Positively Glowing: 5

 

With the encouragement of his wife and sister, Gerry tries on some foundation garments
to see if they make him look thinner. Unfortunately, they have the opposite effect.
Now, an old acquaintance is causing some issues for our heroine and things keep
steamrolling ahead while Gerry is trying to get a handle on the changes in his life.

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Author's Note: I again apologize for having lost you all with this story and Spit and Image. ~Clara.
 
This version of Positively Glowing: 5 has been updated with many corrections towards spelling and grammar.~Sephrena.
 
Image Credit: Image created through the use of ai at https://perchance.org/beautiful-people .~Sephrena.

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Chapter 5
 

"See," Bob Williams said, "your married name threw me off, but," he pulled a book out from behind his back and slammed it on the reception desk. It was open to a page with pictures of young people, all of whom Gerry had once known in high school. It was his yearbook - Bob's too. Bob pointed to Gerry's picture and grinned even wider. "I gotcha."

Gerry started at the picture from seven years earlier. He still had short hair then, cut in a traditional young man's style and the color was his natural, light, mousy brown. He wore a suit coat and a tie in the picture. Underneath was his name, 'Gerald L. Wentworth, Jr.,' and his senior quote, which he'd taken from a pretentious Song by The Moody Blues, 'Beauty I'd always missed with these eyes before. Just what the truth is, I can't say any more."

Gerry looked up at Bob Williams, uncertain as to what to do or say.

Bob laughed. "See, I thought I knew you, but I couldn't put my finger on just how, but it turns out that I just went to school with a relative of yours. I mean, you are a Wentworth, right?"

Gerry was hardly able to breath, but there was an opening here. Bob hadn't figured out that the boy in the picture was the woman in front of him. "Umm... yes, I am a Wentworth." He was about to say that he was Gerry's sister, but Luckily, Bob spoke first.

"So how is it that Gerry Wentworth has a sister named 'Gerri,' too. Wasn't that confusing growing up."

"Actually," Gerry smiled, "Gerry and Taylor are my cousins. My father and their father were brothers."

"Ahh," Bob smiled. "I get it. Now, tell me about this husband of yours."

"Honestly, Mr Williams..."

"Bob," he interrupted.

Gerry took a breath and began again, "Honestly, MR WILLIAMS, I am in a bit of a rush to get back."

"So, you said that this little girl was your niece, correct."

Gerry sighed and glanced at the receptionist who returned a 'sorry about him' look. "Yes, she is."

"Your sister's child, you said."

"Yes."

"That's funny, because at the meeting, Taylor Wentworth said that this was her child."

"She is."

"But I thought that you and Taylor were cousins."

Gerry froze. Think, Gerry, think. "Well... yes, but we were raised as if we were sisters, so we call each other..."

Bob was shaking his head. "Nope. I'm not buying it, Mrs Morley. Let's have a chat in my office, shall we?"

Gerry looked at the receptionist who seemed thoroughly confused, then at the exit, but ultimately just sighed and followed Bob to his office.

"Take a seat, my dear," he said with great amusement.

Gerry sat and looked at Bob, who seemed to be endlessly patient as he waited for an explanation.

Finally, Gerry spoke. "Look, Mr Williams..."

"Bob."

"I'd really rather stick to Mr Williams."

"Look, Gerry, we've known each other a long time. I know we weren't exactly 'friends' in high school, but we got along ok, didn't we." Gerry nodded. "Then call me Bob."

"Alright... Bob... there isn't a lot to tell you. This all started out as a joke and just steamrolled from there."

Bob nodded. "Are you gay?"

"No," Gerry looked anywhere except at Bob. "I'm married. You know Stevie, right? Well, she's my wife."

"Whoa!?" Bob laughed. "You've done well, then. She's a healthy looking woman."

Gerry nodded, not knowing how to respond.

"How long have you been... like this?"

"Not long. A week or so."

"Really!? What about the breasts? I mean, they look real."

"They are, real."

"Huh. Ok, I'm more confused than ever, but let's move on. Is this going to be a permanent life style for you?"

"I don't know," Gerry sighed, uncomfortable with the conversation. "I think... maybe... yes."

Bob shook his head. "Well, I have to say, you never did anything halfway, Gerry. You look... amazing. But - why the pregnancy thing? Just a kink or something?"

Gerry explained how things developed and hoped he'd be able to leave soon. "Honestly, Mr Williams..."

"Bob."

"... I need to go. Mrs Wentworth will be furious if I'm gone too long."

Bob laughed. "Mrs Wentworth. She's really got you under her thumb, doesn't she, Gerry? Ah, well... if you have to go... but I'd like to continue this conversation." He glanced at the calendar on his desk. "How about lunch on Thursday. Someplace nearby. Nothing fancy. See if someone else can take the baby, though."

"I don't know, Mr Williams. I am married..."

"And I am curious. I'll come by at noon on Thursday and either you and I will be going to lunch together, OR... I'll be telling your mother, I'm sorry, Mrs Wentworth, that Kirkland-Williams will be looking elsewhere for our financial needs. How's that sound?"

Gerry looked at the floor. "Very good, Mr Williams. I'll be ready to go." He stood to go.

"Excellent. Say 'hello' to your mother for me."

"Yes, Mr Williams." Gerry took the stroller in hand backed towards the door. He curtsied as he said, "May I leave now, Mr Williams?"

Bob smiled. "Ohh, I like the curtsy. Nice touch. Have you ever considered becoming a maid?"

Gerry didn't even smile. "Have a good day, Mr Williams." He backed out the door and left.

Gerry pushed the stroller through the office and last reception.

"Have a good day, Ms Morley," the receptionist called, but Gerry was too focused on getting to the elevator to respond.

He pushed the 'down' button and waited impatiently. Just as the doors opened, someone grabbed his arm. It was the receptionist, Maureen.

"Are you ok, Ms Morley?" She could see tears on Gerry's cheeks.

Gerry stared blankly for a moment, then shook his head. "No..., actually, I'm not ok. I feel a bit... dizzy."

Maureen nodded. "Here, come with me for a few minutes. You're too upset to be walking around on your own with a baby."
 

 

"Stevie. A moment, please," Kate asked as a sales staff meeting ended and the others were filing out of the conference room.

"Sure, Kate. What can I do for you?"

Kate shut the door and indicated that Stevie should sit. Eventually, Kate took a seat opposite Stevie and cleared her throat. "I assume that Gerry spoke to you about our conversation, yesterday?"

