Loosening Up Bk. 04 Ch. 01-05

Alice and Dave sat near him at dinner. Alice asked, "What will happen when you report for work?"

Ken said, "I'll spend a day getting an orientation at the airline, and then immediately head off for training on the 737 aircraft. That's over half their fleet, and I suspect that's where I'll start; probably on a Boeing 737-700 or something like that. About three weeks later, I'll get an endorsement on my certificate just the way you did when you got your instrument rating that says I can fly as a second officer in that plane.

"After that I'll get checked out by one of the senior pilots and then probably paired with one of them so they can see how I fly and what my cockpit management habits are. If I pass muster, I'll be turned loose on some other unsuspecting pilot as his second in command. Assuming that goes well, I'll become a first officer.

"There's a hierarchy in the airlines just the way there is your corporate businesses. After flying second-in-command for six months or so, I'll be certified to fly pilot-in-command. Those planes all require two pilots, so I'll probably continue to fly copilot, but I could be the first officer if they were short handed or had a scheduling issue. That's what they want; lots of flexibility in crew scheduling."

Dave asked, "What will that mean for your time in the Circle? I have a feeling we're going to miss you."

Ken frowned, "Yeah, that'll be the bad news for a while. The nearest hub they claim is Raleigh-Durham, with another in Salt Lake City. They share facilities here and there with other airlines. I'll dead-head from here to Raleigh to start a sequence of flights, probably two weeks of intensive flying, and then have a few days off when I'll come back."

Alice adopted a sad face, "Oh, poop. We're going to miss you. If you want, maybe one of us can pick you up in the 182 and fly you home."

"I'll keep that in mind. Beyond what I just described, which just might be pure fiction when confronting reality, I'm really not sure where I'll be or for how long."

Dave teased, "You'll have to find some cute flight attendants to take care of your bedtime needs."

Ken rolled his eyes. "I'll keep that in mind, too. Again, I have no preconceived notion of what my life will be like other that flying some of the nicest iron in the skies and helping people get from point A to point B."

Alice said, "Will you carry a gun?"

"I think a lot of pilots do these days after all the craziness after 9-11. Yes, I will. I suspect there'll be airline guidance about what to do in that regard. The airlines downplay all that. Some leave it up to the pilot."

Dave said, "Don't they use special ammunition?"

Ken nodded, "Yes. Hollow point. They do more damage to a human body, but if they hit metal they don't penetrate; they just pancake out like a big metal splat."

"Do you know when you have an air marshall aboard?"

Ken shrugged. "Good question. I'll let you know in a couple of months." He paused and said, "You have to realize that most of my recent experience is in the F-35. I wore a $400,000 helmet, highly sophisticated, to fly the $100 million aircraft. We were ready for just about any type of military situation. What I'm about to go through now with Atlantic Airlines will be a much different experience.

"The airline knows I can think ahead of aircraft going close to the speed of sound, far enough ahead to keep a couple hundred passengers safe and get them to where they're going. Beyond that, I have one helluva lot to learn."

The following Monday Ken disappeared up to North Carolina. He texted back almost every day, but was totally caught up in getting 're-educated' to a new career, only peripherally related to what he'd done for the USAF.

* * * * *

"Hi Daddy."

"Pam? What ... are you sure? Who's the father or shouldn't I ask?"

"You, silly. I managed things just the way Alice did."

"When?"

"I'm about eight weeks along apparently, so around mid-to-late-October. I had my first OB/GYN appointment today. I'm using the same woman that Susan and the other women are. She asked if we wanted to know the sex, and I told her 'No', just like Alice."

"Good. How're you feeling?"

"You haven't noticed but I've started barfing in the morning. It's part of the territory, and I'm told it's good for the fetus because my body gets more in balance with the new hormones that help the baby develop and prevent a miscarriage. I also get rid of some toxins. It's not that bad, but it'll slow down my consulting for a bit until I get things under control again."

"You know we all have you covered, right? You don't have to work if you don't want to. I make enough for all of us. The rest is our nest egg for early retirement and fun stuff."

"Oh, I know that. You should know by now that I'm wired to want to carry my weight. I don't want to use the 'Baby Card' just yet if I don't have to."

"Everyone in the Circle seems to be wired that way. I think we self select."

