Hello! How's it going? This is the potential sequel to 'new name', I'm looking for some feedback, if you could leave some that would be great.
Gail has just finished feeding Gilbert his breakfast, she has taken him out of his highchair and placed him in her lap, handing him a piece of apple for him to gum. Holly enters the kitchen, she leans down to place a kiss on her son's head, she heads to the counter and grabs a mug from the cupboard to fill with coffee. She fixes her coffee and joins Gail at the kitchen table; she pulls out the chair next to Gail and Gil's. "Good morning," says Gail who's reading the newspaper and keeping an eye on Gil, making sure he doesn't choke.
"Good morning," says Holly after her first sip of coffee. She leans over to give Gail a kiss.
"Definitely a good morning," smiles Gail, who leans closer to kiss Holly again.
Which is how Steve finds them, "knock knock knock," he says as he enters their house, he walks into the kitchen, "aw, no, gross, not in front of my nephew."
Holly tries to pull away to greet Steve, which just makes Gail move to kissing Holly's neck. "H-hi Steve. Gail!" says Holly as she can start to feel the blonde nibbling her neck.
Gail finally pulls away, "what are you doing here?" she asks her brother.
"I was coming to grab my nephew and spend the day with him; it clearly looks like he needs me." Everyone looks at Gilbert who's still holding onto his chunk of apple and not paying any attention to the adults, noticing all eyes on him he smiles up at everyone. "Mom said you two have to work and she can't watch him today and asked me to since I have the day off."
"Oh," says Gail, "well thanks. Let me just change him, are you going to stay here or go back to your place?"
"Mom said I could take him to her house 'cause she's just busy in the morning, I figured he and I could go swimming."
"Okay," says Gail, "I'll pack you a bag." Gail heads upstairs to get Gilbert ready.
"Is that coffee?" Steve asks Holly as he sits down at their kitchen table.
"Would you like some?" Holly smiles, finding it amusing how Steve and Gail have this way of asking a question in order to get you to do something for them.
"Would love some." He looks down at the table, "you guys get the paper?"
"Yes."
"Huh, you know it's free online."
"So I've been told."
"How's being back at work?"
Holly has been back at work for almost four months now, it took a minute or two to get back into the swing of things, but now it feels like she's never left. "It's good, I got a new intern, he seems to be competent."
"That's good," laughs Steve, "nothing better than a competent intern."
"Very true."
Gail enters the kitchen with a sun screened up baby resting on her hip; she gives Steve some basic rules as she passes over Gilbert.
"Traci, Leo, and I are supposed to be having a bbq at mom and dad's tonight, if you want I'm sure you guys could join us."
Gail looks at Holly, Holly looks at Gail. Both shrug their shoulders. "I didn't plan anything for dinner," says Gail.
"Then it's settled," says Steve, "see you two tonight. Say goodbye to your mommies," Steve waves little Gilbert's hand.
Gail lies in bed after a long and tiring day. She sighs happy to be finally off of her feet. Holly stares at her from the bedroom door, just finished tucking in Gilbert in his crib. She quickly changes into her night wears and joins Gail in bed. She curls into Gail's side, resting her head on Gail's shoulder. Holly's awfully quiet and Gail feels her about to say something, she waits her out. "I want another one."
After having spent the day building a swing set / play set combo, Gail says, "I don't know if our backyard is big enough. And Gilbert's just one kid, he can only play on one swing at a time, although I do enjoy playing on the swings as well and the fort is pretty cool…"
Holly laughs lightly, "I don't want another swing set, I want Gilbert to have a sibling. I want another child."
"Oh."
"I loved growing up with my brother and sister, and I know you and Steve fight a lot and enjoying bugging each other, but you two love each other-"
"It's okay Holly; you don't have to convince me. I would love for Gil to have a sibling."
"Really?" Holly sits ups to stare at Gail.
"Yes, really," Gail places her hand on Holly's cheek. "We will have to decide how though."
"I know," says Holly who's already been doing some research.
"Adopt, foster, carry, but I don't want to make a decision right now," Gail yawns, "and I'm sure you've already done some research into the various ways, but I'm too tired tonight, can we discuss this tomorrow?"
Holly who is overjoyed at the moment, excited to have another child running around their house simply nods her head.
