Chapter 18

We had Walt drive us in the Limo to the airport to pick up Carmen, but thought it best if the girls wait at the house in case Carmen wanted to meet with Megan first. Walt let us off at the International Terminal at SFO and found an out of the way spot to park while we waited for Patricia's sister to clear customs. She came alone this time, and I was disappointed not to get another chance to see her kids and Sam.

As she emerged from customs, I called Walt and by the time we got to the curb, he was just pulling up. After a brief peck on the cheek from Carmen, I was pretty much ignored by the ladies as Patricia told Carmen the latest news.

"How does she look, Patricia?" Carmen asked, "What kind of person is she?"

"She's a beautiful, mostly well-adjusted young lady," Patricia answered, "but she's had a lot of really serious issues dropped on her in a very short period of time, and has never been very secure about her sex. She's attending Stanford, and, at least until all this happened, was, I believe, doing well. I haven't asked recently. Actually, you may have met her the last time you were here."

"The young red-haired friend of Felicia's?" she asked.

"The very same."

"I only saw her a time or two," she mused, "we never really got introduced. I wish I had known!"

"Don't we all, Sis!" Patricia replied.

"And her name is Jennifer?" Carmen was hanging on every word.

"Yes, but she introduces herself as 'Jenny'," her sister replied, "so that's what we call her. She's been hanging around a lot since her parents, that is, Lenny and Megan, got divorced. We offered her a place to stay the other day when Lenny died, since Megan has been drinking a lot."

"Don't tell me - you and Gary decided to 'comfort' her in your bed, and that's when you discovered..." Carmen didn't get to finish the sentence.

"Actually, no." Patricia said, "We happened to walk in on her, thinking she would still be asleep, and her morning erection was poking its head out of her panties. It was she who sent Felicia to ask Gary... I hope you don't mind. She is, after all, above the age of consent, and we thought it best..."

"Mind what?" Carmen asked.

"She asked if Gary would be her first man," Patricia said, gazing intently at her sister's expression, "and we consented. I'm afraid, as of yesterday, she's no longer a virgin."

Carmen burst out laughing, "Mind?! Why would I mind? Every young girl, especially those made like us, should have a Gary, or someone like him, for their first!"

"Well," Patricia continued, relieved, "Your daughter certainly seemed to enjoy HER first time!"

"Wait, let me guess!" Carmen said, "You watched the whole thing!"

"Well, most of it!" my wife replied, "I was, um, otherwise occupied for some of the time. But, enough about Jenny. You'll meet her very soon, and I'm sure she'll steal your heart as she has ours. I spoke briefly with her mother when we took Jenny to pick up her things..."

"Megan?" Carmen asked anxiously, "How is she? Does she remember me?"

"She's had a rough time, too, Carmen." Patricia answered, taking her sister's hands, "She and her husband had only recently gone through a divorce, then he died in a plane crash, and, well, she hasn't handled it well, I'm afraid. She's going into rehab tomorrow for alcohol dependency."

"Oh no!" Carmen clearly felt something, still, for Megan. "I hope she's going to be alright! Is there any way that I can see her before she goes in?"

"That was my next question, dear sister," Patricia smiled, "I've already asked her if she'd like to, so we'll swing by there on the way home.

I gave Walt the address through the intercom and soon we were sliding to a stop in front of the Erikson residence. We hadn't made it up the walk to the front door when it opened and Megan emerged, looking better than she the day before, but wearing a worried look.

"Carmen?" she queried, "Is it really you?"

"Megan!" Carmen replied, taking a quick step forward, then stopping, unsure.

Patricia and I hung back, ready to offer support if needed or return to the car if privacy seemed warranted.

"I wasn't sure you would want to see me again..." Megan said. "Can you ever forgive me?"

"There's nothing to forgive, Megan." Carmen replied softly. "I finally came to the realization that you did what you thought was best for everyone. I can't fault you for that."

"I can!" Megan said bitterly. "I chose what I thought was security over... over you! Why didn't you tell me your family was rich? It would have made things so much easier!"

"I couldn't!" Carmen cried, "I needed you to love ME! Even as desperately as I wanted you to choose me, I knew that it had to be ME not my family's money, or it would have been empty and meaningless!"

Jenny's mother nodded, crushed. "I know. I know. I DID love you Carmen! But... Oh HELL! I thought I was going places, and I couldn't see myself getting there with a, a... hermaphrodite!"

Carmen said nothing for a long moment, but stood there, dejected. To my surprise, she squared her shoulders, walked up the steps to where Megan stood and embraced her.

"And now, Red?" she asked softly, "How do you feel now?"

The redhead sobbed and clung to Carmen for dear life. It was a long time before she could speak.

"I f-feel like a goddamn fool!" she finally cried. "You were the b-best thing that ever came into my l-life, and I threw you away like some kind of trash! Can you ever forgive me?"

"Already done, Red." This was a stronger, more assured Carmen than the one I had met just out of therapy. Her time in the Islands had done wonders for my wife's twin! She was acting more like Patricia now.

