Chapter 43

George was fairly calm and collected now, sipping his coffee and munching a tiny pastry or two. He smiled widely and howdied Jaycee, Delphine, Cécile, and Adèle when they came in, but that was about it for George and calm. As Fawne, Abella, Babette, Nanine, Giselle, Kamille, Silana, and Trinette followed pretty much single file, George's eyes got bigger and bigger.

He was silent as Cécile began the introductions and his mouth was back to hanging open. He finally snapped it shut when Meka started giggling at him, and then pointing. He couldn't decide which one of them to look at, but finally he got out a question more or less aimed at Babette.

"Just how did you meet John?"

"The night after John used his beheading machine on our husbands," Babette said, starting her explanation and including Abella with a casual wave of her hand, "we were moved from our homes into John's fabulous new one during our sleep. We met him at breakfast the next morning. Fawne was kind enough to introduce us."

I could tell that George was still stuck somewhere around the beheading machine and was probably wishing he hadn't asked a damned thing. The others could tell it too, and a couple of them didn't ease up on him at all.

"Yes, it was quite a surprise when we woke in a different house, and what a house too. I've not seen one that is five stories tall, even in Paris," Abella said.

"Oh, and when we moved to his bed that night I was amazed at the size of it. It is the biggest bed I've ever seen by far," Silana said.

Before they could get George completely bumfuzzled his cell phone rang. I had no doubt that it was Ethel.

"Hello."

"We're having a cup of coffee and a few pastries."

"Well Ethel, you might think you have things ready for breakfast, but I have a little surprise for you. In fact I have eight surprises for you."

"Well I would tell you what I meant if you'd give me five seconds to get it out. John has picked up eight more lady friends while he was visiting France and so you'd better find a few more leaves for the table."

"I know that, so I guess you'd better scout up a bigger one."

"I will, and if you need more time just call back," George said, before hanging up.

"Problems George?" I asked.

"Not really. Ethel has her panties in a wad wanting to get on with breakfast. She wants to hurry things where she can see Meka and asks you questions faster. Don't you dare tell her about the decapitator unless I'm right there to see it," George said.

"Oh we'll make sure you're there. If she doesn't have enough room for us we can eat here and then come down. I've got plenty of room now. Maybe you should call all them down here for breakfast," I said.

"Not on your life. If you want to invite us down for a meal I'm all for it, but I ain't lettin' Ethel off that easy this morning. She done it to herself after all," he said, and then laughed.

"Granny Ethel scalp you if she hear," Meka said, grinning.

"Don't I know it? You wouldn't tell on Grampa would ya?"

"I no tell, but she get you anyway. For something," Meka said, grinning again and even wider this time.

"You're gettin' too smart for my good," George said.

"She is that," I said.

"Ya know, these new folks are a real welcome surprise, but they might put a kink in some of Ethel's plans for ya," George said.

"How's that?"

"She's done called that Janice again and hired her to move here. I think she was trying to stock your bedroom for ya," he said, and then blushed.

"We need her, whoever she may be. John showed us that he is too much for all of us," Babette said, lying too - I hadn't touched a one of the daughters, yet.

That was it for George, he didn't say another word while we were having coffee, but about fifteen minutes later he said Ethel probably had breakfast ready by now.

I'd been sitting on my big ass, all fat and happy and had forgotten to get something to take us up to George's house in. I let Meka and Jaycee lead the girls to the front door while I went to get the limo. I hoped it had room for all of us.

I needn't have worried. It was longer when I got to it and there was plenty of room now if there hadn't been before. Of course the new arrivals were speechless when I drove up and parked. Jaycee and Meka herded them into it without much trouble though and soon enough we made it to Ethel's back door.

"This is wonderful," Abella said as we pulled up to George's back door, "no gates or walls to bother with. It makes everything seem so much more friendly."

"In a way I guess it is. At least we don't have any men riding around on horses with spears and arrows," Jaycee told her.

Ethel was out of the house before any of us could get out of the limo and George had to hurry out of his pickup to keep from missing the revelation. I just know that Jaycee put them up to it, but all the newbies got out of the Limo first. Eight women and girls got out, one at a time, before anyone that Ethel even knew made an appearance. She was flabbergasted, and for once, speechless.

I thought Meka was probably feeling sorry for poor Ethel for a second, because she and Tutsie bailed out next and she ran to Ethel to be picked up. Then I learned the truth.

"Granny, look how many new mommies Daddy got for me. You should see how big the bed we sleep in is now," Meka said, and butter wouldn't have melted in her mouth.

For a second there I thought Ethel was going to faint, but she stiffened up and let Meka introduce them to her. Meka was just finishing up with Fawne when Jaycee, Cécile, Adèle, and Delphine got out. Yes, I dragged up at the last, but I needn't have worried. Meka had Ethel firmly under control by then.

We all trooped into the house and headed for the kitchen. I don't know where she got the table, but there was one in place now that could seat us all, including George's ranch hands. After a minute I figured it must have been just another table butted up against the original one, because there were tablecloths in place now and we usually didn't have them for breakfast.

I felt sorry for Ethel, Geneva, and Carolyn at first, it was a lot of people to serve, but Cécile, Adèle, and Delphine didn't even sit, they decided since they were old hands here they'd help out. Jaycee tried too but they wouldn't let her.

"You worked very hard killing those knights and archers Jaycee, and we will not forget it. Next time we come we will bring several of the maids with us. There is plenty of room for them in the long carriage," Delphine said.

"Maids?" Ethel asked, and her voice nearly trembled.

"Yes, John brought back the dozen maids from his new castle and six cooks and a few helpers too. He will have to invite you down to show them off right away," Fawne said, and it was a good thing she spoke up, cause I didn't have any idea how many maids, cooks, and helpers had made the trip.

"Harriette was very surprised that the new kitchen was so much like the last one in France, but so much nicer too. She and Francine are very happy," Adèle said, piling on in my estimation, but it was fun.

"Francine? Harriette?" Ethel asked, looking dazed.

"Yes. Francine is the mistress of the maids and Harriette is the head cook. They were surprised this morning but they recovered and got to work much faster than the two grooms and their families. They were shocked to have such wonderful new houses. Alas their wives were confused with their kitchens so Harriette sent one of the cooks to each of the houses to show the poor women how things worked," Fawne said.