"Okay," says Gail. Holly nods her head again and lies down next to Gail again; not likely she'll fall asleep anytime soon, but oh well.
After weighing their options, Gail and Holly decided to try to foster a child. It was pretty easy for them to be put on a list; they took a couple of courses so they could have either babies or children or teens stay with them. They had a couple of kids stay with them when Gilbert was a toddler. Some of the kids were only with them for a month or so until a relative was actually able to adopt them. Gail and Holly knew that some of the children that they accepted into their house weren't going to be permanent, but Gilbert didn't. As Gilbert got older and was starting to see these children that were becoming his friends come and go, Gail and Holly could see it wasn't just hard on them but also hard on their son.
After trying the foster route for four years and no child lasting longer than three months, they were about ready to be content with the family that they have, when a one and a half year old tiny little baby girl showed up. She has dark brown hair with grey green eyes and she still wasn't speaking yet; her parents thought there was something wrong with her and decided to abandon her at a library. She wasn't in any system and there was no way of figuring out who she was or where she came from. She was found in the library in the botany section looking at plant books, lying on the ground on an open page dedicated to laurel. A librarian stumbled across her at closing time; the baby didn't utter a single peep or cry the whole day she was there. The librarian had no idea how long the baby was there.
"I haven't held a baby in years," comments Gail holding Laurel. Gilbert's tucked in his bed all tuckered out, he's still excited about having a baby in the house, he enjoys keeping an eye on her and playing with her. Gail and Holly already know he's going to be a good big brother.
"When we visited my parents last summer my cousin showed up with her little one," reminds Holly, who's watching her wife hold the baby girl.
"If I remember correctly, you were hogging the baby and I didn't get to hold him."
Holly leans into her wife, "sorry," she says rather sheepishly, "but that new baby smell," Holly smiles and rests her head on Gail's shoulder. "Okay, my turn, pass over the baby."
"No," says Gail. "I had to wait; now you have to."
Holly laughs at her wife, "fine, five more minutes, but then I want a turn."
"Fiiiiinnneee," Gail jokingly says begrudgingly.
Gail and Holly didn't get their hopes up as they watched five year old Gilbert and the soon to be two year old play nicely together. As weeks went by and then months of no one stepping up to look for this little girl she continued to stay with Gail and Holly and Gilbert. Gilbert being three years older decided to start calling her his little sister, Gail and Holly weren't too sure about the idea, with the possibility of her leaving at any moment, this girl had lasted the longest at their house, but they liked the idea of her being Gilbert's sister, and the kids got along great so they decided looking into adopting her, as foster parents they knew they would have to wait the appropriate amount of time to officially adopt her but everyone could see that the little girl was making progress at the Stewart house.
Six months have gone by, Laurel has definitely become a part of the family, going on trips with them to Montreal to visit Holly's family, going to Gilbert's soccer games, and of course getting to know Gail's cop family. Laurel has truly become Gilbert's little sister. Twelve more months have gone by with no one trying to find Laurel; the day finally came where they could sign the legal adoption papers for Laurel and cement her into their family.
Gail's at work, she's exhausted, the baby kept her up most of the night. Also, it's March, it's snowy and cold, and she's ready for summer to happen, or at least spring, just some warmth, that's all Gail is looking for, and rest, today she wants some rest. Holly has the day off today so she's home with Laurel now. Lucky for Gail she has the day off tomorrow, she's already looking forward to sleeping in. Gail calls Holly to see if she needs to stop in at the store before she heads home. "Hello," Holly answers.
"Do we need anything from the store?"
"Well, hello my beautiful wife, how is work today?"
"I'm ready to bash my head against my desk," Gail responds.
"Oh." Laurel and Holly are playing with blocks on the family room floor, "talk to mommy," Holly puts Laurel on the phone.
"No, wait Holly! Please don't put on our daughter who has yet to utter her first word and only communicates with gurgles, but… you already have. Hi Laurel, it doesn't bother me that you don't talk yet, because I know one day you will and one day we will probably want you to stop talking, but today I just wanted to know if we needed anything from the store? Not talk to our daughter who doesn't talk yet, sometimes your mum is pretty funny," Gail says to Laurel.
Holly laughs, "you're on speaker phone, why would I give the phone to our daughter who doesn't talk, how would that help you with your grocery list?" Holly laughs again, "and normally people say pretty and funny."
