Title: Confessions Lead to Strange Bedfellows
Author: Kimberly21570
Fandoms: Guiding Light / All My Children
Pairings: Olivia and Natalia / Lena and Bianca
Disclaimers and other Assorted Ramblings: The characters of Olivia Spencer, Natalia Rivera, Doris, Ashlee, and Bob Wolfe, Beth Raines, Phillip, Lizzie, James, and Alan Spaulding, Daisy Cooper, and Jane the nanny are owned by CBS/TeleNext and Proctor & Gamble. The characters of Zach Slater, Alexander Cambias, Jr., and Ethan Ramsay are the property of ABC/Disney, All My Children, and Prospect Park. The original characters of Jennifer, Tracy, Jacob and Dylan Jackson-Morgan and their extended family, Detective Sargent Langston Malloy, Attorney Danika Kováč, Judge Bennett Thomas, Dante Rivera, Jake and Preston Morgan, Jackie Hanson, and Diane and Toni Martin are the property of this author, and any resemblance to fictional characters, or real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
No copyright infringement intended with regard to Guiding Light, CBS/TeleNext, Proctor & Gamble, ABC/Disney, All My Children, Prospect Park, 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 for the edit. You totally Rock, Woman! I appreciate you, and I owe you—BIG TIME!
Rating: This section of Chapter 14 is rated PG-13 for colorful language.
Author's Note: The final section of this chapter is mostly narrative, giving an account of what transpired in Springfield during the overnight hours. I understand that one of the fundamental rules of writing is to "show, not tell," but quite frankly, if I were to "show" everything that happened, it would take another year to move the story forward. And I don't think any of us really wants that! Thus, I have chosen to "tell" rather than to "show" this particular part of the story. Most of the details aren't relevant to the actual story anyway… it's the fallout that will ultimately affect the characters. That being said, I hope that you all will forgive my bending of the rules this time. I figured you would be far more interested in the fallout, than the takedown anyway, and I'm not much of an action/suspense kind of writer. If you're looking for that, check out my friend JanetB418's stories. She's a master at action/suspense! Anyway, I digress… Not to worry when it comes to the fallout here in Confessions…, Preston Morgan's ultimate demise will be spelled out in glorious detail for all to savor!
Finally, with regard to the connections that will be revealed in this, and other upcoming chapters, please keep in mind that this is a "Soapish" story, and thus, random characters are very rarely truly random. Everyone has a tie-in to a central character, no matter how remote. Outlandish? Sometimes, yes. But that's what makes it a Soap!
I hope y'all continue to enjoy!
Kimberly
Confessions Lead to Strange Bedfellows
Copyright May 2009
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do."
— James 1:2-8, the Bible, New International Version (NIV)
"God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage. If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it."
— Unknown
Chapter 14.22 – Trials and Tribulations:
Friday, June 19, 2009… Danika Kováč's Room, the Beacon—7:30 a.m. Central Daylight Time
"Mm…"
The softly murmured sound was accompanied a satisfied sigh, as Langston Malloy reveled in the warmth of the tender mouth that trailed slow, wet kisses along her spine. Her skin tingled beneath its familiar touch. Slowly, she stretched her long, muscular frame beneath cool sheets; settling again, as a shapely body molded itself against her backside. An arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her close, and she exhaled another long, slow sigh. It seemed like ages since she had last awoken feeling so contented, so relaxed. It was glorious. "I smell coffee."
The comment was made with a teasing lilt, drawing a soft laugh that tickled Langston's ear. And then perfect white teeth nipped at the tender lobe. "I see some things never change," Danika said, her soft, teasing accent caressing Langston's soul. Indeed. Like the way Langston's body felt against her own. It was heavenly.
"Oh, but some things definitely do," Langston said with a sultry lilt, as she turned to face the other woman. She brushed her mouth against Dani's in a way that announced she wanted more, and intended to have exactly that.
"Oh, yeah?" Dani sounded intrigued. Arching her back, she captured Langston's gaze. One eyebrow tipped upward. "Like what?"
Slowly, Langston's eyes traced Dani's naked torso, and then paused to focus on perfect breasts. "Well, for one thing," she said, leaning forward. Her tongue swiped along the underside of one breast. "Your tits are bigger," she teased.
Dani's laugh was low, and sultry. She certainly couldn't argue that. The first time they dared go that far, Langston managed to get an entire tit into her mouth. And now… well, now she couldn't. Dani wasn't certain whether that was a good thing, or a bad one. "And…?" she prodded.
"And… I'm a far better lover than I was our first time," Langston added with a crooked grin that nearly melted Dani's heart.
She couldn't argue that either. Not that making love with Langston had ever been bad, per se. But there was a tangible difference between the first fumbling attempts of adolescent sex, and the innate knowing of two grown women who understood one another's bodies as well as their own.
"Indeed, you are," Danika concurred.
A low groan slipped from Dani's lips as Langston's mouth covered her nipple, drawing it deep within. She remembered how exquisite it had felt when Lang could still take her entire breast into the warmth of her mouth. Oh, God, that gentle tugging sensation as Langston suckled her breast… it was like nothing she had ever known. Until, of course, Langston's mouth found its way to her throbbing clitoris. Langston had been the first to brave going down, and neither of them had ever forgotten the experience. The mere memory of the first time she felt Langston's mouth on her was still nearly enough to make her come.
Her body was thrumming with excitement. Willfully, she forced her thoughts back to the present, where there was the promise of more. "That's true for both of us," she managed.
Accurate or not, years of experience with this woman taught Langston not to agree. That was tantamount to throwing herself into sex-deprivation purgatory. Instead, she focused on the positive. "Last night was wonderful," she whispered against Dani's skin, as her tongue skated along the edge of that taut nipple. "God, I've missed you…"
"Not half as much as I've missed you," Dani contended, as her fingers tangled in the thick, dark hair at the base of Langston's neck. God, she loved the way it felt gliding through her fingertips! "I can't believe it's been nearly…"
"Shhhh…" Langston shushed, as she covered Dani's mouth with her own.
Dani groaned at the faint lingering of her own desire on Langston's lips and tongue.
Knowing exactly what had garnered the reaction, Langston deepened the kiss. Skillfully, she lowered Dani to the bed, and settled slender hips between toned thighs. Slipping her hand between Dani's legs, her own arousal intensified when she felt how ready Dani was for her. And gently, she parted those sweet southern lips, nestling her rock-hard clitoris against Dani's own. They groaned in unison, as naked flesh tingled everywhere it touched. It felt like coming home. "All that matters is that we're here now."
"Yes…" Dani hissed. And then she was murmuring against Langston's mouth, extolling the wonders of Langston's gloriously erect clitoris, as she surrendered to her lover's obvious need.
