Chapter 15
Kit did have a very mild hangover the next morning, but it wasn't anything a single glass of Vulpan tonic couldn't knock out.
This was it. The last week. The home stretch. In just five days, they were going to marry, and now there was nothing but two rehearsals standing in their way. Kit had a copy of the wedding script before him as Jessie cooked breakfast, humming to herself. Jessie had opted for a completely traditional wedding. The vows were textbook, and there would be no special "speech" vows like some couples gave. The whole time, the only thing they'd be saying were "I do" and "with this ring I thee wed." The monsignor would give a little sermon-like speech at the beginning of the ceremony, which was his own choice (Jessie gave him leeway to create his own, she wanted to be surprised), then came the vows, then the exchange of rings, and then it was done. They would kiss at that point and then go back down the aisle and out the front door, in traditional fashion, then circle the church to the parking lot, and take the waiting limo that would drive them to the reception. It would take about twenty minutes or so, a traditional ceremony, but a little non-traditional in Jessie was hustling them straight to the Four Corners to minimize any chance her mother might have to embarrass her during the ceremony. Kit figured that Jessie would rather deal with her hostile mother there instead of in a church.
Kit saw that he had to make arrangements to get to the church. Rick could probably take him, he'd have to ask.
"Breakfast!" Jessie called from the kitchen. "Crepes and fruit!"
He came over to the breakfast table and sat down, and Jessie set down a plate stacked with crepes, and a bowl of strawberries, blueberries, and bananas mixed in a light syrup. She leaned down and kissed him on the ear fondly, then sat down herself. "Feeling better?" she asked.
"The headache's just a dull throb now," he told her as he piled a few crepes on his plate, then drizzles mixed fruit over them. "That's a lot of crepes, hon."
"We probably won't be alone for long," she grinned. "Sheila–" There was a knock at the door, which made Kit laugh. "Sheila will probably drop by," Jessie finished. "It's open!" she called loudly.
It was indeed Sheila, carrying an umbrella, wearing sweatpants and a sports halter to protect against the rain outside. "Hey, I'm about to go to the Y now that we have memberships," she told them. "Wanna come?"
"We're a little busy right now," Jessie told her. "Want some breakfast?"
She laughed. "Giving me something to work off?"
"I guess so," she grinned.
"They're open this early?"
"Kit, it's nearly eleven," Sheila told him.
"Really?"
"Yeah, really, you goob," she told him as she stood her umbrella in the corner and bounded over.
"Aww, damn!" he realized. "We missed mass!"
"We did?" Jessie asked. "I thought those started at noon. That's why I didn't wake you up!"
"Dammit, we did," he sighed. "Well, we can go to evening mass. That way we're still keeping our promise. We'll have to leave poker early."
"I don't mind," Jessie told him.
"Oooh, crepes! So, how was the party last night?" Sheila asked as she sat down at the table.
"Wild, as expected," Kit chuckled.
"You get my picture?"
"I got you one, yeah," he answered.
"Well, where is it?"
"Can I finish breakfast first?"
"No."
"Brave words," Kit chuckled as he took a bite. "Now shut up and eat."
After breakfast, he dug up the camera and a handful of memory cards and hooked it up to the computer. "Mike took lots more pictures than I did," he said, "but Mike did give me the memory cards from his camera… or, more to the point, I took them while he was drunk," he chuckled. "So, let's see what shenanigans Mike managed to capture."
Jessie's face poofed out at the very first picture, showing the raccoon and mouse strippers dancing together on either side of Lupe, who had both thumbs up and a huge grin on his face. "They're naked!" she accused.
"So were your strippers," Kit chuckled.
"Well, well, that's different!" she complained.
"I'll say," Sheila noted clinically. "These strippers just don't do anything for me at all."
Kit laughed, and Jessie slapped Sheila on the shoulder. "You're not helping!"
"Why are you getting your tail in a knot?" she asked. "Did you cheat on Jessie, Kit?"
"No!"
"Then there ya go," she said simply. "Now show me some good pictures!"
"I don't know what kind of pictures Mike got," he repeated, and they started cycling through them.
In all, the pictures from his party were much wilder than the ones from Jessie's, mainly because the female strippers at his party were much more… free-wheeling than the male strippers had been. Jessie gasped more than once when he cycled through them, showing friends and males he didn't know in all kinds of compromising situations with the numerous strippers, who had been quite happy to be photographed. "He didn't!" Jessie gasped when they reached the picture of Jeffrey and the mouse dancing on the table.
"He sure did, and it looks like he's having a blast," Sheila laughed.
It took a while to find his picture. Oh, Mike had lots of pictures with him in them, but that wasn't the picture they were looking for. When they finally found it, Jessie's face poofed out, and she gave him a surprisingly unfriendly look for a moment before she caught herself and forced a more neutral expression. "And here's yours Sheila," he grinned. "The vixen was more than happy to pose for it."
"I'd say she was having fun," Sheila laughed. "God, I'd pay money to have knockers like hers."
"I think they're done," Kit said, looking carefully at the picture. "So you probably could pay money to get knockers like hers," he added with a chuckle.
"No thanks. I have an aversion to plastic surgery since that disaster with Bess."
"What happened?" Jessie asked.
"She had a boob job and got an infection," she answered. "She was really sick for a couple of months, and they had to do two more surgeries to fix it. She kept the implants though," Sheila chuckled. "Nothing can stand in the way of Bess and her vanity."
"Is that the exhibitionist?"
"No, that's Muffy," Kit answered for her. "She was a pretty interesting femme," he told them, pointing at the picture. "Her name is Allison, and she's a grad student at U.T."
"You're kidding!" Jessie gasped.
"Not a bit. She's a chemistry graduate. She works there to pay her tuition as she earns her Master's and earn extra money. She said she'll have so much money saved up by the time she gets her Master's that she may not even have to work. Very smart young lady."
"And she gets that stripping? Holy cow."
"Among other things," he noted. "The place Lupe took us wasn't a strip club, it was an illegal brothel."
"No way!" Jessie protested, but Sheila just had a knowing smile on her face.
"Yup. Every one of these ladies were… for rent."
"And did you rent one?" Jessie had to ask.
He snorted. "And piss you off? Hell no," he declared. "Why would I pay for something I can get at home for free with the lady I love, and have a heck of a lot more fun doing it?"
"With her or with me?" Jessie asked archly.
"With you, dip," Sheila laughed. "You can stop being jealous now, Jess. He had a chance to cheat on you and he didn't. He passed the test."
Jessie looked away from her a moment, then looked at the picture. "She's gorgeous. How did she end up a prostitute?"
"Love, I've known a lot of prostitutes," Kit told her. "Hanging out in homeless shelters like I did brings you into contact with them. Not all of them are drug-addicted runaways like some people think. After she gave me the picture, we talked a while, and I got to know her. You know me, love, she had a story and I had to hear it, so I coaxed it out of her. Allison got into it for the money, and for no other reason. And she makes a hell of a lot of money doing it. When she graduates, she'll quit. Someone as pretty as she is can make a killing as a callgirl, though."
"That's the truth. They've got some escort services in Boston where the girls charge five thousand dollars an hour," Sheila told her. "They're all drop-dead gorgeous, of course, and they're all elegant and sophisticated. You'd never know they have sex for money looking at 'em."
"They work at a place called the Top Hat Club," he explained as they moved onto the next picture, showing Barry and Mike being kissed by a raccoon and a lynx. "It's a bordello that caters to upscales. They have a bar and nightclub there, but they only allow males in who are members, and the girls charge upwards of a thousand dollars an hour for sex. That money's on top of the tips they earn doing their strip dances and working the floor."
"Damn!" Jessie gasped. "No wonder this Allison is earning lots of money!"
"Yeah, she's one of their highest priced girls," Kit nodded. "You can tell just by looking at her," he noted. "I just wonder how the hell Lupe managed to get our party there, since most of the guests weren't members, and a place like this doesn't stay in business long when the cops get wind of it being there."
"Cousin, Lupe's not squeaky clean," Sheila told him. "He's got a few mob friends. He may have called in a favor."
"He had to do something. And it must have cost a fortune. It was a private party on a Saturday night in a place like that. He even bought the beer."
"We need to ask him," Sheila grinned.
Jessie seemed a little distant as they cycled through the rest of the pictures, as Sheila made all kinds of comments typical for her, until they came to a picture of one of the wilder moments, showing one of the males Kit didn't know engaged in a sex act with a black cat stripper while males with cups of beer in their paws stood around them and cheered them on. "Oh my," Sheila breathed, giving the picture a long look.
"Yeah, I told you it got wild," Kit told her.
"God, that wolf's cute," she noted. "Too bad that cat's in the way, I'd like to see what he's sporting down there."
"You never change," Kit accused as he moved on to the next picture.
"Not til I'm married, and maybe not even then," Sheila giggled in reply.
Sheila went on to work out after they finished going through the pictures. Kit took the cards to the den and put all the pictures on a DVD, then made several copies of it. He arranged them chronologically using the timestamps on the pictures from the camera, and put captions under some of them using his picture software before burning them to DVD. Jessie wandered in as he was making copies, and he saw she was still a little pensive. "What's the matter, pretty kitty?" he asked.
"I don't know, I guess I'm a little jealous, but I feel stupid because I am," she told him. "That Allison was much prettier than me, and she sounded much smarter than me and more interesting than me."
Kit laughed. "Now you're being totally silly," he admonished her. "I had her naked in my lap, and what did I do? I came home to you. Who was the one that got ravished last night, hmm?"
She gave him a shy smile. "I guess that was me," she affirmed, "but Kit… did she make you excited at all?"
"Hon, I'm a male. Of course I was turned on by her. No straight male on earth would fail to be excited by that," he admitted. "After all, that's what she does for a living, and she's good at it. She knows how to be sexy and enticing, it's how she pays for college. But all it made me want to do was come home to you," he told her, reaching out and pulling her into his lap. "What's an empty ten minutes with a total stranger when I have this waiting at home for me, silly girl?" he said, nuzzling her neck as his paws slid up and down her sides and back. "Sure, she was sexy, sure, she was pretty. I can admit that I saw that in her. But she doesn't hold a candle to you. You are the most beautiful, sexiest, most interesting and fascinating femme on the face of this earth," he told her. "It would take some pretty femme taking her clothes off to make me even look at her."
Jessie gave a giggling sigh, then pushed out enough to look down into his eyes. "I guess I can't help it," she told him. "You're so… amazing, Kit. I love you so much, I'm afraid of losing you. I feel threatened when you look at other femmes, because I know I'm shy and I'm traditional, and I must not be that exciting to you at all. How can I compete with someone as interesting as Allison, when she's so pretty, and you're attracted to her? I'm not wild and exciting like her or Sheila. I'm just a stick in the mud, traditional and shy."
"Pretty kitty, when we close the door and we're alone, you are not shy," he grinned up at her. "No femme who teases her male into bed is shy." She laughed, her cheeks ruffling slightly. "And don't sell yourself short, you sexy beast, you're easily just as gorgeous as she is. Why do you think I want pictures of you out of your clothes? Allison had to get surgery to make herself anywhere near as sexy as you are. And like I said, you are the most interesting femme on earth," he told her. "You think you're boring? Ha!" he scoffed. "You're intelligent," he said, kissing her neck, "and complicated, and very, very interesting. I can spend all day just talking to you about absolutely nothing, because I love the way your mind works, and it's a delight to have a conversation with you. So don't you ever think you're boring, my pretty kitty. I'm attracted to your body, I'm attracted to your mind, and I'm attracted to your soul. All Allison had was a story. You, my lovely Jessica Desdemona Vulpan, have me. "
"I love you," she declared vehemently, wrapping her arms around him and hugging him tightly.
