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 Rivera, Doris and Ashlee Wolfe, Phillip and Alan Spaulding, Frank Cooper, Gregg the Beacon banquet manager, and Jane the nanny are owned by CBS/TeleNext and Proctor & Gamble. The characters of Lena Kundera, Bianca Montgomery, A.J. Chandler, and Michael Cambias 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 again to my pal, MoniRod for the edit. You totally Rock, Woman! I appreciate you, and I owe you—BIG TIME! And thank you to all who continue to read, and to those who comment. I appreciate each and every one of you. I'll be back in a bit to answer your feedback personally, but I wanted to get this update out tonight. Hope you all enjoy!
Finally, thank you to all of you who have continued to pray for my family. Grief can be a difficult journey, but we're taking it day by day, and believing that God will bring healing to our hearts. While God's concept of a "night" is often a different time-table than our own, we truly believe that sorrow lasts for a night, but joy comes in the morning...
Rating: Chapter 12 is rated NC-17 overall, though most 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 12.3 – Old Friends, New Ventures, and Unexpected Alliances:
Sunday, May 3, 2009… The Farmhouse of Love—6:15 p.m. Central Daylight Time
In the family room across the hall, Emma cradled Lexie in her lap, while she and Jordan listened intently to Jacob and Dylan extolling the wonders of being first-time puppy owners. They were so excited they could barely stand themselves, and they kept tripping over one another's words, as each finished the other's thoughts.
Jen and Tracy had picked the boys up for Church that morning, and stopped for lunch at one of their favorite eateries afterward—a common occurrence for a Sunday afternoon. Then, on their way home from lunch, they had told them there was a surprise awaiting them at their house.
The boys had been giddy with excitement, spending the remainder of the car ride taking guesses as to what their surprise might be. But every guess had paled in comparison to reality. They had been absolutely ecstatic upon seeing the cute little white furball, with the solid black tail. They were on their knees, reveling in her playfulness the moment they set eyes on her.
"Is it a boy or a girl?" Jacob was quick to inquire. It seemed to be of the utmost importance.
"She's a girl," Tracy answered.
"Now we're even," Dylan noted, "Three boys and three girls."
"Yup—," Jacob nodded, without disdain. That must have been the desired response. "She looks like a little Mozart," he noted excitedly. Even full grown, the puppy would never match the physical stature of their cat.
"Yeah, she does!" Dylan agreed.
"That's why we picked her," Tracy reported. Jen smiled at having been given credit in the selection process, knowing Tracy would never divulge her misgivings.
"What's her name?" Jacob asked, curiously.
Jen grinned at their unbridled excitement. The puppy had been bombarded with no less than four little hands from the moment they set eyes on her, and the little furball was soaking up every moment of it. Crouching down, Jen added her own hand to the mix. "We thought you guys could name her together."
Tracy stifled a chuckle, as she watched Jen joyfully interacting with the puppy she'd sworn she didn't want. How hard could it be to convince you to have a baby? In her estimation, the puppy had put her ten steps closer to her ultimate goal. That thought garnered a smile.
"Cool!" Dylan exclaimed. "Can we take her in our room?"
"First, I think she needs to go outside." Tracy redirected their boys with measured ease. Pulling the leash from the plastic hook she had installed on the wall the evening prior, she stooped down, latching it onto the puppy's collar. "Come with me. I'll show you where we need to walk her, and how to clean up after her. And while we're out there, we'll go over the rules, and talk about how to take care of her, okay?" Having grown up sharing the responsibility of dogs with her siblings, she was well-versed in caring for their needs.
Receiving two very enthusiastic nods, they stepped out into the garage, both boys vying to be the first to hold the puppy's leash. Jen had simply smiled and shook her head, as she rose from her crouched position. Tracy had incredible patience, and though Jen had no illusions of a perfect transition into pet ownership, she knew when all was said and done, both boys would learn responsibility, the puppy would learn what was appropriate and not appropriate to chew—and eventually, she could buy new shoes.
"Puppies are the coolest," Jordan excitedly declared, as she corralled Sandy to keep her from further exploration. A repeat excursion into the dining room might get her banished to her crate, and Jordan hated seeing her stuck in there. "I got my Sandy before I was even borned." She hugged the sandy-haired cocker spaniel fiercely, receiving a face-full of puppy kisses in response. Giggling, she rolled Sandy over, playfully wrestling with her.
