by Joachim Jean
“Mac and I pieced together most of what happened and nothing is worth talking about.”
“We have different points of view on that. When my lover comes home from a party dead drunk, half dressed and smeared with blood…”
“I guess I am your lover, aren’t I.”
“Danny!” she yelled, anger suffusing her cheeks.
“Okay, okay. Mac and I decided we should forget about last night. A little dirty, harmless fun. No one got hurt, except for a few scrapes…just guys being gross. Nothing happened to affect you or Callie. So let’s forget it, okay?” He got up and walked to the window and back several times.
“I guess if you don’t want to tell me the truth, there is nothing I can do.” Eliza got up off the sofa and walked out of the room.
“Eliza, don’t be like that,” Danny pleaded, following her.
* * * *
Later that evening, ten blocks away, Callie and Mac were having a similar conversation in bed.
“Okay, Mac what happened last night?” Callie asked, taking off her robe and slipping into bed naked.
“Nothing worth discussing. Danny and I decided we should forget the whole evening and move on,” Mac said, watching her with hunger in his eyes.
“Were you unfaithful to me last night?”
“No.”
“There were strippers there, naked women and you were drunk. Stuff happens.”
“Not with me.”
“Was Danny unfaithful to Eliza?”
“No. A close call, but no.” Mac moved closer to her.
“Aha! So something did happen!”
“I shouldn’t have said that. Danny is the groom, so a lot of attention came his way…and the guys…well, you know. I can’t talk about this, Callie. I promised Danny. Please forget what I said.” Mac reached out to stroke her hair.
“This makes wives nervous.” She pulled away from his touch.
“Don’t be. No one there had anything to compare with you.” Mac pushed the covers down slowly, his gaze roving over her body.
“What do you mean?” She pulled the covers back up.
“I mean those bodies can’t compare with yours.” Mac slid his hand over her breast.
“How many bodies did you see last night?” Callie moved away from him.
“I’m stupid. I shouldn’t have said that. I thought I could make you feel better.” He reached for her waist.
“You didn’t.”
Mac leaned over and kissed her. He slipped his hand under the covers and over her hip, gently pulling her toward him.
“Now you want sex?”
“Something wrong with that?” He nuzzled her neck, his hand found her breast again.
“I should be mad at you. You’re keeping something from me.” Callie inched closer to him and ran her hand up his hard chest.
“Why should I settle for a stripper at The Wet Tee Shirt when I have the most beautiful, the sexiest woman in the world here at home in my bed?” He eased her back down on the bed while slipping his other hand up her thigh, starting a fire in her loins. Those were the magic words she needed to hear. Callie dropped her inquisition, threw off the covers and hooked her leg around his waist.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Sunday afternoon the shower took place. Eliza had no idea what the women planned. Callie told her to wear something sexy, which seemed odd to Eliza. The party started at two. Callie put on a sports bra, her lowest cut T-shirt and a short skirt. She added extra make-up. Mac recruited Danny to help watch the kids.
“Whoa! Why are you going to an all woman shower dressed like that?” Mac asked, his sharp eyes looking her up and down.
“Who told you the party is all women?”
“No one, I assumed…”
‘That’s your first mistake.” Callie turned away from him to check herself in the hall mirror.
“You have invited men? Who?”
“Uh uh…what happens at Jonesy’s stays at Jonesy’s, Mac. You know ‘the code’?” Callie took Eliza inside and gave her a sexy shirt to put on. She also added some makeup. They looked like two single women ready for a night on the prowl.
“Eliza, what are you wearing?” Danny asked, staring at her chest.
“She needs to get a little looser.”
“For a bunch of women?”
“Why do you say a bunch of women?”
“That’s right, though, isn’t it?” Eliza asked.
“I’m sorry, guys. I can’t tell.”
“They’re trying to make us nervous,” Mac said, relief evident in his weak smile.
