Mike & Karen Ch. 26

"Gordon, will you calm down?" Mike laughed as he looked at his wife. Sitting in her favourite chaise in her favourite lounge, she glanced up at him as a frown creased her lovely face.

"I prithee, sirrah, why do you think I am anything less than calm?" she queried. "Have you seen me pacing, fretting, or otherwise showing agitation?"

"Not a bit," he answered, standing over her and looking down, his powerful arms folded across his broad chest. "You've been sitting there nigh on motionless for nearly forty-five minutes. Even if everything is perfect and ready, you would normally still be doing something. But here you are, still as a statue."

She sighed. "It is, husband, occasionally annoying to be reminded that you know me better than I know myself. I guess I am rather flustered."

"I don't blame you," he said, holding out his huge hand to her. She took it and allowed him to pull her to her feet. She knew she could count on him to make everything better. "Jenny will be here at noon, and you are finally going to see each other after over thirty years. Even you are allowed to be nervous and less than perfectly composed, princess."

She loved the feel of her hands clasped in his, and she looked up into his eyes reverently. "Thank you for that, Michael. I know it will be fine, I do. I guess I'm just allowing myself one of those rare moments where I feel anxious."

"That's completely fair, Gordon," Mike said easily. "And let's be honest here... if you're anxious, Jenny must be absolutely terrified. This is no doubt as scary for her as it was for Alli when she arrived."

Karen smiled lovingly. "You always know what to say, don't you?"

"Just about everyone else's life and how they should lead it," he chuckled before kissing her head. "I'd better get going, it's a full day down at the university."

"You sure I can't convince you to stay and meet Jenny when I do?" Karen asked, trying not to sound hopeful.

He smiled and caressed her cheek. "You've just got the yips, Kar. You'll be happy that you met up with her on your own soon enough. I know you said she likes surprises, so let's space them out for her, okay?"

She nodded. They'd talked this out endless times over the past three weeks, and she knew he was right. It was best this way. Jenny would meet Karen's sister and her son later, and Mike would be home last. After all, there was a remote chance that Jenny either lost her nerve and didn't show or was upset upon getting here and needed to leave. Karen didn't want to wave her husband in Jenny's face, since her dear friend had apparently been widowed once and then divorced.

It was very unlikely, knowing Jenny, but Karen had to make sure.

She hugged herself to her giant husband, feeling so very safe and loved in his embrace, those titan arms around her, a shield against a world gone mad. Karen sighed and then let him kiss her, leaving her mind drifting and soft, a glowing blank.

And then he was gone, heading out to the university. She wasn't ready for him to go yet.

Yes she was.

I can't wait for you to get here, Jen, she thought to herself, smiling and knowing how to keep herself occupied now. I hope you want us all in your life. Because I want you in ours...

***

Mike & Karen

Disclaimer: All characters are 18 years of age or older while actively engaging in sexual activity. This story is a prequel/sequel (sprequel?) to my other work, Alex & Alexa. As always, many thanks and gratuitous panty shots from Freja and Jeanie to my long-suffering editor and beta-reader for their assistance in polishing up and improving this work. Reviews are welcome; flames will be snickered at and deleted with extreme prejudice. Enjoy!

Please Note: There are incest themes with a secondary couple in this story. Just a forewarning.

Chapter XXVI - A New Old Love, Part I

In fact, the morning passed by easily and quickly. Karen busied herself by checking everything, making sure that memorabilia Jenny would be interested in was on-hand, and that all visual indications of her husband, her son, and her little sister were nowhere to be seen in common areas. She had to keep Jenny occupied for a few hours before Alexa got home.

Alli would be delighted to meet her sister's dearest and oldest friend. Their mother had doubtless told her a bit about Jenny when they'd lived in Europe, the fabled Countess of Greymoor. Miranda had suspected exactly how much Karen and Jen had meant to each other, although she'd never confirmed anything. And Miranda had loved Mike dearly, since he completed her older daughter in ways even Jenny could not hope to.

Karen, of course, had followed Mike's advice and simply told all the staff to prepare for an important guest, staying for an extended period. She had not explained who, preferring to keep it a surprise. Alli didn't know, nor did Alex, although he'd been told things about Jen over the years by his parents, and seen some pictures from decades earlier.

