"Oh, by the way, honey, we're going to have house guests."

"What?"

"Yeah, one of the new salesmen with the company is moving to town. He needs a place to stay and old man Ferguson asked me if we'd put them up."

"Them?"

"Yeah, well, mostly Chuck. Chuck Hartwell. His wife will come later with the kid. But they won't be here long."

Seeing the look on her face, he came over to her and put his arms around her. "You don't have to do much for them, honest. I just couldn't say no to old man Ferguson."

"You're sticking me with three extra people and tell me I don't have to do much for them?" she fumed. "How could you do that to me?"

The smile left his face. "I had no choice," he said sternly. "And neither do you. It's your livelihood as well as mine, and don't forget."

Yes, and I'm the one who's got to do all the cooking and cleaning! She thought. Three fucking extra people in the house, and he says it's nothing!

They didn't speak on the drive to the Fergusons', and once there they went their separate ways. She gulped down a daiquiri and immediately began another. Her whole world was falling apart, and she decided to ease the strain with booze. A husband who hardly ever fucked her and a whole damn strange family walking in on her!

"You look as angry as you look pretty," a strange voice drawled.

Jackie looked up to see a tall sandy-haired man smiling down at her. He introduced himself as Lloyd Parish and in no time they were talking and laughing as though they'd known each other for years. By the time Lydia Ferguson served her midnight buffet, Herb had noticed, and was by her side.

"I'll call you," Lloyd whispered later when the party was breaking up.

Her heart pounding, she didn't have an opportunity to tell him not to. She thought about it later. Maybe she didn't want to tell him not to call. Maybe she would go out with him. Maybe she'd even fuck him!