Tristan Trilogy- Story 3

CHAPTER 39

Tim and his family arrived early in the evening, two days before Thanksgiving. That had not been the original plan but Megan had pleaded with her parents to go down to her uncle's house a little early and they had relented. 'Aunt Tris will need me to make the decorations!' she had insisted. Megan had not forgotten the high praise she received on her artwork two years ago and felt that her talents were needed to guarantee a successful dinner. Besides, there was going to be a lot more people there this year and she would have more decorating to do - and more compliments to acknowledge. Tristan let Megan have free rein with the decorations and had thought to purchase construction paper, pipe cleaners and other craft items that Megan might find useful. The only stipulation that Tristan gave her is that she must use the autumn leaves that she had collected for Kevin in Kentucky. Megan was agreeable to this and even let Will help out - but only a little. Thankfully, Tristan’s baskets of toys, books and puzzles kept him out of Megan’s creative hair.

Kevin arrived home the day before Thanksgiving. He hadn’t been home very long before Ann announced that she was going out to pick up a few last-minute items for dinner. Tristan couldn’t imagine what she could possibly want to get. She had been very methodical in making sure they would have everything that they needed but Ann had insisted that she needed to go. Tim and Tracy had simultaneously risen from their seats on the heels of Ann’s announcement and began to call for the children to come along.

“Leave them here!” Tristan protested. “They’re having fun! They don’t want to go to the grocery store - it’ll be a mob scene today..”

Tim was quite firm. “No. They’re coming with us.”

He went on to say that they would be gone for a couple of hours and repeated his timetable quite loudly two more times before they left. Five minutes later, Kevin’s family was on their way out. Tristan had walked them to the door with Kevin coming up behind her, unaware of the knowing glances that Kevin was exchanging with the adult members of his family.

“You should have backed me up, Kevin!” Tristan grumbled as she closed the door. “They shouldn’t be out in this mess today and there’s not one thing that we need..”

“There’s something that I need, Tris..” Kevin murmured into the top of her head. “Something that I need bad…”

Tristan finally got it. She whirled around to face Kevin, a pink tinge creeping slowly up her neck.

“I love it when you blush…” Kevin laughed.

“Is that why they left?” Tristan sputtered, wide-eyed.

“I suspect so.” He grinned. “Come on, baby. I’ve got something for you..”

“I’ll bet you do…”

Tristan pressed herself up against Kevin’s body and then stepped back, frowning. The contact she was attempting was falling short of the desired goal. Her belly had grown - she was grinding air. Kevin had been leaning in for a kiss, his hands on either side of her belly as if he were holding a basketball, when Tristan moved away from him. Now he looked into her face, puzzled at her sudden withdrawal. Her eyes slowly shifted to his, full of disbelief and alarm. Kevin’s brows furrowed.

“What’s the matter?”

Tristan started taking great gulps of air and blinking rapidly. She was obviously upset and Kevin found himself replaying the last thirty seconds in his mind, trying to figure out what had happened. No - please, baby… save the hormone shit for later - please…

“Oh, God, Kevin! I’m so horny! I want you! It’s been so long!”

Yes! Kevin nodded vigorously. “That’s good, Tris! Come on! Let’s go up…”

“I caaaan’t” she wailed.

“Why the hell not, Tris?” Kevin’s brows had dipped again.

She looked at him as if he were crazy and her expression shifted before his eyes from dismay to profound irritation. uh-oh…Incoming mood swing…

“Gee whiz, Kevin! I don’t know!” she hissed angrily. “Don’t you see a little problem here?” She emphasized her point by slamming her significantly larger abdomen against his body between words, pushing him up against the wall. “I’ve slam gotten slam too slam damn slam fat for sex!”

“Jesus! Calm down! You’re gonna break somethin’” Kevin pushed her back and held her at arm’s length. “Now I want you to settle down and relax. Go on upstairs. I’ll be up in a minute.”

