Chapter 22
Jake tried not to act too excited about his life; but, Jeez Louise, it was so good -- how could he not. He loved playing baseball, even in the low minors. He was not crazy about the traveling or the Spartan motel lifestyle; thankfully, his mainstay wife would make it tolerable. Melissa rented a furnished condominium for them in Tampa. She stayed with him while he was at the training facility working with McMurray and stayed for the five game home stand that followed Jake's assignment to the Tampa Yankees. Melissa came to every game he pitched, at home or on the road. She sat with the other players' wives behind the dugout and cheered his every pitch or time at bat.
Jake stayed at the ranch for five days while the Yanks played the Daytona Cubs twice and then the Lakeland Tigers. Jake pitched one of the games against the Cubs at historic Jackie Robinson Stadium. He had family and friends at the game as well as a large contingent of well-wishers from Palmdale and Stetson. Jake sent them home happy by throwing a one-hitter and frosting the cake by hitting a homerun. He bached it for the next six days on the road; then he and Muffy were back at the Tampa condominium for a week. Jake missed the last three-day road trip of the season because it was a drill weekend for his Guard unit and the start of an entirely new and unexpected adventure.
On Saturday morning, September 28, 1974 Jake and his squad were pulling preventive maintenance on their M113A1, Armored Personnel Carrier, when the company clerk came for Jake.
"Sergeant Turner, the company commander wants to see you ASAP," the clerk said in the officious tone that all clerks seemed to affect.
Jake turned the detail over to his senior fire-team leader, Corporal Mendoza, and followed the clerk to the orderly room. Jake reported to his company commander and was surprised to see the battalion commander there as well.
"At ease, Sergeant," the CO said, "Have a seat; Colonel Rogers wants to talk to you."
Jake turned to the battalion commander and waited for him to speak.
"Congratulations on graduating from college, Sergeant Turner, and also for signing with the Yankees. I watched the game you pitched against the Cubs; you mowed them down. Captain Green here tells me that you had a clause put in your contract that allows you to still pull your regular drills. You are a most unusual young man, Sergeant, and, thank God, unusual in a good way. You are hands-down the best soldier either of us have ever commanded; so, when an opportunity came up to send a soldier to OCS, we nominated you. If you accept, the only caveat is that you have to fill a vacancy in the class that starts just ten days from now. The soldier from State Headquarters that was supposed to go broke his leg in a car wreck. The Adjutant General wanted someone who could make a good showing on short notice. I convinced him that you were that soldier."
"Thank you, sir; that's quite an honor. I need to talk this over with my wife, however, before I can give you an answer," Jake said in an even tone that did not betray his inner excitement at going to Officer Candidate School.
"Of course, son, I know how it works. Give your lovely wife my regards. We are going to need your answer tomorrow, however; this is a hot issue at State Headquarters right now. General Pulaski doesn't want to lose one of the few seats we get at OCS."
"I understand, sir; you will have my answer in the morning," Jake said.
After he left the orderly room, Jake had a chance to reflect on the offer. He definitely wanted to go. He had turned down OCS in his former career to go to Vietnam with his buddies. Back then it had probably been a wise decision; no way was he officer material then, he was wild and a little crazy. This time he was ready and, if you are in a parade, why not lead it. His big concern was leaving his Muffy at home with a bun in the oven while he went off to play soldier. Jake stewed about it the rest of the day as he and his squad practiced immediate action drills on the large field next to the armory.
When Jake told Melissa about the OCS offer, her reaction was typical Muffy.
"You're going, no question. You just aren't going without me, soldier boy," she said.
Melissa said that she would make arrangements for her night class with the professor. She was undeterred when Jake told her he would have to live in the barracks for at least the first month. They would spend as much time together as they could; she accepted that he would be busy.
The other big news from back at the ranch concerned Leslie. The women had concluded that ordinary school was a waste for Leslie. The middle school staff agreed and wanted to advance her to high school. Trish concluded that home schooling was an even better choice. Leslie was happy with the arrangement. Trish purchased a complete seventh-grade curriculum and Leslie spent an hour or two a day meeting its requirements. She also took piano lessons three days a week and voice instruction on the other two weekdays.
