* * * *
Travel.
* * * *
I still hadn’t broke the news to everyone that I was traveling this week. It was silly but I was almost afraid to do it. I had so much to do. Get some work done on the business project, and make sure the team had guidance for the week. Handle some more house paperwork, and work on the new addition. 101 other chores around the house. Have a heart-to-heart with Beth, about her college plans and about Amie. Yet the date was only three days away. I wasn’t usually this bad a procrastinator.
I got to work earlier than usual, and blustered my way through the issues at hand, and dropping a new code point to the team. I was giving them a big chunk, enough to keep them in catch-up mode though this week and the next.
My boss Chris had me in to discuss the upcoming trip twice, piling on the work to make sure all the t’s were crossed and i’s dotted before we got to Spain. Karen and I found a few minutes to chat, and she was in a much better mood than the day before.
I also ran into Joe, and he gave me a little of the 4-1-1 on Cathy’s reaction to his ‘sleepover’. Definitely hot. I think he was feeling a little proud.
At some point in the afternoon, Jim hunted me down for a talk. He wanted to take the end of the week off to do some major demolition and foundation work. I explained the travel situation, and that I would be unavailable until late Saturday. Then I had to tear out and let Karen know the travel details before she found out from Jim. I would have liked a little privacy, but my home life definitely had it’s tendrils in my work.
She was cool with it, and even invited me to sneak out to the car. We could run an errand like the “good old days”, all of 6 weeks ago, and she’d give me a hand-job. It was tempting but the work load was just too hefty, and I had to take a pass. I even called Debbie to let her know I’d be late getting home.
I never had any peace and quiet anymore. Not even at work. It was kind of nice to be in the almost empty office around 7:00 pm, and be able to concentrate. I left a little more relaxed, and headed home for a late dinner.
Beth met me just inside the door, and as I crossed the threshold Debbie slipped off to the kitchen. Beth seemed a little nervous. We hadn’t had a chance to talk about dinner at the parents.
After her welcome hug and kiss, she walked with me to the bedroom and chatted as I stripped off the monkey suit, down to a t-shirt and sweats.
“The dinner didn’t go that bad, did it?” she said, almost hopefully.
“No. I could easily imagine it having gotten a lot weirder,” I told her.
“You did a great job of talking up the Day-Care biz; the parents seem to be a lot cooler about it already.” She sat with her legs tucked up, rocking forward and back.
“It might have worked for your old man, but I think your mother has other issues on her mind. Like sleeping arrangements.”
“Yeah. She tried to corner me on that over the dishes. but I held my ground. I even left some wiggle room that I’d be interested if we could find the time, but things are just so hectic.” She paused. “What were you guys talking about in the study?”
“Someone’s college plans.” I told her.
She blushed. “I probably should have told you about all that. But I didn’t know where we stood, and it was all so sudden. I had these deadlines looming over my head, so I just chose GW.”
“And gave up a spot on the Florida team? Hell, I knew you were a good swimmer, but not that good. That’s a tough decision.”
“It’s just, you know, I’m not really a specialist. I’m good at all the strokes, maybe very good at breast, but not really a superstar. At Florida I’d be a great backup to anybody, and a good relay help, but at GW I’ll be the big Kahuna. And I can always transfer, if it seems I should.” She blurted it out like it was a pre-canned speech.
“Whatever, makes you happy.” I told her, taking her in my arms for another hug. She was so delightful to hold.
“This makes me happy,” she purred, snuggling into me.
Debbie had my dinner laid out for me, and both the girls sat with me while I ate. I broke the news about the travel that week, which disturbed them a bit, but they seemed to take it well. Much better than I expected. I explained I’d be leaving Wednesday, and returning Saturday.
We talked a while longer, and Beth got the latest scoop on the sisters’ situation. I was wondering where they were, and found out they’d gone down to watch Jim’s dance group practice. While Debbie cleaned up, Beth insisted I pick out my travel clothing, to see if anything needed to go to the cleaners. When we were finished, Debbie showed up with a bottle of wine in hand, but I begged off, needing to work on my customer demo just a little bit more, and headed out to the garage/daycare/office. I was actually de-featuring a bit. I had learned a little along the way, and knew that the Spanish team would be more likely to buy-in, if they felt they had a little more in the game. So I took out a couple of pretty obvious features and options, and would let them suggest them, and embrace the idea. If they missed them, I was sure I could guide them down that path.
When I next looked up it was midnight. I shut everything down and headed back to the house. The girls were already sound asleep and I stripped down and slipped between them quickly nodding off myself.
(Even in a house full of pretty, even beautiful, willing women, not every night was a mind-blowing sexual thrill.)
—-
Tuesday was much like Monday – off to work early, pulling together the final details. A long, hectic day which I couldn’t escape from. I got home late again, but Debbie and Beth stayed up with me, giving me a nice little send-off. The only hiccough came when Beth brought up Amie.
“I hear Amie was over the other day, before we went to Mom’s house,” Beth mentioned in passing, while I recovered my strength, well worn out, but not willing to call it quits for the evening.
“Yeah, sort of surprised me, I was napping on the couch when she showed up.” I confessed.
“Is that how she got you to do her? Jumped your bones while you were sleeping?” Beth asked, with a note of irritation in her voice.
Ouch. Well, I’d made a mistake, and better to face it than lie about it. “She came on to me like she’d spent the last 5 years in prison. She figured she had to do me if she wanted to work in the Daycare with you guys. Now where would she get that idea?” I asked.
Beth blushed now. “That’s not what I said!” she exclaimed. “I only hinted that it might be kind of expected – I never told her what to do.”
“She told me you were cool with it, but I knew it was wrong, and told her so. She still insisted you wanted her too, but I tried to make it clear that I’d have to talk anything like that over with you guys. I mean, really, you two alone are way more than any sane guy can handle, never mind Cathy popping up now and then, or dealing with Karen.” I told them.
Debbie chimed in. “I don’t think we really need anyone else in this bed right now,” she said softly. “I don’t mind working with her, she seems nice enough, but there’s a lot to deal with now.”
“I agree,” I told her quickly.
“You don’t think she’s hot?” Beth asked, “I thought for sure you’d be hounding after her given half a chance.”
“She’s pretty, but not in the same league as you two.” I argued, my attentions turning amorous toward young Beth. “I swear I don’t want to do anyone but you two. Honestly.”
Debbie didn’t add anymore to the conversation. Her mouth was delightfully full. Beth asked a little more about when the business kicked off, but finally accepted that two beauties in my bed were enough for me.