by T. L. Hayes
Steve’s grin got bigger. “Okay, Lou, that sounds good. How do I reach you?”
“Your mother has my number.”
“Okay.”
Mrs. Adams shook her head. “I can’t take you anywhere. Are you done flirting with pretty girls now? I have things to do.” Her pronouncement broke the sudden tension and made them all laugh.
“You say that like I do this all the time.” Steve looked at Lou and declared, “I don’t—do this all the time, I mean.”
Lou just laughed. “I believe you. I think you should do as your mother says now. We’ll talk later.”
“Good-bye, Louise. Come along.”
Mother and daughter left, but not before Steve got in one final smile at Lou. Lou shook her head and smiled back. Well, this was an interesting development.
* * *
Steve was lost in thought as she drove her mother home. Her mother was perfectly capable of driving herself, but Steve knew she enjoyed this time they shared together. She stole a glance at her mother, who was looking out the window.
Her mother pointed to an empty storefront. “Did you see they closed the old Myer’s Pharmacy? Ever since those chains came in, we’ve been losing them left and right.”
“We didn’t have that many family-owned drugstores to begin with.” Just the same, Steve afforded the building in question a glance as they passed by. Sure enough, the windows were now dark and there was an abandoned look about the place.
Her mother turned to her with a look of mild reproof. “I mean mom-and-pop stores in general, not drugstores specifically. It’s just a shame, is all. It’s been there since before I was born. Hell, since my grandmother was born. I hate that I have to use the new place. It feels wrong somehow.”
“I’m sure it does, but things change. Whether you’re ready for them to or not.” Steve reached up and touched the Capricorn pendant on the necklace she wore. She fingered it a moment, then realized what she was doing and stopped. She forced a note of levity into her voice. “Well, at least the ice cream shop’s still here. We could always stop in. I’ll buy you a waffle cone.” Steve smiled over at her mother.
“Stop trying to make me fat! I’ve lost twelve pounds since I started working with Lou, and I mean to keep it off.”
“Really? Good job. Thank you for introducing me to her, by the way.”
“Well, obviously your way wasn’t working.”
Steve said nothing, just grinned at her mother’s words. After all, she couldn’t deny the truth of them.
Her mother pointed a finger at her and declared, “You be nice to her. She’s a great girl and you make sure you treat her with the utmost respect. ’Course, if you don’t, I’m sure she could handle it. But I mean it, Stephanie.”
“Jeez, simmer down. You know I always treat women with respect. You and dad taught me well. And yes, I agree, if I didn’t, I’m quite sure she could put me on my back in no time at all.” Steve’s mind started to drift at the possibilities and she almost missed the turn onto her mother’s street.
“Stop daydreaming about my kung fu instructor—you almost missed my turn. Child, I swear.” She shook her head in exasperation, but there was a smile on her face.
“Oh, sorry.” Steve made the turn just before they passed it and she admonished herself to focus. When they pulled into her mother’s driveway, she didn’t move to get out of the car. “Well, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow morning. What’s on the menu for tomorrow night, anyway?”
“Weren’t you paying attention in the store? We weren’t there but five minutes ago. I swear, when you’ve got a woman on your mind, that’s all you can think about.”
Steve chuckled at her mother’s assessment. “What can I say? Lou’s more interesting than pot roast.”
“I would go with that, if you’re looking for things to say to impress her. All women like to know they’re more interesting than a cut of beef.” Her mother winked at her.
Amused, Steve asked, “Is that how Dad captured your heart?” She knew the real story but liked to get her mother going.
Her mother put her head back on the seat and looked wistful. “I’ll never forget the time he looked at me and said, Lorraine, you are like the perfect filet mignon. Small and juicy and you always leave me wanting more.” She signed at the memory. “That man had a way with words.”
Steve gave in to the laughter, then pointed toward her mother’s door and said, “Go, get out of my car!”
“What a way to talk to your mother.” She tsked but that didn’t stop her from leaning over and kissing Steve on the cheek. “See you tomorrow, sweets. Love you.”
