Thanks to everyone who read, commented and voted on Chapter 1. Special thanks to synn14 and laemma for their editing, comments and support.
*****
I opened my eyes and looked at my phone, it was 4 A.M. and once more the realization that my grandmother May had passed away struck me hard, right in the heart. Just as it had to differing degrees every day for the past five months. Sure it was merely a dull ache compared to the stabbing wound it had been, but it lingered. It probably always would.
Beside me, Jay shifted and resumed snoring and I was thankful as I got up that my husband of six years always slept so ridiculously soundly.
I looked in on my two daughters, Gwen and Elizabeth. Both of them were still asleep. I closed their doors and made my way to our living room.
It was Easter weekend, our first without May. Everyone would be up in a few hours and we'd be leaving Toronto to head up north, back to my hometown for a family dinner.
I unlocked my phone and checked my list. There was the food we'd be bringing, clothes and toys for the kids.
Jay was insistent that his poker-set make the journey along with some Cuban cigars. He loved initiating a guy's poker night after family dinners. This year Steven, Ashley's son and my only nephew would be back from school. It was hard to imagine he was eighteen already.
Marble, my cat leapt up into my lap. I absently scratched her head and made a reminder to double-check with my friend Joanne about looking in on her. It was only the one cat now, Missile, (having lived up to her name) had launched herself off our second floor balcony a few days after we bought the place and never looked back. I'd been devastated at the time, but now I just liked to think she found another family and was having a good life elsewhere.
I set my phone down and sighed. It'd be good to see my three sisters again. At the funeral there really hadn't been a moment for much beyond consoling. I was looking forward to spending more quality time with them, finding out how they were doing and what they'd been up to.
Ashley was married to a guy named Mark and he was one of my favourite people. He was a big, shaggy bear of a guy - 6'3", two hundred and fifty pounds. He worked construction and they'd met when his contracting outfit had been working on May's house. He was funny and easy going. I liked the way he tempered my eldest sister. Still every time I saw him in the back of my mind I was constantly thinking, 'I know what Ash does to you in the bedroom.'
Thinking of Ashley's love for her impressive, black strap-on I could envision Mark sucking my older sister's big, rubber cock or prostrated as she rammed him from behind; it was sort of hot. Still, I tried not to dwell on it, for Mark's sake.
They had taken over May's house once she'd passed on. Dallas, my younger sister (and the other middle child of our family) and I had agreed it'd be best cared for in her hands. We'd received a larger share of May's inheritance to compensate us. In the end our grandma's estate had given us all houses, mortgage free, with enough left for the great-grand kids' school funds. Just as May would have wanted it.
"Mommy?" said a small voice off to one side of me. I looked over to see my six-year-old was out of bed.
"Hey, Gwenie," I said, readjusting Marble and bringing my eldest onto my lap. "Can't sleep?"
"Is it Easter morning yet?" she asked tiredly.
"Not yet," I said and leaned back in the soft chair. "Soon."
"When we get to Aunt Ashley's?"
"Yep," I promised as I kissed the top of her head and held her warmly. "You have an egg hunt and lots of candy to look forward to this year; because you've been so well behaved."
"And it's been hard being so good, with a sister like Beth," she answered precociously.
"Yeah," I said, thinking about my family. "Sisters can complicate things."
*
Jay held my hand as we drove into town. The girls were passed-out in the back and we were travelling in silence, each lost in our own thoughts.
"You okay, Em?" he asked and I gave a quick shrug.
"First time I've been back since the funeral," I said softly.
He gave me a supportive smile and squeezed my hand, "You really loved your grandma, huh?"
"You know I did," I replied and looked out the window at some new construction going up. "She saved me from Irene."
"Your fucking mother," he grumbled broodingly. "She's not going to be there, is she?"
I didn't know, "Ash hates her, but Paige is supposed to be coming. I don't know if Irene was invited, but it's not like she won't know what's going on or where we'll be."
"She never came to a holiday before," he offered hopefully.
"Yeah, well, May's not here anymore," I said sadly. "And she's not afraid of Ashley. Not like she was of grandma."
"If she shows up I'll do everything I can to shield you guys from her," he said and I squeezed his hand right back.
"I know you will," I answered. "But let's try to not make a scene in front of all the kids."
"Tell her that," said Jay bitterly.
"You can't tell my monster anything," I said and he nodded. We all knew what Irene was like.
May's old house looked really nice. They had repainted it a smoky-grey and redone the trim. Spring flowers were popping up all around it and they had put out some modest decorations in the front yard.
"Wow," said Jay thoroughly impressed. "Mark has done a fantastic job here. All new windows, that's going to save them a fortune in heating this winter."
I nodded as if home remodelling was truly fascinating, but deep down I just wanted to get inside; to breath in those familiar smells and see everything and everyone I'd missed.