“Why don’t you tell me not to do anything you wouldn’t do?” Callie taunted him.
“They better not say that to us, Callie,” Eliza said, anger flashing in her eyes.
Arm in arm the two women got in the car and Danny drove them to Jonesy’s.
There must have been a dozen women at the party, including Sally and Kaitlyn. The punch had been spiked and all the ladies were getting tipsy. Eliza opened presents and the comments and jokes about the sexy lingerie she received got bawdier as they downed more punch.
The doorbell rang. Eliza’s jaw dropped when she saw firemen at the door. The women cheered when they came in and the first one, a tall brunette, started the music. There were two brunettes and one blond male stripper, all with sexy, muscled, young bodies and handsome, rugged faces.
“Hi, I’m Brad. This is Justin and the guy over there is Carter.”
The women clapped when each piece of clothing hit the floor. They called out suggestive comments and laughed at each other. Eliza, embarrassed at first, relaxed and enjoyed the entertainment after another cup of punch. Sally and Kaitlyn chuckled when several of the older women got up and danced with the men.
The men circled the bride, gyrating in front of her and touching her. She was mesmerized. One brunette, tall with a six-pack had a perfect chest. He took Eliza to an upstairs bedroom and closed the door while the other two entertained the crowd. The men danced and flirted with the women who put five dollar bills in their briefs. The drunken ladies laughed and cheered them on.
Callie, tipsy herself, followed Eliza and Brad up to the bedroom. She cracked open the door, surprised by what she saw.
In the upstairs bedroom, the brunette, named Brad, took Eliza in his arms and was kissing her. Eliza, being too drunk to put up much resistance, kissed him back. Brad’s hands started to wander.
“Is this part of the deal?” Eliza asked.
“This part is up to the guy. If he wants to, he can go as far as he and the lady choose. I like you, you’ve got class,” he said, slipping his hand under her shirt and snapping her bra open in an instant.
Standing right outside the door, Callie could see everything. She was stunned and not certain what to do, expecting Eliza to resist but when she didn’t, Callie decided she needed to intervene. Eliza let him continue, prompting Callie to walk in quietly and interrupt. Her eyes widened to see her friend half undressed, kissing Brad who had one hand on her breast and the other one on her thigh.
“No, no, no. This has to stop. She has a jealous fiancé. Come, Eliza, we have to put you back together,” Callie said, taking Eliza’s hand, pulling her away from him.
Eliza stepped back.
“I wasn’t going to have sex with him, Callie. I only had a little fun, like the guys did. He’s cute,” she said, smiling flirtatiously at Brad.
“Sure could have fooled me, Eliza.”
“How about you?” he asked, pulling Callie into his arms for a passionate kiss and placing his hand on her breast. With his dark hair and eyes and a sexy smile, he was extremely attractive. Callie stayed in his embrace for a minute enjoying the thrill of this young man’s attention, and then came to her senses.
“I have a jealous husband,” she said, slowly moving away from him.
Callie convinced Brad to go downstairs. She got Eliza dressed and they went back to the party. By now the women were smashed and some were singing with the strippers and
taking off their tops. A half hour later, the strippers left and the ladies cleaned up Jonesy’s living room and put their tops back on. The women were slightly drunk and happy. The party had been a huge success.
Eliza went in the bathroom and threw up before leaving. Danny came to pick them up. Sally, Kaitlyn, Callie and Eliza piled into Danny’s car, giggling and singing. He looked at Eliza.
“Looks like you all had a good time.”
“Yeah, we did. Especially Mom,” Sally said, laughing. Eliza and Callie gave her a sharp look and she shut up. Danny stared at Sally and then moved his gaze to Eliza.
When they got home, Mac was there with the kids to take Callie home.
“Where’s your shirt?” he asked her.
“I guess I left it at Jonesy’s. I’ll get it tomorrow.”
“You’re drunk and shirtless!”
“So were you. This is a sports bra...okay to wear by itself.”
