Mike & Karen Ch. 14

Mike nodded. "Just about every alumnus I talked to is amenable, and the endowment patrons are expressing no particular opposition. A couple of jokes were bantered around about it being a good thing your father was already dead, because this would probably kill him."

"They're not wrong," she admitted. "I'm reasonably certain mom would have understood, and talked him around, but let's face it- it's because of them that things turned out this way at all."

"That's true," Mike agreed. "I've often wondered if Alex and Alli would have still fallen in love if they'd grown up together."

Karen considered the issue, objective as only she could be. "I am inclined to believe so, husband, because they're meant to be. I am so very certain of it now. Their story is bigger than you and I, we've no place opposing it."

"My beautiful wife approving is music to my ears, and all I'll ever need." Mike said cheerfully, pulling her close as they walked. "You know that if you had been dead-set against the idea, I would have sided with you, yes?"

"I know you would have," she said quietly, knowing he meant it. "Even if you believed otherwise, you would have, because you love me. And that's why I asked you to decide, Michael. Because I trust your judgement in all things more than even my own."

"Except about music," he pointed out.

"Especially about music," she giggled. "After all, you-"

THWAPP!!!!!

A snowball exploded across Mike's broad back, and they both spun to see a group of students cackling in triumph as they made more snowballs to throw.

"Gotcha, prof!" called out the young woman who had apparently nailed him. "Whatcha gonna do?"

Mike grinned evilly as he looked down at his wife, who was smirking at the upstart students. "Geno-52 Chilead?" he asked.

"I have no idea what that is..." she replied, whipping her long fur coat aside in dramatic fashion and effortlessly flinging it onto the low-lying branch of a nearby tree without even looking. Without another word, she dashed off to the right, flanking the knot of students. She stooped low while she was running and grabbed snow from the ground to make into a weapon. Mike had thundered forward, drawing their fire.

She loved university life. She always had.

***

Friday, December 21^st, 2018...

Alex looked through the curtain and out into the hall. "Yup, pretty full out there. I can see Mister Winson in the front row. We'll be starting shortly, so where the heck are the girls?"

Karen rolled her eyes slightly as she answered. "Jeanie had a minor case of the yips, so Allie and Freja are helping her 'calm down', if you will, in one of the change rooms."

"Sounds about right," her son replied unconcernedly, closing the curtain and checking the sound equipment again. "At least she's in good hands."

"So to speak," his mother agreed. "Don't worry, they'll be here and ready."

Sure enough, with exactly two minutes to spare, Alexa, Freja and Jeanie all entered the staging area, all slightly flushed, but Jeanie more than the other two. Karen smiled at her. "Feeling better, sweetheart?"

"Ohhh, yeah," Jeanie said slowly, nodding and wiping a stray hair out of her eyes. "I may not remember my name, but I'm ready."

"I don't need you to remember your name, just your notes and lyrics," Karen pointed out, tuning her violin. "I have faith in you."

"Yeah, you guys are all weird that way," Jeanie sighed.

"Thirty seconds, everyone," Mike announced, striding onto the stage and pointing to various stage crew members to get in position before looking at his family. He was carrying a small silver tray, and on it were small glasses that held a dark amber liquid. The Christmas mead. Everyone toasted each other and downed their drinks. The titan patriarch gave them his ready grin. "Ready? Let's show 'em how it's done..."

***

The curtains opened, and Karen was already brushing her bow across her fiddle to a sprightly tune, while Alex played an acoustic guitar. Mike came in next, playing a lute, while Jeanie rapped slowly and steadily on a bodhran that Mike had taught her to use for this piece.

The audience watched, rapt, as the family played the Gooding Carol, leading into the song 'Good Christian Men Rejoice!', with Alexa now joining in on a flute. Alexa and her sister strutted and almost danced around the stage gracefully while the played, and the audience erupted in applause as the song finished. Karen and Mike stepped up to the microphone at the front of the stage, greeting the audience, and promising them an enjoyable evening. While another group of performers took over the stage, Mike led his family off, and they prepared for their next song. 'Let It Snow' played onstage while they got ready.

"I'll never get tired of watching and listening to you play the flute," Alex mentioned to his aunt and wife as they sat and turned their instruments. "I could do it for eternity and a day."

