A/N: Sorry all for the late and only update this week. I was on my "end of winter" vacation and I must say, it went very well :) Also, I kinda need to give everyone a heads up, I'm winding this story up very soon (can't give an exact chapter count because I'm terrible at predicting how many), I just know it's likely three or less chapters left :) After this, I will be finishing up Not the Only One and then, who knows...but I have to thank you all for your reviews, comments and encouragement! As usual, please enjoy and feel free to review and comment :)
Decisions
Gail ran her thumb over Holly's hip and groaned. She couldn't take it this morning; Holly straddling her with the sheerest white tee-shirt probably ever made just covering her body. The breath caught in Gail's throat as she placed her other hand on the opposite hip. "I can't do this this morning," she frowned looking up at Holly.
"Is there any particular reason why?" Holly questioned, smiling down at Gail.
"I agreed to work this morning…" Gail winced as Holly flexed against her hips. "If you don't stop that…" she warned. She hadn't realized how horny she was until Holly had straddled her.
"I thought you had a three day weekend, with me," Holly said running her hands up Gail's taunt stomach and circled her ribcage.
"You have a three day weekend because you need the rest, baby," Gail reminded her, trying to block out how good Holly's warm hands felt on her body. "I picked up Dov's shift…he had something to do and needed someone to cover for him."
"And you volunteered," Holly pouted. She leaned down and captured Gail's lips. Her breasts being pressed against Gail's was torture. "I want you so bad this morning," she pulled back and whispered in Gail's ear. She felt Gail's hip react and her hands move from her hips to the small of her back. "I thought this was going to be a family weekend…" she pulled at Gail's earlobe and then kissed down her neck.
"Jesus baby, you have to stop," Gail moaned. "I have to get in the shower and head to work or I won't make it," she rationalized, although everything in her body screamed to stay in bed. It took Holly a moment, but she finally gave up and dismounted from Gail to lay beside her. Gail turned on her side and kissed Holly's collarbone softly. "I'm sorry…"
"It's okay…I may pop into work for a couple of hours if it's okay with Jade. I can do some research…get ahead of next week," Holly yawned. "You wanna shower first or should I?"
Gail kissed her again. "You go ahead…I'm going to use PLENTY of cold water during my shower anyways. And I think I need coffee. I'm going to have a cup and then I'll be back," Gail sighed rubbing her stomach. Gail watched Holly get up and head to the bathroom and cursed herself for not taking advantage of that situation, but she needed to be focused; focused on making more money. She had worked two doubles already that week and even though it was her turn to have a three day weekend, she had offered not only to cover Dov's shift today, but Andy's weekend shift. She hadn't told Holly that one…figuring it would be better to act as if she was surprised by the revelation also.
Making her way down the stairs and into the living room, Gail wasn't particularly surprised to see that Jade was already awake. She was awake every morning lately by six a.m. and most mornings she made her way down to the living room couch. It hurt a lot less to be sitting upright, she had explained once. This morning, the television was on, but muted and Jade was reading one of Holly's medical journals.
"Morning," Gail offered, tightening her robe.
Jade looked up from the journal and nodded. "Morning Gail," she offered. "Why are you up so early? Aren't you off today?"
"Picking up Dov's shift today…" Gail said heading into the kitchen. "You made coffee?" she yelled back to Jade.
"I needed a pick-me-up," Jade explained, coming into the kitchen.
"Not sleeping well?"
"Or at all…" Jade tried to smile. "I haven't been sleepy…I went from being sleepy all the time, to not sleepy at all…I don't know what's wrong with me, Gail."
"What did Dr. Pinkerton say?"
"I'm likely suffering from some post-traumatic stress…" she said hopping up on a stool at the bar area. "But I thought that was something only people who goes to war get…so I don't know. She said this could go on for months…she wants me to think about exposure and cognitive therapy…"
"And what do you think about that?" Gail asked feeling instantly uncomfortable with the idea. She didn't want to "expose" Jade to anything more.
"I don't know…it's therapy three times a week…I don't wanna feel like this, but it's embarrassing to go to therapy that much…"
"Sweetheart, you never have to be embarrassed about therapy."
"Do you like going to therapy?"
