Author: SerenaJ Title: Rachael and JD Part: Chapter 15 Universe: Reedville and The Davidson Fishery Summary: The Bachelorette Party Keywords: nosex Chapter 15: Better and Worse Because it was on Christmas Eve, the wedding was supposed to be a simple thing with just family. Just a few people standing under the willow tree out front and then dinner at home. At some point, however, it had spiraled completely out of Rachael’s control. When they renewed the engagement, JD hired a wedding planner and gave the woman’s phone number to both of their mothers. After that, Rachael was consulted about colors and preferences, but really was no longer involved with the planning. It was supposed to be just her and JD. Maybe Marcus and Helen. Her sisters. Instead the wedding party included all of them plus Charles, Edward and all seven grandchildren. They were still in front of the willow tree but now they also had a tent that held 200 guests – that way they could serve the buffet outside as well. Apparently, outdoor weddings in December are not impossible. She had at least insisted and won on her choice of silk flowers; fresh flowers were just too expensive. It was all costing a small fortune even so. ‘We could have bought a car. Two cars.’ She reminded JD almost daily. He simply shrugged. His mother was happy, her mother was happy and that was all he cared about. The whole month of December, JD seemed to be absurdly nauseatingly happy while Rachael stressed about the event. He had invited her whole family: first, second and third relations she had not seen since early childhood including one aunt still living in Puerto Rica. McElroys seemed to ooze out of the river to attend to wedding. “You gonna be there?” he asked when she complained about it again. “Of course; don’t be stupid.” “Then wha’do I care who else comin’?” He kissed her nose and headed back to his office. Helen and Marcus were in charge of the bachelor/bachelorette parties, both planned for the 22nd. That morning, a line split down the family – all the women moved into the family home and the men were mostly at Marcus and Candice’s house. Less that an hour after JD had been ‘thrown out’, the seamstress arrived for the final fittings and Rachael saw her full wedding party for the first time. The color of the day was pale green – willow green – and everyone was in a shade near it. Rachael’s long sleeve white dress was embroidered with pale green willow leaves around the collar, cuffs, waist and hem and the veil was pale green with white leaves around its edges. As maid of honor, Helen wore the same shade of green with white leaves embroidered. Gabriella, Lucille, Gracie, Beth and Joan were in progressively darker shades. Jean wore a tuxedo; she would walk in with her sister and 6-year-old Robert but would stand on JD’s side with Alex, Peter, Edward, Charles and Marcus. Not traditional, but not much at this wedding was. Rachael felt like she was either crying or giggling all day. After the fitting, Hanna, Stacy, Candice, Elizabeth, April, Momma McElroy, Momma Sullivan – as she had become known – and Tanta Nilda joined them for lunch. The sixteen of them squeezed around the dining room table and talked about family and marriage and Rachael cried again. She could not seem to help her self and every little thing overwhelmed her. Her sisters agreeing that the dresses were pretty. Helen actually showing up for a wedding. All the hugging. And above all, that JD still wanted to marry her. After lunch, she was sent to her room for a nap, which she resisted in principal, but she felt much better when she awoke several hours later. Hanging on her door was a garment bag with a “wear this” note taped to it. Inside was a white sheaf – barely more than a slip really – a pair of long white gloves, white lace stockings and a veil. “Good grief!” Rachael thought and opened the door to set Helen straight only to find Hanna sitting there waiting. “Helen said if-n you thinkin’ uh wearin’ somethin’ else, you’d best think again. Even in Reedville, we kin throw a bachelorette party. Now go on an’ git dressed; e’body waitin’ on you.” “Why did I let Helen plan this?” Rachael lamented as she searched for bra and panties that would not leave badly visible