Dear Readers, this is the continuing saga. I would apprecite any feedback. Constructive criticism is important to me as I am constructing this story. Thanks.

Chapter Twelve
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The next day, Teri pulled Jenn away from her computer. “Hey, you mind if I borrow your car? I’ve decided that I need to practice driving so I can drive myself to the band house each day. We can buy another parking space for your old car and I’ll buy you a new car.”

Jenn looked curiously at her girlfriend who’d been vacillating between hot flashes and brain farts. The way it was explained to her, sometimes patients have brain fog after surgery. And the hot flashes came as a result of getting hormone shots from the surgeon to aid in healing.

“Hey, so I was thinking. You know I can drive out to the band house in forty-five minutes, right?”

Jenn started smiling and covered her mouth with her hand. “Uh-huh.”

“Well then, what’s so funny?”

“You said, I can drive. But you don’t drive. I’ve never seen you drive.”

“Well, I should be able to drive. Isn’t it ingrained in our brains? I figured I’d start out slow and just master it. I’ve sat in the front seat with you. I’ve watched you drive. I even drove the old Wildcat van in the driveway.”

“Drive my old clunker? Sure, go ahead. But do you want me to go along and answer questions?”

Teri brightened up. “Sure, as long as it doesn’t take away from your school stuff. That’s pretty important.”

Jenn laughed. “Well, you’re pretty important to me, and I’m not just sending you out in a big, old car to just get a feel for driving. I don’t want to see you getting hurt just cause you have this vision of tooling along the highway in Philly traffic to Allentown. Cars traveling that road are going seventy-five miles an hour. And we’re talking Pennsy drivers! ”

Teri shook her head. “Well, I figure just how hard can it be? I mean, everyone drives, and I’m almost nineteen.”

Jenn shook her head. “Sometimes, you don’t impress me with your thinking things through. Now, let’s think outside your problem. You don’t have to drive. Just remember that you’re rich. The Cats have a contract with a limo service. They can shuttle you door to door, and you can sit in the back and work on your music. You make more money writing songs and creating musical arrangements than you would driving in traffic for two hours a day.”

Teri listened to what Jenn said and thought about it. “Sure, that’s a good idea. The whole point is to spend more time with you. I mean, you’re living and going to school in West Philly, and well, I’m out in Allentown working on our music all day. We’re both doing different things. I’m trying to figure out how we can be together and still do our own thing.”

Jenn reached out and encircled Teri in her arms. She held her tightly and kissed her. “Let’s break our schedules down. I don’t have any night classes. My classes are all on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings. You can stay some nights in Philly and some nights in Allentown. We can spend a lot of time together without you missing me. Why don’t we scrap the need to drive thing, and for now, work something out with Richard and your service so that you can be out there playing and rehearsing every day? Some nights we sleep in Philly, and some nights we sleep together in Allentown. It’s just a short hop, and we can handle it.”

Teri loved it when Jenn squeezed and kissed her. After that, the problem didn’t exist. She shook her head in frustration. “Well, my brain must be small ‘cause it fills up so fast. Just as long as our commuting doesn’t take away from your school, that’s fine with me.”

Jenn laughed. “Small brain? You can be so naive. Honestly, you have a million more things going on inside your head than the rest of us.” She held up her hand and started ticking things off on her fingers. “You’re writing a rock opera with Vampires. You’re working on a Christmas record with Beyoncé and Taylor Swift and doing most of their musical arrangements. And you’re always working on Wildcat music. Plus, you’re two weeks post-surgery and are still doing all your exercises and dilating. Isn’t that enough?”

Teri shook her head and wondered. “Yeah, and that reminds me. We still have to deal with this Jack guy and get all our DNA tested. And speaking of DNA, I want to talk to the doctor and the endocrinologist about how much testosterone there should be in a female body.”

“Why do you need to find that out?”

Teri blushed. “Well, now that they’re giving me estrogen to aid my recovery, I wondered if my lack of sexual drive is because I’m intersex and I lack enough testosterone. I just don’t want to cheat you. I want to be the best lover, and well, it’s bugging me. And between you and me, the estrogen is making my boobs sore.”

Jenn still had her arms wrapped around her. “Uh, yeah. Well, do you ever get the desire to make love? Tell the truth.”

Teri frowned. “Truthfully, well, I’m not sure. When we’re together and touching each other, I want more. But honestly, it doesn’t interrupt my thinking when I’m working. Well, kinda when I see you or one of the Wildcats, I do get these feelings. Is that okay to admit to that?”

Jenn pulled on her hand and led her back towards their bedroom. “Uh, sounds perfectly normal to me. And it’s time to dilate, so let’s make it fun. How about if I get under the covers with you while you’re doing it, and well, make more out of it than just something clinical?”

Teri grinned. “Uh, that sounds interesting. In the name of science, huh? Well, let’s give it a try.”

Jenn kissed her softly on the lips and touched her neck and ear. “Well, I was thinking. How about if I take charge of dilating you, and well, we can see what happens when I’m in charge.”

Teri blushed. “So I’m the bottom?”

Jenn giggled. “Where’d you hear that?”

“Well, the Cats were talking, and I asked. Someone said that eventually I’m going to be your bride.”

“Well, of course, baby. That’s how it works. Now what do you think about being my bride?”

Teri blushed. “I’ve never really thought about the titles and everything. But you do like to drive, and you like to express your opinions. I listen to what you say.”

Jenn glanced over at her. “Does that bother you that I’m like that?”