"What are you going to do?" Tristan asked suspiciously.

"Just make a quick call, that's all. Now you go on up…"

*****

"Line 2" , Carol said, rolling her eyes. "He's baaaack…"

Dr, Malone looked at his watch. He couldn't have been back for too long.. He had seen Tristan on Monday and knew that Kevin was arriving today after almost three weeks of intensive album promotion. He had actually missed the boy and his panic laden phone calls. He took a moment to move into 'serious doctor mode' before he picked up the phone.

"Hello, Kevin. Home for the holidays, I see.."

Apparently, Kevin had neither the time nor the inclination for idle chitchat.

"Tristan says she can't have sex."

"I'm doing fine, and you?" the doctor smirked.

"Sorry. Tristan says she can't have sex."

Dr. Malone rolled his eyes. "Why?"

"I was hopin' you could tell me!" Kevin fussed. "I want to know if she can't because she's not supposed to or if she can't because…well..she can't.

"Why don't you ask her?"

"I don't think this is a good time to …. question things too much"

Dr. Malone grinned into the receiver. "Well, there's no medical reason that she can't have sex and by 'sex' I assume you mean penetration." He heard Kevin groan into the phone and had to cover the mouthpiece so his chuckling wouldn't be heard. "Is that what you mean, Kevin?" he pushed.

"Yeeeees…"

"She's probably feeling big and awkward. The standard missionary position may prove to be difficult at this point. You know, we talked about this, Kevin…"

"Okay, okay! I get it…" Kevin grunted. "I just wanted to make sure that sex was okay, that's all!"

"Did you read all of that book I gave you? There are some drawings in the back…"

"I don't need any goddamn pictures!"

Dr. Malone had to bite the inside of his cheek. He was going to miss Kevin Richardson…

"And then there's always oral stimulation…"

"Jesus…"

"Of course, that doesn't take the place of good ole…."

"Look…" Kevin interrupted, "…I gotta go. My family's coming back in one hour and forty-two minutes…"

"I see." The doctor said seriously. "One hour and - how many minutes did you say?" he teased.

"We're down to forty-one…" Kevin said impatiently.

"Well you just remember to be creative, Kevin." He couldn't resist adding a final comment. "I'll be sure and ask Tristan how it went when I see her again."

"I always am and, no - you won't…." Kevin spit back.

"Happy Thanksgiving, Kevin…" the doctor laughed. "And I mean that in every conceivable sense of the word… Remember, happy daddies make for…"

"Yeah, yeah - happy mommies.."

*****

Tristan was standing at the window when Kevin came into the bedroom. She was pouting but He was happy to see that she had slipped out of her clothes and put on a long satin bathrobe that she had knotted under her breasts. He moved up behind her quietly, wrapped his arms around her and nuzzled her neck.

"Ummm… You smell so good…" he sighed, inhaling the scent of honeysuckle he had missed so much. "You look so pretty, Tris. I've missed you." He felt her defenses weaken just a tad as she leaned back against him.

"You just want to get into my pants," she mumbled.

Kevin smiled. There was no anger in her voice. "Yes, I do…" he whispered.

She tried not to smile at his directness. The truth was that she wanted him to get into them.

"What if I'm not wearing any?" she asked coyly.

"So much the better…" His hand brushed down her hips, feeling for a narrow band of elastic. He felt nothing other than a distinct twitch in his groin.

"I have a present for you…" he sing-songed into her ear.

"Yes, I can feel it." She sighed, wiggling her backside against his crotch.

Kevin's pants grew tighter and he moaned softly. "Watch it, darlin'. You know what happens when Little Kev gets too excited."

"You may have to show me, Kevin. I'm not sure I remember…."

