Shady Business by Silver MoonAngel @ AI and ASMR
Carley MoonAngel @ FF.Net
--------------------------------------------------------------------
STANDARD DISCLAIMER APPLIES
--------------------------------------------------------------------
AN: This is the second, EDITED, version of Shady Business. I'm
still going to be writing the first version we all know and love
(well, at least I do) and taking suggestions to revise it and create
this one!
Also, some new elements are going to be introduced, but it will only
prove to enhance it (I hope).
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter Nine - Dealing With Pregnancy
--------------------------------------------------------------------
"Serena, you need to wake up," Carlin whispered into her
sister's ear. "You need to feed those babies." It had been a week
since Serena had found out about the twins. Trying to keep her from
getting too depressed about her situation, Carlin had called Nerys
and flew her to Chequoa Beach so they could both help Serena in her
time of need. Nerys and Carlin had always been close, but with
Carlin pregnant herself, it was a hard task.
"Wake up, Meatball Brains. We're supposed to go shopping
today and I know you don't want to miss that." Nerys said a little
sharper than Carlin had. She didn't see why it was necessary for
her to come here, but here she was, stuck with two pregnant women.
"I know how to get her up," Carlin said as she grinned evilly.
Lowering herself to Serena's ear, she whispered, "Serena, Darien's
here."
Serena sat straight up in bed. Seeing Nerys and Carlin
giggling at her, she screamed, "That's not funny."
"Well, you seemed to perk right up when I said his name,"
Carlin giggled as Serena threw a pillow at her.
"Put a sock in it kid. I don't want my niece or nephew to end
up stupid. Then again, with you as it's mom and Galen as it's
dad..." Serena said as she stuck her tongue out at Carlin.
"Galen? The cutie with the black hair? Hot damn, Car, you
did good."
Carlin glared at Serena as she told Nerys, "It was a one-night
stand and he doesn't remember anything. It'd be nice to keep it
that way." Grinning at Serena, she said, "Serena did better than I
did. She slept with the guy who took over her portion of Blade,
Inc."
Nerys laughed at the look on Serena's face. She could swear
that there was smoke coming out of Serena's ears. "It's okay, Rene.
Sammy took your part back over."
"Sammy set up that coup? I guess I'll have to thank Mika when
I see her next," Serena said as she laid her head back down.
Mikaela Ronal was Sammy's girlfriend and one of the best workers at
Blade Inc. She was one of the people--along with Sammy--who ran the
company with such efficiency, Serena wanted to kiss her.
"Oh no you don't. Get up. Now," Nerys said as frown lines
appeared between her eyes. "Besides, I want to hear about Darien
and how you two met."
Serena crossed her eyes at her sister. She didn't want to
tell them anything and Carlin knew anyway. "It's easy. He took
over my portion of the business, asked for me by name, and said that
I would spend the month with him or else."
"I pity your children," Nerys said with a smile. Half the
reason she and Serena were so close was their constant banter. They
usually had argued and Serena was the one who gave her the now
permanent white streak in her hair.
"Me too," Serena said as she fiddled with the blanket. As
much as she "pitied" them, she wanted them. Heaven help her, but
these babies may prove to be the best thing to ever happen to her.
With tears in her eyes, she asked, "Is it wrong to love them
already?"
Carlin put an arm around her sister. She knew what Serena was
going through. It was hard not to love the babies that were
fathered by the man you desperately loved. "No, Rene, it's not
wrong. I love mine already." God help the man who helped create
these children if he ever tried to wrench them away; he would feel a
pain worse than the deepest pits of hell.
* * *
Raye stared at the phone. A million thoughts raced through
her head; the foremost being 'Serena's pregnant.' She didn't know
where the raspy voice had gotten her number, but it did and said the
phrase that would pull Darien in forever. Raye sat up and
stretched, feeling as if she had aged twenty years in that two-
minute span. She couldn't tell him, not until Serena decided to do
so herself. Her brother was a big boy; he could fix this mess on
his own.
Darien looked at his sister from the doorway. Whatever was
said on the phone had scared her shitless; and it had something to
do with Serena. Leaning on the doorjamb, Darien casually asked,
"What did they have to say?"
Raye looked at her brother and decided that he could find
Serena on his own. If he was that damned determined, he would find
her within the year, if she came out of hiding. "They said that
Serena was spotted in Wyoming again." Standing up, Raye walked over
to her brother and gave him a hug. Pulling away and smoothing a
lapel on his jacket, Raye said, "I can't do it Darien. It's tearing
me apart. I need to give up the search for Serena. If she decides
that she wants to be found, she will be. Until then..."
