Theron's Hope (Brides of Theron) (34 page)

She wanted to stay like this forever.  They stayed on the bed lying in each other’s arms for a while until Grace went to take a shower and he ended up joining her.  She wanted to spend the last night with the kids in the living room.  She wanted to have them wake up and find her in the bed next to them.  When they were dressed in their pajamas, they found their way into the living room and snuggled up on the other mattress falling asleep to the rhythmic breathing and the quiet snores coming from the other side of the room.

About two hours later, Jacob woke up crying.  Grace went and retrieved Jacob before he could wake his sisters.  She took him to the potty and changed his pull-up then settled him on the bed with her and Zane, holding his hand as he found his way back to his dreams.  Zane’s arms lay comfortably across her chest, cradling the both of them. 

At 6:35am she felt the light tapping of a finger on her arm.  Grace jumped in reaction to her nieces touch.  She opened one eye and then the other, blinking to gain focus and she realized that Gianna was looking at her.  Jacob started to stir when Gracie jumped and Gianna said in her little girl voice, “Chelsey and I are hungry.  Can you make us some breakfast?” She looked so sweet there with her eyes all wide and her light brown hair sticking up in all directions.  Zane moaned in protest for being awaken so early.  He raked his hands through his hair as he yawned and stretched.  Chelsey walked up to him and said “Uncle Zane, can you put some juice in my sippy cup?”

Trying to stay in bed was futile.  She stretched out and Jacob started running to join his sisters in a jaunt to the kitchen.  Grace looked to Zane, “Are you sure that you still want that daughter now?” She said as she yawned and made a move to get up.

Zane got up and started to pick up the blankets and prepare to move the mattresses back to the bedrooms before Jo came in for work.  “As long as they are part of you, I look forward to it.”  She laughed at what he said and he joined in.  “I can see what Michael is talking about now.” he added.

Grace went into the kitchen with the kids all gathering around her legs.  Chelsey and Jacob had their sippy cups in their hands.  Jake was asking for something that she finally recognized as chocolate milk with Gianna’s help and Chelsey wanted apple juice.  The children were chattering with each other and changing subjects so frequently that it was impossible for Grace to keep up with their conversation. It was too early in the morning and she hadn’t had her cup of coffee yet.  Grace finally asked, “Does everyone want waffles?”  This was followed with many screams of approval. 

She made the waffle batter just as Zane entered the room.  She smiled at him and he laughed at her.  She asked him, “What?”  He wiped the flour off her nose and placed a kiss upon it and replied, “It’s nothing now.”  She showed Zane how to make the waffles using the waffle iron and he took over that task as she helped serve the kids.  She had Jo go out yesterday to get some whipped cream and cherries and other toppings for the kids breakfast.  She helped them make faces on their breakfast waffles and watched as they compared them among each other and started to make fun of eating the eyes, nose, or mouth of their waffle creation. 

She started a pot of coffee brewing, she could really use it this morning and she was sure Zane felt the same way.  She finished getting more of whatever the kids wanted in the way of drinks and food and then sat down to eat her own breakfast.  Zane added syrup to his waffle by her example and began to eat.  She watched as he enjoyed his breakfast. 

“I have a surprise for you tonight,” she said to Zane as he looked at her with interest.

“What kind of surprise?”  Zane asked. 

 
“If I told you, it would not be a surprise, now would it?”  Grace was excited about tonight. 

Soon after the kids finished their waffles, they went back to the living room to watch early morning cartoons they found on the TV.  They probably wanted to lie back down on the mattresses, but Zane had already picked them up and put them where they belonged, so they made themselves comfortable on the sofas instead.  She could hear Jacob’s deep belly laughter in the living room.  Grace straightened the kitchen leaving the dishes in the sink for later so she could go enjoy her time with the kids. 

Grace took Jacob into the bathroom and cleaned him up. She put his big boy underpants on, got him dressed, and brushed his teeth.  He was getting to be so big so fast.  She called the girls in to the bathroom and had them clean up and change into the clothes that their mother packed for them.  Everyone went back to the living room and watched the rest of the movie that they started last night.  She could see that Zane liked to watch the kids.  Their actions and reactions amused him.  When Grace started the movie, Jacob climbed into Zane’s lap with his sippy cup of chocolate milk in his mouth.  It was a beautiful sight.  She snapped a quick picture and joined the girls on the couch.

The movie was just about over when Emily and Michael walked in with Jo right behind them.  They wished each other good morning and the kids ran excitedly to their parents.  Chelsey and Gianna were trying to tell their parents all of the activities they took part in last night at the exact same time.  It was hard to understand anything they said when they were talking over each other.  Jacob was tugging on Zane’s pants to be picked up.  Jacob always had a hard time warming up to people, never showing affection freely, you had to earn it from him.  Zane clearly earned it.  Emily got Michael’s attention and pointed to Jacob in Zane’s arms.  She smiled and said to Zane, “You must have really gotten through to Jacob. I have never seen him take to someone so fast.”

Zane laughed as he hugged Jacob and said, “I think we have an understanding. I understand him and I do as he asks.  He is a great kid.  You have a wonderful family Emily, Michael.”

