Whilst a rain poured outside as Jude and Timothy drank their coffee, watching in silence the cascading rain drops, suddenly a familiar voice jingled in Timothy's ears, recognizing its source.

"T-Timothy?" A masculine voice questioned as he stuttered, notying the former priest with a woman that sat against him. It was actually Timothy's old friend who was half Irish and half British.

In the interim, the both married partners turned their backs as they faced the man who stood past their seats, offering a smile to Mrs.Howard. Timothy was in awe as he recognized his old friend James before his emigration to the USA as he looked almost the same person. Jude didn't help but smiling bashfully, uncertainly to the unknown man who bumped into them. 

"James? You haven't changed so much since the last time." The former priest replied amiably as he left his coffee mug aside, shaking one another's hands after long time.

"But you have changed a lot, Tim." After the both men shook one another's hands, James's emerald green eyes transported to the lady that caught his interest since she hadn't peeled a single word yet.

"You have guessed correctly." He smiled to him as he turned to Jude and thereafter to his old buddy. "James, let me introduce my wife."

James was about Timothy's age as he had pale skin, chestnut with reddish hue short hair that capped his head, emerald green eyes, being tall around 6'1 as he was fairly tall for a middle aged man with perfectly normal body structure, wearing green garments. He had such an amicable and open-minded character.

"Judy, that's my old friend James." Mr.Howard turned to his wife as Jude extended her hand, reaching for the other man's hand as they swapped smiles and an eye contact.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Judy. I am James, Timothy's old friend." James stated.

"James, I'm Timothy's wife, Judy. It's my pleasure too." She introduced herself casually as her equanimity adjusted.

"Do you want to join us? I mean to take a seat?" Timothy suggested his old friend as his hands were in his pickle green slacks' deep pockets as his eyes were darted to the blonde, completely ignoring his friend's chocolate eyes.

"If you don't mind, of course." He answered boldly as he turned to face Mr.Howard, taking his hands out of his slacks' pockets.

"Of course, I don't mind." He released a seat for the another gentleman, gesturing him with a hand to feel free to sit down. "Feel welcome in Howards' family."

Initially, Timothy's old friend, James felt quite nervous midst his friend and his wife because the love of his life had passed away 5 years ago, as a result of breast cancer. Thus, after seeing his buddy being happily married and pressuming to have children together, Jude reminded him of his deceased wife. Very much. More than he could imagine. As he saw his deceased wife, implying her phantom to wander. 

"So Tim, I really need to tell you that you have changed for much better, fella." James pat friendly his friend's shoulder as he chuckled whilst Jude sipped of her still warm coffee as the strong beverage's aroma reached her nostrils.

"If you say so," Meanwhile the former monsignor paused as his chocolate eyes met the another gentleman's emerald green eyes. "...you have guessed correctly." He responded cleverly.

"Yeah, for example," James didn't miss his opportunity to peep at Jude whose face was all flushed, sprinkled her cheeks in reddish hue. "Judy, the love of your life and probably your life out of the church."

"You are absolutely right! But you had missed something to mention." Mrs.Howard participated in the conversation.

"You have children, right?" James enquired unsure.

"Exactly." The couple answered as one. 

"How much children do you have actually?"

"They are twins though dividing them hours difference in their birth time." The former nun clarified boldly.

"Oh, that's great. You are so lucky to have twins. How old are they?"

"Ellie will be 1 year old the next month while Tristan on the next day."

"Splendid. I really can assure you you are lucky couple to have twins. It's just midst the fewest cases that have ever happened to parents. Let's not mention about triplets."

"Thank you, thank you, James. We cannot be more lucky to have those little angels, borned exactly almost on the same day with couple of hours difference behind them." Mrs.Howard said proudly. 

"No need to thank me, madam. Moreover, I have the luck to have just one child. At least."

***

In the meantime, Velika was at her workplace, working a night shift as well. As she was in her office, looking out the window as her chocolate eyes goggled to every detail outside the tall facade. The sunrising process as the first sun rays dropped as they illuminated every surrounding even the fatigued doctor's face, radiating stress, fatigue and melancholy. 

She was feeling empty without her partner Valerie, who should supervise Howards' children for the weekend. Additionally, every time when she comes back at home with nobody else but Shona herself, there was anything lacking in the feminine family altar. For example, not only Valerie's presence was absenting, besides the caresses, the intimacy, the romance were cut off, thanks to the distance that divided them. 

She didn't take her eyes, fascinated by the scenery that she watched in awe.

An abrupt door tap interrupted her thoughts and a frustrated, fizzled sigh escapd the top of her lungs, not turning her back to face the closed door yet.

"Come in." She commanded as she didn't take her magnetized eyes off the morning view from the fifth floor.

Meanwhile Dr.Miller entered inwardly as he tiptoped in his colleague's office, walking up to her desk as they greeted one another though she avoided eye contact even to turn her back. 

"Velika, I have somebody significant as my patient." Mr. Miller called out as she didn't turn her back, acting like a cold-blooded boss. 

