Title: Confessions Lead to Strange Bedfellows
Author: Kimberly21570
Fandoms: Guiding Light / All My Children
Pairings: Olivia and Natalia / Lena and Bianca
Disclaimer: The characters of Olivia and Emma Spencer, Natalia and Rafe Rivera, Gus/Nicky Aitoro, Doris and Ashlee Wolfe, Daisy Cooper, Alan Spaulding, and Gregg the Beacon banquet manager are owned by CBS/TeleNext and Proctor & Gamble. The characters of Lena Kundera and Bianca Montgomery are owned by All My Children, ABC/Disney and Prospect Park.
No copyright infringement intended with regard to Guiding Light, CBS/TeleNext, Proctor & Gamble, AMC, ABC/Disney, or any other entity. The dialogue, settings, and story content in these scenes are original. Written for fun, not profit. All other standard disclaimers apply.
Thanks to my pal, MoniRod over on the Incandescent Fire sit for the edit. You totally Rock, Woman! I appreciate you, and I owe you—BIG TIME!
And finally, thank you to all of you who have been praying for and sending positive energy to my family. This has indeed been a difficult time, but even as we grieve, God is using our circumstances to strengthen our family. I've seen anger and resentment over a heart-wrenching betrayals and deeply-rooted misunderstandings dissipate, replaced by understanding and forgiveness; and in the past three weeks we've had unexpected time with my two eldest sisters and a niece whom we rarely see. I call those not only blessings, but miracles. Perhaps not the miracle for which we had been praying, but miracles, all the same. Anyone who's familiar with my family history would understand why. So thank you for all of your support. Words fail to express how much I have appreciated your presence during this time.
Rating: Chapter 12 is rated NC-17 overall, though some sections will be either PG or PG-13…
Confessions Lead to Strange Bedfellows
Copyright May 2009
"An alliance is like a chain. It is not made stronger by adding weak links to it… An alliance should be hard diplomatic currency, valuable and hard to get…"
— Walter Lippmann
"We cannot always assure the future of our friends; we have a better chance of assuring our future if we remember who are friends are."
— Henry Kissinger
Chapter 12.2 – Old Friends, New Ventures, and Unexpected Alliances:
Sunday, May 3, 2009… The Farmhouse of Love—4:15 p.m. Central Daylight Time
"I honestly don't know how I'll make it through the evening without touching you." Delivered on a sultry purr, Natalia's announcement was accompanied by lissome fingertips that lightly traced up and down the placket of buttons in the center of Olivia's chest, as her mouth lingered against Olivia's neck. Having just finished in the shower, they were preparing for the arrival of guests, and to welcome Emma home. "I barely made it through our trip to the market. I was nearly out of my mind."
A satisfied grin trickled across kiss-swollen lips. "So I gathered by the way you attacked me in the shower." Her tone of voice said she didn't mind in the least. "That was… quite the pleasurable experience." She absolutely delighted in the self-assuredness she found in Natalia's touch. It was difficult to fathom now, why she had ever been concerned about their compatibility, physically speaking, or otherwise.
"You enjoyed that, did ya?" Natalia's voice held a mixture of flirty satisfaction.
Nuzzling against Natalia's neck, Olivia's voice dropped a full register, "My reactions didn't give me away?" A wave of vivid recollection slammed into her—Slick heat. Sinewy hands. Delicate, yet deliberate fingers. The intensity of Natalia's avid mouth and tongue on her screaming clitoris, as she pressed Olivia firmly against the shower wall. Wave after wave of shattering orgasm, exploding through her body. She had barely been able to breathe! And then that blissful moment of final release, quivering against Natalia's mouth, before she slid down the wall, thoroughly sated, Natalia gathering her close.
Olivia groaned, and fought back the urge to reciprocate right then and there. "You do enjoy walls, don't you?"
The expression on Natalia's face was anything but angelic, as she recalled the visceral nature of Olivia's reactions. Her unabashedly vocal responses had very much given her away, and Natalia couldn't have been more pleased. "I enjoy any firm surface that lets me get close to you," she replied, flirtatiously. She kissed the pulse in Olivia's neck, drawing a groan. "Even the freezer section at the market looked pretty promising. You're just lucky I still have a little self-control." She stressed the "little" part.
"That makes one of us," Olivia commented dryly. Releasing a slow sigh of surrender, she tunneled her fingers through curly raven tresses, delighting in the texture against her palms. "I've never let anyone have control over me, Natalia," she admitted. "Not personally. Not professionally. And certainly not sexually. Not until you…" Her voice was a sundry tone of willing resignation and awe, as she admitted to having freely given up control to the woman in her arms.
"I know…" Natalia's acknowledgment was whisper quiet, as she gazed into Olivia's eyes.
