Chapter 17
The next morning the nanny called early and said that she had a flat and that she would be a little late. I left to go to the office with Peggy and Brenda stayed to wait for the nanny. The nanny always rode in with one of us to the day care center. It made it easier that way. She could take care of the children while one of us drove. Brenda dropped the children off and then left for her office at the paving company.
That evening we sat around the dinner table discussing our day. I told the women to go and play with the kids for a while and I would do the dishes and clean up the kitchen. I cleaned the kitchen and then made a quick spin around the house picking up the toys and anything else that was out of place. After the kids were in bed we all sat down to watch some TV.
"Paula has been talking all day what a wonderful time that she had Saturday," Brenda said.
Peggy shot her a glance and Brenda responded, "Oh no, she's not talking about our living arraignment. She just can't stop telling me how much she enjoyed our cookout. When I asked her if she wanted to come out this Saturday she was walking on air. I think that girl's in love with you Damon."
"Ok, knock it off. She's just lonely because she doesn't know that many people here," I said.
"Nonsense," Brenda snapped, "Every man that comes in the office tries to get her to go out with them. She turns every one of them down."
Peggy turned to me with a big smile, "Husband, that girl is in love with you."
Again I made a strategic retreat to bed. Brenda told me that she would be along in a few minutes. I went to the bedroom and took a shower. When I had finished my shower Brenda still wasn't in the bedroom. I went to the door and heard them talking in a low voice. I couldn't make out what they were saying and I began to go over everything that I had said that night; thinking that I might have said something that made one of them angry. I couldn't think of anything that I might have done.
When Brenda came to bed she immediately came to me and we began to make love. The way she made love to me that night told me that it was not her that I angered. I resolved to find out what was bothering Peggy the next day. It was two hours before Brenda and I got to sleep.
The next morning it was if nothing had happened. They were both laughing and joking while each was getting their child ready to go to the day care center. I didn't bring up the fact that I had thought that I might have made them mad the night before. You don't go through the jungle kicking sleeping lions.
The day was typical; as soon as I opened the door one of the project managers dropped a problem on my desk that needed attention three days ago. It was almost lunch time before we had the problem on the way to being solved. I called a meeting of the project managers and laid down a few guidelines for keeping a project on track. I stressed the importance of planning and not letting any of the other contractors on the project upset your plan.
Brenda called me from our other company for some things that needed my attention so I drove to her office. Once I got there I knew that I would have to spend the rest of the day and part of the evening there to help estimate two new projects that were closely tied to each other. If we lost either of the bids on the projects it would be economically unfeasible to take the other one. As soon as I walked in Paula looked up and immediately got a big grin on her face. As I roamed about the office her eyes followed me.
Peggy pulled into the off shortly before five and said that they were taking Paula to dinner. When I mentioned that I had to work late they said that my mother had the children and they were taking them to the cabin for a long weekend. I had the estimators waiting for me so I turned and went back to the estimating department and started work.
I wasn't at the dinner that night and the following is what I found out later went on at the dinner.
Peggy, Brenda and Paula went to one of the better restaurants in Scottsdale that night. When the hostess started to seat them Peggy asked to be seated where they could talk business without interruption and in private. She knew that the restaurant had small private dinning rooms for just such purposes. The dinning rooms were decorated like a private dinning room in someone's home. The waitresses only entered the room when paged; so complex business issues could be discussed without any interruptions.
After they each had a drink in front of them Peggy turned to Paula, "Brenda tells me that you keep asking about how it is living with Damon."
Paula started stammering, "I didn't mean anything by it. I just thought that it's so nice that the three of you love each other so much and that you are so comfortable being together. I think that the three of you have the perfect life."
"Do you think that we are wrong in living together as husband and two wives?" Brenda asked.
Paula just shook her head, confused as to where this conversation was going. Peggy rang for the waitress and ordered drinks for the three of them again. They decided on their dinner order while the waitress was getting the drinks. After the drinks were delivered they gave the waitress their dinner order.
