Chapter LV

“Good morning, Matilda,” Esmeralda greeted as she and Brianna entered the diner behind Saphira.  Matilda gave them a wave and motioned them towards the counter as she filled coffee cups.  Joe poked his head in the window and grinned, then slid a couple platters onto the opening.

“Order up,” he called, chuckling at the glare Matilda gave him.  She shook her head and rounded the counter, only to stop as Saphira snatched them up and deposited them in front of the customers that had been waiting for them.  Matilda grinned and nodded her thanks, blowing at the lock of hair that fell in her eyes.  Then she chuckled when Esmeralda came around and gave her a hug.

“You must be feeling better,” Matilda offered as she returned the embrace.  “Thanks, Saphira; hi, Brianna,” squeezing each of their hands briefly once she released Esmeralda.

“I am,” Esmeralda confirmed.  “But I’ve missed you both too,” she said, waving at Joe.

“We’ve missed you too, Cutie.  I guess you’re headed out of town?”

“Yeah.  We just stopped by to wish you both a good holiday and pick up the cakes Charisma ordered.”

“Yes, of course,” Matilda agreed.  “Let me get them for you so you can get on the road.  You still have a bit of a trip ahead of you, don’t you?”

“It won’t be too bad, Matilda.  I rented a nice big SUV; plenty of room for all those cakes and us besides,” Brianna commented.  “Should I pull around back... make it easier to load them in?”

“That’s a great idea, Brianna.  It’ll save us a few steps.”  Matilda looked around the diner, satisfied that her customers were content for the moment.  “Now, can I get you girls some breakfast before you go?”  Saphira cocked an eyebrow, garnering her a smirk from Matilda before she yielded to her desire and laughed aloud.  “All right... I get the hint.  We’ll miss you both but enjoy yourselves, okay?  You deserve some time off and a chance to share the holidays with friends.  Just let us know when you get there and when you get home.  You know I’ll be worried otherwise.”

Joe caught Saphira’s eye and she headed back to the kitchen to help load up.  Esmeralda nodded.  “We will, Matilda.  When are your kids supposed to be here?”

“Within the hour,” she said excitedly.  “Seems like it’s been forever since their last visit.”

Esmeralda smiled softly.  “I think all parents feel that way - the good ones anyway.”

“Well, I don’t know about that.  I just know I like having them home again for a little while.”

“Hey, Old Woman.  You wanna come show us which cakes are supposed to go with these girls before daylight’s gone?” Joe called from the kitchen.  A few of the customers, most of them regulars, chuckled quietly.  Matilda glanced at the clock, realizing it wasn’t that long past daybreak and just glared.

“One of these days,” she muttered to Esmeralda.  Then she stepped around the corner and into the kitchen.  “You got a death wish, Old Man?  What do you mean calling me ‘Old Woman’ in front of the clientele?”

Joe raised an eyebrow and guffawed.  “Clientele?  Since when did we get to be so high-falutin’?  These folks are regular customers... almost family.  Now point out what these girls are supposed to take so they can get on the road.  I want them to get there before the weather turns... preferably before dark.”

Matilda scowled, but squeezed his bicep as she moved towards the refrigerator.  “You old softy,” she mumbled, then she opened the doors and pointed out the appropriate boxes.  In just a few minutes Saphira and Brianna had them loaded and Saphira motioned Esmeralda around to the back.  Esmeralda gave Joe a hug and brushed a kiss over Matilda’s cheek, then with a last wave, the three of them were on the road and headed for the Tagherty homestead.

************

“So tell us a little more about your friends, Charisma,” Margaret asked as they sat at the breakfast table that same morning.  “I have to admit to being more than a little intrigued.” 

Charisma had to wonder why Margaret was suddenly intrigued, but had to admit that she hadn’t been around much in the past few days either.  With three grandparents that didn’t get to see Adam nearly as often as they’d like to, Charisma had taken advantage of the built-in, willing babysitting and already started her political glad-handing.  So she hadn’t been around much more than to say good morning before she left for the day, usually not making it back until just before dinner.  That time was spent catching up on everyone’s day, and then it was back to work for her for a few more hours before falling into bed beside Kent for a bit of sleep before waking up to start it all over again.

And wasn’t that weird?  She and Kent rarely shared a bed anymore - hadn’t since Adam had been born if the truth were told except when they were here in her mother’s home.  Still since she had fought so hard to be allowed to sleep together at Okasa’s before they were married, she wasn’t about to tell her mother any differently.  And since Kent didn’t seem to mind nor did he demand anything from her, she was content to keep the status quo.

All this flashed through her mind briefly as she considered Margaret’s request, which she had to admit was a valid one.  After all, before Esmeralda had come into her life she’d never given much thought to her friends or the lack thereof in Washington.  There it was all about the movers and shakers - who you knew and who knew you.  Meeting Esmeralda had changed that... at least in part.

“Charisma?” Okasa finally nudged her.  “Margaret asked....”

“I know, Mama.  I’m trying to decide what to say.”  Her words caused more than one set of eyebrows to go up.

“Are they that unusual?” Margaret asked curiously.

“In some ways, yes,” Charisma replied honestly.  “They’re not like anyone I have ever met before.”

“Why?”

Now Charisma’s eyebrows jumped onto her forehead, but she considered the question before she spoke.  “I’m not sure,” she said slowly.  “I don’t think it’s because of our different economic circumstances even though that is considerable; I think it’s just them.  They’re real people, if you know what I mean... something I don’t see a lot of in my line of work.”

“How did you meet them?  I know you said the one was a custodian in your building, but they don’t come in until after you are long gone, do they?”

“You’d think so, wouldn’t you?” Charisma said wryly.  “But I pull a lot of late nights trying to finish the work I can’t get to during the day with all the meetings and committees and whatnot constantly interrupting.  So I did actually meet Es while I was working.”

“Tell us about it.”

Charisma let her eyes unfocus on the room around her and turned her sight inward, thinking back on the first day Esmeralda had walked into her office... and into her life.

************

A knock sounded on her door and Charisma glanced at the clock, frowning.  Who on earth was left to disturb her this late at night?  Before she could invite them in or dismiss them for that matter... the door opened and a honey gold head peeked around the frame.

“Oh, I’m so sorry, Senator.  I didn’t realize that anyone was still here.  I can come back....”

“If you didn’t know anyone was here, why did you knock?” Charisma asked sharply, blue eyes boring into green that met hers steadily.

“I always knock before entering any room here, Senator.  It’s considered polite and I never know if someone might be working late.  My work is somewhat noisy.  I don’t just barge into any of the offices I clean in case I’m interrupting something.”

Charisma blinked, wondering what kinds of things this woman might have interrupted in her line of work and realizing she’d just been thoroughly dressed down by the custodian in front of her who took such care of maintaining her office space.  But instead of becoming angry, it made her thoughtful.  “What’s your name?”

“Esmeralda,” the young woman answered.

“Well, Esmeralda - I think you’ve been doing a magnificent job here,” motioning around the room.  “Don’t let me keep you from your work.”

“Yes, Senator,” Esmeralda nodded and pushed the door open further, pulling her cart in behind her.  Charisma watched her for a few more minutes as she started her cleaning routine, recognizing a serenity about Esmeralda that she’d rarely seen outside of church on the odd occasion she went.  Then Charisma went back to her own work, ready to wrap things up for the evening.

************

“This went on for several weeks before we actually spoke again.  And when we did, we started talking like friends do.  Not at first of course, but eventually we were talking about real things... important things.  And then she fell ill.”

“By fell ill, I’m assuming you don’t mean she got a cold,” Margaret commented, seeing an odd look in Charisma’s expression.  Charisma shook her head.

“No, it certainly wasn’t a cold.”  She bit her lip thoughtfully and picked up her coffee cup.  “I don’t know what it was - my colleagues and I were never told.  But I do know she was out for a long time; whatever it was almost killed her.”

“Wait... she made friends with other Senators?”

“Esmeralda has made a friend of most of the people on our floor - Senators and aides alike.  If you’ve worked late enough to be there when the cleaning staff comes in, you’ve probably made friends with Esmeralda.  She’s just the kind of person who attracts people to her.”

“And she told you that this illness nearly killed her?”

“She did - but we also saw how wan and gaunt she was when she returned to work.  Whatever it was it took a lot out of her.  She’s still recovering, truth be told.”

“And you’re sure she was actually sick - that it wasn’t drugs or something similar?”

Charisma’s face flushed crimson with the anger that washed over her, but before she could speak, Kent answered Margaret’s accusation.  “Mother!  That was completely uncalled for!  Maybe you should try giving people the benefit of the doubt instead of judging them sight unseen.  You might be happier and your life might be more than just an endless round of affairs.  You might actually find some real friends,” he finished before he rose and strode from the table.  Margaret’s jaw dropped in response to his tirade, but before she could recover to make a waspish reply, Charisma spoke calmly.

“Margaret, that was completely unfair and if you think about it... a somewhat stupid accusation of someone you’ve never even met.  The government does random drug testing every week; they would have caught Esmeralda long before her illness if she’d been a user.” 

“I was thinking that she could be using her so-called illness to her advantage.  After all, that building is full of people with secrets whose careers could be permanently destroyed if those secrets got out.  And you know there are people who would pay a lot of money to know them.”

“Margaret, Es is a custodian - despite ‘National Security’, she’s privy to every government secret put on paper if she really wants to discover it.  And God only knows what she’s learned about the men and women she works for.  People talk and she’s a listener.  Besides which, garbage can be very telling.  And yet nothing I’ve shared with her has ever even been whispered about in the hallways, and I’ve never heard anything about anyone else there beyond the normal political crap that was there long before Es ever made an appearance in the building.  Maybe you should consider your need to condemn a stranger like that.  Now if you’ll excuse me....” glancing at her mother before she rose and followed Kent’s path out of the room.

Margaret looked at Okasa and Patrick plaintively.  “I thought it a fair question.  After all....”

“After all, Margaret, maybe you should wait until you meet her.  Esmeralda might pleasantly surprise you.  And I won’t have you making her feel unwelcome here.”

Okasa bit her lip to keep from showing the anger she felt.  Charisma had finally found a friend outside the political arena she felt she could trust, and Margaret was doing her best to destroy that before she had even met the other woman.  Instead she rose and began to clear the table of the breakfast dishes Kent and Charisma had left behind.  Patrick remained silent, eating the remainder of his food while allowing Margaret to wonder just what kind of boundaries she’d overstepped and how to go about repairing them.

Meanwhile, Charisma had followed Kent upstairs into their room where Adam was still soundly sleeping.  The past few days’ activities with his grandparents had worn him out and Charisma was thankful he’d been spared the little scene downstairs.  She found Kent sitting on the floor by their son’s bed just watching him sleep.  Charisma took a seat beside him and lightly bumped his shoulder with hers.

“You all right?”

Kent glanced at her briefly before returning his attention to Adam.  “Yeah.  She just... she makes me so angry when she does things like that.  Just because she got taken in once....”

“Your dad?” knowing it for the truth.  Simon Rockwell had been a scoundrel - a charming scoundrel, but a scoundrel nonetheless.  And his duplicity had colored every human interaction Margaret had had since his defection when Kent was still much younger.

“Yeah,” he sighed.  “I’m sorry she attacked your friend.  I’m looking forward to meeting her... them.”