"You'd better, you're marrying me in four days, one hour, and twenty-two minutes," he teased.
"How would you like those pictures, love?" she whispered in his ear.
"How about you give them to me when you're not feeling jealous over my bachelor party," he breathed back. "I want pictures of you at the height of your own self-confidence, when you're at your sexiest and most sensual, not pictures you give me because you're jealous of another. So, I'll get my pictures on our wedding night," he breathed in her ear. "When you'll know beyond all doubt that I'm yours, and what you do is for you, and not for me."
"That's a promise," she told him, running her paws over the scars on his back.
"You bet it's a promise," he agreed.
Kit couldn't let it go without knowing. About an hour before poker, Kit came over to Lupe's apartment and helped him get it ready. Lupe looked haggard, but he had a silly kind of afterglow about him that came from having such a good time last night. "Okay, Lupe, how the hell did you pull that off?" he demanded as they brought in a new, larger table that Lupe had got for poker night.
"I know people, brah," he grinned mischievously as they put the extender leaf in the old, scratched-up hardwood table.
"Dude, that had to cost thousands of dollars!"
"Didn't cost a penny," he said with a wave of his paw.
"Liar!" Kit laughed. "Renting an upscale illegal bordello and the strippers and four kegs? Not a penny my furry butt!"
"Didn't cost a penny," he repeated. "That party was the work of a couple of folks who know you and know of you, who swore me to secrecy. They wanted you to go out in style."
"Did Vil put you up to that?" he demanded.
"I shall name no names," he said with surprising adamance. "But don't feel obligated no matter what. Didn't cost me anything but a couple of easy favors, and the furs in question also got to enjoy the party."
"Some of the furs there I didn't know?"
"A couple of them. Some others were some high-bankroll members of the club that the owners wouldn't shut out no matter what, so they got to come in. The main backer wouldn't go for that kind of party, though."
Kit slammed the extender leaf home. "Sheila!" he realized.
"I shall name no names," he repeated, but he gave Kit a wink.
"Why that sneaky, dirty little vixen," Kit mused as they pushed the table together to close the gaps in the leaf. "It must have wiped out her savings! That had to be a five thousand dollar party, at least!"
"I couldn't tell ya, brah, but she's the one that paid for most of it."
"She's gonna get it," Kit growled.
"I ain't complainin', brah, the distributor gave me a deal on a keg cause of that party! We got a keg of Michelob for poker tonight!"
"Mickey–"
"Mickey gave me the beer money," Lupe told him.
"That reminds me, Lupe, I'll be cutting it short tonight," Kit told him. "Me and Jessie promised the preacher marrying us we'd go to church today. We kinda missed morning mass, so we're gonna go to evening mass tonight. That starts at seven."
"No problem, brah, no problem."
Sheila came over while they were moving the old table out. Kit dropped it, grabbed Sheila, and before she could register much protest, kissed her square on the lips. She laughed when he let her go. "What the hell was that for!" she demanded.
"For being a devious, sneaky little vixen," he told her. "Thank you."
"You ratted me out!" she accused Lupe.
"He tricked it out of me, babe," he said defensively. "He ain't dumb, ya know! It took him like two minutes to put it together!"
"Well, that's true," Sheila acceded. "I'm glad you had fun, cousin. It's the least I could do after you took me in, and hey, parties and general debauchery are my specialties."
"Are they!" Lupe laughed. "Having it at the Top Hat was her idea."
"Didn't take much to get in, either," Sheila grinned at Kit. "All I had to do was say the word Vulpan, and they fell all over themselves. Oh, by the way, cousin, you're now a member," she winked. "Show up at the door, and they'll let you in." She admired her short, manicured claws. "I'm a member too," she said casually.
"I never knew you were into female strippers," Kit teased.
"I'm into sex, cousin, and they cater to femmes too," she answered, giving him a direct look. "They have males working there too. It's not a whorehouse as much as it is a sex club, but just with some rentals if you don't bring your own. Didn't you go upstairs?" she asked curiously.
"No."
"Well damn, cousin, you missed the good parts," she told him. "They have another bar upstairs, as well as a huge playroom, full of all kinds of fun things," she grinned.
Lupe's tail was twitching spasmodically.
"Males, femmes, gays, lesbians, parties, shows, they do it all. The first floor is just the nightclub with the stuff they show the cops when they come snooping around, and it ain't nothin' illegal. The second floor is where the real action is," she announced. "That's why the place is members only. Not because it's a whorehouse, but because it's a sex club."
"Allison never told me about that," Kit mused.
"Who?"
"I had a talk with one of the strippers."
"Only you would talk with the femmes instead of doing what you were supposed to do," she sighed in disappointment. "Why should she tell you about stuff she thought you already knew? I'm sure the owner told the femmes you were a new member. Hell, cousin, you had to be a member to even have the party there!"
"I guess. Though I'm not sure being a member of a sex club is something that interests me," he chuckled.
"Take Jessie to it," Sheila grinned. "That would be a riot!"
"Lupe, you went upstairs. What was up there?" Kit asked.
"Brah, I just went to a bedroom," he told him, "and it was on the first floor. Say, think you can take a guest back there when you get back from your honeymoon?" he asked with a grin.
"Ooo, so Lupe got some booty last night, eh?" Sheila grinned at him. "What was she?"
"A ferret," he coughed.
"Was she hot?"
"She worked there, babe," he said, his leg twitching. "Did you see those femmes?"
"Yeah, I did," she grinned. "Kit showed me a bunch of pictures of them. I hope the males are even half as hot as the femmes they got there."
"You haven't seen them?" Kit asked.
"I haven't been there yet," she admitted with a wink. "I set up most of this over the phone."
"But you made it sound–"
"I told you what the owner told me," she answered. "But I am going there. Tonight, maybe," she said with a leering grin. "Sunday is Ladies' Night in the nightclub, when the male strippers are featured. But these strippers will take you into a room and boff you senseless if you pay for it," she said with a dreadful kind of eagerness.
Lupe was almost panting.
"Aww, did I get Lupey all excited?" she asked, reaching out and putting her paw on his cheek, patting it like a parent.
"You're a bitch, Sheila, you know that?"
"I know I am," she grinned. "And you're a horn-dog."
"I'm Latino, babe, we're all horn-dogs. Why you think they call us Latin Lovers?"
"I'll call you a peeping tom," she winked. "I caught you looking through my window last week when I took off my shirt."
Lupe's cheek fur stood straight out.
"Did you like what you saw?" she grinned at him.
"You know I did, babe," he answered. "But that was an accident. I was on your porch, it wasn't like I was peeping through your bedroom window!"
"Yeah, that's why I took my shirt off in the living room," she grinned. "You'd been staring at my rack all day, I decided to reward you for your persistence."
"You did that on purpose?"
"Does it make it hotter to know I know you were looking, or did you think it was hotter thinking you were peeking when I didn't know you were there?"
"Lupe, don't play with Sheila, you're not old enough," Kit interrupted what was surely going to escalate into something Kit didn't want to hear.
"Spoilsport," Sheila accused. "Anyway, what I was here for. What am I bringing?"
"Chips and dip," Lupe told her, a bit unsteadily.
"Got it. I'll go run down to IGB and pick some up. Need anything else?"
"Plastic cups, we got a keg this time."
"I'll get some," she promised, then she sauntered away, making sure to swing her tail back and forth in a way that made Lupe's breath catch in his throat.
Kit nudged him, and they went back to the table and picked it up. "Don't do it, bro," Kit warned.
"Do what?"
"Get involved with her," he warned flatly. "Sheila is not the girlfriend type, and she'll chew you up and spit you out."
"Brah, I wasn't thinking that."
"Don't do that either," he warned. "Sheila isn't even the one night stand type, Lupe. And I'm not saying that just because I'm her cousin. I'd warn any of my friends away from her."
"Brah."
"Trust me. You heard her, that's what she's like. That's not a front, and she's not playing with you. That's who she is. You're nothing but her next conquest, and she won't care a bit when she dumps you and moves on to the next guy. Males don't have feelings in her world. We're all just toys for her amusement, and she's like any child. The instant the doll loses its appeal, she moves on to the next one. Do you really want to get involved with someone like her?"
Lupe gave him a surprised look. "Brah, I never thought of that."
"Sheila can be a great friend, Lupe, but don't ever walk into that trap. Keep it where it is, save yourself a whole lot of trouble."
"I think I'd better."
"That's only smart. Oh, and be ready."
"What for?"
"She knows she gets to you. She'll keep teasing you."
"Let her, I'll handle it," he said with a grin.
There were some bloodshot eyes at poker, but they were happy ones. They spent more time talking about the party the night before than they did playing poker. Sam and Sandy got to hear all about it, and they spent quite a bit of time glaring at Jeffrey and Kevin, who looked decidedly uncomfortable… which amused Kit. Sandy had been five times wilder than Jeffrey, yet she was offended that he danced with a stripper. He had to turn the tables on them while Mickey dealt. "Well, Sam, I heard some things about the party at the sorority house," he noted. "Naked male strippers? That's not much worse than Lupe's party."
"Well, they didn't touch," she said frostily, looking at Kevin.
"No, but they did bite," he noted.
Sandy's fur stood straight out, and she gave him a strangled look.
"What does that mean, Kit?" Jeffrey asked.
"Uh, nothing, baby, it was just something one of the strippers did," she told him. "It was part of his act."
"Oh. So, was the bachelorette party good?"
"Yeah, we had a lot of fun," Sam nodded. "The house hired the strippers, who did a great job. They were very good. JD was mortified through half of it. We had to get her drunk before she had any fun," she chuckled.
"I didn't have to get drunk!" Jessie protested.
"Your fur was sticking straight out til we gave you those jello shots," Sandy told her with a grin.
"Well, it was entirely improper! Naked males gyrating about in the living room, femmes putting their paws all over their privates! It was disgusting!"
"Spoken like a vestal virgin," Sandy teased. "You weren't half so prudish once you were drunk. She even sat in a stripper's lap," Sandy told the males with a laugh.
"Don't be embarrassed, Jessie, it was your bachelorette party," Kevin told her with a smile. "You were supposed to get wild and have a night to remember."
"I don't remember half of it," Jessie said, her cheeks ruffling.
"She got real drunk," Sandy laughed.
"So did you!"
"We all got drunk," Sam admitted. "I woke up on Saturday with the worst hangover I've ever had. I don't think anyone in the house even got out of bed until three in the afternoon."
"It took us four hours to clean up," Sandy told them.
"Well, I'm glad you had fun," Kevin said. "We had fun too."
"A little too much fun," Mickey laughed. "Lupe, dude, how did you manage to put that together? That was the most awesome party in this history of the universe!"
"A magician never reveals his secrets," Lupe said with a toothy grin.
"Dude, you can plan my bachelor party any time!"
