An Apology, Part 4

This story is fictional. The mention of any person, place, or thing is coincidental and not intended as an accurate portrayal. No one under 18 engages in sex.

I appreciate the many comments. This part brings the story to a conclusion.

To recap, Cliff and Emma fell in love after she was told her husband had died in a bomb blast in Jerusalem. Norman survived the bombing and nearly three years of captivity before he returned. This episode tells the resolution of events and conflict told in parts two and three.

I remained withdrawn until Dave and Bri asked for a meeting on Sunday, March 2. We attended a Lakers game with the Mavericks and retired to a quiet restaurant operated by a former Halo player nearby where we found a booth that provided privacy.

"Our parents don't know we are here," Dave said. "We agreed that it's time for us to intercede in this stalemate. We're here to appeal to you." He stopped and looked at his sister.

"Without your presence, our parents are nipping and sniping at each other. Sometimes mom goes completely quiet. I can tell she wants to explode, but she refuses to respond when dad is acting terrible. They haven't had a major argument yet, but we can tell it is bubbling below the surface," Bri said.

"I'm nothing special," I said. "I don't understand how my absence makes a difference."

"We disagree," Dave said. "You have a way of looking at life that makes people see stuff they don't see on their own. You are the buffer, the glue, as my dad said he told you and that helps them get along better with each other. You've helped both Bri and me get our heads screwed on straight.

"This is difficult to say in the right way, so give me some space. I've always had the utmost respect for my parents. I want a relationship with my future wife like they have. Since dad returned, it hasn't been the same unless you are around. You complete them and make them both better than they were before. Does that make sense?"

"In a way, I suppose it does," I responded. "But having children with your mother while she's still married to your father goes against all normal practices. We have a few other issues too that I'm reluctant to discuss with you."

"Please remember one thing," Bri said. "We all agreed we wanted a step sibling. Don't misunderstand what we're saying. We wouldn't want this with anyone else. While this situation is unconventional, we consider you a member of our family just as much as our mother or birth father."

After we talked for several hours, they convinced me to at least talk to Emma and Norm. I still needed to talk with my family first. I flew home Friday afternoon and asked my family to meet with me that night. After I outlined the issue as best I could, I threw the floor open for discussion. From watching their faces, I didn't have a clue how they would respond.

They asked pointed questions, all of which I expected. In the end, they gave me approval.

I asked to speak with Norm and Emma privately when I returned. During our session, I presented all my reasons for hesitation. "I'm young enough that I can find another wife and have more children if I want. This closes that door."

"That is certainly true," Norm said. "But we hope you don't. If I hadn't been found and returned, my guess Emma and you would be married now. Don't you agree?"

"Given all the legal considerations, my answer would be yes if she agreed. I wanted to wait at least three years before we decided. I'm glad we waited because what a mess we would face otherwise."

"This may sound strange for me to say as her husband, but what you and Emma have is special. Everyone who sees you together comments to me. I can't tell you how grateful I am that you didn't ask her to choose, because sometimes I think she would leave me for you if I hadn't been injured. I doubt you will ever find another woman with whom you match so well. We want you with us. End of discussion."

Emma sat quietly, but I could see her struggling as I turned to her. "First, let me say that Norm has said the same thing about me picking you over him. I've told him it isn't true, but my feelings for you are strong. I've counseled people who are in a triad relationship like I'm proposing, so the concept isn't foreign to me.

"It's my body and my decision. While we all voiced the idea at about the same time, it's been my desire since you told me the story of you, Kate, and Natalie.

She talked more about the issues involved in waiting until Norm had died. "I want a child with you, Cliff. The longer we wait, the higher the risk."

The intensity of their words and expressions washed away my reluctance. One of my high school coaches often quoted this saying: "When the going gets tough, the tough get going." It was time.

"I appreciate your words because I feel the same. I don't want to go anywhere else. I'll tentatively agree. We talked about boundaries, especially between Norm and me. We talked about what will happen if one or more of us died. They knew an attorney who specialized in poly marriage agreements and we decided on what might happen in each scenario.

The next few months presented a challenge. Emma ended her period the day before our meeting. It didn't stop us from spending time in bed together. Tacked on top of my normal workload, I worried about keeping track of her most fertile times and making sure I spent several nights with her. Because we wanted the pregnancy to start as soon as possible, Norm warmed his wife up. I was there to deposit my seed. Sort of took the joy out of the process. When she missed her period in June, we all rejoiced.

