23 #AsOneIsh

After wiping a stray speck of powdered sugar from the island with her thumb, Teddi flicked off the kitchen light and padded across the hardwood flooring into the family room, where she didn’t bother with a lamp.  A glowing wall of windows provided plenty of visibility, thanks to the landscape lighting out back. 

 

She stepped through the French doors, into her backyard oasis and the pleasant warmth of a New Jersey summer night. 

 

A firefly meandered by as she settled into the corner of a favorite chair and tucked bare feet into the cushioned seat with her.  Crickets sang lazily from their hideaways in the garden, and they exuded the same contentment that Teddi felt. 

 

Phone in her lap, she tucked unbrushed hair behind an ear and took a slow sip of her beverage.  There was a bite to the vodka and tang to the cranberry juice, but both were tempered with the sweet peach schnapps.  It wasn’t a cocktail she made often for herself, but tonight it felt appropriate to have a Muff Dive, seeing as one of its inventors had been diving in her muff.

 

She tipped a lopsided grin at the firefly bouncing drunkenly around the deck. 

 

There was nothing like rigorous sex and the sounds of nature to affirm one’s primary purpose in the world.  Cars, electronics, jewelry and all the “stuff” humans enjoyed daily were great, but it was the fundamental act of mating that maintained the cosmic order.  Even if it didn’t accomplish the master plan of procreation, the endorphin rush still created a deep psychological fulfillment.

 

That feeling of existential perfection was another reason Teddi was so passionate about sex.

 

And finding the ideal partner made it all the better.

 

God, Jon was good.  Hard work and good genes kept him physically astounding, and it was only enhanced by the years of sexual exploits.  Experience had taught him how to use his body – and how to use a woman’s. 

 

It felt glorious to have unleashed her Gypsy soul with him and receive such a positive response.  Approval and appreciation had been there from the time she dropped to her knees, had lingered while she packed him some cookies from the freezer, and was still palpable in his casual goodnight kiss. 

 

Even now, she felt no remorse or embarrassment over anything that happened upstairs.  How could she, when he had already made plans to tentatively do it again in forty-eight hours?  Teddi would do it all over again and more come Sunday night.  She planned to treat each time as though it was the last and make it something to remember.

 

Don’t go there.  Don’t think about what comes next with him.  Give your mind a break and let your sated libido have the stage tonight.

 

It was good advice.  She didn’t often listen to her inner voice unless she was in the boudoir, but this time Teddi chose to heed.  She wasn’t going to worry about anything but a menu and groceries for the dinner date, and tomorrow was soon enough for that. 

 

For now, she was going enjoy this sliver of perfection in her life.

 

Teddi tipped up her drink again and caught sight of the velvet blue sky dotted with stars.  Both the color and the pinpricks of light reminded her of Jon’s eyes tonight, dark and sparkling with desire.  

 

Impulsively, she perched her glass on the wide chair and traded it for her phone.  It would be nice to have a tangible memento of the evening, so she swiped past the activity notices on the screen to open the camera app.  A quick point and click secured her snapshot.        

 

Now… which Instagram account to post it to?  Teddi or Esmerelda?

 

Esmerelda.  Definitely.

 

gypsysoulle: As one with nature and myself.  #noquestions #onlyanswers

It was a rare state of mind for her, and Teddi languished in the feeling of absolute contentment.  She didn’t need to focus on anything outside this moment.

 

The vibrating phone in her hand disagreed.

 

[11:35 PM]TORI:  Stop blocking calls from Boston.

Talk about a buzzkill. 

 

[11:36 PM]TEDDI:  That couldn’t wait until morning?

[11:37 PM]TORI:  When my mother calls me at 11pm because your darling sister called HER, then no.  It couldn’t wait until morning. 

 

Teddi wrinkled her nose with distaste.  When the first call with a Boston area code had come in yesterday afternoon, she’d reflexively blocked it.  There was no one in Boston she wanted to communicate with, so that was the simplest way to avoid the problem.  That call was followed by one from a different Boston number, and she’d done the same thing.

