JC: Ed Biggers
Part 2: Equilibrant
Chapter 23
By
Lazlo Zalezac
Copyright (C) Lazlo Zalezac, 2004

Lying in bed after making love to Kelly, Ed held her in his arm. 
She rested her head on his chest and had one leg covering his legs. 
With his free arm, he traced little lines up and down her forearms. 
This was happiness, the close sharing after making love with one 
that you loved. 

Continuing to trace a path up and down her arm with his free hand, 
he lay there thinking about how his life had changed. He had been 
such a miserable bastard that took pleasure from tormenting the 
people around him and called that strength. Confronted with true 
strength, he had discovered that in reality he was weak. It was hard 
to be strong and he felt that only time would tell if he had been 
successful in becoming strong.

Kelly stirred and asked, "What are you thinking?"

In a whisper, Ed answered, "I was thinking how much I loved 
being your companion, friend, lover, and husband."

Not wanting to be serious, Kelly asked, "And how much is that?"

Chuckling, Ed answered, "More than I know how to put into 
words."

Touched more than she wanted to let on, Kelly replied, "That is so 
sweet."

Sighing, Ed said, "I remember the day I met you. I was really 
amazed that a beautiful woman like you would actually want me to 
call her. You really threw me for a loop when you brought up the 
group marriage. I was so lucky that you caught me at the time you 
did, otherwise I would have missed all of this."

Kelly decided that now was a very good time to be quiet. Listening 
to Ed and John talk, she had learned their rhythm. Absently, she 
traced the scar on his chest with a finger. She wished she knew the 
full story behind it, but that would never come from Ed.

After a long moment of silence, Ed said, "The first time that I slept 
with you I was so scared. I had never had sex where the woman 
wasn't drunk to the point where she was about to pass out. For that 
matter, I had never had sex unless I was drunk."

This was something Kelly had never realized. She moved a little 
and then said, "You did a great job."

"It was the first time I ever went down on a woman," said Ed. 
After a laugh that was more like a short bark, he added, "I had no 
idea what I was doing."

Kelly moved to look at him in the face in wonder. She said, 
"Really? I couldn't tell at all."

"Really."

As she settled back on his chest, she said, "Wow."

He could understand her wonder. In a very real way, he had been 
very inexperienced with women until after that day. It was the first 
time he had made love rather than fuck. When he had seen the two 
women making love to each other, it had blown his mind. How 
many men could make love with two such beautiful women at the 
same time? Many may dream about it, but few could do it. She had 
offered him that and more. 

And the cost for him to receive her love, the love of Beth, and the 
love of John? All he had to do was love them back. There wasn't a 
man alive that could turn down such an exchange. He said, "There 
was no way that I thought Beth could love me. As far as I was 
concerned, that was the most unlikely thing that could have 
happened to me."

Kelly sat up and looked at Ed curious how he could have doubted 
that Beth would fall in love with him. The month in which he had 
cared for her would have captured the heart of any woman. She 
said, "You looked after her for a month when she was ill. Your 
treatment of her was one of respect, caring, and love. You never 
took advantage of her weakened state. How could she help but fall 
in love with you?"

Smiling at Kelly, he answered, "You take care of patients all the 
time. Do they all fall in love with you?"

Laughing as she realized that he had a point, she teased, "Yes, they 
do."

He shook his head at her answer as she lay down beside him and 
looked up at the ceiling. With a low rumbling sound, his stomach 
announced its hunger. Kelly burst out laughing and said, "Sounds 
like Rover is back."

"I'm afraid that I'm very hungry," said Ed. 

"Let's get dressed and get something to eat," said Kelly. Even as 
she made the suggestion, she stood and went to where she had 
dropped her clothes. He took a moment to examine her body as she 
bent over to pick up her clothes from the floor. Even though he had 
finished making love with her just a little while ago, the sight of 
her ass and cunt was enough to excite him again. She was half 
dressed before Ed even stood up from the bed. 