Emma got so big, so fast that her doctor ordered a non-invasive blood test at the ten-week mark. "This test will reveal how many children and their gender," the doctor said. "No need to return for the results. I'll text the three of you." Three days later, she sent us a text. "Twins. One of each."

My mother is the family historian. After a week of research, she told me there are three sets of twins among my cousins and uncles and aunts. "I had twin cousins, a man and a woman. The man died in the Gulf War."

I operated in a continual mood of nervousness. Emma asked me to leave sometimes because I constantly hovered while we spent time together. When we weren't together, I was worried. From a lean body, I shed nearly ten pounds.

Except for bed rest for the last week, the pregnancy and births went well. I expected some opposition to both Norm and me during the ultrasound, office visits, and at the hospital admission, but Dr. Karen Peters opened the doors whenever we needed them. She said our situation wasn't that unusual in her practice.

On March 19, 2009, at Loma Linda University Health Care in Rancho Cucamonga, the first of the twins, Scott Edward Robinson came out at 0437. His sister, Sophia Ann Robinson, joined him 19 minutes later. Their middle names matched my parent's first names. Emma went through eight hours and seventeen minutes of labor after her water broke.

Over the next 11 years, we addressed those issues. With her father's help, they found a house in foreclosure in Santa Ana. One of Norm's classmates from law school offered him a part-time position in his law firm. Some days we felt fine. Other days, we barely moved. The law firm structured a position around his needs and abilities. Emma joined a counseling firm in the same building.

Both Dave and Brie went to Cal-State Fullerton, took education and physical education degrees and got married.

In 2011, Dave married Lana. The groom's speech brought tears to my eyes and confirmed I made the right choices.

Cliff Robinson entered my life during one of our darkest times. I know there are some people here who don't like Cliff being a part of my family. I respect their opinion.

But without his presence, I'm not sure the three of us would have survived. Once Norman, my father, rejoined us, Cliff continually told us that all we needed to do was say the word and he would leave. They never seriously considered making that request.

When the time came that my birth father was mostly self-sustaining, we discussed Cliff's future and talked about an idea we all had individually but never voiced. Cliff went through a tragic divorce and lost access to his only child. We wanted to thank him by giving him more children.

We were all shocked at first when the tests showed twins, but his mother did the genealogical research and discovered several sets of twins on both sides of his family. Both Bri and I have taken care of Scott and Sophia. We consider them our siblings just as much as we do each other.

For that reason, I'd like to propose a joint toast to my father, Norm, my mother, Emma, and my surrogate father who stepped in during a time of need. Cliff Robinson.

Over the next winter, everything in my career changed. Pablo Morales signed a new contract with the Red Sox. In response, the Halos signed Albert Pujols from the Cardinals, a move Mark and I opposed because of his age and the vast amount of money involved. That make our tenure uncomfortable.

When Pablo wanted me to represent him, I agreed. "I can bring many other players to you if you agree," he said. Mark had received several offers from other baseball clubs, but he didn't want to move. We agreed to form a sports agency. I sold my condo to provide my share of the seed money.

Mark would talk to the clients; I would handle the legal issues, and Norm dealt with the financial issues. It was rough at first, but Pablo knew a lot of players in all sports, and he helped us build a clientele. With two children eventually headed for college, I needed to increase my income. I was house poor.

I kept traveling back to Oregon to attend my daughter's important events and only got one opportunity to talk to her. I approached her when her mother wasn't around after her college graduation. As soon as she saw me, she turned to walk away before she turned back with a scowl on her face.

"Go away, Cliff. I don't want to see you or talk to you."

"I don't understand why all this bitterness and rancor. If you'll give a chance, I'll explain my side." A man about her age came up while we talked. "Go away, old man," he said. "Can't you tell she doesn't want to see you?" I disliked him immediately, but it wasn't the time to make a scene.

When she married the younger of Tom's two sons that summer, I skipped the wedding. My sister sent me a video that she secured somehow. My daughter had grown into a good-looking woman. If I hadn't known Kate was her mother, I wouldn't have recognized my ex-wife because of the weight gain.

I quit trying and concentrated on life with my present family in Los Angeles. Jeff and I finally became friends, and the two families spent a lot of time with each other.

We didn't let our personal lives lag. Norm, Emma and I liked to challenge each other in activities where all three of us took part. In concert, we each developed a list of ten things we wanted to do together. On his list of sexual resolutions, the first one startled me.

