by Tey Holden
“I say this to you only and for obvious reasons. These are a couple’s private matters that should not be discussed. But the truth is that I’ve always felt a burning desire for your mother. Meaning that I not only love every bit of her, I want every bit of her with passion. Our love making has always been out of this world, consistently, and we have never to this day thought that we have ever had too much of each other.”
Karen nearly choked upon hearing the last statement and got up for a drink of water. Both Alex and Addy laughed.
“The day you feel that irresistible passion for someone, man or woman, give yourself totally, completely and without reservation to that person. True love is the best thing on earth. I found it and live it every day of my life. You’ll recognize it when you feel it because it will overpower you. That is all I will say. Yes, we still make love, and it’s as good as the first time. Let me go and make sure that she is not really choking. She has to last me.” Alex couldn’t stop laughing.
Karen was coughing in the kitchen. “Are you alright, baby?” Addy asked as she entered the kitchen.
“Addy, I think you’ve over done it this time! How could you say all that to her?” Karen whispered, but her voice carried in the echo of the kitchen and Alex could hear everything and couldn’t stop smiling in the living room.
“Baby, I didn’t say anything that is not true and there is absolutely nothing wrong with what I said! Why should our daughter not know that we love each other to death?” Karen rolled her eyes but said nothing.
Alex walked into the kitchen. “Don’t worry Mom, I’m okay. I know the two of you have always had something amazing. I’ve lived it every day of my life, and it’s been wonderful. I know real love exists because I have seen it in the two of you. I want what you have and nothing less. After seeing the two of you, I could never settle for anything else.”
Addy and Karen looked at each other again. Addy then made a pronouncement. “I agree with your Mom, I think it’s time to meet Blair.”
Alex looked at both of them. “In due time, M’Addy. I’ll arrange it, but not just yet. I need some time.”
“Can you tell us what prompted all of this?”
Alex told them about the dance. “I’ll invite her soon, I promise. She likes you already.”
“You’ve told her about us?”
“Some, I didn’t want to scare her.”
“That, my dear, will be an impossible task! If she continues to be interested after meeting us, she deserves credit just for sticking to her guns,” Karen said as Addy laughed.
“Mom, she is the type that sticks to her guns, and shoots.”
***
“Alex!” Karen called her as Alex was going upstairs to her room.
“Yes?” Alex replied from the staircase.
“Having been in the other person’s shoes. I can tell you what you have working for you here.”
Alex came down a few steps to listen to her mother closer. “What, Mom?”
“If Blair is really interested in you, she will be patient. She will give you all the time in the world. Forever, if necessary.”
“Mom, but how long is forever?”
“Forever is however long it takes. Alex, when you truly love someone, there is no one else. Only that person matters. Only that person will do. So forever is as long as it takes. And here is the other sign, she will never lay a finger on you, nor touch a hair on your head unless you give her a clear sign that you want her to touch you. If these two things aren’t there, then it’s not the real thing.”
“Why wouldn’t she dare to touch me?”
“Because the last thing she wants is to make you feel awkward. She’s not going to risk losing her chance with you for a moment of satisfaction. She will rather have you as a friend forever than lose you altogether. You will find her avoiding situations that will put her at risk. Alex, you will never feel as safe with anyone else as with her because she only wants to protect you.”
“Mom, I practically forced her to dance with me last night. She didn’t want to. When we first started to dance, she was stiff as a column, barely moving. She only relaxed when I told her that I was fine, and I put my arm around her neck. She was avoiding that kind of situation. And she now thinks she’s made me uncomfortable. She asked me if she had. She also said she felt responsible for my safety when we parked the car.”
“You said that you felt as if you were going to pass out? How did she feel, how did she look?”
“She was worried that I was sick. She pulled me off of the dance floor and gave me a glass of water, and—.”
Karen interrupted. “When you put your arms around her neck, how did she respond? Physically, what did she do?”
Alex swallowed and focused on her mom. “I don’t know, Mom. It all happened so quickly! She tried to keep her distance, but the crowd pushed us closer. She was holding me, and I could feel her breath on my ear. I felt her sort of deflate, and I could feel her heart going really fast. Then when we pulled away, and I looked at her, that’s when I felt dizzy. What do you make of all of that, Mom?”
Karen looked at Addy, who was standing next to her at the foot of the staircase, and then to Alex. “I think you forced her into a situation she was avoiding because she knew you would arouse her. If she was aroused, as I suppose she might have been under the circumstances, she might have even been trying to control herself to the point of where she hardly could. Your mind couldn’t cope with the confusion of the moment and it quit on you and you felt dizzy. I’d like to meet her. Arrange it.” Karen went upstairs, leaving a very shocked Alex facing Addy.
“She’s direct when she wants something. No beating around the bush with her. She’s such a turn on.” She said the last statement loud enough so that Karen could hear it as she was going up the stairs grinning and shaking her head.
“Go to sleep, baby. Don’t think about it. It will work its way out. You’ll see.” Addy hugged and kissed her daughter.
