Chapter 17: The Coffee Conspiracy

Early morning finds Robert drinking coffee while standing at the back glass, staring out over the sand and waves. The sun’s first rays are just starting to bathe the dunes to the east. Mary, wearing her husband’s shirt, disheveled and with a sated look in her eyes comes up from behind and hugs her husband, distracting him just enough to swipe the mug from his hand. “Good morning my man. Have you seen the kids?” Robert deftly steals back his coffee and gestures with it towards the beach. “Oh are they up already?” Having failed in her attempted theft she turns to go seek out her own cup-o-joe. Robert’s simple “Nope” pulls her immediately back to the window. A closer inspection reveals an over-sized lump of pillows and blankets on the sand by the still smoldering fire. A thin tendril of smoke drifts into the morning sky. The lump is far too large to be just the textiles from last night.

She leans towards her husband, “So you think the center of that pile is our daughter and her boyfriend?”

“Yup. Pretty sure.”

Mary looks up at her husband's 6’4” frame. His eyes staring in the direction of the pile.

“So there stretch? Can you detect any stray garments lying about? Garments that are best left on, when one’s parents are sleeping just a few yards away?”

“Frankly Mary, I'm afraid to look that hard. He’s been such a gentleman. I really want to trust the boy. It seems his parents raised him to be a decent young man. I’d hate to suspect he’d take advantage of my daughter.”

“It's not him I'm worried about.” She responds ironically. “Listen big guy. Me thinks Daddy's girl has him a bit too wrapped around her little finger. So much, that he has become blind to the fact his little girl has a libido, and it's beginning to rage for a certain young man”

“Oh come now. She knows better.”

Mary suddenly shifts into Dr. Curtis mode. It's usually the best way to talk to her husband in matters concerning his little girl. “Say Rob, maybe we are looking at this wrong.”

The name “Rob” is instantly a red flag. After so many years, he recognizes when he is being psychoanalyzed by his spouse. And after all those years, he’s figured out to not fight it. He's never outwitted her. Come to think of it, he seems to recall a few times when Shelby has talked to him just like this. He thinks to himself, 'Well shit. The girl is doing it to me too now.’ He stifles a little laugh.

Robert looks to his wife, “OK I'll bite. Whatcha thinking Love?” The use of his pet name for her at least gives him the illusion he hasn't lost complete control in his marriage.

She smiles at the name. He’s resolved to consider her idea. “It's like this Rob. Have we considered exactly WHY we have such issue with our daughter having sex?”

“Mary! Think of what you are saying. This is your baby girl! MY Daughter! You can't suggest we give her carte-blanche to go off like a doe in heat? What about STD’s? What if she gets pregna…”

The look of mock skepticism on her face brings him back to reality. “Ok. I feel stupid now.”

Mary shows some sympathy, “Now there is no need for that. It's a testament to how committed you are in supporting that she really is fully a woman. Save one minor detail. “

“Okay, so what do we - and I mean you - think we should do?”

“Well I've got a few ideas, and a plan that lets us have some fun messing with them. Listen…” 20 minutes later they stroll out onto the sand.

…

Shelby is in that half state between sleep and awake. Her mind floats as the early morning waves gently play out their transoceanic journey against the shore. In this fog she is vaguely but happily aware of the warmth of the body and not quite rhythmic breathing of the young man whose arms she is curled up in.

Suddenly, brazenly, her contentment is invaded by the stark light of the morning sun.

“GOOD MORNING KIDDOS! Did you two sleep well? How about some coffee and the four of us have a nice chat.”

Shelby grumbly asks “About what?” She’s still too groggy to realize what her mother’s tone implies.

Mary takes a seat in one of the chairs then puts on her sternest face “Jonathan! SHELBY! It's time we had ‘The Talk!’”

Jonathan opens his eyes and practically panics to see Robert crouched over him, a maniacal look on the tall man’s face. He slides down in the blankets trying to get distance from the towering menace.

“Mr. & Mrs. Curtis. I SWEAR NOTHING went on last night! I gave Dr. Curtis my word I would respect Shelby and you both! We just fell asleep looking at the stars.” He steals a glance at Robert who is doing all he can to keep a straight face.

Mary glances his way “You're the least of my worries kid. It's your date I'm talking to! So what say there Petticoat Junction? Are we wakey-wakey yet?”

