by Jane Frances
“So this includes everything, including the removal of the carpet?” Toni had peered at the card, impressed Brett was able to give a figure so quickly. Lisa and Joel wanted until the end of the week to do the same.
“That’s right.” Brett dropped the calculator into his shirt pocket, at the same time digging into his trousers for his keys. “Of course, you’ll have to arrange the moving of the furniture yourself, but everything else is included.”
“And how long do you think it will take?” Lisa and Joel estimated six full days, given the offices were vacated. Something to do with not being able to walk on the tile for twenty-four hours to let the adhesive set.
Brett shrugged, “It depends on what other jobs we’ve got going. But I’d say it should take about five days all up.”
The one-day differential had seemed another plus in Brett’s favor. Now, comparing the figures before her, Toni realized the danger of his comment. Both the other quotes included a statement assuring the project would be worked on exclusively until completion. Brett and his unseen team may take less time, but if it was done in a piecemeal fashion the renovations could stretch out for an unknown period.
Toni tossed the quotes on top of her credit card envelope. Like her credit card bill, they could wait. Turning to her other correspondence, Toni prayed the accountant in Cathy would come to the fore when making her decision. Eighty-five dollars might not be much, but why spend it unnecessarily?
As if instinct told her the quotes were in, Cathy knocked on Toni’s office door not ten minutes after Toni had placed them aside. Color crept up Toni’s neck when Cathy asked if there was any news. “The last one just came in the mail. I was going to talk to you about them later today.”
“No time like the present.” Cathy drew a chair to Toni’s desk, hesitating before she sat. “You haven’t anyone due do you?”
Toni shook her head, since her next appointment was not until late afternoon. She groped blindly for the papers, watching instead the not at all unpleasant sight of Cathy molding into her seat.
“I don’t think this is for me.” Cathy handed back the credit card envelope Toni had also mistakenly given.
“You’re welcome to it if you like.” Toni mustered a smile. She crossed her legs under the desk as Cathy bent to study the papers.
A few minutes later Brett’s card was tossed onto the desk for filing in the wastepaper basket. Toni tore it into shreds as she watched Cathy look from Joel and Lisa’s sheet to Rod’s.
“They certainly are close aren’t they?” Cathy said at length. She placed them onto the desktop. “I didn’t get to meet Rod. What was your impression?”
“He seemed nice enough.” Toni was careful not to appear too eager. “Middle-aged. Twenty or so years in the trade apparently. He had a young off-sider with him. He also seemed decent.”
“Okay,” Cathy said slowly, “When you showed him the samples, did he offer any advice or suggestions?”
Toni thought back. Rod agreed the tile and grouting recommended by Lisa and Joel was fine and noted the diagonal lay of the tile with an offset border (another Lisa and Joel recommendation). Then he did his measurements and left. “No. But what was there to advise? Lisa and Joel basically set the specifications for us.”
“And he didn’t question them at all?”
“No.” Toni bit on her bottom lip. She knew what Cathy was going to say.
As predicted, Cathy placed her index finger on Lisa and Joel’s sheet. “I think we should go with them.”
“Okay.” Toni resigned herself, unable to come up with any rational reason why Lisa and Joel shouldn’t do the job. The term ex-lover bounced around in her head, but that wasn’t a rational reason. It had been so long ago, and Lisa was now out of the running. Besides, people became ex-lovers for a reason, usually because they didn’t like each other anymore. Toni was dying of curiosity over the details, but no opening had yet occurred for her to pop in a few questions.
“Great.” Cathy smiled as she stood, “Do you want to ring and tell them the good news or shall I?”
“You probably should.” Toni knew Cathy was the logical one to make the call. “You’re going to have to discuss dates and the like. I’d end up having to pass you on anyway.” She slid the quotes over the desk. “They’re all yours.”
Once alone again, Toni let out the sigh that had nearly escaped in Cathy’s presence. May as well totally ruin my day, she thought to herself. She inched the credit card envelope closer and slid her thumb under the flap. As expected, the balance had skyrocketed. A bit rude as her cookware and exercise equipment hadn’t even arrived yet. But it should any day now. Toni consoled herself by imagining presenting Cathy with some spectacular home-cooked creation, dressed in a crop top that showed off her fabulous abs.
