The Bridge - Ch 23 - Bier Funeral

The Bridge - Chapter Twenty-Three - Funeral of Quay Wilkes

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work is copy written by the author. All characters involved in sexual activity are eighteen years of age or older at the time of portrayal.

This work will, at times, contain instances of lesbian sex, pregnancy, interracial sex, chastity, group sex, Dominance and submission, tattoos and piercings, slavery, drugs, intrigue, action, Funerals, romance and affection. There are also threats of violence and a fair amount of heroism and family love and fun.

I have put this into the Romance category because this chapter is more romantic than sexual. Your positive ratings and comments, either positive or negative, are welcome and appreciated. If you have read this story from the beginning, I would like to thank you. I hope someone is enjoying reading this as much as I enjoy writing it.

Chapter 23 - Funeral of Quay Wilkes

Thursday morning, and today is supposed to be about Becky Gaffney, who got her first experience with the turmoil that is the Todd-Bernstein home in the morning. Celeste accidentally woke Becky when she snuck in to get her school clothes. She was very cordial when Becky said, "Hi, I'm Becky. You must be the swimmer." Celeste puffed her chest out and spouted, "That's right. Best in my class."

"Why does that not surprise me? What smells so delicious?"

"That's Bertha. She makes the food delicious and taste great. You'll see. Why are you here, Becky?"

"Miss Todd is helping me with something. She is a wonderful person."

"I know. Mamma Hannah is amazing. She can do anything. She delivered Bertha's baby. Right in front of us."

"Well, I bet that's some story."

"Ask Mamma Hannah."

"I think I will."

Celeste pulled her into her little bathroom and pulled a wrapped toothbrush from the medicine cabinet. "Here, you can use my toothpaste, but you have to use your own toothbrush."

"Can I keep this one?"

"It's yours. Now hurry and brush so we can get downstairs and have breakfast."

As Becky and Celeste were coming out of the young swimmer's room, I bumped into them as I was on the way to the nursery. Becky, who wasn't that much taller than Celeste, asked if she could come too. Who am I to deny her that? So, we went in and Becca was changing Dina, while Aggie was keeping Duane and Ellie calm and quiet, awaiting their turns. I quickly got bottles warmed up and ready. When Becca was done with Dina, I grabbed her up and stuck a bottle in her mouth.

"Could I try?" Becky asked.

"You could certainly try, but this little man is tough, like his father. Sit down in one of the lounge chairs. He's heavy for someone as little as you to be carrying around."

So, she sat, and I put Duanee on her lap and she stuck that bottle in his mouth and he took it. As he sucked that bottle down, she cooed at him and stroked his cheek. He did not make a sound except that of his lips sucking down that formula. Praise the Lord. I'm really going to have breasts that do not ache every day. And Becky, she's doing great, and tomorrow, when the rubber hits the road, I think she'll do just fine.

Once the kids were fed, burped and changed, we put them down and Becca took over. The rest of us went down to find out what smelled so good.

"Bertha, this is Becky. She is a new friend who we are helping out. She has all house privileges and will be given the respect of an honored guest."

"'Round here, missy, we don't treat folks no other way."

"Ain't that the truth? Becky, this is Bertha. She runs our world. If it comes into this house or goes out and Bertha doesn't know about it everyone goes on alert. Bertha is virtually the only employee of mine I cannot fire. She's just that valuable."

"Boy, I wish someone felt that way about me."

"Quay did."

Her eyes teared up and she nodded her head. "Can I have some coffee?"

"How do you like it?"

"Cream and sugar, please."

Bertha was busy cooking up breakfast as the kids came down and sat at the island kitchen table. So, I went and poured her a cup and brought it to her with the little creamer and the sugar bowl. She quickly stirred in the cream and sugar and put it to her lips.

"Mmmmm. This is the best coffee I have ever had. I haven't had any since the clubhouse. Master Malcolm never let us have coffee unless he had a reason."

"You are a skinny little thing. For you today the full breakfast." Bertha said in her inimitable tone.

"What's the full breakfast?"

Still in her pajamas, Holly stepped into the kitchen with Celeste and said, "Bertha's full breakfast is two eggs, two slices of bacon, two sausages, hash browns and toast. What kind of toast did you whip up for us today, Bertha?"

"Today it's Sourdough. I got some starter from Mrs. Tuttlehill's cook. It toasts up real nice."

