by Tey Holden
“Yes. You were awake?”
“Yes.”
Blair said nothing more on the subject, she couldn’t. She couldn’t tell her that her kiss was orgasmic. Maybe someday she would, but not right now. Alex seemed to be waiting for some sort of response, when there was none forthcoming, she started the car and continued to drive, feeling somewhat disappointed that Blair was not willing to be as open as she was about her feelings.
Blair, however, was having a great time thinking that Alex was awake during the kiss. The thought was exhilarating. Alex grinned when she saw Blair’s satisfied look. She also realized the enormity of what she had just revealed. She pressed for more. “Why won’t you tell me how you felt about that kiss?”
“Because we agreed that I would respond in kind.”
“But you haven’t responded at all.”
“Okay, I’m sorry. Maybe I’m confused too. I have to handle my feelings and make sure not to trespass on my word to not make you uncomfortable. I think I’m too conscious of what I say or don’t.”
“And?”
“And what?”
“For God’s sake woman! How did you feel about that kiss?”
Blair smiled thinking also of the exposed nipple. “I loved it.” She looked at her. Alex shook her head and smiled.
“I guess that I’d have to be naked and in bed with you for you to tell me your true feelings for me.”
Blair looked her way and smiled. “Given that situation, I don’t think words would be necessary.” She grinned and looked out the window. Alex did the same, but ultimately, they met each other’s gaze and smiled. A man and a donkey were coming up the road and Blair had to grab hold of the wheel because Alex would have run them over with the car.
“Whoa!” Blair exclaimed.
“Oh my God! Stop distracting me! You are going to get us killed!” Alex said as she chuckled.
***
All was quiet for a little while until Alex broke the silence. “Now that we are getting closer, let me give you a little intro to my story-book life that you’ve read some about. The house itself will raise immediate questions. Although, I’m afraid you might know a lot already.”
“Because of the books?” Blair probed.
“Yes.”
“But you said that there’s a lot of fiction in them, right?”
Alex did not respond. A very astonished Blair looked at her. Alex was smiling.
“Alex, it’s mostly fiction, isn’t it?” Blair inquired with a quizzical facial gesture.
Alex grinned and looked to Blair raising her right eyebrow. An Addy gesture she had picked up. “Some things are fiction, others are distortions of the truth, and others are very real.”
“Shit! Are your moms like in the book?”
“They are better. You cannot imagine what it was like to be raised by two women pouring love from every one of their hair follicles!”
Blair turned around in her seat to face Alex. Alex kept driving and grinning. All of a sudden Blair wondered whether she would be able to match the kind of love that Alex had been exposed to all her life. “So, what’s real and what’s not?”
Alex slowed down as she turned into a narrow country road. “This has to be done slow. I will not throw you in the deep end of the pool, I promise.”
“You are scaring me.”
“Don’t be. You’ll do fine. Weren’t you the one who said that whatever happens will either make us or break us?”
“Oh! I can see how that comment is really helpful now.”
Alex laughed. “Are you chickening out?”
“I wasn’t until a couple of minutes ago, now I’m not too sure.”
Alex chuckled and continued to drive. Blair looked out the window enchanted with the scenery. “This is beautiful country. This is what Scotland really is. Look at those green hills. My God, it’s beautiful!”
Alex continued to smile. “This is fabulous. I can’t believe that you grew up in all this beauty. No wonder you are so upbeat all the time. Just looking at all this peace and beauty can lift anyone’s spirits. I can see why Pete likes it here so much. He really doesn’t stop talking about the horses. Little horses, I guess it’s that pony he rides, right?”
“Do me a favor? Promise me that you will remember all those comments later?”
“Okay.” Blair continued to look out the window, exhilarated by the scenery and the anticipation.
Alex slowed down the car and turned right. In front of them was a beautiful black iron gate. “First thing, the house is real.” She pressed the clicker and the gates opened. Alex pressed on the accelerator, and after driving about half a mile amongst rows of beautiful trees, she came to an opening, exposing the Manor and its beautifully landscaped grounds in its full glory.
Alex stopped the car as Blair’s jaw dropped. “Oh My God! It’s more beautiful than I ever imagined. I don’t think your mom did it justice in her books.”
“Please, don’t tell her that, or she’ll rewrite everything again and God knows what she’d do then.” She laughed. “Welcome to my home, the once Royal Inn of Scotland.”
“Wow! I feel like I’ve just fallen into the story!”
“I’m sorry to break it to you like this, but you have already fallen into the story.”
Blair looked at her astonished. “What?”
Alex drove up to the circular driveway of the Manor and parked in front of the house. Blair continued to look outside totally captivated with the beauty of the surroundings. When they got out of the car, Blair was still observing everything in awe. Alex went around the car and took her hand.
“I can’t believe it’s a real place.” She looked at Alex in total disbelief.
“That area over there was where Andre and Margo’s restaurant was located. Now you know why they know me so well. They started their restaurant right here at the Inn with my mothers. I’ve tried everything they have ever made.” She laughed.
