<<< IPE-26.txt >>>
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"Island Paradise: Eternity" - Chapter 26 of ??
--> M/F, F/F and just about everything else
--> Author: HighlanderJM@hotmail.com
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"Ever since I was a teen-ager, I have long dreamed of the
chance to one day become a father. I absolutely love kids.
My sister, who is a good 13 years older than me, has three
children. I never got to spend a whole lot of time with her
kids because I lived in New Jersey and then California while
she was in Ohio, but I cherished the opportunity whenever it
arose. I always wished that one day, I could have children
as beautiful and as wonderful as the three my sister has."
"After Victoria left me - and broke my heart - I always
felt extremely envious when I saw a husband-and-wife couple
together, with their small children in tow - especially the
ones who were in close proximity to my age. There was
always an abundance of them at the shopping center..."
"I would look at the man and automatically be jealous of
him. He's so lucky. That boy is so cute. That girl is so
pretty. Why does he get to be a father, while I'm not?"
"That boy looks so happy with his new matchbox car. That
girl just hugged her father and said she loves him. How
fortunate and lucky is that guy? Why can't that be me?"
"These and similar thoughts would always pass throughout
my mind whenever I saw children and their parents together.
It was an extreme bit of jealousy on my part."
"I always knew that I would, if given the opportunity, be
an excellent father. My children would grow up to be healthy
and strong. I'd see to it. Along the way, they would be
given the utmost amount of love and guidance. They would
receive the best medical care whenever necessary. They would
know the difference between right and wrong."
"Most of all, though, my children would know that their
father loves them - with all of his heart."
Devon, who was resting comfortably on the large hammock
(with Kristanna laying right beside her) just outside the
estate's side entrance, smiled at me after my long dialogue.
"You're going to be a great Daddy, Jeremy. You're a great
husband and you'll be a great Daddy. And me, a great Mommy!"
Seated on the ground beside both she and Kristanna, I
offered Devon a smile. That smile had not worn off since I
learned that my wife was pregnant two days ago. I had been
riding an emotional high and wondered if I would ever come
down from it. I wasn't sure if I wanted to come down...
"Doesn't one of your brothers have a child, too?" Devon
asked. "Not Dan, but the other one. The one who couldn't
make it to our wedding in the Bahamas?"
"That would be Steve, yes," I nodded. "I haven't seen
him in 11 years. He has shut himself out from everyone in
our family except my mother. Last I heard, Steve had TWO
little kids, but was not married. He has been in trouble
with the law since he was in high school. He's 38 now."
"Everyone in our little four-some has family problems
except Krissy," Devon frowned. "Amy doesn't get along with
her parents at all. My parents don't even want anything to
do with me. They never did forgive me for what happened in
high school. You... your brother, Steve. And you say that
you're very distant from everyone else in your family. We
all have family problems except Krissy."
"The matchmaker software I wrote for Jeremy paired all
three of you up," Kristanna mused, reaching out and running
her hand throughout Devon's long-flowing blonde hair. "It
is no great coincidence that the three of you - you, Jeremy
and Amy - all have family problems. And it is also no great
coincidence that all of you have the desire and urge to build
your own family - ours - and make everything about it right."
"Everything about it already is right," Devon squealed,
turning her gaze toward Kristanna and then bumping noses
with her. "I love you, my sweet angel." Devon smiled and
added, "But you come from a great family!"
"I never had to fill out that questionnaire that you and
the other girls did before you were accepted," Kristanna
answered. "I wrote the program myself and besides, I was
already friends with Jeremy. Pamela also has a bad family
situation. She was high on Jeremy's list, too."
"What about Lindsay and Trish?" Devon asked. "They come
from good, close-knit families."
"Lindsay and Trish matched up strong with Jeremy in other
areas," Kristanna replied. "There were 18 areas of emphasis
on the questionnaire. That's why it probably took you three
or four hours to fill it out."
"It took me five or six!" Devon huffed, giggling. "That
thing was HARD! I remember some of the questions, too.
