by Radclyffe
Aimee cast them a wary look before addressing Parker. “I assume you have the paperwork with you? Why don’t you set up in here, and we’ll be right back.”
Skye watched Parker open her briefcase and line the table with several stacks and rows of paperwork before she followed Aimee to the kitchen. As soon as she crossed the threshold, Aimee swept her into a tight embrace. Skye looked over her shoulder and started to push away, but Aimee murmured, “She’s not coming in here. Let me hold you for a minute.”
Skye stopped resisting and allowed the warmth of Aimee’s closeness to flood through her. The soft waves of Aimee’s hair brushed lightly against her cheek and the calming scent of lavender soothed her worries. She breathed in time with Aimee’s smooth and steady heartbeat and after a few moments, felt her anxiety fall away. “How do you always know what I need?”
She felt rather than saw Aimee’s smile. “Magic.”
“Seriously.” She didn’t know why she had to know, but suddenly it was very important.
Aimee leaned back and stared deep into her eyes. “The same way you know what I need. Love.” She grinned and added, “Oh, and you get this panicked look in your eye when you need a little escape.”
Skye opened her mouth to reply, but a loud cry pierced the air. Both of them turned to the kitchen counter and stared at the monitor.
“Speaking of need,” Aimee said, “you go. I’ll get our drinks and meet you in the dining room.”
Skye felt the tension come back the minute she left Aimee and started up the stairs. When she reached the top landing, she broke into a run. Despite Aimee’s calm, she still hadn’t gotten used to these episodes and they never failed to bring her to the brink of panic. She rushed into the room and pulled up short at the railing of the huge mahogany baby bed Aimee had insisted on. As she grasped the frame and stared down at the red-faced, mouthy occupant, she silently thanked her wife for buying the most expensive, sturdiest crib on the market.
“Shh,” she murmured as she lifted Olivia into her arms. “You’re going to wake the people in the next state with your crying.”
As she bounced Olivia, the screams subsided into gurgles and grunts. Skye urged them along with aahs and oohs she would only voice in the privacy of her home. Her daughter reduced her to a pile of mush.
Her daughter. Not quite a reality yet, but Parker was sitting downstairs with the paperwork that would make it happen. Two weeks ago when Skye had gotten the call that Olivia was on the way, she’d rushed to Aimee’s side and held her hand through every second of her labor. She held Olivia while the doctor cut the cord and spent hours standing outside the hospital nursery, staring at the wonderful new life that she knew would turn theirs upside down. Now it was time to take the final step to adopt her daughter, and she couldn’t be more excited. Or more scared.
She rocked Olivia in her arms until she fell back to sleep. Hard to believe the howling baby now basked in peaceful drool. Things could change so drastically in an instant.
Aimee and Parker looked up as she walked into the dining room. Aimee flashed a radiant smile, and Skye stuffed her fear.
“Parker says we can get the home visit done on Tuesday, and we already have a hearing date for next week.” Aimee glowed with excitement. She’d been glowing since the moment she’d learned she was pregnant and she’d been giddy the entire time. While she reveled in the excitement of it all, Skye had installed safety locks on every window, cabinet, and door in their home, and read every article Google coughed up on the dangers that could befall an infant.
“Thursday, right?” If she kept saying it, maybe it would sink in.
“Yes. Can you believe it?”
Skye flashed the smile she knew was expected and sat down at the table. “No. That’s great news.”
The paperwork Parker pushed in front of her appeared blurry, the words floating off the page. For the next half hour, while Parker explained how the hearing on second-parent adoption would work, she managed to grip a pen, and sign and initial more blanks than she had when she and Aimee had refinanced their home. When Parker finally stacked the signed paperwork and placed it in her briefcase, Skye silently congratulated herself on fooling the two of them into thinking she was calm and cool about the situation. But her mind was already ticking ahead to the home visit. First step, get rid of what her mother had always called the machine of death. Her 1995 Harley Softtail.