“I think you’ll like them, Kent.  They’re good people.  I’m glad they weren’t here to hear your mother’s accusations, though.  I get the feeling Saphira would have cleaned her clock one good time.”

“She some kind of tough broad or something?” Kent joked with a twinkle in his eye.

Charisma smirked.  “Well, she’s a waitress in a diner, so I’m sure she can hold her own.  But she’s very protective of Esmeralda - they’re very protective of one another.  I’m pretty sure if Saphira had heard your mother’s tirade, we’d be picking bits of her up from around the room for the next few days.”

“That would be something to try and explain to an ER doctor,” he quipped as Adam slowly blinked his eyes open.  “Morning, Little Man,” he greeted, chuckling when Adam leaped into his arms and snuggled into his neck.  “You got a kiss for Mama before we go potty?”

Adam leaned over and nuzzled Charisma’s cheek, then tucked himself back into Kent’s body.  Kent and Charisma exchanged looks, then Kent eased to his feet.  “Guess that’s my cue,” he said as he moved into the connecting bathroom.  “You going out today?”

Charisma leaned over and made up Adam’s bed, then turned her attention to theirs.  “No.  I’m not sure what time the girls expect to arrive and I’d like to be here to meet them when they do.”

“I can certainly understand that especially after what happened downstairs.”

“Thank you for that, by the way.  You didn’t have to say anything to your mother, but I appreciate you saying that to her.”

She could hear the shrug in his voice when he answered.  “It needed to be said.”

Before Charisma could continue the conversation, Adam ran out of the bathroom, obviously much more awake than he had been scant minutes before.  He latched on to Charisma’s leg, and she reached down to tickle him.  He squealed and tried to get away without actually losing his grip on her.  Kent laughed at the picture they made as he leaned on the doorjamb of the bathroom.

“I’ve never seen a kid wake up like that boy does.”

“Mama, bre’fas?” Adam asked, blue eyes looking at her adoringly.  She touched her finger to the tip of his nose and smiled, watching his nose crinkle up in response.

“You hungry, Son?” she queried, knowing the answer before his head started nodding vigorously. “Let’s go downstairs and see what Gramma has for you to eat.  How does that sound?”

“YUM!” causing Kent and Charisma both to laugh out loud.

“I guess that means yes,” Kent said as he pushed off the doorway and moved to the bed.  “I’ll finish up here,” gesturing to the partially made bed, “and meet you downstairs in a few minutes.”

Charisma nodded, and laid a hand on his arm.  “Are you all right?”

He patted her hand awkwardly and bent down to pick up the throw pillows.  “I will be,” he assured her.  “Go on now before Adam starts chewing on your leg.”

Charisma smiled and took Adam’s hand.  They headed downstairs without a backwards glance.


Chapter LVI

Margaret had quietly apologized for her assumptions and was sitting in the living room when the SUV pulled up in front of the house.  Adam had been sitting on her lap while she read to him, but the minute he heard the car door slam he struggled to get down. “Mama?”

Charisma held out her hand.  “Come on, Son.  It should be....”

“BR’ANNA!” he shouted, seeing the twinkle in Charisma’s eyes.  He rushed for the door. Outside the three women exchanged glances and chuckled.

“Well, Brianna,” Saphira offered with a smile.  “It looks like at least your arrival is anticipated.”  Just then Charisma opened the door and Adam ran out with a glad cry right into Brianna’s arms as she knelt to intercept him.  He pulled back just enough to cup her face in his hands, rubbing their noses together and giggling.  Then he released her and ran straight for Saphira’s kneecaps.  She caught him just before he reached her and swung him up high into the air and into her arms.

“PHIRA!” he hollered, squealing in laughter when she blew raspberries over his belly.  “ES!!” he added screaming as he reached for her.  Adam got his arms around Esmeralda’s neck while Saphira held onto his bottom half.  He looked at her in frustration.

“Where’s my hug?”  Adam pulled back from Esmeralda who helped him lean back into Saphira to give her a hug and a wet kiss.  Then he jumped at Esmeralda, and she just managed to catch him with Saphira stepping up beside her to help balance them.  They didn’t even realize the audience that had gathered at the doorway watching them until Adam turned around and cheered.

“MAMA!!”  Charisma stepped out of the house and the rest spilled out behind her. Adam wiggled and Esmeralda put him on the ground, then he ran back to his family and took Charisma by the hand.  “Mama, come!” tugging until she followed him out onto the lawn where her guests were still standing where they’d stopped when Adam came running out.  Only after she was standing in front of them did she realize everyone else was right behind her waiting for introductions.  Charisma took a moment, giving each of them a hug before she turned back to her family.

“Ladies,” she said to Brianna, Saphira and Esmeralda.  “This is my family - my husband Kent, my mother-in-law Margaret, my mother Okasa and my father Patrick.  My brothers and their families will be here tomorrow,” she explained, then went on with the introductions.  “Guys, this is Brianna, Saphira and Esmeralda... my friends.”

There was a long moment of exchanged handshakes and greetings before Patrick turned to Kent.  “What do you say we help these young ladies bring their things inside, and then you and me and Adam can go to town for some ice cream?”

Kent smiled and nodded.  “I think that’s a fine plan, Paddy.”  He glanced between the three new arrivals. “Would one of you mind popping the hatch so we can get started?”

Brianna pressed the unlock button, then crossed to the back of the truck.  Both men turned and looked at her with a questioning expression.  Brianna rolled her eyes.  “You fellas might need a little help.  We brought the chocolate cakes Charisma ordered before we left DC.”

They looked at her, then at the boxes stacked in front of the luggage.  “Got it,” Kent replied.  “Good thinking.”

Brianna chuckled.  “Yes - I’m trying not to let my skills rust while I’m in Washington,” causing the two men to laugh in sympathy with her attitude.  Charisma just snorted.

“Good luck with that, lass,” Patrick joked, placing a cake box into either hand.  Then he reached around her to hand Charisma two and Saphira stepped up and took the last two and they followed Okasa into the house where Adam had already led Esmeralda inside, and Margaret had followed them more slowly.

Now they entered to find Adam comfortably ensconced on Esmeralda’s lap, telling her a story from the book Margaret had been reading earlier.  Margaret was watching them with a curious expression, but Esmeralda didn’t even seem to notice.  Charisma, Brianna and Saphira followed Okasa down the hall and into the kitchen, then to a walk-in pantry.  She motioned them where to set the cakes, then turned to Saphira and Brianna.

“Have you girls eaten?”

“Yes ma’am.” Saphira replied, causing Okasa’s brows to fly into her hairline.

“Saphira, we don’t stand on formality here.  I’m Okasa or Mama but not ma’am.”

Saphira blushed and shook her head.  “We’ll try, Okasa, but you’re going against a lifetime of habit.”

“Something your mama taught you from a child?”

“Yes ma’am... something like that.”

Okasa chuckled and shook her head.  “All right.  Let’s go into the living room,” turning to find Charisma behind her with a tray of assorted drinks.  Okasa didn’t ask; she just nodded her approval and led the way back to where Margaret and Esmeralda were now sharing a bit of quiet conversation.  Obviously it hadn’t taken Paddy and Kent long to unload the SUV and claim Adam.

Charisma played the dutiful hostess, handing out favorite drinks to each woman, then taking a seat beside Esmeralda on the couch.  “It’s so good to have you guys here,” Charisma commented as she reached over and squeezed Esmeralda’s hand.  “I’m really glad you came.”

“We’re glad they came,” Okasa corrected firmly.  “I’ve heard so much about you both; it’s wonderful to have you in my home.”  She turned to Brianna.  “And I’m thrilled to have you back with us again,” reaching out to the woman she considered a second daughter.  “It’s about time.”

“Hear! Hear!” Charisma muttered under her breath though everyone heard her.  Her words caused a myriad of reactions around the room.  Brianna blushed; Okasa smiled; Saphira’s and Esmeralda’s eyes met and they nodded slightly; and Margaret frowned.

Okasa noticed, and before Margaret could say anything she looked at Charisma.  “Do I want to know why there are six chocolate cakes sitting in my pantry?” chuckling at the flummoxed look on Margaret’s face.

“Oh Mama - wait til you taste this cake.  It is spectacular,” seeing Brianna and Esmeralda nodding their heads in agreement.  Margaret tilted her head at Saphira.

“You don’t like it?”

“Oh... yes, ma’am, I do.  But I prefer the banana pudding.  Matilda serves an amazing banana pudding - her mama’s recipe.”

“Matilda?”

“My boss and the woman who made the cakes.  She and her husband Joe own a diner just outside the city.   It’s how we met Brianna.”

Now Charisma’s ears perked up.  “I don’t think I’ve heard this story.  Share?”

“I’d like to hear how all of you met actually,” Margaret confessed.  “Charisma told us how she and Esmeralda met, but you just seem like such an unlikely group of friends.  It’s almost like Fate stepped in and brought you together or something.”

“Do you believe in Fate, Margaret?” Esmeralda questioned.

Margaret studied her a long moment, interested despite her unwillingness to be.  Having actually met Esmeralda, she could understand Charisma’s earlier words.  There was something about the younger woman that drew people to her - that inspired confidence and trust.  She found that she was curious... and more than that, she was concerned about this woman she had just met, yet seemed to know.

“You know - sometimes I think I do.  And then there are times that I wonder why we choose the outcomes we do.”  She smirked.  “I think it depends on the kind of day I’m having.”

Charisma chuckled.  “I think we all have days like that, Margaret.”  She looked around the room.  “So we were going to hear about how you three met.”  Saphira and Esmeralda turned to Brianna whose eyes widened comically.

“Why me?”

“Two reasons,” Esmeralda said.  “It started with you and you’re the writer here,” garnering a light laugh from Charisma.  Brianna directed a glare towards her and Charisma held up her hands in surrender.

“Don’t blame me - I didn’t say a word.  Professor Mac would be thrilled by the description though.”

“Wait,” Margaret pled, pinching the bridge of her nose before rubbing her forehead.  “Am I missing something else?”

“Brianna and I were roommates in college.  She had a double major - law and theatre.”

“That’s an... interesting choice,” Margaret said slowly.  “Though it does make a certain amount of sense. And let me guess - writing was one of the criteria for the theatre major.”

“Yes,” Brianna answered uneasily.

“Do you still practice?”

“Writing?” Brianna asked, waiting for Margaret to nod.  “Um... not really.  Practicing law has kept me pretty busy, and this whole political thing is just something else again.”  She looked at Charisma.  “I have to admire your fortitude.  I don’t think I could make a career out of politics,” raising her glass in salute.

Charisma lifted her glass in return.  “That’s okay - I think it takes a special breed of animal to be a politician.”

“Oh the things I can think of to say to that,” Okasa quipped, drawing an irked stare from her daughter and laughter from the remainder of the women in the room.  After a moment Charisma yielded the field and stuck her tongue out at her mother before she smirked.  Margaret turned back to Brianna.

“So how did you end up in politics?  I apparently missed something... several somethings, it seems... while I was abroad and you’re quite obviously un-enamored of the whole idea.”

Thus the next little while was spent filling Margaret in on what she had missed though no one went into too much detail especially concerning their friendship.  For one thing Brianna and Charisma were on less than stable ground, and for another Saphira and Esmeralda had no idea how this new variable factored into the equation they were already well into solving.

