Love's Truth

by C. A. Popovich

  Lynette looked at her watch. “Half an hour.”

  “Cool. When we finish eating, I’d like to get your opinion on what’s best to do here.”

  “I’m probably not the best person for that information. I pretty much come to work and go home. The only reason I went on the boat cruise once was because Claudia didn’t want to go by herself.”

  Barb took a drink of Coke for time to organize her thoughts. She hadn’t asked Lynette if she was seeing anyone. She didn’t even know for sure she was a lesbian, although she was pretty sure she was. Maybe she and Claudia were a couple. She was still thinking about how to ask when Lynette spoke.

  “I don’t do much after work except walk my dog in the park near my apartment.” Lynette took a bite of her sandwich and settled back into her chair with her hands wrapped around her cup of hot chocolate.

  “So, no one special in your life?”

  “Just Starr. She’s my golden retriever.” She took a drink of her hot chocolate.

  “I used to have a dog until my hours got so unpredictable. I felt bad leaving him alone so much,” Barb said.

  “What kind of dog was he?”

  “Badger was a terrier mix. He was a sweet boy but loved to run. I had a heck of a time training him, and it’s why I adopted him to a friend. He needed someone with more time to spend with him.”

  Lynette collected the sandwich wrappers and stuffed them into the bag she’d brought and glanced at her watch. “I think you’d make a good mom for a dog. What do you do, anyway?”

  “I’m a conservation officer in Michigan. We’re called conservation wardens in Wisconsin, but we do the same thing. Enforce the laws and protect the environment. I love it. Maybe one day I’ll get another dog. We’ll see.” She finished her Coke. “Would you like another cup of hot chocolate?”

  “I think I’m good. Thanks. Do you have family?”

  “I do. My mom and dad live in South Carolina. Dad is a retired Army general and a Vietnam veteran. My brother is a sergeant in the Michigan State Police department.”

  “Do you get to see them often?”

  “I see Brad, my brother, often, but since my parents live out of state, we only get together for Christmas every year,” Barb said. “Do you get to see your aunt often? You said she lives close.”

  “We get together every couple of weeks, and I talk to her on the phone.” Lynette glanced at her watch. “This was nice. Thank you for inviting me, it was good to get away from the kitchen for a little while. Oh, I almost forgot.” Lynette pulled out the bag with the blueberry muffins and set it on the table. “For you, later.” She smiled.

  Barb opened the bag to peek inside. “My favorite. Thank you. I’ve enjoyed your company. I hope we can do it again. Tomorrow?” She considered the word company. A connection she couldn’t define and had never felt before drew her to Lynette. Whatever it was wasn’t unpleasant, and she wanted more of it.

  Lynette stood and looked as if she struggled with the decision. She turned to face her before she spoke. “Can we take this a day at a time? I’m not one for planning ahead, and I’ve had a couple bad experiences that make me cautious.” A blush rose to her cheeks, and she looked away.

  Barb took her hands, squeezed gently, and let go. “Of course. Whatever you’re comfortable with. Can I walk you back?”

  “I’d like that.” Lynette visibly relaxed and grabbed the empty bag.

  Barb wanted to spend time with Lynette, but she didn’t want to scare her away. She’d planned to have all her meals at the hotel so, at least, she could see her at mealtime. She didn’t push for more conversation as they took the stairs down to the dining area. She opened the door and Lynette waved before she turned and went to the kitchen.

  Barb had time before the dinner buffet, and she was still full from the sandwich and coleslaw, so she took a walk along the river to try to figure out what captivated her about Lynette. She was beautiful, but she’d met many beautiful women and hadn’t been drawn to them like she had Lynette. Being with her felt comfortable, but even after three days, she knew very little about her and her life. She really wanted to change that. She mentally shook herself and walked back to her room to change before dinner.

