Chapter 58: Epilogue: Part 3: Nessa’s Labors

“Mamí, when was the last time this drawer was cleaned out?”

“A few days ago. Why do you ask?”

Vanessa held up a pair of grapefruits. “Because I found these. First, I didn’t think any of you liked grapefruit. More importantly, grapefruit shouldn’t do this when squeezed.” She squeezed both, the fruits deforming considerably. “They’ve either gone bad, or whoever sold these to you was playing one heck of a prank.”

“We have those because these two” Kara patted her belly “more or less demanded them. I don’t normally like grapefruit. And honestly, they were fine yesterday. We originally had three of them.”

“Then you try them, and see if you can feel what I’m talking about.” She handed both to Kara, gasping slightly as Kara gave each one a good squeeze. “Uhm ... what was that?”

“I don’t know. But you’re right ... something’s really funny with these. The skin is much softer than I normally expect citrus fruit to be. I mean...” she watched Kara begin to gently run her fingertips around one of the grapefruits “in fact, they almost feel like...”

“Toss me ... one!” Vanessa gasped between quick, almost imperceptible orgasms. Kara shrugged her shoulders and tossed one of them to Vanessa; Vanessa caught the fruit and began to repeat Kara’s motions. Soft moans inexplicably escaped from Kara’s mouth as Vanessa finished the first time around. “I knew you and Allison were easy to turn on sometimes, but this is a bit ridiculous.”

“Says the woman who gave me a fruit that’s mostly soft ... except for a cold ring somewhere around here” Kara traced around the fruit, somehow causing soft moans to come from Vanessa’s mouth. “Well ... I can’t really call it a ring. It’s more of a hexagon. But you’re just as easy. And even stranger ... it feels kind of like there’s a soft buzzing coming from within it.”

Vanessa began to open her mouth, then held out her arms as the floor beneath them started to shake. “Either this area is prone to earthquakes, or someone is using a jackhammer nearby. My vote is on jackhammer.”

“Considering the noise level, I agree. But on the off chance it IS an earthquake, we should find shelter. The dining room table should be safe.” Kara dashed forward, opening it before Vanessa could reply, then stared out through the doorway. “I don’t remember the kitchen being next to our bedroom.”

“It’s not. And that means these are not grapefruit, nor was that an earthquake. Try closing and opening your eyes real quick.” Kara nodded her head; Vanessa closed her eyes, then shook her own head as the master bedroom came into view. Totally not grapefruit she quipped, gently squeezing Kara’s right breast.

Not in the slightest. And the ‘earthquake’ was the Queen slut herself going off.

Vanessa turned her head, chuckling as she completed the motion in time to see Allison collapse on top of Emanuel, his dick still buried inside of her. No kidding. So what were the cold... she glanced down at her own breasts and broke out into proper laughter, fingering one of the nipple shields. “Were these really on all night?”

“Apparently so. Ally! Time to wake up!”

“But ... I almost have that leaky faucet fixed. Somehow though, it feels like it leaked directly into me, almost like” Vanessa watched Allison’s eyes slowly open “of course. Did the alarm go off yet?”

“Not that I’m aware of. Do you need another round?”

“I don’t need one, Darling. But I wouldn’t mind” Allison started to reply as the most obnoxious alarm Vanessa had ever heard started going off “this is going to be one of those days where time is not on my side, huh?” Kara shook her head. “Would you mind turning that off Darling?”

“Not at all.”

“Drill bits” Emanuel started to babble “are not supposed to suddenly soften like...” Vanessa watched his eyes pop open “figures. That new lubricant was doing too good of a job anyway to be real.”

“Do you need me to get off right away?”

“Yes. I need to make sure I’m out on time.”

“Why?”

“Because” Allison started to reply as she gracefully climbed off of Emanuel “Manny drops the kids off at school on his way to work. But the time window to do that and still get to work on time is kind of narrow.”

“I’m grabbing the first shower. Kara?”

“I’ll wake the kids and get their morning bath done. Ally?”

“Breakfast. Simple and relatively ‘clean’ as usual. Are you willing to help me Vanessa?”

“Sure.” Vanessa stood up, pulling the shields off and resting them on the desk. “What do you consider ‘simple and relatively clean’ for breakfast?”

She followed Allison out of the room and downstairs. “Eggs and toast. With help though...”

“Bacon?”

“Exactly what I was thinking. We have a little bit of time before we need to start the toast, but bacon always comes out better baked in the oven.”

“Baked?”

“I’ll show you. You can do the eggs.”

Vanessa nodded her head, opening the refrigerator door. “How many, and what style?”

“Two eggs for each of us and one for each kid. Are you okay with scrambled?”

“Sure. How’s their spice tolerance lately?”