Darien looked down at his sister, "That'll be fine, Raye. I
shouldn't ask you to shoulder some of my burden." He moved out of
her way and heard her mumble a soft "thank you" as she walked past.
Watching her retreating back, he softly cursed himself for being so
stupid. Between Raye and Serena, he had two women leading him
around by the nose. Raye had cleverly diverted him and sent him on
that wild goose chase in Wyoming. Serena was leading him around by
his heartstrings and there was a possibility that she was going to
be a mother. His last meeting with his hired detective had said as
such.
Darien ran a hand through his hair; everything seemed to be
piling up on him. The coup at Blade, Inc. had to have been
engineered by a woman. It was both underhanded and strong; almost a
move Serena would pull, if she weren't just a figurehead. Serena...
God he missed her. He had been so close and screwed it all up by
catering to a client.
"Darien? I'm leaving now," Raye called from the doorway. It
would be the best thing for him if she just left; he would survive,
he always had before.
Darien enveloped her in a hug. Looking down at her suitcases,
he asked, "Planning to go on a trip?"
"Yeah. I think I'd like to go somewhere cold. Like Maine or
Wyoming," Raye said as she picked up her suitcases.
"Well, have fun," Darien said as she walked out the door. As
an afterthought he added, "I sure as hell won't."
* * *
"Rene, we have a visitor," Nerys said from the window. She
watched as a raven-haired woman stepped out of the car. The woman
held a look of triumph and uncertainty in her eyes, something that
intrigued Nerys.
Walking into the living room from the kitchen, Serena asked,
"Who is it?" Her hand instinctively flew to her stomach. She was
quite protective of her twins already; if anyone made a remark about
her widening middle, Nerys or Carlin would have to step in to hold
Serena back. Sometimes, it took them both.
"You better answer the door."
Giving Nerys a look, Serena opened the door to find Raye
standing there. "Raye! What are you doing here?" Pulling her
friend inside, she looked out before closing the door. Narrowing
her eyes at Raye, she asked, "Does he know you're here?"
Raye shook her head. "I used my traveling alias, changed
planes twice, and drove the last half hour here. If he found me,
I'll be surprised."
The girls whipped around when they heard Carlin squeak from
the kitchen. Seeing she was trapped, she said, "It's nice to meet
you, Raye. I'm glad to see you stayed away from Jadeite."
Looking at the ruby-haired pipsqueak, Raye could only nod
numbly and say, "I'm glad, too." Jadeite had been her boyfriend
when she and Chad decided they needed some "space" almost a year
ago. Jadeite had turned from loving boyfriend to enraged lover at
the mere mention of Chad's name. Breaking it off with him hadn't
been easy either; she still bore the scar on her lower back.
Serena laughed on the look on both Raye and Carlin's faces.
Carlin's instinct was to spout visions and Raye's was to clam up.
"Raye, this is the sister I'm staying with. She's psychic like
you."
Raye slowly nodded her head and took Carlin's hand into hers.
"It's nice to meet you Miss McBride. I assume that you were the one
to call me?"
Carlin's eyes grew as round as saucers, "You're...you're..."
Raye smiled and nodded. Enveloping Carlin in a hug, she said,
"I don't mind. California was getting far too stifling."
Nerys tugged at the white streak that ran through her short
black hair at the exchange. If she didn't know any better, she'd
say that Carlin had been spooked by Raye's 'power.' Slowly walking
away from the window, she stood next to Raye and did her best to be
menacing. "We don't need to scare both the pregnant women in this
household."
Raye looked at her and nodded. "It wouldn't be any good to
scare either of them. Especially my niece and nephew."
Serena, who had been sitting on the couch, nearly gagged on
her water. "Niece and nephew. Whoa, I haven't been to the doctor
to determine their sex yet."
Carlin smiled weakly at Serena, "I guess now's not a good time
to tell you that you'll..."
Serena cut her off, "I don't want to hear about my damn
future, I want to live it. Got it?"
Raye nudged Nerys. Getting her attention, she asked, "Is it
just me, or has Serena gotten really cranky since she's been
pregnant?"
"Don't worry, you're not going to miss any of the madness,"
she replied to Raye. "Oh, and she's usually crankier."
"I heard that," Serena said, causing the girls to collapse
into a fit of giggles.
* * *
Darien wiped a weary hand across his face. Serena had been
gone for five months now and Raye two. Those girls had managed to
pan out faster than anyone he knew. Sitting across from him was the
PI he had hired. Chad Jacobson came from a wealthy background and
had been to the best law enforcement schools money could buy, but
even he was starting to grow weary of all the invariable tasks they
had been going through.
