One Little Bit Read online

  One Little Bit

  by

  Tey Holden

  Copyright © 2011 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronically or mechanically, including recording, printouts, information storage and retrieval systems without permission in writing from the author. Copyrights to this publication, and the entire Addy and Karen Series are registered with the Library of Congress.

  Acknowledgements

  My deepest appreciation to my editor and beta reader.

  Part 1

  “Mommy, did you zee me fly my kite?” The little one asked while climbing all over the woman sitting on the patio.

  “Yes, I did. You did great.” She hugged the small, sweaty body on her lap, and combed her shoulder length blonde hair. The woman’s green eyes, however, were fixed on the fast-approaching figure coming up the hill. The red sun setting in the background, framed the figure as she walked closer. She was wearing tight blue jeans that hugged her hips, and a Henley sweater that marked every one of her curves. One could hardly tell what was more enchanting, the smile on the approaching woman’s face, the sun setting behind her, the beaming green eyes devouring her, or the laughter of the child.

  Karen laughed hysterically when she saw the web of strings wrapped around Addy’s body. Alex loved to see her mom laugh, and she laughed too.

  “Mommy Addy got all tanwled wizth the sztring. The kite came…poof ….down and I ran, and I ran and I took it and I ran, and I ran and gave it to Mommy Addy and I got the ztring and gave it to Mommy, but it got into a ball and then it was all like this.” The little one put her tiny hands together and move them around signaling the shape of a ball.

  Karen laughed as she heard Alex’s recounting of events. “Hum, I can see.” Then looking at Addy she said, “you are a menace. I don’t know who the kid is around here.”

  Addy was exhausted from running around with the kite and Alex and from climbing the hill. She looked at Alex and made a funny face. “I think I had too much help bringing down the kite.” Alex imitated the look on her mom’s face also opening her gorgeous green eyes wide.

  “Let’s go inside, nut case. Let me get the scissors and free you from your jam.” She brought Alex up and hitched her on her hip. Addy walked next to them making funny faces. Alex laughed and mimicked her mom’s comical faces until they entered the cottage. “I think the two of you have had enough playing for this evening.”

  Once inside, Karen set Alex on the floor and opened one of the kitchen drawers. “Let me see if I can cut Mommy Addy loose, although,” Karen pretended to hesitate, “maybe we should leave her like that and send her right to bed. What do you think, Alex? Should we leave her like that?”

  Addy smiled and whispered. “You wish!”

  “No, Mommy, she can’t zwleep like that.”

  Karen smiled. “Good. Maybe she shouldn’t sleep.” Addy continued to smile, as Karen freed her from her entanglement while Alex wondered why Mommy Karen didn’t want Mommy Addy to sleep.

  “Now that I’ve solved Mommy Addy’s problem, let’s go upstairs, young lady, you need a bath, you are rather stinky, you know?” Addy looked at Alex and raised her eyebrows. Alex grinned when she saw Addy’s eyes. She was always looking at Addy for approval, encouragement or maybe just for the love she always saw on her face. Alex adored her. It most likely had to do with the fact that when they were together Addy behaved like a two-year-old as well, so she was Alex’s favorite playmate.

  Karen took Alex upstairs for a bath, and Addy remained in the kitchen to prepare dinner. Addy could hear the little voice that filled her heart as she kept retelling Karen the adventure with the kite and how Mommy Addy almost fell with the string, and how high the kite had gone reaching the clouds, and how pretty the kite was, and all sorts of happenings with the kite. “Why did the kite fall, Mommy? Can we buy more ztring?” Alex was insatiable when she started her questioning and Karen sometimes ran out of patience.

  Karen was new to parenthood and sometimes she sought guidance from Addy, who had more experience in that field. “Addy, she drives me mad when she starts with all the questions, what should I do? I don’t even know what to answer sometimes!”

  “Well a woman who has the IQ of a genius and several diplomas to prove it, should be able to come up with something smart to say, I think.” Addy loved Alex’s inquisitive mind and was of the opinion that she should not be discouraged. “Curiosity is a good thing, who knows what it might lead to.”

