Chapter One - The Feral Princess - Charles Fornau

“Charlie, could you take Sandy to her softball games tomorrow? I have a weekend training seminar at the office, and I can’t find her father. The girls have an all-day double elimination thing in Brookfield. We need to get her to school, then the bus will take them to the tournament, but I’d rather she wasn’t there alone.”

“Yeah, Sharon, if it’s okay with her, I’ll be happy to take her. Check with her and let me know. Nothing like spending the day with a bunch of teenaged girls that would rather you weren’t there.” I snickered, and she laughed.

“I already asked her, and she said if you don’t mind, she would actually like you to be there. Hopefully she won’t bother you with all those silly technical questions and such.”

“It’s not the questions about work and things I mind, Sharon. It’s just that I get the feeling she doesn’t really like me.”

“Trust me, Charlie, that is NOT the problem. She’s just a spoiled rotten little girl and doesn’t quite know what she wants in this world.”

I heard in the background, “Moooommmmm, stoooooppp. He already thinks I’m just a little girl. Don’t make it any worse.”

Oh, crap. I don’t think I was supposed to hear that. I didn’t let on.

Sharon continued, “Anyway, she would like you to be there, if you don’t mind. I certainly can’t make it,” her voice dropped to a whisper, “and butthead is nowhere to be found.” I heard her clear her throat, then continue normally, “In any case, I’ll give you money for gas. It’s quite a hike. You can sign her out of the bus ride home since the school has you down as an emergency contact after that car accident thing.”

Sandy was hit by a car while playing with some friends out in the street in front of my house after school one day. It was quite a long time ago, but still fresh in our memories, scaring the crap out of just about everyone. I called 911 and got her to the hospital, and she was OK, but we were all pretty frightened for a few hours. Little girls and cars don’t play well together in the street. I kept a closer eye on the street after that.

“Don’t worry about the gas money. I’ll take it out in another dinner someday. You are a pretty decent provider when it comes around mealtime, Sharon. Your daughter ain’t no slouch either. Anyway, don’t worry about it. What time do we need to leave?”

“Eight-ish. I’ll have her on your doorstep before that. The bus leaves school at eight-thirty. Thanks, Charlie, you’re a life saver.”

“No sweat, Sharon. It’s all good. We’ll talk later.”

Well, another wonderful weekend with a cute little tomboy redhead that I’d rather was a friend than a… I didn’t know what she was, but before I heard what I heard, I thought she didn’t care for me. In fact, I thought she considered me a dirty old man and tried to avoid me, for the most part. I really wish she did like me. I certainly would’ve liked to like her. I guess I already liked her. I also really wish she had been a little older. But then, between what Sharon said, and what I heard Sandy pipe off in the background, maybe we could at least be friends. At least civil. Even though… ‘Stop, Charlie’, I told myself. ‘Get real.’ Maybe I really am a dirty old man. Speaking of civil, I hoped she wasn’t busy Sunday afternoon. The lawn needed mowing, and my leg was killing me.

My name is Charlie Carter. I’m an electronics engineer for a little aerospace firm and I deal mostly with projects no one talks about. I’m also… I WAS also a Major in the Air Force Reserves and was shot recently on a deployment to an unmentionable place with unsafe airspace over an unforgiving land. Silly me, I thought it would be okay to fly a little fighter jet with a bomb on it across an area engulfed in civil war. During a low pinpoint bomb run, a very, very lucky shot came through a weak place in the hull of my aircraft, lodging a bullet into the thigh bone on my left leg. Talk about painful! Bruised bones are bad enough. Just prick your finger really deep with a needle sometime. But this was an AK-47 round, and it stopped once it hit the bone, breaking through just enough to split it, but not break out the other side. My doctors were amazed. So was General Dynamics. They were in awe of the path of the bullet. It had just enough energy to pierce the hull, my flight suit, my skin, my thigh muscle, and my thigh bone, each and every one at their thinnest and weakest points. The perfect shot. The aircraft cockpit wouldn’t stay pressurized, but that was the only damage, I mean other than the little third of an inch wide hole. I came very close to passing out from the pain, but my wingman was watching out for his squadron commander, namely me, and I had a three-aircraft escort watching me, talking to me, keeping me laughing while I got the plane back to base and on the ground.

I was told by our wing commander, after he found out what exactly had happened, that he wouldn’t have blamed me for punching out as soon we were over friendly territory. The doctors had explained what the pain was like each time my leg moved, let alone put pressure on it. I thanked him for his understanding but told him my savings account was just a tad shy of twenty-five million dollars, so I wouldn’t have been able to replace it, had I let it land nose first in the desert. Two generals, two colonels, and a cute nurse all laughed at that one. Damn, it hurt when I did. When I laughed, I mean. Ouch.

One Distinguished Flying Cross, One Purple Heart, another Oak Leaf Cluster on my Air Medal, and a Meritorious Service Medal for my work as commander of the unit, as well as the reality of a placement on active duty and a subsequent full retirement medical discharge, and I was on the way home. Charles Carter, Major, USAF, Retired. And bored. I love to fly, and the doctors say it could be another four to six months until I can start again. Putting pressure on the pedals would be killer for quite a long while.

I’ve lived here for about six or seven years. It was my parents’ house. Nice neighborhood. They moved here during my first year in the service, and after both of them became ill with some nasty virus they picked up doing mission work in Ghana, I left active duty, and went with the Reserves, so I could come home and be with them. They didn’t recover, and I didn’t move. The reserves gave me what I craved, and I was able to keep things going here with what my parents left me. That included our privately owned company where I worked, and played, as an engineer.

So, where were we? Oh, yeah. Sandy was a cute little redheaded high school junior living next door. She was quite a tomboy at heart and had been helping me take care of my yard and pool and such since I got home from “the incident”. I mentioned before that I didn’t think she liked me, but she did find time to pick up twenty or thirty bucks here and there that the neighbor guy might part with if she did a little yard work. Then, she’d hightail it out and I wouldn’t see her, unless I was invited over for dinner or something.

Sharon, her mother, had a tendency to baby me a bit, bringing me sweets, or meal fixings, or inviting me over for dinner to make sure I ate properly and all. She explained once that her father was a pilot in Vietnam, F-4 Phantoms, and didn’t make it home. We had known each other since my parents bought the place, them becoming friends, or friendly neighbors anyway. Their ages and activities precluded much more than that. Mom and Dad were older, and running our company, and Sharon was a real estate broker, always running here and there at odd hours. She was married to Sandy’s father when I first met her, but that relationship was on the downhill slide I heard later, and when I left the service and came home, she was alone with Sandy, and he was an ‘every other weekend’ visitor. Sharon is about ten or so years older than me but doesn’t look it. If I were anyone else, I’d probably have a thing for her, but she’s a bit too outgoing for me. A little over the top. Hard to explain, unless you know someone like that, but suffice to say, as well as she has treated me and tried to take care of me, I would never pursue a woman like her.

She was pretty, though. Very pretty. Auburn hair, very well built, and wore clothes that made her look even better. You know, high heels, stockings, mid-thigh length pencil and skater skirts, and blouses tailored to accent her figure. Elegant looking, always. It probably helps in real estate to look good and present well.

Sandy was kind of the opposite. She was what most would call the ultimate tomboy. Long beautiful copper colored red hair. She was the consummate feral princess. Her hair was unkempt, shorts or jeans frayed, tennis shoes dirty, just an active kid that didn’t give a damn what they looked like. It was refreshing, at least to me. I had to admit she cleaned up well for church now and again, on the off chance I was graced with a glimpse of them leaving for that activity. She kept her hair in a ponytail for school and ball games, but in no uncertain terms did she attempt to be the classic princess. Nope. Feral was a good description. Wild, untamed, unconstrained by society. That was her appearance. Her nature and her mental capacity were otherwise. She was polite, if not a bit withdrawn around me, but when she asked a question, she really did want a good answer, and they generally weren’t trivial questions. She was bright. Let’s put it that way.

I got up at six-thirty, made breakfast for myself, opening the door to a little softball urchin at about a quarter ‘til eight.

“You hungry, Sandy?”

“No, thank you. I had some toast.”

It took me only a couple of minutes to make her some breakfast. “Eat these.” I put two over medium eggs, two pieces of bacon I hadn’t yet eaten, and two more pieces of toast in front of her by the breakfast bar. “Don’t argue. You can’t play ball this morning on toast, and we’ll feed you after the first couple of games. You guys expect to win at least a couple today, don’t you?” She nodded and dug in. She knew that I knew she needed to eat and didn’t argue. Thankfully. When she gets stubborn, which is seldom, and so far never with me, she doesn’t back down.

“Thank you. I didn’t have time to eat more than that and was going to get something there.”

“You’re welcome, but you need that digested a bit before you start in with ball this morning. You ready?” Again, she nodded and out to the garage we went. “You want to drive? Still on your permit or do you have your license now?”

“Permit still, but soon. I will if you want me to.”

“Truck or car?”

“Truck, if it’s OK. I’m afraid of your car, Charlie. You know that. We had this discussion a month ago and a month before that.” This time I nodded and pitched her the keys to the truck. We went out to the garage where she threw her bag up in the back seat and climbed in. I was amazed she could see over the dash or reach the pedals, but she did. She’d driven it several times before when I was hurting so badly that I needed help. It’s my left leg, and I drive automatics, but still, I had issues.

The car she was worried about was a gull wing Mercedes SLS AMG, a 2010 model that my father had ordered and paid for. He didn’t live to see it delivered, but I figured ‘what the hell’, and kept it. It’s a wonderful ride. Reminds me of him. We were pretty close. The only thing we ever argued about was me going off and joining the Air Force, but he caved in on that subject, and we got along well afterwards. Anyway, Sandy had only driven it once. While that’s fine with me, it did need to be taken out occasionally and I thought she’d enjoy it. The truck was much easier on my leg, so no problem.

We got to the school where the bus was waiting. She was early, but she jumped down out of the cab and before she left to join her team, she turned and thanked me. “I do appreciate this. It’s more fun to play if Mom or you are watching. Thank you.” I nodded and mouthed ‘you’re welcome’ getting a smile. Maybe I was growing on her.