"There's no such word as 'borned'," Jacob informed with a weary sigh. Even at nine years old he had little tolerance for syntactic error.
"So—" Peering up at him, Jordan stuck out her tongue.
Emma giggled.
"Jordan Kaitlynn!" Bianca scolded, as she entered the family room to retrieve the children for dinner.
Immediately, Jordan sat at attention, those dark eyes wide with trepidation. Her mommy rarely scolded her, so she knew she was in trouble.
Planting her hands firmly on her hips, Bianca's expression was stern as she regarded her eldest daughter. "Since when do we stick our tongue out at people?"
Jordan looked appropriately remorseful. "Sorry, Mommy," she apologized.
Reaching for Alexandria, Bianca lifted the toddler into her arms. Lexie screeched and kicked her chubby little legs in protest. She didn't want to be taken from Emma. Ignoring the child's tantrum, Bianca stooped down next to Jordan. "I think you owe Jacob the apology, Sweetie," she gently corrected. "Tell him you're sorry, please, and don't do that again, okay?"
Nodding, Jordan easily agreed. "I'm sorry, Jacob," she said with sweet sincerity. "That was mean, and I won't do it again."
"It's okay," Jacob said, passively. "My little brother does that sometimes too."
"I do not!" Dylan protested, and a squabble between the two boys threatened.
"Well, why don't we just all agree that we won't do that when we're together, okay?" Bianca intervened, diplomatically.
Four heads nodded in agreement, and Bianca smiled triumphantly. "Okay then, good." She sounded satisfied. "Now let's all get washed up for dinner, okay? Emma, your Mom said I should send you and the boys into the kitchen to wash up, since you're tall enough to reach the sink."
"Okay, Auntie B," Emma chirped. Scrambling to her feet, she directed Jacob and Dylan back toward the kitchen. A cacophonous rumble ensued, as three pairs of sneaker-clad feet echoed down the hallway.
Satisfied, Bianca reached for Jordan's hand. "Come on, Sweetie," she said, "we can use the sink in the bathroom down the hall."
"Okay, Mommy," Jordan said, sweetly, all thoughts of the recent reprimand banished from her memory, as she willingly accepted Bianca's hand. "Are we gonna play with those boys a lot this week?" she asked, peering up at her mother, as they walked in the opposite direction down the hall.
"Maybe," Bianca answered noncommittally. She flipped on the bathroom light, ushering the child inside. "Why?"
"They're okay," Jordan said, grudgingly, "but they're not as cool as A.J. And 'sides, I like playing with Emma all alone, better."
Bianca smiled at her daughter's awkward syntax as she deposited Alexandria on the floor, directing her to stay still. Mulishly, the toddler grunted, and threw herself down on the ground.
Shaking her head, Bianca turned the faucet on. If that was the worst thing Lexie did all evening, they were golden. "Well, you can play with her all alone when we get home at night," she soothed Jordan, adjusting the water temperature. "How's that?"
"Okay," Jordan answered, pacified. "Mommy?"
"Yeah, Honey," Bianca sounded amused, as she helped Jordan wash her hands.
"Emma said there's a pool her mommy's hotel," Jordan noted. "Can we swim in it?"
"Yes, we can swim in the pool," Bianca answered patiently. "Mama will be busy with Auntie O this week, so you and I can take Lexie, okay?"
"Okay." Jordan's eyes brightened with excitement. "Can Emma come too?"
Bianca grinned at Jordan's attachment to Emma. "Yes, Emma can swim with us after school."
"Yay!" Jordan jumped up and down, curls bouncing, water flinging from her hands.
Shaking her head, Bianca handed her daughter a towel. There was a brief pause, as Jordan focused on drying her hands, and then she set the towel aside. "Mommy?"
"Yes?" Bianca couldn't hold back the chuckle, as she worked at washing Alexandria's hands. The child wriggled and squirmed, but Bianca handled her with practiced ease.
"I love you," Jordan said, sweetly, as she flung her arms around Bianca's waist.
Bianca's eyes prickled with tears, and she held Alexandria steadily on her knee with one hand, while hugging Jordan close with the other. "I love you, too, my precious girl," she whispered against that mop of raven curls. The conversation with Jen and Tracy had brought back so many memories of a dark, ominous male figure attempting to steal her child from her. Lena had protected both her and Jordan from the malevolent clutches of Michael Cambias, much as she was certain her wife would help protect Jen and Tracy's sons from Preston Morgan. Still, at times such as this, when the memories were brought so close to the surface, the fear still ran cold in her blood, and she felt the need to clutch this child ever closer. "I love you more than you could possibly know."