Chad picked up a bottle of brandy and poured a glass. "Where
did Raye say she was going again?" Chad hated this. He had a vague
idea where Raye was, but Darien needed to find her on his own. It
wasn't his place to mess with free will.
Darien stared blankly at the wall and said, "Wyoming or Maine,
somewhere cold." When Raye took off in January, it hadn't occurred
to him that her destination was odd. Several months later had
changed that thinking.
Chad sighed. If Darien was going to stumble through this,
Chad didn't see the problem in giving him a little help. "Then
we'll assume where Serena is it's cold." Chad paused a moment
before continuing on, "That would rule out that she'd been with
either Samantha or Nerys in the last two months."
A light started to shine in Darien's eyes. They had never
considered this whole new angle before. "That would make sense."
Chad smiled and rubbed his chin. Boy when he got on a roll,
he got on a roll. "Even more so if Serena was pregnant." Ever
since Chad had signed on, he knew, deep down in his bones, that
Serena was pregnant. Couldn't tell you why, he just knew. Once
Raye got there, her little messages let him know he was right and
had been all along.
Darien got a stupid grin on his face as he thought about the
little girl Serena would have--her blonde hair and his deep blue
eyes. Serena would probably be slightly rounded by now and
marveling at the life inside her; and he wanted to be a part if it.
"I hope she is pregnant."
Chad just shook his head and tried to change the subject,
"Have you been able to get a hold of Kieta yet?"
Darien nodded, "Yeah. She just called me last week and told
me to come see her. She even said to tag you along."
Chad frowned and went back to work reading Raye's file. If he
ever got his hands on her...
"Jacobson," Darien said calmly, "you're drooling all over my
sister's picture."
Chad blushed and returned his eyes to his file. They had
checked the airport records and Raye had gone to Wyoming, like she
said, but when compared to hotel ledgers, Raye Carlson hadn't stayed
in Cheyenne. Pondering that, Chad reached over and grabbed Kieta's
file. Kieta McBride --scratch that, McNealon-- was the eldest child
of Kathleen McBride and Arden Blade. Her mother was a well-known
psychic and had possibly given the gift to her children. "Is Mrs.
McNealon psychic?"
Darien inclined his head, "I don't know. If Raye was here,
she could tell us. She's a little psychic herself."
Chad's ears perked up in interest, "Really? What's her
specialty?"
Darien chuckled at Chad's enthusiasm. If Raye were here,
she'd flip that her psychic abilities didn't repulse a man, for
once. "She's precognitive to a certain degree and a little
telepathic, but only to certain people."
"Maybe Mrs. McNealon can help us find Raye."
"Maybe."
* * *
Carlin sat twitching in Kieta's living room. It had been Ki's
brilliant plan to have Carlin--now six months pregnant--come here
and meet Darien. "You'd be able to get a better on reading him than
I ever could," Ki had put it, so here she was, six months pregnant
and spying for her sister. This was going to be great, damn great.
"Quit twitching. You look like a two-year-old," Kieta said as
she pranced into her living room. She may have been a good
astrologer and empathizer, but she was no mind reader. That had
been her mom and Car's department.
"If you were six months pregnant, you'd be twitching too. Do
you know how hard it is to get comfortable? Serena's just the same
way, except she gets to have twice the fun." Carlin was starting to
wish that her and Galen didn't have that wild night, but oh well.
No use going back now.
Kieta smiled. She felt sorry for her sisters, but they were
old enough to take care of their own problems. Draping an arm
around Carlin, she asked, "Does Serena know what she's having yet?"
Carlin smiled as she thought back to a week ago. "She fell
out of her chair when the doctor told her." Laughing, she added,
"You should have seen her face when the doctor told her she'd
probably go into labor a month early and that our kids would
probably share birthdays. She about died on the spot!"
Kieta shook her head, trying to contain her laughter. Her
youngest sister was a lot funnier since she had become pregnant.
"I'm not surprised." Pausing a moment, she said, "I heard from Sam
today."
Carlin sat up in her chair. It had to be something if
Samantha decided to grace them all with her presence. "What did she
want?"
Looking at her nails, Kieta said, "Apparently there is going
to be a ball at the end of December and she wants you and Serena to
go."
Immediately, Carlin replied, "She wants to match Serena and
Darien up."
Kieta let out a whistle. Generally Car's predictions happened
when she meditated or something like that; to have it come out of
the blue was significant. "I'll be damned. Are you sure?"
"Positive." Carlin may not have really liked Sam, but she
loved her anyway. "She wants me to know too. She must be
practicing."
Before Kieta could answer, there was a knock on the door.
Shooting a glance at Carlin, she went and answered it. Opening it,
she gaped up at a man that was dark as sin and as mad as Hades.
