Hello again.. Happy New Year.. late as always.. so.. three chapters left in this ride.. Thank you to all who have been with me through it all.. Readers, reviewers.. it warms my heart to have you along for the ride.
Crevette - THANK YOU for the holiday tale.. my heart strings still get all mushy..
Marsupial - Ahh my partner in crime.. you rock babes.. thank you for everything..
TeenAgeRiot - keep writing! I'm waiting to read things..
TheAeacusProject - I can finally read your latest two chapters! Incentive writing is a bear..
Take a moment to read and enjoy.. review if you can.. if not, it's good..
A note for everyone who is a little worried about the state of current affairs. Never give up hope. Choose to believe in one another and fight the good fight. Stand up, be heard. Be safe. But never give in. Peace
Emily smiled and let her lips move along Naomi's jaw. Her voice was lost to the ever present hunger for the blonde. She let her hands move along her body. Curves at her fingertips. She wanted to taste all of Naomi. Her tongue darted out between her lips and she licked her way down her neck.
..
Privateer - Chapter 37
"Emily... what is that infernal noise?" Naomi's voice was muffled by the pillow over her head. Her companion grunted and reached out to the nightstand. She grabbed her phone, opened one eye and then turned the ringer off. "Oh good.. it stopped.. I thought I was having a recurring nightmare.."
"You are.. it was Katie's ringtone." Emily curled up around Naomi's immovable form. "She's called three times.. there might be some text messages.. but my eyes refuse.. to focus.." She yawned in the middle of her words. Naomi sighed and grunted and decided to focus on the little ball of warmth wrapped around her. They almost drifted off when they heard a ruckus inside their flat and a lot of swearing. They both sat up.
"That's not your phone.."
"No.. that's..."
Their bedroom door bursts open and Katie walks in fully dressed in an elegant outfit, wearing sunglasses and heels. "Fuck's sake lezzas.. can't you sleep with clothes on? And why didn't you answer your fucking phone?" She heads right over to Emily's closet and starts looking through her outfits.
"Katie.. what the fuck?"
"How'd you get in? How'd she get in?" Naomi sat topless as she looked back and forth between Katie and Emily who sat on the bed with her arms crossed in front of her. Effy walked in with four coffees. She looked normally well put together. "Did you pick the lock harpy?" Effy tilted her head at Naomi as she handed her a coffee and then Emily. She took a long look at their bare breasts.
"Nice."
"Fucking perv.. did you pick the lock?" Effy took her own coffee and sipped it, raising one eyebrow at Emily. Naomi's head turned sharply to face Emily. "Ems... you didn't? Tell me you didn't.."
"It was supposed to be for fucking emergencies!" She hollered at the Katie figure half in the closet. She put her cup on the nightstand.
"This IS an emergency!" She shouted from inside the closet.
"It's not." Effy replied while taking a seat on the bed. "Well.. not really.."
"It is a fucking emergency! You should have stopped me!" She stepped out of the closet to point a finger at the brunette smiling devilishly.
"I did try.. but.. the Fitch charm... well.." She shrugged her shoulders and smiled even more as Katie grunted and went back in the closet.
Naomi looked at the coffee in her hands and at the tableau happening all around her. Emily hopped off the bed wearing only the smallest of knickers. She launched herself into the closet. Effy and Naomi both looked on appreciatively at her bottom as she went in to face her sister. They caught the other looking and touched their coffee cups together as Effy mouthed the word nice at Naomi. She mouthed back an I know and took a sip of the coffee. There was some garbled growling and muttering going on in the closet. Neither Effy nor Naomi moved a centimeter to see what was going on. Instead Effy turned to Naomi.
"You've been working out some? It shows." She lowered her eyes until she was looking at Naomi's breasts.
"Fucking perv.. " She laughed and reached over to grab a tank top. "Ok.. while Ms. Melodrama is getting her arse kicked.. why the fuck are you here at..." She looked over at the clock. "8? It's 8 in the morning.. on a fucking Saturday Elizabeth.. there had better be a good reason."