She closed her eyes then, and simply held her daughters close, silently treasuring them until the rumble of little feet told her that Emma and the boys had made their way back from the kitchen, and dinner would soon be served. She released Jordan then, sending her toward the dining room, and once she dried Alexandria's hands, and cleaned up the mess from the water, she collected herself and made her way back to the dinner party.
Sunday, May 3, 2009… The Farmhouse of Love—7:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time
By seven o'clock, dinner was well underway, and the conversation had turned to Olivia's plans to open a home for unwed teenaged mothers in Chicago. Proudly, Natalia had been the one to introduce the topic, and Olivia had balked at the outpouring of recognition she received from around the table.
Fondly, Doris teased her about how Natalia had turned her into some sort of a bleeding-heart philanthropist, and if she wasn't careful, people would start taking advantage.
Olivia simply laughed her off. "Not a chance, Madam Mayor," she declared. "So don't go thinking you can get one over on me now. I haven't lost my edge." She pointed an accusatory finger. "And don't you go spreading rumors, either."
Doris grinned. "Would I do a thing like that?" Her feigned innocence was laughable.
"Yes—," a chorus of knowing voices declared.
Having remained silent, Lena and Bianca looked amused, while Doris appeared to be suitably chagrinned. And then they were all laughing, as Ashlee looked upon her mother with a sense of curiosity. It was so unlike the woman to be so at ease.
Completely oblivious to the situation, Emma, Jordan, and Dylan kept shoveling their mouths full of marinated chicken, and homemade macaroni and cheese. Though Jacob ate at a slower pace, there had been unanimous echoes of approval upon hearing that mac and cheese was one of the choices for dinner, and Olivia received kudos all around for including it on the menu.
As she watched Emma and Jordan gobble up their dinner, Olivia joked about Lena and Bianca starving the poor girls all weekend. Her tone serious, Emma quickly assured her that wasn't the case—Aunt Lena and Auntie B had taken very good care of her, she solemnly assured. She couldn't let them think otherwise, or her plans for summer camp at Katama Farm could be in jeopardy, as would her return trip to see Jordan. And that just couldn't happen. They had big plans.
Chuckling, Olivia assured Emma that she was only teasing, and that she knew Emma's aunties had taken excellent care of her. Affectionately, she brushed back errant strands of soft chestnut that had escaped Emma's purple and white hairband. "I would never leave you with anyone who wouldn't take good care of you, Jellybean."
"Is that why you won't let Daddy see me?" Emma asked, sadly. Her incidental run-in with Phillip, while out with Jane a few weeks prior, had fueled her increasingly urgent need to see her father—and she simply didn't understand why she wasn't allowed. "You think he won't take good care of me?"
The question caught Olivia completely off guard. She hadn't expected Emma to put such abstract concepts together to draw a succinct conclusion. But Emma was a smart child. Sometimes too smart for her own good, and in retrospect, Olivia probably should have anticipated it. It broke her heart to hear Emma sounding so sad, but Phillip had left her no choice. He was dangerous. He had proven that, in spades, and she would never let anyone harm her daughter. "It's not that I think he won't, Em. I don't think he's well enough to be responsible for you just yet," she soothed.
"Is he gonna die?" Emma sounded worried.
"No… no, Honey," Natalia interjected from the seat next to Emma's. Tenderly, she touched her daughter's cheek. "Remember, your daddy isn't sick in his body, he's…"
"He's sick in the head," Olivia mumbled.
Peering over Emma's head, Natalia fixed Olivia with a glare, and suddenly Olivia found her roast beef quite intriguing. "We're just worried that he still might not be able to tell right from wrong, and he might make a choice that could hurt you."
"You mean like Grandpa Alan does sometimes, because he doesn't know right from wrong?" Emma compared.
"Kinda, yeah," Natalia answered. Clearly, the child understood more than they realized.
"Except Grandpa Alan isn't sick, he's just a jack…"
"Olivia!" Natalia snapped, jolting Olivia's attention toward her. And then Natalia glanced around the table, and quickly apologized for her outburst.
Silenced yet again, Olivia went back to her dinner.
