Ordinary is Perfect

by D. Jackson Leigh

  “They actually pay me to work in my field—corn for the freezer, jars of vegetables and pickles, and dried beans. Enough to last me through the winter and then some.”

  Maria laughed at Autumn’s frown. “We don’t work for Cat. We work for ourselves. We are planting the vegetables for our families. Catherine is very generous to let us use her fields, but she also prepares the ground for our planting and starts the seedlings in her greenhouses.” Maria’s expression grew serious. “Sometimes, it’s hard to find work, and our men have to follow the harvest or take a construction job a long way from our home. It’s not good to drag children around from town to town, so the food we grow here for ourselves allows most of the women to stay here and keep the children in school.”

  “The produce I get in exchange means I don’t have to shop much for groceries,” Catherine said, her sunglasses still hiding her eyes. Her words were a bit slow and her tone sleepy. “And I hate grocery stores.”

  ***

  Catherine settled into her usual front-porch rocking chair. Gabe had gone with Angelique for a sleepover, so she’d thrown a couple of hamburgers on her grill for her and Autumn. They ate in the kitchen, and then Catherine took their desserts to the front porch to watch the sun set. It was her daily ritual.

  She held out one of the two small plates loaded with warm apple pie and big dollops of vanilla-bean ice cream to Autumn, who in turn handed Catherine a mug of rich, dark coffee. Catherine took a cautious sip to gauge its heat, then took a larger swallow in her mouth and swished it over her tongue like she was judging fine wine. “God, this is good.”

  Autumn smiled. “My own blend of beans. I thought you’d like it. I’ll give you the recipe so you can grind your own fresh all winter.” She took a big bite of pie and hummed her approval. “What did you drizzle on the ice cream?”

  “Orange brandy. It’s from Napa.”

  “It’s delicious.”

  “Hold on.” Catherine put her plate and mug on the porch railing, then ducked back into the house and brought out a double shot glass of the brandy for Autumn. “You can sip that or pour more on your ice cream.”

  Autumn immediately sipped from the tall shot glass. “Oh my god, that’s yummy.”

  “The pie is a special recipe of mine, too.”

  Autumn looked up from her plate in surprise. “You baked this pie?”

  Catherine laughed. She loved how expressive Autumn’s face could be. “My recipe is really simple. I get into my truck and drive to Sweet Anytime, where I buy the pie and ice cream—they churn their own—and cinnamon rolls, fresh baked bread, and assorted bagels. All the staples of life.”

  Autumn swatted Catherine’s arm. “And I used to think you didn’t have a sense of humor.”

  “You seem to bring it out.” The instant the words were out of her mouth, she wished she could take them back. After her chummy lesson in how to plant tomatoes, Autumn would probably read unintended innuendo into them. She sighed and set her empty plate beside her rocking chair. She had to explain. “Becki did, too. She shone light into my dark corners and kept me from being so serious and morose.”

  Autumn’s expression changed like a switch had toggled from relaxed and happy to dark and wary. “I’m not sunny like Becki,” she said. “I grew up dark and angry.” She put her empty plate down and stared grimly at the horizon. “But I turned that anger into the resourcefulness and determination that got me through school early and laid the groundwork to start my own business.”

  The setting sun bathed Autumn’s face in its soft light, but Catherine’s desire to burn it into her memory cowered in the glare of their differences. Autumn had used her life circumstances like a warrior picks up a weapon. Catherine had run from her childhood—joining the army after college to escape her parents’ expectations—and then from active duty to hide out on this farm. Only exceptional people like Autumn had the courage to fight their demons and win.

  Catherine ducked her head in shame. She excelled in one thing—being absolutely ordinary. And most ordinary people never conquered their demons. “I wish I had your strength, Becki’s strength. I’ve spent the past five years hiding here and licking my wounds.”

  Autumn opened her mouth to reply, but her phone signaled an incoming call. She growled and swiped it to answer. “I’ll call you back in fifteen minutes, Jay.” She punched the screen to end the call and stood. “I’ve put him off as long as I can. I need to go take care of some work issues.”

  Sunset had given way to dusk that was darkening into the twilight that preceded moonrise. Catherine stood. “Leave the dishes here. I’ll get the truck keys and drive you home.”

