(fiction) he Conquests of Jacob Ferguson, Part 4

“How?” I asked. “Keeping one woman happy is a job in itself, how do I take care of all five of you? I can’t give all of you the attention you each deserve. I don’t want any of you to be hurt, and how do we avoid resenting each other?” I continued. “The cliché is that it would be a dream come true to have women fighting over you, but that sounds terrible to me."

“It’ll take effort; jealousy is bound to occur from time to time, but we’re all determined to make it work” Ava said. “That was what we chatted about most last night, we’ve decided we’re going to support each other in this, and all help to support you.”

Trixie came and hugged me as she said; “You’re thinking that you won’t have enough love to divide between us, but love shared isn’t divided, it’s multiplied. Just like when Ava started sharing you, you found that you had twice as much love to give!”

“That's true, Trixie my Pixie.” I replied, as I returned her hug. “But, how do we keep it quiet? If gossip spreads, I’ll never get tenure, and I don’t think most of your jobs would be safe either. Do we give up on this town and move to Utah? Polygamy isn’t legal there either, but they do have a history for tolerance of this sort of thing."

“We’re not going anywhere.” Karin said. “Your instincts are likely correct in running an inn as a cover; however, we’re going to have to make some changes to generate some income, and get the logistics to work.” Then she said to Suzi. “Tsubaki-chan, would you get the easel we used last night?”

“Hai Hai!” (Yes, sure!)  she cheerfully responded as she retrieved the easel from the closet. She flipped past a few sheets of cartoonish drawings on the large pad of paper; apparently, they played some Pictionary last night also, a rough floorplan of the house was now on display.

Karin pulled a telescopic pointer from somewhere,"It is time for this to become a business, and stop being your hobby." she then started describing the changes that would be needed to make to the house. “If an addition is built off the back of the house, we can preserve the nostalgic façade of the farmhouse and add modern amenities for us: bedrooms for each of us, a proper bath that is large enough for socializing, and a ‘family lounge’ where we can be out of the public eye. There’s enough area on the first floor to put in a dining area, and if we put a counter adjacent to the entrance, we can operate a coffee shop or café with seating for about two dozen patrons. This will be a proper 'bed and breakfast' and something like a cafe the rest of the time. That way we have the potential to generate revenue from foot traffic, since you are not making anything off your current tenants, maybe then you can add a few that you're not dating? ….”

“Hold on, hold on.” I Interrupted. “This plan seems very ambitious. I see how we have the land for it, but not the cash. Construction like you are describing would cost hundreds of thousands. I can’t even afford to pay Suzi’s salary, where is the money going to come from?”

“You’re not thinking this trough, Jakey” Claire responded. “We’ll be forming a small corporation; we’ll all be contributing. If we leverage the equity in the house, and get a small business loan, we're most of the way there. In addition, there are grants and incentives available to majority women owned businesses. The startup costs shouldn’t be a problem, Karin's pretty well off and has some seed money, and if we work hard, in five or six years, we may even be turning a profit. In the meantime, we all have a place to live, and a coverstory, and we can be together without generating gossip.”

“Ok I’m sold” I responded. “We’ll have a safe place, and side business. I can learn to make fancy coffee drinks and parfaits and whatnot. If you girls look half as pretty in maid uniforms as Suzi does, we’ll have lines down the block”

“Trixie doesn’t get it.” Trixie said. “Suzi is super cute in her outfit, but why would we need five maids? And why would people line up to see us clean?”

“You are very shrewd, Master.” Suzi responded. “The novelty of a Maid Café might just draw the customers you speak of. It is a good idea."

“Either that, or, he’s just a pervert that formulated a plan to see his girlfriends do sleazy cosplay” Claire interjected. “I like it! Great minds think alike, Jakey!”

“Not sleazy.” I objected. “At least not for John Q. Public. We aim for pretty and wholesome, or ‘cute’. That way we avoid mobs with torches and pitchforks aiming to shut us down for ‘corrupting the youth’. Café La Maison, or whatever we call it, will not be Hooters! We’ll save the sexy cosplay for our private side of the house. Speaking of which, how are we going to handle ‘logistics’? Is there a plan for that?”

