The Shack series

Chapter 76

He turned and kissed her cheek. She ran her hand over his buttock and squeezed again.

"Come back to the house Lester, make love to me, please."

"OK, here," He offered his glass and she finished the drink.

They moved arm in arm up the sand buried wooden steps and over the dune to the house that sat back from the beach. Now strolling hand in hand they exchanged smiles and kisses. Entering the bedroom via the veranda, after opening the sliding glass door, they savoured the cool atmosphere of the air conditioned room. Charlotte's n****e stiffened at the touch of the cool air.

On the beach Lizzy and Perdy moved the children up the beach until they stood under a huge canopied deck area, sitting them on cushioned seats and pulling cool drinks from the fridge set in the units under the counter which marked the rear end of the decking. Lizzy pulled two Pepsi Max's out and popped the tops. Passing one to Perdy she glanced at the dune concealing the house.

"Lizzy, what's wrong," Perdy put her warm arm around Lizzy's shoulder.

"I guess I still find it a little weird that Dad's around and that Mum's actually happy with that."

"He hurt you bad, but he's desperate to make up for it, give him some slack, it's been five years now, no six, Kyle's five isn't he?"

She looked over at the small boy, happily drinking from the straw poking out of the small box drink in his hand. He grinned at his mothers and pointed at them, the three year old girl sitting next to him dissolved into giggles. The girls laughed at their children. Then Lizzy's grin faded slightly.

"Lester's done so much and never asked for anything back."

"No he hasn't, but what he gets is our love and friendship, and I really believe that's all he wants."

Perdy kissed Lizzy softly. Lizzy smiled and placed an arm round Perdy's waist, They kissed again lingering, until the laughter of the children made them grin and break apart. They dissolved into laughter, the children jumped down and ran to grab their legs inserting themselves between their parents. Lizzy and Perdy bent and each lifted a small body up to their hips and the children clung to them giggling. Both girls had a small 'Mummy Pouch', each having borne one of their children. Additionally Lizzy had a small white scar where a C-section had brought Kyle into the world.

It had not been easy to bear him and Lizzy bitterly regretted that she had been denied a natural childbirth. Perdy had explained it had been no easy feat to bring Emilia into the world naturally. The children carried Lester's parental gene, since when they had decided to have children by donor, they had asked Lester to be the father. Lester was delighted and arranged everything. A private clinic had readily accepted that Lester was donating his sperm to his daughter, the event sweetened by a donation of several million pounds over and above the clinics normal fees.

When Perdy decided two years later to have a child they were devastated to find she was infertile, a crushing blow to them all. However Lester again arranged things with the clinic and some of Charlotte's eggs were harvested and with Lester's sperm, Emilia was implanted into Perdy's womb successfully. They found the wait for the birth maddening, but finally at six am one Thursday in June Emilia arrived. Perdy had endured eighteen hours in Labour. Exhausted but elated she had taken her child into her arms and the mothers wept with joy at their new arrival. Lester and Charlotte waited outside and when ushered in had their hearts melted by the cute bundle Perdy and Lizzy showed them.

Lester left the girls and returned to the house he now shared with the family. Going into three year old Kyle's room, he sat in the semi darkness and silently wept at his blessings, Kyle completely unaware slept on. Mrs J, their full time Housekeeper found Lester slumped in the armchair in Kyle's room at seven, when she went to check on him. Finding a blanket she covered Lester and left him asleep.

A week later and they were home from their Caribbean adventure and the weekly routine kicked in again. Perdy had picked up an awful stomach bug somehow and was laid pretty low.

Lester woke to a tug on his sleeve as Kyle climbed up on his adored granddad. He bounced on Lester who sat up and grinned, grabbing Kyle and tickling him all over. Charlotte lay there laughing as the two rough and tumbled over the bed. Lester ran a bath for Kyle and washed and dressed him for the day.

As Lizzy arrived downstairs, Lester was buttoning Kyle's coat ready to take him to school.

"Dad, we wondered where you'd gotten to, you look exhausted, are you okay?"

"Sure, I'm fine, just taking Kyle to school, thought we'd walk as it's such a lovely day, you coming?"

"Yes I think I will, I want to talk to you anyway."

"Oh Oh! either it's expensive or I've screwed up."

Lester grinned and grabbed Kyle's hand,

"OK Kyle, let's go find the dinosaurs!"

