This is not a Caution, but more of a Warning.

This chapter exhibits even more of Ellen's selfish behavior at her husband's expense. Heather deals with her antics as best he can, but things will get better for Heather.

We are sure that Ellen's attitudes and behavior are exaggerated as we have NEVER met anyone who acted like Ellen before.

* * * * *

CHAPTER 29 - A flight to freedom, lands in the valley of disappointment.

Based on Fred’s plan, it was probably a good time to have Heather move out of their conjugal bed and into the guest room. She was about to give Heather the bad news when George walked in announcing that he had finished the taxes. All he needed was Ellen’s signature to submit the corporate taxes on time. He had to co-sign as the corporation’s accountant.

Things changed once the taxes were submitted. Ellen summoned Heather to her office. As he stood before her desk, Ellen steadied herself for the hardest thing she had done as a boss, demote her own husband. She looked at Heather and tried not to think of her as George.

She announced, "My company no longer needs an accountant. Effective immediately Heather, you are being demoted to bookkeeper. It's nothing personal, it is strictly a business decision, I hope you understand?"

Heather's face fell. Ellen could tell her husband was devastated as his knees started to buckle. He started to say something, but Ellen hushed him. Before he could make a scene, Ellen dismissed him and told him to close the door on the way out.

He headed straight for the bathroom, not wanting to have a breakdown in the hall. He entered a stall, sat and had himself a good cry. When he had composed himself, he fixed his face in the mirror and headed to his office, where he found a man changing the title on his office door.

He filed away all his papers and organized his office space. By the time he was done it was getting on to quitting time. Heather knocked on Ellen’s door and waited to be invited in. "Hey there Ms. Ellen," He said breezily, his high feminine voice now flowing easily. "I'm just here to ask for a lift home."

Ellen looked at him severely, "I’ve told you not to call me Ellen. Ms. Newman is how you should address me! We don't want the others to know that I am living with the help. Go wait for me at the bus stop on the corner. I will pick you up there when I’m finish here."

Heather gathered his purse and made his way across the parking lot and sat on the bench and felt lost. Eventually Ellen pulled up at the bus stop and Heather hopped in the front seat. He pouted all the way home. Ellen failed to notice because she had something to say and knew he wasn’t going to like it. She decided to do it in the car, in case he made a scene.

About half of the way home she informed him of the new sleeping arrangements. She hoped that pushing him out of her bed at the moment, would not send him over the edge. Heather took the news stoically, at least on the outside. Internally, his emotions were in a tornado. When he asked for an explanation she explain, "The reason will be clear later, just be patient."

Ellen pulled into the garage and leapt out of the car leaving Heather to make his own way in. She rushed into the house. She was going to have the dreaded talk with George. She had put this off as long as she could, but it just had to be done. She first checked on the baby then poured two large brandies from a cut-glass decanter and sat on the settee waiting on her hubby. She took several large sips of her drink trying to work up her courage for what was ahead. She could hear Heather fidgeting in the kitchen. Ellen braced herself for what was ahead. She called out for Heather who was preparing their dinner. Ellen called for Heather to forget dinner and join her in the den.

Heather walked in impatient that Ellen was disturbing her dinner routine. "What is it El?"

Ellen jumped up and fidgeted nervously she handed him the other glass and said "Here take this you’re going to need it. Have a seat honey. There is something serious we need to talk about."

After Heather was seated, Ellen paced nervously before diving into what she needed to say.

"I had a private meeting with Fred, he is positive I am still under scrutiny by cartel agents. He, well actually, we decided I need to make a grand gesture to get them off my trail."

George didn’t like where this was heading, so he inquired. "And what is that?"

Ellen took a deep breath and continued, "As far as the world knows, George went to Mexico and no one has seen or heard from him since. That makes me an abandoned wife. I need to act like a woman rejected by her husband. I need to formalize the fact George is no longer in my life. There is only one surefire way to do that."

George was scared and was putting a real challenge on his antiperspirant.

Ellen took a large sip of her drink and suggested her husband do the same.

"Brace yourself honey. What I am about to say is going to hurt. Just remember I love you. For my and Ariel’s protection I need to show the world I am the woman spurned and alone. The plan requires that I will publicly divorce you and also petition the court to take your name off Ariel’s birth certificate. That will demonstrate to everyone I have cut all ties with George."

George’s heart skipped a beat. He gasped for breath. "Oh, Ellen how can you do that to me? Can’t we talk about this?"