Gentle hands held Natalia's face, as jade eyes held that dark, expressive gaze. "I've given myself to you completely, and yet, I've never felt so free. I don't even know how to explain to you how liberating that feels."
"You don't have to, Liv," Natalia said, reassuringly. She wrapped her arms around Olivia's torso, pressing into her body, as her hands gently caressed Olivia's back. It wasn't an attempt to seduce, but merely to connect. "I understand, because being with you makes me feel that way, too. I feel completely safe for the first time in my life, and that makes me feel free, in a way I never have before. And it's all because of you."
"Yeah?" An eyebrow vaulted.
"Yeah—," Natalia grinned. "You, of all people, know how willful and stubborn I am."
Olivia chuckled. She certainly couldn't argue that point.
"I've never been good at accepting help from anyone." Natalia admitted what Olivia already knew. "Not since I got pregnant with Rafe. I worked, and I paid for what we needed. I never accepted handouts, and I never allowed myself to rely on anyone." She had always believed that struggling to make ends-meet was part of her punishment for having sinned by giving her body to Nicky the way she had. "Until you…" Her tone was soft, as she curled her fingers into the belt loops on Olivia's jeans, tugging her closer. "You changed that for me. You stripped away my stubborn pride, and showed me that letting you take care of me sometimes, doesn't make me weak, it makes us strong."
"Yes, it does." Olivia's tone was soft, supportive, as her fingertips brushed Natalia's cheek with affection. "You and I, we're rock solid, Natalia. I won't let anything tear us apart."
The conviction in Olivia's vow gave Natalia strength. "I know I still fight you sometimes," she granted, thinking of their conversation the previous evening. "But I promise I'll get better at letting go."
"I know you will," Olivia said, confidently. "You already have." Her thoughts were on that conversation as well, and the fact that Natalia had agreed to both the renovations and the new car was quite telling. "You don't have to be strong all the time. You're not alone anymore, Natalia."
"Neither are you," Natalia reminded, pressing her lips to Olivia's. She wrapped her arms around Olivia's neck, as Olivia's hands came instinctively to her waist. "Thank you for this weekend," she whispered. "Everything about it was perfect."
A waggish grin teased at Olivia's lips, as her fingertips caressed the warm skin at Natalia's lower back. "Why, Ms. Rivera, is this your way of telling me you had a lovely time in bed?"
"Oh, yes, Ms. Spencer, I had a very lovely time in bed with you—among other places," Natalia trifled, emphasizing just exactly how lovely it had been. "So lovely, in fact, that I can't wait to repeat it later tonight."
Pulse thrumming in anticipation, Olivia groaned, and pulled Natalia impossibly closer. "Do you have any idea how much you excite me?" Unconsciously, her hands drifted lower, caressing Natalia's ass. It felt like firm, molded perfection against her palms.
Possessively taking Olivia's mouth, Natalia lingered, her fingers threading through silken chestnut, as she traced her tongue over the softness of Olivia's lips, and slipped inside the familiar warmth of her mouth. "You excite me, too, ya know," she murmured into their kiss, as arousal began to spark once again.
Smirking against Natalia's mouth, Olivia said, "I'm well aware."
Natalia met that mischievous gaze, and smiled. "Just so you know, I enjoyed the parts of our weekend where we were clothed, too."
Olivia's mouth tilted into a tender smile. "So did I. I even enjoyed doing the marketing with you today," she commented. "We should do that together more often."
"You mean you enjoyed slipping things into the cart that you're not supposed to have," Natalia playfully accused. "I put them all back while you weren't looking, you know." Ever vigilant, she was always looking out for Olivia's best interests, and that included her health.
"I know—" Olivia's face wore a lopsided grin. "But it was fun trying, just the same."
"You are incorrigible." Natalia exhaled a light laugh, as she tapped Olivia's chest in mock aggravation.
"So you keep telling me."
Natalia tugged on Olivia's belt loops again. Damn, the woman looked sexy in that navy-blue button-down shirt, and faded jeans. "Come on, Slowpoke, we need to finish getting ready."
Smirking, Olivia said, "Hey, you're the one who can't keep her hands to herself."
"I didn't hear you complaining earlier." Natalia smoothed her palms over the crisp cotton of Olivia's shirt front, and then down her sleeves, delighting in the sensation of muscles rippling beneath her touch. Olivia's body was strong in the way of a toned athlete; yielding in the way of a sensuous woman, and she was all Natalia's, every inch of her. Possessively, her palms slid upward along the contours of Olivia's chest, and she wrapped her arms around Olivia's neck again.
"Oh, I'm not complaining, Darling," Olivia noted. "Just observing…"
"Excellent," Natalia declared, pulling Olivia's mouth into a kiss, "because I intend to have my hands all over you again, before I let you sleep tonight," she purred.
"Is that a promise?"
