"Good news Ana, Niamh will sign the contract and is happy to come in tomorrow for orientation at 11am and will start officially the following day" Gail excitedly tells me.
"That's great Gail, it means you can spend more time with the twins" I smile and she grins back.
"I know and I can't wait" she looks gleeful.
I make a short visit to see Kate, Elliot and Ashleigh, Kate's Mom is still there and I don't want to intrude on their time together, all seems well and Ashleigh is thriving. I take a few outfits I had bought, they are too big right now but she will look so cute in them. Kate has a few tears when she looks at them and I make a mental note to keep a close eye on her in case she is developing post natal depression. I promise to call or visit the following day but with Niamh starting I didn't want to commit either way.
At 10.45am exactly, Taylor escorts Niamh to the kitchen, Gail and I are prepared to meet her and start the tour. I allow Gail to take the lead as ultimately she will report to Gail rather than me, she is shown the supply cupboard with every sort of cleaning solution, mop and duster available and it's all neatly stacked on the shelves.
We go from room to room; Niamh seems to take it all in her stride, asking sensible questions, nothing is too much trouble it appears. Gail strides past the playroom but Niamh stops obviously thinking a room has been missed.
"Sorry, Mrs Jones, what needs doing in this room?" Niamh asks.
"Nothing, it is a private store room and is kept locked at all times" Gail replies and we move on.
I feel a little uneasy about her going into our room but I remember feeling that way with Gail when I first moved in. I don't like strangers doing my laundry, cleaning my bathroom and thank goodness Gail had a plausible response for the playroom. After about 2 hours of instruction, an agreed probationary period of 3 months, a signed contract and NDA and the prepared security pass, although she will still be escorted for the probationary period, Niamh is ready to start in the morning. We see her out and congratulate ourselves on a job well done.
Knowing Gail as I do, I find her making sure everything is just perfect for when Niamh starts,
"What are you up to Gail?"
She brings her head out from under a cupboard shelf "Just making sure" she smiles.
"The whole point of having Niamh is for you not have to worry about those things anymore" I say.
"I understand but if I know everything is tip top and spick and span, I will be able to see if she is forgetting anything or slipping up"
"You have a devious mind Gail but I understand" I chuckle.
"Oh, Ana, I meant to say, err, well it's a little awkward but I am happy to continue to 'take care' of the playroom" she blushes and so do I but I have to admit I am relieved, not that it has been used much recently but I know Christian is keen to have some alone time, well that is his mind and his groin are willing but the rest of his body still has some healing to do unfortunately.
I have Taylor drive me over to Kate and Elliot in the afternoon. Kate seems a little less emotional and I am glad about that but I do realise baby blues can ebb and flow. I have a cuddle with Ashleigh who is growing and putting on weight rapidly by the feel of her, meanwhile Kate has a shower, Elliot goes to his office and Kate's Mom is out already picking up some supplies from the supermarket.
Kate and I also have a chance to chat after I make a cup of tea and while Ashleigh sleeps, I tell her about the new housekeeper starting in the morning and how I am feeling a little uncomfortable but pleased that Gail can help me with the twins.
Back at Escala, Grace has returned from the hospital after taking a shift because they were short staffed. Grace, I think will be happy to go home and back to normal. Christian has not had any issues with passing out or feeling too poorly, he still sleeps a lot but that is normal. He last set of blood results were much better, in fact the best they have been so as long as he continues to take it easy, he should be fine. He was almost leaping with happiness when Grace said he could return to work but that faded a little when she said no more than 4 hours a day for 3 days a week. It's a start though and it will bring some normality back in to our lives too.
I have to go for my six week check-up soon; it's hard to believe the babies are 6 weeks old already, how much they have grown, all the little facial changes, the noises they make and how, whenever I see them, I fall in love all over again. I check my diary to make sure it's the day after tomorrow at 2pm.
The next day Niamh arrives promptly and at Gail's suggestion starts with emptying the trash, doing some washing and ironing before vacuuming the floor and mopping the hard surfaces. While she cracks on with that I run through a few things with Gail for the twins, not that there is much she doesn't already know.
A knock at the nursery door swings us both around…
"I am sorry to interrupt Mrs Grey, Mrs Jones but I can't find the replacement bulbs for the lighting on the work surface in the kitchen, a bulb has just blown, I was boiling the kettle to make tea" Niamh says looking flushed.
"No problem, come this way and I will show you where they are" Gail leads the way to the store cupboard in the utility area.
