Imperfect Truth

by C. A. Popovich

  She set the document aside, unsettled by the tickle of pleasure at the thought of seeing Alex again so soon. The second Meetup was planned for the same weekend as the MPA conference, so she had told Alex she wouldn’t be there. She thought she heard relief in her voice when Alex told her she would have to work that weekend and couldn’t join the group either, but it could have been wishful thinking. She realized that Alex rendered item three on her list irrelevant. She cared what Alex thought of her.

  Buddy jumped off her lap and rubbed against her leg. She leaned to stroke his back as he arched into her hand.

  “Who’s got who trained here?”

  Buddy leapt back into her lap and rubbed his cheek on her arm before curling up and ignoring her. She stroked his fur and closed her eyes, his purring lulling her to sleep.

  Debby awakened to a stiff neck and numb leg. She groaned as she gently nudged Buddy off her lap and stood to stretch. “My days of sleeping in this chair are over, Bud.” She strode to her bedroom thinking of Alex’s offer of learning yoga stretches. She would call her in the morning to make arrangements to give it a try. It couldn’t hurt.

  She fell asleep to thoughts of Alex’s backside in yoga pants.

  Chapter Eight

  “Thanks for helping with this, Jen.” Alex paced the length of Jen’s living room, anticipating Debby’s arrival.

  “No problem. You know I love doing yoga, so I’m happy to include Debby.” Jennifer doubled over to touch her palms to the floor.

  “Show off.” Alex grinned.

  Alex jumped when the buzzer indicated Debby had arrived and stopped short when she opened the door. Debby wore a white T-shirt that fit snuggly over her breasts, a pair of loose fitting knit pants that hugged her shapely ass, and a pair of new looking white sneakers.

  “Am I early?” Debby looked puzzled.

  “No. Sorry. Come in.” Alex stepped aside, happy to have found her voice. She took a settling breath before continuing. “Jennifer’s already flaunting her flexibility, and I’m standing around watching.”

  “Okay. I wasn’t sure what to wear so…well…here I am.” Debby raised her arms to the side. “And I brought water.” She handed Alex a plastic bag containing several bottles of water.

  “You look just fine. The key is to be comfortable while you do the ridiculous poses. I’ll put these in the kitchen, and we can join Jennifer in the living room.”

  Alex worked to concentrate on the movements of the instructor on the TV screen and ignore Debby lying less than a foot from her. Several times, as they did a cross-stretching move, her hand brushed Debby’s, sending warmth up her arm. She seemed to have no trouble keeping up and was even enjoying the workout.

  Alex let out a sigh of relief when they reached the yoga nidra portion of the DVD.

  “Hmm. I like this part.” Debby slowly raised, then lowered, her arms as she spoke. “I feel like a limp noodle.”

  “You sound like Alex. The first time she tried this, her favorite part was the meditation.” Jennifer sat up in a lotus position and breathed deeply.

  Alex didn’t want to move. She remained on her back, but when she turned toward Debby, their gazes locked, and she changed her mind. She wanted to roll over on top of her and kiss her silly. She felt herself blush and pushed herself into a sitting position.

  Debby stood slowly, flexing her neck and rolling her shoulders. “Thanks, Jennifer. I think I feel better. I can see what you like about the last part, Alex. I’ve never experienced guided meditation before.”

  Alex struggled to get control of her runaway libido. “Yeah. I’ll admit it. I’m only in it for the lying around part. I’ll get us some water.” She stood, grateful for the distraction.

  Debby and Jennifer were seated on the couch when she returned with three bottles of water. They all sat quietly drinking the water until Jennifer’s phone interrupted the serenity. She left to take the call in the kitchen, and Debby stood and stretched her back.

  “I do feel better. I never would’ve thought I’d consider doing yoga again after the last time I tried it.”

  “Sounds like a story there. Care to share it?” Alex sat back and took a drink of water.

  A loud siren blared outside, forcing them to wait for a moment before continuing the conversation.

