Chapter Text
Dakota had risen early and was out on the veranda with her coffee. She hadn’t started her workday yet. For now, she was content to watch the horizon and think about the wedding of their dreams. Tammye had secured the stretch of beach they had adopted as ‘their spot’ when they were first dating, which pleased them both. Even if Dakota had to move heaven and earth to use the beach behind the house, Ash would be able to bury her toes in the sand as she said her vows.
She sighed deeply as the sky assumed its daytime mantel. It was time to get moving. She had a few hours left before she had to meet Tammye for lunch. Fortunately, neither Orlando nor Seattle had a game scheduled, so Pinoe and Hope had flown in to help their friends with as much wedding planning as they could all squeeze in. Ali had decided to bow out of her game and join them in Palm Harbor. When she had announced her decision on social media, there was a bit of a backlash from some of her fans, but most were supportive. It helped that she had specified she was a member of Ash’s wedding party.
Ash’s fans, for the most part, had gotten accustomed to seeing Dakota at her side. When fans approached, asking for photos, Dakota was always quick to offer to take the pictures for them. Occasionally, she would wander onto the fan forums, most especially when sleep eluded her. Her account on the forums was in her own name, all the better when she would find someone praising Ash’s body and a desire to ‘tap that’. She always responded with,
‘As good as you fantasize she is...she’s better. And I have tapped that.’
Dakota Undomiel
The board always got a bit quieter for a few days when she did that. It still amused her.
She changed into her one piece swimsuit and was leisurely doing laps in the pool when she saw Ash step out onto the veranda.
“Hey there, pretty lady, you’re up early.” Ashlyn said as she approached the pool. She bent down and kissed Dakota tenderly.
“You’ve already gone for your run.” Dakota smiled once her girlfriend had released her lips.
“Yeah, I gave Miranda a bit of a workout this morning. She was really pushing to keep up with me a few times.” Ash chuckled. “Have you seen Eve yet?”
“Not yet. I have no idea how you can run in this heat without passing out.” Dakota pulled herself from the pool and padded over to Ash, who held out a large towel.
Ash wrapped her firmly in the terry cloth and then in her own arms as she stood behind her and said softly, “You know I adore you, right?”
“Never doubted it for a second.”
They stood that way for a few minutes, perfectly content to soak up the early morning sun.
“Six more months…” Ash murmured. “Six months from now, we’re going to be married.”
“So much to do yet.” Dakota sighed. “Did you ever decide what kind of cake you want?”
“Can we have chocolate with white icing?”
“We can have whatever you want, sweetheart. It’s our day, and I only plan on doing this once in our lives. If that’s what you want, that’s what we’ll have.”
“Hope, Pinoe and Ali are arriving today, right?”
“Yep. They should be here in a couple of hours. Eve volunteered to pick them up at the airport, and your mom and brother are coming in sometime this afternoon.”
“Yep.” Ash nodded. “I thought we’d go visit a couple of caterers and see what they offer. I know what you want with the tables and stuff. I’ll make sure to get quotes and business cards. Then you and I can go around and see the ones you’re interested in later.”
Dakota’s stomach rumbled and Ash laughed. “Come on, let’s go inside and I’ll make breakfast while you get changed.”
DK hung the swimsuit in the bathroom before stepping into the shower. Her eyes still stung a bit from the chlorine, and she knew she’d have to get better at mixing the chemicals, or hire someone to take care of the pool. Once out of the shower, she dressed in white jeans and a white tank top, and went to see how breakfast was progressing.
Ash turned from the stove and grinned devilishly as she watched Dakota cross the room. “Have I told you that you are the sexiest woman in the world?”
“Not in those exact words for at least a day.” DK replied as Ash stepped in close and began to pepper her neck with kisses. “Easy there, Stud, you need to shut breakfast off if …”
Dakota’s stomach rumbled again and they both laughed.
“Apparently, you need to be fed before I ravish you.” Ash said with a final kiss, and turned back to the stove. “Hey, have you heard from Dr. Chris lately?”
“Let me go get the laptop and I’ll tell you.”
DK set the laptop on the island and sat on a stool. “Oh hey, he wrote!”
“Yeah?” Ash refilled Dakota’s cup. “Where is he?”
Dakota cleared her throat and read aloud,
“ Hello Dakota,
Greetings from Down Under! I trust this email finds you safe and enjoying the sunshine in Florida as well as your fiance's NWSL season. Six more months and you will be married. It's hard to believe. I do hope the wedding planning is going well and isn't too stressful. I further hope my gift was enough to make sure you and Ashlyn have the perfect day. If you need more, please let me know and I will get it to you with urgency.