By the time they went to bed that night, the women had a plan. Jake would report to Fort Benning as directed. Melissa and Leslie would come up a couple of weeks later and find them a place to stay. Trish would hold down the home fort while they were gone. She would come to visit as much as she could and would stay in Georgia during the times that Melissa had to return to Palmdale for business or school. It was a good plan, although it would take some coordinating.
Jake gave his confirmation to Captain Green the next morning. Green was an OCS officer himself so he gave Jake the lowdown on what to expect and what to avoid. The OCS class he was attending was branch immaterial, which meant that Jake would be commissioned a second lieutenant without a branch designation. Jake would attend the Infantry Officer's Basic Course thru the National Guard. As a result, his OCS would be fifteen weeks long. He would return a week before his reporting date for spring training. Jake went to the supply room and drew four new sets of fatigues and a new pair of boots. He would pick up anything else he needed at Benning. The CO cut him loose early and Jake went home to start getting his ducks in a row.
After a whirlwind week of preparation, Jake headed out Saturday morning at six. It was an eight-hour drive to Fort Benning; he wanted to arrive early in the afternoon so he could have a day and a half to get settled in. The drive was uneventful and uninspiring; the landscape rolling past the car windows was the same repetitious scene of cotton fields and pecan groves. Jake made good time and rolled into the Victory Drive Gate at two-thirty. The MP at the gate gave him directions to the Infantry Center and School and the building number that housed the OCS orderly room.
Jake checked in at the orderly room. The Charge of Quarters issued him a set of linens and gave him his room assignment. Jake went to the third floor, found his double room, and started hauling his things up from his car. He tottered into the room with his second load when he noticed that his new roommate was back. He stuck his hand out and introduced himself.
"Jake Turner," he said, "looks like you are stuck with me for the next few months."
"Morris Turner, but call me Mo. I hope the cadre will be able to tell us apart," Morris said.
Jake had to laugh at that. Mo Turner was about five-foot six, wiry, and black. Their cadre platoon sergeant dubbed them 'Turner, Mutt' and 'Turner, Jeff' after the comic strip pals created by Bud Fisher and inked for almost half a century by Al Smith.
Jake and Mo were linked together as room-mates because their names were next to each other on the class roster. They were likewise paired up for every activity for the remainder of the school. That was just fine for both of them because they got along well together and were an effective team. Mo Turner was as motivated as anyone Jake had ever met. He was a classic, driven overachiever. Mo had worked hard for his seat in OCS. He applied and was accepted while serving as a squad leader in the Eighty-Second Airborne Division. He had applied once before but had been turned down because he did not have two years of college. He doggedly attended night school for three years to earn the required sixty credits.
Morris Turner's one big problem was being separated from his wife and son. Because he was on temporary duty at OCS en route to a new assignment, he had to give up his base housing at Fort Bragg. His wife was staying with her folks in Spartanburg, South Carolina, a long six-hour drive from Benning. Mo was a family man and missed them terribly. Jake mentioned Mo's plight to Melissa as they were talking on the phone one evening during his first week and wondered if they could do anything about it. Muffy said she would give it some thought; that was all Jake needed to hear.
Officer Candidate School was a great experience for Jake. His classmates were all superior soldiers and the course was challenging. The first two weeks were intentionally rigorous and demanding, designed to weed out the marginal candidates. They lost about ten percent of the class; those that remain were top-notch. Jake and Mo were both at the top of the class competing in friendly rivalry for the number one position. They helped each other out; there was no bitterness in their competition.
Melissa and Leslie arrived in Columbus on Jake's second Friday at OCS around noon. Dave Larson had flown her up in the Lear. She had a rental Corvette, in her signature red, waiting for her; the paperwork was ready to sign and the nose of the car was pointed to the highway. She and Leslie were able to check into the Marriott less than an hour after they touched down. Dave loaded the women's bags into a cab and sent it after them. Melissa started calling real estate agents after she and Leslie had lunch at the motel's restaurant. The third call netted an agent who was not condescending or dismissive. Melissa made an appointment for three and took directions to the man's office. By three-fifteen, she had his total rapt attention as she discussed her needs; Melvin Randolph did not become a million dollar a year agent by being stupid or slow on the uptake.