I followed the bus and since they have to park the buses so far away from the ball fields, I pulled up next to the bus, told all the girls to throw their gear in and tell me where to take it. Luckily, they were going to be warming up near the handicapped parking area, so I just pulled in there and waited. I was reaching for my blue tag to hang up on the mirror when a guy came over, knocked on the window and when I rolled it down, told me to move the truck. He was extremely rude.

“I’ll not be moving the truck. And please mind your manners, if not your own business. No one deserves to be talked to that way.” I hung the tag on the rearview mirror, and told him, “Move away from the truck.” He stepped back. I opened the door and carefully got down then walked around the truck. I tried not to limp, but it was impossible. I opened the tailgate, then the back door while he was standing there. The girls showed up and started grabbing their gear. Sandy was looking at him, then at me, a bit on the frightened side. I looked at him. “It’s for me. The tag. It’s probably temporary. I certainly hope so. It may not look like it, but I have a hole in my thigh bone the exact size of an AK-47 round. I’d love to show you what one feels like. I really would.”

He grunted an apology and walked away. “Sorry, Sandy. Rough morning. You wanna make a few bucks tomorrow?” I asked her. She nodded, hugged me, then grabbed her bag and walked away. Not a word. She’s rarely, if ever, seen me upset, and when they walked up, I’ll bet I looked like I was going to kill that guy. I thought then that the hug was a bit more than the cursory ‘see ya later’ hug I normally get from her but didn’t spend much time on it. Probably my dirty old man imagination.

The girls won. Four games straight and took first in the tournament. Nice trophy. That would look good in the school hallway. The high school has a long and storied past with sports. I graduated from there many, many moons, more like many, many summers past.

I signed Sandy out on the sheet the coach had, we bid our farewells, and off toward home we went. She was driving.

“Hungry?”

She nodded.

“What for?”

“Italian. Why were you so mad at that guy? I’ve never seen that look on your face before, Charlie. It scared me.”

“He assumed I didn’t belong there. He was rude. Very rude. Inhumanly rude. I wanted him to work on his people skills. I need to do that today, myself. My leg hurts like a big hippo booger.”

“Gross. Remind me not to ask again. Jeez, now all I’ll think of all night is large chunks of dried animal snot. Yuck!” She laughed, getting what she wanted. A smile from her next-door neighbor.

“I’m sorry for the terrible vision, my dear, and for being such a boor today. I’m not generally that way, but you already know that. Pain does strange things to people. I’m evidently not immune. Good playing today, by the way. Good enough that if you can help with my yard tomorrow, I’ll take you to the cages if you want.”

“If you’re sure you want to, I’d like that.”

“Sandy, can I be serious for a minute?” We were pulling into the Olive Garden parking lot.

“Sure.”

“Why don’t you like me very much? You seem to want to get away from me as fast as you can. Help me and run, talk and run, just… It seems like you don’t want to be around me much.”

She giggled. “Charlie, are you gay?”

“No, I don’t think so.”

“Good. Then you’re just stupid. Take me inside for dinner. We’ll talk later, all right?” She smiled at me. I could tell she didn’t mean it maliciously. I nodded, smiling in return. We dismounted and went in to eat. We were playing with our salads when she broke the silence. “Charlie, have you ever wanted something you couldn’t have?”

“Sure. I want my own plane, but I have to rent one, for now, if and when they let me fly again.”

“There is something I want, too. Very badly, but I can’t have it. I’m too young to have one, but I’m afraid if I wait, it won’t be there when I’m ready.” As she looked directly into my eyes, a tear fell from each of hers, and the heavens opened up and angels sang. In perfect 40-part harmony, I heard them singing, “You are so effing stupid, Charlie.” The sound was beautiful. The message was head on, brick wall, face first, detrimental to my wellbeing. I was a dolt.

“Sandy, me?” She nodded, then sat back, looked down and a few more tears fell. I changed sides of the booth we were in and sat next to her, putting my arm around her and just pulling her into me. She slumped toward me, so it worked. I held and rocked a bit and kissed the top of her head. No, it didn’t smell like strawberries and peaches. She’d been playing ball all day. It smelled like a girl. A woman. It smelled like Sandy. The first time I’d really smelled her. I prayed, right then, it wouldn’t be the last.

“Go. Eat. I’m fine. You didn’t shit your pants or run. I’m fine. Please don’t shit your pants or run, Charlie. Please? Not until we talk? Please? I’ll mow your damned lawn for free tomorrow if you’ll just listen and not push me away. That’s all I ask. Just talk to me.”

“I promise. We’ll talk. Wow.” Dinner was quiet after that, but I made a point to hold her hand on the way back out to the truck. She looked up at me and smiled when I took it. I helped her up on the driver’s side then went around and got in myself.

“Is your leg feeling any better?”

“Yeah, a little. I think it needs some ice or heat or something.”

“Let’s go home and I’ll see if I can help. We’ll find something. Mom will know what to do. Did you know she was a nurse before she got interested in real estate?”

“No, doll, I had no idea.”

“Don’t use endearments unless you mean them, Charlie. I’m an impressionable little girl on the cusp of womanhood and you are flirting with danger.”

“I know, honey. I know.”

“If you’re not being a smart ass, I might as well get this out of the way. Charlie, I love you. I have for a year or so. When you came home hurt, I cried for weeks. Mom almost had me medicated. I’ve been dying inside. She told me you are retired now, so I assume you won’t be going off to war anymore. I almost lost the one thing in the world besides her that I care about. Dad is slipping in the rankings. The last few months have been absolute murder. Not being able to tell you how much it hurt me to find out that you were injured. I’m sorry. This isn’t about me. Entirely. It is somewhat, but not entirely. We’ll be home soon. Are you OK?”

“Yes, doll. I’m fine. I hurt, but I’m fine.”

“Please, at least think about this. Me. Us. If it can even be possible. I don’t know if you feel anywhere close about me like I do for you, but I’ve been enthralled, maybe more so enraptured, by you since you came home from the trip before the last one. Before that it was just infatuation with the cute guy next door who just happened to be a pilot and had a neat car. It got worse when I found out the difference between a girl and a woman and a boy and a man. When I found out you were leaving again, I wanted to say something, but I chickened out. I almost lost my chance. I almost lost you. I am so happy you asked me why I don’t like you. So happy. I guess maybe that explains it? Maybe? You can ask… You can tell me to shut up anytime now.”

“No.”

“No? Already?” she managed, her voice faltering.

“No, don’t shut up.”

“Oh. You scared me.”

“I seem to be doing that a lot lately. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize. I just need to know more about you. That look, though. I thought you were going to reach out and choke him dead.”

“No. Too much effort. I would probably just have screamed like a little girl that the man was raping me. After all, my girlfriend thinks I’m gay.” She laughed so hard she almost didn’t get the truck in the garage, but she made it. When asked her to, she ran inside for a couple cans of beer, then walked me over to her house.

“I didn’t really think you were gay. I’ve never seen you with a guy. I thought you were just asexual. None. You know, just doing without. I’ve never seen you with anyone, come to think of it.”

“I don’t spend much time thinking about it, sweetie.”

“That needs to change… Now. You need to think and think and think, then tell me if I’m going to cry myself to sleep tonight.”

“Not because of me, doll. Not because of me.” As we walked in the door, Sharon looked at us holding hands and smiled.

“What’s going on, kids?”

Sandy opened up, telling her mom what was going on with my leg and handing her a to-go box of shrimp scampi. I know which side of the bread my butter is on. “Mom, Charlie said his leg has been bothering him for the last couple of days. He almost killed the grumpy old grounds keeper at the ballpark this morning. I really thought he was going to… Never mind. Heat, ice, massage, or both.” She started laughing. “Or all three?” The laughing continued.

“Let me look at it.” Right there on their couch, in the family room, before I could protest, Sandy undid my belt, the button, the zipper, and making sure my boxers didn’t come with them, pulled my pants down. She sat me down and pulled off my shoes, then my jeans.

“Ummmmm.” I was about to protest.

“Hush. She just needs to see your leg. I’m not raping you, little gay boy. Or girl. Or whatever.” She giggled.

Sharon asked, “What? What was all that about?”

“Well, I thought Charlie might choke that guy, but he said it would be too much trouble and he might just squeal and holler rape since I thought he was gay.”

“But you don’t think he’s gay.”

“I know, Mom, it was part of a bigger conversation. The game is over, though. The conversation lasted quite a while. I told him tonight how I felt about him.”

“What did he say?”

“He told me that if I cried myself to sleep tonight, it wouldn’t be because of him. That was as specific as he’d get, though.”

Sharon dumped out the whole bucket of worms. “So, you two are done dancing around each other?”

“I am, Mom. I think he may need some time to digest the whole thing. Charlie, you can talk if you want.”

I had two women, yes, at this point, I was thinking of Sandy as a woman, holding my thigh, talking about me being a romantic interest of one of them. Talking was not one of the things I wanted to do right then. “My thigh hurts and I’m as much enamored with her as she is with me, by the sounds of it. Now, as the little girl asked, heat, ice, massage, or both?” Laughter ensued. Sharon left the room, coming back with a heating pad and a towel. She had Sandy plug the pad controller in, laid the towel across and under my thigh and sat me back so the pad could be placed over the affected area. It took a few minutes, but the warmth started to build and feel absolutely wonderful. Sandy sat next to me, still holding my hand. Letting go, she opened one of my beers, took a sip, and handed it to me.

“I’ll put this one in the fridge and get you a can cozy. Stay there.”

“I’m not going anywhere, dear.” She and Sharon both giggled at my response.

“You OK with this, Charlie? She’s pretty young.”

“She’s sixteen. I know. I’m not going to hurt her, Sharon. I’m worried more about her moving on and leaving me behind after I fall so hard and so much in love with her that I can’t do without her. At this rate, that will probably be tomorrow.”

“I heard that, Charlie. I won’t want to move on. I know where I am and what I want. I’m old enough to marry in most states, and with Mom’s permission in this one. I’m not asking you to marry me, though. I’m just asking you to try to love me like I love you and think about the future. I’m not going to trouble you, stalk you, follow you, or call you constantly. I just want you to think about loving me like I love you.”

“This warmth feels so good. Sandy, I’ll go ahead now, in front of your mother. I think she knows. You never see me with anyone. I don’t date. I don’t run around. I don’t do pub crawls. I don’t do lots of things, but as your mother knows, I ask about you and volunteer to help you whenever I can. I want to be around you. I wish I had known how you hurt over my injury. Sharon, can I date your daughter? Can I have the chance to grow with her and prove to her that I’m smitten by her as well?”

