Island Fever 2: Eternity Ch. 10

Chapter 10: "Sunset"

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- Tuesday, July 29, 2014 -

- Oslo, Norway -

(Eight months after the previous chapter)

Kristanna had tears in her eyes and she was sweating so much that her hair was literally plastered to her forehead. Lying in a hospital bed, my beloved bride was feeling such incredible pain and discomfort that it seemed as if she was ready to just give up. I did not enjoy seeing her this way and felt sorry for her, but knew that there was a light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. A very bright light.

"You can do this!" I encouraged Kristanna, inbetween holding and kissing her hand, and running a cold washcloth over and across her face. "I know you can do this!"

"No, I can't!" she complained back at me.

For the past six hours, Kristanna had been in labor. We rushed her to the medical facility this morning when she somehow managed to walk into the kitchen on her own, only to drop to her knees with the most horrific, pained expression, and declare, "It's time!"

The wonderful staff here at Oslo Universitetssykehus HF (Oslo University Hospital) had been so attentive and caring toward Kristanna since her arrival. I was especially impressed by the primary nurse, Scarlett, who had been with Kristanna for every step of the way.

I even got the sense that my wonderful wife was attracted to Scarlett and had a keen interest in her. And why not? With a curvaceous, buxom figure and the dazzling face of a supermodel - not to mention the caring nature of a nurse - the 29-year-old Scarlett had all of the qualifications that Kristanna looked for in a woman.

"The contractions hurt so much!" Kristanna cried after going through another round of them, her blue eyes a watery, bloodshot red, as she looked up at me. "Oh my God, they hurt so much! I don't want you to ever get me pregnant again, Jeremy!" In a moment of utter rage and frustration, Kristanna went so far as to grab me by the shirt collar and growl, "You're not even allowed to TOUCH me again!"

"Almost every woman says that to her husband while in labor," one of the other nurses informed me when I took a brief step away, allowing Rande - Kristanna's mother - to lean down and tend to her. "None of them ever actually mean it."

"I think it's about time for you to meet your son," Scarlett announced. "Are you ready?"

"Yes," Kristanna nodded with a faint whisper, as I returned to her side and again clutched her hand. She glanced at me, then frowned as I kissed her forehead.

"I'm sorry, Jeremy. I didn't mean to snap at you." She even focused on Scarlett and tried to defend herself in saying, "I'm really not this mean. I promise you."

"You can do this," I reiterated, trying to get Kristanna focused, and her mind back on the task at hand here. "Come on, honey ... you can do this!"

"I know," she shrieked. "It just hurts so much."

"Now Kristanna," the main physician (Dr. Lilleberg) explained, "when the next labor pain hits I want you to bear down and count to ten." He then focused on me and said, "And you, dad. I want you to count to ten with Kristanna, and do whatever you can to help her."

"I want to meet my grandson," Rande professed, tears in her own eyes, as she latched onto Kristanna's other hand. "Just do what the doctor says, sweetheart."

When the next contraction occurred moments later, I began a slow count of one to ten with Kristanna in unison. She really pushed and exerted herself; Kristanna was heavily exhausted and in such pain, but dug deep within herself and found the determination for a miracle to happen.

"I see the head," Dr. Lilleberg remarked.

Kristanna was breathing in heavy gasps as she collapsed back onto the bed. My wife gave one final, brave push - the pressure she felt must have been truly excruciating - and suddenly, our son made his grand entrance into the world.

I sat there, transfixed, as I eyed the little life that I had somehow managed to help create. While Rande and Devon, who had been videotaping the entire proceedings with her tablet and snapping photographs with her cellular telephone at the same time, scurried over to check on the baby as the doctor and his team of nurses furiously tended to him, I was frozen. I could not move. All I could do was stare in amazement at the infant miracle. I ... was now a father.

When little Kaden Thomas let out his first audible cry, Kristanna began to laugh in sheer, absolute joy. "I want my baby!" she then proclaimed. "Bring my baby to me now!"

The doctor and the nurses did about ten more seconds of work on Kaden, and then Scarlett brought him over - already wrapped up in a blanket - and laid him down upon Kristanna's chest and shoulder. "Hi there, baby," Kristanna said with the biggest, toothiest grin, cradling Kaden in her arms like an expert already. "I'm your mommy."