"What do you think?" Slowly, Natalia's hands smoothed down Olivia's chest again as she pulled away, lingering until her touch was merely a whisper of fingertips. And then she was sauntering toward the bathroom in nothing but a matching bra and panty set—crimson in color, and lacy in all the right places. She had bought them just for Olivia, and the sound she heard tumbling from Olivia's lips told her they had produced the desired effect.
Immediately, Olivia felt the heat of desire flood her center. She groaned in response. "It's gonna be a long evening," she muttered, as she turned in search of her boots.
Satisfied, Natalia smirked to herself, as she disappeared into the master bath. Indeed, it is, Ms. Spencer, she thought. But the moment it's over, you're all mine.
Sunday, May 3, 2009… The Farmhouse of Love—6:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time
By six o'clock that evening, the farmhouse had been buzzing with activity. Gregg, the Beacon banquet manager, and two members of the catering staff had appeared at quarter of five, and quickly set to work arranging the buffet on the sideboard in the formal dining room. Pulling several stainless steel covered chafing dishes from storage boxes, they set them up in perfect alignment along the sideboard. The reservoirs were filled with water, and the electric burners were plugged in and turned on to create steam, in preparation for the food pans that would soon be slipped into place.
The double pedestal dining room table, with its flowing elegant lines and carved cabriole legs, had been expanded by way of two leaves, to accommodate twelve and a highchair for dinner. Plush cushioned side chairs with a refined paisley pattern lined the table, and coordinating arm chairs capped the ends. A highchair, brought from the Beacon, was situated near the far corner of the table, on the right-hand side, and a booster seat had been placed two chairs down with the accurate assumption that a parent would sit between.
A stylish burgundy runner lined the center of the table, and thick burgundy placemats, matching cloth napkins, and a stunning centerpiece of candles and fresh flowers that had been hand-crafted to Olivia's specifications that very afternoon, created the foundation for an elegant dinner table.
Crystal wine goblets and water glasses, silver service, and Olivia's finest china, all of which had been pulled from the matching hutch and china cabinet that hugged the far wall opposite the sideboard, were set perfectly at each place setting. Crystal water pitchers were perched on protective pads that matched the burgundy placemats at each end of the table, and matching butter dishes and salt and pepper shakers were placed between the pitchers and the centerpiece. Set to perfection, the table looked elegant in its simplicity—very much the amalgam of Olivia and Natalia.
At ten of six, the stainless steel food pans were produced from the portable catering hot boxes where the prepared food had been stored for transport, and slipped into the waiting chafing dishes. Each of the dishes had been prepared to Olivia's specifications, from some of her favorite recipes. She kept them back for special occasions.
By the time the guests began to arrive, the food was in place, including beverages—an assortment of fine wines, teas, and coffees—and trays of hors d'oeuvres. The candles in the centerpiece had been lit, and the entire dining room had been transformed into a scene straight out of a swank home interior magazine.
Lena, Bianca, and the girls were the first to arrive, as planned. Olivia and Natalia welcomed Emma home with excitement and after a few quick hugs and kisses, the girls carried Alexandria off to play in the family room, Sandy gleefully romping at their heels. Turning to their friends, Olivia made a humorous remark about having to get used to Emma's need for independence while she still wanted to hug and kiss them at all. The remainder of the group made noises of understanding—Natalia from past experience, and Lena and Bianca from their own anticipatory viewpoint. Though they dreaded the thought, they all knew it was a rite of passage, and all of their children would traverse through it eventually.
After hugs and greetings had been shared between the adults, Natalia offered Lena and Bianca a tour of the house, and to show them to their room, in case they wanted to freshen up before dinner. Lawrence, who had picked them up at the airport, busied himself with their luggage, placing it in Olivia's old bedroom upstairs, as instructed, and then swiftly bid them all goodnight.
Eventually, Olivia's bedroom set would be moved to the downstairs guest room, but given that Lena and Bianca's visit had been rather impromptu, they hadn't had time to prepare the room, or arrange for the switch. As a result, they had spent part of the afternoon moving Olivia's clothes and personal belongings into the master suite—a task that absolutely delighted them both, but not surprisingly, also caused a few squabbles—and changing the linens on Olivia's old bed, preparing the upstairs bedroom for their guests.
With Natalia occupied with their guests, Olivia excused herself, and went to check in with Gregg. She was pleased to find everything in order—not that it surprised her. Gregg was meticulous in his work, and demanded the same of the employees under his charge.
The hors d'oeuvre trays were lined with myriad epicurean delights: Deviled eggs, some topped with ham and others with smoked salmon, glazed figs topped with mascarpone and wrapped in prosciutto, roasted peppers stuffed with homemade ricotta, spinach and water chestnut dip, served with assorted crackers, and a variety of canapés, some with meats and cheeses, others with cream cheese and fruits.
