Chapter 49

Friday was pretty much the usual, with Abe talking up the idea among his men. Since everyone interacts, by lunch time, everyone in the main and auxiliary buildings we talking about what kind of toys they made to use in their work. Debbie decided Star would be the best choice to work with me to oversee the project, so I stopped out at the charter service, presented her with the opportunity, and watched her rush around, cleaning out her desk to move to the shop.

I told her to make sure she went over everything with Paul's niece so there wouldn't be any screw-ups over the weekend for charters and rentals. Star said it was her weekend to be off anyway, so another person could be hired by next weekend to take up the slack, if necessary.

An hour after I was back at the shop, Star presented herself to me asking where I wanted her to work from. I asked Debbie where Star should be and she pointed at my desk in our office. "Until she gets to know everyone around here, I want her where she can ask me questions. Some of these guys are going to give her a hard time because they may remember her face from her previous job. I want them to learn she is an educated, hard working, knowledgeable, and valuable employee. When I feel it's right, I'll put her in the empty cube near Deanne."

I had Star come up to my office with a notepad, where I spent an hour giving her the information of the various projects we were going to do. I introduced her to Phil and Judy, explaining that we were going to work on some seminars for marketing and customer service too. She would have to help organize these, plus do all of the planning when it came time to do them.

When we were done, Star said, "Thank you for selecting me to do this for you. I've wanted to work with you, or be a special friend to you and Sue, from the beginning. I'm honored that you're entrusting me to put this together. I'll do my best to make this work for the company."

"Come downstairs with me for a bit, Star. I want you to see a couple of things. When we entered the shop, we stopped and watched some welders working on a frame. Tim was watching and occasionally measuring a length or angle. It became apparent he was training new employees that had just come from the school. It seemed like every time he stopped them that he pointed to one of the "Perfect" signs on the wall.

In sheet metal department, four guys were measuring, cutting, and forming pieces of sheet metal. You could see how they worked together and all checked the finished product before it was stacked on the completed bench.

When we walked into the motor department, a crowd was around an engine stand where Robert and Roberta were getting ready to start a just completed engine. We watched as they started the engine, ran it through several tests, then everyone there yelled and applauded as the motor was being shut down. Roberta hollered out, "Now that's fucking Perfect!"

When she turned to see me with Star, she covered her mouth and said, "Oops."

I calmed her down saying, "It's always neat to see you happy with the job you just did.""

"This is one of Gene's engines that he needs as a spare. I was just trying to make it the best I could."

"In other words, Roberta, it is the usual great work you and Robert put out."

She blushed, "Well we have to try to outdo what we've done before. They all have to be perfect to go out the door." She pointed at the 'Is it perfect?' sign over the door.

Star said to me, "I see what you're trying to get at. Everyone here gives their best. All of us do it right. That's how the company succeeds."

"You got it the first time around, Star. We're all one big team. We all do everything we can to produce perfect products for our customers. Now watch how everyone cleans up in the evening. You'll need to clean up your desk to before you go home. Debbie will direct you if you need assistance."

I had to straighten up my desk too as I had a couple of pieces of paper and a notebook strewn around the desk. I finished, shut off the lights and took off for the house, anxious for supper, as tonight we were having the caterer out to do an old fashioned fish fry.

There was only a small tent with some frying vats and preparation tables. We weren't going to have that many out tonight, as a lot of people were taking some time off to go various places for the Thanksgiving weekend. They were going to make a week out of it.

I joined Susan and Henry in the lounge chairs having a drink. It was the first time we had all just sat together by ourselves enjoying each other's company. It was very relaxed and very enjoyable.

When Kevin came in with Crystal, the noise level rose several decibels. They were followed by a bunch from the main shop, and a couple from the utility body shop. There was even a couple show up that worked the T-shirt plant. They were regulars every Friday. Pretty soon, some of the school people showed up, along with some of the cart plant people. As usual, in no time at all, the patio went from peaceful to roaring, with well over a hundred people in a matter of minutes.