Rande was so overcome by the moment that she was crying. Devon was cool, calm and collected with her tablet, wanting to capture every little detail on film so we could relive this glorious day over and over again in the future.

"He's your daddy," Kristanna cooed, pointing at me. "Say hi Daddy ... hiiiii!" She focused upon me briefly and smiled, "He looks just like you."

"No," I told her, crying myself. "He's ALL you."

"He's so tiny!" Kristanna gushed. "Look how tiny he is, Jeremy." When she kissed the very top of Kaden's head, my wife started bawling again. She then planted a whispery kiss on his little cheek and squealed, "I love you, Kaden!" Kristanna found my lips for a kiss of our own. "And you, Jeremy ... oh God ... I love you so much!"

"And I love you too," I told her in response, but now unable to tear my gaze away from my baby boy.

Kaden Thomas [Last Name] - 7 pounds, 8 ounces

Born July 29, 2014 at 4:09pm - Oslo, Norway

As healthy as could be

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Wow. What a wild ride the past 14 months had been for me.

There was a time, not too long ago, when I felt there was no way that any year could possibly top 2013 for me on a purely personal level. Not only was it the year when the amazing quintet of Devon, Pamela, Trish, Lindsay and Amy suddenly entered my life, but I also solidified my long-time relationship with Kristanna and married her in August.

Oh, there were several bumps along the way - the ongoing tug-of-war I had with Amy early on in trying to get her to seek medical help for her mental issues, my unfounded fear that Lindsay ultimately cared about no one on the island except herself, and the five month split we had from Pamela where I felt assured that I would never see her again.

There was also the massive rift that developed between Trish and Lindsay where they did not even speak to each other for a month, and the sheer animosity that Pamela felt toward Kristanna and Devon before her departure from the island. I also had to deal with the wicked, nasty Camille, who now ranks as my least favorite human being ever.

In the end, however, everything worked out perfectly. I walked away from 2013 with a newlywed wife who was pregnant in Kristanna, a freshly-minted fiancee in Amy who I planned on making my second wife as soon as possible, and the undying love and devotion from four live-in girlfriends in Devon, Pamela, Trish and Lindsay. I had no complaints whatsoever.

Why? For the first time in my life, I was happy. I woke up each and every morning to smiling, beautiful faces all around, and truly felt as if I was going to suffocate in all the love and adoration that was constantly heaped upon me. I had a daily purpose for the first time in what seemed like forever, and the strongest support network anyone could ask for. Everywhere I turned, there was something positive.

But for as wonderful and as truly amazing as a year 2013 was for me, this year - 2014 - had already surpassed it.

Every day, it seemed as if our little entourage of seven became closer and more involved with one another than the day before. Not only was there the increasing excitement of a pregnant Kristanna carrying around our unborn child as the early part of the year progressed, but Amy officially became my second wife on Valentine's Day - February 14.

It was a small ceremony on the farm with our inner circle attending, as well as Kristanna's parents and sister. Amy insisted that the wedding itself be kept simple and private once her parents opted not to attend, claiming they did not want to make the long flight here from the United States (even though I offered to pay for their airline tickets and any other expenses).

Needless to say, the fact that her parents did not want to be a part of her wedding day nearly crushed Amy and her viewpoint of them. Keep in mind that all of us were prepared to conceal my marriage with Kristanna from them - they had no idea that Amy was in a polygamous relationship. There was absolutely no reason for them not to be here, other than the fact that I believed they simply did not care about their daughter or all the good things that were happening to her.

Despite that, when Amy and I married each other, it was undoubtedly the greatest and most joyous day of her troubled life thus far. It also seemed fitting to me that the one who helped fill the void left by her parents not being there - the man who gave Amy away to me at the ceremony - was Kristanna's father, Kristof.

Amy had become very attached to Kristof and his wife, Rande, in a very short period of time. She saw how much they loved and cared for Kristanna. I even got the sense that Amy looked at them as pseudo parents of her own; they were the mother and father that she secretly wished she had all along. I also got the sense that Kristof and Rande were well aware of Amy's feelings, and had no problem trying to fill that void because of the years of neglect she had suffered.

