“You haven’t gone to see a doctor yet?” Kezia asked, her eyes widening. “No, of course, you haven’t. Christ, Juliet. I’m making you an appointment right now.”
Juliet looked caught between fear and relief. “Thanks,” she said. “I’d really like to know if she’s okay.”
“Oh, sweetie,” said Kezia, reaching up to take her sister’s face in her hands. “I’m sure she’s fine. How could she not be? Look how much her mother loves her.”
Juliet nodded, sniffing back a few of her own tears.
Watching Juliet singing to the baby had flipped a switch in Kezia. All of a sudden, she realized how much this baby meant to her sister. How it was more than just a baby; it was the chance for the loving, understanding family that they had never had. She didn’t want Juliet to give that up. “You know,” said Kezia, standing up, “my lease is almost up.”
Juliet frowned, not following Kezia’s logic.
“I thought that, maybe, if you wanted, I could rent something with two bedrooms. That way you and the baby can live with me.” Kezia tucked a stray curl of hair behind Juliet’s ear.
Juliet’s eyes widened. “Kez…really? You’d do that? You’d…you’d want to?”
Kezia scoffed. “Of course! I’m your sister. I love you, sweetie, no matter how long it’s been.”
“But…but how would you afford it?” Juliet asked, taking Kezia’s hand in hers.
“We’ll work something out,” Kezia shrugged. In reality, she had no idea how she’d afford it. “I’ll get some more catering shifts.”
“But then you’ll never finish your degree,” Juliet argued.
“Don’t worry about that now,” said Kezia. “You just focus on getting through high school.”
“Kez…” Juliet sniffed again, “Thank you. I’d love to. I…does that mean…you’ll let me keep the baby?” Juliet looked up hopefully.
“It’s not about me letting you do anything. This is your body, Juliet. It’s your choice. But, if you want to keep her, I’ll help.”
“Thank you!” Juliet said, launching herself out of her chair and into Kezia’s arms. Crying openly, she clung to her sister. “Thank you, thank you,” she repeated, sobbing into Kezia’s shoulder.
Kezia stroked her hair and held her tight. “It’s all going to be all right, honey,” she murmured, though, in reality, she had no idea how she would make this work. But Juliet had enough to worry about already.
Chapter Five
The next day, Juliet and Kezia were waiting in the doctor’s office when Juliet looked up from her magazine and said, “Hey, that'll be our first Thanksgiving together in six years. That’s awesome!”
Kezia raised her eyebrows. “It’s awesome that we haven’t spent Thanksgiving together in six years?”
“No, it’s awesome that we’ll be together for Baby’s first Thanksgiving, silly,” Juliet smiled.
“Oh,” said Kezia. “Yeah, I guess that is kind of cool.”
The two sisters grinned at each other as the nurse came out, calling Juliet’s name.
The appointment went well. Both sisters cried when the baby appeared on the ultrasound screen, its tiny, black and white limbs waving back and forth. The doctor smiled and silently handed them a box of tissues. “Everything looks good,” she said. “You’re going to have a little girl.”
“I knew it!” Juliet crowed through her tears. “I knew it!”
Afterward, they stopped by the Galapagos to show Jenny the ultrasound pictures. But soon all everyone in the office was crowded around the fuzzy pictures, oohing and ahhing and congratulating a bright Juliet.
“So, I take it you’ve changed your mind about adoption?” Jenny said as she and Kezia stood back, watching the gaggle of women.
Kezia sighed. “Yeah. We grew up in such a cold home. How can I deny Juliet the chance to love and be loved? I don’t know how we’ll manage, but we will. My lease is up at the end of December. We’ll be cramped for a while, but then I’ll find us a bigger place.”
Jenny nodded. “Or you can stay with me, and she can live at yours until you find somewhere better.”
“No, I couldn’t—”
“Just say yes, Kezia.”
“Yes,” said Kezia, smiling at her girlfriend. “Thank you.”
Jenny nodded. “Also, do you have, like, a portfolio or anything of your design work?”
“Uhh,” said Kezia, surprised, “sure, why?”
“Oh, I’m just curious,” said Jenny. “Could I take a look?”
Kezia shrugged. “Of course. I’ll bring it over tonight.”
