by Lydia Rose
“Why did you come here?” Marnie wanted to know why Leslie wanted to torture her when she was only going to leave.
“I wanted to see you one more time before you disappeared out of my life.” Leslie wanted to say so much more, but she knew it wouldn’t be fair to either of them.
“Will you stay with me tonight?” Marnie asked, finally touching the woman in front of her.
“Yes,” Leslie answered softly, but was chastising herself. It would only be more torture she would have to endure when she left. Staying with Marnie would lead to the bedroom, but she couldn’t tell her no.
“Let me take you to lunch.” Marnie grabbed Leslie’s hand and led her down to the lobby. Instead of getting in a cab, Marnie walked along the crowded sidewalks at a quick pace. Leslie had to practically run to keep up with the woman with long legs. Marnie glancing to her right noticed that Leslie was huffing as she walked along and immediately slowed her step. “Sorry.” They now walked side by side at a leisurely pace. Marnie was now pointing to a door with an awning and held the door open for Leslie.
“Hello, Ms. Winters. Will it be just the two of you this afternoon?” the man in the black suit asked.
“Yes, Simon.” He led them to a private table in the corner and placed the menus in their hands.
Leslie watched as Marnie opened the menu and began perusing. Marnie didn’t know why she bothered because their specials were always the best. A waiter walked over to the table with two glasses of water. “Hello, Ms. Winters. Your usual drink?”
“Please, David.” Marnie closed the menu and looked at Leslie. “What would you like to drink?”
“A beer,” she said to the waiter.
“What are the specials today, David?” Marnie asked looking up at him.
The grin on his face told her that she was going to like what he said. “A hearty vegetable soup and duck breast. We also just got in some fresh scallops.”
Marnie again looked at Leslie. “Have you decided?”
Leslie nodded. “I’ll have the soup and scallops.”
“Let me have the same, David.”
“Very good,” he said before leaving to get their drinks.
“I guess you eat here a lot?” Leslie asked with a snicker.
“If you look in my kitchen, you won’t see any food. I either eat here or order take-out. No time to be domestic.”
“Do you even know how to cook?” Leslie asked smiling.
“No. I’m great at frozen waffles or muffins for breakfast. My freezer is full of frozen items.”
Leslie motioned with her finger. “How do you keep that body when you eat like that?”
Marnie blushed at her comment, but deflected it away. “I have a great gym in my building,” she said sticking out her tongue at her.
David returned with their drinks and soup. “This is so good, Marnie.”
“Wait until you taste the scallops, and they usually serve them with fingerling potatoes and the freshest vegetables.” Marnie grinned before she spoke again. “You may not like the hustle and bustle of this town, but you cannot beat the food,” she said smiling at Leslie. “It’s the best in the world.”
Once they both devoured their lunch, Marnie sat back holding her belly. “Would you like dessert? Their desserts are as good as their food is.”
“I think I’ll just have a coffee.”
“Try their lattes, they’re to die for.”
Leslie laughed. “I’ll just stick with my black coffee. Regular coffee.”
David returned and Marnie said, “David, I’ll have a latte and the lady will have a black coffee.”
Leslie was happy now that they had walked to the restaurant because the walk back to the apartment would help with the tightening of her pants at her waist.
The ride back up in the elevator was quiet. Neither woman spoke because they didn’t want to break the spell or connection they were in. Marnie wished it could be like this every day, but she knew Leslie had made it very clear that was never going to happen. If only Marnie had the courage to give up everything she knew to go after love.
“Would you like me to leave?” Leslie asked when they walked into the apartment.
“No. Why would you ask that?” Marnie asked with pleading eyes.
Leslie shrugged. “Didn’t know if you were tired of me yet.”
“If you stayed for a month, it wouldn’t be enough time,” Marnie admitted to Leslie’s surprise. “I like you, Leslie. I wish we had more time together, but I am also no fool.”