"Look," she continued, "why don't you come with us. I've got to get changed and get something to eat that wasn't heated in a microwave at thirty thousand feet. We'll talk things over, and see where we go from here."

"I'm supposed to check into a rehab clinic tomorrow..." Megan said.

"We'll see that you get there on time." Carmen said. "If you're already packed, why don't you bring your bags with you, and we can leave from our house. You and I have a lot of ground to cover in a very short time, and I'd rather start over a full meal. Besides, I still need to meet my daughter!"

"Okay." Megan replied meekly, "Will you wait here? Please? T-the house is a mess, and, well, just wait, okay?"

"I'll be here." Carmen smiled.

I looked at Patricia, only to find her turning to me with the same expression of wonder that my face must have worn.

"My God!" she whispered, "Is this my poor, emotionally disturbed sister? I guess being a demi-goddess is better therapy than all the psych wards in the world!"

"I'll say!" I whispered back, "Why haven't we seen this Carmen before?"

"I suppose the situation hasn't arisen that would allow her strength to show." Patricia replied.

"Do you suppose she'll want MY job?" I joked. "I could use a little break..."

"No way, Jose!" My wife elbowed me in the ribs, "You're too damn good at it! I'll stay in the chairman's seat, and I'm leaving YOU where you are!"

"What? No chance for career growth?" I sighed. "I should have known this was a dead-end job!"

We had gotten so absorbed in our repartee that we hadn't noticed Megan's return.

"What are you two laughing about?" Carmen asked as she came up to us, arm-in-arm with Megan.

Patricia placed a restraining hand on her shoulder and asked severely, "Okay, who the hell ARE you and what have you done with my sister?"

Carmen laughed and replied, "I guess having the responsibility for keeping an entire Island nation's luck flowing changes a person! It really is me, though! Honest!"

"It's a wonderful you, sis!" Patricia said, "I guess the tropics agree with you!"

"Yeah, I guess they do!" Carmen responded.

The three ladies linked arms and walked back to the limo together. I followed along behind, happily absorbing the sight of three lovely asses swaying in front of me.

Patricia and I discussed CI business on the way home, trying not to eavesdrop on the low-voiced conversation between Carmen and Jenny's mom.

At the house, pandemonium erupted as soon as we walked in the door! Jenny had so many questions for Carmen and her mom that couldn't wait, and she tried to ask them all at once. At the same time, Felicia was intent on welcoming Carmen and showing her how the twins had grown, while Edgar tried to get someone to let him know where Megan's bags were to be stowed.

Finally, I put two fingers in my mouth and emitted a shrill whistle.

In the silence that followed, I told Edgar to place Megan's bags in Carmen's room for now, that we would sort them out later. I then turned to Jenny.

"Carmen," I began the introduction, "this is your daughter Jenny. Jenny, Carmen is your biological father."

Suddenly, Jenny was shy.

"Um, pleased to meet you, uh, I, uh guess." She said. "Um what do I call you? I mean, 'Dad', 'Pop', 'Father', all those just don't seem right, you know?"

Carmen laughed and embraced her.

"You're right, of course!" She replied, "I guess 'Carmen' will do until we come up with something that fits better, if there is anything. You are SO beautiful! You have your mother's hair and eyes!"

"Yeah," Jenny blushed, "but I'm told I resemble YOU below the waist!"

"I'm told the same thing!" Carmen laughed, "There's so much I want to learn about you, Jenny! Tell you what, I'm sure you've got a lot of questions for me, too, but I'll be here for as long as we need to catch up. Your mom is going into rehab tomorrow, so if you can wait just one more evening, I'll probably be able to answer your questions better if she and I spend tonight getting reacquainted. Can your questions wait until tomorrow, dear?"

"Well, yeah, I guess." Jenny said.

On impulse, she tiptoed and kissed Carmen on the cheek.

"You're as beautiful as Aunt Patricia!" she said, before backing off and letting Felicia have her turn.

By the time Carmen had finished being appreciative of the accomplishments of Artemis and Atea, as told by nearly everyone in the house, Gwen was standing in the doorway clearing her throat for attention.

"Dinner is served in the main dining room!" she said, when we turned to look at her, "Welcome home, Miss Carmen!"

"The main dining room?" Patricia asked.

"Yes, Mrs. Travis," Gwen replied haughtily, "and on the good china! There's been far too much moping about this house in the last few days. Seems to me we've all got something to celebrate, and it's about time we did! Miss Jenny has found a family she never knew she had. Mrs. Erikson and Miss Carmen have found each other after all these years, and the rest of us get to be here for this happy occasion!"

Without waiting for a reply, Gwen spun on her heel and marched off, back stiff and straight.

First Patricia, then the rest of us burst out laughing! Leave it to the cook to put things in their proper perspective!

The meal, of course, was superb, and Patricia, following Gwen's lead, allowed only light conversation at the table, deftly redirecting the thoughts of Carmen, Megan, and Jenny when they strayed onto more serious matters.

Jenny and her mom sat on either side of Carmen, and Patricia's sister, in self-defense, took to asking them questions so she'd have time to eat while they answered.