So they glossed over much of their history together and instead told funny little anecdotes about other things.  Margaret and Okasa were both intrigued to hear Saphira’s and Esmeralda’s tale, and wondered aloud at what kind of Father would dismiss a child so heartlessly that he would leave them to suffer so badly.

“And have you recovered, my dear?” Margaret asked Esmeralda solicitously in complete contrast to her strident accusations early that morning.  Having met the woman in question, she understood Charisma’s defense of her and now was concerned with the fact that Esmeralda’s health did not appear to be retuning to her as it should.  “Is there anything we can do to help speed the process for you?”

Esmeralda smiled shyly and briefly covered Margaret’s hand with her own.  “It’s lovely of you to be so concerned with someone you don’t even know Margaret.  Thank you for that.  But we have been assured it’s gonna be a slow recovery - the only thing that will make this better is time.”

“Would you do any less?” Margaret asked, causing Esmeralda to frown in confusion.  “Wasn’t it your care and concern for both Charisma and Brianna when they were mere strangers to you that created the friendship you share now?”  Esmeralda nodded.  “Then allow me the courtesy of the same.  I have a feeling you and Saphira would make magnificent friends if given the chance.  I’d like to give you that chance and perhaps have it offered in return.”

“Quite a change from this morning,” Okasa commented.

“I was wrong this morning,” Margaret confessed.  She looked first at Esmeralda then Saphira.  “I judged without knowing... without giving you the opportunity to speak for yourself.  That was wrong of me and I’m sorry,” flinching slightly at the fire she felt burning from Saphira’s eyes.  It was Esmeralda’s touch and her compassion that caught her attention though.

“We would never have known if you hadn’t told us, Margaret, and we’ve all been guilty of it for far less reason.  Consider yourself forgiven.”

“Thank you, Esmeralda. Now are you sure there’s nothing we can do?”

“I’m getting as much rest as I can manage, which right now is a lot.”  She turned and looked at Charisma.  “I love holiday break,” she said with a smile.

“Are we having a break?” Charisma groaned theatrically.  “I must have missed the memo.  I am still working as hard as I was when we were in session.”

A chorus of ‘Awws’ and ‘Poor Baby’s’ rang out along with laughter at Charisma’s response, which was to maturely stick out her tongue, throw a pillow and crossed her arms over her chest.  At that moment the men of the group returned and decided it was time for dinner.  Just the suggestion of food made a number of tummies rumble and the large group headed towards the kitchen to make pizza.

************

“So what do you think?” Saphira asked Esmeralda once they were settled into bed much later that evening.  After pizza they had adjourned to the living room once more, with the exception of Saphira and Adam.  He had chosen her as his bath buddy so with much adieu-ing and many goodnights, she had taken him upstairs for his bath, just managing to keep him from streaking downstairs and through the house.  Once he was clean, she had tucked him in and read to him, staying with him until he fell asleep. So she missed quite a bit of the adult interaction that had taken place.

“Well, I think Margaret knows now that we’re not mooching off anyone nor are we planning to take advantage of her family in any way.”  She held up a hand to halt Saphira’s growl in its tracks.  “Not sure where all her distrust and suspiciousness came from, but I’m pretty sure we were just residual damage.  Hopefully, we have opened her heart just a little, but either way, I don’t think she views us as a threat anymore.

As for the rest....”  She closed her eyes thoughtfully and worked her way around the room.  “Charisma and Brianna were... weird, for lack of a better word.  Their whole vibe was off and I’m not sure which of the many factors in play were to blame for the change in their interaction.  Okasa and Paddy were expectant, hopeful and Kent....”  She paused, then opened her eyes and met Saphira’s that were patiently waiting for Esmeralda to finish her description.  “Kent was watchful - it’s the only way I can think to describe him.  He didn’t seem upset or anxious; he just seemed to be paying an extraordinary amount of attention to things going on around him without actually participating in them.”

“And did I understand Brianna correctly on the drive up?  Is her first lover joining us for dinner tomorrow?”

“You understood perfectly, my love.  Apparently when Brianna first came over for the holidays after she and Charisma split, Okasa told Brianna that if she ever found someone special, the family wanted to meet her - that the family still had an obligation to ensure that whoever Brianna chose was worthy of her.  Brianna needed that feeling of belonging and family so on the first holiday after she and Kay got together, she brought Kay with her.”

“The family approved?”

“The family was shocked, but they liked Kay, and they loved the way Kay adored Brianna.  So they gave her the Tagherty seal of approval.  Kay has joined them on every holiday that Brianna was here since then.  Even after they broke up and Kay and Lee married, they still joined the Tagherty’s during whatever holiday time Brianna spent here with them.”

“You do realize that this cluster just keeps getting bigger and bigger, don’t you?”

Esmeralda snorted.  “Yeah - I’m waiting for my hair to start falling out.”  She climbed into bed and Saphira reached over and turned out the light.  “Tomorrow should be....”

“... something,” Saphira filled in.  “Tomorrow should be something.  I just hope it’s not on the Titanic scale of something.”

Esmeralda moaned.  “Me too.”

************

Kent waited until Charisma was tucked in beside him before he spoke.  “I like your friends.”

Charisma stopped her roll away from him and lay on her back so they were side by side.  “I’m glad.  They’re good people... all of them.”

“I agree.  And Esmeralda sure gave my mother a complete change of heart.”  He chuckled.  “I’d like to know her secret.  That’d be worth a fortune.”

“I think it’s just who Es is, Kent.  There’s just something about her....”

He nodded even though Charisma couldn’t see the action in the dark.  “I think you’re right.  Your brothers are going to love her... her and Saphira both.”

“Probably,” Charisma agreed through a yawn.  “Night, Kent.”

“Goodnight, Charisma.”

************

“Well, that was interesting,” Patrick said, turning out the light as he crawled into bed.

“It was all right,” Okasa stated.  “And Esmeralda was able to bring Margaret to her side just by being herself.”

“I wonder what their story is really,” Paddy said as he rolled onto his side.  “I get the feeling that there’s a lot more there than they’re telling.”

“Well, whatever it is, it’s gonna have to wait until morning.  And tomorrow should be enlightening, to say the least.”

“I just hope it’s not painful,” Patrick muttered before he dropped off with a snore.  Okasa lay quietly in the silent darkness for some time before finally allowing sleep to claim her.


Chapter LVII

“You’re up early,” Brianna commented as she passed Esmeralda on her way to the coffee pot.  “Everything all right?” taking a cup from the cabinet and filling it with coffee.  She inhaled deeply, and a beatific smile crossed her face before she gently sipped her first taste of the morning.  “That is good coffee, Es.”

Esmeralda chuckled and shook her head.  “Not me.  Okasa had it set; I just turned it on when I heard you stirring around upstairs.”

Brianna frowned.  “How long have you been down here?”

“A while,” Esmeralda sighed.  “I wasn’t sleeping so I figured it was better to come down here where I wouldn’t disturb anyone with my reading,” holding up her book.  She glanced at the clock, wondering why Charisma had hesitated outside the kitchen door instead of joining them.  “What are you doing up so early?”

Brianna took a seat and folded her hands around her cup, staring into it as though it held the answers to the secrets of life.  “I couldn’t sleep either,” she said softly.  “It’s... weird being here like this.  I don’t belong here.”

Esmeralda cocked her head.  “Why do you say that, Brianna?  I thought the Taghertys were like your family.”

“They are, but not like this... not for years.”  She lifted the cup and took another sip, then sighed, relishing the warmth of the coffee as it reflected onto her face.  “When I agreed to not lose contact with the family after I walked away from Charisma, I had my own place nearby; I didn’t stay here.  When I took a position in the DAs office, and was forced to travel to be here, I stayed somewhere else.”  Brianna took another deep breath.  “This is the first time I’ve stayed here since college.”

“Why?”

Brianna blinked and turned her head to meet Esmeralda’s tired eyes.  “Why what?  Why didn’t I stay here before or why am I staying here now?”

“Yes,” Esmeralda stated firmly.

Brianna lifted her coffee cup again, taking a deep draught this time and only slightly wincing at the heat in her mouth.  “It was habit as much as anything to stay somewhere else.  At first it was because I lived close... relatively speaking.  Like the boys, I just came over to share the holiday; I didn’t need to stay overnight.  But once I moved there was always a possibility of a casual tryst while I was here.  I have a friend in town who....”  She stopped explaining when Esmeralda held up a hand and nodded her understanding.  “Aside from Kay who I was with when I still lived in the area, I’ve never brought anyone with me when I came home.  I was never serious about anyone, and it seemed presumptuous to bring someone who was merely a fu... a booty call into Okasa’s home, especially for the holidays.  So it was just easier to stay at a hotel.”

“Did Okasa ask why?”

Brianna shook her head.  “No.  It wasn’t discussed between us then, but she knew.  She respected my privacy and I respected her and Paddy enough not to bring my private life into their home like that.”

“And your friend didn’t mind?”

Brianna shrugged.  “If she did, she never said.  She asked me to stay with her after the first time we met at my hotel, but that was never really an option.”  She shrugged and studied her coffee intently.  “It would have led to unwanted complications.”

“What did she think of you staying here this trip... or didn’t you tell her you were coming?”

Brianna cocked her head thoughtfully.  “I didn’t tell her.  We haven’t been together that way for a while.”

Esmeralda heard their silent observer move away and nodded.  “Okay - so staying here is weird because you’ve never done it before?”

“I haven’t done it since college,” Brianna corrected.  “And it was different then.  The boys were here off and on and if Charisma and I didn’t share a room, we were at least back and forth in one room or the other constantly.  We pretty much lived like we did in the dorms... in one another’s back pockets.”

“So why are you staying here now?”

Brianna visibly slumped in her chair.  “Mama O insisted.  We had quite a talk once Charisma and I agreed to try to be friends again.  Okasa knew about....” gesturing vaguely with her hand and getting Esmeralda’s nod of understanding.  “She appreciated my discretion,” Brianna stated drolly with a smirk, “but insisted that since THAT was no longer part of my visit here, it was time to come home where I belonged.  Told me if she had to come to some hotel to find me and drag me home, she’d make sure it was in all the papers.”

“Okasa sounds like a force of nature,” Esmeralda offered with a smile.

“You have no idea, Es.  Wait til she turns it on you.”

Just then they heard the clearing of a throat from the doorway and flinched in tandem when they saw Okasa standing there with her arms crossed over her chest.  “The Force of Nature would like to know what the two of you are doing up in my kitchen at this hour of the day,” she demanded gruffly though she couldn’t hide the concern present in her eyes.  “It’s not even daylight yet, and from the looks of it you’ve been here a while,” noting the coffee that was already in the pot and the empty glass of milk beside Esmeralda’s book.  “Is everything all right?” cupping Brianna’s cheek briefly before checking Esmeralda for fever.

Brianna caught the hand resting on her face.  “Everything’s fine, Mama O.  Just a little insomnia.”

Okasa stared into Brianna’s eyes and saw the unease.  She wondered what she had missed of the conversation to put that look there, but decided not to pursue it with Esmeralda present.   She had no way of knowing what Esmeralda knew about the truth between Charisma and Brianna, and she wasn’t going to be the one to tell her either.  It was different if her daughters wanted to share, but it wasn’t her place to do so.

