by Melissa Good
“Tch.” Cynthia made a sound of irritation. “Those people are insane.”
“Insane, yes. But they get air time.”
“Yeah, Dar’s right,” Kerry murmured. “But you just reminded me that we’ve got to go out and get health insurance before we cut loose from ILS, Dar.” She motioned toward the grand hall. “Should we go sit down?”
“Yes.”
Cynthia joined them as they walked. “Does your company take care of that now?” She asked, diffidently. “I mean, do you have the same issue as Mildred’s firm?”
Dar shook her head. “Nah. We offer domestic partner benefits. Even if Kerry didn’t work for us, I could put her on my health insurance. But she’s right, we have to go get private policies now, and it won’t work that way. We’ll need to get individual ones.” She paused.
“Fortunately we already had the legal work done to give us both medical authority over each other.”
“I see.” Cynthia frowned. “Hm.”
“We’re lucky. We can afford it,” Dar said. “A lot of people can’t.”
They entered the hall and paused, drawing to one side to find their way in the dim light.
In the rear, the fireplace held a brightly burning wood fire. The room was liberally lit with candles, at least four on each table, providing a warm and almost medieval air.
“Come sit at my table.” Cynthia pointed to the one closest to the fireplace. “They’re using the gas stoves and warmers to keep everything. I hope it turns out all right.”
“I’m sure it’ll be fine, Mother,” Kerry said. “The sliders were great.”
Cynthia grimaced a bit. “They were quite a surprise for some, but your sister insisted.”
Ceci and Andrew were already seated at the table, and Mike and his girlfriend joined them as they arrived. “Hey, guys.” Kerry was about to sit down, when her chair was pulled back for her, and she paused, giving Dar a brief grin before she dropped into it. “Thanks.”
“Anytime.” Dar sat down next to her and surveyed the room. Despite the lack of electricity, everyone appeared to be determined to make the best of it, and she leaned back and folded her hands, hoping they wouldn’t encounter any more of Aunt Mildred.
Or Aunt Alice. Or any of the rest of Kerry’s relatives, all of whom seemed to have color coordinated baseball bats up their collective asses.
“Hey, Dar?”
She looked across at her mother. “Yes?” she said, drawing out the word.
“You going back into the office when you get back?”
“No.” Dar felt a sense of satisfaction in saying that. “Kerry and I are going to go down to the cabin the rest of the week and go back in next Monday.” She leaned back in her chair. “We have the time coming to us.”
“Such a lovely cabin,” Cynthia said. “Really, just charming. And the view from the porch, amazing.” She smiled at both Dar and Kerry. “I completely see why you like to spend time there. So peaceful, really.”
“It is nice there,” Ceci agreed. “I’m doing a set of paintings from that point, in different weather,” she said. “The colors are wonderful. The water changes every minute.”
“It does,” Kerry said. “We spent a few weeks out there after we got back from New York. You can really unwind there.”
Cynthia smiled. “I can imagine that.” She looked up as Angie and Brian arrived, and plopped down in seats next to her. “Oh! There you are.”
“Here we are,” Angie said. “Hey, guys.” She gave her brother and sister a grin. “Sorry we’re late, Mom. We ended up dropping Brian’s mom off at home. She got lost and we passed her heading here.”
Cynthia frowned. “Oh my. She didn’t want to come to lunch? I’m sure she was invited.”
“Um...no,” Brian said. “She’s kind of...she doesn’t like parties. She’s really just into church.”
“Ah.” Ceci nodded. “She didn’t want to hang out with the infidels. Gotcha.” She inspected the basket of rolls on the table. “Raisins. Mm. Lunch is looking up.”
Brian had the grace to look embarrassed. “Really, she’s more embarrassed and disgusted by me than by anyone here,” he said, in quiet voice. “It was just hard on her. She’s worked in the church for a really long time, and it was hard for her to face all those people.”
“Why does she think she’s responsible for what you did?” Angie asked.
He shrugged.
