by Lydia Rose
Quinn blew out a breath. “You are beautiful, Wendy. Everyone knows that.”
“Are you flirting again?” Wendy asked seriously.
“No, I uh…” Quinn became tongue tied.
Wendy laughed again. “You’re so easy to fluster, Quinn.”
“I’m going to say good bye now,” Quinn said quickly.
“Good bye, sweetheart,” Wendy said, laughing as she disconnected the call.
Quinn’s mother was waiting with her hand on her hip as she walked back to the counter. Is every woman in my life going to give me a hard time? After explaining what happened with Wendy, her mother began to chuckle. “Oh, you find it so funny?”
“Yes,” Tina said. “That girl has got you pegged. Wendy has a good sense of humor.” Tina looked at Quinn seriously. “You need that in a partner. Your dad and I were always laughing.”
“What?” Quinn began to stutter. “She’s not my partner.”
“Not yet,” Tina said with a laugh.
“Mom, stop teasing. Wendy’s straight,” Quinn stammered out.
“Uh huh,” Tina said, walking away to wait on a customer.
Quinn was lying on the couch that evening watching a ball game when her phone rang. Wendy’s picture appeared. “Hello,” she said softly.
“You still mad at me?” Wendy asked almost whispering.
“Yes. First you tease me and then I had to listen to mother tease me, too.”
Wendy giggled. “Why, what did she say?”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Quinn answered, rolling her eyes.
Wendy giggled again. “Oh, now you have to tell me.”
Quinn grumbled. “She said you had me pegged and you had a good sense of humor.”
“I do,” Wendy quickly said.
“Yeah, well she said that was important in a partner.” Quinn waited for her reaction.
“What?” Wendy’s voice squeaked out.
“You heard what I said.”
“Why would she say that? She knows I’m straight, right? Now it was Wendy back peddling.
“Yeah, I told her that. I also told her that you weren’t my partner,” Quinn groaned. “Her answer was not yet.”
“What?” Wendy asked, stumbling over her question.
“How about we call a truce and no more teasing?” Quinn asked.
“I guess we’d better before your mother has us married off to each other,” she said, finally giggling again.
“Besides, you are not my type,” Quinn quickly added.
“That’s not what I’ve heard.”
“What? Who told you that?”
“I’m not telling, but I heard you thought I was hot.”
“I’m going to kill Mary.”
“Oh, you told Mary that, too?” Wendy laughed. “I guess you told a few people how you felt.”
“Hey, wait a minute. I was talking about your character on the show.”
“But I am the character. My name might have been different, but it was still me.”
“Hey, I thought we agreed to no more teasing?”
“I never agreed to that, well, completely.”
“Good night, Wendy.”
“Oh, don’t run off. I had a reason for calling.”
“Yeah, to keep teasing me.”
“No, seriously. I wanted to tell you that I think you’re beautiful, too.”
“Excuse me.”
“You heard me. Good night, Quinn.”
Quinn looked at her phone and stared at the blank screen. “What the hell is happening?” She asked the empty room.
CHAPTER NINE
Wednesday morning, Wendy knocked on Quinn’s door. Her knocks went unanswered so she walked around the house to the backyard. “Oh, there you are. I knocked.”
“Sorry, I was just checking on the meat.” Quinn pointed to the smoker.
“What are we having?” Wendy asked, taking a deep breath.
“Ribs and brisket. Smells good already, doesn’t it?” Quinn asked smiling.
“Yes, it does. My stomach is going to be grumbling until we eat.” Wendy rubbed her hand across her stomach.
“Sorry. I can’t do anything about that. Ready to make some side dishes?”
“Sure. Just tell me what to do.”
“The potatoes and macaroni are already in the refrigerator cooling down. Let’s make the dressing. Can you chop an onion and grate some carrots?”
“Of course I can. Just because I’m an actor doesn’t mean I can’t cook.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean it as an insult.”
