Dot and Sam 42

Dorothy Philpot. Landlady of The Harbour Light pub
Sam Philpot. Drag-queen and lifelong companion of Dot’s.
Billy Parkins Doorkeeper.
Jessica Merlot The town’ and county archaeologist.
Josephine MacDonald The town and county archivist.
Richard Drummond Town planning inspector
Robert Vincent. Junior planning inspector.
Georgina. (Georgie) Homeless Transgender girl previously known as George.
Bobby Gay boy on the school bus.
Marty Girl on the school bus. (She becomes Georgie’s best friend, lover, and wife)
Jack. Marty’s twin brother (Keen runner).
Trevor Aitkins, Georgie’s Biological father.
Lucinda Aitkins Georgie’s biological mother
Terence Georgie’s step-dad
Peter Terence’s homophobic son.
Allison Old friend of Trevor & Retired Solicitor
Fred Allison’s husband
Elizabeth Aitkins (Beth) Georgie’s younger biological sister. Later proves to be sympathetic to her ‘sister.’
Jonathon Aitkins (Johnny) Georgie’s younger biological brother.
Rosie the Rivetter Terf Gang Leader on campus.
Peggy Marty’s mother

Dot and Sam chapter 42.

After the Christmas holiday and after Beth and Johnny had returned to Gloucester for the New Year, Georgie and Marty organised a ‘get-together’ for Dot, Sam, and Marty’s own parents to discuss the idea of first getting married and then going for a family by invitro fertilisation.

“Are you seriously considering twins then?” Marty’s mother Peggy squeaked excitedly as she absorbed the news and struggled to disguise her concerns.

Marty frowned slightly at first, but her mother’s excitement became infectious, so she nodded affirmation as she turned to face her dad.

“The clinic says it’s perfectly viable, my eggs are good, and Georgie’s frozen sperm is still 100% viable.”

Both of Marty’s parents thus came fully on-board with the plan and the meeting ended with a tearful but happy separation as Georgie, Marty, and her parents strolled through the town whilst stopping occasionally to look in baby-shop windows.

“Aren’t we pushing our luck a bit?” Marty’s dad queried with a little smile as they stood outside a shop. “I mean Marty’s not even married yet, nor pregnant.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At the fertility clinic, some days later, Marty smirked a little self-consciously as she spread her legs for the inseminist to insert the catheter up past her cervix and into the fertile lining of her womb.

“I feel like a cow in the A, I., barn.” She giggled to hide her embarrassed excitement as the inseminist withdrew the catheter.

“That’ll be artificial insemination then; not artificial intelligence,” Georgie giggled.

“Why, are you hoping for a robot or a baby?” Marty riposted, catching up on the thread of the joke.

Even the inseminist gave a little chuckle as she added her ‘two bob’s worth and inserted the second catheter with the male embryo.

“We can offer you twins but they’ll only be human I’m afraid; no robotics here.”

“Twins will do.” Marty finished as she finally closed her legs and Georgie stepped across to give her a kiss.

The inseminist stepped back from Marty’s table and pulled off her surgical gloves purposefully.

“Well, that’s the important part done, we’ll monitor you after two weeks and because they’re your own eggs we expect complete success. Then we’ll want you to come in every month on Saturday mornings, that’s when you’ve told us is your most convenient day.”

“I’m surprised you work weekends.” Georgie opined.

“It’s our busiest day,” the inseminist explained, “you know, working couples and stuff. Besides, you’ve chosen to be private patients, so the least we can do is make it as convenient as possible. No need to interrupt your working week.”

Georgie shrugged and agreed with the doctor/inseminist. Her observation made perfect sense.

“So; next fortnight - Saturday then,” Marty remarked as she got dressed.”

“Yes, but call us if you have the slightest concerns, you know; any bleeding or discharges.”

Marty nodded her understanding then smiled.

“Don’t I get a cup of tea or something, like the blood donors.”

The doctor chuckled as she explained.

“There’s a tea and coffee machine in the waiting room, and there’s choccy bic’s I believe. They are also free.”

Georgie tugged affectionately at Marty’s arm.

“There’s a nice café just around behind the station. You can have cake.”

