21 страница

"Reina?" Payton whispered.

"Yes?"

"It's a good thing we aren't having any more children."

"Why do you say that?"

"We would have to get a bigger bed." Both Payton and Reina giggled quietly as they held each other tightly. They couldn't have been happier.

CHAPTER 12

The week that Payton stayed home with Reina and the baby was hectic, and wonderful. Not only did Payton get to spend time learning how to take care of the new baby, it also gave Reina some much needed recuperation time. On top of all that, Payton spent a lot of time with Max and Molly.

One night Payton and the kids planned to sleep outside in a tent in the backyard. Payton had promised and it seemed as good a time as any to spend a night camping. After borrowing a tent from Lindy, it took over an hour for Frank and Payton to put the tent up, both of them grumbling as they did.

"Look at those two. It's a tent. All they have to do is read the directions." Virginia laughed.

"Then they would miss all this fun." Reina chuckled as Payton and Frank became particularly disgusted. She was seated in the kitchen holding Melinda and watching out the window.

"Mom, don't say a word when they come inside."

"Really, Reina, I haven't been married to your father for forty years because I don't know when to keep quiet," She responded indignantly.

"Hi." Payton smiled at Reina and her mother.

"Hi, honey. How's the camping party going?"

"Good. I'll go grab the sleeping bags and get everything ready before I call the kids. Thanks for helping with the tent, Frank."

"You're welcome, Payton. I didn't think we were going to figure it out."

"We did good." Payton grinned. "As soon as I get the beds ready I promised Max and Molly we would have hot chocolate and s'mores. You want to join us?"

"I think Virginia and I are going to call it a night and watch a video in our room. But thanks for the offer."

"Reina, you want to join us?"

"No thanks honey. I'm going to feed Melinda and put her to bed, and I'm going to do the same."

"Okay, sweetie. Goodnight, Melinda." Payton kissed the top of her head and headed out of the kitchen.

"Honey, we will see you and Melinda in the morning. You get some sleep." Virginia advised.

"I will, Mom." Reina smiled. "Goodnight."

Frank and Virginia hugged and kissed Reina and the baby, and then headed for their bedroom. Reina followed them as she and Melinda headed for their own room. Melinda wouldn't be moving into the nursery for several months so her crib was going to remain right next to Payton and Reina's bed.

Payton finished preparing the beds for her and the kids and returned to the house to start the hot chocolate. She put graham crackers, each with a piece of chocolate and marshmallow on top, on a cookie sheet. Then she turned the broiler on to toast them. Once she had everything prepared she went to her bedroom to put her pajamas on before collecting Molly and Max. Reina was their sitting in the rocking chair feeding Melinda.

"Are you all ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be." Payton grinned. "I'm going to miss you."

"I'm going to miss you. Can I get a kiss goodnight?"

"Of course." Reina and Payton kissed thoroughly. "Who's idea was this anyway?"

Reina just laughed. "The kids are very excited."

"I know, I better go get them."

"I love you."

"I love you, honey. If you need me for anything you know where to find me."

"I'll be fine, Payton. Have a good time." Reina smiled, watching Payton head out of the bedroom. She loved Payton for making Max and Molly feel special.

"Thanks honey, I'll see you in the morning."

Payton stuck her head in Molly's room, where she and Max were busily coloring. "Are you two ready for your treat before we go outside?"

"Yes!" Max yelled.

"Payton, we made a picture for Melinda."

"That's very nice, honey. Why don't the two of you take it to her and say goodnight to her and your mom. I'll be in the kitchen, and Max, remember that Melinda might be sleeping so you should try to be quiet."

"Okay, Payton." The two children raced down the hall. Both were already in their pajamas and were very excited and very loud. Payton just watched them and grinned. A couple of minutes later they joined Payton in the kitchen where they all sipped hot chocolate and snacked on their treats.

"Okay, grab your flashlights, campers. Do either of you have to go to the bathroom?"

"No. Can we go in the tent now?"

"Okay, let's go." Max and Molly turned on their flashlights and trooped out the back door and across the yard. Payton had to grin at the very happy children. You would think they were in the middle of the wilderness. "You two climb into your sleeping bags."

Payton zipped the tent shut and crawled between Max and Molly. She covered the two of them to their chins and lay down in her own bag.

"Max, turn your flashlight out."

"Okay, Payton." As Max turned off his flashlight he turned with it in his hand toward Payton and smacked her right in the lip. She hissed with pain as her lips smashed against her teeth.

"Sorry, Payton."

"No problem, buddy. Let's put your flashlight right here in case you need it." Payton tried very hard not to let Max see that he had hurt her, but she could feel her lip puffing up as she spoke.

