Fresh Start Ch. 06: Duets

Welcome to chapter 6 of Nell and Emma. Sit back, relax and read this one. Unless you haven't read the other 5. Then STOP and go read those. And when you're done with those read my other stuff. Then send me some feedback and comments... because ya know... We writers love to hear compliments... and the occasional non compliment is okay too. Plus, I really do listen and attempt to weave in some of the suggestions I hear.

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The smell of cinnamon rolls and coffee hit my nose. Nell was on her stomach next to me, as she always was when she slept. I stretched, rolled over to kiss her shoulders, her arm, bury my nose in her red hair. I loved the way her hair felt and smelled. She stayed. The whole night. And was still here. It wasn't the first night she had slept here, but it was the first that we were intimate when my kids were here.

She grumbled under my lips. No one would ever accuse her of being a morning person.

My lips trailed down the arm that was stretched out over her head. I found the soft skin of her breast, just a little of it exposed and compressed by the mattress as she lay there. It was all I needed. Her breasts were my second favorite part of her. She slowly rolled on to her side. "Morning." I put my lips over more of her newly exposed skin. It still overwhelmed me how soft and sweet this person in my bed was.

"Morning Emma." She had her hands in my hair, moving it out of my face. "I think I smell breakfast."

"You do." My kids were very self-sufficient and on mornings like this, I was glad I had put so much time into getting them that way when they were younger.

"Let me guess. You're not hungry." Her eyes told me she could wait for real food too.

"Not for food." My lips were moving over her skin again. I gently rolled her on her back and kissed her more. Her eyes were sleepy, and I kissed each lid, then her nose and lips.

"Incorrigible." But she didn't resist me. Nor did she seem to care my kids were downstairs. I was very glad we had gotten through that.

My lips worked their way down from hers. Stopping for many minutes to fully enjoy her breasts. As always, I got lost in them and she had to prod me along. The way she moved under my lips, reacted to my licks and flicks was exhilarating. My tongue swirled around her naval, kissed her hip bones. Soft moans filled the air as I reached my target. Her hips moved with me. The power to bring her over the edge and fill her with pleasure nearly brought me to my own climax. Watching her move and quake and then touch me, did.

I was kissing her, her neck, her nose... all the clusters of freckles I loved, after I had my fill of her for the morning. "I'm going to shower. You coming?"

"There's no way I can shower with you Emma. We will never get downstairs and I will never be able to look your kids in the eyes again." I pouted as I walked naked into the bathroom and started the shower. She didn't follow.

I was in and out much quicker than I wanted to be, but getting downstairs wasn't a such a bad idea. I gave her a long, deep kiss before she went in the shower, then went down to the kids.

Jacklyn was on her phone with a cup of tea in front of her, Asher had an empty plate of food and coffee. "Morning."

"Morning Mom. Want tea?" Jacklyn moved to turn the burner back on under the teapot.

I grabbed a cinnamon roll and warmed it up, "yes please."

"Where's Nell?" Asher was reaching for another cinnamon roll.

"Showering. So, you better not touch that roll kid."

"Fine." He went to the cabinet and grabbed a box of cereal instead. Poured a bowl fit for a giant using up half of a gallon of milk in the process. All I saw was dollar signs. The kid cost entirely too much to feed.

"Here mom." Jacklyn handed me a hot cup of tea.

"Thanks."

"Is it okay if I spend the day with Jenna?"

"Of course. As long as your room is clean, homework done, and you've finished everything else you need to do." The look on her face told me she didn't have it all done. She huffed and left the kitchen.

I heard Nell tell her good morning as they crossed on the stairs. Asher grabbed the last roll and I went to yell at him, "geez mom I'm just warming it for Nell. Relax."

She kissed my forehead as she moved to sit down. "Suck up." He liked Nell. A lot. She shocked me with her knowledge of baseball, so they talked sports a lot. I let them; meant I didn't have to. I loved watching Ashe play, but not having to feign interest in every other part of the sport worked for me.

We all laughed. "Thank you Asher." She sat down next to me, accepted the warmed cinnamon roll and a cup of coffee. Her hand went on my thigh. She did this often, had since the beginning. I loved when she claimed me this way. Subtly. Reminding me with the warmth of her hand that she was there, close, wasn't going anywhere.

Ashe gave me a kiss on my head and left. "I have practice. I'll be back later. Have a good kurtköy escort day!" A few minutes later Jacklyn came down, said she was done and was leaving too. Normally, I would check because she had a bad habit of half doing everything, but I just didn't care in this moment. I was too busy watching Nell.