Allison’s laugh echoed through the small kitchen. “Not quite yours or Manny’s, but reasonable. I’d suggest keeping it simple though.”

Vanessa grabbed the carton of eggs and a large bowl. “Garlic, pepper, and salt? And maybe” she started, opening the fridge door again “hmm ... a little cheese?”

“If you’re adding garlic, then take the mozzarella. But I don’t think you’ll need more salt.”

She grabbed the partial bag of shredded cheese, nodding her head in agreement. “Not when you have the good stuff. Some people just can’t get enough though.” She closed the door again, then started to crack eggs one at a time. “So, how does this crazy baking method work?”

“Watch.” Vanessa watched Allison lay aluminum foil onto a pan, then lay the strips of bacon out one by one. “As long as you get the temperature and time right, it comes out just as crispy as if you’d fried it, but the clean up is so much easier.” Vanessa caught the quick glance Allison shot her way. “It’s been awhile since we’ve cooked together. Do you still things by sight?”

“For myself? Absolutely. I know exactly how much of a given spice I want. But in this case I’m doing what Mamá does when they have guests.”

“And that is?”

“Hand measurements. For example, with ten eggs I’d use half a handful of garlic for most folks; but I think I go to three quarters for us. Pepper though ... that’s a bit tougher.”

“Three pinches. Manny typically likes four or five, but that would be too much I think.”

“And” Vanessa tried a small piece of the cheese “yeah, no salt needed. But I think I’ll need a little more garlic than I first thought.” She cracked the last egg and started to beat them. “This ... feels a little surreal to be honest. I’ve had more dreams than I can think of lately with something similar happening in them, but never quite like this. And on some level...”

“It still doesn’t feel quite real, does it?” Vanessa nodded her head. “Been there. Our first morning in the old apartment felt like one of those dreams that you really don’t want to wake up from. And then our first breakfast happened.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard your version of it.”

“It’s probably not THAT different from what Manny might have told you. I offered to cook, but he said he could do it; that he’d been practicing. And sure, he wasn’t lying about that, but...”

“It wasn’t my fault that the stove top in the apartment was so different from what I’d been using in Clara’s kitchen.”

Allison turned toward the doorway, her arms crossed under her breasts. “That’s exactly why I made the offer I did! I remembered from the night before how finicky the front burners were, and had an idea how to prevent things from going pear shaped. But you were cleaning up after that last round with Kara, so by the time either of you got into the kitchen I’d already put out the tiny fire that had started. The same can’t be said for the one you started!”

“Charred is a flavor profile, right?”

“If I didn’t know that you two aren’t really angry with each other, I’d have started wondering if I made a mistake last night.”

“Oh, we’re going to have our own fair share of disagreements and challenges, I’m sure. That’s the nature of actually living with other people, after all. But we’ll get through all that.”

“We have one thing in our favor that you three didn’t have back then.”

“And what is that, Narradora?”

“We’re not young and foolishly idealistic any more.” Foolish sometimes, sure. But all of the experiences we’ve had so far have to count for something.

That’s for sure Nessa. By the way, I’m just about done drying the kids off. They’ll be running downstairs in a few minutes.

Perfect timing! The bacon is nearing done, and the eggs won’t take that long to cook. “I’ll get the toast going.”

Kara, let me get the kids dressed while you take your shower.

Sure. They’re impatiently waiting in their room for you.

Vanessa watched Emanuel nod his head and head back toward the stairs. “So, no naked breakfast?”

“Usually only on weekends, or if we’re woken up early by the monsters. On a more serious note though ... if you want to do our thing another time...”

“No Matrón. I want to do that today. Perhaps I should be partially dressed though while we eat.”

“Kara and I like skirts for situations like this. Do you want to run upstairs and get one?” Or maybe have Manny come down with one for you?

That’s probably better, yeah. She stirred the eggs again, and started to add in the cheese. Patrón?

Allison grinned. “Welcome to being a Mama. Kara’s had to wear some unusual things to work before. And I can’t tell you how many times I have.” She rested a hand on Vanessa’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. Isa has generally had good taste so far. Unusual doesn’t have to mean bad.”

“I suppose so.” Vanessa continued stirring the eggs for a bit longer. “They should be about done.”

“I’ll keep an eye on them. Can you set the table?”

“Sure. Plates, forks, glasses ... anything else?”

“A butter knife and a hot plate for the eggs. That should be enough.”

“Caffeine?”

“The coffee maker should be done soon; that’s on an auto timer. The tea pot needs to be set up, but I can do that. I only need to make enough for Kara.”

Vanessa started to lay the plates down on the table. I didn’t think about this yesterday, but ... don’t doctors usually tell you to avoid caffeine while pregnant?