Lena and Doris couldn't help but grin at the obvious influence Natalia held over the formidable Olivia Spencer. The hotelier had certainly met her match.
Natalia effectively distracted Emma by changing seats with her, allowing her to sit next to Jordan. Instantly, both girls were beaming. The subject of Phillip had been forgotten as quickly as it had arisen, and macaroni and cheese never looked better.
Quietly, Olivia thanked Natalia for stepping in, and apologized to her privately. And then she apologized to everyone else. She hadn't meant to be an ass—the subject of Phillip just seemed to get to her in a way nothing else ever did.
Murmurs of absolution came from around the table, and once the commotion died down, the conversation returned to Olivia's new venture. She outlined her plans, and spent some time discussing fundraising opportunities. She had invested the capital up front, and now she was seeking ideas for how to fund the project moving forward.
During their time on the Vineyard, Bianca had offered quite a bit of sound advice regarding the setup and operation of a non-profit organization, as the words "non-profit" tended to incite mass hysteria within her good business sensibilities. Bianca had laughed, and relayed some of the conversation she had had with Lena when deciding to open Haven of Hope—not surprisingly, Lena had expressed similar disdain for the idea of "non-profit," but eventually Bianca had won her over.
Excited about the project and what it could mean to so many young women, Ashlee graciously offered to help with fundraising. It was something she was good at—getting rich people to part with their money—and she couldn't think of a more worthy cause to devote her time and energy to. Olivia briefly wondered if the donations Ashlee garnered were a form of self-preservation on the part of the benefactors—an attempt to stop her endless chatter. The thought made her smile—chatterbox that she was, Ashlee Wolfe was a delightful young woman.
Jen and Tracy felt the same way about the project, and eagerly threw their support behind it, offering to volunteer in any capacity Olivia might require. Surprisingly, even Doris jumped in, offering to move mountains of bureaucratic red tape if need be—noting that it seemed like a good move, politically.
Olivia knew it was more than a political move on the Mayor's part, but she allowed Doris the guise of aloofness. She knew the Mayor had her reasons, as did the woman behind the office.
Turning her attention back to her guests, gratefully, Olivia accepted all of their offers; forming yet another strong alliance amongst them. And Bianca shored up the alliance with a promise of ongoing guidance, as they got the fundraising portion of the project under way. Olivia could not have been more pleased.
Concerned, Lena would later, in private, ask whether or not Olivia might be stretching herself too thin, with their impending merger and concurrent plans for expanding BGRC properties, their plan to place Preston Morgan in a financial chokehold, a new relationship, and a new baby, atop her normal responsibilities. While acknowledging Lena's concern, Olivia would offer reassurances that she had never been in better health, and that she was looking very forward to everything she had in the works—especially building a family with Natalia. That would be all the reassurance Lena would need to move forward with all of their plans, with extreme relish.
Sunday, May 3, 2009… The Farmhouse of Love—7:45 p.m. Central Daylight Time
Pushing back from the table after enjoying a mouthwatering dessert of strawberry crepes topped with a sprinkle a confectioner's sugar, a dollop of fresh whipped cream, and a drizzle of the world's finest chocolate, Doris declared the entire meal "positively delectable." Her declaration was accompanied by enthusiastic nods and noises of agreement from around the table, as she regarded Olivia with serious intent. "Where on earth did you find fresh strawberries this time of year?"
A sly grin trickled across full lips. "I have my sources," Olivia said, enigmatically.
Gregg, who had made himself all but invisible, yet readily available should any of the hotelier's guests require assistance, smirked at the response. His catering staff had quietly begun packing away leftovers, and disassembling the chafing dishes once dessert was served, leaving him to attend to the needs of guests. He knew exactly who the hotelier's connections were, and would never tell a soul. Just like he would never tell where she got those fabulous shoes.
"Ah, the consummate tease," Doris accused drolly. "Never gets old, does it, playing with my affections?"
Olivia laughed at the hidden insinuation. "You make it far too easy for me, Madam Mayor."
Rotating her gaze around the table, Doris caught the eye of every adult—Emma, Jordan, and Dylan had finished eating in record time, and ran off to play, while Jacob stayed behind, fiddling with his plate, as the adults lingered over dinner, dessert, and conversation. "See what I have to deal with out of her?" she said, pitifully.
