And Then There Were Three (13 page)

“I love you Eva so much. I love you Mark so
much.” Nicole said wrapping each of us in a tender hug. I held onto
her delicate frame wanting so bad to never let her go. Mark hugged
her gently plying her with kisses. I was able to steal a few tender
kisses before she took her leave. Unbeknownst to us Sabrina dragged
Junior from his room sulking to watch our exchange.

“See I told you they really love each other.
Mom and dad will not divorce behind this. You know in love they
were before I even went to Miss Nicole’s dance studio,” Sabrina
explained. “I know how weird it is Junior. I was screaming at mom
when I found out.”

“Why didn’t you tell me? Maybe I could have
had some time to deal with this. It’s just too weird that our
parents have a girlfriend. I didn’t know mom liked women.” Mark
Junior said ringing his hands in frustration.

“She doesn’t, trust me, only Nicole. We tried
to see if she was bi-sexual but she doesn’t like any other women in
that way. I didn’t tell you because they hoped this would pass but
as you can see it hasn’t. They are really in love.” Sabrina said
hugging her little big brother.

“I was thinking Nicole was so hot, now I am
supposed to accept her as their girlfriend?” Junior gave a devilish
smile and Sabrina hit his arm.

“Ew, do not put Miss Nicole in your spank
bank.”

Junior nodded up and down before deciding
that would be too weird.

“Do like I did, ask them really uncomfortable
questions until you feel better,” Sabrina suggested. “I am sure
your dirty mind can come up with some doozies.”

Sabrina and Junior laughed before she took
her leave. I was relayed that conversation at a much later date of
course. However I will never understate its importance to our
current situation. My very mature and amazing daughter showed us
just how fortunate we were to have her find out early on. Junior
did what Sabrina suggested and put the three of us through a round
of rather embarrassing questions before giving his consent.

“So the three of you will be together in that
way?” Junior asked nervously.

“Um well yes, we are in a relationship with
Nicole,” Mark answered with equal nervousness. Junior pretended to
think of more questions but he had them already formulated.

“So mom you will be with Nicole in that way?”
He asked then turned green at the thought.

“Yes, I love Nicole in that way as well.” I
managed before turning green as well.

“Dad, you are okay with Mom kissing another
woman and vice versa?”

“Yes we are okay with that.” Mark answered as
I tried to regain my composure.

“Nicole, you are okay with having these two
paw all over you. They are animals around this house normally?”
Junior said laughing. This eased the tension in the room
considerably. Nicole nodded up and down smiling.

“Will you tell other people? Say for instance
when you go out to dinner.”

“We are not ashamed of what we are doing son.
We love Nicole and what we do with our marriage is our business. We
just want to make sure that our children are okay other than that
no one else’s opinion means anything.” I shook my head agreeing
with Mark. Junior looked at each of us as he made his decision and
I could see the tears threatening to fall from his eyes. My heart
broke for my son as he contemplated this very adult issue.

“Please whatever happens, do not get a
divorce mom and dad.”

Mark reached him first as we both enveloped
him in a hug.

“Never son. I love your mom and you so much.
We are never divorcing. Mom is stuck with me forever.”

For over a month Nicole became a regular
member of our family. She spent most of her time at our house when
she wasn’t at the dance studio. A few times she picked the kids up
from school to help ease our crazy schedule as I began work on book
number six. She became a regular fixture at the dinner table and
while we downplayed our public displays of affection, we were
caught kissing a few times. The kids treated it the same as they
had in the past with Mark and I, they ran from the room screaming
in disgust. You know the normal reaction to seeing your parents
making out.

*****

Atlantic City was the location for the next
Seventh Wonder with my seven best friends.

“Oh so you are the local best friend that has
been monopolizing our Eva’s time?” Shantell asked as she sipped her
champagne. We were in the large suite that accommodated all of us,
if Nicole slept in my room, which of course she would. Cordelia was
the last one to join the crew, having had a case run over.

“I am Sabrina’s dance teacher and we just hit
it off,” Nicole said blushing. I took that opportunity to down the
rest of my champagne.