Kit and Jessie bowed out of poker day early, dressed in nice clothes, and headed for mass. Kit wore the same clothes he'd bought for his job interview, and Jessie wore a gorgeous blue dress with long sleeves and black buttons up the front, that reached her knees, complete with a wide black belt and black pumps… one of the rare times Jessie wore shoes. But Jessie never felt comfortable wearing a nice dress without shoes. It had been a long time since he'd been at mass, but it was like riding a bike. He remembered enough, and Kit explained some of the rituals to Jessie while they sat in the back row. Monsignor Duke was leading the mass, and he looked right at them after he took the altar and began his sermon.
The father couldn't let it go without saying something. At the end of mass, before the benediction, he motioned towards the surprisingly full church. "Before we say our farewells, I'd like to welcome Kit Vulpan and Jessica Williams, who will be giving their vows in our chapel on Friday. Please give them your congratulations," he said. Many faces looked back, and there was even a round of applause, which made Jessie's cheeks ruffle and he could feel her resisting the urge to hide her face in his shoulder.
Kit retaliated when the monsignor stood at the doors to greet and shake paws as they left. "Just couldn't pass it up, eh?" he accused as he shook the father's paw.
"Of course I couldn't, my son," he grinned. "A marriage is a cause for celebration, not something you hide! The congregation will be happy for you, even if they don't know you. After all, you had the foresight and wisdom to have your wedding in our church," he winked.
Jessie laughed. "What time is the rehearsal, father?" she asked.
"Five o'clock on Tuesday, and four o'clock on Wednesday," he answered. "Please have your attendants with you for the Wednesday rehearsal, it's a full rehearsal, and please bring the rings."
"We'll have them here," Kit assured him.
"You know, this will be the first non-Catholic wedding we've held," the monsignor told them with a smile. "I hope you'll forgive me if I seem a little out of place in it."
Kit laughed. "No greeting at the door, no liturgy, no cross-bearer, no flowers."
"Yes," he chuckled in agreement. "But there will be a homily, and the ceremony will be close to Catholic tradition. Some of the congregation is a little, unsettled, that I'm performing an out-of-faith wedding in the chapel," he chuckled with a smile.
"Well, I'm sorry about that," Kit chuckled. "I didn't mind a Catholic wedding, but Jessie's parents, are, well, not happy about it."
"Well, your sister was quite generous with her offering to the church," the monsignor admitted. "So generous that certain… accommodations could be made. But, to be honest, I was happy to help you, even without her donation. I've read about you, my son, and after so hard a road, it would be my pleasure to bring some joy back into it."
"I appreciate that, father," he said honestly.
"Now, miss Williams, do remember, please, that it's long been a custom of the church to keep the floral arrangements after the ceremony. They'll decorate our church for days to serve as a reminder of your happiness and blessing," he told her.
"I don't mind, father," she smiled. "If they make other people happy, then it makes me happy."
"That's a nice thing to say," he said, taking her paws and shaking them. "You're a very generous and kind femme, Miss Williams. Kit was lucky to find you."
Jessie smiled shyly, her cheeks ruffling.
"Now remember, Tuesday at five," he told them.
"We'll be here," Kit answered.
They got home to find Sheila and Lupe sitting on their porch, drinking beer and listening to salsa music on Lupe's boombox. "How was the salvation of your souls?" Sheila asked with a grin.
"Same old same old," Kit answered. "What are you two doing?"
"Just passing time, brah," Lupe answered. "You don't mind, do ya? Your chairs are better than mine."
"Nah, I don't mind," Kit answered.
"You're our friend, Lupe, use our porch any time," Jessie agreed, patting him on the shoulder as Kit unlocked the door.
"Hey, what about me?" Sheila protested.
"You'll use it whether we let you or not," Jessie winked.
"Well, that's true," she laughed in agreement.
They went in, and Jessie went back to the bedroom as Kit turned off the alarm. He joined her as she was taking off her dress. "I wonder what they're up to out there," Jessie giggled. "I hope it's not more planning for another party. I'm partied out after Friday."
"Eh, I think they like each other, hon. Not romantically, that is. Sheila's a rough customer, but Lupe's not afraid to take her on at that level."
"I hope he doesn't get tangled up with her."
"I warned him off. He's a smart male, hon, he won't fall into that trap. I think they'll just be good friends, and someone Sheila can tease when she's feeling peevish," he added with a chuckle.
"Good. She intimidates all the girls at the house, but they do like her," Jessie giggled as she pulled her slip off. "She's so wild and fearless. Sandy's really jealous of her."
"She's a bad role model for your sorority," Kit laughed.
"She just needs some stability in her life, and someone that'll make her feel special and wanted," Jessie sighed, looking towards the door, where she and Lupe were sitting on their porch. "But not someone who'll try to stifle or control her. She needs someone like you, my handsome fox," she told him, kissing him on the muzzle as she turned her back to him. "Unhook me, love."
"Well, I'm not marrying her," he declared as he unhooked her bra for her, which made her laugh.
"I hate this thing," she complained. "Underwires suck."
"Then don't wear it," he told her as she shrugged out of it.
"Then I don't look right in a dress," she told him patiently as she put her arms through her new bra, shrugged it over her shoulders, then hooked it in the front. Jessie wore front-clasping bras because her claws gave her issues with bras that hooked in the back, which was why she had Kit hook and unhook them for her. "Dresses require a bit more…" she said, making a lifting motion under her breasts.
"Well, that bra does a good job," he noted with a smile.
"No, these don't sit right under a slip," she explained. "Be lucky you're a male, love, you don't have these problems."
"Pretty kitty, you could wear a moomoo and I wouldn't care," he told her, kissing her on the cheek as he came to the dresser.
"Oh, you say that now," she teased.
"I've already seen you at your worst, love, and as you can see, I'm still here," he said, patting her fondly on the bottom. "A moomoo would not scare me in the slightest. It's what's underneath it that's truly beautiful," he added, sliding his paw up her back as he kissed her cheek, "and that is what I will always see."
She began to purr, then she laughed. "So you imagine me naked every time you look at me?"
"Why not? What's wrong with a husband thinking his wife is gorgeous when she's naked? You are going to marry me," he teased.
"You bet I am, mister," she told him with a playful smile, putting her arms around him. "There's no escape for you now. I've even changed my name," she declared.
"Yes, I know, Misses Vulpan," he affirmed.
"Aaat, you can't call me that yet. Call me Mizz Vulpan. You can't call me that until Friday."
He laughed. "Technicalities, technicalities."
"The world is built on technicalities," she teased, nuzzling his neck as she purred away.
The gang was merciful to him.
Since Jessie was now free to focus on the wedding, Kit was immersed in it, and the office crew gave him very light duties and were very understanding… because his cell rang almost constantly. Everyone was calling him, asking him questions, making confirmations, and the biggest caller was Jessie. She called him almost every hour, giving him updates as vendors and family members touched base with her. She drove him crazy with it, to be honest, running around all over town in his truck with her phone plastered to her ear, touching base with the florist, with the caterers, with the jewelry store owner to pick up the rings, and she called Vil almost every hour, or Vil called her. She continued her whirlwind of activity that night, calling Vil, calling her parents, talking to her aunts and uncles who were also coming, calling everyone even remotely connected to the wedding. Almost Jessie's entire family was coming; all of her aunts and uncles, her grandmother, and all her cousins were coming to the wedding.
And Vil paid for all their air fares.
Tuesday was no better. Kit got a headcount of all the people from work who were coming, and he was rather shocked at the final total; between parents, relatives, and friends, the gang was bringing 27 people to the ceremony and reception. Add that to the 23 members of Jessie's family that would be there, Vil, Lupe and their friends, the sorority girls, Kevin, Sheila, a few people from Kevin's firm, and some advertisers that bought space in the magazine that Rick had invited, that put the total at a whopping 89 people expected to attend. The caterer had prepared food for twice the number they originally given, which was 50, so they were going to be just fine as far as food went.
Vil had been adamant about that. Kit had a feeling that she was bringing more people than he thought.
That afternoon, Jessie picked up Kit from the office and went straight to Our Lady of Fatima. There, Kit and Jessie walked through the ceremony with Monsignor Duke, from where Jessie would wait, then went through the ceremony. Kit got a little thrill out of hearing Jessie say "I do," and she gave him a dazzling smile when he did the same during the rehearsal. "Now, this is the point where I'd tell you to kiss the bride," he said with a smile.
"We'd better practice that," Kit teased, wrapping his arms around her.
"Yes, let's," she mirrored, then gave him a lingering, tender kiss.
Monsignor Duke cleared his throat, and Jessie showed mercy on him and let him go. His knees were a little weak, which made her giggle when he put his paws on her shoulders for support. "Don't do that during the ceremony," he complained. "I don't think I want pictures of them picking me up off the floor."
Both she and the priest laughed. "Now, according to the request the videographer made, at this point you'll pause for photographs a few moments. When the videographer gives you an all clear, you'll go back down the aisle, stop a moment in the antechamber for one more picture opportunity for your immediate family, and then you will go out to your car to take you to your reception."
"Sounds easy," Jessie said with a nod.
"Now, let's rehearse it once more, but this time I think we can dispense with the kiss," he smiled. "I don't think sending the groom to the hospital three days before his wedding is a good idea."
Jessie laughed delightedly, her cheeks ruffling in an appealing manner.
They were both anxious and antsy the next day. Kit could barely hold a thought in his head all day at work, but since this was his last day before his vacation, he tried to get as much done as he could. He put a month's worth of writing in for School Daze, helped everyone else as much as he could, and could barely sit still through their issue meeting. They were putting the issue to bed a day early because of the ceremony. It had turned into an office-wide holiday, and everyone had Friday off to attend the wedding and reception, and Rick would be busy tomorrow because Jessie was going to be at his house.
They all went out to lunch at Applebee's, as the gang gave him a little impromptu wedding party.
After lunch, Kit was officially off work, because he had things to do. He reminded Rick to be at the church at four, then picked up Jessie and headed to the airport, for Jessie's family were scheduled to arrive at 12:30pm. They got there almost late because Kit went to the wrong parking lot, going to long term instead of short term, but they managed to meet John, Hannah, Jenny, and Ben before they had a chance to wonder where they were. Kit hugged Jenny, shook John and Ben's paws, then turned to Hannah. She shook his paw aloofly, then smiled and gave him a warm hug. "We thought you forgot us!" she laughed.
"We had a problem in the parking lot," Jessie said with a wince. "I'm so sorry!"
"No matter, no matter," John chuckled. "Now, if you'll escort us to the Avis desk, we have a rental car reserved."
"He got a minivan," Jenny sighed. "You shoulda got a convertible, Dad!"
"A convertible won't ferry around your grandmother," John chuckled.
"Aww, come on, Granny Pearl would think it'd rock to drive around in a convertible!"
"At least it's warm down here," Ben noted. "Oh, did I tell you, Kit? I got offers!"
"From who?"
"Fifteen schools!" he said excitedly. "Including Ohio State!" he beamed.
"Well, there goes any chance of U-Mass getting you," Kit laughed, shaking his paw. "Congrats, Ben, you got what you wanted. Have you signed the letter?"
"Not officially, but I did give them a verbal commitment," he answered. "It wasn't an easy choice, though."
"Why? You've always wanted to play there."