“Great,” said Jenny. “Also, a few friends are coming over for Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday so save the date. You and Juliet both.”
Kezia wrapped her arms around Jenny. “You’re so good,” she said.
Jenny shrugged. “It’s not like I’ll be cooking. I’m just providing the table and the booze. It’s better that way. Besides, it’s time you met my friends properly.”
“I can’t wait,” said Kezia. “Can I bring anything?”
“I think everything is mostly covered, but I’m sure no one would say no to another bottle of wine or an extra pumpkin pie.”
“Duly noted,” said Kezia. “I make a mean pumpkin cheesecake, I’ll have you know.”
Jenny looked her girlfriend straight in the eye. “Marry me,” she said solemnly.
Kezia giggled.
“No, I’m serious. Pumpkin cheesecake is literally my favorite food.”
“Also duly noted,” Kezia smiled. “I’ll make two for Sunday then.”
“I’ve never been so happy,” Jenny replied, pressing her hands to her heart dramatically.
Chapter Six
Between looking for apartments, shifts at the bar, and dealing with Juliet’s school administrators, Thanksgiving weekend rolled around quicker than Kezia thought possible. But she was extremely glad to have a break from explaining her sister’s situation to school board bureaucrats.
To relax, Kezia spent Saturday making pumpkin cheesecakes and, on Sunday afternoon, she and Juliet showed up at Jenny’s apartment each carrying a delicious looking cheesecake in their arms. Jenny opened the door, and her eyes immediately fell to the cakes. “Oh God, someone catches me. I’m going to faint with happiness.”
Laughing, the two sisters followed her into the apartment.
“Never mind the turkey!” Jenny called to the women assembled in the kitchen. “I’m going straight to dessert!”
“Oh my God, those look incredible!” Lily, Miranda’s girlfriend and head of the Galapagos’ HR department, ogled the cheesecakes as Juliet and Kezia set them down on the counter. Passing Kezia cider, she said, “I had no idea you could bake, Kezia. A woman of many talents, it seems. Do you want an apple juice, Juliet? We’ve got a box of that delicious fresh-pressed kind.”
“That would be great,” Juliet smiled.
“I’m Lily, by the way,” she smiled. “I’m with Miranda, the hot blonde.”
Juliet nodded. “Nice to meet you.”
“You too, honey. Now tell me about your baby,” Lily grinned, pouring Juliet a glass of juice. “Got a name yet?”
“Oooh, wait, are we talking about the baby?” Miranda asked, coming over to join them.
“Yes,” said Lily, slinging an arm around Miranda.
“I want in!”
The two women grinned at Juliet and, suddenly, the teen began to cry. Juliet had spent so much time hiding her pregnancy and feeling ashamed of herself that to be offered so much love and support by people who were practically strangers was too much for her.
“Oh shit, honey,” said Miranda, taking the girl into her arms. “Honey, don’t cry!”
Lily looked at Kezia, but Kezia didn’t understand her sister’s tears either.
“It’s just…you’re all so…nice!” Juliet hiccupped, raising her head from Miranda’s shoulder. “My parents kicked me out, but you guys…”
“Oh, sweetie,” said Miranda, rubbing the teen’
s back. “Don’t worry about that. We’ll take care of you.”
The other guests, mostly other Galapagos staff, crowded around, patting Juliet’s shoulder or rubbing her back.
“Poor kid,” said Susan, the backstage manager. “I can’t imagine how hard this has been for you. Whatever you need, you just give us a call.”
“Actually,” Angela, the artistic director, chimed in, “Jill and I have heaps of old baby clothes from when Jacob was born. We’ll bring them over if you want them.”
This brought on a fresh round of tears from Juliet and, laughing, Lily pried her away from Miranda, giving her a clean tea towel to wipe her eyes on. “It’s nothing, girl,” she told her, rubbing the teen’s back. “We want to help.”
Juliet nodded, blowing her nose on the cloth. “I know. That’s the most amazing part.”
The other women laughed.
“You know,” Susan spoke up again, “we’re thinking of starting a daycare at the theater for workers’ kids. You should bring your baby when she’s a bit older. That way you can still go to school.”
“But Juliet and I don’t work at the Galapagos,” said Kezia.
