“And I can read between the lines, so Christy must be okay with it too.”
“Yeah. I told her. I don’t want to keep things from her.”
“I see. And… she’s with you now? That’s why you’re speaking in code?”
“Right again,” I said. Then I grinned. “I get my intuition from you.”
“No, you’re a lot like your father. And, like him, you aren’t as clever as you think you are. I know exactly what you’re up to. And if Christy’s there with you, she probably does too.”
“Probably,” I agreed. “She’s a lot more observant than I give her credit for. I shouldn’t have to remind myself, though.”
“No, you shouldn’t,” Mom said.
Christy agreed with a sigh.
“So,” Mom said after a moment, “is there a reason you brought this up?
With both of us?”
I chuckled at her matter-of-fact delivery, but it also gave me time to think.
I didn’t know what I was doing or why.
“Maybe you’re right,” I said eventually. “I’m not as clever as I think I am.”
Christy searched my expression for a clue to what I meant.
“Mmm hmm. Good that you realize it,” Mom said. “Sooner rather than later, although Christy probably figured it out a while ago. And if you told her about us and she’s fine with it, you’d better hold on to her. She sounds like a keeper.”
“She is.” I looked into her eyes and said, “I think she’s The One.”
“I’m glad to hear. And I’m very happy for you,” Mom said. Then she turned businesslike and added, “But you made your point: Christy and I can coexist in your life.”
“To be honest,” I said, “I don’t know what point I was trying to make.”
“Maybe not consciously, but you’re a bit like me after all. You have a feel for these things. Now, if that’s all you wanted to talk about…?” She paused just long enough to make me think she was waiting for an answer.
“I’ll let you get back to Christy. I need to finish in the yard and then repot some houseplants. For real this time.”
“Oh. Okay. Then I’ll let you go. I love you, Mom.”
“I love you too. Tell Christy the same.”
“I will. Bye.”
“Goodbye.”
I replaced the phone in its cradle and then stared out the window. After a moment I said, “That was the weirdest phone call I think I’ve ever had.”
“You can say that again,” Christy said softly. Then she looked up. “What did she say?”
“That she loves us.”
“Us?” she repeated.
“Yeah. And… I don’t know how to describe the rest. It was like she was passing the torch.”
“Passing the—? What’re you talking about?”
I thought about it for a long time before I answered. When I did, it wasn’t what Christy was expecting.
“I’ve had a lot of women in my life…,” I began hesitantly. I felt her start to react, but she controlled it and waited for me to continue. “And I’m not talking about notches on the bedpost,” I added, “but you realized that. I’m talking about important women, ones who’ve shaped who I am. You know
most of them.”
She nodded.
“But my mom’s the most important. Duh. She’s my mom, right? Well, she just passed the torch.”
“To me,” Christy said, a statement instead of a question.
“Yeah. That’s why I’m sort of in shock.”
“Does it bother you?” she asked quietly.
“No. Only, I didn’t think it would happen in a phone call. I thought it’d be on our wedding day or something.” I snorted a soft laugh, more to myself than anything. “Life isn’t how we imagine it.”
“No.”
I took a deep breath and replayed the conversation in my head. Eventually I said, “I guess she was telling me what I already knew.”
“That I’m the most important woman in your life now?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, it’s only fair. You’re the most important man in my life.”
“Kinda scary, isn’t it?”
“You read my mind.”
“Did you ever think this would happen?” I asked. “I mean, back on…?”
“September 3rd, 1981.”
“Right. But… that was a long time ago. Did you ever think we’d get to this point? Where we’re seriously talking about getting married and spending the rest of our lives together?”
“Honestly?”
I nodded.
“On that day? Yes.”
“For real?”
“Mmm hmm. I never believed in love at first sight till then.” She chuckled, low and rueful. “But don’t ask me about all the days after that.”
“What?” I teased. “You weren’t in love with me every day since then?”
“You were there. What do you think?”
“I think… I’m glad I came to my senses. And I’m glad you came to my bed.”
“Our bed.”
“Right. Our bed. But you know what I mean.”
“Yeah.”
“So I’m glad you’re here.”
“Mmm, me too. And not just for the obvious reasons.”
“Oh?”
“It’s a nice enough bed,” she said, “and I love the man in it, but… it’s more than that.”
“More?”
“Oh my gosh, yes! All that extra closet space.”
My eyes flew open with disbelief.
“Hey, a girl has needs.” She laughed. “You’re so cute when you’re speechless.”
“I’ll show you speechless!” I threw her onto her back and rolled on top of her. Then I spread her legs with my own and pinned her arms above her head.
“I can still talk,” she taunted.
“Not for long.” I kissed her.
She pretended to squirm and fight, but her lips never left mine. My dick swelled with arousal until it nudged her thigh. She moved her hips, and the tip slid into her channel. I eased forward and slowly buried my shaft. When my hips finally met hers, I released her hands and pushed myself up.
“Well? Anything to say?”
She considered it but then shook her head.
“Are you sure?” I waited, and she eventually nodded. “In that case, I’ll give you what you want.”
She nodded again, emphatically. Then she ran her hands along my triceps. I began thrusting, and she gazed up at me with a steady intensity that slowly changed to unfocused pleasure. After several minutes a flush crept up her chest and neck. Her cheeks turned pink as well, and her nostrils flared with her ragged breathing. I kept going until she arched her back and dug her fingers into my arms.
She came with a silent scream that left her holding her breath. I held still above her, although a certain part of me wanted to keep thrusting until I came inside her. She eventually went limp and started breathing again. Her skin shone with perspiration as her chest rose and fell. She opened her eyes and looked up at me calmly.
“I don’t know how you do that,” she said.
“Do what?”
“Make me come so hard.”
“Practice.”
“Mmm, I like your practice.” She smiled languidly. “Your penis too.”
“He likes you. A lot.”
“I can tell. He feels good inside me.” Her eyelids drooped but then snapped open. “You didn’t—?”
“No.”
“Oh, thank goodness.” She winced guiltily and added, “Sometimes I can’t tell.”
“That’s okay.”
She caressed my face. “One more day. Then you can come inside me all you want. Till then, I’ll swallow everything you give me. Only… I need a few minutes to recover. I’m still all tingly and weak.”
“Take your time. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Mmm, I know. You’re mine now.”
I rose early the next morning and went for a run. Christy was awake when I returned, and I knew exactly what she’d been doing from her semi-guilty expression.
“Couldn’t wait?” I teased as I stripped off my shirt and shorts.
“I only came once, and it was just a little one.”