"Yeah, but they already have a good running back there, and he's only a sophomore," he answered. "A couple of schools offered to start me. I told that to the Ohio State people, and they offered to let me play ironman until I could start."
"Both sides?"
"Yeah," he grinned. "I'll be the backup running back, but also play linebacker in some packages, and of course, I'll play special teams. I love covering kickoffs," he grinned. "I really get to hit people."
"Damn, Ben, you're gonna be busy. You'll have to learn both sides of the playbook."
"I'll manage. It's what I want. I want the NFL scouts to see a guy they can put on either side of the ball and be able to make plays. I prefer running back, but I'll make sure they see I can be a linebacker too."
"Well, I made my own choice, Kit," Jenny told him. "I quit nursing school, and I entered pre-med."
"Is that what you wanted?"
"Yeah, it is," she told him as Jessie hugged her parents. "I didn't think we'd have the money, but I lucked out."
"How so?"
"Your sister Vil helped me get a scholarship we didn't know about," she answered. "It's called the Macon-Foster Fellowship, for medical students. It pays for everything, because I have a three point four-two GPA. As long as I keep it over three point zero, they pay for my tuition, books, and give me a stipend for living expenses. She told us about it, and wrote me a letter of recommendation, and I got it!"
"Well, good for you, Jenny," Kit told her.
"She just got it last week," Jessie told him.
"Yeah, I just got all my paperwork done to switch to pre-med," she added as Kit took Hannah's carry-on bag and slung it over his shoulder, and they started towards the terminal.
"When are your other family members coming in?" he asked.
"All today and tomorrow. They need to kneel down and kiss your feet, Jessica, you really went to the endzone getting all their reservations," John beamed at his older daughter. "My mother lives with my brother Jim, but we might be ferrying her around if Jim and Penny are busy."
"It won't be that bad, dear," Hannah assured him.
"So, you only have two days left, Sissy," Jenny teased Jessie. "Run while you can!"
"I'll run, all right, straight to the altar," she giggled. "And I'll drag him with me!"
"You won't have to drag me at all," Kit chuckled.
"So, we were going to go out for dinner tonight, and we'd like you to join us," John offered.
"It'll have to be either early or late," Jessie told him. "We have a rehearsal tonight. Remember? I told you that."
"You did, you did," he nodded. "Four, you said?"
She nodded.
"Well, I think if we leave at two, we can go out to eat and then make your rehearsal. We'd like to attend."
"Well, the priest didn't say we couldn't bring visitors, so I don't see why not," Kit said, looking at Jessie. "You have to be there anyway, John, you're part of the ceremony."
"They can meet Rick, Martha, Sandy, and Sam," Jessie agreed.
"Where are you staying, dear?" Hannah asked Jessie. It was a casual remark, but there was an edge behind it.
"At home, mother, until tomorrow," she answered. "I'm going to spend the night before the wedding at Rick and Martha's and get ready there, then they'll take me to the church for the wedding."
"Mind driving us by your apartment? I'd like to see it," Hannah asked.
"Of course, we'd love to have you," Kit said, and Jessie nodded. "It's not very large, though."
"I hope it's clean," Jenny teased, nudging her sister.
"Kit won't let it get dirty," Jessie laughed.
They split up. John and Jessie went to the rental car counter while the rest of them retrieved their luggage. Kit listened to Jenny talk about her change in Ohio State, and teasing her younger brother about his imminent entry into her school, which he took with a gentle smile. Kit wasn't surprised that Vil had meddled with Jessie's family, but she didn't do anything overt. She didn't pay for Jenny's school, she instead helped her get a scholarship. Kit wouldn't be surprised to hear that Vil may have dropped a word at Ohio State for Ben, but maybe not… he did get fifteen offers, after all. Ben really was a good football player, and he may not have needed Vil's help. Ben had his heart set on Ohio State since he was a little boy, but at least he'd had the foresight to consider his career and wrangled some concessions out of the school if they wanted him. That was very wise of him.
"Those are ours," Hannah called as a pair of black suitcases dropped down onto the conveyor.
"How many total?" Kit asked.
"Five, four and a garment bag," she answered.
Kit and Ben carried the suitcases as Jenny carried the garment bag, which was a folded soft suitcase often used by women to carry dresses. They met John and Jessie by the Avis counter, where a steward loaded their bags onto a cart for them. "They're going to take us to the lot," John told them. "Jessie's going to go with us to guide me to your apartment, Kit. So we'll meet you there."
"We'll meet you there," Jenny announced, grabbing Kit's arm with a grin. "Come on, Ben, this is our chance to ditch the parents and have fifteen minutes of peace!"
"No, you will go with your father," Hannah told them sternly. "I'm going with Kit. We have things to discuss."
"It was nice knowing you, bro," Ben told him with a slight smile.
"Benjamin!" Hannah snapped, which made all three of her children laugh and John smile.
"Come along, kids. I don't think Kit will appreciate being scolded in public."
"I'll do no such thing!" Hannah barked at her husband, which made him laugh. "Oh, get on with you!"
Kit and Hannah separated from the others. He carried her carry-on bag for her as they walked through the terminal in silence for a moment, then she began to talk. "I still haven't changed my mind about this, Kit," she told him.
"I didn't expect you to, Hannah," he said calmly. "I have a lot of ground to cover before you come to approve of our marriage, and I understand that. Just don't condemn us before we have a chance. That's all I want."
"Well, against my better judgment, I'll give you that chance," she told him as they walked out into the fifty-five degree Texas December afternoon. "It's warm down here."
"This is about normal for December, my friends tell me. The really cold weather doesn't come until January."
"It's been freezing at home since the snow melted," she said as they walked along a sidewalk towards the short term parking area. "Have you and Jessie been getting along?"
"Of course we do," he answered. "We've had what you might call a rather boring home life, Hannah. We haven't been going out very often, but I've been moving to fix that. I guess it's because of the wedding, and the end of Jessie's semester. It's just been so busy," he sighed. "I hadn't taken her out for weeks, but I took her out last week to ice skating and a poetry recital."
"Well, that's a good start. You shouldn't take her for advantage, Kit. John and I still go out on dates, at least once a week. It keeps us interested in each other. If you become static, if everything becomes normal, then the magic fades."
"God, I hope it never does," he said immediately.
"You have to work to make sure it doesn't," she told him, a bit archly. "I'm still not sure you'll stay with my daughter, Kit, but I'll admit it won't be because you don't love her now. I think you'll just get bored with her, the way my father got bored with my mother. I don't want to see Jessie hurt, so… I'll give you what advice I can to help you stay together. I won't just stand back and let you hurt my Jessica, Kit. If you want my help, if you think your marriage is turning stale, then call me. I'll give you what advice I can to keep you together."
Kit stopped them, took her paw, then leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. "Thank you," he said gently and sincerely. "That means a great deal to me, Hannah."
"I still think this marriage is a mistake."
"But you're willing to help me work to keep it together," he noted with a gentle smile.
She coughed uncomfortably. "Well, I don't want you to hurt my daughter, Kit."
"Hannah, I don't want to hurt her either," he told her with complete honestly. "Jessie is my life now. My whole life. I never want to ever hurt her, but I also know that a lifetime is a long time to manage to avoid that. I can only hope that the fights we have are over stupid little things that don't damage our relationship."
"Well, you're wise enough to understand that the honeymoon doesn't last forever," Hannah said with an approving nod. "Relationships are like plants, or pets, Kit. They starve to death if you don't feed them and take care of them. You have to nurture them, care for them, and pay a great deal of attention to them, or they won't flourish. You have to be very careful to mend the injuries quickly, or they fester."
"That sounds quite sensible."
"You also can't ignore it, Kit," she told him. "That requires three things. One, you can't ignore even the smallest problem. Small problems can become big problems. Two, you can't ever go to bed angry, Kit. Never allow that. Problems must be worked out immediately, or they fester in your minds and can change your marriage. And thirdly, you can't ever deny Jessica… sex," she said with a short pause to take in her breath. "Never say no to her, even if you're not in the mood. Denying her that is a fast way to making your marriage turn stale. You should never deny her, and she should never deny you. Don't accept any excuses. If she starts denying you, then there might be something wrong. Talk it out with her. That goes your way too. If you ever say no to her, she'll think there's something wrong, and she'd better call you on it and make you talk it out. If she doesn't, then confront her, because that's not how I taught her to behave in a marriage."
"That took some courage to say, Hannah. Thank you for being honest with me."
"They're simple rules for a good marriage, Kit. I've taught them to Jessica, and Jennifer and Benjamin for that matter, and now I'm passing them on to you. Living by them can keep your marriage healthy and fulfilling."
"Well, I can honestly tell you that Jessie lives up to your teaching," he admitted. "We're not married yet, but we do live together, and she treats me the way you've described. She always communicates, she's quick to jump on any problems she thinks she sees, we never go to bed angry, and she has never said no to me… and I've never said no to her."
"Well, you're young and it's still exciting. Wait three years, Kit. Familiarity breeds boredom. You have to keep your marriage interesting, different, exciting, and that includes the bedroom. Even after twenty-three years of marriage, John and I work very hard to keep the spice in our marriage. It's necessary to keep both of us happy and interested."
"Really? And would you maybe give me a hint what you do to keep it exciting?"
Her cheeks ruffled when she looked at him. "You're not old enough yet for that," she told him.
He exploded into laughter.
"Teasing me does not put you on my good side," she warned.
"Well, if I don't tease you, you'll think I'm just sucking up," he replied lightly when they reached his Pathfinder. "Vulpans are not timid, Hannah. None of us are."
"Yes, I remember your sister. She was by no means timid," Hannah said as he used his remote to unlock the doors. "This is yours?"
"Yeah, Vil kinda bought it for me," he said, a little self-consciously. "I didn't want it, but she put me on a guilt trip and kinda tricked me into it."
"Oh? How so?" she asked curiously as she got into the passenger's seat.
He went around and got in. "Seat belt please," he urged as he buckled his own belt. Hannah fumbled with it, and got it on as he started the car. "Well, her guilt trip was about Jessie. She told me that I needed a car for her, to take her out, to be there to give her rides, and I needed it in case there was an emergency. She used Jessie like a hammer on me, cause she knows I can't say no to anything that involves making Jessie happy."
"But didn't Vilenne buy Jessie a car?" she asked, in a little confusion.
"She didn't tell me she did that until after I agreed to take the truck," he told her, sticking out his tongue a little as he remembered that. "Once I agreed, she had me. Then she told me about Jessie's car," he grunted.
"Why didn't you just back out?"
He gave her a look. "Hannah, a Vulpan never ever ever breaks his word. I may be disowned, but that's a fundamental tenet of everything I was taught. When you give your word, you honor it. You never make a promise you know you won't keep, and you never make a promise to someone you don't think will keep his word to you. When I caved in to Vil and took the truck, I wouldn't break my word, even if she did trick me into it. Besides, and I'll admit it, I did like the idea of it. I'd been without a car for a long time, and I was willing to cave in after at least a token fight over it to keep Vil from thinking she could get crazy."
"What do you mean, crazy?"
