Author's Note: An accident shrinks a thirty five year old man to just over three feet tall.
***
When I woke up both women were still sleeping it off. There's no way I wanted to be anywhere near two women with serious hangovers. I gave each of them a hard enough slap on their bare backside to wake them. When they stirred I gave each of them a big kiss on that same backside and said, "Rise and shine, ladies", and then I grabbed some clothes and got the hell out of there.
Downstairs Maria welcomed me warmly; she picked me up and said, "Good morning, little one. I hear all sorts of things about you. It's hard to believe. Let me hear your voice."
I put my arms around her neck and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Maria, thank you for everything. I was so confused after the accident I didn't know what happened to me. You were a big help. Maybe I'll remember it all someday, it's coming back slowly."
"Arilla tells me you save her from Jorge when he beat her. I don understand how. Jorge's how you say, a monster." Then she used Spanish to add some more adjectives including the much used descriptive 'asshole'. "You must tell Maria all about it, but first you must eat."
"I've been calling the bedroom Arilla's using, but she's not answer."
"Call Suzanne's bedroom, I think I heard her and Arilla talking."
The two female grouches arrived just as I was finished eating. I asked Maria if had something I could put coffee in to take upstairs. She poured some in a thermos and put it in the dumbwaiter along with a couple of sweet rolls. She grinned at me, "Go on upstairs. I take care of these two party girls." I took her advice.
I was in our 'office' trying to answer Berger's latest questions when Suzanne came in. She put her arms around me from behind and gave me kiss on the cheek. "Arty, Arilla and I have things to do and then I have to get to work. Tonight you and I have to have a talk."
She left me with that loaded thought. Fortunately, Berger's questions had to do with the equipment I'd built and I was able to give him specific detail. That occupied much of my day. There was time to break for lunch with Maria and even play a little with Juan. He's a pleasant little fellow. I hope Arilla manages to limit Jorge's influence in his life.
Arilla arrived in late afternoon and took charge of Juan. I had dinner with her and Maria and then went back to Berger's list. Suzanne arrived late in the evening. She was quiet and reserved and announced she'd eaten downtown with friends. She said, "I need to get into something comfortable. Come join me." She undressed and put on her robe and I followed suit.
She walked to the wet bar and I sat on the couch sideways like I always did, with my back against the arm rest. My feet were on the seat cushion and my knees were in the air. I spread them and carefully covered my bare genitals with the robe. Suzanne handed me the usual brandy over cracked ice and said, "After last night I'm not sure I want this, but it's been one of those days."
She sat down on the other end of the couch and turned sideways, putting a foot on either side of me. It's only a two person couch, so she had to put her knees up the same as me and her feet were touching the arm of the couch on either side of me. She used her robe to cover herself the same as I did, but my mind's eye was not fooled, I could still visualize what was behind that flap of her robe.
She said, "Every time you sit sideways like that I get a stiff neck keeping my head turned, so I'll try it your way."
I thought, "Hey, it's much more intimate this way." I didn't say a word. Suzanne was concentrating so hard I was afraid to interrupt her thoughts, even though I feared the worst.
"Arty, I don't really know what happened yesterday. Remember I'm the 'ice lady', always in charge, but this is new for me. When the accident happened I meant what I said about seeing it through to the end with you. It's the way I take on everything, that's me 'Miss Responsibility'. You're special to me because of your relationship with Uncle Ben and I find myself very comfortable around you. Maybe it's because you're the least threatening person I know, who knows? But last night something happened and for the first time, I'm faced with a problem that takes an emotional investment and I don't know if I'm up to it. I could be, I just don't know."
"I'm physically a big gal with big appetites so when I look ahead for me that's always in the back of my mind. At forty, I'm not planning on having any kids of my own, so it's not that. If Berger can return you to your normal size, is that the end for you and I? If he can't, I meant my commitment to you in your life, but I still don't know what part of me I'm willing to personally share. Then you go and act like a white knight in shining armor and bring my family together in a way I'd never have believed possible." She grinned and said, "Who was it that used to say, 'I'm so confused'?"
I thought, "OK, she lied about her age, so maybe it is the age difference. Does she care or is that just something she always does?"
I said, "Come on Suzanne, lighten up. Despite my size, I'm really a big boy now. I knew your commitment to me after the accident was just an honest response on your part to help me, and not a lifetime thing. With the Professor's money I'll be able to hire support when I need it. I still have my skills and my work with Berger shows me I can communicate with others electronically, so maybe I can set up a consulting business of some sorts."
"You're a beautiful desirable woman and frankly you turn me on in the blink of an eye, but then a lot of women can turn me on. This thing with Berger is a chancy thing. Maybe I don't want to risk it, who knows? For now can't we just let it ride and see what happens and not sweat the future?"
"Damn it to hell, Jones, why do you have to be so fucking self sacrificing. What about you, your needs? You send a goon five time your size to the hospital, but when something happens to put your future in the toilet, you roll with it and look out for me, Arilla and even Maria." She sounded angry, but her eyes looked like there might be some tears in them.
