Thanks to Sammi Scott, aka Titsy McYarn, the Cute at the Heart of the Abyss for her help and valuable critique. Bounteous thanks to Kevin for his incredibly thorough critiquing and voluminous notes. Thanks to Sensual Curves for her help in proofreading.
Thanks to my wife for handling the editing duties on this chapter.
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If you have not read the earlier installment(s) of this tale, it would probably help you to make sense of this one if you did so.
* * * * *
"Why haven't we killed her yet?" Harry muttered, standing under the shower with Carol, Margo and Nicki.
"We love her too much," replied Margo.
"We wouldn't be whole without her," Carol added.
"She's incredibly fun in bed," Nicki said.
"Good reasons all," Harry agreed, "but there are times, like this morning, when I really wonder if they're enough."
In the kitchen the woman who had managed to soak all four of her lovers with one cannonball was faced with the daunting task of breakfast. Harry had started the coffee but otherwise, breakfast was all hers. She tucked the towel around her hair a little tighter, pulled the robe closed and retied the belt after warming herself in front of the oven for a bit and wished the robe was a little longer.
"God, I swear these people can't take a joke," she muttered to herself, but then she smiled. It had been worth it for the way Harry and Carol screamed.
* * * * *
After breakfast Harry told the rest of the family about his physical therapy and the continuing problems he was having with his knee.
"...and so I didn't say anything because there isn't really anything y'all can do and I'm tired of being the object of everyone's worry. I feel like my life's been on hold ever since the attack and this was just one more thing that was trying to get between me and being back to normal."
"Baby, I understand but... you should have told us," Margo said.
"I know, I know I should have and I have no excuse for what I did, all I have is the reasons I didn't tell you... and they certainly don't excuse my actions.
"Which raises an idea I've been mulling over in my head... we need a family council. A system in place not only to discuss issues that affect all of us, but to also handle issues like assigning breakfast duty to beautiful wives who cannonball into the pool unexpectedly. It's a way for us all to have a voice, and a way for penance to be assigned when one of us does something upsetting or hurtful to the family. What do you think?"
"Sounds like a good idea," Kelly said, "but who sits on it? I mean, does Nicki sit on the family council? She's family, but she's not a part of the marriage..."
"I don't think I should sit on it... except in certain circumstances when at the request of two or more of the council members, the extended family is brought in, all of them, to consider a particularly serious issue," Nicki responded. "The family is just you four who make up the marriage."
"That sounds right... well then, that raises the question, who are members of the full extended family?" asked Margo.
"Well, I think we can agree on Eddie, Tamara, Karen, Patricia and Nicki... what about Tattie?" said Carol.
With a chorus of assents Tattie was acknowledged as a member of the extended family.
"Anyone else?" Harry asked.
"Well, there's Nick," Kelly said, "but I'm not sure he really qualifies."
"To me he does, but he doesn't," Harry replied. "He walks, talks and acts like a member of the extended family, and we treat him like one, but he really isn't one... not yet... maybe not ever. I don't know."
"I'd agree," Margo said, "not yet, maybe not ever. Remember, his interests and ours may collide someday, and if they do, make no mistake, he won't come down on our side out of sentimentality."
"I'm with them," agreed Carol. "Love him, like him even, want to bear and raise a child of his some day as a part of our family, after at least one or two from a certain husband I know, but trust him completely and implicitly, no."
"Then it's unanimous," Kelly added. "No Nick."
"Alright then," Harry said, "I call the first family council meeting to deal with my hurtful withholding of information that the family had every right to know. I tell you now that if any cute or funny penance is assigned I'll refuse it. This was a serious mistake on my part and the consequences of my actions should be serious as well."
"Fine, we understand," said Carol. "Do you want to be included in the deliberations?"
"No... it's for the three of you to decide. As long as no family council meeting is secret, I can see situations where all four of us being present would hamper deliberations... this situation being one of them."
"Alright, why don't you and Nicki go talk somewhere while we discuss this?"
"Certainly, you know where I am if you need me."
Harry and Nicki headed to the bathroom and sat in the tub together while the Jacuzzi jets massaged Harry's leg.
"Sis, while we have the time... do we want to have that discussion we were going to have tonight?"
