Feasibility Study
Written by: Ms Maggs / Edited by: KJT
Epilogue – Part 4
Sunday, August 29, 2005
The Blakes
2:44 p.m.
15-12 was the final water volleyball score with Ryan and Sean's team taking the honors. While the victory wasn't that extraordinary for Ryan and Nick, or even McKenna, who at the age of five already had two pee-wee soccer trophies to her name, the day would go down in history for three people; Sara, Sean and Greg, who were never on a winning sports team in their lives.
"I can't believe we lost!" Lindsay was livid and grabbed an ice cold grape soda out of a tub of iced drinks to drown her sorrows. "I had the perfect strategy."
"Sorry, Linds." Tawny patted her devastated team captain on the back. "Once Sara was on the other side of the net I couldn't play dirty."
"Ditto." Carrie grabbed a Corona and threw her arm around her dad's waist whispering, "I think you threw a few call's Nick's way to alleviate your guilt for biting his head off."
"No, I plead not guilty, Counselor." Ken gave his daughter's shoulders a squeeze. "But I may have missed some calls while I was watching you having fun in the water. It was a great sight to see, Sweetheart."
"It feels great too." Glancing over her shoulder, Carrie winked at Nick who, along with his team mates still in the pool, was heralding Greg as the Most Valuable Player.
"Lemonade for everyone," Wendy announced as she approached the revelers. Squatting down she let them each grab a cup. "Nick, yours is the one with the blue umbrella because you're the only one on the team allowed to drink and it's spiked. I figure you need it after…" She glanced around then whispered, "Dealing with my father in law. Remind me to give you some tips on that in the future."
After sipping the drink he gratefully replied, "Thank you, Sis…and not just for the cocktail." Relaxing against the side of the pool, he watched Carrie conversing with his mom and her dad.
"Way to go, Greg!" Sara jubilated by tapping her plastic cup to his and teased, "Does your middle name, Hojem, mean Water Volleyball King?"
"That's your middle name? Hojem?" Ryan boomed. "Dude! That had to cause you some grief."
"Didn't kids call you Toe Jam?" Sean inquired, while thinking of the names he would soon be tortured with when school started back up that week.
"Yeah, that one and plenty of others." He winked at Sara. "I never let bullies bother me though and neither should you, Sean. But speaking of bothering…" Jumping up he sat on the side of the pool. "Is it time for the festivities yet?"
Catherine smiled directly at Sara before replying, "Food first and then torture."
Across the yard, Jim and Gil were busy at the grill. They had offered to man it so Paul could continue playing volleyball. "I've still got it," Jim announced as he perfectly basted the chicken. "Nancy and I used to have BBQs in Jersey back before the ugly days."
"How did it go with Ellie yesterday?" Gil asked, feeling a bit guilty that he hadn't inquired sooner. "I meant to ask as soon as I saw you but then the whole surprise wedding thing threw me."
"It went real well." Jim shrugged and took a sip of beer. "I mean as well as dropping your drug addicted daughter off at rehab can go I suppose. She's scared but she says she's really giving it her all this time. I believe her." He nodded and took another sip. "But I don't want to bring down the mood of this joyous occasion. It's your pseudo wedding day, my friend."
"I can't have a stripper for the bachelor party because there are children present."
"Give me some credit..." He winked. "…for thinking of a creative way to get rid of the kids."
Across the lawn, Sara was holding McKenna's hand while accompanying Wendy into the house. "Guess what I have for you, McKenna?"
"A new ladybug dress!"
"As promised." Sara smiled warmly. "See…I told you I wouldn't let you down. The shopping bag is on in your room, on your bed. "
"Yay!" She dashed off to don it.
"You really didn't have to do that, Sara," Wendy shook her head. "Accidents happen."
"I have a PhD…I should know to read the washing instructions before tossing something into the machine." Now that she was in the kitchen, away from the crowd, Sara pried, "Exactly what does Catherine have planned?"
Wendy faced her guest. "I'm afraid I'm just as guilty as Catherine. Ever since the other day when you said you had no pictures, I was thinking of your baby and how nice it would be to have some happy photos of the wedding celebration to show him or her rather than just one quick chapel photo. Kids like seeing how happy their parents were when they married because it gives them a stable feeling that the love was there and then they came along. Besides…" She gave panicky Sara a gentle nudge. "It will be a lot of fun and how can you not be happy that your friends care about you so much?"