lines. It took her nearly a half hour to dress and do her hair but when she was finished, she had to admit she looked good. “I’ll have to wear this for JD next week, I think.” She did not what she was packing, in all honesty. JD planned the honeymoon and but would not tell her where they were going. She stepped out of the room and froze. Just down the hall, Hanna had changed clothes and now wore a surprisingly tight short skirt. Stacy was helping her adjust her stockings and had a hand much higher under Hanna’s skirt than the operation could need. Rachael heard Hanna groan then sigh and Stacy giggle. Rachael turned her back quickly and shut her door loudly. Behind her, she heard them gasp in surprise. “Damn!” Hanna burst, “No wonder Uncle Julius look sa happy these days.” “Oh, yeah,“ Stacy agreed, “An’ George say they a couple uh bunnies in the office.” “We are not.” Rachael blushed at the comment. Neither woman looked guilty and Rachael did not want to ask about what she saw, “Come on.” Stacy wore a pair of painted on jeans and a sequined halter-top. Similarly attired in the living room were Helen, Elizabeth, April, Gabriella and Lucille. “Aunt Candice took the girls to a movie.” April said, “Gracie is hot because she’s going with them not with us.” Stacy shrugged, “She’ll get over it. That one’s gonna find herself in trouble, if she’s not more careful.” “Like mother, like daughter?” April offered. Stacy got a little indignant, “George an’ me were different. We were in love.” Elizabeth snorted and April laughed. There was a knock on the front door and Helen jumped up expectantly. Rachael looked around. There were already eight of them. She could not imagine whom else Helen invited. It was a limo driver. “Thank Marcus.” Helen said as they all piled into the far too spacious vehicle. “He seemed to think we’d indulge in a bit of spirits this evening and didn’t want any one driving drunk. I didn’t argue since…” She opened a bottle of champagne and began pouring carefully. They finished that bottle and a second toasting the bride, the groom, the driver and anything else they could think of during the two-hour drive to Richmond. True to form, the evening started with dinner at a very nice strip club. Helen informed every employee that Rachael was a bride-to-be and provided pens for anyone who wanted to sign her dress with a name and phone number. By the time they left, Rachael was suitably mortified and the others in the group had collected a few numbers of their own. They worked their way through two more clubs before Helen accosted Rachael on the dance floor, away from the rest of the group. Wrapped around her from behind, Helen nuzzled Rachael’s hair then whispered in her ear, “One last time?” “Oh, god.” Rachael groaned, realizing that she had had far too much to drink to have any resistance to that. JD understood about Helen, he said. Hell, JD probably wanted Helen himself. Helen kissed her neck and she shivered. She started to turn around but stopped when Hanna danced in front of her and sandwiched Rachael between them. “Oh, god.” Rachael groaned again; they were pushing all the right buttons and she would not see JD again until the wedding. Helen and Hanna both took a step back as the others joined them. Hanna whispered something to Stacy and her eyes darted from Rachael to Helen and back to her sister-in-law. They both giggled giddily as Lucille slid up to Rachael and pulled her aside. “Isn’t she a little, you know, touchy-feely?” “Who, Helen?” “Yeah. I saw her and the other one you were dancing with…” “Hanna.” “Yeah, they were in the bathroom and they were not shy.” “Oh.” Rachael frowned and danced over to Helen, “You promised, hands off the McElroys.” “I promised hands off the married McElroy men.” “So?” “Hanna’s not ‘men’. Or married. ” Helen smiled, wickedly, “Come to think of it, neither is JD. Yet.” Rachael had time to roll her eyes before Gabriella and Elizabeth pulled her over to a table of guys having a bachelor party to get her dress signed. By this time, there were signatures on her gloves and stockings as well. Before she left the table, the DJ made an announcement about Rachael’s signature dress. Rachael saw April wave from the booth just before a crowd of signers