Kezia smiled. Raising herself off her heels a little, she drove the dildo deeper into Jenny. The hand around the head board clenched. Gripping Jenny’s thigh even tighter, Kezia began to drill the dildo into her lover, her hips jackknifing back and forth as she pumped as fast as she could.
Jenny moaned loudly, biting down on the pillow to try to keep quiet. “Fuck,” she gasped. “God, don’t stop.”
Biting her lip, Kezia kept going, watching Jenny squirm in the sheets, her full hips smacking against Kezia’s with every thrust. Letting go of Jenny’s thigh with one hand, Kezia smacked her ass, delighting in Jenny’s immediate reaction. The other woman groaned, burying her face in the pillows as she bucked frantically against Kezia and the strap on, her orgasm coming fast and hard. With a satisfied smile, Kezia watched with heavy-lidded eyes.
When Jenny lay panting in the aftermath of her climax, Kezia pulled out, detaching the harness and laying down next to her girlfriend. Jenny smiled at her, pushing her unmanageable hair off her face. “Well, that was spectacular,” she gasped.
Kezia grinned. “I’m glad. You’ve been such a star the last 24 hours. If I could, I’d make you come for the next week straight.”
Jenny laughed. “I appreciate the sentiment, but God, that sounds exhausting.”
Kezia laughed, curling against Jenny’s side. “Fair.”
Still stroking Kezia’s hair, Jenny asked, “You feel like talking about whatever upset you?”
Kezia sighed. “I went to visit my parents. To tell them about Juliet. I hadn’t seen them in six years and I thought…I had this secret hope…that maybe they’d changed. That maybe they’d be glad to see me. Or at least that they wouldn’t be as harsh with Juliet as they were with me.” She looked up at the ceiling, remembering her parents’ furious faces. “But nothing’s changed. They don’t want to have anything to do with either of us. I mean, they’re our parents. I can see me, but Juliet? She’s only 17. She needs a family. Especially if she wants to keep that bloody kid.”
“She has a family,” said Jenny. “She has you.”
Kezia looked at Jenny out of the corner of her eye. “I’m just one person. Just one person doesn’t make a family. But God, you know, seeing them again, and how cold they are, almost makes me want Juliet to keep the kid. Just so that there can be one child in our family who knows what it means to be loved. To be wanted more than anything, no matter what.”
Jenny nodded. “I didn’t know that you were doing a part time interior design degree.”
Kezia sighed again. “At the moment I’m not really. My last classes were in the spring. I didn’t have enough money this semester. And the longer it takes the more I wonder if it’s really worth it. I mean, my profs tell me I’m good, but there are always better out there…To be honest, I’ll probably just end up being a bartender for the rest of my life. God, I’m going to turn into one of those sad, failed old drunks that come in to McGuire & Sons and sit in the back corner and drink from noon until midnight, never saying a word to anyone.” Kezia closed her eyes and groaned.
Jenny shook her head. “Don’t say that, Kez. We’ll work something out.”
Kezia nodded. “I hope so. Though, right now, I really don’t know see how.”
Rolling onto her side, Jenny kissed Kezia tenderly. “Baby steps,” she said. “First, I’m buying you Thai food for lunch. Then you’re going to go home to tell your sister you love her, even if her parents don’t.”
Kezia smiled. “Thanks, babe,” she said. “Can we just lie here a moment longer before we go get lunch?”
“Of course,” said Jenny, wrapping her arms around Kezia.
Chapter 4
After lunch, Kezia headed back to Jenny’s apartment to see how Juliet was doing. As she came in, she heard singing coming from the kitchen. Juliet had a lovely voice – their elementary school teachers had always put her front and centre at the Christmas concerts - and Kezia hadn’t heard her sing in years. Her voice had grown stronger and little deeper and, if anything, more beautiful.
