The Designer Ch. 14

"I think that's a good idea," Alyssa said.

Kelly shrugged and nodded, "Let's go shopping!" smiling brightly.

We ended up buying a sturdy California King four poster bed. It was a really big luxury but I thought it was smart to invest in quality. The mattress was also top of the line. Kelly also found five compact armoires, that she wanted. She said they'd work for her plans on clothing storage upstairs and we'd need them as soon as Lexi and Carmen joined us anyways. I let Alyssa and Kelly shop for the bedding and other supplies at the mall, while I drank a soda in the food court.

I tried to relax, but I was filled with anxiety. What was a fantastic fantasy in my head, living with four beautiful women, was quickly becoming a harsh reality. The complexities were piling up; clothing, storage, home renovation, expenses for everything. At the hotel we hadn't really discussed any of the practical things, and now my brain was filling with the practical things. There was so much stuff to do, that I didn't know which to tackle first. I was quickly allowing all the nervous, anxious feelings overtake me.

"I can barely take care of myself, how will I even start to be able to care for all of us?" I wondered to myself.

I felt a hand squeeze my shoulder, and looked up. Alyssa was there with her comforting smile.

"You let us take care of you too, J." she said with a smile.

"Huh, how did you...?"

"I think when you get anxious, you forget that your emotions leak, and we start sensing what you are feeling." Alyssa said sliding beside me.

"Yeah," I sighed, "I'm worried, babe."

"It's a big problem," Alyssa admitted, then she took my hand in hers and looked at me with her beautiful eyes, "How do you handle a big computer programming problem?"

"Modularization," I said automatically, my software design final was in two days, and it was easy stuff.

"Tell me about modularization," Alyssa said slipping her arms around me.

"Well you take a big problem, and break it up into manageable chunks. Each chunk becomes a bit more simple."

"Who works on each chunk?" Alyssa asked, I knew she was leading me, and I started to see her wisdom and nodded.

"Say it out loud, Jeremiah," Alyssa coaxed, "it helps to say it out loud."

"In a big project, you delegate each chunk to a team, and the team is responsible for each chunk."

"So what's your job after you modularize and delegate?" she asked. She knew the answer, she'd been quizzing me on this stuff all week.

"Track and adjust." I said, then looked at her carefully. "But will that work? It just seems a bit too messy. Life isn't made up of neat boxes."

"Yes it is," Alyssa said, "The necessities, Food, clothing, shelter. Those are the basic chunks, and for centuries that was all humans could manage. That stuff is easy now. Your house provides many of the basics. You've got enough money to get us started, and we'll all do our parts."

"There is just so much to do, too much." I said beginning to panic again.

"Jeremiah, give us some of the things." Alyssa advised wisely. "Let Kelly take charge of the house and all it needs. I can help you plan and manage. We can all take turns cooking and shopping. When Lexi and Carmen get here they can each take a part of the puzzle. It will be okay, sweetheart."

I nodded, "You're right, I'm sorry. I guess I wasn't thinking it through."

"You need to trust us, Jeremiah," she soothed, "We've all got your back, because we know you have ours. It's because you worry so much that I trust you, but you need to return that trust. We won't fail."

"Thanks Alyssa," I nodded, "See how much I need you?"

I leaned down and kissed her lips. She smiled as she returned my kiss.

"Lets find Kelly and go home," Alyssa said. "The delivery service should bring the bed by in a few hours. Then we can take a nice long nap!"

"As if you two would let me sleep," I teased as I pinched her bottom.

Kelly ended up finding us, her arms filled with bags of linens and towels. I quickly grabbed more than my share of packages, and we all headed to her car. We stopped by a chinese place on the way to pick up dinner, and made it home a few minutes before the furniture delivery truck. They unloaded all our pieces, brought them down into the empty basement. Kelly had them assemble the bed in the large common room. She instructed them to move the armoires into each of the smaller bedrooms.

After it was finished, it looked a bit odd to have a large four poster bed in the middle of what used to be a big lounge, but it also seemed more like a home. Kelly insisted that all the new bedding be washed before we put it on the bed. She started a load, while Alyssa and I went to the main floor and sat on the sofa and finished our dinner. When Kelly joined us the conversation drifted into future plans.

"Kelly," I started, "I really love your ideas for the upstairs, and your help with setting up an organizing downstairs is a big help."

Kelly smiled, "I love doing that stuff, setting up house. It's like playing dollhouse for real!"

I laughed, "I'd really like to put you in charge of the whole renovation. Would you be okay with that?"

"Oh yes! I was going to ask you to let me help you," Kelly confessed, "I was always with my mother when she'd have a big remodel on our Bed & Breakfast on the coast. I could ask her for some references for builders and contractors. Thanks to my mother, I know how to talk with architects and get permits. I'd be honored if you'd let me just take over. But it's your house, Jeremiah."

"Actually, I have no idea what to do, so you'd be doing me a great service just making sure it happens. The quicker the better."

"I'll call my mother in the morning," Kelly said smiling, then as a she thought about something she started to frown.

"What is it, Kel," Alyssa asked.

"Well I still need to talk with them about switching schools," Kelly said a bit disturbed, "I know I'm an adult and can make my own choices, but getting their approval is very important to me."

I knew this already, it was one of the variables that I'd readjusted on her curve back on our weekend at the hotel. She had said how she'd always sought out approval from her parents, so I modified that portion higher than the normal. I looked at Alyssa with a question in my eyes, wondering if I should adjust her again. Alyssa, sensing my thought, shook her head, then spoke to Kelly.

"Family is important Kelly, it's okay," Alyssa soothed, stroking her back, "Would it be okay if all of us went and talked with your parents."

"It might be okay," Kelly said, "I told them I was visiting friends in town. I needed to tell them something, and it's the truth. Well mostly. I didn't tell them I was in a relationship with Jeremiah and his three other girlfriends too. I still need to figure out how to explain how you two became my friends."

"We have a couple of days to come up with a good story," I started, a little concerned about lying to Kelly's family. "Regardless, I'd like Alyssa to come along, do you think that would be a problem with your parents?"

"I don't think so," Kelly said with a sigh, "They can be really hard to read sometimes. Dad especially. Mom is a bit more softer, I relate to her better."

"When do they want to meet?" I asked.

"They'll be in town looking after a new property they want to purchase, expanding to a new B&B in the valley. Wine country is booming now days. They'll be here Wednesday afternoon."

"I have my Software Design final that morning," I said recalling my calendar, "but after that I'm done with school. What about you Alyssa?"

"My last final is Tuesday, so I'm free too."

"Great, I'll set up an early dinner for all of us," Kelly said with a smile.

"One thing at a time," I told myself, as I started thinking of all the other things that needed to happen. One thing, one piece, one part, modular thinking was the key.

We all snuggled on the sofa, watching the Sunday night movie until the sheets were all dry, and Kelly made the bed into something that looked spectacular. All white linens with a snuggly cotton down comforter. We all piled into bed, with more than enough room to spare. We snuggled, and kissed and made love tenderly, but soon drifted to sleep. We were all tired from the long day.

*****

Author's Note: Thanks for all your comments and votes. The feedback is important to continuing the story.

Editing props to sportychica334 any additional errors are entirely mine. Karenas has also assisted as a beta reader. Both have been great encouragements to me as I write this story.

All characters are over the age of 18, this is a work of fiction.