by Elsa, Sandra
“Let us know what you plan to do.”
“I can tell you that right now. I planned to stay with you if you’d let me, before this morning. Since you told me you’re pregnant…I don’t care if you use a really big stick or that pistol of yours, you’re not getting rid of me.”
“All right then. We’ll be making a quick run out to the site tomorrow. We need to do some upkeep and damage control now that the pres is gone.”
“I’m with you. You take care of yourself, and learn some dolphin speak for me.”
I squeezed her tight and slid back in the front seat. “I suppose we should see what Leo’s been up to. We kinda abandoned him.”
“After working for my father for eight years he deserves some down time. But yeah, I guess we should at least let him know we haven’t left him behind.”
We rode halfway back to our house in companionable silence when I suddenly said, “I do, you know.”
As though on the same wave length he answered. “I know. It’s just really nice to hear it. To not have to guess if I’m reading you right. Because it hasn’t been that long ago that I seemed to get it wrong every time I said or did anything, while assuming I knew what you were thinking.”
“That’s because I was lying to myself. Half the time when I got pissed at you it wasn’t because of what you said or did, but because of the way my pulse raced and I wanted you to get to know me intimately. And I just knew that wasn’t safe.”
He smiled a crazy lop-sided smile. “You were right. I was out to win you over no matter what it took. And now that I have, your current condition proves how unsafe it was.”
“Except, you wanted this. I’m not saying I don’t, or I’d have taken stronger measures to see to it neither Poppy or Paul ever said a word. You know I don’t do anything unless I want to.”
“Good. Because if you really didn’t want to, I’d have told you we could try again after our lives settle down, like we talked about.”
“I know you would have. And that’s why I love you. You’d hurt yourself for me. The idea of selflessness has taken some getting used to. But now that I have, I realize I need to meet you halfway.”
“You’ve never been selfish, Frankie. If you were, the people that know you wouldn’t kiss your feet when you stumble back into their lives. I deserved some of what you gave me when we met.”
“As long as we understand each other now, three months ago is ancient history.”
He pulled into the drive. Leo lay on a lawn chair on the front porch wearing only shorts. He sat up as we got out of the car. “Everything all right?”
Harrison turned his beaming smile on him. “Everything’s perfect.” He met me in front of the car and wrapped his arms around my hips, pulling me close. “Everything’s more than perfect.”
“All right then. You looked a little too serious when you got out of the car.”
“So what have you been up to?”
“Found us a larger house. Went down to the watch precinct and inquired as to the number of private investigators in the district, and what it would take to get a license here for myself and a couple of partners. Filled out the appropriate paperwork to carry a concealed weapon. Went shopping for said weapon. Then came back here and slept. So far this morning, this,” he waved at the lawn chair, “is the extent of my enthusiasm.” His pale skin showed the amount of time spent in the sun, which I suppose is why he was on the porch, under the roof.
“So how many PIs are there?” I asked him.
“Two. I have all the paperwork required to start an agency under my name--I meet all the requirements--and started to fill out the paperwork. Figured I’d wait on you guys to finish it.”
“Find a weapon?”
He reached down under a towel by the lawn chair and pulled out a nine-mil, Berretta 92; same model as mine.
“So what are your plans for this afternoon?”
“More of the same, unless you had something for me to do.”
“Harrison’s off to play in a secure environment. I’m headed down to the beach to learn how to talk to dolphins. Since Poppy took you for a ride they might not mind teaching two, if you’re interested.”
“Sure. Let me get dressed. Don’t suppose we could stop for lunch?”
“No rush. We have groceries to put away. We can cook here or eat out.”
Harrison pulled out his handheld. ”It’s already noon. I’m supposed to meet your dad at one.”
“What does your mom plan to do today?”
“Let me call her as soon as we get the groceries inside.” He walked around the car and opened the back door.