“I know you didn’t. I was lucky that my mom taught me to cook while I was growing up.”
“Mine, too.”
“Is your mother coming to dinner?” Wendy asked.
“I didn’t ask her.” Quinn answered softly.
“Why not?”
Quinn looked at Wendy with her eyes raised and her chin lowered. “Do you want to hear more teasing?”
“I can take it if you can.” Wendy chuckled.
“I’ll call her later,” Quinn said with a huff.
“What’s the matter, Quinn? The big strong lesbian can’t take the heat?”
“I can take it, but don’t say later that I didn’t warn you.”
****
Claudia and Sharon were the first ones to show up that evening. They were all sitting in the backyard when her mother came to the gate.
“Look who I found out front?” Tina said to the women. “And she brought dessert.” She took the cake from Wendy. “Quinn, introduce Wendy to the girls.” Tina went into the house from the back door.
Quinn held out her hand. “Wendy, these are my best friends, Claudia Dunbar and Sharon Hastings. Ladies, this is Wendy Harris.”
Sharon giggled. “Of course we know who she is, Quinn. I would recognize her anywhere.” Her hand came out in greeting.
“I’m happy to meet you both,” Wendy said, wearing a dazzling smile.
Suddenly, it appeared to Quinn that Wendy had turned on her Hollywood side. She over-smiled and stood casually answering the girls’ rapid questions.
“Ladies, let her sit down and catch her breath.” Quinn turned to Wendy. “What can I get you to drink?”
“I’ll have one of those beers,” Wendy answered.
“She drinks beer. Not champagne, but beer.”
Wendy laughed softly. “I like them both.” She turned to Quinn. “The meat smells fantastic. How long do I have to wait to taste it?”
“Just a little while.” Quinn held up her hand to her heart. “I promise.”
“I can’t believe we are going to be having dinner with Wendy Harris,” Claudia said.
“What is it with you two? Wendy’s just a woman. Stop drooling all over her.”
“Well, at least someone is being so nice to me.” Wendy turned to Claudia and Sharon. “Do you know Quinn barely talked to me when we first met? She couldn’t even look me in the eye.”
“That’s because she’s had this crush on you for the last eight years.” As the words came out of Sharon’s mouth, she sucked in a breath and covered her mouth with her hands. Her eyes were open in shock.
“Sharon,” Quinn scolded. “What the hell is wrong with you? And covering your mouth is not going to take the words back.”
Wendy and Claudia were both laughing.
“So that’s why she wouldn’t talk to me,” Wendy said, laughing at Quinn’s reaction.
Quinn rubbed her temples and stood. “I’m going to check on my mother.” She disappeared into the house.
“Quinn is going to kill me,” Sharon said quickly.
“I’ll talk to her, Sharon. Don’t worry,” Wendy offered.
“Mom, what are you doing?” Quinn asked when she came into the house.
“It’s too warm outside to eat. I’m setting the dining room table.”
“With fancy china?” Quinn asked laughing.
“Don’t you want to make a good impression?” Tina asked with her hand on her
hip as she looked at her daughter.
“I was going to use paper plates and plastic dinnerware.”
“Of course you were,” Tina said with a roll of her eyes. “The meat should be done. Why don’t you bring it in so the brisket can rest?” Tina handed her daughter two platters.
Quinn came outside not meeting the eyes of the three women.
“Ooh, she’s pissed,” Sharon said, knowing her friend very well.
Wendy got up and followed Quinn to the smoker. As Quinn opened the lid, Wendy appeared at her side. “Don’t be mad at Sharon. She feels real bad.”
“Not as bad as I feel,” Quinn muttered as she put the meat on the platters. “Can you hold this, please?” She handed Wendy a platter.
“That’s so embarrassing that she told you that.” Quinn turned so Wendy couldn’t see her eyes.
“Quinn, do you think you’re the first woman to fall in love with my character? I’ll let you read some of my tweets sometime. Can you take a picture of me holding the ribs? I want to send a picture out on my first barbecue.”
