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Disclaimer: Terri Mason is my character. Gene Simmons and KISS are real persons, but this story is a work of fiction, not intended to harm or demean the parties mentioned. All other characters are property of the author, or else used with the permission of the authors consulted. This story rated PG-13 for adult situations and some language.
Terri at first was worried she would awaken to an empty bed, and
when she did, she was panicky. Had she imagined Gene was there with her?
Surely, enough the queen-sized bed was rumpled as if someone had been there,
the place still warm. But it could have been her though. Still she ached
inside from a night of sheer passion, so it couldn’t' have been dreams,
could it?
She heard footfalls from behind and turned over to see him standing over her in the morning light, his handsome strong body fully visible to her. Leaning over her, he pressed a soft kiss to her lips. Still not breaking the kiss he lifted the sheets aside and slid in bed next to her, wrapping her close in his arms. His thigh slipped over hers, flesh pressing close and hot. Slowly he began to nibble on her ear and she relaxed into his delicious attention.
"Umm oh Gene," she sighed. "I am so glad it wasn't a dream…"
"So am I…" he sighed, settling on top of her eagerly. He filled her sweetly and deeply, taking his time as he moved inside her waiting depths. Her moan of intense pleasure vibrated through him like a sweet chord, bringing him along further in his eventual release.
Into her, it exploded, seconds after her own climax. Beneath him she writhed with pleasure, and pressed her lips to him in a deep wet kiss that mirrored what was happening below. Sweat drenched, they lay together for a time simply keeping each other warm.
A jangling shook them out of their comfort, and Terri moved slowly under Gene. He rolled up off of her, and she was about to get the phone when he stopped her. "Let it ring," he urged, pulling her back down with him.
"Silly me…" she laughed as he rubbed his nose to hers. Four rings later the machine clicked on, and the voice made Terri start.
"Terri? This is you mom. We were just wondering if you wanted to come to dinner Sunday night… I know you're just getting settled in… but we'd love to have you…"
"Oh shit, I forgot," Terri groaned, sitting up in bed as she rubbed her face. Immediately she disentangled herself from Gene.
"Hmm, sounds like my mom," Gene joked.
"This really kills the mood," she groaned.
"Hey I understand," Gene said, rubbing her shoulder that had suddenly tensed. "Why don't you get a shower and I'll fix us some bagels…"
"But I didn’t' have a chance to do shopping…"
"I brought some stuff," Gene said as she got up. He passed her a bathrobe lying over a chair, and she stumbled blearily toward the bathroom. For a moment, Gene picked up the portrait of her mother and father there on the table, tipped face down.
Her mother was a silver haired woman with a pleasantly lined face. Her father had dark hair fading to gray. Terri more closely resembled him, not resembling her mother much at all. Except their voices had sounded eerily familiar. She had an older brother in New York, who was a lawyer at a high-powered law firm specializing in bankruptcy.
Sunday was fast approaching, and the dreaded first meeting with her parents. She dreaded it more then Gene did. He was actually looking forward to seeing the two people who had brought Terri into this world. It would be a tough sell because neither one was exactly thrilled about KISS.
Sighing he set the picture the right way, and grabbed a pair of silk boxers with one of his shirts. He slipped both on as he made his way out to her new kitchen. This would take some careful planning on his part. Very careful planning.
Just then, the phone again rang, and Gene picked it up. "Terri's pleasure Palace…" he said teasingly.
"Who is this?" came a familiar voice that sounded almost exactly like hers.
"Uh, I'm sorry, this is Terri's boyfriend Gene. I thought it was one of her friends calling to bother her on a Saturday morning… sometimes they… we tease each other," Gene explained, trying to remain calm, and smooth things over. He slipped on a bathrobe and took the cordless phone out into the kitchen downstairs while they continued to talk.
"You're Eugene then, the film and record producer…" came the answer. "I thought you were in California right now. This is rather a surprise…"
"Yes. I'm really sorry we got off on the wrong foot. I had vacation time I hadn't counted on, and I figured what better way then to spend it visiting your daughter to make sure she's settled here…"
He kept the phone on one shoulder while he loaded the coffee into its little filter, and shoved it into the top of the instant maker. Water ran when he filled the glass pot, and poured a full amount into the back of the machine.
"Very well… Gene is it? Terri's father and me are very interested in meeting you for quite some time. Yet we understand you are a busy man…"
"Well I would enjoy meeting you both as a matter of fact, if you'd like that," Gene said smoothly. He knew from Terri's description of her mother's personality that he wasn't dealing with an ordinary mother. Rather one that considered the import of social graces, in some ways like his own mother.
"Is Terri there?"
"She's just taking a shower while I was about to get breakfast… do you want me to get her for you?"
