Arms Wide Open

by Donna Jay

  Ginger flew into the air and disappeared under the bed. As consciousness seeped in, Julie flopped back down, pulling the blankets over her naked body.

  “Geez, woman.” She glanced at the clock. “This better be good. I haven’t been awake at this ungodly hour since my folks used to bundle me off to Sunday school.”

  Yvonne had heard the story before. It was another stark contrast between their parents. Whereas Julie’s folks had shipped her off to Sunday school, alone, so they could have some adult time, Yvonne’s parents had dragged her and Nathan to church telling them to pray for the sinners.

  Sex was something never talked about, and according to her mother, for procreation only. The one good thing Yvonne drew from that was there was a little over five years between her and Nathan, so hopefully her father got in a few years of fun.

  Ew. Shaking off thoughts of her parent’s sex life, Yvonne focused on the here and now.

  “We’re supposed to be meeting Pamela today.”

  “Shit.” Julie sat up again. “I totally forgot.”

  “What are we going to do now?” Yvonne sighed.

  On one hand, she no longer wanted to meet with her, but on the other, it was hardly fair to cancel at the last minute.

  “We could fuck her.” Julie grinned. “It might be fun.”

  Dumbfounded, Yvonne’s mouth fell open. “You’re kidding. What part of I don’t want to turn into a—”

  The cheeky smile spreading across Julie’s face stopped her mid-rant.

  “Of course I’m kidding. I’m still recovering from last night. Next weekend, though, could be a different story.”

  “Stop.” Grabbing a pillow, Yvonne covered Julie’s face. Julie flailed her arms, kicking her legs as if she was suffocating.

  Laughing, Yvonne removed the pillow, knowing full well Julie could’ve easily overpowered her.

  “Why don’t we cancel?” Julie said.

  “We’ll look like arseholes.” Why Yvonne cared, she didn’t know. It wasn’t like they owed Pamela anything.

  “So, we stick to our end of the deal. Meet her at the park, feed the ducks, thank her for her time and come home again…and make out.” Julie waggled her eyebrows.

  “Good God, woman. Two minutes ago you said you were still recovering from last night.”

  “I am, but I keep having flashbacks.” Julie fanned her face with the blankets.

  If she was being honest with herself, Yvonne had to admit her lady bits tingled whenever she thought about the tryst.

  Lady bits? There’s one for the books, petal. Sarah would have a field day with that. Not that she would ever know her prude of a friend wasn’t such a prude anymore.

  “Text Pamela.”

  “And say what?”

  “Here, I’ll do it.” Julie plucked Yvonne’s phone off the nightstand.

  ‘Hi, somethings come up. Would you mind if we postpone to another time? Y&J.’

  A sense of unease settled in Yvonne’s stomach. “Postpone to when? And what if she asks what’s come up?”

  The phone rang, startling them both.

  “Here.” Julie tossed Yvonne’s phone at her as if it was on fire.

  When Yvonne saw the name on the screen, she knew why. Who did that? Returned a text with a phone call?

  For a minute, she considered letting it go to voicemail, but that would be just as rude as brushing Pamela off.

  “Hello,” Yvonne said tentatively.

  “Hey, it’s me, Pam. What’s up?”

  Yvonne glared at Julie as if this was all her fault, yet they’d agreed to meet Pamela together. Rather than lie, something she sucked at, Yvonne stuck to the plan.

  “We thought we might not be able to make it today.”

  Yvonne turned her phone sideways so Julie could listen in.

  “I called to say it’s your lucky day,” Pamela said.

  Julie sat back, looking confused. Yvonne shrugged, she was just as clueless.

  “How so?” Yvonne asked.

  “I’m already in town, so we can meet this morning instead.” Pamela sounded extremely pleased with herself for finding a solution to their problem.

  Resigned to their fate—no good ever came from lying—Yvonne climbed out of bed. “What time?”

  “Nine o’clock.”

  “Yeah, sure, nine sounds fine.”

  Groaning, Julie rolled over. She landed on the floor with a thud and rolled under the bed. Ginger popped out the other side.

  Yvonne disconnected the call, climbed on the bed, and jumped up and down like a five-year-old. When she heard a spring give, she questioned her wisdom…and maturity.

