The Singer and Me Ch. 03

The morning after Ruthie and I admitted we were in love with each other felt normal but wasn't. To start with we did not fuck, we were a bit late getting up.

Oh, sure her nipples were in my mouth briefly, (I love her tits and she loves that I love her tits), and her hand was on my cock often all day but that morning we did not fuck.

We were a normal couple going to work.

Well except maybe for the five kisses before we made it from the door of the house to the car. And another three kisses before she got the car moving, and another kiss at each stop sign.

As we drove to Felicity Music Ruthie called Wendy and asked her to meet her at her shop at noon. Ruthie looked at me and I understood and nodded.

I ran into Sally's and got twenty kolaches and ran out.

I did not see Sally and asked Ruthie who the very effeminate guy that served me was.

"That is Andy. We love him but don't go near him, he is very bold. Oh, wait, now that I think about it you have a woman so he will ignore you.

He used to be a lawyer but after he joined the playhouse group he decided not to go back to the city. He stayed in Felicity and just let his freak flag fly, so to speak."

"What playhouse group?"

"Fridays and Saturdays a group of guys put on outrageous plays at the opposite corner of Sally's. Andy bought the building and lives there; it used to be a hardware store. We will go to one of the plays after we get back from Vegas if you want."

I nodded thinking back to the time I was a part of such a group.

After she got her car parked at Felicity Music I got a long kiss.

We became very popular when we went in with kolaches and Ruthie and I had breakfast with ten or twelve people. I had gotten two pineapple pastries just for us and I ate mine a few minutes later.

Ruthie and I did not tell anyone anything about the change in our relationship yet somehow everyone knew.

Or maybe everyone already knew except me.

Edie took me aside and told me that it had been the first time they had changed anything just before a concert, (the songs and the song order), and there had not been any tantrums, complaints, whines, anything. Ruthie just said OK.

If they hadn't known that it was me that caused it they would have sent her to the hospital for tests.

"Don't get me wrong, Ruthie is always fine, Melody however is sometimes a handful.

We have not seen Melody. We expected her yesterday as we did the concert, but it was still Ruthie. I don't know if you are magic or if she found someone more important to her than Melody."

I nodded to her and told her I hoped it was the latter.

"We have talked about Melody often and very seriously the last two nights. I told her I would not be able to live in Melody's house, that we are neighborhood people.

She agreed immediately. I think she is ready to move out of the mansion."

"Really?"

"Really."

Edie shook her head and began to play the prelude but Ruthie was not there. As she came running in she was taking a bite out of her pineapple pastry and apologizing for being late.

I turned on my mike and said, "You ate mine didn't you."

"I apologize for that too."

Edie began her prelude and Ruthie said, "Wait my hands are sticky. I apologize for that too."

"And your face is gooey," I said.

"I apologize for that too."

I threw her a towel and she said, "Thank you. But now the towel is icky, I apologize for that too."

By then everyone was laughing their heads off.

Not bad for a very quickly improvised skit.

When we did go through the concert it was flawless.

We went to Wendy's shop for rings during lunch and I brought back enough food from Janie's for all of us including Marie and Mo.

When I rejoined them with the food Ruthie had already picked out a ring. I suspected she had it picked out long before we met.

Mom was there and just hugged me and just hugged Ruthie. We took it as her approval so we hugged and kissed her back.

While at her shop Ruthie asked Wendy to call her little sister the realtor. Ruthie took the phone and walked to the side as the ladies and I talked and ate. It felt like I was with my extended family.

Ruthie came back to us and asked Wendy not to put her ring on the display screen until she had it on.

"Not a problem," she said

After we kissed Mom, Wendy, and Mo the three of us, Marie, Ruthie and me returned to the studio holding hands.

Later during the first break Ruthie told me we bought the house in the Cloverleaf subdivision even though I had not seen it.

Ruthie said she had been in it several times and told me it would be perfect for us, with just a few minor adjustments here and there.

Wendy had told Ruthie her ring would be ready when we got back from Vegas but had secretly told me they would be ready in an hour, even my wedding band. During the second pee break that afternoon I snuck out to get them.

As we listened to that morning's playback we decided we liked the feel of it much better. Nikki's drumming made a big difference in that one song and we all praised her for it. I got a nod.