As Ed dressed, he watched Kelly as she moved around. She took 
her time buttoning her shirt knowing that Ed and John both 
enjoyed the view of her breasts hidden by an unbuttoned shirt. 
Finished dressing, both of them left her room with him tickling her 
as they stepped through the door. 

She screamed, "I'm going to get you Ed Biggers!"

"You have to catch me first!" shouted Ed, as he ran towards the 
dining room. Flexing her hands like she was tickling him back, 
Kelly was hot on his heels. 

As he ran by the poolroom, Beth shouted out, "Catch him Kelly!"

When he stopped in the dining room, Kelly almost ran over him. 
She grabbed him and started tickling. Within minutes they were 
wrestling on the floor, each tickling the other and laughing. 
Marguerite came out of the kitchen and watched the two of them 
rolling around the floor. Putting her hands on her hip, Marguerite 
said, "Children, stop that fighting!"

Still laughing, Ed and Kelly broke apart and lay on the floor 
looking up at Marguerite. She was looking down on them like a 
mother telling her teenage daughter that she had to clean her room. 
When she noticed the pair glance at each other with smiles on their 
face, she realized that she was the next target. She backed up 
shouting, "Don't you dare!"

As they started to stand while making tickling motions, she backed 
into the kitchen. They stopped at the door and waited for her to 
relax. Ed asked, "What's for lunch?"

Marguerite stood there looking at the two of them trying to decide 
if this was a trick. It took her a minute to realize that they were 
serious before she answered, "What would you like?"

Kelly answered, "I'd like a soup and a sandwich."

Shrugging, Ed said, "That doesn't sound bad. I'll take the same."

"Soup?" asked Marguerite knowing that soup from scratch would 
take more than the fifteen minutes that they would wait. Seeing the 
mischievous look on Ed's face, she asked, "That canned stuff, 
right?"

Ed smiled and nodded his head, knowing that she would be upset. 
He said, "Yes, maybe that vegetable soup with the alphabet 
noodles in it."

Of all the soups that he could have asked for, that was the one that 
drove her craziest. It was for little kids and not adults. She shook 
her head as she went to the pantry to get the cans of soup and, in 
disgust, said, "Barbarians. I work for Barbarians."

Laughing Ed and Kelly went to the dining table and waited. It 
wasn't long before John and Beth joined them. Curious, Beth 
asked, "What are your plans after you defend your dissertation?"

Excited about the opportunity that was being provided to him, he 
said, "Well, I applied for and received a research affiliate position 
at the university. I've got some major research projects that I want 
to pursue and will use that position to do the work."

Smiling at his excitement, John wanted to remind him that there 
were other things in life that were also important. He said, "Make 
sure that you balance that with other areas of life."

Raising an eyebrow and understanding what John was suggesting, 
Ed replied, "Don't worry, that is a part time activity. I've got the 
IRS, the Fusion Foundation, and my consulting to fill the rest of 
my work day."

Frowning at his focus on work, Kelly said, "I don't think that is 
what he meant."

Laughing at her concerns, Ed said, "I know that, Kelly. I was going 
to add that I wasn't going to work evenings or weekends any more. 
I plan to spend a lot more time with you and my friends."

"That's good. I must admit that I've let my life get a little too 
hectic. I should follow my own advice and cut back some on my 
work," replied John. He was so busy that he spent most evenings 
out rather than at home with his wife and husband. That was 
something he was desperate to change.

Sighing, Kelly said, "That would be great. I'd love to have you 
guys around the house more. I've really missed sitting on the steps 
and listening to you talk."

Looking at Kelly with a puzzled expression, Beth asked, "You like 
listening to them?"

"Yes, I do. After a while, I finally figured it out and now when I 
hear them talking like that it calms me down. Nothing is rushed 
when they talk. They think and say a little. It makes me feel safe," 
replied Kelly.

Surprised, Ed and John looked at each other wondering when 
Kelly had changed. There was one thing bothering Ed and he was 
having a difficult time identifying it. Suddenly, he realized that he 
felt a hole in his life. Ed said, "I hate to say this, but I think 
something is missing in our home, but I can't put my finger on it."

