by Donna Raider
“That their mother could just eat Mika alive.” She laughed as she healed all the wounds on her body. “All better?”
Mika nodded.
##
The summer seemed to fly by as August ended too soon for the Cross family. The older children had made many trips into the universe, practicing what their parents had taught them.
Leah and Mika enrolled their youngest children in the local schools.
Sara and Jennifer prepared for their return to New York. The hospital had already scheduled heart surgeries for Jennifer. The World Health Organization was chomping at the bit for Sara to take her official position at the helm of research.
Adam, Amber, Regina, and Matt were working with Rachel and Jacob writing the proposal for all seven of them—including Sara—to make the trip to Reine Mére. NASA had agreed that Rachel’s siblings could join the crew, if they were able to pass the intensive physical requirements demanded of all astronauts. They had outperformed everyone.
Rachel had increased the range of her telescope and easily located the new solar system and the planet, Reine Mére. Her discovery had rocked the worlds of astronomy and astrophysics.
Her discovery of a new solar system reaffirmed her belief that the universe was endless. It had made fools of the scientists who had made fun of her. They had declared all existing solar systems had been found.
Working with Regina and Matt’s computer models, Rachel had discovered a way to travel instantaneously from one point to another in the universe. Only she and her siblings knew the secret to her discovery. As mission leader, she was seldom questioned when she gave instructions. The truth was no one knew enough to question her.
Lexi’s crews had started construction on the new facilities and there was a lot of interest in the project. The Crosses had asked Lexi to be their spokesperson, so all interviews had been with her.
Lucas had become a welcome guest in the Cross home. He usually ate dinner with them before taking Rachel to a musical or play. Everyone gathered weekly in the media room to watch the latest Disney movie with the younger children.
“One never gets too old for Disney,” Mika had commented.
The oldest children often went dancing at an upscale club they had found in Fort Worth.
Leah and Mika enjoyed the quiet life of the country and divided their time between the construction site and the ranch.
“Our lives are perfect.” Leah sighed as she snuggled into Mika’s arms. “I never want to leave here.”
##
Leah sat on the oversized chair in their sitting room and watched Mika as she stirred from her slumber. She knew it would only be a matter of seconds before Mika would reach for her and then bolt upright in the bed, searching for her.
As if on cue, Mika reached for her wife, frowned, then rose to look for her. She smiled as she found Leah watching her. “You are much too far away.” Mika gave Leah her childlike pout.
“I want to talk to you,” Leah said. “We both know coherent conversation ceases when we are in bed together.”
Mika shrugged. She knew Leah was right. “What if I come to you?”
Leah nodded as Mika slipped on her pajama bottoms and joined her in the oversized chair.
“May I hold you on my lap?” Mika asked solemnly.
“Yes, but promise, no kissing until after we talk.”
“I promise.”
Mika easily lifted Leah onto her lap and began stroking her soft hair. She was impossibly gorgeous. She loved her so much. Her lips had always fascinated Mika. For her, they held the keys to the kingdom. Mika gently placed her back in the chair and went to sit on the bed.
Leah raised a quizzical eyebrow.
“Keeping my promise,” she said. Mika’s blue eyes sparkled as she basked in Leah’s beauty.
God, she is cute. “We can talk later.” Leah’s soft, throaty laughter filled the air. She straddled Mika and pushed her back onto the bed. “Much later, my good girl.”
##
“Um, what a delightful way to awaken,” Mika hummed as she massaged Leah’s back. “Since we have momentarily laid to rest our lust for one another, maybe you can just stay in my arms and talk.”
Mika pulled herself up to lean against the headboard. Leah leaned against Mika’s legs.
“I know we must return to New York soon,” Leah said softly. “I worry that the sniper is still waiting there for you.” She tried to lighten the mood. “While I am certain I would make a beautiful widow, I have no desire to be a single mom, raising fourteen children.”
“I will be extremely careful, honey.” Mika kissed her lips gently. “I have no desire to leave a gorgeous grieving widow for other men to console.”
Leah moaned as she ran her tongue over Mika’s full lower lip and tasted herself. “Don’t kiss me again,” she said with a chuckle.
“I will be fine,” Mika reiterated. “I have already contacted Carlie and she will have a security detail with me at all times.
“The Pope will arrive the first part of October and we have a lot to do to prepare for his trip.” Mika overcame the urge to kiss her.
“You have to shoot several scenes for the series while we are there. Did you know Marked for Murder has been nominated in all possible categories again this year?” Mika informed her. “Including best actress in prime time. It seems you are just as powerful in a coma as you are kissing me and slapping Trey.”
Leah laughed out loud. “I am certainly fortunate to have such a loyal fan base.”
“Stiles and the cast have done an incredible job of keeping Leah Redman in front of your audience,” Mika noted. “They have carefully aired the pre-recorded interviews you did before we left town. Even Riley Rabbit pretended to be doing a live interview with you last week. Of course, her ratings exploded to four times her normal viewers, so it was a good thing for her too.”
“Everyone thinks I am in New York.” Leah smiled. “The babies are due the first week of November. The Emmy awards are the last week of November. We could transport to our apartment, attend the Emmys, and be back here by midnight.”
