On Easter Sunday, Erin and Julia hosted a joint Lutheran-Episcopal service at Julia’s church, which seated several hundred people. They expected perhaps two hundred.
Bobbi wrapped up her Saturday night on-call by admitting a woman to the hospital with gall bladder disease. She now was being prepped for surgery, so there was nothing more for Bobbi to do. On a whim, she decided to go to Erin’s ten a.m. service to see what Easter was all about. Finding parking difficult, she finally spotted an opening a couple of blocks away in a residential area. She entered the church, still dressed in khakis and a cotton pullover sweater over a blue button-down shirt.
The deputy had escorted Stephanie out of town, she heard on Friday. So, feeling like she’d dodged yet another Stephanie moment, she relaxed in her pew, blinking to keep her eyes open. Charlotte Stephens waved at her from a pew across the aisle toward the front. Mike, Jennifer, and Clarice all sat together with several others who looked to be their families, toward the middle of the church. Even Helen sat primly toward the front, next to a man with very little white hair ringing his crown like a halo. Bobbi reckoned that Helen’s faith perhaps took precedence over her dislike of Erin’s “lifestyle.” People who used that word about gay, lesbian, bi, and trans people always made Bobbi laugh. As if getting groceries and watching TV was a lifestyle any different from a hetero one.
Suddenly organ music swelled and incense floated by, leading in a procession of robed choir members and ministers. Erin and Julia took up the rear. When they reached the front of the church, the hymn ended and chanting began. Bobbi let herself be carried away in the calming rhythms.
Immediately after the chanting ended, Bobbi was astounded to see Walter sneak into one of the pews toward the back, with an older woman, probably his wife. Both were dressed in their best clothes. The woman’s gray hair had been coiffed and lay inertly on her head. Looks like Mike had been right about Walter. While Walter, in principle, disagreed with gay clergy, he didn’t let that interfere with his attendance on Easter. Bobbi smiled to herself to see his stern face some pews behind her.
As the service continued, Bobbi then felt the elation of the congregation rise, with special music from horns, a rousing anthem by the choir, and even singing from a children’s group, who made Bobbi smile through her tiredness. Music took up most of the program for the morning, Erin’s sermon was thankfully short, but the communion took much longer than Bobbi’s first experience, due to the long line of people queuing in the aisles. Bobbi joined them when her pew was called forward. She watched what people did at the altar rail and copied them when a robed minister, neither Erin nor Julia, gave her bread and another gave her wine. Surprising to her, the wine was real.
After the service, Erin looked busy talking with parishioners. Kids ran around the churchyard, some in little suits with ties, others in jeans and sweaters. She noted she wasn’t the only person not dressed up. Bobbi waited inconspicuously at the end of the nave, off to the side of the queue of folks through the door. Erin and Julia greeted some with hugs, others with handshakes.
Finally, the queue dwindled and Erin and Julia strode past her down the aisle toward the front of the church.
“Hello, Mother Erin,” Bobbi whispered loudly as she passed without noticing her.
Erin turned. “Oh.” She stepped into the pew and hugged Bobbi fiercely. “I am so glad to see you.”
“Me, too. It’s been a long week for both of us.” Bobbi drew back. “You look exhausted.”
“Ditto, Doc.” Erin grinned and stroked her cheek gently. “Let me get out of this getup and we can walk down to the vicarage.”
Later, as they gathered on the couch with snacks, snuggling into each other, Erin said, “We have to watch Mary Poppins.”
Bobbi leaned back, her mouth agape. “Mary Poppins? You’re kidding.”
“No way. I’ve had a huge crush on Julie Andrews since I first saw this movie on TV when I was a kid. It’s how I knew I was gay. It’s my post-Easter gift every year for getting through hell week.” Erin sat erectly, looking proud.
Bobbi sniggered. “I guess I’ll survive Dick van Dyke dancing with cartoon penguins.”
Erin turned on the movie from her online film stash, and the first strains of the overture played against an image of Julie Andrews drifting down on an opened umbrella. She grabbed a pillow and stuffed it between her and Bobbi. “You don’t have to watch it if you don’t want to,” she said in a huff, while grinning.