"Why are you staring at me Emma?" She wiped her face as she asked.

"Because you are gorgeous. And yummy and I love you." I managed to sneak in a kiss between her bites of cinnamon roll. "Thank you for last night. And this morning."

She just shook her head, leaned in, "I love you too."

"I mean it Nell. Thank you for staying." I loved sleeping next to her. Wanted to every night. Waking up to her was pretty good too. "What do we want to do today?" The weather was gorgeous. Sunny, warmish. The kids were gone, we could do anything.

"Hike?"

I pursed my lips a little. "You don't have to pick something you know I like."

"What, I'm not allowed to like hiking too?"

"You are and I love that you do, but how about we do something else?" She spent all her time with me, doing what either Liz decided for us or what she thought I wanted to do. I loved her for that, but it was okay to do something she wanted to do.

"Like what?"

I was leaning into her hard now, "I want you to decide what you want to do. What does Nell love to do?"

With zero hesitation she responded. "You."

I grinned. "And I you, but seriously. I don't wanna sit here all day debating what to do. We don't get much time just us." And now that she seemed willing to be with me when the kids were around, I didn't have to pack as much sex into our alone time as I had been doing. Even though I would be okay if that's what she chose.

She didn't respond for a few moments, then tentatively said. "There's an outdoor art place I've been wanting to check out for a while."

"Then that's where we are going!"

Her smile hit her eyes. We cleaned up the kitchen and went to leave. "I'll drive?" I said sure. She knew where this place was, I did not.

*

'Six Sisters Sanctuary' had been fun. The eclectic displays of art everywhere, in every medium were exciting. Nell loved it. I loved it for her. We walked around taking it all in for hours. We held hands most of the time. I took a few new pictures of us in front of some of the more dynamic pieces. A couple offered to take one of us too. That one was going to get framed. I loved how happy we looked in it.

We went to a small café down the road for lunch. Nell was excited when they had cheesecake on the menu. She joked about being worried that since being with her my cheesecake percentage had gone down. Neither of us was ready to separate when the day was coming to an end.

She drove us back to my house. "Come in for tea?" I could tell by the look on her face, she wasn't. I knew she had a lot of work, heck I had homework I had put off to spend time with her. "See you Tuesday then for lunch?"

"Of course." I kissed her goodbye and went inside. Homework, mine and the twins', dinner and cleaning filled the rest of my evening. It was utterly boring.

Monday came and went and before I crashed in bed, I messaged Liz.

Me- lunch. Cafeteria. Tomorrow. Don't be late

Liz- yawn. That's so last week Emma

Me- Elizabeth

Liz- ya know it's moments like these I wish your name was longer Emma!

Me- oh well

Liz- brat

Me- I was taught by the best

Liz- this is true

Me- see you tomorrow

Liz- if you insist

Me- I do

Liz- night Emma

Me- night Liz

I texted Nell and told her Liz was coming. She was going to make sure Matt knew so he would show up again. Maybe Liz really did just need her own hot professor. I know I was very glad I had met mine.

*

Liz and I were walking from my class to the cafeteria together. "Only a few more weeks right Em?"

"Yep." I had a bad feeling she had secret plans to throw me some stupid graduation party. I hoped if I didn't mention graduating, it wouldn't give her any ideas she might not already have. I didn't even have any desire to actually go to the ceremony and hoped I could completely avoid doing so.

Nell was at our usual table. Matt was sitting across from her. I sat next to her, saying hello to them both. It had gotten easier to deal with my desire to touch her when we ate here.

Matt said hello then focused on Liz. That's exactly what I was hoping for. We all chatted, but I loved watching Matt so enthralled with Liz. She was, of course, eating up the attention. I grinned at Nell.

"Emma, Nell tells me you sing karaoke."

I shot Nell a 'seriously' look. I didn't get to respond because Liz did for me.

"Yes, she does. She's got a killer voice. And she plays guitar." Now I shot Liz a look.

"Oh. I play also. We should absolutely all go out one night." He had this goofy lopsided smile and his eyes were huge when he smiled.

"I don't etiler eskort play anymore." I didn't. Hadn't in a few years. Didn't even have my guitar anymore.

Liz shot me a look. She hated when I stopped playing. Why I stopped.

"Oh. How come?" His brow furrowed with the question.

