Jan

to be like that; I want it to be as fun and nice as Kelly told me it was for her. What we've done already has been really, really nice, and it makes me believe that sex – making love! – can be a fun and happy-making thing. I don't just want orgasms, even though they're nice! I want more.

I want love.'

That little speech did wonders for my attitude toward her wanting me to take the final step of making love with her. But I was still a bit gun-shy, and simply nodded my understanding of what she'd said.

She went on by saying 'Kelly told me that she wanted to come and see you here, and that she really loves you. But she was also worried that she didn't make me feel like I was being left out, or that you were doing anything for her that you wouldn't do for me. Really, Uncle Dan, it's okay if Kelly comes over here. I know that your relationship with her is different than what you have with me – and I don't just mean that you've actually made love with her.*I* know that Kelly is smart; sometimes I wonder how anybody can be that smart, but that's the way it is. What's important to me is that she's happy and you're happy. I know that a lot of the reason you like her so much is because she's so smart – because you're so smart. I think you know way more than she does, but I think that's because you're older than she is, and have learned a lot because of it. But the thing that really surprises me, and her even more, is that you're willing to tell us about some of what you've learned without making us feel like children; kind of like the way you told all of us that stuff when I had the party where you judged the nightgowns. And the reason she loves you, like I do, is because you're kind and gentle and loving and sharing and all the kinds of things that one person is*supposed* to be with another. Either one of us can talk to you about*anything*; we know that you'll be honest and fair with us, and treat us like we're the kinds of adults we should be – and that makes ME want to be that kind of adult; and that is what makes me so sorry about the way I acted.'

Yeah, she was getting the idea; she had grown up a lot. It wouldn't take much more of this and she'd have me convinced.

Again, I nodded, and she continued 'Anyway, I think you and Kelly would make a good couple – you're both smart, you both really care about each other, and you make each other happy. Uncle Dan, after Kelly was here, I could see that she was happy about it, even before she said anything. All our friends kept asking her what she was so happy about, and all she'd tell them was that she got to spend time with someone that she really cared about, and really cared about her. She wouldn't tell them if it was male or female, what happened, or anything else. They started to bug her about it, but all she said was that she'd spent time with someone and that was all she was going to say. Even when they tried to ask her about a million questions, she just stood there and looked at them without saying a thing – and making them crazy because she was smiling the whole time. Uncle Dan, it's been a really long time since I've seen Kelly smile like that – and I'm glad to see it again. If you can make Kelly that happy, then I don't have ANY problem with ANYTHING that goes on with the two of you. Even if she moved in here with you – and I think it would be a good idea – I'd be happy about it, because I'd know that both of you would be happy.'

Still having not said anything, I simply raised an eyebrow, and she went on 'Yes, I'd be disappointed if it happened before anything happened between you and me, but I promise, I'd still be happy for you – both of you. So please, please don't think you have to worry about me when you talk to Kelly, and have fun with her. You and Kelly have something special that you and I could never have. You'll always be a special person to me because of how much you love me and how kind and understanding you've been with me, and – I hope! – because you'll be the person to give me a proper introduction to making love. But what you and I have isn't the kind of thing that lasts a lifetime, like I think it would with you and Kelly. I envy her, but I'm not jealous of her.'

I looked into Jan's face carefully, and all I could see was total honesty and absolute conviction. I knew Jan's personality as well as anyone could, and could tell that she'd spoken what she saw as the unvarnished, immutable truth. She hadn't tried to gloss over anything, or make excuses, or dodge any unpleasantness. that was the kind of maturity that I needed to see, to be sure that she was ready – emotionally and mentally – to take the final step into womanhood.

Seeing a change in my expression, she looked a bit concerned when she asked 'What? Did I say something wrong?'

'No, Jan, you said something right.'

She got a mildly puzzled look on her face, and I continued 'All that stuff you just said was what a mature, honest, caring person would say about someone they loved. You didn't demand anything, you didn't ask for anything, and most of all, you didn't let your wants get in the way of what would make someone you cared about happy. You told me that if Kelly and I were together all the time, you would be 'disappointed' if Kelly was to move in here before anything happened between you and me. You didn't say 'hurt', you didn't say 'sorry', you said disappointed. That sounds to me like you realized that if nothing happened between us, the responsibility was yours, and no one else's.' – 'But it is! I'm the one that messed it up!' – 'You didn't try to blame me or anyone else; the mistake was yours, and you not only admitted to it, but stood ready to pay the consequences. That is an example of the kind of maturity that I needed to know you had before I would be ready to 'introduce' you to making love, as you put it.'

It took her a few moments to realize that I'd just told her that I had the proof that I'd said I'd need. Her eyes got real big, and she got real serious when she asked me 'You mean that you'll do it?'

'Yes, Jan, I'll do it – if you really want.'

'I do!'

'Then the when and how are up to you.'

I could see her starting to get emotionally excited, and quickly told her 'Understand, there's no hurry. If you want it to happen this week' -

'You bet I do!' – 'then we've got the entire rest of the week to make it happen. If you don't mind me telling you something I told Kelly' – earning myself a mild version of the 'you are such a Goober!' look

'then here it is: We've got plenty of time, and there's no rush. Enjoy what happens – savor it as we go along. That night we had, when we slept together, wouldn't have been as much fun for either one of us if we hadn't had as much time as we did. Think about that before you decide you want me to jump your bones right here and right now.'

That seemed to settle her down, and I could see her thinking it over.

Excusing myself, I headed for the bathroom, and then into the kitchen to get us both something to drink. Wine coolers seemed appropriate, so I grabbed a couple and joined her back on the couch, where she quickly snuggled back next to me.

After opening our drinks, Kelly took a sip of hers and looked up at me, saying 'I understand what you're saying, and you're probably right – I think I would enjoy it more if we kind of eased into it, and just kind of let it happen.'

I smiled at her, which seemed to make her happy, and asked if she was getting hungry yet, since it was getting into evening by this time.

'Yes! No. Oh, I don't know! I'm hungry, but I'm too excited to eat.'

'Well, how about I order out, and by the time it gets here, and you've had a little more of that cooler, you should be calm enough to at least take a few bites.'

She agreed, and after a little discussion, we settled on delivered barbeque. There was a place in town that was almost unknown, but made the best ribs and brisket for hundreds of miles. I gave them a call, and ordered more than I knew we could eat that night – their stuff was just as good when microwaved, which was saying something.

When the doorbell finally rang, almost an hour later, Jan was still next to me.

'That should be the food. Do you want to get it, or should I?' I asked her.

She giggled, and said 'If*I* went, the delivery guy would probably have a heart attack!'

'Yeah, but if he didn't we'd probably get it for free!', I replied, making her laugh.

Reluctantly, she let me up, and when I returned – via the kitchen, where I left the surplus – she was sitting up on the couch, and had arranged a couple of the trays I kept in there for us to put the food on. I also noticed that she'd gone through almost the entire wine cooler, and asked if she wanted more. She shook her head, and said 'No, that one was enough; I've got enough left to wash all this down, and that's all I need.' With that, I set the food on the trays, and we dug in.

There's no way around it: barbeque is messy. Good barbeque makes it worth it. This stuff made it enjoyable. Ribs that all but fell off the bone. Brisket so tender you almost didn't have to chew it. Cornbread so light and buttery