Chapter 4

Howie was up at daybreak and out running on the road. By seven he was in the Fitness Center. Brooke joined him everyday there. She used the Nordic track. Brooke studied after she exercised.

Howie only had one final, and that was in Investments. He had an A average as did Dorothy. They both didn't need to study. Howie was so interested, because of the Kiowa trust, that he went way beyond what was required. Dorothy hung on for the ride. Dorothy was one of the few women in the business major and by far the best looking one, so she got plenty of attention. And she was smart and competitive.

After he exercised, he went to the student union café.

Howie saw Dorothy at the union café. "Are you going to Myrtle Beach for senior week?" (Seniors traditionally went to Myrtle Beach the week between finals and graduation.)

"Mike is going home to meet my parents, then we are going to Virginia to meet his," she said.

"Are you nervous?" Howie asked.

She nodded.

"Smile and be nice to Mike. If Mike likes you, that's all they want. And he is damn lucky to get near you."

"Howie, I missed. What if I am pregnant? We weren't careful there at the end," she said.

"What do you want to do? We could take my kids and go to Oklahoma," Howie said.

"Thank you. I know you mean it, but no. I'll wait and talk to Mike if I have to. If I had a blond kid, Mike would know," she said.

Howie took her hand. "If you ever need me, unless I physically can't move, I will come. And I will always have a place for you."

He gave her a kiss just as Mike rounded the corner.

Howie said, "The tour of the parents. Good luck to both of you."

Mike asked, "Don't you have to study?"

"In my writing and art classes, I already have my grades. In Investments, I think we can make twelve and get an A. So, I don't have to study."

"I do. I am hoping to get Phi Beta Kappa," Mike said.

"Next to Dorothy, that would be the most worthwhile reason to work hard for around here," he said.

"Thanks. What are you doing?" Mike asked

"I am getting packed to go to Oklahoma. I think Brooke is going with me," he said.

Dorothy asked, "Are you coming to graduation?"

"I wouldn't miss graduation or the wedding," Howie said.

"Can we eat together tonight?" Mike asked Dorothy.

"Dining Hall?" she asked.

He kissed her lightly.

"Dorothy is going to get FIJI on PDA(public display of affection) probation," Howie said.

Mike smiled and waived as he walked away.

Dorothy said, "Like FIJI would care.

"Are you really taking Brooke to Oklahoma? I mean, it isn't exactly the main line," she asked.

"Better for her to find out now. Oklahoma is always going to be a part of me," Howie said.

Dorothy said, "Howie, you need to give a girl a chance to get to know you before you hit her with something like that. Were you afraid that she or I would stay? Is that why you unloaded on us?"

"I honestly don't know. I know I was, oh hell, am, crazy about you. Hearing you talk in class sent goose bumps down my back. Giving you up was the hardest thing I ever had to do, but I knew, and you knew, it was the right thing to do," Howie said.

Tears were streaming down her face and Howie wasn't dry eyed.

She put out her hand and Howie took it.

"Would you be glad if I were pregnant?" she asked.

"Hell yes, but I would be almost as glad if you weren't," he said.

"Crazy, but I think I understand. God, I feel almost the same," she said.

He smiled and wiped his eyes.

She asked, "Do you want to go back to the studio?"

He grimaced and shook his head. "If we did, I would lock you up and never let you come back."

She nodded. "Now, I understand you. Why did it take so long?"

He said, "You are one up on me there."

She grabbed his arm and pulled it against her breast.

"Howie, I love you. And I appreciate that you will be there for me no matter what, no matter when. I think that is why I love you so much, well and that you can ring all my bells(very softly), not that I have had all that much experience mind you," she said.

"You can teach Mike all he needs to know. And he loves the ground you walk on. If you don't love him back, I will be very disappointed in you," Howie said.

"You mean like I love you," she said.

"No, I mean even more. I mean totally and without reservation," he said.

"I would have loved you that way if you would have let me," she said.

"Exactly."

"Speaking of loving you, where is my little sister?"

"She is studying. She wants to make her parents proud too," Howie said.

"How are you going to handle all her money?" Dorothy asked.

"I have more than she does," he said.

"But it isn't really yours," she said.

"It is really mine. But I think of it as Kiowa money. That is why it is mine, because it doesn't make any difference to me," he said.

"You lost me there," she said.

"I am comfortable with it and don't need it. And I don't need hers either," he said.

"You know that she senses that and he father knows too," she said.

"I have never met her father. How could he know?"

"Maybe you aren't the only one who knows things and sees things," she said.

"Possible. I love you and I am going to love Brooke. I feel it," he said.

"Am I going to love Mike?" she said.

"If you give yourself to him totally, you will. And you will get back more than you gave," he said.

"Do you know if I am pregnant? Is that something you can see?" she asked.

He said, "I have no idea. I know that we can handle it if you are or if you aren't."

Dorothy said, "Here comes Brooke."

Howie put his arm around Brooke's waist, "Hi. Dorothy is about to do the meet the parents thing."

"It's not that bad. I already met yours and your kids too," Brooke said.

Dorothy said, "I never got to meet the kids."

Brooke said, "They are precious."

"Well said," Howie smiled.

"They are. I don't think they are any kin to him," she said.

"One isn't blood kin. But she is mine just the same," he said.

Brooke said, "Come home with me. They already know all about you."

Dorothy said, "If she will go to Oklahoma with you, you should be able to tough it out on the dangerous main line."

"These know it all seniors. Don't you just hate them?" he asked.

Brooke replied, "No, and you don't either."

"When do you want to go?" Howie asked.

Dorothy made an imaginary snapping motion (pussy whipped) and smiled.

Brooke said, "I have reconsidered. You are right. They are know it alls."

They all smiled.

Brooke said, "I will call my mom tonight. Do you want to bring Princess and Warrior?"

"No, but when they come here, I want them to meet the kids," he said.

Brooke looked at him and said, "Neither one of us is ashamed or want to hide the kids. One day they will be my kids too."

Howie kissed her.

Dorothy said, "PDA. Freshmen. This college has gone to hell."

Howie said, "We are really going to miss you."

Brooke said, "Really, really miss you."

Dorothy said, "Don't do that to me. I have go freshen up. Why weren't you around when I was a freshman?"

"Freshmen are more advanced these days," Howie said.

"Go to hell," she said and smiled. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do?"

Brooke said, "You mean, like study."

"Give them a pin and they turn into monsters," Dorothy said and left.

"What were you talking about?" Brooke asked.

"Dorothy is a little nervous about meeting the Helms," he said.

"Are you nervous about mine? You don't have to go," she said.

"I told her that if she liked Mike, the Helms would like her. That and not to let a tit flop out," Howie said.

"You are gross. You didn't really say that," she said.

"I told her to love Mike," he said.

"And my parents?"

"They will see that I am crazy about you," he said.

"Not that you love me," she said.

"Right now, I think they would prefer crazy about you."

"Mom knows everything," she said.

"It's dad and little girls," he said.

"You don't really have to go," she said.

"I would like to meet your parents," he said.

"Liar," she said.

"Okay, I would rather stay in the rack with you all week," he said.

"So would I, but I would feel better if you met them before we go to Oklahoma," she said.

"Do they know about Oklahoma?" he asked.

"Mom and I already talked about where ever you go, I will follow stuff," she said.