Leo hurried over to grab a couple bags. He of course had to grab the one with the corset. He pulled it out and whistled, “Looks like you two haven’t been all work.”
I snatched it out of his hands, cheeks burning. “I didn’t buy it, and I don’t plan to wear it.”
“Covers more than your swimsuit does.”
I gave him a disgruntled sigh, picked up a couple of bags and changed the subject completely. “What are your father’s talents?”
“My father?” He tilted his head sideways as though attempting to discern where that bullet had been fired from.
“The sperm donor. The man who successfully mated with a Were. A feat I’m told shouldn’t be possible.”
“Who told you that?” Leo sounded genuinely curious.
Harrison walked ahead of us and shifted his armload of groceries to open the door.
I turned to Leo and answered, “Paul did. It came up at lunch when some waitress said something about possibly being pregnant. Paul told her he couldn’t be the father because his DNA is too different.”
“Then he is Were. I wondered, he smelled so strong of fish. Then when I found out he lived in the water I thought that might be why the scent--”
“Not Were. Mer. Anyway, it got me wondering about you.” We followed Harrison into the kitchen.
Jerry, Greg, Nate, and Tony, lounged in the living room. The vid-screen displayed tennis. Only Nate watched with much interest.
“You guys mind getting the rest of the groceries from the car?” Harrison asked.
They all responded immediately.
Chapter 33
In the kitchen Leo said. “Your friend’s right. My father has a talent with fertility.”
I nodded my head. “And did your father get invited on this little trip down here?”
“Odd that you should ask, because I don’t even speak to my father, but yes, he was here. Where is this going, Frankie?” The sharp tone of his voice let me know he at least had a clue.
“Paul also gave me some news yesterday. Something Poppy told him. Apparently I’m pregnant.”
“That’s wonderful news, Frankie!” He paused and stared at us, shifting from Harrison’s beaming face to mine which I kept impassive. “It is…Isn’t it?”
“We’re happy enough…We’re just trying to figure out how it happened, my birth control should have been good for another nine months at least. And magic shouldn’t have affected me.”
“If it was father, it wouldn’t…It would affect Harrison. Make him so potent, no matter what type of birth control stood in the way, he’d be a father. Birth control is nothing but a charm. The magic of an upper level mage is rarely thwarted by a charm. If Father did this, I apologize for him. He has a lot of flaws, but I didn’t think he’d do something like that without informing you. He works at the hospital, in the fertility clinic, he usually errs on the cautious side of prudent. Doctor’s oath and all that.”
“I’m sure my father offered to pay for a new wing on the hospital or some grand bribe,” Harrison said. “Do us a favor. This is one of those things we don’t want him to know about. Mostly because his plotting caused it. Frankie doesn’t want him to know he won a round.”
The front door opened and Jerry and guests traipsed back in, making enough noise for a dozen people.
Leo glanced toward them before saying. “Not a problem. If I ca
lled my father and accused him of doing something like this, it would devolve into a fight and that just makes Mom feel bad.”
“He didn’t even come to say goodbye to you,” I said.
“He disapproves of my choice of employment. Thought I should follow in his footsteps, like Isabel. Work at the hospital. Simple fact is, I’m a predator. Never had the slightest inclination to be a physician. Working with Jamison suited me until you came along. So much like me, but your own person. I‘ll be surprised if my father even noticed my absence.”
“Which one was he?” I asked.
“Fourth one down, opposite side of the table from President Drover at your wedding reception.”
I called up the image of Jordan’s table. “Chestnut hair, wire rim glasses, weak jaw, hazel eyes, your mother must be gorgeous, because you didn’t get your looks from him.”
Laughter lit his eyes. “That’s him. And my mother is a beautiful woman. Thank you for the compliment.”
The others placed their bags on the table. Jerry actually helped unpack and put stuff away. “Leo tells me we’re moving?”
“Our little family seems to be expanding. Hate making Leo sleep on the couch,” I said.
