The Stepmother, Part 7

This fictional account contains adult language and graphic sexual themes.  If
such language and themes offend you, please do not read further.  The persons
and events described in this work are purely fictional.  Any similarity to
actual persons or events is strictly coincidental.  Copyright 2002 by
SSTORYMAN.  All rights reserved.  Permission is hereby granted to reproduce
this story in any form and for any purpose as long as this notice is
reproduced and no financial remuneration is received, directly or indirectly,
by the person reproducing it.

THE STEPMOTHER

7.	Dad Comes Home.

   At eight the next morning there was a sharp knock on the front door.  Tina
was in the kitchen brewing coffee and cleaning up.  Katie and Melissa were
still asleep.  Tina walked into the front hall and looked out the peep hole.
A tall middle-aged man in an open collar shirt and casual slacks was standing
patiently.  Behind him was a slightly plump attractive woman and a second man
in a suit.  Tina opened the door.

   "Yes?  This the Robertson residence.  What can I do for you folks?"

   "This is my house," announced Bill Robertson.  "And who the hell are you?"

   Tina was flustered.  "I'm, uh, I'm Tina, the new housekeeper."

   Bill Robertson walked brusquely past Tina into the entryway followed by
his two companions.  "Correction, young lady.  You're the _former_
housekeeper.  Your services will no longer be required.  You may gather up
your things and leave."

   "I don't know," muttered the dazed blond.  "Katie Robertson hired me to
-."

   "I suggest you ask Mrs. Robertson to come down and meet with us, miss,"
the other man interrupted.  "I think it'd be best if we could talk to her
right now."

   The commotion downstairs awakened Katie and Melissa.  Katie pulled a
bathrobe over her skimpy nightgown and was heading toward the bedroom door
when Tina called upstairs from the front hall.  The noise made Melissa
likewise jump out of bed and run into her bedroom down the hall where she
also found a bathrobe to put on.

   "Katie!  I mean, Mrs. Robertson!  Some people are here to see you!"

   Moments later Katie descended the stairs.  She had a grin on her face as
she saw Bill.  "Bill!  I didn't know you were coming back so soon.  My God,
darling, it's good to see you.  What a wonderful surprise!"

   Walking right up to him she kissed him on the cheek.  He remained
stone-faced.  He didn't respond to her gesture.

   "Katie, you remember Dick Witherington, my lawyer?"

   "Yeah, sure, of course.  Nice to see you again, Mr. Witherington."  She
began to realize this might not be a happy state of affairs.  But she
politely shook his hand.  For the first time she noticed the woman behind Mr.
Witherington.  "Oh my God!  Consuela!  I can hardly believe it.  Uh, I guess
Bill got you out of trouble."  She paused momentarily.  "Boy, that's great,"
she said with barely masked insincerity.

   "Katie, let's go into the great room and sit down to talk."  Bill turned
to the befuddled tall blond housekeeper.  "Excuse me.  What did you say your
name is?"

   She smiled demurely.  "I'm Tina, Mr. Robertson.  Tina Williams," she said
curtseying.

   "Yes, well, Tina, perhaps I was too quick to say what I did.  I'd like you
to stay on a little while longer.  Will you be so kind as to fix us some
coffee on a tray?  And if there are rolls or muffins or something to eat,
that'd be nice."  He gave her a pleasant but stern smile.

   "Yes, Mr. Robertson," Tina nodded.  She quickly retreated into the
kitchen.

   By now Melissa had come downstairs into the hallway.  She squealed at
Consuela.  "Oh my God," she shrieked.  "Consuela!  You're back!"  She ran up
to the Mexican woman and gave her an enthusiastic hug.

   "Hi, Missy," the plump housekeeper smiled.  "Dios mio, I'm glad to see
you!  Thank you for calling Mr. Witherington.  I knew you and your father
would take care of us."

   Bill motioned to the group to follow him into the great room.  Katie tried
to suggest she should run upstairs to get dressed first.  Bill unsmilingly
told her it wasn't necessary.