"Are you sure?" I asked when I read his list. "After being held captive for some long, I would think being bound isn't something you'd want."

"You might think that. But if it's done right, it comforts me. I learned how to zone out and ignore the position I was in. Let's try it, anyway." I found a club that taught me Shabari and we incorporated that into our lovemaking.

We found odd places to have sex. Griffith Park. The observatory at night. Even in my private office. We visited the clothing optional beach at San Onofre.

I'll remember that day for a long time. You can only reach the clothing-optional part on foot. Emma and I helped Norm make the slow trek. Like a father watching his children, Norm sat in a beach chair as Emma and I chased each other, splashed in the sea, and built sandcastles.

We ate lunch on a blanket and joined him in watching other people. After years of people being able to go naked on the beach, the state put in rules preventing nudity because of problems. Not everyone followed them and we got to see lots of naked bodies. We put a large beach towel over us and Norm and I played with Emma until we brought her to a loud orgasm.

Norm's family owned two cabins in the Sierra Nevada Mountains north of Truckee. Each summer, we spent several weeks in the cabin. Dave, Bri and their spouses often joined us along with several members of Norm's family. Nothing but good, old-fashioned family fun. The three of us had a lot of naughty times there, too.

For her 50th birthday, Norm and I purchased a boudoir session featuring Emma. She dressed so provocatively, that we stopped the van on the way home while I fucked her after Norm brought her to an oral orgasm.

Now that Norm had the strap on, she wanted us to double penetrate her at least once a month. He would lie on the bed and she would mount him. I played with her ass with my fingers until she felt right before I inserted my cock.

I traveled more, but I made more money too because nearly all my costs were tax deductible. I always made a point of spending time with Sophia and Scott and passing along the generational skills and wisdom learned from my parents. My parents always had a chore chart, and I followed suit. The nanny and I adjusted their jobs to their ages. As they grew older, I purchased items like automatic slicers and choppers so they could help prepare food without getting hurt.

Sometimes Mark and I traveled east to negotiate contracts. We always got separate rooms. I usually started a video call to Norm and Emma late at night, my time, but three hours earlier in California.

"I'm enjoying the solitude," Emma said one night. "Juanita is watching the twins at your house. Norm is off with his family tonight. I've been slowly playing with myself, waiting for your call."

"Think back to that night when I bent you over the kitchen table. Your pussy was so wet that I sank right in without hesitation."

"Yes, baby. I'm open wide for you."

"I can see that. Let's change the scene slightly. I've finished fucking you and we're dancing to unheard music. As you move, you brush my cock and it soon hardens, especially when you grind your ass against it."

She moaned and grabbed her dildo. "Yes. This isn't your cock, but it will have to do. Ah, I miss you inside me."

"We're still dancing. My hands are on your shoulders, and my fingers trace patterns along the indentions of your clavicles. You back into my hardness and I'm sliding inside you."

"Yes. Yes. Yes. I can feel you. You feel so good." She is pushing and pulling the dildo slowly, savoring each movement. Her eyes are closed. Her free hand is pinching a nipple.

"That's it, baby," I muttered. "I'm close. Open your eyes and watch me as I come."

Seconds later, she joined me in joy. We cleaned up and talked until I grew so drowsy I had to end the call.

In 2016, Sorrento Alvarez joined us. She was older than the others at 32. Nannies were nannies. We kept our hands off.

But Sorrento was different somehow. She loved to tease me by flashing parts of her body. She frequently gave me an erection. One evening I came home late to find the twins in bed and asleep. She was swimming naked in the pool and listening to the baby monitor.

"Come join me," she said. "I'm attracted to you. Even if you hadn't gotten snipped, I am not worried. One reason my husband divorced me is that I can't have children. I love your children, and they like me."

Lanky, with ample breasts and an abundant ass, she continually created discomfort in my boxers. I'd come so close to kissing her or touching her inappropriately that some nights I had to take a cold shower. With this type of invitation, it was time to cross the boundaries. But I needed to make sure she understand my situation.

"I appreciate the invitation, but I'm in a closed relationship now. I'm not looking for anyone else." She exercised a lot and her body stayed trim. Her tits floated on the top of the water and made me hard enough to hurt.