"Payton, are there wild animals outside?"

"No, Molly. The only animals around here are cats and dogs and one monkey named Max," Payton teased, tickling the two children. They giggled and squealed until Payton held them in her arms.

"Let's cover up now. It's time to get some sleep."

"Payton, how come Mom and Melinda aren't sleeping with us?"

"Melinda is still too little to sleep outside, and your mom would love to be with us but someone needs to watch Melinda."

After several more minutes of conversation, Molly and Max began to yawn and, before Payton knew it, the two of them were fast asleep. For two hours all three slept soundly, until Max woke them all up.

"Payton, I have to go to the bathroom."

"Okay, Max. How about you, Molly?"

"I have to go, too."

"Okay, let's all go." The three of them entered the darkened quiet house and Max shut the sliding glass door with a slam. Intending to stop it before it woke everyone up Payton grabbed for the door, catching her three middle fingers between the door and the jam. The heavy door smashed her fingers, bringing tears to her eyes. Biting her already sore lip so she wouldn't cry out loud, Payton shook her crushed fingers.

"Sorry, Payton." If Payton wasn't in so much pain she would have laughed, but it was all she could do not to cry.

"That's okay, honey. Let's go use the bathroom." The three headed down the hall. As they reached the bathroom, the hall light turned on and Reina came out of the bedroom to meet them.

"We needed to use the bathroom." Payton informed her. "Max, you use this bathroom and Molly you go use the one in your mom's room."

The two children disappeared as Reina stared intently at Payton. "Honey, what happened to your lip?" Reina rushed to her.

"The same thing that happened to my fingers." Payton held out her throbbing fingers.

"Payton, you're bleeding."

"It's not that bad, and please don't say anything in front of the kids."

"Let me clean your fingers and bandage them. What happened?"

"Max happened. He accidentally hit me in the mouth with his flashlight earlier when we went to bed, and my fingers were caught in the back door when he slammed it. I was afraid he would wake everyone up so I tried to catch it. We were coming in to go to the bathroom. I missed."

"Honey, if I send you back outside you might break something," Reina whispered, hugging her. "It's dangerous business, camping."

"You are so funny." Payton grinned.

"If I kiss your lip will it make it feel better?"

"I'm sure it will."

Reina kissed Payton gently several times. "Do you think you could be real careful when you get back outside? I like these lips."

"I'll try." Payton laughed. "Now what's a person got to do to get a bund aid around here?"

A couple of minutes later the three campers headed back out to bed, Payton with u bunch of Band-Aids around her crushed fingers. The rest of the camp out went much smoother and the three of them

slept until after nine in the morning. The children helped Payton put the sleeping bags away, and dismantling the tent took far less time than putting it up.

"Payton, another night of camping outside and we would have had to take you to the emergency ward," Virginia teased.

"They were accidents." Payton tried to smile but her lip was so swollen and sore it made talking painful. Her fingers were even worse, black, and blue from the bruising, swollen, and unable to be used. "Besides, Max and Molly had a good time."

"They had a wonderful time, honey. Thank you." Reina kissed her softly. "But I think we'll wait awhile before you sleep out again. I'd hate to see what you would look like after two nights of sleeping outside."

"Ha ha." Payton rolled her eyes as Virginia and Reina laughed loudly.

CHAPTER 13

Payton regretted having to go back to work on Monday. She was working at home two days a week for the next two weeks, but it wasn't going to be the same. Frank and Virginia were an enormous help, but she would have liked to spend more time alone with her family. A week later, when Frank and Virginia headed home, things started to settle into a routine. Reina was feeling much better and the baby was proving to be a very easy baby to take care of. She was starting to stay awake after being fed, and she especially liked bathing, which Max and Molly enjoyed helping with. They had even been able to get out of the house and go to Lindy and Tamara's for dinner one evening, where Melinda was the hit of the party.

Within six weeks, Payton was back to working full time, Molly and Max were back in preschool, and Reina was doing light work out of the house. Life was wonderful.

"Payton, I'm going to put Melinda down and take a shower."

"Okay, honey. I'm going to finish folding these clothes and then I'm coming to bed."

It was after ten o'clock on Friday night, and Max and Molly were already in bed. They were excited about their trip to the zoo. The whole family, including Melinda, would be making the trip. Payton curried the basket of clean clothes into the bedroom to put away. It was amazing how much laundry one little newborn produced. She headed for the bathroom while Reina showered and washed her hair. Payton pulled a silk nightshirt out of her drawer and put it on. She took a look at Melinda asleep in her crib and she smiled. You couldn't have asked for a sweeter baby. She was even sleeping through most of the night.

