Chapter 21
Jake relaxed into the buttery-soft leather seat as the Pan American Airlines Boeing 747 cleared the tarmac at the end of the Los Angeles International runway. Muffy was leaning against him looking out the window, her eyes shining with excitement. Across the aisle Trish and Leslie were quietly talking. It was a five and a half hour flight from LA to Hawaii. With the time difference, they would land in Honolulu at four-thirty. Jake was looking forward to spending a week and a half goofing off. They did not have an itinerary or a host of activities scheduled. Melissa said she wanted them to just hang out together and do whatever the hell they felt like doing. That was fine with Jake as he hated those vacations where you were on a schedule as if you were at work. As Jake stared out the window, with Muffy comfortably snuggled against his side, he rewound the conversation he had had with the women yesterday.
Jake sat down with Leslie, Trish, and Melissa after church on Sunday. They were sitting out by the pool under the shade of a big striped umbrella. Surprisingly, Leslie did most of the talking with Melissa and Trish nodding in support.
"Jake, we women have come to the collective conclusion that we want to stay together. We hope that you want the same thing. What we want is different than what most people consider normal -- but we don't care. It's right for us; that's all that matters," Leslie said in her summary.
"That would be wonderful, Les; but you know that Trish, Melissa, and I have a sexual relationship as well. How are you with that?" he asked.
Leslie shot him a wicked little grin.
"Jake, I am actually the oldest person here. I was sexually active from the age of fourteen in my last life. I love everything about sex and, although I never tried it, I have nothing against the idea of two women together. In fact, when Melissa and Trish talk about it, I often get tingly. When my time comes, I'm going to try it with an open mind. Judging from how my body is starting to feel, my time is going to be soon. But you know, Jake, that there is more to us being together than just making whoopee. We can make this world into something special; we can make it a world of tolerance and true equality.
"It is obvious to everyone that you are destined to accomplish great things. We want to help. Trish has already started a project of compiling everything we know about the future. I am writing down what I can remember and we want you to do the same."
Leslie looked at Trish and nodded.
"Tell him about it, Trish," she said.
Trish took up the narrative.
"The idea is to compile a book of sorts, broken down by year. Each of us will write down everything we know about it, and then we'll discuss the events of that year to see if we can jog each other's memory. Once a year is complete, we'll move on to the next. It will give us a guideline for what we need to do or avoid. Leslie has an amazing memory of specific events and so does Nina."
Jake told them he thought that was a great idea; he said he would start writing what he knew immediately. Then Jake told them about his conversation with Mary and Helen about the legacy he had apparently inherited from his grandfather. Melissa rolled her eyes at him when he finished.
"Are you saying that you have to take care of a bunch more women now?" she asked.
Jake laughed and told her he did not think it would be that often or that many. He said that the main point was the connection with his grandfather and Ireland. He was skeptical about the mystic side of his conversation with his mom and aunt but, with all that had happened to him, he was not ruling anything out.
Trish chimed in with her thoughts.
"It's good not to dismiss what they told you. I've studied other cultures enough to know that there is usually a basis in fact for people's beliefs. The idea of clans and clan chiefs is how the Irish and Scots survived some rough times. The clans were scattered and isolated but had some contact with each other. If an especially gifted chief arose he would become part of legend, double so for a string of such chiefs. You definitely need to check this out. Who knows, it might be another avenue towards what we want to accomplish."
What Trish said made sense to everyone so it was decided that Jake would travel to Ireland as soon as he had the time.
The talk then turned to business. HERZ had taken off and was now operating at three locations. The biggest impediment to an even faster expansion was finding staff to keep the quality of service high. Trish, Jake's sister Debbie, and his cousin Claudia were now using the Palmdale flagship HERZ as a training center. They would recruit staff for a location and bring them to Palmdale to teach them the ropes. Jake suggested they could more effectively assemble a team that traveled to the other locations and trained the staff in their own facility. Trish readily agreed and said she would talk to Debbie and Claudia about it. HERZ was taking on a life of its own. The message of vitality and empowerment that HERZ imparted resonated with the women much better than that of the strident women's libbers.