"Gene, we have invited Terri to spend dinner with us tonight. Would you care to join her so we can finally meet you?"
"Yes, that would be nice," Gene nodded. "What time?"
"About five thirty. Be sure to let her know to allow herself enough time for traffic. I-95 gets to be rather busy, especially on Saturday night," the female voice continued. "And bring your appetite…"
"Thank you very much for the invite," Gene said, wincing for a moment how formal he sounded, but somehow it seemed necessary. Terri had enough stresses as it was. "Are you sure you don't want me to get her?"
"We'll call her later. We're very anxious to meet you… Gene. What particular movies have you produced?"
"Detroit Rock City," Gene answered.
"I don't believe I have heard of that movie, Gene," said Terri's mother.
"Well, it's the one about the two teenage boys, a kind of coming of age thing, where they meet a beautiful girl on the way to a KISS concert…" Gene said slowly, testing the waters. He wanted to know for himself what the words would evoke.
"I'm afraid that's not exactly what I'd be into watching. Any current projects?"
"Well, right now looking to produce one for the novel Forever Sterling…"
"You don't say. I happened to read that novel last month. Quite a nice love story, although a little trite, that writer shows great promise," Terri's mother said with a hint of a smile in her voice.
Terri heard Gene talking to someone on the phone, and froze with awkwardness. She hadn't given him permission to answer her calls, so she was rather annoyed when she trekked down to the kitchen where he was just taking the fresh pot off the automatic coffeemaker.
"Well' see you then, Mrs. Mason," he said with a smile. "Five thirty, right?"
"That's right. See you soon."
"Who is that?" Terri asked, when Gene was about to hang up the phone.
"Your mom," Gene said, and Terri froze with what looked like terror. "You want to say something to her?"
"Uh… hi mom," she said slowly, her heart pounding. She was terrified what Gene might have said to her.
"Oh Terri. You didn't tell us your boyfriend was here."
"Uh it was a surprise for me," Terri said levelly, shooting an evil glare in Gene's direction. He gave a cheesy smile and put the bagels on the kitchen table.
"Well, he seems to have a rather odd way of answering the phone…"
"Oh I'm so sorry… he was just uh… worried it might be some crank caller… I mean someone's been calling this place and well…"
"Terri, is something wrong? You seem out of breath…"
"I was in a hurry to get downstairs and find out what was for breakfast," Terri admitted, although it was only a half-truth.
"Well do be careful, we don't want you killing yourself getting down those stairs. Is there something you're not telling us?"
"Well we'll talk at the dinner okay? Nothing's really wrong, I'm just feeling a little weird since I'm just settling in here…"
"All right Teri. Take care… love you, sweetheart…"
"Love you too, mom…" Terri sighed, and clicked off the phone. She glared at Gene.
"What?" he asked. "What did I do?"
"What did you talk about?"
"Just general stuff…" Gene said. "Why is this such a big deal! You look like I just spilled some huge secret…"
"I just don’t' want things to be well… you know…"
"I know, but they're gonna know sooner or later. Why are you so uptight about this…"
"Because they don’t' know who you really are," Teri blurted out. "And if they did… oh shit I feel so guilty about this Gene. I should have told them who you are…. But… and now it's gonna come up and bite me on the ass…"
"Terri, look, it's not my place to tell you what to do. But the truth is the truth, okay? So, what if you're Gene Simons' girlfriend. What are they going to do to you? Lock you in your room for it?"
"My mom's gonna kill me…"
"That's what a teenager says," Gene reproved her. "Terri, you're a grown woman. How long are you going to worry about pleasing your mom and dad? That's not what it should all be about!"
"Don't you think I know that, Gene?" Terri demanded. "I just… aww shit…"
"Terri, they haven't met me yet. Who knows, maybe they'll actually like me!"
"I don't want them judging you before they get to know you," Terri sighed. "Like I did… I want to give them a fair shot at getting to know the Gene I know and love…"
"Fair enough," Gene relented. "But you know I don’t' change to please anyone… but I have no intention of hurting your feelings or embarrassing you. Is that's what you're afraid of?"
"Yes," she admitted, lowering her head.
"Then don't be. I will be on my best behavior, okay?"
"Thank you," she sighed, face flaming with embarrassment. Gene took her hand and led her over to the table.
"Why don't we get some food into us, and then decide what to do with
the rest of today?" he asked her. "One step at a time, ok?"
That whole day she was dreading the initial meeting, sometimes very
quiet, at other times remote and aloof. Gene was extremely worried about
her mental health, hoping she wouldn't hyperventilate nor have a nervous
breakdown.
