Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 Deanna by: Dr.  Paco Jones
   copyright 2012
   Chapter 24 - The Wedding plans
   The wedding was rapidly approaching and Dee was being a typical woman
awaiting her wedding.  She was squirrelly with stress and bouncing off the
walls.  Fortunately she wasn't working alone, and I had given her carte
blanche to do whatever she wanted to do.  After all, weddings are usually
for the bride; the groom is just along for the ride.
   When things got started Dee didn't have any idea of what to do, so Carol
was a good sounding board.  She had planned her sisters wedding as well as
the first wedding for her brother.  She had a good idea of how both sides
of the routine worked which helped Dee immensely.
   Once they got started it seemed like things were going fairly smoothly.
The two of them broke it down and each ran off to do their assigned tasks.
The only assignment for "Tom" was to be sure I had a white tuxedo that fit,
was clean and to be "to the church" on time.
   Check, done, in the closet wrapped in plastic.  Hey.  This is easy shit!
It's going to be here at the house.  How can I be late?
   Carol went out to arrange the flowers, cake and caterers, while Dee went
to find the dresses that she'd need for herself and the bridesmaids.  They
didn't know it yet, but Dee was going to ask Marie, Lisa, Sheryl and both
Carols to be bridesmaids, more than anything she wanted Tara to be her Maid
of Honor.
   The date had been set as best they could project Tara's return.  Tara
wasn't positive when it would be either, so she could only give Dee and me
a ballpark guess.
   It turns out she was wrong.  She would be back home and retired about
ten weeks sooner than had been planned or communicated.  She was elated,
and decided that she would surprise Dee by just "showing up" at the house.
She debated on whether or not to tell me so I could pick her up at the
airport, but decided to just take a cab and be there.  She had a key to the
house, so if nobody was home, she could just let herself in.
   I had already asked Jim if he would be my best man, and Jim had agreed,
so that part was already settled.  I let Jim know that when the time got
closer we could hit one of the finer men's stores and pick up a tux for
him.
   Jim asked if the place I was thinking of rented tuxes.  He'd rented them
before, but it was always at a rental outlet.
   When I told him that we'd just buy him the tux, he argued that he never
had occasion to wear a tux, so he always rented one the few times he'd ever
needed one.
   "I'd rather you spend that kind of money and give me a new set of
wrenches," Jim laughed.  "At least they'll get used all the time."
   "If that's how you want to work it Jim, it's ok with me.  I know I have
three black and three white in the closet for any occasion."
   "Yeah, but you use them Tom," Jim observed.  "I'd wear it for the
wedding and then it would collect dust in the closet until I wore it in my
casket.  It wouldn't even fit the next time I went to wear it so the
undertaker would have to rip it up the back," he laughed.  "I appreciate
your offer, but it really wouldn't be money well spent."
   "Ok," Tom capitulated.  "We'll find you a rental, and a new set of
wrenches," he said with a grin.
   "Hmmm," thoughtfully, "Since my next project is the next Porsche RSR,
I'll need metrics.  Craftsman or Snap-on would do nicely," he said with a
big grin and a chuckle.
   "If that's what you need, that's what you'll get.  Hell, it's not like
you haven't done a shit pot full of work on my projects.  Is the RSR you're
talking about yours or is it the one in my garage?" I knew full well what
he was talking about, little did he know!
   "What do you think?" laughed Jim.  "I'm retired and I park cars.  "Where
am I going to get the bucks for an RSR?"
   "Oh I don't know.  I got mine pretty damned cheap!"
   "Yeah?" he looked at me skeptically.  "What's cheap to you?"
   Tom tried to remember what he'd paid for the cars.  It had been a few
years since he'd picked them up but the price was so good there was no way
to pass on any of them.  "I think it was somewhere around $9500.00 Jim, and
considering it's a $45,000.00 car, I figure that's pretty cheap."
   "Yeah.  Ninety five hundred is pretty cheap all right, but I don't have
that kind of geetus just hanging around.  Besides, I'd bet you'll spend
thirty-five thousand on parts before you're done."
   "That's about what I figured, and most of that is cosmetics.  I've done,
or I should say, we've done the engine ourselves, sent out the tranny since
neither one of us likes to do transmission work, and re-done all four
corners in competition format.  There's not much left to finish it up."
