by Tey Holden
Addy, who obviously had been enjoying the effects of her third cup of wine, looked at Karen and pouted. “Hum, I hadn’t thought about that possibility.” She pointed a finger at JP.
“Maybe there is a secret love?” JP said adding wood to the fire.
Karen jumped. “Okay, that’s it, I think you two have had too much to drink and we should go.” She called the waiter and asked for the check. Addy and JP stared at each other.
“Are you drunk?” Addy asked JP.
“Nope, you?”
“No. Actually JP, I’m really having a lot of fun. I think we should talk more about this possibility of an ‘amour secret.’ We need to figure her out. Lately she’s been sending confusing signals.”
Oh no, they are into the French talk now! They are both drunk. Karen glanced at Addy while she anxiously waited for the waiter to bring the bill.
Addy was pointing with her finger in the air. “It’s got to be a brunette, she likes brunettes, not redheads. I know that much. The red head didn’t work out. So, we need to think which brunette she might know and like a lot.”
Oh, God, where the hell is this waiter? Karen kept an ear and an eye on the twosome, but desperately continued to search for the waiter.
JP raised his eyebrows. “She told you about that?”
“Yeap, she tells me everything.”
Shit! This waiter better hurry up. The waiter finally showed up. Karen quickly paid the bill and grabbed Addy by the arm. “Let’s go.”
Addy pouted. “Party pooper!”
As they were leaving, Karen chuckled, but gave the evil eye to JP, who drunk and all, got the message.
“Did anybody pay the bill?” Addy asked. “I think we left without paying the bill. They’re gonna come looking for us? Do you see how I get bossed around, JP?”
JP followed. They were already in the parking lot near the car. “Yeah, but I think you let her, you’ve got to put your foot down!” He made a point of putting his foot down and nearly fell except for the fact that he hung on to a parked car.
Karen chuckled. “Don’t worry. Addy, the bill was paid. Come on. You okay, JP?”
“I’d be much better if this car wasn’t moving!” Karen looked back. She saw JP laying on top of the hood a parked car.
She continued to walk with Addy in tow. Addy continued her talk. “I can’t say no to the woman. She’s got me wrapped around her finger.” Karen chuckled. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She had never seen Addy drunk. “What are you looking at Blondie? Don’t tell me you didn’t know that? Karen chuckled, and shook her head. I have to get you drunk more often! No, I didn’t know that!
Karen couldn’t help smile. “Get in the car, now!”
“Yes, boss.” Addy got in and rested her head on the headrest while Karen helped her buckle up. With hooded eyes, Addy focused on Karen as Karen fastened her seat belt. When Karen was done, she looked up and met Addy’s eyes. Being so close, she was tempted to take those sweet lips into hers. But instead, she smiled at the adorable drunken face in front of her. Unable to resist, she kissed her on the cheek. “I’ll be back. Let me go get Frenchy back there. I think he’s having trouble with moving cars.”
New Quarters
Addy and Karen Series – Book 2
Addy and Karen adjust to their “New Quarters” in Scotland where life spins them into a larger than life adventure as they follow Addy’s dream to refurbish the old estate mansion. As they do, they ruffle some feathers and ignite controversy with Karen’s family and the town’s innkeeper. The dream takes off and the journey is filled with successes, failures, friendships and adversaries as they build their new life in Scotland.
Read an excerpt:
When Karen told JP about the move to Scotland, he blasted her through the phone line. “Say what? Are you crazy? What the heck are you guys going to do over there? My God, Karen, we’ll never see each other! Honey, I don’t make all that money to be flying back and forth over there! And Addy? How does she feel about leaving her daughter here? Babe, I don’t know if that’s a good move for you. She’s going to be homesick and she’s going to leave you freezing your ass over there. Sweetie, I don’t think you’ve thought this through. You are asking too much from Addy, the woman just got divorced and is starting a new life. Karen, I think you are risking it big time. You have to make things nice for her so that she can feel good and comfortable with you. In my opinion, you are playing with fire. This is like going for your honeymoon to Antarctica rather than Hawaii.”
“Are you done Jean-Paul?” Karen knew that whenever JP was nervous, or preoccupied he went on and on about the same thing. She’d always let him to talk as long as he wanted, so that he could get everything out of his system.
“I don’t know! I’m feeling really panicky about all these changes. It’s as if you like living on the edge, or as if you had a death wish! Just when everything is working out, you again have to rock the boat. You are playing with fire, you know? I thought Addy was all you wanted. Now you have her and you want more?”
“Jean-Paul. Addy is the one who wants to do it. She made the decision for us. I didn’t want to take her away from here, but she insisted that this was a good thing and that we should do it. I only agreed because she seems resolved, but the truth is that if in three months she wants to come back, I have no problem with it. We’ll pack our bags and be back immediately. I want her to be happy. She is all I want, and she is for sure my number one priority.”
“Well, I feel a little better now. I’m going to have to talk to that woman, and put some sense in that head. Doesn’t it get really cold up there? I don’t think she’s going to like it. You know how she hates cold weather.”
