2: Hot cakes

“Rae, you want me to handle breakfast?” Donnie offered as she watched Rae move around their large, well-stocked kitchen. She was dressed in her pajamas, which consisted of a white tank-top and shorts that used to be sweatpants until she took a pair of scissors to them. Her hair was sticking up in every direction it could, silently begging for Donnie to use a brush soon. Lines underneath her hazel eyes showed that she was still partially asleep, but she wanted to be up for pancakes.

“Why would I want you to handle breakfast?” Rae inquired curiously, making pancake batter for their breakfast. She was also dressed in pajamas, which were a tee-shirt that was too big for her because it was actually Donnie’s. She looked a little more presentable than her spouse, having her hair brushed back into a ponytail and her face washed.

“So you don’t have to be on your feet,” Donnie reasoned, sounding like it was the most logical thing in the world to her. She moved a little deeper into the kitchen without being very obvious about it. It seemed like she was trying to get a closer look at Rae, wanting to make sure her wife did not hurt herself somehow or strain herself in any way.

Rae turned to her beloved to give her an incredulous look. “Sweetheart, I am two months pregnant, not two weeks past due. If you’re going to act like this now, what’re you going to do when I’m showing and look like I’m ready to pop?” she asked in disbelief.

Donnie had the decency to appear embarrassed, blushing a little and putting her head down. She sat down at the island in the middle of the kitchen and watched Rae do what she did every morning—fix breakfast. Donnie, though a world-class chef, had no control over the kitchen at home. If she was going to cook, she had to take her butt down to her restaurant or her café; Rae told her as much whenever she found Donnie making anything more complicated than a bowl of cereal.

“I’m not going to let you leave the bedroom and I’m going to give you sponge baths—” Donnie started in, but Rae cut her off.

“And play doctor while I’m in labor, right? I can see you now with Lil Donnie, ‘baby, I yanked you right out of your momma because I’m insane and also good at everything and know everything.’” Rae put on the most adorable, teasing smile, which got her spouse out of her chair.

Donnie went behind Rae and embraced her, love coming through the simple touch. “You know me so well, don’t you?” she purred before placing a kiss to Rae’s cream-colored neck.

“I know you well enough to know that you’re going to be sorry if you make me burn these pancakes,” Rae teased, still smiling. She gently patted the restaurant-owner on the butt to get her to back off.

“I would just have something else for breakfast then…and then make sure we went out for brunch,” the tan woman remarked with a grin, placing another sweet kiss to Rae’s neck. She was not pleasant to be around when she missed meals and they both knew that. She would never purposely make Rae suffer through her when she was hungry.

“We can’t go out for brunch. We have to be here when Trisha shows up,” Rae reminded her spouse, turning around to tap Donnie on the nose.

“Oh, right! Damn Trisha. She should’ve just come this morning,” Donnie grumbled, a frown marring her face.

“She knows how you are in the morning,” Rae chimed in, motioning to the way her spouse looked at the moment. It went beyond the wildness of her hair, but the fact that she was eagerly waiting for breakfast and implying that she wanted more than just food for her morning meal.

The taller woman snorted, getting the hint. “Okay, fine, I will leave you alone. I’m going to go call Jake and find out how things are running down at the café. You know how nervous he gets when I haven’t jumped down his throat in a few days.”

Rae chuckled a bit and turned her attention back to the pancake batter as Donnie exited the kitchen. She was very aware that Donnie was telling the truth about Jake, the manager of Donnie’s café, which was located across town from her restaurant. Donnie checked in on the café almost daily because that was her baby and she hated that she could not be there as often as she was at the restaurant. While the café was her baby, the restaurant was her legacy and she believed that it deserved more of her attention because it was like the Bonaventure family jewels.