Which appeals to you more - A, harmonious relationships or
B, consistency of thought? For some of them, I had to take
awhile to think about the question itself. They were hard."
Kristanna snuggled up even closer to Devon on the hammock
and wrapped both arms around her from behind. She kissed
Devon's neck and then clutched her stomach with both hands.
"So... you beat me to it, Devvy. You're pregnant before me."
She kissed her neck again and said, "I'm so happy for you!"
Now resting upon her side, Devon looked back at Kristanna
and mused, "I'm just glad it was me who got pregnant - not
someone like Britney or Sarah. Or even Lindsay or Trish.
Imagine the mess that would be." She looked at me and said,
"You absolutely refuse to wear a condom, Jeremy."
"How did you originally find out?" Kristanna wondered.
Devon smiled and replied, "I took a home pregnancy test
two nights ago. I've been a bit queasy the past week or so.
Got sick three times. I thought I had a virus or something,
you know? The only reason I took the test was because I
felt fine each time after getting sick. Even so, I still
thought it would come up negative. I didn't think I'd get
pregnant. Not while on the pill, at least."
"Those pills are not completely fool-proof," Kristanna
told her. "I believe they are 99.5 percent effective.
That means for every 200 times we have sex, the average
chance the pill has of failing is one time. And even if it
fails, that still does not mean a conception will occur."
"Jeremy could increase that to 99.8 or 99.9 percent if he
were to wear a condom," Devon offered. "I'm just glad he
got me pregnant. Wouldn't it be something if Lindsay were
to pop up all of a sudden and say she was pregnant? Sarah?"
"That WOULD be a mess," I agreed, my eyes wide.
"Babies don't come from having sex," Kristanna said. "I
have always believed babies come from two people loving each
other very, very much. That's why you were the one who got
pregnant, Devon. Not Lindsay or Trish, or Britney or Sarah.
Jeremy does not love them the way he loves you."
"Using that logic, you would be pregnant now too," I said
to Kristanna, grinning. "Or are you holding something back?"
The Norwegian chuckled and replied, "No, I'm not pregnant.
I really want to wait a couple of years. I'll stay on the
pill. Plus, I want to help out and do a lot of work for the
first few years on what will be our new farm in NORWAY!"
Devon shook her head and giggled. "Never once in my life
did I believe that I would live in Norway..."
"It's the best place for us to move to, and settle down,"
I told Devon, reiterating a point from earlier today. "We
cannot live in the United States. It is illegal to have
multiple spouses in the United States. Not only are you and
I married to Kristanna, but we hope to be married to Amy
soon, too. In fact, the only place in all of North America
that accepts polygamy - what we do - is British Columbia.
Everywhere else in North America, it's illegal."
"But it's legal in Norway?" Devon asked.
"Yes, it is," Kristanna answered. "It is not generally
accepted in my country, but there are no laws against it.
We'll still have to keep our marriage to ourselves anyway.
The only people who should know about it there is my family.
They support everything that I do, and won't ridicule us."
"This island is no place for a child to grow up," I said.
"The scenery is beautiful and all, and any children we wind
up having would live in paradise. But this isn't the proper
environment. Children need to be around other children.
They need to go to school and have friends over they can
play with. We will need to re-enter society."
"I think Norway would be a perfect place for us to move
to. Not only would it be a good country for our children to
grow up in, but Kristanna could be close to her family."
"I'm just gonna miss the island!" Devon pouted. "But you
are right, Jeremy. This island is no place for someone to
grow up. They would be mortified of what goes on in common
society once getting their first taste of it. It would be
unfair to raise someone in protective isolation like this.
Any and all of our children need to grow up normal. As
normal as we can give them, at least, with one husband and
three wives. But they need to be around other kids. They
need to go to school and learn the ways of the world."
"That's why I say we move away from here," I nodded.
