by Marla Monroe
“I don’t think they are looking for women, Mom,” he said.
She blinked. Had Ricky picked up on something? Had they said something that would make her son think they were both looking for partners? She didn’t think they were gay considering how they’d acted around her, but maybe she was mistaken and had projected her lust for them on them.
“I’m pretty sure they plan to share one woman as their wife.”
Chapter Eleven
“Did they tell you that?” She didn’t like that they would talk about that with her thirteen-year-old son. Anger began to creep up, making it hard to keep her face blank.
“No! That would be kind of weird. I just think they both like you and are hoping you’ll like them back so they can ask you to marry them,” Ricky said, dropping a bomb shell on her.
“Why would you think that? I mean, two men don’t normally share one woman. That’s not really conventional, son.” She did not want to have this conversation with her teenager. Despite being open with her kids and answering their questions honestly, she wasn’t completely comfortable talking about the nonconforming side of society with them. That was a conversation for when they were young adults or, well, never.
“Derick has two moms. What’s the difference?” he asked.
“Um, well, his two moms are just that, two. You’re talking about three people. Most people in the community won’t approve that sort of relationship. It would cause a lot of stress for everyone involved. Do you understand?” she asked.
He was quiet for a few minutes, fumbling with one of the boxes he’d brought in. “Are you saying it’s wrong? Is it something that is bad?” he finally asked.
“Ricky, it’s not wrong as long as the people involved are in the relationship voluntarily. Just like I told you about Derick’s two moms and when two men are together. Still, you remember how much trouble Derick and his moms had when people realized that his two moms weren’t just sisters or family members living together,” she reminded him.
“Yeah. It’s weird though. Why does it have to be so complicated? I mean what’s the difference between that and sharing an apartment or living in a dorm room together during college?” he asked.
“The difference is in what type of relationship the people living together have. If it’s an intimate relationship, it can cause a lot of people to be uncomfortable with it and them.”
“You’re talking about sex, aren’t you?” he said with a grimace.
She rolled her lips into her mouth to keep from smiling at his obvious distaste of the idea right now. Inside she was very glad he had that outlook on the subject. It was much too soon for her to have to worry about something like that with a thirteen-year-old.
“Yeah. I’m talking about sex, but also about the emotional part of it. Remember, that when you decide to have sex with someone, you’re becoming vulnerable and open with another person just like they are with you.”
Again he was silent for a few seconds as he seemed to process what all they’d talked about. Then he shook his head and turned to smile at her.
“So. You never really answered my question. Do you really like them? Do you think you might want to see them on like a date or something?” he asked still grinning.
She hesitated but decided that being honest with Ricky was the best idea since he’d come to her to find out the truth.
“I’m not sure, hon. I really like them and they make me happy when I’m around them, but seeing both of them at the same time is kind of odd feeling. A lot of people won’t approve and that could affect my business,” she said.
Ricky’s eyes got wide for a second. “You mean people might stop using you for their parties and stuff? Why?”
“Because some people are stuffy and think that unless you do what they do or say, you’re a bad person. They like to judge people and feel superior to them,” she told him.
He scrunched up his face in a nasty look. “Like Reverend Thomas. He’s always saying nasty things about you. He makes me so mad I could kick him.”
“Does he say those things to you or the others? He shouldn’t be talking to you, Ricky.” Anger built up once again.
“Sometimes he’ll stop and remind me that Chuck is my dad and you made him leave. If it wasn’t for you, I’d have my dad there with me. I know that’s not true. I remember how he was. I wasn’t that young,” he said with a frown.
“I’m sorry he’s been talking to you like that. Next time tell me. I’m going to make sure he stops.” Erica struggled to keep her son from seeing just how angry she was. She tried to keep herself under control as much as possible to teach them that violence wasn’t normally the answer and making decision when you were angry usually ended up getting you into deeper trouble.
“He’s kind of creepy, you know? I can’t believe he’s a preacher,” Ricky said with a frown. “I’m glad we don’t go to his church.”
“Yeah, me too,” she said.
“I’m gonna go see what Aaron’s doing. He’s reading the Encyclopedia Brown books and keeps asking me to help him with some of the words. If I want to go play ball without him, I’ve got to be all big brother with him now,” he said with a grin.
Erica shook her head as he hurried into the main part of the house, slamming the door behind him. Leave it to her son to already know the art of compromise and hedging his bets. Of course she’d taught him that accidently when he’d begun to realize that it was what she was doing with them to get them to do what she wanted. Still, it was a good trait to learn in this day and age. It would serve him well once he grew up and got out into the world.
Looking over at the boxes Ricky had set next to her desk, Erica decided to wait until another day to fool with unpacking them and putting things away. Her side was still too tender for bending over multiple times in a row and this was a holiday weekend. She needed to enjoy it. Due to her type of work, she worked most holidays in one way or another.
Once lunch time rolled around, Sissy and Krissy ate turkey sandwiches with her since Aaron had gone to play with a friend next door and Ricky had already gone to play ball when one of his friends had called and said they were meeting up.