Donnie had inherited the restaurant, her grandfather signing it over to her a little less than ten years ago. She started out as a chef there, like her father and his father and his father and his mother. She worked her way up to being the head chef, even when her grandfather was still cooking there. Then, just like her grandfather had been given the restaurant, he did the same with her, retiring and leaving the whole operation in her capable, eager hands. The restaurant was the crown of the family and everyone that owned it made sure to take extra-special care with it, especially since it had been in the family for five generations. Every Bonaventure loved the establishment too, treating with the utmost respect all of the time and adding a little something of their own to it, making the place an extension of every Bonaventure that owned it.

She did a grand job with the restaurant. She always felt like the restaurant was such a huge success that she wanted to do more. The more involved opening a café that was more affordable than eating at the five-star restaurant, but also gave the patrons a touch of the Donnie’s experience. The café was a hit almost immediately, earning Donnie all sorts of praise from her grandfather, which she just ate up.

By the time the food for breakfast was done, Donnie was standing behind Rae, just waiting for the go-ahead to dig in. She undoubtedly smelled the food and just ended the call with Jake, who was always fine anyway—according to him anyway. One day soon, Donnie knew that she was going to have go to the cafe to make sure. Rae put most of the pancakes on a plate for Donnie while keeping three for herself. Along with the pancakes, there were scrambled eggs, bacon, and hash browns.

“You make the best breakfasts,” Donnie declared with a happy smile as she proceeded to dig in.

Rae smiled, always glad to hear a compliment from Donnie. She especially liked to hear compliments on her cooking considering who Donnie was. Donnie was one of the world’s most sought after chefs and people traveled from very far to visit her restaurant on nights when she was in the kitchen. It would surprise them all to know that Donnie almost never cooked at home; Rae handled it and Donnie always loved what her wife served.

“You say that about every meal,” Rae teased.

“I mean it every time I say it. I love your cooking!” Donnie proclaimed with a honest grin.

“I know. So, how was the café? Jake holding everything down well?”

“Yeah, he’s got it under control as usual. Well, that’s what he likes to tell me anyway. I still need to get down there soon for my inspection of the place. Last time I had to send Tegan down there because something came up at the restaurant. Tegan called me and she didn’t sound too happy about what she saw, so I’m starting to wonder if Jake’s blowing smoke up my ass or if Tegan overreacted,” the master chef explained.

“Well, Tegan doesn’t usually overreact on these things. Other things maybe, but not restaurant things,” Rae replied.

Donnie nodded in agreement. “I know, which really worries me. But, I’m not going to think about that right now. Today is about getting things ready for Lil Donnie. How is Lil Donnie this morning anyway?”

Rae rubbed her stomach. “She feels fine so far. I think she’ll stay that way as long as her mom doesn’t get on her momma’s nerves.”

Donnie offered up an innocent smile before diving into her breakfast with typical enthusiasm. Eating was Donnie’s second love; her first was Rae and her third was cooking. Rae watched her spouse eat for a moment because it was one of the rare times she was certain she could see what pure bliss was supposed to look like. Donnie did not just eat, but she experienced food, all the time. It was sight to behold, like watching a person go through a wonderful religious experience.

“So, are you going to be home tomorrow too or were you just taking the weekend off?” Rae asked curiously, eating her breakfast too. She could not recall the last time that Donnie took a whole weekend off, so she doubted that she was going to get another full day with her spouse. The look in her eyes showed that she was hoping deeply for another day, though.

“I’m going in late tomorrow. Tegan hasn’t blown the place up yet, but she is scheduled to be in the kitchen tomorrow night, so I have to be there while she’s heading up the kitchen,” Donnie explained.

Rae only nodded. When breakfast was done, Donnie did try to do the dishes, but she was shooed out of the kitchen by her wife. Rae went so far as to swat Donnie with the dishrag to get rid of her. Donnie yelped as the rag smacked her on the butt and she ran out of the kitchen like a scolded child, as she always did when Rae kicked her out of the room. She decided to go handle some business and then waste time in front of the television, a luxury that she did not get to indulge in as often as she liked. Rae eventually joined her, which made her morning perfect, especially when her wife curled into her and wrapped her in a warm hug.

