Made to Love (2 page)

Chapter 2

Aspen folded the extra blanket and put it on the end of the bed in the bunkhouse. She rubbed her belly and surveyed the room one last time. Lex would be back with Nikki later that afternoon and Aspen wanted it to be perfect. Whatever things Aspen could be accused of being, a bad host was not one of them. She had even stocked the fridge with the barest of necessities in case Nikki didn’t want to join them for meals. Aspen wasn’t sure just how long she would be visiting and
, honestly, had no expectations of how much interaction they would have with Nikki.

Aspen shrugged and backed o
ut of the room slowly. At nine months, her belly protruded far too much to make moving quickly possible. She felt a foot or an elbow or something akin to Thor’s hammer jab her in the side, and she groaned softly. “Live it up, kiddo. Pretty soon you’re mine.”

She and Lex teased all the time that the baby would be born with a black belt in Taekwondo
, or at the very least, a kicker for the Patriots. Either way, little baby body parts were waging war on Aspen’s insides. She paused and rested her weight against the counter, drawing in the deepest breaths she could. She inhaled once more before pushing off the counter and opening the front door. She did one more visual sweep of the living room, and a mischievous grin turned up the corners of her mouth. She couldn’t see the living room floor without picturing her and Lex making love that final time. A small part of Aspen remembered the hurt that she experienced for so long, but a bigger part of her focused on the healing.

The past year had come and gone quickly. She and Lex renewed their vows last summer and shortly thereafter, their second round of in vitro took. Aspen could say one thing about Nick’s swimmers, they could move. Another jab and Aspen smiled, rubbing the spot absentmindedly. “Maybe you’re a swimmer, little one.”

Aspen shut the door and slowly navigated the landing at the end of the porch. It was only three steps, but it might as well have been a hundred as slow as she was moving. She was halfway to the house when her ears picked up the sound of a car. She hadn’t expected Lex back quite so soon, but several seconds later, her car turned into the drive, followed by Nikki’s, and Aspen waggled her fingers in a lazy wave. She headed back up the path toward the bunkhouse and met Lex and Nikki just as Lex turned off the engine.

“Hi, babe.” Lex shut her door and planted a quick kiss on Aspen’s mouth. “You remember my cousin, Nikki?”

Aspen nodded. “Hey, Nikki.” She leaned into a hug and shot Lex a look over Nikki’s shoulder that said
what the hell.
She hadn’t spoken to Nikki much at the wedding, but the woman hugging her now didn’t look much like the woman Aspen met all those years ago. “Welcome to the farm.”

Nikki smiled and inhaled loudly. “Smells like sheer boredom.” She laughed and waved the comment off. “I’m kidding. Thanks for letting me stay. Lex said I’d pretty much have the run of the bunkhouse. I hope you don’t mind if I have company.”

Fortunately, Aspen’s face didn’t register her surprise at the comment. “No, consider it your home away from home.”

“Sweet.” Nikki ran a hand through her spiky purple hair. Her nose ring glistened in the
late-afternoon sun. She leaned into the trunk and grabbed her suitcase. “I told a couple of friends I was out of commission for a while, communing with nature and all. They want to visit anyway. Lex said you had horses.”

Aspen gulped. “We do.”

Nikki slammed the trunk lid. Her brown eyes searched Aspen’s face before she laughed easily. She looked around, taking in her surroundings. “It isn’t the city, but maybe that’s a good thing.”

“Maybe so.” Aspen met Lex’s gaze and mouthed
what happened?

Lex shrugged and shook her head from side-to-side. She glanced at Nikki out of the corner of her eye. They were both taller and on the slimmer side, but that’s where the likeness ended. Nikki’s long brown hair was now spiked and purple. Her eyes were hidden behind layers of dark
makeup, and her face looked unnaturally bronzed. She was dressed like a wannabe biker, down to the metal-studded boots. Gone was the girl whom Lex had grown up with, replaced by a hardened version of her. Perhaps, this last breakup really did a number on her cousin.