  Barb went to her favorite table and hung her jacket over the back of the chair to save it, surprised by the number of people already there. She’d had dinner with Lynette on the riverboat the night before, so she had no idea the hotel’s evening buffet was so popular. She filled her plate while keeping an eye out for Lynette. She didn’t see her until she set her plate on her table and returned to get an iced tea. She waved and was rewarded with a quick smile and small wave before Lynette turned her attention to refilling pans. Barb decided she’d take Lynette’s response as an encouraging sign. She needed to be patient. She had a few more weeks to try to get to know her, and Lynette’s disclosure of a couple bad experiences echoed in the back of her mind, warning her to take things slow.

  She settled into her chair and enjoyed the view out the window and the variety of people filling their plates and settling at tables to eat. Mostly families and a few singles. She wondered about their stories. It was a fantastic vacation spot with enough natural beauty to satisfy her and plenty of things to do to keep kids and adults entertained. She rarely took time to allow her mind to wander. The knowledge she had nowhere to be or nothing she had to do was a welcome change from her usual demands of being on call and ready for anything. She would’ve thought she’d be restless and bored, but maybe this vacation thing wasn’t so bad. She finished her meal and left to take a walk by the river.

  Chapter 6

  The rain soaked the ground outside Lynette’s sliding glass door, and she loved it. She allowed the memory of rain in the Idaho desert spattering the dry sand and creating tiny puddles the size of the droplets before evaporating to compare with the soaking rain here in Wisconsin. Lynette stepped outside and turned her face to the sky. She breathed in the fresh air and spread her arms to feel the rain on her skin for a few minutes before it was time to get ready for work. Open air and the freedom to revel in it wasn’t something she ever took for granted.

  She lingered in the hot shower and allowed the water to flow over her head and shoulders. Long hot showers were a daily luxury she allowed herself now. She let herself feel the satisfaction of how far she’d gotten in her healing. She felt deserving of the time she spent caring for herself. She shook off her memories to replace them with thoughts of Barb. She made it clear that she wanted to spend time with her and get to know her. As nice as it would be to be close to someone again, she couldn’t pretend there could be anything romantic between them without being hurt or hurting Barb. No. She had to stop any growing feelings now. They’d only met a few days ago, and she couldn’t deny how comfortable she felt with her, but Barb was on vacation and would be going home in a few weeks. To consider even a short fling with her would be irresponsible, and she wouldn’t do that to anyone. She finished dressing, fed Starr, and left for work. She pulled into the parking lot a few minutes early and noticed Claudia’s car parked in her usual spot. She hurried into the building.

  “Hi, Claudia. I’m glad you’re back, but I thought you were gone for a few days.” Lynette stored her purse in her locker and joined Claudia at the omelet station.

  “I’ll tell you all about it later,” Claudia whispered while she looked toward their boss’s office.

  “We’ll talk after the rush. You want the omelet station?” Lynette asked.

  “Yeah. Thanks.”

  Lynette retreated to the kitchen and began cooking potatoes and bacon for the warming pans. She checked the supply of waffles next to the toaster and stopped when she saw Barb smiling her gorgeous smile at Claudia. She watched Barb shift her plate to her right hand to accept the omelet, a move she’d gotten used to seeing, and forced away the desire to rush between them to draw Barb’s attention. She took a deep breath and returned to the kitchen. She’d learned about feelings of attachment in the cult and it had been disa
strous. Lynette’s feeling when she saw Barb paying attention to Claudia was more akin to what she felt when Ruth told her she was pregnant with Brother Matthew’s child, and they were no longer going to spend nights together. What she felt now was uncomfortable and confusing. Her aunt had worked with Lynette’s therapist to help her identify feelings, but even after so many years, she still had a hard time deciding if her feelings were appropriate. There was certainly no place for feelings of any kind toward Barb, given that they barely knew one another. She took a deep breath to settle herself and went back to prep for the breakfast crowd.

  “Good morning.” Barb’s voice drifted into the kitchen from the doorway.

  Lynette turned to face Barb and all her angst dissolved. “Good morning.” She couldn’t think of anything else to say.