 

All in all, she’d probably blocked six unfamiliar callers since the news of her father’s death yesterday morning.  Knowing that Deidre was on the other end of those calls confirmed it was a good decision.  The woman was a viper who had loathed her from day one.  Teddi couldn’t imagine that had changed since their last encounter at Grandmother Peabody’s funeral ten years ago.

 

The abnormally chilling blue eyes were still too vivid a memory for Teddi’s taste.  Technically, they were the same Peabody blue as her own, but the two “legitimate” Peabody children had eyes that she thought of as lighter.  Like shards of ice that could cut someone bloody without warning.

 

That was probably due more to their personalities than the actual color, though.   

 

Cool and aloof were the two words that came to mind on the rare occasion that she thought of Deidre and Endicott.  They’d been that way from birth, it seemed.  She could personally attest that they’d been that way since Deidre was four and Endicott was two, because that’s when Teddi first met them. 

 

At age five, she arrived on their doorstep, clutching the hand of Grandma Bihari and wearing her prettiest dress.  It was harvest gold, with little red and blue flowers dancing from the puffy capped sleeves to the ruffled hem at her ankles.  Mama had made it for her just weeks before, and Teddi had thought it beautiful. 

 

As Grandma talked grown-up things with Randolph Peabody on the formal living room sofa, Teddi sat quietly at her side.  She hadn’t listened to what the adults said.  She was too interested in the two tow-headed children peeking around the doorframe. 

 

“Who is that?” the boy whispered. 

 

“Our new maid,” was the girl’s confident reply

 

“How do you know?”

 

“Only a servant would wear such an ugly dress.”

 

Teddi hadn’t been formally introduced to the children that day.  No.  On that day, there was no occasion for niceties as she and a livid Grandma Bihari were ordered off the premises.  It wasn’t until weeks later – after Grandmother Peabody sent for her, worked through the legalities and dressed her “properly” in white organza – that Teddi met the younger sister and brother whom the world would come to know as her niece and nephew.   

 

She reached up to pinch the bridge of her nose, cursing the memories trying to taint her blissful night. 

 

Don’t let Deidre steal this from you, too. 

 

Inhaling deeply, she sipped from her cocktail glass with one hand while tapping out a reply with the other. 

 

[11:38 PM]TEDDI:  Please extend my regrets to Aunt Midge, but I have no desire to communicate with Deidre.

[11:39 PM]TORI: I get that.  You know I do.  But you need to make an exception this once. Take the f’ing call.

[11:40 PM]TEDDI:  Why?

Tori knew the relationship – or lack thereof – that Teddi shared with the children of Randolph Peabody.  She’d certainly listened to enough of Teddi’s adolescent rants, rages and tears on the subject.  What could possibly be important enough for her to encourage the communication?

 

[11:41 PM]TORI:  You’re in the will.

 

Well.  Wasn’t that interesting?

 

#####

 

“Where the hell have you been?”

 

Jon rolled his eyes at the young woman who leaned against the kitchen island.  Her arms were folded “menacingly” over her pajama tank and cool blue irises did their best to chill him from behind oversized glasses.   

 

She’s scarier than her mother ever was.

 

“Hello, darling daughter,” he drawled while concealing the baggie of vanilla kippers Teddi sent home with him.   They slipped inconspicuously into his cargo pocket as Jon bent to kiss the warden’s cheek.

 

Stephanie put a halt to his affectionate greeting, however, by planting a hand in the center of his chest.  With the index finger of her other hand, she swiped a spot just above the corner of his mouth and held it up for inspection.  There was a residue of white powder across the fingerprint.

 

Busted.

 

“Please tell me you didn’t wait until your golden years to start a cocaine addiction.”

 

Which was worse?  Letting his adult daughter believe he had a blossoming drug problem or explaining the cookies in his pocket?

 

She brought you some of the damn things from the city, remember?