When the waitress had left the room and closed the door Peggy asked, "You were raised in a polygamist community; do you think that it's right for some people to live like that?"
Paula suddenly got serious, "Only if everyone involved in the relationship agreed that that is the way that they truly desired to live and if they all loved one another. A polygamist marriage based on those principles is as sacred as any marriage. No one should be forced into a polygamist marriage. In the town that I was raised in, the old men ran the young men out of town so that they could have the young girls to themselves."
Peggy glanced at Brenda and then back to Paula, "How do you think that someone should come into an existing plural marriage?"
"I think that the ideal way would be for the present wives to discuss the matter among themselves to see if that is really what they want and if they thought that they could welcome the new person into the family as an equal. If they thought that there would be any jealousy or friction brought into the family they should forget offering the person a place in the family. I know of wives in my town that haven't talked to each other in years."
Peggy started to smile, "So you think that Brenda and I have a very nice family then. What do you think about Damon?"
Paula looked shocked, "He's nice... I mean... he's very nice and sexy... no, I didn't mean it like that... I think that he's a great husband... Oh, damn. You know what I mean."
A light came on in a consol in the room that signaled that their dinner was ready. Peggy pressed the button that would signal the waitress that it was Ok to come into the room.
They ate dinner and had an animated conversation. Paula was not as worldly as Peggy and Brenda were and she often made comments that revealed her small town upbringing.
After they were finished eating Peggy was quiet for a minute and then asked, "Brenda and I have been watching you around Damon."
"I'm sorry Peggy. I didn't mean to. It's just that..."
Peggy held up her hand to stop her, "We have talked it over and we think that it's obvious that you love Damon and we intend to do something about it.
Paula blanched and Brenda continued the conversation, "We thought that you might like to join our family as Damon's wife. As an equal wife; we have no first, second or third wife in our family. Before you answer, I want you to really think about this. To Peggy and me, our marriage is as sacred as any marriage in the world. As well as sharing Damon's love we share the love of every member of the family. While you can't legally marry Damon, because he is legally married to Peggy, we feel that you will be more married than any other wife in the world. You're bond with the family will be spiritual. We won't allow you to bring any jealousy, spite or manipulation into the family. We take our marriage more seriously than most people take their marriage."
Paula had tears running down her cheeks, "Would you really allow me to become Damon's wife? I tried to hide my feelings for him. I..."
Peggy held up her hand again, "Do you think that you would want to become Damon's wife?"
Paula nodded her head hard, "Oh, yes. I want that more than anything. I never thought that you would let someone else into your marriage. What has Damon said about it?"
"Well, we don't tell him everything. Seriously, we wanted to see if you would want to join our family. We hadn't thought about an addition until we saw how much you fell for Damon. Brenda's been watching you all week. Every time that Damon comes by the office your legs turn to water. I've watched how Damon looks at you. I can tell he's interested. He's the type of man that would never attempt to move on you though. He wouldn't hurt us by straying. Damon's an ideal husband. He takes the job of being a good husband seriously. He's very considerate of our feelings. We don't let him get a big head though. It's good to keep husbands off balance a bit."
Peggy could see that Paula had a question, "No, we haven't asked Damon yet. You don't really think that he'll turn down a beautiful, sexy woman like you do you?"
"When are you going to ask him? What if he says no?"
"He won't say no. I promise you that," Peggy laughed.
Brenda piped in, "You're coming over Saturday. Bring enough clothes to stay for the weekend. We'll spring it on Damon Saturday. When he agrees, notice that I said when, you can become his wife right away if you want. You'd better get ready for the greatest sex of your life. Damon's a great lover."
Paula's face got beet red and she looked away. When she turned back
Peggy and Brenda saw that she was crying. The two of them got up and
rushed around to engulf her in their arms. In a minute they were all
crying and hanging on each other's neck.