"Thank you, Lexi! And welcome to Rainbow Spirits! We are glad you are all here and that we could do this for you! You are important to this community, and many of us would not get health needs met if it were not for you! Now, you must know that waiting on customers at a bar is not that different than being at the clinic. You listen to what they want and bring it to them. The difference is that you collect money right then. I will tell you how much, and you bring cash or credit card to me. No tabs tonight. If people have a problem with that, let them know they can talk to me about it. Now, there are tip jars on the table. All tips, half the funds from drinks bought, and sales of the raffle tickets go to helping the clinic out. I expect this to be a full night of fun and also for each of you to have a good time! Our performers are ready, and even one of your very own will be shaking their thing on the stage. And don't hesitate to ask any questions!"

The staff all cheered and finished getting their tux tops and bowties on. Lee went to make sure the drag Queens and Kings of the night were ready to go. I was the MC of the night and was busy looking over my lines. Jennifer caught me off-guard when she walked up to me in all her beauty. She was the one that was singing and, trust me, she did not look to be going drag at all. She wore an elegant dress that brought out her beauty. I melted.

"Look at you! My starburst beauty is going to be a star on the stage tonight! I see you are also closing us out."

"Yes, and I am so nervous."

"Don't be. I know that you will do fine!"

"You ready, Mrs. MC?"

"No, not at all. I have never done this before, and I don't know how I let Kelly talk me into it."

"I am sure you will do wonderfully."

We finished up the set-up, and then it was time for the doors to open. I began to feel the nerves in my stomach tighten. I was nervous to perform, but I was more worried that this night would not make that much money for us. Even with the stellar lineup of performers, I did not know just how many would come out.

To my surprise, as soon as the doors opened, the place seemed to fill and overflow. I had an hour before we started the show and had a chance to mingle and see just who all was in our crowd that I could pick on while I was up on the stage. We had a needle also set up to show donations, and the idea was, when we met our goal, the balloon on the end would burst.

In the very beginning, the silent auction tables were automatically being bid on and the raffle tickets bought up. It was looking better than we had expected. I really hoped that the flow continued upward. We already needed a big fundraiser and now more so than ever. There were supplies that insurance was not replacing, a program to get patients their medications and dental work needing funding, and now had new staff to cover.

"Lexi! Lexi! Look at this! Look what we have pulled off! Isn't it wonderful to see everyone here?"

"Yes, Kelly, but it is nowhere near over yet!"

"I know it isn't, yet already I just know that this is what we needed, and we will be alright!"

"Yeah, we will!"

About that time, Lee motioned to me that it was time to start the show. All of a sudden, my nerves bubbled up in my throat. I was so glad that I had made cards to look at as I could not remember a word of what I was to say. I took a deep breath and walked up to the stage, cards in hand, and the latest count of donations was handed to me.

"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the first ever Rainbow Spirit's fundraiser for the Lambda Health Center. We are glad you are all here! We have quite the show for you tonight! Thank you to Lee and John for pulling this together and allowing us to use their place on such short notice. Already you have opened up your wallets and donated eight hundred dollars. We still need more to make that needle burst the balloon. With everyone pitching in and bidding or buying raffle tickets and drinks, I know that we will reach our goal. Now, though, the most beautiful Moranda will be gracing us with her presence and entertaining us. Please put your hands together, and welcome Moranda!"

I was never so glad to be off the stage. And I still had to go up there six more times through the night. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, and the staff was busy trying to keep up with all the drinks. Even their partners were helping by being extra hands waiting on the crowed that was bigger than any of us had imagined. In no time, we were half way to our mark, and I was starting to relax.

I would introduce, step out and have a cigarette and come back to watch a few minutes of the show. Occasionally, I would interrupt when we hit certain milestones in the goal, but other than that, I did not have to do too much. And, each time, I relaxed a little more and was starting to see the end of the night, which helped more than anything.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it has come time for our last performer of the night. Before we get there, Lee, will you do the honors and show us if we have busted that balloon yet?"

