a guess? 



That's right. David. 



In case you forgot, David is Collin's attorney. As Collin and Nicole's relationship was beginning, she met David several times. There was an instant attraction between them. 



Nicole and David. 



The attraction is alive and well.



And hungry. 







<i></i><center><i>Thank you for reading! I sincerely hope you enjoyed it.



JC</i></center>