"Oh.. there is.. you get to meet the in laws today." She took a long drink from the coffee as Naomi's jaw hit the ground.
"What?!" She could barely get her mind around the words when a loud scream came from the closet and a very angry Emily stepped out wearing a long shirt covering her body.
"I fucking hate you Katie!" Her twin came out holding a conservative shirt and skirt in one hand. Effy stood up and put her coffee in the other and sat back on the bed."How could you.."
"Emsy.. I didn't mean to.. I swear.."
"Somebody piece it together.. like now!" Naomi yelled at the room and had all eyes on her. There was a bit of a cloud over her face and there was a moment of concern until Emily shook her head and took a place next to Naomi on the bed, grabbing her coffee."
"Katie.. feel free to explain.. dozy cow.." Emily grumbled as she took a sip from her drink.
Katie looked a little less put together but it was more her features than her outfit. "Ok.. so like.. last night.. we were.. having dinner.. and wine.. and more wine.. and we got to talking.. about you know.. the wedding and shit.."
"The shit was not as exciting as the wine.." Effy joked, earning a glare from Katie.
"Anyway.. I realized I kind of needed to tell Mum and Dad.. about the whole thing.. like the wedding.. and like Effy and me.. and I may have.." She blushed and looked at her feet. "drunk dialed them..."
"Oh no.." Naomi went pale.
"Oh yes.." Effy chuckled at the memory and earned three glares.
"So like.. Mum.. you know how she can be.. well.. she actually didn't take it that hard.. go figure.. apparently Dad's been working on her.. accepting it and all.. did you know they have like parents' groups for parent that like have gay children? So she wasn't that fussed about me being a lezza.. not like she was with you..still had trouble believing it.." Emily narrowed her eyes at Katie and kept drinking her coffee. "She took a bit of more.. dramatic turn.. when I said we were getting married and were already planning the wedding.."
A brief silence fell over them all and Naomi giggled. "Hang on.. she's ok with you being a muff muncher.." Katie rolled her eyes at the term. "But has reservations about you planning a wedding.. that's perfectly brilliant." She kept giggling as Katie fidgeted.
"Yeah well.. she started going on and on.. and Emily knows what she can be like.. and I let it slip about you both being together.. and moving in.. and how good you are together cause of the anxiety thing.." She blushed a deeper red and Emily looked at her cup intently. Effy glanced at Naomi who had stopped laughing.
"They.. You.. Hold on.." She took a moment and closed her eyes. "They didn't know about us.. and you told them.. But they knew Emily was gay.. so.. not a huge surprise she's with a woman.. but the moving in.. ok.. I can see that's a big thing.. what am I missing?" Katie shook her head. Naomi turned to Emily.
"They didn't really know too much about.. about my.."
"Oh fucking hell."
"I know it's bad.. I know.. I fucked up.. but I was really tipsy.. and I was panicked.. she was going on about timing, and it was a bit frightening.. and I didn't think about it until I'd said it... I was trying to tell her what a good thing it was.. your relationship.. but well.. she and Dad focused on the other stuff.."
"You're a bitch." Emily uttered with little conviction. She did know how her mum had been years ago. Their conversations since had been limited. Basically, they wouldn't know how bad it had ever gotten. She wouldn't straight out lie to her parents but she opted to prolong their lack of awareness. Until now.
"Shum... Katie shum.." She took off her sunglasses and looked about ready to cry. She hung the clothes on the closet door and walked over to Emily. "I know.. I fucked up big time.. I didn't mean to.. I need my phone privileges taken away." She touched Emily's face. Her twin looked up at her and took a deep breath.
"You fucked up.. major.. I ought to be allowed to take away your shoes as punishment." Katie dropped her jaw as Naomi and Effy held back smiles. "It's probably good they know.. they need to know..." She sighed.
"That's it? You're accepting this? It's 8 in the morning! On a Saturday! She came into out bedroom.. letting Effy perv on our tits.." Effy smiled and winked. "And you're willing to accept."
"Yes.. Naomi.. we have a bigger problem.."
