Unconventional Lovers

by Annette Mori

  She supposed she should admit to Jeremy he’d been right all along about a lot of things, but if she did that he would do his peacock imitation, and that irritated her. She loved him, but he could be such a guy sometimes. They rarely fought. If she were honest with herself, she’d admit the times they argued and ventured into dangerous territory were mostly to do with her reluctance to let go of old hurts—namely his initial reaction to Siera’s birth. It was time for her to deal with that head on and stop letting those ugly tentacles wrap themselves around her psyche. He’d often asked when she was finally going to forgive him for that transgression. It was a good question—one she didn’t have the answer to. She’d have to admit her own wrong doing, and sometimes it took a while for her to process what part she played in the various conflicts in her life. Taking the initiative to apologize and admit to her own prejudgments about Bri and Siera’s relationship was a good first step, in her estimation.

  †

  It was another scorcher, as Olivia sat at one of the outdoor tables waiting for Kathleen to arrive. A droplet of sweat slowly traveled down her neck and between her breasts. She mopped her brow with the napkin she’d grabbed after ordering the strawberry lemonade. The cool, refreshing drink passed her lips and soothed her throat. She leaned back in the chair and closed her eyes, allowing the sun’s rays to beat down on her. She briefly considered moving to a table under the shade, but when her eyes flickered open, Olivia noted the option did not exist. If she wanted to remain outside, which was her preference, she’d have to endure the heat. Sitting in a stuffy bistro, with only the ceiling fans as protection against the stifling heat, was not a welcome alternative.

  Kathleen’s call had definitely piqued her interest, and she’d registered the conciliatory tone. Olivia was not one to hold grudges, and Deb had mentioned sometimes her sister needed to process things and come to a different conclusion after thinking everything over. She sensed that beneath the woman’s overbearing and overprotective outer covering, there was a good person. Besides, she would make nice with the woman if it meant Bri would continue to blossom with Siera in her life.

  “Hey. I guess we’re in for some hot days. I suppose we could have met at the hospital, at least it’s air-conditioned. The food sucks, so I was willing to brave the heat. You look like you’re melting. Too bad they don’t have any shaded alternatives.” Kathleen sat down in the chair across from Olivia.

  “You might want to get yourself something cool to drink while we wait for our food. I hope you don’t mind, I already ordered my sandwich.” Olivia brought her eyes to rest on Kathleen, who hid her eyes behind dark sunglasses. “I’d offer to go and get you some lemonade, but I’m still hobbling after this past weekend’s marathon bike rides.”

  Kathleen removed her jacket and draped it over the chair. “No worries, I need to order something anyway. Did Deb bring over the ointment for your muscles?”

  “She did and offered to give me a leg massage. I politely declined.” Olivia chuckled.

  “She likes you. Just so you know, you aren’t like one of her normal flings. Be careful with her, she’s more fragile than she reveals to anyone.”

  Olivia narrowed her eyes. If Kathleen was trying to make amends for her earlier gauche behavior, it wasn’t going so well. “I’ve been nothing but completely honest with her about what I can and cannot offer.”

  Kathleen waved her hand in the air. “Please, don’t misunderstand. You aren’t doing anything wrong at all. Deb can’t help herself. She’s her own worst enemy sometimes. I love my sister, and I know her well enough to decipher her feelings for you are different. She can’t help the way she feels any more than you can. Look, I didn’t want to offend you, and here I’ve gone and done it again. Peace.” Kathleen extended her hand.

  Olivia smiled despite her uncomfortable feelings around Kathleen. “Sorry, peace it is.” Olivia offered her hand.

  Kathleen shook and released Olivia’s hand, offering a genuine smile. “I’ll be right back after I get some of that delicious-looking lemonade.”

  Olivia pondered whether her friendship with Deb was a good thing. She didn’t want to lead the poor woman on, and yet, she enjoyed her company. If she was perfectly honest with herself, she enjoyed the flirtatious banter. It was good for her ego. No other woman had paid her that kind of attention since Irene. It felt wonderful for someone to admire her and unabashedly state their attraction. She would have a serious conversation with Deb about this, because the last thing she wanted to do was hurt her feelings.

