And He Called It Research

"You're going to need help to get all of that done in time."

"Got any ideas?"

"Maybe. Just keep good notes on your ideas for now."

Things started to happen faster now. Mac met Tom and Lena Mayer at the dock at Eleven o'clock and took them on a loop drive along the beach before they went to the Bistro to talk business and to have lunch. Taylor joined them for the meal and shared general information about the resort and his experiences. Mac monitored their conversation for the most part until Taylor left them to work on more details. It was after two before Mac made it home, but he went in smiling and told Sissy, "Well, we have new resort managers and they start in two weeks. They'll occupy the tiny quarters where Taylor lives now, until they can rent something on the mainland."

"There's one more thing that you don't have to worry over, so progress is being made."

"It is, and knowing that Melvin had interviewed them once and approved of them, made that decision a whole lot easier."

The next thing to happen was Sissy drove over to Tropic Treat alone and walked naked around the area and through the dayroom and a few of the cottages. Then still naked she walked down the beach for a distance before turning around, and she thought about the things she had to take care of. She also thought about her and Mac and their relationship. She had little interest in a committed relationship and in fact the close bond she and Mac had was close enough for her. Her only problem was not making love to him once Liz was there. She could have sex with other guys she knew, so that wasn't an issue. But true lovemaking was another matter. Then she told herself, one problem at a time. Help Mac succeed was her overriding concern because in doing that she was assuring herself a job that she loved in a location that was unmatched for tropical beauty and her style of living.

When she got back to the office she gave Mac a deep tender kiss and he asked her, "What brought that on?"

"My plans for the Pollack's are coming along nicely. Want some of the details now or wait until later?"

"You go girl and you can tell me when you feel you have it put together."

"I already have your welcome speech outlined."

"Is that right."

"That is right, but just the high points that you really need to touch on. The rest you can ad lib."

"Okay."

"You focus on Liz coming and...oh, I better not plan on staying here tomorrow night."

"You can if you want, because we both have a load of work to do. You have your room and we'll have ours."

"If you don't' mind, I'll check with Liz."

"Coward. Okay, check with her, but you have my permission to stay here as much as you want."

"Don't say that or I might move in and dump my apartment."

"Okay."

"Oh honey, I think that would be a very bad idea for your relationship with Liz."

"Well we'll take it one day at a time. Okay, and you talk to Liz too."

"Good idea."

Chapter One Hundred Nineteen

Mac was at the mainland dock when Henry pulled up with Liz in the front seat. Henry started to unload her bags as Mac and Liz held each other and kissed and whispered back and forth.

"Mac, are you really sure you love me?"

"If anything, I'm more sure of that than I was when you were here before." Then he noticed the multiple bags. "Oh baby, does this mean what I hope it means?"

"Maybe. Honey, we need to talk, but let's call it an extended visit for now."

"I have a lot to tell you and I need your help."

"I'm here so you don't have to pretend I'm saving your butt," and she smiled and kissed his cheek.

They sat in Mac's electric car so they could talk. "Liz, Sissy is still there working."

"Is she living there?"

"She stays there like I explained to you, but she wants to talk to you about that issue."

"That might be a good idea," and a crooked smile, bordering on a sneer flashed over her face.

"I was serious about needing your help honey. If you're willing, I'd like you to help Sissy with her project for Tropic Treat. She's the one that came up with the ideas so I'll let her explain all of that to you."

"Well at least you two really are working."

"Honey, we're working hard. I hired the replacement for Taylor, the resort manager too."

"That's a big one hon."

"Don't I know that. Sissy has Tropic Treat reserved for a week and..."

"And that ties in to how I can help her."

"Right. Also our meals are delivered most of the time so we save time there. We can go to the resort to eat whenever we want to get away of course."

"And walking nude on the beach?"

"Have we done that? Sure, a few times, but we stay west of the resort area. Of course for the time being, Tropic Treat is deserted and we can go over there whenever we choose."

Mac was a bundle of nerves, but as the electric car hummed its way toward home and he knew that the issue with Sissy could be handled, he started to relax. "Mac, so Sissy really is a big help then?"

