One Little Bit

by Tey Holden

  ***

  “What? Why are we buying a new four-wheel drive vehicle for the stable manager? I didn’t know we were going to do that! How did that come about?”

  “Ker, this woman knows her business. She had interviewed with other people, and I wanted to make sure that we got her. She arrived in an old truck worse than the one we found at the cottage when we first moved here. I knew she would go for a brand new truck.”

  “You are crazy.”

  “Trust me, baby. This will work out.” Karen took Alex from her playpen and sat in the living room still shaking her head. “Plus, it’s tax deductible as a business expense!” Addy yelled from the kitchen.

  “Alex, she’s going to take us to bankruptcy court.” Alex was smiling, drooling and jumping up and down on Karen’s lap. All of a sudden Karen registered a small detail. “Wait! Did you say woman? Marshall Kennedy is a woman?”

  “Yes, and by the way, she happens to be a lesbian.”

  “What? Why is it that all of a sudden this town is attracting so much family?”

  “I suppose that is good. Anyway, do you have any issues with gays and lesbians? Huh?” Addy grinned.

  “Very funny Ms. Marcos. I just like my peace and quiet and all of a sudden, I see trouble brewing in the horizon with all possible dramas. We already have the love triangle between Mary, Sarah, and Carol and now this new woman comes along. All I ask is that you do not meddle in other people’s business, please!”

  “Your wish is always my command, my Lady.”

  Karen smiled. “You keep that up and I may be wishing for services sooner rather than later, love slave!”

  Addy bowed in jest.

  ***

  When Marshall spotted Carol in town they became instant friends. Marshall was in her old truck scouting the town when she saw two women hauling bags of mulch and barely able to drag the bags. Marshall immediately parked her truck and offered to help the ladies in distress. To repay Marshall for her kindness, Carol invited her to tea, which extended into a dinner invitation. Carol was delighted when she found out that Marshall was going to be working for Addy and Karen.

  “Marshall, you struck gold with those two. You cannot find better people to work for around here. I mean, this entire town practically owes them for its existence. That inn they opened years ago put Altee on the map, and later the distillery and the horse farm. I cannot tell you enough good things about them. They have a little girl, a cute little thing. They are also very generous. If you work well for them, they’ll treat you like family.”

  Marshall was delighted with all the information provided about her new employers, especially because she felt good about having made the right choice. She was also delighted because she and Carol seemed to have made a good connection. They somehow managed to tell each other about their sexuality and immediate availability. Carol’s sister had been tired from all the yard work, and after talking to her daughter in Glasgow went to her bedroom.

  “Thank you kindly for your hospitality, Carol. I’m wondering if it would be too bold of me to ask you to dinner this coming Saturday. I would like to get to know you better.”

  “I’d love to Marshall. I’d like to get to know you better as well.”

  “I will stop by on Saturday at six o’clock, that is, if you think that is an appropriate time for your dinner. Since I’m new in the area, I’d be much obliged if you chose our eating place, if that is okay with you.”

  “You are so kind! It will be a pleasure.”

  After having dealt with Mary’s lack of attentions for her, Marshall was as refreshing as a summer’s breeze, and Carol was delighted.

  “Good night then.”

  “Good night”

  Marshall drove back to the stables with a grin on her face. This new job and town looked very promising and now, she even hoped to sample some treats from this lovely lady.

  ***

  In light of Karen’s opening the business and envisioning the possibility that clients might need to stay overnight, Addy talked to Sarah about expanding the inn. “Addy, I would love to do it, but I don’t have the money. Sure, I have clients but this is not like your former inn. As you know, my inn only has five rooms.”

  “Well, how about, if we subsidized you and do a little sprucing?”

  “Oh, Addy, I couldn’t!”

  “Sarah, you’d be helping us as well. It wouldn’t be anything fancy, just a refreshed comfortable look. I’ll ask Sandy to send someone over and see what they recommend.”