Their mouths met again in another deep, languid kiss. And slowly, their bodies began moving together in that familiar rhythm, creating that delicious friction that never failed to leave them both breathless and sated.
"Fuck, you feel good, Lang," Dani howled, as their thrusts grew frenzied. Her body burned with a need she couldn't quite describe. And she knew that Langston was the only one who could satisfy it. She always had, always would.
"I want you inside me. Jesus, please…" she begged.
And then Langston was inside her, stroking her, filling her; those long, lithe fingers touching her in all the right places. Always, they touched her with just the right amount of pressure to take her to the edge, where Langston held her until she begged for completion. And then she was falling, as wave after wave of crushing ecstasy engulfed her, dragging Langston along with the force of its undertow.
"I am so in love with you," Langston gasped against Dani's mouth, as their sweat-soaked bodies quaked in mutual release. Toned arms wrapped fully around Dani's body, pulling her impossibly closer, as she buried her face in the crook of Dani's long, graceful neck.
"I was hoping to hear that somewhere along the way," Dani whispered, as she clung to her. "I love you too, Lang," she husked, her mouth slowly moving along the taut cord of muscle in Langston's neck. "God, how I love you."
"I'm sorry it took me so long to say it," Langston said, her voice soft with regret. "I promise I'll never stop."
Dani cracked a smile, her face softening in the morning light. "I'll hold you to that," she whispered, kissing Langston again.
"I'll hold you to it, as well," Langston said softly.
"You won't have to," Dani murmured. "I've always loved you, Langston. And I always will."
"I love you, Langston," Dani murmured, as she rocked back and forth in her bed. "Oh, God, how I love you…" Over and over, she heard herself whispering those words against Langston's ear, until the shrill sound of an alarm ripped through her head, jolting her entire body upright.
And then she was awake; alone in her bed at the Beacon, the haunting vestiges of her dream the only witness to the source of the arousal that burned in her heart… and between her legs. "Langston…" she whispered longingly, as if simply breathing out her name would make her appear.
Her heart felt heavy as she laid there, bittersweet memories now fresh in her thoughts. Their encounter that morning in her dorm room at Harvard, oh so many years ago, had been the most intense Dani had ever experienced—and it had only been three weeks! She couldn't even imagine how intense it would be after more than three years!
She had gone to bed contemplating it after those few precious unguarded moments Langston had given to her the evening prior, when they were cooped up in the back of that surveillance van. But the harsh light of morning cast a shadow on her dreams. She would never have to worry about how intense it might be with Langston now. Never again would she awaken with Langston Malloy in her bed. Lang would never take her back. Not after what she had done.
As that harsh reality engulfed her, the pulsing thrum of arousal was washed away by a gut-wrenching sob. Rolling onto her side, she curled up into a ball, allowing her grief to once again overtake her. She understood that she had only her own choices to blame for losing the one person in the world she never wanted to be without. But she knew in her heart if she had it to do all over again, she would still make the same choice. And that was what made her grief bearable enough to go on living another day.
Friday, June 19, 2009… Langston Malloy's Residence—7:30 a.m. Central Daylight Time
Across town, a slow moan slipped from Langston Malloy's lips as her body reacted to the dream that had kept her encapsulated for what seemed like days. Dani's lips were so soft, so warm, against her back. And the scent of the woman suffused Langston's senses, filling her with a need so great it could never be satisfied. And then a familiar hand was between her legs, cupping her, fingertips stroking her with a precision borne of experience.
She felt her clitoris stiffen further, as those fingertips massaged her shaft from base to tip, and back again. And then that warm, wet mouth engulfed her, drawing her deep inside, and the slow, exquisite suckling began.
"Mm… Dani… So good," Langston murmured into her pillow, as her hands tangled in that mop of thick, raven hair. "Just like the first time…"
She heard that sultry laugh that always turned her insides to a smoldering cauldron of want. It tittered around her throbbing clitoris as that delightful suckling continued, and within moments, her body was shaking with release. The force was so powerful it jolted her awake.
And then she was aware that it had all been a dream.
A crazy, wonderful…
Scary, frustrating…
Dream.
Incensed, Langston flung the covers from her body, and stalked naked toward the master bathroom. The low, sultry sound of Dani's laughter, of her cries of pleasure, rang in Langston's ears as if she had heard them that very morning. And her body hummed with arousal in response after what felt like an endless night of reliving the best sex she could ever remember.
She hadn't thought about that night—that morning—in Dani's dorm room for years. Let alone dreamed about it to the point where she was physically aroused! Damn that woman, for causing such a flood of memories with nothing more than a few well-placed touches! Dani had always been able to coax her into things, against her better judgment. One glance into those dark, penetrating eyes, and she was defenseless. It had always been that way. That was how they had become lovers in the first place. She should have known better than to let her into that van last night.
And yet, she had.
Slamming the bathroom door, as if Dani could actually hear it, she pushed open the glass shower door, and twisted the cold water faucet, turning it on full-force. And then she climbed in without preamble. A good dousing of cold water—and stark reality. Yes. That was all she needed.
Standing beneath the pounding stream, Langston allowed the freezing water to cascade down her face, and along the sharp edges and smooth curves of her body—an attempt to force the insatiable burning need for Dani from her flesh. She couldn't allow herself to think about DanikaKováč.
Not for a moment.
No, now she had to focus on Gwen.
Sweet, kind… beautiful, Gwen. God, she was beautiful. And… uncomplicated. Yes, Gwen was uncomplicated. And given all that Langston had been through in recent years, uncomplicated was beyond appealing to her.
Fuck Dani for coming back, she groused silently, as she purposefully exposed her still-distended clitoris to the freezing cold water, praying that it would douse the flame. It didn't, of course. The pounding force of the water only served as a stimulant, causing her to climax again. Fuck her for making life complicated again. Fuck her for…
But that was the problem, and Langston knew it.
It was never just a "fuck" when it came to Dani. No. With Dani, it was everything. It always had been…
And it always would be.
Fuck her life.
Friday, June 19, 2009… Bennett Thomas's Residence—7:45 a.m. Central Daylight Time
"Shit," Bennett gasped, as she pushed herself upright in the bed. Leaning forward, her hand fell over her mouth, as a shocked expression hijacked her face.
She couldn't believe the imagines that were scrolling across the high definition screen that was imbedded in the wall above the mantle in her bedroom. She had known when they went to bed the night before that a major upheaval was about to take place around the city. But she had no idea how deep the corruption went within their own ranks… until she saw his face plastered across the screen. Doris was going to be furious.
"Where are you going?" Doris asked sleepily, as her hand fumbled for her lover. "Come back under the covers."
"Wake up, DJ," Bennett commanded, shaking her lover more harshly than she had intended. "Oh, God… It wasn't supposed to happen this way."