Sticking her hand out, she said, "You must be Darien." Turning
toward his companion, she smiled and said, "You must be Mr.
Jacobson." Opening the door wider, she motioned them to come in.
"Sit down in the living room, I'll be in a moment."
Darien stalked into the living room. He had been in a foul
mood all morning and couldn't put his finger on why. Turning into
the room, a small red-haired sprite caught his eye. "Who might you
be?"
Carlin smiled. She could see why Serena had fallen for him.
Extending her hand from the chair, she said, "I'm the baby of the
family."
Chad tipped his hat toward her, "Miss McBride?"
Carlin smiled even more. Boy would she have something to tell
the girls when she got home. "The only one left, but you boys can
call me Carlin." Catching their gazes drifting toward her abdomen,
Carlin added, "But not for long." She caught the sadness in
Darien's eyes; it was hidden, but there all the same. "Would you
like me to make a prediction?"
Darien was a little taken aback by her question. "You're
precognitive?" Seeing her nod, he asked, "Can you tell me when I'll
see Serena again?"
Carlin smiled; he was nice, perfect for Serena, and really in
love with her. "Sure, since I saw that answer a few days ago, I can
tell you. You'll see her again in December and you'll finally track
her down in June." Seeing him sadden even more, she said quickly,
in lieu of an explanation, "She needs to go through something major
before you can see her. Don't give up, she hasn't on you."
Chad observed the scene quietly. He had the same sentiments,
but he wasn't going to say anything to Darien. Chad turned toward
her and asked, "Carlin? When is Raye coming home?"
She looked at the young detective and slightly shook her head,
"I don't know. But when she does, it'll be long before Serena, but
you already knew that."
Chad stood looking at her gape-eyed. He saw Carlin give a
little half-smile and knew she knew about him and Raye. Before he
could say anything, Kieta came into the room.
Rubbing her hands together, she said, "Okay. Let's get to
business."
* * *
A few hours later, Chad and Darien were ushered out the front
door by Kieta. She had politely answered their questions, but once
Carlin started to get tired, she ushered them out the door.
"I never expected to see the youngest one here," Chad said as
he rubbed his brow. Carlin had been a wild card, seeing her
pregnant made it even wilder.
"Neither did I," Darien said as tears pricked his eyes. He
thought they had finally found her, but that wasn't the case. At
least he'd see her in December if Carlin's prediction was right.
Hopefully, Raye would come home before that. Wiping his eyes on his
sleeve, he turned toward Chad and said, "Let's go. I want to go
home and start from square one."
Chad mutely nodded and followed Darien's retreating back. If
his gut feeling was right, they'd see Raye almost six months before
they finally tracked down Serena.
Inside the house, Carlin lay on the couch, staring at the
ceiling. "He will find her, you know," she said to no one in
particular. This wasn't a prediction, where the future was
uncertain; this was an assurance, something that would happen
whether Serena was ready or not.
"Of course he will. He's a man bound and determined to find
the woman he loves," Kieta said as she handed Carlin a glass of
water. "The question is, will Serena be able to stay hidden for
that long?"
"It's Serena," Carlin said slowly rising. "She may be loud
and boisterous sometimes, but she can be pretty damn quiet when she
wants to."
Kieta didn't reply and just stared at Carlin. Her little
sister had grown up right under her nose. Wiping her nose, she
collected Carlin in a hug, "It's killing not to tell Galen, isn't
it?"
Carlin let a tear drip down her cheek. She hated it when
Kieta could pluck her feelings out of the air. "I just think..."
"That's your and Serena's problem, you both 'just think.' You
should just tell him, he might act differently than you think." At
least Kieta hoped so, for both Serena and Carlin's sake.
* * *
'Carlin may be a month farther along than me,' Serena thought,
'but I look like I'm the one who's farther along.' Here it was,
only March, and Serena was ready to have the kids. Her ankles were
swollen all to hell and she was only allowed to walk around the
house if she needed to do something. Even worse, the Terror Twins
(as she dubbed them) were trying to do flips through all hours of
the night. She was ready to be done.
She sat up as she heard someone knocking on the door. She
called, "Coming!" as she went and answered the door. Swinging the
door open when she got to it, she saw a young man wringing his hands
and looking at his feet. "Can I help you?"
He swung his gaze up and Serena saw the most amazing pair of
gray eyes ever. He nervously licked his lips and said, "I'm Galen
McHail. Is Carlin home? My brother said she's having my kid."
Serena took a step back. They were in deep water now.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
This chapter took about a week to write. I especially loved the
little cliffhanger at the end.
