Chapter 8: Families Should ... NOT ... Be Together

We were at the front desk waiting to check in when Jim called me. Mr. Jeffreys was in front of us trying to get two rooms next to each other. Cindy was glued to my side after a hug and kiss that shouldn’t have been in public. It REALLY shouldn’t have been in front of her dad.

I was just standing in line holding Cindy and waiting for my key-card. I wasn’t going to put any of my stuff in my room. It was all still in the truck because I wanted it all with me at the Portal, but Nell wanted to put her bag in her room. Which should be next to mine, if possible. I had to step away to a quieter corner to take the call. Somehow, Cindy came with me.

“This is Sam.”

“Sam, Jim. I got your message, and I’ll go by that place while your team is in the Portal. I wanted to talk to you about training. Have you received anything from Georgia?”

“Yes, and I’ve been trying to talk to Mr. Jeffreys about it first. If he’s not interested then we can’t go much further.”

“Can’t one of you, maybe you or Eric, lead that training?”

“Yes, or Margie. Margie might be best. However, it would be accepted better from Mr. Jeffreys. He is a veteran combat Marine. There may be people who know more about the quarterstaff than him, but he’s also teaching us the philosophy side of being a warrior. Us kids need that just as much as the mechanical skills. I’m going to talk to him as soon as we are done checking into the hotel.”

“Okay. I should be there before you go into the Portal.”

“Oh, good. See you then!”

By that time Mr. Jeffreys was done checking in. He walked over to us, handing Cindy a card and telling us “Family conference in my room as soon as Nell gets your rooms.” Then he walked away, shaking his head.

I asked Cindy “Is this good or bad?”

“He doesn’t seem angry, just exasperated. And he didn’t kill you. That’s a good sign.”

“That’s always a good sign. Unless he has plans to use me for entertainment later.”

“No, he’s past that. He’s accepted that you’re his best bet to get me out of the house.”

“You think he knows about Nell?”

“He might. He’s acting like he’s had to swallow a lemon, but he’s not mad at you. And, it’s not me, either, so it’s Mom, Grandma, or Sally.”

It turned out to be all three.

It looked like everyone involved was on the same floor. Mr. Jeffreys and Cindy had two rooms next to each other, and Nell and I had two rooms next to each other on the other side of the hall just a bit farther down. Cindy went in her room for a second just to make sure it was okay, then followed us to our rooms. Nell dropped her bag in her room and then joined us in mine.

She closed the door to find me and Cindy as close together as we could get with clothes on. She said “Fine, but I’m next. And we have to talk to Aaron.”

I asked “Do you know what that’s about?”

She shook her head. “Either me or Sally. Come on, let’s get it over with.”

I nodded, gave Cindy another squeeze, and let go of her. Then I popped her butt a little, because she wasn’t letting go of me. “Come on, honey, it’ll only hurt until we die.”

Once we were all moving I led them out into the hall and down to Mr. Jeffreys’ room and knocked on it. After a few seconds he opened it and waved us in, then told us to get comfortable. We needed to talk and plan. This could be quick, or it could take a while.

He sat on one of the beds, so I sat on the other one facing him. Cindy sat next to me, not quite in my lap. Nell sat on my other side, well within my personal space but not as close as Cindy. Cindy grabbed my hand and held it.

Am I supposed to start? “Cindy said you were acting like you were aggravated about something, but you don’t have a gun in your hand so I’m hoping I’m part of the solution and not part of the problem. What’s up?”

“Like most difficult problems, it’s people. As you may have noticed, I have four women living with me. My wife and I have had our share of fights, but I’m pretty sure we have fewer problems than most couples. And, I accept that sooner or later my daughters will point at some worthless bastard and say “Dad, I want THAT one.” That’s fine, learning from your mistakes is part of growing up. However, I’m getting that from both daughters and they’re pointing at the same man.”

“What’s making it worse is that my wife’s mother has been living with us for the last year, and it’s been difficult at times to ignore her advances. While I wouldn’t have any personal problems welcoming them, my wife is determined to not share me with another woman. Thankfully, she’s been able to point her mother at another man and for the last week or so our house has been a lot calmer.”

“The problem is, as near as I can tell, my wife pointed her mother at the same man as the one both of my daughters are after. I don’t think that Sally has noticed yet, but she’s going to go ballistic when she realizes that Cindy won’t share her man with her, but she is sharing her man with their grandmother. Now, what I really want is to be reassured that I’m completely wrong, I’m NOT seeing what I’m seeing. Failing that, I need some suggestions on what to do about Sally before she kills one of us. Or one of us kills her.”

I looked at Cindy. She looked at me. I just raised my eyebrows. “This is something you’re going to have to say. It won’t be believable coming from anyone else.”

“Yes, Sam. Daddy, Sam is going to be my man. We haven’t sealed the deal yet, we’re waiting for some things to happen first, but there’s no doubt in my mind. And, I’m going to make sure there are never any doubts in his mind, either. However, we’re both young. We have to finish high school, maybe go to college if we can afford it, and then we’ll both have to work to pay the bills. How can we raise children if we’re both working all the time?”

“Now, I happen to know a woman who really needs a man to focus her life on. She’s a wonderful friend and I would trust her with anything. She’s older, too, so she’s no threat to our marriage. But, she’s done it all before. If she were to live with us, we’d have access to her skills, her experience, her knowledge, her advice. Her help taking care of the house and our children.”

“If I have to let her get close to my husband to get her help, they aren’t cheating. I gave them permission from the start. When I have a headache, or I’m sick, or I’m staying up with a sick child, or I come home exhausted from work, I don’t have to worry about my husband going out and cheating with some whore who wants to steal him from me because I’m not taking care of him the way I should. I can do what I need to do, knowing that my best friend is taking care of my obligations. All I ask is that I be first in his heart. I can let her be second.”