"If polygamy is not illegal in Norway," Devon offered, "I
say we move there. It is the only real, logical place to go
since Krissy has all of her roots there. I know that she
would love to be reunited with her family." Devon snickered
and added, "I just hope they have plenty of American food
there. You'll never see me eat fiskefarce - or whatever
Krissy calls it. Or any of that other crazy Norwegian food!"
"Fiskepudding el fiskefarce," Kristanna corrected her.
"You would like it if you gave it a try!"
"I'm not eating fish pudding!" Devon squealed, laughing.
"Do you know what you need?" Kristanna grinned.
"What?"
"A big, 'ol tray of risted laks med kremsaus!"
"I'm not even going to ask what that is," Devon huffed.
"With a side of hjrottebakkels!"
"They better have American food there, Jeremy," Devon
giggled, shaking her head at me. "They better!"
I chuckled and responded, "Don't worry about that, dear.
I'll have American food personally imported if I have to.
You think I want any of their food? Laks?"
"You like lutefisk and lefse," Kristanna told me. "Those
dishes are to us Norwegians what hamburger and steak is to
you fickle, close-minded Americans. Our favorite food."
"I'm sorry," I told her, "but I don't want fish in my
soup. Or my pudding. Or goat head cheese. Or any of those
other crazy dishes you say to us, Kristanna. You just do
that to make us laugh. I know you."
"I especially love fish in my porridge," she snickered.
"I think both of you need to try some."
Devon let out an exaggerated grunt, then rolled on top of
Kristanna and playfully pinned her to the hammock. Devon
kept clear of Kristanna's arm cast as she leaned down and
kissed her upon the lips with moderate force. Kristanna, of
course, returned the kiss with equal feeling and desire.
"Let's put your pussy in some porridge," Devon quipped,
her eyes locked upon Kristanna. "I'll be happy to eat that!"
* * *
It is with a heavy heart that I convey the following to
you (the readers), but I feel it is necessary.
Throughout the first story, and now this - the sequel - I
have focused on major events that happened in not only my
life on the island, but those of the girls, too. I do not
like bringing up the following subject, but as I said, I feel
it is necessary. It was definitely something major.
Not long after my playful and spirited discussion with
Devon and Kristanna concluded, I received a telephone call
from my mother - who lives in Ohio. She told me that my
grandmother - her mother - was not going to make it through
the next 24 hours. She was going to die.
My grandmother had been suffering from Alzheimer's Disease
for several years and had been in a nursing home since 2000.
Now age 83, she had encountered severe respiratory problems
within the past week and was slowly sinking into oblivion.
My mother said that the nursing home had called her moments
earlier and told her that she had taken a turn for the worse.
She was going to pass away - and soon.
I may have distanced myself from my family in recent years
(for several reasons), but my first and only thought was how
I could get to Ohio. I wanted to get there to not only be
with my mother (who was obviously experiencing a great deal
of mental anguish), but also to hopefully see my grandmother
one final time before she passed away.
I immediately called Will, my pilot friend who owned the
helicopter, and told him to get here as soon as possible. I
then called the airport in Lima and booked reservations for
two to Dallas/Fort Worth, and then Cincinnati.
I did not want to go to Ohio all by myself, but I could
not take my entire harem with me, either. My family knew
that I was married to Devon because most of them had been
present at our wedding in the Bahamas last year. They did
not know that I was also married to Kristanna, and that I
was close with Amy as well. I wanted to keep it that way.
Thus, I chose Devon to accompany me to Ohio. Kristanna
could stay here on the island, along with Amy, and help keep
things in order. Devon and I were going to miss them - no
doubt - but I had to be there for my mother.
Even though we were on a flight within 90 minutes, Devon
and I were too late. After we had boarded our connector and
were en route to Cincinnati, my grandmother passed away.
My mother said she was by her side for several hours,
holding her hand. My grandmother was all curled up in the
nursing home bed, her eyes closed and mouth wide open.
She had not moved or even twitched until my mother felt a
little squeeze on her hand. My mother had been talking to
the hospice nurse about something and in mid-sentence, she
said she felt that hand squeeze hers. An instant later, she
told me, it felt like my grandmother's spirit left her body,
and gave her one final hug before moving onto the afterlife.