“Man Eva, that second honeymoon with Mark is
working wonders on your skin. You are positively glowing,” Amber
said hugging me. Nicole choked on her champagne and I shot her a
dirty look. Monica arrived with her usual flair hugging everyone
but stopping at Nicole pulling her sunglasses down. “Who is
this?”

“Monica this is my friend Nicole. She is
Sabrina’s dance teacher.”

“Oh hey Dance Teacher! No offense but what is
she doing here?” Monica questioned her usual dramatic self.

“I invited her, she has become a really good
friend and I wanted her to meet you guys.” I defended wanting to
sew Monica’s mouth shut.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Nicole said
extending her hand to Monica. Monica barely shook it as she picked
out her bedroom.

“I am not sharing with Cordelia since I have
lost a little weight I do not want her pawing all over me.”

Everyone gave her exaggerated looks and
ignored her craziness. Shantell pulled me to the side as Nicole
talked to Amber, Uwimana, and Stacey. Amy was taking an important
phone call in one of the bedrooms. Shantell hugged me tightly and I
felt bad for neglecting my friend these past few months.

“I am sorry so much has happened in the last
few months Shantell. I will dish about it later I promise. Sorry I
have been such a crappy friend.”

“Oh okay. It’s cool. It was nice to see the
book mostly about me hit the best seller’s list.” Shantell beamed
as she thought about her character Savannah’s escapades.

When everyone was gathered we opted for in
house catering for snacks and drinks as opposed to going out to a
restaurant. With all my best friends gathered I decided it was now
or never. I was going to tell them and we would be accepted or we
would be getting a separate suite and enjoying our weekend
together. Cordelia was having a hard time keeping her eyes off
Nicole who seemed indifferent to the attention. I barely ate any of
the food opting for lots of champagne to ease my nerves.

“She is fucking gorgeous,” Cordelia whispered
to Amy, who nodded in agreement.

“I bet she has like a million boyfriends,”
Amy added. “Glad my Charles is at home with Penelope.”

“I am getting a vibe and it’s not
boyfriends,” Cordelia replied lifting a knowing finger. Amy blushed
at the thought and then felt better if she knew the gorgeous woman
was gay rather than straight. All husbands would be safe. They all
turned their attention to me as I took to the floor. Almost
everyone has had a chance to talk about what’s going on in her
life. It’s my turn now.

“These past few months have been crazy for my
family and I, which also includes you eight ladies,” I managed to
stammer. “My book has made some lists whoop whoop!”

The ladies all give a cheer at my success
before I continue. I turn to face Nicole who gives me a subtle nod
of her head.

“Mark and I are doing awesome as we head into
our sixteenth year of marriage,” I said to applause. “We have had
some changes to our life that while unforeseen were unavoidable. In
the course of the last few months Mark and I have managed to find
additional love.”

I waited for the bomb to drop as realization
replaced confusion.

“Mark and I have managed to fall in love with
this beautiful creature right here.”

I extend my hand to Nicole. She takes my hand
slipping a hand around my waist.

“Wait! What the hell are you talking about
Eva?” Monica was first to speak.

“Nicole is our uh girlfriend, Monica.” I am
barely whispering at this point. I try to clear my throat to
annunciate my words better. “Mark and I are in love with
Nicole.”

“I told you she was gay. You owe me twenty
dollars Amy,” Cordelia announced then quieted as the tone in the
room was somber. I could see tears fall down Shantell’s eyes as she
shook her head.

“You can’t do that you are married,” Amber
informed me as if it was the law.

I turned to face Amber and replied, “Yes we
can and we have.”

“I love Mark and Eva very much,” Nicole
finally admitted.

“Is this Mark’s doing Eva? You do not have to
go along with this to keep your husband,” Stacey asked her voice
angry.

“No, I actually fell in love with Nicole
first. Mark realized later that he loved her too. This decision was
mutual.”

“Is this some kind of joke Eva?” Uwimana
finally questioned. The disgusted look on her face broke my heart.
I shake my head fighting tears as the barrage of questions reach a
crescendo.

“Why would you want to ruin our friend’s
marriage?” Shantell yelled the loudest, almost directly in Nicole’s
face. Nicole does not flinch, nor does her smile fade.