Shelby Groans - “Mom! It's too early! I need coffee, sugar smacks and like two more hours of sleep.”

Mary leans over from her chair and yanks the covers from the kids drawing a squeal from Shelby. As she hoped, both are still clothed in last night's outfits. Shelby’s dress was rumpled and his pants and shirt need ironing but all buttons, zippers AND petticoats are in place. “Whew” Mary thinks, “Robert would have killed the boy.”

As it is, Robert pats him on the head, stands up and proceeds to hand him a cup of coffee and a towel, “Why you sweating boy? Here.” The man is dying of laughter inside while at the same time relieved to find his trust in the boy hasn't been for naught.

Shelby decides it's time to redirect her father, she stands up and with hands on her hips faces Robert and stamps her foot. “Daddy!” She attempts in her best doctor voice.

“Oh no you don't young lady!” Mary interjects, “This is my session. And I'm the doctor here.”

“So’s Daddy! He's a doctor too!”

He's just a surgeon. Everyone knows they're just glorified repairmen. He could just as easily have gotten his degree at the Mechanics Institute.”

“Ouch Mary! I'm standing right here.” Mary winks and blows him a kiss to soothe his wounded ego.

Shelby is flustered, and beginning to suspect her father has been turned against her. “Well… well he loves me anyway! And… and he doesn't want to see his little girl get pushed around by some shrink!”

“I think you should listen to your mother on this one Bee.”

“Shit!” Shelby realizes her best ally is now an agent for the enemy. He only calls her 'Bee’ when mom has him on her side.

“Language” her parents comment in unison.

She turns to where Jonathan has sat up against a log. He's been struck dumb by the exchange. Too surprised he's not dead at the hands of Mr. Curtis.

She playfully kicks him in the foot and glumly spouts at him, “Sum boyfriend you are. Just sitting there letting them gang up on me!” She plops down on the sand beside him, her petticoats flaring out around her. Still cute as a kitten in her polk-a-dots.

“Okay now that that's over we can talk.” Quips Mary.

Finally Jonathan comes around, and much like a classroom, raises his hand, “Um I have a question… ah … what just happened?”

“My boy,” informs Robert, “You have just been party to effective Curtis family parenting. Get the youngster on the ropes. Go in for the kill. Then claim victory. You two have been outflanked, outwitted and outgunned. Now all that's left is the clean-up. Mary?”

“See Jonathan it's all about strategy.”

Shelby groans and throws her face into a pillow. “They had a plan. We're so screwed!”

“Well in a manner of speaking, yes, you could be.” says Mary. Robert lets out a coughing laugh spewing coffee out his nose.

Throwing a towel at her husband, she continues “Jonathan? How do you feel about Shelby? I mean, really feel about her”

“Well … she's very important to me, maybe even more. I don't know how to explain it, but I think of her all the time, I can't seem to get her outta my head.”

“That's cuz I own your cute butt”

“Knock it off Shelby. Go on Jonathan.”

He takes Shelby's hand and looks at her morning face with its smeared makeup and mostly missing lipstick, of which he has no idea, is all over his face and neck. He takes in the mussed hair and sleepy eyes. “She's the most beautiful woman I've ever known. Because of her I'm here with you now and I'm not as sad as I once was. She makes me want to be happy. She challenges my intellect, makes me laugh, has patients for those times I'm angry, and doesn't think less of me the times I cry. I don't want to think of a time where she is not a part of my world.

“Awww” Shelby hugs her boyfriend and kisses him. “What a wonderfully sappy thing to say.”

Mary remembers a conversation she had with Sheila Michael's about Jonathan’s code words. ‘Important’ is a biggie. Top of the list in fact. It's his way of saying ‘Love’. Based on what she has learned of the young man, she believes him. “Shelby, how do you feel about him?”

Shelby’s morning cockiness abates as she gets lost in her boyfriend’s eyes. The fingers of their hands are interlaced. “You already know mother. We've talked long about this.”

“Yes but doesn't Jonathan deserve to know?”

I've already told him. Last night, I said he is the most important person in the world to me. At least as much as you and Daddy.” She glances at her father with some sadness, “Maybe even more than.”

Mary looks with pride upon her daughter and how smart she can tell she is. Shelby has never been privy to any of the conversations she and Sheila have had about Jonathan, and yet she has figured out his code. And more than that, she speaks it to him. Including his word for love.