Sara glanced out the window and saw Gil surrounded by Jim, Greg, Warrick and Nick. "You're right. For so many years I wanted a family and now I have one."
"And with family expect some uncomfortable moments." Wendy headed to the fridge. "Just ask Nick. He had a nice dose from my father-in-law before you arrived."
Still looking outside Sara commented, "Well…in spite of it, Nick seems much calmer than when he left on vacation."
"Definitely, but I still sense he's got something stressful going on besides work and I know it's not a problem with Carrie because the poor guy was devastated when she was outside crying talking to her dad. It really worries me." Wendy shook her head. "Ugh, forget I said that. It sounds like I'm gossiping."
"No, you just sound like a worried family member." Taking the two bowls Wendy was holding Sara assured her, "Nick's in good hands with Carrie. I think whatever is going on will work itself out soon."
Before Wendy could reply, Carrie, Jillian and Tawny bounded in.
"How can we help?" Tawny offered. "The men are standing around the grill drooling like a bunch of barbarians."
"And Catherine is ogling them," Carrie added in a laugh.
Nodding in confirmation Sara retorted in her best Brass impression, "Shocking!"
"What!" Brass stood holding the BBQ tongs in disbelief. "DAVID Hodges? Married? That's not shocking, that's cataclysmically mind blowing. "
Greg couldn't wait to confirm Warrick's announcement. "He married the woman Tawny set him up with on Friday."
"Like two days ago?"
"Yep."
Nick couldn't believe someone would marry Hodges but upon hearing it was after less than twenty four hours it made more sense…especially if they were tanked. "And now he works for me."
Warrick was quick to remind his buddy, "And so does Sofia."
"Doh!" Jim dropped a hot dog when he flinched hearing that piece of news. "Nicky…are you still calling this guy your friend?"
"It's cool," Nick informed him after polishing off his beer. "Hodges should be less irritating now that he's gotten laid and I worked out my issue with Sofia."
"Yeah…" Gil suddenly remembered what Sofia said the day before. "Nick, I always wanted to know, why did you shave your head last year?"
"What?" He laughed. "Kind of curious time to ask that question, which makes me think you already know. Why did you grow your beard?"
"No comment."
Nick winked. "Ditto."
Catherine was dumbstruck. "Don't tell me…Nicky…no." Her smiled morphed into a grimace. "The Ice Princess? What the hell?" She couldn't believe at some point over the last eight years he had slept with Sofia but not once suggested they fall into bed. Obviously he didn't have a problem sleeping with co-workers so that wasn't why he hadn't. Not that she had wanted it to happen…except during one or two excessively lonely periods a few years ago when Warrick was dating Tina the Terror. No, it was a matter of pride. Sofia got something she hadn't even been offered. "Ugh!" Walking toward the pool she grumbled, "For Carrie's sake, I hope you got rabies shots since."
Meanwhile, inside the kitchen, Jillian was showing off pictures of her grandkids to the curious family-focused women. "This is my daughter Barbara's family."
"She and Nick could be twins," Tawny commented.
"He's closest to her too." She flipped to the next picture in her wallet. "This is Andy, his wife Melissa and their three children."
Wendy blurted, "He's so much bigger than Nick." She snickered in Carrie's direction, "Sorry, Sis."
"That's okay, from what I've heard Andy and I wouldn't be very compatible."
Jillian choked on her laughter. "She'd kill him."
"You'd never know he was Nick's brother," Tawny commented in a jittery voice. "You said his name was Andy?"
"Well, that's what we call him, but now he goes by Drew."
"Oh…" Tawny backed away towards the fridge, faking a cough. "I need some water."
"Glasses are in the cabinet next to the fridge," Wendy instructed before smiling.
"Great…thanks." With a shaky hand she reached for a glass.
Jillian lamented, "Nicky and his brother don't always get on very well, not that Nicky doesn't try, he's been trying to be a part of his brother's life since he was a kid. Andy was out here on business several times this year and Nicky said he'd always have an excuse for breaking plans."
The women all jumped when Tawny's glass hit the tile floor.
Around the BBQ grill the guys were laughing so loudly that initially they didn't hear Sara shouting from the back door.
"Greg!"
Finally he heard his name. "Yeah?"
"Tawny fainted," Sara informed him. Luckily she had caught her before she hit the floor.
In a flash Greg was racing for the door and the boisterous men quieted.