Lex tried to put herself in Nikki’s shoes and sympathize. It would be necessary if she were to tolerate Nikki for the next few months. The drive home
was very telling. Two hours on her speaker phone, being regaled by Nikki’s stories about all her rich girlfriends and how easily she could get a woman into bed. She was kind enough to sprinkle in comments about getting tied down and knocked up never being on her bucket list. Needless to say, by the second hour, Lex was ready to pull her hair out. “I bet you’re tired. Why don’t we show you the bunkhouse so you can relax?"

“Sounds good.” Nikki grabbed a second suitcase out of the backseat. “Listen, thanks again, cuz. I really appreciate you guys letting me bunk here.”

“Sure, no problem.” Aspen waited for the two of them to go up the stairs before she attempted to climb them.

“I got it from here.” Nikki dropped her suitcase on the porch with a thud. “I can see getting around is tough. You’re going to pop that kid out anytime, huh?”

Aspen silently thanked Nikki for saving her from the stairs. “Another three weeks, but I’ll probably go late.”

“That sucks.” Nikki grabbed the handle of her suitcase and waggled her eyebrows at Lex. “You know what they say helps with that?”

Lex reddened slightly. “Castor oil.”              

“Mm, yeah. Something like that.” Nikki turned the handle and swung the door open. “Really, I’ve got it. Take your wife home and rub her feet or something nice.” A sad look passed over Nikki’s face before her telltale smile flashed again. “I will probably hole up here a while. Think things over. Know what I mean. If I need anything, I’ll yell.”

“Okay.” Lex watched the door swing shut then shook her head, clearly puzzled. She put her hands on her hips and watched the spot where Nikki occupied only seconds before. Shrugging, Lex spun on her heel and met Aspen, putting her arm around her and squeezing. She slipped her arm through the crook in Aspen’s arm and matched her slow stride.

“Wow.” Aspen raised her eyebrows quizzically. “Are we sure that’s the same Nikki that came to the wedding?”

“I was beginning to wonder that myself. It wasn’t until she started telling stories of Ma trying to feed her eight times a day that I knew who she was.”

“The purple hair is certainly a statement.”

“Yeah, it screams save me from Barney.” Lex stopped at the steps to the house and extended her hand toward Aspen.

“That’s funny. Mom sent a package for the baby and guess what was in there?”

Lex groaned loudly. “Seriously?”

“Uh-huh.” Aspen winked mischievously. “Wait
until you see what she sent you.”

“Why do I not like the sound of that?” Lex swung open the door and waited while Aspen navigated inside. “Speaking of purple, do you think the carpet matches the drapes?”

“Really?” Aspen sighed in exasperation. “Only you would wonder something like that.”

“It’s a great idea. I mean think about it. It would be like a big flashing neon sign that reads
Nikki’s Flower Patch. Open all year round.”

Aspen smiled uncomfortably. “And you just made it weird.”

Lex watched her wife walk away, and she chuckled at her retreating figure. “
I
made it weird?” Lex jogged to catch up with her, shaking her head and laughing at the woman who just locked herself inside the bunkhouse. She stopped outside Aspen’s studio and leaned on the doorjamb. “What are you working on now?”

“Just a few pieces for the art show.” Aspen held up a sketch of a woman Lex presumed was her. It was a profile of a nude woman who was clearly pregnant. Her long hair danced around her
face, and her hand rested on her stomach protectively. “You like it?”

Lex pushed herself off the door and strode over to Aspen. She took the picture and held it out. “It’s beautiful. How did you get yourself from this angle?”

“Funny you should ask.” Aspen took the picture and set it back on her easel. She picked up a piece of charcoal and began filling in the shadowed areas. She smudged the new lines with her pinky. “First of all, I can’t tell you how incredibly hard it is to move with a Cadillac strapped around my waist. I feel as if my hips might actually separate, and all of this will just fall out.”

Lex snickered before the look on Aspen’s face straightened her up. “You’re the cutest vehicle transport truck I’ve ever seen.”

Aspen glared at Lex. “Funny.”             

Lex wrapped her arms around Aspen’s waist and kissed the back of her neck. “Anyway, you were saying
.”

“Oh, yes.” Aspen leaned into the
embrace, and her stomach flip-flopped. She loved the feeling of being in her wife’s arms. She felt safe and loved and most of all she felt wanted. “I took the mirror in our room and moved it, so I could see the door.”

