Epilogue

Kara

Kara looked up as the stairs squeaked, and Emanuel came into view. “So?”

“Fast asleep. Finally.”

“I thought getting them to bed would get easier once they were no longer toddlers. Seriously; I really do appreciate everything my mom had to go through with Sarah and I.”

Kara laughed. “Getting them to bed is the easy part. Getting them to stay there though...” they groaned in frustration together. “At least the grandparents were willing to watch them earlier so we could actually go out somewhere nice. This one’s a big deal.”

“Every year is a big deal, partner. But, I know what you mean. Ten years. Especially with those two terrors. How do they always manage to be one step ahead of us?”

“I don’t know Manny. We’re not slow or stupid, like some parents. And still, their timing is impeccable. Do you suppose they’ve...”

“No, please, don’t say another word Allison. If that’s true, than we’re in real trouble. The last thing we need is twin five year old’s with a gift like ours.” She felt a small jolt of pain. “Oof ... this little one’s going to be something else too.”

“Any more grief from the relatives about us not wanting to the know their sex? I was so close to wanting to clobber a few of them with a good, stout club for the twins.”

“Unfortunately, yes. The only ones who seem to get it are our moms. Do you actually have that club? I could use it tomorrow when my Aunt will be visiting.”

“No, I wish I really had one. But, I’m sure we could fashion one easily enough; maybe from that branch in the backyard.”

“Precious, stop encouraging homicidal thoughts in Kara. You know better than most that ‘pregnancy induced rage’ is only good for the first two ‘victims’. Let’s focus on happier things. I’ll get the scrapbook.”

Emanuel grabbed the large, leather bound book from its’ home next to the glass box which held their knotted cord, and returned to the couch, sitting down next to Kara. “I can hold it this time. I’m not that far along” she insisted.

She took the book and smiled as Allison sat on her other side. “Our memory book” Allison mused as she touched the tricolor ring on her hand. Emanuel flipped it open to the first page. “Remember the insanity that was the first three months after that night?”

“All too well, my muse. I think only our friends really believed us on the first telling. Litski didn’t get it for almost a month, and our ‘cult’ was probably the worst. Thank the gods that Pia was willing to help us deal with them.” She glanced up at the nude painting above the credenza. “I’m still amazed that she didn’t charge us for that masterpiece. That took, what, four weeks to complete?”

“Yeah. And she did all of it from the simple sketch she did of us in the art room. No reference photos or anything, but the lighting is exactly as it actually was” Allison replied.

“And I love the pose she had us take. She really captured us as the pillar, the muse and the beloved” Kara added.

“Speaking of friends, I think we can get out of visiting your folks tomorrow if you’d like. Cosette called earlier and mentioned that she managed to get the whole gang together for a barbecue tomorrow” Emanuel added.

“Including Laura and Shelley?” Allison asked.

“And Vanessa too.”

“As if any of us could keep her away from a gathering” Kara replied.

“She wasn’t sure she could make this one. This trip for her job finished more quickly than she expected it to. The monsters will be happy to see her again, I’m sure.”

“A good half of their chatter lately has been about ‘Aunt Vanessa’, that’s true. By the way Manny, did you know I had a good heart to heart with her a few weeks ago?”

“No, neither of you mentioned that.”

“I finally got an answer regarding why she came back after she broke up with you.”

“Oh, I could have told you the answer to that one. Four boyfriends in that two year period, and none of them could compare to what I could do to her. Even with the effort she put into training them.”

“If you knew, why didn’t you say something?”

“It wasn’t my place to say anything. Not until she said I could, or she told you directly.” He pointed to one of the photos on the page. “Remember when we took that selfie?”

“Our second night at CGE. That was the best present your parents ever gave us.”

“Definitely. If we hadn’t gone, I doubt we’d have lasted through that first year. Let alone still be together now. By the way, did both of you remember to make sure you’ll have off for this year’s one? This weekend is the last chance we have to get a full refund if any of us need to bow out” Emanuel replied.

“I’m good Manny. Darling, did you figure out if you’re sure about coming?”

“I may not be able to participate in everything I’d like to, but I at least have most of it available to me. Unlike you did with the twins and no impact play.”

Ugh ... don’t remind me about that. When I could finally have another ‘beating’ five months after they were born, I was ecstatic.

Kara laughed loudly. Oh, we remember that little session really well. That was something else. She flipped the page, and pointed to one of the pictures. “Our first dinner together in ‘our’ apartment. I’m grateful that you learned how to cook from your mom, Allison. Otherwise, we would have practically starved that first month ‘on our own’.”

“Don’t sell yourself short darling. Sure, your cooking was, to be honest, awful at first; but you learned pretty quickly to hold your own in the kitchen. And Manny was no slouch either.”

“Home Ecc ... that’s the only reason I was as competent as I was back then.” He paused. “Those first three months were eye opening in that little apartment.”

Kara nodded her head. “I’m grateful that we were able to find a marriage counselor so quickly. And, my muse, that you remembered the list of people we got from that meeting. I know it’s common wisdom that you don’t really know someone until you’ve lived with them for a time; but I didn’t realize quite how much there was still to learn about both of you.”

“Having our own space was nice when it finally came time to give Cosette that group session she wanted. Actually seeing their dynamic really helped me appreciate just how much goes into making those dom/sub scenes work.”

“Don’t forget, my muse, just how much fun that was. By the way, do you think we’ll actually see them at this month’s party?”

“Definitely. Cosette was sad they had to miss last month, but that was the only weekend they could get away with the kids” Emanuel replied.