Sue and Mercy were standing in the wide sliding doorway, smiling out over all the people. I could see Kate's kid, Carson, standing with Stevie next to him, holding on to both Sue and Mercy. Juanita came up, holding both Mike and Liz, with CJ and Tia hanging onto her. Robbie was peeking out from behind Glenda.

Pretty soon, Carson, CJ, Robbie, Steve, and Tia were running among the visitors enjoying the festive mood.

Outside, a couple of horseshoe games had developed. Dennis and Tammy were sitting in the grass with Tina and a boy I didn't recognize. With them were several other teens about the same age. They were kids, being kids. Carson, Stevie, and CJ slipped out the door and headed straight at Dennis, Tammy, and Tina. Instead of stopping and being polite, the three crashed into their friends. To the credit of the teens, they wrestled with the little ones a minute, then the three wild ones ran back to the patio to hunt down forbidden or restricted snacks.

There was a buzz tonight about the new project of tracking down homemade tools. It was favorable, as it was reported that anyone who had something would probably get an attaboy card worth a chance at one of the vacation venues. Star even came to me to report that people were stopping her to describe what kind of toy they had. She told them that she would see them during the week.

Tiny told Star, "I'll pick you up a digital camera, a video camera, and a laptop. This way you can take a picture of the item, video the use, and type up what the creator does with the device. You can revise the specs and technical language later. While you're working with an employee, ask them who they think would be best to evaluate what they had. That will give us an idea of who is most respected within a department. It'll help us make a decision on who we should promote when the time comes. I'll have your stuff Sunday afternoon. Come over here and pick it up."

DeDe came up to me a little later and said, "I hate that you stole my buddy from the charter office, but you did good. I haven't seen Star this excited since she got her divorce from the asshole she was married to for three months. You did good, Steve. She's going to be underfoot, so you may need to put a size twelve in her butt to get her out to do her job."

DeDe gave me a hug, then mixed back into the group to find and be with Star again.

Supper was great. Very few people ate at the table. People were scattered everywhere, eating, drinking, talking, and having fun. Fridays are informal, friendly, and a great time to mix. The employees felt like they were a part of the infamous patio crew on Fridays. They knew they were welcome anytime, but few ever came out in the morning. A few would show up in the evenings, but it was usually because they wanted to talk about business, and this was why we had a sixty by seventy-two foot patio with a big bar, TVs, and even restrooms.

Tiny told me that Onan and our attorney had worked out licensing agreements, along with a contract for production of the wire caddy covers. He said part of the agreement was to supply us with ten units as demos, plus we would receive one free for every one hundred ordered. That would help with the demo units.

By nine, the party had slowed to a crawl, the caterer had cleaned up and left, and the patio was already straightened and clean. I'm always impressed the way everyone sort of goes into cleaning mode at once. One second the place is a mess and the next it's spotless. We did have a good group.

That night was a little different. CJ, Robbie, Tia, and Carson were having a sleepover. Stevie wanted to sleep on the floor with his friends, so they were herded into the living room and slept on and under a bunch of blankets. They had a good time having a pillow fight. Thank goodness there were no feather pillows. Soon though, the little ones were tired and asleep. I volunteered to sleep on the couch with them, but Juanita said she wanted to stay out with them. Kate stayed over too and slept on the other couch.

When we were in bed, Sue and Mercy were sitting Indian style on each side of me. Sue was saying, "There may be a problem with Jim and Kate."

Mercy chimed in, "Kate told me that she thinks that Jim likes guys. She says she has to push him to be intimate. That must be why he's happy when he hears she may travel with us."

"Kate says that Jim has a couple of guys he sees out here in the park," Sue said angrily. "I know we have two gay guy couples and Charlie, Tiny's dad, says that there are a couple of single guys that have places out here that are gay. One of them is one of the guys Kate says Jim hangs around with all the time."

I said in Jim's defense, "Well, they do have a little boy and he does show he cares for both of them."

"I know," Sue said. "He does act like a nice guy, it's just that he should be more like you and love up his lady. We need to feel your physical love as much as the tender stuff you do with us. I don't think she even gets any of that."

Mercy said, "Juanita says that Kate told her that he doesn't even kiss her goodnight. When he found out Carson was staying over here for the night, he told Kate she should stay here with him. What do you want to bet he's with one of his gay buddies as we speak?"

