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From: "Wine Maker" <wine_maker@eknifeshop.com>
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Subject: {ASSM} Karma, Chapter Five: A story in Nick Scipio's Summer Camp Universe
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Date: Sun, 26 Nov 2006 04:10:03 -0500
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Author's Note:

All, Karma is now complete. I hope you enjoyed it.

The 2006 Golden Clitorides are open for nominations until January 17,
2007. I urge everyone to go nominate the stories and authors they like.
If that happens to include me, I would be thrilled.

My links, if you need them, are:

The Lady in Blue: http://storiesonline.net/story/46048
Finding Elvis: http://storiesonline.net/story/47292
Playing Doctor: http://storiesonline.net/story/48677
Honorable Infidelity: http://storiesonline.net/story/50296
Karma: http://storiesonline.net/story/50304

/~Clitorides/nominations2006.html

or email nominations to: golden.clits@gmail.com

Check the eligibility rules and make sure your favorites are elegible.

Nominate everyone you like for whatever categories you think they fit
in and let the voters sort them out. Remember, even if a story you like
is already nominated you need to nominate them anyway. The number of
nominations determines which stories are finalists.

Thanks all,

Wine

-----

Karma
A story in Nick Scipio's Summer Camp Universe
(c) 2006 by Wine Maker

Summer Camp characters and universe (c) 2006 by Nick Scipio.
All Rights reserved.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are
either the product of the author's imagination, are used fictitiously,
or are used with the kind permission of Nick Scipio, and any
resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments,
events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

This story is fan fiction. It's also a short story of only five
chapters. I've tried to write it in enough detail to explain at least
the minimum needed for the characters to make sense, but it is a story
based on someone else's written work with a pre-established history
that would take too long to cover in full detail. If you want more back
story, I suggest you read Nick's excellent Summer Camp series. Even if
you don't want more back story, I still suggest you read Summer Camp.

The main character in this story is Regan Thomas, a minor character in
Nick's epic. She's rich, self-centered, and one of the major factors in
a seriously bad time for Nick's protagonist, Paul. They were in college
in the 80's when that happened and this story is set twenty years
later.

My incredible editor, Jo Beller, saw something redeeming in Regan while
many other readers condemned her as a bad seed. Jo finally convinced me
that there was more depth to her that should be explored. I pondered
Regan's Karma and this story is the result. I give credit to Nick for
creating characters to fire our imaginations and Jo for believing in
this story. And, of course, to my wife/editor, Mrs. Wine Maker, for all
her support. My writing is a tribute to her.

-----

Chapter Five: Karma

When we woke the next day, we made slow and gentle love in the morning
sunlight. It was so unlike what I normally associated with sex. It was
a slow, sensual, ever-deepening closeness; not a mad rush for pleasure.
Oh, make no mistake, the orgasms were there for me, but the real
treasure was the developing feelings between me and the man - the man -
who was making love to me.

Afterward, lying in his arms, I felt more at peace with myself than I
think I'd ever felt. I didn't want the moment to end. I wanted to lay
there with him forever; but, that wasn't in the cards. I sighed and
nestled closer to Tony, shielded and safe in his arms.

"I don't want to go," I said, "but I need to. I need to finish this."

He kissed my nose and pulled my head to his chest. "I'll go with you.
And if Conrad starts something, I'll stuff him in a trash compactor."

I laughed. "You'd ruin the trash."

Reluctantly, I got out of bed. We showered together, and a little
fooling around almost got us sidetracked.

As we dressed, I watched Tony, openly admiring his body. He just
grinned at me.

"What do we do now?" I asked, a little afraid of the possibilities.
"Can you go to LA or will that ruin your work?"

"I have a really good relationship with the company, so I can take a
leave of absence to go to LA. We'll figure it out there," he said
reassuringly. "There's no need to rush. Let's take this one step at a
time and do this right."

Grateful, I let out the breath I didn't realize I was holding. "That
makes me feel better." I gave him a soft kiss. "Thank you."

He grinned and swatted my ass. "Get dressed and let's go. Finish this
so we can start the rest of our lives." I felt dizzy at the implication
of his words. With a smile, I dressed and we left.

-----

The offices of Dugan and Reynolds looked suitably posh for Mother to
retain. With her, appearances meant everything; and this place screamed
money and influence. Creamy marble and expensive wood dominated the
hard surfaces and over-stuffed leather furniture graced the wide open
space.

The receptionist, a young woman in a designer blouse and sweater, gave
Tony a discreet once over and smiled at us. When I identified myself,
she showed us into a conference room.

