by Trina Lane
Rick guided the three interlopers into the living room. “Can I offer you something to drink?”
“I would love a coffee if you have it ready, and please call me John,” Nielson responded, settling into the club chair near the windows.
“Make that two please, and you may call me Jamie,” Ms. Waterman answered.
Rick nodded his head in acknowledgement. “Susan?”
All he got in return was a haughty stare as she sat primly on the sofa.
“In that case, Calleigh and Conor will be down in a moment after they’ve gotten the boys settled. I’ll have your coffees shortly.”
He walked through the archway into the kitchen. Grabbing two mugs from the cabinet, he attempted to release some of the rage boiling though him. The addition of the officials put an entirely different tone on this meeting than they were intending. He knew he shouldn’t act defensive, but it was hard not to when his family was being threatened. He placed the mugs, sweetener and milk on a tray then carried it back into the living room.
He handed the two officials their coffee. “As I said earlier, we invited Susan here to discuss her concerns. We respect her as Mikey and Brandon’s grandmother,” he looked at her, “but we want to make sure you understand that we are their parents and as such will be making decisions regarding their upbringing.”
“That is exactly why I’ve filed the suit. People like you have no business raising children. You perverts will poison their minds and give them no moral code.”
Calleigh entered the room, catching that last statement. “And I suppose you believe being raised in a house where you preach hate and bigotry is a more nurturing environment?”
“It is not wrong to teach a child morality based on Christian values. I did so with Kevin, and he grew into an upstanding man who became a national hero.”
Calleigh nodded her head. “Yes, he did. He also understood and accepted alternative lifestyles. Our relationship was a direct reflection of that.”
Rick stood next to the mantel and addressed the room. “Our argument with you has nothing to do with Kevin’s character. It’s truly a tragedy that he never had the opportunity to raise his sons. I’m sure he would have made a great father, but that is neither here nor now.”
Conor held up his hand to halt the conversation. “’Tis obvious we dinna agree on certain aspect of our lives. Ye may not approve of our lifestyle, but what I don’t understan’ is why that entitles ye te involve the legal system in a custody dispute.”
“Let me take this,” Jamie responded. “It was explained to us at DCF—and from speaking with John he was given the same information—that Mrs. Wells feared for the safety of her grandchildren. She reported possible abuse of a sexual nature.”
Rick was shocked. He knew Susan disapproved, but he’d had no idea she would tell blatant lies to get her way.
“That is the most preposterous accusation I’ve ever heard! I would never put my children in jeopardy!” Calleigh yelled.
Susan stood up and got in Calleigh’s face. “How do we know you’re not forcing my grandchildren to watch or even participate in the sexual orgies that no doubt occur in this den of depravity?”
“Susan, sit down. Now,” John said from the corner of the room.
Rick was impressed by the steel hardness in the attorney’s voice despite its quite nature. Obviously, he was fed up with the whole proceeding, and that eased one of the knots in Rick’s gut.
Conor went to stand next to Rick at the fireplace. “Again, that supposition goes back to your opinion of our lifestyle. There is no evidence of physical, sexual or emotional abuse in our home.”
Rick glanced over as Jamie set her coffee cup down on the tray and stood. “Mr. Connor, Mr. McGuire, Calleigh, I believe I’ve heard enough of this conversation. Would you be agreeable to me speaking with Michael and Brandon so I can make a complete report?”
Rick thought the idea had merit. If she spoke with the boys, he was certain any lingering questions would be put to rest. He looked at Conor and Calleigh to determine how they responded to the request and saw them give a slight nod. “I believe that would be acceptable, provided one of us supervises the visit.” He again looked to Conor and Calleigh. “I believe I would like to volunteer.”
Calleigh watched the social worker and Rick walk back to the playroom. She was ready for this evening to be over. The sleepless nights and stress were catching up to her. Most likely the pregnancy contributed to her lack of energy as well. Conor must have noticed her wilting because he came to sit next to her on the sofa, and she leaned against him. He slipped his arm around her shoulder and placed a soft kiss on her temple, pulling her in closer to his side.
