The next week and a half passed quickly. Mom didn't seem to be suffering much without dad in the house, or at least not that she showed. He called to talk to us almost every night from his hotel room, even taking interest in Josie for a change. I think he realized that he was in danger of losing his family completely, and was looking to change if he could. But I doubted he could repair the damage done to his relationship with mom. Her asking him to leave had been a long time coming, and it was from a lot more than just his indifference to my sister.
Josie and I took every opportunity to be together during those 10 days. We spent most nights in bed together, even if we didn't have sex. We saw our friends over the weekend, but both Friday and Saturday nights we were home relatively early, by 12:30, and we either made love or shared a hard, wild fuck together. Mom didn't join us in that time, but she didn't stop us either. I don't think she could have really, and she had given up any moral basis for objecting.
Then the following Friday, the three of us went up to Boston to see BC, the campus as well as a meeting with the admissions department on Saturday morning. We checked into a Holiday Inn just minutes from the campus, a single room with two queen beds. Ostensibly, mom and Josie would share one and I'd have the other. Whatever would, or wouldn't happen was left unmentioned.
That night we went to a nice restaurant right near the harbor, and feasted on assorted sea food. We got back to the hotel to get an early nights sleep so I'd be rested for my interview at 10 the next morning. But it was a restless night. I was nervous about the interview with so much riding on it, and I also was very aware that in the next bed, just three feet away, were my sister and my mother, two women I had such intense desire for. I just couldn't relax until I turned on my side facing away from them and, as quietly as I could manage, I jerked off to relieve some stress. After that I finally fell into a fitful sleep.
We got up at 7:30 so we all had time to use the shower and get breakfast. I couldn't eat anything more than some tea and juice; my stomach was infested with butterflies. Mom said "I wish you'd eat something, Ronnie. You don't want your stomach growling during the interview. It won't change your results, but it could be awkward if it's loud."
"I can't, mom. I can barely drink the juice. Hopefully it won't take too long. They have my transcript, my recommendation letters and my SATs. Coach McCall really wants me, which has to account for a lot of the process. But I'm still nervous as hell."
Josie, sweet Josie, took my hand and said "You're going to do great, Ronnie. They'll be lucky to have you as a student and player. I bet we're going to be celebrating tonight!" She said with a sparkle in her eyes.
Mom said "Don't distract him like that, young lady. He needs to focus now. Besides, we're in public" she admonished quietly.
It was time to go. We got to the office 15 minutes early (always better to be early than late) and sat there quietly. Finally I was called in and mom and Jos came with me. We were met by a very nice middle aged woman named Karen, and she got right to asking questions. Why did I want to attend BC, what subjects interested me towards a career choice, what did I know about the college...countless questions. I answered them all truthfully. Then, about 40 minutes in, my stomach let out a huge empty noise that was probably heard in the next office over. I turned beet red, mom gave me one of her patented exasperated looks, but Josie and Karen smiled and then broke out in laughter. "Don't feel embarrassed Ron" Karen said. "That kind of thing happens a lot, students are too nervous to eat, and their insides give them away. Really, it's nothing."
"I suggested he eat something. But he just wasn't able to, just too nervous" mom said.
I was still feeling sheepish, but Karen just put it aside. "Anyway," she said, "Coach McCall really was enthusiastic about you applying, everything here seems to be in order. Your academics are solid, excellent letters of recommendation from your guidance councilor and your AP History teacher. You answered my questions well. You know you can skip the religious course requirements for Catholic students. You can still take some of those classes if you're interested, or we offer classes in comparative religion and philosophy. Coach McCall did explain that, unlike most schools, as a Catholic college we do have certain morals requirements we expect all students to observe, members of the opposite sex not allowed in your room after 10PM during the week, midnight on weekends. No drugs, no alcohol if you're under 21. Breaking those rules can result in revocation of your scholarship and even expulsion. Understood?"
"Yes, ma'am. I understand."
"Well then, pending review by the board, which is really just a formality, I'd like to offer you a hockey scholarship for the class of 2024! Congratulations, Ron!"
I shook her hand enthusiastically and gave mom and Josie big hugs and appropriate kisses. We all had huge grins on our faces.
When we were walking to the car, mom seemed a touch wistful. "Both my children leaving the nest in September. I'm going to be alone in the house. But you know what? I am so proud of both of you, it's so worth it!"
I asked her, with some concern, "Mom, are you sure? I can still go back to the old plan, community college for 2 years and then go to another college to finish. It's really not a problem. It would be my honor to stay with you."
"Not on your life! This is a great opportunity that won't come again. A free ride to a top school! I'll be fine. My life will move on. Just like yours, just like Josie's. You're taking this scholarship, and that is final!"
When mom made a pronouncement like that, there was no space for argument. It was like an edict from the Queen. Final.
