by CJ Murphy
“When the crew heard that this was the kid you saved over there, they got to work on helping him out. Charley swore me to secrecy. I hope you aren’t upset at us.”
Val pulled Laurel into her arms and held on as the tears broke over the dam of emotion. Her sobs shook the bed. All the years of confusion and doubt flooded her system. An end to her nightmares and some form of closure seemed within reach and was overwhelming.
Laurel stroked her back. “It’s okay, baby, let it out. I’m right here.”
Val cried until she had no more tears and fell asleep in Laurel’s arms as exhaustion took over, food forgotten for the moment. Val needed time to process everything. As she drifted off, she knew Laurel would give her that time and whatever else she needed.
***
A few hours later, Laurel stood near the stove in nothing more than Val’s tuxedo shirt when Val woke and stretched. She watched as Val sniffed the air and propped herself up on one elbow.
“That smells so good. By the way, you look sexy as hell in my clothes.”
Laurel watched her, spatula in hand, and sucked her bottom lip. “You look good in our bed. I thought you might like breakfast there.” She finished frying the bacon and brought it over to Val, retreating to bring two steaming cups of coffee to go with the bacon.
Val held up a hand. “Stop right there.”
Laurel tilted her head, letting a sly grin form as she watched the hunger in Val’s eyes. “Like what you see?”
Val’s shirt was too big, but it felt comfortable on her. More than that, it smelled like her wife and she felt wrapped in her love wearing it. She had the collar turned up and the sleeves folded back. She’d managed to find a few of the studs on the floor to hold it together at her breasts. She watched as Val’s eyes glinted.
Val leaned back and put her hands behind her head. “You’re the picture of beauty and femininity. You make my mouth water.”
Laurel swayed her hips provocatively as she made her way to the bed. She handed Val her coffee and leaned in to kiss her. “That’s probably the bacon making your mouth water. Be careful, it’s hot,” she said, allowing the innuendo to hang in the air.
Val sipped her coffee. “The coffee isn’t the only thing that’s smoking hot.”
She blew on her own coffee to cool it and let her eyes roam over Val’s body as she carefully sipped the rich hazelnut flavor. “I agree with you.”
They both laughed and dug into the crisp strips of bacon, feeding each other until the plate was empty and each of them had devoured two cups of coffee.
“So, what do you want to do today, my love?” Laurel asked.
“My only plan is to keep you in this bed with me.”
“Oh, that’s an enticing proposition.” She took Val’s empty coffee cup and placed them both on the bedside table. She came up on her knees and straddled Val’s lap taking her face into her hands, bending her head to capture the soft lips that still tasted of bacon and coffee. She slipped off her lap and sat up beside her. “Did you equip this splendid love shack with any entertainment?”
Val’s eyebrow went up. “Like what?”
Laurel smacked her shoulder. “I mean, is there a TV here that we can watch cheesy chick flick movies?”
“Your wish is my command.” Val sat up and looked around. “I know where my pants are, got any idea where my leg is?”
Laurel moved and settled back under the covers. “It’s standing up at the head of the bed to your right.”
Val leaned back and kissed her. “What would I do without you?”
“God willing, honey, you’ll never have to find out.”
Val slid into her sleeve and socket. “If I live to be a hundred, it won’t be enough.”
Laurel watched the muscles in Val’s back and legs as she walked in the direction of the shelves lining part of the yurt and slid back a panel, revealing a forty-inch TV. That’s all mine.
Val turned to face her. “So, what do you want to watch? First Wives Club, The Proposal, Mamma Mia—”
Laurel cut her off, appreciating the front of Val’s naked body with an obvious stare. “Right now, I like the show I’m already watching.”
Val wagged her eyebrows and posed for her. She gestured to the movies.
“Mamma Mia, please.”
Val chuckled. “Admit it, you’re a closet ABBA fan. I’ve caught you more than once singing ‘Dancing Queen.’”
Laurel’s face heated, and she covered her face with the sheet. “I refuse to answer that on the grounds I may incriminate myself.”
