Road Trip

About fifty miles from Camp Forge and Bob Knight's home, the motorcycle started to run rough. I started to analyze the situation, revisiting the process in which I'd rebuilt the engine, fitted it back to the transmission, and tested and retested it for torque and efficient operation. Rather than stop, I continued on figuring I could use Bob's home as a base to diagnose and fix the engine.

Bob had done quite well in his career. He'd become a sought after management consultant who specialized in using information technology to turn businesses around or make them more competitive. About three years earlier, he'd left the Boston firm he'd been with since graduation to teach, write a book, and do freelance work more of his own choosing. He'd also moved to Camp Forge to be near a circle of friends.

As I pulled up in front of the pretty home about five o'clock. Bob heard me coming and was waiting for me on the front stoop of the house. He hefted a two-year old boy onto his shoulders, and the two of them came down the front steps of the house to greet me full of smiles and laughter.

Bob cheerfully greeted me with a man hug, and a string of welcoming comments: "Jim, you're finally here! Hurray! Welcome. You haven't changed a bit. How long has it been? Come and meet everyone."

I too greeted my friend, and then looked at the young boy on his shoulders. Bob said, "This fine young chap on my shoulders is part of my family – Benjamin meet Jim Mellon." The boy tentatively put out his hand to me. I reached up and shook the tiny hand of the tot. Too much time had passed since the last time we'd seen each other; had Bob started a second-generation family since we'd last really talked?

Bob took a serious tone for a moment as Benjamin silently watched me; "Jim, we were all so sorry to hear about Karen – so young and so beautiful. If there's anything any of us can do ..." his voice trailed off.

I said with some force, "What's done is done. The family and I are trying to move on. Karen made us all promise not to grieve over her passing, but right now that's still hard to do. I am still in shock; such a love, and yet she's gone." I thought for a moment and added, "And, thank you and your family and friends for the flowers and the cards, and the donation to Karen's favorite charity. I appreciated your thoughtfulness."

The front door opened and an attractive, leggy, young blond woman came out with the most gorgeous smile. Bob introduced us as she walked up to us; "Jim, this is June; June, Jim." He omitted giving me any hint of his relationship to June; had he assumed I already knew more than I did? I acknowledged the pretty woman with a smile. Much to my surprise, June came and put her arms around me, and planted a generous kiss on my lips – and then followed it up with another. She looked me in the eyes and hugged me close. I automatically put my arms around her as she pressed her body against me. This welcome wouldn't be forgotten anytime soon.

As we parted, I apologized for my ruddy and unshaven appearance. I hadn't been near hot water for two days, so my shaving seemed to fall by the wayside. June laughed it off, telling me I looked and felt 'manly.' She took a happy Benjamin from Bob's shoulders, and gave Bob a sizzling kiss as she did. The two adults smiled happily and romantically at each other. I knew Bob had been and I assumed was still married to Trish, so what the heck was going on here? My head was spinning with questions.

From little Benjamin's behavior with her, I discerned that she was Benjamin's mother. I studied the tot and Bob to see whether I could discern any family resemblance but could find none. June put Benjamin down, held his small hand, and started to walk the toddler up the driveway up to a breezeway between Bob's house and one next door.

I looked puzzled and gestured to the walkway. Bob volunteered, "We have an intentional family and use the two houses as one; one had been Jan's – whom you'll meet momentarily since she just got home from work. The other home came on the market at just the right time for us. Connecting the two houses with a covered breezeway seemed the thing to do given how severe the winters can be around here, and we're back and forth all the time."

The door of the house next door opened again, and an attractive and sharply dressed woman near Bob's and my age came out. We got warm smiles as she walked up to us.

Bob spoke again as she neared us, "Jim, this is Jan. She's a new vice-president for Alperion." She came up to Bob, and gave him a sultry kiss on the lips that even gave me a twinge in my groin. She quickly moved to face me, and then as June did, gave me a couple of kisses of welcome that I'm sure were against the law in at least half the states. I could feel them all the way to my toes, especially as they gave me an even more significant twinge to that part of my anatomy halfway down my body.