Dinner, which would be served buffet style for the sake of simplicity, included carved garlic-herb crusted beef roast with au jus, Chicken Marsala with mushrooms and green onions, herb-roasted potatoes and vegetables, and mixed salad greens, including romaine, baby spinach, arugula, green and red chard, green and red oak lettuce, and lollo rosa, with cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, celery, croutons, and a light sprinkling of fresh cheese. There was also a choice of simple roasted chicken, and homemade macaroni and cheese for the kids, just in case.
The food could not have looked any more delectable, the setting, more refined, and Olivia was beyond pleased with the outcome. Graciously, she thanked Gregg and his two staff members, all of whom had agreed to work overtime on a Sunday as a favor to her, for all of their hard work in planning and preparation for this dinner. She excused herself then, the heels of her designer boots clicking against the hardwood floors as she strode with purpose toward the front door to welcome their newly-arriving guests.
Upon the arrival of their final guests, introductions were made all around, and Ashlee, who had been concerned about being a bit of out of her element—not because she didn't know anyone, but because she was so much younger than everyone else, was pleased to see an unexpected familiar face. Though they weren't close friends, she and Tracy had known one another since grade school. They shared a good many mutual acquaintances, and had graduated together, both from Springfield High and later, Springfield U. Given their connection, casual as it may have been, immediately, they gravitated toward one another, and began to chatter—Ashlee, not surprisingly, chattering more than Tracy. After all, Ashley thought, they hadn't seen one another since the summer after graduation, and there was much catching up to do.
Proudly, Tracy curled her arm around Jen's waist, and introduced her to Ashlee as her fiancée. It felt better than she ever could have imagined, and that made her even more excited to tell other people. Her eyes locked on Jen's, and they shared a brief moment—one that told Tracy that Jen shared in her anticipation.
Though surprised, Ashlee could not have been more excited for her. It wasn't that she hadn't known Tracy was a lesbian, just that she hadn't known she was in a relationship. Tracy had always tended to keep her private life, private. The last Ashlee had heard, through the grapevine, of course, Tracy was being pursued by a fellow classmate, who was quite dogged in her attempts at seduction. Tracy had firmly, but gently rebuffed the young woman, though Ashlee had never known why—until now.
"It's so nice to meet you, Jen." Ashlee tittered, in that way that she always did when she was nervous or excited. Her smile was wobbly, yet warm, as she practically squealed, "And congratulations on your engagement."
"It's a pleasure to meet you as well, Ashlee," Jen said, warmly, as she shook the young Miss Wolfe's hand. She was a curious creature, to be certain, but Jen's words were sincere. "And thank you. We're very excited."
Though Doris was a participant in the conversation with Olivia and Lena several feet away, she watched her daughter intently, as Tracy made the introduction to her lesbian partner. And the sense of relief she felt at Ashlee's easy acceptance was almost overwhelming. Please let her be as accepting of me. It was the one thing Doris wanted more than anything else in the world, and the thing she feared the most was that the end result would turn out to be the exact opposite.
Bright white teeth gleamed as Ashlee smiled, and then a bubbly sigh was released. "That must just be so exciting!" Clapping her hands together, she giggled, "Planning a wedding!" She sighed again, almost swooning. "Have you picked a date yet?" Her eyes widened into huge pools of blue, as she drew in a long, animated breath. Bouncing up and down like an excitable little kid on a Hippity Hop bouncy ball, her hands flapped as she prattled, "Do you need any help? I would love to help! I'm great with wedding and party planning. I planned a whole wedding all by myself back in undergrad. Do you remember that, Tracy?"
Before Tracy could even nod in response, Ashlee was already jabbering on about every last detail of the wedding she had planned as a freshman in college—a wedding for none other than… two dogs. A fluffy little Bichon Frisé named Tippy, and a Pomeranian named Maximus. "Oh, and Tippy had the prettiest little wedding dress with a veil and everything!" she gushed. "And Max—that's what we called Maximus for short—was wearing a little doggie tuxedo. He was just the cutest little thing, with his bow tie and top hat. And we had two different cakes—one for the doggie guests, and one for the people guests! And I booked the most awesome band! Three Dog Night!" She giggled. "Get it?" She giggled again. "I don't think they were the real Three Dog Night. I think they were a cover band." Her face held a slight grimace, but her enthusiasm was undeterred. "But it didn't matter. Everyone had a great time!"
It seemed as though every sentence Ashlee spoke ended in an exclamation, and by the time she finally stopped talking, both Jen and Tracy felt as though they'd been on the Tilt-a-Whirl at some carnival, their heads were spinning so fast. Between the non-stop chattering and the endless tittering, not surprisingly, they hadn't even managed to get a single word in, edgewise. Still, what Ashlee lacked in social graces, she certainly made up for in genuineness and enthusiasm. There wasn't an ounce of pretense in the woman, and Tracy truly did like her. Jen had to admit that she liked her, too.