Chuckling, Lena raised her tea glass. "The price of friendship with Olivia Spencer," she said, humorously. Next to her, Alexandria busily made a mess, smashing up croutons on her high chair tray, and mushing them into her macaroni and cheese with her hands. Bianca had already confiscated her sippy cup, when the child attempted to add milk to the mess. They hadn't dared give her dessert.
"Hear, hear!" Doris toasted. Her blue eyes gleamed with mischief as her wine glass clinked against Lena's glass of iced tea.
"I suppose the two of you think you're funny," Olivia said, dryly.
"I think we're rather hilarious," Doris quipped.
"Don't try to moonlight as a stand-up comic." The smirk on Olivia's lips was priceless.
Reaching over, Natalia gently patted Olivia's hand. "That goes double for you, Honey."
Olivia looked sufficiently offended, and everyone else shared a laugh.
"Speaking of moonlighting," Olivia said to Jen, "I heard you did a fantastic job handling things in my absence. Thank you."
"It was my pleasure," Jen said, sincerely. "And thank you for the acknowledgment."
"Thank Doris," Olivia said, tilting her head toward the Mayor. "She was very impressed with the way you managed her guests on Monday. And you sold them on the Beacon, as well. They'll be calling to negotiate long-term rates this week." She paused for a breath. "I may have you handle that, if you don't mind. Natalia and I will be in meetings with Lena and our team of attorneys most of the week."
"I'd be happy to take care of that," Jen quickly agreed. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, Olivia. It means a lot."
"It's well deserved," Olivia acknowledged. Relaxing, she leaned back in her chair, and crossed her legs, right over left. "As is an acknowledgment to Gregg, and his staff for pulling this fabulous dinner together for us this evening. Thank you," she said, directing her appreciative comments toward her banquet manager.
Natalia watched Olivia's interactions with Jen and Gregg with great pleasure—it delighted her to see such personal growth in her partner; much, she thought, the way Olivia had delighted in watching her grow when she took the job as executive assistant. She loved the way they complemented one another, each encouraging the other to step outside her comfort zone and reach toward her full potential. It was good, this connection they shared. Beyond good, in fact. It was life-altering, in all the best possible ways, and Natalia wouldn't have changed a moment of it for anything in the world.
There was an echo of appreciation from around the table, and Gregg beamed, dancing like a little Chihuahua. He was so excited he had to resist the urge to ask Lena where she found her shoes.
Tamping down his exhilaration, especially over the shoes, he took a deep breath, cleared his throat, and stood with his head held high. "You're most welcome, Ms. Spencer," he replied with a sense of pride in his tone. "We were happy to serve you all. And might I add," he said, almost clandestinely, "you and Ms. Rivera have a lovely home." If you discount that hideous green paint. What on earth were they thinking! It never hurt to compliment the bosses, he reasoned; especially when they invited you into their home—even if it was only to serve them dinner.
"Thank you, Gregg," Olivia and Natalia said, in unison. Olivia sounded a bit more amused than Natalia, but they were both very pleased to accept the compliment.
He nodded politely. "Will there be anything else, Ms. Spencer?" he asked as a courtesy. "We can brew some fresh coffee or tea if you'd like."
Olivia smiled graciously. "No, that will be all, Gregg. Thank you," she said, kindly. "You may clear away the remainder of the provisions. And if you would, please set the hors d'oeuvre trays on the kitchen counter along with the drinks, in case anyone would like a little something later in the evening. We'll be moving out to the living room in a few minutes. I'll take care of anything else we need."
"As you wish," Gregg replied with a courteous nod. And with that, he turned on the heel of his perfectly polished wingtips, and moved toward the kitchen to direct his catering staff in the final clean up.
Natalia arched an eyebrow at Olivia's final statement, and Olivia reached over, gently squeezing her hand. "You're still on vacation until we get to the Beacon in the morning."
Quirking a grin, Natalia asked, "Does that mean we're having cold cereal for breakfast?"
Managing to look sufficiently offended, Olivia answered, "Not at all," she said, casually. "It means Lena is on breakfast duty."
"How did I get in the middle of this?" Lena laughed.
"Right place, right time, I guess," Olivia shrugged.
"How fortunate for me," Lena said, dryly, and everyone enjoyed a good laugh.
Sunday, May 3, 2009… The Farmhouse of Love—8:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time
At Olivia's invitation, the group adjourned to the living room a few minutes later. They settled in with their chosen libations—cups of coffee, or glasses of wine or tea—without a single beat being missed in conversation as they made the transition.
