Circling

Tristan Trilogy- Story 3

CHAPTER 38

Tristan looked at herself in the mirror. It wasn't what she had in mind but the good stuff was gone when she got there. It was either this or a gorilla suit. The man in the costume rental store had described the outfit as 'Annie Oakley'. Tristan doubted that any trick or treaters would know who Annie Oakley was and chances were good that few of them had ever seen 'Annie Get Your Gun'. She decided to describe the costume generically and called it 'Cowgirl'. She might have been more accurate if she had called it 'Porter Waggoner's Country Jubilee' or 'Grand Ole Opry Circa 1952'.

Everything on the costume was covered in sequins and rhinestones. The Western style shirt had two giant, glittering cacti - one over each breast. The hat was heavily embroidered in metallic thread and boasted a blue sequined band. The skirt had a good three inches of fringe around the bottom and a rhinestone guitar on the front, slightly off center. Sparkling musical notes wound themselves from one side of the guitar, around her ass and back to the other side. Tristan no longer had a real waistline but, thankfully, the skirt band was elastic and now sat above the rise of her belly, just south of the giant cacti. She had boots, too - embroidered boots with huge spurs. The ensemble had included fringed gloves. They were decorated as well but Tristan wasn't sure what the design depicted. She guessed that she either had a wagon wheel on each hand or some kind of convoluted pie chart. The final touch could be found at her significantly high waistline. A black leather holster and two silver pistols completed 'the look'. She had fixed her hair into two long braids, hoping that would help her look more authentic. Maybe I should have gone with the gorilla….'

Her misgivings quickly disappeared when she remembered that she had a few more things to do to prepare for the evening. Tristan was actually clapping her hands as she ran down the stairs.

*****

The cabdriver was instructed to stop short of the gate. Kevin was going to surprise his wife after being away for almost a month. Tapings had been finished earlier than expected and it had been decided that final tour plans could be completed at Jive headquarters in Orlando.

He couldn't help but notice, not one - but six carved pumpkins scattered around the front door. Giant paper spiders were stuck on the entryway walls and plastic skeletons peeped out of the bushes. A small table sat on the stoop with four opaque gallon jars on the top. Holes about six inches in diameter had been cut into the sides and the contents of the jars had been written above in holes in black marker. Eyeballs, guts, lips, brains…. Kevin looked around and took in macabre surroundings once again. Surely she wasn't opening the house to strangers and weirdoes. She couldn't do this..

Kevin considered ringing the doorbell and hollering 'Trick or Treat!' but decided to go around to the garage and enter from there. He could hear Tristan humming in the kitchen and approached her from behind. The sight temporarily paralyzed him. He was looking at a combination of the Cisco Kid and a pregnant Vegas chorus girl. Living with Tristan was many things but 'dull' certainly wasn't one of them. She was filling a plastic skull with candy when Kevin announced his presence in his lowest voice.

"Well howdy, partner…."

Tristan dropped the skull on the floor as she spun around to face the intruder, her eyes wide with shock and alarm.

"KEVIN!"

"Don't shoot ma'am.." he pleaded, raising his hands into the air. "I was just looking to get me some vittles but I'd be much obliged if you'd do me the favor of a yodel.."

Her hat fell off the back of her head as she ran across the tile floor, jumped and attached herself to Kevin. Her center of gravity had changed and he fell back a couple of steps as her arms curled around his neck and her legs wrapped around his hips.

"Jesus Tris! The spurs - ouch!"

"Oh, Kevin! You're home! In time for Halloweeeeen!"

He hated to burst her bubble. Security, management and the label would have a fit if they knew what Tristan was planning to do. The safety issues never occurred to her. All she knew was that this was a fun and innocent holiday. It seemed that she was bound and determined to make the most of this pagan celebration - even if she had to do it alone. Kevin knew that she had seen pictures of all of them dressed up in years past. She might have a hard time understanding his hesitation.

"Uh, Tris…."

"Look, Kevin!" she interrupted, dragging him by the arm through the front door. "I've got gross stuff for the kids to feel!" She lifted one of the plastic jars from the table and waved it in front of him.

Kevin peered into the cut out opening of the jar marked 'EYEBALLS'. Peeled grapes covered the bottom of the jar. She giggled when Kevin made a face. The 'GUTS' jar was filled with cooked linguini, 'LIPS' were slivers of pimento and 'BRAINS' was a peeled grapefruit.

"The 'brains' part was hard…" Tristan said seriously as she straightened the jars on the table. She had put her heart into this.

"Uh…Tris….."