Stevie looked a bit surprised by the question. "No. He did mention that you came by and that you'd had a long talk, but... nothing else, really. Why? Is something wrong?"

"No," Kate relaxed a bit. She'd shown Gerry a side of her that she didn't like to show - a softer, mor vulnerable side - and she really didn't want him telling Stevie or Taylor about the conversation. "The thing is, Stevie... I... well, I gave Gerry my blessing to live as he pleases. To be a househusband or housewife, or whatever works for you and him."

Stevie sat back, crossed her legs and folded her hands in her lap. "Well... That's very magnanimous of you, Kate, but, respectfully, it wasn't really necessary. How Gerry and I chose to live our life together is nobody's business. And, as much as we love you, that includes you."

Kate smiled flatly. "I understand, Stevie, but - also respectfully - you are mistaken. Obviously, you will make your own decisions, but I know that my opinion weighs heavy on Gerry. I know that he feels as if he has never achieved in the same way that Taylor has and that can be tough on a child, especially one as sensitive as Gerry. Regardless, I just want you to know that, however you and Gerry plan to proceed from here on, it is fine with me."

Stevie eyed her mother-in-law suspiciously. "I don't get it, Kate. What's in this for you? We still don't have a Halloween plan worked out and you've been alternatively overly supportive and then judgmental of Gerry since this whole thing began."

Kate looked hurt for a moment. "There's nothing in it for me, Stevie. What a horrible thing to say."

"Oh, come on, Kate," Stevie laughed, "you see every situation from every angle and you chose the situation that best suits your needs. How does having Gerry in dresses benefit you?"

Kate smirked. "Stevie... you do love my son, right?"

"Yes, of course I do."

"Then let's help him to be happy."

"I'm confused," Stevie said with genuine confusion. "I mean, obviously, Gerry seems to be happier this way than before, but... how does that benefit you."

"Look," Kate took a breath and continued. "I thought that giving Gerry a kick in the pants and making him work here this week would make him wake up and act like a man. I expected that, by Wednesday or Thursday at the latest, he'd confront me and go find another job. But the exact opposite happened. He became more... maternal. So much so that his own body thinks his Mila's mother."

"And you're ok with that?"

Kate sighed. "I shouldn't be, should I? I know that I should be screaming at him to man-up and be a good husband to you, but... I think that I accidentally pushed him into being exactly what he's meant to be. A good wife and mother. As unorthodox as that may be, he is happier than I've ever seen him, healthier looking, cleaner, dressed so much better... he's everything I could ask for in a daughter, Stevie. With Taylor, I have a brilliant business woman to take over my company someday and with Gerry, I have a beautiful, maternal daughter who will provide my grandchildren with love and clean, healthy home. What more could I ask for."

Stevie considered this for a moment. "Ok, Kate... that makes sense." She got up to leave, but stopped at the door. "And... if Gerry goes back to living as a man?"

Kate thought about that for a moment. "Is that something you'd like to happen?"

"I don't know."

"Then let's cross that bridge when we come to it."

Stevie nodded and returned to her desk.
 

 

"Here," Maureen, the receptionist, handed Gerry a small bottle of water from the refrigerator in the staff lounge. "Drink this and take a few minutes to calm down."

Sensing that Gerry was upset, Mila began to get anxious and was calling out for her uncle.

"Oh, don't worry, baby," Maureen soothed her. "Your auntie is just having a little rest. She'll be ok."

Gerry took a sip of the water and reached for the baby. "Come here, honey. Everything's ok."

He unstrapped Mila and pulled her onto his lap and 'Shh-ed' her till she calmed down.

"So," Maureen started the conversation, "you've transitioned, right? So why not just admit it and move on. Why try to hide it? You look like a natural woman."

"It's complicated," Gerry said, not looking at Maureen.

"How? I mean it's the twenty-first century, right? People transition one way or another all the time. My oldest brother used to be my sister. It's really not a big deal."

Gerry smiled sadly. "It's not like that. I just started... I mean... this was only supposed to be a temporary thing. Kind of a as a joke, but..."

"It got out of hand?"

"More than that. I don't know if it's permanent or what, but... none of that matters. See your company is my mom's biggest client and if I mess things up between you guys and my mom... well, I just can't let that happen."

"I see," Maureen nodded. "If you're not... well, why are you pretending to be pregnant?"

Gerry sighed and told her a thumbnail version of his last ten days.

"Holy Moses," Maureen shook her head. "You've really had a roller coaster of a week, haven't you!? So... what's the deal with Bob Jr? He definitely thinks that he's got something on you."

"He does," Gerry seemed surprised by the question. "He knows who I really am."

"So?"

"So... he could tell people."

"So?"

"So... it could be an embarrassment to my mother's company."

"Your mother's company?"

"Yes."

"Owned by your mother?"

"Yes."

"Your mother who bought you your first bra, a bunch of dresses, had your hair and nails done and blackmailed you into working as a receptionist while still being a nanny to your niece?"

"I'm not a nanny," Gerry sighed. "I just take care of Mila because I love her, but other than that... yes."

"Look, Gerri," she took Mila's hand in hers as she spoke, "there is no reason for you to hide who you are. You're a beautiful lady with nothing to hide. If you're going to chose to live like a woman, then you're going to have to be prepared to make an explanation about your past every now and then. Don't hide who you were - it diminishes who you are. Look at you! I'd kill to be as cute as you! Be proud of yourself and if Bob Jr. tries anything, tell him to go to Hell. Your mother will understand."

"I doubt that," Gerry shook his head.

"Look, Gerri... woman to woman... Bob Jr is a is handsy creep and you can't let him think that he's got anything on you or he'll own you. Unless you want to find yourself on your knees in a dirty men's room giving him a blowjob, you need to put him in his place right from the start."

Gerry's stomach turned as he considered her words. This was an aspect of being a woman, of being small and pretty and vulnerable, that he'd never considered and one that he was sure his wife and sister didn't deal with on a daily basis due to their size and strength.

"Are you listening to me, Gerri?" She asked him.

"Yes," he answered, a bit breathless.

"A week or so ago, you may he been able to think of the world as a safe place, but it's not anymore. You're not just some guy walking around, anymore. You're a very cute girl in a pretty little dress. You need to always assume that every male you meet, no matter how young or old, is trying to figure out how to get into your panties. Do you understand?"

Gerry hugged Mila close and nodded. "I do, Maureen. Thank you."

Maureen sat back, feeling that she'd made her point and that Gerry might take a stronger position when dealing with Bob Jr. "Are you ok, now?"