There was talk of business and politics, and much about how the two always seemed to end up in bed together, for lack of a better phrase. And the more they all shared their ideas, the more Olivia found her stance challenged, especially given her new, unexpected identity—a woman in a lesbian relationship. She and Lena both commented about how difficult it was to set aside long-held business principles about profitability when the political means by which those profits were garnered left them in direct opposition with those same policymakers in terms of the equality of their relationships and their rights as women. It was a tangled labyrinth of conflicting ideals, to be certain, and not one that lent itself to uncomplicated reconciliation.
"It's been a real eye-opening experience for me," Olivia admitted, as she savored the aroma of the Beacon's special brew. She and Lena had talked extensively about such issues since the decision was made to merge their corporations into BGRC, and Lena had given her much to consider. "I never stopped to consider what it was like to not have the right to marry the person I love. Or how the absence of that right could affect people in terms of tax benefits, retirement and Social Security benefits, health insurance…"
"Medical decision making for your partner, or for the children in the family," Jen added, knowingly.
"Or even the right to see them or get information when they're hospitalized," Tracy noted from experience.
"We had to draw up medical power-of-attorney documents to ensure Tracy's rights regarding both me and the boys," Jen explained. "And since then, we've decided to take things a step further, and Tracy is going to legally adopt the boys once we're married, just to ensure there's never a question as to her place in their lives." Tracy's role in their lives aside, though Jen still loved her own parents, at this point in her life, she didn't see them as being any better fit than Preston Morgan, to raise their boys, should something happen to her.
"That's wonderful!" Ashlee exclaimed. Her sentiments were echoed around the room.
Tracy smiled at Ashlee's characteristic enthusiasm. "Thanks," she said, warmly. "We just don't wanna take any chances. Especially now that Preston is trying to take them away from us."
Reaching across the expanse between them, Natalia gently squeezed Tracy's hand. "I can certainly understand that," she said, empathically. Silently, she wondered if she and Olivia would have to worry about that issue with Frank… or God forbid, Alan and Phillip.
"See, that's exactly what I'm talking about," Olivia said, animatedly. "It's not something I would have considered before, but what if something were to happen and…" Her voice turned shaky, and she allowed the words to trail off, reaching their own conclusion, as her mind took off on a tangential current. Her own health issues notwithstanding, what if something happened to Emma, and she couldn't be there? Or what if, God forbid, something happened to Natalia? Would Frank take their baby away from her? What if... Oh, God, what if?
That familiar crease in the center of Olivia's forehead alerted Natalia to the inner workings of her partner's mind. There was a conflict going on in there—a deeply emotional one. Gently, she touched Olivia's arm. She needn't say a word for Olivia to understand the meaning behind the gesture.
Stealing a glance, troubled jade met reassuring mahogany, and slowly, soft, full lips shifted into a wobbly smile. Gaining strength from the silent exchange, Olivia turned her attention back to Jen and Tracy. "The cost of your medical insurance would drop significantly if we offered the same benefit package to you as a couple." It was only slightly off-topic from Jen's most recent comment, but enough to quell the unease that had arisen for Olivia for the immediate future.
Tracy nodded, indicating that it was true.
"I never even considered that before," Olivia said, truthfully. "It was certainly never something I was opposed to, it just wasn't even on my radar." She paused for a moment, and then added with conviction, "It should have been. And it will be, moving forward."
"I'm very pleased to hear that," Jen said, candidly.
"It's a win-win, really, given that the Beacon's cost will decrease as well," Tracy noted.
Olivia knew that it was at least partially true—the Beacon covered sixty percent of the cost of medical coverage for their full-time employees who elected to take the benefit, and given that both Jen and Tracy worked for her, the cost of Tracy's coverage would decrease if she were added to Jen's policy. It would drop for Natalia, as well, once she was added to Olivia's plan.
"Yes, that's true in our case," Jen agreed. "But the cost to the Beacon would increase for those employees whose partners don't work for us, or who don't carry our insurance for whatever reason, but decide to enroll once same-sex partner benefits become available."
"You have a point," Tracy conceded.
"And there's also the issue of tax liability for the value of the insurance," Olivia pointed out. The government, both state and federal, never failed to claim their share. "There's a significant cost-benefit to be weighed there, and I've been weighing the best options not only for the Beacon, but for our employees, as well."
