"The best moments in reading are when you come across something – a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things – which you had thought special and particular to you. Now here it is, set down by someone else, a person you have never met, someone even who is long dead. And it is as if a hand has come out and taken yours."
― Alan Bennett, The History Boys

"Fuck!" Alex stumbled backwards as she tried to stand up under the weight of her tool belt. She dropped the drill onto the floor beside the back door and undid the buckle of the wide belt. Resisting the urge to throw the heavy, tool laden belt, she dropped it next to the drill. "Damn it all to hell." Alex looked at the rectangular hole she had managed to cut in the wall of the house.

Hearing the commotion, Piper wandered into the back room. Deciding to ignore the outburst she heard, Piper wrapped her arms around Alex's waist. "Looking good babe." Alex huffed in displeasure. "It's a hole, Al. It's progress!"

"It's crooked as fuck. I should have hired someone but I couldn't find anyone that was working this week during the holidays. I'm not waiting another day without these dogs not having a way to let themselves out!" Alex relaxed some as Piper reached up and kissed Alex's jawline. "I'm sorry I've jacked up the wall."

Piper snickered. "I'm sure once we get the framing around it and the rest screwed in, nobody will know any difference."

"We? What's this we business?" Alex dipped her head down to kiss Piper.

"Yeah, we. I've been keeping the girls out of your hair! Doesn't that count?" Piper slid her hands down to Alex's hips and tilted her head sideways.

"Speaking of the brats, where are they? Sleeping?" Piper nodded as she pressed her lips against Alex's. Alex turned Piper around, pressed her against the door, and ran her mouth down Piper's neck. "How long do you think we have?"

"Hmmm." Piper couldn't seem to find her words as both Alex's hands griped Piper's breasts. Piper reached for the button on Alex's jeans.

Alex stopped Piper's motion. "Mmmm no Pipes. I believe I have a task to finish that I started last night." Alex slipped her hands under Piper's shirt and slipped it over head, sliding her hands back up, finding a nipple with one hand and gliding the other across Piper's now bare stomach to her sweatpants. She made fast work of the drawstring, allowing Piper's pants to drop to the floor and pushing her panties down to slip to the ground as well.

Alex dipped her head from Piper's neck and found the other nipple with her mouth. Piper moaned as she rubbed her naked crotch against Alex's jeans. Piper whimpered as Alex's mouth left her breast and ventured back up to her chest to her throat to her chin. "Shhhhh," Alex whispered as she smothered Piper's mouth with her own. "Don't wake the girls." Her tongue pressed against Piper's frantic one. Alex whispered into Piper's mouth through their kiss, "What do you want baby?" She pressed her leg into Piper's bare crotch, knowing her jeans were becoming soaked.

Piper didn't answer, only ran her fingers through Alex's long, dark hair, pulling her mouth closer to hers. Alex slid her tongue back down Piper's shoulders and chest before tapping her tongue against Piper's nipple and sucking it hungrily into her mouth. It was evident that Piper was struggling to keep quiet as Alex slid her leg upwards, harder against Piper's center.

Knowing their time was possibly limited, Alex reached down with her hand and quickly found Piper's wetness. Despite the weak feeling in her own knees, Alex knew she had to stay upright if she was going to have Piper tonight. Her fingers quickly found Piper's clit, pressing it gently, mesmerized by the swollen size. She began making slow, deliberate circles around Piper's center and allowed her fingers to quickly become coated with the juices dripping from her body.

Moving back up her body to kiss her, Alex wasted no time in slipping two fingers into Piper. Reaching even deeper into her body with every kiss, Alex ached to crawl inside. "You feel so good Pipes. How did you get so wet, so fast?"

Piper's breath was becoming heavy, labored. "Uhhhh, last night? Gawd Alex, I've thought of you all day." Piper's kisses were frantic, showing her ache, her desire. This drove Alex to quicken her motions to an almost fevered pace. It didn't take long before Piper's body began to stiffen, her walls tightening around Alex's fingers. Alex ducked her head down to again suckle Piper's breast and then left a trail of kisses as she moved lower.

Piper moaned in anticipation as Alex landed on her knees and her tongue found Piper's clit. Slowing the movement of her hand, Alex brought her down slowly so that she could enjoy bringing her up again. Alex's fingers remained pressed inside Piper's body, moving in pace with her tongue stroking Piper's clit. Alex briefly paused, resting her chin on her hand and stilling her fingers which had been moving in and out of Piper's body. Looking up, she found Piper's wide eyes staring down at her. "Do you want me to stop?" Alex's green eyes were twinkling, teasing as she questioned.

Her voice was a mere whimper. "Please no."

Alex replaced her fingers with her tongue and stretched deep within Piper's body as she moaned. Sucking in her juices, the strokes were slow and long. Alex's long fingers traced Piper's swollen clit with at a slow, wicked pace. Without warning, Alex plunged her fingers back into Piper. Sweat was beading on Alex's neck as she thrust in and out of Piper. Alex was pumping so quickly and deeply that Piper's body was lifted with each stroke. Her back arched as Alex continued to churn against her once again building orgasm. Alex refused to relent even as Piper's muscles clenched tightly around her fingers. Not slowing down, she found some way to move faster yet. Alex laid her head on Piper's stomach as Piper's hips with Alex, forcing Alex harder into her with every stroke. Alex pulled further out each time simply so she could go back in deeper.