The rental car did good time, but Terri's tensed hands on the wheel didn’t inspire a lot of comfort in Gene. He could see her jaw tensing more and more when they drove across the expanse of water that was the Delaware river, through Claymont, and past the industrial cities of Marcus Hook and Chester.
"Didn't your parents once live in Philly?" Gene asked.
"They moved out to a small suburb in Wilmington because the rent was cheaper," Terri explained, glad to have her mind on something else, a little off topic. "There were a lot of new homes being built, and well Delaware is a tax free shopping state…"
"Your mom loves a bargain, right?"
"Yeah, heheh," she laughed, the stress relieved a little. "I guess that's one thing you have in common. Saving money and the importance of money…"
"Relax sweetheart, you look like you're ready to get on the electric chair at Death row," Gene teased her, gently rubbing her thigh. "IT can't be that bad, right?"
"Well, we'll see…"
They pulled up to a modest two floor house, split level in Wilmington Delaware after a relatively harrowing free drive down I-95. Gene got out first, then opened the door for Teri a she grabbed her handbag. Immediately Gene took in the details of the house; nicely tended garden, not too manicured, with the lace curtains in the widows, and eclectic mix of patio furniture.
Nervously Terri glanced to Gene, who had dressed nicely in button up shirt and jeans. His leather jacket was nice and neat; hair pulled back into a ponytail as he often wore it. All in all very well groomed but still very much his own distinctive look. Instead of knocking, Terri pushed open the screen door and called in "We're here!"
"Come in, come in… you're early," came a pleasant voice. Terri gladdened at the sight of her older brother standing there, with two young children playing and wrestling on the middle of the floor. Perhaps this would be a good smokescreen. For her sister in law Natasha was there with their two children Daniel and Cindy.
"Nicholas!" Terri laughed as her brother moved over and gave her a big firm hug before she was even one foot in the door. He was tall, about five ten and built a bit like a wrestler, with light brown hair and soft blue eyes. Freckled faced, and firm and self assured, all dressed even more casually then Gene was in a pair of well worn jeans and a Simon and the Bar Sinister's T-shirt.
"Great to see you, T," he smiled, and looked past her shoulder as Gene extended a hand.
"Hey Terri," came Natasha's voice as she got up from the floor and joined the group at the door. "Let her in Nick okay so we can all give her a hug…"
"You're Gene right, Terri's new man?" Nicholas asked giving Gene's hand a firm shake. "Nice to meet you…"
"Same here. And that lovely lady must be your wife, right?" Gene said with a slight sparkle in his eyes directed at the sister in law. She smiled as he kissed her hand. Terri conducted them into the sitting room where Gene was invited to sit down on a comfortable plaid upholstered sofa. The furniture seemed to go together in a way that didn't' indicate it was bought as a set, but rather matched carefully as possible for theme. Family pictures and seascape scenes festooned the walls, with dozens of collector plates hanging across the top of three of the walls.
For a moment, Nicholas' eye fell oddly on Gene and he wondered if the young man, well young in comparison to him anyway knew much about KISS at all. Or had ever been a fan, for he saw a glimmer of recognition in his eyes.
Gene saw the silver haired woman from Terri's picture, and guessed that this must be her mother. They had a similar build, except the mother was considerably older, but only perhaps ten years older then he was. This hardly phased him, for there might yet be a way to use the situation to his advantage. Or it might make things difficult, considering some parents did not look kindly on older men dating younger women, much younger women. After all, he was old enough to be her father.
"Nice to meet you, Gene. Terri has mentioned you quite a number of times," Mrs. Mason said with a smile, but there was a quizzical judgment in a pair of steely blue eyes. They moved over him judgmentally in a matter of seconds. Galliantly he took her hand, and was all set to raise it to his lips to kiss it, but thought against it.
"The pleasure is mine, Mrs. Mason," he said, easing up on the smolder he'd normally toss to just any woman. He could tell that wouldn’t' fly here. The matronly type who thought rock and rollers were trouble and any man who slept with more then his share of women was trouble incarnate.
"Terri's father will be joining us soon. He's working late today…" said Mrs. Mason. "Can I get you something to drink… we have diet soda, water, iced tea…"
"Beer," Nicholas added. "If you're into that sort of think.
"Mom, let me," Terri said quickly. "Anyone else…"
"Terri, sit down and be a guest for a change," Nicholas smiled at her. "I'll get it…"
"You wouldn't happen to have any Fresca would you? I'm afraid I don’t' drink alcohol. If not Diet coke would be great…"
Nicholas went out to the fridge and got a beer for him and sodas for the women. Terri's mother seemed a little surprised when Gene had chosen a soft drink. Both seemed to be mentally sizing the other up by their war of critical glances. This was a huge challenge for Gene, how to win over a woman who was not easily swayed by his wink and smoldering gaze. Natasha seemed fine with him, and Nicholas. AT least as far as he thought.