“My thoughts exactly.” Mika smiled. “Then we will simply disappear.”
The chiming of Mika’s cellphone drew their attention. Leah saw Lexi’s face on her screen and pushed the button to turn on the speakerphone.
“Hello, Miss Cole.” Leah cleared her throat, realizing she still had that “I’ve just had sex” sound to her voice.
“Good morning, Mrs. Cross,” Lexi returned the businesslike greeting. “I was wondering if you and Mika would like to be here at eleven for the ground-breaking ceremony.
“I would have given you more advance warning, but the mayor just informed me it would happen today or not at all.
“I have made calls to all the local news stations, but it is such short notice, I will be surprised if anyone shows up.
“No disrespect to you, Leah,” Lexi growled, “but the mayor is a real asshole.”
“Yes, he is, dear.” Leah chuckled. “Mika and I will be there a little before eleven.”
##
Mayor Benton Finley was the perfect caricature of the small-town, dishonest mayor. A short man with a Napoleon complex, he bullied everyone he could. Mika suspected he also stole money from the town’s treasury and extorted funds from the local business owners to assure police protection.
Leah loathed him and had almost turned him into a skunk on more than one occasion.
Thanks to Leah, the assignment to cover the ground-breaking ceremony had appeared on the calendar of every television station and newspaper in the metroplex. All had sent news teams to cover the affair. They all interviewed Lexi, ignoring Finley—also Leah’s doing.
“When you finish, please join us at Lucile’s,” Mika whispered to Lexi.
##
“The usual?” Lucile asked as Leah slid into the booth. “Where’s my cupcake?”
“Mika will be along.” Leah smiled. “She is talking with the engineers.”
&n
bsp; “I just want to say that your family has been a boom to my business.” Lucile grinned. “Not just your tribe, but all the others that are drawn here as a result of what you are doing. I appreciate you.”
“Thank you, Lucile.” Leah smiled brilliantly. “You are very kind.”
Yep, I will be fantasizing about you, Lucile thought. Leah was one of those women who appealed to both men and women.
Mika entered the front door and smiled as she made eye contact with her wife. “I need to wash my hands.” She kissed Leah lightly then walked to the back of the diner.
Lucile placed their drinks on the table as Mika returned.
“Lucile,” she said, “was your diner burglarized? I noticed the back door looks like it has been kicked down.”
“Yeah,” Lucile huffed. “Third time this month.”
“What did the police say?” she asked.
“I don’t get police protection,” Lucile growled. “I refuse to donate to the mayor’s re-election fund.”
##
The lunch crowd and news people had filled Lucile’s when Lexi joined Mika and Leah.
“Wow!” Lexi beamed as she sat down across from Leah. “I cannot believe the media turnout for the ground-breaking ceremony.”
“Yes, and you handled it beautifully, dear,” Leah complimented her.
Lexi smiled as Baird Stanton, the only attorney in town, entered the restaurant. “May I invite him to sit with us?” she asked.
“Certainly, dear.” Leah nodded.
Lexi waved Baird to join them. “We have an empty chair, if you would like to join us.”
He smiled and spoke to Leah and Mika as he took his seat. “Lexi, it seems you have created quite a stir in our little town.”
Lexi opened her mouth to give the Crosses credit, but Leah stopped her. “Lexi is extremely talented. We are very fortunate to have an architect of her caliber heading up a project of this magnitude.”
“Have you donated to the mayor’s re-election campaign?” Mika asked Baird.
“No, but if my office is burglarized one more time, I may have to, in order to stay in business.” Baird frowned.
“Isn’t that illegal, even in Texas?” Leah said.
“It would be difficult to prove that only those who refuse to donate are denied police protection.” Baird scowled. “Just ask Lucile. She has the same problem.”
“He approached me last week,” Lexi added. “Said a donation to his campaign would guarantee our building materials wouldn’t be stolen.”
“There is no way we will let that little toad extort us,” Leah growled. “Doesn’t the county sheriff have jurisdiction in this area too?”
“It’s a political thing.” Baird frowned. “The sheriff’s department will say the police are responsible for anything happening in the city limits. They only want to patrol the county.”
“Then to whom does one turn for justice?” Leah asked.
“The Texas Rangers have jurisdiction if they want,” Baird suggested. “Good luck with that.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“Governor, there is a Mrs. Cross to see you,” the secretary said as she opened the door.
The governor scanned his calendar. “I don’t have an appointment with anyone…”
“I don’t have an appointment.” A woman of indescribable beauty burst into the governor’s office. “I do need your help.”
“Of course, Mrs. Cross.” The governor licked his lips to moisten them. “How may I help you?”
If there was one thing Leah was well versed in, it was handling politicians, especially male politicians.
##
The next morning, Lexi drove past Lucile’s and wondered why the Texas Rangers vehicle was parked in front of the diner. As she arrived at the construction site, two things stunned her. An eight-foot electric fence surrounded the fifty acres of the building site, and two Texas Rangers were sitting in their car at the gate.
She parked her car and walked to the Rangers car. “May I help you?” she asked hesitantly.
