Conversations with My Mother

Once again I slept the sleep of an innocent child. Sound, and I was awakened by voices. Amanda was talking, in hushed tones, and being as gentle as only she knew how. Amanda was issuing instructions.

I rolled over and even though my eyes were open they weren't focused, I still had that sleepy haze in them. "Now look at that my sleeping beauty has woken,"

"Morning," I mumbled. "Why are you up so early," I noticed that she was dressed, as my eyes slowly came to focus on the other person in the room. It was a sweet-looking blonde, very pretty was my first thought. A new stewardess.

"It's half 8 babe, you have to wake up and start to get dressed and all that," I was being told.

I pulled the blanket up to my chin, exposing my feet and ankles. I tried to bend my knees and pull my feet under the blanket, but the seat come bed was too narrow even for me.

The sweet voice of the blonde stewardess spoke to me. "Good Morning Ms King, would you like a coffee and fresh orange juice, two crumpets with honey, and a selection of fruit for your breakfast?"

Suddenly I was awake. "That's exactly what I want," I was about to sit up and realised I was still naked from the night before. So just lay there looking at them looking at me.

She smiled at me "I'll get that organised for you," she excused herself and closed the door as she left.

"That is our day stewardess, her name is Lily,"

"Very cute, but they all are. I feel like I am a kid in a lolly shop,"

"You certainly behaved like one last night. Did you enjoy it?"

I just smiled at her and snuggled down. Amanda came and sat next to me. Stroking my face. "I feel kkind of guilty ssweetie,"

"Why, what happened?" I was suddenly aware of her slight stammer, she gets that when she is really nervous.

"Nothing has happened, I mean the reason for the trip and we spent last night fooling around like some kind of debauched duo, I don't feel right about it now,"

I took her hand from my face, kissed the palm and wrapped her fingers around my kiss, "Keep that for later on," I told her. Then I kissed her properly.

She pulled back, "Pussy breath" she screwed up her nose.

"Madison," I told her. She just nodded, she looked sad.

I threw back the blanket to reveal myself, she gave me one of her looks and tapped her wrist. "Get up Missy and get dressed. Then for god sake brush your teeth," The stammer was gone.

That moment of guilt and nervousness was put away for another time. I made a note for myself to revisit that when all of this was over.

"I'll brush after I've eaten," I told her.

"No, you'll do it now, if I can tell so will others and that is just plain bad manners Bobbi," Her tone was unmistakable, she was serious.

"You'd make a good mum you know," I said teasing her.

"Behave, we've had that discussion," I went to our private bathroom and freshened up, washing my bits and pieces, and giving my pearly whites and good scrubbing.

Amanda had laid out a fresh set of underwear and clothes. Her selection was impeccable, as per normal. She knew how to pack for flights.

Getting dressed I checked myself out in the mirror, a nice casual pair of tan slacks, a white shirt, and my boots. She told me the weather will be warm to hot when we touch down.

"I have filled out our demarcation and immigration forms. Our luggage will be taken to the house for us and we'll be taken straight to the hospital." She was watching me dress as she spoke. I heard her sigh.

There was a knock on the door and that sweet voice informed us that my breakfast had arrived. Amanda spoke to her through the door, "Just a minute we're not decent,"

I pulled up my jeans and fastened the belt and zipper. Amanda opened the door, and Lily stepped in.

"Oh wow, you look smashing in that," she said in her posh English accent.

"Why thank you'all," I replied in an old Southern accent I had never possessed.

She smiled. Amanda rolled her eyes and shook her head. Placing the tray on a stand, she sat my bed up into the seated position and took away the blanket and pillows.

"We'll be landing in about 90 minutes I'll come and collect you as soon as we have stopped. I understand you have a welcoming party who will escort you through immigration. Do you have all your paperwork completed?" She asked us.

Amanda handed me a form and a pen, "Sign on the bottom babe, you know the drill,"

I did and handed both the form and pen back to my girl. I looked at her taking charge, I felt so safe, and comfortable. This time I sighed.

Lily smiled at us both, thanked us and left.

I moved towards her and she just smiled. Mandy held onto me "You are amazing babe, You are just so perfect,"

I shrugged, "It's the company I keep," I keep telling her that and she just thinks it's a throwaway line, but it is true, I am who I am because of her.

