about what Kelly tells us, and sees how she acts, you let us know that it really works, just by being there.'
She looked at me last, in something akin to awe as she said 'And you're the one that figured it out! Holy shit! I knew you were smart – but this?'
Realizing that Claire and Bonita were both staring at her, Evelyn turned to them and asked 'Don't you get it? It's right there in front of you! And its so simple!'
While Bonita and Claire just continued staring at her, the rest of us were looking on with patient amusement; watching as Evelyn began to stare off into space while she thought through the full implications of what she'd just realized.
When her mind came back to join the rest of us, she looked at Kelly, then Jan, and finally the twins, and saw that all of them were smiling in welcome to her. Then she looked at me, and after a moments hesitation, got up and came over to where I was. I stood up, and she threw herself into my arms and said 'Oh, Dan, I love you so much!'. With that, she began crying into my chest, and I hugged her and softly stroked her back as sobs wracked her body. After a couple of minutes, she got herself mostly under control again but continued to hold me. When I felt her arms relax, I gave her another brief hug before she pulled away from me to look up into my face. I smiled at her and said 'I love you, too, Evelyn.' Her smile threatened to stop only when the corners of her mouth met at the back of her head, but she told me 'I know, Dan.'
I gave her a soft kiss on the lips before she turned and went back to where she had been sitting – accompanied by a soft pat on the butt from me.
Claire and Bonita clearly didn't know what to make of all of it – looking at the rest of us, they only saw smiles of patient acceptance for Evelyn's outburst, and looks of love.
By that time, it was starting to get a little dark outside, and Kelly suggested that we all head back inside where we'd be more comfortable. Evelyn was so happy that I think her feet might have touched the ground once or twice along the way.
Once inside, Sheri announced that she was going to go ahead and get ready for bed; Crissy quickly seconded the motion, and the two of them led Claire, Bonita, and a grinning Evelyn back to change. Kelly and Jan delayed long enough to each give me a kiss before Kelly told me 'If Evelyn wants to spend the night with you, I can stay with Jan – assuming she doesn't mind the company' – the last with a grin aimed a Jan. Jan pretended to think it over for a moment before replying 'Well, I suppose I can let you sleep with me tonight. But no funny business!'
Kelly just gave her a lusty smile and said 'Nope, nothing funny about it!' – before both of them started laughing as they headed down the hall. Shaking my head, I just parked myself in 'my' chair – and wondered what the girls would be almost wearing when they reappeared.
I got my answer a couple of minutes later.
The twins turned up in matching green G-strings and camisoles that were sheer enough that I wondered why they even bothered putting them on. Claire was wearing – so to speak – a pale yellow camisole that did absolutely nothing to hide her charms. Evelyn was sporting a red teddy and thong, while Bonita had opted for a bra and panty set that appeared to be made out of spider webs and dreams. None of them could resist coming in and doing a little pirouette in front of me so I could take in the full effect; the others spread themselves out on the couch while Evelyn made a beeline for my lap. She was securely in place when Kelly and Jan came in – both naked; they just gave her a tolerant smile, much to the surprise of Claire and Bonita, before finding their own seats.
Bonita asked them 'You don't mind? That Evelyn is sitting in Dan's lap? And that he's holding her like that?'
'You saw what happened to her out there. Right now, she needs someone to hold her while she gets her head on straight. If she wants it to be Dan, that's fine with me – just like Dan wouldn't mind if she wanted to sit on MY lap, or Kelly's.' Jan told her – followed by Kelly saying 'And if she wants to spend the night with Dan, I've already told him I don't mind. I expect that if she does, she'll want to make love with him, and that's okay with me.'
'How can you just let other women, and girls – 'cause I think that's what we are – just sleep with him like that?' Claire asked.
