The trial in Los Angeles was on hold for a month, so that Prudence could prepare for her damning testimony against her husband, not knowing she had been double crossed by Harry. Meantime, the judge had already started his notes on sentencing for the crimes for which there surely would be guilty verdicts.
A couple of weeks passed, until it was two days before Christmas. The ministers and their families were having their hands full getting the church sanctuary ready for the biggest service of the year, Christmas Eve. All the children, too, were pitching in as they kept an eye on their baby siblings.
Ruthie and Hope returned to their residence, and immediately started undressing each other for what they hoped would be the hottest sex the wives ever had. But as they were slipping off each other's bras, the doorbell rang. At the same time, the intercom rang on the phone. Ruthie picked it up.
"Who is it?" she asked.
"It's Sam and David, sis," said Sam. "We're sorry to bother you like this right at the holiday, but we've got to talk to you about something serious."
"Come in, guys."
Hope and Ruthie dressed back up, and were shocked when the nineteen year old twins came in. For with them were two women who looked like they were younger than the boys. And they were showing the telltale baby bumps.
"Sam and David Camden, what have you done?" screamed Ruthie.
"Isn't it obvious?" said David. "Maybe I should introduce you first. The blonde is my girlfriend, Samantha. The redhead is Ashleigh, and she belongs with Sam. And they're twins, too. Sixteen."
The wives shook the hands of the girls. It was obvious they were distraught.
"Guys, you'd better explain yourselves," said Hope.
"Sure Hope," said Sam. "About a year ago, a friend of ours in high school thought we should go on a double date with a couple of people she knew. They were these ladies here. The dates went great, and we fell in love with our respective girls. For the first eight months, we only kissed. No feeling each other up or that kind of thing. But about five months ago, all of us decided to take it to the next step which was – well, feeling each other up, during one of our dates. Let's just say that things went overboard, and I fell into Ashleigh's arms. We made love. We were so abrupt about it that I had forgotten my condom. Three weeks later, pretty much the same happened with David and Samantha."
"Argh! What were you thinking?"
"Obviously we weren't. But we did it, and now we're going to have kids," said David.
"I can only presume why these women are here, but I want to hear it firsthand," said Ruthie.
"When our parents found out, they disowned us," moaned Samantha.
"We've been living on the streets for the last four weeks," added Ashleigh.
"What about the home for unwed mothers that my sister Lucy runs?" asked Ruthie.
"She was sympathetic, but the house is full and the nearest home is a hundred miles away."
"Guys, what about Mom and Dad? What did they say?"
"Shocked, naturally," said David. "But then they said two things: First, they weren't going to disown us and they looked forward to having two or more new grandchildren. Second, we were no longer welcome at the parsonage. They like the idea of being empty nesters and can't stand the thought of having kids in the house again. Babies with voracious appetites and mothers who breastfeed their babies all the time."
"When do you have to move out?"
"April, when our girls are due. But we decided to leave now. Avoid the complications, if you know what I mean."
Hope then asked the women the obvious question: "Weren't either of you on the Pill?"
"Yes," said Samantha, "but we forgot a couple of days. So now we're stuck."
"Have you -"
"I know what you're going to ask, Reverend Anderson – um, sorry, Camden, and the answer is no. Abortion hasn't even remotely crossed our minds. We're pro-life. Unless there's something seriously wrong with our babies, that's out of the question!"
"Okay, so how can we help you?" asked Ruthie.
"We've got super-sized scholarships at the university here because of our GPAs," said Sam. "4.9 and 4.8 for David."
"Wow!" said Hope. Her GPA was never higher than 4.2.
"We also qualify for residences, but the only rooms they have right now, they're singles. The apartments are taken until fall of next year."
"I'm sorry, dear brothers," said Ruthie. "Peter and Felicity have their hands full with four kids – the two that are hers, the four I have with Peter. So does Hope with her baby on the way. As for Patrick and Tamara, and Rod and Shelby, the inn is full too."
"In that case, Ruthie," said David, "how about the home for unweds you run? We really need somewhere to stay. We'll pay rent if we have to..."
"The rooms are free, Dave," smiled Ruthie. "Room and board, plus free cable and internet."
"Will you let us stay there..." said Ashleigh. "please?"
"Shelby runs it. I have to clear it with here first. Normally, we don't admit women and their boyfriends until they're at twenty-four weeks. If my math is correct, you're at nineteen weeks and Samantha is at sixteen."
"That's right."
Ruthie made the call on speakerphone. Shelby was shocked to hear that her friend's brothers had knocked up two women. She asked whether they could be charged with statutory rape, but Ruthie said there was a closer relations exception where the difference in ages was three years or less.
Shelby thought long and hard for a minute. She then asked her husband what he thought.