They spent some time talking, Natasha disappearing into the kitchen to help Terri's mother while Nicholas and Gene fell to talking.
"You're a lawyer?" Gene asked. "What particular department?"
"Bankruptcy law…"
"Interesting."
"Well I hear you're from LA… and there are a lot of lawsuits and chapter 11's from our branch out west…"
Terri felt Gene's arm resting around her shoulders, one hand gripping reassuringly. He seemed at ease, confident and cool in Nicholas' presence, this was a relief.
"Simon and the Bar Sinisters, I believe I've heard of them," Gene noticed suddenly. "A Local New York Band…"
"Yes, they refused to sell out…"
"Hmm, to their credit, but perhaps the proper management might have secured their success without having to 'sell out,' " Gene said smoothly.
"You're a record producer yourself aren't you?"
"Well, I don't have my own label, but I often co produce albums for hot new bands… those that are willing to work their a… I mean backsides off and not simply expect a free ride…" Gene explained, folding one leg over the other, and leaning back in the sofa. His gaze fell right into that of her brother's a challenge accepted and met.
"Hmm, you look familiar," Nicholas said slowly.
"Well I could say you did," Gene joked. "Everyone must tell you that you look like Robin Williams, right?"
"Right," Nicholas laughed with a grin. "I get that a lot."
"He's a pirate daddy! Look at his beard and earring!" Cindy blurted out, pointing to Gene. Cindy, aged three came over and looked right up at Gene with a pair of blue eyes. She rested her hand on his knee, and he leaned over with a smile, "well look at this lovely lady. Hello there…"
A contact was made, and he focussed his attention on Terri's niece. Her five-year-old nephew was a little more reserved, but hung back to see what his sister would make of Terri's new boyfriend.
"You have children?"
"Two actually. They're teenagers," Gene said matter of fact. Cindy climbed onto Gene's lap, grabbing the favorite wrestling action figure from her older brother, who pulled a face at her. She seemed very much at ease with Gene, and Teri tried to keep from bursting out laughing.
"Married or divorced?"
"Well actually separated. My life partner and I had some… irreconcilable differences, so well, we thought it was best to part… unfortunately…"
"Gene has a son named Nicholas," Terri blurted out nervously.
"Interesting coincidence," Nicholas said, leveling his gaze at Gene with a strange smile. "You said something about producing movies? Ever acted in any?"
"A good few," Gene nodded.
"Sometimes he plays the bad guy," Terri teased, nudging Gene's knee.
"The bad guy? You look like the sort who would play a villain," Natasha laughed.
"And that would be why my dear?" he winked at Natasha. "My sterling personality, or my devastating roguish looks?"
"Or that smoldering demonic look," Nicholas teased.
"It's different on the other side of the camera…"
"Well music and films are kinda two different worlds, aren't' they? How many singers can cross over from one world to the other?"
"Jennifer Lopez managed it," said Natasha.
"Don't forget Cher," Terri's mother piped in from the kitchen. Gene gave an amused smile.
"Mom loves Cher," Terri whispered into her ear.
"We all get a little moonstruck now and again, or star struck," her mother joked lightheartedly, coming to join them. "Anyone want to help me set the table?"
Terri didn't know whether to wince or laugh when Cindy insisted
on sitting next to 'Uncle Gene' when they settled down into their places.
Mr. Mason finally arrived from his job, shaking hands with Gene, dark eyes
fixing into his with a bit of scrutiny at Gene's age. It wasn't so easy
to tell, but they both seemed to size each other up as Terri's mother had
done before.
A nice hot meal of tuna noodle casserole, red skinned potatoes with parsley, and corn on the cob was quickly consumed. Dinner roles were passed around in a basket, with fresh butter for everyone. It was good simple, straightforward Americana faire, and Gene ate two good sized portions of each. Conversation moved from the weather to movies, to Terri's new job opportunity at Orphan. Nicholas dominated the conversation with Terri's Mom, while Natasha busied herself with the children. Mr. Mason asked careful questions to Gene about his profession, and Gene did the best he could to answer as casually as he could.
"Nick, check if anyone wants a refresh on their drinks," Mrs. Mason strongly suggested, when the meal was almost over.
"Sure…"
"I'll help," Terri offered. The two moved out into the garage where the extra fridge was.
"Teri, why didn't you tell me that your boyfriend is Gene Simmons of KISS?" he asked.
"You know?"
"I put two and two together. Plus he looks a hell of a lot like him, and that voice I remember from Who Wants to be a millionaire, and KISS exposed. That voice is pretty familiar, and you know I pay attention to faces and voices as part of my legal career…"
"Are you pissed?" Terri asked slowly.