Val howled with laughter. “Mamma Mia it is.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
VAL AND LAUREL SPENT the next two days lounging around, watching movies and making love. They’d christened several places in the yurt, but the hot tub proved to be one of their favorite places. Laurel treated Val to several strip teases. They’d taken walks around the property and Val used the opportunity to do some photography work and sneak photos of an unguarded Laurel as often as she could.
They were walking hand in hand down one of the logging roads close to the yurt, soaking up the sun and the crisp mountain air when Laurel posed a question to Val about Amal. “Honey, we haven’t talked much about Amal’s letter. Are you okay?”
Val felt her pulse race a bit, and she stopped to look up at the bright blue, cloudless sky. The racing was calmed by the support she felt holding Laurel’s hand. “I think so. I probably need to talk to Liz about it. I was thinking maybe we’d take a day this week and go over if she has time. I know the store needs you, but...”
Laurel stroked down Val’s cheek with her free hand. “You’re not going anywhere without me, especially if it involves things like this.”
Val smirked. “I thought it would take more time for you to be able to read my mind.”
“Nope, marrying you gave me super powers.” She stood on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around Val’s neck to kiss her.
“Super powers, huh?” Val licked her lips, absorbing the heat Laurel left behind.
“Oh yes, I can read your mind, I can hold you in place with a single finger, and I can render you breathless with a kiss.”
“Guess I’m lucky you use your super powers for good.” Val’s smile widened so much she knew it brought out the rarely seen dimple in her cheek. “I thought maybe after I check in with Liz, we can try to make contact with Amal and his mother. I’m not sure how this is going to affect me. Somehow it feels like it could lead to closure. After that, maybe a new beginning.” She started walking again kicking at the rocks and leaf litter on the ground. Ferns grew out of the bank and waved gently in the slight breeze that cooled her neck.
Laurel pulled close to her and rubbed down her arm with her free hand. “I think you’re right on all accounts. I don’t think your mind or heart will be at peace with this, until you see him. When do you want to go?”
Val leaned over and kissed her temple. “I’ll call Liz today and see when she has time. After that, we can visit the crew over at The Bodyshop and figure out how to make contact with Amal.” She stopped and picked a single white daisy for Laurel. Val put it in Laurel’s hair behind her ear. She smiled as Laurel reached up, and clasped her hands behind her neck and graced her with a soft kiss.
Laurel leaned back. “No need. I’ve got the contact for Amal. Tess gave it to me. Now all we have to do is get you ready to meet him, mentally and physically.”
Val thought about how many times she’d read the letter, still trying to process it. She still couldn’t fit all the pieces together. Frequently, she saw the actions as single frames, moments in time, captured by the click of a shutter. She shivered and held Laurel a little tighter.
They walked back and closed everything up. Val turned on the solar electric fence that surrounded the dwelling to keep bears and other unwanted four-legged visitors out. They drove back to the house, made a call to Liz, and discovered she could see them tomorrow afternoon.
Val had one more surprise up her sleeve
. “Mind if we go down to Bobeye’s and see how Maggie May’s coming?”
“Sure. I need to go check in on the store anyway. We’ll go to the garage and then go on over.”
As they drove to Bobeye’s, Val couldn’t help but chuckle to herself. She was looking forward to seeing Laurel’s reaction to the bike. Val shut off the engine and came around to open Laurel’s door, helping her from the truck. She’d texted Bobeye that she was bringing Laurel to see Maggie May. She knew he’d have the bike waiting front and center, gleaming in the sunshine.
Laurel put her hand over her mouth as she saw the vintage bike, completely restored and now sporting a shiny black sidecar. Val drew her over so that she could see the two photographs affixed to the tank. The first was the black and white photo of Lorraine and Maggie. Just below that was one of Val and Laurel on their wedding day.
Laurel reached for Val’s hand. “It’s beautiful. Now I know why you had Jenny take those pictures.”
“I thought you might like it. Maggie and Loraine should be riding with people who will remember them.” Val paused, silently hoping Laurel would grant her this request despite her previous trepidation. “I know you’ve always turned me down when I’ve asked, but would you do me the honor of accompanying me on her first ride? We won’t go far, just down to the store.”