A disgruntled sigh accompanied Doris's emergence from beneath the covers. "What wasn't supposed to happen? What's going on?" She sounded confused. "I thought you didn't have court until noon today."
"This isn't about my court schedule, Darling," Bennett said gently. "It's about…"
Pushing herself upright in the bed, Doris didn't even flinch when the sheet fell down around her waist. Still disoriented from sleep—or the lack thereof—she scrubbed her face in her hands. "About what, BJ?"
Her question was answered when she saw his face on the screen. His hands were cuffed behind his back, as the scrolling headline from WSPR announced the news of his arrest. "Jesus Christ," Doris cursed. "What the hell have you done?"
"I'm so sorry, DJ," Bennett said softly, her hand lightly brushing Doris's bare back.
Doris turned to her, blue eyes flashing. "Did you know about this?" she demanded.
Shaking her head, Bennett's eyes were filled with concern. "I had no idea it went this deep."
"But you suspected something. That's why the conversation with Cox," Doris commented, referring to her recent encounter with the A.D.A, at the Judge's request. It wasn't a question.
"Yes," Bennett admitted.
"Where did you…"
"Please, don't ask me that," Bennett said regretfully, cutting Doris off before she could even finish the question.
"So much for complete honesty," Doris snapped. Shoving the covers aside, she bolted from the bed into the master bath.
Bennett was quickly on her heels. "Oh, come on, DJ. You know it isn't like that," she said pleadingly. "Please, just listen to me."
"What I know, Bennett Thomas, is that I have one helluva mess to clean up," Doris retorted angrily. "And from the sound of it, I shouldn't count on any help from you."
The use of her full name told Bennett that the discussion was closed. Years' worth of experience with this woman made that crystal clear. Well, that… and the fact that Doris slammed the bathroom door in her face.
"Well, that went well," Bennett muttered, as she heard the shower water kick on. She turned back toward the room, feeling a bit defeated. But true to character, she chose not to let that feeling override her sense of reason.
Grabbing her burgundy silk robe from the bench at the foot of the bed, she slipped into it, and tied the sash. And then, donning matching slippers, she sauntered out into the kitchen to start the coffee. Doris would calm down eventually. She always did. But for right now, she knew her lover was angry… and hurt. And better than anyone else, Bennett could respect her need for space.
Friday, June 19, 2009… Olivia's Car—8:45 a.m. Central Daylight Time
"So… Rafe seemed to be handling things better this morning," Olivia said tentatively, as she navigated toward the Beacon.
"Yeah, he did," Natalia agreed. Her tone was contemplative, but in a good way. "Maybe today is the start of better days with him." A soft sigh fell from her lips. "At least I hope it is."
The corner of Olivia's mouth lifted in a slight smile, and she reached across, taking Natalia's hand into her own. "Hey," she said softly. "One day at a time, okay?"
Encouraged, Natalia smiled at her. "Yes, one day at a time."
They were quiet for a moment, and then Natalia leaned over, pressing a suggestive kiss against Olivia's pulse point. Instantly, she felt it throb beneath her mouth. "Last night was incredible," she whispered seductively. "I was hoping for round two this morning, but…"
"Kids," Olivia finished for her, a rueful smile on her lips.
Emma had been up at the crack of dawn, her heart filled with excitement over seeing Jordan and Lexie again. She had burst into their room, forgetting to knock for the first time since they'd had the official talk about the new house rules. Luckily, they had remembered to dress before falling asleep the night before.
Landing in the middle of their bed without apology, Emma proceeded to bounce up and down for nearly ten minutes, as she chattered excitedly about her plans for the weekend. That had been at five a.m.
By six fifteen, when Natalia crawled out of bed, Emma and Olivia were soundly passed out again, with Emma snuggled up against Olivia's chest. She kissed her two lady loves tenderly, and quietly crept out of the room, heading toward the kitchen to make Rafe's traditional birthday breakfast; a contented smile plastered across her face.
"Yes," Natalia sighed. "Kids."
And then they were laughing together. "Guess we'd better get used to it, huh?" Natalia commented, as she rubbed her belly with affection.
"Yeah, I imagine we're in for at least another eighteen years of interrupted mornings," Olivia concurred with a grin. She lifted Natalia's hand that was still clasped in her own, kissing it lightly. "But I wouldn't trade a single moment of it for anything in the world."
Natalia beamed. She loved Olivia's tender, romantic side. "Neither would I."
"We really should get serious about names, you know," Olivia commented a few minutes later. They hadn't really talked about it since that day during lunch a few weeks prior.
"For the baby?" Natalia sounded a bit confused.
"No, for your new car," Olivia answered with a dry chuckle. "Of course for the baby."
Blushing, Natalia bit her fingertip. "Sorry," she laughed softly. "I don't know where my mind is some days."
Olivia laughed with her. "I remember those days," she related. "I think they finally stopped once Emma hit first grade."
"Lovely," Natalia said dryly. "I don't remembering it being with way with Rafe."
"I think it's different when you're younger," Olivia postulated. "I wasn't like that with Ava or Ethan, but with Emma… Oh, my God, some days I had trouble remembering my own name," she laughed.
The casual mention of Olivia's son caught Natalia off guard, and she wondered for a moment how frequently he crossed her mind. "Do you think of him often?" she asked quietly.
"Ethan?" Olivia queried. Her heart fluttered erratically in her chest. She hadn't realized how effortlessly his name could roll off her tongue.
"Yes," Natalia confirmed.
"Sometimes," Olivia answered. "More, now that Ale… I mean Zach, knows about him."
"Is it hard, knowing where he is now, and not being able to be a part of his life?" Natalia asked gently.
Olivia felt her heart reach up and grasp her throat. "It's always been hard, you know," she answered, forcing down the emotions that swelled inside her. "But I knew I was doing what was best for him."
"I can't even imagine how that must feel," Natalia said empathically. "I can't imagine what it must feel like for Jen and Tracy either, not knowing if they'll get to see their boys grow up together."
Glancing toward Natalia, Olivia caught the worried expression on Natalia's face. And then she understood. Gently, she squeezed Natalia's hand that was now sitting in her own lap. "Natalia, Honey, I promise you, Frank won't take our baby. I would die before I would let that happen."
Natalia's eyes filled with tears. "Don't ever say that," she chastised. "I almost lost you three times already. I couldn't bear to go through that again."
"Three?" Olivia questioned.
"Yes. Three," Natalia confirmed. "The day I gave you Gus's heart… The day your pacemaker went all wonky on us, and…"
"And?"
Natalia swallowed around the lump that had suddenly formed in her throat. "And that day at Company when Buzz and Remy had to…"
"Reboot me?" Olivia supplied, attempting to quell Natalia's emotions.
A soft laugh accompanied blooming dimples. She loved the way Olivia could always find a way to make her smile. "Yes, the day they had to reboot you."
