Kiki fought back tears all the way home. Embarrassed at causing a scene at the house, ashamed at running out, and totally overwhelmed by the realization that her Dad must have led a double life. She almost lost it when Steve texted her, and she had to pull over to regain her composure before arriving home. Ted would hold her. Ted would say ‘poor baby’. Ted would tell her everything would be okay.

But if he was, it wasn’t before saying a few other things.

“One thing after another. Every day it’s something else. I’m fucking sick of it.”

“Ted, did you hear me? My father had another family. It’s not my fault!”

“When you open Pandora’s box, baby, things happen.”

“I can’t believe you’re talking to me like this!”

“Like what? Seems to me I’ve put up with a lot these past months. And now you’re overwhelmed you come crying to me? I’m the one who should be crying.”

“You?!!”

“Yeah, me. All I want to do is have my fiancé go on a weekend with me, and she turns me down cold. What happened to fun?”

Kiki stood open-mouthed, unable to speak, and Ted didn’t wait for her to do so. “I’m going up to see my buddies and watch some baseball. I missed last night’s game, I’m not missing tonight’s.”  He walked into their bedroom to get his bag then turned back to her with an annoyed sigh. “Come with me, Kiki, we can talk on the way up.”

Kiki was ready to leap at the offering. Maybe alone in the family jet they could talk more reasonably. “Let me grab a few things.” She ran into the bathroom and started throwing toiletries into her purse

“We need to get going, whatever you can’t grab in five minutes you can buy up there.”

She was used to this last-minute packing. Ted loved it when they just went places without planning. She started stuffing random items in an overnight bag, then remembered her ring. She should wear it for his friends, she told herself, even if it was big enough for two rings.

Two rings.  Had her Dad bought two rings? Were there two ceremonies? How could he marry two women? Maybe they weren’t really married.  She had to know.

“C’mon, Kiki, let’s go.”

“Ted, you really want me to come? I don’t think I’ll be very good company.”

“Sweetheart, we can talk on the plane, I’ll cheer you right up.” He started nuzzling her neck again, but she shook free.

“God, Ted, you think you can make everything go away like that?”

“Why not, Kiki? We’re good together, we just need to be together, alone.”

“And then the plane lands an hour later and we’re off drinking beer and watching baseball with a dozen or two of your closest friends.”

“The game ends early, we can go to a party or back to the hotel. C’mon, it’ll do you a world of good to just get away from all this shit.  It’ll do us good.”

“I can’t. I’m too upset.”

His mouth hardened into a line and he released her from his embrace. “Fine. I don’t know what the big mystery is. Your Dad just wanted it all and took it. Seems to me the apple doesn’t fall too far.” He grabbed his bag and headed for the door, pausing with his hand on the doorknob.  “Maybe it’s a good idea you staying home. Give you a chance for you to miss me for a change. See you Sunday night.”

“Call me? So I don’t worry?”

He chuckled wryly, but didn’t answer.

Kiki latched the door behind him and leaned her forehead against the door.  She felt too tired even to cry.  She didn’t want to go back to her house, and couldn’t bear the office. A nap seemed the only way to go.

~*~

After returning from Kiki’s house, Steve and Olivia walked to the neighborhood market to buy dinner fixings. He kept checking his phone, but there was no message or text. He imagined that meant Ted was being a good guy after all.

“Daddy, why do you keep looking at your phone?” Olivia pointed to the open phone on the kitchen counter.

“Waiting for someone to call me back.”

“Wouldn’t it ring if they did?”

“Yes it would, little Miss Smarty-pants!”  He laughed and put her over his shoulder and carried her into the living room. Her squeals of delight almost masked the sounds of the phone. When he realized it was ringing, he plopped her down on the couch and ran back into the kitchen.

“Hello, I’m here, I’m here!”

“Hi. Said I’d call.” He almost didn’t recognize her voice, it sounded so tired and sad.

“Can you talk?”

Her laugh was hollow. “Yeah. Sorry I left without saying goodbye. I wanted to thank Olivia for her help today.”

“Not sure how much help it was, she knocked over one of the paint cans,” he said with a chuckle. “But I think your crew got it cleaned up.  How you doing?”

“A little groggy, fell asleep. What time is it?”

“Nearly six.”

“Hmm, game should be starting soon.”

“What game?”

“Giants-Dodgers, Ted flew up to see the weekend series with some friends.”