“I know.  I am very blessed with these guys.  Thank you both for keeping them last night.  Michael planned a wonderful evening for us.  It was really nice to get out and not worry about the kids, at least as much as I thought I would.  Thanks for sending the picture Grace.  I was really able to relax after that.  I hate leaving the children when they are crying.”  She kissed Grace on the cheek and went to take Jacob from Zane.  He went to her reluctantly but gave her what she wanted from him.  A great big Jacob hug. 

Michael started to talk business.  “I have a lot of forms for you to sign today.  Jillian will be arriving soon to take the kids home and Emily will stay here for a little while to sign as witness.  When we are finished and no longer need her she will need to leave so that she can take care of some of her own personal business.”  Michael kissed his wife and tousled Jacob’s hair.  “We are in the home stretch guys.  The realtor will be here this afternoon to discuss the properties you want to sell.  We should be finished with everything we need to complete today at about 4:30pm.”  He winked knowingly at Grace.

Grace, Zane, Michael, and Emily went into the study.  Michael had an array of papers spread out on the desk with little colored flags marking where the signatures were needed.  The first document they signed was giving Michael power of attorney with regard to all of her affairs in her absence.  Then, he passed around the paperwork dissolving her stocks in the family businesses.  After that, they worked on signing the paperwork for the transfer of properties to various family members.  Finally, it came to the forms that outlined her intentions for Jo and William. They must have signed papers for an hour before they even got to the trust documents.

She reviewed the papers involving trust and all its components.  She wanted to make sure that Michael captured every aspect of the trust that she asked for.  She knew that he would, but it was always good to check everything before signing.  All the keys were included as well as the information listing the qualifying conditions for obtaining the trust funds.  She took a deep breath and signed the documents, passing them around the table. 

It was almost surreal.  Less than two hours ago she had more money than she could possibly use in ten lifetimes, but now she was virtually penniless.  Her money did not belong to her anymore. It was now put aside for the Brides of Theron, or rather it would be, as soon as she left the planet.  Emily was able to leave when all the papers were signed and ready to be filed.  She excused herself just as the realtor came in.

The realtor, Jack Hammond, came into the study and officially began the process of listing all the properties that were to be sold.  He and his affiliates would take care of the descriptions and the photos at a later date.  Any further business that related to the sale of the properties was to be overseen by Michael from this point forward.  As of tomorrow, he could take care of anything that required her signature.   

She was tired of working on all this business.  She was ready for the night to begin.  At 4:30pm as promised, the realtor left, leaving an exhausted Grace to get dressed and ready for the night.  She was going to take Zane to
The Top of the Tower
Restaurant with views of the city from the 26
^th
floor.  Then, she would take him to the Opera.  She left Zane in the office talking to Michael.
 
It was clear that he enjoyed her cousin’s company just as much as she did.  After laying out Zane’s suit on the bed she went to take a shower and get ready. 

The dress she chose for the occasion was a designer red dress she picked up during fashion week last year.  It was tee length gown with a slit that opened up to her mid-upper thigh.  The top was sleeveless and with one of her mother’s favorite beaded shawls, she would look beautiful.  She heard Zane enter the bedroom as she slipped the dress over her legs and covered her breasts.  She knew that she would not be able to fasten the zipper by herself.  With her hair in hot rollers she went out into the bedroom to seek Zane’s assistance.

He was standing in his underwear.  He could have been a model for Calvin Kline the way he filled those boxer briefs. You could see the muscles of his upper thighs in clear definition behind the colored stretchy cotton fabric.  God help her if he turned around.  He had such a nice ass.  “Do you think you could zip me up?”  She asked. 

She turned around and he placed his hand on the small of her back.  She was wearing a lace bustier that would be hidden under the silky fabric of her red dress.  She was also wearing thigh high stockings with a garter belt and lacy thong panties.  She would make sure that he would discover that later.  He took his time zipping her up.  He turned her to face him and said, “Gracie, you look beautiful in this dress.”  He got a smile as a response. 

She went over to her jewelry box and pulled out her mother’s diamond and ruby necklace and the earrings to match that were gifts from her late father for their 20
^th
anniversary. “I have to go and fix my hair and makeup.  We can’t be late for anything tonight so you really need to start getting ready.”  She pushed him toward the shower.  Taking the curlers out of her hair and pinning her hair up with several bobby pins, she occasionally looked through the glass of the shower door and thought how lucky she was to have finally found her soul mate.  Not only was he a perfect and well endowed specimen of a man, he was also kind, intellectual, loving understanding, supportive, and truthful.  Not to mention, she could not have asked for a better lover. 

It did not take him very long to get ready for the evening.  He shaved and dressed leaving the tie for Grace. He looked perfect in this black suit with red tie and black leather shoes.  She tucked a red silk handkerchief into his suit pocket for flair and they made their way out to the kitchen to a very excited Jo.  Grace did not know it, but Zane asked Jo what the traditional gift for a date was and she offered to go out and get a corsage for Grace to wear and a flower boutonniere for his lapel made with matching crimson roses.  Jo pinned the red rose on his jacket lapel and he slipped the flowers over Gracie’s wrist.  It was really sweet of him to have organized this.  She felt like it was prom night all over again, except this time she knew she would enjoy it.