"Who it could be?" Lastly, she turned her back as she faced Dr. Miller with a stern look on her face, pursing her lips.

***

Whilst Valerie was outside with Ellie and Tristan who played with their  spargers, their cotton clothes mildly soaked after the spargers' jet water splashed, she was looking after them as she drank a dietic lemonade, sitting on a summer chair, whilst between her thumb and forefinger held her cigarette, puffing of as a dim exuded her nostrils and mouth. 

She wore her maid outfit as usually, tied her hair in a ponytail, relaxing as sun rays illuminated her face.

Suddenly she heard the phone to ring as she left the cigarette in the ashtray and her lemonade on the table aside, rushing to the hall, thereafter walking up to the living room as she sped up, picking up the phone as she answered.

"Hello?" The young maid exclaimed.

"Hello sweetie." Velika said anxiously and hastily.

"Hi sweetheart. Is there anything wrong?"

"Yes. You wouldn't believe me who I saw as a patient." 

"W-why? Tell me everything."

"I saw my own son. He was beaten up and he was scarcely alive though his heart was beating but very...slowly." The middle aged doctor paused as she inhaled sharply. Initially the red-haired lady didn't believe on her eyes what she heard.

"I really can't put my finger on that. I mean...the monster who did all this to Denis." Valerie was rather concerned for her partner and her son, despite the fact that her heart was heavily pounding.

"The monster who did this was...you know," In the meantime, Velika swallowed a gulp in her throat as she lingered with her response to mention actually the intruder's name, due to the fact it would be unbelievable from first sight. "Casey did it." She carried on as she sipped of her fresh water.

"How is possible that? This imbecile to hurt your son..." Valerie was cut off by her partner.

"It's actually possible. They used to be friends until what this imbecile did to my son because Denis was accused in a lie by him though he had done nothing wrong."

"Oh."

"And he got the deserved."

"Is there anything else to tell me about it?"

"Yes. My son told me for first time that he loves me."

After hearing this, Ms.Volkova verged to drop the handset as phone cord poises it. Her mouth agape when she heard it.

"He told you he loves you?"

"He did it. It was unbelievable to hear it after several years of alienation."

***                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

The night arrived too quickly in Ireland after the rain stopped when the Howards left the cafe to discover more the Irish beauty by visiting with native Irish and tourists the ginormous Dublin castle, thereafter paying a visit to the Christ Church Cathedral and Jeanie Jonston Tallship and Famina museum. What's more by having a guide by their side when they attended the three famous Dublin landmarks, touring them every corner as the guide told them the concise story about the places for example when they were built, what they used to be back then and so forth. 

But tonight the couple had decided to attend a party in the hotel where they had reserved, as a result to release their spirits and have fun, besides getting drunk. 

Jude had changed her clothing from casual into formal as she put her black dress with ruffled short sleeves and V neckline a little above the knees, ruby-sapphire bracelet, her silver earrings and black stilettos, wearing her silky wavy golden hair down as she had already applied red lipstick. Whilst Timothy wore a black tuxedo with black Oxford shoes. As an addition, they had sprayed some perfume on their necks, hairs and wrists.

As soon as, they locked room 405, they used the elevator to go on the lower floors as they held each other's hands, staring at one another.

"You look so glamorous for tonight, rare bird." He complimented her in velvety voice whilst the elevator cascaded as swift as a coursing river as the alluring perfume's fragnance reached his nostrils.

"Thank you." She blushed as she responded humbly, looking up at the elevator's door. "You are more than handsome, darling." Then she returned her gaze to his warm, impassioned chocolate eyes, offering him a broad, charming smile.

"Thank you, my lady." He took her hand as he extended it to dab a gentle kiss on her hand. Then she giggled prissily as soon as the elevator stopped right on the first floor, leaving it as they walked down the hall to the party zone.

Once they stepped in the night club, they ordered for themselves some vodka as their alcoholic beverages were being served in the next couple of minutes as they sat in the corner, speaking to each other, whereas watching their surroundings especially people who drank, danced and talked. Muisc was playing in the background as The Beatles' song I need you floated in the night club, jingling in Jude and Timothy's ears as their smiles drastically grew. 

You don't realize how much I need you,
Love you all the time
And never leave you.
Please come on back to me.  

All of a sudden, the former nun gobbled her alcoholic beverage in seconds as she gazed at her husband's amorous chocolate eyes, giving him a flirtatious wink. They cackled as he sipped of his vodka.

"Hey, Mrs.Howard! Control yourself a bit." He teased her as she greedily cackled, covering her mouth as tears of happiness poured down on her face.

"Wouldn't it be splendid to get drunk, thereafter having the kinkiest and wonderfulest sex?" She enquired impertintly as the consumed vodka burned in her mouth, flipping her hair in tempting way as she offered him a smirk that spread across her red lips. 

"It would be..." He paused as he tittered as she joined him with her louder, bold titter. "...but if..." Timothy was interrupted by his wife.

I need you

Said you had a thing or two to tell me

How was I to know you would upset me?

