A Party for Lola

by Caitlin Ricci

  But we had things to do. So I stood up and went back to his jewelry box, putting his collar in its place. Then it was time for me to get dressed. The dress was fitted across my chest. I'd had it altered to fit my flat chest and slim hips. I loved that it was a soft pale pink and that it flowed around my knees. It made me feel pretty and feminine.

  "I like that one on you."

  Micah was sitting on the bed now. I came over and kissed him again, taking his face in my hands. I really wanted to wait a bit and spend more time in the bedroom with him. How much time did we really need to put up streamers anyway? Probably more than I was giving us if let my thoughts continue down their path.

  "How was work this morning?"

  I'd only had to work for four hours in the vet office and I hadn't been in triage, so it went well. "Good. I did five spays and took a few heartworm tests. The rest of my day had been shots and dogs throwing up because their food was switched too quickly. There was a guinea pig though. He was acting a bit off. Doctor Keller took care of him though. I'm no good with exotics. You would have thought he was super cute though."

  I slid onto the bed with him, putting a thigh on either side of his hips. He brought his hands to my thighs. We didn't have time for anything. I knew that. But I'd missed him and being connected to him physically like this was important for us. I kissed him again and breathed deeply, reminding myself that we couldn't go further, as he pushed my skirt up my thighs and slid his hands around my hips.

  "We have to decorate," I protested. It was a weak protest though. Barely anything. Especially when I had him there, offering himself up so easily to me.

  "We have time for a massage though, don't we?"

  I could never resist one of his massages. I gave him one more quick kiss on his soft perfect lips before I laid down on the bed behind him. The sheets smelled like lavender. I was glad that we were back to using that essential oil in his laundry soap mixes. I had not been a big fan of the clove leaf one that he'd made for us, though the eucalyptus had been amazing. I loved that smell.

  "What would you like for your oil?"

  "Hm…" I had no idea what he had left. "Do you have any sweet almond oil left? Maybe with a bit of mint in it?"

  He laughed. "You want to smell like a candy cane now?"

  "There are worse things to smell like." I turned and watched him go to his stash. We had plenty of oils. Some for massaging. Some for diffusing. Some for when we were playing with each other or ourselves. The sweet almond oil was light and didn't leave my skin feeling greasy like some of them did. Lola loved her coconut oil though. I loved that it made her skin taste like coconut pie.

  He sat down on the bed beside me, and then he was kneeling over my hips as he rubbed the oil into my shoulders and exposed neck. It would have been easier without my dress on, but I wasn't going to take it off again. If I did, it wouldn't go back on for a while.

  His small fingers were perfect. I was quickly relaxed and warm under his careful work and soon enough I was trying not to fall asleep and it felt like he'd barely started. "We need to stop, as much as I hate to say it."

  "Am I hurting you?" He sounded so worried as he slipped off my hips.

  I pulled him down beside me and wished that we could stay in bed just like that for a few hours at least. If not all night. It had been a while since we'd had a date that was just the two of us.

  "We have time for me to go down on you," he offered.

  I loved him for offering, but just me getting off wasn't really what I had in mind, as much as I would have loved to look down and see myself between his lips. I kissed him again. One last time before we both got up and I got to putting up the decorations for the party. "Thanks, but I'd rather that you have fun too. And don't tell me that getting me off would be fun for you. As much as I know that's true, I like seeing you get off too."

  He pouted, for a moment, and then he was getting up. I joined him at the edge of the bed. "What can I help you with then?"

  "Want to help me make a mess of the house with lots of streamers?"

  "Sure." He didn't sound particularly happy about it. Maybe he was picturing just what I'd meant by a mess. I could be a disaster inducing tornado when given half the chance. But he loved me anyway.

  I'd made sure not to get glitter this time. But I did get plenty of other things. I just didn't want to hear about how glitter never came out of anything again. We went downstairs, hand in hand, and my bare feet thumping against the carpet as we walked. I never had figured out how to walk quietly.

  Lola

  By the time five o'clock rolled around I was so tired of work. I was ready to be done. All I wanted to do was just get home and hang out with my family. I was looking forward to getting my heels off, to eating spaghetti with the people I loved most, and probably spending the rest of the night watching TV and movies with them until we all piled into our bed, which was two kings pushed together to make one bed.

  As usual, I was the last home. Four other cars stood in our long driveway. That had been one of the big requirements for a place to buy for the five of us to live in together. Space for every single one of our cars off the street. I pulled up behind Micah's little coupe. It made my full size sedan look more like an SUV. But he didn't need a lot of room. I didn't either, actually, but it was good to have the space when I was running clients around here and there and all over town.