  Autumn cocked her head. “Gabe says there’s a path from your house to ours. Can we walk instead?”

  “Sure. We’ll have to skirt the cornfield now that it’s planted, so we should go through the house.” She gathered the dishes. “I’ll drop these in the sink and grab a flashlight on our way out the back.”

  They walked in silence through the warm night. When they reached the span of trees that separated the two farms, Catherine clicked on the flashlight to illuminate any roots that might trip them or limbs that might swat them as they pass. When they emerged on the other side, a small group of geese settling in that corner of the yard for the night startled, flapping their wings and honking noisily as they waddled away.

  Autumn’s hand on Catherine’s arm stopped her at the woods’ edge. “I think I’m fine from here. Thanks for walking me through the woods.”

  The moon was rising, and Catherine switched off the flashlight, needing the cloak of half-light as she turned to Autumn. “Are you going to tell Janice about my flashbacks?”

  Autumn blinked up at her. “What? No. Why would I?”

  Catherine averted her eyes, afraid she’d see indecision or, worse, pity in Autumn’s gaze. “Because she might decide I was too unstable to be Gabe’s co-guardian.” Catherine swallowed hard. If that happened, she might lose Gabe and Autumn from her life. She’d already lost Becki. The Swans were her sunlight. If they were gone from her, she’d have nothing to hold her back from the dark abyss that had once almost swallowed her.

  “Cat, look at me.”

  Catherine never cared one way or the other when people shortened her name, but she reveled in the way Autumn’s voice lowered and seemed to purr it. She felt strong and feline—like a dark panther standing protectively at Autumn’s side. That cat wanted to rub her face along Autumn’s thighs, marking Autumn with her scent. Mine. She wished with every cell of her body that she could be that Cat. She’d always been content to hide quietly. But Autumn made her want again. Want to be worthy. Want to trust. Want to reach for a full life again. Yet she was a prisoner of her mediocrity, and the wanting was her torture.

  Autumn’s hand slid into hers, and their fingers entwined as naturally as a seed pushes up through the dark soil in search of sunlight.

  “You are stronger than you believe.” Autumn’s fingers tightened around hers while her other hand cupped Catherine’s nape and tugged her down until their lips met. Autumn’s lips tasted of orange brandy. Catherine closed her eyes and lost herself when Autumn’s mouth parted and her tongue traced a teasing invitation along Catherine’s lips. If she’d stopped to think, she would have withdrawn. So many things were wrong with this. But she’d temporarily lost her ability to reason. Catherine wrapped her arms around Autumn, drawing Autumn against her, and plunged her tongue into the velvet depths of Autumn’s mouth. She might have died from lack of oxygen if Autumn hadn’t, finally, gently disengaged and stepped back.

  Elvis appeared out of the darkness and licked at their joined hands before turning toward Becki’s…no, Autumn’s house…to indicate that was where he’d stay that night.

  “Good night, Cat,” Autumn said, her words soft.

  Catherine held out the flashlight. “Take this.”

  “You’ll need it to go back through the woods.”

  Catherine smiled and touched her lips to see if they fe
lt different. “I’ll be fine. I’ve walked that path many times in the dark.” And I feel like I’m radiating sunlight after that kiss. “You need the light to watch for goose poop.” She gave a tiny wave, and Autumn’s “Ee-ew, yuck” then laughter followed as Catherine turned back to the dark woods.

  Chapter Twelve

  “I can’t believe you’ve been ignoring my texts.” Jay crossed his arms, and Autumn didn’t even need three-dimensional imaging to see the jut of his pouting lips.

  “I’ve been out all day, planting. You know cell service is spotty here.” It wasn’t a lie, but the next words were…a small, white falsehood…because she couldn’t and didn’t want to try to explain why she hadn’t wanted work to intrude on her time with Catherine. Gabe and Catherine. She meant Gabe and Catherine. “When we came in for dinner, I guess I was so tired I forgot to check until your call rang through.”

  “Planting? Do I need to buy a pair of designer overalls and ship it to you?”