"Natalia, I'm not going anywhere, I promise," Olivia said reassuringly. "I've never felt stronger, healthier, in my life."
"I'm gonna hold you to that," Natalia declared.
Olivia smiled. "Good," she said. "It's about time someone kept me in line."
"Isn't it, though?" Natalia said teasingly.
They laughed together, and then Natalia asked, "Now, what kind of name did you have in mind for our baby girl?"
"Oh, I don't know," Olivia said casually. "I'm still kinda stuck on Ivy."
"Ivy's cute," Natalia agreed. "But I think you were right…"
"Right about what?"
"Ivy Olivia Rivera…" Natalia said. "That's way too many 'V's."
"Rivera?"
"Well, yeah," Natalia shrugged. "What else would her name be?"
"How about Cooper?" Olivia answered.
"Cooper?" Natalia sounded genuinely confused.
"Don't you think Frank's gonna want his daughter to have his name?" It wasn't a criticism, but simply a question.
Taken aback, Natalia sputtered for a moment. "Well, I… I just… It's… I mean, Rafe is a Rivera. It never even occurred to me that I would raise a child who didn't have my name." Discontented with herself, she sighed. "Wow, I'm a jerk."
"Natalia, that's not true," Olivia disagreed.
"No, Liv," Natalia countered. "I should've thought more about Frank's place in all of this."
"Hey," Olivia said softly, as she squeezed Natalia's hand. "Don't be so hard on yourself."
"It's just that… when I think about this baby, Frank never really crosses my mind," Natalia confessed. "I think of her as ours, not his."
Olivia was quiet for a moment, contemplating her response. "Maybe that's why he's having such a hard time accepting us… and letting go of you."
"You have a point," Natalia conceded with another sigh. "What can we do to fix it?"
Glancing at Natalia, Olivia grinned. "It just so happens, I have an idea…"
The corner of Natalia's mouth tipped upward along with her eyebrow. "You've been cooking this one up for a while, haven't you." It wasn't a question.
"Perhaps," Olivia answered noncommittally.
Natalia laughed. "Okay, let's hear it."
"Well, I just thought…"
Friday, June 19, 2009… Penthouse Suite, the Beacon—9:15 a.m. Central Daylight Time
Danika Kováč's face held an expression of cautious optimism as Jen greeted her at the door of the penthouse suite. She was still reeling from the dream that had felt so real it left her shaking, both physically and emotionally. It had taken everything in her to set aside the feelings that had emerged in the wake of her memories, to focus on the task at hand. But she had. And now, here she was, preparing to deliver her analysis of Tracy's case in light of the events that had transpired during the long overnight hours.
Jen was equally as cautious, yet optimistic as she opened the door to Tracy's attorney. Tracy had made arrangements with Olivia the evening prior to gain access to the suite again for a morning meeting with their attorneys, and Jen arrived a few minutes early to make sure everything was in order.
"Good morning," Jen said warmly. "Come on in."
"Thank you," Danika said appreciatively. "And good morning to you, as well." She stepped inside and Jen closed the door behind them.
"Something to drink? Coffee, maybe?" Jen offered. "Or perhaps some juice?"
"Coffee would be great. Thank you," Danika said. "It was a late night, followed by an early morning, so I could use the caffeine," she commented casually, as they moved into the sitting area.
There was no sense mentioning that she hadn't even been to bed. Coming off the seemingly endless night of surveillance and arrests, she hadn't even had time to grab a bite to eat before returning to the Beacon to shower and dress for her meeting with Jen and Tracy. She was exhausted, but that was nothing new, and it was certainly no deterrent. Law school had proven that she was at her best on little to no sleep.
Jen's smile said she could relate to Danika's position. "Please, have a seat. Make yourself comfortable." She gestured toward the sofa and assortment of overstuffed chairs.
"Thanks."
"I know the feeling," Jen related, as she moved toward the kitchenette. "I became well acquainted with it the moment Jacob was born. And when Dylan came alone a year later, sleep became a foreign concept." Her tone was light and teasing.
"Sounds rather like the life of a law student," Danika joked. "The first year, you convince yourself you can ace your classes and still sleep like a normal human being. By the start of the second year, you realize what a fool you were to ever believe that. And by the third year, people mention sleep, and you say: 'What is this strange phenomenon of which you speak?'"
Laughing, Jen nodded, as she lifted the carafe of freshly-brewed specialty blend and began to fill two cups. And then, setting the carafe back onto the warmer, she regarded Danika curiously. "Funny you should say that. My late husband explained it almost exactly the same way."
Danika's face flushed just slightly, and a faint smile teased at her lips. "It's not a coincidence," she admitted. "I actually knew Jake back in the day. We were at Harvard together." She didn't dare share the fact that she had known him and his family via less legitimate connections. That would be far too dangerous for her… and for Jen and her family.
Jen's eyebrow lifted. "You knew my husband?" She hadn't seen that coming.
"Yes, I did," Danika smiled. "Apparently, that's partly why Grayson contacted me to take this case," she reported. Her expression turned somber then. "I was quite fond of Jake, and very sorry to hear he was gone."
A wistful smile flickered on Jen's lips. "Thank you," she said softly. Though the memory of him no longer made her sad, it still made her miss him just a little. Lifting the cups of steaming liquid, she carried them toward Danika.
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"I didn't make the connection until I met you," Danika answered, as she accepted one of the cups from Jen. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Jen replied. She took a seat opposite Danika, carefully balancing her own cup of coffee as she casually crossed her legs.
"I recognized you from pictures he sent of your wedding, and after Jacob was born," Danika shared.
"So you knew Jake well?"
"Quite well, actually," Danika reported. "He was a part of my regular study group. And we were co-counsel together in several mock trials."
And then Jen's face brightened. "Oh, my God," she exclaimed. "You're Dani! I mean… the Dani," she clarified, as if the woman were the only Dani who ever mattered. "The one he always talked about." Grinning, she shook her head. "I was so incredibly jealous of you when I first met him," she confessed.
Danika looked almost shocked. "Why?" she asked, disbelievingly.
"Because he talked about you all the time," Jen reported. "He had a million 'Dani' stories, and I thought for sure he was in love with you."
An unexpected snort burst from Danika's lips. "Well, if he was, he wasn't just barking up the wrong tree… he was sniffing around in the wrong forest."
Jen laughed heartily. "I take it you're a lesbian, then," she said. It wasn't a question.
"Card-carrying member," Danika confirmed proudly.
The corners of Jen's mouth twisted into a wry grin. "Somehow, he failed to ever mention that."
An amused smile spread across Danika's face, and she nodded her head. "Sounds about right," she commented. "Probably just his way of keeping you interested," she teased.
Jen chuckled. "You really did know him," she said, amused.
