Although Hope had high hopes that she had finally found her tormentor, all roads turned up cold. Edward Sanderson was still a man on the loose. Although all field offices of the FBI had at least one agent each looking for him, given his Top Ten Fugitive status, Ed was staying one step ahead of the law. But Patrick made a full recovery and was back on his feet within two months.
The fall turned to winter. The bleak mid-winter of February was testing the patience of the people of Saint Louis. Much to the consternation of Peter and Felicity, she still wasn't showing at twenty-four weeks. But finally, at the end of February, she had a massive case of morning sickness. An ultrasound confirmed their unborn children were fine, and that they were, as God told them, a boy and girl. Finally, they were ready to tell the world the news - not just the pregnancy but the names the unborn children had been given. When they did make their posting, the church's website crashed with many congratulations. Quite a few wanted to send gifts for the children, but the couple in a follow-up post begged their followers to give an equal amount to a local home for unwed mothers and their boyfriends, undergoing a major expansion, which was one of the church's ministries. The goal of one million dollars was reached in just two weeks.
While Ruthie said she was happy for her ex-husband and his new wife, she couldn't help but feel both envy and anger. This was plainly clear to Hope, during Ruthie's sermon a couple of weeks after the announcement. She was uncharacteristically flustered, and even some parishioners asked her after the service if she was fine. She said, "Yes," but some weren't buying it.
Finally, Hope realized she had to do something. So a week later, while Peter and Felicity had their long-awaited honeymoon cruising the West coast of Alaska, Hope asked Ruthie if she wanted to go for a walk in the large wood lot that abutted the church parking lot.
"Can't see why not," said Ruthie. "How about cross-country skiing? I need a break in the routine."
"Read my mind," grinned Hope.
They put on their gear along with several layers of clothing, as the city was experiencing a major cold snap of minus twenty-five Fahrenheit. It was about five hundred feet into the woods that Hope got to her point.
"Ruthie ... is Peter's affair eating you up, or is it the affair you had with Lisa Lumby?" said Hope, wanting to avoid the preambles.
"Both, actually," said Ruthie. "I still feel I wasn't in control of my actions, Hope. I should have known Peter was having cyber sex with Felicity. And, to an extent, I lost my judgment with Lisa."
"There's no way you could have known about Peter," replied Hope. "But what do you mean, you lost your judgment?"
"She just about the most attractive woman I've met," said Ruthie. "She is not the wallflower I knew in high school. Maybe she got the 'pretty gene' going later in life, but I have to admit I fell for her almost as soon as we met again. Despite my initial denials, I felt I had to go for it. But I forgot that I was a married woman and I made an oath to God, as well as the State, to be faithful to Peter until death. Still, I just went with it. After pouring out my soul to her about where he and I went wrong ... well, if it wasn't her, it would have been another woman. Lisa and I made love, several times, we both liked it, and that's all there was to it."
The women were skiing down a ravine.
"Well, there's something I have to tell you, Ruthie," said Hope. "I've never told my parents, and I only told Patrick the night of the crusade before I told you guys, but ... I'm bi-curious. Not bi-sexual, but it's something I've always wanted to try. After my night with Felicity, I got a liking for doing a woman. And the main reason I want to keep doing that is -"
"You want to get back at your parents," interrupted Ruthie. "You told the posse and my family that already."
"No, it goes beyond that," said Hope. "This is by far the most tolerant congregation I have ever come across. Even those from the 'Back Forty', to use your term, don't seem to be bothered by the gay and lesbian families here. And while the saying may be trite, 'I have gay friends,' it's true. And seeing how much the couples love each other as much as straight ones, well, it's validation that there is no limit to what a family should be. Look at you - it's a heterosexual situation, but you're willing to be a stepmother of sorts to Issac and Rebecca, and Felicity is already proving her worth as a stepmother to James and Heather while carrying her unborn children. I reckon that if you were totally lesbian, you'd be just as angry, but just as willing to open up your heart, the way you have now."
"Yeah, that's true," said Ruthie. "Thank you for pointing that out."
"And frankly, if I don't try it I'll regret that I didn't. I just want to have fun!"
"And that fact - the part about having an open and forgiving heart - has in a way totally changed my mind about something."
"What's that?"
"Give me a minute or two, please."
Ruthie fetched her cellphone, and sent out a text message asking for a callback. The message was to Luxembourg, as overseas calls were less expensive from there than from the States.
It took only a minute for the callback to come through.
"Hi Lisa," said Ruthie, "thanks for returning my call."
"Of course," said Lisa. "Is this about the investigation?"
"No new info as of yet. At your end?"
"Goose eggs. But that's not the only reason you want to talk to me."
"Yes. Lisa, you and Brigitte were supposed to get married on Christmas Eve in Brussels, but that got put off. Why?"
"Scheduling conflicts. But we didn't break up; we're still engaged, and still having great sex. We're definitely getting hitched June 23rd."
Ruthie did the math. Felicity was due just about then.
"Better a summer wedding than a winter one. The gowns are way lighter," continued Lisa.
"You and she are getting together with your mother soon?"
"Two weeks."
"Well ... why wait until June? How about here, in this country, and ASAP?"
It took Lisa about ten seconds to take this in.
"We're getting our wedding dresses well in advance, they're almost ready in fact except for a couple of tuck-ins," she said, "but ... I thought the state constitution of Missouri bans gay marriage."
"Not on reservations," replied Ruthie. "State laws only applies if the tribal authority opts into them. I'm friends with a few of the elected Chiefs in this state, and I'm sure one or more of them would be more than happy to host a wedding, in front of the hearth of his or her council house, with a fire. A real, wood-burning fire. And it would be my pleasure - indeed my honor - to preside."