Piper could keep quiet no more and began to moan loudly and call out Alex's name as her body was pushed over the brink again and again. Alex found Piper's clit with her other hand and ensured that Piper's body continued to quiver and shake. Piper's body shook uncontrollably as screams escaped her body. Her fingers were entangled in Alex's hair as her body gave one last orgasm. Piper sank to her knees. "I can't baby. Stop. I can't handle anymore."

Piper's body twitched as Alex gently removed herself from inside Piper. Wrapping her arms around Piper, she kissed her firmly on her head. Piper began to giggle. "What's so funny babe?"

"Well first of all, I'm fully naked and you are fully dressed. Secondly, with all that noise I made, the girls are still asleep."

Alex gave a low chuckle and pulled them both to their feet. Without warning, she swooped Piper off her feet and quietly made her way through the living room to the bedroom and placed Piper in bed, covering her with the duvet. "What about that big hole in the wall?" Piper was still giggly.

Alex shed her clothes and crawled under the covers with Piper, pressing her now naked body against her girlfriend's. "I'll take care of it tomorrow. Meanwhile, I have something you need to take care of." She rolled on top of Piper, grabbed Piper's hand and moved it to her crotch.

About that time, a whimper followed by a howl came from the living room. Alex fell back onto the bed. "FUCK!"

After Alex finished the dog door the next morning, she and Piper got on opposite sides of the wall. They took turns calling the puppies and leading them through the door with treats. Peep and Choc caught on rather quickly. Their biggest problem was when they tried to fit through the door at the same time which was quite humorous. Luckily the door was adult Dachador size and they were still puppy size, so there was no worry that Piper and Alex would come home to stuck pups! But soon the girls realized that they could be outside and play anytime they wanted. So they seemed happy enough.

Piper and Alex returned to the kitchen to finish off the pot of coffee from breakfast. "So what do you think?" Piper asked Alex. "Do you think this will help our problem?"

Alex shook her head. "Fuck I sure hope so. I love the little boogers, but they sure are putting a dent in my sex life!"

Piper laughed. "Well maybe we'll make Nicky babysit them sometime soon. It's her fault we have two puppies anyway."

Piper and Alex were perched on an oversized stuffed couch, with a large print paisley slip-cover. Piper took a sip of her tea and placed it on the coffee table. "Thank you for seeing us Mrs. Griffith."

The gray haired woman in the chair across from the pair replied, "Oh no dear. It's Ms. Griffith. But call me Amanda or Mandy, please. I insist."

Piper smiled sweetly. "Miss Amanda it is. I understand that you hold the deed to Donovan Manor, your grandmother's house on Lake Donovan."

"Oh no dear, that house belonged to my great grandmother, Suzanna. Her granddaughter was my mother." The woman pushed a plate of cookies towards the woman, eyeing Alex. "Eat up child. You look too skinny." The elderly woman laughed at herself. Alex obediently picked up a cookie and nibbled the edge. This was her fourth cookie so she had to make this one last.

Piper continued. "I have lived in Donovan for a little over a year now and spend a lot of time at the lake. I love the architecture of the house, and I've done a bit of research on it. I wondered what you could tell me that the public library can't."

Mandy's eyes brightened. "Yes, well as I said, the house originally belonged to my great grandmother Suzanna. My uncle passed at a young age, before the railroad came into town. He left her a young daughter and a sizable piece of land as he planned to be a cattle rancher and needed grazing fields." Her eyes shifted to Alex to ensure she was still eating.

Piper spoke up. "I understand that Suzanna divided her land into plots, laying out the town we know now as Donovan. She sold the plots but kept her original house as well as some sizable plots around the lake."

Mandy nodded. "You did indeed do your research. Not many know all of that."

Piper smiled at her. "How did you come to be the deed holder?"

Mandy's eyes had a far-away look in them. She was silent for a while before she spoke. "Tradition has been that the property be passed down to the eldest daughter in the Donovan bloodline." The quietness that came next was palpable. When she spoke next, her voice was barely audible. "But that tradition ends with me."

Piper and Alex looked at each other with puzzled faces.

"I do not have a living daughter. I only have one son. I fear he's not interested in that creaky old house. He's been trying to get me to sign it over to him, I imagine to sell to fancy developers who will tear down my family's last memorial to the woman who built Donovan without the help of any man." Mandy's eyes were glistening as tears threatened to form.

Piper knew she had to steer this conversation in a different direction. She was searching for what to say when Alex spoke up. "Tell us about your great grandmother. Suzanna. She sounds like she was a special woman. What do you know of her?"

"My mother used to tell me stories about her all the time." Mandy perked up quickly. "She also told me stories that her mama told her. She talked about Grandma Suzanna – how kind she was and loving and never knew a stranger. Once she and Aunt Mary opened the boarding house, the poor people never went hungry. Aunt Mary would cook too much dinner on purpose so she'd have food left over to feed those who didn't have enough."

