'Paul, I've got an idea that I think Jan will like, but I'm not too sure about you.'
'What's that?'
'What happens if she stays with me?'
I saw his eyes narrow, and quickly added 'Remember, I do have a second bedroom – with a lock! – and she still has to convince me that she's ready for what she wants. And I think you know that I'm not particularly enthused about the idea, so you can expect that it would take a lot to convince me.'
He thought about it for a bit, and calmed again, said 'Yeah, I suppose that would work. After all this other bullshit, I know she'll have to
I could see he was talking himself into it, and was willing to go along with it; even help a little.
'That's true, too. She can have some of her friends over if she wants – no more than one or two at a time! – and you know she's safe, there.'
'Christ, with that system you've got, damn right she'd be safe. Okay, I guess I can live with it. Yeah, you're right: she'll like the idea.'
'Okay, it's settled, then?' – he nodded – 'Then we might as well tell her now, and get it over with!'
He laughed, and called Jan into the den where we were.
'Pumpkin, have you decided what you want to do while I'm gone?' he asked.
'Whatever you decide is okay, Daddy.' She was obviously determined not to make any fuss, or demands.
'Maybe you'd rather go to stay with Dan? At his house?'
Instant ecstasy: 'Can I?! Really? It's okay?'
Paul laughed, and said 'Yes, you can. Yes, really. Yes, it's okay.
Actually it was Dan's idea.'
In a flash, she was next to me, hugging me and thanking me.
After a bit, I managed to pry her loose, and told he r'I've got a second bedroom you're more than welcome to use.' – her face fell a bit, which Paul saw, causing him to frown a little.
I continued 'I know, and your dad knows, that you might want something less, uh, formal; but remember, you still haven't convinced ME to LET anything happen, and until and unless you do, that second bedroom is where you will be sleeping. Got it?'
She was clearly a bit disappointed, but still happy at the opportunity.
'You're also welcome to have some of your friends over to visit, as long as it's not more than one or two of them at a time. Whether or not I stay there with you during the day is up to you – I've got a small office there I can use if you want the company, or I can keep going to the office if you want some time alone during the day. You don't have to decide now, or for the entire week; we can just play it day by day, okay?'
She nodded enthusiastically, and said 'Uncle Dan, THANK YOU. You don't know how much this means to me.'
I gave her a cautioning look, and then a quick eye movement toward Paul.
She understood, managed to contain herself a bit, and trying to cover her exuberance by saying 'After the way I acted, I'm glad you're willing to be this nice to me, and give me a second chance to show you how responsible I am.'
That seemed to be enough for Paul, and I told her that since it wasn't too far off, she needed to think about what she wanted and needed to bring with her. She agreed, and soon headed back to her room, more happy and animated than either Paul or I had seen her in a couple of weeks.
Paul and I soon had the gory details worked out: when he was leaving, where he was going, and so on. I could see that he was still a touch bothered by the situation, and tried to put him at ease by reminding him that nothing was going to happen until*I* was convinced, and that I was a VERY tough sell. He laughed a bit, having been over at my place when door-to-door salesmen had shown up, or I'd gotten telemarketing calls.
When things were settled, we went out onto the patio and had a couple beers before I headed home.
When the Fateful Day – Thursday – arrived, I drove Paul to the airport around mid-afternoon, with Jan riding in the back. We went with him as far as the security checkpoint; it was enough of a hassle getting through the darn thing that Paul suggested that Jan and I not bother.
Since this trip was, essentially, the same as any other, Jan agreed with only a little hesitation, and with a final wave to Paul as he headed down the corridor, we left.
Once back in my car, she sniffled a little, and when I asked about it, she told me that even though it was 'just another trip', this one was different because Paul would be out of the country. I hugged her, and told her he'd be fine, and reminded her that he was still going to call each evening, and she soon perked up again. With that, we headed back to my house.
Having been to it many times, and even grown up watching the changes from its humble technical beginnings, she all but took the features for granted. Yes, it was different from HER house, but it was familiar enough to her that she didn't see anything particularly fascinating or 'magical' about it, as Kelly had at first. So when I'd gotten the car in the garage, she didn't hesitate about taking the small suitcase and overnight bag into the second bedroom, and getting herself situated while I looked over the systems and checked for any email. Everything fine, I met her in the family room.
She stood there a moment, looking at me, before coming over to give me a hug – which, of course, I returned.
Looking into her eyes, I told her 'Jan, we've got all week together, if you want it. We can have fun together, like we have before, or not – the choice is yours. Like I told you before, if you want to have some of your friends over, they're welcome – but only one or two at a time; not because I don't like them, but simply so that I can keep the noise and such down. If you want, I can stay here during the day; any work I have to take care of I can do in my office here. If you would rather have some time to yourself, or with your friends, then I can easily continue to go into my regular office. You don't have to decide for the whole week; you can decide what you want day-to-day. I've got plenty of stuff you can use to keep yourself amused – movies, cable TV, I can easily set you up a computer, I've got a stereo, all that sort of thing.'
She smiled at me, and said 'That's okay, Uncle Dan. I don't want to break up your life any more than I have to while I'm here. You go ahead and do what you usually do, and I'll just keep myself busy. Uh, I do have a couple things I've been wondering about, though.'
'What's that?'
She looked at her feet for a moment before looking up at me again with a lopsided grin, saying 'Uh, do I have to get up and get dressed every day? I mean, is it okay if I just wear my nightgown or whatever?'
I laughed, and answered 'Sure, Trouble. Wear – or don't wear – whatever you want; I think we've pretty much gotten comfortable seeing what each other have. Actually, I usually run around naked, or in my underwear, until I have to go someplace. So don't worry about it. What was the other thing you wanted to know?'
She pinked a little, and said 'I know you're not going to, um, do anything to me yet, but is it okay if we still cuddle and, you know, play with each other?'
I smiled and answered 'Like I told you, we can still have fun together.
Just don't try to kill me with it, okay?'
She giggled, and satisfied with what I'd told her, gave me another hug before heading back to the spare bedroom. I sat down and turned on the TV. About the time I found something worthwhile to watch on it, Jan came back into the family room – giving me something MUCH better to watch.
Dressed only in the smoke and dental floss panties she'd worn for me before, she quickly moved over to the couch I was on and sat next to me before snuggling close. Putting an arm around her, I hugged her, and looked down into her eyes. With a half-smile on her face, she said 'Uncle Dan, I know that I really messed up when I tried to talk to Daddy that night. What I wanted to do was wrong, and the way I tried to do it was wrong – not just for you and Daddy, but for ME. I know that now, I really do. I still want you to be the one to teach me, but I know that I have to prove to you that I'm ready for it. But I'm not going to bug you about it, and I'm not going to try to talk you to death about it; I'm going to try to show you I'm ready. If I start to push you too much, just tell me, and I'll back off. I want it to be you; I don't trust*anybody* else to be as gentle and patient and everything as you would be. You know that Kelly and I talked about what you did for her – and yeah, even what you did TO her! – and you made her so happy. You were honest and considerate and loving with her – and that's what I want, too. I've heard some of the girls at school talk about what it was like for them, and it actually scared me. I don't want my first time