"Yes," Dani said with fondness. "He was our undisputed master at beer pong, you know," she added, with a sense of admiration in her tone as she reflected upon the man she had once known so well.
Another laugh fell from Jen's lips. "Yeah, he told me a few war stories about beer pong."
"We didn't have a lot of time to blow off steam back then, but when we did, that was one of our go-to games," Danika commented. "Anyway, I probably should have said something as soon as I realized who you were," she admitted. "But things were escalating with Tracy's case rather quickly, and a change of attorney at that point could've compromised her defense. And quite frankly, she deserved the best defense attorney available."
"And you believed that was you," Jen said. It wasn't a question.
"Yes, I did," Danika answered confidently. "And I still do."
"So, you would defend a woman who was accused of molesting the children of a man you once considered a close friend?" Jen's voice held curiosity, not contempt. She wanted to know what made this woman tick.
"Everyone deserves competent representation," Danika argued. "Though, I admit it's much easier on my conscience to defend someone I actually believe to be innocent."
"I can't even imagine having to defend someone I knew to be guilty," Jen empathized.
"It's my job," Danika shrugged. "But in Tracy's case, I realized almost immediately that the charges were bogus, and that the accusations involving your sons were just a ploy by Morgan to gain custody."
"You knew that from the start?"
"In my opinion, anything Morgan does is worthy of scrutiny," Danika commented. "That bastard would try anything to get what he wants."
Jen's smile was wry. "I guess you really do know him, don't you?" It wasn't really a question. She sighed, and shook her head. "Would you have continued representing her if you'd realized otherwise?"
"Regarding the case involving Toni Martin, yes, I would have. She deserves competent counsel regardless of innocence or guilt. When it comes to your sons, given my history with Jake, absolutely not," Danika said forthrightly. "It would've been a conflict of interest for me, personally. But there are no formal charges against her regarding your sons. There isn't even a police report at this point! And there never will be, if things go as planned."
"You're that confident?" Jen queried.
"We still have some hoops to jump through, legally speaking," Danika cautioned. "But yes, I'm confident that this situation has been neutralized."
Jen breathed a huge sigh of relief. "Tracy will be so relieved to hear that."
Dark eyes swept over Jen, studying her. It was no wonder Jake had fallen head-over-heels for the woman, she thought. Jen was intelligent, warm, and articulate, not to mention, downright gorgeous. But she couldn't allow her thoughts to travel any further down that road. She turned her attention back to the conversation. "Looks like she's not the only one."
"True," Jen granted. "I've been absolutely beside myself without her."
"Where is she, by the way?" Danika asked, glancing around the room. It was obvious they were completely alone in the suite.
"She should be here any minute," Jen reported. "I talked to her just before you arrived, and she was about ten minutes away."
Just as she made that announcement, there was a knock at the door. "Speak of the devil," Jen grinned. "That must be her now."
Excusing herself, she set her coffee cup on the table, and walked toward the door.
If she was surprised to see Phillip standing next to Tracy when she opened the door, her face didn't reflect it. She simply smiled at the two of them, and held the door wide open to permit their entrance.
Once inside, Tracy pulled Jen close, and kissed her. "God, I missed you last night."
"Me too," Jen murmured against Tracy's mouth, as she pulled her closer.
"I found Phillip in the atrium," Tracy explained, as she released Jen from their kiss. "Seems he has some information that might be of benefit to us."
Jen nodded. "He called earlier. Said he wanted to drop by," she reported. "I just didn't expect him this early."
"Any idea what he knows?"
"Not a clue," Jen said. "But according to Danika, things sound promising."
Tracy breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, thank God," she murmured. And then she kissed Jen again, as she pushed the door closed.
Across the room, Danika offered Phillip a warm smile as she rose from her seat. "I'm glad you could make it," she said warmly.
"Thanks for the call," he replied. Resting his hand on her bicep, he leaned over, pressing a kiss against her cheek. "Will Langston be joining us?"
Forcing down a blush at the mention of Langston's name, Danika fought for composure. "No," she answered, her voice low and cautious. "She needs to distance herself at this point. It was enough of a risk for her to be involved as much as she was in what went down last night. If he finds out, there's no telling what he'll do."
"I understand," Phillip nodded. He knew their world well. And as much as he loathed it, once upon a time, his ties to it had saved his life. He couldn't ignore that. "I can't believe my father wasn't hauled in on charges along with everyone else," he said with quiet urgency.
"We figure he must've thrown Morgan under the bus," Danika surmised.
"Wouldn't surprise me," Phillip said dryly. He cleared his throat, and purposefully changed the subject. "Anyway, it was great to see the two of you last night," he said sincerely. "It's been a long time."
She smiled at him. "Likewise," she agreed. "And yes, it has. Too long, if you ask me."
"We should remedy that while you're in town," he suggested.
"I can't argue that."
Their conversation was interrupted by another knock at the door, this one announcing the arrival of Jen's attorney, Grayson McAlister. Jen welcomed him in, and after exchanging pleasantries, he made his way across the room to his colleague. Their heads together, they quickly exchanged recent information, and settled on a plan of action for the meeting.
Before Jen could even close the door, Olivia and Natalia arrived. They paused in the doorway, talking quietly with Jen and Tracy for a moment. And then the four women made their way into the room, Olivia's icy glare immediately falling on Phillip. She wanted to scream, to protest, about his presence in the room—in the world! But she held her tongue for Jen's sake.
Phillip bristled slightly under the intensity of her glare. If looks could kill, he thought, not unlike Olivia. Stepping aside, he gestured for the two of them to take a seat.
Sensing the tension in her lover's body, Natalia gently squeezed Olivia's hand, willing her to calm. Olivia sighed in response, and settled beside her on the sofa.
Acutely aware of the friction in the room, Tracy sought to quell it. "So what's this I hear about a promising outcome?" she asked bluntly.
Danika nodded affirmatively. "It's a long story, but yes, I think it's safe to say things have shifted in your favor."
"I think a long story calls for coffee and pastries," Jen declared, speaking more to the newcomers. "What can I get for you all?"
Olivia opted for bottled water, and grabbed a bottle of juice for Natalia while she was in the mini-fridge, while the others requested coffee. Jen did the honors, fixing Tracy's coffee exactly the way she liked it. She brought cream and sugar over for Phillip and Grayson, just in case.
Once everyone had their preferred drinks, and a plate of freshly baked pastries was set in the center of the coffee table, they settled into the sitting area, all eyes on the two attorneys. "A lot happened overnight, both in terms of your case, Tracy, and in terms of some other legal matters involving Preston Morgan and a number of civil servants and private citizens," Danika reported, answering their silent inquiries. "To say it was ugly would be an understatement."
"From what I gathered this morning, the political and legal systems are in chaos, statewide," Olivia noted.
