Back To the GrindA 7-part series by Member389. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Stories.

"You're quiet."

I smiled. "Sorry, just thinking." I'd gotten

home a few days before and promptly went back to work. This was my first

night off, and sitting across the table from Mom, I thought that it was

time to tell her, but unsure about how to go about it.

"Your trip went well then." She asked, the questioning tone left hanging in the air between us.

"It

went very well." I said and looked her in the eyes. She knew, like

mothers do, that there was a lot more to the story. She sat there with

an expression that said, "when you're ready, tell me what you need to

get off your chest."

"Dinner smells terrific." I said.

"Yea

it does. Sorry it's going to be a bit late, I got it into the slow

cooker later than I'd planned." She said, before getting up and setting

the table.

I'm not sure if it was the homely sounds of the

kitchen but I relaxed. "Do you remember two years ago when I went down

to see Davy about a job for the summer?"

"Yes, when he'd given it to that Dylan boy." She said, knowing that the story was about to unfold.

"Yea,

the reason he gave it to Dylan was because I didn't make it there in

time. I stopped down at Paula's and she asked me to make a delivery for

her since I was going right near the place on my way to see Davy." I

began. I let the story unfold, not going into the steamy details. After

all it was my mother I was talking to, and she didn't need to hear about

that, any more than I wanted to tell her. I told her about taking care

of Summer for weeks. She mentioned that Paula told her about me taking

her to the concert in the park. I said that I had, and a good many

people had let her know that I had been on stage and played for some

girl named Summer. I had totally forgotten about how public that was,

and yet she never mentioned it to me even though she'd heard about it.

Mothers can be the sneaky when they want to be.

"So you already knew?" I said surprised.

"Well

not so much as you think, but when your son serenades a pretty girl at a

crowded summer concert, people will ask you about it." She said with a

smile. "I thought that you'd tell me when you were ready." She paused.

"I knew something had happened though, and I didn't want to pry. You're

an adult, and I respect the fact that you're not going to tell me

everything that's going on in your life. Listen to me, that sounded like

a huge guilt trip, it's not. I just want you to know that I respect

your privacy. Paula tried to dig for dirt with me and I told her that

you hadn't discussed your job with me."

I told her about how

abruptly Summer had left. The look on my face must have conveyed exactly

how it felt. She walked over and rested a hand on my shoulder before

running her hand down the back of my head and giving my neck a little

squeeze. She knew somebody had broken my heart, now she knew who it was.

"So you went to see her?" She asked.

"It's

nice there, kind of like west of here over towards the mountains. She

lives in a decent sized city, like Augusta maybe. She's a nurse at the

hospital there. She's got a terrific daughter named Emily." At that I

spied mom's eyebrows lift a fraction.

"So how did the first

meeting go?" You hadn't seen her in over a year, the way she left I

can't imagine you'd heard from her before that."

"It was nerve

wracking." I said with a laugh. I told her about leaving the note and

finally meeting again. I mentioned meeting Emily and how they asked me

to stay with them. I watched for a look of shock or surprise and didn't

see one cross mom's face. Her head just bobbed as she took it all in.

"So, when?" She asked, picking up the thread of a conversation we'd had weeks before.

I

just smiled. "First of the year. I'll be done with my one year duty

here. I've already picked up the necessary forms to apply there. If I

don't get in there, I'll look to nearby towns, or just go back to school

and get a job doing something else. I'm going to get my EMT training

one way or another." She smiled at that.

"I hope I get to meet her someday." There's the guilt trip I thought.

"Well,

funny you should mention that, because I was thinking of the same

thing." I replied, and let her know how I hoped we could make it happen.

She was all smiles after that.

"Oh my God, to have been a fly on

the wall during that conversation." Summer said. Her voice sounded so

sweet. It made my heart beat faster just to hear it.

"I left out most of the lurid bits of the story. I didn't want her to keel over on me."

"I'm

sure any parts you left out, she figured out already. From the sounds

of her, she doesn't seem like the type to fool easily." She replied.

"That she isn't. Luckily I was a good kid so I didn't have to bullshit my way through many situations."

We

talked about little things, Emily was doing a little better in school,

but still wasn't pushing for the all A's that Summer was looking for. I

said to give her time, the music is helping I was sure of it. Emily

insisted on talking to me, I could hear her bouncing like a jumping bean

in the background. She was all excited to tell me about how her music

teacher thought it was terrific she was so interested in everything I

was showing her and her friends and how she was going to be in a holiday

concert at school. I brought up school, asking how she was doing. She

let out a little sigh.

