New Quarters

by Tey Holden

  “Yes, Ker, that’s how I see it.”

  Addy realized that her words on the road had unsettled Karen, and that Karen needed reassurances about their commitment. She wanted to say so much more, but thought that words alone would never express how she felt, and that only time and actions would make Karen understand the depth of her feelings, and the strength their relationship.

  Karen inhaled and exhaled as if cleansing her body of all her fears. She got up and looked into the dark ocean while Addy remained on her chair. Noticing the silence, Karen looked back and found Addy with her eyes filled with tears. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing, I’m just overwhelmed, I guess. I feel special. No one has ever made me feel so special.”

  Karen dropped to her knees between Addy’s legs. She tried to speak but hardly could. Somehow whispered words came out. “You are special. You are everything to me.” She put her head on Addy’s stomach and held on to her hips as Addy gently brushed her golden hair. Karen straightened and took Addy’s face in her hands and kissed her.

  “Come on let’s go inside.” Addy got up and led the way to the cottage. While Karen closed the patio door, Addy came from behind and hugged her. “Let’s make dinner.”

  After dinner, they turned in for the night. Since being together they had gotten into the habit of going to bed relatively early. It seemed that all they ever wanted to do was enjoy each moment of their time together. They had overcome too many obstacles to be together and now it seemed as if life had acquired new meaning. Sometimes in the afterglow conversation, they talked about whether they would always feel the same passion for each other as time passed. There was no known answer, just the consistent promise to keep the flame burning no matter what the future brought.

  The sun rays through the windowpane woke Karen up. She smiled when she looked to her side. She got up and kissed her partner gently on her forehead. Standing on the side of the bed Karen couldn’t help admiring the spectacular view. Addy’s nude back, the sheets barely covering part of her buttocks and one leg. Beautiful. Who would have thought? She bent over and kissed her again. I just can’t get enough of her.

  Addy, squirmed a bit when Karen kissed her again. “What time is it? Do we need to get up?”

  “No, baby.” Karen came close and kissed her right hip and massaged her right buttock. “Umm! So good! You can sleep some more, babypooh. I’m going to shower and make some coffee.” Karen knew that if she remained there one more second, she wouldn’t be able to leave and the morning would easily turn into the afternoon. She sometimes had to force herself away from Addy because she was concerned that Addy would grow tired of her. She just couldn’t explain the crazy, overwhelming attraction that drew her to Addy. She often told Addy that she had bewitched her.

  Once downstairs, she started the coffee, picked up the paper from the front door and stepped out on the patio to glance at the fabulous view of the ocean. She was happy, eternally happy. When Addy came downstairs to get her coffee, she looked out the kitchen window and saw Karen outside on the patio looking at the view. Karen was wearing a white long loose tunic shirt and black baggy lounge pants, the strong warm wind from the ocean blowing her hair, and her loose clothes into the air. Addy got her coffee and began to drink it, still looking at the gorgeous woman outside the window. She came out and, from the back, wrapped her arms around Karen. “Good morning gorgeousness.” Karen melted back into her arms.

  “Good morning, sleeping beauty. Isn’t this a great view?” She opened her arms as to display the sight.

  “Yeah, but you missed the one from back there, though.” Karen turned around still in Addy’s arms.

  “What view?”

  Addy smiled, holding her arms wide open. “All of this and you in the middle of it.”

  Karen’s heart skipped a beat, as she buried her face in Addy’s shoulder. “Addy!”

  Addy inhaled deep into her hair and took in her scent. “I wouldn’t trade this picture for the Mona Lisa.”

  Karen chuckled. “You’ve turned out to be some sweet talker, you know?”

  “I’ve got a lot to talk about. I held it all inside for a long time, sweetie.” Karen combed Addy’s hair back and kissed her on the lips.

  “Hey, hot lips, cut that out, I think we need to go to town and take a break. All this love is going to kill us, you know?”

  Raising her fist in the air, Karen said: “Live hard, die young!”

  “Don’t know, I think I want to live long and enjoy all of this.” She ran her hands up and down Karen’s arms and down her buttocks holding them tight and pressing Karen’s body to her.

  Karen chuckled. “I think that I’ve created a monster, that I’m in a sort of coma and that none of this is real.”