"I broke my wrist pretty badly about 5 years ago. Some nerve issues in my fingers." Liz got mad because I wouldn't even see if the issue was still there. I told her to mind her own business. She wasn't good at doing that. Now I got looks from Nell and Liz. Nell didn't know the story of my wrist. It wasn't because I was hiding it, it just never came up. I had a few scars from the surgeries, but she never asked where they came from. Probably assumed from the same car accident many of my other scars had come from.

"Ah. Well I still think we all need to go for karaoke."

"How about Friday night?" Liz asked, then looked at me. "If the kids can handle themselves for a few hours."

I went to open the calendar app on my phone. "Let me check Asher's game schedule."

She looked at me like I didn't have brains. "He doesn't have one Emma. I wouldn't have suggested Friday if he did."

I shot her another dirty look. Somehow attempting to set Liz up with Matt had turned into an evening for all of us. Liz had a look in her eyes that ensured I would say yes."Sure."

We finished lunch and walked with Nell and Matt saying goodbyes. Liz parked right next to me again and walked with me. "You coming over? Ashe has a game at 4."

"Do you want me to?"

"Very much. I miss you."

"Then no."

I just stared at her.

"I'm kidding. Yes, are you cooking?"

"No."

"Take-out it is."

We left and met up at my house. Tea, movie and a foot rub later and Jacklyn was home. She didn't even call us weirdos. I was a little disappointed.

"I'm coming with you to the game."

Liz and I both looked at each other, said "Who's the boy?" at the same time.

Jack blushed. "Spill it Jacklyn." Liz was not going to let her leave until she told us.

"Left field. Garrett. He's a junior."

"Little old for you Jack." Liz was getting very parental.

"He's only a little over a year older than me. Stupid November birthday! Mom, why couldn't you have planned better and had us in August so we wouldn't always be the oldest in our class?" The drama dripping from every word reminded me so much of Liz. This wasn't the first time she had moaned about this. Or blamed my apparent poor planning. Asher liked being older, said he got to be bigger and stronger than the other boys in his grade which was an advantage. Especially for baseball.

I let her and Liz go back and forth. If this was a fight Liz wanted to engage in, she was on her own. I went upstairs and changed for the game. Checked my cell.

Nell- lunch went well

That was hours ago, I really sucked at checking my phone often.

Me- maybe too well. Karaoke again??

She didn't message me back. I would see her soon anyway. Asher's game was a home game, so she was meeting us at the field. So far, she hadn't missed a game. Even Asher's father couldn't say that.

I saw that Ashe had messaged me.

Favorite Son - um. Dad just told me Gramma and Pop are coming to the game today. I just wanted you to know.

Fuck. I hadn't seen my parents much in the last year. Guess today was going to be the day. I had no idea what they knew about my current life. It didn't matter to me, but it might to Nell.

Me- Asher just told me my parents are going to the game with the ex. If you don't want to go I totally understand.

I grabbed my phone and went downstairs. Informed Liz and Jack.

"Oh great. They barely speak to us in almost a year and now they are going to show up to Ashe's game. What the fuck!"

"Language!" Liz and I both said to her.

"Seriously? I've heard both of you say much worse. I'm not speaking to them."

I couldn't disagree. "That's your own decision Jacklyn."

"Yes it is."

We left the house and Liz drove us to the field. Nell hadn't responded yet, so I had no idea if she got my message or what. Her Audi was in the lot, she was still inside waiting for us.

"Did you get my message?" I walked up to her as she got out of the car.

"Yes. And I'm here. Are you okay with that?"

"More than okay." We walked with Liz and Jack to our usual spot along the first base line. It gave me the best view of Ashe if he was at short or pitching. And I could see him batting. Plus, Dean always stood along the third base fence. I looked and sure enough, he and my parents were there. I didn't acknowledge them, nor did they acknowledge me.

Liz sat on the blanket on one side of me, Nell on the other and Jack at my feet, using my bent legs as a back rest. I took Nell's hand as we sat. She didn't resist me holding it in public anymore. It had been hard for her to get used to how comfortable I was with her when we istanbul otele gelen escort were out. Maybe it was just because I wasn't used to be scrutinized like I knew she was. Maybe it was I had Liz to punch people for us, or maybe it was a lot of I didn't give a fuck what anyone thought.