Susan gave her a dirty look from the chair across the room.
“Calleigh, I notice the ring on your finger. Are you planning to remarry?” Susan asked.
Calleigh looked down at the beautiful ring that still took her breath away. Her first smile of the night appeared. “Yes, we are planning a spring wedding on the Cape.”
Susan leant forward. “I notice you have quite an accent, Mr. McGuire. May I ask if you have a current visa?”
Conor rolled his eyes. “Naw, I don’ require one.”
“Why ever not? Did you manage to complete the naturalisation process?”
“Actually, I’m a natural-born citizen. Me da is a retired colonel in the United States Air Force. Me ma is Irish, and I lived in Ireland most of my life with the exceptions of summers in England where Da was stationed. I moved here te attend university an’ decided te stay.”
“Oh I see.”
Calleigh heard a slight chuckle from the corner. For the most part, the man sitting there had been silent throughout the exchange. There was a knock at the door, and Conor stood to answer the summons. Looking over her shoulder, Calleigh saw her mom enter the room with Conor.
She stood and walked around the edge of the sofa. “Mom. So glad to see you.” She gave her a big hug. When she let go, she turned and introduced her mom to John. “And I’m sure you remember Susan, Kevin’s mother.”
Lilly nodded her head in acknowledgement. “Susan. Can’t say it’s nice to see you under these circumstances.”
Calleigh sensed her mother’s anger at the other woman. She backed away, and Conor pulled her into a backwards hug as he propped himself on the wall.
“Lilly, I don’t understand how you can condone this situation. Michael and Brandon are your grandchildren, too. What happens in this house is—”
“Stop right there. I have no problem with Calleigh’s relationship with Conor and Rick because I’ve seen them interact with each other on nearly a daily basis for the last three years. Did you know they were the ones who brought her home the day she found out about Kevin? It was their arms that held her as her heart tore in two. They were the ones who stood beside her, helped her with the boys when they were still infants, made her smile again. They healed her heart, and she stole theirs. I know how much they love Calleigh and Michael and Brandon. They would give their lives for them, and that is all I need to know. I don’t care what occurs in their bedroom. Frankly, it’s none of our business.”
Calleigh heard footsteps and saw Rick and Jamie enter the living room at that moment. Rick held the boys’ hands, and they stopped in front of Susan.
Susan sat down and tried to pull her grandchildren into her arms, but they stepped away. “Michael? Brandon? Why don’t you give grandma a hug?”
“Why you take us away?” Mikey asked.
She saw tears in their eyes and scowled at Rick. “Sweeties. I just want to make sure that you grow up to be like your daddy. Big, strong, happy, good men.”
“Wick is our daddy. Conna is our da. They are big,” Brandon replied.
Susan shook her head. “They may be big, but I’m afraid of what they are teaching you. They may be bad men.”
Mikey scratched his head. “Conna teach us to bike.”
“They just got tricycles. They’re learning how to pedal on th
eir own,” Rick explained.
Brandon nodded his head in agreement. “Wick make smiley takes. Bad man no make smiley takes.”
“The boys’ favourite Sunday breakfast is smiley pancakes,” Calleigh clarified.
“They kiss our boo-boos.” Mikey pointed out the band-aid on his knee.
“They read stories.” Brandon held out a book to show his grandma then walked over and gave it to Conor. “This one.”
Conor lifted Brandon in his arms and accepted the book. “Ye bet, mo grian.” He kissed him on the forehead then put him down. “Go give mamó a hug.”
Calleigh had tears in her eyes as Brandon ran over and hugged her mom. Hearing the boys defend their daddies in the simplest terms pulled at her heart strings. She put a hand to her stomach and rubbed their unborn child. She may have been afraid of how Rick and Conor were going to react, but it was clear from the very mouths of babes what good, loving fathers they were. She felt bad for second guessing their desire to raise more children.