  “It feels very real to me.” Addy grabbed Karen’s butt with her hands, and bit Karen’s lower lip pulling it gently. Then she kissed her. “Last night also seemed pretty real to me.” Addy wiggled her eyebrows. “Come on, let’s make some breakfast.”

  Karen grinned, as Addy pulled her into the house. “Scramble okay with you?”

  A few minutes later, Karen snuck up behind her and nuzzled her ear. “Whatever you do is fine with me.” She slid her hands under Addy’s T-shirt finding very soft skin. Addy’s nipples immediately hardened with her touch. “Umm.”

  Addy squirmed. “Ker, I’m cooking!”

  “Umm, are you sure you want to go to town, I’m getting a different signal here.” She still had her hands on Addy’s breasts while nuzzling her neck and placing gentle kisses on it.

  Addy smiled and continued to squirm. “Ker, I’m going to burn myself!” Karen turned off the stove and nibbled her ear.

  “The town is going to still be there later, maybe we should, umm.” She slid one of her hands under Addy’s waistband. “What have we here, no undies, Ms. Addy?”

  Addy dropped the spatula on the counter and removed the pan from the stove smiling. “I thought you liked accessibility? And if you don’t know what you’ve got there, we are in trouble.”

  Karen continued to kiss her neck and speak. “I do love accessibility, and even though I know what I have here, I think I would like to examine it closely to make sure it’s in as good shape this morning as it was last night. Here in Scotland we folks are very hospitable.” Addy smiled pressing both of Karen’s hands with her own against her body and moaning.

  Karen’s right hand was still on Addy’s breast, while her left hand was committed to demonstrate Scotland’s hospitality. Addy closed her eyes in pleasure, stiffened and leaned back into Karen.

  “So wet.” Karen whispered into her ear.

  “Ker!” Addy pressed herself into Karen’s body, as Karen continued to put pressure on her. Addy’s hand grasped Karen’s forearm, and she gasped. “Ker!”

  “Yes love?”

  “Bedroom.”

  “No, here.”

  “In the kitchen?”

  “Yes, right here.”

  “Ker, hold me!” She clutched Karen’s forearm in such way that her fingers turned white.

  “Always.” As the pressure increased, she leaned her head backwards and let it drop on Karen’s shoulder. After her orgasm, she fell limp into Karen’s embrace. Karen smiled satisfied from her deed. “You okay?

  “Yeah, but I need to sit down.”

  Karen helped her to the sofa and pulled her to her lap. “Come here.” Addy snuggled into her, and rested her head on Karen’s shoulder. Karen kissed her and stroked her gently on her back. “Was it good?” Addy raised her head and kissed her, then whispered in her ear.

  “You have to stop doing this to me. You are going to kill me.”

  “Um huh, but was it that good?”

  “Awesome.”

  Part 4

  Fixing the cottage took some time because while fixing it, just about everything happened. Whenever something was replaced or removed it caused something else to fail, or a new disaster zone was discovered. When the roofers were replacing the shingles they disco
vered that the planks underneath had rotted and they had to replace everything. It was a constant nightmare. While removing the kitchen cabinets to replace them, the contractor struck a pipe and water gushed everywhere. Mr. Willow, the plumber had to be called. While there he determined that most of the pipes had to be replaced because they were rusted. Some of the pipes were also lead pipes. Since he was already there, he regulated the water pressure, installed the hot water heater, and the hot tub.

  Mr. Willow was a jolly old fellow who liked to talk as he worked. His business was in Altee, but since he was the only plumber in town, he covered a large area and knew just about everyone. “Yeah, I always took care of the plumbing for Ms. Charlotte. She really loved this place. Of course, she was always most happy when Ms. Gertrude came to visit. When she came to visit, she’d stay for a long time. They were quite a pair when they were together. They’d laugh at everything, sitting out there sipping their wine.”

  Karen looked at Addy and shrugged. “Mr. Willow, what do you know about Ms. Gertrude and where does she live?”

  “Don’t know much. Ms. Charlotte called her Gerri. I figured they must have been old friends, judging by the way they behaved. I never asked who she was, or where she lived. It never came up. They got along really well. She’d come and stay all spring and summer, and then she’d leave. She came every year, for many years.”

