Aris and I took our customary seats at the table.  Desi sat next to me.  Ripley sat across from me.  I served Desi first.  She only wanted one pancake, to start, and a breakfast burrito.  I got a little of everything, like I usually do.  She ate the whole pancake.  “It is good, but I still like chocolate better,” she announced.  She ate her burrito, “This I really like.”  “Do you want another?” Ripley asked her.  She nodded her head no, “My tummy is full.”  She waited patiently while everyone else ate.  I had a second pancake and a second burrito.  They really are good.  “I think I like the blueberry better,” I told her.

“Are you helping with the clean up, Desi?” Ripley asked her.  “Can I?” Desi asked me.  “Well, of course,” I told her.  She climbed down from her chair and walked around to his seat.  “I will help too,” Aris offered.  The room got quiet.  “I really want to see what Desi does to come out soaked from head to toe,” he explained.   “Oh, it is quite entertaining,” Max told us.  “I want to help too, then,” I volunteered.  “No, Jade, you go have a cigarette and relax,” Aris told me smiling, “You can help next time.”

“Okay,” that's just a little bit awkward.  Are they wanting to talk about me without me present.  I didn't get an answer from either of them, which means they are.  The others all got up with me and we filed out of the room.  I waited for them to put their coats and boots on, then we went out.  Theo lit me a cigarette, then one for himself.  “Jade, is everything okay?” he asked quietly.  “I think so, why?” I answered.  “Because, usually, they do not leave you unattended.  One, or both, of them are with you all of the time,” he answered.  “You're right,” I hadn't thought about it like that until then, “I just assumed they wanted to talk about me, without me present.”  “They can do that with you present,” he told me.  “You're right,” now I’m a little worried.  “I am sure it is nothing to worry about,” he told me, “What did you get for Desi?” he changed the subject.  “A locket.  I put my picture on one side and Aris on the other.  What did you get her?”  “A nice hairbrush and comb set,” he answered.  “She will like that,” I told him.

I half listened to some of the other conversations, but it was hard.  Everyone finished their cigarettes and we went back in.  I waited for them to take off their coats and boots.  They all went in their own directions except for Theo.  “Would you like for me to start a fire in the living room?” he asked.  “That sounds nice,” I answered, “I'll get the wine.”  He smiled, “Okay.”  I went to the kitchen and got a bottle out of the refrigerator and two wine glasses.  I took them in the living room.  He already had a fire going.  I sat down on the couch and poured some in each glass.

I handed him one as I took a sip from mine.  It was tangy and smooth.  Just the way I like it.  “So are you ready for Christmas,” he asked.  “I think so,” I answered, “Mostly I just got gift cards for everyone.  How about you?”  “I am as ready as I am going to be,” he answered, “I finished making bows and arrows for the kids yesterday.  That was the biggest part of it.  Today I will be wrapping them.”  “I can help you wrap them,” I offered.  “Thanks for the offer, but I think that I have it covered,” he responded, “I figured you would probably want to spend time with Desi today.”  “You're right,” I smiled.  I took another drink as did he.

“I am kind of surprised that you are ready for wine after your last time drinking it,” he commented.  “I don't remember anything,” I told him.  “Really?  You seemed pretty alert when you were vomiting.  You kept telling us to never let you drink wine again,” he smiled.  “Oh.  Well I guess you failed in your duty,” I smiled.  “I guess so.”  “How is it possible for me to get so sick off of one, maybe two, glasses, and not remember any of it now?” I wondered.  “I do not know.  Perhaps you should discuss it with Yaris,” he answered.

“Discuss what with me?” Aris said from behind me.  “I just wondered how it is possible for me to get so sick after two glasses of wine and not remember any of it,” I repeated for him.  “The bottle was just bad,” he answered, “From now on I would like to test it before you drink, since you do not know what to look for.”  I handed my glass to him.  He sniffed it then tasted it, “This one is good.”  He handed it back to me.  I took another drink.

“Are you done with the clean up?” I asked him.  “They are finishing up now,” he answered, “I figured out how she ends up so wet.  They let her pop the bubbles in the dishwater like she does in the bathtub.”  “That explains it,” I commented.  “Theo, would you like to play with Desi while we go smoke?”  Aris asked.  “Sure will.  Should I go help her finish in the kitchen?” he asked.  “That would be great,” Aris responded.  We got up and headed toward the kitchen.  Theo took over for Ripley and the three of us headed for the back door.  We waited for Ripley to put on boots and a coat.  I reached for the door knob and Aris stopped me, “We want to go to the front porch this time.”  “Okay,” I agreed, instantly a little anxious.  I turned and we headed to the front porch.

It was snowing lightly.  The front porch had been freshly cleared.  Aris lit me a cigarette, then one for himself, then he handed the pack to Ripley.  “Jade, do you want someone other than me?” Ripley asked, “If so, I can step aside so that you can pursue this other person.”  “No,” I answered, “That isn't it.”  “Then what is it?” he asked.  “I feel like I would be betraying Aris by even thinking of it,” I answered.  I looked at Aris, “I thought that we were going to wait to talk about this.”  I looked back at Ripley, “If I’m going to do it, it will be you.  I’m just not sure how I will go about doing it.  I need time to think, to process it.”  “Okay,” Ripley responded, “so you are not rejecting me?”  “No,” I answered, “I’m just not sure what to do, how to handle it.”  “Okay,” he answered, “It is snowing again.”  “It is,” I agreed, relieved for the change of subject.