Kevin reached down between their bodies and slowly unfastened his pants. The best part about being away was coming home…

*****

They probably should have been watching the clock but they were both too spent to care about the time. They had given each other the best of both worlds that afternoon. Kevin had managed to coax Tristan out of her inhibitions fairly quickly and the result had been a slow and sensual round of lovemaking that had culminated in a synchronous orgasm that was almost painful in it's intensity. The loneliness of the road had been wiped away in one brilliant flash of light. The next round had been playful, joyous and positively tantalizing. Release had been secondary to pleasure and the aftermath of their union had brought with it kisses and caresses full of devotion and affection. Time had become meaningless - temporarily. Kevin and Tristan had forgotten about the clock until Megan came bursting through the bedroom door as her father screamed for her downstairs. At least they were covered.

"You didn't lock the door…" Tristan muttered under her breath.

"I forgot." Kevin swallowed.

Megan stopped halfway across the room and stared at the startled pair who were doing their utmost to remain unruffled.

"Why are you in bed in the middle of the day?" she asked curiously. "And your hair's all messed up and you're sweaty. Did you have a bad dream together?"

Tristan looked at Kevin, awaiting his reply.

"Help me.." he whispered.

"She's [your niece…" Tristan answered, biting her lip.

"Yours too - now." Kevin scowled.

"But you've known her longer…"

Tim, who skidded to a stop just outside the opened bedroom door, saved them from explanations.

"Whoops!" he grinned, not even trying to hide his amusement. "Sorry 'bout that! Come on, Megan.."

"But Daddy.." she protested, "…why are they in bed in the middle of the day? Even I don't take naps anymore…."

"Uncle Kevin's tired from his trip." Tim answered quickly, trying not to laugh. "You know, sometimes traveling just gets you all SCREWED up, honey…"

Tim's emphasis on the word 'screwed' did not go unnoticed by his brother and sister-in-law. Neither did his remark to Megan as he pushed her out of the room.

"You know, honey, I think Santa needs to bring your Uncle Kevin a new watch for Christmas."

Tristan and Kevin turned to each other as the door slowly closed.

"Your brother, the preacher…" she sighed.

Kevin nodded. "I'm thinkin' we should just start sellin' tickets…"

CHAPTER 40

Tristan had watched Kevin sleep for a while before she got up to take a shower. Jerald and Jana would be here at any moment and one of them should be downstairs to greet them when they arrived. Besides, she still had things to do, like set the tables and take some things out of the freezer. She had let Ann take over to a large degree, which suited both of them. Tristan slipped on some jeans and an oversized shirt and was just putting a touch of color on her lips when she felt Kevin’s stare.

“Why did you get up?” he asked, his voice still thick with sleep. “Did Megan scare you that badly?”

“No!” Tristan laughed. “We have company…” she smiled at him through the mirror’s reflection, “…and Jerald will be here any time with his new girlfriend.”

“Oh, yeah… the girlfriend. Thank God.” Kevin fell back onto the pillows, closing his eyes.

“Go on back to sleep, Kevin. You’re worn out. I’m going to order Chinese tonight and you can eat when you feel like it.”

“What are you going to get?” he asked sleepily.

“Don’t worry. I know what you like.”

Kevin’s face broke out into an evil grin. “That’s the goddamn truth…”

His tone caused Tristan to turn and look at him as his eyes opened to meet hers. He did look delicious lying there under the rumpled sheets, his hair mussed, his body relaxed against the down. One hairy leg was stretched out on top of the sheets and the other was covered, along with his manhood. A thick patch of black fur peeked out from under the edge of the top sheet that had fallen to his hips.

“Come here.” He commanded, patting the mattress.

Tristan walked over to the bed and sat beside him. Kevin quickly folded her into his arms and when he kissed her, she felt his tongue enter her mouth. His hands moved to the back of her head, holding her position as his tongue sought the caress of hers. Finally he lifted her head from his, leaving her slightly breathless.

“God, you taste good, Tris..” he said as he ran his finger over her bottom lip. “You smell good, too. I swear, you make me dizzy sometimes…”

“Soap..” Tristan offered in explanation.

