My, by now, usual thanks to Kenji for picking up some glaring mistakes, and others not so. Thank you. Thanks to Paolo for his continued support and to all of you who have taken the time to read this saga. I am still waiting for the Lit editors to re-publish the edited Chapters 84-86, where, in Chapter 85, there is the missing explanation of Janet's demise. Thanks for your continued support. It is appreciated. Regards...
Chapter 95
October
Chrissie POV
The last few months have been, well, hectic! Emily and I have gradually grown into our roles at the V&A. At the moment, we're being mentored by senior curators, and finding our way through the millions of items stored in the bowels of the museum. We have even spent some time at the still-unfinished V&A in East London. We both seem to have a new enthusiasm for our positions. Emily has settled into her new work schedule, the kids loved that she is taking them to school, and collecting them. I have noticed how much she is relishing the role. I couldn't be happier, or more at peace, with it all.
Chloe has now called Em, 'mommy'. God, the first time I heard that, it tugged at my heart, and I almost cried. Never in my wildest fantasies had I imagined this. It just seems so right, so natural. I'm sure having Em take them both to school has helped them acclimate to the new regime. When my schedule allows, we both take the kids, although the other moms see Em as the 'primary' mom! We're slowly letting on that we're in a poly relationship, which seems almost more acceptable than one with two women!
David is a firm fixture with his football team. He has also joined the swim club, taking after Tom, even if the genetics aren't there. Tom and he go at least once a week, Tom pushing him, in the nicest possible way. I love their relationship. There is a palpable love between them, again, one which I had never imagined.
Luckily, the school has both primary, and secondary classes. David is forever checking in on his sister, even to the dismay of his new friends. He wasn't in the least embarrassed about this, and neither was Chloe. We must be doing something right!
Em and I took the interviews for a child minder, Em being the more objective one of us! It's so hard to let go, especially given our relationship. We finally chose a twenty-two-year-old single girl, whom the kids adore. She reminded us so much of Janet. The kids love her, a deal-breaker, if there ever was one! Her name is Maryann, and lives just blocks from us. Believe me, we checked her references...and more! We have only used her a few times, reluctantly, I must say, but needed the kids to get used to her presence. And us! We acted as we always had, with little kisses when Tom or I arrived home, the gentle touches that meant so much to us, and the words of affection. That, more than anything, would tell us if she was the right person to watch our children. Maryann never batted an eye.
There was one day, in particular, when I knew she was the one. Em had to stay late at work she called Maryann to collect the kids. Em and I arrived home about the same time, and Maryann was at the dining table, helping the kids with their homework. Em busied herself, prepping dinner, with my help, and cooking on the Aga. I heard Tom come in and waited. He came up behind me, my hands on the granite island, and he slid his arms around my waist, pulled my still-long hair aside, and tenderly kissed my neck. He stepped away, said a cheery 'hello' to Maryann and the kids, and walked to Em, her back to him at the stove. He did the same to her, his strong arms around her midriff, as Em leaned back onto his shoulder, looking at him. They tenderly kissed, Em dropping the long ladle in the pot she was stirring, turned her body, and embraced him. He gently swatted her delicious ass, and said, "Good day, darling?" smiling at her.
"Lovely, sweetheart. Thanks..." she answered.
He calmly walked to the kids, kissing them both on their heads, Chloe giggling, as she usually did. He sat with them all, and talked with Maryann about how the kids were doing with their homework. She was so nonplussed, and went over what each was working on.
"Are you staying for dinner?" he asked her. "I'm sure Em has made enough."
"Thanks, Tom, but not tonight, okay? Another night, though?" she said, calm as can be.
"As and when, okay? Anytime. And thanks for helping out, all right. We all appreciate it," he said.
We discussed having her as our 'new' Janet so Em could go back to a more full-time position.
"Do I...have to?" Em asked when we mentioned the idea. "I...I love taking
care of them. Can you understand that?" she asked us.
Tom looked at me, shirked his shoulders, and raised his eyebrows. I knew his little mannerisms by now!
"You need this, don't you, darling?" I asked her, holding her hand.
"I...I do. I know I'm not bringing in as much money as the both of you, but...I love it. If it's okay...I'd like to continue?" she asked us, so sweetly.
"Emily! This has nothing to do with money, okay? If this is what you need then..." Tom said.
"You just want to be our housewife, don't you, darling?" I half-teased her.
Em blushed! For once!
"Don't, Chrissie! Be nice!" she giggled, so sexily.
"Then tell us, darling. Is that what you want, what you need, honey?" I pressed again.
She lifted her head, looked at us both, and firmly said, "Yes. Yes, that's what I'd like...if you two can go along with it. Don't laugh, okay, but it seems it's what I'm supposed to be. I love taking care of everyone. I...I feel like...me. I still need to work, okay, but I'm finding I'm changing since we've been here. This, us, just works so well for me. For us, I hope!" she sighed.
Tom and I looked at each other, overcome with love for this amazing woman.
"Then that's who you are for us, Emily. Our housewife, okay?" he said, and kissed her. I thought he was going to pick her up, take her upstairs and fuck a baby into her, but that would wait 'til later!
This was a huge step for all of us. It didn't necessarily re-define our relationship, but rather enhanced it. We all still helped, as we always had, with the day-to-day mundane domestic lists, but Em watched over the kids just that little bit more. She looked so beautiful as she took charge of all their little moments, be it homework, school meetings (when Tom and I couldn't attend) and nurturing them, as I had done. I think Tom and I fell in love with her even more, if that was even possible. With me, she was the same, domineering one moment, submissive the next, and other times, just Em. I loved all of them. She just seemed to be happier after the words had been spoken.