“Wait.” Lex pulled away and looked at Aspen askance. “The full-length mirror? The one it took me
and
Nick to carry up the stairs? Babe.”

Aspen spun around and caressed Lex’s cheek. “I’m fine. I just had to turn it a bit.”

Lex took Aspen’s face in her hands and fixed her with a concerned gaze. “I just don’t want anything to happen to you. Don’t do anything…”

“Stupid.” Aspen finished Lex’s sentence. She saw the worried look in Lex’s
eyes, and she was immediately sorry that she caused her to worry. She pulled Lex’s hands away from her face and guided her palms to her protruding belly. “Here, feel this?”

Lex started to shake her head no, but then she felt a subtle movement beneath her hands. Her face lit up excitedly. “She kicked.”

“She
or
he kicked. Lex, I’m sorry I upset you. I promise you I would never do anything to hurt our baby.” Aspen’s mind flashed back, and she saw the pain in Lex’s eyes. The devastation of thinking she failed Aspen. Her heart ached momentarily for Lex, but the pain was quickly replaced by the knowledge that this time Lex wasn’t going anywhere, no matter what happened. “We’re both fine.”

Lex smiled tremulously. “I know. I can’t help worrying.”

“Well stop it, you nerd.” Aspen’s smile widened at the look on Lex’s face. “Aw, what’s the matter? Can’t take a little name calling?”

Lex laughed then kissed Aspen soundly. “I’ll show you nerd, dork.”

“Dork?” “Aspen growled playfully. “Keep it up, Mrs. Tataris and I’ll…”

“You’ll what?” Lex waggled her eyebrows suggestively.

“Ha, not on your life.” Aspen schooled her face into the perfect pout. She slid off her stool and sashayed as suggestively as her body would allow her to toward Lex. She wrapped her arms around Lex’s neck. “Admit it, you think I’m sexy. You love when I waddle toward you.” She rubbed her belly against Lex’s groin and moaned as though she had just finished a delicious morsel. She leaned in and kissed Lex softly. Aspen deepened the kiss, only pulling away when she heard Lex’s breathing quicken. “Still a dork?”

“Mm, yes.” Lex closed her eyes and smiled dreamily. “But a beautiful one.”

“Oh.” Aspen swatted Lex playfully. “Now you’re gonna get it.”

Lex feigned fear and turned to run before a loud
beep pulled their attention away from each other. She snapped her fingers. “Oh darn, saved by the bell.”

“Uh-huh.” Aspen picked up the phone and eyed the display. “I better take this. It’s Mason.” Aspen punched the button to accept the call. “Mason, hi.”

Lex watched the expression on Aspen’s face change to one of concern, and she immediately worried. She figured it had something to do with the art show they were getting ready for. It was bad enough that Aspen was still pushing with just three weeks left in the pregnancy, so any additional stressors were not welcome.

“Sure. I’ll grab
Lex, and we’ll be right over.” Aspen hit end and set the phone on the stool.

“What’s wrong?” Lex tugged on her ponytail and prayed it wasn’t anything big.

“Mrs. Cabot passed away.”

“Mason’s neighbor?”

“Yeah.” Aspen started putting her supplies away, a distracted expression on her face. “It was quite sudden, I guess. She had a heart attack. Mason isn’t doing so well. They were pretty close. I told her we would come over and distract her.”

“Sure, yeah. Anything we can do to help.” Lex held her hand out toward Aspen. “Should we stop and grab food on the way?”

“Probably so. Knowing Mason, she hasn’t eaten.” Aspen followed Lex out. Her mind flashed to her friend and fellow artist, Mason Durant. She and Mrs. Cabot had been close for years. Mason’s parents wouldn’t win any
parents of the year
awards, and Anne Cabot had been a mother of sorts to Mason. Aspen could tell from the short conversation that Mason was devastated. She only hoped they could comfort her.

Chapter 3

Lex pulled into Mason’s driveway and shut off the engine. “You guys need a few minutes?”

“No.” Aspen shook her head from side-to-side and opened her door. “Besides, I need your help up the steps.”