"Mrs. Turner, if you and Mr. Turner will meet me here at noon tomorrow, I will have at least three properties, probably more, to show you - one or more, I hope, will meet your needs," he said.
Melissa and Leslie left the real estate office at four and headed towards the base. They were both about to explode trying to hold in their excitement about seeing Jake. Melissa got directions from the MP at the front gate and headed towards the Infantry School. Leslie and Melissa got a good laugh at how hard he had tried not to look at Melissa's legs as he leaned down to talk to her through the window. At five-oh-five, the two women were standing at the edge of the company area waiting for the formation to be dismissed. As soon as the platoon leader said dismissed, Jake made a bee-line to where they were standing. He swept Melissa up in his arms and kissed her fiercely.
"I've missed you like crazy, Muffy," he said.
"I'm here now, Baby," Melissa said. "Here where I belong."
Jake disentangled himself from Melissa and pulled a smiling Leslie into his arms.
"And I missed you too, my little sweetie; I always feel better when you are around."
Jake kissed her. He meant it to be a chaste buss but Leslie had other ideas. She slipped her tongue into his mouth. When he pulled back, she flashed her crooked little grin.
"I love you, Jacob Turner; and I missed you more than I thought I ever would."
The three talked for a minute before Jake went into the barracks to get Mo. His classmates ribbed him about not hurting himself over the weekend as he bounded up the stairs. Jake changed into jeans and a sweatshirt, grabbed the bag he had packed for the weekend, and pulled a reluctant Mo outside with him. Jake introduced Mo to Melissa and Leslie. Morris Turner was impressed with both ladies. Seeing Jake so happy with his family made him miss his own even more. Melissa immediately saw how he felt and took pains to make him more comfortable. She invited him to dinner with them and would not take no for an answer.
They piled into Jake's Honda and headed for a steakhouse near the base. Melissa got Mo to talk about his family. Mo told her his wife, Charlene, was a school teacher on hiatus from the classroom until their son Michael was in school himself. Like Jake, Melissa and Leslie took an immediate liking to Mo.
"Morris, I think I have a solution to two of our problems. Leslie is very bright and regular school was not doing much for her. So, we have set up a home-school program for her. I dread the idea of having to interview and vet a new tutor for our stay here; do you think Charlene would consider moving down here to work with Leslie if I found us two apartments close together?" Melissa asked.
Mo looked at Jake quizzically. Jake had never mentioned money and lived like the rest of his classmates. Now his wife was talking about hiring his wife as a private teacher. Melissa caught his confused look.
"Morris, money is not a problem for me and you would be helping us out. If my husband says you are a good guy, I know it's a fact. I'll bet that Charlene is even nicer than you. What do you say? Will you at least mention it to her?"
Mo agreed quickly, it was the answer to his prayers. Jake looked on happily; leave it to Muffy to solve both their problems in one fell swoop. The rest of the meal went great. Mo was animated and excited about getting his family here. He was also amazed and intrigued by Leslie. It was obvious that she was not all white. When he asked her how she was related to Jake, she smiled warmly before answering.
"Jacob is my adopted father. He saved me from being in an orphanage after my parents were killed in a car wreck. He is the most special man in the world; one day he is going to be president," she said with absolute conviction.
Jake blushed down to the roots of his hair as both women looked at him adoringly. Mo's already high opinion of his roommate went up another notch. They finished their meal and Jake drove Morris back to the billets. Mo thanked them profusely as he got out of the car; he could not wait until he could call Charlene with the news.
Jake followed Muffy back to the suite at the Marriott. Leslie said she was going to watch television in the small living room while Jake and Melissa got reacquainted. Melissa's cries of passion soon had her not actually watching the television -- with her panties off and her nimble fingers under her dress. With practiced ease, she fingered herself to a delicious orgasm as Melissa wailed her release in the bedroom. Jacob, she decided, was going to have to start taking care of her needs also. After all, she was one of his women and it was his duty.
A very satisfied Melissa came out to get Leslie for bed an hour later. Melissa made an exception tonight and had Jake sleep in the middle. Leslie took Jake's hand and pulled it to her breast. She sighed contentedly as he tweaked her nipple. Her breasts were still growing and were more sensitive than ever. His touch was infinitely more pleasurable than when she did it herself. She was content with just this for the time being, but soon she was going to introduce him to the rest of her body. Just the thought of that made her lubricate. She would be thirteen in a few weeks and puberty was just around the corner. She seriously doubted there had ever been anyone more ready than she was.