“He left you alone?”

“I wasn’t up to going.” He could imagine her sitting with slumped shoulders and her head in her hands. “I should try to catch up on sleep anyway.”

“Have you had dinner? Come over here for dinner. It’s spaghetti night.  We’ll play a board game or something.”

“I just called to apologize for leaving like I did. I’m not good company.”

“You don’t have to be good company. We’ll be the good company. C’mon, you have to eat.”

“Okay, you talked me into it. What can I bring?”

“Anything you want.”

“Ice cream okay? I think what I really need is ice cream.”

“Better hurry. I’m putting the pot on for the pasta in fifteen minutes.”

Twenty minutes later his doorbell rang. He wanted to be the first one there, but Olivia beat him to it. “It’s Kiki, Dad!” Kiki offered up a paper bag with a shy smile, looking like a young girl herself with her simple t-shirt, jeans and freshly scrubbed face.  It made him realize that she usually wore makeup, although carefully applied to achieve a “natural” look.

Kiki noticed his appraising eye. “Sorry, I barely had enough time to pull myself together to get here.”

“You look great,” Steve said. He paused, wanting to say more, but not wanting her to feel pressured. He took the bag from her and led her to the kitchen. “Wine? I’ve opened a bottle of pinot.”  She took the glass from him, sipped it and nodded her approval.  “Glad you like it.  Hope you don’t mind, I’m being lazy, making sauce from a bottle.”

“Still smells good. Look at you, in your apron!”

“I get messy when I cook spaghetti.” He winked at her then cocked his head; she still seemed subdued. “How you doing, Kiki-cat?”

She shrugged. “Confused. Embarrassed. I didn’t treat Mia very well. I didn’t know what to say to her.”

“You’ll figure it out; you have a lot to think about, first. It’s okay.” She nodded and sipped her wine again.  “What did Ted say?” Another shrug, this one with a sad shake of her head. Steve knew that might take a while to get out of her. “Okay, ready to throw the pasta against the wall?”  He took a few strands of spaghetti out and cocked his arm back to throw.

“No! No! No! Not that way! Let me taste it!”  He laughed and gave her a strand or two, watching carefully as she sucked in an end and bit on it. She declared it ‘just right’ and helped him put the finishing touches on the meal.  Kiki was mostly quiet during dinner, but listened attentively as Olivia chatted about school and her other activities. Olivia’s eyes kept darting to Kiki’s hands, and she finally had to say something.

“Is that a real diamond, Kiki?

“Jesus, you weren’t kidding about the size of that thing,” Steve added, picking up her hand to take a closer look.

“It’s Ted’s grandmother’s. I figured I’d never get used to it if I didn’t wear it. But I’m taking it off if my left bicep starts getting bigger from lifting it.”

“I think it’s pretty,” Olivia chimed in.

“Now, honey, don’t start thinking every girl gets a ring this big. This is a special case.”

“Yeah, I’m special all right,” Kiki said softly. Steve touched her shoulder and wished he could make her feel better somehow.

“Everybody done? Put the dishes in the sink, I’ll do them later. Who’s up for Monopoly?”

“I am! I call the shoe!” Olivia ran off to bring out the board as Kiki helped clear the plates. “It’s the Santa Monica version, Kiki, it’s really cool!” 

Kiki laughed when she saw the local street names and parks.  “Oh boy,” she said, picking up one of the game pieces. “Can I choose what to build? Green houses, how politically correct! Would it be okay if I made them condos, too? Or do I need a variance? “

“I wanna build doghouses! Or palaces!” Olivia declared.

They agreed that each player could determine what to build, and as the game went on Kiki became more animated and silly.  Steve was having so much fun watching the girls that he neglected his own game, and was the first one in bankruptcy.  Kiki and Olivia battled it out, but ultimately the doghouses on the higher priced property trumped the high-end condos on the lower class spots. 

“Just goes to show, location, location, location,” Steve said when they’d put the game away. “Ice cream time!”

“Finally! Let me get it!” Kiki leapt up to fetch the plain brown paper bag from the freezer and dramatically unveiled the carton.

“Neapolitan?” Steve laughed. “And here I pegged you for a mint chocolate chip or Cherries Garcia lover.”

She waggled her brows and opened the carton all the way up, folding the sides down so she could cut out rectangular slices of ice cream instead of scoops. “This is how I used to eat it when I was Olivia’s age,” she said with a smile. “This way you get equal amounts of each flavor.”