By noon, the couple decided to change into some proper clothing since they were expecting company sooner or later. Donnie, true to her lazy nature when at home, just threw on some black sweat pants and a tee-shirt. Rae went for something more outgoing, throwing on a pair of jeans and a lavender polo shirt. After they dressed, they went back to the sofa and got to watch a movie before the doorbell went off, alerting them that someone was at the door.

“I got it!” Donnie shot up like an enthusiastic child to get the door.

Rae sighed and shook her head, trying to fight off a smile. It was not because she thought Donnie was treating her delicately, but because of the child-like behavior her spouse exhibited. She thought it was adorable and that was why she could not keep the smile off of her face. She hoped that Donnie stayed like that, even when the baby came. Sure, it would be like having two kids around sometimes, but she thoroughly enjoyed it.

“Babe, it’s Trisha!” Donnie called to her lover.

“Okay, but what have I told you about yelling through the house?” Rae scolded her spouse, even though she was yelling back in order to answer.

“She’s got you on a rightfully short leash,” Trisha remarked with a teasing grin on her face as she spoke to Donnie. Trisha stood eye to eye with Donnie, but was a more slender build than the master chef. She was dressed in tailored pinstripe suit and wearing her signature fedora, not caring how much she looked like an old-style gangster.

Hazel eyes rolled. “You’re about to be on the same leash. You’re about to work in her domain.” With a sweep of her hand, she motioned to the inside of the house.

“Oh?” Trisha sounded very intrigued, arching a slender blonde eyebrow. “I never would’ve thought that from the first time I decorated.”

“It was a different time then.”

“I’m so sure.” The sarcasm was so thick that Donnie would not have been surprised to actually see it spill from her friend’s mouth.

“I can still fire your ass, you know that? In fact, I’d be happy to do it because I’m not interested in dealing with your shit,” Dommnie commented, sounding serious.

Trisha rolled her eyes now; they were an odd shade blue, so dark that they almost looked black. Her sleek blonde hair was cut short and almost hidden completely under her favorite hat. She stepped inside, her heeled boots making a little noise on the wooden floor in the foyer. She was trailed by a woman and that got Donnie’s attention.

“You bringing women to work now? You are a sucky date!” Donnie remarked with a teasing grin, pointing at her friend while she spoke.

“Woman?” Trisha echoed and then she glanced behind her. She brushed the comment off with a wave of her hand. “Oh, no, that’s just Audrey, my new assistant.”

Donnie shrugged, accepted that, and did not give the other woman—Audrey—a second thought. The business-owner led Trisha into the house and Audrey followed silently behind. They went right to the living room where Rae rose from the sofa to greet them.

“Rae, I’m glad to see this big idiot didn’t wear you out too much after that great party last night,” Trisha remarked, going in to hug the petite woman. The embrace was very brief with Rae pulling away as quickly as she could.

“Donnie hasn’t managed to do it yet,” Rae replied, giving her spouse a teasing smile.

Trisha laughed while Donnie did not look amused by the remark at all. Rae ignored her spouse’s sour look and then noticed Audrey. Rae did not need an introduction from Trisha, preferring to do it herself. She went right in to introduce herself to the stranger. Audrey smiled as they shook hands.

“I’m Rae Bonaventure,” the ebony-haired woman said, pulling her hand back as soon as it was appropriate to do so.

“Audrey Miller,” Audrey replied in a polite tone, still smiling.

“Audrey’s my assistant,” Trisha added in before Rae got around to asking. She sounded bored and uninterested in even saying that, but knew it was necessary.

Rae nodded to show that she understood. She was about to offer the two women something, but Donnie jumped right into work. The restaurant owner motioned to the stairs, silently saying that they should go to the room that would become the nursery.