"In a nutshell, yes," Danika confirmed. And then she explained about the task force, and the series of arrests that had taken place during the overnight hours.
When the dust finally settled, among those arrested were the District Attorneys from both Springfield and Chicago, and a handful of their A.D.A.'s, including Carl Cox, state and federal court judges, several state and local law enforcement officers, including Springfield's own Chief of Police, Bob Wolfe, and of course, Preston Morgan, who was arrested on charges of money laundering and racketeering, amongst a bevy of others.
And that was just the tip of the iceberg, given the arrests of state officials, including the Governor and several of his top advisors, and numerous members of prominent families across the State of Illinois—including people Danika knew personally. All of them had been tied to the organized crime syndicate that operated out of Chicago, and most would spend a good many years in prison once the federal courts were finished with them.
Olivia, Natalia, Jen, and Tracy all looked aghast at the implications. If Phillip, on the other hand, was surprised by the information, his expression didn't reflect it. If it had, Olivia certainly would have noticed, she was watching him so intently. He was still floored by the fact that Alan hadn't been amongst those arrested, and nothing much else about the bust held his attention.
"How does any of this affect Tracy's case?" Jen inquired after several minutes of chatter amongst the four women. "And our custody case?"
"Well, first of all, give the charges against Morgan, no judge in their right mind would award him custody," Grayson reported. "So I filed a motion for dismissal."
"What if the judge denies it?" Tracy asked.
"Even if that's the case—and that's a really big if—Morgan is going to spend a lot of time in prison," Grayson reported. "Not only for what he's done to Tracy, but also for his involvement in organized crime. By the time he gets out, your boys will be grown men."
"So you can prove that he was involved in those charges against Tracy?" Olivia asked.
"We have rock-solid evidence," Danika said confidently.
All four women breathed a united sigh of relief, each of them uttering some form of thanks to the universe, or to God, or to whoever was on their side. Olivia couldn't help but notice the self-satisfied expression on Phillip's face, but she questioned nothing. Rather, she simply tucked that piece of information away for later examination.
They asked more questions then, and Danika and Grayson took turns answering all that they could within the scope of their expertise. Those that they couldn't, they simply explained that more information would be forthcoming, and that they expected a statewide press conference to happen at some point during the day.
And when their questions finally quieted, Danika glanced at Phillip. "I thought it best that they hear the story about Diane and Toni from you, firsthand," she commented. "You up for that?"
"Yes, of course," Phillip readily agreed. He had been quiet throughout her recounting of events, and was now ready to take the helm, filling in the pieces most relevant to Jen and Tracy's situation.
Olivia watched him intently, jade eyes flashing with a mixture of distrust and anger, as he leaned forward in his seat, setting his empty cup on the table. Even the gentle touch of Natalia's hand didn't quell her wariness this time. Every move, every gesture, every twitch at his temple, she intended to catch it. No one read him like she did, and she was certain he would fuck up somewhere, and give his true intentions away.
Willfully ignoring her, Phillip took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. Resting his forearms on his knees then, he clasped his hands together in front of him, as he began to recount the conversation he'd had with Diane Martin the previous night, as well as the events that led up to it. As was always the case in Springfield, the entire situation had unraveled thanks to a series of eavesdropped conversations.
The first conversation was one between Alan and Preston Morgan. Morgan had been at the Spaulding Mansion early one evening several months prior. Phillip hadn't wanted to know what the man's business was—quite frankly, from what he'd been hearing, he thought Alan would be wise to sever the relationship. But that was none of his business—until he'd heard mention of his daughter. Over tumblers of fifty year-old scotch and the heady aroma of fine Cuban cigars, Morgan was gloating about having filed for custody of his grandsons, and attempting to goad Alan into pursuing custody of Emma. The entire thing infuriated Phillip as he listened, and the moment Morgan left the mansion, he let Alan know, in no uncertain terms, that he would never do any such thing—or else! As far as Morgan was concerned, he had said enough to prod Phillip into action, thus, his reaching out to Grayson McAlister for assistance on Jen's behalf.
The second conversation wasn't so much overheard, as experienced. Nonetheless, it became a critical piece of the puzzle, once the whole picture came into focus. During his brief stint in jail, where Phillip met Diane Martin and heard the story about that awful woman who had so viciously attacked her, he'd had plenty of time to contemplate the situation—the fact that Olivia and Natalia had been there with Emma, and that one of their two friends had been the one responsible for the attack. The knowledge that Diane's hatred extended to all four women became even more valuable, as the plot thickened.
But he had no idea that Jake's wife and her new fiancée were involved. He didn't even know she had a new fiancée, let alone that it was a woman. Not that it mattered to him in the least. It was only after being introduced to Tracy that day at the Beacon, and a subsequent conversation with Jen regarding the incident at Company, that he put the pieces together, and realized the connection between Tracy and the woman he'd met while in jail.
He remembered talking with Beth about his concerns later that afternoon—how this woman seemed to be bent on destroying Jen's fiancée, and how that might adversely affect Jake's sons. It was his belief that both Jen and her sons had been through enough, and he wanted to do right by Jake, by finding a way to protect his family. Beth's best advice was to make sure everything he did was above board, lest he end up in jail again. And he had done his best to comply.
During the course of his conversation with Beth, unfortunately, Jake's name was mentioned, and the nature of Jen's relationship with Tracy was revealed. It was then that Phillip noticed the shadowy figure that lurked just outside the doors of the study. Morgan had heard the entire thing!
According to Diane during the conversation at Towers the night previous, Morgan had immediately hired a private detective to dig up dirt on Jen and Tracy. The detective looked into the altercation with Diane Martin, which led him to Diane's arrest and the fact that she was in jail the same time as Phillip. He had the private eye make contact with Diane to pump her for information, and ended up hitting a gold mine. Not about Phillip, but about Diane and her hatred for Tracy. The pieces had fallen to seamlessly together for him, it had been like taking candy from a baby, and Morgan could not have been more pleased.
Phillip felt genuine empathy for Diane as he listened to her recount the events that transpired after Tracy rejected her daughter Toni that night at the frat party. The young girl had been heartbroken and embarrassed almost to the point of being ashamed, and in a moment of desperation, attempted to take her own life—a poisonous cocktail of booze and pills.
Diane was still guilt-ridden over having left the ingredients accessible to her daughter. She was grateful she had been home, had found the girl before it was too late. But battered and broken emotionally, her daughter spent the next several months under psychiatric treatment at Ravenwood, and had never been the same again—and in Diane's mind, Tracy Jackson was as culpable in this situation as Diane was herself.
When the women heard the news, they were all taken aback. Tracy visibly shuddered, and the tears began to fall. Instinctively, Jen pulled her close. Once cradled in the safety of Jen's arms, Tracy's soft cries turned into mournful sobs.
