Small Town Love

by M. M. Shapiro

  “Yes, that’s exactly what I thought. How do you do it?”

  Gabrielle squeezed Aneko’s leg, undid her own seat belt, and leaned over to kiss Aneko’s cheek. “I really don’t know. It was just thoughts that came to me. If I was psychic, I’d have known Ray was going to kill himself.”

  “I don’t think that’s how it always works. I had an aunt who was psychic. She predicted deaths, weddings, and other things but not many things. I wish I could hold you now and kiss you. I just don’t know where I want to live.”

  “Aneko, that’s cool. I knew that and know that now. We had a fling. I’m sure it’ll end on a high note. We had a good time, and your life is moving on. I get it. Nothing wrong with that. Our timing was just off. Tell me where you land. Maybe I’ll move to where you are. I’m not tied to Bandon.”

  “But you’re having Ray’s place rebuilt.”

  “I can call a realtor and rent or sell it. I’m not married to Bandon.”

  Aneko felt her face and head heating. “You’d do that for me? You’d move, or are you being polite?” Aneko washed her hand over her face. “Don’t tell me I’m blushing. I know I am.” She stole glances at Gabrielle as she drove.

  “Yeah. I mean I’d have to be happy there. Visit and so on, see what the job markets are, but I’d sure consider it.” She sat silent for a bit. “I love you.”

  Aneko jerked the wheel right and barely made the exit for the rest stop. She raced to a parking stall at the end. She parked and turned the engine off, yanking her seat belt off. She slid to the right and into Gabrielle’s arms. “I love you, too, Gabrielle. You’ve been good to me from the first second. You’re an angel on Earth.” They kissed with tongue and kept it up for some time. When they parted, each breathing hard, Aneko said, “I don’t want to leave you, but I have this job. Don’t suppose you can stay in Washington with me?”

  In a soft voice, Gabrielle said, “I have to work. It’s a small employer. If I don’t show up, they’ll be in a real pickle, and we don’t get vacation time.”

  Aneko drove, they had lunch, and Gabrielle dropped her at her temporary furnished apartment. It was spacious for an apartment and had two bedrooms and a decent sized open floor plan for the kitchen, living room, and dining room.

  “Will you make love to me again before you drive back to Bandon?”

  “It would be my pleasure, considering I’m wet below.”

  Aneko giggled. “Me, too.”

  * * * *

  Gabrielle drove south on Highway Five toward home. She was sad, and all she could think about was Aneko. She cried and didn’t care. She had a feeling in her gut that once she took Aneko’s truck to her, it would be the parting of their ways.

  “Shit. I guess it’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all, right?” She nodded. “Shit.”

  Three weeks passed. The women talked most nights. Aneko was usually tired, working ten or more hours per day. She loved her work and enjoyed stepping into chaos and creating order, but sometimes she had no time to chat with Gabrielle, and the conversations were short. She told Gabrielle about so many things going on with the computers, most of them she didn’t understand, but she loved her voice and listening to her, the excitement obvious. She didn’t tell Aneko, but she played with herself as they talked and once she came. She had to be quiet, but she came.

  Aneko’s truck was finally out of the shop. As usual, in small towns, everything takes longer than expected. Gabrielle drove it around for a few days to be sure all was okay and it was.

  On early Saturday morning at three A.M., she took off for Washington to deliver the truck. She sped but was careful. She had a sixth sense for police and always avoided them and radar. She enjoyed trucks, and Aneko’s was newer than hers. Then she thought of Ray and that she inherited his almost new full-sized Dodge pickup truck. She still hadn’t driven it. Maybe she should. Damn, she loved that man, and he was so wonderful to care for her after he died. She was glad he died. He was in pain and lost all interest in life with that damned cancer eating him away. She never thought she’d be rich or that he’d leave her one hundred thousand dollars. She knew she’d put a good bit of it into retirement savings. The extra insulation for the new home would cost some money, and she decided against expanding the house to three bedrooms. She didn’t want to spend the money. She was still young, but old age had a way of sneaking up on people. She had no faith in Social Security.

  She texted Aneko that she was only blocks away and drove to Aneko’s apartment complex. Aneko came running down a set of stairs. She jumped into Gabrielle’s arms, and they danced in a circle, touching, hugging, and kissing.

  “I waited for you. Did you speed? You made great time.”

