JACKL Inc. Ch. 04

Author's Note

Apologies for the delay in getting this chapter posted. Sometime life hands you lemons, other times a blinking cursor.

From last chapter, in the Past the Jackson's have settled into the Fairview Apartments while their cliffside mansion is finishing final construction. They've made contact the other Fae in San Diego and are helping out where they can.

In the Present after a rambunctious weekend, Rick, Celia and Sammi have been assimilated into the larger Jackson family, and celebrated with a poolside orgy. After tucking Celia into bed between Megan and Naomi, Rick spent the night with Sammi at her hidden bay home.

Special thanks to Pope1944 for reading, editing and encouragement. I'm always willing to accept additional beta-readers or editors. If interested, drop me a feedback and include your email so I can get back to you. Other than that any remaining errors, missteps, red herrings, false starts and moaning submissive are entirely my fault.

JACKL Inc. Ch. 04 - Assimilating Activities

I don't think anyone has a normal family.
~ Edward Furlong

Jeremiah - Past - Fairview Apartments

Early morning calls are never fun. Early morning calls from Oregon are even less fun. I looked at my phone while untangling from Kelly, it was my lawyer. I pressed answer as I stood up by the bed, and walked downstairs to take the call in the kitchen.

"This is Jeremiah," I said quietly, not wanting to wake anyone upstairs.

"Jeremiah it's Thomas," said my uncle's oldest son, "I have some bad news, Dad passed away in his sleep last night."

I didn't know what to say at first, I was shocked. Uncle Thomas wasn't even my uncle, he was my mother's closest friend when I was growing up. He had been my confidant since her death when I was 18. He knew all of my secrets and was loyal to all of my family. Even the new additions to the family he took in stride, helping to give Naomi a new older identity was done efficiently and effectively.

"I am sorry, Thomas," I said, I knew he didn't like to be called Tommy, "What can I do? Do I need to fly up?"

"No," Thomas said, "There isn't much to do that requires you to come up here. It was sudden, but not unexpected. He was having heart troubles for a while now. Doctor says it was probably an infarction in his sleep. He didn't feel any pain."

"I appreciate your call," I said, "If I can help in any way, please let me know. I'd like to attend his service when you decide to have it."

"Dad wasn't big on ceremony," Thomas said, "I need to check his will."

Then he paused, like he didn't know what to say. I waited, in much the same mind frame.

I couldn't help thinking of all the things I relied on my uncle for. He handled my financials, he handled my wills. Anything that had to do with being wealthy I usually delegated to Thomas, who effectively helped me to grow even more wealthy through investments.

"I think I need to come down to see you," Thomas said, interrupting my thoughts, "we just got a package by certified mail I need to bring to you personally. I also want to make sure I'm able to take over Dad's responsibilities with your assets."

"I can fly up there," I said, "I'm sure you need to be near your family."

"Frankly," Thomas admitted, "I think I need to be away for a day. Mom has things handled, and ... I think it'll be easier for me to make the trip."

"You're sounding awfully cryptic," I said.

"Well in practical matters," Thomas explained, "Your charter airline is still based here, it would just be easy for me to fly down and fly back, even cheaper than you getting a commercial flight."

"I've never worried much over the price of a plane ticket," I said, "It's your decision, though. Just tell me when to expect you, and I'll meet you at the airport."

"Okay," Thomas said, "Let me call you back this afternoon, when I have everything settled."

"I'll be here." I said, "Goodbye Thomas."

I disconnected and put the phone on the counter. I felt Alyssa's thoughts at the same time I felt her arms wrap around my chest. Kelly cheek pressed against my shoulder as she hugged me from the side.

The apartment we rented was a two level loft. The upstairs sleeping area was open to the downstairs, so they'd heard my side of the conversation. The other parts were effectively transmitted through our mind mesh. I didn't have to explain anything, and they focused on just comforting me.

I was quiet in my thoughts through breakfast. Carmen gave me a few extra slices of bacon, which I appreciated with a smile. The younger generation had sensed my grief on the mesh, and gave me space. After breakfast Lexi and Carmen joined with Kelly and Alyssa to sit with me.