She was singing Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah, one of Kezia’s favourite songs, and hearing it sent shivers down Kezia’s spine. Quietly, so as not to disturb her sister, Kezia crossed the apartment to lean in the kitchen doorway. Juliet was sitting at the table, her math textbook open in front of her. But she was focussed entirely on her growing belly, cradling it in her hands as she sang to it. Kezia felt tears prick her eyes. This was the sort of love that their parents had never given them.
As the song came to an end, Kezia couldn’t keep herself from sniffing back tears. Juliet jumped. “Oh my God,” she said, putting a hand to her heart. “Were you there the whole time?”
“More or less,” Kezia smiled, coming to crouch down next to her sister’s chair. “Your voice, sweetie…it’s beautiful.”
Juliet smiled happily. “I read that it’s good for babies to hear music in the womb. Or, at least, that’s what the internet says.”
Kezia laughed, “Well, I can’t see that it would do them any harm.”
Juliet studied her sister for a moment. “Kez, you’re crying,” she said.
Kezia gave a strangled laugh and rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand. “Yeah,” she admitted. “I just…you really love that little creature, don’t you?”
Juliet chuckled. “If by creature you mean my baby, then, yes, I do.”
Kezia smiled up at her sister, leaning her cheek against her thigh. “May I?” she asked, gesturing towards her sister’s belly.
Juliet nodded, lifting up her shirt so that Kezia could put her hands directly on her stomach. Tentatively, Kezia laid her hands on her sister’s skin, slowly spreading her fingers. Below her hands, she could feel the faint outlines of the baby’s body. All of a sudden something thumped against her palm. “Oh my God! It kicked!” Kezia grinned up at Juliet.
Her sister nodded. “Yeah, she’s just started doing that.”
“You already know the gender?” Kezia asked.
Juliet shook her head. “I haven’t gone for a single test yet. But I just have this feeling.”
“You haven’t gone to see a doctor yet?” Kezia asked, her eyes widening. “No, of course you haven’t. Christ, Juliet. I’m making you an appointment right now.”
Juliet looked caught between fear and relief. “Thanks,” she said. “I’d really like to know if she’s okay.”
“Oh, sweetie,” said Kezia, reaching up to take her sister’s face in her hands. “I’m sure she’s fine. How could she not be? Look how much her mother loves her.”
Juliet nodded, sniffing back a few of her own tears.
Watching Juliet singing to the baby had flipped a switch in Kezia. All of a sudden, she realised how much this baby meant to her sister. How it was more than just a baby; it was the chance for the loving, understanding family that they had never had. She didn’t want Juliet to give that up. “You know,” said Kezia, standing up, “my lease is almost up.”
Juliet frowned, not following Kezia’s logic.
“I was thinking that, maybe, if you wanted, I could rent something with two bedrooms. That way you and the baby can live with me.” Kezia tucked a stray curl of hair behind Juliet’s ear.
Juliet’s eyes widened. “Kez…really? You’d do that? You’d…you’d want to?”
Kezia scoffed. “Of course! I’m your sister. I love you, sweetie, no matter how long it’s been.”
“But…but how would you afford it?” Juliet asked, taking Kezia’s hand in hers.
“We’ll work something out,” Kezia shrugged. In reality, she had no idea how she’d afford it. “I’ll get some more catering shifts.”
“But then you’ll never finish your degree,” Juliet argued.
“Don’t worry about that now,” said Kezia. “You just focus on getting through high school.”
“Kez…” Juliet sniffed again, “Thank you. I’d love to. I…does that mean…you’ll let me keep the baby?” Juliet looked up hopefully.
“It’s no
t about me letting you do anything. This is your body, Juliet. It’s your choice. But, if you want to keep her, I’ll help.”
“Thank you!” Juliet said, launching herself out of her chair and into Kezia’s arms. Crying openly, she clung to her sister. “Thank you, thank you,” she repeated, sobbing into Kezia’s shoulder.