“We’ve discussed it.” Suzi said as she flipped a couple more pages on the easel, revealing a complex looking flowchart.

"Seems complicated" I observed

 “I can summarize; basically, we periodically draw lots to establish a rotation, allow for trading in case of special occasions or circumstance, and settle any disputes with secret ballots at a family meeting." Karin added. "However; there is a danger of group dynamics becoming strained if too many things come down to a vote, so we need to be careful. Since Jake would become a tie-breaking vote, it would be a little better if there were an even number of girls....”

“SHHH!”  Claire hissed. “Do you even know what a flag is?! The tropes! Fate!? Destiny!? All that stuff you were talking about when you figured out that Jakey was unintentionally gathering a harem. I mean, seriously, we’ve just about figured out a way for the five of us to get along and you’re tempting the universe to throw another woman at him?!”

"Idle musings about group dynamics shouldn't count; it certainly isn't one of the classic flags." Karin responded.

“I don’t think you need to worry” I interjected.

“I agree, Claire, I don’t think we need to worry. You said he is your childhood friend, your first love?” Ava added. “Suzi, he confessed to you four years ago, right?  The affair with Karin was four years before that, and he and I have been seeing each other for over two years. My point is that Jake dates in series, not in parallel. Beatrix is an exception, I practically had to force her on him. He told me that he's only been intimate with two women before me. With Kay and Claire here, I think that every past love interest is already in this room.”

Claire mulled it over and appeared to be relieved, her expression then changed. “Oh, crap…” she muttered. “You just raised another flag! He's never been intimate with me, that means...”

<Ding-dong> The doorbell rang.

<Ding-dong> The doorbell rang a second time.

        I went to answer the door so I didn’t hear the details of the conversation that mostly occurred while I was out of the room. This is how the girls told me it went:

Claire: crap! crap…Ava; your timeline didn’t cover high school!   

Ava: Oh? Jake said he really didn't date much in college, did he in high school? no one 'serious', right? Jake never mentioned anyone in particular.

Claire: Deirdre DeWit.

Trixie: DeWit, is that German?

Claire: Dutch 

Ava: So, this girl, she and Jake…?

Claire: Dated. For about year, he was a senior, she was a sophomore.

Suzi: Were they in love?

Claire: Definitely. But, they split up when Jake went away to college, I heard she moved to the capital, and eventually got married.

Trixie: Downstate?

Claire: D.C.

Ava: Then she’s safely out of the picture; she’s halfway across the country, and married.

Karin: You forget, I was halfway across the Earth, yet here I am, and marriages end.

Claire: Divorce. Death.

Suzi: Why does everything you are saying start with ‘D’?

Claire: Don’t know, maybe because Deirdre went by ‘Deedee’ in school?

Trixie: Isn’t Jay taking an awful long time at the door?

Ava: Let’s go see

<They arrived at the far end of the foyer in time to see Jake having a conversation with the letter carrier.>

Claire: Yup, that’s her

Ava: That's uncanny, it is not natural, no, its supernatural! How do these ‘flags’ even work?

Karin: And she’s flirting with him, hard. I don’t think he's noticed, but she’s certainly interested in him. How can he not see what she’s doing? He is so dense.

Suzi: I cannot hear them clearly, how can you tell?

Karin: Look at their body language, the way she fondles her hair, her stance, her gaze, plus…

Trixie: No fair!  It’s like gravity doesn’t affect her normally, those shouldn’t bounce like that.

Claire: Her nickname among the boys in school was ‘Deedee the DD’

Trixie: If she drops something, so that she can bend over and wag her tail at him, I’m goin’ in!

Suzi: I will be right behind you

<Deedee drops her pen; all five ladies rush to the front door>

Ava: Hey darling, what’s keeping you?

Jake:  Oh, umm. I was just chatting; um the mail is here...