I smoked the rest of my cigarette in silence, completely unaware of what they were saying.  “Jade,” Aris said.  I looked at him.  “Are you ready to go in?” he asked, “we should probably give Desi a bath and a nap.”  I put my cigarette in the ashtray and we went in.  Theo and Desi were in the living room.  “You do it like this,” Theo said, shaking a wrapped box gently next to his ear, “then you try to guess what is in the box.”  Desi had a small box next to her ear, she shook it, “I do not know.”  “Hand it here,” Theo told her.  She gave it to Theo.  He shook it, “I think that it is jewelry.”  Her eyes got big, “What is jewelry?”  He smiled, ”necklace, bracelet, ring.”  “Oh.  Okay.”

“Desi, are you ready for a bath?” I interrupted them.  Theo quickly put the box back under the tree.  Desi walked to me, soaked again.  “We were just playing a game,” Theo explained, guilty.  “I saw,” I told him.  I took Desi's hand and we walked to our room.  Ripley stayed behind with Theo.

Inside our room, Desi immediately started stripping out of her wet clothes.  Aris went into the bathroom and started the water.  I waited for Desi, then put her clothes down the laundry chute in the bathroom.  Aris was already in the bath.  I changed into a bikini and had the skin put my hair up into a bun.  Aris stood and helped Desi in, who immediately started popping bubbles.  He helped me in with a smile.  I sat down with him.  “Can I wash your hair,” he asked Desi.  She nodded her head yes and got her hair wet.  He lathered her up real good with shampoo, then helped her lean back to rinse.  He did the same with conditioner, then handed her the bar of soap.  “Can I wash your hair, Yaris,” she asked sweetly.  “How about next time?” he asked, “this time I am going to put you down for a nap, then come back in here and finish my bath with Jade.  Is that okay with you?”  She nodded her head yes.

He stood up, lifted Desi up out of the tub and wrapped her in a towel that he had waiting beside the tub.  He got out, put on a robe and sat her up on the vanity.  He combed her hair out then carried her out of the bathroom.  I leaned back in the tub, closed my eyes and relaxed.  I tried to clear my mind but just couldn't.  What am I going to do?  Two of them?  Maybe I am just not the right girl for this life.  Maybe they rescued the wrong person.

“You are the right girl,” Aris said from behind me.  He had entered silently.  I wonder how long he was standing there.  “Not long,” he told me.  He took the robe off, hung it up and descended into the bathtub.  I leaned forward and he sat behind me.  Before I could lean back he started kneading my shoulders with expert hands.  “Did you take a class for this?  Because it is positively wonderful,” I told him.  “You could say that,” he answered.  He unfastened the bikini top and I just made it disappear.  He lightly rubbed my neck, then moved his hands back to my shoulders.  He lightly kissed the back of my neck.

“I am sorry about that ambush with Ripley,” he apologized, “he just couldn't wait.”  I didn't say anything, just trying to enjoy my massage.  He stopped and pulled me back to lean on him.  “You have to remember that your decisions affect countless others, not just yourself,” he went on.  It's really hard to enjoy myself while getting lectured.  “How does that decision affect countless others?” I asked, incredulous.  “If you reject Ripley, then someone else steps up,” he answered.  “Who would that be?” I asked.  “It does not matter because you are not rejecting Ripley,” he answered.  “Will there be a third?” I asked.  “Only if something happens to one of us,” he answered.  “Do I have to pick him out too?”  “Not yet.”

We sat in silence for a few minutes.  “Are you ready to get out?” he asked.  Not really.  “Yes,” I answered, “I’m ready for a nap.”  “After a cigarette?”  “Yes.”  I stood up.  “Put the bikini on,” he told me, only seeing my backside.  “Why?” I asked, “Don't you want me?”  “Is that an invitation?” he asked.  “Maybe,” I answered.  “Put it on,” he told me, “Desi is in the bedroom.”  I put the bikini on and started up the stairs.  He stood up and took hold of my hand.  He followed me up and out.  I started toward the closet for a robe. He pulled on my arm and I ended up face first into his chest.  I looked up into his eyes.  He had been crying too.  The steam went right out of me.

“I appreciate your loyalty,” he whispered, “but I do not see it as a betrayal of me.  If you do not do this, it will seem as a betrayal of your people.  And more will just keep coming.  Please do not make it harder than it has to be.”  I leaned my head against his chest and slid my arms around him into a hug.  He slid his arms around me and hugged me back.  We stood there like this for a few minutes.  He broke away and with his arm around me, he led me to the closet and wrapped me in a robe.  He put a robe on himself.  He led me into the bedroom where Desi was still sleeping soundly.  We both changed into our snowsuits and went out onto the balcony.