Complications

by Mj Williamz

  “I work one to seven,” Susan said.

  “Fine. We’ll meet right after seven then.”

  “Okay. Where?”

  Dorinda gave her the address, which she wrote on a bar napkin, and Susan said good-bye. She turned to Mel with tears in her eyes.

  “What’s going on?” Mel asked.

  “It’s Lucinda,” Susan said. “She’s Dorinda’s aunt, but is also a dear friend of mine. She’s living here with bladder cancer. Dorinda wants to know if I’ll help provide care for her.”

  “And you said yes?”

  “Of course. How could I not?”

  Mel didn’t say anything.

  “Look, I’m doing this for Lucinda, not Dorinda, okay?”

  “If you’re sure about that.”

  “I am.”

  “I really don’t want you having any contact with Dorinda, babe. I don’t think it’s healthy,” Mel said.

  “I’m sure I won’t. Everyone is getting together tomorrow after seven to set up a schedule of who does what for Lucinda when.”

  “Can I go with you?”

  “Is it that important?” Susan said.

  “Yes.”

  “Then you can go.”

  “Thanks. Now. Want another drink?” Mel said.

  “I think I’m ready to head home. You coming with?”

  “You know it. Do you want to stop for dinner along the way?”

  “I’m not really hungry,” Susan said.

  “Oh yeah, I guess not. Sorry. I’ll just order a pizza when we get there.”

  Mel sat eating pizza and drinking beer while Susan sat quietly on the couch next to her. She was so sad about Lucinda. She was kind, loving, funny. She deserved a long life. Susan knew she couldn’t be more than fifty-five. It just wasn’t fair to lose her so soon.

  “Hey, babe,” Mel said. “I’m really sorry to hear about your friend. That’s gotta be harsh.”

  “Thanks. It is.”

  “And I’m sorry I freaked at the bar. I just don’t want Dorinda hurting you again.”

  “She won’t. I won’t let her. Besides, I have you now.”

  “Yes, you do. Don’t ever forget that,” Mel said.

  “I won’t.”

  Susan leaned into Mel. Mel wrapped her arm around her and held her close.

  “I just wish I knew her better so I’d know if I could trust her,” Mel said.

  “I’m the one you have to trust,” Susan said. “And I should hope by now you know you can.”

  “I do know that, baby. That’s not what I meant. I trust you implicitly. But I don’t trust her not to hurt you. And now that you’re not together anymore, will she quit picking on you? Or will it continue?”

  “I don’t really expect to have much contact with her,” Susan said. “I figure I’ll see her tomorrow and that’ll be it. She’ll go back to LA, and I’ll be here to help with Lucinda.”

  “I hope that’s how it goes down,” Mel said.

  “It will.”

  *

  Mel was fuming inside. She didn’t want to let Susan near Dorinda. She was proud of her for wanting to take care of Lucinda, but why did she have to be in the same room as Dorinda? At least for the meeting, Mel would be there to keep her safe, but what about after that? What if Dorinda didn’t just poof and go back to LA? Mel didn’t like Susan setting herself up for the verbal and mental abuse she knew Dorinda could dish out.

  “Hey, babe? Why don’t you go take a bath?” Mel said. “I’m sure it’ll make you feel better.”

  “Will you come scrub my back?”

  “You know it.”

  Mel opened another beer and sat on the couch while she waited for Susan to call her. Mel couldn’t get her mind off this Dorinda chick. She’d never seen her before and didn’t know if she was ready to see her now. But she had to. She didn’t trust that woman alone with Susan.

  “Hey, baby?” Susan called from the bathtub.

  “Coming.” She walked in and saw Susan in a bath full of bubbles, with only the tips of her breasts showing.

  “You look divine,” Mel said.

  “Thanks.”

  She ran her hand over Susan’s nipples.

  “Mm,” she said.

  “I thought you were going to scrub my back,” Susan said.

  “How about I scrub your front and your back for no extra charge?”

  “I like the sound of that.”