Deedee: Hello, I have a certified letter forwarded here for a Tsubaki Yamamoto.

Suzi: I am she.

Deedee: would you sign here, please?

<Tsubaki signs a form on a clipboard, and receives the letter from Deedee; who then makes a few notations on the clipboard, and puts it away in the cart. She then pulled out a bundle of mail>

Deedee: And, these are for you (she held out a bundle of mail to Jake with both hands, but indicated her décolletage with her eyes. She had surreptitiously unbuttoned the top few buttons of her shirt when she turned to get the mail)

Jake: Thanks, I’ll take that. When did you move back into town?

Deedee: A couple of weeks ago, I guess this is the first time I’ve caught you at home, we should grab a cup of coffee and catch up sometime soon. Is ‘The Bean’ still open?

Jake: It’s a Starbucks now.

Deedee: That’s a shame. Well, I'm off on Monday, I’ll see you there at the usual time? 'K?, Good, T.T.F.N.!

<Deedee departs with a wave>

Karin: I’ll start revising the plans, looks like we’ll have to add a bedroom…

Ava: Hey Jake, that was very bold of you.

Jake: What?

Ava: You agreed to a date with your high school sweetheart, right in front of us.

Jake: I did what now?

Trixie: He is so dense.

Claire: 'Go out for coffee; catch up on old times'... It’s obvious that ‘Miss Pom-Poms’ sees it as a date, even if you don’t. She's very interested in you. If we weren't home, she might've jumped you right here on the front stoop!

Karin: (while reading a business card she retrieved from Jake’s shirt pocket) She was sending some pretty strong signals, apparently, she “misses you, tons” and wants you to “call her soon” and offers “smooches” with her signature, and phone number. She even dotted the “i” with a little heart. You sure are dense when it comes to these things. Did you even notice when she stuffed her note in your pocket?

Ava: (while pinching the bridge of her nose) It is probably less headache in the long run if you just reel her in, or let her reel you in, whatever. It isn’t in you to cheat, but her sniffing around will be problematic. I take it that’s why you didn’t introduce us?

Jake: Sorry, I was at loss, I couldn’t very well say: “this is my fiancée, and so is she, and so is she... (while indicating each of the ladies in turn) and everyone, this is my former lover, we took each other’s virginity back when we were teenagers”

Suzi: Yes, that would have been awkward, considering I am your fiancée and that we have not even properly kissed yet.

<smooch>

 (Jake had kissed Suzi)

Jake:  Problem solved. Happy?

Suzi: Master... no, I wanted our first kiss to be special, this is not acceptable.

Jake: Well, then you should give it back!

(They share a longer, more tender kiss)

Suzi: Better, but still…

Jake: Ok, then, I'll keep this in my pocket, and we'll have our first kiss at a later time. Are you happy now?

Suzi:  Somewhat, but she is in line after me. (Suzi indicated the letter carrier's general direction)  

(Suzi then opened and read the letter)

 Suzi: I think we have a problem.

___________________________

“Is it bad news, Suzi?” Ava asked. “You look upset.”

“The agency is shutting down; I am losing my job.” Suzi replied, practically in tears

 “Why so sad?” I asked. “Working with the agency was just a formality anyway, no one is going to make you move out.”

 “Goshujin-sama, it is because of the terms of my VISA. I need to be employed. And my employer, the company must be both in Japan and the United States, and the agency is closing its business here; I must go back to Japan.” Suzi explained. She then clung to me. “I do not want to go!

“I am afraid she’s right.” Karin said. “Even if I convinced my company to hire her, she would need a new VISA. I doubt I could pull that off, at least not before her current VISA expires.”

 “Hold on a minute.” Claire added, as she read the letter Suzi had received. “This doesn’t say that you need to pack your bags today. It’s a thirty-day notice, well it was, when they sent it, we still have about three weeks. We’ll just need to figure something out.”

No one expected to help to come from where it did. The following Monday morning, I met Deedee for coffee. We chatted for a while and eventually I told her about Suzi’s problem. I was surprised that she came up with a solution so quickly.