  Kathleen came back to the table carrying her cold drink and interrupting Olivia’s thoughts. Olivia watched as the condensation dripped down the sides of her glass, and this reminded her of the sweat that continued to drip down her neck. She felt like asking for a glass of ice so she could hold it against her skin.

  “I should have asked you to get them to bring me a refill,” Olivia said.

  Kathleen smirked and sat down in the seat opposite of her. “I did. They should bring it out shortly. I told them to supply us with two pitchers, one with ice, and the other with lemonade. Kind of like when the distraught person sits on a bar stool and says leave the bottle, I basically said, keep the cool beverages coming.”

  “Thanks. So, I know you didn’t ask me to lunch to tell me you had some kind of epiphany. What’s on your mind?”

  “Well actually, I did…have an epiphany that is. I realized I am treating my daughter and your niece exactly in the same fashion I criticize others for. When I looked at my behavior, I realized my overprotectiveness is holding Siera back from growing into an independent, successful young woman. If I continue my misguided behavior and treat her like a child, she’ll remain a child. I also have a favor to ask of you, and you can feel free to say no.”

  “Wow. Good for you to recognize and admit that. It can’t have been easy. Go ahead, ask your favor, and I’ll give it a fair consideration.”

  “I know Siera hates her Walmart job. I was wondering if there was any way you had a place for her at your clinic?” Kathleen asked.

  Olivia paused while she considered Kathleen’s request. She watched as Kathleen shifted uncomfortably in her seat during the silence. “I’ve wanted to do something for a while now, and this might be the perfect solution. Bri is very talented with the animals, but I don’t think she wants to try to go to vet school or become a vet technician. I get a lot of requests for recommendations on grooming services or pet sitting. I’d like to develop a partnership where Bri feels like she has her own business to run and takes the lead on this side business. I know either Bri or Siera could learn the fundamentals of scheduling appointments, setting up a price structure, and running a small business. What do you think?”

  Kathleen’s smile stretched across her face. “Oh my God, that’s brilliant. I’d be willing to be a silent partner and provide some start-up funding if that is needed.”

  “Actually, I don’t think it would take much funding at all. There’s space in the clinic I could rent to the girls for a reasonable price. I want this to be their venture, with little assistance from us. Bri has been saving her money, and I think she would feel better about this if she believed it was her business.”

  “Although Siera struggled a little bit with school, she worked hard and persevered. She learned how to use the Microsoft Office programs after a lot of hard work and Big Bend Community College accepted her to begin this fall. She’d probably think her schooling has a specific purpose if she focuses on business classes that would help with the new venture,” Kathleen responded in an excited voice.

  “I’ve got a few clients I know would use their services once they are open for business. I could pay Siera minimum wage to start, until their business gets off the ground.”

  “Oh Olivia, I cannot express how happy this makes me. You are a godsend.”

  “So, how do you propose we float this idea to the girls?” Olivia asked.

  Kathleen grinned. “No time like the present. Would you like to come over for d
inner tonight? If I know Siera, she’ll probably head to the park after her shift to meet up with Bri. I think they have a sort of standing date at the park.”

  “Noticed that, did you?”

  “Uh huh. I’ll admit, at first, I wasn’t too pleased, but I’ve since had a change of heart. Can you swing by and pick up the girls?”

  “Sure. Are you inviting Deb over?”

  Kathleen raised her eyebrow. “Why? Do you want me to?”

  “I thought she might want to hear the exciting news first hand. She loves her niece very much.”

  “I know she does. Yeah, sure. Deb always adds a bit of liveliness to every party. I’m sure you’ve noticed that infectious energy of hers. She doesn’t get off until seven though, so she’ll be a bit late. Wednesday is her next day free if you think we should wait.”

