Her Man Bough

Richard is beside himself. Quite literally. His assistant and indispensable aide, Angus Bough, is almost a carbon copy. They could be brothers. Even the eyes match. People comment on it all the time but the two men let it slide because they enjoy working together and like one another. Let the gossip rage. Wild speculation be damned! Their world ran smoothly and on time and that is all that matters.

Well, except for the women. Thank god for Camille and Celeste, their wives, who run interference at every turn and radiate force-field disaster to any woman who comes within arm's length of their men.

Octavia St. Remy is the worst offender. Honestly! Not content with trying to seduce Richard soon after he came to the island, she has decided that Angus will do just as well. Her last attempt at a threesome had been most daring but doomed to failure. After all, a red-blooded male can only handle so much feminine attention and these two had full dance cards!

Camille has yet to kindle with baby Poole #7 but the day isn't far off. A deal is a deal and Erzuli never sleeps, it seems. Celeste is almost ready to present baby Bough #3. All is right in both their worlds.

Except, here, in his office late at night, working on yet another fund-raising scheme for Governor Patterson, Richard has doubts. Nothing definite... just little things that didn't add up... and everyone knows how he hates that!

First of all, Camille's ardour seems to have cooled of late. Why, there have been entire afternoons this past week without a mid-day tryst. Granted, with 6 children at home….but she's always found time before… before what?

Secondly, when she DID drop in the last few times, he was almost sure she'd been whispering to Bough before coming into the inner office for private conference.

Thirdly, yesterday, he had seen her pass Bough a note. Or, maybe a note. Or, possibly something.

Lastly, Bough seems distracted lately. Antsy. Several times he'd actually jumped when spoken to. Of course he had a very pregnant wife at home and if she was anything like Camille when gravid, well, his work was cut out for him... but are ALL women like Camille? He has never asked. Somehow he didn't think so. Otherwise how would the world keep functioning with everyone so exhausted?

Hmm, suspicious. Very suspicious. Back in his glory days as D.I. Poole he would have known EXACTLY what to think. But… perhaps his acumen is a little rusty? Surely he hasn't lost ALL his detection skills? Surely not!

An affair?! Camille? With anyone? It beggared the imagination. But. Bough? His younger doppelganger? Hadn't Camille commented on that in the early days? Yes. She'd said she hoped to always be able to tell them apart otherwise… It had seemed a joke then… but now…?

His confidence is dwindling. He is older now, still trim and, he had thought, capable of satisfying his wife but if she isn't taking satisfaction with him, who IS she taking it with? The idea that she might be slowing down in her own way never occurs to him. Camille is a force of Nature. Best to duck and cover or take it like a man. No other options. Except… take a different man?

Groaning, he slumps in his chair. This is insane! He has no proof! Just his tired mind going in circles and his body needing sleep. Yes. He is working himself past normal hours and trying to distract himself because tomorrow is his 50th birthday and he dreads the very thought of it.

50! How in god's name did he get to be 50! Granted, he had a fine crop of progeny to show for it but he still has their teenage years to weather in his 60's and he hopes very fervently that Erzuli had taken that into consideration when it laid this geas upon him.

His green eyes have always been his down-fall.

His phone rings. He knows who it is before he picks up, promises to come right home and not to stop along the way to solve any errant crime he comes across. Hanging up, he smiles. She still knows how to make him happy… even if she IS having an affair with a younger man! Shaking his head, he is just finishing packing his briefcase when the phone rings again. He picks it up, says "Yep, on my way out the door as we speak," then drops it back into the cradle. Honestly, did she not think he knew his way home?

The house is dark. The children would all be in bed by now. He is sorry to have missed them again. He will make up for it tomorrow morning by have a long breakfast with them. The older children are showing keen interest in police procedure, always wanting to read over cold cases. Armand and twins Honore and Reynard are all about the clues, bringing in the damnedest things to be considered. Their collection of 'natural curiosities' is taking over their bedrooms. It might actually be fun to set up a crime scene and let them work it. Dian wants to know all about motive, means, and opportunity. She is a bit scary at times… a bit like her mother. He hopes her proclivities tend to law and not crime. The younger twins Soren and Theron are too young yet to really get involved but their silent keen eyes worry him too. The whole pack of them reminds him of a pride of lions somehow.