Weighing Tracy's reaction, Phillip paused, allowing them time to process the shocking information. He didn't begin again until prompted to do so by Jen, but from that point on, they both struggled to focus on the remainder of his story.
By contrast, for Phillip, that was the moment Diane had captured him with her story. It made her more human, and he listened attentively then, as she lamented all of the lost hopes and dreams she'd had for her youngest child, and he couldn't shake the memory of feeling equally as helpless as he watched Lizzie battling leukemia as a little girl. Finally, her request for a permanent position for her daughter at Spaulding made all the sense in the world to him. She was trying to protect her daughter, give her a purpose, a future. And he vowed in that moment to make sure that it happened—not for Diane, but for Toni, who had been somewhat of a helpless pawn in Morgan's sick, twisted games. Yes, she had gone along with her mother's request, but given the initial reporting officer's description of her when she reported the alleged crime, Phillip, Langston, and Danika were all certain that even Toni had somehow been coerced.
And then Diane's story turned to Morgan, and the blackmail. Morgan had also learned from his detective that she'd had an ongoing lesbian affair with Jackie Hanson, and he threatened to destroy her marriage, her family, if she didn't do as he said. What he wanted from her was beyond vile—he wanted her to convince her daughter to make up a story about being raped by Tracy Jackson that night at the party. It was a harmless lie against a depraved woman—one who was corrupting his grandsons, he thought. And he simply could not have that.
It pissed Morgan off that he could find nothing blackmail worthy where Bennett Thomas was concerned. Her background was pristine, with the exception of her divorce. And there was nothing he could do with that—it was public record. He'd had that fool Carson in his back pocket—until someone fucked with the docket, and the case was moved to Thomas's courtroom.
So this was his solution; a means to an end to him—a conviction, or even just the accusation, could create the doubt that he needed to get a judge to see that his grandsons were in danger. In his egotistical mind, the boys would be turned over to him immediately. Much to his chagrin, it hadn't turned out that way, and he'd been forced to slink from the courtroom, his ego battered and bruised by a fucking bleeding-heart liberal judge. The fact that she was a woman poured salt right into his wounds. Fuck her, he thought. He would find another way.
Diane had wondered only briefly how he could possibly know about any of that. And then she remembered that charismatic young man she'd met at the bar she was tending. "He was a real charmer, I'll tell you that," Diane had said to Phillip. He reminded her just a little of her son, and she was quite taken with him.
After a pleasant conversation while she worked, he had convinced her to have a few drinks with him when her shift ended. Before the evening was over, she was drunk, and he had managed to get her to open up about things she'd never spoken aloud to anyone other than Jackie. She cried, as she said as much to Phillip, wishing she had never met that man.
Stunned, Phillip had sat there in silence, contemplating his next move. Much like Phillip himself, this woman had done horrible things. But she wasn't the monster he had once imagined—and her daughter was little more than a helpless victim of circumstance.
In that moment, he felt torn. The wire he wore, for the benefit of Jen and Tracy, marked his betrayal of the woman who had just bared her soul to him, making him not unlike that charming young private eye Morgan had sent sniffing after her for dirt. And the recording of her confession, thanks to the surveillance van parked just outside, would seal her fate. She would hate him, and rightly so. But in the end, though he felt an odd sort of kinship with her, he couldn't excuse what she had done—any more than he could excuse his own actions in the past. What he could do, was try to help her daughter.
"I owe you both an apology," Phillip said sincerely, as he finished relaying the story. "If not for my conversation with Beth, Morgan never would've hatched this plan. And I'm truly sorry for that."
"This wasn't your fault, Phillip," Jen said soothingly. "The custody suit was already filed by then, and he was hell-bent on getting his way. If not for this, he would've found another way."
"Truth is, if the task force had been ready to move on this case a few months ago, none of this ever would've happened," Danika claimed. "You were fortunate they were in a position to move last night, or things could've gotten much worse before they resolved."
"Any idea as to how this all miraculously fell into place right when we needed it?" Olivia asked suspiciously.
"I'm not at liberty to say," Danika replied cautiously. "But I can tell you it wasn't a coincidence."
"Someone working on the inside," Olivia surmised.
Danika simply offered a faint smile in response. She knew what this would cost Langston, if the truth were ever revealed, even to those they could trust. There was too big a risk that those in charge in Chicago would find out what she had done. Danika also knew Langston well enough to know that she would never want anyone to think they were in her debt. And so the truth would remain forever between the two of them and their inside connection on the OCTF. It was simply safer for them all that way.
"So are you saying this is really over?" Tracy asked Danika, sounding hopeful. "I can go home to my family?"
"Not quite yet," Danika cautioned. "We still have some legal maneuvering to do. Soon, though. I'm working to get the case against you dropped."
"And I'm working to accomplish the same thing with the custody case," Grayson reminded.
"You're not concerned that it'll get lost in the shuffle with all this federal crap going down?" Olivia's query was directed toward Danika.
"Detective Sergeant Malloy and I spoke about that last night, at length, and we're in agreement that it's our combined responsibility to make certain that doesn't happen," Danika assured. The tension between Langston and Danika had been undeniable from the moment they occupied the same space; but much to the group's credit, if any of them were surprised to hear that the two women had been collaborating, their faces didn't show it.
"It won't be a problem. I woke a couple of judges up this morning," Phillip said casually. "Old family friends. Things should be resolved by day's end."
"Typical," Olivia muttered under her breath so that only Natalia could hear her.
"You shush," Natalia censured just as quietly.
Shoulders slumping, Olivia sank further into the sofa. She hated watching Phillip work innocent, trusting people this way. And she was confident that's what he was doing. He certainly wasn't there out of the goodness of his heart, because everyone knew he didn't have one.
Jen and Tracy looked at Danika for confirmation. "Worse case, maybe Monday," Danika said. "But yeah, with Phillip's contacts, I'd say day's end." She glanced at Phillip, admiration in her eyes. "You've got a strong ally in this one," she said to Jen and Tracy.
Rising to her feet, Tracy walked toward Phillip. "I can't thank you enough for all you've done for us," she said sincerely, as she extended a hand to him.
He stood from his seat, taking the proffered hand between his own. "I'm glad I could do something to help," he said warmly. His gaze shifted to Jen, who had made her way to Tracy's side. "Anything for Jake's family. Anytime."
"I don't know how to thank you, Phillip," Jen said sincerely.
Phillip smiled down at her. "You can send me an invitation to your wedding reception," he said warmly.
Jen beamed at the acceptance in his warm blue eyes. "That, we can do."
Leaning over, he kissed Jen lightly on the cheek. "I'll look forward to it." He turned his attention toward Danika then, "I'll be in touch before day's end."
