Chapter Thirteen
Piper took a sip of her wine and handed Alex her glass. She then moved to the Thai food, pointedly ignoring their expressions.
"Piper...did you speak to Becca's kid?" Alex asked after she herself took a sip. Becca cursed under her breath and headed towards Piper. Alex moved to block her path.
"I told you I spoke to her at that luncheon. You didn't tell me that you figured out who she actually was...remember? We forgave each other for that secret and made fan-fuck-tastic love in the Loft." Piper spoke as she leaned against the counter and started to pick out the cilantro and bean sprouts from her pad Thai.
"Yes, I remember. Look, Becca tell us what happened to her-" Alex began. Piper could sense her retreat from the subject. Piper recalled that time perfectly.
It was right after Becca had to sub at her home store and they had that run in at the cafe counter. Piper had over reacted and she was pissed at herself as much as she ever was at Becca. It was the first day of the week it hadn't snowed and Piper went to lunch with her publisher. She was asked to attend a conference in California that promoted the literary work of Ex Cons. It was called InsideOut and she was excited to do it. Her agent usually booked these events but since three of the other authors were clients of her publishers, they were meeting about how to promote their work while at the conference.
"I think all of your ideas are great Piper. Your book has really taken off as you can tell by your place on the Sellers list. I know you've been pitched many ideas for movies or TV shows. Thinking of taking any of them up on their offers?" Julia her publisher asked Piper casually over their salads. Piper was used to the question. Truth of the matter is, she didn't want to expose her friends. She knew she'd made a fortune and the fame would bring national if not world wide attention to causes she believed in passionately. Unfortunately, it came at too high a price personally.
"I'm thinking about-" Piper didn't get to finish her sentence because Rebecca Kanen approached and apologized for interupting.
"I"m sorry, Miss Chapman do you remember me?" She asked it so carefully and with such politeness that Piper took a moment to place her. Rebecca then flipped her hair and looked at her in a way that was so identical to Becca it was disturbing.
"Yes, promising new designer, Rebecca Kanen. Julia Fairclough, my publisher...I met her at a function," Piper made the introductions with her heart beat quickening. This was Becca's kids...her existance had been a secret that Alex kept with another woman. Piper chastized herself for thinking that way and made herself smile politely.
"Yes, it was an honor to meet you. I...well I didn't get your number but you had said I could talk with you to find out some information about the personal matter we discussed?" Rebecca had tried to speak in a manner that did not reveal too much. Piper knew that her candor with her...a perfect stranger at that event had been because she has read her book. Many people felt close to her because they feel she had opened up to them already with the written word. It was one of the best yet most surreal things about being a memoirist.
"Oh yes, I'm sorry, I did forget to tell Eva to give you my number. Here, let me see...you really just need to contact Bradley at the WPA and he will hook you up with the work program- uh or halfway houses that might have...the answer you seek." Piper hoped she was clear enough. She wrote on the back of his card- "Please help her find info about her mother" and signed it.
"Just set up a meeting with him and good luck. Just...you know discretion please..." Piper said as she handed her the card. She met Rebecca's eyes, a shade darker than her mother's lighter blue. She wasn't new to the real world of favors and payment. Rebecca wouldn't tell a soul where she got the information. Piper knew it really wouldn't matter. Perhaps, she'd just find out where Becca is and not speak to her. Perhaps she will show up at Book 'Em and demand a latte from her mom. Who knew...but it was guarenteed to keep her occupied and that kept her away from Alex.
That pleased Piper and she smiled as Rebecca thanked her and excused herself to allow Piper to go back to her lunch.
"My daughter contacted my parole officer. She knows I'm out and she knows where I work. She said she'd come to my work if I didn't agree to a meeting. The only way she knew anything about me was if that cunt over there ran her fuckin' mouth," Becca said in such a hate filled tone that Piper felt her stomach drop. She didn't like fighting...usually she avoided it. She had worked so hard at not getting angry. Now, she was going to have to throw down on some white trash woman in her own kitchen.
Piper started to rise when she heard the ringing sound of a slap. She watched Becca's head snap back from the force of Alex's blow.
"You will not come up in my house and call my wife a name. You ACCUSE without cause and without stopping to listen. If you can't keep your tongue civil, you can get the fuck out of my house and out of my stores." Alex seethed. Piper moved to her quickly and put her arms around her waist.
