by Annette Mori
“I do like being right. I was right. I was right. I was right,” Kathleen chanted.
“If I agree, can we get back to my expert attempt at seduction—before it was so rudely interrupted by your need to poke your nose in your sister’s business?” Jeremy asked.
Kathleen smacked him in the chest again. “Keep up your joking, and you’ll find your pillow and blanket tossed on the couch and the bedroom door locked. The only kisses you’ll get are from the cats.”
Jeremy pulled Kathleen tight and began kissing her. “God, I love you.”
Kathleen melted into his embrace, as she let him lead her to the bed and begin to remove her clothes.
†
Olivia held Deb’s hand and kept the connection as they entered Olivia’s house. When Olivia started to lead her into the bedroom, Deb stopped and gently nudged her toward the living room. She needed to know where the relationship was heading. If they weren’t traveling in the same direction, Deb vowed to set the boundaries, no matter how difficult that might be. She would go back to being friends before she would agree to an occasional roll in the hay minus any commitment.
“Can we talk first, please?”
Olivia nodded. “Yeah, we should talk. I guess it’s long overdue.”
“I’m going to lay things on the line. I want more than a spontaneous night of passion here and there. I did enough casual after Carrie dumped me. I’m at the age where I want to build a life. I need commitment.” Deb led Olivia to the couch, and they sat down next to each other.
Olivia’s nose crinkled in confusion. “We did share the same experience last night, didn’t we? Last night wasn’t only sex for me, Deb. We made love. I don’t share myself like that with anyone. You knew you were the first person I let in since Irene. How could you possibly think I’d want something different?”
Deb couldn’t help the tear that leaked out. “I couldn’t stop myself from falling. I knew you weren’t interested in a relationship, but I fell in love with you anyway. Now that you’ve opened the door, I can’t help hoping…” she choked on her words.
Olivia pulled her into an embrace and rubbed her back as she murmured, “Oh Deb, I’m so sorry, I should have told you last night. Despite all my efforts to stay away from love, you wormed your way in. You, silly woman, have to know how besotted I am with you. I love you, Deb, and I was just too damn stubborn to admit it until now.”
Deb’s bleary eyes met Olivia’s own watery blue ones. “You mean that? Because I won’t let you take back the words after you confirm it.”
“Every single word, Deb, every single word. I love you, and I want to make a life with you. Do you think we can date for a little bit before, you know, rings and all that? I don’t want to take any attention away from our two lovebirds. Let’s get them married first, okay?”
“That sounds like a good plan, but I don’t know if I’ll want to wake up alone ever again. This morning felt so right. I’ve been crashing here for three years now, but today when I woke up next to you, I thought to myself I’d like to do this every morning for the rest of our lives. I hope that doesn’t scare you away, because it’s how I feel. Any ideas on how we deal with that?”
“Nope, it doesn’t scare me away. There’s a simple solution. We can either go back and forth between my house and your condo, or you can sell your condo and move in with me.” Olivia grinned.
Deb took a big breath. “Do you think maybe we can look around for a house we can pick out together? Not today, but sometime in the future.”
Olivia turned her head and glanced at the picture of Irene and her that Deb was staring at. “Oh honey, of course. My epiphany is so new, but that doesn’t make it any less true. I promise not to let a lingering memory of someone I loved very much put a wedge in our love.”
“I’m not asking you to forget Irene. I’m asking that we have the chance to create new memories in a home we pick out together. You know you can talk about her.”
“I know I can. Thank you.”
“I guess, in many ways, losing Irene in a car crash was harder than if it had been a long, lingering illness. I suppose both tragedies have their own challenges. You never got to say goodbye, did you?”
Olivia’s eyes shifted down. “No, I didn’t. At first, when the police officer came to the door, I couldn’t wrap my head around what had happened. She was so young. I haven’t been able to spread her ashes yet, and it’s been six years since she died. I’m a horrible person.”
Deb pulled Olivia back into her arms. She comforted Olivia, who laid her head on Deb’s shoulder. “No, you’re not.”
“It was her last wish for her ashes to be spread on Mt. Baker, and I’ve methodically avoided the whole area. It’s time. I know that.”
“I suspect you’ll want to do this on your own, but you let me know what you need. I’ll be there for you.” Deb kept stroking her back.
