Chapter Text
Every so often, more than it really should have done, the ring on her finger caught her off-guard. She found herself staring at it when she was in the middle of making the kids' lunches, or when she was waiting to go out on stage, looking down at her hands. Sometimes it would even prove to be a distraction mid-set, when the glare of the spotlight happened to hit the neat row of diamonds, making the slightly larger one that sat in the middle glimmer and sparkle. It was a good thing that she was able to riff pretty much seamlessly, else the audience might have asked for their money back and she wouldn't have entirely blamed them.
She was engaged to Lenny. He'd asked her to marry him, and she'd said yes.
The ring sitting in place on her left hand was clear evidence that it hadn't been a dream, and she smiled every morning when she woke up and saw it there, after she'd taken in the sight of Lenny next to her, sometimes sleeping, others wide awake, his hand on her waist beneath the covers.
She had dreamt of it before it happened, and although she could tell Lenny anything, it was the one thing that she didn't mention to him. She hadn't wanted to put any pressure on him or make him think that she needed to get married. She really didn't. They were in love with each other and that was all that mattered.
Deep down, she supposed she was a little afraid of what might happen, given how things had turned out for both of them before. She knew that Lenny wouldn't stray and she had absolutely zero interest in even thinking about life with another man. What she did worry about, from time to time, was that their life might get a little too real. Mundane, boring. He'd told her about what his mother thought, that she had held Honey responsible for his career getting sidetracked and, in her opinion, he hadn't reached his full potential until after they'd divorced.
It was silly, really, and didn't hold much probability of coming true, not just because she was in the same profession. However it still remained as a possibility and her brain, as stupid as it could be, latched onto it. So even if she wanted to - and as the months turned into years she really, really wanted to - she never brought up the topic of marriage. They were happy, and the kids were too, and that was everything anyone could have asked for.
But then Lenny had. Taking her more than a little by surprise, but that was one of the things that she loved most about him. And, it had turned out that he had planned, a lot more than when they had first got together (though she still maintained that it had been something more than just a series of happy coincidences). It showed that he'd been thinking about it for a while, too, and that made her happier than she already was.
They managed a whole two days keeping it as their secret, reveling in the change in their relationship (though nothing fundamentally changed) with smiles and looks, and at night, with touches and sighs and kisses more unrestrained than they were in daylight. It was tempting to keep things under wraps for a while longer but Midge caved, knowing that her parents would start to suspect the worst if she didn't call them like she usually did.
Of course, it was the first thing that Mama mentioned when she answered the phone, substituting 'hello' and 'how are you all?' for 'thank God, Leonard finally asked you.' Midge could hear the joy in her voice, which filled her with warmth, but after the initial rush she became calm. Strangely so, considering that Midge was fully expecting to be bombarded with ideas for dates and venues, color schemes and table settings, menus and music suggestions. Maybe it had been so long in coming that Mama's personality had changed in the waiting, or a second wedding simply didn't require the same level of meticulous and slightly obsessive planning.
She didn't complain, as it gave them the freedom to make their own choices. Lenny had, half-teasingly, brought up the idea of a courthouse wedding, and while that had its romantic charms, Midge was set on something that was small and intimate but which involved their friends and family. The kids would be a big part of it, and there wouldn't be too much of a reception afterwards; something that finished early so that they could head off for a more adult get-together at The Gaslight in the nighttime. She also knew when she wanted it to happen, and before too long they'd set a date and were ready to send out invitations to let everyone know.
March 11th. It was when winter was moving into spring, and there was something about that shift that she liked; it felt fitting for what their relationship meant in so many ways, representing fresh starts and new perspectives, and how things were only going to get better.
A couple of weeks after the date became official, she noticed her mother starting to get a little antsy. She talked about an engagement dinner, something to mark the occasion, and despite there really being no need Midge thought it best to appease her before she got any other ideas. Just something informal, for family. Mama and Papa, the kids, Noah, Astrid and their kids, and Sally. Then Mama invited a couple of other people along, and then a few more, until it was becoming a definite party - or gathering, as Mama termed it - rather than a dinner.
