This is a special Saturday. The house is a beehive of activity as our fourple prepare for tomorrow's Super Bowl party with most of their swinger friends.
Emily calls from the hallway, with her head in the linen closet, "Cy? Where'd you put those packs of bath towels we got from Costco?"
Cyan is putting a final spit-shine on the master bath. "Spare bedroom. On the shelves!"
"Oh, I see 'em. Four going to be enough?"
"Should be! We have plenty of our old towels if we run out of those."
"Okay. Thanks."
Between the activity in and around the hot tub and the three dozen naked butts looking for a place to sit, adequate towelage is going to be very, very important. Steve and Jackson are still going to be busy keeping up with the resulting laundry for most of the day as it is.
And the guys are, for the umpteenth time, taking beverage inventory of the bar cabinet, bar fridge, and kitchen fridge.
Jackson challenges Steve's estimates, "You
absolutely sure
you have enough of what everybody likes? Gawd, Steve.
Twenty
different wines? And
box wines?
You've
got
to be kidding!"
"Yep. Sure of it. Yeah, the box wines are gauche, I know. But Miriam, Jennifer, Claire and I think a couple of others like 'em. Prefer 'em, actually. We need to be sure we have corkscrews by the bottles. There should be four. Is the blender on the counter yet?"
"Next to the sink. Daiquiri, piña colada, and margarita fixin's are in the fridge. Ice bucket is ready to go. I put the mixers in the bar fridge to cool down. You'd left them in the pantry. I'm curious about something."
"Oh. Thank you. Curious about what?"
"A keg."
"Oh, yeah. One last errand. They've been ordered, but I need to pick them up from Friar's tonight. Ice is in the chest freezer, so we're good there."
"You know it's going to be a zoo at Friar's. What are you getting?"
"Yeah, same big crowd there as it is
every
year. Blue Moon in the big keg, Moosehead and Stella Artois in pony kegs. Tubs are in the storeroom. You saw them."
"Okay. You got the Stella for Emily, didn't you?
"Uh huh."
Jax smiles and shakes his head. "No Bud?"
"Bleah. You know why they keep those Clydesdales around, don't you?"
"Very funny, Steven."
Steve chuckles at him. "Jax, we need to check all the TVs and make sure everything can get to the game. We gotta double-check the one on the patio. If it shows the slightest sign of being flaky, we'll swap it with the one in the office. Nobody's going to be in there 'cept us and the dogs."
"No dogs! You forgot?"
"Oh, yeah. Seems strange."
"It does. What happened to your camera idea?"
"Wisdom prevailed. I would have spent all day and evening explaining it to everybody, over and over again. Not worth the angst. Before I forget, we're going to move the van and SUV down the street in the morning. That'll leave parking for six in the drive."
"How about the tranquilizer dart gun for Mrs. Davenport?"
"Very funny yourself, Jackson. Not that I haven't thought about that. But seriously, I already talked to Sergeant Norton that we were doing a big party again this year and to be prepared. I told him about the new acoustic fencing. He laughed and said 'Wish us luck!'"
"I'll bet. Are we going to get a hand with bartending, or is it all on us?"
"Just us. I was hoping beyond hope to have Deb and Sandy for help, but they have their own crosses to bear at Sandy's restaurant. It's going to be all hands on deck there, anyway."
"
Stevie?
" Emily summons from somewhere in the back of the house.
"
Emily?
"
"
Are we going to see anybody
tonight
?
"
"'Scuse me, Jax." Steve walks down the hallway to not have to shout. "Deb was thinking about coming over after work."
"Any chance of El and Tobe?"
"They were considering it, plus spending the night to help get things ready in the morning."
"I'd like some quality time with our lovers, sweetheart, if we could."
"That would be nice. But with all the craziness in getting ready for tomorrow, I don't think we'll be much fun."
"Just a thought," she pouts.
"I'm with you, sweetie."
"Why do you and Cy put yourself through this, year after year?"
"By now it's a tradition. It's easier now, anyway."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. Imagine preparing for this crowd without Carlina. And then there's the pool service. You guys helping us foot the bills for cleaning help makes a huge difference."
"But Cy is in there scrubbing the showers. Again."
"That's on her, the perfectionist she is."
"
I heard that!
"
Steve and Emily crack up.
Steve ribs Cyan, "We love you, dear. Even with all your perfections."
"
Fuck you!
" is the laugh from the second master bath.
Steve chuckles, then tells Em, "I need to help Jax with the TVs. We have to find any bugs today.
Not
tomorrow! You have anything left on your to-do list? Things seem to be shipshape back here."
"Thanks, sweetie! Oh, I'm thinking about something to eat, actually."
"
Not a bad idea!
" says the voice echoing from the shower stall. "
I could use a break and a change of scenery. Applebee's?
"
"Hell, yes!" Steve approves. "With the dogs in the kennel for the weekend we are
free, free,
freeeeee
!
"
"You absolutely love the dogs, Steven," Em reminds him.
"I do. I miss them right now. But sometimes..."
"Yes, I know."
"We can pickup the kegs after we eat.
You hear that, Jackson?
"
"
Sounds like a plan!
"
=====
Sandy greets the fourple in her restaurant's foyer, "Geez! Hi, guys! What a surprise! You gotta be going crazy getting ready for tomorrow!"
Kisses are exchanged.
"Taking a break, San!" Jackson replies.
"Not
that
bad, sweetie," Steve adds.
"Oh? Last year you were a basket case right about now."
"Carlina and the pool service are working for us this time."
"Amazing that it makes that much difference. But you could've afforded it then, too."
"Didn't seem right. Where's Deb?"
"On break, in the back. Resting her feet. Lunch rush was bigger than usual, especially for a Saturday."
"Don't interrupt. Let her relax. Did she mention if she's coming over tonight?"
"She did, and yes, she wants bed time with you and Em. Both of us are feeling bad about not being there for the fun. Here. Your usual table."
