The Very Thought of You

by S. Anne Gardner

  “I love you, Reese, I love you,” Alex whispered in her ear.

  Reese turned around in Alex’s arms and pulled away.

  “Rose will be dropping Carly off soon; Carly spent the night and I promised her I would make her a happy face pancake for breakfast this morning. I better go and get started.”

  Reese started to walk away when Alex reached out and pulled her into her embrace.

  Almost immediately, Alex’s lips covered Reese’s. It had been so long since she had kissed her like this. All the need that had been stored away all those months came through the kiss.

  Each woman pulled the other closer.

  This they had always shared—their need to connect. All the resolve for patience was lost in the wave of desire that covered their bodies. Hands searched and caressed. Alex’s lips went to the sides of Reese’s face then down to her neck as Reese’s head tilted back to allow passage.

  The only thing that both bodies recognized was their need to be one. So much passion had been held back and it all threatened to boil over. Mouths hungered for skin and hands yearned to explore.

  Suddenly, Reese felt Alex’s mouth sucking on her breast. She looked down and could not remember how her blouse had opened. But a moan escaped her lips as she welcomed the waves of pleasure that followed.

  The sound of the doorbell interrupted.

  “Oh God, not again!” Reese exclaimed. “Alex, Alex, it’s the door.” She tried to put some order to the emotions that at that moment had been so thick that it restricted breathing. Alex held her for a moment without saying a word. Reese could hear her intake of breath as Alex tried to control it. She could feel the pounding of Alex’s heart against her own chest. And when they started to pull apart, Reese saw eyes filled with love and passion-to-come looking back at her.

  Both foreheads met lovingly; both took a deep breath before separating. Reese buttoned up her blouse and Alex tried to straighten her clothes. Reese walked unsteadily to open the front door.

  The room was filled quite suddenly with a very energetic seven-year-old blonde dynamo. Who, as soon as she saw Alex, ran to her.

  “Alex! Alex!” exclaimed Carly as she threw herself into Alex’s arms.

  Reese watched Carly in Alex’s arms and her eyes filled with moisture at seeing Alex’s face covered in tears as she held Carly tightly to her. She could see Alex whispering something into the little girl’s ear and then Carly looked up at Alex, wiped Alex’s tears away, kissed her cheek and hugged her tighter. Reese put her hand to her mouth to hold back her own tears from the emotions she was feeling at that moment.

  Rose saw all this and stood in judgment. She knew all about Alex and how she had hurt Reese terribly. She was not about to get a free ride from Rose Hinckley. After Reese had confided in her that afternoon over coffee in her kitchen, Rose had become very protective of her friend. Over the last few weeks, Reese had become her dearest friend. Rose knew Reese to be a gentle and caring person. Now, putting a face to the person who had hurt her friend so badly, Rose’s disapproval was clearly visible.

  “Rose, it’s all right,” Reese said gently to her friend.

  Rose looked from Alex to Reese.

  “It’s going to be all right, Rose.” Reese’s smile mixed with tears.

  “Reese, are you sure?” Rose didn’t hide her concern.

  “Day by day, Rose. I’m going to take it day by day.”

  Reese watched Carly and Alex as they were now talking excitedly with one another. She saw Alex put the child down and, hand in hand, they walked into the kitchen. Reese looked back at Rose who had also been watching.

  “Reese, please think about this before you get into a relationship with this woman again,” said Rose.

  “Rose, I love her.” Reese smiled, putting her hand through her friend’s arm. “Come on, have some breakfast with us. Meet Alex and give her a chance, Rose. You’ll like her,” she said as they both walked to the kitchen. “Where’s Lindsey?”

  “Dance class,” Rose mumbled, “I don’t want to like her,” and Reese giggled as they both entered the kitchen.

  Carly was sitting on a stool as Alex was leaning on the counter talking to her when Reese and Rose entered the kitchen. Alex looked up and smiled at Reese.

  “Alex, this is my friend, Rose.”

