Synchronicity for Six

Synchronicity For Six, Part 15

'Synchronicity For Six'

immediately follows the events in

'Spirits in the Material World'

. Part 15 continues from where Part 14 left off. No effort will be made to catch the reader up with the characters or their situations. The prequel to

'Spirits'

,

'Every Thing She Does is Magic'

, provides some additional background on some of the characters but is not necessary to understand and, hopefully, enjoy

'Synchronicity for Six'

. The storyline for

'The Greatest of These is Love'

, a 9‑part diversion primarily about Julie's long‑time roommate, Dawn Taggart, and Dawn's boyfriend, John Wilson, will also be merged into

'Synchronicity For Six'

.

= [] = [] =

Tuesday, February 23, 2021 - continued

"Rose, honey, I need to discuss some things that are bothering me before your father comes to town on Friday," Alan announced as he undressed for bed. "I have some questions about your relationship between you and your parents, especially your father."

Rose's heart eventually slowed from the panic Alan's initial words had inspired. 'We need to talk' is probably the scariest four‑word phrase in the American English vocabulary. Alan was careful not to use those exact words, but the sentiment behind his statement did not bode well.

Rose slowed her pulse as she brushed her hair. She also thumbed her nipples into excitement, and that revved her motor a bit. With her ablutions completed, she sauntered from the bathroom toward the bed and allowed her hips to sway more than usual. She was out to capture Alan's attention, and she smiled as she noted her success.

She climbed on the bed next to him and gently stroked his erection, trying to distract him from what she believed would be an unpleasant conversation. As enticing as Rose was, Alan would not be diverted.

"Come here, Rose, lay down so we can look at each other as we talk," Alan directed. With a small sigh, she acquiesced and lay her head on her pillow while looking at Alan.

"Before we get into what I need to know, I'd like to share with you why the word 'Daddy' gets such a reaction from me." Rose's eyes widened slightly at Alan's words, but she remained mute.

"Before I met Laura at college, I dated Miss Annabelle Josephine Lee. Ever heard of her?" Rose shook her head negatively. "Her family was very well‑to‑do and owned a lot of cotton fields in the southeast part of the state. She was extremely proud to claim a direct lineage from Robert E. Lee, the Confederate General. Anyway, she would go on and on about how 'her Daddy' could and would get her anything her heart desired. With me, she was dating well below her station, and she would not hesitate to remind me of that fact. My distaste for the title 'Daddy' stems from that time and the feelings she evoked. We didn't date very long."

"Now I understand why 'Daddy' could be such a hot button for you, especially from someone Maggie's age or older," Rose allowed. "My explanation is difficult to get out. Would you please hold me?" Alan immediately gathered Rose into his arms and she tucked her head against his collarbone and took a deep breath.

"From my 18th birthday until this past December when you 'forced' me to video conference with my parents, he and I had an agreement that I was to call him 'Daddy'. It was an agreement that my mother knew nothing about. That night I ended that agreement."

Alan made a noncommittal grunt of acknowledgment and waited, all the while his nose and mouth were buried in her hair. Rose inhaled once more and continued.

"It was only the one time, but he was my first sexual partner. It turns out it was all with my mother's 'blessing'. He promised that he'd never do it again, that it was just the one time to 'get it out of his system', but I had to call him 'Daddy' thereafter." Rose felt Alan stiffening with outrage (it was not the part of Alan she wanted to be stiff), and she quickly laid her fingers on his lips to forestall any outburst.

"I was 18 and I never said, 'No', so it wasn't rape, but it was incest. It was over 25 years ago and, just as he promised, it was only the one time."

Alan was furious with both of his prospective in‑laws. His anger was unmistakable, and Rose kissed his chest then his chin, ending up at his lips.

"Shhh," she requested. "One of my therapists from so long ago gave me this great piece of advice. 'If you live in the past, it will cost you the future.' That incident is far, far behind me in my life's wake. Besides, I got my vengeance on both of them by eloping with Ron as well as having very limited contact with them over the years. They have missed out on so much of the girls' lives. But I've come to realize that it all needs to end. I think Bob Seger said it best, 'turn the page.' You are a new chapter in our lives, Alan. Together we will write the next chapter and the one after that, and all the rest until the end of our days."

