Chapter 11

Sandy sighed, and patted Patricia on the arm.

“You possibly already are that way. So what? Patricia, you are thinking along the traditional social assumptions of the last century or so. Such thinking led to World War One fiancees and widows never getting married because of a shortage of single men. If the government had relaxed the monogamy rule for a time, even for a decade, some might have found love and children in a family as a second wife. That would have been a pragmatic and very practical solution, but the politicians were afraid of the dogmatic reaction of the Church of England leaders, so this solution never came up as far as I know, and by that lack of decisiveness they condemned tens of thousands of girls to spinsterhood, just like that old lady who was murdered recently. She never got a second chance at love.”

“But...”

“To continue, the same answer applies here, due to the legal definitions of marriage. Jenny will never be formally married to Bob, and you would never formally be married to Bob if you wanted to stay permanently, so in reality, it would be a case of, on the face of it, two unmarried women having children, and that’s it. No problem in law, for no female in this example of having children is a married person; just a woman on her own. No law is broken, only cultural norms are being exceeded.”

“You are assuming that Jenny and I will decide to do this.”

“No, I am simply stating it as a possibility that is open for each of you to think about. No-one is insisting on anything. I am just offering this choice, as Bob’s wife; and Bob or one of the girls might decide to veto the idea. So might you, for that matter. Again, it is wholly up to you to decide on your future, not me deciding.

All I demand at this time is that you give serious thought to the job offer, and later decide what you want to come from it. You can remain at your own house if you wish, but if you take up the job in charge of the nursery, we have a large enough house that a room can be vacant for you to occupy. This is a big house; we planned it that way, to allow for children growing up and wanting their own space. For you, it would then let you save on your current house costs, as a bonus. You may be able to rent it out to another family, as a source of personal income. Think about it, Patricia.”

Patricia thought for a long moment, then asked Sandy, “Are you going to say the same things to Jenny?”

“More or less the same, except for the house part. I can do that, or you can talk it over with her, by yourself, and come to an amicable agreement about what you each want to aim for. Let me know which you prefer.”

“Now, today?”

“No, Patricia; whenever you feel ready. There is no rush for anything. Take your time; it is your life and requires full consideration.”

Patricia ended the discussion with, “uhh ... thanks, Sandy. You are a good wife to Bob, and you have made of him a good husband.”

“He is a good husband to all of us, a good husband and father; that I can confirm.”

“If everything you say is completely true, I expect to say yes to everything, and I expect Jenny will too. I will speak with her about it.”

With that, she left Sandy to deal with other matters.

Next day, Jenny came to me straight from her nursery duties and confronted me with a startling statement. “My mother says I should get you to fuck me until I get pregnant for definite, and then have your baby. Is she right about that? I have shortened her words to the essentials, but that is what it boils down to. Have I got it right?”

I told her, “Well, if that is what you would like, then the answer could be yes. It is always up to you. You could live here and learn to become one of the family, and find out if you can love me for the years to come. I would like to see our child, or children, grow up here.

Financially, you would have all essential costs met, including new clothes and so on, and a few extras that you feel you should have. Sandy is the judge of what you girls can spend; she holds the purse strings. As a mere man, I don’t know what is essential and what is simply a desire for any wife of mine, or the equivalent of a wife.”

She queried, “My mother says Sandy offered her a deal as well; sort of a job in the nursery or in the market creche, but she says it may be a job ‘with benefits’, she said. She was not clear to me about what that meant, but her tone implied sex as well. Am I right in my assumptions?”

“Again, if that is what Patricia would like, then it may come true. Would you resent your mother having her own chance of happiness?”

“It is not that, but the thought of you having sex with both me and her is what bothers me. Do you think that is acceptable?”

“I don’t know. I have already had sex with both of you, perhaps not intended, but it happened, so this is a matter of the future only. You and Patricia have to decide what will be proper for each of you. Do you think it is acceptable that I have sex with my wife Sandy and her sister Georgina?”

“They are real sisters?” Jenny was astonished.