“I told her. Talk to her if you want to she just walked in.” Karen handed the phone over to Addy. Even though, she shared all of JP’s concerns, she was willing to give the Scotland move a try because the idea of having Addy all to herself, for however long they lasted over there, was comforting enough to give it a try.
Addy picked up the phone. “Hi ballerina man, how are you?”
Karen chuckled when she heard Addy’s new nickname for JP. Only Addy was always coming up with new names for him. The best part was that, no matter what Addy called him, he was always okay with it.
“I was fine until two minutes ago when I got on the phone with your blonde there. Adriana Marcos, have you gone bananas? Do you know how cold it gets in Scotland? That has got to be like the Antarctica of the North! Your butt is going to freeze up there, honey, and your skin is going to get all pruney and wrinkly and, oh God, I don’t know what else to tell you! Do you know what that is going to do to your complexion? Have you forgotten that you like warm weather? Plus, we won’t get to see you guys as often. It’s awful Addy, just awful! Whatever makes you think that you are going to like being up there, or that it will be good for you? Whatever possessed you to do this?”
“I know it’s cold, JP, but it will work. It’s a beautiful place and it’s Karen’s homeland. Everything is green and beautiful like her eyes.”
Karen rolled her eyes, and shook her head, but she was also grinning. “YOU ARE PATHETIC! PLEAZZZEEE!” JP screamed. Don’t give me the gorgeous green eyes speech again, honey, get real. The fact that you are drooling over the sexy blonde is not going to make the winters over there warmer, you know?”
“Nope, but the sexy blonde will keep me warm. I’ve got you on the speakerphone JP, you better be nice to the green-eyed monster because she is turning a very dark shade of red right now. I definitely know that she can generate a lot of heat to keep me warm all winter, JP. I know this for a fact.”
“Oh give me that!” Karen took the phone from Addy’s hands, even though it was on speakerphone. Addy reclined on the sofa laughing. “I cannot take any more of this nonsense talk. We are going, and that’s that. Live with it, and you better start saving to come and visit. We want you guys to come and see the place.”
Addy spoke again from her reclining position on the
sofa. “Really JP it’s very nice over there. Very green, you’d love it as much as I do. And, it’s Karen’s home and I don’t want her to lose it. It’s what her aunt wanted. Once it’s hers, she can do with it whatever she wants.”
“I don’t know. Aren’t you going to miss your daughter here?”
Addy sat up. “Of course I will, JP. What kind of a question is that? But she’ll come and visit during her school breaks. She will love it also. And don’t forget that this is only a three-year thing. Besides I think it will be good for us to be by ourselves for a while. We need to have some time for us.”
“Luckily neither one of you can get pregnant, otherwise, you’d end up with five kids from all the sex you’ll be having all those long winters up there. That’s the only positive thing I see coming out of all this!”
Addy spoke again. “JP, we don’t need long winters for—.”
Karen jumped and grabbed the phone again. “Oh God, let me have that phone! How do you turn off this speakerphone thing? This conversation has to end now, since I seem to be the only one with a sense of decorum around here.”
Addy continued to laugh as she pulled Karen down to her lap and held her. JP chuckled. “Who would have thought that you’d be the one saying those words? I’ve lived to see the day!”
“Good night, JP, I love you too.”
“Ha ha! I love you devil incarnate! Take care, give my love to Addy. On second thought, the woman already has enough of your—.”
“Good night, JP!”
One Little Bit
Addy and Karen Series – Book 3
When Addy nearly died in a car accident, she decides that Karen could not be left alone in this world if anything should ever happen to her. To that effect, she developed a plan to convince Karen to have a baby. Against her better judgment, Karen agrees. Although Karen is the one having the baby, it's Addy who goes through nine months of intense labor. And then, when the little one makes her appearance and turns into a vivacious, intelligent, and adorable little tyke, the women realize that they got more than what they bargained for! Then when all is working out, Karen’s family strikes again, this time with a blow to the heart. Rescue comes from the least expected place, and then a horse appears and sets them on a new path.
Read an excerpt:
“Oh God, I remember once joking about you getting me pregnant, do you remember it? Years ago?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Will you be there every step of the way from selecting the sperm to the actual insemination, the pregnancy, the birth and the eighteen plus years it is going to take to raise this said child?”
Addy chuckled. “Yes, Ker, I will be there every inch of the way. I will actually inseminate you, if the doctor allows me. I also plan to be with you for the rest of my life, so yes. I will be there every single day, every step of the way.”
Karen leaned into Addy’s shoulder looking for comfort. “I agree to talk about this some more.”
“Okay, let’s continue to talk then.” Addy thought she was on a roll and didn’t want to let the ball drop.
“Now? Can’t we talk tomorrow, or over the course of the next few weeks?”
“Well, you are the one who says that we may be too old. If we keep waiting to even talk about it, it may come to be so. We are not getting any younger, you know? If we are going to consider this seriously, I think we should talk about it now.”