*
"Good Friday to you!" shouted Jay as he carried in Elizabeth and a bunch of bags from the car.
Mark shouted back a happy greeting and I ushered Gwen inside while carrying some things for the kids' activities.
"Hey, Mark," I said giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"Hey, Emily," he greeted and gave me a great hug.
"Where's Ashley?" I asked as Jay helped the girls out of their boots and coats.
"Where else?" he said. "Fussing over her stuffed pheasants."
"She loves to stuff things," I said nonchalantly while glancing at Mark to see if he reacted.
I wasn't supposed to know about their bedroom activities and Ash had never been really specific, but I was almost certain the coat rack in the front hall wasn't the only thing pegged in their house.
Mark never flinched while taking bags from Jay and I thankfully assumed he had missed my double entendre.
I smelled the air as I made my way to the kitchen. It reminded me instantly of May and our salacious past together. Well, that and cooking game-birds.
Ashley was there - still tall and commanding, even in a flour dusted apron. She had let her natural blonde hair-colour come back and was keeping it cropped quite a bit shorter than she had months early.
"Why are you making pheasants?" I asked with a disbelieving chuckle.
She opened her arms and gave me a smile, I hugged her, and for the first time in forever I didn't get the stale smell of cigarettes as I pressed my face into her clothes.
"How would the writer of the family describe it?" she asked irreverently while touching her chin as if lost in deep thought. "I know - It's different. Just like the rest of us."
I nodded my head, pretending to laugh at the joke she'd made at my expense before checking the door to the living-room for our privacy. When I turned back she gave me a deep kiss, touching my neck as we went. I melted into her. Anticipation at seeing her again blossomed instantly into full blown desire. It had been so long since we had done more than simple pecks and sisterly hugs.
I had to fight down the urge to not pull at the string on her track pants. Resisting the need for me to slide my hand inside her underwear and see if she was still shaved or if the good life had caused her to neglect her downstairs. Either way was fine with me, I just wanted to do everything with her, like we use to.
For the first time in our lives Ashley was the one to tell me to knock it off. I stuck my tongue out at her, both of us separating just as Jay pushed open the swinging kitchen door to set our food contribution on the large centre island.
"Where do you want this stuff?" he asked and I concentrated on lowering my heart-rate.
Ashley directed my husband and I made my exit - farther away from such temptations.
Dallas came in shortly after that, ushering in the cool, crisp air from outside that mingled with two new types of perfume.
Mark rushed in to scoop my younger sister up in his arms with a loud cheer. She grinned broadly and I was amused to see the big man swing her around in exuberance.
He kissed her cheek roughly before setting her down and then clasped her shoulders, like she was just one of the guys.
"How the hell are you, Dal?" he asked while shaking her affectionately.
"I'm fucking alright," she blared and mock punched him in the stomach a few times. Mark's smile was ear to ear and it was clear he was really happy to see her.
"Hi. Pregnant lady," said a small voice from behind them and they both turned in surprise at the slight, glasses-wearing woman behind Dallas. She was still half outside and waiting patiently with a bemused look on her pretty face. Her stomach swelling out as if she was toting a watermelon around under her loose shirt.
"Oh, shit," said Mark holding out his hand to her and helping her in like she were made of glass. "Come on in, Pam."
"Thanks," said the very pregnant girl as she wobbled inside.
Jay exploded from the kitchen and made a beeline for Dallas, "Holy shit, look who's here!"
They shared I quick hug, but it was official - Dallas was 'the man', according to the two husbands.
"Hi, Pam," I said coming over to help Dallas' wife to the sitting room. She was roughly ten years younger than myself, but seemed eternally grateful for the chance to sit down - despite her youth. "How are you?"
"Tired," she said. "But the baby is doing well, so we're happy."
I looked over at Mark who seemed extra tall and proud in that moment. Given everything else we'd seen in our family, I supposed it made sense that Mark would have been the father. Pam and Dallas had wanted a donor who was good with his hands, tall and well-built. Ashley was okay with it so Mark had gotten to be in the child's life, both as a biological father, uncle and godfather.
Jay slapped his hands on both Dallas' and Mark's shoulders, giving them supportive rubs in that weird, 'proud of you, but can't really say it' sort of way men had.
Dallas' eyes met mine, taking me in one brief, enticing sidelong glance. I exhaled abruptly beneath her gaze, a small rush of excitement bolting through me. Subtly, I gave her a coquettish look of my own.
I glanced at Pam, who was casting a questioning glance from Dallas back to me. I smiled innocently at her while kicking myself internally.
Our clandestine flirting went over the men's heads, but Pam had obviously picked up on something. Quickly I excused myself to check on the girls upstairs. Hoping Dallas could smooth things over and divert any suspicions her wife might have had. We all had a lot at stake if our secret ever came to light.