He nodded and stood. As he strapped Mila back into the stroller, Maureen said, "If you ever need someone to talk to, or even just to go to lunch with, give me a call. Just call the main number and enter extension 432. It's easy to remember. I'm always here."
 

 

"So," Kate was not a happy woman, "you just told him who you were so now the entire Kirkland-Williams account is in jeopardy. I swear, Gerry, you need to make sure that you straighten everything out when you go to lunch with that man on Thursday."

"What do you want him to do, mom?" Taylor was offering a defense. "We have always said that Bob Williams Jr was a creep. If he thinks that he has something on Gerry, then he's going to assert himself to make sure that he gets what he wants."

Kate folded her arms. "Well, Gerry has no money, so there's nothing for him to get there."

"If it's blackmail money he's looking for, mom, he won't be after Gerry," Taylor pointed out. "He'll be after you and the company."

"Oh, good God. We need to figure out how to fix this. Gerry - no matter what he asks, you give it to him."

"Kate!" Stevie was shocked. "What if he's looking for something other than money!"

"Like what?"

"Like sex!"

"Well..." Kate left that hanging for a moment. " I guess that would be inappropriate."

"Inappropriate!?" Taylor was nearly shouting.

"Mom..." Gerry started, but Kate cut him off.

"No, Gerry, I am not 'mom' here. You cannot slip up like that."

"Oh, for crying out loud, Kate!" Stevie strode to the door and called out to Laura and Erin. "Would you two come in here, please."

Everyone waited as the other two women entered the conference room. Kate was trying to figure out just what her daughter-in-law was up to.

"Girls," Stevie started, "we need to tell you the truth about something."

"No, Stevie, there is no need for this," Kate said. "This is a family matter."

"Not anymore, Kate. Ladies... our temporary receptionist, Gerri, is in fact my husband, Gerry. He is not a woman and he is not pregnant. He is however, the caretaker of Taylor's daughter, Mila, a wonderful husband and one of the sweetest human beings I have ever met. Questions?"

There was silence for a few moments until Erin said, "But... wait... I saw her breast feeding the baby this morning."

"Yes, he is lactating, so we, as a family, have encouraged him to breast feed Mila in order to take some of the burden of pumping away and to allow Taylor some freedom."

The women looked at Gerry, wide eyed. "HE'S lactating?" Laura said.

"Yes," Stevie said, matter of factly.

"How!?"

"He has a condition called Galactorrhea. You can look it up on line if you'd like, but it's not something that Gerry brought onto himself. It just happened."

"So..." Erin was deep in thought. "You're a girl on top and a boy on the bottom?"

"In essence," Stevie said, "but, if you don't mind, his condition is what it is and doesn't really require constant comment. If you have a question that can't be answered on the internet please feel free to ask Gerry in a confidential, nonjudgmental manner and he'll be happy to answer it if he can, but we'd like to avoid having this be the overarching subject of conversation in the office. Is that ok with everyone?"

"Oh..." both women snapped back to reality, "of course."

"But..." Laura said, "why is he pretending to be pregnant?"

Taylor gave them a brief recap of their Halloween plan and her one piece baby-belt-bra and the outcome of his trying that on.

The women still seemed surprised by the stories, but they agreed that things were out of Gerry's control and they promised to help him in any way they could and they returned to work.

Throughout Stevie's briefing, both Gerry and Kate had remained silent. Once Stevie had closed the door again, Kate shook her head and asked, "And how is that supposed to help anything?"

"Look, Kate," Stevie said, "if there's no secrets, there's nothing for Bob Williams to use as leverage. From here on out, no matter how Gerry is dressed, he is introduced as my husband and your son. If there are no lies, there's no problem."

"Alright," Kate huffed, "but we need to figure out Bob Jr's motives before Thursday. Now, let's get back to work."
 

 

At eight thirty, after dinner had been eaten and the dishes had been washed and put away, Gerry sat on the coach with Mila at his breast while Stevie and Taylor sat on the porch, enjoying the air and an after work drink - one a bubbly moscato, the other a ginger ale.

They could hear Gerry quietly singing to Mila as she nursed.

'Being close and being clever
Ain't like being true
I don't need to, I would never
Hide anything from you
Like some

No one's gonna hurt you
No one's gonna dare
Others can desert you
Not a worry, whistle I'll be there
Demons will charm you with a smile for awhile
But in time
Nothing can harm you
Not while I'm around'

It was a charming, loving sound and they both enjoyed it as much as Mila did.

"You think he's going to be ok?" Taylor asked.

"I think he's going to be great. There's no reason for him to hide anymore. He's happy the way he looks, I LOVE the way he looks, you're fine with it, Mila's happy... no one else has a right to care."

"Except my mother."

"Kate gave me her word that she'd be ok with whatever decisions we make."

"Well, good, then." Taylor held up her glass of ginger ale. "A toast to freedom."

"To freedom," Stevie taped her wine glass against Taylor's tumbler.

They sipped and smiled. Then Taylor said, "You know, as odd as all of this is, it's all kind of a miracle for both of us."

"How so," Stevie sipped.

"Well, according to what you've told me, your sex life has never been better."

Stevie laughed and held up her glass again. "Here, here!"

"For Gerry... well, I think he's really found a purpose in life. He looks so much happier and, well, prettier."

"Again," Stevie smiled, "Here, here!"

"And for me..." Taylor laughed, "... with Gerry producing more milk than Mila can consume, I should be able to put these babies to rest pretty soon."

Stevie laughed. "And what will you do to celebrate your departure from the dairy industry?"

"Well, I'll wear more comfortable and prettier bras, for one thing, and I'll drink wine again, for another."

"Won't you miss nursing her?"

Taylor made a 'you must be kidding' face and shook her head. "Not as much as I miss my glass of wine, Steve-O. Not as much as I miss my glass of wine."

"That's a good girl," they heard from the other room. "What a good, good girl." Then they hear the sound of gentle tapping and, eventually a quiet little burp, followed by Gerry complimenting the child, again, and the sound of Gerry padding softly towards the spare bedroom.

"He'll be changing her, now, then I should take her home and put her to bed." She held up her tumbler in one more mock-toast and downed the rest of her soft drink in one gulp, then stood and grabbed Stevie's glass and said, "you're done with this, right?"

Stevie grabbed Taylor's wrist, laughing, "Oh, no you don't, lady. Not just yet."

"Damn," Taylor snapped her fingers in a 'curses, foiled again, manner.' "I almost got away with it."

Stevie joined Taylor as they walked out into the kitchen, rinsed their glasses and placed them in the strainer to dry.