"One A, two B's and two C's" was her

reply. "I just don't get algebra!" The other C was from a history class

which had her bored to tears talking about 'boring dead people' as she

put it.

I made her a deal, no C's by the mid-term report card and

I'd make it worth her while. It was after her mother chivied her off

the phone and to bed that I brought up my idea. I was surprised that not

only did she like the idea she was very excited.

Thanksgiving

day past with several calls on homes with scorched turkeys, and one

unfortunate turkey frying experiment that cost a family their garage.

Soon the snow was upon us. This early the snow usually didn't stick

long, not this close to the ocean. It did make the driving difficult for

the people who hadn't seen it in seven months. Luckily there were no

major incidents. That is until I handed my notice into the chief.

He

was less than impressed, until I told him my plans. He said he'd push

to get me EMT training the budgets would be out soon. I showed him a

picture of Summer and Emily that I'd snapped with my phone. "Unless you

can make that job happen where they are. It's not likely to change my

mind." I said with a smile.

"Would she be willing to move here?"

I laughed. "Not nearly as I'm ready to move there. Don't worry I'm a first year greenhorn, I can't be that tough to replace."

"No

but that means I have to find one willing to relocate here or scrounge

up another, get him up to Fairfield, and wait months to put him to

work." He shook his head, then asked to see the picture again. "I'll say

this, she looks worthy of a guy like you. Don't screw it up."

"I like to think that I'm worthy of a girl like her. Trust me, I'll do everything I can to not screw it up."

Christmas

eve came quietly, the crackle of a log in the wood stove, the soft hum

of the refrigerator in the kitchen and in the living room me rustling

and muttering while attempting to wrap a gift.

"Do you want a cookie?" Mom called out from the kitchen.

"Of course, but did you make enough for Santa?" I said chuckling.

"Don't

you worry, I'm practicing for when the girls get here. What kind of

grandma street cred would I have if I couldn't whip up cookies on the

spur of the moment?"

We had a quiet dinner earlier just the two

of us. I started to doubt my gift choice and my mother put her hand on

my arm. "Relax, she's going to love it, trust me."

"I know, I'm just getting a little anxious." I said with a sigh. She chuckled at that.

"She'll be here day after tomorrow. Breathe."

Mom

was going to pick her up at the airport since I'd swapped shifts with

Mike so I could have the later part of the week off. I'd be working

Christmas day and the day after and have the next three days off, then

two more days and I was done. I'd already started packing. Mom kept

trying to give me furniture, which was nice but wasn't going to travel

well since I didn't know where I'd be living just yet. I asked Summer if

I could stay with her for a few days while I looked at apartments to

which she quickly said yes. I felt a hand on my shoulder rubbing it

firmly.

"Breathe." She said again.

"You're going to like her."

"I

already do, because I trust you. You've always been a good judge of

character." We did justice to the cookies leaving a couple out with a

small glass of milk, just in case.

Work went by slowly, we had a

huge dinner at the engine house. We did have one call of a chimney fire

from some overzealous wrapping paper burning. The next day had me so

jumpy Herb said I should drink decaf from now on. When I told him why

his face broke into a huge grin.

"You finally tugged back, huh? Tell me you're going to bring her by so we can meet the woman you're dumping us for."

"I

might, just to show her why I'm leaving." I laughed ducking his

backhanded slap. About mid-afternoon I got a text saying that they had

landed and mom had found them. They should be in town in a little over

an hour. I did an equipment check and spent some time polishing the

chrome on #3 to keep myself occupied.

"Hey Pete!" I heard from

over by the kitchen. I walked around the corner and Summer was standing

there, her arm on Emily’s shoulder. Allan, the lieutenant on duty

laughed. "I haven't seen him smile like that since the time we ordered

pizzas from next door and didn't make him cook." I walked up and Summer

launched herself into my arms. Several kisses later I noticed we were

getting a round of applause.

"You may need to hose them off, they

do this all the time." Emily announced to everybody, to a hale of

laughter. I gave Summer another kiss before releasing my grip and

reaching out to Em.

"Come here smart ass and give me a hug." She gladly dove into my side and I kissed her on the forehead.

"What are you feeding her? I used to be able to kiss the top of her head."

"Everything,

I think she's having another growth spurt." Summer replied. I showed

them around, introducing them to the guys on duty. Herb gave me a sly

wink, I don't think he had any doubts now as to why I was leaving.