"I don't like anything," Gail smiled. Jade smiled also. "I'll go with you…if you need or want me to," Gail promised. "We can talk to Dr. Pinkerton Monday, okay?"
"Seriously?" Jade asked a bit in disbelief. She knew how uncomfortable therapy made Gail. "If you come, I'll try…" Jade confessed.
"Deal," Gail smiled again. "So…have you talked to Haley?" she couldn't help, but pry a bit. It had been three days since she had encouraged Jade to talk to the girl, but she wasn't sure Jade had.
"I texted her," she pouted, "She didn't answer back."
Gail rolled her eyes. She had learned the hard way, "You can't text a girl to apologize, Jade," she said firmly. "You have to make an effort."
"Make an effort how?" Jade asked confused. "The text was the effort."
"What did the text say?"
"Evidently not enough," Jade laughed. "What is effort?"
Gail was at a small loss. "You should ask Holly. She has to apologize to me all the time,"
"I have to do what to you all the time?" Holly questioned pulling her still wet black hair into a bun. "Good morning, Jade," she smiled at the girl and then refocused on Gail. "Now what do I do to you all the time?"
"Have to apologize…" Gail said quickly. She received a confused look from Holly, enough to make her smile. "I'm going to run up and take my shower," Gail said leaving her half-finished cup of coffee.
"Well, we both know I never have to apologize," Holly laughed as Gail scampered off. She picked up the cup and took a sip. "What were you two really talking about?"
"Me not apologizing correctly to Haley," Jade grimaced. "I'm not sure I know how to…"
"Did you try flowers?"
"I tried a text," Jade smiled charmingly.
"You texted her an apology…oh sweetheart, that's terrible," Holly tried not to laugh. "I was thinking of going in for a little while today, but maybe we should just work on your apologizing skills."
"I didn't realize they were skills that needed to be had, Holly," Jade groaned.
"Sweetheart, they are…" Holly said. "I'm going to work for a few hours…you figure out how to apologize…start with killing the need to apologize by text…" Holly turned to head back upstairs.
"What am I supposed to do…actually call?" Jade was genuinely confused. Holly closed her eyes and shook her head.
"Figure it out, Jade…figure it out…"
Jade opened the door with the same look any sixteen year old would give to the person who had just pulled them out of their marathon of vegging out on the couch, and taking what amounted to a five hour nap. Jade was up, once, that day. She had actually been quite productive; but that was before both Gail and Holly had left the house; and with them, the little motivation she had to be awake. So there she had been, sleeping on the couch, when the most aggravating sound in the history of sound interrupted that. It seemed as if whoever was at the door was purposely trying to be annoying. He, or she was using a combination of pressing the doorbell several times and beating on the wood. Jade had thought to pretend as if no one was home, but with every second that passed, her nerves were being banged on, much like the poor front door.
Jade bounced a few times on her tip toes and just caught a glimpse of the woman on the other side of the door. Hmmm…social worker…or lawyer. She opened the door. The latter was right, she decided as the woman in front of her looked over Prada sunglasses at the girl. "May I help you?" Jade asked in her most aggravated tone. The woman took a step back and smiled, looking at the girl whose day she had just interrupted.
"You are Erica Jade, correct?" Madison asked looking over her sunglasses. She wasn't surprised when Jade didn't answer. "Well, I know you are Erica Jade…you look a lot like her…" she was setting bait that Jade didn't seem keen on taking. "Well, I'm Madison Garrison-Chambers," she offered her hand to the girl. Jade made no effort to take her hand. "Well, I'm a lawyer…"
"Hmm…I figured as much," Jade said shifting to the doorjamb. She readjusted her arm in the blue sling and waited for Madison to continue.
"Do you think it would be okay for me to come in and speak with you? There are something we must discuss…"
"Absolutely not," Jade said firmly.
"I assure you, I'm a lawyer," Madison frowned. She moved to look into her bag, to find a business card, but Jade wasn't interested.
"Oh, I believe you are a lawyer," Jade corrected her. "That doesn't make you any less insidious to me," Jade announced. Insidious was the word of the day, today. Madison looked up, a bit gob-smacked by the teenager's assertion. "I believe if you want to talk to me, you should probably have at least one of my mothers' permission…and since either of them are present, I'm figuring you don't have their permission."