   Jim nodded his head with a smile.  He enjoyed working with me on cars.
Even though we were a little more than 25 years apart, we enjoyed each
other's company.  Our bizarre senses of humor were pretty close, our
military experience was similar, and we were both car freaks.  Some days
Jim would come over to the shop and we'd work for 8 hours in near silence.
Other days, it would be grab ass and bullshit all day while turning the
wrenches.
   Dee and Carol were out doing some shopping, not wedding related this
time, when Tara pulled up in the taxi.  She paid the driver and because he
hefted her bags up to the front landing, tipped him very well and thanked
him profusely.
   She managed to get inside and put her bags in the guest room before
anyone got there, and was just sitting in the living room having a glass of
soda when Dee and Carol came sauntering in carrying bags of goodies.
   When Dee walked by she looked over and just said, "Hi mom," before she
realized, "what the fuck"?
   "MOM," Dee squealed, dropping everything and literally launching herself
at the couch where Tara was sitting.  Fortunately, Tara had the foresight
to put her glass on the table next to the couch and away from any edges.
   Dee wrapped herself around her mother like a tailored suit, and hugged
her tightly.  Both of the women were in tears letting each other know how
much they'd missed the other.  Dee left no doubt how much she loved Tara.
   Much to Carol's surprise, well not really given their recent
experiences, Dee pulled her face back looking into her mothers eyes and
proceeded to kiss her very lovingly.  Tara not only didn't have a problem
with the show of love, but also returned it in kind.
   Carol decided to just go on with what they were doing, and when Dee had
greeted Tara adequately, she'd rejoin in the previous tasks.
   Dee and Tara spent the better part of an hour talking, getting to know
each other again, relating what's been going on in each of the two
locations.  Dee held Tara's arm close to her the entire time.
   Tom wasn't spoken of either, but Tara had done that on purpose.  She
knew that Dee was still a little uneasy about the past, and didn't want to
raise any anxiety needlessly.  She'd see Tom soon enough.  She figured he
was out doing something.  Well, duh?
   Carol wandered through a couple times just putzing around the house. 
She'd actually started dinner for everyone already.  When she wandered by
this time, Dee called out to her.
   Having forgotten that they'd met at the club on "twin night" Dee went
through formal introductions, and was shocked when Tara stood up and gave
Carol a good kiss on the lips.
   "Honey, we met at the club.  Remember?" Tara asked.
   "Oh that's right.  I'd forgotten," Dee said blushing.  "Carol is helping
me with planning the wedding, and now you can help too.  We didn't expect
you back this early, but it makes me sooooooo happy!"
   "No.  I didn't expect to be back so early either, but I was finished
with the assignment so there was no reason to hang around just waiting for
time to pass.  My boss here told me to just pack up and come home.  So
that's what I did," Tara grinned.
   "I'll drive over to the office in a couple weeks to do all the
retirement paperwork.  Tom's already set me up with the money manager that
he uses, so if I like him, I'll keep him," she said smiling.
   She thought she could broach the subject now that his name had been
mentioned.  "Speaking of which, where is Tom?  It's unusual to be here and
him not be around."
   Dee just smiled at her brightly and said, "He'd have been here if he'd
known you were going to be here.  He's in the shop with Jim working on the
Porsche.  Honestly, I think he bought a couple more after they started
working on the one that's been there forever."
   "Tom was going to buy Jim a tux for the wedding, but Jim convinced him
that it would be a waste of money because he didn't have occasions to wear
a tux.  They'll rent one, but jokingly he told Tom to take the money and
buy him a new set of wrenches, so he did."
   Then almost secretively she told both Carol and Tara, "I think he's
trying to get at least one of the Porsche's ready by our wedding.  Jim is
going to shit, but Tom wants to give him the first one they finish as a
"best man" gift."
   Both Tara and Carol nearly dislocated their jaws when Dee let them in on
the secret.
   "How the hell am I going to match that for my bridesmaids and Maid of
Honor?" she lamented.
   "Have you thought about that yet honey?" Tara asked Dee.
   Dee smiled at her and nodded.  "The only one I haven't asked yet is my
Maid of Honor," she said slyly.
   "Oh?  How come?"
