All persons in this story are of legal age. No sexual detail involves any persons under the legal age.
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We were back at the restaurant, a private room and a table set for eight; Carol, Ruth, Mum, Valerie, Roberta, Robert, Rupert and I. Things were a little tense but Roberta and Rupert helped ease things. Drinks helped. Mum declined, driver and pregnant. Rupert only had the one. Nobody argued.
I felt it was up to me to break the ice a little.
"Would you object strongly if I gave you a great big hug?" I asked boldly, "It's just that I think you are the mystery woman I've heard about for most of my life and a hug would be very nice after all this time."
"I am? You have? How? Why?" she replied in surprise, "but on the other hand I've never turned down the offer of a hug, or anything else for that matter, from a handsome young man. Hug me first and then convince me why I should succumb to your charms."
Taking her into my arms I hugged her close and nuzzled her neck affectionately.
She groaned delightedly.
"Is that how you got into my Granddaughter's knickers this morning?" she asked seductively.
"She wasn't wearing any," I murmured in her ear before nibbling on the lobe.
"Don't blame her! You don't waste much time do you? What with your Mum, Nan and my Grandchildren here an' all?" she chuckled, "not to mention my Son."
"'s Okay, we're all family and family can hug and cuddle and do things together, can't they?" I suggested.
Valerie looked deep into my eyes. Hers sparkled with delight or maybe mischief.
"Can they?" she asked with a smile, "so what makes you think we are all family?"
"I'm thinking you are the Valerie that lived with Mrs. Rose Marples in Oak Tree Cottage, back in the '40's early '50's?"
There was a look of total shock on her face. It melted to a look of worry which faded into a gentle smile.
"Yes, that was me," she admitted quietly, Rose was my Mother."
Taking her hand I led her towards one of the big easy chairs.
"Sit on my lap, we need a great big cuddle." I said with a smile.
Valerie turned and looked at the whole gathering.
"I think I've just been pulled!" she announced delightedly, "by the young buck that fucked my Granddaughter only this morning," she plonked herself down on my lap and threw her arms around my neck, "It's nice to know I'm not passed it yet but with all these beautiful women in the room, why me?"
"I'm pretty sure you and I are related and I like to cuddle my relation's when I can."
Roberta snorted back a laugh but said nothing. I'd explained everything to her as I drove her home but asked her not to say anything to anyone for the time being.
"So not an original chat up line then? Pity," she said sadly with a giggle, "how do you make that out then?"
"Very personal bit, did Bob Martins make you pregnant? Did you run away the night you told him you were pregnant?"
She looked at me, stunned into silence. Nobody in the room said a word no one even moved. We waited. There were tears welling in her eyes when she looked at me.
"Yes, he did. I did and it was the very worst thing I have ever done in my life, running away!" she sobbed into my chest.
Everyone remained silent until she lifted her head and wiped her eyes.
"How does that make me your relative?" she asked.
Mum came over and held out her hand to Valerie.
"I'm Karen, Bob Martins made me pregnant, with my blessing I might add. Martin is his son. "
Ruth approached.
"Bob Martins made me pregnant, I virtually insisted on it, Karen is his Daughter," she said putting her arm around Mum's shoulders, so you two are at least half sister's.
Carol walked up quietly.
"Bob Martins also made me pregnant," she said, "our children could not be with us this evening. Bob Martins is also my Granddaughter's Father. Are you willing to tell us why you ran away when Bob said that he wanted to marry you?"
Valerie was silent for a long time. Nobody hurried her. It had to be her decision...
"I was..."
As she began the waiter entered the room advising us that dinner would be served directly and would we care to take our seats.
"Mind if I tell you after we've eaten and I've had a few drinks?" she asked with a big, friendly smile.
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Valerie's Story
"Probably best if I start right at the beginning, then the hows and the whys of me getting into Bob's little white roadster without any qualms, might make sense;
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The war was coming to an end, a bad time for me, not that I think it should have gone on any longer, you understand? I was looking for work then the war ended. There was no work for unskilled women at that time. The menfolk were coming home. Nobody wanted to waste time training a woman when an experienced man might walk through the door the following day. Office jobs were already being done by women who had been doing them throughout the war. My Mum, Rose had a regular job and was able to support us both but it wasn't easy.
I was walking through the park on the way home after another day spent looking for work. There were loads of GI's in our area waiting to be demobilised. This GI walked up to me and offered me a cigarette. Ciggies were hard to come by in those days! I accepted. It made me cough.
"Too strong?" asked the man as we wandered through the park side by side. I had somewhere to go, home. He was just wandering.
"I could get used to them," I told him, knowing that a packet of fags was worth money.
"Walk with me a while?" he suggested, so we walked.
I headed us towards the trees, it was the way home, while I got used to the Lucky he had given me. Just inside the little wood he stopped.
"Getting used to it, now?"
"Yeah! It's quite nice," I agreed.