Sue was contemplating, "We should call her in here and love her up. I'll bet she goes through a lot of batteries from not getting any loving."

I held my hands up, "Oh no, you don't. You sneaked Juanita in on me, but no more. The bed won't hold any more, and I have all the ladies I could ever want in you guys. There's probably a sitcom like that, you know "Three is more than enough."

Mercy laughed, "It's eight is enough, so I'll go get Kate to bring you up to half that."

"The lady is married. She has a husband that she thinks may be doing something with someone else. She doesn't even know for sure. We are not fooling around with any married women, period."

Smart mouth Sue said, "I'm married and you mess around with me."

I hit her with a pillow.

Mercy swung a pillow at me, but hit Sue instead.

Sue swung her pillow at Mercy, who squealed, swinging hers back.

The noise attracted Juanita, who saw the beginning of a good pillow fight, and began swinging pillows at both Sue and Mercy.

Kate walked in the room, carrying her pillow, and was immediately attacked by the other three girls and driven around the room to land on the bed, while being pummeled by pillows from the three girls.

The three ladies piled on Kate, tickling and whacking her with pillows. Clothes were soon misarranged, with Sue hanging out of her nightie, Mercy's was totally off one arm and shoulder, and Juanita's nightshirt twisted around with a breast hanging out. Kate's big T-shirt was pulled up, exposing her modest chest, but revealing she was totally bare beneath. This wasn't a big deal because the other three girls were bare bottomed as well.

I was on the end of the bed, observing the rowdy get together, when I noticed both Sue and Mercy begin to play and pinch Kate's nipples. Soon Juanita had joined in and Kate was being caressed and massaged by three experienced women.

Watching my three erotically stimulate another is exciting, and I was up from the view. Sue was soon on her hands and knees between Kate's legs, giving her center some oral attention. Juanita and Mercy were mauling Kate's breasts, over-stimulating the poor girl until she gave a loud groan, with near screams coming from her as she peaked.

That was it, I'd had enough. I dropped my shorts and knee-walked to behind Sue and aimed myself at her center. She was so wet, I was balls deep in seconds. No sooner than I gave her four or five thrusts, Sue gave squeezes and snorts that she was coming. She turned and rolled away, leaving me facing Kate's center between her legs. Sue grabbed me by my protruding part and pulled me down into Kate's wet center. Kate groaned loudly as I sunk to my balls. Instead of lying peacefully enjoying being filled, her bottom began rotating up and down so fast I couldn't move opposing her. All I could do was hold myself up and be fucked from below.

Kate's rapid movement was quickly bringing me to my crisis. I was doing everything I could to keep from losing it. Sue must have noticed, as she grabbed my balls and began squeezing and handling them. That was it. Torrents of juice filled Kate, while she groaned happily.

The whole time I was filling Kate, Mercy was kissing me and Sue was whispering in my ear. Sue kept saying, "Fill the bitch. Make her pregnant, give her a baby, fuck her hard." It was too much, or at least enough, that I did fill her up with the magic elixir.

As I became weak, I was pushed to Kate's side. Someone attached their mouth to me while I felt a head down at Kate's center. Kate rolled to me and smiled. She mouthed, "Thank you," then gave me a sweet kiss.

Sue was still in my ear saying, "You did good, Honey. You gave her what she needed. She needed your dick. Now the rest of us need some of you too."

We played for more than another hour, till I had made love to my three ladies, and was encouraged to give Kate my last dose of joy juice. Surprise, the five of us were able to sleep cuddled together in bed. Kate and Mercy's physical makeup were so similar that when I woke in the night, I couldn't tell who was hugging my back.

They did it again. They don't even wait till one is gone now before they bring another. And this one's married. Not cool. Knowing what I know about Jim, will I look at him funny? Hope not. I wonder if he'll figure out that I boinked his ole' lady. God, how could you like some hairy guy when you had a sleek beauty waiting for you with open legs. Some guys are just dumb, stupid, or whatever. Who knows, maybe Kate doesn't suck dick and that's what he likes.