   "Because she hasn't been around," Dee answered cryptically.
   "Oh.  Whom are you going to have as bridesmaids," Tara asked not
catching on to Dee's comment.
   "Well I don't have anyone around here that I'd even want to ask, so
Carol said she'd be one," looking at Carol with a smile.  Carol knew that
Dee was going to ask Tara to be maid of honor, and was chuckling to herself
the way she was going about it.
   "Then I asked four other women if they'd like to as well and they all
said yes, so I'll have five total."
   "Oh," said Tara with a look that was difficult to read.
   "The person who I want to be my maid of honor is back now so I guess I
can ask her," Dee said coyly.
   It was everything Carol could do to keep from laughing out loud, which
would blow Dee's fun.
   Tara just nodded her head, still totally clueless.
   Dee made sure to make good eye contact with her mother and asked, "Mom,
I'd be really honored if you would be my maid of honor."
   Tara's jaw dropped and her eyes started flooding.  She reached out, took
Dee into her arms, and sobbed.  Carol started to chuckle at the way Dee had
pulled it off.
   "Oh Dee," Tara choked.  "I'd be so honored to do that for you.  I can't
believe you'd have asked your mother."
   Dee looked at her mother very tenderly, "Mom.  The maid of honor is
usually the bride's best friend.  You are my best friend in the world and
always will be."
   Now all three of the women were in tears, blubbering all over each
other. That's how I found them a minute later when I came home from the
shop.
   The first thing I noticed was that there were three women on the couch.
Two were wrapped around the third that I couldn't see much at all, but
something had them all in tears.
   "Uhh," I mumbled.  "Dee, Carol, what's up?  Why all the tears?"
   Dee looked up to see me and said enthusiastically, "Tommy!  Mom's back
early!"
   "Huh?" Then I recognized the third woman on the couch.  Tara.
   "Tara, you're early," I declared notably.  Nothing like stating the
obvious, but I was as much in shock as Dee had been.
   "Yeah.  They sent me home," she replied with a smile.
   "Wow.  That's great.  So does that mean you're officially retired?"
   "Well yes and no," she chuckled.  "Yes, in that I don't have to go to
work anymore, no in that I still have to go in to do all the paperwork to
make it official so they can pay me, release my bonus and all the other
"things" they promised when I agreed to take on the project."
   I looked at her with surprise.  She finished, "I have to check in after
a few days to take care of everything.  I was realistically finished with
the project, and Peter just said to come back instead of just sitting
around waiting for time to pass."
   "That's fantastic.  That was really nice of him to do that," I said. 
"It's great to see you, and I'm sure Dee is thrilled as well!"
   Looking at Dee, Tara said softly, "She asked me to be her maid of honor
Tommy.  Maybe being a guy you don't understand the significance of that,
but..."
   "No, you're right.  I don't, but I'm sure it's similar to the best man.
It's usually the person you spend the most time with growing up, or a best
friend."
   Then tearing up again, "She told me that I was her best friend.  I'm so
overwhelmed; I don't know what to think.  After abandoning her for three
years, she still considers me her best friend."
   "You didn't abandon me mother, what the hell are you talking about?" Dee
shot at Tara.
   "Honey.  I wasn't here for you.  I pawned you off on Tom for three long
years," she whispered starting to weep softly.  "Baby, I can never express
to you how guilty I feel, and how much I've missed you."
   "Mom, Stop that.  I don't want to hear that stuff any more.  You didn't
pawn me off on Tom.  I forced you to leave me with him.  You knew what I
wanted." Then looking at me with a grin, "And I got it."
   "Dee, I -- "
   "I don't want to hear that crap mom," Dee interrupted immediately.  "You
did what you had to do for both of us.  You didn't go work your ass off
just for you, I know that already.  You did that for both of us, and
there's really no way I can ever repay you for that.  You left me with my
fondest dream.  How can I ever repay you for the love of my life?  I know
that you wanted him too, but your priorities weren't with relationships. 
You were focused on our survival."
   Tara looked at her daughter with bleary eyes thinking, "Where did this
woman come from.  Is this my little girl?  When did she grow up like this?"
When she thought of that, it made her sob harder.