“That’s cool,” Jerry said. “Hope you don’t mind but I kinda mentioned what we’re doing to the rest of these guys. Harrison asked them to stay, so I figured that was the plan.”
“And?” Harrison asked.
“Everybody’s interested, but they want to see the place before committing.”
“We plan to head out there tomorrow,” Harrison answered. “Quick trip to water, if anything’s left alive. Restart a couple of plants if everything died.”
“It was fine when I left it a couple of days ago,” Jerry said. “I sat with you guys until I was sure you’d both live, then I bolted. Didn’t particularly want to run into Uncle Jordan. Figured that was one place he had no eyes or ears. Decided while I was there I should probably water everything. That’s a hell of a lotta work without the rainman.”
“I was hoping that’s where you ended up,” I said.
“It’s more than a little eerie out there by yourself. At least when we all camped, we made some noise. By yourself, if you kick a rock, you hear every grain of sand it displaces and every thunk as it hits other rocks. I won’t go back out alone.”
“That’s understandable,” I said. “You don’t realize how noisy a dome is until you live outside one. I noticed it even with the three of us.”
“So what are the plans for the rest of today,” Greg asked.
“I’m working on a couple of projects with Mage Jallahan,” Harrison said. “Frankie and Leo are headed to the beach.”
“You were calling your mother,” I reminded him.
“So I was.” He pulled out his phone and walked out of the kitchen.
“You guys are welcome to come to the beach,” I said as I put two pounds of fresh crab meat on the counter and proceeded to mangle it with cucumbers, green peppers, and creamy cucumber dressing until I had some semblance of crab salad.
Jerry got out some bread and plates, and we all sat down to eat. Harrison returned and said, “Mom’s hanging out with Carol, Hettie, and Dee this afternoon.”
“Good. Not that I don’t want her around, but I don’t think Paul wants a crowd. And if she went with us, I’d feel obligated to take her along.”
“I don’t have to go,” Leo said.
“Poppy approved you. I doubt you’ll be a problem.” I kept our doubts to myself. If he was still working for Jordan Drover, he was more likely to slip up if he thought we trusted him.
“So…headed for the beach, do you want to come along?--didn’t mean we get to spend time with Frankie if we go?” Greg asked.
“Hard to say,” I told him. “There’s only so much time I’m going to spend learning a new language.”
“New language? Thought everybody spoke the same language these days.”
“There you go. Somebody from District Seven would think that. I spoke five different languages just living in or around the Founding Two-Hundred. Sure most everybody comprehends the standard language but there are districts where you can find out more information by speaking the local variant.”
“By insulting us as a whole, we’re not supposed to notice that you aren’t telling us what language you’ll be learning today,” Greg said. “I haven’t run into anybody here who doesn’t speak standard.”
“How many people have you met, who don’t cater to tourists?” I countered.
“I’ve only been here a few days. I usually do my own marketing for the manufactory. I do know how to meet other people, but yes, I confess I’m on vacation.”
I turned to Harrison with a grin, “I like this one.” Then I spun back to Greg. “No, I don’t plan to tell you what language I’ll be learning.”
“But you’ll be at the beach?”
“Not precisely. Either you’re going to the beach or you’re finding other ways to entertain yourselves. Show of hands for beach.”
They all raised their hands.
“I’m going to change into my swimsuit and head out--Unless you need a ride to the lab?” I looked over at Harrison.
“Your dad will be by to pick me up shortly.”
“Cool.” I glanced at my handheld. “I’m going to be late as is. Anybody who’s riding with me needs to be ready in ten minutes.”
“Suit’s at the hotel,” Greg said.
“Mine too,” echoed Nate and Tony.
“I’ll drop you by there.”
Leo followed me out of the kitchen with Jerry on his heels. They both went toward Jerry’s room. Harrison put his hand on my ass as I slid my jeans to the floor. “Just remember,” I told him, “we don’t have time to finish anything you start.”
