A Twist of Fate

by Donna Raider

  “…ends with him, what?” Leah said softly.

  “…raping her,” Mika’s words were laced with anguish as she looked into the liquid brown eyes of her wife.

  Leah was all too familiar with marital rape. Her eyes flashed fiercely as scenes of her husband covering her mouth to silence her pleas to stop, pinning her down with his body as he used her repeatedly to satisfy his lustful desires. She gasped audibly, a sob catching in her throat.

  Mika immediately slid onto the bench beside her. She took Leah into her arms and held her until her body stopped shaking. “It is okay, honey,” she whispered. “Nothing like that will ever happen to you again. Ever!” Mika’s chest tightened, and her throat constricted as she fought the hatred for the man who had done such a thing to her wife. “If it makes you feel any better, he’s in a very special place in hell for what he did to you.”

  Mika dried her eyes with a napkin, then gently kissed her soft, red lips. “I love you so much,” she murmured.

  Leah nodded her head then quickly regained her composure. Queens never cry in public. She knew that tonight in the security of their bed, Mika would hold her until her tears and Mika’s love drove the demons back into her past.

  “Order up,” Ruth nodded at the couple and placed their order on the table. “I’ll call Richie.”

  CHAPTER 8 - Remorse is a Relentless Mistress

  The bowling lightened Leah’s mood slightly, but she couldn’t get her mind off the young woman in the hospital. As they got into the car, she suggested they visit the hospital to check on the new baby and Mary.

  Mika was proud of her wife’s compassion for the other woman and welcomed the opportunity to check on her.

  Leah visited Mary every day, taking her fresh fruit, flowers, and books to read. Mary seemed to blossom under the mayor’s attention. Gloria Thomas made the young woman’s recovery her personal mission, too. She often visited at the same time as the mayor, and they all laughed and talked about the upcoming bowling tournament.

  “You should join us for the tournament,” Leah encouraged Mary. “I know from experience; it will get your mind off your worries. It is fun.”

  “I don’t have a way to get there,” Mary smiled shyly.

  “I’ll swing by and pick you up,” Gloria offered. “You can see how good I am at bowling.”

  “Oh, we will so trounce you,” Leah laughed.

  ##

  After Gloria left to complete her visitation rounds at the hospital, Leah continued to visit with Mary.

  “Have you noticed how much Gloria looks like Mika?” Mary commented. “Same slender build, same blonde hair and both of them are very nice.”

  “Yes,” Leah smiled. “It is almost as if they were poured from the same mold, only Gloria is shorter.”

  “Max came to see me today,” Mary said tentatively.

  “Were you okay with that?” Leah asked.

  “Oh, yes,” Mary gasped. “I truly do love him. I just never know when he’s going to explode.”

  “Jealousy can be a debilitating emotion,” the mayor said quietly. Leah knew that jealousy had always been her downfall: jealousy of Delilah, jealousy of Richie and Emily. She had to admit she constantly struggled with jealousy of Mika and the women who seemed to throw themselves at her. She knew Mika was hers and hers alone, but the green-eyed monster always raised its head when she saw other women lay their hands on her arm or lean in to whisper in her ear, pressing themselves against Mika. Mika always smiled at Leah and rolled her eyes.

  Strand released Mary from the hospital and for the next two weeks, she lived at the convent and did volunteer work at the church, helping with the housekeeping, copying and mailing out the church newsletter.

  Leah saw her every day when she visited Mika for lunch and was delighted to see the light coming back into the young woman’s eyes. Max had started picking Mary up from the church, going to David’s for counseling and then dinner. He seemed content to spend the evening with his wife then drop her off at the convent. He loved his wife and wanted to gain control of the emotion that swelled up in him when he imagined she was flirting with another.

  Leah walked into the church, seeking an hour alone with her wife. Gloria and Mary were sitting on the front pew, their heads together, talking softly. Leah nodded to them as she made her way to Mika’s office.

  Knocking on the door, she stuck her head into the priest’s office. “Hi,” Leah loved the way her wife’s face lit up at the sight of her. Mika quickly moved to her, capturing her lips in a sweet, loving kiss.