No one had anything to say during our breaks, everyone was satisfied with the concert as it was.

Apparently that was a first. Edie and Marie both kissed Ruthie. Edie gave me a big smile and a nod. We got off work early.

After work Ruthie and I went to our new house. I was surprised by how large it was and how much yard it had. It was twice as big as my house in L.A., three times bigger if you included the land, and cost less than half the price of mine.

Our realtor Amanda met us there and had Ruthie and me sign a bunch of papers. One of them was a lease for the house; we paid a dollar for it. The lease allowed us to start work on the house and move in before closing.

One paper was an agreement to sell the mansion. Ruthie did not hesitate to sign it.

Amanda was the sister of Wendy and Mo. Her other sister Allison was a neighbor of Ruthie and I had met her my second day at Ruthie's as she walked her lover Sophie around the willows. Sophie suffered from a bit more than a mild touch of Dementia. Both were lovely ladies. Both loved Ruthie.

I also met Allison's daughter Connie and her four redheaded daughters and they all loved Ruthie too.

Connie took Ruthie aside and asked her something but after Ruthie explained something Connie took it back.

Ruthie kissed her and told her not to worry.

Connie seemed very grateful.

The oldest girl Martha, she was about eight years old, threatened me if I ever hurt Ruthie. Allison began to scold her for it until I said, "Don't worry, I get that a lot nowadays."

The twins Allison and Wendy hugged me. They were around five years old. The youngest Maureen, (Momo), looked at me as if I was a tourist attraction. She was perhaps one year old.

As we went into the house Ruthie told me that Connie had asked her to check on her Mom and Sophie the last week of July. They were babysitting the girls that week while she and her husband took a vacation before school started and to take the girls every once in a while.

She suddenly stopped and said, "I should have asked you first unh?"

"Yes, especially since the oldest just threatened me."

"What?'

"She did, the same threat I have been getting from everyone else in town. If I hurt you I will be offed."

"Does that mean No?"

"No, that means that Ruthie is a lot more important than Melody in this town and I like that."

"So it's OK?"

I kissed her and said, "But next time...." and kissed her again.

As it turned out having the girls at our house for a couple of days was fun. We took them to the Museum of Natural Science and the Zoo one day. I managed to avoid changing diapers.

That Friday afternoon we met the contractors Amanda had hired for us. Ruthie told hers everything she wanted for her new music room including taking down the wall between the two smallest rooms and raising the ceiling to make it happen.

Those were the minor changes she had in mind. Plus repainting the whole house, inside and outside. And adding a big sliding glass door to the yard side of the new studio,

"Other than that I am fine with the house," she said.

"Right." I said.

I wanted to have all the exterior doors open out instead of in but noted they already did. It made it more difficult for hurricanes and bad people to bust them in.

My landscaper was there too and I drew a detailed map of how I wanted the backyard.

Our yard ended where the wild life refuge began so I was having a section of the fence removed, I wanted as much of the wild kingdom to visit as often as possible.

I had a plan on how to train Bobbi and Celia how to find us.

Both contractors promised they would have everything finished in a week.

We managed not to laugh.

We went to the mansion and sat on the swing with Ruthie on my lap. We spent perhaps fifteen minutes on our first kiss then she slid to my side and we talked about our new house.

She wanted to pay cash for it herself but I told her I had the money to pay cash for half of the house and closing costs.

"You do?"

"Yes, I am not as destitute as I dress. You pay the inside contractor and I will pay the painter and landscaper."

"Deal. Prenuptial agreement?"

"If you need it."

"I don't but Carly suggested it. That was years ago after my bank balance got up to incredible. It was part of her lecture on how millionaires are supposed to behave. I told her lesbians do not need them.

Carly told me she was exhibit one on not to being so damn cocky. She had been a lesbian when she met Jimmy; in fact she had represented his ex wife.

Connie had been a lesbian and in a relationship when she chose Joe. Helen had been a lesbian all her adult life until Roger and Leigh was with a partner for most of hers before Corey. All are now wives and some are Moms."

"You are no longer a lesbian and are going to be married soon, you may want to revisit with her."

"Maybe. When I asked Carly if she or any of those people had prenups she blushed and said No.