Ellen was untouched by his plea, she scolded George, "We can postpone the inevitable, whether I do this today or next month, it is going to happen. No matter what you say, I fully intend to go ahead with the divorce. My lawyers are working on the papers as we speak. Just be aware if you fight this the only thing it will accomplish is to hurt yourself."

"If this plan is going to work, I am telling you we can’t go on living like this. Things must change in our relationship, that is why I asked you to sleep in the guest room. We must show the world you are only my employee and houseguest, nothing more. If word got out, we were sleeping together it would ruin the plan. Even if all we were doing is sleeping."

George felt as if someone had punched him in the stomach. All he could do was fix Ellen with a steely gaze.

Ellen wasn’t done, she saved the worst for last. She suggested he pick up his drink and finish it.

"We are two eligible bachelorettes living together in the same house. I for one, am viewed as an attractive unattached successful business woman. You my dear are seen as nothing more than an exotic single woman living in my guest bedroom.

"After the divorce becomes final and maybe a little before, I will have to be seen dating. Making it appear I am looking for replacement for my husband. Will you be able to handle me dating men?"

George thought the ultimate cost to his tacit consent of her infidelities would be the last of his dignity. He wished he had never left that accursed prison. He thought about waiting for one of Ellen’s sexcapades and while she was out, he would kill himself. He had given up his manhood for Ellen, why not go all the way and sacrifice his life.

He was jolted back to the present when Ellen rambled on, "If you are still living here you will have to accept that. Do you think you can emotionally handle me going out with men? If not, you should give some serious thought to moving out. You have months to get use to the idea, it will take that long for the divorce to go through. Please let me know as soon as you can. If you leave, I will have to hire a new housekeeper."

"Ellen, I don’t think your plan is a good idea."

"Dear it’s about time you realize what you want think means diddly in this context. I will do whatever it takes to protect me and my daughter."

George sat there a single tear running down his quivering cheek. He wiped it away with the back of his hand. Finally getting his emotions under control he was able to examine the problem rationally and tentatively said, "I may not like it, but can see the logic behind your argument. Yes, I think I can live with you going out at night. Just as long as you still love me and come home every night."

Ellen chose her words closely and eventually declared, "I am sorry dear but that is something I can’t promise in whole. I will always love you. But in this day and age dating without sex would raise red flags. I do promise I will come home to you afterward.

"I don’t want you waiting up for me, I couldn’t stand seeing your anguish when I walk in after a night spent in another man's bed. Plus, I expect there will be sometimes I won’t be coming home until after sunup, I will only have time to change clothes and leave again. Also, I will never discuss what went on with my men."

George gave it some profound thought, after a long time with a quivering voice he said "Alright just promise me one thing, you won’t date Derrick, that I couldn’t stand."

"That is no problem I will only be dating eligible bachelors. Certainly, no married men. Does that make you feel better?"

@ @ @ @

Ellen did as she promised and filed for divorce. Her lawyers told her it would be about six months before the final decree came through. She played her part well over the next few weeks and months. Ellen acted the part of an abandoned wife. Much to Heather's disgust, with him sleeping in the guest bedroom their relationship at home deteriorated to a platonic one. Ellen treated him as the hired help. When she wanted something, she would tell him to do it, never asked. Heather now knew the true meaning of depression. He truly felt he was nothing more than an employee to Ellen and a nursemaid to their young daughter.

After that talk. George went into a major funk. He went to bed and didn’t get out of it for a week except to pee. Ellen covered for him at work and had all the alcohol removed from the house and checked the medicine cabinets for dangerous drugs.

He finally came out of the bedroom when he got hungry. He had discovered that pity is not a very filling meal. He showered for the first time in days and headed for the kitchen. Nothing looked appetizing until he opened the freezer and found ice cream. He substituted his depression for comfort food. Within days, he became addicted to Cookies N' Cream ice cream. After he had eaten his way through four gallons of the sweet stuff and had made a major dent in a fifth, Ellen became concerned and called his sister. She brought in Beth and arranged an intervention.

Ellen and Beth tried to convince George that the divorce was not because Ellen didn’t love him; it was done to protect their family. That was nice to hear and gave Heather something to think about. However, they never got to the heart of his depression. Beth didn’t mention or didn’t know about Ellen’s planned infidelities.

