by Aurora Rey
* * *
When her second tour of the day pulled back into the harbor, Graham went in search of Will. “Are you done for the day? I was thinking of popping over to see Aunt Nora.”
Will shook her head. “I’m on cleanup today.”
“I can wait for you.”
“Why don’t you go on over and I’ll catch up? I’m sure Nora would love some time with you one-on-one.”
Graham narrowed her eyes. “Why do I get the feeling I’m being set up?”
Will shrugged sheepishly. “Not set up. I did tell her a little about your recent adventures. I’m sure she’s curious.”
Graham wasn’t bothered by that. Apart from her brief crush on Will, she’d always confided in Aunt Nora. From her teen years on, Nora had been more like a wise older sister than an aunt. Graham had held off on telling her about Mat, but now that it was more than a one-night stand, she wanted to. “Oh, that’s fine. I’d tell her anyway.”
Will waved her hands in front of her. “I didn’t tell her any of the, um, details, if you know what I mean. Those are yours to tell.”
Graham smiled. “Then I’ll get a head start and meet you there.”
Graham made her way down the ramp and onto the pier. She crossed the street to see if Mat’s boat was there. It was, but there was no sign of Mat or Dom. She hoped that meant Dom was feeling better and the two of them had already finished the day’s work. Graham liked knowing what that meant, what it looked like. Even though it was seriously hard work, she hoped she got the chance to do it again sometime, and not just because it meant spending an entire day with Mat.
She walked up the pier into town. They’d entered peak tourist season and Commercial Street was a sea of people. Graham wound her way through, enjoying the bustle and the happy energy of so many people on vacation. She’d just turned onto Nora’s street when her phone buzzed with a text from Mat.
Took the liberty of claiming some of today’s catch. Dinner tomorrow?
Graham smiled down at the screen. I suppose I could clear my calendar.
Don’t rearrange anything. I didn’t literally bring them home.
Graham imagined a pair of lobsters inching their way across Mat’s kitchen floor and giggled. She stopped walking so she could type a more thorough reply. I was kidding. I’m free and I’d love to. What can I bring?
Wine? White. Whatever you like.
For some reason, the prospect of dinner at Mat’s felt even more exciting than going out. Which was weird, considering she’d already stayed over twice. It seemed intimate, like something a couple would do. She shook her head. That might be true, but she remained more excited by the prospect of what would come after dinner. Even if she had to remind herself that was the case.
Graham got to the inn just as happy hour was winding down. Nora poured them each a glass of sangria and suggested they sit on the porch. They settled in and Nora looked at her expectantly. “Tell me everything.”
Graham did. Not the explicit details of the sex, but more than she’d told Will. Nora nodded, raised a brow here and there, and made noises of approval. Graham concluded with the dinner invitation, punctuating the end with a smile and a shrug.
“It sounds like you’re having a good time, for sure, but how do you feel?”
Oh, Lord. Graham wondered if the question was pure Nora or if she’d been influenced by Will. “I feel like I’m having a good time.”
Despite being like a sister, Nora had a way of looking at her that reminded Graham more of her mother. Nora gave her that look now—stern and knowing. She pointed a finger at Graham. “Don’t play coy with me.”
“I’m not.” Graham sighed. “I feel like women are always supposed to be interested in where things might lead, what everything means. I’ve been single since I moved here and I want to have some fun.”
“I know you’ve been feeling restless, but are you sure this is how you want to go about it?” Nora’s expression had a certain heaviness to it.
“I don’t know. Great times and no pressure? I’m thinking maybe I could get used to this way of going about things.” Graham smiled playfully.
Nora’s expression didn’t soften. “It just doesn’t seem like you. I’m worried you’re settling.”
“That’s just it. I’m not settling. I’m having an amazing time. Is it enough to satisfy me forever? Of course not. But, for now, it’s great. I don’t have any weird hopes or expectations that are going to leave me disappointed in the end.”