In the middle of her sentence, my mother stopped what she
was saying and told the hospice nurse that my grandmother
was gone. Sure enough, she was. The nurse checked the
equipment and confirmed it. My mother truly believes that
her spirit passed on, but not without saying good-bye first
without a hug. She believes that... and so do I.
Once Devon and I did arrive in Cincinnati, we rushed to
be by the side of my mother. She was in a great deal of
pain, naturally, but felt much better when I showed up.
This was only the third time I had saw her within the past
18 months. She told me to visit more often.
I offered to pay for the entire cost of the funeral and
burial, which would take place three days later. Of course,
I told my mother that we would stay for the services.
Devon and I visited both my brother and sister, and their
respective families, and squeezed in a little sight-seeing,
in addition to spending time with my mother. It was truly
remarkable to see how downtown Cincinnati had changed from
the time when I lived there (1974 (birth) until 1986), with
two major sports stadiums up and several new businesses. It
looked vastly different than the way I remembered it.
We toured several places, but Devon and I most enjoyed the
Cincinnati Museum of Natural History and Science, as well as
the United States Air Force Museum (located in Dayton) and
the Newport Aquarium (in Kentucky).
We went with my brother (Dan) to the Air Force base, and
were offered the privilege of taking my sister's three
children to the aquarium. For a few hours, at least, it
seemed as if Devon were already parents. It was a very good
feeling, too. We took them out to eat and bought them gifts.
But the visitation and then the funeral came too fast.
The only good thing about funerals is that you are reunited
with relatives you have not seen (or in some cases, even
thought about) in 5, 10, 20+ years. Long-lost cousins,
aunts, uncles, even old friends and acquaintances... a lot
of them were there. I especially enjoyed meeting up with
Bobby, the cousin who I used to get into trouble with. He
and I were always into something mischievous when growing up.
But the one person I loved seeing more than any other
was my troubled brother, Steve, who lived in Kentucky. He
drove up for the service with his live-in girlfriend and
their two children. I had not saw him in 11 years and many
times, wondered if we would ever meet up again. The funeral
was a somber setting for this, indeed, but at least it had
brought most of my family - Steve included - back together.
I was awarded the opportunity of being a pallbearer along
with my two brothers, and three more family members, for the
funeral. Again, it was a sad and somber occasion, but it
was also a celebration of her 83 years.
My grandmother - or Gran, as I used to call her - had
always been full of life, love and happiness. She was
everything that a grandmother should be.
But Gran is in a much better place now because of what
Alzheimer's Disease had done to her brain. If she were to
have been diagnosed with cancer, she would have still been
Gran until the end. But because she had Alzheimer's, Gran
had vanished before even dying. That was terrible.
I have spoken to her in my own private time since she
passed away, but let me use this public forum as well. I
know the following words will reach her.
Gran, this is Jeremy. You always called me little Jerry.
I am sorry that I was not there at your bedside when you
passed away. I should have been there to say good-bye to
you. I am so sorry that I wasn't.
But rest assured that even though we had not saw each
other all that often since I moved away from Ohio in 1986, I
always loved you, and I always will. I miss you, but one
day, we will be back together. And who knows? I may even
throw my bubble gum into your sack of potatoes again.
<wink>
* * *
Following the burial, Devon and I returned to The Westin,
which was Cincinnati's most prestigious downtown hotel. This
was going to be our last night here before returning to the
island. Nevertheless, we called Kristanna and Amy, and spoke
to them for over two hours. I even talked for a bit with
Lindsay and Britney. Lindsay, whose own family was no more
than 20 miles away, wanted us to bring them to the island.
She was only teasing and playing around, though.
After a long and relaxing shower, I threw on a pair of
trousers and a shirt, and ventured back out to the suite.
Devon was perched on the bed, her eyes watery, and a frown
upon her face. She was still feeling the effects of the
funeral. I went over to the bed and put my arm around her.