He realized if he wanted to stay with his daughter, he would have to suck up the other shit. He had no idea how he would feel when Ellen went out on a date. He guessed he would have to wait and see how that played out.

The deciding factor in giving up the ice cream was that Heather put on ten pounds. That in itself wasn’t so bad except that all the fat seemed to settle on his chest and ass. He was self-conscious enough about the way his body had changed but becoming a busty broad was more than his ego could take. So, the deserts were put away and saved for special occasions.

Heather suffered through the following months waiting for that dreaded time when Ellen would get her ticket of freedom from their marriage vows. He retreated into himself. He spent his time at home doing the homemaker thing and doting on his daughter. If Ellen tried to engage him in conversation it was met with either grunts or silence. He went to the office and got lost in his work. He turned down all invitations to lunch until the ladies stopped asking. Other than his weekly appointments with his shrink, he had no interaction with anyone outside of the office.

@ @ @ @

One day about six months later around lunch time, one of the myriads of interns Ellen kept employed stuck her head in Heathers office and announced, "Everyone is wanted in the breakroom."

Heather left everything on his desk and went to see what all the fuss was about. Walking in the room, he saw a table with a cake on it and party balloons taped to the wall. Heather asked innocently enough, "Whose birthday is it?"

"It’s no one’s birthday silly, a messenger delivered the boss' final divorce degree this morning. We are all here to watch her sign it and become a free woman again. Then all of us ladies are going to drag her to a club where she can celebrate properly by picking up some stud and get royally laid."

Everyone in the room but Heather cheered. A few minutes later, Ellen showed up. She made an appearance and marched to the desk and asked for quiet. Ellen’s luxuriant brown hair was gathered above her head by an ornate comb, a few curling wayward strands had escaped and hung down her tan neck.

She made a major production signing the papers with a flourish. To raucous cheers.

All the woman who worked for Ellen piled into cabs and drove to the town’s best nightclub. Surprisingly. the owner greeted Ellen by name and the party was led to a private room with booths along all the walls. Heather was dragged to the largest booth that held everyone if they packed in real close.

The servers were all men. Ellen was spending like a drunken sailor and announced it was an open bar, everything tonight was on her tab. Heather was crammed in with a woman on both sides. Everyone was drinking shots. One young intern proposed a toast to ‘freedom.’ That set off a cheer. Barbra to Heather's right leaned into Heather and slurred, "Now the boss can finally date openly and not keep hiding it."

Heather gasped at the news, "You mean, Mrs. Trousdale has been secretly dating men?"

Kellie who was on her other side poked Heather in the ribs. "Don’t pay attention to anything Barbra says. She is the office gossip, half of everything that comes of her mouth is made up."

Later, Heather spoke to Kellie and asked, "Do you think what she said is true? Could all these late-night meetings with clients be something more?"

Kellie shrugged. "I have no idea. I have worked for Ms. Trousdale, now I guess we should call her Ms. Newman, a lot longer than you. What the boss does in her own time is her business. I mind my own business and recommend you do too."

Heather threw down shot after shot and wondered about what Barb had said. Were all those late-night business meetings just her way of dating men and keeping it from George. The more he drank the more confused he got. He prayed the night would soon be over.

If the divorce degree upset Ellen, she showed no signs of it. In this party setting, she was at home surrounded by her peeps. She laughed and drank the night away. Heather had never felt worse and tried to fade into the background. Watching Ellen’s happiness stung like a big fat salve of salt being rubbed on an open wound.

At one point, Ellen pulled Heather aside and chastised him for being a real downer and not acting happy for her. After all it was all part of the grand theater they were playing. Society would expect her to be happy. Heather as her friend and employee would also be assumed to share in that joy.

He acknowledged her point and promised to try and be happy. The rest of the night he presented a cheery disposition, the open bar helped a lot.

It was awful grieving in secret. He had to literally grin and bear it.

When the night ended neither Ellen nor Heather were in any condition to drive so they called a cab. As the last of the partygoers were leaving, Heather was holding up Ellen when one of the secretary’s Cindy was leaving, Heather drunkenly commented "Some party."

Cindy laughed "Oh, this was nothing. You should have seen last year’s Christmas party, we brought in male strippers. The booze was flowing like water there wasn’t a dry panty in the room."

Heather managed to get Ellen home and into bed. Where she passed out and spent the night in a drunken slumber. Heather with an uneasy stomach laid next to his wife, on the side of the bed closest to the bathroom.

