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I took a deep breath and kissed first Maureen, then Jenny.
"My darlings, I was wrong and I do apologize, but I've learned my lesson. In future, whenever something happens, we'll sit down and discuss what happened and we'll find a solution. This does not mean that I'll let you abandon a certain ritual, because whenever that happens, I'll create the same fuzz!"
Looking outside, I saw that it was still raining hard.
"Jenny, I believe that you should stay here tonight. I don't want you to sleep alone this night after all that happened today. Do you agree, Maureen?"
Both nodded immediately and so the day ended; we had a light supper, went to bed, did not make love because all we wanted to be close to the other. They offered and I kissed their breasts good night. I don't believe that there was less than one-inch space between our bodies during the night as one tried not to let the other go. We had to wake up early to have Jenny at her flat in time and as always, the rush was on. I did not have to whistle: my ritual was observed, and it took them even a bit longer than normal to pull them away from my lips. We finished in time and since it was still raining, I drove to the office after leaving Jenny at her flat. Tony was astonished that I had used my car and even mentioned that Miss Parker had not arrived yet. For the first time, I had managed to be there before her! Hurrah!
She arrived a bit later, having had to shower and change into business clothes: her light blue blouse (with two buttons open almost offering a bit of a décolleté) and her narrow dark blue skirt. She was impeccably made up, her long black hair in a ponytail and some blush on her cheeks. She smiled when she saw me.
"James, you are here early. Is everything OK? Did you miss anything?"
"No, Mary Ann, everything is now OK, and I only missed you."
She smiled tenderly and looking around and not seeing another person, blew me a kiss. She whispered that she had slept very well, and nothing hurt anymore, so if another offer like the last weekend came up, she would happily accept it. She could get accustomed to it ... she blushed and continued.
"Eileen told me that I have to have my own private brand of vodka. I'll buy a bottle this week!"
Chapter 29: Presents for All
The next morning, I offered to make breakfast and copying some remarks I had heard from Maureen before, said "You have forty-five minutes to enjoy yourselves. At the forty sixth minute, I start my breakfast, so get going!"
I kissed the breasts offered for my delight, went to the bathroom, shaved and did everything a man does when he gets up in the morning, put on my shorts and a blue t-shirt, and when I passed the bedroom the two were already intertwined and Maureen's moaning was audible. I worked hard: eggs, bacon (no apron for me) pancakes, toast, tea and coffee, jam and marmalade, it was a Sunday breakfast. The alarm clock chimed after 45 minutes and I sat down and poured coffee for me when the door opened and the two appeared. Both wore little short baby dolls, one green and the other blue, with visibly no underwear, and their faces flushed and smiling. They had taken time to put on a bit of makeup and comb their hair and this time Maureen had the ponytail and Jenny the curls. I received a kiss for my work and remembered my mother who always said: if people are hungry and the food is good, a conversation is not necessary. I had opened a bottle of Great Western bubbly and they became ready to face the world.
We played Scrabble and I trounced them again; perhaps I could find another game where chances were more even? Poker? Later we had fish and chips on the beach: it was surprisingly good, and we were ready to meet Allan. They wore the same summer dresses they had used yesterday and looked absolutely lovely. I had selected my grey slacks and a light blue dress shirt, and a dark blue cashmere pullover that had replaced the one that Maureen had stolen such a long time ago.
Maureen decided to take the Porsche and when we arrived at Allan's house, which was quite stately for Australia's standards, he received us with a big smile and called to his wife.
"Ellen, the de Winters are here! Come and look at Maureen's pride and joy!"
He smiled at me. "James, I assume that this car is not yours anymore?"
I shrugged and he added, looking at Jenny. "I did not ignore you, my dear, but for us, you are part of the de Winter family."
Jenny blushed and nodded, happy to be accepted.
Ellen was sitting in the main living room, with the door to the garden wide open. She must have enjoyed working there as it was all so orderly and well placed, with colorful flowers and trees combining to offer a pleasant image of old England. The furniture was also old fashioned; I did not recognize the period, but it looked like last century. She had set the table already with beautiful Wedgwood bone china and solid silver cutlery. They were not newly rich!