“Yes, and if she throws you back, let me know. I’ll come after you.” She giggled.

“Moooommm! Noooooo! God, you’re terrible!” Sandy wrapped her arms around one of mine and kissed my shoulder. “Charlie, so you’ll be my boyfriend? Oh, and stay away from my mother. Ackkkk!” She laughed as well.

“Thank you, Sharon. Yes, Sandy, I will. Right after you mow my lawn tomorrow. You told me you’d do it for free if I’d listen and try. Is that just a onetime thing, or…” This time I chuckled. I got a fake pounding on my shoulder for my insolence. Right in front of her mother, I leaned over and gave my new girlfriend our first kiss. She wrapped her arms around my head and hugged it, then disappeared down the hall for a bit. “Seriously. Thank you. It’ll be nice to have a relationship with your daughter knowing you are aware. I won’t, can’t, hide anything from you about this. You need to know. Not the grisly details, but you need to know.”

“Yes, I do. Thanks.” There was a knock on the door. ‘Butthead’, I was certain. She went to answer the door. She opened it a bit, but didn’t invite him in. Words were exchanged then finally he entered the room.

“What’s he doing here?”

“Not really any of your business, Pete. She’ll be out in a minute. You can tell her ‘HI’ and then take off, please.” I could tell her patience was running a bit thin, and it was pretty obvious he had been drinking, so… No good could come of this if anyone pressed anything.

Sandy came down the hallway. “Hey, Dad. You missed a good tournament today. We won. Would have been nice to have you there. Mom had to work so the neighbor guy helped me out.”

“Yeah, I see. That’d be him over there with his pants off?”

Sharon laughed. “Yeah, with a heating pad on a bullet wound. Keep your nasty ideas to yourself, you silly, stupid man. Why don’t you take your father over to the living room and talk, honey? I don’t have time for his stupid jealousy anymore. Cheater, cheater, harlot eater. Just go and keep your trap shut, Pete.” She turned back to me. His eyes followed her and if looks could kill, I’d be dead, but Sandy pulled him into the other room, and they talked for a few minutes.

I heard the door open and close, then Sandy came back in. “He asked me if the asshole on the couch was dating my mother. I told him ‘No’.” She giggled. “I didn’t have the heart to tell him the truth… Yet. I will, though. Just a matter of time. This spring. Right after I turn seventeen. Then he can’t do anything about it. Mom, he’s getting on my nerves, too. I understand you try your hardest to get along, for me, but don’t try so hard. I’m old enough now to tell him to meet me away from here and not bother you.

“And yes, I know he’s been drinking. He asked more about you than he did my game today. He didn’t even apologize for missing it and had no reason at all why he didn’t answer the phone. I’ll bet you a dollar the new one dumped him and he’s lonely. I wouldn’t doubt it a bit. Oh, he wanted to know how long the neighbor guy had been here and how long he was staying. I can’t believe he forgot Charlie’s name. Anyway, I wanted you to know that. Why would he ask how long Charlie would be here, Mom? I didn’t answer him. Well, I said I don’t know, but that didn’t sound like a question he should be asking unless he was jealous or coming back tonight, or both. Yes, both. Two choices. I got it right this time!” Another giggle. So cute. “Speaking of drinking, let me have a sip of your beer.” She sipped on it. “You want the cold one? This one’s warm.” I nodded, and she finished off the one she was holding. All two or three ounces of it. She brought the other one out, put it in the cozy, and handed it to me.

“I can go home if you want,” I told them. “I’m sure it’s nothing, and I don’t want to cause a problem with the ex.” I wasn’t sure, but I thought it might make them feel better.

“No, on the contrary, Charlie. How would you like to sleep on the couch tonight? It’s really quite comfortable for a couch. I know a certain little teenaged girl that would probably volunteer to keep you company for a while. Charlie, while you were in wherever, flying over only God knows what, and I think once while you were in the hospital before you came home, Pete showed his ass a couple times. Once he came here drunk trying to get into the house to take me to dinner and the other time, he showed up late, and drunk, to visit with Sandy. He didn’t stop by for her. At least I don’t believe him. He was just checking on me,” Sharon said.

Sandy nodded at what her mother just said then told me, “Sorry, but it’s true. Dad is losing it. He needs help, but when I mention it, he tells me I’m just a child and to mind my own business. Stay here tonight, Charlie. If we’re wrong, we’re wrong, and I’ll make you breakfast. Win, win. Oh, Mom, should he change to ice? It’s been like thirty-five minutes.”

“Yes, honey. I’ll get it.” Sharon went into the kitchen.

Sandy straddled my right thigh in her shorts and tank top, placing her hands on my cheeks and kissed me a real, romantic, enticing kiss, ending with a lick, a swipe of her tongue across my lips. When her weight, centered with her crotch, settled on my thigh, I realized the situation. I had noticed, but not noted, that she had showered and changed. Now she did smell like strawberries or cucumbers, or something, but she smelled nice. Very nice.

“Charlie, stay with me tonight. Snuggle me on the couch. Wrap me up in your arms and fall asleep. I’m not asking too much, am I? It’ll make Mom feel a lot safer.”

“I feel like bait in a sting operation.”

“Don’t. Feel like the love hunk of a teenager and deal with it. I’d like you to stay.”

“I will.”

“Thanks. I love you, Charlie. Please believe that.”

Sharon came in with a big ice bag. Sandy took the heating pad off and Sharon replaced it with the cold wrap. “There. I’m going up to bed. I have the door alarm on, and it will wake me if anything rings, knocks, or pounds, so… Be good, kids. Ice for a half hour, then rest for the same time, then heat, then ice, for one more cycle of thirty-minutes of each. You’ll probably be asleep by then anyway. G’night.”

“Good night, Mom.”

“Night, Sharon. Thanks.”

Sandy pulled me down on the couch with my bad hip up, making it easy for her to change from ice to heat and back. She laid down in front of me, with her arms folded up, holding my neck and cheeks, and proceeded to kiss me. A lot. She kissed nicely. Softly. Gently. Lovingly. Then she just tucked her head into my neck, and said, “Thank you, Charlie. Thank you for giving me a chance.” I kissed her forehead, and we both fell asleep.

DING DONG. DING DONG. KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.

“Damn. Dad’s back. Crap. It’s eleven thirty. Should I call 911?”

Sharon came down. “No, not yet.” She went to the door. “Who’s there?”

“Your father. Open up.”

“Pete, you need to leave. I’m not letting you in, so you might as well go away.”

“Tell your mother to let me in.”

“Pete, this is Sharon. Leave, or I’m calling the police. You aren’t coming in. Go away.” She came over to me. “I should call the cops. If he drives like this he’s going to get killed or kill someone else.”

“I’ll do it.” Sandy went to the kitchen and used the land line house phone. “Yes, my mother’s ex-husband is drunk and trying to get into the house. If he drives away, he’ll get hurt or hurt someone else. (Pause.) Yes, he’s my father, but that’s not the issue here. And, no, I’m not letting him in to harass my mother. (Pause.) OK. Yes, that’s the address. (Pause.) Ten minutes? Sure. Just for fun, how long would it have been if he had a gun? Oh. OK. Tell them to hurry. Thanks.” She hung up. “Ten minutes if he had a gun, too. Charlie, will you buy Mom a gun? I’m not saying I want her to put holes in my father, but ten minutes is a long time.”

“Yes, doll, I will.”

“Pete, stay on the porch and sit down. We can talk through the door. How’re you doing these days? Work going OK?” Sharon was hollering at him, just trying to calm him until the police arrived. He mumbled something. “And your girlfriend? How’s she doing lately? She still working at the plant?” Then we heard him yell and he rang the doorbell again.

“Let me in. I need to talk to Sharon. Sandra, let me in.” That went on for a while, then we saw the lights flashing in the street. It was just under ten minutes. Like they say, when seconds count, the police will be there in just minutes. It was a few more minutes when the phone rang. Sandy answered it.

“A female police officer is going to knock on the door and wants to talk to us.” The knock came, and Sharon looked through the peep hole then opened it.

The uniformed woman introduced herself and asked Sharon and Sandy what was going on. She also asked who I was and why I was there. Whoa up!

“Officer, my name is Charlie, and I live next door, and you are getting into questions that have nothing to do with anything. I’d like to know why you are asking why I am here.”

“Mr. Ferguson is making the accusation that you were in here molesting these women,” the officer said.

Sharon started laughing. Sandy giggled. Sharon told her, “No more questions. I’m fifteen years his senior, which probably counts for nothing, but he’s certainly not molesting me. MISTER FERGUSON, as you called him, has no right to say what he did, and you are way out of line taking talk like that from a drunken ex-husband instead of just looking around at the people in front of you. HE got me out of bed,” she said, pointing toward the street. “Charlie was on the couch. End of conversation. I’m not going to explain that I was icing and heating his war wound because it’s none of your damned business. Add slander, libel, and filing a false claim to police to MISTER Ferguson’s list of charges and I’ll sign them. I’m done putting up with his crap. He’s ruined his own life. He’s trying to ruin mine, and he’ll wind up ruining his little girl’s if he’s left to do it. He beat on my door, drunk, in the middle of the night. He drove here. Think, lady. Really think about that, then do something with him, but he’s not my problem.”

“But ma’am…”

“But nothing. The woman is always right, correct? Isn’t that what everyone in the news has been saying lately? If I have to call my lawyer in the middle of the night, the city is going to pay for it, not me. The only thing anyone in this house has done tonight was wake up to his drunken pounding. Anything else?”

“No, Ma’am. Have a good night.” The officer left, the door closing behind her.

“Wow, Sharon. I’m impressed.” She came to Sandy and me and fell into us, shaking like a leaf.

“Baby, get your mom some water. I’m taking her upstairs.” I picked her up and carried her in my arms to her room. Jesus Christ, if that didn’t hurt. Laying her in her bed, I could tell she was emotionally drained.