Rose could feel Alan slowly releasing his tension but knew he still had questions.

"Okay, you're still justifiably angry at my parents," she murmured. "That's all right. For what it's worth, my father is afraid of you, or so Mother said. You have so much character and backbone that he just fades to insignificance when compared to you. I'm counting on that fortitude and resilience while he's here. Just do what I do and follow Ringo Starr's advice, 'act naturally.' This, too, shall pass, and while I may have a somewhat improved relationship with them, we will not allow them to have a significant impact on our lives."

Alan hugged Rose tightly and then noticed that her other hand was wrapped around his cock. He felt her breasts squished against his chest and he drew in the residual fragrance of her perfume. It all had a very predictable effect on him, and soon he was 'rising to the occasion'. They kissed deeply and Rose rolled atop him and plugged him into her tingling and wet slot.

"My father is afraid of my man," she whispered. "That's so hot!"

Wednesday, February 24, 2021

At 6:00 am, Alan's bedside clock radio activated. By mutual agreement, the buzzer alarm was not selected; the radio was and it came on. Then the DJ's words penetrated the bed's slumbering occupants' awareness.

"Good morning, kids! Hey, I've got a special request and a shout‑out here. This one's for Alan and Rose. Here's hoping your day gets off to a

good

start." The Turtles' "Happy Together" began playing. "Imagine me and you, I do, ..."

Alan turned his head to look at Rose in shock, only to see the same surprise on her face. The minds' wheels were turning a little slowly this early in the day.

"I didn't ..." Alan began. "Did you?"

"Nope, it wasn't me," Rose refuted. She paused for a moment, considering. "It must have been the girls."

"Could've been the boys. They know I keep the radio tuned to this station."

"Does it really matter, Alan?" Rose asked reaching under the covers and finding the object of her desire in a tumescent state.

They were a little later getting into the shower than they had intended, but the smiles on their faces made any rush worthwhile.

= [] = [] =

"Just to remind you, Dawn, we'll be out of town this weekend," Julie remarked to her best friend over lunch.

"Oh? Does that mean ...?"

"I'm sorry, but Tom doesn't want to push things with our landlord. Renée is gone and you're in a single now. You can push the frames together and lay the mattresses crosswise."

"Yeah, but ..."

"Yabut, yabut, yabut. I know, Dawnie. They're not as comfy as our place, nor does your room have the refrigerator or stove." Julie smiled apologetically. "Sometimes life's just a little hard."

Dawn smiled wryly and accepted the circumstances. "How about the weekend after?"

"I'll see what I can do. I'm glad things have finally settled down for you both with Renée out of the picture. Which would you rather do: play a board game or snuggling and dancing?"

"Snuggling and dancing, definitely," Dawn declared. With hugs, the girls went their separate ways.

= [] = [] =

Rose reached for Alan's right hand as they drove to the church that evening. He had been rather quiet ever since returning home from work, and she was a little concerned. With a small grin, he interlaced his fingers with hers. She felt much better having this reassuring tactile connection with him.

It had been a quick and light supper for the five of them earlier. Martha had come over once Katie had returned home from school. Soup and salad night was fairly simple, once they agreed on which soups to have.

Rose and Alan arrived at Pastor John's office a few minutes early and his wife, Ruth, led them to the small conference table. They took their seats as Pastor John looked at them with a huge smile on his face.

"You wanted to meet with us about a Saturday in June?" he began. Ruth's expression showed her puzzlement, and then the lightbulb lit, and she, too, had a huge smile on her face when she realized the topic of the meeting. John had not enlightened her on Sunday after all.

Sitting on Alan's right side, Rose was holding Alan's right hand on top of the table with her left. Her engagement ring gleamed in the light, adding to her happiness.

"Yes, Pastor John. We're planning our wedding for Saturday, June 12th," Rose replied.

"Well, let's look at the church's calendar," John responded and stood to retrieve the booking calendar from the church secretary's desk.

"Hold on, Pastor," Alan interrupted. At John's and Ruth's expressions, he explained. "The ceremony will be outdoors in the backyard of the house we are buying out on Millersville Road. We are here to request you to officiate and your family's presence. We need to get on your personal calendar, not the church's."

"Oh! Well, that's a horse of a different color," John declared. Ruth dug into her purse for her family planner.