Allan

walked over to us. "Damn, I'm sorry you're not feeling well Pete.

Hopefully you'll feel better by Thursday. Danny is coming into the cover

the overnight." I looked at him oddly. "Get outta here you three." He

smiled and thumped me on the back and walked off.

I wasn't sure

what happened, but I wasn't about to argue the point. We all piled into

my truck and I drove back to the house. I felt Mom's hand in this when I

saw a big spread being worked on for dinner. I knew I was right. I

asked her if she needed any help.

"Maybe a little." She put her

hand on Emily’s shoulder. "Would you mind giving me a hand Emily?" Mom

gave me a look and raised an eyebrow in dismissal.

"Don't work her too hard. We'll need some help to clean out under the tree later." I said chuckling.

As

soon as we made it through the doorway Summer turned me and fell into

my arms. The kiss was sweet with an underlying urgency. Her body felt

like a taught bowstring against me, the energy waiting to be unleashed.

Em

said a little louder than necessary. "If I know them, they're in there

with their faces stuck together." Causing us both to laugh.

"I

hope we have a lot of potatoes to peel. I'm really hungry." I called

back. Summer pulled me down onto the couch and kissed me again.

"I have a special surprise for you." She said with a big grin.

"Not here, my mother is right in the kitchen!" I said laughing.

"Not

that, maybe later if we can find a way to pull it off." She said as she

gave the front of my pants a squeeze. "I've only had Bob to keep me

company the last two months, and he's a lousy cuddler."

My eyes went wide. "Who is Bob?" I asked.

She snorted and leaned in to whisper in my ear. "Battery operated boyfriend." I busted out laughing.

"Is this the same Bob you traveled with a few years ago?" I asked softly, not wanting the conversation to raise questions.

Summer

rolled her eyes. "Maybe, maybe not? You left me in a bad way two weeks

ago when you called. It's not nice to ply a girl with pretty words and

promises and then leave her to take matters in her own hands." I

remembered the call, and I wanted so badly to ravish her until we both

passed out.

"Oh my God, look at you blush." She said with a

smile. She leaned in and whispered in my ear. "Don't you worry, I'll get

my due for that, and then some." She took my ear lobe in her mouth

giving it a tug. Her hand slipped between my legs, she massaged the

inside of my thigh and it was getting the reaction she expected.

"I'm going to run upstairs and change, I'll be right back." I said, trying to steady my breathing.

She grinned even further with a glint in her eye. "Want to show me your room?"

I

chuckled at that. "Sure." I stood taking her hand and led her upstairs.

I led her into the room where she peeked out the door behind us before

closing it quietly and began unbuttoning my shirt for me. In a flash I

was shirtless and she was kissing her way down as she pushed my t-shirt

up and off.

"Are you nuts?" I chuckled.

"I can't leave you

like this through dinner." She said stroking my hard cock through my

pants. She stepped back sitting on the edge of the bed and pulled me

towards her by the belt and undid it. She had my pants and boxers around

my knees and began licking my cock. She looked up catching my eye as

she began taking it into her mouth. It's a wonder my knees didn't buckle

at the sensation. She took me slowly at first, but sensed my mounting

frustration and sped up, bobbing swiftly drawing me out until I exploded

down her throat.

I gasped catching my breath. "You're a little bit evil, you know that?"

She dabbed at the corner of her mouth with a tissue she grabbed from the box on the nightstand.

"I don't know about that. I think I'm more angelic, to relieve you from your suffering like that." She replied.

"I can't wait to return the favor."

"Neither

can I." She said smiling. "Is there a bathroom up here?" I told her it

was the last door on the right. "Good, let me go freshen up and head

downstairs before you come down."

I came down the stairs and

stopped at the sight before me. Summer sat at the end of the couch, with

a mug in her hands, eyes wide as she watched Em. Colored lights

twinkled making the scene magical. She had the most beatific expression

as she watched Emily scouting the presents under the tree. Emily sounded

amazed that she had so many. Mom had pulled out the stops when she

discovered she finally had a girl to shop for. Summer's gaze lit on me

and her smile got even bigger as she beckoned me over. Just as I sat

down Mom called out for a hand and I hopped back up and grabbed the tray

she'd put together.

"This one for Em, no rum in it." She pointed at one of the mugs of hot cider.

"Going to be that kind of night is it?" I chuckled.