She turned and looked at him expectantly. "I'm so glad you're home, Kevin. Do you like my costume?" She twirled around for effect.

"Ride 'em cowgirl…" Kevin nodded. It's pretty hideous..

"I'll do that later, Kevin. It's almost dark…."

Kevin was having a difficult time making his point. He suspected that, given what he knew about Tristan's history, this was her first Halloween. He also realized in that moment that their children would never be forced to forego these simple pleasures because Tristan would never allow that to happen. Torn and empty pieces of her own childhood would be patched and filled as their own children grew and experienced the joys life had to offer.

"Tristan, baby…" Kevin placed his hands on her shoulders and tried to be as gentle as possible. "I don't know that this is a good idea…"

Tristan's smile began a rapid decline into a pout as Kevin went on.

"I mean, if word gets out that we're passing out candy and stuff - and you know it will - then this place is gonna be mobbed. There could be some serious trouble, darlin' and we don't have any back up or security…"

Tristan stared at him through eyes that had grown as wide as saucers. "But I have a costume…" she blinked. Her lip had started to tremble.

Shit… "Management and the label would strongly object, Tris. We don't know what will happen…"

Tristan looked at the floor for a few seconds, not saying a word. Then she slowly drew out one of her pistols.

"I'll protect you…" she whispered, waving the toy gun in his face.

"I'm sorry, Tristan. I really am…"

He really was. Tristan nodded and slipped the pistol back into the holster. Taking a tiny step back, she turned and began to pull off the sparkly gloves.

"Why don't you bring all that stuff inside Kevin and I'll go change," she said softly as she walked to the stairs. "I guess this was all pretty stupid anyway."

Fuck! Kevin wondered how many times she had said that, trying to convince herself that the uproar over this holiday was nothing short of silly. He could see one more little piece of her innocence melting away, leaving room for another tiny scar on her heart.

"Wait a minute, Tris.." Kevin shook his head. This was no time to be logical. "Let me make a call."

Tristan sat on the steps and waited while Kevin disappeared into his office. He returned after about ten minutes.

"Put your gloves back on, baby. I called the local cops and they're gonna keep a car close by. I can't help you hand stuff out and if anybody asks you - I'm NOT in Orlando. Okay?"

Tristan looked at him warily. "Really?"

"Really, Tris. I'm going to be watching from the garage window and I see one hint of trouble, I'm paging the patrol car. They gave me the number. Okay?"

"Okay, Kevin…" She was trying to remain serious and not grin but Kevin thought that she was doing a lousy job at hiding her glee. You could have hidden dimes in her dimples.

"I mean it, Tris - one tiny hint of trouble and I'm callin'…. the sheriff!"

Kevin couldn't recall having seen an adult actually skip before, but Tristan pranced to the front door like a young colt with bobbing pigtails. She was so bad at being cool…

*****

As busy as the group was in October, November was unbelievable. Anticipation for the new album was at an all time high. Award shows and events became non-stop events. BSB websites, lists and thread boards were all being hit with unbridled enthusiasm and retail record stores had gathered thousands of pre-orders for the new release.

At least the group would be off for Thanksgiving. The label had tried their best to obligate them to an appearance in the annual Thanksgiving parade in New York but they had unanimously drawn the line, determined to take their little breaks whenever they could. Tristan had invited twenty-five people for Thanksgiving dinner. She was over seven months pregnant now and her energy level was fairly high but prone to drop quickly.

Ann had decided to come down a few days early and give her a hand with preparations. Tristan had wanted to do this on her own. It was a point of pride but as time drew short, she welcomed Ann's help. Tristan had already done most of the baking by the time Ann arrived. Biscuits, rolls, breads, pies and cakes were in the freezer. She had done a little at a time and had been able to meet the challenge without too much trouble but the days immediately preceding Thanksgiving were going to be another story. In addition to food preparation, Tristan had to make room for all of her guests. The dining room would not be big enough and she didn't want to set up separate tables for small clusters of guests. In her mind, everyone should be seated together for Thanksgiving dinner. She decided to rent tables and chairs and pray for decent weather. If she moved all the furniture off of the veranda, it would hold two fourteen foot tables placed end to end.

This dinner was going to be more expensive than she ever imagined. She had also decided that instead of renting china, flatware and stemware and table linens, she would just buy them. The bill was enormous. Sterling wasn't cheap but at least the engraving was free. Tiny 'M's' adorned every handle of every piece of sterling.

She also had to get the house ready for guests. Not only would Kevin's mother be staying but also Tim, Tracy, Megan and Will. Jerald was coming, too - and bringing a girl - much to Kevin's relief. Ann was relieved, too, on one level but agitated on another. Ann was counting bedrooms….