As if she was reporting to a paramedic Sara reported to the concerned father-to-be, "She was in the group talking, then she started coughing and asked for a glass of water. Before she filled the glass she was out. Her vitals are fine, Carrie and Wendy brought her to the couch."
"She's coming around," Carrie reported as soon as she saw Greg appear in the living room. "Wendy's getting a cold washcloth. She thinks maybe the heat got to her."
"Thanks." Greg knelt down next to the couch. "Sweetie…" Gently he placed a hand on her womb and when he saw her eyes flutter open he smiled. "Hey…where'd you go?"
Disoriented she whispered, "I…why…" Then she saw Jillian and recalled what made her head spin…the realization she had slept with Nick's married brother on multiple occasions. And he wasn't just married, he was married with three small children. Not only was it a reminder of how stupid she used to be but, Drew was related to the future best man at her wedding. That triggered another horrific thought…as a bridesmaid in Carrie's wedding she'd be coming face to face with him. "Oh God…" She passed out again.
To keep McKenna occupied, Sean decided to download his aunt's photos and show his little sister the cute baby deer she kept asking to see. "It will just be a minute," He informed the impatient girl as they sat quietly at the computer desk in the far corner of the living room.
"Here you go." Wendy handed the washcloth to Greg. "I really thought she was coming to."
"Temporarily, but she got dizzy again," Carrie reported.
Jillian headed for the kitchen. "I'll give the others an update so they don't all rush in here and crowd around."
No one noticed how Sara faded to the background. Watching Tawny weak and disoriented brought back memories of the frantic trip to the emergency room and reminded her once more that pregnancy was a fragile endeavor. Morosely her gaze kept drifting to Tawny's white bikini bottom where she hoped not to find any red.
"She's fainted before," Greg assured everyone.
"I fainted a lot when I was pregnant with my twins," Wendy added for extra comfort. "And she did play volleyball pretty hard."
"She's very competitive." Greg adjusted the washcloth. "You have to be when you're trying to out earn other…waitresses."
"Greg…" Tawny whispered as she roused once more.
"I'm right here." He squeezed her hand. "Are you in any pain?
"Um…" Breathing deep she finally answered, "I'm fine. There's no cramping or anything. I was just a little overwhelmed by…um…the excitement of the game and the heat."
"Here's some ice water," Carrie offered as Greg sat Tawny up. "Does it feel like your blood sugar is low? I can get you something to eat."
"Water's fine." She reached for the glass while thinking, I'm just freaked because I partied with your fiancé's married brother and I'm bound to bump into him at your wedding.
Just then Jillian returned with Catherine at her side.
"How's the patient?" Catherine asked. "And has anyone seen my daughter?"
"She's better," Greg reported. "I saw Lindsay climbing up the tree house ladder before I came in here."
"Ah."
"Ryan was with her," He added in a low whisper, mindful that Sean might feel bad for not being asked to tag along.
Wendy and Catherine exchanged nervous glances before darting for the back door, the idea of two actively pubescent kids of opposite sexes alone in a secluded place unnerving them.
In the far corner of the room, Sean, now that he was sure Tawny was okay, returned his attention to the computer. One by one the photos were downloading and suddenly a particular one caught his eye. His uncle laughing and tied up to what look liked the headboard of the bed. He figured Nick was showing off his fantastic knot untying skills.
Sara finally relaxed when the color returned to Tawny's cheeks. "I wonder if I'll have fainting issues."
Greg nodded, rather confident she would. "Considering some of the nasty stuff we smell and do, count on it."
McKenna finally returned to the room with her favorite stuffed animal, Mr. Peter Rabbit. One look at the computer and she broke out giggling. "Aunt Carrie! You got a Pocahontas costume just like me!" She wore hers last Halloween. "Did you buy it so we can play dress up and be twins? Why are you tied up to a tree?"
"What?" Carrie whirled around and finally noticed what Sean was doing. "Oh! OH!"
Jillian was the first to get there. "Nicky always did love to play cowboys and Indians."
Sara was quick to follow. "What's your Indian Princess name?"
"Kicks Like a Mule When Ticked." Carrie grabbed her nephew's hand from the mouse and closed out the file. "But I'm suddenly thinking of changing it to Mortified Future Daughter-In-Law Who Wants to Disappear." She felt compelled to explain. "We're not…you see, Catherine bought me the outfit and I…"
"It's okay, Sugar." Jillian held up her hand. "I really don't care what you and my son do in private together as long as it's legal and both of you consented."