  “Oh my God, I can’t believe you are doing this!”

  “Just make sure that if we ever need to keep a client overnight, he or she has a room.”

  “You bet! By the way, I wanted to tell you that Mary has been staying with me.”

  “Yes, I know. I also don’t know if you know that Carol is back in town. She’s living with her sister at the other end of town.”

  “Oh, no! Do you think she wants Mary back?”

  “Not from what I’ve heard. Good night, Sarah.”

  Sarah remained preoccupied. When Mary came home that day, they had a long talk.

  “Don’t worry, dear. That is all in the past. You are the woman of my dreams.” In the back of her mind, Mary was already thinking of visiting Carol, after all, the other side of town was kind of far from the inn.

  ***

  As soon as Karen finished interviewing law firms interested in her services, she chose three law firms prominent in the field of corporate finances. She’d laid out her terms and they were accepted. Soon after, Phillip joined the firm and they hired an administrative assistant to help with the clerical work. Subsequently, they established a work routine, which lasted for years.

  Part 13

  The celebration of Alex’s first birthday was a major event at the Manor house. Neighbors and friends with kids and without kids came to the party. To Addy, a birthday was a celebration of life and a blessing. “Today marks the day our little one came into our lives, and for that we are blessed.” As Addy spoke and everyone listened, the huge candle on the cake began to tilt and finally fell on the cake. The happening went unnoticed by all except for the beautiful green eyes who had been looking at the cute Pooh Bear character on the candle.

  The minute Alex saw the Pooh Bear fall on the cake, and the candle go out, she dug into the cake grasping the candle and a chunk of frosting in her hand. As with everything she ever grabbed, it immediately went to her mouth. Her face was instantly covered with frosting as she licked the delicious substance, apparently liking it. This all happened in a fraction of a second, as it was usually the case with her.

  Everyone screamed when they saw Alex going for the cake. Frightened by the screams, Alex began to cry. Addy attempted to take the candle from her hand and then wipe the frosting off her hands and mouth using a napkin. However, Alex refused to give up the candle and put up a fight. She also fussed about her clean up and apparent disruption from licking the very tasty candle. In the wrestling match with Addy, Alex managed to get frosting in her few strands of hair, and on Addy’s face and blouse as Alex waved the candle in the air during the struggle. All of this was caught on tape by dear Uncle James, who thought it was adorable and later thought to enter the video on the funniest video television show. In the meantime, Karen laughed her heart out very proud of her little rascal.

  Alex was so covered in frosting that the only thing to do was to take her to one of the upstairs bathrooms for a major clean up. She cried going upstairs, still mad about the interruption from her happy treat. Karen went upstairs to help but biting her upper lip to hold her laughter. “Little girl, you made a mess. You have frosting everywhere! I don’t think Mommy Addy is very happy. Although I think she looks kind of cute and sweet all frosted.”

  Addy gave her annoyed look. “Karen Larsen, this child will grow up to be reckless if you encourage this type of behavior.”

  “Not encouraging, just telling it like it is. Here, you clean up, and I’ll take care of our Tasmanian devil.�
�� When they came back down Alex was wearing another outfit, was much less sticky, and once again happy.

  After singing Happy Birthday, they sat her in her high chair and gave her some cake. She loved the frosting, which she again managed to get all over her hair. “I guess she has a sweet tooth.” Karen commented, getting another look from Addy, but this time there was a smile on her lips.

  Later that night at the cottage, Addy playfully admonished Alex. “What are we going to do with you? Are you going to be a messy girl, full of mud and dirt all the time? And lifting up your dress in front of everybody was not very lady-like, if I may add.” Unaware of any reproach, Alex continued to smile as happily as ever. Karen listened and laughed. “Way to go, Alexandra! Or should we call her Lady Alexandra?

  “I see that Mommy Karen is very amused with your mischief. Let’s not pay any attention to her.”

  “Well! If you ask me, telling your child not to pay attention to her mother is not a very good lesson.”