Licking her lips out of nervousness, Beth said, "I agree."

Sitting back in his chair, John looked around the table and said, "I 
think that I know what is missing."

Not feeling a hole in her life, Kelly asked, "What? I haven't noticed 
anything missing."

With a great deal of hesitation and nervousness, Beth said, "I want 
a baby. I'm approaching forty and if I don't do it soon, then I won't 
ever have one."

"That's what is missing in this house. The pitter pat of little feet," 
said Ed. As soon as Beth had mentioned a baby, he knew that the 
missing part had been identified.

John asked, "So which of us would you like to be the father?"

Thinking about who would be the better sire for the baby, Beth 
didn't really know. John and Ed were both outstanding human 
beings. She suggested, "We could let nature make the choice as to 
whose sperm reaches the egg first. Personally, I want you both to 
be the father to the child."

Surprised that Beth could even think that either man wouldn't be a 
father to the child, Kelly said, "You know that both men will take 
care of the child and raise it with their values."

Beth said, "I didn't mean that they wouldn't be good parents. I just 
meant that I couldn't choose between them."

John and Ed looked at each other for a second and then Ed said, 
"We know that you love us both, Beth. We will take care of any 
child in this house with the love and care that all children deserve. 
I'll teach the child how to ride, hunt rocks, and appreciate the 
desert."

Winking at Ed, John said, "I'll teach the child how hike, appreciate 
nature, and drive their mothers crazy."

"Oh no you won't!" cried Beth. She had pictures of John, Ed, and 
kids running around the house, wrecking havoc with water balloon 
fights and who knew what other kinds of games. 

Laughing Kelly said, "Water balloons lobbed across the atrium. 
Paper airplanes flying through the air. Practical jokes with 
whoopee-cushions. Yes, life will definitely get interesting around 
here."

"Maybe I don't want a baby," said Beth as she put the back of her 
hand to her forehead like an actress in a silent film overacting to 
convey her misery.

The entire table broke up in laughter. When things had calmed 
down a little, Ed asked, "So when were you thinking about getting 
pregnant?"

Since Beth had only wanted a child, but had never thought to ask 
about having one, she didn't really know. Thinking it through, she 
said, "Well, I would like to get off the pill for at least two months 
before attempting to get pregnant. I have the medical conference in 
three months, so I guess I would like to start when I get back from 
there."

Making the same gesture in putting the back of his hand to his 
forehead, Ed asked, "So does that mean we have to abstain for 
three whole months?" 
 
"Like that is ever going to happen. I get horny after a day without," 
replied Beth. She had gotten used to having at least one of her 
husbands visit her everyday. She added, "From now on, you guys 
are going to be wearing rubbers when you are with me!"

Faking a puzzled expression, John asked, "What have rain shoes 
got to do with having sex? Is this a new fetish?"

It took Ed a moment to figure out what John meant and then he 
burst out laughing. After a glance at John, he knew that in a couple 
of days they would both be showing up at her bedroom wearing 
nothing but rain shoes. The look he got from Kelly suggested that 
she was thinking the same thing. Now that would be funny.

Giggling at the mental image that flashed through her mind, Beth 
said, "If all three of you show up in rain shoes, I'm going to have 
Bob impregnate me."

"She's no fun at all," said Kelly with a pout.

"She's a real grump," said John while holding his hands up in the 
air.

"She said all three. I guess that means that two of us can show up 
wearing rain shoes," suggested Ed.

Marguerite brought out lunch for everyone. With care, she set 
down a plate of submarine sandwiches on homemade bread filled 
with thin sliced roast beef, lettuce, tomatoes, and onions. Without 
the same degree of care, she came back with a large tureen of soup 
and put it one the table. Staring at Ed, she said, "I hope it gives you 
gas."

The entire table cracked up as Ed asked, "I bet this is your best 
dish. I hope that it wasn't too difficult to make"

"Barbarian!" screamed Marguerite as she stomped out of the room.