blocked her view. Someone handed Rachael another drink, and eventually, steered her back on to the dance floor – where she stayed until the club turned on the lights and all but swept the eight of them out at 2:30am. Helen called the limo and Rachael stole a moment to dial JD’s cell. He answered on the second ring, “Ain’t you ‘posed ta be off fornicatin’ wit yo’ friend?” “Same to you. You’re not supposed to answer my call.” she laughed, “I wanted to leave you a dirty message.” “Oh, well, then. Here, le’see if-n this young’un wants ta do that fo’ me.” He moved the phone aside and she could hear bad rock and loud voices in the background, “Honey, com’er an’ talk ta mah wife.” Rachael heard both Charles and Marcus react to that but the phone changed hands and a very young voice said, “Hello?” “Oh my god!” Rachael laughed then noticed her group waiting for her, “JD is so drunk!” she thought for a moment then spoke to the girl on the phone, “Ok, here’s what I want you to do: Blow him – right there in front of everybody – trust me, under those conditions, it won’t take long. Then when you’re done, tell him that Helen said she’d see him later.” She hung up the phone and got in the limo. Gabriella stared at her, “Did you just tell another woman to suck off JD? And what was the ‘Helen’ thing?” “Oh it’s all in good fun.” Rachael laughed and took yet another glass of champagne, “He’s probably too drunk to notice. Or remember. Hell, I’m probably too drunk to remember.” “Gabby, relax!” Lucille handed her sister a glass and took a sip from her own, “Ok, ok! Truth or Dare?” The whole group chimed in and calls of “Bride first” rang out. “Ok, ok, ok, ok, ok, ok.” Rachael finished the wine and gestured for a refill. “Truth.” “Straight or Bi?” Hanna shouted out. Gabriella was visibly appalled but Stacy slapped Hanna’s thigh sharply. “She’s just being bitchy because she thinks we’re playing family rules.” “What’s that?” Lucille asked. Elizabeth answered, “Basically, ya’ll can’t refuse uh challenge an’ e’eryone answahs all questions.” She shrugged, “We spend a whole lotta time tagethuh so it ain’t like we got uh lotta secrets ‘round here.” “Very straight.” Gabriella stated flatly. “Very clear.” Hanna replied smiling, “But the bride was ‘posed ta answah firs’” “Bi” Rachael admitted, “but Helen already told you that, I’m sure.” “Really?” Lucille was mildly shocked, “Since when?” “About six years ago.” She stared at Helen, “I met this evil woman and…” Lucille put up her hands, “I don’t want to know! I’m a good catholic girl!” Gabriella snorted, “Oh, please!” “So I’m guessin’ that’s straight fo’ you?” Elizabeth laughed, “So much for mah dreams uh seduction.” Then she looked a little embarrassed, “I mean I guess I’m straight too ‘cept I’ve thought ‘bout it.” “Bi-curious?” Hanna asked. “Yeah, I guess.” Stacy jumped in, “Well, I’m Bi. Decidedly.” She sipped her wine, “And before you ask, yes, George knows.” “And I’m sure he doesn’t mind a bit.” April teased. When the laughed died down, she added, “I’m straight but I always wished I were, I don’t know, more adventurous? Ed wouldn’t mind if I brought a friend home.” “I saw your Ed,” Helen leered, “Let me know when you want a volunteer.” “Helen!” Hanna and Rachael both reproved her with a laugh. “Oh, please, like you didn’t know I’m a slut!” she laughed, “It’s not as if I’m subtle.” “Or shy.” Hanna added, “I’m neither.” “Neither?” April sounded confused. “Not straight, not bi so…?” Hanna gave her a few seconds then started humming the “Jeopardy” theme song. “Oh!” April said with a start when the obvious answer struck her. “Does your father know?” “I’m still breathin’, ain’t I? No. An’ I ain’t fixin’ ta tell him anytime soon.” “He’s pretty cool about Mike and Paul.” Rachael offered. “Ain’t neither uh them his ‘li’l angel’. Hell, he still sees me off when I work the boats so he kin threaten’ whoevah on deck.” “You work on the boats?” Lucille asked, incredulous. “We all have.” Elizabeth answered, “At least once. McElroy tradition. E’body work the rivah. Yo’ baby sistah nearly got swallowed up by it. But it ain’t scare her none. Daddy ‘bout lost it.” “Was he really that worried?” Helen looked dubious, “He’s always so reserved.” “Twice I seen Daddy undone. Once