"She looks more and more like you every day," Reina whispered, sliding her arms around Payton, her lips finding Payton's neck.

"She looks like Max and Molly, and she's going to have wavy hair just like her mother." Payton turned to face Reina.

"Payton, I'm all healed and I feel fine."

"You are." Payton grinned as Reina's hands slid under her shirt.

"I am. And I really need a favor." As Reina spoke, her hands traveled down Payton's back and hips, pulling her snuggly against Reina's body.

"What favor?" Payton's body reacted to Reina's, flooding with heat while she gazed into Reina's eyes.

"I need a willing volunteer to make mad passionate love with."

"A volunteer, huh?" Payton slowly began to unbutton Reina's nightgown. Her fingers drifted between Reina's breasts and her lips made the same path. Payton's tongue tasted the flavor of Reina's skin as she slid the nightgown from her shoulders.

"Honey, let's turn the lights out." Reina was still self-conscious about her body.

"Reina, I want to see every inch of your gorgeous body. I love the way you look." Payton looked into Reina's eyes. "Honey, your having Melinda made you more appealing to me."

Reina's eyes glowed as Payton's fingers and mouth floated over her body. When Payton's mouth surrounded Reina's nipple, she groaned. Payton maneuvered them to the bed and gently pushed Reina onto her back. Within minutes Payton's attentions had Reina gasping with pleasure. Payton's tongue sliding inside her was her undoing, and she dissolved into a series of orgasms that threatened to melt her body to the bed. Just when she caught her breath, Payton

renewed her efforts, and Reina again fell into pieces as another orgasm rippled through her body.

"Reina, I've missed this," Payton admitted, covering Reina's body with her own.

"Then we'll have to make sure that I make it up to you." Reina grinned as she rolled Payton onto her back, her thigh sliding between Payton's legs. Reina's mouth spread wet hot kisses all over Payton's body, while her hands drifted over every spot until she was driving Payton crazy with desire.

"Reina!" She pleaded, arching against Reina's mouth and exploding. Payton's body jerked as Reina's fingers joined her mouth and she created a riot of feelings that overwhelmed Payton. She pulled Reina up into her arms as they shared kiss after kiss. Payton's craving for Reina was not satisfied, and she again covered Reina's body with her mouth and touch. Payton loved the taste and the fragrance of her lover, and she showed Reina in the most perfect way how much she loved her body. As she made love to her she shared her feelings out loud, and this, more than anything brought tears to Reina's eyes.

They lay quietly in each other's arms, overwhelmed and full of awe at the intensity of their love. The house was quiet for the longest time until Melinda's fussing told them she was hungry.

"I'll go get her," Payton volunteered. She pulled on her nightshirt and went to get a clean washcloth. "Let's check your diaper, little girl. Are you hungry? You are such a good little girl."

Reina smiled as she watched Payton change Melinda's diaper, talking to her the whole time. "Okay missy, let's take you to your beautiful mother."

Reina kissed Payton and she took the fussing baby in her arms. Melinda immediately rooted around, until she found her mother's nipple and began to nurse. "She's such a little pig." Payton laughed as she kissed Melinda on the head.

"She has a healthy appetite." Reina laughed with her and kissed Payton slowly.

Payton couldn't resist the urge to kiss Reina's breast right above the nursing child. "You both are so beautiful."

"Payton," Reina whispered. "Hold me while I nurse Melinda."

Payton slid under the covers next to Reina and wrapped her arms around Reina and Melinda. Reina leaned her head back against Pay-ton and they both watched the baby nurse. It was an overwhelming love that both Payton and Reina felt at that moment.

"Reina, will you marry me?"

"Honey, I already did."

"I know but I want to marry you again."

"I'd love to, Payton. I'll marry you as many times as you want."

"I just feel so damn lucky." Payton's voice cracked.

"I know. I feel the same way."

CHAPTER 14

"Payton, I have the diaper bag," Reina announced.

"Great. Max and Molly, do you have your packs?"

"Yes, Payton."

"Okay. Ms. Melinda, do you have your bathing suit?" Melinda gurgled in response as Max and Molly giggled.

"She said yes, Payton."

"I heard her." Payton carried Melinda in her baby carrier, as they headed for Lindy and Tamara's door. They were attending a bar-beque to celebrate Lindy and Tamara's commitment ceremony a year earlier. It was also Reina and Payton's anniversary. Melinda was dressed in her party hat and shorts, having turned into a very stylish five-month old.