TnT was now a major factor in Central Florida. Chip Thornton had given Melissa a five year extension to vote his shares so Melissa had pulled Thornton Development under the umbrella of TnT businesses. The minnow had swallowed the whale, so to speak. TnT now consisted of TnT automotive, Thornton Development, Maui Jake's, HERZ, Data On Time, Air Erika, and McClelland Pharmaceuticals. All were making some serious money except DOT Com. TnT Automotive was now operating eleven dealerships. The innovative customer service and fair pricing made the dealerships the place to buy a new car. TnT had major clout with the Japanese auto makers, especially Honda. Honda was financing the construction of dealerships for TnT in Atlanta, Dallas, and New Orleans. Melissa said the mobile training team idea would work for dealerships as well.
They wrapped up their discussions by early afternoon and lazed around the pool for the rest of the afternoon. That night they tried out their new sleeping arrangements that included Leslie in the big bed. Jake still had a hard time separating Leslie's mental age from her physical appearance. His women laughed at him when he came to bed wearing pajama bottoms.
"I'm actually sixty-seven years old; yours won't be the first penis I've ever seen," Leslie said.
Jake shrugged and shucked off the pajamas. He blushed furiously when Leslie said, "Ohh, that's a big one," in her best little girl voice.
Sleeping arrangements had only one rule, Melissa insisted on always being in the middle and next to Jake. Leslie was in heaven sharing the bed after sleeping alone for so long. When her partners made love, it did not bother her. She was a patient woman and knew that her time was coming. She was already feeling the first stirrings of her impending second womanhood. It was nicer this time knowing what the flashes of longing really meant. She might not be able to participate in the love-making but she sure loved the share of snuggling she received as she fell asleep cuddled up to Jake.
Jake snapped out of his reverie when the stewardess asked them what they wanted to drink. Melissa ordered champagne, as did Trish. Jake and Leslie settled for a Tab. When the stew brought their drinks, Melissa got a gleam in her eye and whispered something to the young flight attendant. The diminutive oriental woman, Nicole her nametag said, smiled and nodded her head. When Jake asked what they were talking about, he received the standard, 'girl talk, you wouldn't be interested' disclaimer. After they finished their drinks Melissa stood up and took Jake's hand.
"Come with me," she said, tugging his arm.
They walked back to the flight attendants galley where the pretty, young stewardess stood smiling conspiratorially. She swept back a thick drape as they approached and Melissa pulled Jake into the darkened alcove. Melissa reached under her dress and shimmied out of her panties then plastered a kiss on him that took his breath away.
"I'm so hot to do this up here, Jake, that I'm dripping. Nichole told me I get little wings and everything," she enthused.
The alcove was a rest area for the flight attendants on long trips. It had two of the large seats that were in the first class cabin. Jake spun Muffy around and bent her over one of the chairs. After fumbling his rampant dick out of his fly, he lined it up with her wet little quim. She gasped when he slid home in one smooth continuous stroke. Melissa, as always, was talkative during sex.
"Uhm, wouldn't it be wonderful if we made Jake, Junior, up here?" she said.
Jake gave her an especially full thrust to show his agreement. Melissa was raised onto her tippy-toes by his stroke.
"I can see my man likes that idea; but you need to save some energy, Baby. Wifey kinda promised Trish a turn, and I might have said we'd do Nicole the stewardess for not making us use the bathroom."
The skies were definitely friendly that day. When Jake finally made it back to his seat, Leslie snickered at him and rolled her eyes. Jake shrugged his shoulders; he was just a pawn in his women's nefarious schemes.
They landed in Honolulu at exactly four-forty-five. They deplaned past a smiling Nicole. Melissa and Trish were proudly wearing little gold-colored airplanes pinned to their shirts.
"Come again," Nicole said archly as Jake walked by.
Jake cracked up when Leslie asked Trish, "Why didn't I get a pin, mommy," in her best little girl voice as they stood waiting to exit.
Jake finally dragged the giggling women down to the baggage carousel to retrieve their luggage. Melissa nudged Jake as he was watching for their bags. Jake thought she was going to give him more mile-high grief but she just pointed to a young Polynesian guy holding a sign that said 'TURNER'. Jake walked over to the guy and stuck out his hand.