When the meal was over, we drifted off to separate pursuits. Carmen, with Jenny's mom in tow, retired to her room, and we didn't see them again until morning.

Jenny, Felicia, Patricia and I wound up in the playroom with the twins, but it wasn't long before the girls made excuses and disappeared too.

I sat with Patricia and we watched as Artemis and Atea played with various toys, always together. If one of them got bored with what they were doing and found another pursuit, the other soon followed. I was surprised that they displayed no jealousy or possessiveness over the toys. If Missy wanted something that Atea was playing with, he gave it over with good grace. If Atea reached for something Missy had, she handed it to him. It was almost as if they were one person in two bodies.

When Missy went to the shelf and got her favorite book, brought it to me, and settled comfortably in the crook of my left arm, Atea followed, cuddling on my right.

"Book!" Missy demanded, resting her curly head on my chest. At least, my fatherly pride turned the sound she made into 'Book'.

Feeling like a king with these two youngsters laying so trustingly upon me, I launched into a theatrical rendition of 'Green Eggs and Ham', complete with tickling, that had both of them giggling.

Somewhere near the back of the book, they fell silent, and I allowed my voice to soften. By the time I was finished with Dr. Seuss, both of the twins were sound asleep in my lap, and Patricia was looking at me in a new way, a small smile on her face.

There is simply no finer emotion in the world than that which arises in a father's swelling chest as his precious babies, knowing with absolute certainty that he will keep them safe, fall asleep in his arms, and I was loathe to interrupt that feeling.

Reluctantly, I stood and carried them to their room, adjacent to ours. Patricia helped me put the little angels to bed, and we stood and watched them for a few minutes before retiring to our room.

As we undressed for bed, Patricia hugged me and gave me a soul-searing kiss.

"What's that for?" I asked, when she let me up for air.

"For being you," was all she said, "and for turning out to be a loving father."

"Not my fault." I replied, hugging her back. "It's impossible not to love those two. They are, after all, YOUR son and daughter. How could I NOT love them?"

"Bullshit, you old softy!" she said, smiling, "I saw the way you looked holding them! You'd have been hooked no matter whose kids they were!"

"Then it works out nicely that they're the offspring of the beautiful lady who owns my heart, doesn't it?" I kissed her, this time, and it was a long time before we separated.

Our lovemaking that night was long, slow and deeply satisfying.

In the morning, Megan and Carmen emerged looking rested and at peace. Carmen had Walt drive them to the rehab clinic while the rest of us sat down to breakfast.

Partway through and otherwise silent meal, I turned to my newly discovered niece. "How are you holding up, anyway? With all that's happening we haven't had much time to talk."

Jenny turned inside herself for a moment before answering, and when she did, she honestly expressed the jumble of her emotions. "You know, I took on a Business major because I wanted to be like the man I thought was my Dad. After the time I've spent here, and the things I've learned since he died, I'm not so sure he was a man to idolize, after all. I don't mean to imply that I don't feel grief or sadness when I think about him, because I do. It's just that I'm starting to pity him a little. His work, his pursuit of money and power, were his whole life. I can't think of a single time that he chose to do something with me or Mom over work, if the choice presented itself. You, on the other hand, get upset when work interferes with your family time, and I've seen you, several times, in the short time I've known you, choose to interrupt work for your wife, or kids, or Felicia, or even for me. More and more, I'm starting to think that's what a father should be like. I guess I'll miss Dad, and maybe I'm fooling myself, but I don't think I'm going to grieve much for him. Of course, with all that's happened, I haven't really had much time to myself, so I guess I'll have to see."

I took her hand and said, "I finally figured out that my family is what I'm working for, and I want to make sure that we STAY a family, so I try to give family priority over work. Any time you need to talk, you let me know. I'll make time for you, okay? Oh, and don't let Felicia do your talking for you. She means well, but you need to be able to take care of yourself, okay?"

Jenny was silent, pensive for a long time and I finally broke into her thoughts.

"What are you thinking, Jenny?"

"Huh?" she shook her head as if to clear it, "Oh! I was just wondering what I should change my major to!"

"I'd say go ahead and finish the semester," I smiled, "and think about what your heart wants you to do. That will give you the summer to think about it some more if need be. By the start of the fall semester, hopefully, you'll have a better idea."

"Yeah," she replied, "I guess you're right!"

Carmen and Jenny took the rest of the week getting acquainted. Jenny pled family emergency and got excused from her classes. Felicia wanted to stay at the house with her, but we insisted that she attend her classes and give Jenny the time with Carmen.

The following week, Jenny returned to school, but came home every evening to be with Carmen. By the end of the week, Carmen was missing her other family, and wanted to take a weekend flight home. Jenny accompanied us to the airport, and we put Carmen on the Collins jet to send her back to the Islands.

"Sure you don't want to come with me, Jenny?" Carmen asked as they hugged good-bye.

"Not this time, Carmen." Jenny said, "I'm just settling in to one new life here. I don't think I'm quite ready for another yet. I promise I'll come visit this summer, though."