1. February Sucks: Tommy's Birthday


    Date: 2/23/2024, Categories: Loving Wives, Author: byChorisero

    ... allowed Jim to record messages and content for the Foundation. And of course his work inside prison with the inmates who wanted to better themselves. They too had a hand in shaping what the Foundation had become.
    
    Those early days with some of the men who had volunteered to help him at trial were bittersweet. They'd all been cucked by Lavalliere, but they bonded over the pain and began to meet regularly. Dave had forged them into a team and parlayed the early publicity to start a movement. It caught fire all on its own, fueled by men who had had enough. Before they knew it, men in other parts of the country were asking how to start their own RLT chapters. Nothing could hold them back after that.
    
    Now with Tommy at the helm he could truly just sit back and enjoy. But what was he going to do all day? And there would be no enforced routine to put boundaries on his time. He was actually going to be free.
    
    Late that evening after all the guests had left; it was just Dee and Dave sitting with Linda and Jim on the back porch. Jim's hand was sore from shaking with so many well-wishers; he'd hugged what seemed like four hundred people. Tommy had been kidding about the brass band, but otherwise it seemed like anybody and everybody had showed up. The huge backyard had been filled with people all afternoon. Food and drink and kids running around; it was like the Fourth of July. The Governor even called to wish Jim good luck.
    
    "Hell of a party Dave."
    
    "Yup, hell of a party. ...
    ... Dee I'm done in, let's get home. I think it's that way." Dave pointed across the yard to their place.
    
    Dee went to Linda and gave her a hug, and whispered in her ear. "Take it slow."
    
    As they walked down the hall to their respective bedrooms, "Jim, can I have a kiss goodnight?"
    
    Jim and Linda made it about a week. During that week they had their morning coffee together, puttered around the house, they went out to lunch. And in the evening Linda cooked. It wasn't exactly like they remembered, but they were definitely on the same wavelength- comfortable with each other. They talked a lot, about silly things and important things too.
    
    It came as no surprise to Jim that Linda said at the end of that first week, "Jim, it's time you slept in your own bed. I don't want you in the second bedroom any more. I know we gotta take it slow, but we should get started."
    
    It took a bit of arranging, but after pajamas had been put on, and teeth had been brushed; they climbed into bed and snuggled. Jim was on his back just like he always had been in his prison bed. He let out a huge sigh, and with it something deep inside him unclenched; his body and soul relaxed for the first time in so many years. Linda was plastered to his side, one arm and leg wrapped around him. He felt a warmth infuse him and he hugged her back, "Home now."
    
    Linda replied the same, "Home now."
    
    Epilog;
    
    Tommy here: mom and dad made it into their nineties. Dad told me that after that first nite together they ...