She nodded her acceptance of Brianna’s words and turned to look at Esmeralda, shaking her head at the utter weariness in the green eyes that were so much like Brianna’s.  “Does this happen a lot?” she asked Esmeralda, gently gripping her wrist while she stared into her eyes.

“Insomnia?” Esmeralda questioned softly.  “Thankfully, no.  I think it’s just being someplace new and strange to me... no offense.  It’s been a while since Saphira and I have gone anywhere that kept us away from home overnight.”

Okasa smiled gently.  “No offense taken, Esmeralda.  I’m the same way when Paddy and I leave home.  It takes me a few days to adjust; usually by the time I do, the trip’s over and we’re back home again.”  She smiled in sympathy when Esmeralda chuckled.  “I have something that might help, but it may make you miss breakfast.”

“I’d be grateful,” Esmeralda confessed.  “I’d be embarrassed to fall asleep in the gravy at the dinner table.”

Okasa laughed.  “I like you, Esmeralda....” pausing when Esmeralda shook her head.

“Please call me Es - all my friends do.”

Okasa’s smile was genuine and she nodded.  “All right, Es.  Let me get you something to help you get a little sleep.  You,” she said pointedly, eyeing Brianna with a glare.  “I’ll take care of in a minute.  Don’t move,” she commanded.  “And don’t drink any more coffee.”

Okasa slipped away but returned a moment later.  It only took a few minutes, and Esmeralda was yawning, barely able to keep her eyes open. Brianna had to wonder if it was Okasa’s ‘remedy’ as much as it was Esmeralda’s very real exhaustion.  Whichever, they needed to get Esmeralda back to bed so with one on each side of her, they slowly escorted her back upstairs.

They were halfway up when a whirlwind silently flew out of one of the guest rooms.  They didn’t even have time to recognize Saphira before Esmeralda was scooped from between them and settled safely in Saphira’s arms.  Okasa opened her mouth to offer their help, but Saphira had already moved up the remainder of the stairs and disappeared into their bedroom.  Since she didn’t close the door Brianna and Okasa tentatively followed her to make certain everything was all right.

“What happened?” Saphira whispered, continuing to tuck Esmeralda back into their bed without turning around.

Brianna shrugged.  “She was in the kitchen reading when I got up.  Mama offered her something to help her get a little sleep - it didn’t take long to work.”

Saphira whirled at the mention of a remedy, but instead of becoming angry she crept to the door and motioned them to follow.  When they were out in the hallway she pulled the door mostly closed and crossed her arms over her chest.

“Thank you - both of you - for looking out for her.  It’s been a long time since we’ve been away from home overnight, and her illness has made Es more sensitive to things like that.”  She squinted at both of them.  “Why are you two up anyway?  It’s like oh-dark-thirty in the morning.”

“I got up to put the turkey on to cook,” Okasa said.  “This one has insomnia,” jerking her thumb in Brianna’s direction.

“Maybe you should give her some of whatever it was you gave to Es.  It seems to work pretty well.”

“I think she just needs some warm milk,” chuckling at the face Brianna made.

“Ew - I’d rather go back to bed and try counting sheep,” Brianna said as she slowly backed up towards the door just beyond the one they were standing out side of.  “I’m sure that will do the trick nicely,” she added as she scooted into the room and shut the door soundlessly behind her.

Okasa and Saphira exchanged glances and giggled for a brief moment.  “Are all holidays around here this exciting?” Saphira asked with a twinkle.

“Usually, yes... but it doesn’t generally start until later in the day.  And speaking of... if I don’t get that turkey in the oven soon, we won’t be eating until much, much later in the day.”

“Do you need some help?” Saphira offered.

Okasa smiled and patted Saphira’s arm.  “You’re sweet, but no.  I do this every year and it doesn’t take but a few minutes... usually anyway,” she added with another soft laugh.  “Besides, you’ve got more important things to take care of, I think,” gesturing towards the door. 

Saphira nodded.  “Thank you, Okasa.  I can’t tell you....”  She stopped speaking when Okasa held up a hand.

“I was glad to be able to help.  As I told Es, I like you two, and I’m glad you came.  My daughters could both do with more people like the two of you in their lives.”

“Broke?” Saphira joked.

“Real,” Okasa replied, then lightly patted Saphira’s arm.  “Goodnight, Saphira.”

“Goodnight, Okasa.”

************

Paddy and Kent were the first ones up when morning came the second time though Okasa wasn’t far behind them.  Still Patrick looked at her with concern when she eased into the kitchen in her bathrobe and poured herself a cup of coffee without saying a word.  She squeezed his shoulder, then took a seat beside him, focusing on her cup as though to force herself to wakefulness a little faster.

“Everything all right?” he asked softly.  Kent didn’t look up from the paper he was reading, but they were acutely aware of his presence in the room.  “You’re usually the first person up.”

“Hmm,” Okasa offered noncommittally.  “Putting the turkey on this morning took longer than expected.  I think it threw my cycle off a little.” 

Before he could question further, a sleepy Charisma scuffed into the room carrying her wide-awake, wide-eyed son.  She plopped him on Kent’s lap, then she dropped into the seat beside him and let her head fall to the table.  Okasa reached over and smacked the back of her head, causing Charisma to look up and glare at her mother.  Okasa glared right back.

“Don’t take that tone with me, young lady.  I am still your mother and you know better than to behave like that at the table.  What’s wrong with you?” reaching a hand over and letting it rest on Charisma’s forehead.  “You’re not coming down with something, are you?”

Charisma leaned into the touch and closed her eyes.  “No, Mama.  I just didn’t sleep well last night.”

Okasa nodded.  “That seems to have gone around,” she muttered, garnering her a questioning look from Patrick.  “Brianna and Esmeralda were both up when I got up.   I gave Es something to help her sleep so she’ll probably miss breakfast.  I’m not sure about Brianna - she declined my offer of warm milk,” her words causing all but Kent to laugh.  He cocked his eyebrow in question.

“What’d I miss?”

Okasa looked at Charisma, who shrugged and nodded.  Okasa turned back to Kent.  “When Brianna first came to visit, she had trouble sleeping so I offered her some warm milk.  She didn’t realize I meant just that and not hot chocolate.  Oh the faces she made while she drank it.”

“Not a fan, I take it,” Kent guessed with a grin.

“Warm milk makes me want to cry,” Brianna said from the doorway, pushing her hair away from her face and making a beeline for the coffeepot.  “I mean seriously... there ought to be a law.  If it wasn’t so frivolous, I’d introduce one on the Senate floor just to outlaw it.”  She shivered.  “Just thinking about it is... ew.”  She held up the coffee pot and four cups raised for refills.  She looked at Okasa with a grin.  “Now I understand why you’re using the percolator.”

Okasa nodded sagely.  “I always do this time of year.”

Kent turned to Adam.  “You want some breakfast, Boy?” grinning when Adam nodded vigorously.  “Let’s see what we can find,” rising from his chair and moving to the cabinet Okasa kept stocked with all manner of cereal for her visiting grandkids.  Brianna took a seat beside Okasa, then looked at Kent.

“Are you done with the paper?”

He nodded.  “Go ahead.  I don’t think I’ll be getting back to it today.”

It was quiet for a few minutes after that.  Brianna and Patrick turned a page occasionally, and Adam ate his cereal, but otherwise there was very little sound beyond the odd swallow of coffee and breathing.  It was into this scenario that a fully dressed Saphira walked a few minutes later.

It wasn’t that she was loud; on the contrary, Saphira had an almost cat-like stealth.  Still her footsteps were louder than anything else going on in the kitchen, and every eye including Adam’s turned her way as she crossed the threshold.  The scrutiny caused her to halt mid-step.  She looked behind her and carefully around the entire room before she spoke in a whisper.

“Did I missing something or did I do something wrong?”

Okasa smiled and shook her head.  “Neither,” she confessed in a normal tone of voice.  “We’re all sitting here trying to get the old brain cells jump-started for the day.  So far, it doesn’t seem to be very successful except for you obviously,” motioning to Saphira’s fully clad state, then around the table where the rest of them were still wearing pajamas and robes.

“Hey!” Brianna protested.  “Speak for yourself!  My brain cells are working.”

Charisma snorted.  Saphira smirked.  “But not really firing on all cylinders yet, are they?  You haven’t looked in a mirror yet this morning, have you?”

Brianna narrowed her eyes.  “Noooo,” she drawled.  “I am sleepy, not brain dead.  I never look in the mirror until after my shower.”

Saphira scratched her nose and crooked a half-smile at her.  “You may want to reconsider that practice while you’re here.”

Brianna scowled and stuck out her tongue.  “You’re picking on me!”

“I’m not trying to,” Saphira replied honestly though she didn’t lose her smile.  Then she turned to Okasa.  “What can I do to help?”

“You know,” Charisma said conversationally to Brianna as though Saphira wasn’t sitting right there.  “We should discover her secret.  Think what our fellow Senators would pay to be able to come downstairs first thing in the morning completely put together without even needing a cup of coffee.”

Brianna smirked.  “We could rule the world.”

“You wouldn’t want to,” Saphira said softly, seriously.  “Not at this price,” her tone draining all the teasing out of the room.  Okasa laid a hand on her arm.

“How is she this morning?”

“Sleeping.  Whatever you gave her did the trick.”  She looked around the room.  “I’m sorry - I didn’t mean to ruin the mood.”

Charisma placed a hand on her other arm.  “You didn’t.  We should have thought about it first.”

“Yeah,” Brianna agreed.  “Especially me since I was up with her last night.”

“You were up with whom?” Margaret asked as she crossed the threshold and headed straight for the coffee.  “Am I the last?” looking around the room.  “Where’s Es?”

“Still sleeping,” Okasa replied briefly, her eyes telling Margaret to let the subject go.  Margaret acknowledged the directive with the barest nod of her head and then turned to Saphira as she stirred condiments into her coffee.

“Well, Saphira, I guess that means you and I will be starting the prep work while these three,” motioning to the other women in the room, “go get ready for the day.  You two,” pointing to Kent and Patrick, “are assigned to keeping my grandson out from under foot.”

Okasa chuckled.  She sometimes forgot Margaret’s tendency to become a drill sergeant in the kitchen, but what she’d said made a good deal of sense.  “Sounds like a plan, Margaret.  You know where things are,” waiting for Margaret to nod.  “All right, the rest of you - you heard the woman.  Hop to!”  Then she turned back to Saphira and Margaret.  “I’ll be back in a few.”

“Go on,” Margaret made shooing motions in Okasa’s direction.  “You know what happens if I’m left alone in the kitchen too long, and this time I have a helper.”  That alone was enough to spur reaction from almost everyone, and Brianna followed their example as a matter of course.  When they were gone, Saphira turned to Margaret.

“Should I even ask?”

“No, my dear.  Let’s just say I learned a long time ago how to get things done to my satisfaction.”  Then she turned to the refrigerator and started pulling out the things they would need.


Chapter LVIII

It was some time later when Saphira stood in the doorway of their darkened room with a cup of steaming hot coffee clutched in her hands.  Okasa has sent her upstairs to check on Esmeralda and waken her if possible as the rest of the family was due to join them within the hour and she was anxious to introduce to her sons the friends her daughter had brought home.