“Actually,” said Jenny, “I wanted to talk to you about that. I showed your portfolio to Angela, and she really liked it.”
Angela, hearing her name, joined them. “Yes,” she said. “You’re this Kezia person? With the lovely interiors?”
“Uhh, yes,” said Kezia.
“Great. We have several shows coming up that take place entirely inside houses, and we used to have this beautiful woman who did all our interiors, but she fell in love with a Frenchman and is moving to Paris next week. Anyway, I was at my wits’ end when Jenny showed up in my office with your portfolio. I think you’d be perfect for the job. What do you say?”
“I…” Kezia looked from Jenny to Angela and back. “I don’t have any experience.”
“Kezia,” said Jenny, rolling her eyes. “The correct answer here is yes.”
“Yes,” said Kezia, grinning. “Oh my God, yes. That would be amazing. I would love to!”
“Excellent. Because, frankly, your talents are wasted at that bar. Though I have to admit, I do love those little bacon-wrapped scallops you guys make. God, I could eat those for days.” Angela licked her lips. “Speaking of which, are we going to eat or what here, ladies?”
“Please! I’m starving!” Lily shouted.
Laughing and screaming, the group slowly settled down around the table, which was nearly invisible under all the food. The turkey was enormous and with perfectly golden, crispy skin. Kezia felt her mouth water just looking at it. As Jenny got up to carve the huge bird, Juliet slipped her hand into Kezia’s under the red tablecloth. Kezia squeezed her sister’s fingers in her own, and the two sisters smiled at each other.
As she looked down the table at the happy, smiling faces, Kezia realized that it didn’t really matter if the family she had once had was broken beyond repair. She’d found another, stronger family here. One that knew how to love and take care of its members, no matter what they did or whom they loved. As she took her plate of turkey from Jenny, Kezia felt her heart swell with love. Never had she felt so happy, safe and, above all else, thankful.
Chapter Seven
The party went on for hours as everyone went back for seconds, then dessert, then seconds of that too. But, slowly, the guests began to trickle out, hugging and kissing everyone goodbye as they did so, each one of them carrying a plastic-wrapped plate of leftovers.
“If you don’t, I’ll be eating turkey sandwiches all the way to Christmas!” said Jenny, forcing Angela’s wife Jill to take a plate of food. “And then I won’t want to eat Christmas dinner, and that’s a crime.”
Laughing, Jill took the plate. “I see you’re not letting go of the pumpkin cheesecake go, though,” she joked.
Jenny shook her head. “Are you kidding me? I’m not a saint, Jill.”
“Aw, come on,” Lily joined in, pouting. “You’ve got Kezia. She can make you another one. Not in our wildest dreams could Miranda or I manage to produce something that delicious.”
“Speak for yourself!” Miranda replied, laughing.
But, at last, all the food was gone or packed away, the bottles were put in the recycling, and the dishes washed and put away. Kezia made a pot of peppermint tea to settle their stomachs but, when she came into the living room with a mug for her sister, she found Juliet slumped sideways on the upright futon, already fast asleep.
Jenny joined her, cradling her own mug of tea. “Turkey will do that to a person,” she said, smiling at the unconscious teen. “Let’s get her into a more comfortable position.”
Amazingly, Juliet barely stirred as they laid her down on the futon, tucking a pillow under her head and covering her gently with a throw blanket.
“Out like a light,” Kezia whispered, smiling.
Jenny nodded. “You know what that means?” she asked with a smile, taking Kezia’s hand in hers.
“What?” Kezia asked.
“That she won’t hear a thing,” said Jenny, brushing Kezia’s knuckles with her lips.
Kezia chuckled, wrapping her arms around Jenny’s neck pressing herself against her. “I love the way you think,” she said.
“Luckily for me,” said Jenny. “Because I don’t think anyone else would ever be willing to hook up with me while I was dressed like a gazillion-year-old wizard.”
Kezia laughed, remembering Jenny’s Hallowe’en costume from the night they’d first slept together. “What are you talking about? That Dumbledore costume was fantastic.”
Chuckling, Jenny pulled Kezia into a deep kiss, tracing her fingers along the other woman’s slender back. Kezia sighed happily. “We haven’t done this enough recently,” she murmured, winding a finger through one of Jenny’s dark curls.