Robert's face is a mask. Whether hurt or proud Mary cannot tell. Back in the house she had warned him that this was the likely outcome and he needed to be prepared to no longer be the most important man in his daughter's life. That he may very well have to share the distinction with this sweet young man. She will make it up to him later, in a way that only she could.

Mary waits a bit letting the moment saturate the group. “Robert? Haven't you something to say?”

“Huh? Oh yeah. Jonathan, Mary and I have discussed it and we think that holding you and Shelby to a promise of abstinence, is setting you up for failure. We want to trust you both to make the right decisions about certain aspects of your relationship. In this case... it’s the physical aspects.” He pauses to let the words sink in.

“We think you both are old enough to make the decision of when you are ready. And it has to be mutual, Bee!” He looks intently at his daughter. “Likely, the biggest part of that decision is monogamy. Not the least of which reason, is for safety's sake. Plus there is a lot to be said about being exclusive to one another. So if you are not willing to commit, then you should wait. Regardless, Jonathan, after running tests on you from the pneumonia we know you have a clean bill of health, as does Shelby. So at this point you are both safe to be together medically. Are you pure son, a virgin?”

The question startles Jonathan from the shock the whole conversation has put him in. “Y--yes Sir”.

“Shelby? What about you?”

“Of course Daddy. Jonathan is the only boyfriend I've ever had. I've not so much as kissed another person.”

Mary pipes in,”Listen. This isn't a license to get all randy, go forth and attempt to multiply. It means we trust you to act like adults and IF you decide to go to the next level, you can do so knowing we have discussed it and understand that in cases of young love, lovemaking happens.”

“That means Jonathan…” Robert gives him his best sinister look, “YOU are to REMEMBER she is STILL my daughter. Got it?”

“Yes Sir!.”

“And Bee? This young man isn't a toy. Respect him as you would want to be respected.” He’s had enough pain in his life.”

“Yes mommy.”

“Now if you'll excuse us, your mother and I are going to try out that amazing shower in the master. If you hear any strange noises, it's just the pipe-s.”

“Geesh Robby!” It's Mary's turn blush.

Shelby rolls her eyes,“Aww God! Yuck!” Squeezing Jonathan she mock whispers in his ear loud enough for the adults to hear. “She only calls him Robby when they are about to have S-E-X! Ewwww! Let’s get some food and go swimming. What kind of suit did you get me? Hey, wait!” She yells at her Mom and Dad, “We haven't even been inside. How can I explore with you two rutting around in there?”

“Your problem. Stay out of the master! In fact, stay north of the living room! And cover your ears!”

Halfway to the house Mary is suddenly worried, the mother in her bursts forth “Robert, What do you suppose they'll do? I mean do we give them instructions, suggestions, tell them how we do certain acts? Buy them a book?

He laughs, I'm sure they will figure it out. They are the internet generation. They know where to find the information. Hell they probably could give us a few ideas.

“Well okay, if you think so. I'll have to pick them up some condoms and lubricant. God I sure hope they take it slow at first. I don't want her to get hurt or him for that matter.” She giggles, “I know we’ve sure rubbed a few things raw over the years. I want her to enjoy herself, him too.”

Robert places his arm around his bride’s waist as they walk back to the house, “Well if she is anything like her mother, God help that boy in the bedroom.”

She slaps him playfully. “Oh you're gonna pay for that one mister. PAY!”

He grabs her behind “There you go writing checks this thing is gonna have to cash”

The weekend is a whirlwind of sun, sand and swimming. The two couples spend much of their days together but separate. Mary and Robert are like newlyweds running off to the master suite whenever the mood hits them.

Jonathan and Shelby manage to not have sex. Ironically the idea that they can only lends to the desire to let things progress naturally. Plus, they both think it would be too weird with her parents right there. However that doesn't stop some beach blanket explorations by hands and fingers. More than one base was rounded by the young couple that weekend. Yet they remained well short of making it to home plate.

Much like the first day Robert and Mary find the pair asleep in the other's arms each morning. Always in the common areas. Their beds unslept in.

Tuesday morning Philip arrives with the sun to transport the group. The Curtis's are left on their doorstep refreshed for another week while the teens are transported to Jonathan's to prepare for classes.

I'm not sure what thoughts to share on this chapter... I was in a mischievous mood when it was created. I must have been channeling a bit of Mary. Anyway hope you enjoyed it!

v/r
JM