I was going to laugh hysterically. But as I looked into her eyes I could see that she was serious. "We can't get married," I said.
"I didn't ask you that," Trisha said. "I asked if you wanted to get married. Just don't even think about the real problems, just tell me if you want to."
I didn't know what to say. I had no idea what she wanted to hear. Looking back, I realized I could have used the ring in order to figure that out. The thought never entered my mind, however, at the time. "I don't know," I admitted. "I just don't know."
"I think you'll say yes, eventually, then," she said.
"What's with this?" I asked. "How are you so sure of yourself?"
"I've always been that way," she said. "But in this case, I'm sure because you're being honest. So I'll be honest, too. I don't know if I want to get married. I just wanted to give you something to think about," she smiled.
I smiled back at her. "I'm going to have to keep a close eye on you, aren't I?"
"You better," she said. "For the good of both of us." We lay in bed together for a few more minutes. "Actually," she broke the silence, "there's someone else you need to watch a little closer once you reassemble her."
I had forgotten about Brittany. "Shit," I said, rising from the bed. "We need to go take care of that."
Trisha got up from the bed, too, as my clothes reappeared. "Can I make a suggestion?" she asked.
"Sure," I said. She whispered something into my ear. It was good.
We ran back downstairs. Mia, Katie, and Lindsey were swimming. Erika and Claire were sitting in front of the TV, but they weren't paying attention to it. They were rubbing their hands over their stomachs. I guess motherly instincts were taking over.
I wished that Brittany would be reassembled, but remain a mannequin for now. I also wished that the other girls would come back inside.
"What's going on?" Erika asked, sounding a little put off.
"A couple more things to take care of, remember?" I asked.
"Whatever," she said. She still did not seem entirely pleased with me. I couldn't blame her. But I was going to have to have a little chat with her. The other three came back in the living room. Katie shook herself dry. "Hey!" Erika shouted.
"What?" Katie asked, not finding anything wrong with what she had done.
"Mind not ruining the expensive electronic equipment?" Erika asked snootily.
"Don't worry about that," I said. "I could easily replace it, remember?"
"Still," she said.
"Fine, Katie, try to be a little more aware of that," I said.
"Sorry," she said, sitting down with a pout on her face. She didn't like being talked down to. An idea for a ground rule popped into my head.
"OK," I said, as everyone took a seat. "We have to decide what to do with Brittany here," I said, gesturing to her at my left, "and these two guys here," I added, wishing for the two previously armed assailants to appear at my right. "Now I'll take suggestions for these two muscleheads, but I already know what we're going to do with Brittany."
"What?" all but Trisha asked.
"Let's wake her up and tell her," I said. I wished that Brittany would instantly be human again. She staggered about for a moment, but did not otherwise move or even attempt to run away.
"Holy shit," she said. "My head."