"Sam and David are good guys," said Rod. "It looks like they're taking responsibility for their actions. But how committed are they to these women? What if they dump them and leave their women and babies out in the cold."
"We'll never do that, Rod," said David. "We love these women. As soon as they turn eighteen, we're marrying them. They've already accepted our proposals."
It was only then that Hope and Ruthie saw the engagement rings on the women's hands. The diamonds looked relatively small, but the wives agreed that there was as much love in them as there would have been if the brothers could have afforded something more expensive.
"Okay, no problem," said Shelby. "They can move in tonight. There are two rooms available right now, one on the second floor and one on the fourth. You'll have to flip a coin to determine which one gets which. Supper is finished for the day but there are leftovers in the kitchen, just heat them up. Meals are served at 7:30, noon and 5 pm, sharp. There's also snack time at eight in the evening. I can't tell you what to do in bed or not – if you want to continue having sex in any manner go ahead – but there is a strict curfew of 9 pm, unless you get a pass.
"But you need to understand, guys, there are a few conditions. One, you will start school in January, all of you. You're starting college, but your girlfriends have to enroll at the high school around the corner from the home. Second, absolutely no illicit drugs or alcohol. Even if marijuana is semi-legal now, I won't stand for it. Third, if you have any prescriptions, they'll be checked in at the front desk and dispensed to you at the appropriate times. Fourth, all of you will attend prenatal programs, as well as parenting classes. Fifth, and finally, after the babies are born, you have six months to vacate. No exceptions. We'll help you find a place.
"Actually, there is one more condition. Church attendance is mandatory, just as it is for all the other couples at the home, and their babies. There's shuttle buses that will take you there and back, but you have to show up."
"I don't have a problem with that last one," said Ashleigh. "Samantha and I are Catholics ... for now ... but when we got in trouble, the priest refused to help us, and the one Catholic agency in town said their inn was full too. Meaning, we were sluts and deserved to be on the streets."
"That doesn't sound like them," said Ruthie, surprised. "Dad and Lucy have referred some parishioners to them and they were never turned away. What gave this time?"
"Our parents are known drug dealers, and that one guy believes in visiting the sins of the parents on the children," said Samantha. "We've never been near drugs or alcohol, let alone touching them, despite the environment we grew up in."
"So that's why you're here," said Hope. "You've never been truly loved, until you guys found Sam and David!"
"Yes Hope," said Ashleigh. She and her sister both had tears coming down their cheeks. "And the Camdens back in California are the nicest family. They fed us meals, they helped us with our homework, and their church – well, we may be Catholics, but at Eric and Lucy's, we never felt condescended upon with their sermons. I get why our boys got the tough love approach, but I know Eric and Annie did it because they love their sons but want them to stop relying on their parents forever."
"Do you really want to marry Sam?"
"Yes, with all my heart! And Samantha wants to be with David forever."
"Your parents disowned you, do you them?"
"Fuck yes! And so does my sister!"
There was ten seconds of silence. Then Shelby spoke again.
"I've offered you my terms, girls. Do you accept them?"
"As long as Ruthie helps us with our registration at the new high school, yes," said Samantha.
"Yes, of course," said Ashleigh.
"Great," said Rod. "I'll pull up my truck and you can move in tonight. Don't forgot tomorrow night's service. There is no dress code, but remember it is Christmas Eve, so you might want to put on a business suit. If you need one, our branch of Dress for Success can get them for both of you."
"Thank you!" said Samantha. Her tears became a torrent, and she burst out crying. It took a minute to calm down, but she then said, "I've never been loved like this. I know I'm finally going to have home, even if only for the next eleven months."
"You didn't even have to think about it that much," added Ashleigh. "You're taking us in regardless of our circumstances. Man, my sister and I can't wait until we're offered the right hand of fellowship tomorrow."
"You're converting?" asked Hope.
"We're not leaving the Catholic Church – they left us. Maybe they'll learn a lesson if enough people leave, and not just the ones they've screwed over."
"Well, since you're both baptized, and I presume confirmed ..."
"Yes."
"Then all that is needed is the right hand of fellowship to convert. A few others are doing the same tomorrow, so we'll welcome you too. In that case, the suit is mandatory! It opens up at the church at 9 am. Come early to get the best ones."
"Thank you so much! And Hope, just so you know, I think you and Ruthie being married is so cool! If you need babysitters for your kids, if we have some free time, we'd like to help."
"Thank you, ladies! I love Ruthie so much, and in time, I think we'll love you too ... just not in that way!"
By that time, the truck pulled up. The two couples loaded up their huge gym backs with their clothes – all they had – and was driven the short distance to the home. After Sam won the upper apartment, the couples went to their rooms, and promptly started to make love.