   The ashtrays in the great room were still dirty from the day before.
Consuela looked disapprovingly at the messy ashtrays.  Bill didn't seem to
notice or care.

   "I'll get right to the point," he began.  "Katie, for the last couple
months a private investigator I hired has been following you.  Shortly after
our wedding I began to wonder if I made a mistake marrying you.  In addition
to hiring a PI, I asked Edward to tell me if anything untoward happened
here."  He looked at his daughter.  "So Melissa, at the same time you asked
Edward to make a copy of the security camera tape of that incident at Katie's
party Thursday night, he secretly made a second copy for me."  He pointed at
Mr. Witherington's briefcase.  "We have it with us today."

   Katie fidgeted.  "Now Bill, let me explain -."

   "Shut up, Katie," he barked.  "My private investigator says you constantly
fool around behind my back.  He counts at least five men and four women
you've had liaisons with since the wedding.  Undoubtedly there are more, ones
he didn't see.  But the Thursday night security camera tape is the first
honest-to-God unmistakable confirmation of your infidelity.  Frankly, dear,
it's unacceptable to me."

   Again Katie tried to interrupt.  "Bill, let me -."

   "Hush!  Katie dear, remember our pre-nup agreement?  If I divorce you for
any reason the first year of our marriage you get nothing."  He looked at the
lawyer.  "Witherington has enough evidence in his briefcase, especially the
incident on the security camera tape, to give me grounds to divorce you.
It's over, Katie.  You and I are through."

   "Shit," she muttered.  "Bill, I can't believe you won't let me explain."

   "Okay," he smiled steely.  "Explain."

   "Before we got married I told you I need lots of sexual attention.  It's
just how I am.  But you can't give it to me if you travel all the time like
you do.  So I didn't think you mind too much if I - if I indulged myself a
little bit during your many absences."

   "That's bullshit and you know it, Katie," he retorted bitterly.  "I might
be willing to overlook a little fooling around.  But then I heard you turned
in Consuela to the INS.  It was the last straw!  Consuela has worked for me
faithfully since before my first wife died.  So as soon as I got Melissa's
voice mail about her being taken away by INS agents I made some phone calls.
First I called Senator John McCain's office in Washington.  I was a major
contributor to his last campaign.  His people got me in touch with the head
of the local INS office.  She immediately investigated the incident involving
Consuela at my request.  It turns out Roger Horner, your old private
investigator buddy, bribed an INS agent to take Consuela and her family into
custody and hold them there on trumped up immigration law violation charges.
When I heard that I canceled my business trip and came back.  Dick
Witherington and I talked yesterday while I was flying back.  He assured me
he could get them released immediately.  And he did."

   "I didn't know about a bribe," Katie whimpered.  "I only told Roger to dig
up any dirt he could on Consuela.  He said she was an illegal so he turned
her in."

   "Well, she's not," Bill countered.  "Your conduct is reprehensible, Katie.
I knew something was odd when you began smoking again with no warning.  Then
Edward said you told him to stop coming into the house, except the basement.
What's going on, Katie?  What are you up to?"

   "You really want to know?"  Katie was angry now.  Rage surged inside her.
"I'll tell you.  I started smoking because your lovely teenager daughter
Melissa made me.  That's right.  She got the videotape and threatened to give
it to you unless I provided cover for her own smoking habit.  You see,
Melissa started smoking at school, Bill.  I bet that makes you feel good,"
she added with bitter irony.  "Melissa made me smoke so you wouldn't realize
she was smoking.  I had no choice once the little bitch showed me the tape.
I only did it because Melissa made me."

   Bill looked sternly at his daughter.  "Is that true, Melissa?"

   "Yes, Dad, it is."  She felt nervous.  She hadn't smoked since she got up.
Her desire for a cigarette was fast becoming unbearable.  "I did start
smoking at Pemberton this spring," she confirmed.  "I wasn't sure what you'd
think so I didn't want to tell you.  But I also didn't want to quit when I
came home for the summer.  After the Thursday night incident I blackmailed
Katie into smoking.  I learned she used to smoke before you met her.  I
figured if she was smoking I could smoke all I wanted all summer.  Sorry.
Don't be too mad.  Please?"