Heather woke gently as morning filled the room with its rosy glow. The back side of his wife’s body lying beside him. His head throbbed, as his lungs ejected an involuntary moan. Ellen’s body shifted, as she mumbled, and turned to face him. Her hair was a matted tumble, lips parched, eyes a roadmap of scrawled red lines. Her morning breath would take the rust off of chrome. She uttered, "Some party, huh?"

Heather called the office and left word that both would be taking a sick day. He took a cold shower and felt alive again. Ellen elected to spend the day in bed.

Heather did the laundry and brought the baby into the den and parked her next to him in front of the television and vegetated while Ellen never got out of bed.

The next morning over breakfast, George had to know so he came right out and asked, "Ellen, please be honest with me. Have your late-night business meetings actually been clandestine dates?"

Ellen still feeling a bit shaky from her drunken nigh took a long sip of black coffee and answered the question, glad to finally get it out in the open. "I am sorry dear, but yes, some of them have been. You were warned it might happen. I tried to hide what I was doing to keep from hurting you. They were nothing serious and certainly not the same guy twice. Even though I had had a number of offers, I have not had sex with anyone, if that makes you feel any better.

George wondered if that denial was as believable as Bill Clinton’s, "I have not had sexual relations with that woman."

Now that her secret was out in the open. Ellen didn’t have to hide her preparations. She tried to not to be too obvious, seeing how distressed her husband was. He tried valiantly not to show it but Ellen could see the hurt in his eyes as she walked out the door and routinely told Heather she had her phone in case of emergencies so not to worry. Then reminded George not to wait up.

On those evenings where Ellen was out on a date, Heather resorted to his bottle of Xanax after putting the baby to bed.

Ellen would never forget the morning after her first scheduled date that was known to George. She had gotten in as the sun was just sneaking over the horizon. She found her family at the kitchen table eating breakfast. She joined them and Heather retrieved her favorite breakfast of eggs benedict from the oven where it was warming. Heather sat and concentrated on feeding the baby. Every attempt Ellen made to start small talk was met with silence from her husband. She looked up from her eggs and really looked at her husband. One tear snuck out his right eye like a grounded teenager heading to a late-night party. She wanted to go to him but had no idea what to say to make him feel better. So, she left well enough alone.

Every morning after one of her dates Heather was chilly toward his wife, that lasted until they went back to work.

After several months of weekend dating, Ellen was tired of seeing Heather spend every Saturday night home with the baby. She arranged for a babysitter and took Heather out clubbing hoping he might loosen up, have a good time, and stop being the gloomy Gus.

To Ellen, this would accomplish two things, it would first reinforce the notion she was actively seeking male companionship and, secondly, it would get her husband out of the house. By accompanying her he would see she was only flirting, not being a total slut.

The issue of Heather refusing to wear a skirt reared its ugly head again. In the end, they compromised and Heather went out wearing a cute pink skinny Chino ankle length pants, that lifted, slimed, and tucked Heathers body and made him look one whole size smaller. Again, over Heather's objection he left the house in a pair of platform shoes with a glitter encrusted upper and almost six-inch heels.

The couple took a taxi to the area’s notorious hookup spot and meat market. Ellen drank and danced the night away. Heather drank sparingly. Being a plane Jane, he didn’t draw a lot of attention. He acted more as Ellen’s wing man. While Ellen danced and flirted, Heather kept the Ellen's current companion’s friend occupied.

During that time Heather had a couple of invitations to dance, which he promptly declined. Ellen had a ball, giving her phone number to a dozen different guys, but turned down twice that number of invitations to go home with the womanizers. Heather was bored out of his mind and nearly deaf from the constant blaring hard rock music. Ellen was feeling no pain when they finally called it a night.

Over the ensuing weeks, Ellen asked Heather to go with her to the club several more times. Which he refused; he would rather stay at home with the baby. Ellen wasn’t going to be deprived of her fun so she went with one of her men and left Heather home.

About a month later Ellen broke her own rule and had her date pick her up at home. Heather had the baby in his arms and unwittingly answered the door to find a really attractive man wearing a thousand-dollar Armani suit. He introduced himself to Heather as Tom and asked Heather her name. Once the pleasantries were exchanged Heather went to notify Ellen her date was here. Ellen explained Heather’s presence as her being the live in governess, and the baby as her daughter. As she left, she gave Heather a chaste peck on the cheek and walked arm in arm with her date, the lawyer to his Porsche sports car. It was more that George could take.