Carly told me you were not after my money and you didn't know I had any until I brought you here. I am fine without one"

I smiled and kissed her then said, "Edie thinks I may have inadvertently kissed off Melody."

"Nah, she will show up at eight next Wednesday. We don't need her until then. She might still be there after the show when you come for me but I doubt it."

Our next fifteen-minute kiss relocated to the bed

"I wonder how things would have turned out had you left that first Monday?"

"I would have come back to Felicity."

"You would have?"

"Yes, if only to prove to myself I was not in love with you."

"Fat chance of that," she said as we began our last fifteen-minute kiss of the afternoon.

We began our fuck, or rather our loving, two minutes into it. After our orgasms we kissed and cuddled for another fifteen minutes before we got up showered and dressed.

That night we did make it to Bolero and had a fabulous Paella Valenciana.

While we waited on dessert I slid her ring on her finger as I said, "I love you. Marry me please."

I didn't know what to expect but bursting into tears was not on the list. Neither were all the people that suddenly appeared and rushed to us for hugs and kisses, which included Mom, Petra and Sally, Marissa and Janie. All of her friends at the studio were there. Edie prolonged Ruthie's tears as she joined her in them.

I had told my plan to give Ruthie the ring before dessert to only one person, Mom. But Wendy heard it too. Many people later told me that Wendy was the second worst person to tell a secret to after Karen. Then they told me Karen was going to be a neighbor.

The mob disappeared as soon as our dessert was served.

Ruthie thanked and kissed me for making the event so wonderful.

I kept my mouth shut.

We had been at Jana's dancing for about twenty minutes when the spotlight set on us and everyone applauded and chanted, "Ring, ring."

Ruthie raised her hand and showed her ring.

When the spotlight hit it we heard many "Oohs".

The two small blue diamonds reflected their color onto the bigger diamond and produced an aura of blue through and above it.

It occurred to me the ring cost more than one month of my salary. I was trying to decide whether to confront her over it when she wrapped her arms around me and gave me a "forever" kiss.

The crowd roared and she began to sob again. Many kisses later she was at a booth with Petra, Sally, Holly, Inga, Jana, Edie and Vicky. Their husbands and I were standing in front of them.

Allen and Rob patted me on the back. I was introduced to Marshall.

Marshall said, "She will remember this night as the best of her life and you were the reason for it. Milk that for all it's worth."

The guys all nodded to me and laughed.

They headed to the bar and I was about to follow but all of them subtly shook their head No so I stayed in the vicinity of Ruthie.

She noticed and gave me a brilliant smile.

Thankfully when the guys came back with a waitress carrying a bunch of drinks Allen handed me a crown and coke. Ruthie got a coke with a slice of lemon and a cherry on top.

I have always been good at remembering names and faces but I was challenged that night, I had at least fifteen names and faces to add to my mental files.

Before it reached overload Ruthie stood and announced, "If you will excuse me I need to take him home and fuck him to Moose Jaw."

All the ladies giggled and applauded. I gave them my best "in fear for my life" look and walked out with her hand in hand.

We saw her ring and her name on Wendy's display screen. The name under it simply said, "Ruthie."

I was pleased to learn the way to Moose Jaw was peppered with several orgasms for her and a gigantic one for both of us. We were both asleep within seconds after our arrival.

Saturday morning we met at Jana's Place and had a dress rehearsal. Matt was filming it and I was doing the sound.

It was my first time to see Ruthie in costume and to me she was just Ruthie in costume. We baited each other as usual as we got ready.

Edie had this otherworldly smile on her face.

I asked Ruthie if her digestive system was OK and she said, "No," and farted.

Everyone moved away as they vociferously complained until Ruthie calmly said, "I'm Better now," then gave me a middle C.

I thanked her for her professionalism and she replied, "You are most welcome."

Everyone was smiling and Edie had a big grin on her face as she began her prelude.

I had to adjust to compensate for the sound of the footsteps backstage and the rustle and bustle of the three costume changes but it was easier than a rock concert where sounds appeared out of nowhere.

The third costume change took a bit longer than expected but Allen covered it with a guitar riff that sounded late sixties.

We later decided to move that costume change to after the Janis song.

Ruthie came out and spoke as Allen continued playing softly in the background.

