Surrogate - V: Three More Days, Three More Nights
Β© 2024 cv andrews
With some lovely wake-up sex - I snuggled in behind Marie, and with only the slightest assistance - a little lean forward here, a little lifted leg there - our day got off to a ... "very gratifying" start. Really puts you in a good mood for the coming day. Marie stepped into the shower while I phoned the cafe and ordered breakfast - lots of it, in case anyone might drop by. I asked if they could bring it to our casita around 8:30. They said that it was a real busy time but they'd try.
Then I phoned next door. I didn't know if this would be a good time to call, but then I didn't know what other time would be any better. It was picked up on the third ring by a surprisingly alert Ally.
"Hey, Princess - you guy's OK?"
She turned her mouth away from the phone and I heard, "Hey, Rick - Dad wants to know if we're OK." I heard a male voice saying something, and then Ally says to me, "Rick says 'better than OK.'"
And that silly little exchange reassured me, that Ally and Rick have reached a level of comfort between them and that everything is, indeed, "better than OK."
"Anyhow, I just called the cafe and ordered a ton of breakfast on the slim chance that one of you might be hungry. No obligation, but if you two can fit it into your busy schedules ..."
"We'll be there." And then there was a pause. "And Daddy ....."
"Yes?"
"I love you."
We rang off and I joined Marie in the shower. We horsed around and played "drop the soap" and did a little back - and front - washing, but it was all good clean fun.
Marie made coffee a full pot of coffee - and got out the orange juice and vitamins, and at 8:40 there was a knock at the door. It was yet another tanned perky young woman with a wheeled cart bearing our breakfasts. I smiled, thanked her, and made a mental note to add to the tip I would be leaving at the end of our stay.
We no sooner got the food on the table when there was another knock on the door.
"Rick and I saw them bring all that food to your room and decided that you two couldn't have worked up
that
much of an appetite last night - no matter how hard -
or how many times
- you tried."
I pulled my daughter in and gave her a kiss, then smiled and put my hand on Rick's arm and guided them in. Rick went over to Marie, who put down the serving spoon she was using and opened her arms to her son, and with big smiles they held each other, rocking back and forth in each other's arms.
So we had breakfast and talked about the day. Ally and Rick were going over to the courts to see if anyone was playing tennis. I was going to get on my computer and check in at the office to see if there was anything that
truly
required my attention. (There wasn't.) Then Marie and I planned on taking a stroll on one of the four hiking trails the resort had mapped out for guests.
When everyone got back (
"Was anyone at the tennis courts?" "Yeah, a few people, but then by ten-thirty they all decided it was just too warm and packed it in."
) I just assumed that we'd all go to lunch together but Ally took me aside and asked if she and I could have lunch alone, here at our room. Of course we could.
Like we've done before, we ordered a taco salad and a large chicken burrito and two large iced teas. When they were delivered we spread things out on the kitchen table, got out knives and forks, and sat down to enjoy our lunch.
I could tell that Ally wanted to talk about something but I didn't want to try and pull it out of her. I didn't want to ask if she and Rick "had a good time," because that would already bias her response in a particular direction. Instead I simply said, "How was last night with Rick?"
"Well, like Marie suggested, we decided to take a walk before we went inside to watch that movie Marie talked about - we did, by the way - watch the movie, I mean - lots of fun, plus some sad things, plus lots of gorgeous shots of Hawaii - we've got to go there, Jim!
"Anyhow, when we were walking Rick said that when they came in from the pool yesterday afternoon that he and his mom had this talk, about how she loved him but she was afraid that their ... that their ... relationship ... might be keeping him from having the ... the kinds of experiences that he should be having. And she mentioned that I was pretty and that he seemed to like me and it seemed like I like him, and she kind of ended with the idea that I was like him in a lot of ways - 'cause you and me are like him and his mom - and that I might, you know,
understand
him better than a lot of girls who ... than a lot of girls could.
"And, really, it sounded a lot like the things she told him were a lot like the way you and I talked at dinner last night. And I was wondering ... did you and Marie arrange for this ...?"
Given the circumstances and the timing, I could see how she might think that.
"No, Sweetheart, Marie and I didn't arrange anything, but we did talk a lot yesterday afternoon, and it sounded like we both had the same kinds of concerns, and that we both wanted what's best for our kids. But yeah, I can see how you or Rick might think that, but no, we didn't."
And now that Ally had told me what she had to ask, and that it wasn't a disaster, I felt just a little more confident in asking.
"Did you enjoy your time with Rick. And by that you know that I'm asking about
all
of your time with Rick?" And I waited, hoping for the best.
My precious daughter-wife got up and put her arms around me and said, "Thank you, Jim. The night with Rick was wonderful, and I think that it was good for him too. Thank you - and Marie - for making it possible."
And then, "I love you, Jim,"
I love you, Princess.
~ ~ ~
We all decided to have dinner together this evening. But when we arrived at the at the resort's upscale Southwest cuisine restaurant Marie said, "Why don't you two get a table of your own and Jim and I can sit together - that way you can talk about whatever you want and won't have to listen to us." When the host came, Marie spoke first. "Two for dinner, please," and the young woman led us off to a table by the window, leaving Rick and Ally to find their own table.
One time during our dinner we looked across the dining room at Ally and Rick. They appeared to be enjoying themselves, laughing, sharing tastes of their dinners with each other, and generally having a good time. And I thought -
this
is what I wanted - Ally, getting to have a genuine summer romance, with a handsome young man. I felt this surge of happiness.
And then I thought about "us" - Marie and me. Here
we
are, almost-middle-aged parents, having a vacation "fling." And the very best kind - no hiding, no cheating, no guilt.
I looked over at Ally and Rick's table again. This time I caught Ally's eye, and when I did she looked back at me and mouthed the words, "I love you, Jim."
Could life really be any better?
~ ~ ~
We all walked back to our casitas together, and tonight there was no need for discussion.
"Rick and I are going to our room now. We'll see you in the morning." Ally kissed me gently and said, "I love you, Jim." Rick kissed his mom and said a few words I couldn't hear.
Then, hand in hand, they walked over to our room - now
their