Stay with Me

by Sheryl Wright

  “She said…everyone brings food…you make food…so much. All the tables…”

  She used a hand signal Tyler recognized, “Covered? Every table is covered with food so no one can sit down to eat?”

  She nodded, smiling, and added, “All night…to celebrate.”

  “They serve the buffet all night? Oh my God, I can’t even begin to estimate how much food that would be.”

  Georgie was laughing, and shaking her head she explained, “We won’t, not like that…Too much waste. Just regular…”

  “You’re still grinning! You have something planned, don’t you?”

  Georgie shook her head, moving in to cuddle and finally offering, “No…just want it, perfect…for my Tyler.”

  That earned her extra attention. Switching off the light, she shimmied down under the covers molding herself into Georgie’s arms and body. It was like sleeping with your own personal heater. The woman was always hot from head to toe. It was overwhelming and comforting at the same time and Tyler was beginning to find it almost impossible to sleep on the nights they didn’t spend together. That was rare these days; still, it did happen now and then.

  “Baby, I was thinking about building the house out at the beach.” The beach was how she referred to the property at Cattaraugus Creek. “Maybe we should wait and build the house once we decide on a building for the division office. I would hate to get the house all done and not be able to use it or worse, spend two hours each day commuting back and forth. We’re comfortable here, more than comfortable. I love this apartment and it works for us, at least for now.”

  Georgie’s nod signaled her full agreement, before she noted the condition. “For now?”

  Tyler groaned, then pulled away just enough to meet her eyes, “I…What would you say about a baby? I know we haven’t talked about it but I see you with Ella and I can’t help but think you would be a great parent and I guess my clock is ticking—”

  “Yes.”

  “Although we could adopt, I don’t really care how, and I know it would be a change and a challenge and—”

  “Yes.”

  “Yes? Just like that?”

  “Yes!”

  A squeal of delight escaped her as she wrapped her arms around Georgie’s neck. “Baby, I don’t know why I even worried about it. You really want kids?”

  Georgie nodded, wide-eyed and grinning, brushing her hand across Tyler’s cheek then through her hair. “Little baby Tyler’s…perfect. Oh…how many?”

  “Okay, don’t laugh but I think I would like two, you know, so they’ll always have each other?”

  “Like my Tyler…and Kira…Marnie and Lori, good but…what comes first?”

  “Like the chicken or the egg?” Tyler joked.

  That made her laugh again. “Baby or house?”

  Tyler sat up, tossing off the duvet before straddling Georgie. Taking in her open joy and enthusiasm always worked to wash any doubts away. She pulled the old Aim High T-shirt she’d worn to bed over her head and tossed it on the floor, leaning down and bracing her arms on each side of Georgie’s shoulders. “You make me so happy. I can’t believe we’re getting married in just four months. And you…” Before she could finish the sentiment, Georgie leaned up to steal a quick kiss. “How is it you always say and do just the right thing?”

  “You get me,” she said simply. “That is everything…everything, my Tyler…my love.”

  Tyler settled her full weight down on her. It was hardly an imposition. While she barely tipped the scales at one-thirty, Georgie was the strongest woman she knew. She settled her head down, tucking it so close to Georgie’s that her lips brushed her ear. “I was thinking we could start a family before we build the house. Babies don’t need a lot of room to start with and we have our work here so it wouldn’t be a big imposition.”

  “Nursery?”

  That got her attention. “Would you mind if we put a crib in here? At least for the first few months. Once we’re comfortable, we could move her into the guest room. I know it will be a bit of an imposition not to have guests but I was thinking about that too. Maybe we should buy Henry’s condo. We don’t need the whole space but maybe we could just add one room from it to this apartment and then we could still use his place for guests or lease it out?” She could feel Georgie nodding her agreement. It was always that simple.

  “I will ask Henry…remind me?”

  “Oh course, baby. So you like the idea?”

  “Yes…Her?”

  “Her?”