I sat down opened up my phone, and started reading some old news items. The war in Ukraine was progressing slowly, I showed Amanda, who nodded and reminded me. "Both sides use propaganda, believe nothing of what you hear and read, and only half of what you see,"

"OK smarty pants what is happening over there?"

"Kyiv has the Ruskies by the balls, and England and the US are laughing their heads off while France and Germany are scared shitless. I will tell you this sweetie, the EU and NATO are overrated as a single unit. China now realises that they have backed a loser and is worried if they show too much support for Putin, they'll be hit with the same kind of sanctions. That scares them more than anything that the Americans have got in their arsenal. The fighting will grind on for another 6 months and come February 24 next year, Ukraine will have hold of all their old territories including Crimea. Russia will still try and battle on it will be their downfall."

I sat there listening, smiling at the ease with which she in just a few short moments summed up what would most likely be happening. I reached across and squeezed her hand, "You are so smart babe,"

"It's the company I keep," She replied. I looked at her with a smirk on my face.

"Ha ha ha," Was my retort.

There was a knock on the door and Lily opened it without being told to and spoke earnestly to Amanda. "You have a phone call Amanda,"

I looked at her and she saw the worried look on my face. She smiled and patted my hand. I was fairly sure Ken wouldn't call her in flight, so felt comfortable it was work not family. But I still felt uneasy.

I sat there and continued to read. An email caught my eye from Ashley, marked 'READ FIRST'.

I opened it and thought 'Now what'. But instead of being another drama, it was confirmation of a new deal for a yet-to-be-written book. A spectacular amount of money had been offered to me and Ashley wanted us to talk it through as soon as I landed and read the email.

I sent her a return email, asking for more details.

Amanda came back in and suggested we talk. I showed her the email as she sat down.

"Yes I know, and that was the head of our security detail and he was informing me that word had got out of our impending arrival and several media outlets were waiting at the airport. I told her that our plans do not include a media doorstep situation. We are here for private family business. They will spread the word,"

I nodded smiled at her and said thank you for handling all of this. "Hey, it's what I do,"

"And here I thought it was all about you, this security squad,"

She smiled. "I told you the Minister fancies you,"

I laughed at the thought that a middle-aged married guy would let on that he fancies his chief advisor's lesbian partner.

"How come you can get away from Canberra and head off overseas at the drop of a hat," I asked.

"How many sickies have I had since I've been with him?"

I shrugged, "I can't think of any,"

"Exactly, and he knows when I ask him directly it must be serious," She told me while holding onto my hand. "So I have as long as it takes, I have good staff backing me up. They are running everything past me. So, sweetheart, I am all yours until we get through this,"

I wanted so much to go and kiss her right there and then. An announcement came over the in-seat speakers, advising us that we had started our descent into San Diego.

Lily came around and knocked before opening the door and folding it back into a secure place. She came around and opened the shutters on our windows. She was slightly bent and her backside presented itself to me. I didn't hesitate and slowly caressed the nice firm buttocks.

She stood up immediately turned around and slapped my face, hard. "That's a NO NO Ms. King, I don't care who you are, you don't take liberties," And with that, she stormed out.

Two minutes later she returned with Madison in tow. And stared at me while recalling what had happened. I was so embarrassed. Amanda just sat there, looking straight ahead. Doing her best 'I don't know her impression'. Madison listened and then addressed me.

"Madam, what you did was totally inappropriate, and we demand an apology,"

I was totally stunned. I stammered out my apology. "Lily, I was totally out of order, I'm not sure what came over me, I do humbly apologise for taking advantage of you. You have every right to feel abused. Please accept my sincere apologies,"

Her hands were folded in front of her, and Madison looked at her and asked, "Are you satisfied with the apology?"

"Yes Madison, that will suffice," She answered.

"Would you like me to take this further Lily?" She asked.

Lily looked at me, I was putting on my best puppy dog eyes hoping I'd be forgiven. The look in her eyes told me it wouldn't be likely in the immediate future if ever at all.

"No Madison, I am happy with the apology,"

It was then that Amanda turned to me, and said, "It seems I have to take you to every place twice, always the second time to apologise," and she sat back in her seat and looked straight ahead.