Blair laughed. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing and seeing. The dream world she had read about so many times in all those wonderful stories was real and revealing itself to her. Would she now be part of some future story also? Is that what Alex meant? She smiled at the wild thought. How strange and how wonderful it all felt. “Please, pinch me. This can’t be happening. I cannot possibly be here.”
Alex chuckled. “I still can’t believe that you have read all the books, and how you feel about them. I’m glad you did, though. It will help you see and appreciate it all even more. This place is magical to me. I think if ever anyone was deeply rooted to a place, it’s me. Come on. Let me take you into my fairy tale life.”
“What else is there?”
“You’ll see.” Alex took her hand and pulled her towards the house. “Let me walk you slowly through it.” Alex pulled her by the hand. Blair was so astonished that moving seemed like a great task.
“What happened to the Inn? In the book it was successful.”
“Oh, yes, it was very successful. I’ll tell you what happened later. Come on, let’s go inside, my moms are dying to meet you.”
“Maybe you should have called them to let them know we were already here. I should have reminded you. I’m so enchanted by it all, I totally forgot.”
“If I had, M’Addy would have been out here already. They are as eager and as nervous to meet you as you are them.”
“They are?”
Alex continued to pull her towards the house. Once inside, Alex announced herself in her usual manner. “Moms we are here!” Alex screamed at the top of her lungs from the door. Blair chuckled. Everything was exactly like in the stories.
Unknown to the young pair, they had been spotted and observed from the office window since the minute the car pulled up the driveway. “She looks athletic.” Karen commented.
“She’s gorgeous.” Addy replied.
“I thought you never liked any other woman but me?” Karen protested.
“I said I have never been attracted to any other woman but you,
honey, but I never said I was blind!” Addy nudged Karen and gave her a quick kiss, and a wink. “Come on. Let’s go meet them.”
Karen was astonished following Addy. “And now I find out?” Age had not changed Addy and Karen, they still acted like two young lovers.
They came to the foyer to meet the younger women. Addy came in loudly, in what she called her ‘Latin’ way. Just like Alex had screamed when she came inside the house. “Honeybunch!”
“Mamaaaaa!” Alex responded hugging her. Karen shook her head looking at them, but her eyes were fixed on Blair, the woman who had captivated her daughter. Blair was so enchanted with Addy’s welcome and with the way she hugged Alex that she was totally unaware of the close scrutiny she was getting from Karen.
Alex let go of Addy and came over to Karen and gave her a hug and huge kiss.
“Mamas, I would like to introduce to you the lovely and very overwhelmed Dr. Blair Reilley, aunt of one little Pete. Blair, these are my most extraordinary mothers.” She stood next to Addy.
“This is my mother Karen in the stories.” Alex kissed her. And this other devil right here,” she took Addy’s arm and kissed her as well, “is M’Addy, the writer of the stories.” Blair was overwhelmed with emotion.
“It’s an incredible honor to meet you.” She came forward to shake Addy’s hand, but found herself in the midst of the biggest hug she had ever gotten from anyone other than Alex.
“You have no idea how glad I am to finally meet the person who has caused such a commotion, and may I also thank you once again for taking care of Ms. Stubborn when she was sick.” In the hug, Blair felt an overwhelming sense of relief. As expected, Addy had the effect of getting everyone to smile.
Alex rolled her eyes when she heard Addy’s comment. Blair looked to Alex already wanting to know more about the commotion that Addy mentioned. She then shook Karen’s hand. “She’s the hugger in the family.” Karen tried to explain Addy’s actions as much as she could in her customary way. Blair remembered that in the stories Karen was never too happy with Addy hugging strangers. Blair smiled but remained quiet.
In truth, she was in awe at the resemblance between Alex and Karen. Addy noticed how Blair looked from mother to daughter in amazement. “Aren’t they beautiful?” She extended both her hands under the chins of mother and daughter. Alex rolled her eyes and Karen simply smiled loving the love and admiration of her enchanting wife. “One thing about the Larsen women, they are beautiful at any age. In fact, I think I can say—.”
“M’Addy you can say whatever you want to, but not now.” Alex stopped her, took Blair’s arm, and started to walk towards the kitchen.
“Thank God!” Karen exclaimed. When everyone laughed, Blair felt right at home.
As they walked behind the young women to the kitchen, Addy leaned into Karen and whispered, “I was only going to say that you get better with age. What’s wrong with that? I think it’s a great compliment.”
“Baby, I think it’s a great compliment and you can tell me all about it later tonight.” Karen tried to whisper, but her voice carried and the younger women heard the comment, looked at each other and smiled.
Blair leaned into Alex to whisper in her ear, “are they always like this?”
Alex nodded still smiling. “They are incorrigible. I don’t know how I turned out normal. Really.”
“I think they are amazing.”
“Just wait until you know them better.”
“I’ve got some goodies to eat and some wine to wash it down also. Do you like wine, Blair?” Addy asked.
“Yes, ma’am, I do. By the way, I must tell you that I’m a great fan. I’ve read all your books.”
“Oh, dear God!” Karen’s exclamation made Blair grin.
“Please, call me Addy or M’Addy, but not ma’am, that makes me feel old, and I refuse to age. And I apologize for my blonde over there. She gets embarrassed by what I say in my books, sometimes.”
