Someone Like You

by Syd Parker

  “Evening, ya’ll.” Her southern accent was very strong, and they knew right away she was not from Florida. “I’m Meghan and I’ll be your server tonight. Can I start ya’ll off with some drinks?”

  “Give me something strong.” Aspen said with a laugh. “Something that will make me forget I’m getting lectured by my mother.”

  Meghan laughed and pointed to a drink on the back of the menu. “Try this one.” She winked at Aspen and shot her an understanding smile. “Couple of these and you will have to park the golf cart and walk back to the condo.”

  Aspen smiled gratefully and ordered an Overboard martini. “Either that or I’ll be looking for the nearest ship to jump off of.”

  “Let me know if you need someone to pull you in.” Meghan smiled, and her gaze lingered a moment longer before she turned her attention to the other women. “What can I get ya’ll to drink?"

  Susan and Ginny both ordered lemonades and Ginny added an order of fried clams and sautéed mussels.

  “Sounds good.” Meghan didn’t bother writing the orders down before she hustled away and stopped to check on another table.

  “Well now, that was interesting.” Susan glanced sideways at Aspen. “Did you see that?”

  “Did I see what?” Aspen’s brow furrowed quizzically.

  “She was totally checking you out.” Aspen’s mother smiled mischievously. “I think she’s interested in you, honey. I think it’s high time you start living again.”

  “Mom, I’m living.” Aspen rolled her eyes in exasperation. “Besides, she’s like twelve.”

  “Honey, she is not twelve.” Susan huffed loudly. “That’s not the point. The point is, you’re holding on to the past, and you need to let go and start living in the now.”

  “I’m doing that.” Aspen countered defensively. “I’m moving on.”

  Ginny smiled and swatted at her sister. “Leave the girl alone. She’s doing fine.”

  “I’m leaving her alone.” Susan glared at her sister. “And if I wanted to give her a hard time I could.”

  “I think she’s had enough of that the past few years.” Ginny squeezed her hand and smiled. “But it’s looking up now, right, honey?”

  “Right.” Aspen smiled proudly. “One foot in front of the other.”

  “That’s my girl. See, Susan, she’s fine.” Ginny shot her sister a snide look. It seemed they would always disagree and fight no matter how old they got. “Whatever happened with Lex, honey?”

  Aspen frowned. “Nothing happened.”

  “I really thought that you would get back together.” Ginny smiled apologetically. “Just the way she looked at you…I knew she still loved you.”

  Aspen sighed. “Sometimes, love isn’t enough. Being back with Lex reminded me of that. I realized that I’m not the same person I was five years ago. Going through that damaged me, and if I’m ever going to be whole again, I need to do it my way. I can’t rely on someone else to fix me.”

  “Oh, honey, you’re not broken. You're heartbroken.” Susan’s heart went out to her daughter. Despite her tough exterior, she still hurt when her daughter hurt. “I’m proud of you for letting go.”

  “Thanks, Mom.” Aspen’s face broke into a smile when Meghan set a full drink in front of her. Maybe it wouldn’t be so hard to move on. Meghan was cute and while Aspen wasn’t interested in her, she could at least acknowledge that she was alive and not oblivious to attention. “Thank you.”

  Meghan winked. “You’re welcome, darling’.” She set waters and lemonades down for the other two women. “You’re appetizers will be up soon. Ya’ll ready to order?”

  Everyone ordered the fried fish sandwich. When Meghan left, the sisters turned their attention back to Aspen. “Are you okay?”

  “You know what? I am.” Aspen ran her finger along the edges of her glass distractedly. “Letting go was hard, but necessary.” Aspen wanted to believe that. She wanted to believe that she was actually ready to let go. Saying good-bye to Lex had taken everything she had and left her hollow and lost. But she had reached her low place, and the only place now was up. “Besides, it’s better this way. We would never have worked. There was too much history between us.”

  “Everything is built on history, honey.” Ginny sipped her lemonade and studied Aspen’s face. “That’s all any of us have. Days, months, years of history that we grew out of and that made us what we are. Tomorrow is just history that hasn’t happened yet. Don’t knock your history. It’s what got you to this point. You say history like it is a bad thing. It’s not. It's your story. You may have let go of Lex, but something tells me your story isn’t done yet.”