As her mom was climbing out of the car, Steve replied, “Love you too, crazy lady.” Steve shook her head as her mother curtsied at her remark, then walked up to her front door. Steve stayed where she was until she saw that her mother was safely inside, then pulled out of the driveway and headed home.
Chapter Two
Lou sat at Bill and Dix’s dining room table, enjoying the pasta Dix had prepared, somewhat lost in thought. Bill was the first friend she had made in the theater department. When Charles, their dean, had introduced her as the new instructor at a department meeting, Bill had come up to her afterward to introduce himself and had invited her to dinner to meet his husband. She’d liked him immediately, and he and Dix had quickly become her favorite people in her new town. It wasn’t long before they made her feel like family.
It was Tuesday and she had thought she would have heard from Steve by now, not that she was waiting by the phone or anything. She had just thought…Well, she didn’t know what she thought. That Steve liked her, she guessed, and immediately felt like she was back in high school again, wondering if the cute girl in class liked her back, and wondering if, even as adults, we ever really grew out of the awkward phase. She had often thought that being an adult just meant learning how to cover up just how shy and awkward you were.
“Earth to Lou. Come in, Lou.” Bill held a basket of rolls in front of Lou’s face and was passing them back and forth.
Lou smiled back sheepishly and grabbed a roll from the basket. “Thanks.”
“So what’s got you so distracted, anyway? You’ve barely said a word since you got here, and you haven’t even insulted my cooking once. I’m starting to think you don’t love me anymore.” Dix did his best to look offended and it made Lou laugh. “There’s our girl. So what’s going on?”
Lou sighed. “I’m sorry. You’re right—I have been terribly remiss. Dix, your pasta is gummier than my ninety-two-year-old grandmother, and the sauce is one step above ketchup. Happy now?”
“I would be if you meant it. Why are you so distracted, anyway?”
“It’s nothing. Really.” The men exchanged an all-knowing look. “What? What does that look mean?”
Bill imitated her nonchalant cadence when he replied, “It’s nothing, really.” Then he grinned. “Teasing!”
“Don’t make me throw this roll at you. I wouldn’t want to hurt you.”
Dix laughed. “Now there’s an insult I can believe.”
“Well, sugar, we couldn’t help but notice your absence since you got here. We know when something’s up. The last time someone was in this house looking like that…” Bill paused, looking almost horrified. “Oh, please tell me you haven’t fallen for a student too? I love Rory to death, but I don’t think I could go through that again.”
“What? No, I have not fallen for a student. They’re all like my kids—I can’t think of them that way.”
Dix said to Bill, while giving Lou side-eye, “No, but I think you’re on to something. I think she has a new love interest. Or something. Maybe just a little afternoon distraction, perhaps?”
“No, I don’t think so. Does she really seem like the type for casual sex to you? No, if Lou likes someone, it’s not casual.” Bill shook his head, studying her as if she was a problem to be solved.
Lou couldn’t help it. She grinned at them, amused by them trying to figure her out as if s
he was complicated math. “Would you two like me to leave so you can discuss me in private?”
“No, no, that won’t be necessary. We’ll figure it out in time.” Dix waved a dismissive hand, then took a bite of his food.
“Far be it from me to ruin your fun, but I’m not having an affair, nor on the verge of one, as far as I know. I’ll keep you posted. Why are you so interested in what passes for my love life, anyway?”
“Because we love you, sweetie, and we want you to be happy,” Bill said.
“Uh-huh.”
“And we find the mating habits of the North American lesbian quite fascinating. We haven’t had one to study since Maggie left,” Dix replied, trying and failing to keep a straight face.
“So is that the reason you’ve invited me over in the first place for the past year? You needed a new lesbian to observe?”
“You have to admit, it was rather nice of Charles to fill Maggie’s seat with another lesbian,” Bill said. “I appreciate his willingness to keep the queer status quo among the faculty. I shouldn’t have to carry that burden on my own.”