 Deedee explained: “It sounds like she’s here on a H2-B VISA, she’s entered the country legally, and since she hasn’t overstayed, she can apply for immigrant status, instead of guest worker status. She just needs to file a petition. I think an 'adjustment of status application', under the terms of becoming an immediate relative. You’ll need to do some paperwork to show that her change of status is bona-fide. Once its approved, she’ll have certification as an immigrant resident, maybe even get fast-tracked for citizenship if she wants it.”

 “Ok, I may have a Ph.D., but I didn’t follow the government jargon, can you translate that?” I asked.

 “You marry her, she gets a green card” she stated.

 “That's a relief, the way you initially described it, I was worried it was going to be a big deal.”

 “It isn’t a big deal?! You were just telling me about your girlfriend that you’ve been living with for a few years! Isn’t Ava going to be upset when you tie the knot with the maid? Plus, the problem is time, there's a waiting list and bureaucracy. It may take months before someone even looks at the petition, and it won’t get approved if someone at Immigration thinks your marriage is a sham.”

“I’m fairly certain that Ava won’t be upset. Besides, technically Suzi and I are already engaged. Our marriage would be legit.”

“You just told me that she started being your maid only a few weeks ago, when did you propose?”

“I didn’t. She proposed to me, a few minutes before you rang my doorbell last Friday”

 “…!” Deedee was at a loss for words.

“The situation is complicated, why don’t we table that for now?”

“Fine.” She said. She stopped rubbing her temples and readjusted her glasses.

 “You seem to know how to navigate the red tape, is that typical for a postal worker? Regardless, could you help us out? Maybe you could come to my place for dinner, I’ll properly introduce you to my fiancée.” I asked.

“I might know some people who owe me a favor. And, I can’t say that I’m not intrigued about meeting your soon to be wife, shall we say six o’clock?”

 I went home and started making calls, letting everyone know that we’re going to have a guest for dinner. I then sat Suzi down and tried to explain what I had learned.

 “You said before that you didn’t want to leave, right?”

 “That is correct.”

“Are you happy here?”

“Oh yes! I cannot even explain. When I found you, I didn’t know what to do, I was so happy. When you said I could stay, I thought my heart would burst. You have told me that you love me, that you want me in your life, in your family. I don’t even know the words for how happy you have made me.”

“That’s all true, Suzi. I love you so much…Do you remember that first evening in this house, after you surprised me …you know when Ava went to the store?”

“How could I forget? Oh, that means we can! Do you want to? Now?” She said as she started taking off her clothes.

“Hold on, we’ll have time for that later. I am asking you if you remember what you said to me then.”

“I remember, nothing I said then has changed. I’m yours, anyway you want me.”

“There is one thing I want you to be, that you did not offer.”

“Master, anything: your lover, your plaything, your servant, your…”

“Be my bride.”

“Yes, a thousand times yes, but I already agreed to marry you along with everyone else, I already agreed to be your wife.”

“Yes, but we may be able to get around your VISA limitations if we make it official. Dierdre says she has some government contacts and will help. Plus, once our neighbors will know that I am married, we should be under less scrutiny. What do you think?”

“Of course, I will be your bride.” She didn’t seem that excited, however.

 I got down on one knee.

“Suzi, the circumstances may make it appear that our wedding is just for show, but I am serious. I want to see you in a wedding dress, I want to exchange vows with you. The whole world will know that you are my wife, and although I am sad I can’t give this to anyone else, I am happy that I can give that to you. Will you do that with me? Stand with me, in front of a judge and witnesses and our families, and say the words, promise yourself to me for the rest of your life as I will for you? Will you marry me?”

“Oh yes!” she rushed into my embrace and we kissed.

“Who shall we invite? Your parents? Who else?”

“I do not know, I cannot think. Can I get a white gown, can we have flowers, and music and a reception with dancing and a big cake?”

“I want us to have it all, but I have a condition.”

