Linda looked over her shoulder, wondering what her sister was talking about. Al was kneeling between her thighs with the lotion in his hand and a rather large tent in his suit. When her eyes bugged out, he said, "I'm sorry, but it's got a mind of its own, and with a view like this, I can't help it."
She looked nervous as she glanced at Joyce but relaxed when she got a smile and a wink. "Don't worry, it's tame," she said. Linda didn't know what to say and just blushed as she lay back down.
Al was good with his hands, and she was practically purring by the time he moved on to Joyce. We spent the afternoon talking and getting better acquainted with the newcomers.
I even discovered something about Connie.
When we were together before, she always said she didn't know what she wanted to do when she was older. Maybe because I met her when she was younger, this time it made a difference, but after Beth stated her intention to be a CEO and Paula declared herself a future oncologist, she said sheepishly, "I guess I'm in the wrong group. I want to be a cop."
When the others started to protest her statement, I held up my hand to quiet them. "What exactly is wrong with that?" I asked, "Not only is it a good profession, it's a necessary one. Without law, where would society be?"
"I can see that, I guess," she said, "but what about you? It's your turn; tell us what your plans are."
Joyce poked her head between us and said, "I hate to interrupt, but we're going in for a while, alright?" We all waved, and Al, Joyce, and Linda went inside. We couldn't help but notice that Linda was in the middle, with two arms around her.
After they had gone, I said, "Where was I?" Oh, yeah. Well, for starters, I'm going to sort of follow in my brothers' footsteps and play football in college. I've got my sights set on linebacker instead of defensive end, though. Then I plan to play in the NFL for ten years or so before I retire.
Then the fun begins!"
Her expression had been getting more skeptical by the moment as I had been talking. "But that sounds like what every guy your age in the entire country wants to do! Somehow, you seemed so much different than everybody else. And what do you mean by the fun starting after you retire?"
Of course, the other two knew the story and cracked up. "WHAT?" Connie exclaimed. "Football is just a way for me to get name recognition.
People are more likely to vote for someone they've seen working his ass off on television a few hundred times than for some weasel of a politician. I'm thinking of maybe running for the Senate or maybe governor after I retire.
I figure after two terms, the White House is next."
We swam and played around in the pool for a while before heading back to my place to listen to some tunes and just hang out and talk.
I was amazed that all three knew about what was going on in the world and even more amazed by their ideas on what should be done about it. It was astonishing to me that their thoughts on many subjects were so close to my own.
I was pleasantly surprised when Connie contributed as much as anyone. There was a tap on the door, and Linda came in. She was smiling from ear to ear and had a definite well-fucked look about her. "I hate to break up the party, but it's time to go, sis," she said. There were protests all around until Paula said she had to go as well.
That left Beth and I alone for the first time in a long while. We began by talking about my decorating job. She actually liked it and said she didn't want to change anything.
We finally laid down to get some sleep at around three in the morning. Beth dozed off pretty fast, but I had a lot to ponder. I didn't seem to need as much rest now anyway, so I eased my way out of bed for some time alone.
I was really worried that I was making a huge mistake. I had three lovely girls who I was very fond of. Two of them I was convinced I was in love with.
Any guy with a brain would kill for the chance to have just one of them. I had been shocked to realize that I was still in love with Connie. Lust was definitely there, as I had suspected, but love seemed to be keeping it close company.
That relationship was probably even more doomed than it was the last time. We had a lot in common then, but there was no way in hell we could now. There was something strange about her, though.
She might be the same age as me, but she seemed much more mature than I remembered. Not a single subject had come up that she couldn't contribute to as an equal.
I had strong feelings for Paula, but even though I was very attracted to her, I didn't think it was love, just a severe case of "like". I was questioning myself again about whether I even knew what love was when my stomach growled.
I looked at the clock and discovered it was already six, so I sighed and started some coffee before cooking breakfast.
I was just starting the eggs when I felt arms encircle me from behind and a very welcome body press against my back. Beth was awake early. She whispered in my ear, "Hey, good lookin', whatcha' got cookin'?"
I turned around for a good morning kiss. "Well," I said, "we have biscuits and gravy, sausage, bacon, and scrambled eggs with cheddar and jack cheese. And if you don't stop playing with that, I won't be able to get close enough to the stove to finish!"