  Aspen shook her head. “My history is what I am learning from. I made mistakes that I don’t intend on repeating. I can’t explain it other than to say that our stories are going in different directions now. I have to make a new history, one that I live for myself and not for anyone else.”

  Susan smiled at her daughter. However much she was like her aunt, Aspen was still her daughter. She paused and waited for Meghan to set two plates with mussels and clams on the table. “I know I give you a hard time about letting go, but I also know you are so much like your father in that you hold onto every aspect of your life. I don’t know what that is like. But what I do know is that you’re strong like me and when you set your mind to something, I know you will do it. Whether it’s getting a permanent exhibit for your art or letting Lex go, you will succeed. Just don’t forget to live while you’re doing it.”

  “I won’t.” Aspen popped a fried clam into her mouth and moaned quietly. “That’s good. Maybe I’ll just move down here with you.”

  Ginny laughed and squeezed Aspen’s arm. “No, honey, you are not hiding yourself down here with a bunch of old fogies. You’re gonna get out there and live.”

  “Yes, Aunt Ginny, I know.” Aspen smiled wickedly. “I’m going to get myself out there and start sleeping with every lesbian I meet.”

  “Aspen.” Susan's stern tone couldn’t even stop the laughter. She finally decided it would do her no good to preach to her daughter. Instead, she quieted and drank her lemonade, ignoring the ruckus laughter that filled her ears. She knew her daughter would be okay and as a mother, that was all that mattered.

  Chapter 24

  Aspen reached out and straightened one of her pictures. She stepped back and surveyed her handiwork. A smile settled on her face. The past couple of months had flown by in the blink of an eye. It seemed like just yesterday that she was setting everything up and not almost two months ago. Her exhibit had shown really well and there had been some interest from other gallery owners. She wasn’t sure if that interest would turn into a show, but she was hopeful.

  “Can you believe this is the last weekend?”

  Aspen jumped then turned and smiled at the approaching woman. “No. Honestly, I think I blinked, and it was over.”

  Gabrielle Larson returned her smile and stopped beside Aspen, brushing her shoulder against Aspen’s. “It looks really good in here. The pieces showed really well.”

  “Thank you.” Aspen couldn’t help feeling proud. An exhibition here in Chelsea was the big time. She finally made it. “I really appreciate what you’ve done for me.”

  “Don’t thank me.” Gabrielle chuckled softly and flipped her long blonde hair behind her shoulder. “You did it yourself. You have a really good eye. I’ve never seen anyone capture raw emotion like you do. You have an amazing talent. The feedback has been nothing but positive, and you’ve sold almost every piece.”

  Aspen felt the heat rise in her cheeks. “I guess I had better get back to the drawing board, so to speak.”

  “How about you let me buy you a drink to celebrate?” Gabrielle turned and studied Aspen closely. She had been mesmerized by Aspen’s blue eyes from the moment she stepped foot in her gallery. “You deserve it.”

  Aspen hesitated. “I really appreciate the offer, but I’m not…”

  Gabrielle put her hand on Aspen’s arm and stopped he
r. “Don’t say it. Let me guess, you aren’t looking to date anyone. You just got out of a relationship, and you’re going to focus on your career for a while. Am I close?”

  Aspen blushed again. “Yes. But tonight, if I wasn’t exhausted I would totally take you up on it…as a friend.”

  Gabrielle smiled shyly. “I could start with that. The rest can wait. Although, I have to warn you, I’m pretty persuasive.”

  “Why does that not surprise me?” Aspen chuckled softly. “Thank you, though. I really appreciate the offer.”

  “Maybe next time then.” Gabrielle shrugged her shoulders. “She must have been something special to do such a number on you.”

  “It’s a long story.” Aspen stopped talking, and her eyes locked on one of the drawings. “Someone Like You sold? When?”

  Gabrielle followed her gaze. “Umm, earlier today. The woman who bought it wanted to meet you though. I said she could pick it up tomorrow, since you would be around.”

  Aspen frowned. She priced that one much higher than the others. She didn’t want to let it go. It was the last one that she had done of Lex, and she had an emotional connection to that sketch over any of the other ones.

