Built to Last

by Aurora Rey

  “That definitely makes sense, then. In addition to building the enclosure, you’ll probably want to reinforce whatever wall is separating the area for cars.”

  Olivia looked at her quizzically.

  “Seriously? Goats. Notorious climbers. Enjoy standing on the roofs of cars.” How had she gotten herself roped into this again?

  “Right.” Olivia closed her eyes for a moment. “Good thinking. Does that mean you’ll do it?”

  Joss sighed. “It does.”

  The next thing she knew, Olivia’s arms were flung around her and she was being fiercely squeezed. “You’re the best.”

  Joss chuckled. “I am. Now, how long do I have to do this?”

  Olivia stepped back and smiled. “I said I could take Pierre by Saturday.”

  “Pierre?”

  Olivia shrugged. “That’s his name. I didn’t pick it.”

  With a dog named Ethel, Joss wasn’t about to give her a hard time. “Aren’t goats herd animals?”

  “Maybe.” She shuffled her feet and looked at the ground.

  “Meaning?”

  Olivia looked up and her eyes were full of mischief. “Meaning I may have started looking for a friend for him already.”

  Joss scratched her temple. “You’re something, you know that?”

  “Why do I get the feeling that isn’t a compliment?”

  “Oh, it’s a compliment. Mostly. Are you going to help me measure so I can go get supplies?”

  “I thought you’d never ask.”

  They spent the next hour arguing over how much space a pair of goats would need, taking measurements, and discussing design. Joss did a quick sketch of the idea that she had in her mind. It included a couple of platforms and ramps that the new residents would be able to climb. It was a fun project—out of her wheelhouse, but in a quirky, low-pressure way.

  “I love it.” Olivia studied the drawing. “Are you sure you haven’t done this before?”

  Joss shook her head. “This is a first.”

  Joss put the finishing touches on her sketch, then started drafting a list of supplies. At the rate things were going, being with Olivia was going to mean plenty of firsts.

  *

  It was a good thing she’d finished the bathroom when she did. The goat pen took nearly three days to construct. Given the time crunch, Joss had to keep a pretty intense pace to meet the Saturday deadline. But each evening, after she taught her classes, Olivia came home, changed her clothes, and hammered in her fair share of nails.

  By the general standards Joss used to evaluate a project, it was quite good. The lines were clean and the structure was sound. It had a good blend of character and functionality. Most importantly, Olivia was thrilled with it, and she was the one paying the bill.

  As a side project, it was a pretty substantial distraction from her real work. Any irritation that caused was mitigated by Olivia’s enthusiasm. In addition to helping with the project, she gushed about the bathroom at least once every time Joss saw her. Joss wasn’t overly obsessed with praise, but it was different with Olivia. She went beyond the kind of things Joss would expect a client to say. Olivia went on like a girlfriend would. It was nice.

  On Friday, Olivia asked her to bring Ethel and stay over so she could be there when Pierre arrived. It was a sweet gesture that Joss appreciated. She liked that Olivia wanted to include her. On Saturday morning, they lazed in bed and drank a whole pot of coffee. While Olivia showered and dressed to be ready for the goat woman, Joss took her belt sander upstairs. Even though she wasn’t officially on the clock, she wanted to strip a patch of flooring so she could test out a couple of stain choices. Once Olivia settled on the color she wanted, Joss would be able to get the final upstairs project started.

  Olivia pulled on jeans and a sweater to ward off the chill that came with the arrival of fall. She stood at her kitchen window, waiting. It wasn’t long after that the pickup truck pulled into the driveway with a small trailer in tow. She felt a lump form in her throat. She couldn’t figure out why she should be nervous. Well, aside from the fact that she didn’t really know anything about goats and was about to be solely responsible for one.

  “Is he here?”

  Olivia jumped, unaware that Joss had come up behind her. “I think so. Unless I bought a horse and forgot about it.”

  “Why do I get the feeling you’re only half kidding?”

  “Stop it.” Olivia elbowed her in the ribs and headed outside.

