Oh man. Isola is a brave woman. I can’t wait to see what happens when she goes to the party!

@–}–

I pulled up to the address written on the card my customer had given me. From her credit card, I knew that her name was Katherine, but now I saw that she went by Kathy. Past the mailbox was a long winding driveway. I drove up slowly, turning on the headlights. It was already after 9 pm, and the sun was setting rapidly.

When I got to the top of the driveway, a man wearing just a pair of short shorts and shoes waved me forward. When I angled my car where he wanted me, he opened my door for me.

“Hello, ma’am,” he greeted me. “I’ll park your car for you.”

“Oh!” I said, surprised.

He handed me a ticket as I stepped out of my car. “You can use this to pick up your car at the end of the night.”

“Um,” I said, uncertain, “What if I want to leave early?”

“That’s no problem, ma’am,” he said. “I will be available out in the parking lot until 11, and then after 11 I’ll be waiting inside the door to get cars for those ready to leave.”

“Oh, thanks.” At least I knew I could still leave any time.

The instructions on the invitation said to wear whatever I was comfortable in, down to nothing, but that public-appropriate attire should be worn until entering the house. It also said to bring condoms if you intended to have sex, and that toys would be clean and available. Bringing my own toys was acceptable but at the risk of losing them if they got mixed up in what belonged in the house.

I had opted to bring nothing but a small clutch purse with a few condoms, just in case. I didn’t expect to really do anything. I just wanted to check it out, and I knew Kathy wanted me to be there. Okay, well, she told me she did anyway.

The door was opened almost immediately as I approached it.

“Welcome, ma’am,” another man said. He was dressed exactly the same as the one out in the parking lot. That gave me pause. Were they employees?

“Hello,” I said. I was wearing lingerie under my clothes that I would be comfortable in throughout the party, but for now, I was wearing a comfortable knee-length skirt and a t-shirt.

“Right this way, ma’am,” another gentleman said, beckoning me forward.

I walked that way, and he brought me into a large living room. There were about five other people there, in various states of undress. I didn’t recognize any of them, so I sat down on an empty love seat. I hoped no one would sit next to me, but there were no single chairs left to choose.

As I sat, looking around, I smiled awkwardly at the other people. They were all engaged in quiet conversations already, and I didn’t want to interrupt.

Then I heard a click of heels and Kathy was standing in front of me.

“Welcome everyone!” she said brightly. “Most of you have been here before, so no worries there, but I want to extend a warm welcome to Isola who is here for the first time.” She gestured toward me, and I inclined my head slightly.

I heard footsteps coming from the same hall I came in.

“Oh, goodie! I’m glad you made it!” she turned to someone behind her and gave him air kisses on both cheeks. All I could see were his feet, but they looked familiar. Oh shit. “Seth, this is everyone; everyone this is Seth.” She paused, looked at me, and said, “Oh, well you two know each other, I’m sure!” She guided Seth over to sit next to me.

Why had it not occurred to me that Seth could be here? Why? I was an idiot.

I am sure Kathy said other things. I’m sure she gave some instructions, maybe introductions, but I totally missed it. The last thing I wanted was for Seth to be here.

I glanced in Seth’s direction, but he was looking anywhere but at me.

I vaguely heard Kathy’s heels as she walked away, and then suddenly she was back, and she had another guy in the same outfit as the two I had already encountered, but this was one carrying a long length of rope.

“It’s time to get our rope on…” she said.

And you can hear all about that in R is for Rope next time!

@–}–

Thanks for reading my blog! Come back to read more of Isola’s stories throughout the month of April, and check out other A to Z Blogs here!