Part 9

When we separated the second time, Diane finally realized that I was standing there naked. She smiled at me and said "If you'll give me a minute, the next hug can be a lot friendlier." I grinned back, and didn't even pretend I wasn't watching her as she slipped out of her dress, then the assorted stuff she had on underneath it.

Naked as I was, she stepped close to me again for another hug - and she was right: it WAS friendlier that way.

When we were in bed and holding each other, Diane asked "After hearing all that tonight, I'm not really in the mood for anything, if you don't mind, Mike."

I hugged her, and answered "It's okay. I'm not either. It's enough to just have you here."

Diane's only reply was to kiss me and snuggle closer. I don't think either one of us got to sleep easily, though.

The next morning, after Dad left for work, Holly and Diane discovered that Susan had never been sledding. They immediately decided to correct that gross oversight, and dug out the sleds that Holly and I had been given when we were younger. They wanted me to go along, but I claimed there was something I still needed to do, so they let me off the hook. Once the three of them were outfitted in boots, mittens, hats, and anything else they thought might help keep them warm and dry - a wasted effort, we all knew, but it had to be tried - they left for a collection of hills not far from our house. I offered to drive them over, but they said they weren't in any hurry, and wanted to walk. Mom insisted on loading them up with a couple of large thermos bottles - one of hot chocolate, the other of soup.

Once they were gone, I got in my truck and made my way to the main branch of our library, where I spent the better part of the day reading about the different cultures in Asia. Susan had glossed over the gross ignorance of most Americans about that part of the world, and I was determined not to share it.

Even with most of my day spent at the library, I still beat the three of them home - if only by a few seconds. As I was getting out of my truck, I saw the three of them turning the corner as they came toward our house. They saw me, and commenced to hooting and cat-calling as they came charging toward me. When they got close enough, I could see that all three of them had met Mister Snowdrift more than once - but they'd had so much fun and were in such good spirits that it simply didn't matter as they started telling me about each other's (mis)adventures.

Finally, they all decided that it was time to go inside and warm up a little. They shed their outdoor clothing, and as they all started upstairs to change out of whatever was cold and wet on them, Mom suggested that warm showers would probably be a good idea to take some of the chill off. I could almost hear the gears clicking as Diane and Holly looked at each other, but figured with Susan there, they wouldn't take the chance of starting anything with each other.

A while later, the three of them swarmed downstairs, laughing and giggling as they made their way into the kitchen to see if Mom had anything for them to eat. It wasn't long until supper, so Mom didn't have any trouble talking them into hot chocolate and a couple of cookies each. With the promise of food and drink, they made their way into the den where I was; a few minutes later, Mom brought in drinks and snacks for all of us.

They were still telling me about all the fun they'd had when Dad got home some time later. He stuck his head in the den, and was promptly overwhelmed by the three of them welcoming him home, and telling him about their day. I could see that Dad was glad that Susan had had such a good time before he managed to get free of them and get his own welcome home from Mom. After he left, Holly and Diane let Susan know what the known events were for the next few days: our families would stay home Christmas morning to open gifts, then Diane's folks would come to our place for dinner. The next night, we'd go over to their place for supper. Holly went on to explain that our families took turns on who went where - next year, we'd go to Diane's for Christmas, and they'd come over to our place for supper.

A bit later, Susan went in to see if she could help Mom with supper; a request that was apparently granted since the three of us didn't see her again until Mom let us know it was time to eat. In the mean time, Holly and Diane told me that Susan had never been ice skating before, either, so they wanted the three of us to take her to a local rink the next day, and teach her. I agreed, and we got everything planned out.

After supper - baked chicken and fixings - Diane and I cleaned up while everyone else went into the den to get things set up for a couple of movies Dad had brought home. Diane and I went on to fix popcorn for everyone, and joined them. The movies Dad had brought were 'Miracle on 34th Street' and 'It's a Wonderful Life', both big-time Christmas tear- jerkers. By the time Jimmy Steward was running down the street wishing everyone Merry Christmas, all three of the girls and Mom were crying - and I have to admit to damp eyes, myself.

By the time the movies ended, it was time for bed. Dad had to go in to work the next day, but not the day after, which was Christmas Eve. Diane and I stayed behind to rewind the tapes - and make out a little - when the rest of them went upstairs to go to bed.

As we were waiting, I told Diane "I saw the look you and Holly gave each other when Mom said all of you should take a hot shower after you were sledding."

Diane grinned at me, and said "Who? Us?"

I grinned back, and said "Yeah, you - both of you."

"Well, I'll have you know that both of us behaved ourselves quite nicely, thank you - even after we talked Susan into showering with us. All in the interest of saving time, you understand."

I looked at Diane in surprise, and she laughed at the expression on my face before telling me "Yes, all three of us took a warm-up shower together. Susan was a little nervous at first, but she got into the spirit of it quick enough once we got started."

I could only sit there, trying to visualize all three of them naked and slippery with soapsuds. Diane and Holly, sure, that was easy enough; it was the addition of Susan that was throwing me off.