She got up and I was surprised to see that she had difficulties standing up; Allan was immediately at her side and took her arm.
"My dear ladies. Maureen, you look splendid and Mary Ann, you're beautiful indeed. James, you must be very proud to have them at your side!" She offered her cheek for a small kiss and sat down again. "Allan, would you please do the honor?"
We had a Sherry to start with and then sat down at the table. There were two different teas to taste: Jasmine and Earl Grey, and fine finger food, toast and marmalade. Allan poured for the ladies and then, looking at me, smiled. "James, I assume that you prefer the Earl Grey?" I smiled, too, and accepted tea and toast. The conversation was lively and touched politics, the economy, sports and I was soundly attacked by all for my fancy for baseball. Ellen turned to Maureen and asked her whether she had taken me already to a cricket Test match. She burst out laughing.
"Ellen, can you imagine James sitting through a five-day Test Match? James? After an hour he would be sitting in the stands, running through business proposals!"
Mary Ann also laughed and said that I was a curious mixture of German flexibility and American orderliness; she had not found out yet how to classify me, but that I did have my good points. In the middle of the conversation, Ellen turned to me and told me that she was curious. What was Mary Ann's name? We called her Mary Ann, but occasionally we said Jenny. What was the right name? We looked at each other and I replied that it was Mary Ann Parker, but that we had decided that we wanted a softer name for a warm person and had selected Jenny. It was just for us but glancing at Ellen I said: "Lady Ellen, you may call her Jenny; actually, we would prefer if you called by her that name. You and Sir Allan are friends."
She looked at Jenny. "Come here, my dear." and opened her arms. "You will always be welcome in this home: you and Maureen and even that wretched husband of hers."
She hugged her and I saw that Jenny was careful touching her -- she had also seen that she was very frail. There was certainly a tear in Jenny's eyes; she swallowed twice and then could only say: "Thank you, Lady Ellen."
"I told you before that you should call me Ellen, my dear. The two of you are like daughters to me, and I enjoy your company. I would only hope that you would find more time to be here."
Maureen gave me that 'wife look' and I understood. "Ellen, Jenny works very hard as does Maureen. I'll make certain, however, that they'll find time at least once a week to spend some time with you."
"James, I see that you're getting well trained. Men can be so obnoxious if they don't have a good woman looking after them. You are lucky: you have two!"
This was an open acceptance of our intimate relationship and it was said without any irony or judgment. Allan nodded.
"We have been married for over fifty years and I'd never have reached all this without her standing behind me all the way -- and once in a while standing in front of me, protecting us both."
There was a moment of silence and then Ellen started a new conversation, but this time we were excluded: men do not have the slightest clue to contribute on fashion, handbags, shoes, belts, handbags, manicure, handbags and the occasional sarcastic remark about how stupid that actress looked in that stupidly exaggerated décolleté.
Allan and I drank a glass of port and I asked to be excused for a moment, went to our car and came back with a parcel.
"Allan, Christmas is here soon, and we'll be in Brisbane. I saw on the internet a fascinating book and thought it might interest you."
He unpacked the parcel and it was a three-book set on the origins of Australia. A smile appeared on his face and he remarked that I had jumped in before his as he had planned to buy the same books. He looked rapidly through the pages with lots of photographs from the early settler days and later growth into statehood, and then got up and took another parcel and gave it to me.
I was surprised but accepted it with pleasure. It was a sign that not only I, but the three of us were accepted by a couple that I respected much. My book was a treatise on the Deutsche Hochadel, the German aristocracy. It referred a lot to the Gotha Handbuch, but it was fairly recent, and Allan pointed to the section that treated the Prussian nobility. He had marked part of a chapter with details about the de Winters, how they served with honor and courage, and why they had received the title in the early 1400's, how they had gone to the East of Germany and fought against the Poles, how they had changed the name to 'de Winter' acknowledging that a great part of the year it was winter there, how the family had lost all extensive belongings in the east after the Second World war, and that there was only one branch left. They gave the name of my father and mentioned that there was one son surviving who lived abroad: James Gustav.
