“I know what a stiffy is,” Sandy replied curtly. “I just don’t know where you’re heading with this.” Giving a nod Lilly just stared at her, and Sandy realized she was waiting. “Yes, I’ve noticed that Lance studies everything to understand something before he starts anything,” Sandy finally said. “I just don’t know what you’re trying to say. Or how this deals with porn and erections.”
“Lance and Ian use porn like research. Just like those instructional DVDs or books,” Lilly told her, and this only confused Sandy even more. Realizing Sandy wasn’t following, “Sandy, they think ‘Men’ shouldn’t have erections unless the woman makes them right before they have sex. They both think only ‘boys’ have wood all the time.”
As her words hit Sandy, Lilly saw her face glass over in disbelief. “You have got to be shitting me,” Sandy blurted out.
Shaking her head, “Nope,” Lilly said. “They believe ‘Men’ have total control over that at all times.”
Pushing back from the table, “Are you serious?” Sandy gasped. “Grown men don’t have that control. Lance is smarter than that!” Sandy cried out not believing what she had just said, or heard for that matter.
“Yep, I’m serious. They think because they can’t control that part yet, both see themselves as boys in that regard. Because they’re studying it. Sex,” Lilly nodded. “They use porn like a study guide. And no, they won’t ask the men around here because they don’t want to be seen as boys by any of them. They believe only a boy would ask about having wood around girls. Real men don’t have to worry about that, in their eyes. Now if their dads were here, Lance would ask his. Ian, I’m not so sure.”
In shock but able to totally understand what Lilly was telling her, Sandy gave a slight nod. “Yes, he would’ve asked Johnathan.” Glad that Sandy was starting to understand, Lilly looked off again and Sandy just stared at her. It was in that instant, Sandy realized, Lilly knew Lance better than she did. “Just how in the hell did you figure this out?”
Giving a sigh because she’d only heard an accusation, “I listen to and watch Lance,” Lilly moaned.
Seeing that Lilly had misunderstood her question, for the first time Sandy felt bad that she’d hurt Lilly’s feelings. “I didn’t mean that I accused you of trying to molest him,” Sandy blurted out, then realized what she’d said and couldn’t help but laugh. “That sounded weird.”
Giving a laugh, “Yeah, it did,” Lilly agreed turning to Sandy, and was glad she hadn’t been trying to be mean.
“So, you’ve just watched him to figure this out?” Sandy asked resting her hands on the table.
“Yeah,” Lilly mumbled. “He’s everything I’ve ever dreamed of and more. I still don’t know why he wants a skinny old woman.”
All expression left Sandy’s face hearing Lilly say that. “Um, are you talking about yourself?” Sandy asked hesitantly.
“Duh, yeah,” Lilly scoffed. “I’ve talked to Jennifer. I know how girls and women chased after him and Ian.”
Leaning back in her chair, “So Jennifer knows all of them?” Sandy asked.
Not looking at Sandy to see the dark look cross her face or catching the slight growl in her voice, “Shit, Jennifer can give you the names and dates they tried because if one went after Lance, they were going after Ian too. It’s because of her and the Ladybugs that those women and girls didn’t get forceful and teach Lance and Ian, with “hands-on” experience,” Lilly chuckled. “She went out of her way to make sure those skanks didn’t take advantage of Ian, which meant Lance also.”
“I shall have to talk to her,” Sandy mumbled tensely and Lilly heard that, whipping her gaze to Sandy.
“Um, will you let me?” Lilly asked, and Sandy just stared at her. “No, I mean with you there. Jennifer wouldn’t tell you the entire story unless she’s relaxed. I know this sounds weird, but Jennifer is ashamed she butted into their lives like that. I think she’d worry you might take it out on her for not telling you but in Jennifer’s defense, she didn’t think you would’ve believed her.”
“So, Ian and Jennifer….” Sandy left open, staring at Lilly.
“Oh, hell no,” Lilly smirked. “I’m surprised Jennifer hasn’t thrown him down, though. Ian loves that girl and is intimidated by her something fierce. If it were up to Jennifer, they’d already be having sex. Shit, Jennifer would’ve jumped Ian in his home back in the neighborhood if she would’ve had the chance. But Ian… doesn’t want to be seen as a ‘boy’ in her eyes. He thinks Jennifer isn’t a virgin.”
“She is?” Sandy gasped.