And, a couple of weeks after Jenny arrived, Lisa, Janet, and Mona were due! She hadn't told them either, and couldn't wait to see their faces. Only Mike and Karen knew the full extent of everything that was happening. There were so many surprises waiting for so many people.

"How's everything here, Theresa?" Karen asked easily as she breezed into the kitchen, where the Manor's chef was making sure everything was timed perfectly for lunch. It smelled divine in the spacious room.

"Just fine, ma'am, thanks!" said the chef cheerfully as she moved around the kitchen. It was certainly large enough for her to work in, with several fridges, coolers, and freezers along the walls, along with ovens of various sizes and purposes, and stovetop ranges. It was all centered around a large, marble-topped island that she generally used as her prep station for the amazing cuisine she created. "Still not going to give any of us a hint as to who's coming? Even Tatyana is getting painfully curious."

"You'll thank Michael and I later that we didn't say who, Theresa, I promise," Karen assured her. "Not even Alex or Alli know."

"Goodness, that is a well-kept secret," Theresa mused. "Hopefully it is a less tense visit than when the bishop arrived, hm?"

"Given that our visitor is staying for a month, one would hope so," Karen sighed, shaking her head. Just over a week ago, the bishop of the Diocese of Toronto's Anglican church had come to the Manor to discuss with Alex, Alli, and Karen the potential implications and complications of the proposed marriage of the young couple, given that they were aunt and nephew. Michael had been called away to important work at the university, so it was just the three of them.

So of course, Karen's day had begun with Freja waking up the neighbourhood detonating a bomb on the front lawn. Alex sent the world spinning out of control by answering a call from the bishop with a blasphemous greeting. And Alli accidentally got very high. Not to mention Karen inadvertently sent a set of her used lingerie to the Royal Ontario Museum as a donation for public display, while a neighbour received a priceless Mesopotamian artifact to masturbate to.

And while everything had worked out, eventually, and the bishop was on board concerning the marriage, Alex's penance for shortening his mother's lifespan by two decades was ongoing, and not likely to end before the first winter snowfall later in the year.

She turned her mind back to Theresa. "And you're all set for lunch, and have the special ingredient ready?"

Theresa smiled and nodded. "Yes, ma'am. You won't be disappointed, I promise."

Karen excused herself and went on her rounds again, finally running into her seneschal, Tatyana, who put her hands in her lap and nodded respectfully as her employer approached.

"I promise you, ma'am, that the staff will be assembled in the grand foyer at the appointed time," the crisp and efficient Russian woman said. "And, per your admittedly unusual instructions, Mr. Winson has not been notified of the guest's arrival, by anyone, even accidentally."

"Not even Miss Prospero?" Karen asked, smirking in amusement, her arms folded.

"Especially not Miss Prospero," Tatyana said firmly. "She was told her position depended on it."

"Miss Orlova," Karen giggled. "I couldn't possibly fire her over such a gaffe."

"Oh, no, Ma'am," Tatyana said, shaking her head. "Something much more dire. I implied that if she were to, accidentally or otherwise, 'spill the beans', then her position as personal attendant to you and your husband would be revoked immediately."

"Bless me, she'll never talk again!" Karen laughed, gaily. "Very well, Miss Orlova. And while I won't go into details right now, please make sure that Ari knows some permissions will have to be adjusted in the servers and firewalls."

The Russian woman nodded. "Certainly, ma'am."

Walking down the Hall of Ancestors, she found Marie, the Manor's botanist and gardener, carefully tweaking a wonderful early Spring floral arrangement she had created for the alcove it was sitting in. The low, wide container was concealed by the burgeoning flowers and wisps of colour that hung over and down its sides. The Breton woman was remarkably creative, and the arrangement fit the time of year.

"It is beautiful, Marie," Karen said in Marie's native Breton tongue, a language she'd picked up while in France while studying about Peter Abelard. She loved the flow and shades involved in this arrangement. While tiny flowers hung over the sides, what almost looked like twigs sprang out and reached up, punctuated by buds of colour, but providing a stunning contrast to what was below. "I'd say it's your prettiest yet, but they're all wonderful to behold."