“Stuart, I can’t believe you let her buy that machine of death.”
Skye’s father’s reply was swift and adamant. “She’s an adult and it’s her money.”
Skye had listened to the exchange. It was the first time her mother had ever treated her differently than her brothers. The boys in the family all had motorcycles, and no one had ever voiced a concern that they might die in a fiery wreck, but according to her mother, she was doomed to a horrible death if she chose to ride that “monstrosity.”
Skye’s Harley had been her primary mode of transportation most of her life and she’d never had a wreck, but she wasn’t about to take a chance that the caseworker assigned to do the home visit was a worrywart like her mother. She mentally challenged the caseworker to find a single sharp object or toy with small parts, and the only bike present on her visit would be the sparkly purple tricycle with fringe on the handlebars that Olivia would have to wait several years to ride.
Later that afternoon, when she handed over the keys and the title to her Harley, she remembered the first time Aimee had ridden with her. Wearing an expensive tailored suit and Skye’s helmet, she’d wrapped her arms around Skye’s waist and squeezed the breath out of her as they sped up I-35 from Austin to Round Rock. When they’d stopped at the Harley-Davidson dealership, Aimee squealed and wanted to know when she could ride again. They’d spent an hour at the store while she selected the most stylish helmet, boots, and leather jacket, and then begged to ride again. Her excitement had been intoxicating.
Skye didn’t need the bike for excitement. With Aimee, every day was an adventure, and their most exciting adventure was upstairs in a crib, relying on them to keep her safe.
*
“Tomorrow’s the big day.” Aimee bounced on the edge of the bed.
Skye held up a finger and strained to listen. That noise again. She picked up the monitor on their nightstand and placed it against her ear. “Shh, can you hear it?”
“Did you just call our daughter an it?”
“Not even. Seriously, Aimee, I swear I heard something in there.” She swung her legs off the side of the bed. “I’ll go check.”
“Uh-uh. I don’t think so.” Aimee pulled her back down onto the bed. “I was just with her. She’s fine. If you go in there you’re going to wake her, and you’ll ruin my plans.”
Skye recognized the tone and she felt an instant surge of arousal. “You have plans?”
“I’ve had plans for a very long time, but it’s hard to carry out a good plan when you haven’t had any sleep. I slept like a baby, no pun intended, after the home visit yesterday, and now I’m ready to implement my strategy.”
Skye leaned up on one arm. Aimee was irresistible when she had her mind made up about something. “I might be interested in hearing about your strategy.”
Aimee began to slowly unbutton her silk nightshirt. “You’ll have to watch and learn. It’s more a show than tell kind of thing.”
Skye forced herself to wait as her wife slowly stripped down to lacy silk panties. “If your plan is designed to distract me, it’s working.”
“My plan is designed to make you scream.”
“What if we wake Olivia?” Skye glanced at the closed door.
“She’s not going to come walking in, if that’s what you’re worried about.” Aimee pointed at the monitor. “If she needs us, she’ll be sure to let us know.”
“I don’t know. As I recall, we can get kind of lost when we’re, you know…” The last nine months had been an awkward dance. As Aimee’s pregnancy progressed, Skye had become more and more attracted
to the glow of her pregnant wife, but ever cautious about the life growing inside her. She’d curtailed her work so she could spend more time by Aimee’s side and turned down the more dangerous assignments in favor of the computer searches and paper reviews she normally despised. In the month before Olivia’s birth, when Aimee was diagnosed with preeclampsia and on bed rest, she’d started working from home so she could be no more than a few feet away in the event of disaster. After all, the house was full of danger. Stairs, balconies, slick wood floors. She’d do anything to protect her lover, the mother of their child, and “anything” had extended to keeping her hands to herself.
She’d assumed everything would change once Olivia was born. Aimee would be healthy again. She’d resume her regular work schedule, and the only changes to their lives would be bottles and car seats and tiny little clothes to wash. But, if anything, her worry was worse now. Concern about Aimee’s health was one thing, but Olivia was tiny and completely without skills. She relied on them for her every need, and she required the kind of protection that could only be provided by a vigilant parent.