"And how would you know that?" Madison asked curiously. Jade bounced off of the doorjamb and moved to close the door a bit. "Well, could you at least tell me how to get in touch with your mothers?"
Jade grinned, "You found your way to my door…you know who they are," she said shutting the door and locking it behind her.
"They moved it up," Gail quickly explained. "Oliver just told me like fifteen minutes ago…can you make it in the next two minutes, I'm heading into the courtroom."
"I can't," Holly said frantically. "I'm deep into something right now…"
"Don't worry about it. I'll tell you everything that happens. I'll talk to you soon," Gail hung up just in time to enter the courtroom. She put her phone on silent and sat in the back of the courtroom. She had just gotten off, a little after four, and she had been tipped off by Oliver that Eleanor, or Nori, as she liked to be called, was in court today. Her court date had been moved up, likely because she was going to be releaesed, which made Gail's blood run cold.
Gail realized, sitting the back of the courtroom that she hadn't really seen Nori before. She had seen her momentarily, when she was still bandaged and bruised form the fire, but not really after that. She wasn't particularly tall, really a petite woman, and she didn't look really devious enough to take part in a kidnapping. Unfortunately, it seemed that the judge felt the same way, which was why Gail was furious right now. She stood and exited the courtroom, calling Holly back immediately.
"That was quick," Holly answered.
"They are releasing her!" Gail boomed. "They are releasing her back to the United States with no repercussions!" Gail watched as Nori was released through a side-door.
"What…how is that possible?"
"I don't know…" Gail said absently watching Nori head towards the bathroom. "Babe…I need to go…"
"Gail…" Holly nearly screamed. She didn't like the sound of Gail's voice, which meant recklessness. Still, she heard a dead line on the other end of the phone.
Gail made her way into the bathroom just as Nori turned on the water facet. The woman looked shaken, but Gail was just thankful that they were alone in the bathroom. Nori seemed as if she didn't notice the other woman's presence, which made Gail somewhat hesitant of what she was about to do next. Not hesitant enough not to walk up beside Nori and stop, lean against the sink and grin a little bit. "Do you have any idea who I am?" she asked calmly. Nori took slow stock of the woman near her and shrugged indifferently. "Maybe you know my teenager…Jade…" the slow realization spread across Nori's face. "Oh yeah…you do remember her, right?"
"Listen…" Nori began, but her words were stopped, pent in her throat as she felt the short, tense sting of Gail's fist on her jaw. Her hand went instantly to her left jaw, completely shocked that someone had struck her. Adults didn't just go around punching people in the face. She was close to saying just that, when she finally made eye contact with Gail; those blazing blue eyes tortured with a mixture of anger, frustration, and satisfaction. Nori was rendered silent by those eyes.
Gail balled her fist up again and Nori took a step back. "She was awake, at least partially, after you drugged her like caged animal. You are a doctor…and you drugged a kid, who was already scared and in pain, and at least she should have been able to trust you…a damn doctor! But you drugged her, and she still pulled you out of a fire, because she's a better than we could ever be…and yet you are going to walk away, go back to wherever and live a fine life…and she can't sleep at night."
"I don't get to walk away from this unscathed," Nori began. Gail's fist drew back. "I lost a baby in that fire!" she countered. "Carlo is dead…and I loved him, and his baby was all I had in this world and I lost that baby because I decided to help a psychopath. I was told that I would be monitoring diabetes, not kidnapping."
"And you stayed!" Gail yelled. "You didn't get her help! You stayed…and watched as she was tortured. Do you really think you get sympathy?" Her head throbbed, her hand throbbed, and she just so happened to remember that Holly was going to kill her for punching someone in the face.
"I'm not …I agreed to testify to protect her…because she saved my life…" Nori tried to explain. "You think I don't feel horrible!"
"You lost your passport for ten years…she's sixteen and she doesn't feel like she has a future! Who's the injured party here," Gail growled.
"If I could do anything to take it back…"
"You can't take it back…and I swear I hope it haunts you for the rest of your life…" she turned to leave.
