They were on time. Maggie rang the bell then opened the door. “Sis?”
I laughed and hurried from the kitchen. When I arrived at the foyer, Maggie was there holding her hands with Kotori. Then I realized it had to be wrong.
“Kaori?”
The woman smiled. “For a moment, you thought I was my sister.”
I stepped closer, smiling, and felt stupid, incredibly, incredibly stupid. “Maggie, how long have you known you prefer women?”
“I started figuring it out when I was processing photos of you,” she admitted.
“Freshman year. Am I triply an idiot?”
“Of course not,” she said. “Please be okay about this, Astrid.”
I stepped forward and hugged her fiercely, then grabbed Kaori and hugged her as well. “I’m glad you’re here.”
We separated, and then Maggie did something odd. With her right hand, she reached across Kaori, grabbing her left hand, and then she held that hand up while presenting her own left hand.
And each was wearing a shiny ring.
I stared for a minute then looked up at her. “If you got married without inviting me, I’m going to be really hurt, Maggie.”
“I wouldn’t do that,” she said. “You have to stand beside me, after all.”
I paused and then began squealing in joy.
* * * *
They stayed late. We talked. I don’t know how many times I spontaneously hugged each of them. If I put Kaori off, she didn’t show it. Then I asked, “So. Where are you going to live?”
“We’ve been looking at apartments,” Maggie replied.
“Sounds expensive,” I said.
“Not that bad.”
“You still have three years left for vet school.”
“I’m not living with my parents once I’m married.”
“And May and Kotori don’t really have that much room,” Kaori added.
It took me a half second to decide. “This is a big house,” I said. “And there’s a big, big bedroom no one is using.”
“What would you want for rent?” Kaori asked.
“Half the utilities,” I said. “If you stay after Maggie is practicing doggy medicine, we can make a new arrangement.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Maggie said.
“How much rent did your parents charge me?” I asked. “And half the housework.”
Maggie looked at Kaori then said, “Can we let you know?”
“We’ll take it,” Kaori said. “How soon may we move in?”
“Saturday.”
She smiled. “Saturday. Perfect.”
* * * *
I had already done it once, but I had time to sanitize the house one more time. I couldn’t bear to throw anything away, but I had packed up the play room, and it now resembled a storage room. I went through everything once more, making sure nothing incriminating was out.
The tickle bench was the only thing that didn’t store well. I looked at it, but I decided Maggie already knew about it. And so I left it where it was, stuffed into the corner and, in a way, serving as a sentinel over the more incriminating adult toys that had been easier to pack away.
And then they moved in. The wedding was three weeks later.
Both brides were stunning, absolutely stunning, and their love was clear.
* * * *
“So,” Maggie said.
“So,” I agreed.
“Dinner was great. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” I replied.
She glanced at Kaori then turned back to me and smiled. “So.”
“You said that part.”
“You go back to school next week.”
“I do.”
“I think it’s time.”
“I agree. One more year, and then I start looking for a job.”
“That’s not what it’s time for,” Maggie countered. “Your wife told you to tell me something.”
I knew immediately what she was talking about. “And does your wife know about this?”
“She does,” Kaori confirmed, offering her own smile and looking me up and down. “What her wife doesn’t know is if we need to invite my sister and her wife to help us with this.”
“You certainly do not,” I said.
“It’s time,” Maggie said, her tone serious.
“I think you’re mistaken.”
“I don’t.”
I stared into her eyes for a while. “So, you think you’re going to, what? Pin me on the floor and tickle me?”
“Not at all,” she said. “We’re going to lock you into that machine, take your shoes off, and then tickle you.”
I glanced at Kaori. She smiled sweetly. I looked back at Maggie. “I presume you’ve told her about that, too?”
“Only after she saw it downstairs,” Maggie said. “You’ve had time to get rid of it. You didn’t even attempt to hide it.”
“Well, I don’t feel like lugging it out of storage,” I said.
“You won’t have to. What do you think I was doing while you were making dinner?”
“You didn’t.”
“Should we all go downstairs and look together?” she asked. “That way, we won’t have to drag you half as far.”
“You’re not dragging me down the stairs.”
“So you’ll cooperate with that part then?”
“Maggie,” I said.
“That isn’t ‘no’,” she said, smiling. Then she sobered. “It’s time, Astrid.”
“Time to let you tickle me?”
“Time for you to let someone tickle you, and maybe it’s best if you start with us.” Then on some signal I didn’t see, they both stood up and stepped over to me, each taking an arm. They pulled me to my feet and then latched firmly onto my arms, one on either side.
I didn’t fight them, but when we got to the basement staircase, I dug my feet in. Kaori laughed. “I wondered how far we’d get with you.”
I turned to look at my best friend. “What are you doing?”
“We’re just going to tickle you,” she said.
“Maybe Kaori and I should tickle you,” I offered.
“You can try,” she said. “Good luck with that. It’s not what you want, anyway. If you cooperate going down the stairs, we’ll be nice to you, at least for a while.”
“What if I say ‘no’?”
“I imagine in about five minutes, that’s about all you’ll say.”
