61. Sunny Skies
SUNNY SKIES
ELOISE
“We will take you right to the hotel room, Miss,” a PPO said.
We stepped on a service elevator.
I was still struggling to get around. Thankfully, I’d flown into Van Nuys and hadn’t been asked to do much. My body was unhappy with this trip and I was exhausted. Arriving at the hotel, I was surprised that I landed such luxury accommodation. The door opened and I found Duncan.
“Oh, hey,” I said, surveying the room. “Posh digs.”
“You’re staying with me,” Duncan said.
He swept me up in a kiss I needed. However, his grip on me was tight, so I winced.
“I’m still delicate, okay? But I am so glad to be back.”
“Sorry, sorry,” Duncan looked nervous. “I just wanted so badly to see you.”
“It’s okay,” I said. “And is it okay if I stay here?”
“Certainly,” Duncan said. “It makes no sense to have you elsewhere.”
I kissed him, gently.
“Uh, hello!”
Duncan turned. “Oh shit. Um, yes, Ella, you remember my cousin Leah?”
I flushed bright red. “I’m so sorry. I’m being rude. I should have—”
“No, it’s okay. He should have told you we were here. Come, sit.”
Leah insisted, so we walked into the expansive living room.
Leah and her wife, Lourdes, sat on one couch.
Her son sprawled on a chaise lounge near the balcony playing a video game.
He said nothing, which is what I expected from a tween engrossed in a digital world.
Their baby rolled on the floor at their feet, looking up briefly.
She was even chubbier than before. I smiled at her which elicited a priceless giggle.
“Can I get you anything to drink, eat, ma’am?” John asked.
“John, you’re not here to wait on me,” I said.
I realized now I was in some weird grey area. I still acted in half a way as Duncan’s social secretary—I hoped. But I was now his girlfriend. I’d been oddly elevated all because of Duncan’s outburst and his declaration to Her Majesty. Oof. This is going to be a long week and a half!
“I would like to assist, ma’am. Just glad you’re doing better,” John said.
“I will order you something if you want food or drink,” Duncan said. “Defer to me. You’re my problem now.”
I snickered. “Okay. I would absolutely die for a burger and Coke.”
“Done,” Duncan said, hopping up to order room service.
“Get me chips if she is getting chips,” Leah’s son called out.
“Sure, buddy. Anything else if I am playing the office runner?”
“Get me a margarita,” Leah said. “I need a drink. You aren’t drinking, Eloise?”
“Nah. Still recovering. It’d put me to bed,” I responded.
“Which you will do later,” Duncan said. “Don’t argue with me. I’m going to ask Victoria what she wants, too, before we all hear about it.”
He left to order room service, and I tried to relax around important strangers. Then, another appeared.
A little girl who I assumed was Leah’s oldest daughter, slumped on the couch by me.
“I demanded chips, too,” she said. “If Bobby is getting them.”
“There will be enough. Calm down,” Lourdes said. “Good God. You’re all entitled.”
The way Lourdes looked at Leah told me she was blaming her wife for the children’s behavior. So, it was true. Happy queer couples argued like old married people the same as straight ones.
“Who are you?” The girl asked.
“Victoria, don’t be rude,” Leah admonished the child. “Eloise, this is Victoria, my daughter. Victoria, this is Cousin Duncan’s girlfriend, Eloise.”
“Oh. You’re pretty,” she remarked. “I didn’t know he had a girlfriend.”
“He does now,” Leah said.
This is so fucking awkward!
“Thanks,” I said. “How old are you, Victoria?”
“Seven,” she answered. “Bobby is my twin—the younger twin.”
“By like three minutes!” Bobby shouted.
She stuck her tongue out.
“Jesus fucking Christ,” Leah sighed, obviously not worried about language, something I respected. “Apologies for them. They’re jet lagged and being obnoxious. Are you coming to the event tomorrow?”
“No,” I answered. “Well, okay, I am slated to attend and hang out in the background as his handler. I’m not supposed to be there as an attendee. But I get to wear a dress, which is kind of nice. Well, if I can manage it. It’s tentative.”
“I hope you’re up to it. It will be fun and the afterparty legendary. Everyone loves Merritt and he’s a hoot,” Leah said.
“He’s a legend. I’m going to be starstruck, I laughed. “I told Mo I’d met you and she nearly fainted.”
“Mo?” Leah asked.
“My best friend,” I answered. “Sorry.”
“Mo is more like Ella’s sister than her best mate, I gather. Like Mac’s mum and mine,” Duncan appeared.
“Bug, can you give them space?” Lourdes nodded at Victoria.
“Monique is the closest thing I have to a sister, yeah,” I agreed.
“You’re both only children. Oh, how funny!” Leah laughed. “Look at you two.”
“Why should I give up my spot?” Victoria demanded.
“Victoria!” Leah gave her daughter the look.
“It’s okay,” Duncan said.
“Fine. But don’t be gross,” Victoria rose from the couch. “I’m going to watch TV. Call me when the food comes.”
She stomped off.
“She’s a joy,” Leah said flatly.
I snickered. “I like a girl with a bit of an ornery streak. I think it’s fine.”
“She’s in the ‘boys are gross’ stage,” Lourdes said. “It gets exhausting.”
“I don’t think two mums helps. Both of them are confused by why anyone would choose to partner with a straight man,” Leah said. “So, expect unsolicited comments. I have tried.”
I never considered that. “Well, it will serve her well if she is someday interested in boys. Because she should have standards.”
“Indeed. Ones neither of us had for thirty-five plus years,” Lourdes sighed.
“I promise not to be too embarrassing,” Duncan smiled at me adorably. It melted me. “She can rest assured.”
He was so easy-going with the kids, and didn’t even mind being bossed around.
I gathered he adored it. He had little patience for annoying adults.
I likened it to horses putting up with anything from a young rider but bucking off a grown-up who got the least bit on their bad side.
While I learned more of his foibles, it only made my feelings for him grow stronger.
I was falling in love with this man. There was little doubt.
I rested my head on his shoulder as Leah told a story about Merritt and a production they worked on.
I only half listened. The other part of me thought about how badly I wanted to curl up with Duncan and fall asleep in his arms. It was sunny skies again.
And he was making it a good day even if I was still a mangled jigsaw puzzle.