Saphira stood still for several minutes, her eyes clearly seeing Esmeralda’s sleeping form beneath the covers and her ears detecting the deep, steady breaths indicating her depth of sleep. “I talked to the Father this morning, Es,” knowing her mate wouldn’t hear her but needing to say it anyway.  “Everything’s taken care of.  You’re gonna be all right.”

She crossed to the side of the bed and set the coffee cup on the nightstand, then carefully seated herself on the bed.  The motion was enough to paint a frown on Esmeralda’s face, but otherwise she gave no indication of waking.  Saphira reached out a hand to soothe the lines created by Esmeralda’s displeasure, then had to smile as they turned to a smile beneath her touch.

She kept up the light stroking, recognizing the signs of wakefulness as Esmeralda slowly made her way towards consciousness.  Finally green eyes blinked open and Saphira leaned down and pressed her lips to Esmeralda’s.  “Good morning,” she whispered, blue eyes closing when Esmeralda gently scratched the base of her scalp.

“Good morning,” Esmeralda replied throatily.  “What time is it?” glancing at the clock and feeling her eyes widen in response.  “Oh... wow.”

Saphira chuckled, pulling one hand from the back of her neck and cradling it so she could brush a kiss over her palm.  “Yeah - Okasa asked me to see if you felt like joining us.  The boys and their families will be here in an hour or so and I think she’s anxious to introduce us.”

“What else?” Esmeralda asked when she felt Saphira’s hesitation.  Saphira shrugged.

“I’m not sure,” she replied honestly.  “I can’t read this stuff like you do, but things are weird down there,” handing Esmeralda the coffee cup as soon as she slid into a sitting position.  Esmeralda inhaled deeply.  Saphira didn’t give her coffee often so this was a nice treat... especially since Saphira had fixed it just the way she liked it.  She arched an eyebrow, knowing Saphira would see it and understand.

Saphira sighed.  “I’m not sure how to explain it,” biting her lip thoughtfully.  “Okasa was pretty cool - she kinda let me and Margaret take over in the kitchen until she could get her brain cells kick-started... her words.  When she came back though, she was right there with us.  I don’t think much fazes that woman.”

“She’s survived three boys, Charisma and Brianna.  What could faze her at this point?”

“True,” Saphira acknowledged, dropping her eyes to Esmeralda’s hand on the coffee cup.

“However, except for letting you and Margaret ‘kinda take over’ for a bit, none of this sounds weird.  So what’s up with Charisma and Brianna?”

Saphira blew out a breath.  “I’m not sure.  Brianna reminds me a little of a porcupine and Charisma’s acting like her feelings got hurt.  But they haven’t actually said anything to one another this morning besides ‘could you pass...’ or ‘excuse me’.”  She met Esmeralda’s eyes.  “Now you see why I said it was weird?”

“Yep,” Esmeralda said succinctly, nudging Saphira with her legs and waiting until she stood before turning so she was sitting on the edge of the bed.  “I think I know what’s going on.”  She accepted the hand Saphira offered and rose smoothly from the mattress.  Then she tugged on the hand she still clasped and headed towards the bathroom.  “C’mon,” she invited.  “You can keep me company and I’ll fill you in on what happened last night aside from my insomnia.”

Saphira smiled and followed her into the bathroom, grateful to go where Esmeralda led.  And thrilled that Esmeralda was obviously feeling better.  Then she shut the door to give them some privacy and waited for Esmeralda to fill her in.

************

“Well, that explains a lot,” Saphira commented slowly as Esmeralda finished drying off.  “Sometimes I feel like those two are doing a dance that only they can hear the music to – one of those where they come close to one another but never really connect, ya know?”

“I do indeed,” Esmeralda concurred as she started to dress.  “At least with the rest of the family here today, it should make for an interesting day.  Did Okasa tell the boys Brianna was going to be here?”

Saphira shrugged.  “No one’s mentioned it to me.”

Esmeralda dried her hair as well as she could and neatly hung up her wet towel before extending her hand to Saphira.  “C’mon.  We should get downstairs before they send up a search party for us.  Besides, I want to see for myself what’s going on.  With Charisma already having her feelings hurt about what Brianna told me this morning....”

Saphira blew out an aggravated breath even as she took Esmeralda’s hand in her own.  “Honestly,” she muttered mostly to herself but loud enough that Esmeralda could clearly make out her words.  “How much drama does a situation need before they figure it out?”

Esmeralda just smirked and shook her head, then led the way downstairs.

************

“Do you suppose everything’s all right?” Margaret asked some time later as the four women sat around the table with fresh cups of coffee.  Patrick and Kent had taken her at her word, and as soon as they’d gotten ready they’d taken Adam outside to ride his Big Wheel.  And since Saphira had gone upstairs and had yet to return with Esmeralda in tow, it was just Margaret, Okasa, Brianna and Charisma.  Everything was as done as they could manage at the moment, and they were taking a well-deserved break before the house was overrun with family.

“I think we would’ve probably heard from Saphira if it wasn’t,” Okasa replied.  “She’s likely just waiting for Esmeralda to get ready so they can come downstairs together.  I told her to take her time if she needed;  the boys won’t be here for another half hour or so if they stay true to form.”

Before Margaret could question further, the back door to the kitchen opened and Adam came rushing in, his rosy cheeks and bright smile bringing answering smiles to the women seated around the table.  He ran straight to Okasa and leaned on her lap, grinning up at her mischievously.

“Gramma, Pop Pop says come in now – is damn cold,” he repeated proudly, not seeing the glare Okasa and Charisma leveled at Patrick who stood sheepishly in the doorway with Kent behind him trying to muffle his chuckles.

“That’s not what I told you to say, Boy,” Patrick scolded though the twinkle in his eyes and the smile on his lips belied anything other than affection in his gruff tone.  Adam pushed off of Okasa’s lap and ran back to wrap his arms around Patrick’s legs.  Paddy lifted him up and walked through the kitchen, studiously ignoring the stares he was getting.  Kent followed, a hand over his mouth to keep from laughing aloud.

The women watched them go, then turned back to the table.  It took less than five seconds and a single exchange of glances before they were cackling softly.  Okasa covered her face with her hands to try and retrieve some semblance of control.

“I may have to kill my father,” Charisma said dryly though the smirk on her face told a story all its own.  “If Adam does that at school, I’ll be visiting the principal’s office, you know,” giving her mother a droll look.

“Wouldn’t be the first time,” Okasa quipped, chuckling when Charisma blushed.

“Should we ask what caused such a lovely shade of red, Charisma?” Esmeralda queried from the doorway.  Saphira stood just behind her, hands resting lightly on Esmeralda’s hips.  Okasa stood and crossed to the doorway, taking Esmeralda by the elbow and peering at her carefully, placing a hand on her forehead and letting it linger on Esmeralda’s cheek.  Then Okasa nodded her head in satisfaction.

“You look like you feel better,” she commented with a smile and noting that Saphira seemed more relaxed as a result.  “Both of you,” garnering her a small smile from Saphira.

“I do, Okasa; thank you,” patting the hand still clutching her arm tenderly, and taking the hand from her face and squeezing it gently in her own.  “I don’t know what was in that remedy you gave me this morning, but it certainly seemed to do the trick.  I don’t even remember going upstairs.”

“That’s because we practically carried you partway,” Brianna said softly.  “And Saphira met us about halfway up and literally did carry you the rest of the way to your room.”  She smiled.  “I’m glad you’re feeling better though,” offering her a hug that was immediately reciprocated.

“Hear! Hear!!” Charisma agreed, rising from her place and giving Esmeralda a hug of her own.  “Maybe this will be a turning point in your recovery.”

Margaret rose from her spot.  “I don’t want to be left out,” she said with a smile, getting a brief squeeze.  “Coffee?” she asked when the embrace ended.

“I’ve already had a cup, thank you.  But maybe a glass of milk?  Thank you, Charisma,” she chuckled as she accepted the glass that appeared in her hand before the words were out of her mouth.  She turned back to Margaret.  “Saphira only allows me coffee sparingly and rightly so,” she added, seeing the disbelief writ large in Margaret’s expression at the word ‘allow’.  “I really shouldn’t have coffee at all.  But milk – it does a body good, right?”

“Well, it’s given you a beautiful complexion at any rate.  You could be a model.”

Esmeralda’s eyes widened and she shook her head vehemently.  “Oh no thank you.  That kind of work would drive me crazy.”

Margaret tilted her head.  “Why do you say that?  Have you modeled before?”

“No – but modeling strikes me as a lot like politics.  You really have to put yourself out there for public consumption, but you’re never allowed to be who you really are.  Everything depends on other peoples’ perception of what you should be.”

“You’re a very smart woman, Es,” Margaret said into the stunned silence.  “May I ask where you studied?”

“She’s a student of human nature,” Charisma and Brianna replied together – staring at one another fleetingly before turning their attention to Esmeralda who simply laughed and diffused the tension suddenly apparent in the room.

“Are you really?” Margaret inquired, watching Esmeralda nod.  “Oh please.  I’d like to hear about this.  I consider myself to be one as well, but I think you probably have a much different view of humanity than I do.”

“I’d like to hear this as well,” Okasa said, moving from the doorway and taking Esmeralda by the elbow to lead her back towards the table.  “C’mon… we have a few minutes before everyone arrives.”

Charisma and Brianna watched as Esmeralda was compelled to sit between the two older women, then they looked at Saphira who hadn’t moved from her spot in the doorway.  She seemed content to watch with adoring eyes as Esmeralda absorbed the love and attention currently being lavished on her.

“How are you doing, Saphira?” Brianna asked quietly.

“I’m all right,” she said after a moment’s hesitation.  “It takes a load off my mind to see such a difference in Es.  I think this break was something she really needed and being here....”

“I’m glad you were able to come... especially if it makes a difference for her,” Charisma confessed, then looked up when Okasa called her name.  “Yes, Mama?”

“Are you three gonna hover in the doorway like co-conspirators of some sort, or would you like to join the rest of us at the table?” her eyebrow arching with a hint of rebuke as she turned her glance pointedly at each of them.

“Coming, Mama,” Charisma and Brianna said in tandem.  Saphira just shook her head and chuckled as she moved to claim a seat at the table.  It was shaping up to be a memorable holiday.

************

They boys and their families arrived almost as a group.  They had discovered several years prior when Charisma added Kent and subsequently Margaret to their number, that doing so compelled them to only make a single greeting instead of multiple ones.  And though they liked Kent well enough of his own accord, especially after taking the opportunity to know him better, the fact of the matter was that they did resent him slightly. After all… he wasn’t Brianna and never would be.  And while they were actually angry at Charisma for letting Brianna get away, she was still their sister.  So it was easier to direct their ire towards Kent... however unfair.

So generally a day or two before the holiday celebration that involved Charisma and Kent, the three of them would meet for lunch and decide what time they would show up at Mama’s.  Not that Okasa knew any of this – she just figured they had done it so long they had it down to a science.  In fairness they did the same thing when Brianna visited, but then it was to maximize their time with her and Okasa had missed the difference in arrival times, mostly because they saw Brianna a lot less often than they did Charisma.  And since she hadn’t told them of the change in status between Brianna and Charisma, just as Okasa had expected, there was a knock at the door and Paddy was inviting the rest of the family into the house.