“Yes. Georgie had a bad experience with a man she thought loved her, but he dumped her for another girl. When I and Sandy decided to get married, Sandy wondered if Georgie might want to have a good man as a second partner within our marriage. For some unclear reason she already had me slotted into that category. She brought up the suggestion with Georgie, and she in turn decided to give it try. It worked, and both of them have my children, as you may have spotted. So do you think sex with two sisters is fine? You see the result. If you don’t find that objectionable, then sex with a mother and daughter might also be fine? What do you think?”

“I am not sure. What will be the effect on them? Will they be happy, do you think?”

I liked the way this was turning. “In essence, generally yes; it is about whether each is happier as a result of their own decisions. Note: THEIR decisions. If you are happy joining us, and Patricia is happy as well, where is the problem?”

“But you want me to have your baby! Do you want Mum to have your baby as well?”

“She is already expecting my baby, I suspect, so that horse has bolted, thus the question is moot. You each have to decide for yourselves what the future holds, for that is entirely up to you ladies, and not to me. Do you object to your mother making a sister or brother for you?”

“No. It is you fathering children on both of us that I find ... disturbing, Bob!”

“Ah. You would have no trouble accepting your mother’s body getting sperm from another man, then?”

“I suppose not.” She was starting to get confused. Excellent.

“So it boils down to the actual source of the male sperm, and nothing to do with your mother being happy? Her happiness is less important than the contributor?”

“Of course it isn’t. I want her to be happy. She deserves happiness after all she went through.”

“But not happy with me, you mean? You alone get to choose who she is allowed to be happy with? Not her?”

“Stop it! You are just confusing me, Bob. I want to be happy with you as my partner; me!”

“You; plus Sandy, and Georgie, and Janet, and Carol and Phyllis. You have to be happy with them as well, so why not Patricia?”

“But she is my mother!”

“Yes. Is there any logical reason for that to make a difference? I am not genetically related to either of you, or any other kind of connection, am I?”

“You keep changing the subject!”

“No, I don’t. We have remained on the one subject all the time, which is your objections to your mother having sex and being happy. You think you should decide for her. Do you want her to make up her own mind about who to have sex with? It is surely totally up to her to make that decision; not me, not you. No-one is forcing either of you to do anything against your will. All we are forcing you to do is make a decision for yourselves.”

Jenny gave up arguing, and just stared at me for a while. I suggested, “Treat it as two different decisions: one by you, and one by her. You have a familial relationship, but so have Sandy and Georgie, and both are happy. Ask them yourself, if you doubt my word.”

Jenny just shrugged, and wordlessly stomped off to deal with something else, or think some more.

It was the next day that Georgie wanted to speak with me, but she asked me to come to her agency at lunchtime to ensure privacy. I was unsure of her possible reasons, but Georgie always thought before she acted, so I did as asked. I drove down to the town centre and walked from the car park to her agency. I tapped the front door glass, and she soon let me in once she heard the noise.

After a quick kiss of welcome, and a friendly feel of her bum, I asked her, “What’s your problem, Georgie? Something that needs privacy, you said.”

“Yes. Sandy’s behaviour is slightly worrying.”

“Saandy? Worrying? What’s she done, and when?”

I was bemused at the unexpected suggestion. This had caught me unawares.

She explained, “Sandy has been fine for the last year or two, but she is back at her attempts to expand your harem, sort of.”

I stared at this accusation from Georgie. “But it is not a harem, my love. You girls are all with me and Sandy because you want to be. There is no compulsion or pressure of any sort.”

“Ah, but there is. It is simply not obvious. Sandy decides, by herself, who might be worthy of being one of your women, and arranges things so it comes about. You hardly notice her doing this, for you love her so much, as I know so well. She is always your number one woman, but I am happy that this is so, for I get my own benefit. The other aspect is that it is obvious that you can afford to maintain any number of women within the family. That is a tacit invitation for any woman invited to join: the thought that cash worries will vanish once you join our family.”

