Chapter 50

It was a beautiful afternoon in Paris. The autumnal air was still warm 
enough not to need a coat or anything over the top of his suit jacket, and 
Stan walked out onto the balcony of the hotel room. He breathed deeply. 
Life was good.

He felt a hand in the small of his back, and another arm draped over his 
shoulder. He looked to his left, to see Anne, blonde hair up in a 
complicated looking knot, looking incredible in her ivory, flowing, 
strapless lace dress with a ribbon belt around her waist. To his right, 
Denise, gloriously curled red hair flowing past her shoulders and a slim 
gold headband holding the curls off her face and looking equally brilliant 
in her matching ivory halter dress.

"It's time, Stan," Denise reminded him.

"Okay," Stan answered. He turned. Anne stepped back inside the room, 
and Denise followed. Anne pinned the white orchid into the buttonhole of 
Stan's black dress suit, completing his costume. Then she stepped back to 
join Denise and they both faced him.

She and Denise picked up their bouquets, made of matching white orchid 
blooms. Anne asked, "How do we look, Stan?"

"Fabulous, my princesses. Fabulous."

"I love it when he says that!" Denise told Anne, and they both smiled 
warmly at each other. They turned to go, collecting their shawls from the 
king-sized bed. Stan followed. He kissed them both lightly on the back of 
the neck, and let them precede him from the room.

The hotel had a number of wonderful historic rooms, dating back to the 
18th Century. Stan and his two partners had an appointment in one of 
them, named after a former French Queen.

Stan had cast around, trying to find a way to demonstrate his 
commitment to both of his wonderful women. He'd hit on this idea, 
broached it to them and they'd loved it, running with the theme. Denise 
had suggested asking Elaine and Susan for ideas. They'd suggested 
something like this afternoon's proceeding, and Ken had suggested this 
wonderful venue (and, incidentally, he and a grateful Sid had paid for it.)

Inside the Marie-Antoinette room they found their guests waiting for 
them. Just close friends. Elaine and Susan were there, and of course 
Elizabeth and her new husband, James. Maggie was standing next to 
them with Valerie and her husband, while her husband and Ken were 
standing at the far end of the room, in front of the expansive balcony. 

Stan had got the idea from a story he'd read, once. An extended 
relationship was celebrated by the traditional giving and receiving of 
rings, but with a twist – each partner got three rings, which interlocked.

He'd ignored the pagan ceremony that went with it, as none of them were 
particularly religious. But the idea had stuck.

Now it was time. Stan, Anne and Denise went to stand in front of Sid and 
Ken. Elaine, a remote in her hand, pressed 'Play' and the sounds of Eric 
playing "Let it Grow" filled the room. Once the song was over the music 
faded, to be replaced by a soft instrumental version of some Gershwin 
love songs.

Ken cleared his throat.

"We all know why we're here. Stan, Anne and Denise have decided to 
show their commitment to each other by the giving and receiving of rings, 
and by an exchange of vows. I understand that Stan has decided to be a 
gentleman, as always, so he'll be going last. Which of you two ladies will 
go first?"

"I will," called Anne in a strong voice. She stepped forward and turned to 
face her two partners.

"Stan, Denise. I'm no poet, as you know, but I found this, and it 
expresses what I want to say."
 "I take you both to be my partner, 
to have, and to hold from this day forward."
 
"I give to you my unending love and devotion,
and I promise to be true to you, to cherish you, and to share 
my thoughts, hopes, and dreams with you both."
 
"I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you 
my best friends. I will love you forever."

She turned to her right, where Sid gave her a ring, which she placed on 
Denise's offered finger. She smiled at the redhead, splendid in her ivory 
dress, who smiled back as she pushed it all the way home.

Then Anne turned to her left, and took a similar ring from Ken which she 
placed on Stan's finger. Her eyes were bright with unshed tears as she 
stepped back alongside him, and he took her hand and squeezed it 
momentarily.

Denise took her cue from a nod by Sid, and stepped in front of Stan and 
Anne.

"I decided that, this being a very non-traditional relationship, we ought to 
have something with at least a flavour of the traditional. So:"

"I give you these rings, wear them with love and joy. 
I choose you to be my partners,  
to have and to hold from this day forward for better or for worse, 
for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health,  
to love and to cherish as long as we all shall live."

Denise placed a ring onto Anne's finger, and then put the second ring 
onto Stan's. He fiddled with them for a moment, then showed them to 
both ladies. The bands interwove and locked together, platinum and red-
gold.

Finally it was Stan's turn. He took a step forward, turned smartly about, 
almost as if he were on parade and stood there, looking at his two loving 
partners.

Stan closed his eyes for a moment. Caron was still with him, and egging 
him on. His throat closed and he was unable to speak for a moment, but 
then he smiled weakly, shook his head a little, and cleared his own throat.

"It seems I'm not the only one who thought along traditional lines on this 
very un-traditional day."

"The sun smiles on us today, our wedding day, and how can it not, for 
our love is stronger than forever and our hearts beat together as one. 
I promise to be a true and loving partner from this day forward, in 
all life's circumstances, as we face them together. In the joys and 
sorrows, the good times and bad, in sickness or in health, I will always 
be there for you, to comfort you, love you, to honour and cherish you 
both, now and forever more."