"Are you a sleepy little girl?" They heard as Gerry walked back towards the kitchen carrying Mila who wore a pink sleeper with tiny, bright white flowers speckled all over the material.

"Oh, Gerry, that sleeper is just adorable! Did you pick that out for her?"

"Yes," he smiled. "I bought it on the way home, today. When I had the driver stop for groceries, there was a new boutique for children that just opened next door. Oh, they have the most beautiful clothes, but I didn't have a lot of money with me, so I only bought her this."

"It's beautiful, Gerry," Taylor smiled as she took her daughter from her brother. "She's so lucky to have you." She kissed his cheek and said her goodnights and headed for the door. As usual, Gerry and Stevie waited outside the front door until Taylor and Mila were safely inside their townhouse next door.

As Stevie locked up, she said, "There are a lot of nice clothes for Mila at that new store?"

"So many," Gerry beamed, fantasizing about dressing Mila in many of the fashions he saw at the boutique.

Stevie saw how badly he wanted to purchase the pretty dresses for their niece. "Why didn't you buy some?"

"Oh," he shrugged. "I only had about eighty dollars with me and, after groceries, that sleeper was all I could afford."

"So..." Stevie was genuinely baffled by this, "... why didn't you use a debit card or a credit card?"

Gerry walked to the strainer and wiped down the glasses his wife and sister had left there. "I don't know. I guess I didn't want to spend your money without talking to you first."

"MY money? Since when is it MY money, Gerry. You know that we're partners. MY money is OUR money, baby. If you want to spend money, especially on Mila, you don't need to ask me. Were did this idea of MY money come from?"

Gerry shrugged, but didn't turn around.

"It came from your mother, didn't it?" She came up behind him and hugged him from behind. "Baby, we're very lucky. We've done well. We don't need to live on a strict budget. Your mother is just playing mind games with you." She kissed his neck and felt him yield to her kisses. "We're partners, baby. Equal partners." She kissed his neck again. "Understand?"

"Uh Huh," he whispered, enjoying the kisses.

Stevie snuck her right hand up to his right breast and teased his nipple. "Equal in all things." She nibbled his earlobe, which still bore the pearl earring he'd worn to work that morning. "Never, ever, ever ask permission again."

She felt his knees buckle as her left hand touched his left breast, so she swept her right hand lower and scooped him up from behind his knees and carried him, Rhett and Scarlet style, into the bedroom, where she gently tossed him onto the bed, his green, silk robe fluttering open, revealing the lace covered, silk slip beneath.

Gerry caught his breath and turned to see Stevie stripping faster than he'd ever seen her strip before. Within seconds, she was on the bed, her hands under his slip, pulling his panties and baby-belt free. She grabbed his legs, spreading them and pushing his heels towards his bottom, his knees up in air.

Just the excitement caused by her animalistic arousal was enough to make Gerry receptive to her powerful, masculine advances, but when she gripped his swollen, extended organ and quickly devoured it into her womanhood, he was already close to erupting.

Stevie began thrusting, pulling his manhood deep into her, but looking as if she were thrusting into him. He may have come right then and there if she had not suddenly, and with equal parts aggression and gentleness, bitten down on his nipple through his bra, nursing pad and slip.

Gerry's attention moved from his groin to his sensitive breasts as his breathing became ragged with desire, but Stevie's attention to his breasts didn't last long. Without warning, she slowed sat back on her heels, careful to keep his penis clenched firmly in her vagina. She kept the slow motion thrusts going as she looked down at the beautiful, womanly man beneath her. She'd always loved having sex with Gerry, but lately, he was such a soft, compliant lover and he smelled so good, and the lace that seemed to always encase his plump, feminine breasts... it was all just so wonderfully exotic and erotic and wonderful.

"You're so beautiful," she whispered.

"So are you," he gasped. "I love you so much."

That made her smile. She kept a soft, firm pumping going. "You're my beautiful, sexy, pregnant boy." That made them both smile. "Will you be my wife?"

Gerry smiled. "I will, if you'll be my husband."

"I will, but," now she smiled, "I'm afraid that my business suits will all have to be skirt suits. Your mother insists on a specific look in the office."

"Do you want me to go back to wearing pants?" He asked, thinking he knew the answer.

"Not on your life, missy," Stevie smiled in a nearly predatory manner. She picked up the momentum of her thrusts as she spoke. "My little wifey is the kind of girl that would never wear pants."

"Really?" Gerry giggled as he felt her core grip even more firmly around his very being. "Why not?"

"Because she lives to be my little woman. My perfect housewife. The perfect, plump nursemaid for my niece and, someday, for our own children. She's a soft, weak, feminine goddess who likes it when I do this." She thrust harder. "And this." She increased her speed and intensity. "She loves it when I make her scream. Scream for me, baby. Scream for me, little girl. Tell me I'm your man."

Gerry was nearly breathing, lost in ecstasy and the all too real fantasy that his strong, powerful, tall wife-now-husband was narrating. "You..." she thrust and took his breath away. "You're my..." she did it again.

"I'm your what, baby girl?"

"You're my man!" He huffed.

"Louder, sweet thing. Say it louder. Scream it for me."

She thrust again, devouring him completely. Not just pulling his penis deep within her, but taking it from him. Stealing it. Nearly tearing it from him as his squealed in a loud, high pitched voice, "You're my man! Oh, God, yes! You're my man!"

And they came in hot, sweaty, loving unison.
 

 

"Gerri," Kate caught him as he was returning from changing Mila in the ladies' room, "May I see you in my office for a moment. You can bring the baby with you."

"Yes, Mrs Wentworth." Gerry felt a flush of fear wash over him. Tuesday had gone by without incident and so had the first few hours of Wednesday. What could he have done to have earned a reprimand today!? There had been a half dozen clients so far, but all had gone well with them, as far as he knew.

As he followed his mother, he glanced at his wife, who was with a client, then at his sister, who was on the phone. No support was to be found.

When he entered, his mother held the door for him and told him to take a seat. When she'd closed the door, she took a seat behind her desk and looked very serious. "I've been thinking, Gerri, and I think we need to make a few changes if you're going to be living this way."

Great. It wasn't a work related talk. This could be bad. "What sort of changes, Mrs Wentworth?"

"Well," she glanced at her notebook, "I was thinking this morning. You are planning to to take Stevie to St Thomas in a few weeks, are you not?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"And how, exactly do you plan to board a plane looking like that?"

Gerry looked at himself and shrugged. "I don't understand."

"Gerri," Kate shook her head, "you will need some form of ID to board the plane, won't you?"