The most important thing, however, was that, much like me, Amy was happy. She was my wife and was surrounded by an awesome group of people who not only loved and cared for her, but also understood her personality and its many quirks, as well as any lingering issues she had from past problems. Amy was part of the best possible situation she could be in.

We were not the only ones who got caught by the wedding bug, however. Not to be outdone, Kristanna hooked up with Devon in a private cathedral ceremony on March 1 - thus making them the first same-sex marriage coupling of our group. It was quite a unique sight to witness two stunning women (one of them being three months pregnant at the time, no less) in bridal gowns recite their vows to each other.

Kristanna and Devon really hit it off the very moment they first laid eyes on each other last year on the island. From the very outset, one could tell that there was something very special and magical between them. They had always gotten along so perfectly. Just from their initial meeting, I recall Kristanna talking about a life-long commitment with Devon...

Their wedding itself was a pretty big deal. Devon, age 27 at the time, was finally married (her life-long dream), and Kristanna now officially had both a husband and a wife (which, very simply, was her life-long dream). Oh, but we weren't done. Not by a long shot.

In April, I proposed marriage to Pamela and she accepted. Pamela and I both agreed to wait a little bit on the wedding, though - our target date was August 29. That way, Kaden - my child with Kristanna - would have ample time to be born and all of us would be given a couple of weeks to adjust and incorporate the little bundle of joy into our lives. As it turned out, Kaden was born exactly one month prior - July 29 - to my wedding date with Pamela.

Marrying Pamela and accepting her as my third wife seemed very natural to me. She had fit in so well since re-joining our lives back in December. Pamela had fully embraced our loving, open-ended lifestyle, and was quick to point out that she had never been happier in her whole, entire life, either.

Perhaps best of all, however, Pamela was five months pregnant with our daughter (Piper Michelle), and had an expected delivery date of November 26, 2014. Kaden was going to have a little sister very, very soon.

2014 had been brimming with happiness for all of us from the very start. If we were not enjoying one another's company on the farm, our group was in various places throughout the world on vacation. The cruise from Toronto to Paradise Island in the Bahamas, which had been a birthday present for Lindsay and originally slated to happen in June, was moved back to April because of Kristanna's pregnancy.

In addition to the routine family trips to Toronto, Cincinnati and (now) Baltimore, we also spent two weeks vacationing in Athens, Greece, as well as two more in my absolute favorite island resort in the world, Anguilla. It was also in Anguilla where I proposed to Pamela.

Lindsay was next on my list.

Every day, I was itching to pop the question to Lindsay and ask her to marry me. I knew that her answer would be a resounding yes. But every day I held back, waiting for Trish to ask for her hand in marriage first. My master plan included Trish and Lindsay marrying each other in Ohio without fear of legal consequences, so Lindsay's family could be there and take part in the proceedings, then to marry her myself in a private ceremony here in Norway.

For her initial wedding, I knew it was very important to Lindsay that it take place in the church where she had basically grown up. Her father had been a well-respected minister there before his untimely passing in November 2012. Until she uprooted herself and devoted her life to us, Lindsay had been a staple in the church choir there every Sunday morning since her childhood years. That particular church was very special to her, and I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she would want to get married there.

With strict laws against polygamy in the United States, it would be impossible for me to be the one to marry Lindsay in that Cincinnati church considering that I would have three wives already by the time it happened (if not more). Thus, I was waiting on Trish to make her move, and pop the question to Lindsay herself. They could get married in Cincinnati, then we would come back to Norway and I would tie the knot with Lindsay in a private ceremony here on the farm. That was my plan, at least.

After that, the only ones left for me to wed would be Devon and Trish. It was going to happen with both of them eventually. I imagine by this time next year, I will have six wives, and several of the girls would be married to each other as well (for example, Kristanna and Amy were both waiting on Trish to make her move on Lindsay, too).

Some people out there may choose to criticize the life we lead and claim it is not moral or ethical or, in several places throughout the world, even legal. That is fine, and I have no issues with any objections. I understood all of them on the surface. Prior to last year, I certainly never envisioned myself one day having six wives. I was not at that point just yet (I only had two right now, with a third incoming), but figured I would be there soon enough.