Leslie just nodded and walked toward the view to hide the tears that were forming in her eyes. She wasn’t alone for long before Marnie put her arms around her waist and pulled her tight. “Thank you.”
“For?” Marnie asked pulling Leslie closer to her body.
“For lunch. For asking me to stay,” Leslie said, burying her face into Marnie’s chest.
Marnie turned Leslie around and lifted her chin. “I am so happy that you came.”
Leslie laughed. “Well, I haven’t yet,” she said still laughing. “But I’m sure we can take care of that problem promptly.” Marnie took her hand and led her into the bedroom. “I guess we are going to take care of that problem sooner than I thought.”
Leslie barely got the words out before Marnie’s lips captured her mouth. She stripped off her clothes and sat her on the bed. Leslie moved up on the bed watching as Marnie took her clothes off without care. Leslie was now pushing down the covers with her feet waiting for Marnie to get on the bed. Marnie was grinning as she stood there naked at the end of the bed. Both their eyes were filled with lust and arousal. This was only the second time they were making love, but they both knew what awaited them. Marnie was now crawling up the bed. Their eyes never leaving each other. She placed her body in the V of the woman waiting for her. They both sighed as their skins touched. Heat was emanating from their bodies as their lips came together in a passionate kiss. Breasts pressed together and their cores found each other.
“You feel so good,” Marnie said looking into the green eyes. “You won’t be gone when I wake up in the morning, will you?”
Leslie shook her head. “I promise,” she answered before her lips came back to the woman over her. “I promise,” she said gasping for air.
Their bodies worked together to bring each other to the place they both had longed to be. All the months of missing each other were lost in this bed this night. Soft moans and cries of release filled the room. Arms held each other as if the other would disappear. Marnie felt Leslie giving her heart to her without the need for words to be spoken. As Leslie brought her to another release, her body hummed with the soft caresses that captured her skin. They fell asleep in each other’s arms unable to allow any distance between them.
Leslie awoke first and found Marnie still asleep on her stomach. Her blond hair strewn across the pillow. She pulled the sheet up over her body and left the room with a soft close of the door behind her. She searched the refrigerator for food, but found nothing that could be made for breakfast. Marnie had been truthful that the freezer only held frozen food. She did find coffee and had an idea. “Hello. This is Marnie Winters’s apartment. Is there any way I can get a delivery of eggs and bacon delivered up here?”
“I can send someone to the corner store.”
“Thank you. How long will that be?”
“About fifteen minutes.”
“I’ll be waiting.” Leslie now took her suitcase into the bathroom in the hallway and jumped in the shower. She had just enough time to shower and dress before the knock on the apartment door. Leslie paid the doorman and gave him a healthy tip to boot. She went back to the kitchen hoping that Marnie had cookware. As she was putting the food onto the plates she heard the bedroom door open. “Good morning,” she said watching Marnie standing in the doorway wearing nothing but a long T-shirt.
“I thought you left,” Marnie said softly.
Leslie moved over to her and kissed her cheek. “I promised you I wouldn’t l
eave.”
Marnie looked at the plates. “Where did you get food to make this?”
“Your doorman is very accommodating. You owe him a nice Christmas bonus.”
Marnie took her seat and Leslie placed a cup of coffee on the table for her. “Thank you.”
“I was shocked to find you had cookware,” Leslie said laughing.
“That’s because I bought this place fully furnished with everything else that was in here.” She shrugged. “I didn’t have time to shop.”
“Do you ever stop to smell the roses, Marnie?” Leslie asked with a grin.
“I did last night and they smelled so lovely,” she said with a smirk. Marnie reached for Leslie’s hand. “Thank you for staying.”
“I have to go back today, Marnie.”
“I know, but I’m glad you’re still here.” Marnie cast her sorrowful eyes away from the woman who was staring at her. She picked up her fork and began to eat. She’s leaving. “What time is your flight?”
“Three o’clock.”