   "Baby.  I've missed so much.  You're not my little girl anymore.  You're
a mature grown woman.  I missed those best years of your growing up.  Your
mother wasn't here when you most needed her."
   "Mom, I said stop.  I understand you're beating yourself up over not
being here, but I had Tommy.  No, it wasn't mom, but he was certainly the
next best thing for me.  Anything I needed to know, anything I asked about
no matter how girly or embarrassing from a woman's perspective, he answered
honestly without hesitation.  If he didn't know the answer directly, he
would ask one of his friends, usually Carol, and she'd either come over, or
give him the answer and he'd tell me.  Yes, I missed my mommy, but she was
doing what she needed to do for us."
   Dee looked at Tara and put her arms around her even tighter, "I'm sure
you're feeling soooo guilty about all of that, but I think it made me love
you even more.  It brought us closer than we have ever been, or could have
been, if you'd been here trying to hassle me about growing up."
   Chuckling with a warm smile, "I mean you're the mom, it's up to you to
make me turn out right.  That can drive a mother and daughter apart because
of 'differences of opinion'.  That didn't happen with us."
   Her tone changed to a very soft voice telling Tara, "Mom, I meant what I
said about you being my best friend.  If you were such a bad mom, how the
fuck could I say that?" She was going for the shock factor now and it
seemed to work.
   Carol decided to interject a little, "Tara, she means what she says.  I
can never recall ever hearing a cross word, or a complaint about 'mom's not
here', or anything of that nature.  Only excitements when she knew you were
coming home for a while.  I saw nothing but warm feelings and big smiles
when she'd talked to you on the phone.  Maybe you weren't here physically,
but you were never 'not here'; you were always around."
   Tara didn't know what to think.  She looked up at me and I gave her a
loving warm smile with understanding eyes.  She looked at Dee and saw
nothing but warmth and love.  She looked back to me as I held out my arms
inviting her for a hug.
   She looked to Dee and asked, "May I baby?"
   "Of course you can mama.  I know you both love each other.  It's been
difficult for me to deal with at times, but I want you to be able to
continue to love each other.  I know Tom loves me, I don't doubt that at
all."
   Then with a grin, "We're going to share him mom.  He'll be my husband,
but he'll be part yours too."
   Then laughing out loud, "How many guys get to sleep with their
mother-in-law?"
   With that Tara rose up to my invitation and allowed herself to be
completely surrounded in my love.  While I was holding her closely, Dee
mouthed to me without a sound, "You and mom tonight."
   I just nodded to acknowledge I understood what she'd said, then watched
as Dee and Carol communicated something, both smiling like Cheshire cats
with canary feathers at the corners of their mouths.
   Both of the ladies stood up and hugged, looking at me with a grin. 
"Tommy, we're going to take off.  We have some stuff to take care of."
   Tara turned to look at her daughter with very suspicious eyes.  "When
are you going to be back honey?"
   "Always the mom, huh?  Can't go out anywhere without having to report
back in?" she said laughingly.
   Tara just shook her head and laughed.  "I guess you caught me!  But from
that answer I can only assume you'll be home late if at all."
   Dee's eyes sparkled.  She looked at Tara, "I'll be ok mom.  I won't be
out with some guy getting pregnant." She laughed out loud.
   Tara extracted herself from my embrace and turned to hug her daughter.
She looked into Dee's dancing eyes, and gave her a very tender kiss letting
Dee start some mild tongue tag.  When their kiss broke, Tara looked into
Dee's eyes once again and said, "Be careful honey." Then with watering
eyes, whispered quietly, "Thank you baby."
   Dee smiled and gave her a pecking kiss and whispered back, "Don't worry
about me mom, we'll be at Carol's.  Enjoy mom.  I know you need it."
   Tara blushed but nodded her head slightly and with a smile watched Dee
and Carol head out the door leaving her alone with me.
   I may be a clueless guy, but I was aware of what Dee had just done.  I
put my arm around Tara's shoulders and we made for the kitchen to figure
out what to do for food.
   It was obvious to both of us that Dee had left us alone for a reason. 
No rocket science here, slap in the face apparent!  So we decided to take
full advantage of the opportunity, since it was "approved" by Dee, so we
grabbed something easy to provide some nutrition and energy.
