Ruth Menard Bernstein [END]

"Ms. Bernstein? Ms. Ruth Bernstein?" the doctor said. "You can go in now."

Dad and Bernie sat by the side of Mother's bed, holding hands, their heads bowed. The vital sign displays had been silenced and dimmed. Ruth was too late.

"You made it, Ruth," Dad said. He stood up to give her a hug. Dad was looking distinguished, now, his blond hair graying at the temples.

"Hi Dad," Ruth said. "Bernie? Or do I call you Mom now?"

Bernie laughed through her tears at her much younger half-sister. "You called me Mom half the time when you were little," she said. "I won't stop you now." Bernie's curly hair was pepper-and-salt gray. "Give me a hug."

Ruth held Bernie close. Her second mom. Bernie was maybe more of a mother to Ruth than the woman who bore her, a woman who was always traveling, speaking, writing, organizing things with other women.

"We're glad you made it," Bernie said. "Don't worry. Mom hasn't been awake for days, now. Maybe it's better this way."

Ruth's tears came. She cried for her mother, the one who expected so much of her, but had had only a little to give.

"Mom," Ruth told Bernie. "You're my mom now."

"Oh, Ruthie," Bernie said.

Ruth's tears soaked into Bernie's shoulder. She sighed. "It's really too bad," Ruth said. "I was going to tell her. They picked up my book. It's going to be a series now."

"What great news," Bernie said. "After all your work."

"You'll never guess who they got to play you guys," Ruth said.

Gary and Bernie looked up and listened as Ruth told them the actors picked to play the characters Ruth had based on Gary, Bernie, and Joyce.

Gary's eyes met Bernie's. Their eyebrows quirked in disbelief. They looked back at Ruth.

Ruth nodded.

The three of them burst out in laughter.

When all was quiet, Ruth took Joyce's hand. It was cool and soft as it rested on the hospital coverlet. "I'm sorry I couldn't make it, Mother," she said. "I really wanted to tell you. But it's going to be a thing. Not just my little book. And they're going to put in some of the sexy stuff I left out. So you won. I'm just sad you won't see it."

In the gathering dusk, Gary drove Bernie and Ruth toward home, taking the road overlooking the ocean bluffs. He drove on manual for the fun of it, taking the long gentle curves with ease. "The twins are over at Lil's," he said. "Sis has really been a champ."

"Oh, I was really hoping to see them," Ruth said.

"They'll be back tomorrow night," Bernie said. "Big as life and twice the trouble."

"I suppose there are some advantages to just seeing you and Dad," Ruth said.

Gary negotiated the turns back to the family home and activated the automatic parking mode. The garage door rose and the car glided in, stopping on the mark. "Welcome home," Gary said.

"Thanks Dad," Ruth said. "It's good to be home. Does this place still run on Mother's rules?"

"Absolutely," Bernie said.

Ruth laughed. "Good. I'll be glad to get all these off."

Gary, Ruth, and Bernie stripped off their clothes in the little dressing hall next to the garage, and soon were nude according to Joyce Bernstein's longstanding rules.

Ruth searched Bernie's face. "Bernie?" she said. "It's been a long time. But...would you take me upstairs?"

Bernie gave Ruth a broad smile. "I was hoping you'd ask." She took Ruth's hand.

Ruth looked at Gary. "Sorry Dad, I'm still too shy," she said.

Gary laughed. "Go have fun," he said, and gave her a wink.

Gary watched Bernie lead Ruth up the stairs. He sat in a chair in the living room and listened for the low vibrator drone, followed within a few minutes by the first notes of a delightful, wordless, two-part song of joy that rose in volume and intensity as his wife and daughter climbed up and then rode the waves of orgasm after orgasm in a sea of pleasure.

Joyce would be pleased at how her daughters were celebrating her.

Gary held back an urge to join them in physical pleasure, looking forward to his own celebration with Bernie later tonight.