Building the Nursery

by Amy DeMeritt

  The screen changes to some celebrity gossip stuff, so I turn the TV off and sit back.

  “I can’t believe they stole our videos like that.”

  “Seriously? That’s what you have to say after that, baby sister? The press has different rights to things than regular people, so they didn’t really steal your videos. Its better if they ask permission, but they have some limited rights to using just about anything if it’s for reporting a story. You should be excited about this. This helps build buzz for you and the film. This is good for your career.”

  “I understand that, but my wives worked hard on editing those videos and they should receive the curtesy of being asked to use them and then be credited with their production.” Sam smiles and kisses my lips. “In this case, we don’t mind it, baby. It was exciting seeing them on TV like that. They did have a disclaimer under the headline banner that most of the videos were pulled from your channel. So, we got free advertising for the channel during that segment.”

  “Oh, I didn’t see that.”

  “So, how steamy are these sex scenes? Are we going to get to see that nice ass of yours on the big screen?”

  Tonya’s questions and the way she’s grinning at me makes me blush beet red, which then makes everyone laugh. I groan and hide my face in Sam’s neck. Sam giggles and wraps her arms around me.

  “Sara, you saw the script. What does she have to do?” I look up at Sara and she laughs and runs her hand through her hair. “Let’s just say, it’s going to be awkward for me and I’m not going to be able to watch those particular scenes.”

  “Sweet. That means we get to see that nice ass again.” Everyone laughs at Tonya, but I groan and bury my face in Sam’s neck again. “You guys are so embarrassing.”

  Sam giggles and tickles my sides and kisses my cheek. I lift my head and look at the squad with a grumpy face.

  “Are all of you going back to L.A. after we get back from Orlando?” We chose Orlando for our first big choreography camp. “Kicking us out so we can’t watch you rehearse?”

  “Well, if you’re going to try to spy on my ass, then yes.” Tonya laughs hard and shakes her head. “I wouldn’t do that. But I’ll probably be going back to Philly for a couple weeks to give some attention to my school and visit with family.”

  “Same, I need to go home and see family. My old manager at the school I used to work at asked me to come do a workshop when I’m in town again, so I’ll probably do that while I’m there.”

  “Keira and I are going back to Maryland for a couple weeks. Symone, have you decided if you’re coming east or staying here?” Symone shrugs a shoulder and looks like she feels awkward and on the spot. “I guess if you’re all leaving then…”

  “You can stay.” Symone looks up at me with a cute small smile. “Thanks.”

  “We’ll need to sneak in practice and planning time for our big show at the Joyce Theatre in October. That’s easier to do if you’re here and not a thousand miles away.” Symone smiles really big and glances at my lips for a moment. “True.”

  On Christmas, I surprised Symone with a letter from the Joyce Theatre inviting our squad to perform there. When I was almost killed on my wedding day and my mom was sewing up my stab wound in my chest, Symone told me that seeing a dance performance at the Joyce Theatre in New York is what made her realize how much she wants to be a dancer. She couldn’t believe I remembered that story because I was drunk from whiskey to numb the pain of the stitching needle and was passing out while we talked.

  The entire squad is excited about it. If we get good reviews for the show, we could receive invitations from other theatres around the country and go on tour with the show. Performing is less work than teaching, so it will be a nice change of pace from the big choreography camps. Performing also keeps us in the spotlight and makes other dancers want to learn from us.

  Sara and my wives are working on building a crew for handling lights, sounds, and so forth. Sara knows some people already working in stage management and set design, but we have some friends from college who are good at that stuff too.

  “We also need to break in those poles, baby.” I blush and groan as I bury my face in Sam’s neck again. “I can’t believe you did that.”

  Everyone laughs and Sam tickles my sides. Symone’s big gift to my wives for Christmas was two poles for pole dancing and a promise to teach me how to dance on them. My wives were so excited that they had them installed in my dance studio right away. We’ve been too busy getting ready to leave in a week for the dance camps TV show, so we haven’t had an instructional session yet. Symone has used them, but I haven’t gone anywhere near them yet.