“I’m sorry you had to witness that. When you questioned her question, I knew where you were going with it. I understood. I hope I did OK. That was funny, her questioning us about you molesting us. Sandy may be molesting you, but not the other way around. They don’t need to know that, though. None of their business.” Sandy handed her a glass of ice water. “Thank you, baby. Now you have TWO old people calling you baby. What to do, what to do? Hey, they both love you. Probably. I’m pretty sure of it, actually. Go back to sleep. I’m sure we’ll hear more about this in the morning.”

“Goodnight, Mom.” Sandy kissed her mother and pulled me back downstairs. My leg was feeling better, but the strain of delivering the hundred and thirty-pound beauty upstairs called out for heat, ice and sleep. I asked my girlfriend if she’d hang out and help me stay up until I got through a cycle. She put on a movie and snuggled up to me. I took that as a ‘yes’. She freshened up the ice bag after a half hour and after replacing the heat with it, fell asleep again, snuggling to my chest. Just before I fell asleep, I realized what had happened tonight. I mean over and above replacing the man in their lives. I had succumbed to the fact that I loved Sandra Ferguson, and she loved me. Why had I stayed celibate for the last six years? She would have been what, ten? Eleven? WHAT?? No one can know something like that. Not that far in advance. No one. I fell asleep wondering if she was my destiny or if I was just lucky enough to be here at the right time.

The smell of coffee and bacon woke me. The coffee was on the coffee table in front of me. The bacon must have been some really good stuff. That smell was permeating the house from the kitchen. I heard two voices. They were talking about me, so I just listened. My life as a single man was over.

Sandy came in to check on me. “Mom said one sugar, so hopefully it will be OK. I just brought it out a few minutes ago, so it should still be warm, if not hot. We’ll have breakfast in a bit. She thinks you need to restart your physical therapy, too. I can help if you like. I plan on being around for a while. You know, sixty, seventy years? If you’ll have me.” I smiled and nodded at her. “Good. I was hoping yesterday really happened.”

“It did. Tell your mother thank you, and I will follow her advice, and accept your offer of assistance. Let me get up on this thing and check it out. It does feel better.” I stood up and really did feel a difference. The heat and cold reset it, or something. Sharon was right, though. I’d go back to the hospital and check with the PT folks. I hated it. They say it stands for Physical Therapy, but it’s really Pain and Torture. They find the most sadistic people they can and train them in the art of causing pain, and thankfully, healing. The healing is a sideline for them, but… Let’s just say it’s a tough job and they don’t expect many Christmas cards. But, with pain comes gain. Just ask any football coach.

Sandy took my hand and into the kitchen we went, with me walking pretty much normally. I didn’t feel the need to favor my left leg at all. Sharon turned around as I passed the stove. She hugged me, kissed me gently and briefly and said, “Thank you for last night. You have no idea how much I appreciate you being here for me. For us. Yes, for us. He’s going to cause problems for his daughter if he’s not careful. I dread that thought, but who knows.”

“You’re welcome, Sharon, and now that I know what’s going on, I can help out a little more. It’s always the guy that’s the last to know, according to the romance novels, so I’m in that category. At least, now, I know. Thank you for letting Sandy and I look at the future together.” Sandy looked up at me and smiled. She puckered for a kiss, getting one.

“Awwww. So cute. Charlie’s got a girlfriend, Charlie’s got a girlfriend.” Sharon used a sing song voice.

“Mooommmm. Stooopp!” They both laughed.

I pulled Sharon into a three-way hug. “Thanks, guys.”

The sun came out, the dew on the grass dried off, and Sandy went over to my house and drove the tractor around in squares and circles. She weed whacked, too, figuring that would set my leg back. I had to do something for her. Something better than the batting cages. She was putting the blower away after clearing off the drive and the sidewalk. “Sandy, are you free tonight?”

“Yeah. I finished all my homework and stuff on Friday. I wanted the weekend off. Why?”

“I would like to take you out tonight. Dinner and a movie?”

“Dress?”

“Definitely.”

“Charlie, stop. I’m being serious. A real date?” I nodded. “How do you want me to dress?

“Something nice? A dress actually sounds good. I need to present my new girlfriend to society.”

“OK. Come on, let’s go tell Mom and check to see what’s playing. She told me you and she talked, and there would be no secrets or surprises. I hope that’s not true. I’m not a child, and at some point, I’m going to do something I won’t necessarily want her knowing about.”

“We also agreed to no grisly details, doll. She doesn’t need to know which teeth you licked when we kissed.”

“Such a vision. Jeez, Charlie, between that and elephant snot…” I interrupted her.

“Dried hippopotamus mucous, my dear. Get it right.” She hit me. She actually hit me, then laughed.

“Good point. I need to listen and pay attention. Hippo boogers, indeed. I love you, Charlie.” I leaned down and kissed her. We had just gotten to her house and through her door when she yelled, “MOM!!” Sharon acknowledged from the other room then walked in to greet us. “Charlie would like to take me out for dinner and a movie. My work is all caught up as of Friday.”

“No problem. You need anything, hon?”

“Yes, but I don’t want to discuss it with him here. I want to wow him, if I can.” Sharon smiled and nodded.

“Charlie, plan on a sports coat and slacks. Button down, no tie. I’ll take care of this end. Find a movie and set a time. You have dinner reservations?” I nodded. “Find a movie. What time are you picking her up?”

“Six. Home by ten or eleven?”

Sharon nodded. “Leave. We have work to do,” she said. I left, thinking to myself, ‘Do what you’re told, Charlie. All will be good for those who keep their women happy.’

Let me explain Sandy. She was built a lot like her mother. Only smaller. Large up top, thin waist, long beautiful legs, cute little bubble butt. She was, among other things, an athlete. Her physical features, her body’s features, were those of a wet dream. Perfect. You couldn’t design better. Truly one of God’s finest works. Her hair was a mess most of the time. Think unkempt, soft copper-colored curls in large clumps. She was freckled. Heavily. I loved them. Each and every one of them added to her unique complexion. She would not be considered a gorgeous, glamorous woman. Cute or pretty, yes. If she was smiling. Kind of dark and mean looking, if not. She wasn’t mean or hateful, by any stretch, but her look, if concentrating and not smiling, could be mistaken for that. Not at all elegant or sophisticated, like her mother was. Two completely different looks. She was cute, though. Really, really, cute, and just really easy to look at.

So, when I was invited into their living room by her mother at six o’clock, I was really, really set back in surprise. My cute mop headed girlfriend was dressed in a shiny green A-line dress, above the knees, with dark tan stockings, and green satin heels. She was wearing a gold necklace, small gold loop earrings and a delicate bracelet to match. Her hair was set up high on her head in a loose stack with a couple of her soft curls falling down the side of her face, framing it. She was wearing just a bit of makeup, but it made all the difference. Her normally full lips were now colored slightly, highlighting her mouth with a darkened pink tint. She was now that elegant, glamorous, sophisticated, and so wonderfully gorgeous woman that had been hiding inside, just waiting to get out. I loved her cute. I loved her glamorous. I loved this womanchild. It took a minute to get my wits about me. God, she was beautiful.

“Charlie, say something,” Sandy said.

“Intoxicating, honey. You’re beautiful. Stunning. Wow!” I smiled at her. She relaxed.

“Thank you, Charlie. I was hoping you’d like it. Mom, we’re leaving now. Thank you so much for your help. I feel like a princess.” She kissed her mother goodbye.

“You look like one, honey. You really do. Have fun, kids. See you later.”

I took her hand and off we went. At the restaurant, I pulled up and parked in an open spot near the entrance. It was a reserved spot, and I was able to set it up for the evening. There were people, believe it or not, that didn’t want valets driving their cars. I was one of them when I went out and about in Dad’s Mercedes. If the parking places weren’t available, I’d eat elsewhere, or drop my date off and go park. This was much better for all concerned.

Helping her out of the low setting car wasn’t an issue. As I said, she’s an athlete, and even in four-inch thin platform heels, she was nimble, and was out of the car in a very proper manner, quickly and discreetly. She swung her legs out and was up in a jiffy. Damn, she was beautiful. I did see most of her legs, though, including the tops of what appeared to be stockings. Fantastically attractive. I shudder to admit she was amazingly sexy as well. No two ways about it, she was everything I’d ever thought about having in a woman.

I took her arm after closing up the car and we walked slowly up the sidewalk to the restaurant entrance of the club. I’d never seen her dressed up before, save for church or something, but never had I seen her in high heels, stockings, and an elegantly short and flouncy dress. She walked like a runway model, like she wore heels every day of her life. An absolute dichotomy. My tomboy was a very elegant young woman. Dinner was special. Her manners were, and are, impeccable. Any thoughts I had of courting and romancing a young, inexperienced girl were put aside. She was a marvel.

After dinner, I would have loved to take her out on the town, but it was Sunday night, so we opted for a movie. A romantic thriller. When I offered, she declined popcorn, but thought we might want a soda… To share. She was adamant about that. Just one large one. I had her pick the flavor, though. Looks like another thing we share. We’re both Pepsi people. She snuggled up to me, holding my arm during most of the show. We were on one of those loveseat couches having an armrest in the middle that folded up and out of the way. It was comfortable with her there. Holding my arm, stockinged feet folded up under her. At one point, she pulled my arm down so she could kiss my jaw.

“Thank you, Charlie.” My hand bumped her knee, but she took control of it and set my open hand right up on her knee, then placed her hand on my wrist and just held me. A very sweet, close thing to do. It was too late to woo me, too late to try to win my affections. I hope she knew that. It was too late for any of that. I was already hers. Lock, stock, and barrel. “I’m not trying to entice you, Charlie. I just want your hand on me. I feel better close to you. Like last night. So comfortable. So safe. Shhh. Watch the rest of the movie.”

When it ended, she stayed put for a bit as the lights came up and all the credits rolled off the screen. She pulled my arm down again for another kiss, but this time I turned. Lips to lips, we kissed, and forgetting I was in public, I took her in my arms and held her to me, trading tongues and all, like there was no tomorrow. As we separated, I looked in her eyes and saw love. She was in as bad of shape as I was. That look was… It was beautiful.

“Come on, baby, let’s blow this pop stand. Let me take you home. I want to tell your mother that I want to keep you.” She giggled as I knelt and helped her on with her shoes. We stood, she tiptoed to kiss me again, and we walked out. Good Lord, almighty, I was sunk. Once I got her home, she invited me in for a drink. Water was fine, I told her. Sharon was there asking Sandy how it went.