It is these thoughts that accompany him into the house. As he lays down his briefcase, he hears murmuring then silence. His suspicions well up without conscious thought. She wouldn't! Not in their home! This is positively the last straw! His jealousy overcomes his good sense and he charges into the morning room ready to do battle.

The lights flare up and a sea of faces meet his shock and surprise with great glee! Shouting, back-slapping, laughter, oh, he knows the signs! It is a surprise birthday party and for once in his life he's been taken by surprise… totally… because... because I am a gormless git!

Of COURSE it is a surprise birthday party! 50 is a big deal! Even the children have popped up from behind the sofa and are laughing uproariously at their father. Such a good surprise! Soren and Theron can barely stand up let alone stand up and laugh but they are managing with Dian's help.

He smiles delightedly, holds his hands up in the air in a 'look at this!' gesture, takes the proffered champagne, and begins meeting and greeting his guests. It takes a long time before he manages to get to Camille and Angus who are sitting at the back of the room looking very pleased with themselves.

"Well?!" Camille calls out to him, "Did we manage to surprise you?"

"Oh, absolutely! Total shocker! Who would think to throw a party BEFORE the actual birthday?"

"OK, smart guy! Admit it! We got you! Angus didn't think so. He said you've been brooding all afternoon but I told him it was old age catching up with you and that you didn't suspect a thing. Right?"

Passing a hand over his eyes, Richard laughs a bit shakily, "Right. But 50 isn't really that old, is it?"

Bough agrees, "Of course not! 50 is the new 40 or some such rot. I'm almost a babe in arms myself!"

Richard gives his assistant a slow look, "Hmmm. Yes. Speaking of babes, where's Celeste? She's still feeling well, I hope?"

Angus looks a bit hunted, "Er, yes. She's fine. As a matter of fact I'm under strict orders to be home within the next few minutes. Um. Family duties, you understand."

Richard recognizes the look immediately. He sighs in relief. So. Just like Camille. Thank god.

He claps Angus on the shoulder, "Well, don't let me stop you from fulfilling your obligations. I understand." Lowering his voice, he mutters, "Believe me, I understand COMPLETELY."

The two men share a commiserating look then Bough takes his leave.

Camille slips an arm around her husband's waist… mmmm, still nice. "And WHAT, may I ask, was THAT all about?"

"Oh, nothing. Just two husbands very lucky in love and all that. Isn't it nice to have someone you can trust implicitly and never doubt for an instant?" He gives her his best innocent look.

Her eyes narrow suspiciously. He raises his eyebrows in defense. He can tell by her manner that she is going to wrest the whole story out of him by whatever means possible. If he plays his cards right it might take all night. He smiles and she says, "I know that look. It means someone is in trouble and doesn't know it yet. What are you up to?"

He loops an arm around her waist and begins moving them towards the stairs, "Why, darling, it means I'm the new 40! And do you remember what was on my mind when I was 40?"

"Oh, yes! I remember very well. But, Richard, the house is full of people. Someone will notice we are gone. Dian will, for sure!"

Richard looks over, sees the children all looking back, silent and expectant. He nods. Dian bends over and whispers to the toddlers. The children move off into the party. "If we're quick, no one will know."

Laughing, she asks, "What have you been telling the children?"

"Nothing. It's what they've been telling me. They think it's time for baby #7 and that I'd better get my order in before all the good ones are taken."

"Well, that takes care of your birthday present for next year. Do you have any names picked out yet?"

"No. We'll have nine months to discuss it. I'm pretty sure the children might have one already picked out, come to think of it. What does the name 'Eloy' mean?"

"It's French for 'chosen one', why?"

He shrugs, "Dian asked about it the other day and didn't I think it was a wonderful baby's name? She's an enigmatic child. Takes after her mother."

"Mmm, she's a real chip off the old block, to be sure," she agrees as he steers her through the throng to the quiet of the stairway… not giving her opinion as to WHICH block. "Eloy," she says as they slip upstairs, "I like it. Let's keep it in mind."

"Fine," he replies, "as long as you keep in mind that tomorrow is my birthday and I am granted many wishes… starting with this one," as he closes their door behind them.

She DOES get the whole story out of him... a full confession, in fact.

He is punished suitably long and is justly contrite.

For nine months, in fact.

END

**author's note: and that's a wrap until I see JE3. No promises but I'm leaving this collection open in case something comes to me at a later date.**