Kezia stroked her hair and held her tight. “It’s all going to be all right, honey,” she murmured, though, in reality, she had no idea how she would make this work. But Juliet had enough to worry about already.
Chapter 5
The next day, Juliet and Kezia were waiting in the doctor’s office when Juliet looked up from her magazine and said, “Hey, this’ll be our first Thanksgiving together in six years. That’s awesome!”
Kezia raised her eyebrows. “It’s awesome that we haven’t spent Thanksgiving together in six years?”
“No, it’s awesome that we’ll be together for Baby’s first Thanksgiving, silly,” Juliet smiled.
“Oh,” said Kezia. “Yeah, I guess that is pretty cool.”
The two sisters grinned at each other as the nurse came out, calling Juliet’s name.
The appointment went well. Both sisters cried when the baby appeared on the ultrasound screen, its tiny, black and white limbs waving back and forth. The doctor smiled and silently handed them a box of tissues. “Everything looks good,” she said. “You’re going to have a little girl.”
“I knew it!” Juliet crowed through her tears. “I knew it!”
Afterward, they stopped by the Galapagos to show Jenny the ultrasound pictures. But soon all everyone in the office was crowded around the fuzzy pictures, oohing and ahhing and congratulating a beaming Juliet.
“So, I take it you’ve changed your mind about adoption?” Jenny said, as she and Kezia stood back, watching the gaggle of women.
Kezia sighed. “Yeah. We grew up in such a cold home. How can I deny Juliet the chance to love and be loved? I don’t know how we’ll manage, but we will. My lease is up at the end of December. We’ll be cramped for a while, but then I’ll find us a bigger place.”
Jenny nodded. “Or you can stay with me and she can live at yours until you find somewhere better.”
“No, I couldn’t—”
“Just say yes, Kezia.”
“Yes,” said Kezia, smiling at her girlfriend. “Thank you.”
Jenny nodded. “Also, do you have, like, a portfolio or anything of your design work?”
“Uhh,” said Kezia, surprised, “sure, why?”
“Oh, I’m just curious,” said Jenny. “Could I take a look?”
Kezia shrugged. “Of course. I’ll bring it over tonight.”
“Great,” said Jenny. “Also, a few friends are coming over for Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday so save the date. You and Juliet both.”
Kezia wrapped her arms around Jenny. “You’re so good,” she said.
Jenny shrugged. “It’s not like I’ll be cooking. I’m just providing the table and the booze. It’s better that way. Besides, it’s time you met my friends properly.”
“I can’t wait,” said Kezia. “Can I bring anything?”
“I think everything is mostly covered, but I’m sure no one would say no to another bottle of wine or an extra pumpkin pie.”
“Duly noted,” said Kezia. “I make a mean pumpkin cheesecake, I’ll have you know.”
Jenny looked her girlfriend straight in the eye. “Marry me,” she said solemnly.
Kezia giggled.
“No, I’m serious. Pumpkin cheesecake is literally my favourite food.”
“Also duly noted,” Kezia smiled. “I’ll make two for Sunday then.”
“I’ve never been so happy,” Jenny replied, pressing her hands to her heart dramatically.
Chapter 6
Between looking for apartments, shifts at the bar, and dealing with Juliet’s school administrators, Thanksgiving weekend rolled around quicker than Kezia thought possible. But she was extremely glad to have a break from explaining her sister’s situation to school board bureaucrats.
To relax, Kezia spent Saturday making pumpkin cheesecakes and, on Sunday afternoon, she and Juliet showed up at Jenny’s apartment each carrying a delicious looking cheesecake in their arms. Jenny opened the door and her eyes immediately fell to the cakes. “Oh God, someone catch me. I’m going to faint with happiness.”
Laughing, the two sisters followed her into the apartment.
“Never mind the turkey!” Jenny called to the women assembled in the kitchen. “I’m going straight to dessert!”