Lee pushed the needle, and BOOM! The balloon exploded! I have never been so happy to see a balloon bust. Lee brought me the count and also whispered in my ear that the raffle needed to happen and the silent auction needed to come to a close. I had completely forgotten to do that before the last performer. Thank goodness Lee kept me in line through it all.

"Wow! You people are amazing. During this next song, we will give you one last chance to bid on the silent auction or get raffle tickets! So hurry because when our own RN Jennifer is done singing this next song, we will be drawing the raffle and collecting the silent auction bid sheets. Now, please help me welcome Jennifer Scoops to the stage!"

When Jennifer stepped on the stage, my eyes were not able to move off her. I did not even care to step out for a smoke. Her voice was music to my ears, and I was amazed at the beauty of her all around. I was in my own kind of heaven.

When the night was over, we had raised more than I ever could have imagined. We set out for just twenty-five th

ousand, and what we raised was just under seventy-five thousand--more than I had ever thought was possible. Lee agreed to hold onto the cash until the morning when I could get it and drop it off at the bank.

Jennifer chose to ride with me back home, and I was so thankful to have the company. This was not her night to come down with me, but she surprised me and did. I quickly found comfort in the relaxation of her arms, and Mrs. Sandwoman took us quickly to the depths of sleep.

Chapter Twenty-Eight.

"You will be next to me in the ceremony, and that is it! Tracy, this is for me--not you and your needs. I give you more than I can at times, but this time, I ask that you sacrifice time to do something for me. You are not going to your friends', and you are not going to be allowed out of it, and that is final!"

"But, Mom. I don't agree with it! I don't agree with what you are doing to Dad! This is wrong!"

"Who says?"

"Everyone! There is a reason why people don't have houses like ours. It is wrong!"

"That, Tracy, is an idea that is set by people that are scared to be different and spread love."

"Mom, it is just not right, and I don't see why I have to go!"

"Because your mother and I said you do! I am going and partic.i.p.ating. You will too!" Suddenly Trey walked in from the back room and joined the conversation.

"But, Dad!"

"No buts."

"This is just not right what she is doing to you! This is just not right how she has this other lady living here with the authority to be a mother figure to us."

"Lexi has not once tried to act like a mother, and besides, there are things that you don't know about, and this is not up to discussion. We don't care if you are okay with it or not. This isn yashow something your mother and I have agreed to--that Lexi is now part of this family!"

Tracy had never seen her dad protect the women in her mother's life. She just could not understand and wished her life was like everyone else's. She just felt that if she could control her mother that everything would be better. She knew she was young, but surely she knew better how to do things, didn't she? Tracy stormed off to her room and left Trey and Jennifer just shaking their heads to her att.i.tude. It was starting to become worse and worse.

"Trey, we have to tell her that you have Jill."

"No, not yet. In my own time, I will. I promise. You know that I don't like telling the kids about my affairs. I am not like you and showing affection in front of whoever is around."

"I am not saying tell all the kids. I just think it is time you told Tracy. Her att.i.tude is getting worse, and I don't know if I can bite my tongue much more."

"What do you want me to do? Force her to be nicer?"

"No. Just take her to dinner and let her know about your side of the street."

"Okay, I will. Tonight."

Trey went on to work. Jennifer hoped that would help ease things, but somehow she knew that Tracy would not be that easy to change in her ways. She was so like Jennifer when she was young, and part of that scared Jennifer.

Kelly and Amy were coming over that day to go with the two of them to look at things for the ceremony. Jennifer was happy to get to spend time getting to know Lexi's friends. Too many times they were doing things with the people Jennifer and Trey knew. Lexi just expanded her circle and went with the flow. Kelly was going to be Lexi's Best Woman, and the two of them had not had a chance to talk about the ceremony.

When Kelly and Amy arrived, the four of them took off to the mall. Jennifer was going to help Amy find something to wear, and the other two were off to get fitted for the tuxedos. The mall was packed, and the four agreed to meet back up at lunchtime. Jennifer and Amy watched Lexi and Kelly take off like two butches on a mission.

"Amy, I am so glad we are going to get this time together!"

"Me too. Now I can have that sister talk with you."

