Tomahawk'd Part 24

"I'm not sharing, this place has always been a part of you, too. I knew that from the very first day we met. I could tell it was more to you than just a vacation spot and you've proven that with every picture you've painted or drawn."

Erin pulled one of her cherished drawings out of a box on the floor. "Yes, it was much more to me than a vacation spot. I found my heart here." She turned to hand Jackson the picture from her Serenity Collection. Jackson's eyes went wide.

"Oh, Hawk. This is...wow..." She was always amazed at how Erin had seen her. "No one else seems to think I'm this flawless G.o.ddess you keep making me out to be."

Erin smiled warmly. "They just don't know you the way I do." She leaned up and shared a kiss with Jackson. "You've always been my inspiration. I've kept these in boxes for so long; now that you're back in my life, I can't wait to put them up."

Jackson took in the number of large boxes and her eyes widened in surprise. "These all contain pictures of...me?"

Erin nodded, blus.h.i.+ng. "Yeah. I'm going to put up the ones that mean the most to me, but I think I'm ready to sell the others. Don't worry, I won't sell any that identify you. There are some with just a profile and unless someone knows you, they won't put it together. If...if that's okay with you."

"Absolutely. They are yours to sell, Hawk. I'm honored to have been a subject you drew so often."

"I was gonna hang all of them then have you look at the walls, but I figured that might be a little too much. I think it will be a little less intimidating now that I've given you fair warning."

Jackson smiled sheepishly. "I think if I had walked in and seen my face everywhere, it would've been a little weird."

"But it's such a pretty face," she complimented, taking Jackson's hands.

Blus.h.i.+ng, Jackson squeezed Erin's hands and said almost inaudibly, "Thanks." She looked around. "Want me to help hang?"

Erin's face lit up. "That would be great. Let me get them all arranged and we can do it together."

After a couple of hours, the Serenity Collection had been sorted through and some were placed on the walls while others were crated for s.h.i.+pping to the gallery. They walked around the room together, looking at the paintings and drawings of Jackson surrounded by the Northwoods.

"This is why I called it the Serenity Collection. Just look at your face, in every picture."

Jackson did as she was instructed, amazed at what she saw. "Yeah, I guess this place does have that effect on me." She turned to face Erin. "But I think it was mostly you who made me feel that way."

"Smooth talker," Erin said with a sparkle in her eye.

Jackson pulled her close and looked into her eyes for a long while. "It was you." She lowered her head and they shared a tender kiss. Erin sighed and rested her head against Jackson's strong shoulder.

As the sun was beginning to set on the first night in their newly minted home, Jackson and Erin walked hand in hand toward the pier, reflecting on the perfection surrounding them. Erin gently squeezed Jackson's hand as they spotted a hawk soaring free in the colorful sky. The reds and oranges were breathtaking. Erin was already beginning the painting in her mind.

Sitting on the chairs facing LakeTomahawk, they realized that in many ways it was more than simply a body of water. It held more memories than any photo or sc.r.a.pbook. It was the birthplace of their friends.h.i.+p and a nurturing environment in which their talents had grown. It was a resting place for Jackson's mothers, but most of all, it was a symbol etched into their hearts to remind them to overcome any obstacle that kept them from the love and the life they deserved.

Epilogue.

A few years later...

Erin pulled her car into the parking lot of the IslandCity resort and turned off her engine. She grabbed her backpack and the grocery bags from the front seat of her car, b.u.mped the door closed with her hip and walked toward the house. Inside, she placed the bags on the counter and began to sort and put away her foodstuffs.

"Jack? You here?" she called out. She walked around their home in the Northwoods searching for her partner, only to find she was alone. She must be doing something down by the water. She always is. Erin smiled to herself and strolled down to the main office.

As she entered the building she found, Daniel, their trusted friend and caretaker of the resort, sitting behind the front desk. She greeted him with a large, toothy grin.

"Hey, big guy!"

Daniel's face lit up. "Hey! Welcome home!" He hurried around the desk and gave Erin a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

Erin mussed Daniel's hair affectionately. "Thanks. It's good to be home. It was only a few days, but sometimes these shows can be too much. I must be getting old."

"Hardly." He smiled. "Did you have a successful one at least?"

Erin nodded. "Kim was pleased at the turnout and we did sell most of the pieces. The ones that didn't she's going to keep at the gallery and they'll go when they're meant to sell."

"That's great! Congratulations."

Erin smiled. "Thanks." She looked around. "So where is my taller half? Is she trying to entertain our guests with her newfound gift of storytelling?" Daniel laughed. "She really needs to stop telling people how we got together. Not everyone is going to be thrilled with the tale."

"It's a sweet story, Erin, no doubt about it. Jack is ridiculously happy and is simply sharing that with the world. I'm not sure there is anyone who could stop her."

Erin chuckled. "That's very true. She does get a little focused."

"The last I saw her she was giving a 'family history lesson' down by the water."

Erin closed her eyes and shook her head. "That poor girl. Jack is going to give her nightmares."

"Nah. I think she likes them."

"We'll see. Perhaps we can look for a cheap therapist, just in case. Grab the Yellow Pages, would ya?" They both laughed. "I'm gonna go down and see what kind of damage control I can do." She turned to leave, but stopped at the hand on her arm.

"Erin..."

She looked up at warm green eyes staring down at her.

"What's up?"

"I just wanted to say thank you, again, for everything. It's been really special for me."

"Danny, we can't thank you enough. Can we talk about special? I thought for sure you'd be sick of us saying thank you by now. Not many men would do what you've done for us and then stick around to watch it unfold."

"Well, like I've said a million times, I'm not like most men. I love it here and I love you guys so much. The day may come when I want to leave and find someone for myself, but I'm just not there yet. I'm really happy about every aspect of my life and am glad I could help."

