“You better hurry up before your partner hunts you down. Oh, and perhaps
it’s overdue on meeting him officially. Invite him to dinner.” With that,
Carina waved and headed to her car.
Tia watched her drive off and turned to head toward her ambulance.
She was nearly there when she heard someone blurt out, “shame,” as if he
were reenacting the shame scene from Game of Thrones.
Twisting around, Tia found one of her co-workers she never got along
with standing beside their supervisor. Her brow rose. He’d been one of the
countless paramedic’s assigned to her unit after Bruce died.
Choosing to ignore him, she walked toward her ambulance and placed
her bag inside the middle console.
“Took your sweet time,” Joe joked.
Tia rolled her eyes. “I was only saying goodnight to Carina.” Once
her stuff was placed the way she wanted, Tia slapped the front driver seat.
“I need to clock in. Be right back.”
Heading for the back station door, Tia punched in the codes and
walked inside to find furtive eyes staring at her. They were brief but long
enough to know exactly what this was about. Tia waited behind someone
else to clock in when the same individual who shouted shame walked in
from the other end. He shook his head and rolled his eyes.
“What a shame,” he grunted.
This time Tia couldn’t hold back. “Is there a problem?” she asked.
The back door opened but she didn’t see who it was.
“Not unless you’re waiting for me to die so that you can go and steal
my wife,” he muttered.
Someone had seen Carina and Tia, placing the pieces together. Many
had already thought it was strange for Tia to be spending so much time with
Carina and Bruce’s kids, but to end up with her was another big thing that
crossed in a few of their eyes.
“Then I guess you shouldn’t die,” Tia said mockingly.
Joe cut in. “You ready partner?” he asked. “Let’s hope I don’t croak
either. My wife would need all the love and support.”
That got a few of Tia’s co-workers laughing. As medic’s they carried
dark humor. But this was more than about being funny. It was about
pointing out the obvious and finding the truth.
“Anyone who knows me and knows the connection Bruce and I had
shouldn’t question my intentions. I don’t need to explain myself to anyone.
Nor does Carina. Our feelings are real and that’s all that matters.” Tia
nodded to a few people she was work buddies with and walked out of the
station.
“You told them!” Joe said.
Tia rolled her eyes and shoved him. “Shut it. Let’s make ourselves
available.”
Chapter Seventeen
Carina
The next three days had been more than Carina could ask for. Tia was
home, sleeping after her shift that ended this morning and Carina decided to
take the day off. There was a lot on her mind. She hadn’t seen her parents
since Michelle’s birthday party.
On the drive to her parents, Carina promised not to start off by yelling
at them. If they didn’t want to see her, fine. But to not try and see their
grandchildren was a whole other level.
Standing at their front door, Carina no longer felt welcomed and
chose to knock.
Several long seconds passed when the door finally opened. Her
mother stood with a blanket wrapped around her. She often did that during
the cold season. Carina’s instinct to lean in for a hug was short lived by the
reminder of why she was here. “Carina, honey.” Her mother’s eyes swayed,
unsure of what to say. Her arrival was unexpected. “Your father and I didn’t
know you were coming.” For a brief moment, her mom looked at her with
longing eyes until Carina’s father approached the door.
His soft face suddenly hardened when he noticed Carina at the door.
He wasn’t a harsh father, but his faith and conservativeness were the force-
fields of his life. “Do you plan to stand in the cold?” he asked. It was his
way of inviting her in.
Carina shook her head, seeing that nothing had changed. “I’ll keep
this short.” She stood up straighter. “I don’t care what you think of me. Not
anymore. But I do care about how you treat my children. They ask to see
you and the few times they call, it seems you can no longer stay on the
phone long enough to see how they’re really doing.”
“Hija!” Carina’s mother called out.
Carina’s hand shot up dismissing her mother’s attempt at an excuse.
She loved her parents and always would, but her children came first. “You
may not understand my relationship with Tia.”
“It is a relationship now?” her father asked in a disgruntled tone.
“Yes!” Carina said, leaving no confusion.
Her father huffed. “She was your husband’s friend. Do you not see
how tainted that is? She probably always wanted you and—”
“Stop it!” Carina hissed in a sharp tone. She didn’t care if anyone in
the neighborhood walked by and heard them. Carina shook her head, anger
boiling out of her. “Don’t you dare finish that unwarranted and foul remark.
I’m not here for your approval of my relationship with Tia. I’ve accepted
how our relationship has developed. I won’t feel guilty for it.”
“Your padre doesn’t mean to be harsh,” Carina’s mother said. Her
mother was accustomed to always having her husband’s back. Carina
accepted that a long time ago.