"I'm Jake Turner," he said.
He was going to address the man by his name but his tongue would not twist around the vowels. The muscular man laughed at his discomfort.
"Iokepa Kekoa, Mr. Turner," he said "but you can call me Kepa. I'm here from the Ritz-Carlton."
"I can only call you Kepa if you call me Jake, otherwise I'll have to keep massacring your last name."
Kepa laughed good-naturedly.
"Fair enough, Jake; let's get your bags."
Loading their baggage was easy, as Melissa had told them to travel light. She said everyone could buy appropriate clothing once they arrived. Jake was the only one who really packed a suitcase. He was planning on dressing as he always had; so he figured the clothes he owned were fine. The women had small bags, make up cases, and credit cards. They were ready for anything.
Kepa led them out to the curb where another man in a Hawaiian shirt waited. Kepa explained that he, himself was an assistant manager at the hotel, and the other man was the limo's driver. The manager had assigned Kepa to ride heard on rich mainland tourists this week. He had dreaded the job until he met Jake; actually, he amended with a grin, until he met Trish. Jake and Melissa had introduced Trish and Leslie as their friend and her daughter.
Kepa kept up a steady stream of funny commentary on the trip to the Ritz. He said that someone had called the hotel manager and specified that Jake and his party were to be given the deluxe treatment. Mitzi Walker being super efficient again, thought Jake. Kepa was a pleasant surprise; Trish took an immediate shine to him and started giving him the treatment. She asked Kepa about his name, he told her that it translated to Joe the Warrior in English. Kepa was a big strapping man in his middle twenties. He was from the big island of Hawaii.
Kepa was working at the Ritz learning the hospitality industry with an eye on opening his own place on land his family owned near Hilo. Kepa said that if you had to put up with the tourists you might as well get some of their money for your trouble. Jake told him that they felt the same way where he was from in Florida. The difference was that if you could get to Hawaii you must have some money to spend, the same was not true around Daytona. Their lively debate on fleecing tourists ended when the limo pulled into the circular entry drive of the Ritz.
The Ritz-Carlton Waikiki was the newest edition to the famed hotel empire. The designers had created an old world hotel with a tropical ambiance. The Turners' suite turned out to be one of five beachside tropical bungalows set off to the side of the main hotel. The place was outstanding; it had all the modern amenities concealed by bamboo and thatch. As soon as they got to the room, the women kidnapped Kepa to take them shopping. They were back in an hour loaded down with loot from the hotel's boutique. Kepa looked dazed as Trish held onto his arm laughing about something. The girls went to change for dinner while Jake entertained Kepa.
"Man, you are a lucky dude, Jake. Those are three amazing wahines. They went straight to the dresses they wanted, tried them on, bought them if they fit and left. I've never seen women that decisive," Kepa said.
Jake agreed and the two men sat around bull-shitting. Kepa said that Maui was nice, but the big island of Hawaii was spectacular. Jake asked how they would go about getting there and if Kepa would show them the sights if they went. Kepa said he would be glad to show them around. The women returning interrupted their conversation. All three looked terrific in their new brightly colored Muumuus. The trio could pass for natives with their dark skin and black hair. Jake whistled in appreciation as they preened around him.
"Ok Hubby, enough gawking. You two handsome men need to take us out and feed us," Melissa said.
They had a great meal at the Ritz's restaurant. Kepa told them he would see them tomorrow around ten-ish and split. Jake and the ladies were bushed; it was only eight in the evening local time but it was one in the morning to them. They had been up and traveling for almost twenty hours. They went back to their cottage blinking their eyes and yawning. The cottage had a king-sized bed in the master bedroom so they would still be able to sleep together. Leslie stayed in the bedroom with Jake while the older women hit the bathrooms to get ready for bed. Leslie was comfortable undressing around Jake so she pulled her colorful dress off her head and crawled into bed in her cotton panties.
Leslie was about five feet tall now. She was still thin, but was starting to fill out some. Her latte skin was unblemished and smooth as silk.
