Chapter 93

The men complained that they needed to do some shopping, as they needed to buy some slacks. A change of shirt, socks and shorts wasn’t sufficient for the environment they suddenly found themselves in.

“About time you learned what we do.” Mae said.

She drug them down to her salon.

“I need some time on one of the machines.” she told an attendant.

“Not much problem on the scanners, but the spinners are booked solid.” she said.

“We’ll make time for this. My Fiancée needs clothes.” Mae said.

“Fiancée?” asked the attendant, shocked to her core.

“Yup. Candice’s too.” Mae replied.

“Stranger things have happened, but not in my lifetime.” replied the attendant.

“So can you fit us in?” Mae asked.

“Yeah, take number three. She’s late. I’ll just tell her we thought she wouldn’t show. After you get your designs done we’ll just stick them into the task stack at the bottom. A few hours won’t matter much to these folks.” said the attendant.

“Okay guys. Step into my parlor...” Mae said, guiding them to the scanning room.

It didn’t take too long for the scanning with the new equipment. When the men complained Candice told them about the prototype. They shut up.

They next moved to Mae’s office and designed the clothes for them. As they would be flying, Mae called in Theresa’s uniform designs she’d done for Kevin and adapted them to the flight uniforms. She also specified thermal weave on each item. Next she designed them shirts and underwear. Her and Candice had a ball with that. Jimbo insisted on something that he could wear to a plane crash without starting bad rumors about his past.

Candice relented, but made some very racy ones anyway. The socks they would buy, but in fact the thermal weave worked excellent for them. Mae just didn’t want to tie the machines up too long. She transferred her order to the task stack over her LAN with priority instructions.

“Now what?” Scott asked.

“Now we go to lunch. Your things should be ready for dinner.” Mae said, looking at the task stack.

The weavers would be busy all night. Her staff had realized what she hadn’t. That you could scan people and then be scanning another while one staffer designed outfits for the first. The orders got put on a task stack. When they were done the customer just came in and picked them up. There was no fitting involved, but her staff went through the formality anyway. It didn’t take too long to convince the customers that they fit.

Mae picked up the phone and called Shannon’s.

She got Sheila on the line and told her of her staffs innovations.

“I figure we can keep three spinners busy for each scanner. If we run the spinners all night we can almost offer overnight service. That will help immensely with our work load. In fact, almost triple our throughput.” Mae explained.

“No kidding. The problem is getting more spinners with John and Kevin out.” Sheila said.

“Well, how about getting a head start on them. Do you know the suppliers? Order the parts in so that they will be at the Silo when John gets back.” Mae suggested.

“I have a better idea. You’re just up the road from Silicon Valley. Why don’t you look around for a company that can assemble them for us. We have the designs. John’s broken the assembly down pretty good. We have the suppliers ship to the assembler and he turns out machines as we need them.” Sheila suggested.

“Can do. Uh ... in a few days? ... Please.” Mae asked.

“Okay.” Sheila chuckled, “Who am I to thwart true love ... it is still true love, isn’t it?”

“Truer every day.” Mae said.

“Okay, but first chance you get. Maybe you could make some phone calls to start things?” Sheila asked.

“You got it. That I can do. In fact I’ll draft a staff member to start a pre-select on the manufactures in the area so all I have to do is check out the finalists.” Mae said.

“Good idea. I’ll get the suppliers geared up for at least another spinner for each salon. Better yet, two. We can afford them.” Sheila said.

“I’m certain that they’d pay for themselves.” Mae said.

“Okay ... gotta go. Love you both. Wear your galoshes.” Sheila said.

“You know we both went on the pill last month.” Mae chuckled.

“Yeah, I forgot. See you.” Sheila said.

“Kiss the girls for me. Love you too. Bye.” Mae said, breaking the connection.

“So that’s what you do for a living. Figure out ways to spend money.” Scott chuckled.

“That particular expenditure might just triple our volume. Double it at least.” Mae said.

“You’re joking.” Scott said.

“Not a bit.” Mae said.

“You’ll find she jokes very little where work is concerned.” Candice chuckled.

“And how much do you get per outfit?” Scott asked.