"What?"
"My parents are arriving at 10 at the airport... Effy so fucking help me if you laugh again I'm banishing you to the couch until after the fucking wedding. Emily get a move on.. we need to get you dressed up. Naomi.. try to shower and look presentable yeah?" Katie turned on her heel and grabbed the clothes she'd picked out and handed them to Emily. "Let's go.. you need to shower too.. No need to let Mum and Dad know what you had last night." Effy pressed her lips together to keep from laughing while Naomi groaned and Emily growled.
...
"Now Jenna.. when we get off the plane.."
"Rob.. you start in again on the acceptance speech and I swear I'll be a bloody widow before they even open the airplane door."
"Easy there luv.. was just.."
"Just what? Telling me for the thousandth time that it's ok for our girls to be.. you know.. Well fine.. I've come to grips with that. Happy?" She was turning the pages to an inflight magazine violently. "Getting married.. moving in.. and the.." She dropped her voice and did a glance around. "Mental illness.. I mean really Rob.. were we such horrible parents that our own children feel the need to keep these things from us?"
"I don't think we were no.. the girls.. you know how independent they are.." He focused on looking out the window to avoid his wife's eyes.
...
"Katie for fuck's sake stop touching my fucking outfit."
"It was bunched up in the back bitch."
Naomi and Effy hung back. They ended up taking two cars since not all would fit in one. It was also a tactical maneuver on behalf of the two non-Fitch girls to assess and plan as to how best to approach the in-laws. Naomi also needed a break from the constant bickering between the twins. While acceptance was provided by Emily at the get-go for Katie's drunk call, forgiveness and forgetting weren't on the menu. It didn't help that Katie had chosen Emily's initial outfit then made her change - twice.
The terminal wasn't overly packed with people and the monitors signaled that the plane had landed. Both twins were fidgeting and looking around unfocused. Naomi managed to look at the right time to see a very angry woman striding towards them followed by a wide grinning big man. She elbowed Effy who was looking at her nails and ignoring the twins. "Umm.. I'm going to hazard a guess that those are..."
"Emsy! Katiekins!" The big man threw his arms up in the air and yelled across the concourse.
"He's huge." Effy had a smile on his face as Naomi paled. "Did you know he was a giant?"
"Hyperbole.. He's tall.. athletic.. fit.. could probably bench press you four times over given he owns a chain of gymnasiums.. but not a giant. Although compared to the girls.." It earned her glares from both Emily and Katie who seemed to be the only ones paying attention.
The man hugged the two girls at once tightly. "Oh my girls.." He kissed their foreheads as they hugged back and tried to breathe.
"For heaven's sake Rob. There's no need to be this sentimental.. We've spoken on the phone and through that sky thing. Of course at no point was I made aware of what was going on in your lives until Katie took it upon herself to finally inform us. Hello Effy.. I'm guessing this is Naomi." Jenna said with a sneer as she looked her up and down.
Naomi did her best to smile and offered her hand. "Mrs. Fitch.. It's a pleasure." Jenna looked as Naomi's extended hand and tilted her head.
"Is it now? Well.. we'll get to know each other better and then we can make a more informed opinion." Rob cleared his throat as he hugged the squirming twins. "Of course, it doesn't mean I'm against.. homosexuals.. or my daughter.." Another throat clearing from Rob and Jenna rolled her eyes. "Daughters... being.. that.. but I do need to assess the quality of person you are. Moving in together before meeting her parents is a bit of an affront wouldn't you say?" Her eyes moved on to Effy who merely looked smug. "At least you're quality stock.. though I would have preferred that brother of yours.."
"Jenna.." Rob finally released the girls and picked up the bags.
"They're both good and proper Rob.. All I'm saying is I would have liked the option of.." She blinked at the words that were about to come out of her mouth and she looked at Katie. "I'm sorry luv.. I didn't mean..I don't.." She looked pained as she caught her daughter's eyes.
"I know mum.. Good to see you yeah.." Katie replied looking a bit deflated. Effy put her arm around her shoulders while sending an icy glare at her mum. Emily took Katie's hand and squeezed it while looking at her mum who had the decency to look apologetic.