"Oh? Let me guess. Don't hurt Lexi, or you will hurt me? Is that the talk?"

"Oh, you are a smart one. And, yes. That was going to be the talk. Can we just say we had it? I would rather be shopping and getting new things! You?"

"That sounds like fun! What are we looking for? I know a dress for you, but what else?"

"Oh, sweetie! When I get a new dress, I get shoes, makeup, purse to match, and jewelry. So we find the dress first and maybe one for you too for the cruise?"

"Sounds like a plan to me!"

Amy and Jennifer had fun trying on dresses and looking until they had three each that they were happy with. Then it was off to find shoes. Amy insisted that each outfit had to have its own phavfer had fuair of shoes, but Jennifer found one pair to take with her that would go with anything. Jennifer just wanted to make sure that she had room in her luggage for everything that she needed with her as souvenirs.

"Explain this poly thing to me. How does it work?"

"Well, it is about love spreading out to multiple people and not what most think--about s.e.x."

"But you do get more than if you just had one partner, right?" Amy asked, giggling.

"Sometimes yes. Sometimes you don't. There are times I am not in the mood with either one of them and other times I want just one of them over the other, and then there are times I want both at some point in a week, but I imagine that I don't get any more than anyone else. I just get it from two different people."

"Well, I don't know how you all do it, but as long as Lexi is not hurt and happy with you, then I support it. Lexi is family to Kelly and me. Just don't expect me to ever want to try it. There is only one for me, and that is my Kelly!"

"I don't think that it is for everyone."

"Good!"

"We better get over to the food court. I am sure those two are up to no good and waiting on us."

They met their partners and grabbed a bite to eat. Lunch went quickly, and Kelly put the hand down on any more spending, though Amy argued that she still needed the perfect purses to go with the outfits. Kelly did not let up, and Lexi jumped on the bandwagon, agreeing that enough had been spent.

The four of them left the mall and went their separate ways, couple by couple. Jennifer and Lexi were headed to meet the minister with Trey and get the ceremony lined out. Jennifer hoped that Trey had not backed down on going, as he just wanted one simple thing in the ceremony. The minister was who pushed that it be all three of them.

Chapter Twenty-Nine.

As we pulled up to the church, a part of me remembered the days that I used to love to go to church. Now I went to rituals with the local pagan havfeT" heiggroup and wondered if the minister was really okay with the ceremony being multi-faith driven. I had certain things that I wanted in it and I also wanted to make sure that it did not offend anyone that attended.

"You ready for this?"

"Yes. Are you, Jennifer?"

"Yes. I was just wondering if we beat Trey or not."

"We will soon know."

"Tell me again."

"I love you, my star-burst beauty. I love you, my amazing lover. I love you, my intelligent RN. I love you more today than yesterday and more tomorrow than today."

"Oh, thank you, you big romantic sap!"

"Anytime, and baby? We can do this!"

"Yes, Lexi. We can do this together!"

We made our way inside. It was a beautiful church with the stained gla.s.s and atrium in the front. The church was welcoming in its way as we walked through it to the offices. Trey was not there yet, and Jennifer looked worried.

"He will show!"

"How do you know?"

"Because he loves you and wants you happy. And this is just one thing that makes you happy, even if he is uncomfortable."

With that she relaxed as we waited for the minister to finish a phone call. Maxine Fuller had been a minister with the Unitarian Universalist for over twenty years and was one of the most open, accepting women that I knew. I had seen her speak a few times and even fewer times witnessed her perform commitment ceremonies for other gays and lesbians in the community. She believed that love came in all shapes and manners and could not be condensed to one person's perspective, even if it was the majority's view.

"Ladies, so glad you are here. Please come in."

"Trey, my husband, is not here yet."

"No worries. I called him and asked that he give me thirty minutes first with just the two of you. I figured, though, that we would each take our turn as a couple, all three, then individually, then back to all. That is why I asked for the time to be three hours. I have dinner being delivered."

"Well, you have us two first then. How does this work?"

"Well, the first thing is I want to know what it is that you want out of this ceremony."

"We want to commit to a life with each other."