  “Here, have Miss Frosty Lady. I’m going to shower. I still feel sticky.”

  “Let me know if you need help removing the stickiness.”

  Addy turned. “You wish! Unfortunately, you have to deal with Frosty.”

  Karen pouted and then chuckled looking at her daughter.

  ***

  Karen and Addy took Alex everywhere. They didn’t like leaving her with others for fear of something happening to her. She was a handful and they always thought that no one else would be able to keep an eye on her as they did. Addy was of the opinion that no one watched a child as well as their own mother.

  They also had as a policy never to go into a restaurant where they did not see high chairs readily available. As things were, their whole life now revolved around the little one and they were enchanted with their adorable little devil.

  After she turned one, Alex was already walking very steadily. Sometimes when Karen got home, she’d find Alex in her playpen and a very tired-looking Addy reclined on the love seat.

  “Hi sweetie pie.”

  “Hi, babe, how was your day?”

  “Fine, work is good. How were things around here? Do I detect the remnants of a storm?”

  “Hurricane Alex, is in her playpen now. I had to put her there a little while ago. I couldn’t run after her anymore.”

  Karen chuckled. “I’ll take over now, go shower.”

  “Let me start dinner first. I haven’t had a minute to get to it.”

  “Why don’t I whip up something? Go take a break.”

  “No, hon. No offense, but I need a good meal.”

  “Okay, let me go change, and I’ll take care of Alex.”

  “Mama play?” Alex was developing her vocabulary very quickly. They thought it was because they had dedicated a lot of time to educational activities, which Alex happened to love. They were always amazed at how fast she learned.

  “You sure can talk a lot now, Little Bit.”

  “Awex play.”

  “Yes, what are we going to play?”

  She’d come over to Karen carrying an activity board. Other times she brought books, picture books, pop-out books and talking books. She had all sorts of cute things to play with and do. During this stage, it was mostly Karen taking over Alex activities before and after dinner. Having been away most of the day, she loved to come home and share time with her daughter. Sometimes, in the summer, when Karen came home early, they played outside on the patio. They had a lot of playground toys. It seemed that Alex’s belongings were everywhere. In fact, it seemed that Alex had taken over the entire house.

  Religiously though, she was taken to her bedroom by seven o’clock, and thirty minutes later she was already asleep. This gave the women time to talk and have their time together. There were countless times when Karen came home in the middle of the day, and after playing with her daughter for a while, they had some time for themselves while the little one napped. No matter how much time they dedicated to Alex, they always made sure that they had their time alone. As Karen wished and Addy had assured, they weren’t going to allow having a child interfere with their intimacy, and it never did.

  ***

  Away in Glasgow, Karen’s family still seethed about her fortune and happiness. The news that Karen was pregnant and that she had a girl was terrible news to them. Until then, they still hoped that when Karen passed away with no living heirs, the estate would revert to their side of the family, to Charles and Margaret’s daughter. However, now that Karen had a blood heir, the estate would go to Alex, and that put an end to the hope of ever inheriting the estate.

  As it has happened many times, those who are evil tend to come together and join forces to cause damage. At a pub one evening, Charles came across a sketchy barrister, the type that was always looking for victims and willing to fabricate a case for them. This fellow gave him the advice he was looking for.

  “They are lesbians, you say?”

  “Yes.”

  “And they have a daughter?”

  “Yes.”

  “We can use that to our advantage. Let me explain.” The barrister’s plan was simple. They would file for custody claiming that the mothers were unfit to raise a child because of their sexual orientation. Of course, there was no interest in the child. The youngster would be the bargaining card to get the estate. The goal was that the women would strike a deal to drop the custody battle in exchange for the estate. A clear extortion, but they thought it would work.