Send Q's or C's to: silver_moonangel@yahoo.com
Carley MoonAngel @ FF.Net
--------------------------------------------------------------------
STANDARD DISCLAIMER APPLIES
--------------------------------------------------------------------
AN: This is the second, EDITED, version of Shady Business. I'm
still going to be writing the first version we all know and love
(well, at least I do) and taking suggestions to revise it and create
this one!
Also, some new elements are going to be introduced, but it will only
prove to enhance it (I hope).
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter Nine - Dealing With Pregnancy
--------------------------------------------------------------------
"Serena, you need to wake up," Carlin whispered into her
sister's ear. "You need to feed those babies." It had been a week
since Serena had found out about the twins. Trying to keep her from
getting too depressed about her situation, Carlin had called Nerys
and flew her to Chequoa Beach so they could both help Serena in her
time of need. Nerys and Carlin had always been close, but with
Carlin pregnant herself, it was a hard task.
"Wake up, Meatball Brains. We're supposed to go shopping
today and I know you don't want to miss that." Nerys said a little
sharper than Carlin had. She didn't see why it was necessary for
her to come here, but here she was, stuck with two pregnant women.
"I know how to get her up," Carlin said as she grinned evilly.
Lowering herself to Serena's ear, she whispered, "Serena, Darien's
here."
Serena sat straight up in bed. Seeing Nerys and Carlin
giggling at her, she screamed, "That's not funny."
"Well, you seemed to perk right up when I said his name,"
Carlin giggled as Serena threw a pillow at her.
"Put a sock in it kid. I don't want my niece or nephew to end
up stupid. Then again, with you as it's mom and Galen as it's
dad..." Serena said as she stuck her tongue out at Carlin.
"Galen? The cutie with the black hair? Hot damn, Car, you
did good."
Carlin glared at Serena as she told Nerys, "It was a one-night
stand and he doesn't remember anything. It'd be nice to keep it
that way." Grinning at Serena, she said, "Serena did better than I
did. She slept with the guy who took over her portion of Blade,
Inc."
Nerys laughed at the look on Serena's face. She could swear
that there was smoke coming out of Serena's ears. "It's okay, Rene.
Sammy took your part back over."
"Sammy set up that coup? I guess I'll have to thank Mika when
I see her next," Serena said as she laid her head back down.
Mikaela Ronal was Sammy's girlfriend and one of the best workers at
Blade Inc. She was one of the people--along with Sammy--who ran the
company with such efficiency, Serena wanted to kiss her.
"Oh no you don't. Get up. Now," Nerys said as frown lines
appeared between her eyes. "Besides, I want to hear about Darien
and how you two met."
Serena crossed her eyes at her sister. She didn't want to
tell them anything and Carlin knew anyway. "It's easy. He took
over my portion of the business, asked for me by name, and said that
I would spend the month with him or else."
"I pity your children," Nerys said with a smile. Half the
reason she and Serena were so close was their constant banter. They
usually had argued and Serena was the one who gave her the now
permanent white streak in her hair.
"Me too," Serena said as she fiddled with the blanket. As
much as she "pitied" them, she wanted them. Heaven help her, but
these babies may prove to be the best thing to ever happen to her.
With tears in her eyes, she asked, "Is it wrong to love them
already?"
Carlin put an arm around her sister. She knew what Serena was
going through. It was hard not to love the babies that were
fathered by the man you desperately loved. "No, Rene, it's not
wrong. I love mine already." God help the man who helped create
these children if he ever tried to wrench them away; he would feel a
pain worse than the deepest pits of hell.
* * *
Raye stared at the phone. A million thoughts raced through
her head; the foremost being 'Serena's pregnant.' She didn't know
where the raspy voice had gotten her number, but it did and said the
phrase that would pull Darien in forever. Raye sat up and
stretched, feeling as if she had aged twenty years in that two-
minute span. She couldn't tell him, not until Serena decided to do
so herself. Her brother was a big boy; he could fix this mess on
his own.
Darien looked at his sister from the doorway. Whatever was
said on the phone had scared her shitless; and it had something to
do with Serena. Leaning on the doorjamb, Darien casually asked,
"What did they have to say?"
Raye looked at her brother and decided that he could find
Serena on his own. If he was that damned determined, he would find
her within the year, if she came out of hiding. "They said that
Serena was spotted in Wyoming again." Standing up, Raye walked over
to her brother and gave him a hug. Pulling away and smoothing a
lapel on his jacket, Raye said, "I can't do it Darien. It's tearing
me apart. I need to give up the search for Serena. If she decides
that she wants to be found, she will be. Until then..."