"Let's get to the car girls.. your mum can decide how she'll apologize on the drive." Rob said it calmly but he wasn't mincing words.
...
The drive to Gina and Kieran's place was mercifully short even if they took two vehicles. It was mostly spent in silence by all parties. Rob drove one car while Effy drove the other. The twins were originally going to ride with their parents. But after the initial meet up at the airport, the girls all rode in one and Rob and Jenna followed in the other. Gina and Kieran's place had also been a change in plans. They had thought to go first to the hotel where the Fitchs were staying but it was sussed out by both Effy and Naoms that they needed a cooler head amongst them. Enter going to Gina's.
Gina opened the door with a huge and warm smile. She hugged Katie first which surprised her but she accepted it gratefully. Naomi had been texting with her mother the moment they got in the car. She'd actually called her on the way to the airport when she'd ridden with Effy alone. For once, she was including her in the present scheme of things rather than in the aftermath. It was a huge step which Effy held her tongue about. She imagined Naomi taking offense at any encouragement. Emily got a hug next and then the other girls. Gina greeted the Fitchs warmly and they made small talk about possibly having run into each other at a Tesco at some point in the past.
The Fitchs were shown to the sitting area. "Naomi luv.. could you and the girls put on the kettle? We should have enough cups for everyone in the cupboards. While you do that, I can get better acquainted with Jenna and Rob here." She took a seat on the recliner facing them on the loveseat. "Off with you now girls.. the tea won't make itself." Surprisingly no one objected. No one except Jenna.
"I don't think it takes four of them to make tea."
"Of course it doesn't dear." Gina smiled happily as she met Jenna's eyes. "But frankly I'd rather have a talk with you both without them hearing. Do you take milk and sugar in your tea? What am I asking? I'm sure your girls know exactly how you take your tea. Scoot the four of you." Effy hooked Katie's arm and Emily gently pushed Naomi off to the kitchen. It was dawning on Naomi that Gina was taking charge rather than providing back up as she'd asked for. She wasn't sure whether to be thankful or not.
"Where were we?"
...
Naomi was putting on the kettle while Emily was up on the counter looking for all the random cups. Effy stood with her arms wrapped around Katie who had been fairly quiet since her mum's blundering allusion about grandchildren. Even after all of these years, the idea that Katie couldn't have children seemed to fall between the cracks of her memory. Like all bad memories, Jenna liked to push things off into corners where it couldn't be seen or thought about. Katie had avoided really approaching the subject as they went off to university and stayed out in London.
"Maybe one of us should wander in.. let them know tea is coming." Naomi bit at her thumb and looked towards the general area of the sitting room with a pensive look.
"Naoms.. they know the tea is coming." Emily sat on the counter.
"Well at least we'd get a hint as to what my crazy mum is saying." The girls laughed. "What?"
"You're worried she might tell them stories about you." Emily smiled as she said it. Naomi turned red.
"I am not.. why would she? They've got other things to talk about.. I mean.. why would I come up?" Emily waved her to come over to the counter where she sat. Naomi walked over and stood in front of her.
"I don't know.. you're dating me?" Emily smiled as she put her arms around Naomi's neck. "I'm sure Gina has our best interests at heart... I trust her."
...
The first few minutes the girls were gone were spent with Rob smiling and looking more uncomfortable as Jenna and Gina stared at each other. Neither was outright menacing but there was a feeling in the air that was less than congenial.
"So.. Gina.. lovely home.. very cozy.. warm..Wouldn't you say Jenna?" He started out. When he turned to look at her she wasn't paying him any mind. Rob wondered if he could escape to the kitchen with the girls.
"Thank you Rob.. you're too kind. I do like keeping a welcoming atmosphere." She tilted her head at Jenna.
"Are you saying I'm not welcoming?"
"Not at all." Gina made a noise with her tongue. "I'm saying that perhaps your expressive nature is striking and somewhat tough for everyone to handle and be on guard for." Rob's eyes widened and the idea of running out of the room was becoming rather appealing.