Oh, he’s tried. Just like Allison’s tried when she was pregnant. My doc values his life more than ‘advice’ that’s in need of new research.

He says nothing?

He’s advised me to ‘limit my consumption’ to one cup a day. Sometimes I cheat a little and have two.

Sneaky. A sudden noise on the stairs caught Vanessa’s attention; she glanced up as two pairs of little feet came rushing down. “Good morning!”

“Good morning Mama Vanessa! Daddy said to give this to you.” Isa held out a colorful, full length skirt. “It’s pretty!”

Vanessa gently took the skirt from Isa and slipped it on. “Thank you Isa.”

“Why do you have a skirt like that Mama Vanessa?”

“You see Petra” Vanessa started laying down napkins and utensils “one of the characters I play in the LARP is a traveling performer, and her colorful clothing is a big part of how others identify her. This skirt is one of the ones I wear when I play her.”

Isa pointed to a secret pocket in the side of the skirt. “What’s the funny hole there for?”

“She has a few small weapons that she keeps hidden for when she needs to defend herself or do her real job.”

Petra “What’s that Mama Vanessa?”

“Well” she took the plate of bacon from Allison “she’s an assassin. Sometimes people hire her to kill someone for them.”

“They’re cowards?”

A light snickering filtered out of the kitchen; Vanessa shook her head, then looked at Petra. “The people who hire her are usually powerful people who would get into a lot of trouble if they tried to do that on their own. And honestly, her targets tend to be other powerful people who have body guards and are looking out for honest attempts like that. But they don’t think to question common people like a traveling dancer.”

“But Mama Vanessa, it’s wrong to kill people!”

“In real life, that’s true Isa. But the LARPs aren’t real; they’re another form of make believe. For example” she carefully put down the pan of eggs “that character has several characters she hates or considers a rival. But I like the people who play those characters, and don’t particularly get along with the person who plays my character’s best friend. Does that make sense?”

“I think so.”

“Mama Vanessa?”

“Yes Isa?”

“You like the thing that makes the pretty things Mama Kara does?” Vanessa nodded her head. “Why a tree? And what do the funny squiggly lines mean?”

Let me, Narradora. “We choose that tree because it’s called ‘the tree of life’. The ‘funny squiggly lines’ you see are another language; one of the written forms of Japanese.”

“Oh! Is that the same language you and Mama Kara use sometimes when practicing your dances?”

“Our Kata, Petra?” Vanessa watched Petra nod his head. “Yes. One set of those symbols is the equivalent of a whole word in English ... sometimes even a full phrase!”

“What does that one mean?” Isa asked, pointing to one of them.

“That’s the symbol for family.”

“Oh! Mama Vanessa, do you know Japanese too?”

“I know some, Petra. I don’t know everything your daddy does, and he probably doesn’t know everything I do.”

“How did you learn it Mama Vanessa?”

“Petra, Isa ... Daddy and Mama Kara need to go to work soon. Can we start eating? Mama Vanessa can answer questions while we eat.” Just like old times.

True. “Yeah. Let’s start eating, okay?” She helped the kids into their booster seats and put some scrambled eggs onto their plates. “I learned Japanese from two different places. Some from the manga I read, and the rest from a book meant for people in jobs like the one I had.”

“Why?”

“Because a few of my clients were Japanese, and speaking their language made helping them easier.” That, and it was much easier to land those accounts if they didn’t need to bring an interpreter with them.

What’s going to happen with those accounts now?

I’m not sure Ally. I know one or two others at the firm know a little Japanese, but none of them have any sense of the differences between our social and business norms and theirs. I suspect most of the accounts I actually earned are going to find another firm to work with.

Kara quietly buttered a piece of toast. Do you think anyone from the company will try to pull you back in if those people threaten to take their business elsewhere?

You’re correct Manny. What’s more costly is Vanessa saw a pair of small hands waving wildly out of the corner of her eye hold on a moment. “Yes Isa?”

“I like the eggs! They’re more flayver full than the way Mommy makes them.”

“And how do you know she didn’t make them this time?”

“Because they have gar’lic! Only Daddy puts gar’lic in eggs.”

“So who do you think made these eggs?” I hope you’re not too offended Ally.

“Daddy was helping us upstairs, so not him. And Mama Kara was getting clean, so not her...” Isa paused for a few moments, her eyes clearly showing her deep thought “so you!”

Not offended at all. I’ve gotten closer to Kara’s spice tolerance over the years, but you remember my mom’s cooking.

Kind of plain from my point of view, yeah. “Would you want eggs made this way again Isa?”

Isa and Petra nodded their heads vigorously. “I’m no fool” Allison began, a subtle grin on her face “I’ll try to learn spices from Mama Vanessa.” Manny, yet another way they take more after you than me.