“The date or the dinner or the movie or the guy that took me?” she asked her mother. “No need. It was all wonderful. I’ve made a decision, if you’re wondering, but what I said last night is true. I’m not going anywhere. I’m his as long as he wants me. Mom, he may not be ready, but I am. I really want to fall asleep in his arms again.”

Sharon looked at me. I wasn’t shocked, but I didn’t expect this discussion to arise as soon as this. “How do you feel about this, Charlie? Sandy and I have talked about it. I’ve left the decision up to her.”

“Without sounding like a dirty old man, I’d love to sleep with my girlfriend in my arms, even if that is all we do. And it may well be.” I looked at Sandy. “If it’s okay with your mother, it’s definitely all right with me. We need to get to know each other and get used to each other, I think. Sandy, I welcome you into my arms, my heart, my home, and every other ‘my’ that I have. Just be sure, because if you give me your you, I promise, I’m not giving it back. It’ll be forever, and come good or bad, I won’t let you go as long as you want me.”

“Right answer. I knew there was a reason I fell in love with you. Mom, I’m going to put a bag together. Please be nice to him while I’m upstairs. I’m only getting enough to get to school in the morning. Charlie, can you take me, so she can sleep in?” I nodded and smiled at each of them. “Cool. Be right back.”

“Charlie, be careful with my little girl. She’s very much in love with you. We’ve been talking about this night for a year now. When you came home with a hole in you, I thought I’d lose her, but now I see she’ll be OK. I hope you are, too. She wants this. I think with what she’s been through, ever since the car accident, her father, you leaving a few times, and all that, I think she’s mature enough to know what she’s doing. I sure hope so. Did you know she had a couple of ‘boyfriends’ (she air quoted)? She told me she wanted to know what being around somebody besides you would be like. She dated a few times while you were gone on the last two deployments. Cream of the crop, but she wasn’t interested in them at all. The couple of boys that thought she was a girlfriend actually got a second or third date, but she couldn’t even kiss them. She didn’t want to. Maybe someday she’ll tell you the story. Charlie, you have a young woman that loves you, tremendously.”

Sandy came down with an overnight bag and her backpack. Sharon went into the kitchen, then came back out handing me a sack. “Ice bag and heating pad. Bring them back if you buy your own, or don’t need them anymore. Kiss me, baby. I’ll see you tomorrow. Remember, a half hour each, then rest. Make sure to do a couple of cycles tonight. He needs to go get checked out as soon as he can. Take care of him, Sandy. Both of you, remember, call before you come over. I’m setting the alarms so that if your father comes back, baby, I can call for help.”

“Sharon. Let us know right after you call 911. I can help keep an eye on him for you, if you’d like. I’d rather he didn’t hurt either of you, and he proved to me he could get a little ahead of himself last night.” I meant that, too. There was a lot I could do to protect her from Pete if he came over drunk again.

“Thank you. You two go on. Sandy, I love you, and I worry, but I know you want this. I’ll see you tomorrow night.” I hugged her and kissed the top of her head. Sandy kissed her and hugged her, then we went home. We… Home… New concept. For both of us. Lots to talk about.

Sandy had changed again, into form fitting yoga pants with sexy little mesh inserts on the thighs and calves, a tight, form fitting, long-sleeved top, and some Keds. It was a bit chilly out, so it was fully understandable. But it wasn’t her normal attire. I’d have to ask about this. Normally it would be ratty jeans, a sweatshirt, and her beat up tennis shoes, black high top All Stars being the most commonly seen items of footwear.

We got home, and she pulled me up the stairs and to the master suite. “Back and to the right, correct?”

“Yeah. What’s up, hon? You in a hurry?”

“Absolutely not. Mom said to get the heat, ice, rest break thing going for a couple of turns tonight. I’m just trying to do my best to take care of my new toy. Accckkkk. I shouldn’t have said that, Charlie. I’m so sorry. That’s not really how I look at any of this. I need to take care of the man I’m in love with. I don’t want you hurting. You aren’t a toy, though. I shouldn’t be so flippant about it. Are you scared? I’m so afraid I’m going to panic. I’m scared shitless of everything that happens now after we’ve walked through that door. I’ve only really kissed one guy. You. I’m not experienced at any of this. In many ways, I’m just a little girl. I think I’m ready and all grown up, but really, deep down inside, I’m just a little girl in love with a wonderful man. Please understand…” I interrupted her by grabbing her in my arms, hugging and kissing her.

When the kiss ended, I licked her beautiful lips. “Stop, honey. You’re rambling. You’re fine. We’ll do this together. Don’t be scared. If anything happens, you’ll be in charge. Please understand, baby, I don’t have all that much experience myself. We’re going to do a lot of learning together. Okay?”

She nodded and held me. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be this way.”

“Stop. You’re fine. I’m going to take my pants off and lay down here. Can you place that pad on my leg like your mom does?” She nodded. “Good. Then after a while you can raid my icemaker for some ice to fill up the bag?” She nodded. “It’s behind the bar in the living room. There’s one in the fridge, too, but the one in the bar has more in it, usually. I love you, doll. Just hang in there with me and remember… You don’t have to do anything. You don’t NOT have to do anything. It’s just you and me learning about each other. You good with that?” She smiled and nodded again, then wrapped the pad on my leg. She found an outlet, turned it on and sat in front of me, cross legged. “What’s with the cute sexy workout clothes? No jeans, sweatshirt, nasty old beat-up sneakers. What gives?”

“You. I’ve never liked people looking at me. If you’ve noticed, the only time I didn’t wear those things was at home and at your house, backyard and pool only. When I mow, I wore shorts, though, because you were there. I’m for you, Charlie. Just you. From now on, because I’m with you, I’ll try to look presentable. Pretty. Desirable. For you. Just you. I can be a girl now. Silly, huh?”

“No, sweetie. Precious. I feel sorry for all those boys at school, but I won, so I’m happy.”

She grinned. “Yeah, when my wardrobe changes because I belong to you, they’ll wonder, but it won’t matter. I’m your girl, Charlie. Thank you. I’ll still dress down a lot, though, because I worry some. Some girls do. Some don’t care.” She leaned forward and kissed me. I put my hand on the back of her head and neck, holding her, gently while we kissed. As soon as I felt her start to pull away, I moved my hand. As quickly as I could. I wanted her to know she was in control, and I wouldn’t try to do anything without her approval. She smiled. Maybe she knew what I was doing. Maybe not. “You want a drink, big boy? Water, beer, cocktail, anything? I can figure the joint out if you do.”

“Yeah, hon. Can you get me some Crown Royal and a couple ice cubes? Maybe some ice water, too? Thanks.” She left and was gone just a couple minutes, coming back with exactly what I asked for. “Thank you, baby.”

She took a sip of it. “Hmmmm.” Then a sip of water. “Not bad, but an acquired taste, I’m sure. Ten more minutes, then ice for a while. So, any idea how we go from next door neighbors to bedmates in one night? I have an idea, but I’d need your agreement.”

“Try me.”

“Let me try to fall asleep snuggled up to you. If you get… If you get excited, you can show me what to do to fix it. If you don’t, I’ll just kill myself because I don’t excite you.” She snickered. “Seriously. If you do get excited, I can help you with it. I’ve read about things. Even virgins read and watch porno. There is nothing you can’t find on the internet. I am going to want to see it. Soon. I also want to take a shower together in the morning. I think that will be fun. We can discuss what you want, too. This isn’t just about me. Then tomorrow night, we deal with tomorrow night. Charlie, could you be my husband? I mean really, and realistically, am I wife material? I don’t want anyone but my husband inside of me. Ever. I just don’t.”

“If I asked you to marry me, would you say yes? Could you say yes, at all of sixteen and a half years old? If not, you shouldn’t be in my bed. I don’t want to make love to anyone but my wife, the woman I love, so we have matching plans for the future. We just need to make sure we are the people that fit into that plan. I want you as my wife, but you need to put ice on my leg about right now. I mean, if you want, I can get down on one knee and take care of it, but I’d rather wait. I will ask you. This just isn’t the time or place. Just know, I will ask you.” She leaned in and kissed me again.

“I would and could say ‘yes’. I can and will say ‘yes’ when you ask. I don’t care when that is, as long as you tell me you will at some point. I think you just did. I’m old enough to make that decision. I know what that entails. Children, laundry, dishes, vacuuming, making love to a hunk, cleaning the bathroom, and helping you get off to work in the morning. All the normal chores. I think I have them out of order, but part of our planning should be to realign priorities. My education, for example? Should I pursue one? Don’t answer. Just lay there with your ice and think. It’s an eon away. SATs and ACTs aren’t for another four or five months. Not a priority, just talking about things we need to talk about. Charlie, I’m looking forward to this. I hope you are. We can have so much fun. We really can. I want to do that with you.”

I reached out, pulled her by the neck and head again, and kissed her. Deeply. She stayed for a long kiss. This was romance. Love. She pulled back slightly, just a hair, and I released her. She smiled.

“You’re right. We can. We will. This thing will just melt and get warm, right?” She shrugged and nodded. “OK. Get in my upper right drawer if you want. T-shirt. They make good nightgowns, right?” She smiled and nodded. Then laughed. She got out a clean one and handed it to me, helping me take my shirt off, then grabbed the t-shirt I’d been wearing and took it into the bathroom with her. When she came out, she was wearing panties and my dirty t-shirt. She’d left me with the clean one. She turned the covers down, helping me get out of the way so the covers on my side could be done as well, then threw the covers over us and backed into me to snuggle. I put my arm around her reaching her ribs, just under her breasts on the far side and just pulled her back against me. We were asleep in seconds.

I honestly don’t remember sleeping that well. Not just in a long time, but at all. Ever. Was it her? The heat and ice? The Crown? Who knows? Not the Crown Royal. I do that once in a while and it doesn’t change much of anything. I don’t think that’s what did it. I used my nose to burrow under her hair and kiss the back of her neck. She giggled.

“Thank you,” she said almost in a whisper.

“For what, baby?”