Gail ignores that, "Holly I'm exhausted, I just want my shift to be over so I can home and you can wrap me in your arms and we can have a nap."
Holly has an idea, "it's almost Laurel's nap time, come home for lunch? Gilbert's at school, Laurel will be taking her nap; the house will be quiet…"
Gail quickly looks at the clock, she has ten minutes to lunch, no one would notice her leave a couple extra minutes early, "Holly you're so smart!"
"I know, see you in fifteen minutes?"
"Deal."
Gail gets home just as Holly is putting down Laurel for her nap; she sticks her head in her daughter's bedroom, and makes her way to the master bedroom. Gail decides to take off her button up shirt so she doesn't get any wrinkles in it, she drapes it over the back of a chair in their bedroom, and she decides she may as well take off her bra too. Holly walks in, "oh, it's going to be one of those naps."
Gail quickly picks up her night shirt, "sadly, no."
Holly picks up a blanket and falls onto the bed, "too bad."
"I'm too tired."
Holly can hear it in Gail's voice, the blonde was up all night with a teething Laurel, who's molars are coming in, "I know. It's a good thing no one else is here but our daughter, they'd make fun of us for being those lesbians who don't like to sleep alone." Holly laughs slightly.
"We sleep alone, and I'd say most of our friends and family know we do since we often work opposite shifts."
"Who says I sleep when you're not here?"
"When I get home you're usually sound asleep."
"Who says I'm not fake sleeping?"
Gail rolls her eyes, "Holly, you're usually snoring."
Holly laughs, "come and lie down."
Gail does, she crawls on top of the bed and tucks herself into Holly. "I should set my alarm," she fishes her phone out of her pocket and sets it for 45 minutes and tosses it onto her night stand.
"You don't need that, Laurel will be up in half an hour, she'll be your alarm clock."
Gail grumbles, "just in case she decides to sleep in, which I wouldn't be opposed to."
"You can always sleep tonight if you don't get enough rest now."
"Yeah," Gail yawns, "I have the day off tomorrow."
"You do?" asks Holly.
"Sure, it's wife and mine's fifth anniversary, she doesn't know it yet, but I have some stuff planned."
"She sounds like a very lucky lady," Holly smiles as she drapes an arm over Gail.
"Yeah, she is, she has me and I'm amazing."
Holly laughs, "go to sleep, you have to go back to work soon."
"Fiiinnnneeee," says Gail with a smile on her face, knowing she will drift off in seconds.
Gail's picking up Gilbert from kindergarten, his first full week of school after the summer break. She's standing outside the school bouncing her toddler daughter on her hip waiting for the bell to ring and Gilbert to come racing from the school's doors.
Gilbert runs over to Gail, "hi mom! Oh good you have Laurel."
"Say 'hi' to your big brother Laurel," Gail holds onto Laurel as she wags her arm to wave at Gilbert.
"You have to give Laurel to the Bakers," shares Gilbert with a smile on his face.
Gail has a questioning look on her face, "what do you mean, I have to give your little sister to the Bakers?"
"I made a deal with Brady at lunch today," Gilbert says pretty proud of himself.
"What kind of a deal?" wonders Gail.
"He doesn't like being an only child, he wanted a sibling; I said he could maybe have Laurel. So I traded her for three crayons and a juice box," Gilbert says smiling, pretty pleased with his deal.
Gail laughs in her head. "No one is getting traded," Gail shakes her head, "wait til your mother hears this." Gail tries desperately to keep her face completely calm, not showing any emotion, even though she desperately wants to laugh.
Gilbert grumbles as he holds on to Gail's hand as they walk through the parking lot to Gail's SUV.