Tears in her eyes, Erin hugged Daniel again. "You've done so much more than help us, Danny. Jack and I will always be in your debt. We couldn't possibly know how to pay you back. Just know, if there is ever anything you want or need, all you have to do is ask, and it's yours."

"I know." Daniel smiled.

"Good." Erin sniffed and wiped her eyes. "I'm gonna go before I get carried away."

"Have fun!"

Walking down toward the water, Erin saw Jack on the pier with a small child in her arms. Her heart melted. As she got closer she could hear Jackson telling the little girl about her grandmothers. Jackson tickled the little girl into fits of giggles.

"Hey, what's a girl gotta do to get a welcome home hug?" Erin called out.

Twin sets of mismatched eyes turned to look at Erin. "Momma!" the little girl cried, pulling out of Jackson's embrace to run down the pier. Erin met her halfway and scooped the little girl into her arms.

"Hi, baby. Momma missed you." Erin kissed her cheek and ran a hand through the soft, fine blond hair.

"I missed Momma, too," Jackson said playfully, kissing Erin's offered lips. "We were just having a little story time."

Erin scowled. "Can you just try not to give Emma nightmares? She doesn't need to imagine that her grandmothers actually will come out of the water one day and scare the bejeezus out of her. She's not even two years old!"

Jackson tried to look innocent. "What? She knows her grandmothers live in LakeTomahawk. They're mermaids!" Jackson said, grabbing Emma from Erin's arms and swirling around. Emma squealed at Jackson's antics. "Right, baby? Can you say mermaid?"

"Moomay!"

Erin couldn't help laughing. "What am I gonna do with you?"

Jackson wiggled her eyebrows. "Well, you were gone an awful long time. You could take me home and..."

Erin plunked her hand over Jackson's mouth. "Jackson! Don't you even go there while holding our daughter."

Jackson laughed around Erin's fingers. She put Emma on her hip and pulled Erin to her with her other arm. "I love you."

"I love you, too." The women kissed again and Emma blew a raspberry kiss on Jackson's cheek making them giggle. "So, what are your plans for the day?"

"Well, Emma and I were gonna have our first real lesson. I think it's time we see if she wants to play the recorder." She put Emma down and took her hand as they walked down the pier toward the water.

"Oh, you do, do you? Don't you think she's a little young?"

"Not at all! There are a lot of kids who start playing music at her age. If she doesn't seem interested, I certainly won't push her. I just want to see if she has my genes."

"Well, she is your daughter, of course she has your genes."

"Correction, she's our daughter. I was just technically the one who gave birth to her. Anyway, Jackie started teaching me when I was about four, so we'll see what happens. If she throws the instrument into the water, I'll know it's either too early or it's just not her thing." Jackson sat down on the edge of the pier with Emma between her legs.

Erin sat down next to them and breathed deeply of the warm summer air. She closed her eyes and let the serenity of LakeTomahawk soothe her psyche. Even being gone just a few days had her missing the peace and tranquility she always felt here. Jackson played a few bars of 'Hawks in Flight' and Erin smiled. She kept her eyes closed as she let the sweet melody wash over her.

"Mommy, me! Me!" Emma cried, reaching to grab the recorder from Jackson's hands.

"Gently, baby. Here, let me help." Erin watched as Jackson tried to teach her how to use the instrument.

Jackson had Emma blow into her face a few times, then Jackson blew into the baby's and then into the recorder. Emma slowly figured out that she could blow into the instrument to make noise come out. The sounds were loud and hair-raising, but nothing matched the sweet sounds of laughter that followed as Emma realized she'd done it right. She'd blow into the recorder, make a few sounds and then laugh.

Jackson was encouraged by Emma's enthusiasm, but knew it would be a while before she could tell if it was just a new toy to her daughter. She put her fingers over a few holes as Emma blew so she could change the sound. Together, they played a very rough version of 'Mary Had a Little Lamb' and laughed when it was over.

After the three had dinner, Jackson and Erin took Emma to her room to get her ready for bed. The room was decorated with images from Dr. Seuss' Oh, the Places You'll Go. Jackson wanted Emma to always know she could move mountains if she really wanted to.

Emma was positioned between her two moms in her big girl bed. Jackson sang a lullaby while holding the tiny girl in her arms. Once she got her song, Emma would be treated to a story read by Erin. Her choice for a bedtime story was always The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Erin was always willing to read it. After the furry insect ate its way through the week, Emma snored softly next to an enamored Erin. She gently stroked the sleeping child's cheek with the backs of her fingers.

"G.o.d, she's beautiful, Jack. We are so lucky to have her." Not hearing a reply, Erin looked to the other side of their child, and wasn't surprised to find Jackson was asleep. She smiled and shook her head. "I should know by now that you fall asleep when being read to. I should just tuck you both into the same bed."

Erin got up and walked around to pull the blanket up over Jackson's shoulders. Jackson stirred slightly and snuggled into Emma, who had fully situated herself against her mother's chest. Erin smiled down at her two girls, her heart swelling at the sight. She slowly lay with her front to Jackson's back and reached her arm around both mother and child, feeling a completeness she had never known would be possible. Each day their love grew stronger and their future grew brighter, and each night brought with it a new tomorrow. Erin tightened her hold and sighed with incredible hopefulness that there would be many more tomorrows to come.

About the Author.

Diane lives in the Midwest with her longtime partner, and their two dogs, Matty and Bella. She has seven siblings who are the foundation of her being. In addition to writing, Diane owns and operates a pet-sitting service and the online newswire service, The Open Press, Inc. Di is also the production editor on the fabulous Chicago GLBT podcast, Windy City Queercast. She loves playing golf and playing in her rose garden. She can be found on Mys.p.a.ce in addition to her own Web site www.dsbauden.com.

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