She went over and stood beside Rick. He pulled her into an embrace as she looked down at Susan sitting in the chair with a stunned look on her face as Mike turned around and joined his brother at her mom’s side.
“Susan. I will fight you to the death to keep my family intact, but I ask you to drop this ridiculous suit. It will only lead to heartache on both sides. I think we’ve shown you here tonight that, although we may be a unique family, we have all the love and nurturing abilities of a traditional home. If anything, there is more to go around.”
Susan stood and walked to the closet to retrieve her coat. “I will never approve of what you’ve turned into, Calleigh Wells. In fact, I’m ashamed to call you my daughter-in-law, but I will not hurt my grandchildren, and it appears that they have the misguided notion that these men are their dads. I dearly hope you don’t come to regret your actions as they grow into adults and learn just what you are. When they start asking questions about their real father, please send me notice.” She walked out the door.
Calleigh couldn’t believe after all Susan’s pontificating on family values that she’d turn her back on Michael and Brandon without even saying goodbye. Calleigh shook her head in regret.
Nielson stood from the chair where he’d taken residence and addressed the room. “Calleigh, Rick, Conor, I wish to apologise to you. Had I know this was a witch hunt, I never would have agreed to represent Mrs. Wells. It’s obvious to me this is the perfect home for your sons. In fact, I hope this is not too presumptuous, but I was hoping that I could call you sometime. You see my partner and I recently adopted a little boy a year younger than Michael and Brandon. We may need some advice from time to time.” He smiled.
She laughed at the blush on his face. “I think that would be fine, but I hope you remember that we’re learning as we go as well.”
“I, too, will be filing my report and officially closing this file. You have my respect for the way you handled this situation,” Jamie said.
Calleigh showed both of them to the door and leaned her head against it for a moment after it closed. Strong arms wrapped around her, and a kiss was placed on the back of her neck.
“Ye see, mo ghrá, everything has worked out. I’m sorry the boys willna have their other grandma in their lives, but I think there’s enough of us te make up for the loss.”
“That’s just it, Conor. I feel that not having her in their lives is no loss, and that makes me sad because Kevin was a good man. He would have been a good father. With her reactions, she’s denying them the relationship with that half of their family.”
She stepped away from the door and turned to face everyone in the room. Rick came over and held her between him and Conor. She raised her head and received a kiss.
“That’s her choice, angel. You aren’t denying them, she is. Kevin would understand that. I don’t think he would find fault with you.”
She leaned her head on Rick’s chest for another minute then stepped away. Kneeling down, she held out her arms and both boys ran to her. “My little loves, mommy is so proud of you. You said very nice things about your daddies.” She wiped away the errant tear that slid down her cheek. “Now how about we get some dinner then we all have movie night?” She looked up at her mom. “Are you going to join us?”
“I would love to, but I promised your father I’d bring him home dinner from Mirabelle’s.”
Calleigh stood and gave her mom another hug. “Thank you for coming. For saying what you did.”
“I only speak the truth. Now, have a good night with your family. I’ll see you all this weekend. How about we all go to the aquarium? You want to go see the big fish and turtles, boys?”
Calleigh smiled as their eyes lit up and twin heads nodded in unison. They loved the aquarium. They all said goodbye, and the group headed into the living room.
“Mikey and Brandon, you pick the movie tonight. Daddy can help you with the names. Da and I will get dinner started.”
Epilogue
Conor leaned his head back against the sofa. He absently ran his thumb over the wedding band on his finger as he and Calleigh watched the most recent blockbuster to come out on DVD. Calleigh’s head was in his lap, as was customary, and his other hand stroked through the thick, honey tresses falling over her shoulder.
His lowered his hand to smooth it up and down her back, lifting the tail end of her shirt as he caressed the soft skin. Calleigh turned her head and nuzzled his crotch, rubbing her face against him like a cat. The touch caused all the synapses in his body to spark. He craved her touch like the most addicting drug—her nimble fingers on his skin, her soft lips and wet little tongue meeting his as her taste invaded his senses. And there were no words to express how it felt to sink deep inside her body.