"You are growing up more and more, Les," Jake said.
Leslie laughed at that and pulled back her shoulders. Her breasts were just starting to bud.
"I know; by the time school starts I'll be wearing a bra. I don't think they'll get as big as mine were before -- but then, neither will my butt. I think I'll hit puberty sometime in the next six months or so, which should be interesting. It's funny how I have all the strong emotional cravings about sex from before but I am just starting to feel the physical ones."
She took Jakes hand and brought it to her small little breast. Jake thumbed her nipple and she sighed contentedly.
"My breasts were never super-sensitive before -- but these are. I play with them all the time and get tingles and goose bumps. Will you promise to do this for me a lot? I'll make it up to you someday; I promise."
"No need to make it up to me, Les; I enjoy making you feel good. But you are going to have to wait until your body catches up to your brain before much else happens, I'm afraid."
"Yea, I know; and I know you would never do anything to hurt me even if I begged for it. That's why we all love you so much; you are a big sweet teddy bear."
Leslie rolled over and was asleep instantly. Jake tucked her in and went into the living room. Trish and Melissa joined him a few minutes later. Melissa plopped into his lap and kissed him.
"We heard you and Leslie talking, Baby. Trish and I agree with her. You are a cuddly teddy bear. You are so big and strong, yet so gentle and kind."
Jake did not know if he wanted the reputation of being a teddy bear or not.
"You all need to keep that information to yourselves; I don't imagine that cuddly is high up on the list of leadership traits," he said.
"It is with us women, and that's half the electorate," Trish said emphatically, as they headed for the bedroom.
The time difference had them up and at the beach by seven-thirty. The beach was great but not that much nicer than Palmdale or Daytona. At breakfast, they decided that they would take Kepa up on the offer to see the big island of Hawaii. Melissa strolled to the concierge desk to make some arrangements. The concierge was a little skeptical about fulfilling her requests. After all, Melissa was a very young woman and her bill was already in the thousands. He called American Express' verification service; he told them her charges and asked for her limit. After a thirty second pause, a very enlightened concierge was hustling to make sure anything Melissa wanted would happen without delay.
Kepa walked in while Melissa was with the concierge so she asked him where they should stay. Kepa told her the best, without a doubt, was the Volcano House Hotel on the grounds of the Kilauea Volcano National Park. Melissa said that is what we wanted to do and Kepa replied he would make it happen. The concierge said he had a plane chartered for tomorrow at nine in the morning; it was about a ninety minute flight to the Hilo airport. Kepa got on the phone and called his cousin on the big island. He had a double room for them in fewer than twenty minutes. Kepa, Jake would learn, was the Hawaiian equivalent to Tiny Johnson, the gun shop owner; he knew everyone and they all owed him a favor.
The impending trip caused the women to have to go on another shopping spree. They left Jake to his own devices and took off in the limo with Kepa. Jake hung out at the beach reading and snoozing under the shade of a big umbrella. It was the first time in his recent memory that he had absolutely nothing to do. Jake was trying to read his dog-eared copy of Quo Vadis. He figured it was taking him about the same amount of time to read Vinicius' story in Hawaii as it took Henryk Sienkiewicz to write it in Poland in the 1890's. Jake was just arriving at the cottage for a well-deserved nap when the womenfolk and a heavily laden Kepa walked up from the opposite direction. Jake feigned interest in all the quaint shops Kepa had taken them to and said he loved the aloha shirts they had picked out for him. It was a strange effect - having to don some really outrageous print shirts to become less conspicuous.
Kepa said he was taking them out tonight, but that it would be an early evening. He was excited about showing them around his home island and wanted them well rested for the experience. He would be back at six for them he said as he departed.
Jake did get a nap that afternoon; Melissa joined him while Trish and Leslie went down to the beach. Melissa covered his body with hers as they snoozed. Her hair was fanned across his chest and her breath gentle on his cheek.
