“Maybe we should stop for today,” Doctor Connor suggested.
“No, I want to continue. I’m okay.”
“All right then. Please, go on.”
“So that takes us up to the McBride case,” Billie said.
“The McBride case?” Doctor Connor prompted.
“Yes. It was a domestic abuse case I was dealing with at work. You may have heard of it, it was all over the papers. The victim was a chronically abused wife and mother. Her husband was very controlling and emotionally unstable. I tried to convince her to leave him, but she wouldn’t listen to me.” Billie began to cry. “I’m so sorry, Cat.”
She rubbed Billie’s back. “It’s okay, love. I understand.”
“Billie, why are you so upset?” Doctor Connor asked.
Billie looked at the doctor. “Why am I upset? Cat and I came to you for couple’s counseling after it happened, Doctor Connor, so I think you already know.”
“Yes, and I apologize for putting you through this, but I need to know how much of it you remember,” Doctor Connor explained patiently.
“You want to know what I remember? I remember grabbing Cat by the neck and threatening to hurt her. I remember the memories of my ex-husband beating me when Seth was just a baby. All of this happened to me because that rat bastard McBride beat his wife to death and triggered horrific memories of my own marriage to Seth’s father.”
“What happened next, Billie?” Doctor Connor asked.
“I don’t know. My next memory was of waking up in the operating room and not remembering the last five years of my life, including Cat. Apparently the scar tissue from the gunshot wound to my head two years earlier had thickened to the point that it was obstructing blood flow in my brain. All my memories from the previous five years were lost. I couldn’t walk. I could barely feed myself. It took months of physical therapy before I could take care of myself again.”
“I have to admit, Billie, I wasn’t sure our relationship would survive, especially when you thought Jen and I were having an affair.”
“Well, what did you expect me to think? You were all lovey-dovey with her at the hospital.”
“True, but that’s how she’s always been with both of us. You just didn’t remember that. I guess all of that jealousy stuff could have been avoided if I had thought to tell you she bats for the other team.”
“Ya think?”
“Jen was a real life saver during all of that, Billie. She was there for me and the kids, and she was there for you, too. She’s a good friend.”
“I know that now, but at the time, all I could see was her being affectionate with you and you not opposing it.”
“So, how are you feeling now, Billie?” Doctor Connor asked.
“It’s taken Cat and me the better part of the last year to rebuild our lives.”
“How are the kids dealing with things?” Doctor Connor asked.
“Pretty well for the most part,” Cat replied. “They love their mom unconditionally.”
“Seth was a little freaked out by the whole thing, but he’s old enough to understand what happened,” Billie added.
“You said Seth was eleven now?” Doctor Connor asked.
“Yes. Tara is nine, and Sky just turned five. It amazes me how fast time flies. It seems like yesterday that Skylar was born,” Billie replied.
Doctor Connor looked at her watch. “Our time is almost up for today. Cat, do you have anything you would like to add?”
“Not really. This past year has been pretty stressful. Sometimes I wish we could just put everything on hold for a while and focus on ourselves.”
“Why can’t you?”
“I… I…” Cat looked at Billie. “She’s right. Why can’t we?”
Doctor Connor rose to her feet. “The PTSD symptoms concern me. If we don’t identify and reduce the sources of anxiety, it could lead to longer term health problems. Here’s what I recommend¯take some time to do something fun. Get away for a while, by yourselves, or even as a family. Throw caution to the winds and just let loose. You’ll be better grounded for it and more able to deal with the day-to-day stress when you return. In the meantime, I think you’re right to monitor her blood pressure, Cat.”
Cat and Billie stood and shook hands with the doctor. “Thank you, Doctor Connor. That sounds like a great idea,” Cat said.
“I think you’re making good progress, Billie. Let’s schedule your next appointment for three weeks from now.”
Chapter 1: Lazy Days
Billie yawned as she walked into the kitchen early on Saturday morning, catching a glimpse of herself in the stainless steel refrigerator as she passed it. “Holy shit, my hair looks like I stuck my finger in a light socket.” She tried to smooth down the errant locks to no avail. “Oh well, it’s Saturday. A girl’s got a right to enjoy a down day once in a while. Right now, I need a coffee.”