“Skye Keaton, do you want to make love to me or not? Because I’m as hot for you as I was the very first time, and I’m not about to let an eight-pound, drooling, screaming mess come between me and my hot wife. If it hadn’t been so long, you wouldn’t have to say things like ‘as I recall.’ Now, let’s have some torrid sex that neither of us will ever forget.”
Aimee had always been able to read her mind. She gasped as Aimee punctuated her demand by yanking Skye’s shirt over her head. Skye’s breath hitched as the memory of every intimate moment they’d ever shared came rushing back. They could have this and be parents too, right? As Aimee’s lips grazed over her nipple, she answered her own question by casting one last look at the monitor on the nightstand before arching into Aimee’s embrace.
*
“Stop fidgeting, you look great.”
“I look stupid.” Skye stood in front of the full-length mirror and frowned at the image staring back. Wasn’t the first time she’d worn a suit, but every time was just as uncomfortable as the last. Too many layers, too many buttons, too much fuss. Every other time had been, like today, for some special occasion, usually something related to Aimee’s successful real estate business or one of her many social causes: black-tie dinner, office holiday party, dinner with Aimee’s wealthy and very formal Highland Park parents. Today, she’d wear whatever it took for the judge to think she was worthy.
“You can take it off the minute we get home.”
“What about the party?” While they were at the courthouse, caterers would be preparing their fete in celebration of Olivia officially belonging to both of them.
“What about it? You can wear cut-offs and an old T-shirt, for all I care. And if you think Olivia will care, you haven’t been paying attention. She spends most of her time in a onesie.” Aimee lifted Olivia and held her up in the air. “But not today, right, little one? Everyone’s dressed up today!”
Olivia, covered in pink lace and ribbon, screamed with delight as Aimee whirled her around the room. Skye smiled on the outside, but inwardly she strained against the image of Olivia falling through the air and landing with a thud on the hardwood floor.
Aimee’s sharp voice jerked her from her fatalist imaginings. “Skye, I’m not going to drop our daughter. And if you don’t wipe that look of horror off your face, the judge is going to think we’re crazy and give Olivia to a whole different set of parents.”
So much for her ability to mask her emotions. “He might do that anyway. Parker isn’t a family law attorney. Maybe we should have hired someone else.”
“You said yourself she’s one of the smartest people you know. She consulted with a board-certified family law specialist about our case. She found a judge who has granted over a dozen second-parent adoptions, and she’s like family.” Aimee set Olivia back in her crib. When she turned, Skye recognized the formidable, hands-on-hips, stern-jaw look and braced for a rant.
“I think you’re amazing. Hell, I married you. The caseworker couldn’t have written a better report and I think if I weren’t around, she’d marry you herself. If you’re having second thoughts about,” she jerked her head in the direction of Olivia’s crib, “speak now or forever hold your peace.”
Pain lanced Skye’s heart and she swept Aimee into her arms. “No, no, no,” she murmured into her ear. “No second thoughts. Not a one. It’s just…I feel so out of sorts. Like I don’t have a clue what I’m doing.” She waved at the crib. “She’s so tiny. Helpless. If anything ever happened to her, I don’t know what I’d do.”
“Is that why our house is suddenly Fort Knox? I locked myself in the bathroom yesterday because I couldn’t figure out how to turn the handle with the huge rubber thing you’ve installed. You realize it’s going to be a while before she can even reach drawers and door handles and outlets, right?”
Skye felt her face redden. “I know, but there was the home visit and I didn’t want the caseworker to think I was irresponsible. I mean, she knew I work as a private investigator and I’m sure she had some preconceived notions about that.”
“Is that why you sold your bike?”
“What?” She hadn’t mentioned the sale to Aimee. She’d had a feeling she might get flack for it.