“Look, Daddy, it looks like that Candyland card.” Olivia declared it was the only way she was going to eat ice cream from now on. Kiki beamed at her.

“There it is,” Steve told her.

“There’s what?”

“The beautiful smile.” He looked back to Olivia and chucked her chin. “Two beautiful smiles.  One of which needs to go to bed as soon as her ice cream’s done.”

“Aww Dad, it’s Saturday.”

“You need the same amount of sleep on Saturday as you do on Monday, honey. Rules are rules. C’mon.” Steve rose and took his daughter’s hand, turning back to Kiki as he did so. “Leave the dishes, I’ll be back in a few.”

After a story and a couple of drinks of water, Steve emerged from Livvy’s room to find Kiki finishing up the dishes. “Hey! I told you to leave those!”

“You made dinner; I did the dishes. Fair’s fair.”  She finished drying her hands and picked up her purse to leave. “Thanks for tonight, I needed a little bit of normal.”

“You’re not leaving are you?  Stay here; you shouldn’t be alone.  You could sleep in my room.”

“Oh, yeah, that’s a great idea.”

“Then stay on the couch with Livvy right behind that door over there.”  He pointed to the bedroom door which was indeed just a few feet from the couch.

Kiki considered the proposed arrangement, then peeked inside her purse. “Actually, I have a toothbrush and stuff in here; I’d started to pack to go with Ted. And I really don’t want to be alone waiting for him to call.”

“Then have more wine,” Steve said, “and sit down. We can talk, or watch TV, or listen to music, or you can just go to sleep if you want.”  He took a quick intake of breath. Here was his chance, he had her alone. Except they weren’t alone. “Damn!”

“What’s the matter?”

“Um,” he combed his fingers through his hair. What could he say? “I can’t find the remote. Oh, here it is,” he added quickly. “Hey, the Dodger’s game is still on.”  He looked slyly at her to see how she’d react.

“No!” When he giggled at her response, she hit him on the shoulder. “You’re so bad! Is there a movie? Something mindless.”

He switched to a few more channels. “Die Hard’s on.”  He sat on the end of the couch and patted the seat next to him.

“Yippee kayay! Perfect!” She giggled and took her place next to him as the movie started. She squirmed for a few minutes trying to get comfortable: first crossing her legs, then tucking her feet up, finally turning to lean with her back against his shoulder so she could stretch out her legs. “This okay?” 

Having her next to him was more than okay to Steve. He wondered how long he’d have to wait before snaking his arm around her waist.  They watched in silence for a while, then he heard her sigh.

“What?”

“I can’t believe he could have two families at once.  Was our whole family a lie? Was he just putting his time in with us until he could sneak off to be with them?”

“Kiki, did it seem like that to you, really?”

“No. But how could a man do that?”

Steve shrugged. He couldn’t imagine it really; marriage with one was hard enough. “People who divorce often remarry and have second families that they love just as much. Maybe he was just … saving time.”

“Saving time?  Maybe he just liked being married. He was married once before my Mom, you know.”  She sighed again, her eyes steady on the movie. “I wish I’d been nicer to Mia, she must be feeling the same way.”

“I bet she is.”

“I’ll call her tomorrow. If we’re sisters, we should get to know each other better.”

“A sister. That’s not a bad thing, is it?”

“No, it could be an okay thing.”

“Good.” Steve reached over and stroked her hair; she rested her head back on his shoulder.

“Why am I enjoying watching this office tower being destroyed?” She laughed.

“’Cause it’s fun.” He squirmed a little himself; his arm was beginning to tingle pressed against her. “Kiki? My arm’s falling asleep.”

“Oh! Sorry!” When she leaned forward he slipped his arm out and around her waist, pulling her back against him.  She tugged his arm around her waist to hold it.

“Better, thanks.”  His let his fingers draw small circles over her waist. They were just a wisp of fabric away from her soft, sweet skin. Or so he imagined it to be so.

“I should call Ted,” she sat up abruptly and reached into her jeans for her phone. She listened intently, then hung up. “Not there.”  She texted something quickly and shoved it back. Steve was afraid she’d change her position, but she pulled his arm back around her.

“Did you tell him where you were?”

“He’s not telling me, why should I tell him?”  Steve groaned inwardly. He did not want to be a revenge fuck, but here she was, practically in his arms.