"Yes, I suppose I will, but I have a license..."

Kate held up his license for him to see. "I hope you don't mind. I took it from your purse while you were dealing with Mila. Look at this picture, Gerri."

He did. The picture was of an unkempt twenty two year old man with dirty blonde, scraggly hair and a lame attempt at a mustache. The personal information read 'Gerald Wentworth, Jr' then his birthdate and a section that read 'Gender' which was followed by the letter 'M.'

"If you were a TSA Agent, would you allow someone who looked like you to pass through airport security with this license as an ID?"

"No, I suppose not."

Kate wrote on a Post-It Note and pulled it free, handing it to Gerry. "You're going to need to take a slightly longer lunch break today to deal with a few things. First, go to the address that I wrote on that sticky note and ask for Marion. She's my lawyer and she has some paperwork for you to sign. She'll take care of getting you an appropriate license as quickly as possible. You should have it within a week or so."

He looked at the note. The address was just a few doors away. "Yes, ma'am. Ask for Marion."

"Good." Kate wrote on another Post-It Note. "After you've done that, I want you to go to this address. Taylor will meet your there at twelve forty-five. She knows what needs to be done."

"What's this all for?" Gerry asked.

"Well, if you must know, it's for your Halloween costume. We have come up with a novel idea and I'd like you to be measured to see if our idea will work. You may need to try on a few things as well."

"What's the costume going to be?"

"Now, don't you worry your pretty little head over it, Gerri. The idea is a hoot, but I don't know if it'll work or how much it'll cost. Just go to that address and let Taylor do all the talking."

"Was it Taylor's idea?"

"No," Kate chuckled, "as a matter of fact, it was Laura's idea. I never would have expected something this creative from her, but... live and learn! Now, off you go."

"Yes, ma'am." As he headed for the door, he stopped and asked. "Mrs Wentworth... since Laura and Erin know who I am, couldn't I call you 'mom,' now?"

"Oh, Gerri, I really don't think that would be appropriate, do you?"

"Well, Taylor calls you 'mom' and Stevie calls you 'Kate,' so..."

"Yes, but Taylor and Kate are junior partners, Gerri. You are just a receptionist. Remember our conversation, Gerri. The world is run by those with money. I have money, Gerri. Taylor and Stevie have money. At home, you can call me 'mom,' but in the workplace, I'm afraid that proper protocol must be observed. While you are here, I will always be Mrs Wentworth. Understood?"

"Yes, Mrs Wentworth," he nodded.

"That is a very lovely dress you're wearing today, Gerri." Kate seemed to sense that she'd crushed his spirit more than she'd intended and was trying to boost his moral a bit. It was a lovely dress, though. A knee length sundress, white, with moderately wide shoulder straps, four tiny, pearlescent buttons on the front of the bodice, eyelets modestly placed on the straps and the belt-region of the empire waist and a wide, soft skirt with a scalloped hem and a band of a baby blue checkerboard pattern that emphasized the pretty scalloping by mimicking it's shape in the checkerboard design. "You really do have a lovely sense of women's fashions, dear. I'm so glad that we've discovered that talent and found a way for you to display it to the world."

Gerry looked at the dress, hiked Mila a little higher on his hip and tried to determine whether his mother's remark was a compliment or not, but decided to just accept it as a positive remark. "Thank you, Mrs Wentworth." He returned to his desk.
 

 

"I'm here to see Marion," Gerry told the receptionist. The address was just a few blocks away and he and Mila had both enjoyed the walk.

"And your name?" The very attractive thirty-something woman smiled.

"Gerry Wentworth."

"Oh, yes, Miss Wentworth. Marion told me to show you right into conference room B. She'll be with you in just a moment. Right this way, please."

The receptionist walked beside Gerry as she led the way.

"You have your hands full, don't you?"

Confused by the remark, Gerry asked, "What do you mean?"

"Well, one in the stroller and another on the way. They'll be Irish twins, won't they?"

Realizing what she meant, Gerry explained that Mila was his niece.

"Oh, how sweet. Here we are. Marion will be in in a moment."

Gerry unstrapped Mila and pulled her into his lap. Within a minute, a woman in her sixties opened the door, but stopped and said, "Oh, I'm sorry. I was looking for someone else."

She closed the door again and shouted down the hall to the receptionist. "Anna! Where did you put Ms Wentworth?"

He heard the response, "Conference B."

There was a pause, then the door reopened and the same woman stuck her head in. "Ms Wentworth?"

"Yes," Gerry smiled, but didn't rise because Mila was occupied with the cloth book he'd put on the desk in front of him.

"Oh," the woman looked a bit confused, "you're not quite what I expected. I mean, Kate told me that you were her son, but... are you really a man?"

Gerry shrugged. "I guess. I mean... I was, but now... it's confusing."

"I see..." the woman sat down and opened a folder. "I'm sorry if I was rude, it's just... I've done dozens of things like this for transgender people, but... if you don't mind me saying, you're remarkably attractive for a transgendered woman."

Gerry blushed a bit. "Well... thank you."

"May I ask, who is your surgeon?"

Gerry sighed. "I haven't had any surgery."

She balked at that. "Just hormones?"

"Just the ones that nature gave me," he smiled.

"My goodness..." she shook her head. "Uncanny. It really is. Well, let's get down to business. I understand that you need a new license that reflects your new gender choice and that you need it quickly in order to use it for your ID when traveling. Is that correct?"

"Yes," Gerry smiled, relieved that the topic had changed to his actual reason for being there.

"And when do you plan on leaving on this trip?"

"November ninth."

"Oh," Marion wrote down the date. "That is tight, but not impossible." She handed him several papers. "I'll just need your initials here and here and here and a signature at the bottom."

Gerry followed the instructions.

"Alright," she smiled. "I'll have a judge sign these this afternoon and I'll call my friend at the Department of Motor Vehicles and I'll have a license expedited for you. You'll need to go to a DMV Office either today or tomorrow, depending on when I get the signature, to have a new picture taken. Ok?"

"Oh, that's all there is to it?" Gerry was relieved.

"Yep, and once the judge signs the paperwork, you will be a female in the eyes of the the State of a Florida."

"What!?" Gerry felt a rush of fear in his chest.

"I'm sorry. I don't know what you're concerned about."

"You said I'd be a female. You mean... legally... I wouldn't be a man any more?"

Marion seemed even more confused than before. "Well... yes, Gerri, that's what the paperwork is for. If you want to travel without being detained or otherwise bothered by the TSA, then this is the only way to handle it. There is no 'Gender X' option on a Florida license. Either you're Gerald Wentworth or you're Gerri-Anne Wentworth. It's your choice."

