Unprepared

This is a work of fiction. Unless otherwise indicated, all the names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents in this story are either the product of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

This is the last submission of a three part story. I could have put it in a different category, but the story as a whole seemed to fit best here.

"Bjorn! Oh my! What a surprise!"

I gathered my grandmother up in an embrace. Even though I'm more than half a foot taller and quite a bit heavier, it feels like I'm a little boy again. There's something about getting a hug from one of your grandparents that makes you feel young again...loved.

I hadn't planned on showing up unannounced, but when I went to call upon arrival in Oslo, I wasn't sure what to say. So, I got my rental car and started driving. Two hours later, here I am. And I still don't know.

"What's wrong?"

She appeared concerned. I almost went with my gut, which was to say 'nothing', but she'd see through it. Besides, I couldn't lie to her.

"I just needed to get away Besta. I missed you! Everyone."

"Is it Julia?"

"Julie? No. That's done. Or, as done as it can be. I still find myself thinking about her on occasion. But it's less frequent as time goes on and doesn't bother me as much."

"I'm sure it helps that you grew apart in the last few years."

"That's just it Besta. I can see that now, but while I was in the middle of it, I didn't realize it."

"Either way. I'm glad to hear you are healing."

"Thanks. I'm glad too."

I gave her another hug. She patted my back and then pulled back and looked up at me. I'm still amazed by her. Her hair is snow white, but still full and long. She had it drawn back in a ponytail, the only way I ever remember it. She had the same piercing blue eyes.

"Well, take your coat off and come help me make tea."

"If it's okay with you, I'll keep it on. I'm freezing!"

"Suit yourself!" She laughed while I followed her into her small kitchen.

Her English is so excellent that I almost forget I'm in Norway. She always spoke it with me...I think part of the reason is because she liked to practice. Despite my parents being from here, I was born in Alaska and the other members of the homestead we lived on were local to that area.

Mom and Dad spoke Norwegian to each other and me, most often when we were in our own little cabin. During the day, they used English like everyone else, even if it was with a heavy accent. So, regardless of them claiming I spoke their native tongue when I was young, I can't anymore. At least not well. I can follow what's being said and make myself understood well enough when needed though; like earlier at the airport.

She turned the thermostat up a couple degrees before preparing tea and by the time we sat down, I'd removed my coat. Her small place warmed up fast. It's the first week of May and a bit cooler than I'd be experiencing back home right now.

"So, if it is not Julia, is it your business? I thought you were happy with it."

"No Besta, business is strong. I still love the work and receive so many requests I hired help."

"Really!? Tell me about it."

I told her the story of how I'd met Kas and Callie during jobs and had been impressed with each. First had been Callie with her ability to do most anything I could, and her willingness to travel. Next, Kas and her excellent knowledge of animals and veterinary practice and the follow up calls to clients, giving them advice with livestock.

"I think I understand now."

She had an expression on her face that I could only think of as 'amused pity'. I could sense myself start to go red in the face. After an uncomfortable moment for me she asked,

"So, what exactly happened?"

"Well, I suppose I got greedy. Well...maybe not greedy, but a little too comfortable with the situation."

"Let me guess. You were pursuing both of them...at the same time?"

"No! Well, yes! But I wouldn't call it pursuit. I wasn't

after

them. Things just kind of happened. But yes, it was at the same time."

I exhaled, feeling good to have it off my chest, but it was hard to have it all back in the front of my mind. Not that I'd been successful filing it away.

"Were you intimate with either of them?"

"Both."

Many people may have been shocked to have a grandparent be this blunt, but I wasn't. My entire family was open about what was on their mind. I remember many flare-ups over the years, but they were always short-lived. And when it was done...it was done. I understand how healthy it is. They never let things fester.

But my Besta was always the most to-the-point one of us. And no topic was sacred. If one was, it hadn't come up yet. So, I told her the truth. She shook her head.

"And these two women...they know each other?"

I blushed even more, if that were possible, and realized I might as well tell her everything. She'd extract it from me soon enough anyway. So, I spent the next hour or so giving her the story and answering questions. I wish I could say I felt better when it was over.