"I hate funerals," she pouted, dabbing her eyes and face
with a Kleenex tissue. "Today was such a sad, sad day."
"I know," I said, taking a deep breath and squeezing her
shoulder just a bit tighter. "But you know what else? I am
so glad that you were here with me for this, Devon. I don't
know if I could have made it through the service today if
you weren't here with me. I'm glad you came along."
Devon flashed me a smile which lasted no more than an
instant, then returned to frowning. "It just goes to show
how fragile life can be. I guess since your grandma was
sick and all, that this was expected. You knew this day was
coming and so did everyone else in your family. But I was
thinking..." Devon's words trailed off, and she turned her
face away from me, concealing it with a tissue.
"What is it, princess?" I asked, my voice soft and tender.
"What were you thinking? Please tell me."
Still concealing her face, Devon struggled to say, "I was
just thinking if that was you instead of your grandma... or
you instead of anybody." Her entire body seemed to shiver
as she added, "I couldn't live and go on if anything at all
happened to you, Jeremy. I just couldn't..."
"Sweetheart..." I breathed, smiling. I took her into my
arms and held her lovingly. "Nothing is going to happen to
me. I was thinking the same thing at the funeral today about
you." I trailed my right hand downward and caressed her
stomach. "I have too much to live for. I have you, Krissy,
Amy and... our baby. Our unborn baby."
"I shouldn't have said that to you, Jeremy," Devon pined.
"It's... it's what I have been thinking about all day. I
know I'm crazy for thinking that way, but..."
I placed both hands upon Devon's face and pulled it away
from my chest so I could look into her teary eyes. "You can
say anything to me, princess. That's what I love about you.
You're so open and honest with me. You always have been.
You have been so open and honest since we first met each
other. Please... never hold anything back from me."
"Funerals depress me like nothing else!" she fretted.
"They depress me too, sweetheart."
"I love you so much, Jeremy," Devon pouted, new tears
streaking down her face. "You'll never know how much. I
say that to you over and over, but I mean it SOOOOO much."
"I know you do," I gently nodded.
"You're everything to me, Jeremy. Everything." Devon
shivered once more and shook her head. "I admit that I do
enjoy all the extra pleasure I have in my life. I enjoy it
a lot. But you're all I need. I mean that sincerely."
Surprised by her words, I countered, "Kristanna and Amy?"
"I love both Kristanna and Amy very much," Devon told me.
"I love them more than you'll ever know. But I could live
without them, Jeremy. I really could. You, though..." she
frowned, "you... I could NEVER live without. I... I am with
them, and all the others, simply to make you happy, Jeremy.
I know how much you enjoy watching me slut out with others."
My whole body tingled with positive emotions as I quickly
embraced Devon with both arms again, and held her tightly. I
had no idea that she harbored these types of feelings. She
had told me several times in the recent past that I was
first in her life, and would forever be that way.
But at the same time, I thought she required more than
what I could give her. After all, Devon was bi-sexual and
ADORED women. How could I possibly satisfy her on my own?
"Don't get me wrong," my beloved wife offered, both of us
holding each other tightly. "I want Kristanna and Amy in my
life. I love both of them so much. Krissy is my best
friend in the whole, wide world. I love her so much."
"But I've thought long and hard about it, Jeremy. If you
were to come up to me one day and say that I had a choice -
either you and no one else, or Kristanna and Amy and anyone
that I wanted... I would most definitely choose you. And I
would stay monogamous and faithful to you, Jeremy, for the
absolute rest of my life. I swear it."
I grinned and countered, "You need a woman."
"No I don't," she said, shaking her head. "Not really. I
mean... they are nice. Variety is good. I love Krissy and
Amy. I want them to be with us from now until the end of
eternity. But if I had to make a decision between staying
with you for the rest of my life - and no one else - compared
to Krissy and Amy - and anyone else I wanted to have - I
would choose you." She ended our mutual embrace and looked
deep into my eyes, proclaiming, "You're all that I need,
Jeremy. I truly, honestly, sincerely mean that. I do..."