   For the first time Bill displayed the faintest hint of a smile.  "Melissa,
I'm surprised at you.  You should know me better than that.  It doesn't
bother me if you want to smoke.  After all, your mother used to smoke and so
did I.  We both started in high school.  So it's not that big a deal to me.
But I'm disappointed you didn't feel you could talk to me about it."

   "I did tell Consuela," she admitted shyly.  "I told her as soon as I got
home from school.  I sort of intended to tell you, too, Dad," she fibbed.
"It's just that -.  Actually, I was afraid you might force me to quit.  And I
didn't want to quit.  I _like_ to smoke, Dad."

   "I get the picture, pumpkin," Bill nodded.  "But as pleasant as smoking
is, it's bad for you.  It's why I quit and why your mother eventually did,
too."  He smiled affably.  "But I must admit something.  I already knew about
your smoking.  Consuela told me before I left Monday morning.  She begged me
to give you my permission so you could come out of the closet and smoke
openly.  I promised Consuela I'd think about it.  It's strange, but I almost
found it agreeable to be in a house where people were smoking again.  It
reminded me of the old days.  So here's the deal.  I don't care if you smoke,
Melissa.  Does that make you happy?"

   The teenager squealed with delight.  "Oh my God, Dad!  Thanks so much.
I'm sorry I didn't tell you right away.  I should've known you'd understand."

   Katie rudely interrupted the magic moment.  "Bill, smoking's not the only
thing Melissa's been doing."  The jig was up.  Bill might take her down but
she had no intention of going alone.  It was time for revenge.  "Bill, your
innocent little daughter isn't so innocent.  She and I've been having an
affair, a sexual liaison, as you call it, all week.  Melissa's been screwing
me, making love to both Tina and me.  She does it constantly and loves every
fuckin' minute of it.  I've even got pictures.  What do you think of that?
Doesn't that piss you off?"

   Again Bill turned to Melissa.  "Melissa, what do you have to say to that?"

   The youngster hung her head.  She was furious at Katie but more fearful of
her father's response.  "I'm sorry, Dad.  Katie's right.  It's true.  But she
started it!  I'm sure Edward told you it was me dressed up as one of
Consuela's helpers in the security camera tape.  Katie came on to me that
night.  After she began smoking she did it again.  There's no excuse for how
I responded.  But I guess I was curious.  She started touching me and teasing
me and -.  Well, God, I'm only human, Dad.  I shouldn't have done it but I
finally gave it to her."

   "Bullshit," Katie angrily interjected.  "Melissa did a hell of a lot more
than reluctantly give in.  We've slept together every night.  If you don't
believe it, go upstairs.  Look in her room.  Her bed isn't touched.  She
didn't sleep there last night or the night before.  Instead she slept with
me.  We fucked, Bill.  Your precious little daughter and I fucked our brains
out all night long both of the last two nights!"

   Consuela looked sadly at the teen.  "Que es esto?  I do not believe it.
Missy, is this true?"

   "Yeah, I'm afraid it is," Melissa sadly nodded.  "I'm so sorry."  She was
trembling and desperately wanted a cigarette.  No, that wasn't quite it.  She
_needed_ a cigarette right away!  Her edginess finally reached epic
proportions.  She gazed at her father.  "Look, Dad.  This might sound crazy.
But it's awful hard to talk about.  Do you mind if I have a cigarette?  I
could really use one right now."

   Bill looked at Consuela, as if seeking her opinion.  She nodded with a wry
smile.

   "Yeah, okay," Bill sighed.  "I understand this is difficult.  We don't
mind if you smoke."

   "God, thanks," Melissa sighed audibly.  She reached in the pocket in her
bathrobe.  She discovered she hadn't put her cigarettes in the pocket.
Before she could say a thing, however, Consuela came to her rescue.

   "Here you go, mi chica," Consuela smiled graciously.  "Have one of mine."
She extended a pack of Newport 100s to the youngster.