  “Hi.” Alex walked over and extended her hand to Rose. Rose hesitated before shaking Alex’s hand.

  Alex noticed the hesitation.

  “Rose is going to be staying for breakfast,” Reese said as she went to get out the pan to start on the pancakes.

  “I’ll make the coffee,” Rose and Alex said at the same time. They both stood looking at one another until finally Rose broke the tension. “So, tall, dark, and good-looking, can you really make coffee?”

  Reese burst out laughing and soon Rose and Alex joined in.

  The ice seemed to have been broken.

  “Well, that is just about the only thing I can do in a kitchen,” Alex joked.

  “Oh no, Alex, it’s not. It’s not,” said Reese with a shy smile. Alex smiled tenderly in return.

  Both women stared at one another for a moment with Rose looking on. She hoped that this time Alex would stay. She didn’t want to like her but somehow it seemed right. The women belonged together.

  As usual, Carly’s playfulness broke the charged air in the room. “Alex, can we go stay with you this weekend?”

  Alex looked at Carly and smiled. “We’ll see, small fry.” She smiled and went to caress the blonde head, putting a kiss on top of her head, before looking up at Reese.

  “So, okay, who wants pancakes?” Reese asked.

  †

  The thought that Reese was back in her life kept going through Alex’s mind as she drove into the office. For the last few days she had been visiting Reese and Carly as she had before. It was wonderful having them back in her life. Everything was so different now. She found that somehow her life had taken a new meaning. She would go over to Reese’s house after she finished at the office and they would do something together, just as they used to. She would help put Carly to bed and then they would watch some television. They had kissed lightly, both anticipating but not wanting to push the other.

  It mattered so much now to get it right. Alex didn’t want to do anything to push Reese away from her. She would be patient and wait as long as she needed. Her thoughts were filled with a desire to make love to Reese just as she had so long ago. It became harder and harder with each passing day not to touch her.

  Tonight, Alex decided, she would pick up a special dessert for after dinner. She knew Carly loved chocolate as much as she did so she would pass by the French bakery that she loved so much to pick up a chocolate mousse cake.

  Alex tried to concentrate all morning on her paperwork, to no avail. Finally, she just gave up, leaned back in her chair, and let her thoughts loose. She closed her eyes and her mind filled with the bluest eyes taunting her. Her mouth opened slightly in anticipation of the mouth that she knew would bring her paradise.

  “Ms. Masters, your sister is on line four,” said Carol through the intercom. Alex shook her head in irritation.

  “Okay, Carol, thank you.”

  “Hi, Kate,” said Alex into the phone.

  “Hello, Alex, how are you?” Kate asked cautiously. They had not spoken since the night of the fund-raiser.

  “I am doing great. Sis, how are you?”

  Kate was silent for a moment.

  “Kate, you there?”

  “Yes, I’m here. Everything is fine, huh?”

  “Yes, Kate, everything is glorious!” Alex exclaimed.

  “My God, you and Reese are back together again!” Kate yelled.

  “How did you know?”

  “Because you are happy, you idiot. God, Alex,” she said happily. “I am so glad for both of you. How did it happen? When did it happen? What are your plans?”

  “Whoa, whoa! One question at a time, okay?” Alex said happily.

  †
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  “Mommy, are we going to stay with Alex this weekend?” Carly asked.

  Reese looked at her daughter curiously. “Why do you like going to Alex’s house so much munchkin?”

  “Because, when we’re there together she’s not so sad about Teddy,” Carly answered simply while she was eating her cookie. Reese looked at her and smiled as she reached out and caressed her daughter.

  “Why do you think that, baby?”

  “She told one time when she was tucking me in that when I was there she wasn’t sad about Teddy anymore. She said I brought the sunshine back to her.” Carly looked up at her mother. “Mommy, why did Teddy have to die? Was he sick?”

  Touched by what Carly had revealed, Reese took a deep breath. “No, honey, Teddy was killed in a car accident. A man that had been drinking crashed into the car that he was in and he died.” Reese looked at Carly to see her reaction.