“You do know we’re going to have to child-proof everything too, right?” Trisha pointed out as the four women started up the stairs.

“I figured you’d do that too. You can, right?” Donnie inquired.

Trisha scoffed and rolled her eyes. “Can you make a roasted chicken?” she countered.

Donnie rolled her eyes too, making sure to look like she was sick of Trisha. Trisha, on the other hand, made it a point to not pay Donnie any mind at all. Rae noted the exchange and did not think anything of it, believing that Donnie had strange relationships with all of her friends. Audrey also saw the exchange, but she did not say anything; she also noticed the small, amused smile that Rae was sporting and how Rae’s eyes twinkled when she smiled.

“Okay, so, for the nursery, we’re going to use the room right across the hall from us,” Donnie informed her friend as they came to the top of the stairs. They walked off to the left and were at the room in a few steps.

“This is a good choice for the room, but I figure you guys are going to give the spud a real room in a few years, so call me then too,” Trisha commented as they stepped into the room.

“We’re actually going to keep her in our bedroom for the first year,” Rae chimed in.

Trisha glanced over at Rae and nodded, making sure to store that information away for when she started designing the room. She then took in the room, expecting it to be the size that it was, even though she had never been in it. No one really wandered around the upstairs of Donnie’s home unless the person lived there because there was no reason for it. Donnie always made sure that her guest stayed on the ground floor, not wanting anyone nosing around her and her wife’s personal space.

“What did this used to be before you emptied everything out?” Trisha asked curiously, doubting that the couple just had an empty room convenient for the arrival of their first-born.

“Nothing actually. We just used to throw shit in here,” Donnie remarked with a little laugh.

“It was hell cleaning the place out,” Rae added in.

Trisha nodded. “This is a good space. I can work with this. I think you guys will be very happy with what I do with it.” She then snapped her finger and Audrey was instantly at her side.

Donnie and Rae eased out of the room as Trisha started riffing off things to her assistant. They knew that she would come and tell them all of her ideas once she was done with the space. They went back to the couch and after about a half-hour Rae got up to make lunch while Trisha returned to the living room. Trisha flopped down onto one of the very comfortable recliners and Audrey stood next to her, in case she needed her notes.

“So, what do you got?” Donnie asked curiously, regarding Trisha out of the corner of her eye rather than turning her whole head. Hey, she might miss something good on television and Trisha might make the mistake of thinking Donnie respected her if she actually turned to look at the blonde.

“Hmm…I think we can do a lot with the space. Are you two sure you’re having a girl?” Trisha counted, putting a finger to her chin in thought.

“We only just found out we’re pregnant, so we’re not too sure yet. No matter what, we’re naming the kid Donnie, right, babe?” the chef called, leaning toward the kitchen to make sure her wife heard her.

“You know we are,” Rae replied, turning around so that her lover could see the smile on her face.

Trisha laughed a bit and shook her head, not surprised by the name at all. She turned her attention back to Donnie and started going over the things that she wanted to do with the room and child-proofing the house. Rae came in the middle of the conversation with sandwiches, simple tuna melts on toasted rolls, but enough to get a big grin out of Donnie. Trisha grabbed one too without missing a word in her discussion with Donnie.

“Do you want one, Audrey?” Rae inquired, soulful brown eyes locking onto sky blue eyes that seemed a bit cloudy.

“Um…sure, thanks,” Audrey answered and moved to grab a sandwich.

Rae kept things moving and did not sit down until everyone had fries and drinks to go with their sandwiches. Donnie and Trisha did not miss beat in their talk and Rae chimed in every now and then while curling up to Donnie on the sofa. When the food was gone, the conversation continued. Rae cleaned up the remnants of lunch and, by the time she returned to the living room, Trisha was ready to go.

“So, I’ll be back tomorrow. One of you will be here, right?” Trisha asked the couple.