  “The baby…you said her.”

  “Oh God, you’re right. Would you want a girl or a boy or does it matter?”

  She shook her head, “Just…your baby…babies…my little Tylers.” She closed her sentiment with a steaming kiss as her hands, which she had held in check until now, were free and roaming the soft curve of Tyler’s shoulders and back.

  “Ooh baby, wait! You only want kids if they’re mine?”

  Georgie’s hand stilled. “Do you want?” She moved her hand on Tyler’s abdomen.

  Leaning away, just enough to add her own hand, Tyler entwined Georgie’s fingers with her own. “I want to have children. I don’t think I realized how much until today. We were sitting in Marnie’s office and somehow the subject came up. Well, I think it came up between Leslie and Kira, and they were baiting me to see if I was interested.” Recalling the entire conversation, she sat up slightly, showing her concern. “I’m not sure how Marnie feels about it.”

  Georgie raised the intertwined fingers to her lips, taking her time to kiss Tyler’s hand. “Tell me?”

  “It was during our meeting. Kira and Leslie baited me on the baby thing and when I admitted I might want children, Lori was all high fives but Marnie was…well she just changed the subject. And there’s something else. I…is there any chance she might be going through menopause? I mean I know she’s four years younger but…”

  “Yes…I think so. Maybe…having kids changes…stress too.”

  “Stress can be a catalyst for menopause? Oh my God, if that’s true we better get started now!”

  Georgie pulled her back on top before taking her face in her hands, “No worries…my love. Start now?” she asked with a grin.

  “Hmm, I’m not sure it works like that but we can certainly try,” she said, struggling with a bombardment of sensations as Georgie’s lips began to trace a path her hands were blazing. Being touched by her, touching her, the way it made her feel, she had never imagined it could be like this. Love and desire had been instantaneous for her lover, but for her, for reserved and cautious Tyler, it had been a slow burn. She never denied her feelings, but her expectations and hopes, all her hopes, had been slow to coalesce. Maybe it was trust that took time.

  During those first few months she had examined Georgie’s intentions from all angles, determined not to fall prey to anyone or thing. Navigating the halls of academia had been more treacherous than she had ever imagined, and she had learned firsthand that Ethicists were all the rage in business schools just as long as they didn’t examine the ethics of that school’s policies. And then there were the failed relationships with faculty members and the management of student expectations, especially those with more than academic intentions. She had found it exhausting and demoralizing. It had been a step up from the lousy and fruitless job search that had left her unemployed for over a year, and living at home with Mom and Dad. Still, it hadn’t been a complete bust. Twin sister Kira had moved home too.

  Kira’s situation was completely different though. Her law career was proceeding well but her love life…not so much. Deciding she couldn’t wait for Mr. Right to make his presence known, she had chosen artificial insemination. When her parents learned she wanted to start a family alone, they had begged her to return home. Tyler marveled to think of how supportive her parents were. They had welcomed them both with open arms, offering unlimited support for her and her twin. They even offered to build an addition to the family home with two separate apartment
s, one just for Kira and the future baby, and the other for her. Kira hadn’t wanted that, and Tyler had enjoyed having her twin for company again with the old adjoining bathroom between their childhood bedrooms, their one-time late night secret meeting place. And her parents had been super supportive with her too, insisting she take her time to find the right job instead of accepting just anything she could get.

  It was Tyler who, after more than a year of unemployment, decided to aim lower. She had grown desperate to get back to work when she answered an ad for an executive assistant. At the time she believed she had reached the lowest point in her career, but she’d swallowed her pride and applied for the job. The online job description had provided all the details required and she simply regurgitated them back into her cover letter and improvised résumé. The first interview was pretty much as she suspected with one exception. During that time, Susan Chan who she now knew to be a real straight shooter, had been cagey over certain details like whom she would be executive assistant to and what the job would entail. It wasn’t until the second interview, when she walked in to meet shy and complicated Georgie DiNamico, that she learned her ruse had failed. Georgie had researched her applicants, choosing Tyler because of her academic credentials and knowing she had lied to get her foot in the door. She had called Tyler on it, asking her not to do it again while conveying her understanding for the ploy.