“Okay, then.” Nora nodded, as though some important situation had just been decided. “As long as you’re in control.”
“I am.”
“You know, I sometimes wish I’d had a bit more abandon when I was your age. The stakes aren’t as high. I might have been less inclined to make stupid mistakes in my thirties.”
Graham set down her drink and pointed at Nora. “Exactly. Why is it only boys get to sow their wild oats?”
“Well, it might have something to do with the specifics of the analogy.”
Graham snorted out a laugh, which in turn made her giggle. “True. So, we need to coin a new analogy.”
Nora quirked a brow. “Something about sampling the oysters, perhaps.”
The sparkle of mischief in her aunt’s eyes warmed Graham’s heart. For all that Graham had considered her a confidante, it wasn’t that long ago Nora herself had been a hundred times more reserved, at least when it came to matters of the heart. Falling in love hadn’t merely softened her edges, it had given her a playfulness. Or, Graham realized, it had awakened a playfulness that had been dormant for too long. “I like it.”
“Did I hear someone say something about oysters?” Will stepped onto the porch. “Does anyone need a refill before I sit?”
Graham and Nora both shook their heads. Nora patted the swing beside her. “We’re good. Come join our conversation on female sexual liberation.”
Will cringed. “Should I be nervous?”
Will sat and Nora patted her leg. “No, no. We’re discussing Graham’s liberation, not mine.”
“We’re talking about Mat, aren’t we?” Will looked less anxious, but still concerned.
“We are.” Graham reached over and squeezed her other knee. “And trying to come up with the lesbian equivalent of sowing one’s oats.”
Will sighed and shook her head. She looked at Nora. “And you suggested oysters.”
Nora shrugged. “It seemed fitting. There’s a reason oysters are a euphemism. So many varieties, shapes, colors. Each one salty and sweet, but with a taste completely its own.”
Will made a show of covering her ears and saying, “La, la, la.”
When she stopped, Graham looked up at the porch ceiling. “I’m not saying I’ve given up on mating for life. I’ve just decided I don’t need to think about doing it anytime soon.”
Will nodded, as though conceding the point. “That’s fair. I just want you to be happy. And I worry about you.”
“I know.” Graham smiled. “I promise I won’t get in over my head.”
It was a promise she intended to keep. Even if she found herself daydreaming about Mat at odd times of the day. Or right before she fell asleep. Or the second she woke up. Just because her subconscious had a mind of its own, the rest of her remained rational and realistic. She’d have fun for however long it lasted, then chalk it up to a reckless summer she’d be able to look back on with fond memories for the rest of her life. She most certainly didn’t think about it as a story she’d tell her kids about how she and their mother had gotten together.
“Uh, where did you go just now?”
“Huh? What?”
Nora chuckled. “We’ve been talking to you for the last five minutes.”
Crap. “Sorry. I guess my mind wandered.”
“I’m sure it did, dear. I’m sure it did.”
Graham couldn’t help but laugh at Nora’s knowing smile. The fact that her aunt was encouraging her—while Will remained the cautious, hopeless romantic�
��was almost too much. “What were we talking about, again?”
Will stretched out an arm and draped it over Nora’s shoulders. “Oysters. Actual oysters. Now that we’ve talked about them, I have a hankering. Would you care to join us tomorrow for a little ad hoc raw bar?”
“Tomorrow? I think—wait. No, I have plans tomorrow.”
Nora turned to Will with a coy smile. “She’s busy sampling the other oysters.”
Will groaned and Graham laughed. That’s exactly what she was doing. And she was resolved to enjoy every minute of it.
Chapter Twelve
Mat stared at the candles. Dom’s words echoed in her mind. At this point, not using them would be admitting he was right. A little romance didn’t hurt now and again. If she was going to the trouble of making dinner, she might as well set the mood.