She smiled and told me I was standing too close to it anyway, and she positioned me so I could barely reach the skillet as she dropped to her knees and took me in her mouth.
It was difficult to concentrate on the eggs, but eventually they and I finished at the same time. I dished it up, and we ate well. Both of us had worked up quite an appetite the night before.
I was too preoccupied to notice what I was eating. I tried to hide my feelings, and I mostly succeeded. When we were done, Beth shook her head. "Unbelievable!" she said. "Not only is he gorgeous and a great lover, he can cook too.
I'm going to love it here!
We went to my parents' house and found them in the kitchen talking. I made an exaggerated sniffing sound and commented that something smelled wonderful as we made our entrance. Mom told us we were welcome to sample the wares, as she had just pulled out the first batch. She was making butterscotch cookies (one of my favorites). We visited for a bit before heading out.
We decided to drop by Paula's house, and when we got to her door, it opened, and her mother came out. She came right to me, gave me a big hug and a kiss on the cheek, and said, "Thank you for the flowers.
They were lovely, and the thought behind them was as well. I can't believe the change in my daughter since she met you. You are welcome in our home anytime!"
I had just finished introducing her to "my sister" when Paula appeared and exclaimed, "MOM! What's going on? I expected you to be sick! And what did you say about flowers?"
Mrs. O'Shea turned to her daughter and hugged her next, happily stating, "This has been a week full of surprises! First you brought this cute fellow by, and then I started feeling better than I had in a year.
Next, I get myself ready for the torture of another one of those dreaded treatments, only to find out I don't need it!"
After Paula's "What do you mean?" She said, "I mean, it's gone! No more chemo, no more surgery, nothing! You should have seen the doctor sputter!" They don't know what happened.
As a matter of fact, if this round of treatment hadn't done any better than the last, they were going to suggest a mastectomy."
Paula hugged her mother again, looking at me over a shoulder with tears of joy (and something else?) in her eyes. I congratulated Mrs. O'shea on her "victory," and she thanked me again before leaving us alone.
Paula sat us down and kneeled at our feet. "I have a statue of Eir in my room," she began. I knew Eir was the goddess of healing, so her devotion was self-explanatory. "When I died, my last thought was to wish that I could go back and help my mother," she continued sadly.
"She died when I was sixteen. They beat the breast cancer, but it spread to her lymph nodes, and they couldn't stop it. I wasn't as much help as I thought I should have been, and it bothered me the rest of my life. This time, I'll be there for her no matter what."
I kissed her and said, "She'll be there for you too if the Norns permit it. Her cancer is gone now." Paula protested that she had heard that before.
I told her about my gift and that I had seen the spreading cancer and eliminated it.
She collapsed into my arms and hugged me fiercely as she whispered, "I'm yours forever. Whatever you want or need from me, you can have it. You can't possibly imagine what this means to my family."
I pried her far enough away to look her in the face and reply, "I do know what it means. I lost my father before. As for belonging to me, that's nonsense. I care for you a lot, and I both like and respect your mother.
You belong to yourself, Paula. Your life is yours to live. If fate decrees that you spend it close to me, it will happen. If not, then you won't."
She kissed me tenderly and said, "You're an amazing man, Matt Sussmann. Is it alright if I tell my mother about you and what you've done for her? She already knows about me." I told her it would probably be a good idea.
Worrying can be a very bad thing. I pulled her to her feet and suggested we take a walk.
It was strange walking through my old neighborhood. I did a few double-takes as I recognized people I had known. I saw Laura, the girl I had hooked up with after Connie.
She was a nice person, but it had been a rebound thing for me. The sex had been very good, but she wasn't the brightest bulb on the tree. We parted ways as friends because she needed more than I could give.
I saw Don, who had been my best friend for years. We have even less in common now than we did then. We were two very different people. He was the stereotypical user.
He honestly believed every female in sight was a challenge. If she looked good, he'd try to get her in bed and dump her soon afterward to move on to his next "conquest".
I, on the other hand, didn't use people. I never coerced sex in a relationship. Actually, I hadn't hooked up with anyone after Laura for years and didn't need to. There were plenty of girls who were only interested in sex.
Some guys never realize that a lot of ladies want the same thing they do, but only if you know how to keep your mouth shut.