Momentarily stunned by her words, I did not offer Devon
an immediate response. I did not realize that she seemed to
think of Kristanna and Amy as added luxuries in her life. It
had always seemed - at least to me - as if Devon could not
possibly survive without (especially) Kristanna as a focal
point of her life. After all, they were married. According
to her words, though, she could. I was all that she needed.
"You're all that I think about, Jeremy. When I wake up
in the morning, I immediately think about you. When I go to
the beach, I think about you. When I am with Krissy and Amy,
I think about you. Even the other night - when I was having
sex with Trish - I was thinking about you, Jeremy. I was
praying to myself that you were watching us with your video
cameras. I wanted you to get off on watching me get fucked
by that hot blonde." She paused and added, "Did you?"
Still unable to speak, I simply nodded my head at her.
"I love you, Jeremy," Devon continued. "I love you SO
much. I think about you constantly. You're always on my
mind. Even when Trish made me scream out in orgasm - that
exact moment - I was STILL thinking about you." She smiled
and added, "I envisioned you cumming all over your hand...
and what it would taste like, if I were to clean it up."
I continued to stare at her in utter silence. What she
was saying went against everything I had tried to provide
her with over the past several months. All of these other
women were here - including Kristanna and Amy - to make Devon
happy. All along, I could have had a one-on-one relationship
with Devon. We could have run off and been happy together.
"You've always said that you need Kristanna in your life,
Jeremy," Devon pouted. "You've always told her that. I love
Kristanna, as well as Amy, and want them to stay with us."
She hesitated and asked, "But could I keep you happy by
myself, Jeremy? I mean, if things were that way? Would I
be enough for you, like you would be for me? Or would you
need more? Would you need Kristanna and Amy, too?"
I shook my head and answered, "No, of course not. I want
them to be in our lives, too. Kristanna is my wife. She is
your wife. I want all three of us to spend the rest of our
lives together. But there is only one woman that I truly
NEED in my life. That woman, of course, is a princess."
Devon let out a moan and tossed her arms around my neck
and shoulders, embracing me tightly. "Oh... that's so good
and reassuring to hear. I used to think that I needed
Kristanna as much as I do you, Jeremy. I guess I felt that
way for awhile. But ever since you and I got married back
in September, things have changed. You are SOOOOO much more
important to me than Kristanna or Amy is. I never thought I
would feel so strongly about someone, but you changed that,
Jeremy. You make me so happy... you're all I need."
I ended our embrace and stared deep into her eyes. "I
can't believe, sweetheart, that you could possibly survive
the rest of your life without at least another woman in it."
"I could," she nodded, sounding firm. "I really could.
I would miss a woman's touch, but if you wanted me to, I
could live without them. As long as I have you, Jeremy, I
would be very happy, content and satisfied."
"Satisfied?" I countered, surprised. "This coming from
the orgy princess? A big group of girls can't satisfy you.
How can I satisfy your needs all by myself?"
"You can, Jeremy," Devon smiled. "You always do." She
paused and continued, "I want you to know one thing: NO ONE
can ever love you as much as I do. NO ONE, Jeremy. No one
can possibly treat you any better than I do. No one loves
you as much as I do, and I mean that. I might be your
princess, but you're my prince. Or better yet, my knight!"
"Sir Cum-alot?" I grinned, making both of us laugh. After
a momentary pause, I went on, "What about Stephanie? You were
telling me the other day that you wanted her back."
"I did, and I still do," Devon responded. "I wanted her
to stay the same way I want Kristanna and Amy in my life.
But I don't want 'Steph to stay at your expense, Jeremy.
Isn't that what I told you? You and your feelings are more
important to me than anything else. I don't want to hurt
you, or make you feel one bit uncomfortable. So, I let her
go. And if you wanted, I'd let Kristanna and Amy go, too."