Alexa smiled warmly, knowing he meant it. "Kar, are you sure I don't have time to drag my nephew off into a change room and absolutely rape him?"

"Very certain, you oversexed harlot," Karen replied, shaking her head and making her younger sister giggle. "I do not care if there's half an hour before our next piece, I've seen what you do to my son and how dopey and useless he can be afterward. You'll just have to somehow control yourself."

"Yes, mommy," Alexa sighed, pretending to be forlorn. "It'd be a lot easier if people could know."

Half an hour had passed, and it was time for their next set. Jeanie looked a little nervous, but Karen came up to her and smiled gently, using a hand to caress the back of the brunette's neck.

"You're fine, darling," she said in a low, sensual voice, while subtly crinkling plastic wrap in her free hand at her hip. "You did great in the first song, and we've practiced this one plenty of times. Everyone's going to love you."

"Yeah," Jeanie sighed, her eyes closed, getting visibly calmer. "I've got this."

"Yes, you do, I guarantee it," Karen purred, still crinkling the wrap in her palm. "Go ahead, get ready, beautiful."

Jeanie nodded and wandered off toward the stage, already having slung her accordion over her shoulder. Alexa came up to her sister, frowning.

"Did... did you just use ASMR on Jeanie?" she asked.

Karen nodded as she watched Jeanie behind the curtain. "Michael and I have speculated for some time that she was a candidate for it, and we were right. She's ready now."

Alexa looked unimpressed. "I spent all that time sucking on her cunt to calm her down, and all I had to do was crinkle Saran Wrap?"

"I somehow doubt you're objecting to your method," Karen pointed out. "And I didn't really have time to suck on her cunt, as you so blithely put it, Miss Bronte. Now get out there, before I find out what sound stimulus you're susceptible to."

Alexa hurried off without another word. Mike walked up to his wife, chuckling and shaking her head. "Have I told you in the last fifteen minutes how much I love you, princess?"

"That isn't nearly recently enough..." she replied, looking up into his startling blue eyes and melting like a teenager in love.

***

Freja pulled the curtains open, revealing Karen, Alexa and Jeanie standing in front of the microphone. Jeanie had her accordion, Alexa her lute, and Karen her fiddle. In the background, Alex was holding an acoustic guitar, Mike was sitting at a piano, and a student from the music department was at an upright bass.

Alex strummed his notes, beginning the song, and the three women sang an old Acadian tune...

"C'est toujours le temps des fêtes
C'est toujours le temps des fêtes
C'est toujours le temps des fêtes
Quand on s'aime,

On a envie de donner
Des cadeaux et des baisers
On est bien on oublie nos problèmes
On a le goût de se dire que la vie c'est pas si pire
Quand on prend la peine d'y penser
Arrêtons nos courses folles
Et que nos soucis s'envolent
On est tous ici pour s'amuser!"

At this point, Jeanie began playing her accordion, while Alexa picked up on her lute, as did the bass. They continued singing.

"C'est toujours le temps des fêtes
C'est toujours le temps des fêtes
C'est toujours le temps des fêtes
Quand on danse,

On a la tête légère
On apporte les cuillères
Qui nous donne le rythme et la cadence
On commence par le violon
Nous jouer un rigodon
On se croirait dans le bon vieux temps
On s'envole dans les airs
Et on ne touche plus à terre
Convaincue qu'on a toujours vingt ans!"

Karen came in on her fiddle, while Mike joined on the piano. As the tempo of the song picked up slightly, people in the audience were beginning to clap. Jeanie found she was really enjoying herself. They kept singing the old tune.

"C'est toujours le temps des fêtes
C'est toujours le temps des fêtes
C'est toujours le temps des fêtes
Quand on chante,

On a les larmes dans les yeux
On se sent presque amoureux
Chaque fois que la musique est présente
Assis autour du piano
Do-Fa-Sol-La-Si-Do
On est bien on ne sait pas pourquoi
Et au son d'une guitare
Quand nos amis viennent nous voir
On a tous le cœur rempli de joie!"

Tapping their feet to the rhythm while they sang, Alexa let out a small dancer's yelp and the song went on. The tempo had increased even more, and they were singing rapidly and joyously while the audience clapped along.