  “Olivia?” The woman getting out of the truck looked to be in her early sixties. Her hair was cut short and she wore a pair of faded jeans and a flannel shirt. Olivia couldn’t tell if she was a lesbian or the kind of earthy straight woman that was so prevalent in Ithaca.

  “I am. And I take it you’re Jean?”

  “Yes, indeed. And I have a special delivery for you.”

  “Do you need a hand?” Joss asked.

  Again, Olivia was surprised to find Joss standing behind her. “It depends. Are you going to laugh at me?”

  Joss scoffed. “Of course not. I want to meet the little guy. I built his house, after all.”

  “In that case, let’s go meet Monsieur Pierre.”

  They followed Jean to the back of the horse trailer. She opened one of the doors and stepped inside. Olivia watched as Jean unhooked the harness and slid a slip lead over the head of the newest addition to her household. With only a gentle pull, the goat followed Jean out of the trailer. He walked right up to Olivia and let out an enthusiastic bleat.

  “Well, hello to you, too.”

  Joss watched the goat nuzzle into Olivia’s outstretched hand. He was brown and white with ears that stood straight out and striking, almost gold eyes. Although she’d teased Olivia, the goat was adorable. And he’d needed a home. Joss appreciated that Olivia found a rescue instead of buying him from who knows where.

  Jean handed Olivia the leash and went back to her truck. She returned with a manila envelope. Since Olivia’s hands were full, she handed it to Joss. “All of his paperwork and vet records are in there, along with some notes from the shelter about what he eats, his habits, and whatnot.”

  Olivia smiled at her. “Perfect.”

  “And they talked to you about getting him a companion? Goats really do need company.”

  Olivia nodded and gave Joss a quick sideways glance. “Yes, I’ve been talking with someone at Lollypop Farm in Rochester. They’ve got a little guy who seems like he’ll be a perfect fit. I’m driving up to meet him next week.”

  “Good. Well, I’ve got two sheep to drop off still, so I best be going.”

  “Jean, it was so nice to meet you. I can’t thank you enough for bringing Pierre to me.”

  “It was no trouble at all. I’m glad he found a good home.”

  Olivia threaded her arm through Joss’s. “We’ll take excellent care of him.”

  Joss felt Olivia give her arm a squeeze. Joss offered Jean a wave as she climbed back into her truck. “We sure will. Thanks again.”

  As Jean pulled away, Joss looked at Olivia. “What was that?”

  Olivia made a face that looked to be half smile, half cringe. “Sorry. I got nervous.”

  Joss raised a brow. “Nervous?”

  “Yeah. Like I was a single parent who might be deemed not good enough. I panicked. Thanks for playing along.”

  “Sure.” Joss didn’t know whether to laugh or, well, not laugh.

  “I promise I won’t hold you responsible for his upbringing.”

  Joss did laugh then, but she also rolled her eyes. “What am I going to do with you?”

  Olivia shrugged. “Have dinner with me and my best friends?”

  Joss raised a brow. “What?”

  “My friends Gina and Kel invited us over for dinner. Will you come?”

  “Ah. Okay. Sure.”

  Olivia leaned in and kissed Joss on the cheek. “Awesome. They’re dying to meet you. Come on, Pierre. Let’s go check out the house Auntie Joss made for you.”


  Chapter Seventeen

  The following Tuesday, they arrived at Gina and Kel’s with a box of cupcakes from Felicia’s. After brief introductions, they stood around the kitchen talking about the work on Olivia’s house and the impending arrival of Gina and Kel’s twins.

  “When are they due?” Joss asked.

  “Early November, but with twins, the doctor doesn’t think I’ll go past Halloween.”

  “Someone,” Gina tipped her head toward Olivia, “bought them Halloween onesies.”

  Olivia shrugged. “I know it’s iffy they’ll get to wear them, but the cuteness outweighed the risk.”

  Kel shook her head, but laughed. “I’m going to go start the grill. Joss, care to join me for a beer out on the deck?”

  Joss shot Olivia a wink, then turned to Kel. “I’m not going to turn that down.”

  “Great. In the fridge behind you. Grab me one of those non-alcoholic travesties and whatever you’d like. I’ve got an opener out here.” Kel pulled open the sliding glass door and stepped outside.