Shit, I'm getting hard and I don't know whose butt I'm up against.

I slowly moved from behind, who I found to be Mercy, and slipped out of bed. As I used the bathroom, showered, and shaved, I kept thinking about the girls.

I needed coffee, so I walked quietly out through the living room into the kitchen. The little ones were all in a pile, still asleep. Glenda was sitting on a stool at the counter in front of the kitchen.

"So, did your ladies take in another one?"

"Glenda!" I said in disgust.

"Well, did they? That little girl is playing second fiddle to a couple of fags here in the park, so it wouldn't upset me at all. If your trio finds out there's a neglected lady around, they are going to slip her in the sack, you can bet on it."

"Just keep it down, okay? You know how Sue and Mercy are. They kind of sneak up on you."

"I think your mature lady is the same as your two younger ones. She fits you guys. How do you feel about Juanita?" She emphasized the "you."

"Truthfully, Glenda, I don't know what to feel about her. It just happened, and all of a sudden, Juanita is just part of the family. She has fit in so well that I couldn't run her off if I tried. The kids all go to her the same as Sue and Mercy. She even has little Carson won over already."

"Well, you're all good for each other. You'll be good for Kate too, but I don't see her becoming a permanent fixture. If she gets that daycare boss position over in the park, she'll be making enough to take care of herself and Carson. She'll dump her fag of a husband and that will be all she wrote."

Folks began straggling in for coffee, then the bellhop from the hotel showed up with our sandwiches. Several people who had remembered that I said I would take them sailing began asking what time I thought I would go out. There was no chance to go out without Mercy, and probably Juanita. Maggie would want to go, and perhaps even Kate. Sue? You never know whether she would want to go or if she had stuff to do.

I went into the bedroom to see if anyone was stirring. They were all sitting cross-legged in a circle on the bed, having a discussion. They looked at me when I entered, giving me the feeling they may have been talking about me.

"Hey guys, some folks remembered that I said I would take them sailing today. Who wants to go with me and do you want to take the kids?"

Mercy said, "If we're going to go out, it'll have to be this weekend because the guys from Magellan are going to be here Monday. They'll probably be here for three weeks, depending on how many guys they send. I'm in. I'll get a shower and be out in a few minutes."

The other three looked at me, then they all said, almost together, "I'm going too."

Sue said, "You better plan on Maggie. She loves the boat."

Mercy said, "We should take the kids and let them play inside while we're out. That way if Glenda or Hanna want to come, they can."

When I went back outside, there were more and more that wanted to go. I didn't know what capacity the boat had, but I figured somewhere around thirty or forty would max the boat out.

We left for the yacht club at eight with thirty adults and seven kids. I figured on raiding the Hatteras for life jackets. By nine fifteen, we were leaving the yacht basin on the way out to the gulf. The day was nice and sunny, with a medium breeze out in the gulf.

Most of the people with us had not been out on a sailboat. They didn't realize how quiet it is out on the water. The only sounds are winds in the sails, the rigging groaning from the strain and the water splashing on the bow. We had a couple cases of motion sickness, but they were able to get over it with a 7-up in one case, and a beer in the other.

We sailed out for about two hours, doing a loop, then coming back to the yacht club by one thirty. It took us till after two to clean up and get the borrowed jackets back on the Hatteras. Back home, the boat passengers all vanished to do Saturday stuff.

We were eating a snack and playing with the kids when our fishing charter manager came by. John said, "I have a line on a hundred and fifty foot or bigger boat that is in Costa Rica right now. It's been surveyed to be perfect and the owner is in need of cash and has to sell it. Want to look at it?"

Mercy instantly said, "We better keep what we have right now. The Magellan folks are coming up to remodel the boat again for more passengers. We're planning on going to the Mediterranean after Christmas. Our boat should be fine for the trip."

John said, "Your boat will be more than fine. This is a chance to pick up a larger boat for a good price."

Sue said, "Let's fly down and look at it. It won't hurt anything."

"When" I asked? "I'm going out to pick up Merlin and Missy Monday. Flying down tomorrow and back will be too much. I wouldn't be able to go till Wednesday. If you want to do that, call out to the charter group and make sure you can get a plane for a couple of days."