“Not true. She’s also going to say ‘stop’,” Kaori suggested. “Astrid, if you’re going to struggle, you should wait until we’re safely down the stairs.” Then she tugged on my arm.
I let her.
Downstairs, I saw that Maggie had, indeed, lugged the tickle bench out. It was in the center of the television room, opened up and waiting for me. We came to a stop, and I stared at it.
“Maggie,” I whispered.
“It’s time,” she said.
“I don’t think it’s ever going to be time.”
“When Cassidy and I did this to you, you let us lock you in.” She tugged on my arm, but I tugged back.
“I had a different relationship with Cassidy than I have with either of you.”
Kaori tugged on my arm, and then they both tugged, pulling me two steps closer to the bench before I dug my heels in again. They let me, and then we all waited.
“I don’t know if I can do this without crying.”
“I know,” Maggie said. “Which is why we’re doing this tonight.” I wasn’t sure that made sense. But when they tugged on my arms, I let them.
I let them lock me in without a word of protest.
They each took a shoe from me. And then they each began massaging, one foot each. I lay quietly, entirely helpless and vulnerable, as my best friend and her wife, someone growing into my second best friend, soothed my feet.
And that didn’t last.
They tickled the crap out of me.
Happily
I wish I could offer you a happily ever afte
r. That’s what we all want, isn’t it? We want it for ourselves, and we want it in stories like mine.
I guess in a way, there is one happily ever after. Maggie and Kaori met, fell in love, and got married. I couldn’t be happier for them.
For myself? I miss my wife. In spite of efforts by Maggie, May, and even Cherlyn, I’m not ready to start dating. And so, for myself, my happily ever after looks unlikely, at least for now.
I’m going to be okay. I imagine I’ll start dating again, someday. For now, it’s too soon.
I’ll say this: I don’t regret a single decision. Not one. I don’t regret registering with Gentle Affection. I don’t regret anything that came out of that decision. I’m not sure I agree it’s better to have loved and lost, but no way would I change anything if it meant I couldn’t have had my time with Cassidy.
Would I have made different decisions if I’d known she was sick when we met? Probably.
I’m glad I didn’t know.
About the Author
A writer by avocation, Robin has a renaissance interest in many areas. A bit of a gypsy, Robin has called a few places home and has traveled widely. A love of the outdoors, animals in general and experimenting with world cuisines, Robin and partner share their home with a menagerie of pets and guests, although sometimes it is difficult to discern who is whom.
Robin can be reached via email as robin.roseau@gmail.com. Robin's web site is http://www.robin-roseau.com.
Works by Robin Roseau
The Madison Wolves Series
Fox Run
Fox Play
Fox Mate
Fox Afield
Fox Revenge
Fox Dish
Fox Lost
Wolf Watch
Wolf Ways
Wolf Women
Fox Fate
Jaguar
Omega Born
Omega Life
Omega Choice (coming soon)
Fox Short Stories
Hunting Pups
Fox in the Water
Fox Rematch (set after Fox Mate and Fox Afield)
Fox Opponent
A Foxy Valentine
Other Books in the Madison Wolves Universe
Familiar
Kitty Cat
Poor Little Witch Girl
Seer
Seer: Thrall
Seer: Guardian
The Selected Series
Collected
Taken
Volunteer
Candidate
Recruited
Galatea
Beginnings
Lottery
Selected Roommate
The Games People Play Series
Stories that ask a simple question: do you want to play a game?
Do You Want to Play a Game?
My Soul to Play
My Soul to Lose
The Five Kingdoms
Privateer
Searching the High Seas
Other Novels and Novellas
Anonymous Bidder
Blood Slave
A Charming Brew
Emergency Claus
Encircled
Fitting In
Fluid
Free to Love
Galatzi Trade
Galatzi World
Galatzi Joy
Galatzi Life
In Custody
Lace
Lost in the Words
Outside The Box
Stark's Dell
Submission
Sugar Baby
Surprise
The Interrogation
Tresjolie
Trust
White
The Ski Bindings Shorts
Short stories of love and lust amongst the slopes.
Snow Fox
Short Stories
Cooking for Love
Southern Night
Captured by the Raptor (writing as Rosetta Robins)
Copyright 2018 by Robin Roseau
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system, copied in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise transmitted without written permission from the publisher. You must not circulate this book in any format.
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, businesses, characters and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, actual events or locales is purely coincidental.
* * *
License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Amazon.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Table of Contents
Credits
Author's Note
Beginnings
Introduction
Contemplation
Contact
Initial Dates
Fanny
Roma
Dating
More
Contempt
Ticklish
The Room
Discussion
Part Two
Break
Summer
Sophomore
Saying It
Changes
Questions
Nursing
Spring Break
Preparations
Part Three
Preparations and Surprises
Cold
Circle
Dance
A Life Together
Wednesday
Part Four
Lawyers
Friends
Happily
About the Author
Works by Robin Roseau
The Madison Wolves Series
Fox Short Stories
Other Books in the Madison Wolves Universe
The Selected Series
The Games People Play Series
The Five Kingdoms
Other Novels and Novellas
The Ski Bindings Shorts
Short Stories