Randi Conclusion
Randall met Denise in the living room as they were getting ready to head
out the door for work.
"Have a wonderful day," he hugged and kissed her.
"I hope you have a good one as well," she returned the kiss and they
left the condo.
Denise pulled out of the parking space and saw Randall still standing
outside his car. She pulled up beside him and rolled down the window.
"Something wrong?" she called out.
"Yeah," he replied running his hands all over. "I left my cell on the
charger. I need to go back in and get it. I'll see you later, drive
safe."
Denise waved to him and headed out the parking lot. Randall turned and
went back inside.
He headed straight back to the bedroom and began undressing. He hated to
lie to Denise, something he had no practice doing, but it had to be this
way. He stripped off his clothes, went into his closet and picked out
the things Randi would be wearing that day.
He had put in for a vacation day last week. Vacation, it had been three
months since they had taken the vacation up to Lake Tahoe. Randi had a
great time and then faced a moment of crisis. He got through it thanks
to Denise, but also thanks to Beth and he had a lunch date with her this
afternoon.
* - * - *
Beth had arrived at the restaurant first. She was already sitting at a
table when Randi arrived. It was early fall now and the weather was
still amazing, but because this was a rather clandestine meeting, she
had asked for a table inside so they wouldn't be seen.
She watched as Randi came in and smiled. While she was dressed in her
typical work day clothes: black slacks, button up blouse and three inch
heels, Randi could easily work in any office. Dressed in a blue pleated
skirt, short but not too short, at least longer than one Joan would
pick, paired with a while blouse with a camisole visible beneath, and
the heels on the shoes were a comfortable height. She envied Randi at
times but realized they both made choices that were good for themselves.
"Hey Beth," Randi called to her as he came up to the table. "Sorry I'm
late, I ran into traffic because of an accident on the way."
"Not a problem," she answered. "I got here just five minutes ago myself.
You look terrific."
"Thanks," he answered. "You look good, too. And how I look has a lot to
do with you."
"Hey, I just told you how I felt, the rest was all you," she replied.
The waiter came up and poured them water, took their order and scurried
off without a second look.
"So," Beth leaned forward, "what's up? Why all the mystery."
Randi looked around and whispered back, "I'm going to ask Denise to
marry me. I wanted to see what you thought about it and help me come up
with something special."
"Oh!" Beth clapped her hands together. "I think that is wonderful! Have
you figured out who is going to ask, Randi or Randall?"
"Well, that is part of what I wanted to talk to you about," Randi went
on. "I mean a lot of what happened at Tahoe left me considering how much
Randi is in our lives and the answer is a lot. A lot more than Randall
is I think. But I can't get down on one knee in a dress in a restaurant
to propose so I think it has to be Randall. But I think she might like
it better if I were Randi. It is driving me nuts thinking about it so I
decided I wanted to talk to you and see what you thought."
"Well, I'm flattered you decided to come to me," Beth sat up a bit
feeling a glow that came from the trust he placed in their friendship.
"Of course there aren't too many people you could choose to discuss this
with."
"Oh, don't sell yourself short," Randi assured her. "Even if I had
decided to propose as Randall I would still want to talk to you about
some of my plans and help me."
"Thanks," Beth grinned, "so ok, first decision ought to be whether it is
Randi or Randall. Personally, I think it is a no brainer. Randi was what
opened her up to accepting you. It was the device, if you'll forgive the
term, that allowed her to accept you as an equal who wouldn't try and
dominate her world. You are now asking her to commit the rest of her
life to being with you! If Randi asks, it will seem to assure that you
are asking to spend that lifetime as equals."
Randi nodded, it made sense to him. The waiter arrived with their lunch
and placed on the table. After being certain the ladies needed nothing
more he went away.
"OK, so if I ask her to marry me as Randi, how do I go about doing it? I
want to be out doing a special dinner or something really nice, not just
sitting in the condo. I want her to remember this forever."
"Do men actually worry that a woman will forget the day the guy she
loves asks her to marry him?" Beth laughed. "I mean you could be in a
greasy pair of jeans after having worked on a car and she will remember
every detail the rest of her life!"
"I suppose you are right," Randi conceded between bites. "But I still
would like to do something special."
Randi heard a beep from his purse. He pulled out his cell, typed a quick
message and dropped it back in.
"That was Denise, she has to work late tonight," he told Beth. "Any
chance you might be able to get off a bit early? I think I would like to
go look at some rings and I would like your opinion on that as well. Am
I asking too much?"
Beth grinned again lighting up her face. "You can never ask too much. I
think you are just the best girlfriend a girl could want. Denise is so
incredibly lucky. Hold on a minute."
She fished her own cell out of her purse and dialed a number as she
walked away for a quiet area. A couple minutes later she returned.
"OK, all taken care of," she announced to Randi. "I have the rest of the
afternoon off. What say we go right after lunch?"
"I can't tell you how much I appreciate this," Randi beamed.
"No, really, the pleasure is entirely mine," Beth told him.
They proceeded to eat their lunch and after paying the bill, went to the
mall to look at the rings in the many jewelry stores there.
They wandered from store to store talking about size, cut style, color,
what Denise might find the most desirable. The cost would have to stay a
little on the conservative side, but he had enough leeway to make it a
nice stone.
He got a few ideas and decided to go back another day to make the
purchase as Randall. He would have to figure out the ring size as well.
They walked back to the parking lot where their cars were parked.
"Thanks so much for your help today," he told her while trying to keep
the wind that had come up from blowing his skirt too high.
"My pleasure," Beth laughed at his efforts. "You know, that is another
reason I tend not to wear dresses."
"I find it is worth the trouble," he laughed with her.
"Can we meet up again next week?" she asked. "Maybe I'll have some new
ideas for you."
"I won't be able to wrangle another day off," he confided. "If we meet,
you'll be having lunch with Randall."
"I think I can live with that," she assured him.
They hugged and Randi headed to the car. Beth watched him go and saw a
flash of yellow beneath his skirt before he managed to get it back under
control again. She smiled thinking about just how special a friend she
had found.
* - * - *
Randall and Beth met for lunch again the next week at a different
restaurant. They still chose seats toward the back where they wouldn't
be seen.
"So, I bought the ring yesterday," Randall told her.
"Can I see it?" Beth leaned forward.
"It is being sized, I pick it up tonight after work," he told her.
"Besides, I feel like Denise ought to be the first to see it."
"Yeah, that makes sense," Beth agreed. "I am just so envious of you
two."