I always return to the simple fact that everyone in our group was happy, and that was all that truly mattered in the grand scheme of things. We are not openly broadcasting our lifestyle to the masses and making a public spectacle of it. We mostly keep to ourselves, in fact, with a very minimal amount of people from the outside knowing of our relationship.

So if we are happy and neither hurting anyone or pushing our beliefs on them, and we keep things under wraps for the most part, what plausible objection could anyone truly have to our lifestyle?

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"You're home!" Pamela exclaimed, full of joy and delight, as she emerged from our recently-completed estate here on the farm in Sandvika, Norway, to meet us a mere 48 hours after Kaden was born. Devon and I looked on and smiled as Pamela, with a proud five month baby bump of her own, went right up to Kristanna and offered her a hug. Kristanna, Devon and yours truly, as well as Kaden, had just gotten home from the hospital and stepped out of the 2015 Cadillac Escalade.

"He's so adorable!" Pamela gushed, now pulling back to look at Kaden, who was nestled all nice and snug within his mother's arms wearing a baby jumpsuit and a little hat with Bugs Bunny rabbit ears bouncing outward from it.

"You want to hold him?" Kristanna asked Pamela, already offering our infant son to her. Smiling, Pamela took Kaden (who began to cry) into her arms and cradled him lovingly.

"Hey you!" Pamela cooed, grinning, twirling her head about just inches from Kaden's face. "You're so cute! So cute!"

Devon grinned as Kaden continued to cry. "He doesn't like for anyone to hold him just yet except for Krissy."

"Krissy!" Lindsay screeched, as she stepped out of the mansion with Trish and Amy in tow.

"Hi honey," Kristanna returned, before Lindsay made a mad dash for her and hugged her furiously.

"It's so good to finally have you back home!" Lindsay squealed. "We've all missed you so much!"

"Take it easy," Devon said to Lindsay. "Krissy just got out of the hospital and doesn't have all of her strength back just yet. Be a little gentle with her."

Smiling, Amy eyed Kaden and made her way over to him. She pecked his cheek with a little kiss as Pamela continued to cradle and gently rock him within her arms.

"How are you feeling?"

"Better," Kristanna told Trish. "The doctor said it will be a week or two before I am back to my normal self, and my body fully heals. There were no real complications from the pregnancy and birth itself, which I am thankful for."

"I bet you cannot wait until your little girl is born and you get to hold her just like that," Devon remarked to Pamela, running the side of her right index finger along Kaden's face.

"Oh, you have no idea," Pamela assured her, before passing my son off to the trusting arms of Lindsay. Devon smiled at Pamela and trailed a hand across her proud baby bump.

"Welcome home, Kaden, and may God bless you!" Lindsay, the most religious of our group, cooed to the child. "You are so beautiful! I love you! We all love you!"

Trish grinned at Kaden and offered, "So you are the little rascal who has been kicking away inside of Kristanna all these months. Welcome home, handsome."

"Let's not overwhelm Kaden with too much all at once," Kristanna mused, taking him back and holding him close. "He is hungry, fussy and tired. That's not a good combination."

"We have a welcome home party for you and him!" Lindsay said to Kristanna, as Amy gingerly wrapped her arms around me from the side and sighed longingly. "Lots of good food and presents at the indoor pool!"

"Are you up for a party?" Devon wondered.

Kristanna nodded. "As long as it is at the indoor pool like she said - and not the outdoor one - and I get to sit and relax in the shade with Kaden, yes ... yes, I am." Devon placed a hand upon Kristanna's lower back as the two of them started walking toward the entrance of our home.

"You want one of them for yourself?" I said to Amy in a low tone, motioning toward Kaden with my head. When she looked up and nodded at me, I reminded her, "The surgery to reverse your tubes being tied from when you were younger is in September. I want you pregnant by Christmas."

"You will be pregnant by Christmas," Pamela assured Amy. "I have total faith it will happen."

Trish giggled. "This house is going to be overrun with screaming kids in just a couple of years."

Lindsay lunged at me and I caught her, cradling her like a child as she hooked her arms around my neck and shoulders. "No matter what," Lindsay told the others with a quirky smile, "I am Jeremy's original little girl!" She giggled and added, "Jeremy is old enough to be my father. Heck, he is old enough to be my great great great GREAT grandfather!"