"She's been great Liz. The first day as we reviewed Melvin's files, she pointed things out and made suggestions. Nobody will ever impress me as much as you did when we worked together, but I have to admit, she's damn good. I may only be average, but if I surround myself with really sharp people, I can't miss."

"You know, you could add a really smart guy to your group too."

Mac made a face and then smiled as he asked her, "Do I have to?"

"I guess not, at least not right now," and she kissed his cheek again. "Is there anything else I should know?"

"Probably a lot, but I can't think of anything right now."

"What about Didi?"

"You mean have I seen her? Yes, but I think I told you about that."

"But since then?"

"I don't think...no wait, I did see her again, but I can't remember when it was."

"And how did that go?"

"We continue to be very good friends. Honey, concerning Didi, you really don't have anything at all to worry about."

"Okay and I really do trust you, but we both know that you two have a lot of shared history."

"We certainly do, but you know, when I've had lunch with her, we talked very little about our past beyond apologizing to each other. We both really screwed up, but I'm also going to tell you that I'm not sure that I ever did really love her."

"So what pulled you two together in the beginning?"

"Sex probably, but I'll never know for sure. I've grown a lot since those early days when I met Didi. Let's change the subject. How are Martin and Allie doing?"

"Great and they're so envious of me coming to the island."

"I hope they know that they are welcome here anytime."

"I'm sure they know that, but they wouldn't come here as long as we're...I'm struggling to find myself."

Once home Liz and Sissy saw each other they ran into each other's arms. The fact that Sissy was naked didn't even register with Liz for several seconds. They looked at each other and then shared another long hug before Liz asked, "Is this how you always are?"

"It is and I wanted you to know that right away. No secrets between great friends okay?"

"That's very okay." Then she whispered, "And Mac, is he usually naked?"

Sissy smiled and nodded her head and whispered back, "Oh yes, almost everyday and usually all day. Can I offer a suggestion?"

"Of course."

"Take him to the bedroom, get naked and you two screw each other's brains out, and don't worry about me, I won't spy on you two. Well unless you say I can."

"If you don't mind, we do need a little time alone."

"Of course you do. I'm heading to the beach for a little sun time, but I will be back because you and I have a ton of things to talk about." She went over to Mac then and kissed him before she patted his butt and then left the house.

Liz went over to Mac, and putting her arms over his shoulders she told him, "I don't know how you two got anything done with both of you naked all the time."

His hands went to her blouse and as he fingered the buttons he told her, "It isn't always easy."

She laughed, and as she helped him remove her blouse and shorts, she said, "No, I'm sure it was sometimes very hard,"

Chapter One Hundred Twenty

When Sissy returned, Liz and Mac were coming into the kitchen. She patted Liz's naked butt and told her, "Now that's more like it."

"I can't believe how natural this feels."

"It's great. We can work like this and not worry about anybody popping in from the street because we have no street. Of course there is housekeeping and whoever delivers from the resort, but they're used to seeing bare butts."

"Oh, Mac told me a little about your project for Tropic Treat and asked me to help you however I can."

"I was pretty sure that was what he was planning and that's great. Let me know when you want to look at what I have so far."

"Now works if you're good with it."

"Oh. Just so you know that I'll miss the last scheduled ferry to the mainland."

"We talked about that too. There's no reason for you not to use the guest room. Like Mac said, it helps you and it helps him just as much."

"I'll try not to get in the way."

It was a calculated move when he patted her ass and told her, "You just go on as you have love and don't worry about it," and then he smiled at her.

"Liz, this might be a good time for you and me to run over to TT and go over things."

"TT? Oh, right, Tropic Treat. Do you mean just as we are?"

"Of course." Then she smiled at Mac and told him, "We might be just a little while hon."

"I'm sure you will be, and I'll be right here."

As they went out Sissy said, "I'm really glad you're here."

"I am too," and then the door closed and Mac went back to his office. As the women climbed into the little electric four wheeler, Sissy said, "Mac was getting close to driving me nuts in the hours before you arrived."

"Really?"

"You know, he'd work and then stop and babble about something so I couldn't concentrate. Then he'd get up and go to the kitchen only to come back empty handed."