“Between seven-hundred and fifteen thousand. Depending on the complexity of the outfit. Accessories are much cheaper though. A set of custom stockings to go with a thousand dollar outfit only cost a hundred dollars. It all depends on how much set up is required for an outfit. It’s no problem to do a set of gloves when you’re already doing a body suit. If you want custom panty hose, then the body suit has to come off or be pulled out of the way before you can make the panty hose. Then there’s dresses. Some have to have stitching done to connect a broad skirt to a body suit foundation. That stuff really costs. To do Wedding dresses like Cindy’s, Theresa’s and Andrea’s would cost you fifteen thousand.” Mae said.

“Quite the tycoon you’ve hitched your wagon too. Scotty my boy.” Jimbo commented.

“Oh, I think you’ll find that Candice holds her own in that respect. She basically runs things for me. If you guys weren’t here I’d have her buried to her eyebrows in things that need to be done.” Mae said.

“So who’s doing them in the mean time?” Jimbo asked.

“My staff, on some of them. The others are put on hold.” Mae said.

“We didn’t mean to be pulling you away from important work.” Jimbo said.

“Jimbo, it’s not everyday that a woman gets engaged. Everybody’s entitled to a vacation.” Mae said.

“Well ... I don’t like keeping you from making money. If you’re going to support me in a manner in which I wish to become accustomed.” Jimbo teased.

“I’m sure that as a pilot for the government you do quite well. Better than an airline pilot I should hope.” Mae said.

“Ah, just barely. Uncle Sugar’s a tight old goat.” Jimbo mused.

“Well, when Sheila finally realizes that they need a corporate Jet then I know where the pilots will come from.” Mae chuckled.

“I’ve got two years to go for my pension.” Jimbo said.

“We’d cover that.” Mae said simply.

“You don’t know what you’re saying. I get seventy percent of my wages for the rest of my life.” Jimbo said.

“And you said Uncle Sugar was tight ... I suspect that we’d still cover it. But it may be that long before Sheila realizes that we need a corporate jet. We’d probably start small, a Gulf Stream or Lear Fan. But the first time Sheila can’t get where she needs to go and loses a million dollars because of it, then things will happen fast. And I know for a fact that you’re a good pilot. I’m not as naive as I look. I know what that landing took the other night. I saw where we ended up. I felt how much you had to fight your little darling to keep her straight. Good pilots aren’t easy to find. When we need one your name will be on the list, both of you.” Mae said.

“Ah, by then darling it would be nepotism. A clear conflict of interest.” Jimbo said.

“Nope, you’d be in a different position from me and Candice entirely. Neither of us would be directing your actions, or you directing ours. You’d be working for Cindy and Theresa, as owners, under direction of Sheila, as CEO.” Mae said.

“Who am I to turn down a good offer when I hear one.” Jimbo said.

“The offer isn’t made yet ... but I think it’s a safe bet. Don’t quit your day job yet.” Mae chuckled, “Now, how about that lunch?”

Mae made the error of taking them to the restaurant where she had first taken Candice and Alice when Sheila had made the Second Skin offer to her. About halfway through lunch they had their pictures snapped. By evening they were all over the national press. Mae took pity on a reporter she knew would treat her fairly. She told him of her and Candice’s engagements. This accompanied the photos. When asked if there was any connection with the fact they had caught the bouquet’s Mae replied that it hadn’t occurred to her.

Sheila read the article that evening.

“I’m not normally a superstitious person, but remind me never to catch a bouquet.” she mentioned to Sally.

“Not even to catch John?” Sally asked.

“Where’s the nearest wedding?” Sheila chuckled.

“You really have to go?” Judy asked, Steve.

“Got a business to run, darling. Don’t worry. You’ll be seeing enough of me.” he said.

“I doubt that. I don’t think I could see enough of you.” she said.

“Well, you could always marry me.” Steve said.

Judy looked at him startled.

“Are you asking?” she said.

“Yes.” he said.

“Okay.” she replied, “Assuming you pass muster with the family, of course. I don’t think that’s a problem. You’ve already won Amy’s and Alice’s hearts ... and mine.”

Steven pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply.

“I guess that my business can wait a bit longer.” he said.

“Oh, no. If you’re going to support a wife you’re going to need that money.” Judy teased.

“Actually, I don’t have a flight scheduled till morning.” he said.

“Then we can consummate our engagement, but you’ll be leaving early.” Judy chuckled.

“Already a nag.” Steven said, kissing her again.

He actually did make his morning flight. Well fed on the twin’s biscuits. They all turned out to see him off. He was floating as high as his helicopter as he flew back.

