by Jet MacLeod
Neither of them were surprised to see Tabitha come in around nine thirty. She walked to the bar, ordered a drink, and opened a tab for the evening like she would any other Friday night. It wasn’t until Leigh caught sight of the announcement of the art show she wondered why Tabitha was there.
Leigh didn’t want to pry, but she didn’t understand why Tabitha was at the bar and not at the galley. Tabitha had even come dressed for the occasion in a red and white cocktail dress. Leigh shook her head and went back to the glasses. She knew better than to get involved in lesbian drama.
Drew was coming in from outside with a load of boxes with the bar’s new glasses, when Sam came in. He saw she didn’t look too happy, but knowing she was already on the list for the after party, her state of dress and that she was Reagan’s friend, he let her in. He pointed to the sign in and headed to the kitchen with his load.
Sam walked straight to the table where Tabitha was. She didn’t sign in as a member. She only had one thing on her mind. She wanted to hear about the blasted test from Tabitha herself.
Drew and Leigh were at the bar, waiting and watching. Leigh had stopped cleaning. She figured the drama had just come to the bar. Drew was ready to break it up if it came to that.
Tabitha turned just in time to see Sam storming her direction. She glanced at her watch and her heart began to beat fast. She could see the betrayal on Sam’s face.
“Hi,” Tabitha told her.
“Hi? Is that all you have to say for yourself? Hi?”
“I’m sorry?”
“Why do you say it like that?” Sam asked.
“I know you’re upset,” Tabitha started.
“Upset doesn’t even begin to cover it. I’m still in shock about it all. I just don’t understand it all. I mean, how could you not tell me?”
“I have trust issues?”
“Not telling me that you have an identical twin because you have trust issues? You’re gonna have to do better than that. What were you thinking? Why the ruse to begin with?” Samantha questioned.
“It’s a very long story.”
“We have the time.”
“I’m sorry. I should have told you. I know that. It was stupid of me.”
“Apologizing isn’t going to make it go away, Tabitha. I want a damn good explanation. I deserve that. What are we to each other, if we can’t tell each other the truth?” Sam asked.
“I’m sorry.”
“You keep saying that, but you aren’t giving me a reason. Give me a reason, Tabitha. Can you do that?”
“Yes,” Tabitha answered, hanging her head.
“Then, what is it, Tabitha? What would cause you to love me one minute and not trust me the next? Why would you plaster my nakedness all over a gallery wall when you knew what I was thinking when I did those poses? Do you think that what we shared meant nothing to me? Did you think that when the case was over that I would be done with you? That all our nights together were in vain?” Samantha questioned.
“Yes and no.”
“Well, which is it? You can’t have it both ways, Tabitha. Talk to me. Tell me what is going on that beautiful but dumb head of yours.”
“I’m sorry,” Tabitha replied.
“We’ve established that,” Sam said, taking a seat.
They stared at each other for long tense moments. Neither of them sure of what to say. Both reeling from the experience.
“I’m waiting,” Sam said, breaking the silence.
“Everyone who has ever loved me has left me. Including my parents. When Penny and I were old enough to understand our twindom, we began to use it for our advantage. Penny used it for gain and experience. I used it to hide and for sanctuary. Years ago when Penny was in med school, she devised a way for me to have bigger and better art shows and to let her do some psychological research at the same time. We had switched places before in school and stuff when we were young; why not try it now in public. So, we did. My own agent doesn’t even know.”
“But, all the galleries? All those shows? No one ever knew?” Samantha questioned.
“No, Penny is a star in her field, but outside of psychiatry no one knows her. It was perfect, a win-win for both of us. That was until Atlanta and Grace.”
“What happened?” Sam inquired, calming down.
“Grace knew it wasn’t me immediately. She pulled Penny aside into a side room, threatened her and was yelling so loud it almost spoiled everything. I was devastated. After that, Penny and I would get matching outfits and I would always be near so we could change out if needed,” Tabitha explained.
“But, you didn’t?”
“Nope. You’re only the second person to realize the truth. It makes me happy that you did, but sad at the same time. I don’t want to be mistrusting. I just am.”
“So, now, you trust me, completely?”
“Absolutely,” Tabitha answered.
“You aren’t going to do something this stupid, again, are you?” Samantha asked her.