I thanked Allan and showed the book to Maureen. "Does this mean that you are a celebrity? What does Hochadel mean?"
I explained briefly that it was the superior part of the German aristocracy and she glanced at Ellen.
"Ellen, I have asked James whether I'll get a crown and he's obstinate. He wants to give me only a coronet. That is not fair! If he is a noble nobleman -- superior part -- and I'm his wife, why cannot I wear a crown? Just a little one, please?"
Ellen smiled since she knew that this was just teasing.
"My dear, perhaps he'll give you a diadem? With lots of precious stones? By the way, a crown is only worn by royalty, a coronet by the higher nobility and James is definitively higher nobility. It is similar to a crown, only smaller and much more comfortable to wear! I'm certain that if you used your female charm, you could work miracles!"
Everyone laughed when Maureen looked at me and mumbled: "Just wait, nobleman, superior part!"
Allan went over some business issues and I saw that Lady Ellen was getting tired. We said goodbye and went home. Jenny went on and on about how nice Ellen was and how she felt comfortable with her as she had not expected this behavior from a noble and, with all respect, older lady.
Maureen turned to her and asked: "Have you considered why she is doing this? It's because you're a wonderful person yourself, and she just responded to you."
Jenny started to cry, and it took us all the way home to get her into good moods again. She stayed with us for the night and the next morning I was again sitting at my desk when she arrived. I had to switch to Mary Ann and pointed out that she was late: I expected my Assistant to be in the office before me so that she could organize my mail properly before I arrived. She stuck out her tongue, but not without looking first whether there was anybody around, and only said that if someone she knew could get out of the bathroom earlier, she would have no difficulty at all to be in the office before me.
Business had slowed down, and I had invited all my people, together with wives and/or permanent friends, for dinner. Maureen was there to receive them together with me, and Mary Ann handled all logistics. Maureen must have helped her in the fashion branch.
She had a nice long gown that showed that she was beautiful but did not shout it from the rooftops; Maureen, on the other hand, was outstandingly beautiful in her long, intermittent green and blue gown. She had her hair done up, her pendant hanging between her breasts and the family signet ring on her hand. I don't know what they had arranged as a party joke, but every man came up to me, clicked his heels (difficult at times considering that the guy wore moccasins), bowed, said "Good Evening, Count de Winter", went over to Maureen, kissed her hand and repeated the move "Good evening, Countess". The ladies were worse: they came up to me, curtsied and extended their hands for me to kiss it. Within minutes the restaurant was buzzing, and I was furious.
When this charade was over and everyone was seated at the table, I got up and asked for their attention. "Ladies and gentlemen, I thought that this would be a family affair. We've all worked together splendidly, and your partners have supported you during the many days and nights of hard work. So I invited you to say thank you and wish you a successful year ahead. Since you have decided, however, to make this a comedy, let me enter into the play. I intended to pay for this, but now ... You better look carefully at the menu and see what dish you select, because you'll pay it out of your pocket. I can, however, recommend the house wine, as it's reasonable and not very expensive."
I winced and moved a step back. "By the way, my dear wife just kicked me under the table, and I know what this means; OK, I'll pay for the coffee at the end. Now please have fun!"
There was silence and they looked at each other. They knew me by now, but this was something they had not seen before. Was I serious? Taking up the menu they saw that nothing was cheap, and several items rather expensive, and forget about the wine list. The conversations slowed down.
Maureen, glaring at me, got up.
"My friends, and I assume that by now you're all my friends, let me add something to my husband's words. As a good wife I have to obey him, but occasionally he needs a little bit of feminine softness. You know that he doesn't like to become a showpiece and he's upset; you made certain that this will appear in tomorrow's social pages of the newspaper. On the other hand, you've stayed with him since he arrived in Australia and have become a perfect team where everyone helps everybody else. I decided that in about one hour's time he'll regret what he said..."