"We can't do that," Sue said quickly. "Thursday is Thanksgiving and I want to be right here for that. We'll go Friday, find out if that will work."

Sue complained, "I don't like not having a plane available when we want one. Every time I want to go up in the little Cessna, it's out or committed for lessons. Now we have to reserve our own plane to go somewhere?"

"Look at the bright side," I said, in defense. "All those rentals and charters are paying for our airplane habit and making some money for the company."

Tiny was sitting with us and said, "It's more than paying for the planes. Your personal commission from renting out your plane is paying you guys several grand a month. That won't always be, but right now it's really paying."

Sue grimaced, but said, "I'll call to see if we can get a plane for Friday through Sunday. I do want to look at a boat that may be a good deal."

The rest of Sunday was laid back and enjoyable. Nothing special happened all day. We guys did go for a ride up to Crystal River and back just to enjoy the weather. We stopped for beer only once, and that was at the Florida bar just up the road.

Monday morning I was up, showered, fed, and ready to leave for the airport at seven thirty. My surprise co-pilot for the day was going to be Glenda. She said she thought it would be neat to take a long flight.

When we parked at the charter office, I went inside to pick up the logbook. The girl there said the plane left an hour ago on a charter. She must have seen that I was getting angry so she called upstairs to John. He came down and said, "I couldn't pass up the charter, Steve. I know you said you needed the plane for two days but this is a good customer and he needed space for ten. I thought you might want to take the Lear. It's easy to fly and is well equipped."

"I can't fly the Lear by myself. I'm not checked out in the plane, I haven't been to their school yet and I've never flown a pure jet."

"Well, no time like the present. I'll be flying right seat, teaching you all the way. Where are you going?"

"San Francisco. I was going to fly up today and back tomorrow."

"No sweat, how about we fly out and back today. The Lear will fly an easy one and half times faster than the 200. It will go faster but we're not allowed to break through Mach 1."

Glenda asked, "Should I stay? Sue will come and get me."

"You can come along, Glenda, you just can't ride up front with me. John is going to be doing most of the flying as I haven't been to school for this thing yet."

John picked up a logbook and waved for me to follow, saying, "School is in session." We went in front of the hangar where the Lear was waiting.

The first thing I did is to get Glenda into a seat and make sure she was comfortable. Then John directed me on a preflight inspection, using a flip chart. We climbed in and went through the cockpit checklist then began the startup procedure. Most of it was similar to the 200 but there was quite a bit different, plus more gauges to read and check.

An attendant pulled the chocks and John directed me to advance the throttle to get the plan to taxi. We made our way to the runway where we went through the last of the checklist then began the run-up to take off.

The little Lear nearly jumped from the starting line and raced down the runway. I watched the airspeed indicator and when it reached ideal lift speed, John yelled V1, then rotate, and I pulled back on the yoke to feel the plane quickly rise off the runway.

Most everything was where it was supposed to be or where I thought it should be, so I was able to reach down to raise the landing gear while we continued to climb. John had filed a flight plan and received clearance to twenty-eight thousand feet. Once we were at altitude and the auto-pilot set using a fancy navigation system I wasn't familiar with, I turned to ask Glenda how she was doing. She looked fine and said she was enjoying the ride.

I had told John about the good fuel prices in Columbia, Missouri and how nice the people were, so he had routed us through there. This little plane was fast. We seemed to be covering ground at almost twice the speed I was used to.

While we were on the ground in Columbia, I called home and told Mercy to call her mom and dad to tell them we were going to bring them back today. We were in the Lear Jet and making great time. She couldn't believe we were already in Columbia.

John spent the entire flight teaching me, then grilling me on procedures, gauges, instruments, and characteristics of the Lear. I had landed at Columbia without thinking to wait for his instructions. I had used the checklist to land then after refueling to start up and take off. If you do it by the book it isn't that difficult. I just didn't have the confidence yet to handle this type of plane by myself.