The employment search continues as I have arrived for my interview with the University of Sydney. It's quite a different setting here than in the UK, although the accent is endearingly familiar. The interview at Heidelberg University went well, but I don't think I am quite a proper fit for their department. Very regimented and spiky and, as you might guess, I want nothing to do with that.
I have still yet to hear from anyone in the United States about vacancies or interviews. It's a little disheartening, but I am ever hopeful.
My literary agent is still looking for me to write another book. I have thought about a post-apocalyptic novel with some of you ladies as characters. What do you think?
I have one more interview after this at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. While I am there, I am considering visiting Hope. I am hesitant to do so because I haven't heard very much from her in the last couple of months and I would hate to drop in to find out I am not entirely welcome. She is probably very busy with her football commitments, so I have tried to not take it personally.
I look forward to hearing from you. Tell your fiance and the rest of the "family" I said hello.
DRINK YOUR CLEANSE!
With Love,
"Dr. Chris"
“Does he know Hope is here?”
“No, I don’t think I told him yet.” Dakota shook her head.
“Your reply will have to wait until after breakfast.” Ash said as she set a plate down, piled high with pancakes, scrambled eggs and bacon. “And a banana, strawberry, watermelon smoothie.”
“Mmm, I like your days off.”
“Only because you don’t have to make breakfast.” Ash laughed as she sat beside Dakota.
“True.” DK smiled. “So you meant what you said last night? White with red accents?”
“Absolutely.” Ash agreed before drinking some of her coffee. “And no shoes. Well, maybe after the sun goes down, but not before.”
“Sounds good to me!”
“Where do you want to go for our honeymoon?”
Dakota drank half her smoothie before answering. “Well...I have always wanted to camp in Alaska.”
Ash turned to her with raised eyebrows. “You want to camp in Alaska? Like, with grizzly bears and mosquitoes the size of crows, Alaska?”
“Well, maybe that would be better when it’s warmer and the flowers are out. Is there anywhere you want to go?”
“Hawaii is nice, or California, there’s lots that would interest us both, maybe Arizona? I’d suggest Utah, but I don’t think they’re big on same-gender relationships.” Ash stopped with her fork halfway to her mouth. “Wait...I’ve got it...I always call you my nerd...it’s perfect…”
Dakota waited while Ash smiled.
“New Zealand! Land of Middle-Earth and Xena!”
DK was speechless.
“There’s tours for Hobbit fans, lots of trails that I know we’d both enjoy hiking, I’ve heard you can see Hobbiton, and there’s guided tours of the Weta-Cave! You know, Weta was the company that did all the special effects and stuff for Avatar and The Hobbit and the Lord of The Rings films…” Ash’s voice trailed away as she watched tears roll down Dakota’s face. “Babe?”
Dakota couldn’t speak at first, she was overwhelmed with the many emotions flooding through her. She wrapped her arms around her fiance, and held tight for a long minute. Finally she sniffled. “It’s perfect!”
Ash chuckled. “I thought you might like that. I’m sure we’ll find a lot to do that we’ll both enjoy.”
“I can’t believe we’re going to New Zealand.” DK murmured as she took her seat again. “Sometime this week we should pick up the hunt for wedding rings again.”
“I know we haven’t found the right ones in any of the stores we’ve hit. Maybe we should just design them ourselves, that way we’ll get exactly what we want.” Ashlyn suggested.
“You draw much better than I can. Lets do that.” Dakota agreed.
After the breakfast dishes were rinsed and loaded into the dishwasher, Ash decided on a shower while Dakota wrote to Christian.
Chris,
Down under! Watch out for the kangaroos, I hear they can be vicious if they’re feeling territorial. A little like a certain blonde I know...Speaking of my blonde, I don’t know if you’ve been keeping up with the Pride, but they’re third in the league so far. I haven’t met with the team yet, I’d feel a little like I was betraying my NWSL friends.
Hope is actually here for the weekend, well, on her way. She and Pinoe came out with Ali to help us settle as many of the wedding plans as we could in one weekend. They should arrive shortly. Six months...crazy. I happen to know that Hope has composed far more letters and emails than what she’s actually sent. I think she’s afraid of seemingly pushing too hard too fast. But believe me when I tell you that she asks about you all the time. It’s not my story to tell, but I know she’s had a bit of a hard time with Jerramy too. She doesn’t smile much these days, and I have to say, I miss that infectious grin. Be patient with her. I happen to know for a fact that she’d love it if she looked up into the stands one day and saw you there. You should do that and see what happens. *smile*
Speaking of the wedding, your little gift was HUGE! I highly doubt we’ll need more. We will never be able to thank you enough, but, thank you. We’ve agreed on white with red accents, so of course, I’m thinking about dyeing my tips red, as we discussed on the beach that day. Ash and I just decided to visit New Zealand for our honeymoon. I’ll share more as we plan it. A post-apocalyptic novel eh? Sounds like it could be interesting. Sure wouldn’t be boring!