"Hannah, Vil would stick me in a mansion if she thought she could get away with it," he answered honestly. "But I don't want her help, and I don't want her money. I appreciate her concern for me, but I want to be my own fox, and live my own life away from my family's money, and that life is with Jessica. I want to see if we can make it on our own, not with Vil there giving us handouts. Jessie understands how I feel about it. She wonders sometimes what it would be like to be rich, but she can see the hook and line in the bait that Vil puts out for us. She can see the trap in it."
"The curse of money?"
"The curse of money," he affirmed. "I've described it to her. I don't think she fully believes we'd fall under that curse, but she understands why I'm so against it. I saw money destroy my family, Hannah. I don't want it to happen to us."
"You're a very wise young male, Kit," she said appreciatively.
"Thank you," he said with a glance at her.
Kit and Hannah reached the apartment first. He walked with her through the courtyard and described the place and their friends. "It's an old complex and doesn't have many perks, but the furs who live here are good furs. Our landlord, Lupe, is one of our best friends, and a few of us get together every Sunday and play poker. It's become a real gathering," he laughed, "because a couple of Jessie's friends and their boyfriends have been joining us."
"I hope you don't gamble."
"Well, each person puts in two dollars," he admitted. "Whoever wins poker that day uses that money to buy the beer for next week. So it's not really gambling."
"Ah. Well, that doesn't sound that bad."
"It's not," he said as he took out his key to unlock the door.
"Kit!" someone called. He looked up, and cursed silently when he saw Sheila hurrying towards them. "Oh, boy," he breathed. "I forgot to warn you."
"Warn me?"
"One of my cousins has come to Austin," he told her as Sheila rushed towards them.
"Jessica told us about her. She said she's very… wild."
"That's an understatement. Please don't hold her against me. But Sheila is a good example of the younger members of my family, and the curse of money."
"I'd like to meet her."
"She's right there, so your wish is granted," he said with a point.
Sheila was wearing a tank top and a pair of knickers, and she hurried up to them. "Hey cousin!" she said. "Oh, are you Jessie's mom?" she asked Hannah.
"I am. You are Sheila, right?"
"That's me!" she said with a cute grin, shaking Hannah's paw. "I hope Jessie didn't scare you when she described me."
Hannah gave a slight smile. "She did describe you as being very…"
"Out of control?" Sheila grinned.
"Yes, that's one way to say it," Hannah said with a laugh.
"Well, she wasn't lying," Sheila admitted boldly. "I do tend to be a naughty vixen from time to time."
"Sheila," Kit warned.
"Oh, come on, Kit, I'm just being honest," she teased. "Kit was kind enough to take me in after his stepmom tried to kill me," she said bluntly.
"Jessica explained why you came to live here," Hannah said. "When do you intend to go back to school?"
"As soon as Cybil, Kit's stepmom, leaves Boston," she answered. "Though I have to admit, I'm starting to like this place. There are some good people here, and I really like Kit. Kit's been better to me than my own mother."
"Well, that's nice, dear," Hannah told her as Kit unlocked the door and turned off the alarm. "Come in with us, please, I'd like to talk with you."
"Sure!"
"Already taking over my house," Kit sighed.
Hannah laughed. "I'm your elder, Kit. You're supposed to defer to me. And I seriously doubt you've never allowed your cousin into your house."
"I'm housebroken," Sheila grinned at him.
"Barely," Kit snorted.
"At least I sit on the toilet, so I can't possibly miss," Sheila said flippantly. Kit gave her a warning look, Hannah gave her a startled look, then she laughed delightedly.
"I see Jessica was not kidding about you, Sheila."
"Not a bit," she grinned shamelessly. "I'm sure Kit's gonna beat me up for being so forward after you leave, but I gotta be me."
"You aren't what I expected out of Kit's family."
"Well, I'm exactly what you'd expect if you knew them, Misses Williams," she said honestly.
"Please, call me Hannah."
"Hannah. Our parents are all money-hungry boors, and all their children are drinking, drug-snorting, sex-chasing, party-going brats. The Vulpan children are a legend in Boston, Hannah. They call us the Party Pack," she admitted.
"And yet you're here."
"Only because I was afraid for my life," she admitted. "I am part of the Party Pack, Hannah. I'm actually a bad girl," she said freely.
"Well, Jessica told me you have a job, and you're a very good friend to her. So you can't be all that bad."
"I love Jessie like a sister," Sheila laughed. "She's so sweet and kind. And she's fun to embarrass," she added with a grin at Hannah.
"Well, Jessica is a very shy young lady," Hannah admitted.
"Not all that shy, once she gets to know you," Sheila grinned with a wink.
"Well, that's a good thing. We've always been worried that she might be a little too shy," Hannah told her honestly.
"We gotta work on her, though," she said clinically. "We had to get her drunk at her bachelorette party before she'd even have any fun."
"Sheila," Kit warned.
"She didn't do anything bad," Sheila protested. "But it's hard to celebrate the last of your freedom when you're too embarrassed to look at the strippers your friends went out and got for you!"
"It sounds like you're a bad influence on my daughter, Sheila," Hannah told her.
"Well, I'm trying to be," she said in exasperation. "But she's hard to corrupt!"
Hannah gave her a startled look, then actually laughed. "Then I must have raised her right," Hannah surmised with a surprisingly pleased expression.
Jessie and the others arrived, and Sheila hurried off to meet the rest of Jessie's family. Hannah pulled Kit towards the living room. "Your cousin is very… unusual, Kit," she said.
"She's very honest, Hannah," he said with a sigh. "But despite all her faults, she is my cousin, and I guess I love her. Sort of," he grunted.
"Well, I think she's good for Jessica," she said, which surprised Kit a great deal. "She'll push her and try to urge her out of her shell, but Jessica will know where the line of impropriety is and not cross it. So I don't disapprove of their friendship."
"I'm so glad," he said with an explosive sigh. "I was sure you'd hate Sheila because she's… well, she's Sheila."
"Is she really an example of your cousins?"
"More or less," he nodded. "Sheila is an example of the curse of money, Hannah. My cousins never have to work a day in their lives, so many of them are totally absorbed in hedonism. They have all that money, but no purpose in life, so they drift through it pursuing whatever entertains them. But I'm hoping Sheila is going to be different. She's actually working now, and she seems to have fun at the office. She works at the magazine with me," he explained. "Maybe Jessie will be a good influence on her. Jessie's teaching her to cook, and trying to get her interested in doing something with her life that's more than going to parties and chasing males."
"Cook?"
"Sheila's fascinated by cooking," Kit nodded. "She's learning very fast, too."
"Well then," Hannah said, tapping her muzzle. "Kit."
"Yes?"
"If I invited Sheila to Cincinnati for Christmas, would she come?"
"Probably. You can ask her. Why?"
"If Jessie's trying to make something of her, I'll have to see what I can do as well. My fingers just itch at the thought of a girl that wild. She has to be tamed."
Kit laughed. "Oh my, Hannah, you have no idea what you're getting into," Kit warned her. "But if you want to try, I have no right to say no. Just let me say right here, right now, that you were warned."
"Duly noted, Kit."
"At the end, though, I think you'll wonder just who was taming who," he added with a grin. "Sheila can be very… corrupting."
"If my daughter can resist her, she has no chance against me."
"It'll be a fun show, at least."
Hannah elbowed him in the ribs.
"Here's your first lesson about Sheila," Kit said, pointing. Sheila was talking to Ben, and Ben was a little unsettled as Sheila ran her paw up and down his bicep, complementing him on his physique.
"She wouldn't!"
"Yes, she would," he said honestly. "Ben is fair game in her mind, Hannah. He's no relation to her."
"He'd better not!"
"Well, you'd better hope that all your children are just as uncorruptable as Jessie, or Sheila will subvert them in short order. That's the risk you take if you bring her into your house. As you work to change her, she'll be working to change you and your family. She might seduce Ben, and just think of what might happen if you put Sheila and Jenny together and left them unsupervised."
Hannah gave him a look, then laughed ruefully. "You did warn me."
"I did."
"I'll have to think about that, I suppose."
"It would be a good idea. John, would you like some coffee? We went and bought a can just for your visit."
"You're a lifesaver, my boy!" John said with bright eyes. "I'd love a cup!"
As Jessie's family looked around his apartment and got to know Sheila, he also got another visitor. Lupe knocked and opened the door, "yo brah," he called.
"Lupe!" Jessie said with a smile. "Mom, Dad, guys, this is our friend Lupe," she introduced. "Come in and say hi!" she demanded of him.
Lupe came in and shook some paws, smiling and being himself, which was loose and friendly. "It's nice to meet you guys, Jessie goes on about ya," he told them. "I'm glad they're here. Not only are they my best tenants, they're some of my best friends!"
"You're the manager here, Lupe?" John asked.
"I own the complex," he answered. "I didn't plan on getting into the rental business, but I had an opportunity, and I took it. It's been pretty cool so far."
"How long have you been doing this?"
"Six years," he answered. "I make a decent living, at least when I keep the party jocks out of the complex," he chuckled. "But things are lookin' up. Jessie, Kit, I just got word. We're gettin' a pool!"
"Really? How?"
"Well, that dentist's office beside us is closing, the guy's gonna retire. He already agreed to sell the building and land to me. That land's just big enough to put a nice pool in there, a big one with diving boards and a slide and everything. I just got the funding for the pool today, just came from the bank. They're gonna start building it next month, and it should be ready by spring."
"Well, grats bro," Kit said. "You're not gonna raise our rent, are you?"
He laughed. "Not yours," he grinned. "I gotta keep my friends here, ya know! But I am gonna bump it by ten dollars a month on all the other units. I think that's a fair increase in return for getting a pool. And that's just one of my plans. Westwood's making good money for me now, brah, and the banks'll loan to me, so I got plans. I'm gonna expand and upgrade the complex, brah." He was grinning broadly. "I'm already in negotiations with the houses on the other side of where the pool's going to buy them out. I wanna expand the complex to take up the whole block, build a new complex on the other side of the pool, move everyone over there, then tear down these old units and replace them with new ones. The banks'd never listen to me before when I tried to do it, but now that the complex has been making a good profit for a few years, they're willing to back the plan."
"Sounds nice," John said with a nod. "You're a shrewd businessman."
Lupe laughed. "I don't look it, I know," he grinned. "I'm from the barrio, jefe. I think the fact that I don't look like I know what I'm doin' is one reason why the banks wouldn't loan to me."
"Lupe, you gotta design some special units, just for us," Sheila grinned at him.
"Way ahead of ya, babe," he laughed. "How'd you like a four bedroom super-apartment, brah? You're gonna need room for your kids!"
"Oooh, that sounds nice!" Jessie exclaimed.
"I'm gonna have everything from efficiencies to four bedroom condo-style apartments," he told her. "And you know you get dibs at them, guys. I can't leave my friends out in the cold!"
"Sounds really nice, Lupe," Kit agreed.
"When you get back after your honeymoon, I'll show you the plans the contractor I hired brought me for the new Westwood," he offered. "It's gonna be awesome, brah! If everything goes well, the pool will be in by April, and we'll start building the new units by summer! Westwood will be the biggest apartment complex in Austin, and we'll have everything! A pool, a workout gym, internet and cable in every unit, dedicated parking, security, furnished appliances, some furnished units in addition to unfurnished units, I'm even negotiating with AMTA for a shuttle bus that'll go to U.T.!"
"AMTA?" John asked.
"Austin Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the city bus," Kit answered.
