Chapter 3

Dinner was a lot of fun. Mom and Kathy teased Beth, Karen, and me unmercifully, but it was all in fun. We all blushed a lot, but I think we all secretly enjoyed the attention.

At one point during the meal, Kathy looked over at me and asked, "Ed, what is this I hear about you and Karen being boyfriend and girlfriend?"

I had been expecting the question and was ready for it, although I don't think Karen was. She looked like she had swallowed a bug. "I've been in love with your daughter for a long time, Mrs. Stevens. The problem with me has been that Karen is so smart and so beautiful I never thought I stood a chance with her. I'm just a computer geek and she is one of the most popular girls in school. Unless you forbid it, Karen is my girlfriend. I love her and she loves me."

Kathy smiled and said, "Ed, please call me Kathy. You're right. Karen is smart. What most young girls don't understand is that computer geeks are a much better catch than jocks. Karen dated a couple of jocks and didn't like either one of them. Of course I don't forbid it. I've known for years that you guys were in love. When Karen dated those two young idiots last year, I shouldn't have even let in the door. She was asked out a lot after that, but she turned all of them down. I think she realized she just wasn't going to find someone she cared as much about as she does you."

Karen nodded, regaining her composure. "That's true, Mom. What did you mean about computer geeks being a much better catch."

"Okay, let's see if I can say this without sounding too crass. Most high school jocks, even the good ones aren't going to amount to much. Even if they get a scholarship to go to college, they'll blow it. Most jocks don't graduate from college. Only the very cream of the crop make it into the pros. Bill Gates was a computer geek. Do I need to say any more?"

Karen laughed. "No, Mom. I read somewhere that if Bill Gates spent a quarter of a million dollars on something, it'd be like us spending seventy-nine cents."

"Bingo!" Kathy said with a grin.

"That's not why I fell in love with Ed, though, Mom. Ed is gentle and sweet and handsome and honest."

"I know that, Baby. I think Ed was around two years old when we moved in down the street. I've watched him grow up into a fine young man."

"Guys, I am here, you know," I said.

"Well, Bonnie nor I either one have any objections to your 'going out'. Just remember though, if you are old enough to have these privileges, you are old enough to be responsible for your actions as well."

We know that, Mom," Karen said and I nodded.

Karen and I held hands through most of the meal, and after we had finished eating, I felt Beth reaching for my hand, under the table, as well. I took her hand and gave it a squeeze. She gave me a big smile in return.

Beth came in and sat with me for a while after I had gone to bed again. We talked about Karen's dad wanting a divorce and Karen's reaction to that. "I can understand it, Sis. He's mistreated her mom and has mistreated her. There's no wonder she wants to be rid of him."

"Yeah, but I just think about losing our dad and how much I miss him. I wouldn't have wanted to be rid of him even if he had called me a slut."

Beth had tears running down her face, so I pulled her down beside me and put my arms around her. She sniffled for a minute or two, but then sighed and settled in. "Beth, my love, our situation and Karen's situation are totally different. We had a loving father. Karen has a father who loves the wrong people."

"I know, Ed, it's just that sometimes I miss dad so much."

"I miss him too, honey. I know I'm not a substitute for dad, but I want you to know I'll be here for you whenever you need me," I said. I was spooned up to Beth's back and my arms were wrapped around her. I gave her a little squeeze and kissed her on the neck.

"I know you will, Ed, and I love you for it as well as for so many other things. God, I feel so safe when you're holding me like this," Beth told me.

We must have drifted off to sleep because the next thing I knew, the lights were off in the room. I felt mom sit down on the bed behind me so I whispered, "Hi, Mom."

"Hi yourself, Ed. What's going on here?" she whispered back.

"Beth was feeling very bad, missing dad. She was crying and I was trying to comfort her."

Mom leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. "It looks like you're doing a pretty good job of it."

"I'll wake her up and try to get her to her room," I said.

"No, sport, you took on this job. You have to finish it. If she wakes up and wants to go back to her room, that's okay. Otherwise, I think you're stuck with her for the night."

"I've had more unpleasant tasks, Mom. I love Beth and I don't like to see her upset."

"I don't imagine you mind holding her at all. Sleep tight, Ed," Mom said. She kissed me on the cheek again and left the room, closing the door behind her.

I snuggled back in and Beth said, "Goodnight, Ed."

I squeezed her tight and said, "Goodnight, you little faker." I could almost feel her smile.

I woke up much later than normal on Saturday morning. I was lying on my back and Beth was snuggled up against me. I slid out of bed without awakening Beth and went to the bathroom and went through my morning routine.

When I got to the kitchen, mom was sitting there, sipping coffee and reading the paper. I kissed her on the cheek and poured myself a cup. By the time I got back to the breakfast bar, she had folded the paper and was watching me.

"So, I saw Beth's room hadn't been used last night. Is she okay?" mom asked.

"I think so, Mom. We were talking last night and Beth started to compare Karen and us. She was talking about us losing our father and Karen wanting to get rid of hers. The next thing I knew, she was crying and I was holding her."

"I'm glad you were there for her, Ed. I try to be there for both of you, but with the hours I put in at work and then trying to run the house when I'm home, I know I miss catching on to some things."

"I think you do an excellent job, Mom, and so does Beth. Financially we seem to be doing as well as we were when dad was alive. If either Beth or I come to you with a problem, you always do your best to help. We couldn't ask for a better mother," I told her.

I could see that mom was starting to get emotional when Karen came in. She told mom hello, and then came around and gave me a big hug and kiss. "Aren't you going to ask about Beth being up?" mom teased.

Karen blushed, then laughed. "I was that transparent, huh?"

Mom just grinned and said, "Don't worry about it, Karen. I was young and in love once, myself. I have to tell on your boyfriend though. He slept with Beth last night."

Karen's eyes got big and she looked like someone had hit her. "Karen, my love," I said. "The operative word here is slept. Beth came into my room last night and was thinking about losing our dad. She was upset, so I put my arms around her to comfort her. We both fell asleep that way."

I could feel her tension ease up as she leaned over against me. Then I felt her getting upset again, so I put my arm around her. "Did what I said about my father cause her to start thinking about yours?" she asked.

"It may have had something to do with it, Love. I explained the differences in our situations to her and she was fine with it. I told her that we had a father that loved us and that you have a father that loves the wrong people."

"Too true," Karen said. "I guess I did sound a little uncaring by the way I reacted when mom told me about the divorce."

"Maybe," mom said, "but it's understandable. Ed's right. He should be loving you and your mom, not some PA slut. I personally think he should have his balls cut off and fed to him."

"Mom, do you have any idea what that kind of talk does to a guy?" I asked.

"It probably makes your nuggets try to crawl up inside you," mom laughed and Karen giggled.

Beth walked in while they were still laughing so they had to explain to her what all of the mirth was about.

"Beth, I hear you've been sleeping with my boyfriend," Karen said, trying to sound serious. "Are you going to leave him alone, or do I have to scratch your eyes out?"

"I guess you'd better sharpen your claws, woman. I slept better last night than I have in years. I may end up in your boyfriend's bed at any time."

We all got a laugh out of that, then mom said, "I think we need to have a talk about last night, Beth. Could you and I get together after while? There's nothing wrong, so don't worry."

Beth smiled at mom and told her she'd talk with her any time.

Mom asked if any of us were interested in breakfast and we all declined. I suggested we take our coffee out on the patio and enjoy the wonderful weather we'd been having, so we did.

Karen ended up on my lap on the swing and Beth sat beside us. Karen leaned in and whispered in my ear, "I'm going to ask mom if I could spend the night with Beth. Do you think your mom would be okay with that?"