“No. I love you. I like it when you are assertive and express your opinion. I mean, we are equals, right?”

Jenn kissed her on the lips and continued leading her into the bedroom. “Let’s make it a party.” She whispered a few sentences into Teri’s ear and nuzzled her neck.

Terry heard what Jenn suggested. “Really? That’s what you want to do? Sure. But I have to look through my drawers for that outfit. You’re serious?”

Jenn smiled and softly rubbed her back while she kissed her. “Uh-huh.”

Smith was riding with Lisa in the back of Conor’s pickup. He was looking at Amy and Conor in the front seats and whispered to Lisa, “Remember when you were fourteen. This is like riding with the parents, when they’re taking us out to dinner.”

Lisa smiled and squeezed his knee. “Uh-huh. But I’m twenty-two and would rather go parking than eat dinner.”

Smith almost laughed out loud. He whispered in her ear, “Do you ever think about anything else?”

Lisa frowned. “Sure. I mean, I lead a normal life except when I’m around you. Whenever I’m too close to you, this heat runs through my body and gets my brain a little crazy.”

Amy used the vanity mirror to look in the backseat. “I hear a lot of whispering. Do you still want to do dinner?”

Lisa laughed. “I do want to get out. But I had an idea. Can we go to Los Hombres, sit outside with a pitcher of margaritas, and eat chips and salsa. I’m in a party mood.”

Amy grinned and clutched Conor on his arm. “Sure, I love to get drunk with my boyfriend, and margaritas hit the spot. We can always Uber home.”

Smith smiled. “Coming from Texas, I have the best recipe for a margarita. We can have a party at home sometime and I’ll make a pitcher!”

Conor looked up. “What’s your recipe?”

Smith smiled, “It’s so simple. Two limes, two shots of a good blanco, one shot of triple sec, half shot of agave syrup, and half of water. Lots of ice and lots of shaking.

Amy was listening. “Definitely sounds like we need a party. Conor, your house is perfect with your pool and room to toss around a ball. And Smith’s going to be the bartender.”

Lisa was thinking about how much fun it would be while it’s still warm out. “We need to have this party next week, and we can have a fire pit and s'mores. Maybe get it catered. The swimming pool and the hot tub. What do you think, Conor?”

Conor was laughing. “Sounds great. How about if we open at noon? You can be in charge of the party, and I'll be the groundskeeper. How about next Saturday night?”

Everyone cheered.

Mike was following Tiffany up to the third floor. He was smiling, watching her go first up the steps. “Okay, so here’s what I was thinking. We blow everything out and open everything up. Start with just one big space and make it fresh. I want to move all this old equipment out of here and use the whole footprint. We can build a primary suite. You know, big bathroom, dressing rooms, closets, and plenty of space for a king-sized bed.”

He pointed to a wall. “And if this were blown out with windows, it’s got the best view. And we’d get cross ventilation. We can create a spacious bathroom with a luxurious shower and possibly even a soaking tub for two. Kinda like a place where I can wash your back.”

Tiffany wrapped her arms around his neck and snuggled into his body. “I’d like that.”

“Good. Cause tomorrow, we’re moving out for four weeks. I’ve already talked to the builder, and the windows have been bought. We just have to pick out the tile and the fixtures. Oh, yeah. How about hardwood floors and area rugs?”

Tiffany was shaking her head. “Just like that? Where are we going to go?”

Mike got out his phone. “I talked to a realtor and he found us a furnished townhouse with a month-to-month lease. It’s really nice with a view of the river and the forest. I’ve already made arrangements for our clothes to be moved tomorrow. Oh, yeah. The contractor has the permit for a living room fireplace, and well, we’re going to tear out the ceilings up to the roof. Everything brand new.”

Tiffany looked dazed. “Seriously? You planned all this for us?”

“Sure. Since it’s a steel structure, all the partitions can be removed in a week. Another week, and we’ll have new walls and all the electric and plumbing done. Two more weeks, and things will fall into place. The finish work takes a little longer. But we’re going to design it together.”

Mike kissed her. “I’ve been thinking about it and worried whether you’d like to live over the store. I didn’t want you to feel creepy about being here. I’ve been thinking about it for a while.”

Tiffany leaned in and kissed him. “I can’t think of a better place to be than with you. Now show me more.”

Grace was unwrapping the large paper-covered frame. She kept glancing at Gina, who was sitting on the arm of a chair, watching. When all the paper was gone, Grace could clearly see the watercolor. She slowly stood up and turned to Gina. Tears rolled down her face. “You planned this for me?”

Gina smiled and wrapped her arms around her girlfriend. “Well, I kinda lined things up, but Jane from the gallery contacted Margaret. When she heard it was for you, she started right away. I sent her the photos, but that’s all I did.”

Grace was wiping her eyes and kept looking back at the commission. “Are you going to help me hang it?”

Gina smiled. “I talked to the super, and he’s bringing up a ladder to your office tonight at seven. The painting’s all ready to hang. All we’ll have to do is move things around.”

Grace was excited. “I know where I want it. I want to be able to view it from my desk or chair. This is a painting of my happy place, and well, having you make it happen is awesome.” She wrapped her arms around Gina and showered her with kisses. “Let’s carry it into our bedroom so we can look at it from under the covers.”

“Now?”

Grace laughed and started unbuttoning Gina’s shirt and pulling on her leggings. “Now.”

Zoe stood back and stared at the shower. All the sealers had dried and everything had been tested. She smiled at Bruno and laughed. “How do you christen a shower?”

Bruno started pulling off her clothes. “Easy.”