“I liked the way you smelled before the soap, too. You smelled like….sex. I love it when you smell like sex.”

Tristan’s brows arched. “And what does sex smell like, Kevin?”

Kevin closed his eyes again, searching for a description that defied words.

“Hmmm… Sex smells like…. like warm earth - rich and musky. Organic.”

“So you’re saying I smell like hot dirt…” Tristan teased. “I think there’s a song in there, somewhere.”

“Heated soil makes me boil… ” Kevin began to rap.

Ann’s hollering down the hallway interrupted the impromptu concert.

“KEVINNNNN…..JERALD’S HERE!”

Kevin sighed, disappointed that their teasing had to end. “OKAAAAY!” he yelled back.

“It’s just as well.” Tristan said, pulling herself up. “White boys should never try to rap. It’s kinda pitiful…” she laughed.

“Wait a minute..” Kevin pulled her back down to the bed. “I said I had a present for you. Don’t you want it?”

“I thought you already gave it to me…”

Kevin shook his head in mock exasperation. “Hand me my jacket…”

Tristan reached over, pulled the black leather from the chair and held it up while Kevin fished through the breast pocket. He pulled out a narrow, velvet-covered box and handed it to her, smiling.

“Happy Thanksgiving, darlin’.”

“Ooooh! Kevin!” she squealed, bouncing up and down on the bed.

“Jesus, Tris! Please don’t do that - it makes me nervous…”

She slowly opened the box and gazed at its contents. Lying across the length of soft fabric was a gold charm bracelet with three charms attached. She lifted it out of the box and stared at it, fascinated. Kevin jumped in with an explanation.

“This one’s to remember your first Halloween..” he said, fingering the small gold pumpkin that had been covered in fire opals.

Her eyes met his and she blinked, effectively thwarting any oncoming tears. “Why do you think it was my first Halloween?” she whispered.

Kevin instantly backtracked. He didn’t want her to get upset at any hint of pity. “Your first Halloween with me…” he said quickly, managing to sidestep a potentially sensitive subject.

“Oh…” she nodded.

“And this one is for our first Thanksgiving…”

Tristan smiled at the tiny citrine and topaz covered turkey dangling from the gold chain.

“What’s this one?” she asked, fingering the last charm - a small square, one half covered with black onyx and the other half hidden under blue sapphires.

“That’s the vanity charm…” Kevin grinned. It’s the new album..”

Tristan laughed. “You mean ‘the new record breaking album’….”

Kevin took the bracelet and fastened it around her wrist, very glad that he had opted for the shorter length. Seven inches would have been too big for her.

“Thank you, Kevin.” She whispered as she leaned down to kiss him gently.

“KEVINNNN?” Ann’s loud voice assailed their ears once more, interrupting the tender moment and startling them both.

“Damn, that woman can holler!” Kevin sighed, irritated.

“I imagine you gave her plenty of reason to practice…” Tristan pulled herself away, stood and straightened her shirt. “I’ll get downstairs. You take your time,” she said as she hurried to the door. She stopped at the threshold and turned back. “You’re so sweet, Kevin. Thank you for the bracelet. Every time I look at this turkey, I’ll think of you..” she said with complete innocence.

Kevin pursed his lips and nodded. “Let’s just keep that between us, okay baby?”

*****

"Hi, Jerald. I'm glad you could make it."

Jerald spun around at Tristan's greeting and they embraced each other awkwardly. When they broke apart and Tristan glanced around at the rest of the family, she couldn't help but notice that Ann, Tim and Tracy looked a little odd. They almost seemed ill at ease and Tristan hoped that it wasn't because of the tensions that had resulted from the magazine spread. As far as she was concerned, that was over.

"Where's Kevin?" Jerald asked, looking over her shoulder.

"He'll be down in a minute. Where's Jana?"

"Bathroom… I can't wait for you to meet her."