*****

"Where are you planning to put everybody up?"

Ann was peeling herself through a small mountain of sweet potatoes when she asked her question. She glanced sideways at Tristan when she didn't answer right away.

The truth was that Tristan hadn't thought that far ahead. Never the perfectionist, she just thought that sleeping arrangements would take care of themselves. Kevin had been 'in charge' of that the last time that the entire family had been in Orlando. The circumstances had been different then; as were the number of people who were staying this time. Ann shifted on her feet and her lips had begun to tighten a little. Uh-oh…

"Well… I don't know for sure…"

"Don't you think you'd better start thinking about it?' Ann asked tersely. "Everybody will be arriving tomorrow."

"Yes, of course… Do you have any ideas?" Tristan asked carefully.

Ann didn't try to pretend that she hadn't been thinking about this, but she was trying to be careful, too. Her sons were adults and this house was not hers to rule.

"I thought the children could stay with me. I have the biggest guest room and they usually stay with me anyway when I keep them."

That's where her suggestions seemed to end. Ann rinsed off a sweet potato and cast her eyes towards Tristan once again. Tristan swallowed.

"What about Jerald and..and…?"

"Jana?" Ann finished. She didn't seem too happy.

"Yes." Tristan nodded. "Jana."

"You tell me, dear. It's your house. I'm just a guest."

Ann grabbed another potato and started attacking it with the peeler. At the rate she was going, that yam would be the size of a walnut in no time.

Tristan cleared her throat. "Well..um… How 'close' do you think Jerald and Jana are?"

Ann turned and faced Tristan with her hands on her hips. She still held the peeler in her right hand.

"You don't have to be delicate, Tristan. If you want to know if I think they're engaging in pre-marital sex, the answer is 'yes'!"

"Well, then, I guess they could share the other guest room….." The daggers that were about to shoot from Ann's eyes stopped Tristan short. She had the urge to swallow again. "…or not.." she concluded.

"You're the hostess!" Ann frowned. "It's up to you to take care of the sleeping arrangements!"

When Tristan fell silent, Ann took a little pity on her.

"Look dear, I know that young people become…um..intimate… rather quickly these days. I know that you were in Kevin's bed long before you two were married. I'm not stupid."

"Uh…. Gosh, Ann…" Tristan was blushing furiously.

"I'm not passing judgement, Tristan. All I'm saying is that at least you and Kevin had the good sense not to throw it in my face and play 'hide the salami' when I was right next door or across the hall."

Tristan felt a little lightheaded. She wished desperately that her mother -in-law had saved her concerns for her son. Ann went on.

"At least Kevin never had the nerve to expect that you would share a bed in my house!"

Tristan thought back to their trip to Kentucky over a year ago when she had been so upset over the prospect of she and Kevin staying with his mother. That was when Kevin has surprised her with the house and the ruby ring.

"But that's when he bought the log house!"

"Exactly." Ann nodded. She walked past Tristan to retrieve a baking dish and stopped to pat her on the arm. "You must be pretty good, dear.."

"Oh, Lord…." Tristan whispered.

"Look, Tristan…" Ann pushed her to a kitchen chair and they both sat down. "I'm going to be perfectly honest with you. Men have no qualms about the noise they make when…well, you know…"

"Oh, Lord…" Tristan's hands covered her face.

"And I just don't feel that it's necessary for me to hear all of that especially when the two people involved are not legally joined. Children are generally disgusted by the visual image of their parents having sexual intercourse…"

"Oh, Lord…" Tristan couldn't believe they were having this conversation.

"….but I must say that it works the other way, too. Kevin, Tim and Jerald are still my babies and if I'm going to have to listen to squeaking springs all night, then I want them to be the ones I'm sleeping on." Ann paused and placed her hands in her lap. "But it is your house…"

"Okay, Ann, okay…"

Tristan finally lowered her hands only to find Ann smiling at her as if they had just discussed the Baptist church bake sale.

"I'll take care of it.." Tristan croaked. "Jerald can take the sofa bed in Kevin's office and Jana can have the bedroom."

Ann nodded and sighed. "If that's what you want, dear…"

Email Grace

Tristan Trilogy - Story III

"Circling" is a work of fiction.
The characters and events portrayed are fictitious.
Any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidental.

Direct linking to stories on this site without permission is prohibited and considered copyright infringement

~BEST VIEWED ON 800 X 600 SCREEN RESOLUTION~

Fiction by Grace

Back to Bronwyn's Books