“Master, anything, I’ll do anything, you can do anything to me, tell me…”

“Once I marry you, I will not be your master. That is my condition. I don’t want a servant or a slave, I want a wife and a partner. I won’t ever leave you, you don’t have to give up yourself to keep me. Will you let me be your husband and not you master?”

“Is that what you want? I think I can, but I can a couple of conditions as well.”

“For you my betrothed, anything…”

“When we are alone together as husband and wife, you will still let me call you ‘Master’, you will still discipline me and spank my little bottom until it is all pink, and whatever else we figure out that drives me so crazy with desire for you.”

Gladly. I’ll obey you in this; my bride to be. What is your second condition?”

“We wait until our wedding night.”

“Really?  I was ready to take you on the floor right here, right now.”

“I have waited almost five years for you, I can wait a little longer. I have decided that my first time with you will be as your bride.”

“I am glad to hear you say that, I agree to your conditions. It’s probably for the best as we’re having a guest for dinner, so we don’t have time to fool around anyway, we have to get ready for our engagement party.”

 Deirdre arrived promptly at six. I was a little surprised that she ‘dressed to the nines’. She was wearing a pretty cocktail dress, her hair was pinned up in an elaborate coiffure, her makeup was elegant and understated (she looked great). She would not have looked out of place at an embassy dinner, or among the gentry of Paris or London.  A bouquet of flowers was cradled in one elbow, a large bottle of saké and a magnum of champagne in the other. I was wondering how she managed to ring the doorbell as I welcomed her at the door.

“Special delivery, and congratulations!" She said as she entered. She approached Suzi, presented her the flowers and said “I am so happy for you and Jake! You two make a lovely couple.” She then approached me and gave me the champagne, and a kiss on each cheek “We’ll toast to your happiness!”  I thanked her as I returned her greeting, Suzi’s thanks were accompanied with a bow. Suzi was beaming, her smile was infectious. Is was obvious how happy she was.

Deirdre then approached Karin, she used both hands to present the saké “Yamamoto-san, please accept this in your parents’ stead, I wish your family happiness and prosperity as it grows. I hope you are blessed with many nieces and nephews!” She introduced herself to Ava, Beatrix and Clarissa each in turn.

As the evening progressed, I noticed that something seemed ‘off’ with some the dinner conversations. In addition to the expected small talk, discussions of wedding plans, honeymoon destinations, and red tape avoidance for Suzi’s green card, Deirdre also asked some odd questions, and took conversations in unexpected directions.

“Yamamoto-san, are you working with Sasaki-san in the Springdale office? He’s a hoot once he loosens up after work hours”

“You are acquainted with Sasaki-san? My boss?” Karin replied.

“Yes, there was a project we worked together on when NTT and a telecom in Singapore were merging. But, that was years ago; I doubt he would recognize me, I was a brunette then”

“I always thought your natural color looked so nice on you, why would you change it?” I asked.

“guurk!” someone exclaimed.

 “You know, Jakey, a woman is entitled to her little secrets; weight, age, if she colors her hair, stuff like that. Do you think your comment was wise, considering the current audience?” Claire added.

“Current audience?” I asked

“You really can be dense” she commented. “Deedee’s your former lover, and you just confirmed that you know she’s a natural blonde, how do you think your fiancée feels about you reminding everyone of how you must know that little factoid?”

 The implication sunk in. “I’m sorry, that’s not what I meant…” I apologized to the room in general.

“Claire, you’re terrible, I’m sure Jake just assumed that most sixteen-year-olds don’t dye their hair, or at least that I didn't.” She continued “It is refreshing though, the way you give him a hard time, reminds me of high school. It is nice you two are still chummy”

“All that aside,” Karin interjected. “why would a letter carrier be involved in an international corporate merger?”

“I was working for a different government agency then, I’m sort of semi-retired now” Deedee replied.

 “Is that why you know so much about VISAs and stuff?” Beatrix asked. Deedee nodded in reply.

“You're retired? But you’re younger than me” I asked.