“Rae’ll be here, of course…taking it easy,” Donnie replied, glancing down at her wife to make sure Rae knew that second part of the statement was directed toward her.

“I’ll be here,” Rae agreed with a playful smile. She was tempted to tease her spouse, but she knew that any jokes about her running a marathon or something would not go over well now that she was pregnant. She then turned her attention to Audrey. “It was nice meeting you. I hope you enjoy working with us.” She then put her hand out for the assistant to shake.

Audrey smiled and shook the offered hand. “It was a pleasure meeting you too. I’m sure I will like working with you.”

With that said, Trisha and her assistant were gone. Donnie shut the door and then impulsively grabbed her petite wife into a tight hug. She picked Rae up off of her feet, earning giggles from the smaller woman.

“How’s lil Donnie doing?” the chef asked before kissing her spouse on the cheek.

“Lil Donnie is fine. Now, let me go, you brute. What would you grandfather think he saw you acting like such a knucklehead?” Rae answered with a chuckle.

“He would be happy that I’m so happy!” Donnie replied and then she took a deep breath. She sighed into her wife’s soft hair, her whole body relaxing as she felt totally at peace. “Baby, I love you so much. I’m so glad we’re pregnant.” Her voice held deep sincerity and a high level of tranquility that touched her wife’s soul.

“I love you too,” Rae stated. To Donnie, that was a signal that it was time plant an adoring kiss to her wonderful wife. The kiss was full of affection and passion. The kiss made Rae moan into Donnie’s mouth as she clung to the taller woman. She could practically taste the bliss in Donnie that was caused by the pregnancy.

-----

The next day when Trisha and Audrey arrived, it was late in the evening. Donnie had already left to take care of her restaurant, so Rae was home by herself when the pair showed up. The greetings were quick, Trisha wanting to get to work right away. Rae expected that; it was habit that Donnie and all of her friends shared.

Rae, ever the polite hostess, offered the pair snacks and drinks. Trisha was all-business, though, and Rae eventually got the hint to just let the woman work. This was a dance that they did before when Trisha was helping with the house when Rae and Donnie first moved in. It was something that Trisha always seemed to win because when she was on the clock, she never strayed from her tasks. Rae still tried her best to make sure Trisha had anything that she might need, including food—food that Trisha never touched.

It would take a few days, but Rae found that Audrey was not very much like Trisha. Audrey arrived at the house one morning, on her own. Rae was shocked to see the assistant by herself, but she did not say anything about that. Instead, she went right into her polite hostess mode.

“Hey, Trisha sent me in ahead with a few things to set up around the house for the child-proofing. Is that all right?” Audrey inquired, standing on the front porch with a bag in her hand.

“Perfectly fine. Come on in,” Rae said, using a sweeping motion of her hand to welcome the redhead into the house. “Can I get you anything? I just finished having breakfast with Donnie. There’s still food left over.”

Audrey was set to decline, but her stomach growled. She glanced down, embarrassment coating her sky-colored eyes and a sheepish crimson coloring her cheeks. Rae flashed a warm smile and laughed a little bit.

“Come on, you can eat before getting started. I’ll tell Trisha I forced you to if she comes in while you’re eating,” Rae proposed.

“Sorry about that. I didn’t get a chance to eat breakfast because I went to pick up all of the child-proofing things we would need,” Audrey explained.

Rae waved her off. “No need to explain. If Trisha is anything like Donnie when it comes to work, I’m surprised you ever have time to eat.”

“Oh…did you used to work for Donnie?” Audrey asked curiously while following Rae into the kitchen.

“No, it’s just that being with her for so long I know how she is when it comes to work. Do you like pancakes?” the petite woman asked.

“Um…yes…”

“Good because I still have a few left over and I know they’re still warm. Donnie practically swallows the damn things. But, then again…” Rae paused to laugh. “Donnie just loves to eat.”