"C'est toujours le temps des fêtes
C'est toujours le temps des fêtes
C'est toujours le temps des fêtes
Quand on s'aime,

On a envie de donner
Des cadeaux et des baisers
On est bien on oublie nos problèmes
On a le goût de se dire que la vie c'est pas si pire
Quand on prend la peine d'y penser
Arrêtons nos courses folles
Et que nos soucis s'envolent
On est tous ici pour s'amuser!"

While the other musicians played, Karen handed over her fiddle to a student standing nearby, who began playing it. While the instruments played on, she stepped forward smartly, clapping the audience and encouraging them. She then began a lively Cape Breton Irish dance, prancing around the stage while the audience cheered.

And with a final stomp of her foot, the dance and the song ended. The crowd cheered enthusiastically as the performers all bowed.

You could never go wrong with Acadian folk music. Jeanie left the stage, while people rearranged their instruments. Karen and Alexa stayed at the mic, and when the music began again, they continued the French Christmas theme...

"Il est né le divin enfant
jouez hautbois, résonnez musettes
Il est né le divin enfant
chantons tous son avènement!

depuis plus de quatre mille ans,
nous le promettaient les prophètes
depuis plus de quatre mille ans,
nous attendions cet heureux temps.

Il est né le divin enfant
jouez hautbois, résonnez musettes
Il est né le divin enfant
chantons tous son avènement,

ah! qu'il est beau, qu'il est charmant
ah! que ses grâces sont parfaites
ah! qu'il est beau, qu'il est charmant
qu'il est doux ce divin enfant,

Il est né le divin enfant
jouez hautbois, résonnez musettes
Il est né le divin enfant
chantons tous son avènement.

çà, bergers, assemblons-nous
allons voir le Messie
cherchons cet enfant si doux
dans les bras de Marie
allons voir il nous appelle tous
ô sort digne d'envie!

laissons là tout le troupeau
qu'il erre à l'aventure
que sans nous sur ce coteau
il cherche sa pâture
allons voir dans un petit berceau
l'auteur de la nature!

Il est né le divin enfant
jouez hautbois, résonnez musettes
Il est né le divin enfant
chantons tous son avènement!"

As she listened to the applause and bowed, Alexa knew she'd never get tired of singing with her sister.

***

December 21^st, 1986, Kapuskasing...

"How're they doing over there?" Anne asked as the men trooped back into the house, having endured blizzard conditions to go help at the reserve. She knew nothing would stop them, and she was proud of their relentless resolve.

"Fine, actually," her husband replied, having shed his coat, boots and winter gear in the hallway. He was followed by Connor, Mordecai, Phil, Cameron, and Mike bringing up the rear, as he always did. He was convinced it was his duty to make sure no one was falling behind. "We've repaired walls and insulation, proofed a bunch of metal fixings, and seen that as many pipes were unfrozen as possible. They offered us more game, but I said to hold onto it, we still had plenty, thanks to them."

She smiled warmly as they got in front of the fire, allowing themselves to thaw. Even DeBourne men were not completely proof from the elements. "How is Kee and Mat's family?" she asked.

Orion looked at his eldest, who shrugged, waiting behind the others while they warmed up. He was the least affected by cold, after all. "You can tell they're devastated, still, and they're pretty sure Mat and Kee's dad died of a broken heart those few weeks ago, but Mat's keeping them all together. They're a stoic bunch on the reserve, I'm thankful that they talk to us. Wouldn't blame 'em if they didn't."

"They've always been good to us, and we're good in return," the mother said, taking a platter with cups of hot cider from her daughter Veronica and presenting them to the boys. Everyone drank the beverage thankfully. "The shelter confirmed that they have enough volunteers this season, so they don't need us. I guess it's a DeBourne Christmas this year."

"I'm almost disappointed," Orion said, thankful the shelter had the help it needed anyway. Maybe he'd asked one of the churches if anyone needed a family to spend Christmas with. "I guess we could always trip down to Toronto to help at that Mission again, couldn't we?"

Mike gave his father a wry look. "And whose magic chariot are we taking down this time, O progenitor?"

"Won't that Karen girl be there?" Orion reasoned. "She seems nice, and for reasons which elude me, she hasn't had you assassinated."

Mike grunted and looked into the fire, using his mug of cider to warm his stiff hands.