Pam speculated, "By the end of the year, the Circle will be a much different place. We'll be wall-to-wall in babies, diapers, formula, high chairs, and probably grandmothers. We're going to have to curtail a lot of our spontaneous sexual behavior."

Dave sighed, "Yeah, I expected it would come sooner or later. The men are going to go a little crazy. We'll need to be weaned off the open sex and orgies."

Pam teased, "Hey, so will the women. Of course, pregnant women need A LOT of attention."

Dave stated flatly, on purpose, "But then comes the long dry spell as the babies grow. I figure until the last baby in a household goes off to college."

"Shit. I'll be in my fifties if that's the case," Pam said.

"I suppose we could figure out a way to have sex once or twice a month as an accommodation in there."

"A MONTH!? I was kind of hoping for A DAY – you know, twice or three times a day."

"See how you feel, babe. I think you, Alice, and every other mother is going to be consumed with the babies morning, noon, and night. Of course, the daddies are going to be there helping. I think kids tire you out. You need more sleep just to be able to cope with them. Your attention span narrows. Things that were important fade to nothingness."

"You're just Mr. Happy today."

"I'm trying to be realistic about it. I figure if I paint a bleak picture for myself, then anything better than that will be an immense improvement in my love life."

"I commit that you and I will not lose that edge between us. I love you and I don't want to become distant from you in any way at all, especially physically. Some times baby is just going to have to wait until we're through."

"I like your spirit."

Chapter 3 – In a Family Way

Aaron and Shelby, assisted by Martin, had a baby girl – Linda Jean. She was born ten days after Susan delivered.

This time the exchange in the hospital room went a little differently. The same group of obstetrical nurses were present after the birth. Sitting around in Shelby's room were Aaron, Dave, and Martin.

The nurses brought Linda Jean into the room and paused looking at the men. They recognized Dave. One said, "I don't suppose you're the father of this one, are you?"

Dave and Aaron pointed at Martin, "He is."

She brought the baby to him and said, "Ah, so you're the husband."

Martin shook his head. "Oh, no. I'm not. Aaron is the husband. He pointed at Aaron just before accepting the small bundle of joy into his arms."

Shelby laughed and said, "Well, there was a small chance that Dave was the father, but the timing kind of worked in Martin's favor."

Aaron was obviously happy with the situation, so the nurse backed off from further speculations.

Three weeks later, Kat and Sean had James Leonard Marbury.

As Dave arrived to visit he saw the same three nurses in Kat's room. This time as they brought the baby back to consort with the visitors they paused. One asks, "OK, which is the husband and father?"

Dave volunteered, "Different people again. I might be the father, but more than likely it's Mike here. Sean, there, is the husband."

Mike got to hold the baby.

The nurse said, "You guys must have an unusual neighborhood."

Grace came in behind them and laughed, "They do. I live there, too. I'll tell you about it on break ... if you're lucky."

Dave brought Holly to the hospital in labor the next day. He held her and went through the birthing process with her as he'd promised. Zoe Faith popped out in the middle of the afternoon right on schedule.

Two of the nurses he'd come to know were in the delivery room. They raised their eyes to him several times. He pointed at himself and said, "Yes, father." The nurses rolled their eyes.

One nurse asked, "Husband?"

Holly smirked despite her washed out appearance, "Not married."

Four weeks later, Wendy was the one in the obstetrics bed, looking gorgeous as ever, but wiped out from the delivery process as Willow Rae Connor arrived.

This time Grace came in with two of the other nurses that Dave recognized.

One nurse said to Dave, "Let me guess, you're the father but not the husband."

Dave nodded, "Possibly. We're less certain on this one." He pointed at Dev, "He's the daddy."

Dev took the small bundle of baby in his large arms, his tattooed biceps bulging as he accepted the small package. Dev looked dangerous, as usual. If there were ever a protector of this small child, it would be Dev. Dave thought of the first few dates Willow would have when she became a teen, and the boys showed up to confront Dev with their plans for his daughter. He laughed at the mental movie.

Twelve days later, Alice waddled into the hospital accompanied by Dave and Pam. She was quickly whisked away in a wheelchair, prepped and soon delivered John Forrest Prentiss.

This time as Grace accompanied the three usual nurses into the room, Dave stepped forward from the circle of friends visiting the new mother.