Lester and Kyle raced out, followed by a grinning Lizzy. The school run by car was ten minutes, by foot a twenty five minute battle against dinosaurs, evil dragons, spacemen and robots. Lester and Kyle battled their way through the park and into the school. Kyle then seeing friends stopped hugged granddad and roared off. Lizzy slipped her arm through Lester's.

"Thanks Dad,"

"What for Lizzy?"

"Everything."

"No thank you for giving me back my family, I love you, I really do, I love Perdy too, is she okay?"

"She's fine, but a visit from you would be great."

"You sure? how is she really?"

"Pretty tired, but Em and Kyle not getting it has made her feel better."

"I might pop in and see her later, will that be okay with you?"

"Lester she would love it?"

"Oh it's Lester again is it?"

"I love saying your name, I love being your

daughter, I love the fact you're back in my life."

"I love you too Lizzy, more than I ever realised. I love your Mum too, I think I always did, even when.."

"Don't that's over, it's behind us, we're together, all of us, all six of us now."

"I can't believe you and Perdy are Mother's, you're so young."

"Dad I'm twenty six and Perdy's twenty seven, way old enough to have kids."

"The pair of you look about eighteen, you're such beautiful women. It really is hard to accept you're such mature adults."

"Thanks Dad, see I still call you Dad when I want too."

"I'm not so sure I'm a granddad, can't believe little Kyle's six and going to school."

"Well he is and we should go home, come on."

Lizzy snuggled into Lester's arm and they made their way back.

"Do you want to tell me what's on your mind?"

"Dad, what would you do if I told you Perdy and I have a business idea and we wanted you to help us?"

"Okay what do you need from me?"

"Don't you want to know what it is?"

"Obviously, but I'm sure whatever it is it'll be good."

"Perdy and I want to set up a business specialising in fashions for new mums."

"that's a minefield, some big names already in the field."

"We know but we wanted to find a new way of having something stylish, but affordable."

"I'm no fashion follower, but isn't that the Holy Grail of this oeuvre."

"Wow hark at you Lester, 'Oeuvre', I'm impressed." she slapped his arm with her hand.

"Don't be I'm not really sure what it means, but don't tell."

"So will you read our business plan and tell us if you think it will work or not?"

"Okay, but don't kick me if I spot any flaws."

"We won't."

Later Lester stole upstairs and knocked on Lizzy and Perdy's bedroom door.

"Come in,"

Inside Perdy sat in bed, a long sleeved white nightdress, buttoned to the neck, covering her.

"Hi Lester,"

"Hallo gorgeous, how are you feeling?"

"Definitely much less than gorgeous. God Lester this is bad, I have never felt this rough before."

"Well the Doctors pretty sure it will be out of your system in the next forty eight hours. Hopefully you'll feel better soon."

"Thanks Lester, I really hope so, this is the worst, I'd rather be pregnant again."

Lester laughed and sat on the edge of the bed. He placed a hand on Perdy's bare leg.

"Is there anything I can get you?"

"No, I'm fine, between Lizzy, Charlotte and Mrs J I'm fully cared-up thanks."

"Lizzy told me about your idea, sounds good."

"Yeah Lizzy said she'd give you the plan later."

"I look forward to reading it."

Perdy shifted as though in discomfort,

Lester I need the loo, can you give me a hand?"

"Sure, what do you need me to do?"

"If I can stand up, can you walk me to the toilet."

"OK, is that alright?"

"Thanks Lester."

Lester helped Perdy to the toilet and helped her sit on the seat, lifting the hem of her nightdress as she sat.

"Lester I feel a bit feint can you stay, sorry it won't be pleasant, ohh."

Perdy shivered and Lester smelt a pungent metallic odour, as Perdy's body ejected an evil cocktail into the bowl.

Perdy grimaced as another spasm gripped her. Lester reached out and held her hand, she squeezed it and groaned. Her face now flushed had crumpled with pain and sweat began to drip from her forehead.

Lester knelt and put an arm round her, she laid her head on his shoulder. Lester heard the bedroom door open,

"Lizzy in here, Perdy's really sick, quick call the ambulance, I think she needs to go to hospital."

Lizzy came and pulled her phone out of her jeans pocket. Dialing she asked for an ambulance and gave the address. Meanwhile she knelt at Perdy's other side and laid a hand on her lovers stomach. Perdy flashed a look at her, love, fear, hurt all passed through her features.

"Where's Charlotte?"

"Downstairs with Em and Mrs J, why?"

"I think we may need to get Perdy into a more comfortable position. I think she's finished here, but she needs to wipe herself, or get some one to do it for her."