Chapter 7
Jake stepped off the Boeing 727 at Daytona International Airport Monday afternoon in a mellow mood. He had enjoyed his visit to Boston but was also happy to be home. He snagged his car out of long term parking and headed to the ranch, reflecting on his trip as he drove.
Saturday had been a fun day of sightseeing with Nina and Erika as they explored downtown Boston together. They visited all the tourist haunts including the Old North Church and the swan boats on the Commons. They ate a late lunch downtown then headed back to the Sullivans'. Sight-seeing was curtailed because Erika said that she wanted them to spend some significant quality time in the sack before they went to the Murphy's for supper.
Jake was lying on Nina's bed with a satisfied woman on each arm when he finally asked them how the big plan was going. Nina said that she and Sean Patrick were really hitting it off. Every minute they spent together seemed to draw them closer to each other. Nina told Jake that she and Sean Patrick had made out some but had not progressed much past that. She blushed when she admitted she was having a hard time taking it slow. Sean Patrick really got her motor going; if Erika were not around to take the edge off, she would have already jumped Sean Patrick's bones.
Jake said that the multiple Sean Patrick thing was giving him a headache. He suggested they just call him Sean and call his father Mr. Murphy or Dad or something. Nina laughingly agreed and said that was what she called him anyway. She only said Sean Patrick out of habit when she spoke of him to someone else.
Erika admitted that she was enjoying young Michael's attention. She thought it was adorable that he was so earnestly hot for her. That he was the Murphy that most looked like Jake was a definite point in his favor. Erika also said that Claudia was a bundle of repressed sexual energy, with a hair-triggered vagina. Sometimes Claudia would orgasm just from foreplay. Erika said she herself was homesick, and would probably return to Florida as soon as Nina and Sean's relationship got more serious.
Jake was curious about Claudia's relationship with Erika. He kept Erika in the bed to talk about it while Nina took a shower. Erika said that Claudia was very inexperienced and as submissive to her as Nina was. Erika had been surprised that she was not a virgin given her professed distaste for men. Erika thought she was going to get to deflower Claudia only to discover somebody or something had beaten her to the punch. Erika grinned and said she did get to initiate Claudia's soft sweet ass though. Erika said that she and Nina decided that if anyone could show Claudia the fun of playing on both teams, it was Jacob Turner.
Jake did not volunteer the story Claudia told him about the date rape. If Claudia wanted anyone else to know, he figured she would tell them.
While Erika was in the shower, Nina told Jake that it was a sublime experience being amidst her old family. With her new prospective, she was seeing things she missed growing up with them. She said she nearly fainted when she learned that Jake was a cousin. She also said that the sexual dynamic in the Murphy's house was incredible. Sean and Mary were still after one another like teenagers, while the teenagers reeked with sexuality. She attributed all this to the newly discovered 'Buckley connection'; she said that it made the Murphys genetically predisposed to being horny. It also answered many questions about her, she admitted with a blush.
Dinner at the Murphys' was another chance for Jake to pack away some major grub. Thank goodness Mary and her daughters had fixed enough pork chops for twenty people. Sean and Mary were pleased that Jake and Claudia got along so well. They had been worried about Claudia's sublimation of relationships with boys into her job and work. Now, all seemed to be right in the world, as Claudia was openly affectionate with at least one boy -- Jake.
Jake was seated between young Nina and Claudia during dinner. He divided his attention between the two. Nina was looking at him with adoring eyes; she was developing a major crush on her handsome cousin. The younger Nina was on the cusp of womanhood and her hormones were just starting to kick in; so when Jake talked and smiled at her, she tingled all over. Claudia was enjoying Jake's attention even more. His hand on her knee under her skirt was both soothing and arousing. She spread her knees apart surreptitiously to make room for his wandering hand. She stifled a moan when his touch moved up her thigh.
The teens split up after dinner. Nina, Claudia, and Jake went to a dance club with Sean in his car. Michael borrowed his parent's station wagon to take Erika to the movies. Mikey was practically salivating at the thought of being alone at the Newton Drive-in with the Goddess. Jenni and Larry were relieved that they would have their privacy. Larry's folks were out of town and Jenni had major plans for her man.