"Michael Elvis Charlemagne DeBourne, it's true and you know it," his mother chided, coming up to him and patting his chest affectionately. "Even for a DeBourne man, you're next to impossible."

"I happen to think I'm rather easygoing, thank you," he sniffed, wincing inwardly at her use of his middle names. He'd always been bothered by them, but knew better than to say anything. While the Elvis reference was obvious, one might have assumed that the Charlemagne name was after the Holy Roman Emperor. But no, the Charlemagne Hotel in Montreal was where his parents had stayed on their honeymoon. They liked the name so much that they made it one of his middle names.

He was also pretty sure it's where he was conceived. Ugh. "In any event, I'm reasonably sure her social calendar is full for the holiday. Call it a hunch."

"So certain?" Anne asked, looking up at him.

"I've met her father, so yes, I'm sure her time is accounted for," Mike said firmly. "If we're planning a road trip down to Toronto to help at a mission, I'm assuming we're on our own."

"Well, there's people here who need our help just as much," his ever-practical father said, still warming his hands at the fire one at a time while he sipped at his cider. "Find out tomorrow, Anne."

"I will, Ry," she said easily, smiling. There might be tons of DeBournes at the house over the holiday, especially on Christmas itself, but she never tired of looking after people in need, either. She hadn't really known many people like that before they moved to Kapuskasing. It felt like her calling, when she wasn't looking after her oversized family. "Is it too late to ask for some music, Michael?"

"Never too late for you, mom!" Mike laughed cheerfully as he headed over to the piano, cracking his knuckles.

***

The present, Convocation Hall...

"Tochter Zion, freue dich!
Jauchze laut, Jerusalem!
Sieh, dein König kommt zu dir,
Ja, er kommt, der Friedefürst.
Tochter Zion, freue dich!
Jauchze laut, Jerusalem!

Hosianna, Davids Sohn,
Sei gesegnet deinem Volk!
Gründe nun dein ewges Reich,
Hosianna in der Höh!
Hosianna, Davids Sohn,
Sei gesegnet deinem Volk!

Hosianna, Davids Sohn,
Sei gegrüßet, König mild!
Ewig steht dein Friedensthron,
Du des ewgen Vaters Kind.
Hosianna, Davids Sohn,
Sei gegrüßet, König mild!"

Mike and the university's prep school boy's choir finished the song, and the crowd applauded and cheered loudly, not least because hardly anyone could believe such a glorious tenor could be contained in such a gigantic body. Tenor, baritone, or bass, he could do any of them, but the range of the heldentenor was his favourite. He bowed humbly, knowing he would one day sing this song at his son's wedding.

He wiped his brow as he came behind the curtain, hugged almost immediately by his wife. She pressed her cheek into his massive chest and held him tight.

"What that voice does to me..." she murmured, still transported.

"You know I'm always singing for you, Gordon," he replied, stroking her silken bronze hair and kissing the top of her head gently. "I'm glad we have a break for a little bit. Where are the young'uns?"

Karen tilted her head off in one direction. "Jeanie went to check Freja, making sure our stagehand isn't growing bored. That, and I think she's nervous about being around me since I know about her ASMR thing. She doesn't want to spend the whole evening hypnotized."

"And my son and sister-in-law?"

Karen looked at her watched. "Well, they do still have twenty-seven minutes before Alexa's number..."

***

The bench inside the tiny changeroom creaked under his weight while Alex held onto Alexa, who ground down on his lap, panting and moaning, his cock spearing deep inside her from below. Her skirt was pooled around her hips, and she'd pulled down her top to allow Alex to fondle and squeeze her breasts while she fucked him. She hissed and reached a hand back behind herself to grip his neck while she rolled and churned her hips, feeling the wondrous molten heat flowing through her body.

She gasped as he pinched and tugged on her nipples.

"Gnnnn, you better hope those go back down before I do my next number, you naughty boy," she whispered lustily in his ear, kissing and nipping at it.

"It'd be really funny if they didn't," he quipped, quelling any protest on her part by pulling her down harder onto himself and going even deeper inside her. Alexa shuddered and moaned incoherently, no longer caring if her nipples remained stiff or not. There was only now. Her free hand massaged her clit eagerly as she continued squirming on him. Alex hit places inside her no one ever had before. He was her addiction, and had been since the first time they'd made love in their secret glade, back in the summer.