Leslie woke Jake up at five; Muffy was already up and showered. Jake stood under the pelting, needle-fine spray, as all three women got ready in the bathroom. It was entertaining to watch and listen to them as they bustled about. Jake guessed it was a woman thing to get ready in a gaggle since there was a bathroom down the hall not in use. He was amused that even Leslie was in the de rigueur uniform of a towel around her waist. He knew what was expected of him so he lathered up his face and competed for a space in front of the mirror. He moaned and groaned the whole time as he was repeatedly jostled; but he loved it and they all knew it.
The girls all wore new colorful muumuus again that night with a dapper Jake sporting one of his new shirts. Kepa arrived at six on the dot and miraculously the women were not only ready but looked spectacular. Kepa took them to a restaurant off the beaten path so they could be served delicious Hawaiian fare. Jake ate until he thought he would burst.
The crowning event of the night, however, was when Kepa took them to Duke's Night Club to see Don Ho perform. Kepa greeted the hostess and introduced her to his group as his cousin Leilani. Leilani led them to a table near the stage with a big 'Reserved' sign on it. Don was at the keyboard of his Hammond Organ gabbing with the crowd when they sat down. Don nodded to Kepa and gave him the 'aloha' sign by extending the pinky and thumb on his right hand. Kepa explained that the aloha sign was meant as a greeting to someone considered family.
When Don took a break, Kepa excused himself and went up on stage to talk to the singer. He gestured to the table a couple of times and Don nodded his understanding. Kepa sat back down and refused to divulge what they had talked about. When Don returned for his next set, they all found out as Don introduced Melissa and Jake as newlyweds. Jake and a furiously blushing Melissa stood up and waved. After they were seated, Don asked Leslie to come up on stage and help him with a song. It was a bit he used every show; he did not have a clue how well Leslie sang until she opened her mouth.
Don's act was to sing a line of his hit song Tiny Bubbles then have his guest sing it. They would alternate each line throughout the song. Don explained this to Leslie and the audience, then he sang the first line. Leslie repeated it, her sweet alto voice a perfect counterpoint to his rich baritone. Don Ho had had some famous people helping him with that song, everyone from Tony Bennett to Peggy Lee. Yet, this girl was easily as good as any of them. They received a loud ovation after the song. Don talked to Leslie a minute then announced:
"Ladies and Gentlemen -- Miss Leslie Wellington. Let's give her a big hand so she'll sing another song for us."
After the applause died down, Leslie crooned Patsy Cline's sentimental, I Fall to Pieces, at first a capella, then Ho and his excellent band, Alii, joined in.
The next morning they flew to Hilo airport. Kepa snagged them a rental car and drove the thirty miles to Volcano National Park. Jake and his crew were amazed at the beauty of the countryside and being from pancake flat Florida, impressed with the changes in elevation. The park was four-thousand feet above sea level and mostly covered by verdant tropical rain forest. Kepa got them checked in and then went to visit with his family. Jake and the women changed into hiking clothes and set off exploring using a map provided by the hotel. The hiking trail they chose took them to the edge of the lava field caused by last year's eruption of Kilauea Volcano and then past a beautiful waterfall. After an afternoon of exploring, they dined at the hotel and then hung out on their lanai enjoying the tropical breezes and spectacular night sky. They went to bed with a sense of renewal evoked by the serenity of this magical place.
The next day Kepa took them to the summit of Mauna Loa. Jake was amazed at the size of the volcano. Kepa told him that Mauna Loa covered most of the island of Hawaii; it was the largest volcano in the world, from its base under the ocean to its summit Mauna Loa was over ten miles tall. They visited the observatory on Mauna Loa that evening. Another cousin of Kepa's showed them around. Jake figured the Kekoas must be a large family; you could not kick over a volcanic rock without uncovering one. Kepa had his fiancée Kamele with him that day. She could have been Trish's twin; she even had the same wild thick hair.
"You are not the only one who likes big girls," Kepa told Jake with a wry grin.
Melissa fell in love with the island. The peace and serenity were perfect for her. When Kepa said he wanted to eventually build a Polynesian village type hotel on fifty acres he owned near Kilauea Park, Melissa sat down with him and talked business. She wrote him a check for five grand to get drawings and start design work. Three years later the Village of the Goddess resort opened. It took three more years for the Village of the Goddess to become the most popular wedding and honeymoon destination in the world.