Ed chuckled and picked up a sandwich off the plate. He took a bite 
as the others grabbed sandwiches and set them on their plates. 
After swallowing, he said, "You've got to admit that she makes a 
real good sandwich."

As everyone around the table nodded their heads in agreement, Ed 
ladled some soup into his soup bowl. In a loud voice, he said, "I 
bet she left the can in the soup."

From the kitchen, there was a screech followed by a shout from 
Marguerite, "I heard that!"

Amidst giggles around the table, the family ate their lunch 
enjoying the soup and the sandwiches.  John looked up and said, 
"One of these days you're going to go too far and she's going to 
quit on us."

With a look that suggested Ed was hiding some great secret, he 
said, "I know it won't go that far."

Kelly and Beth looked at Ed wondering what he had up his sleeve. 
He wouldn't have been able to say that if there was any doubt. That 
secretive smile had pricked their curiosity and they had to wonder 
how long it would be before they knew what he had planned. That 
was the problem with John and Ed, they would make these 
incredible plans that would completely overwhelm a person with 
the thought that went into it and yet keep it completely secret until 
it was time to unleash it on the person. 

Raising an eyebrow in recognition of the look on Ed's face, John 
said, "Okay, I believe you."

Ed remained at the table after everyone else left to pursue their 
own interests. Marguerite came out and sat at the table with him 
drinking a cup of iced coffee. Shaking her head in real puzzlement, 
she said, "I don't get you guys. You can have any dish in the world 
and you like canned soup."

"It's memories of growing up," answered Ed. He thought about 
some of the dishes that she cooked. Clearly they were better than 
the instant stuff he preferred, but he couldn't help his preferences. 
He said, "You know that desert everyone else likes so much… The 
Chocolate Mouse."

Irritated, Marguerite interrupted, "Chocolate Mousse."

"Yeah, that's the one," said Ed. One of these days he was going to 
get the name right. He said, "Well, I know this is going to hurt 
your feelings, but I like the instant pudding better. I like it when it 
has that thick rubbery layer on the top. That's how my mother 
made it and what I grew up with."

Marguerite laughed, as she knew exactly what Ed meant about the 
instant pudding. His comment brought back many memories of her 
mother's cooking. She said, "Yeah, my mother makes it the same 
way. That's why I became a Chef!"

"Oh, I guess you didn't like it."

"She makes a big bowl of it when ever I come home. I guess she 
considers it comfort food," said Marguerite as she reflected back 
fondly on her visits home. Sure the food was bad most of the time, 
but it was homemade bad. She asked, "So what would you like for 
dinner?"

Quiet for a moment as he considered the dishes that he really liked, 
he answered, "How about those stuffed pork chops? I really like 
those."

Looking at Ed, Marguerite said, "If I recall, the last time I served 
those you asked me if it was a meat sandwich."

Ed just winked at her with a great big smile on his face. She shook 
her head and asked, "What would you like for desert?"

That was the whole reason he had stayed behind. He had wanted to 
request a specific desert and answered, "That pineapple upside 
down cake you make is really outstanding. I stayed here to request 
that you make it."

Marguerite laughed at the request. When she had told him the 
name of the cake, he had accused her that she made that up to 
cover up a mistake. She had been upset until she realized that he 
had eaten three pieces. She said, "I'll make it for you and serve it if 
you don't make any comments about my cooking tonight."

Looking hurt, Ed asked, "What's the fun in that? You look so cute 
stamping your foot like you do."

Tossing her head towards the door, she said, "Go on. Get out of 
here and let me cook. I've got some pork chops to stuff."

The following evening, Beth came home from work tired from 
another hard day. There had been an automobile accident and the 
injuries had been extensive. She had spent most of the afternoon in 
surgery. Hours of standing in surgery tended to be hard on the legs 
and the back. Sitting in the car, she looked over at Kelly and said, 
"Rough one."

"Sure was," replied Kelly. She said, "How about we get Cathy and 
Linda to give us massages tonight?"