Dave said, "I am the father AND husband, at least we think so."

The nurses laughed as they put the baby boy in his arms. The cutest one of the bunch spoke, "I'm Mya. We heard about your Circle from Grace. I can't speak for the others, but I'm jealous of what you've put together. It sounds wonderful, but I can't believe it's as great as it sounds from Grace."

Alice had eight visitors standing around her bed. In perfect synchronization, nine people said, "It is." The nurses reeled back. Grace laughed.

Grace told them, "You have to experience it to believe it. The babies will change everything, but we've assembled the greatest group of people that all love each other and take care of each other. It is a heaven here on earth."

* * * * *

Joan Paige lay in Dave's arms. Julie had spooned up against Joan with Heather behind her. Holly lay on the other side of Dave with her head on his other shoulder from Joan's.

Joan said, "This is pretty nice."

"The nicest," Dave said. "I love all of you."

"We love you."

Julie reminded the group, "Alice comes home tomorrow. She gets preferential treatment."

"Of course."

Joan teased, "I guess I'll have my time in a few months."

There was a long silence as Dave and the women digested her comment.

Dave finally said, "Would you care to clarify exactly what you mean by that."

"You're going to be a daddy again, maybe around Thanksgiving."

"You?"

"None other. I've courted you. You said it was okay, if you recall. I wanted to be certain of the parentage. I'll get Dale to do the next one."

Dave sat up and looked at Joan as she stretched out next to him in her naked splendor. There was enough light in the room to see the exotic shadows and curves of her body as it continued to glow from their lovemaking that ended only a few minutes earlier. He bent down and kissed her.

"I love you, Joan Paige. I'm happy that you're happy with your condition."

She volunteered, "So far, I haven't had any morning sickness or nausea. I just felt 'different', so I got a kit and that tested positive, and then I got that test validated by more sophisticated means. Dr. O'Reilly is sure making money off of this intentional family. We should negotiate a group rate."

Dave chuckled, "I'll go with you to see him and see what we can do. We need to do that with a pediatrician, too."

Joan said, "I had some other interesting news today, as well. Brian goes on trial on April fifteenth."

Dave snorted, "Ah, the ides of the month. I wonder if he'll meet his maker that day the same way Julius Caesar did?"

"Maybe not, but the ADA we met is going to start to roast him."

"He has a criminal defense attorney, who'll try to turn it all back on you, you know."

"Yeah, I should start to get my head in gear about this."

"You'll be called to the stand for sure. I mean some of the key evidence the prosecution is presenting mostly came from you: the tapes from your counseling sessions out in Austin seem to be the core."

The worst stuff came out while I was under hypnosis or sodium pentothal. I can't comment on those interventions except to say that I underwent them. Someone from the clinic has volunteered to come to Sarasota to testify as to their efficacy and such, as well as the veracity of the tapes."

Dave said, "I think both techniques have been validated in the court system many times before this. I'm sure the ADA will have those citations on hand to buttress his case."

"I'll mention that to him. I have his email."

Dave said, "The more important questions for you will be why you let yourself succumb to Brian's browbeating and abuse? You seem so strong now. What was it about that period of time in your life that made you susceptible?"

"I'll think about that."

"He'll drag the Circle into the trial, too."

"On what basis?"

"That you were really nuts for a while. He wasn't emotionally abusing you; he was trying to get you to be rational again. He'll paint a picture that the Circle is not a reasonable activity, and he was only trying to nudge you back to the straight and narrow."

Joan was thoughtful. "I'll have to think about what to say if that comes up that way. Just so you know, I saw the Circle as salvation from what had been happening. Yes, it became a magnet, but that's why."

"Remember that. Your whole sex life will come to the fore, as well."

"What about Brian's affair with Amanda Tyler? What about his books on psychological warfare and his checklists?"

Dave speculated, "His lawyer will find some basis to dismiss all of that; to trivialize it and make them worthless pieces of evidence that have no relevance to the case."

"Hmmmmm." Joan got thoughtful. "What happens if he gets off?"

"We move forward with the civil case if you want. The standard of proof is lower in that setting. More than likely, there won't be a jury, only a judge or tribunal of judges."

The next few months are going to be interesting."

* * * * *

The group sex frequented by the Circle all but ceased to exist.

