Chapter 7
Waking up the next morning, I have my back to Juice and he has me pulled as close against him as possible. I go to get up and his grip tightens. "Babe, I have to pee." I tell him laughing a little. He lets go and I go my morning routine and get back in bed. Curling up next to him, he wraps his arms around me and kisses me deeply before hovering over me and entering me slowly. He makes love to me again before we get up and get ready for work.
Once I am at work, things are going by pretty fast when I get a phone call on my cell phone. Taking the call, it's my Aunt Rita. "Hey Aunt Rita. What's up?" I asked her. "Hey Sweetie. I just wanted to call you and let you know that you need to come and see your Grandma. Hospice says that she's not going to make it through the next couple of days." she tells me. "Uh, yeah, I'll head that way now. See you soon." I tell her. "See you soon Sweetheart." she tells me. I walk into my boss' office and tell her what's going on. "Take the rest of the week and be with your family." she tells me. I thank her and head home.
I walk into the house and start packing a bag, knowing that I will be gone for at least a few days. Picking up my phone, I call Happy. "Hey little girl. What's up?" he asked. "I just wanted to let you know I will be gone for a few days, maybe more." I tell him. "What's wrong? You okay?" he asked. "My aunt called me and said that my grandmother is dying and that I need to get there if I want to say goodbye." I tell him and the tears start falling. "Hey, give us about thirty minutes and we will be there. We'll take my truck and the three of us will head out." he tells me. "Happy, you have to be here for the club. So does Juice." I tell him. "We need to be there for you more. See you shortly." he tells me before hanging up. I finish packing up and once I have my things packed, Happy and Juice show up in Happy's truck with their bags ready to go. Juice grabs my bag and we head out to San Francisco to say goodbye to my grandmother.
Pulling up to my grandmother's house, the three of us get out of the truck but leave our bags there for now. Walking into the front door, my Aunt Rita meets me at the door. "Hey Sweetheart. How you holding up?" she asked. "Okay for now. You?" I asked. "I'm holding." she tells me. "Aunt Rita, This is Happy and this is Juice. Guys this is my Aunt Rita." I tell them. "These the guys you were telling me about?" she asked and I nod my head yes. "She knows about us?" Happy asked. "There's not much that my Aunt Rita doesn't know. She's more like my big sister than my Aunt." I tell them. "This family is just happy that she's found someone. If both of you make her happy then you both are good with us." she tells us. "Grandma knows too. When I told her she just asked if you both were hot." I tell them and they grin.
Walking into Grandma's room, I walk over to the bed and she opens her eyes. "Lily Marie. You came." she says. "Of course I came Grandma. I want you to meet someone." I tell her. I motion for the guys to come over. "Grandma, this is my boyfriend Happy and this is my boyfriend Juice. Guys this is my Grandma Bertie." I say. "Nice to meet you boys." she says. "Same to you Ma'am." Juice says and Happy nods. "None of that ma'am shit here. We're family. You call me Grandma or Bertie. Now, Sweetheart, how are you doing?" she asked. "I am doing good Grandma. These two are so good to me and I am really happy." I tell her. "Good baby." she tells me before her pain meds start kicking in and she starts dozing off. I kiss her cheek and head out to the living room with Rita and the guys.
"What are the doctors saying?" I asked. "The cancer is in her brain, on her lungs and in her liver. It's spread pretty fast and when you were in there is the longest she's been awake in two days." she tells me. I put my face in my hands and start to cry. Happy and Juice are both there comforting me and I start to cry harder. Once I stop crying, Happy asks "Did you eat today?" I just shake my head no. "You need to eat something baby." Juice says. "I'm not really hungry." I tell them. "Rita, do you care if I fix her something to eat?" Juice asked. "Make yourself at home." she tells him. "I'm gonna jump in the shower. Are you okay?" Happy asked. "I think so." I tell him. He kisses me and heads to the bathroom. "They both love you." she says. "Yeah. They do." I say. "You love them?" she asked. "Yeah. I do. More than anything." I say. "Good. I'm happy for you baby." she tells me. Juice comes back in and hands me a sandwich. "Here you go baby." he says. "Thanks." I say and I start eating the sandwich. Happy comes back in and I am eating. "Shower's yours brother." he tells Juice and Juice kisses the top of my head and goes to shower. Happy steps outside to smoke and Rita says "They are both very fine men." I laugh a little and say "Good in the sack too." and she starts laughing. We talk a little more when both guys come walking back in and sitting with us. "So, how did you end up dating both of them?" Rita asked. "That's a funny story. It started with a bet on a poker game. It was last hand and we bet that whoever won that hand, the losers had to grant one wish and I won. My wish was a threesome with these two and it just progressed from there." I tell her. She just looks at me and says "Would you guys believe that she used to be shy? The old Lily would never have done something like that. I am so happy to see her come out of her shell." she tells them.
