That finally managed to get a smile out of Kelly before she went to make the call.
When Jan and Sandra brought Marilyn back, I could see that they were surprised at the reaction they got from Marlyn – but both played it cool and didn't indicate that they noticed anything out of the ordinary. When Marlyn took Marilyn back to the bedroom, Kelly and I explained to them about Candice's upcoming visit, and the talk that Kelly had had with Marlyn. Both immediately understood the problem, and assured us that they would continue treating both as they always had – and that they'd get the word to Robyn and Susan about the situation, as well.
It was a couple days later that Paul invited all of us – Marlyn and Marilyn included – over to his place for grilled steaks. Marlyn had maintained appearances with Kelly and me when Marilyn was around, but both of us could tell that she was still troubled about our relationships with the other girls. But she'd developed a liking for, and trust in, Paul; and didn't hesitate to go with us.
After we'd been there an hour or so, Paul pulled me off to the side to ask 'What's up with Marlyn? She talks to you and Kelly okay, but I can see that it's kind of a strain on her.'
I told him about Candice coming to visit, and Marlyn's reaction to Kelly's explanation of our relationship. He asked if I needed or wanted any help with the matter, and I just told him 'If you think you can add something, go ahead.'
A bit later, supper was ready, and we all sat down to eat. As was tradition at Paul's place, we held hands as he said a prayer before the meal. Out of respect for his beliefs, Kelly and I always bowed our heads, too, while he spoke.
Paul had gently guided Marlyn to sit next to him, and while the rest of us were chatting among ourselves, I heard him quietly tell her 'You know, Marlyn, Dan is a good friend of mine. We've been friends for nearly twenty years now, and he has always been there when I needed his help – whether it was with something simple like my computer, or harder like watching out for my kids when I had to travel. I know Dan, and I trust him – he's shown me that he has more good sense and more honesty and integrity than any three other people that I know. I don't agree with all of Dan's ideas and such – but more than anything else, I*respect* him. I know that he would never willingly hurt another person, unless it was to protect someone else. When Jan was having a sleepover with some of her friends one time, he stood right here in this back yard and fought to protect one of those girls from an old boyfriend. Sent the boyfriend and his two helpers to the hospital doing it – then went over to the girls to comfort them. Jan doesn't go to church much, any more, except to join me and the boys on special occasions. I'm sad to see her like that; but I'm even more happy that she has friends like Kelly and Dan and all the others. I know that they're more than just 'friends' – that they're lovers, too, and I'm okay with that because I love Jan; and know that she's a better person for having them as friends – and even lovers. I'll bet you didn't know that it was Jan that told me, right here on this patio, that she wanted to give Dan her virginity. But Dan didn't want any part of it – he tried to find ways to keep it from happening. As much as it bothered me to know that my own daughter wanted to lose her virginity, I loved her more. And I knew that Dan was the only one I knew and trusted enough to make it as easy and painless and loving as I wanted it to be for her. I trusted him enough, and loved her enough, that I told him it was okay with me.
She looked surprised at all of that, and Paul went on.
'Marlyn, you know I'm Catholic. As much as the Church teaches us about sin and all that, this was one thing that I had to disagree with them on. I love my daughter, and I don't think that a man and woman making love is a bad thing. That was something that I've taught Jan and my boys. I wasn't happy about what she wanted to do, and I tried everything I could think of to convince her not to – but when everything else was said and done, there was one thing that I knew : that I could trust her with Dan – that he'd be as gentle and caring as I'd want for her. I know that she still goes over there sometimes, and the two of them make love – and that she makes love with Kelly, too. The Church teaches us that things like that are a sin – but honestly, I have a hard time with that.
I see what a good person Jan is, and how happy and everything else she is. I just can't see how it can be a sin for two people to show love and affection for each other, whether they're the same sex, or not.
'I told you that I didn't agree with all of the things that Dan does and believes. Jan has tried to explain it to me at different times, but I guess I'm just too old, or been a Catholic for too long. But one thing that I do like about his ideas is what they do to people. I used to worry about Jan – that the bad things in the world would hurt her, or that she just wasn't strong enough. But since she's been with Dan, I've quit worrying – I've seen what kind of person she has turned out to be, and I'm proud of her. And I'm just as proud and impressed with all the other girls that Dan and Kelly and Jan have as friends – I've know them since they were in high school, and I've seen what good people they've turned out to be. Just look at what they've done with their lives: Jan is teaching kids at the same school she graduated from; Robyn graduated with a Criminal Science degree, and is a police officer, helping women and children that have come from abusive husbands and fathers and families; Susan is a lawyer, helping some of the same families that Robyn does. Sandra is about to graduate as a psychologist, a doctor, and she plans to specialize in helping kids with problems; Candice has a Journalism degree and works for a newspaper, helping keep our politicians honest.
'Marlyn, every last one of these young girls that I knew has gone on to college, and graduated to work in an honorable profession. I don't think it's a coincidence that this all happened after they became involved with Dan. So if they want to keep making love with him, or with each other, I'm not going to worry about it – for all of the good work they do out here with the rest of us, I can't fault them for any pleasure they find with each other in private.'
From the corner of my eye, I could see that his little spiel had given Marlyn something to think about. But having said his piece, Paul didn't belabor the point; the next thing he started talking to her about was how things were going with her job, and what her plans were when she got back to the Philippines.
By the time Candice arrived, Marlyn seemed to have come to grips with the 'closeness' of the relationships between all of us. She even seemed to accept that the relationships the girls had with each other wasn't something she had to worry about affecting Marilyn, and was soon again welcoming their time with her.
The first meeting between Candice and Marlyn could easily have turned into a fiasco – but Candice's warmth and openness quickly dissolved any residual fears or concerns Marlyn had about accepting her friendship.
The first evening, it was just the four of us: Robyn and Susan had invited Marilyn to spend the night with them, a kind of 'sleepover', to which Marlyn had agreed. They'd come to collect Marilyn a couple hours after Candice's arrival, so that Marilyn would have a chance to meet her before leaving. Marlyn had initially been nervous about Marilyn being around Robyn's pistol – until she'd learned that Robyn was even more concerned about it, and kept the weapon inside a locked case when Marilyn was present, with the sole key to the lock being on a chain around Robyn's neck.
When Candice yawned as a result of the time zones she'd been through, Kelly and I urged her to go ahead and go to bed. She initially declined, but after doing it again a couple minutes later, grinned and said that she thought she'd better take our advice.
Kelly went with her, leaving Marlyn and I alone in the den. Marlyn and I watched them heading down the hall, and saw when Kelly reached down to put her hand on Candice's butt – and when Candice respond in kind.
Marlyn looked at me in curiosity, and asked 'You don't mind?'
'Not at all.' I told her, before continuing 'I love both of them. If that makes them happy, then I am happy FOR them – the same way that each of them is happy when I am with the other one.'
'How can you love both of them? You are married to Kelly.'
'If you were married, would you love only your husband or only Marilyn?'
She shook her head, and I went on 'I can love both of them because I care about both of them. If I was married to Candice, and it was Kelly that was visiting, it would still be the same.'
Intrigued despite herself, Marlyn asked me 'Why?'
'Because they are both good people. They are both smart, they both have good hearts, and they are both honest and sincere. The same with Jan and Susan and Sandra and Robyn.'
'But they are all also very pretty.'
'Then that is my good luck – but not the reason that I love them. What matters to me is what is in their hearts and minds, and even their spirit – their soul, if you like. All of them will get old and wrinkled – but I will still love them for what is inside.'
'But what they do…'
'What they do is bring each other pleasure and happiness and joy. Why should it be wrong to do that for someone close to your heart?'
