April Fool’s

“Hi sister-in-law.  Getting any?”  John’s voice said smugly over the phone.  Just by the way he said it, she was sure he was getting plenty.

Sam and Robbie came shrieking through the living room, headed for the game room.  Melissa put a finger in her ear to try to cut down on the noise.

“Not at the moment, John.  A herd of wild parrots just flew through.  How’s New Orleans?”

“Humid, but beautiful as always.  We went to a jazz concert last night that was wonderful.”

Sam rushed out of the game room and hugged his aunt around the waist.  “Tori and Geoff are the bad guys, don’t tell them where we are, okay?”

“Okay, I won’t.  Want to say hi to your dad?”

Instead of taking the phone, the four year old simply looked up at the receiver and shouted “HI DAD!” then headed back to the game room.

“Your son has asked his secretary to take a message,” Melissa said in a business-like voice.  “He’s too busy to come to the phone right now.”

“So I heard.  Isn’t Robert there with you?”

“Nope.  I’m flying solo today.  Dad is stuck in the Austin airport trying to get a flight out.  There’s a pilot’s strike going on you know.  And someone else has the family plane so I couldn’t send my very own pilot to get him.”

“Sorry about that, Mel.  Where is Alan?”

“On the Rock.  He’ll be back late tonight.”

“He hadn’t planned to be up there.”

“Something came up.  Don’t worry about it, John.  You’re on vacation.”

“I know, but still…”

“Alan will handle it.  If he needs you, he knows where you’re staying.”

“Right.  Look, Helena asked me to call and make sure that Tori was getting that antibiotic she’s been taking.”

“Oh yes, Mistress Tori has already informed me that if she doesn’t take each and every dose her ear is likely to rot and fall off.”

John chuckled.  “She is a bit dramatic isn’t she?”

“Just a bit,” Melissa said dryly. “I have it locked in my med box so she can’t self medicate and take too much.”

“I told Helena you could handle it.” 

There was a rumble as Tori and Geoff came dashing down the steps, both of them screaming for Robbie and Sam.  Susie was close behind them, shouting “Me play too!  Me play too!”

“Hold it guys!”  Melissa shouted.  “I think you need to take this game outside.”  She reached out and swung the two year old onto her hip.  “You play with me, Miss Susie.  We’ll go out by the sand box.”

“Aw Mom!”  Geoff groaned. 

“Out, all of you.  Settle it outside.  And Mr. Geoffrey, no one is to end up in the canal.  If anyone ends up in the canal, no one gets desert.  You’re in charge of making sure that doesn’t occur.”

Sam and Robbie were peeking out of the game room door.  “What is for desert tonight?” Sam asked.

“I don’t know yet, but I’ll eat all of it myself if you end up in the canal.”

Robbie giggled, but he and Sam headed out the back door.

Melissa sighed as the others followed.  “You still there, John?”

“Still here.  Sounds like you have your hands full.”

“We’ll be fine.  Dad and Alan will both be here tonight.  So what are you and Helena up to today?”  She asked the question brightly, hoping he didn’t tell her that they were in bed right now.  As Geoff closed the door, she put Susie down and whispered for her to go get her sandals.  The two year old toddled off.

“Helena and Caprice are having their hair done—and probably talking nonstop.  I’m about to hit the antique shops to scout out any good birthday or Christmas presents for her.”

“Well, aren’t you the regular boy scout.”

“Be prepared, that’s me.”

“So you’re not getting any this afternoon either.”

“Nope, but I sure got it last night, and this morning, and before lunch…” John trailed off with a laugh.

“Prick,” Melissa muttered.

“What was that?”

“Rake, I’m going to go outside and working the garden and can’t find the rake,” she lied.   “I need to head outside to keep an eye on the kids.”

“We’ll see you Monday afternoon, then.”

“Fine.  Have fun.”

In New Orleans, John hung up the phone with a smile.  He was having fun.  As much as he cherished his family, traveling with Helena was something he always enjoyed.  He tapped the phone for a moment, thinking about Alan being called up to the Rock, and then he reached for the black canvas briefcase that was leaning against the desk.  He’d just do a quick check.

Around 4 o'clock, Helena and Caprice entered the Koenig suite laughing and giggling like schoolgirls.  The two-room suite was well appointed with a huge king size bed in one room and a beautifully decorated sitting room in the other.  Both rooms had French doors that lead out onto a balcony over looking the river.

As soon as they entered, Caprice kicked off her shoes and flung her packages in the direction of the couch. Helena took her own packages into the bedroom settling them on the desk next to John's computer.  

The doors that separated the rooms were open and Caprice peered into the bedroom. "Uh-oh, he's been at it again."  Caprice gestured to John's laptop, which was opened and appeared to be on. "Can't he just give up command for one day?"

Helena smiled indulgently at her friend,  "No, and before you say anything, it doesn't bother me.  I'm long used to John's need to keep an eye on things. It's a part of who he is."

Caprice winked in understanding and walk back into the sitting area.  She spied the doors to the balcony.  "When is he going to be back?" she said as she flung the doors open.

Helena reached for a nearby note resting by the bed.  "Well, according to this note, he'll be out until 6:00. Just in time for our dinner reservation.  He wants to go dancing.  You up for it?”

From outside, Caprice replied,  “That’s fine.  Six O’clock?  That gives us some time to relax after that power shopping trip we took.” She pulled two chairs to the middle of the balcony.

Helena strolled out onto the balcony.  “It’s nice out here.” 

“Yes, We’re the middle of a cool front and the weather is actually pleasant.” Caprice responded lazily.