“Are you Leah Cross?” One of the Rangers got out of the car and removed his hat.
“No, I am Lexi Cole, construction manager.” She smiled.
“Mrs. Cross has requested our presence because the local law enforcement agency doesn’t seem to be able to apprehend thieves in your town.”
By the end of the day, several news media had covered the story of the Rangers protecting the tiny town of Godly. Mayor Benton Finley refused interviews.
Questions were raised about the ability of the mayor and police chief to govern and protect the small town. Citizens became emboldened by the fact that a law enforcement agency of the Rangers’ caliber was willing to aid them. With local elections coming up in November, several candidates filed to run for mayor, something that hadn’t happened in the past twelve years.
##
Lexi joined Jacob for lunch at Lucile’s. The only topic of conversation was how Leah had arranged for the Rangers to protect the town.
“I was shocked to find that big fellow at my front door this morning.” Lucile gestured toward a giant in a Texas Rangers uniform. He smiled politely.
“He said he was here at the request of Leah Cross,” Lucile announced to the diner full of customers. “I think we should elect Leah Cross mayor of Godly.”
A rousing “yes” went up from the patrons.
“I am afraid my mother doesn’t have time for politics.” Jacob smiled. “We do have a rather large family, and she is very invested in the construction project. She won’t have any free time until the building is completed.”
“You know what they say.” Lucile beamed. “If you want a job done right, give it to a busy person.”
Baird Stanton entered the diner just as a rousing “Leah Cross for Mayor” rocked the building. He smiled as he spotted Lexi and went to join her. He was disappointed to see her sitting with Jacob Cross. How does one compete with Jacob Cross? he thought.
“Baird,” Jacob said as he extended his hand, “please join us.”
Baird shook Jacob’s hand and pulled out the chair beside Lexi.
“We were just about to order lunch.” Lexi smiled sweetly at Baird. “Lucile’s famous pot roast is on the menu.”
Baird nodded and placed his order. “What was all that cheering about?”
“Leah for Mayor.” Lucile grinned.
“I can definitely get behind that.” Baird smiled. “Your mother is really something, Jacob.”
“You have no idea.” Jacob chuckled.
##
“Mom, we volunteered you to be president of the PTA,” ten-year-olds Eve and Paul announced happily at dinner.
“PTA?” Leah raised her eyebrows at the acronym.
God, I love her, Mika thought as she watched her wife make the expression that always made her stomach do cartwheels.
Leah looked at Mika knowingly and smiled coyly. Mika wondered if she had moaned out loud.
“Parent Teachers Association,” Hannah explained.
“Oh, I don’t know,” Leah said seriously. “I am not really very good at group endeavors. I do my best work alone or with Mika.”
“Mika can belong too,” Paul said. “It is for all parents and teachers.”
“I am certain there are people more qualified than I,” Leah said with a smile, “but thank you for the vote of confidence.”
“If they select you, will you do it, for us?” Eve grinned Mika’s grin.
“Please, Mom,” Paul chimed in. “Please, for us.”
All the children had learned, early in school, how important it was to have a parent head up the PTA. It was practically a “Get out of Jail Free” card.
“You should do it, Mom,” Mark backed his siblings. “You could handle it with your eyes closed.”
“We will see.” Their mother nodded.
“The first meeting is tomorrow night,” Eve informed her. “You need to attend. It is at seven in the cafeteria.”
“We assured th
e principal you would be there,” Paul added.
“You can’t make liars out of your children.” Mika grinned. “We’ll both go. In the future, you must clear these things with your mother before making commitments for her.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Both children hung their heads slightly and grinned Mika’s grin.
##
“Mika, this cafeteria is insufferable,” Leah panted. “Is the air conditioning even on?”
“It is now.” Mika smiled as she immediately dropped the temperature in the room to sixty-eight degrees.
Parents began to fill the room and find seats at the small cafeteria tables. Several very pregnant women sighed in relief as they entered the cool cafeteria.
Leah gave thanks to her God and her wife that she never gained much weight with their babies. At six months, she had gained very little weight.
“Mrs. Cross.” A voice carried across the cafeteria as a woman walked toward her. She held the hand of a little black-haired girl.
Mika recognized her as the mother of the little girl Leah had saved from the white stallion. She quickly whispered in her wife’s ear.
“Mrs. Vega, it is so good to see you.” Leah leaned down and touched the little girl’s hair. “My, you look lovely. I love your bow.”
“Is it true?” Mrs. Vega gushed. “You might consider being PTA president?”
“I am certain there are others more qualified.” Leah smiled slightly. “I’m afraid my children give me more credit than I deserve.”
“Ladies and gentlemen,” said a heavy-set man who stood at the podium, “if you will take a seat, we can get this meeting underway.
“As you know, we are here to elect our PTA officers for this school year. I am going to turn the meeting over to Bitsy Stuart, our current president.
“Thank you, Principal Day.” Bitsy Stuart giggled. She was the epitome of the bleached-blonde airhead. “As you all know, I have been PTA president for the past five years, ever since Billy Ray started school in kindergarten. I would like to continue to serve you in that capacity.”