"No, but you could have told me, sis," Nicholas whispered.
"I'm so scared of what Mom's gonna think," Terri sighed.
"Well, you should tell them…" Nicholas sighed, hand on his hip.
"I don't know what to do…" Terri admitted. "You know Mom's gonna freak… and Dad's going to throw a wild dog act!"
"Hey, I still love ya no matter who you date, and the worlds not coming to an end ok?"
"We were wondering if you guys had fallen into the fridge!" Natasha laughed as she pushed the door open. "What's taking you so long? Why are you keeping your man waiting, Terri?"
"Oh shit," Terri sighed. "Look I'll be right there…"
Grabbing the bottle of soda and the cans of Fresca that she had brought, Terri made her way into the dining room and climbed in next to Gene. He was saying something rather cute to the niece who had insisted on sitting next to him, while her brother looked on.
"Terri mentioned you had children of your own, Gene?" her mother asked with interest.
"Yes, they're teenagers by now actually," Gene said.
"You and your wife divorced?"
"Separated, actually," Gene announced. "My children live with their mother Shannon. But I see them regularly. They've met Terri and they seem to like her all right…"
"Ah," The mother said with a strange look on her face. Divorce wasn't something that bothered her, but the fact that she figured out that Gene hadn't been married in the first place. "Well, I don't exactly agree with people living together outside of wedlock…"
"Well, I must admit it was a mutual decision. Shannon and I had an agreement. But the children haven't missed a day of school, thanks to me. And they know better then to try anything stupid," Gene admitted. "No drugs, no drinking or smoking is allowed. They know better, and if I so much as caught them doing any those stupid things, they know the punishment."
"Still, I know you live in Hollywood, or Beverly Hills, but there must be some form of commitment…"
"There is," Gene said. "Just the way in which we enforce it…"
"So why aren't you married, or were you not married?" the father asked.
"I don't like having to answer to anyone, or owe anyone any explanation to justify my choices. The minute I got married that would be the case."
"Marriage is more then that," Terri's mother said slowly. "What about commitment and the ties of a family? Does that mean so little?"
"No. My kids and my family are very important," Gene said slowly and evenly. "I loved Shannon, and I love Terri. I have no plans of suddenly up and leaving her to pursue some stupid… fling. If you're concerned about my intentions toward Terri being dishonorable, that could not be further from the truth…"
Nicholas looked as if he wanted to say something, but bit his tongue. His eyes alone asked the silent question, "well Terri now what? Would it make any difference if they knew?"
Teri lowered her head, and then offered to clean up the dishes. She took them from her father, then her brother. Gene got up to offer his help, still keeping his eyes fixed into the gaze of the parents. "Each family is different," he reiterated. "What works for me isn't necessarily what would work for you…"
"Moral relativism is dangerous," Terri's mother held up a finger. "And my daughter…"
"Mom, I'm happy. I love Gene. And we are very much committed to each other. It is my decision to have this arrangement with him."
"Teri, I know, but…"
"Uh, anybody want dessert?" Natasha chimed in. Terri's father remained silent as Terri and Gene piled the dishes into the dishwasher neatly.
"I'll have some ice-cream…" Terri's nephew chimed in. Cindy clapped
with glee.
Later, Terri assisted her mother in passing out the bowls of ice
cream. She seemed to have lost her appetite for any desert, but the kids
had devoured theirs long before. Terri's brother and sister in law were
talking animatedly as Cindy suddenly climbed on Gene. He was playing an
innocent game of rocking her over his knee, then letting her fall between
them as he spread his legs out, grasping her arms. Nicholas was trying
to keep his son from firing a small Nerf gun in the house, which had inexplicably
worked its way into the toy bag they'd brought.
A soft felt ball landed by Gene's head and he leaned over to pick it up, letting Cindy slide off his lap. "This yours, kid?" he asked with a gleam in his eyes.
"Hands up!" he laughed. Gene tossed the ball right back, and the nephew leaned over to catch it. That gave Nicholas the chance to grab his son and the offending toy gun and start tickling both.
Natasha grinned and walked back into the kitchen. Inside, her Mrs. Mason's discussion with Terri had evolved into a lively debate. Mother confronted daughter in front of the kitchen counter, "Terri, this Gene sounds nice enough, but he's old enough to be your father. And I'm not thrilled with the fact that he lived with a woman before, unmarried!"
"Mom, I knew you were going to say that," Terri rolled her eyes.