Darien looked down at his sister, "That'll be fine, Raye. I
shouldn't ask you to shoulder some of my burden." He moved out of
her way and heard her mumble a soft "thank you" as she walked past.
Watching her retreating back, he softly cursed himself for being so
stupid. Between Raye and Serena, he had two women leading him
around by the nose. Raye had cleverly diverted him and sent him on
that wild goose chase in Wyoming. Serena was leading him around by
his heartstrings and there was a possibility that she was going to
be a mother. His last meeting with his hired detective had said as
such.
Darien ran a hand through his hair; everything seemed to be
piling up on him. The coup at Blade, Inc. had to have been
engineered by a woman. It was both underhanded and strong; almost a
move Serena would pull, if she weren't just a figurehead. Serena...
God he missed her. He had been so close and screwed it all up by
catering to a client.
"Darien? I'm leaving now," Raye called from the doorway. It
would be the best thing for him if she just left; he would survive,
he always had before.
Darien enveloped her in a hug. Looking down at her suitcases,
he asked, "Planning to go on a trip?"
"Yeah. I think I'd like to go somewhere cold. Like Maine or
Wyoming," Raye said as she picked up her suitcases.
"Well, have fun," Darien said as she walked out the door. As
an afterthought he added, "I sure as hell won't."
* * *
"Rene, we have a visitor," Nerys said from the window. She
watched as a raven-haired woman stepped out of the car. The woman
held a look of triumph and uncertainty in her eyes, something that
intrigued Nerys.
Walking into the living room from the kitchen, Serena asked,
"Who is it?" Her hand instinctively flew to her stomach. She was
quite protective of her twins already; if anyone made a remark about
her widening middle, Nerys or Carlin would have to step in to hold
Serena back. Sometimes, it took them both.
"You better answer the door."
Giving Nerys a look, Serena opened the door to find Raye
standing there. "Raye! What are you doing here?" Pulling her
friend inside, she looked out before closing the door. Narrowing
her eyes at Raye, she asked, "Does he know you're here?"
Raye shook her head. "I used my traveling alias, changed
planes twice, and drove the last half hour here. If he found me,
I'll be surprised."
The girls whipped around when they heard Carlin squeak from
the kitchen. Seeing she was trapped, she said, "It's nice to meet
you, Raye. I'm glad to see you stayed away from Jadeite."
Looking at the ruby-haired pipsqueak, Raye could only nod
numbly and say, "I'm glad, too." Jadeite had been her boyfriend
when she and Chad decided they needed some "space" almost a year
ago. Jadeite had turned from loving boyfriend to enraged lover at
the mere mention of Chad's name. Breaking it off with him hadn't
been easy either; she still bore the scar on her lower back.
Serena laughed on the look on both Raye and Carlin's faces.
Carlin's instinct was to spout visions and Raye's was to clam up.
"Raye, this is the sister I'm staying with. She's psychic like
you."
Raye slowly nodded her head and took Carlin's hand into hers.
"It's nice to meet you Miss McBride. I assume that you were the one
to call me?"
Carlin's eyes grew as round as saucers, "You're...you're..."
Raye smiled and nodded. Enveloping Carlin in a hug, she said,
"I don't mind. California was getting far too stifling."
Nerys tugged at the white streak that ran through her short
black hair at the exchange. If she didn't know any better, she'd
say that Carlin had been spooked by Raye's 'power.' Slowly walking
away from the window, she stood next to Raye and did her best to be
menacing. "We don't need to scare both the pregnant women in this
household."
Raye looked at her and nodded. "It wouldn't be any good to
scare either of them. Especially my niece and nephew."
Serena, who had been sitting on the couch, nearly gagged on
her water. "Niece and nephew. Whoa, I haven't been to the doctor
to determine their sex yet."
Carlin smiled weakly at Serena, "I guess now's not a good time
to tell you that you'll..."
Serena cut her off, "I don't want to hear about my damn
future, I want to live it. Got it?"
Raye nudged Nerys. Getting her attention, she asked, "Is it
just me, or has Serena gotten really cranky since she's been
pregnant?"
"Don't worry, you're not going to miss any of the madness,"
she replied to Raye. "Oh, and she's usually crankier."
"I heard that," Serena said, causing the girls to collapse
into a fit of giggles.
* * *
Darien wiped a weary hand across his face. Serena had been
gone for five months now and Raye two. Those girls had managed to
pan out faster than anyone he knew. Sitting across from him was the
PI he had hired. Chad Jacobson came from a wealthy background and
had been to the best law enforcement schools money could buy, but
even he was starting to grow weary of all the invariable tasks they
had been going through.