“People who are very traditional are not comfortable with what they view as—ah.” Cynthia paused. “Well, things that are nontraditional,” she finished somewhat lamely. “Just as the pastor felt that I perhaps should have tried to regulate the morals of my family as Roger tried to, many others feel that this lack of holding to traditions has put us all at a disadvantage with God.”
“Really?” Kerry felt her back stiffening.
“I did not say I agreed with that,” Cynthia said, somewhat more forcefully. “But I cannot ignore the fact that many do, in fact, believe this.”
“Like them people at the church last week,” Andrew said. “Figured to close down that place to keep their kids from walking next to it.” He handed over a plate of butter and knife to Ceci. “Just a lot of hating for no reason.”
Angie nodded. “Yeah, I got some advice warning me not to let my kids near my sister,” she said. “I don’t think the person expected me to slap them.”
“Near me?” Kerry blinked. “Aside from making them want Labrador puppies, what am I supposed to do to them?”
“Give them ideas,” Angie said, straightforwardly. “What I told them was, given how bright you are, the best thing that could happen to them is for you to give them ideas.”
“Right on,” Brian said, giving Kerry a thumbs up.
“Terrible,” Cynthia muttered. “I must look into finding another place of worship.”
“Want to try mine?” Ceci suggested. “Bet I could find a c...I mean chapter up here.”
The waiters swirled around them putting plates down on the table. Kerry stared at hers, then she turned her head and looked at Dar, who was leaning forward with her forearms braced on the tablecloth. She saw the flare of her nostrils and as Dar’s eyes met hers they were in total emotional sync.
Outrage. Horror. A little revulsion with a tinge of anger. Kerry saw from the set of Dar’s jaw and the tension of her hands that she was on the verge of blowing up about it, and knew they both had the same ball of tension in their guts for the same reason.
And that, curiously, made everything all right again. Kerry reached over and tweaked Dar’s nose, coaxing a smile out of her as she dismissed the bullshit swirling around her like a cloud of gnats.
Screw it. Just wasn’t worth it. “Well, I sure can’t change what people think if they want to think stuff like that,” she said. “So the hell with it. Let them suffocate in their own close mindedness.”
Cynthia still looked disturbed. She shook her head and pushed her plate forward a little. “Terrible.” She glanced at Ceci. “Perhaps we can talk later about your faith?”
“Sure.” Ceci observed her plate. “Ah, asparagus.”
“Sorry about the bacon wrapping it.” Angie leaned toward her. “I forgot you were a vegetarian.”
“No problem.” Ceci unwrapped the bacon and handed it over to Andrew, who swapped it for his own asparagus. “Andy and I have this all worked out.”
Everyone chuckled, as the servants brought a round of mimosas to the table, setting them down as a hum of voices started to fill the room, while the snow kept falling thickly outside.
“OH MY GOD.” Kerry crawled under the covers, free at last of her clothing, her relatives, and the room full of intently watching eyes. She snuggled up next to Dar and put her arm around her, taking her reward for having to stand in the downdraft of a shitstorm most of the day. “That was so bogus.”
“Mm.” Dar curled her arms around her and exhaled in satisfaction. “But it’s over.”
“It’s over,” Kerry agreed. “Now we’ve just got br
eakfast to get through, then it’s off to the airport. You think the lights will be back on tomorrow?”
Dar shrugged. “Airport’s on a generator.”
“Thank goodness. I keep saying I’ll never come back here. Wonder when that’s going to actually be true? How much abuse do I have to take to stay a part of this family, Dar?”
Dar thought about that for a bit, her fingertips making a slow, gentle pattern on Kerry’s back. Then she finally sighed. “Maybe we should just have them visit us. That wasn’t so bad.”
No, it hadn’t been.
“Ker?”
“Yeah?” Kerry breathed in the scent of Dar’s skin, which still held a hint of the perfume she’d put on that morning. It was dark out now, and dark in the room, chilly, and a little damp from the weather outside. There was a small battery powered lamp on the bedside table, giving them just enough light to see by.
“Sorry about all the crap today.”