  “Hello, pretty lady,” Mika beamed, “I was just thinking about you.”

  “I thought you might like to have me for lunch,” Leah smiled coyly.

  Mika laughed, realizing she had jumbled her words. “You mean I might have lunch with you?”

  “I meant exactly what I said,” Leah pulled Mika’s lips to hers and began a long, demanding kiss.

  Mika locked her office door, “The rectory,” she whispered.

  ##

  An hour later, they lay in each other’s arms gaining control of their breathing. “Mother Superior wants me to let one of the battered women live here,” Mika said quietly. “I told her, no. She argued that it wasn’t being used. I didn’t tell her it was used daily.”

  “We need to speed up the building of that shelter,” Leah chuckled. “No way are we giving up our love nest.” They laughed joyously, content to be in each other’s arms.

  Leah lay on the bed watching Mika as she dressed. She noticed a dark bruise on Mika’s shoulder where she had used her to muffle her cries during their lovemaking. “Could you please fix this,” Mika grinned.

  “No, I don’t think so,” Leah teased. “That proves you belong to me.”

  “I’ll show you what proves I belong to you, Your Majesty.” Mika dropped her shirt to the floor and slipped back under the covers.

  ##

  Leah materialized in her own office just before five, hoping that Odette hadn’t realized that she had been gone all afternoon. She unlocked her door and walked to her secretary’s desk. The glow about the mayor and her smile told Odette all she needed to know.

  “I’m going home, now,” Leah informed her. “Is there anything I need to know before I leave?”

  Odette handed her a stack of messages, “Nothing that can’t wait until tomorrow. Anything special planned for this evening,” the secretary asked innocently, “or just more of the same?”

  The mayor shot her a death glare but was unable to sustain it and broke into laughter. “I hope so, Odette. I certainly hope so.”

  Mika entered the office at the sound of her wife’s laugher. She loved Leah’s warm, throaty laugh. It made her think of honeysuckles on a spring day. “I thought we might eat at the diner before bowling practice,” she kissed Leah lightly. “Richie is meeting us there with the bowling bags.”

  Odette handed Mika a tissue. “You might want to remove the mayor’s lipstick from your neck first,” she grinned.

  So much for her thinking, I was in the office ; Leah thought as she took the tissue and proceeded to wipe her lipstick from her wife’s neck and lips.

  ##

  Richie and Isaac slid into the booth across from them as Ruth was taking their order. “Mom, can Isaac spend the night tonight?”

  “Of course, dear,” Leah smiled at her son. “We would love to have Isaac over.”

  “He may get to stay all weekend,” Richie beamed. “His dad said he could use some peace and quiet. Mary is spending the night with Grace. We will all be at bowling practice tonight.”

  The boys ran off to the arcade room.

  “So, how was your day today,” Leah blushed slightly as she recalled how they had spent most of the day.

  “A part of my day was absolutely awful,” the priest said hoarsely. A concerned look crossed her lovely face. “The part between where you left me and the moment I arrived at your office,” she added.

  Leah laughed aloud, causing those around them to
smile. It was no secret that everyone in town liked the sound of the mayor’s laughter. Everything had gotten better since Mika’s arrival in their little town.

  Max and Mary entered the diner. A hush fell over the diners as the two looked around for a table, but none was available. Leah motioned for them to join her and Mika.

  Mary smiled broadly and led her husband to the booth.

  “Please join us,” Mika stood, welcoming the couple.

  Max was shy and uncomfortable around the priest and the mayor. Leah tried to put him at ease.

  “Mary tells me you are the proud owner of a new Friesian colt,” the mayor gave him her brightest smile, trying to make the man feel comfortable.

  “Oh, yes, Your Majesty,” bowing his head, he avoided looking her in the eye. “A fine black colt it is, too.”

  “You may look me in the eye, Max,” Leah spoke softly.

  “Oh, no, Your Majesty, my father died for doing that.” Max kept his gaze on his hands clasped in his lap.