  Joss rustled in the fridge briefly then emerged with two bottles. She followed Kel out to the deck and pulled the door closed. Olivia watched Kel point to a bottle opener attached to one of the posts. Joss opened both bottles and handed one to Kel. They clinked, drank, then went about setting up the grill and lighting the charcoal.

  Olivia realized that both she and Gina were staring at them. Gina seemed to realize it, too. She glanced over and laughed. “It’s like they’ve done this a thousand times together.”

  Olivia shook her head. “I think there must be some sort of code.”

  “Yes, like the lesbian version of bros.”

  “I’m not sure how I feel about that.” Olivia glanced back at the two of them. Kel was saying something, gesturing with her barbecue tongs. Joss was nodding. They looked like the oldest and dearest of friends instead of two people who’d met less than fifteen minutes prior—a stark contrast to her first meeting with Joss.

  “I think it’s great. Kel doesn’t warm up to just anyone, certainly not right away. Beer?”

  “Yes, please.” Olivia tore her eyes away and accepted the bottle Gina handed her.

  “So…how goes it?”

  Olivia shrugged. “So far so good.”

  Gina curled her lip, indicating that her answer was completely unsatisfactory. “What does that mean?”

  “It means we’re having fun. She’s smart and has a wicked sense of humor, she does beautiful work. And now that I’ve convinced her not to dislike me, the sex is amazing.”

  “I’m still not sure about the whole dislike thing, but you do have that well-fucked glow. It looks good on you.”

  “It’s unlike anything I’ve ever experienced, with Amanda or otherwise. It’s so good.”

  Gina raised a brow. “Like, so good?”

  Olivia punched her in the arm. “It’s so good, I could forget the rules of grammar.”

  “Well, then. That is high praise indeed. Are you guys getting serious?”

  Olivia sighed. “I don’t know.”

  Gina folded her arms and gave her a look.

  “No, really. We haven’t talked about it. We’ve definitely recovered from getting off on the wrong foot. And she invited me to stay with her while I had no shower, which she didn’t have to do.”

  “Do you want it to get serious?”

  “I’m open to it, which is saying something. My last relationship was so formulaic, I’m pretty set on going with the flow. I figure when I meet the one, it will just happen.” At least, that’s what she’d been telling herself.

  Gina scowled. “I’m not sure it works like that, but I’m not going to press the point, at least not right now. It looks like they’re ready for us.”

  Gina handed Olivia a platter of vegetable kabobs, then picked up another that held skewers of chicken, shrimp, and beef. It was enough food for probably a dozen people. “Are you sure we have enough?” Olivia asked.

  Gina rolled her eyes. “I’m running out of inspiration when it comes to Kel’s lunches. Having leftovers helps.”

  Olivia couldn’t help but giggle. “That’s sweet, and downright domestic of you.”

  “Meh. You’ve rubbed off on me, if only a little.”

  “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  They headed out to the deck and handed off the platters. Joss held while Kel transferred things to the grill. It was as though they’d done so a dozen times before. They chatted about random things. After a while, Olivia realized her mind had wandered. She could imagine a hundred such evenings—casual meals with best friends. She’d been part of a couple and she’d had lots of friends, but they’d never come together in symbiotic harmony.

  Olivia heard her name and realized that her mind had wandered. “I’m sorry?”

  “I asked about your goat.” Gina was looking at her with a mixture of amusement and curiosity.

  Olivia smiled. “Pierre is great. And I’m going to get him a companion next weekend.”

  When Gina and Kel gave her funny looks, Joss jumped in. “Goats are herd animals. They don’t do well by themselves.”

  “Oh.” Gina and Kel spoke in unison.

  “Joss did an amazing job on the pen. Y’all have to come and check it out.”

  Joss shook her head. “I finish her bathroom and she’s more excited about the goat pen.”

  Gina slung an arm around Olivia. “That’s Olivia. Always full of surprises.”

  Olivia put her hands on her hips. “I’m plenty excited about the bathroom.”

