Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 94155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 377(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 377(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
“I know. I can’t believe she’s already sleeping through the night. Do you think that would be the case if we’d stayed in New York?”
“Definitely not. There are too many sounds and distractions. Being in Alaska is good for her.”
Alaska has been good for all of us. I was terrified at first, leaving behind my friends and family in New York to come all the way across the country. We’re about as far away from New York as you can get and still be in the U.S. However, my parents were amazing about the whole thing. After the rally, they understood that we needed to get away and start over somewhere new. They have been coming once a month for a weekend trip so that baby Alexis can get to know them.
We’ve gone back to New York a few times, too. The city is still important to all of us, and we want Alexis to be as comfortable there as she is in the wilderness of Alaska.
“How is Jessica doing?” Mark asks as Alexis drinks her bottle.
“She’s doing really well! Her, Raymond, Tom, and Josh just bought a house together a bit north of the city. She’s finishing up school next year, and after that, she and the guys want to start a family of their own.”
“And the protests?”
I laugh. “She’s still right at the forefront.”
After we left the university, the movement slowed down. It was hard to get students to support polyamorous relationships when John and Mark had seemed to give up. Jessica, surprisingly, was the one who’d brought everyone together again.
I’m proud of my best friend. She still struggles with actual school, though she’s doing much better since she changed majors. She decided to go for a women’s studies major because with it, she learns a lot about protests and movements, which seems to be where her heart lies. She even volunteers for a non-profit that organizes rallies in order to help people in the community.
I’m also proud that she publicly proclaims her polyamorous lifestyle. She even added a third man into the mix. I was shocked that her former tutor was also bisexual and interested in a relationship with both men and women, but it has worked out well for them. He gets along great with Raymond and Tom, and with Jessica. The four of them have a tetrahedron relationship, and they’re incredibly happy together. I’m happy for them.
They’re all coming to visit in a week and staying here with us for Christmas break. I can’t wait; Alexis loves seeing her godmother. She gets all smiley and giggly whenever Jessica is here. I wish we could see them more often, but Jessica is busy trying to change the world. We see each other as much as we can. Maybe, once Jessica graduates, she’ll be able to come visit more.
“Are you nervous about starting school again next month?”
I bite my lip. “Very. It’s been so long, I’m not sure I even remember how to be a student.”
John laughs. “Don’t worry; it’s like riding a bike. You’ll get right back into it.”
After the move to Alaska, things were too hectic for me to enroll in school. Besides, I was going to be very pregnant by the time I finished the semester. Alexis was born in July. I’m not sure I would’ve enjoyed being seven months pregnant and going to school.
Then, I wanted to stay home and care for her. I took off the following three semesters to take care of Alexis. I’m finally going back for the spring semester. I’m behind on my studies, but getting a degree is still my goal. I’ll be majoring in English at the University of Alaska. I’m nervous but also really excited to start going to school again.
The best part is, Jane Fordham retired last year, so I won’t have to deal with her at all.
We never figured out for sure who reported us to the NYU school board, but I’m pretty sure it was Jane. She gave me such awful vibes at the conference, and I could tell by the way she looked at us that she suspected our relationship. She’s the only one it could have been.
Mark and John agree with me. They were hesitant at first, but the timing makes sense. She probably did it to get John to write that paper with her. Instead, he has ignored every one of her calls.
“She’s dozing off,” Mark says, pulling the bottle from Alexis’ lips. He lays her down on the picnic blanket and places a blanket over her. Alexis is a great sleeper. Even with a nap during the day, she still sleeps through the night.
Like John said, we’re incredibly lucky.
John, Mark, and I move to a picnic blanket next to where Alexis sleeps. We’re close enough to hear if she stirs but far enough away that we won’t disturb her if we talk.