  “That’s good, right?” Gabrielle inquired quickly, her interest piqued. “The picture…it’s of her?”

  Aspen nodded, her heart beating in her chest. If she had this much trouble letting go of a picture, how the hell did she think she was going to let go of the real thing? Three months had passed since she last saw Lex, and she still dreamed of her more nights than not. Aspen was all settled in her new home, but she still longed for the closeness of the bunkhouse with Lex nearby. “Lex. She’s my ex. I did that sketch years ago, right after we met.”

  “She’s beautiful.” Gabrielle studied Lex’s profile. “What is she thinking?”

  Aspen chuckled softly. “I, uhh, probably shouldn’t say.”

  “Oh.” Gabrielle’s eyebrows shot up. “I see. Well, no wonder you didn’t want to sell it.”

  “It’s okay.” Aspen shook her head. “It’s better that way.”

  “Sounds like there is a story there.” Gabrielle pressed, interested in the woman who still held Aspen’s heart. “An unfinished one, maybe?”

  Aspen shook her head again. “No, it’s done.”

  “Is it?” Gabrielle studied Aspen’s face. “You sure about that?”

  “No.” Aspen sighed. “You know what, on second thought, I think I’ll take that drink after all.”

  Twenty minutes later, they were tucked in a small booth near the back of The Park restaurant on Tenth. Gabrielle ordered them both a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon. She watched Aspen closely, studying her face. “Tell me more about Lex.”

  Aspen sipped her wine before she answered. “We met in college. She was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. I fell in love with her the first time I saw her. We started dating and eventually got married.”

  “What happened?” Gabrielle leaned forward and rested her hands on the table. “I am guessing she broke your heart.”

  “Hey.” Aspen laughed. “Like I couldn’t break hers?”

  “I’m not saying that.” Gabrielle smiled ruefully. “In my experience, when a face clouds over at the mere mention of an ex, it’s pretty likely you were the dumpee.”

  “Ouch.” Aspen shot Gabrielle a mock glare. “You go right for the gut, don’t you?”

  Gabrielle laughed out loud. “Honey, I’m a New Yorker. We’re direct and to the point.” She glanced at her watch and relaxed against the back of the booth. “I have time for a story…unless you have somewhere to be.”

  Aspen laughed sarcastically. “Yeah, I’ve got a full date book."”

  “Well, you are an up-and-coming artist. The possibilities are endless.” Gabrielle winked and sipped her wine, patiently tapping her fingers on the table.

  “Really?” Aspen leveled Gabrielle with a piercing glance of her ice-blue eyes and chuckled in response to her gasp.

  “Wow, do you have a license to carry those?” Gabrielle’s breath had caught in her throat when Aspen pinned her with her gaze. She had seen those blue eyes for over a month now, but had not had them focused on her with such laser-like intensity until now. “How is it possible that anyone could say no to you?”

  Aspen smiled shyly. “I didn’t realize wine turned you into such a tease.”

  “That’s the better change.” Gabrielle looked chagrined. “It also has a habit of making me talk way too much…which is why I’m going to shut up now and let you entertain me.”

  “Thanks, I think.” Aspen took several gulps of her wine, feeling the cool liquid slide down her body and settle in her stomach, stealing her nerves. “I met Lex a little over ten years ago in college. A mutual friend set us up on a blind date. It was love at first sight.”

  “I can tell.” Gabrielle swirled the contents of her glass. “Everything you are thinking is written all over your face.”

  Aspen bowed her head, hiding the pink tinge on her cheeks. She finally looked up and met Gabrielle’s amused expression. “Guilty. I’d be a horrible poker player.”

  “If that’s the case, let me be playing against you.” Gabrielle paused and smiled at a waiter who appeared wordlessly beside them. “Do you feel like a quick bite as well?”

  Aspen heard her stomach grumble in response, and she smiled sheepishly. “I think that’s a yes.”

  Gabrielle picked up a menu. “Do you mind?”

  “Not at all.” Aspen nodded, hiding a smirk behind her hand. Only Lex had ever ordered for her before, but it seemed that Gabrielle was the type to take charge as well, which was perfectly fine considering Aspen didn’t know the Arts District well enough to have an opinion on food.