Once down at the small airport in San Francisco we had bought our first planes from, John, Glenda, and I were treated like royalty. John mentioned that we had bought three more planes from these people recently. I had noted one of the gauges had been running high and we had it checked out quickly to find a vent not opening. It was quickly corrected while we waited for Merlin and Missy to arrive.

Merlin said he couldn't believe the guy that had been flying around in the little Cessna came for him in a Lear Jet. "You totally amaze me every time we get together. Last time I saw you, you were in that big sailboat after coming through the Panama Canal, and now you show up in a Lear. Totally amazing."

The return trip was uneventful. At least Glenda had someone to talk to on the way back. Glenda caught Missy up on all of the gossip where we lived and what she knew of the businesses. She was right when she said, "Steve's company has grown so big, I don't even know what all he does anymore. He does so much and makes it look effortless."

Little did she know. I didn't do much at all. There is too much to do, so others have to do it. They are better at it than I am anyway.

When we landed back in Tampa, there was a crowd at the operations building to watch me fly a jet and to meet Merlin and Missy. I think Merlin was a bigger draw than me flying the jet. John had me taxi up to the ops building to let the passengers out. Sue came out to the plane and asked me how it was. I told her the truth that at first it was scary but then all of the past training kicked in and the plane flew where I pointed.

John told me that he was going to sign me off on the Lear, but that I still needed to go to one of the factory follow upschools. He assured Sue that I was an excellent, safe, and careful pilot.

"I know, John," Sue said. "I let this guy fly Mercy, Juanita, me and all the kids. If he wasn't safe, we wouldn't have a plane."

John said an attendant would take the plane back to the hangar and service it. I thanked him for flying with me. He replied, "The charter on your plane today paid for the Lear to go out and back to San Francisco, and still made the company money. Now do you get the idea why I had to charter it?"

"I do, and I appreciate that you had a good contingency plan. I really didn't think I was capable of flying that thing. It is fun to fly. I'd like to be shown how to do some fancy flying one of these days, for nothing else but to know how to do it."

John smiled, "We'll plan on it. I'll teach you to fly this thing like one of the fighter planes I used to fly. The Lear is a tough bird and likes to play."

"Don't be teaching him how to hurt himself. Mr. Careful here, has a wild streak that comes out every once in a while as it is."

John smiled, "I'll only teach him what he needs to know. I'll teach you too. You should learn more about aerobatics as well, should you ever need the knowledge."

I asked John whether he might want to fly to Costa Rica again. We wouldn't be flying to where we went before, but to the coast and we wouldn't be staying for long. We went into the office to check his schedule. He was open to go with us but had to be back by Sunday for a charter that required two pilots on Monday.

"Let's go Friday," I suggested. "How about taking the Lear so we get there and back faster? The range should be okay for the flight."

John checked the charter log and said, "Good, we can charter your plane then. Everybody wants to fly in the painted up monstrosity you have. We're getting extra just for the paint job. We might have to paint some of the other birds."

On the way home, I told Sue, "We will fly to Costa Rica Friday and come back Saturday."

She said, "I'll find out where we can make reservations to stay overnight."

I told her, "If we take both Kate, Carson and Maggie, along with the kids, we will be the max of nine passengers for the Lear even if someone will sit on the potty seat. John the boat guy has to come but perhaps Maggie or Kate could stay home.

Sue said, "I'll think about it. Mercy and I will decide. Maybe we should buy the 1900D. If Kate and Carson stick around, we'll need the bigger plan."

At home, the ladies had saved some supper for me and the guests. We all had something to eat, then Merlin regaled us with some new parlor tricks, as he called them. When people began heading home, as it was a work night, Sue and Mercy had Merlin and Missy comfortably on the couches in the lounge area of the patio, with fresh drinks in their hands.

Sue started out with some shocking news, "Missy, I told you that I was expecting again didn't I?"

"Yes, you did. That's exciting that you will have another baby," Missy said.

Sue then said, "I went to the doctor today to have the first ultrasound and checkup. He surprised me. Steve doesn't even know this yet. We're going to have twins."

Sue came over to give me a hug. She could tell I was as shocked as Merlin and Missy were excited.