  “I know. We’re supposed to go riding Wednesday night. Hopefully, I will have recovered by then.”

  Kathleen smiled. “Oh, riding, huh?”

  Olivia blushed. “We can wait to talk to the girls after Deb arrives. Will that work?”

  The bistro worker stepped up to the table and set down a pitcher of ice and another one with lemonade. “Your orders should be up shortly. I don’t blame you for sitting outside, even though it’s hot. At least it’s not stuffy.”

  “Amen to that,” Olivia answered.

  After the worker left, Kathleen responded, “I’ll get Jeremy to pick up some garden burgers. Will that work for you?”

  “Sure. I love garden burgers. Thank you for remembering.”

  “Every once in a while, I let my better traits shine through to make up for when I stumble so badly and offend people with my brash and direct approach to life. I sincerely apologize for our earlier lunch, and I’m glad you’re not the type to hold grudges. I’m not as forgiving, but I’m working on it,” Kathleen admitted.

  “Hey, we’re all works in progress. There is no such thing as perfection. Besides, perfection lacks depth or texture.”

  Kathleen raised her glass of lemonade in the air, and Olivia joined her as they clinked their glasses together. “Hear, hear, ain’t that the truth.”

  †

  Kathleen tossed her keys on the granite counter and carefully set the two plastic bags full of fresh tomatoes, lettuce, and potato salad on the island in the kitchen. She peeked outside, following the sound of a whistled tune, in search of her husband. He was meticulously running the scraper on his beloved grill. She stood at the glass window watching him.

  He was still a very handsome man and hadn’t lost his muscled physique. She watched his bulging arms work up and down the grate inside the grill. She was a lucky woman.

  He’d never once stepped outside the bounds of marriage, and she knew he’d had plenty of opportunities. The nurses in the emergency department threw themselves at him all the time. It didn’t matter she was their boss. When they thought she wasn’t looking, their flirtations were absurdly ridiculous. She would shake her head as she watched him dodge every subtle invitation.

  She opened the glass doors and called out to him, “Hey honey, did you get a chance to pick up the garden burgers?”

  He shivered. “Yuk, yes I did. If you ask me it’s a waste of my grilling talents.” He shook his head. “Vegetarians, hmmf, I don’t understand them, and now Siera thinks she should be one too.”

  “Now honey, Olivia works with animals. I think it’s understandable she might have some discomfort over eating flesh.”

  “I guess if that’s her only flaw, I can live with it.” He chuckled. “I’m glad she brought Bri here to Moses Lake. The transformation in Siera is nothing short of a miracle.”

  “Wait until I tell you why I invited Olivia over. Miracle will be an understatement. It’s a dream come true for Siera. You were right about everything.”

  “Wait, what did you just say? Will you repeat that please? I believe it was something about me being right about everything. Arh, arh, arh.” Jeremy beat his chest.

  Kathleen chuckled. “Sometimes you show a certain measure of intuition and intelligence,” she admitted. “Although I’m not quite there yet with Bri and Siera potentially being a couple, everything else was spot on. Olivia is a lovely woman and thankfully doesn’t hold a grudge like me. She accepted my apology and had an idea for Siera and Bri that is nothing short of brilliant. I know you think it’s my dream for Siera to go to college and succeed in life, but she also wants to be independent. I had a sort of epiphany that in many ways I am treating her like a child. It’s hard for me to recognize she’s growing into a wonderful young woman.”

  “So, what’s this brilliant plan the two of you cooked up?”

  “You’ll have to wait and see like everyone else,” Kathleen answered. “By the way, did you know Deb and Olivia have been spending time together?”

  “Hmmm, no I didn’t. You know your sister could do a lot worse,” Jeremy noted.

  “Oh, I know, but unfortunately Olivia made it very clear she isn’t looking for anything beyond friendship. I get the sense she isn’t ready to move on from the death of her previous lover.”

  “Makes sense, if something ever happened to you, I don’t think I could ever move on either.”