I sat and twirled slowly in one of the executive chairs, feeling my
uncertainty creep back up on me. Why the hell was I even here? Conrad
was just going to make a sweep of Mother's possessions and gloat. Part
of me still regretted losing that much money, but I was growing more
used to the idea; it didn't hurt quite the same way now. Honestly, I
was more irked that Conrad was going to get his way than anything else.

Right on the stroke of ten, the door opened and an older man in a
tailored suit walked in with a large folder in his hand. He had that
distinguished look that control and power brought to a man, and he used
it well to hold himself apart from us even as he shook our hands.

"Good morning. My name is Orin Reynolds and I'll be handling the
reading and execution of Mrs. Masterson's will."

I grimaced as he said that. Having Mother even attached to Conrad's
name irked me.

As Mr. Reynolds sat down, he opened the folder revealing papers and
three DVDs. "Miss Thomas, Mister Masterson, please allow me to express
my condolences for your loss. I never met..." He dragged to a halt as I
held up my hand.

"I'm sorry, but there's been a misunderstanding," I said. "I'm Miss
Thomas, but this isn't Mister Masterson. This is my friend Tony Di
Ricco. He's here for moral support."

The lawyer apologized for the mistake and closed the folder. "I hope
you'll understand, but we need to wait for Mister Masterson, since both
of you are required to be present for the reading of the will."

"My mother left a video for us?" I asked, hearing the tremor in my
voice. I'd expected the dry reading of what went where and perhaps some
words from on high about how I should do better in the future. How
would those words change if she only could see me now?

The lawyer nodded. "I can't go into the specifics just yet, but she did
leave a personal message to be played to both of you."

Tony held my hand under the table and we waited. And waited. And waited
some more. To the point that Mister Reynolds excused himself and made
some calls. The receptionist got us some coffee while Tony and I spoke
quietly as we waited.

It was almost eleven when Conrad sauntered in with the frowning lawyer
behind him. Conrad seemed unnaturally cheerful and didn't acknowledge
us in any way, not even to protest Tony being there. That was so out of
character that it set off my asshole warning system. I didn't know what
his game was, but there was something going on. His perfunctory apology
satisfied no one, and was just another reason to dislike him.

The lawyer opened the folder, pulled out one of the DVDs and slid it
into the player below the recessed television at the end of the room.
"Mrs. Masterson left her final will verbally on this recording. It was
witnessed by the staff of this firm. Her written will also specifies
the same wishes. She didn't have to make the recording," he assured us,
"but insisted on doing so. It was made less than a month ago, right
here in this room."

When the picture came on, Mother was sitting in a chair in front of the
same paneling I could see to my left. She looked like... Mother: proud,
powerful and supremely self-confident. The fact that she was wearing
the same dress she chose to be buried in was enough to creep me out
completely. Tony noticed, and slipped his arm around me.

God, she was so young! The pain of losing her hit me all over again.
She was only in her sixties. She should've had decades of life left. It
was so unfair.

"Obviously, I'm dead," my mother said from the TV. "I know that I have
breast cancer, and that it's going to kill me, probably within a few
months." If that news bothered her, she didn't choose to share the
emotion with us.

"I could've let everyone know, but I didn't want to start a three-ring
circus in my final days. I wanted to die in peace. Hopefully, I did
so." She smiled a small smile. "You know me, though; I just couldn't
resist controlling the chaos I'm leaving behind."

That was the truth. I snorted, which earned a sharp look from Conrad.

"My will is short and sweet," she continued. "Regan." I sat straighter
and then smirked at myself - I still jumped at her call. "I know we've
had our disagreements over the years. I'm not the least bit sorry for
that." She nodded her head forward. "What I am sorry for is that we
weren't closer than we were. Despite my disapproval of your lifestyle,
I want you to know that I do love you, and I'm sorry that we never had
the chance to grow closer. That is the one regret I have in this life,
and the one way I've failed you."

Tears filled my eyes. The lawyer had to stop the video while I regained
my composure. She could have called me any time to ask me to come, and
we could have talked. Or maybe we couldn't have. Perhaps it had been
too late. Perhaps we were so alike that it had always been too late.

When I was able to continue, the lawyer started the video again and
Mother continued. "That said, I hope that one day you will get your
life under control and find someone that makes you happy. A man.
Really, Regan, you need a good man in your life." With one word, she
conveyed her subtle disapproval of all my bisexual antics. Another
thing she never understood about me.