The doorman at the club that Sean took them to barely glanced at Jake's bogus ID. He did however, give Nina the third degree over her legitimate one. Nina was still in a snit over the ID fiasco when they found a table. Jake insisted Sean dance with her to lighten her mood while he ordered drinks for them. If Jake had only learned one thing in his Twice Lucky life, it was that taking a woman dancing would cure most any ill.
Jake caught the waitress' attention and ordered a good bottle of champagne and a pitcher of beer. He knew that Sean liked his booze so he ordered items with the lowest alcohol content on the menu. The band broke into a slow song just as Jake was paying for the round. He grabbed a delighted Claudia and took her out to cut a rug. Nina found her own way to keep Sean Patrick from drinking too much; she simply kept him on the dance floor.
Nina and Claudia both loved to dance; as a bonus, they were good at it. Jake could see immediately that Nina and Claudia had learned to dance from the same person. Claudia noticed also; she told Jake that Nina danced as if Mary Murphy had taught her. Sean was also a good dancer. When Jake commented on his skill, Claudia said that Mary made him dance with his sisters as they learned.
The band took a break, so the girls went to powder their noses.
"I guess I don't have to tell you to go easy on my sister," Sean said.
"Back at you," said Jake.
Sean laughed then amended, "Listen, Jake, they are both adults; I promise I won't go out of my way to hurt your sister, if you promise me the same."
Jake stuck out his hand, "It's a deal."
The girls walked up as they were shaking hands.
"What's that about?" asked Nina.
"We just decided that it was a tie as to who had the prettier sister," Jake said.
"You need to stay away from my Dad, Jake. Your blarney is starting to sound just like his," Claudia said.
"Amen," chimed Sean and Nina in unison.
Everyone had a good laugh; by now Nina and Claudia had consumed a couple of glasses of champagne, so they thought everything was hilarious. Jake started mimicking Mr. Murphy; he had the accent down to a tee.
"Sure and you'd be twice as funny, me bucko, if you weren't only half Irish," Jake said.
Claudia had tears in her eyes from laughing so hard when the band started up again. The first number was a dreamy love song, so she grabbed Jake and dragged him onto the dance floor.
"This is the most fun I've ever had on a date; thank you, Jake," she said.
"I'm the one who should be thanking you," he replied. "You are absolutely beautiful; I am the envy of every guy here."
Claudia did not respond to that, at least not verbally. What she did do was mold herself against him, then kiss him as well as he had ever been kissed. The band had slowed the tempo to fit the mood of the dancers. Both couples danced almost the entire set. Jake loved the feel of Claudia in his arms as she swayed enchantingly to the music. All too soon, the band took another break. Jake and Claudia were all for it when Nina suggested they continue the party at her apartment. Sean had a glass and a half of beer in the two hours they were at the club, so he was fine to drive.
Jake was thankful for that because he had his hands full, both literally and figuratively, in the back seat with Claudia. Jake did not know if it was the dancing or the champagne, but whatever it was had Claudia in a most affectionate mood. Sean had barely pulled out of the parking lot of the club when Claudia grabbed his collar and pulled him on top of her as she fell back on the seat. Jake started raining little kisses on her face as he stroked her hair. Claudia put Jake's hand on her breast and sighed as he rhythmically squeezed her fleshy orb.
He had his hand under her sweater and on pristine flesh by the time Sean drove up to the Sullivan's house. They ended up in the living room of Nina's apartment, lights dimmed and romantic music on the stereo. Nina had produced another bottle of champagne; she and Claudia had another glass. It seemed only natural for Jake to dance with Claudia again. Claudia was even more affectionate away from the crowd at the club, riding Jake's thigh as he nibbled her neck. They were so wrapped up in each other they barely noticed Nina take Sean's hand and lead him upstairs.