Liz was quiet until about halfway across the island she asked Sissy, "Did you and Mac make love a lot?"

Sissy looked over at her for a brief moment and then with her eyes on the sandy lane ahead she said, "No. Maybe...do you mean since I started staying here?"

"Yes."

"Oh. Maybe a couple of times."

"I would have thought much more than that."

"It isn't that I didn't think about it believe me. Liz, we work well together and we've developed a...well you know a pat on the ass or a kiss kind of thing."

"I noticed, but that doesn't bother me. Sissy I know that I have some heavy thinking to do about him and about our relationship. I know he's been with many women and I'm not so naïve as to think that he'd not ever...well you know."

"Of course I know what you mean. I don't have a clue what to say about that, but at least I understand what you're up against. I am convinced that he's changed in that area. I'm like you though, I can't imagine him never making love to anybody other than you ever again." Then she smiled as she added, "Well at least I hope that's the case," and she glanced at Liz again who was wearing a slight smile. They didn't say anything more about the subject of Mac's faithfulness to Liz as they focused their thoughts on their project that had to be ready for guests in two weeks.

They pulled up to the dayroom and sat there as Sissy said, "Liz, from what I've heard and read, and what you've experienced on this island, what you and I will come up with will be quite tame to us. But, based on what James Pollack said, it could be a very interesting time for them."

"What's the story with them?"

"Well, here's how I see them. They all have money. Some more than others of course, but none of them are hurting. They could easily afford the resort, but it's like they're looking for a different and more private experience. They are all good friends that have, as he put it, teased with kisses or played grab ass like kids. All want more, but the combination of living in tight suburbs and other complications, like disapproving neighbors, and fears of their bosses disapproval, all of those things and more keep them from letting go. Now he didn't use those words, but that's my interpretation of our two conversations."

They went into the dayroom and Liz listened to Sissy's thoughts about how they could have some silly fun with their guests. Liz was looking around as she said, "You're right about sounding tame, but at the same time, what they might say and do later could be when the real excitement happened."

"Right. We might well never know how this works out, but all we can do is try our best." Then she went on to tell Liz about the journal for comments and the more intimate comments could be left in a file on their computers. "Let's go to one of the cottages and make a file with some made up comments from a fake guest."

"Each cottage would have to be different because the guests would be talking back and forth."

"Damn, that's right. Okay, so say cottage one said this happened. Then maybe cottage three could make reference to something happening with somebody in cottage one."

"Same story, but from two different points of view."

"Right. What we'll have to do is create a whole set of guests, assign them to cottages and then build a phantom week for them so we don't screw it up."

"Wow, we'll have to be careful."

"I'm going to suggest something. I think I know your answer, but here it is anyway. Because of the complexity and our need to get this arranged and down pat in less than two weeks, and also to get everything onto each of the ten computers...well we could use a third hand and I know the perfect person for that job. Didi."

"Oh."

"Yeah I know. But if it helps any, Mac said again that he and Didi were friends only now."

"But her? Isn't there anybody else that we could enlist?"

"If there is I've never met them. Didi is the one that convinced Melvin to promote me from my hole in the wall job to his office and more. That doesn't have anything to do with you and Mac I know, but..."

"You'd like to do something for her."

"I guess that's about right."

"Please tell me you weren't thinking about her staying with you in the guest room."

"Oh sure. Of course not, that would be worse than tacky. That used to be her house. I mean she's been in it since their divorce but..."

"Wait, when?"

"Don't worry, it was some time back and it wasn't for long."

"Okay, let me think about it for awhile."

"Of course she might not want any part of it anyway."

"Let's talk to Mac about it while I think about it."

"We have a plan for that at least. Okay, let's build a small file for practice."

Chapter One Hundred Twenty One

When the phone rang, Mac paused and then for the first time answered it saying, "Serenity Island, this is Mac."

"I hope I'm not calling too late Mac, this is James Pollack. I've been working with Cecelia on..."

"Yes of course Mr. Pollack, on Tropic Treat, how are you."