“I can’t say never,” Tabitha replied.
“Tabitha Grey, you promise me, right here, right now, that you aren’t going to do something this blasted stupid again or so help me…”
“You’ll leave me?” Tabitha questioned.
“Well, maybe, but not tonight, you fool,” Sam replied.
Tabitha sat there confused. She looked at Samantha quizzically. Sam wasn’t leaving. She was still there with Tabitha. Tabitha was stunned.
“You’re not leaving?” she asked Sam.
“No, Silly, I love you. You may have done some crazy scheme tonight, but on some idiotic level, I understand it. I may not agree with it, but I understand it. As long as you tell me next time I have to pretend, then you can keep up your ruse.”
“Seriously?”
“Would you rather me yell and scream, carry on? Because I can. I was preparing for it on the way over. But, I realized that Grace was right. Being calm was more important,” Sam stated.
“I don’t deserve you.”
“Maybe not after tonight, but you’re stuck with me for a while.”
“I think I can handle that,” Tabitha said with a smirk.
“Good, you can spend later making it up to me.”
It was then that Grace, Reagan, Alex and her date, and Cormack came into the bar. They joined Sam and Tabitha at their table. Grace gave them both a look, silently asking if everything was okay. They both smiled at her and nodded.
“Great show, Tabitha,” Reagan told her.
“Thank you.”
“I’m going to need the picture of Grace’s ass delivered to my…our house ASAP.”
Grace blushed. Sam snickered. Cormack looked completely confused. Alex jabbed Grace as she giggled.
“No problem, ma’am. I’ll have it crated and delivered after the show. I’m sure that will be soon enough, yes?” Tabitha asked.
“Sounds perfect to me.”
“You made quite a haul on some of your older stuff, tonight,” Grace told her.
“Did you find something to add to your collection, Gracie Lynn?”
“I might have.”
“Still sore about that one print?” Tabitha teased her.
“I am. I mean who won’t sell to complete a series. It’s preposterous.”
“Did you ever find out who the buyer was?” Tabitha asked.
“All anyone can tell me is ‘Twin Ember Ego Company,’ whatever that is.”
Tabitha laughed. Everyone just stared at her. Grace gave her a look.
“Penny bought it to spite you!” Tabitha started laughing.
“No, tell me she didn’t.”
“It was her way of getting you back for Atlanta,” Tabitha explained.
“She wouldn’t dare.”
“She would. She did. She still have it crated, I believe.”
Grace and Tabitha stared at each other. Tabitha’s laughter was lost on everyone but Grace. Reagan was the only one who seemed to care that she didn’t know why Tabitha was laughing at Gra
ce and Grace didn’t care.
“Why would she do that?” Reagan asked.
“Love!” Grace and Tabitha shouted.
“To love then,” Reagan said, making a toast.
“To love,” they all replied clinking glasses.
Tabitha smiled. Sam took her hand. And, they danced the night away.
Grace leaned over to Alex and told her, “Good thing you’re home, Alex.”
“Why is that?”
“Because now, I don’t have to hunt down my best woman for my wedding,” Grace told her, smiling.
Alex looked stunned, but not completely surprised. She shook Grace’s hand, congratulating her. She raised her glass.
“To Grace and Reagan, may your love forever shine!”
“To Grace and Reagan,” all of them, but Sam and Tabitha replied.
Sam and Tabitha were lost in each other on the dance floor. They found comfort in each other’s arms as they melded into one being with the music. Tabitha hinted to Sam at what was to come between them and Sam drank it up like wine.
About the Author
JET MacLeod is a South Carolina native, born and raised. She is also a graduate of the University of South Carolina with a degree in English. She is proud to say that she served our wonderful country in the Army for over six years and was deployed for Operation: Enduring Freedom. A Gold Award Girl Scout and Black Belt in the TAI Karate System, she is proud to say that she has done more in her thirty plus years than some have done in fifty.
Never being one to follow traditions very well, she and her partner got married in Atlanta at Pride on Halloween, by a Rabbi. They just welcomed their beautiful baby daughter to the world. They currently reside in the Capital Metro Area and are readjusting to the “City.” When she doesn’t have a book in her hands, she is furiously working on her next work.
She can be reached at [email protected].
Be sure to look out for her next work in her “Rainbow Cove
Series” WHITE HOT.