Cathy hesitated over the phone keypad before resolutely pressing numbers. She hesitated again as it made the connection and began to ring. Even she was unsure why she had decided to go with Lisa and Joel’s quote. By all accounts Rod was a competent trades-person with years of experience over Lisa and Joel. Why spend extra money, albeit a paltry amount, when there would probably be no perceptible difference between his work and theirs?
When the ringing ceased and a familiar voice called in greeting, Cathy finally admitted to herself the truth behind her actions. The truth was simple; it was a safe way to see Lisa again.
“Hi Lisa, it’s Cathy.” Cathy knew she was being cowardly, that having Lisa in her temporary employ greatly reduced the chance of having a door slammed in her face at the invitation for coffee and a chat.
It wasn’t too late to change her mind. A coffee offer was innocent enough, plus it was an activity considerably shorter than the tiling time span. Six days could seem an eternity if things turned frosty. However, the words spilled out, “I’m calling to let you know we’ve decided to accept your quote.”
Twenty minutes later Cathy was busy tapping out a general office memo. Work would commence in two weeks on Thursday, concluding the following Tuesday. All staff were to clear their schedules from the Wednesday afternoon so the areas to be tiled could be emptied. No appointments were to be made until the following Thursday, to allow some leeway and also to allow the premises to be put back into order.
A whoop came from reception not thirty seconds after Cathy clicked the send button on her memo. Obviously Sue had read the bit about the enforced extra long weekend, which would be at the company’s expense instead of being deducted from annual leave balances.
“Glad someone’s happy.” Cathy muttered. Her initial elation at the setting of the appointment had been fleeting. Over two whole weeks to wait. Thoughts of ringing back to ask for a coffee get-together were quickly dismissed. Lisa would think Cathy had turned loopy, or that Cathy still liked her that way. Which of course, she didn’t.
Cathy turned her attention to her diary, flipping pages until she reached the Thursday when work would commence. She drew a line through the page. Underneath the line went a reason for the blanked out day. Cathy stared at the words. Without knowing why, instead of tiling she had written Lisa and Joel. The line and description was repeated on the Friday, and again on the Saturday. Before Cathy could turn the page to Sunday, she threw down her pen. Lisa and Joel. The words stared back at her from the page, taunting her with all the implications they contained.
It just couldn’t be. If the past was any predictor to future behavior, there was just no way Lisa would be in a relationship with a man. Toni didn’t know what she was talking about. And knowing Toni and the way her stories ballooned with each telling, a friendly good-bye at the gate would eventually morph into copulation on the front lawn.
Cathy reached for her previously discarded pen to scratch out the offending words. She worked back through the pages, confident she was right. After all, she’d been right about Lisa before, picking her as a kindred spirit almost from day one.
They met the first day of the first year of classes. Cathy was walking across the University’s
main car park when she spied a very lost looking Lisa struggling with a campus map. Cathy knew the campus pretty well, because her brother finished his own studies there the year prior and Cathy had graced him with frequent visits. She veered from her course to see if she could help.
Lisa blushed profusely but gratefully accepted Cathy’s offer, a slight I’m going to be late panic in her voice as she named the University’s largest lecture theater.
“No kidding.” Cathy exclaimed, mesmerized by Lisa’s eyes. They were a dazzling blue. Sapphire, she decided. “That’s exactly where I’m headed.”
By the time they reached their destination, Cathy discovered they were not only going to be studying the same course, but their first semester units all matched up. However, this wasn’t such a surprise as all students studied the same base program before selecting their major at the end of the first year.
“But that is creepy.” Lisa peered at Cathy’s timetable, after they settled in adjacent seats in the back row of the lecture theater.