"You had me at bacon. I don't think I've had bacon in five years, when a whole unsliced bacon fell off the back of a truck."

"Oh, Holly said. "And you were around to collect it?"

"Of course. We made it fall off the truck. It's a eupha something."

"Euphemism, Becky." I corrected.

"Yeah. One of them."

By the time Becky's breakfast was ready, we were running the kids out to the cars to go to school. After hugs and kisses, we were back in the kitchen. Duane came down, dressed to the nines, and loaded for bear. As soon as he hit the kitchen, I was on him and wrapped myself around him and gave him a big kiss. He kissed me back but gave me a look like I had alternative motives. That's because I did. I wanted in his pants, but knew that wasn't happening just now. I was just priming the pump for tonight, when I was hoping to get a pre-trip tune-up.

Duane wanted to get to the city early, so he just took a coffee to go and a scone for the road. He let me know he would finalize the plans for tomorrow and we should chat in the early afternoon before I address the troops.

"And Hannah."

"Yes, my love."

"Please don't harass Tilly. She's got enough on her plate. You showing up in person could just put her over the edge."

"Say no more. Before you know it, she'll be eating out of my hands."

"Hannah!"

"Yes, my Lord."

"Stop it and go easy with the staff today. I don't need a line of guys out my door looking to resign."

"Not gonna happen. You'll see, they'll love me."

"Everyone does," Holly said, as Bertha nodded her head.

I told him I'd see him noonish and he can buy me lunch if he was of a mind. He was outta there in a flash, and I needed someone to take me to the Navy Yard. If I didn't take two guys, Duane would give me a tongue lashing and not the kind I like.

When I sat back down at the table, I talked to Holly and Becky about holding the fort while I am downtown. There will be at least six bodyguards on the premises and Mac will be about as well. He is finishing a job for a customer in Bertha's garage, which he is using half to park in and half as an adjunct to his Downingtown shop, where he did most of the heavy lifting. At Bertha's, he just did the finishing and coating. We always stopped by when he was working on a piece on our way to The Farm. He does beautiful work and I am on his list for a couple more pieces myself.

Once the kids and Duane were gone, it was just me, Holly, Bertha and Becky in the kitchen. The other two girls were watching the three little kids upstairs. It was time to get cleaned up and ready to go downtown to face the troops. So, I took a stab at something, just for the hell of it."

"Becky. Would you feel uncomfortable showering with me?"

"No. The girls at the club do it all the time. It helped us to tame down some of that jungle fever that we are so driven by."

"I don't think I've ever heard it put that way. I think I've got a minor case of that myself."

"Please forgive me for saying this, but it looks like you have a big case."

"Yeah, all six foot four of him. Come on. Breakfast is done. Let's hit the shower."

And we did. Had a ball in my shower. She'd never seen a shower with two heads before, or one so big. It was a real giggle fest. I was getting the feeling our little Becky was gonna be alright. But first we had a couple of hills to climb. The first being tomorrow, Quay's funeral.

Flora, my designer and two of her people showed up in a maxi van around ten. I had them pull it into the garage and it was as if they had brought the store with them. I gave Flora a big hug. She loved me. Whenever she came to my house, she went home with thousands. And if she was lucky, something baked from Bertha's kitchen. So, Becky and I went shopping in my garage and trying things on in the sunroom. Holly helped gleefully. Holly loves a good shopping experience. Even now. Flora brought everything from pantyhose to panties, from stilettos to women's dress suits.

"Flora, I'm going to leave Becky in your expert hands. I have a meeting downtown today that I must attend. Holly is here and will make sure you have everything you need. Becky, let Flora be your guide. She's brilliant, but don't blame her for the way I dress every day. What I walk out of here wearing today, you can give her the credit for."

"Thanks, Hannah. You are such a joy to work with."

"As are you, dear. Flor, I want her to have half a dozen dresses. If there aren't enough of the right ones here, order a couple. Sit down with Becky on the Web and..."

"Now don't you worry Hannah Todd. This is what you pay me for. Just tell me what you want and it will be done."

"See, Becky, this is the kind of people I work with. Only the best. And if you want to be the best, you absolutely have to work with the best."

"Hannah, that's so kind of you to say."