I looked at her with a grin as we pulled apart. I asked, "Wow, do all the women in your intentional family welcome long lost fraternity brothers with such enthusiasm?"

Bob laughed and said, "I'll explain that a little later. For now, bring your gear – let me help – and come on inside. I'm about to have some wine. What could I get you?"

We sat around enjoying some cocktails – June and Jan joined us, and eventually another man named Jim also came home from his job at Alperion. He also got significant welcome hugs and kisses from both women. To reduce confusion, I volunteered to become 'James' for my visit. Eventually, Bob fired up a grill and barbequed some chicken and steaks for our dinner. Benjamin sat happy watching TV on a sofa where everyone could keep an eye on him.

I explained to Bob that I wanted to work the next day on my motorcycle because of its rough running at certain speeds. He accommodated my needs by leaving his car out of one bay of the garage and helping me move my bike under cover. He marveled at the renovation job on the motorcycle, and expressed his own desire to go 'two wheels.'

Over the course of our evening talk, I learned that Bob's wife Trish still worked in Boston and 'super commuted' up there most weeks for three or four nights away at a time. He expected Trish home the following afternoon. I knew his wife Trish; Bob and I had been groomsmen at each other's weddings from years earlier, and while I'd seen Bob on some of my travels over the past decade or so, I hadn't seen Trish since their wedding.

After dinner, I tried to figure out who matched up with whom regarding all the family members. Bob was still married to Trish, but June nearly sat in Bob's lap rubbing his thigh and probably more when I looked elsewhere. Jim sat with his arm comfortably around Jan, who'd changed into casual clothes, with his hand seductively rubbing her shoulder and back.

I'd figured out that June was definitely Benjamin's mother, so I politely asked the question of Bob in an aside as June listened, "Are you Benjamin's father?"

Bob and June laughed, and pointed to Jim, "No, he is." Bob volunteered, "You know Trish and I had our kids young: David is still in college, and can you believe Julie just started law school in Chicago."

I tried to hide my confusion, by asking more questions about Benjamin, "He's two years old, but is it normal that he chatters so much at that age?" I directed our part of the conversation into a few questions about child development much to the delight of the four other adults who all seemed to own a piece of Benjamin.

The relationships in their circle baffled me, and I wondered how much Trish knew about the hanky-panky that appeared to be going on when she wasn't home. I hoped I hadn't stumbled into some awkward, and newly unfolding 'family situation.' It'd be just my luck to be around when some family explosion took place. My bewilderment deepened when Jan announce that she planned to head off to bed because she had a breakfast meeting.

Jan stood and came up behind Jim; she leaned in and kissed him quite passionately. I couldn't quite hear what she said, but from Jim's look back at her with a smile, it had been a seductive invitation from her. She moved a bit and kissed June on the lips in more than just a friendly kiss. I'd seen women kiss before, and this was no casual goodnight kiss. Lastly, Jan kissed Bob, and then gave me a peck on the lips with a teasing wink.

Jim had looked on with a smile, and then he leaned over and kissed June. He announced, "I think I'll join her. I've got a long day coming up too, but I'll be home at the normal time tomorrow night."

Jan held out her hand, and Jim held it as they strolled into the larger of the two connected homes.

If they weren't going to have sex, I'd be a monkey's uncle. I pondered the craziness of what had just transpired. I looked from Bob to June, but neither displayed any concern or dismay.

To further divert the conversation, I asked, "By the way, which sofa am I sleeping on?"

June said almost as though I'd insulted her, "Oh, you're in a good bed in a guest room upstairs." She pointed to the smaller home. It's even got its own in suite bath.

I mumbled something about needing to turn in early, as I got up early to exercise. Bob and June talked briefly and agreed it was time to turn in.

At our agreed time, Bob and June joined me outside for our morning run. Before we pushed off, June gave me an amazing Good Morning kiss that I felt from head to toe, and that I thought might have melted the soles of my running shoes. There was no further explanation or words, just a fabulous kiss to start the day. The kiss made me feel so good all over.