"I'm sorry…" Nori tried to offer again. Gail gritted her teeth and fought the urge to turn back around and hit Nori again. She deserved it, Gail rationalized, but she flexed the last bit of self-control she had and pushed the bathroom door open and walked out into the hallway. She took a few deep breathes trying to calm herself as she walked up the hallway.
"Ms. Peck…" she heard someone call out. "Ms. Peck…Gail," she could hear the sound of heels in the background. Gail stopped and turned slowly. "Lucky meeting you here," Madison Garrison-Chambers said managing a smile although she was a bit out of breath.
"Is this day poised to get worse," Gail grumbled. "What do you want Madison… someone filing another lawsuit..."
"Why would you think that?" Madison questioned.
"You never bring good news and we are the courthouse."
"Hmm…I'm a lawyer, I live at the courthouse. And no…I was going to the precinct, but you are here so I can save a trip. I actually stopped by your house to talk to Jade earlier…"
"You stopped by my house?" Gail said automatically defensive. "Why were you at my house?"
"I needed to speak with Jade…but she directed me, quite forcefully to talk to her moms."
"Damn, and you would have thought the law degree would have told you not to seek out a minor."
"Well…it's her business actually…" Madison began.
"No…Jade is mine and Holly's business…so…what exactly did you need with my kid?"
"I'm actually handling Kiana's estate…which is now officially out of probate. And because Jade is her last living relative, Kiana's estate will be transferred to her."
"So you are bothering Jade for what…a couple hundred bucks?" Gail asked obviously frustrated.
"Gail…Kiana had a sizeable estate. She owned many properties, including a commercial warehouse, and stocks, bonds, IRAs...vesting in Emporia Chemical Company and a couple of other businesses…Kiana was quite well off at her time of death, Gail." Madison reached inside her bag and pulled out a wrapped brown folder. "Everything is in there," she said handing it to Gail. "I need Jade's signatures…." Gail refused to take the folder. "Gail…take the folder…" Gail took it, tentatively. "Also…I've been in contact with the estate of Shoshana Mercer," she paused a moment, seeing the hatred color Gail's face. "I know this is not what you wanna hear this…"
"You have no idea how much I don't wanna hear this," Gail corrected her.
"Shoshana has a living will that dictates the removing of life supporting measure at a certain juncture in her care if she is not progressing. That time is coming up very quickly…yet the hospital needs authorization to remove the life support. This would have fallen to Kiana, but since she is deceased…" Madison didn't know how to say the rest. "They need Jade to sign off…Gail."
"That's not going to happen, Madison…" Gail said firmly.
"Gail, they can't…they won't do what needs to be done without her signature. It's in all the paperwork. It'll leave Shoshana in limbo without her authorization."
"I said no…" Gail said again. She clutched the brown folder and walked away from Madison.
"Gail…at least talk to her about it!" Madison yelled as Gail cut through the crowd.
"Have you been sleeping?" Holly questioned trying to make it sound as light as possible. Holly had gotten home a little while ago, and had plopped down on the couch beside Jade. The girl looked tired, more sleepy than anything, but she still flipped the channels to keep herself awake. Jade looked away, intent on ignoring the question, but Holly was persistent. "How many nights haven't you been sleeping?"
"I don't know…maybe four or five nights…I'll get a couple of hours and then I'm up for hours. I talked to Dr. Pinkerton and she thinks I have PTSD…she wants me to get therapy three times a week. I told Gail and she said she would go with me a couple of times if that will help."
"Do you think that will help?"
"Maybe…it's embarrassing though. I don't wanna feel like someone has to hold my hand, because I'm being a baby," Jade admitted. "Maybe in a couple of weeks, I'll be fine without the extra therapy," her eyes were hopeful, which broke Holly's heart not to be able to agree with her.
"It may be a better idea to try the therapy, sweetheart."
Jade nodded mournfully. "Yeah, I figured that much. Some woman named Madison came by here today."
"A lawyer?"
"Yeah…I figure it's bad news. I figure even in a coma, my mother is going to ruin my life."
"How so?" Holly questioned softly.