It was fine. Just one evening that they could go along with. It might also be kind of fun, and nice to get everyone together for something other than the high holidays.
Before then they had another reason to celebrate, one which Midge considered to be far more important. She baked a lemon pound cake - Lenny's favorite - as well as a chocolate babka. The kids had made work of most of the babka, but the pound cake remained intact by the time they'd gone to bed, and she adorned it with four candles, one to represent each year that he had been sober.
"I'm sorry there's no song," she said as she presented the cake before him.
"Yeah, I don't think there is one for continuing to stay off drugs. Maybe I should give Shy a call and we could work on something."
Midge smiled, her hands resting on his shoulders as he blew out the candles. He cut into the cake, slicing up pieces for both of them, giving her a more generous portion than she would cut for herself. She was already thinking a little bit about dress shopping, but pushed away the more intrusive thoughts quickly, picking up her fork as she seated herself on Lenny's lap.
"I know we don't usually go to such lengths," she said after making it halfway through her slice, "but it felt important this year. I'm proud of everything you've done, and I wanted you to know that. As your fiancee."
"I don't think I'll ever get tired of hearing that," he returned, his arms circling a little more firmly against her waist. "And far be it from me to toot the shofar, but you're right."
"Well, that always helps."
"It is important," he continued, "because you were, along with Kit, my motivation to get help and get clean. I knew that if I ever wanted a real shot with you that I couldn't be involved in that, and given time, it would have consumed me. I have a duty to my daughter, and to myself, but I have one to you too. And now that we're going to be in it for the long haul, I need to remind myself how important it is. We're going to have a life together, Midge, and I want it to be the best life you could possibly imagine. And then some."
"Nope, I'm not gonna cry," she exclaimed, sniffing a little as she did so and tightening her grasp around his shoulders, "not when it's such a happy day."
"If you want to cry, then I'm not going to stop you," Lenny replied, a teasing note in his voice.
"I'm good," she affirmed, straightening herself up a little. "The celebrating doesn't end with pound cake, you know."
"Really?" he enquired, right eyebrow shooting upwards.
"I have plans for you, mister," she said, shimmying from his lap, smiling at the way he reached his arms out to keep contact with her. "Plans that involve the bedroom."
"I'm a big fan of those kind of plans. Is there any chance I could get a little preview?"
"I think that could be possible, Mr. Bruce," she replied, lowering her voice as she leaned over him, his hands having pulled her back.
"Oh, Mr. Bruce," Lenny smirked, palms fitting to her hips, "I like being Mr. Bruce."
Their lips were teasingly close when the phone rang, making Midge jump and Lenny sigh.
"Whoever it is, it can't possibly be as important as your plans," he called out, causing her to shake her head and smile as she moved to answer.
"Mama!" she said, a little too enthusiastically on hearing her mother's voice. "It's kind of late for you to be calling, is everything okay? Wait, slow down. Okay, right, six more people for the gathering, and possibly a couple of people that the Cohens know, and the Goodmans' daughter and son-in-law too. Okay, that should be fine, but we ought to put a cap on it at some point."
Across from her, Lenny got up from his seat, making a swiping action with his hand and mouthing the words, 'that's it, we gotta leave the country. First thing in the morning!'
She stifled her laughter as he mimed packing a suitcase and scarpering, somehow managing to stay composed enough to remain talking to her mother.
This is the man I've chosen, she thought to herself, only half taking in what Mama was saying.
She couldn't be happier about it, or about the fact that he'd chosen her too.
"So, I have big news to share, and I wanted you wonderful people to be the first to hear it out in the open. I'm getting married again."
Whoops and cheers came from the audience to meet her, along with applause that echoed around the auditorium.