  I was so very done with that right now though. I had a much needed three day break from work. I needed the break. I wasn't ready to quit. Not yet at least. I made the most money in the house. I shouldn't quit. Not when Micah and I had been talking about taking another family vacation just a few hours ago. I could hold on until after the vacation. Then I'd talk to them all about the possibility of me quitting and how we were going to make it all work. Maybe then I could make a lovely digital magazine all about genderqueer people like I'd been wanting to. Something where my leading articles could be about how to treat your skin right while you're on T. Something that would matter more to me than what I did right now. I'd still have articles about finding the perfect lipstick shade for your skin tone, but my magazine could be so much more than that.

  I was still thinking about my dream magazine as I went to the front door. I knocked. Too tired and too lazy to pull out my keys when there were four other people home to open the door for me.

  But none of my partners opened the door. Instead it was my little sister, Emily, standing there with Todd on her hip as he sucked his thumb.

  "What the—?"

  I didn't get the words out before someone yelled "Surprise!" Followed by an even louder "Happy birthday!"

  I'd had no idea. Of course they'd said happy birthday to me this morning, but I'd had no clue that they'd brought Emily and the kids here or... anything. I was amazed that they'd managed to keep this secret from me. And, after the day I'd had, this was such a relief. Having them there, having everyone I cared about under one roof, this was exactly what I needed. I was both overwhelmed and so relieved. I was a rush of emotions that quickly led to my mascara smearing as my tears started to flow. I'd needed this so much. Their surprise, having them all around me, having them make a big deal out of me.

  I was ushered inside and Charlie shoved a bright lemon cupcake in my direction. Then they kissed me on the cheek. "Happy birthday, it's from Sophia so eat them up," they said. Then I got a bite on my ear too. I needed to get them back for that.

  But I had Kiley wrapped around my leg first. I lifted her into my arms and kissed her cheeks. "I can't believe you three are here," I told Emily.

  "It was all Tiffany's idea to bring us down," Emily said as she grabbed my girlfriend and thrust her in my direction.

  "Thank you," I said to Tiffany. She kissed me and then quickly moved away, letting Micah come give me a hug. I hugged him and loved that he smelled like lavender and lemon, just like he'd told me he would.

  Someone, probably, Sasha, had also changed out his collar. They were the one to have thought of that first
. I touched Micah's silver collar and then I kissed him. "The house is beautiful," I told him. I knew he probably had a hand in decorating. It was so very him. Tasteful, but with a splash of someone who wasn't him. There was too much chaos in the streamers for it to just have been him. He was neat, tidy, and orderly in everything that he did. It was one of the things that made him perfectly him.

  "Sasha helped me decorate," he admitted.

  Of course. Now it made sense. Sasha with their wildness. I could picture them throwing the colorful streamers around and letting them land where they did.

  As if someone had called them, Sasha popped up in front of me. I put my free arm around them, hugging them close. Then Kiley started to squirm so I put her down but that just meant I could hug Sasha even harder.

  "You're all so wonderful," I said, stepping back from them so that I could see and speak to all of my family at once. "You did all this for me. I love the decorations and the cupcakes and—"

  "And the presents!" Kiley yelled.

  I had no idea what any of them had gotten me, but I was sure that I was going to love them too. "Yes. And the presents. Thank you all for this. So much."

  Charlie pushed their way forward. "Well, you know, we love you. And we wanted to do something special for your fortieth birthday. Plus, you've been just so stressed lately at work and you deserve something nice."

  I decided, then and there, that I was done being stressed working at a magazine I couldn't stand. I was forty. I needed more than that. I needed more time with my family. I needed more time for me. "What if I quit?"

  Charlie was the closest so maybe it was no wonder they were the first to jump on me and kiss me, but the others were quick to follow.

  "We'll do whatever you need," Micah promised. I knew they would. They all would. We supported each other each and every day.

  Presents came, we went to dinner, and the evening went by in a rush and flurry of activity and happiness for me. I'd never dreamed that my fortieth birthday would be such a celebration. I'd hoped, but this was more than I'd ever dreamed of. I had my four partners with me, my sister, her kids, and we were all together.

  *~*~*

  I didn't slow down until that night when the kids were asleep and everyone had found things to do. I took two glasses of wine, and my sister's hand, and took her out to the back deck. We had a gazebo, that Charlie and Micah had built together the summer before, and I brought her to the chaise lounges there under the stars.

  "Thank you so much for being here," I told her.