"Hey,

it's the holidays. Why not enjoy ourselves?" She followed me out with a

huge platter of food and set it on the coffee table. We chatted while

dinner cooked. Emily landed next to the platter and began nibbling away.

I had a dread feeling that this meeting was going to be awkward for

everybody involved. Trust Mom to treat Summer like a longtime

girlfriend, not like someone she'd met a few hours before. Somehow

discussion turned to what I was like when I was little and the

embarrassing stories began. Before long the buzzer on the stove went off

and we mobilized and soon we were sitting around the table, a feast

laid out before us.

"I wondered where he got his culinary skills from, now I know. Everything was delicious."

"Thank you. I assure you that I only showed him the basics, he's more creative than I've ever been in the kitchen."

Em piped in describing our weekend of Italian food when I was at their house a few months earlier.

"Your

lieutenant wasn't happy with me because of it either. I guess since

you've been there they've eaten better than they had in years. Some of

the guys said you were a better cook than their wives." Summer said

laughing.

"It's probably for the best, Earl was getting a paunch on him." I replied. "I have a gift. What can I say?"

"You could say, don't move Mom, I'll take care of the dishes."

Hearing my groan caused Emily to add, "You know the deal, the cook doesn't do the dishes, and you didn't cook."

"I

didn't cook, either I'll help you hon." Summer added as the laughter

subsided. It wasn't long before we joined Mom and Emily in the living

room again.

"I now have a promise that you're going to practice

your music so you don't forget it." Mom said. "Emily is going to teach

you to play guitar too, so I hear."

"I hope so." I replied as we

got comfortable on the couch. I looked up and Emily's face was full of

pent up excitement. Summer stifled a yawn behind her hand. "Maybe we

should wait, your mom seems pretty tired."

"Mom, do you need some coffee?" She asked with a longing in her voice. We all laughed as her mother declined.

"Pete, get in there and play Santa for us." Mom said as she prodded me with a toe.

It

was surprising how little time it took to tear through the loot. Emily

dancing around a pile hugging her new game. She pouted slightly because

her mother said she'd lose it if her grades didn't stay up. I agreed,

and reminded her we had a deal. We did our best to neaten up and make a

pathway. Mom said she was going to go to bed and made her way upstairs.

We had Emily's bed made up in Mom's office on a borrowed folding bed.

Summer allowed her to take the game with her so she could try it out. A

quiet settled over the house as we tucked in for the night.

Summer

emerged from Emily's makeshift bedroom. I had cleared the coffee table

off and set the last gift in the middle of the table. A small velvet box

with a little red bow on it. She stopped half way across the room, her

eyes wide as she looked at the box then over at me. I knelt on one knee

in front of the wood stove a stick in hand poking up the coals. She

looked at me kneeling then at the box again. I was unsure of what was

going on in her mind, but a wash of expressions made their way across

her face in a fleeting moment. She finally broke eye contact with me and

retrieved a similar box from her purse setting it next to the one that

was on the coffee table. She sat on the couch and patted the spot next

to her. My heart pounding because of the look she gave me. I was both

worried and hopeful.

She inhaled quickly as if to begin a speech. "Pete, remember when you came out to see me?"

"Just

open it first. Please." I interrupted her. She looked up sharply at me.

"Please?" I said with a grin. She gave me a curious look and reached

for the box like it might go off like a bomb if she moved to quickly.

She lifted the lid gently and looked for a moment at the silver pendant.

A grin crept across her face as she let out the breath she'd been

holding.

"It's beautiful!" She said turning to me and giving me a kiss.

"It's

one of a kind. The woman that made it said she wouldn't make another

for at least three months. It was our deal after she saw the design I'd

made for it." The pendant was a large silver heart with a smaller heart

inside, and another smaller heart inside of that one. Along the edge

where the three hearts joined, small stones were set. I chose our three

birthstones and they worked well together in pale blue, clear and pink.

I

chuckled after a few more kisses. "I know what you were thinking. I was

thinking the same thing myself. I spent weeks looking at rings." I said

softly. "Then about a month ago, I don't know what reminded me of it,

but I remembered how proud you sounded when you told me that you were

back on your feet, and you were doing well. I didn't want to feel like I

was trying to tie you down again, and become the old ball and chain."

She drew a breath to say something and I turned looking deep into her eyes and saw the answer to the question I hadn't asked.

"I

want you to want it as much as I do. When I ask, you'll know it's

coming." I said as I took her face in my hands and kissed her deeply. I

pulled back to see her eyes welling up.

