Time After Time

What happened is a very common event to those iron-willed ladies of the sea when problems rise or disaster strikes . . .

They bond and come together to help each other through the hurt, fear, loneliness, and sorrow. They become a resolute team working in common cause.

In the Springtime good things happen . . .

The rains come, the weather warms, flowers bloom, trees turn green, and babies are born. So it was when Becky gave birth to a red headed green eyed 7 lb. 8 oz. girl. To honor a father she'd never know Becky named her Jacqueline but she would forever be Jackie.

Now Carol and Ann each had a grand baby to spoil. It worked out rather well as the two babies could be pooled together at Mandy's or Becky's house. Mandy's was the favorite because of the large wrap around porch and the porch swing.

The story, often told, was that Nick had a paper route as a kid several blocks away from his home. One of his customers was the widow of a college professor by the name of Mrs. Rose Snow and he'd fallen in love with her huge wrap around porch and swing (see "As Time Goes By" by the author). When he and Mandy bought the house one of the reasons (Besides the fact that Jack and Becky were buying the house next door) was that the house would look great if it had a wrap around porch, which he built with the first payoff shares after the fishing season was over.

I've often been asked why these four beautiful women never remarried. I've talked to all four of them over the years, and I always received the same responses:

From Mandy and Becky; They'd loved their husbands and lovers. It was impossible that anyone could take their places and besides they'd had children to raise and the children hadn't needed for their mothers to become distracted.

From Carol and Ann; They both assured me that as mature ladies in their 40's they had many offers from the gentlemen in the town but independently they each said that they'd enjoyed the best so why should they settle for less? Besides they had daughters-in-law and grand children to look after.

I think the truth of the matter was very simple: the four ladies had developed a love and attachment for each other because of shared experiences, good and bad, not unlike Ruth and Naomi of Biblical fame.

By the time everyone assembled to celebrate Jackie's first birthday Mandy and Becky were both in a position to pay Carol and Ann for their baby sitting but the two mothers-in-law were insulted by the offer. The best that the two young teachers could do was play hostess on weekends and holidays, and make sure that the presents they gave to Carol and Ann for Christmas, their birthdays, and of course Mothers Day were extra special.

When Jackie started Kindergarden Matt was starting second grade. He was tasked by Mandy with taking care of her and protecting her, an order he took very seriously.

When Matt turned ten he received a bike for his birthday and Jackie received a smaller one for her birthday. After that there was no holding them back. They'd be on the bikes pedaling to the park at every chance. At least that was what the four ladies thought. From conversations she overhead between Jackie and Matt, Mandy became concerned enough to investigate and found to her horror that they were pedaling down to the fishing fleet tied up at the quay wall.

When she checked his room she wasn't surprised that the walls were covered with photos of fishing boats. She'd passed it off as a harmless salute to his father and grandfather. Now two and two were starting to equal four!

Mandy immediately called the Lady's Four (As they had started to call themselves) into a war council and explained what she'd discovered. All four women agreed that something indeed needed to be done. No more men in the two families were going to perish at sea. That price had been paid in spades, but what to do?

A consensus was finally agreed upon that a way had to be found to find something that thrilled Matt enough to make him want to attend Western and work towards a degree. That would hopefully solve the problem.

Mandy and Becky would check with his teachers to see if he'd ever given any indication of having any special interests.

It turned out that the pictures that Matt had put on his walls were pictures that he'd taken himself and he also loved to play with the new computers the school had just installed. Carol and Ann headed for Western to do some research of their own.

Western had a Computer Science Program and in fact were just starting to experiment in video and digital imaging. The two ladies brought the school catalog home along with some information that might prove useful.

The council was reconvened. A suggestion had been offered by one of the student instructors that he'd gotten hooked when his family bought him a computer, printer, and a whole slew of games

The ladies agreed that Matt's Christmas present would be the computer, related peripheral equipment, and games. Carol and Ann would do the research to see exactly what was needed and what it would cost.