"Well, we're about to go have lunch before the rehearsal," John told Lupe. "Would you like to come with us?"
"Aww, I'd love to, but I'm kinda busy right now, brah," Lupe told him. "But hey, thanks for the invite! Bring me a doggy bag," he winked.
"We can do that," Kit chuckled.
"Would you like to come, dear?" Hannah asked Sheila. "You are family, after all. Or soon will be."
"I'd love to!" she agreed.
Sheila was added to the procession as Jessie's family got a good look at their apartment, then they all piled into the rented minivan to go to the hotel so they could check in and drop off their luggage. It was a tight fit in the van, because it was designed to hold seven and seven was exactly what they had. Sheila sat between Ben and Jenny in the back seat, an Kit and Jessie sat in the middle row behind John and Hannah up front. Ben and Jenny were a little intimidated by Sheila's raw audacity, but she soon had them laughing and carrying on like kids, turning on her charm… and Sheila had a lot of charm. They reached the hotel and filed out, and Ben joked that soon the Williams clan was going to take the place over. "It's gonna be like a family reunion," he laughed. "The whole family is coming for the wedding!"
"Are you and Vil the only ones from Kit's side coming, Sheila?" Jenny asked.
"I hope so," she said honestly. "If anyone else shows up, they'll probably be carrying guns. They're violently opposed to this marriage, Jen. There's only a handful of cousins I'd feel comfortable having come to the wedding, and no way in hell I'd want to see any of the parents there. They're all rabid purists, all but like four or five of us."
"Sad that furs have to be like that," Jenny sighed.
"Just goes to show you, Jen, that money isn't the same as smarts," Sheila said sagely. "Our great-grandfather was a genius to build the shipyard and turn it into what it is, but the rest of the family doesn't have to be smart. They just get to be rich."
Hannah gave Kit an approving nod at that remark, and it just went to show that Sheila was much more than the party girl she appeared to be.
Virtually the entire second floor of the hotel had been booked for the Williams clan, and to Kit's surprise, John and Hannah's family weren't the first ones to arrive. A portly femme cat with gray fur and wearing a red sweater and red slacks opened a door, gave a cry, and rushed out towards John as they came down the hallway. "Penny!" John said happily, hugging her.
"That's our aunt Penny," Jessie told Kit and Sheila. "She's married to Uncle Jim."
"How was your flight, dear?" Hannah asked her as Penny hugged her.
"It wasn't bad at all," she smiled. "Oh, and this must be Kit! It's so good to meet you!" she said, giving him a rough, impressive hug. This portly femme was strong!
"Penny, right?"
"That's me," she said with a darling smile. "My, you're a handsome young fox," she said, holding him by his shoulders and looking him up and down. "I love your eyes, dear, they're very striking. We'll have to do something about that ear, though," she noted.
"You leave his ear alone, Aunt Penny!" Jessie warned. "I like it that way."
"Penny, this is my cousin Sheila," Kit introduced.
"Well, it's good to meet you!" she said, giving Sheila a rough hug but looking at Kit. "But I thought John said only your sister was coming to the wedding?"
"I'm not quite like the rest of our family," Sheila explained.
"Ah, well, we can talk about that later. Did you just get in?" she asked John as she moved down and crushed Jenny in a hug, the masked cat struggling a bit in her powerful arms.
"We made a detour to go see Jessica's apartment, but yes, we just got in a bit ago," he answered.
"John!"
"Jim!" John returned. Kit saw a very tall, lanky tabby-furred cat step out of the open door, with a very short, frail-looking elderly femme cat with gray, wiry fur and wearing an old-fashioned dress behind him. John gave his taller brother a warm hug, then he bent down and hugged the elderly femme. "Mother, you're looking as radiant as ever!"
"Florida agrees with me, Jonathon," she chuckled in a surprisingly strong voice. "So this is the young fella that's stolen my granddaughter away!" she said with a cackle. "Come here, young fella and give us a hug!"
Kit attended to that, trying to give her a chaste hug, but she wrapped a very strong arm around him and crushed him against her. Good Lord, was there something in the water in Jim's house that made them all so strong? "It's nice to meet you," he said with a bit of a wheeze.
"You don't look like the son of a rich man, young fella," she grinned at him.
"I used to be, but I'm normal now," he said mildly, which made her laugh. "How may I call you?"
"Call me Grandma, I answer to that," she grinned.
"Well, Grandma, I'd like to introduce my cousin Sheila. She's come down to stay in Austin for a while."
"Such a pretty young vixen!" she said appreciatively, then she crushed Sheila in a hug. "My, those eyes must run in your family!"
"They do," Sheila giggled. "All the Vulpans have them."
"You need to be a little more modest with your clothing though, little missy. That's almost scandalous!" she said, taking in Sheila's tank top and knee-length pants.
Sheila laughed. "I'm a scandalous kind of girl, Grandma," she winked. "I'm a rich girl. We're bad at heart."
Jessie's grandmother laughed delightedly. "Oh, you're gonna be a fun one, girl, yes you are!" she proclaimed. "Why are you three hiding, you gooses! Come give your grandmother kisses!" she ordered Jessie and her siblings.
"Just letting you scope out Kit and his cousin, granny," Jenny grinned as she hugged the aged femme.
Kit shook Jim's paw when his mother got busy greeting her grandchildren. "John's told me a great deal about you, Kit. Most of it was even good," he said with a smile.
Kit laughed. "Well, I'm sure John was kind about the bad parts."
"I'm very curious to meet your sister," he admitted.
"You will. She flies in early tomorrow morning, and we planned a dinner for everyone tomorrow evening at a steakhouse so your family can meet Vil and some of my friends and co-workers."
"Ah, yes, John mentioned that. It should be fun."
Kit helped John and his family push the luggage cart holding their luggage into their rooms. John had arranged adjoining rooms, with him and Hannah in one and Ben and Jenny in the other. Sheila got caught up with Jim and Penny, talking to them with a smile at the door, but Jessie's grandmother came straight to him and Jessie. "So, Friday's the big day, eh?" she noted. "Looking forward to it?"
"You know we are, Grandma," Jessie laughed.
"You found yourself a handsome young fella, Jessica."
"Aww, thanks, Grandma," Kit said modestly.
"Pretty broad shoulders for a fox," she said, clapping her paws on his arms. "Nice and strong. What kind of work do you do?"
"I'm a researcher for a magazine," he answered. "I sometimes do some writing for it, too. And I help produce a comic strip, along with an artist and Jessie. She's part of it too."
"Really?" she said. "I love funnies! Which paper carries it?"
"It's in our magazine," Kit told her. "But I can have Jeffrey put paper copies of the ones we've done in a binder for you to read if you'd like."
"I think I'd like that," she nodded. "I adore funnies. If you can't laugh, you got no reason to keep on living!"
"My part isn't that big," Jessie said modestly. "There's the main plot, and a little side plot involving two characters, Missy and Cutler. I do the side plot, while Kit writes the main plot."
"Is it funny?"
Kit laughed. "It's hilarious!" he exclaimed.
"Then don't be modest about it, girl," Grandma Pearl told her. "Be proud of something that's worth doing!"
"I'm proud of my strips," she said, a little defiantly. "I work very hard on them!"
"Good, good! I'm looking forward to reading them."
"I think you'd like them, Grandma," Jessie told her. "They're very funny. Jo-jo almost makes me pee my pants sometimes."
"The main character," Kit explained when Grandma Pearl looked at her curiously. "She's something of a ditzy mad scientist, very smart but kinda oblivious to the chaos she causes with her inventions."
"It sounds interesting, my boy," she grinned, showing off an upper plate of dentures, but worn lower teeth that were obviously her own.
After dropping off the luggage and chatting with John's brother and his wife and mother for a while, they went on to eat dinner. John took them to Denny's, which surprised Kit a little, but the food wasn't bad and it was nice to sit and talk with them. Kit and Jessie described the city to them, then they talked about the wedding and their honeymoon plans. "We'll fly up to Boston first to have a little ceremony in a cathedral there to honor my mother's wishes, then go on to Florida," Kit told them. "My sister's letting us use her vacation condo in the keys. We'll fly up to Cincinnati on Wednesday afternoon and stay with you until Saturday, then fly back home."
"It doesn't give us much time for a honeymoon, but we don't need that long," Jessie smiled. "Kit has to get back to work. They've really been kind to him with giving him time off, given he's not even been there four months."
"Yeah, I really owe Rick and the gang for all their help," Kit agreed. "They didn't have to be this nice to us."
"From the way Jessica talks of them, they sound more like family than co-workers," Hannah noted.
"Yeah, we're all pretty tight," Kit agreed. "We are more like a family than a business."
"Yeah, Lilly's almost like a sister, and Rick's like a second father, always there to help," Jessie agreed.
"I hope I'm not being replaced," John lamented, which made Jessie laugh and slap him playfully on the wrist.
"Don't be silly, Dad," she chided. "But Rick's very kind, to all of us. We're like his kids, not his workers."
"We?" Jenny teased.
"I work there too," Jessie told her sister, a bit strongly. "I'm not in the group photo, but I get paid for doing the comic strip, and I'm listed in the credits on page two."
"Hmm, we need to fix that," Kit noted. "You are on the staff, love."
"I am too, and I'm not in the group shot," Sheila complained.
"You're an intern," Kit retorted with a grin. "Mike's just really attached to our old group shot because it's such a good picture."
After dinner, they went on to the church, a little early. Hannah and John looked a bit reluctant as they saw the Catholic church but Monsignor Duke was waiting by the side door for them, smiling mildly. "Kit, Jessica," he said, shaking their paws. "Did you bring the rings?"
"Yes, father, I have them," Kit nodded.
"Father, this is my family. My father John, my mother Hannah, and my brother Ben and my sister Jenny."
The monsignor greeted them in turn with kind words and smiles, then he gave an even milder smile when he reached Sheila. "This is my cousin Sheila," Kit introduced.
"A fellow Vulpan," he noted. "I thought that Kit had separated from his family."
"A couple of us still keep in touch with him, father," she said as she took his paw and shook it.
"Are the others here yet?" Kit asked.
"I'm afraid not, but it's still nearly a half hour til four. They have time."
"Well, let me track down my bridesmaids," she said, taking her phone out of her purse.
"Let me thank you for allowing them to hold the ceremony here," the monsignor said to John and Hannah. "They've asked for a non-denominational ceremony, and I've agreed to it."
"Well, we're not Catholic," John said honestly.
"Yes, but that's just fine. I'll be honored to join Kit and Jessica in marriage outside of Catholic traditions. Please, come in, and I'll show you the chapel."
Rick and Martha arrived as the monsignor showed Jessie's family and Sheila around the church. Rick and Martha seemed to get off on the right foot with Jessie's parents immediately, and they were joking and laughing within two minutes of being introduced. Sandy and Sam arrived about five minutes later, bouncing into the church laughing and smiling, and they too met Jessie's family. "So, this is the face behind the voice on the phone," Sandy grinned when she shook Hannah's paw.
"And you must be the saucy-tongued young lady who always gives such impertinent answers," Hannah said with a faint smile.
"She called me saucy!" Sandy said with a happy grin as she hurried over to greet Rick.