  “I met your friend, Claudia, this morning. She seems nice. Since she’s back, will you have time for a visit on my balcony this morning?”

  Lynette put down the spoon she was holding and took a breath before speaking. “I’ll let you know. Okay?” She hadn’t heard Claudia’s story yet, and now she hoped it wasn’t a long one.

  “Sounds good. I’ll check back with you later.”

  She watched Barb walk away before turning back to her job. She refilled the pans as they emptied, but her breakfast shift extended due to the weather. The guests lingered over coffee to avoid the rain. She kept an eye on Barb, who seemed to be content to sit at her window seat all day. She watched her refill her coffee and choose a blueberry muffin, and she quickly turned away when Barb caught her and winked.

  Claudia had the omelet area cleaned and the cooking equipment put away, so Lynette went to the kitchen to talk to her.

  “Hey.” She helped her load the industrial dishwasher. “Will you be able to work this afternoon?”

  “Yes.” She wiped her hands on paper towels. “Did you see the hot woman seated by the window? Her name’s Barb, and she’s nice. I talked to her this morning.”

  “I met her the other day. She is nice.”

  “Yeah? Do you know if she’s single?”

  Lynette thought for a moment. Barb had asked her to go on the dinner cruise with her, but her experience with women had taught her that assumptions were a bad idea. “I think she is, but I don’t know.”

  “Anyway. I have news. I’ve applied for a position as a sous-chef at the new Italian restaurant downtown.”

  Claudia looked excited, so Lynette didn’t have the heart to beg her to stay. She’d been working with Claudia for five years, and she was her only friend. “Wow. That’s great news. When do you start?” She forced herself not to hold her breath.

  “I’m not sure. It would mean more money but probably more hours. I should hear something by tomorrow. I’d miss working with you. I wanted to let you know what was going on as soon as I came in, but I told the boss I was caring for my sick mother yesterday.”

  “I’d miss you a lot.” Lynette pulled Claudia into a hug, already feeling the loss in the pit of her stomach.

  “I’m just working at a different place, I’m not leaving the state. I’ll still be here, I promise.” Claudia held her at arm’s length and smiled.

  Lynette relaxed. Her efforts to understand the difference between a friendly hug and sexual expectation took years, and she gratefully accepted Claudia’s touch.

  Her thoughts quickly turned to Barb and the feelings being with her elicited. Definitely more than only friendly on her part, but did Barb feel the same? It didn’t matter. She had no intention of putting herself in the position of being hurt again. She poured herself a cup of coffee and joined Barb at her table.

  “Glad you could make it.” Barb leaned back in her chair.

  “Sorry it took so long. Claudia wanted to talk.” Lynette sat opposite her and took a sip of coffee.

  “No problem. I’m patient.” Barb smiled and held her gaze for a heartbeat before taking a drink of coffee and setting her cup down. “I wanted to ask you something. I’m going to see the Cave of the Mounds tomorrow if it stops raining, and I’d like you to go with me, if you’re interested.” Barb sipped her coffee and waited.

  “Can I let you know tomorrow morning?”

  “Sure. I’ll be here for breakfast. I’ll see you later here for dinner, too.” Barb smiled and continued to drink her coffee.

  Lynette’s knees went weak as she stood to head back to the kitchen. She was in trouble if Barb’s simple smile caused that reaction.

  Chapter 7

  Barb woke to the sound of raindrops hitting the roof over her balcony. Her research before she left home had forecast clear weather for the week, and this was the second day of rain. She rose, put on her robe, and made a cup of coffee. She breathed in the rain-soaked fresh air and felt the swell of gratitude once again she’d chosen this room at the hotel. She had no plans for the day except to make use of the buffets and possibly talk to Lynette, especially now that the cave tour wouldn’t happen thanks to the rain.

  She finished her coffee and dressed before heading to the dining area, which had become the main focus of her stay. Was that a little sad? She shook her head. It didn’t matter. She was on vacation and could do whatever she wanted to. It was a new concept and she was beginning to like it.