"June twelfth?" she asked to verify, and Rose and Alan both nodded. "We're wide open, so far. What time were you thinking?"

"Part of me would like to get it over and done with," Rose responded, "and part of me wants us to have the late afternoon and early evening sounds of nature surrounding us. Can we block out the whole day now and amend it as we get closer?"

"I think we can work with that. Let me mark our planner here, then make sure nobody books John on the church's calendar on that day," Ruth answered. Rose got up and accompanied Ruth to the church secretary's desk to mark John as unavailable on June twelfth.

John and Alan watched with twitching lips as the women went about their tasks, and then John leaned over to Alan to have a quiet discussion.

"Normally, I insist on three meetings with the prospective couple, but I don't think that's necessary in your case. I did want to discuss your vows, though."

"When Laura and I wed, it was fully traditional, to love, honor, cherish, and obey. Except that she wouldn't say 'obey'. I don't think the traditional vows would have any hopes of flying with Rose, do you?" Alan chuckled softly.

"No, not from what I've experienced of her," John confessed. "But I would like a session with the two of you to be sure the vows you intend to say pass muster. Probably the sooner, the better; definitely no later than the end of March. That would give you two some time to work out any wrinkles that might show up."

"I'll talk with Rose and we'll let you know before we leave here on Sunday. Would that work?"

"Sunday would be fine, Alan," John assured him.

The four ended their meeting in time for Alan, Rose, and Ruth to be on time for choir rehearsal. On their way out, John asked if Alan and Rose could take Ruth home; they had ridden together and John didn't feel like waiting around.

"I spend too much time here already," he explained

Smiles and nods assured him that Ruth would make it home safely after rehearsal.

After choir rehearsal, the ladies continued their conversation during the drive to the parsonage. Alan wasn't paying attention to their conversation. Instead, he was recalling his wedding day to Laura. In truth, much of the details had faded into vagueness, but he did remember that he promised Laura an appropriate length kiss if she agreed to use 'obey' in her vows. She didn't, of course, and Alan held her to his lips for at least thirty seconds. He smiled at that memory.

Just in case Alan had been listening, Rose leaned forward from the rear seat to speak quietly with Ruth.

"So, I'm going to have my father walk me down the aisle, and my daughters, all three of them, will be my attendants. I'd appreciate it very much if you'd be one of the witnesses on the Marriage Certificate, though."

"Absolutely," Ruth said softly in return. "Won't this be your father's second time around giving you away?" she asked.

That led to some discussion about Rose's elopement with Ron Lawson without getting into many of the details. The distance between the church and the parsonage was mercifully short, and the ladies had to wrap up their unfinished conversation as Alan pulled into the driveway.

"Let's try to talk before worship on Sunday, shall we?" Ruth inquired as the ladies were getting out, Rose to sit up front next to Alan.

"If I can pry myself away from Maeve, Mary, and Susan, sure," Rose responded.

"I kind of want to talk about them as well. Come find me in John's office, okay?"

"I'll do that." The ladies parted with a hug and Rose sat in the front seat and shut the car door. Once Ruth had entered her home and flashed the porch light off and back on, Alan backed out of the driveway and headed for home.

"You're not going to tell me what that was about, are you?" Alan asked.

"Nope."

Thursday, February 25, 2021

There was a palpable tension in the air on Thursday at supper, and Alan was perplexed by it. Martha, Rose, and Katie all seemed on edge; only Maggie was seemingly unaffected. Being direct, Alan didn't hesitate to bring up the subject.

"Katie, what has you so wound up this evening?" he inquired.

"Just the weekly Trigonometry quiz tomorrow, Poppa," she replied, unable to meet Maggie's gaze of concern. "Plus, the ACT exam next weekend, I guess."

"That's all quite understandable. Magpie, do you think Katie has much to worry about?"

Maggie sat up straighter, surprised at Alan's follow‑up inquiry.

"N‑no, Poppa," Maggie drew out her words. "She's been doing very well with all of our sessions. Although by mutual agreement, we've shifted more to ACT study sessions than ones just about Trigonometry." Maggie looked across the table at Katie. "Why didn't you tell me you have a quiz tomorrow?"

"You've been spreading yourself kinda thin between me and Joy with the ACT prep. I didn't want to burden you."