   Our conversation went from one subject to the next, I asked what Tara's
project had been if she could talk about it yet.  There really wasn't much
she could say until she had her retirement papers, and had asked Peter if
it was public yet.  I totally understood that and didn't press Tara for
anything further.
   We finished up with food and cleaned the kitchen.  On our way to the
shower we stopped off and mixed up a couple drinks at the bar.  From there
it was off to clean up land, and beyond.
   There was no rush.  It was still fairly early and Dee would be gone
until the next morning at the earliest.  I stripped down to my boxers, and
sat in an easy chair and sipped my drink while Tara did a slow strip for
me. At 32 Tara was just gorgeous.  She took it down to her panties, then
with drink in hand, came to the same chair and planted herself in my lap.
   Sipping on our drinks slowly, we chatted a little then I set my drink on
the table and took hers from her to set next to mine.  Our eyes met, and I
pulled her in for a tender kiss.  It escalated from there.  Before I knew
it, she was wrapped around me like a spandex-racing suit, her mouth firmly
attached to mine.
   I decided that I could let my hands wander a little so moved them to
those special abdominal areas continuing one up to cup one of her firm
breasts.  She moaned in my mouth when my fingers made contact with her
nipple and just rubbed it gently.
   She moved her head away from me making good eye contact, and whispered
to me, "We better get in the shower sweetie or I'm going to jump your bones
right here in the chair."
   I looked back into her eyes and chuckled.  "I guess that's a good idea
honey, because I want you on the bed, not in this chair."
   She looked at me through half open, lustfully smoky eyes that were
clearly saying, "let's fuck".  She giggled quietly, got up off of my lap,
and offered her hands to pull me out of the chair and on to the shower
room.
   Having turned the water on, I switched my attention to the young woman
that was just dropping her panties to the floor next to me.
   "You're still a beautiful woman Tara.  I know exactly what Dee will look
like in fifteen years," I said haltingly gazing at her luscious body.
   I moved around so that we were face to face, and put my hands on her
hips.  She smiled brightly putting her hands around my neck and began to
run her fingers through my hair softly.  I maintained eye contact and moved
one of my hands down to her naked mound and gently pushed my fingers
against her clit.  She moved her feet apart, giving me a loud moan, and
watching her eyes, saw the near collapse that was coming.
   Quickly I moved her to the bench seat that was in the corner of the
shower, put there for just this purpose, and gently let her sit.  I was
still playing with her little sentry and her body was shaking in
recognition of the attention.  She had her eyes closed when I sat her down,
but they shot open immediately when her butt hit the warm slate.  She knew
what was coming, or should I say whom?
   Her eyes met mine and she uttered, "Ohmigod Tommmm...  I need... 
thiisss!"
   I gave her a bright smile in return and continued my gentle movements
around her clit.  Her arms came up around my neck again, and she began to
slowly run her fingers through my hair once more.  I dipped my hand down to
split the labia that were hiding her entrance and gently pushed two fingers
through them and into her soaking vagina.
   She nearly jumped off the seat when, with my fingers hooking upwards
wiggling slowly, my thumb began to rub on her clit with a little more
pressure.
   Tara exploded.  "Shhitttttt...  Tommmmeeeee.  Ohmigod, ohmigod..."
   Her body stiffened and twitched to a point she nearly slid off the seat.
It was only my kneeling between her legs that kept her seated.  Her head
pitched forward forcefully almost hitting me in the forehead, but I saw it
coming and ducked back enough that she missed.  That would have hurt!
   I held her tenderly as she made her travels through the valley and began
to recover from the trek.  Her breathing was becoming raspier than the
uncontrollable panting that accompanied her trip.
   After a few minutes, she looked into my eyes with a big grin, still
panting softly, "Oh god Tommy.  I needed that soooooo badly.  I can't tell
you how much I've missed your hands and lips.  Julianne is good, but she's
no Tom," she said with a wry smile.
   "Julianne?  When is she coming for another visit?" I asked.  "Did I miss
something?"
   "Probably not.  You dirty old man.  Don't you have enough pussy around
here yet?"
   "Me?  Not enough pussy?  There is plenty in just one of my ladies, my
dear; I certainly don't need any additional.  I was just inquiring whether
you would have a guest around once in a while.  I'm assuming that you are
going to accept our offer to live here with us."