"I don't know…get me kicked out of here, put in foster care. I know I said a while back that I didn't care, but…"
"Jade do you want to be adopted?" Holly had figured she would approach the subject more delicately, but the laden panic in Jade's voice didn't give her a chance to be delicate.
Jade looked at her strangely. "Is that an option? When I'm sixteen already?"
Holly grinned. "It's definitely an option Jade."
"An option that you and Gail want?" Jade asked still a bit in disbelief. "I mean you could adopt a baby or be free, instead of permanently saddled with me for the next two years and beyond."
"So you don't want to be adopted?"
"It sounds like an expensive and lengthy process…"
"Jade…do you not wanna be adopted?" Holly said worriedly.
"I know how much trouble I've caused already, Holly. And if it's easier to just ride it out with guardianship…"
"You didn't cause trouble, Jade. Adults trying to inflict their will onto you did that. So if you don't want to be adopted, we'll understand…just think about it, but we feel as if this is the best, for all of us…"
"Then yeah, I definitely wanna be adopted," Jade allowed a small grin to spread across her face. "So do I get to change my name…I'm not sure I like the last name Stewart…especially if I become a doctor…I can't be little Dr. Stewart…"
"What's wrong with my last name?" Holly laughed. "And I like that name; Jade Stewart…mini doctor…"
"That's so not going to work…" Jade laughed. They both laughed until they heard the front door open. They watched as Gail closed the door to the outside world and slide to the floor.
"Remind me to never leave the house again…" she rested her head on the door. "I think I'm going to need to drink."
"Can that be a celebratory drink, because we are adopting Jade," Holly beamed.
Gail stared at Holly for a moment and then looked at Jade.
"You don't seem happy," Jade noted.
"Guys…we have a lot to talk about…"
If she had been turned in the other direction, she would have seen Holly and Gail watching her through the front window. But Jade wasn't turned in the other direction, she was looking out onto the street, waiting patiently. She had been waiting for nearly an hour and quickly giving up hope. Yet, something held her to the top stair of the stoop leading to the townhouse. Jade pulled her knees closer to her chest and buried her face in her kneecaps.
"Are you asleep or being dramatic?" Haley's voice cut through the air and settled on Jade's ears. The girl looked up slowly, resting her chin on her knees and looked at the person who was her best friend.
"Being dramatic…" Jade answered. "I thought you wouldn't come…a Friday night and all."
"I thought you didn't want to see me again," Haley sighed.
"You knew that was a lie…"
"But you said it…" Haley reminded her.
"I texted you…"
"Yeah…you texted me…at least this time you called."
Jade smiled. "Holly said I should work on my apologizing skills, like it's addition or something. So I've spent a good amount of time thinking about how to apologize for being an ass to you. I figure I should have started with flowers…maybe candy…probably dinner too…"
"You were going to get me candy and flowers, and maybe dinner?" Haley didn't want to smile, but seeing Jade fumbling over her words was cute.
"I thought it would hurt less…not having to think about or feel anything. I thought I could get over feeling or thinking about you."
"That's humbling…and here I am thinking about you all the time."
"You didn't let me finish."
"Were you going to say that you think of me all the time? Because that's kinda all I wanna hear," Haley said moving a step closer. She was bailing Jade out, but she wasn't into drawn out apologizes. The first time Jade texted, she was intent on ignoring it, but when she actually called this evening and Haley heard her voice, it was futile to resist.
"Yeah, that was the gist of it," Jade agreed with what Haley had said. Haley climbed the five steps in front of her and sat down beside Jade.
"I'm going to hold you to dinner, and probably the candy too," Haley smiled brightly. She waited a moment before adding, "I missed you so much…you are such a stubborn ass. I thought I was going to have to face next semester alone…pick classes alone…do my internship alone."
"Holly and Gail were going to adopt me," Jade blurted out.
"Were?" Haley waited for clarification.
"I'm getting Kiana's estate...she made me and Nina share a bedroom, a bed and sleep in a house that leaked and was in a terrible neighborhood, and she had an estate! Houses, commercial buildings, bank accounts, 401ks and she let us be miserable. She would disappear and stay with her boyfriend while we stayed alone in that shit house and low-and behold, she owned two houses in nice neighborhoods. Nice school districts and instead I took two buses across town to scholarship at a private school. It's like a cruel joke I don't wanna be a part of, Haley," Jade let a tear slide down her cheek. "I don't want any part of it…but it's a lot of assets."
