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Chapter Nineteen – August, 25th

The first time Jane had looked at Maura, she had been very furtive and she understood that her gesture may have passed unnoticed. But the second time? Nah. She had made sure that Maura would actually realize that she had looked at her. Rather intensively. Suggestively.

And yet no reaction.

That didn't leave Jane many options. If she wanted her third look to have a proper impact on her wife, she would have to invade Maura's personal space. Thus she would have a chance to become Maura's center of attention. Then exit the book she was reading and the party would begin.

Jane rolled on her side very carefully and slid a hand on Maura's stomach before planting soft kisses on her throat.

There was nothing subtle in her gesture but since Maura hadn't reacted earlier to her looks, Jane had had to become more obvious. Her fingers travelled up her wife's bare stomach until they brushed the edge of her bikini top. It was a very hot day but the hammoc they had bought was the perfect solution to their patio issue: settled in the shadows, it offered a relaxing spot for their days off.

"We are in a hammoc, Jane. I am not sure that this is the appropriate place to have sexual intercourse. There is almost no balance whatsoever."

"I take the risk. I'm adventurous."

The remark made Maura chuckle. She hadn't assumed that Jane could be so mischievous. She had previously seen her in her past relationships and Jane seemed to have won in self-confidence since they were together.

It was pleasant, very pleasant to say the least. Unexpected but pleasant.

"You are going to send us both to the ER." Yet Maura's words didn't find the slightest echo in her actions. She dropped her book on the floor and properly focused on Jane. "What if your mother arrives? We are in the patio, she can show up any time."

One more time, Maura's scenario didn't stop her the slightest bit as she proceeded to untie Jane's own bikini top. She didn't need a lot to find enthusiasm in such activity. On the contrary. If it weren't for their work schedule, this would happen a lot more often.

"She works until 7pm. It's barely 5... We have two hours to ourselves right now."

Jane closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she felt Maura's lips on her breasts. The least she could say was that her wife was quite direct. And efficient. Many things could happen within two hours. Many, many things.

She reached for Maura's bikini top and unhooked it. They weren't wearing a lot of clothes but she still assumed that the thin layer of fabric was too much of an obstacle to her senses. She wanted to brush – to feel – to kiss every single inch of Maura's hot skin.

She recognized the buzzing sound right away and let a growl come out. Her cell phone was vibrating. It was their day off, they weren't on call. Who dared to disturb them right now? She couldn't have feared a worse timing.

Maura started rolling on the other side to catch the phone but Jane stopped her. They had other priorities for the moment.

"They'll leave a message if it's important. It's fine."

Maura seemed to hesitate for a few seconds but a topless Jane wasn't a fair battle. Her lips went back right away for the hot and shivering skin while her hand began to trace an arousing path down Jane's body. She didn't feel like making it last. The way their legs were intertwined – their knees high enough to brush the most sensitive part of their respective bodies – was enough of foreplay to skip any kind of suggestive caresses.

"You smell of monoi."

Maura's voice had lowered of an octave. It sounded hoarse, full of a desire that she could barely complain. She plunged her hand between Jane's legs without any warning and caught her lips just on time to swallow her gasp of surprise. The touch had been fast, precise.

The phone started buzzing anew but there was no way Maura would stop now. Jane needed her. It would have been cruel to stop now while Jane's arousal and panting were obvious. Her body was hot – almost burning – against Maura's and yet the sweet torture of Maura's fingers made her shiver constantly. The combination was even more arousing.

The hammoc was definitely a challenge in itself and Jane soon stopped moving to properly focus on her feelings instead.

She squeezed Maura's waist with one of her legs to bring her closer to her own body and clutched her hands to her wife's back. She swallowed hard and threw her head backwards.

The silence of Beacon Hill was deafening and sensual; the light and hot breeze of an August day caressed her bare skin in a tantalizing way.

Meanwhile, her phone kept on vibrating.