We shared stories from when our family started, focused on how Uncle Thomas was always on the fringes of our relationships. Much as we told our stories after Betsy, Kelly's mother, passed away suddenly. We didn't have a lot of friends that were the age of our parents, so this season of dealing with loss would be short for us. Didn't make it any less painful.

As we were telling stories, Thomas Jr. called to let me know his flight would be landing in the evening. I promised to meet him and we would get him a room in the Embassy hotel across the street.

While we waited the five of us reminisced on how they had all first met Uncle Thomas. Carmen's memory made us smile. She had lived in poverty for so long the understanding of suddenly being wealthy made for a good story, which Carmen told with her usual good humor. We all smiled at the memory of our first days as a family.

The story of becoming wealthy was always difficult for me to recall. I didn't want money, I wanted my mother and father. Much of my youth, that I could recall, was being raised by my mother, and many times just making it from month to month. When she died just before my high school graduation in a car crash, her life insurance policy made money much less of an issue.

My maternal grandfather had become wealthy by owning large swaths of land outside the growing town around the university where I grew up. He developed some of the land, sold some of the land, and was wise with his decisions. After my mother's death he revised his will to establish a trust in my name. When he passed away my freshman year, I stood to inherit his legacy after I turned 21. Until that time his trust ensured I didn't have to worry about tuition, or rent.

When the five of us, Alyssa, Kelly, Carmen, Lexi, and I moved into my house, which my grandfather had owned as a rental property for decades, I had just found out about my father's legacy. My wealth was doubled, although much of the money was held offshore in accounts funded by the illicit activities of the United Priesthood by the evil actions of my paternal grandfather.

After we destroyed the influence of the remnants of the UP, we reinvested the money into a network of bed and breakfast inns in the western states. With the help of Kelly's mother, Betsy, those investments helped us to assist women that the UP had trafficked, as well as increase our wealth.

Alyssa and I started a successful practice, continued to make long term investments, and the sale of the bed and breakfast network to a Silicon Valley startup had created a war chest of money. After deciding to relocate to San Diego, we had easily purchased the resort that was being renovated, as well as the apartments we were living in. Much of the cost of those new investments came from Kelly's mother's inheritance - much of our wealth was still untouched.

Uncle Thomas' insight and guidance had a great influence in our affluence. I had some worries that without the wisdom of Betsy and Thomas we might see our good fortunes reverse. The five of us started discussing how to make good financial choices, as the time approached to pick up Thomas from the airport.

I took Kelly with me to the airport, Thomas knew her for most of his life as my wife. He hadn't known officially about the structure of my family until after Betsy's death. It felt proper to keep up appearances. We waited for him in the lobby of the charter terminal. I welcomed him with a handshake then pulled him into a hug. His eyes betrayed his emotions, and his forced smile demonstrated he was still in shock from the loss of his father.

"I wish you would have let me come to you," I said, "You should be with your family."

"I'll be back by tomorrow afternoon," Thomas said, "With this business completed, I won't have it tickling the back of my mind."

"What is bothering you?" I asked, as we walked to the car.

"Mostly mundane things in the final liquidation of your assets in Oregon," Thomas said hefting his briefcase, "There are some papers I found in Dad's office this morning that need signatures. Also a certified package delivered that concerns your mother. I wanted to give it to you personally."

He stopped abruptly, as we were at the car. I opened the trunk, and he hefted his overnight bag and briefcase into the boot. He slid into the front seat, and Kelly sat in the back as we pulled out of the parking lot and headed to the hotel.

"Do you mind if we discuss business in the morning," Thomas said, looking suddenly weary.

"Not at all," I said, "You should rest. Just call me in the morning, and we can meet."

"Thanks, Jeremiah," he said.

He slipped into silence from there until I handed him the key to his room.

"I'll call you in the morning." Thomas said, hefting his bag from the trunk and walking into the hotel entrance.

—————

Celia - Present - Estate

It was different to wake up between two women. Their warm flesh pressing softly against mine. I blinked and was disoriented for a few seconds before slowly turning towards Megan to kiss her cheek lightly. I felt Naomi shift behind me and wrap her arms around my waist then kiss behind my ear.

For all the foreignness of the new sensations it also felt very comfortable and right. I grinned into Megan's eyes as she blinked her eyes awake then smiled. We kissed softly, then I rolled onto my back, and welcomed a good morning kiss from Naomi.