  “Tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, squash, onions, peppers, and beans. The men pulled some kind of machine around with a tractor to plant the corn.” She swiped at her burning eyes, regretting that she’d forgotten to take sunglasses with her that morning. She needed eye drops, a hot bath, and clean sheets. “Just tell me what’s so urgent that I can’t take a day off to spend with Gabe.”

  Jay relented. “Rachel’s a machine. She signed up two more clients.”

  “Since I talked to her this morning?”

  “Yes. That’s five accounts that need data analyzed and strategy plans mapped.”

  “Okay. Have you gathered the data on them?”

  “Hon, I’ve been working twelve hours a day just to keep up the more than twenty accounts you already have active. I’ve scheduled so many Facebook posts I’m dreaming about Twitter and Facebook when I try to sleep at night. We need more help.”

  “What? I just hired you and Rachel a few weeks ago. Have you advertised the admin position yet?”

  “I sent three resumes to you last week. You haven’t even opened the folders, have you?”

  She massaged her temples. Her head was starting to pound. Too much sun and not enough sleep. “I’m sorry, Jay. Ask Rachel to look over the folders and pick one if they meet our requirements. Tell her to figure a competitive wage for the job, then add a little if she feels the candidate is worth it.”

  “Okay.” He was quiet a few seconds before he spoke again. “You look sunburnt and tired, Snow White.”

  She smiled at his tender tone. They’d been two struggling souls when they met and had weathered many storms to get where they were today. He was the brother she always felt she should have had, like Becki had had Gabriel. “I need a few hours of sleep right now, but let’s do a conference call in the morning when it’s convenient for you and Rachel to discuss getting a few more dwarfs to help you out, Grumpy.”

  “Sure thing, sweetie. Talk to you tomorrow.”

  “Bye. Oh, and give Evan a hug for me. Tell him we’re going to see what we can do about cutting your hours back to only ten a day.”

  “He’ll be thrilled. Ta-ta.”

  ***

  Catherine washed the dishes, cleaned the coffee machine, and caught up the paperwork on the farm and her financial investments. She’d be in good shape for filing second-quarter taxes. Still, she was too restless to sleep. Autumn’s kiss had stirred her up inside and awakened a need, a desire so strong it scared her. She went into her bedroom and retrieved Miguel’s pouch she’d secreted there earlier. She loaded the bowl of her small pipe and returned to the porch. It was full dark now, the moon only a sliver in the sky. She lit the pipe and took a long pull from it, closing her eyes against the reflex to cough when it burned in her lungs. The rocking chair was making her dizzy, so she relocated to the center of the porch, in front of the screened door, and sat cross-legged on the worn boards like Pete had shown her. After a few more tokes on the pipe emptied the bowl, she sat with back erect and hands resting on her knees to close her eyes and begin clearing her mind. Only it wouldn’t clear.

  Shutting her eyes opened a collage of mental videos. Autumn naked under a waterfall. Autumn naked under her. Autumn writhing over her as she rode Catherine’s fingers. Autumn bent over her bed begging as Catherine thrust into her. Harder, yes, like that. Catherine sprang to her feet, swaying and putting an arm out to steady herself. Her head was spinning and her gut clenching in near orgasm. She leaned against the house, panting. Holy fuck. She’d nearly orgasmed just from thinking about…her.

  Catherine stumbled inside, slamming the door behind her and stripping and discarding clothes on her way to the bathroom. She twisted the cold-water handle and stepped under the icy spray, gasping when it hit her overheated flesh. But the cold water did nothing to quell the ache between her thighs. She slid her hand down her belly and fingered her very swollen clit. She put her other hand out to brace against the tiled wall and ducked under the spray.

  The water didn’t seem so cold now. God, she was slick with lubrication. It’d been so long, she’d forgotten how her fingers felt gliding over that spot that felt too sensitive to touch, yet begged for it again and again. Two strokes, five, and her legs began to tremble. She wanted to stop, to prolong the pleasure, but the picture of Autumn bent over her bed was too much. The shower echoed with her yell when her clit exploded and pleasure grabbed and twisted low in her belly. She milked the aftershocks as long as she could, then washed her body with shaking hands.

