Chapter 5 – Something's Brewing
Although Nancy stopped work at the end of the following week because of her VERY pregnant situation, she continued to monitor the storms in the Atlantic and Gulf, and talk to Dave about the utility's resource deployments during hurricane season. She watched hurricane Jerrod come ashore in Texas, but it was rapidly deteriorating into a tropical depression, so did little damage other than local flooding. She couldn't let go, and Dave kept telling her to relax, enjoy the time off, and prepare to be a mommy.
Erin continued to drive around the three-county area collecting stories for the local newspaper. She purposefully told Scarlett that she would never mention her presence in Florida and had put the word out at the newspaper. Erin was shorter than Nancy, but just as bulbous with baby. They were due the same day, using the same doctor, and hoping for side-by-side births in the delivery room. The synchronization wasn't a surprise since they'd both been in a threesome with Dave the night the two conceptions took place.
Dave tried to be attentive and loving to the two women but after the fourth of July, the two decided that intercourse was too laborious and opted for a pause. He still brought them to his crowded bed frequently to show his love and there was some happy oral sex for them. After all, he had his reputation as the best cuddler in the Circle to protect.
Two reasons for the crowding in the big bed were also named Cricket and Scarlett. The former had adopted Dave as her husband in the polyamorous family and setting. She willingly shared him with his four 'other' wives, and of course with the other women in the Circle and with Scarlett and a few other non-members. Cricket also became one of the most enthusiastic women in the Circle when it came to sex. She loved the sex act, relished any novelty her partner or partners – male or female – wanted to introduce, and was creative in her own right. She also confessed to totally enjoying an environment where she could initiate the sex without any stigma or judgment attached.
Scarlett was having such a fabulous time stretching her boundaries and finding deep love with so many people that she opted to extend her 'vacation' into August so she could remain with Dave, his wives, and the Circle. She was in love with Dave, in love with the other men and women in the Circle, and in love with love. She raved about the Circle and kept saying she never wanted to leave.
Cricket and Scarlett bonded in a big way. It wasn't all sex, although the two women often went into the gazebo in the afternoon and savored each other. They discovered they were soul sisters. Cricket taught Scarlett about spiritual ways and her understanding of this life. Scarlett felt uplifted and soared with happiness.
Scarlett's daughter Rose liked the Circle, too; although that might have been heavily influenced by the attention of one Matthew Prentiss. He became enamored by Rose and became a cross between a boyfriend and big brother to her. Rose declared one day that Matthew was the man she was going to marry. Matthew didn't flinch at the unexpected announcement.
Scarlett at first worried about becoming another Hollywood slut because she was so turned on and she felt so indiscriminate about having sex, unlike her 'normal' way of life at home in California. She admitted that she'd been almost monastic. Instead, she found herself relishing making love three, four, five, and even six times a day with the Circle men and women.
She teased the men, too, taunting them about fucking a movie star, and a damn sexy one at that. She'd been taught how to vamp for several roles she'd played, and she used those acquired skills to advantage in teasing and seducing the various men she wanted to bed her. Eventually, she'd been with everyone and not just to fuck, but to develop a loving relationship.
After about ten days in the Circle, Scarlett had started to talk about her career, movies, and movie making. She quietly announced to a few at dinner that she was ready to answer any questions anybody might have about the rest of her life. Everyone had respected her apparent wishes to distance herself from that part of her life for a few days of her vacation. There was not a barrage of questions, although a number of people made polite comments about how much they liked some specific movie she'd made.
One thing that impressed everybody was that she vocally thanked Cricket for 'protecting' her during the first days of her vacation. She acknowledged that she had indeed wanted to get away and forget all about her intense Hollywood life, but had passed through that stage thanks to Cricket's support. The younger woman basked in the praise.
Scarlett had the studio send her several scripts that she was supposed to review to see whether she was interested in them as future movies. Those arrived by FedEx the next day, and she'd spend part of her days on the patio reading, taking notes, and evaluating the parts. During the day, things were usually quiet around the Circle except for the nursery. There was always the murmur of babies and soothing mommies or Maddy tending the brood.
The people that did stay in residence in the Circle during most days thus became the two pregnant women – Nancy and Erin; Mike and Kat – working on their movies; Holly – working remotely for her VC company; Shelby – doing her pharmaceutical company work if she wasn't traveling; Maddy – tending the babies; Gail – working remotely for her Ohio software company; Elise – an avid reader; Cricket – working on her novels; and Bobbie – usually working in the kitchen for the evening's meal or some other occasion.
Scarlett learned about Mike and Kat's adult video making and went to watch one being filmed one afternoon. She disguised herself just for fun with a wig and some funky makeup, and dressed in summer Goth. Mike even gave her a temporary tattoo along most of one arm and on one breast. She got so turned on with the whole idea, she decided that she wanted to do what Alice had done, namely to disguise herself and make a porn video. She let Mike know her wishes and he said he'd put something together that she could do in short order.
Alice and Julie's sister came down for a long weekend and a few days on a weekend at the end of July. She arrived on a Friday, and slid right into Circle life. She showed up half naked for the cocktail hour, and didn't stand out at all.
She about fell over when she realized who Scarlett was. At first, she thought she was just a look alike, but she kept studying her and finally had to ask. "Errr, I'm late to party because I live in Ohio, but are you Scarlett Johansson?"
Scarlett blossomed into a fabulous smile, "Yes, I am. I know that you're Alice and Julie's older sister. It's so nice to meet you."
Karen stammered around for a few minutes and finally realized that no one else was paying the 'star' any great extra attention, so she finally relaxed. Scarlett involved her in several conversations, and life moved on peacefully.
When Dave, Alice, Julie and Cricket were together, Karen gave them an update about her newly expanded marriage. Daryl's girlfriend Candy had moved in with them, and gone out of her way to fit in with the three children, Karen, and Daryl. They'd had a few nights of wild sex, but mostly it had been some quiet lovemaking between the three of them because the kids were down the hall.
Karen said, "The big dread now is about mom and dad. I know they're going to find out in some way. Officially, the story for them is that Candy is living in our guest room; unofficially, she's a wife to Daryl and me. Bridget knows to keep her mouth shut, and we pray the other two will too. She's kind of into our experiment and watching all of us closely. We explained about how upset their grandparents would be and how it might mean we'd never see them again, and I think the two older kids understand. Now, if they don't misspeak or try to blackmail us, we'll be all right."