"Emma and I discussed your relationship, and she's okay with us getting together. After the fiasco with my ex-husband, Alfredo, I'm not looking to get married again. I already know that if something happens with Norm, you and Emma will marry. All I care about is taking care of your children, because that is the only chance I'll get."

(After they discovered she couldn't have children, her husband cheated on her. He brought his pregnant girlfriend home and told Sorrento it was her job to raise the child. Since his father and he held prominent positions in the government, she had no alternative but to flee Brazil. Several years later, they both lost their jobs because of regime change.)

I removed my clothing and joined her in the pool. Our kiss turned steamy. Her body felt sublime. I pushed her to one side of the pool. She hopped up and wrapped her legs around me. I fucked her hard until I came inside her. From then on, she slept with me unless I was sleeping with Norm and Emma. She often joined us on a night of sex.

After consulting with Emma and Norm, we agreed Sorrento should join the group as long as she wanted. That gave us an even number when we had sex and reduced the physical interaction between Norm and me.

As the children grew older, we needed to help them sort out who was who. Dr. Massengill had turned her practice over to her oldest son who specialized in polyamorous relationships the same way his mother did. My children called me dad. They called Emma "mom" and Norm "pops." After bantering back and forth, they called Sorrento "Soto."

Sorrento took many psychology classes as part of her master's degree. She was a great help in consoling and explaining how to handle their issues to the kids. She worked part time as a social worker for the county so she could be home after the kids were done with school.

During the Covid epidemic, we wanted to seclude Norm. "Nope. I've already lived longer than I expected. I'll take my chances." We made sure everyone wore masks and frequently used sanitizing wipes. Sorrento and I did the food shopping for both families during the quarantine.

It was during this time that Soto ran across a quotation that we adopted. Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success. Edward Everett Hale.

We experienced bumpy times like all relationships, but we talked through them. I realized that while I hated what Kate did, in the long run, she did me a big favor. I would never have met my soulmate, Emma, unless my ex-wife cheated on me. My only regret was the absence of Mel in my life.

***

The ringing of my phone woke me around ten a. m. on the last Sunday of November 2020. Still drained from helping herd 11 kids at Universal Studios the day before, I paid little attention to the number displayed on the screen.

After answering, I heard Mel's voice. "Hello, dad. This is your daughter."

I shook my head; unsure I'd heard right. Our last short and bitter conversation occurred six years ago when she finished college.

"Please don't hang up. I need to speak with you," she said before I got my wits together enough to act.

"Hang on a second until I wake up more." I put the phone against my chest and considered how to respond. Common courtesy required me to at least listen. Curiosity sealed the deal.

"I'm back. What may I do for you?"

"I'm going to be in the Los Angeles area Wednesday through Friday attending a business meeting. I'd like to talk more in depth with you.

***

She called Tuesday and asked me to meet her at a restaurant in Pasadena for lunch on Thursday. "Dad. You were right, and I was wrong. I need to face apologize face to face. You'll understand more when we talk."

The restaurant we ended up at always intrigued me. Rather than modern unfinished ceilings with open ducts for HVAC and conduits for cable, like so many new restaurants were adopting, the arched ceiling contained segments of Da Vinci's painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Around tables in the middle, the designer placed multiple booths for private conversations. Expensive place, but she paid (as part of her expense account, she said), so I was okay.

I wasn't sure how to greet her, but she left little doubt. She hugged me hard for a long time. Long enough, other people in the restaurant stared at us. Her eyes filled with tears.

"I'm sure you are curious why I called and wanted to meet," she said after we slid into the booth. "Before I get into this, I want to say how fit and good you look. Southern California obviously agrees with you." I nodded for her to keep talking. Compliments always embarrassed me.

"To get straight to the core, I discovered in the past few months how much mom lied to me about you and who you are. She told me you were cheating on her with multiple women. She said that when you went to meetings, that was nothing but cover for having sex with women. She even had pictures of you with other women."

I held up my hand to stop her. "Unless digitally changed, none of the pictures showed me inappropriately kissing, hugging, or touching another woman. I'm sure of that."

"No. Mom told me recently that those photos were fake. But remember. I was only 12, and I didn't understand such things. At first, I didn't believe it, but eventually I had to because you never showed up to correct her."

"I'm sorry about that. That was only because she had a restraining order against me. As a lawyer, I had to respect the law, or I faced disbarment. She told me I didn't need to pay for child support if I gave her sole custody. I was so distraught by that time, I agreed.