As one body the women arose from their place at the table.  Charisma rushed out first, anxious to see her brothers despite the awkwardness she still sometimes felt from them towards Kent even after several years of marriage and a child together.

Hunter stepped up first and lifted her off the ground before turning and offering his hand to Kent.  Rocky followed suit as did Forrest while the children claimed Adam and headed off to the playroom that Okasa and Patrick had set up specifically for them.

Then of course the wives exchanged hugs as well before Theresa turned to Charisma and asked, “Is Mama in the kitchen?”

Charisma nodded, but before anyone could move Brianna emerged and everything and everyone stopped.  There was dead silence... dead stillness before the boys looked at one another and whooped, then moved as a single entity in her direction.  Brianna just grinned goofily at them and let them wrap her up in a single hug.  Charisma stepped back and watched in confusion and not a little hurt as her family welcomed Brianna with an enthusiasm she hadn’t seen since she’d first brought her home twenty plus years before.  Kent simply watched Charisma.

Before Charisma could say or do anything that might make things awkward for everyone, Okasa slipped from the kitchen with an arm around Saphira and the other around Esmeralda.  She had asked them to let Brianna precede them out of the kitchen, having a good idea of what might happen. Esmeralda and Saphira both agreed, instinctively understanding that Okasa wanted them to diffuse any kind of situation that might erupt.

So they stepped from the kitchen together and all eyes turned to them though no one went still or silent this time.  Instead the manners Okasa had worked so hard to instill in her children came to the fore and her three sons immediately moved towards them to meet and welcome the newcomers into the family circle, promising Brianna a talk with the boys later.

Esmeralda was her naturally gracious self, drawing everyone to her with her smiles and soft-spoken words.  They were a little more in awe of Saphira, sensing in her a more kindred spirit despite her current occupation.  Still it was with much enthusiasm that they were brought into the family holiday. Then the men went to look after the children and the women headed for the kitchen where Margaret had returned after brief greetings in the living room.  That to her was the hardest part of the holidays, and she was glad to have it be mostly over for this one.

The girls were a little noisier than usual.  Brianna’s unexpected return to the fold coupled with the introduction of Esmeralda and Saphira made for an exciting day.  So they were quite chatty as they picked up the work where it had been left off. 

Charisma deliberately stayed to the outer edges of the fray, content for the moment to be an observer; knowing it was unfair but feeling a bit ostracized by her own family in favor of the newer members she herself had added to it.

Okasa noticed her odd behavior and crossed the room to stand beside her as she carefully wiped the plates that would soon be gracing the dining room table.

“Is something wrong, Charisma?” she asked bluntly, wondering if Charisma even recognized the issue she was having.  Charisma bit her lip, but shook her head.  She wasn’t going to admit to something as petty as jealousy… especially when she was responsible for creating it.

“No, Mama,” she replied softly.  “I’m fine.  Just trying to get the place settings ready so we can set the table shortly.”  She met her mama’s eyes squarely and Okasa wondered when Charisma had become such a proficient liar.  Okasa decided not to call her on it immediately.  There would be time enough for that later.  Besides, it was almost time for the rest of her guests to arrive and Okasa was morbidly curious to see Charisma’s reaction to that arrival.

As if on cue the doorbell rang, and Okasa nodded at Brianna when she met her eyes.  Brianna took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders, then headed out of the kitchen to answer the front door.  The rest followed as a matter of course – anxious to greet the newcomers but also a little nosy.  They had all sensed Charisma’s withdrawal from them like a tangible thing, and while they didn’t realize their own actions were the cause, they expected Okasa would take care of that quickly... not wanting disharmony present at the dinner table.

“C’mon, Charisma,” Okasa chided when Charisma made no move to go into the living room.  The girls had already dragged Esmeralda and Saphira out, and Margaret had gone along out of curiosity.  Whoever it was, they were new to her and if they were as pleasant and charming as Esmeralda and Saphira, Margaret certainly didn’t want to miss out on making their acquaintance.

Charisma tried to protest, knowing everyone she expected had already arrived, but Okasa was having none of it.  So she huffed and crossed her arms, stalking out of the kitchen to lean on the doorway to watch the proceedings with more interest than she would ever allow herself to admit to.  A feeling in the pit of her belly told her who the new arrival was, but all that knowledge did was sour her stomach.  She could only hope she was wrong.  This holiday was turning out to be a disaster.


Chapter LIX

“Kay!” Brianna exclaimed happily as she opened the door and her arms to accept the embrace she knew was coming.  Kay scooped her up and held her close for a long moment, brushing a kiss over her lips before setting her back on her feet.  Then she moved onto greet the girls and Okasa while Lee repeated her actions with Brianna.  The kids, hearing the commotion, scrambled from the playroom to welcome the newcomers to their midst.  Before Brianna could even begin to perform introductions, the Tagherty kids had dragged Kay’s children to the playroom, leaving the adults standing around the foyer.  “Well,” Brianna said with a nervous smile, “I guess I’ll introduce the kids later.  Kay... Lee – you know Okasa and the sisters,” waiting for them to them all to grin and nod.  “These are my friends Charisma, Esmeralda, Saphira and Margaret.  Ladies, these are my friends Kay and Lee.”

Surprisingly Kay and Margaret exchanged brief air kisses as did Lee and Margaret.  “Margaret and I work together,” Kay offered in explanation, “though I didn’t know we’d see her here.”  She gave Margaret a questioning look.

“The Taghertys and I are in-laws,” she offered breezily.  

“Really?  I never realized....”

“Probably because I never said,” Margaret replied dryly.  “Charisma is my daughter-in-law.”

“Ah yes... the formidable Senator Tagherty,” Kay said with a genuine smile.  “You don’t know how long I’ve waited to meet you.”

“Oh really?” Charisma responded though her smile was purely a political one.  “Why is that?” taking Kay’s proffered hand and squeezing briefly before releasing her hold.  She was in purely political mode now and Brianna cocked her head and frowned, wondering what Kay could possibly have done in three minutes to bring that personality to the forefront of Charisma’s mind.

“I admire your work for and legislation about victims.  I think it’s done a lot to raise awareness where there wasn’t much before.  And that’s so important.”

Charisma’s eyebrows went into her hairline.  Whatever she’d expected from this woman that she viewed as a rival for reasons she refused to voice to herself, it hadn’t been genuine interest or sincerity about her work.  “Thank you,” she said genuinely.  She turned to Kay’s husband who was waiting patiently and Kay extended a hand to Esmeralda, then Saphira.

“So which of you is Esmeralda and which is Saphira?” she asked with a smile.

“I’m Esmeralda; this is my mate, Saphira,” Esmeralda said with quiet confidence.  Kay’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“That’s important to you, isn’t it?” she asked without a hint of maliciousness in her tone.  She saw the ire flame in Saphira’s, Charisma’s and Brianna’s eyes and hastened to clarify herself.  “I mean referring to yourselves as mates,” she added, seeing the understanding in Esmeralda’s eyes and relaxing just slightly.  “You’re more than partners... more than simply wives.  You belong to one another.”

Esmeralda smiled and nodded and Saphira visibly relaxed.  “You understand.”

“I do indeed,” Kay stated firmly but didn’t offer any further edification.  Before the silence could become awkward, Okasa spoke up.

“I hate to break up the conversation, especially as I would really like to understand why that whole ‘mate’ thing is so important.  However, we have work to do in the kitchen and Lee....”

“Yes Mama – I know where to go.”  He brushed a kiss over Kay’s cheek, then excused himself to the playroom with the rest of the men.  The women naturally headed back into the kitchen for coffee and conversation as they finalized the preparations for dinner.

************

They separated into small groups as a matter of course as soon as they entered the kitchen.  There were still a number of things that needed to be completed before they could sit down to the table, and they each took a task to make them go faster.  Only Charisma returned to the edges – close enough to listen, but far enough away that she wouldn’t be required to participate in any other way unless she chose to do so.

Hunter’s wife Theresa turned to Esmeralda with a question.  “Esmeralda, will you explain why you feel it is so important to be seen as Saphira’s mate instead of her wife or her partner?  I don’t understand the difference.”

Esmeralda looked around carefully finding only curiosity and a desire to understand until she met Saphira’s eyes.  The love and adoration she found there made her smile and the rest of the world faded away for a long moment.  Rocky’s wife Danielle cleared her throat and shook her head, grinning at them both when they broke their stare to fix their eyes in her direction.

“I think that might explain a lot.”

“What?” Esmeralda asked with a frown.  Forrest’s wife Cindy wrapped an arm around Esmeralda’s shoulders.

“Don’t mind her,” she offered with a smile.  “Now tell us about the mate thing.  Who knows – it may make our marriages stronger too.”

Esmeralda met Saphira’s eyes again and at her slight nod, she nodded her agreement to the rest of the group.  Everyone brought their work with them and stepped closer to hear her words.  Kay took the distraction that provided her with and moved up next to Brianna.

“You all right?” she asked, her eyes briefly darting in Charisma’s direction before coming back to rest on Brianna’s face.  She didn’t miss the twinge of anger that flitted over Charisma’s expression before her political mask fell into place, concealing every thought and feeling.

“I’m fine, Kay,” she said with a smile.  “I love you for your concern though.”

“I never stopped, you know.”

“I know, and part of me will always love you as well.”  Brianna paused and sighed deeply.  “Charisma actually invited me to be here.”

“Okay, so why is she acting like you’ve got the plague?”  Kay hesitated.  “Or is it me?  Does she know about me, Bri?  Does she know about us?”

Brianna shrugged and shook her head.  “Not as far as I know – at least I didn’t tell her.  Maybe Okasa....”  Both women glanced at the family matriarch and shook their heads.  “I don’t think she would do that.”

“Me either... not given the outcome she’d like to see between the two of you,” Kay added, smirking when she noticed Brianna’s raised eyebrows.  “What?  We talk,” she confessed.  “We’ve kept in touch since you and I broke up and I confided in her the reason why.”

“You didn’t.” flatly.

“Sure I did.”

“Kay... how could you?  That could have....”

“Sweetie, I knew it wouldn’t change anything.  Okasa talked to me very frankly about things after you and I were no longer together.  She never did anything to undermine us when we were a couple, but she made it clear to me what she hoped for once we split up.”

“Oh, umm....”

“Take a deep breath, Bri,” Kay said, putting a gentle arm around Brianna’s waist when the color faded. “C’mon... sit down,” easing her into a chair.  Without warning a glass appeared over her shoulder and Kay accepted it with a murmured thanks before offering it to Brianna.  Brianna’s hands shook slightly when she took it so Kay held it steady and Brianna drank slowly for a moment.  When she pushed the glass away Kay set it on the counter and leaned down into Brianna’s personal space.  “You all right now?” running a hand lightly along her jaw before it was captured in Brianna’s hand.

“Maybe if you’d give her a little space to breathe,” Charisma snapped curtly.  Kay rose to her full height – several inches more than Charisma’s - her dark eyes meeting incensed blue ones and her lips tilting up in a smirk that made Charisma grit her teeth for a moment before she dropped her mask into place once more.