She looked Becca in the eye and coldly said, "I did see your daughter after our last encounter. She came up to me at a lunch to say hello. I didn't tell her I knew you...or where you worked...or even mention her mother at all. I can give you the number of the woman I had dinner with to back me up-well I could if I gave a rat's ass what you thought. You accused. I answered. Now get out." Piper stared her in the eyes and dared her to call her a liar.
"You don't understand...you don't have kids. I fucked up so bad-" Becca backed away and Piper was struck by that look. She'd seen it in every woman she'd seen in prison. It was the look that settled down inside you when you realized you can't really make up for what you did.
"Not her fault...it isn't my fault either. I know I left you...and yeah, I left you for her. I heard one word that she just MIGHT not be happy in her marriage to Larry and I took the boot camp offer. I suffered...oh how I suffered for the chance to stand before her a free woman. I'm sorry that hurt you. None of this is our fault, so stop blaming Piper...stop blaming me...and take responsibility and make amends. If you're serious about your sobriety you'll do it." Alex spoke to her in a hushed tone that made Piper look at her with a tilted head. She'd heard that tone before.
"You're quoting the program back to someone Vause? What the fuck, did you give you a personality change?" Becca spat back. It wasn't like Alex to speak her NA stuff out of her meetings. She still went at least once a week...sometimes a few times a week when therapy or stress increases. Nicky was her constant companion. Piper wondered for the first time if perhaps she was in the same group as Becca.
"No Becca, I'm a different person because terrible things happened to me and the way I used to cope...pushing people away, making money with high risk for the high or getting flat out high- didn't work anymore," Alex answered quietly.
"So what did work?" Becca asked and Piper could tell she really wanted to know.
"Love. I realized the only time I've ever done anything good or even wanted to do good for other people was when I was with Piper." Alex responded immediately. Piper smiled and looked over to Becca. She looked amused.
"Bullshit. You aren't the lovey dovey type Vause. What is your real angle here? Are your stores a front for another cartel? I'd believe that over "some bad stuff happened and Piper's love saved me" -crap" Becca replied with vehemence.
"You don't know me. Stop acting like you do!" Alex argued back. Piper felt her whole body tense and she decided enough was enough.
Becca got closer to Alex, her gaze intent and eyes flashing, " I know how you taste, I know how many fingers it takes to get you off ..I know about the whore that died on you in Bangkok after a three day high- and I know how you enjoyed smuggling drugs more than anything in the world and would still be doing it if you hadn't been caught!"
Alex growled out about how that was shared in group while she was struggling not to get high again herself but Piper could care less. She slid her body between them and shoved Becca back with all the force she could muster. The woman stumbled back and fell on to the table.
"Get out of my house now! If you wanted to get thrown out of the program and parole revoked just to avoid your daughter, you've done a bang up job. I don't care what the fuck you do, but you're going to step your ass out of my house right now." Piper pointed to the door and Becca stood. She looked she was about to charge back at Piper and this caused Piper to shift her weight and prepare as she'd been taught. She felt Alex's arms go around her waist and she knew her love was going to push her behind her should Becca charge at her.
Before she could take more than one step, Taystee opened the door to the apartment and strolled in sporting a huge winter jacket."Look what Poussey done and sent me? She told me they had those long ones in my size at the coat fact- Hey...you about to throw down?" Taystee shifted her stunned gaze from her friends to Becca.
"You can take her Piper, you about killed that girl who attacked you at Litchfield and got away with it scot free. I bet you could do that again with a little help from your friends." Taystee moved in to their side and took the wine bottle off the counter. Piper knew without a doubt, she'd shatter that thing and defend them if need be...but she also knew the threat was enough.
"Leave now Becca." Alex said again and her ex stormed out of the apartment. Piper was still furious but glad as well that she didn't lose her shit and hit her.
"Never a dull moment with you two...I'm gonna make sho she leave the store in one piece," Taystee said as she followed her out of the door. Piper had a feeling she'd been listening at the door for just the right time to come in and break it apart.
"We are lucky to have her, "Piper said towards the closing door. she vowed right then to take Taystee to on a shopping spree. Alex buried her head in her hair and kissed her neck.