Greg couldn't resist. "Don't worry, from what I've heard, they're not doing anything illegal…that is, thanks to Lawrence versus Texas."
Jillian rolled her eyes at the boy. "Very cute."
Hodges's Apartment
3:08 p.m.
"I must look awful," Hodges lamented as he lay in bed recovering from his latest crisis.
"No…" Celeste only saw the man she fell in love with on Friday night. "You look cute."
"You must think I'm really high maintenance." Reaching for the ice cold glass of cream soda Celeste had brought him he took a sip through the red and blue striped straw.
Giggling lightly she remarked, "Just wait until I'm pregnant. I'm sure I'll be demanding."
"Pr…pregnant?" He bolted up. "You want kids!"
"Don't you!" Panic shot through her.
"I hate kids."
"How can you hate kids?" She stared at her husband in disbelief. "You love silly board games and fruit loops. Those are kid things."
He produced an answer with lightning speed. "I like being a kid…not parenting one."
"This is terrible." For the first time in her twenty-four hour old marriage she cried. "I thought you heard the ticking of my biological clock."
"I thought you heard the tocking of my inner-child."
"I have to go!" After grabbing her purse she fled the apartment.
"Celeste!" Despondent, Hodges crashed against the sheets.
Mandalay Bay Hotel
Presidential Suite A
3:12 p.m.
Walking into the living room Ron asked, "Do I look 'Father of the Groom' enough?"
Lina shifted her gaze from her book. "You're wearing khakis and a golf polo."
"It's a suburban backyard BBQ, I didn't want to dress too fancy," He replied while smoothing his palms over his middle. "Are you not happy in Vegas, Lina?" His voice was weighted with concern.
"How did you jump to that conclusion from me saying, 'you're wearing khakis and a golf polo'?" She smiled against her will.
"You don't seem yourself lately. Is it being trapped in small quarters with me?"
"This suite is bigger than my old neighborhood in Cuba," She quipped. "I'm just a little bored waiting for the house and something to do, that's all. Now go to your fiesta."
"Tawny is at the party." He thought he'd give it one last try. "She's leaving for California in a couple of days so this would be a great opportunity to chat with her about her job with us."
Closing her book she sighed. "This is your new reason I should attend? You want me to go to a special party for your son and daughter-in-law and discuss business with a future employee?" Laughing she busted him. "You're really desperate, aren't you?"
"I'm nervous," Ron confessed without attempting to mask his vulnerability. "Gil doesn't know I'm coming and I'll be meeting quite a few of his friends. It could be a disaster. It would be easier if there was a friendly face in the crowd."
"Fine." Lina stood and tossed her book on the couch. "I'll go."
"I'll call the driver and tell him we'll need extra time for you to get ready." Thrilled she was coming he grabbed the phone. "What? A half hour?"
"I'm not one of your old bimbos," She taunted. "Real women can get dressed in ten minutes." Before proceeding down the hall she informed him. "Besides, I already have my outfit laid out because I knew you weren't going to take no for an answer even if you had to get on your knees and beg."
"Why didn't you hold out for that?" His lips curved into a smile.
Turning to walk down the hall she replied, "Because I'm hungry and I want to get there before all the good food is gone. You get to a BBQ late and there's only chips left."
The Blakes
3:32 p.m.
While Lindsay continued to sit quietly and loathe her mother for interrupting her near-kiss with Ryan, Sean pretended not to be jealous and shifted the uneaten food around on his plate with the tines of his fork. Ryan, on the other hand, continued to stuff his face without a care in the world.
"May I be excused?" Sean asked, ready for some quiet time in his room away from the happy crowd and his girl-stealing brother who almost-kissed and bragged.
"Sure, Honey." Wendy watched her son smile faintly and carry his empty plate towards the house knowing that sometimes her pensive and awkward son needed a quiet place to decompress.
"Everything is wonderful, Wendy," Gil politely informed the cook after another delicious bite. "Could I have the recipe for the broccoli salad?"
Jim groaned, "Maybe we should let Gil attend the bridal shower instead of the bachelor party."
"Laugh all you want," Sara told the guys. "But you know what they say…a man who cooks in the kitchen sizzles in…" Remembering the children present she changed the ending. "…other important locales."
Gil stopped in mid-chew, surprised by his wife's public friskiness.