The next morning, we are all sitting in Grandma's room and she's still sleeping. Her breathing is shallow and she has the death rattles. We all know that this is it. An hour later, she takes her last breath. Happy and Juice are there holding me as she passes. Once the funeral home comes to get her, I walk out to the swing in the backyard. The guys give me a few minutes before they walk out to me. "You okay baby?" Juice asks. "I don't know. You know she pretty much raised me? She used to tell me all the time that never to settle. Always told me that if I was with someone and they didn't make my toes curl when they kissed me that they weren't worth the time. She would always tell me how I was worth more than what most people deserved. She's gone." I say and the tears start to fall as it all sets in. Happy is kneeling in front of me letting me lean on his shoulder and Juice is resting his head on my shoulder while he rubs my back.
The next couple of days go by in a blur. The day of the funeral, Rita comes to me and asked me to sing How Great Thou Art which was Grandma's favorite hymn. I agreed and the once the funeral starts, I am sitting in the pew between Happy and Juice, each one holding my hand. Then comes when it's time for me to sing. Neither of them have ever heard me sing but this was her favorite and she used to love hearing me sing it. I get up in front of all of our family and friends and I start to sing. Once the song is done, I head back to the pew between my men and they both kiss my cheek and take my hand again. Once the funeral is done, we are sitting graveside and both of my guys are on each side. Silent tears are rolling down my face and I am just in a daze. "Babe, are you ready?" Juice asked. I snapped out of my daze and nodded. We get up and head to Happy's truck. Heading back to Grandma's house, we walk in and Rita pulls me to Grandma's room. "She wanted me to give this to you once she passed. Don't open it until you get home." she tells me and I nod.
The next morning, we head back to Charming. Walking into the house, I change and shower. Sitting down in the living room floor with the box that Grandma left me. I take off the lid and see that there are letters and photos. I see two sets of dog tags and a small box. Taking out one of the photos, I see my grandma when she was my age standing between two men. I look on the back and see the names Bertie, George and Lance. George was my grandfather but who's Lance? I wonder. Pulling out one of the letters it reads:
My Dearest Bertie,
First of all, I miss you and love you so much. I don't know what I would do without you being in my life. Things are getting hard over here. Seems like everyday brings more death and more despair. The only thing keeping me going is knowing I have you to come home to. Please keep me in your prayers and will be home before you know it.
Love George
That letter was dated December 9, 1943. I pick up the next letter and it's dated December 12, 1943. I look at the handwriting and it's not like the other letter.
My Beloved Bertie,
I miss you and love you with all my heart. It's getting hard over here but hopefully we will be home soon and be together again. George and I are trying our hardest to stay strong and make it back home to you. We have been talking and you don't have to decide between us. We both want to be with you and if you being with both of us is what will make you happy, then we are willing to give it a shot. Keep us in your prayers sweetheart and we will be home before you know it.
Love Lance
"What are you reading?" Happy asked as he sits down on the chair behind me. "Two letters from two men to my grandmother. From the looks of it, she was with two men just like us." I tell him and hand him the letters and one of the pictures. There was another letter in there addressed to me.
My Sweet Lily,
Sweetheart, there are a few things I need to tell you. Your grandpa might not have been your grandpa. You see, I was involved with two men and either could have fathered your mother. She knows. Sweetheart, I told you that you shouldn't be with someone unless they make your toes curl when they kiss you. Well, if you are lucky enough to find two that make you feel that way, keep them, love them, cherish that love. In the box that I asked your Aunt Rita to give you, you will find a small box. The items inside are yours when you and your men are ready. I love you my pretty girl. Love deep and pray hard and remember that I will always be watching over you.
Grandma
I put down the letter and begin to sob. Juice takes the letter and reads it before handing it to Happy. As Happy is reading it, Juice takes out the small box and inside are three wedding bands. One for a woman and two for men. Juice takes out the ladies ring and takes my hand. He places it on my finger and kisses it. Happy takes my hand and kisses it as well. Juice hands me the two mens rings and I place one on Juice's finger and one on Happy's and they fit perfect. I kiss them both softly and we just sit together in content silence.