Smiling at the idea of a relaxing evening of massages, jacuzzi, and 
dinner, Beth answered, "Sounds good to me."

As they got out of the car, Bob came over to hold the door open for 
them and said, "Hello ladies." 

As he walked away, his footsteps sounded strange - squeaky rather 
than solid. Seeking the source of the strangeness, Kelly looked 
down and realized that he was wearing rubber overshoes. She 
smiled to herself and realized the boys had been busy today.

Entering the house, they stopped in front of the office so that Cathy 
could give them their messages. Glancing down, Kelly noticed that 
she was wearing rubber overshoes as well. She grinned as Beth 
listened bored to her messages. When it was Kelly's turn to get her 
messages, she winked Cathy while glancing down at her shoes. 
Cathy smiled and went through the messages keeping as straight a 
face as possible. Beth waited oblivious to the shoes.

After Kelly made the request for Cathy and Linda to stop by their 
rooms to give them a massage, the two women headed off. They 
passed into the private area of the house. John and Ed walked by 
on their way to the poolroom. Both were wearing rubber 
overshoes. Kelly was having a hard time keeping a straight face. 
Unable to restrain herself anymore, she said, "I've got to go."

Beth watched Kelly running off to her room deciding that her wife 
had a sudden need to go to the bathroom or something. Shaking 
her head, she went to her room. After a while, Linda came with the 
portable massage table. As Beth lay down on it, she happened to 
look down at the shoes Linda was wearing. She screamed, "Rubber 
overshoes?"

Still naked, Beth climbed off the massage table and opened the 
door. Everyone, including Kelly, was lined up in front of her door 
wearing rubber overshoes. Looking at the row of smiles, she 
couldn't be mad. Unable to help herself, she started laughing. 

It took her a long time to recover, but eventually she did. Putting 
her hands on her hips, she asked, "How could you get that many 
rubber overshoes in one day? Particularly in Arizona?"

Everyone pointed at Ed as he stood there smiling. He answered, "I 
called all over the country until I found a store that had a bunch of 
them. They put them on a plane and flew them here."

Shaking her head, Beth said, "You are crazy."

"Hey, I resemble that remark," replied Ed with a grin. 

She came over to him and gave him a kiss of thanks. It was 
amazing that anyone would go to that much trouble just to provide 
a laugh. After the events of the afternoon, she had needed a good 
laugh. This reminded her once again that it was good to be loved. 
Stepping back, she said, “You went to so much trouble to set all of 
this up. How can I ever get you back?”

With a wink, Ed said, “You'll think of a way, I'm sure.”

"I'm going to get my massage and then I'll meet you at the dinner 
table," said Beth as she returned to the room. 

As Linda worked her over, Beth was trying to identify some way 
to get back at Ed for the practical joke. She still couldn't believe 
that he went to all of that trouble. Even thinking about it, she had 
to laugh. Linda said, "You're thinking about the overshoes, aren't 
you?"

Beth answered, "Yes, I am. Those guys are something else."

As Linda massaged the right leg, she said, "They know how to 
have fun. Not many people know how to have fun anymore."

"They are crazy," replied Beth. She said, "Who ever heard of 
calling all over the country to buy rubber overshoes and then have 
them flown in by airplane?"

Moving up the body, Linda worked on the buttocks as she said, 
"Yeah, they are crazy, crazy in love with you."

With a sigh, Beth answered, "Yes, I know that. I'm one of the 
luckiest women in the world."

Still working to relieve some of the tension in the lower back, 
Linda asked, "Only one of the luckiest?"

Purring as the tension slowly left her body, Beth said, "Yes. I share 
that honor with Kelly and Ling."

Outside, Ed turned to Bob and said, “I'm sure that you've noticed 
the Nissen hut on the property next to ours.”

Confused, Bob said, “You mean that metal building?”

“Yes,” answered Ed. With a smile, he said, “I ordered some 
equipment to put in that building. Could you go over there and 
make sure that everything that I requested is there?”

Worried about doing inventory work when he couldn't read, Bob 
shrugged, “I guess so.”

