Open Doors (Suncoast Society #27)(46)

“Then it sounds like you have made up your mind.”

She nodded. “I think I have. Now I just need to do it.”





Later—or, rather early Sunday morning—as Marcia laid next to Derrick in their bed before they fell asleep, he asked, “How is Mel?”

“I feel guilty that she’s probably going to be heading to divorce court.”

“Instead of feeling guilty, feel good that you can be there for her as a friend. You didn’t cause her marital problems, you offered her a solution. You opened our door and our hearts to her. That’s what friends do.”

“I bet he ends up blaming us and the club for this.”

“Again, the fault is with their marriage, not what we do.” He tightened his grip on her, his arms around her. “Go to sleep, baby. I’m tired, and she’ll probably be calling you tomorrow.”

“You think?”

“Yes. And then you can offer her our spare bedroom.”

“Thank you.”

He kissed the top of her head. “The ten years we’ve spent running the club have taught me a lot.”

“So did that gallbladder attack.”

He snorted. “Yes, that taught me you are a mean, mean woman.”

She gently poked him in the ribs. “That’s because you scared a year off my life, buddy. I thought you were dying of a heart attack.”

“That makes two of us. I’m sure that it was a comfort to the paramedic, whose shoes I puked all over in the ambulance, when he found out it was just my gut, not my heart, that was faulty.”

“Hey, it means we have Kel as our partner now. And we can finally expand the club like we’ve talked about doing.”

“Yeah, I know. And with one more new member, we’ll need to expand. That’s why we’re here.”





Chapter Eighteen


Now…



Thursday night, everyone stood in the new space and looked around. The smell of fresh paint hung in the air, not an unpleasant odor at all.

“Well?” Derrick asked. “Think we’re ready for business tomorrow night?”

New play equipment, including another bondage suspension frame, and a couple of couches for aftercare along the walls, and lots of room. The original play area would be reserved for rope and rigging and lighter play. They could keep the lights slightly brighter on original side as a result, and keep the social area more easily separated from the play areas. They’d also boxed in the large bay door to insulate it by adding a fake wall with a regular door in it. The bay door could be raised and the smaller door opened for access, but it would help keep the AC costs down as well as insulate for sound.

And for when they didn’t need the extra space, such as when holding a small class or a meeting and not an open play session, they’d rigged a heavy, dark curtain of quilted fabric to cover the doorway. They could keep the AC off on the “new” side and only run it on the “old” side, as they were thinking of it. Normally, the curtain would be held open with two large, black satin decorative tasseled ropes. Or they could even use the new side for a class while smaller events could be held in the original side.

“I like it,” Seth said. “I think it’s great.”

The walls had been painted in a black-and-grey mottled faux finish that mimicked stonework, nearly identical to the paint job in the old side. Sconce lights on the walls provided enough lighting without it being too harsh. A couple of fake potted palms strung with white Christmas lights provided more indirect lighting so they didn’t need the bright house lights glaring in the space. There was also now an upstairs storage space that wouldn’t be open to the public. Below that, several new changing alcoves, as well as locker space.

Leah and Marcia stood with their arms around each other’s waists. “I think Kaden would have loved it,” Leah said, a wistful smile on her face. “This was our second home for so long. You all were closer to us than actual family. Especially in my case.” The loving smile on her face as she looked at Seth nearly broke Derrick’s heart. “And it’s still our second home, and family.”

Seth draped an arm around her shoulders as he leaned in to kiss her on the forehead. “Yes, it is, sweetheart.”

They all felt silent, a collective sigh escaping them.

“We couldn’t have done this without everyone’s help,” Derrick said. “I don’t just mean this week. I mean throughout the years.” He held a hand out to his wife and slave, who released Leah to step over to his side. “Starting with you, sweetheart.” He kissed her. “I know you thought I was crazy when I said I wanted to do this—”

“I still think you’re crazy,” she said with a smile.

When everyone quit laughing, Derrick continued. “But thank you,” he said. “I know it’s been a lot of damned hard work over the years. It’s a lot better now with Kel and Mallory as partners in this. I know that, long-term, this will keep going. Keep being a place for the community, even if we ever have to step aside. That’s all I ever wanted. I hated having to go through a party list and try to decide who had to get left off because we didn’t have room. Especially as more of those people grew to be even closer friends. I wanted to be able to teach others, have a safe space. And we did it.”