A flash of light nearby caught my attention, and I sat up when I saw Rick and Sammi appear beside the bed I was sharing. I scooted down to slip to my feet and wrap my arms around Rick, kissing him deeply. Then turned to welcome Sammi into our hug, sharing another kiss with her.

"Awww," Naomi said, "You three are just too cute!"

I felt myself blush as I looked over my shoulder, I was naked in a room full of waking people. People I had just met the day before, and now considered family. I wasn't ashamed of being naked, and shared my smile with my bedmates and others that were waking around us.

"I'm not sure where my clothes are," I grinned at Rick, "I suppose that would be the first thing I should do."

"I'll go grab our stuff out of our room," Rick said, "Take a shower with Sammi and I'll join you shortly."

Rick poofed away, and Sammi took my hand. Together we walked to the shower area. I turned some faucets and the showers started, the water warming immediately. Sammi stripped off her clothes, and together we walked into the shower. Soon others also joined us in the warm spray.

"I'm pretty sure I have to work today," I grumbled as I started to wash my hair, "It's Monday right?"

"I think so?" Sammi smiled as she stood under the warm spray, "This has been a bit of whirlwind, hasn't it?"

Rick reappeared and left a stack of clothes and towels outside of the spray area, and walked towards us. He looked incredible either as a mundane human or in his demonic form. He smiled at us, and grabbed some soap to lather my back. I purred at his touch, and looked over my shoulder at him.

"I have a shift today," I said, scrunching my nose, "So I need to get back home."

"You don't need to work if you don't want to," Rick said, "I would love to support you totally."

I turned into him, and placed my hands on his chest, and looked up at him. I wasn't surprised by his offer, I just didn't know what to say. I enjoyed my job, but I wasn't locked into it.

"Thank you," I said, finally, "I should take my shift, at least. I can't just not show up for work."

"We can take you back to your apartment," Sammi said, "I need to teach Rick the right spell so he can do it himself. We probably need to decide if you want to keep working or not. Until then, I'm happy to be your ride."

"My car is still at the apartments," Rick said, "I have only driven here once before, but I don't mind you taking it as you need to."

We all went a bit silent and concentrated on finishing the shower. Then we all dried off our thoughts leaking into each other's brains as we dressed and went upstairs to breakfast.

Rick really wanted to take care of me, he had more than the means to keep me financially. He was worried about if I would want that, or still want some independence. Sammi was still worried about splitting time between the three of us and her home in the bay. I was fine with not working, I could find something closer to my new home. This mix of thoughts slowly coalesced in our minds as we started filling out plates.

"I could use your help here," Carmen said, "Maria and I have some helpers, but another human would be lovely.

I blinked in confusion for a moment, until I recalled that all of the family could sense each other's thoughts on the mesh. I smiled at Carmen, and nodded.

"That might be a good option," I allowed, "I do want to be close to home, but I need to square it with my boss. It doesn't do any good to burn bridges."

"You have such a good heart," Carmen said, "We can talk later, if you're interested."

The three of us found a table, and the rest of our new family came and went. They all seemed to keep to a regular schedule, while the three of us had our routine disrupted. I enjoyed smiles and touches as they passed and went about their day.

"What do you need to do today, Rick?" I asked, just to break the silence.

"I have to ask my boss," Rick grinned at Sammi, "I think I missed the indoctrination."

"We should go to the Enclave, for sure," Sammi smiled, "I'm sorry, this has all been a bit disrupting to my schedule."

Rick was quiet for a moment, then he put down his fork and looked at the both of us.

"I'm really happy you are both with me," He smiled, "We need to figure out what that means, when it comes to day to day decisions. At the same time, while we figure out how the three of us fit together, we also need to find how we fit with the rest of the family. I really don't know where to start."

"It does sound overwhelming," I admitted, "the dominos all fell at the same time. I need some time to think through all of this. I promise you I'll be thinking about it while I'm at work."

"I've been pretty much on my own for so many years," Sammi began, "it's all new to me to use the word family. Now I belong to two and I've never been happier. I do agree that I need to think about what it all means. I promise to think it through properly today. Can we agree to discuss later today?"