  Karen’s response was always the same. “Uugh!”

  Addy smiled as she heard the continuous talk upstairs until the singing began. Karen figured out that one way to stop Alex’s inquisition was to start singing, which Alex also loved. So they began what came to be known as bathtub songs. Of course, there were songs for almost every occasion, walk song, car songs, etc. When Addy heard the singing, she started to laugh.

  After dinner, they had established a routine where they all sat to read stories. They enjoyed the quiet group reading, but the gathering had the intention to instill in Alex a desire to read and learn, and it worked. The little one had her own reading tablet filled with educational games and stories, and the women took turns reading to her and practicing the activities in the tablet.

  Alex developed such a taste for this sort of activity that, at times, the house would become very quiet and there would be no sign of her anywhere. Noticing the silence, either Addy or Karen would call for her.

  “Aaaaalex, where are youuuu?”

  “Here Mommy! I’m weading.” She was only two and couldn’t read, but she would be found sitting on the huge recliner, or lying down on the sofa, or floor pretending to read, or just looking at the pictures. Sometimes she crossed her legs, just to look like her moms when they read. Whenever they found her, they couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of the little one pretending to read. Sometimes she even wore play sunglasses just because she wanted to look like Mommy Addy when she read. Alex was a fun, sweet, happy child.

  While reading that night, the phone rang. It was Laurie. Addy went upstairs to talk not wanting to disturb the readers. When Addy came back down, about twenty minutes later, she found mother and daughter asleep on the sofa. Karen was holding Alex in her arms, apparently, both had fallen asleep after reading a story. It was such an adoring sight that Addy couldn’t resist taking a picture. “This will make a perfect computer wallpaper.” After taking the picture, Addy shook Karen’s shoulder to wake her. “Sweetie, let’s get Alex to bed, come on.” She took Alex from Karen’s arms, and a sleepy Karen slowly got up too. “What time is it? Is everything okay with Laurie?”

  “Yes, everything is fine. I’ll tell you about it later. Let’s take sleeping beauty to bed, come on.”

  Alex opened her eyes briefly, but soon dropped her head on Addy’s shoulder, and whispered in her sleepy little voice, “M’Addy.”

  Addy loved how Alex said her name pronouncing the double ‘ds’ in her beautiful Scottish accent, just like Karen. Alex’s arms went around Addy’s neck, clinging to her like a little tiny bear. Addy kissed her tenderly. “Umm, Little Bit, you smell so good!” Alex squirmed in her arms enchanted by the comment and fell back to sleep immediately, still holding on tight to Addy’s neck as they made their way up the stairs

  “Sucker!” Karen whispered.

  Addy smirked as she caressed the little one’s head with her chin. “You are just jealous of my other girl.”

  Karen slapped her in the butt and followed enjoying how Alex hung to Addy’s neck so lovingly, and how glad she had been when she realized that she was in Addy’s arms. Addy’s comment about how great the little one smelled made her grin also. It was always Karen telling Addy how great she smelled and no
w it was funny to hear Addy use her line on Alex. Of course, Karen’s comment on Addy’s scent had other connotations, but still it was cute. She also liked the way Addy’s hips moved going up the stairs.

  Addy looked behind her and grinned. She caught Karen looking at her behind. “Watch your step, don’t lose your focus.”

  “Don’t worry about me, I’m well focused.”

  Upstairs, she lay Alex on her bed, kissed her, and whispered in her ear. “I love you, Little Bit.” Alex instinctively kissed her and snuggled to her pillow. Then Karen kissed her as well. Alex now occupied the smaller room in the cottage, which had once doubled as an office and guest room. As they left the room, both women stood by the door to look at the little angel on her bed. Karen looked at her daughter adoringly. “She’s beautiful.”

  Addy smiled and looked at Karen. “She’s you in miniature.” She traced Karen’s face with her hand. Karen closed her eyes enjoying the attention. “I love you Green Eyes.”