"How is it that you understand me so well?" Her voice barely above a whisper.

"I

listen to what you say, and to what you don't say." I smiled at her and

the first tear broke free and rolled down her face. I brushed them away

with my thumbs and before I knew it she was straddling me and our lips

crashed together. The frustration of the past two months apart trickled

away gently. It took a loud pop from the wood stove to rouse us. Summer

jumped, startled by the sound, then realizing what it was began to

chuckle. She sat up slightly, still straddling my lap and whipped her

hair to one side, with a deft motion she undid the necklace she was

wearing and set it on the table. She reached into the box and lifted out

the pendant and handed it to me. She turned and sat on my lap and

lifted her hair. I clasped the necklace and leaned in kissing her softly

on the neck, causing her to let out a sigh and tilted her head inviting

me to have my fill.

"You're distracting me." She mumbled.

"Really?" I said. "From what?" She shivered in my arms as I continued my gentle assault on her neck.

"We need to talk."

I

felt an icy bolt run down my spine. Those are words I never wanted to

hear. She noticed I'd stopped nibbling her neck and patted the hand I

had wrapped around her waist. She leaned forward and then slid off my

lap and sat next to me. The other little box in hand. She was still

smiling but looked at me with concern.

"Are you okay?"

"Yea," I said, "what do you mean we need to talk?"

She

laughed gently. "Relax. It's just that this needs a little

explanation." She handed me the box and tucked her leg under her. She

nodded at the box, urging me to open it. I looked up at her for a

moment, her eyebrows went up as she urged me to open it with an impish

grin. "Well go on." I pulled the ribbon off and tore the paper sliding

out what looked like a jewelry box. I opened up to find a pewter key

chain with my initials on it. I breathed a little better.

"Emily and I decided we don't want you to come stay with us for a few weeks while you look for a new place."

I

looked up sharply at that. She had a devious smile on her lips. She

motioned towards the box again. I picked up the heavy oval and keys

dangled out from underneath it.

"We decided we don't want you to look for a new home. You already have one if you want it."

I turned it over, the inscription on the other side said, "Always Remember To Come Home."

"That

was Emily's idea. She knows being a firefighter isn't exactly the

safest profession. She's close to Uncle Dale. So much so that sometimes I

wonder which one is the kid." I turned and kissed her, smothering her

next words. She pulled back gasping for breath. "Is that a yes?"

I just nodded, too choked up to reply.
Epilogue

I

sat on an old stump, steam rising off my coffee in the cool morning

air. The clouds were heavy, a faint glimmer of the sun trying to break

through near the horizon. The breeze kicked up, dried leaves skittered

across the brown grass at my feet. I looked up, in the distance there

was a V of southbound geese. I lowered my eyes and took in the little

house with a grin and shook my head. So many things had happened in just

a few short years. A blue jay called out just as the door opened and

Emily barreled out headed for the school bus. She didn't even look up as

she darted around the house to stand with the her friends down a few

houses. She'd grown and was looking more like the beautiful woman she

would soon become. I looked over at the kitchen window and saw a shadow

move. A few minutes later the door opened again, Summer stood on the

step scanning the yard, for me I assumed.

"Pete?" She hollered.

"I'm

over here." I said, getting her attention. She walked over and stopped

in front of me, her hair blew in front of her face, her arms crossed

tight against the chill.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"What

are you doing out here in the cold?" She said bumping my foot aside

slightly so she could perch on my knee, her arm wrapped around my back

as she nestled in to find some warmth.

"Counting my blessings.

The second one just dashed up the road to catch the bus, the first one

is right here." I said running my hand up her back. "After that I lost

count."

"Today?" I asked. We'd gotten into a little routine over

the past year, where I had asked her to marry me, and she said she'd

tell me when she was ready. It had been over a year, nearly two, since

I'd moved here, and the life agreed with me somehow. The area was rough,

but the people strong and supportive. There were whisperings about us,

but they all disappeared when people realized just how in love we

were... we are. Our game was to the point where I wouldn't have to say

anything more, and she knew what I wanted. I asked daily.

"Happy

birthday." She said, then leaned down and kissed me. The blue jay taking

offense to our conversation decided to voice his opinion again. I

raised my eyebrows at her. I never let her get away without answering

me. She looked up over my head, her eyes scanning the yard, she looked

up at the sky and slowly began nodding. She looked down at me with a

smile. "Today."

By Member389 for Literotica