"I hope you don't mind having me here for dinner unexpectedly. I don't want to inconvenience you or anything," Billie said to Cherise as the two set the table.

"Honey, I love havin' people over. The more the merrier. Look at this table," Cherise said as she motioned to the massive dining room table. "I'd have this table full of people if I could."

"It doesn't get on your nerves? All those people around?" Billie wasn't used to the idea of large family dinners.

"No, I love it. Probably `cause that's how it always was when Deaky and I were kids. Always a bunch of us piled in. Tell you the truth I feel lonely with just Jay, Marie and I."

"So are you two going to have more kids then?"

"I'd like a whole mess of them!" Cherise said with her nearly ever present smile.

"And your husband, Jay? What does he think about that?"

The smile on Cherise's face faltered a bit. "Jay and I haven't been doin' so well lately. I think it's just hard on him having Marie around. I mean he loves her but I think he's almost jealous at times. I been thinking that if we had more kids it might make things worse."

"Well, I'm sorry to hear that. But there's no rush, right? Maybe he just needs time to get used to it, to being a family man," Billie said.

"That's just it," Cherise said and let out a sigh. "I'm pregnant again."

Billie didn't know what to say. She wasn't sure whether to congratulate Cherise or console her.

"I really want more kids but I don't know what to do with things between me and Jay being so strained lately," Cherise continued. "I feel so torn."

Billie walked around the table and pulled Cherise into a hug. Billie wasn't really the hugging type but she felt she had to do something for the upset woman. "Cherise, listen. You don't need to tell him today. Take some time to think things over. I know you don't really know me but if you want to talk about it I'll listen. Okay?"

"Billie, thanks. I could really use the chance to tell this with someone who isn't directly involved. You're right, I won't tell him right away. Maybe we could talk tomorrow?"

Billie was about to tell Cherise that would be fine when she remembered tomorrow was the bust for Donnie. "We'll find time, might have to be later in the day though. We've got a big bust."

"Thanks. I found out the day before yesterday and I haven't told anyone `till now."

"Told anyone what?" asked Deaq as he entered the room with a big bowl of salad and placed it on the table.

"Nothing," Cherise said. She made herself sound just fine like nothing was wrong at all. "Can you grab the rolls for me Deaq? We're just about ready."

"Got it," Deaq said as he headed back to the kitchen. He'd seen the look on his sister's face and while she hid it well he knew there was something bothering her. He was going to ask but one look at Billie's face and slightly "no" shaking head and he knew this wasn't the time.

"Billie, why don't you go get the boys. Dinner's pretty much ready," Cherise said.

"Sure, no problem. About the other, don't worry I'll help you figure something out tomorrow," Billie said as she headed for the door.

"Thanks. I'm really happy Deaq has such a kind and caring boss," Cherise said seriously.

Billie felt herself blush a bit. "Yeah, well him and Van, they're like family."

"So are you," Cherise said with a smile.

*************

Billie headed out to the garage. She heard the car engine start, revving high immediately. Without going in she hollered.

"Guys!" she shouted over the noise. "Dinner's ready!"

Van was thankful for the distraction and he scrambled to get up and away from his awkward position. "You-you can turn it off now. We better get going."

Jay, seemingly oblivious to Van's barely concealed panic, said, "Okay, I'm just going to wash up. You can use the sink in the laundry room if you like so we're not tripping over each other, okay?"

"Uh, sure," Van said as Jay headed for the door into the house.

When no one came out Billie ducked under the half open garage door just as Jay was entering the house. She saw him for just long enough to recognize the man.

`HOLY SHIT! That lying bastard!' she thought.

"Billie we've got a problem," Van said, anxiety clear in his voice.

"Yes, we do," Billie said, glaring at the door where Jay had just gone.

"I've had sex with Jay!" Van said in a loud whisper.

"Yeah, well you're not the only one!" she snapped back.

"What!?!" Van said loudly.

"My weekend plans: Jay, or should I say `Milton,' he was it! Lying son of a bitch told me he was from Florida and comes here on business all the time. `Milton' my ass! I've been seeing him for the past two months!"

"Wait, I thought you didn't ... you know .. with guys ..."

"Oh grow up Van! You know it's not that cut and dry. Besides, he's a really charming guy, you know that! Or, I thought he was until now," she said as the full realization of her relationship with the married man hit her.

"Well, he doesn't recognize me. But what's he going to do when he sees you?"

"I have no idea. I'd like to rip his nuts off and use them as paper weights but what about Cherise and Deaq?"

"Maybe if we act like nothing's wrong he'll do the same."

"Right and that'll give us time to figure put what to do about this mess. That fucker isn't getting off easy but I don't want to make this bad for Deaq and Cherise."

Van almost felt sorry for Jay. He wouldn't want to get on Billie's bad side. While he could have lived with the knowledge that he and Jay had got it on before, he too was really pissed with the thought that a guy with a family was screwing around on the side.

It had been a long time since Van and Jay had messed around and even then it certainly wasn't a relationship. They'd given each other head a few times at a parking lot down by the water that was used as a meeting place for that kind of activity. They'd both been there for the same reason and it wasn't like they owed each other anything. Van was just a little disappointed that Jay didn't recognize him but figured he'd changed quite a bit in the last ten years. It was easier that Jay didn't remember him but it still stung a little.

But screwing with Billie and lying to her made Van livid. Though he knew he had no reason to, he felt protective of her and the thought of anyone hurting her made him angry. However, Billie was right, they couldn't just call his bluff without hurting Cherise and Deaq in the process.

Earlier that day Van had expected a nice family dinner. His biggest fear had been that Deaq would be envious of his sister's family life. Now things had become a whole lot more complicated.

"Let's just play like everything's fine. We'll figure out how to tell them later," Billie said.

"Right," Van said, following her inside. He found himself thinking how much he wished he was going in to deal with a mark rather than his lover's family. With the lies and the bluffing this dinner was definitely starting to resemble the kind of family dinners he remembered from his own childhood.

unfinished

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