"I thought you'd show better judgement then that," Terri's mother reproved, wiping her hands on a dishtowel. "I only want what's best for you…"
"Mom, I'm trying to get you to know Gene as I know him. He loves me, and I love him. Everything he's done for me has been out of love. I couldn't help falling for him…"
"You have to admit, she's not wanting for anything," Natasha said practically, spooning out some ice cream for herself. She looked over the little screen that partitioned them from the dining room into he sitting room where Gene was being tickle tortured by Cindy. He was attempting to keep her from an anxious and rambunctious brother who insisted on trying to take her toy dragon away. Gene rolled over on the floor, getting full into the play of the two children. Cindy pulled on his long hair playfully as Danny struggled to grab the stuffed toy from her.
"Gimme!" he cried.
"Come and get it, kid," Gene laughed. Nicholas was laughing hard, sipping on a beer as he watched the kids playing. They seemed to be having the time of their lives with 'Uncle Gene'.
"Hey, we need some strategy," Nicholas laughed as he beckoned to his son.
Gene placed himself between the two kids, and held up a knowing finger on his lips to Cindy.
He took the stuffed toy, and put it behind his back.
"Gimmie, please now!" Nicholas said, wandering over. "It's mine and she took it!"
"Give you what?" Gene asked, all wide eyed.
"The dragon!" he laughed, despite his frustration.
"Nyahh you can't have it! He made it disappear," Cindy said, sticking out her tongue as she stood next to Gene. "So there!"
"Nyahh yourself," Danny made a face, wiggling his fingers at his sister and making a funny face. Gene started to laugh as they made funny faces at each other. He rolled his own eyes and started waggling his tongue despite himself and the kids burst out laughing.
"Wow mister you have a long tongue!" Danny laughed. "Are you a mutant snake man?"
"I could be now, couldn't I?" Gene winked, pushing the toy secretly to Cindy.
This little dialogue went unnoticed to Terri and her mother, but not to Natasha, who laughingly moved over to see Gene interacting with her two children. Terri and Mrs. Mason's debate raged on when her mother brought up the question of Gene's age again.
"Well you know that older men often take advantage of younger women…"
"Gene's not like that!" Terri groaned, rolling her eyes as she shoved the ice cream back into the freezer.
"Why am I not convinced!" Mrs. Mason muttered. "A lot of these Hollywood types take advantage of fans for sex!"
"Gee, I supposed if I told you that he was a retired rock and roll musician you'd have the same option? He used to play in a rock band, years ago…" Terri announced.
"You see? That makes it even more risky," her mother pointed out.
"Uh I'll just see if any of the guys want anything else, like beer or Fresca…" Natasha excused herself.
Meanwhile Gene was talking to both of the kids, who wanted to see him continue making those funny faces. He patiently let Cindy pull on his ponytail, till she pulled it out of its hairholder. She started to make a braid while Gene continued to trade funny faces with Danny.
Rolling his eyes Terri's father teased, "You might not wanna make Terri's boyfriend keep that up."
"Why not, he's so funny!" Danny laughed. "Do it again!"
"Make that silly face again!" Cindy begged, tugging Gene's hair as she threw her arms around his neck and hung on his back.
"Well you know what they say, right, son?" Nicholas laughed, as he chugged a beer.
"Your faces will freeze like that if we keep this up," Gene grinned. "And knowing you…"
"Cool!" Danny laughed.
"You would like it, you little troublemaker!" Nicholas laughed, grabbing his son from behind and leaning behind him on the floor.
"Well you never know, do you, little girl?" Gene teased when Cindy begged him to do the tongue-wagging trick again.
"I'll never get what the deal is with that," Terri's father groaned. "But you have to admit, that you do have a rather unusual attribute there… Gene…"
"If I had a dollar for every time I heard that," he said dismissively.
"It's like that guy from that group in the seventies that Terri likes… I can't remember… something about guys in facepaint. And there was that one guy who was dressed up like a vampire…"
"A vampire, way cool!" Danny said. "And this was a band?"
Gene started to laugh, despite himself. They really were clueless, weren't' they? He began to hold his sides in an attempt to compose himself as he sat there on the floor, doubled over. "It certainly was…" he said, between breaths.
"Gene Simmons... that was his name!" Terri's father blurted out. "Man I could never remember that! That's what that tongue thing you did to my rather amazed grandkid reminds me of!"
Nicholas opened his mouth to say something, when Cindy looked cluelessly at everyone there. Wide blue eyes fixed into her grandfather and father's face when she asked, "Who's Gene Simmons!"
"You're serious, aren't you?" Gene asked, looking right into the little girl's face. She shook her head, baffled. "You've never heard of KISS, as in the rock n' roll group?"
"Uh… no…" she shrugged. "That's a funny name!"