Bobbi smirked, snagged the pillow, and threw it on the floor, then snuggled against Erin. When Erin began to sing along with “Just a Spoonful of Sugar,” Bobbi knew it was useless to protest, so she shook her head and let Erin have her movie, falling in love a little more as Erin’s adorable, thin soprano belted out each successive song.
Bobbi ate some grapes, and tried to focus on the movie’s light banter, but felt her eyes lowering precipitously. Finally, she gave in to her exhaustion.
Erin shook her. “Hey. Time for dinner, Dr. Narcolepsy.”
Bobbi roused herself. The day had waned. “What time…?”
“Four. The lamb should be done in a little while.”
Bobbi shrugged off the afghan lying across her legs. “Wow, sorry. I seem to fall asleep around here.”
“Am I that boring?” Erin stood over the couch with her legs spread and her arms akimbo.
Bobbi, struck by her cute pose, took hold of her waist and pulled her down to the couch. Erin shrieked, as Bobbi tickled her sides.
“Stop.” Erin giggled and screamed.
They tussled playfully and fell onto the carpet. Bobbi sat up, straddling Erin, and gently pinned her arms above her head. She panted, leaning in for a kiss. Erin wriggled under her, broke one arm free, and began to tickle Bobbi in return. Laughing and screaming, they wrestled to be on top. She’s stronger than she looks, Bobbi thought.
Finally, both breathing hard and cackling, Bobbi rolled off Erin and lay down beside her on the floor. She took her in her arms and kissed her deeply. Erin reciprocated by pushing her warm tongue between Bobbi’s lips. Bobbi moaned. She ran her hand down Erin’s front, finding warmth along her shirt and cardigan. Bobbi’s heart raced with the sensations of softness, warmth, and growing desire, and with the tenderness Erin produced in her.
Bobbi looked down at Erin’s face, holding her in her left arm and using her right hand to trace her pert nose and smooth skin along her cheeks and jaw. “You are amazing. Every time I’m with you, I find something more that draws me to you. Your bravery. Your integrity as a priest.” She touched Erin’s eyes gently. “You make me want you so much.”
Erin stroked Bobbi’s hair. “I love your curls right there.” She tugged at the curls on Bobbi’s nape.
Bobbi felt the warmth on her cheeks. Bobbi kissed her deeply, gently, then more insistently, pushing open her mouth and exploring with her tongue. Erin hummed. Bobbi felt her core heating up. Her clitoris throbbed and she felt the hot wetness between her legs.
They kissed for some time. Then Bobbi parted Erin’s cardigan and tugged her shirt out of her yoga pants, stroking her abdomen in small circles. Then higher, caressing her breasts over the smooth fiber of her bra. Erin sat up and took off her sweater and shirt. Bobbi reached behind her and unhooked the bra. Erin looked into Bobbi’s eyes as the bra slid down her arms and her breasts, with small pink nipples, emerged.
Bobbi nearly cried out with happiness when she palmed one breast, testing its heft. “So soft. Beautiful.” Bobbi leaned in and kissed it, then nipped it lightly. Erin bent her torso up to Bobbi’s mouth. Bobbi warmed even more, felt herself wanting a slow journey all over Erin’s body. Her heart beat with deep wanting. Not lust, but something much truer and more loving, and sensitive to Erin’s needs and wishes.
“I’ll give you twenty years to stop that.” Erin leaned her head back, her face a mask of desire.
Bobbi shifted Erin down to the carpet. Erin put both hands on Bobbi’s chest. “Wait.”
Bobbi struggled up out of
her fog. “What?”
Erin whispered, “Let’s go somewhere more comfortable.”
Bobbi sat up. “Is this what you want? Don’t push it. I can wait if we need to.” Bobbi hoped like hell Erin didn’t say no.
“Yes. Oh God, yes.” Erin pecked Bobbi on the mouth, stood up, and pulled Bobbi up. She led her into the bedroom.
Bobbi stood in the doorway of Erin’s bedroom and smiled at the mix of Chicago Cubs paraphernalia and Jesus and Moses puppets, in the turquoise room. All was neat and tidy, and the room smelled of Erin’s citrusy shampoo.
Erin tossed the bedspread off to the floor and drew back the cover and sheets.
Bobbi grabbed her waist and took her in her arms. As they kissed, Bobbi’s breathing ramped up in excitement.
Erin unbuttoned Bobbi’s shirt. “You’re wearing too much between me and thee.”