It was an early night for Ellen, her date turned out to be a total jerk. She came home about 1 AM. She found Heather curled in a ball at the foot of her bed sobbing uncontrollably. To help her husband calm down she made it clear the dates were just play acting to help sell her cover story. After seeing the way Ellen looked at her date, Heather appreciated the effort but wasn’t totally convinced.

About two months later, with Ellen continuing to date and George falling deeper and deeper into a pit of depression, Nancy announced her wedding. It was planned for three months out. She asked Ellen to be her maid of honor. So as not to leave out her new friend. Heather was asked to be bridesmaid.

The wedding plans were going along smoothly until a month before the wedding when a major issue again reared its ugly head. Heather's prohibition against wearing dresses became a major issue. It took Ellen, Nancy and Betty working on him nonstop to eventually get his agreement. They cornered Heather and pointed out, "It’s not like it would be the first time you have been in skirts. On a daily basis you are already wearing bras, panties, heels and makeup. The jump to a dress is so insignificant it wouldn’t even register on the Richter scale of femininity."

"You’re right. After our jail break, I wore one. Then coming home while working at the cockroach motel I was forced into a dress. Enough is enough. I’m putting my foot down."

Ellen rebutted his argument by pointing out that if Heather refused to bend on this issue, he was potentially ruining a good friend’s day. If that was his decision, he was going to have to tell Nancy. Ellen wasn’t going to break her best friends’ heart she was counting on Heather as a bridesmaid.

The guilt trip won the day and Heather agreed to wear a dress, but he emphasized it was a one-time thing.

The dress Nancy decided on for the bridesmaids was a very feminine rose colored long dress with a lace bodice with an illusion neckline, a ribbon-defined waist, and a fluid mesh skirt with a slit. Wearing it made Heather cringe. But once he had given his word, he was determined to soldier on. Before heading to the dress fitting, Ellen spent a lot of time and effort on Heather's hair and makeup.

With the dress on he assessed himself in the mirror. Truth was, even after all this time he still was not a very pretty girl. His face, despite the makeup looked too mannish, with his large snout and square jaw. He hung his head as feelings of self-loathing and self-pity washed over him. For just this once he wished he wasn’t the ugly duckling.

The girls at the office, planned a bachelorette party for Nancy and invited Heather. Heather gave it some serious consideration. In the end, he decided to decline the offer, which he took some heat for.

On the weekend of the wedding, the official party was housed in luxury accommodations in the Hotel del Coronado, a resort right on the beach in San Diego bay. Ellen and Heather were paired up and shared a suite, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Much to Heather's delight it had only one king bed. He hadn’t slept with Ellen since she had started to date. Even if sex was off the table the thought of sleeping next to Ellen, was like a dream come true.

The first night there was no sex, but to Heather just spooning with Ellen was like he had died and gone to Heaven.

On the second night, they were invited to the traditional rehearsal dinner. Ellen was paired up with the best man, Tim, one of Darrel’s service buddies and a real stud.

Heather ended up with a groomsman named Robert, 'call me Rob'. Heather's date was above average looking, but not movie star attractive like the best man.

Each table had several bottles of wine and there was an open bar. Everyone drank a little more than was advisable. Heather watched Ellen during the meal get flirty with Tim. He couldn’t pay close attention because he was too busy fending off the advances of Rob. It was after midnight that Ellen got up and asked Heather to join her in the powder room.

Once in the elegant bathroom Ellen took Heather aside and said, "Honey, I’m about ready to leave."

A happy Heather replied. "Great. I’ll meet you in our room."

Ellen took Heather by the shoulders and with a sad heart informed her mate, "I’m sorry honey you’ll have the room to yourself. Please understand, this is not intended to hurt you but I will be spending the night in Tim’s room."

"What the fuck are you talking about?"

"Honey, remember I am a wealthy divorcee, it is assumed that I play the field."

"You promised to never cheat in front of me?"

"Honey you have nothing to worry about, I will be safe. According to Nancy, Tim and Robert are homosexuals. All that is important is that I’m seen spending the night leaving with a man and spending the night in his room. Please don’t get upset, but I will have to make a very public display of affection. To reinforce my story of being over my marriage."

George felt his male identity slipping away.

"Okay as long as you are sure he’s gay. I won’t be upset with that."