"Hmm…I have a bottle of wine in the fridge.  We could have a drink and watch the river traffic pass?" Helena responded just as lazily.

Caprice leaded forward in her chair and rose slowly.  “I swear, I’m getting too old for our usual shopping marathons.  How about something stronger,” Caprice replied as she headed toward the honor bar.  “Ah ha!,” She said as she handed Helena a bottle of wine.  “Perfect.”  She replied as she selected a handful of tiny bottles of various colors.

Within a half hour Helena and Caprice were sitting on the balcony, newly painted toes propped on the railing.  Helena nursed her wine and watched her friend.  A line of tiny empty bottles was growing next to her chair.

Caprice leaned back and her chair and exhaled deeply.  "Oh I love this."  She gestured toward the river.  "Remember when we were in school, we’d come down here at dusk and watch the ferry go back and forth across the river?"

Helena slowly shook her head.  "Hmm…those were the carefree days of our youth."

"You're right.  Who would have thought that you and I would have ended up here...” Caprice's voice began to take on a hollow sound as she sipped her drink.

Helena reached over and took her hand.  "You going to tell me what's really going on with you?"

Caprice gave her friend quick glance.  "I already told you.  I wanted a change so I moved back to Baton Rouge."

"I've known you too long.  There's something else.  It's Connor isn't it?  He's the reason you moved back here."

Caprice headed back inside and removed another selection of tiny bottles from the fridge.  “I’ll replace these with some from my room.” 

Helena shook her head and waved her hand.  She and John were enjoying their time together, and it didn’t involve large amounts of alcohol consumption.  

Caprice returned to her chair and took a long sip from her glass.  She exhaled slowly.  "Is it that obvious?"

"Only to me."  Helena said softly.

"I had to get away from him.  Finding out he was married nearly crushed me.  At first, I thought about trying to get him back.  Then I went through a phase where I hated him.  And around the time I thought I was finally over him, the hospital chief thought he would be well suited in the morgue.  It forced me to see him every day and that only made things worse. "

"Oh Caprice, I didn't know they assigned him to path.  I'm sorry."

Caprice waved her long polish fingers in the air.  "Don't be.  How could you have known? You hadn’t moved back to Florida yet.  Besides, there wasn't anything that could be done."

"Still, I wished you would have told me."

"One day out of the blue, Kevin, you remember him?"

Helena nodded.  "Yes."

"Kevin called and asked me if I'd ever thought about teaching. " Caprice chuckled.  "Helena, I've never entertained one fleeting thought about teaching, it's always been practicing for me. Anyway, I had to do something and it seemed like a good idea.  So I told Kevin, it had always been in the back of my mind.  Anyway, LSU hired me on the spot and two weeks later I moved back."

"Well, do you like it?"

A slow smile crept across Caprice's face.  "I love it.  The whole time we were in med school I always wondered why your father didn't practice, why he went through all that training only to end up doing research."

"And?”

"Well, now I know.  It's wonderful and fascinating.  I love the challenge and the constantly changing conditions of things."  Caprice waved he hands wildly in the air with excitement.

 "I thought you loved to practice?"

"I did and I still do.  But the whole realm of teaching and researching has opened my eyes and broadened the scope of my interest."  Caprice finished with a laugh.

"Oh honey, I think that's wonderful!  I have to admit I was worried that you weren't happy since the move."

Caprice's light brown eyes began to glow.  "I'm happy with that aspect of my life…"

"But?"  

"Something is missing--actually it's not something--it's a someone.  You know

I almost hate to see you and John together.  I'm jealous!  You two are so close, it's almost as if you are sharing a brain or something."  She chuckled.  "I guess that's what I want.  I think I'm finally over Connor and ready to move on."

"Well, I for one and glad to hear that you are over Connor."

"It's taken me a long time to be able to say those words, but I really mean them."

Helena reached over and squeezed Caprice's hand.

"You know Hel, maybe I should do what you did, find some handsome hunk and just take him back to my bed a few hours later.  Maybe he'll turn out to be everything John is."

It was Helena's turn to laugh.  "Well, I wouldn't recommend that approach to just anyone, but it certainly worked for me."

"So tell me, just what are you going to tell Miss Victoria when she comes to you and wants to know how mommy and daddy met?"

Helena rolled her eyes,  "Oh God, I don't even want to think about that.   I'm dreading her first date!"

"Well, it won't be long.  Time passes at an incredible speed."

Helena lifted her glass,  "You certainly can say that again."

"Tell me girlfriend, tell me the truth,” She waved her finger over toward her friend in teasing manner. “ Are you and John rediscovering your initial sexual tensions?"  Caprice winked at her.

"Are you kidding?  No kids, great food, no family, great room, no business, great music, no worries, great sex."  Helena leaned back in her chair smiling.

"Well I'd say from that smile on your face that things are still great between the two of you."

"Oh yes.  Last night John gave me an orgasm so big, I actually sat up in the bed!"

"Oh man, now I am jealous."  Caprice teased.

Both were laughing when the sound of the door closing caught the attention of the two friends.  Seconds later John strode out on the balcony and leaned against the rail in front of them.  "It seems like you two girls are having a little fun." 

Helena moved her foot from the railing and settled it on John's thigh.  "We are having a great time."  She wiggled her toes causing John a blush a bit.  He wasn't used to such intimate touching in front of Helena’s friends.

Caprice leaned forward and put her glass down.  "It's getting late. I'd better get changed if we are going to dinner."  As she rose, she lost her balance and had to grab her chair. 

John reached over and helped her stand.  "Can you make it to your room okay?"

