Knowing Her

by Raquel De Leon

  Teresa tangled their fingers together and released a joyful sigh. Lian had the feeling Teresa might want it for the foreseeable future, and maybe even beyond that.

  “Lian! Grab the flour!”

  Lian jolted at Ana’s command, peering around the kitchen for the jar in question. “Yes ma’am.” Teresa squeezed her hand and let it go.

  “Ma’am!” Ana gasped theatrically.

  “Always so dramatic, Mama,” Vivian said as she entered the kitchen. Her tone was colored with amusement, a small smile on her face. She paused near Teresa and bumped her shoulder.

  Teresa straightened, and then both sisters rounded the counter into the central part of the kitchen. “What are we cooking, Mom?”

  Ana clasped her hands in front of her chest, her eyes glistening with a sheen of tears. She blinked and took a breath. “Let’s see where the ingredients take us, hm?”

  Makayla wandered in, still rubbing the sleep from her eyes. A smirking April strolled in behind her.

  “Makayla, why don’t you join us? We’re going to make breakfast.” If it was possible, Ana brightened even more as she asked the question.

  Teresa and Vivian shared a grin when Makayla jumped up and down.

  “We’re all going to cook together?” Makayla paused. “Well, not Auntie April. Her cooking isn’t as good.”

  “Hey!” April protested.

  Holding the jar of flour, Lian tried not to laugh. She glanced at Teresa and caught her eye. When they smiled at one another, pure happiness welled up in her chest.

  There was plenty of time to figure things out. Together.

  Epilogue

  Teresa sighed as she looked up at the sky through the trees. The sun was fading, its light catching the multicolored autumn leaves in breathtaking silhouettes. Ochre, crimson, and sienna took on further complexities with the golden-orange rays highlighting their brittle edges.

  Breath escaped her lips in little tufts of white air as she huddled deeper into her thick sweater. In the distance, she heard a car door slam shut, followed by footsteps.

  “Were you waiting for me?” Lian asked when she eventually rounded the corner.

  Teresa smiled, gaze still tilted upward. It had been a long day of cooking, which would be followed by a long evening of eating and socializing. Lian’s imminent arrival had left her restless, resulting in her mom dismissing her from the kitchen with a twinkle in her eye. The time alone had allowed Teresa to collect herself; she’d been caught daydreaming numerous times, and that was entirely Lian’s fault. “I would think that’s obvious.”

  Lian paused at the front walk, her hands in the pockets of her black pea coat. “Are you warm enough?”

  “The sun helps.” Teresa shrugged.

  “The sun is setting,” Lian pointed out.

  When she began unbuttoning her coat, Teresa stopped to look directly at her. She bit back a grin.

  “Humor me,” Lian said as she moved forward, opened her coat, and brought the sides of it around Teresa.

  Teresa laughed and snuggled in, wrapping her arms around Lian’s middle. She closed her eyes as she inhaled Lian’s warm scent. She felt like a giddy schoolgirl. “The house is right there. We could just go in.”

  “In a minute.” Lian kissed the side of her face. “I hated leaving you this morning.”

  The cold that had been seeping through Teresa’s jeans and sweater dissipated as her body instantly warmed. When she’d woken up with her skin against Lian’s, the night before had felt like a dream. She buried her face against Lian’s neck. “In case I didn’t mention it… last night was incredible.”

  “For me, too. Thank you for being so patient.”

  Teresa clicked her tongue. “Lian, if we’d never had sex, I’d be okay. I love you.”

  Lian sucked in a breath. “That’s the first time you’ve said that.”

  With a sigh, Teresa leaned back so she could look Lian in the eye. “It’s intimidating to say it first, but I figured I wasn’t fooling either of us by not saying it.”

  “For the record,” Lian said with a crooked smile. “I love you, too. I just didn’t want to scare you off.”

  “Exsqueeze me.” Teresa raised her eyebrows. “I was ready for you to move in like, three weeks after we started dating, remember?”

  Lian laughed, her dark eyes shining. “That’s right.” She quieted and studied Teresa’s face. “I guess sometimes I’m still bad about speaking up. I just don’t want to lose this.”

  “The only way we’d lose this is if we chose to throw it away. I know I’m bad sometimes, too. The important thing is that we try and keep trying.” Unable to resist any longer, Teresa leaned in for a kiss.

  “Hey!” Zoe called out from the porch. “Stop making out and get inside. Dinner is starting soon.”

  “What, you couldn’t give them one more minute?” Next to Zoe, Carla was standing with her arms crossed. She rolled her eyes. “You’re so tactless.”

