A week later, Mia quietly opened the front door, having parked just down the street. Kalan still took security seriously. She'd been late at a meeting, and Kalan had put the children to bed.
Up the stairs she opened the door to her bedroom and began laugh. Kalan had put himself to bed, pajamas, covers pulled up to his chin, looking for all the world just like little Tay, ready for a bedtime story. In the seven days that had passed since Mia had confessed her relationship with Melissa they had not had a night to themselves.
Mia moved towards the bed, still laughing as she bent her head and kissed Kalan.
"You look like your expecting me to pull out a bedtime story,"
"I've been so patient," Kalan replied, pressing her forehead against his, "but my darling it is all I can think about."
Mia laughed and felt her toes curl with anticipation. The sex after her last story had been... inspired. Kalan had sucked her clit like a man possessed before fucking her so thoroughly she hadn't been able to move for several minutes after her sixth and final orgasm.
"Alright," Mia smiled, "Let me just slip out of this."
Mia hung her bag on the back of the chair at her vanity. She placed her coat on top, sliding her feet out of her mules neatly beside the table. She spun towards Kalan, a mischievous grin pulling one corner of her mouth up higher than the other. She reached up, long lean arms finding the long pin in her curls. She pulled it out quickly, shaking her curls down her shoulders in a way she knew made Kalan crazy.
Looking up at him through long lashes, she bit her lip. Kalan was fixing her with a smoldering stare that made her nipples harden the moment they locked eyes. Without breaking eye contact, Mia reached behind her back, pulling the zipper of her dress down. She quickly shrugged out of the cap sleeves before slowly pulling the fabric down to reveal that, even after two kids, she still refused to wear a bra.
Kalan broke eye contact to take in her small breasts, fuller with age, nipples pointing straight towards him. Mia continued to peel her dress off her body, slowly revealing her athletic torso, soft stomach, and then, with a flourish, the dress fell to the ground, revealing a black lace thong and thigh-high black stockings, circling her thighs with a band of lace.
Kalan broke into a grin. "Someone remembered we had a night to ourselves."
Mia returned his smile and strode over to the bed, straddled Kalan and kissed him long and deep. Sparks seemed to ignite between them as Kalan slid his tongue into Mia's mouth. He reached his freckled arms up to hold her, when Mia suddenly grabbed his wrists, pinning them to the bed.
"Not so fast," she whispered, "I have a story to tell you."
Kalan groaned, arching his chest slightly in protest as Mia lay on the bed next to him.
"I thought you were excited!" Mia teased.
"I am!" Kalan responded, shifting his erection as he settled in next to her. "For several reasons..."
The next several months were a blur. Nothing happened between the three of them again, but there was no awkwardness, it had only solidified their closeness.
With time, the possibilities Mia had felt as she ran through the grounds of their old school returned.
Four months after the funeral, Melissa accepted a position tutoring for the young children of a wealthy family in the south of France. Mia and Nicole helped Melissa pack, tucking notes and packets of Mars' Bars (Melissa's favorite) in with sweaters and long floral dresses before kissing her on both cheeks as she stepped into the cab that would take her to the train.
When Melissa disappeared from sight, Mia snuck a glance over at Melissa. It was the first time they had been alone, properly alone, since that night. Nicole was looking back at Mia, a fierce look in her eyes that Mia had not seen before.
Nicole closed the space between them in three fast steps, grabbed the back of Mia's neck, and pulled her in for a kiss that made fireworks explode behind Mia's closed eyes.
Melissa moved back to Britain when she met a Scottish bartender, Calum, at Mia's 22nd birthday party and fell head over heels. A whirlwind romance later, at Mia's 23rd birthday, Melissa was big with twin girls on the way, and Calum with his silly happy grin at her side.
Also at Mia's 23rd birthday, was Nicole.
"You weren't joking!" Kalan exclaimed, "You really were together for years."
Mia smiled wryly, "Four, almost five years."
"Blimey," Kalan sighed. "Five years of the two of you tangled together. You're going to have enough stories to get me going for the rest of our lives."
Mia giggled and then turned serious, "You aren't mad I never told you?"
Kalan shook his head, "I never thought to ask. When we met it was all about building us, and making a future."
"And we have." Mia said, taking his hand.
"And we have made a brilliant life for ourselves." Kalan brought her hand to his mouth and kissed her palm. "You know I love surprises, of course I am not upset."
Mia smiled, relieved.
"Now back to my story!" Kalan, leaned back against the pillows.
It was a fun birthday. Nicole had rented the grounds of a mansion. In the heat of summer, everyone wore their lightest robes and drank fizzing wine as the sun went down. Tables were scattered across the lawn, laden with sweets, more wine, and chicken cooked using Mia's family recipe.
A band comprised mainly of Mia's friends played popular songs at one end of the lawn, while guests played Jenga, Connect Four, other games at the other. Nicole had spent hours decorating and small lights hung over the lawn, twinkling gently.
It was a perfect night.
Mia danced until her feet were aching, beat Nicole at Jenga much to her delight, and eaten so much she felt she might burst.
"Your sister was there!" Mia sat up suddenly, "Did she really never mention it?"
Kalan shook his head, laughing, "Not a word."
"She knows more secrets than the rest of your enormous family combined," Mia shook her had and resumed.
Kalan's sister had long since disappeared into the dark with a French friend of Melissa's. Melissa had headed back to the apartment she and Calum shared, her ankles swollen. Nicole found Mia thanking the band that was packing up their large instruments and payment of leftover food and wine.