"She likes those silly guys who get up and dance in a row, even though she's only three," Danny rolled his eyes. Promptly Gene lost it, and doubled over on the floor, laughing hysterically.
"What's so funny dad?" Danny asked, looking to his father.
"Uh well there was this group called KISS, you know the one that Aunt Terri has the posters of on her walls…"
"Who you mean the guys who look like all scary and ugly and way cool?" Danny asked.
"Yes, well Gene Simmons was the one with the vampire makeup," Nicholas explained.
"And he couldn't keep that tongue in his mouth to save his life," Mr. Mason further clarified. "Like some kind of a snake or a frog!"
"Oh man I can't stand this," Gene almost howled. "This is just too good…"
By now the commotion had drawn Terri and the others from the kitchen. Cindy was starting to get upset and flustered that everyone seemed to know whom this "Gene Simmons" was except for her. Plus Terri's boyfriend, the funnyman with the long tongue was laughing at something she didn't know why was supposed to be funny.
"Who is Gene Simmons mommy! Daddy won't tell me… and 'Uncle Gene's' all silly on the floor!" she pouted, marching over to Natasha who was confused.
"Are you all right…" Terri asked Gene, sitting next to him on the floor.
"What did I miss?" Terri's mother asked, leaning over her husband with some concern.
"I just said to Terri's boyfriend her he reminds me of Gene Simmons. You know that vampire Demon guy with the tongue thing… and he just burst out laughing…"
"Mommy why is Terri's boyfriend laughing at us!" Cindy asked her mother, who picked her up.
"Well that's because he is Gene Simmons, and he can't believe we've never heard of him!" Natasha said to her daughter. Everyone froze in that instant. Gene stopped laughing with a very flushed face, and Terri went very pale. She sank to the floor next to Gene, defeated.
"Out of the mouths of babes," Gene commented, glancing at the assembly of confused faces.
"Uh, sorry," Natasha said as she saw her husband glaring at her. "But it's pretty obvious! I was a KISS fan…"
"I must apologize," Gene said slowly, to Terri's mother, who was stunned.
"It's true Mom. He is Gene Simmons," Terri said quietly, looking into the faces of her mother and father.
"And the job I had was as a pyrotechnician for KISS on the road. And I've been living with him in Beverly Hills. Now you know."
After a long silence, her mother finally took a deep breath, and sank to a chair, grabbing her husband's hand. "Terri… why didn't you tell me?" she said in a whisper that tore Terri's heart out.
"I'm sorry Mom, but I knew what you would say…" she said, lowering her head in defeat.
Gene protectively curled his arm around Terri's shoulder, and regarded her mother and father's accusing glares. "I wanted to tell you both, but I also wanted to honor Terri's decision…"
"What, to lie to us?" her mother asked.
"She didn't lie. My legal name is Eugene Klein. Gene Simmons is my professional name. So she didn't lie. And your daughter has struggled considerably knowing what you would say and do. It was not my intention to deceive any of you…"
"Mom I'm sorry," Terri sobbed, pulling off her glasses. "So sorry…"
Her father sighed as her mother fell silent, her own chin clenching. "Terri it's not so much just who you're with it's that you were dishonest…"
"She told me," Natasha said. "And her brother…"
"Yeah. It wasn't that hard to figure out," Nicholas said. "And she knew you were not gonna like it Mom and Dad. "
"Terri, why on Earth do you think you'd have to be dishonest with us?" her mother demanded, trying to keep angry tears out of her face.
"Because you hate KISS, that's why. You'd judge him before he even walked through that door," Terri demanded. "I wanted you to get to know Gene before you made such a snap decision…"
"You can't fault her for that can you…" Gene began, but shut up at the angry glare from her mother and father.
"Mr. Simmons, I am sure that you have 'good intentions' for my daughter, but I can't overlook the fact that you were once of questionable moral character…"
"Questionable as in the fact that I have slept with many women, you mean?" Gene asked slowly.
"Yes, frankly! Why our daughter?" Mrs. Mason demanded.
"It was my decision Mom!" Terri said. "He didn't seduce me! In fact he helped me!"
"Terri! How in God's name…" her mother got out.
"I entered a contest, and met Paul Stanley of KISS. He deceived me into thinking he wanted a relationship with me. And then he was responsible for getting me fired when he came to my place of employment to apologize and try to make things right. Gene Simmons here offered me a job, to make up for it," Terri said. "He flew out to make sure that I was all right! How many men would do that?"
"Is this true?" her father asked.
"Yes," Gene said. "Ever since I met her I knew she was highly intelligent, and sweet. An attractive woman that didn't deserve to be played with."
"How noble of you," her mother snapped sarcastically. "How do I know you didn't just go bring her to the West Coast so you could have your way with her?"
