With two patients recovering from meningitis, Elsrensia ordered both llhaesa and Addison to spend the next several days sequestered on opposite ends of the large sectional sofa in the great room. The mandate came with additional tenets to spend most of their time sleeping, occasionally watching video, reading, and only for brief spurts, gently playing piano.

Home for two solid weeks without interruption, Jahrae doted on llhaesa and Addison, seeing to it they were comfortable, eating, and resting as mandated. Any requests for either, any demands upon their time, Jahrae gently shunted aside, protectively and tenaciously guarding and nurturing partner and daughter alike.

The incident, the second threat to llhaesa in three months, though this was from a natural source, dredged up unpleasant memories and feelings in Jahrae. Both combined to rekindle the pain of loss felt across fifteen years, but Jahrae fought back; she would not lose llhaesa again, no matter the personal consequences.

With Addison, Jahrae embraced her motherhood, voraciously tending to the needs of her daughter day and night, and when she slept, it was with her senses attuned, ready for any call from Addie.

A telephone call came in from Sarah Willingham that morning, and Jahrae initially debated sharing the conversation topic with llhaesa, wrestling with whether awareness of the call – and its purpose – would spur llhaesa to do more than was advisable in her current recovery mode.

Instead of sharing the information, Jahrae decided to act on her own, advising Sarah of what the general parameters would be to gain their combined assent.

According to Elsrensia, Jahrae needed to keep llhaesa and Addison relatively inactive for several days, of which this was day one. Even though she handled the preliminary phone call and shared her thoughts, Jahrae did not like withholding information from llhaesa. After wrangling with the matter for a while, she gained a reprieve and additional time to mull it over as llhaesa fell into a long nap. During this time, Jahrae decided to share the information once llhaesa woke.

Llhaesa slept for three hours, finally coming to just before lunchtime. Jahrae checked on her ill charges every half hour or so, and upon entering the room, found Addie asleep while llhaesa was groggy but awake.

“Hey, ‘essa! How are you feeling?”

“I am sorry, what was that again? This ear seems blocked in some way. Wait a moment.” Llhaesa adjusted her position slightly in order that she turned her left ear toward Jahrae. “Now, what was it you said, J’har?”

Jahrae felt a knot tighten in her stomach; so far, the hearing issue Elsrensia suggested might arise was quite evident. She prayed that the other issue – llhaesa’s left hand motor skills – were non-existent. “I asked how you were feeling.”

“Ugh. I feel like something sucked all the energy out of me. Who would have thought the unmasking would leave me susceptible to such an illness?”

Jahrae struggled to hide her worry; she had no wish to alarm llhaesa. “This is new medical territory, ‘essa; it just was missed. Now that this happened, Elsrensia is reviewing everything, and you will undoubtedly undergo an extensive series of inoculations and treatments before she turns you loose again.”

“I guess I can endure that, though this inactivity will drive me crazy.”

Jahrae decided this was a good time to share the discussion with Sarah, hoping it would distract both she and llhaesa from lingering medical concerns. “’Essa, Sarah rang this morning.”

“Oh? How is she, J’har?”

“Sarah is well, though she was shocked to hear of you and Addison’s illness. She wished to discuss a project proposed to her. I handled the initial details, and hope you do not mind.”

“No, why would I mind?”

“You do not yet know what the project is.”

“Very well, what is the project?”

Jahrae smiled, knowing llhaesa would have mixed feelings about the matter. “A Hollywood studio wishes to do a film on the story on your life, actually on both of us, but you know what I mean; you are the primary interest.”

“Um, I think not.”

“You do not wish to do this?” Jahrae teased.

“No, I do not think I am their sole interest. You have a rather compelling story as well, and it is the entirety of this they seek – or so it was explained to me a few weeks ago, when the first mention in passing was made to me.”

Jahrae was surprised. “How come you did not mention this to me?”

“It was only said in passing, nothing serious, and you were off on Ambassadorial duties. By the time you returned I was rather distracted by Ahrella, you, and my work; I forgot.”

“You goof, but I forgive you.”

“Forgive me for not telling you about a hypothetical film?”

“Yes, but you still owe me when you are feeling better.”

“I promise to pay you back countless times. How is that?”

“Accepted.”