  Teresa chuckled under her breath. Her cousins were just as lively as she remembered. “We’ll be right in!”

  “Got it!” Carla grabbed Zoe by the hood of her sweatshirt and began dragging her back toward the door.

  “Hey,” Zoe yelped, “I can walk on my own!”

  “Do you think Vivian inviting them to our weekly lunches was a mistake?” Lian dryly asked. They watched the twins shove each other as they tried to enter the door at the same time.

  Teresa laughed and shook her head. “Not at all. Plus, Zoe’s happy to be included. She’s still upset we didn’t tell her before the rest of the family found out.”

  Lian squinted. “Right. Something about rainbow sheep flocking together. I’m not good with mixed metaphors.” She stepped back and took Teresa’s hand in hers, loosely hooking their fingers together.

  “Aw, pookiebear, you’re good at everything.”

  There was a beat of silence. Lian sent her an aghast look. “I love you, but never call me that again.”

  “I don’t know what you mean.” Teresa grinned and turned toward the house. They began walking slowly up the path.

  “I, um,” Lian ducked her head down, “I really was sorry I had to leave for work this morning. I felt like I could have stayed in bed with you all day.”

  Her face feeling hot, Teresa had to turn her head away. “Well, I guess it’s a good thing you had to go, because I would have never heard the end of it if I didn’t show up to help with the Thanksgiving preparations.” She swallowed. “Um, just don’t feel like we have to do that all the time, or anything, okay? Whatever you’re comfortable with.”

  Lian squeezed her hand. “I love being that close to you, feeling you—uh. I was… definitely more than comfortable. I’ll let you know if I’m ever not, but I wouldn’t mind being that close with you again as soon as possible.”

  “Goodness, Lian,” Teresa muttered as they began progressing up the stairs. She glanced at Lian from under her lashes. “You have both the best and worst timing. Dinner is going to be long.”

  “Sorry,” Lian said with an unrepentant grin, “but anticipation isn’t a bad thing.” Their eyes met. “I think last night proved that.”

  Teresa wrenched her gaze away, the heat in her abdomen and the tingles rippling her skin making her want to drag Lian to the first private place she could think of. She cleared her throat. “We should talk about anything else right now.”

  “Right.” Lian reached for the doorknob. “So how are the kids from the shelter doing?”

  “Amy was a little overwhelmed earlier—our family is huge, as you’re aware—but they seem to be enjoying themselves. My family has really come through, you know?” Even though she fought hard against it, Teresa’s eyes were stinging with tears. In all her years, she’d never thought her family could ever be so accepting. There had been a bump or two, but only that.

  Sometimes, she wondered if running away hadn’t been a terrible mistake. But, as her mother had woefully pointed out, her absence had made them all contemplate what was
really important.

  “We’ve all got a lot to be grateful for this year,” Lian said in a soft voice as she opened the door. “And all the decisions we’ve made in the past have brought us here, so we should be thankful for those too.”

  Teresa shook her head as she entered the house. She waited for Lian to join her. “Sometimes, it’s scary how well you know me.”

  “Really?” Lian frowned. She looked so serious that Teresa felt a pang of regret for the offhand comment.

  “No.” Teresa kissed her cheek. “It’s good. I just need to remember that you’re not actually a mind reader. I don’t want to take you for granted.”

  “Oh. Okay.” Lian took her hand again, and all felt right in the world. “Why don’t we go pick a spot out before all that’s left is the kid’s table.”

  “Vivian is saving our seats.” Teresa lengthened her stride to take the lead, already knowing where they were headed.

  Two long tables were set up in the dining room and near capacity, with a third, smaller table in the kitchen set up for the children.

  “Hey,” April brightly greeted as they approached the far end of the nearest table.

  Vivian smiled at them both. “Glad you could make it, Lian.”

  Zoe, who was seated to Vivian’s left, wiggled her eyebrows. “Yeah, I thought you’d be gone longer.” Her smug expression morphed into a wince, then a scowl. She glared across the table at Carla. “Why did you even sit here?”

  Carla waved a dismissive hand. “Lian and I are friends. You remember what friends are, right?’

  Lian and Teresa chuckled and took their seats opposite April and Vivian, respectively. They made idle chatter as they waited for Ana and Miguel to join at the head of the table.

  “Where is Mom?” Teresa peered around the room.

  “She’s been in and out of the kitchen all day,” Vivian absently explained as she also began to look.

  April straightened. “Oh, she’s over near the door with someone.”