Laurel’s eyes grew bright. “I guess you finally found the day where ‘someday’ falls between.”
Val shook her head, remembering how many times Laurel had said that in the past. She’d repeatedly asked where ‘someday’ fell in the week. She reached into the sidecar and pulled out a gleaming black helmet with mountain laurel airbrushed on the sides. “I had this made for you.”
“It’s beautiful.” Laurel slipped it on, and Val helped fasten the chinstrap.
“Does it feel okay? It needs to be snug, but not so tight it gives you a headache. There’s a built-in intercom system so we can talk. Its voice activated, so all you have to do is talk and I’ll hear it in my helmet.”
“Oh, wow, it fits fine.”
Val pulled her new helmet on, the back of it airbrushed with wedding rings and their wedding date. Laurel squealed when she saw it and hugged Val.
Val climbed on, kickstarting the big Indian. When it roared to life, Val couldn’t help but let the smile take over. She’d missed the feeling of the bike’s raw power and the freedom that traveling on two wheels offered her. Now she could share this with the one person that gave her peace like she’d never known. She reached for Laurel’s hand and helped her settle in on the seat behind her. “Ready?”
Laurel looked perplexed. “Why not in the sidecar, isn’t that why you had it put on?
“And miss the chance to have you snuggled up against me for your first ride? Not a chance. Plus, there’s something in the sidecar. Now, hang on.” She felt Laurel wrap her arms around her waist and squeeze as she pulled out slowly onto Route 50. Val didn’t even go the speed limit, trying to let Laurel get the feel of traveling on the bike. The only adjustment Val had to getting back in the saddle, was in how the bike handled as she steered. It wasn’t as aerodynamic as it had been without the side car. The resistance drag she felt, made her tighten her grip on the handlebars. “Lean into me and you’ll naturally roll through the curves.”
After a few minutes, Val would’ve sworn Laurel had always been on the bike with her. The feeling of Laurel pushed up tight against her with a warm hand resting under her t-shirt, was causing her to use a lot of focus to avoid crashing them into a tree. She tightened her grip. The dance they were performing was maddeningly arousing. Val powered through the turns. After a short ride, they pulled into the store. Val got off and helped Laurel dismount. They walked in the back door to the smell of frying meat and spicy chili. Ree came around the wood topped island, kissing them both. Val had one final surprise she hoped would be memorable for all of them. “Ree, how would you feel about taking a ride with Laurel and me?”
Ree put her hands on her hips. “On that motorcycle? I may be small, but I’m guessing our butts won’t all fit on that seat.”
“Oh, I took care of that.” Val could tell by the shocked look and broadening smile on Laurel’s face, she now understood the sidecar.
Laurel shook her head and laughed. “Gram, you’ll have to come and see. Just trust her. I did.”
Ree squinted at them. “What are you two up to? Ya both look like the cat that swallowed the canary.”
Val protested her innocence with a scout’s honor sign. “Not a thing, Ree, not a thing. Follow me. I think you’re going to like it. Come on. Come outside with us.”
Ree walked to the small hand sink by the door, washed and dried her hands, and removed her apron. “Lead away! I’m not getting any younger.”
Val crooked her elbow for the elderly woman’s hand. The three of them walked outside, and Val pulled a custom helmet for Ree from the sidecar. On it, the words “Cool Springs Queen” had been painted, with a spatula and a mounted deer head. She handed the helmet to Ree, whose smile was as wide as the Cheat River.
Ree put her hands on her hips. “Now how am I supposed to get in that contraption? I’m an old woman.”
Val opened a small door to show Ree she could step in and sit down. Val helped her put on her helmet and a pair of goggles that looked similar to a long-ago aviator. After she was outfitted, she led Ree over to the sidecar and helped her get in. She latched the side door shut. Ree giggled like a schoolgirl, her hands covering her mouth, as Laurel and Val mounted the bike.
Several people gathered around, having come out of the store to see what was going on. Beth, Tilly, and Wunder stood on the porch while Mule leaned against one of the supports. Beth had the camera and snapped pictures while Wunder made a video with the small camera Val had given him. They posed for Beth so she could get a picture of this adventure. Val had plans to add one of these photos to the tank as well and a story about Ree’s first ride for the magazine.