A trio of raccoons piled quickly into the church. "Monsignor," the tallest of them called, and he came up to them. "Hello, we're from Tricoon Video Productions," he introduced. "This is the Vulpan-Williams rehearsal, right?"
"That's right," Jessie said, stepping up. "Are you Steven?"
"Yes ma'am," he said with a smile and a nod. "From that voice, you must be Jessica Williams."
"Yes, that's me. It's nice to meet you."
"Glad to meet you too. My brother Tom, and our cousin Violet. We're here to observe the rehearsal so we know how and where to set up."
"Please, join us then," she said with a nod, motioning for them to come up to the front of the chapel.
After everyone got settled down, they rehearsed the ceremony. Sheila, Hannah, Ben, and Jenny sat in the pews and watched as they went over the wedding in detail twice, then staged a full rehearsal from start to finish. When they finished, they paused for coffee and tea the monsignor supplied, and then did it again. "Father, where do the rest of us sit?" Jenny asked him as they prepared for the second run.
"By many Christian traditions, the parents, immediate family, and most important guests of the couple sit in the front row with their families," he answered. "Your parents will occupy the seats by the aisle, and were Kit's parents alive, they would occupy the same seats on the other side of the aisle… but those seats will probably be occupied by his sister and cousin, given they're the only members of his family that will attend. Beyond that, the guests sit in whatever order pleases them, taking up the remainder of the seats. By custom, no one will sit in the first row without being invited to do so. Some weddings have the first few rows with arranged seating, but Jessica's wedding plans don't do that. With the lack of an organized plan, it's just first come first served."
"I'll need at least one spot on the front row where I can sit when I'm not taking pictures," the femme raccoon, Violet, announced.
"You can sit on my side, it's going to be fairly empty up front," Kit chuckled.
"The video won't be a problem. I'm going to have two cameras, both in the back of the chapel. One on the aisle set to zoom for the ceremony, and one in the balcony up there," Steve said, pointing to the second floor balcony over the front of the chapel. "When will you be opening the chapel for the florists, Monsignor?"
"Oh, whenever they arrive," he answered.
"Will there be someone to let us in around two so we can set up our equipment?"
"That's a touch early, isn't it?"
"I want to have plenty of time that everything is working and the spots we picked to set up don't interfere with the floral arrangements."
"Ah. Yes, someone should be here. I have to perform a wake tomorrow, but I'll make sure someone is here to help you."
Their final rehearsal went smoothly, except for one little hitch. Just as the monsignor reached the point where they would kiss, Sheila jumped up and shouted "put him on the floor, Jessie!" Kit was about to chide her, but Jessie grabbed him by the neck and planted a kiss on him that made him forget where he was, what he was doing, and why he'd been angry in the first place. Jenny and Sheila burst into laughter when Kit's knees unlocked.
"Jessica, didn't we have this discussion already?" the monsignor asked in a mild but amused voice.
"Oh," she said, showing mercy on him by ending it. Kit wobbled a little, but Jessie just gave him a mischievous smile. "Sorry Father, I was just practicing, that's all." Jessie's cheeks were ruffled, and her eyes were demure, but Kit could tell that she'd enjoyed that moment of being brazen in front of her family and friends.
"Yes. I can see you were," he said in a voice that dripped with sarcasm.
The rehearsal wrapped up as the monsignor talked to them by the door to the parking lot. "Now remember, you need to be here an hour before the ceremony, at least," he told them. "If you intend to put on your dress here, Jessica, be here two hours before at the minimum."
"I'm going to put on my dress before I get here," she answered.
"Then you need to be here an hour early," he answered. "And make sure you don't arrive at the same time if you want to honor the old tradition of not seeing each other before the ceremony."
"We can manage that," Kit nodded.
After the rehearsal, instead of going back to the hotel room, Jessie's family broke up. John and Hannah decided to go out with Rick and Martha, and Sheila gathered up Ben and Jenny and told them she'd take them out in her Mustang and hit some clubs. Kit's ears burned when she said "oh, I don't know, maybe we'll go to the Top Hat," she said idly, but when he glared at her, she just grinned and winked at him.
"Uh, Sheila, I'm only seventeen," Ben said in a low voice, out of his mother's hearing.
"Oh, that's not a problem," she grinned in reply. "Wanna go see what adults do for fun, Ben?"
Kit tried to head that off, but Sheila was one step ahead. She'd called a cab, and it was already in the parking lot waiting. She all but abducted Jenny and Ben, and the cab was gone before he could intervene.
"Oh… my… God," he whispered.
That was not going to end well. Sheila was–she would really do it!
"What's wrong, Kit?" Jessie asked.
"Sheila just took Jenny and Ben," he answered quietly, so her parents wouldn't hear.
"Yes, well, they asked if they could go, and our parents said yes."
"What? Hannah–oh great," he sighed. "Jessie, you know Sheila! She's going to take them clubbing!"
"Have a little faith, Kit," Jessie told him. "Sheila knows we'd kill her if she did anything like that."
"Then why didn't she take us, or Sam and Sandy?" he pressed. "She took them alone."
"I–oh my," Jessie realized, putting her paws to her muzzle. "Call her!"
Kit had his phone out and hit her speed dial in half a second, but she wouldn't answer. "She has her phone off," he growled when he got her voice mail.
"What can we do, Kit?"
"There's nothing we really can do," he grunted in reply. "Just wait until tomorrow, and kill her."
"We should warn my folks."
"And listen to Hannah scream all night? No thanks. Let's hope that your brother and sister have more sense than my cousin and they come home at a reasonable hour."
Kit didn't sleep well, because Sheila didn't come home.
He was up at sunrise and on the phone trying to find his cousin, but she was nowhere to be found. She wasn't at home, she wasn't answering her phone, and she wasn't over at the sorority. He was very worried about it until Hannah called him at about seven to find out when they were meeting Vil at the airport.
"At nine," he answered. "When did Ben and Jenny get back last night?"
"Around ten," she answered. "Sheila took them to some of the college hang-outs that Ben could get into, and she dropped them off last night. They said they had a good time."
Kit blew out his breath explosively. "Well, that's good," he said. "We'll meet you at the hotel around eight-thirty."
"That sounds good."
"She took them back to the hotel," he told Jessie with a relieved sigh, who had just woke up, and was getting out of bed to take a shower. She came around the bed and leaned down and kissed him on the ear.
"I guess we really can trust her," she chuckled.
"Trust who?"
Jessie started and jumped onto the bed, behind Kit, at that voice. Sheila was standing in the doorway, then she leaned against it with a grin on her face.
"There is this thing called knocking, Sheila," Kit chastised her as Jessie huddled behind him to conceal her nudity from his cousin.
"The door was unlocked, so I knew you had the alarm off," she grinned. "I took Ben and Jenny back around ten, so don't worry. They were back and in bed like good little children." Then she sighed sensually. "But they're not children anymore," she all but purred.
"You didn't!" Kit gasped.
She laughed evilly. "And get killed? Do you think I'm crazy?" she laughed. "I took them to the mall, and then to a couple of clubs where they'd let me bring them in. But, to satisfy my need to break the rules, I bought each of them one beer," she grinned. "So, I had to do a little corruption, and before I took them I just had to make you sweat a little bit. Can't let you think I'm getting tame in my old age," she winked.
"Shame on you!" Jessie told her, then she laughed. "But I guess one beer didn't kill them."
"Jenny's drunk before, but Ben didn't like it. He said it tasted like sewer water," she laughed.
"You kinda wanna go wait in the living room so I can dress, Sheila?" Jessie asked.
"Pft, I'm a girl, you silly femme!" she laughed. "You don't have anything I haven't seen in a mirror!"
Jessie blew out her breath, then slid out from behind Kit and scooted off the bed.
"There ya go!" Sheila laughed. "Show it off, baby! Swing that tail! Shake those boobs! Woohoo, shake what God gave ya, sweet buns!" She clapped her paws and gave one of her shrill, ear-splitting whistles as a catcall.
Jessie picked up her pillow and threw it at the vixen. It hit her dead in the face, knocking her backwards and out of the bedroom. Kit heard her fall down onto the floor in the hallway.
"Did that taste too silky for you, Sheila?" Jessie demanded as Kit exploded into helpless laughter. "Now go wait in the living room, you brat!"
"Noooo, I must see you naked!" Sheila wheezed from the hallway, then she too broke out into laughter.
"You wanna look at something? Look at this!" she shouted, then she slammed the door, hard.
Kit literally rolled off the bed, gasping for breath.
Sheila made tea for them as Jessie took a shower, and she was a little nervous. But then again, Kit could see why, since Vil was coming. Vil intimidated Sheila, and most of the other members of the family. Jessie joined them after a while, wearing a white sweater and a pair of jeans, and she took Kit's paw and kissed him on the ear. "Tomorrow," she purred happily. "Tomorrow you're mine."
"He's been yours since the first time you screwed him, Jess," Sheila grinned. "He proves that males are slaves to what a girl keeps in her bra and panties."
"Stop being nasty," Jessie chided her.
"Guess I'm just anxious. She is coming today."
"Vil is nothing for you to worry about," Jessie told her, sitting down at the table. "You've been living down here for weeks, and we love having you. You're a good friend, even if you're a bit outrageous sometimes," she teased with a smile.
"Have to be me," she laughed. "And I have to honor the tradition of the sorority to make you loosen up! I'll have you dancing naked in the living room by next year, or I'll shave off my fur!"
"You're going to look silly like that," Jessie noted, which made Kit chuckle. "Are we going to the hotel or are they coming here?"
"Dunno, Hannah didn't say. We should call."
"Why is everyone going to the airport to see her arrive?" Sheila asked.
"Because it's Vil," Kit responded.
"Well, I guess that explains it," Sheila sighed.
They went to the hotel, and from there, along with Rick, Martha, and all of Jessie's family, they went to the airport. Directions from the airport staff sent them to a small hangar at the end of the airport, a private hangar, and there they waited only about ten minutes before the hangar workers informed them that Vil's jet had touched down and was taxiing to the hangar. The plane taxied in, and then its engines powered down and the hangar workers allowed them to approach. The hatch of the plane opened, and Vilenne Vulpan stepped out of her plane, down the stairs, and onto the concrete. She then laughed like a little girl and ran over to them, embracing Kit with a laugh and a pat on the back. "Hey, baby bro!" she said, kissing him on the cheek. "It's so good to see you!"
"Hey you," he said happily, picking her up and swinging her back and forth, which made her gasp and laugh delightedly.
"So, you ready to become respectable, baby bro?" she grinned.
"Him? Respectable? Never!" Sheila laughed.
Vil pushed out of his arms, then embraced Jessie. "Hey Jess," she said, kissing her on the cheek. "You got everything ready for tomorrow?"
"I think I do," she laughed. "I've been running around like a maniac since Monday."
"Well, I'm here now, I'll make sure of it," she said confidently. She looked at Sheila critically, which made the taller vixen's cheeks ruffle slightly and take an unconscious step back. "Sheila," she said calmly. "Have you been behaving?"
"As little as possible, cousin Vil," she answered with a nervous chuckle.
"Any complaints?" she asked Kit directly.
"Well, aside from an unhealthy desire to see Jessie naked, not really," he replied, which made Jessie gasp and Sheila laugh. "She's been behaving, and she actually does her work, and she gets along with the gang."