Cindy read the article about Mae and Candice the next morning.

“Handsome fellows.” she commented.

“I’ll say.” Heather said, reading over her shoulder.

One of the luxuries at Camp David was a selection of morning papers.

Kevin stepped out of his cabin and picked them up. He glanced at the article.

“Oh, my.” he said, carrying the stack into the cabin.

“Oh my what?” Theresa asked.

Kevin dropped the stack before her.

“Oh my god!” Theresa gasped, “I’ve got to call them!”

“Later, it’s four in the morning out there.” Kevin chuckled.

“Oh, yeah.” she said, reading the article.

“My god they must have gotten engaged the morning after we left them.” she said.

“It would seem so. They were the pilots I saw boarding their plane at the base.” Kevin mused.

Andrea’s reactions were much the same.

Bill was just as philosophical.

“Aren’t you excited for them?” Andrea asked.

“Oh, not really excited. More interested in the men. Two more guys I’ll be sharing my wife with if the family holds true to form.” Bill chuckled.

“At the same time you’ll be sharing their wives.” Andrea chuckled.

“There is that.” Bill mused, “I wonder how many more will be involved in this. If each of you women find other guys that would make ... what? Twenty eight of us?”

“Twenty-six.” Andrea said.

“I was thinking about Cindy’s flame in Minnesota. From the way she talked I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of her.” Bill said.

“Would you mind?” Andrea asked.

“No, I came to that realization a long time ago. Before I asked you to marry me.” he said.

“Had enough biscuits?” Andrea asked.

“Yes, I’m stuffed.” he said.

“There’s more here, care to go work up an appetite to make room for them?” she demurred.

“I think that would be a swell idea. I’d better get my fill before the demands for your time go up.” Bill chuckled.

“Oh, think I’ll be that popular?” Andrea asked, opening her robe and sliding onto his lap.

“I have no doubt.” Bill said, caressing a breast as he bent to kiss her.

Later in the day Sheila called Judy at the Silo.

“Ready to go to work yet?” she asked.

“Sure ... he’s gone for now. We consummated our engagement last night.” Judy said.

“I’ll be dipped in a bucket of shit! I never thought I’d hear those words come out of your mouth!” Sheila said.

“My, you’re eloquent today.” Judy chuckled.

“I’m just shocked to the core. I told Sally to remind me never to catch a bouquet.” Sheila said.

“One out of three isn’t bad odds.” Judy said.

“Haven’t you talked to Mae lately?” Sheila asked.

“No, not since we got off the plane.” Judy said.

“Well, darling. Gird your lovely loins for this one; try three out of three!” Sheila said.

“Huh?” Judy asked, “What are you talking about?”

“Don’t you read the papers? ... of course not. No delivery to the Silo. Candice and Mae both got engaged the morning after our flight. To our pilots.” Sheila told her.

“Oh my god! ... They must have worked fast between Salt Lake and San Francisco. I didn’t see any sign of them before we got off the plane.” Judy said.

“Well, you’d better give her a call ... later. I’ve got some things I’d like you to do.” Sheila said.

“Sure ... oh, yeah, work. What do you need?” Judy asked, grabbing a note pad and pen.

“I need you to call all the suppliers for our machines. I need parts for two more spinners for each salon we’ve got open. Better schedule for two more each for each of the ones we’ve got scheduled to open also. Then get on the line to our personnel agency. I need at least one more operator for each salon, better make it two. But one for swing and one for graveyard. They don’t need to operate the scanners, just baby-sit the spinners. We’re going twenty-four hours a day on production. Mae brought it to my attention that her staff had figured out that one scanner could keep three spinners busy. So what we’ll do is scan a customer and design their clothes separately. So we need another computer work station for each scanner in service. You getting this?” Sheila asked.

“Yes, but hold on, let me grab my laptop.” Judy said.

It was close by. She opened it and called in a notepad.

“Okay, continue.” Judy said.

“Okay ... Mae’s doing research on a manufacture to assemble the scanners down in Silicon Valley. Get with her to co-ordinate where to ship components. Get with our Realtor and tell them to search out candidate properties in Dallas, Atlanta, L.A ... make that Beverly Hills, Seattle, Denver and Miami. Also a second location in Beverly Hills and San Francisco for another accelerated high end salon in each location. Anything you can think of?” Sheila asked.