"Let me get this straight - sorry, pardon the expression," said Lisa, laughing at her inadvertent double entendre, "but last summer, you said you'd never preside over a gay wedding under any circumstances, even if you thought it was a matter of equality."
"That's right. I did say that."
"Notwithstanding that, if a same-sex couple wanted to get hitched in your state, I suppose and it sounds like you'd still give out the junction or address of where those safe havens are."
"Correct. Frankly, as a matter of humanity, I could do no less. Same goes for my colleagues."
"So why the sudden change in heart?" asked Lisa.
"Because I can't have it both ways," said Ruthie. "And I'm going to tell Dad and Lucy that, in the hopes I can change their minds. Look, Lisa, we're talking about a brief layover before you and Brigitte head further west to see your Mom."
"I want my whole family along with me, including Mom," said Lisa. "She should be a witness, too. Then Brigitte and I can spend Spring Break with her. And we can invite her over for the summer."
"Bring them along. Your whole family, including the 'ex'. All of them. I have more than a few frequent flyer points. I'll order the tickets for you."
"Sounds great. But my fiancée and I are both paying for the wedding. I have to ask Brigitte ... would you give me a moment please?"
There was one minute of dead air. Finally, Lisa came back on.
"Yes, yes, a thousand times yes!" she said ecstatically. "She would be honored to have you officiate the wedding, and so would I! The sooner we tie the knot, the better. Then we'll be a real family once and for all, no matter what anyone says! Just e-mail me the details and the e-tickets, and I'll let you do the driving when we get to Saint Louis!"
"Thank you for accepting my offer, Lisa," said Ruthie. "Good night ... and good luck to both of you!"
"Thank you, Ruthie," said Lisa.
The line disconnected.
"Unbelievable," said Hope. "I've never seen anyone do a 180 like that. But that took a lot of guts, Ruthie. And I'm proud of you!"
"Well ... I actually changed my mind on the flight back from Montréal," said Ruthie, as they started to climb uphill. "I didn't want to tip my hand. Even Peter and Felicity don't know yet."
"Then you know what I'm about to ask."
"You want me to do you."
"More like, I want us to do each other!" said Hope, already cracking into a grin at the mere prospect.
"How about back in your guest home, and in front of its hearth?"
They rushed back up the hill, made a beeline to Hope's house, and they stripped each other off one layer at a time, except for their bras and panties. They rushed towards the hearth and leaned the skis and poles against it.
"Hey, don't get excited," said Hope jokingly, "I want us to take our time!"
"No problem there!" said Ruthie. She turned on the fireplace. The natural gas flames behind the screen were burning a bright orange.
Ever so slowly, their faces met their lips. They French kissed for a minute. Then Ruthie worked her lips down toward Hope's bra line, licking all the way. Hope was moaning in grief as well as excitement. Why hadn't she tried this before, she thought. Ruthie then worked her way back up to the bra straps, licking Hope's shoulder, then liberating the bra. Ruthie then ran her saliva moistened index and middle fingers around Hope's breasts, from the outside in until she reached the peaks. Ruthie sucked on each for a minute. Hope was groaning with pleasure as her bosom swelled. Ruthie then worked her way down towards the navel, then removed the panties. Licking her fingers again, she then slowly inserted them into Hope's private place. In and out, a half-inch at a time, until Hope began to have an orgasm. Hope was not a virgin, but no man had ever excited her quite like this.
After nearly five minutes of this, Hope wasn't sure how much more she could take. She sat up and they kissed and kissed while Hope was pleasuring Ruthie and Ruthie Hope. Their breasts were in full contact, swelling even more, and they were kissing the whole time.
Hope then lay Ruthie down and did to her what she had done to her. Only longer ... much, much longer. And Ruthie was grimacing in pain as well as pleasure. Even Lisa wasn't this good ... not that she was going to tell her that.
Finally, they assumed the "X" position and ground each other for twenty minutes. This was about as much as either could take, and they burst uncontrollably and together. They sat up, kissed each other for what seemed like five minutes. Finally, Hope said, "Ruthie, would you please spend the night with me?"
"Of course," said Ruthie, kissing her lover yet again.
"Want to make this a routine?"
"Maybe once a week, or less. But the other guys will soon catch on."
"If they do, we'll tell them the truth."
"You're still looking for a guy?"
"Maybe. But the more I think about it, the more I'm thinking I'm a lesbian!"
"We have to be discreet about this, Hope," said Ruthie. "We can't give even the slightest hint to the kids. Poker faces. But I have one condition."
"Which is?"
"If I can get another man in my life, or you get one, it's over. I'm not interested in a three-way or a 'four's too many'. But if I want to be a lesbian ... I want to be with you!"
"Deal." The women kissed each other, on the lips then on the cheeks. They spent the night in Hope's bed together, but nothing more would happen that night.
The next morning, Ruthie walked in Peter and Felicity's house, going through the basement entrance. They had showered together but their hair was still a bit disheveled.
The honeymooning couple were on their last day in Alaska, but the Parkers were there with James and Heather, and all were having breakfast.
"Um, Mom, "said Jim, "you skis are missing. Looks like you and Hope got some exercise. A real workout. What kind? And Heather and I - all of us - want a clear answer."
Ruthie moaned. The skis had been left behind in Hope's residence. They knew.
How do my kids know these things, before Peter and Felicity - or anyone else - do? muttered Ruthie in her mind.
"Kids ... you know what Hope and I did last night?"
"We do!" said Heather, grinning. "And Jim and I think it's cool!"
"Doesn't take much of a genius," added Shelby.
Ruthie had no choice. She rang up Hope.
"Get in here, pronto - they all know! Yes, already!"