Bobbi, in turn, pulled at the elastic of Erin’s lycra pants, gently and slowly lowering them, savoring the moment. She was about to make love to this beautiful woman. Her heart played a rhythm of love and compassion, as she tried to convey those feelings with the gentle movement of her hands on Erin’s clothes.
Finally, they both rested onto the bed, fully nude. Taking a moment, Bobbi let her eyes caress, along with her hand, the beauty she saw before her. “Wow. You’re amazing.” She kissed Erin’s cheek, her neck, down to her breasts, taking them in with lips and teeth and tongue. Sucking, oh so lightly, on her nipples, producing purrs of pleasure in Erin’s chest. Bobbi smiled at the sound.
Erin pressed Bobbi into her breast, while sifting her fingers through the short strands of her hair. Bobbi kissed Erin’s torso, her abdomen. She teased her navel with short licks, making Erin emit low chuckles.
Erin brought Bobbi up to her lips and kissed her passionately. “We really are together. I can’t think of a better way to spend Easter Day celebrating life.”
Bobbi leaned on her right elbow and stroked Erin’s cheek. “Is this a resurrection for you? It feels like one for me.” Bobbi hesitated, while continuing to caress Erin’s breasts softly. “You feel so right in my arms. When I’m not with you, I feel lost somehow. I can’t explain it.”
Erin’s eyes widened. “Now I know that it must be Easter. You’ve just given me light and love. I hope you can tell.”
Bobbi’s heart swelled. She hugged Erin close while stroking her sides and hips. She gripped Erin’s backside and caressed the small mounds of flesh.
They fell together in a rain of kisses and strokes and murmurs of pleasure, tenderness, and gentleness. Bobbi thought she would stay in this bliss forever. Then they both breathed hard and fast, and the lovemaking took on a more urgent pace.
Bobbi found Erin’s inner thighs, kissed them languidly until she reached Erin’s very wet labia. She circled her vaginal opening, creating heat within her own core. Her whole body throbbed. Erin’s yoni turned red as Bobbi stroked along its length.
“Yes, right there.”
Bobbi took her time with unhurried, feather-light touches all along the inner labia, as Erin became saturated. She wanted to convey all she felt by loving Erin’s body.
Erin panted. “Don’t tease me.”
Circling the clitoris, then stroking harder, Bobbi watched Erin buck with energy. A pink flush rose on Erin’s body and her muscles tightened. Bobbi’s own arousal heightened and screamed for release. Her heart beat in her ears. Erin looked so beautiful in the throes of orgasm, writhing, her mouth open to the world, drinking in bliss.
When Erin calmed, Bobbi snuggled into her arms. Erin stroked Bobbi’s small breasts and wended her way south with kisses. Anticipation sent Bobbi into spasms of delight. She was so ready when Erin’s mouth, warm and wet, found her clitoris. Bobbi fell back onto the bed with the tingles of excitement focused between her legs. Her orgasm came quickly. She stiffened. “Yes, Erin. Erin.”
They lay together in the late afternoon, watching the sun cross the floor in stripes from the window blind. They caressed and kissed on the no-hurry plan. Bobbi felt sated, happier than she had in months, with Erin in her arms. Small Erin. Beautiful Erin.
“I can’t believe you’re in my arms.” Bobbi kissed her. “You bowl me over.”
“Your gentleness. Wow.” Erin held Bobbi’s face in both hands. “I thought I would die of anticipation,” she joked.
“I’m glad you didn’t.”
Erin snuggled into Bobbi’s neck, then gave her a questioning look. “Do we need to talk about where this is going? You and me.”
Bobbi dreaded these kinds of questions. She had some lingering uneasiness about her short-term stay at Valley View. She’d be off, hopefully to Oregon, in another twenty months. She pondered Erin, marveling at her in her arms. Her silky skin, her petite arms and legs. Her lovely breasts, abdomen, the pink in her cheeks. “I don’t know about you and me in the long run.” She felt Erin stiffen in her arms. “We’ve established that this is no fling. You and I have clicked somewhere more important in our lives. A place that makes me happy and content to be around you. To make love to you. We’ve just begun our relationship on another level. I think we have to go into the future and see where this relationship leads us. I know I want to be with you.”