"You'll find someone one day," Randi assured her.
"I guess so," Beth sighed. "Someone out there for everyone, right?"
"I didn't think so until I found Denise," Randall reached across the
table and took one of her hands. "You just need to have faith in
yourself and be open to the possibility when that someone comes along.
Believe me, I never would have thought I'd be sitting here today with a
closet full of dresses preparing to propose to a woman who prefers to
see me in them."
"Well, she's not the only one," Beth teased. "I love you, Randall, but
Randi is my very special friend. I don't know why, but it is just
different." She squeezed his hand and then released it.
Randall nodded. "I know, Randi is different. I don't even know how or
why, I just feel different as Randi.
"But," he went on, "I need to do this proposal soon. I can't keep
sneaking around behind Denise's back like this. I think she is beginning
to suspect something and I am not very good at hiding things."
Beth laughed.
"You know what I mean," Randall grinned.
"Well, I have an idea, but you'll have to wait a few days while I get
some things organized. Say a week from this Saturday. Can you hold out
that long?"
"Yeah, I think I can do that," Randall answered. "What have you got in
mind?"
Beth explained her plan to Randall while they ate. Randall's smile got
bigger the more he heard. It sounded perfect.
* - * - *
Randall got home that night and proceeded to change while he waited for
Denise to get home. He was all smiles as he put on his make-up thinking
about what would come to pass in just a few days.
He went to the kitchen and decided to start a simple chicken and pasta
stir fry. He heard the door and the sound of Denise's shoes on the floor
as she came to the kitchen.
"Hi dear," Randi went to her giving her a kiss.
"Hi," she returned the kiss quickly. "How was your day today?"
"Oh, pretty good," he stirred the concoction on the stove.
"I tried calling you at work but they said you were out. That's happened
a few times when I've called recently. Anything I need to know about?"
she asked.
"I decided to run a few errands at lunch recently. Nothing important,
just trying to take care of things when I can so that we have all our
time together," he explained.
"OK," she answered. "I'm going to get a bit more comfortable. I'll be
back in a minute."
When she came back she had changed from the skirted business suit into a
loose dress.
They chatted while they ate talking about significant parts of their
business day. While they chatted the phone rang. Denise went to answer
it.
"Hey darlin'", Denise called out. "It's Beth, she wants to know if we
have plans for dinner next Saturday."
"There isn't anything on my calendar, so it is good with me," he told
her.
Denise came back to the table. "I told her that would work. She said it
was a special occasion and we ought to dress formal, like that last
night in Tahoe. Is that going to be a problem? Bad memory?"
"No," Randi told her. "It's time to build more good memories. But I am
going to need a new dress. I'm not ready to wear that red one again yet.
I will one day, because I know you like it on me so much, but not just
yet."
Denise gave him a big smile. "That is good enough for me. I think maybe
I could use a new dress as well. How about we do some shopping this
weekend?"
* - * - *
That weekend they went back to their favorite shopping area. There was
one store there that specialized in formal dresses with a broad
selection. They spent the whole afternoon looking for just the right
dresses for themselves, critiquing each other's wanting to achieve the
perfect look.
Denise asked Randi what the special occasion might be that she wanted
them all dressed up. She wondered if maybe she had found a boyfriend and
was looking to dazzle them.
Randi didn't think it could be a boyfriend. How could she expect Randi
to meet a new person. That was something they would need to discuss
before introducing someone into their group.
"Besides," Randi turned to Denise, "maybe I'm in the wrong store. Are
you sure she asked for Randi and not Randall? Perhaps it is someone new
and I should be wearing a tux!"
"No, I'm certain she said 'I'd like you and Randi to come to my place
next Saturday," Denise explained. "But you are right, can't be a new
guy. This is going to drive me crazy until next week."
Randi nodded and turned away from her trying to hide the smile that was
spreading across his face.
* - * - *
At last Saturday came around. Randi and Denise got ready for Beth's big
formal dinner. Randi wore an emerald green dress with a big full skirt.
The top had a squared off neckline and fit tight to the waist.
Denise was in a burnt orange. Both her dress and Randi's seemed to
change shades as they moved between dark and light along the shiny
fabric. Denise's dress was also floor-length but was straight with a
modest slit in the back. The front had a plunging neckline that just
showed a bit her modest cleavage.
They went to the car and Denise drove them over to Beth's apartment.
They parked and took the elevator to the top floor. When they got to her
door they found a note telling them to head up to the roof. They went
down the hallway where the entrance to the stairwell was. Passing
through the door they saw a stairway leading up and the door at the top
was slightly ajar.
Denise hiked her skirt up and proceeded ahead of Randi. Randi grabbed a
handful of his dress and made it slowly up the stairs fearing he would
trip and fall. He managed to make it to the landing at the top without
incident where Denise waited before going heading outside.
They pushed the door open and Denise preceded him onto the roof. It was
strung up with Christmas lights shining all around. A red carpet runner
led across about ten feet of roof to a large carpet where a table set
for two with lit candles sat empty.
Denise gave Randi a puzzled look. About that time Beth stepped from
behind the open door. She was dressed in a tux cut more in a feminine
style.
"Good evening!" she spoke to them. "Welcome to your very special dinner.
May I show you to your table?"
"Please do," Randi answered.
Denise looked back and forth between them and just went along to the
table.
Once they were seated Beth handed them each a menu. It was very limited,
salad, entr?e and dessert, no choices.
"Dinner looks good to me," Denise told her, her brow wrinkled from the
questions she wanted to ask.
"Very good," Beth took the menus and walked away.
A moment later Joan appeared at the table dressed in a very short black
dress with a low cut front. She had a bottle of wine that they
recognized as having come from one of the Fair Play wineries. It was one
that they had all decided was one of the best.
"I only agreed to do this if I could wear this dress," Joan told them as
she poured.
"What is going on?" Denise asked her.
"I'm not allowed to say," Joan sighed. "You'll find out soon enough."
With that she went back through the door and down the stairs.
"What is this?" Denise asked Randi. "I thought we would be eating dinner
with Beth?"
"I'd say just go along with it," Randi explained, "and enjoy. I'm sure
everything will come clear when it is supposed to."
Beth returned with salads, placed them on the table and left without a
word.
"This is really starting to bother me," Denise complained.
"Hey, I am kind of liking it," Randi tried to cheer her up, "great
service, beautiful atmosphere, and a truly beautiful date. What more
could we want?"
"An explanation," Denise answered. She sighed, "But you are right.