“For proving to me that I’m more than a sex object. I thought so already, but you proved it. You see, I love you and I trust you. I did before. More now, probably, if that’s even a thing. Unless you have really, really good control, you showed me that you care about me and not just my body. Yes, I know I have a great bod. I hear it from my friends all the time. ‘I wish I had your ass’ or ‘I wish my boobs were big and round like yours’ or ‘how do you get your legs to look like that?’ I know. You didn’t do anything last night that would make me think you were interested in any less than all of me. I appreciate that. Come. Wash me. I want to show you something. I actually want to show you everything. Hurry before I chicken out. I’ll wash you, too, then you can show me your coffee maker.”

Our first shower together was Nirvana. She had me wash her hair first, then condition it, then wash her entire body with a washcloth and body wash, then giggling quite a bit, she asked me to wash her with my bare hands. “I don’t believe I’m having you do this. God, it feels so wonderful. Lord, Charlie, so good. OK, only a couple of places left, then I have an announcement. Yes, there. Longways. Back. Back. Yes, there. Keep both hands down there.” She moved back and forth on my middle fingers, one each running along her slit and her butt crack with enough soap to lubricate both. I understood. She was masturbating on my fingers. I adjusted my fingers a bit, then, a couple of minutes later, she screamed. She slumped down, but I pulled her up and rinsed her off. “Charlie, you just touched every square inch of my body. I don’t think with your soapy hands that you missed anything. Now, here is my pronouncement. Everything you just touched is yours. All of it. And everything inside of where you touched is yours. All of it. I am now yours. All of me. Questions?” I kissed her and shook my head.

“I love you,” I told her.

“Good. The next sixty years will be much easier that way. Your turn.” She washed my hair, my face, my ears and every square inch of me between there and my toes. Every. Square. Inch. Including the areas that I last cleaned on her. She performed the same ritual only from the front with both hands, one under and one on my dick. Her one hand sliding in and out of my soapy butt crack and cheeks and the other holding my soapy member and pulling, pushing, back and forth, led me to release. The first one in a long time. I came hard enough that it actually stung in the middle of my urethra, about 3 inches or so down. I spurted on her tummy as she smiled up at me watching my face scrunch up, I’m sure. My hands went over her head to the shower wall holding me from falling forward onto her. Wow, what an orgasm. “OK. We’ve had sex. The mystery is over. We’ll go all the way sometime, but we know we can do it and we’ve seen each other in the throes of ecstasy. You good?”

“Yes, baby. I’m good. Damn, that was so strong it hurt a little. I’ve never had that happen before.”

“Sorry,” she said, afraid she’d caused me pain.

“No, don’t apologize. Not a problem. I’ll be fine, or better. I love you, little one. Come. I mean go.” She giggled. “Let’s dry off, we only have… An hour and a half? Cool, we’re up early. I like that.”

“Me too. Let me get started getting dressed here, but I want you to show me the coffee program. I’ve had a cup here a couple of times, but I’ve never made it.” I put on my robe and watched her put on a front clip bra and a pair of plain white cotton panties. She put on my other robe, a short one that I handed her. I got a kiss for that. She looked a lot better in it than I could have ever imagined. She had gorgeous legs.

I took her down, showed her the machine and the scoop, went through the motions with her then made her some eggs and toast. A piece of microwave sausage for each of us completed the meal. “Thank you for this, Charlie, but one of these days, you have to let me pitch in and cook for you, as well.”

I just smiled. “OK. It’s a deal. Honey, I’m going to get into PT today if I can. If I can’t get in ‘til this afternoon, are you going to be all right? I mean if I’m a few minutes late?”

“Yeah. I need to get my license and bug my dad to help me with a car.”

“Did you agree to marry me, baby?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t ask your father for anything else. Nothing. You’re my problem now, not his, and believe it or not, where he will bitch and moan and whine, don’t deny it, I’d love to buy you a car. Or give you the silver bullet.”

“Don’t tease me, Charlie. That’s your father’s and I’m so afraid I’ll ruin it. Are you sure?”

“Pick one. Anything you want. I’m that sure.”

“We’ll talk. I need to dress for school. You need to put something on if you’re taking me, too.”

“Yeah, and I need to hit Lowe’s today as well. One of the outlets out on the workbench feels funny. I don’t like electricity problems. At all.”

“And you’re an electrical engineer? That’s not weird, at all. Strange maybe, but not weird. Noooo,” she teased.

“I’m an electronics engineer. Low voltage, low amperage. About the only thing that can go wrong in my universe is a hot battery. But that does happen. Amperage though. All those amps locked up in a little box looking for a way out. If they find it, Kaboom! Or a dinky little fire. Or a bad smell. Or something.” We were dressing while I was talking, but her putting on the little plaid skirt, the knee socks, the saddle shoes, and the fitted white blouse just about did me in. They wore uniforms to the school she went to now. They didn’t when I went there as a kid, but the school board passed a rule a few years ago and voila, fascism hits the education system. I guess I understood it to some degree, but it was a pain. And free uniforms for the under privileged sounds nice, but that made the problem just as bad in the long run. The kids that could afford them bought the good ones from high end department stores and outlets, and you could tell the difference. An eighty-dollar pleated wool skirt looks and hangs differently than a ten-dollar polyester skirt constructed the same way. Same with wool blend slacks versus polyester. No matter. A year and a half and that would be behind us. My mind was wandering. In any case, she was a pretty girl. The uniform just made her into a pretty schoolgirl. She finished getting ready, with a towel over her front, brushing her teeth.

“I normally do this before I get dressed, man of mine, but you have my schedule all freaked out. Maybe tomorrow. I hope I’m not wrong, but I’m assuming this will happen tomorrow, as well?”

“Unless the world stops turning or your mother calls you home, yes. I meant what I said. I want to keep you.” Her smile would have made a sunrise jealous.

She drove us to school, getting out and climbing down out of the truck. I got out and went around so I could take over and drive off. A couple of her friends came over to say hello, and since they were also ball players, knew of me. One asked the obvious question. “Sandy, are you and Charlie…” Sandy smiled and interrupted her.

“He’s my neighbor, ladies. You know that. He’s helping finish my practice time to get my license. Don’t assume anything.” Then she grinned, tiptoed to kiss me and said, just loud enough, “See you after school, hon.”

All three girls broke out in massive giggles and walked away. Sandy turned, waved, and blew me a kiss. I made the motion of catching it and putting it on my lips. What a nut she is.

I went back home, checked out the electric outlet over my garage workbench, making sure I knew what kind I needed to get. The problem was, it felt funny when I plugged a drill in the other day. It was kind of loose, like the plug wasn’t making contact very well. I wasn’t lying to Sandy. I don’t like electrical issues. At Lowe’s, I located the electrical aisle looking for a receptacle to replace it. I found what I wanted; a white, hundred and ten volt, twenty-amp, duplex outlet and when I reached down for it, my head started really hurting…

Chapter Two - The Feral Princess

My eyes opened just a bit. “Charlie? Honey? Oh, God, thank you. Can you see me, babe?” She was blurry, but I knew it was Sandy. I tried to nod, but it really hurt badly. I couldn’t make any noise and my throat felt like a cactus was wedged in behind my tongue. She understood when my eyes and face combined in question. She held a straw to my lips. Cold water. Better. “You were attacked in Lowe’s, honey. It was my father. They have him on video hitting you with a pipe of some sort. The pipe is evidence. You bent it.” She smiled weakly. “I’m sorry, Charlie. I’m sorry for making fun. I love you so much. I was so scared. Again. God, will this ever stop? Can I try to hug you?” I tried to nod. She did, and it was the most welcome hug I remember. I was scared. Again. I know exactly how she felt.

I made my best effort at asking, “Em ah gung be oak?”

“Yes, dear, they said you should be fine. They said if you woke up this week, you’d probably be all right. It’s only been three days.”

“Wuw. Pulees?”

“Yes, babe, the police are involved. They have Dad in jail. He’s not going anywhere. Because of his going nuts, they’ve charged him with attempted murder. It was before ten in the morning, and he was drunk. He was following you. He doesn’t know I spent the night with you. They saw him on our security videos pulling up after you took me to school. When you went inside, he was going to follow, but then you came out. He got back in his car and went after you. This will be a bit sticky before it gets any better, but I’m not going anywhere. Mom got you a lawyer. She spoke with your company lawyer after calling your office and he recommended this lady. We’re good according to her, even if he did see us together. We don’t think he did, though. Dad is in a lot of trouble. You aren’t, as long as you do what I tell you and heal and get all the way better. I was so afraid I’d lose you again.” She collapsed on my chest, but even with it hurting my head like a frying pan bouncing off of it, I didn’t make a peep. She loved me. I loved her. We were both worried and needed this closeness to get through it.

Sharon walked up on the other side. “I’m so sorry, Charlie. I really am. That bastard almost killed my baby’s sweetheart.” Tears were running as she watched her daughter trying to comfort me. “I’m doing nothing to help him, Charlie, and Sandy knows that. She knows this is not her father. This is a sick man with problems. We have to let him go. We have to let them take him if he is to do anything with what’s left of his life. I’m so sorry he hurt you. Charlie, we love you. We don’t want you to hurt.” It took more energy than I had, but I reached up with my other arm and pulled her to us, hugging her into her daughter and in toward me. God damn, that hurt.

“S oak, Sharn. Dun cruh.”

An hour or so later, the police came to question me. They tried to hand me their cards, but I pointed to Sharon, and she took them. Sandy and Sharon were asked to leave, but I told them to stay and to wait for my new lawyer to be there. She was on the way and when she arrived, she asked the police to leave the room, so she could talk to me for a few minutes. They were not happy.

“Mr. Carter?”

“Charlie. Jus Charlie, fuh nuh.”

“Charlie. I’m Allison Valente. Brendon called me after Sharon called your office looking for help for you. Seems you owe your office manager a favor. She was pretty quick on her feet. She called your company’s attorney, and he called me. We go way back, if it matters.” I nodded carefully and smiled. “Here’s the deal. I want you to be completely honest with the police. Completely. If I tell them something is off limits, don’t answer. At all. Nothing. If I nod, tell them the absolute truth in answering the question. Do NOT volunteer information above that answer. JUST answer the question. Yes, or no, or specific facts. Capire? Understood?” I nodded. “Answer truthfully when I allow it. Say nothing more and say nothing if I tell them they’re out of bounds.” I nodded. “Sharon, call the Polizia back in.” She did, and they came back in, two suits and a uniform. Three stripes with a crest. What the hell was going on here? Two detectives and a precinct sergeant on an assault case?