The stewardesses returned to their duties and Amanda burst into laughter. I still had a shocked look on my face.

"I wish I had videoed that, it was a classic," She told me.

"Thanks for the support by the way," I told her.

"If I could predict when you were going to grope someone I would be better armed, maybe if you forewarn me," She said to me, face to face. Doing her best to keep a straight face.

I tried to slap her hands away from me but she kept coming and wanting a hug. I gave up. She did concede eventually that it was the funniest thing she had seen in ages.

"It wasn't funny at all, I was embarrassed babe, I thought she was doing it on purpose. What would you have done," I asked her.

"Being the perfect gentlewoman I would have asked if she wouldn't mind removing said derrière from my face before I slapped it,"

"Exactly, and all I did was....." But before I could finish Amanda jumped in.

"What you did was get a free grope from a very straight young woman, my love, tut tut tut. And got your face slapped. Tell me have you ever had your face slapped before?"

"You can be so bloody frustrating at times Amanda," I said but the smile on my face showed her my true feelings.

"I'll slap your backside if you aren't careful sweetheart," I told her menacingly.

"Ha, in your dreams maybe," She replied. The stewardesses were coming around now to check on our seating and making certain we were all buckled up. It wasn't Lily but Madison who came and checked on us. "Seat belts are all done up are they? Can I check your's Ms. King, I trust I am safe from your wandering hands?" She too was all smiles.

When she bent down to check my belt, which was done up, I told her, "You look remarkably well for someone who hasn't had much sleep."

"Well, one day you'll invite me to sleep over and we can sleep in. Meagan isn't the only one who enjoys a threesome you know," She whispered. And with that, she ran her hand up my arm and started to leave.

I smiled at her and said loud enough for Amanda to hear, "If ever we are in the same place at the same time, we would love that,"

Amanda turned and had a 'love what' look on her face. I held up three fingers. She smiled and said, "Most definitely,"

I looked out the window and saw the city below us. Reality check. I was excited to be seeing my brothers again and meeting the new members of my family, the ones who don't talk to us. I wondered what they had been told about us. I felt Mandy's hand in mine.

"A penny for them," She asked.

"Just wondering what they have been told about us? The ones we haven't met yet. Peters's wife and Colin's wife etc,"

"What does it matter? Don't try and impress them and don't spoil the kids with promises and presents."

"No mummy," She squeezed my hand tighter.

The plane now was coming down onto the runway. The landing was as smooth. No jarring or bumps. Soon we were down and we felt the reverse thrust of the mighty jet engines, not that we heard them. The plane started to slow, what were once blurred images out our window were now just an extended runway. Soon we turned and started back towards the terminal. I looked out the window and appreciated the clear blue sky after the cold wet Adelaide winter.

As we approached the passenger bridge I saw a small fleet of three black cars, red and blue flashing lights on them, parked by the bottom of the stairwell. I turned to Amanda and glared before saying, "It better not be,"

She smiled awkwardly and looked down at them before saying. "Yep, they be for us,"

"Why on God's earth would you do this?" I was genuinely mad at her. I hadn't bought the whole 'Minister has the hots for me', line from the get-go.

"Don't put on a show babe, just go with the flow, until you are at the hospital. Please just humour me this one time,"

Once the plane stopped Madison came for us and said there was a gentleman asking for Amanda.

She smiled said thank you and got up, she held out her hand I ignored it. I got up and hugged Madison, and said thank you for a wonderful flight. She said she has four days off and hopes to see us. I smiled and said "Yes please. You have my number,"

I walked towards the exit of the aircraft Amanda was right behind me. The stewardesses for the first-class cabins were all lined up, and I said my thanks to each and every one of them. When I came to Lily, I said sorry once again, she put on a fake smile and nodded.

There was a man mountain at the door but not in the plane. Amanda stepped in front of me and took charge. My minor tantrum would be dealt with later in the privacy of our own room.

There were four men all in black suits, white shirts and a thin black tie and one in a plain shirt, no tie and jeans. I smiled to myself. The Aussie stands out in a crowd.