Let’s talk about something else for a little bit okay? Vanessa nodded her head in unison with Kara and Emanuel. Would you run into any legal problems if some of your former clients decided to follow you?

If I was intentionally trying to steal them, maybe. But if they choose to follow me, that’s their right to choose, and the company can’t do anything about it. The clients don’t even need to say who they’re moving to.

How about any relevant information the company has on them? Does that stay with the company?

Not unless said information is actually confidential. All of the really important stuff isn’t.

“Mama Vanessa?”

“Yes Petra?”

“What happened to your pretty jew’ry?”

“I decided I didn’t want to be distracted while I helped your mommy cook. So I took them off.”

“Are you going to wear them later?”

“Maybe Isa. But if I do, it will probably be while you’re at school.”

“Oh ... okay.”

Disappointed, huh?

Speaking of disappointed, Manny...

I know Ally. “Kids, we need to leave soon. Have you had enough food?”

Isa shook her head. “Almost, Daddy. One more minute?”

“Okay.” Partner?

I just need to get dressed and I’ll be ready to leave too. But I’m full at least, and Petra seems done too. I’ll bring our dishes inside.

Thank you Darling.

“I’m done Daddy! I’ll go get shoes on now.”

“Sounds good.”

“Mama Vanessa? Help please?” Vanessa smiled and lifted Petra out of the booster seat, gently lowering him to the ground. “Thank you!”

Isa put her fork down a moment later. “Me too, Mama Vanessa? Please?”

“Of course.”

Vanessa helped Isa down; she grinned big and started to turn away. “Oh!” Isa turned back to Vanessa “thank you!”

“You’re both welcome.” Have I mentioned lately just how polite they both are?

They forget every now and then; Isa seems to still need to consciously think about it with people besides us. But considering their age, they’re both doing an excellent job. The real challenge is elsewhere.

Let me guess Ally ... Isa’s tendency to unload on anyone who seems to threaten the people she loves?

Yes. It’s one of the few areas her impulse control is really lacking. They both glanced up as Emanuel pulled away from the table. “Don’t forget to pick up the book on your way home.”

“I won’t.”

“Have a good day my love.”

“Thank you Precious.” Vanessa watched him turn around. “Ready kids?”

“Uh huh!”

“See you later, Patrón.”

“Don’t let Ally boss you around too much” he replied, a joking tone in his voice.

Vanessa laughed in unison with Allison as he led the kids outside, then closed the door. “Seriously though, he still looks damn good in a suit.”

“I’d argue he’s only gotten more distinguished in the last decade” Kara retorted, coming down the stairs.

“Don’t sell yourself short Mamí. You look good enough to eat!”

“You say the sweetest things! Although...” she paused, a seductive smile on her face “you’ll need to wait until later to unwrap me.”

“Be safe Darling.”

“Thank you, my muse. Oh ... if you intend to call my mom, you should do so in the next five or ten minutes. She usually decides if she’s staying home or going out about now.”

“Right! Thank you.” Honey, would you mind cleaning off the table while I make the call?

Not at all.

Thank you! Vanessa watched her disappear upstairs, then started bringing plates into the kitchen. “Call Mom F!” she heard Allison shout a few moments later. “Hello Clara! It’s Allison ... yes, it’s time to finalize the plans. But we need to make a few changes to what you currently have ... Precisely! It doesn’t feel right to insist she have the guest room as our beloved wife. But it’ll be much easier to explain what we need here ... Awesome! Oh, one other thing you should know...”

Yeah. If I get them out in the next half hour, I can easily beat the time most of ‘the club’ really starts to work. I’ll head upstairs and start writing them. Vanessa quietly made her way up to the guest room and sat down in front of the computer. She pressed its power button, grinning a little as the light of the fans came on. I’ll start with the continental clients first, I think. They’re the ones most likely to decide to stay with the company. She opened her web browser, navigated to her company e-mail, then attempted to put in her log in information. The computer whirred as the page showed a loading bar for a few moments, then loaded the account. Good. I didn’t think they’d shut me out yet.

‘Dear’ whatever their name is ‘You and your company have both been valued clients of mine and the Robertson Trading Company for’ however many years ‘and in recognition of this, I have important news that you should be made aware of. Effective yesterday’ yesterday’s date ‘I am no longer an employee of RTC. This means your account and all information related to it will be transferred to another associate within the next two business days. If there is a specific associate you’d like your account transferred to, please contact Julie Klosnan’ the system will auto fill in her e-mail address ‘along with the name of the associate or associates you would like to work with, and she’ll make sure the request is sent through the correct channels. If you are not particular about who will be in control of your account, then you do not need to do anything at this time; your account will be assigned to the first available associate.