After the song ended, Claudia sat on the couch and patted the cushion next to her. Jake could take a hint; he sat down beside her and took her in his arms. Claudia loved to make out; as they kissed, she would occasionally shudder through a mini-orgasm. Jake slid his hand under the back of her sweater and smoothly unsnapped her bra without breaking the kiss. Claudia moaned and squirmed as he lifted her sweater and slurped a hard pink nipple into his mouth. Claudia's little humming noises went up an octave when Jake reached under her skirt and touched her aroused pussy through her panties. Jake grinned to himself when he felt no hair.
Claudia also had the Buckley oversized clit; he could feel the nubbin protruding through her panties. Claudia raised her hips, eager to assist Jake in ridding her of the wispy bit of pink nylon. Jake slid the soaking wet panties down past her knees; Claudia drew her left leg towards her to free it of the underwear then put her foot on the floor. Jake put her right leg on the back of the couch, pink panties dangling sexily from her ankle. Claudia was spread open before him; her eyes were squeezed tightly shut as she felt his gaze on her.
"Don't stare at me. I know I'm fat," she said.
Jake leaned down and kissed her, "I think you are perfect."
"Yeah, well what about all the freckles?" she asked.
"I like them, I can play connect the dots with my tongue," he replied.
She giggled as he demonstrated, connecting a series of dots from her neck down to her slippery, puffy nether lips. She stopped giggling abruptly when his tongue got to the big pink dot that was her clit. Claudia gasped and thrust her hips into his face as he wrapped his lips around her large erect nubbin. She forgot her embarrassment over her abnormally large clitoris as he alternately sucked it, then strummed it with his tongue.
"Move your face, Jake honey. I'm going to cum," she moaned frantically.
Jake shook his head no, as he applied even more suction and tongue. Claudia was pushing on his head trying to dislodge him when she felt it start. 'Well, she had warned him, ' she thought fleetingly.
"Oooohhh, YES," she shrieked.
Her pussy clinched so hard that the accumulated air and juices in her canal were forcefully ejected. Her outer lips fluttered with a sound like a fat woman sitting on a whoopee cushion. Her juices sprayed all over Jake's face and the front of his shirt. With her clit sticking out erectly, it was almost like watching a small boy pee. It was about the hottest thing Jake had ever seen; he almost came in his pants as he licked her sticky sweet honey off his lips. He now knew why Winnie the Pooh always wore a shit-eating grin. Claudia got a lot of mileage out of one orgasm. She bumped her hips up and gyrated around insanely for at least forty-five long seconds.
Jake hung on to her hips trying in vain to recapture her clit. He finally gave up and raised his head up; he did not feel like explaining how he was poked in the eye to some Emergency Room nurse. Claudia's horizontal hoochie-cooch finally ground to a halt. She opened her eyes, gave him a sultry smile, and stretched lazily.
"That was a good one," she understated. "I should be embarrassed but I just feel too damned good to worry about it."
Jake chuckled and kissed her. He thought that she was finished for the night. She disproved that theorem by gently pushing his head back towards her center.
"That was so good, Jake. Would you mind doing it again? Then we will do whatever you want, I promise."
"I am doing what I want, ' Jake replied, as he lowered his face back between her splayed thighs.
This time Jake inserted a couple of fingers into her as he licked her clit like a snow cone. Claudia was a snug fit for even two fingers. Jake searched for her G-spot; her hips jerked when he found it. He sucked her clit back between his lips, marveling at the way her pussy rhythmically milked his fingers. Claudia came hard again although she was much quieter this time. Jake heard her muffled yelp and looked up at her head. She had a throw pillow over her face, her teeth clamped down on one corner of it. Jake smiled to himself and kept licking. His fingers in her tightness and shoulder on her leg kept her from bucking him off this time -- and the next.
After three more orgasms, Claudia was spent. She took the pillow off her face and pushed weakly at his head. The pillow looked like someone's dog had been gnawing on it. Jake sat up between her knees and caressed her face.
"Erika said it would be like this; I thought she was crazy. I'll never again doubt anything she ever tells me," Claudia said dreamily.
"What does Erika have to do with this?" Jake asked.
"She told me that I should try a man once just to see what it was like. I didn't tell her about Billy McGuire. I told her I could not imagine a man doing for me what she did. She said you could. Boy was she ever right. You can stick it in me now, Jake, I won't mind."