His heart was racing. He was thrilled to have been able to experiment the way he had, but this was all so legal and permanent. "There's no other choice?"

Marion took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Not unless you want to spend the rest of your life explaining yourself to every police officer and TSA Agent you encounter. Ms Wentworth, you... how should I say this... you present as such a lovely woman... why is this an issue?"

Gerry considered things for a moment. At least a year, maybe more of his breasts producing milk, then the breasts still being a part of him unless he had them surgically removed, which scared him a lot... but he'd never be considered a man again. He'd be, legally, a woman from now on. "How will this impact my marriage? I mean... will my wife and I still be married?"

"Your wife?" This seemed to shock Marion even more. "You mean you're... a lesbian?"

"No." Gerry took a breath. "I'm a man. I mean... I have man parts and I'm married to a beautiful woman."

"Ok," Marion was getting frustrated, "let me get this straight. You're transitioning, you've obviously had some sort of breast augmentation, although you don't seem to want to admit it, and you're afraid that this little, legal process is a problem? Well, rest assured, same sex marriages have been legal in Florida for quite some time, so, legally, nothing will change."

"My breasts..." Gerry looked for the right words. "I'm not taking hormones, but I have a condition and my breasts... well... I'm... I'm lactating, so all of this is very new to me."

Marion sat back down, this time next to Gerry and she patted his cheek. "Oh, you poor thing. You mean, this all just... happened to you?"

He nodded.

"My God, no wonder you're so overwhelmed." She looked at him closely. If this was recent, then he'd adapted remarkably well. "Gerri... did you ever, maybe, consider that this is, perhaps, the universe correcting a mistake? That, maybe, you are meant to be who you are now? I mean, judging by the way you're dressed, your wife must be supportive, and look at your little girl. She's obviously not confused. You can see how much she loves you."

Gerry didn't bother to correct her. Mila may not have been his daughter, but she was definitely his little girl and there was no question that she loved him. So, he just nodded.

"If you want to travel, Gerri, if you want to drive a car, if you want to be able to present your license as an ID for any reason, this is the best choice to make. I'm sure of it."

He nodded, again. "Ok. Go ahead and do it. I guess it doesn't really matter."

"Atta girl," Marion said without any sense of teasing, as she stood up. "Leave it to me. I'll have everything dealt with in about ten days."

"Thank you," Gerry stood, Mila on his shoulder, and he shook her hand.

"You're a beautiful woman, Gerri. Never deny that."
 

 

His second stop during lunch hour required him to walk past his mother's office and another two blocks beyond. When he arrived at the address, it was another office building, but he had no indication of what floor he needed to go to. As he looked around, confused, until he spotted Taylor waving from the door of one of the ground floor business. He turned Mila's stroller in that direction and hurried to his sister.

The sign over the door read 'Amanda's Boutique.' When Gerry entered, he was a bit surprised to see that the store was empty. There were no displays of any kind to indicate what the store sold. There was a desk in the corner where an elegantly dressed woman sat and several comfortable looking chairs. The walls were painted a deep rose color and the carpet was a thick-pile, beige that looked and felt very expensive.

"I'm so excited," Taylor nearly bubbled as she bent, unstrapped Mila and put her on her hip.

"What are we doing here?" Gerry asked. "Is there even a business in here?"

"Of course," Taylor smiled. "Come meet Amanda."

She walked over to the elegantly dressed woman and introduced him simply as Gerry. The woman shook his hand then said to Taylor, "Will your brother be here soon, Ms Wentworth? I have someone coming in at two and I'd rather not have them think that my boutique is a costume shop, if you don't mind."

Taylor put her free arm around Gerry's shoulder and stood next to him, pulling him close. "This is my brother, Amanda. This is Gerry."

"This is...?" The woman slowly stood, mouth agape, and she stared at the person beside Taylor. She was much, much smaller than Taylor, the top of her head barely reaching Taylor's shoulder, and she wore a dress that was decidedly feminine. The dress also showed a great deal of shoulder and all of her arms. Her shoulders were narrow and weak looking and her arms were on the pudgy side, but showed no muscle development at all. "YOU'RE the brother? How? I expected to be fitting a boy, not..." Realizing she was babbling, Amanda looked at Gerry and said, "I'm sorry, dear, I'm just very... surprised. Why... you're lovely, my dear. We have a lot of choices. Let's get started."

She stood and pulled a seamstress' tape measure from a draw in the desk and guided Gerry to a small platform in the rear of the store that he had not noticed. "Jump up her, my dear, and we'll get things underway."

For the next few minutes, the woman touched Gerry in ways he'd never been touched before as she ran the tape over his body, while also speaking nonstop to Taylor. "Are we thinking something traditional and full length, or something that shows off these beautiful legs of hers?"

"Well," Taylor thought, "I think we were going the traditional route, but if you have something that had a traditional look while also letting us see his knees and calves, I think that might be adorable." Then, to Mila she said, "Yes, see Auntie Gerri? She's getting fitted for a very pretty dress."

"I have some nice choices, but let's talk about her bust. Do we want to be revealing or is some of that padding?"

"No, that's all him, but we don't want to be too revealing. He's a good little housewife, not a slut."

"Well, you know what they say, 'A good little housewife should be a slut in the bedroom.'"

That made both the women laugh, but Gerry was just concerned about what was planned for him.

"Alright, darling," Amanda smiled, "just have a seat and give me five or six minutes. I think you're going to love what I have for you."

Gerry stepped down from the platform and took Mila, who was stretching to reach him, from Taylor and they both crossed to a coach and took a seat. "She has called me a 'she' every time she referred to me, no matter how many times you said 'he.' Does she understand that I'm your brother."

"Relax. She's used to working with women, that's all. Besides," Taylor indicated Gerry's new body, "come on."

Gerry huffed. "Well, I suppose it doesn't matter much. Pretty soon, in the eyes of the State of Florida, I will be a woman. Legally and forever."

"What do you mean?"

He explained what had happened at the lawyer's office.

"Wow." Taylor was surprised he'd agreed to go this far. "And you're ok with this?"

He shrugged. "What choice do I have? I can't use my current license at the airport and I did all of this to take Stevie to St Thomas for our anniversary. It wouldn't make sense to throw it all away for the sake of a little government technicality."

Before Taylor could discuss it any further, Amanda burst back into the waiting area with several dresses hanging from a rack. "Here we go, ladies! Come take a look!"