I take the chance to go and see Christian except he is not in the bedroom but busy on the computer in the office.
"Hey you, whatcha doing?" I ask.
"Mom said I can do some work now but before you start on me for doing too much, I have set an alarm on my cell for 2 hours so I can't forget and work for longer than I should"
"I wasn't going to say a word" I smile "but I would like a kiss" I lean in, our lips touch and that familiar spark and yearning kick in, it's been so long since we have been intimate, Christian pulls me into his lap but makes sure I straddle him. I wrap my arms around his neck and I can feel Christian stroking my bottom, he reaches for the button on my jeans to loosen the waist so he can grapple with my flesh rather than feeling through denim. He pulls me closer and lifts up my t-shirt, admires my still ample breasts before freeing them from my bra and taking great delight in tasting them, licking, sucking and lightly biting all over. I can feel myself getting very wet at his touch and by the prodding I feel on my thigh I know he is getting excited as well.
"Oh Ana, I need you soon baby" his breath catches
"I need you too" I grind my hips into his pelvis as if to confirm what I just said.
"I can't wait, I want you now!" he starts to get up with my weight on him and yells out in pain.
"Fuck that hurt" he rubs his ribs "Damn I'm sorry baby"
"Sit down again" I gently push him down in to the chair "Stay there" I tell him. I move over to lock the office door, I really don't want any interruptions, and I grab a cushion from the chair and put it on the floor so I can kneel down comfortably. I undo the belt buckle first before the button and zip, he is bulging so I indicate for him to lift his pelvis and I slip his trousers down to the floor. I allow my hands to run up the inside of his calves to his inner thighs and free him from his boxers.
"But Ana…" I put my finger to my lips and sshhhh. I lift his t-shirt over his head and he is quite naked. I stand and admire his physique for a moment before kneeling once again, I gently grip his shaft before running my tongue from the base to the tip, I smile a little when I feel him squirm in delight at my touch and he becomes more vocal when I take his length, swirl my tongue…
"Oh Ana, you have no idea how good that feels" he pants. Oh but I think I do Christian as I can feel ripples of pleasure soaring through my body.
I stand up and remove my t-shirt slowly and seductively, the bra comes next followed by the trousers and panties, they all end up in a heap on the floor next to the desk.
"I want you Ana…NOW!" he demands but being a tease it only makes me wait longer to feel him inside me.
"All in good time honey" I say leaning forward to kiss again.
"No more teasing please" he begs so I straddle him once more but this time allowing him to fill me, I rock my hips gently backwards and forwards causing friction that hits the 'spot'. I lean back slightly and thrust forward again, Christian moans and pull's me back to nuzzle in between my breasts. I am getting close and he is too when he starts to buck his hips and together we find fantastic orgasmic pleasure, much needed togetherness and some reconnection that is badly needed after what we have been through.
I climb off his lap when he indicates some pain but he has a contented, satisfied look on his face. I start to get dressed as does he before we are missed.
"Christian can we talk later, in bed?" I ask.
"Sure baby, anything wrong?"
"Not really, but we haven't really talked properly in a while" I say.
"Ok, no problem"
I unlock the door after making sure I look presentable and go back out into the kitchen to get a drink.
Niamh is there and offers to boil the kettle, I was going to say no, I could manage but I stop myself "Thank you Niamh, how are you finding your first day?"
"Good thank you Mrs Grey, I just need to settle into a routine" she smiles as she hands me my cup of tea.
"Thanks" I nod and walk to the nursery where I find Christian cradling Melissa, rocking her backward and forward. He hasn't realised I am standing there so I just listen to him talking to her for a while.
"Hey beautiful girl, sorry Daddy hasn't been around as much as he wanted to but he has been really poorly but this is going to change as soon as possible, Daddy is getting better and stronger every day…. Oh Ana, I didn't realise you had come in"
"You and she looked so peaceful I didn't want to interrupt you"
I reach in and pick up a stirring Max, sit in the other rocking chair next to Christian and start singing a lullaby. We must sit together for at least half an hour singing and rocking. It feels just perfect. Gail brings in their bottles; give one to Christian and the other to me before leaving us alone again. Max is a guzzler and finishes first so I get him ready for bed and settled before helping Christian to do the same with Melissa.
As we come out of the nursery, Gail has come to collect the bottles, we say goodnight and head to bed.
A/N: Thanks for your continuing support.