"Katie, sweetie, helping you to study and prepare for these tests is not a burden. I welcome the stimulation that you and Joy provide me. I don't have a lot of opportunity to use much of what's up here," Maggie said, pointing at her head, "in the store, day in and day out. Let's have a one‑on‑one session after supper, 'k?"

Katie's posture immediately relaxed at her sister's words.

"Now, you two," Alan directed his words at his fiancée and her mother at the other end of the table. "You're obviously not affected by Katie's upcoming tests. What's your story?"

The ladies looked at each other, saying nothing. Finally, Rose capitulated.

"It's about my father, Alan. He's supposed to come to town tomorrow once he officially retires."

"What about Elliot?" Alan pressed.

"Elliot doesn't have the best track record of keeping his word, at least with us," Martha began.

"Plus, do you remember what we talked about a couple of nights ago? He's never been one to step into difficult situations voluntarily," Rose continued. "So, Mother and I have been talking about what her next steps could be if he doesn't show."

"I think you're borrowing trouble, Martha. Still, it never hurts to have plans that you don't need," Alan commented. "Come on, girls, let's get the table cleared so your mother and grandmother can continue the discussion. Maybe in the living room?" he suggested.

With the supper dishes dealt with, he shooed Maggie and Katie to the media room and retired upstairs to his bedroom. He needed to talk with Rose about some things, but her time with Martha was much more important. He pulled out his phone as he sat on the side of the bed.

'Elliot, please call me,' he texted his fiancée's father and waited. Three minutes later, Alan's phone rang with Elliot's call.

"Yes, Alan? You wanted to talk?"

"Needed more than wanted, Elliot. I'm not one for idle chitchat, so I'll cut to the chase. Are you coming to Middleburg tomorrow as planned?"

"I have an airplane ticket to do so."

"All that says is that you have, or had at one time, the intent."

"Why is this of your concern, Alan?"

"The prospect of your coming or not coming has my fiancée and your wife in turmoil, and it's spilling over into my home life, Elliot. I don't like unnecessary drama or tension." Alan's voice grew firmer with that last sentence.

Elliot was silent for a minute, considering what he was willing to share.

"She didn't answer my calls last night," Elliot said softly, nearly whispering. "I left several voicemail messages."

"She's probably angry with you. They both said you don't have the best track record of keeping your word to them."

"How do I fix it?"

"Are you sure you want to fix it?"

"Yes. I've considered it, and I'm better off with her in my life than not," Elliot was nearly whispering again.

"Then be on that plane. Keep your word. Tell her, in person, that you're much better with her in your life. Life's more than just showing up, but you have to show up in the first place."

"Thank you, Alan." Elliot ended the call.

A while later, Alan heard the women's chatter near the front door. He quickly stepped out of his bedroom and descended the stairs. As he approached, the discussions tailed off.

Stepping up to his future mother‑in‑law, he gently pulled Martha into a hug and positioned his mouth near her left ear. He spoke very softly to her.

"I don't know what you've decided, Martha, if anything. But your husband will be on that airplane tomorrow, and you two need to talk, face to face and heart to heart. He was very sad and upset that you wouldn't accept his calls last night."

She pushed back from Alan, her face expressing her shock at his words.

"W-wh-what do you mean, Alan? He never tried to call me at all." Rose was close enough to hear her mother's words and she thought back to a similar set of circumstances from early December.

"I think, Martha, that technology has failed you," Alan pressed on. "How long has it been since you last turned your phone completely off and back on? You need to do that weekly; it resets things that may have been changed accidentally. I spoke with Elliot tonight and he said that you didn't answer his calls at all. He genuinely seemed upset, but I believe he's trying."

"It's true, Mother," Rose butted in. "A similar incident happened to Alan and me a few months ago."

"Power your phone down now, Martha. Wait a couple of minutes, then start it back up. Save your call to him until you get back to your hotel room," Alan recommended. He turned to Rose.

"I'll be upstairs in our room. I'd like to talk before we go to sleep. Girls, kiss Grandma goodnight and let's give them a little space." He turned and slowly climbed the stairs with Maggie and Katie quickly behind him.

Once Alan and the girls were out of earshot, Martha said, "Rosalie, what have I done?"