Chapter 91

WEDNESDAY EVENING — SEPTEMBER 25

Just as they were finishing supper, the phone rang. "It's for you, Mom," Arlene said handing the phone to Diana.

The conversation was short. When she hung up, she just commented that the Tates were coming by.

Jeff raised an eyebrow, but she just shook her head, "I have no idea."

The men were soon shooed out of the kitchen. "But I thought you said we were going to have chocolate cake for dessert," Jeff interjected.

"Oh, you'll get your cake. You won't starve," Laura said, laughing. "But we need to have some girl talk. You guys go tell some lies. We'll bring your cake a little later."

In the living room Dave, Jeff and Fred picked out their favorite chairs. As soon as they were seated, Jeff got back up. "It's a little cool in here. I'm going to start us a fire."

"Or you could just turn up the thermostat a little," Fred joked.

"Not a chance," Jeff laughed. "I like to sit, watch the flames and think."

"Think about what?" Fred laughed, nodding in the general direction of the kitchen. "Don't answer that. I don't think I want to know."

"I wasn't talking about pussy, Smartass," Jeff laughed looking back over his shoulder as he arranged the wood in the big fireplace. "There are a few other things to think about. I've been thinking about a try at another invention, but I've been so busy that I can't seem to get started on it. I've got things mapped out in my mind a little. But, let's not talk about that. What's been happening on the farm? How is the construction coming?" Dave had briefed Jeff practically every day, but he wanted to hear it from Fred's viewpoint.

"Well, I guess that Dave told you the barn was just about done. The tractor garage — I refuse to call it a shed — is completed. Jeff, it scares me to think how much it cost, not to say anything about the barn itself. As tall as some of the equipment is, the bay doors on that thing are huge, and so is the building itself. You're really going to have to come see it. It's even heated and air-conditioned. There are lifts for everything, and all the equipment a modern garage could ever have. It isn't just a place to store the equipment. Hell, I'll bet there isn't another like it in the state."

"Well, good. Carla and Jessica deserve it."

"Oh, hell, I know that you know all about it, and have approved everything. But it's darn nice of you to do that for them. They're ecstatic over the barn, and the stables are coming along, too. If they look half as good as the architect's drawing, they're going to be the best around, bar none."

"Well, you're part of it, too. You're part of the corporation."

"Jeff, I know you said that before, but..."

"Hush. Let's change the subject. How are you and the women getting along? By the way they're acting, damn good, I'd say."

Fred hesitated for a moment.

"We're all family. Remember?"

Fred grinned back. "Well, whatever the hell you did to me that night, must be it. I mean, look at me. No diet in the world would make me lose weight this fast, and I've managed to jog through five miles yesterday and today. Shit, we had to go buy me more jeans and tee-shirts yesterday. I'm afraid to buy any more good clothes, because my body is changing so fast. My suit that I've only worn twice just hangs on me, but Carla found a tailor who said he could fix it. I've exercised and worked out, but not enough for the results I've gotten."

"There will be other results that you'll like, too," Jeff grinned.

"Amen to that," Dave sniggered. "Only problem is that Evie keeps bugging me about going ahead and marrying Linda. She claims she needs the help," he laughed. "And I'm not talking about cleaning the apartment."

"Well, why don't you?" Jeff said as they pushed their seats nearer the fire.

"I'm tempted, but heck, Jeff, I've only known her less than two weeks. I know. I know," he said as Jeff started to say something. "We're supposed to be Alphas, and Alphas bond with their females quickly..."

"'Supposed to be Alphas?'" Jeff said. "You've darn sure had enough proof."

"Okay. Alright, we're Alphas, and I agree that the bond is there, a deep bond, but I guess I've been raised, oh heck, whatever the term is, indoctrinated into thinking that you shouldn't jump into marriage. And she's so much younger than I am. I guess it scares me a little. Oh, I think she wants me now, but what about next year, or five years from now? Hell, she's probably going to want to go to rock concerts and scream at the..."

"Oh, bullshit. I have four of them, and although they do listen to some pretty hard rock from time to time, they don't seem inclined to go overboard on anything. Hell, they act more mature than a lot of the so-called adults I've known. Linda will do just fine, and so will you. Now why don't you make an 'honest woman' out of her?"

"'Honest woman?' I guess you're kidding, but I haven't touched her. Although it's getting harder to say no all the time."

"Yeah, me, too," Fred said.

Jeff chuckled, then the chuckles got to be belly laughs. "Just listen to you two. You sound like a couple of old maids. Two grown men in the peak of health saying no to their women. Man, I need to record this. A few years from now both of you will be embarrassed to death hearing yourselves."

"Well, shit, Jeff," Fred said. "I'm an old man. It seems like I'm taking advantage of Carla and Jessica — especially Jessica. She should be out with someone her own age, not some old fossil like me."

"Looks like that 'fossil' sure has a lot of muscles showing through his shirt," Jeff teased. "And I doubt seriously that someone who didn't know you would guess your age above mid forties. How old do you feel? And be honest."

