The weekend at The Omni had been a smashing success. Everybody was rejuvenated and revitalized. Rita literally begged Ming to come stay at Islands Estates. Ming was reluctant at first, but Rita convinced her to come for a week and check it out. Ming decided that she would take the next week off and just relax, but couldn't make a commitment on such short notice. But when her boss fired her for even suggesting that she take a week off, she told him to go fuck himself and came with us, to play with Rita.
Debbie and Steve agreed to come down the following weekend and spend a couple of days. Dave and the big girl were acting like little kids in heat and went to grovel at Dave's house in Mayport. I promised to keep in touch with him and he said he'd call if he needed a lead player. We arrived back at the estate shortly after noon on Sunday and spent the afternoon getting the music equipment set up in the studio.
Dennis was tired and excused himself early, leaving Marie and me alone in the studio.
"What's stuck in his craw?" I asked.
"Oh, he's just getting a little possessive," Marie, answered. "And I told him he should lighten up."
"Who's he jealous of," I asked.
"I think it's you," she answered. "You were really cranked up last night. He has always envied your skills on the guitar. I think he feels you upstaged him with the Elvis thing and all the panties."
"Oh, for crying out loud," I said.
I marched upstairs and knocked on the door to Marie's apartment. Dennis opened the door and stood looking at me.
"So?" he asked.
"We'd better have a chat," I said and pushed past him through the door. I got us two beers from the fridge and pointed to a chair for him to sit.
"About what?" Dennis asked.
"About this attitude we have going on here," I stated.
"What attitude?" he asked.
"Suppose you tell me," I said, and waited.
"Well, you just sucked the wind out of the room, last night," he began. "And what was this shit with the panties all about?"
"Hold on there, Slim," I replied. "Who was it that didn't want to do the Elvis impersonation and dumped it on me? And who kept pushing for me to dig out the old Elvis suit, and get my hair cut and colored like Elvis? And whom was it suggested that we get the scarves to hand out to the ladies? I'll tell you who. It was you, Dennis, the same guy that came up with the whole gig in the first place. And who was it that kept saying that you're the singer and should do the Elvis bit in the first place? I'll tell you who, that was me, the guy that you say is the best fucking guitar player you've ever heard. Remember?"
"So? It looked really bad, all of those women standing there holding their skivvies in their hand waiting for you to kiss them," he whined.
"It could have, and should have been you," I said. "All I wanted to do was play the guitar. You did a marvelous job on the whole show. And you played great for the Elvis show. Besides, you know I'm a panty freak, anyway."
"Aw, shit, Cool. I suppose you're right," he said. "I would have been a nervous wreck if those women would have all been coming at me like that."
"So, how'd you get along with Debbie Friday night?" I asked.
"Oh man. Marie turned her on, SO FUCKING HOT. I ended up doing her in the butt," he bragged.
"She likes that," I said. We laughed.
Marie peeked in the door and Dennis jumped up and walked over to her and hugged her and apologized for being a jerk. We agreed with him and Marie found us a couple more brews.
I was tired and finished my beer and left them sitting together on the sofa.
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Ming arrived while I was upstairs with Dennis and she and Rita were standing in the foyer, hugging each other. They carried Ming's suitcases down the hall to her bedroom and I wandered into the kitchen and found Caroline, and Bobby Sue huddled over the table, giggling.
"What's the big joke?" I asked, sitting at the end of the table.
"Oh, nothing. We were just talking about last night," Caroline said, hardly able to contain herself.
"And?" I questioned.
"Well," Bobby Sue said, "we were just talking about all those ladies standing there waving their panties, waiting to kiss our daddy."
"So?" I asked.
"Don't you wonder what their husbands were thinking?" Caroline asked.
"I never gave it any thought," I answered. "But, now that you mention it, it was sort of weird. Your mama started it, you know."
"We know," Bobby Sue said. "Did you count how many pairs there was?"
"Not actually," I answered. "More than twelve dozen. That's how many scarves we started with, and they kept coming for a long time after I ran out of scarves."
"Two hundred and ninety-seven pairs of stinky panties, you pervert," Caroline exclaimed.
"That's more that I had in my whole collection," I said.
The girls looked at each other. "You have more?" Bobby Sue asked.
"So, I'm a panty freak," I said.
They both shook their heads, and giggled even more.
"Why were you and mama spying on us last night?" Caroline asked.
"We weren't spying. The door was open and Camille just happened to look in," I said. "She wanted me to see too, so I looked over her shoulder. Y'all were so hot, going at it like you were, I just got horny and plugged in to Camille. What's wrong with that? Y'all been looking in on us since you were old enough to figure out what we were doing."
"You really think we looked hot?" Bobby Sue asked.
"Smokin'," I answered. "How'd you get Billy Joe to hang on for so long?"
"I don't know," Caroline answered. "I slapped him and he got really turned on. It was fantastic. But did you see the root on Steve?"
"My God, he's absolutely gigantic," Bobby Sue, asserted.
"But, neither of them fuck like you do, Daddy," Caroline purred. "I guess when you love somebody so much, it's always better, isn't it?"
"I guess that's right, Pumpkin," I answered. "But your mama told me once that loving somebody is a whole lot different than being in love with them. She's right."
Camille joined us in the kitchen, bringing me a House of Lords over ice. Camille has the most sense and best manners of all of us and treats me just like her Mama Louise used to. I will always miss that woman.
"Where's the redhead?" I asked.
"She and Ming are touring the mansion," Camille answered. "I think Ming is looking for a domestic position."
"I can think of a couple of positions daddy would like to see her in," Bobby Sue piped in.
Caroline gave her an elbow in the ribs and called her a pervert. They were both correct.
I was under the impression that Rita had ideas that the Chinese girl would fit in nicely with our debauched little group. I thought so too. I was also hoping that Debbie and Steve would feel comfortable here, I was growing very fond of the boy and I have always enjoyed being with his mother.