Paige, Louise and Veronica sat talking, laughing and dining on the delicious lunch Veronica had brought and drinking the perfectly made lemonade that Louise made while just enjoying the time without the men.
"Well my heart, I think we've delayed this as long as we should. Much longer and the men will be back with Happy." Louise smiled at Paige.
Veronica nodded her agreement even as Paige blushed a little. Paige closed her eyes for a moment and took in a deep breath.
"Okay." Paige said as she opened her eyes. "You've both, as well as both of our Dads, have told us if there was anything we wanted to talk with you about, any questions or concerns, you were here for us."
Veronica and Louise both nodded.
"Well after what happened with Happy and Toby, I thought I should tell you. Walter and I have been making love." Paige told them cringing inside waiting for the explosion, that never came.
Louise smiled with a hint of blush to her cheeks and while Veronica seemed shocked Paige got the feeling it wasn't because of them having sex. But because she finally admitted it.
"We've suspected that of course. We'd hoped to be wrong, that you'd wait a couple of more years at least." Veronica finally told her. "Have you talked with Dr Byrne about it at least?"
Paige nodded.
"Back in July. She was very understanding and we talked a good while about it. She gave me an exam to ensure I was healthy and reviewed my medical history. She's been supplying me with the pill as well as condoms." Paige answered.
"Not to be indelicate, but, knowing the area, where do you go, to make love?" Louise asked.
Paige blushed.
"Well that has been the hardest part. Mostly we are out in the fields when we're stargazing. We have, a couple of times since we started, been in the loft of the barn but that is usually too nerve wracking, never knowing if you or Dad would come out there or hear us." Paige explained.
Veronica's eyes closed as she tried not to think about her little girl having sex out in the fields.
"Are you disappointed Mom?" Paige frowned.
"No sweetheart, not really. I don't like the idea of you doing that out in the open. Just seems to be an open invitation to other problems such as some of your classmates finding out." Veronica told her.
"Well thankfully the detail is really good about keeping an eye out, so we've always felt safe in that respect, but it is a worry sometimes." Paige nodded.
"I'm glad you've been to the doctor and are being careful about pregnancy." Louise smiled. "I mean, I'd dearly love to have a grand from you but, in a few years at least." Louise's smile got bigger even as Paige grinned with a nod. "When did you start?"
"Well hopefully we won't have any children before I graduate college, but Walter said he'd take care of any kids so I could finish and get my degree." Paige squeezed Louise's hand. "Well it wasn't planned. And just like you both have said, sometimes, passions get away from us and before we realize it, the act is completed. But it was my fifteenth birthday. I hadn't meant for it to go that far, but, yeah we did go all the way."
"So when you told me you just went for a walk, you lied?" Veronica looked at her.
"Well, I didn't really lie, I mean we did go for a walk to have some time alone together, I just didn't admit to everything we did." Paige's voice ended with a slightly higher pitched lilt.
"And could this explain what happened three weeks later with you and Walter? When he went missing all day?" Louise asked.
Paige sighed as she nodded.
"We didn't use protection that first time, we didn't think that was going to happen and I was a little late. I was panicking, not about being pregnant so much. I was so worried Walter would be mad and he'd break up with me. And then I would have to bear everything alone. All of you being mad at me, at all the torment our classmates would do to me. The kids are so nasty, it is unreal. Girls who are just accused of having sex are treated horribly by the boys as they constantly hit on them hoping to have sex with them. The girls are much worse, tormenting the girls in the locker room or other private places where there are no adults." Paige shuddered at what she had seen. "I was so inappropriately terrible to him those days. He didn't know, he was a mess over it. Constantly thinking I was mad or that I was falling for someone else. I was just so scared to tell him the truth. But Megan made me understand that the fear of what might happen was doing so much damage that it could make it come true. So I finally told Walter just before you and Dad came to the barn and I found out that Dad had hit Walter."
"Sweetheart, I would never be mad at you over that. And I'd do my best to ensure we all supported you." Louise told her as she reached over and caressed her cheek. "I know what it is like to be pregnant before you marry." Louise winked. "I'm just glad I was only barely pregnant, but we too had enjoyed that act before we married."
Veronica nodded.
"We both would do everything we could for you Paige. Your Dad would be upset I am sure but he also knows what it is like to be young and in love. We certainly were not strangers to loving each other when we got married. And my Dad was an unholy terror but it didn't stop us. We'd always said we wanted to be as open with you as we can be. And I am so glad you are taking precautions and have finally told us." Veronica said before she hugged her.
"But we got to figure something else out. I'm not comfortable with you sneaking out to the fields to do this." Veronica told her even as Louise nodded.