I didn't realize as I looked in your eyes

You told me 

"There are no buts. Be frank, come on!" She exclaimed harshly as she reached for his mammoth hand that held his glass of vodka, her fingers playfully teasing his knuckles.

"Ellie and Tristan had already weaned off being nursed and being fed with my milk." Jude continued as she pout her lips, goggling her hazel eyes into his, staring right at his soul.

"I know, sweetheart." In the meantime, he ingurgitated his vodka as his condition wasn't near better than Jude's recent one. They had already boozed as their typsiness overtook their bodies especially the former nun who used to be intoxicated back in her younger years as a singer.

"A dance?" He suggested as he arched an eyebrow.

"I will never reject a dance for my babyboy." She took his hand as they left their empty glasses on the table, walking up to the middle of the club as they started dancing.

Oh yes, you told me, you don't want my lovin' anymore
That's when it hurt me and feeling like this I just can't go on anymore  

A secure arm wrapped around her slim waist, whilst another hand held her hand as she clasped an arm around the nape of his neck, throughout spinning her as he grasped her hand as she turned around, a forearm balancing her back as they looked up at one another's eyes with tremendous desire and lust. She emitted a sweet giggle, as soon as, when the background's music changed from vigorous, energetic into a slow but romantic one. They changed their positions too quickly than the expected as her arms were now dangled around his neck whilst his both secure, big arms were wrapped around her neck, her chin resting on his shoulder as she peeped here and there.

The background's music was at slow pace, her long golden strands tickling his shoulders. A hush had environed them, their chests pressed against one another as their hearts beated strenuously. Closed eyes as they flattered in one another's arms, refraining themselves to speak, in fact to ruin their prominent moment.

Further, Jude had never danced such slow, romantic dances with another men. Back in her previous life as a singer, the majority of the men who either offered her a dance or she actually did, they were dancing swiftly with her, their hands travelling all over their bodies and vice versa. It was much different compared to her dances with Timothy as he was solicitous, delicate as much as the sweetness and passion last for eternity unlike the evanescent lust for one night stands between her and her lovers. Their pine for every inch of her flesh and curves with an exception of Timothy himself. 

"I have never danced such slow dances before." She lisped inwardly.

"Urm, it doesn't matter how you used to dance back in the past. It matters with who do you share this remarkable dance, dear." Timothy replied reasonably as he tap lightly her shoulder.

"You are right. Despite..." She was interrupted by her husband as well.

"I feel so special for sharing a slow dance with me, you know?" A coy smile loomed on his face that beamed due to the neon glows in the club.

"I know." Then they withdrawn their bodies as she had the opportunity to look up straight at one another's eyes with unfathomable desire and passion. Her breath of vodka punched his face, feeling the beverage's coldness to pinch his heated cheeks.

"Are you tired?" She kept on as she questioned, raising an eyebrow temptingly.

"Why?" He asked.

"You know, babe." She bit her bottom lip seductively as she chuckled faintly. 

"But we should call Val about the children." 

"Screw it. Let's spend some time together."

"We will. First of all, I need to phone her."

***

As Ellie and Tristan were sleeping peacefully in their cribs whilst Valerie was reading a book in the living room after tidying and dusting every room of the two story mansion. The book she was reading was actually an adventorous one, gathered from the library. Her petite body laid on the goth sofa as her hazel green eyes readily drained with a look every word, every sentence, every page of the intriguing book, all of a sudden the ringing phone struck her as she left the book on the sofa as she got from the sofa, rushing to the ringing phone as she answered it.

"H-hello?" The young woman answered the phone call immediately as she was inconsentably convinced the Howards were calling her.

"Hi Val. How are you?" Timothy inquired concerned whilst the low moans of his wife were inaudible, fortunately. 

"I am good. How about you, Tim?" 

"I am well...urm, just a bit intoxicated." He stuttered as Jude nibbed his earlobe as she grinded on him, her hands on his shoulders.

"Just a bit? Gosh, Timothy, you are more than a bit intoxicated." The younger woman mocked the former priest with her witty irony.

"Oh yes, pardon me. We had a wonderful night and..." He lisped as Jude whispered through the handset. "And we will have so much fun extremely soon. Just two of us." 

After Ms.Volkova heard her words, she blushed and felt awkward as another hand managed to reach up for her face, touching her cheek as it was heated. 

"That's splendid. I am glad to hear that you are having so much fun." Valerie cackled as the both adults joined her. "If you want to know about Ellie and Tristan, they are fine and they are sleeping now."

"Great! I am so relieved to hear that they are well." He rushed to end the phone conversation as soon as possible because of his greedy wife for making love to her. 

"Timothy? Darling?" Jude's hand moved down to his trousers, attempting to unbuckle with ease his belt as his only free hand slightly removed her hand from his belt as she pout her lips, planting luscious, delicate kisses on the nape of neck.

"Sorry Val, but I have to go. Take care of Ellie and Tristan."

"Okay, I promise to look after them. Bye Timothy and send greetings to Judy."

"By all means. Bye Val and send greetings to Velika, Shona and our children, of course."

To be continued...