"Excuse me.. But who exactly do you think you are? Simply because your daughter is seducing mine doesn't give you the right.."
"Stop right there Jenna." Gina sits up on the edge of her chair. Rob was fearing a physical altercation between the women and knowing he'd end up dying in the fracas. "Those are grown women. Your daughter and mine. If there's seduction, it's mutual and none of our business." She clasped her hands on her knees as Jenna seethed. "You have a sharp tongue. Of that there is no argument."
"You don't know me.."
"You're right I do not. But I do know the effect you have on those precious girls in there. Such amazingly kind and wonderful girls. Young women." Rob smiled wider and he looked at Gina with parental pride. "I will not stand idly by and watch your opinions, however well-meant or not, pushes and pulls at them."
"I do not.."
"You do. And you're well aware of it." She sat back. "Now that we are all aware of my intentions here.. I want to hear yours."
...
"I don't hear anything." The kettle was whistling as Naomi paid attention to the muffled voices from the other room. Emily rolled her eyes and got off the counter. She turned off the burner and shook her head.
"Naoms.. if you were so worried about what Gina would do or say.. why come here first?"
"I wasn't.."
Effy laughed which made Katie smile. "What she means is she wasn't thinking about that.. she was.. more worried about you girls." She ran a hand through Katie's hair. "I think it's brilliant."
"Brilliant? You should have stopped me." Naomi almost growled at Effy who merely shook her head.
"That's what I said this morning." Katie groaned.
"You mentioned that.. I know you're not exactly a bastion of silence but really.. to have told them everything.." Naomi shrugged.
"You don't know our mother.." Emily spoke up for Katie before she herself started telling them what happened.
...
Katie filled their glasses once more. Effy sat on the couch comfortably. They had been lounging about all evening after supper and had worked through the second bottle of wine. It was obvious in the giggles that escaped both of them randomly. "So we're really doing this..." Katie said as she plopped on to Effy's lap.
"Doing what exactly? Drinking? Yes." She wrapped her arms around her and kissed her neck. "Kissing you? Yes.. Other things? Perhaps." She laughed.
"Noooo.. the wedding.. I proposed, you said yes.. you uninvited your mum.. not that we'd worked out the invitees anyway.." Katie's lisp was out in full force.
"Yes.. we are.. doing.. this.." She placed kisses along Katie's neck and exposed collar.
"I should probably tell my folks yeah? I mean.. you uninvited yours with good reason..but I think.. I think I'd like mine to attend."
"So invite them." Effy was too distracted by the taste of Katie's skin to realize what she was saying and how nervous Katie was about the idea. The wine wasn't helping her focus.
"Think I should? I mean really? You want them there?" Her hands were in Effy's hair. For her part, Effy was non-verbally agreeing to it with uh huh's and whispered yes's. It surprised her when Katie stood up and grabbed her mobile.
"You're calling them now?"
"I have to.. I won't be able to work up the nerve otherwise."
"You're drunk."
"I am not." She said as she pressed the call button once she found her parents' number. "I am fully aware of my.. actions." Effy lifted her eyebrow at her. "I am.. including my knickers being fully compromised cause of your lips.. don't think I didn't notice that."
"Katie?"
"Dad!" The voice on the phone surprised her. She had been refuting Effy and not realizing her father had answered the phone.
"It is you.. for a second there I thought someone had nicked your phone... I thought I heard something about knickers." Katie went pale for a second.
"Nope. Wires.. must have been crossed. No knickers here.. I mean.. I wasn't talking about knickers." Effy looked at her and mouth the word mobile at which Katie shushed her.
"Are you shushing me?"
"No Dad.. I was shushing Effy." She covered her mouth as if she'd said the wrong thing.
"Oh how's Effy dear? I see you two are still the best of mates then? It's wonderful to have close friends like that. Take them with you through life. Is Emily with you two as well?"
"Oh no. I mean yes.. I mean.. Yes.. Effy and I are the best of mates.. but no Emily isn't with us right now. She's at her place with Naomi."