"Mom, how could you! Doesn't what I want or do have any bearing here? It was my choice, Mom and Dad! My choice!" Terri cried, wiping angry tears from her eyes.
"Do you think if I 'wanted my way' with your daughter I would have flown out myself to come get her and make sure she got the job?" Gene asked. "I could have easily sent her a plane ticket and had her schlepped over to Beverly! Not trekked across myself on my own volition!"
By now, he had risen from the floor, helping Terri to stand. She continued to cry, burying her head in his shirt as he rocked her slowly. Terri's mother and father sat down on the sofa now, hands clasped as they glared at the couple.
Natasha had taken the children outside to play, while Nicholas stood over near Terri and Gene. He out of the family had decided to side with Terri, knowing that she had put herself under a great deal of stress unnecessarily but for the right reasons. Even if it did involved white lies to 'protect' her parents.
"Mr. Simmons, you are quite sure that you will continue to see Terri?" asked her mother.
"I have no choice. I can tell her to stay away, but she will find a way to see me. And aren't you forgetting that she is 29 years old, and capable of making her own decisions?" Gene asked as gently as possible.
"You're old enough to be her father yourself!" Terri's father yelled at him. "What are you thinking?"
"I love her," Gene said. "Why are you talking about her like she's not here? Ask her. I'm not responsible for the decisions she makes, except to advise her in favor or against them. Do you think I have any more 'hold' on her then you presume to have?"
"We do not have a 'hold' over her!" Terri's mother protested. "Except our own love…"
"Like Gene has for her?" Nicholas added. "Mom, Dad, you think Terri's going to act and behave just like you want? Any more then me?"
"That's not the point! When we raised you Terri we hoped you'd make decisions that were good for you, and living with a man who views women as sexual objects was not our aim!" her father exploded.
"I'll admit that I have slept with many women," Gene held up his hands. "But I never pressured them to do so! I gave them a choice…"
"You didn't discourage them either by your behavior, Mr. Simmons," her mother countered.
"Would you prefer if I left now?' Gene asked slowly. "I have no wish to upset you further, Mr. and Mrs. Mason. I merely wanted you to know the man in your daughter's life. As any parent should or is entitled to. Just as I plan to introduce Terri to my own mother…"
"Mom, can you see why now why I did what I did? Don't you think I knew that you'd be upset if I told you I was in a relationship with Gene Simmons?"
"Yes… but… truth is important…" Mrs. Mason sighed.
"And now you know the truth. And the truth is I love Terri deeply," Gene said slowly. "And I would not hurt her in a million years. If anything, I'm known for being honest. I make no apologies for who I am, or who she is…"'
"That is not exactly the attitude we wanted to foster in her," Mrs. Mason said coldly.
"If that is the case then Mom and Dad, I feel badly for you. I'm sorry if you thought I was lying to you… but it's clear to me no matter what I would have said or done you'd be 'disappointed' in me…" Terri suddenly said, lifting her head from Gene's chest. "And if you can't accept that I love this man… then I'm truly sorry for you all…"
"Terri… how can you say that to us?" Mr. Mason demanded.
"Gene, let's go," Terri pleaded, grabbing his hand, and pulling him toward the door. "I can tell where I'm not wanted.
"But Terri they are your family," Gene said slowly, taking her hand and squeezing it.
"I know," she said, glancing sadly at them all standing there or sitting on the sofa in sullen silence. She grabbed her purse and turned to leave. "Thank you for dinner Mom and Dad. I'll be in touch…"
"You can't just walk out of here," Terri's mother demanded.
"I can and I am," Terri said slowly. "I'm very sorry, but I'm through with apologizing or trying to justify myself…"
"We never asked you to…" her mother began, but her voice choked off with tears in her eyes.
"Goodbye Mom, I hope you'll understand in time…" Terri choked, and started for the door. She marched straight out, past Gene and hurled open the car door. She slammed it shut. It slammed behind her with a sharp thud. In some ways, Terri felt as if another door had shut on her life.
"Terri!" her father said. "Don't leave like this!"
"Goodnight Mr. and Mrs. Mason… Nicholas," Gene said helplessly, as he followed Terri out the front door. "But I think we'd better leave now…"
Before anyone could say anything else they were gone, the door closed firmly behind them.
"Terri…" Gene protested. "Shouldn't we at least…"
"Don't say a word Gene, please don't… let's just get out of here!" she begged.
"But your parents…"
"Not another word Gene…" she pleaded, voice breaking. "Just get in the car… please!"
He knew better then to argue, and climbed in the passenger seat. Terri
pulled out from before the house quickly and roared away, wanting to put
as much distance between her parent's home and them as possible. He barely
had enough time to clip his seatbelt into place.