She set the table, made the salad. The lobsters were stuffed with linguica and breadcrumbs, waiting to go on the grill. She’d picked up fresh rolls from the bakery and planned to warm them on the grill with the lobster. Not the fanciest thing in the world, but as far as she was concerned, one of the biggest mistakes people made with lobsters was doing too much to them.
Mat changed her clothes and was just about to go preheat the grill when Graham knocked on her door. She looked, as always, pretty and fresh and vibrant. Mat had half a mind to forget about dinner altogether and drag her to the bedroom. That would be poor form though, even if she could convince Graham it was a good idea. She settled for a kiss, which Graham returned with enthusiasm. “Sorry,” Mat said when she let her go. “I just had to do that.”
Graham smiled and Mat noticed a hint of color rise in her cheeks. “No apology necessary.”
Mat took the wine Graham offered and set it on the counter. “Make yourself comfortable. I’ll be right back.”
She turned on the grill and returned to find Graham watching her from the doorway. “What are we having?”
Mat gave her the menu and enjoyed the way Graham’s eyes lit up. “Can I pour you a glass of wine while I finish cooking?”
“Yes, please.”
Mat continued making dinner and Graham asked lots of questions. She started to get the sense that Graham didn’t do a lot of cooking, but didn’t say so. It wasn’t any of her business either way. Half an hour later, they sat at Mat’s small kitchen table—complete with candles—and ate.
In part because she was curious and in part to keep the conversation going, Mat asked Graham about her work and how she found her way to Provincetown. “Tell me honestly, did you come for the whales, or the women?”
Graham offered a playful smirk. “Yes.”
Mat chuckled. “Good answer.”
“It’s true, though. I knew I didn’t want to spend my whole career doing research, so I ruled out a Ph.D. I liked the idea of a commercial operation with an educational mission and a commitment to conservation.”
Mat narrowed her eyes and nodded slowly. “Interesting. I would have figured you considered the commercial part a necessary evil.”
Graham shrugged. “As long as people want to see animals up close, there’s going to be an industry for it. I’d rather that space be filled with reputable companies who provide good information and are responsible with the ecosystem.”
“That makes sense.”
“It’s the same with commercial fishing, right?”
“I don’t follow.”
Graham took a sip of her wine and seemed to choose her words carefully. “I think a lot of people in my line of work are dubious about those in yours. Not as people, but in how you approach conservation efforts—as a necessary evil.”
Mat shrugged. “I’ll give you that.”
“But you’re not like that at all. You get that conservation is an essential part of keeping commercial fishing viable.”
“I do. Honestly, I think most small-scale operators do, too. It’s the giant trawlers, owned by corporate types and manned by guys who have no connection to the work, that are the problem.”
Graham lifted her glass. “See, one more thing we can agree on.”
Mat smiled and raised her own glass. The conversation lulled and she moved a second lobster half onto each of their plates. Graham didn’t protest and, to Mat’s surprise, nearly polished it off.
“This is so delicious.” Graham set down her fork and pushed away her plate. “But if I eat one more bite, I might literally explode.”
Mat offered her a wry smile. “We can’t have that. It sounds messy.”
Graham giggled. “Let me wash dishes?”
Mat shook her head. “Nope. It would undermine my nice gesture points if I let you do any work.”
“I already told you that you don’t need any nice gesture points. I had so much fun.”
Mat quirked a brow. “Turns out, I did, too.”
“On top of that, you insisted on paying me.” Graham pointed to the envelope. “So, we’re more than even, which means you should let me help.”
Mat considered her options. She didn’t want to assume Graham intended to stay over. She hadn’t shown up with a bag. Of course, she’d not done so the other times she’d stayed over. “I guess it depends on your plans.”
It was Graham’s turn to raise a brow. “My plans?”
“Yeah. If you’re heading home, my answer is that I’ll take care of them after you go.”
Graham’s smile was suggestive. “And my other option would be?”