  “Thanks.”

  Addy smiled and wondered. “For what, loving you?”

  “Well, yes, but right now I was thinking more for convincing me to have her, and for always being there. I wouldn’t have gone through with it if it hadn’t been for you. I don’t know if you are aware of the enormity of your deed. Of all the stunts you’ve ever pulled on me, moving here, the inn, the Inns of Europe, and the distillery, this was the most incredible.” Addy smiled and gently rubbed Karen’s back. “It was you who got me pregnant, however weird that sounds. I’m certain that she wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you. We both owe you.” Karen looked back to the darling child on the bed. “You were right, being a mom is a wonderful thing. I love the little rascal.”

  “I always knew you’d come around. I knew that the minute that little person began to kick inside of you, as frightening as it was—.” Addy stopped to laugh remembering when it happened. “I knew you would change your mind about the whole thing. And then I knew that the minute you saw her you’d be drooling over her. I always knew you’d love her, Ker. And you owe me nothing, baby. The love I see and feel every day is my reward for the agony you put me through.” Karen nudged her with her elbow. She knew better than to argue against that comment. She had truly been unbearable during most of the pregnancy.

  Addy continued. “However, since you continue to think you owe me, I may just find a way for you to take care of that debt.” Addy’s tone and the direct message prompted a smile on Karen’s lips. “Come on, let’s go to bed.”

  “You know I always take care of my tab. In fact, that’s why I make sure I always keep a running one.”

  Addy smiled as she got under the covers. “Oh, shut up, and get in here.”

  That night, after Karen fell asleep, Addy remained awake for a while reminiscing about the time when she talked Karen into having a child.

  It all came about after the car accident when she nearly lost her life. That dreadful night when steering away from a deer her car skidded on the icy road and plunged into the freezing waters of Loch Tickton. Had it not been for Karen risking her life, and jumping into the icy waters, the current would have taken her into the depths of the loch, and she would have lost her life.

  She remembered how the accident affected Karen, and how later Karen told her that she jumped into the loch resolved to bring her back, or not come back at all because she didn’t want to live without her. She also remembered another occasion when Karen said that if there was an after-life, she wouldn’t rest until she found her again. She even suggested that Addy should wait for her in some sort of after-life holding area where they could meet. Although both comments were made casually, and the second one in jest, Addy knew that Karen meant what she said wholeheartedly.

  It was then that Addy began to think about what would happen to Karen if something terrible ever happened to her, and the idea of leaving Karen alone in the world tormented her. She had a different situation, she had a daughter, and she had always said that she wouldn’t change a second of her time with her daughter for any career achievement, or anything in the world. Laurie had been the one constant in her life. She loved her deeply and stayed in touch with her all the time.

  She thought of how great it would be if Karen could experience the love of a child. That love would certainly fill Karen’s life forever. Hence, on a personal level, she decided that she would go through parenthood all over again with Karen. It was at that point that she began to work on her plan.

  Over the course of one, of many, conversations on the subject of children, Karen asked her why she wanted a child, after all, she already had a daughter. When Addy told her the reason, Karen became outraged. Just the thought that something would happen to Addy was enough to drive Karen mad. “Fuck, Adriana Marcos, I don’t want to hear that nonsense! I don’t want to talk about this anymore! You, fucking, infuriate me sometimes.” Karen got up from her chair and paced nervously around the room. “I don’t want you talking about this nonsense any longer. Ever! Is that clear?” Addy smiled, as she usually did when Karen ranted and cursed. This time, however, she knew she had touched a very delicate nerve, and remained subdued until Karen finally calmed down. It took a long time. Karen even left the room and walked to the distant tree, which by now was known as the ‘thinking tree’ because it was a place where they often went to reflect, alone or in each other’s company, and it was a place where many decisions had been made.

  Karen was never reluctant to the idea of having and raising a child with Addy. In fact, she thought it would be great because Addy was a great mother to Laurie. It was the matter of how to acquire the child that was the delicate matter.