"Oh? Naomi? Her place?" The tone of Rob's voice changed and it was clear to Katie that she had said something that threw him off. He could hear her mother in the background asking who it was. Rob was explaining and she heard the click on the phone. And it was that quickly she found herself on speakerphone.
"Katie.. darling.. What is this your father is talking about? Emily has her own place? I thought you two lived together? And who is Naomi?"
"Hi mum.. um yeah about that.. well that's not why I called.."
"Rob that's not why she called. What aren't you telling me?"
"I told you what she'd said. I didn't tell you she had called for that."
"Katie luv.. if that's not why you called.."
"I'm getting married." Effy covered her eyes at the way Katie blurted it out on the phone. Even she could hear the reactions. "No.. Dad.. Mum.. no listen.. No I'm not hiding a boyfriend.. I've not been hiding him either.. It's been going on a while.. and oh for fu... it's not a boy!" Effy's hand went from her eyes to her mouth to keep from bursting out laughing. There was utter silence on both ends of the mobile. "I know it's probably a shock.. but Effy and I.. we're getting married.. I'm gay.." Katie had shut her eyes as if her parents were right in front of her and she didn't want to see the reactions.
"Oh luv.. well that's.. alright.. It's wonderful really.. Congratulations are definitely in order.. It takes a lot of strength to say that.." Rob was speaking encouraging words were surprising but welcome. However, Katie was focused more on the silence her mother was practicing.
"Thank Dad. I'm glad to hear you say that. Mum?"
"You can't be gay Katie.. you like boys.. you've liked a lot of boys.. and getting married isn't something you do on a whim.. just because being.. lesbian is all the rage.."
"Being a lesbian is not all the rage Jenna.. we've talked about this.. I told you what they said at the orientation..I've been going to a group.. parents of gay children.. eye-opening.." Rob was trying to talk to his wife who spoke over him.
"Rob.. this is not a little community meeting.. this is our daughter... she likes boys.. she's always liked boys.. ever since that incident when she was 7.. she is not gay.."
"Maybe she's bisexual.. Katie are you bisexual? Because that's alright too if you are."
"I'm not bisexual.. I don't think.. but I am getting married."
"You can't get married." Jenna interjected again. "You've not thought this through. Even if.. and I'm not saying you are.. even if you were gay and marrying a woman.. there are things to consider when putting together a wedding.. you don't announce it over the phone.. I mean really.."
"Mum..
"Jenna.. you can't tell her she's not gay." A muffled voice asked who was gay. "James.. your sister is gay.."
"She's not gay.." Jenna shouted
"No.. not Emily.. Katie.. yes.. Katie.. James Fitch! I will not tolerate such language."
"And she's not getting married..."
"She said she was getting married Jenna. What? To Effy, James. Yes, that Effy. Don't talk about your future sister-in-law like that."
"And what's the explanation on Emily living with someone named Naomi. You said she moved in with this person. Who is this person? Did you two have a falling out?"
"Mum.." Katie was rubbing her forehead as Effy scooted closer.
"Naomi is not a person... she's obviously a she.. unless she's a non-binary.. cause I'm not done learning about them. There's a seminar next week."
"For heaven's sake Rob.. you sound like an idiot with all of this nonsense.. do you even hear what you're saying?
"Dad.."
"But it seems to be a rather legitimate gender or rather non-gender role. And if she's non-binary.. or rather they.. then we could use the word person as a general term. Wait who had a falling out?"
"Mum."
"This Naomi is a girl and she's taking advantage of our daughter. I mean Emily is probably working herself to death to pay for the flat."
"Jenna.. you don't know they had a falling out.. or that Naomi is taking advantage."
"Emily is paying for the flat isn't she? She's fragile. Always falling for someone wrong."
"MUM! DAD! I am gay. I am getting married. To a girl. To Effy. Emily moved in with Naomi whom she's been dating for over 9 months. She's never been better and no she's not paying for the flat.. not the full flat.. just her share. Naomi's really good to her.. for her and even helps her with the anxiety.. she hasn't been depressed in forever.. hasn't even cut once in all the time.." Effy's eyes popped open halfway through Katie's outburst just before she herself realized what she had said. After a bit of silence on both ends.
