doing? I’m sort of old fashioned. I’m not saying that I’ve never had sex before, but somehow, between you and me, I want something more. What about you?”
“Of course silly, we’re going to get married. I told you I’ve had dreams about you. And I don’t mean in just a general way. I know every bit of your body. For instance, I haven’t seen your backside, have I? No…what would you say if I told you that you have a heart shaped birthmark on your right hip? Now think about me, you may not think you have ever seen my body before, but think hard, close your eyes and tell me where I have a mole, you couldn’t of seen it before in the bedroom, because it’s hidden.”
I closed my eyes. Her body came into my mind. On her inner thigh, up close to her groin was a mole, it couldn’t be seen, where it was at. She was right I had seen her in my dreams, in a very intimate way. I thought they were just sex dreams; I didn’t know they were about anybody in particular. I opened my eyes, she was standing close up to me. “See, I told you.” Then she took my hand and we got in the water…..
We lay beside each other, drying in the soft breeze. Alita was still sleeping. Faith’s breasts were swelling with milk, one of them was dripping a little bit, I wiped it away. Faith sighed, “I suppose I had better wake Alita up, I feel like an old milk cow that needs milked.” Alita latched on with enthusiasm. I sort of envied her.
“I guess we had better be getting back, I should help set the table. Ester does all of the cooking, they think I don’t know how.” I held Alita while Faith got dressed, then Faith took her and I started to get dressed. Faith watched my every move.
We walked back hand-in-hand. Alita was gurgling and cooing and pointing to all of the animals. “Faith,” I said, “you know this is not going to happen again till we get married?”
We stopped walking, Faith looked up at me and said, “Yes,” in a soft voice, “I know, it’s just that I couldn’t help myself. Even before Theodore died, I had dreams about you once in awhile. I didn’t know what they meant, then. I thought they were just sex dreams, like you know everybody has.”
“I know, I have been having the same dreams and I thought that was just what they were, dreams. But now we know that they were more than that, color me old fashioned, but I believe that sex and marriage go hand-in-hand.” I said, as I leaned over and kissed her.
We continued walking, with Alita on my right hip and Faith pressed tightly up against me on my left side. I can remember my mother carrying Jake on her hip; just like I had Alita. It may not be manly to carry a baby that way, but it sure was easier.
When we got back to the house, Jake and Alona were just coming from the barn. They weren’t holding hands, but they might just of well had been. They were walking side by side, joking and laughing. Alona’s eyes sparkled, they couldn’t take their eyes off of each other.
When they seen us approaching, they stopped in their tracks, and stared. I couldn’t blame them, you really couldn’t tell where Faith left off and I began; as close together as we were. Plus I guess with the baby thrown in the mix, we were quite a sight to them.
Alona said, “Faith, Uh, what’s going on, you just met him?”
“Not really, we’ve known each other for quite awhile; you remember, our dreams. Anyway, we’re getting married.” Faith said.
“What about Teddy, he’s only been dead for not even a year; don’t you think that it’s a little fast?”
Jake spoke up, “Uh, Alona, I know my brother; he usually doesn’t do things on the spur of the moment. If they are going to get married, knowing him, I’m sure it’s forever.”
“Well, I guess so, it’s just that it took me by surprise.” She turned to look at Jake, their eyes met, she forgot all about us.
As the four and half of us went into the hall setting room, we seen Dad and Felicia setting there, sipping Margarita’s. Felicia turned to us and said, “Would you like a drink, I can ring for one?”
I said, “Just some Ice Tea for me and the Mrs. The kids there might like some soda pop.”
Felicia, looked at Faith, “Ah, I thought so. Karl and I have just been discussing your up coming marriage. Would you like to make it a double wedding?”
I thought my announcement would take them by surprise, but they had turned the tables on us. All four of us stood there dumbstruck. Alona said, when she found her voice, “you mean you two are getting married also?”
“Yes, we weren’t in as big of a hurry as Clay and Faith, but since they are getting married, we might as well do the same. No use to have two big weddings; when one will do.” Dad said. Then he took Felicia’s hand and kissed it. Her eyes were just as happy as my new wife’s were.
Felicia looked at Alona and Jake, “I’m sorry, but you two will just have to wait, you’re way to young to get married.”
“Huh, Uh,” Jake stammered, “we hadn’t even thought about getting married, have we Alona?”
“Well…no, not yet. But I do like you Jake. But marriage at this time, no, I guess not.” She took Jake’s hand, “We can wait, can’t we Jake?”
“Yes, of course, we both are too young, you sixteen and me only seventeen.”
Dad said, “Damn right you will wait. Even though your hormones are in high gear right now. Oh I know Clay and Faith aren’t a very good example. But hey, they’re a lot older than the two of you. They have waited their turn. The same goes for Felicia and me, we’re almost three times your age, so I guess we have the right.”
Felicia said, “That’s right Karl, I can remember my Grandfather saying, ‘just because I have a little snow on the roof, that’s no sign the furnace has gone out’.”
Alona said, “Really Mom, that’s gauche, I’ve never heard you talk that way, for heavens sake act your age.” Felicia, stuck her tongue out at her daughter, Faith giggled and took Alita from me and handed her to Felicia, “Here Felicia, hold your Granddaughter; Clay and I have to set the table for dinner.” Then she took my hand and hustled me out of the room.
As soon as we got out of the room, she plastered herself against me and kissed me. She pulled away and looked into my eyes. I guess I broke the spell when I said, “Uh, Honey, you just left two wet spots on my shirt, don’t you have a nursing bra to absorb some of that?”
“Oh you, of course I do.” Then she kicked me lightly in the shins. Of course it didn’t hurt, she was still barefoot. I pulled her back against me and kissed her, for a long time…I didn’t care if my whole shirt got wet.
“We broke and she said, “I don’t know why I’m making so much milk, I have enough milk for three babies. I guess I should donate some; is there some place that can be done?”
“I don’t know, maybe you could ask your doctor, he might know?” I said.
“Yeah, I guess I will call her tomorrow. I’ll have to use the breast pump again tonight, I think I have a lot of bottles in the refrigerator. No use to waste it, I guess.”
How did I go from a care free bachelor to a husband and father, in a matter of hours? It wasn’t as if I didn’t like it, because I did. But it sure was mighty fast.
“The dishes are