"Oh sure.  I'm not that drunk-yet."  She winked at Helena.  "See you two later. "  Caprice called over her shoulder as she left the room.

As soon as she was out the door, Helena moved her foot off of John's thigh and onto his crotch, wiggling her toes when she made contact.

John shifted her foot back over to his thigh.  "Just what have you girls been talking about?"  He said teasing his wife.

Helena moved her foot back.  "Just girl stuff."

"Girl stuff, huh?"  John shifted her foot back. "Is it anything like the ‘girl stuff’ you and your sister share?” 

A wicked little smile crossed Helena’s face.  “Something like that.” She shifted her foot back and wiggled her toes.  Her smile grew even broader when she felt him respond.

“We'll be late for our dinner reservation if you don't stop that."  He warned.

"Maybe I want to be late."  She wiggled her toes again.

"Sweetheart, how much wine have you had today?"  John trailed his fingers over her foot.

"Hmm…Not that much.  It hasn’t spoiled my... appetite."   She winked at him.

John chuckled,  "What kind of appetite?”  

Helena rose from her seat and pressed her body against his.  "Let’s go into the bedroom and I’ll show you." She hummed into his ear.

"Let's go then."  He kissed her quickly and pulled her back into the room.

They made love with the doors open enjoying the cool spring breeze and their renewed feeling of freedom. And they were late meeting Caprice for dinner.  

An afternoon of chasing kids around, supper with five children, story time, bath time and bedtime consumed Melissa’s day.  By nine that night she was lying on the sofa, exhausted.  The three little ones were all tucked in bed, and Geoff and Tori were playing video games in the upstairs playroom.  Her laptop sat on the coffee table with windows on the playroom and the two children’s bedrooms.

When the back door opened Melissa called out without opening her eyes.  “Halt who goes there?”

“Your father,” was the response.  “Little girl, don’t you think you should keep your doors locked?  What if I’d been a bad guy?”

Melissa smiled and got up.  “I’d sell him a few kids real cheap.  Hi Dad.  You look like you could use a drink as bad as I could.”

“Hell yes.”  Robert dumped his bag on the table and gave his daughter a kiss on the cheek.  “Damned airlines.  They ought to just give the pilots what they want and get them back to work.”

Melissa put ice cubes in two glasses and fixed two bourbons.  “Sounds like you’ve been talking to Alan’s dad.”

“Did you know that commercial pilots are grounded on their sixtieth birthday?  We were discussing the subject on IM the other night.  He and Beth send their love.”

Melissa handed her father his drink and settled on the sofa again.  Robert put his arm around his daughter and she settled in next to him.

“Kids tire you out?”

“Yes.  They had the day off from school and bounced around the house like Mexican jumping beans all day.”

Robert pointed at the computer screen.  “I see two are still up.” 

“I told Tori and Geoff they could wait up for you as long as they stayed quiet and didn’t fight.  Both are also insisting on sleeping in their sleeping bags in your room.”

“That’s all right.  I don’t mind.”  He leaned forward to look at the screen.  “What game are they playing?”

“Ecco the Dolphin four.  John got it for Tori before they left for New Orleans.”

“I suppose you’re sorry John and Helena decided to spend the week in New Orleans.”

“Not really.  I was ready for her to pack him up and take him somewhere.”

“I thought you all liked working together.”

“We do…” Melissa hesitated.

“But?”

“But when we started out, John and Alan were to handle the creative side and I’d handle the administrative side.  I think John has been feeling a bit restricted.  He’s used to being in charge and he’s damn good at it.  But that’s my job.”

Robert chuckled.  “Sounds like the same problems you and I have had in the past.  We both want to control everything and end up at odds with each other.”

“True.  We seem to have moved past that.”

Robert leaned over and kissed his daughter on the top of the head.  “Finally.  So what do you have in mind for John?”

“What do you mean?”

“Oh, come on, Melissa.  You spent a lot of time and effort resisting my efforts to control you.  Don’t tell me you haven’t been plotting something.”

It was Melissa’s turn to laugh.  “Actually, when you got here I was trying to come up with some kind of April Fool’s joke to play on him.  Robbie learned about April Fool’s Day at school this week, and has been telling April Fool’s jokes all weekend.”

Melissa and Robert discussed possibilities until the back door opened again and Alan appeared. 

“Well, if I have to come home and find my wife in the arms of another man, I’m glad it’s you, Robert.  Anyone want a beer?”

“We’re fine,” Melissa called, holding up her drink.  “Refill Dad?”

“I don’t think so.  I won’t be able to control that gamepad thingy,” Robert said, indicating the kids on the screen of the computer.  “I’ll turn her over to you Alan and head upstairs.  Good night.”  Robert kissed his daughter on the temple and stood.

“Good night, Robert,” Alan called. 

Melissa patted the sofa next to her and Alan joined her.  She took his beer and crawled into his lap, delivering a long deep kiss.

“That’s more intoxicating that the beer,” Alan said, patting his wife’s bottom.

“Thank you,” she said, leaning her head on his shoulder.  They watched Robert enter the playroom upstairs and be immediately pulled into the game the children were playing.  He sat on the floor with them and Tori climbed into his lap.  Geoff leaned against him and handed him the gamepad.  Both children were gesturing and talking, obviously explaining how the game was played. 

“How did things go today?”  Melissa asked.

“Everything is resolved.  And that subcontractor is not to be trusted again.”

“I’ll make a note of that.  I didn’t like him to begin with, but his bid looked terrific.”

“Very professional,” Alan agreed.  “Too bad he’s not.  We can salvage things, but he’ll have to be watched much more carefully. And we shouldn’t sign another contract with him. Did John call here today?”