“Ah, I see.” Realization dawned on Lex’s
face, and she shook her finger in Aspen’s direction. “I’ve been downgraded. I’m nothing but your stair bitch now.”

“Oh, you’ve always been my bitch.” Aspen winked and smiled mischievously. She watched Lex walk around the front of the car. She was more attractive now than the first day Aspen saw her. It didn’t matter that she was in love with Lex. Lex was gorgeous, that was a simple fact. Their son or daughter would also be blessed with her genetic good looks, as they had used Lex’s brother, Nick, as the donor. Their baby would be the perfect blend of the two of them. Hopefully, dark and exotic with Aspen’s piercing blue eyes. The pregnancy had been hard for Aspen. Months of morning sickness plagued her
until her third trimester and now, she felt as big as a house and that hampered her doing all the activities that kept her from going insane. She hadn’t cooked a decent meal in weeks, the horses were lacking in company, and sex, well that was scarce. She rubbed her belly as all the thoughts flashed through her mind. It was worth it though. She and Lex would have a beautiful baby, an extension of their love for each other.

The creak of the door pulled her mind back to reality. Lex extended a hand and pulled gently. “My lady.”

Aspen giggled. “I should amend my comment. You have always been my knight in shining armor
bitch
.” The last word she said under her breath, but the look on Lex’s face let Aspen know she heard it. “But you're mine and I love you.”

“That’s better.” Lex glared at her playfully
and shook a bag of fast food. “Think we should have brought something with us to drown her sorrows?”

“My guess is the fridge is already well-stocked. You know she has a bit of a problem.”

Lex nodded solemnly and placed her palm under the crook of Aspen’s elbow. “How old was Mrs. Cabot? She can’t have been much older than Aunt Ginny or your mom.”

“I’m not sure. Maybe late fifties.” Aspen navigated the last step and took a moment to catch her breath before knocking on the door. “I always thought she was pretty healthy.” Aspen pulled the screen door open and knocked.

It took several minutes for Mason to answer the door and when she did, one look at her face, and it was apparent she’d been crying. “Hey, come in.”

Aspen shot Lex a look before she stepped into Mason’s living room. The lights were off and the curtains were drawn, so it took her a moment to let her eyes adjust to the darkness. She pulled Lex toward the couch and sat down quietly.

“Thanks for coming.” Mason’s voice trembled with emotion. “I didn’t know who else to call.”

“God, Mason, of course we would come. You’re our friend and you just lost someone close to you.” Aspen saw the empty pints on the end
table, and she grimaced. “Been hitting it pretty hard.”

Mason followed Aspen’s eyes and laughed wryly. “Yeah, I have. It seems Ben & Jerry’s is the best way to self-medicate.”

Lex set the bag of food down next to several empty containers. “Chunky Monkey. You’re hitting the hard stuff. Be careful, Mason. This will sneak up on you before you know it and leave you wrecked on the floor with no memory of the last twenty-four hours. I’ve seen it happen.” Lex gestured surreptitiously. “It’s not pretty.” 

“Hey, I saw that.” Aspen pinched Lex’s arm and scrunched up her face in mock anger. “I am not that bad. Besides, it was Phish Food anyway, not Chunky Monkey.”

To her credit, Mason at least pretended to laugh. “Thank you. I needed you guys to come save me.”

“You want to talk about it?” Aspen’s heart went out to her friend. She looked miserable. Even in the pale light, she could see Mason’s eyes were red-rimmed and swollen. Her face looked haunted
, and if there was one word to describe Mason, Aspen would say lost. Having her own parents and Aunt Ginny and Uncle Neal most of her life made it difficult to imagine how Mason must feel with no one to turn to. “Or not, it’s up to you.”

Mason leaned forward in her recliner and ran her hands through her hair. She rested her head in her palms, giving Aspen a chance to study her friend. Her tall frame slumped dejectedly, making her seem much smaller than Lex, though they were almost the same height. Blond curls that were normally tucked into a doo-rag sprang out in every direction, making Mason look a bit crazy. She was dressed in old jean bibs and a
T-shirt that could have been made sometime in the ‘60’s. From the look of it, Mason might have had the outfit on that long. Aspen wanted to pull the woman into her arms and comfort her, much like a mom would, but she wasn’t sure Mason would want that; not yet, anyway. After what seemed like an eternity, Mason exhaled and sat up. “I got the call Sunday. Anne was at church for a bake sale when it happened. They called 911 and tried to revive her, but it was a massive heart attack. I was one of her emergency contacts, so they called me. By the time I made it to the hospital, she had already passed away.”

