Friends With Multiple Benefits (24 page)

Victoria opened the door to her office and walked in to find her in-laws both completely naked and engaged in some sort of permutation of the sixty-nine position. Beverly was on her back with her knees up and Edward's head was bent at an odd angle with his mouth buried in her womanly parts. Beverly was craning her neck to the side and had her lips wrapped around Edward's erection.

Victoria stopped in her tracks at the sight of the middle-aged, out of shape couple's bold union on her expensive oriental rug. She watched, mostly in shock to start then a little out of morbid
curiosity,
before she shielded her eyes and said, "Sorry. I'll, um, let you guys, um…" She heard rustling and whispers as she turned then blindly reached for the door and slipped away.

Ten minutes later, she knocked three times then opened the door a few inches and called in. "Are you ready for me?"

"Yes, please come in," Beverly said.

Victoria made her way to her chair and sat. Placing her elbows on the desk, she weaved her fingers together and rested her chin on them. "So, I don't want you to feel awkward about this."

"We're so sorry," Beverly began. "We didn't—"

"Don't apologize. I actually have watched a number of my patients as they go through hands-on therapy, I guess you could call it. I just wasn't expecting to, you know… right now." Victoria sat back in her chair and held her hands up. "But it's fine."

Edward wore a slight smile as he sat back in his seat with his shirt buttoned incorrectly.

"I trust you found the video informative." The doctor wore a hopeful expression.

"Obviously." He held back a chuckle.

"Good."

"I have a number of other instructional videos I could let you watch on your own tonight. There's a DVD player in the guest bedroom."

Edward moved to the edge of his seat. "What do you have?"

"I have one about sex toys and another focusing on cunnilingus and one on fellatio. I also have one on anal sex and well, there are a lot of choices."

Edward looked to Beverly nodding his head. "I think those could help."

Victoria rubbed her hands together. "I think that's enough for today. Why don't I leave you two
here.
You can look at my library of DVDs and pick out what you want and we can meet again tomorrow at the same time. How does that sound?"

"Perfect." Beverly smiled.

"Great." Victoria rose to her feet. "Remember we have that dinner with Jillian and Brian tonight so why don't you guys meet us in the house around six."

"We will." Beverly put her hand on Edward's arm as Victoria slipped away.

Victoria, Jim, who was carrying Kaylie, and the Nash
parents,
hurried to the front door of Jillian and Brian's house just as the rain switched from a drizzle to a downpour. They huddled under cover of the porch while Victoria repeatedly hit the doorbell as the wind kicked up pelting them with rain.

Brian rushed to the door and opened it then spotted the cowering group. "My God, it's starting already. Hurry, come in."

They shuffled in, wiping off their faces as they stood in the foyer.

"Luckily the real bad weather is going to miss us," Victoria said.

"It's heading to the west, right?" Brian asked.

"Yeah, Tampa is probably going to get the worst of it," Jim added.

"Hi, Mom." Brian gave his mother a hug and nodded to his father. "Dad. Did you guys have a good day?"

The elder couple shared an embarrassed smile and Beverly said, "Yes, we did dear."

"Good." Brian motioned toward the back of the house. "Dinner is almost ready. You can head to the great room and I'll get you a drink."

Thirty minutes later, while the twins napped upstairs, the three couples were sitting down to dinner. The seating arrangement was Jim, then Kaylie in a high chair next to Victoria, followed by Beverly, and then Edward. The Nash parents were each pounding down the booze. Edward was already into gin and tonic number four while Beverly was taking her final sip of number two. Brian sat at the head of the table with Jillian to his right.

"Dear, could I have another?" Beverly held her glass in the air.

"Sure, Mom."

"Might as well make me another while you're up," Edward said.

"Jillian I've never tasted lasagna like this before, where ever did you get the recipe?" Beverly commented in a slightly condescending tone.

"Oh, thank you,
Beverly,
" Jillian replied a bit agitated. "I got it
online
."

"Interesting."

"Brian," Jillian called out. "Could you make me another vodka tonic?" She polished off the rest of her drink, set the glass down, and shot Victoria a distressed look.

Victoria quickly mouthed something unintelligible, but certainly scolding to her friend. Then she forced a smile as she scanned the faces of her in-laws. "I think this is just lovely all of us here. The last time we were all together was… what, Jillian's wedding?"

"That's right," Beverly began. "I think I was drinking a lot on that day too."

"I think you're right hon," Edward said.

"It rained that day, didn't it Jillian?" Beverly asked with a slight sneer.

"Why yes, yes it did, Beverly."

"That's supposed to be good luck, now isn't it dear?" Beverly chuckled. "Supposed to be anyway."

"Brian?" Jillian leaned back to get a look into the kitchen and with her voice cracking, asked, "How're you coming with those drinks?"

"So, are you still writing?" Beverly took a bite of her lasagna and let a slight cringe form on her face.

"Yes, I've been working on a new series."

Victoria said, "She's writing a wonderful M/M romance."

"What's that?" Beverly took a sip of her drink.

Jillian shot her friend a
narrow-eyed
glare then cleared her throat. "It's a romance between two, um, men."

Suddenly Beverly choked on her drink and dribbled it back into her glass. "Two men fornicating?"

"No, falling in love."

"You're joking."

"I'm not. And these types of books are
quite
popular now," Jillian said, defensively.

"Maybe with those Hollywood types." Beverly sneered.