Alex looked at Piper knowingly. "Aunt Mary? So your great grandmother had a sister?"

Mandy giggled and blushed slightly. "I know Grandma Suzanna did not have a sister. My mother said that her mother was simply told to call her Aunt Mary and that was that." Mandy winked at Alex. "I may be 71 years old missy, but I'm sure we all understand the situation between those two... unwed women living together and all." Now it was time for Alex to flush red.

Piper and Alex visited with Mandy for quite some time, hearing all sorts of stories about her great grandmother as well as the manor and unknown history of Donovan.

All three women were startled at a deep voice which came booming from the doorway. "You two dykes will never get her to sell that house. It stays in the family and is my birthright."

"TOM!" Mandy was shocked and quite embarrassed. "Tom what a horrible thing for you to say to these nice ladies. And we've talked about this many times. That house is NOT your birthright. It is my property and I will do with it as I see fit." Turning to Piper and Alex, she said, "Please excuse my son. He has no manners whatsoever."

Despite his mother words, Tom continued. "The only reason she was willing to even see you today and has allowed you to stay so long is because she's a lonely old broad. Do you know how many people she's done this to? She has no interested in selling you that property, so why don't you leave?"

At this, Alex stood and went to face Tom. She was easily four inches taller than him. While she had dressed conservatively today, she had an air of confidence about her that made power exude from her very pores. "I can understand you calling my girlfriend and me names, but what I don't understand is why you disrespect your mother who is obviously a kind and gentle soul. Surely she did not raise you to act like this." Alex glared at Tom, not breaking eye contact. She then stepped forward, invading his personal space and he immediately stepped back. Glaring at Alex, he took a last look at his mother and stormed out of the house.

Alex took a moment settled her nerves and turned around to smile at Mandy. She took a step towards the coffee table. "Would you like some more tea Ms. Griffith?"

"I've told you, it's Mandy." Her voice was shaking but her hands were steady as she accepted the freshly filled tea cup from Alex. "I don't know what's come over my Tom this last year. He's become more and more insistent that I immediately sign over the deed to Donovan Manor to him since he's my only remaining child. He presumes he's going to inherit it." She took a deep breath. "Frankly I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it. So in the meantime, I choose to do nothing."

Piper thought for a moment to carefully choose her words. "Do you think your son is desperate for money? Is he into drugs or gambling?"

Mandy shook her head. "My Tom would never do drugs. That I'm sure of. He has two lovely children and would not put his relationship with them in jeopardy. His job and his family doesn't give him time to gamble."

"How's his financial situation, if I may ask? His anger has to come from somewhere. Maybe it's desperation." Alex leaned forward as she was thinking through ideas.

"There could be something to that Alex. I know last year his contracting business fell on hard times. One of his subcontractors really messed up a job and landed him into some legal trouble and ruined his reputation. But Tom has never been one to burden me with his problems." Alex made a mental note to do her own research on Tom and see if she could get to the bottom of his issues with his mother.

"Miss Amanda." Piper took a deep breath before she plunged into the reason they had spent the afternoon visiting with the elderly woman. "Alex and I both have enjoyed visiting with you a great deal. We truly wanted to find out more about Donovan Manor and your family history. But your son was right about one thing, we are also interested in purchasing your property."

Mandy's eyes grew wide and her hands shook as she placed her empty teacup on the table. Piper went over to Mandy's chair and crouched beside her, placing a calming hand on Mandy's shaking ones. "Before you kick us out of your house, will you listen to our plans?" Mandy looked into Piper's calm eyes and nodded her head slightly. "We have no intention of tearing your house down. My girlfriend gave me a copy of the original blueprints for Christmas. I did as much research as I could at the public library and was convinced that the manor belonged to the founding family of our town." Mandy nodded.

"We own a café in downtown Donovan and are looking to expand our repertoire to include a bed and breakfast. Your manor would be a perfect house and it's in a perfect location. We would restore the house back to its original glory as best as we can and open it back up much as your Grandma Suzanna and Aunt Mary did."

Mandy's eyes were glistening again but this time the tears forming were those of joy. "I… I don't know what to say." She turned her hands over to squeeze Piper's.

"You don't have to say anything Miss Amanda. Just think about it. That's all I'm asking. We would get it properly appraised and offer you a fair price with many safeguards built into the contract that we are going to do with the property as we say we will."

Mandy stood and motioned both women over to her and wrapped her arms around them both. "Oh honeys, you have no idea how happy you have made this old woman. Yes, I will think about it."

After visiting a little longer, Piper and Alex excused themselves to get back to the café. Mandy pressed one last cookie into Alex's hand. "Will you come back to visit?"

Piper nodded. "Of course Miss Amanda. We love visiting with you. Maybe you'd like to go with us one day into Donovan and take a look around to see how things have changed."

"Oh dear, I'd rather like that Piper." Mandy stood at her doorstep and waved to Alex and Piper as they walked to their car. Right as they were about to get in, she called out. "Piper?" Piper turned and looked at Mandy. "What will you call it?"

Piper smiled softly. "We are debating on two names. The one that is coming out on top right now," she looked at Alex who nodded, "is 'Founder's Inn'."