was when he tol me ‘bout…” she hesitated “…’bout why ya’ll broke up. I thought he done had uh heart attack. An’ the uhtuh was when Midday went missin’.” She looked at Lucille and Gabriella, “If-n we got radio contact, we don’ even worry but Midday was in the ‘lantic in uh sudden storm, gone seven, eight hours with no word. First time I seen April break uh sweat too.” April smiled weakly, “Ed’s Midday’s captain so I’m kinda used to him being late in bad weather. But that was bad.” She took a deep breath, “I never did thank you, Rachael. Ed says you saved his life.” “Yeah, well, if JD finds out I was on deck instead of below, he’ll never let me go out again.” There was an awkward moment of silence. Then Stacy peered out the window. “Hey! Where is this idiot going? We’re on 95!” “Oh,” Helen opened another bottle, “DC. We’re going to take a breakfast cruise back to Reedville.” Squeals of delight filled the air as everyone’s glass was refilled. “OK! No more sad talk!” Gabriella announced, “Next question!” “Easy,” April shouted, “First time. Who and where?” Rachael had to think for a moment, “Oh my god, I can’t believe I almost forgot him. Jorge Cordova in the back seat of his father’s Pontiac.” “Slut!” Lucille teased. “You’re just as bad!” Gabriella shot back, “She did it at the rec center with that guy who looks like John Leguizamo’s ugly brother.” “Carlos Aquino.” Rachael supplied. “He said he loved me.” Lucille countered, “and any way, we didn’t, you know, finish. So it doesn’t count.” “Oh yeah it does!” Stacy laughed, “If he broke the seal, he’s first.” She blushed, “Actually, it was Charles for me.” Everyone but Elizabeth gaped. “‘Charles’ Charles?” Hanna nearly choked. “Long ‘fore he started datin’ me,” Elizabeth laughed, “so relax.” She shrugged, “Me, I don’t know.” “Oh, come on!” Lucille prodded. “Yeah, out with it.” Rachel added. “No really. I was fourteen an’ at uh party an’ totally trashed an’ I think it was one uh the guys onna football team but I really don’t know.” “Oh.” Gabriella was genuinely shocked and the car got quiet again. “Oh lighten up!” Elizabeth laughed, “Two weeks later, I did the whole team anyway. That’s how I hooked up with Charles.” Gabriella’s eyes virtually popped from her head, “Wait – you meet your husband during a gang bang?” “OK, let me fix this for you.” Elizabeth’s smile faded, “I done half the men in this county an’ ain’t but one McElroy boy livin’ I ain’t had yet. I ain’t ‘xactly proud uh all that but I ain’t shamed neither.” “Hey, hey, guys,” Rachael tried to move between them, “This supposed to be fun, remember?” “Look, I don’t mean to be a prude, right? But I’ve, you know, never, ‘cause I’ve always dated guys I met in church so when I said no, they always stopped. I mean you love him so what do I know. Maybe your way’s better.” Elizabeth took another drink, “Not better, just mine.” There was a little more tense silence then April cleared her throat. “With Ed.” “Well, duh!” Elizabeth laughed. April blushed, “On the Pride. Under charter.” Stacy gasped, “With passengers aboard? Oh you dirty, dirty girl.” “It’s worse,” she said, “Granddad was captain.” Elizabeth laughed loudly, “Well, that’s bolder than anythin’ I done! Ya’ll nevah meet Marcus an’ Julius’ Daddy but he was a holy terruh!” Stacy and April nodded, “Candice hated that man. He scared damn near everyone.” Stacy shivered. “That kind always have secret vices.” Helen mused, “I wonder what his was.” “Don’t know, an’ don’t want ta. Anybody else still wanna play?” “No.” Rachael said firmly, “Actually I’m fading fast. I figure I’m gonna crash until we get to DC.” “I put the bride to sleep!” Helen gasped in mock disgust, “Well this party’s a bust. Here.” She handed Rachael a packet of aspirin and a bottle of water. After insisting she take them, Helen passed the same out to everyone else, “Guaranteed hangover cure. Trust me on this one.” She buzzed the driver and told him to stop at the next rest stop. By the time they got there, they all ran to pee and giggled like children. They climbed back in the car, still giggling. “Ok, I got one” Lucille said still laughing, “Peeing. Have you ever, you know…” “Eeewww!” April and Gabriella harmonized and laughed together. Rachael squirmed, “I went