Kelly looked at her and answered 'I don't 'just let' other women – or girls – just 'sleep' with him. If Dan was to go to bed with another woman, I know that one of two things would happen. Either they would just sleep, or he would make love with her. I love Dan, and I know him; if he made love with another woman, it wouldn't be just to have sex with her – he just doesn't think that way. So if he made love with another woman, then I know that he did it because he cared for her – loved her – enough to be willing to share his… soul, if you like, with her. And if he did that, then I know him and trust him enough to know that she is someone that I would like, too – and maybe even love. So you see, I know that I don't have any reason to be jealous, because I know and trust my husband. If there was a guy that I felt about in the same way I feel about Dan, I know – know – that Dan wouldn't have any more objection to me being with that man than I do about him being with another woman.'
Claire and Bonita both looked over at me, and I just nodded – what Kelly had said was true. I sometimes wondered why there had never been another guy that one of our friends wanted to bring in to the group, but it hadn't happened yet; I didn't expect that it wouldn't happen at all, though.
At that point, Evelyn spoke up, telling them 'When I got on his lap just now, all I was thinking about was how much I love him, and I just wanted him to hold me. I really hadn't thought about it until Kelly said something, but I would like to stay with Dan tonight – and if he will, I want to make love with him. Not just for the physical part of it – though I'll bet that'll be good too! – but so we can share our hearts, along with our bodies.' With an embarrassed smile, she told Kelly 'I guess I'm still kinda new to this…', and getting a smile in return before Kelly answered 'It's okay. I understand.'
Evelyn grinned and said 'Yeah, I guess you would.'
Bonita got things back 'on track' by asking Kelly 'How can you trust him to be with other women, and know that he trusts you about another guy?'
Sheri spoke up then, answering 'Don't you understand, yet? They love each other. Kelly taught us about it in class: you love people because of the good things that you see in them – strength, honesty, integrity, truthfulness, and that kind of stuff. They love you back because of the good things they see in you. As each of you becomes a better person, there's more of the good stuff in you – so the love grows, too.'
Crissy added 'Maybe what you're not understanding is just how much love there is between Dan and Kelly – and Jan, and Candice, and the others. And now, me and Sheri and Evelyn, too. I mean, just look at what Kelly has done since we've been here! I'm sure she'd like to be on Dan's lap, too – but she's willing to let me or Sheri or Evelyn be there instead because of how much she loves us. Do you really think she'd be letting us do the things we have with Dan if she didn't love US as much as she loves him?'
Looking at Claire, I could see something happening in her eyes. It was as though what had just been said had gotten her thoughts pointed in the right direction, and her mind was busily narrowing things down. Kelly and Jan saw it too, and both looked at me in anticipation.
In the mean time, Bonita was still trying to argue with the twins and Evelyn that she simply couldn't understand how one woman could share a man with so many other women, no matter how much they loved each other. They went back and forth for quite some time before both sides realized that they weren't getting anywhere. Bonita finally called an end to it by saying 'I don't think we're getting anywhere with this. No matter how much you try to explain it, I just can't understand how Kelly can love Dan so much and love you and the others enough to share him with them. Why don't we just call it a draw for tonight, and find something else to do?'
The twins and Evelyn saw the sense in that, and agreed. Claire was still pretty much wrapped up in her own thoughts, but managed to pay enough attention that she was able to cast a vote in favor of watching a movie on TV. After a little friendly discussion, they settled on a sappy romance on cable TV. Kelly said she'd make some popcorn, and the twins silently followed her into the kitchen to help. Jan stayed with the rest of us, and helped keep things from bogging down.
Kelly and the twins were back with the popcorn with plenty of time before the movie started – which was a good thing: there wasn't a one of them that wanted to get up and go anywhere to do anything while it was on. The only reason I stayed and half-assed watched it was because by doing so, I could have Evelyn on my lap. She didn't mind in the slightest when I slipped my hand under the teddy she was wearing and started caressing her body during the movie – in fact, she was the one that pulled my hand up so that I would start playing with her breasts.
When the movie was over, a couple of the girls were teary-eyed from the sappy ending; I teased them about it, and got popcorn thrown at me. Nothing to do, of course, but throw it back – with Kelly and Jan joining in with the