Feeling the urge to boast about her man's prowess Carrie blurted, "Nicky cooks great omelets."
"Of course he does." Catherine laughed at the naïve woman. "It was his trademark morning-after meal. You know…after the wake-up loving he told his guest he'd bring her breakfast and she'd be all…" She mimicked the voice of a mousy bimbo. "You're making breakfast for me while I just lounge around…wow." Returning to her regular voice she finished, "Sure, he'd make a nice omelet but he only brought it to the bedroom to get the girl swooning so he could get seconds…" Remembering the impressionable teens she added "…of eggs."
Grissom chuckled at the notion of egg foreplay and asked, "What if the guest was allergic to eggs? Or was a vegan?" The only response he got from Nick was a glare.
Warrick pinched his troublemaking woman under the table. That was the last thing Carrie's dad or Nick's mom needed to hear.
"Yeah…thanks for pointing that out in front of everyone, Cath. I thought what was said in the locker room stayed in the locker room?" Nick made a mental note to leave something nasty-smelling in her locker when he returned to work. "Hey, I think I hear Ashley on the baby monitor, I'll go check." He bolted for the house to escape the heat of his father-in-law's stare, his mother's cringe and his fiancée's disappointment."
While Ryan was busy trying to figure out how Nick could get seconds of eggs while only bringing one omelet to the bedroom, McKenna had a question of her own. "Aunt Carrie, are you going to jump Uncle Nick's bones now?"
The little girl's shocking question caused half the group to gasp and the other half, the ones in the know, to laugh.
"Which one of you pigs put her up to that?" Carrie blasted. "She's five, that's unconscionable. And I can't believe you're laughing at it, Daddy!"
"That's because we already heard it yesterday and know the background." Wendy prompted her daughter. "Why did you ask Aunt Carrie that question, Sweetie?"
"Because Uncle Nick left a pile of chicken bones on his plate and Aunt Carrie likes to steal them and eat the scraps of meat." McKenna giggled in Greg's direction. "Chuckles told me that when I asked him what it meant when mommy said Aunt Carrie is always thinking about jumping Uncle Nick's bones."
"Look the lemonade is empty." Carrie grabbed the pitcher and headed for the house. Once inside, she set the pitcher on the table and went to look for her fiancé. A minute later she found him sitting on the floor of Wendy and Paul's room against the side of the bed. "How's Ashley?" She asked from the doorway.
"Still sleeping." Flashing a nervous smile he groveled, "For the record…I only made the other girls plain omelets. I chop up stuff like onions and peppers for yours…and I put cheese in it, not just on top for show."
"Wow." Shaking her head as she entered the room Carrie announced, "I think that's one of the most romantic things I've ever heard."
Even though he felt like a heel and a less than ideal man in his father-in-law's or mother's eyes, he laughed because Carrie was.
"I really hope you include that bit in your wedding vows," She joked while taking a seat on the floor next to him. Pretending to be him she cleared her throat and said, "Yes, I knew she was the one because I felt compelled to chop up stuff for her morning-after-the-lovin' omelet."
"And put cheese in it, not just on top," He corrected while pulling her onto his lap. "I'm going to learn how to make French Toast for you, Darlin', because I know it's your favorite."
Tracing the outline of his tattoo she whispered, "Kiss me, Romeo."
"Gladly." Wrapping his arms around her tightly, he brought his lips to hers and closed his eyes. The warmth of her kiss blanketing him, his woes faded away.
"Was it an omelet worthy kiss?" She inquired while trailing her lips over Nick's.
"It was worthy of the entire breakfast buffet at the Rio." Lacing his fingers through her hair he crashed his mouth against hers.
In the hallway, Sean stood frozen in the open doorway, mesmerized by the passionate kiss. It wasn't anything like the quick kisses he'd seen his parents sneaking on the couch in the living room. Although he wanted to leave, he continued watching, driven by nervous curiosity. Nick's hands were pressed hard against his aunt's back and she was throwing the weight of her body into the hungry kiss. Is that what Lindsay and Ryan had planned on doing in the tree house, he wondered? Is this what Lindsay really wanted? He knew his brother had already tested the waters. The words Ryan had bragged in his ear echoed…I would have made it to first with Willows if Mom hadn't called us down to eat. I bet she kisses better than Zoë Bowers. Wait…what do you care, you're not into girls, you like bugs. Hey…maybe if you kiss one of your roaches it will turn into a princess, dude…then you'll have the best of both worlds.