“Sure is.” Cathy agreed. That all their lecture times were the same was coincidence enough, but to have four out of five tutorial sessions also coincide—that was downright spooky. Cathy pulled a writing pad from her backpack and glanced a little dubiously to her companion. Lisa certainly seemed pleasant enough now, but Cathy didn’t relish the thought of a whole semester sitting beside her if she turned out to be a boy crazy pain in the butt.
Cathy soon discovered her initial doubts were unfounded. She found she enjoyed Lisa’s company immensely. Lisa was funny, outgoing and intelligent, and it hadn’t escaped Cathy’s attention that she had the sporty good looks she found so attractive. More than this, Cathy also noted that if Lisa was boy crazy, she kept it well hidden. If anything, she was dismissive of boys.
By the time the second week of classes had drawn to a close Cathy no longer wondered about Lisa’s orientation. Despite the lack of any direct evidence, she was almost one hundred percent sure she was a lesbian. Cathy’s thoughts were more focused on how to reveal to Lisa the fact that she was almost one hundred percent sure she was in love with her.
The opportunity appeared to present itself the following week. Lisa, Cathy and a group of friends from classes were going to the University tavern to see a band. To Cathy’s elation, Lisa agreed to her invitation to stay overnight at her apartment. After all, it was a perfect opportunity to get an early start on an assignment due in a few weeks. Once home and alone she could reveal her feelings and then . . . Cathy shivered at the possibilities.
All had not gone according to plan. Midnight saw Cathy hauling Lisa up the stairs. Lisa wobbled unsteadily as Cathy fumbled for her front door key. “Cathy,” she slurred, throwing a limp arm around Cathy’s shoulder. “There’s something I want to tell you—”
“Hold on,” Cathy guided Lisa toward the door. She was so drunk she was likely to fall over at any moment. “Let’s get you inside first.”
A few minutes later Cathy stood over the bed, hugging herself as she watched Lisa sleep. She had not found out what Lisa wanted to reveal, the woman half-unconscious even before her head hit the pillow. Cathy stripped down to her T-shirt and underwear, crawled into bed, and promptly turned to face away from Lisa. It was more than frustration at her thwarted plans that made her flip over. No matter what her feelings, beer breath was really putrid.
The sun was already high in the sky when Lisa stirred. Cathy had been awake for a short while, head propped on her hand as she again watched Lisa’s sleeping form.
“Morning sleepyhead.” Cathy shifted to sit up against her pillow.
“Morning.” Lisa stretched, then groaned, “I feel like shit.”
“I’m not surprised. You really pulled a bender last night.” Cathy cocked her head to one side and asked, “Do you remember what you did?”
“Oh God,” Lisa placed her hands over her face, in preparation for the expected humiliation. “What?”
Cathy suppressed a giggle, enjoying watching her suffer. “You threw a drink over that poor guy.” Actually she was more enjoying the thought of Lisa’s reaction to the fellow’s attempt at a pick up. It further cemented her belief that Lisa was interested in women.
As did Lisa’s reply. She looked at Cathy through her fingers and snorted, “Humph. What a waste of beer.”
Before Cathy could think of an appropriate response Lisa swung her legs over the bed and tugged her shirt to her nose. “Pheew. I stink. Do you mind if I go have a shower?”
Following Cathy’s directional nod, and overnight bag slung over her shoulder, Lisa retreated, leaving Cathy alone to digest her comment.
Although very much encouraged and somewhat emboldened by Lisa’s statement, Cathy could not, even to this day, believe just how bold she became. Before she knew it, she was up and out of bed, padding softly on the hallway’s carpeted floor. She stopped at the bathroom door. A try of the handle revealed the door unlocked. Quietly she pushed the door open, the rush of water from the showerhead masking her presence. Doubts suddenly crowded her mind but she pushed them aside. She’d come too far to pretend she’d wandered in there by accident. Heart in her throat, Cathy slid the shower screen open.
Lisa spun around, frightened. She had been cleaning her teeth but now stood stock still, toothbrush in her mouth and toothpaste foam wending its way down one side of her chin.
Cathy met the eyes of blue. Blood hammered in her ears, and her knees felt weak. Still, she held her gaze to Lisa’s and broke it only for the time it took to lift her T-shirt over her head. It fell to the floor, and was soon joined by her panties. She stepped into the shower recess.