"Thank you, Phillip," Danika said. "We couldn't have pulled this off without you."
Humbled, he simply nodded. And then pausing to bid Olivia and Natalia goodbye, he quietly slipped from the room. Saying their own goodbyes, with promises to be in touch later in the day, Grayson and Danika followed closely behind, leaving the four of them to talk.
Olivia was still seething inside as the door closed behind them. It took every ounce of willpower she possessed to stomach all these people fawning all over that man. She felt like a loose cannon, her temper was so short. How could they fall for that act? And yet, it appeared that they all had—hook, line, and sinker. If she didn't know them to be intelligent human beings, she might see them as mindless idiots. But she knew better—they were simply lambs falling prey to the lion. She bid him goodbye, barely managing to avoid doing so through gritted teeth.
And then the entire conversation took a sharp turn, and Olivia's focus was drawn outside of her own pain.
"I had no idea." Tracy sounded bewildered, even now, by the truth about Toni Martin, as she dropped down onto the sofa, her shoulders sagging. "I thought she was just another college freshman." The girl never seemed like a high school student—she was more mature than most, she recalled. She felt a wave of inexplicable sorrow flush over her, and she buried her face in her hands. "I had no idea she was only sixteen. No clue that she would try to hurt herself. God, I would've handled things so differently, had I known she was so young, so vulnerable."
"She wasn't that much younger than you, Trace," Jen attempted to comfort, as she sat down next to her fiancée, draping an arm around her shoulder. "And there's no way you could've known she was so unstable."
"I could've asked," Tracy retorted. "I could've paid more attention to the signs she was sending me." The bitterness in her tone was directed inwardly, not at Jen. But Jen felt the emotional impact of it, just the same.
"And she also could've been honest with you," Jen countered. "She was the one who was pursuing you, and clearly, she knew you were older than her."
"Besides, Tracy," Natalia gently interjected. "Nothing happened between the two of you anyway, so there's nothing to beat yourself up over."
"She tried to kill herself because of me!" Tracy snapped. The tears were pouring down her face unabashedly, and she buried her face in her hands.
"No, Tracy," Natalia disagreed. "She tried to kill herself because of her own perception of the situation. It wasn't about you. And you didn't cause it to happen."
Tracy met Natalia's gaze with tear-filled eyes. "I knew she was interested in me, Natalia. Long before that night. I could've tried harder to make her understand that it wasn't her—that I was in love with Jen, and that's why I wasn't interested."
Olivia sat down on the sofa next to Tracy, gently taking her hand. "I can't even imagine how difficult this must be for you, Tracy. But I can tell you from experience, blaming yourself for something like this won't do any good for anyone, especially you. It won't change what happened, and it'll only make you feel like crap."
"Bianca would say that 'crap' isn't a feeling," Natalia said. Her attempt to lighten things up worked like a charm, drawing quiet titters from both Jen and Tracy. They all knew she was correct. Bianca was prone to pointing out the improper labeling of thoughts as feelings, especially to Jordan. It seemed rather important to her, so they were all learning to watch how they used that expression.
Chuckling softly, Olivia shook her head. "Am I going to wake up married to a shrink one day?" she teased.
Tilting her head in that adorable way of hers, Natalia shrugged flirtatiously, "Maybe."
Leaning over, Olivia pressed a light kiss to Natalia's cheek. She understood what Natalia was doing, and appreciated it. "Anyway, the point is, there's no reason for you to feel guilty, Tracy. You haven't done anything wrong."
Tracy snorted at Olivia's comment. "I was raised Catholic," she said. "I don't know how to not feel guilty."
Natalia chuckled. "I can certainly relate to that," she commented.
"Since when does feeling guilty directly correlate to actual wrongdoing, when it comes to the Catholic religion?" Jen's banter was met with light laughter.
"It doesn't!" Tracy chortled.
"Fortunately, for the sake of my own sanity, I figured out how to shed the Catholic guilt syndrome a long time ago," Olivia said. She drew out the length of time for emphasis. "Can you even imagine what a mess I'd be if I hadn't?" she joked.
"I think guilt is something we would all do well to shed," Natalia commented. "Sometimes it causes more harm than good."
There were noises of unanimous agreement all around. And then, Jen gave Tracy's hand a gentle squeeze. "This is one of those times, Honey," she said quietly.
Tracy nodded, accepting Jen's assertion. Leaning over, she feathered a kiss across Jen's lips. Words were unnecessary. And then, turning toward Olivia, Tracy met her gaze. "Thank you," she said sincerely.
"For what?"
"For helping me not be so hard on myself," Tracy answered. Her eyes met Natalia's then. "And thank you to you, too, Natalia. You've both been a real godsend to us."
Jen was quick to agree, offering her own thanks to their friends for the unwavering support. "I don't know how we would've gotten through this without you."
"Well, that's what friends are for," Olivia declared.
Natalia arched an eyebrow. "Dr. Phil again?"
"No," Olivia responded. "Dionne Warwick."
Mahogany eyes rolled, but the smile on bowlike lips gave Natalia away.
"Ooh! I get to be Gladys Knight," Jen proclaimed. She was grateful for Olivia's attempt at lightening the mood.
"I've got Elton John," Tracy announced. "I look smashing in tinted glasses."
Natalia shook her head at the three of them. The entire conversation felt a bit corny to her, but it was a good kind of corny. The kind shared with people who felt close… safe… permanent. "I guess that means I'm Stevie Wonder, huh?"
"The resemblance is uncanny, Sweetheart," Olivia teased.
Natalia laughed. "You're messed up."
Moving closer to Natalia she pressed against her side. Wrapping her arms around that expanding waist, she gave her a squeeze. "Perhaps," she granted. "But I have you to straighten me out."
Smiling into those deep jade eyes, Natalia said, "Yes, you do. And you always will." She pressed a light kiss to Olivia's lips. And then she glanced at Jen and Tracy. "And you'll always have us in your corner. Count on that."
Those words were a solemn vow for Natalia. She loved the feeling of having friends again. It had been a really long time since she'd felt this kind of camaraderie with others, and it felt… good.
In the moment, she didn't care that Bianca would say "good" wasn't a feeling. It described how she felt perfectly. That good feeling extended to Bianca and Lena, as she contemplated their growing friendship. And as she searched her heart, she found that it extended to Doris, as well; despite her earlier misgivings about the woman.
Jen and Tracy smiled in unison. As much as Natalia longed for close friendships, so did they, and they were grateful to accept the ones offered by these two wonderful women.
"Ditto," Jen said, her emotions teetering on the brink. She knew that Tracy's emotions were heightened as well, by the simple touch of her hand on Jen's lower back. And in that moment, she couldn't help but acknowledge that even in the midst of adversity, their lives were infinitely blessed.
TBC in Chapter 14.23…