  “You are, but I can still tease you about the goat pen.”

  Kel nodded. “She has a point. They might come and revoke your femme card.”

  Gina interjected. “Femmes can be excited about goats and claw-foot tubs, you know.”

  “Thank you, Gina.” Olivia made a stern face at Joss and Kel. “Seriously.”

  “Help me set the table?” Gina angled her head back toward the kitchen.

  “I’d be happy to.” Olivia offered a dramatic hair toss and followed her inside.

  Gina looked at Olivia for a long minute before opening a cabinet door. She handed her plates and utensils and napkins. “I’ve never seen you smitten before. I like it.”

  Olivia sighed. “I really am smitten.”

  “From what I can tell, the feeling is mutual.”

  “Thanks. I sure hope so.”

  “It’s a good look on—what the hell?”

  “What?” Olivia turned in the direction Gina was looking and saw Joss and Kel, seemingly in the middle of a screaming match. There were hand gestures and pointing and belligerent stances on both sides.

  Gina yanked open the sliding door. “What is going on?”

  Both Joss and Kel were instantly quiet. Hands dropped to their sides and they looked at Olivia and Gina. If she had to define it, Olivia would say they looked sheepish. When no one said anything, she prompted them. “Well?”

  Kel finally spoke, looking pointedly at Olivia. “Your girlfriend has no respect.”

  Olivia felt a knot form in her stomach. Whether it was from the use of the word girlfriend or the accusation, she couldn’t be sure. “No respect for what?”

  “The Yankees. It’s one thing to like a different team. Liking any team that isn’t the Yankees, that’s just antagonistic and—”

  Joss interrupted her. “Really? That’s not how you feel about, say, the Red Sox?”

  “That’s different.” Olivia had never seen Kel look so exasperated. She glanced over at Gina, who rolled her eyes.

  Gina cut them off. “God, we thought you were having a real argument.”

  “This is a real argument,” Joss and Kel said in unison.

  “Oh, look, you agree. Let’s eat.”

  Joss and Kel pulled the remaining food from the grill while Olivia and Gina arranged the dishes on the patio table. Gina popped back inside for a bowl of fruit salad and they all took their places at the table. There was a moment of silence as they b
egan to pass food around. Was it awkward or simply focused? Olivia couldn’t tell.

  Joss passed Olivia the plate of grilled vegetables and smiled. “Did you know that Kel is helping with the legalities of the tiny house village that’s going to provide residences for local homeless people?”

  Olivia raised a brow. “I didn’t.”

  “I signed up to donate some materials and labor almost a year ago. It’s a great project, but securing the land and the permits has become a legal obstacle course.”

  “Hopefully, that won’t be the case much longer,” Kel said.

  “I’m really glad the project has someone competent on its side,” Joss said. “The community needs this sooner rather than later.”

  “Thanks, and likewise. I’m sure there will be plenty of volunteers once they break ground, but having some professionals who know what they’re doing is important.”

  “So, despite the yelling, you two are not, in fact, sworn enemies?” Gina vocalized what Olivia was thinking.

  Kel shrugged. “Of course not. We’re sworn baseball enemies, but that’s not the same thing.”

  “Exactly.” Joss lifted her beer and Kel followed. They clinked bottles good-naturedly.

  Whether it was a code or a secret language, Joss and Kel seemed to have an understanding. It reminded her of when she and Gina first met. Gina stopped by Olivia’s office to welcome her to the department. After a brief greeting, Gina did a casual scan of Olivia’s books. She’d commented on one of the lesbian authors, as though she was testing the waters. Even in a place where being out was an easy affair, there was something powerful in the recognition, a confirmation of something shared. She and Gina had been almost immediately at ease with one another, just as Joss and Kel were now. She wondered if that lack of recognition had something to do with why things with Joss got off on such a bad foot.

  When dinner was done, they devoured the cupcakes. After enjoying her red velvet, she let Joss talk her into sharing a chocolate with peanut butter frosting. Since Gina and Kel had indulged in seconds of their own, it didn’t take much convincing. Olivia was torn between not wanting the evening to end and wanting to get Joss alone.