"I am as sure as I can be. Tim and Robert live together and I have Nancy’s word for it. Now touch up your makeup and let’s get back out there to our dates. I would hate to lose Tim and end up sleeping with a real man."

Heather hesitated, so Ellen spoke insensitively, "Honey, you are attractive! Definitely dating material. It would seem queer if Heather didn’t date. Since I will be otherwise occupied tonight, take this time to broaden your horizons and enjoy yourself as a woman. It might give you a whole new perspective on your future life. Lose the water wings, stop playing in the kiddie pool, join the adults in the deep end and test the water, you might find you like it."

Heather was angry and hurt but resigned to the situation. Not happy about the situation there was nothing he could do about Ellen. He dragged himself back to his table.

He sat and watched Ellen and Tim flirt before eventually leaving arm in arm with a full bottle of whiskey with them. As Tim held the door open for Ellen, George could just make out his wife's melodic chuckle at something presumably Tim did or said. Rob saw his date watching his best friend vamoose with his most recent conquest. Rob thought now was the time to strike. He hugged Heather and invited her to spend the night in his room as it was only steps away right outside the hall on the ground floor.

Heather was inconsolable and a little tipsy. The last thing he wanted was to be alone tonight thinking about what Ellen was up to. After some persuasion, he let Rob talk him into going to his room. The two left the hall hand in hand. Once in the door of Rob’s room, he kicked off his toe cramping spike stilettos. Rob opened a bottle of bubbly and handed Heather a glass. Heather took a girly sip from the champagne flute and toasted Rob. In what was intended as a grand gesture, Rob threw his glass into the fireplace then grabbed Heather and tried to kiss him. Heather pushed him away and said, "Before things get out of hand there is something you should know about me."

Bob smiled and said, "If you mean you have an outie rather than an innie. I am aware of that."

"How?"

"Derrick briefed Tim and he told me all about you. And I don’t mind at all. In fact, it excites me. Deep down I have always wondered what it would be like to have a night of fuck and suck with a feminine man. My usual preference when dating guys is with the muscle-bound types."

"You mean you are gay like Tim?"

Bob chuckled, "Gay is not exactly accurate. We both are what is commonly referred to as bisexual. You know like the Mounds commercial, sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t."

George was dumbfounded at that revelation. "I don’t want that! I am not interested in a sexual relationship with you or any man!"

"You dumb bitch! No one asked or cares what you want! I’m the man, it’s all about my needs. You’ll put out or suffer the consequences!"

"Now enough small talk, strip off that dress and get on your knees. I feel like starting the night with a BJ. Then we can get into the bed for the main event. I am going to wear out your ass."

As a man, there was no way George could physically compete with this jerk so he looked for a way Heather could escape using her wiles rather than his muscles. Looking around the room he saw something he could use as a weapon. Fittingly it was as feminine as it could get. It was risky but better than the alternative. He let the dress slip off his shoulders and puddle to the carpet to start his plan.

His high heels were lying next to the bed, all he had to do was get near them. While Robert took off his shoes and socks and stepped out of his pants and underpants, he briefly turned his back as he threw them all onto the room's easy chair. Heather saw an opportunity and dropped to his knees and picked up one heel and concealed it behind his back.

Heather, in only his lingerie, was on his knees looking up at Rob. Stage one of his onerous task was in action. He licked his lips in a seductive manner and purred, "Come over here lover." Heather smiled up at Robert as he moved within range. Heather fought his revulsion and reached out to lightly stroked his member. As Rob closed his eyes and sighed, Heather brought the shoe up by the toe and drove the spiked heel down on the bridge of Rob’s foot with as much force as he could muster. It imbedded in his foot a good quarter of an inch. Robert howled like a wounded animal and hopped around the room until he tripped over a table and fell on his back banging his head in the process.

Heather in his underwear stood over him like an avenging angel and held the shoe overhead like a weapon. He glared down at Robert with spittle dropping out of his mouth he growled, "Now get out of here, just as you are! That should keep you out of trouble. I don’t want to see you again until the wedding."

Trying to regain some control he said, "You won’t get away with this my friends saw us come in here."

"You’re right I heard the snide remarks as we came in. I can still hear them drinking out by the pool. So why don’t you slither out the bathroom window. We wouldn’t want to ruin your reputation."

"Where will I sleep?"