The University of Florida is looking for a professor to teach within the English department over in Gainesville. Fiction Writing is one course they’re looking to fill. But try this on for size:
This course will develop an understanding of utopia and its literary forms from the final years of the Cold War to the present. In a context of impending and ongoing crises—environmental disaster, economic disparity and unemployment, prolonged war, sexual inequality, racial discrimination—can we imagine viable utopian projects today, and, if so, how can literature help us do this? Approaching utopia from a range of issues, including economics, race, gender, sexuality, and art, students will be challenged to conceptualize what it means to imagine utopia today, not merely as an unattainable “good place,” but as an ongoing process in which we are all engaged.
This course will examine several literary forms, including science fiction, critical dystopia, apocalyptic fiction, contemporary realism, and the K¨nstlerroman. This emphasis on forms will allow students to contextualize different utopian ideals and examine their historical developments up to the present day. We will also read a number of supplementary critical texts to contextualize and ground theoretically the idea of utopian process.
Students will learn to read contextually and rhetorically, form persuasive arguments, and write critically about literature. Writing assignments will emphasize writing as process, culminating in an original argumentative paper. Assignments will include two close readings/analyses of primary texts (500 words each), a short mid-term paper (1,500 words), an argument skeleton (500 words) and a substantial final paper (3,000 words). Students will also be expected to participate in all class discussions and give one brief discussion-leading presentation on a primary text of their choosing.
The course is Issues in American Literature & Culture: Utopia and Its Forms. Apparently the previous professor has suffered some sort of health emergency and the department is looking for someone to take it on next school year. I think you might find this a good fit. Tell me you’ll think about it?
Your troublesome sister-in-spirit,
Dakota
She hit send, waited until she had confirmation and opened a fresh document.
Artemia would not be as it is without some very important people who cannot be thanked enough. Ashlyn, of course. My heart, my life and my rock. Ali, a better second and a better friend than I deserve. Abby, my superfan, who has read, re-read and renamed this book at least three times. Pinoe, who keeps things fun and musical. Tammye, you are beyond amazing and I owe you more thanks than I express. Without you, I would not have met Ashlyn. Hope, who literally saved my life and gave me a lot to think about as I recovered. Nyssa, Eve, Miranda and all of my security team who kept me safe so Hope didn’t have to save me again. Dr. Shaw, who also saved my life. Twice. ‘Dr. Chris’, who saved my life in his own way. (Just so you know, Chris, I still hate shitinaglass)
If my life were less even one of you, I would not be the person I am today. I am grateful beyond words for each and every one of you.
Ashlyn, my love...this is for you.
The door chime rang through the house, prompting DK to save her work. She swung the door open, revealing Ali, Hope and a laughing Pinoe. “Well, look at that, the mighty writer herself answers the door!”
Dakota hugged each of them as they crossed the threshold. “I’m so glad you could all come on the same weekend.”
“Wouldn’t miss it.” Hope shot Dakota a quick grin.
“Where’s your bags?”
“Right here, Miss Undomiel.” Eve came up the path carrying two bags in each hand.
“Eve, I could have…”
“Never mind, it’s all taken care of now.”
Dakota rolled her eyes at her head of security. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Miss Undomiel.”
“She still won’t use your first name, hmm?” Ali asked.
“Not if there’s someone else there besides Ash.” DK shook her head as she shut the front door.
“Where is the blonde dynamo, anyway?” Pinoe asked.
“In the shower. She should be out shortly.”
****
Ali and Pinoe had decided to share a room, leaving Hope with some privacy. Once the three of them had unpacked, freshened up and changed, they all settled outside on the veranda. As Dakota was pouring iced tea, Ash came into the room with her damp hair in a ponytail and wearing board shorts and a t-shirt. “Here let me take that out.”
DK put the pitcher down and turned. “Grab that tray beside the microwave, it’ll be easier for you. Is Whit coming as well?”
“She couldn’t get away. We’re going to meet up next week.” Ashlyn stepped into Dakota’s space and wrapped her arms around her. “I can’t wait to make you my wife.”
“The day will be here before we know it.” Dakota smiled. “As much as I love being in your arms, our guests are going to start to wonder if I’m going to leave them thirsty…”
As if on cue, Megan came into the kitchen. “DK, do you need any help...ah, never mind, you seem to have things well in hand.” She smiled and spun on her heel and went back outside.