“Having a pregnant teen crash on your couch can have a pretty detrimental effect on your sex life, it’s a fact,” said Jenny as she led Kezia to the bedroom.
“God, Jenny, I’m really—”
“I was joking, Kez,” Jenny interrupted, pulling the door shut behind them.
“Yeah, but—”
“She’s a great kid,” said Jenny, pulling off Kezia’s top and slowly massaging one of the redhead’s full breasts through the lace of her bra. “And you’re a great girlfriend. It’s my pleasure,” she said. “Literally.”
Kezia sighed as Jenny undid her bra. “I’m going to make you so many pumpkin cheesecakes,” she said.
Jenny laughed. “Okay, you caught me. That’s actually why I’m doing this.”
Kezia giggled, pulling Jenny’s top off. “I knew it,” she whispered as they stretched out on the bed.
Tenderly, they undressed each other, trailing kisses along their newly exposed skin, tracing hip bones and rib bones with warm, gentle tongues. Finally, they found themselves lying head to toe and Jenny nuzzled her way between Kezia’s long legs, kissing and nipping the delicate skin of her inner thighs. Kezia giggled and squirmed as she traced a fingertip along the edges of Jenny’s labia.
With a low, appreciative moan, Jenny brought her mouth to Kezia’s mound, sliding her tongue down her wet slit and between her pale folds. Kezia sighed with pleasure and spread Jenny’s pussy open with her fingers, licking her with the flat of her tongue, flicking her clit as she finished. Slowly, teasing each other with long, slow strokes of their tongues, the two women explored each other, working their tongues along every inch of their lover’s most sensitive parts.
Finally, Kezia brought Jenny’s clit into her mouth, rolling it gently between her lips. Jenny groaned, digging her fingers into Kezia’s ass as she buried her face into the redhead’s pussy, her nose brushing Kezia’s taint as she licked and sucked the other woman’s glistening folds. As Kezia began to flick her clit with her tongue, Jenny slid two fingers into her partner, stroking her g-spot with her fingertips. They worked in tandem, their pace quickening in unison as their heads bobbed, each urging the other on until, with a
groan, Kezia came. Feeling Kezia tighten around her fingers and the warm wave of cum drip down her wrist, Jenny gave in to the surging sensation in her clit and let her own orgasm wash over her, her body shuddering against Kezia’s.
Moaning happily, Kezia licked come from Jenny’s pussy and slid two fingers into her almost before her first orgasm had completely faded. Jenny groaned, feeling her walls clench down on Kezia’s fingers as the other woman began to stroke her. Licking her lips, Jenny spread the cheeks of Kezia’s ass and lowered her mouth to the tight whorl of the other woman’s anus. Swirling her tongue around the sensitive knot of nerves, Jenny was rewarded with a gasp and a low groan.
As Kezia stroked and pumped with her fingers, Jenny gently inserted her pinkie up Kezia’s ass, and the other woman gasped and swore. Smiling, Jenny lowered her mouth to Kezia’s skin again. Rocking back and forth against one another, the women licked and sucked each other, their warm, wet mouths setting the other’s skin on fire as the pressure built deep in their bodies. Their rocking became more frantic, and they felt their second orgasms coming. Their soft mewls grew wild pants, and their kisses became nips as they came together with increasing speed. Sweat made their skin slick, and their bodies slid along one another. Suddenly, Jenny groaned, her thighs clamping involuntarily around Kezia’s head as, in a wave of pleasure, her orgasm came crashing down around her.
Feeling her lover come, Kezia smacked Jenny’s ass, and the other woman’s bucking intensified, her pinkie working
Kezia’s ass even more frantically. Burying her face in Jenny’s warm, salty juices, Kezia gasped as felt her body clench around Jenny’s finger. Moaning into Jenny’s pussy, Kezia shuddered as her orgasm crashed over her, drowning her in pleasure.
In the ensuing silence, the two women finally broke apart, each gasping for breath. Slowly, Kezia dragged herself up to the top of the bed, lying down next to Jenny. Smiling, Jenny pushed Kezia’s sweaty hair off her forehead. “Well, that was fun,” she said faintly.
One Little Letter_A Bad Boy, Second Chance Romance Page 32