Jillian gazed at her mother-in-law in slack-jawed awe for a moment then shook her head. "I'm just experimenting a little with the genre." She leaned back for a view into the kitchen then rose to her feet. "I'd better check on him."

Brian rushed over with a drink in each hand. He dropped one off in front of his mother then one to his wife as Jillian returned to her seat. Brian dashed away and seconds later appeared with two more drinks, dropped one off to his father, and sat down.

Beverly put her hand atop Victoria's. "Do you have any gay clients?"

"No, not right—"

"Smart dear. That's smart. Those people are spitting in the face of God. At least that's what Ed and I feel, right Ed?"

"That's right."

"I feel, sure, everyone is entitled to make their own choices. I mean, as long as they don't throw it in my face I don't care what they do." Beverly took a sip from her drink then put on an evil grin. "I'm not the one burning in hell, they are."

Jillian scoffed and opened her mouth to speak, but Brian interrupted. "So, Mom, did you know that they are making Jillian's book into a television series?"

"We don't watch much television dear."

"Mom, I know, but I thought—"

"We just had the best time today with Victoria." Beverly smiled. "She's really good at what she does. Edward and I have never been so in touch with our feelings as we were today."

"Really, that's great." Brian looked to Jillian with his eyes widened and she simply returned a scowl as she sipped her drink.

Taking Victoria's hand, Beverly gave it a squeeze. "She's just sent from the heavens. The best daughter-in-law a mother could ask for. In fact, it's like
you're
my own flesh and blood."

Victoria put her hand to her heart. "Why thank you, Beverly. I'm just glad I could help."

"Call me Mom."

"Mom." Victoria beamed until she caught Jillian's angry glare.

"It's no wonder Jim looks so happy now." Gazing at Jim, Beverly wore a proud smile. "With a bedroom expert such as you guiding him through life, he can't have a need you're not meeting."

"Mom." Jim cringed.

"I
try,
" Victoria replied.

Turning her attention to her other son, Beverly's smile melted away. "Brian, you look really tired."

"I'm fine."

"Are you sleeping enough, dear?"

"You know, with the twins it's been a little hectic."

"Sure, but are you relaxing enough." Beverly raised her eyebrows suggestively. "Relaxation is an important part of life."

"Um, yeah, we…" Brian shook his
head, "…
my relaxation level is, um, you know, fine."

Beverly shot Jillian a frown then forced a smile. "I just worry about you."

"You don't need to worry."

Beverly took a sip of her drink. "I'll
always
worry about you."

Jillian's mouth fell open and she looked to
Victoria,
who returned a sympathetic shrug.

"Ed and I went to see your movie," Beverly said.

Sitting up straight in her chair, Jillian forced an interested look. "And what did you think?"

"Well, we didn't make it through to the end." She frowned. "Ed's back was acting up on him. But we love that Amanda Jo. She's a great actress."

"Brian is actually teaching her tennis," Jim announced.

"I'll be meeting with her tomorrow," Brian added.

"That's wonderful, dear." Beverly's face lit up. "Now there's a nice girl. Is she single?"

"She's married," Jillian snarled.

"That's too bad." After taking in Jillian's horrified
expression,
Beverly seemingly tried to repair the damage. "I mean, for the rest of the men out there.
Hopefully
she's found herself a good one."

"I think she
has,
" Jillian grumbled before tipping back the rest of her drink.

"I need to use the
ladies'
room." Beverly rose to her feet then lost her balance. Ed took hold of her elbow to save her. "I guess I've had one too many."

"You okay, hon?"

"I'm tired." She shot him a suggestive grin. "I think I'd like to go to bed early tonight."

"Brian will drive you back," Jillian announced quickly and with a bit too much enthusiasm.

Everyone's attention went to her and she added a little more calmly, "I mean, whenever you're ready to go that is. And, um, if Victoria and Jim would like to stay a little later, I figured Brian could drive you back."

"Well, thank you, dear. I think we will take you up on that generous offer."

When Brian returned from dropping his parents off, he discovered his wife, brother, and Victoria sitting in the great room.

Jillian took a sip from her vodka tonic and ended up with an ice cube in her mouth. She held it there with her tongue as she muttered, "I just can't believe it."

Brian plopped on the sofa next to her and cringed. "I'm almost scared to ask, but what can't you believe?"

"Um, that your mother is still treating me like crap and evidently is in love with Victoria."

"I am loveable." Victoria raised her eyebrows.

"She really is," Jim agreed.

"And what am I?" Jillian looked at them, waiting. "Huh?"

Brian began, "Oh, my mother loves you too…" his words trailed off and he added
weakly, "…
in her own
special
way."

"Uh-huh." Jillian frowned. "She didn't like dinner. She basically came right out and said that I wasn't pleasing you in the bedroom and apparently she's got her eye out for your future wife."

Brian shrugged. "She's going through a tough time right now."

"Right." Jillian rolled her eyes.

"Hey, I'm pretty sure she used to hate me too. Maybe if you just spent some time with her, she'd come around."

Jillian sighed then took another sip of her drink.

"Speaking of coming around, I thought those two were fighting, but I'm pretty sure they were, um…" Brian made a
face, "…
making out in the backseat of the car and possibly more."

"They had a session with me today." Victoria chuckled. "More like half a session."

"Half a session and they're giggling like newlyweds in the backseat of the car." Brian raised his palms.

"Maybe it's because of the booze," Jillian grumbled. "They were both loaded when they left here."