Chapter 12

"How busy are you today?" Cassie asked.

"Why do you look so worked up?" Holly asked, noticing her agitation.

"I've been thinking about doing some outside catering and I'd not given it enough thought because the restaurant already takes up so much of my time, but I got a job and I want to try it. Problem is, it's a last minute booking and I don't have enough hands to do it on time," Cassie said.

"What kind of catering job is it?"

"The Rudolph's are celebrating their thirtieth year anniversary. I mentioned my interest in outside catering to Joyce, their daughter and she went and told them about me. I was going to turn it down, but Mrs. Rudolph came to see me herself and practically begged me to do it." Her anxiety seemed to grow as she continued to explain.

"When's the party?"

"Tomorrow night."

"How many guests are coming?"

"About fifty."

She tried not to show her worry because she was a little concerned they may not be able to make so much food in such a short period of time. "Okay, we're going to need all the hands we can use. I'm going to get Mermaid and the kids. You go get mom and Adele."

Cassie seemed to relax a bit as she headed out.

When Holly went in search of Mermaid and found her playing with the kids, she watched silently from a distance.

She recalled their last sexual encounter and her heart picked up pace. She'd been beyond shocked by her raw sexual desire for Mermaid. Never in a million years would she have ever imagined taking someone on her dining room table at the risk of getting caught. The fact that she had, and more so with no care in the world, left her completely stunned.

"Guys, get over here, I need to talk to you," she said, putting the thought out of her head because it was starting to create some stirring in her nether regions.

"Something wrong?" Mermaid asked.

Holly shook her head and explained the situation to all three. "So, do you think we can do it? Can we help mommy make food for the party?" she asked the kids.

"Yes," Alanna said as she ran into the house with Maddy following closely behind.

"Do you think we can help Cassie cook all that food on time?" she asked.

Mermaid, always the optimist, nodded, then held her hand and playfully dragged her back to the house.

Everyone was in the living room waiting to receive orders from Cassie, who appeared more relaxed now that she had people helping her. She presented the menu the Rudolph's had requested and everyone got to work.

She got on the phone and ordered everything they required, which was delivered within an hour. The kids willingly and happily assisted where they could while Cassie directed everyone else on what to do.

"We should call the men to do all the heavy lifting." Lori remarked and everyone joined in, talking about how it was unfair that a woman should be destined to spend her life in the kitchen, cooking for their men.

She went ahead to share stories of her life with Joshua right before they'd had children and the others suggested an anniversary party of their own, celebrating their lives together.

"Will Cassie make me cook my own food for my party?" Lori asked, referring to the situation at hand.

Holly and Cassie teamed up, saying they would go as far as hiring outside help if need be. It was all intended for fun but Holly thought she saw Lori considering the idea.

Hours later, when the kids grew tired and restless, they went outside to play while the others continued their work.

Adele, who was an expert in the kitchen, was exceptional help to Cassie and assisted her in making the more complicated meals.

"It's nice having everyone here like this," Mermaid said.

Holly nodded in agreement. "You have some flour on your face," she said.

Mermaid tried to wipe it off but missed the spot.

"Here let me." Holly wiped her hands and then touched Mermaid's cheek. Her gaze was soft and warm as Holly gently ran her thumb over her face. She felt like she was drowning in her beautiful blue eyes.

Had they been working closer to Lori, Cassie or Adele, she knew they would have noticed there was more to their relationship than they let on.

"Did you get it?" Mermaid asked softly.

Holly lingered a little and nodded as she pulled away her hand, clearing her throat in the process in an attempt to remind herself there were other people in the room.

"Thank God this is such a big kitchen," she said and Mermaid softly laughed in agreement. She turned her attention back to her duties and found Cassie watching her when she looked up.

There was a look of love and understanding in her eyes, which made Holly realize if she'd had suspicions about the nature of her relationship with Mermaid, it was now confirmed. Where in the past the very thought would have terrified her, she now embraced it and smiled back at Cassie.

Cassie and the kids spent the night at the ranch. She woke up early the following morning to take care of the last minute details and Holly and Mermaid helped to the very last detail.

"Would you like to come to the party?" Cassie asked when everything was done.

"No, we're a bit tired," Holly said.

"Anthony will come by and pick up the kids. If it's too much work, I can tell mom to watch them."

"Oh, no, we don't mind," Mermaid said.

"Are you sure?"

"They only get to come over on Sundays, so trust us, we really don't mind."

Alanna and Maddy always spent their Saturdays with their friends. If it hadn't been for the cooking emergency, the kids wouldn't have come to the ranch at all.

