Consequences

     Reggie had an appointment to meet Chick in Central Park. It had been several months of snooping and sneaking around, and still nothing dirty enough to land

Lodge in jail and ruin him. He was losing hope he could destroy Lodge Enterprises, and move on with his life. No one knew this, but he had no intention of

marrying Veronica when his divorce became final. He would leave New York after he ruined the Lodges.

      Chick was jogged up to Reggie’s bench and snorted in disgust when he saw Reggie’s condition: he was drunk on his ass.

“Reggie, you have to get it together. I want you to lay off Lodge for now. Get some rest. Have some fun. I have to think of another way to get him. Okay?” Chick

was jogging in place as he spoke.

“Whatever the fuck you say, Mr. CIA man. So go away and let me have my fun!” Reggie slurred as he saluted Chick and lifted the gold flask filled with scotch mixed

with Drambuie to his lips. Then he asked the inevitable question: “How’s my girls, by the way?”

“They’re fine, Reg.” Chick tried to keep the note of sympathy out of his eyes and voice, but it was hard.

“Is Betty...with ...Cole yet?” Reggie asked reluctantly. He had to know.

“I don’t think so,” Chick lied.

Reggie grunted. “Yeah right! He’s had the hots for her from the moment he saw her. I gave her to him, for God’s sake. I gave her to him!” Reggie lamented as he

continued to sip his drink. “ Please let me see them? .Just a sneak peek? Betty won’t know I’m there. I promise! I have to see her and my baby! I’m losing my mind!

Please!” Chick knew how hard it was for Reggie to beg, but it was equally hard for him to see him beg for something that was impossible.

“Reg...it’s risky....is she sees...” Reggie’s green eyes lit up with optimism. It looked like Chick was thinking about helping him.

“I’ll do whatever you say, but if I can see them once in a while, I can go on. I can’t live like this!”

“Mantle, first, you have to stop the drinking! Let me think about it. I’ll get back to you.” As Chick was talking, Reggie raised the flask to his lips again, which angered

Chick and he knocked the drink out of Reggie’s hand. Reggie was enraged as he watched his lunch drain into the ground.

     “You have no right to dictate to me Cooper! You’ve fucked up my life enough! Drinking is the only way I can stand being around the Lodges and it dulls the pain

from losing my girls! Get the fuck away from me!” Reggie stood up .and grabbed Chick by the neck of his jogging shirt and began to shake him for all he was worth:

something he would not think of doing if he’d been sober. He took a drunken swing at him, but Chick was able to dodge his blows without effort. Chick noted the r

fire in Reggie’s eyes and it made him strangely proud of him. He was glad to see the spark of life in Reggie’s eyes.

“Well, I see you’ve grown some balls, eh Mantle. Now that I have your attention, I have something for you. It took some doing, but here you go.” Chick pushed

Reggie away easily and reached into the waist pouch he carried and threw a manila envelope at him. “See ya soon,” he added as he jogged off.

Reggie tore open the envelope with shaking hands and devoured the photos as he scanned them: pictures of Betty and Angela in the park, Angela in her bath,

happily splashing her mother, Angela sleeping in her crib, tiny thumb in her rosebud lips, and Angela smiling for the camera clutching a teddy bear.

“Thank you,” Reggie yelled, startling passersby, as he didn’t realize Chick was long gone. He made a touching sight kissing and crying over the pictures. He had a

reminder in those photos why he was going to live. He vowed he would get his family back. He sent Chick a text thanking him and begging him to keep Betty from

hooking up with Cole.

***

Betty let a very excited and aroused Cole into her apartment. He had been anticipating this moment and felt lightheaded about being with her again. It had been

several weeks since he had seen her and he missed her desperately.

She couldn’t deny he looked good with his spiky blonde hair, black distressed jeans and tight gray Ralph Lauren polo shirt. She tried not to compare him to Reggie,

but failed.  The vision of Reggie’s thick black hair and intense green eyes was strong in her mind. She had to shake herself back into the moment at hand. Reggie

was her past and Cole was the here and now.

“Wow Cole, you look great!” she said with false enthusiasm. Cole was the best a woman could ask for: handsome, rich, caring, but she couldn’t help wanting a

proud, vain, unfaithful man named Reggie Mantle. She remembered how he tenderly held their baby; how he looked at her when they were alone, and felt tears

threaten to flow.  She didn’t think she was ready for a new relationship, but she knew she had to try. She owed it to Cole, her baby and herself to move on. She

wiped her tears and smiled an appology to Cole, who seemed to be able to read her mind.

“It will be okay Bets. I’m here for you. You know I love you.”