"I see..We'll be on the first flight out Katie." She heard Jenna state.
"For once, I agree with your mum luv.. we will see you and Emily tomorrow. I think it best we discuss all of this in person." They hung up on their end and Katie stared at the phone.
"Oh fuck."
...
Once Katie was finished, everyone was looking at Effy who was looking at Katie and smiling. "I am not the mum police. You two are perfectly capable of coming to your own decisions." She put her fingers under Katie's chine so she could look in her eyes. "And even if you were in your cups.. you made a compelling argument.. as for you.." She looked at Naomi. "You were well sober, well-intentioned and frankly correct in calling in bigger guns."
"I'll remind you of that when those guns blow the sitting room to smithereens."
"We should probably get the tea out." Emily said with a sigh. There was a collective groan as the put everything together. Since no one wanted to go first, Effy took the lead after rolling her eyes.
...
"My intentions?" Jenna wasn't shouting but she was aghast at the implications of Gina's tone and words. "Those are my daughters.. my intentions are to see that they're.."
"Happy?" Gina voiced.
"Yes happy." Rob interjected. He looked at his wife who had been searching for the right word. She knew that saying anything casting doubt or possible blame to Gina's daughter would likely cause a rift.
"I want them well. I don't want them in any.. trouble.. or jeopardy.. What Katie said on the phone..." She shook her head. Rob took her hands in his.
"What Jenna means is.. we weren't terribly understanding when Emily came to us and told us about her being a lesbian." Jenna made a noise and Rob looked at her. "It's true luv.. we were less than completely welcoming and it made things.. difficult for her. We've known she's had some ups and downs over the years.. and maybe we looked the other way.. because we didn't know how to deal with it.." He took a breath and looked at Gina. "But Katie said some things that caused us more worry than assurance that Emily has been alright. And our intentions are simply to see about our girls.. isn't that right Jenna?" She was glaring at him.
Gina was looking at the two of them, trying to see the dynamic between them. She could understand having a communication abyss between parent and child. Just thinking of Naomi at certain ages gave her shivers. She knew enough about Emily to know she's kept things from her parents but she wasn't aware as to how much. It wasn't her place to shed light on that. She simply wanted to know for herself that her parents wouldn't do more harm than good. She was fond of the twins. Well she was fond of their whole little tribe. She was almost mother hen to them since she and Kieran were back. Gina kept looking at Jenna, waiting to see if she would respond to her husband's question.
"I shouldn't have to explain myself to a stranger.. but if I must.." She took in a breath and tried looking as indignant as she felt. "I want to make sure they're ok more than anything. Happy, yes. But that's secondary. I want to know I've nothing to worry about."
"Well I can tell you that you'll always have something to worry about Jenna dear.. you have children.. that means your heart is out and about in the real world every day." She chuckled as she said it. Gina didn't believe that a parent could ever not worry about their child. They could learn to let them go and grow into themselves but a parent never stopped worrying. "That said, I can tell you that you raised two glorious daughters with wonderful souls and can take care of themselves. They've also earned the love and trust of both my girl and Effy.. and no one would be more protective of them than those two."
Rob smiled hearing this. Jenna remained a little skeptical but nodded at Gina. At that moment, the girls came in carrying cups of tea for everyone. "Perfect timing girls.. pull up a seat or a piece of floor.. time we get this meeting rolling.. I'm sure your parents have loads of questions." She winked at the Fitch twins who blushed at the attention. She noticed Naomi staying on the fringe of the group and tilted her head as a way to tell her to join in.
After a couple of hours spent talking about the good and bad that her parents had missed out on, they were on their third round of tea. There had been some yelling and crying. Some shushing as well. Gina was impressed that Rob had been married this long to Jenna and was still apparently smitten. She didn't know what medications he was on but was tempted to ask. They'd finally gotten to the point in their stories where the girls had moved in together and Katie had asked for Effy's hand. They'd skimmed over the major bits at Stonem House and the attack. Gina thought that could wait as physically everyone was alright. But she would talk to the twins separately and urge them to come clean about it at some point. Just then, Kieran walked in the front door.