  The room was filled with early risers getting breakfast and probably waiting for the rain to let up. Barb claimed one of the last available tables and joined the line waiting for omelets. Lynette looked relaxed and smiled at each patron as she set her creations onto their plates. “Good morning.” She held out her plate and Lynette placed her omelet in the middle of it.

  “Good morning.” Lynette smiled and turned to the next person in line.

  “Dessert tonight after the dinner hour? It’s still raining, so maybe the cave needs to wait till tomorrow.” Barb spoke quickly and hesitated for a moment before moving out of the way for the people behind her. Lynette gave her a quick nod, which she interpreted as a yes, and then she picked out an extra piece of cheesecake to take back to her room. She finished breakfast and decided to make the best of the day despite the weather.

  Barb put on her rain gear, grabbed her camera, and headed to get photos of the interesting rock formations along the river. She’d read about them in the brochure and wanted to compare them to the shores of Lake Superior. The river streamed below her, and she leaned over the railing to capture shots of the shallow area where it gushed over the rocks. She turned away from the river and watched a couple strolling hand in hand along the road. A stab of loneliness surprised her. She’d thought of herself as independent and content with the life she’d made. She loved her job upholding the laws of her state and protecting the environment, but lately unhappiness with nobody to share her life had seeped in. She didn’t know if Lynette was the one to fill the void, but she recognized she very much wanted it filled. The rain let up before noon, and she enjoyed the sunshine for a while before heading back to the hotel.

  She started when she entered the dining area and saw a Reserved sign on her table. All the other window seats were taken, so she proceeded to one of the few available tables in the center of the room when Lynette stepped out of the kitchen and walked toward her.

  “It’s yours.” Lynette pointed at the Reserved sign. “Hurry and sit. It’s totally forbidden to save tables in here.” She rushed back to the kitchen.

  Barb went to the table and slipped the paper sign into her pocket before she hung her jacket over the chair and headed to the buffet. Lynette had reserved her favorite table for her, which was incredibly thoughtful and suggested she’d made an impression. Friendly or anything deeper remained to be seen. The dinner cruise had been the longest time they’d spent together so far, and she’d really enjoyed herself. Barb finished her meal and lingered over her coffee, trying to decide if she should remind Lynette about dessert on her balcony. She might scare her away if she pushed too hard, so she went back to her room and hoped Lynette would show up.

  The pictures of the rain on the rocks came out bette
r than Barb expected, and she made mental notes regarding the ones she wanted to revisit. She put her camera away and settled on the balcony with a book to wait for Lynette. It was nearly seven p.m. before she heard the knock on the door.

  “Am I too late?” Lynette stood outside the door as if expecting to be sent away.

  “Never.” Barb took her hand and gently tugged her into the room. She hesitated for a heartbeat, trying to read the message in Lynette’s eyes before brushing her lips over hers. “I have cheesecake.” She feared she’d gone too far, so she released Lynette and stepped back.

  “Wow.” Lynette blinked at her.

  Barb grinned. “I couldn’t help myself.” She retreated to the coffeemaker, where she had hot water for Lynette’s hot chocolate. She turned with a mug in her hand to find Lynette where she’d left her, still looking dazed.

  “Do I need to apologize?” Barb hoped she hadn’t destroyed any chance with Lynette.

  “No. But it took me by surprise.” Lynette took the mug and sipped from it. “Thank you.”

  Barb followed her to the balcony and set the two pieces of cheesecake on the table between them. “I seem to have developed this urge to kiss you every time I see you, but I promise I’ll try to keep myself under control. I don’t want to do anything to scare you away.”

  “Like I said, you took me by surprise, and I’m not sure how to respond. I like you, but I definitely need more time before I even begin to think about kissing. Or anything else.”

  “I understand, and I’m sorry. I’ll keep my lips to myself.” Damn. She’d moved too fast after all.

  “Thanks for the cheesecake. This is one of Claudia’s specialties.” Lynette took a bite.

  “Does Claudia do all the baking?” Barb asked.