“Yes, he called about Tori’s medicine, and to gloat about what a good time they’re having.”

Alan kissed his wife again.  “They don’t get away very often.  I’m glad they’re having a good time.  But I was surprised when he contacted me up there to ask what was going on.”

“The kids were wild and he asked where you were and I told him you were on the Rock.  I told him he was on vacation and you could handle it.  Doesn’t he understand what a vacation is?”

“Not John,” Alan said, laughing.  “He’s the original workaholic.”

“I was telling Daddy that we ought to play some kind of April Fool’s joke on him.”

“Like what?”

“Oh, I haven’t come up with anything yet.  I thought about calling him and telling him we wrecked that old GTO of his, but was afraid Helena might have to resuscitate him.”

“You might at that.  He’d be flying back here like an avenging angel and you’d have Helena all pissed at cutting her vacation short.”

“True.”

Alan yawned.

“Tired?”

“Yeah.  Long day.”

“I’m in desperate need for some nookie.  You too tired? “

“Never.”

Melissa stood and took Alan’s hand.  They headed upstairs for bed.

The dark dimpled man smiled back as he reached for her hand.  He slowly turned her hand palm side up and placed his room key in her hand.  “My place or yours?” 

Caprice allowed her eyes to roam the length of his body. “Mine is closer,” she answered with a smile.

The man slipped his hand around her waist gently steering her in the direction of the main door.  As she tried to move, Caprice realized that she was unable to walk without assistance. The dark stranger tightened his grip around her waist. “Started the party too early.”  She mumbled and allowed the man to support more of her weight.

“How early?”  The male voice beside her inquired.

“We started around 4 this afternoon.  What time is it now?”

“Eleven.  Who’s we?” He asked as they passed a table of rowdy college students. 

“My friend, Helena.  We started before we left for dinner.“ 

“Where are they now?  Do we need to tell them that we are leaving?”  He stopped moving.

A slightly fuzzy thought wandered through Caprice mind.  “The last time I saw them they were over there.”  She pointed to a small patio cloaked behind a set of glass doors.

The man guided Caprice through the doors and on to the patio.  It was dark there; only the twinkling lights of the city cast their reflection onto the patio.  “Is that them?”  The man pointed to a couple standing in the shadows. 

Caprice tried to focus on the other couple.  They stood together looking out at the river.  The man leaned down to nuzzle her neck and the woman lifted her hand to stroke the man’s cheek as his lips moved down her neck.  The movement of her hand caught Caprice’s attention.  The ring on the woman’s hand looked oddly familiar to her. “I think that’s my friend’s ring.”  Caprice said in her drunken stupor.

“Well, if that is your friends, I don’t think we should interrupt them.  They look a little busy.”  The man’s hand slid around Caprice’s waist again.

“Helena?  John?”  Caprice called before her beau could stop her.

Helena’s head lay resting on John’s shoulder as her body enjoyed his gentle caresses.  She could feel his hand moving up her side, cupping her breast and all she could think about was how good his caresses felt.  Her body shook from the sensations his lips were causing on her neck.  She felt like she was floating on air.  Somewhere in the distance she heard someone calling her name. 

Although she hadn’t had as much as Caprice, the alcohol in her system made her reactions slower and she was enjoying it. She hadn’t relaxed this much in years. 

It seemed to take forever to lift her head off John’s shoulder.  Focusing on the direction of the voice calling her name, Helena searched the darkness.  In the haze of her vision, she saw a petite female figure swaying next to a taller masculine figure.  As the couple approached, Helena gently disengaged herself from John. 

“What’s wrong?” 

“I heard our names.” 

Slowly, John saw the other couple moving towards them.

“Helena?”  Caprice called.

“It’s us.”  John answered for his wife. 

“Oh good.  John, this is …” Caprice looked at the man beside her.  “I’m sorry, I don’t know your name.”

“Mitch.”  The guy caught Caprice before she swayed too far in the opposite direction.

Caprice relished the strong arm around her shoulders.  “Yes, Mitch.”  She purred. 

John nodded his acknowledgement and Helena held out her hand.  Mitch took it with a smile, making sure he kept Caprice steady with the other hand.

“I’m taking her to her room.  I think she’s had a little too much.”  Mitch replied suddenly.  For some odd reason the man in front of him looked oddly familiar and despite the fact that this man was obviously distracted with the woman beside him, Mitch sensed a commanding personality.  He suddenly felt like he needed to defend his actions with the woman next to him.

John nodded.  He and Helena were both experiencing a pleasant alcoholic haze, but he managed to display a look that all but conveyed to Mitch that taking her to her room and then leaving had better be the only thing he had in mind for Caprice. By the look on Mitch’s face, John realized that Mitch had received his message and completely understood. 

Helena didn’t seem to notice the exchange, but she did notice her friend’s condition.  “Let’s walk with them,” she suggested.

The four set out.  John and Helena were not yet to the point of losing their equilibrium, but Caprice was no longer capable of independent locomotion.  Helena reached over and took Caprice’s hand.  “You okay?”

“Mmm, wonderful,” Caprice replied from the comfort of Mitch’s embrace.  “I’m trying your method.”

Helena was glad for the dark room as she felt a blush spread across her face.  She wanted to tell Caprice that she had not been falling down drunk at the time, but didn’t want to have to explain to John or this tall dark stranger.

Once inside the hotel elevator, Caprice leaned against Mitch and fell asleep.  Mitch laughed softly.  “Just my luck. I just have this effect on women.”

John shook his head ruefully.  “She’s going to have one big headache in the morning.”