"Wow, thank you. That makes me feel really good, because, honestly, it is nothing short of a miracle. Dating was rough. You kind of forget what an ordeal it is until you have to do it again. Everyone was telling me, 'it's just like riding a bicycle; you just get on again and go'. This was around the time my son was learning to do the very same thing, and, I swear to God, he couldn't go more than a couple of pedals before he fell off. Crying, wailing, saying he hated it and never wanted to look at it, let alone ride it again. And I got it. Who needs bicycles anyway? So overrated.
"The thing is, it's hard enough to date when you're -" she cupped a hand over her mouth, almost just mouthing the word, "- divorced. But when you do what I do for a living, it just adds so much more complication into the mix. And paranoia. Men get so weird about it, and particularly the men I dated. Every little thing was perfect, and you know, that's nice at first. But then they start spending longer in the bathroom than you do, and that's really saying something."
A ripple of laughter went up from the female contingent.
"They say you can smell fear, and even with all that extra hair gel and cologne, there was no mistaking it. 'You're not gonna tell jokes about this, right?' 'No, what do you take me for?' 'Okay, okay.' Then, literally a couple of seconds later, 'You promise?' 'I promise.' Great, we're all good. And then, 'because, you know, I can do it differently,' and at that point, poof, any desire you had is out of there. I wanted you to do it any which way, but now it's not happening, fine. It's really the least funny thing you can come up with, ironically.
"But then, I just so happened to start dating a comic." She paused to give credit to the hoots and whistles that raised up to the ceiling; no matter how long he'd been away from performing, the crowds still loved Lenny. "And, my god, it was a revelation. The difference! He actually goes out of his way to do things that could turn up in my set. He says to me, 'sweetheart, you can say anything you want about me, so long as it's funny.' Which really goes without saying, but it does make me feel good, reassured. Though I did have to tell him, 'honey, you're aware that giving me three orgasms in the space of a half hour is no laughing matter?'"
There was even louder applause, again, from the women in the audience.
"I know, I'm a very lucky girl, and very happy, too. Though not as happy as my mother. She was all ready to take out advertisements, auction me off to the highest bidder. I never knew that she could do backflips rivaling that of a champion gymnast, and I can only hope that I'm that supple when I make it to her age. And my father. If I hadn't said yes then he would have had no problem whatsoever doing so instead, and I'm not even talking on my behalf. Which was a little disconcerting, until he said that my fiance is, and I quote, like the son he never had. My father is big on equality, and he practices what he preaches, screwing both me and my brother up in equal measure.
"I'm feeling very relieved, because I was a little worried how it would go down tonight. Because there have been some people who have asked me why I would want to get married again. And I get it, I do. Once bitten, and all that. Though I will say, biting is not really our thing, even though we're far from conventional. Well, I guess, firstly I'd say, "is there anyone out there who wouldn't marry Lenny Bruce if he asked them?" And if you're thinking, I wouldn't, then, respectfully, you can get out, right now."
The audience applauded wildly.
"You know how old I was the first time I got married? Twenty. Twenty years old. I mean, that's crazy, right? They ought to make it illegal. Nobody knows anything when they're twenty. I thought I did, but boy, was I wrong. You expect to get married and that's it, done; you never need to think about anything ever again. If you're of the same faith as I am, it's even written right there in a contract. But the truth is, and no one tells you this, you have a lot of learning to do. For some people, that learning isn't easy, but it's fun, it's mutually satisfying. For others, you get to learn, in great detail, that your husband has a thing about fucking his secretary. Really, it's swings and roundabouts."
The crowd laughed as she put her hands out and shrugged her shoulders.