No one else in the two houses was up when we left, but when we returned forty minutes later, Jim was feeding Benjamin as he sat at the table in a high chair with Cheerios spread across a wide swath in front of him. Jan had already left for work. June willingly took over from Jim, gave him a loving kiss, and he immediately headed out the door to work too after bidding us all goodbye with smile.

After breakfast, I tried to entertain Benjamin while Bob and June obviously showered together. June came down in casual summer shorts and took Benjamin to drop him off at a playgroup for most of the day. Bob excused himself to do some 'real work' for one of his consulting clients, and to work on an article he wanted to submit to the Harvard Business Review. His office door soon clicked shut with a clear signal of 'Do Not Disturb.'

I found a peaceful place in the backyard for meditation. I'd started to use this practice everyday, finding that I got more and more out of it, and finding myself more at peace with what had happened. After that, I went into the garage and started to diagnose the sputtering problem with the motorcycle.

The Harley ran rough and unevenly at unpredictable intervals. I checked a few obvious things: oil and air filters, ignition spark, and so on. These all seemed in order. I took the bike out to a nearby Interstate and opened it up to see whether the problem still existing after having sat overnight, but the bike nearly stalled.

I got back to the house about the time June returned with a few groceries that I helped her carry into the kitchen. I went back to work, and June soon brought me a cup of coffee. She walked into the garage barefoot, and dressed in her Daisy Mae shorts with a man's shirt knotted just under her full breasts. A vision of loveliness, she could have walked off a movie set. I wondered whether pretty women like June were aware of the effect they had on men.

She pulled up a stool so we could talk as I worked on the motorcycle. She sat close to me, inside my personal space; at first I felt surprised, but then I realized I welcomed her close and very feminine presence. June had bubbly and upbeat personality, so I took pains to keep up my end of the conversation so she wouldn't get bored and leave. I ended revealing many of my feelings about the past six months, mostly since Karen started to get sick. June was sensitive and sympathetic.

Often, I'd catch a glimpse of most of a breast, or the wonderful darkness between her legs. Once, I caught her watching my eyes, as she seemed to purposely move her legs in a provocative gesture. Could she be flirting with me? I convinced myself she was just being natural and unaware of her revelations.

As our conversation continued, and seemed to become a little more personal, I worked up my courage to pry a little. "June, err, this is a little awkward, but does Trish know ... you know, about you guys swapping while she's away? I don't want to spill any beans when she comes back tonight by saying something stupid by accident."

June's eyes got as big as saucers. "Oh, ... wait, I thought Bob had explained our relationship to you."

"I know nothing except the swap I saw between the four of you yesterday and this morning; that plus knowing that Trish is in Boston."

June smiled, "Well, the short answer is 'Yes – full disclosure.' There's more though, that you should know. The five of us – our 'Circle' as we call ourselves – don't consider any of this 'swapping.' We believe that's a term reserved for swingers or people that use sex for recreational purposes without any love attached to it. I hope the love we show for each other shows? And, to your question, Trish is as involved in this as the rest of us."

"Oh, the love you have ... it does show. It does. I'm sorry, ... I didn't mean to imply ..."

"No, that's all right. I expect some of our neighbors think we're swingers too. We don't hide our interplay with each other. If people ask, we tell them we're in a 'Polyamorous Relationship:' Poly meaning many, and Amory meaning love; so being in a polyamorous relationship means being one of many people who love each other. About three percent of the Nation's households live this way, and up to fifteen percent of the population have lived this way at some time in their lives."

I allowed as how that was a dream or fantasy for many people too. June smiled and said, "So I guess we're living our dream. We've been this way for almost four years, and we're all thriving in it."

Our conversation went in other directions for a while, mostly while I processed the idea of a family union of five people. Bob had used the term 'intentional family,' and now it started to make a little more sense. June fixed me lunch, and continued to hang out with me. I felt flattered; I knew she could be doing other things, but she chose to be with me. Our conversation ranged all over the place: losing Karen, widowhood, my sister, her family, her part-time work, my old job, riding the bike across the country and seeing each state, and what I might do when my trip ended. June was easy to talk to, and I thought we both really liked each other.