“I’ll drive you to the airport.” Marnie wanted to spend as much time as she could with Leslie before she disappeared from her life forever.
“No, Marnie. Hank is going to take a cab here and we’re going to the airport together.”
Marnie nodded. “Who is this friend of Hank’s that he came all the way to see in New York?” she asked, changing the painful subject.
“The man who saved his life in Vietnam. Charlie has been trying to get Hank up here for years to meet his family.”
“Well, that’s another good thing I can add to my list of Buddy being careless with his loading of the truck.”
“What else is on your list?” she asked curiously.
“I guess the first was being able to help Tom out of a difficult situation. Being exposed to small town living even though it was only for a short time.” Marnie now took Leslie’s hand. “I guess the most important thing was us meeting.”
“So how come you never called me after you left?” Leslie asked pouting.
“You never called me either. I heard from so many people, but you never called.”
“You know why I didn’t call, Marnie.”
Marnie nodded understanding. She knew it would’ve been as hard for her as it was for herself. “Yeah, me too.” Marnie picked up the plates and put them in the sink. Then she took Leslie’s hand and led her back to the bedroom. Her long shirt came off quickly and she jumped on the bed. Now she watched as Leslie took off her jeans and shirt. She looked down at Marnie and got onto the bed. “Aren’t you going to take off the rest of your clothes?” she asked raising an arched eyebrow.
“I will, but we haven’t finished talking yet,” Leslie answered with a chuckle.
“Why do you want to waste our time talking when we can be…” she pointed to the bed, “you know.”
Leslie turned on her side and touched Marnie’s arm. “I know it’s difficult for both of us to speak with each other because we can’t see each other, but it would be nice if you sent me a text or email.” She smiled. “Even a card.” Her arm wrapped around Marnie’s waist. “Okay?”
“I did send you a text, but you didn’t answer it.”
“I know I didn’t, but if you send me one again, I will answer.”
“Okay,” Marnie answered softly. She unhooked Leslie’s bra and let it fall off her body. They still had a few hours before Leslie had to leave and Marnie wanted to savor every moment she could before she disappeared out of her life again.
They said their goodbyes in private, but Marnie went down to the lobby to thank Hank for returning her car. The two women stood on the curb wanting to say so much, but only their eyes conveyed their feelings before the cab pulled away.
CHAPTER 16
Marnie and Leslie texted almost every day. It was just a few words of how their day went, nothing much of any depth. It took all Marnie had to concentrate on work without her heart dictating her every move. Thanksgiving arrived and she was spending it with her parents out on Long Island. Her sister was spending the day with her husband Jason’s family, but they would be arriving Friday for dinner. Marnie’s mother invited her sister and brother to Thanksgiving dinner and cousins showed up during the day. She was happy for the full house to keep her mind off the text that sat on her phone. “Happy Thanksgiving.” It was just a simple text and Marnie even managed to respond with, “You too.” She wanted to say so much more, but the pain would have been too difficult.
Friday morning, Marnie’s mother sent her to the store and she was happy to get out of the house. Before she went into the grocery store, she noticed the greeting card store next door. Opening the door she walked through the store looking for Christmas cards. She read and read not finding exactly what she wanted until she picked up a card that caught her eye. On the front of the card was a Christmas tree full of red hearts. Inside the card read. We might be miles apart, but you still have my heart. Merry Christmas. Marnie walked immediately to the register to pay for her purchase. Inside the grocery store she purchased a stamp. Now she sat in her car with a pen in her hand trying to find the words to tell Leslie. She began to write, “Yes, the miles have kept us apart, but that doesn’t mean I don’t think of you every day.” Now her hand paused wondering if she should sign it with love. Finally finding the courage, she wrote, “Love, Marnie.” Her phone was out to address the envelope with Leslie’s address and she placed the stamp in the corner. She drove to the nearest post office and dropped it into the mailbox.
