I sat and the men followed. "Yes, thank you."
"Today we thought you might want to spend the day with Ann and Emma. They will be together at Ann's house and you can join them." Brody spoke as if I hadn't run out of the group dinner the night before.
"Won't they be upset to see me?" I asked tentatively, taking a sip of my coffee.
Both men frowned. "Why?" Brody asked. "You've done nothing wrong."
"But last night—"
Mason held up a hand halting my words. "Last night we did not recognize your true concerns until it was too late. It is
our fault, not yours. Although your dress needs mending, it is a better choice than my shirt, although I do find you wearing it quite appealing."
"Perhaps you can wear our shirts here in the house?" Brody asked, one pale eyebrow raised.
He looked so eager at the idea, like a schoolboy, and I couldn't help but smile. I remembered about how they made me feel so good, again and again. "Just for you?"
"Just for us," Mason said and Brody nodded.
They were so handsome when they grinned, pleased about something so simple as my clothing compromise. So thoughtful and...kind. It was a strange, unusual sensation to feel safe, happy even, with them.
***
Andrew opened the door for us an hour later. I was once again in Mason's arms and I felt quite the invalid, although my coat had dried and I was able to wear that for warmth instead of a blanket. I held my boots in my hands.
Ann met us at the door along with another woman who I assumed was Emma. She was quite the opposite of Ann, taller and with dark hair. Both of them smiled at me and I felt reassured.
Brody held out Ann's borrowed blouse and skirt and the woman took them and set them on the banister leading upstairs, then took my coat and hung it on a peg by the door.
"I'm afraid the fit was too small." I lifted my boots. "Perhaps you have some spare laces?"
"Of course. In the kitchen. We will just fix your dress and it will be as good as new," Ann said very cheerfully, perhaps a little worried I might start to cry on her once again. "You have not yet met Emma. She has been very eager to make your acquaintance."
Emma came up to me and hooked her arm through mine. "Come, let's let the men go about their day."
I turned and looked back at Mason and Brody standing with Andrew. A smile was all I could offer as I was whisked away.
In the kitchen, Ann took my boots and sat them by the back door next to another pair. "I should be civilized and offer you tea, but we are both coffee drinkers. Is that all right with you?"
I nodded. Emma ran a hand over her belly. It wasn't overly prominent yet, but she would soon need to alter her dresses. "When will the baby come?" I asked.
"Summer," Emma replied, smiling.
"She never was sick in the mornings as I was, which makes me furious," Ann chided.
Emma grinned and waggled her eyebrows. "You were as lusty as I."
Ann blushed, but did not deny it. "Enjoy it now." She pouted and looked down at the sleeping baby in the cradle. "Your men won't touch you again for weeks and weeks. Perhaps not ever," she grumbled.
"What? I've seen them touch you and you seemed quite pleased."
Ann pursed her lips. "True, but they haven't fucked me since before the birth. I'm healed. Truly. Yet they insist on pleasing me in other ways."
The way they spoke of what she did with her husbands so openly and easily surprised me.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Laurel. You are not familiar with such ways," Ann replied.
I shrugged and felt my cheeks heat, my virginity a hindrance in participating in the conversation.