"Speaking of good men, that leads me to Conrad," she continued. He sat
up straighter and looked expectantly at the screen. "Not to confuse you
with a good man, though you are a man," she said with a sniff.

I expected some reaction from him, but Conrad's smirk at me was hardly
keeping with the tone in Mother's voice. This just wasn't tracking.

"I know that you've slept around on me, but at least you were discreet
about it," she continued. "Because it's a good idea, I've decided to go
with your advice in regards to Regan." I stiffened in my chair and
Conrad's expression became almost gloating. What advice, I wondered in
growing dread.

Mother cut off my internal questions and delivered her pronouncement.
"Regan, some of your behavior recently has worried me. I've been afraid
you've fallen back in with bad companions. Let me be blunt, dear. I'm
afraid you've started taking drugs again." She stared solemnly out of
the screen as I gaped in shock. "Conrad convinced me that if you had, I
shouldn't support you in destroying yourself and, for once, I agree
with him."

I glared at Conrad. Tony had to pull me back into my seat as I tried to
get up to smash his smug face. He'd set me up! Conrad and Rod had set
me up!

Unaware of the unfolding drama in the room, Mother continued to speak.
"Your inheritance is dependent on a clean drug test to be administered
here and now. I hate being firm with you, but if you fail this test or
refuse to take it, you will inherit one dollar and nothing more."

The lawyer ejected the DVD and put it back in its case. "I have a nurse
in the building and she has a testing kit."

I stood up and glared at Conrad. "Fine, let's get this farce over
with."

Tony rose to his feet and stopped me, earning a confused look from the
lawyer. "I don't trust Conrad. I think I should take the test first,
just to make sure there's no funny business. I know Regan's clean,
and so am I."

Surprised, I looked at Conrad. Could he fix this, too? Probably. The
lawyer was offended that Tony questioned his integrity. Too bad for
him. I sided with Tony and the lawyer relented. Conrad sat back, still
looking very pleased with himself.

Ten minutes later, Tony was back with a woman dressed in scrubs. He
just grinned and gave me a thumbs up as the nurse gave the lawyer the
same information in a hushed tone.

"Piece of cake, sweetie," Tony whispered in my ear. "Go in there and
settle this once and for all."

I kissed his cheek and nodded. "I'm ready." I followed the nurse to a
restroom and she locked the door behind her.

Reaching into a box, she pulled out a small plastic cup and handed it
to me. "I'm sorry, but I have to see you fill the container," she said
apologetically.

That made me smile. I'd probably had more women look at my pussy from
far closer than she could guess. "No problem." I quickly filled the cup
and handed it over. While she ran her test on my sample, I sat back on
the toilet and finished.

By the time I emerged from the stall, she was cleaning up. She smiled.
"All clear, Miss Thomas."

"Thank you," I said with a bit of relief. At this point, I didn't want
to care about getting Mother's money, but part of me still did. Even if
the lion's share still went to Conrad, so be it. I guess I couldn't
change everything about me overnight. I followed the nurse back to the
conference room and glared at Conrad as I sat down. I thought the
peacock was going to explode with excitement.

The lawyer nodded to the nurse and she walked out with a smile directed
at me. As soon as I closed the door, he smiled at me.

"Congratulations, Miss Thomas. All clear, as you no doubt expected."

Tony squeezed my hand and said nothing. His smile was worth all this to
me.

Conrad leapt to his feet with a screech. "What? Impossible!" He grabbed
the table and glared at me. "She fixed the test or paid off the nurse.
Call in someone else to do the test. With witnesses!"

The lawyer's smile at Conrad seemed to have a hint of malice under the
professional veneer. "I'm very sorry you feel that way, Mister
Masterson, but your wife's instructions on this matter are crystal
clear, and she left the final authority with me. Nurse Granger and her
firm are above reproach. The results stand. Now, if you will resume
your seat, I will select the appropriate clip to close out Mrs.
Masterson's statement."

"The appropriate clip?" Tony asked.

"Indeed," the lawyer replied. "Depending on the outcome of the test,
there were two closing videos. I am only authorized to play the one
dealing with a clean test result. The other will be destroyed by me
immediately following the signing of the papers." He slid the second
DVD into the player and started the video.

Part of me was still very angry with Mother for doubting me, but I had
to admit that she probably had good reason. My track record was long
and distinguished. I watched her appear and nod at me through the
screen.

"I'm sorry I put you through that, Regan, but I had to be sure." She
actually did sound a little sorry, and I felt my anger toward her
melting just a little. "I'm proud of you for staying clean. Now you
need to work on getting the rest of your life in order. Say 'yes,
Mother,'" she said with a smile.