“Oooh, wow! You temptress you! How can a pregnant girl resist?” Marty laughed.

With that, they bid the smiling inseminist goodbye and left for the café.

In the café, they phoned the parents and almost by return of post, Marty’s mum Peggy and her younger sister arrived at the restaurant with the sister staring in excitement.

“I wondered why mum kept stopping outside baby-shops! So, it’s true.”
“Well, we’ve done the deed as it were.” Marty ‘confessed’ with a tight little smile. We’ll know in a fortnight if it’s successful.

At this news, both mother and sister reached down to give Marty an emotional hug while Georgie simply sat looking slightly embarrassed. Then she asked, “Shall we go to the Harbour Light and share the news with Dot and Sam?” Marty suggested.

“I couldn’t think of anything better,” Peggy agreed,” we can pick up your dad on the way, he’s in town anyway.”

By mid-afternoon they turned up at The Harbour Light to be met by the grinning Dot and Sam.

“So, is there to be a wedding pretty soon then?” Sam asked as Dot poured the champagne.

“As soon as we confirm the eggs have taken, Marty replied as Georgie smiled with a face-splitting, cheesy grin.”

“How long will that be?” Dot asked.

“They said two weeks then they do a test.” Georgie confirmed.

“I don’t know what you’ve got to grin about, you’ve hardly had anything to do with it.”

“But great oaks mum, great oaks. After all I supplied the sperm.”

“Well, I suppose that’s true, so now it’s provisional congratulations, is it?”
“I’m not tempting fate,” Georgie conceded. I’ll not be toasting anything until we know the embryos have taken.”

“Well, I am!” Marty declared. I’ve got two live embryos in here and they deserve a welcome. So, here’s to success.”

“Oh, I’ll drink to success,” Georgie conceded.

“As will we all,” Marty’s dad boomed happily. “Except you darling,” he told his daughter. “No alcohol now for you because your pregnant,”

“Aww, just the one dad, just the one – and a small one at that.”

“Oh, alright then we’ll have just the one toast.” He cautioned.

So, they did.

For the rest of the afternoon, they discussed wedding plans and baby’s names until Trevor showed up in the early evening and the second bottle of champagne was breached. They brought Trevor up to speed concerning the impregnation and as he happily offered another toast, the conversation returned to baby-names and weddings.

That evening, Marty’s family stayed at the Harbour Light because everybody except Marty, was slightly the worse for wear. On the Sunday they arranged a full Sunday lunch at the pub and even Jack, Marty’s twin brother, managed to attend after his Sunday League football match.

“So, I’m to be an uncle then.” He grinned as he reached down to hug his twin sister Marty.

Eventually, the lunch was finished, and Marty’s family returned to their home while Marty and Georgie lay on their bed to discuss all the stuff that had been discussed at the meal.

“When do we tell Lucy and Terry?” Georgie wondered. “That is, if we tell them at all.”

“We’ll have to tell them, it’s only fair that Beth and Johnny find out.” Marty explained. “They’ve done nothing wrong.”

“Can’t we just tell them and hold them to secrecy.” Georgie continued. “It’s not as is if Lucy’s been a proper mum ever since I came out.”

“Well, I can’t order you to keep it a secret but if you don’t tell them, it’s just another brick in the wall that makes it harder, if or when you decide to try and break it down.”

“I want to make them suffer, like I did; you know rejection and all that.”

“What happens later on if our kids decide they want to meet their paternal grandmother.”

Georgie fell silent as she mused.

‘Why do women always seem to take the long-term view?’ ‘They could cross that bridge if they ever came to it,’ she told herself as Marty finally curled up and spooned into Georgie’s cwtch.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“I’d really like to have a proper wedding,” Marty declared a couple of days later at the next wedding discussions.

“What; you mean in a church and everything?” Georgie asked.

“Well, no, not necessarily in a church. We’d be hard put to find a vicar or priest in these parts anyway.” Marty opined.

“Oh, I dunn’o.” Her father remarked. I’ve met a few vicars locally and done quite a few favours for them repairing churches and such. I’ll have a hunt around rural Devon, you never know. Do you have any objections to a church wedding Georgie?”