When Marnie got back to her parents’ house she put the groceries away that her mother requested. She now sat at the kitchen table sharing a cup of coffee with her mother.
“What’s wrong, Marnie?” her mother asked meeting her daughter’s eyes.
“Nothing,” she answered too quickly.
Her mother reached for her hand. “You’ve been awfully quiet since you arrived yesterday. I know you too well. Something is bothering you. You haven’t been the same since you got back from vacation.”
“I already told you Mom that it wasn’t a vacation. I ended up working on a case.”
“I know and it turned out well, but something happened down there that changed you.”
Marnie stared at her mother. “I met someone down there. The perfect woman for me,” she admitted freely.
“So what’s the problem, Marnie?”
“Mom, she lives in Georgia and I live in New York City,” she said with a heavy sigh.
“Did you ask her to move here?” her mother asked softly.
“Yes, but she wouldn’t be happy here in New York.”
“But if you are here with her...”
“No, Mom. Leslie has her own business there and all of her family.” Marnie shook her head. “She has a life down there.”
“What about you?”
“What about me?” Marnie asked not understanding.
“If you love this woman, why won’t you move down there?”
Marnie looked at her mother for a long moment before speaking. “I can’t do that. I have a job and...” she didn’t finish.
“Yes, a job that doesn’t bring you any happiness anymore. Yes, that’s the important part.”
Marnie laughed. “Are you trying to get rid of me, Mom?”
“Of course not. I just want you to be happy and you aren’t, Marnie.”
Her mother was right, she wasn’t happy. She kept hoping every day she would feel better and go back to her old life, but she was still waiting.
Her mother patted her hand. “Think about it, Marnie.”
Unfortunately, that was all Marnie thought about for months. Could she leave everything she had worked for behind? Could she start a new life with Leslie in a new place? Marnie wasn’t even sure how Leslie felt about her. How could she think about moving when they never said what they were really feeling for each other?
*
The following week her secretary announced, “Marnie, there is a Leslie Reynolds on the phone for you. I
asked her what it was about and she said she is a friend of yours.”
“I’ll take the call, Tracey.” Marnie took a deep breath and pressed the button. “Leslie, is everything all right?”
“Yes, Marnie. Everything is fine,” she answered with a laugh.
“That’s good,” she said letting out the breath she was holding.
“I just wanted to thank you for your card.” Leslie paused. “It was very sweet of you.”
“Ah… you’re welcome. How was your Thanksgiving?”
“Just the usual with family. What about you?”
“I spent Thanksgiving at my parents’ home on Long Island.”
“I saw the postmark and thought maybe you spent the weekend at the Hamptons,” she said with a chuckle.
“No. Not at the Hamptons.” Marnie’s heart was pounding. This was the first time she had talked to Leslie on the phone and she was excited and scared all at once.
“What are you doing for Christmas?” Leslie asked softly.
“The office is closed between Christmas and New Year’s. I usually volunteer to handle any emergencies that might come up.”
“Oh,” she said softly.
“Why?” Marnie asked closing her eyes.
“I thought maybe you’d like to spend Christmas with me.” Leslie awaited Marnie’s refusal with her eyes closed. She added, “I could pick you up from the airport.” Again silence. “I guess I’ll let you get back to work. It was nice speaking with you and thank you again for the card.”
“I didn’t say no, Leslie.” The woman on the other end of the phone waited. “I’ll have to think about it. Is that okay?”
“Yes, Marnie. I understand your hesitance.”
“I want to, but…” Marnie didn’t finish.
“I understand, Marnie. You can let me know what you decide. Goodbye, Marnie.”
“Goodbye, Leslie. Thanks for calling.” Once she placed the phone on the receiver, she wondered why Leslie would want to torture her with the invitation. Spending that much time with the woman she loved would make it harder to leave.
CHAPTER 17
“Leslie, have you decided what you’re doing for Christmas yet?” Dot asked as her boss worked at the corner table paying bills.