I quibbled, “Are you positive this is not you unconsciously viewing your position as being undermined by us adding more women?”

“No. Sandy probably does not realise she is doing this bit of control, but with every additional woman, Sandy becomes a more powerful matriarch, running our expanding family empire. You note how she finances new business ventures to assist one or more wives? That financial help ties them, commits them even more to a long-term life with us.”

“Yes, that happens, but why must it be wrong? The same thing happens with any family, where the man starts a business and the family members gradually take over the running of it. This is just the same but in a wider context.”

Georgie went on, “Then there are the children. It was her idea to have each new addition get pregnant and become more enmeshed in our social unit. She is applying this to Patricia and Jenny as well. Must pregnancy be a rule for entry? It doesn’t have to be, you know.”

“Eh? You think we should not insist on such a rule? In fact, do we really apply that?”

“No. We don’t actually do that: have a specific rule. You don’t use contraceptives, my love, so the unstated assumption is that no-one will use them, unless we want a long break between babies, and there we discuss it first. The fact is not stated as a rule; they are just informed that we don’t use contraceptives, so if you join us, you accept that as a normal practice in the family.

Roman Catholics avoid contraceptives not as an accepted standard, but for religious dogma. The practice usually leads to pregnancy, as you are fully aware. I wondered if you had thought about this more recent development with Sandy.”

I admitted, “I tend to drift along, content to let my wonderful wife run our finances and family. I have my job at your father’s place, and my occupation as a sort of property salesman. It keeps me busy and out of you girls’ hair during the day. I love your company of an evening; any or all of you, for you are all delightful women to be with. On top of that, I enjoy making love with my ladies, and I thoroughly enjoy my children. I want to do my best for them, and for all you girls.”

“Okay. Let it be, then, but keep my words in mind. I love my little sister, and I love you to bits, but I don’t want us to run into an unneeded problem in future. Promise me you won’t participate in garnering another girl into our little group, without a lot of soul-searching, Bob.”

“You don’t want me to stop Patricia or Jenny if they ask to join? I think it is a little late for that to come up, if Patricia is already expecting.”

“I agree. It is too late to intervene. It would be unfair to them, so as and when either asks to join our family, I will not object. I don’t think your other wives regard themselves as in a position to overrule a decision made by you and Sandy. For these girls it is unthinkable, as the pair of you are heroes to them.”

“I see. Yes, your wisdom is unassailable, Georgie love. In future, you and I will watch out for this and do our best to avoid it. We can probably use our wealth to help women with problems, without involving ourselves directly in their lives, if at all possible.”

“Thanks, my darling man. You are nothing if not a reasonable man; a good husband to me and father to all our children. Sandy means well, but can be overcome by her matriarchal inclinations.”

The antiques market shortly had a reputation for excellence in its operation and potential for sales, combined with the attached extras which boosted its attractiveness. Its cafe section also became a popular venue for social gatherings of small groups, due to its high quality fare and staff friendliness. The creche aided this too, for young mothers’ groups found it invaluable in freeing them for adult chats while keeping the youngsters nearby, should there be any problems. Our own family nursery continued with lots of help from Patricia, while Jenny spent more time with Naomi at the market creche, and a small amount of her time assisting her mother here.

This continued for a month or so, developing into a routine pattern as the market continued to flourish. It was Jenny who first remarked on a change in Patricia, telling her, “Mum, you are looking bright and chirpy these days. Is it because you are free of Dad?”

“In part, I expect so, Jenny, but the other day I paid a visit to our GP, and he now tells me that I have been confirmed as pregnant. You are going to have a brother or sister in another nine months.”

Jenny gaped at Patricia, and stammered, “But ... You are so ... so much ... older. You can’t be having a baby!”

“Jennifer, I not only am able to have a baby, I AM having a baby! I should have thought you’d be delighted to have a baby in the family.”

“Mmm, yes, but I thought it would be me.”

“Oh? Have you and Bob been practising having sex?”

“A few times, I admit, because I wanted to learn about various positions for sex, and Bob was able to show me what he had learned from his wives. He has learned a lot, and I like it!”