The next afternoon, the three went looking at rental properties with realtor Melvin Randolph. Jake was rapidly tiring of the exercise after the third place that Muffy turned down. The ones she had rejected had all looked good to him. The fourth property was a newly remodeled duplex in a quiet neighborhood about four miles from the base. Melissa perked up as soon as she saw it. After a tour of the inside, she said it was ideal and they would take both sides. Back at Melvin's office, they called the duplex's owner. He wanted a one year lease, Melissa countered with six months cash up front. After a little haggling, they settled on seven months, paid in advance. Melissa wrote out a check and gave it to Melvin who, in return, handed her the keys.
Their next stop was the newly opened Columbus branch of Turner Furniture and Appliance Superstore. Melissa met with one of the staff designers and told her what she wanted. The designer was young and new in the business. Her eyes grew big at Melissa's request that she take charge to completely furnish and decorate the two apartments.
"Make them nice to very nice," Melissa told her, "but not ostentatious."
Melissa gave the woman a retainer and carte blanche. Melissa's only requirement was that the apartments needed to be ready to move into in two weeks and that, when they moved in, everything should be there except for groceries in the fridge. Melissa wanted them to be able to move in as soon as Jake was allowed to live off base. During the whole transaction, Jake never mentioned that he was a member of the family that owned the store. It was a testament to TFA corporate policy that he did not have to invoke the family name to get exceptional service. The designer did notice the name on the check; but any hint of connection was swept away by exciting thoughts about having the freedom to do a great job and show her talents.
Jake, Melissa, and Leslie spent the rest of the afternoon exploring Columbus, Georgia. Columbus sat on the banks of the Chatahoochie River, which divides Georgia and Alabama; it started as a mill town powered by the swiftly flowing river. By now, most of the mills had closed and the sprawling military base sustained the city. Jake also took them across the river to Phoenix City, Alabama. Phoenix City once existed just to provide a diversity of vices to attract and then fleece soldiers from Fort Benning. Although cleaned up some by the mid-seventies, a GI still did not have to look hard to find a hooker or a floating craps game. Rumor had it that there were a couple of illegal casinos still in operation.
They ate a late supper in the motel restaurant, then headed up to their room. Once again, Jake and Melissa went to the bedroom while Leslie watched television. Jake knew he would never tire of making love to his wife; she was an incredibly passionate and skilled lover. He dipped his head down between her bronzed muscular thighs, and inhaled her addictively intoxicating aroma before he started to work with his tongue. Jake could have stayed south all night, eagerly lapping up Melissa's succulent juices, if she had not dragged him on top of her.
"Be in me, Jake, and hold me. I miss you so much when we're apart. I think the baby misses you too; I am queasier when we are separated, it's as if he's expressing his displeasure."
Jake chuckled as he buried himself in her. He rolled them over so she was on top. Melissa laid her head on his chest and sighed contentedly. They barely moved as they relished all the skin to skin contact and murmured words of love to each other. Muffy put her talented squeeze box to work, rhythmically massaging his hardness. Jake marveled at the control she had of her vaginal muscles and told her so.
"I hope Junior doesn't mess them up," she said. "I love doing this while you hold me."
As their passion mounted, Melissa sat up and put her hands flat on his chest. She stared in his eyes as she rose up and down.
"Watch me, Baby. Watch as I cum for you. You make me feel so good, so complete."
Melissa would grip his dick with her internal muscles as she rose up and then release him as she sank down. She was literally pulling the cum up from his balls, her eyes never leaving his. Jake was rapidly melting into those dark limpid pools. He tried to speed her up but she was not going to be hurried.
"Just relax, my husband, and let me do this for you; you do so much for me. See how my rhythm seems to become syncopated? That's me having little orgasms. Even the baby likes this rocking motion. I just hope we aren't poking him with your big dick."
Jake could not help pushing his hips up when she hit the bottom of her stroke. She was driving him nuts with her teasing pace. Melissa changed subject suddenly.