"Trugarez vas, itron," Marie replied, blushing slightly. Of all the staff members, she was probably the most shy, although she was a tyrant about the greenhouses and her plants. Only Mike and Karen were free to do as they pleased in there. Not even Karen's son or her sister were. "It is very kind of you to say so."

"Oh, simply telling the obvious truth shouldn't be considered a kindness, but by all means, take it as such. You deserve to hear it; we have the prettiest flowers in southern Ontario, my dear."

"I am intrigued that you said I should start making arrangements that complement our visitor, ma'am, although that might be easier if I knew something about them," the frizzy-haired woman mentioned.

Karen smiled and put her a hand on Marie's shoulder. "I thought of that, but I would much rather you meet them, Marie, and form your own impressions of how to express this idea. I cannot wait to see the results, Miss Jezequel."

Karen strolled about, stopping to fix a small glass of white wine for herself before heading into the grand library. She found books that would catch Jenny's eye and left them seemingly carelessly strewn about on the tables. She looked over Lady Thunderhawk, making sure she was dust-free, before heading out and deciding to check on the third floor.

In the large guest suite just next to the master suite she shared with her husband, she found Trilby and Valentina, fussing about the room and making sure it was immaculate. Neither of them noticed her coming in and she cleared her throat gently to announce herself. Trilby stood up straight. The rather more skittish Valentina squeaked and jerked upright, accidentally tossing her duster into the air. Karen caught it easily as it sailed by her head.

"At ease, ladies," the bronze-haired beauty said as she came further into the room. "I'm just making the rounds."

"No one has told Mr. Winson anything, Mistress," Valentina said reflexively, her hands folded behind her back and hoping Karen couldn't hear her heart pounding. Putting her arms behind her back also thrust her ample chest forward. "I promise."

"That's good to hear, because I want this to be a surprise for him," Karen assured her.

"Did you find some long-lost pet of his or something, ma'am?" Trilby asked, smirking.

"Nothing like that, no," laughed Karen. "But this will still be very moving for him all the same."

"Like when he got to see your sister again at Christmas after almost twenty years?" Valentina queried.

"Something along those lines, darling," Karen said softly, cupping her attendant's cheek and then turning to look around the room, assessing it. "Excellent," she declared, nodding. "This is a good start. When our guest arrives, we'll begin to assess their preferences. I think you're done in here for now, ladies. I'll see you downstairs. Oh, and Miss Prospero?"

"Mistress?" the short brunette replied, standing straight again.

"For our guest's arrival, I think I want you to change into your personally preferred outfit," Karen mused. "I believe our guest will like that one best too. I'm certain, in fact."

"Yes, Mistress," Valentina said, curtsying.

Karen had left the room. Trilby seemed fine, but Valentina sighed heavily and hung her head.

"Nnnn, I think some pee came out," she murmured. "How can she be so quiet? She's like some sneaky little obscenely rich ninja."

"You say that about the boss man too, which really freaks you out, since he's bigger than everyone else in the house combined," Trilby pointed out. "He's spooked me a few times."

Val leaned against a dresser and looked wistful. "Who d'you suppose it is that's coming?"

Trilby considered and shrugged. "She seems to think the old man'll be pleased, but... she's been a little different herself in the past few days, and even more clingy to her husband than usual. It's almost like she has another sibling we don't know about yet."

"Ooh, what if it's a hunky brother?" Val asked, sucking in her breath. "How much fun'd that be?"

"Like you don't get laid enough around here," the senior housekeeper muttered, gathering up her kit. "C'mon, Bubbles, we've gotta go squeeze you into your preferred outfit..."

Karen had been milling about her domain in no particular order, and now found herself heading down to the basements. She heard someone humming in one of the rooms and found the estate's electrician, plumber, and mechanic, Andrea, working away on a furnace and the pipes attached to it. The tall, rangy blonde had her hair done up in a sloppy ponytail, with a polka-dot kerchief holding it back in place. She was wearing oily, grimy coveralls, and an abbreviated tank top underneath that did little to constrain her healthy bust. She'd been working on this one furnace because it had been bellowing rather loudly. She had it running much more smoothly now, even quietly. She saw her employer and paused to wave, smiling.