  In near unison, their small group twisted to see who it was. A young woman with short, dark curly hair was smiling as she conversed with Ana. She was wearing snug jeans, fashionable tan boots, a grey scoop-necked sweater, and a white scarf that was being removed as the two chatted. Teresa thought she was pretty, her wide smile revealing bright white teeth that contrasted beautifully with her brown skin.

  The sound of a chair screeching back cut through the low, constant noise of the dining room.

  Teresa blinked in surprise. Zoe’s seat was empty. She barely caught a glimpse of Zoe’s back as she retreated into the kitchen. “Everything okay?”

  April seemed confused, but Vivian and Carla shared a concerned look.

  “I’ll go,” Carla said as she pushed her chair back.

  Teresa waited until she was gone. “What was that about?”

  Vivian took a deep breath and forced a smile on her face. “That’s Selene.” She paused. “Remember that story about Zoe accidentally coming out? Chuy’s ex? That’s the girl. Woman.”

  “Oh.” Teresa frowned and looked back to the woman. Selene. “I think I recognize her from the shelter, actually.”

  “Really? I’ve never seen her there.” Vivian pursed her lips. “I’ve only gone a few times, though.”

  Lian gently cleared her throat. “I believe she’s a counselor or something. She’s not there all the time.”

  “That explains that.” Vivian clasped her hands together and pursed her lips. “Mom probably figured it would be a good time to bury the hatchet.”

  “Will Zoe be okay?” Teresa asked. Though Selene had seemed like a nice woman the single time they’d exchanged greetings, that didn’t mean anything. Nothing usually fazed Zoe. “I can’t believe Mom would blindside Zoe like that.”

  Vivian sighed. “Mom doesn’t know how… intense things really were between Selene and Zoe. Plus, if Selene really is working at the shelter, Mom gave everyone a blanket invite to dinner. She wouldn’t withhold that from one person.” She shook her head, then smiled. “It’s been years. Zoe is an adult. She’ll be fine.”

  Teresa nodded, though she still felt troubled. She calmed when Lian’s hand found her knee under the table.

  Lian leaned towards her. “Don’t worry,” she said in a low voice. “These things have a way of working themselves out.”

  The previous year, Teresa had volunteered to work on Thanksgiving. Holly had been evading her calls, she’d been too stubborn to fly out to California to see Sıdıka, and she still hadn’t initiated contact with any of her family.

  The following spring she’d met Lian.

  Then, she couldn’t imagine being where she was now.

  She inhaled slowly and curled her hand over the one Lian had rested on her knee. Mindful that they were in public, she brushed a tender kiss to Lian’s cheek. “You’re right.”

  Lian gave her a crooked smile. “It happens from time to time.”

  “It sure does, pookiebear.” Teresa grinned when Lian rolled her eyes.

  “You’re lucky I love you,” Lian grumbled.

  “I know.” Teresa grinned. “I promise not to call you that again.”

  Lian scrutinized her face. “I guess it’s fine. As long as you don’t call me that during, you know.”

  Teresa’s eyes widened. “Oh my god, never. I was joking. You’re way too hot for that.”

  “So, you think I’m hot,” Lian said with a smirk.

  “I mean, I basically wanted to tear your clothes off with my teeth the first time I saw you in a vest.” Teresa felt warm just thinking about how Lian had looked that night in Baltimore.

  Lian arched her eyebrows. “So that’s what it was. Remind me to both send Carla flowers and schedule another appointment with her.”

  Teresa snorted out a laugh, then kissed Lian’s cheek again. “I won’t complain, but you don’t need to dress up for me.”

  “I like doing things for you.” Lian’s gaze became intent, and Teresa had flashes to the night before.

  She cleared her throat and forced herself to sit back, away from Lian’s very tempting mouth. “I’m trying to be good, Lian.”

  To her delight, Lian blushed and sent a furtive glance around them. “Right.”

  They faced the table, but kept their hands linked under it.

  A loud chime made everyone go quiet. Ana, standing in the middle of the room holding a glass and a butter knife, smiled at everyone. “Thank you all for coming tonight.”

  Vivian met Teresa’s eyes and grinned as the speech continued. Teresa grinned back, feeling happier than she could have predicted from her previous Thanksgiving.

  It had been an incredible year. She was truly grateful to be where she was, with who she was. She could only hope the following year would be just as kind.

  Like what you read? Raquel would love to hear from you!

  Feel free to leave a review on Goodreads or Amazon. Alternatively, Raquel may be contacted at raquel_de_leon@outlook.com

  If you enjoyed Knowing Her, you might be interested in Zoe’s standalone story to be released late next year, Missing Her.