  “Are you sure?” Mel asked. “I mean, if you’re not in the mood after today, I totally understand.”

  “Thank you,” Susan said. “But I think reaffirming that I’m alive and in a happy relationship is just what I need tonight.”

  “And I’m just the one to help you with that.”

  “I thought you might be.”

  Mel kissed Susan. It was a soft, loving kiss that said enough without too much. Susan reached up and stroked Mel’s cheek.

  “You’re so wonderful,” she said.

  “Thanks, babe. I think you’re pretty wonderful, too.”

  Mel was true to her word. She scrubbed Susan’s back before lathering her hands to wash her front. She teased her nipples, then her breasts, lightly washing their fleshy undersides. Then she moved her hand lower, over her soft belly until she found where her legs met. She slipped her fingers inside her, and Susan leaned back to allow her greater entrance. Mel stroked her hard and deep and felt Susan close around her fingers as she came for her.

  “Oh, my. That was nice,” Susan said.

  “Why don’t you rinse off and meet me in bed?” Mel said.

  “That sounds wonderful to me.”

  Mel stripped out of her clothes and climbed into bed. She waited as patiently as she could for Susan to join her.

  Susan finally came into the room, looking fresh and clean and smelling delicious.

  “I almost feel bad getting you dirty again,” Mel said.

  “Oh, please don’t. I’m actually looking forward to it.”

  “That’s good to hear. So, come on in. The water’s fine.” Mel flipped back the covers on the bed.

  Susan slid in next to Mel.

  “You smell so good,” Mel said.

  “Thanks. That’s why we girls use all those froofy things in the bath.”

  Mel nuzzled her neck.

  “Well, I’m sure glad you do.”

  She kissed around to Susan’s mouth and planted one on her lips. It was deep, passionate, and soulful. It made Mel’s toes curl in its intensity. She pressed herself into Susan, needing more contact. She wanted to feel at one with her. And she did.

  Susan broke the kiss and lay there panting.

  “That was some kiss,” she said.

  “Yeah, it was.”

  “I almost came just from kissing you.”

  “Then why did we stop?” Mel said.

  “It was too much. Too overpowering, really.”

  “I thought it was wonderful.”

  “It was. I was just scared, I guess. I’ve never climaxed from a kiss before, and I was so close. It scared me a little.”

  “Fair enough.”

  Mel kissed her softly then. Their lips barely met.

  “And see?” Susan said. “Those kisses make me crazy as well.”

  “Maybe it’s just us,” Mel said. “Maybe it’s just that we kiss so great together.”

  “That’s got to be it.”

  Mel kissed her again and this time drew her hand along the length of Susan’s body. She felt her shiver and grinned.

  “What?” Susan said.

  “I just love how you respond to me.”

  “A woman would have to be dead not to respond to you.”

  Mel laughed but continued to move her hand. She ran it over Susan’s mons and she spread her legs for her. Mel slid her fingers between her legs and teased her clit. She made slow, gentle circles around it while Susan begged for more. She finally pressed directly onto it, and Susan cried out her name.

  “Damn, Mel,” Susan said. “I can’t get over what yo
u do to me.”

  “I like doing things to you.”

  “Lucky me.”

  Mel kissed Susan again before kissing down her body. She stopped to lick a nipple and admire it as it grew hard. She sucked it briefly then kissed down her belly until she came to where her legs met. She climbed between them and made herself comfortable. She licked from one end of Susan to the other. She loved her flavor. The taste of her made her dizzy. She plunged her tongue inside Susan and ran it around as deep as it could go. Susan arched off the bed and gyrated in time with her.

  Mel was becoming more aroused with each passing second. She wanted to make Susan come and then she wanted to come herself. She could feel a big one building inside her, and she looked forward to riding the crescendo.

  She moved her tongue to Susan’s clit and licked at it fervently. She felt Susan’s hand on the back of her head. She could barely breathe from being pushed into Susan, but still she persevered. Moments later, Susan screamed again as she reached another climax.

  Mel kissed up Susan’s body until she was lying beside her. They were both breathing heavily.