As far as digital imaging that would have to take a back burner for awhile. The equipment was just too new and too expensive, but the student instructor told them the prices would be coming down over the next few years as more companies got into digital cameras and movie cameras.

Finally they all agreed not to try to talk Matt out of his interest in the fishing boats as it might well push him into doing exactly what they didn't want to happen.

For Christmas Matt got his computer and games. At the suggestion of the clerk they'd bought a joystick that could be used by both children. It turned out that Jackie had better hand and eye coordination then Matt and quite often beat him at the various games they played. Now this sometimes has a tendency to tick off the male of the species but Matt didn't seem to worry about it and in point of fact he would congratulate Jackie with a big smile and kind words.

When he began to do his homework on the computer and print out the reports his grades rose considerably. Jackie would sit next to him and watch while he worked.

Because of her ability to use the computer and Matt's rising grade point average (GPA) the Lady's Four decided to get Jackie her own computer for her birthday. Sure enough her GPA also went up.

All too soon Matt was entered into the Freshman Class at Western HS. The ladies watched his efforts that fist year and his GPA didn't falter. It was now time to put part two into action: The ladies slowly but surely convinced Matt that he needed to think about going to Western to get his degree in computer sciences. As a hook-set they mentioned the video imaging which by now was a rousing success.

Matt's concern was how to pay for it. The ladies shushed him, sitting him down to explain all of his options which included the fact that if he wasn't able to get any scholarship money the ladies would make sure that he was financially able to attend.

What Matt didn't know and the ladies weren't about to tell him was their great fear that he'd go to sea like his male forbears. Even after all these years, one or another of the women would still occasionally wake in the middle of the night and try to reach for an arm to cuddle up into and then remember that what woke her was the memory of the sound of the doorbell on that awful night. None of them could go through that experience again . . . They just couldn't!

The Lady's Four united in resolute purpose . . Like four Pit Bull Dogs jerking on a leather toy.

In Matt's Junior Year Jackie was enrolled in the Freshman Class at Western HS.

He once again assumed the mantle of protection over Jackie through the next two years of school which could have been a large turn-off in high school when she wanted to date boys. But if it disturbed her she never let on and in fact she had been developing very warm feelings for Matt, although if he reciprocated her feelings he sure didn't show it.

During Matt's Senior Year he received a letter from Western Univ. Department of Student Admissions to congratulate him on his acceptance into the Computer Sciences Program.

For the very first time Jackie screamed in joy, rushed up, threw her arms around him, and planted a kiss on his cheek.

That hug and kiss caught the lady's by surprise and it would definitely be on the agenda when they next got together, which occurred very soon after the kiss.

None had seen it coming as Jackie was a young lady who kept her cards close to her newly budding breasts. The problem was that they couldn't gauge Matt's reactions and they didn't want Jackie to be hurt by his rejection, but what were they to do?

It was finally agreed that all they could do was watch and closely observe.

That night each of the ladies went to bed wrapped in warm thoughts as they remembered the night they had first met their own future intended.

Matt would occasionally take Jackie to a dance or to the movie theater but it didn't really seem like dating to the lady's. It seemed more like two friends having a good time.

Matt by this time was one handsome dude, as the saying goes. As tall as his father, but more slender. Same hair, same eyes, and same impish grin. He was a hot catch.

Jackie had also done a lot of maturing. She was taller then her mother but she had her father's hair, eyes, and dimples. It was also evident that she had inherited Ann's large breasts and not Becky's. To put it mildly she was quite a package.

At Matt's graduation Jackie congratulated him by throwing her arms around him and planting a smoldering kiss on his lips. Matt returned the kiss with a mind blowing, knees-to-jelly kiss of his own as he gathered Jackie into his arms.

The lady's smiled and tightly held the hand of their neighbor as they now understood that a mutual love was blossoming once again before their eyes and this one seemed so right just as their own had been was.

Once again the lady's went to bed with happy thoughts and fond memories.