"I have to go. Thank you both so much. You don't know how much I appreciate this." She blew them both kisses as she left for the party.

"I think I'd enjoy being a cook," Mermaid said as they headed to the stables where the kids were riding their horses.

"Why? It's so much work," Holly said.

"So much work? You're complaining about making a little bit of food when you used to spend all your days and nights in your office or at the stables?"

"That's different!"

"Oh, how so?"

"I enjoy doing that."

"And you don't enjoy teaching me how to cook?"

Holly stopped and turned to face her at the question. "Come to think of it, we should open our own catering business."

Mermaid laughed.

"Mermaid, you want to race us?" Maddy asked.

Mermaid tore her gaze away from Holly's as she nodded. "I'd love to."

Holly had given her a few lessons and she'd been an extremely fast learner.

"Aunt Holly, you too," Alanna said.

Holly went to get their horses. "I hope you haven't forgotten what you learned," she said when she got back.

Mermaid smiled at her as she mounted herself on the horse. "How would I? I had such a good teacher."

Holly watched her as she rode towards the kids and got on her own horse and followed after her.

*

"You know, very soon, everyone is bound to notice that my bed hasn't been slept in for days," Mermaid said as she finished getting dressed.

"Very soon, we're going to have to tell everyone about us." Holly walked over to Mermaid and lightly pecked her cheek.

"I know I wanted that, but I don't know why I feel so nervous now every time I think about it."

"I'm scared too, but the thought of freely expressing myself without any secrecy makes me want to be brave enough to tell them." She wrapped her arms around Mermaid's slender waist. "But before we tell them about us, I think I should tell them about Ryan."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm ready to share him with everyone." She was now confident that her family having knowledge of Ryan would make them understand her better. "I called Cassie and Tony. They'll be joining us for dinner tonight. I'm going to tell them everything."

"That's a very brave thing to do."

"I don't think I'd ever have had it in me to tell them if it wasn't for you. You made me realize that Ryan was too important to be forgotten."

Mermaid went still as a serious expression came over her face. "I need to tell you something."

"What?"

When Mermaid took a bit longer than expected to respond, Holly's heart started racing.

"I'm falling in love with you."

It took a moment for Holly to absorb her words, which she assumed triggered Mermaid to continue. "I don't know if it's too soon to say that. I honestly don't know what the rules are. Actually, I can't remember if there are any rules to speak of. I-"

Holly shut her up with a kiss as the words repeated themselves in her head, making her feel like her heart was expanding in her chest. "Shut up," she said gently against her lips, and then kissed her again, expressing how she felt herself and if that wasn't clear enough, she pulled away a bit and said, "I'm falling in love with you too."

Mermaid smiled.

"Did you think I wouldn't say it back?" Holly asked.

"I didn't know if you were ready."

Holly recaptured her lips and Mermaid responded with a passion that made Holly want to undress her and make love to her all over. They were both lost in each other when Michael chose that moment to walk in.

They broke the kiss, but did not pull apart. They just silently watched him as the awareness of what he'd just walked in on sunk in.

"I guess I should have knocked," he said awkwardly.

"I'm going to leave you two alone," Mermaid said.

She touched Michael's shoulder on her way out and Holly took a deep breath, unsure of what to say.

"Well, at least you've got great taste," Michael said, breaking the ice.

Holly chuckled in embarrassment.

"Mom told me you wanted us all at dinner tonight and I wanted to come and apologize for being such an ass to you."

She leapt into his arms in joy and relief.

"I'm sorry for everything. I should have been more sensitive," Holly said and he tightened the hug.

"The truth is, I just really missed you," he said.

She felt like she'd start to cry. "I came to visit."

"Those brief visits were not enough."

"I'm not leaving again," she said as she pulled back to look at him.

He smiled at her and then raised his eyebrow in curiosity. "So, you and Mermaid, huh?"

She blushed, and nodded.

"I approve," he said.

She was pleasantly surprised at his comeback.

"Before she came to this ranch, you were distant and kept to yourself. Her presence in your life, in all our lives, has made a difference. I don't know how she does it, but it's so easy to love her. She is a natural Mackenzie," he said.

Holly nodded in agreement.

"I don't know what you want to tell us tonight but whatever it is, I want you to know that I'm here for you."

"Thank you, Michael."

"Oh, before I forget, I want you to take me shopping this weekend."

"Shopping?" she asked.

"Yes, I want to buy an engagement ring."