  “Are you guys ready for lunch, or do you need to train more?” Sara shakes her head at Madison and stands up. “Lunch sounds good. I’ll cook. Kayla, deal with that buzzing phone.”

  “Ok, sorry.”

  Chapter Eight

  I wake up to the delicious scent of spices and peppers. My mouth waters and my stomach growls. I release a small moan at the delicious smell and jump out of bed to investigate.

  Symone is standing at the stove wearing a pair of very short satin black and white striped shorts with a matching thin strapped tank top that only reaches halfway down her torso, leaving most of her back and abdomen exposed. She has a few pans going at once, searing sausages, caramelizing peppers and onions, and a pot of a seasoned broth with chicken simmering. I wrap my arms around her waist and lay my head on her shoulder.

  “Morning, baby.”

  “What are you doing in my kitchen looking so sexy and cooking something that smells so fucking good?” Symone giggles and looks over her shoulder at me smiling. “What are you making?”

  “Jambalaya. Here, taste this.”

  She pierces a seared slice of sausage and offers it to me over her shoulder. The taste is incredible and makes me moan.

  “Oh, that’s good.”

  I press my lips into the space just below her ear and Symone releases a small moan, making me smile against her skin. I part my lips and firmly suck her smooth light chocolate milk skin, making her release another moan and she grabs the back of my head, running her fingers through my hair. I glide my hands over her strong smooth stomach and dip my fingertips in the waist of her shorts, gliding out to her hips.

  “Kayla, what are you doing?”

  Symone is breathless and weak in my embrace. I like it, a lot. I palm up her torso and gently squeeze her braless breasts through the soft cool satin of her top.

  “Kayla, I need you on your knees in front of me right now.”

  I smile and spin her around. Symone pulls me into a kiss that makes heat flare up from my core, burning hot in my chest and making my breath catch in my throat. I slip my hands in her shorts and push them off of her hips. I squeeze her ass, making her gasp and lean into me.

  Slowly, I descend on her body, kissing and sucking everything, greedy to finally have every inch of her. Damn, she’s so sexy. She feels so good against my body and mouth. I love how her skin tastes. As I’m about to press my mouth between her thighs, my head is ripped backwards and a knife is thrust deep into Symone’s right abdomen.

  “No! Oh, my god. Symone!” She gasps and sways. I start crying hard as I help her lay on the kitchen floor. “Symone, please. Why? Why did you do this?”

  She’s bleeding out badly and trembling.

  “Symone! Please, I love you! Please, don’t leave me! Please! Symone! No! Why? Symone!”

  “Kayla!” Someone grabs me and jerks me away from her. “No, stop, please! Symone!”

  “Kayla, wake up!”

  I sit up in bed crying hard and gasping for air. My wives are sitting up around me looking very concerned.

  “Symone.”

  I jump out of bed and run out of the room. I run down the hall and rip open her bedroom door. She’s lying in bed, and quickly looks up as I burst into her room. I leap onto the bed and crumble into her embrace crying.

  “Kayla, what’s wrong? You’re shakin
g.”

  I sit up and rip her covers down. I pull her tee shirt up and gently glide my fingers over her stomach.

  “Baby, careful right there. I have a bad stomach cramp.”

  I gently press into the spot, and she groans in pain and grabs my hand.

  “Shannon!”

  “I’m right here, sweetie.” Shannon walks over and places a hand on Symone’s forehead. “Have you ever had your appendix removed?”

  “No, why?”

  “We need to get you to the hospital. If you’re tender to the touch in this spot,” she gently places two fingers on the spot, “you may have appendicitis.”

  “I just ate too much jambalaya last night.”

  “No, you’re going to the hospital. Please, I can’t risk something happening to you.”

  Symone smiles and grabs my shirt, pulling me down to her. She places a hand on my cheek and kisses my lips. Her lips part and I don’t hesitate to accept her to fully kiss me. After a few moments, she pulls back smiling.