“And probably won’t remember any of this.” Mitch reached down and lifted Caprice up into his arms as the elevator came to a stop.

“We’ll walk with you.”  John said in a tone that left no room for argument.   Mitch carried Caprice into her room as John and Helena waited in the hallway, He gently covered her with a blanket then dropped her key card on the table beside the bed along with his business card.   He closed the door quietly as he came back into the hall.

“She’s sleeping.”  He told John.  “Are you going back to the club?” 

“No, I think both the girls have partied enough tonight.”  John wrapped his arm around Helena’s waist.

As they rode the elevator up to the 18^th floor, Mitch asked,  “So you think she’ll remember me in the morning?”

”She’ll remember,” Helena said with a smile.  Her first impression of Mitch was already favorable, and she knew Caprice never forgot a face. 

Smiling, John put his arm around Helena’s shoulders.  “Honestly, I don’t know.  To tell you the truth, I’ve never seen her this drunk before.  I’m not sure what she’ll remember come tomorrow.”

Mitch chuckled along with John.  “I take it this doesn’t happen often?”

“I don’t know what got into her.”  John quipped.  “I was out for most the afternoon and when I came in they were already on the balcony drinking.”  

“I take it they don’t normally drink like this?” Mitch inquired as the elevator reached his floor.

“Not hardly.”  John looked at the man in front of him.  For some odd reason he felt a kinship with this man. 

“Well, it’s been nice meeting you.  I hope she remembers me tomorrow.  I’d like a chance to get to know her.”  He stepped through the doors of the elevator.

John quickly put his foot out to stop the door from closing.  “You interested in meeting us for brunch?  Maybe I can persuade Caprice to join us. “

“Around Eleven?” 

“That sounds good.”  John said.

“Okay.  I’ll see you two then.”

As the elevator doors closed John gave Helena a kiss on the temple.  “So what did get into Caprice tonight?”

“She has a broken heart,” Helena said with a sigh.  “I hope Mitch is a heart specialist.”

John smiled.  Caprice and Helena had been close ever since Melissa had given up school and headed out into the world to find excitement.  Helena had told him how lost she felt without her twin and her friendship with Caprice had been very important all through medical school.  When Helena married the first time, Caprice was in the wedding party.  Melissa was on another continent.  When Lee didn’t come back, Helena and Caprice were practicing medicine in Florida and Caprice had been a large part of Helena’s support system.

As they entered their suite, all thoughts of Caprice vanished.  John lifted Helena in his arms and without turning on any lights; he carried Helena over to the bed and deposited her.  He gently removed her shoes, massaging each ankle and smiling as she caught his eye.  She watched John toss her shoes onto a near by couch and turn on a light.  “Honey…” She called softly.

Amused, John moved to sit by her on the bed.  “What?”

Helena lay back on the bed; a slow sexy smile crossed her lips.  “I need some help with my dress.”

“I think I can accommodate you.”  John leaned over and slowly kissed her.  

Helena drew him into a deeper kiss and struggled to remove his jacket.  “John…”

“Hmm…” He responded his lips moving down her neck.

“Take it off for me.”  Her voice soft with desire ignited the smoldering embers of his previous arousal.

John kissed her once more then rose to remove his clothing.  Helena pushed up on her elbows to watch. Despite the fact that he’d grown older, he still kept himself in good physical condition.  He noticed her watching and it inspired him.  He reached over and flipped on the radio that Helena had already tuned to a jazz station.  To the sensuous sounds of a saxophone he did a good imitation of a Chippendale dancer, teasing Helena and grinding his hips as he removed his clothes.

Helena responded, pulling pillows behind her and relaxing against them.  She pulled up her dress and stroked herself as he came to a finish.  John forced himself to continue to take his time, despite the sight in front of him.

“Mmmm, John…  I’m all wet for you,” she murmured.

That was as much as he could take.  He crawled on the bed and between her legs and entered her.  She wrapped her legs around him and they rolled over so that she was on top.  He reached up and unzipped her dress.  She pulled it over her head with his help and he reached up to caress her already tight nipples.  She arched her back and moved up and down on his erect shaft.  He moved one hand down her body, moving his fingers to find her clit.  She screamed with passion and moved against him faster.  “John, oh!  John!  JOHN!”  She came quickly, pressing him inside her, pressing herself against his fingers.  She gave one final moan and rolled off of him. 

John’s breathing was coming quickly; he was at the edge himself. Used to making quick decisions, he rolled her onto her back.  He knelt above her and spread her legs apart.  She was certainly wet. He placed his lips over her nipple and pulled.  She shifted slightly welcoming him. 

He moved his lips up to her ear.  “Helena,” he whispered, lightly running his tongue around her ear.  “Let me inside, honey.”

She moved her hand down to his shaft and guided him inside.  Mouth over her nipple again, he suckled her and slid easily inside, the fluids from their earlier pleasure had kept her well lubricated.  His own needs took over and he moved against her until his release rushed over him. 

She sighed as he rolled over and she settled against his chest in her favorite spot.  “It gets better every time, my darling.”

She logged into the office network through her wireless Internet connection, and her office workspace opened up.  She gave a cursory glance at the usage window that always opened for her.  It showed who was online at the office.  She frowned when she saw John’s name. 

“What the hell?” she mumbled.  “It’s an hour before the crack of dawn there.” 

She called up further details and found that John’s computer had been logged in since yesterday afternoon.  He had used it to contact Alan on the Rock then left it on.  A smile slowly spread across her face as an idea occurred to her.