"And do you know, they're still married today." The expression on Ashlee's face was so serious that it took every ounce of willpower Jen and Tracy possessed not to burst into laughter.
"Wow. You don't say…," Jen finally managed, shaking her head as if in awe.
"That's just… wonderful." Tracy's tone was as even as she could manage, and she nodded her head slowly, in emphasis. She reached out, patting Ashlee's arm. "Well, we'll be getting married out of state, but we'll keep you in mind if we decide to throw a big reception here, okay?"
Ashlee's eyes lit up. "Great!" she exclaimed; her teeth gleaming again, as she smiled.
And then Tracy purposely steered the conversation away from wedding plans, by asking Ashlee what was new in her life. The answer they received was equally as head-spinning, but at least the focus had been shifted. There would be no more talk of dogs in wedding dresses and tuxedos, and at least for the moment, Jen and Tracy could both rest a little easier.
Across the room, Bianca and Natalia were completely oblivious to the other conversations, as they chattered about how cute Emma had been with Jordan and Alexandria all weekend. The girls had followed her around like baby chicks trailing after their Mama. Jordan was absolutely fascinated with Emma—not only could she read, she could ride a bike without training wheels, and throw the Frisbee for Sandy to fetch, and color inside the lines. Major awe-factors to a five year old. And Alexandria simply adored her—a fact that was evidenced by her insistence upon sitting not just next to Emma at all times, but always in her lap.
A few moments later, their chatter was politely interrupted by Gregg, announcing that drinks and hors d'oeuvres were available in the dining room, for anyone who was interested. Dinner would be served at six thirty, sharp, per Olivia's request. It was a school night for Emma, Jacob, and Dylan, and she wanted to be certain their evening wouldn't run too late.
Thanking him, Olivia had gestured to their guests, indicating the path toward the dining room, and Natalia, in that gracious style of hers, led the way.
Sunday, May 3, 2009… The Farmhouse of Love—6:15 p.m. Central Daylight Time
Olivia's body rested against the doorframe at the entrance to the formal dining room, her arms casually crossed as she watched Natalia interacting with their guests. Her partner was a wonderful hostess, seeing to the needs of their guests while maintaining a presence in each of the ongoing conversations, and Olivia could not have felt more blessed.
The room was large enough to allow them to congregate without being cramped, yet small enough to classify it as an intimate gathering. The conversation flowed smoothly, as they indulged in the hors d'oeuvres, along with their chosen libations, and everyone looked as though they were having a delightful time.
But Olivia's focus was solely on Natalia.
The woman was stunningly beautiful, she thought, dressed casually in her favorite pair of jeans and a royal blue over-shirt that complemented her flawless olive complexion. Completely open, it flowed freely along the contours of Natalia's torso, allowing a lovely view of her ample cleavage, as it peeked out from the lacy black camisole she wore beneath. Her thick raven curls were pulled together at the base of her neck, held in place by a simple gold clasp, and her eyes sparkled as she laughed, that dimpled smile lighting up the entire room. The faint ripple of desire that always simmered deep within Olivia's body whenever she looked at, or even thought about Natalia, flickered into a slow burn as she studied her.
Sensing Olivia's intense gaze upon her, Natalia felt a flash of heat rumble through her body. Glancing toward the door, dimples bloomed, and Natalia reached out a hand, beckoning her.
Pushing away from the solid oak door molding, their gaze never faltered, as Olivia sauntered toward Natalia. The air was thick with the electricity that sparked between them simply by being in one another's presence. They both felt the urgent need for contact, and no one in the room was oblivious to that fact.
Lena, Bianca, and Doris all caught the telltale expressions smoldering in their friends' eyes. They had looked and acted like lovers before, but now, it was unmistakable—every look, every touch, every breath, said that they had discovered the ecstasy that exists in the arms of the woman they love, and nothing else would ever compare.
Reaching her, Olivia feathered a kiss across Natalia's cheek, as toned arms encircled Natalia's body from behind. The conversation never waned, as Natalia allowed the weight of her body to fall against Olivia, and several of them shared knowing smiles. They fit so perfectly together; like two halves of the same whole.
Having been greeted by Sandy, Lena and Bianca's very inquisitive cocker spaniel, who had escaped the family room moments earlier, and gone in search of the source of whatever smelled so good, Jen was regaling the group with the story of how they had come to be pet owners just one day prior. As she laughed about how Tracy managed to convince her, she gestured with her left hand, and the sparkle of diamonds caught in the light of the vintage chandelier that hung above the dining room table.