"I'm not going to ask you to give up Kristanna and Amy for
me," I told her, shaking my head.
"I don't want you to," Devon retorted. "I love both of
them very much. Especially Krissy. She is my best friend
and I love her. But if you did want me to, I would."
I smiled at her. "I would do the same, exact thing for
you, sweetheart. You are what matters most to me, too. My
whole purpose each day is to make you smile, and feel good.
I love to see you smile. It keeps me going each day."
I frowned and continued, "I've tried to convince myself
for months that you and Kristanna were equals in my life.
It was the only way for me to think. But... but when you
get down to it, you're my number one in life, Devvy. You
always will be. You're my girl, and I love you. Kristanna
means so very much to me... but you mean more. You do."
"Never a word of this discussion goes to anyone but us,"
Devon nodded, pointing fingers at herself and yours truly.
"Never a word... okay? This would hurt Krissy so much. She
would not understand that despite everything I have said, I
still want and need her in my life. I love her, Jeremy.
But I would leave her if you wanted me to."
"I never will," was my promise. I smiled and added, "Is
it okay if I continue to try and convince myself that you
and her are equals? That never will be the case, but I want
to at least think that way... if you know what I mean. I
don't want Kristanna to feel left out in the cold."
"Brrrrr... cold!" Devon shivered, looking around the
hotel room here in downtown Cincinnati. There was a light
snow falling outside, and the temperature was in the teens.
It was vastly different from our island paradise. "You
saying that reminds me of how cold I am!"
Even without thinking, I retrieved a thick wool blanket
and wrapped it around Devon's heavenly body several times.
I kept my arms around her from the side and splayed a series
of kisses across her ear and cheek. "I love you, princess."
Devon nestled the side of her face upon my shoulder and
smiled dreamily. "I love you too, Jeremy. And yes... I
want you to keep thinking of Krissy as an equal. I want you
to treat her that way. I do the absolute best I can to
treat her that way myself. But it's so hard."
My arms still wrapped around her, I laid down with Devon
upon the bed and looked deep into those blue eyes of hers
one more time. "We're going home tomorrow. I have missed
Kristanna so much over these past few days. I want to be
with her tomorrow. I want to spend time with her."
"All three of us can spend time together tomorrow," Devon
suggested. "And Amy can join us, too."
"What about Amy, dear?" I asked. "Do you want her to be
married to us? We can talk here, and be totally open and
honest. There is no voyeur room to worry about. Everything
we say tonight is between you and I... and no one else. We
have no fear that anyone is watching us."
"I don't have any problem with Amy marrying us, Jeremy,"
Devon answered. "I know what you are thinking. You think
if anyone stays with us - like Amy is - it is only right to
marry them. I understand that, and I don't have a problem
with it. As long as you continue to love me, Jeremy, I'm
fine with whatever you choose to do. You could bring Sarah
and Britney to Norway with us and if you wanted, I would
marry them too. Same goes for Lindsay and Trish. I... I
support everything that you do. Whatever you want is fine.
Even if Pamela came back, and was willing to accept the fact
that we share each other, she could marry us too."
I looked around the hotel suite and frowned. "I'm gonna
miss my family, princess. I'm always reminded of how much
they mean to me on those rare occasions when I come back
here to visit. I even saw my brother Steve. I saw just
about everyone, in fact, except for my father. He is still
out in California. He and my mom are separated and don't
wish to see each other ever again."
"Your family is so nice," Devon purred, gently kissing my
shoulder. "They are a great group of people."
"We could stop by and visit your family, sweetheart,
before moving to Norway," I offered. "I know that you have
major problems with your parents... but when we move across
the Atlantic, you won't have many opportunities to see them
again. We could stop in Pennsylvania before... you know,
before moving to Norway. It wouldn't be a problem. You
haven't saw or even spoke with your parents in eight months."
"I'd like that," Devon murmured, her voice soft and weak.
"Maybe... maybe we could come to a truce. I'd like that."