Diane laughed at the way I looked, and said "You'll be happy to know - I think! - that the rest of her body is as pretty as what you've already seen. She's got this scar on her back that she's a little ashamed of, but other than that, she's beautiful. Her tits aren't as big as mine or Holly's, but that's pretty obvious, even with clothes on. But what you can't see is that they're such a nice shape, and SO firm. She's got tiny little nipples, and her hair - you know, between her legs - is just a small patch, and real thin."

"And you know her tits are so firm... how?"

Diane smiled and answered "Because we were helping each other warm up in the shower, silly. Two of us teamed up to help wash and warm up the other one, then it was someone else's turn. Susan didn't mind us touching her, and she took a little longer cleaning MY tits than she had to - and I think she did the same thing for Holly, too."

Despite the image of the three of them playing with each other in the shower that kept crowding into my mind, I asked Diane "Why are you telling me all this?"

She just gave me a look that let me know I was being dense before answering "Because Susan is getting a crush on you, you big dummy."

I must have looked as stunned as I felt, because Diane laughed, and said "Yes, you idiot, she's either getting, or already has, a crush on you. Didn't you know?"

I just shook my head, and Diane went on "We were resting from sledding, and just sitting there drinking some of the soup your mom made for us, and we got started talking about guys. Of course, all I could talk about was you, and Susan finally started talking about you, too - how nice you'd been, and how polite and everything, and even how you'd been so respectful of her dad, even when he was yelling at you and trying to bully you. The way she was talking about you, and the way she keeps asking us questions about you; well, I'd be willing to be cash money that she's got a crush on you, whether she knows it or not. You don't see the way she looks at you, sometimes - but Holly and I have, and believe me, you have DEFINITELY got her attention."

I looked at Diane in concern - the last thing in the world I wanted to do was lose her - and she laughed again before telling me "It's okay, Mike. Us women, we're always pleased when another woman shows an interest in our man, as long as she's nice about it, like Susan is. I know you're not trying to hustle her into bed - though I don't think I'd mind too much if she did wind up there, as long as it wasn't more than once or twice - and I'm okay with the two of you studying together, and even going places together while you're at school. She's so sweet and nice, I understand how you like to be with her, and I'm not jealous."

I could only sit there and blink for a few seconds before I managed to ask "You're not mad at me?"

Diane just smiled, and said "Why should I be mad? She likes you - well, loves you, I think - for the same reasons I do. And you like her for the same reasons the rest of us do - what is there for me to be mad about? Sure, if you dumped me for her, I'd be mad as hell - but I know that you love me and wouldn't do that. And so you don't have to ask, yes, I said I wouldn't mind too much if it happened that the two of you made love. I know you're not going to be the one to try and make it happen, and if she comes out of her shell enough to want to find some of the happiness I know she deserves by being with you, then I can't hold that against her. God knows, she's long overdue for more happiness than she'd gotten so far in her life; and I know that if you made love with her, she'd definitely be happy afterwards."

I just sat there, stunned, while Diane retrieved the second rewound video tape and put it in its box. When she was done, she smiled at me and took me by the hand telling me "Come on, Mike. It's time for bed, remember?" before leading me upstairs.

Once inside my room, we quickly undressed and got into bed - where we made slow, gentle love with each other before falling asleep.

The next day was an amusing adventure for all four of us. Susan was willing to learn to skate, and Holly and Diane were good teachers. Still, it took a while before Susan got the hang of it. All of us - Susan included - had plenty of chances to laugh at the spills that usually left her rubbing her backside when she was vertical again. By the time we were done, she'd learned the technique of keeping herself upright and in control. She wasn't anywhere near being a threat to Dorothy Hamil, but she was firmly in control as she looped around the outside edge of the rink.

As we were taking our skates off in preparation for going home, Susan said something about her butt being sore. I couldn't pass up the opportunity, and told her "That's okay. Holly and Diane fell down a lot when they were learning, too. Of course, it probably didn't hurt them as much, since they've got so much more padding than you do."

It took Susan a second to get it, but when she did, she started laughing at the mildly outraged looks Diane and Holly were giving me. They knew I was teasing them, of course, and Susan's laughter soon had them laughing along with her. Finally, Holly told me "Michael, you are SO going to pay for that!", followed by Diane's "You are in SUCH trouble with me, Mister!" - prompting more laughter from Susan and me.

Over supper - which Susan had helped with - we told Mom and Dad about what we'd done that day. Holly and Diane pretended to be upset with me when I repeated Susan's comment about her sore butt, and what I'd told her about Holly and Diane. Mom and Dad both laughed, and the rest of us joined in.

During supper, Diane had reminded everyone that her folks had invited us over that evening. After Holly and I had cleaned up, we decided to walk the couple of blocks to Diane's house - me with a small knapsack containing a change of clothes; Diane had let me know that I was expected to stay the night. Everybody but Susan knew what was going on, and if Susan didn't know, she was simply too polite to ask.