“Wait…are you implying I didn’t get the job on the merits?” Lou teased.
“Depends. Are we talking your merits in your field or your merits in…”
“Bill, don’t you dare finish that sentence!” Lou laughed. “Or I will show you how to kill a man with a dinner fork.”
“Oh, don’t kill him. The holidays are coming up. It would make celebrating so tacky,” Dix playfully lamented.
Lou smiled at Dix and lowered her fork but not before Bill held up his hands and said, “I surrender.”
“I notice how we have somehow gotten away from the fact that something or someone is on your mind. Enough to distract you,” Dix noted.
Lou gave another sigh, this one in defeat. “Fine. You win. But there really isn’t much to tell.”
“Oh, let us be the judge of that.” Bill grinned delightedly.
“Do I have a choice?”
“Not really, no.” Dix smiled at her. “Go ahead, spill.”
“Fine. I did meet someone over the weekend. She’s the daughter of one of my kung fu students. Ex-military. Kinda cute and seemed to like me. I just don’t know…”
“Nothing bad so far. What’s the problem?”
Lou turned to Bill and shrugged. “I don’t know. She’s really butch, for one thing, and I’ve never been attracted to butch women. But also, the military thing is a turnoff. I mean, she’s ex-military, but still. It’s the attitude. I can’t deal with the ultra-disciplined nature of people in the military.”
“I’ve never heard you be so judgmental before. This is new.” There was no teasing manner to Bill’s words this time. Instead, he looked troubled.
Lou looked at him sharply. “It’s just, it’s a thing I have, okay? Can’t I have one thing? I mean, I’m not normally a judgmental person, no, but I have hang-ups the same as anyone. Nothing wrong with that.” Lou picked up her fork and looked down at her plate as she caught Bill and Dix exchanging worried expressions. The air in the room seemed to change, the joviality of earlier set aside.
Finally, Bill said, “Sure, honey, you’re allowed to have hang-ups. You’re right, we all do. But I don’t think it was your hang-ups that made you so distant tonight.” His voice was gentle. “Is it possible you like her, but something else is tripping you up?”
“I don’t know, maybe. Plus, she said she would call. If nothing else, I hate that feeling of unrequited anticipation. You know what I mean?”
“If that’s a fancy way of saying waiting by a phone that doesn’t ring, yes, I do. It’s a universal problem that we’ve all experienced at one time or another. And it sucks, but don’t get so worked up about it. If she calls you, then great, see what happens. If she doesn’t, then she obviously wasn’t worth you stressing over it too much.” Bill gave her a kind smile.
“You’re right. You’re absolutely right. Why should I be this upset over someone I’m not even sure if I would even go out with?”
“That’s right.” Dix smiled indulgently at her.
“Sorry, guys. I promise to be here with you for the rest of the evening. You will have my undivided attention.” She waved her hands in front of her, as if making a declaration. “Besides, I would be totally remiss if I failed to mention the sorry state of this chicken.” She grinned as she fell into the familiar routine of insulting Dix’s cooking, a banter that they had been engaging in since she had first come to dinner, and something they both enjoyed.
“That’s my girl.” Dix raised his glass of wine and Lou her beer bottle, which she knew they only kept stocked for her, and they toasted. Lou held her bottle aloft to Bill and did the same.
* * *
Just as Lou was getting into her Jeep after leaving Bill and Dix’s place, her phone buzzed in her pocket. It wasn’t the quick buzz of a message, but a continuous vibrating rhythm that indicated she was getting a call. She pulled the phone out of her pocket once she was settled and saw that the display read Mrs. Adams. She sighed as she pushed the talk button. With false cheer, she said, “Hello, Mrs. Adams, how can I help you?”
“First, you can call me Steve, as I asked you to the other day.” There was humor in the voice and it made Lou smile in spite of herself.
“I should have realized you would use your mother’s phone to call me.”
“Wanted to make sure you would answer.”
“What makes you think I wouldn’t have answered?”
“Well, unknown number and all. And you seem like you might be the cautious type. I just figured…” Steve faltered.
