"We're here, now the party can really get started!"
Bianca turned to see Ryan and Emma striding around the side of the house.
"Ryan, hi" called Bianca as Ryan froze, confused at finding her the only person there. Bianca laughed at the surprise expression on his face. Emma looked a little confused as well. "Hi Emma, Miranda is just down by the swings."
Emma looked from her dad to the play area at the foot of the garden where Miranda and AJ were waving enthusiastically at her.
"Can I?" Emma asked eagerly.
"Go on." said Ryan and she raced off towards her friends.
Ryan walked over to sit on the sun lounger Marissa had recently vacated.
"You look well." he said.
"Thanks." said Bianca although she knew he was lying. "How are things with you and Emma?"
"We are getting there. Kendal has been a great support and Cara."
"But you still miss Greenlee?"
"Sometimes." He suddenly looked very sad and Bianca regretted bringing up the subject.
"I hear Charlie is doing well."
"He's loud that's for certain." said Ryan, his smile returning.
"It just shows he has healthy lungs." said Bianca.
"That what I tell Cara, but she's not buying it." said Ryan with a laugh "… um… So where is everyone? I was told this was going to be a party?"
"Marissa and Kendal are inside preparing food, I'm not sure who else is invited…"
As if on cue Reggie and Camilla arrived. Reggie was making slow progress as he was holding hands with Ayesha and Gabby; and Gabby was talking animatedly about something.
"We made it on time?" said Camilla as she joined Ryan and Bianca by the pool. "Do you know where they want the chilli?" She had a doggy bag from Krystal's in her hand; she had clearly come straight from work.
"Hand it here." said Kendal.
She and Marissa had been setting up a drinks and buffet table in the shade of the pool house porch.
Marissa came out to join them, carrying a couple packs of cola cans. She dumped them unceremoniously on the table. She had taken the opportunity to put a red and orange sarong over her bikini.
When she spotted the new arrivals she laughed.
"At last the men are here." she said, "The barbecue is just over there along with everything you need." She pointed to the built in barbecue which was in a sunken patio close to the kitchen of the main house.
"Isn't that a little sexist." said Kendal with a laugh.
"Maybe." said Marissa grinning, "But I don't have a clue how they work and don't men like burning stuff?"
"Well I like burning stuff." said Ryan, getting up to help.
"Just not the burgers please." said Camilla laughing. "Tell you what, I'll come and give you a hand."
While Camilla and Ryan when off to start the barbecue Marissa came over to check on Bianca.
"Did you want to move out of the sun?"
"I'm good for a little longer." said Bianca.
"Well I also brought you out a wrap."
"Thanks." said Bianca, she was feeling a little underdressed in just a bathing suit now that the guests were arriving. Marissa helped her into the sleeves and Bianca tied the cord around her waist. She touched the blue and white fabric, it was very familiar. It was the same wrap that Marissa had worn by the pool when they had gone away together to the lakes. Bianca stayed with that memory for a moment, thinking about how far she and Marissa had come since then. In that moment they were both burying their feelings because they were so afraid. Now they were together all that fear and doubt seemed ridiculous.
"A penny for your thoughts." said Marissa.
Bianca smiled and squeezed Marissa's hand.
"I'm just thinking about how we were meant to be."
"Yes we are." said Marissa stealing a quick kiss.
...
"Mommy! Momma 'Rissa!" called Gabby.
Reggie and his two small companions had finally made it to the pool side.
"Hello sweetie." said Bianca, grinning at her youngest, "Have you got a kiss for me too?"
"Magic kisses." The little girl cried.
Gabby wrapped her arms tightly around her mommy's neck and kissed her nose three times.
"Hi Reggie." said Marissa greeting her girlfriends cousin.
Reggie was scooping Ayesha up into her arms.
"You have a really nice place here." he said admiringly.
"We are in the pool house right now." said Marissa pointing a thumb in the direction of her and AJs home. "The big house is waiting until we can all be together." She smiled at Bianca, who was still being cuddled by her daughter. "Which hopefully won't be long now."