There was a brief exchange and we walked down the bridge to a doorway, we were met by two more men in black and a uniformed person who just took our passports, asked no questions and stamped them before saying, "Welcome to America Ma'am,"

We exited the bridge via a stairwell, which opened directly into the back seat of the large SUV. The doors were shut and we had two people in front of us, the Embassy guy, sat next to Amanda, he hadn't said a word yet, and as soon as our escorts were in their vehicle we were off.

The windows were tinted black. The cars were air-conditioned and cool. I leaned back. The cars moved swiftly and silently.

The silence in the car was deafening. So I leant across Amanda and spoke to the Embassy person. "Can I ask who are you?"

Amanda was about to answer when my look said not to.

"My name Ms. King is Bruce Mclean I am the Embassy's senior security advisor,"

"Why are you here Bruce?"

"Because the Ambassador instructed me to be," he answered nonchalantly.

"What can you do that these fine gentlemen can't? I asked him.

"Not a thing. These 'fine gentlemen' are fully armed with 45 calibre semi-automatic pistols and I suspect JARs. If someone tries to interfere with your stay here, these guys will take care of them and you. Am I right guys?"

"Yes sir," Came a reply.

I stopped and thought for a second. "I have two questions, three actually and please don't hold back,"

Amanda put her hand on my leg, I removed it. I wasn't in a forgiving mood at that moment.

"First, who are you protecting, me or Amanda,"

The Bruce spoke first, "Both of you are important to us,"

"Cut the Bullshit Bruce. I've been to the States a dozen times so I know when things aren't right. And since Amanda won't tell me, one of you guys will,"

"What the fuck is going on?"

Bruce sat there without saying a word. He looked at Amanda, took a deep breath and explained.

"Roberta, there is a credible threat to Amanda's life while she is here in the States. Neither the American nor Australian governments want anything to happen to either of you,"

I looked at Amanda, she had her poker face on, not letting any emotion show.

I started to slap at her, she didn't defend herself. "Why, why didn't you tell me," I was screaming at her. Bruce was trying to catch my hands. He got hold of one and then the other and held them firmly. Before telling me to behave.

"Roberta, it wasn't that she didn't want to tell you, she wasn't allowed to tell you. So stop your two-year-old tantrum and behave,"

A voice from the front of the car advised us, "We are two minutes out."

Bruce continued "Let us do our jobs and you will be safe and most of the time you won't even know we are around you,"

I sat there fuming. I wanted to both hug her and slap her down. And she knew it.

The two Secret Service men in front told us. "Stay in the car until we open the door, ma'am," I nodded. Amanda just sat there.

The car slowed down. The first car stopped at the front of the hospital and four men got out and entered the building. One stood at the door his hands clasped in front of him. He kept talking into his sleeve.

It was then that I knew I had to use this situation for my benefit. To put my own spoilt brat attitude on hold. I started watching everything they did. The way they moved, the way they spoke. What they said and to whom they said it.

I knew that Amanda knew how I felt. So there was nothing more I needed to say or do on that front. It was Bruce who came through and helped.

"Ladies, you have a tough time in front of you, shit, I have no idea just how tough it is going to be. So you two need each other, you have to support each other. Once you are alone in your room you can shout it out, but until then, do nothing to draw attention to yourselves."

The two men in black listened, not letting anything that was said faze them.

I held onto Amanda's hand next to me. She looked at me, kind of smiled and we waited.

"Do you know where we are going, she is in their ICU, last time I rang,"

"Yes ma'am we know exactly where she is ma'am," came the reply. Amanda squeezed my hand, her way of saying it would be alright.

"OK, we are clear to go. Wait for us ladies," We were told.

Only one door was opened for us, the one closest to the hospital's front doors. I slid out first followed by Mandy and last came Bruce.

There were four big men around us. Now I know I should have felt safe, but I didn't.

We were moved fast, from the car into the hospital, we didn't stop and several people were moved out of our way. I felt like a complete fake. We didn't take a breath, we weren't running but walking briskly.

I heard one of the bodyguards talk into his sleeve, "Roger that,"

He then leaned down and spoke quietly to us both, "Your family is in a side waiting room. We are taking you there first ma'am,"

I just nodded my head.

We turned a corner and I saw two more men in black standing on either side of a doorway. Great I thought. What a way to introduce Amanda to a totally dysfunctional family.

"Can we stop for a second," The four of them in unison came to a halt and one spoke into his sleeve.