"Whoa, whoa, wait a minute…" Natalia held her hands up, halting the conversation. She smiled, as she reached for Jen's hand. "This is new," she intoned curiously. She studied the ring with genuine interest. "It's absolutely stunning, Jen."
A chorus of female voices made noises of enthusiastic agreement, and Jen blushed in response. "Thank you all so much," she said, bashfully. "We got engaged yesterday morning."
"We sure did!" Tracy interjected with excitement. Proudly, she flashed her own ring, receiving a chorus of equally enthusiastic compliments in return. "We were gonna tell you tonight," she said to Olivia and Natalia.
"Wow, seems it was quite an eventful day," Ashlee said, warmly. "A new puppy and an engagement." Her smile was genuine, those blue eyes so much like her mother's twinkling brightly, as she pretended this was fresh news to her.
"An eventful day, indeed," Olivia declared. "Congratulations," she said with a smile, as she lifted her glass to them. Glasses lifted all around, as another chorus of voices reinforced the sentiment.
"Thank you," Jen and Tracy said in unison, as Tracy wrapped her arms around her fiancée from the side. Their eyes were filled with excitement and anticipation, as they smiled at one another.
"It's been an eventful week." Jen stressed the elongated course of eventfulness, with just the slightest hint of heartache and unrest. Anyone who didn't know about the battle they were facing wouldn't have picked up on it. But Olivia and Natalia knew, and the pain wasn't lost on them.
Reaching out, Natalia gently squeezed Jen's arm in a gesture of silent comfort.
Jen smiled at her in response. "Thank you both again for all your support," she said, glancing from Natalia to Olivia. "And thank you for contacting Grayson McAlister for us. I can't tell you how much I appreciate that. I've heard he's one of the best."
At the mention of the esteemed attorney's name, Doris's ears perked up. She moved closer. "Grayson McAlister?" Her tone lifted in question.
Jen nodded. "Yes, Mayor Wolfe," she said, respectfully.
"It's Doris," the Mayor said, warmly. Already, she felt so at home in the company of these women, and she wanted as little pretense between them as possible. Perhaps someday, she would even be able to tell them she was one of them—after she finally summoned the courage to tell Ashlee, of course.
Smiling, Jen said, "Yes, Ma'am." Her tone held a touch of humor. "I mean, Doris."
Doris's lips quirked into a grin, and she chuckled shortly. And then her expression turned serious. "What's going on that you need an attorney of McAlister's caliber?" Knowing him to be an esteemed family law attorney, she sounded genuinely concerned.
"My former father-in-law is suing for custody of our boys," Jen answered. "He thinks I'm an unfit parent because I'm in a lesbian relationship."
Ashlee looked positively aghast. "That's absolutely ridiculous!" she exclaimed. "Tracy is a good person, and loving her doesn't make you an unfit parent. It makes you a good one, because you chose your partner wisely. Your little boys are so lucky to have two great moms, and whoever this man is, he's an idiot." It was the most sensible thing she had said all evening, and both Jen and Tracy were pleasantly taken aback.
"Thank you, Ashlee," Jen said, sincerely. "We really appreciate your support."
"You're welcome," Ashlee said, proudly, as Doris looked at her daughter admiringly.
The expression on Olivia's face spoke volumes, as she looked at the Mayor. She'll be just fine with you. Just tell her the truth.
Ashlee looked toward Olivia and Natalia then. "I told Rafe the same thing." The resolute nature of her voice pulled Olivia's attention away from Doris. "He and Emma are really lucky to have two Moms who love them. Any kid would be. He's being selfish and dumb, and I told him so." Her statement was punctuated with the firm nod of her head.
Natalia reached out, patting Ashlee's arm. "Thank you, Ashlee. It means a lot to us that you're trying to help Rafe see the light."
"Daisy is trying, too," Ashlee quickly recognized. "He's just not ready to listen, I guess," she sighed, disappointedly.
While Ashlee was busy conversing with Natalia, Doris turned her attention toward Jen and Tracy. "Who is your former father-in-law?" she asked of Jen. The question was borne of both curiosity and a desire to assist if at all possible. "If you don't mind my asking." The thought of anyone trying to take a child away from a parent angered Doris, but that sort of action against a gay or lesbian parent infuriated her. She wouldn't stand for it—not if she could help. Quite a turnaround, she had to admit, from a few months prior, when she had practically outed Olivia and Natalia in a televised press conference. She still felt ashamed for having done that to them, and had vowed to do anything in her power to make it up to them.
"Preston Morgan," Jen answered flatly.
Doris's eyes turned to sharp, dark slits as her brow furrowed, her mouth tight. "That arrogant, self-righteous son-of-a-bitch!"
"I see you've made his acquaintance," Tracy said, her tone dry with sarcasm. She rarely spoke ill of the man—it simply wasn't her place—but his recent actions had decimated any regard she had ever held for him as Jake's father, or as the grandfather of her sons.