"The doctor says I'm in great shape. I have to keep exercising just like I did for Steve and Liz, and you know I will," Sue said this, then she turned to me, "Now we won't have to do this again, I'll have given you four."

The numbers were spinning around in my head. Four, uh no five with Mike, uh no that's eight if you count the three that ... Oh shit.

Mercy was sitting on the couch across from her mom and dad and said, "Steve, come sit by me."

I sat on one side of her and Sue sat on the other.

"Dad, I've already told mom part of this so here goes. I'm going to have another baby."

Merlin smiled broadly, "That's wonderful, Mercy. I'll now have two grandkids. That's super. This is so exciting. Missy and I may have to buy a trailer and live out here with you guys."

"There's more, Mom and Dad. Sue and I are always in competition it seems. Friendly competition is fun. Well, Sue is having twins, but I'm going to have triplets."

I couldn't help but add, "And I'm going to have a stroke."

Missy's mouth fell open and Merlin was sputtering trying to say something. "Triplets? Really Triplets? Are you sure? Triplets? Three of them?"

Mercy was just nodding her head up and down with a giant grin.

Missy was grinning and said, "You one upped Sue this time didn't you?"

Mercy laughed and said, "Makes up for the teeth, huh?"

Missy blushed at the realization of what Mercy was implying. Merlin looked confused saying, "What?"

Sue and I hugged Mercy, with Sue saying, "We're so excited. We're going to have eight little ones running around. Can you imagine five babies around here at one time? It's going to be a riot."

Missy said, "It's going to be a lot of work too."

Sue smiled, "We have it covered, I think. Juanita will be with us, as well as Maggie, a new lady that enjoys the little ones. We also have a lady named Kate that may be with us more and more. She will help when she can. We can always get more help if we need. Steve's sister, Susan, comes over to help often. She likes to be with the kids."

Merlin said, "This is going to cut down on your wandering, a lot."

Mercy said, "I don't think so, Dad. We're remodeling the boat right now for some extra rooms for caregivers, and we're going to go down to Costa Rica Wednesday to look at an even bigger boat. We'll see. We may not need it, but I do love to sail. Just because we have eight kids doesn't mean we have to quit enjoying life."

"You guys are full of the wanderlust. The next thing I know, you'll be sailing off to Europe or something."

Sue and Mercy looked at each other, then Sue said, "We're leaving for the Mediterranean right after Christmas and New Years."

"Why would you do that?" Merlin asked, surprised that his prediction was coming true so soon.

"We want to go the Riviera, but we also need to go to Sicily and Greece for business," Mercy said. "This way we can do both and enjoy a great trip before Sue and I become housebound being pregnant."

"Maybe we should come with you guys," Missy said, looking wistfully at the three of us.

Merlin moaned, "That kind of trip is a couple of months. I can't be gone that long, no way."

"You kids are going to have a great time aren't you," Missy said, with envy in her voice. "My goodness, sailing a boat all the way to Greece. Will you go to Italy too? You almost have to since you'll be so close."

This time it was my turn, "We don't have the exact itinerary down yet, but we'll let you know as soon as we know. The girls are still planning. We are not going anywhere on the African continent or the Middle East, just to Europe."

Merlin added, "You're smart. No sense inviting trouble."

"With all of the terrorist scares everywhere, we will stay away from anywhere there is any bad activity. I'll watch the girls and they can also take care of themselves very well."

Missy wanted the last word, "If you're going to do this, you might as well get it done before you get too far along. You guys need to get to bed, it's way past your bedtime. Merlin and I are going to drink up your liquor and watch some TV out here before bed. See you guys in the morning."

The four of us left the patio and went down the hall toward our room. If Missy and Merlin thought about it, they would realize Juanita was staying in the room with us. Oh well, we weren't trying to hide anything.

The girls thought we had broken the news correctly and that her mom and dad had taken the news well. We were all tired and fell asleep quickly snuggled together.

Sometime in the middle of the night, there was some jostling around and someone snuggled up to me on my front that had been to the outside of the bed. Sue was behind me as I could feel her bountiful chest against my back. I didn't dwell on it, thinking that Mercy or Juanita wanted to sleep in front of me.