"Just the truth. Flor, add a couple of pants, suits and some jeans. In time she's going to be spending a lot of time in relax mode so I want lounge wear and lots of jammies and sweats. You selected a beautiful black dress for me last year that I am just able to get into and I am wearing that to the funeral. Becky here is going to be the de facto widow at tomorrow's funeral. I want her to look like it. Make sure the skirt is long enough to not be revealing, but short enough that she could sit on a motorcycle."

"A motorcycle?"

"Yeah, it's a biker funeral. That reminds me, I want a pair of those chunky platform ankle boots. How about you, Beck?"

"Just my style."

"Good, try to get them to match. Do you think you can get them here sometime today?"

Instead of answering the question, she put her finger up and jumped on the internet. "I know your size, Hannah. Becky, what's your shoe size?"

"I'm a five with socks. I have tiny feet."

"Girl, you have tiny everything."

Flora found what she was looking for and showed us a couple of possibilities from Lamoda and we picked their New Mission's. A matching pair. Flora promised delivery today by dinner time. They would be the perfect biker boots for this occasion and would go great with the leather dress I planned on wearing. It's short, it's tight, and I'm actually looking pretty good in it.

Today I was dressed about as formal as I get. I had a charcoal and black pants suit and two-inch heels. Flora, being the doll she is, helped me to put my hair up in a French Twist to give me that business woman look.

"Flora. Make sure you keep a record of Becky's measurements in case we need to beef up the order. Do you have any pajamas to leave for her?"

"Do I have pajamas? I got all four seasons worth. Don't you worry. Just give me a budget and I'll take it from there. Oh, the girls are set to be here tomorrow at seven."

"Seven's good. We have to be out of here at nine-thirty."

"Have I ever failed you?"

"Not even close. Let's say up to ten grand to start. That should give us the basic wardrobe and we'll augment from there."

Becky ran over to me and threw herself on the ground in front of me, and started kissing my feet. "You get up now, Becky Gaffney, or I'm sending it all back. There is no groveling in this house." To which Bertha and Holly broke out laughing.

"You two are on my naughty list. I've got business to do. Don't make it more difficult."

"Yes, sir. Aye Aye, sir." Holly said,

"Don't you mock me, wife. I'll take you over my lap, I will."

Now everyone was laughing, including me.

Domingo and Alec wound up taking me to the Navy Yard. My squad was watching the house and kids. They didn't need to see me perform. They'd seen plenty. This appearance was for the new guys, and the guys who have been with us from the beginning, but we just don't get to see often. I would do my best to build up Duane, but let everyone know who the Queen Bee is. When we got to the office building, the first thing I did was go to Recovery and give Les a big hug. "So, you owe me a story. How did the other night go?"

"Awesome. And last night too."

"Tell me."

"Like you said, I went home early, got the kids taken care of, and in bed. I fed him a nice, hot dinner and flirted with him the whole time. But he just didn't seem interested. So, while he was finishing up his dinner, I went upstairs to my bedroom and got out the.45. unloaded it, cleared the chamber, and put in an empty clip. I went downstairs, walked up to him at the table and put the gun to his temple. He didn't move, but his eyes looked over at me. And baby, there was fear in those eyes."

"But, I never..."

"Wait. I told him if he did not take me upstairs and fuck me, I was going to leave his brains on the kitchen wall."

"And?"

"Best sex ever. Three times, Hannah."

"Is that how many times you came?"

"Oh, hell no. It's how many he came. I must have orgasmed two dozen times. I was wondering who this man was. Then last night, after banjo, he came home alone. When in an almost panic I asked him where the boys were, he said that he left them at his sister's house for the night. Then he picked me up, carried me upstairs and fucked me another three times."

"Great, Les."

"That sounds great. But the best part is that last night, after he finished plowing me into oblivion, he stood up, pointed his finger at me and said, 'Woman, you better get used to this.' Praise the Lord. Is there anything you can't do, Hannah Todd?"

"So far, I'm doing alright. But you get the credit on this one."

"I never thought of that," Lizzie said. "A gun for foreplay. Brilliant."

"Alright, ladies. Alec and Domingo are waiting for me. I gotta go face the Royce crowd."

"Good luck with that," Lizzie said. "Too much testosterone for me."

So, I walked next door to RFS and when I opened the door, you could hear a pin drop. Nobody was there except two secretaries and Tilly. I was sure she was shaking when I walked through the door, so I walked right up to her and embraced her. Gave her a big kiss on the cheek. "Tilly, is Mr. Royce with the troops or in his office?"