Everything is just as you say, including my beautiful date as well. That
dress looks great on you. I love you in green."
They lifted their wine glasses and clinked them together before taking a
sip.
Soon the entr?e arrived: steak, baked potato fully loaded, and
asparagus. Joan followed refilling their glasses. Randi nodded and
winked at Beth as she placed the plates before them.
They ate the dinner soaking in the pleasant evening air. At last, Denise
seemed to have finally relaxed. Joan came in and removed the dishes.
Beth followed with two desserts and a third plate that had a cover over
it.
"Denise, I think we have an incredible life together," Randi started.
"It is truly different than anything I ever expected for myself."
Denise had her eyes locked on Randi's. She didn't notice that Beth and
Denise were now both standing just outside the door on the roof
watching.
Randi reached over and removed the cover from the dish revealing a small
black felt ring box beneath it. Denise's eyes widened as she suddenly
realized what was going on.
"We started out this relationship trying to be sure there would be
equality in what we do together. That and honesty are the two most
important things I believe we want. So, I thought it only fitting that I
ask you, Denise," he turned the box toward her and opened the lid
exposing a round white diamond stone resting atop a gold band, "to be my
wife and spend the rest of your life with me. And I ask it not from my
knee, but sitting with you, as Randi, the person you have helped me find
and understand. Your equal in all things that we do together."
Denise just stared at the ring in the box, her hands up at her mouth
shaking ever so slightly. Randi began to worry. Had he been mistaken
that this was the right time to ask? Or that this was the right way to
do it?
Denise suddenly inhaled with a sob. "Oh, Randi!" she exclaimed as tears
flowed down her cheeks. "It is beautiful. You did all this?"
"Um, well, wait, first can you tell me if you are saying yes or no?"
"Oh, yes! Of course yes!" she jumped up knocking her chair over and
circled the table practically jumping into Randi's lap kissing him.
He broke loose from the kiss just long enough to ask her to let him get
the ring on her finger. She held her hand out and he had to hold it
still to get it on. Once he had it in place, Beth and Joan raced over
from where they were waiting.
"Can I see it?" Beth asked first as she hugged them both.
Denise held out her hand. "Haven't you seen it already? You've had it
since before dinner. I know he didn't give you anything when we got
here."
"He made me promise not to look when he gave it to me yesterday at
lunch," Beth told her. "He felt that you should be the first one to see
it."
Denise looked at Randi and kissed him again.
"Nice rock," Joan assessed.
Denise looked at it again. "Yes, I hope you didn't do anything too
drastic. I don't need anything this big."
"I think it is just exactly what you need," Randi told her. "I figured
out what I could do and went from there. Beth helped me decide just what
sort of stone and ring I should look at. Then I went and purchased the
one I thought best alone."
"So whose idea was this little dinner?" Denise asked.
"Well, once again, it was Beth," Randi told her. He explained how they
met for lunch a few times over the last couple weeks and their mall
expedition to look at the rings. "It was driving me crazy not being able
to tell you about us meeting up. It was why I was out of the office so
much around lunch."
"Your explanation left a lot to be desired," Denise told him. "But I
trust you. And this is exactly why, even when I have reason to believe
something might be going on, I know if I wait I'll find out everything
is alright."
"You two are disgusting," Joan told them. "Congratulations, but I am
going to a club. I'm not wasting this dress on you three." She turned
and left the rooftop.
"Do you have another dessert?" Denise asked Beth. "If so, why don't you
grab it and another wine glass? I would love to have Randi's co-
conspirator join us."
Beth smiled and went to get the things she needed to join the
celebration. When she had returned, Denise had moved back to her side of
the table. She had her right hand stretched across the table holding
Randi's hand while she kept looking back and forth between Randi's face
and the rock on her finger.
"So, what made you decide to bring Beth into your plans?" Denise asked.
"Well, that night we got back from Tahoe," Randi explained. "She said
some things to me which weren't a lot different from the things you told
me, to be honest, but because it came from someone who was just a
friend, it meant something different. And I realized just how special a
friend she was. That she came up with the idea for this and went through
all this just for us shows me even more just how much a friend she
really is. It was a lot of work that she got nothing out of for
herself."
"Oh, I wouldn't say that," Beth protested. "I got to take part in a very
special, very intimate moment with two of my most special people in my
life. And I got a date."
Randi and Denise looked at each other, then they turned to Beth. "What?"
they chimed together.
"Well, the guy at the thrift store where I found the carpet and I got to
talking. I bought what I needed and he offered to come over and help me
get it all set up. Of course I didn't give him all the details, but
enough that he knew I wasn't doing this for myself. Anyway, he asked me
out for next week!"
"That's terrific!" Randi told her.
"Yes," Denise agreed. "I hope it works out for you. I know you don't
just go out unless you feel a real connection."
"Well," Beth went on. "We'll see how things go. I don't know how I could
introduce him into this setup."
"Don't worry about that," Randi offered. "We'll figure it all out as
time goes along. You need to find your own happiness."
"Well it won't be happiness if I have to give up either of you." Beth
groaned.
"Don't worry about that now," Denise answered. "Everything can work out
if it supposed to. Start by going on that first date."
They finished dessert and Randi and Denise carefully made their way back
down the stairway before bidding Beth a good night and another round of
thank yous. When they got back home they had a good time wrestling
through the mounds of fabric of their dresses looking for the prizes
that awaited them.
* - * - *
Over the next couple months they discussed dates for the wedding and the
details of the event itself. Denise wavered between wanting something
fancy and something small and intimate. They hadn't reached the point
where they wanted to talk about Randi or Randall.
They also had seen very little of Beth over that time. The guy she met
was named Earl and he worked at the thrift store. And that was about all
they knew. She did call and asked to come by during the week, though, so
they thought they would find out just where things stood then.
Other than that, it had been a couple club nights with Joan, Denise and
Randi. Joan complained that the ring Denise wore was scaring off the
guys and wasn't getting the action she thought she ought to be
attracting.
Now they had just finished dinner and Randi cleared off the dishes while
Denise put away the leftovers. They were just heading to the living room
when Beth arrived. They all sat down in the living room when another
knock on the door sounded. Randi went to the door and let Joan in.
After saying hello to one another and getting set up with drinks they
waited in anticipation of what Beth had been up to for the last couple
months.
