Cheating Time

by

Chapter 12 – Epilogue (happy ending)

"It was nice of Cahellhole to remember us." There where dozens of women nearby, but Julia "Ratbottom" Rathbourne was really commenting to herself about the generosity of her friend and sometimes employer, Linda Cahalo. "Nice" was an understatement, but then Ratbottom was an understated sort of person and for her to comment at all could be considered high praise.

No one would have disagreed with her statement. The motley crew of women and their Sonoma Mountain refuge must have made more of an impression than anyone realized at the time. Only Ratbottom could truly appreciate the depths of Linda's generosity. She was the only one who remembered the spoiled, rich, self-absorbed woman who used to cruise the county looking for the best weed and the hottest women. It was lifetime ago.

The Linda she knew would have controlled the money – not directly, but through her managers. Instead, Linda had presented the women with what was basically a blank check and told them to do whatever was needed to make the little community secure and let it thrive, if it could. They began by expanding and fortifying the wall that surrounded their settlement. Once they felt secure the women chose to diversify between projects that would make them self-supporting and provide income. Originally, the income projects used only labor from the settlement, but they were soon overwhelmed by the workload and hired from the nearby community. It was good for everyone. Many of the locals who used to work in San Francisco were spared the four hour daily commute. As such, the jobs were so highly prized that they attracted the best people. It created connections with the larger community and made them less vulnerable since they're fates had become intertwined.

Some of the women missed the isolation of former days, but even the best of that era had been retained. The walled enclosure remained as a kind of gated community with one major restriction – no male over 21 years of age was allowed to reside within the walls. Male visitors were subject to approval, which could be revoked at any time. The subject of transsexual residents was still under debate and being reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

It was all begun with Linda Cahalo's financial support. To demonstrated their gratitude, some of the women suggested naming their community after her. When they asked Ratbottom what she thought, she told them that Linda didn't do it to get her name on a "Now entering…" sign. The proponents demurred, but in the end they did prevailed somewhat and Halo, California was born. Ratbottom approved and knew Linda would, too.

Everything comes with a price and so did Halo. In return for her financial support, Linda had asked for only one thing.

"It's coming, it's coming," someone shouted, their cries growing louder.

Ratbottom peered down the road. She could just see the peak of a roof over the edge of the rise. The roof slowly rose into view as it advanced forward. The cab of a huge semi appeared, struggling slowly along with its heavy load until truck and house were both visible. A torso popped out the passenger side of the cab.

"Cahellhole," Ratbottom shouted and waved.

Linda waved back, had a brief, lively discussion with the driver and jumped from the moving vehicle.

"Still living dangerously, I see," Ratbottom commented when Linda was close enough to hear.

"She didn't want to stop and lose momentum, and she didn't want me to get out with the truck moving. I told her she couldn't have it both ways. Where's that good looking woman of mine?"

"I'll bet you say that about all the women who bare your child." Angela wrapped Linda in a chokehold and pressed her massive belly into her lover's back. The crowd cheered, which had gathered near the gate, cheered. The trio turned in unison and watched semi and house lumber on toward the new foundation.

Linda reached back and stroked Angela's belly. "I hope we can get the house in place before you deliver. Then I could tell her how she was born in the house where her grandmother lived."

"Funny how nothing else in the area seemed to survive the earthquake, but that house did"

"Funny how Rosario's took up residence there when the mansion was destroyed. If she hadn't maintained the place, it probably wouldn't have been in any condition to move."

"I'm glad you stayed," said Angela, covering the hand that hovered over her belly. "I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't."

"You know, when I first thought about going back into stasis I considered leaving you some of my eggs."

"And I might just have used them."

"And with my bizarre luck," Linda laughter, "I'd have come back and fucked myself."

"I love your bizarre luck. It's what brought up together." Angela grasped her belly with a momentary expression of concern. "Just gas."

"Well, maybe we better go goose things along anyway," Ratbottom suggested and the trio walked toward home.