Shocked that Sandy even asked, “Yeah. Jennifer was going to get Ian. Ian is and always has been Jennifer’s dream,” Lilly informed her. “Ian’s in love with her, thank goodness, but Jennifer was and is going to get him regardless. Ian will come to understand, resistance is futile”
Nodding, “Yeah, that girl’s been after him for a while,” Sandy said, then looked up at Lilly. “Are you?”
“What? Am I a virgin?” Lilly asked beyond shocked and Sandy nodded. “No, I’m not a virgin. I’m not socially deformed. Just to let you know, if this outbreak wouldn’t have happened, neither Lance nor Ian would’ve been a virgin after this summer. There were some sluts living in your neighborhood and despite Jennifer’s efforts, they would’ve gotten to them. And for your information, the ones who would’ve gotten to them weren’t girls, they were women.”
Blinking slowly as she stared at Lilly, “Let me ask, some of the women whose yards they mowed?” Sandy asked and Lilly nodded. Turning away, “I knew that bitch was a whore,” Sandy grumbled.
Unsure of which bitch Sandy was talking about, Lilly just stayed quiet. When Sandy turned back to look at her, Lilly saw a glint in her eye. “So, this year will be the year Lance isn’t a virgin anymore?” Sandy asked.
Pushing back from the table, “Okay, that was weird,” Lilly said. “I said if this hadn’t happened. Remember I told you, those women would’ve gotten hands-on. One was a mother and daughter combo. I’m sorry to tell you this, but going hands-on will push any guy past the limit, including Lance or Ian. Now, it’s totally up to Lance because I won’t get hands-on. It’ll be his choice. The only reason I would stay out of his life is if he wanted me to. I’m sorry but I love him, and I’ll deal with your anger and hate for me.”
“I don’t hate you,” Sandy sighed, then looked down at the table. “I wish Johnathan was here,” she said quietly. “I don’t think anyone is good enough for my baby boy. Johnathan would tell me I was wrong.”
“Shit,” Lilly scoffed, and Sandy jerked her head up. “Nobody is good enough for Lance,” Lilly snapped. “I just want to be good enough to make him happy. If I see someone better come along who could make him happier, I’ll step aside. Yes, it would kill me inside but…,” Lilly paused and wiped tears from her eyes. “I want him happy. He’s the best.”
Whoa, Sandy said in her mind, watching Lilly wipe tears from her face. Reaching over, Sandy wiped a tear that Lilly had missed off her cheek, startling the shit out of Lilly. “Please stop crying because I don’t want Lance to think I was being mean to you,” Sandy told her sincerely.
“Even if you were being mean, I would tell him you weren’t,” Lilly sniffled, shocking Sandy yet again. Seeing the shock, “I told you, Lance doesn’t need you demoted in his mind anymore. You’re the cornerstone of his psyche. If Momma’s here, he thinks he can make everything alright. And whatever you do, don’t ever tell him you’ve watched a porno; that would be too much for him right now. He knows you’re a woman, but you’re Momma. Let him figure it out later in life that you’re a normal person as well as Momma. I just don’t see that happening until he’s in his twenties.”
Loving the insight to how Lance saw her, Sandy started getting a little scared that he held her up so high. “I never should’ve asked you to leave,” Sandy blurted out and Lilly gave a startle. “I should’ve trusted Lance’s judgement; all I saw was I was losing my baby boy.”
Giving a shrug and noddin
g, “No, I understand why you did and I was trying to talk to you alone, but there’s just been so much to do,” Lilly said.
Folding her hands on the table, “I’m not trying to be an ass when I ask this,” Sandy said, and Lilly became instantly alert. “Just how many men have you been with?”
“Men?” Lilly scoffed. “None.” Watching Sandy’s eyes grow big, “No, they weren’t men by any standards, they were boys. The first was on prom night and I had two boyfriends in college when I was an undergrad.”
Startled at the confession, “Shit, I went hog wild in college as an undergrad,” Sandy admitted.
Throwing up both hands, “Whoa! Don’t you ever tell Lance you had sex with anyone other than his dad!” Lilly cried out. “Since you want to know everything about my love life, yes, I had a girlfriend in grad school. And if Lance asks, I’ll tell him everything. I want him to know because if he wants someone else, I won’t stop him.”