  “Man up, wife. We have a lady to meet.”

  ***

  After rushing around to get ready and throwing on a load of washing, they were out the door and on their way to Kowhai Park. Mere meters away from Manfield where they’d spent a wonderful afternoon with a very personable lady.

  “What are you thinking about,” Julie asked as she turned onto South Street.

  “Brenda,” Yvonne answered honestly. Her stomach felt heavy. She wasn’t looking forward to seeing Pamela, at all.

  “Me too, but let’s try to inject some cheer into our voices when we see Pam, okay? It’s not her fault someone else beat her to it.”

  “You make us sound like a prize.” Yvonne snorted, her mood picking up ever so slightly.

  “Well, you are quite the catch.” Julie squeezed her thigh.

  Yvonne rested her hand on top of Julie’s, taking in her profile from side on. Sunlight shimmered off her sleek, black hair. Over winter it’d grown longer, but a week ago, Julie went for her usual summer cut. Short on the sides, slightly longer on top and swept back.

  “You’ve got cute ears. You really should get them pierced.” Yvonne smiled, knowing exactly what Julie would say before she even spoke.

  “I don’t like wearing jewellery, it messes with my zen.” Her lip kicked up.

  “Your what?” The zen part was new to Yvonne. She guessed Julie added that to lift her mood and it worked.

  Julie raised her hand, wiggling her fingers. “This, though, will never come off.

  Yvonne captured her hand and kissed her wedding ring, the only piece of jewellery she wore. “Love you.”

  “Love you more.”

  She flicked the indicator on and pulled into Kowhai park. “Where’d you arrange to meet her?”

  “By the duck pond.”

  “Good choice, duckie.”

  “Shut up.” Yvonne smacked Julie’s shoulder. “Come on.” She cracked open the passenger door. It was now or never.

  Other than a few early morning joggers, the park was relatively devoid of people. The cool, crisp air carried the floral scent of roses.

  A cacophony of bird calls drifted over from the aviary on their left. Directly ahead of them, a woman waved from the other side of the pond.

  “Wow,” Yvonne said.

  Pamela wore knee-high boots, black tights, and a stretchy tank top that matched the colour of her hair; fire-engine-red.

  Her choice of clothing showed off every contour of her body. Including her nipples which were on high-beam. If she wanted to be noticed, she’d succeeded.

  “Doesn’t leave much to the imagination, does it?” Julie tipped her head sideways. “Can we say camel-toe?”

  “Shush,” Yvonne hissed. “She’ll hear you.”

  Pamela started around the pond, meeting them halfway. “Hi, ladies. It’s great to see you.”

  “You too.” Yvonne held out a hand.

  “Oh, I think we’re way past that.” Pamela pulled Yvonne into an embrace. “We’re practically in bed together.”

  Say what. Yvonne pulled away, feeling uncomfortable. Her skin prickled. She wanted to bolt. Was it too soon to use their word?

  “But we’re not,” Julie said.

  “But we could be, and you ladies are busy later, right? So let’s go.”

  Taken aback by Pamela’s direct approach, Yvonne cut to the
chase. “Look, Pamela. Thing is, we met someone. Last night.”

  “So?” Confusion twisted ruby, red lips.

  Who wore such provocative lipstick to a casual meeting in the park? Someone dressed seductively and clearly expecting to get laid.

  “We fucked her.”

  Yvonne glared at Julie. There was a difference between being honest and being blunt, something Julie didn’t seem to know the meaning of right then, or perhaps she was going for shock value.

  “Like I said, so?”

  This time, Yvonne looked at Pamela in disbelief. “What do you mean so?”

  “What you do in your own time is of no concern of mine. I’m sure you’ve showered since, and if you haven’t. I don’t care.” She lowered her voice to a seductive purr. “I like the smell of a woman on a woman when I go down on her.”

  It took Yvonne a minute to wrap her head around that. When it sunk in, rather than feel excited by the declaration, Yvonne felt sick. Looking equally appalled, Julie put a protective arm across her shoulders.

  “Look, thing is…” Yvonne cleared her throat. “We’re happy to get to know you a little better, as friends. But we’re not looking for anything else right now.”