"And your grandparents love you," I reminded her. "They
were at our wedding, and live in Pennsylvania too. If
anything else, Devon, take the chance to visit them. I lost
my grandmother this week. I loved her so much. You should
take the chance to see your grandma and grandpa again." I
kissed her and added, "They'd love to know that you're
pregnant. That would make them so happy."
A tear streaked down Devon's face. "I feel like talking
to them now, and letting them know..."
I smiled at her. "Let's go to Pennsylvania tomorrow."
"What?" Devon countered, obviously surprised.
"Let's go there tomorrow," I reiterated. "We'll rip up
the airline tickets we have now and buy new ones. I am sure
that Krissy and Amy won't mind it if we spend two or three
days in Pennsylvania. I'd love to meet your parents. Maybe
all the time you have spent away from them has made them
realize that you are still their daughter, and they love
you. If I'm wrong, we can still see your grandparents.
And you have an older sister and two younger brothers who,
I'm fairly certain, would love you see you again."
"Just go to Pennsylvania? Just like that?"
"Just like that," I nodded. "You know that I'm a spur of
the moment guy. These extra tickets aren't going to break
my bank account, you know."
"Fort Knox couldn't break your bank account," she laughed.
"I don't know about that..." I grinned. "But you know
what, Devvy? I showed you all around Ohio these past couple
of days. I showed you the house I used to live in... where
I played, where my friends lived, where I went to school. I
would love for you to do the same for me. I really would.
I want to know what it was like for you and where you grew
up before we met one another. It would be an honor."
"If Kristanna and Amy are fine with it... yeah, sure,"
Devon commented. "But you're going to miss a whole week of
time with the likes of Lindsay and Britney, Jeremy, with us
being here and then going to Pennsylvania. Call me crazy,
but I think Britney is your new favorite among our guests."
"I'd rather be in Pennsylvania with you," I told her.
"We can stay there for three days. You could show me around
for one of them, and spend the other two with your family.
How does that sound? Philadelphia or Pittsburgh airport?"
"Philadelphia. Where I grew up - [city name] - is not
too far from there. I... I'd love to show you around my
old stomping grounds, Jeremy. Maybe... maybe we could
visit Allison's grave-site, too? She was my friend from..."
"I know who Allison is," I interjected. "You told me all
about her, and what happened that night in high school. It
is the root of all your problems with your parents. I want
you to go see Allison, Devon. I want you to tell her that
you're pregnant, and you have a husband that loves you with
all of his heart. Allison would like that, I'm sure."
"I'd love to see her again..." Devon quaked, a tear going
down her face. "She was so young, and had her whole life
ahead of her. For a long time, I wished it was me instead
of Allison who had the fatal reaction. I... I really did."
"Don't say that," I told her in a calm tone, shaking my
head. "Don't ever say that to me."
"I... I'm sor-sor-sorry..."
"Don't be," I said, kissing her forehead. "Just don't
say that to me again. Please. Don't even think it." I
hugged her tightly and said, "You don't know what you'd do
without me? I don't know what I'd do without YOU."
"I only wish we knew each other earlier in life," Devon
frowned. "It took me 25 years to find you, Jeremy. You are
everything that I ever wanted in a man. That's why when I
saw you for the first time, I fell in love with you. I knew
what I wanted and when I saw you, you were it. You were the
vision that I had dreamed about for all those years."
"Could be worse," I told her, grinning. "It took you 25
years to find me. Took me 28 years to find you. Be glad."
I kissed her forehead once again and said, "I'm gonna call
Kristanna and let her know of our sudden change of plans."
"Let's make it a three-stop trip," Devon suggested.
"A three-stop trip?" I asked, confused.
"I know you want to, Jeremy," Devon nodded. "You want to
give her one more try. We'll be close to her anyway."
"What are you talking about?"
"A three-stop trip," Devon reiterated. "Cincinnati,
Philadelphia and... Baltimore."
"Baltimore?" I asked, referring to Pamela's hometown...
<<<- End of Part 26 ->>>
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