Carina looked at her mother knowing nothing would ever change. Her
relationship with her parents had always been great because she’d been
living the way they envisioned all her life. Carina didn’t realize that until
now. When Bruce died, it was like all the pieces that held her relationship
with her parents together crumbled apart. It wasn’t just Carina being with
Bruce’s best friend. It was also Tia being a woman. They took it as a grave
family insult.
“I’ll give you a day to decide if you want a relationship with your
grandchildren. Be thankful I’m even giving you this time to really dig deep
and consider. My only request is that you keep your opinions to yourself.”
Carina looked at both of her parents and frowned. “A day,” she said and
walked off.
*
Tia had come over later in the evening. They all were seated around
the couch playing Scrabble. Before Carina had time to realize, a tear slid
down her cheek.
Instantly, Tia noticed and gave her a look of concern.
The last thing Carina wanted was to ruin this moment. She wiped her
tear and smiled, reassuring Tia she could manage. Another 30 minutes
passed when Tia roared in astonishment at Michelle winning the game.
“I guess you’ll be doing my English homework from now on,” Tia
teased.
Michelle giggled. “You aren’t in school silly!”
Tia arched a brow. “In three months I will be,” Tia chimed out.
Carina gave a questioning look as Tia explained the decision she
made. After all this time she finally took Bruce’s advice.
Tia put the game away as Carina ordered the k
ids to go upstairs for
bed. They each embraced her and Tia, saying their goodnights, and walked
upstairs.
“So, paramedic school,” Carina said.
“Yeah,” Tia nodded. Tia took a seat on the couch and Carina sat close
beside her. “There were a lot of things holding me back before, but none of
those things matter.”
Carina stared off, getting lost in a memory. “I remember when Bruce
went to paramedic school.” Realizing she brought up Bruce, Carina sighed.
“Sorry, force of habit.”
“What are you sorry about?” Tia asked.
“I don’t want you to ever feel like I’m bringing him up too much,”
Carina spoke honestly.
Tia frowned. “Where’s this coming from? Don’t think I forgot about
what I saw earlier.” Seeing Carina tear up during their game of Scrabble
had been difficult to watch. But she could see that Carina wanted to wait
until it was the kids’ bedtime to talk.
The last thing Carina wanted was to put too much pressure on Tia, but
she knew not telling her would only cause Tia to worry more. “I went to see
my parents today.”
There was a long moment of silence.
Carina decided to lay her head over Tia’s lap and curl into a ball. With
one arm tucked under her, she rested her other over Tia’s knee. When Tia
began to play with her hair, Carina surrendered to the comfort and more
tears fell. “I was strong. I gave them an ultimatum, and I hope they listened.
I just couldn’t allow them to continue to ghost my kids anymore.”
Tia sat and listened, continuing to run her fingers through Carina’s
hair.
She went over everything that was said between them and then blew
out a heavy breath. Through all of her anger, Carina was hurt. They’d raised
Carina and her sisters. Promised to always be there for her too. “They’re my
parents,” Carina cried.
“Hey, come here,” Tia whispered, pulling Carina up into her arms. Tia
kissed her forehead and allowed Carina the freedom and support to cry in
her arms.
Carina held onto Tia as if she was her life jacket. “I knew they
wouldn’t understand. It’s not like we didn’t question it ourselves. Bruce is
gone and I’m ready to move on. I feel like that’s what we’re both doing,
right?”
“Yes!” Tia agreed. “We are.”
Their eyes locked. “I know we’ll face a lot. Not just the opinions of
those who feel we shouldn’t be together because of Bruce, but also because
we’re women and kids are involved. God, please watch over the children,
right!” This time there was a smile on Carina’s face. “I could see it in my
parents’ eyes. My kids are doomed because of our lesbian relationship.”
Carina snorted.
“Will they U-Haul next?” Tia added in their playful bantering.
They both began to laugh.
When they were done, Tia smiled. “We already get looks and that will
never change. I’m sure me being black and you being Spanish sends further
flares up people’s noses.” Tia’s hand brushed Carina’s cheek. “But you
know what?”
“What?” Carina asked, suddenly mesmerized by Tia’s intense eyes.
“I don’t care. Because I have you and the kids at the end of the day.”
Tia’s tone was breathless as if every word was an emotional string that
played in her heart.
Carina couldn’t do this anymore. Hold back the words she needed to
say. With the way Tia looked at her, the chances of her not feeling the same
way were slim. Carina’s heart drummed through her chest. Tears fell from
her eyes again. She licked her dry lips and said, “I’m in love with you.”
Tia didn’t back away. There was no fear or confusion in her eyes.
Instead, they darkened with so much raw openness. A smile formed. “I’m in
love with you too.”
They sat there, amazed and beyond elated. They’d both said the
words that mattered most at this moment. There didn’t need to be some
fancy dinner or romantic scene to say the words. They just needed each
other.