"Jeff, you know the answer to that. Whatever you did to me makes me feel like ... Whatever it is, it is so far back in the past that I can't remember ever feeling as healthy as I do now."

"Yeah, me, too," Dave put in.

"And I'll be in to visit the women tonight so they can have the health that we're all enjoying. Are you going to be in your regular suite, or do you need a double?"

Fred sighed. "We've been using one bed..."

"And you've still managed to tell them no?" Dave said, grinning.

"Well, it's been hard," Fred said. "And that, too," he laughed.

"Talk about me marrying Linda. What about you, Fred? When are you going to make honest women out of your two?"

"Oh ... I, uh. I do love them; that's for sure. But I'm not over Brenda, yet. Damn, it feels like I can talk to her. It just hasn't been long enough. I can't keep my mind off her..."

Jeff glanced at his longtime friend. "She was a wonderful woman. I didn't know her very well, even though we've been friends for years. You and I mostly saw each other at the police department or the range, then later at your detective agency, but I liked her and she was obviously good for you. But you don't have to forget her. All of us have purposely brought up Helen's first husband and sister-wife from time to time as we're talking. She was reluctant to talk about him to me to start with. I guess she thought I would be jealous or something. But he and Martha were part of her life. Part of the reason that Helen is Helen, so to speak. I want to know about her past life. They had to be good people if Helen loved and respected them. They shouldn't be forgotten."

Fred was quiet for a long moment, then finally, "They asked a lot of questions about her, and I got Carla to dig out some more pictures of Sam. She's told me quite a bit about their life — and dreams. Hell, we all sat and cried together."

"So when are you going to make love to them?" Jeff asked, a grin on his face.

Fred knew that Jeff was trying to gently — or maybe not so gently — push him forward. Hell, when am I? Brenda keeps doing the same thing, or else her memory does. Whoever the hell it is I'm talking to. But it just doesn't seem right to jump in bed with someone so soon after Brenda died.

"And why not?" Brenda's voice said in his mind. "I'll be there. I've decided to stay around for a while. I never was into playing harps, anyway. Might as well stick around and harass you."

Both Jeff and Dave saw the look pass over Fred's face, and glanced at each other. Neither said anything.

"I think I'm going nuts," Fred said.

The girls escorted the Tates into the kitchen where Laura, Helen, Diana, Evie, Carla and Jessica were having a gab session. Alesha had gone somewhere with Jesse.

Diana took one look at Virginia's face and stood. Catching her daughter's eyes, she said, "Take a cake and some drinks over to the men, please."

Arlene glanced at her mother, then took the Sheriff by the arm. "Come on. I'll walk over with you. The guys are sitting in the living room. We baked yellow cakes with thick, homemade chocolate icing. I sneaked a piece, and you're going to love it."

Diana turned to Carla and Jessica. "Please forgive me, you two. We'll be back in a little while." She grabbed Virginia and Elizabeth, herding them out the door before they could say anything.

Shortly, Diana guided the two women into a small sitting room well down the hall. "Here. This is private. The girls will bring drinks and cake in a few minutes."

Virginia took a window seat and Elizabeth sat close beside her, both thinking that Diana had forgotten to tell the others where the three of them would be. After looking out the window for a moment at the setting sun causing the tops of the distant mountains to glow in the twilight, "Oh, the view is fabulous," Virginia said.

The sisters unconsciously held hands in their worry. Turning to Diana who had pulled a comfortable chair close, Virginia said, "We're sorry to be taking you from your friends..."

"Nonsense. Helen, Laura and the girls will take care of them. And besides, they're much more than just friends, and they won't mind a bit. It's obvious that you have a problem." Diana just smiled at the two women and waited.

"We've got a problem all right." Virginia hesitated, looking toward Elizabeth.

"Go ahead. We agreed. We don't have anything much to lose except a little pride," Elizabeth said.

Virginia sniffed, fighting not to cry. Finally, "Oh, Hell. I don't know how to say it tactfully. I've screwed up my marriage. I've done something really stupid."

When she didn't immediately say anything else, Diana responded with, "Well, he's still with you. That's a good thing. What happened?"

"Uh ... he caught me making love..."

"Uh oh. Did he kill the guy?"

"Well ... no. You see it wasn't a guy ... It was Elizabeth."

Even Diana hadn't expected that, and she couldn't help but look at Elizabeth, who was now blushing a furious red.

Diana cleared her throat, not knowing what to say. "Uh, when did this start?"

"When I was thirteen," Elizabeth broke in. "We've always been lovers. We were inseparable even as little kids."

"Thirteen? Hmmm. And I take it that Quinton didn't know about this?"

"No," Virginia quietly said. "And he found out ... Uh, he walked in on us."

"Oh, boy. And what did he say?"

"Well, I guess we didn't, uh ... notice him for a while. He told us later that he had said something, but when we didn't respond, he..."