“Oh my God, those look incredible!” Lily, Miranda’s girlfriend and head of the Galapagos’ HR department, ogled the cheesecakes as Juliet and Kezia set them down on the counter. Passing Kezia a cider, she said, “I had no idea you could bake, Kezia. A woman of many talents, it seems. Do you want an apple juice, Juliet? We’ve got a box of that delicious fresh-pressed kind.”
“That would be great,” Juliet smiled.
“I’m Lily, by the way,” she smiled. “I’m with Miranda, the hot blonde.”
Juliet nodded. “Nice to meet you.”
“You too, honey. Now tell me about your baby,” Lily grinned, pouring Juliet a glass of juice. “Got a name yet?”
“Oooh, wait, are we talking about the baby?” Miranda asked, coming over to join them.
“Yes,” said Lily, slinging an arm around Miranda.
“I want in!”
The two women grinned at Juliet and, suddenly, the teen began to cry. Juliet had spent so much time hiding her pregnancy and feeling ashamed of herself that to be offered so much love and support by people who were practically strangers was too much for her.
“Oh shit, honey,” said Miranda, taking the girl into her arms. “Honey, don’t cry!”
Lily looked at Kezia, but Kezia didn’t understand her sister’s tears either.
“It’s just…you’re all so…nice!” Juliet hiccupped, raising her head from Miranda’s shoulder. “My parents kicked me out, but you guys…”
“Oh, sweetie,” said Miranda, rubbing the teen’s back. “Don’t worry about that. We’ll take care of you.”
The other guests, mostly other Galapagos staff, crowded around, patting Juliet’s shoulder or rubbing her back.
“Poor kid,” said Susan, the backstage manager. “I can’t imagine how hard this has been for you. Whatever you need, you just give us a call.”
“Actually,” Angela, the artistic director, chimed in, “Jill and I have heaps of old baby clothes from when Jacob was born. We’ll bring them over if you want them.”
This brought on a fresh round of tears from Juliet and, laughing, Lily pried her away from Miranda, giving her a clean tea towel to wipe her eyes on. “It’s no big deal, girl,” she told her, rubbing the teen’s back. “We want to help.”
Juliet nodded, blowing her nose on the cloth. “I know. That’s the most amazing part.”
The other women laughed.
“You know,” Susan spoke up again, “we’re thinking of starting a daycare at the theatre for workers’ kids. You should bring your baby when she’s a bit older. That way you can still go to school.”
“But Juliet and I don’t work at the Galapagos,” said Kezia.
“Actually,” said Jenny, “I wanted to talk to you about that. I showed your portfolio to Angela and she really liked it.”
Angela, hearing her name, joined them. “Yes,” she said. “You’re this Kezia person? With the lovely interiors?”
“Uhh, yes,” said Kezia.
“Great. We have a several shows coming up that take place entirely inside houses and we used to have this wonderful woman who did all our interiors, but she fell in love with a Frenchman and is moving to Paris next week. Anyway, I was at my wits’ end when Jenny showed up in my office with your portfolio. I think you’d be perfect for the job. What do you say?”
“I…” Kezia looked from Jenny to Angela and back. “I don’t have any experience.”
“Kez
ia,” said Jenny, rolling her eyes. “The correct answer here is yes.”
“Yes,” said Kezia, grinning. “Oh my God, yes. That would be amazing. I would love to!”
“Excellent. Because, frankly, your talents are wasted at that bar. Though, I have to admit, I do love those little bacon-wrapped scallops you guys make. God, I could eat those for days.” Angela licked her lips. “Speaking of which, are we going to eat or what here, ladies?”
“Please! I’m starving!” Lily shouted.
Laughing and shouting, the group slowly settled down around the table, which was nearly invisible under all the food. The turkey was enormous and with perfectly golden, crispy skin. Kezia felt her mouth water just looking at it. As Jenny got up to carve the enormous bird, Juliet slipped her hand into Kezia’s under the red tablecloth. Kezia squeezed her sister’s fingers in her own and the two sisters smiled at each other.
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