  “Do you know her last name?”

  “No. Never asked that either. I’m all done upstairs, Ms. Larsen. I will send my bill in the mail. It sure is good to have a new Larsen lady in the cottage again. This is a nice place. They don’t make anything like this anymore. Now it’s all new construction, cheap stuff. These walls are old stones. Nothing can bring them down. I’m glad to see that you keep company here. Are you staying through the winter? Winters are pretty cold up here.” He was addressing Addy.

  “Yes, Mr. Willow, I am here to stay permanently with Ms. Larsen.” Karen smiled looking at the pair in front of her.

  “Good! I’ll be on my way now. Have a good day, ladies.”

  As he walked away, Addy stood behind Karen and commented. “I wonder what he’d say if he knew how permanent my stay here is going to be?” She smiled, kissed Karen on the cheek turned around, and got busy in the kitchen.

  Karen turned around smiling, followed Addy to the kitchen, and sat on one of the stools. “I’m curious about this Gertrude. I wonder what sort of relationship Aunt Charlotte had with her, and if she’s still around.”

  “Why? Do you think that they might have been more than friends? Lovers? Was your aunt a lesbian?”

  “Aunt Charlotte never said anything about being a lesbian, but then again, those were other times and people were more closeted. If she was, maybe that’s why she always stood up for me. Maybe she gave me credit for my courage in coming out in such a traditional environment.”

  “When did you?”

  “Towards the end of high school. I got tired of hiding from people. The family hated it. I sort of rebelled and got into a lot of trouble. I really don’t want to talk about that now, Addy.”

  “One day Ker, you are going to tell me about that part of your life you never want to talk about. I don’t know why you don’t. Whatever happened, it already passed. I love you, baby, and nothing is ever is going to change that.”

  Karen smiled. “I know. I just have bad memories from my past and would like to put them behind me.”

  “Ker, everybody has something in their past they want to forget. As bad as it might have been, it couldn’t have been so bad. You are a loving person, and you have probably always been that way. We all have had times in our lives when we have been confused. We should not judge people for what they did, or did not do in their past. We were never in their shoes, and only God knows what a person can do when faced with situations outside their control. Nope, I’m sure you were always your wonderful self. You are just being too hard on yourself. Go on and set the table for dinner.”

  Karen did as told. She kept looking at Addy in disbelief that someone had that forgiving outlook of life. She thought that Addy was as naïve, as adorably wonderful. Where did Addy come from? How could she keep such a positive outlook of life in a world so full of crap?

  “Don’t give me the sad puppy look, Larsen, you know I can practically read your mind, so be careful with your thoughts around me. I may not be able to know the past, but the present and the future are very obvious and clear to me.”

  Karen grinned. She grabbed Addy and kissed her. “Adriana, you are my beautiful love, and I will kiss the ground that you walk on just for you to allow me the pleasure of doing so!”

  “I hate it when you get on your worshipping mode.”

  “Why? I thought you liked it.”

  “It’s very flattering, but it frightens me because one day you are going to realize that I’m no goddess, and you’ll see me for the plain woman that I am, and you’ll regret every one of your worshipping acts.”

  “I doubt that very much, and for the record, if that was ever to happen, I would never regret any of my worshiping acts.” Addy grabbed the kitchen towel and snapped her with it.

  “Ouch! You know what they say about aggressiveness right?”

  “No I don’t, and you are not telling me!”

  Karen grabbed her from behind and restrained her. Karen was taller than her and that gave her an advantage. “You are something else, you know?” Addy was trying to force herself free. They were both laughing at the sparring match.

  “Karen Larsen, I swear that if you pull another Scotland hospitality trick again on me I’m going to—.” Karen allowed her to turn around in her arms. They were both still laughing.

  “You are going to what?” Karen brought her face close, looked at her adoringly and kissed her.

  “I’m going to have to show you how Latin people reciprocate hospitality.” She grinned, and chuckled looking at Karen’s adorable smile.

  Karen laughed as well. “I’m afraid, Ms. Addy, that by now I’m very familiar with Latin hospitality, so if you are ready to show me, just let me know where you want me. I know the granite counter top doesn’t cut it for you, but the dusty sofa over there, could take some beating to remove some dust.”

