Taking Care of Business

Gradually the kiss parts and you both let out a soft sigh.

“Mmm, that was nice.” Mom says.

“Yeah.”

Your mom studies you as her soft fingers continue to stroke and caress you. “You okay Jesse?”

You let another sigh and nod. “Yeah. Never better honestly. I feel…excited. I feel so alive! I feel like things are clear, for the first time in my life.” You lay your head down upon your mother’s big pillowy breasts, she cradles your head and teases her fingers through your hair. “It’s just…I feel like there’s an anchor holding me back.”

“Allison.”

“Yeah. Allie.” You confess. “I can’t move onto the future until I let go of the past.”

“Mmm.” Your mother hums affirmatively.

“I can’t…well…oh Mom.”

“Casey?”

“Yeah.” You snuggle in tighter. “I need a clean break. Today.”

“If that’s what your heart tells you.”

“I need to do it in person.”

“Yes, you do.” Your mother kisses your head.

“I’ve never been the one to do the breaking up before.”

Mom continues to tenderly stroke your hair. In a very hushed voice she says. “Be gentle Jesse. There’s no need to be cruel.”

“I’ll try.”

“Put yourself in her shoes. Remember, this is for her sake as much as yours. You have to be strong.”

“Yeah.”

“We’ll be here when you get back. If you need to talk or just…cuddle.”

A little smile grows on your face. “Thank you.”

Three quarters of an hour later you are cleaned up, dressed, and leaving the house. Now that it had been decided in both your heart and mind you were anxious to get it over with. The fact you had your sights on a new girl certainly gave it an added impetus. Normally you might have dithered or put things off for just the right time, but Casey…ohh Casey…she gave you focus. With everything that had happened not once had she completely left your thoughts. You had it bad.

Walking across the lawn toward your car you hear the quartet coming well before you see them. Looking down the street you see your sisters on either side of a very happy Zoey, each of them holding one of her hands, with Chloe walking along beside the three. They see you and wave and you wave back. Coming to stand beside your car you wait for them to approach.

Chloe sprints ahead, running right at you, and instead of stopping leaps into the air still hurtling in your direction. Dropping your keys you manage to catch her in your arms with a heavy. “Ooomph!” Chloe was not a heavy girl by any stretch, but even given her size she felt just a bit lighter than she ought to. It reminds you again that your Aunt’s tinkering went deeper than the transplant.

She wraps her arms around your neck, feet happily kicking in the air. “Hey Cuz!”

“Hi Chloe.”

“Ready for another lesson?” She nuzzles into your neck and smooches it.

“No.” You laugh and kiss her cheek. “I’m good, thanks.”

“Well, if you ever need the practice you know who to call.” She says in a chipper tone. “You’re probably big enough now to practice on yourself too, if your flexible like me, but I can tell you it’s not the same.”

“I…” You stand speechless a second. That thought hadn’t even dawned on you.

The others approach. Elsie bends down to pick your keys up and place them in your hand.

“Typical, he says he’d set up the basement and now that it’s happening he’s running off.” Fiona teases, and in fairness you were kind of known for skipping out on household chores when you could get away with it. “Where are you off to?”

“I just have some business to take care of.”

Elsie expression softens, stepping closer she grips your arm. “Good luck Jesse.”

“Thanks El.” You smile. “It’ll be fine.”

Picking up on your tone Fiona soon clues in as well. “Good! Get it done.” She says firmly. “No point fucking around with it.”

“You’re not wrong.”

“Fucking around with what?” Chloe asks.

“I’ll tell you later.” You chuckle as you put her down.

“Fine, keep your secrets.” She crinkles her nose. Thumbing over her shoulder she says to Fiona. “Hey, I’m going to ask Auntie Helen about the dog.” And off she runs without another word.

“Chloe!” Fiona calls after her. “Don’t…!”

Your cousin was already through the door. “Auntie Helen! Auntie Helen!”

“Jesus Christ.” Fiona face palms.

Elsie giggles. “Did you honestly think she could hold that in for even a minute?”

“Dog?” You say.

Fiona shakes her head. “We were cutting through the dog park when Zoey brought up how much she liked dogs. It was all Chloe could talk about after that. She’s convinced herself that we’re getting a dog now.”

“A dog!?” You laugh. “Even Dad couldn’t convince Mom to get a dog.”

“I know.” Fiona says. “Try telling her that though.”

“I didn’t mean to cause trouble.” Zoey says softly.

“You didn’t. That’s just Chloe being Chloe.” You assure her. “How was the walk? How do you like the neighborhood?”

“Oh, it’s great!” She says. “So much nicer than my old one. All the people we met were so friendly.”

“Yeah, I like it. It’s quiet.” You say, then looking to your sisters you ask. “Did you have a good talk?”

They both nod as they look at each other. “Yeah. We cleared a few things up.” El says.

Fiona smiles briefly. Then, motioning to your car, she prods you. “But we can chat later. Don’t you have somewhere you need to be?”

You grip your keys and slowly nod. “Yeah.”

“You got this kid.” Fiona says with a stiff punch to the shoulder.

“We’re here for you.” Elsie adds with a gentle squeeze of your other shoulder.

“I know. Thanks.”

Fiona looks over at Zoey. “I’ll have that drink now little one.”

Zoey’s blue eyes light up. “Yes Master!”

Fiona turns and heads for the front door with Zoey trailing just behind her, their blond hair bouncing in time. Fiona opens the door then steps to the side to let Zoey hurry through and follows her in.

“You sure about this?” You ask your little sister.

“Nope.” She answers truthfully. “But they make each other happy.” There was more on Elsie’s mind, you could sense it, but she didn’t want to hold you up. “I’ll see you later big brother.”

“Catch ya later El.” You wink.

With that Elsie too heads for the house. You watch her go and enter, then take a moment just to look at your humble two story house. Nobody would ever guess the shenanigans that happened in that unassuming two story house that blended in so perfectly with all of the other dwellings along this street. But you knew. To you it wasn’t just another house, to you it was the only home you’d ever known and inside was your family. Those incredible women who meant everything to you.

This right here was something good. Something pure. Something worth coming back to. Something worth treasuring and protecting. Some of these feelings were familiar, but others were not. You’d never quite looked at your family property like this before. There was a fresh tinge of responsibility now. This place was not something to take for granted. Is this…how Dad felt looking at his home and family?

You shake your head. You were stalling. With a steady stride you walk around your car and get in then start the engine.