"Hi guys, come on in," Lindy called from the open door. "Max and Molly come here and give me a kiss."

Max ran to Lindy and planted a kiss on her cheek, and Molly hugged her happily. They both liked Lindy very much.

"Happy Anniversary." Reina joined her children as she hugged Lindy.

"Same to you, doll." Lindy grinned. "Payton, bring my god child here!" She demanded.

Payton just grinned in return as she handed Melinda to Lindy. "Don't spoil her."

"Of course I'll spoil her. Come here you. Don't you look cute." Lindy kissed the happy little girl. "I can't believe how fast she's grow-ing.

"Here, let me take her out of her carrier." Payton took Melinda back.

"Come on in, everyone is in the backyard. Molly, Max, the kids are in the pool. Why don't you go join them? Tamara is in the pool with them."

"Lindy, Melinda can swim, too."

"She can?"

"Yep, she's been taking swim lessons with Max and me."

"Well, we have to see this little fish do her thing."

Payton and Reina had decided that if they were going to have little children around their pool, all three would learn to swim. It was actually amazing that all three of them loved the water and took to their swimming lessons like little ducks. Their instructor called them all water babies.

"She has a bikini and everything."

"I can't wait to see this." Lindy laughed as they all joined the crowd and exchanged greetings. Many of Payton and Reina's friends were there.

"Honey, I'm going to swim with the kids before dinner." Payton announced.

"Okay, sweetie. Payton, could you come here a minute?" Reina crooked her finger at Payton. Yes.

"Have I told you how sexy you look?" Reina whispered.

"You look pretty luscious yourself, and I plan to have a private anniversary celebration later."

If people didn't know Reina had recently had a baby, looking at her they would never know. She had lost all of her weight and had

worked very hard to get back into flying shape. She was back at work and all three children were being taken care of by a wonderful older woman they had hired as a nanny. Her name was Lucille Minor and she was a dear. She loved the children and they loved her. It had worked out very well.

"Come on, Payton," Max yelled, his snorkel hanging off his neck. Both Max and Molly had snorkel sets. They were getting the hang of them before their vacation in October. They were all going to Hawaii with Grandma and Grandpa, and Payton's brother Ed, his wife Eva, and their children. Two weeks of sun, surf, and family. It was Reina and Payton's anniversary gift to themselves and their children.

"Okay, honey. I'll continue this later," Payton promised, kissing Reina slowly. She loved kissing her. Reina watched Payton and the three children head to the pool.

"You look very happy, Reina."

"I am beyond happy, Lindy. I never knew I could be this happy."

"Payton feels the same way."

"Look at her, Lindy. She loves those children so much, and they love her. She makes a wonderful parent."

"Who wouldn't love her? She is as special as you are."

"Thanks, Lindy. We are taking lessons from you and Tamara. I never would have taken the chance if it wasn't for the two of you."

"I think Payton had a lot to do with your taking that chance."

"Boy, I can't believe you just had a baby," Tamara grumbled as she joined the two of them, a dripping Banta standing next to her. "How do you do it?"

Reina laughed and hugged a bathing suit clad Tamara. "You look pretty good in that bikini."

"I didn't just have my third child. It must be all that extra-curricular activity." She teased.

"Like you don't get enough activity of your own," Reina retorted, calming Lindy to blush.

"Isn't she cute." Tamara hugged her embarrassed girlfriend. "She blushes whenever I mention the word sex, but let me tell you the first night I made love with Lindy she amazed me."

"Tamara," Lindy groaned.

"Lindy, you're my partner and I love everything about you, especially the fact that you love making love with me."

"I do enjoy that." Lindy grinned.

"The fact that you are insatiable is just an added blessing."

"Tamara," Lindy glared, as Tamara and Reina laughed.

"Come on, Banta, let's go check on the food so we can go swimming again." Tamara and her young son left her irritated girlfriend, grinning.

Lindy watched Tamara and Banta enter the house. "She drives me crazy, but I love her to death."

"I believe the feeling is mutual," Reina responded. "Now tell me, is it the water that makes all the women in Seattle insatiable?" She teased.

"I'm not going to answer that." Lindy grinned. "Come on, let's go watch Melinda swim."

Payton had removed her shorts and tee shirt and was in the shallow end of the pool with Max and Molly, Melinda in her arms. Melinda wore a miniature bikini. She loved the water and was busily slapping her arms, splashing in it.

"Okay, water baby, let's see you swim." Payton lowered Melinda into the water like she had learned at the swim lessons. Melinda gurgled and grinned, floating on her back and kicking her feet.

"Look at that bathing suit! Where did you find it?"