“You know, Irene would have loved you. Your vibrancy and the way you embrace life and all it has to offer is so damn enticing. It was very hard not to fall for you. Irene always lived life to the fullest, like you, but I want you to know I haven’t fallen in love with you as a replacement for Irene. You are so different. You have this vulnerability and compassion Irene never had. It’s not that Irene lacked empathy, she just wasn’t ruled as much by her heart. Sometimes, her logical approach to the world would drive me nuts.” Olivia paused. “I think maybe I would like you to come with me, or at least drive with me. I can take a hike by myself and finally say goodbye.”
“You tell me when you’d like to go. If I’m scheduled to work, I’ll take those days off. Please, don’t ever feel like you can’t talk about Irene, okay?”
“Thank you. I do love you.”
“I know and I love you too,” Deb answered. “Oh, don’t forget we’re going to need plenty of room, because it’s a package deal. We can’t forget about Socks. I feel bad about the amount of time I spend at your place, and believe me Socks lets me know he is displeased by that.”
“You know I love that little fuzzball. I remember when you picked him out on the first day we met. Of course he’ll live with us. Three cats and a dog is still within reasonable limits. No one will say we’re crazy cat ladies, yet. Hey, what about him being the king and not playing well with others?”
“He’ll adjust. Kids should grow up with lots of animals,” Deb remarked.
Olivia quirked her eyebrow. “Kids?”
“Don’t panic, but yes I see kids in our future.”
“Okay.” Olivia’s slow smile and one-word answer was enough for Deb. She’d found her match. It was a bonus Olivia hadn’t pulled away when Deb made mention of kids. Everything was going to work out perfectly; she just knew it.
Chapter Twenty-eight
Siera wasn’t able to keep the smile from her face as she walked beside Jeremy, who kept pace with Bri and her father. Siera thought Bri was the most beautiful bride she’d ever seen. She watched the sunlight reflect off of Bri’s golden hair, as it fell across her shoulders. They each held a beautiful bouquet of lilac roses.
Her mom had suggested they walk down the aisle together with their fathers escorting them, and both fathers were beaming with pride. At first, Siera had been nervous when Bri’s parents came to visit and stayed with Olivia for three weeks. She’d tried her best to make a good impression, and Olivia kept assuring her all she needed to do was be herself.
She liked Bri’s parents, but not as much as she loved Olivia, because Olivia had never made her feel inferior. Maribel and Greg were very stiff and formal when she’d first met them, but over the years, they’d started to loosen up. Siera knew Olivia kept talking to them about the marriage, and she’d tried not to listen in, but she’d heard their hesitation.
Olivia’s raised voice surprised Siera, because Olivia seldom got mad.
“If you screw up your daughter’s chance for happiness with your regressive beliefs, you can kiss off any future relationship with her. Bri is marrying Siera, whether you like it
or not. They don’t need your blessing, but if you love your daughter, you’ll give it. I don’t want to hear any stupid shit about Bri not being like everyone else, because that’s nonsense.”
Siera didn’t want to continue listening to the conversation. Bri was in the shower, so Siera joined her to keep her from overhearing the fight. She knew their words might hurt her. So, she snuck inside the shower. They giggled the whole time the water rained down on them. It was the first time she’d done that and it was so much fun. They decided it was a lot more pleasurable to shower together than separate.
The next day, Siera felt genuine affection from Bri’s mom for the very first time. After that conversation, there was a noticeable difference in how Maribel treated Bri. Siera suspected Olivia had finally managed to convince her it was okay.
When they asked Olivia and Deb to stand up as their maids of honor, both of them cried. They assured Siera and Bri the tears were for happiness.
Everyone was standing and snapping pictures. When they joined Deb and Olivia at the altar, they each accepted a kiss on the cheek from their dads, who joined their hands together and retreated to their seats. Siera looked over her shoulder and saw both sets of parents in the front row. Her mom and Bri’s mom were dabbing their eyes, but Siera knew it was like when Deb and Olivia had cried—they were tears of joy. She smiled at her mom and dad, and Jeremy gave her the thumbs up sign. Toby had both his thumbs up and was sitting next to Amy, who was holding her cell phone up taking pictures.
Siera had asked Deb to help her with her vows. Deb told her she should say what was in her heart—the words would come. She said the best vows were spontaneous, so Siera stood there at the church altar and poured her heart out.
