As always, a heartfelt thanks to Kenji for his perseverance and eyes! Thanks to everyone for bearing with me on this. Hopefully, you're still enjoying reading it, as much as I am writing.
Chapter 54
Another three years have passed.
Chloe...30...Maisie...33...Belle...46...Maggie...21...Lily...19...Tom...55...Chrissie...57...Emily...56
So, where were we? And where
are
we?
So, no, it wasn't the last night we spent with Maggie. Even though Belle and Maisie were adamant that our intimacy would only be for that one, beautiful night, they quickly relented. Quelle surprise, eh? It took us a few months to purge our initial lust and desires, but after that, Maggie and everyone relaxed into a special relationship. I would never say the fervour died out completely, but it tailed off, as it had to. After all, she had had to discover and learn on her own. But Maggie became this little, welcome satellite that spun around us, landing every so often and reconnecting. She was always welcome, Belle going so far as to give her a key to the house.
Belle became her mentor, for lack of another word. Her encouragement and support helped her navigate art school, even going so far as setting up Maggie's first art show.
She had broached the idea of taking Maggie to Paris for a long weekend, assuring us both, it was for the art and not her libido. Maisie and I had never laughed so hard! After teasing her for a day or two, we lovingly told her it was fine with us. Maisie and I knew it would open Maggie to a whole new world, art and otherwise, so how could we say no?
They kept in constant contact with us, messaging and FaceTiming every morning and night. Of course, we gently harassed her, asking if she couldn't afford a room with two beds? I must admit, they looked glorious together. Maisie and I laughed, telling Maggie we were giving her an exam when she returned, just to see what she had learned about modern art.
Maggie's style was slowly emerging and she gradually found her way to portraiture, an area she was especially keen to explore. Belle and my parents even provided her with several commissions, and her work was getting noticed. Her work was kind of mad, in a contemporary way, though. She certainly saw the world and people differently! On the strength of her unusual approach to portraits, she was invited to the Frieze Art Fair and was well received.
Lily had begun her BA in creative writing, here in London. As a side, she's studying American literature, probably because moms and dad were always pushing the American 'classics' on her. Maggie is the ever-present Big Sister, cajoling, reassuring and supporting her.
We've had our 'problems' over the last five years, but who hasn't? The 'older' Belle gets, the more these little insecurities raise their ugly heads. We still have our Sunday night talks, a huge help to nip problems in the bud. Our relationship is tactile, loving, honest and fulfilling, though. We've all found our niche and worked so well together.
We work because of our differences. We have so much in common, but a lot
not
in common, too. We see things from the viewpoint and perspective of the other, so it only adds to our relationship. Our reliance has grown stronger, the longer we are together. We are always there for one another and always support one another.
Jon is now a fully qualified barrister and engaged! He lives up north with his beautiful solicitor wife, McKenzie. They're quite the power couple! Belle and he still get 'together,' with our continued blessings. Thank God we like him! As much as our relationship was hard for him when we all came together, he sees his mother as happy and content and accepts us more as time goes on. He has often said, privately, that he was waiting for us to 'dump' his mom, to which we always laughed. Belle's an integral part of us, of who we are and who we want to be. I can honestly say our love has only grown over these last five years.
Now, money. It's never been a huge problem for us, I must say. Well, at least not for Maisie and me. We 'pay our way' every month and rein in Belle on her incessant spoiling of us. Last year, she sat us down with Jon to discuss her will. Jeez. Already? She generously signed over half the house to Maisie and me, with the proviso that 'when' she passes, we can stay in the house. Jon was happy to sign off on that, although Maisie and I felt she had gone too far in her generosity. Neither Maisie nor I have ever used our Black credit cards, much to Belle's annoyance. Tont pi!
Daddy was going to trade in his beloved Porsche for a new model and asked ME if I wanted his 'old' one! What? Uh, yes, please! He knew how much I loved it and loved driving it. On more than one occasion, he'd toss me his keys and let me take him out for a long drive. More often than not, we'd end up somewhere in the Home Counties, barrelling down some thicket-hedged road, daddy encouraging me to let loose. I loved the viral power when I downshifted, then rapidly run through the tight gears but eased out at one-hundred-and-ten miles per hour.