He took the ring from Sid and placed it on the tip of Denise's finger. "This, 
to me, is a marriage, sweetheart. Nothing less," he told her as they made 
eye contact and held it as he pushed the ring home, his platinum joining 
Anne's yellow-gold. Denise smiled, there were tears in her eyes but she 
was happy, that was certain.

To his left, Ken held the remaining ring. Stan took it and put it similarly 
on Anne's fingertip. "You, my beautiful darling, are equally my wife. 
Always will be," he told her, as they looked at each other, love in their 
shining eyes. On Anne's finger the rings were now platinum and red-gold.

Elaine cued up another track and turned up the volume. Carole King's 
immortal voice sounded out:

"Wanting you the way I do 
I only want to be with you 
And I would go to the ends of the earth 
Cause, darling, to me that's you're worth 
 
Where you lead, I will follow 
Anywhere that you tell me to 
If you need, you need me to be with you 
I will follow where you lead…"

"I think it's traditional for the brides and groom to kiss…" said Sid, and all 
three moved at once, sharing kisses that went on, and on…

"Hey, get a room!" called Elaine and Denise pulled away to say, "What 
for?" with an impish grin on her face. 

It was the signal for the release of pent up emotions, and everyone 
clapped the trio, and crowded round, offering congratulations. There was 
champagne, of course, and other drinks available, and some canapés for 
those in need of a nibble. A small party developed.

After a while, Stan went out onto the balcony. The view across the Place 
de la Concord to the Assemblée Nationale was amazing.

Elizabeth came out to join Stan for a moment.

"She's still there, isn't she, Stan?" He knew exactly who she meant.

"Caron will always be with me, Elizabeth. You know that, you've always 
got George with you, haven't you?"

"Every hour of every day, whenever I need him, Stan, just as you'll 
always have Caron. Do they realise they're in a foursome, not a 
threesome?"

Stan smiled wanly at his old friend. "I wouldn't put it quite like that. Both 
Anne and Denise know I'll always love Caron, that's what matters."

Stan excused himself, and made his way over where Denise stood with 
Elaine and Susan.

"I was going to play "Congratulations" by Cliff Richard, but Suze 
threatened to throw me off the balcony if I did!" Elaine was telling Denise.

"I think I'd have helped!" Stan interjected. All four laughed.

"That's a lovely song, Laney, and so appropriate," Denise told her. "Thank 
you so very much."

"How are you two doing?" Stan asked.

"Better and better, Stan," Susan answered. "Of course, Laney here might 
be needing another job soon if the rumours about The Firm are true, but 
we'll have to see what happens."

"Actually, I doubt if it'll be as bad as they say. I know the old man's 
retiring, but his son is interested and pretty sharp. Even if he sells, that's 
not the end of the world. In fact, this whole thing might be the kick up 
the backside The Firm needs."

Anne came over and took Stan's arm. "Sid and Maggie are going, Stan, 
the rest will follow soon," she told him. "Come on, Denny, we need to say 
goodbye."

Stan, Anne and Denise bid farewell to each of their guests. Soon they 
were alone in the room, with some staff already coming in to tidy 
everything away in readiness for another function.

"Back to our room?" suggested Denise.

"Good idea," agreed Stan.

"I think he just has designs on our bodies," grinned Anne.

"That's okay, I've got designs on yours – both of yours!" Denise replied.

"Hmm. I think I might wear my collar."

"Ooh. Do I get to play, too?"

"Of course. You're my wife, aren't you?"

Laughing, they made there way back to their room. Stan had his arm 
around both of them. He reflected that now they each shared their love 
equally with the others, in all possible ways.

The three were now truly The Three. Equal Shares for all.



The End.
- - - - - - - - - 


Afterword

So we come to the end of this tale, of the story of Stan, Anne and 
Denise, of Elaine and Susan, of Elizabeth and James, and of all the other 
characters who showed up in Equal Shares. 

Writing this story took me just about a year. In that time I gained many 
things: new friends, new helpers and especially new editors. Bob Hebert 
is still with me, and I thank him from the bottom of my heart. The 
Nameless Princess joined the team early on to provide a feminine point of 
view and her own expertise in editing, and Ian Loxton joined me later on 
as well when Bob's illness and Nameless' hip operation prevented them 
from helping as much as they wanted to.

I had a loyal team of checkers, most especially da.bridge and Whyy. Both 
of these gave me valuable help, particularly with timelines and such. 
Da.bridge in particular read through each chapter several times, offering 
much in the way of advice and clearing up many problems before the 
actual editors ever saw the text. Whyy read along as well, offering 
encouragement, advice and some pointed comments when they were 
needed.

I had help from several other sources that wish to remain anonymous, 
but they know who they are.

During the year I also had help from several other writers who offered 
encouragement and in some cases highly constructive criticism. Once 
again I have to thank Strickland83 for this, but also Velvet Wood, Big Ed 
(Be287m) and many denizens of Nick Scipio's chat room and forum.

Outside of the online world, I have to thank my friend Jean who read 
each chapter as it came out, with every sign of enjoyment. She 
encouraged me to continue and gave me first-hand real confirmation that 
I could write well enough to entertain someone.

And finally, once more I offer all of this to my darling wife Karen. You 
mean so much to me sweetheart, even though your first reaction on 
reading some passages was to say, "You can't write that!" Well I could 
and I did, to the accompaniment of indulgent smiles. I spent a lot of time 
writing this, and she put up with it all. Thanks, love.