"Do you promise to still love me and make love to me even when I'm big and fat?" she asked.
Jake stopped thrusting and reached up to cup her face in both hands.
"Muffy, I'll be after you even as they try to wheel you to the delivery room. You know I am madly in love with you. Nothing that happens will ever change that fact. Besides, I can't wait until your boobs are all big and swollen with milk; you will be so sexy."
Melissa gurgled her approval as a bigger orgasm rocked her.
"I knew that was how you would feel; I just wanted to hear you say it."
Then she finally showed him some mercy as she sped up her motion and increased her milking action. Jake came so hard he saw stars. Melissa slumped off him and lay twitching from her own climax.
"Mmmm, that was so nice, baby," she said. "Now go take a shower and pay some attention to Leslie. Our thrashing around in here must be driving her crazy. And Jake, she only looks young; there is a fully grown mature woman inside her. Go make her happy."
"I'll shower and sit with her, Muffy; but I don't know about all the rest."
Melissa just shook her head at how obtuse he could be.
"You just don't get it, do you, hubby? Your women talk to each other about everything, we share everything, and I know what I'm talking about. Now quit being stubborn and go take care of your sweetie; she needs you."
Jake nodded and headed for the bathroom. He showered off, brushed his teeth, and slipped on his bathrobe. Ten minutes after leaving Muffy, he sat down on the couch next to Leslie. A languid Leslie was already in her naughty nightie, a cute little blue babydoll outfit that highlighted her budding body. Leslie climbed in Jake's lap and kissed him.
"You two are very loud when you make love. You have me all turned on. Feel how hard my nipples are," she said.
Jake slipped his hand under her loose top. Her nipples were indeed hard little pebbles on her small breasts. Leslie cooed in surprise when he pushed her nightie up and sucked her entire lemon sized breast into his mouth. She clutched his head tighter to her as he nipped her pencil eraser sized nipple. An electric current was running directly from her nipple to her damp vagina. She spread her legs apart and pushed Jake's hand up between them. Jake unfastened his lips from her breast and looked at her.
"Please touch me, Jacob; I really want you to. You can't imagine how hard it is for me to have to wait like this. Trish and Melissa are sweethearts; they get me off, but it doesn't satisfy me like I know you can. They are just too much like sisters to me."
Jake nodded and slipped his fingers under the leg band of her bottom. Leslie gasped as he gently played with her fine downy hair. The hair was a recent development, one more indication she was reaching puberty. Jake could not believe how wet she was as his finger slipped into her oily slit. She moaned as his finger sunk easily into her. Oh Lord, that felt good, he thought. Oh Lord, that felt good, she thought. She squirmed in his lap and smiled to herself as she felt his manhood harden against her grinding ass.
Jake lifted her off his lap and laid her on the couch. She raised her arms so he could pull off her top then lifted her hips as he slipped off her panties. He started to kiss her but she stopped him.
"Take off your robe; I want you naked too," she said.
Jake obliged her, then started kissing her. Leslie loved the feel of his lips on her. She had made a lot of love in her former life but could never remember lips scorching her skin the way Jacob's did. Then his head dipped between her slender thighs. He laved around her slit as he reintroduced his finger into her channel. Oh yes, this was what she needed, what she craved. As soon as his questing tongue touched her little clit, she exploded in her first orgasm. Her hips heaved upward and her heels drummed on his back as her breath whistled out of her.
Leslie had had men go down on her before, but they had done it as a duty, part of their obligation to satisfy her. Jake, on the other hand seemed to be doing it for the pleasure of it. He did not let up after she came. Instead, he cupped her hard little ass in his hand and really got after it. When he finally stopped, she had lost count of the number of orgasms she had experienced. She was as limp as a dishrag when he picked her up and carried her to bed. He laid her down behind Melissa and covered her up. She rolled over on her side and pushed her butt back against her sleeping friend. She was asleep before Jake could walk around the bed and lie down himself.
Sunday Leslie was in such a good mood that Melissa teased her mercilessly. Leslie did not care; she felt incredibly good. She told Jake she was sorry she did not last long enough to take care of him. Her smile got even bigger when he said the experience was perfect for him exactly as it happened.