Paige nodded even as she wondered what she meant.
"You're not suggesting we start doing it in our rooms are you?" Paige asked with a little too much hope.
Louise and Veronica both laughed a bit.
"I'm not sure I'm saying it like that." Veronica squeezed her hand.
"Well, normally Sean and I go to town on Tuesdays to get supplies while you are all in school. How about I adjust that to Wednesday evening after dinner? Wednesdays are generally easier days for Sean and he hates shopping during the day. You both could eat dinner with us here and after we're gone you'd have an hour or so without having to worry in the barn loft?" Louise asked. "I don't want you guys equating your bedrooms with sex at this stage."
"Really?" Paige asked as she couldn't believe that.
Louise nodded.
"Well, your Father doesn't usually get home until six thirty at the earliest. So on Mondays and Fridays while Happy is at her martial arts class I'll go window shopping. But you'll have to be careful, sometimes he does come home early." Veronica told her.
Paige sat there stunned. She wasn't sure if they were getting ready to punk her and then ground her and Walter or if they were being honest.
"This really sounds too good to be true." Paige told them as she looked from one to the other.
"Well you can't become complacent with this Paige. You can't start acting inappropriately during other times or trying to push the boundaries of what we're willing to offer. You've got to continue to act responsible and prove you are mature enough for this." Veronica told her.
Paige filled Walter in on the talk she had with their Moms.
"They were serious? They're going to just let us have sex in the house?" Walter said quietly as he talked with Paige in the loft of the barn after dinner.
"Yes, they were serious. Neither of them liked the idea that we were mostly doing it out in the fields. But we can at my house, yes, on Mondays and Fridays when Happy is at her martial arts class. Before Dad gets home from the Embassy. From what your Mom said, I think maybe we should use a guest room though. And we should probably change the bedclothes rather than leave something for Sylvia to do. Wednesday evenings after supper we can be together here in the loft while Mom and Dad go shopping in town." Paige told him.
Walter just grinned with excitement.
"Walter, we have to be responsible though. We can't abuse this privilege they are giving us." Paige told him sternly.
Walter nodded as he swallowed.
"What about our Dads?" Walter asked worriedly.
"Well Mom is going to wait to tell your Dad when we're in school. She thinks he might react negatively at first but hopefully by the time we're home he'll have calmed down. As for my Dad, Mom is going to tell him tonight after they go to bed." Paige smiled as they hugged.
"That's going to make mass tomorrow really weird." Walter whispered before Paige started laughing.
"She told you?" Ralph said incredibly as he took off his robe and climbed into bed.
"She did, amazingly enough. And she admitted what we all thought was correct. When she was going through that weird spell with Walter and he disappeared that day. She thought she might have been pregnant and was freaking out. Worried that Walter would get mad and leave her. And then she'd be stuck alone, facing all the hardships of the other kids and how we would be so mad at her." Veronica told him before kissing him.
"Are you taking her to Dr Byrne?" Ralph asked after he sighed.
"I can, if you want, just to be sure we're all on the same page. She said she spoke with her back in July. After she'd questioned Paige about everything she gave her an exam and made sure she was healthy and then reviewed her medical records. Then finally she got her on birth control and she is supplying her with condoms too. And she promises she is doing everything Dr Byrnes told her to do." Veronica told him.
Ralph sighed.
"Well at least she isn't pregnant, yet. And hopefully they continue to be careful. Where exactly are they having sex?" Ralph asked as he picked up a report he had to finish before Monday.
"You won't like it." Veronica told him.
Ralph pinched the bridge of his nose as he groaned.
"Please, just tell me they aren't doing it in the fields." Ralph all but whined.
"Okay, if you don't want me too." Veronica smirked.
"What are you doing about that?" Ralph asked gruffly.
"Me? Why are you dumping this on me?" Veronica complained.
"Because she came to you, not me. I certainly hope you did something to stop them from having sex out in the fields." Ralph told her.
Happy's eyes went wide as she passed by her parents door on the way to the kitchen. She looked down the hall and then quickly began walking away. She passed her door and came to Paige's and knocked.
"It's open." Paige called out.
Happy stepped in quickly and stared at Paige.
Paige looked over and smiled.
"Hey sis." Paige's eyes narrowed at the look on Happy's face. "Are you okay?"
"You told Mom that you and Walter are having sex?" Happy asked quietly.
Paige laughed as she nodded and then frowned.
"Wait, how do you know that?" Paige asked.
"I was on the way to the kitchen and went by their door at the back stairs and she was telling Dad." Happy said as she moved over. "What was it like telling her? Did she freak?"
