Chapter 17: Reality Check

Despite the knowledge that this may be our last night together for a very long time, we slept well. I woke up at about my normal time and went back to my room to get my running clothes on. Considering what was on the schedule for the morning I took my shortest track, just something to wake me up. Everyone was still sleeping when I got back so I just did a couple of quick stretches, started the coffee, and hit the shower. Mom passed me just as I came out of the bathroom.

"Good morning, sweetie," she said, kissing me lightly on the cheek.

"Morning, Mom, coffee's ready." I shook my head as she walked away. It was like nothing had happened. I continued on into my room and got dressed for school. I heard the shower come on again and figured Allison was up. For just a second I wished I were in there with her. Down Boy! This was definitely not the time.

I made sure I had all of my homework organized and packed my books up for the trip to school. Then I scooped up the dirty sheets from last night along with Allison's stuff and piled it all in my chair so that I could get it into the washer after school. One rule around our house was that laundry did not belong on the floor, not even dirty laundry. In the washer, in a hamper, in a closet, anywhere but the floor. Mom's idea was that dirty laundry should be in your way so you would be motivated to get it washed. It didn't matter if it was in my way, if it was on the floor it might be in her way, and that was a bad thing. Then it was time.

I headed down the hall into the kitchen for my usual orange juice and toast. Surprise! There was a pan of those pop-up cinnamon rolls fresh out of the oven. Last meal for the condemned? If so, then don't waste it. I grabbed a small plate and snagged a couple. Of course you can't properly appreciate fresh cinnamon rolls with orange juice, and I'm not really a coffee person, so I poured a couple of glasses of milk. One for me and one for Allison because I knew that is what she would want. What the heck, I got another plate and grabbed the last two rolls for her and took all of it to the table. Mom and Dad were talking quietly and sipping coffee. Allison came down the hall just as I sat down. She had her robe on and was toweling her hair.

"Ooh! Cinnamon rolls! Thanks Mom!" She kissed both parents on the cheek. "Good morning, Daddy; thanks Jimmy." She kissed me on the cheek as well and sat in the empty chair. She indicated her robe. "I didn't want to keep you waiting, I can finish after Jimmy leaves for school."

Dad started, "Good morning, sugar. Thanks for thinking of us. Okay, so, I guess it's safe to say that you to have discovered the joys of physical intimacy, and, now that you know that we know, you are wondering what is going to happen. After the other morning I guess we should have had this conversation sooner but with everything going on over the weekend; with company here, and then Allison spending the night at Shannon's, time sort of got away from us. But here we are anyway. So, there are several different lectures to choose from. I assume you know what society in general thinks of siblings having sex? There are few social taboos or stigmas that carry the weight of incest, whether it is siblings or parent-child. Then there is the whole pre-marital sex is a sin talk. You are both bright enough to know the physical consequences so we'll give you the benefit of the doubt and skip the birth control lecture. So do you want to choose one to start with or take what's behind curtain number one?"

Mom cut in, "You're dating yourself dear, they aren't old enough to remember 'Let's Make a Deal'"

"You're right, sorry. Okay, here it is. You are not... (pause for emphasis)... going... (again)... to hear any of that from either of us."

Allison and I just sat there looking very stunned.

Dad waited for our mouths to close before continuing, "We've known, or at least suspected that this was coming for a long time. You two have been so incredibly close practically since Allison came home from the hospital. I lost count of the times we found Jimmy asleep in your room when you were little. I don't think you've ever had a fight. You've had some pretty serious arguments over the years, and while some were pretty serious, always by the next day they were forgotten and forgiven. It was just a matter of time until this happened."

Dad just looked at Mom for a second then squeezed her hand and got up and walked out. It seemed very strange. Once he had made it down the hall and the bedroom door closed, Mom continued.

"There is more that you need to know, but I will have to tell you because your father can't. The most important thing you need to know is that I am not the love of your father's life."