  She climbed into bed naked and pulled up the sheet to cover herself. She felt drained and ready for sleep, but her desire still burned, and when she closed her eyes, naked Autumn was squatting over her thighs. She stared into Catherine’s eyes as she lubed one end of a double-headed dildo while licking the bulbous head of the other. Open for me, Cat.

  Catherine groaned out loud, even though she was aware the image was a waking dream. Or was she still awake? Didn’t matter. She was wet again. She opened her thighs and pushed two fingers into herself, feeling for that rough spot, as the Autumn in her head plunged the lubed end of the dildo into her. She groaned again when Autumn rose on her knees to impale herself on the larger opposite end that jutted up from Catherine’s crotch. Then Autumn began to ride her—up and down, back and forth, up and down, back and forth. Catherine pressed harder and moved her fingers in time with Autumn’s image. The build-up was slower the second time, and Catherine had never come from penetration, but a telltale pressure began to gather. “Oh yeah, babe. Like that. Ride me,” she whispered to her bedroom walls. Then the explosion hit and Catherine cried out, thrusting into herself over and over.

  ***

  Autumn sipped the coffee she’d made with the French press and logged in to join the video call. Rachel and Jay were already waiting. “Good morning, people. How’s Hotlanta today?”

  “It’s hot,” Rachel said. “It got plenty hot in Arizona, but the humidity in the South changes everything. I feel wilted before I get to work. It might be a while before my body adjusts.”

  Autumn smiled and shook her head. “Even we natives have a hard time with the humidity. We just run from air-conditioned building to air-conditioned car to air-conditioned store. Or embrace it with short skirts or sleeveless dresses and cute sandals. Pantyhose are yesterday, and business suits are reserved for corporate board meetings or arguing a case before the Georgia State Supreme Court.”

  “That’s great for you girls, but they don’t make sleeveless dress shirts for men.”

  “You can wear khakis and a golf shirt or one of those V-neck Ralph Lauren Ts you like so much. But no sandals. Big hairy toes have to stay inside loafers or Top-Siders. You don’t have to wear socks, as long as your feet don’t start to stink us out.”

  “That’s harsh,” Jay whined. “I don’t complain when you have a ‘no-appointments’ day and refuse to wear a bra. What does human resources say about that double standard, Rachel?”

  Rachel laughed. “We don’t have a human-resources department, but if you w
ant to call a vote, I’m afraid I have to side with Autumn. Keep your hairy toes in shoes, please.”

  “I should be working in an office with straight women. They have a better appreciation for manly attributes.”

  “How about we cover the business at hand, shall we?” Autumn said. She had so much work to catch up on.

  After a warm bath and a couple of aspirin, she’d climbed into bed. She fell asleep so quickly she didn’t even remember pulling up the sheet, only to wake up an hour later in the throes of orgasm and wisps of a wet dream lingering in her head. She vaguely recalled noting the time on her phone, which was propped up in its charger on the bedside table, then waking up at seven the next morning. Eight hours. She never slept that long. And she’d had wet dreams before, but never one so real that it actually made her come. Wow. She obviously needed to date more, if a mere kiss could work her up that much.

  “…and of the three, I think Kim Albertson is the most qualified,” Rachel was saying when Autumn tuned back in to the meeting.

  “I’m sorry. What’s her experience?” She had to focus.

  “She’s been personal assistant for the past five years to one of the top lawyers in one of Atlanta’s largest firms but says she’s tired of his condescending attitude and his habit of invading her personal space and making remarks full of innuendo but not blatant enough to prove sexual harassment in court.”

  “Why hasn’t she asked the firm to assign her to someone different?”

  “She has, but he’s the managing partner and refuses to approve her request. I know somebody who dates one of the other lawyers in the firm. She confirmed that everybody knows about the guy, but nobody will stand up to him.”

  “I liked her, but that’s a big change from a huge firm to our little group,” Jay said. “You think she’ll be happy here?”

  Rachel began to answer Jay, but tires on the gravel drive out front drew Autumn’s attention. She turned back to her laptop and jumped in before Jay could ask another question. “She sounds good to me, Rachel. Go ahead and hire her. Someone just pulled up out front, so I’m going to have to cut this short. One quick thing, though. Can you look at our financial projections and give me an estimate on how soon we would be in the position to hire another associate to help Jay work the accounts we already have?”