"Payton found it."

"I can't believe Melinda can swim."

"She loves the water."

"They are awfully cute, she and Payton."

"She and Payton have a special relationship. She looks like Pay-ton."

"She does."

"It's almost like Payton and I had her together."

"You did."

"You're right, we did." Reina smiled. "I love how Payton is with the kids. She just loves them unconditionally."

"Just like you."

"Yes, she does love me unconditionally. She also has this capacity to make you the center of her world, like nothing else matters."

"You are the center of her world, Reina. She loves the children because they are a part of you. Why do you think she loves you?"

"Well, I know she is attracted to me, I make her laugh, and I love her."

"Reina, you know why she loves you. You make her the center of your world. Even with three children to take care of, you take time for her. You shared your children and your life with her, but most of all you had a child with her, and my friend, that meant more to her than any words of love. You can see it in the photographs she took of you when you were pregnant. They are the most beautiful pictures I have ever seen, because she took them with such love in her heart."

"They show me when I was at my worst."

"Reina, have you really looked at those pictures? Payton didn't see you at your worst, she saw a very sexy beautiful mother-to-be and lover." Lindy hugged her. "Take a real good look at those pictures. No words could express her love for you as well as those pictures. Do you remember how worried you were to tell her you were pregnant, and how you feared she wouldn't find you sexy?"

"I was scared."

"Reina, honey, Payton made love to you every time she took your photograph."

Reina was overwhelmed by Lindy's speech. "Thank you, Lindy."

"Don't thank me, honey. I think all four of us found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow."

"We did love, we did."

"Look Mom, Melinda's swimming!" Max yelled. He had become a very proud older brother and loved to point out Melinda's talents.

"I see that." Reina laughed. "She's a mermaid just like Molly."

"Maybe she's a frog!" Banta yelled.

Payton grinned at Reina, holding Melinda while she splashed in the pool. "She's a duck," Payton admitted.

The afternoon was a lot of fun. The kids laughed and played while Reina and Payton visited and caught up with friends. Melinda went to sleep in Tamara and Lindy's bedroom after Reina fed her. It was a happy but tired group that made the trip home later that evening.

"Reina, I'll put Max and Molly to bed, if you want to take Melinda and put her to bed."

"Okay, honey. I'll come in and kiss them goodnight in a minute."

"All right little man, mermaid girl, let's go to bed." The tired trio headed for the children's bedrooms, and quickly put on their pajamas and crawled in bed.

"Goodnight, Max. I love you gobs."

Max kissed and hugged Payton goodnight. '"Night."

Payton went to Molly and kissed her goodnight, then turned out the light as she left the room. She met Reina in the hallway. "Is Melinda sleep?"

"Out like a light."

"Max and Molly are waiting for you."

"Okay, honey. Could you do me a favor?"

"Sure?"

"Meet me in the office."

"Okay." Payton wasn't sure why but she headed for the office anyway. She sat in her chair at her desk and waited. She had no clue what Reina was up to, and usually she knew.

Reina entered the office moments later. "I want to look at the photographs you took of me when I was pregnant."

"Okay. They're in the photo album. Here."

Reina pulled up a chair next to Payton and opened the book. Pay-ton was still uncertain why Reina was looking at the pictures at that particular moment. She had already seen all of them. Payton watched her closely for some indication of what she was thinking or feeling.

Reina started at the front of the book and saw photographs of her and the kids before she and Payton had moved in together. As she turned the pages, she saw herself and the children through Payton's eyes, and she melted. Lindy was right. Payton did make love to her every time she took her picture. One photograph brought tears to her eyes as she gazed at it. It was a picture of the two of them.

"Tamara took that picture."

It was shortly before Reina had delivered Melinda and she was very large. The two of them were standing in each other's arms, Reina leaning back against Payton. Payton's arms were around Reina resting on her stomach with Reina's hands clasped in her own. Reina's head was resting on Payton's shoulder, and she was laughing while Payton grinned at her. Reina stared for the longest while at that picture as her eyes blurred with tears. She turned to the next page and found a picture of herself standing in front of their bedroom window. Her long blond hair was loose and hanging down the middle of her back. Her nightgown was unbuttoned in order to nurse Melinda, who was cradled in her arms. She was turned toward the camera smiling as Melinda suckled. Reina's breath caught in her throat.

"You take beautiful pictures of our family." Reina turned to Pay-ton.

"I have a beautiful family." Payton smiled.

"Payton, I love you."

"I love you."

"Happy Anniversary."

"One year since you married me."

"And you married me. Payton, I want at least fifty more." Reina kissed her slowly.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-16