Taylor Rose, then turned and helped her 'pregnant' brother, who was carrying her daughter, to stand and they went to see what Amanda had for them. When Gerry saw the dresses, he gasped. "Wedding gowns!? That's the plan? A pregnant bride?"

Taylor smiled. "That's part of it, but let's see what we have to choose from."

"Now, this," Amanda smiled as she held up a very heavily beaded dress, "is a very popular style. It's a bit revealing, but she can certainly pull that off, and the dress has a lovely, seven foot train." She held the full length gown out for Taylor to inspect.

"Hmm," she mulled over the gown and its very revealing buts area, "it's a little... trampy isn't it? We're looking for something that's a bit more... classic."

"Oh, then look at this one," Amanda bubbled. "It's a true classic. Tea length, lightly beaded about the bodice, see through, lace straps, modest, but sexy, and this nineteen fifties inspired , flared skirt with built in petticoats and matching, very feminine, lace gloves. The back zips up for a nice, uniform fit, but the zip-track is covered by another flap that is closed with seventy five tiny, pearl buttons so it has the look of a traditional gown, but the comfort of an everyday dress - granted, an everyday dress from the nineteen fifties. Take a look."

Taylor gasped. "Oh, Amanda! It's perfect! Just perfect! Do you like it, sweetheart?" The last part was directed to Gerry.

"Yes," he was surprised by how mesmerized his sister was by the beauty of the dress. Usually, she was more interested in simple sheaths and dress slacks for special occasions.

"Oh, Gerry! Quick, go try it on. I can't wait to see you in it! I'm sure you'll look just perfect."
 

 

"This one, right here," Stevie told the salesperson. He was an older man with stark white hair and a finicky little mustache that must have occupied a good amount of his mornings in order to maintain its thinness and neatness.

"Yes, ma'am," he smiled condescendingly as he removed the item from the case. "That's a three carat diamond in a halo setting, designed by Scott Kay. The band is platinum and the ring has a companion wedding ring that compliments it beautifully if you and your fiancé decide you'd like to have that as well."

Stevie smirked at the man's condescension. "Actually, it's for me to give to my husband."

The salesman seemed confused. "Oh, well, Madame, these are women's rings, you see. The men's wedding bands are in the case over here, to your right. If you'll step this way..."

"No, I like this one." Stevie insisted.

"But... madam, I'm not even sure if we could size that to a man's finger."

"I'm sure that won't be an issue. He is a rather... slight man. I know from experience that his ring finger and my little finger are the same size. So, if you could measure my little finger and size this ring accordingly, I would appreciate it."

"Yea, Madame, of course, but... I do want to emphasize that you are choosing a decidedly feminine ring and, since it is priced at forty-two thousand dollars, I would hate for you to make a very costly mistake..."

"Well, perhaps my mistake was to come into this store," Stevie stood taller and made to exit the shop. "If you are willing to lose the commission on a five thousand dollar sale, then far be it from me to stand in your way. Have a good afternoon."

She was nearly to the door when she heard the salesman coming around the counter and chasing after her. "No, no, Madame, please, I believe you misunderstood me and I apologize for my assumptions. I was just trying to be helpful. Please, do come back to the counter and I will check the size of your little finger. I'm sure your husband will adore the ring."

Stevie considered this for a moment, then turned to return to the jewelry case. "Alright... but I expect you to do a bit better on the price of the wedding ring."

"Oh, yes," the man said with a great deal of nervousness, "of course."
 

 

"Oh, Gerry, it's just perfect!" Taylor praised.

"I'll need to shorten the hem, just a bit," Amanda explained. "I'll leave a little extra length in the front so her bump doesn't show as much. If the hemline is even when she's wearing it, people won't notice the baby bump."

"No, no," Taylor said with a bit more vehemence than she'd intended. "Let his belly lift it a bit. We want people to see that he's pregnant and that he's carrying correctly and not wearing a pillow under there."

"Alright," Amanda shrugged as she knelt and began pinning the hem of the dress."

"You look beautiful, Gerry," Taylor told her brother. "I wish we'd known how pretty you were before your wedding. You make a delectable bride."

Despite the time he'd spent in dresses, seeing himself reflected back in the three mirrors near the platform, wearing a bridal dress with the lace gloves, a wide petticoated shirt, a virginal veil pinned into the delicate tiara on the crown of his head, made his knees a bit weak.

"Don't you just love it?" Taylor asked.

"It's..." he didn't know quite what to say. "... it's a beautiful dress, but..."

"But what, sweetheart?" Taylor could not imagine why he'd had any reservations about the dress or how he looked in it.

"Taylor, I look... I mean... I don't look anything like a guy in drag as a bride. How is this going to help us win the contest? I just look like... a bride..."

"A precious, pregnant, little bride, Gerry, and, trust me, this is going to be great. I really can't tell you the whole plan, but this is just perfect!"

"Ok," Amanda stood up, again. "She's all set for today. I should have it ready by the end of the week. Do you need anything else? Shoes? Jewelry? Lingerie?"

"Yes!" Taylor said, realizing that there were other things required. "I think some basic, open toed pumps that match would be perfect, and could we see what you have for bridal lingerie? I want him to have everything that a real bride should have - even on his wedding night. He won't need jewelry, though. My mother bought him a gorgeous set of pearl earrings and pearl necklace."

Then she looked at Gerry and said, "I think mom is arranging to have your hair and makeup done that day." Suddenly, she actually bounced like a junior high school girl and giggled as well. "Oh, Gerry, this is so much fun!"
 

 

By the time Gerry and Taylor returned to the office, his hired car was waiting to take him home. He knocked on the passenger window of the car and, when the driver had lowered the window, said, "I'll be just a few minutes. I need to just grab a few things and I'll be right out."

"Take your time, ma'am," the driver replied.

When they entered the office, Gerry came to a dead stop when he saw a stranger sitting at his desk. "May I help you?" The pretty girl asked. She was approximately the same age as Gerry, but she looked athletic and, even though she was seated, he could tell that she was taller than he was.

"Umm..." he took a second to evaluate the situation. "This... this is my desk..."

"Dayna!" Taylor shouted happily. "My mom hired you? That's wonderful!"

The girl stood and came around the desk to hug Gerry's sister and he realized that she was even taller than Taylor - AND - she was wearing very tall, very elegant heels.

"Oh, Taylor, thank you so much for putting in a good word for me! Since graduating in May, I haven't been able to find anything but waitressing jobs. This is such a Godsend and your mother said that if I do well at reception, she'd teach me about investing and maybe I could move up to being an investment councilor in a year or so."