“Mom, Krissy said she’s ready to go back now. I think she misses her mom. I told her that was fine that I miss you when I go to my friend’s house here to spend the night,” Sissy said with a smile.
“Well, Krissy, that’s just fine. Let me put away this stuff and we’ll head out to your uncles’ house where your parents are. Is that okay?” she asked smiling at the cute child sitting across from her.
She nodded her head with a smile then said, “thank you. I’d like that.” Her voice was much clearer this time.
They helped her tidy up the kitchen then raced back to Sissy’s room to make sure Krissy had everything packed up. Erica dialed the number Jeni had given her and told her that she was bringing Krissy home. She’d seemed to enjoy herself but was ready now. Jeni promised to be there when they arrived.
“Can you stay a little while? We’d love to chat over coffee and pie if you have the time,” the other woman said.
“Sure, I can stay for a little bit. The boys are playing with friends and have my cell number if they need me. Thanks for asking.”
Within fifteen minutes she was loading them up to head to Brent and Kent’s ranch. She couldn’t explain away the thrill in her blood or the way her pussy burned at the thought. She couldn’t deny that her nipples were hard and aching for their touch, but she could control herself where they were concerned, or so she hoped. There were many things she still needed to consider before she took another step in their direction. She just hoped they wouldn’t pressure her with their seductive allure so that she threw good intentions out the window.
Both girls sat in the backseat whispering as they drove out to the ranch. She smiled at the way they had bonded so easily. It would be sad for Sissy to lose her new friend when they left the next day. With the twins living in Pleasant Grove, maybe her parents would visit with the
kids often so that they could see each other. She’d talk with Sissy once they returned home to see how she was handling the short friendship with Krissy.
When they drove up to the gate, Sissy stopped her. “Mom, pull up so that Krissy can press the button and talk.”
She hesitated but quickly pulled up and rolled down the little girl’s window. She unfastened her seatbelt and with one look at Sissy leaned out the window and pressed the intercom button. A male voice she thought might have been Kevin answered.
“This is Krissy. I’m ready to come in now,” she said in a louder voice then Erica had heard before.
“Hey Krissy. I’m opening the gate now.”
“Sit back Krissy. I need to back up now,” Erica said.
The little girl sat down and Erica backed up so that the gate wouldn’t hit the car. As they drove up the drive, Sissy was whispering to the other girl that she’d sounded great.
“Wasn’t that fun? It’s like saying open sesame,” she said.
Krissy nodded with a wide grin as Erica check them through the rear view mirror. When she looked back to the drive, she wasn’t surprised to see Jeni, Heath, and the twins standing on the front porch waiting on them. To her credit, Jeni didn’t run out to the car to grab her daughter, though Erica was sure Heath helped by holding her back. They waited while Erica got out and opened the back door so that Krissy could climb down. She was impressed that she’d thought to put her seatbelt back on and was unfastening it again.
As soon as her feet hit the ground, she ran up to where her parents waited on the porch and flung her arms around her mom.
“I had a good time, mom. I love you and Dad,” she said. When Erica and Sissy walked up to the steps, it was obvious that even Heath had tears sparkling in his eyes. He crouched down and wrapped his arms around his daughter, closing his eyes he seemed to be giving thanks as his lips moved silently.
Erica held Sissy’s hand and climbed the steps to smile at Brent and Kent. They smiled back and Kent opened the screen door to usher them inside.
“We have coffee made, but I thought you’d like hot chocolate. I noticed that you didn’t drink coffee at the diner last night,” Brent said.
“I normally don’t drink coffee. Just never really developed the taste for it. Sometimes I’ll have a flavored coffee when I’m in San Antonio or somewhere that serves them,” she said glad they had thought of her.
“What about you, Miss Sissy?” Kent asked.
“Hot chocolate please. I’m too young to drink coffee.” Her voice was so matter of fact that she caught Brent hiding a chuckle with a cough.
“Well let’s go then,” Kent said, taking Sissy’s hand and leading her to the kitchen.
“That leaves you with me, dear,” Brent said offering her his hand.
“My, aren’t we formal today? What’s going on?” she asked.
“Nothing. We’re just glad to have you and Sissy join us,” Brent told her.
As they gathered at the table, Jeni, Heath, and Krissy entered the kitchen and sat down with them. Krissy sat between her parents wearing a big smile. Sissy waved at her and everyone started talking about how much fun the weekend had been. Krissy remained silent for the most part, but Sissy talked more than enough for both of them.
After an hour or so of visiting, Jeni and Heath took Krissy and Sissy to play for a while before she and her mom returned home. It left her alone with Kent and Brent. She rinsed the cups, mugs, and plates that Brent passed to her while Kent loaded them into the dishwasher.
“Let’s talk in the office. Most of the guys are downstairs watching the ballgame, but some of the kids are watching a movie in the living room,” Brent said.