Asher was lead-off batter. Had made the last out at short in the top of the inning. He swung and missed. I could hear Dean yelling something. Second pitch, outside for a ball. Dean's mouth went again. Third pitch was high, Ashe left it alone. 2-1 count. This was Ashe's sweet spot. He loved being ahead in the count. Next pitch in the dirt. 3-1. I knew Asher, he was going to try to smash the shit out of the next pitch. He hated taking walks.

He swung and sure enough, it flew over the second baseman. Dropping in shallow right. A single. Dean was still yelling.

"What is his issue?" Liz asked

"No idea." He was always a vocal spectator. He had been ejected from more than one game since Ashe started playing, but it was usually directed at the umpires.

Third pitch for the next batter and Ashe took second base on a passed ball. Liz was cheering so loud Jacklyn scowled at her. "Oh, sweet Jacklyn, am I embarrassing you?"

Nell was giggling next to me. Her laugh was so adorable. I had to resist the urge to kiss her. It wasn't easy. Luckily, Jack knew enough to not answer Liz and make it worse.

That batter struck out. Next batter was this Garrett kid and Jacklyn sat right up watching him. Strike. Strike. Contact. Long single. Asher was on 3rd base and Dean was yelling again.

"I'm gonna go make a scene with your ex if he doesn't shut his damn mouth to Ashe soon." Liz was getting worked up.

"Liz. Don't. Please." The last thing I needed was Liz going Liz on Dean, especially with my parents here.

The next batter drove Asher home. Liz went nuts. "Liz, you really should think about starting a cheerleading squad. You and Jacklyn." Liz smacked me.

"Never accuse me of being a cheerleader again Emma."

Again, Nell was giggling. I was dramatically rubbing my arm, "Dammit Liz, that hurt."

Nell burst out into a real laugh. I joined. Then I noticed Dean was near Asher on the bench talking to him. What the hell was his issue? You don't go near the damn dugout. My parents hadn't moved from the fence. "Jack, it's okay if you want to go say hi to your grandparents."

"No way mom. They haven't spoken to us, why would I speak to them?" I wanted my kids to have a relationship with their family, but I couldn't argue with her. They hadn't bothered with me or them much since Dean and I split, and I was their daughter. I had never exactly lived up to their expectations. I could only imagine what they would think of my current relationship. I squeezed Nell's hand.

"You okay Em?" Liz had leaned in and was whispering.

"Yeah why?"

" 'Cus you're biting the inside of your mouth so hard you're gonna bleed."

I hadn't even realized I was doing it. I stopped. "I'm fine." I wasn't totally, but I refused to let Dean or my parents take away from me enjoying my son's game, or my time with my girls.

The next few innings were boring. Ashe struck out his next at bat, made a few good plays at short then in the final inning went in to pitch. His team was up 2-0. He loved being the closer. The kid possessed a level of poise a lot of pitchers didn't have. I credited that to the years of karate he did when he was younger.

He struck the first batter out. Dean said something. Second batter hit a ground ball to second, out at first. Down to their final out and he's setting up, goes to release the ball and Dean yells something. Smack. He hits the batter. Hard.

"Shit." Ashe looked shaken. I knew it was from Dean.

Next batter, 1-2 count and Dean yells at Asher again. He leaves the pitch up; kid ends up on second. Liz was fuming. So was Jacklyn. Asher composed himself and the next batter went down in four pitches, game over.

Asher went into the dugout with his team. We packed up the blanket and started walking that way. We got over to behind the dugout and Asher came out. He looked pissed.

I took a deep breath. I knew not to engage him after a game, I always let him start the conversations. He looked at me, I smiled. He walked over. "Can you hold this please" and handed me his bag. I took it, handing Nell the blanket I had been holding.

Asher walked down the fence line towards his father. I knew this wasn't going to be good. I dropped his bag and walked as fast as I could towards them both.

"Don't you ever come to another game." He was in Deans face. So close he could have head butted him.

"I will go wherever I want Asher, I am the parent, not you." Asher was bigger than Dean now. Only by an inch or so but still. I could tell Dean wasn't ready for that.

"Parent? Are you kidding me? I have barely seen you since you cheated on mom. You only show up when you want to look good to the world." His face was bright red as he spoke loudly to Dean.

I positioned myself between Ashe and Dean. I wasn't going to stop Asher from whatever he needed to say, but I was going to make sure the whole scene didn't get out of hand. I saw Liz, Jack and Nell approaching, Jacklyn had his bag in her hands. I also saw Asher's coach standing not far away.