  “Ok, I’ll go.”

  I jump off the bed and start pulling her up. Symone winces and groans as she tries to sit up. She places a hand on her stomach and leans back.

  “What’s going on?”

  Tonya, Jade, and Jaime have joined my wives standing in the doorway and look very concerned.

  “We need to get Symone to the hospital. She may have appendicitis. Someone, go get Sara and Keira and get the SUV’s ready.”

  “Kayla, I need to get dressed.”

  I nod and spin around to her dresser. I rip open the top drawer and pull out a bra, panties, and socks. I open drawer after drawer looking for comfortable pants.

  “Where are your sweatpants? Never mind.”

  I run out of the room and get a pair of my own sweatpants and grab a long sleeve tee shirt and a hoodie. When I come back to her room, Symone is sitting on the edge of the bed and Shannon is trying to help her stand up, but Symone’s struggling in her pain.

  “I got her.” I step over and have her sit back down. I reach for her shirt, but Symone grabs my hands and stops me. “We have to get you dressed.” She smiles and kisses my lips. “I can do the tops. Turn around, baby.”

  Shannon and I turn our backs and our other wives leave the room, pulling the door closed to give Symone privacy.

  “Ok, baby.”

  We turn around as Symone is finishing putting my hoodie on. Shannon and I support her under her arms and pull her up to stand.

  “Shit, that hurts.”

  Her groan of pain causes emotion to well up in my chest, and my urgency to get her to the hospital increases. I quickly wrap her arm that I’m supporting around Shannon.

  “Sorry, but I have to get your dressed.”

  Without waiting for a response, I push my hands in her shorts and panties at her hips and push down. I’m momentarily paralyzed. Damn, she has a beautiful ass. I shake my head and clear my throat. I help her into a pair of cute cotton panties and my sweatpants, which I can’t help but notice that they hug her beautiful ass really nicely.

  Shannon and I support her down the stairs, and Sara quickly comes over and helps us set her down on the couch.

  “Go get dressed. We’ll get her in the car.” I shake my head. “I’m not leaving her side.” Symone takes my hand and kisses it. “Kayla, go get dressed.”

  I reluctantly run back upstairs and my wives and I brush our teeth and hair, and get dressed at lightning speed. I grab my phone and wallet and race down the stairs. They’re still trying to get Symone in the SUV when we come running out of the house. I rush to her side, and climb in to help her from inside of the vehicle. I get her seated and pull her seatbelt across her.

  Sara drives our vehicle while the rest of the squad follows in a second. I cling to Symone’s hand and watch her carefully. She’s smiling at me, even though her brow is pinched in pain.

  “Kayla, why did you come running into my room like that? How did you know to check my stomach?”

  I blush and look down. She reaches out and lifts my chin. She brushes her thumb along my bottom lip and pulls me closer to her. I lean in and give her a soft kiss on the lips, and she wraps her arms around me, holding me on her chest.

  “Please, tell me.”

  “I had a dream that turned into a nightmare.” She lifts my head and kisses my lips. “Tell me about it.”

  I shake my head and try to lay back down on her chest, but she holds me firmly. I take a deep breath and sit up straighter in my own seat. I quickly tell her the dream, not meeting anyone’s eyes, because all of my wives are in the vehicle with us and I just admitted to having a sex dream about Symone. It’s not the first, but it is the first time I admitted it.

  “Who stabbed me?” Symone is looking at Sam with a small smile, and I shake my head. “I don’t know. I didn’t see a person, only the knife and the wound.”

  “I thought your wife is the clairvoyant one. What are you doing having prophetic dreams?” I smile and glance at Awenasa, who is giving me a very loving smile. “I must have accidentally tapped into her psychic pool of energy or something. Are you going to be ok?” Symone smiles and squeezes my hand. “Yes, Kayla. We might get there and find out it’s just indigestion from too much spicy food and then we can all have a good laugh about this later.” I shake my head and lean in to hug her again. “This will never be something I can laugh about. It’s too terrifying.”

