Thank you for your reviews this week - I seem to be stuck in a loop of Minx cuteness at the moment I hope you don't mind!
SPOILERS - this week - Erica begins to plan her wedding, Kendal finds a moment to catch up with Griffin and Carol Robinson makes her first moves on the run up to JRs trial
...
Marissa was still half asleep when she became aware to the feeling of warm breath on her cheek and a warm body entwined with her own. With a sigh she leant into the sensation, following the breath to seek out a soft and tender morning kiss. The kisses were returned with equal gentleness, which made her smile. She opened her eyes and pulled away to find Bianca gazing at her with an equally wistful expression on her face.
"Good morning." said Marissa with happy yawn.
"A very good morning." said Bianca, her own smile growing brighter.
Marissa laughed and then gave a playful growl of annoyance.
"You are such a flirt!"
"Sorry, I can't help it when it comes to you." said Bianca. She gazed back at Marissa a confident glint in her eye. "Besides you're the one who woke me with a kiss… again"
Marissa bit her lip coyly.
"It seemed the thing to do."
Bianca leant closer and nuzzled her nose against Marissa's.
"Oh, I'm not complaining." she said with a waggle of her eyebrows.
Marissa swatted her.
"Flirt."
"You don't like it?"
Marissa laughed and found herself getting lost in Bianca's chocolate brown eyes.
"I love it!" she sighed. "I love everything about you!"
She gazed down at Bianca's lips and leaned in to taste them once more, passion building up in her movements as she pressed closer.
Bianca gave a blissful groan.
"Every morning should start just like this."
"Mmm." moaned Marissa in agreement, as Bianca silenced her lips with more kisses.
…
Breakfast was a little less chaotic than the rush the day before.
AJ, Miranda and Gabby had already decided their seats around the breakfast table and were all happily shovelling in mouthfuls of cereal.
"Momma 'Rissa?" asked Gabby with her mouth full.
"What Gabster?" asked Marissa, after taking a sip of her coffee.
"Will you do my hair for me?" Gabby asked. "I want pigtails today."
"I think I can manage that." said Marissa. She ran her fingers through her short pixie cut. "Not that I have much practice."
"Can you do my hair too?" Miranda asked.
"Sure I can be this morning's hair dresser." said Marissa. "How about it AJ, do you want pigtails too?"
AJ didn't look like he thought the joke was that funny.
"No." he said, sulkily. He had been secretly hoping his mom had forgotten the fuss she had made about him getting a haircut. He hated getting a haircut!
AJ noticed Gabby looking thoughtfully at him.
"You know you could have pigtails if you wanted." she said "Your hair is really long!"
"Come on guys eat your breakfast." said Bianca, noticing the tension in the little boy's face and realising he needed a distraction. "Kendal will be here to pick you up in a bit and you won't be ready!"
…
AJ and Miranda had been successfully collected by Kendal for the school run. Bianca was now getting Gabby ready so Marissa could drop them off at the Miranda Centre on her way to work.
"Poor AJ." said Bianca, as she pulled Gabby into her coat.
"Was he alright do you think?" Marissa asked guiltily. "He just desperately needs a haircut or soon he won't be able to see where he's going. He just hates going to the hairdressers"
"I used to feel that way about the dentist." admitted Bianca. "He'll be fine. Maybe you could ask Opal to come here. We can all get a trim and he won't feel singled out."
"Can I get my hair cut like 'Rissa's?" Gabby asked, who had clearly been listening in.
"If you want." said Bianca giving her daughter a grin and playing with her two bunches. "But then you won't be able to have these adorable pigtails."
"Oh." said Gabby a contemplative look in her eyes. It was clearly something to think about.
Her youngest daughter successfully buttoned into her coat Bianca straightened up.
"So are we ready." she asked
Marissa grabbed her purse from the table.
"Ready."
"Ready!" agreed Gabby.
Marissa held out her hand for the youngest Montgomery to take.
"Then let's go." she said.
Marissa reached out to open the door just as there was a knock on it. She opened the door to find a delivery guy on their door step.
"Miss Montgomery?" he asked.
"Ms Tasker actually." she corrected, she stepped aside for Bianca.
"Can I help you?" Bianca asked.
"Miss Bianca Montgomery?" the delivery guy asked once more.
"Last time I checked." said Bianca breezily, giving Marissa a sideways grin, not sure what this was about.
The man handed her a letter.
"Can you sign?" he asked holding out a clip board.
Bianca scribbled her signature.
"And Ms Tasker." said the delivery guy, handing two envelopes to Marissa. Marissa took the letters from his hand in confusion before signing her name below Bianca's.
Both women shared a puzzled look as the delivery man departed.
"I wonder what it is?" said Bianca tearing open the letter.
Marissa did the same. She read the first line and her heart dropped. It was a court summons. They wanted her as a witness for the prosecution for JR's trial.
Bianca looked equally unhappy about her letter.
"JR." she sighed. "Just when we thought he was out of our lives for good."
Marissa's mouth felt dry as she looked at the second letter. She opened it with trepidation only to have her worse fears confirmed.
Marissa collapsed onto the step in despair.
"How could he do that again… how?"
Bianca took the letter from Marissa's unresisting hand. It was another court summons, this time for AJ as a witness for the defence.
"AJ is just settling into his new home. This will only shake him all up again" sighed Marissa, "How can this be happening now?"
Seeing Marissa looking so sad, Gabby did the only thing she could, leaning over to give her a hug.
"We can refuse." said Bianca.
Marissa looked up at her.
"Can we?"
"I'll give my Uncle Jack a call." said Bianca. "Marissa, it's going to be alright!"
…