This Kiss

Chapter 113

After everyone arrived at the Spaulding Mansion and plenty of Pizza was ordered for the large group, everyone gathered in the great room to eat and converse. While the young adults entertained Emma and Payton, the three older couples talked amongst themselves. Lots of jokes were shared about Beth, Doris, Olivia, and Natalia all having lived in the mansion at one time or another, three of the four having been married to Alan, and two of them having been married to both Alan and Phillip.

"At least I w-was smart enough t-to only marry Phillip o-once." Olivia laughed.

"Ouch." Phillip raised a hand to his heart, feigning pain. "That hurts Olivia."

"True, but you still beat everyone in this room on marriages total." Beth countered as if Phillip hadn't spoken.

"Damn! W-where's Reva when y-you need her?" Olivia shot back.

"I may be her sixth marriage, but I can guarantee I'm the last." Natalia offered with total confidence as she pecked her wife.

"What makes y-you so certain I'll k-keep ya? H-huh?" Olivia joked.

"Well, you know what they say, when a man can't seem to get the job done, send in a woman."

Everyone laughed at that before Doris steered the conversation away from the sickeningly cute couple. "You know what I find funny? Two out of the three of Alan's ex-wife's sitting here, turned out to be gay? Hmm, Beth you sure Phillip's still doing it for ya? I could introduce you to some nice ladies." She said, earning her a slap from Jamanda and a glare from Phillip.

Before Beth could respond, Emma and Payton came bounding over. "Can we watch the movie now?" Emma asked with a toothy grin.

"Yeah, movie now." Payton agreed.

The adults agreed since it was getting close to bedtime and quickly cleared away the trash and pizza boxes to the kitchen. They all moved into the living room and settled in to watch 'Tooth Fairy.' Phillip and Beth sat cuddled on one couch with Payton and Emma on the floor in front of them. In an oversized chair Doris sat with Jamanda half on her lap. The love seat held Olivia and Natalia. Natalia seated sideways leaning against an arm rest with Olivia between her legs laying back against her chest. In front of them Rafe and Ava sat shoulder to shoulder leaning against the love seat and in the middle of the floor James, Daisy, and Ashley all lay on their stomachs propped on their elbows.

The movie was just about half over when Emma made her way into Doris's lap beside Jamanda and snuggled against her chest. Phillip looked over at his daughter with a sad smile. He had hoped she would choose to cuddle up with him, or at least stay on the floor with the other kids, but he knew from his talks with Olivia that it was important to allow Emma to choose who she felt safe enough to sleep with. He shrugged at Doris and mouthed 'I tried.' Doris just smiled at him and pulled Emma tighter against her, kissing her head as she did.

As Payton crawled up into Beth's lap and Ava lay her head on her brother's thigh, Natalia looked around at what had become her family. Once upon a time it had been only her and her son. Two souls wondering Chicago with only the other to lean on. Now, well now she had more than she ever dreamed possible. Her husband's brother, wife's ex-husband, and daughters father had become a wonderful friend and asset to their family, as well as Beth, who she was still getting to know.

The woman she had thought was as heartless as they come had become her wife's best friend, and day by day she was coming to love the mayor herself. Doris was instrumental to their family. Not just now, in their time of need, but all the time. She had become more than just a friend, she was family, her and Ashley, and Jamanda was well on her way to being a part of that as well. The five young adults on the floor each held a special place in her heart.