"I'd done divorce cases before that involved a child or children. They are the ones who suffer the most when the parents fight. I agreed with her because I didn't think I had a choice. I've regretted it every day since then."

"I understand now, dad. Mom has been lying to me for over 16 years. Because of pressure from mom, I married Eric, who is the younger of Tom's two sons from a previous marriage. The older son was already married.

"I know you tried to attend my graduations, and mom prevented you. I'm sorry about that. I'm sorry for how I treated you at my college graduation. The man who interceded on my behalf was Eric. When I didn't see you at the wedding, I was relieved.

"But now that I understand what went on, I'm sorry you weren't there. I've missed you so much. To show you how callous Eric is to me and the children, he suggested paying me a large lump sum to avoid seeing us."

Her hand reached for mine. I took it. She squeezed my hand.

"I am beyond angry at mom. This is a hard story for me to tell."

"I can see that. Proceed at your own pace." Our food arrived, and we changed the topic to our present jobs.

After we ate and went outside, we walked to a nearby park. She grabbed my hand as she told her story. It felt good to hold my daughter's hand again.

"I never loved Eric, but mom kept nagging me until I consented to marry him. He turned into an overly possessive freak. I didn't realize it at first, but he talked me into dropping all my friends and family. He slowly groomed me until he controlled everything I did. We have two children, and they are the only reason I've survived.

She showed me pictures of Doug and Penny, ages six and four. They looked a lot like Mel. I decided not to talk about my family yet, because she struggled so much with telling her story.

"I work in the promotion part for the same company where Tom works. A little over three months ago, a major client canceled the day we landed in New York. We had several other clients we wanted to meet.

"My boss and his assistant took most of those. I returned a day early.

"I arrived home during the day while the kids were in childcare. The house was quiet, as I expected.

"As I started up the stairs to my bedroom, I heard a woman moaning. I'd wondered about Eric from before our marriage because he always openly flirted with women. I should have looked closer at home.

"I could see the master bedroom door cracked open. The closer I got to the bedroom, the louder the sounds grew. I pushed open the door a bit more and saw them.

"Eric and mom. Fucking on our bed."

Tears flowed at that point. She folded herself into me. Words made no difference at this moment. I let her know I loved her by holding her and letting her cry her emotions away.

"My mind told me to scream or run away, but I couldn't. I stood frozen, watching them while they fucked. I felt like throwing up, but I couldn't move. They didn't even see me."

She broke up completely again. I held her until the sobbing stopped.

"I left before they caught on that I was there. Thankfully, I remembered to take out my phone and get some photos.

"I remembered your friendship with Mr. Crocker and called him that evening. He only said good things about you and that opened my eyes. He referred me to an excellent lawyer who specializes in divorce. Alan Lansing was a godsend. His people did extensive research into Tom and Eric's background.

"Sex between Eric and I had stopped by that time. It was not that difficult to avoid him over the next three weeks, because we both traveled extensively. Mr. Lansing set up a meeting with mom, Tom, Eric and me. We met beforehand, and he explained what he had found.

"Basically, Tom has a hard time staying erect long enough to keep mom happy. She switched to Eric. I later found they'd been going at it even while I was in college. That is why she pushed so hard to get us to marry and why she helped me find a job where I traveled a lot.

"During the meeting, Mr. Lansing presented the information he found. In return for keeping the information about her transgressions quiet, she agreed to tell me everything. She and Tom aren't getting along and she's afraid if this comes out, she'll lose her job.

"We all signed NDAs, which means I can't say much more. We held the divorce proceedings in smaller, rural counties to keep the matter out of the rumor mill. Mom, Tom and Eric are promiscuous people and I never want to see them again.

"She lied to me for years. Even while you were married, she was sleeping with multiple other women and men. She is nothing but a snake and a harlot. I want nothing to do with her. The kids understand little yet and I'm fine with that."

"Where are Doug and Penny now? Hopefully, not with any of your mom's relatives?"

"No. I've been staying with Linda and Carl, your sister- and brother-in-law, for the past week. The kids are probably spending time with your parents, too. They are wonderful people, so forgiving and kind. Your folks wanted to tell me all about you, but I asked them not to because I wanted to hear everything with my own two ears.

"Sad to say, after learning mom, Tom and his two boys lied to me so much, I struggle with trust issues. Please don't blame your relatives because I asked them not to say anything. I wanted to face up to mom's deceit and tell you myself."