Kepa got the idea for packaging a traditional Hawaiian wedding with a honeymoon at his resort because of Melissa. On the sixth and final day on the island, Melissa, Trish, and Leslie dressed in the native long white wedding dresses called holokus and wore haku leis on their heads. Jake put on a pair of white pants, a white shirt and a lei of maile and ilima flowers. On the rim of the caldron of Kilauea Volcano, the four committed themselves to each other. Kepa had told Melissa that Kilauea was the home of the Goddess Pele, a promise made before her was said to be unbreakable.
Kepa told Jake that he was the luckiest man alive to have the three women in his life. He was the big kahuna. Jake had to agree.
It was a sad day when they had to leave to return to the real world. The bright spot was that they would be coming back often to Hawaii. Kepa and Melissa were partners in his hotel venture and Kepa was going to franchise a Maui Jake's. Kepa's parting words stuck with Jake for the rest of his life.
"A hui hou, malama pono," Kepa said, "Take care of your soul until we meet again..."
A week after their return, Jake and Melissa were back in school for their last semester and the days dragged. Jake did get good news when Cecil Barrett called and said his revised baseball contract was accepted. Cecil said Mr. Steinbrenner was even impressed by Jake's commitment to his military obligation.
On August 20, 1974, Melissa and Jake both graduated from college. Coincidently, Melissa received her pregnancy confirmation via morning sickness. Melissa signed up for the evening MBA program, wearing maternity clothes even before she started showing. Melissa's pregnancy put the women in a nesting tizzy. Melissa hired an architect to design an addition for the house to fill the area between the master and the west wing with a nursery complex. Quincy Nobles took charge of the construction, determined that it was going to be perfect for Missus Melissa. Quincy also set about building a cradle for the baby in his shop while his wife Tanya started hand sewing the baby a quilt. Both items turned out to be museum quality and were passed down from one little Turner to the next.
On August 22, Daddy Jake reported to the Yankee's instructional facility in Tampa for a week of work with a pitching coach. The pitching coach was none other than Norman McMurray, a baseball legend nicknamed Nasty McNutty. He got his nickname because of his bizarre antics on the mound and for his propensity to aim a fastball at your head if he thought you were crowding the plate. McMurray taught Jake more about the art of pitching in that week than Jake had learned in two lifetimes before then. Mc Murray convinced Jake that he owned the plate and six inches on either side of it. If a batter intruded into that space the only recourse, according to His Nastiness, was a high and tight fastball delivered with an evil look.
Jake joined the Yankee's Florida League Single A team for the last month of the season. He went four and oh with three shutouts. His performance got the attention of the Yankee's brass and he was invited to Spring Training next year.
While Jake was setting the minor leagues on fire, Alfred Tremont was doing the same to the investing world. Alfred's coups in oil contracts not only made him filthy rich, it solidified his position as the preeminent trader on the Chicago Board of Trade.
Alfred and Michelle bought a palatial estate on two-hundred acres outside the city. They had some of the rooms outfitted to accommodate their unusual tastes in sex. They also had the house wired with hidden cameras and recording equipment. Alfred could indulge his increasingly cruel urges to his hearts content and film the events for future blackmail use. Alfred found a surprising number of people in positions of power who shared his kinks. Over the years, he would accumulate a vast library of films of politicians, members of the judiciary, and other opinion leaders at their worst. Alfred was soon able to influence legal decisions and legislation that affected his agenda, from behind the scenes.
Michelle Tremont was with him one-thousand percent. She saw nothing wrong with using her surgically enhanced body and chemically enhanced libido to gain him favors. He was her master and she was his favorite slave, which was enough justification for her. Michelle became the consummate seductress; she could get a man or woman in a compromising position in an amazingly short time. Of course, it did not hurt that Michelle was almost as kinky as her husband.
Both Jake and Alfred's plans for the future were moving ahead
smartly. Trouble was fermenting, though, because the expanding worlds
of the Turners and the Tremonts were bound to begin overlapping sooner
or later.