“I know your reasons for wanting the baby. And, I really don’t want to hear them again because you know how mad I get when you even bring up the subject, but I do have several subjects requiring discussion. First, this baby would be the product of one of my eggs and some man’s sperm, therefore what about genetics? Leaving that aside for a minute and going back to the baby, physically, and genetically you will have no contribution in the making of this child.” Here was the logical Karen, sticking her finger in the wound. “So, if your intention is for me to have some of you in this child, how do you see that happening? Moreover, because biologically there would be none of your DNA in that child, why don’t we just adopt, and that way I don’t have to go through, what will most certainly be, a nine-months of living hell for me?”
Addy remained pensive for like two minutes and, as if illuminated by some strange force, she knew exactly how to reply to win the argument. Karen Larsen you cannot beat what’s coming at you! This was the second time, in their relationship when she absolutely knew she had Karen beat. The first time was when she had convinced Karen to stay in Scotland.
Addy smiled. “Sit. I could be awhile here.” Karen sat expectantly thinking that there was no possible way that Addy could rebut this factual argument. However, her heart pounded because she knew Addy too well and knew that when she wanted, Addy could make hell freeze over. In the depth of her heart, she feared that this was about to happen.
“First, regarding the genetic concern, and to get rid of that point immediately, we are going to go to the best place for this, I don’t know where this place is, but if it’s in Timbuktu, that’s where we are going. I will make sure that we get the adequate referral to this very special, unique and most certainly expensive place. So, there will be no genetic risks taken in that regard. And, by the way, I do not care how much all of this might cost, no price would be too high to assure your safety, health, and our peace of mind.” She paused briefly for effect.
“Second, although biologically and genetically I will have no input whatsoever in the making of the baby, that baby will be my child for two reasons.”
Karen was captivated by Addy’s organized arguments. She should have known better than to put Addy on a defensive position. She had seen her more than once arguing a case and was always impressed. Addy was a master debater, words always poured out of her mouth with exact precision and logic. She listened attentively as Addy continued. “One, this child will be your child.” Addy pointed to her. “A child born of your womb, of your flesh and blood. Just because of that, I will adore it as I adore you. Two, I am going to love that child to its very core, and I am going to make sure that it takes something of me into him or her, so that when one day, years from now, you hear him or her talk, you will say ‘that’s something Addy would have said or would have done.’” She paused again and looked Karen straight in the eyes. “So, that child may not look one single bit like me, but I give you my word of honor, my solemn promise that our daughter or son will have as much of my spirit and personality as possible in him or her. I also promise you that I will stand by you every step of the way, and that I will be there to raise our child together, not only until he or she leaves our home, but until I have one breath of air left in me. This I promise you.”
As Addy eloquently spoke, she paced back and forth in front of Karen gesticulating with her arms, closing her fists for emphasis and letting her entire body speak loud and clear of her intentions. When she was done, she looked at Karen and realized that Karen was almost in tears. Addy stopped and knelt in front of her. “Sweetheart, what is it? What’s wrong?”
“All of a sudden, I see it.” Karen leaned into her and Addy hugged her.
“You see what?” Addy pulled out of the embrace to read her face.
“I see the child.”
Addy was stunned. Oh God! Addy was almost frightened that she had gone too far. “Ker? What do you see? Please, tell me?”
Karen spoke looking mesmerized into Addy’s eyes, as if she could see the image she was describing in Addy’s eyes. “I see a beautiful little girl. She smiles. Her smile is like a summer day. And she is happy. She feels loved, incredibly loved and when she looks at me, she has an expression on her face.” Karen’s eyes moved back and forth looking for words to describe the image she saw. “It’s not you, but it’s like an expression I’ve seen in your face, like when you open your eyes big and raise your eyebrows. It’s as if she copied your expression. And she speaks in a cute little voice and she says things you’d say.” Two tears dropped from Karen’s eyes.
Addy couldn’t compr
ehend this vision, but wasn’t this what she really wanted, another someone to love Karen, just like she did? By now Addy was almost in tears, but she couldn’t cry now, no, she had to take advantage of this moment and deliver her final punch. She hardly believed what was happening.
“Ker? I see her too. And I want our baby. I want a family for us, let’s have her.”
“Addy, I don’t really know if you comprehend the magnitude of what you ask of me. I am a lesbian who never thought of being pregnant, or having a child. If I do this, I will do it for love, for us, for my love of you.”
“I know, Ker, I know.”
Joint Venture
Addy and Karen Series - Book 4
When the stables burn, Addy ends up with a gun in her hand to defend Karen and Alex. She takes the shot that, in the most unusual way, ends the ordeal with Karen’s family. Then when Alejandro begins to race, old fears return. Later, when the local vet enters the scene, she becomes enamored with an old family friend. Alex loves JP’s hilarious eccentricities, but he drives Karen over the edge. Disaster and prejudice come to town, and Addy and Karen face them off. Still, in the midst of it all, there is a child to raise, a school to change, and a town to fix. The future and the story belong to Alex.