She clicked on a secure folder and typed in her password:  the middle name of her first lover and the date he had liberated her from her virginity.  Even Helena couldn’t guess that one.  She smiled, remembering the figure skater she saw only at competitions and their encounter beneath the bleachers while her biggest rival skated to Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries”.

This folder contained a number of hacker’s tools.  The company had an information specialist and Melissa didn’t waste her time dealing with network problems, but she did keep up her computer skills, and found that quietly being able to keep tabs on her employees could be quite useful.  She also administered their network at home, which included laptops for herself and Alan that connected with wireless cards and could be used anywhere in the house as well as a computer in the children’s playroom and another desktop in the den.  They could all reach the office computer network with ease, as well as the computer network on the Rock.

She easily took control of John’s computer in New Orleans.  She checked to see what hardware was connected and was pleased to see that the webcam was connected.  She turned it on.  The computer was sitting on the desk in the bedroom of the suite.  The room was dark but Melissa adjusted the camera for low light pickup.  Two sleeping figures on the bed could easily be seen.

“Oh yeah,” she murmured.

She opened another window and adjusted her own web cam.  She clicked to open a connection and a familiar face appeared quickly in the window.

“Good morning, Belladonna.”

“Tony Cellini.  Do you feel like being wicked?”

Tony laughed.  “I can tell by the gleam in your eye that you do.  But why pick on me?  Have you finally told that Aussie you married to take a hike?”

“He’s upstairs asleep—with a smile on his face, I might add.  I need you for something else.”

“My loss.  His gain.  What can I do for you?”

“John is in New Orleans on vacation.  He logged in yesterday afternoon to check up on things and forgot to log out.  Take a look.”  Melissa clicked on the other window and dragged it to a button to share it with Tony.

Tony watched and smiled.  “My, my.  Careless of him to leave the webcam on.”

“Well, that is certainly how it appears…” Melissa said with a smile.  “I was hoping you would give John a call in a little while and let him know his computer is still on and that your staff enjoyed the peep show.”

“You wicked, wicked, girl.  You should be spanked.”

“I suppose you would like to volunteer.”

“If your husband has better things to do.  By the way, I like the ‘sport’ look.”

Melissa touched her headband.  “I was on my way out to run.  Will you do it?”

“My pleasure,” Tony said with a wink.

On the rock Tony Cellini sat back shook his head as the connection closed.  That Melissa Carter was something else.  He hoped he never ended up on the wrong side of that woman.  But he wouldn’t mind being on her right side.  Alan Carter was a lucky man.

He tapped his finger.  He thought for a moment then touched the screen in front of him and pulled up the information John had left with him yesterday.  Composing himself, he made the call.

The phone rang and the two sleepers stirred.  John reached over to pick up the phone.  Helena stirred and sat up, then headed for the bathroom.  John looked after her with concern.

“Hello?”

“John.  Having a good time?”

John lay back on the bed.  “Tony?  Yeah, we’re having a good time.”

Vaguely, he heard Helena turned on the shower. 

“Anything wrong up there?”

“Not up here my friend.  Down there…”

“Down here?  What…”

John sat up in a complete state of shock as Tony spoke.  He mumbled something to Tony and put down the receiver, glaring at the computer across the room. He rubbed his hand over his face.  How would he ever be able to tell Helena? How could he ever return to the Rock?  Would the staff still respect him as their superior after the show he put on with Helena?  He had to think of something and fast, Helena wasn’t going to stay in the bathroom forever. 

“Damn it!”  He softly cursed.  “I’ll tell her later.”

“KOENIG” the deep bellowing voice of his father in law thundered through the state of the art speakers of his laptop.   “I want a word with you!”

John stood perfectly still staring at the steely eyes of Helena’s father.

A satisfied smile crept across Robert’s face.  “Yes John, it’s good that you are scared.  You should be.”

“Robert…” John started but quickly stopped. For about the third time in his life he was speechless.  After all he was standing in front of his father in law wearing a sheet.  The bed behind him left no mystery to his previous night’s activities.

Behind him the door to the bathroom opened.  “John, is that daddy?”  Still toweling her damp hair, Helena came over to the laptop; she didn’t noticed John’s pale white complexion.  “Daddy.  Hi.  Are you with Mel and Alan and the kids?”

Robert’s demeanor softens.  He promised Melissa that he could carry the prank through but when he looked at the innocent Helena his armor begin to crack.   He knew he couldn’t go through   with it and possibly hurt Helena and so did Melissa. 

Standing behind him just outside of the camera’s pick up, Mel noticed the change in her father’s behavior.   Quickly, she called,   “Dad, can you help with the boys?”

Robert turned his attention away from Helena.  He saw Melissa silently gesturing to him to either play along or get off the screen.  When he turned back to Helena, he saw John sitting quietly on the bed.   “Cupcake?”  He asked.

Helena tossed the towel toward the bathroom,  “Yes, daddy.”

“Can I call you back later?”  He smiled sincerely.

She returned his smile.  “Sure.  Mel?  I hear you in the background.”

The picture in front of her changed from the image of her father to that of her sister.  “Hi Cake!  How’s the Big Easy?”

“It’s great. We’re having a great time.  How are the kids?  Are they giving you fits?”

“I’m okay now.  They kind of out numbered me yesterday.  Dad and Alan are here today so I’m fine.  How’s that big hanging husband of yours?”  Melissa inquired with a very smug look.

Helena blushed, ever since that hotel in Miami; Melissa had referred to John as  “Big One”.   It was a name that Helena hated and John loathed. Melissa seemed to sense their dislike of the name and she often used it to her advantage.  So far, she at least she had the tact to only use it in private.  