“Semi-retired, I burned out at my old job.” Deedee answered. “It’s an occupational hazard. Hard on marriages too. I decided it was time to slow down, ‘reboot’ and come back to the last place I was happy, so I called in a favor and got one of the only federal government jobs in Centerville, working at the post office. It's my second career.”

 “And you just happened to be on the route that your old sweetheart is on?” Ava asked.

“Nope, I had to do some horse trading to get this route, I admit, I was checking on him, hoping he was available. Centerville may be too much of a good thing for someone like me that wanted to slow down, so I took a chance and here I am. It’s nice to have an excuse to dress up. Now that I am here; however, something doesn't seem 'right'.”

“I’m not sure what you mean, as far as I can tell, the only thing a little off is that you’re so dolled up for an informal gathering, not that I mind. That and the extravagant gifts, a magnum of Dom Pérignon must've cost a pretty penny.” I replied.

 “After I met with you for coffee, I got a little suspicious. I was worried that you were being taken advantage of, that Suzi proposed to you just to get a green card. I didn’t want you getting hurt, or in trouble. So, I did some digging, also, I ran background checks on everyone. You’re all seem minty clean; but, something still didn’t smell right. Sorry, I was interrogating all of you, I’m expert at telling when people are being deceitful. I can tell that Tsubaki is in love with you, and your obviously in love with her. What’s weird is that Ava genuinely seems to be ok with it. I’m sorry about the dress too, I tried to get you off balance, see if you'd let something slip. I figured that if your engagement was a sham, you wouldn’t be able to resist your high school sweetheart, but you barely gave me a second glance, I’m almost disappointed. I was looking forward to the attention.”

“You also wanted to make sure he knew what he'd be missing out on? perhaps? Quite catty, I think. Meow" Trixie added. Deedee shrugged in response.

“And the gifts?” I asked.

“I admit they seem extravagant, but I re-gifted presents from my retirement party. By the way, I suggest holding on to the saké, maybe for the wedding? I understand it’s something special, worth a lot more than the Dom Pérignon”

“Ok then, I’m flattered that you went to all the effort to look out for me. And, you may be expert at seeing when people are being deceitful, but I spent nearly twenty years across from Gramps at a card table perfecting my poker face. Keeping my eyes off you took effort."

"That may be, and thank you, I guess. But, I can tell that you're hiding something, what is it? give."

 I then added. "Ava, you said to ‘reel her in’, shall I?" Ava waved her assent, I then said; "Karin, if you would, give her the presentation you gave me? Trixie my Pixie, can you put this champagne on ice for later?"

Karin went over the diagrams on the flipchart for Deedee the same as she did for me when we got engaged. I was surprised about how unfazed Deedee was about the whole idea, and how quickly she decided to join in. I guess she liked the idea of her ‘retired life’ not being too slow. I opened the champagne and we all got to work on planning a wedding. Everyone wanted a party, and we needed to have a ceremony for public consumption as well. From that day on; to our nosy neighbors, Suzi will be Mrs. Ferguson.

On paper Suzi and I got married already, our anniversary is July the fourth, Deedee's going to pull some strings so that our marriage paperwork predates that certified letter, she thought it would look better to the folks at immigration.

A rising concern started bothering me. Often when little boys role play, it's 'cops and robbers', or Power Rangers or whatever (I was Ultraman), conversely. many little girls like to play 'dress up' and pretend to be princesses or ballerinas or brides. They grow up looking forward to, and dreaming about, their wedding day; the dress, the ceremony, the rest.

 After we were dating for a few months, although we weren't engaged yet, Ava and I spoke about when we'd walk down the aisle, we discussed our preferences for the ceremony and the reception, and where we'd like to go on our honeymoon, and babies. Years ago, I'm sure Bea looked forward to her wedding day with Joe. Deirdre might have thought we'd someday get married when we were dating in high school, or she did until we broke up halfway through my senior year, when I refused to let her 'wait for me' while I went away to college.  When Claire and I went to prom together 'as friends', she joked about it being a dress rehearsal for a wedding, I knew deep down she wasn't entirely joking, she was looking forward to being a bride someday, after she found her 'special someone' (I didn't realize at the time, that she wanted me to be that someone).  