“Are you two talking about sex again?” Addison sleepily asked as her eyes flickered open.

“Who, us?” answered her two mums.

“Yes, you; um, both of you.”

“Not I, but your sick mum on the other end of the sofa, that is all she ever wishes to talk about – or do!” Jahrae teased, knowing she was tweaking Addison just a bit.

“That is too much information!” Addison blurted out, pretending to cover her ears. After a moment, she found some inner courage, and decided to take to the offensive. “Very well, I can play this game right along with you.”

Jahrae and llhaesa looked at each other with looks that seemed to message to one another, ‘ruh roh’.

Addison paused for a moment before speaking, her vision moving back and forth from Jahrae to llhaesa and back again. “Do you sex-crazed parents ever masturbate?”

Jahrae felt a slight smirk rise up within, her eyes betraying her thoughts to llhaesa, which was roughly, ‘you handle this one!’ but in the end, Jahrae believed exactly as she knew llhaesa would answer – that this was a wonderful discussion for them to have.

Llhaesa, in contrast to the smirking Jahrae, betrayed no sense of inner amusement, and went right after the subject matter.

“Yes, Addison, I do. Why do you ask?”

“Where do you do this?”

“Most often I would do so in the shower, occasionally in the hot tub, but I am a shower person all the way.”

Addison smiled, seeming quite pleased with llhaesa’s candid admission. “Thank you, mum ‘essa. And you mum J’har?”

“My answer is virtually identical to llhaesa’s, Addison. I will add it got me through a decade and a half without my wife physically present.

Since we both answered your question, perhaps now you will answer our question on why you ask.”

“Um, ah…well…I was curious.” Addison stumbled through finding the right answer and words with which to reply.

Jahrae looked at Addison and saw the sincerity and interest in her eyes and expression, and so she chose her next words carefully. “Addie, this is an excellent topic, and think both ‘essa and I are willing to discuss it candidly. Please do not be hesitant to share what it on your mind. This is a natural part of life really, and it should not embarrass you to talk with us and share how you feel.

Too many on this world are ashamed to admit they find pleasure in sex, and that is a rather unhealthy attitude. My instinct tells me you ask for a reason, and so I believe it would be nice for us to get past this barrier between us.”

Addison thought on Jahrae’s words, but instead of answering directly, asked a different question. “Do you believe mum Ronnie and mum Elsren feel this way as well?’

Llhaesa immediately shared an answer. “As a physician, it almost goes without saying that Elsren feels this way. As for Ronnie, in fact for both, while I do not wish to put words in their mouths, you would be safe to assume the answer is an affirmative one.

What are your thoughts on this, Addie?”

This time, Addie answered directly. “Thank you; I just do not wish to create issues between sets of parents. So long as you believe you all agree, I will continue.

Some of my classmates were joking about the topic, teasing someone about wanking. I spoke up and said as you did, that it is natural and everyone does it. The three who were making the comments looked at me funny, but I stood my ground.

It seems so hypocritical; everyone does it, yet some turn around and tease others; that bugged me. Not only were they hypocritical, but they embarrassed and upset the person.

I really appreciate your candour, mum J’har and mum ‘essa. I wish we were more open on the topic when I was younger, but our family has evolved in so many wonderful ways, I embrace what we have now.”

Jahrae took things in another direction. “I would rather you self-satisfy than have a one night stand with someone you do not love, and or engage in sex when you are unprepared to take protective precautions.

When I read some of the history of this nation, it is astounding a Surgeon General lost her job for suggesting this as a viable alternative for adolescents. That is such a silly, inane attitude.”

“Do you ever wonder if I am doing this?” Addison asked, warming to the conversation.

“Do you mean self-satisfying? Not really, Addie, in fact, not at all.” llhaesa quickly responded. “We each have our need for private space, and I doubt any of us parents think on you on such a detailed level. Now when a young child, if you were quiet and such, most often it meant you were into something that might prove worrisome, like say… a bottle of medicine or whatever, so at that age, yes, we did monitor and we did wonder when you were out of sight for a bit of time.

As a young adult, I know you are intelligent and honest, and I trust you heart and soul. You demonstrate very mature conduct, Addison, so no; I would never give it a second’s thought.”

“I have another question. You both seem ok with the idea of each other wanking. Wouldn’t it be better to just have sex together?”