  She runs her fingers through my hair and kisses the top of my head. She tightens her embrace around me and I nuzzle in deeper in her warm soft chest.

  “I love you, Kayla.”

  “I love you too. Please be ok.”

  I stay wrapped in her arms till we get to the emergency room and Shannon quickly jumps out and runs inside. The rest of us help Symone out of the SUV just in time for two nurses to meet us at the curb to help her into a wheelchair. I stay close by her side and as they’re starting to wheel her by a receptionist and through a set of double doors, they stop and hold up a hand.

  “You’ll have to wait in the waiting room.”

  “I’m not leaving her side.”

  “Are you a family member?”

  “I’m closer to her than her family.”

  “That doesn’t…”

  “Kayla Johann, please tell me you are not about to be a patient again.” I look up to see Shannon’s old supervising nurse from when I was in the hospital after Darren broke my ribs. “Hey, Maggie. No, it’s my best friend, Symone. She may have appendicitis, but they won’t let me stay with her.”

  “You’re Kayla Johann? The celebrity?” The nurses blush and start pushing Symone towards the doors. “Ok, come on.”

  Maggie smiles and turns her attention to Shannon. I wave to them and follow the urgent pace of the nurses pushing Symone’s wheelchair. I follow them into a room with a sheet covered bed next to a machine with a big computer screen. A nurse puts a gown on the bed and they lock the wheels of the wheelchair in place.

  “You need to change into a gown. A technician will come to do an abdominal and pelvic ultrasound, then we’ll bring you to a room. If they can’t determine the cause of your pain with the ultrasound, you’ll probably need a CT scan and X-rays. Slide this bar to green when you’re ready and your technician will know it’s safe to come in. You need to remove everything.”

  They leave the room and Symone looks up at me with a small smile as she starts to unzip my hoodie she’s wearing.

  “Hand me that gown, baby.”

  I quickly place the gown on her lap and turn my back to her. She holds out each piece of clothing to me to take as she gets them off and then tells me I can turn around. I set the tops and her bra down on a counter, remove her sneakers, and then she wraps her arms around my neck so I can pull her up and help her out of her pants and panties. I help her lay down on the examination table and after giving her a soft kiss on the lips, I slide the bar in place to signal we’re ready.

  The woman comes in a few minutes later and starts asking questions abou
t why she’s here, where her pain is, and when it started. She puts gloves on, drapes a folded sheet over Symone’s lap, and pulls her gown up so she can get to her abdomen.

  It only takes about ten minutes for the woman to get images of her entire abdomen and pelvic area, but it causes Symone a lot of pain as the woman prods over the area the appendix is located.

  When she’s done, she gives Symone a few rags to clean the imaging gel off and then stands up.

  “Ok, slide that bar in place when you’re ready and the nurses will bring you to your room. A doctor should be up to see you soon to go over these.”

  Without waiting for a response, she leaves the room. I step over to the bed and help Symone wipe up the gel. I completely forget she’s naked underneath and pull the sheet off of her lap before she gets the gown corrected.

  “Oh, shit. Sorry.”

  I quickly cover her and blush beet red. She giggles and grabs my shirt, pulling me down to her. She gives me a short, but powerful kiss that causes me to release a small sound of pleasure. She smiles against my lips and pulls back.

  “Thank you for being here with me.”

  “Always.”

  “Ok, help me get in the chair.”

  Her nurses bring us to a large room with a single bed. The entire squad and my wives are already here waiting for us. Maggie comes over to help us get Symone out of the chair and into the bed. Before they can, I grab the blankets and pull them up over her and I fix her pillows. Maggie pulls a vitals cart over and starts taking Symone’s blood pressure and temperature.

  “Ok, hang tight.”

  They leave and our group comes over to stand around the bed, asking how she’s feeling. Maggie’s not gone five minutes and she’s returning with two other nurses and a couple different carts, one of which has a weird looking machine with a bunch of wires. I notice Shannon frown and she nervously bites her bottom lip.