   Melissa smiled and looked at her father.  His expression didn't change so
she reached out for one of the housekeeper's cigarettes.  "Thanks, Consuela.
I really appreciate this!"

   She quickly put the cork-tipped Newport in her mouth.  Using Consuela's
lighter she fired it up.  She never considered that for the first time she
was smoking in front of her dad.  It probably should've scared her and made
her much more circumspect.  But she was too stressed and nervous.  She
focused only on the tobacco filled cylinder in her lips delivering blessed
mentholated smoke.  She pumped once and then a second time.  She filled her
mouth with thick rich smoke and inhaled it deep inside her chest.

   Her father looked on with an almost amused stare.  "Wow!  I guess you
really _do_ smoke, don't you, honey?"

   An embarrassed Melissa nodded vigorously as smoke erupted from her lips
and nostrils.  "Yeah, Dad, I really _do_ smoke.  No doubt about it!"  Once
more she fiercely dragged on the burning cigarette.  "God, I must admit, this
makes me feel much better!  Thanks."

   Consuela also lit up a Newport 100 without apologizing.  "Of course,
chica," she said with an jovial grin while exhaling smoke.  "Everyone here
understands."  She looked at Dick Witherington.  "How about you?  Do you
smoke, too, Mr. Witherington?"

   The lawyer squirmed in his chair.  "Well, uh, actually I'm supposed to
have quit."

   Consuela triumphantly turned back to Melissa.  "See, chica?  Your father's
lawyer even knows.  If any smoker is under stress, like you are, she must
smoke."  She gazed at Bill.  "It's how it is.  But you know, too.  There's no
reason for Missy to be embarrassed, is there?"

   "I guess not," he laughed uncomfortably.  "Since Melissa smokes she
probably does need the relief.  Okay, honey, you were giving your side of the
story.  So what exactly happened to get you started having sex with my wife;
your stepmother for God's sake?"

   Melissa drew hard on her Newport 100.  "I don't know, Dad, to be honest.
I just wanted to try it.  Katie was so insistent.  She's right, though.  I
_did_ enjoy it.  I can't deny that.  And I did sleep with her in your bed." A
single tear ran down the teenager's cheek.  "I'm sorry, Dad.  I'm so sorry.
I apologize.  I didn't mean to hurt you."

   "Oh, that's great," Katie spat out.  "Do you actually buy this shit, Bill?
She's a little slut.  Maybe I am, too, but that's beside the point.  The
point is your fuckin' daughter's a real nympho.  The last few days she slept
with two women and one guy.  She showed no remorse till she got caught.  It's
all bullshit!"

   "Okay, Katie, so what do you want me to do?  Beat her?"  Bill turned to
Melissa.  She was weeping openly now.  "Honey, you say you didn't mean to
hurt me.  I believe it.  But it'd be impossible to hurt me sleeping with
Katie."  Seeing surprise on her face he went on.  "Katie has already proved
herself to be a slut.  She seduced you and sucked you into her web of sexual
corruption.  I'm not happy about it but I don't blame you; at least not
totally.  I know firsthand just how seductive and persuasive Katie can be if
she puts her mind to it."  He paused.  "I forgive you, Missy.  It was an
awful thing, disgusting, really.  But I almost understand how it happened."
He turned to glare at Katie.  "Sleeping around behind my back wasn't enough.
You had to pull my teenage daughter down to your level.  That's why Dick
Witherington will serve you with divorce papers this afternoon.  If you want
to drag Melissa through the mud in court, fine.  She'll have to deal with
that.  But you and I are finished, Katie.  Do you understand?"

   Katie gave a wanton stare.  "I sure as hell do!  Fuck you, Bill.  And fuck
your daughter, too."  She stood.  "I'm going to pack.  I see I'm not wanted
here any more."  As she walked by she stopped and touched Melissa on the
shoulder.  "I'm sorry it had to end this way, darling," she snarled with
bitter sarcasm.  "I loved how you ate my pussy and begged me to cum all over
your pretty mouth.  God, it was _so_ fuckin' hot!"  With that she left the
room.