“Maybe his phone’s just out of juice.”

“Maybe.” She paused before speaking again. “When did I get to be a high maintenance drama queen?”

“What? He said that?”

“That and other choice things. Why is it the closer a person is, the crueler they can be?”

“I’d never be cruel to you, Kiki-cat.”

“Maybe you’re not close enough.”

“I’d like to be.” She turned in his arms and looked at him wide eyed. “Fuck, I didn’t mean so I could be cruel! Don’t listen to me, I’m an idiot.”

“No, you’re not,” she turned back around and pulled his arm close again. “You’re being very sweet,” she said quietly. “It’s okay, we just both need to cool down.”

“Right.” Steve was confused. Who should cool down? Ted? Him? “You know, I’m sure Ted’s just sitting alone in a club, nursing a beer, kicking himself.  And when he gets back down here,” Steve said, pushing Kiki so she was resting more on his shoulder. “he’ll put his arms around you and tell you that everything will be okay.” He stroked her head and rubbed her back. ”You don’t have to do anything right now but let me hold you.”  He sighed; she was melting in his arms. “That’s what he’d say.”

She nodded and slipped her arms around him. “Yeah, that’s what he’d say, that’d be perfect.”  He looked down and saw her eyes were gripped tight. He felt her body lurch before he heard the sobs.

“That’s alright, Kiki-cat, let it out,”  He felt her trying to muffle the sounds of her cries, but he urged her to continue.

“I’ve been trying so hard…”

“Of course you have, babe. You don’t have to try now, not here.”  He softly talked her through her tears until her breathing became regular again.

“Oh, I’m a mess.” She put her hands up to cover her face.

“You look beautiful.” Steve pulled her hand down and looked into her reddened eyes.

“I’ve got you all wet, though.” She touched his sweater, which was a little damp, now that she’d mentioned it.

“Easily fixed.” He tugged it over his head and threw it on the floor.

Kiki settled back on his shoulder and ran her hand up and down his t-shirt as she nuzzled his shoulder. “Nice.” His hand wandered as well, first just sliding against her side, but then she shifted and he found his hand up against her breast. He gently squeezed and her soft gasp urged him to lean his face close to hers. Their lips met, first just a brush, then one small kiss followed by longer and deeper ones. Steve shifted to his back and pulled Kiki full on top of him, her legs between his. When she softly moaned his name he thought his heart might leap into his throat. “You feel so good,” she said with a sigh.

“So do you, so do you.”  He lifted her shirt and brought his hand up her bare back. Her skin was as soft as he’d imagined.

“Don’t stop.”

“Never, never stop. Oh fuck,” Kiki had begun to rub her body against his; he could feel himself stiffening in his sweat pants.

Her heard another small gasp escape her and she paused to slide down and back up him a couple of times. There wasn’t much he could do to stop her from feeling him, not that he wanted to. “We better slow down, Steve.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know.” She sighed and kissed him again. Jesus, he wanted to spend days kissing her. Weeks, months, years.

“Daddy?”

“Don’t call me Daddy, Kiki-cat,”

“I didn’t,” she replied. “Oh! Shit!” She scrambled to the other end of the couch. Steve tried to sit normally with his hands over his lap, cursing himself for wearing sweats instead of jeans.

“What is it, honey?”

“I can’t find my teddy!”

“I’ll be right there, Livvy.”  He looked at the television screen, hoping to relax himself.

“I can find it for you, if that’s okay, Olivia?”

“That’s okay, Kiki!” Her little voice rang out.  Steve mouthed a ‘thank you’ as Kiki crossed in front of him. When she came out a few minutes later, he’d composed himself. She didn’t sit back down on the couch.

“Close call.  Or maybe fate intervening?” Steve nodded sadly, he knew their chance had passed them by for the evening.  “It’s getting late, huh?”

“Sure, let me get you the blankets.” He went into the bedroom and returned with an armful. Kiki took everything and made up the couch without folding it out, proclaiming it big enough as it was. She smiled when she found the flannel shirt he’d included.

“Thanks, this will keep me warm.”

“Close as I’ll get I guess.” 

“I’m sorry, Steve,” she said, twisting the ring on her finger. “Where were you four years ago?”

“Married.”

“Now I’m about to be.”

“Are you?”

