Sally spoke after Kim, "Happy belated birthdays, Bronwyn and Maria."
The two young women just stared back, open mouthed in astonishment. This was the first time they had been given something without strings attached and without a specific reason, and definitely not on a day that was in no way particularly special to themselves.
Bronwyn gathered her thoughts first saying, "You didn't need to do this guys. My birthday was yonks ago."
Maria added as she looked from one twin to the other, "No, you didn't have to do this. Today is your day."
Kim and Sal put the gifts into their hands ensuring they accepted them and stood back. Bronwyn and Maria had tears falling down their faces as they both just looked at the prettily wrapped parcels. It was as though they had no idea what to do with them.
Linda, leaking her own tears, joined the group from her breakfast stand-off and said, "Girls I think it is a friendship gift. You don't need a special day for that. Open it up so we can all see what it is."
John stood behind the twins taking each into an arm as he pulled them back to himself. They each put an arm over his and rested their heads back onto his chest, keeping their eyes on their new friends.
Kim said, "Please open them. We just want to welcome you to our family. They are just little things we picked up, so don't worry too much about about it."
Bronwyn looked at each person in the group and smiled as she carefully opened her card, followed by Maria with her own. They each read the message in the cards about love and friendship then, with a pair of large smiles, thanked the twins for the thoughts. The parcels were attacked with a little less care as curiosity took over. Within each was a velvet case containing a thin silver necklace with a pair of linked silver hearts.
Sally advised, "This is meant to signify sisters' love and how you will forever be linked throughout your lives."
Maria had moist eyes as Bronwyn took her necklace and placed it around her sister's neck. Maria stood and did the same for Bronwyn. As one they turned to the twins and burst into tears trying to mumble out their thank you's as they hugged them. It turned into a group hug as they were joined by the others.
Even John shed a tear as he considered how thoughtful and giving his twin girls were. It gave him a little jolt realising that he had thought of them as his own children. But then he rationalised that he loved them as his own and loved their mother as though she were his wife. Looking around him he felt the equal bonds between himself and Janet, and also to Polly. He understood fully about his bond with the two women who had been in his life for so many years. The feelings he felt for the newer woman was something different, but just as real and deep. He just did not know her as well as the others. Then he considered his other lover Bronwyn. He felt a little guilty that maybe he had forced her into having a relationship with him, or perhaps she was with him just out of gratitude that he had given her a chance at his office. His brain told him he was being stupid, but his conscience still bugged him. For his part he knew his love for her was real and his brain saw her positive response. He certainly did not want to lose her, but now that her step sister was with her and they were free of the threat of Jedd she could drift away to form her own life. John sighed at this thought hoping it would never happen, also knowing he would not stop her from finding her own life.
Janet saw his sad thoughtful look and gave him a quick kiss on the lips, a quick one armed hug to get his attention, followed by a bright smile when he looked to help brighten his mood. She had forgotten they were meant to keep a distance with the twins around, but a quick check of them saw their attention fully on the two sisters. She had not noticed the pair quickly turning around after her kiss before she looked at them.
It was time to get on with the day and Linda shepherded the four younger ones outside to give her some space to clean up. Sophia went home to finish preparing for the party and be there to receive the necessary deliveries. Polly and Janet left for their own places and weekend duties promising they would return later for the gathering.
Rhonda arrived during the morning for some treatment time with John. She had to work her shift this evening so this was her chance to wish the girls a happy birthday, plus be with John. Bringing up two children and managing a job had left her with little social life, especially when nursing required she work shift. Fortunately it was easier for her with her kids now being teenagers and able to take some responsibility for themselves. Normally Rhonda would have spent this morning on the household chores, but for once in many years she put her needs before others. Even this personal time wasn't totally just for herself, as John really did need his regular treatments. If she enjoyed herself at the same time then who was going to complain, except maybe her kids who were left home to do some of the household chores.
After being welcomed to the home she went out the back and wished the twins a happy birthday. They had only met briefly before during the horrid events of Bronwyn going missing but felt closer to them due to her link with John. She greeted Bronwyn telling her how happy she was to see her back safe and sound. In turn Rhonda was introduced to Maria.
Bronwyn's sister looked at the woman to see that here was another beautiful female and guessed she had to be another one of John's partners. Thinking back to her recent life at home she had seen many women around the house with her father who could only be described as sexy. However very few of them could match the natural beauty and allure of the women who surrounded John. From the twins to the doctor they all had an attractiveness that went way beyond their physical beauty that even age did not detract from. Eyeing her step sister she admitted that she had gained an aura of something hard to define. An inner beauty that seemed to radiate, or glow around her. Maria had always considered herself reasonably attractive when compared to the girls at school, but this group made her feel ordinary. They seemed to have that same inner joy as Bronwyn that radiated from them. She could see it by the gleam of their eyes, as though they were happy to just be alive. Maria may not be as old as them but she could deduce it was an effect of having John in their lives. After the ordeal she and Bronwyn had gone through she became envious at not being able to share in this as well, and to have some of this happiness for herself.
Rhonda returned to find John watching the news channel as the reports of the effects of the virus were updated. Jedd was reported as missing and the investigators assumed he had disappeared to escape answering questions. Many top level government officials were being questioned regarding their dealings with the fugitive. So far Scarlet Titmouse was barricaded in her home behind locked doors and gates, not answering any questions from the media about her husband. Fortunately the reporters assumed the daughters were hiding with her, so there was no effort to trace them elsewhere. John was really pleased about this as life would get messy if they were found to be living here.
He knew that eventually the truth would get out and the media hounds would hunt down the girls to this address. This thought was making John feel very nervous and worried for the sisters and his wife and friends. Any report of his unconventional medical treatments could create problems for all concerned. He would hate to be the cause of these problems for the women in his life. The thought of the unremitting news hounds pestering them, making their lives front page news for the voyeurs to drool over, was a very disturbing thought. He would try almost anything to prevent them from paying for his needs.