Say Brother in law, get any last night?”  Melissa asked, making sure John could hear her.

Helena turned around to smile at her husband.  It was then that she realized that not only was he as pale as sheet he was also wrapped in one. She rushed to his side.  “John?  Are you sick?”

Initially, John just sat there like a rock.  He seemed to wake up when Helena shook him gently. 

“Helena?”  He responded softly.

“Yes, John.  I’m right here.”  She took his hand in hers giving it a firm squeeze.   “Are you sick?” 

“No, I’m sorry.  I was a million miles away.  No, I feel fine.”  He pulled Helena into a hug.  Glaring at his sister in law over Helena’s shoulder.

“How far away were you, John? A million…. Hmmm I bet you were twenty-two thousand miles.  Wouldn’t you say that was about right?”  Melissa mused.

John switched from a simple glare to his usual command death glare.  “Melissa, we’ll be home this afternoon.   I’ll call you when we are in range.”

Helena sat back surprised,  “Okay, something’s wrong.  Why are we going home today and not tomorrow?  Is Tori sick and you two are telling me?” She turned and faced her sister. 

Melissa suddenly experienced her father’s earlier sensation of guilt.   She couldn’t hurt her sister just to play a joke on John.  She took a cleansing breath and put on her best smile.  “Cake, nothing’s wrong.  The kids are fine. You saw Daddy, he’s fine.  Mama called this morning, she’s fine too.”

“Then why are we going back today?”  She turned to face John.

“I just think that maybe all the kids are too much for Mel and Alan.”

“Oh no John, we’re just fine.”  Melissa was quick to reassure Helena.

“Are you sure?”  John asked as he tried to hold his anger at bay.

“Yes, I’m sure.”  Mel responded smiling sweetly.  “Oops, Susie’s needs her shoes tied.  Now, don’t worry Cake.  You two enjoy yourselves.  We’ve got everything here under control.”  John heard her place a special emphasis on the word, ‘here’ and cringed.   “Have a wonderful time, bye.”  Melissa closed the connection quickly.

She blew out a breath.  “Well, we avoided that!”

“It wouldn’t be fair to have them cut their vacation short,” Robert said from behind her.

“Of course not,” Melissa said.  “Besides that, she’s always been your favorite.”

Robert looked at her as if he’d been slapped.  She had not said it with malice, merely in a matter-of-fact tone that told him she believed it with her whole heart. 

“How can you say that?”  He asked, voice breaking.

“Because it’s true, Dad.  Don’t worry, it hasn’t bothered me for years.”  Melissa picked up the laundry basket full of tiny clothes and prepared to take it upstairs. 

“But it’s not true.”

“Oh, Dad—“

“No.”  He remembered all the times he would bluster and fuss at Melissa and Susan would tell him he needed to let her know he loved her.  Robert thought Melissa understood, but Susan had been right.  He took the laundry basket from her and sat it down on the floor, then he took her arms, to make sure she didn’t leave.  “Helena never needed as much discipline as you did.  She required a different kind of love.  Her ego was more delicate; she required more support.  I loved you differently.  Don’t you know how many nights I would lose sleep worrying about you, with your wild ways and your lust for danger?  I never had to worry about Helena like that.”

Melissa looked surprised.  “You were… worried?”

“To distraction, little girl!  I was so afraid you would kill yourself trying to climb higher, go faster, love more… I had to keep setting boundaries for you, which you continually broke.  But if I had just let you go, without at least trying to keep you safe, I was afraid you would get yourself killed.  I love you, Melissa.  And I love your sister, and I love your mother; not more, just different.”

She looked at him with wide green eyes, and then she put her arms around his neck and held him tight.  He hugged her to him, patting her back awkwardly.  She pulled away from him, picked up the laundry basket and headed for the stairs.  He saw her wipe her eyes with her arm before she said, “We’ll need to call John’s bluff in a while.  We’ll let him stew until this afternoon then call him back.”  Then she was gone.

Robert stared after her.  “Maybe I did that wrong,” he mumbled to himself.

“No,” Alan said quietly from behind him.  “I’d say you did that just right.”

Robert turned around.  “How long have you been standing there?”

“Long enough.”  Alan was holding two mugs of coffee.  He handed one to his father-in-law.  “She’s a lot like you, Robert.  She doesn’t really like the vulnerability of letting others see what she’s feeling.  But you pleased her, a lot.”

In New Orleans, John was anything but pleased.  When the call ended he had put on a brave face for Helena, told her that everything was really fine, and it was probably the hangover talking.  Helena headed for the bathroom to get him some aspirin and some for her.

John paced back and forth, waiting.  What would he do?  How could he tell her?

Helena entered the bedroom and found John pacing.  She knew something was wrong and that he hadn’t told her everything.  She also knew they were going to get to the bottom of this before they left to meet Caprice.

“John.  What’s wrong?”

John stopped pacing and pulled her into a hug.  “Nothing’s wrong.”

Helena pulled back and gave him a stern look,  “Talk to me.”

John exhaled deeply.  They’d been married too long and she could read him like a book.  He led her over to the bed and indicated she should sit down.  He prayed she would take the news easier if she was sitting.

Helena eyed him wearily, if he wanted her to sit down it must be bad.  “John?”

He held up his hands indicating that she should remain silent. Taking a deep breath, he sat down beside her and took her hands.  “Helena, yesterday when you and Caprice were out shopping I called Mel to check on Tori.”

>Helena shook her head slowly in agreement.

“Mel said that she had all the kids because Alan had gone to the Rock on some business.”

Again, Helena nodded.