“Good. Last month wasn’t the same without them.” Kara flipped to the next page. “The trip down to the courthouse. I was thrilled we’d weathered those first four or five months as well as we did; and yet there was still that little doubt that maybe we really weren’t ready to make it legal.”

“Amazing how the ‘little’ doubts are always the loudest in our thoughts. Yours nearly caused me to start doubting too; without Manny doing his best to calm both of us, I’m sure I would have. But, when we finally signed the statement and the clerk accepted it, all of that fled.”

“I remember. Mom had to completely shield her eyes for almost ten minutes; we were ‘shining’ that brightly. I was surprised we ended up being the first triad to step forward for that in Splitriver.” She paused. “You know, we got lucky in a way. We got the wedding jitters out of the way months before the anniversary celebration.”

He flipped to the next page. “Yeah, we were lucky on a lot of things. Like just how many members of our families actually came out to that. I was expecting our final accepted list was going to be a lot smaller than it turned out to be.”

“Besides the ones we knew would never come, there really were only a few surprises.”

“Like your grandmother, precious?”

Allison smiled. “Yes. I was expecting a hate filled note of condemnation from her; not that she’d actually come and be happy. I guess certain things really can transcend that sort of religious dogma. I mean, she wasn’t happy that uncle Martin wasn’t on the guest list, but when I told her in no uncertain terms he was never going to be a part of my life or my family’s she finally seemed to understand.” Not that I haven’t forgiven him for what he did; but that’s not something I’ll ever be able to forget.

Nor would we expect you to, precious. And after he got caught with another child, I think she finally realized just how fucked up he is.

He’s not getting out of jail for a long time, that’s for sure. Speaking of, I heard your dad may be up for parole soon. That’s unexpected.

“I didn’t believe it myself at first, but you’ve seen how he’s been with the kids the last few visits. When he realized how much he’d lost to his grief, he had no where to go but up. And, from what the guards there have said, he’s really been a model citizen for the last few years. That’s why they’re willing to consider parole.”

“I sometimes wonder what gave him the strength to start turning things around.”

“Two things partner, from what he’s told me. First, and I know this sounds a bit clichéd, religion. He never was much for church when mom was still alive, but he seems to connected to the same one she was so strongly a part of.”

“And the second, Manny?”

“Mom. When he finally accepted that he needed help, and started getting some, she was able to reach him like she did for us. Getting to hear her apology, and getting to say goodbye properly seems to have been enough for him to really turn things around. I don’t think he’ll ever be able to forget the lives he took getting there, but I’m glad he isn’t lost for good.”

They spent the next half hour flipping through pages of photos from college. Kara flipped the page again. “I believe you were six months pregnant with the twins at this point, my muse.”

“Seven. And I was starting to want them to get done growing and just get out already at that point. Two babies on one’s bladder is no fun, and arghh ... you already know my list of complaints though.”

“And I’m starting to experience some of them myself. This was about the time the relatives really got annoying.”

“Speaking of, I know your mom took you to your four month check up today. Anything we need to know about?” Emanuel asked.

Kara smiled, and picked up a small envelope from the coffee table in front of her. “Yes. I’d have hidden this in pants pocket if I had any” she started, patting her bare thigh. “The tech was able to get a really good picture. Take a look.”

Twins?

Yes, my muse. One had been hiding behind the other in the last pic; that’s why we didn’t see them. Why else do you think I’ve needed to pee every fifteen minutes the last week or so?

I’m glad we have enough space to build another room. We’re going to need it if we want to keep the guestroom and have a big enough bedroom for another set of twins.

“I intentionally had her take a pic that couldn’t show their sex. I know everyone is going to want to see this, and I’d rather we have plausible deniability when we say we really don’t know.”

Emanuel chuckled and pointed to another picture. “If they really insist on knowing, tell them they need to look through this portion of the book first. Knowing most of them, they won’t want to see the birth pictures.”

She chuckled with him. “Yes. The lot of them are terrible prudes. I’ve already shocked a few of them with the knowledge that we put the graphic birth photos in here, as well as the cute after ones.”

“Then too bad for them. If they’re not willing to experience birth for what it is” Allison paused “a wondrous and messy part of natural life, then they’re not welcome at the birth of any other kids we have.”

Kara looked skeptically at her. “You mean, other kids I’ll have. I know you’ve sworn the twins are the last you’ll ever have.”

“And yours will likely be the same. You know I love those two dearly; but they drive me crazy in ways I never thought possible.”

“You’re probably right.” She paused as an uneasy feeling washed over her. “Allison, take the book for a second. I think the monsters may be getting into something.”

“I’ll check.”

“No, let me. You had to put them to bed tonight; therefore, it’s my turn to put them back to sleep.” She handed the book to Allison, stood up, and quickly walked towards the stairs. Go ahead in the book if you want.

We’ll stop when we get to the new photos from this year.

Thanks, my pillar. As she made it to the top of the stairs, she spotted the light on in the twins room, and their own bedroom. One of them is rooting around our private things again. If this continues, we may need to lock those up.

Wouldn’t help much. They’d just find the keys. Can you see if it’s Isa or Petra who’s getting in trouble this time?

Of course Allison. Kara quietly walked toward the twins’ partially open door, and hid herself around the corner. Petra’s still in his bed, so it’s Isa this time. And, I think he might have spotted me. Suddenly, she spotted a blur of motion out of the corner of her eye. And there’s Isa, clearly with something dragging behind her.

Did you make any noise, partner?

No. That’s part of why I came up this time. I’m probably the stealthiest of the three of us. But she knew, and only darted out after Petra sat up startled. She paused for a moment. I think you’re right Allison, and we’re in real trouble.