"I know, you've heard it before, but it never gets old. I thought my world was over back then, but it was only just getting started. That's another thing you learn as you go; that it's never the end. If I could go back in time and tell my twenty year old self something - well, I'd tell her a lot of things, but that would be top of the list. One thing that I have always done is not to give up on something just because it doesn't work out the first time around. If I subscribed to that way of thinking then I wouldn't be standing here right now. And sure, there are some things that you can only try so much with before you just have to resign yourself and move on. But we've already confirmed that isn't a problem this time around. Absolutely, definitely not. For those of you who have come here expecting some dirty joke about how Lenny Bruce's vocabulary isn't the only thing that's lengthy and impressive - you know, you can have that one on me. A little starter pack moment for you all, use it how you will."
She took the microphone off the stand, the spotlight following her as she moved across the stage.
"I've realized something in the last couple of years, and it's kind of embarrassing that it's taken so long, but better late than never, right? Now, if you're one of the many fantastic ladies that make up this audience, you might want to hold onto your hats, because this could come as a shock. Ready to hear it? I discovered - wait for it - that I can do things because I want to."
She brought one hand to her chest and the other to her forehead, miming swooning, to rapturous laughter.
"I know, I know, it took the wind out of my sails too. Ladies, check on those in the seats next to you and just yell if anyone needs medical assistance. I, as a thirty two year old woman, can do exactly what I want. Not because it's what society expects or because I'm in competition with anyone or because I have to check any boxes. I can do what I want, and fuck what anyone else thinks."
More cheers and applause rose up, making her smile.
"Let's face it, whoever gets to have the say about these things would have written me off a long time ago. 'She can't even make it to thirty without getting divorced? Make sure that she never has any happiness for the rest of her days!' Longevity runs in my family, and if I'm going to live a good fifty or so years yet, then I want to be able to share that time with a man who makes me laugh, who supports the shit out of everything I do, and who loves me."
More than a few 'aww's and coos came from the audience.
"Because, while I'm generous, I'm also more than a little bit selfish too. And you know what? I deserve it. So, there you have it; that's why I'm getting married again. Also because it's a well-known fact wedding cake contains zero calories, so really, why wouldn't I take advantage of that?"
She bounced off stage that night, buoyed by the audience's reaction. Did it have more than a little to do with getting the news out there? She was always honest in her sets, but it really gave her a different edge tonight.
Also, she was just really happy.
"You were on fire," Susie exclaimed, at her most animated after a show that went well. "I guess I don't gotta arrange another interview with the New York Times either, given you just came right out with it."
"Nope," Midge affirmed, "it's out there now. Maybe it'll make its way into the review."
"The headlines too. If L. Roy Dunham or her proteges have anything to do with it."
"Fuck her. She can write what she wants, I don't care about that anymore."
"Wow," Susie said, looking genuinely shocked.
"What?"
"Nothing," Susie replied, "just that being with Bruce has really mellowed you. You were always so obsessed about that kind of shit."
"He has a good effect on me," Midge agreed, smirking a little. "And it's not just because of the - "
"Hold it right there," Susie interrupted, her face in a grimace, "I promise you this, Midge, I will never want to hear about your sex life. Not even when it involves Lenny Bruce. Especially when it involves Lenny Bruce. I know too much already, I'm surprised I can still look the guy in the face."
"He's made of stern stuff," Midge smiled, "but I promise, I won't say anymore. You have to admit though, I'm much easier to handle when I'm calm and not stressing about something, or several things all at once."
"I don't know if you're ever easy to handle," Susie said, earning a look of faux indignation from Midge. "But yeah, things are definitely plainer sailing when you're happy and not complaining about shit."
"Good. I'll tell Lenny to keep it up, then." She couldn't stop herself from snickering. "Although, that's really just a given."
"Fuck," Susie exhaled, putting her hands over her ears. "I wish someone would invent brain bleach. I'll fucking pay them to work on it."
