Four stories published, and the control panel still taunts me with 'Virgin'. Geez, how many trips to the bedroom does it take....
These episodes won't make much sense unless you start at the first one and read them all in order.
Everyone's over eighteen, of course.
WARNING: This story contains a description of a method purported to protect against developing a UTI from engaging in a specific type of sex act, a technique that you will not find in any medical text. THE AUTHOR IS NOT A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL, AND MAKES NO CLAIM WHATSOEVER THAT THIS PROCEDURE IS PRACTICAL, SAFE, OR EFFECTIVE. It is merely a plot device in a work of fiction. DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME. Or anywhere else. You have been warned.
Ch 6. Paradigm Shift, Night Shift, Swing Shift
Beth and I watched, bemused and stunned, as my very pregnant granddaughter Anna waddled, slow and ungainly, off the jetway, across the airport gate area, and over to where we waited in the visitors' area by the gate agent's desk. One of the stewardesses walked alongside her, obviously helping with some of her carry-on luggage.
"Hi, Grandpa!" she cried, as I cautiously embraced her from her side, to avoid any pressure on the huge bulge in her lower abdomen.
"Hi, sweetie, it's great to see you again," I said, making a big show of examining her protuberant belly. "There seems to be quite a bit more of you to see this time, isn't there?"
"I guess there is," she agreed. "Let's wait until we get out of here to talk about that, if you don't mind. Who's your friend?"
"There are in fact two people I want to introduce you to, Anna," I said. "First off: Beth, this is my granddaughter, Anna. Anna, this is my new neighbor, Beth, who is also my new girlfriend. And my new lover."
Anna was speechless for a moment, as the two women embraced. When she could talk, she said, "Oh, Grandpa, I'm so happy for you...for both of you. You make such a handsome couple!"
"Thank you, Anna," Beth said. "John showed me your picture, but it hardly does you justice. You're stunning!"
"Thanks, Beth, even if right now I'm only feeling a little stunned," Anna replied. "But where's your other friend, Grandpa?" She was looking around, puzzled.
I grabbed Beth's shoulders and gently maneuvered her around from my right side to my left. "She's right here," I said. "Anna, this is Beth, your mother's half-sister, your grandfather Fred's daughter from his marriage to his first wife. That makes her your half-aunt...we think."
Once again, Anna was speechless for a moment, but eventually she said, "I...kind of remember Mom telling me something about having an older half-sister, that she didn't know very much about..."
"It's a long story, Anna, and we can talk more about that later, too," Beth told her. "But you must be worn out from your flight. Let's see about getting you out of here and off your feet."
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I flagged down one of the air terminal shuttle carts, and loaded up Anna and her luggage. The shuttle took us to the loading/unloading area. Anna and Beth took seats to wait while I went out and brought the pickup around. We carefully hoisted Anna into the front passenger seat, stowed her luggage, and headed out to pick up Fred, so the four of us could grab lunch.
"I imagine you're dying to hear all about this, aren't you?" Anna asked me, patting her prominent belly.
"Um...before you start, I should tell you, Anna," I warned her, "that I already told Beth that you and I were intimate, when you visited me last fall."
"Well, that makes it simpler, really," she said. "Here's the scoop. I know you have a million questions, but here are the major points in a nutshell. I'll flesh them out for you in a minute, and answer your questions."
"One: Yes, Grandpa, the babies are yours."
"Two: Yes, you heard me right: babies. I'm so big because it's twins. I hadn't planned on that, but as far as I'm concerned, it's just gravy."
"Three: I don't plan on ever telling anyone that you're the father. I can't control what you and Beth might want to tell anyone, now that you know the truth, but I implore you to keep it to yourself, because of the inevitable social stigma that the children would have to endure if you don't. As far as the rest of the world is concerned, they are your great-grandchildren, and no one will think twice about it if you dote on them-which I fully expect you will."
"If anyone tries to press me to name the father, I'll just tell them that all I can remember was that his initials were O. N. S...for Mr. One-Night-Stand."
"Four: You're never going to have to worry about having to provide financial support for them, because my modeling career is going through the roof. I am earning, and confidently expect to continue to earn, a literally fabulous income, and won't need any financial assistance from you, now or ever."