Shrugging, “In grad school, I was a LUG until I met Jonathan,” Sandy huffed with a grin. Looking at Lilly and seeing total confusion on her face, “LUG-Lesbian Until Graduation,” Sandy offered and Lilly shot out of her chair.
“You don’t tell Lance that, EVER!” Lilly cried out. “Not even on your damn death bed! If you have diaries, burn those motherfuckers! And if anyone alive knows, you tell them to keep their fucking mouth shut!”
Looking at Lilly, Sandy finally understood. “He doesn’t think I’m a girl?”
“Yes, he knows you’re a girl, but you’re better than any girl! You’re MOMMA!” Lilly cried out. She had to get Sandy to understand just how Lance viewed her, even with the demotion.
Seeing with Lilly’s reaction of just what she was prepared to do to protect Lance’s view of his momma, Sandy couldn’t help but smile tenderly at Lilly. Lilly would always put her baby boy first. “So, I guess I shouldn’t tell him that Johnathan and I went to parties-,” Sandy stopped as Lilly jumped back.
“Hey! I don’t want to hear it because he can see through me when I’m lying!” Lilly panted out.
With a warm smile, “Yes, the ones we love can see that,” Sandy smirked, then patted the table. “Will you please sit back down?”
Very hesitantly, because she damn sure didn’t want to know more, Lilly sat back down. “So do we need to start protection on you or Jennifer?”
“Ms. Sandy,” Lilly said, and Sandy beamed with how she’d addressed her. “I started both of us on that, just to be on the safe side for everyone. If it were up to Jennifer, neither she nor Ian would be virgins. She’s tried, and I mean she’s been forceful; damn near hands-on. But Ian can’t keep certain things ‘down’, and that embarrasses him to high hell. He leaves the situation before Jennifer can get real hands-on, and by that, I mean he runs away.” Looking into Sandy’s eyes, “Literally, Ian has taken off running,” Lilly clarified.
“And you’re certain that’s the reason?” Sandy asked.
Nodding, “One hundred percent, with no chance of being wrong,” Lilly replied. “They truly believe that ‘Men’ shouldn’t have wood until the girl starts… um, well…” Lilly blushed. “Oh you’ve seen pornos, you figure it out.”
“Yes, I know what you’re talking about,” Sandy smirked.
“I will say this,” Lilly coughed. “If Lance tries choking me like many of those movies, I’m going to punch him.”
Arching her eyebrows as she nodded, “That’s why his dad had to go to work with a busted lip one time,” Sandy agreed, and Lilly’s mouth fell open. “If it happens,” Sandy sighed, “and you punch him, I’ll understand completely.”
“Ewww!” Lilly cried out, jumping from her chair and doing the heebie-jeebie dance. “I love Lance with all my heart, but we have got to stop talking about this.”
Just watching Lilly dance around, Sandy was suddenly struck just how much Lilly acted like Lance. “Will you sit down so we can continue?” Cutting her eyes to the back door and really considering just leaving, Lilly turned back as Sandy spoke. “We’ll change the subject.”
Reluctantly sitting back down, Lilly gave a slight nod. “I want to ask you, what would you have done if you’d met Lance and all this hadn’t happened? Let’s say you boarded and bought a house in our subdivision,” Sandy asked.
Casting her eyes down, “I would’ve waited on him to turn eighteen, and prayed he would’ve recognized me in the background. I would’ve stayed single and just hope one day he’d notice me,” Lilly muttered.
Just hearing Lilly say it, put Sandy at ease. “Lilly,” she said clearing her throat and Lilly looked up at her. “You have my permission to be Lance’s girlfriend.” Her expression never changed and Lilly just stared at Sandy in utter shock. Leaning over the table, Sandy waved her hand in front of Lilly’s face and her eyes never blinked. “Lilly?” she called out and didn’t get any response.
Only when Sandy tapped her cheek did Lilly blink, then jumped back in her chair. “Really?” was all Lilly could say.
“Yes,” Sandy nodded. “You love him and I knew the day we got here, he loved you. I didn’t want it, but it’s not up to me. I’m happy with his choice, but there is one more thing,” Sandy left hanging.
Furrowing her brow, “What?” Lilly asked, wiping her face.
“If you two stay together, I want lots of grandbabies.”
Snorting as she laughed, “Hope you’re patient until Lance realizes he can’t control parts of his body,” Lilly told her as she wiped tears off her face.