I shook my head at her reproach, but said, "Yes, Mother."

"Let's finish this, shall we?" she asked. "Conrad, here is where I
deviate from what we discussed." Conrad sat bolt upright. "To my
daughter, Regan, I leave the chalet that I know she loves so much."

Conrad seemed to be choking on something but I barely heard him. My
heart was soaring. The chalet meant more to me than I'd been willing
to admit. It was a part of me after all these years.

"Seeing as I've already made all the charitable contributions in this
life that I care to, that leaves the remainder of my assets, including
my home in Knoxville that I share with Conrad."

At that, Conrad sat forward. It was disappointing, but I wasn't going
to lose sleep over him getting what he'd schemed over so long. In the
end, it was more than Daddy's fortune, since Mother had socked it to
him in the divorce, but I had all I wanted. Her love and the chalet
would be just fine.

"Those assets," Mother continued blandly, "also go to my daughter,
Regan, except for Conrad's inheritance of one dollar. And don't bother
challenging it, Conrad. I have video of your infidelities, and our
pre-nup is crystal clear on this point."

She sat serenely with her hands folded on her lap as Conrad began
shouting and pounding things. I could only sit there and blink stupidly
at the TV. What did she say? I felt like I was having an out of body
experience - to which I'll admit to some familiarity. From the blinking
of Mother's eyes, I knew the video wasn't paused, so she was just
waiting for the scene to calm.

With shouted threats of lawsuits and appeals, Conrad stormed out of the
conference room and left us in relative peace. Mother sat quietly for
another half-minute before continuing.

"Well, I'm betting Conrad has left. No doubt in quite a temper," she
said dryly. "He never was as smart as he thought he was. Regan..." I
swallowed and waited. "The last thing I'll leave you is a piece of
advice. Don't make the same mistake I did. Don't mistake existence for
life. Find someone you can love. Forget what anyone expects of you. To
hell with them. Find someone that you actually love and stay with
them," she grimaced in distaste, "even if it is a woman."

I laughed and hugged Tony to me. If only she were here! As sad as it
was, her passing had made me see exactly what she was telling me.

"I love you." She smiled affectionately and the screen went dark.

The lawyer rose, pulled out the DVD, and handed me both the ones that
we'd viewed. "The unviewed disc will be destroyed after you sign next
to the arrows on these papers." He also took one of the two papers
from the folder before calling in his secretary to witness. I suppose
those papers would've given Conrad his heart's desire.

Tony stood and put his hands on my shoulders while I signed the
documents. It was odd how you could throw your life away and find it
anew.

The lawyer handed the unneeded DVD and papers to his secretary to
destroy. "If you'll excuse me for a moment?" At my nod, he followed
her out, quietly closing the door behind him.

"I never could have made it through this without you," I told Tony.
"And I'd have slipped and given Conrad everything he wanted if you
hadn't been there."

He kissed my neck. "All I did was help you help yourself. It was your
strength that beat him. That beat both of them."

That made me feel even better.

When the lawyer returned we shook hands and I asked him please to see
to locking the bank accounts and securing all of Mother's - my -
properties from Conrad, both physically and legally. Tony and I will
take care of evicting Conrad from the chalet ourselves.

-----

Sitting in Tony's Rover after we left the lawyer's office, I tried to
get my bearings. The events of the past hour or so were still too
overwhelming for me to deal with, so I decided to focus on the here and
now. We'd best go to the chalet and see to throwing out the trash. And
see about calling a locksmith.

"Let's go deal with our unwanted house guests," I told Tony. His
answering grin was almost shark-like, and he drove there quickly.

-----

The driveway had Rod's rental and Conrad's SUV in it. I wondered
briefly where he'd found it.

I climbed out with a shrug. No matter. It would be a pleasure to throw
Rod out, too. I went through the front door and heard Conrad shouting
in the great room. They must be arguing. Perfect. I went up the stairs
quietly with Tony beside me.

Rod was standing in the center of the room with his arms folded,
staring coldly at Conrad. Conrad was pouring himself a drink and
hurling invectives at Rod.

"If you call me incompetent one more time," Rod snarled, cutting Conrad
off in mid-curse, "I'll stuff that damned bottle up your ass. It's not
my fault she didn't use the coke."

"But you swore she did," Conrad protested, his back still to all of us.
This was interesting stuff indeed.