"Well, Earl is very nice. He is kind, sort of quiet. Drinks a lot less
than we do, I can tell you that. We've been going out to movies, plays,
museums, zoos, things like that. He really doesn't like the dance club
scene so we haven't been doing that. I did take him by the Downtown Inn
one night; he thought that was an ok place. The bartender asked me if I
had seen Randall lately because he hadn't been in for a while. I told
her not in a couple months. Randi, you really ought to drop by and tell
them about your engagement.
"Earl asked me who Randall was when we left, he is smart he knew not to
ask until we were alone. I told him he was Denise's fianc?. I think he
is starting to question things because I talk about Randi a lot."
"How do you think he'll react to meeting Randi?" Denise asked.
"Oh, I think he would love her," Beth answered. "I am still not sure how
he would feel when he finds out Randi and Randall are the same person. I
mean it isn't exactly a topic that comes up a whole lot, you know?
"Hey dear, this is my best girlfriend, Randi, that I have told you
about. Oh, and he is also Randall, Denise's fianc?."
Randi hung his head down. He could tell she was very conflicted over
trying to resolve this problem. The guy must mean a lot to her or it
wouldn't be that big of a deal.
"Who would you like him to meet first?" Randi asked her. "And how would
you like the meeting to happen?"
"I don't know," Beth admitted. "I keep going back and forth on it. Now I
understand how you felt when you were trying to figure out how to
propose to Denise, and who you wanted to be when you did."
They all sat quietly for a while.
"Well," Randi started again, "I think the answer is the same. Who is
more important to you, Beth? Is it Randall or Randi?"
"You're both important to me in different ways," Beth explained, "but,
if I were forced to pick someone, you know I am going to pick Randi. I
explained before how important she is to me as my girlfriend."
"Well, that decides it then," Randi stated. "Earl will meet Randi. Now,
how do we do it? Dinner out? Dinner in? Somewhere else? What will put
him most at ease to meet your friends? I take it he hasn't met Joan yet
either."
"No, he hasn't met any of you yet," she explained. "There is a little
club that he does go to. It is sort of the old coffee house type place
with live music, mostly folk music, but some bluegrass or country."
"Sounds terrific," Denise jumped in. "Why don't we set up a time when we
can all meet up there?"
"Seriously?" Joan moaned. "The place sounds like a total bore."
"Actually, I think it sounds like a great change of pace," Randi
replied. "Those clubs we have been going to are always loud and
expensive. I say we give it a go. Beth, set it up with Earl, we'll be
there."
Beth smiled and nodded.
* - * - *
Denise and Randi arrived at the coffeehouse and went inside. There
weren't many people there yet so they easily spotted Beth. She was at a
table with a man they figured was Earl, Joan was already sitting with
them.
They had each dressed casually in knee length skirts and loose tops. The
styles were slightly different and different colors, they didn't want to
look too similar. Beth was dressed in jeans and a long sleeved blouse.
Of course Joan could be counted on to provide some flair.
They saw she had dressed all in black: black skin-tight jeans, black
silk blouse which she had left unbuttoned to just below her bra, which
was also black, except the pink ribbon that wove through the lace along
the top of the cups and the pink rose in the center. One look at Beth
let them know she wasn't too happy about it.
When they got to the table, Beth jumped up and hugged them both.
"These are my friends Randi and Denise," she pointed to each as she
introduced them. "And this, of course, is Earl."
"Hi," Denise and Randi said at the same time.
"It is my pleasure, ladies," he greeted them. "Can I get you something
to drink?"
"How is the wine here?" Randi asked.
"Honestly, not very good," Earl stated apologetically. "From what Beth
has told me you will be very disappointed."
"OK, how about a rum and coke for me," Randi decided.
"Scotch on the rocks, please," Denise added.
"Coming up," Earl stood, gave Beth a quick kiss, "Be right back."
They watched him walk to the bar. He was a nice looking guy, taller than
all of them but probably not over six foot tall. He looked like he was
in decent shape but probably didn't spend a lot of time working out.
"So, what do you think?" Beth probed.
"Well, so far he seems pretty nice," Randi told her, "but relax, we've
got a ways to go and we aren't going to grill him."
"He looks pretty good, too," Denise added.
Earl returned with the drinks and sat back down beside Beth barely
glancing at Joan. They talked getting to know one another and get the
brief history of Beth and Earl's courtship. One thing that became
evident to Randi and Denise was that Earl was purposely not looking at
Joan.
After an hour of being ignored Joan decided she was going to look for
her excitement elsewhere.
"Hey folks," Joan stood up, "I think I am going to head out. This just
isn't my sort of place. Maybe we can meet up for dinner some time, ok?"
Earl turned to her and stared her in the eye, "It was nice meeting you.
Please be careful and we'll see you again."
Joan turned and left. Randi watched her strut out the door.
"So, Beth told us you met at the thrift store," Denise started the
conversation again.
"Yes, I started working there about 8 months ago," Earl explained. "I
needed something to keep me busy and it seemed like a good place. I like
helping a lot of the people that shop there. There are some folks out
there living on the edge and really need some help."
"Sometimes he cuts them special deals," Beth added hugging his arm. "He
is so considerate."
"Don't your employers get a little upset about that?" Randi asked.
"Well," Earl admitted, "actually, I make up the difference so the
register balances."
"So you have a job that you end up spending money on other people while
you work there." Randi looked dubious.
"Look," Earl added. "I don't talk about this, but Beth has talked about
you two so much I feel like I know you already. I have a trust that pays
me more than I need each month. You will see that I like to live simply.
I enjoy getting outdoors for my entertainment: biking, hiking, stuff
like that. I don't need a lot to live on and I don't give people more
than they need. But especially if there are kids involved, I like to
help them out.
"There are some folks that I see park a BMW, Lexus, or something like
that in the parking lot and then try and talk down the prices of things
in the store. I mean, if you need to do that to pay for that car, get
rid of the car. Other folks I have seen come in off the bus dragging a
couple kids with them. The mom's coat is barely held together and she is
trying to get the kids set up with decent clothes. I'll let her pick up
$60 worth of stuff and pay $15. They need to pay something, giving it
away doesn't help them feel any better about themselves. And if they
expect it because they got themselves in a problem, well, I don't cut
them much slack either."
"Wow, that is really something," Denise stated. "How can you be sure you
know what is really going on with them?"
"That explanation was probably a lot harsher than it really is," Earl
went on. "If I get 100 customers, 95 are treated exactly the same. It is
just the special cases I see come in, like the few I mentioned, that get
my special attention.
"It is even starting to rub off on some other customers," he continued.