“Yes. I am. Sorry.” She said it with a sigh, but he saw her chin jut out. He did know her well enough to know that meant her mind was made up.

“I’m the one who’s sorry. Get some sleep, Kiki-cat, don’t worry about anything tonight, okay? This is a no-worry zone.”  They said their goodnights and he retired to his bedroom leaving his door open just in case.  He slept fitfully, tossing and turning until he woke himself up. For the first time in a long time, he felt alone in his bed, and it bothered him.

He got up to get a drink of water, then headed out to check on Livvy, who was sleeping soundly with her teddy in her arms. Then he came back out to the living room, pacing back and forth in front of the couch. Kiki was cocooned in a blanket, only her face showing against the pillow. He was tempted to pick her up and carry her to his bed, but couldn’t quite bring himself to do so. Instead he sat down on the floor next to her. When he tenderly stroked her hair she smiled and he placed his head down next to hers, closing his eyes to listen to her soft breathing.

~*~

Kiki felt weird going back to an empty place the next morning. It wasn’t that it was empty, but that she was coming back from a night away. Not that anything had really happened. Oh, who was she kidding? If Olivia hadn’t made a peep they wouldn’t have stopped. Then the next morning when she woke up with his head next to hers they’d smiled at each other as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

It seemed like each time they were together, they pushed it a little. No, she needed more than one person around when she was near him. Having Olivia there wasn’t the answer. She was adorable though, the way she asked if Kiki could come ‘next time’ to help make pancakes, then holding her hand when they walked to the Community Garden together.  Giving her that rose was Steve’s idea she knew, but it was still cute.

She put the rose in a bud vase and took a shower and dressed, then checked her phone. Again.

“Oh fuck, where are you Ted?!”  It was uncanny that the doorbell rang as soon as she’d spoken aloud.  She opened it and saw two men carrying vases of flowers. More roses!  White and yellow and enough for a banquet hall, it seemed.  She arranged them in the dining and living rooms, searching each vase twice for a note. The white envelope had almost disappeared in the blooms but she finally found it.

My darling, I thought these would say more than words ever could.

Love you always, see you tonight.

Ted D.

Kiki smiled. He was always going overboard, but the flowers were beautiful. She thought it odd that he’d put his last initial, but perhaps the florist had done that. For the first time in hours, she felt some relief. He’d been angry, but he was cooling down, it was clear. That worry eased, she took out her phone to call Mia.  She apologized profusely for the day before, and asked her to meet her at the house again. They had to figure out how this all came to be.

Thankfully, Mia agreed, and Kiki gathered up a photo album and some papers and headed out to the house.  No one was there when she arrived, for once, and she was able to walk through without distraction. The upstairs was nearly done, save for the painting. The first floor needed more finish: carpentry in the kitchen and dining room, and of course the floors needed sanding and then there was the painting. It was almost over except for the conservatory. She stood in the center of it, as she loved to do already, and closed her eyes to imagine how it would look. When she opened them she saw Mia looking in from the outside at her.

Kiki motioned her in and met her in the dining room, where she had her things laid out on a makeshift table. This time she’d made sure the web site cameras were focused elsewhere. “Did you bring yours?” Mia took papers out of her bag and laid them out too.

“Okay, here I have the marriage certificate, and the wedding album,” Kiki said.  “Dad had been married before; Mom was his secretary, of all things. I don’t know if the divorce preceded their relationship or not, they never told me.”

“My Mom was trying to work her way through nursing school by waitressing. She and Dad hit it off right away; it was a whirlwind romance. They eloped in Reno.” She laid out her own papers and pictures.  It was clearly the same man.

“I wonder why he pretended to be Frank Richardson?”

“To meet women, I guess,” Kiki shrugged, it stung to think he was that kind of man. “But to marry?”

“I think Mom was pregnant. She said I was two months early, but I weighed eight pounds! It seems unlikely. I hate to say this, but why wouldn’t he just give her money to go away?”

“He wanted a child. He and Mom tried for years before I came along.”

“Three months after me.”

“Yep. Looks like.”  They fell silent as each looked at each other’s pictures. They went to the same places as a family, just at different times. “Can’t believe no one ever knew. He had to have help to pull this off.”

“I wonder if my Mom knew; I knew I never asked why he’d be gone for such long stretches, it was just our way of life. But I realized later after looking through my Mom’s papers that things were funny. Everything was in her name, nothing in his. And the health insurance wasn’t from any window company. It was from some contracting company. James Brothers?”