  “Thanks, I couldn’t wait to touch you. Yes, I sped most of the time. I can take the bus back if you’re busy.” Gabrielle held her hands on Aneko and checked her out. “Girl, you are so pretty, no beautiful. That outfit is awesome. The skirt has pom poms at the bottom, and your blue jean blouse is so damned pretty. Your belt? A cowgirl belt and low cowgirl boots? And dangly earrings. I love dangly earrings.”

  Aneko smiled. “Yup. You’ve influenced me. I feel so sexy wearing things similar to you. No, you’re not taking the bus. I said I’d drive you back, and I will. I told work I had stuff to do. They love me and understand. Everyone loves me.”

  Gabrielle squeezed tighter. “That includes me.”

  Aneko walked around and around her truck. She said, “It’s looks brand new. They did an excellent job.”

  “Yeah, that crew is most excellentful. They take too long, but that’s the way it is.”

  “Excellentful?”

  “Yup, I love to make up words.” Gabrielle smiled deep.

  The went for a walk in the park next to the apartment complex and held hands and talked and talked. Then they went to dinner, sat next to each other, and held hands again. Sometimes they kissed.

  Aneko said, “Since we’re leaving early in the morning, we should go to bed early. I assume, I hope, you’ll sleep in my bed.”

  “Unless you’re expecting someone else. If so, may I watch?” Gabrielle giggled.

  “Is that a fantasy of yours?”

  Gabrielle laughed again. “No, I’m just being silly.” They kissed and fed each other. “So, did you mean go to bed early or go to sleep?” She poked a finger in her mouth, titled her head down, and took on a little girl look.

  “If we go to bed early, have sex, then we’ll go to sleep early, right?”

  “You’re right. Wow.”

  Aneko pulled close. “I want to make love to you.”

  Gabrielle nodded, Aneko got the check, paid, and they rushed to her truck and took off for the apartment.

  When they walked in and closed the door, Aneko pushed Gabrielle against the door and kissed her, pawing at her breasts. She opened the blouse and mouthed her nipples over the bra, making Gabrielle moan. Gabrielle got Aneko’s shirt off and fumbled, got the bra off, and returned the favor, using her mouth on the nipples.

  They panted. Aneko said, “We should go to bed.”

  Gabrielle rapidly nodded, and Aneko guided her. They were ever so slow to undress each other until they finally stood without clothes. They had kissed and licked their way to nakedness.

  Aneko shivered. “I want you so badly.”

  “I want you, too. You’ve filled a void in my life. For however long it lasts, I’ll be happy.” They kissed. Gabrielle ran her hand through Aneko’s hair and sniffed it. “You smell so wonderful. I love your perfume and your hair.”

  “Gabrielle, I love you!”

  “Oh, me, too.”

  Aneko started to cry.

  “Hey, is something wrong?”

  She shook her head. “No, they’re happy tears. Since I’ve met you, I don’t think of what’s-her-name anymore. And I like that. You’ve filled a void in my life.” She kissed Gabrielle.

  Gabrielle returned it. They rolled the width of the bed and back again. “Do you have that
fucking thing?”

  “You mean the pegging device?” Aneko sucked her lower lip between her teeth and nodded. “Do you want me to use it on you?”

  “Yes, the large size penis.”

  Aneko made her eyes big. “That’s a pretty big dick. Are you sure you want that?”

  “If you’re doing it to me, then yes.”

  Aneko fetched it from her suitcase and donned it, making Gabrielle smile. Aneko rested atop her lover and rubbed the dildo up and down Gabrielle’s snatch, making her moan. After a bit of that, Gabrielle guided it inside her. She winced.

  “Does it hurt?”

  “Yes, in a good way. I know I’m going to be sore tomorrow, and I’m going to love it. I feel it stretching me. Make love to me, please.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Aneko slowly pumped in and out, and in and out. Their gazes locked, and after a while, Gabrielle rolled her head side to side, and a little after that she clenched the bedding, and a bit later she screamed, rocking her body.

  Panting, Gabrielle whispered, “I came. I came from just your dildo in me.” They kissed.

  Aneko asked, “I’ve always wanted to take a dildo in my ass. Will you do it for me, if we use the small one?”

  “Are you sure?”

  She nodded. “I used to do it for one of my girlfriends, but I was always afraid to try it. I wanted to, but was afraid. I’m not afraid with you.”

  Gabrielle took the rig, inserted the smallest penis, and strapped it on. She wiggled her hips. “I almost feel like a man with this thing on. How do you want it?”

  “Doggie.”

  Starting with Aneko on her back, they kissed with Gabrielle’s weight on Aneko, who dug her heels in Gabrielle’s ass. Gabrielle licked and teased Aneko’s breasts and nipples, driving her wild.