Llhaesa and Jahrae both chuckled and likely thought of the same answer, though Jahrae responded first. “I love llhaesa with all of my being, and well, let’s just say we have a regular, healthy, creative, and thriving sex life. Yet this is my body, and I get to explore it, learn about it, and experiment with it, etc, even at almost thirty-six years of age. My thoughts are my own; fantasy is a healthy element of life, my dear Addie, and using our imaginations, allowing it to thrive, ultimately benefits both llhaesa and me.

While I do not speak for ‘essa, I am pretty certain – since we do talk about these things ourselves – that she feels exactly the same way as I do. It helps both of us all the way around.”

Addison lay on the sofa, weak but suddenly glad she was ill and with her parents, this was wonderful conversation, and she felt more of an adult than at another other time in her life to date. “Some of my classmates might faint to hear our conversation.”

“Yes, well, it is unfortunate but I guess that is all too true,” llhaesa lamented. “We do a great disservice to our young on matters sexual. We need to educate comprehensively on sex, and that includes teaching how to make good choices, be responsible, how to self-protect, how our bodies function, how they give us great pleasure, and know what pleases us and what does not. I have my favourite pleasures, which I share with Jahrae, and she in turn shares hers with me.

I think you begin to see how our knowledge of self helps our partners to be better lovers, Addison. Knowing ourselves, having knowledge of the subject matter, as well as communication, are huge keys in marriage, or any committed relationship. After all, is it better to remain silent and not coach a partner and let them guess, with a possible end result of you are bored to tears and not enjoying yourself, or do you wish to have the experience be one that excites you and which you treasure?

Jahrae and I are open and honest about all aspects of our lives – our likes, dislikes, preferences, our deepest secrets… she is my wife, my chosen partner for life, she needs to and does see my world, and I in turn wish – and do – see hers.”

“Then you would take me to Shake, Rattle, and Roll in San Francisco?”

Jahrae and llhaesa looked at each other once again for unspoken cues from the other, but for the first time since early in the conversation.

“Um, I do not recall mentioning a need for such a trip, do you, Jahrae?”

“Not me, ‘essa, I did not mention this. Have you looked on their website, Addison?”

“Yes I have.”

“And you know what you wish to buy?”

“I do.”

“’essa, what are your thoughts on this?”

“That Addie is fortunate to have four progressively minded mums who believe our daughters deserve to be educated, strong, and confident in mind, body, and soul.”

“Besides those things, silly.”

Llhaesa bobbed her head and looked in various directions, obviously contemplating and evaluating. After ten seconds passed, she replied. “Yes, yes, I am ok with this, what the hell. If I chose differently, it would run oppositional to everything we just discussed with Addison, and I have little wish to be hypocritical.

If we wish her to be enlightened on things sex, if we wish her to have a healthy attitude, be confident and strong, and all of those things I mentioned before, yes we do this.”

“Agreed, ‘essa, though I put my foot down; neither of you goes anywhere for four more days.

Now, I am going to shift the conversation back to that film about you.”

“What film?” Addison asked her parents, her interest piqued.

“Before you asked about wanking, we were actually talking about a film, not about sex,” Jahrae clarified.

“Oh. I thought you two were teasing about your intimacy – again.”

“Nope, we were discussing how a film a production company wishes to make a film about llhaesa, though in fact it would involve all of us.”

“Really?

Jahrae nodded, replying, “Yes. And what is more, their initial offer to Sarah to convey to us for the rights was for a tidy sum of $1 billion US dollars, plus 20% of gross revenue after the first billion.”

“No way!” Answered llhaesa and Addison together, both springing up from their half-lying positions.

“Jahrae, they will take this and make a sappy story out of it, I am not at all certain I wish to do this.”

“Suppose one of us had creative control over the film?”

“I really, really do not wish to be involved in making a film about me, though I also have no wish for it to be propaganda.”

“’Essa, someone is going to make that film, with your consent or not. It would be better to have some say in how accurate the film will be, rather than have some sloppy work done that mangles what is a beautiful story.”

Llhaesa turned over to her side, not comfortable with the topic and the proposal. “I get your point, J’har, but I would defer to you on the project. You make the call on the offer; you oversee the script and creation of the film.

Who would you think would be a good choice to play Addie?”