"Let's agree to meet at my apartment after Celia's shift," Rick said, "They if we want to we can drive up in my car and bring up some boxes back here. If we decide that's what we want to do."

"Sounds like a plan," I smiled, "Thank you for letting us all think about things."

We finished our breakfast, then Sammi took our hands, and we all flashed back inside Rick's apartment. I hugged and kissed both of them, then went to my apartment to change.

As I was changing into my work uniform, I smiled at the memory of first meeting Rick. It was crazy that it had only been less than a week. I'd met him on Wednesday, then by Sunday morning I was pledging myself to him and to a polyamorous family. How did my life become so incredibly crazy?

Heading to work at the deli seemed surreal, my weekend had been filled with magic and love. Now reality was back, and while I did enjoy my job, it was incredibly normal. I'd worked at this day job for about six months, and it paid the bills and little else. My reality wasn't usually filled with romantic dates, or lavish mansions. It was work, eat, sleep, repeat.

Since I'd met Rick, only one day, Thursday, was close to normal. Our impromptu movie night was more like my day to day. Now I doubted if my daily routine would ever be the same. I sighed as I finished opening the deli, determined to see the day through and not get caught up in my thoughts.

The owner of the shop stopped in shortly after I opened. Omar was a kind boss, and he gave me a lot of liberty in my position. I rewarded his trust by keeping the shop tidy and doing good business.

"Did you have a good weekend?" Omar grinned, as he came into the store.

"It was amazing," I smiled, "It's hard to describe exactly how incredible it was."

"Same fella as your date Wednesday night?" Omar asked with a wink.

"Do I need to apologize again for being late Thursday?" I cringed, "You know that was a fluke."

"No apology required," Omar said, "Your smile the last few days tells me you're happy. You are happy aren't you?"

"Very," I grinned.

It was good to have a conversation outside of my special family. I don't think I'd ever be able to have a frank discussion about falling in love with a demonic looking incubus and a mermaid-like water nymph. Talking about it tangentially with a normal human, however, did help me realize I was very happy with my good fortunes.

"Omar," I said, then paused trying to find the right words, "How long would you need to fill my position?"

Omar turned and looked at me, his expression changing to a more somber expression. He took a moment to look at me carefully, and I appreciated his kind expressive eyes.

"This guy must be something," Omar finally said with a soft smile, "I can find someone to cover your shifts, but they wouldn't be a replacement. Do you want to take a leave of absence, in case it doesn't work out?"

"Part of me wants to jump without a parachute," I smiled, "I've never been happier. I do recognize that might not be prudent. Thank you for giving me the option."

"You are worth it," Omar smiled, "Can you finish today?"

"Of course," I smiled, "I'll make a final decision by Friday."

"Take two weeks," Omar said, "I don't want to rush you."

"Thank you, Omar," I said.

He nodded and I went back to working. Most of my work was tidying and keeping things stocked and organized. Making sure lunch was prepped. It wasn't overwhelming, but it did take a certain amount of attention to detail. I found myself wondering what help Carmen needed.

I was suddenly watching the clock, waiting for the day to be over. I missed being in my new home already.

—————-

Alyssa - Past - Fairview Apartments

The news of Uncle Tommy's death shook Jeremiah, much more that he showed. He was processing the loss of what was essentially the last member of his family. I really didn't understand what having family was like. Jeremiah had known Tommy for literally all of this life. The only person outside of our family he trusted with everything. The only person that knew Jeremiah's secrets. Being near Jeremiah and sensitive to his thoughts made that understanding palpable.

When Jeremiah returned with Kelly from picking up Thomas from the airport, I was expecting to see Thomas. That he went to his room without any further revelations wasn't overly concerning. It was his insistence to fly down to meet with us. I remember what it felt like when Betsy passed, all of us were numb. It seemed shockingly discordant for Thomas to fly away from his family so soon after the death of his father.

There was little I could do about that, so we all turned in early. We didn't engage in sexual shenanigans. Our original family simply comforted each other, focusing on Jeremiah, and rested fitfully through the night. Lexi, as usual was the first up, dressed quietly then went on her run. Kelly and Carmen awoke soon after, and headed to the gym together.