"Shot a fucking hole in the floor," Elizabeth interjected. "I'm surprised that we didn't pee on each other."

"He shot a hole in the floor?"

"Well, yeah," Virginia said, sounding a lot like she was defending her husband. "It was in the closet floor, though. He didn't threaten us or anything, just..."

"Just damn got our attention," Elizabeth finished for her.

Diana could barely keep her face straight, remembering how Virginia's jealousy showed when Joyce had kissed Quinton; knowing that he must have really been pissed. She couldn't help it; she just had to. "Uh, I guess you didn't invite him to join in?" she said, but the giggle got out a little, anyway.

Surprising Diana, Virginia didn't become hostile, but had a strange look on her face. "Catching us was bad enough, but that's probably not the worst thing I have done ... I've been a bitch to my husband ... Well, no, that isn't exactly right, I've treated him pretty well except for my jealousy and ... my withdrawal from lovemaking."

"'Withdrawal?'" Diana asked, her puzzlement evident.

Linda and Jennie pushed a serving cart into the room, interrupting them. The sisters looked at each other wondering how the girls had found them, apparently so easily. Linda hadn't. It was Jennie, of course.

Linda cut a small piece of cake for each of the women while Jennie asked what they wanted to drink. When everyone was served, both girls hugged Virginia and Elizabeth. As they started to leave, Jennie turned to the sisters, and with utmost conviction, said, "Whatever is wrong, my sister-wife will fix it. Just have faith."

Hand in hand the two girls left.

Embarrassed, Diana repeated, "Withdrawal?"

"Yeah," Virginia agreed. "I guess I went off the deep end. After Scott died, I, uh ... felt guilty when Quinton and I made love..."

"Are you saying that you had an affair with Elizabeth's husband and after he died you felt guilty when you made love to Quinton?"

"Oh, goodness no," Virginia quickly said, shaking her head. "Oh, he was a great guy, and we were close, but just as family. It never crossed my mind to do anything with him, and I'm sure he felt the same way about me. It ... oh, hell, I can't explain it. It just was. I just felt guilty because I loved sex so much and Elizabeth couldn't experience it with her man any longer. I started acting like ... I don't know. I just wouldn't allow myself to respond to Quinton any longer. I guess, I more or less, just lay there."

Virginia toyed with her cake, taking a small bite, but not even tasting it.

"And he put up with that?" Diana asked, trying to keep the look of incredulity off her face. "He didn't comment or ask you about it?"

"Oh, yeah, many times, but I just told him ... inane things, until he mostly quit asking."

"And this went on for how long?"

"Close to five years ... And I became more and more jealous," she said, staring at her feet. Then after a silence, "I knew I was messing up, but I just couldn't seem to get over it. I guess I expected that he would start running around on me sooner or later. Heck, I'm amazed that he didn't. But it was like ... I don't know. Like I was sick or something. I just couldn't respond to him. Every time he started making love to me, I always thought about Elizabeth and how lonely she was, and something just froze up inside me. I know it doesn't make sense. I ... just couldn't seem to respond without feeling like ... Oh, hell, I don't know."

"And all this time you and Elizabeth were making love?"

"Yeah," they both said.

Diana finally took a bite of the cake, then leaning back in her chair, she let her breath escape with a slight whistling sound. "My first thought is that your husband is a pussy for putting up with that for five years, but I don't think that fits Quinton under any circumstances. I'm sure he's an Alpha. So that just leaves someone that loves you; loves you a whole lot."

Tears were now freely rolling down both of the sister's faces. Diana handed them a napkin each from the serving cart. "So how are you going to fix it?" she asked, taking a sip of her coffee.

"I don't know," Virginia almost wailed. "He's going to move out of our bedroom. He said he wouldn't divorce me, though. We could each live our own separate lives. I... we begged him to not make a hasty decision, but he's pissed. I mean, really pissed. And he's hurt, too. Oh, Diana, we don't know what to do. That's the reason we came to you. I mean, there are seven of you..."

"Nine, or will be soon," Diana interjected.

"Uh, nine. I mean ... well, we don't know how to do this. We all found out that we were in love with each other. Uh ... I mean, while we were sitting on the couch crying, with Quinton sitting between us just staring into space, we found out that Quinton and Elizabeth had been in love for years, even before Elizabeth married Scott. I think that love is the only way I can keep him, but I'm so ... jealous that I can't even think about him..."

"Fucking someone else," Diana bluntly said. "But it's okay for you and your sister to fuck," she continued for the shock value. "Doesn't seem entirely fair, now does it?"

The women sat for a moment just thinking. Diana looked at Elizabeth. "And you knew about this?"

Elizabeth sighed. "I knew that they were having trouble, and I knew that Virginia had embarrassed him when she walked in when he and some woman were eating lunch together at one of the functions where Quinton gives talks. But I didn't know that she ... felt guilty when she made love to her husband. I honestly didn't know that."