"She's like the office mascot," Rick chuckled. "We've never had a pet before, so we still like her."
"Well, when she starts peeing on the floor, call me and I'll take her back to the pound," Vil said calmly, which made quite a few people laugh.
"You're looking very well, Vilenne," John told her as she stepped up to Jessie's parents.
"I've had a good year," she smiled broadly, patting Hannah's arm fondly. "A very good year," she said, almost purring. "Are you ready for tomorrow?"
"I'm prepared," she said in a neutral tone.
Vil smiled at her. "I guess I can accept that," she said, stepping away from them. "Rick! How are you feeling?"
"I'm well, Vil," he smiled, offering his paw. "I'm still thanking you for your gracious gifts. You did a great deal for us."
"All of it was deserved," she smiled, giving him a pat on the arm. "And you must be Martha. Rick's gone on about you in our emails, ma'am."
"Please, call me Martha, hon," she smiled. "It's nice to finally meet the femme behind the mysterious messages."
"Vil, this is my mother, Pearl, and my brother Jim and his wife Penny," John introduced.
"A pleasure," Jim said, shaking her paw. "It's nice to meet what part of Kit's side of the family he's willing to reveal."
Vil laughed. "Me and Sheila are the only ones I'd allow within a thousand miles of Austin, Jim," she said with frankness. "But there were a few others that wanted to attend," she said, looking back to the aircraft.
Kit followed her gaze, and realized that others were also disembarking. The first one was a young, very attractive vixen, her fur a bit lighter in shade than Vil and Kit's, her eyes amber and her hair black instead of red. It was Suzy!
"Suzy!" Kit gasped in disbelief as she came down the stairs and rushed over to him. She gave him a fond hug, kissing him on the cheek with a laugh.
"How have you been, you pain in my butt?" she asked with a bright smile. "I've missed you!"
"Jessie, this is Suzy, Vil's best friend and someone who's been very kind to me," he said, putting his paw around her shoulder and squeezing her. "If it wasn't for Suzy, I don't know how I'd have made it since I was sixteen."
"Kit just doesn't have the temperament to be alone," Suzy smiled at Jessie. "I'm so glad he found a femme crazy enough to take care of him!"
"It's not insanity," Jessie said with a shy smile. "Any femme who knew him would marry him."
"I know," she said, with a bit of a wistful smile, gazing up at him. Then she blinked and gave Jessie a warm smile. "You have to take care of him, hon, he's very special."
"I know," Jessie said with a grave nod.
"Suzy, this is John and Hannah Williams, Jessie's parents," Vil introduced, but Kit's eyes were back on the plane. An old fox male was shuffling down the stairs, one at a time, and Kit almost couldn't believe his eyes. He hurried over to him and held out his paw, and when the aged fox looked to him, he gave a warm, knowing smile. "Ah, thank you, my boy," he said fondly, patting Kit's paw with his old yet steady paw. "These steps are a bit too steep for a fox my age."
"Clancy," he said thickly. "How have you been?"
"I've been waiting for you to send me letters, that's how I've been!" he complained, then he chuckled. "I've been quite fine, lad, quite fine. Retirement is right around the corner for me."
Kit escorted him over and brought him to Jessie. "Jessie, this is Clancy, the butler that served in our house while I was a kid. He was almost like a father to me," he said with a fond look at the old fox, with his graying fur and his wrinkled eyes.
"It's nice to meet you, Clancy," she said, taking his paw and shaking it. "Kit's stories about you are funny, but he always speaks of you with the highest respect."
"Such a beautiful young femme, Kitstrom," he said approvingly. "Of course, your father must be rolling in his grave."
Kit chuckled. "This has nothing to do with spite, Clancy. The only furs this has anything to do with are me and Jessie."
"That relieves me beyond measure to hear, my boy," he said with a nod. "She may not be accepted by your family, but that's a moot point by now, isn't it?"
"Exactly," he agreed. "They gave up on me years ago. I'm not going to live by their rules anymore."
"Well said, my boy. Well said. It was quite unusual to ride with them, on the way to your wedding."
"Huh? Them? Don't you mean Vil?"
"No, my boy, them," he said, looking back to the plane.
Kit followed his gaze. There at the door, looking almost cold with fury, was none other than his aunt, Sarah Vance Vulpan, and his uncle Brian Vulpan. Behind them were two of his cousins, Muffy and Victor. Victor was the third of Maxine's five children, and Muffy was the oldest of Brian's three children.
Was Vil insane? Did she lose her mind? What in the bloody blue hell possessed her to bring family to his wedding! She knew how they would react to this! Didn't she understand they'd do anything they could to stop the wedding, to prevent a Vulpan from marrying outside their species?
Kit could only gape at them, dumbfounded as they came out of the plane.
"Kit?" Jessie whispered in confusion. "Are those… your family?"
He could only nod mutely.
Sheila literally hid behind Kit as her mother and Uncle Brian came up to him, his cousins behind them. Kit looked at them in confusion, but when they looked at Jessie, his expression became flat and hostile. "What are you doing here?" Kit demanded, all vestiges of his good mood gone in an instant.
"We've come to witness your wedding, Kit," Brian told him calmly. "And not to interfere in any way. We are only here to watch. That is my word to you."
Kit gave him a suspicious look. "Sarah?"
She nodded. "We won't cause a scene, Kit," she affirmed. "We've come only to attend, no more, no less. We will not interfere with your wedding."
"Why are you here, then?" Kit demanded. "What reason would you possibly have to come to my wedding?"
"That is something you're best taking up with your sister," Sarah said with a sniff. "She'll explain it to you."
"You wouldn't believe us if we told you, Kit," Brian elaborated. "But if Vil tells you, you'll believe it."
"Sheila," Sarah said sternly.
"Uhh, M-Mom?" she stammered, staying behind Kit.
"You can come out now. I won't force you to go back to Boston if you don't wish it," she declared, a bit unwillingly.
Sheila laughed nervously. "Excuse me if I don't believe you," she answered, staying behind Kit.
"So, is this her?" Brian asked, looking at Jessie.
"It is," Sarah nodded.
Jessie gawked at the pair, and Kit almost moved to intervene when Brian stepped up to her, afraid he might try to hit her or something. "So, you're the one," Brian said, looking down at her. "She's rather cute," he noted to Sarah.
"For a cat, yes," Sarah said arrogantly. "At least she has fox-like markings. She's a mixed breed, Brian, part fox."
"Well, that explains Kit's attraction," Brian nodded. He then offered his paw to Jessie. "I'm Kit's uncle, Brian," he said. "A pleasure to meet you."
"I, I'm not so sure you're being honest," she said after a brief hesitation.
She did not take his paw.
"Ah, you're both well prepared and observant," he said with a surprising smile. "The family is very much opposed to this wedding, Miss Williams. But, we've come to… accept that we can't stop it. So, since we can't stop it, at least some of are here to at least try to mend some fences, as it were. Like it or not, Kit has moved on from us and is establishing his own life. We can accept that, but we do have to establish some common ground, some rules of courtesy between the Boston and the Austin Vulpans so we don't embarrass each other, and stake out our territories that the other side will respect. We object to this marriage, but we can't stop it. And since we can't stop it, we have to salvage what we can from this situation to minimize the damage to our family reputation."
"So that's what I am? An embarrassment?" Jessie asked icily, putting her paws on her hips and glaring up at his uncle defiantly.
God, what a femme!
"To us, this is an embarrassing situation," Sarah said with surprising calm. "Our family does not believe in marriage outside our species, Jessica. We are, what some call… purists. That one of our own is marrying a non fox is an embarrassing situation for our family in our social circles back home. But, we are here to admit that this is something we cannot stop or prevent," she said with contained calm. "We accede that fact, Miss Williams. We hope that in exchange for what will be the closest thing that will come to a blessing from us, we can extract some compromises from you and Kit that allows us to pretend you aren't here."
Jessie flared at that rather arrogant and self-centered declaration, but Vil was there, with a paw on Jessie's forearm, patting it to stall the impending retaliation.
Good thing, too. Hannah looked about ready to slug Sarah in the head. Jim and John had to interpose themselves between Hannah and Kit's aunt and uncle.
"What Sarah is saying, while painting it in the best possible light for her, is you win, Jessie," she said with a calm word and a smile. "The Vulpans can't deny this is happening, and can't ignore you and Kit. Sarah and Brian are here in hopes of finding… reconciliation," she said, giving Kit a slight, smug, and knowing little smile.
That smile told him volumes.
The uncles and aunts thought that Vil was going to win the lawsuit, and through that victory, Kit would be installed as the heir and executor of his father's estate, and the Vulpan fortune.
They were here to try to bargain a favorable outcome out of him when he gained control of the Vulpan family fortunes, by acknowledging him and his marriage… no matter how much doing so would burn at their souls like acid. They were here, literally, to beg for their money, and in the mother of all ironies, beg money from the one member of the family that almost all of them had rejected when the one that controlled their money before him had disowned him.
For an awful moment, he considered rebuffing them, doing to them what they did to him, but he discounted that. Money was all they were, and money was both their drug and their curse. Far be it from him to separate them from the source of their suffering and pain.
He was beyond revenge. All he wanted was peace.
He would honor his promise. If his suspicions were right and they were here to beg for their money, he'd give it to them. He didn't want a penny of it. Not a single penny.
Kit nodded to Vil slightly, almost imperceptibly, and she smiled slyly. Such was the depth of communication between the two of them.
He put his paw on Jessie's shoulder. "You know, there was a time when I dreamed of a day like this. But now, I find that it was a stupid wish," he told his aunt and uncle.
"What do you mean?"
"You're afraid Vil is going to win the lawsuit, so you're here to try to bargain your money back from me."
They gave him sheepish looks.
"I'm not an idiot, no matter what you may think. But let me put you at ease, Aunt Sarah, Uncle Brian. I don't want the money. If Vil wins, I'll leave it all just the way it is now. On that, you have my word as a Vulpan… for what that's worth," he snorted. "So, you have what you came for. You can go back home and tell Uncle Zach and Aunt Maxine that your mission was accomplished, and you can kindly leave me the hell alone."
"Well, that does make me relieved to hear that, because the family's been in an absolute uproar this week. But, we are here to attend your wedding, and we will see it through," Brian said with surprising candor.
"I don't want you here," Kit said bluntly.
"We promise to cause no scenes and do our best not to infuriate you or her family," Brian said, raising his paw solemnly. "We only wish to be there at your wedding. That's all."
"Kit, indulge me," Vil said steadily to him. "I'll keep a leash on them. On that, you have my promise."
"I–well, it's not my decision to make, really," he sighed. "This is Jessie's wedding, and it's her ultimate decision. Pretty kitty?"
She looked at Vil for a long moment, then finally nodded. "They can stay. But if they put even one toe out of line, I want them gone, Vil."
"You have my word."
And so, it was a very quiet and tense group that left the hangar, as Hannah and John glared at Sarah and Brian… and walking in the middle of them, in an easy, almost childlike skipping gait, was Vilenne, looking like the cat that caught the canary.
Oh, yes, there was something more going on here. This had scheme all over it. Kit absolutely could not wait to get Vil alone and drag this out of her. She was up to something, and what was more, she knew much more than she'd intimated to him.
And whatever that information was, it was making her almost giddishly happy.