Over the course of their relationship, the only matter that Lenny had taken up any kind of crusade against was the lengths at which she went to when it came to maintaining her appearance. Her nighttime routine, ingrained in habit as it was, was at first a source of fascination and confusion in equal parts to him. Midge recalled the first few times he'd watched her as she meticulously put the curlers in her hair and applied the cream to her face, waiting the necessary amount of time for it to take effect before removing it. She'd felt a little self-conscious but also weirdly pleased that he'd taken such an interest. It was something that she'd shielded from Joel - for his own good, she'd always told herself, but deep down she knew it was because he'd have something that he thought was smart to say about it.
Lenny joked with her, but never in a way that was mean. One night, when she went about the rigmarole as usual, she had noticed him behind her in the mirror, his face seriously set.
"Do you really believe you need to do all of this?" he'd said, waving a hand over his face.
"I don't know," she'd answered honestly, "I just always have. If I want to keep looking good, I have to stay on top of things. And," she'd admitted, feeling a little shy all of a sudden, "I want to look good for you."
She had seen his expression shift before he moved towards her, his chin resting on her shoulder. She smiled and shuddered a little, feeling the warmth of his breath against her face.
"Sweetheart, you will always look good to me. No matter what time or tide may do."
She couldn't stop herself from rolling her eyes a little, even though she knew he was being sincere. "Don't tell me that 'it's what's inside that counts'."
"That almighty schmuck Joel Maisel. He really did a number on you." His hand upon the nape of neck made her let out a breath. "I will not deny that you are a very beautiful woman. The most beautiful woman I have the privilege to know, and ever will. But beauty is more than skin deep. Remember what you made me promise before that first night?"
She nodded her head, a small sigh escaping her.
"Being the funniest person on the planet makes you beautiful. Your big heart makes you stunning. The way you look after everyone, even if you've known them for a total of five minutes, makes you absolutely gorgeous."
She looked at his reflection in the mirror, smiling as she relented to his way of thinking.
"I mean, whatever makes you happy makes me happy too. And if doing all of this is a good use of your time, then I have no complaints. Or at least I will keep them to myself."
"It does get kind of monotonous," she'd admitted. "As long as you promise you won't leave when I start to look like the creature of the swamp."
"I'll have you know I have a thing for said creature, so that's going to be a treat for me." He'd swiped a fingertip along her cheek, causing her to giggle. "Now, might I take this goop off your flawless face so that I may kiss you properly?"
"With pleasure."
"I'm hoping so." She'd laughed as he nudged his nose against her, taking her hand to lead her into the bathroom. "And Midge?"
"Yeah?"
"First thing tomorrow, I'm throwing that fucking measuring tape in the trash."
She did much prefer spending the time with Lenny, reassured by his promises to love her however she was, whether she changed or stayed the same. As the wedding got closer she did step things up a little, but it fell in with Lenny's writing routines, so by the time she was ready to head to bed he was putting his typewriter away for the night. It was only something small but it made her happy that they were so in sync.
It wasn't an addition to the routine that kept her up tonight, more the bunch of returned RSVPs that had turned up earlier that day.
And one in particular, which she was having trouble believing wasn't a figment of her imagination.
She started a little when she felt Lenny's hand touch her shoulder, turning her head to the side.
"Bed's cold without you," he said, his gentle way of telling her to give up on obsessing.
"You're the one who keeps me warm," she countered, leaning into his touch and lowering her head so that he could nuzzle a kiss into her neck before she moved to slip off her robe. "I just can't believe that it's there in black and white. My ex-husband's going to be at our wedding. This isn't going to be a disaster at all."
"It isn't," Lenny tugged lightly at her waist, pulling her against him as they moved to lay down. "He's just going to fade into the background."
"Not Joel's style," she murmured, hand clasping at his shoulder.
"Or not," Lenny returned. No matter what crazy state her head was in, he was always the voice of reason. "Either way, he's not going to spoil the day."
"You have plans."
"I might have," he said, and she could hear the smirk in his tone. "I have made quite a few valuable acquaintances in my time in and out of most of the jail cells in this state."
She gave him a look that said no, but if it was any other time… . "I shouldn't have sent one out in the first place. I could have said that it got lost in the post."