Lou interpreted it as shyness and chose to find it endearing. “Well, whatever you figured, you were wrong,” she said with humor. “So now that I have already done what I could to exceed your expectations, what else can I do for you?”
Steve chuckled. “I’m told you like a good cup of strong coffee, and I’ve heard buying someone a cup of coffee is a good way to get to know them.”
Amused in spite of herself, Lou asked, “Do I even want to know what else your mother told you about me?”
“Only that you’re some kind of professor at the college, a black belt, and the best teacher she’s ever had for anything. And that I would be disinherited if I was a jerk to you. Not that I wasn’t going to be on my best behavior anyway.”
Lou put her fist to her mouth to stifle her smile, even though there was no one around to see it. “Tell her that if you are a jerk, she’ll be the first to know.”
“I’ll let her know, she’ll be so pleased.” Then Steve said, “So, about that coffee…what’s your favorite place?”
“It’s a place near campus, Raphael’s.”
“I’ve seen it. Tell me, is it named after the artist or the Ninja Turtle?”
“Considering the amount of pretentiousness, I’m guessing the painter.”
“Pity.”
A part of Lou felt a little silly for having this conversation on Bill and Dix’s driveway and hoped they wouldn’t look out the window and see her still sitting there, but she wasn’t going to drive away while on the phone. Leaving could wait. “Fan of the Turtles, are you?”
“The Turtles, not so much, but April O’Neil, very much. You know, you remind me a little of her.”
There was an unmistakably flirtatious quality to Steve’s voice that hadn’t been there before, and Lou wasn’t sure how to react to it. Again, she chose to be amused by it. “April O’Neil was a redhead in a horrendous yellow jumpsuit. I have neither red hair nor a horrendous yellow jumpsuit.”
Steve laughed. “Well, my mother thinks you’re a badass. Maybe Lara Croft would be a better comparison then.”
“Your seeming obsession with female cartoon characters is starting to become troublesome and makes me worry that I will not be able to live up to your expectations of badassery.” Lou was definitely enjoying herself. She hadn’t had a date she could joke around with in this manner in quite some time.
Steve laugh
ed again. “Hey, Lara Croft was a video game character, so animated but not really a cartoon. And I think you’re going to live up to all my expectations. You may even exceed them.”
Lou took a breath. The flirting was getting to be a bit much for her and she immediately wanted to back away from the conversation. She sobered and asked, “So when did you want to meet for coffee?”
Steve said, “How about Thursday afternoon?” The flirtation was now gone from her voice, for which Lou was glad.
“Okay. I’m free after four.”
“Four thirty then?”
“Okay. Sounds good. I’ll see you there.” Just as they hung up and before Lou could collect herself and drive away, she received a text from Bill.
Not that I’m trying to get rid of you, but why are you still in my driveway?
Smiling, Lou responded, I had a phone call. Didn’t want to talk and drive. Will be leaving now—that is, unless you wish to keep detaining me.
Oooh, did Sgt. Hottie finally call?
LOL I never said she was hot, but yes she did. Can I go now?
She would have to be hot to be worthy of you, love. But yes, I suppose you can. Drive safe and keep me posted. Look up.
Lou did as instructed and saw Bill and Dix waving to her from their kitchen window. Laughing, she waved back, then replied, Aw, thanks, you big softie. Then, after throwing the phone into her center console and with one final wave at the boys in the window, she drove off, replaying the phone call in her head and trying to decide how she felt about the whole thing.
Chapter Three
Steve checked herself out in the mirror before she left for the café. She loved how her black Levi’s fit her. She’d had them for years and they hugged her frame well, and their cut, along with her boots, gave her the appearance of being taller than she was. She had hesitated about wearing the black shirt, but it went well with the jeans and it was an old favorite. She buttoned the top button, then looked at herself, her eyes focusing on that top button. She thought about unbuttoning it, but after years of being in the military and adhering to dress code, leaving it unbuttoned felt sloppy, so she left it.