  Debby sat at the opposite end of the couch facing Alex. “It was quite a few years ago, when I was young and stupid. I was practicing barrel racing and fell off Shadow twice. Nothing hurt too much, so I hopped back on him.” She took a drink of water and tilted her head, considering. “It was a silly thing to do. I pushed myself to impress my lover at the time. I managed to dismount but hobbled for days afterward. She was big into yoga and convinced me it would help my back, so I decided to give it a try to avoid a trip to the doctor. I went with her to a class taught by a guy who’d trained with a Swami in India. Well, after the class, I felt no better, and to make matters worse, before leaving, I discovered my lover in a back room beneath the instructor.” Debby took a deep breath in an attempt to expel the memory. She had healed physically, but shut down emotionally, with her list to protect her. “And that’s the story of why I’m not big on yoga.”

  Alex had moved closer to her at some point during her story, and she set her water bottle on the coffee table and pulled her into a hug. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that. You deserve better.” She sat back, and Debby felt a chill envelop her.

  “Hey, you two. Sorry I was so long. That was Phil on the phone. He’s managed to get tonight off work, so we’re going to a show.” Jennifer sat in a chair opposite the couch and took a drink of water.

  “We’ll leave you to get ready,” Alex said and stood.

  “Thanks for the lesson, Jennifer. I’m thinking there may be something to this yoga stuff.” Debby smiled and stood to collect the empty water bottles.

  “I’m convinced yoga helps me deal with the stress of life. You can leave those bottles. I’ll recycle them.”

  “Okay. Thanks again.” She reached to shake hands, but Jen opened her arms wide for a hug.

  “See you next week. Have a good time tonight.” Alex hugged Jen before heading to the door.

  She followed Alex out into the hallway, feeling hesitant. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d told anyone about the day her six-year relationship ended. There’d been plenty of pain and anguish after, but it was that day it had truly ended. What was it about Alex that inspired so much trust?

  “How about lunch at my place?” Alex asked. “Tuna fish sandwiches?”

  Debby’s uncertainty vanished under Alex’s smile. “Sounds good. That yoga builds up an appetite, if nothing else.”

  They walked the short distance to Alex’s apartment in comfortable silence.

  Abby bounced into the air as they entered the room before grabbing one of Alex’s shoes as she removed it. She raced around the couch and crouched into a play stance, waiting.

  “Abby wants to play ‘shoe.’” Alex pointed to the floor in front of Abby, and the dog immediately dropped the shoe and came to sit next to her. “Good girl. We’ll play later.”

  Debby watched the interaction between Alex and her dog. Alex was gentle yet firm and obviously cared a great deal about Abby. She thought of her own connection to Shadow and to her now healthy stray cat who had wandered into her life skinny, matted, and full of fleas. For reasons she didn’t want to consider, she checked off another item on her list. Must love animals.

  *

  “Now that we have ‘Miss Center of Attention’ taken care of, does tuna fish on whole wheat sound okay?” Forbidden memories surfaced as she remembered her “go-to” meal for herself and Jen when they had been left to fend for themselves while her father was gone searching for her schizophrenic mother. Peanut butter was the backup if they were out of tuna, usually just eaten out of the jar with a couple of spoons. Those days were gone. She had a new life with a full pantry and a well-stocked refrigerator. She sighed and brought herself back to the present as Debby was s
peaking. “Sorry. I spaced there for a minute. You said tuna’s okay?”

  “Yeah. Tuna’s great. I asked if I could help with anything.”

  “You could keep me company in the kitchen. Something to drink? I have bottled water, tea, coffee, and hot chocolate.”

  “A cup of decaffeinated green tea sounds good, if you have it.” Debby followed her into the kitchen, and Alex slowed her pace, imagining she felt the heat of her body pressed against her back as she slipped her arms around her from behind. She shook her head to fend off the image and retrieved two mugs and a box of tea from an overhead cupboard.

  “Nice table.” Debby settled into one of the chairs at her small two-seater table.

  “Thanks. I found it at the flea market, along with my couch.” Abby had wandered into the kitchen with them, and Alex made her lie down on a cushioned matt in the corner while she rummaged in the cupboards.