   Tina appeared with the coffee tray.  She looked slightly dazed as Katie
stomped up by her up the stairs.

   "Uh, here's the coffee, Mr. Robertson.  I'm sorry.  I couldn't help
overhearing.  For what it's worth it's true that Katie seduced Melissa.  She
bragged about it to me when she asked me to take Consuela's place.  I may not
be the most moral person.  But even I thought what she did to Melissa was
over the top."

   "Thank you, Tina," Bill smiled.  "So is it true you slept with Melissa,
too?"

   "Yeah," she confessed.  "But please understand.  I needed a job.  Katie's
an old friend.  I was so glad when she called and told me she started smoking
again.  She and I were lovers in high school and college.  We drifted apart
when she quit smoking.  I myself never quit."  Tina smiled without apology.
"Katie and I, uh, we had a sexual reunion once she started again.  She said
she had a job if I was interested.  I said yes.  She knew that I'm bisexual
and that I'm not exactly opposed to casual sex.  The idea of working in a
mansion and having sex with two other women on the job sounded great.  I
never meant to hurt anyone, especially Melissa.  She's a good kid."

   "I don't condone what you did either, Tina.  But I also don't believe
you're entirely at fault.  You should've known better, though."  He stared
almost menacingly.  "Tina, I could file criminal charges against you for
statutory rape.  Melissa is only 16, you know."

   "Yes, I know," Tina whimpered.  "I'm so sorry.  I hope you believe me."

   Bill sighed.  "I'm not out to destroy you or anyone else.  I just want
Katie out of my house and out of my life.  Tina, you're free to go."  He
looked at Consuela.  "Make sure Tina gets paid for her time.  She's been
embarrassed enough.  She needn't suffer financially."

   "Si, certainly," the Mexican housekeeper agreed.  "Tina, leave me your
address.  I'll see that you get a check immediatamente."

   Tina left the room and Bill turned to Melissa who was crushing out her
cigarette.  "Honey, you got yourself into a real mess this last week.  I hope
you learned a lesson."

   "Yes, Dad," the youngster sniffled, her eyes still wet with tears.  "I'm
so sorry."

   "By the way," he went on.  "Katie said you also slept with some guy.  What
the hell is _that_ all about?"

   Melissa groaned.  "It's not what you think.  I went out with Enrique last
night.  He's Consuela's son's friend.  He's a wonderful guy.  I really like
him.  But yes, Enrique and I did have sex last night.  I won't deny that."

   Bill shook his head.  "What the hell?  The way things are these days I
can't complain too much if my daughter's sexually active, now can I?"  He
smiled.  "Honey, if you're going to, and I sure as hell did at your age, I
just hope you're careful.  That's all.  You know what I mean?"

   "Oh, don't worry, Dad," she replied.  She had a twinkle in her eye.
"Enrique and I were careful.  But I want you to know this.  It wasn't just a
one-night stand or anything.  I really like Enrique.  We're going out again
tonight."  She paused.  "If it's okay with you, of course."

   "Enrique is indeed a fine young man," Consuela interrupted.  "He's very
smart and very polite.  You will like him, I think, Bill."

   Melissa looked askance at Consuela.  Never before did she hear her
housekeeper refer to her father by his first name.

   Bill turned to Dick Witherington who looked uncomfortable sitting in on
this discussion.  "Dick, make sure the divorce papers go out this afternoon.
I want this marriage over as soon as possible.  Do you understand?"

   The white-haired gentlemen nodded.  "Yes, Bill.  No problem.  One of my
associates is working on them this morning."  He adjusted the tie around his
neck as if it was too tight.  "But you understand that our ability to get a
final divorce decree quickly depends entirely on Katie's willingness to
cooperate so we keep the legal process moving along."

   "Yeah, I know," he muttered.  ""Look, Dick, our pre-nup says she gets
nothing if I divorce her the first year.  Right?  So what if I offer her a
little something to cooperate and make it happen faster?  What about, say, a
couple hundred thousand or so?"

   Dick smiled.  "I suspect her lawyer will tell her it's more than she can
ever expect otherwise.  It'd be worth her while.  Your pre-nup is air-tight.
She's entitled to nothing."