Aspen leaned forward and patted Mason’s hand consolingly. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I know how close you were. If there is anything we can do, just ask.”

“For now, a shoulder is appreciated most.” Mason shot them a grateful smile.

“Mine
happens to be extra padded right now.” Aspen patted her shoulder and laughed softly. “As a matter of fact, pretty much everything is soft right now.”

“Ah
.” Mason’s eyes flicked between Aspen and Lex uncomfortably. “A shoulder is good. I’ll let Lex keep the rest.”

Lex smile apologetically. “Forgive her. The mind was the first thing to go.”

“Hey.” Aspen punched Lex in the leg. “I’ll have you know my mind is perfectly fine.” Aspen pulled her gaze from Lex and glanced around the dimly lit room questioningly. “Why are we here again?”

Mason laughed before her forehead crinkled in concern. “There is one thing. I’ve got plenty of pieces done already, but I may come in a bit short for the show. Is that okay?”

Aspen waved a dismissive hand. “I think everyone will understand.” She pictured her own small collection of artwork. The South End Art Hop was Burlington’s biggest art show of the year. It took place every Labor Day Weekend and usually drew tens of thousands of visitors. The businesses and studios on Pine Street were refitted as art galleries and exhibition sites for more than 500 artists. Aspen barely had enough pieces to fill her small studio. She hoped between her artwork and Mason’s sculptures that they could fill the space, but the newest announcement left her wondering. “Besides, you have a bunch of pieces already done.”

“Yeah
.” Mason shrugged her shoulders. “I’ll probably sell most of those by August. I’m doing six shows this summer.”

“Six?” Aspen eyed Mason with incredulity then saw the twinkle in her eye. “Wait. Don’t tell me you got into stART?”
stART on the Street was the biggest art show in Central Massachusetts. Aspen had applied twice, and so far, hadn’t been accepted either time. It was almost impossible to get booth space if you didn’t have it the years before. “How did you swing that?”

Mason smiled cryptically. “Remember Joanna?”

“Tell me you aren’t messing around with her again.” Aspen looked at Lex helplessly. “Aren’t you going to say something? You know how bad it was after Joanna.”

“Stop worrying.” Mason chuckled softly. “I’m not sleeping with her again. I promise.” Truth be told, it had taken her a long time to get over her ex, Joanna. It didn’t matter that she was cheating on her the whole time. Joanna had done a number on Mason, convincing her that she couldn’t do any better than Joanna. “She got a permanent
exhibit in the city, and she gave me her spot. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have gotten it either. Right now, I have just enough pieces for that show.”

“It’s next month, isn’t it?”

“The 7
th
.” Mason rubbed her hands together. Her palms were hard and calloused from years of sculpting. She eyed them critically. They were rough and worn, big even for her size. Mason picked at a spot distractedly. “It will take everything I have between the shop and Anne’s yard.” For years, Mason displayed her artwork in Anne Cabot’s yard. Her whimsical sculptures, made from old metal and rebar, fit the Queen Anne style house as if they were made for it. “God.”

“What?” Aspen shot her a sympathetic look.

“I’m going to have to find another place to display my stuff.” Mason groaned wearily. “This is going to call for another pint.”

“What about your yard?” Lex, who so far had remained quiet, nodded outside. “You should have room.”

“I suppose.” Mason thought about her postage stamp sized yard. The garage took up most of the empty space, which meant everything would be cluttered all together in the small space that remained. It certainly wouldn’t have the appeal that Mrs. Cabot’s yard had. Her lot was close to an acre, and the mature gardens and trees accented Mason’s metal sculptures perfectly. “It’s going to be a bitch getting all of it moved.”

“Unless…” Aspen’s face broke into a big
smile, and she patted Lex’s arm. “…you had someone big and strong to help.”