Billie clicked the coffee pot on, silently congratulating herself for setting it up the night before. While she waited for her coffee to brew, she slipped her feet into the Mud-Cats that sat on a tray by the kitchen door and went out to the fetch the morning paper. Billie paused on the front porch and breathed fresh air into her lungs. Summer was rapidly approaching, and the last vestiges of the chilly spring morning were being chased away by the warm sunshine. A feeling of euphoria filled her as she looked around at the trees and bright green grass. She stepped into the path of a sunbeam and stood there for several long moments, allowing the warmth of the sun’s rays to wash over her.
Billie loved summer. Everything was green and the flowers were in bloom. The Fourth of July was just around the corner, and she had ample reason to celebrate all the good things in life with her family and friends. What a beautiful day! she thought.
Dressed only in a football jersey, boxer shorts, oversized socks, and her mud boots, and uncaring of what passersby might think, Billie descended the porch steps and strolled across the road to the mailbox. It wasn’t unusual for the other ladies of the neighborhood to retrieve the morning paper while wearing a robe and curlers, and she felt that her attire was just as acceptable as theirs. A car drove by and the driver tooted the horn. She waved as she recognized the neighbor who lived one house down from Jen and Fred.
Billie picked up the paper and scanned the front page as she walked back to the house. Nothing of real interest caught her eye. Back in the kitchen, she kicked off her boots, tossed the paper onto the table, and then reached into the cupboard for a coffee mug. The fresh-perked aroma scented the air as she filled her cup and took that first anticipated sip. Through the window above the kitchen sink, she looked out over the back yard, smiling as her gaze rested on the freshly painted tree house. Seth insisted Billie wait until school was out for the summer so he could help paint it. They had applied a new coat of paint just days before Cat, Tara and Skylar planted flowers around the base of the tree. Billie shook her head. She couldn’t believe how fast time passed. It seemed like yesterday that Seth had started the fifth grade, and here it was almost the middle of summer already.
Billie loved this time of the morning, especially on the weekends. An early riser, she generally had the house to herself while everyone else slept. She paused to listen to the sounds around her, or more precisely, to the absence of sound around her. Lately it seemed as if the early morning was the only time of day the house was quiet. In a household usually dominated by the sounds of children playing and the TV blaring in the background, she listened intently to the silence and took a mental check of how she was feeling. No anxiety yet today. That’s a good sign. Billie took a long flavorful sip of coffee, then unfolded the newspaper and spread it out on the table in front of her. Legs crossed under the table, she cradled her coffee cup in both hands. For the next half hour, she immersed herself in the news and utterly enjoyed the uninterrupted solitude.
A sudden noise and movement to her right drew her attention toward the living room. Billie turned and saw her youngest daughter in the doorway, holding her blank
et in one hand and a stuffed puppy dog in the other. Skylar yawned. Billie put her coffee mug on the table and opened her arms. Skylar happily climbed into them, curled up on her mother’s lap, then pulled her knees into her chest and tucked her head against Billie's shoulder. Billie wrapped her arms around the child and held her close as she placed a tender kiss on Skylar’s head. “Good morning, pumpkin. Did you sleep well last night?”
Skylar nodded and snuggled closer.
“Good.” Billie marveled at the unfathomable sense of peace and happiness in her heart at that moment. She rocked back and forth and hummed as she continued to scan the morning paper.
After several moments, Skylar uncurled in Billie’s lap and placed both hand on Billie’s cheeks. “Mommy, I’m hungry. Will you make me some breakfast?”
“You know Mommy's not a very good cook. Do you want risk it?”
Skylar smiled a toothy grin and nodded. “Can I help?”
“You sure can, lovebug.” Billie slid Skylar onto her feet, then went to the cupboard to take a look at the boxed breakfast selections. “Let’s see what we have. Okay, I see Cheerios, Mini-Wheats, oatmeal, Pop Tarts–”
“Pop Tarts! Pop Tarts!” Skylar jumped up and down and clapped her hands in excitement.