Holly hears the garage door open and heads down the hallway to help Gail with the kids. She opens the door to her family, Holly says, "hi Gil!," and runs her fingers through his dark brown hair just as Gilbert walks purposely past her. She waits for Gail who's carrying Laurel, "hi Lo!" Holly says animatedly. The soon to be three year old makes gurgling noises and breaks into a big smile at the sight of Holly, Gail and Holly have been working with Laurel on saying letters and forming words, but the doctors advised them to let her communicate how she can and the rest will follow. One of the agreements with Children's Aid Society after Gail and Holly adopted Laurel was the new parents would take their daughter to see a speech therapist. The doctor assured the ladies that there was nothing uncommon with the girl not talking yet, and advised them to encourage her to sounding out sounds, but the doctor reminded them that people develop at their own stages and to give it time. Bill and Elaine were over one evening and Gail's mom told them that Steve didn't start talking until he was at least three years old, and now look at him, sometimes they can't shut him up. Holly and Gail weren't too worried about Laurel not talking yet, they know eventually she will. The ladies took the time to read to Laurel on a daily basis, with Gilbert starting school and learning his letters, they made sure to have him practice singing the alphabet with Laurel present. They knew within time the newest addition to their family will start making more than noises and then they will have something else to stress about. Laurel wiggles about in Gail's arms as she tries desperately to get Holly to pick her up. Gail passes Laurel over to Holly. Holly holds on to Gail's arm to keep her in the hallway to give her a kiss on the lips, "hi honey."
"Hi," Gail says melting into Holly, happy for a few seconds of quiet, as they press their foreheads together.
Laurel pokes Holly in the cheek to get her attention. Holly sighs and releases her hold on Gail. They walk to the kitchen hand in hand. They see Gil unpacking his school bag and lunch box. "How was school today?"
"I'm busy," Gil informs, "I don't have time to talk." Holly gives Gail a concerned look. He continues to unload the lunch containers from his box, realizes he placed the last one on the counter looks at his moms. "Can I go outside?"
Gail waits patiently for Gilbert to be done before she says, "tell you mother what you did today at lunch."
"I ate my sandwich?"
"And?"
Gilbert sighs, not seeing what the big deal is, "I traded Laurel."
"For?" prompts Gail.
"I traded Laurel for three crayons and a juice box."
Holly laughs, which makes Laurel laugh. "Only three crayons? I would have held out for at least five."
Gail laughs and picks up Gilbert, "I can't believe you wanted to trade your little sister away, she loves you." Gilbert grumbles. Gail tickles him, making him laugh.
"Okay, okay," concedes Gilbert, trying to make Gail stop. "I wont trade her again."
"And?" Gail asks, continuing to tickle Gil.
Gilbert keeps laughing in Gail's arms, "I love her too."
"Good," Gail declares. She gives him a kiss on the head and sets him down.
"Can I go outside now?"
"Do you have any homework?"
"Mom, I'm in kindergarten…"
"Yes you can go outside," Holly grins, "take your sister with you," she sets the girl down on her feet.
"Okay," Gilbert grabs Laurel's hand and the two walk into the backyard to play on the swing set.
Holly can't concentrate, she dropped the kids off at school this morning, Gail was already at work and was unable to join her on this momentous occasion, Laurel's first day of school. Holly continues to sit at her desk and stare at the same sheet of paper, trying her best to ignore the fact that her desk is full of other paper work that she has been trying to complete for the past hour. She can't seem to focus. She sighs, she gives up, she decides to go check on Gail, see how she's doing, see if she's having a similar struggle. Holly steps out into the sunshine, a hot September day, and walks to the precinct. She easily gets allowed entrance into the building since she's there pretty much every day, either for her work or to see Gail. She sees her wife sitting in the back of the parade room, Holly knows better than to interrupt parade so she stands and waits at someone's desk. After she sees all the officers leaving she expects her detective wife to leave too, but she continues to sit in the back of the room talking to Traci. Holly enters the parade room catching Traci's eye, who she waves to, she hears Traci say, "we'll talk later Gail."
Traci stands up to leave and Gail says, "why later?" she turns her head to follow her friend when she spots her wife entering the room, "Holly?"
Holly rushes over to Gail and wraps her arms around her; Holly rests her head on Gail's shoulder. Gail brings her arms up to wrap around the doctor. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," mumbles Holly.
"You sure?" Gail shifts Holly's head so she can see her face; Gail sees that her wife is on the brink of tears. "Come on Holly, you can tell me, what's the matter?"
"Laurel went to school today."
"Uh-huh, and?"
"And nothing, that's it, our daughter went to school today…"
Gail doesn't say anything.
"It's stupid, I know."
Gail can feel Holly about to pull away. Gail not really one to show off her soft side at work, but quickly wraps her legs around her wife to keep Holly in place, seeing that her wife is truly upset, "I didn't say that."