   Tara giggled again and replied, "Yes honey.  I'm going to live here with
you and Dee.  I treasure the fact you both would consider doing that. 
Usually the "Mother-in-law" is ostracized and banned from the abode."
   "You're not what I would describe as a typical Mother-in-law," I
retorted with a chuckle.
   Then, "I mean, how many men get to fuck their mother-in-law and receive
as much love as he gives."
   She had fully recovered from her foray with orgasmic delight, and we
proceeded on with our scrubbing, groping and then drying.  Once dry, we
made our way to the master bed, where Tara pulled back the sheets then
turned to look at me with those burning half open lustful eyes.
   She put her arms around my neck and meeting my gaze whispered, "We can
play later sweetie.  Right now I want that rigid thing that's poking my
tummy, inside that tummy.  I need that so badly baby, and the warmth of
your semen flooding me."
   I was going to argue with that?  Not likely!
   She slowly laid herself out in the middle of the bed.  Her smoky eyes,
begging for the attention she was about to receive.  She put her arms out
to me in invitation, while I slowly slid myself into position to mount her.
   When the bottom of my stiff penis rubbed up her vulva and scratched the
head of the little sentry, she jumped and moaned loudly, bringing a huge
smile to my face.  I leaned down to her and placed my lips softly on hers,
a kiss that was returned with relish.
   I pulled my head away keeping my eye contact with her.  I could feel her
hips moving to place my cock into the position it needed to be in order to
part the protecting labia and enter the wet, soft velvet tunnel behind
them.
   She didn't have to act alone.  When I felt the urgency in her movements,
I just allowed my cock to drop slowly down her soaking slit, and then I
pushed through and into her waiting vagina.
   When I made the initial entrance she moaned loudly, and moved her hips
upward to meet my downward thrust.  Before her moan was finished, and she
could say, "oh shit," I was buried balls deep inside her making sure that
our pubic bones were once again properly introduced.
   "Ahhggghhh...  nngghfffngggg...  Goddddddd thatttt's whaat eyeee
neeeeeddddeddddd!  Oh yes Tommy.  Fuck me baby, ohgod fuck me!"
   Her eyes shot open when I started moving in small tight circles around
the post that was impaled in her sopping sheath.  I could tell that the
trip up the mountain overlooking the valley of "O" was nearing the summit,
and the fall was about to start.
   It did, and it was quite a ride.  She nearly bucked me off a few times,
but I made it well past my 8 second buzzer, and continued to press into the
proud soldier standing its ground admirably.
   Her internal muscles attacked the intruder with a vengeance, however I
was able to contemplate the careers of Gayle Sayers, Merlin Olsen and Vince
Lombardi to distract and postpone the inevitable for a little longer.
   I held myself deeply inside of her while she recovered from the journey.
It wasn't all that long until she was ready to begin the hike once again,
so with that, I began to give her slow, gentle, loving strokes while
kissing her tenderly telling her how much I loved her.
   She returned the sentiments and for the next thirty minutes or so, we
made soft, tender, gentle love to each other.  Even though the "goal"
wasn't continued orgasmic experiences, she went over the precipice a couple
times before she was able to squeeze an offering from me.
   This is the way a man and a woman should demonstrate their love for each
other physically, with slow, deliberate, gentle intensity borne of the
respect and admiration for each other's sexuality.
   When I had finally pushed out the last squirt into her welcoming womb,
she wrapped herself around me tightly to ensure I didn't go anywhere, like
I had plans to do that.  But instead of lying directly on top of her, I
moved a bit to the side where we continued to kiss each other softly. 
Looking deeply into each other's eyes, whispering sweet nothings of love,
we drifted off to na-na land.  Though it was still quite early we slept
through the night waking early the next morning when the sun began to light
the room.
   When I awoke I saw two gorgeous eyes looking into mine.  She had already
found and placed the usual morning wood where she wanted it, and was slowly
moving it in and out enough to stimulate her waking clit.  I gave her a
soft moan to acknowledge her actions.  I pulled her over the top of me
taking her weight, such as it is, and raised my knees to part her legs even
further.
   We made love tenderly for what seemed like hours before one massive
climax on both of our parts ended the session and reminded us that we were
both hungry.