“Parker told me.”
“Some attorney she is. Way to keep information confidential.”
“Shut up,” Aimee said. “She’s our friend. I think she was half-mortified and half-impressed that, how did she put it? That you were acting like an adult. You should’ve told me. That bike was the first thing I noticed about you.”
Skye flashed on a memory. She had just ridden up Cedar Springs and parked outside Hunky’s, a popular hamburger joint. While she contemplated whether she wanted to spend her last few bucks on lunch, a gorgeous blonde in a fancy SUV pulled up beside her and practically undressed her with her eyes. Never in a million years did Skye expect she would one day marry that woman and have a baby with her, but here she was.
Things change. Giving up the bike had been the right thing to do.
*
The courtroom was already packed when they arrived. Skye scanned the room. Aimee’s family and hers lined the first two rows. The rest of the seats were filled with their family of choice. Assistant District Attorney Cory Lance and her partner Serena Washington. Parker’s wife, Morgan Bradley. Aimee’s best friend, Mackenzie Lewis, and her partner Dr. Jordan Wagner. Megan and Haley.
She took her seat with Aimee and Olivia next to Parker at one of the tables inside the court railing. She was no stranger to the courtroom, having testified both as a cop and more recently as a private investigator, but today was different. Today she was on trial, or at least her fitness as a parent was. Parker had assured her Judge Lucas was fair and friendly, but until he signed the order stating Olivia was legally hers, she wouldn’t be able to breathe.
When the judge took the bench, Parker offered the motion for second-parent adoption, the home study, and letters in support. Judge Lucas commented on the glowing report from the caseworker, said a few words in legalese, smacked his gavel, and then asked if he could be included in the first official family photo. As he made his way toward them, Skye looked from Parker to Aimee and back again, certain she’d missed something. The whole thing had lasted no more than fifteen minutes.
“Close your mouth, Keaton,” Parker said, lightly punching her in the arm. “It’s official. Olivia has two moms.”
Skye turned to Aimee, who held their sleeping daughter, who was apparently immune to the sound of smacking gavels. “It’s for real.”
Aimee whispered in her ear, her breath soft and sweet. “It was always for real. It’s just legal now.” Aimee handed Olivia into her arms as the judge took his place beside them for the photo. “Now wake up your daughter. I have a feeling this is the first of many pictures today.”
Almost an hour later they’d finally managed to please everyone’s need for
photos and were in the car on the way home for the party. Skye pulled into the driveway and reached for the garage door opener, but Aimee placed a hand on hers. “Park in the driveway for now.”
“Why? Didn’t you just get the car washed?”
“Trust me. I cleared out some space for the caterers to put their equipment, and there’s nowhere for you to park in there.”
Skye shook her head. “You know they could have figured out what to do with their own stuff.” Aimee was a socialite on the surface, but she had never been above chipping in on a project, and this party had been quite the undertaking. “But I love you for making this day special.” She parked the car and kissed Aimee on the lips. “We’d better get inside. Our guests will be arriving soon.”
They worked together to get Olivia out of the car seat. It became easier every time. As they stepped though the side door to the garage, Aimee pulled Skye into an embrace.
“I want to talk to you about something.”
“Here in the dark? Sounds ominous.” Skye couldn’t quite read Aimee’s tone.
Aimee cast a look down at Olivia. “I just want you to know that there’s no one I’d rather spend the rest of my life with. And no one I’d want to raise this little girl with. You are going to be, you already are, a wonderful mother.”
“Okay.” Skye stretched out the word, still uncertain where this was going.
“But as much as I want you to keep her safe, I also want you to challenge her. One of the things I love about you the most is your fearlessness. I want her to learn that from you, whether you are teaching her to ride this,” she flicked on the light switch and gestured to the sparkly purple tricycle in the corner, “or this.”
Following where Aimee pointed, Skye shook her head in disbelief. A Harley—her Harley stood in the center of the garage with a big red bow on the seat.