She squealed in joy and tightly wrapped her arms around him.

He pretended she'd deafened him. "Jeez, what is up with women and rings?"

"Lisa is going to be so happy."

"You think she'll say yes?"

His nervousness amused her.

"She might say no since you took so long to propose. How are you going to do it anyway?"

"She'll tell you all about it after I do it. I don't want you thinking I'm a hopeless romantic when I'm all man and muscle." He flexed.

She broke into laughter, realizing just how much she'd missed him. "She's going to be the happiest girl in the world."

Michael shook his head and turned to face the door, "Third happiest, seeing as you and Mermaid already occupy the first two spots."

"Oh, yeah, true."

He kissed her cheek and walked out of her cottage.

Holly was a bit overwhelmed because for the first time in what felt like forever, it was like her world made sense again. The only thing she had to do now was talk to her family and finally tell them about Ryan.

*

"There is something you all need to know," Holly said as she looked at the whole family seated quietly poised around the living room right after dinner. Her gaze momentarily paused on Mermaid, who had a reassuring look across her face.

Suddenly nervous, she cleared her throat, uncertain of where to start and doubts started filling her again. That familiar pain of loss enveloped her and she took a deep breath and said, "Wow! I thought I was ready for this."

"What is it, honey?" Joshua asked in concern.

"When I was married to Nick," she paused, realizing she was about to reveal the most heartbreaking thing she'd ever endured. "We had a baby."

She could see the shock in everyone and she wanted to get through with the explanation first before they could start asking questions. "His name was Ryan." An uncontrollable wave of emotion enveloped her and tears she had not expected rolled down her face. God, would she ever be able to share Ryan without it feeling like she was losing him all over again?

"He was just two weeks old when he..." She couldn't. She wasn't ready.

"Its okay, Holly," Mermaid said as she came over to her and embraced her.

"He what?" Lori asked, matching Joshua's concern.

"He developed some complications," she managed.

Both Michael and Cassie uniformly got up and went to her. Mermaid pulled back, giving them space and went to seat beside a disturbed Lori.

"Oh God," Joshua said.

"He died," she said and both Cassie and Michael held her.

Holly tried to speak, to explain the rest, but words refused to take form. Lori, Joshua and Tony got up and went to her. She knew they wanted to know more, but the pain vibrating through every inch of her was unbearable.

When she managed to calm herself down, she did her best to retell the story she'd shared with Mermaid.

Everyone embraced her with words of comfort and though she was glad she'd told them, she was sad for making them learn her kind of pain. "I didn't want to bring you this kind of pain," she said as she lightly wiped away the tears on her mother's face.

Tony had his arms protectively wrapped around Cassie while Michael sat beside Holly, holding her hand in his in form of support.

"Tell us how he was like," Joshua said.

For the first time, Holly saw the importance of having shared Ryan with them. He was alive in every single one of them. As she told them every single detail about Ryan, she heard his laughter in Michael, saw his nose in Cassie, felt his touch in her mother and saw his love and kindness in her father.

She didn't know how long they all sat there talking, listening to her as she spoke of her departed son, but when they all went their separate ways, Holly knew they would all grieve in their own different ways.

"Would you like to be alone tonight?" Mermaid asked when they were together.

"No, I'd like to spend the night with you."

They went to the cottage and Mermaid held her that night as she tried to sleep, but everything that had taken place that evening kept replaying itself in her head. She turned to face Mermaid and found her awake.

"You were amazing tonight," she said.

Holly smiled.

Mermaid trailed her fingers lightly over Holly's face then leaned forward and planted a kiss on her lips. Holly responded and Mermaid moved closer, deepening the kiss.

Before long, they were both lost in a cocoon of ecstasy as their desires consumed them. Mermaid made passionate love to Holly and everything that was bothering her evaporated as unimaginable pleasure rocked her body.

"I think Cassie knows about us," Holly said later on when she was warmly snuggling next to Mermaid.

"How?"

"I don't know, but she looks at me like she knows."

Mermaid ran her fingertip over the outline of Holly's lower lip. "Is that a bad thing?"

Holly shook her head. "No, it's a good thing. It'll make it easier to tell everyone else."

Mermaid smiled. "I'm proud to see how far you've come."

"You make me into a better version of myself. I love you, Mermaid." The only other person she'd ever said those words to was Lana. The difference between then and now was that back then, she'd said it with the innocence of a child and right now, she was saying it with the depth of a woman who had been through enough to know the real definition of the word.

"Show me," Mermaid said and Holly was only too willing.