“I am not ruining their marriage. I know that
they have a great marriage and I hope on some level I am adding to
it.” Nicole spoke calmly and assuredly. She would have to be our
strength because I was useless.

“Okay everyone calm down,” Amy shouted as the
room quieted. “Now please explain this to us, while we are all
quiet.” Amy gave threatening looks to everyone in the room. I
relayed the tale of how we met and the circumstances. I left out
the graphic sex of course but included sex in general terms. When I
was finished Cordelia was fanning herself and my friends shocked
and bewildered faces greeted me.

“So when that thing happened with Mark and I,
you almost had me killed but little Miss Dance Teacher sasses in
your life and you let her into your bed?” Monica admonished.

“Uh first off there was nothing between you
and Mark,” Shantell interrupted. “You were inappropriately crushing
on him and made him feel uncomfortable. Secondly, this woman has
been in the bed with you and your husband? Since when are you gay?
How long have you known that you are gay?”

“I am only into Nicole. I have never been
attracted to any other woman the way I am attracted to Nicole.
Trust me this has been a hard pill to swallow but no other woman
makes me feel like Nicole. I do not feel one drop of attraction to
other women. So I am not sure what I am, except in love with Nicole
and Mark.”

“What if she and Mark decide to get rid of
you and live happily ever after,” Uwimana asked.

“I do not think that will happen, besides we
made a pact with the kids that no matter what Mark and I will never
divorce.”

“You fucking told your kids? That’s
reprehensible,” Amber shouted, getting off the sofa. Stacey stood
with her mouth covered.

“First off we didn’t have a choice but to
tell our kids as Nicole is Sabrina’s dance teacher. Sabrina figured
it out and we ended it. Secondly Sabrina saw how miserable we all
were and realized we were in love. She was the one that gave us the
strength to figure out what this was. My husband and I do not
believe in keeping things from our kids so recently we told Junior
and Celeste. It wasn’t easy but these past six weeks have been
wonderful as our kids get to know Nicole. I don’t suspect that any
of you in this room will understand what this relationship means to
me and my husband. Furthermore I am only telling you this because
you are my sisters and we have shared so much over the years. I
know that you all think I have made a mistake but I know in my
heart that this is what is best for Mark and myself,” I explained
my blood boiling. “C’mon Nicole let’s get another room.”

“Oh come on Eva please, you can’t just walk
in here and announce that you and Mark have a girlfriend. You can’t
expect us to just say wow nice job,” Shantell yelled pushing me
back to the circle.

“I have had to defend my feelings for Nicole
with myself for the last three months and I am tired. I love her
plain and simple and it doesn’t undercut the love I have for Mark,”
I yelled back.

“This is not normal and you can’t expect us
to just think so,” Uwimana spoke next. The ladies all began an
intense debate. Nicole and I stepped into what would have been our
room. I am crying and Nicole is doing her best to comfort me. My
friends have done plenty of crazy outlandish things over the years
and I had hoped their reaction would be a bit more understanding.
Not so much!

“They are right you know. This was a big
thing to spring on them. For over sixteen years it has been you and
Mark. That is all they know. This will take some time for them to
adjust. I doubt they will throw away twenty years of friendship for
this,” Nicole said soothingly.

“I have been supportive of their hair-brained
schemes and relationship craziness for years. I just expected the
same level of support. I will have enough people telling me that I
can’t, that we can’t love you. I didn’t want them to be in that
crowd.”

Nicole kissed my lips tenderly, “It will be
okay sweetheart. I promise.” The kisses intensified as I pulled her
close. I was so glad to have her right there with me, maintaining
her cool while I went to pieces. The suppleness of her lips soothed
my tears as we continued our passionate exchange.

“I will make you feel better later,” Nicole
murmured between kisses. I moaned my appreciation for future
kindness. Nicole was resplendent in a navy blue short-sleeved party
dress with a thin silver belt around her waist. I was wearing a
simple V-neck belted dress that accentuated my cleavage, much to
Nicole and Mark’s delight. My hands encircled the silver belt of
Nicole’s dress. Nicole’s left arm wrapped around my waist while her
right hand wrapped lightly around my neck as we kissed.