Erica let them lead her into the office after waving at the teenagers when they walked through the living room. She was a little nervous being alone with them now that she knew just how much she’d already become attached to them. Not to mention how weak her body was when they were around.
Please don’t let me get into something I’m not ready for.
“Did Krissy do okay while she was at your house?” Kent asked as she sat down.
“She did. She and Sissy had a ball dressing up the dolls and fixing each other’s hair. I’m just glad I stopped them from using the temporary hair dye that Sissy has. I’m not sure Jeni would have appreciated the purple they’d decided would look good on Krissy.”
Both men looked at each other in that odd way that had then burst out laughing. She frowned, aggravated with them since they seemed to be sharing some sort of joke.
“What? Why are you two laughing like that?” she asked.
“Because Jeni used to try to dye her hair with Mom’s food coloring all the time. It drove Mom insane,” Brent said, wiping tears from his eyes.
“Then, when Jeni was fifteen and had her own money from babysitting, she bought hair color and dyed parts of her hair bright pink and I think Mom and Dad both nearly had a heart attack when they found out it wasn’t temporary,” Kent continued. “That was one of the more colorful arguments they had. No pun intended.”
“What did they do?” she asked.
“Well, the argument was really more about taking her to the beauty shop to dye over it and make it as normal as possible. Dad wanted Mom to do that, but Mom wanted her to have to live with it until it all faded and grew out. Jeni, of course, sided with Mom so they overruled Dad. None of us boys would support him because Mom cooked for us and washed our clothes,” Brent explained.
Erica burst out laughing. “Isn’t that just like a man? I can sure see my sons doing the same thing. They know who keeps them in food, clothes, and milk money.”
“See? You understand then. I just wish Sissy and Krissy had managed to do it before you caught them,” Kent said, still chuckling. “It would have been the perfect payback for Dad. I can’t wait to tell him about it.”
“You better be glad I caught them because otherwise I’d have died of embarrassment that my child had gotten their little girl to do it.” She shivered again at the near miss, but could still appreciate their take on what the outcome would have been.
“It’s really good to hear little Krissy talking again. It devastated Jeni and Hugh when she wouldn’t speak after the accident. Your daughter helped create a miracle for them,” Brent said with a warm smile.
“Sissy is special, but I really think that Krissy was ready. She was outside of where it happened and experiencing a lot of stimuli she didn’t always have around her. Sissy just helped her trust that speaking again would be okay.”
“The reason all of your children are so special is because they have a wonderful mom who has taught them the value of honesty and acceptance. None of your children ever once treated her differently,” Kent said.
Brent quickly changed the subject. Erica was relieved. It unnerved her when people complemented her personally like that. She loved hearing about how well she did with her business, an absolutely loved hearing good things about her children, but anything personal embarrassed her.
“What do you think about decorating the house next weekend?” he asked.
“That’s a great time to do it. Some people do it over Thanksgiving while they have family around them, but with as many people as you’ve had here, I think next weekend would be safer,” she said with a laugh.
“If we get everything ready, would you and kids be able to come help us? I think it would take us more than a few days to decorate with just the two of us,” Kent said.
“Decorating is part of my job description. I’d love to come. I’m not sure about the kids yet. I’ll have to find out what activities they may have planned. Sissy is in the school choir and Ricky was auditioning for the school play.” She wasn’t sure it was a good idea for the kids to help with something that was normally a family thing. They would be working on their decorations tomorrow and after school over the next few days.
“Well if they are free, it would fun to watch them have fun with it. If not, you’re going to be directing two c
lueless men,” Brent said.
“I’m amazed at how much fun you both seem to be having with all of this. You absolutely thrilled your family when you invited them all and had the place so spruced up. Your mom and dad seem to be having the time of their lives with everyone around them,” she said.
“Well, once winter is nearly over and spring is around the corner, we won’t have much time for anything at times. It’s ranch life, and we’ve lived it all our lives so we know when to take advantage of the downtime and wring every last drop of fun and family out of it,” Kent said.
“That’s a great attitude to have. Some of the families around here need to take a sample from your book. They bemoan the spring because of all the work then fuss about winter being so hard and dread spring. If they’d embrace it for what it is, a way to make a living with longer vacation times, they might not be so miserable and drive the children to want something better somewhere else.” She shut her mouth when she realized that she’d blabbered on and on. “Sorry. I just hate to see people wallowing in misery.”
“You care about the community. That’s really admirable. More people should. A community is supposed to look after each other and help when times are tuff. Kent and I’ve always felt that what goes around comes around. It can go for good and bad. If you help someone in need, then someone will help you when you are in need,” Brent said.
“I think you and your brother are going to be good for Pleasant Grove. Don’t give up on the place. Sometimes it takes a while for people to warm up to you. The Christmas party is going to go a long way to doing just that,” Erica told them.
“We hope the kids can come next weekend, but if they can’t, would you have dinner with us? Kent grills a mean steak, and I like to bake when I have time,” Brent said.
