Note: This is loosely based on our real-life. I (Nancy) can only be 100% sure of the things I personally witnessed. The rest are recreated from my mom Jan's and husband Mike's recounting. I also cannot be sure of they "felt" at any moment, only what I saw or was told later. There are some moments that are so personal, I didnt ask about, so there is a certain amount of creative liberty. I do have their permission to write our story but they are by no means active contributors. This is part 4, so of course you should read part 1-3 first!
I distinctly remember that first February once my mom came to live with us because of the three incidents which marked a distinct change in the relationship dynamic of our little odd triad. Now, none of us came from a poly background or anything and in fact were too shy to even acknowledge that that is where we were headed. Looking back, we just did what felt good and stayed away from labels like oil from water.
The first incident early on in February was of course the Oscars night which ended in my mom sleeping over in our bed. To me what was big about that night was not the physical nature of it but the
acknowledgment from my mom that she needed to proactively step forward into this journey if this is what she desired. And boy, she did!
That next morning, I woke up for the first time since I was a little girl with my mom in my bed. Mike was long gone of course, his morning jog and exercise routine not something he was going to give up for anything, LOL. We gave each other a smile and a tacit acknowledgment of what has occurred but discussed it no further. I did make note of the fact that mom got up and went to pee in "our" bathroom before heading off to "her" room to change. I just remember thinking, "okay, I thought marking one's territory was an animal thing, but I guess we are animals too at some level." I doubt she even registered it or remembers it now, but I certainly did.
Now the second incident. Of course, mid February come along and with it Valentine's Day. I was a little nervous about how we would do things this year. Mike and I in our 6 years being together had developed a bit of a routine. And he hates breaking routine! But, like it or not, things have changed, and he was the reason they did.
Morning of Feb 13th, Mike announces we are going to celebrate the occasion a day early. Three people dining together on Feb 13th draw fewer curious looks than on Feb 14th. None of this was spoken of course, but that is what I assumed. The reason he gave of course was that he needed to be out of town the next day visiting a vendor.
He then walks over to the other side of the couch and brings over two bags and gives them to mom and I. I dont know why I was apprehensive that he would not think to get her a gift, I am a neurotic idiot that's why, but I did. The dear man that I married would of course never do that.
"Open it up girls!"
"Girls??" he has never called us that before!
Sidebar, our tradition is that he gets me lingerie and I go put it on right then. Any woman knows, you spend 15 mins putting the thing on and the guys have it off in 2, but thats what he wants, and thats what he shall have!
I open it up and of course, Mike isn't one to change routines. Mom open up her package, and just goes, "oh, my."
My brain just goes "Click. We are not changing anything are we?"
"Hey mom, come with me."
