Chapter 9

Sheila comes ‘a callin’

The thought, better the question going through a few minds that morning was. ‘Did anyone tell Sheila that Jen and Jennifer was the same person?’

Everyone was certain that she knew, she must know, somebody had to have told her, right?

Not even close enough for horseshoes or hand grenades. When Sheila shrieked and hugged Jen/Jennifer, even poor old Ben got the feeling they had met before. Add that to the call from Steve, the ‘lost weekend’ and all sorts of thoughts were running through his mind. That even in his imagination, whatever he might envision was not even close to reality.

Jen and Sheila were holding each other but turned towards Ben. Both must have been avid sportsmen since with their mouths open they must have been trying to catch flies.

“Just what exactly did you ‘account’ for Mrs. Morris, at your old job?”

“I’m so sorry Ben, I just never knew or expected that Jen and Jennifer was the same person, when we were on the boat, Steve never said...”

“Daddy, we never told Sheila that I was Me, I mean that when she saw you or Jen that she was me ... Oh whatever, we just...”

“Well Yes, I see ... Little details like that can just get pushed aside when your having fun, you did have fun I assume Jen? Anything else slip your mind, Hon?

“Well, a few things, but both of us caught big fish. In fact all of us did except Steve, I think we all kept him too busy to fish he...”

“Too much information Jen.” Poor Ben went on and on about that as long as she was living in his house he expected to at least know where she was, that she was safe and that her business life had no bearing on her personal life. If she and this Sheila had some relationship going then at least...”

“No Daddy, Sheila and I both are in the harem, Mistress Mandy allows all of us to share Steve and...”

“Mistress Mandy, harem, who is Mistress Mandy?”

“She is my daughter, in the harem I am sometimes Debbie and...”

“You daughter! Would somebody please tell me what is going on, please.”

The phrase ‘mile a minute’ could be modified to 10,000 words a minute as now the two started to relate what transpired since Friday, well most of it. Trying to listen in stereo was almost an exercise in futility. Jennifer ended up almost in tears; Sheila wanted to curl up in a ball and hide, until Jennifer started with almost an identical approach that Mary had used on her Dad.

“Dad, have I ever lied to you?” “No, at least if I don’t count that time you were 5 and said you did not break my golf club digging holes.”

“Do you trust me?”

“Yes. Maybe! Should I?”

“Yes! Do you trust Steve?”

“I’m still here, God help me, and I must!”

“If I told you that I am moving in with Steve, with Sheila, with a dozen others at his house, all ‘real’ friends and that I am happy for the first time since Mom died, would you be fine with that?”

With tears in his eyes, he answered her, “Yes”.

“Ok then, let’s move on to the business part. Mrs. Morris here wants to join the Water Works; you had a meeting set to interview her, so get to it Mr. CEO, I will try to keep the place running while you do that. Remember, just a job interview, don’t try sweet-talking her with that ‘Southern Charm’, you got it Boss?

The score women 4 or 6 men Nil. Ben just shook his head as he asked Jennifer to get Sheila signed up, an office and introduce her around her new domain. These men were not dumb; they knew the women were in-charge. “Oh to be young again’ Ben thought.