  Entwined in their bed, Georgie’s lips found their way to her small sensitive breasts. Moaning, getting lost in the moment, she still had so much on her mind. “Wait, baby, ooh…”

  Rolling Tyler onto her side, Georgie doubled the pillow under her head then waited, smiling as her fingers began tracing each rib along her side.

  “You…why are you so patient with me? No, don’t answer that. Baby, I want to have our babies…”

  “Good.”

  While her fingers traced a hardened nipple, her lips found Georgie’s mouth, and quickly devoured any lingering discussion. She had long learned she would receive no protest from Georgie. She’d had older lovers before but none as eager or yet as complicated as her soon-to-be wife. They were perfectly matched that way and even learning that fact had been a revelation. Everything about them, at least from the outside, looked to be so different, even incompatible. Nothing could be further from the truth. In some strange and unfathomable way, they needed each other. Accepting that had been the last of a long line of barriers Georgie struck down and Tyler couldn’t imagine being happier.

  Chapter Seven

  Lori stood in the security cottage, coffee cup in hand, staring out the office window. Since she had been running the production line, she’d made a habit of arriving before seven each day. First order of business was a perimeter check which she did with the day shift security guard. Then she and Megan would unlock the production shed and any outbuildings the crew might need to access that day. Most mornings that took a little over forty minutes. Afterward she would return to the security cottage to hear Megan go over the list of scheduled visitors, deliveries and any actions that required either her approval or her attention. She also used this time to track just who did and did not arrive on time. Working for family had led some individuals to believe they could get away with behavior that wouldn’t be tolerated elsewhere. They were wrong, more so than ever, especially since this was the Monday her niece Zoe was supposed to report in as her personal assistant.

  She really didn’t want to admit she needed an assistant but the days of business as usual were truly over. The updates and changes she and Georgie had put in place over the last year had done more than ramp up boat orders. Suddenly, DynaCraft was the go-to place for industry consultation or just plain spying. It wasn’t as if they weren’t willing to share, she just wanted to make sure the company received fair compensation for their hard-earned innovations. Having an open yard with full public access made that a challenge for her sole security guard. Zoe’s arrival would take a number of items off Megan’s list, giving her more time to do her job. Tracking material shipments and Lori’s appointment schedule would now fall to Zoe but she also wanted her to understand how important Megan’s job was. She was the eyes and ears of the boatyard and formed their first line of defense. She needed to understand, right from the beginning, that Megan was part of her core team.

  “How’s our lady friend doin’?” Megan asked as she printed out the day’s visitor badges and sign-in sheets.

  “Lady friend?”

  “Yeah, Ms. Aydan,” she offered casually, her eyes focused on the spreadsheet she was working on. “You know, the one stayin’ with Tyler and Georgie.”

  “Ms. Ferdowsi?”

  “However you say it…”

  “Hey. Don’t do that. A good cop learns about the people she is sworn to serve and protect.”

  “I didn’t mean anything.”

  “No, you didn’t even try. You pulled your white privilege card and decided you didn’t need to learn her name because it wasn’t like yours.”

  “Whoa boss, that’s not—”

  “Isn’t it?” She swung around to look her in the face. What she saw was Kira and Tyler’s big-eyed and clearly confused baby sister. “Shit! Listen kiddo, I’m not going to apologize. Maybe I should but—oh hell, I know you’re better than that and I also know you’re going to make a great cop. I guess I’m feeling a little protective of Ms. Ferdowsi. She’s really been through hell.”

  Megan stood, and retrieving Lori’s empty cup explained, “Me too. I kinda feel like we did good but we screwed up in the first place. I wish I had figured out sooner that she was in some sort of trouble.”