“You’ve never eaten barbecue before?” Quinn asked as she took the picture.
“Not southern barbecue.”
Wendy came out of the house with her phone. “We’re eating inside,” she said as she typed away.
“Who are you texting?” Claudia asked.
“Just my assistant. She takes care of my Twitter account. I sent her a picture of the ribs so she can put out that this is my first authentic southern barbecue.”
“Do your fans know you’re here?” Sharon asked.
“No. An announcement was made through my publicist that I was taking time off to be with my mother who is sick, but not the location.” Wendy tucked her phone into her pocket. “I’ve been lucky that no one has really bothered me.”
“Is Quinn still mad at me?” Sharon asked.
“She’ll be fine,” Wendy said with a wave of her hand.
Quinn came to the backdoor. “You all can come in for dinner.”
Tina directed the women to the dining room table and told Wendy where to sit. When the food was on the table, Quinn and Tina took their seats. Tina had placed Wendy next to Quinn who sat at the head of the table and Tina was on her right.
“You are in for a treat. Quinn learned to barbecue from her dad,” Tina said, leaning forward to Wendy.
“Do you feel trapped in this small town?” Claudia asked. “I mean compared to living in California.”
Wendy smiled. “You would think that, but I’m enjoying myself. I love the slower pace of this little town. In Los Angeles everyone is rushing to get somewhere. Here I can take a walk or sit on the beach and just feel the calm in my soul.”
“That tells me your soul belongs here,” Tina said grinning. “So I hear your mother is doing much better.”
“She is. It’s amazing that one day, she’s near death and now I think she’s going to make it,” Wendy said, grateful to whatever powers that be that have decided that.
“Will you leave to go back to California once she’s better?” Sharon asked.
“I’m not sure. If I don’t look for another series, then I can live anywhere to do movies.”
“You really can see yourself living in this small town?” Claudia asked.
Wendy laughed. “Yes, Claudia. Do I look high maintenance or something that would make you think I would hate it here for an extended period of time?”
“No, I’m just surprised.”
“Leave her alone, Claudia. I think Wendy fits in perfectly in this town,” Tina said, glancing at her daughter.
After dessert, everyone left with the exception of Wendy. “So did I do okay?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, did I live up to your expectations of being the famous actor for your friends?”
“Wendy, I was only kidding you. They wanted to meet you and I said I would introduce you to them.” Quinn thumped her head. “Is that why you came into the yard like you were at a movie premiere?”
Wendy giggled. “Oh, you caught that?”
“Yeah, I thought you lost your mind. You don’t have to put on airs for any of us.”
“You don’t like me putting on airs?” Wendy asked wiggling her eyebrows.
“No. I like the Wendy that wears jeans and collects shells on the beach. Not the Wendy that came in here with this fancy blouse and flowing pants.” Quinn pointed to herself. “Look at me. I’ve got on shorts and a t-shirt.”
“Okay, I won’t try to impress your friends to make you look good.” Wendy pouted.
“Thank you,” Quinn said with a rush of air, and shook her head. “You are something else.”
“Yeah, but you still love me,” she said, following Quinn into the living room. “I can’t tell you how much I loved that brisket. Your sauce was out of this world. Was that from a bottle?” Wendy asked smirking.
“I beg your pardon?” Quinn asked, very indignant.
“I’m only kidding, Quinn. I know that was homemade sauce. I was just busting your chops.”
“You seem to have a fondness for that lately,” Quinn moaned.
“I’m sorry. I like teasing you,” Wendy said wickedly.
“Who did you pick on in California?” Quinn asked.
“Oh, there were plenty of people.”
“Don’t you have anyone else in this town that you can pick on instead of me?”
“What fun would that be?” Wendy asked, standing. “On that note, I better let you get some rest.”
“Yeah, my day to open tomorrow.” Quinn followed Wendy to the front door and opened the front door. As she did, Wendy stepped into her arms.