"Its southern California, I suggest the beach. If you are a good boy, I will leave your pants and wallet in the room with the door unlocked when I leave in the morning. If you give me any trouble, I will flush your wallet and car keys down the crapper."

A humiliated and totally defeated Robert limped to the bathroom and managed to climb out the window, he was smart enough to take two bath towels with him. It was a mild night he slept under a lifeguard stand.

The next morning, Ellen staggered her way to their suite to find Heather sobbing on a bed that gave no signs of being slept in. Ellen with a furrowed brow assumed he was upset thinking something happened between her and Tim.

"George, what’s the matter?"

"It's nothing. Don't worry," he replied trying to dry his tears.

Ellen reached for his hand. "If this is what you're like when nothing's wrong, I'd hate to see you when there is something wrong. I think you'd better tell me all about it."

She suspected her spending the night with Tim was the trigger for this outpouring of emotion. She looped a stray strand of hair behind her ear and sat as close as she could without invading his personal space. She needed to do something before he got lost in self-pity.

"Honey, you have to believe me. Nothing happened last night. Tim wasn’t as gay as was advertised. He tried mightily to get frisky. I kept him at bay by feeding him whiskey until he passed out. I give you my word he spent the night unconscious on the floor drooling into the carpet. While I slept in the bed. Now do you feel better?"

"A little. I was crying because Robert tried to rape me last night."

"Oh my God. I’ll kill the SOB! Wait. You did say ‘tried’ so that’s good. Tell me what happened."

Heather related the entire story to Ellen. Ellen was caught between wanting to laugh or cry. The thought of Robert hopping naked across the beach was hilarious. She got up and ran Heather a bath. She sat on the side of the tub and held his hand while he soaked. He stayed in the water until it cooled. Heather felt better. Ellen took a quick shower then dropped off Heather at the hotel’s beauty salon. All the bridesmaids in the wedding party had appointments.

Ellen left to join Nancy they had a hairdresser coming to Nancy’s room where she would do Nancy’s and Ellen’s hair and makeup. Heather was close to catatonic and moved like a zombie. Whatever the beautician recommended Heather consented without thinking about it.

The first thing she did was wash and condition his hair. Then she gave Heather a complete facial beauty treatment followed by one of the spa's specialties, a bridesmaid makeover. He was seated in a chair and had a smock draped over him. The beautician plucked his eyebrows almost into oblivion, then brushed a liquid makeup over his face, followed by various layers over his eyelids and lips. She added a blush to his cheeks and carefully added long eyelashes glued in pairs on the top and below his eyes. She painted bold lines where these were placed and also drew in the eyebrow line to emphasize its thin state. She then brushed out Heather's hair in long spiral curls. While his hair was drying, a nail technician applied long acrylic nails to his hands in glamor length. Then painted them a rose color to match his lipstick and dress.

Everyone finished up about the same time. The ladies all dressed in the spa's changing room and headed directly to the beach wedding being held adjacent to the hotel. Ellen was with Nancy standing off to the side waiting for the wedding party to form up. Ellen almost didn’t recognize her Heather as he left the hotel portico and stepped onto the sand. He came into the bright sunlight, with his long curls bouncing with each step he took. For the first time Heather went beyond passable to pretty. Heather, with her long legs and beautiful head of long curls, really stood out from all of the ladies in the wedding with the exception of Ellen and the bride.

As Heather walked toward the makeshift altar, he caught a good look at Ellen. She was so gorgeous it took his breath away. He would die for her, he loved her so much.

After the ceremony, they took pictures on the beach until sunset. In one that had the groomsmen and bridesmaids, Heather accidently stepped on top of Roberts injured foot. Heather gave him an angelic smile and apologized. "I’m sorry. Hope that didn’t hurt you." He was man enough not to say anything as he limped away.

Ellen ambushed the official photographer in the parking lot as he was getting into his van. She held him hostage and demanded he show her the proofs. As Ellen scanned the digital wedding pictures, she identified the one of only the bridesmaids. She offered him an outrageously generous stipend to crop out everyone but Heather and rush her a dozen wallet size pictures of Heather for keepsakes.

At the reception, everyone had a great time with an average chicken meal which was compensated for by another open bar. Ellen spent a lot of time dancing, surprisingly, several times were with the groom. Heather was asked a number of times, all of which he declined. During a break for the DJ, Heather asked Ellen if they could dance. Ellen firmly said it would be inappropriate.

A miserable Heather went back to drinking to kill the pain.