Sequel of "Heat"

This is kind of a spin-off/sequel of the short story "Heat" by Joyce Carol Oates that I wrote in my Intro to Fictional Writing class Spring term 2005.

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After I had started dating, my parents would watch me from the doorway of my bedroom every night and I knew their thoughts. I just knew. They were thinking about Rhea and Rhoda and pondering how they could keep me from harm. They didn’t say anything—didn’t even whisper—but I knew from the looks on their faces that they didn’t want me dating anyone. They would do anything to keep me from harm.

I also remind myself of what happened with Rhea and Rhoda. I did marry a man some years ago, but before that, I never let any man touch me in any way. Not even a kiss on the cheek whenever we would come back from our date because they might think that I’m really serious about them and start doing something that I was not ready for.

I saw Rhea and Rhoda at our wedding as well, but I never told anyone because nobody could see them. I would like to think that they came to me that day because I would talk to them in my dreams. They always did tease everyone—including me. When I talked with them in my dreams, they were sweet and told me that they missed being here. The night before the wedding, they told me that they would be there.

My husband knew that I would never let him touch me until long after the wedding, yet he still went through with it. When my father gave me away on our wedding, he whispered something in my ear. He told me everything that he and my mother thought about when they stood in my doorway and looked at me when I was “sleeping.” They knew that I was not sleeping. Don’t ask me how, but they knew. It’s good to know that your parents will always be there for you, at any age and at any time.