"Woman.. why are there cars out front? Are the children here for food again or.." He stopped in his tracks when he saw everyone in the sitting room. "Oops.. pardon me.. didn't know we had company."
"Kieran love.. these are Katie and Emily's parents.. Rob and Jenna Fitch." Rob stood up and held his hand out to Kieran who shook it strongly.
"Ohh.. well how'd you do there Rob? Jenna?" He shook hands with the smiling man and scowling woman in front of him.
"They flew in this morning after finding out about the girls." Gina poured the tea.
"Found out about the girls?" He scratched the back of his head a moment. "Ahh.. yes.. that is a bit of a shocker ain't it? But I tell you.. sex work has changed a lot.. I'm not talking from previous experience.. but in general from what I've read.."
"What?" Jenna screamed.
"Sex work?" Rob shouted.
"Kieran MacFoeinaiugh!" Gina bellowed.
"Kieran!" The twins and Naomi yelled. Effy remained silent.
The Irish man looks around at the shouting and commotion. "What? We're all adults.. we're allowed to talk about culture."
"No another word Kieran." Gina was looking at him while glancing at the Scotsman standing there in utter shock. Jenna was on the verge of turning a scary shade of purple.
"I'm sorry.. did you say sex work? What does that have to do with my girls?" Rob was looking back and forth at the girls.
"Well Gina said you found.." Kieran spoke and Gina stepped towards him. He took a step back with his hands up. "Isn't that what..." He looked at Gina directly. "Oh! They found out about the crazy doctor." Gina slapped his arm. "Shite woman.. what is it they found out about?" Rob stood there paralyzed while Jenna was about to explode.
"Never you mind that now.. you take Rob to the garden with a bottle of your Scotch.. your good Scotch.. and make sure he has a healthy glow in his cheeks before you come back into the house.. and do try and explain what you were talking about.. gently.. for the record this is why I won't marry you. I'm afraid of the damage I might do once we've said the nuptials.. bloody Irishman.." She pushed Kieran along and softly urged Rob to follow.
"Jenna have a seat.. girls why don't you go on up to Naomi's old room yes? Have a sit and wait until I have a few words with Jenna here... unless you'd all like to.." Three of them left the room immediately while Effy stayed behind. Katie stopped at the doorway noting Effy's slow exit. Gina put a hand on her shoulder and guided her towards Katie. "Effy.. you run along too.. you can all come back down in a bit and say what you think you need to say then."
Once Gina and Jenna were left alone, the two women sat opposite each other. If tensions were high when they first met a little bit ago, they were doubly so now.
"You have any more high-minded advice to dish out before you explain what your.. whatever he is.. was talking about?" Jenna seethed at Gina who kept her composure. She was about to start speaking when the front door to the house opened.
"Oy.. blondie! Where you at? You said it was an emergency. I brought the tequila." Cook stopped walking through the house the moment he noticed Gina and a very angry woman staring at him. "Oh Sorry Gina.. Naoms.. she called.. said it was an emergency.. but you know me.. no car.." He had a bottle of tequila in hand. "Umm.. is she about? Or was I supposed to meet them somewhere else and I fucked it? Shit. Sorry Ms."
"Cookie.. you're in the right place.. be a good lad and pour us a good cup of that for Jenna and I." Gina pointed to the tequila. Cook looked at her funny. "This is Jenna Fitch.. Emily and Katie's mum.. we're having a chat about the girls.. they're upstairs mind you."
"Je.. Oh.. Uh yeah.. sure.. do you have a mixer or some juice? I don't know that you want to do this straight but then again.." His cheeks burned red. "You're the girls mum.. it's nice to meet you.. I'm James Cook.. I work with them... they're lovely girls." Jenna's eyes narrowed when he said the word work.