Tracy regarded Olivia with a sense of respect. "I never really stopped to consider how much you have riding on your decisions, Olivia." It was one thing to learn about theories and business models in school, but it was a completely different ball game in the real world. Even during internship, she hadn't really seen this type of decision-making process at work. "I certainly don't envy you."
"Business decisions definitely aren't made frivolously," Olivia admitted. "There are advantages and consequences to consider on every side, and sometimes those decisions aren't easy, especially knowing people's lives will be affected." She paused for a moment, weighing her words. "I admit that in the past I haven't always looked out for my employees' best interests," she said, with a touch of ruefulness in her tone. "I've always been focused on the bottom line." That was certainly true of the Beacon, and she had purposed to make things right in the areas where she had failed her employees. It was a daunting task, just to rectify things in Springfield. And then there were the proposed expansion locations to consider—Chicago, Indianapolis, Oakdale, Saint Louis, San Francisco, and Pine Valley, once the Valley Inn officially became a part of BGRC. The policies in those locations would reflect a more progressive mindset from the outset. It would take time and deliberate action to align their policies in accordance with individual state laws, but together, she and Lena would make it happen.
Reaching over, Natalia took Olivia's hand, pulling it into the lap. "That's changing a little more every day," she said, with obvious pride in her voice.
"I think we all know that's because of your influence," Olivia commented, giving credit where it was due.
As Olivia and Natalia shared that moment, Doris looked Olivia's way. "Just playing Devil's Advocate here, but what would you say to unmarried, straight employees who might argue that their 'partners' should be included in such a benefit package?"
Olivia furrowed her brow, her lips puckering as the carefully mulled over the question. It was a fair one, and it deserved due consideration. "I suppose I would say that if they ever lose the right to marry their partner, then I would agree. Until then, the rules stand. If they don't want to exercise their right, that's their choice, but their employer shouldn't be expected to extend benefits because they choose not to marry when it's legally possible for them to do so."
"And what if they argue that you're affording special treatment to gay people?" Doris pressed. She wasn't being argumentative, just posing questions she knew Olivia would eventually have to field.
In turn, Olivia appreciated Doris's tenacity with regard to the topic. These were questions she needed to consider. "I don't consider it special treatment," she answered forthrightly. "I consider it leveling the playing field."
"If I may?" Lena interjected with a glance toward Olivia.
"By all means," Olivia said, willingly handing the floor over to her business partner. "This certainly affects you, as well." She had explained the planned merger of Beacon Enterprises with Lena's corporation M-K Properties earlier in the evening, and thus everyone knew that Lena would be speaking as a representative of BGRC.
"I agree with Olivia. It's not about extending special treatment to our gay employees. It's about rectifying a wrong that was made even more difficult to combat on the federal level through the passage of DOMA. When gay marriage becomes legal in the states where BGRC properties are located, then I think benefit eligibility should reflect the law of that state," Lena declared. "If our gay and lesbian employees choose not to marry once they're legally allowed to do so, then their rights to partner benefits end. Until the law treats them equally, we'll make sure they're treated equitably by us."
"I'm in full agreement with that," Olivia confirmed. "And if and when DOMA is repealed, the provision for same-sex partner benefits at BGRC would terminate."
Natalia listened intently, as she glanced back and forth between the two women. "I'm sorry… I'm a little lost here," she admitted. "What is DOMA?"
"It's the law that says my marriage to Lena isn't considered legal for the purposes of federal laws and programs," Bianca explained, matter-of-factly. "We're legally married according to Massachusetts law, but for things like federal taxes, we're viewed as being single. And states where gay marriage isn't legalized aren't required by law to honor our marriage either, which means that for the state taxes we file in Pennsylvania we're considered single, but anything we file with the State of Massachusetts is filed as a married couple."
"Basically, we're legally married, and hold all the rights, protections, and responsibilities associated with marriage while we're at the cottage on the Vineyard, but we lose all of that once we return home to Pine Valley or travel to almost anywhere else in the country," Lena added.
"It also means that if there were ever an issue with Lena's legal status here in The States, she could be deported because immigration laws are federal, and they don't have to respect our marriage," Bianca noted. "Fortunately, she's almost finished with the naturalization process, so we won't have to worry about immigration, but it's been a long five years waiting for her eligibility."
"That's certainly true enough," Lena concurred. "And while filing our taxes is a nightmare, to be certain, it pales in comparison to the emotional impact of knowing that there are places in this country where we're viewed as being unworthy of some of the most fundamental human rights simply because of the gender of our spouse."