Leslie and Melissa dropped Jake off at his barracks Sunday after dinner. Jake had a lot to do to get ready for the week. The women were flying home the next morning. They, along with Trish, would be back in ten days to get the duplex ready for everyone to move in - Melissa wondered if all they would really need to do was buy groceries.
Jake and Morris slogged through the next two weeks like salmon swimming up-stream. It was tough going, but they made it. After the fourth week of OCS, if you were in good academic standing and did not have too many demerits, you were allowed to live off-post, if you were married. You still had to maintain your space in the barracks and share work details, but at least you could go home to your family at night.
When Jake and Mo were dismissed at the end of the duty day Friday; they quickly packed a bag and headed for the duplex. Morris had not seen the place yet because Melissa wanted it to be a completed surprise for him. It for-ever-more was. Mo was speechless as Melissa and Leslie led him into the tastefully decorated apartment all set up for the Morris Turners to move into. Melissa handed him the keys and told him to look around while she showed Jake their apartment.
Jake loved the place, of course. He wandered from room to room marveling at how right the decorator had gotten it. The master bedroom was not very big and the king sized bed pretty much dominated the room. The second bedroom was decorated for a teenage girl with all white wicker furniture. The living room had a couch and recliner, a large color television, and, to Leslie's delight, a piano. The shared back yard held a picnic table and even a sand-box for Mo's son Michael. Melissa had the electric and phones already hooked up and switched on. Now all they needed was for Mo's family to arrive. Charlene was leaving Spartanburg early Saturday morning and would arrive around noon.
They all went out to dinner together and planned their weekend. Morris Turner was as impressed with Trish as he had been with Melissa and Leslie. That she was family was obvious from the way they all interacted. Jake teased all three women equally and they in turn gave as it right back to him. Jake caught Mo's looks and decided that he had better check with Muffy and Trish to see how much information about their relationship they wanted shared. It was going to be difficult to keep many secrets with Mo and his family living so close. During dinner, the women decided that they would go grocery shopping the next morning for enough food to make it through the weekend. On Monday, they would drag Charlene along too for what they needed for the long term.
Charlene Turner arrived the next day about one-thirty in the afternoon. Mo had talked about her so much it was as if Jake already knew both her and their son Michael. Charlene proved to be all Mo had said and then some. She was attractive, poised, smart, and friendly. Charlene loved the apartment but was skeptical about the idea that she would be doing something worthwhile and legal to earn it. Melissa, Trish, and Leslie took her next door to talk about it while Jake and Mo played with little Michael.
Ten minutes with Leslie convinced Charlene that she was indeed needed. She had never met a teen who came close to being as smart and talented as wild-haired little Leslie clearly was. Charlene eventually noticed the piano and asked who played. Melissa said Leslie was learning and that they were going to find her a music teacher and vocal coach next week.
"Didn't Morris tell you that I taught music?" Charlene asked.
The Turners and the Turners became the best of friends over the next month and a half. The women spent as much time together as Mo and Jake did on-base; everyone was continuously visiting back and forth. Charlene worked diligently with Leslie, three hours a day on classroom subjects and two on music. She taught Leslie how to sight-read music and worked with her on the technical aspects of singing. Leslie soaked it all in -- breath control, delivery, timing, and gesticulation. Leslie had the voice and Charlene taught her how to perform.
Jake and Mo were still at the top of their class, Jake slightly ahead because of his land navigation and field-craft skills. Jake was flat out good in the woods. He could navigate cross country with a map and compass better than his instructors, and, on patrol, he was a gliding wraith. The instructors at OCS were mostly Ranger School graduates and not easily impressed. Nonetheless, they all took note for future use of Jake's techniques, from his tight black leather gloves, to the flat black friction tape he used to secure and silence the sling of his M16 and web gear straps. Jake told the initially inquisitive and slightly suspicious cadre that he had learned all this from hunting with Quincy Nobles.
Leslie turned thirteen on November the fifth and started her period on November the twelfth. In the space of a week, she went from a girl to a young woman. Charlene and Melissa were there for her, but she really did not need any help. Charlene took the ease with which Leslie handled what was normally a frightening event as one more indication of the girl's uniqueness. Leslie passed into puberty and set sail for adulthood.