Seriously? What was it that people didn't understand that – if she didn't answer – then it meant she was busy. The buzzing sound was distracting. She didn't like it. Thankfully Maura's devilish caresses didn't make her lose her nerves completely. As a matter of fact the moment Maura sped up the pace, Jane swallowed back a gasp and arched her back in pleasure. She wouldn't last long and she knew that it was exactly what Maura wanted. Maura wasn't being playful. She was going straight for what she wanted.

Jane felt the wave of warmth grow in her lower stomach. Her body got tensed, she bit her lips and let her nails dig into Maura's back.

"Stop holding it back..."

Maura's hot breath against her ear turned out to be too strong for her to resist. In a last sigh of pleasure, Jane abandoned herself to the strong feeling. She felt Maura's burning lips slide on her throat, the tip of her tongue play with her skin. Then they both remained still for long seconds.

New buzzing from the phone.

Maura turned around – visibily annoyed – and grabbed the item. She held it out to Jane and rolled her eyes.

"Now answer this damn thing. It is turning me crazy."

Jane grabbed the phone but froze the moment she got to read the alerts that had appeared on the screen: fifteen calls from Catherine.

...

... ... ... ... I don't know what to say. It does sound irresponsible from us but then we were nothing near Catherine's due date. She hadn't had any other issue since my birthday and the doctors had said that she would probably hit September. It didn't even cross our mind that it could be it.

August, 25th.

We didn't take her call right away because we were busy, the kind of busy that postpones absolutely everything. Why are you rolling your eyes? Stop smirking! I swear that I still feel embarrassed and a bit guilty, even eighteen years later. This will probably haunt me for the rest of my life! Have a little compassion, sweetie.

Anyway... The good thing is that a first labor takes a lot of time so once Jane called back Catherine who let her know that her water had broken and she was having contractions, we dressed up properly then drove to the hospital.

See? We didn't miss anything. We actually arrived ten minutes after your birthmother which is a very short lapse of time.

Jane called her mother and then mine. Coincidentally, my mother happened to be in Provincetown for an art exhibition so she immediately hit the road and drove back to Boston to be with us. Life can be sweet sometimes. I love the fact that she was able to share this moment with me. It was a very important day and it had taken us back. You had taken us aback. Everything was ready – Jane and I were ready – but we had been told September so in our heads, you weren't supposed to show up in August.

I am afraid that the legend that goes around your name is true. We didn't have any the moment we arrived to the hospital. We had barely started talking about it and the moment Catherine got her room, we realized that we had forgotten the baby name book at home. We had left in a hurry... Thankfully we had put in our car a small bag of clothes for you or else I am sure that we would have had to buy something at the small souvenir shop of the hospital to make sure that you wouldn't spend the first hours of your life completely naked.

No. This isn't negligence. As a matter of fact, in many countries newborns remain naked. It is a very healthy tradition. What did you risk on a hot summer day anyway? See?

I remember the wait. Long, stressing. All of a sudden Catherine lay on her bed and the adrenalin left our bodies. There is nothing slower than a labor and it is such a strange feeling to witness the pain on someone; a pain that you cannot soothe. I felt so disarmed, almost pointless. My heart was beating fast because I knew that within a few hours I would be holding you in my arms but an odd emptiness seemed to have invaded me as well. What a singular sensation.

Of course one of us could have gone back home to take a book – like the baby name one for instance – but I guess we subconsciously wanted nothing but to remain by Catherine's side. She was alone. She was a single mother. She was about to give birth to a child for the first time. She needed us. Our presence was reassuring.

Your birthfather is a medical doctor. Catherine never let him know about you because he was married to someone else. This is a detail that we never hid from you. It may not be easy but we preferred you to know the truth.

I don't know if you appreciate our sincerity. I hope you do. Our intention was harmless, preventive somehow. Besides, what if you had found out by yourself? We didn't want to cause any resentment over a secret. You are in your right to know where you come from especially since we know it. Hiding it from you would have been a betrayal. You know that trust is paramount to any healthy relationship.