Chad picked up a bottle of brandy and poured a glass. "Where
did Raye say she was going again?" Chad hated this. He had a vague
idea where Raye was, but Darien needed to find her on his own. It
wasn't his place to mess with free will.
Darien stared blankly at the wall and said, "Wyoming or Maine,
somewhere cold." When Raye took off in January, it hadn't occurred
to him that her destination was odd. Several months later had
changed that thinking.
Chad sighed. If Darien was going to stumble through this,
Chad didn't see the problem in giving him a little help. "Then
we'll assume where Serena is it's cold." Chad paused a moment
before continuing on, "That would rule out that she'd been with
either Samantha or Nerys in the last two months."
A light started to shine in Darien's eyes. They had never
considered this whole new angle before. "That would make sense."
Chad smiled and rubbed his chin. Boy when he got on a roll,
he got on a roll. "Even more so if Serena was pregnant." Ever
since Chad had signed on, he knew, deep down in his bones, that
Serena was pregnant. Couldn't tell you why, he just knew. Once
Raye got there, her little messages let him know he was right and
had been all along.
Darien got a stupid grin on his face as he thought about the
little girl Serena would have--her blonde hair and his deep blue
eyes. Serena would probably be slightly rounded by now and
marveling at the life inside her; and he wanted to be a part if it.
"I hope she is pregnant."
Chad just shook his head and tried to change the subject,
"Have you been able to get a hold of Kieta yet?"
Darien nodded, "Yeah. She just called me last week and told
me to come see her. She even said to tag you along."
Chad frowned and went back to work reading Raye's file. If he
ever got his hands on her...
"Jacobson," Darien said calmly, "you're drooling all over my
sister's picture."
Chad blushed and returned his eyes to his file. They had
checked the airport records and Raye had gone to Wyoming, like she
said, but when compared to hotel ledgers, Raye Carlson hadn't stayed
in Cheyenne. Pondering that, Chad reached over and grabbed Kieta's
file. Kieta McBride --scratch that, McNealon-- was the eldest child
of Kathleen McBride and Arden Blade. Her mother was a well-known
psychic and had possibly given the gift to her children. "Is Mrs.
McNealon psychic?"
Darien inclined his head, "I don't know. If Raye was here,
she could tell us. She's a little psychic herself."
Chad's ears perked up in interest, "Really? What's her
specialty?"
Darien chuckled at Chad's enthusiasm. If Raye were here,
she'd flip that her psychic abilities didn't repulse a man, for
once. "She's precognitive to a certain degree and a little
telepathic, but only to certain people."
"Maybe Mrs. McNealon can help us find Raye."
"Maybe."
* * *
Carlin sat twitching in Kieta's living room. It had been Ki's
brilliant plan to have Carlin--now six months pregnant--come here
and meet Darien. "You'd be able to get a better on reading him than
I ever could," Ki had put it, so here she was, six months pregnant
and spying for her sister. This was going to be great, damn great.
"Quit twitching. You look like a two-year-old," Kieta said as
she pranced into her living room. She may have been a good
astrologer and empathizer, but she was no mind reader. That had
been her mom and Car's department.
"If you were six months pregnant, you'd be twitching too. Do
you know how hard it is to get comfortable? Serena's just the same
way, except she gets to have twice the fun." Carlin was starting to
wish that her and Galen didn't have that wild night, but oh well.
No use going back now.
Kieta smiled. She felt sorry for her sisters, but they were
old enough to take care of their own problems. Draping an arm
around Carlin, she asked, "Does Serena know what she's having yet?"
Carlin smiled as she thought back to a week ago. "She fell
out of her chair when the doctor told her." Laughing, she added,
"You should have seen her face when the doctor told her she'd
probably go into labor a month early and that our kids would
probably share birthdays. She about died on the spot!"
Kieta shook her head, trying to contain her laughter. Her
youngest sister was a lot funnier since she had become pregnant.
"I'm not surprised." Pausing a moment, she said, "I heard from Sam
today."
Carlin sat up in her chair. It had to be something if
Samantha decided to grace them all with her presence. "What did she
want?"
Looking at her nails, Kieta said, "Apparently there is going
to be a ball at the end of December and she wants you and Serena to
go."
Immediately, Carlin replied, "She wants to match Serena and
Darien up."
Kieta let out a whistle. Generally Car's predictions happened
when she meditated or something like that; to have it come out of
the blue was significant. "I'll be damned. Are you sure?"
"Positive." Carlin may not have really liked Sam, but she
loved her anyway. "She wants me to know too. She must be
practicing."
Before Kieta could answer, there was a knock on the door.
Shooting a glance at Carlin, she went and answered it. Opening it,
she gaped up at a man that was dark as sin and as mad as Hades.