“I’m not the enemy, Senator Tagherty – yours or Brianna’s,” Kay informed Charisma softly.  “I realize my friendship with Brianna isn’t as old as the one between the two of you, but we have been friends for a very long time.  I promise you I’m not trying to usurp your place in her heart,” wincing when Brianna’s nails dug into the hand she still held.  “Or life,” she added with a glare in Brianna’s direction.  “I just wanted to ensure she was all right when the color drained from her face.”

Charisma nodded brusquely and turned back to move towards the corner she had been ensconced in before she saw Brianna drop shakily into the chair.  Brianna dropped Kay’s hand, and Kay stepped back so Brianna could clasp Charisma’s hand instead.  Charisma hesitated, then firmly closed her hand around Brianna’s and waited.

“Thank you, Charisma.”

Charisma gave Brianna a brief smile and nodded, then with a squeeze to her hand, she moved back to the stack of dishes which she picked up and walked into the dining room with.  Kay patted Brianna’s shoulder.

“I’ll be right back,” causing Brianna to open her mouth, then close it and nod her agreement.  Whatever was going on with Charisma it apparently had something to do with Kay.  Better that they get it taken care of before everyone was called to the table – no one wanted that kind of awkwardness today.

Saphira watched the tableau taking place to the obliviousness of everyone around her though she suspected Esmeralda was far more aware of what was happening than her current conversation allowed her to show.  Saphira saw everything, and when Kay made it a point to follow Charisma into the dining room she moved over to Brianna.

“Everything all right?”

Brianna shook her head.  “I don’t think so, but I don’t know how things went wrong or what to do to make them right.”

“And you think that’s a good idea?” inclining her head towards the dining room that remained silent.

“Not really,” Brianna snorted.  “But I think they need to work things out between them before I talk to Charisma.  She took an instant dislike to Kay for some reason.  I saw it and Kay, well... she can read people very well.”  She smirked at Saphira’s raised brow.  “It’s her job.” 

“Lemme guess – shrink?”

Brianna’s eyes widened.  “How did you...?  Never mind – you’re probably as much a student of human nature as Es is, aren’t you?” chuckling when Saphira gave her a bashful shrug.  “Obviously I did something to set her off as well, but for the life of me I can’t figure out what I did.”

Saphira bit her lip, then blurted out softly, “Does she know about you and Kay?”

“I don’t think so.  I certainly didn’t tell her.”

“And none of the rest of the family would?”

Brianna shook her head.  “No.  Until a couple weeks ago, Charisma didn’t even know I was still in contact with her family.”

“Except that when they discovered you here, they treated you differently than they treated Charisma.  If I hadn’t known better, I’d have thought you were a long lost sister finally returned to the fold.  And even though the boys didn’t come out to say Hi when Kay and her family arrived, it was clear she was part of the family as well.  You greeted Kay like the long-time friend and confidante she has been to you; Charisma’s sisters-in-law acted like Kay was one of them; the Tagherty kids came and took Kay’s kids back to the playroom as a matter of course; and Mama sent Lee to join the rest of the male contingent, and he made it clear he knew what was expected of him.”  She paused.  “Brianna, Charisma’s not a stupid woman.  It wouldn’t take a lot for her to come to the right conclusion about the two of you.”

Brianna bit her lip thoughtfully, then shrugged as nonchalantly as she could manage.  “Kay was never something I hid – not when we were together and not since we broke up.  She was a wonderful lover, Saphira, and she’s been an even better friend.  I don’t regret the time we had together.  I’m sure we could have been very happy if things had worked out between us, but they didn’t.  They couldn’t have – not with the way I felt about Charisma... still feel, truth be told.  So I certainly don’t begrudge the love and family Kay has with Lee.  More than anything I want her to be happy.”

“And I am, Sweetie,” Kay assured her as she caught the tail end of the conversation.  “However, you may want to go talk to Charisma.  She... well, I don’t think she’s angry at me.”

“No, I’m sure she’s not,” Brianna replied tiredly.

“You want me to...?” Saphira started to offer but stopped when Brianna shook her head.

“No.  This is my problem to solve.”

“Are you gonna tell her why you left?”

“Only if she asks the right question.”

************

Kay picked up the silverware and followed Charisma into the dining room, feeling her stiffen though her motions to set the table never ceased.  She laid the placemats slowly, taking her time to ensure each one was perfect before moving on to the next one. She made it all the way around the table before Kay cleared her throat.

“Is there something I can help you with?” Charisma offered stiffly, turning enough to see Kay in her periphery but not enough to look her full in the face.  Kay noticed the lack of any sort of address and wondered if Charisma felt better by not calling her by name.

“Can I help?” she said by way of starting a conversation, holding up the silverware she had carried in.

Kay could feel Charisma’s struggle warring between good manners and her true desire.  Charisma took a deep breath and good manners won though Kay was curious how close the race had been.  “Of course,” she said after a long moment of silence.  “Would you like to set the plates as well?  I usually create some sort of napkin animal to decorate the table a little bit.”

“I never could get the hang of that.  I just fold mine and hope for the best.”

Charisma finished folding and held it up with a flourish.  “Stupid parlor tricks,” she muttered.  “I learned when the boys started having kids.  It was something to amuse them at a grown-up table,” gesturing to the myriad of silverware and dishes at each place.  “Mama insisted that we and they learn to eat correctly from a very young age.  I agree that it’s important for a child to grow up learning proper etiquette.  I’m just not certain they need to start quite so young.”

“So no kids’ table, huh?”

“No... but you already knew that, didn’t you?” her voice bitter.

“Yes, I did.   But you knew that as well,” framed as a statement, garnering a jerky nod of agreement from Charisma.  “May I ask what I did to earn your disdain?” Kay asked in a calm voice.  “Please don’t try to dissimulate for me.  I read people for a living.”

“Don’t!” Charisma said harshly.  “Don’t read me or psychoanalyze me or whatever it is that you do.  Just please leave me alone,” she added resignedly.

“Then answer my question, please Charisma,” bringing Charisma’s head up with a snap when she dropped her title and addressed her familiarly.  “I think I deserve to know what I’ve done to antagonize you.  We’ve hardly been introduced for an hour.”

Charisma sighed.  “It’s not you.  It is any number of mitigating factors and you just happened to fall into the crosshairs.  I apologize for making you feel uncomfortable.”

Kay smirked.  “I’m not the one who’s uncomfortable here, Charisma – you are.  And I do believe that any number of realizations have put me at the forefront of your issues today, but I still think you’ve chosen to dislike me on a personal level without even giving me a chance.”

“I see.  Should I ask what brought you to these conclusions?”

“I told you – I read people for a living.  Ask your brothers... ask your mother-in-law.  They know who I am and what I do. And Charisma, I’m very good at what I do so let me tell you what I know just from having met you an hour ago.  You’re jealous – you’re jealous of what you think is between Brianna and me, and you’re jealous of what you’ve missed while she was out of your life. Maybe you ought to sit down and figure out why that is.”

Charisma stared at her, neither acknowledging nor denying Kay’s words.  Kay saw the look of agonized confusion in Charisma’s eyes and softened, understanding for the first time why Brianna had been forced to walk away from the woman she loved so much she had never forgotten.

“Senator... Charisma – Brianna is my friend, and she’s been my friend for twenty years.  She’s a very special woman, and she’s very dear to my heart.  I would do a lot for her, and I’m asking you as her friend – be careful with her.  She hasn’t been truly happy in a long, long time.”  Charisma opened her mouth as though to interrupt and Kay shook her head.  “You don’t have to like me, but I want you to understand that I know her as well as you do... maybe better.  Don’t hurt her again.”

“I didn’t hurt her to begin with!  She’s the one who left me!!”

“Did you ever ask her why?”

“Yes!  She refuses to tell me until I ask the right question.  But I don’t know what that is!”

“Then consider things carefully, Senator Tagherty.  I think you do know, and when you’re ready to be honest with yourself, you’ll know what to ask,” Kay said as she put the last piece of silverware into places and turned to leave the room.

“Why do you care?”

“I told you – Brianna is my friend.  I just want to see her happy.”  This time when Kay turned to leave, Charisma let her go. 


Chapter LX

Charisma watched Kay leave and took a deep breath, then she headed out the other door of the dining room and down the hall to the playroom where the men and the children were currently entertaining each other.  She leaned against the doorjamb and simply watched the activity for a moment.

For the most part, the men were gathered around in a big circle talking – news, sports, jobs and occasionally making a comment directed to one child or another – while still keeping an eye on the various activities taking place throughout the room.

The kids had mostly broken down into groups by age and temperament, and Charisma was pleased to see that Adam fit in well with his cousins and their friends even though he was most definitely the youngest among them. Harley, Hunter’s oldest, was keeping a special eye out for him, but the rest didn’t just dismiss him because he was so young.

At the moment he was sitting in front of Harley between his legs and playing some sort of racing game on the big screen television.  Adam’s squeals of excitement made Charisma smile and forget everything but his joy.  When a girl she didn’t recognize – obviously one of Kay’s children - came and sat down next to them, Adam offered her the controller, but she smiled at him and shook her head.  Instead she pointed out something on the screen, and Adam nodded his head frantically before trying to do whatever it was that the older girl had shown him.

Renee, Rocky’s middle child and one of the twins, got up from her place on the floor where several of the children were involved in building something.  When she saw Charisma lounging in the doorway, she squealed and ran over to hug her.  Charisma smiled and returned the hug fervently, feeling better from the unabashed adoration in Renee’s eyes.

“Hey, Sweetie,” she said as she straightened, brushing a lock of hair from blue eyes.  “What are you guys building?” motioning to the mass of blocks on the floor and ignoring the raised eyebrow looks she was getting from the other adults in the room.  As a rule the girls stayed in the kitchen until dinner was called – the boys went in after dinner to take care of the clean up.  Mostly they didn’t cross paths too much until dinner was finished.  So seeing Charisma here now set off more than one alarm bell. 

“Everything all right, Princess?” Patrick asked when all the adult eyes turned to him.  Charisma nodded her head, but kept her eyes on the Legos taking up one huge corner of the room that Renee had led her to.

“Everything’s fine, Daddy.  I got the table set and realized I hadn’t even gotten a hello from some of my nieces and nephews so I thought I’d come rectify that oversight posthaste.”

“You talk funny,” offered another kid she didn’t know, and she raised an eyebrow at his outspokenness.  Then Renee punched him in the arm, and the boy glared at her.  “What’d ya do that for?  She does talk funny... like a teacher or somethin’.”

“Aunt Chari isn’t a teacher – she’s a Senator.  She makes laws and stuff.”

The boy’s eyes widened and he looked at her with awe.  “Do you really?”

Charisma smiled and nodded, liking the kid in spite of herself.  “I do indeed... at least sometimes.”

“Good!” the boy nodded fervently.  “Can you make a law that says I don’t always have to be nice to my sisters?”

Charisma took a seat on the floor and reached for a few of the blocks closest to her, carefully putting them together as she considered her answer.  “Well, I don’t know....” looking at him and then glancing at Renee with a raised eyebrow.

“This is Robert.” 

Charisma nodded her thanks.  “I don’t know, Robert.  Wouldn’t the world be a much better place if we were all nicer to each other?”

He sighed.  “I s’pose so.  But they drive me crazy,” rolling his eyes and shaking his head wildly.  Renee laughed and Charisma chuckled.  “Always wanting to play my games and stuff,” giving a long-suffering sigh.  “And Mom makes me share.” 