When Tia’s lips dropped to Carina’s mouth, it was all Carina needed
to know what would happen next.
Carina’s lips crushed over Tia’s, moaning with excitement and raw
need. Carina’s fingers clawed at Tia’s clothes wanting to remove them. Her
eyes were shut. Blindly, Carina found the hem of Tia’s shirt and forced it up
over her head until it was removed. Tia wore a sports bra, another obstacle
Carina couldn’t wait to remove. Tia used her foot to shove the living room
coffee table out of their way to make an open space on the floor.
Their lips parted briefly as Carina unbuttoned her blouse slowly. She
wanted Tia to enjoy every moment of this. Tia’s eyes followed like a
predator as each button opened her blouse to reveal Carina’s breasts. Tia
panted, wanting to touch Carina.
Carina slid the shirt off her arms just as Tia reached in, brushing her
lips over Carina’s neck. Carina moaned and extended her neck to give Tia
more access. Chills flooded Carina’s body as heat coursed down her core.
Within minutes both of their clothes were removed and tossed around
like unnecessary items. Tia ended up on top, slipping her tongue inside
Carina’s mouth. Carina replied with a nip at the tip of Tia’s tongue. They
both moaned from the sensation and warmth of their bodies pressed
together. Tia’s fingers grazed Carina’s clit and she jolted from the pleasure.
Tia sucked Carina’s nipple into her mouth, causing her to moan louder.
When Tia’s fingers brushed over Carina’s clit again, this time she
lifted her hips to feel the pressure of Tia’s teasing fingers.
“Wait. No,” Carina blew out breathless. “I want to touch you first,”
she panted. “No cheating.”
Tia snickered. “This,” Tia said, moving her finger in a circular motion
all the way around Carina’s opening. Carina shuddered an erratic breath.
“Isn’t cheating,” Tia said.
“Tia, I swear I will hurt you if you tease me like that again. Not on
this round,” she said trying to regain some control. Her eyes were shut. “I
want to come with you. I need that,” she whispered.
Tia understood. She’d never felt this before and the last thing Tia
wanted was to neglect in any way the love making they were experiencing.
“I’m with you,” Tia whispered, meaning her words.
They stared into each other’s eyes, both vulnerable and brave. Tia
positioned herself over Carina to give her access to her most intimate self as
she could feel Carina a few inches from her fingers.
It was as if they were one. Both of their fingers slid inside the other as
a wave of pleasure was gladly welcomed from both of them. Carina fought
the need to cry out as Tia instantly slid a second finger in. Her body tried to
rock into every stroke of Tia’s fingers but was forced to stay in place from
Tia’s body pressed over her own. Tia moaned and leaned down as they
kissed long and passionately. Tia gasped when Carina stroked her opening
faster. Tia gripped Carina’s hair as her fingers moved
inside of Carina
faster. Their bodies shuddered uncontrollably at the same time as they
experienced a combined orgasm.
Tia’s body relaxed into the floor as she processed their love making.
Part of her was in shock. Some part of Tia hadn’t realized that her
relationship with Carina was real until this moment. Touching and kissing
her felt dreamlike, but making love and all that came with it was no fantasy.
Tia mumbled, “Damn, that was…unexpected.”
“Yeah,” Carina nodded. “We’re creative people.” Carina giggled,
twisting on top of Tia’s naked body. Her chin pressed into Tia’s upper
stomach, arm draped over her waist. “That was amazing. Hot.” She
maneuvered completely on top and pressed her lips against Tia’s. “You
awoke every part of me that I could go for more right now.”
“Next round will be all about you,” Tia grinned, running the tip of her
finger down Carina’s back.
Carina shuddered. “Yes, but upstairs behind doors. Luckily we had
this couch covering us.”
“Right!” Tia smiled. “Upstairs.”
They both grabbed their clothes and snuck upstairs to make love until
sleep finally took them.
Chapter Eighteen
Four Months Later
Carina
Mid July was always hot with mild humidity. All Carina desired
during this time of the month was a cold drink and a foot massage by a
pool. Last summer had been so emotional; Carina looked forward to
spending genuine time with her kids and Tia this year.
Carina’s parents had stepped up four months ago after Carina
confronted them and since the kids weren’t in school because of summer
break, they spent time with them frequently.
Today was Carina’s annual family picnic but this year Carina was
hesitant to go. She hadn’t spoken personally to her parents in months. Rina
had told her grandparents that if Tia couldn’t come she wouldn’t go.
Carina’s parents backed down, making no fuss over Carina bringing Tia as
her girlfriend. They’d been happy and Carina had no intention of ruining a
good day by forcing Tia to come if she didn’t want to. She just wouldn’t
show up either. But as they sat in the kitchen for breakfast, Rina looked at
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