"Then he would have come over here and thrown a fit. And found a way to hold me personally responsible."
"It's probably for the kids. He's going to smuggle them both out when we're not looking, so now one of us has to have eyes on him at all times, which is really inconvenient."
She smiled despite herself when Lenny held onto her tighter. Honestly, she should have blacklisted Joel right after the kids had told her what he'd said to them about it being better all round if they went to live with him and Mei full-time.
"Your Mama's away a lot of the time, and I know you love Bubbe Rose and Zayde Abe, but it's pretty hard on them to be looking after you so much."
"We have Lenny," Ethan said, not too afraid to stand up to his father now that he'd turned eleven. "He doesn't go on tours anymore."
"Yeah, well…Lenny's not…your mama can say it all she wants, but he's not a good guy."
"Lenny's the best!" Esther exclaimed, not entirely oblivious to the exasperation she was causing in her father. "He's funny, and he tells great stories, and he does my hair just as good as Mama does. And he lets me and Kitty paint our nails sometimes, and makes us pancakes. And he takes us to the zoo! You said you were going to take us to the zoo, but you never did."
"Because your brother got the chickenpox, then my work got really busy. I was going to take you to the zoo."
"Lenny took us, and he got us animal balloons," Esther continued. "I got a tiger."
"So he does a lot of nice stuff," Joel interrupted, "but he does a lot of bad stuff, too. Stuff you're too young to know about yet, but trust me, it's bad."
"If you mean drugs, then he's been clean for four years," Ethan stated matter-of-fact.
"Jesus! Your mama shouldn't be talking like that to you."
"Why not? We're not babies. Mama says we're old enough and responsible enough to know the truth." Ethan stopped, smiling a little.
"What's that look for?"
"Mama said you used to like Lenny. That you were one of his biggest fans."
"Yeah, well, things change," Joel huffed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "People change."
"So that means that Lenny can change too, right?" Ethan enquired.
"I don't want anything about Lenny to change," Esther supplied.
Joel remained quiet for a long time, looking at his daughter beaming a smile and his son wearing the same expression that Midge always did when she was being smug and self-righteous about something.
"Don't tell your mama I said any of this to you."
"Can we get cookies?" Esther asked. "Lenny buys us cookies."
"Sure, fine," Joel muttered, scrabbling to get the coats. "Cookies. However many you want, until you throw them up."
She was still so mad about it. That he'd go behind her back, she expected. That he was still trying everything to turn the kids against Lenny, badmouthing him at every turn was unforgivable. Luckily the Maisel genes they'd inherited had all come courtesy of Shirley and Moishe. The generation gap was a real thing, and it was one of the things she was most thankful for.
"Or Mei gave him a lecture. If he didn't agree, she was going to cut his balls off and give them to us as a wedding present."
"While I'd respectfully have to turn that particular gift down, I would have certainly volunteered to sharpen the implement of her choosing." She felt Lenny press a kiss to her hair, his hand on her thigh. "I promise you, Joel is not going to fuck things up, not for us anyway. Non-existent hell would have to freeze over several times before I let that happen."
"I love you," Midge said, the words half muffled against his chest.
"I love you too," he returned, kissing her temple and then her cheek. "And, if I may suggest it, the option of the courthouse is still there."
"Not gonna happen. There's the initiation you need to go through."
She pursed her lips at his scrunched brow and confused frown.
"Initiation?" Lenny repeated. "Didn't I pass over all those hurdles already?"
"There's more," Midge replied, keeping her tone deadpan, "so much more."
"Ah, well," she felt his shrug as he exhaled, "I have faced much worse. Like the Catskills, for one."
"Don't pretend you don't love it."
"The only thing I love about that godforsaken place is getting to see you in a bikini. Everything else is barely tolerable." His eyes met hers as she looked up at him. "But for you, my darling, I will persist."