"That law is not only sad, but ridiculous," Natalia said, bluntly. She honestly would have viewed it as such even before she fell in love with Olivia. No one deserved to be stripped of basic human rights.
Lena released a sardonic laugh. "We agree."
"So what can be done about it?" Natalia asked, naively.
"There are lawsuits pending in some federal courts, challenging the Constitutionality of the law," Bianca reported. "When those courts begin to support that argument, we'll have a better chance of getting the law before the Supreme Court where it can be struck down."
"It's like the fight to legalize interracial marriage in the sixties," Doris noted. She was an avid historian of the civil rights movement. "It's a long, judicial process, and progress is being thwarted by an influx of cash from religious fundamentalist groups and corporations that support what they term 'traditional family values'." There was neither a hint of rancor nor endorsement in her tone; rather, her statement was matter-of-fact. "But public opinion is slowly and steadily evolving around the issue of marriage equality, and eventually it will happen."
Though she remained uncharacteristically quiet, the knowledgeable comment from Doris made Ashlee take note of her mother yet again. The woman was certainly a study in contrasts, especially given that heinously homophobic press conference of a few months prior, set against the myriad pro-gay comments she had made throughout the evening. This was one more piece of the very intriguing puzzle that was revealing itself to be her mother, and she regarded her with a sense of curious pride.
Tracy regarded the Mayor with keen interest. "With all due respect Madam Mayor, has your opinion evolved as well?" she asked, without malice. Given that the woman was a career politician, sitting in a room full of lesbians, she wondered how much truth there would be to any answer she received, but she had to ask the question.
Doris paused for a moment, garnering courage as she gathered her thoughts. "That's a fair question, Tracy. One that deserves a direct answer," she conceded. Unlike previous times when this subject had arisen in conjunction with her role as Mayor, there was no posturing in her words or body language. She was fully open, and it felt liberating to her. "I admit that as a politician, I haven't always stood on the right side of history in supporting marriage equality. In fact, I've worked on the opposite side. Not because I agreed personally, but for the sake of political maneuvering. I tried to justify my actions by saying it wasn't personal, but I realize now what a copout that was. It was wrong of me. All of it. And I've tried to make amends where I was able." Her tone held a true sense of remorse, especially as she glanced from Olivia to Natalia.
Her focus back on Tracy, Doris leaned forward, and her voice softened. "I hope that my offer of help with your custody battle tells you that I really mean that; and that I'm not just blowing smoke for the sake of, well…" A sweep of her hand around the room indicated the group of women with whom she was conversing, "my present constituency."
Jen took a moment to consider not just all that Doris had said, but how she had said it, as well as the possible motivations behind her words. And then she was nodding her head. "I believe you when you say it isn't about politics in this room, Doris. In fact, I get the distinct impression that it isn't about politics at all for you anymore."
"I would have to say your impressions are correct," Doris acknowledged after a momentary pause. Deep blue eyes met the shimmering jade of a former nemesis. "It's about friendship found with the most unlikely of people. That's not something that I can afford to take for granted."
It was Natalia's turn to regard Doris Wolfe in a different light. The sincerity in those intense blue eyes matched that in her voice, and Natalia had to admit that she had never seen the woman look so unguarded. It was more shocking than the first time she had seen Olivia exhibit such vulnerability, and it left her at a loss for words. While she still couldn't say she would trust the Mayor's motivations in all things political, perhaps, Natalia inwardly conceded, she had misjudged the woman she was beyond the office.
"I don't think that's something any of us can afford to take for granted," Jen extrapolated to the entire group. She was fully aware of the value of their friendships with Olivia and Natalia, and the way things were going, it seemed as though Lena, Bianca, and Doris would soon be added to their small group of trusted friends.
"I would have to agree," Lena affirmed. She wouldn't have traded her friendship with Olivia for anything in the world, and she and Bianca had quickly come to value Natalia as a friend, as well.
Other noises of agreement quickly echoed Lena's, as heads nodded around the room.
Olivia smiled and raised her glass. "To unlikely friendships," she toasted warmly.
Nodding, Doris smiled and echoed Olivia's sentiments, and everyone else joined in on the toast.
Coming up in Chapter 12.4…
Unanticipated conversations…
An exciting announcement…
And a touch of the SMEXY…
Stay tuned!