She looked at me and whispered in a stage voice that everyone could hear: "You better do this or you'll be sleeping alone on the couch" and turning back to the guests "and, therefore, let me advance his words since it'll be difficult for him to withdraw his words; after all, you know how Germans are, and say the following: you're back to be invited and can choose whatever fancies you. If he'll not pay for it, I shall, and since we have a joint account, don't worry that I might not be able to go shopping again."
There was relieved laughter and Peter got up and told me that I should have become accustomed to Australians by now; this way they showed their affection for somebody they respected and admired. There was muted applause for his words and then silence whilst they selected their food. I let Maureen select matching wines and the evening ended very late and with lots of laughter. At the end, a photographer appeared and took pictures of us and my people and when I wondered what had happened, I received an explanation when I paid the bill. The owner gave me a very reasonable discount because the publicity he would receive in the next days and weeks by the publication of those photos and the news that a Count had selected his restaurant for its outstanding food, would certainly make up for the discount. He asked whether he could quote me, and Maureen stepped in before I could say anything.
"We'll certainly recommend your place, but we would not like to be quoted publicly. We have other friends and it'll be difficult already to explain why we chose your place and not theirs. The answer is no, and have a good night."
I mumbled going out that this was a restaurant I would not go back to. I received a sincere handshake from the men and a kiss on my cheek from the ladies (no curtsies) and decided that after all, it had been a good night. We left Jenny at her flat and went to sleep immediately.
The next morning Maureen went to her office to clean up things and close it until after the new year, and I went to my office. Mary Ann was sitting at her desk already, dressed in her business outfit of white shirt and blue skirt, and a bunch of mail and letters in her hand. Since it was still early and nobody was around, she touched my cheek. "Hi, darling. I missed you ... James, there's also a note on your desk that Sir Allan wants to see you before you leave."
The mail was important because it showed the respect I had earned in the business community and I knew I would spend the rest of the day answering the mail and calling millions of people. Later my staff passed through my office and thanked me for the wonderful evening; most said that their wives were even more appreciative of the dinner since they did not often have the opportunity to dress up and show themselves at their best. They did not work for me anymore: they worked with me.
Allan also said that Ellen was very happy about the visit and asked once more that if Maureen or Jenny (and he emphasized that she had said Jenny) had ever some time available, they would be very welcome in her house.
"James, I start to worry about Ellen. She's getting weaker every month and I've scheduled a consultation to our best professor at the Sydney University for a checkup. I can only repeat, and I ask this as a friend, give the two ladies some time off to visit Ellen; she was so happy for the company. And by the way, if you want to accompany them, you are welcome also. Ellen said that the love that you have for each other warmed her heart and soul. So please do it!"
I wished them once more a Merry Christmas and a wonderful new year with good news from the doctor, and after making my rounds and saying goodbye to everyone, departed to get Maureen. We picked up Jenny, who had left a bit earlier. The flight was quiet and when we arrived at night in Brisbane, the sun was setting.
To our surprise, Eileen was at the airport, as always receiving admiring glances from most of the men passing by. Dressed in a light beige silk shirt and long black pants, she looked very pretty. There were kisses all over and after all the luggage and some boxes were loaded in her Mercedes and I wondered what was in the boxes, but nobody responded to my inquiries.
When we came through the door the welcome was visible: candles were lit immediately, there was a smell of jasmine and sandalwood in the house, orchids placed on tables and cupboards were already filling the house, and the dinner table was set already.
"Why don't we all change and come back in half an hour?" she asked and we agreed.
She went her way and we went to Maureen's bedroom. The ladies decided not to unpack now, just to open the luggage and get what they needed; Jenny more than Maureen because she still had an extensive wardrobe in Brisbane. It was still hot, and we showered, separately I must add, and when we were finished just breaking the time limit, I admired my two ladies. Both had decided on long opaque silky gowns, one green and the other blue, only this time they had changed the colors, and I thought that whatever they wore, they were beautiful.