"There is a guy that comes into the shop maybe once a month to shop for
ladies' clothes. He picks up an armload and pays full price, never asks
about getting a discount. One day, he spots me giving one of my
discounts and then taking the money out of my pocket and putting it in
the till. He comes up with his load of dresses and after I ring them up
he hands me the money to pay for it. Turns out there is $20 too much,
when I try and give it back he says to help someone else who needs it.
Then he thanks me for always treating him with respect when he shops
there."
"Were the clothes for him?" Randi asked.
"Oh yeah," Earl answered. "He goes into the changing room with them
before he buys them. Always comes in dressed in male clothes, though. I
figure he probably wears them around his house."
"Does it bother you?" Denise asked. "I mean those clothes could help
someone who needs them."
"He needs them," Earl told her. "He found a place he can shop
comfortably. Who am I to say anything?"
They talked more and had a couple more drinks. They listened to the
music that played and had a very good time. At the end of the evening
they all parted company saying they needed to get together again soon.
"Well," Denise announced to Randi as she buckled her seatbelt, "I liked
him. I think he might be a good fit for Beth."
"Yeah, he seems real nice and he is very attentive," Randi agreed. "I
don't think he let go of her hand except when he left the table. Doesn't
seem too materialistic and he also appears to accept people as they
are."
"I don't think he'll have a problem with Randi and Randall," Denise
pointed out.
"Maybe," Randi answered back, "but I don't want to rush into anything
there. I mean it all sounds good so far but that was just the first time
we met. Maybe we should arrange a double date, Randall and Denise with
Beth and Earl."
"You know," Denise warned, "as good as you look as Randi, seeing us
together with you as Randall may tip him off."
"I know," Randi sighed. "But Beth seems so happy right now. She has to
be keeping this part a secret and I know how hard it can be for someone
to try and keep something from someone they really love. Even when it is
a really good thing and this isn't really her secret to hold on to. I
feel like I am putting her in a bad spot."
"OK," Denise agreed, "it's your call. Also, I think tomorrow I am going
to call Joan and arrange for the two of us to have some lunch together.
Something is up with that girl and I need to see what it is."
* - * - *
Randall and Denise went to meet Beth and Earl at the local movie
theater. Randall was introduced and they spoke briefly before entering
the theater and settling in to watch the movie.
Once the movie was over they left and went to a caf? for an early
dinner. They talked about a lot of different things over the course of
an hour and a glass of wine.
"So," Earl started, "I'm not sure exactly how to address this."
"Just spit it out," Denise advised him, "you're among friends."
Beth nodded watching him.
"OK," Earl hesitated and turned to Randall, "do you prefer Randall or
Randi? Or should I just take the cue from how you are dressed?"
Beth's mouth dropped open. Denise turned to look at Randall to judge his
reaction. Randall just looked at each of them and then back at Earl.
At last he spoke to Earl, "it is all dependent on how I am dressed." He
braced himself waiting to see what would follow.
"OK," Earl nodded, "I can handle that. I just didn't want to call you
the wrong thing."
"When did you figure it out?" Beth asked.
"When we first met at the coffeehouse," Earl told her. "You've told me
so much about all of them, and even though you talk about Randi and
Randall as two different people it seemed they never crossed paths, kind
of like Clark Kent and Superman. That was odd but not impossible. Then
when you and Denise started talking about the dinner where she was
proposed to you were both carefully not saying Randall's name and Randi
was reacting to the story with a lot of pride on his, or her, face. When
we met today it confirmed what I thought. Physically the two are too
similar, they had to be one person. It was one of the reasons I told you
about the guy who buys the dresses at the shop. If I was right, I wanted
to let you know I wasn't going to judge you for it.
"So, out of curiosity, I suspect it was Randi that did the proposing?"
"Yes," Randall admitted. "Beth helped me pull it off as you know. I wore
a beautiful dress to propose to her in, as an equal partner."
"When you get married," Earl asked, "will you both be in wedding
dresses?"
"I don't know yet," Randall answered. "Probably not, I have too many
friends at work and such that I would like to invite and they are not
aware of Randi at all."
"I bet something could be worked out," Earl offered. "Beth is a great
strategist."
They spent the rest of lunch filling in Earl on how their situation came
to be and the various adventures they had shared.
* - * - *
The next day Randi was lounging in the living room when Denise came in
the front door.
"Hi, so how did lunch with Joan go," Randi asked.
"It went fine," Denise told him. "Are you still in your nightgown? It's
three in the afternoon!"
"Sorry, I didn't have anywhere to go so I thought I would just bum
around and watch a little football today. The games are just getting
over." He turned the TV off. "So, tell me about Joan."
"Well," Denise sat on the couch with him, "would you believe she is
jealous? It has really started bothering her that you and I have found
each other. The proposal dinner was sort of a final straw, especially
when she found out that Beth met Earl and looked to be getting serious.
She desperately wants to find someone for herself."
"Did you explain that dressing like a hooker and hanging out in the meat
markets was probably not the best plan for her to achieve that end?"
Randi asked.
"Well, not quite that crudely or bluntly," Denise shook her head. "I did
tell her that dressing the way she does just attracts the wrong guys.
You should have seen her today, skin tight white top that made her boobs
stick out over a skirt that was so tight and short that you couldn't
help but see the panties she was wearing. And you'd be proud, they were
white with a mostly lace front, quite sexy."
Randi chuckled.
"It really was more sad than funny," Denise sighed. "She is really a
very good person. She just needs to change the way she is going about
things. I hope I helped her today."
"I'm sure you gave her solid advice," Randi assured her. "I don't
suppose you told her to pick up a guy talking to himself in a little bar
and have him put on her clothes?"
"No, I don't think that would be what she is looking for," Denise
slapped him lightly on the shoulder.
Randi turned and kissed her reaching up her short, but not too short,
skirt.
* - * - *
Months passed and Earl turned out to be just as great a guy as they all
thought he seemed to be. He had no problem hanging out with the group
whether it was Randall or Randi that was in attendance. Joan came around
occasionally but not as often. She was off doing her own thing.
She explained that she had met a guy and dated for about six weeks but
it because evident that there wasn't any way that he would be accepting
of Randi and that she not only wasn't willing to give up the friendship
they shared, but that his attitude showed her something very
unattractive that she couldn't accept.
"I don't have to have a guy that likes to dress up like Randi does, I
think I want someone like Earl who can accept people for who they are,"
she explained one day when they were all together.
"Well," Denise sat up, "I want everyone to save the date, March 15th."
"You've decided on a date!" Beth cheered.