   We got up, showered and made our way to the kitchen just in time for Dee
and Carol to return, fully relaxed and with big smiles.
   Dee smiled brightly and put her arms around Tara to give her a good
morning hug.  "Didja have fun mom," she whispered almost imperceptibly so
that no one else could hear it.
   Tara whispered back just as quietly, "It was wonderful baby.  Thank you
so much.  I needed that so badly."
   Dee giggled and then both she and her mother observed that Carol had
attached herself to Tom and both were swapping spit actively while mother
and daughter reveled in their previous evening.
   "Get a room for christsake," Dee cackled.
   They broke their kiss long enough for Tom to quietly say, "We can do
that you know."
   Tara and Dee chuckled loudly, nodding their heads.
   ----
   As the date for the wedding got closer, Dee got squirrellier than ever.
She would talk incessantly and sometimes incoherently at a pace only a
roadrunner could keep up with.  Tom and Tara would look at her and just
burst out laughing, causing her to babble even more.
   A little less than 3 weeks before the magic day, both Dee and Carol were
away on some mission or other.  Tara had gone to her office to finalize
some of her retirement, bonus and other job related things.  In all it was
a very good day for her, and like me became a consultant.
   Peter had impressed on her that even though she was retiring and
wouldn't be working actively full-time on company projects now, she was
still a valuable asset to the company.  He let her know that a couple times
a year he would probably need her services for a few weeks because of her
experience in evaluating a process, finding flaws, then developing methods
to fix the flaws.  She was able to get them implemented in such a way that
didn't step on any toes, or cause any bad feelings within the development
crew.  If she would agree to do that, the company would pay her around
$750.00 an hour depending on the complexity of the task, and the
anticipated duration.
   Tara wanted to know if she would have to travel, and if she really had
the option to decline a request if she "just didn't feel like hassling with
it".
   Peter said that the possibility of travel back to Asia was real, but
that it would probably not be necessary.  He assured her that if travel was
needed that all of her expenses would be covered, and she could take Tom
and Dee with her, on expenses.
   While she was in Asia for the last 3+ years she had taken only enough
payroll to cover her needs, which in Asia were quite inexpensive.  The
company had agreed to redirect her payroll into an investment account, but
pay the taxes so that even though it would look like a very large lump sum,
it wouldn't have to be claimed for tax purposes because it was "savings"
and taxes had already been paid.  As usual the only tax liability was on
the interest earned, which in the accounts she had set up with her
financial manager were actually quite substantial.  Everything was set up
so there would be no tax implications on withdrawal because all the taxes
except interest had been paid.
   Bottom line is that when bonus and deferred salary was figured and taxes
paid Tara "banked" in the neighborhood of about $40 million, "give or take"
a few million, a rather nice neighborhood to be in.
   So when she got home and we sat down in the kitchen sipping on a drink,
it was an interesting conversation.  She had been released to discuss the
project and all the pieces that Tara had contributed.  It left me
completely awestruck.  You'd never know it from normal conversation, but
Tara was an incredibly intelligent, insightful woman with a quick mind that
designed accurate solutions to extremely complex problems.
   Now I'm no slouch, but there was a lot of the conversation that I had to
ask for specifics because it was way over my head.
   While we were talking a car pulled into the driveway, that we didn't
notice because we were concentrating elsewhere.  It didn't even register
that there were additional but faintly familiar voices outside on the walk.
   It wasn't until the door opened that we both looked up to see what all
the commotion was about and noticed the new additions.  Dee and Carol had
them in tow like they were long lost buddies.  It was obvious that the bags
they were carrying were not light.
   Tara jumped up and shouted, "Lisa!"
   "Oh my god, I don't believe it.  What are you doing here?" Tara asked in
shock, and then noticed the others.  "Marie, Carol, Sheryl.  Holy Shit."
Then looking at Dee with questioning eyes, "You're responsible for this
aren't you?"
   Dee gave her a "who me" look, but then nodded with a smile and said,
"These are my bridesmaids mom."
   While all of this was going on, my jaw about came out of joint.  I
hadn't seen any of these four in quite some years, well, ever since we'd
each gone our separate ways.  It brought up some painful memories, and I
guess it showed on my face, because Lisa moved over to stand in front of
me. She put her hands gently on either side of my face, and with a nervous
smile she whispered, "Hi Tom."