"Many people are responsible for my career the principal of which is my Grammy winning sister Edie."

I signaled for her to pause, I was sure that Edie was likely to get applause in Vegas.

Ruthie had insisted on that line and I was happy to add it.

Ruthie nodded and continued, "But my love of music came from my Grandmom Ruth, the wild woman in the family tree. She had been to Woodstock and had managed to follow the Rock train as it sped through Canada.

She had seen The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Mamas and the Papas, and the Jefferson Airplane when they were at their peak.

But most of all she loved Janis. I asked her why and she said, "Because she can raise the hair off the back of my neck."

They had decided to forget what the Holding Company the Kozmic Blues and Full Tilt Boogie did and Allen began with a somewhat Stevie Ray Vaughan riff and Ruthie just blasted away.

As Ruthie went backstage after the song Edie began the piano intro to Alice and Marie's biggest hit. Melody returned and finished the concert in style.

I was making notes and noted that the two party songs at the beginning needed to be moved to the back end of the concert and that they needed to add at least two Janis encore songs.

I also wrote that a song of lost love that had enjoyed some popularity be sung as Janis would have. Not in her voice, but as a song full of raw emotions instead of a song of regret.

I wondered how many other songs she had that could be done over that way.

After the concert the band and I waited for Melody to revert to Ruthie.

Edie came to me and said, "She's still Ruthie."

"Will that cause trouble?"

"We will know on Wednesday but I doubt it. Melody has deep self-doubts but you may have noticed Ruthie does not.

Ruthie created Melody because Melody would stand up for herself but that backfired from the start. Melody threw tantrums so I decided I would always call her Ruthie and promised to have her best interest at heart.

Still Melody would be a nervous and demanding wreck for as long as six weeks before a concert. Except this one."

"So it's a good thing I am around?"

"Absolutely but I must confess we expected major problems had you left after the first weekend, everyone told us she was already in love with you even then."

"So I was hired to keep her sane?"

"No, you were hired because two soundmen walked out on us. Had you and Ruthie not gotten along we would have still hired you. The guys think you are the best we have ever used and are happy they had Ruthie to kept you here."

Ruthie came out then and most of us, (Alice and Marie had gone to Marie's house); walked to the Tiki Bar patio and we had fabulous hamburgers for lunch.

Ruthie and I sat at a large table with Edie and Allen and Nikki, and Matt. Holly joined us; she was a friend of Nikki.

Holly did not know Ruthie's secret identity. She would figure it out the following Thursday.

After a long conversation on the merits of fish tacos Holly sent the conversation in a different direction when she asked Ruthie, "Well, how was Moose Jaw?"

"A very bumpy and pleasurable trip. We may be going to Belize tonight."

"That is a longer trip isn't it?"

"Oh, I hope so," I said.

Ruthie slapped my shoulder then kissed me.

"Are you two going to the concert in Vegas?" Holly asked Ruthie.

"Yes. Isn't that your home town?"

"Yes, in fact Marshall and I met there when he went to install smart spotlights for Roger. We wanted to go too but the concerts are sold out. We even have plane seats the boss got for the whole company but Las Vegas is not that big an attraction for us except to see Mom."

"Hmm, I can understand that. Give Sean a chance to talk to Melody. She loves him and she may have a few tickets left. It won't hurt to ask."

"Ooh, thanks. But don't push her too much. Her reputation as a diva is likely true."

"Her reputation as a diva is definitely true," I said.

Edie gave me a quick look of panic when I said that.

Ruthie slapped my shoulder again saying, "Don't be mean to her. She loves you."

"OK, true. In fact that may have been the case once but I have not seen any display of that all week. She came to work on time, took suggestions well, and sang her heart out. I'll take divas like that to Moose Jaw any day. Ouch."

I got slapped in the arm again.

Edie gave me one of those smiles a person gets when they get away with something they should not have tried in the first place but they might kill you anyway.

Allen said to her, "Baby, that's your smile for me," and kissed her. She kissed him back.

We talked for at least thirty minutes before we noticed our food and drink were gone so Ruthie and I kissed our way out and went home, our real home.

As promised the contractors were there. The wall between the two small bedrooms was gone and they had no ceiling.