Once again, Tristan felt a strange vibe. Ann and Tim were throwing glances at each other. Suddenly Tristan heard a woman's voice behind her.

"Well, this must be Tristan! Thanks for having me in your home!"

Tristan turned to the voice behind her and momentarily froze. Before her stood a woman close to her own age with long blond hair approximately the same color and length as hers, just slightly straighter and thinner. Her coloring was a little darker and she had brown eyes but aside from that they could have been related. She had Tristan's pre-pregnancy build and they were no more than an inch apart in height. This woman even had dimples. The resemblance was nothing short of startling and for a second or two, Tristan was speechless. Jana didn't seem to be taken aback like Tristan was and for a moment Tristan wondered if she was imagining things. She smiled reflexively and turned quickly to her in-laws trying to determine whether or not she was having a mild hallucination. They were having difficulty meeting her questioning gaze. She was not dreaming. They'd had the same thoughts.

Tristan moved quickly into the role of hostess and encouraged the new arrivals to follow her into the kitchen so she could get them something to drink and spend some time getting acquainted with Jana. Tristan could hardly take her eyes off the woman. The chitchat was bland and superficial as it often is when people meet each other for the first time and besides, it was easy to see that Jana and Jerald were both exhausted. Tracy and Ann joined them after a moment and Jerald took his leave to sit with Tim. Not many minutes had passed before Tristan heard a bedroom door slam and her bewilderment suddenly turned to nervous anticipation. Maybe he won't notice… I'm probably making too much of this…

Kevin didn't even see Jana at first. She was leaning against the counter behind him when he entered the kitchen, looking for his brother.

"Kevin…" Tristan nodded past him. "Meet Jerald's friend, Jana.."

Ever the congenial host - at least to strangers - Kevin turned to greet their guest as Tristan, Ann and Tracy measured his reaction, which was both immediate and transparent. He was stunned and didn't even make an attempt to grope for words. He didn't have to. Jana was stunned, too. Jerald hadn't told her just who his brother was and Jana was a big fan. Her hand flew up to her mouth and she began to squeal.

"Oh my God! Oh my God! I can’t believe this! I'm gonna kill Jerald! He didn't tell me that…. that…. he was… Oh my God! I'm having Thanksgiving dinner with a Backstreet Boy!" She leaned to the side and wiggled her finger at Tristan. "I knew you looked familiar…."

No shit… Kevin thought.

"…I must have seen your picture on the internet and in that magazine! God, I am so embarrassed!"

Kevin's eyes had grown dangerously narrow and he was beginning to redden. [What the fuck… Tristan had to intercede quickly and calm Kevin down.

"Don't be, Jana." Tristan smiled nervously. "Jerald probably wanted to surprise you…"

"Yeah. Surprise.." Kevin mumbled, still fixated.

"Listen, Jana, I need for Kevin to help me for just a minute outside. Maybe you and Ann and Tracy can get an order ready and I'll call out for Chinese, okay?"

Tristan pulled at Kevin's arm until he finally took a few steps and reluctantly followed Tristan out of the kitchen and through the living room. She could feel the tension in his arm. He was getting wound up. Jerald's comment as they passed through didn't help.

"Hey Kev! Where are ya'll going? Need any help?"

Kevin turned rigid and stopped to glare at his older brother. His eyes were on fire.

"No Jerald. I don't need any help but I'm thinkin' that you sure the fuck do!"

When they got outside, Kevin jerked his arm free of Tristan's hold and began pacing. His breathing was harsh as he pushed his hand through his hair and fought to gain control. His mind was racing a thousand miles a minute. What the fuck is he trying to do? Is he crazy? I thought we were getting past all of this shit and now he brings Tristan’s goddamn double into my house… He was becoming so enraged that he didn’t hear Tristan calling to him. I was almost convinced that I had been imagining things. The fuck I was! I wonder how long it took him to find…. ‘Jana’…

“KEVIN!”

