Chapter 2

August 27, 2018 (Monday)

I met Beth in the W this afternoon to tell her about my plans for the next nearly 1.5 months. I have only rarely been anything like this nervous talking with our daughter, and all of those few such times were a direct result of my previous infidelity of sex.

“Beth, thanks for coming over.”

“Mom, you’re my ... mom. I think it’s understood that moms can order their children to do things. However, I’ll always come when you need me. Without you ... and Dad, I wouldn’t have the incredible life I have. What can I do for you?”

“You can be understanding. That’s what I need most from you.”

Beth’s mien turned serious immediately and it appeared that she girded her loins.

“It has nothing ... mostly nothing to do with you or your family, your LA family. This entirely deals with me as a ... person, as a ... woman.”

I briefly explained about meeting Arman and our business dealings together, although I omitted the most recent business dealings. Beth is incredibly bright and jumped to the point.

“You’re going to start a ... sexual relationship with him?”

I’ve told myself many, many times not to be surprised at Beth getting to the crux of a subject with very few of the data. Somehow, I cannot seem to remember that when those times arrive. I stared, probably open-mouthed, at her for a few moments, then breathed deeply to settle myself.

“In essence, yes. Charlie has encouraged me, as you might have guessed. However, this ... relationship will not be a chance-met, catch-as-catch-can relationship. I ... leave in a few days to ... live with him until early mid-October.”

Beth is rarely bamboozled by new data, as she usually anticipates so much so accurately. That feature may well be the one that most impresses me, but I took advantage of her not managing it this time, took advantage of her speechlessness, momentary as it might be.

“I’m not in love with the man, but I ... You might say I’m fully in lust with him, and that is as good an explanation as there is. The company needs a temporary replacement for a branch manager going on maternity leave. I suspect that ... Arman, that’s his name ... suggested to someone higher in the bank that I fill that need. Apparently, the assistant manager there is simply not ready, and my assistant is quite capable and I’m sure the company is looking at this as an opportunity for him to have experience with day-to-day operational decisions. I leave on Thursday for Santa Fe and will be there until about Columbus-Native Americans’ Day.”

I waited out Beth’s continued surprise, although that wait was short.

“I can certainly see how the company is whacking multiple birds with that, but, despite how I live my own life, I’m ... having trouble ... digesting this change in your life. Mom, I love you. I couldn’t have the life I have if it weren’t for you. I’ll get over this ... uncertainty, particularly as Dad, as I would have expected, encouraged you. It’s just...” She shook her head hard, then said, “You surprised me. I suspected you’d be happy taking advantage of any of our guys, but this sort of thing was not on my radar.”

I let her stare into my eyes for a few moments, and then she said, “Mom, I love you. If this is something you want, I’m happy for you. I know we don’t ... interact as much as you’d like, but it’s not that I don’t want to see you, talk with you more. You know I find it difficult to delegate, although Meka’s been leading us, and well, for a while, now, so maybe I’m getting better. However, cat-herding is entirely too time-consuming. I love my family so very much, but I think it’s taught me something about raising children. I don’t know how you and Dad put up with me.”

I chuckled at her, then told her, “Dear, you weren’t all that difficult. Too tenacious at times, but you matured quite early, and you know how few problems you’ve caused us after you turned 10 or 11.”

“I tried, Mom.”

“And succeeded beyond any imagining. Honey, you’re herding so many more cats than I’d ever try to tackle, and I wonder if my position at the bank may be less taxing than yours as the matriarch over there. Honey, I know you want ... everything, but no one can have everything her heart desires.”

“I know, Mom. Rather, my mind knows that. My heart? That’s another question.”

I almost hinted to her about our “big project,” but managed to keep it behind my teeth. Charlie and I know she’s incredibly curious about what the project is, about what project keeps both Kai (one of the Las Amadas) and Emma Crewe’s mom, Tasha, working in the W Monday through Friday.

“I’ve told Charlie he needs to grab more LA time while I’m gone ... or something. Nira is going to ... I forget which one, but one of the bigger telescopes, in early October, and that will overlap with a short trip Inez is taking. This is just a suggestion, but maybe you could ask Carol to spend at least some of that time in the J.”

“I think we can manage that. I assume you’ve told Liya all that. Yes?”

“Of course.” I continued, “I have just one more request of you. Oh, and a question.” When she nodded, I asked, “Are you going to join us Wednesday?”

“As of now, yes. We might bring a large contingent.” I am sure my eyes must have been shining at her words, as she added, “Crewe is joining us, and she hopes to get some Charlie time. I know you’ll love that.”

“That is good news. I’ll probably hover because it’s been a while since Charlie’s had a new lover.”

“I figured.” She smiled and added, “She’s looking forward to it.”

“Great! Would you, and only you, be able to join us for dinner tomorrow night?”

She frowned and looked internally, then answered, “I think so. What’s up?”

“We’re having family company tomorrow, and we’d like you to be there. It’s not really Rhee/Gracey/Liya company, so that’s why we’d like just you to join us.”

“Okay.”

I asked her to arrive a bit before 5:00 and we finished our conversation.

28 August 2018 (Tuesday)

I had made sure my wives were all home before Charlie this afternoon. Carol, who has rather extensive flexibility at her job, was able to manage that easily. Inez and Nira had to move some things around, but we were all home before 4:15 and putting together a special dinner for a special guest. I arrived home first and dealt with the asparagus that we would wrap inside a combination of slices of turkey breast, ham, and bacon. As my wives rolled the asparagus inside sets of the three rolled-up meats and then fried the rolls in skillets, I whipped up the Dijon-mayonnaise dressing and prepared the dinner table.

I love my wives. We work together in the kitchen so well and have fun doing it. Sometimes, I wish the three would allow me to support them so they would not have to work. Carol has been considering it. I have not asked the other two as they both have developing careers in their individual portions of science and are quite happy with that development, particularly Nira, who is becoming an important contributor to cosmology.

Dinner was just about ready when Beth walked in the back door shortly before 5:00. Less than five minutes later, our doorbell rang. My wives knew who was at the door, but Beth did not, and she put on a slightly puzzled mien. I managed to keep my mirth behind my eyes, although she did follow me to the front door.

At the door was a woman slightly shorter than I am, so quite a few inches shorter than Beth. She has wavy gray-black hair and striking hazel-green eyes on a nearly elfin face of a somewhat darker skin tone than Inez’s.

“Janice! Come in. I’d like you to meet someone you should have met years ago, but we never made it happen. Janice, this is our daughter, Beth. Beth, this is Janice Trindade, the former math department secretary, recently elevated into the university admin.”

Quick side note: Janice’s surname is Portuguese and is pronounced “Treen-dah-zhee.”

Beth’s eyes went huge, and she seemed to have lost her tongue.

Janice chuckled at Beth’s reaction, and I said, “Daughter Dearest, you’ll catch flies with that mouth. And the answer to the question you’re dying to ask but won’t is...”

Janice cut me off by giggling, then asking, “May I tell her? You said she’s aware of the ... history. Right?” When I nodded, she turned to Beth and said, “Do you know of the ... sexual tension between your father and me?”