  “Oh, my God,” Susan said. “Just wow.”

  “Yeah? I’m glad you enjoyed that.”

  “Oh yeah, I did. I don’t know if I’ll ever catch my breath.”

  “I hope so,” Mel said.

  “I know. Your turn is next. And don’t worry. I’ll give you what you deserve.”

  When she was breathing normally, Susan got out of bed.

  “Hey. Where are you going?” Mel said.

  “You just be patient. I’m going to make you feel things you’ve never felt before. Now close your eyes.”

  Mel kept her gaze on Susan.

  “I mean it. Close your eyes. Don’t you trust me?”

  Mel reasoned this was as good an exercise in trust as any, so she closed her eyes. She kept them closed until she felt Susan’s weight back on the bed.

  “Can I open them now?”

  “Sure,” Susan said.

  Mel did and was surprised to see Susan holding a toy in her hand.

  “Is that for me?” Mel said.

  “It is. If you don’t mind, I mean. I’d love to use it on you.”

  “I don’t care what you do at this point, babe. I’m about to explode.”

  Susan turned the toy on. Mel watched the length of it twist and turn.

  “How does that work, exactly?” Mel said.

  “That part moves inside you while the dolphin vibrates against your clit. It’s amazing, trust me.”

  “I do. Let’s get started.”

  Mel spread her legs and Susan pressed the tip of the toy against her opening.

  “Please. I can’t wait,” Mel said.

  Susan eased it inside her and Mel moaned.

  “Holy shit, that feels good. I feel it moving in there.”

  Susan drew it back out.

  “What? Why?”

  “Relax, lover. I’m not through.”

  She pushed the toy back in, all the way until the dolphin was buzzing against Mel’s clit.

  “Yes, baby. Holy fuck, yes. That’s what I’m talking about. Oh, shit!”

  Mel cried out and rode wave after wave of orgasm.

  “Holy, shit,” she said after she had floated back to Earth. “That was amazing.”

  “Good, baby. I always want you to feel good.”

  “Yeah? Well, you outdid yourself that time.”

  “Right on. Now, we should get some sleep. You’ve got to be at work early tomorrow.”

  “Right. And you have a big day tomorrow.”

  “I don’t want to think about it.”

  “I’ll be right there with you,” Mel said.

  “I do appreciate that.”

  “Of course,” Mel said. She stopped just before she said the three words she wanted to say but was sure Susan wasn’t ready to hear.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Susan readied herself for work and tried to ignore the boulder that was in her gut. The last person she wanted to see was Dorinda. She’d found such happiness with Mel. Granted, it was still new, but she was happy. Mel was an honest to goodness good person. Dorinda was anything but.

  She got through a very slow workday by checking her watch every fifteen minutes. Finally, it was four thirty and Mel and Joey came in.

  “I brought reinforcements.” Mel smiled.

  “Is she going with us?”

  “No,” Mel said. “She’s just here for moral support until we leave.”

  “Well, I appreciate it. I can use all the support I can get.”

  “How are you doin’?” Mel said.

  “Not good. I mean, I’m hanging in there, of course. But I’m a nervous wreck.”

  Mel reached across the bar and took both her hands in hers.

  “It’ll be okay, babe. She’s just going to set up a schedule of who helps when, right? Then she goes back to LA and is out of our lives again.”

  “I hope that’s how it goes down,” Susan said.

  “And I’ll be right there with you.”

  “Oh, Mel. What would I do without you?”

  “That’s not something you need to worry about.”

  Joey and Mel drank beer until it was time for Susan’s shift to end. She came around to their side of the bar.

  “Thank you so much for being here,” she said to Joey. “I really do appreciate the support.”

  “No problem. I’m out of here. Good luck.”

  She left and Mel took Susan’s hand.

  “You ready to do this?”

  “I guess so.”

  “We’ll need to take your car since I bummed a ride with Joey.”

  “No problem.”

  Mel took Susan in her arms and stroked her hair.

  “It’s going to be fine,” she said. “Honest. We’ll get through this.”