  For Addy to have a child was out of the realm of possibilities. She had an early menopause, and could no longer have children. Since that was not a viable solution, they talked about adoption knowing that it could be a while for an adoption to come through. Sometimes adoptions took years. Never in their conversations, Karen had expressed a desire to carry a child, nor had the possibility ever crossed her mind.

  However, the thought had crossed Addy’s mind. Karen was still able to have children because she had not gone through menopause. So, Addy decided that somehow she had to talk Karen into having a baby. Just the thought of the proposition made her laugh. Karen was very feminine, but in their relationship, Karen was more of the butch. So asking her to carry a child presented a singular challenge. Still, she had to try.

  Addy was not all worry-free with the idea of a pregnancy. Karen was not that young anymore and there would be the risks that came with late pregnancies. However, she was determined and outweighed her concerns thinking that Karen would have the best medical attention no matter what the cost.

  It was not until they were exhausted from all their travels, after selling the inns, that they came back to Scotland and Addy suggested artificial insemination as a way of having a child. Karen was stunned with the proposition. “Are you out of your mind? How much gin did you put in that Martini? Addypooh, I like kids and would love to have a family with you. When we started to talk about having a child, I thought we were talking about adoption. I mean if you could have a baby and wanted to, that would be great. I’d be behind you 100%. But Addy, what you are suggesting is not just ridiculous, it’s … it’s, I don’t even know what words to use! I have never contemplated that possibility in my entire life! And to be honest just the idea scares me shitless!”

  Except for not having said ‘fuck’ and being somewhat pleasant about it, this was a typical Karen rant. This time it had been a more subdued, gentle one considering the circumstances. Addy always smiled whenever Karen voiced her innermost feelings. She loved how Karen’s Scottish accent came out loud and clear when she was emotional. When Karen finished talking, a very patient Addy smiled and spoke. “Are you done, Blondie?”

  Karen narrowed her eyes in an attempt to give a menacing look. “Don’t you Blondie me now, Ms. Marcos. You are not getting anywhere with me tonight! You’ve scared me shitless. I would love for us t
o have a baby, but me pregnant? It’s so ridiculous that I can’t even imagine it! How could you even think that I would agree to such a thing? I mean of all the crazy things you may ever come up with, this has got to be the craziest yet.”

  Addy got up to leave, but before leaving she made a final statement. “If I could have children, I’d ask you for one of your eggs and would gladly carry our baby. I would have loved to have your child. I think you’d make a great parent.” She walked out leaving a very pensive and troubled Karen behind.

  Karen knew that Addy did not give up easily and that her walking away in silence only meant that more was brewing on her mind, and that the conversation had not ended. As it had happened on other occasions, anytime when Addy walked away from a discussion, Karen would get very anxious because she didn’t like unfinished business.

  Addy, of course, knew the effect of her quiet departure, and that Karen’s anxiousness would make her broach the subject again. In Karen’s book, matters had to have closure. A firm final, conclusion had to be reached before the subject could be put to rest and archived, and it seemed that this matter remained very inconclusive.

  Weeks passed and the subject still hung in the air. Although everything was business as usual there were those moments at night when Addy agonized over her failure to convince Karen to have a child. When Karen saw Addy in that somber mood, she knew what was on her mind.

  They almost never argued or disagreed, but whenever they did, Karen always felt the weight of the world on her. Every nerve in her body was on the edge. Her heart felt torn, and she could not stand it. She still remembered the hot air balloon episode and how mad Addy had been. She simply could not stand not being on good terms with Addy. It was as if part of her could not function.

  On this particular night, when Karen saw Addy leave for the patio, her heart sank deeper. Oh God, I’ve disappointed her so much, I have no idea of how I’m going to fix it. What can I do? She’s never wrong, should I go through with this crazy idea? Me pregnant? Who am I kidding? Karen was at a loss. She went to the living room and sat on the sofa in the dark. It was already getting dark outside when she heard Addy come back inside.