“In that case, dear, I suggest you consult the doctor as well, and get him to run the tests. I have noticed you having a sort of glow about you that suggests pregnancy.”

Jenny shot a hand up to cover her mouth, and stared at her mother. “Oh, God! I’ll do that right away, Mum. But, if you are pregnant, it must have been that you had sex with Bob, that night you spent in his bed. No-one else is possible as the father, is there?”

“None. Bob it is then, my dear. Get checked out, and if you are expecting Bob’s baby as well, we can celebrate together.”

“Celebrate? Both of us having Bob’s baby? Really?”

“Dearest daughter, I have given this much thought over the past weeks. I think we should accept life as it is, and not necessarily what we might have preferred in the past. The same applies to your father. By his criminal actions he gave up on being a husband and father. We both have to look to the future, and motherhood seems to be arriving as part of that future.”

“Yes, Mum. I am quite aware of that now. What, then?”

“From my point of view, I would like my baby to be brought up with his mother and father, if somewhat unconventionally. You might take the same view of the future, for the sake of your child. Bastard children are still frowned upon in society, remember.”

“But neither of us can marry Bob, legally!”

“That has not stopped Bob’s other wives, Jennifer. They act as if he is their genuine husband, at school or anywhere else, and so their children are treated as normal children, not freaks.”

“You mean it? How can we both be seen as wives of Bob McIntyre? It is so odd to think that way.”

“Well, I can continue to use my married surname, and allow people to assume your father got me pregnant before he was caught by the police and arrested.”

“But the timings are wrong, aren’t they?”

“And who is going to do all these calculations, when it is easier to simply accept my baby as fathered by my husband?”

“It will still seem odd that we are both having babies around the same time,” Jenny voiced her concern.

“It is not that uncommon, dear. Roman Catholic women have babies into their forties, so one of their daughters having a baby around the same time is perfectly normal. I am young enough that it needn’t even be my last, if I am lucky.”

“What? You want Bob to give you another baby?”

“Until my menopause prevents it, is the way I am thinking. It is probably my only chance for other children. I always hated you being an only child, and if I can have one or even two more, that would be lovely.”

“Goodness. I don’t want to be in your way, Mum, if that’s how you are thinking. If I am pregnant, should I have my baby then look for another man to marry me, and so avoid complications?”

“If you want, Jennifer, but there is no rush for such decisions. You have nearly a year to decide what is best for you. Should you want to go looking for a man of your own, your baby can be mine to look after, to make it easy for you. I would happily do that for you. A girl who already has a child is less of a catch for most men.”

“You are a wonderful Mum; wanting the best for me. But what if the best for me is to join Carol in this family, and do my best to make amends for what Dad did to her? She was my best friend, and I still want her to be that, and help her as I can.”

“First things first, Jenny. Make that doctor’s appointment; get the GP to do the test and find if you are expecting or not. After that, we can have a more informed discussion about the future.”

“Mum, maybe you can help me. Sandy said that all the wives have to agree before any new woman can join the family. Can you see if you can find out how they are viewing us?”

“I already know they are kind and considerate, from my experience with them, but this is a much more important decision, as it affects their lives as well as ours.”

“But you can ask them, can’t you?”

“I wouldn’t want to appear too pushy, Jennifer. That can sometimes seem offensive, so you have to be careful in how you approach people. Leave it with me, and if I get an opportunity, I will find how they feel about us.”

Jenny’s medical check proved that she was indeed pregnant, and that information quickly spread among the McIntyre wives. Georgie decided to sound them out, and found that with Carol’s keen advocacy, Jenny would be an acceptable addition. Patricia’s position was not so fortunate, in that they regarded her as an outsider who might be having a baby, but that in itself didn’t qualify her to join the family. Being older also gave them the idea that she might want to act as the senior mother. It took Sandy’s steady pressure to amend things slightly. She proposed that Patricia become an adjunct, able to take part in family activities, but not to be seen as equivalent in status to the wives.