"What did Gail and Holly say?"
"That it's my decision; that I could just have Holly set up a trust and figure it out when I'm older."
"Sounds like a plan," Haley said brushing the tears from Jade's cheeks.
"I could take the money and strike out on my own…"
"Do you ever get tired of being a superhero?"
"Is that sarcasm when I'm trying to be serious?" Jade pouted.
"No…I'm being super serious," Haley said brushing away some more tears. "You think you are protecting Gail and Holly by 'striking out on your own,' you thought you were protecting me by pushing me away. You went back into a burning building…when are you just going to protect yourself? Get adopted by them…be with me, so we can conquer the science world, or whatever. Worry about the estate later…let's just try to be happy, please Jade."
"It's not that easy for me. I'm sorry," Jade offered her hand to Haley and Haley took it quickly.
"I can deal with anything, as long as it isn't you telling me that you don't wanna see me," Haley admitted softly. "That felt like hell…"
"You were/are dating the biggest douchebag…"
Haley rolled her eyes. "You told me to date Peter…"
"I take that back then…don't ever date someone like Petey again," Jade laughed.
"Don't worry about that…I'm going to be dating this really smart-science chick now…" Haley revealed with a tentative smile.
"Oh…I heard she's hot," Jade smiled, which made Haley's smile bigger.
"I wanna kiss you," Haley said softly and almost immediately blushed. Jade leaned in and pressed her lips against Haley's. When Jade pulled back, Haley frowned. "Sorry…I'm not great at this."
"I don't know…I kinda like it," Jade said kissing Haley again. It was better this time, Haley feeling less nervous and relaxing against Jade's mouth. Still, Jade pulled back again. "I have something else I have to tell you…"
"My kissing does suck?"
"No…geez, no. My birthmother isn't going to wake up, but they need me to sign the papers to take her off of life support." Haley pulled back a bit and looked Jade's eyes. "I don't think I can do it…I can't see the difference between pulling the plug and letting her die in that fire; and I couldn't let her die in that fire." She put her head on Haley's shoulder. "I don't know what to do, Haley. What was the point of saving her, if I still have to kill her?" Haley didn't have an answer.
"I was going to work Andy's shift tomorrow," Gail mumbled looking over the paperwork that Madison had given her for Jade. "The entire weekend actually." Holly stopped searching through the menus on the counter in front of her and turned to look at Gail. "She had an emergency," Gail lied.
"There are plenty of other people to cover her shift," Holly reminded her.
"This estate is just over two million dollars…all of that had to be from illegal activities and they still didn't confiscate it because it couldn't be proven," Gail said partially because she was in awe of the justice system lately and partially because she wanted to change the subject.
"So you just didn't want to spend the weekend with us?" Holly ignored Gail's maneuver.
"You know that's insane," Gail grunted. "2.1 million dollars to a sixteen year old…"
"Wouldn't it just be easier to tell me, Gail?" Holly asked seriously.
"I doubt it," Gail replied looking at the papers. She took a second to look out of the front window. Jade and Haley were sitting close to one another, and Gail couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Should I really have encouraged that?" she said pointing to the outside.
Holly smirked a bit. "They aren't doing anything…"
"Yet…"Gail added. "And I'm splitting the shift with Chris both days…so I'll only be gone in the morning. I think we should set ground rules…"
"So only morning?" Holly had to admit she was becoming somewhat confused with the obvious two conversations Gail was determined to have right now.
"Seven until noon…how about rules like…Haley can't be here when we're not? That's a good rule, right?"
Holly snorted. "She's been used to coming when we are not here, Gail. I think that ship has sailed."
"Okay…but what if we say no sex in the house?"
Holly burst into laughter. "Okay, so we are jutting the two shyest teenagers I know, straight to sex?"
"It's inevitable…"
"And…" Holly talked over the interruption, "If they wanna have sex, they'll do it at Haley's house…or in Haley's car…" Holly grinned at the scowl on Gail's face now. "Or Jade may just use one of the four houses she now owns…"
"Or the warehouse…" Gail agreed.