He stopped short and tried to reel himself back from an explosion. It’s Thanksgiving. My family is together. I have a hit album. I’ll soon be a father. I’ve found a beautiful, sexy and kind woman who loves me. Me. ME. And a brother who’s an asshole or crazy…Easy..easy..easy… His problem, not mine…not mine… Kevin was bowing his head as he rubbed at a small spot in the center of his forehead.

"What?" he whispered.

"Are you all right?"

Tristan was trying to casual and unaffected. She felt like she could almost read his mind but echoing his thoughts would only validate his anger. She decided to play it down and hope for the best. Kevin's eyes darkened as they met hers.

"Are you saying you didn't notice anything …unusual about Jerald's new 'friend'?" he hissed.

"No.." Tristan lied. Again.

"She's your fuckin' twin! Jerald's finally gotten it through his thick skull that you're mine so he's decided to get himself a duplicate!"

Tristan had to soothe him now. More than anything else, she wanted them to have a peaceful holiday. Their friends would be with them tomorrow. Kevin needed this. She needed this.

"We don't look alike.." she tried to assure him. "We just both have blond hair - that's all."

"Don't you go handing me that shit, Tristan! You both have very long blond hair - almost the same shade! You both have fuckin' dimples! You're the same height!…."

"She's taller.." Tristan corrected.

"Maybe by a quarter inch! She talks like you! She walks like you! She's built like you!"

"I don't think she'd built like me now…." She laughed lightly, trying to move Kevin to temperate territory. He wasn't buying it.

"Jesus Christ, Tristan! Don't you go tryin' to screw around with me! Not about this!"

Tristan reached up and pulled Kevin's head down to hers. If she didn't put out this fire, he was going to blow. She spoke to him softly and stroked his cheek and after a few moments, he closed his eyes and held her wrist, holding her fingers against his face. Soon they were rocking slowly and his breathing had slowed.

"Kevin, baby.." Tristan whispered. "You have me. Don't read more into this than is there, okay?” He looked at her plaintively. He wanted to be convinced. She went on. “We’re going to have a nice dinner tomorrow with your family and our friends…”

“She squealed…” Kevin reminded her.

Tristan smiled and ran her fingers through his hair. “I know, but she was surprised. Jump on Jerald for not warning her but nothing else, okay? Try to let it go.”

“I don’t know, Tris…” he deliberated, shaking his head.

“Please, Kevin…. Everyone will be gone on Friday. It’ll be just you and I…”

The threads of an old Melissa Manchester song began to roll through his head and his free arm wrapped around her back and he began to move his feet. He tried very hard to focus on what he had and not what the thought someone else wanted. Tristan moved with him as he sang the chorus to her…

“Just you and I
When the legend’s over and we have just begun,
We can look to each other to pull us through
Just you and I…..”

*****

Ann had left Tracy and Jana in the kitchen and inched her way to the French doors to try and get some indication of how Kevin was handling this ‘surprise’. They had all been shocked at Jana’s resemblance to Tristan but as she glanced over at Jerald who was having an animated discussion with Tim over college football, she couldn’t honestly say that Jerald had deliberately tried to provoke his brother. In fact, he had been genuinely puzzled by Kevin’s earlier outburst and had chalked it up to jet lag. Subconsciously, however, Ann had little doubt that part of Jerald’s attraction to Jana lay in the fact that she reminded him of Kevin’s wife. As she watched the couple dancing slowly near the pool, she came to realize that it was probably not Tristan herself that Jerald hungered for. What he craved was that indefinable spark - that passion that she had brought to Kevin’s life. Kevin would never understand that. To him, Jerald had become a physical threat - a threat that was diminished only by the fact that they were blood and that, in itself, provided a line that could not be crossed. Somewhere in the deep recesses of Jerald’s mind came the conclusion that if he could find somebody like Tristan, he could have what she and Kevin seemed to share.

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