“Pop Tarts it is.” She held the box open for Skylar to select the one she wanted.
Skylar handed a package to Billie. “What one is this, Mommy?”
“Let me see. It says strawberry. Is that the one you want?”
Skylar nodded.
Billie tore open the package and handed it back to Skylar, then lifted the girl and sat her on the edge of the counter near the toaster. “Okay, put the Pop Tarts into the first two slots.” She watched as Skylar extracted the pastries from the package and carefully dropped them into the toaster. Billie put two for herself in the remaining two slots, then helped Skylar push both levers down.
Skylar watched in fascination as the heating elements began to glow, and Billie suddenly realized the dangers associated with showing a five-year-old how to use a toaster. She placed her palm on Skylar’s cheek to get the little girl’s attention. “Sky, the toaster gets very hot when it is cooking something. You can’t ever touch it, or you’ll get burned, understand?”
Skylar stared at the glowing elements. “Are those red things on fire?”
“No, sweetheart, they’re not on fire, but they are very, very hot. Here, put your hand way up here, above the toaster, and you’ll feel the heat. Can you feel it?”
Skylar nodded vigorously.
“It gets a lot hotter as your hand moves closer, so hot it could burn you. That would not be good,” Billie cautioned. “So don’t ever touch it, okay?”
“Okay, Mommy,” Skylar promised solemnly. Just then the Pop Tarts nearly jumped out of the toaster, and Skylar squealed with delight.
Billie placed two pastries each on small plates. She lowered Skylar to the floor and gave her a plate to carry to the table while she poured a glass of apple juice and refilled her own coffee mug. Soon, mother and daughter were enjoying their breakfast together.
“Mommy, guess what.”
“What, love?”
“Missy wants to be my best friend.”
Billie raised her eyebrows. “She does? That’s wonderful, Sky.”
“Uh-huh. I’m glad she moved here.”
Billie tweaked Skylar’s nose. “Me, too.” Billie was thrilled to learn the new family across the street had a child Skylar’s age and was even more pleased to learn it was a girl. Seth and Tara were relatively patient with Sky, but they preferred not to have her tag along all the time.
“We want to sit in the same seat on the school bus when we go to kinnergarden.”
“That’s kindergarten, and you’ve got a while before that happens. Summer’s just begun. When it’s over, it’ll be time for you to go to school.”
“I can’t wait.”
“Don’t be in too much of a hurry to wish the summer away. Summer is a time for having fun and spending time outdoors.”
“And swimmin’,” Skylar added.
“Yes indeed.” Billie tousled Skylar’s hair, then drained the last of her coffee. “How are the Pop Tarts?”
“Yummy. I’m almost done.”
“Almost finished,” Billie corrected automatically.
“Mommy, can you watch cartoons with me when I’m done eating?”
Billie couldn't resist the beseeching look in her daughter’s deep blue eyes. Cat must have looked just like that as a child... except with green eyes. “Of course, dumpling. I’ll just take care of these dishes while you eat your last bite and finish your juice.”
Billie put the dirty dishes in the dishwasher and followed Skylar into the living room where she stretched out on the couch with her head propped against the armrest. Skylar climbed up and lay down directly on top of her, using Billie’s ample breasts as a pillow. Billie threw her arm over Skylar to keep her from falling, then punched the remote to flip through the channels until they found the program Skylar was looking for. In no time, Billie fell asleep with the child lying comfortably on her chest.
Chapter 2: Pillow Talk
Cat lumbered down the stairs into the living room. “Coffee... coffee,” she murmured as she walked zombie-like through the living room toward the kitchen, her focus solely on her first cup of coffee. She poured a cup from the pot and rested her backside against the counter. Eyes closed, she inhaled the rich scent of coffee as the steam rose from her cup. A broad smile appeared as she sighed blissfully and then sipped the rich dark brew. “Oh, that’s good,” she said. It was then that she noticed the paper on the kitchen table. Ah, nothing better in the morning than a hot cup of coffee and the daily news. She picked up the paper and carried it into the living room to relax in the overstuffed chair.