"The ides of March?" Earl asked. "I hope that isn't being prophetic."
Randi laughed. "I thought of that too. We were looking for a date that
worked for us. We didn't want to do Valentine's Day, or New Year's Eve,
or anything like that. We both decided March would be nice and the 15th
just works out."
"So, have you decided on whether it will be Randi or Randall?" Beth
asked.
"Well, it has to be Randall," Randi informed them all. "There are just
too many people to invite from our work places to have Randi at the
altar."
"Why not two weddings?" Beth asked.
"Oh, that sounds like too much work," Denise protested.
"No, not really," Beth answered. They could see she was putting the
pieces together in her head and waited until she was ready.
At last she looked up. "OK, what if instead of doing the rehearsal the
night before with just the wedding party we do the real wedding. Then
the next day, we hold the ceremony for all the friends?" Beth posed.
"Randi first, then Randall."
Randi and Denise looked at each other, silently conversing. A smile
crept across Randi's face. Denise mirrored it.
"She has done it again," Randi stated.
"Yes she has," Denise agreed. "I think we've made a good choice."
"What choice," Beth asked.
"Well, Randi and I decided on a small wedding party, one person to stand
up for each of us," Denise explained. "Joan, I would like you to be my
Maid of Honor, if you would please."
"I would love to," Joan reached over and hugged Denise. "Can I help
choose my dress?"
"Of course," Denise told her, "And I want you to help me find my wedding
dress. Just remember, it's my day, you can't look better than me."
Joan laughed. "I will do my best."
"And," Randi spoke up, "Beth, I would like you to stand up with me. You
have been the best friend I have outside of Denise and it wouldn't be
right if you weren't there with me."
A tear leaked out the corner of her eye. "Of course I will. Thank you so
much." She went to Randi and hugged him. "I'll even wear a dress for
you."
"Actually, I won't make you do that," Randi promised. "I thought you
looked pretty good dressed in the tux for our proposal dinner that
night. I thought you might be more comfortable that way."
"Oh, that's too bad," Earl teased. "I was looking forward to seeing you
all dressed up in real girly clothes."
"Well, I'll leave it up to you," Randi conceded. "But I will need you to
help me look for a wedding dress too. This isn't something Denise and I
will be able to do together."
"I'm looking forward to it," Beth grinned.
* - * - *
Over the next couple months Randi and Denise coordinated their shopping
trips to make sure that they wouldn't run into each other at any stores
while they were out. Denise and Joan, Randi and Beth would spend most of
the day following their own paths and then join up that evening for
dinner. Earl would usually join them as well.
When Randi finally found the right dress, he was both ecstatic and a bit
disappointed. He enjoyed spending the days with Beth. They had developed
a much closer friendship during that time and discussed everything.
While Beth might not enjoy dressing up very girly, she certainly enjoyed
being a woman with Earl. He even found himself sharing some of the more
intimate details of his and Denise's encounters with her.
"So, when you and Denise are together having sex is it, I don't know,
um, normal?" Beth probed as they left the shop, Randi's wedding dress in
the back seat.
"Well, yes, I guess so, why?" Randi asked.
"It was one of those things I kind of wondered about but didn't want to
ask," she admitted. "I kind of wondered if there weren't a time that she
might try to take on the male role.
"I'm sorry. I really shouldn't be asking you these things," she blushed.
"No, it's alright," Randi assured her. "If you push too much I'll just
tell you that's private. But the short answer is no, she is always quite
female during sex.
"A few weeks after we got back from Tahoe and I was over the trauma from
that, she asked me if I wanted her to try her penetrating me. She said
since I really enjoyed her fingering my butt when she was going down on
me that perhaps I had thought about her using BOB on me, since I now
knew what BOB was. She offered to get a strap-on to use if I wanted. We
danced around the issue trying to determine if she wanted to do it, or
was just offering in case it was something I wanted. In the end, pardon
the pun, I told her I would do it if it was something she wanted to do
but that I really didn't want to go any further than her finger."
Beth laughed. "Wow, ok, I guess that answered that question."
They both laughed as Beth turned the car in near a lingerie shop.
"What are we doing here?" Randi asked.
"You need bridal lingerie," Beth pointed out. "Who would I be if I
allowed you to show up in a beautiful dress with drab underwear? This is
going to be my wedding gift to you. Now, come on."
They went inside and Beth found a lacy corset in Randi's size with
garters. She picked out white stocking with a seamed back and had him go
put them on.
After a minute she knocked on the dressing room door. "Well, do they fit
ok?"
"Yeah, everything fits fine," he answered through the door.
"Can I see?" she called back.
"Well, the panty is lace, and a G-string so it doesn't hide a lot front
or back," he whispered back through the door.
"So, who do you think will be helping you into your dress for your
wedding? Denise won't be able to; it is going to have to be me. You
might as well let me see you now."
Beth stood there waiting for a second and the door cracked open. She
looked to be sure nobody else was close and stepped into the room.
There was a mirror in the changing room and Randi was facing it. That
left Beth looking at the seams that ran up the back of Randi's legs to
the top of the stocking right at the bottom of his ass. I small patch of
white lace was at the top of the crack where the three tiny strings of
the panty met. One of the garters was attached but hanging loose, she
adjusted the strap tightening it for him. He jumped a little as she
touched him but didn't pull away. She stepped around him and looked him
over head to toe, he was right, the panty didn't cover much, but she
knew he must be nervous because he wasn't showing any signs of being
excited.
"I think that will be great under your dress," Beth advised. "I'll go so
you can get dressed again."
Randi just nodded.
A few minutes later he emerged and handed all the items to Beth. They
went to the checkout, Beth paid and they went to the car.
"Was that really necessary?" Randi asked as they settled in to the car.
"Did you have to come in and see me all exposed like that?"
"Maybe not," Beth admitted. "But I was serious that I am going to be in
that room with you helping you get into your dress. I just thought that
it might be better to get the jitters about being half naked with me out
of the way now. You'll have enough to be nervous about on your wedding
day.
"Look, I love Earl with all my heart. I hope someday our positions will
be swapped and you'll be helping me find my wedding dress and bridal
lingerie," Beth saw Randi look at her. "Yes, I plan on wearing all that
on my wedding day. And when I do, I hope you are the one there to help
me, just like any girlfriend would."
Randi nodded. "OK, I just wasn't expecting it."
"Yeah, that's why I did it then. I wasn't planning on it but suddenly
thought it might be better the first time I see you like that was if you
weren't expecting it. I think it worked out fine, no misunderstandings."