   "Good.  Then just do it.  Make it worth Katie's while to get the divorce
over fast.  It's worth it to me to spend a little money if I can get rid of
her quicker.  But if she tries to get any more tell her I'll fight her in
court and she'll get nothing.  Got it?"

   The lawyer nodded.  "I understand, Bill."

   "Good.  Witherington, you can go."  He turned back to his daughter and
housekeeper.  The lawyer realized he'd been finally dismissed so he headed
toward the front door.

   As her reached the entryway he nearly ran into Katie who'd come down the
stairs with a suitcase, and Tina who was leaving from the kitchen.

   "Excuse me, ladies," Witherington nodded politely opening the door for
Katie and Tina.

   "Fuck you," Katie snapped as she walked past him.  Tina smiled more
politely and also left.  Witherington looked at the group in the great room.
He grinned one last time before leaving himself.

   "Whew," Bill sighed.  "That was painful; painful but necessary.  I'm happy
to finally be home alone with just the two of you."  He looked at his
daughter.  "Missy, I've been thinking.  I'm gone too damn much on business.
I'm not much of a father if I'm gone all the time.  Some of what happened is
probably my fault for being an absentee parent.  So the rest of the summer I
plan to stay home so we can spend time together.  What do you think?"

   "That's great, Dad.  I love having you here."  Melissa giggled impishly at
Consuela.  "Especially if you're serious that I really can smoke whenever I
want."

   "Hell, yes.  I said you could and I meant it.  To be honest, I don't give
a damn if you smoke.  I might mind some things but smoking's not one of `em."
He looked at Melissa sitting nervously on the edge of her chair.  He
recognized what was going on and laughed.  "My God, I suppose you want
another cigarette right now, don't you?"

   "Yes, actually, I do," she giggled again.  Consuela offered her a second
Newport 100.  She held out her lighter and once again lit up the teenager.

   "Missy, you certainly are a real smoker now," she teased.  "Here you go,
chica."

   "Thanks, Consuela," Melissa said.  She tipped her head to release a long
thin stream of smoke towards the ceiling.  "And thank you, Dad," she added,
smoke still dribbling from her mouth.  "I never guessed you'd be so
understanding about me wanting to smoke."

   "Consuela helped me think it through," he smiled.  He turned to watch
Consuela light up another cigarette.  "Which brings me to the second reason I
want to be home the rest of this summer.  Honey, did you realize I got back
into town late yesterday afternoon?"

   "No.  I didn't.  Why didn't you come home?  Where were you, Dad?"

   "I went straight to the INS office with Witherington to get Consuela and
her kids out.  Then I had the driver drop off her kids at her house.  But I
took Consuela to dinner.  I had some things I wanted to talk to her about."

   Melissa looked at him quizzically as she hit again on her cigarette.

   "The debacle with Katie made me do some serious soul searching.  Almost
everyone I know is my friend mainly because of my money.  Take Witherington
for example.  He acts like he's my best buddy.  But if I didn't pay his firm
over $100,000 every month to work on all my business affairs he wouldn't give
me the time of day.  It got me to thinking.  Exactly who are the people who
like me and are loyal just because of me, just because of who I am, wholly
apart from all my money?"  He paused.  "The list is pretty short, honey.
It's you, Consuela and Edward.  You're the only ones I can count on through
thick and thin."

   Melissa wasn't sure where this was going.  She began to exhale again and
nearly choked as her father reached out and put his hand on top of
Consuela's.

   "So last night I asked Consuela to marry me."

   Melissa stared.  She shook her head.  She didn't believe what she heard.

   "Uh, what did you say, Dad?"

   "Last night at dinner I asked Consuela to be my wife."  He turned to kiss
Consuela gently on the lips.  "Only after my divorce is final, of course," he
added with a guilty grin.  "Consuela, tell Missy what you told me in
response."

   The Mexican woman grinned from ear to ear.  "I said yes," she quietly
corroborated.  "This was not a hard decision for me.  Comprende?"

