Mike & Karen Ch. 33

The Intimate Memoirs of Lady Jenny Penrose.

In the apartment over the garage, Glenda was sitting in her large beanbag chair, taking pulls from her hookah while she read another few chapters from her latest Cora Scarlett novel. She'd dropped off Freja, Jeanie, and the Tyrfel sisters down at the condo, once the doctor and nurses assured them Freja's vagina was simply bruised but still intact. Glenda was amazed, frankly, given what she'd seen.

This novel was really pulling her in, and she was loving the dashing and heroic swordplay scene she was reading. The hero was a commanding and generous man, and she couldn't help but think that her favourite author wrong about things she knew intimately. And only Karen Gordon-DeBourne knew a man who fit these traits so perfectly.

In one of the suites down the hall, Janet and Mona were already crashed out in the piles of pillows and cushions, arms around each other as they slept. Next door, Lisa was sitting on the bed, her face a mask of exasperation she couldn't express with her voice, as she tried to reason with her wife Donna about why she needed to be here. She mentioned about Alex and Alli wanting to get married, and how important it was.

Donna was having none of it. Lisa squeezed her eyes shut as Donna stated tersely that the notion of so-called 'avunculate marriage' was rather disgusting, and should just be called out for what it was- simple, dirty incest.

But apparently the rules were different for the moneyed classes, and all the wealthy friends Lisa loved so very much, Donna had sneered. Maybe they weren't The Great Enemy in Lisa's books after all.

She felt tears stinging her eyes as her wife scolded her some more.

Alex was lying on his back, looking up at the ceiling of the dark room, with a very naked Val cuddled into his side, sleeping contentedly, her arm across his chest. He thought about what this weekend meant, as he had so many times before, and how it had come about. There had been no actual protocol reason for this giant ceremony, but it was incredibly significant all the same.

The first woman to rule the family? That was kind of a big deal. More than that, Alexa, his mom's little sister, and the love of his life, was home, and Karen no doubt wanted to demonstrate exactly what kind of sway the two of them held over the Blackwells if necessary. It was an ancient family and a mighty empire, so there was a lot to live up to.

And one day, he and Alexa would have to decide if they intended to lead it.

In the West Master Suite, Alexa was also lying on her back, looking at the ceiling, wondering how much more of these pajamas she could take. Not only was she overheating, but they felt like crushed Småkager biscuits on her skin. To further her discomfort, Trinian was once again splayed out on top of her, dead to the world, her blonde hair in Alexa's face.

Trinian was no doubt a delightful child, unless she happened to be in love with you. According to Ashley, she'd never seen her daughter have a crush before, so this was rather new to all concerned. It certainly brought out the insistent side in her personality, other considerations aside.

The kid couldn't go home soon enough.

Outside in the backyard, the mid-April night was warm enough that Mike and Karen could wear simple robes as they walked around in the darkness. The moon shone down, its silvery light touching the newly revealed grass under their feet. Hand-in-hand, they strolled slowly past the little wooden bridge that arced over the stream that delineated Jordan's property.

The bridge had a lovely wooden trellis that ran along its length, and soon enough, it was would be covered in Old World roses and lavender. Jordan requested those plants from Marie, as a tribute to Karen and Alexa, the two most important women in his life. Karen couldn't wait to walk down that living tunnel.

"What are you so lost in thought about, Gordon?" Mike asked, looking down at his wife and squeezing her hand.

"I'm thinking about love as a catalyst," she replied, a whimsical tone in her lovely, melodic voice.

He considered for half a second. "How love can sometimes lead you into an entirely different and better love."

She nodded. "I don't know, DeBourne, if I ever would have had the bravery to admit that I was in love with you if Jenny hadn't left me. I was so very in love with her, and it blinded me to my great and elemental truth. It doesn't seem fair, but it was how things were. And how they were meant to be."

The titan man nodded. "I understand what you mean. Jenny gave up her true love to let you find ours, and she went on to lead a different and fabulous life. Perhaps the wound of Jenny leaving gave you the impetus to examine your feelings in due course."

She smiled up at him. "You are very likely right, sir. After all, I am not the only one to lose a love before finding my heart's home, am I?"

He paused the walk and took her hands in his, looking down at her, enchanted by everything he saw. It had been that way for over thirty years now, and it would never stop. He knew that about himself. He was utterly enslaved to this incredible woman.

"Like you said, a love that falls away still happens for a reason," he remarked, that baritone voice making her knees weak and her heart flutter. It always had, since the very first time she'd heard him speak in a karaoke bar so very long ago. "And yes, that loss led me to examining my feelings about you. At least, having the courage to examine them in due course. I didn't really have a choice."

"But I have Jenny back in my life," Karen said gently, still gazing into his laser-blue eyes, lost in them. "You don't even want that other love back."