With the occasion thoroughly documented, Val started Maggie May and looked at Ree. Deep affection for the elderly woman warmed her entire body more than the sun shining down on them. “Ready?”
Ree waved her arms. “And waiting. Come on. Let’s get this show on the road. Not every day do ya get to see an old bird like me fly.”
Val maneuvered them out onto Route 50 and onto the long black ribbon that wound into the sunshine. In all her rides across the mountains and plains, she’d never enjoyed one more than this one with her family surrounding her.
***
The next morning, Laurel rode the majority of the morning’s trip to Annapolis with her left leg folded under her and Val’s hand tucked into the crook of her knee. She ran her hand in Val’s hair over and over throughout the trip. Val once mentioned how much that simple touch soothed her, and Laurel vowed to herself to do it as often as possible.
Liz met them at the door and hugged both. “How was your trip?”
Laurel tilted her head back and forth. “Pretty good. The new corridor makes quick work of it.”
Liz turned from Laurel to eye Val. “I’m glad. How’s the shoulder?”
“Still a little stiff. We’re down to one therapy session a week. Still working to get the strength back. At least I can lift it over my head now.” Val demonstrated by raising her arm to touch the door header.
“Fallon says she’s been a model patient.” Laurel stepped into the house. “Correction, as model as a Viking chomping at the bit to get back on Maggie May can be. We took her out for a test drive with Gram in the sidecar. Unfortunately, we passed Fallon. Val got an ass chewing from her. Says Val needs another month before she feels comfortable with her on it. So, for now, Maggie is parked in the garage.”
Val looked sheepishly at her boots, a smile curving up at the corner of her lips. “Where’s Jo?”
Liz pointed up. “She’s in the studio. If you wait a few minutes you can follow the noise. Now you see why I have an office out back. When she starts hammering and grinding, I can’t hear m
yself think.”
“I’m going to run up and say hi.” Val leaned over, kissed Laurel and headed for the stairs.
Liz and Laurel walked arm and arm into the kitchen. “Care for a glass of iced tea or coffee?”
Laurel relaxed into Liz’s embrace. “Iced tea would be great. Thanks for letting us crash here again.”
“Laurel, you’re always welcome here.” She poured a glass for Laurel and led them to the table. “How’s she taking the news about Amal?”
Laurel looked around the comfortable kitchen. The granite counters sparkled, and she eyed the two matching blue coffee cups sitting there. “It’s hard to say. When she read the letter, she started to flash. I was able to divert it, but I think it was quite a shock. She’s still trying to process that the person she was searching for all along was her. She’s still sketching. We brought her pad with us.”
“I’ll take a look when we sit down to talk. How are you handling it?”
“It was interesting talking to Tess. She wished us well and told me she and Kelly had a date set for their wedding. She was very helpful in trying to track down all the pieces. Hearing from Amal shook Val pretty good. I think knowing he survived has to be a powerful thing to process. In his letter to her, he mentioned that if she hadn’t stopped the bleeding, he likely would’ve died. Now he’s getting ready to go to college.” Laurel put down her glass and pushed her hair behind her ears.
Liz looked at Laurel. “I imagine it’s a lot for her to take in. However, you’re avoiding answering my question about how this is affecting you.” Liz pointed to her.
Laurel looked at Liz, then away. Her finger traced a pattern in the condensation on the glass. “Caught that, did you?”
Liz quirked a smile. “I’m trained to, remember?”
“Nothing gets by you. There are nights I lay awake watching her fight in her sleep. Most of the time, I can rest my hand on her chest and tell her she’s safe, but it kills me to watch her suffer. I’m so grateful I can help bring her out of it. I’m hoping once she meets Amal, many of the demons she runs from will find their way back to hell.” Laurel wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “I think she still questions if it was her in those pictures. Sometimes she stares at them for hours at a time. I’ve caught her reading the letter again several times. She gets this look. It’s not long after that she takes to her sketchbook.”