Once at Diane's house, we were quickly invited in and got our chance to see the tree her folks had bought, and how they'd decorated it. Susan was invited up to see Diane's room while Holly and I stayed in their family room with our folks. When Diane and Susan got back we all decided that a rousing game of Monopoly was needed. With eight of us playing, it took a while before people started getting pushed out of the game. Susan had a blast, finishing second behind Diane's dad. When the game was over, it was pretty late, and Mom and Dad decided that it was probably time to go home. Holly agreed, as did Susan. After they left, Diane and I stayed up a little longer with her folks, talking about how I was doing at school, what they thought of Susan (consistently good in all respects), and so on.

When we were all caught up, Diane's folks wished us a good night and said they'd see us in the morning. Diane and I stayed up a little longer, talking about our plans for the future, but finally followed their example and went to bed.

The next morning, Diane's mom made breakfast for all of us, and after we had eaten, Diane's dad and I were shooed into their family room while Diane and her mom took care of cleaning up.

Once we were seated, Diane's dad asked me how I'd met Susan, and I told him - from seeing her drop her registration card, all the way up to inviting her to come home with me for Christmas; minus the stuff I'd done along the way to help move things along, of course. When I was done, he told me "Yes, that sounds about right. Diane told us that she'd been the one to suggest you see if Susan wanted to find out what a real American Christmas was like. Diane told us the story of how Susan had to leave Vietnam and how they all got to this country; I've got to admit that I don't know if I'd have the courage and strength her father showed when he decided that they had to escape."

I told him that I'd thought about it, too, and had come to pretty much the same conclusion - and that I was damn glad it wasn't something I'd ever have to face. He smiled, and said "No, I don't think you will - but there are plenty of other things that a man and wife have to worry about when they start their life together. You're a smart young man, Mike, and Diane's mother and I both know that you love her; and that you'll be good to her. We were a little concerned about Susan being here, and how you met her, but I can see that it was just you being the good person we already knew you are. Neither one of us thought you'd deliberately hurt Diane, but we both know what boys are like at your age, too. But I guess both of us forgot that inside you, you're grown up enough that we can't properly think of you as a boy like most. I want you to know that we're both sorry if our worries about you and Diane have caused you any offense."

In a way, I DID understand where the two of them were coming from: they were concerned about Diane's future and happiness, just as I was - and I told him so. He smiled again, and said "Yeah, I suppose you do. Both of us can see how much you and Diane love each other, and how committed you are."

A few moments later, Diane came in and took a seat next to me before taking my arm and pulling it around her so she could snuggle into my side. As she did, her dad looked on in approval.

With Diane there, our previous conversation was apparently over, since her Dad asked us what we had planned for the rest of the time I was home. Susan and I had figured to head back to school a couple days before New Years, so as to avoid as much of the traffic as we could - both of us were aware of the number of traffic accidents, and neither of us wanted to be one of the statistics.

A little later, Diane's mom came in and convinced her dad that the two of them needed to go out for a little while. Her dad grumbled good- naturedly, but went, leaving Diane and I alone in the house.

Neither of us had anything we wanted to do, so we settled for laying on the couch listening to music while they were gone. Diane and I were so comfortable together that neither of us felt any need to have something 'happening' all the time - we were both perfectly content to simply BE together, without talking or watching TV or doing anything else.

We were still laying there when her parents got back - coming into the family room to find Diane laying in front of me on the couch, her hands on my arm where it was draped around her waist. Diane and I had never done anything even remotely sexual when there was even the slightest chance her parents or mine might see us - but we weren't ashamed or embarrassed to have them see us being less intimate, either. Plenty of times, they'd seen Diane sitting on my lap, or the two of us kissing. Both sets of parents knew we were making love, of course - but we were quiet and discrete about it, and that was enough for them.

When it got late enough, Diane talked her folks into pizza for supper - surprisingly, the pizza delivery places stayed open, and apparently did a pretty good business. After we'd eaten, I thanked her folks for having me over - both assured me they'd been glad to have me - and headed back home so they could have their own Christmas Eve together, just my family would have when I got home.

Back at my house, I found Dad teaching Susan the finer points of checkers while - so my nose told me - Mom and Holly baked cookies. Looking at the checkerboard, I saw that there were more of Susan's red pieces than Dad's black, and said "Looks like you're teaching her checkers pretty good, there, Dad!"

He laughed, and said "She told me she'd never played before, but I think she was just sandbagging me!"

Susan looked confused at what he'd said, and he explained what sandbagging meant - for a person to deliberately pretending not to be as good at a game as they were, so as to gain an advantage. She got a horrified expression on her face, and Dad laughed before he told her that he was just teasing. She looked at me uncertainly, and I nodded to confirm that that was just exactly what he was doing. She smiled then, and proceeded to jump two of his pieces before asking "King me?"

Dad gave her play-dirty look, making her laugh, before doing as she requested with the comment "I'll tell you one thing - this is going to be the last time I offer to teach somebody to play checkers!" - drawing another laugh from her. I just said "Look at it this way, Dad: this just proves what a good teacher you are!", making both of them laugh before I left.

In the kitchen, I managed to snag a couple of cookies before Mom caught me and laughed as she swatted at my hand to keep me from taking any more. Off to the side, Holly had moved some cookies to a plate, and was pouring hot chocolate into cups, apparently intending to take all of it out to Dad and Susan. I helped by carrying the drinks, and both of them thanked us before Dad made a move that cost him another piece.