"Thanks, Claudia -- but let's wait a while for that step. No need to rush things; besides, unless you have a condom in your pocket, it's too risky," he replied.
"You could always pull out, we're Catholics, remember?"
Jake had a good laugh at that. Claudia looked at him quizzically. She was a little relieved that he was not going to stick his thing in her. She did not know if she was ready for that yet. She was curious as to why he would not, though. From what little she knew of men, his refusal was most unusual behavior. Jake noticed her look.
"You are so tight, I don't think I could pry myself out of you with a crow bar," Jake said. "So the best bet is for you to get on the pill before you come down with your family to visit me at Christmas, if you think you want to go further."
"Since when are we are going to Florida for Christmas?" she asked.
"I'm going to invite your folks tomorrow; have a family reunion of sorts, it will be a surprise gift for my mother."
"Jake, it costs a lot of money to go to Florida; I'm not sure my folks can swing it."
"You let me worry about that; all you need to do is tell me you'll be there with them," Jake replied.
Claudia said she would make the trip if Jake could convince her parents to go. Jake kissed her and said he would make it worth her while. Claudia had just finished getting redressed when they heard voices at the top of the stairs. Jake quickly flipped over the wet sofa cushion. Nina and Sean were making plenty of noise to warn the couple on the couch that they were on their way downstairs. Claudia went to the powder room to fix her hair while Jake went to the kitchen to get her a Coke.
Jake could not tell what Nina and Sean had been up to just by looking at them. Jake got his answer when Nina gave him a wink and a negative nod. When Sean went for a beer, Jake told her he had stopped short of actual intercourse also. Neither could explain it, it just seemed that tonight was not the night. When Sean and Claudia were both back in the living room, Jake floated his idea of everyone coming down for the Christmas holidays. Sean expressed the same misgivings Claudia had about the expense of such a trip for nine people. Nina's response was almost identical to what Jake told Claudia. "Don't worry about it; just help us convince your folks to go."
The Murphy siblings agreed to the plan. With hugs and kisses, Sean and Claudia headed home. They had no sooner left than Erika came in. Nina and Jake took one look at her and started laughing. It was obvious to the casual observer what Erika had been up to. You could smell her distinct olfactory signature as soon as she hit the door. Her hair was a little mussed, her blouse was buttoned wrong, and her bra was hanging out of her purse.
"That boy has potential," Erika said with a grin. "With the right teacher, he could be another you, Jake."
Nina blushingly allowed that she thought the same way about Sean. Erika said that she had also not done the deed with Michael, although they had done just about everything else. Erika said the backseat of a station wagon was inadequate for what she had in store for Mr. Mike.
"It's a good thing we have the genuine article with us tonight," Erika said. "I am a horny as a cat in heat."
Nina nodded in solemn agreement. Both women looked at Jake as if he were the last piece of chocolate in the box. Jake headed for the stairs, he was right there with both ladies in the horny department.
Jake went to Mass with the Sullivans, Nina, and Erika Sunday morning. This morning the Murphys were waiting for them on the church steps. They all filed in together. Mary's smile was huge when Claudia took Jake's hand as they trooped towards the Murphys' traditional pew near the front.
While they were waiting for the Mass to start, Claudia filled Jake in on the discussion she had with Mary that morning about them being cousins. Mary had informed her that Claudia (and all of her children) and Jake were second cousins. Jake and Mary were first cousins once removed. Mary said that neither the State of Massachusetts nor the Catholic Church were opposed to cousins being together. Jake told her it was confusing to him; all he knew was that they were now definitely kissing cousins. Claudia rewarded him for that comment by digging her elbow into his ribs.
After Mass, Erika, Nina, and Jake went back to the girls' apartment to change. They slipped into casual summer clothes and beat feet back to the Murphys' for another of Sean Senior's famous cookouts. This week he was whipping up some kind of clam bake. Jake was not crazy about the clam idea but Claudia said there would also be burgers and hotdogs. Jake drew grill duty while both Seans steamed up the clams, corn on the cob, and potatoes. Young Nina Murphy helped Jake at the grill while all the older girls were helping Mary in the kitchen.