Sticking her hand out, she said, "You must be Darien." Turning
toward his companion, she smiled and said, "You must be Mr.
Jacobson." Opening the door wider, she motioned them to come in.
"Sit down in the living room, I'll be in a moment."
Darien stalked into the living room. He had been in a foul
mood all morning and couldn't put his finger on why. Turning into
the room, a small red-haired sprite caught his eye. "Who might you
be?"
Carlin smiled. She could see why Serena had fallen for him.
Extending her hand from the chair, she said, "I'm the baby of the
family."
Chad tipped his hat toward her, "Miss McBride?"
Carlin smiled even more. Boy would she have something to tell
the girls when she got home. "The only one left, but you boys can
call me Carlin." Catching their gazes drifting toward her abdomen,
Carlin added, "But not for long." She caught the sadness in
Darien's eyes; it was hidden, but there all the same. "Would you
like me to make a prediction?"
Darien was a little taken aback by her question. "You're
precognitive?" Seeing her nod, he asked, "Can you tell me when I'll
see Serena again?"
Carlin smiled; he was nice, perfect for Serena, and really in
love with her. "Sure, since I saw that answer a few days ago, I can
tell you. You'll see her again in December and you'll finally track
her down in June." Seeing him sadden even more, she said quickly,
in lieu of an explanation, "She needs to go through something major
before you can see her. Don't give up, she hasn't on you."
Chad observed the scene quietly. He had the same sentiments,
but he wasn't going to say anything to Darien. Chad turned toward
her and asked, "Carlin? When is Raye coming home?"
She looked at the young detective and slightly shook her head,
"I don't know. But when she does, it'll be long before Serena, but
you already knew that."
Chad stood looking at her gape-eyed. He saw Carlin give a
little half-smile and knew she knew about him and Raye. Before he
could say anything, Kieta came into the room.
Rubbing her hands together, she said, "Okay. Let's get to
business."
* * *
A few hours later, Chad and Darien were ushered out the front
door by Kieta. She had politely answered their questions, but once
Carlin started to get tired, she ushered them out the door.
"I never expected to see the youngest one here," Chad said as
he rubbed his brow. Carlin had been a wild card, seeing her
pregnant made it even wilder.
"Neither did I," Darien said as tears pricked his eyes. He
thought they had finally found her, but that wasn't the case. At
least he'd see her in December if Carlin's prediction was right.
Hopefully, Raye would come home before that. Wiping his eyes on his
sleeve, he turned toward Chad and said, "Let's go. I want to go
home and start from square one."
Chad mutely nodded and followed Darien's retreating back. If
his gut feeling was right, they'd see Raye almost six months before
they finally tracked down Serena.
Inside the house, Carlin lay on the couch, staring at the
ceiling. "He will find her, you know," she said to no one in
particular. This wasn't a prediction, where the future was
uncertain; this was an assurance, something that would happen
whether Serena was ready or not.
"Of course he will. He's a man bound and determined to find
the woman he loves," Kieta said as she handed Carlin a glass of
water. "The question is, will Serena be able to stay hidden for
that long?"
"It's Serena," Carlin said slowly rising. "She may be loud
and boisterous sometimes, but she can be pretty damn quiet when she
wants to."
Kieta didn't reply and just stared at Carlin. Her little
sister had grown up right under her nose. Wiping her nose, she
collected Carlin in a hug, "It's killing not to tell Galen, isn't
it?"
Carlin let a tear drip down her cheek. She hated it when
Kieta could pluck her feelings out of the air. "I just think..."
"That's your and Serena's problem, you both 'just think.' You
should just tell him, he might act differently than you think." At
least Kieta hoped so, for both Serena and Carlin's sake.
* * *
'Carlin may be a month farther along than me,' Serena thought,
'but I look like I'm the one who's farther along.' Here it was,
only March, and Serena was ready to have the kids. Her ankles were
swollen all to hell and she was only allowed to walk around the
house if she needed to do something. Even worse, the Terror Twins
(as she dubbed them) were trying to do flips through all hours of
the night. She was ready to be done.
She sat up as she heard someone knocking on the door. She
called, "Coming!" as she went and answered the door. Swinging the
door open when she got to it, she saw a young man wringing his hands
and looking at his feet. "Can I help you?"
He swung his gaze up and Serena saw the most amazing pair of
gray eyes ever. He nervously licked his lips and said, "I'm Galen
McHail. Is Carlin home? My brother said she's having my kid."
Serena took a step back. They were in deep water now.
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This chapter took about a week to write. I especially loved the
little cliffhanger at the end.
Send Q's or C's to: silver_moonangel@yahoo.com