Mostly mothers, and an occasional father, mother-in-law, or father-in-law, or combinations, started to arrive with each new baby. Moreover, they would stay and mill around the Circle with their new grandbaby in tow, usually in some kind of expensive new tricycle carriage if not in their arms.

Elise knew that Alice's parents had no intention of coming to see their sinful Florida daughter's child - their new grandbaby, so she took it upon herself to be the surrogate mother to Alice. Alice liked Elise, and was glad for the extra pair of hands for the two weeks that Elise visited. By the time she returned north, Alice had healed and been able to reassume the reins of baby care.

Elise also made nice with Shelby's mother who appeared at the Circle for the first time. Doris Wynn was about the same age, but had been exceptionally naïve about how Aaron and Shelby lived. Elise had at least figured that much out, particularly after she learned that Martin was the father of that baby.

Doris had heard all the right words, but she hadn't put them together and thought about theimplicationsof what they meant: polyamorous, cohousing, diversified housing, sharing, commune-like, nonexclusive, non-monogamous, loving, sharing and so on.

Shelby admitted to a few of the Circle members that she had purposefully been a little vague and slowly introduced her description of her lifestyle to avoid the inevitable bomb shell explosion.

The shock nearly sent Doris to the hospital.

Shelby's mother had arrived a few days after Elise. She watched a steady stream of men and women, neighbors, come and see her daughter. They each seemed so close to her, usually kissing and hugging her with such affection. Shelby obviously felt similar love for them, even the men – especially the men.

What tipped the balance was when Martin and Sasha appeared on her first weekend there. Martin swooped in, and definitely played the role of father to the baby, picking up Linda Jean, doing all the goofy baby talk, and snuggling and coddling the baby to him.

Further, Shelby openly displayed her breasts to the man as she started to breast feed the baby and talk to him. Martin thought nothing of the reveal, only continuing to talk to mostly Shelby about the baby and how often she thought he should come down. He wanted to be in Linda Jean's life.

Doris heard some of the same words flash back to her as she watched Shelby and Martin, as Aaron sat on Shelby's other side with Sasha's arm around his shoulder.

"WAIT! Something's wrong here!" Doris announced. She looked from one to another. "What's going on between the four of you?"

Aaron took on that challenge. "We all love each other. We're the best of friends. Martin and Sasha are part of our intentional family."

Doris frowned, "Shelby, you called it a polyamorous family one time."

Shelby smiled, "Yes. Poly meaning many, and amorous meaning loving."

Doris muttered, "And non-exclusive and non-monogamous and sharing and ... OH, MY GOD, YOU'VE ALL HAD SEX TOGETHER."

The four Circle members looked at Doris as though she was the last one to get the punch line to a very obvious joke. They all nodded. Aaron said, "Yes?" as though, 'Of course. Why didn't you know that?'

Martin faced Doris more directly, "And I'm likely the father of Linda Jean."

Doris crumbled into a pile on the floor, thankfully cushioned by the side of the bed that Shelby reclined in.

When Doris came to, she was on the bed beside Shelby. She shot awake and looked at her daughter. "You had sex with another man." It was a statement not a question.

"Yes. I have sex with all the men in the Circle. It's one of the many reasons we have the Circle and the cohousing project designed the way it is. I've told you this time and again. You weren't listening."

Doris closed her eyes and laid her head back on the covers. She counted to fifty but nothing changed in that time interval. The reality of the situation continued without change.

Aaron rushed back with a bottle of water from the refrigerator. He helped his mother-in-law sit up and take a drink. "What can I get you? Are you all right?"

"I'M FINE," Doris declared loudly. "It's the rest of you I'm worried about."

Grace came into the bedroom followed by Emily. She greeted everybody, unaware of the tense moments before their arrival.

Doris had met Grace several times, when Grace came each day to check on Shelby's breast feeding, the baby, and, of course, Shelby. She did her usual checks though both questions and observations, doing a quick unwrap and rewrap of the baby.

Doris asked Grace, "Do you belong to the Circle?"

"Yes. It's the most profoundly wonderful situation I've ever experienced. I love it, but it's not an 'it'. The Circle consists of thirty-seven people, and we love each other, we care about each other, and make each other our priority. I have never felt so loved in my life, and I have a very attentive husband."