Jake met some more Buckley cousins at the cookout; these were more distant than Claudia and her family. They were all nice people; none of them were as seriously Irish as the Murphys. The majority of them lived in the towns surrounding Boston, commuting to work in the city. They were yuppies in the making. Jake ended up talking to a brown haired woman in her late twenties named Phyllis Kaufman. She was his third cousin Mary told him later. Her great-grand mother was his great-grandfather's sister. Mary seemed to be the family genealogist. Jake was still partially stumped at all the inter-relationships but he took Mary's word for it.
Phyllis was recently divorced and somewhat of a family scandal. She was a nurse at Boston General Hospital and had married a Jewish doctor. Sean was apoplectic about her doings, but she was Mary's family so he kept his yap shut. Jake liked her immediately; she was as smart as a whip and funny to boot. She told Jake to call her Philly and then proceeded to fill him in on all the family gossip. You know the deal -- who was sleeping with whom, who was a closet alcoholic. The kind of insights that families keep away from the general public.
It was a great afternoon; all in all, Jake had a blast. Young Nina was his constant companion, soaking in Philly's gossip and trying to flirt with Jake. Jake did not treat her as if she were a child so she, of course, liked him even more. The party finally wound down at dusk; everyone pitched in to clean up the aftermath. The evening was gorgeous so the older teens and the Murphy parents sat at the picnic tables in the back yard gabbing. Jake took the opportunity to invite them down for Christmas. As predicted, the money argument came up. Jake said that money was not an issue; he and Nina would get them all tickets.
In the end, Mary Murphy convinced her husband to accept the invitation. Nina had taken Mary aside earlier and explained her and Jake's financial situation. Mary was amazed at the amounts of money Nina alluded to.
Back in sunny Florida, Jake pulled into the long curved drive that led to the ranch house, excited about the surprise he had in store for Helen. He was also excited by the prospect of seeing his sweet Melissa again. It was a good trip, but her company would have made it a great one. Jake was taking his suitcase out of his car when a body landed on his back nearly pitching him into the trunk.
"Oh God, I missed you so much, Baby. I couldn't stay at work; I had to be here when you got home," Melissa said from her perch on his back.
Jake stood up and she dropped lightly to the ground. He turned around and just stared at her. She was stunningly beautiful, standing there in the bright afternoon sunlight. She was wearing his favorite red sundress with the top two buttons strategically undone. The dress was short and showed off her sleek brown legs. Her hair was an ebony nimbus that swept behind her ears and floated down her back. Jake pulled her into his arms.
"I missed you to too, Muffy; I think I'm going to love you till the day after forever."
That must have been the right thing to say because Melissa kissed him in a way that left him panting. When she broke the kiss and pulled her head back, her eyes were brimming with tears.
"When you say things like that, Jake, it makes my heart get too big for my chest. I am going to be right there with you for that forever. Now let's go inside so you can tell me about your trip."
Jake filled her in on happenings in Boston. Melissa was amazed about him finding his cousins. Melissa told him that Maria's belief that destiny had big plans for him was becoming more obvious every day. Melissa was happy to hear that Nina had found someone. She laughed when Jake described Erika's plans for young Michael and his big sister Claudia. Melissa teased Jake about messing around with his cousin and was excited about them coming down for Christmas.
At the dinner table that night, the conversation was about the upcoming fund raiser for Congressman Wiggins. Carmen had hired a caterer that brought a huge barbeque apparatus to events such as the one they planned to host. It would be a regular Texas style hootenanny. A rental company was arriving Friday and setting up three large tents along with thirty tables with eight chairs to a table. Most of the tables were already sold; Melissa said she was buying any that were left. Carmen had even hired a country-western band to play for the afternoon, yee-hah!
Everyone at the ranch attended Mass Saturday evening so they could prepare for the shindig. Guests started arriving at two. Ramon had cleared the horses from the side pasture for parking and some of the ranch hands were directing traffic. Jake was on hand when the first guests arrived; Louisa and Melissa had coerced him into wearing a fancy shirt, hat, and boots that they had bought him. Andrew and Kristen arrived at two-thirty. Andrew looked dapper in a western style suit with a string tie; Kristin was pretty in jeans and a gingham shirt.