“Good night, M’Addy.” Addy went upstairs and Alex followed a bit later
In the bedroom, Karen spoke. “The day I saw her with my tool kit trying to fix the door, I knew.”
Addy laughed.
***
After breakfast, on Sunday, they had barely sat in the family room to drink their coffees, when Alex’s phone rang.
“Shit it’s her!” The moms looked up. Blair was not giving up easily.
“Hi.” Both women were surprised with Alex’s timid greeting, but continued about their business leaving Alex to her phone conversation. Addy was reading the main section of the Sunday paper, and Karen the financial section.
“Hi, I just wanted to know if you were okay. Are you still at your parents?”
“Yeah, I think I’m going to stay until tomorrow and work on Pat’s books from here. I’m taking the day off from work. I’ll leave here in the afternoon. Why? Are you at work?”
“I’m home now, but I’ll be leaving soon.”
“Are you working regular hours tomorrow?”
“No, I signed up for the next shift also, so I’ll be there until midnight.”
“So, when will you be free next?”
There was silence. “Why? What do you have in mind? I can rearrange my schedule if you need me for something.”
Alex closed her eyes. Both women saw her and looked at each other. “I’d like you to meet my moms.” In the background, the moms looked at each other and paid full attention to the phone conversation. There was silence at the other end of the line. “Blair? Are you there?”
“Yes, I’m here. You’ve just scared me.”
Alex laughed. “Why?”
“Because one day, we are dancing, the next day you run home unexpectedly, and now you want me to meet your parents.”
“And?”
“Am I in some kind of trouble? Did I do something wrong?”
“No! And what do you think that I’m bringing you home for? So that my mothers can yell at you or something like that?” Alex laugh
ed and noticed that her moms were looking at her.
“No, just to see who’s messing with their daughter.”
Alex bit her lip. “Why would you ever think that?” She rolled her eyes, got up, and left the room when she realized that she had become the center of attention. Then she spoke in whispers as she left the room. “And why would my parents think that you are messing with me? Are you messing with me?” Alex smirked.
“No, I’m not!” Blair sounded offended. “I’m just concerned about whatever happened to you at the bar when you almost passed out while we danced, the dance I didn’t want to dance, if I may add. I think I made you uncomfortable and that is not what I intended. You made it very clear to me that you didn’t like dancing with women.”
“You did not make me uncomfortable and you are not just any woman.” She hesitated as to what to say next. “You are my woman friend, I mean my friend.”
“Anyway, we shouldn’t have danced,” Blair concluded.
Addy had left the family room and was in the kitchen pretending to marinade the chicken breasts that she was making for dinner, but was also secretly listening to the conversation. The minute she had gotten up from the sofa, Karen smiled knowing exactly that she was in one of her Sherlock Holmes expeditions, as she called it, whenever she spied on Alex.
Alex had walked out to the patio, just outside the kitchen door and didn’t know Addy was listening. Karen had warned her several times about her spying missions, but Addy always had a good excuse. “She’s our daughter and the fact that I express interest in her affairs is out of love and nothing else. I always have in mind her well-being.” There was nothing with which Karen could rebut that kind of statement and feeling that she had made the appropriate warning, she always went back to her business leaving Addy to conduct her task. The truth was that she secretly loved Addy’s missions and knew that she would get a full report later.
Outside, Alex continued with her conversation with Blair. “It’s not you. I think I may have unresolved issues.”
“Like what? What unresolved issues? Can I help?”
“No, I’m afraid you can’t. This is something I need to figure out on my own.”
Silence again. “Are you sure? I’m a doctor, you know?”
“Yes, I know you are a doctor. But I don’t need medical attention.”
In the kitchen, Addy smiled, imagining what was going on.
“Can you, at least, let me know if we are okay, or if I need to apologize for something?”
Alex smiled. “You don’t need to apologize for anything.”
“Alex, half the time when I’m talking to you, I’m thinking about what to say or not to say. Sometimes I say something and after I do, I wonder if it was appropriate. The last thing I want to do is to scare you away from me. I know you are not a lesbian. I just need you to know that I care about how you feel, and that it’s important for me to keep your friendship at whatever cost. I want you in my life.” She thought she was coming on too strong and tried to tone it down a little. “You are a good person, and I want your friendship.”
“Blair, don’t say anything else. All is fine. I just need time to sort things out.”
“Are you trying to shove me off again in a nice way?”
“Oh, my God! Haven’t we gone through this before? No, I am not trying to shove you off! Of all things, that is certainly the last thing I’m thinking. I think that you are terrific and I, would also like to keep your friendship and keep you in my life as well, I just don’t know how yet.”
“What do you mean?”
“I can’t do this now, Blair. I don’t want to talk anymore about this, please!”
“Okay, sorry. Will you call me when you are back in the city?”
“Yes, I will.”
“Okay, take care.”
“You too. Bye.”
Blair was left in some sort of limbo. She didn’t know what was going on and was worried, but there was nothing she could do now but wait for Alex’s return to see if she wanted to talk. She said she wants me in her life, but doesn’t know how? What does that mean?