Jackie was now making her own plans to attend Western in the Computer Sciences Program just as Matt was doing. She was able to obtain several scholarships and so the lady's didn't have to cough up very much money to help her.

In her Senior year at Western HS she too received a letter of acceptance from Western. This time it was Matt's turn to hug and kiss her, which brought four smiles from the lady's and at her graduation he publicly gave her the same scorching kiss he'd given her at his own graduation.

It was by now evident to all that the two young people were truly and deeply in love with one another. It was glorious and it turned the hearts of the lady's to mush every time they saw them holding hands and hugging each other, but they knew that very shortly they were going to have to have a talk with what they now teasingly called "The Immortal Lovers," a phrase which brought a blush to Matt and a smiling giggle from Jackie.

In short order his Grandmother Carol got him cornered: "Matt, we need to talk."

There it was, the phrase that scares the hell out of the male of the species.

Carol continued on, "Your a 20 year old man with all of the urges and appetites of a 20 year old. I'm going to ask you to promise me that you'll refrain from having intercourse with Jackie until after she graduates from Western."

"But Grandma . ." he tried to interject.

"I mean it. Condoms can leak and birth control pills can fail. Jackie should have the same chance to graduate as you have and if she gets pregnant her chance will be shot. So promise me Matt. There are other ways to pleasure each other."

Reaching behind her she pulled out a book on sex which thoroughly covered the subject and handed it to him.

Once again Carol demanded, "Matt, I want your promise."

Seeing no way out of it and knowing his grandmother he finally capitulated. "I promise, no intercourse with Jackie until she graduates."

This same conversation with only slight variations was being held between Jackie and her Grandmother Ann. She too received a copy of the book after having made the same promise of no intercourse until graduation.

That evening the two lovers took a bike ride to the park. They found a nice grassy spot in the shade. Matt sat down with his back to the tree and put his arms around Jackie as she leaned against him. They talked about what their respective grandmothers had made them each promise.

"On the face of it it seems as if everything is fair game except actual intercourse," Matt's statement opened the subject.

"Have you read the book Grandma Carol gave you?" Queried Jackie.

"Not yet. How about you?" Matt asked.

"Haven't had time, but if we're going to keep our promises it would seem to be a good idea." Jackie replied.

With that Matt leaned down and softly nibbled on Jackie's neck and slowly trailed his tongue across the back of her neck.

In response she shivered and moved his hand up to her breast. As he gently squeezed the breast she moaned softly and turned slightly so she could taste his lips.

They kissed a few more times but common sense prevailed and they grudgingly and regretfully got back on their bikes and slowly headed for home riding side by side holding hands.

Over the next several years the lady's insisted that study was essential but the college experience was equally just as important. At the beginning of each year they would purchase two sets of season tickets to all of the performing arts and musical events put on at the Performing Arts Center and Concert Hall. Matt and Jackie were given direct orders to attend the events under threat of The Lady's Four tongue lashing them unmercifully if they didn't, a fate to be avoided at all costs.

There was an altruistic reason besides the stated one: The lady's were exposing the two lovers to nonromantic settings to try to hold their growing ardor down somewhat. By putting them in this setting they were also exposing them to social intercourse with their peers which would help them in the future but it was also a way to avoid intimate situations.

At the beginning of Matt's senior year a job fair was held on campus. Matt was astounded to learn that two video production companies were relocating to the town.

The reputation of Western's Computer Sciences Program, the availability of trained personnel, ease of transportation, and certain tax breaks had convinced them to relocate.

Matt was given a job interview which resulted in his being hired upon graduation at a good starting salary and lots of benefits to sweeten the pot.

Matt brought home a couple of bottles of good wine that night and everyone had a fine time celebrating.

When Jackie was into her senior year she was also interviewed and hired.

Matt knew about the hiring several days before Jackie was to be informed.

He invited the four lady's and Jackie to supper that night at a topnotch restaurant. The lady's were astounded to find themselves seated in a private room with the restaurant's finest setting and their own private chef and waiters.