The party was a smashing success. Andrew got the obligatory fifteen minute stump speech out of the way early. He had no sooner uttered the last syllable than the guests made a dash for the serving table and the delicious aroma of barbeque beef. Jake's stomach was growling but he steadfastly made the rounds with Melissa and greeted their guests. Turner furniture had bought a table; Charles and Helen were there with the Robinsons, the Hughes, Maria Thornton, and Barry Miller.
Carl and Dianne McClelland were at one of Melissa's tables with the twins and Dawn. Faith, Hope and Dawn were dressed in little cowgirl outfits complete with long skirts and tall riding boots. Carmen, Ramon and Louisa were at the same table wearing traditional Mexican clothes. Louisa was a temptress in her low cut peasant blouse and long full skirt. Jake told Melissa that they should try to get Louisa to wear that ensemble later; it looked like it would be fun to get into.
All the Thornton executives were at a couple of table with their wives. Melissa had inherited a superior bunch of folks from her father and she made sure they stayed happy and productive.
Jake was most pleased when the social duties were done. Smelling the food had him so hungry his big intestines were eating his small ones. He practically dragged Melissa to the serving table where he proceeded to load up a couple of plates. Andrew (call me 'Drew') and Kristin were still out pressing the flesh when Jake and Melissa arrived at the head table with their food. By the time the Congressman made it back to the table, Jake had stuffed himself. Jake gabbed with Drew and Kristy while Melissa was getting the band ready. Jake hoped the band would not start for a few minutes while his food settled.
The band started playing as soon as dessert was served. A few people danced while most of the rest of the guest mingled. Jake, of course, danced. Melissa told him -- if he could travel fifteen hundred miles to dance with his cousin, he could dance at their party.
Most everyone was gone by six; a steady stream of people congratulated Melissa on the successful soirée. Melissa told Jake how happy she was that their first big event at the ranch went well as they tumbled into bed that night. Jake was pleased with it also; Drew's campaign netted a much needed chunk of money. In addition, Drew had introduced Jake to some of the political movers and shakers from the local area. He had made some good contacts for the future.
After his trip and the fund raiser, the next week was anticlimactic. That all changed with the weekend though. On Saturday, the second day of September, Jake and Melissa attended the grand opening of Maui Jake's. The visit was pretty much ceremonial; it was Dawn's show so they let her have the limelight. The Honda dealership opened that weekend, also with a lot of hoopla. Honda America came through with a huge inventory for them. The cars drew a lot of interest and sales were brisk.
The topper was on Sunday though. At seven in the morning, Rebecca called and said that she was at the hospital; Katie had gone into labor at six, right this minute she was in the delivery room. Jake threw on his clothes and hauled ass to Pinedale Memorial. He wanted to be there for Rebecca as well as Katie. At ten-fifteen, Katie delivered a baby girl. She named the baby Rachael; Jake fell in love with the tiny little creature the minute he laid eyes on her. But then, so did everybody else. It was a given that Rebecca would. The big surprise was LaMonte Dupree; poor LaMonte was twisted around Rachael's little finger from day one. His feistiness and acerbic tongue went on vacation where Rachael was concerned. He became the goo-goo, coochie-coo king of Riverside Drive.
School started back up the fifth of September. Jake was getting into some of the more advanced courses, a fact that pleased him to no end. The pace was slower than the summer program, another thing that pleased both Jake and Melissa. Melissa had more time for her businesses and Jake had more time for his women.
The personnel manager of Thornton Development had assembled a pool of applicants for the Chief Operating Officer position of Turner Furniture by the second week of September. Charles asked Jake to sit in on the interviews; Gail made sure the candidates were scheduled to meet with Charles when Jake was available. The applicants were all well qualified but a guy named Terry Steyaert (he said it was pronounced Sty-ert) was the class of the field.