“Great, I'd appreciate it if you could get to it now,” said Ed.

Dinner went normally until it was time for dessert. Marguerite 
came out of the kitchen with a tray of individual servings of 
Chocolate Mousse and a single serving of instant pudding. The 
pudding had a thick skin across the top. She smiled as she served 
the deserts, noticing that Kelly eyed the pudding with desire. Ed 
beamed when she set the pudding in front of him and said, 
“Perfect. You are the greatest cook in the world.”

Marguerite replied, “If you ever tell anyone that I served instant 
pudding at the end of a gourmet meal, I will quit.”

Smiling at Marguerite, Ed replied, “I guess we'll have to hire your 
mother to make desserts for me.”

Marguerite returned to the kitchen laughing at the thought of her 
mother cooking for Ed. She called back, “You deserve her 
cooking!”

Pouting, Kelly asked, “How did you get her to make that?”

Ed answered, “I had a long talk with her the other day about how 
some food, even if it isn't very good, reminds us of our mother's 
cooking. I specifically mentioned the pudding.”

“Can I have a taste?” asked Kelly.

Sliding the bowl over to Kelly, she took a spoonful of the pudding 
with a little of the skin. With an almost dreamy look on her face, 
she said, “That's heavenly.”

Marguerite shouted from the kitchen, “I heard that!”

Kelly laughed as she slid the bowl back to Ed. He ate the bowl of 
pudding with tremendous pleasure. It really did remind him of the 
last time his mother made pudding for him. He must have been 
about fifteen years old then, as his parents had died right after he 
had turned sixteen. It seemed like a lifetime ago and he had trouble 
remembering what she looked like. A tear ran down his cheek as 
he thought about his mother for the first time in ages.

Sitting across from him, Ling noticed the tear and, with concern in 
her voice, asked, “Are you okay, Ed?”

The image of his mother in a sundress taking in the laundry flashed 
into his mind. He must have been eight or nine at the time. She was 
a handsome woman starting to look old before her time as a hard 
life with his father took its toll on her looks. He had forgotten the 
beatings and screams that destroyed the silence in the night.

When his parents had died, he had tried to live up to the standard 
set by his father. He had never realized the toll it had taken on his 
mother. Behaving as his father had, Ed had tried to be the man his 
father had been. John had shown him the ugliness of his behavior. 
It was only now that he realized how wrong his father's behavior 
had been. 

Ed cleared his throat and said, “Yes, I am. Just remembering my 
mother for the first time in a long time. I can now put behind me 
all thoughts about trying to achieve my father's approval.”

Looking down the length of the table, John, in a quiet voice, said, 
“I think that your life has become balanced. The last missing piece 
has been to understand your past.”

Nodding, Ed said, “Yes. I've come to see some things about my 
early years that explain much about me now.”

“I thought so. Now that you understand your past, you are 
comfortable in the present, and can move into the future with 
confidence.” John looked across at Ed with a gentle smile, seeing 
the strength in his husband. Ed had grown into a real presence that 
couldn't be ignored. It was a presence like the desert or a mountain; 
all encompassing, solid, and timeless that made you look and 
wonder how such a thing could exist. Ed wasn't somber or distant, 
but funny, playful, giving, and loving. 

Beth looked across the table at Ed and said, “Tomorrow you have a 
great leap into the future with the defense of your dissertation. Are 
you ready for it?”

Sighing, Ed said, “I'm very nervous, but there isn't anything else 
that I can do to prepare.”

The entrance of a very excited Bob interrupted the discussion. On 
entering the dining room, Bob shouted, “I can't believe you guys 
did that! I just can't believe it.”

The three wives looked at Bob curious what their husbands had 
done. John said, “I got the building put up and Ed bought the 
equipment.”

Bob turned to the women and said, “They bought me an entire 
jewelry making shop. All of the equipment is already set up inside 
that metal building. It's amazing.”

Kelly asked, “Why didn't you tell us you were going to do that?”

Ed smiled as he answered, “We figured you three could 
commission some jewelry from him.”


