Chapter 10

Mom was there. “That didn’t take long. I would even believe there was no hanky panky.”

Alice said, “Of course, not.” She grinned. “We did neither hanky nor panky.”

I kept my mouth shut. Alice’s statement was technically correct but looking at each through those open doors was a definite erotic view for me. I think it was for her, too.

We both helped my mother with supper preparations. When Dad came home, dinner was ready and, after Dad changed, we sat down to eat. He blessed the food and we ate.

After supper, the four of us went into the living room. Alice directed me to the couch and sat beside me very closely. She said, “What’s our schedule for tomorrow, Jerry?”

“I thought we might wash clothes for you,” I grinned, “though you will have to be naked until they finish.”

“The washing would be nice and you wish. That wish, by the way, will not be granted.”

I said, “I was afraid of that. I will need to pack both for the trip to your farm and for the tryouts. I figured we would eat breakfast here and then get on the road.”

“That sounds like a good plan. I’ll let my mom know roughly when to expect us.” She looked up at my parents and smiled. “I have appreciated your hospitality, Missus and Mister Short.”

Mom responded, “You’re very welcome, Alice. We’ve enjoyed your presence. I think Jerry has, too.”

Dad then said, “We’ve just tried to be encouraging. Jerry needs all the help he can get.” As usual, Dad didn’t change expression.

Alice grinned. “I wore a suit that gave him all the encouragement he may ever need.”

Mom added. “It was very cheeky.” Now, Alice’s blush was added to mine. It was quiet for a while and Dad turned on the TV. We watched something on the Food Network until time for the earlier news. We watched that and then all of us went to our beds.

I went into my room and removed my clothes. I put on my sleeping outfit, boxers and a tee shirt. I lay down to sleep but then heard a low noise.

I looked up and saw a ghostly white body approach my bed. It was Alice! She put her finger to my lips to stop me from uttering an exclamation. She slid under the cover next to me with our bodies touching. She whispered, “Jerry, I wanted to be close to you tonight. I don’t want anything more physical than we’ve done but wanted to feel you sleep next to me and holding me.” I could see a trembling smile. “Can we do that?”

I thought for a half moment and whispered back with a grin, “Yes, fair lady. We can do that but it will be hard.”

She grinned back. “I getting to really care for you, Jerry. I’ve never been in a bed with a guy before. I want to be held by you but don’t want us to go further.” She leaned up and kissed my lips lingeringly. It was good. While I held her close, I didn’t do anything else. What we were doing did feel good. I hoped we would lie together some more in the future. I drifted off to sleep.

I was early when Alice’s phone alarmed. We woke. She whispered, “Let’s run.” I nodded. “I’ll meet you in the kitchen in ten minutes.” I nodded.

We could have dressed more quickly but she stopped in the bathroom. I went in there immediately after she left. Returning to my room, I donned running clothes and shoes. I walked down the hall to the kitchen. Alice was there and ready. I started the coffee and wrote a note leaving it on the counter that indicated, “We’re running. A & J.” We went out the kitchen door. Holding hands, we ran down the drive to the sidewalk. We enjoyed our run. We came back inside the house to see my mother in the kitchen. Together, we said, “Good morning.”

Mother was looking at the note. She looked up. “Good morning to the two of you, too. Thanks for leaving a note, Jerry.” I smiled at her.

Alice said, “May I help with breakfast, Missus Short?”

“Thank you, Alice. I’m going to make a farmer’s omelet.” She smiled, “At least, that’s what I’ve always heard it called.”

Alice smiled. “Mom calls it a country omelet. During the summer, all the ingredients come from our farm since we butcher and cure our own ham. The veggies come from our truck garden. Jerry will find out tomorrow or Sunday.”

Mom couldn’t resist. “Do you have room for him to stay for a couple of nights?”

Alice deadpanned. “I have room in my bed for him there.”

Mom gasped. Alice exclaimed. “Gotcha!”

We all laughed though Mom was a little uneasy. Alice said, “We have extra bedrooms and Jerry will be in one of those. It’s a big house though we have neither a pool nor a hot tub. We do have a small five acre pond that my brothers and I have used over the years. One of them even built a small beach area where we can lay out. One is gone now and the other works the farm but it still works for me.” She grinned. She then added, “It’s very private.”

Mom decided to ask no further questions nor elicit any comments. She busied herself with cooking. Soon, she served plates for all four of us. My Dad had come in to eat before going to the courthouse. He blessed the meal including asking for travel mercies for Alice and I.

He said, “Enjoy the weekend, Jerry. I hope the tryouts work well. I’m guessing that you’ll stop over at the farm and see Alice on your way home.”

“Thank you, Sir. I hope so, too. That is my plan if she will permit it.”

Alice just grinned. We finished eating. I gave Dad a hug. Alice gave him a hug and a kiss as did Mom. He left.

We went into our bedrooms. We each gathered clothes for washing. In the wash room, we set the first batch to washing with the rest waiting. We went out to the pool and sat back enjoying the sun.

We were wearing shorts and tee shirts. We held hands. Alice said, “We will talk while we ride. We have some things we must discuss about us privately.”

My mother came out and overheard. “You can discuss anything in front of me.”

Alice grinned. “I don’t think so.”

She looked at me for a moment. “There are things that I want to discuss that should remain private for now.”

Alice continued. “It’s good, Jerry. It is just for the two of us first. We can talk about telling others and what to tell them, also.”

I just nodded.

I could tell Mom wanted details but I don’t think we had the generalities down yet much less the details. I know I wasn’t going to discuss our sleeping arrangement from last night. I did want to talk to Alice about that.

We enjoyed the sun. I faintly heard the buzz from the washer. I said, “That’s the buzzer from the washer.” I stood and Alice stood with me. We went into the house and transferred the clothes from the washer to the dryer. I started the dryer while Alice loaded the remainder of our clothes into the washer. Our chores for clothes done, we headed back out to the pool area.