"Nicky…" Carrie gasped when they broke for air. "Stop kissing me like I'm going off to war."
"I can't help it, I heard you were shipping out from Vegas tomorrow, Sailor," He teased in reference to their first role-play when she chastised him for saying he was with the 'desert' Navy.
Fighting her desire for more, she opted to be responsible. "We're in my brother's room and the door is open."
"Just one more round, Darlin'…we're just kissin'." A few minutes later, nibbling on her neck he half-joked, "I feel like I'm in high school because my mama's outside the house, I have a girl in the bedroom and I'm dying to get to second base."
"Don't forget my daddy's outside too." On a heated breath she murmured in his ear, "Nicky…is this what it would have felt like if I lost my virginity the normal way?" In between nips on his neck and chest she said, "Scared of getting caught…but excited and wanting it so badly…but knowing it's wrong?"
"Yes…" He gulped for air as Carrie continued to graze over his flesh with her fiery mouth. "And even though you know there will be hell to pay if you get caught, you don't give a damn because your body is screaming for the one you're with." Nick drove his hands under Carrie's t-shirt and kissed her with twice the passion. "Is that how you feel, Baby?"
"Yes." She already knew he was feeling it too.
"I'm goin' for it." He flung her t-shirt and savored the view of her in the hot pink bikini top. "But not here."
Before she knew it she was on her feet and being tugged into the walk-in closet. "There's no lock on the door."
"Everyone's outside," He reasoned while lowering her to the floor. "But you're right…we shouldn't be doing this." Nick panted in Carrie's ear as his hand loosened the pool towel she still had wrapped around her waist.
Hurrying down the hall Sean asked himself, is that what first base looks like? Crazy hands and frantic kissing? And while he knew the other middle school kids were doing stuff like that, the idea terrified him…until he saw Lindsay standing in the light of the open refrigerator. "Hi."
"I'm looking for pickles for Tawny. Your mom said they were in here."
"They should be…" He couldn't stop staring at her lips and wondering if it would feel as good as Nick and Carrie seemed to think it was when they were kissing each other.
"Take a picture, it lasts longer," Lindsay droned.
"Huh?" He snapped out of his gaze.
"You're staring at me, Bugboy." Then she realized he was staring at her. "Do you see something you like?" She had heard her mother say that a bunch of times to various men over the years.
"Uh…" Extending his index finger Sean took a step closer. "Yes." He pointed to a container of deviled eggs. "I like those."
Grabbing the container she handed it to him. "Enjoy." With that she sauntered out of the house.
Sean stared at the container of his mother's deviled eggs. "I can't believe I pointed to the eggs and not her."
"Have you seen my son?" Jillian inquired when she stepped inside the kitchen from the back porch. "His daddy is on my cell and wants to talk to him."
"In my mom's bedroom. Last door on the left," Sean blurted.
"Thanks, Honey." Jillian waved her cell phone and headed down the hall. "Bill...the wait's almost over."
"Are you sure?" Nick prompted for a verbal answer even though Carrie was responding physically in the affirmative.
The sound of the doorbell detoured Jillian. Since everyone else was out back she spoke into the cell phone. "Honey…hang on a minute, I have to answer the door." After lowering the phone she greeted the man and woman on the doorstep. "You must be Gil's father."
"Yes," Ron warmly replied, "And this is my date…Lina."
"Yes…right now!" Carrie pleaded while squirming on the pool towel beneath her.
Like the eager school boy he was playing, Nick promptly and obediently followed instructions. "Carrie…" As he slowly rocked their bodies, he brushed the hair from her face and zoomed in on her eyes. "You're so beautiful."
"I love you, Nicky." She melted into his tender kiss and then let him bring her to a rolling boil.
"This feels so…"
"I never thought it would feel this good." She dug her nails into his back and savored the desire building.
Jillian pointed the newest party arrivals towards the kitchen. "If you go out the backdoor you'll see everyone outside."
"Thank you," Ron flashed a polite smile and motioned for Lina to go first.
Jillian once again raised her cell to her ear. "I'm back, Sweetheart."
The intensity of the unplanned role-play fueling a new level of passion between them, Nick and Carrie really did experience something for the first time…simultaneous satisfaction, without any coordination or extra effort.
"That was…" Gasping for air she couldn't finish her thought.