“Why would you take off your shirt?”
“We all did. First the guys did, and then…wait a minute. What happens at Jonesy’s stays at Jonesy’s.” Callie cast a knowing smile at Mac before leaving the room.
* * * *
Eliza yawned. Seeing the bride-to-be needed some rest time, Callie, Mac and the kids went home. The twins went into their room to compare notes and Danny helped Eliza to bed because a sudden spell of dizziness made her wobble on her feet.
“What happened? What did Sally mean?” Danny asked.
“Nothing. Nothing happened. I had too much to drink.”
“Your shirt is buttoned up wrong. Did you think I wouldn’t notice?”
“A few of us took off our shirts, no biggie.”
“You’re not wearing a sports bra and there were guys there.”
Danny rolled her over on her stomach and picked up her shirt.
“Your bra is fastened on the second set of hooks, you always use the third set.”
“Oh? Is that so? Quite observant of you.” Eliza rolled over and giggled.
“You took your bra off…did you have sex with one of those strippers?”
“What happens at Jonesy’s stays at Jonesy’s.”
“This isn’t funny, Eliza. Did you?”
“You thought that line funny after your party.”
“Stop changing the subject. Did you have sex?”
“No, I didn’t. Don’t you trust me?”
“I thought I did, but something went on there…did one of the guys touch you?”
“What happens at Jonesy’s stays at Jonesy’s.” Eliza mimicked Callie.
“Stop saying that, dammit!” He yelled at her, red spots of anger appearing in his cheeks.
“Can we talk later? I don’t feel too well now. I need to close my eyes.” Eliza flipped over on the bed and closed her eyes.
Danny pulled the blanket up over her and left the room.
* * * *
Ten blocks away, Mac had a similar conversation with Callie.
“What happened at this party? Why did you take off your shirt?”
“Everybody did.”
“What else did everybody do?”
“What happens at Jonesy’s stays at Jonesy’s.”
“Okay. I suppose I have that coming. You didn’t sleep with one of those strippers, did you?” Nervous perspiration broke out on his forehead.
“Nobody slept at that party, it rocked!”
“I’ll rephrase the question. Did you have sex with one of the strippers?”
“No,” she stated, meeting his stare.
“Did anyone else?”
“No.” Callie avoided his probing stare.
“Did something else happen there?”
“I’m not saying another word.”
“You come home drunk and undressed and you expect me to…”
“Just like you did after Danny’s party, Mac. And you wouldn’t say a word!”
“True.”
“Live with your jealousy for a few days, like I had to. I know there’s something you should tell me about Danny’s party but you won’t. So now you’re in the same boat. How does it feel?”
“So there is something you should tell me?”
“Maybe, maybe not. I’m going to take a nap.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Preparations for the wedding continued, despite a strained atmosphere in the Maine household. Down to the last week, Eliza and Danny still hid the truth about their bachelor parties from each other.
“I’m inviting your mother and father to the wedding.”
“They probably won’t come. I don’t want her there, anyway.”
“So either, you don’t want them to come or you’re afraid they won’t come.”
“I don’t want to talk about them now. Don’t invite them.”
“Okay, okay. You don’t have to get mad.”
Danny still had nightmares, but less frequently. He looked forward to their honeymoon, a week spent on Lake Onondaga in Mac and Callie’s cottage. He loved the cottage and the lake. So did Eliza. The cozy spot would be the perfect place for them to be alone to reconnect.
The more he thought about Eliza’s bachelor party, the more foolish he felt. He believed she didn’t have sex with one of the strippers, because she said she didn’t. He knew something went on, probably some harmless, dirty little fooling around, maybe a little touchy-feely, a few women showing their breasts, or something, sort of like at his party, he thought. He forgave her without saying so and stopped interrogating her.
On Wednesday night before the wedding, she went to bed with a book at eight-thirty. He came in with a cup of tea for each of them and climbed into bed next to her.