“Jameson Brothers?”

“Yeah, that’s it. Mr. Jameson was the one who told us about Dad, and one of the few who showed up for his memorial service. I never thought much about it until later.”

“Jameson. He was the builder for this house, Mia. I spoke with him. So that’s what he meant about my Dad being human. He knew!”

“And he never said anything!”

“Yeah.  Maintaining the reputation of the Big Man,” Kiki sighed.

“Do you think he loved either of our mothers?”

“Or was it just for us?  The strain of keeping this secret, I wonder if that killed him.”

“We’ll never know.”

“No. Amazing we found this out at all.  This house . . . Ted calls it a Pandora’s box.  I opened it up all right.”

“Is it so bad, though? I mean, we’re sisters.”

Kiki smiled and reached out for Mia’s hand. “We are. And I’ve been a real bitch, I’m sorry.”

“No you haven’t, Ajay’s told me everything that’s been going on.”

“Still, I could have been nicer. So, what do we do now?” Kiki asked.

Mia looked around. “Seems to me this place needs some paint. I bet we can do the bedrooms ourselves.”

“I bet we can! Although not sure how long I can stay, Ted’s coming back tonight.” The two women went to work on one of the bedrooms. Kiki taped and Mia started the cutting in.

“Tell me about Ted, when are you getting married?”

“Two months! Oh, you should come, of course! He’ll be pleased to have a sister-in-law.” Although, knowing the Duncans, they’d want a blood test confirming, Kiki thought.

“I’d love to. You met him at work?”

“Yeah, our firm does a lot of work for Teddy Duncan, his dad, of course. We met in some meeting or other; we were terrible, we used to flirt and get silly in the back of the room. We had a lot of fun.”  She tried not to emphasize the word. ‘had.’

“You must be going crazy with wedding preparations. And you’re renovating a house at the same time?”

“Oh, that. Carolyn Duncan is a master event planner, so I don’t have to do much except say ‘yes’ to everything.” She shrugged. “I figured the vows are for me and Ted, the rest is for his family and everybody else. So I let them do what they want.”

“What, no ‘this is my day’ bridezilla moments?”

“I’m afraid I’m more of a House-zilla these days.” Kiki laughed. “I’ve been driving the Duncans and everybody else crazy!”

“No, not at all. Ajay says he’s having the time of his life. Jason too.  And the others that were around yesterday, friends of yours?”

“New friends, yes. Amazing who I’ve met because of all this. “

“What about that Steve guy? Doing a documentary on you?”

“No, about people who love their homes. I’m the extreme example.”

“His daughter is sweet. And he’s cute.” 

“Oh yeah.” Kiki sighed before she even realized it.

“And he calls you Kiki-cat.”  Kiki glanced over at Mia, whose lips were pursed in amusement.

“Um  . . . sometimes.”  Kiki suddenly felt the need to find more masking tape. “I’ll be right back.”  She scurried downstairs to collect her thoughts. “I need to get a grip,” she told herself. “Ted’s back tonight; Ted’s back tonight.”

A front door slamming got her attention. Ajay and Jason, thank goodness!  “Hey you guys, Mia and I are upstairs painting. Lend a hand, will ya?”

“Mia’s here?” Ajay asked, his face brightening.  He bounded up the stairs without saying another word.

“Whoa, someone’s smitten!” Kiki giggled. “I guess that means he’s not smitten with me anymore though,” she said with mock sadness.

“Well you are otherwise involved.”  Jason replied and from his look Kiki had the feeling that she had been the topic of a few conversations.

“Yes, and he’s coming home tonight!”  She was holding on to that thought like a life preserver.

The four of them worked through the afternoon. Kiki turned on the Dodger game so she’d know when Ted would be likely to be leaving, figuring he’d get home about two to three hours after the game ended. Wanting to be home before he got back, she excused herself at the bottom of the ninth in order to rush to the store. The game was well in hand by the Dodgers anyway. When he finally called she was in the checkout line.

“The flowers are beautiful, Ted! We won’t be able to eat in the dining room though, there’s no room!” She giggled, hoping he would soften at her tone.

“Glad you liked them, sweetheart. But I’m sorry, there’s a problem with the jet, I can’t make it back tonight.” 

“Can’t you fly commercial?”