"So, to sum things up, you met two women, different in many ways, and became friends with both of them. You offered each of them employment which allowed your business to grow, and actually improve the quality of its services. This led to growing closer to each one."

I nodded as she paused to gather her thoughts.

"At some point you realized they were avoiding each other, or at least this 'Kas' was avoiding the other, 'Callie'. When you suspected the reason, you asked Kas and she verified they had issues over a man they had apparently both been involved with, or at the very least mutually interested in?"

"Yes Besta."

"And yet you continued to allow both relationships to grow, knowing what you did?"

I managed to nod and blush at the same time.

"You, my boy, are a fool."

All I could do was laugh.

"But I love you anyway. So, you now believe they each love someone else."

"I'm sure they do."

"Oh! You are? Because you talked to them?"

"No. You know I didn't."

"Bjorn, we all come to conclusions based on bits of information we have. We all make mistakes."

"Besta, I hardly think I misunderstood anything."

She just held eye contact with me for a moment, then shrugged before she spoke.

"So...you came for a visit?"

"Yes! And to clear my head."

"Well, I suppose I can understand that. What are you going to do? How long are you going to stay?"

"I'll go visit with the rest of the family and stay with them for a bit. As to how long...I don't know. Maybe I won't go back."

She appeared a little surprised by that.

"But what about your business?"

"I don't know."

"And your employees...these women?"

"I realize they didn't owe me anything. I didn't ask for commitments from either of them. It works both ways. I don't owe them either."

"Wrong! Bjorn, you know better! I'm sure they have come to rely on the income from the work. You can't just leave and abandon everything."

She was right. I hadn't thought it through, which wasn't like me. I considered it for a minute while she regarded me sternly. I gave her a sheepish look and responded.

"I'm sorry. That didn't come out the way I intended. I guess I'm feeling a little sorry for myself. I meant there were no personal commitments...as lovers. I know I have to keep the business going. For their sake as well as my own. Not to mention all my current customers."

"What are you going to do?"

"I'd like you to help me."

She raised an eyebrow. I explained how my website worked with new clients and that I used my phone for existing clients. I'd turned on international roaming, but there wouldn't be a cell signal at the homestead, so I may as well leave my electronic devices with her. I could have used my satellite receiver module, but honestly wanted to get away from it for a while.

Besta is tech-savvy, which may have been a surprise to some, but not anyone who knew her. I could tell she was interested. I spent a few minutes showing her how to use my laptop and phone. In the end, she agreed to keep the girls working and make sure new jobs were screened with them and the right kind of work agreed to.

"But not forever Bjorn! You go get your head on straight. But be quick about it! You can't run from your problems."

I nodded. "I think I still have a lot of anger inside. I'll work on it. And I'll figure out how to talk to Kas and Callie. I admit that situation still has my head spinning."

I had thought about it a lot on the plane and had worked out some of my emotions. I continued.

"I didn't leave because I was angry at either of them, or the men they're involved with. I...I guess I'm mad at myself. It may not have mattered, but I wish I'd told them sooner...that I had developed feelings for them. But as confused as I was by the fact that I had the same feelings for both, I just kept waiting. The more I waited, the stronger the feelings. I love them."

I paused again, thinking. I'd worked out that much, but there was still the bit that bothered me. And I didn't understand why.

"And then it was too late. I don't know why I didn't say something. I just ran from it. Not my proudest moment."

"You couldn't." she said with a sad, knowing look.

"Couldn't what?"

"After what happened with Julie...what she did to you. Once you discovered they were involved with someone else, you couldn't tell either of them of your feelings because you would have believed you were trying to lure them away from their other loves. Like you would have been trying to convince them to leave these other men."

My mouth opened...then closed. She was right. I hadn't figured it out on my own, but she had the truth of it. I stayed a couple of nights, and after promising to be back in a week when the family came to town, I headed for the homestead.