"Was it special?" The euphoria, like the role-play, was unstoppable.
Opening her eyes she delighted in telling him, "It's the only way I'll ever remember it."
"I never want to let you out of my arms." While enjoying the afterglow, Nick heard his mother's voice booming from outside the closet.
"Well you better let her out of your arms or I'm going to open this closet door and drag your naked ass out here." Jillian was livid that they could be so disrespectful in another person's home. She almost wished she hadn't told Bill she had to go to the bathroom and would call him back. "This is exactly the kind of behavior Ken Blake was accusing you of, Nicholas and to think I defended your moral character. Oh and let me guess…Carrie made you do it."
Nick knew that tone in his mother's voice and whispered in his lover's ear, "We're busted and we're in deep shit."
After pecking his lips Carrie grinned before whispering back a reply. "It was worth it and don't worry…I'll take the fall for you, Nicky."
That's when Nick realized two things about his fiancée…she loved him as much as he loved her and, she had no Earthly idea how angry his mother could get when one of her children was disrespectful.
Jillian ordered, "You get dressed and get your asses back out to the party like none of this happened, but rest assured you'll be hearing my opinion at home."
"Yes, ma'am," They responded in a perfect duet.
Everyone stared at the couple walking towards the picnic tables but it was Catherine who remarked, "It's like looking at Gil twenty years from now."
"Dad?" Gil jumped out of his chair. "Who…" Then he realized he didn't have to ask. "Catherine."
She was quick to bring her co-worker down too. "But Greg was the one who told me he existed."
Ron grinned. "I couldn't say no."
Accepting that today was the day everyone would meet his dad, Gil cleared his throat and said, "This is my father, Ron Grissom. He just relocated to Vegas from Florida."
Sara beamed with delight. Only a month ago Gil was estranged from his dad, now he was being introduced to the gang with pride. She stood to welcome her father-in-law and help with the introductions.
Gil continued. "And this is Angelina…"
"My date," Ron wanted to make sure Gil didn't refer to her as an employee.
Once again Lina tensed. Ron hadn't mentioned he'd be introducing her as his date. Suddenly she realized why…earlier she had mentioned everyone would think him crazy for bringing along his housekeeper.
"You guys hooked up? Cool!" Greg blurted in a cheery tone. "Not that I'm surprised, because it was so obvious you were into each other."
"Totally," Tawny confirmed. "We were just talking about it the other day with Gil and Sara."
Happy about the latest turn of events in her family, Sara walked over and hugged Lina. "The Grissom men may take a while but once they come around it's worth it."
Lina returned the hug then said, "I'm sorry, I just realized we left our wedding gift in the car. Would you excuse us for a moment? Thank you." Taking Ron's arm she hurried him back into the house.
Inside the house, Carrie and Nick were in the master bathroom freshening up and fretting.
"Seriously, Sweetheart…my mom isn't kidding around." Nick took a scoop of water in his hand and splashed it on his face. "She's sincerely ticked off."
Re-doing her ponytail, Carrie started getting nervous. "Do you think she's telling my Dad?" Then she thought about how sad he was when she shared, in the brutally honest therapy fashion they were taught, her true virginity loss story or the fact she never had an orgasm until she was with Nick. "Actually um…my dad will probably thank you if she does." Turning to him she whimpered, "Can we sneak out the window?"
"No." He took her hand. "Avoidance will make things far worse with my mother, trust me."
Meanwhile, alone in the living room with Ron, Lina said, "Can you believe what they said?"
"Uh…"
Her hands raced to her head. "They think we're a couple."
"Um…"
"What gave them the idea that we were eyeing each other?"
"Well…"
"Whoa!" Nick stopped in his tracks, staring at the man who looked like Grissom twenty years from now. "How long were we in the bathroom, Carrie?"
Whispering Pines Addiction Recovery Center
Flagstaff, Arizona
4:17 p.m.
Lying on the cold bathroom tile, Ellie held her sweaty, throbbing forehead. "Marge…how much longer will this last?" She whimpered to the attendant sitting outside the bathroom door. "Everything hurts. I feel worse than shit. I'm dying, Marge. Get someone."
The plain, thirty-seven year old woman wearing a beige Whispering Pines logo polo and jeans, stood up to check on her patient. "You're not dying. You're just not used to feeling physical pain because you're always high."