"I understand. It takes courage to face those issues. Are you getting counseling?"

"Yes. I started last month. Your sister referred me to a good therapist who specializes in issues like mine."

We walked while we held hands until I felt she was calm enough to hear my story. "My story is too complex to tell here. Can you visit me this evening?"

"I don't think so. We're meeting with Disney executives at their corporate offices in Burbank until after five. I'm afraid with the traffic, we won't have much time together. Can you give me the short version?"

I brought out my phone, opened the photo app, and showed her pictures of Scott and Sophie. "They turned 11 this past March and are slightly younger than you were when your mother and I divorced."

I found pictures of Norm, Emma, and me I took at Universal Studios. "Emma is the mother of the two children. Norm is her husband. They offered to give me children to replace you, and I took them up on their offer."

A weird look came over her face. "I can see why you wanted more time. This sounds complex and intriguing at the same time. Let me talk to my boss this afternoon. I might delay my return to Sunday night. I'd love to meet everyone. What do all the various family members think about all this?"

"It was rough sledding at first. Some of them still aren't happy. But we've stuck it out for 15 years and I don't see any major bumps ahead."

She called me that night. "I talked to my boss. He needs me to stay with them and leave Friday night. I'll need to work on other projects this weekend. I talked to your mother, and she said the kids are missing me badly. Everything that's going on confuses them.

"What I'd rather do is spend time with you and your family over the holidays. That will give me time to explain to Doug and Penny about you and that you are their grandfather, too."

"If that's the case, I need to explain several things, so you don't freak out. I don't know if you've heard of consensual non-monogamy, but that is what I'm involved in. After everything your mother told you, I don't want to upset you when you see me with multiple women."

She laughed pleasantly. "Don't worry, dad. Linda didn't go into details, but she said she approved of what you are doing. She said a pleasant surprise awaited me. I'm sure I'll have lots of questions when we're there. But I won't ever doubt you again."

"One more thing before we close. Do you need money? I have enough available to help while you resettle."

She laughed again. "No. I made excellent money. The settlement provides ample child support. I'm fine."

PostScript: Melanie drove down with my family for ten days over Christmas and New Year's Day. While we spent time alone, mostly everyone from the two families got acquainted with each other.

It took a few days, but I bonded with Doug and Penny. Emma, Sorrento and Mel often gathered on the patio to talk, drink wine and laugh. Emma and Sorrento told me after Mel left, they were happy we'd found each other.

She wanted to move from the Portland area to get a new start. We offered her a position in our firm, but she found another job that paid more in Pasadena with an advertising and promotions firm. We traded weekends to visit.

She started dating another man whose wife died in a vehicle accident. He had two children, too. During spring vacation in 2022, she married Adam Kincaid, who worked in finance for a college in Pasadena. After their marriage, they changed jobs and live in Santa Ana less than five minutes from my house. My daughter disliked her mother so much that she only allowed visits when a neutral party could watch them. That meant I never saw Kate, not that I wanted to.

Norm lasted until the summer of 2022. Over the winter, he caught a cold, which he never could shake. Dr. Chen wasn't working any longer, but her replacement, Dr. Phillip Montgomery, ran a battery of tests. "His system is slowly shutting down. I've looked through his records and he's lasted much longer than anyone expected. The best you can do is make his last days comfortable."

We put an extra bed in their main bedroom. He slept there most nights. Sorrento and I took turns sleeping with Emma. Over the weekend of August 13-14, he and I were talking while he lay in bed. He'd gotten to where he could no longer walk even with crutches.

"Do you remember our first conversations? I do. I asked you to be the glue of our marriage. I believed I would not last more than another year or two. Here it is, 16 years later and I'm still around. I mean this sincerely, man, but I'm sure I wouldn't have made it this long without your presence.

"I love you, man, I do. I will depart this earth a fortunate man. I know Emma is in expert hands. You've got your daughter and your grandchildren back."

"Thank you for your kind words," I said. "It's impossible to express in words how much it's meant to me that you allowed Emma and I to stay together,"

On August 17, he went to sleep at night, and he wasn't breathing when I got up the next morning. We felt sorrow and relief at the same time. Sorrow for his pain and suffering. Relief that he lived as long as he did and passed away quietly.

