Copyright 2010 by Wren Phoenix

Michael and Jenny had not been drinking, but they felt very giddy. They were both so happy.

“I don’t want to take you home yet,” Michael told her. “Part of me doesn’t want to ever let you go.”

“I know, I feel very much the same.”

“I’m not sure I can take you home, anyway”

“What? What’s the matter?”

“I drive a stick shift, and you haven’t let go of my hand for the last hour.”

She giggled. “You can’t use your feet?”

They both laughed.

The walk to the car was cold enough to be sobering, but they hardly noticed. Jenny seemed to be dancing as they walked.

“I never want this to end!”

“Your sister would be worried about you, love.”

“That’s why they make cell phones, sweetheart.”

“Where would you like to go, Milady? We have almost two whole days until we have to deal with reality again, and a Porsche with plenty of gas. Would you like to visit the house in Florida? Perhaps just a good night’s rest at my place?”

“I . . . Michael, I’m not . . . “

“Don’t worry. I don’t think we can do much until after the surgery. I have a house with many rooms. If it makes you uncomfortable, you could take your choice. I want to spend more time with you, my love.”

“I want to be with you so much!” She leaned against his shoulder. “We need to stop at a Wal-Mart, though. I obviously did not bring anything to sleep in!”

“Never fear, sweetheart. You look to be my Mother’s size, at least as far as a nightgown and a robe, if that would suit you.”

“Oh! I hadn’t thought of that!” She looked at him in surprise. “I suppose she wouldn’t mind, after all.”

“I certainly don’t wear them, so you might as well. In four months, you’ll be Mrs. Tallon, so it would be yours, anyway.”

She smiled and began to cry again. “This has to be a dream. I just can’t believe that it is real, do you know what I mean?”

Michael smiled and wiped away a tear from her eye. “It is real, and I know how you feel. It is kind of sudden, but I don’t regret any part of it.”

They reached the car, and Michael opened the door and helped Jenny to get comfortable. He closed the door and went around, getting in the car and starting it up. The leather seats were very cold, and he turned on the heaters. By the time he pulled out of the garage, the heated seats made it feel much warmer.

Jenny texted her sister, then put the phone away.

“So, my love, do I take you to Royal Oak, or would you like to come to my house?”

“Oh, Michael, I don’t want to leave you! Let’s go to your house.”

“Your wish is my command, my most wonderful lady!”

“Oh good, we’re off to a good start, then.” She giggled.

“Oh ho, so that’s how it is, eh? I think I’m in trouble!”

“Oh, really?”

“I’m very much in trouble; I am totally enamored with one of the most beautiful, wonderful women in Detroit. You’ve cast a spell over me, my dear, and I’ll never be the same.”

“Yeah, well, just watch it, bub. I hear we had a shortage of frogs last summer - - -perhaps one more wouldn’t hurt.”

Michael laughed. He liked the way her sense of humor matched his. He felt that they would never become the typical boring married couple. He was very satisfied that she was the right one.

It didn’t take long before they were at the house. He pushed the button and the garage door opened to admit them, then closed, and the heaters came on in the garage.

They parked next to the Cayenne. There were no other cars in the garage, and Michael explained that most of his father’s collection was in a warehouse that was separate from the house, as a safety precaution.

“Milady, welcome to your future home.” He held the door for her. The first room they came to was a utility room. They left their coats here, and then proceeded into the house.

“Since my parents passed away, I really only use a few rooms. I don’t have any servants, but I do have a maid service that comes in three times a week to keep the place clean. My mother would never forgive me if things became dusty in here. Would you like something to drink? I have coffee, tea, hot chocolate, or perhaps a cold soda or fruit juice?”

“Fruit juice? Might you have a cranberry juice in there?”

“Certainly, it’s one of my favorites!”

“This kitchen is wonderful, Michael. Do you cook?”

“Mom taught me to cook when I was a child; she was never a typical ‘housewife’ sort of person. She had nine older brothers, and she was very much the tomboy as a child. The idea of ‘women’s work’ was not a part of her reality. I cooked, cleaned, did the laundry, as a matter of course. I didn’t know that it was unusual until some of my friends came over when I was in fifth grade.”

“Your mother was a very special person. I envy you.” He could see her eyes glisten with unshed tears. He had forgotten - - -she didn’t really even know her own mother. He felt like a fool, and went to hold her.