  “So, she never said goodbye to him?” her daughter asked.

  “No, sweetheart, they never said goodbye.”

  “It’s not fair, Mom.”

  “No, honey, it’s not fair.”

  Both were silent for a little while. Carly covered her mother’s hand and then hugged her before she looked at her mother again.

  “You love her, don’t you, Mom?”

  Reese looked into those innocent eyes and answered truthfully. “Yes, baby, I love her very much,” she said as her eyes filled with tears.

  “Maybe if we both love her really hard she won’t be sad anymore,” Carly said as Reese took her into her arms and held her tightly.

  “Yes, baby, we will love her so much that she won’t be sad anymore.”

  As mother and daughter held each other, Alex walked into the kitchen.

  “Hello, ladies.”

  Both Carly and Reese looked up.

  Alex put down a box that said La Bonne Bakery and held a dozen red roses in her arms.

  Reese smiled.

  “This, small fry, is for you.” She pointed to the box.

  “What is it, Alex?” Carly asked excitedly.

  “Chocolate mousse cake.”

  “Yummy!” Carly exclaimed as Alex walked over to Reese.

  “And these are for you,” she said as she gave Reese the roses. She leaned closer to kiss Reese then stopped as she looked at Carly peeking into the box and smiled.

  Reese put her finger on Alex’s chin, pulled her back, and proceeded to kiss Alex’s lips lightly. “Thank you for the roses.”

  Alex smiled.

  Chapter 9

  It had been a whole month and Alex could not remember ever feeling this happy. After so much sadness and pain, she never thought that she would find happiness again. And yet, here she was driving to Reese’s house and thinking how wonderful her life was right now. She would make Reese forgive her by showing her that she would wait. She would wait forever if she had to. But she would be there when Reese was ready.

  Alex pulled into the driveway and as she got out of the car Carly came around the garage with a few little friends.

  “Hi, Alex.”

  “Hi, small fry, who are your friends?” Alex asked with a smile.

  “This is Ben,” Carly pointed to a little boy with short blond hair on a green bicycle. “This is Patty.” Patty had brown hair that hung in two braids on the sides of her head.

  “Nice to meet you guys,” said Alex.

  “Gonna go play at Ben’s house…he just got a new jungle gym.”

  “Does mommy know?”

  “Yep.”

  As the other two kids were waiting on their bikes, Alex looked around. “Hey, small fry, where’s your bike?”

  “It’s broken,” she said with a small pout.

  “Oh, I see.”

  “Yeah…well, I’ll see you later, okay?” Carly hugged her and followed her two friends to Ben’s yard.

  Alex watched her as she ran behind her two friends to the yard next door and saw them go in through the back fence before she proceeded to go inside. She walked into the house without announcing herself and was rewarded with a unique surprise. Reese was singing. Alex smiled as she followed the singing.

  Alex poked her head into the laundry room as Reese was putting a load in the washer. “I want to melt into you, I want your kisses to take me to paradise,” Reese sang.

  Alex came up behind her and pulled her to her. “I want that too,” she said into Reese’s ear.

  Reese turned around quickly, scared to death. “Alex! You scared me!”

  “Sorry love,” Alex laughed.

  Reese hit her in the arm with the palm of her hand. “You really scared me!”

  “I’m sorry,” Alex said softly.

  Reese looked into the eyes that had always taken her breath away. As their gazes connected their mouths were pulled to their own connection.

  Their bodies were barely touching. The kiss grew with passion, and Alex tasted the sweetness of the lips that she craved every moment of her day.

  Reese stood still, not getting any closer, trying to capture the beauty of the moment. The fact that they were barely touching created more of a hunger between them. And inevitably, their passions collided to create a huge fire that hungered to be fed.

  Finally, Alex’s hands went around Reese’s waist and pulled her closer.

  Reese’s arms went around Alex’s neck, as her body seemed to melt into the warmth in front of her. Her fingers went into Alex’s hair. She loved to feel Alex’s hair. As her desire for Alex grew her fingers tightened around the dark tresses and she pulled Alex’s mouth even closer to her.