  “Oh my God, you are so getting some tonight. Sometimes you say the sweetest things.” Kathleen stepped outside, walked over to Jeremy, and gave him a quick kiss.

  Jeremy turned up the corners of his mouth and pumped his fist in the air. “Works every time.”

  Kathleen punched him in the shoulder and walked back into the house at the same time Siera burst in with Bri and Olivia following closely behind.

  “Hi, Mom,” Siera greeted her.

  “Hi, honey. Your father is out getting the grill ready. It won’t be anything fancy tonight, just some burgers and potato salad. Jeremy picked up some garden burgers if you girls want that instead.”

  “Thanks, Mom.”

  “I really appreciate you picking those up special for me.” Olivia nudged Bri.

  “Yes, thank you Miss Kathleen,” Bri added.

  “Just Kathleen, remember? We’re friends.”

  Toby sauntered into the kitchen covered in dirt. “Hey everyone. We having some kind of party again?” He took a few steps inside and left dirt and grass tracks on the floor.

  “Hey, take your shoes off, and get your ass in the shower before you cover my floor in dirt and grime.”

  “Ooh, Mom said a bad word. You owe the swear jar.”

  Kathleen pointed. “Fine, go.”

  Toby kicked off his gym shoes and started walking toward the stairs. “Tell Dad I want two really big ones with meat, not those crappy vegetarian versions.”

  Siera stuck her tongue out. “I like vegetarian food.”

  “Me too,” Bri added.

  Toby chuckled, as he took the stairs two at a time. Kathleen shuddered thinking how much dirt he was probably tracking into the house.

  “Come on in, I have some tea and lemonade already made up in the fridge. On hot days like the ones we’ve been having, I automatically keep the pitchers full,” Kathleen said.

  “Is there anything I can help with?” Olivia asked.

  “Nope, I’ll slice the tomatoes, wash the lettuce, and set everything on the counter for people to make their own burgers the way they want.” Kathleen opened the refrigerator and pulled out the pitchers filled to the brim with cold drinks. “Siera, would you mind pulling some glasses from the cabinets?”

  Siera pulled open the doors and pushed up on her tiptoes in an attempt to reach the glasses. “I wish I wasn’t so short.”

  “Here, let me get those for you.” Olivia reached into the cabinets and pulled down seven glasses.

  “That’s too many,” Bri noted.

  “I invited Deb. Seven is the right number, but that was very observant of you, Bri.” Kathleen turned back to the refrigerator and pulled out the ground bison and frozen garden burgers. She handed them to Siera. “Here, take these out to your father for him to do his magic.”<
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  “Iced tea or lemonade?” Olivia asked.

  “I’ll take some tea. Siera usually wants lemonade, and so do Toby and Jeremy. I can make up some more lemonade if we run out,” Kathleen answered.

  “No worries, I love iced tea. Bri is tea okay for you?”

  Bri nodded. “Uh huh.”

  Olivia filled all the glasses with the preferred beverages.

  Siera came back into the house with the empty plate. “Dad said the burgers will be ready soon. He wanted to know if we would be eating outside or inside.”

  “I think it’s over one hundred out there now, so let’s eat inside tonight and avoid the stifling heat,” Kathleen answered.

  “If you let me rummage around in your cabinets, I can set the table,” Olivia offered.

  “We’re not fancy. We don’t set tables. We just set out plates, utensils, and napkins. You can do that while I’m slicing the tomatoes and getting the rest of the condiments ready,” Kathleen answered. “Siera, would you mind washing off that plate, please, and then taking it back out to your father with another for the garden burgers?”

  Olivia pulled out eight plates and set them on the counter.

  After washing up, Siera picked up the top plate and exited through the sliding glass door.

  “I sure hope that mudball son of mine gets down here soon. It sounds like we’re almost ready to eat,” Kathleen said offhandedly, as she continued to slice tomatoes on the cutting board she had retrieved from one of the drawers on the kitchen island.

  Toby strolled into the room flicking back his wet hair. “Here I am. Let the party begin.”