“Thank you for dinner. I really enjoyed the food.”
“You’re welcome,” Quinn said, stepping out of her arms.
“Call me,” Wendy said smiling.
“Sure. When I want to be tortured by you.” Quinn called out as Wendy neared her car.
“Aw, you love it Quinn.” Wendy put her hand up in a wave without turning around.
Quinn could hear the light chuckles coming from Wendy. “You’re a goof, Wendy,” she said to Wendy before she got into the car.
Wendy spun on her heels. “I’ve been called worse.”
“Go away now, please,” Quinn called out to her. She heard her laughing all the way to her car.
CHAPTER NINE
It was a week later that Quinn got a call from Claudia one evening. “Do you have your TV on?” She asked.
“Yeah.”
“Put channel three on.”
“Why?”
“Just put it on,” Claudia insisted.
Quinn grabbed the remote and turned to the channel. She watched the screen for a few minutes. “Oh my god. What are they saying?”
“That you and Wendy are lovers,” Claudia answered.
“You’re kidding?” Quinn watched the photos that were taken of the two of them. One was them on the beach, another in town eating a meal and then the last one was the night of the barbecue. Wendy had hugged her and then they were joking as she left the house. They even showed the club where Quinn hung out.
“Are you involved with her? Because these pictures could give someone the wrong idea.”
“No, I am not involved with her. Whoever took these pictures must have found out that I was gay and figures one and one makes two. What this guy doesn’t realize is that one and one in this case makes three. Wendy must be so angry. What am I going to say to her?” Quinn was now pacing the room.
“You don’t have to say anything. You didn’t take the pictures and you didn’t do anything wrong. It’s because of her that your picture is plastered across the television.”
“I know,” Quinn said softly. There was a knock at the door. “Someone is at the door, I’ve got to go. Thanks for calling me.” Quinn went to the door and saw her mother standing there. “Mom.”
“Quinn, is there something you would like to admit to now?”
“Mom, get in here.” Quin
n took her arm and led her to the couch. “I told you there is nothing going on.”
“That’s not what those pictures showed.” Tina smiled and touched Quinn’s hand. “I’m happy for you, dear. Wendy is such a wonderful woman.”
“Mom, listen to me.” Quinn let out a frustrated sigh and rubbed her temples. “There is nothing going on.”
“Are you sure?” Tina asked, touching Quinn’s hand again.
“Mom, don’t you think I would know if something was going on. Those are just innocent pictures. If I wasn’t a lesbian, no one would think otherwise.”
There was another knock at the door.
“Now who is here?” Quinn said, holding up her arms. She opened the door. “Wendy. What are you doing here?”
“Can I come in?”
Quinn held out her arm for Wendy to pass.
As she came in she saw Tina on the sofa. “Hello, Tina.”
“Good to see you again, Wendy.” Tina stood up and went over to Quinn. “Call me if you need me.”
Wendy sat down with a thud. “You both saw it?”
Quinn sat down next to her. “Yep.”
“I’m so sorry, Quinn. I’m used to this type of thing. I never thought someone would find me here.”
“Why are you apologizing to me? It’s because of me that there is any interest. If I wasn’t a lesbian, there would be no story.”
“Quinn, they would have called you a lesbian even if you weren’t. It sells soap and it gets them ratings. This is all my fault.” Wendy wiped a tear that fell. “How do you want me to handle this?”
“Why are you asking me?” Quinn stepped away from the couch.
“Because you’re involved, too.”
“Just have your publicist say you are straight and leave it at that. Better yet, don’t even acknowledge the story and it will go away faster.”
“You won’t mind if I just ignore the story?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Very sure.” The anxiousness Quinn had been feeling was finally starting to dissipate.
Wendy pulled out her phone. “Sorry. I just want to send a text to my manager telling him not to acknowledge the story.”
“Did your mother see it?” Quinn asked quietly.