Chapter 44

             "How would it work?"  Judy asked. 

            "How would what work?"  Juanita asked, answering a question with a question.

            "You know, if your husband married another woman?"  She clarified.

            "Like you, maybe?"  Juanita said as she looked up from putting dishes in the dishwasher.

            "Well..uh...no...I...just......." Judy stuttered.  She didn't want to lie yet she didn't expect to be caught so unexpectedly and she didn't know how Juanita would really feel.

            "Relax," Juanita reassured her.  "It's okay.  George and I have talked about it."

            "About me?"  Judy was surprised.  What type of couple was this that they could openly talk about adding another woman to the husband's life?

            "Yes, you."  Juanita said as she smiled at Judy's surprise.

            "Weren't you jealous or anything when he brought it up?"

            "Um..I'm not sure if it was he or I that brought it up first, but I've known for some time that God might be leading us in this direction so we've talked about various possibilities."

            "Well, how do you feel about it?"  Judy asked.

            "Look, you need a husband and a father for those boys.  You probably also would like to have a man to hold you in his arms and to make love to you.  Am I right?"

            Judy blushed and turned beet red in the face.

            "I can tell by your face that it’s true and I'm sure you've thought of George."

            Judy's face once again revealed Juanita was right.

            "You and I get along fine.  So when all three of us are sure it's what God wants, we'll have a small ceremony here in our home. Of course, it won't be something that's legal or that can be registered that is.  It will be right before God and witnessed before God by us all, but that's all.  George will be your husband as well as mine. Some nights he'll spend with you and some with me."  Juanita said matter of factly.

            "What will people who know us think?" Judy asked.

            "Well, for some people, even most, it probably would not be wise to tell, Oh, Charles would know and Aaron and Cheryl and Tabitha, but they all understand and would approve."

            "What about neighbors?"  Judy asked.

            "Well, they already know you're a house guest and our sister in the Lord.  I suppose they would just assume that the arrangement continued to be more permanent than we expected."  Juanita replied.

            "But suppose George and I took a walk around the block; there'd be talk."  Judy posed tentatively.

            "Yes, there could be," Juanita said as she reflected on all the possibilities.

            "And if you get pregnant, everyone would be speculating if it was George's or someone else's."  Juanita said half out loud and half to herself.  Looking up and speaking more clearly, Juanita announced, "I guess some things we'll just have to face as they come up."

            Juanita looked forward to sharing with her husband the conversation she'd had with Judy.  But Shawanda showed up first.

            "Mrs. M, do you mind if I speak to muscles."  She asked.

            "No, not at all, but he isn't home yet."  Juanita answered.

            "No problem, I'll just get a basketball and shoot some baskets till he gets here."

            Within half an hour, George came home and joined Shawanda in the back yard.  "What's up?"  He asked.

            "Here, shoot,"  She said as she passed him the ball.

            George dribbled three steps, did a jump shot that was off just far enough to hit the backboard and go in.

            "Lucky shot," Shawanda howled as she grabbed the ball and went up for one of her own.  This time she missed but she ran and grabbed her own rebound and shot a lay up that went in.

            Juanita brought out two lawn chairs and reported that she'd have lemonade shortly.

            After they were seated, Shawanda began.  "Muscles, I like the Christian fellowship and all but this polygamy talk has got me a little unnerved."  She began.

            "Really, why?"  George asked.

            "Well, let's assume for a moment, that's just for a moment," she insisted, "that you guys are right."

            "Yes," George said encouraging her to continue while realizing she was groping for words.

            "What about my big wedding with the white dress and the tuxedoes and all the friends and relatives.  It couldn't happen!  The most important memorable day on a girl's life would never happen!   I mean nobody's coming to a wedding where you're marrying a married man!"  She exclaimed.

            "I see your point," George said as he reflected on her point of view. "I suppose it's a question of..."  He paused as he began his answer.  "if whether we really want what God wants or whether we want to live out all of our own fantasies and dreams."

            "It's not just me!"  Shawanda howled.  "My mom!  She's been looking forward to my wedding since I was a little girl.  I couldn't just take that away from her."  She said conclusively.

            "Oh, I see better now," George replied.  "It's not just our own fantasies and dreams but it's others as well. Let me ask you a question.  How many girls do you think live out their beautiful princess and handsome prince ideal wedding scenario and are then divorced on less than five years?" He asked.

            "Um...about half, I'd say," Shawanda replied.

            "I'd say you're about right."  George conceded.  "Now," he went on, "How many of those girls suffer for years if not a lifetime for one day of memories and a picture album?"

            "A lot," she replied.

            "Yeah, a whole lot," he agreed.  "It's a matter of do you believe God wants you to have a known proven product or an unknown entity.  We know for sure he doesn't want you marrying some unsaved man.  The scriptures say 'Be ye not unequally yoked with unbelievers' in Second Corinthians six."  He concluded.

            "Still," she said as she stood up to dribble the basketball.  "I've looked forward to a big wedding for a long time."  She went up and made a perfectly executed jump shot.

            George grabbed her as she came down and gave her a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek.  She returned the kiss on his right cheek.

            Juanita was watching from the kitchen window, and was somewhat surprised that it didn't bother her.

            Judy was also watching unbeknownst to the other three from her bedroom window.  She didn't take the interchange of hugs and kisses nearly as well.

            "Oh, by the way, Jesse and I broke up," she called back over her shoulder.  "So I don't think you'll be bothered by him again."

            That's what she thought, but she was dead wrong!