Hearing a key in the backdoor, they both turned to see Lance walk in. The first thing he saw was Lilly’s face and knew she’d been crying. Lilly saw fire fill Lance’s eyes and leapt up. “Lance!” she cried out. “Your mom’s been talking to me and told me that it’s fine that I’m your girlfriend.”
Just as fast as the fire had filled his eyes, it vanished. “Really?” he asked with a grin, turning to Sandy.
After seeing the fire in his eyes and how Lilly had jumped up to make sure Lance wasn’t mad at her, Sandy forced a smile. “Yes, I see she loves you like you love her,” Sandy said, and Lance ran over and hugged her. “It’s hard for any momma to see her baby boy grow up into a man but you are, even though you were born old. And I have to say, you chose wisely with Lilly.”
Letting his hug go, “I think Dad would’ve liked her,” Lance said turning to Lilly.
Giving a remorseful sigh, “Yes, he would’ve, and I wouldn’t have had a chance to blow up. Johnathan would’ve pointed out how good Lilly is for you,” Sandy told him and hugged him again.
When she stopped hugging him, Lance looked down at Sandy. “I’m glad you two finally talked,” he admitted.
“So am I,” Sandy said turning to Lilly and held out her left arm. Lilly came over and they all hugged. When they let go, “Are you about done outside?” she asked Lance.
“Almost, just came to get my laptop,” he said, heading over to his desk. His and Ian’s desks were the only ones still between the kitchen and living area.
“I’ll wash my face and be out there in a minute, sweetness,” Lilly smiled at him and Lance headed back out.
“So, since I’ve adopted Jennifer, do I need to talk to Mary?” Sandy asked getting up, and Lilly busted out laughing.
“No,” she chuckled out, and turned to look at Sandy and saw she appeared confused. “Ms. Sandy, if you talk like we did with Ms. Mary, she’ll inform Ian that men never get control of that part of their body. She wants Ian and Jennifer together for life. She wouldn’t come right out and give permission, but she’d inform Ian about certain things.”
The first thought that occurred to Sandy was to object about Mary, but Lilly could read people like a book. Sandy stopped and replayed conversations with Mary over the years in her mind. After a few minutes, Sandy finally nodded. “I think I’m going to have to agree with you on that.”
After Lilly washed her face and went outside, Sandy gave a long sigh. “We could be dead tomorrow and I won’t interfere. My baby boy is happy,” she told herse
lf, moving to the sink. “But if she breaks my baby boy’s heart, she vanishes without a trace.”
Chapter Six
Bear Trap House
Standing in the front yard near the wrought iron fence and looking at the empty valley below, Heath slowly sipped his coffee as the sun rose from behind the ridge to the east. Never in his life had he been so happy to see that Sandy had accepted Lilly yesterday. They had pulled up to go with Lance and Ian to take the Bravo group more supplies and for the boys to lay out just what they would have to do. The fact the boys had handed over a laptop that contained those instructions had shocked Heath.
The Bravo site was just outside of the three mile perimeter at the town of Bimble. As Lance had explained to them, it would be the only point where anyone could get near the Wild Ones. But, only those they wanted could approach. There wasn’t a doubt in Heath’s mind if the boys had given the instructions to him, he would’ve passed out. The first had been the wall around Bimble, an eight-mile-long wall around the small town of Bimble to enclose just over seventeen hundred acres.
When Lance had pulled out a map with the outline of the fence, a twenty-foot-tall wooden fence, Jarvis had given a startle but never cried out as the boys continued. Both had told Jarvis they would have things like the thunder bots protecting them but as of right now, that was all they could do and they were sorry. It was clear Lance and Ian felt bad when both stated they’d wanted to help with the work but just couldn’t right now. It was only when Jarvis had laughed and told Lance and Ian that was more than enough, the boys had relaxed. Bravo group had twenty adults and older teens, then nine tweens and kids, and the boys said they would all have to work.
Even Heath had been shocked listening to how the boys laid out the: how, when, and what to do. He was certain it would take a year to build the wall, but the boys were confident the first stage would be up in a month. The second stage was another wall built ten feet behind the first and then between the walls would be packed with dirt. Lance said if the group worked like they had laid out; it would be done before Christmas. The wall wasn’t the only thing the Bravo group had to do, but it was the priority. They also had to build greenhouses as they built the wall.
Forsaken World | Book 6 | Redemption Page 8