out with this guy who was into it, so I tried it. And …. eeewww.” “I’ve done it a couple times but mostly with some B&D people I know,” Helen said, “Trust me, under the right circumstance, it can be pretty hot.” “I heard the urine whitens teeth.” Elizabeth thought, “Granddad had awful bright smile.” This time the whole car groaned. “Oh ick ick ick!” Hanna suddenly shouted shaking her head and hands. “What?” “I just got a mental picture of Grandmomma and Granddad peeing on each other. Oh, that’s so wrong.” “Yes it is.” Stacy punched her shoulder, “Thank you so much for sharing it, bitch!” “I got a question,” Helen cooed as the groaning faded, “There are six McElroy men. Of the one’s you guys haven’t done, which would you do if you could. Hanna you are obviously immune to that one.” “Thanks. I could answer about the McElroy women…?” Hanna chuckled slyly. “Oh, we already know that answer – all of them.” Helen teased and Hanna stuck out her tongue. “Rachael?” She bit her lip. As much fun as all this was, these were the wives of the boys. That question could turn into bad blood quickly. Elizabeth jumped in, “Well, I know it’s bride first but for me, this is easy. This don’t leave the car, right? ‘Cause I only got one left. An’ aftah hearin’ ‘bout you two fo’ the last couple months, hell yeah, I’d do Julius if-n I could. I only call him ‘daddy’; he ain’t no kin ta me.” “George.” April said firmly, looking away from Stacy. “Really?” Stacy asked and April nodded, “Maybe we’ll get them drunk and swap.” April jumped then looked out the window and nodded again. “’Cause I’d defiantly put Edward on the short list.” Stacy finished. “Definitely worth it.” Elizabeth offered. “Elizabeth!” April covered her face. “Not just the tallest of the boys,” she went on “but also the ‘tallest’ by far.” “Oh, yeah?” Helen purred. “Oh, yeah.” Elizabeth chuckled, “Edward, Wilton, Marcus, um, George then Charles.” “Well that put Edward on my list.” Rachael quipped. “Oh God!” April rolled her eyes, “I’ll have to rent him out with the boat.” “Sounds like you’d make a profit.” Lucille put in, “I haven’t met the one, Wilton? But Charles is hot. I mean how small, I mean, you know…” “He kin get the job done.” she laughed, “You kin have ‘im the night yo’ sister let me have Julius.” “Family swap night!” Helen suggested. “Sick!” April laughed, “You guys are just sick!” “Sleep!” Lucille said with a laugh, “You guys are just asleep.” Stacy and Gabriella were dozing, leaning against each other. Hanna snuggled in next to Stacy and yawned. Lucille leaned against Rachael. Helen put her head on April’s shoulder and patted her lap for Elizabeth to lie down. Helen whispered something to her then after a quick glance to see who was watching, kissed Elizabeth on the lips. Elizabeth giggled and Helen leaned her head back on April’s shoulder. Rachael did not remember fading to sleep but woke with a start to the driver’s voice announcing their arrival. They were at the DC waterfront in SW, and after they all woke and got their bearings, Helen paid the driver and they all thanked him with a kiss. Helen then led the way to a charter boat where they were greeted with mimosas and smoked salmon. They watched the sunrise over the Potomac River as they ate eggs benedict and homemade sausage. “Helen, this was the best.” Rachael gushed, “Just the best. Thank you so much.” “Oh,” Helen actually blushed and waved the comments off, “I couldn’t do what I really wanted.” “What was that?” Stacy asked between bites. “I’m a member of this club and I wanted to rent the place but it was already booked. I’m missing the club’s Christmas party even as we speak.” “They’re having the party at 8:30 in the morning?” “They’ve been having it since 5:00 last night.” When everyone looked confused, “They’re not singing carols.” “Ohh.” Elizabeth leered at Helen, “Ima come up ta DC an’ you an’ me gonna have a long talk.” “I don’t think we’ll do much talking. You think Charles will mind?” “Not if-n I bring him with me.” “Don’t either of you think of anything but sex?” April grumbled. “No.” They said in unison. And laughed; everybody laughed. * * * * * * Thank you for reading the whole thing. More of my work can be found at http://www1.asstr.org/files/Authors/SerenaJ/