We were all sitting in the living room, planning Suzi's version of a storybook wedding. All the ladies were having a good time discussing the details, the possible venues, color schemes, flowers, etc. I could tell they were all having fun, Suzi was glowing, the rest of the girls were giddy, excited to be bridesmaids. My worry was about the little girls inside each of those soon to be bridesmaids. I wanted to fulfill their dreams too, but I had no idea how to.

A few days later I was in bed and not quite ready to go to sleep. I decided to talk over my concerns about weddings.

"I've been wondering about some things"

"What's that, honey" Ava replied.

"Well, first, when did I become the 'meat' in this delightful sandwich?"

"You don't like it? we can switch, I like being the 'meat', it's cuddly" Trixie offered.

"I like it lots, that wasn't a complaint, more of a 'how did I get so lucky?' sort of question. If I start snoring, give me a nudge and switch with me, Ava says I don't snore when I'm 'spooning'."

"She's right, you don't. What's the problem? If you start to snore one of us will poke you with an elbow, roll over, grab on and spoon."

"Then wouldn't one of you get lonely when I turn my back to you?"

"You're greedy, if you're on one side, you could snuggle up with our Trixie's plush backside and still reach over to fondle me. But, that's not motivating you, is it? and that's why we love you. You are concerned, you care, about something so small as the possibility that one of us might not be happy if we prefer to hold you from the front instead of the back."

"You're right, I'm being silly. Trixie my Pixie, in a few minutes we're switching. I want to snuggle up with your plush backside while I fondle Ava, she had a good idea."

"Hooray, I get to be the meat!"

"On a more serious note, there is something else. I'm worried about the wedding"

"I know we're planning on short notice, but everything will fall into place in time, Suzi's folks are even going to be able to make it. Plus, Suzi is so happy. I get warm fuzzies just seeing how excited she is. I don't think her feet have touched the ground in days." Ava tried to reassure me. "Are you getting cold feet?"

"Nothing like that, I'm looking forward to it. It'll be great, and you're right, seeing Suzi float around is adorable. What I'm worried about at the moment is the two of you."

"Us? I don't understand" Trixie answered.

 "Ava, some months ago, I thought that about now we'd be planning our wedding. I know that you wanted the ceremony on the beach with friends and family, and the exchanging of vows that we wrote ourselves, and our first dance and all that. I know that all of you want some variation of that. I want those things too. I want to give each of you that day. I want to give all of you that day. I want the whole world to recognize how great it is that you all are my family, and I know I can’t have that.  I guess I'm still stuck on how I can give everyone I love the happiness they'd dreamed of."

"Jake, I'm touched that you care so much." Trixie said, as she squeezed me. "I'll admit that I dreamed about, and looked forward to my wedding day, but those particular dreams died with Joe. I don't know any more what I want for our day, but I don't want or need you to be him. I certainly don't want the ceremony Joe and I planned.  I'm enjoying the life I have now. You've given me happiness I never dreamed of."

"You know Jay, you are not off the hook, " Ava said. “I still want that ceremony on the beach. You and I and our friends and family, and the ocean and the vows we write ourselves. I don't care about the government paperwork. Marriage is about the promise we make to each other. Can we? let's go to my hometown, go to the edge of the ocean at sunset and make our promise, it'll be wonderful."

“We can, we will, I’ll figure out a way to give that to you.” I kissed them both. "Thank you, you have no idea how happy this makes me. How did I get so lucky?"

"I don't know, you probably don’t deserve us.” Ava answered. “You worry too much. I bet if you asked Claire and Deedee and Karin, they'd tell you what they want too. In general, if you ask a woman what she wants, she'll tell you how to keep her happy, sometimes you don't even need to ask. So, while you're still in the middle, give me a backrub."

I gave Ava a massage, then Trixie, then they both gave me one. Then we had a tickle fight. Then we went to sleep. Apparently, I don't snore when I'm the 'meat' either.