"Or take the piles of cash she was left…cash out the money market account or 401ks….the stock in Emporia," Holly said in disgust. "She had money and she still treated Jade like shit. How selfish could someone be…her mother and Kiana, they were monsters and it was like a game to them," Holly sighed against the counter, hugging herself. It didn't make sense to her, to purposely torture someone, especially a kid as good as Jade. "Gail, she said yes at first, but can we really compete with that type of money and freedom? She can live on her own and now she had the means."
"We are not in competition with the money," Gail said firmly hopping down from the stool and going to stand in front of Holly. "She told Madison to go talk to her moms if she needed to get to her; we're her moms. Money doesn't change that."
"Did Jade tell you that?"
"Madison…when she gave me the papers…after I punched Nori in the jaw," Gail admitted quietly. Holly lifted Gail's right hand and although it was faint, a couple of knuckles were slightly bruised. "A ten year suspension of a passport deserved a punch in the face," Gail was poised to defend herself.
"I hate to agree," Holly said brushing her lips against Gail's knuckles. "But I do…so you don't think the money will change her mind?"
Before Gail had a chance to answer, they could hear the front door open. Jade and Haley made their way into the kitchen. "Can Haley stay for dinner?"
"Sure, we are going to order out…any suggestions?" Holly asked smiling at Haley. Gail, on the other hand, just stared at the girl as if she was now her greatest nemesis. "I was thinking Chinese," Holly said poking Gail out of her quietness.
"Chinese sounds great…" Gail said tightly.
"Could we do Korean instead?" Jade requested. "I don't really want Chinese."
"I'll order some Korean," Holly said picking up the menu through some scattered ones. "It should be here in a like thirty minutes or so," she grabbed the phone and walked towards the living room.
"Gail, can you take me to my old house tomorrow…I'd like to get some of my old notebooks…some of my research notes are in there …" Jade asked softly. "I could get Haley to…"
"No…I'll do it when I get off from work tomorrow. I'll pick you up and take you."
"Thanks," Jade offered. "Haley and I were thinking about going to the movies later too…is that okay?"
Gail opened her mouth for a rebuttal, but was stopped by Holly. "Of course, that's fine," Holly agreed. "What are you going to see?"
"Some sci-fi movie that we are going to pick apart for being unrealistic," Haley chimed in. "But it's supposed to be like three hours…can you pay attention to a movie for three hours?" she turned to Jade.
Jade smiled, and although Gail hated to admit it, it was a welcomed change to her previous moods. "Probably not…especially if the science is terrible, and I'm sure the science will be terrible."
"That's right…keep your expectations as low as possible," Haley shook her head.
Jade bumped her lightly. "I'm going to go up and get ready for dinner," she smiled at Haley. "I'll be right back."
"So you and Jade are a …" Gail started as soon as Jade was out of earshot. She could see Holly frown, but she couldn't help it.
"We are friends…" Haley stammered a bit.
"Friends?" Gail nodded although she didn't believe that was the correct term for what Haley and Jade were now.
"I guess…" Haley thought about it for a moment.
"Friendship," Gail narrowed her eyes at the girl.
"And that's enough questions from you," Holly said coming over and pulling Gail into a hug. "Leave Haley alone, sweetheart," she whispered and Gail laughed.
"Haley and I are just talking…we're friends, baby," Gail said innocently.
Jade bounced back down the stairs and came back into the kitchen. "What's going on?"
"I was just talking to Haley about you guys' friendship…" Gail said walking over to the fridge and pulling out a beer.
Jade's eyes lit up with amusement. "Our friendship?" she looked at Haley, who only shrugged. The doorbell rang and Jade laughed at what seemed to be an inside joke between she and Haley.
"Go to sleep," Holly instructed, her mouth still partly pressed against Gail's. They had had a strange Friday…filled with ups and strange downs, but Holly was strangely happy. Jade was happy, for now, because Haley was back, and Gail was being Gail, focusing on the fact that it was past midnight and Haley was still downstairs with Jade. They had just gotten back from the movie and it was driving Gail crazy that Haley was still downstairs.