When the Infantry School broke for Christmas, the Florida Turners convinced Mo and Charlene to spend the holidays at the ranch. On December the nineteenth, Dave Larson and Erika flew in the twin-engine Cessna to pick them up. Mo and Charlene were incredulous when Leslie told them that Melissa and Jake actually owned a fleet of planes, including two jets.
Christmas was a whirlwind of children's parties and visiting friends and family. Jake played Santa for two days for almost a thousand kids. The party committee had really outdone themselves. Jake conscripted Mo to be an elf along with Leslie and young Nina Murphy. Mo was a whiz at getting the excited youngsters into a single well-behaved line. Jake figured if his room-mate could accomplish that feat, leading trained soldiers would be a snap for Brother Morris.
Jake spent some time with Rebecca Doane during his time home. Rebecca was a serious celebrity now as her novels came out of the carton as best sellers. LaMonte Dupree, Rebecca's editor, was now married to Katherine Doane, Rebecca's sister. Katherine's daughter, Rachael, was a happy and sweet toddler.
Faith and Hope were home from New York for the Christmas break. The twins were clearly going their separate ways now; Hope had even dyed her hair, it was hard for Jake to get used to her as a blonde. Faith told Jake that she was not attending Julliard after this year. She did not like either New York or the professional musician's lifestyle. She was going to enroll in Stetson and pursue a business career. In any event, Faith still felt the same about Jake as she had before leaving for school.
Jake and Faith spent a morning at the bungalow making love and talking. Faith told Jake that she had sampled a few men in New York with mixed results. The men for the most part got her off but her orgasms were not of the earth-shaking variety that Jake gave her. More importantly, she felt the need to be in on his plans to make the world a better place.
This was good news to Jake; he did not know exactly how, but felt she would play an important role in his future plans.
"Faith, if you really mean that, I want you on the team. Do you think you could maybe major in international relations instead of business? And maybe study Hebrew and Arabic if I hired you tutors? I am going to need an advisor on the Middle East no matter what I do. You are smart enough to be that someone if you prepared yourself for the job," he said.
Faith quickly agreed. It was an ambition she could sink her teeth into. She would love the challenge of learning a couple of different languages and cultures. Business out of the way, they got down to business of another sort. Faith showed her commitment to the cause by taking Jake around the world, eagerly and noisily taking him in her every orifice.
While they were in the bungalow, Jake noted the subtle signs of Helga's influence in the decor. Nothing big had changed, just an accent piece here and a picture there. The place looked and felt more like a second home to him now. Jake got a chuckle out of the one item that announced Helga's involvement. In the bedroom, a fairly large oil painting of a gloriously nude Helga now hung on the wall next to the painting of Liz.
Rewarding Helga for her efforts took almost a whole day. The highlight of which was Helga stretched out face down across his desk as Jake alternately spanked her with her wooden spoon and diddled her with the large knob on the spoon's handle.
All too soon, it was the third of January 1975 and time to go back to Fort Benning. Melissa and Trish had to stay in Palmdale for at least another week to wrap up some business. Charlene said she would look after Leslie for a week or two until one of them could shake loose. Leslie acted blasé about the prospect of having Jake to herself for a week or more but she was atwitter inside. She was still technically a virgin, much to her vexation; but she hoped Jake would remedy that for her. Melissa and Trish had both agreed that, if she felt ready, then it was time.
In Chicago, Alfred and Michelle Tremont ushered in the New Year with a grand masked ball at their mansion. The orgulous Tremonts loved throwing lavish parties that allowed them to flaunt their wealth. Why have it if you could not rub it in the faces of the proletariat? The masks were a smashingly successful device in that the anonymity they provide helped the Tremonts' carefully selected guests shed their inhibitions. As Alfred drove his cock into the Federal Reserve Bank president's wife, the woman's daughter was in a threesome with her father and Michelle. Alfred's short term cash flow problems were soon to disappear at very favorable rates.
The wait-staff at the Tremonts' party were from a group home that the Tremonts funded as an outwardly charitable cause. It surely was not a coincidence that all the home's residents were pretty and pliable.
Alfred's hold on Chicago was complete so he was expanding his base
of influence by currying favor with the currently out-of-favor
Republican National Committee. When Regan was elected, he planned to be
a major behind the scenes player in the national arena.