Terry was a Midwesterner with an MBA from the University of Chicago. He was currently a midlevel executive with the Rhome Company, the largest furniture retailer in the United States. Terry was looking for a chance to move up, something he could not do at Rhome. Rhome was a private company that filled senior positions with family members. He jumped at the chance to run the rapidly expanding TFA Superstore chain once Charles and Jake told him that nepotism was not company policy. Terry went back to North Carolina and submitted his resignation. Rhome waived the two week notice allowing Terry to move and start work immediately.
Terry Steyaert was the most serious man Jake had ever met. He was buttoned down and strictly business at work and in his personal life. What little personal life he had that is, his ass was so tight you couldn't drive a greased B-B up it with a sledgehammer. Terry was a good looking bachelor but it was hard for him to fit a woman into his obsessive, work oriented lifestyle. Jake, of course, started working on loosening him up from day one.
Jake invited Terry over for dinner the second weekend he was in town. Terry tried to protest that he had too much work to do but Jake was adamant. Jake made sure that the twins and Dawn were going to be there; if that crew could not loosen Terry up, his condition was terminal.
Terry arrived at the ranch at five minutes till six, wearing a coat and tie and carrying a bottle of wine. Dawn had not arrived home from work until five-thirty, so she was still in her room making herself beautiful. By five after, the twins had him between them on the couch, sans coat and tie, with a drink in his hand. Melissa and Jake sat on the couch opposite them, trying not to laugh as the twins gave Terry the treatment. Terry head was swiveling back and forth between Hope and Faith as they gave him the alternating sentence routine. Jake had been right when he figured that the twins would be on the handsome Terry like ducks on a June bug.
What happened when Dawn walked into the room, Jake had not foreseen. Dawn and Terry's eyes locked when Jake introduced them and stayed that way all evening. Jake had never seen two people fall in love at first sight until that night. The Diazes arrived right after Dawn made her entrance. Terry politely stood as Jake made introductions, then went right back to his conversation with Dawn. A look from Jake persuaded the twins to vacate their seats on the couch to help Carmen and Louisa put supper on the table. Terry was so lost in the limpid pools of Dawn's baby blues that he did not notice everyone else's departure.
The conversation at the long dining room table was lively but went on around Terry and Dawn. The couple was in their own private little world, oblivious to everyone else.
After dinner, Dawn took Terry's arm, "Take me dancing, Terry; Jake told me about a place that I want to try."
Terry nodded weakly; he had not been dancing in at least fifteen years but, if that was what Dawn wanted, he was going to make it happen. While Terry went for his coat and tie, Dawn asked Jake to call the Amore to see if he could get them reservations. Jake called Liz and set it up. The new love birds were going to get the deluxe treatment.
Dawn and Terry moved in together within a week. They bought a beach front condominium in the newly completed Thornton Towers. They still worked their asses off during the day, but come five o'clock they were just lovers in love. Strangely enough, their personalities complimented each other perfectly. Terry though that Dawn's little exhibitionist streak was too sexy for words. Dawn thought that he was the epitome when it came to naughty bedroom games. She called him Big Daddy; she was his little Sweetie Pie.
Strangely enough, their relationship made them even better at their jobs. Terry dug into TFA with a vengeance, maximizing the company's performance. Charles immediately saw that his baby was in good hands, so he concentrated on expansion. Dawn made a near perfect five year growth plan for Maui Jake's and executed it flawlessly.
They married in June of '73, and honeymooned in Barbados. For two glorious weeks, Dawn strutted her stuff on the beach and fulfilled all of Terry's fantasies. As diametrically opposite as the two of them were, it was mind boggling that they turned out to be a match made in heaven.
Time zipped by for Jake and Melissa. October and November were a
blur of school, work, and sweet lovemaking. December was on them before
they knew it. They added preparations for the Murphys' visit to their
busy agendas. Jake was beside himself with excitement thinking about
the surprise he had in store for Helen. As a bonus, Nina and Erika were
flying down with the Murphy family. They were leaving Boston on the
twentieth. Nina and Jake had worked out some surprises for the Murphys
as well. It was going to be a memorable Christmas for a lot of people.