  “I know. Come on. We should get going.”

  They arrived at the address on Susan’s napkin.

  “I know this place,” Mel said. “I knew the previous owners.”

  “Well, it’s Lucinda’s place now.”

  They got out of the car. Mel took Susan’s hand.

  “You ready?”

  “I am.”

  They walked up to the door and knocked. Dorinda opened the door and stood there, her long, dark hair pulled back in a ponytail. Her brown eyes red-rimmed and puffy. She hugged Susan to her.

  “Susan. I’m so glad you agreed to do this.”

  “You look horrible, Dorinda,” Susan said. “Is she okay?”

  “As okay as she can be. She’s in a lot of pain. We just got her to sleep. I hate to see her in that kind of pain.”

  “I’m sure. Oh, Dorinda, this is my girlfriend, Mel. Mel, this is Dorinda.”

  Mel extended a hand to Dorinda, who instead hugged her.

  “It’s so nice to meet you,” Dorinda said.

  Mel stepped back.

  “I’ve heard a lot about you,” Mel said.

  “Oh, don’t believe everything you’ve heard. I’m not a total monster.”

  Susan cleared her throat. She believed Dorinda to be nothing short of a monster.

  “Shouldn’t we get down to business?” she said.

  “Sure,” Dorinda said. “The family is gathered in the living room. Follow me.”

  They followed Dorinda down a short hallway to a large, open room decorated in sixties style furnishings. Lucinda was born too late to be a true hippy, but she was certainly one at heart. Susan smiled. She had missed Lucinda, but had written her off when she left Dorinda.

  At the far end of the room, by the sliding glass doors that led to the backyard, was a hospital bed. The small emaciated body in it couldn’t be Lucinda, could it? Susan fought tears forming in the back of her eyes. She squeezed Mel’s hand hard, and Mel wrapped her arm around her and pulled her close.

  “Are you okay?” she whispered.

  “I don’t know.”

  “Okay,” Dorinda said. “Now that we’re all
here, let’s get started. Susan, Mel? You want to take a seat, please?”

  They sat on the only open sofa left. Mel held Susan’s hand, offering comfort Susan was glad to take.

  “As most of you know,” Dorinda said. “Lucinda is on hospice. She will have nurses and home health aides coming here to do a lot of the work with her. They’ll manage her medicines and keep her clean. Things like that. What I’m looking for is for us to just be here for anything else she needs. Just so she’s not alone. She’s given us all so much love and happiness throughout our lives. It’s only fair that we be here at the end for her.”

  “Now, the only one here who lives in town is Susan, and she’ll help as much as she can, but it’s really only fair that the family pull the bulk of the weight. As you know, I’ve taken a leave of absence to be here with her.”

  Susan felt cold in the pit of her stomach. She didn’t want Dorinda to be here. She wanted her to go back to LA. She didn’t want to see her on a regular basis. She felt Mel squeeze her hand again. She tried not to show her amazement and disappointment.

  “So I’ll be here twenty-four, seven, but I’ll need some breaks. This is where you all come in. Also, I just think it’s important for her to have family around her as the disease progresses. With all this in mind, here is the schedule I’ve come up with. What do you all think?”

  She unveiled a white board that had names, days, and times written on it. The family was mostly etched in on the weekends. Susan was listed for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons.

  “I can’t do any of those days except Wednesday,” Susan said. “I work Monday and Friday afternoons.”

  “Okay. That’s good to know. What time?”

  “One to seven.”

  “Let’s see then. Can you come here from seven to eleven? Maybe feed her dinner and hang out with her?”

  “Sure. I can do that.”

  “Okay.” She changed the white board to indicate Susan’s schedule.

  “Does anybody else have any questions or concerns?”

  No one said anything.

  “Meeting adjourned then.” Dorinda laughed. The sound seemed sacrilegious in the room where Lucinda lay dying. Susan stood. Lucinda’s brothers and sister came over to talk to Susan.

  “Thank you so much for helping out,” her sister said.