“Can we talk?”
“Sure,” she said and rolled over to face him. She wore one of the sexy nightgowns she got at her party. Danny noticed right away.
“What happened at your party…let’s just forget it. I guess you needed to do…whatever and now let’s move on. I believe you didn’t have sex with the stripper. We’re getting married on Saturday. Let’s be happy. I love you beyond words, Sweetpea,” he said, kissing her lightly.
“You haven’t called me that in a while.”
“You’re my world, I worry sometimes. Holding on to happiness is new to me,” he confessed, looking down at his tea.
“I love you too.” She touched his cheek, then placed her mouth over his for a brief kiss and moved closer to him.
“I didn’t have sex at my party, please believe me.”
“I do. I do.” She moved her hand from his cheek down his neck and over his shoulder, to rest on his bicep.
“Let’s talk about what we’re going to do on our honeymoon.”
“You mean besides make love?” she asked, getting closer to him.
“If you’re going to wear stuff like this, then maybe we won’t be doing anything else,” he said, fingering her nightie. She closed her eyes and snuggled her head into his shoulder, wrapping her arms around his waist.
He scrutinized her face. One minute she seemed fine, the next she tired quickly like the other day, walking up the hill from school. He tightened his grip on her a little as if his strength could keep her safe. The tiny creases in her forehead smoothed out, a small sigh escaped her lips. Desire brought color to her cheeks as his lips grazed her neck and shoulders. He gave her a long probing kiss.
He loved to look at her naked so she took off her new nightie and cuddled up. When he kissed her neck and ran his lips tantalizingly slowly along her shoulder and down to her breast, she moaned his name. She ran her hands up his chest, as his breathing grew ragged. He took her with passion and love.
* * * *
On Thursday, Eliza sat with Callie and Jonesy, going through last minute details. Callie talked Eliza into buying a real, white wedding dress. The tuxedoes had been rented, flowers were ordered, guests replied and although Eliza expected only fifty people, all the members of Kiwanis wanted to come, so Jonesy opened the flood gates and two hundred people were expected.
/> “Have you been to the doctor yet? Callie asked Eliza when they were alone.
“Yes. He’s running some tests. I’ll know in a week.”
“A week! You’ll be on your honeymoon.”
“I know. He didn’t seem worried. He told me not to drink any alcohol or take any drugs, even over-the-counter ones. I drank enough alcohol at the party to last me a year.”
“Did you tell Danny?”
“I meant to last night, but we had little time for conversation.” She blushed.
* * * *
Mac and Callie hosted the Friday night wedding rehearsal dinner. Danny would stay at their house for the night. As the day approached, Eliza and Danny weren’t nervous at all, they seemed to be protected by some invisible film of happiness. The lovers didn’t fight, argue or even disagree instead they got lost in each other’s eyes, smiles and arms, floating together above the mundane, totally focused on their love. Danny didn’t care about the plans for the wedding, he only wanted to marry Eliza.
At Eliza’s house, Kaitlyn and Sally fussed about their dresses for the wedding and the ties Tanner and Chase, their escorts, were going to wear. Sally had a light pink dress, Kaitlyn’s was lavender and Callie’s, as the matron of honor, would wear dark pink. The bridesmaids were carrying white flowers and Eliza would carry a pink bouquet.
Danny moved his stuff into Callie and Mac’s house and planned to sleep in Jason’s room. Jason got excited to have a sleepover with Uncle Danny. He ran around the house telling everyone. Danny corralled him and lifted him up in the air.
“Do you have monsters under your bed?” Danny asked the little boy.
“No,” Jason said with confidence.
“How come, I thought all kids had monsters under their bed?” Danny asked in mock innocence.
“We have monster spray. You can use some tonight so you won’t be scared. Come, I’ll show you.”
Danny went with the little boy who pulled out an empty spray bottle sporting a home-made label with the words, “Monster Repellant” printed in black letters.