“You remember last night you said you had something you wanted to tell me?”
Whether Lisa remembered or not Cathy couldn’t fathom. Lisa stood motionless, water streaming over the back of her head. A glob of toothpaste dropped from her chin to her chest and was immediately swept away by the stream of water.
Cathy pressed on. “Well, I have something I want to tell you, too.”
“What’s that?” Barely a squeak emerged, not at all aided by the toothbrush still firmly planted in Lisa’s mouth.
Cathy reached to guide the offending implement away. “This.” The toothbrush fell from Lisa’s mouth as Cathy’s lips met hers . . .
Lisa pulled away and immediately Cathy wilted, fearing the worst. But her fears were put to rest when Lisa spit out a mouthful of toothpaste and giggled with a mixture of embarrassment and nerves. “Sorry . . . foamy.”
Cathy’s responding sigh of relief was cut short, when Lisa resumed their kiss with an intensity that took Cathy’s breath away.
And so began two of the happiest years of Cathy’s life. The initial days and weeks were still vivid in Cathy’s mind, although at the time she seemed to float through them in some sort of ecstatic blur. It was a time when they emerged from the bed only when absolutely necessary, either driven by hunger, the need to go to class, or the need to keep Lisa’s folks at bay.
Lisa was not out to her parents. Neither was Cathy, but the five hundred kilometers between her apartment in Perth and her parents’ home in Albany made explanations of her activities unnecessary. Lisa enjoyed no such luxury and had to make enough appearances at home so as not to raise suspicion.
However, Lisa’s mum was no fool. Not more than a month into their relationship she waylaid her daughter on her way out of the house. Cathy was frantic by the time Lisa finally landed on her doorstep. She was nearly two hours late.
“She still loves me,” Lisa twirled Cathy around the lounge room, triumphant in the success of her coming out. “And goodness knows why, but she kind of likes you too.”
“Of course.” Cathy laughed, caught up in Lisa’s jubilation. Her chest tightened as she met eyes sparkling with happiness. How she loved this woman.
It was at that moment Cathy decided it was time she finally told her. Immediately she began mentally planning. Lisa’s eighteenth birthday was only a few weeks away. She’d tell her then.
“Thank you for such a wonderful birthday.” Lisa lay on her side, idly running the tips of her fingers up and down Cathy’s bare thigh.
The touch made Cathy quiver. She smiled into Lisa’s sleepy eyes. Her own felt heavy lidded, maybe from their rich meal of crayfish and champagne, but more likely from the extended period of lovemaking that had preceded it. She wasn’t yet ready for sleep however. There was still one more thing left to do.
“What are you up to now?” Lisa’s voice came from on top of the bed as Cathy hung halfway off it. “You’ll end up with a big fat bump on your head if you’re not careful.”
“It’s okay.” Cathy wriggled back onto the bed, and sat cross-legged in front of Lisa. She presented a small box of black velvet. “For you.”
The box was taken from Cathy’s hands and the lid snapped open. Cathy smiled nervously as she read the surprise in Lisa’s expression. She plucked one of the two gold rings from the case and slipped it onto Lisa’s ring finger. “I love you Lisa.”
Her heart soared when the words were repeated back to her. “I love you too.”
Needless to say, sleep was still a long way away, as they were of course required to demonstrate these newly vocalized feelings. The first light of dawn was emerging as Cathy lay still, listening to the deep, even breathing of her sleeping lover. Cathy shifted so Lisa was in her line of vision. “I really, really love you,” she whispered, intertwining her fingers with Lisa’s and smiling as she felt the band of gold she had placed there. Finally her eyes closed and she slept the sleep of the truly contented.
The sense of contentment continued. Everything just seemed so right. It was like the pair of them fit together perfectly. Made for each other was a phrase that sprang to Cathy’s mind.
They sailed through their studies. Although Lisa was not in the top percentiles as Cathy was, her grades were nothing to sneeze at. They studied hard but also left plenty of time for play.