"Well fine except we're in a bind. You can't imagine how difficult is has been getting all of our friends lined up to be away at the same time. So of course we have a complication that only you can help us with."

"Share it with me and let's see what can be done."

"Is there any way possible that we could arrive there next Sunday and leave the following Saturday. We'd pay the same rate of course, but that's all we've been able to work out at this end."

"Let me call you back after I've checked with Sissy and check on the staff."

"Of course and call me anytime tonight. We're rapidly running out of time and options. Anything you can do would be appreciated."

"We'll do our very best Mr. Pollack, and I'll get back to you as quickly as possible."

"Thanks, talk to you soon." Mac put his phone down and then called Sissy and told her, "We have a complication."

"That's not good, want to tell me?"

"It can wait until you two are here, but hustle."

"On our way."

As they went in the house fifteen minutes later, Sissy asked Mac, "Is it bad?"

"That depends on how you answer this question. Can you have everything ready for ten guests by next Sunday?"

"Oh damn. Not the Pollack group."

"I'm afraid so. They're experiencing some difficulties at their end. Six days rather than seven for the same price, but a week sooner."

"Give us an hour or so to think about this. Obviously we have to accommodate them, but how that will impact the games is hard to tell."

"Sissy," Liz said, "Maybe we should consider Tuesday and Thursday rather than three nights of games."

"We might have to do that."

"Also Mac," Liz said, "Sissy and I were talking and we think it would help to bring Didi in to help with the games."

"I don't think I heard that right."

"You heard me right honey. Just for a couple of days would be a big help." Mac looked over at smiling Sissy and then back at Liz in confusion, but then Liz added, "I'm okay with that Mac and I'm told that that she would be a big help if she's willing. But one thing my lover, you can't be her lover, and she can't spend the night here."

He smiled and then went over and kissed her. "I'm not her lover and she can't spend the night here. All very reasonable demands. All I can do is call her and ask I guess."

"I'll call her," Sissy said, "Because Liz and I have it all worked out so I can explain things better."

"Have at it, but I have to call Mr. Pollack back yet tonight."

"Allow me to do that because I want to chat with him again anyway."

"Go for it, but make it sound like we're moving mountains to accommodate them."

"I'll almost cry, how's that?"

"Great."

A few minutes later Sissy said, "James, this is Sissy, how are you?"

"Stressed."

"I can appreciate that, because we're much the same at this end. Okay, we're working a small miracle here, but if you can get your group here, we'll see that they have a very enjoyable time."

"You're fantastic to work with Sissy and thanks."

"My pleasure. Listen, tell the ladies to go out and buy new bikinis because we're going to have a contest. You know, sexiest or most daring, something like that."

"Oh yes, Sissy, I'll get the word out yet tonight, anything else?"

"I don't believe so. Mac has brought in some help so we can make sure we'll be ready for you."

"I'm eager to meet all of you."

"And we're looking forward to entertaining your friends. Now you aren't having any second thoughts about what we've discussed to this point are you?"

"None. I wish it could be more, but maybe the next time."

"I like that thought, and believe me, we can come up with more...let's call them challenging ideas."

"Great. We'll see you next Sunday and you should have our deposit by now."

"We do have and thank you. See you next weekend James."

"Night Sissy and thank Mac for me."

"I'll see to that," and she put the phone back in the cradle.

Mac was standing in the doorway to their office and he was smiling. "Nice job Sissy."

"Thank you. I really am curious to meet him and his group."

"Has he told you much about them?"

"Not really. I asked him about their ages and he put them all in a bracket between thirty three and forty eight or so."

"Nice spread, but I wish there were a few younger ones in the mix."

"That would be nice. He referred to the next time so maybe we can get him to fill those three new cottages in the group so we could have a full house there."

"That would be nice. He'll end up paying about twelve thousand for those six days and he's footing the whole bill, so what's another five grand for more friends right?" and she laughed.

Sissy checked the time and then called Didi while Mac and Liz continued to stand in the doorway. "Hi, it's Sissy, got a minute?"

"I have many minutes, how are you?"

"I'm great. Would you be interested in helping me for a couple of days? Well and Mac and Liz too."