Fall started turning to Winter. Lena canceled her trip to New York; she held no anger, but she was hoping to see about a relationship with Daniel and wasn't looking just to be friends. No hard feelings, but....
Thanksgiving, our three lovers went to Joyce's home and Sara and Steph helped Steph's mom prepare a feast for 12 members of Joyce and Steph's family. Though a Catholic family, Joyce's sister, brother, and their own families were all very accepting of Steph's engagement to Sara, and the day was a huge success. They all made Sara and Daniel feel like a member of their own large family.
After most everyone left, leaving just Daniel, Sara and Steph, they were helping Joyce clean up, washing the dishes and crystal and silver. It was a happy day, but the three could sense Joyce feeling a bit down. Steph sat with her mother in the kitchen, while Sara and Daniel gave them some space to talk.
"Mom, talk to me. I know you must be feeling lonely. I feel bad leaving you alone here, but is that all that's going on with you, feeling a little lonely?"
Joyce held her daughters' hand, sniffling back some tears. "I am a little lonely, but in a sense that's not a new situation. Your father, for the most part, abandoned me years ago. You would have been off at college now if your life hadn't changed with Sara and Daniel. At least this way we see each other once or twice a week. And I'm so happy for you, pumpkin, that you've found a life and future for yourself."
"Mom, that name..."
Joyce smiled a semi-sad smile. "Yeah, I know you hate that nickname, but that gorgeous red hair, and you were a little chubby when you were little. It just seemed so natural. I'll try to stop calling you that, but I can't promise, sweetheart."
"It's ok, mom...I guess." Steph smiled at Joyce, trying to help her mom get to her point.
"Anyway, you have a wonderful future ahead of you. I know you're rethinking whether you want to go into nursing, but otherwise, you have so much more settled than I did at 18..almost 19 now. You're getting married, though not into anything close to a typical marriage. Financially you're set. I guess I'm feeling jealous of you. I have no one. I haven't even had sex with anyone in well over a year. And even the last couple of years with your father....I don't know if I can or should say anything about this to you."
"Mom, you can talk to me, really. Anything you want, you can tell me."
Joyce thought for a minute. "Stephanie, sweetheart....it's been a very long time since I've had sex that was enjoyable. Your father was a real 'one pump chump', as we used to say. It was over almost before it began."
Steph smiled awkwardly. "We still say that. That's pretty awful, mom. You have a right to enjoy life, and sex is a part of that. I don't want to make you feel bad, but we, Sara, Daniel and me, we have a great sex life. Sometimes we're very loving. Other times it's kinky, even dirty. We all feel free to talk about and explore our fantasies. And no one ever forces anything on anyone else. You should have that as well. You're still a young woman. You have lots of life ahead of you."
Joyce was leaking tears. "Somehow, that doesn't make me feel any better. I'm happy for you, really. But I'm feeling like I'll never have anything close to it. All these years ahead of me, alone and frustrated. Even just one night of passion, of pleasure, would be nice, maybe a hint of a future." She laid her head in her arms and started crying.
Steph felt terrible. No way could she go back home with Sara and Daniel and leave her mom feeling like this. "Mom, I'll be back in a couple of minutes. Just got to talk to Sara and Daniel for a bit. OK?"
Joyce whispered "OK, dear. I'll be here."
Steph went in the living room and talked to her partners. "Mom's feeling really down right now. I can't leave her like this now. She's feeling almost despondent about being alone, about being sexless. She told me she's been without for a long time, since way before my asshole father left. I have to ask you both, and please be honest. Would you mind if I stayed here and...'helped' her tonight? If I showed her that she can still enjoy sex, and feel loved? She's a beautiful woman, and full of love. I really want to help her."
Both Daniel and Sara took her hands. Sara said "Babe, you do what you have to do. I think I can speak for both of us when I say you should try to help her. Just one or two questions. Do you think she'd be receptive to be with a woman, not to mention her own daughter? Would it be better if either dad or I tried? Dad, what do you think?"
Daniel said "I told you I rejected her once before, on your prom night. The circumstances were different then, but I don't want her to feel uncomfortable. And I don't want her left alone tonight either. Why don't we wait here a little while you feel her out, no pun intended. See what she want's, if she knows. We'll go from there."