As she passed the couch, she saw her wife and daughter lying there. She crouched down in front of them and realized Billie was sleeping. “Morning, sweet pea. You look comfortable.”
“Mommy has soft boobies,” Skylar said innocently.
Cat laughed. “You’re right. They are soft. They make good pillows, wouldn’t you say?”
Skylar smiled and poked Billie’s breasts. “Yeah, they do.”
Cat kissed her forehead. “Well, make yourself comfortable on your mommy-pillow and enjoy your cartoons, okay, honey?”
Skylar went back to watching TV, while Cat set her coffee down on the side table and curled her legs beneath her in her easy chair. She smiled at her wife and daughter on the couch, thinking about how different life would be if Billie’s memory hadn’t returned. When Billie awoke after brain surgery, she didn’t know who she was and insisted she wasn’t gay. Cat’s world fell apart in a moment, as everything she and Billie had worked for over the previous five years evaporated. Every day was a struggle to hang on to hope. Cat was filled with gratitude that it was all behind them. No wonder she’s having anxiety attacks. This past year has been hell on all of us, but especially hard for her.
Cat sipped her coffee, enjoying the flavor as sounds of the household rousing from sleep wafted down the stairs from the second story. Soon, all three children were sprawled out on top of Billie in one fashion or another while they watched TV. Cat was amazed that Billie was able to sleep through it.
When Cat finished her paper and coffee, she stood up and stretched. “French toast and bacon for breakfast?” Three nodding heads sent her into the kitchen to start cooking.
Billie woke to the smell of bacon and the sensation of a heavy weight on her chest and legs. She lifted her head and saw all three children piled on top of her. Skylar lay on her chest, Tara sat on her thighs, and Seth lay across her shins. “Looks like you guys are holding me prisoner here. What’s the charge, Sheriff?”
Cat returned to the living room and approached the couch. “Sleeping on the job, varmint,” she said to Billie. “Deputies, what do we do with outlaws?”
“Tickle them!” all three children sang out at once as they pounced o
n their mother. The couch was a frenzy of arms and legs climbing over each other. Suddenly the entire tangle of bodies rolled onto the floor into a heap.
Seth was nearly as big as Cat. In the face of that, combined with Tara’s agility and limberness and Skylar’s size that allowed her to get into tight spaces, Billie was helpless. The trio soon overpowered her.
“I give! I give! You win. Please stop!” Seth helped her to her feet. “You guys play dirty. Three against one is not fair.”
“Hey, we were only following orders,” Seth protested.
Billie raised an eyebrow at her wife and advanced toward her menacingly.
“Uh-oh.” Cat turned and hightailed it back into the kitchen, with Billie right on her heels.
Billie chased her into a corner and pressed against her, forcing Cat to lean back against the counter. She lowered her nose to within an inch of Cat’s and drawled, “Well, Sheriff, whaddaya think I oughta do with ya?”
Cat smiled wickedly. “You could always tie me up.” She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.
Billie’s eyes widened. “Do you mean it?”
Cat’s eyes narrowed seductively, prompting a growl from Billie, who leaned in closer. “Keep teasing me like that and I’ll take you up on that offer, right here, right now¯in front of the kids.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
Billie slipped her hands inside Cat’s panties and grabbed two handfuls of butt. She squeezed hard and pulled Cat toward her. “Wouldn’t I?”
“Where’s the rope?” Cat asked.
Billie’s growl deepened. Suddenly a noise from the living room reminded her they were not alone. She released her grasp on Cat’s buttocks and took Cat’s face firmly between her palms. “You will pay for this later, my love. That’s a promise.”
“I’ll hold you to that, outlaw.”
Billie kissed her long and hard before she released her. “I think the bacon is burning.”
Cat squealed and ran to rescue their breakfast.
Happy Campers Page 2