Her fingers came out to play with his rapidly thickening shaft. She put enough pressure behind the movement to drive fire bolts racing through him. He groaned.
“Muirnín, yer playin’ with fire.”
The material of his jeans dampened as her pink tongue traced the ridges of his erection. He was about to unzip and beg her to swallow his cock when Rick came into the room.
“Sorry, Con. Someone else needs Calleigh’s special skills right now.”
Baby Alannah Nicole was transferred into Calleigh’s arms. Conor pulled her between his legs to support her back. He loved sitting behind her and looking down when his child nursed from his wife’s breast. The tiny, rose coloured lips latched onto Calleigh’s nipple for nourishment and tugged deep on his soul.
Rick sat next to Calleigh and Conor. He felt bad about interrupting their play, especially since opportunity for such interludes had been limited lately, but his daughter wanted food. He stroked Calleigh’s legs and watch as her fingers smoothed the static flies of black hair on Alannah’s tiny head. Conor hummed as he wrapped his arms around their wife and daughter.
Calleigh looked up at Rick. “Were the boys still asleep?”
He nodded. “Out like lights. I think I actually managed to wear them out today.”
They’d been out in the backyard of their new home, building the boys’ first tree house. The family had chosen to relocate to Roslindale and had found a wonderful home in a neighbourhood surrounded by old growth trees in the Metropolitan Hill area. The place had beautiful hardwood floors, French doors, and custom built-ins. But Rick, Conor, and Calleigh’s favourite spot was sitting out on the deck, late at night, listening to the crickets. For now, Calleigh was staying home with the kids, and he and Conor were able to catch the commuter train on a daily basis. This was a quiet neighbourhood with all the advantages of being near the city they loved so much.
Calleigh lifted Alannah to her shoulder and burped her. When she handed her back to him, he looked down into the sapphire-blue eyes that were wide open and staring at him. “I’ll go put her back to bed. Why don’t the two of you head upstairs, and I’ll meet you in our room shortly.”
Calleigh proceeded Conor up the steps. His hands were on her hips the whole way.
She had a surprise for her men tonight. She’d finally gotten the all clear from her doctor to make love again and was ready to experience the mind melting pleasure Rick and Conor always provided.
“You go ahead, and get in bed, love. I’m going to slip into the bathroom and wash up first.” She gave him a hungry kiss and groped his reawakening crotch. “I’ll take care of this when I get back.”
He speared his hand through Calleigh’s hair and captured her lips in a bruising kiss. “Dear God, I want ye Calleigh. I’m beggin’ fer ye touch.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you get what you need. Both of you.”
She turned her back and sauntered into the master bath they’d renovated when they’d bought the house. She stripped from her clothes and, after pinning her hair up on top of her head, jumped in a quick shower. When she got out, she lathered her skin in lotion and slipped a sheer, baby-doll nightie over her head. She left off the matching panties. When she peeked out the bathroom door, she saw Rick and Conor both in bed with their eyes glued to the doorway. She opened the door and struck what she hoped looked like a sexy pose.
She guessed she achieved her purpose with the negligee because Rick and Conor were staring at her as if she were a feast and they were starving men. She knew the sheer fabric didn’t conceal any of her attributes, and she gave them a sultry little smile.
“Heaven preserve us,” Conor whispered.
“Uh-huh,” Rick agreed.
Calleigh stepped onto the padded bench they had at the end of the bed. She stood looking down on her men. Slowly, she started to sway her hips. Her arms rose above her, lifting the ribbon edged hem. She tilted her head and let her long hair drape down her back. Spreading her legs a little, she undulated to silent music. She heard the raspy breaths of Rick and Conor. Occasionally, a soft moan could be heard. She turned her back to them and bent at the knees, slowly straightening. Her right arm slid up her entire body as she arched her back to once again raise her hand over her head. She circled her hips like doing a rumba.