The alterations that you had made to your writing career that ended up with you living at the beachfront property remained intact. As did something else.
A young girl launched herself toward the front doorway where you stood. “Mom!” Within an instant her arms were wrapped around your waist and squeezing as hard as she could. She was at the cusp of entering her teens. Same as before. You hugged Thea back. But compared to the last time you had watched a picture, your oldest child was no longer half-asian. You tried not to dwell on who you conceived her with instead your former husband. A gargling sound let you know that you were on the verge of crushing her so let her go. And immediately the girl was assaulting Tamiko and her pregnant belly next. “Tammy! You too future brother!”
The asian bodybuilder didn’t give any hint of recognition of the changed reality. Yet that didn’t seem to matter. Her return embrace was warm and without hesitation. After that was finished, Tammy experimentally pinched one of Thea’s arms to judge its firmness. “Didn’t you promise to train?” A whining explanation that she was already stronger than everyone at school followed, but was swept aside by Tammy. “Then you should try to become stronger than mis–your mom next.”
Both of their reactions eased your guilt about messing up your family situation. And you took the poke of being physically weakest of the trio with a motherly grace, rather than the recent fuckfest making you too tired to raise objections. Perhaps you’d punish her for the comment tonight. Tammy must have caught the pull at the edges of your lips as an eager blush crept over her cheeks. There was also someone else to include and you turned toward the blonde. “Why don’t you run Thea through a few reps at the gym while I make us all some coffee. And a pair of juice boxes.”
“Why two?” That had been your daughter asking the question. A part of you wanted to cry.
“Because you’re a growing a girl. Obviously.” You said. Now grinning at the praise, Thea let herself be whisked away by the blonde woman without any objections. Meanwhile you offered Tammy a surprisingly chaste kiss. She had been wonderful with Thea.
Your lips continued to linger and explore each other when a loud and angry interruption turned both of your attentions toward the driveway and the man that stood there. The man was somewhere in his thirties, well kept and dressed, with his hands balled into whitening fists. He didn’t seem able to decide which one of you he should direct his withering glare at. It settled on Tammy when she took a tense step out of the doorway.
‘Tamiko’s ex-husband is furious at seeing his ex-wife in the arms of another woman.’ Probably some cosmic irony here considering what had led up to Tammy’s initial changes. However that did change the fact he wasn’t likely to go away and who knew what he was capable of doing.