“Commercial?” He said with disdain. “The jet has to get back somehow; there’s nothing I can’t handle by phone from here until then. I should be back by noon.”

“I was counting on you being home tonight, Ted. I was going to make us dinner.”

“You were?” he asked, surprised. “No shit?”

“No shit, I’m at the store now.”  She held out the phone so he could hear where she was.

She heard him sigh when she put the phone back to her ear. “Will it keep until tomorrow?”

“Will have to, I guess.  So, you can handle things by phone, huh? That include me?”

“Kiki!” He laughed; it was good to hear him laugh. “I’m staying with Kyle, so that’ll be difficult; I don’t get any signal up at his.  Fucking service, I need to get second phone.”

“It’ll wait until tomorrow, too,” she said cheerfully.

“And I’m counting on that. Gotta go, sweetheart. Call you when I can.”

They kissed into the phone at each other and ended the call. Kiki realized she wasn’t good at arguments, she just wanted it to be over and back to normal. But it couldn’t always be like that, she supposed.  She entered the empty home again, laden with food that didn’t need to be cooked after all.  The flowers on the dining room table began to irk her. What was it he’d said? “Give you a chance to miss me for a change?”  Jet problems her ass. He was trying to make a point.  She wasn’t going to stand for that and she picked up her phone again.

“Hey, Steve, are pancakes for dinner acceptable in your house?”

“What?” He giggled. “Sure, why not – they’re just sweet tortillas, right? What’s up?”

“Ted’s not coming home tonight after all; I thought I could help make pancakes with Olivia.”

“Oh.” He paused on the other end of the line, obviously thinking. Kiki could picture his fingers running through that mane of his. “We had an early dinner with her Mom when she came to pick her up. She has camp tomorrow.  You could still come over, I have lots of ice cream left.”

“Sure, why not? I’ll be there in a couple of minutes.” She said, a bit angrily.  He didn’t answer her again, but didn’t hang up the phone, either.

He spoke, finally. “Did you call me because you’re pissed at him?”

“Yes,” she admitted. “But no. I don’t know.”

“Maybe I don’t care. Come over. Quickly, before either of us thinks again.”

But Kiki couldn’t help but thinking all the way over. Mostly the words “mistake-mistake-mistake” running through her head, although those were drowned by her memory of how he felt the night before.  When he opened the door and twirled her in his arms the words changed to “yes-yes-yes.”

“You’re wearing the shirt I slept in!”  she said between kisses.

“Thought it would be the closest I’d get to you.”

“We were both wrong. Take it off.”  She tugged at the shirt, kissing him all the while. They spun their way to his bedroom, kissing and tugging at each other’s clothes.  

“I can’t believe you’re here.”

“I can’t believe it either.”

Grinning and laughing, they managed to get each other’s tops off. “Look at these, they’re beautiful! And so happy to see me?”  He giggled as he cupped her breasts up, first to admire them, then to softly take them in his mouth, one perked nipple at a time. Kiki pushed her fingers through his hair, like she’d longed to do from the first time she’d met him. Although he kept returning to her breasts, he took his time exploring elsewhere. The hollow of her neck, her shoulders, her belly. He looked into her eyes and fingered the button on her jeans; Kiki lifted her bum to help him pull them off with her undies.  “Jesus, you’re so beautiful, Kiki-cat. Amazing.”

She felt her face flush, his reaction was exciting her no end. “You say that like you’ve never seen a naked woman before.”

“I feel like I haven’t. You know how long I’ve wanted you here? Oh man, look at you.”

“Look at you! Wait, we’re not even.”  He grinned and climbed off the bed, standing in front of her to let her unfasten his jeans.  She struggled to hold herself back to prolong the moment, even though she had an inkling of what she’d find when she lowered them. “Well hello there.”

“I’m up here.”

“Hmmm, are you?”  She stroked the outside of his thighs, then moved her hands inward, spreading his legs apart a little to nuzzle into his recesses. She softly kissed up his shaft, licking the tip lightly before inching it into her mouth. 

He let her have her way for a bit, then pushed her back on the bed. “The first time I want to be looking in your eyes, Kiki-cat.”

“Me too.” She traced his bow lips with her fingers, then kissed around where she’d touched. “And the second time.”

“And the third,” he replied with a kiss. “And the fourth . . .” He rolled over on his back to pull her into the position they’d been in the night before. It felt so much better to be skin to skin, rubbing his length up her belly and between her breasts.

