Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 73425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 367(@200wpm)___ 294(@250wpm)___ 245(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 367(@200wpm)___ 294(@250wpm)___ 245(@300wpm)
I nod weepily.
“Yes, but it’s just been so hard,” I whisper. “I felt like I have no friends, no options, and not even the love of my husbands was enough to sustain me.”
My aunt eyes me closely.
“Did your husbands send you away?” she asks gently. “Or did you come on your own?”
I start blubbering again.
“I came on my own because that’s what I needed to do. Jordan and Jason love me so much, they would never banish me. They want me to be happy, but I had to sacrifice myself for their career.”
Angie pshaws immediately.
“Honey, do you realize how crazy that sounds? Your husbands love you! They want you to be happy! They would never want you to hurt yourself and to put yourself through pain for something as ridiculous as a career. Of course, careers are important, but they can be re-built. Whereas finding the right person? Sometimes, you don’t get a second chance at that in life.”
I look at my aunt.
“So do you think that they’d want me to go back?” I ask in a tremulous voice.
Angie is on it immediately.
“Sweetheart, I don’t “think” they’d want you to go back. I know they want you to go back. In fact, Jason and Jordan are probably frantic right now, wondering where you are. They’re probably ready to call out the search parties if you don’t get home soon.”
I let out another long, tremulous sigh. Is it true? Have I completely misread the situation? I thought I had to disappear in order for Jason and Jordan to get their lives back. After all, their church is in shambles because of my love and subsequent marriage to them.
And yet, maybe it’s not all for naught. Some couples thrive and grow stronger upon overcoming challenges, and maybe that’s us. Maybe Jason, Jordan and I can start a new church, where polyamorism is one of the explicitly stated, tolerated forms of love. Is that possible?
“Come on, sweetheart,” says Angie with a cheeky grin. “You’ve got to get back on the Greyhound immediately because your husbands are sure to be sending out the alarm. Besides, Jason and Jordan sound so yummy. If you don’t go back, maybe I’ll go to New York and see if they’d be interested in an older lady like myself,” she says with a grin.
I burst out laughing because Angie’s been married to my Uncle Edward for decades now. They’re so happy together, and often remind me of Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus with the warm, loving home they’ve created.
“Oh Auntie Angie,” I say ruefully while wiping away my tears. “I can’t thank you enough.”
“Don’t thank me,” she chuckles. “Besides, it’s important for you to go back, especially seeing that you’re expecting their child. You are, aren’t you sweetheart?”
I gasp then, eyes wide.
“How did you know?”
After all, I’m not showing and haven’t told anyone about my pregnancy. I was too scared about what it meant. On the one hand, I was elated because a baby with Jason and Jordan is a dream come true. I can’t wait to have a little boy or girl with my husbands’ bright blue eyes and charcoal hair. But on the other had, my love destroyed Jason and Jordan’s lives, and a baby would make things even more complicated. Not worse, just more complicated because any child with these handsome men is a blessing.
Now Angie smiles gently.
“Sweetheart, you have the glow and flushed look of a pregnant woman. I’ve been around long enough to know when someone’s about to have some babies.” I place my hand on my stomach and smile a little sadly.
“I think I might be expecting twins,” are my whispered words. After all, something’s telling me that I’ve been eating for three lately. My appetite is ravenous and I often devour everything in sight, including things like pickles which I usually detest.
Angie smiles again.
“You’re going to be fine, sweetheart. Just give your husbands a call and get right back on that bus. Everything will work itself out, I promise.”
I look at her with tears in my eyes.
“You promise?”
“I do,” she answers gently, before patting my hand once more. And as I take a deep breath, a feeling of peace comes over me. I do need to tell my husbands how I feel, and to have a conversation with them in person. After all, the three of us have been suffering, together yet apart as well. Now I’ve realized that only through words, and by stating our love for one another again, will we be able to sort out this mess.
I nod.
“I need to buy a ticket asap, but could you drive me to the bus station? And could we get something to eat before we go?” I’ve just realized I haven’t eaten since getting on the bus back in New York. I was so sad, I couldn’t even think about grabbing food, but now my stomach is grumbling because it’s been hours since I’ve eaten anything significant.