   Melissa started to giggle.  The giggle turned into a loud laugh.  She
stopped and again shook her head in disbelief.  "I mean, wow!  This is really
cool.  But you guys; isn't this kind of sudden?"

   "Actually, no.  Not really.  You didn't know, Missy, but after your mom
died I was very depressed.  Late one evening I started spilling my guts to
Consuela.  One thing led to another and, well, -."  He shrugged with an
embarrassed smile.

   "Your father means that he and I had sex," Consuela grinned.  "We had an
affair that lasted for almost six months.  But no one knew.  Not you, not
Edward, no one."

   Bill nodded.  "But I was an idiot.  I ended it.  Consuela should've kicked
me in the balls for doing it to her.  Amazingly she didn't.  She remained
loyal.'  He paused to kiss her.  "I quit sleeping with Consuela when I met
Katie.  I was stupid, Melissa.  I was crazy, infatuated, infatuated by
Katie's beauty and wild ways.  I thought she was what I wanted.  But I was
wrong.  It just took me awhile to realize it."  He paused.  "I want a woman
who's loyal and dependable through thick and thin, rich or poor, whether I
treat her well or her ill.  That's what true love is all about.  Only one
woman other than your mom has ever been that way.  That woman's Consuela.  So
last night I told her this dumb-ass finally realizes he truly loves her!  And
I want her to marry me."

   Consuela smiled.  "I always secretly loved your father, Missy.  It hurt me
when he ended our secret affair after he met Miss Katie.  It was one big
reason I never liked her.  But it didn't change how I felt about him.  I was
willing to simply be his housekeeper forever, even if he was married to her."
She raised her cigarette to her lips for a nice long drag..  "Thanks be to
God that Bill has finally come to the realization I had years ago.  He and I
should be together the rest of our lives."  She expulsed twin streams of
smoke through her nostrils.  "That means I will be your new stepmother,
Missy."

   Tears were again running down the teenager's face.  This time they were
tears of joy.  "Oh my God, you guys," she stuttered.  "This is almost too
good to be true.  Consuela I always thought you were more beautiful than
Katie.  In your own way you're gorgeous!"

   "I am a little too fat," she grinned with embarrassment.  "But your father
doesn't mind.  It is not so much the package, but what you do with the
package that matters."  She pinched Bill on the thigh.  "Your father
understands that."

   "Missy, I agree," Bill laughed.  "Consuela has voluptuous charm.  I find
her very sexy, very attractive, not in spite of her chubbiness but because of
it."  He kissed her again.  "However, Consuela did impose one condition on me
before she'd agreed to marry me."

   Melissa frowned.  "Oh?  What's that?"

   "I made him promise me he'll return to smoking, Missy," Consuela giggled
excitedly.  "Bill used to smoke, you know, back when your mother was still
alive.  God rest her soul.  Long ago I promised myself I'd never again live
with a non-smoker."  She nuzzled up against Bill's shoulder.  "But now Bill
promises that he'll smoke again.  So that means everyone in this house will
be smoking, Missy.  Muy bien,chica,  eh?"

   Bill quietly nodded.  "I really meant what I said earlier.  It's nice
being in a house filled with smoke.  It's like the old days."  Without
comment he took Consuela's cigarette from her fingers and raised it to his
mouth.  "Welcome me back, ladies.  I'm a smoker now, too."  He dragged hard
on her Newport 100 and inhaled smoke into his chest.

   Melissa didn't believe her eyes.  Her dad was actually smoking!  God, it
was stupendous; amazing; a wonderful surprise.  She watched smoke escape from
his lips as she raised her own cigarette to her mouth.  She dragged and
pulled some into her lungs.

   "Dad, this is simply unbelievable.  I am _so_ sorry for the mistake I made
with Katie.  But I promise, I so much appreciate you understanding
everything, especially about me wanting to smoke.  Now you and Consuela will
be together, and you'll be smoking with us.  Oh my God!  This'll be a
wonderful summer!"

   Bill squeezed Consuela and laughed.  "Yes, Missy, this will be a wonderful
summer!"

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