"I am so grateful to her and Poussey...even Black Cindy for teaching you how to fight Pensatucky. She did have some good timing just now. I wouldn't let her touch you Piper. You just got out-," Alex sighed, then asked, " You okay?" Alex pulled her close and Piper felt the warmth of her embrace.
"Yep, you?" Piper answered with a cheerful tone. Alex perked her mighty fine eyebrow at her cool remark. "Really, I'm fine. I wanted to hurt her yes, but it wasn't so bad I couldn't think straight."
"Piper what did you really say to Rebecca?" Alex asked her. Piper grabbed up their wine and started to talk towards the bedroom.
" I recall we had plans and I'd like to finish them. No more talk about our ex lovers or I swear I'm going to tell you about how I think Larry's Bar Mitzvah was the beginning of his underachieving passive aggressive phase-only fair he gets equal time. Now our wonderful bed is this way Al-" Piper didn't bother to look back because she knew Alex was a smart woman.
Sure enough, her wife followed her in to their bedroom. Piper kicked off her heels and kicked them into the cubby by the door. She put their wine down on the bedside table and started to unbutton her dress. She let her eyes rake down the luscious figure of her woman slowly.
"Strip," Piper commanded in a husky voice.
Alex smiled and started to shimmy out of her outfit after removing her boots. Piper was slipped her lace panties down and never took her eyes off her wife's buff body as she took off her clothes. The ache in her leg was far away when she felt the pulse of desire through her body. It had been too long and she liked the adrenaline pumping through her body from their altercation with Becca.
"Your leg?" Alex asked sweetly. Piper knew she wanted to get laid as much as she did and was touched at her concern.
"It is fine, come here," Piper pulled her close and kissed her deeply. She felt her body come to life as their naked forms pressed together like perfect puzzle pieces. Alex pushed her back on the bed and murmured on her lips how much she missed her. Piper pressed her hips into Alex and made desperate noises. Alex laughed and started to kiss down Piper's body, heading to her favorite place.
"No, I meant what I said..back..lay back," Piper huffed. She needed her so much. Alex knew what she wanted and pulled Piper with her as she turned in the bed and pulled Piper up. She straddled her face and pressed her sex down. She immediately felt the burn in her leg but it wasn't so bad she cared with Alex's mouth doing its magic on her sopping sex. Piper brought one hand up to her own breast and squeezed it as she wiggled rotated her hips in small hungry circles on her mouth. Her other hand reached down to flick and play with Alex's erect nipples. She knew how much Alex loved it when her face was flooded with Piper's need. She was so close and her moaning was gaining in high pitch and desperate sound.
"Fucckkkk yeah ohh baby..yes...Alex..oh groan yes fuck...oh bbbbaabby...aaaaahhh Alex!" she screamed out as she flew over the edge throbbing clit first in to ecstacy. She fell forward as Alex lapped at her swollen need, cleaning her up like a kid with an melting ice cream cone. Piper jerked and moaned, kissing her thighs as she inserted her fingers into the needy center of her wife. It wasn't the most comfortable position for her but it didn't take much for Alex to jerk up and clench down on Piper's long fingers in a harsh orgasm. Piper actually laughed out as her wife bucked up and nearly threw her off of her on to the floor. Piper clung to her body like she was riding a bronco. Alex shook herself from her pleasure and grabbed Piper to steady her in place.
Piper turned and stretched out beside her. She licked at Alex's chin and face, licking up her own mess from her face. Alex shivered and Piper knew she'd come again just thinking about Piper reveling in her own taste. There was a time in their lovemaking when Piper liked to clean up with pristine towels. Slowly over their time together, Alex had freed her from her hang up about the taste of her own sex. It had been freeing. It was just one way that her love had changed her.
"That was so worth the wait. Is your leg okay?" Alex asked again as they snuggled. Piper admitted her leg ached but she didn't want Alex to get up to get a pain med. She just wanted to snuggle with Alex.
"No Kid, I'm going to get some from your medicine cabinet and a glass of water...I'll be right back." Alex kissed her softly before she got up and walked towards the bathroom. Piper couldn't help but smile even though her leg hurt. She was truly blessed.
***Please, Please, Please, Please review! Fae****