Matt had pulled a dirty stunt. He'd arranged with the company not to inform Jackie but to let him deliver the letter of job acceptance personally.

At the conclusion of the meal Matt rose to make an announcement and to propose a toast. Rising, he placed the envelope in Jackie's hand and asked her to please read it aloud. When she read that she'd been hired pandemonium broke out and Matt couldn't pass up the opportunity to gather Jackie into his arms and plant a very sexy kiss on her lips. Under his breath he whispered, "Congratulations, sweetheart."

Now that he had their attention he slowly got down on his knees in front of Jackie. Very softly he started to speak, "Jacquelyn Moffat we have grown up together, we have gone to school together and in each and every year my love for you has grown even as I've grown into manhood and watched you grow into a very beautiful and desirable woman. You are the keeper of my heart. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife and marry me?"

Having said this he reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring box. Opening it he held the box up to her to accept or reject.

The ladies froze waiting for Jackie's response. Slowly she pulled Matt up to her, placed her arms around him, and looking into his eye's gave him her answer. "Matthew Olson, all the years we grew up you were my protector and that included being the keeper and protector of my heart. Now my darling I give you my heart, my mind, my soul, my body, joyfully and willingly. Yes I will be proud to be your wife."

With that the Two "Immortal Lovers" sealed their acceptance with the longest, slowest and most erotic kiss that could be given in public without being arrested.

The mothers and grandmothers greeted this by taking their knives and applauded by tapping the water glasses even as their other hand was diving into their collective purses to find a hanky.

Matt placed the ring on the third finger of her left hand just as a camera flash lit up the room. What he'd failed to mention was that one of his work buddies had been induced to take pictures and had snuck into the room very quietly and waited for the appropriate moment. What he'd also failed to mention was that the Maitre d' had been in on it and now the waiters began to push carts into the room to clear the tables and to place the dessert and more wine and brandy by each of the occupants. All in all it was a fine night.

The wedding plans were Jackie's to make. But she was wise enough to get her mother, Mandy, and the two grandmothers involved. Besides it was fun to go shopping with them as she bought her wedding finery and her trousseau. She did have to admit that they were a bunch of raunchy women when they chose to be and they quite often had her blushing with their comments and jokes.

One evening, after a days shopping, they all went over to Becky's home ostensibly so that Jackie could bring her packages home. Becky put up the tea water as they gathered around the table in the kitchen.

As the tea was poured Ann casually asked, "Have you and Matt been intimate with one another?"

Flustered, Jackie responded, "If you mean have we had intercourse, of course not, we both promised you and Grandma Carol we wouldn't until graduation."

With that Becky commented, "I know something has been going on because I occasionally find damp spots on the sofa."

With that statement Jackie turned beet red, but it got worse.

Mandy cut in, "I've also found damp spots on my sofa and rug."

Jackie wished she could die.

The forgoing had been spoken without a smile nor a joke passing through the lips of the mothers and grandmothers. In point of fact they were stone-faced.

Carol added her two-bits worth, "Honey it sounds as if you and Matt have doing some very naughty things."

Ann chimed in, "Did you enjoy it?"

Jackie thought that since she and Matt were busted she might as well 'fess up, "Very much."

Other then the orgasms, what did you enjoy about sex with Matt?"

Jackie finally began to get an inkling of where this was heading. "The intimacy, sharing, giving, bringing pleasure and receiving it, and just being with Matt."

"Did you and Matt engage in oral stimulation?"

Blushing again, Jackie admitted that they had.

From Becky, "How did you learn to pleasure each other that way?"

"From the books that Matt and I received from Grandma Carol and Grandma Ann."

Ann asked the big question, "What else did the both of you learn?"

Thinking for a moment she hesitatingly replied, " That communication is the most important part of a relationship, it is also the most important part of sex, and communication is not just words it is deeds and actions."

Becky smiled and summed it up for her daughter, "It's called show and tell, honey, remember that and remember that it is a two way street, and you and Matt will do just fine."