  Leah made a sound between a sob and a whimper then excused herself, a look of pure horror was etched on her beautiful face. Mika was torn between staying with the couple and going after her wife.

  Ruth had overheard the conversation and instantly stepped toward their booth. “We have a table open, now,” she spoke to Max and Mary. The couple quickly followed her to the other side of the restaurant.

  Mika strode outside to find her wife. Leah was sitting on a bench, the cold wind whipping her hair around her face. Mika sat down beside Leah, putting her arm around her, shielding her from the cold.

  “Come back inside, honey,” Mika spoke to her gently. Leah stared straight ahead.

  “I had a man killed just for looking me in the face,” she sobbed. “I’m certainly not one to be counseling Max on jealous violence. That was the example I set for him. What kind of depraved monster was I, Mika?”

  “That was a long time ago,” Mika held her closer, pulling Leah’s face into her shoulder and speaking softly into her ear. The scent of Leah’s hair and perfume made Mika’s heart skip as a vision of Leah earlier in the day flashed into her mind. Mika briefly wondered if she would ever get used to how easily Leah aroused her. At the most inopportune times , she thought.

  Mika tightened her grip around Leah and held her, praying to ease her pain and anguish. “Remorse is a relentless mistress,” she spoke softly so only Leah could hear what she was saying. “It is nature’s way of making certain we don’t repeat the same violent acts. We receive forgiveness, but the memory of our sins will always be with us as a reminder of the vile creatures we can be. It helps to look back and see how far we have come.”

  Leah buried her face deeper into Mika’s shoulder. “You have come further than anyone I know, Leah.” Mika tilted her chin and kissed her, tasting the salt of her tears on her lips. She kissed Leah’s eyes and down her cheeks until she once again came to rest on her favorite part: her lips. At Mika’s touch, Leah felt a calm peacefulness sweep over her.

  “Come, Richie will be looking for us,” Mika stood, pulling Leah up with her. Keeping Leah in her arms, she dried her tears with her handkerchief. As they reached the diner door, Leah pulled herself erect, lifted her chin and made a graceful entry into the diner. She took her seat in their booth with all the elegance of a queen.

  Mika sat down opposite Leah so she could look at her. She loved to look at Leah. She watched in fascination as Leah parted her glorious lips and ran the tip of her pink tongue across them. “What?” she asked as she caught Mika blatantly appraising her.

  “You are just so beautiful,” Mika rasped. “I love you so much.”

  “Mom,” Richie and Isaac joined them as Ruth served their dinner, “Isaac just made the all-time highest score on the pinball machine.”

  ##

  After dinner, the family went to the bowling alley. Kathryn and Fredrick were there meeting with workers who were installing a kitchen on the roller-skating-rink side of the establishment. The bowling alley/skating rink was a little over four years old and was one of the most popular spots in town for youths and adults alike. Fredrick was adding a cafe for his patrons. “The biggest problem I have,” Fredrick laughed, “is that the door to the café is right next to the women’s bathroom door.”

  “We will need some serious signage to direct people to the right place,” Kathryn grinned. “We had to put the kitchen on the same wall as the bathroom so they can share the plumbing. Saves us a ton of money.”

  “I am sure it will work out just fine,” Leah encouraged her friends. “Maybe a larger, arched entrance into the café will easily distinguish it from the women’s room.”

  “Ha,” laughed Kathryn, “that is why you make the big bucks. Why didn’t I think of that? Simple solution.”

  “So, next week is the big weekend,” Fredrick turned to Mika. “Any chance Brighton will win?”

  “I don’t know,” Mika grimaced. “They won’t be a push over for sure.”

  “We are looking forward to it,” Fredrick laughed. “Naomi’s B&B is booked solid and all the restaurants in town have reservations for all week. People will start arriving on Monday to practice and get a feel for the lanes. It is a real boon for businesses in town, especially ours.”

  “We will do our best to represent our fair city,” Leah chimed in. She noticed that Gloria Thomas had entered with Mary and Max in tow. “Are you ready to bowl, darling?” She linked her arm through her wife’s, more for emotional support than anything.