They drove to the restaurant and joined up with the others. Joan and
Denise announced they were just about done and had to go back to one
store. Beth and Randi said they were finished.
"Good," Earl chimed in, "I'm ready to have my girlfriend back full-time.
Sorry, Randi, but this sharing thing is starting put a crimp in my
plans. I miss her too much."
"I totally understand," Randi smiled. "She has been great spending time
with but I want more of my free time with Denise back."
They raised a toast to successful missions and two weeks to go before
the wedding.
* - * - *
It was Friday night. Randi went into the room at the church carrying his
dress and a bag with his lingerie and shoes. He had already brought in
the other things he would need to get ready.
Beth knocked and came in carrying a dress. Randi did a double take when
he saw it.
"I decided I would wear a dress tonight since everyone else in the
wedding party will be. I'll be wearing the tux for tomorrow's ceremony,"
Beth explained. "Besides, you should have seen the reaction Earl had
when I told him I would be wearing one."
Randi laughed and started laying out all the clothes in preparation; he
then stripped down and began putting on the corset. He hadn't thought
much about it until he looked up and saw Beth in a strapless bra and red
boy-short panty.
"Yup," Beth said when she saw Randi looking at her, "that's the same
reaction Earl had. Is that going to fit in that little lace G-string?"
Randy realized he had gotten an erection and turned to hide it.
Beth laughed. "It's ok, thanks for the compliment."
Randy finished getting his lingerie all in place and did manage to get
the panty on. Beth finished getting her make-up on and helped Randi do
his. His hands were shaking so badly he was having trouble doing
anything that required a steady hand.
Beth then held the dress while Randi stepped under it and fed his arms
into the lace sleeves. She carefully guided it over his head and then
meticulously picked at all the material making sure the dress lay
perfectly about Randi's body.
"Now, just stand there for a minute while I get my dress on," she
instructed Randi.
She took a red dress off the hanger and quickly pulled it over her head.
"Can you zip me up?"
"Sure," Randi waited as she turned her back toward him and he pulled the
zipper up.
"Thanks," she pulled at her dress, tea length with a very full skirt.
The top was modestly cut off the shoulder showing skin below the neck
but no cleavage.
"OK. Let me brush out my hair real quick and then I'll help you with
yours and get your veil in place."
They finished all the preparations and Beth stepped back and looked at
him. "You make a beautiful bride."
"Thank you," Randi smiled. "I'll likely still be the second most
beautiful bride in the room. And thank you again, Beth. I hope you
realize how much Denise and I both appreciate not only everything you've
done for us, but your friendship."
Beth leaned in and wrapped her arms around Randi being careful not to
step on the full tulle skirt.
"OK," she sniffed, "enough of that. We'll both ruin our make-up before
we get to the altar. I hope Denise is almost ready."
"Me, too," Randi admitted. "It is getting very warm under this dress."
Beth found a small fan and set it on the floor. She helped Randi hold
the front of the dress up to allow the fan to cool him.
A few minutes later there was a knock on the door telling them everyone
was ready.
They had decided earlier for this ceremony that Joan and Beth would
precede Randi and Denise from opposite sides of the chapel. The only
person in attendance of this ceremony was Earl. They had found a
minister who agreed to officiate the ceremony as well.
At last the moment came. Randi emerged from the right side as Denise
came in from the left. He practically stopped breathing when he saw her.
She was in a strapless mermaid styled dress. The veil covered down to
the top of her breasts. She was showing more skin than she normally did
in her choice of attire.
They met at the altar in front of the minister. The ceremony was a blur
to Randi. He followed the directions he was given and recited all the
right words; he listened intently as Denise recited her vows. There was
nobody there to object and finally they were allowed to kiss.
Denise reached up and raised his veil first, and then Randi raised hers.
They kissed and the others cheered.
They left the church amid a shower of birdseed, climbed into Denise's
car and sped off to a local hotel. They got some looks from the few
people in the lobby late that night as they saw two brides hurrying onto
the elevator.
Once in the room they helped each other remove their dresses and hang
them up.
"Very nice lingerie," Denise praised Randi fingering the lace patch on
his backside.
"A gift from Beth," Randi told her.
"Oh, really! And did she see you in this little outfit?"
"Yes," Randi admitted. "As a matter of fact, she saw me putting it on
today."
"So you two handled it like a regular bride and bridesmaid then," Denise
started fingering the front of the panty feeling him get harder as she
caressed him.
"Yes, we did," Randi ran his hand around her bare bottom. He leaned
forward and kissed her bare skin between the satin cups of the corset
she also wore. "She helped me with everything I needed help with, except
that which only you are allowed to help me with."
"Oh," Denise whispered as she pulled him out the side of the panty, "did
you get all excited when you were in there together."
"I'm afraid so," Randi slipped his fingers inside the satin panty she
wore. "She is an attractive woman, and she was standing there in her
underwear, and there I was putting on this wonderful lacy lingerie
getting ready to marry the woman of my dreams."
"And how did she react to this," Denise gripped him tight giving him a
stroke.
"She thanked me for the compliment," he told her.
"She is a good one," Denise whispered as she sank to her knees forcing
Randi to withdraw his fingers.
"Yes, she is," Randi closed his eyes as he felt the warmth of her mouth
take him. "But I married the best one."
* - * - *
The next day Randall and Beth emerged from the right side of the chapel,
both dressed in tuxes. They took their place at the front of the church
by the minister and waited for Joan and Denise to come down the aisle.
The church was about half full with equal numbers of well-wishers on
both sides of the chapel. Everyone turned toward the back as the organ
music changed its tune.
Joan came in wearing a different dress than the day before. It was just
past knee length and strapless, the top going straight across revealing
no cleavage. It was a deep green color. She smiled at Randi, Beth and
the minister then stepped to the side.
Once again the organ music changed and everyone stood. Several 'oohs'
were heard when Denise appeared at the doorway. Her dress was also
different, but not unseen. She was wearing the dress Randi had worn at
the ceremony the day before.
Beth reached up and squeezed Randall's arm. He knew she was thinking the
same thing as he was. It was a perfect choice and something they would
all understand and share as a private part of this public ceremony. Once
again he was amazed at how lucky he had been to have connected with this
woman. Then he wondered if she was wearing his lingerie. He couldn't
wait to find out.
Once again the ceremony was a blur to Randall. He couldn't take his eyes
off his bride. At last they was allowed to kiss and he led her from the
church.