Lex nodded. “Sure, just add it to my list of servant chores.”

“Stop it.” Aspen feigned dismay. “I do not think of you like that. I would offer, but it would take me two weeks just to cover the alley between the houses. “

“I’m kidding.” Lex kissed the side of Aspen’s head and smiled. “Just let me know when you want to do it.”

“Is right now okay?” Mason pushed herself out of the recliner. “I need to get out of the house. The dark is starting to swallow me whole.”

“Sure, yeah.” Lex shot Aspen a surprised look. When she offered to help, she didn’t imagine it would be right that second. “Unless I have something at home to do.”

Aspen shook her head from side-to-side. “Nope, you’re free.” She lifted her hands toward Lex and sighed loudly. “Help me up. I can carry some of the smaller stuff.”

Lex locked her hands around Aspen’s and grunted loudly. “Are you helping at all?”

Aspen glared at Lex. “Yes, I’m helping. Just remember, you did this to me.”

“I did
that
to you?” Lex chuckled and pulled Aspen to her feet then planted a kiss on her lips. “Me and my turkey baster have mad skills.”

“You have something, alright.” Aspen rubbed her belly. “You hear that, little one? This is all your other momma’s fault. The Tataris’ children grow extra big. They make sure you get your money’s worth. If I didn’t know better, I would think you were twins.”

Mason eyed them both with respect. “When are you due?”

Aspen rolled her eyes and followed them outsi
de. “It’s supposed to be the middle of June, but I figure I’ll go late. I think that this baby has decided it likes it in here and doesn’t want to leave. Maybe a little manual labor will help.”

“You sure about that?” Mason turned and watched Lex help Aspen down the steps. “I don’t want to be responsible if the kid doesn’t cook long enough.”

“Did you just say cook long enough?” Aspen shook her head at her friend. “I’m not baking bread in here. Mm, bread sounds good.”

“Babe, anything sounds good to you.” She and Aspen fell in step with Mason, who
shortened her strides to let Aspen keep up with her. “Yesterday, she ate a jar of green olives with chips and dip and a chocolate shake. My stomach turned at the mere sight of it.”

Aspen smacked Lex’s arm. “You cannot make fun of a pregnant woman’s cravings.”

“At least I didn’t tell her about the cream cheese.” Lex raised her eyebrows and shot Mason a look over Aspen’s head.
“Out of the tub.”

“Ew.” Mason made a vomit sound. “You ate straight cream cheese?”

“In my defense, it was the chocolate cream cheese dip, and I was out of Graham crackers.” Aspen shook her finger in Mason’s direction. “Two words…Chunky Monkey. Don’t you judge.”

Mason snickered and led them around the side of the house. Anne Cabot’s house shared an alley with Mason’s, but that was the only similarity. The large
home was situated on an acre lot, which lent itself particularly well to Mason’s sculptures. She worked mainly in old metals like rusted rebar, aged license plates, mufflers and any and all forms of scrap metal she could procure. She created whimsical yard pieces that complimented the northeastern yards. They passed a group of rebar women standing well over six feet tall, with long, billowy arms and legs that were positioned as though they were walking through the garden themselves. Large, colorful sculptures that resembled party toothpicks rested beside them. Mason had sprinkled large, colored metal spheres in the trees around the property. There were countless other odds and ends that littered the yard. Mason stopped in the center of it all and looked around the yard, hands akimbo. “There’s more here than I remember.”

Aspen stopped alongside her. “That’s a good thing.”

“Yeah.” Mason scratched her head. “It will just fill up my workshop and my yard. I was hoping for a little room to do a few more pieces.”

Mason’s workshop was a garage that resembled the best machinist shop a person could ask for. Hydraulic pipe bender, pipe roller, oxygen-acetylene welding torch, jump shears, an English wheel and a collection of different types of hammers and anvils and other odds and ends. Piles of old, scrap metal went into the garage with no shape at all and came out as beautiful pieces of artwork. Mason was so well-known locally that she spent quite a bit of time doing commissioned pieces
that brought in a much steeper price than her art show pieces, which made up the majority of the ones in Anne Cabot’s yard. “I guess just start stacking it in the garage.”