I set the axe down when I realized I'd finished the last of the firewood. I'd started on this about two months ago when it was nothing more than a pile of limbed trees. A big difference to when I'd begun was that I wasn't breathing hard now.

Some things hadn't changed with my family. One being that splitting wood was more than a necessity, it was considered therapy...for both the body and mind. Between this and preparing another acre for planting, I'd put on some muscle weight, improved my endurance, and jettisoned a lot of baggage from my head. Using a pickaxe and hauling rocks out of the field were even more strenuous than the splitting.

It was nearing the end of June. It was warmer than when I'd arrived, and I'd taken my shirt off a few minutes into the work. I thought back to a year ago when I'd learned about my now ex-wife's cheating. I realized it didn't bother me as much now.

Kas and Callie had been the center of my thoughts for the majority of my time in Norway. I had admitted to myself that I had been falling in love with them...was in fact

in

love with them. The discovery they were both involved with someone else had been a painful shock. But running from it hadn't helped.

It was time to go home.

—

After goodbyes to my family and their friends, I'd gotten a ride back to town. I was a day late because the truck had broken down before we got off the homestead. On top of that, once we got it fixed, the road was rough and slow going. It gave me time to think about my stay.

It had been more than physical labor. I'd volunteered my medical services to the homestead and taken a couple of side trips. One had been to a Viking festival, thinking I'd achieve some insight into my ancestry...discover if I had an 'inner Viking'. I'd thought it would be wilder, but it was more like a craft show. I told Besta about it on one of my regular visits. She laughed and asked.

"Did you really think you'd find it at a festival?"

I'd also spent quite a few nights in the remote hunting cabin, north of the homestead. It was the perfect place to think and immerse myself further into nature if that were possible. Two days ago, I watched a bear as it foraged for tender new vegetation. He was grumpy and alone. That's when I had finally laughed at myself and realized it was time.

I waved goodbye as Ole drove off, on his way to check in on his own grandparents. I knocked once and entered, something my besta preferred me to do. She only locked up at night.

I took my muddy boots off by the door and stepped into the living space. I could hear Besta in the kitchen and as I was about to call her name to make sure she was aware I was here, she walked out. Except it wasn't her. I froze.

"Kas?"

I was stunned. She too had stopped and was staring at me with an unreadable expression. She was so beautiful I ached. Without thinking, I closed the gap between us, pulled her in by her shoulders and kissed her soundly.

She kissed back.

I backed off and started to apologize. She grabbed my shirt and pulled me back in and we kissed again. She moaned. Holding her was so good I lost track of time. Suddenly, I heard the front door open. I broke away long enough to see who it was.

"Callie?"

"What!? No 'Blue'?"

Her hair was bright blue again. The hair might have changed again, but she was still as hot as ever. She was smiling and walking toward me. I realized I was still embracing Kas. With my brain locked up, my mouth decided to try without it, but only managed to open and close soundlessly as she closed the distance. At the last moment Kas released me with one hand and used the other to turn me toward Callie.

Callie grabbed me in the same way Kas had, pulled me down, and our lips met. As confused and nervous as I was, I went with it. It was as incredible as it had with Kas. Callie groaned in pleasure, and we paused to breathe.

Reality crashed down on me. I was still totally in the dark about what the hell was happening, but I had been thinking about what I wanted to say to them for weeks now. I hadn't pictured it being at the same time though.

"Listen, I'm sorry. Sorry for taking off without saying anything. Sorry for being dumb enough to try..."

Kas stopped me by putting a finger to my lips. For some reason she appeared a little nervous. Callie, with her usual carefree attitude, was smiling as she turned to Kas.

They kissed.

—

Unprepared.

What the hell was this?! It was the last thing I expected. Any of this. Them in Norway! Here! At my grandmother's...kissing! It was...

beautiful

. I again found myself unable to speak.

Besta's laughter brought me out of my trance. I tore my eyes away from the girls to look at her. Her eyes were bright with amusement, and she'd brought her hands together like she was ready to applaud.