June proudly talked about her sister Kim who had a pilot's license and ran a large hi-tech energy company in North Carolina. She told me about how she'd orchestrated Kim and her older boyfriend Ron's reunion after a breakup. "Kim and Ron come by and stay with us from time to time; they are such nice people, and we love them. We consider them part of our 'Circle' too; they share our philosophy about relationships."

I said, "Philosophy?"

June replied, "Well, basically, that you can love more than one person at a time – in all ways."

Just as I started to think how insightful June's last comment was, June lit up like a Christmas tree. "Jim, you've got to stop and see Kim, and Ron if he's there, on your way south. You'll go right by them, and they'd love to meet you. You're fascinating, and so are they. I can set it all up. Kim, Ron, and you would get along so well. He's a pilot too, and knows a lot about engines." She gestured to my dissembled carburetor with her last comment.

June told me more about Kim and her husband Ron, including some background on her booming solar technology company. She talked about their homes in Chapel Hill and Florida, and how I'd love that side of the 'family.' She spoke with such enthusiasm that I reluctantly agreed to stop in, if it wouldn't be an inconvenience. One purpose of my trip was to meet interesting people. June assured me it wouldn't be an inconvenience, but at my insistence she would check with her sister to be sure she could cope with an unexpected guest stopping by in a few days.

As our conversation became more and more revealing about each other, I asked June about the bisexuality of the relationships in the house.

She said, "First, the guys aren't bisexual, so you can uncross your legs." She laughed at her own humor, and went on, "If you'd told me four years ago that I had bisexual tendencies, I would have laughed you off the planet. But, then I met Jan about the same time she met Bob. Bob and Jan's relationship had just moved from professional to romantic ... and sexual. He'd gone back to Boston for some meetings at the consulting company he worked for, and Jan needed some relief. I worked for her. We had a romantic dinner, one thing led to another, and we made love and over a relatively short time fell in love. I learned that I could love another woman if she loved me the way Jan did."

I asked, "And then Trish?"

"Well, initially our circle consisted of Bob and Jan and me. Next, Bob brought Jim down from Boston to work on another project at Alperion too; he'd worked in the same consulting company Bob did. Soon after, Jim became one of our lovers – I really took a shine to him and so did Jan, so Bob orchestrated Jim becoming part of the relationship. A few weeks later, Bob brought Trish down from Boston and our fivesome got started over a long holiday weekend. She'd known about our triad and then foursome from the very start. Trish is a high-powered advertising exec in Boston, but with accounts all over the country. I worried about what adding another woman to our mix would be, but everything just got better because of her being with us."

With a smile, I reminded her that I knew Trish and had been in Bob's wedding to her many years earlier. Bob was about four years older than me because he did a stint in the Army before he started college.

June emoted at her forgetfulness about my past relationship with Bob and Trish. As she swung her arms around the shirttails of her blouse tied across her chest came undone as she threw her head back in laughter. Her breasts didn't show however; from neck to navel I could see her smooth skin with the obvious slopes to her mounds clearly evident. My eyes must have widened.

June looked down, realized what had happened, smiled, and said nonchalantly, "I'm used to being pretty casual about everyone's nakedness and sexuality around here. We're a lusty and loving bunch. If the way I'm dressed bothers you, I can leave or put on more conservative clothing."

I expressed my joy and happiness with her style of dress and her relaxed view about displaying her wares. To that end, June flashed me her breasts, laughed, and then re-tied the knot in her shirttails. I stuck my lower lip out as the eye candy disappeared. She had beautiful breasts. June liked that she had flashed me.

As we continued to talk, I tinkered with the motorcycle. June said something about Kim and Ron being part of the 'circle.'

I pushed for more details, "Your sister too?"

"Yes that happened before Benjamin started when I took Kim's boyfriend Ron down to North Carolina to patch things up with Kim. They hit a rough patch before they barely got started. The rest of us could see the light, so I intervened. We ... well, things just took a natural course and besides Kim and Ron getting back together, the three of us got involved with each other, and that led to their coming up here to be with all of us more often. They're very open about their relationships too, yet so in love with each other, it's sometimes sickening." She made a face and laughed hard again; her shirt opened up again. I felt my pants tighten as the edge of her areolas briefly flashed.