  A duck quacked drawing Yvonne’s attention to the pond for a minute. When she turned back to Pamela, her face was as red as her top. She didn’t look embarrassed though, she was pissed.

  “I didn’t come all this way to be mucked around. It’s people like you who give dating sites a bad name.” She jabbed a finger in Yvonne’s direction. “Time. Waster.”

  “Whoa, calm down.” Julie held up a hand. “And don’t you ever speak to my wife like that again.” Her voice was steady, but her gaze was deadly.

  Pamela didn’t back down. “Prove you’re real then. Let’s go back to your place like arranged.”

  “We didn’t arr—”

  Julie cut her off. “We have nothing to prove to you.” She turned. “Come on, Vonn.”

  They started down the path they’d just entered along. Yvonne hunched her shoulders, feeling like she was about to be knifed in the back.

  “No you don’t, you don’t get to walk away.” Pamela stepped into their path.

  “Move.” A muscle twitched in Julie’s jaw.

  “Fine, run away then.” Pamela threw up her hands. “You couldn’t handle me anyway. The first touch of my crop and you’d be running to mummy. Does she still wipe your bottom?”

  Oh, no, this wasn’t good. Trying to diffuse the situation, Yvonne tugged on Julie’s arm. She didn’t budge.

  Her arm shot out like a python, fingers wrapping around Pamela’s throat like fangs. “Leave my mother out of this.” She thrust her backward. “Now fuck off before I call the cops.”

  A manic laugh rumbled out of Pamela. “That’s rich coming from you. You just assaulted me. You saw that, right?” She looked at Yvonne as if she would back up her claim.

  “Please, just go,” Yvonne said softly, praying for this nightmare to be over.

  Grinning, Pamela walked backward. “Your days on Find Someone are over, you’ll be blacklisted, just wait and see.” She flipped them the bird with both hands and was gone.

  Being blacklisted was the least of their worries, and right then Yvonne didn’t know or care if it was even possible. Sure you could block someone, but that wasn’t the same as being blacklisted, was it?

  “Come on.” Julie shook her head as if she couldn’t believe what just went down.

  “Do you think she’s gone?” Anxiety churned in Yvonne’s stomach. She couldn’t shake the feeling something bad was about to happen. “What if she’s waiting for us by the car?” Another sickening thought slammed into her. “What if she keys the car.”

  “Shit.” Julie picked up the pace.

  Yvonne tried to keep up, no easy feat with her low heels sinking into the gravel path and Julie streaking ahead in her trusty sneakers.

  When Yvonne rounded the last tree, relief swept through her. No Pamela. “Thank God she’s gone.”

  “Don’t thank him yet.” Julie pointed to a silver sedan.

  Watching them through the windscreen, Pamela smiled and waved. The woman was clearly unbalanced.

  “How the fuck didn’t we notice she’s got a screw loose?” Yvonne asked.

  “Language.”

  “Don’t lecture me about my language when we’ve got a psycho bitch stalking us.”

  Glad they were only five minutes from home, Yvonne yanked open the car door the second the key fob bleeped.

  “Do you think she’ll follow us?” Julie asked as she climbed into the driver’s seat and buckled up.

  “Don’t even joke about it.” Nerves were back in full flight. Yvonne kept her eyes on the silver sedan as Julie backed out of the parking lot.

  When a plume of blue smoke puffed out of the exhaust, adrenaline surged through Yvonne. “Shit, she just started up her car.”

  “She can’t sit there all day,” Julie said, her voice calm, her gaze flicking between the rearview mirror and the road ahead. “And here she comes.”

  “Take a left up here.” Yvonne pointed. There was no way in hell they were going to lead her to their home, their sanctuary.

  “At least she’s not from here. I should be able to lose her fairly easily.”

  Thank God for small mercies.

  “Hold tight.” Julie revved the engine, tyres squealed, and they were off.

  Yvonne clutched the handrail, body swaying left and right as Julie deftly zigzagged through back streets.

  “Have we lost her?” Yvonne dared to ask ten minutes and countless streets later.