“Thank you, counselor. Mr. Carter, what is your relationship with Mr. Ferguson?” detective number one asked me. Allison nodded.

“He used to be my parents’ next-door neighbor.” It didn’t sound as good as it looks typed out here. My throat and mouth weren’t working well, yet. “Sharon, drink please?” Sharon offered me a sip. Sandy and Allison both grinned.

“When was that?” he asked. Allison nodded.

“When my parents bought the house. Ten, twelve years. I dunno.”

“Were you living there when they separated?” the other one asked. Allison shrugged and nodded.

“No.”

“Oh? Where were you?” he continued. Allison nodded, smiling. She knew what was going on, now.

“Florida maybe? Flying. Air Force.”

“So, you are a pilot, then?” he asked.

“I need to ask what you are trying to get to there,” Allison said to the interrogator.

“Specifically? Nothing. Just making conversation, actually. He’s an Air Force pilot, I take it?” She nodded. I didn’t. “Thank you for your service, Mr. Carter. Did you have anything to do with Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson breaking up, Mr. Carter?”

“Out of bounds, detective. He told you he was in the Air Force, stationed, he thinks, in Florida when Mr. Ferguson lived there. He obviously wasn’t living next door. In any case, that had, and has, nothing to do with Mr. Ferguson planting that pipe in the back of my client’s head.”

“Allegedly planting the pipe…”

“I’ve seen the video, detective. If you deny one more time that it was Pete Ferguson that blindsided my client, bouncing that pipe off the back of his head, the state police are going to come crawling through your shorts asking who you’re working for. You’re acting like Ferguson’s lawyer, not a law enforcement officer. One more comment like that, and you’ll be looking for a job. Not a threat, detective. A fact. I’m recording this conversation.”

I wasn’t comfortable at all with this, so I told my girlfriend, “Sandy, phone, Sam. Shortcut on my home screen. Tell him I asked him to come here. Hey. Guys. Fifteen-minute break.” Sandy called Sam and after answering a couple questions, she said ‘Thanks’, and hung up.

“He’s on the way. He said about ten minutes,” Sandy said, smiling. The detectives walked out into the hallway. The uniform stayed.

“Can you join your friends, officer?” Allison asked.

“Sergeant.”

“Whatever. Until I know whose side you’re on, you’re suspect. Get out.” Allison was losing her temper. The cop left, pissed. “Charlie, who is Sam?”

“Sam Travis. Retired Major. Highway Patrol. Criminal Investigations Bureau. My security contractor. Those three guys are on someone’s payroll. I’m not an idiot, Allison. You had every right to be suspicious when he asked that about their breakup, then when he said ‘allegedly’. I think Pete’s paid someone to help him, or someone owes him a favor. Can I get another sip of water, baby?” Sandy brought it over and helped me out.

“Keep that to a minimum in front of anyone else, Charlie. We’ll talk after they leave. Not a serious issue, but no reason to pick scabs, if you get my drift.”

“That’s why I asked Sharon when they were in here. I am teasing them, though. Let them go tell Pete she helped me with a sip of water. Maybe it will drive him over the edge. I don’t care. Asshole tried to kill me. I don’t blame it on the booze. Booze just lowers inhibitions. He wanted to kill me. The booze just allowed him the nerve. He thinks I have a thing for his wife. I love her to death, and will do anything I can to help her, but she’s not my girlfriend. Her daughter is. Anyway, I understand.”

Sam came in, asking what the hell happened, “this time”. He knew about the actual assault already, but not the interview happening. Sandy and Allison explained it. Allison showed him a copy of the video on her tablet. Allison explained the comments and the questions. Sam shrugged and shook his head. Then his eyebrows raised. He went into a corner with his phone.

Sharon was back in tears. Partly because of what I said, and partly because of the realization that I was right. He tried to kill me because he was jealous. Worst part, he was wrong. I doubted this was about Sandy.

Sam mentioned that there was no outward news of the incident. Something like this might normally be reported, but this wasn’t. Pete’s name came up on a search made through a friend, and we were right. He made a call and taking the detectives’ business cards, read them off to his friend. “I just called the new CIB director. She told me Pete’s a low level in a local racket. He’s strictly a money man, an accountant now, but they probably want to secure his loyalty, so they might be trying to help him out. They can’t. The DA here isn’t theirs and has already brought charges against him based on witnesses and that tape. He’s screwed unless they can get you to say or do something to mitigate this mess, boss.” Interesting.

“Thanks, Sam. Can you stay?”

He nodded. “Absolutely. It’s what I do.” He smiled at me. “I’m probably going to put a tail on you, too. So… If you see anyone, ask me before you shoot them, OK?” This time I smiled and nodded. Ouch. “Miss Valente, are you ready?” She nodded. Sam went to the door and invited the police back in. He came around to the back side of the bed and stood behind me, so he could see everything in the room.

“OK, back to your relationship with Mrs. Ferguson. Do you have a romantic relationship with Mrs. Ferguson?” he asked, smirking. Allison nodded.

“No.”

“But you were on her couch with your pants off when Mr. Ferguson was last there. He saw you.” Allison nodded. She knew what I would say.

“Not necessarily true.”

“Explain, please.” Allison nodded again, seeing the direction of the questioning.

“I have no idea the last time he was there, but the last time we were both there, he was pounding on the door in a drunken rage, had no idea I was even there, and the police picked his drunken ass up and took him away. If someone told him I was there, it was that lady cop that saw me with a heating pad or an ice pack on a bullet wound in my thigh. That’s all I’m saying about that little episode. Can I ask a question now?” He nodded. “Where do you get your vacation money? You’re working for someone. That’s the person I want to talk to. If I ever see his boy Pete again, he’ll be one soldier short in his crime spree.”

“Trust me, asshole, that’s information you don’t want. You could wind up in a lot of trouble if Pete’s people come looking for you. Just don’t you worry about it. Tell the DA to drop the charges and back off.” That was detective number one. I’d always thought they were intelligent, but I’m needing to rethink that now.

“Thank you for the warning. My statement stands. If you don’t believe me, get in my way. Yes, we’re recording this conversation. Sam, escort these gentlemen out, and ask them to send real cops back if they want to question me.” I screamed, “OUT!” and immediately wished I hadn’t. It really hurt. The uniform put his hand on his pistol, but Sam had his hand under his jacket.

“Not a good idea, dickhead. Oh, name tag. Mitchell. Fuck, you guys are stupid. Get out. All three of you. In the hallway. Might want to brush up your resumes, too. Allison, call county. Lindy Barton. Tell her Sam Travis needs her here. Sharon, keep the recorder running.”

“Sam, isn’t Lindy the Internal Affairs commander?” Allison asked.

“Yep. This is her problem. Not ours.”

The rest of the day sucked just as bad. Lindy Barton got a copy of the recording, put it with an ongoing investigation and two more cops were turned into thugs working for the mob. They certainly weren’t welcome on the force anymore. Sam was able to get the word on the street, though, that if they protected Pete, they were on the losing side of the battle, and word got back to him, somehow, that the two cops had been told they were the cause of their own demise and to eat it. If they went vendetta, they were on their own. Obviously not made men. The junior detective wasn’t involved or was able to cover his tracks and didn’t get caught in the fray. I did get the tail, though, until it was decided the event was over. Sandy’s father was held over, arraigned, considered a flight risk, and spent his pre-trial time in jail.

Sandy spent all of her time after school with me until they released me a couple of days after I woke up. When she got me home, up to the room, and in bed, she opened the closet to hang up a skirt and that’s when I noticed it. My closet wasn’t full, but it was a lot closer to it now than the sparse amount of stuff I had hanging in it before. I also saw the shoe rack. There were a few pairs of high heels. Black, white, and green pumps, natural and black strappy stiletto sandals, saddle shoes, Keds in about three colors, and two pairs of Converse All Star high tops. Both pairs were as ratty as all get out. My baby had moved in.

“Mom helped me move some stuff over in the evenings after they ran us out of the hospital. Hope you don’t mind. I’m home, Charlie. I’ll never leave you. You need to know that.”

“I’m so glad you did that, baby. It shows me you’re serious. I want you here as much as you want to be here… Or more. I dunno. Can you kiss me, doll?” She came and crawled on me, carefully, then kissed me, holding my cheeks.

“I was so afraid again.” She broke down a little, crying, then laid her head on my chest. “I love you, Charlie. I just want to be happy with you, without the bullets and the pipes and my father being an ass, and all that. I just want to be your wife and your girl. That’s all I want.”

“We’ll see what we can do, baby, but I still need to replace that electrical outlet. Maybe Sam can take me to Lowe’s tomorrow.” I grinned. She slapped me so lightly I could barely feel it, then grinned back, and kissed me again. “Can you get me a water or something, punkin. I need to take one of these pills and take a nap.” She nodded, running to the bar for a bottle of water, then helping me out of my clothes and getting me into bed and some semblance of normalcy. I was a happy camper, if not a bit sore, still. “What is today, hon? What day?”

“Saturday. It happened on Monday morning, you woke up early Thursday morning, and they wanted to make sure you were OK and let you out this morning, on Saturday. Kind of a mess for you to keep track of, I know. More drugs and things than you’re used to, for sure. How’s your leg?”

“Still hurts, but I’m sure I can get in to get it looked at this week. You have games coming up, hon?”

“Yeah. I had one last week. We won. Coach thought I might be a little flighty, so she put me in right field for the last couple of innings. I’ll be back to catching next week. Two games. You’ll come, won’t you?” I nodded, gently. “Good. I play for you when you’re there. Will you make love to me tonight, Charlie? Please?”

“I’ll try, baby. I’ll try. Are we going to be parents afterwards?”

“Not tomorrow. No. I’m safe. I’ll let you know when I’m ready for that, and if you agree, we’ll work on it together. You’ll know, babe. You’ll know, but, no, not now.”