Ashlyn chuckled. “No one has timing like Pinoe.”
“You go ahead and take that out.” Dakota suggested with a quick kiss. “I’ll make some sandwiches and bring those out.”
“Fair enough.”
Ash stepped out onto the veranda to a cacophony of cat-calls and whistles.
“Finally tore yourself away from your girlfriend?”
“Had to steal some kisses while your company was out here perishing of thirst, Harris?”
Ash blushed and passed out chilled glasses of iced tea. “Well, my girlfriend is pretty hot, can you blame me?”
“Have you two decided on where you’re going for your honeymoon yet, Ash?” Ali asked as she settled her sunglasses over her eyes.
“As a matter of fact, we did, just this morning. We’re going to New Zealand. I want DK to see all the places she’s only ever seen through the Lord of The Rings movie.”
“You said she was a nerd, right?” Hope asked.
“Absolutely. She loves everything Marvel, Tolkien, Xena and Star Trek. She hasn’t been to New Zealand yet, so I thought it would be perfect.”
“I suppose it’s too early to ask if the two of you have decided on a color scheme yet? Some of the wedding party would like to know.” Pinoe shoved Ash’s chair a little with her foot.
“White with red accents, actually.” Ash shoved Pinoe’s chair in reply.
“You want the wedding party in white?”
“With red accents, yeah. We’re going to be beach-casual, no shoes until our feet get cold, but if you want ‘em, wear ‘em.”
“We can wear what we want, as long as it’s in white, with red accents?”
“Yep.”
Hope grinned and rose from her chair while her friends all chatted about what to wear. On bare feet, she slipped into the kitchen. “Need some help in here, Undomiel?”
Dakota turned toward the patio door. “That would be great, Hope, thanks. Can you grab all the meat out of the drawer in the fridge while I finish up the tuna?”
“Sure. So Harris just revealed the color scheme. You sure you want the wedding party in white too?”
“Absolutely. We’re throwing tradition on it’s ear. I know you like the chance to dress up, so dress up! Did she tell you that we’re going shoeless?”
Hope nodded as she set packets of sandwich cuts on the counter. “She did.”
“I’m going to get the tips of my hair dyed red, and Christian is going to get his mohawk tipped too I think. Have you heard from him lately?” Dakota asked as she chopped onion for the tuna.
“We’ve written back and forth a bit.” Hope nodded as she began to make sandwiches. “He told me I still scare him, can you believe that?”
“Yeah. You know you can be intimidating with that famous Solo death glare.” DK nudged her friend with her hip.
“He said he misses me.” Hope nearly whispered. “The scary thing is...I miss him too.”
Dakota set the bowl of tuna aside and faced her friend. “Why is that scary?”
“Undomiel, I don’t exactly have a great track record with stuff like this. It’s not like it is for you and Harris. I’ve read and re-read the book he gave me, and sometimes I think I can hear his voice reading it to me.”
“You know that’s a good thing, right?”
“There are days I write these long letters to him, pouring whatever’s in my head onto paper, and then I tear them up, afraid that if I send them, I’ll have over-shared...showed him more of me than he’s ready for.”
Dakota settled an arm around Hope’s shoulders. “Consider something for me...what have you got to lose by letting Christian know you a little better? Maybe if you let him see the person behind the tough cookie, he won’t be as afraid of you. He’s not the sort to judge.”
They continued to make sandwiches until the platter was full, working in silence as Hope pondered Dakota’s advice.
Just as they turned to take the platter and iced tea out to the veranda, Eve knocked and came in the side door. “Here’s the mail, Miss Undomiel.”
“Thanks, Eve.” Dakota tucked it under her arm.
Her head of security nodded and went back outside, and they continued on to the veranda.
“We’ve got sandwiches and fresh iced tea.” Hope said as she put the platter on the small table beside the pitcher.
“And the mail, I see.” Ash noted as she sat up. “Anything good?”
Dakota absent-mindedly walked over to her beach chair, standing in front of it as she leafed through the stack. “An ad for sports equipment on sale, and a flyer from the grocery store. Some of your fan mail that Jill sent along, this month’s issue of Writers Weekly, and a letter…”
Ash waited for DK to continue while she and Pinoe vied for the same tuna sandwich. Finally, she let her bleached friend snag it and she turned to her girlfriend. “DK?”
Dakota flipped to the last sheet to see who had written it and thumped onto her chair as her legs gave out beneath her.
“Dakota, you’re as pale as Pinoe’s hair...who’s it from?”
“It’s…” Dakota looked up at Ash in stunned disbelief. “It’s from my mother.”
to be continued!