  “I love that flea market. Kristen and I used to go every week to look at all the stuff. I found a great pair of barely used boots there this spring.” Debby picked up the cup of tea Alex had set on the table and took a sip. “Thanks.”

  Alex stopped herself from asking Debby to go to the flea market with her. Being with her was getting too comfortable, and she hadn’t heard back from Joe yet about the Martinez family. She had no right to involve Debby in her complicated life any more than she already had.

  Debby had trusted her with a personal story about her ex-lover. Should she reciprocate? And what sort of story should she make up? She decided to stay safe and practice small talk. “How long have you been drinking green tea?” Alex placed two small plates with tuna sandwiches on the table.

  “I decided when I turned forty, I needed to start taking better care of myself. I was diagnosed with high cholesterol, so I began making better food choices. My research indicated that green tea was good for the immune system as well as helping lower cholesterol. I’ve grown to like it.” Debby wrapped her hands around her cup and rested her arms on the table.

  Alex cringed at the memory of her fortieth birthday spent in a safe house a thousand miles away from home. She forced the memory to the back of her mind and picked up her sandwich. Focus on her. Questions about her, and her life. She asked things about favorite colors and foods. Things she could answer in response without having to lie. It left out so, so much, but at least it was something. Who knew so much of who we are is tied to who we’ve been?

  Chapter Nine

  The lobby was filled to capacity when Alex arrived at work. The Michigan Pharmacist Association conference appeared to be in full swing at eight in the morning. She had been off the day before, so she had missed seeing Debby check in. The buffet breakfast was being served in one of the ballrooms off the main hall, so she grabbed her clipboard and used the excuse of checking on the meal preparation to go in search of her.

  “Hey. I was hoping I’d see you this weekend. I asked about you at the desk last night when I arrived, but they said you had the day off,” Debby said.

  Debby’s tender smile urged her to relax her guard. She had to be careful. “Yeah. I switch off some Fridays if we don’t have a large group or event. Yours isn’t one of the bigger conventions. Is everything going well so far?” Alex needed to focus on her job, instead of the beautiful woman in front of her. Debby looked hot in a beige linen jacket and matching trousers. She wore polished brown leather boots and a chocolate colored shirt that matched the dark of her eyes. Alex felt the fluttering in her belly that was becoming the usual effect of her smile. She took a step back.

  “It’s going great. Do you have time to join me for lunch later?” Debby leaned against the wall next to the buffet line looking relaxed.

  “I’m scheduled to cover the lunch setup, so I’ll find you. Enjoy your day.” She shook off the spontaneous flare of desire and returned to the front desk to make her walk through the area to pick up any clutter in the room. She then restocked the forms located on the front desk area and wiped down the countertop. She spent the rest of the morning checking in guests and avoiding thoughts of Debby. She was about to let her boss know she was heading to the luncheon hall when the computer chimed an incoming email. She opened the email prepared for a guest check-in, but the name Miguel Martinez caught her attention, and she scrolled down to read the note.

  I wanted to thank the staff of the Hyatt for the wonderful job they did hosting my nuptial celebration. My darling wife and I appreciate the beautiful floral arrangements and decorations you provided to make our special day forever memorable.

  I especially want to express my gratitude to one of your outstanding desk clerks. I believe her name is Alex. Her exceptional attention to detail and friendly demeanor sets her apart from any I’ve ever encountered.

  Sincerely,

  Mr. and Mrs. Miguel Martinez

  Alex forwarded the email to her boss, as dictated by company policy, and logged out of the computer. Of course he’d know my name. I was here all day. She was responsible for checking in many of the guests that day, but what she agonized about was why he had singled her out. Was she being paranoid, or did he recognize her somehow? They were probably only newlyweds expressing their appreciation. She needed to talk to Joe.

  She hurried to her boss’s office, avoiding the dining area. She kept her hands in her pockets to hide their trembling. She quickly explained she needed to leave early, and her sweet, kindly boss said it wasn’t an issue.