“It’s all right, love, I . . . I barely even remember her. My father loved us very much, and he did his best.”

“There was no one else? No aunts . . . or perhaps a grandmother?”

“No, my parents married late in life, and neither one had any siblings. I may have met my father’s mother, but it is a very distant memory.”

“Well, I have all four grand-parents, and they will love you. In fact, if you would like, I can introduce you to my Grandma Tina and Grandpa Joe tomorrow. They live in Lansing, only a couple hours’ drive from here.”

“Really? Would they be okay with me?”

“They‘ll love you! Trust me; you will be smothered by Grandma Tina! I will call them in the morning, and arrange everything.”

“I’m really rather nervous, to tell you the truth.”

“Jenny, there is nothing to be afraid of. I would never allow you to be hurt or embarrassed.”

“Okay, I trust you, Michael. I would love to meet your grandparents.”

They went into the large living room, and sat ona very cofortable sofa in front of a fireplace, which was soon roaring with a comfortable fire. They talked about plans for their wedding, and their dreams for the future. Michael took her to his parent’s room so that she could find a nightgown. She came out a few minutes later in a very white and very sexy satin gown. She looked almost like a bride. It was perhaps a little long on her, but it looked beautiful.

Michael offered her his parents’ bedroom, but she demurely asked if it would be possible for her to be with him.

“I’m not a homosexual, Michael. I want to be loved as a woman. I’ll have the surgery as soon as I can, but I still want to cuddle with you, if you don’t mind. I just want to be loved and to love you-I don’t want to be apart from you.”

“I can agree to that. I feel the same way you do, and I would dearly love to wake up to your face in the morning. I think we should use the master bedroom, with its king-sized bed. We need to establish the fact that this is our bedroom from now on. Let’s go to bed. I have some things I want to show you.

“Hey, you promised!”

He laughed. “Come to bed, sweetheart. That wasn’t what I meant!”

He took her hand, and they walked back to their room. As they got into bed, Michael pushed a button. A large screen TV dropped from the ceiling. There was a DVD player by the nightstand, and Michael removed the disc that was in it.

“What were you watching, sweetie? A little ‘erotic entertainment’?”

He smiled. “No, this is how my dad stored the family videos. I was watching Mom and Dad, looking at old memories.”

Jenny had tears in her eyes. “Oh Michael, I’m so sorry. It must still be so fresh in your mind.”

“It’s all right. Do you know what my biggest regret is?”

“No, tell me.”

“That they will never get the chance to meet you. My mom would have loved you s-so much.”

Now he was the one crying, and Jenny held him, rocking back and forth as they sobbed. In the end, they comforted each other by watching an old movie, “Pillow Talk” with Rock Hudson and Doris Day. It was a comedy, and they fell asleep before it was over. When the disc ended, the machine automatically shut off, the screen retracted, and it was quiet, except for their breathing.

They woke up late in the morning, and Michael called his grandparents, telling them he wanted them to meet his girlfriend. They were delighted and welcomed them with open arms. They told them the truth about Jenny, and about her gender issues. There were questions, and frank discussion about their situation. Michael bought lunch, and when he told them he had proposed, Grandma Tina absolutely smothered Jenny in a huge hug, just as Michael had said. Grandpa Joe smiled and shook Michael’s hand. It was wonderful.

On their way home, Jenny was excited.

“You were so right! I was afraid that they wouldn’t accept me, but I felt so loved!”

“Now you have to meet my dad’s parents. They are Tallons, and very crazy, just like my Dad. They live in Porterville, California, not far from Bakersfield. The next time we have a three day weekend, would you like to fly out and meet them? Oh, you might be in recovery then. We’ll see how things go. We’ll definitely have to find a way to see them before the wedding, though.

“I’m looking forward to getting home. I’ve texted Diane, and she says she’ll be home all day with homework. I want to surprise her with our news. Would you come in with me, though?”

“Of course I will. I do have to make a quick pick up at the Mall though, all right?”

“What girl doesn’t like to shop?” she asked, smiling.

“I just need to pick up something. It shouldn’t take long.”

They pulled into the parking lot and walked into the mall. Michael was very proud to be seen with such a beautiful woman, and he couldn’t wait to get to the store he wanted. When they got to the jewelry store, Jenny guessed what he was doing, and looked at him in shock. He just beamed and led her to the engagement rings. Twenty minutes later they left with a beautiful and very expensive ring on her finger.

<><><><>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<><><><>