Gail kissed Holly's forehead. "I am going to sleep…"
"You are thinking about Haley and Jade being downstairs."
"What if she spends the night?" Gail questioned.
"She has spent the night before," Holly reminded her smiling.
"She wasn't a threat then," Gail chuckled.
"She's not a threat now," Holly laughed too. "You have to work in a couple of hours…"
"Only for a couple of hours," Gail said kissing Holly's mouth this time. They had made love twice after Haley and Jade headed to the movies, but Gail never seemed to get enough of Holly. Luckily that feeling seemed to be in Holly too, because every time Gail wanted her, she was receptive. Holly trusted her and Gail knew that was fragile. "Baby…"
"Huh?" Holly moaned, half sleep now.
"How am I going to afford my half of the rent on a new townhouse, or a house for that matter? I don't pay anything here now…" Holly eyes slowly opened. "It's scary for you to make so much more than me…I feel like I have to catch up."
"Is that why you are working every chance you get?" Holly asked evenly.
"Yes…" Gail admitted. "Are you telling me that you don't think about it?"
"About the money?" Holly said pulling back a bit. "I guess I didn't have to…what do you want to do about it?"
"I'll work more…as much as possible."
"I hate that option," Holly shot it down. "What's the next one?"
"I don't have a next one," Gail frowned against the darkness of the room.
"There has to be something more practical than you working your ass off and being away from us."
"I can't keep not contributing, financially," Gail said worriedly. "What if we get a joint account and I can put like 75% of my check in there and that can go to whatever it needs to."
"You want to get a joint checking account?" Holly smiled. Quite frankly, Holly was surprised that they didn't already have one. It was just something that never came up; Holly would pay whatever needed to be paid household wise like she had always done and money rarely came up unless she was giving Jade spending money. "We'll get a joint checking account, and I'll put 75% of my income in and we'll pay everything from there. It's fair."
Gail smiled at her solution. "It is fair."
"Okay…let's sleep," Holly yawned and turned over so that Gail could spoon her.
"No…I can't sleep…Jade and Haley are downstairs…"
Holly looked over her shoulder and began laughing again. "Okay, let's stay up all night," she said turning back over to face Gail. "All night…" she bit the side of Gail's neck tenderly.
Jade was nervous to admit that she probably wasn't the best kisser. She had kissed guys before…when she eleven, and thirteen and fourteen. She had hated it, not particularly because it was guys, but really because she never felt in control. It always felt like something that was forced upon her; something that she was just doing to fit in. This likely made her a bad kisser, she had decided. That and the fact that she would rather being doing something else, anything else really. But it was different with Haley. She liked the feeling of Haley's mouth against hers. Which was why she was so disappointed when Haley pulled away.
"What's wrong?" she asked softly. The television was on, but neither Haley nor she was watching. They were on the couch discussing the terrible movie they had just seen or what classes they were going to sign up for Monday one second, and the next their mouths were mashed together. It was strange and exhilarating at the same time.
"It's like one in the morning," Haley noted. "I should go home."
"You can't drive home at one in the morning," Jade said sternly. "Just spend the night.
"Gail would kill me…and I mean that literally," Haley reminded her. "I should go home."
"I'll sleep on the couch…you can borrow something to wear and sleep in my bed. Just don't go."
Haley looked squarely in Jade's soft brown eyes. "I missed you. And what I mean is the best friend you…the person who will break down a three hour sci-fi movie with me, or build a super robot with me you."
"Not the broken up asshole who has to kill her mom, or gets kidnap me?" Jade tried to joke.
Haley settle her forehead against Jade's, "Don't joke like that," she whispered. "I can sleep on the couch."
"It hurts my arm less to sleep down here anyways," Jade admitted. She flinched a bit when Haley ran her hand over her collarbone and down her shoulder.
"Does it still hurt?"
"Sometimes when I'm focusing on it, but that's not what makes it hard to sleep. I think the last time I slept well, that wasn't drug induced, was at your apartment."
A smile crept along Haley's face. "So you are using me for good sleep?"
Jade shrugged as much as she could and grinned also. "Maybe," Jade sighed before pulling Haley back into another kiss.