   "Lisa.  I can't believe you are all here," I choked out nearing tears.
   Lisa turned around to look at Marie, with some tears starting, which
were noticed by Dee and all the others.  "I was so afraid that we would
cause him pain," she said with a quiet sob, "And I can see from the look in
his eyes I was right." Then turning to me, "Tommy.  Oh Tommy, I'm so sorry.
We didn't want to cause you anguish, and I can see that it has."
   As I began to cry I put my hands to Lisa's cheeks and whispered, "No
Lisa, I'm so happy to see you all I can't describe it.  Yes, it brings me
some very painful memories that I'd buried long ago, but they need to be
dug up and dealt with."
   Then I leaned down and kissed her softly like I had done in the old
days. When our lips parted I saw that she had begun to weep as well.
   Dee and club Carol kind of moved to the side allowing the six of us to
hug and kiss each other.  It was mixed emotions on my part.  It was so good
to see them, but it reminded me of one of the most painful times in my
life. Until Dee, I hadn't recovered enough to go out with anyone but Tara.
It was only because she saw and understood what I was going through that
she was able to help me reconcile everything within myself.  It's one of
the things I meant earlier when I'd said "Tara had picked me up when I was
down, so I felt like I owed her."
   Marie was last in line and she was openly sobbing when she came to stand
in front of me.  She put her arms up around my neck and sobbed, "Oh Tommy,
I'm so sorry.  We never should have parted the way we did.  It has hurt me
deep inside ever since, and no, you don't fool me mister; I can see it is
still hurting you as well."
   She leaned up and gave me a quick peck on the lips, "We need to work on
those feelings honey.  I'm so happy that you have found the love in your
life, because it makes it easier for me to tell you that I still love you
intensely baby.  I honestly do, and both Lisa and I have talked with Dee so
she knows how we feel too.  She told us that she is very secure in her love
with you, and that she wants to help us work through these emotions.  She
knew before she asked us to be her bridesmaids that there was a good
possibility that this all would happen, but she loves you so much that she
wants it to help you not hurt you."
   With that she leaned up and kissed me like she kissed me before.  Dee
walked over to us while Marie was kissing me, and put her arms around us
both whispering, "I love you Tommy.  I know that Lisa and Marie do too, and
I know you love them.  I see the hurt in your eyes when ever they come to
mind, and it's time we end that hurt.  I don't know how we're going to do
it yet, but we're going to make it happen."
   Both Marie and I looked to her with strained smiles then she continued,
"I've talked with both of them a lot.  I know you don't know it, and I'm
sorry I did something like that behind your back, but I needed to know
them. I had an idea that might help, but I needed to get to know and to
trust them."
   Lisa and Tara both came over to join the group hug, while both Carols
and Sheryl stayed more in the background.  The emotional attachment with
Carol and Sheryl never happened the way it did with Marie and Lisa.  They
were secure in themselves, and though they shared my bed on many occasions,
it wasn't the same emotionally as it was when Marie and I or Lisa and I
made love.  The three of us were truly in love with one another.
   Dee let out a heavy sigh and said, "We've got three weeks before the
wedding and a whole lifetime to work it out if that's what it takes, but
Tommy, I don't want you to hurt when you think of these women." Then she
started to cry, "There's nothing wrong with fond memories, but you are in
pain honey, and I want us all to work that out."
   We got everyone settled into their respective rooms and let those that
wanted to work on cleaning up, get cleaned up.  We all met again in the
living room, and decided we all needed to go out for something to eat. 
Carol had to get ready for work, so she bid everyone adieu, got hugs and
pecks all around then headed home.
   We sat in the living room with a drink and talked for a while before we
left for the restaurant.  I decided to pull out the Caddy again since it
would comfortably seat all six of us.
   We all stood up and looked at each other shaking our heads, and I just
had to comment, "I can't believe this.  I don't know how we're going to do
it, but we do need to work this all out.  Knowing Dee, she's already got a
scheme in mind, but lord only knows."
   Everyone chuckled, Dee just gave everyone a smug smile, and we headed
for the garage and the antique Cadillac.
   
  
Chapter 24 - The Wedding plans