The shakes were making the headache worse and she couldn't believe the urge to vomit was coming back because there couldn't possibly be anything left in her stomach. "Can't I have a little something?"
"No."
"Methadone?"
"Whispering Pines is a non-medical rapid detox facility and that's all you need." Squatting down Marge coached, "You're so close, Ellie."
"I can't." She was squeezing her eyes so tight to fight off the headache, the tears couldn't find a way out.
"This isn't the first time you've been on the floor in a strange place is it, Ellie?" Marge moved in closer. "How many times have you woken up and not known where the hell you were or what you did the night before?"
"Stop." The noise in her head was deafening and the last thing she wanted was a lecture. "God dammit…shut the hell up."
"How many times have you woken up next to a guy and not remembered how you got there?"
"I don't care," She snarled.
"Then I suggest you start."
"Jesus!" Ellie rolled onto her stomach trying to push herself up to reach the bowl. "How can you be such a bitch when I'm in pain?"
"You say bitch, I say coach." She stood, smiling. "And I've been called plenty worse by girls who were far more bad ass than you so, Honey…if you think you can intimidate me…save your breath."
"Daddy…" She whined as the pain overtook her. "Help."
"He can't help you." Marge returned to her chair and relaxed. "You gotta help yourself."
The Blakes
4:29 p.m.
"Help me," Gil whispered as he grabbed Sara's arm. "Pretend to faint and get me out of this bachelor party thing."
"No way." Sara removed her husband's hand from her arm. "After the hell you put me through for five years, I'm with the gang…you should be tortured. Have fun, Honey!"
"Ryan, Lindsay, Sean and McKenna," Wendy called the kids over. "Mrs. Stokes and Mr. Blake…grandpa to some of you, are going to be your chaperones on a little adventure." She eyed Ryan who she now realized was doing more than just fantasizing about girls, he was trying to kiss them.
"Ugh. Why do I have be babysat?" Lindsay was bummed she didn't get to stay with the grown ups. "I really hope you're not going to walk us to the park and push us on the swings."
"No, Dear." Jillian placed her arm around the girl's shoulder. "We're taking Mr. Grissom's limousine and driving the strip. And if you're good, we'll get ice cream."
"Whoa! Really!" Ryan and Sean both boomed in an uncharacteristic show of like-thinking. "Awesome!"
Ken didn't have quite the same enthusiasm considering he'd be riding with the woman whose son he blasted. "Okay, kids. Let's cruise the strip and pretend we're millionaires."
In a flash the kids were racing into the house and Jillian and Ken were playing catch up.
Grabbing a beer bottle from the picnic table, Catherine tapped on it with the edge of a fork. "It's time for Gil and Sara to part ways." She waited until he was close to his wife and then she cracked, "Gil…now that the kids are gone, feel free to slip her the tongue when you kiss her goodbye!"
"You're such a class act, Willows," Brass snarked. "Okay, enough with the goodbyes already, Boom Boom and Bugboy. The more time you waste the longer it will take to get to the honeymoon."
Wendy stood in the middle of the yard directing, "Women inside, boys outside."
"Don't you mean men?" Greg prodded.
She laughingly replied, "No, men are never present at bachelor parties…only boys."
"I can vouch for that!" Tawny shouted before being the last one to go inside the house, "Remember, boys…don't touch the stripper."
Gil stared at Jim. "You seriously aren't bringing a stripper here, are you?"
"I most certainly am." Brass patted Greg on the back. "Sanders…set up the music for the dancer due to arrive."
Warrick, Nick and Paul were at the cooler opening new beers and Warrick joked with his new neighbor, "So, do you guys have these kind of Striptease BBQs often? Pretty cheeky. Oh, and before you ask…no, Cath and I don't swing."
After almost choking on his beer Paul answered, "Thanks for the heads up and for the record, neither do Wendy and I."
Inside the house, Catherine escorted Sara to her chair of honor in the living room and placed a tiara on the bride's head.
"Is this my throne of embarrassment?" Sara quipped as she wondered what surprises awaited her other than gifts.
Author's Notes:
There was a lot going on in this chapter and many things in it will reverberate in the next story. Just ONE epilogue part to go and it's a wrap! Gil and Sara are in the spotlight the entire time…and by the end, they may even admit they enjoyed it.
Thanks for your review comments dumbledoreluver!
The last part, Epilogue -Part5,will post late Monday/Tuesday.
Have a great weekend! Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts,
Maggs