  ##

  Monday morning Mika awoke to the sound of laughter downstairs and realized her wife wasn’t with her. Scowling slightly, she showered, dressed and headed toward the sound that changed her frown to a smile.

  Isaac had become a fixture at the Cross house since his baby brother had arrived on the scene. Leah and the boys were in the kitchen where she was cooking pancakes. A smile brightened her flawless face. She poured Mika a cup of coffee and held it until the blonde leaned down for her morning kiss.

  “Ew,” both boy’s harmonized as they feigned disgust. Isaac wondered how long his crush on Richie’s Mother would last. He was embarrassed at how his teenage body reacted to the sight of her kissing the priest.

  “Help me set the table,” Richie pulled his friend’s gaze away from his mothers.

  “How long do you think Isaac will be staying with us?” Mika asked. “He’s been here for the past week.”

  “I don’t know,” Leah shrugged. “It seems that his parents are too busy with the new baby to pay much attention to him and Mary. They seem to do whatever they want without much parental guidance.”

  Having Isaac in the house had really silenced their lovemaking. Every night Leah had to repair the bite marks where they muffled their cries against each other’s skin. As much as she would miss him, Leah was glad Richie was spending the weekend with Emily.

  After breakfast, Mika began clearing the table. “Mika, if we don’t leave now, Isaac and I will be late for school,” Richie huffed. “If I had a car, I could drive myself.”

  “No problem,” the priest grinned, picking up her car keys. Let’s go. I can come back and help your Mom.”

  ##

  Leah text Mika to let her know she didn’t need to help clean up the kitchen, but she would love a ride to work.

  As Mika pulled in front of the house, her wife ran out to get into the car. Leah leaned over and kissed her wife as if she were seeing her for the first time that day.

  “So, Richie is hounding you for a car, too,” Leah laughed, fastening her seatbelt.

  “He wants one for his sixteenth birthday, which is ten months away,” Mika grinned. “He’s already working on us.”

  “I’ve enrolled him in driver’s education this summer,” the mayor said thoughtfully. “I can’t believe my baby is almost old enough to drive.”

  “You know I have been letting him drive outside of town where there isn’t much traffic,” Mika admitted. “The more practice he gets, the safer he’ll be.”
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  “Hum,” Leah hummed, “I thought you two were up to something. I am glad. Is he a good driver?”

  “Why don’t you take him out after school today?” Mika encouraged. “You can see for yourself.”

  “Good idea,” Leah jumped at the suggestion, “It will give me a good excuse to drop Isaac by his own home.”

  She leaned across the console and whispered in Mika’s ear, “You know we have the house to ourselves this weekend. Richie will be at Emily’s”

  “Oh, thank heaven,” Mika inhaled deeply. “I seriously need a visit from Magic Leah. It’s been too long.”

  “She seriously wants to get hold of you,” Leah said in that sexy, throaty voice that absolutely drove the angel insane.

  Leah studied Mika’s profile as she drove. She was ethereally beautiful. No other words adequately described her. She was perfect: a perfect woman; a perfect priest, a perfect wife; a perfect mother; a perfect lover. A shiver ran through her as she thought about what a perfect lover Mika was.

  Leah knew how she affected Mika. She had to have her just as Leah had to have Mika. Not just in bed, but in every aspect of their lives. She was certain she wouldn’t be able to breathe for very long without Mika Cross.

  Leah loved the way Mika reacted to the subtle, but sensuous things she did to her. The way her voice deepened, and her body stiffened whenever Leah slowly leaned across her, lightly letting her breasts touch Mika. The way Mika’s voice would jump an octave when Leah raked her nails up the inside of her thigh. The way she blushed when Leah whispered suggestive things in her ear. Leah knew the feel of her warm breath on her ear aroused Mika.

  The thing that always left Mika breathless and speechless was when Leah looked up at her through long lashes, slightly parted her lips and ran the tip of her pink tongue over her lower lip. Mika always got that “I think I’m going to die look,” when Leah did that to her.