“Well, I’ll share a secret with you, Robert – brothers and sisters drive each other crazy.  But you do learn to appreciate them as you get older.  Who knows... you may even end up liking them at some point.”  Robert looked at Charisma like she’d just grown two heads.  She simply smirked and tousled his hair before she handed Renee her completed Lego figure.

“Wow!  Thanks, Aunt Chari.”

“Anytime, Sweetie.  Now I need to get back to the kitchen before Gramma decides I’ve absconded to warmer territory.”  Renee wrapped an arm around Charisma and got another hug before Charisma rose and moved away from them towards Harley and Adam.

“I’m telling you, Rennie – she talks funny... not like real people,” Robert whispered loudly.

“Robert,” Renee groaned dramatically, drawing snickers from the adults scattered around the room.  Charisma stopped beside her oldest nephew and put a hand on his shoulder.  “Everything all right, Harley?  Adam’s not too much trouble, is he?”

“Mama!  Adam good boy!” Adam insisted, scowling at her.  “Love Harley.”

Harley blushed but met Charisma’s eyes squarely. “Adam’s fine, Aunt Chari.  Mich and I were just giving him some driving pointers.”

“Mich?”

The girl beside him turned to Charisma and held out her hand.  “Hi, Senator Tagherty.  I’m Michelle Williams.”

“Charisma Tagherty,” Charisma responded automatically, accepting the girl’s hand and shaking it briefly.  “It’s nice to meet you, Ms Williams.”

“You can call me Michelle, you know. I’m not a Senator yet.”

“Do you have political aspirations, Michelle?”

“I would like to be the first female President,” she stated unequivocally.  “But for now I’m happy to be my class president.”  She shrugged.  “We all have to start somewhere, right?”

Charisma smiled.  “You’re absolutely right – we do.”   She hesitated, then plunged ahead, hoping she wasn’t cutting off her nose to spite her face.  “Look, if you’re really interested in politics, maybe you could come clerk for me one summer when you get a little older.  It would give you a taste of what politics is really like.”

Charisma watched Michelle’s eyes light up with enthusiasm and wistfully remembered when she’d felt the same way.  “Really?  Oh, thank you Senator Tagherty.  I’d like that... I’d like that a lot.”

“Aunt Chari, if you’ve finished charming my girlfriend, could I have her back now?  Adam and I need her to finish this race.”

“Harley!” Michelle exclaimed with embarrassment, slapping him on the shoulder.  Charisma just chuckled.

“Remind me to get you a card after dinner, all right, Michelle?”

“Thank you, Senator Tagherty. Thank you so much.”

Charisma just smiled and nodded her head before moving over to where four more children were working on a huge puzzle from four different sides.  Each child stopped for a moment to speak to her, but mostly, they were too engrossed in trying to fit pieces in to give her more than cursory attention.  Instead of interrupting the ones who were reading, she walked around the room and checked on them, smiling when each of them at least paused to say ‘hi’.

When she reached the door, Patrick’s voice stopped her again.  “Satisfied, Little Girl?”

She smirked.  “Yes, Daddy.  Now let me go see how long until dinner.”  Then she disappeared down the hallway in the direction of the kitchen.  The boys watched her go and Hunter and Patrick exchanged a significant glance.  The rest turned back to the discussion except for Kent.  He followed Charisma into the hallway, catching her hand and pulling her to a stop.

Charisma cocked her head in his direction and gave him a half smile though she left her hand in his.  Kent squeezed it lightly before releasing his grip.  “Are you all right, Charisma? You’ve seemed off-balance since you got up this morning.”

“Yes... I’m sorry, Kent.  Not sleeping last night really threw me off.”

“Anything I can help with?” wondering what had kept her up... especially since he was confident she’d been sleeping well enough until then even with them being forced to share a bed.

She smiled at him and cupped his cheek briefly.  “No. I just need to keep a closer watch on my caffeine intake, I think,” removing her hand from his face.

Kent nodded.  “I did the same thing the other night,” he confided, “when Mama served that molten chocolate cake.”  He paused, and the silence grew awkward.  He cleared his throat.  “Speaking of... you’d better get to the kitchen before Mama comes looking for you.”

She nodded.  “Thanks, Kent.”  Then she headed back to the kitchen without looking back.  Kent watched her go, wondering again what had upset her badly enough to put the pensive look on her face.  With a sigh he resolved to keep an eye on her.  Then he returned to the playroom to wait with the rest to be called to the dinner table.

************

“So there really is a difference,” Danielle commented softly when Esmeralda was done.  “In how you perceive your relationship and how you treat it.”

“I believe there is, yes,” Esmeralda said softly.

“I’d be tempted to agree with you,” Margaret agreed.  “Especially given your penchant for studying human nature,” her words causing those who’d missed the conversation that morning to look at her.  “Don’t look at me like that – she’s probably a better observer than Kay,” causing every eye in the room to turn towards Kay as she straightened up from her quiet conversation with Brianna.  She smiled and cocked an eyebrow, sauntering over to join the other women in their discussion.

“That’s quite a compliment, Margaret.”  She focused on Esmeralda.  “May I ask what it is you do for a living, Esmeralda?”

Esmeralda met Kay’s dark eyes directly.  “I’m a custodian in Charisma’s and Brianna’s Senate Building.  I take care of their floor, in point of fact.”

“Have you always been a custodian?”

“Since I started working, yes.”

Kay smiled kindly and looked around the room with interest.  “Margaret is right.  I may have the schooling and the knowledge, but Esmeralda has the experience.”  She turned back to Esmeralda again.  “You could probably write a book.”

“Again... no thank you.  I actually like what I do.”

“Order out of chaos,” Kay murmured.

“Oh,” Theresa moaned.  “You must be an angel or a miracle worker.  If you were a freelancer, I’d hire you in a New York minute.  I could use some order in the chaos that having three boys under one roof is.”  She turned to Okasa.  “And can you believe Hunter is talking about wanting another?”

Okasa smirked.  “I hope you don’t think I wouldn’t encourage him.  It would be nice to have more babies around here again.”

“Not from me!” Theresa exclaimed, garnering laughter from everyone in the room.  “My boys are closer to being out of the house than they are to being in diapers.  I would prefer to let them and their cousins have the next round of babies in a few years.”

“I’m not gonna disagree with Theresa, Mama... sorry,” Danielle offered.

“Me either,” Cindy piped up.  “Sorry, Mama.  You’re going to be one shy of a dozen in the grandkids department unless Charisma decides to have another baby.”

“Or Brianna could,” Charisma volunteered as she crossed the threshold into the kitchen, glancing Brianna’s way briefly before looking around at the women seated around the table and counter bar.  “Because Charisma isn’t having any more children.  One’s enough, thanks.”

Her sisters-in-law exchanged rolled-eye glances, but didn’t bother to argue the point.  Instead Cindy looked at Brianna.  “What about it, Bri?  Have you ever wanted kids?”

Brianna blinked and removed her stare from Charisma, wondering what she had seen in those blue depths.  She turned her attention to Cindy and her question.  “No... no thank you.  You’ve all been kind enough to let me play ‘Auntie’ to all of yours and that’s enough for me.  I don’t want to be responsible for someone who depends on me for everything twenty-four hours a day until they’re grown.  It’s selfish, but I like my life... even as a temporary politician,” she added with a smile, hoping to lighten the atmosphere just a little. 

Okasa snorted.  “Until they’re grown??  Brianna, in case you haven’t noticed,” motioning around the room, “they still come home when they’re grown and they bring more with them when they come,” garnering smiles from the girls and a chuckle from Margaret and Kay.  “The biggest difference is that at some point they all go back to their own homes until the next visit – which I cherish, by the way... both parts.  It’s a shame you don’t want to be a mother, though – I think you’d make a great one.  After all, you’ve got years of ‘Auntie’ practice under your belt.”

“I miss not having children,” Esmeralda offered into the silence and feeling Saphira come up behind her and wrapping her in strong arms.  She leaned into Saphira’s body and turned to Okasa.  “Thank you for inviting us into your home today and allowing us to be a part of your holiday celebration.  I can’t tell you what it means to both of us to be included like this.”

“I suppose now would be a good time to tell you that this is like a lifetime commitment in this family,” Charisma said with a smile in her voice.  “Just ask the girls – they came home with the boys once and now they’re expected here every holiday AND for weekly dinners.”

“Yes, but they’re family,” Saphira said.  “We’re just....”

“... family,” Okasa assured them, reaching over the table to squeeze one of Saphira’s hands that was still wrapped around Esmeralda’s body.  “You may not have been born into it and you may not have married into it, but I like to think that we can choose parts of our family as well. We chose Brianna, we chose Kay and now we’re choosing you.”

Blue and green eyes widened; Esmeralda tilted her head back and Saphira angled her head down until their glances could meet.  The women in the room watched their silent conversation in awe, not surprised when tear-filled green eyes looked back at Okasa a long moment later.

“Thank you, Okasa... all of you,” as she met the eyes of each woman in the kitchen.  “We can’t tell you what this means....”

“You don’t have to,” Brianna assured them both with a smile.  “We know.”

Saphira chuckled.  “Yeah, I guess you do.”

“Well,” Okasa said, clearing her throat and beaming.  “I think one of you needs to go tell Paddy it’s time to carve the turkey,” looking pointedly at Esmeralda and Saphira.  Saphira tapped lightly on Esmeralda’s belly.

“You go get Patrick.  I’ll sharpen the knife and help Okasa start serving up. I’m the professional, remember?”

“Just be careful not to sharpen it too much,” Esmeralda cautioned as she slipped from Saphira’s grip. “You know what happened the last time....”  Saphira flushed when all eyes turned her way.

“That wasn’t my fault,” she muttered.

“Be that as it may, please do not give the knife a razor’s edge.  Not everyone is as proficient wielding a blade as you are.”

“I kinda like to hear that story,” Brianna said as Esmeralda exited the room to fetch Patrick.

“Me too,” Charisma and Kay agreed together.  Then Charisma continued alone.  “However, I’m not going to ask the knife wielder to tell it.  Family or not, I’m not that brave or that reckless.”

Brianna and Kay snorted and it wasn’t long before their chuckles caused Charisma to break into laughter as well.  The rest started asking for the joke, but they couldn’t stop laughing long enough to reply, and looking at one another or Saphira only made them laugh harder.  Saphira, who had heard every word, maintained a straight face and just kept sharpening.

It was to this scene that Esmeralda returned with a grinning Patrick in tow.  He was thrilled that Okasa had made them officially part of the family.  He looked around the kitchen full of cackling women and shook his head.  After all, the family could use more laughter, right?

Then he crossed over to where the turkey was resting on the counter and accepted the blade from Saphira.  The sooner he was done cutting, the sooner they could eat.  And judging by the sharpness of the knife, Saphira knew her business.  He nodded his thanks and started slicing, only pausing when he realized everyone had stopped and was watching him intently.

“All right, the lot of you – find something else to do.  You’re giving me performance anxiety!”

This caused another round of laughter, but several of them took his words to heart and started moving food to the dining room while the remainder went to round up husbands and children to wash up for the meal.  It was finally time to eat.

Part 11