  “I think so.” Julie glanced in the rearview mirror. “You know, she might’ve been going into town.”

  Maybe, but Yvonne wasn’t willing to chance it. “Fine, so don’t go that way home.”

  “Have a little faith.” She continued along the backstreets of Fielding, cut through Timona Park, and thirty minutes after this god forsaken ordeal started, raced up their driveway and parked in the garage.

  “Phew.” Yvonne exhaled, feeling exhausted.

  Relieved, she buried her head in her hands. When the unlikelihood of what just happened hit her, she started laughing.

  Julie joined in. They laughed until Yvonne’s sides hurt and tears were rolling down their cheeks.

  “Did that really just happen?”

  “Afraid so.” Julie grinned.

  “Hey.” Yvonne sobered. “You grabbed her by the throat.” She’d never seen Julie raise a hand to anyone. She was the peacemaker, the one who kept her head when Yvonne was losing hers.

  “She shouldn’t have fucked with my wife.”

  The thought was repulsive. Yvonne shuddered. “Thank goodness we never got that far.”

  “No kidding. I find it hard to believe she practices safe, sane, and consensual sex when she can’t take no for an answer.”

  The implications of what that meant sent a shudder through Yvonne’s body.

  Do you think it’s safe to get out now?” Yvonne wrung her hands together.

  Grinning, Julie cracked open the car door. “Race you.”

  Feeling like a teenager trying to sneak back into the house without getting caught, not that she’d ever been brave enough to sneak out, Yvonne glanced down the driveway.

  Seeing the coast was clear, she took a deep breath, counted to three, then sprinted across the backyard.

  Ginger greeted her on the doorstep. She picked him up and buried her face in his fur. His motorbike kicked into gear. She exhaled, soothed by the rhythmic rumble of his purring.

  Chapter 30

  As soon as they were safely inside, Yvonne flicked on the electric jug. “Coffee, I need coffee.”

  “Here, let me help you.” Julie pulled two mugs out of the cupboard and set to work.

  Drinks in hand, they made their way into the living room. Yvonne cracked open a window.

  A warm breeze lifted the net curtain, carrying the scent of pine, taking the morning chill o
ff the air.

  Lost in thought, neither of them spoke for several minutes. Yvonne cradled her mug, savouring her second brew of the day.

  It was the first time in a long time she’d gone over her quota. But it seemed fitting considering the weekend had been full of firsts.

  First threesome, first psycho encounter, first time blacklisted.

  “Do you think Pamela will really blacklist us on Find Someone?” Yvonne asked. She patted her lap and Ginger jumped up.

  Julie tipped her head to the side, studying her curiously. “Why, do you want to try again?”

  “No.” Yvonne shook her head, realising in that moment she honestly didn’t.

  Uncrossing her legs, Julie got out of her chair and joined Yvonne on the sofa. She took her hands in her own, searching her eyes. “Do you want to see Brenda again?”

  That was a very good question, one Yvonne hadn’t had time to think about. They’d crashed out as soon as she’d left last night. Then this morning…well, this morning had been a bust.

  “Right now, I don’t know.” She entwined her fingers with Julie’s. “Do you?”

  She looked beyond Yvonne. “Turn around.”

  She turned, unsure what she should be looking at until her gaze landed on the chair, and the kitchen table beyond that. Her stomach fluttered.

  “Come with me.” Julie guided her to the kitchen table. “Sit.”

  Erotic memories danced through Yvonne’s mind. Julie on her knees. The feel of Brenda’s soft body beneath hers. Brenda’s hands on her at the same time as Julie’s mouth.

  Fanning herself, she remained on her feet. “I can’t.”

  “Why?” Julie asked, her smile letting Yvonne know she knew exactly why.

  “All I can see is you, me, Brenda…” She doubted she’d ever be able to eat at the table again without those images flashing through her mind.

  “Would you do it again? Just us?” A hint of vulnerability shined in Julie’s eyes.

  If she thought she wasn’t enough for Yvonne she was wrong.

  “You’re more than enough woman for me.” A shiver ran up Yvonne’s spine as the enormity of what she said crashed into her.

  Despite her earlier protests, she pulled out a chair and sat, the revelation rocking her to her core.