Holly sighs, "they're growing up so fast…"
Gail smiles, here's the real root of the problem, "I know, but kids do that." Gail kisses the side of Holly's head. "How about this, how about we take a vacation day today, and we'll do whatever you want to do, I know we both have some saved up, we can spend the day together and not think about how big our kids are getting and how old we are getting." Gail pauses, "I love you."
Holly makes a noise, she rests their heads together. "I love you too."
Gail continues, liking the idea of taking a day off, "we can go to the batting cage…" Holly makes another noise, "or the beach, it's a beautiful day out there, let's go home, put on a swimsuit, grab some snacks and a couple of towels and go to the beach."
"Can I bring a book?" Holly doesn't know why she asked, she couldn't concentrate on the words on her paper work, how is she going to concentrate on a book.
Gail smiles, "of course, it's your vacation day."
"Okay," says Holly, "let me call my boss. We need to be home by 3:30 to get the kids off the bus though."
"We can do that, or I can call my mom, she would love getting the kids off the bus."
"I don't know," says Holly, "it's their first day of school, I want to see them get off the bus."
"Okay," says Gail. "Let me go tell Oliver I'm leaving for the day." She releases Holly after a quick kiss to the lips.
After stopping at their house and changing into swimwear, packing a picnic, grabbing some towels and a blanket to lie on, the two drive to the beach, Holly helps Gail apply some sun block, they lay out a blanket, set up an umbrella, and sit on the blanket. Gail elects to wear a sunhat, to properly protect herself from the sun, Holly sits close to Gail and rests her head on her shoulder, "this was a good idea, I like coming to the beach, we don't do it often enough."
"I'm glad you like my ideas."
Holly pokes her in the stomach. "I couldn't concentrate today at work, I kept thinking about how fast things have been developing how big the kids are getting, and it was all just a little overwhelming," confesses Holly as she continues to stare at the waves on Lake Ontario, always finding the repetitive motion calming.
Gail throws her arm around the brunette, "that's okay, things can change, but I'll always be here, and we can talk or not, I'm here for you, and you're there for me."
Holly hides her face in Gail's neck, "why do you always say such comforting things to me?"
"Because it's true."
Holly kisses Gail's neck, "I know."
They lay back on the blanket, Holly moves into the sun, Gail stays in the shade. Gail closes her eyes, but reaches out for Holly's hand, Holly gives it a squeeze. "It feels like it's getting hotter out."
"It's supposed to be mid 90s today."
"Good thing I sun-screened up the kids, did you fill their water bottles?"
"Yup," Holly pops the 'p.' "Ready to go in the water?"
"I like to get warmed up by the sun first."
"I know you do," Holly laughs as she looks at her wife in the shade.
Gail laughs too. She stands up, "okay let's go in." Holly rises. "You look beautiful in yellow by the way," Gail compliments Holly's choice of swim suit.
"Thanks," Holly touches Gail's arm, "I can't believe you still have that blue one, you still look great in it, like the first time you wore it."
Gail smiles, "last one in the water has to do tonight's dishes!" and she takes off running.
The ladies are out of the water lying on their blanket again, getting dried off by the sun. Holly turns her head to face Gail, "is it okay if we ask your mom to get the kids off the bus?"
"I'm sure she'd be delighted." Both laugh. Gail grabs her phone to text her mom, she receives an answer a few seconds later and says, "as long as we're back by 6."
Holly smiles, "6 it is." Holly sighs as she stretches out, enjoying the sun touching her body, "we should do this every year."
They park in the garage and open the door to their house. The kids must have heard as they come racing towards them. Gail sets down their stuff so she can pick up Laurel, while Holly picks up Gilbert, "how was school today she asks?"
"It was great," says Gilbert. "I got Mr. Hawk! He's the coolest!"
"How about you Laurel?"
"I don't remember my teacher's name, but we sang the ABCs and coloured today. I like school." She smiles at her mothers. "Mummy?" she leans over and grabs a handful of Holly's hair, "how come you have sand in your hair?"
Elaine walks over to them at the back door, "I need to get going. Come give Grandma a hug." Both grandchildren wriggle out of their parents' arms to hug Elaine goodbye. She looks at her daughter, "Gail, have you still not learned how to use sunscreen? You're going to be so red tomorrow."
Gail looks at her arms and notices they are a little red.