Olivia willfully stifled a laugh. Natalia grimaced.
"That bastard is one of my ex-husband's old cronies," Doris informed, speaking of her disaster of a marriage to Alan Spaulding. "I'm sure Alan is in on this up to his eyeballs." She glanced at Olivia and Natalia. "Prepare yourselves," she warned, "just in case."
"Duly noted," Olivia nodded in appreciation. She knew Doris had an inside track on Alan and his malicious machinations.
The expression on Jen's face turned from interest to concern at the mention of Alan's name, and she began mentally reconnecting dots that for some reason had escaped her memory until that moment.
Her attention back on Jen and Tracy, Doris pressed further. "Which family court Judge has your case? Do you know?"
"I'm not certain," Jen answered. "I'd have to check the documents. Why?"
"We have two Judges in the Family Division," Doris answered. "One of them is unsuitable, in my opinion, to hear your case and rule without bias." She knew the man to be staunchly conservative and blatantly homophobic, and thus, a danger to the rights of any gay or lesbian parent in terms of their custody arrangements. Pulling her cell from the pocket of her perfectly pressed black dress slacks, she asked Jen for her number.
Jen provided it without question, and Doris's fingers feverishly pressed the numbers in. "I'm sending you the number to my private fax line." She pressed the button to transmit the information. "Send me a copy of your court documents so I can look them over, and then call my office in the morning, okay?"
Jen nodded, enthusiastically. "Absolutely. First thing."
"I may have to call in a few favors," Doris said, her tone resolute, her gaze unwavering, "but I'll make sure you start on a level playing field."
Breathing a deep sigh of relief, Jen said, "Thank you, Doris." Her voice was brimming with gratitude. Nothing had even happened officially, and already she felt a weight being lifted from her chest. She smiled at Tracy, who squeezed her tightly.
Extending her hand to shake the Mayor's, Tracy echoed her fiancée. "Thank you so much, Doris. You can't know what it means to us to have you, and Olivia and Natalia in our corner." She stole a glance toward their bosses turned friends, as well.
With her left hand, Doris raised her wine glass. "I have to keep my constituents happy, don't I?"
Olivia groaned at the platitude. She knew it was far more than that, and it pained her to see Doris minimize her willingness to help. But she knew the Mayor needed to keep some modicum of pretense—at least for the time being. "Geez, Doris, you're such an old softy," she said, sarcastically. Banter was an easy path to avoidance, and Olivia was more than willing to help.
"Hey, who are you calling 'old'?" Doris griped. "You're not exactly a spring chicken, yourself."
Smirking, Olivia countered, "Perhaps not, but last time I checked, I was still younger than you."
"Is that some kind of new math?" Doris razzed, causing a room full of women to corporately stifle a laugh.
"No—," Olivia said, indignantly. "What year were you born, anyway?"
Lifting her chin, Doris said, airily, "A lady never reveals her age."
Olivia laughed shortly. "Since when are you a lady?" Her tone was dry with humor, and Doris took the comment for the playful repartee that it was.
"Olivia!" Lightly, Natalia swatted her partner's arm, and they all had a nice chuckle at the banter between the hotelier and the Mayor.
Amused by this lighter, more amiable side of her mother, Ashlee smiled at Doris, and gave her an affectionate squeeze.
Surprised, Doris met her daughter's gaze. "What was that for?" she asked, warmly.
"It's just nice watching you with friends," Ashlee said, nonchalantly, as the conversation carried on around them. She had never seen her mother looking so relaxed, but she knew that saying too much would likely send her back into that protective shell she always seemed to hide in when she wasn't being a domineering control freak.
As Doris and Ashlee shared a mother-daughter moment, Lena approached Jen. "Your former father-in-law is Preston Morgan?" she asked, inquisitively. "As in Morgan Financial?"
"Sadly, yes," Jen frowned, uncharacteristically.
Glancing toward Olivia, their gazes locked. "Have you seen—"
"Yup—," Olivia answered the question before it was even asked. The recent downturn in the stock markets, coupled with its CEO's insatiable lust for money, had placed Morgan Financial in a serious predicament. Arrogantly, they had leveraged beyond their means, and were they now struggling to keep afloat in a market that was quickly capsizing. Clients were pulling their portfolios in droves, further weakening an already unstable corporate structure, and stockholders were growing more restless by the day—as evidenced by the recent sharp decline in the value of their shares on the open market. Olivia had actually been watching the situation quite closely. A slow grin trickled across her face. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
Lena's grin was twice as devilish. "You bet I am."
"What?" Jen's eyes bounced back and forth between the two women. It was clear from their exchange that they had something up their sleeves, and their expressions told her that whatever the plan was, it was beyond dastardly.