"Shush," warned Bianca, "No Jinxing."
"Mommy." said Gabby climbing onto Bianca's lap."
"Yes sweetie."
"I have news."
"You do?"
"Oh she does." said Reggie. "It's very impressive."
"Well come on them, tell us." said Bianca delightedly.
Gabby grinned, excitement in her eyes.
"At Miranda Centre Playtots I showed Deedee how to draw a fishy, and Miss Criscito saw and she had me show Mary and Ford and Kavita and Sol and Timmy and we all drewed fishys and she is going to make an underwater picture on the wall with all the fishys in and 'Eesha and the very little ones are doing sea weed and rocks."
"I did pink rocks" said Ayesha enthusiastically.
"That sound amazing Ayesha," said Bianca smiling up at the toddler in her cousin's arms, "And Gabby this is huge news! A wonderful art project all because of your special fish!"
"Wonderful indeed." agreed Marissa. "And you showed all those children how to draw. You are so clever."
Gabby was so pleased with herself, it looked like she might burst.
"You know you still have to show me how you draw these amazing fishys." said Bianca smiling proudly at her little girl.
Gabby looked from Reggie and Marissa pleadingly.
"Well why don't I go and grab you some paper." offered Marissa , "So you can show you mommy what a genius you are."
"Thank you." said Gabby politely.
"You are very welcome." said Marissa, giving the little girl a kiss on her forehead before popping back into the house.
Suddenly there was a loud scream from the play area and all the adults turned their heads, but as it was followed by a series of wolf howls they realised it was part of a new game.
"They are certainly having fun." said Kendal coming over to join Bianca and Reggie, "Although I should probably go and make sure Ian isn't being a nuisance to his brother."
"I can go." offered Reggie. He turned to Ayesha who was still in his arms. "What do you say midget, do want to see what the other kids are up to?"
Ayesha shook her head.
"I wanna stay with Gabby."
"I can watch her." said Bianca patting a vacant spot on her lap.
"Yeah, would you like Bianca to watch you?" Reggie asked, knowing sometimes Ayesha could be shy around adults.
Ayesha nodded silently.
"Okay, be good." said Reggie, blowing a kiss to Ayesha before sitting her on Bianca's knee. "Remember momma is just over there." He added pointing towards the barbecue area where two figures were being slightly obscured by a cloud of smoke.
"We know you just want to go and play." teased Kendal as Reggie headed off across the lawn.
"Obviously." said Reggie with a wide grin. He walked towards the play area, turning back once more to give them another grin."Just a big kid me!"
Another wolf howl rose up when the kids saw him coming and led by AJ, they all charged out to try and wrestle the intruder to the ground.
"He so great with the kids." said Kendal shaking her head in disbelief.
"He is, isn't he." said Bianca, a thoughtful expression on her face.
"Here you go Gabster." said Marissa, coming back with paper and crayons. She cleared a space on the little side table between the sun loungers and pulled it closer for Gabby to rest on.
Marissa looked up at the gleeful sound of her son's whoops and saw him being lifted up by Reggie, who had Spike and Ian clinging to his legs while Miranda and Emma pulled at his right arm.
"He's not exactly a good influence." she said with a laugh.
"They are having fun." said Bianca.
"Mommy!" called Gabby, demanding her mother's attention.
"I'm looking." said Bianca. She shifted Ayesha's weight slightly so she could lean closer to watch her daughter's famous fish drawing.
...
"So hostess with the most-ess, is there much more to be done?" Kendal asked Marissa as they turned to survey their progress with the buffet table.
"Just a couple of bowls of chips and then we are pretty much ready for when the barbecue gets going." Marissa glanced at her watch. "Erica should be here soon."
Marissa was surprised to see Kendal's features darken slightly at the mention of her mother…
…
*There is quite a bit of back and forth in this chapter, I hope it flows okay.*