The Designer Ch. 16

Kelly looked at me carefully, then lowered her eyes almost guiltily. Then she lifted her eyes to mine, ready to continue.

"I'm sorry Jeremiah, I feel like I've hidden this from you." Kelly said, "I've had this discussion with all of the girls but not with you. On the road trip back from the hotel, I talked with Lexi and Carmen about polygamy and what I knew about how it worked. I had the same conversation with Alyssa while you were reconnecting the computer. I can tell you this, we all feel like all of us are meant to be together. I'm sure, positive really, that Lexi and Carmen will be as happy as I am with this engagement."

I sat back and chewed my burger. I had another sip of beer, and looked at Alyssa. She smiled at me. I smiled back at her, and then I smiled at Kelly. My uneasy feeling quieted as I saw the love and acceptance in their eyes. Finally I turned back to Alyssa.

"Aly, are you okay with me having three other wives?" I asked seriously.

"Of course, Jeremiah," she said just as seriously, "I know it sounds strange, but historically polygamy has always been around. I know that our connection, not just you and I, but all of us is powerful. It might be a result of your powers, or it might be fate. I don't know. I do know that I can't possibly fight it."

I smiled in response, "I guess we'd better go find a ring then."

The girls both squealed in excitement, then Alyssa looked to Kelly, "Kelly, I'd love to have your help selecting a ring that represents all of us."

Kelly lifted her fingers to her pendant, the one that all of us wore. I simple silver celtic knot on a silver chain. Alyssa and I mirrored her motion, each fingering the shape. It was a representation of how our lives had become knotted together, and we never took the pendants off.

"I'd love to, Alyssa," Kelly said, "It would be an honor."

We spent the afternoon walking downtown, enjoying the pleasant afternoon. We walked to each of the downtown jewelers, with Kelly's sharp eye eliminating all of the options at the first store. We need to find a ring with four stones. She found the perfect ring at the second store, a platinum ring with a nice sized round diamond surrounded by three smaller diamons. Alyssa tried it on and her eyes brimmed with tears. She looked at me with such a deep emotion. I wondered how I'd gotten so lucky. I paid for the ring with my with my credit card, knowing that I'd have to move some of my funds around. I'd talk to my accountant tomorrow and figure out how to get a good portion of my inheritance liquidated.

We walked home as the sun was going down. As we passed the main campus mall, I maneuvered Alyssa to sit on the edge of a fountain. I took one knee and slipped the ring case out of my pocket.

"I think I'd better make this formal," I started, then offered her the ring, "Alyssa, I love you. I never want to be apart from you. Would you do the honor of marrying me."

"Yes!" she said and let me slip the ring on her finger, "I'm glad to finally hear the words out loud, Jeremiah."

We both laughed and hugged. Kelly came over and hugged us both, tears running down her face.

"That was so beautiful!" she said, "Congratulations both of you!"

Suddenly I felt at peace. I didn't have any misgivings. The woman I loved was wearing my ring. The other woman I loved was happy for us. It would feel more complete when my other two loves finally made it home. At least I hoped that it would.

We got back to our house and piled into Kelly's car and went out for dinner. I was starting to get tired, and had to be up early for my final. So we ate quickly, and Alyssa quizzed me on some of the questions she remembered. We left for home and the girls went downstairs to our room. I stayed up and studied for another hour, filling my head with the mundane details.

When I finally made it downstairs, the girls were asleep in each others arms. I slipped under the covers without disturbing them and was soon asleep. My dreams were mostly happy, except for a strange dream about Carmen and Lexi running after me.

Author's Note: Editing thanks to sportychica334 any remaining errors are entirely mine. Much help was given to the story content and flow by Karenas. Both were great encouragement in getting this story published.

Thank you for your feedback, comments and votes.