He held her close, breathing in her intoxicating scent. She looked beautiful in her ivory lace mini dress and black peep toe heels. Her red lacquered toenails

sparkled through the open toe shoes, drawing Cole’s eye to her feet, and causing his cock to rise. He remembered how beautiful her feet were and longed kiss and

suck her toes. Okay, so I’m a pervert, he mused, but didn’t care. He wanted her and didn’t care who knew it. He planned on tasting every inch of her when he got

the chance. He knew he had to take it slow: she was a skittish filly and would run if he pressed her too hard and fast, but he knew this would be the hardest

challenge of his life.

“Honey you look gorgeous!” He hugged her close and kissed her cheek when he really wanted to devour her lips. She let him in and he went with her to check on

Angel, who was sleeping peacefully in her crib. He marveled over the beautiful green and white nursery filled with dolls, stuffed animals and baseball paraphernalia. Betty kissed her child as she covered her up with a Hello Kitty comforter. Angel had her thumb in her mouth, which Betty gently removed. He kissed

the sleeping baby tenderly.

“I have to say I’m falling in love with that little girl” he confessed, reluctant to leave the little girl. “I know I’m not her father, but I’d like to be...”

“Cole, please. Let’s not talk about that right now. I don’t want our relationship be on the rebound. I like you a lot. But I still love Reggie and I really have to stop

thinking about him. He doesn’t love me, and I have to accept that.”

Oh yes he does. Cole would not let her know he knew that Reggie loved her, though he felt guilty about that. Reggie was his friend once upon a time. But all’s fair

in love and war. If she knew Reggie loved her, she’d go running back to him, and I can’t have that!

Cole made himself comfortable as Betty went into the kitchen to check on the meal she was preparing for him: all of his favorites: broiled steak, Cobb salad, baked

potatoes, dinner rolls. and apple pie a' la mode for dessert. He helped her set the table while they talked about every under the sun, everything exept the one thing that stood between them, Reggie Mantle.

     After a pleasant dinner, Cole helped her wash and dry the dishes. They settled in front of the television and she surprised him by snuggling up and pulling his

face to hers for a kiss. I have to know, she thought as she kissed him, gently pushing her tongue in his mouth.  The kiss was pleasant, but didn’t have the same fire

as when she kissed Reggie. But it gave her confidence she could eventually have a relationship with Cole. She didn’t feel the nausea she felt when she tried to

make love to Archie, so she felt she would be able to love Cole.  She knew how he felt about her and her daughter, so that was a huge plus. She decided then and

there she would have her sister watch Angel and she would sleep with Cole as soon as possible.

     He was in seventh heaven that she initiated the kiss. He got bold and placed her hand on his erection and was ecstatic she didn’t recoil from it. She even

squeezed it back, and placed his hand on her breast.

“Let’s have sex tomorrow night. I don’t want to do it with the baby here,” she whispered in his ear.” I want to be yours. I’ll get Polly to watch the baby and we’ll go to

your place.”

“Are you sure? I’m not rushing you,” he asked her between kisses.

“I’m ready, Cole”, she had to admit she felt a tingling and itching in her nether region that was good. She was happy to know she could make love to another man

and not fall apart. Plus she was on the pill this time. She had to get Reggie out of her system.

“I want to make love with you, Cole. I like you a lot.”

“I can’t wait darlin’. I’ll make it good for you,” he promised as they kissed again, and again. He felt assured she would love him, in time. He left soon after before he

lost control. He wanted everything to be special for her, so he went home to get his already immaculate apartment ready.

***

After Cole left, Betty called Polly to see if she could babysit.

“Sure sis. Got a hot date or something?” Polly joked, not thinking how right she was.

“As a matter of fact, I do. I’m going out with Cole. I’m going to sleep with him.”

“Betty! You divorce isn’t final yet and you’re going to sleep with Cole? You know you don’t love him!”

“He knows I still love Reggie, but I have to move on, sis. I’ll go crazy if I don’t. If you can’t watch Angel, I’ll get someone else.”

“Now hold on, I didn’t say I wouldn’t watch her. I just don’t want you or Cole hurt. I love you both. And I love Reggie too, you know.”

“Polly...”

“Okay, I’m changing the subject. Am I coming there or are you bringing Angel here?” Polly had a full nursery at her house. Betty refused to live there with her

because she knew Reggie might find her, but Chick assured her Reggie wouldn’t com there. Still, she didn’t want to take any chances.

“Come here please.” The fridge is stocked full of your favorites: kiwi, strawberries, Greek yogurt, pita chips and hummus. And I have plenty of salad fixings for you.”

They set a time and Polly began packing an overnight bag for her to take. After she finished packing, she called her brother.

“Well bro, it's happening. She’s going to Cole’s place tomorrow, and she’s going to sleep with him.”

“Thanks sis. I’ll take it from here.”