He pulled me tight and kissed me while I attempted to step out of the jeans. “I’m sending you to the beach with a bunch of guys, to meet another guy. I at least get to feel you up before you go.”
“As long as we’re clear on the whole, time is short thing.” I grinned at him as he hooked my panties and slid them down to join my jeans then pulled my t-shirt over my head, kissing my breasts as he tugged the shirt upward. I walked to the dresser to grab my swimsuit.
He followed me over unzipping his jeans before grabbing me around the waist. He spun me around, lifted me to the edge of the dresser, wedged himself between my knees and thrust inside me. “They can wait. I need to make love to my wife.”
I wrapped my legs around his hips and pulled him tight, responding to him eagerly.
#
By the time we left the bedroom, I in my swimsuit, sandals, and wraparound skirt, not only were Leo, Jerry, and friends, all waiting, but my father relaxed on the couch. He looked up from his handheld with a wry grin, “I trust you’ll survive without each other until we’re through tonight?”
“Maybe.” Harrison grinned. “If not, I’ll have Jesse deliver her to me.”
Jerry put his arm around my shoulder. “No can do, Cuz. As soon as she’s done with lessons, she’s ours this afternoon.”
“Well, I leave her in Leo’s care. That should keep her safe from the rest of you bums.”
“As if she needs protecting,” Leo said.
“Who’s going to keep her safe from him?” Greg asked.
“I’d pit her against all of you, and put my money on her to win. He’s only one man.” He kissed me. “Any requests for today? Maybe something we can actually create without sending off for DNA?”
“Are we going to create our own bumblebees or try to catch some. We do have flowers that will need pollinating. We don’t have enough grass for a horse yet.”
“We’ll also need a hive. Someplace for them to call home,” Harrison said.
“I can take care of that,” Nate volunteered. “Need some materials and a few pictures. Fix one up tonight.”
“Are you trying to say you’re a handyman, or just District Seven’s version of one?” I asked.
“Sorry t
o disappoint, but it’s magic,” he said with a grin.
“He’s almost as good as a matter projector,” Harrison said.
“To the contrary,” my father said. “He’s better than a matter projector. He may need raw materials, but when he’s done, the item stays around.”
“Can he do a laser?” I asked.
“Sorry, don’t do working parts.”
“Too bad, ‘cause the laser on the matter projector is awesome.”
My father‘s eyes widened. “He included a laser in that collection? Is the man insane?”
“I think he was trying to buy Frankie’s affection.”
“Wish I’d known that when William and I were discussing Poppy’s door. We’ll have to come up with new plans, make life much easier than trying to cut it out any other way.”
Harrison frowned. “Didn’t think something that faded that rapidly would do any good.”
My father stood from the couch. “Go get it, boy. I’ll bet you never tried it far enough away from your wife to see how much she affects it.”
“No. Don’t suppose I have.” He walked into the bedroom and came back with it moments later. It lived in his sock drawer. He offered it to my father.
“We may need to recall it a couple of times but as long as we have a plan, we should be able to use it. Good, at least I don’t have to try the goodwill of MNU by signing one out.” He depressed three sides and images of weapons projected around the room. “I’m afraid I didn’t really examine the items he programmed it for, too closely. I don’t know weapons so they didn’t interest me.”
All the weapons displayed were pretty standard. He pressed another combination of sides and bladed weapons appeared then tried again. The laser didn’t appear and he tried twice more, before looking at Harrison. “You’re sure you saw a laser.”
“Saw it hell, he slagged a hillside outside Forty-Two.” I said.
“Do you remember what combination of tiles you pushed to find it?”
“Not really. It doesn’t work for me at all. Harrison did it.”
He held out his hand and my father placed the cube in it. Harrison depressed two sides and the projections displayed two different types of lasers amidst various weapons easily recognizable from my weapons stash, he depressed the side that made the weapon real and tossed it immediately to my father.