"I knew there was a reason I was marrying you," she said brightly. "I promise that it will grow on you."
"Like mold," he bounced back, and she couldn't stop herself from smiling wryly. "Honestly, I'm looking forward to it, the occasion of it all."
"You never fail to surprise me," Midge said.
"It does help that your mother is the one keeping an eye on things. If it was mine at the helm it would be an actual circus, complete with acrobats and lion-tamers."
"The kids would love it. Though Esther might try getting a little too close to the lion," she mused, thinking about how their last family trip to the zoo had nearly ended in tears, and thankfully not a trip to the hospital.
"It's been a long time coming," Lenny mused, his hand stroking her arm, "so there ought to be some fanfare. It's only fitting, for the day I get to become a Weissman."
Midge sat up a little, looking down with a smile at where he was staring up at her lovingly. The whole thing would be a little too progressive, and even though Papa would have been glad about the honoring of the family name, she was also very much looking forward to taking Lenny's.
"You'd do that for me?"
"Like a shot," he answered, taking her hand into his, "if you're okay with me riding on your coat-tails. It's not like being a Bruce has brought me a ton of luck."
"Oh, I don't know about that," she replied, tugging lightly on his fingers.
"You're the exception to the rule," he said, sitting the same as she was, his free hand reaching to her cheek.
"These constant compliments better not stop once we're married." She smiled against his lips, sorely tempted to just shut up and take things further after the first kiss.
"Unless you plan on stopping being wonderful."
"I don't think that'd be very fair." She sunk a hand into his hair, smirking at the groan escaping his throat as she scratched lightly at his scalp.
"I fully agree."
His arm reached around her, hand cupping lightly over her hip, and she let herself think about how it might feel different, not expecting that it would in any significant way but getting a little thrill that added to the sensations caused by his lips upon hers as she fantasized about kissing him as his wife.
No doubt most people would imagine that her fantasies would involve something far more outrageous.
"Oh, I meant to tell you," she caught her breath, leaning herself back against the pillows and holding back laughter at how he looked far from amused, "Susie's been doing some rearranging, and she hit upon a window of free time. For the honeymoon."
"Okay, I do like the sound of that," he agreed.
"April's out, there's a couple of gigs that can't be moved. But May looks good. Pretty much the whole month." She smiled at how his eyes had lit up, just as excited as she was by the prospect. "I was thinking that we could have a week or so to ourselves, before we bring the kids out to wherever it is that we decide to go."
"Oh god," he lowered his head for a moment before looking at her again, "don't tell me you're thinking about the Catskills. Please, let me have some say in this."
"No," she said, with an exaggerated sigh, "it's not the right season for it there. Although, it might not be too late to rearrange the wedding…"
"Midge, you're not being serious."
"You have to ask?" she teased. "I'm either losing my touch, or getting really good, if I have you fooled."
It was frankly adorable that he looked a little sheepish. If anyone looked hard enough, they might have even been able to discern a faint flush in Lenny Bruce's cheeks.
"I have a couple of places in mind, around the same area," she continued on, trying hard not to give the game away. "I need to look into it a little further, but I'm pretty convinced that you'll approve."
"Sweetheart, anywhere with you is going to be paradise."
Shivers of the most pleasant kind took hold of her, his gaze belonging to her entirely and unreservedly, his hand brushing her thigh beneath the covers.
"Because, as much as I am looking forward to the wedding," he said, leaning in to her, "it's everything that's going to come after that I really can't wait for."
"Me too," Midge murmured happily, her hand grasping the back of his neck, doing her bit to close the short distance between them.
"Being all alone with you," he said the words against her neck and her throat, his mouth tracing a well-worn path, "I can't think of any place I'd rather be."
"Mmm, Lenny," she sighed, feeling like she should probably do something to stop his descent.
She got a last look at his dark eyes before his head disappeared with the rest of him beneath the covers, his hands smoothing her nightgown up past her hips. She sucked in a breath when his lips met her stomach, keening as he trailed them further down, the fingers of one hand running over the lace of her underwear.