  Just then, the phone rang. “Ker, it’s your phone.”

  “Yeah. Who could it be at this hour? It’s JP. Hello there.”

  “Did I catch you at a bad time? You sound too cheery.”

  “I’m always cheery. I’ve got Addy right here.”

  “Hopefully not naked and with her legs wide open in front of you.”

  “JP, I swear sometimes you do get on my nerves. Could you, please, not make comments like that anymore? I don’t crack jokes about you and James, do I?”

  “Okay, I’m sorry. I won’t anymore. Geez, can I talk to Addy, I feel like you are going to bite me.”

  “Sure,” Karen sharply replied.

  “Hi, sweetie, I think I offended the blonde.”

  “Don’t worry, JP, I’ll talk to her. What’s going on?”

  “I was just calling to see how you guys were doing.”

  “We are fine.” Addy kept looking at Karen who had stepped outside.

  After about fifteen minutes, Addy hung up and went outside to find Karen.

  She was sitting on the wood swing in the patio.

  “What was that about with JP?”

  “I don’t like it when he jokes about us.”

  “He loves us and means well.”

  “Yeah, but when he talks trashy about us, it demeans our relationship. I don’t like it, and I won’t allow it. I feel it’s disrespectful to you.”

  “And not to you?”

  “I don’t care what he says about me. He knows me from our running around in New York. You are different. You are out of bounds. I won’t let him talk about you like that.” Karen was looking down when she spoke.

  “Is this about the past again?”

  Karen was silent. Addy was too. She wanted Karen to talk and was creat
ing the silence on purpose. Karen glanced at her.

  “I had a bit of a nasty past in my run around with JP too, Addy.”

  “We all have things we would like to forget, I told you that already. Sometimes we can’t. Then it’s a matter of what we do with the rest of our lives that makes a difference. You are good, baby. I wouldn’t love you this much if you weren’t. I’m glad you stood up for me even if it made JP feel bad. I guess I know now that I will always come first for you.”

  Karen looked at her. “Have you ever doubted it?”

  “No, but JP and you go a long way and—.”

  Karen turned around. “Addy, nobody comes before you, nobody. Do you understand that? You are the most important person in my life.” Karen was so serious that it almost frightened Addy.

  “Okay, baby, I know, I know I am.”

  Addy took her hand and kissed it. Then Karen began to tell her about some of the things in her past and about her fears. Addy listened and caressed her gently, occasionally kissing her. “Ker, all is fine now. I wish I could guaranty that life will always be fine, but nobody can guaranty such a thing. There’s one thing I can guaranty, though.”

  “What?”

  “I can guaranty that whatever happens in our lives, I will always stand by you.”

  “I thought you didn’t believe in always, never, ever, and forever?”

  “I don’t, but I will tell you one thing, I love my daughter and I love you, and as much as I can guaranty an always, a never, an ever, and a forever it will be to you and her.”

  Karen smiled lovingly. She was well aware that Addy’s reply was a true, heartfelt answer. She knew Addy well. She had dedicated too much time observing, and studying her. She knew her heart, and it was as good as they came.

  Addy tapped her nose with her finger and kissed it. The gesture made Karen smile even more. Still sitting on the swing, Karen continued to tell her about her past. “My mother passed when I was thirteen. My father lost it. He was so hurt, it took him a long time to remember he had a daughter, by then he and I had grown apart. He started to drink, and I began to act up. I met up with shady people, smoked and drank. I never did drugs, and didn’t have sex until much later. I did not trust anyone and didn’t want to deal with any romantic ties. Not to mention that I was very confused, sexually. I mean, I knew I didn’t like boys, and I was realizing I liked girls. It was hell, considering my mother’s sudden and recent death. It was all happening at the same time. My teenage years were turbulent. My father was hurting still from my mother’s death and drinking and didn’t know what to do with me. That’s why he sent me to Altee with Aunt Charlotte for the summers. I think he also wanted to remove me, at least temporarily, from the environment that he thought was bringing me down. It was his way of doing something for me, I guess.” She paused and Addy caressed her shoulder with the arm she had draped over her.