"Heya, boss," she said, wiping some oil off her hand on her coveralls. Karen couldn't help but notice that the sturdy top panel of the clothing kept getting smaller every time she saw Andrea. At this rate, it wouldn't be long before it was merely two reinforced denim straps that looped over her shoulders to hold the bottom half up. It did little to conceal her tank top, which was almost transparent with sweat. "How's everything up on the surface?"

"Running smoothly, thanks to you in no small part," Karen answered as she came into the room. "How are the warp cores?"

Andrea laughed. "I love it when your husband and son call the furnaces that, makes me feel all high-techy and stuff. Furnace D here was giving me grief last night, so I told it I'd be back today to make it behave itself."

"You seem to have won the contest of wills," Karen observed, arms folded, her fingers touching her chin.

Andrea shrugged lightly. "I think this one is the oldest, and when you had the place mothballed for almost two years, it-"

The furnace stuttered noticeably behind her. Andrea turned her head to scowl at it before whacking it once hard with her favourite oversized wrench. The furnace began sounding normal again. She nodded at it, twirling the giant chrome wrench in her hand before slotting it back into its holster on her utility belt, like she was a gunslinger.

"The dents add character," she said somewhat apologetically.

"I could say the same for my husband and my son," Karen sighed, shaking her head. "But if I hit them in the head with a wrench, somehow I'm a monster."

They both laughed.

"So how much longer do you think you'll be down here?" Karen asked, looking around.

"Oh, I could spend the rest of the day until dinner down here, boss," Andrea said, wiping at her brow. "But I know your big guest arrives at around noon, so I'll have to go upstairs, shower and put on some proper-"

"Actually..." Karen lilted, stepping forward until she was standing directly in front of Andrea. It was all the mechanic could do to know tremble, since Karen's presence gave her such a tingle. Andrea was decidedly bisexual, although she hadn't been as lucky as Valentina and slept with her employers. Yet.

She drank in the sight of her boss, standing so close that their breasts were almost touching. Andrea might have had the more muscular physique (although she still considered herself quite feminine), Karen was taller, and had larger breasts. Her bronze hair shone in the basement working lights, and her golden-amber eyes glinted as she smiled at her employee.

"I think you should stay dressed the way you are when our guest arrives," Karen purred, walking two fingers up one of the straps of Andrea's coveralls, making the blonde bite her inner lip. Why did Karen DeBourne have to turn her on so much? "I think she'll quite like it..."

Karen then turned and sauntered out of the room. Andrea sighed heavily and leaned back against the boiler, looking at the ceiling.

... she? she wondered to herself.

***

There was nearly another hour before Jenny was to arrive, and Karen found herself pacing and listless again. It had been a while since she'd felt this nervous, thinking back to the previous summer, when her little sister had arrived home. But then, at the airport, she'd had Michael with her, distracting her and calming her. That wasn't an option here.

How would she pass the time and occupy herself? Fix a drink? Keep bugging the employees? Call Miss Prospero to help her relax in a special way?

Her smartwatch buzzed, and she frowned at the unrecognized number. She bipped on a button as she spoke to it. "Hello?"

"Kat, darling, I apologize for the sudden call, but I find that I have taken an efficient limo driver and will be at Blackshack in less than fifteen minutes," Jenny said, her voice causing Karen's body to tremble and her heart to leap. "I'm not catching you off-guard, am I?"

"I assure you, Jen, we'll be ready," Karen said, smiling. Not having to wait actually made her feel better, even if it was accompanied with increased excitement. "Let me know when you reach the driveway."

"Only another fifteen minutes once we turn up it!" Jenny said gaily. "I'll be there soon, Kat. I cannot wait."

"Neither can I, Jen," Karen said softly before ending the call. She stood still for a moment, closed her eyes, and just breathed for several seconds. When she opened them, they were calm and focused. She was ready. She walked over to the wall of the study she'd been pacing in and used an intercom system on the wall, pushing the button that allowed her to be heard through the entire Manor.

"Everyone," she said in a clear voice. "Our guest will be arriving early, they just told me they are due in fifteen minutes. I will see you all in the grand foyer in ten."

She clicked off the intercom and headed out of the room. There were only ten staff members living on the grounds, but from the noise and flurry of activity she heard in the halls now, one might have thought there were a hundred staff. Tunde sprinted by, hastily pulling on his black formal jacket. She heard Theresa call for Marie to assist her for a moment in the kitchen.