“You stopped at fourth?” She giggled between kisses.

“Fifth time . . . anything goes.” His dirty chuckle sent her heart a-racing. She could only reply with a moan and another long, deep kiss. When that kiss broke, he rolled her back on her back and looked down at her again, his look less playful and more intent.

“Oh my,” she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him to her breasts; her hands went to his hair again and his hand drew up her legs and between her thighs.

“Fucking wet,” he groaned.

“Yes.”

“Want me?”

“So, so much, please, Steve.”

“First time . . . look at me.”  He touched between her slickened folds until he found a firm nub hiding under its hood. “Purr for me Kiki-cat.”  She moaned softly and undulated into his touch. He loved how she responded to him, how she wanted him. He waited until she was just about over the edge before taking her lips again. Her climax was so sweet he could swear he could taste it.  “Mmmmm, nice,” he sighed as he released her lips.

She could only nod at that point, and reached out to stroke him. He knelt between her legs, stroking her tender thighs and belly, wanting to plunge into her so bad. But there was only one first time, he wanted it to be sweet for them both. 

“Um…Steve? Do you have anything?”

The question took him by surprise, but of course they had to think of it. “Sure, you’re not on anything?”

“The pill, sure, and I’ve been tested, ‘cause of, you know, everything.” 

“I’ve mainly just been with Beth, should be okay then.”

“Oh good, good,” she held out her arms to him and he took his place again. “Wait!  Mainly?”

“Shit, yeah, hold on,” he struggled to reach the nightstand and pulled out a package.

“Mainly,” she said, laughing again. “You’re bad.”

“Well, you know…” Steve smiled. He loved her laugh so much. “I wanted this to be perfect.”

“It is, now give me that, see if I remember how.” She ripped open the foil and pulled the out the condom, and slipped it tight over him. “There… now.”

“Now.” He beheld her again, leaning over her to kiss down her body. Then, cradling her ass in his hands, he held her steady to ease in. Her cry of pleasure with his first deep stroke drove him crazy.  He put his lips to her ear, taking tiny nips of her lobes. “You feel so good, babe, so good.”

“You too, Steve, better than I ever imagined. Oh, don’t stop!”

“Never,” he moaned. She pulled her knees up and he pressed them to her chest, kissing her, driving into her until he knew he couldn’t stop. “Look at me, Kiki, look at me.” She opened her clenched eyes and met his gaze right before he quivered and burst inside her. 

His fell to his elbows on the mattress and brushed her hair back from her face. She did the same to him and brought his face to hers for another kiss. “See, told you it was perfect.”

“Hmmmm,” he replied into her kiss. “Perfect.” He slipped out and fell on the mattress, pulling her to his shoulder for a cuddle.

“You said you still had ice cream?” she said a little shyly.

“Is that what you like after? Kiki-cat’s version of a bowl of milk?”

“No, I like this after.” She put her leg over his body and kissed up his neck. “But I haven’t eaten since breakfast.  So, um, can I raid your fridge?”

“Are you staying the night?” He kissed the question as well.

“Yes,” she whispered her reply, sealing it with a kiss. “Wait, maybe I shouldn’t.”

“Too late, first answer goes!” He jumped out of bed and handed her his shirt. “C’mon.”

“I’m staying so I get food?”

“Yup, that’s my rule.” He walked backward to the kitchen so he could watch her walk. “Leftover spaghetti?” Kiki wrinkled her nose at him. “Cheese? No that’s for mice, not Kiki-cats.”  That got a delightful giggle.  He opened the refrigerator door and looked in. “Fried egg sandwich?”  A hungry nod told him her answer. “Okay, so why are you skipping meals?”

“I was going to make dinner, but then . . . “ Her voice trailed off before mentioning why.

“Ah, another subject we can’t discuss?”

“Feels weird, now.”

“Hmm. I don’t want to talk about him tonight either.”  He put the pan down and stood behind her, enveloping her in his arms. “But it’s not on the list. We’ll get to it later.”

“Okay.” She said in a small voice.

He turned the stool around for her to face him. “Kiki. One night, okay? Can we have this?” His eyes desperately searched hers for an answer.

Kiki knew there was a long list of shouldn’ts, but when she looked into his eyes, she could only feel the shoulds. “Yes, let’s have tonight.”

Chapter Eight

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