“Bri’s been my best friend from the first moment I saw her in the park. It didn’t take long for me to know I loved her. I wanted to kiss her. I get to do that soon—after the minister says we’re married.” Siera smiled. “I promise, I will love you always. We are better together than apart. I don’t know what else to say, besides I love you. I really want to be your wife.” Siera grinned.
“You did fine,” Deb whispered.
“I don’t have pretty words. Can I just say, I love you and I really want to get married?”
Siera nodded.
“That’ll do,” the minister said.
Siera and Bri skipped and giggled down the aisle. When they reached the outside, people started tossing bird seed on them. Siera shook her head and was glad the birds would have something to eat. She knew Bri would be glad for that as well. She overheard Deb whisper to Olivia, “Be prepared, because I’m pushing everyone out of the way when they throw those bouquets. I will be the one to catch them, unless you want one, then I might let you have it.”
“I want one. Let’s join forces and muscle everyone away from our prize. We’ve got this.” Olivia slung her arm over Deb’s shoulder.
Siera was ecstatic. She knew it was just a matter of time before her aunt and her other best friend would get married. She hoped they would ask Bri and her to return the favor to be their maids of honor. She would like that.
When she saw Olivia and Deb kiss, she knew she wouldn’t have to wait long for another wedding in the Kaufman family.
†
Deb grabbed the small purse she had set on the ground next to the head table. She grinned at Olivia and plucked two Tootsie Pops from her bag.
Olivia laughed when Deb handed her the cherry-flavored sucker. “Are you sure your sister isn’t going to have a meltdown when the wedding pictures reveal us sitting in our Sunday best with white sticks protruding from our mouths?”
Deb waved her hand in the air. “Since you pushed me out of the way to get the flowers, I say we have a little contest on who has the most patience. First one to bite loses. Besides, I want to know how many licks before you end up biting into the creamy center.” Deb wiggled her eyebrows.
“I’m not participating until I know the prize.”
“Loser has to be the one to propose,” Deb tentatively stated.
“What if I’ve already got the perfect proposal in mind and consider that the winning treasure?”
“You do?”
Olivia pulled off the wrapper and popped the lollipop in her mouth. “Mmm-hmm.”
“Tell me how you plan to do it,” Deb ordered.
Olivia pulled the sucker out and it made a loud plop. “Nope. It’ll ruin the surprise. Clearly, you have no patience and will never win the competition.” She pointed to the unwrapped sucker in Deb’s hand. “Hey, start licking.”
Deb chuckled while she unwrapped her treat. “All right, how about the loser has to re-enact the same number of licks on__”
“That’s not a losing proposition either. You are sweeter tasting than this candy.”
“Well then, you come up with the prize.” Deb took a long slow lick of her sucker and shot Olivia a smoky look.
“All these suggestions are giving me very inappropriate ideas, while in broad daylight. I’m taking this down a different track. How about the loser has to clean the trikes, including those big ass chains?”
“Done. So, does the proposal have anything to do with the trikes?” Deb asked.
“Stop trying to weasel the details out of me, and don’t even think about pumping Bri and Siera.”
Crunch. Deb bit into her Tootsie Pop and grinned.
“You lose,” Olivia teased.
“No, I’m the biggest winner on the planet, because I got the woman I love to admit a proposal is on the horizon. Just don’t take too long, neither one of us is getting any younger, you know.”
Crunch. “Mmm chocolatey, creamy goodness, almost as tasty as you. Come on baby, let’s blow this Tootsie Pop stand, and I’ll tell you how many licks until I reach your creamy center.”
“Oh, I love how my stash of suckers always gets you in the mood.” Deb grabbed Olivia’s hand, and they made a hasty exit, giggling all the way to Olivia’s truck.
About the Author
Annette Mori
Annette is an award-winning author, published by Affinity Rainbow Publications, who lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her wife and their five furry kids. With ten published novels and one Goldie Award for her fourth novel, Locked Inside, she finally feels like a real author. Annette is as much a reader as a writer and is always looking for the next lesfic novel to cue up. She came up with the One Fan at a Time tagline, because it rolled off the tongue much better than One Reader at a Time. After pondering who she was at her core, it was all about connecting to each reader on a personal level. Annette would be the first to admit she doesn't do well with the masses. If someone picks up her book and it touches them, she believes she has achieved what she wants with her writing by reaching each reader. It is who she is at her core. Drop her a line, she loves to hear from readers: [email protected].
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