  Gabrielle ordered an Artisanal Cheese Board to start followed by a wood oven pizza topped with soppressata, sun-dried tomatoes and goat cheese. Handing the menu back, she instructed the waiter to wait at least thirty minutes before bringing the main course, so they could enjoy their appetizers. She asked him to switch their Cab to a Zinfandel.

  It was obvious that Gabrielle was in her element here, and it fascinated Aspen to watch the woman interact with skilled confidence. It surprised her when Gabrielle turned and focused her attention once again on her. Gabrielle’s sudden burst of laughter startled her. “What?”

  “I just wanted to make sure you were okay with all of that.” Gabrielle smiled expectantly. “I can call the waiter back over and order something else, except…”

  “Except that you ordered the best thing here.” Aspen laughed easily. So far, her daily interaction with Gabrielle had been on a strictly business level and to see her out of the gallery afforded Aspen a new perspective. She was meticulous to a fault; one might almost say a perfectionist. But there was softness to her personality that smoothed out potential harshness of someone so fastidious. Her strawberry-blonde hair, which normally sat perched in a tight bun atop her head, had fallen loose and cascaded around her shoulders, framing her deep green eyes and high cheek bones, giving her the appearance of a young Maureen O’Hara. All in all, Gabrielle Larson was a very attractive woman, and Aspen tried to make her body react, especially given the fact that Gabrielle had given her plenty of clues that she was interested in her. None came. Shaking her head in frustration, Aspen smiled. “That sounds perfect. I can always do pizza.”

  Relief spread over Gabrielle’s face. To say that she was taken with Aspen was a bit of an understatement. Normally, a take charge woman, she hadn’t worked up the courage to ask her out until her attempt this evening, and only had been able to do so by disguising it as celebratory drink. Now, she was here with Aspen, and she was encouraging her to share the story of her ex, one she was obviously not entirely over. “Good. I tend to just plow ahead sometimes. Where were we? Ah, yes. Lex. You met in college. Blind date. Love at first sight. Continue.”

  Aspen marveled at how succinctly Gabrielle had said the words. No wasting time with unnecessary pronouns or the like. “We started dating immedi
ately and when we graduated, we moved into our first apartment together. It was so tiny. A lot like the place I’m renting while I’m here in the city. We couldn’t move without bumping into each other. Those first years were amazing. I couldn’t have been more in love.”

  “What did she look like?” Gabrielle smiled at the waiter who had just returned with their appetizer and glasses of wine. She situated the board and began pointing out the different cheeses. “This is a smoky blue cheese. They smoke it overnight in hazelnut shells. It’s amazing.” She cut a small piece off and set it on a thin cracker, topping it with a thin pear slice. “Try this.”

  Aspen took the cracker and popped it in her mouth, savoring the pungent smokiness of the cheese as it blended with the sweetness of the pear. She moaned. “That is really good. Next.”

  Gabrielle smiled, obviously pleased that her choice had been well received. She sliced a small piece off the next chunk, placed it on a cracker and handed it to Aspen. “This is a gruyere from Wisconsin. It just melts in your mouth, doesn’t it?”

  Aspen could only nod. The subtle nutty flavor of the gruyere melted on her tongue. “That was delicious. Okay, this one worries me.” She pointed at the last chunk that had an oddly purple tint.

  Gabrielle chuckled softly. “This one is the something special. I’m just going to let you taste it and see if you can pick out the flavors.” She sliced a thick piece and handed it to Aspen.

  Aspen looked at it closely, seeing small bits of purple. She smelled it and detected a hint of something floral. Finally, she took a small bite and chewed it slowly. She smiled at the impatient look on Gabrielle’s face. “Mmm, I taste flowers, maybe lavender.”

  “Yes.” Gabrielle’s clapped her hands together excitedly. “And?”

  Aspen rolled the sweet cheese over her tongue, allowing it to dance over her taste buds. She cocked her head and closed her eyes in concentration. “There’s an herb in there too.” She chewed slowly, tasting every subtle layer of the delicious cheese. “Fennel!”

  “That’s it.” Gabrielle’s eyes lit up brightly. “You must be a foodie.”