He shook his head. "Very true, Gordon. With you, Alex, and Alli, I have all the love I need, of course. I'm not missing anything. Love can be unkind, but it is also the only thing that can mend a deep hurt. Don't think I'll ever forget that, or stop thanking you."

"I live to hear that from you, DeBourne," she breathed, her golden eyes shining. "It's my everything."

Their kiss under the moonlight would be remembered by the stars.

***

Don't forget to read the stinger after the Author's Notes, folks!

Author's Notes:

Where the wave tumbles;

Where the reef rumbles;

Where the sea sweeps

Under bending palm-branches,

Sliding its snow-white

And swift avalanches;

Where the sails pass

O'er an ocean of glass,

Or trail their dull anchors

Down in the sea-grass.

Where from the long leaves

The fresh dew is shaken;

Where the wind sleeps

And where the birds waken!

Those are the first and last verses of the poem 'Lahaina' by Charles Warren Stoddard. I watched the news of the disaster earlier this month, my stomach a ball of ice, because when I lived in Hawaii, Lahaina had been my home. So to see all the town in smouldering ruins was a knife through my heart.

My favourite seaside restaurant, gutted. The many, many Tong Society buildings and temples, which Sun Yat-Sen himself patronized and attended even though he was a Christian, destroyed. Over a hundred lives lost, and over a thousand homes gone. Fortunately, nobody I know perished. But I do indeed feel like I've lost a part of myself.

If you've been paying attention, then you already know the gang is heading to Maui for Mike's birthday in July. Since the Alexaverse has not caught up to 2023, I have every intention of continuing with that plan, now more than ever so I can showcase the little town I loved so much.

E minamina mau ana au iā ʻoe!

On to other notes now...

The guandao is my own primary weapon from the Chinese branch of martial arts. Granted, mine is not quite as imposing as Mike's but I did indeed get it from the Lungchuan Forge, and maybe I can't cut an entire cow in half, but their calves would be in trouble. Expect to see it around.

The song 'Maneater' is courtesy of Hall & Oates, from the year 1982. I think it suited the scene well.

Trinian's visit will be comedically inconvenient for Alexa, to say the least. As a counterpoint to Percy, she'll prove quite useful. And she's definitely a Blackwell.

Professor Gilderslee- I mean, Throckmorton? (Dammit, Mike!) What's this jerk's deal? Looks like he's trying to use Lisa to get dirt on our favourite genetic phenom. Let's see if she doesn't slip up...

People Are Strange, by The Doors, is from 1967. And a wonderfully trippy song to get high to.

Unless you're Mike. His first experience with weed is a verbatim mirror of my own. No magnets were involved, though, and not as many people witnessed my shame, but that really did happen. I remember it not fondly.

The Tyrfel sisters are going to be around, although they won't be Jenny's cabana girls, admittedly. Still, they're fun and I'm enjoying writing about them. It's quite possible they'll get their own series. Guess we'll see...

And there you have it. Percy's reign of terror ended by Nanu. Face it, who else could possibly do that? The Girl Out of Time was perfect for it, and I laughed so hard when I thought of it. Is it any wonder that the staff like her so much?

Yes, Karen owns two Stradivarius violins. They're actually not quite as uncommon as people think. Okay, they're not by any means common, but a few hundred still do exist worldwide. Karen has two of them, and she and Jenny learned to play with them. Sleeping Beauty and La Pucelle, if you're the Googling type.

Yes, Nanu also took down Freja, and now she's her best friend, whether Freja likes it or not. It sure as Hell beats having Nanu mad at you, doesn't it?

Yes, Donna seems like a total bitch, even from three thousand miles away. Just you watch...

Jenny's miniseries is indeed called 'The Intimate Memoirs of Lady Jenny Penrose, and it will be premiering in June, in-universe. So a month and change away. I hope you like the format I'll be employing for it. Keep your eyes peeled!

That's about it for now, we're closer than ever to the housewarming. On we go to the stinger, eh?

Keep your stick on the ice!

Management!

***

Cambrian College, November 1985...

He glowered down at the group of men, towering over them, his laser-blue eyes piercing through them. His immense, muscular form gave them pause, even through they outnumbered him by a factor of twelve. He stood at his full height, his muscles tensed, making sure they understood exactly what they were in for if they forced this issue.

Behind him, a small woman was hyperventilating in fright, her eyes wide.

"You think you can take us all on?" sneered one of the men, trying to rally the courage of his comrades. They were well-known barflies, infamous for harassing girls from the College, even going so far as to invade the campus to spread their sleaze everywhere.

"Make a move," Mike growled, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the douchebag who had just spoken. "Find out..."

***

Next up: Chapter 34, 'Isn't Love Unkind?'