Audrey did not say anything and took a seat on a stool that was pulled up to the island in the kitchen. She was barely in the seat when there was food in front of her. A stack of four pancakes, sausage, and scrambled eggs. She was then handed silverware so that she could dig in.

“Orange juice, coffee, or tea?” Rae offered.

“Orange is fine,” Audrey answered. “So, you’re the one expecting?” she asked, wanting to make small talk with this friendly soul before her.

“Well, really, we like to say ‘we’re expecting,’ but if you mean I’m the one carrying the little bundle of joy, then yes,” Rae confirmed as she went to the well-stocked refrigerator to retrieve the orange juice.

Audrey nodded and regarded Rae with curious blue eyes. “You don’t look pregnant.”

“I’m not really that far along, just eight weeks. I can’t imagine what things are going to be like when I actually look pregnant. Donnie’s head is probably going to explode,” Rae remarked with a giggle as she poured the redhead a glass of juice.

“That’s cute how you’re going to name the baby after her,” Audrey commented as her drink was placed in front of her.

“Well, it’s really a tradition in her family, going pretty far back. They name the first-born kid something that can be shortened into ‘Don.’ Donnie’s name is actually Donatella. Her father’s name is Donald the second and her grandfather’s name is Donovan and his father’s name was Donald and the start of the whole mess would be his mother also called Donatella. I think it’s cute,” Rae explained with a smile as she took a seat across from the redhead.

Audrey laughed a little, more to be polite than anything else. “Strange tradition. I’ve never really heard of anything like that before.”

“I hadn’t really either. I mean, I know some families where the father passes his name down and everything, but nothing like where you just give the first born a name that can be shortened into something.”

“Do they all answer to Donnie?”

Rae shook her head. “Actually, her grandfather calls her ‘junior.’ They’re very close. Other than that, her grandfather answers to ‘Don’ while her father answers to ‘Donnie.’ Her great-grandfather and so forth aren’t alive anymore, so it’s not too tough. I guess this one is going to have to answer to lil Donnie,” she commented while rubbing her stomach.

“What do you want to have?” Audrey asked curiously while continuing to eat.

“I never really thought on it. I don’t mind either way and I don’t think Donnie cares either. We’re just ready to start a family.”

Audrey nodded. “You’re sure you’re ready?” she asked, voice ever curious.

“Yes, and if I wasn’t, it’s too late to take back now,” the smaller woman quipped with a smile. “Why do you ask that?”

“I don’t know. You look pretty young to be settling down with a family and everything.”

“Thanks for the compliment, but I think it’s about time and my family does too. I just turned thirty.”

Audrey looked shocked. “You’re kidding me!”

“Honest to God, I’m thirty.”

“You’re as old as I am,” the redhead commented.

Rae laughed. “I prefer to think of it as mature, but considering that Donnie is older than I am and doesn’t act very mature makes me think I need to find a better term.”

Audrey chuckled a bit. “I like that. I think I’ll start saying I’m mature.”

The pair continued with their small talk until Audrey was done with her food. Audrey decided that she had better get to work before Trisha showed up. Rae agreed with that.

“Well, if you need anything, let me know. You don’t have to act all robotic like Trisha does,” Rae informed Audrey while gathering up the used dishes.

“I will if I need anything. Thanks for being so nice to me,” Audrey said.

Rae nodded. “Hey, that’s no problem. My mother did drill some manners into me,” she commented with a smile.

Audrey nodded that time in response. She was a bit stunned by the hospitality that Rae came at her with because she had been around Trisha and knew how curt the blonde woman could be. She assumed that anyone that personally knew Trisha, as Rae and Donnie did, would be the same way. From what she could tell with Donnie, that was a correct assumption, but it did not fit Rae at all. Rae was a doll from what she could tell.

“I think I’m going to like working around here,” Audrey muttered to the air when she was alone and she decided to get to work.

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Next time: Rae hangs out with Audrey...with Donnie's blessing. What could possibly go wrong?