They arrived a little later at the reception and everyone applauded
their arrival. They cut the cake, tossed the bouquet (Beth caught it),
fired off the garter (Randall thought the panty did look like his when
he peeked while retrieving the garter). They danced a bit and roamed the
hall thanking people for attending.
At last they came around to Beth and Earl sitting at a table holding
hands.
"So, two weddings in two days," Earl pointed out. "How are you holding
up?"
"Wonderfully," Denise smiled.
"Really well considering we've had almost no sleep," Randall added.
"Thought you left early yesterday?" Earl teased.
Beth elbowed him in the ribs. "Knowing you two, you probably won't get a
lot more tonight."
"Well," Denise told her with a wink, "you know what I have to deal
with."
Beth blushed.
"First," Earl spoke up, "I want to give you this." He handed Randall a
DVD. "I recorded yesterday's ceremony for you, I hope you don't mind but
I thought you might like something to remember it by. Beth insisted we
keep a copy but that is all I did."
"That is so sweet," Denise cooed.
"Thank you very much," Randall accepted the DVD and clipped it inside
his jacket pocket.
"Another thing," Earl went on, "are you ready to do it all again in six
months?"
Randall looked at him. "What?"
Beth held her hand out with a new diamond ring adorning it. "He asked me
right after I caught the bouquet! We didn't mean to steal your day,
we'll tell other people later. But we thought you two should be the
first to know."
"You haven't stolen anything," Denise assured her. "We are very happy
for you."
Randall nodded in agreement.
"We still have a lot of things to work out but I already know that there
will be three standing with me," Beth explained. "Randall, would you do
me the honor of being my Best Man, Maid of Honor, whatever it turns out
to be?"
"Of course I will," Randall smiled. "The honor is all mine."
"Denise," Beth went on, "of course I want you with me as well. And I
will ask Joan later this week, but will you stand with me."
"I would love to," Denise answered. "Never thought I would be a second
bridesmaid behind my own husband."
They all laughed.
"Speaking of Joan," Randall looked about, "has anyone seen her? Did she
take off early?"
"No," Beth answered. "Believe it or not I saw her sitting with the
minister talking. It looked like they were really hitting it off."
"Well, he is a minister, not a priest, and he is single," Denise told
them. "I bet those will be some interesting conversations."
"At least there isn't a confessional," Earl added.
They all laughed.
* - * - *
Over the next several months all six, Joan was indeed dating Reverend
Will, got together for dinners, occasional nights at the coffeehouse,
and sometimes the Downtown Inn. Will was as easy with the changing of
Randi and Randall as Earl had been. Joan was dressing a bit more
conservatively, though not very.
"Will may be a man of God, but he is still a man and likes the way I
dress," Joan explained. "Maybe not so much the desperate outfits I was
wearing there for a while, but he does like my skirts a bit short."
Since Reverend Will agreed to do the ceremony for Beth and Earl, and
because their friends didn't know Randi or Randall, Randall felt it
would be best that Randi stand with Beth on her wedding day. He just
asked that the bridesmaid's dress take that into account. Beth was
thrilled.
True to his word, Randi spent many weekends travelling about with Beth
looking for a wedding dress that she would feel special in. She wasn't
as impressed with lace, bows, tulle or other very feminine touches. She
wanted something comfortable that would make her look pretty enough for
Earl.
"Sweetie," Randi told her one day as Beth stood looking at herself in a
mirror wearing a huge wedding dress, "Earl will love and adore you no
matter what you decide to wear for a wedding dress."
With that she was able to focus on what she wanted and not worrying
about trying to be a traditional bride for Earl. They eventually found
the dress that she felt was hers.
Randi also picked out her outfit for under the dress. When Beth started
to protest, Randi reminded her that this was as much, if not more, for
Earl than for her. Beth relented.
* - * - *
The day finally came and Randi walked down the aisle looking at Will,
Earl and Earl grooms men, he knew he would feel weird taking the arm of
the Best Man to go back up the aisle but it was a small price to pay in
making Beth happy.
He took his place and watched as Denise and Joan came and lined up
behind him. They were all in black dresses with full knee-length skirts.
The top was a sheer black from above the breast over the shoulders and
down into a half sleeve. They each carried a small bouquet of white
flowers.
The wedding march started and all eyes turned to the back of the church.
Beth stood in the doorway glowing. She had chosen a simple white wedding
dress. It was knee-length and solid satin except a lace panel that
covered the upper part of her chest between the straps that ran up over
her shoulders. In her hands she held a large bouquet of red flowers.
She seemed to glide down the aisle but Randi could sense the restraint
she was trying to hold on to in order to keep from running to Earl.
At the reception Will, Joan, Denise and Randi sat at one table munching
on cake and other little finger foods. They watched Earl and Beth do all
the required bride and groom stuff. Earl had insisted on getting the
whole wedding photo shoot, so they were happy to be sitting down
enjoying the freedom now that their responsibilities were completed.
Occasionally someone would stop by and congratulate Will on an excellent
ceremony or to compliment the ladies on how pretty they thought they all
looked.
"I can't believe I am stuck here wearing the same dress as you two,"
Joan groused.
"Joanie," Will admonished her, "be nice. You all look terrific."
"That's just it," Joan pointed out. "We all look the same."
"You still have sexier underwear," Denise told her. "You'll just have to
live with that until we get a chance to change."
Randi nodded.
"Some things may have changed," Joan looked at Will, "but I still like
thongs."
"Me, too," agreed Will.
Randi raised an eyebrow and looked at Will.
"No!" Will started. "Not like that, I mean on her. I don't ... not that
there is anything wrong with what you choose, I mean..."
Randi couldn't hold off any longer and started laughing. Denise and Joan
quickly joined in.
Will started shaking his head. "I still need to loosen up a bit I'm
afraid. Randi, it has been a real pleasure getting to know you. It has
really helped me understand people better. I look forward to us all
spending time together in the future."
"As do we, Will," Denise added.
"So, do we have another wedding in the future?" Randi asked.
"Joan and I have discussed it," Will confided just as Beth and Earl
joined the table. "I want us to be a real family and how that looks to
my church means I need to make it formal. I don't want to push her
though. So we are still talking but I hope to be able to announce
something before too much longer."
Joan just sat there watching Will's face.
"How about a toast," Randi lifted a glass. "To family! We six right here
are all the family I have and I am thrilled to have you all in my life."
Under the table he gripped Denise's hand.
"We wouldn't want to be with anyone more," Earl added while raising his
glass and pulling Beth tight beside him.
They drank.