  Alex’s hands slid down to Reese’s bottom, pulling her closer as her mouth went down along her neck. She loved the taste of Reese’s skin. The sounds coming from Reese’s mouth only encouraged her to go further.

  “Alex…Alex…how I’ve missed you,” Reese said passionately. Alex’s mouth went to meet her lips again. As they both gave in to the heat of their passion, Reese spoke the words that Alex had longed to hear. “Make love to me, Alex. Please make love to me.”

  †

  An hour and a half later, Carly walked in to the kitchen and looked from Alex to Reese curiously.

  “What’s going on?” Carly asked.

  “What do you mean, honey?” Reese asked her daughter.

  “You two have goofy looks on your faces,” Carly said, and both women broke out laughing. “What? I don’t get it.”

  “Nothing, honey, really. We’re making dinner,” Reese said as the phone started to ring. She walked over to the phone and answered it.

  “Hello?”

  “Ms. Owens, this is Mrs. Perry. You wanted me to call you so we could schedule Carly’s piano lessons.”

  “Oh, yes, Mrs. Perry, what time do you have available?” Reese asked excitedly. Alex and Carly listened attentively.

  “I only have Thursdays at three thirty, I’m afraid.”

  “Oh, can I let you know tomorrow. I don’t know if I can arrange it for that time.” Reese sounded disappointed.

  “All right, my dear. Let me know. Goodbye.”

  “Goodbye, Mrs. Perry.” Reese hung up and stopped, considering her options.

  “What’s wrong, love?” Alex asked as she helped Carly up onto the stool.

  “That was Mrs. Perry. She gives piano lessons and Carly wanted to take some,” Reese answered, still distracted.

  “What’s the problem?” Alex asked.

  “I don’t think I can arrange it for Thursdays and Rose is just as busy.”

  “I’ll take her,” Alex said quickly with a smile.

  Reese turned toward her in surprise. “Can you? Can you, Alex?”

  “Of course, I’ll just arrange it at the office. If I have any serious conflicts I’ll let you know in advance, okay?” Alex finished with a smile.

  “Great!” Reese kissed her lightly on the lips and smiled down at Carly.

  “So, Alex is going to take me to my lessons?” Carly asked.

  “Yep,” Reese answered as she walke
d over to start dinner.

  Alex leaned down and whispered in Carly’s ear. “And if you try really hard we can have some chocolate ice cream on the way home, okay?”

  “It’s a deal,” Carly said, shaking Alex’s hand.

  Reese gave them a questioning smile. “What are you two up to?”

  “Us? Nothing,” Alex answered as she and Carly exchanged a conspiratorial smile.

  †

  Reese was getting her test papers from the right drawer of her desk when Rose entered the classroom.

  “Hi there.” Rose smiled as she walked up to Reese.

  “Hello, Rose, I see you survived your brood today.”

  “Yes, the little darlings. I swear it’s the same every year. Why is it the boys notice girls in fifth grade and they think the best way to get their attention is by putting gum in their hair?”

  “Tough day, huh?” Reese sympathized.

  “Not really. So how is it going with tall, dark, and gorgeous?” Rose asked as she sat down in a chair in front of Reese’s desk.

  “Oh, Rose, she is the most wonderful person...” Reese trailed off with a smile on her face.

  “Yeah, yeah. I can see she has you wrapped around her finger.” Rose smirked.

  “Tell me you like her. Go on. You know you do!” Reese waited as she crossed her arms in front of her chest.

  “Okay, I like her. I like her, okay!” Rose exclaimed in good humor. “Hey, where’s Carly?” Rose asked, looking around the classroom. Carly usually waited in the classroom for Reese to finish her paperwork before going home.

  “Alex took her to her piano lesson.”

  “So she’s sticking, huh?” Rose asked warily.

  “Yeah, she is.” Reese smiled.

  “I’m glad, you know,” Rose said affectionately.

  And Reese answered with a big grin. “Yeah, I know.”

  †