Olivia cast her attention toward Jen. "How would you feel if Preston were to suddenly find himself… financially impaired?" Limited access to cash would mean he would be less likely to continue a custody battle—she knew his type, he would focus any ready resources on saving his own hide. The issue of the custody battle would be placed on the back burner, thus buying them some time. "I'll get Grayson to stall the case while Doris works on stacking the deck in your favor in the courts…"
"…and in the interim, Olivia and I can put Preston in a position where he can't afford to wage an ongoing court battle," Lena interjected, laying out the bare bones of the plan that had been formulated within a single shared glance. It was what she and Olivia had done best in their heyday, and her eyes flashed with excitement—they could have such fun wreaking havoc in that bastard's company.
Bianca said nothing, but she certainly recognized that expression in Lena's eyes. Preston Morgan, whoever he was, was in for a world of hurt, financially speaking.
Silently, Doris contemplated, her blue eyes flickering with vehement interest. Olivia Spencer and this friend of hers were certainly a force, and whatever it was they had planned, she wanted in. She hated Preston Morgan with a passion, and it would be her extreme pleasure to take part in his ultimate demise.
As for Ashlee, she looked a bit dazed and confused, but her smile never waned. She simply enjoyed being a part of the conversation—even if she was a silent participant.
The idea sounded intriguing to Jen. She didn't like to fight dirty, but aside from Tracy, her sons were her world, and the thought of losing them… She just couldn't go there. Still, she had one reservation. "What about Jake's mother?" she asked, concerned. Her former mother-in-law was the one reason she had allowed Preston Morgan any contact with her sons whatsoever. They had never been close—Jacqueline Morgan had always maintained a deliberate distance—but Jen genuinely liked the woman. There was something in those dark eyes, so filled with pain, which told Jen there was a warm, loving woman behind the distant facade, and she didn't want to see her suffer any more than she already had when she lost her only child. As she thought about the woman, Jen was aware of Tracy's hand supportively pressing against her lower back. That simple touch made all the difference in the world.
"We won't bankrupt him," Olivia said, carefully. The expression on Natalia's face hadn't been lost on her. She knew her partner was listening intently to every word, and wouldn't tolerate any nonsense. "We'll just impair him to the point where he won't have any excess to play this, or any other game."
Blonde eyebrows rose as Jen contemplated the situation. She certainly wasn't in the same league with Olivia Spencer and Lena Kundera, but she knew enough about business and finance to wage a decent guess as to their plan of attack. "Without compromising your position, might it… be time to diversify?"
The message was received. Jen needed to know whether or not she should move her personal investments—the money from Jake's life insurance and the law suit over his death had been placed in a trust for the boys, and invested through Preston's company. But she couldn't ask about the monetary impact of their plan on her investments directly without exposing herself and them to potential accusations of insider trading. Olivia smiled, impressed with her employee's business prowess.
"No clients will be compromised," Lena vowed. "We'll only target him. You have my word." They could squeeze him out, and then fortify the company with their own financial backing while they worked to rectify the damage he had done. It would take some outside investors to pull off the initial buyout, but Lena was certain they could salvage the company, and turn a profit in the process.
Satisfied with the response, Jen nodded her approval.
"That being said," Olivia interjected, "If variety is the spice of life, then diversity is the root from which it grows."
"Meaning?" Jen asked inquisitively.
"Regardless of any plans we may set in action, given the current state of the market, it might prove beneficial to explore… other opportunities," Olivia answered. She cast a glance toward Bianca, who quickly picked up the cue.
"Perhaps, I should introduce you to my financial planner." Bianca smiled, indicating Lena.
"I've been trying to get her to take over my portfolio for several years," Olivia divulged. Lena had refused on ethical grounds—she didn't want to mix business with friendship. But that argument seemed rather devoid of merit, given their recent agreement to form BGRC. Olivia had every intention of changing Lena's mind, as she formulated her plans for taking care of Natalia and their children moving forward.
Lena was shaking her head. "This isn't about drumming up new business for Montgomery-Kundera Investments," she insisted. Her gaze fell to Jen and Tracy, holding steady. "It's about protecting family."
Everyone in the room, including Ashlee, understood the underlying connotation within the word "family." Much to her surprise, though, Ashlee found herself watching as her mother raised a glass, saying, "To family…" Suddenly, she began to see her mother in a new, very interesting light.
"To family—," a chorus of female voices saluted. Smiling, they clinked their respective glasses together, all eight of them. Alliances—both spoken and unspoken—had been formed in a matter of mere moments. And though oft regarded by the outside world as the root of all divisiveness in terms of both friendship and business, these alliances would prove to be the very antithesis of the same. They would, in fact, endure for a lifetime, protecting each member of their chosen family, in turn.
To family…
TBC in Chapter 12.3…