Paige shook her head as she patted the bed beside her. Happy stepped over and sat down next to her.
"No, both Mom and Louise were really supportive of it. I mean, don't get me wrong, they weren't happy about it. But in the end they just want to be sure we're being smart and safe about it. Though I think Mom, Louise that is, is going to be really happy when we begin having kids." Paige laughed.
"I can't imagine it. How did you get the nerve? Wait, is that why Walter went with us to the expo?" Happy asked.
Paige nodded.
"Yes, I asked him to go so we'd be alone. It wasn't easy, to be honest, Happy. But after how Dad responded over the deal with Toby I knew I had to do it." Paige told her.
"So they just said you guys can keep doing it?" Happy said with amazement.
"Well basically yes, but we have to continue being responsible and acting appropriately. We can't just go at it all willy nilly whenever we want. We're being afforded a little time in the afternoons on Monday and Friday when you are at your martial arts and on Wednesday evenings we can spend some time together at the barn loft while Mom takes Dad shopping after dinner." Paige explained the deal.
"I just can't imagine doing that." Happy shook her head. "I bet Walter wasn't happy you were going to do that." Happy grinned.
"Yeah, he was a bit freaked out over it. But he finally realized I was right. Plus he didn't want to give up that part of our relationship." Paige giggled. "Are you okay over what Dad did? You aren't still worried about your place in our family are you?" Paige looked at her worried.
Happy shook her head.
"Most of that was to make Dad take a step back from where he was. I mean, yeah there was some truth in it, emotionally. But logically, there isn't a lot he could really do. Legally, he can't just get rid of me. And I know you and Mom wouldn't let him get rid of me. I know you both would be in my corner. It would still hurt if he would of course. But like we pledged that day out on the swing, the three of us, we're a Cyclone and when one of us is attacked." Happy said.
"The others jump in in defense." Paige grinned. "Thanks for being there for Walter and me." Paige told her as she hugged Happy to her.
"You're my sister, he's my brother. I'll always be there for you both. Just make sure you are there for me come our senior year." Happy told her.
"Our senior year?" Paige frowned.
"I asked Dad to push for them to test me and if I pass I'll join your class for our senior year." Happy smiled.
"When did you guys discuss this?" Paige said, shocked. "Why am I the last to know?" She demanded.
Happy giggled.
"Well, I figured Dad would have called a family meeting about it already to discuss it. But maybe he still hasn't told Mom yet." Happy frowned. "I just discussed it with him the night of the BBQ. He promised to think it over and discuss it with Mom."
"Oh Happy, of course I'll support you if that is what you want to do and they approve it. But you have to stop growing up so fast, you're making me look bad." Paige grinned.
"Hey." Happy gently punched her shoulder. "I'm not the one having sex." Happy arched her eyebrows at her sister.
Paige's mouth dropped over in disbelief she said that.
Greetings! I hope this finds you all well! Wow...Man I can't believe it, here we are nearly 2 and a half months after this leg of the story started and we are rapidly coming to a close on it. How fast time passes. Chapter 45 brings 2001 to a close. Lady Knight's story will run slightly longer than that and once it is finished, I'll hopefully switch to "Quantum Slip". For those who were confused in the "Displaced" segment of "Facts Matter", be prepared to be confused some more...sorry. I've done my best to make it as non-confusing as possible and my 2 test readers have for the most part found it easy to follow. Still hoping to get Unconsciously Conscious finished before I get back to Callan in 2002.
Railman - You'll get to know more about the date next chapter! hehe But at least you know how the talk went now. The stun gun is the other thing I took a liberty with. From everything I have read in Ireland you can't even possess a stun gun for self defense. So...liberty taken! lol
LouBe - hehe Sorry, but not really. Hope it was resolved satisfactory!
Margaret - hehe Well I had dropped their own personal experiences on the subject back in the first 10 chapters. After the newspaper article came out following the Christmas ball. But as we see here, at least 3/4's of the adults are cautiously willing to allow it. The big question, what about Sean? Clearly Louise has reservations about him. lol
Pearliegirl - hehe You had to wait like everyone else, that's why! lol Well except for my test readers. They've known for a very long time how this all turned out. So thankful they both never spill the beans. lol And I never make you wait too long. lol
Susan - Thank you! hehe Well the beans were spilled and I hope taken care of satisfactory! Now just how do things progress with Toby? Does Ralph give ground on him? Yeah, I doubt Megan would ever use the taser again. I get the feeling she'd probably take the batteries out so it couldn't be used. Just hope Billy stays respectful of her and no one else causes her the need to use it.
To the Adventure! -Tim