“And I with you. I think I’m falling for you, Doctor Bossy Pants.”
Bobbi squeezed Erin closer to her. “God.”
“Are you okay? I didn’t mean to scare you.” Erin sat up.
“No, no. I didn’t mean it like…I’m good with that. I love that you may be falling for me. I really like you lots, too, if you haven’t picked that up by now, Elf.”
“Oh.” Erin leaped up from the bed. “Lamb.” She grabbed a long T-shirt from the bathroom.
Bobbi, startled by Erin’s abrupt departure, immediately got up and pulled on her clothes while Erin clanged pots in the kitchen.
“Whew. The lamb is just fine.” Erin shut the oven door. “But it is done.” She turned around.
Bobbi exhaled in relief. “I thought the house was on fire the way you sped out of the bedroom.”
Erin flipped a dishtowel at her. “You made me forget the dinner.”
The towel hit Bobbi on the arm and she gripped it, then tugged it away from Erin and ran at her with it. Erin squealed and ran into the living area, crouching behind a chair. Laughter rent the air as Bobbi chased her around the room. When she caught her, they hugged and giggled like children.
Bobbi kissed her. “I got you, Elf.”
The doorbell rang.
With wide eyes, Erin whispered, “Oh my God.” She called out, “Just a minute.” Then she sprinted into the bedroom.
Bobbi played it cool, sitting on the couch with the Sunday paper, when Erin came out, looking dressed, if not exactly put together. She had on the yoga pants and a black T-shirt with a cross in the upper corner. But her hair stuck up in the back; her makeup had smeared.
Bobbi stifled a chuckle.
When Erin answered the door, Charlotte Stephens stood, still in her fancy Easter dress and matching hat, holding a covered pie plate. “Happy Easter, lady priest.” She raised the plate.
“Come in. Come in. Happy Easter to you, Charlotte!” Erin’s voice sounded unnaturally high.
Charlotte took two steps into the room and glanced at Bobbi with meaning. Bobbi nodded. “Mrs. Stephens. How are you?” She stood.
“Not as good as the two of you look,” she quipped. She winked at Bobbi.
Erin’s face turned dark red.
“I won’t stay. I baked my usual coconut pie for Easter. I made an extra one that I thought you might like. My family went out for Easter brunch in Denver and we just got back, so sorry if you’ve already eaten. I smell something wonderful.”
Erin inhaled. Bobbi saw her struggle for composure. “No, we were just about to get dinner on the table, so the pie will go great. Thanks so much, Charlotte.” Erin took the pie, set it on the small foyer table, and hugged Charlotte.
“Do you eat pie, Doctor? You look pretty skinny to me.”
“I think you can call me Charlotte, now that you’re intimately acquainted with our lady priest.” Charlotte smiled wickedly. “You might want to comb your hair, dear.” Charlotte sniggered while brushing her hand through the back of Erin’s messy hair.
Like teens who’d been caught making out, Erin and Bobbi could only stand awkwardly and stifle their giggles.
“Okay.” Charlotte broke the spell. “I’m off. Good to see you both. And have a fine evening.” She strode to the door, Erin opened it, and she marched out.
Bobbi and Erin looked at each other and broke out into gales of laughter, holding their sides, bent over.
Chapter Twenty-nine
Erin called Bobbi the next day around noon, hoping not to interrupt patient care. She answered on the first ring.
“What are you eating, Doctor?”
“Nothing.”
“I miss you. You left before I woke this morning. I didn’t get my morning kiss.”
Erin heard rustling. Bobbi whispered, “I’m going to my cubby where there’s some privacy.” She came back. “I didn’t know we had a morning kiss. Is that a thing?”
“Certainly. Haven’t you heard of the famous South Side Morning Buss? All Chicagoans know it like they know the L routes.”
“I see. Buss, like in kiss, not public conveyance, right? I must be an ignorant Oregonian. I’m sorry if I exceeded the boundaries of polite Chicago society,” Bobbi teased.
Erin laughed. “How’s your day and why aren’t you eating?”
“My day is slow. No one does bad things to their bodies on Easter, except maybe eat the ears off chocolate bunnies, which is not exactly a medical crisis.” She paused. Erin detected something else going on. “I’m not eating because…”
“Yes.”
“I don’t want to tell you this.”
Bobbi and Soul Page 18