  “Thanks, Betty. I need to get home and check on Jennifer. She’s incredibly sick with the flu.” Alex felt bad lying to Betty, but it was the first excuse that came to her in her anxious state. She needed to talk to Joe. “And I was supposed to meet a friend here for lunch. She’s one of the pharmacists with the MPA group. Her name’s Debra Johnson. Would you please let her know I can’t make it?”

  Alex raced out of the building to her car before pulling out her phone to call Joe and tell him about the email.

  “But he knows my name.” Alex had moved her car to the back of the parking lot, close to the exit. She sat with the windows closed and the doors locked. She twisted in her seat and switched her phone to her other ear as she scanned the parking lot for anyone lurking.

  “Just try to settle down. We have Miguel Martinez under surveillance, Alex. The FBI has someone undercover in the cartel, but we don’t have any evidence that Miguel is a part of it. I promise I’ll call you as soon as I know something, and remember, he only knows you as Alex. I don’t think you have anything to worry about. There’s no way he knows your real name.”

  “But what if he is a bad guy and somehow recognizes me? What if…” Alex realized her fear was probably unwarranted, and she had to trust Joe to keep them safe. She worried about Jennifer, who had finally achieved some peace. She sighed and leaned back against her headrest.

  “It’ll be all right. You’re safe, Alex.”

  Joe’s voice calmed her enough that she was able to relax. “Thanks, Joe. I’m okay now, but I don’t guarantee I won’t be calling you every day.”

  “That’s fine, kiddo. Do what you have to. I’ll be here.”

  Alex disconnected the call and took one more look around the parking area before changing her mind. I’m tired of living in fear. She was supposed to be living a new life, not hiding from her old one. Determined and fighting down the fear that never seemed to release her, she locked her car and headed inside to find Debby.

  *

  “Of course. I understand. Thank you for letting me know.” Debby smiled at Betty despite her disappointment at the news. She sat across from the empty chair in the luncheon hall and wondered when she had allowed spending time with Alex to become so important to her. She stood to head to the buffet line when she saw Alex standing at the door and waved when she caught her eye.

  “Hey. I just heard from your boss that you’d left early and wouldn’t be here.”

  “Sorry. I decided I don’t need to leave. Where’re you sitting?”

  “The table over by the back door. Shal
l we get our food now?” Debby indicated the direction of the table and reflexively rested her hand on Alex’s lower back to lead her toward the food line. Her muscles felt tight under her fingertips, and Debby suppressed the urge to massage her shoulders. She moved her hands and concentrated on filling a plate with food.

  “Are you enjoying the conference so far?” Alex surveyed the room as if searching for someone.

  “Yeah. It’s been great this year. I’m not sure if it’s because of our new association president or what, but I’m enjoying the workshops. This afternoon we cover the paradoxical effects of anti-anxiety drugs.”

  “I’d say how fascinating it sounded if I knew what that was.” Alex grinned and took a bite of her chicken salad.

  “You probably don’t want to hear about the labeling regulations for unit-of-use packaging, then.” Debby chuckled and smiled over her fork full of salad.

  “What I’d like to hear about is your friend’s wedding. Is it dressy? I’m trying to decide what to wear.”

  Debby recalled the invitation she had received in the mail. There hadn’t been any mention of a dress code. “I don’t think so, but I’m not sure what one wears to a lesbian wedding. I’ll ask Kristen at the race this weekend.”

  “Another barrel race?” Alex beamed and grasped her hand, taking her by surprise.

  “Might be the last of the season. They’re talking about having an event on Labor Day, but it would conflict with the state fair.” She squeezed Alex’s hand and released it to grasp her water bottle.

  “I’ll plan to come watch the race this weekend, then. I’m working on Labor Day, but I’ve got the whole weekend off.” Alex hesitated before continuing. “Maybe we could spend some time at the fair on Sunday? It’s expanded this year, and I want to see the new equestrian show rings.” Alex bit her lip and looked down at the napkin she was playing with.