After they hung up. Alex remained outside for a few minutes to gather her thoughts. God! What am I going to do? Show me the way, please!
By the time she came back inside, Addy had resumed her position next to Karen on the sofa. Karen had looked up, but remained silent. When Alex sat back on the sofa, all was as she left it.
“She’s worried about my health because of my nearly passing out at the bar, and she feels that she’s done something wrong.” Alex waited for some reaction, but none came. The women just looked at her and continued about their business reading the paper. “You have nothing to say?”
Karen looked at her straight in the eyes. “Nope, you?” She directed her question to Addy.
“I have nothing else to add. Alex, baby, this is something you are going to have to figure out yourself, maybe with Blair, if you trust her enough to talk to her.”
“M’Addy! Are you crazy? I can’t bring her in on my personal thoughts!”
Alex ran her hand through her hair. “I’m going to work some. I’ll be in the study.”
***
On Monday afternoon, Alex drove back to the city. Blair was on her mind for the duration of the trip. Even though, she had concentrated on her work, Blair was a constant in her mind. By the time she arrived at her flat, she had an incredible urge to call her, but she held back.
It was too soon to talk, and she thought that Blair might be working. To take her mind off Blair, she continued to work on the records she had retrieved from the bar. She was so engrossed on the project that when she looked at the clock, it was three a.m.
On Tuesday, at work during her lunch hour, she picked up the project again. That evening she called Pat. “Hi Pat, it’s Alex, Blair’s friend?”
“Yes, hi, how are you? Megan said you got sick here the other night, and I was worried”
Great! Everybody knows! Let’s have it out in the evening news! “I’m fine. Pat, I’ve looked at your accounts. I think we need to talk. Who is your bookkeeper?”
“A woman I know. Why?”
“Are you related to her, or have any type of relationship with her?” Alex thought to check before she delivered the news.
“I pay her a small fee, it’s a business arrangement. Why?”
“I think we need to talk. There are serious matters to be addressed. I’ve set up everything for you and need to show you what you need to do, but I also need to talk to you and show you some irregularities I’ve found.”
“Irregularities? That doesn’t sound good.”
“No. It does not. Let’s just say that I think I’ve found the reason why you are not making any money. Can I stop over tomorrow?”
“Sure, dear. Come whenever you want to.”
“I’ll be there tomorrow after I get off work. Around six p.m., is that okay?”
“Sure, I’ll be expecting you.”
***
The following day, when Alex walked into the bar, the early bird crowd was coming in. Usually at that time there were more couples than singles. There was no dancing or loud music playing, the bar was quiet and peaceful. She walked straight to the bar where Pat was standing next to a woman.
Greetings were exchanged and Pat and Alex moved into Pat’s office. “There are two things we need to do. One I’m going to load this program into your computer and show you how to keep records. If you prefer, I can show Megan how to do it and maybe she can become your bookkeeper.”
“But she already tends the bar. She has no time, and I can’t afford to pay—.”
“Yes, you can. Pat, hear me out. Whoever has been doing your books has been embezzling money from you.”
“What?” She hit the table with her hands and stood up. “That bitch! Ooops! I’m sorry, I’m really sorry. Please, continue.” She sat down again.
“Calm down. We are going to tackle everything and try to recover your money as well. The important thing is th
at the bar makes money. You are just not seeing it.”
“We do? We make money? Shit! I can’t believe I trusted her!” Pat went from being outraged to being ready to cry.
“Listen to me. We are going to start by keeping good records. I really want Megan to help you out. She needs the money, and you need someone trustworthy. I know an accountant. I’m sure he can train Megan, and follow up and audit the books.”
“Alex, but I don’t have money for all that!”
“Yes, you do. And you will see it. We need to go see this woman. You are going to fire her and ask for all your records. I will talk to her about the money she’s embezzled from you and ask her to return it immediately, or we will go to the police and press charges. Now are you ready to do all of that?”
“You bet your ass, I am! But what makes you think she’ll return the money?”
Alex smiled. “Let me take care of that, I know exactly what to tell her. Now I’m doing this on my own. If she refuses to pay back the money, and we have to take her to court you will need legal representation. At that point, you’ll need to decide what to do because I work for a legal firm, and I can only represent you through the firm, and they will require payment. But let’s not cross that bridge until we get to it. I’m willing to bet this will be resolved without having to go to court. ”
“I hope so because I probably can’t afford your prices. I’m almost bankrupt.”
“Pat, this is where you are wrong. Your bar makes good money. If my calculations are right, this woman owes you a lot of money.”
“Oh, my God! Alex, are you sure?”
“You heard me right.”
“Oh my God! And here I have been thinking of closing down!”
“No, you are not closing down. In fact, if and when we recover the money, I think you and I should talk about renovations and modernizations. I think the bar should be redesigned to cater to the new college crowd. The university is not far from here, and I bet that there are potential customers there. But first, we need to talk to this woman to recover your money, and then we need to start a good record keeping system.”
Pat looked anxious. “Alex, how am I going to pay you for all of this?”
“Hey, how soon do you forget? Free beer, remember?” She grinned.
