The Bear’s Mail Order Menage

He knew that mother knew best when it came to some things, but how would she know anything about such an odd social interaction as the one he and Andrew had drummed up? She had married his father when she was just barely eighteen years old and they had been together for close to thirty years. As far as he knew, she had never really experimented with anyone, and certainly not enough to have that world weary look on her face.

“Son, there are many different ways a person can hurt another person. Especially if that person is of the female persuasion.”

“Like how?”

“Because. Right now the two of you are having a good time. You’re sharing just like you always have, just like the closest of brothers do. But this girl, this Alina, she isn’t the same as a video game or a piece of chocolate cake. She may give you that same kind of rush and for a while I’m sure everything will be perfectly fine. But the thing about her that’s more different than all of the other things you two boys have shared without the slightest struggle, is that she is a person. She has feelings and thoughts, desires of her own.

All three of you do and they may not always be in agreement with each other. You may think that everything is going smoothly now, and it undoubtedly is. But that doesn’t mean that it will always be true and when your interests become divergent, there is great potential for everything to be catastrophically destroyed. I warn you, Joshua, what I’m saying is true.”

He didn’t know how to make his mother understand that he couldn’t believe that anything like that would ever happen between the two of them. Or between the three of them, he supposed. The bond between he and Andrew was a unique one, simply too strong to be destroyed by a girl. They had entered into this arrangement knowing that she was not a possession for either of them to have and hold.

They had also both agreed that if at any juncture Alina wanted to free herself of the arrangement, they would let her go willingly. They were not barbaric Neanderthals who could not keep control of themselves. He liked to think that they were too evolved to allow themselves to become the thing she was so worried about.

“I know you’re trying to look out for me, and I appreciate it. Honestly, I really do, mom. I just don’t see that happening. We love each other, Andrew and I. I like to think that if something real ever developed between one of us and Alina, the other one would step aside.”

“I hope you’re right son, I really do. Just be careful. Be careful with yourselves and be careful with the girl. Especially with the girl.”

“What does that mean?”

He was starting to get annoyed with her, which was quite unusual. For the most part the two of them had a solid relationship and hardly ever fought. But this, this felt strangely personal, like she didn’t believe he was capable of being delicate. Well she of all people should know that he was. He had spent enough time treating her with kid gloves, wiping her tears and trying to  instill in her the belief that life would one day feel like living again. He had massive of amounts of faith in her. It would have been nice if she returned the favor.

But then she smiled her gentle smile and took his hand in both of hers, her eyes imploring him to listen, to be patient even when he would rather not be. It was a difficult look not to respond to. His mother had a special talent for making people feel calm. It was one of her greatest gifts.

“It isn’t a slight against you, Joshua. Not against Andrew either, for that matter. But that girl gives off the scent of one who has been wounded. Not just once but many, many times. Girls like that, wounded girls, they can be more sensitive than you could possibly believe. She may or may not have known what she was in for when she came to this little town.

I don’t know how much you boys told her and, frankly, I don’t want to know. What I do know is that you two are the only people she has in the world now and it could get messy. You don’t have to believe me and hopefully I’m completely wrong. I just wanted to give you my thoughts, for what it was worth.”

“Thank you. I know you only want to help.”

“That’s true, I do. Can I say one thing more?”

“If I said no, would it stop you?”

“Ha! Probably not. I just want you to remember, what the two of you are doing, it’s not the normal way around here. It’s happened, that’s true, but it’s rare and most people won’t understand it. Don’t be surprised if there is some backlash. There is a very good chance the two of you will receive judgement for this decision. I only want to prepare you, not to judge you myself.”

Joshua was at a loss for words. He knew what she was saying was right, he just hadn’t really thought it through. He didn’t really want to, especially not now that the deed was done and there was no going back. They couldn’t exactly just send her back to Russia, after all. Not if things had been as bad for her there as he suspected. It would be cruel, and what’s more, he didn’t want to. He liked having her around, despite all of the warnings his mother had given and their potential validity.

Fortunately, he wasn’t left to handle the last comment on his own. Right at that moment Andrew burst through the door, looking vibrant and windblown and full of life as always. He looked from one face from the other, an expression of mock concern on his handsome face.

“My god, but you two look serious. What’s happened? Are we expecting a visit from the pope? Perhaps some other travelling dignitary you all forgot to tell me about?”

“No,” Joshua said with a welcome laugh of relief, “what makes you say that?”

“Well the looks on your faces. Looking as serious as the two you do at the moment I’ve got to think something serious is going on.”

“Very funny, Andrew. How about you come and give your mamma a hug before you start making fun of her?”

“Me?” Andrew replied with mock shock, “I would never. When have I ever made fun of you, anyhow? When have I ever made fun of anyone, for that matter? You must be talking about someone else. Probably Joshua here. We both know he’s the one with the temper. It’s got to be him, no doubt about it.”