If this what was waiting in store, she thought she might see if there was any chance that they could move the date forward instead.
"Mama! Lenny!"
The sound of Esther's voice had him scurrying up faster than a lightning strike, Midge putting a quick hand to his hair and then hers in order to compose themselves.
"What's up, sweetie?" she enquired as her daughter climbed up onto the end of the bed.
"I had a bad dream," Esther confided, her small voice shaking. Midge could see that her lower lip was quivering, too, and reached out to her. "There was a monster and it was chasing me, and I couldn't run fast enough. Then I tripped, and it was going to get me."
"Oh, baby." Midge kissed Esther's head as she brought her closer, Lenny making space. "It's okay, it was just a dream. You want to sleep here for a little bit?"
She looked over the top of Esther's head at Lenny; he lowered his chin and nodded.
"Yeah," Esther responded, her hand reaching for Lenny's.
"Get comfy, kiddo," he said, bringing the covers up over the three of them after kissing Esther on the forehead.
"Why were you under the covers, Lenny?" Esther asked. "Were you hiding from the monster too?"
"No monster is making its way in here. I wouldn't let them. But your mama gets cold feet, so I was making sure they were warm enough."
"That's silly," Esther mumbled, and Midge let out a little laugh.
"You know me too well," Lenny replied, making to 'steal' Esther's nose. She giggled in response.
They were just getting settled when another pair of footsteps made their way into the room.
"Kit," Lenny said as he half-sat up. "What's happening?"
"I got up to go to the bathroom, and I saw that Esther wasn't in her bed," Kitty answered her father, standing with one foot placed over the other, "and I got scared."
"Well, Es is going to stay with Midge and I for a while."
"That's good," Kitty mumbled.
After a couple of minutes, whereby Kitty hadn't moved, Midge felt the bed shift as Lenny got up.
"You wanna stay, too?"
"If that's okay, Dad."
"Of course it is."
He wasn't out long, just enough to pick Kitty up with a half exaggerated grumble and settle her in the center.
"Hi, Kitty," Esther said, smiling.
"Hey, Es," Kitty replied, her hand moving to pat Esther's hair.
"Okay," Lenny said, "is everyone comfortable? Got everything they need?"
A chorus of three 'yep's chimed in response.
"I'm turning the lights out, then."
About ten minutes passed, with Esther and Kitty not so quietly whispering to one another, before a knock came on the door.
"Go away, monster," Lenny called out, "we don't have anything you want here!"
"It's not a monster," Ethan replied, earnestly.
"Ethan," Midge responded, "you're not asleep."
"Nope," Ethan said.
"Can I ask why?" she ventured.
"I got hungry, so I thought I'd get something from the kitchen. And I was seeing if Es and Kitty wanted something too, but then they weren't there, so I thought I'd check in here."
"Well, it's getting a little crowded. And it's not too late," Midge answered. "Once you're back in bed, it'll be breakfast time before you know."
"But, Mama," Ethan whined a little, "I'm hungry now."
"The kid can't help getting his appetite from his mother," Lenny said to Midge.
"Fine," she said, pulling back her side of the covers, "I guess we're having a not-quite-midnight feast."
Ethan and Kitty made enthusiastic noises of approval, along with various requests of snacks to be made.
"Can we have hot chocolate with marshmallows?" Esther asked eagerly from where she sat in the bed, resembling a little queen of her kingdom.
"That's the perfect accompaniment for a not-quite-midnight feast," Lenny said, picking her up easier than he did Kitty, by virtue of her being two and a half years younger. "Plus, I hear monsters are allergic, which makes it all the better."
As the five of them trekked down to the kitchen, Midge took a moment to herself to watch as Lenny and the kids bounded ahead, and smiled.
Life was more than a little crazy, but there was no way that she would change it for anything.