Mat wondered if the questions were part of her flirtation or if she wanted, needed maybe, Mat to say the words, issue the invitation officially. It still surprised her that Graham had these flashes of shyness. Even more surprising was how much she liked them. “You could stay. I mean, obviously, we’d want to do them before going to bed.”
Graham nodded slowly. “Right. So, really, there’s only one question.”
“Being?”
Graham shrugged in a way that seemed at once innocent and seductive. “Do you want to wash or dry?”
“I’ll wash.”
Graham stood, pushed up the sleeves of the light cardigan sweater she wore. “Works for me.”
When the dishes were done, Mat poured more wine and they sat on her small sofa. “Do you want to watch a movie?”
Graham shrugged. “We could. I’m also happy to talk.”
Mat resisted making a face. “What do you want to talk about?”
Graham laughed and put a hand on Mat’s knee. “Don’t look so worried. I’m not proposing an interrogation.”
Mat chuckled. She needed to work on her poker face. “I’m not worried. I,” she paused for a moment. “I guess I’m not much of a talker by nature.”
“What if I promise to go easy on you? And we keep the movie option on the table.”
She couldn’t be sure, but it felt like Graham might be teasing her. Such a change from just a few minutes before, when she seemed almost hesitant. Mat wondered for a second if it was a tactic to keep her on her toes. But everything she’d learned about Graham so far only reinforced Mat’s initial impression that she was guileless. “All right.”
“You have brothers, right? I feel like I remember you referencing brothers.”
“I do. Two, one older and one younger.”
“And they don’t live here anymore, right?”
As much as they were a central part of her life, Mat was unaccustomed to talking about her family. Even stranger was the fact that Graham remembered the little she’d shared. “Yeah. One is a teacher in Rhode Island, the other is an airplane mechanic in Boston.”
“Are they married? Do you have nieces and nephews?”
Mat smiled at the thought of them. “Yes and yes. Luciano has a boy and a girl, Vicente has three boys.”
“Wow. How old?”
“The oldest is nine and the youngest just turned one.” There’d been a big party for the one-year-old at her parents’ house in May. “I think with five grandkids to spoil, the pressure is officially off for me to provide any.”
Graham gave her a funny look. “Was there before?”
“If I’d been straight, definitely. Not being straight complicated things, so it’s a relief to have it off the table either way.” Mat sensed a follow-up question on the tip of Graham’s tongue, so she shifted the focus. “What about you?”
Graham smiled. “No siblings and only a couple of cousins on my dad’s side. I always wanted a big family.”
“They’re messy at times, but I wouldn’t trade mine for anything.”
“But you don’t want one of your own?” The words were out of Graham’s mouth before she realized it. She tried to keep her expression light and hoped Mat didn’t think she was prying or, worse, plotting.
Mat shrugged casually. “I feel like I have the best of both worlds. Lots of kids and birthdays and big family gatherings, but then I get to come home to my quiet little nest.”
“I hear you.” Graham couldn’t fault the logic. Maybe if she had cousins and nieces and nephews, she’d feel the same. Even as she posed the idea in her mind, Graham knew it wasn’t true. She wanted a family of her own. And even though she was open to the idea of adoption, she really wanted the experience of pregnancy—sharing the hope and excitement and worry with the woman she loved.
“But you think I’m crazy, or sad.”
Graham shook her head. She hated that Mat had been able to read her thoughts so easily. “Not at all.”
“Oh. Well, either way, it’s what works for me. And considering I work the hours I do, it’s for the best.”
“Sure. That makes sense.” What didn’t make sense was just how deflated Mat’s words left her. It’s not like she had her heart set on building her family with Mat. Maybe it was Mat’s delivery. Despite the upbeat tone, something in Mat’s demeanor seemed resigned, like she’d accepted that fate more than she’d chosen it. Resolved not to dwell on it, Graham reached for the bottle to top off their glasses and realized it was empty. “I think we just finished a second bottle of wine.”