"I said she seemed to have taken it," Rod sneered. "The fact that
you're idiot enough to count on assumptions isn't my problem. I'm only
here to give her payback for dumping me in the first place. What
happens to you is your problem."

"You gentlemen," I said in a clear, firm voice that yanked both of
their eyes immediately to me, "and I use that term very loosely, are on
private property." Conrad dropped the bottle and it shattered loudly in
the sudden silence.

While Conrad looked like a mouse staring at a snake, frozen in fear,
Rod just smiled. The same smile of his that he always used when he'd
gotten away with something.

He sauntered over to stand in front of me. The arrogance of his stance
stood my teeth on edge, but I didn't want to argue. I just wanted him
gone.

"Looks like you came up roses again, babe."

"Get your things and get out, Rod," I said frostily. "Now."

His grin raised my hackles. "What you want is really no skin off my
nose. You should know by now that I don't do what you tell me. "

As the rage toward Rod flared up inside me, I had even less warning
than Rod when Tony's arm shot past me and a hard-knuckled fist exploded
against Rod's nose. I swear I could see it flatten and twist in slow
motion as blood squirted from it. Rod flew back and crashed into a
coffee table on his way to the floor. That had to hurt. Rod struggled
to get his feet under him and shot a murderous glare at Tony.

I wanted to kick him while he was down, but he was back on his feet too
quickly.

"I suppose you think I deserved that," he sneered at me. "Fine, you
keep on believing that."

Tony advanced on Rod, his expression promising pain. Rod backed up,
holding up one hand. "This is Conrad's problem, not mine. I'm leaving
because my business here is done."

Part of me was very disappointed. I really wanted to see Rod pay, but
people like him never did. At least I was through with him once and for
all. Good riddance. Tony followed him out while I glared at Conrad.

"You can leave under your own power right now and I ship your crap to
you, or we toss you out, too," I said serenely. "Please make me throw
you out. Pretty please?"

"Or you'll have that muscle-bound oaf hit me?" he sniffed. "This
isn't over by any means. I've already called my attorney to get the
will overturned. You may have..."

Even as I stepped up to him, I wasn't sure what I was doing. The impact
of my knee into his crotch was almost as much a surprise to me as it
was to him.

Conrad's eyes bulged and he collapsed in a heap, groaning and writhing.


I stepped back, stunned at my own actions. I didn't get into fights.
That was so not me. I firmly suppressed the satisfaction I was feeling.


Tony walked back up the stairs, dusting his hand off in a metaphorical
gesture. "That's it for him, he took off like..." He stopped,
staring at us. I tried not to look smug. "I see you and Conrad have
finished your little talk." He grinned at me with an expression that
just oozed approval. "Let's see him out."

Tony grabbed Conrad by the collar and pulled him to his feet. I
followed them as he frog-marched the unresisting Conrad to the
driveway. Then he stuffed him into that crappy white SUV of his. I
suppose I could've made him walk and kept the car, but it hardly seemed
worth the trouble.

Conrad was coordinated enough to get it started and drive away. That
was enough for me.

I turned to Tony and pulled him into my arms. "I can't imagine karma
bringing you into my life, so it must be redemption."

He smiled at me. "It is our redemption and their bad karma coming back
to roost."

We'd melted together and had only just begun kissing when my cell phone
rang. I groaned theatrically and pulled it off my belt. "Regan."

"Oh, my God," Gina said into my ear. "Regan, I'm so sorry! I just heard
the news! I'll be on a plane as soon as I can. Are you okay? Where do
you want me to meet you?"

I smiled at Tony while he held me. "Gina, calm down and take a breath.
It's okay. I'm doing fine. Don't cut your trip short. Come see me when
you get back and we'll talk then." I kissed Tony on the lips softly. "I
have the most amazing thing to tell you, but it can wait. I'll see you
then. Call me." Then I hung up before my stunned friend could ask me
questions I wasn't ready to answer yet.

Tony whispered in my ear. "You love Gina?"

I looked into Tony's eyes with a smile. "Yes, I love her. I love
Margot, too. I can't wait for you to meet them." Exploring the
similarities and differences of loving a man would be interesting. I
couldn't wait for them to meet Tony.

"Let's call the locksmith and arrange for a caretaker for the chalet. I
know of a young soon-to-be mother that would be perfect for the job."

Tony kissed me thoroughly and led me back into the chalet. The sound of
the door closing behind us reminded me that in life, when one door
closed, another opened. 

The End? No. The Beginning.

-- 
Pursuant to the Berne Convention, this work is copyright with all rights
reserved by its author unless explicitly indicated.
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