"Five: Yes, I've been getting top-notch prenatal care since I was sure I was pregnant, including genetic screening for both fetuses, all normal. No complications except those normal to carrying twins. I went by the clinic last night before flying this morning so they could check to make sure I was not starting to dilate. The obstetrician said there's no reason not to attempt natural delivery, and they can always do a C-section if they need to. He's provided me with a referral to a highly regarded obstetrician here, and I already have an appointment to see him at 4:00 this afternoon."
"I'll tell you about the money first, because that's what made it all possible."
"Grandpa John, you don't ever have to worry about me coming to you needing money," Anna said. "I haven't been back to see Mom and Dad since I came east to go to college, three years ago. I've spent my summers, and semester breaks, and holiday breaks, and fall and spring breaks doing modeling gigs. I left school after the fall session last year, because I knew I would start to show by January, and I wanted to devote full time to modeling work while I'm pregnant. If I ever finish my degree, it will be because I want to, not because I need it to make a living."
"You...wanted to be available for modeling...like this?" I parroted, not comprehending.
"Hey, pregnant women like to dress up sexy now and then," she informed me. "Maternity wear of all kinds is a big market, and there aren't that many hot pregnant models to work it, so those of us who can are in high demand. Very high. Astronomically high. My agent has literally auctioned off slots for photo shoots with me, and the fashion marketing directors have opened their checkbooks wide. And this is one situation where bigger is better. Since I'm carrying twins, I have the biggest belly on the block, and it just makes them want me that much more. I have earned an insane amount of money the last five months. Some people are flying in from New York to do some more photoshoots with me down here, next week. They wanted to start tomorrow, but I told them I wanted to take the holiday weekend to get settled in and reacquainted. I'll be doing modeling work here almost every day right up until they wheel me into the delivery room."
"One of the reasons I'm in so much demand is that in today's political and social climate, the marketing directors believe it's essential that their ads and catalog displays include a substantial proportion of models who are people of color, and I most certainly qualify there. Gone are the days when the Victoria's Secret catalog was page after page of nothing but Christie Brinkley clones. And even among Black models, my uncommon mixture of ethnicity, especially from my Hispanic-Guamanian Chamarro birth mother, makes me stand out."
"In the world of fashion modeling, if you're hot...you're red hot, and you have to seize the moment to get the money that's on the table. It's one of the last bastions of pure market-driven economics. I have something they want, and they have to pay me top dollar to get it, or I'll turn around and trip over ten others waving wads of cash at me, all wanting the same thing. I'll age out of the top rank in only a few years, so I need to strike now, while the iron is hot."
"Wait a minute," Beth interjected. "Victoria's Secret...THAT'S where I saw you! A layout, in a women's magazine, a year or so back. You were modeling a darling little pink bustier outfit."
"Yes, I loved that outfit, too," Anna told her. "They were nice enough to let me keep it, after the shoot."
"And don't worry, Grandpa John," she assured me. "I'm not throwing the money away on high living. I have one of the best and most respected investment counsellors in New York City managing my portfolio. It's done quite well. I live as modestly as one can in Manhattan, nowadays, and still be comfortable. I use a limo service, not as a luxury status symbol, but because getting where I need to be in a timely manner is important for my work. I know my time at the top is limited, and I intend to make sure not to waste the opportunity."
"So, no, I won't ever need any of your money," she finished. "On the other hand, if you ever find yourself in a tight spot for cash...you can call me."
I turned to Beth, and said, "See, I told you that if she worked at it, she would be very successful if she chose modeling as a career, didn't I?"
"You sure did," she concurred. "And it sure sounds like you were right!"
Anna resumed explaining her plan to us. "Last summer I could see the handwriting on the wall. I knew my career was about to skyrocket, and I would have enough money to do whatever I wanted. And what I wanted most was to have a child, now. I decided to make it happen."
"Grandpa, you deserve to know why I snuck into your bed and raped you last fall, turning you into a soon-to-be father all over again in your seventies, even if we all know it would be a bad idea for you to claim the credit."
"Having decided that I wanted a child, the natural first question is: Who will be my sperm donor?"
"Anyone who breeds animals-racehorses, show dogs, livestock-knows that to get quality progeny, you need good quality parents. I wanted my kid to have the best chance to be the best person possible. Good health, good looks, good character and personality, intelligence. I've had many lovers, as you know, but there are only three men that I know with the characteristics I wanted, who I would even consider to father my child."