“Well in truth I’m an avowed atheist but if Marty wants all the bells and ribbons, I’ll rub along.” Georgie grinned as she turned to Trevor. “Will you walk me up the aisle dad, I promise to wear a beautiful gown.”

Trevor’s jaw sagged slightly before changing to a grin.

“That would be a hoot darling!” He replied as he turned to Marty’s father. “Two brides being walked up to the altar. That’ll set the old Devonian parish pump a’ratle’in.”

“Aye, tha’rr it will,” Marty’s dad croaked with a wheezy laugh.

Thus, for the following fortnight the two families ironed out the preparations but did not confirm anything until after the confirmation tests. At the fertility clinic Marty found the tension almost unbearable until the doctor returned from the labs with a smile.

“Well, I can confirm that you’re pregnant, but I don’t know yet if both embryos have taken. The tests only confirm you are pregnant.

“Oh, bloody hell!” Marty cursed with an impatient grin. “So, when will that be.

“Hopefully on the first scan, but more probably on the second.”

“Tsk!” Marty expostulated. “This business is such a palaver!”

“Patience girl, patience!” Her dad admonished her affectionately. We’re all desperate to know but we’ll just have to wait.”

“But I am pregnant,” Marty grinned as she turned to Peggy. “So at least we can organise the wedding.”

On this note, they left the clinic and went for a meal and another chat.

“Are you having bride’s-maids?” Marty’s younger sister pressed as the food arrived.

Marty glanced at Peggy and Dot for assurance; as the mothers of the brides, much of the decisions were there’s to make. Peggy glanced questioningly at Dot as she discreetly confirmed if the cost was allowable, and Dot nodded vigorously.

Thus, Peggy declared, “Yes,” enthusiastically and asked Marty, “who did you have in mind?”

“Well, my sister obviously,” then she hesitated as she turned to Georgie. “What about Beth, your sister?”

Georgie hesitated nervously as she contemplated the issue.

“That would mean having to let Beth know, and that would mean all of my family will know.” She turned to Trevor uncertainly. “What do you think Daddy?”

“I think Beth would be very hurt if you didn’t ask her.”

“I’d like her there.” Georgie declared and that more or less closed the issue, so Trevor agreed to approach his younger daughter on the Tuesday when he was next up in Birmingham.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“What!” Beth almost shrieked. “They’re getting married!”

Trevor grinned and nodded confirmation.

“Yes, and Marty has asked if you’d like to be a bride’s-maid.”

“Of course I want to be a bloody bride’s-maid! That’s a fatuous question! My own brother – well sister’s wedding, and you ask if I want to be a bride's-maid! When is it by the way?”

“It’s not been fixed yet. Marty’s dad is pulling in a few favours to find a vicar who’ll do the deed. Devon’s a bit behind things when it comes to same sex weddings and things. He’s also approached the bishop because he did some excellent repair work on the Cathedral after that great storm. Every builder and stone-mason I southern England was chock-a-block with emergency repair work and, although Marty’s dad is not technically a time-served mason, he’s extremely capable. Even today, the worshippers at Truro chuckle over the new gargoyles he made for the lintel of the entrance porch that was hit by falling masonry in the storm.

They bear a spectacularly comical resemblance to the bishop and the dean and both clerics have a sense of humour, so the gargoyles stayed.

Anyway, the bishop gave his full permission and it remains’ for Marty’s dad to find a vicar. The last I heard, there is a new young lady vicar in a Parish near their home and she seems agreeable.”

“Well, you can count me as a bride’s-maid.” Beth affirmed before she pressed on with questions.

“Does our mother and Terry know yet?”

“No, nor your brother Johnny. We’re only just getting started on guest-lists and things. Georgie’s still a bit wary of Terry and that oafish boy of his Peter.”

“I suspect there’ll be ructions if they’re not invited. Mum will be bound to make a scene if she and her partner aren’t invited.”

“As the father of the bride, that’ll be my problem to sort out.”

“Is Georgie getting married as a woman then?”

“Yes! Bridal gown and all. Marty’s father and I will each be escorting our daughters to the altar.”

“That’ll upset the locals,” Beth chuckled as she begged leave to tell her younger brother Johnny.”

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