He gently scoffed at me, knowing that wasn't anywhere near the fastest the car would go. I could have so easily fucked him, there and then, the image of me bent over the bonnet and him taking me, was always a distraction. He had even let me borrow it for long weekends, even though Belle has kept hers. It did seem impractical, to say the least. I mean, I can't very well go loading it up with shovels, surveying equipment and wellies! Still, how could I pass up a bloody free Porsche? As I was spending more and more time designing and overseeing, I justified the generous gift. Yeah, as if I had to justify a bloody Porsche, eh? What a dad, eh?
So...the question of children has been brought up every few months or so, mainly by Belle! Maisie and I had broached the subject over the years, but our careers seemed to be more important. Now though, the idea was bubbling away inside me. I wouldn't say I was getting 'baby pangs,' although Belle and Maisie would dispute that! But the longer we were all together, the more I wanted to share this with these two women. We had the support around us, we could afford a child and were kind of eager to expand our family. We began looking around at IVF. Jeez. What a minefield that was! Belle was so damn supportive, offering to pay for the whole process. Maisie and I, somewhat reluctantly, accepted her kind offer.
One night, after making love, the conversation trailed back to babies. Maisie and I were uncertain about the IVF route, if only because of the 'unknown' about the donor. It just felt, well, off for us. It was a huge stumbling block that we couldn't seem to get our heads around. Sure, the child would be 'mine' but the 'father'?
Then, out of the blue, Maisie said, "How about your, uhm, dad?"
What. The. Fuck!
"No. Wait, Chloe. Just hear me out, aye? It makes sense, hmm? You know him..." she began to say, then broke into a fit of giggles. Yes, I had to slap her! "Why not, aye? He'd be perfect, leannan. We all know him, he has wonderful genes, what with Maggie and Lily. Why not?" she seriously asked. The room went deathly quiet, as we all mulled it around our endorphin-rattled brains.
"I...I can't ask him to...impregnate me, Mais. God! I mean..." but I couldn't think of a reason why not.
Maisie and Belle laughed. And laughed.
"Don't fucking tease me!" I stammered. "I...I couldn't ask him...could I?" I asked, the idea percolating already.
"Darling. He'd be ideal, hmm? What better way to connect our families?" Belle enthusiastically said.
"So. What? Am I just supposed to go to dad and ask him to give us a baby? He'll think we've gone mad! We have, right? Gone mad?" I seriously asked.
"Chloe. Relax, hen. Take a deep breath, sweetie. We'll all be there, okay? We'll sit and calmly ask if he'd consider it, aye? If he says he's open to the idea, then we talk about the best way to go ahead. We can suggest..." Maisie explained, but I cut her off.
"Don't. Fucking. Say. It!" I hissed, knowing exactly what she was going to say.
"Don't get eggy with me, young lady!" she sternly said. "Now. Why not, hmm? One last time? Don't you dare tell us the idea doesn't...appeal to you, hmm?" she said, without a smirk.
Maisie and Belle were being serious, and not in a prurient, teasing way. I looked at them both and saw how thoughtful and considerate they were.
"Really? You'd, you know, let me sleep with my dad again?" I hopefully asked. "This isn't just to get your jollies, hmm?"
"Fucking behave, Chloe!" Maisie admonished me. "We're serious. Aren't we, Belle? We're doing this for us,
all
of us. If you want to turn this into something sordid, then we drop it. Simple as. Chloe, you want a baby.
We
want a baby. At least let's talk with your parents, aye? Hell, they may laugh us out of the house, but I think it works."
Belle agreed. "Let's at least talk with them, sweetie. Maisie has come up with a great solution. It won't hurt to ask, hun. I think they'll be flattered, actually."
Flattered, huh? 'Oh, by the way, moms. Do you mind if your husband impregnates your daughter?' Yeah. Sure...
But that's what we did. Well, after me hemming and hawing for a week. I called mom and asked if she and mum would like to come to lunch on Saturday. Just them.
"Is...
is everything okay? What
'
s going on, darling?" she asked, concern etched in her voice.
"No, mom. We're all fab, 'kay? We just haven't had a Girl's Day in so long, so thought this would be a good time. Say you'll both come... please?" I practically begged.
"Well, as long as everything is good with you all, I'
ll check with Emily and get back to you," she said, and I knew she was smiling.