“Why? I think you are the most romantic writer I’ve ever read. I mean, I’ve been in group discussions of your books and people have actually cried when talking about your love scenes. I mean the passion, the feelings. Your characters are so vibrant and full of life! People feel alive with your stories. You have a great imagination.”
“Imagination?” Addy asked.
Karen began to cough to the point that she was almost choking. Alex bit her lip to hold her laughter. “Oh dear, here honey, have some water.”
Blair came over to check her. “Are you well, Ms. Larsen?”
“Yes, I’m fine and please call me Karen.” Blair still had trouble looking at her. She was an older version of Alex.
Addy and Karen looked at each other as Karen recuperated from her coughing spell. Then they both looked at Alex with wondering faces. After making sure that Karen was fine, Blair wandered off to the patio taking in the scenery and talking about the beauty of the place. “Does she think the stories are fake?” Addy asked.
“I told her some things were real and that others were fiction.”
“Fiction?” Karen asked in awe.
Mom, I have to go slow. She’s been very nervous about meeting you guys.”
“How are things going with you and her?” Karen asked.
Alex looked at both and first addressed Karen. “Mom, you need to back off. Things are fine, and if what you want to know is if I’m sleeping with her, the answer is no.” Then she addressed Addy. “Did you remember that I asked for separate rooms?” Karen smiled admiring her daughter’s direct approach, an Addy acquired character trait.
“I did. You are in your room, and she’s got the one next to yours. I thought to keep her close, just in case either felt like an overnight visit.” Addy said in a teasing tone.
“FYI, M’Addy, this would be the last place in the world where any ‘overnight visit’ would take place, if such a thing was ever to happen!” She walked away to find Blair.
“Hmm. We are edgy today. I detect sexual tension.” Addy remarked.
Karen grinned. “You heard her. Let’s stay away from all of that, Addypooh. Let life follow its course, as it did for us, okay?” Addy walked to the kitchen in silence, while Karen continued to smile at the lack of reply.
***
After a while, the young women came back inside. “I love your house.”
“Thank you, dear. I suppose Alex has told you about the history of the house, right?”
“Yes, she just did. Although, I feel I’m being spoon fed information.”
“Yes, the Little Bit is kind of sneaky sometimes.”
Blair smiled. “Yeah, the Little Bit is certainly a sneaky one. Stubborn too.” Alex made a face and stuck out her tongue.
Addy laughed. “You know, Blair, I’m not going to go there today. I want to remain on speaking terms with her this weekend. I’m already in hot water as it is,” Addy remarked.
Blair smiled wondering what could possibly have Addy in hot water with Alex, but supposed that it might be a mother-daughter thing and decided to stay out of it. She also thought that the matter could relate to her, and that the question and any reply could be awkward.
The women gathered around the huge kitchen island. In Blair’s mind, the island was more of a continent than an island. This had been the Inn’s kitchen that was modified to become the manor’s kitchen when it later became their home. The Inn might have been modified to become a residence, but everything was still of humongous proportions. The kitchen island was a three-sectional structure, resembling more of a bar type configuration than a kitchen island. The top was all granite, like the rest of the kitchen counters. It was amazing. Blair could not believe the size of the place.
“So, what happened to the Inn?” Blair asked.
“I thought you said you read the book?”
“Yes, I did. All of them.”
“M’Addy, I told Blair that the books have a lot of fiction.” Alex tried to remind Addy to no avail.
“Well, there is some fiction, but most of it
is not.” Addy added.
Karen spat out her drink in a spray, which fortunately landed in the sink. Blair was dumbfounded with the revelation, and Karen’s reaction. It was absolutely amazing to watch their interactions. It was obvious from the way Addy looked at Karen, that she adored every single one of her words and gestures. And as reserved as Karen was, it was very evident that she was equally fascinated with Addy. The way Karen watched and listened to her wife was enchanting.
Alex raised her hands surrendering to the situation and chuckling. “Blair, didn’t I tell you about them? Expect the unexpected! Enjoy the rollercoaster ride! Welcome to my life!” Blair smiled realizing that the descriptions were very accurate with regards to their characters.
“Sit, honey.” Addy said and Blair sat on one of the stools as instructed. Addy brought more food and Karen poured more wine. Blair was on cloud nine, not only was she sharing time with the women of her beloved books, she was the center of their attention.
“Alex needs to show you around later. But, for starters, let me just tell you that this was our only inn. The Inns of Europe never existed. I made them up to add glamour to the story. We only had the Inn of Scotland, keeping up with it, and Karen’s legal work became too much work, and that was when we sold the concept of the small intimate home-like inns to a European hospitality company. While the inn was operational, we lived in the cottage and then, after that horrifying storm when the cottage almost fell on us, we moved to the Manor house, just like in the book.” Thankfully, Addy did not provide any information regarding the profit they made from the sale of ‘the concept’ of the intimate, home-type inn, as Addy called it, or what became of the concept later. Both Karen and Alex were surprised that Addy provided so little information on the subject.
“And the stables?”
“When we had the inn, an independent contractor ran the stables. The horse breeding and racing took off after Alex was born. Alex can take you there later.”