We held a memorial service at three p. m. on August 25 under an awning in the parking lot at the Halo's Stadium. Over 700 people attended, including Sally Feldman and the current Secretary of State. Over the Labor Day holiday, we spread Norm's ashes in the mountains near the family cabin. On the urn, we had our favorite saying engraved. We buried the urn where we scattered the ashes.

Sorrento, Emma, and I discussed how to proceed in our personal lives after Norm died. "I'm perfectly happy being the unicorn," Sorrento said. "Unless you tell me to leave, I'm hanging around with you two. I'm having a blast with Scott and Sophia. I love working with smaller children too and you've got a whole raft of them coming."

My parents were at an age when they didn't want to work in the orchard any longer and turned it over to Linda and Carl. Dad and mom moved into Emma's house except for the months of August and September when they lived in Oregon and helped with the fruit harvests. Scott and Sophia often went along until school started. Emma joined Sorrento and me in our house because of the children and the swimming pool. As soon as she could, Sorrento took her citizenship test and aced it.

The summer before Emma and I married, I received a call from Kate. We met in the offices of Dr. Massengill and talked about what happened.

We shook hands and sat down after the introduction. She'd lost the weight I saw on her in the wedding video. I'm sure I looked 55, but she looked 65 or older. "Melanie explained how she apologized to you. I owe you an apology too.

"Given the way I acted, I don't expect you to forgive me or allow me back in your life, but I want you to know how sorry I am. Mel finding me the way she did was a wake-up call. The first thing I did was leave Tom and tell Eric and his brother I didn't want to be part of their family any longer.

"I've been in therapy ever since. My therapist helped me realize that the rough pregnancy and birth affected me more than I thought. In layperson's language, I went off my rocker. The attention that Tom gave me filled a void that I didn't realize at the time I had. I turned into a caricature of the person I once was. I've faced up to my decisions and I own them. I've got a long way to go, but I see light ahead.

"All I want at this point is to not be enemies. I want to see our grandchildren when we're in the same place without anger and frustration. If you refuse, I'll accept your decision because I don't deserve your consideration. I'm placing myself at your mercy."

"As a Christian, it is my duty to forgive you. But I'll never forget. The pain ran too deep.

"It's all up to Melanie. I'm happy where I am. I've finally come to terms with your actions because they forced me onto a different path. I met Emma who is my soulmate. She gave me twins later in our lives and I'll always love her for that."

Adjustments took time, and we didn't push it. For example, after he performed oral sex on his wife, Norm would brace himself against the headboard with Emma between his legs. After a momentary pause, I would perform oral sex on her until she orgasmed again. She would slide down the bed and I could fuck her.

Our roles became reversed. After I brought Emma to fulfillment, for example, with my hands and tongue, Sorrento would take over. I got behind her and fucked her doggy style until I came. Once that happened, I rested against the backboard while Emma orally brought Sorrento to an orgasm.

Emma and I waited until late September of the following year to get married. We had purchased tickets to Boston and planned a ten-day tour of New England to see the fall turning of the leaves and visit the many historical sites.

Emma had been once before, but Sorrento and I hadn't. Sorrento said she'd stay home with our children, but we overruled her. We timed it over two weekends. Dave, Lana, Bri, Ken and Melanie took turns staying at our house with my kids.

I made sure I stocked up on ED pills before we left because I had two extremely horny women to keep happy. Turned out, they spent most of their time in bed with each other and that was fine with me.

We returned from the trip exhausted from the games we played. While riding the boat under the Niagara, they wore wet suits that zipped open in the front. Concealed mostly by the plastic coating the trip included, I fingered both of them to an orgasm while everyone screamed.

Another time, we purchased whipped cream and fruit and heaped it on a table around Soto after covering the table and the area underneath in plastic. The challenge was to eat the fruit and lick her to an orgasm without using our hands. What a mess.

I mostly acted as a voyeur on the trip. They would shower and put on robes. Before long, they were kissing. They cupped each other's breasts in their hands and teased the nipples with their tongues, grazing and stroking with love.

"That feels so good," one would say. "I am in heaven with the two of you," responded the other. Their lovemaking soon moved to the bed, one laying on her back while the other kissed her legs to her core.

When the first woman reaches her orgasm, they rest for a bit and repeat the process on the other. I finish them by fucking the first woman who came. If I'm lucky, I can come in both of them on the same night. If not, we alternate nights.

Each night, as we drift off to sleep, we say in unison if we can, "Good night, Norm. We all love you."

End of story