  Encouraged by the barrister, Charles and Margaret filed a custody claim. They claimed that Karen and Addy, as lesbians, were unfit mothers and that the child was growing up in an unnatural and depraved environment totally unsuited to raise a young child, and that they as a husband and wife were better suited to raise the child. Even if they weren’t able to get Karen to hand over the estate, if they became Alex’s custodians they would eventually swindle the estate from her and make it their own. That was not the most appealing option because they would have to deal with a child they did not want, but the girl would be sent away to boarding school and then put to work as soon as she was old enough.

  When Karen received and read the court papers, she literally collapsed on the sofa. Her energy left her body as she crumpled and wailed crying her heart out. This time she didn’t even have the strength to call for Addy. Never in her life had she received such a low blow and this was coming again from her own family. Addy saw Karen react to the paper as she collapsed and wailed and came running to her thinking that she was in pain. Karen was so devastated that she could not speak. How could she explain to the woman she loved that her own family was again stabbing her not in the back this time but in her bare heart.

  When Addy came close to her, all Karen could do was repeat Addy’s name in pure agony. “Addy, Addy, Addy!”

  “What is it love, what is it?”

  Addy took the letter from Karen’s hand and read it. After a moment of silent agony, Addy got up and paced the room as she was building up her steam. She went ballistic. She vented and cursed words Karen had never heard from her mouth. Karen remained motionless on the sofa feeling dead inside.

  Addy grabbed Karen by the shoulders. “This is not going to happen! Do you hear me? This is not going to happen as long as I have one bit of breath in my lungs. I will fight these people to the death. This time I will have no mercy! I want blood! I’ve had it!”

  Karen continued to cry, and Addy knelt in front of her and embraced her. “They will never have her! Never! This I promise you!” After what seemed like hours of holding each other in the living room. Karen pulled away from their embrace.

  “Addy, they want Alex because they want the estate. They can have it. All I want is you and Alex. We’ll go back to the States, and I will work and we will be fine. I’m not risking Alex for anything. This may be our home now, but it’s just a place. We can make our home anywhere else. I will let them have it all as long as I have you and Alex.” She looked at Addy. “Even if they want the money we made from the
inn, they can have—. She stopped, suddenly realizing that this was not a decision she could make by herself. Addy owned half of everything and there was Laurie, who as Addy’s heir, had rights of her own.

  “Addy, say something. Do you have a problem with that?”

  Addy answered immediately. “No, I have no problem with that. I will not risk Alex for any money in the world. We’ll do whatever we need to do.” Addy agreed with Karen’s decision, but she had one concern she didn’t share with Karen at the moment. Karen was shaken to the bone and Addy needed to calm her down, and not add more wood to the fire.

  Always thinking ahead, Addy didn’t believe that handing over the estate was the solution. There was a bigger issue at stake. Karen’s family were evidently resolved to get the property at whatever cost. The loose end that Karen failed to see at the moment was that the McGill estate was tied to the nobility title that went with it, which was not for anyone to reject or give away. The title and estate belonged by birthright to the rightful heir, and Alex was that person. As long as Alex lived, she had a claim on the estate. There was no legal handover that could trump the royal decree. Alex would always be the legitimate heir.

  Alex was the ultimate commodity. To secure the estate, the family would have to have Alex. Karen was so emotionally affected that her usually clear mind had not seen the enormous gravity of the situation. Karen’s plan to give up everything for Alex was not the solution. Addy already knew that they’d have to fight to the death for their daughter.

  “I’ll talk to Phillip tomorrow. I’ll ask him to handle everything. In the meantime, we pack our bags and leave for the Caribbean indefinitely. I want Alex far away from these people. We leave as soon as I talk to Phillip.” Addy nodded in agreement and kissed her.

  After Karen talked to Phillip, Addy called him when Karen was not present. Phillip agreed with Addy’s concern and they were both deciding how to tackle the matter. “Phillip, I don’t know if Karen has thought of this. I don’t want to burden her more. I’ve never kept things from her, but I think we need to work around her on this one. I’ve never seen her so devastated.”