"He's in his office, ma'am. Waiting for you."

"Do you mind if I go right back?"

"No ma'am. Do you need me to escort you, ma'am?"

"No, Tilly. I helped design the place. I can find my way."

"There you go, Hannah. Pickin' on poor Tillie."

"Fine, give her a ten thousand dollar raise and get her enrolled in a cybercrimes course. I want to see her rise through the ranks. She's got a family to support, and I have big plans for her."

"Yes, ma'am. Right away, ma'am. Could I kiss your ass before I do it, ma'am?"

"C'mon, Duane. It's gonna be hard enough for me to get up in front of all those swinging dicks and let them know who's boss."

"And who is that, Hannah?"

"You, of course."

"Yeah, if only."

"Then why do you put up with it?"

"Because I love you too much to lose you. And I won't do anything that will cause that."

"Look at you there, waxing all romantic. You just better remember how much you love me when you take me to bed tonight. I've been literally working my ass off to get back to my fighting weight, and I'm here. And I'm lookin' for a little appreciation."

"Come here, you." And he held out his arms. Like I was magnetically attracted, I found myself in those arms. My favorite place. I looked up at him, trying to give him my best pair of loving eyes, and he looked back, grabbed my face, and pulled my lips to his. Boy, that man can kiss. I told him to save the rest for later and we went out, fetched Tilly, and went off to the big conference room where Lizzie and Les joined us.

You could almost smell the testosterone when we entered the conference room. Thirty-two sets of eyes were glued on me as I walked into the room. Every one of them, man and woman, stood up when I entered.

"Please, everybody, as you were. Relax. I'm just here for a visit, not to be a stick up anybody's ass. Alright. For those of you who don't know me, my name is Hannah Todd, and I am the CEO of Todd-Bernstein Enterprises. Make no mistake. Duane Royce is your boss. Don't let anyone tell you any different. I am a large investor that Mr. Royce wants to keep satisfied." Then there was a giggle here and there in the crowd.

"Is that you, Domingo?" I asked. Then the entire room cracked up. I think I captured the room. Now what? Domingo flushed red. Head to toe, I'm certain.

"Domingo is one of you. He is one of the best of you. He is a member of my personal protective squad. The top of the top. Army Ranger, Airborne. Both Europe and the Middle East. He won't talk about the purple hearts or the bronze star, but he has them. And more. Every day Domingo is at my side I feel safe. I have no fear. And even though I wear this thing on my hip." And I smacked my holster housing my Glock. "I know that the first shot and the last will come from his gun. I know that if I am dead, he died first. And a whole lot of other people. I know Domingo is a family man. Domingo's wife and children have been to my home several times. They are like family. Domingo has been with us at my home pretty much since I got there. He was one of a core group we were lucky enough to inherit. I hope you will all meet him and some of you may even get to work with him. You be like Domingo and not only will you be the finest at what you do, you will serve this company well. And maybe, like Domingo, one day you may have the opportunity to save the boss's ass."

And there were little titters around the room. Duane looked at me like I'd better get on with it.

"But I didn't come here to talk about my friend Domingo, although I could for hours. I came to talk about you and me." And I pointed at each and every one as I walked around the room, making eye contact and even shaking a couple of hands.

"RFS is designed to be the best in the business. The outfit that can do what the others can't; that does things other outfits wouldn't even think of. The Elite. Don't you ever doubt that my finger is on the pulse. We are growing, gentlemen and ladies, not just in technology, but in numbers. I want fifty agents on the street by the first of the year, and I'd like to double in size by the end of the following year. That is, at the very least, a sizeable undertaking. The hardest part will be finding experienced, capable people. We will probably have to interview a thousand people to get the hundred we want, despite that, we may only get fifty. That's where you come in. Right now, we have more work than we can handle. And there's more coming."

"Don't I know it." Came a groan from the back.

"We just won a big account up in Chester County that will bring in plenty of bucks. We have tons of work, but we need the people to do the job. And I won't just settle for anyone. The people I work with have to be the best. And that's you. No matter how long you have been working for me, you have been through RFS's vetting process and field testing. I look at reports and see the kind of work you do and how you do it. It's what I want. It's what I expect. You are what I want, just more of you."