My head spun back to Kas and Callie as they broke their lip lock. Both were a little breathless; it had been a scorcher. I was aware I was doing an impression of a fish again.

"You'll have to give him some time. He can be a little slow!"

Besta laughed through her statement. The girls gave her warm smiles and then I received one too. I tried to appear hurt, but grinned at my grandmother's teasing and managed some words.

"I really am, you know. I think it's her fault though." I gestured at Besta. "She dropped me on my head when I was little."

"Bah! You were never little. And I didn't drop you, but it may have done you some good if I had. You were a wild boy."

Callie laughed while Kas remarked,

"You look wild now! I almost didn't recognize you. The beard! And you're...bigger."

"Listen you two. I'm still not sure what's going on. I think I'm about to find out, but damn!...it's so good to see you...both of you!"

"Just good?!" Callie asked with mock indignance.

"Great! Awesome! Wonderful!"

I reached out and gave each a quick kiss in turn while they laughed. Callie remarked it wasn't much of a kiss. Naturally, I tried to make them both happy with a longer one. I started with Callie and ended with Kas. I smelled cotton candy and told her I liked her perfume. She blushed.

"I think it's time for some explanations! Stories must be told!" Besta declared with a grin.

I doubt she'd smiled this much in years. It was obvious she was enjoying this immensely. She took control of things and in a few minutes, we were all seated in her small living room, with tea. Besta sat next to me on the loveseat and Kas and Callie were in chairs that we moved so that we were in a small circle of sorts.

I could tell we were all in need of getting things off our chests but didn't know how to begin. I took a deep breath and decided that because I was the one who'd kind of started the mess by running off, I'd go first. They seemed to sense it and all eyes turned to me.

"First, how did you get here? I realize you flew; I mean..."

"All thanks to Besta! I just love saying that...it's so cool!" Callie exclaimed. "We've been here a few days but expected you yesterday! Besta said sometimes you're late though."

Of course. I did ask her to talk with them. I should have known it would go beyond business.

"At what point did you realize..." I raised my eyebrows a little while tilting my head slightly in my grandmother's direction.

"That she's a lesbian? Believe it or not, she didn't tell us. We got here and saw the pictures. Well, one thing led to another, and we learned as much about her as she did us. Oh, and she gave us all kinds of stuff on you!" Callie said while Kas nodded and added,

"If we'd only known! We probably wouldn't have had to go through a lot of this!"

I understood Kas's point. I'd grown up with one grandfather and three grandmothers. It had been normal to me. I didn't have a chance to see them often due to the distances involved but stayed close through letters as well as occasional calls and visits.

I was taught love was what mattered.

I didn't know first-hand what it was like for them, but I'd listened to many stories from my family about my two maternal grandmothers. It had been a different world in those days, far less accepting. Despite that, they'd stayed together, traveled the world, and experienced life the way they wanted.

Although she was sad when her soulmate died, she told everyone the memories of their life together kept her happy. Hilde, my now deceased besta, had been a university librarian and Marit, my surviving one, had been a professor there. They met and fell in love. Marit had been the one that carried and given birth to my mother. I'd never been told how she'd gotten pregnant; it didn't matter to me.

Looking at them, I talked about my growing feelings as we had gotten to know each other. They softened and nodded, adding they had both felt the same. After what happened in the last hour, I wasn't surprised that this was fine with both of them.

I got to the part about being in the hayloft. Besta mentioned she'd given them the basics, but I tried to express how I'd felt when I overheard Kas declare her love on the phone.

"That was me she was talking to you big dummy." Callie's eyes were tearing up a bit.

"I think I've figured that out now."

"I'm so sorry Bear. I guess we all were in a new situation. It's pretty obvious we didn't know how to handle it." Kas said. Callie jumped back in.

"When I was walking to my SUV that day at the airport, I spotted the new tent already installed and my heart sank. I knew what you must have found in there...knew what you must have thought. My fear grew when I saw everything packed up and in the back seat. Then you disappeared."

"So...that friend you were visiting was..."

"Me." Kas said, blushing again. I noticed my grandmother's smug grin and continued.