"Oh, that's great, Dayna," Taylor enthused. "I think you'll love it here. We're a company of women and we support women. Anything we can do to help you, just let us know. We'll be happy to help."

"Thanks, Taylor. I'm so excited to be here. Look! I still have goosebumps!"

Taylor laughed. "Oh, how could I have forgotten!? Dayna, this is my little brother, Gerry. He'll be training you, I guess. Gerry, this is Dayna. She plays basketball in our women's league."

The girl's eyes searched the reception area for a moment before settling on Gerry, who held out a hand and said, "Hi."

Dayna blinked in confusion. "Gerry? This is your BROTHER, Gerry?"

"Yes," Taylor laughed. "Long story. I'll explain it all later, but Gerry's in a hurry right now. He'll start training you tomorrow morning. Gerry, sweetie, go tell Stevie you're leaving."

"Ok," he said and left the two women to chat.

He found his wife at a filing cabinet, her jacket off, revealing a sleeveless, white, low cut, silk blouse that somehow complimented both her strength and female form perfectly. If she didn't have a jacket on, then Gerry knew that there were no clients anywhere in the offices. If there were, she wouldn't dare appear in just a blouse and skirt. "Hi, Stevie. I just wanted to let you know that I was back, but I'm leaving, now."

"Hi, baby," she beamed at him, "did you find a nice dress?"

"Yes, I guess," he gave out a nervous laugh. Everyone could hear them and he wasn't sure that everyone was a cool with his new form as they let on.

"You guess!? Baby, a bride needs to love her dress. I loved mine!"

"Oh, no, it's beautiful and, yeah, I love it, I just wish I knew what the whole concept was."

Stevie winked at him. "It's a surprise, baby, but trust me - You'll love it!"

"Ok," Gerry sounded dubious, "but I should get going, now. Love you." He stretched to kiss her cheek, but she turned and pulled him into a passionate kiss on his lips. The heat of her lips caused him to close his eyes and submit to her strength. His arms found their way to her neck and he held loosely to her as she leaned him back and continued the kiss.

When, at last, she let him up for air, she asked, "Do you remember how we became engaged?"

Gerry blinked to regain his senses and tried to clear his mind. "Engaged? Yes. We were on the beach and I asked you if you'd ever thought about marrying someone. You said you'd only ever thought about marrying me, so I said, 'let's get married.'"

"Right," she smirked. "Not all that romantic, was it?"

He shrugged. "It seemed to work."

Now, she smiled broadly. "It did, but..." she took him by the hand and led him to the center or the office. "May I have everybody's attention, please!?" She called out, causing everyone to stop what they were doing and stand. Even Kate came out of her office.

"Everyone," Stevie continued, "you all know that Gerry and I have been together for a while and, well, things have been going great - especially lately since we've kinda... found ourselves. Well, what you may not know is that this beautiful man is the most wonderful, sensitive, feminine wife a working woman could ever dream of coming home to. He makes my life wonderful and he is the perfect surrogate mommy for our niece, Mila. I cannot imagine my life without Gerry in it and I want to make an honest girl of him, so..." she knelt in front of him, confusing Gerry completely, "Gerry... beautiful Gerry... will you please, do me the honor of officially becoming my wife?"

She held open the box from the jeweler's and presented it to him. The sight of the huge diamond and the ornateness of the setting caused Gerry's breath to get away from him. He gasped and his hand shot to his throat.

"Well...?" Stevie asked.

"Not knowing quite what was happening and wanting nothing more than to please Stevie, Gerry nodded and wept a few tears before the words came out. "Y... yes! Yes, of course, Stevie!" He wrapped his arms around her neck as she stood and carried him up, off of his feet for a moment.

Stevie took his left hand and removed his wedding ring, sliding the ornate engagement ring onto his finger. Immediately, Gerry held the hand at an angle and stared at the ring - a sign of feminine subservience to a husband-to-be. It was gorgeous and it looked gorgeous on his hand and he felt so beautiful, so lucky, so complete to just be wearing it! His heart beat fast and his tears of joy flowed.

Stevie hugged him and whispered, "I'll make you happy, baby. I promise."

Before he could ask what she meant by that, Taylor suddenly pulled him into a hug and kissed his cheek, too. "Congratulations, sweetheart." She said.

What was wrong with everybody!? Stevie and he were already married! There was a lot going on that was confusing Gerry.

Erin and Laura both touched his arms and congratulated him, as did the new girl, Dayna. Then, the most shocking thing happened, Kate hugged him tightly. "I'm so glad that you have become the woman you are, Gerry. I know that you'll make Stevie a wonderful wife."

As Kate released Gerry from her hug, a phone was ringing. Realizing that there was no one at the reception desk, Erin picked up the phone and spoke to the caller. "Stevie," she called out, "it's for you! She says it's important!"

"Excuse me," Stevie said as she left Gerry's side. "Probably Mrs Fedderman calling about her IRA. I'll just be a moment."

As she walked away, Taylor began an animated description of Gerry's wedding dress, leaving Gerry to try to figure out why things were becoming so elaborate. The dress, the ring - and the ring sure felt real. It had some heft to it, like a diamond in a platinum setting. Not at all like a hunk of glass with cheap metal. At this point, they must have spent at least the cost of the hot tub that was the costume party contest prize.

"Oh, my God, you're kidding!" Stevie said excitedly into the phone, causing everyone else to stop and listen. "No... I mean... yes, of course we want it. When can we... I mean... I'm sorry, I'm just so excited... what do we need to do?"

"Oh, my God," Taylor whispered. "Gerry...!"

Gerry started at his wife. Was this really happening.

"Yes... uh huh... yes, of course..." Stevie was saying, but her face had a full blown smile on it. "Oh, my God, thank you. Thank you, thank you, so, so, so, so much!" She said as she hung up the phone.

She turned to everyone, a smile exploding on her face.

Gerry held his breath, looking at his wife and hoping against hope that she had wonderful news.

"Well!?" Taylor screamed.

"We're getting a baby," Stevie said with great glee and the applause of everyone. Gerry felt a sense of joy and shock explode at the core of his being. "There's a girl in St Petersburg who just offered her unborn daughter up for adoption. She'd been under a doctor's supervision for the entire pregnancy, no history of drug use or family illness, just a college student who made a mistake and she's due on December twelfth. DECEMBER twelfth, Gerry! We'll have her home in time for Christmas!"

"Gerry!" Taylor shouted as she grabbed her brother. "You're going to be a mommy!"
 
 
To Be Continued...