  Emily laughed. "Well, I wasn't going to, but then Tiffany bribed me so…"

  I laughed with her as well and then I sighed happily. I was going to quit my job. I'd go see my boss on Tuesday. Then I could pack up my office and be out of there for good. I wouldn't have been able to do it without the four people back in the house. I'd never have had the courage to take that kind of a risk on my own without them.

  "We are very glad to be here," Emily added on. "Kiley misses you like crazy. And Todd, I love how you all are with him and how he is with all of you. He's just a toddler but he's learning so much and his eyes are so open and his heart... having you all here, having you in his life, he's a good kid."

  I gave her hand a squeeze. "Yes, he is. And it's not because of us. That's all because of you. You're the amazing one. Raising those two on your own. Juggling your life, your work, and two young kids. It's incredible." I had no idea how she did it. Kiley and Todd weren't difficult children at all, at least from what I saw of them, but I still thought she was a saint. Our dad had been one too. Our mother had been out of the picture shortly after Emily turned two. I'd been six. But our dad had been amazing.

  Thinking about him brought the tears back. I rubbed at my eyes and wished I hadn't worn so much mascara today.

  "Hey, what's wrong?" Emily quietly asked.

  I shook my head. "Just thinking about Dad."

  She gave me a knowing nod. "You're older than he was when he died now. That's a headtrip. Being older than your parent was. But, sweetie, you're amazing. All the time. You're so wonderful, both individually and together. I wish we could be near you all constantly."

  "You could always move down here," I joked.

  Emily snorted. "Don't think I haven't thought about it. I'd never want for a babysitter."

  "That's true. I think Micah would be actually offended if you went to anyone but him." Emily went quiet for a long time and I looked over at her, wondering what she was thinking about. "What's going on?"

  "Picturing what it would be like to move down here. To have you five a short drive away, instead of across the country. You could be there for every school event, every birthday party. I'd have my sister around me full time. I could actually go out on a date. I haven't been on a date in so long. I mean, I've had sex, but you know, the whole going out and getting dressed up and having dinner and having it not just be the prelude to going back to their place... it could be nice. You know?"

  I did know. I had that every night with my partners. I got what she was saying though, I just hadn't realized she hadn't been able to be serious about anyone since Cameron had left her and the kids when Todd had been about six months old. It was staggering to think that had been about two years ago. So much had happened, so much had changed, since then. She'd been a stay at home mom and suddenly she'd been back to work and finding daycare with an infant and a toddler to take care of. We'd helped however we could, but now, looking back, I wished that we'd done more. She was our family. All of ours. I'd thought that she'd just had it all handled but maybe she'd really been struggling, even though she'd never talked about it with any of us.

  "Well, if you ever want to move down here, we'd love to have you close by," I offered.

  "Maybe I will. I mean, it's a good time, right? Kiley isn't in first grade yet. It would be a good chance to start over. Maybe I should have done it before instead of trying to make it on my own. Being around you all like this, it's reminding me of what it was like to have family around. Lola, I freaking miss this. I want this too. I want to come home and have someone to cuddle with, like you do. I want to come pick the kids up from Micah and ask them how their day went with their uncle watching them and hear about all the wonderful things he did with them. I want to go to food festivals with my big sister and I want to do picnics in the park with all of you."

  I turned onto my side and put my glass aside as I really considered her. "Anything we can do to help, you know that we will. If you want to make your fortieth birthday present to your big sister you and the kids moving down here, then damn I would love that. You have no idea how much I would love that."

  Emily snorted and finished off her wine in one big gulp. "Well, shit. I was just going to get you a card and maybe toss a twenty in it, but yeah. Mind helping me meet with a realtor while I'm down here? I've only got two months left in my townhouse so it's a good time to move. It's such a good time. Holy shit."

  She sounded both scared and amazed, and part of me was freaking out too. But I wasn't scared. If it took her a while to find a place that worked for her and the kids they could crash in the spare bedroom, just like they were now. They were our family. I knew everyone would agree with me. "I'd love to help you find a place here. Thank you." I leaned over and kissed her cheek.

  I knew my life would change when I turned forty. But I'd had no idea just how much. I was beyond blessed. I had my family, all of them, with me and soon that would be permanent. I was so incredibly lucky.

  FIN

  About the Author

  Caitlin is the author of many books including some Rainbow Award winners. While most of her books include shifters, she does write a little of everything. She was first published in 2012 and since then hasn’t stopped writing. When she’s not writing she enjoys gardening, hanging out with her dogs, and watching movies with her husband. She lives on a small farm in Missouri.

  Website: www.CaitlinRicci.com

  lin Ricci, A Party for Lola