  “Yeah, me too,” she lamented, watching the kid as she made her way to the tiny kitchenette. Megan returned with two steaming cups, handing one to her boss. “Are you still mad at me or is this more about Zoe coming here?”

  Lori took the mug in both hands, cradling it in defense from the cold damp weather. “I’m not mad at you, but I am a little strung out thinking about the Aydan situation and the Zoe thing. Actually, you’re going to be working with Zoe more than I will. Maybe I should let you worry about Zoe.”

  “I can handle her.”

  Lori smiled, taking a cautious sip of her second cup. She was not the type of woman that did well when idle. She liked to work, liked to keep her hands busy, and since giving up smoking and being promoted, that was oftentimes hard to do.

  “Can I ask about her, Ms. Ferdowsi I mean? It’s bad isn’t it, what happened to her.”

  “First off, let’s remember to respect her privacy. I trust you completely and as her savior you’re entitled to a little information. I just haven’t decided what information that is yet. If you can be patient, I promise to keep you up-to-date. One thing though, let’s not talk about it with Zoe around. Aydan’s having enough trouble adjusting without the company gossip having a field day, or worse…”

  “Worse? Oh…”

  She turned to look at Megan. “Oh, what?”

  “It’s okay, boss. I’ve got a gay sister for frig sakes. Half the girls who work here are lesbians. I’m totally there.”

  Lori checked her watch; it was now five to eight. “You’re totally there? First off, Aydan isn’t gay although she was accused of it because her family looked Georgie and your sister up on the website and found their wedding announcement.”

  “Ugh, my mom has those pictures all over the house, those and new ones of baby Ella every week.”

  She laughed at the picture of Debbie Marsh, superhero mom. Why couldn’t they all be like that?

  “Is that her?” Megan asked. They watched a vintage red Chevy pull into the lot. “Holy crap, is that a Corvair?”

  “Yeah, my idiot brother bought it for her when she graduated from high school.”

  “Oh man!” she whined as she grabbed her coat and headed out with a parking sticker for Zoe’s car. “Boss, you want her to come in here or meet you in the loft?”

  “Here,” she called after Megan, before mumbling to herself, “might as wel
l get it over with.”

  * * *

  Aydan stood listening as Leslie and Tyler argued with the contractor. Tyler had issues with their contract she believed were not being adhered to while Leslie was frustrated by the list of things he believed couldn’t be done. Aydan had spent all weekend with Georgie inspecting every floor in the building, taking measurements of every space and compiling a list of improvements from what was immediately required to what would be nice to add. All in all the DiNamico building was in excellent condition and had been well cared for with the exception of the leased floors. They had taken a beating but now that the tenants were gone it was a golden opportunity to bring those lower floors up to grade. At the moment they were standing in the unoccupied section of the second floor listening to excuse after excuse. She did wonder why Tyler didn’t shut him down, then she remembered the one detail Georgie had drilled into her head. “This is your project.”

  She closed her eyes, acknowledging her discomfort and anxiety. Taking a deep breath she propelled herself into the scrum. “Mr. Fener. I’m Aydan Ferdowsi. I’m the project manager. I have been listening to your concerns—”

  “Ferdowsi? You Ben Ferdowsi’s kid?”

  The question, while straightforward, hit her like a gut shot. No one had spoken to her of her dad in fifteen years and the recent battle with her family had renewed the rawness the mention evoked. The best she could do was nod and pray he wouldn’t wax on while she battled the pain of her loss.

  He seemed to settle down with that minimal information or at least it made him think. He opened his contractor’s clipboard and pulled out several printed sheets, clipping them to the top. “He was a good guy. Sorry. If you’re running the show then how come I got this thing saying I couldn’t pick my own subs?”

  Tyler stepped in giving Aydan a chance to regroup. “Mr. Fener, our contract specifically forbids you from hiring subcontractors who do not meet the Corporate Standard of Ethics. You agreed to that when you were hired and—”