“Well, you know me.  I had to check to see what the problem was so I logged on to the computer and spoke with Alan.”

Helena eyed him carefully.  She had heard this story last night as they dressed for dinner.

“After I spoke to Alan, I thought I logged out of the Rock’s server…” John stopped.  He just couldn’t do it.  He just couldn’t tell her that their love making from last night had been broadcast back to the rock.

Brrrringgg

They both jumped.

John exhaled deeply and reached for the phone.  “Hello?”

“Good morning!”  The cheerful voice on the other end of the phone said.

“Good morning?  You sound awfully chipper for someone that should have one hell of a headache.”  John looked toward Helena with a smile.

“At some point last night I wasn’t this cheerful but you’d be surprised was 3 aspirin and a hangover cocktail can do for you.   Are you guys up and ready for brunch?”

“Almost.”  John responded. “Are you up to eating?”

“Absolutely!  I’m starving!”

“Do you want to meet us up here?”

“Sure.”

“Okay, I need to jump in the shower.  Let me pass you on to Helena.”

John passed the telephone over to Helena.  He knew by the look on her face that they would finish this discussion before Caprice arrived to join them for lunch.

“I’ll be right back.”   He told her quickly and disappeared into the bathroom.  Once inside the bathroom, he shed the white sheet that was still wrapped around his waist and turned on the shower.  He stepped into the warm water and closed his eyes trying hard to think of a way to tell his wife the news.  As he reached for the soap, John noticed a radio on the wall.  He flipped it on and listened to the DJ talking non-stop about an alligator roaming the French quarter. “What?”  John said aloud.  Then he heard it, the sweetest phrase he could have ever hoped to hear. 

He heard the DJ say,  “APRIL FOOL’S, People!  There’s not gator in the quarter!  Ha ha ha, Had you there for a second didn’t I?”

“That Bitch!”  John exclaimed. 

He shut off the water, grabbed a towel and stormed out of the bathroom.  He walked past a stunned Helena.  When he reached the laptop, he called up the virus protection program quickly.  No sooner than the program started, the software stopped alerting him to a worm.  He quickly checked the help menu and discovered it was a worm that could turn on webcams through a back door.  “Damn it!”  He shouted.  He started a utility in the virus software that indicated the time and date the worm invaded his system.  The time and date stamp indicated 4:30 AM CST on April 1^st.  He knew he’d been had!

Helena stood dumbfounded across the room observation her still wet husband. 

“John?”

John looked up at his wife a huge grin spread across his face.  He put the laptop down and pulled her into his arms. 

“John?” Helena looked up at him and was rewarded with a very passionate kiss. When he let her go she pushed away from him.  “What happened?”

He led her over to the bed and explained everything. When he was finished they were both laughing and plotting.

They met Caprice and Mitch for brunch.  Together the four of them came up with a plan that would scare the living daylights out of Melissa and company.

Back in Florida, Alan and Robert had taken the boys to pick up pizza for lunch and Melissa, Tori and Susie were having some girl time shopping.   As Tori entered a dressing area to change into her new outfit, Melissa’s cel phone chimed.

“Hello?”

“Melllllll” Helena cried on the other end of the phone.

“Cake??!!  What’s wrong?!!!”  Mel’s alarmed voice brought Tori out of the changing room.

“Mama?”  The child asked.

Melissa didn’t know whom to comfort first.  She made a snap decision to comfort Tori. “It’s okay Sweetheart, it’s a bad connection.  That’s all. Go back in and try on your outfit.”  She smiled to the child despite the fact that her sister’s crying was breaking her heart.

“Mel, do you know what John did?”  Helena cried. 

Melissa’s heart stopped.  ‘Oh shit!  He told her!’ 

“He left the computer on and everyone on the rock saw us….saw us….oh……”  Helena cried.

Melissa was in a panic. She didn’t know what to do. She was too close to Tori to explain to her sister about the joke yet she couldn’t just let her twin continue to believe that the intimacies she shared with her husband and been viewed by others.  Shit, how did she get herself into this mess?

“Melllllll, I told him to get out.   I told him if he was that thoughtless that I never wanted to see him again…Did I do the right thing Melllll…” Helena sobbed into the phone.

Back in New Orleans,  John, Mitch and Caprice sat across the room holding their sides with laughter. Helena had to turn her back on them to keep from laughing out loud right along with them.

She heard her twin say,  “Tori, I’ll be right back. You stay in there until I get back.”

Melissa stepped out of the changing area far enough away that Tori couldn’t hear her and close enough to still be able to see her.  “Cake, listen to me. It’s all a joke.  Cake, did you heard me?”

She waited, as Helena’s sobs seem to ease.  “Look Cake, John called yesterday all smuggle about how much sex you guys were having. He seemed quite sure of himself.  And you know I was home with the kids and no Alan and he was so smug so I had to do something….”   Melissa continued with her story until she had completely confessed everything to her twin.  “Now listen to my Cake, you have to find John and tell him everything.  Do you understand Cake?  This isn’t his fault it’s mine!”

“Mel…” Helena sobbed.

“Yes?”  Melissa waited anxiously

“HAPPY APRIL FOOL’S DAY! Sister-in law!”  John said. 

Melissa was speechless.

“Mel, don’t ever mess with the Master!”  John said smugly before he hung up the phone.

“That should teach her.”  He told Helena and he pulled her into a hug.  “Let’s hope she’s learned her lesson.”  He looked over at Mitch and Caprice and winked.

Back in Florida, Melissa was fuming mad.  “Don’t mess with the master my ass!  There’s always next year, John.   There’s always next year."

Maureen J. Long

September, 2001