"Put some sunscreen on after you shower, then again tonight before bed, it should be somewhat better tomorrow." She looks at Holly, "you always looked nice with some colour on your skin dear, you spend too much time in the labs," Elaine comments.
"Um, thanks," says Holly. "Thanks for watching the kids for us."
"My pleasure, we had fun."
Throughout the years Holly and Gail have kept in touch with their friends from Moonbeam. They visit each other once or twice a year and talk on the phone every couple of months. Keith calls Gail; she walks into the kitchen where Holly is in case she wants to talk to Keith and Stacey too. "Hi Keith," Gail answers her phone.
"Hi Gail, how are things?"
"Pretty good, both kids are in school now. It's nice to have everyone on a set schedule."
"I agree to that, our littlest will start school next year, for now she's still in daycare," says Keith.
"How are you guys doing? Survived the summer?"
"Oh yeah," smiles Keith. Now that formalities are out of the way he says, "I have something big to tell you."
Gail scrunches up her face and looks at Holly, Holly has a 'what?' look on her face. "Okay," says Gail.
"Mrs. Crane passed away earlier this week."
"Oh," says Gail, she sticks out her hand looking for Holly's.
'"Oh' what?" asks Holly, immediately reaching over and grabbing her wife's hand.
Gail closes her eyes and shakes her head 'no' to Holly, feeling she needs to get more information from Keith, knowing Holly can wait a second. "How's Dan doing? and the kids?"
"Uh, he seems fine."
"Yeah," says Gail, "she was like a hundred," trying to play it off.
"She was only eighty-three, still living on her own, I was just over there on Friday to help her with some fall chores, she was so excited for Thanksgiving the following Monday," informs Keith.
"Oh," Gail says again.
"I haven't told anyone else Gail, but I trust you and because of your job and whatnot I don't know who else to tell, Stacey thinks I'm crazy but…" he pauses he knows he needs to tell someone, and it may as well be Gail, "I think Mrs. Crane was murdered."
Gail scrunches up her face again, thinking this has come from left field, totally not expecting Keith to have made such a comment. Her detective brain kicks in, "why do you think that?" she asks.
"Like I said," says Keith, "I saw her on Friday, she was completely normal, looking forward to Thanksgiving and three days later she's dead, it just seems all fishy."
"Hmmm," says Gail. "Well there really isn't anything I can do….all I can say is for you to talk to the local police, maybe ask to talk to a detective or something, whoever's in charge of the case and try to go over some facts with them. Who found her? Was it Dan?"
"No," says Keith, "it was me, I didn't have enough time to finish helping her on Friday, so I told her I'd be back Monday. I knocked and let myself in because there was no answer. Her house was more out of order than normal, I mean you remember it, she was quite tidy but the things that she used she left out for practical reasons."
"Mhmmm," agrees Gail. Gail's brain is whirling; she wishes she could be there right now to see it all for herself. "Did you take any pictures?"
"No, but I could," says Keith eagerly, happy to have someone believe him.
"Hmmmm," says Gail, "I don't want you breaking any laws…."
"Nobody would think twice if they saw me enter Mrs. Crane's house."
"You're right," agrees Gail. She's silent for a minute, she would desperately want to see those pictures, "I don't know what else to tell you Keith, talk to the local guys and call me back when you do, that way you can tell me what they think." She wants to ask for those pictures, but she knows she really shouldn't, it's not her jurisdiction.
Keith sighs, knowing he is not going to get anywhere with the local police who have already ruled it death by natural causes. "Okay," says Keith. Gail can hear fighting on the other line. "Sorry Gail but I have to go; I'll call you tomorrow and let you know if anything changes."
"Okay, goodnight Keith, don't do anything stupid."
"Ha! I wont, goodnight, say hi to Holly and the kids."
"You do the same for me." Gail hangs up the phone and finally looks at Holly who has an anxious look on her face, "Mrs. Crane passed away," Holly can tell this is not all, she waits for Gail to continue, "and Keith thinks someone may have caused it."
Holly pulls the blonde closer to her. "What do you mean caused it?"
"He thinks Mrs. Crane was murdered."
So? Sequel okay? What did you like, what didn't you like, what I should add, what I should take out, should I continue, or should I scarp it? Please let me know thanks. If the answer is yes to continue, I want to finish meet and greet first, but I'll keep this in the back of my mind