“Not your fault.” Kerry heard Dar’s heartbeat under her ear, with that tiny little echo thump from her oddly structured heart. “People are jerks. My family is full of them, apparently. But at least my mother’s gotten better. Right?”
“Yup.”
“And your mom offering to induct her into paganism was worth the whole day.”
Dar chuckled. “I got lucky in the parent dice roll,” she said.
“Oh baby did you ever.” Kerry exhaled. “And by extension me too.” She blinked a few times, thinking in silence. “You know something?” she finally said. “I think I do want to change my last name, Dar. I know I messed with that when we were in the Caribbean, but now? I want to do it.”
She tipped her head up to see Dar studying her in the dim light. “Would you mind that?”
“Would I mind that?” Dar mused. “No, I wouldn’t mind that, if you want to do it. You sure?”
“There’s nothing here for me anymore, Dar. I love Angie and Mike, and Mom’s gotten better, but the rest of them? Why would I want to say I’m related to people who think I’m a godless whore?”
Dar considered that. “Your sibs are okay,” she said. “And I like your Aunt Penny. But I’d love you to share my name if you want to.” She smiled. “That was kind of a kick when you did it in the islands.”
Kerry looked pleased. “Rocking.” She kissed a spot just above Dar’s prominent collarbone, and then, as Dar reached over and shut the battery lamp off, she slid a little higher and found Dar’s lips as she settled back on the pillow, glad to swap the chill of the room and the coldness of the crowd for the heat of passion.
Dar’s hands touched her and brought a welcome warmth, and in a moment she was being gently rolled onto her back and Dar’s thigh was sliding between hers.
It felt wonderful.
It was fantastic to let that familiar burn start in her guts, and savor the teasing touch against sensitive skin that washed away the taint of the long day. She’d joked about inaugurating the room, but as Dar coaxed a low, guttural sound from her she focused on doing that in earnest.
If they were going to think she was an immoral whore, well then— Kerry released a low growl. Then she’d show them how that would roll. She felt Dar’s lips nibble down the centerline of her body and the pressure built, her body craving release as she let it chase the gloomiest of her thoughts right away.
She was looking forward to smirking over her morning coffee, even savoring the looks she knew she’d get.
Hell with all of them.
KERRY CUPPED HER hand over her free ear and pressed her other against her cell phone. “Yes, I’m here.” She listened intently to the voice on the other end. She looked up as Dar entered the dining room, her heavy jacket already on. “So, Jake, you think it’s okay to take off at eleven?”
Dar came over and stood next to her, hands in pockets, rocking back and forth on her heels. “Was worth booking the jet,” she said. “News said the regular airport is slammed.”
“Okay, so we’ll head over,” Kerry said. “See you in a few.” She hung up the phone and tucked it into her pocket. “We all ready?”
“Yup. Car’s waiting outside.”
Kerry felt a distinct sense of relief as she followed Dar through the grand hall toward the entrance. The lights came on halfway through breakfast, bringing on a blare of lighting to distract the stilted conversation.
No one was rude, but it was also obvious that this was more because of Cynthia’s wishes than anything else.
She saw the door open, and outside the snow falling. Andy and Ceci were already out in it and the only thing between her and them was a few members of her family.
“Thanks for coming up and being my bestie, Sis.” Angie held her arms out and embraced Kerry. “Hope you have a good trip home.”
“No problem.” Kerry returned the hug. “You guys have to come visit us again soon, though, huh?” She turned to her mother as Dar stepped forward to give Angie a somewhat awkward embrace. “Mom, you too.”
Cynthia smiled. “Certainly, we should plan for it. Please let us know you get home safe.”
Then they were outside and stomping toward the SUV through a thick coating of snow. Kerry already had a firm grip on the keys and she slid behind the driver’s seat and slammed the door shut. “Brr.”
“No offense, Kerry, but I’ve never been so happy to see a place in the rear view window.” Ceci settled herself behind Dar. “I swear to the Goddess your family is a bowl of pits with no cherries.”
Kerry sighed. “Yeah, I know. Thanks for coming up here with me and keeping me company in my insanity.” She got the car into gear and started off down the hill. “I was glad to see Angie married.”