 

He backed away with a quiet snort and turned to the fridge for a bottle of water, sneering over his shoulder, “Golden years, my ass.”

 

“Focus, old man.  What’s the powder?”  She sniffed the “evidence” and, obviously not coming up with a satisfying answer, touched the tip of her tongue to it.  “It’s sugar.”

 

The refrigerator door closed with a heavy thud, and Jon turned to lounge against the stainless steel while cracking open the water bottle.  “Nice to know you don’t hesitate to taste suspected cocaine.”

 

“Do you have a fucking cookie dealer?”

 

Jon choked before he was able to swallow the mouthful of water.  The droplets seeping through his shirt front were cold and he brushed at them while glaring at his oldest child.  “Yeah, you.”

 

“Nuh-uh.  You finished the ones I brought yesterday.”

 

Damn.  He’d forgotten about that.  Time to get creative.

 

“I had a couple stashed for a late-night snack.  What the hell with the interrogation?” he demanded, straightening to put the water bottle on the island and grab a towel.

 

His fearless child was undaunted and kicked an eyebrow high enough to peep over the rim of her glasses.  “What the hell with the disappearing act and ignoring my messages?”

 

“Jesus, kid.”  Jon tossed the towel on the counter and stepped in to tap her forehead with a kiss.  “God help your children, if you ever have ‘em.  You’re relentless.”

 

“As any mother should be.  Still avoiding the question, old man.”

 

Idly wondering when they’d switched roles in this parent/child gig, he sighed and leaned his ass against the stove.  “I had a meeting with my social media consultant, Mom.”

 

Blue eyes so much like his own narrowed with speculation, and he knew Stephanie was weighing his statement for truth, “as any mother” would.  Well, let her weigh all she wanted.  It was true, and it must’ve passed her internal lie detector test, because she didn’t give him more shit.

 

“You didn’t mention a meeting earlier.”

 

He lifted a shoulder and shrugged off her lingering suspicion.  “Came up at the last minute.”

 

“Mhm.”

 

Damn stubborn kid.  “Did you need something?  Is that why you were looking for me?”

 

The young brow that shouldn’t be furrowed so deeply gradually smoothed, and Jon knew he was in the clear.  “Just wanted to tell you goodnight.”

 

Well, if that didn’t make his daddy heart go all pitty-pat…

 

“Well, c’mere then.”  Jon opened his arms, and when she accepted the invitation, he folded her close and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.  “It’s been good seeing you this week.  You gonna make it to the beach at all next month?”

 

As much as he liked having his kids all with him, Jon liked it even better in the Hamptons house.  That was the place he could let his hair down and enjoy the fruits of his labor.  It was his favorite indulgence, and it wasn’t complete without sun, surf, some good wine and his family.

 

“I’m not sure what days exactly, but yeah.  I’ll be there some.”  Slender arms snugged tight around his back.  “I thought I’d bring a friend and her mom with me.”

 

Her mom?  The kids were welcome to invite anyone they wanted, and sometimes family members came along.  Jon had no problem with it.  What he had a problem with was Stephanie’s overly casual tone of voice.  If she was trying to fix him up… 

 

Jon’s gut twisted with displeasure.

 

Don’t jump to conclusions just because she thinks you need a girlfriend.  It might be perfectly innocent.  Feel it out.

 

“Sure.  Invite ‘em.  Invite the dad, too.”

 

“Oh, her parents are divorced,” his eldest child explained breezily, and slid out of his arms to make a break for it.  “Night, Daddy.”

 

“Don’t you ‘Daddy’ me, you little shit,” he called at her retreating back.  “You better not be up to no good!”

 

“Love you!”

 

Good God.  He didn’t need a damn matchmaker and planned to make that perfectly clear in the morning.  A girlfriend would just be a pain in the ass.

 

He’d stick with the Gypsy vixen and her colorful bedroom, he decided while drawing the cookie bag from his pocket.  Breaking the zipper seal released a scent of almondy vanilla goodness that made him smile.

 

And her cookies.