It worked out fine. The pain pill kept my headache back until the very top of my orgasm, but overall, it worked fine. She was very accommodating. I offered for her to be on top, to control things, but she declined, telling me she wanted me on top and not to worry about anything but my own happiness, and my head. I was gentle, kissing and licking every part of her body preparing her, then when I knew she was just about to go over the edge, I bit her clitoris, sending her into a spin of climax. While she moaned in ecstasy, I moved over her and carefully lined myself up. Leaning down to kiss her, I pushed, she screeched in pain once and accepted me, then, after the in and out of placing myself completely and fully inside her womanhood, we were mated. Her scream on my first entry was muted by our lips being together, sharing our tongues. Her fingernails dug into my back, but she didn’t scratch, just held them there, piercing my skin. It felt like that anyway. She didn’t actually break the skin, which was amazing in itself. A couple of thrusts later, one of my hands under and holding her neck and the other under and holding her perfect ass, my middle finger in the channel of her butt crack, she came again, this scream sounding more like a scream of passion where the other one was a burst of pain being released.

I didn’t stop. If she wanted me to, I didn’t in any way sense it. The kiss broke. “Love me, Charlie. Make me yours. All of me. Yours, baby. Finish in me. Come in me. FUCK ME, CHARLIE!” I did. I slammed down into her a few more times, getting a grunt and a third orgasm out of her. The contractions of her vaginal walls pulling at me set me off and I exploded into her. Pushing, holding, crushing her into me. “God, I love you. I’m so happy to be yours. Never let me go, baby. Never let me go. I love you so, so much.” She was winded. Gasping for breath between declarations.

I rose and fell backwards as much as I could, letting her lay on me. My head was killing me. The orgasm crushed me. The pain, at the apex of the climax, if you will, was bad, really bad, but she’d never know. I wouldn’t admit to the pain. Not during our first complete intimate union.

“Are you OK, love?” she asked me.

“I’ve never been better. Can you take me to dinner tonight? Just dinner. I want to go out and eat, but I don’t want to do anything else. I need to be home and take care of my boo-boo, but I don’t want to cook, and I don’t want you to have to.”

“Yes, babe. Anything you want.” She giggled. “Here. Let me kiss your boo-boo.” She reached down and kissed the side of my head, as close as she could to the contact point. The lump. That hurt as well, but I didn’t care. “What are you thinking for dinner, hon?”

“You pick, but I’d prefer a place with a good steak.”

“Got it. Nap. Take a nap. I’ll get us cleaned up. Charlie. Thank you. My first time was fantastic. That’s not what they tell people it will be like. I’m a happy little girl. I love you.”

“I’m a happy old man. I love you, too. Thank you for being happy. I know that sounds silly but thank you for being you.” She helped me turn back around on the bed, cleaning me up a bit with a warm cloth, and getting me back on the pillow.

I apologized for falling asleep on her. She rejected my apology. “No need,” she said. “Drugs and sex. They’ll do it every time,” she said. She kissed me and took me to dinner. Roadhouse. She did love me. This proved it. Hah!

Her mother called and came over later that evening. I was lying in bed, watching TV with Sandy drawing nothings on my chest with her finger, her head on my shoulder. In a surprise move, her mom laid down on the other side, and followed Sandy’s finger around. She didn’t say much, she just laid there with Sandy. Just being there. They looked at each other a lot. Sandy told her mom she wanted to go get her license on Tuesday or Wednesday but needed a note. She had to be back for practice, though. Then they drew some more. It was about an hour and a half when Sharon got up on her knees, kissed Sandy, then me, a more meaningful kiss than ever before, and left.

“Mom’s fallen in love with you. Sorry.”

“What do I do?”

“Nothing. She and I will work it out. Let it go. Can you take me on Tuesday? I’d rather my husband take me than my mother.”

“Yes, doll. Anything you want. I’m taking off for a couple weeks, but they’ll call me if they need me. Help me watch my phone, OK?”

“Of course.”

“What do I do about your mom? Seriously. Will she be mad if I take you for your license?”

“Do nothing different. Nothing special about that. I’m serious, Charlie. We need to take care of it. She and I. She won’t mind about the DMV thing. I was just telling her so she’d know. Remember, no secrets. That’s a big step. She needs to know. Charlie, I love my mom almost as much as I love you. This is not going to be a problem for you, or for me. We’re a thing. She knows that. That is not changing. The rest is up to her, but between her and me. Please don’t worry about it. Don’t even think about it. Just kiss her when she needs a kiss and let it go. You told Allison you loved Mom. I know you do. Whether that is because she’s your wife’s mother or because she’s been feeding you for six years is between the two of you.” She giggled at her analysis. “I also know she’s not your type. She wasn’t your type. This thing with Dad is changing her. She’s less… She less outgoing. She’s less over the top. She’s becoming quiet and interspect…”

“Introspective,” I said, helping her out.

“Yeah. She’s not as obnoxious, boisterous, or loud. She’s changing. In the last seven days, she’s changed more than in the last sixteen years. She’s losing the inner child. Maybe that’s it. In any case, she’s in love with her hero. My husband.”

“We need to get married,” I said.

“I know. I’ll tell her.”

“We’ll tell her. Call her and invite her for breakfast. No, never mind. I’ll do it.” I got my phone off the nightstand and pushed on her little picture. “Yeah, Sharon. Can you come for breakfast tomorrow? We need to talk. (Pause.) Of course, it’s serious. I don’t flap my lips for no reason. (Pause.) No, not crying serious. Don’t you dare. (Pause.) Scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast. Nothing fancy. (Pause.) OK, I’ll have my darling bride-to-be crack open a bottle of champagne and some orange juice for you. (Pause.) Promise? (Pause.) OK, no crying. It’s a good thing. See you in the morning. (Pause.) Mwah back at you. My fiancée is going to kill me if she finds out we’re kissing over the phone.” Sandy laughed. “Oooops, she caught us. (Pause.) Yes, eight or so. G’night. (Pause.) I love you, too, Sharon. Sandy said the same. (Pause.) G’night.” I handed Sandy my phone so she could put it on the nightstand. “That went well. Hopefully she’s not worrying about tomorrow.”

“You told her not to. She probably is, though. She probably knows what we’re going to ask for. Just not why.”

“Why do you think?”

“So you can let her into our lives, but not as your wife. I think you are going to take care of her, right after you show her that we were meant to be married. I hope that’s it anyway. I don’t mind, Charlie. Believe it or not, I didn’t get… I don’t get jealous when you kiss her. She is my mother. I want her taken care of, and she wants you to do it. I think. I may be wrong. I doubt it, though.”

“How’d you get so smart?”

“Following my mother and you around. Honestly, if it doesn’t involve her heart or her emotions, Mom’s pretty smart. She was taking her final tests as a Nurse Practitioner when she quit to go into Real Estate. That’s almost a doctor. She ain’t no dummy. Just falling in love with you proves that. I guess that means I’m smart too, huh?”

“I already said that. You are. I’m tired. Love me, hold me and put me to sleep?” She nodded, loved me, held me, and…

We woke at seven. She beat me to the bathroom, but it wasn’t much of a race. I needed serious medical work done if I was going to win these early morning bathroom races. My headache had lightened a bit, and my leg kicked in on the healing process as well. I still needed to get to some physical therapy regimens, but Mister Peter Ferguson put the quaheelies on the last trip. Maybe the next day I could make the call before I left… No, I had to take my princess to her learning establishment. I’d call on the way to school. She’d be driving. That might work. All this was going through my mind as I moved into position and sat to pee. She was starting the water in the shower.

“Baby, do you need an appointment at the DMV, or just show up?”

“Ooooh, warm water. Just show up. Tuesday and Wednesday at two in the afternoon are the quietest times according to their web site. If we show up Tuesday and wait for two hours, I’m going to hack and trash their web site!” She laughed. I climbed in the shower with her. “My friends did it this way and were like next in line when they got there. Here, let me do that. I’ll stay away from your baby bump. God, that thing is still big. I may never speak to that jackass again. He could have killed you.”

“That feels good. Thanks. I need to hurry, though, and… Oooh, baby, slow down!!” She stopped with my hair and grabbed a washrag and did the rest of me.

“Rinse. Go. I’ll finish and be out in a bit. I forgot about Mom coming over and was relishing in helping my future spouse. We have the rest of our lives for that. We only have forty-five minutes for you to prepare to feed my mother. Go. I love you. Don’t ever doubt that or I’ll put a knot on the other side.” She chuckled. I shook my head. Ouch! “I do love you, Charlie.”

“Hurry. You can help with the toast, and your female parental unit requested a mimosa. You can take care of that as well. I’d rather have a poinsettia, but you can do as you choose. We have any cranberry juice?”

She laughed. “No idea, goofball. Hasn’t been a priority this week. Grocery shopping falls right after ‘Make sure spouse lives’, and I was busy with that one. I’ll call Mom and have her bring ours. I want to try that. Go.”

I dried, put on a robe and went to make coffee. Our machine is pretty quick, so I made a couple of cups and took them back up. I got a kiss in trade for coffee and chatted with Sandy while we dressed. Mostly about what her mom might say when we asked for her signature. Sandy was thinking maybe not too much. I was thinking the worst but hoping for the best, meanwhile, she grabbed her phone.

“Mom, can you bring cranberry juice if we have any. (Pause.) No, Mom, I’m not having a pee problem. Charlie said they make poinsettias with it. A mimosa only with cranberry juice instead of orange juice. (Pause.) Please. (Pause.) Thanks. (Pause.) Of course, I do. He tells me everything. We’re as good as married. (Pause.) MOTHER! Mind your tongue. We’ll talk. Love you.” She put her phone down. “Ooops. Cat got out of the bag.” We both broke up laughing, finished dressing and went to start breakfast.

Sharon came in with the juice, the bartender got busy, and we had a great time over breakfast. The ladies were skipping church to stay with me, but other than that, it was a normal Sunday.

“What’s this about being as good as married?”

“I asked him to make love to me yesterday, and he did. In the eyes of God, and the community, and all that jazz...”

Sharon raised her eyebrow. “And?”

“And nothing. I’ve never been happier. Ever. Regardless of the measure, I’m happy. Completely. No details, remember?”

“I remember. Welcome to life as a woman. What did you want to talk about, Charlie?”

“I want your permission to marry your daughter. I need your approval in order to ask, and once I get that approval, I can make the request, put a ring on her finger, and make plans. You have given us a lot of leeway, but I’d feel better with that permission and a pledge from you that you would sign your permission should we decide to marry before her seventeenth birthday.”

That was a preview of The Feral Princess. To read the rest purchase the book.

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