“That boy shoulda stepped up before,” Andrew grumbled. “Not be so candy assed.”
“Oh, c’mon, Andy. He’s not that bad.” Ceci poked him. “He’s a nice kid.”
“Actually,” Kerry said. “I agree with him. When I went up the last time to help Ang move, I was all set to kick him in the nuts for not taking responsibility for his son.”
“Damn straight,” Andy said. “Ah would not expect any child of mine to be acting like that.”
There was a little silence. Dar glanced at herself, then at Kerry, then half turned to regard her father. “Dad? I’m a girl. I don’t think it’s going to come up.”
Kerry chuckled. “It wouldn't anyway.” She reached over and patted Dar’s leg. “I have total faith in your honor, sweetheart.”
Ceci snickered. “Actually, when Dar first told us she was gay, I think the one thing that relieved Andy was that he wasn’t going to be spending long summer nights sitting in the driveway with a shotgun waiting for her to come back from dates.”
Kerry spoke up. “I actually thought he was doing a good job of checking me out when we met to make sure I wasn’t going to take advantage of his little girl.”
Andrew blushed. “Ah did not think any such thing of you, Kerry.”
“I was never worried.” Dar circled one knee with her hands and rested her shoulder against the car door.
“Considering you started our relationship out by saving me from carjackers, I’m not surprised.” Kerry navigated down the back road, passing very few other cars on this quiet Tuesday morning.
“Mm.” Dar smiled, but remained silent.
“Kerry, why is it all those people are so nasty to you?” Ceci asked. “Is it because of you and Dar? Or what?”
Kerry sighed. “It’s always been tough around those people,” she admitted. “It was always very judgmental. About everything. You’re supposed to conform, but I think even if I’d married Brian and taken a job as a clerk somewhere, that judging would have still been there.”
Ceci shifted a little in her seat. “Had that in my family too, but it had nothing to do with religion.”
“So, in this case, it’s everything.” Kerry slowed down to turn into the small regional airport. “My leaving home, my getting a job in high tech, my living in Miami, my being gay, my turning over my father’s records t
o the papers, there’s nothing there they can approve of.”
“Probably causes them more heartache seeing you than it gives you,” Andrew commented.
“Absolutely true,” Kerry said. “Especially with you all here.” She turned and faced them, having turned the engine off. “Thank you for teaching me what family can be.” She studied her in-laws, watching them smile and feeling Dar’s touch on her leg, warm and real. “So now let’s go home.”
The lights were bright around the Lear jet crouching on the tarmac, a boarding ladder tucked up against the side of it. The pilot was waiting for them inside the small terminal, and they surrendered their overnight bags to him as they waited to board.
“I really like that plane,” Ceci commented. “My brother Charles flies around in one of those, and so do most of his friends. Didn’t think it was in my plans.”
“No, me either,” Dar said. “We always had the option. But the first time I flew in a private jet was coming back after the attacks. I liked it. That’s why I didn’t say no when Alastair and the board offered this one.” She saw the pilot motion and she led the rest of them across the snow dusted ground, glad to mount the steps and enter the sleek interior. “We are paying for this ride though. I told Alastair I wasn’t going to get into any arguments about me using company resources for personal use.”
“It’s worth it.” Kerry took off her jacket and took it and Dar’s to the small closet where Andrew was already putting Ceci’s. “I can just imagine traveling today.”
They sat down and buckled in, and a moment later the flight steward came in as the door was sealed shut and the pilot retreated into the cockpit. “Hello there.”
“Hey, Jaele,” Kerry greeted the woman. “Ready to get out of this snow?”
“You know it, Ms. Stuart.” The steward brought over a tray and served them all coffee. “Jake’s just doing the checklist and filing our flight plan. We should be rolling in about ten minutes.”
The inside of the plane was warm, and it wasn’t too different from the private plane Kerry remembered her mother using. It had eight seats, two groups of four facing each other with tables to work on between them. The chairs were thick and comfortable, soft leather that warmed to her body as she sat in it.