  After thirty minutes or so, Aneko moaned. “Do it.” She got in doggie position, and Gabrielle moved behind her. She lubed her ass up really well. “I think it’ll hurt at first, so go easy.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Gabrielle positioned the head at Aneko’s tight hole and put light pressure there. Aneko said nothing but moaned, so Gabrielle pushed some more and then more again. Aneko pumped her head up and down, and the head of the dildo popped in. Gabrielle couldn’t describe the feeling of screwing someone with a strap-on. She knew she liked it, but it felt strange.

  Aneko groaned, “Yes, yes, oh, yes! It hurts so good. My ass feels so full.”

  Gabrielle waited a short time and pushed in more and more and then pulled back and went forward again. She hoped she was doing it right, and then she flashed on Ray. He teased her about being a lesbian, but said a few times he’d be interested to see two girls going at it. Gabrielle got him some porn DVDs so he could watch. He was pleased. She never met anyone like Aneko, and she always favored Japanese chicks. She pumped at a good pace, and Aneko seemed to enjoy it. She reached below and obviously fiddled herself. It went on for a while. Gabrielle changed, pacing from dreadfully slow to pounding the crap out of her, their bodies colliding with each hump.

  After a while, Aneko fell face down with a hand under her. Gabrielle adjusted and even though she pulled out accidentally, she shoved it right back in. Aneko gushed again. Then she came big, screaming. “Oh, oh, oh, damn!” She went limp. “Okay, I came. You can pull out now.”

  Gabrielle did so using care. She went to the bathroom and removed her strap-on. She brought a warm washcloth and cleaned Aneko’s butt and took the cloth back to the bathroom. When she got back to bed, Aneko was under the blankets, wearing a tired look.

  “Thank you, Gabrielle, I enjoyed that. Thank you so much.”

  She tipped her invisible cowgirl hat. “You’re welcome, ma’am, my pleasure.” She got in bed, and they kissed then rested on their backs, holding hands. “You’re really busy at work, right?”

  “Incredibly busy, yes. Why?”

  Gabrielle said, “I’m preparing myself for when you don’t have time to talk with me at all. I’m really into you and don’t like the distance apart, so I’m preparing myself. I wonder where you’ll move. I don’t like snow. I’m just saying.”

  “I don’t like snow either.”

  They rested sans words, and in the silence, they fell asleep. In the middle of the night, Gabrielle woke on her side with Aneko spooning her from behind, and she liked it. She liked Aneko, her sexy body, sharp mind, and that she got her to give up Gabby and shift to Gabrielle, which she loved more. She allowed herself the fantasy of growing old with Aneko.

  In the morning, her cell phone sounded to wake her. They had to leave early to drive Gabrielle back to Bandon. She was convinced Aneko would never want to move there. It was okay if you were born there and that’s all you knew, but to move there from somewhere else? Not in a million years.

  They drove south with both feeling sad, each awaiting the unknown to be sprung on them.

  Chapter 5

  Aneko was back in Washington, and Gabrielle already missed her. Aneko fell deeper into place with the new job and had little time to chat with Gabrielle, but Gabrielle knew that and wasn’t disappointed, too much. The following week, Aneko was working twelve hours per day and again had little time to talk with Gabrielle, but she apologized profusely and sent a dozen roses and a dozen carnations to her at work, which she loved.

  The next weeks, Gabrielle was busy with the insurance company, the contractor, and running the portable saw mill to make planks and two-by-fours for shelving to save money. She worked all day and put extra time in sawing wood until bedtime with outdoor lights to get the extra work done. It was sad that since Aneko had more time, Gabrielle didn’t, and it was her turn to say sorry.

  The weeks wore on, and sometimes Aneko had time to talk to Gabrielle and sometimes she didn’t. As much as Gabrielle prepared herself for the absence of Aneko, it bothered her.

  At work her boss, the owner asked her, “Is everything okay? You seem down a bit.”

  They talked for a while, and Gabrielle confessed her missing Aneko and Ray. Ray was gone a while, but she missed him. She didn’t tell anyone except Aneko about the money and truck Ray left her. Pretty much everyone around knew she inherited the property. That’s the way it is in a small town.

  Her boss was a cool dude and listened well. After she wound down, he said, “Time really does heal all wounds and makes it better. Stay involved in life, okay? Don’t give up and keep changing mental channels. I didn’t know Ray, but I heard he was a great guy. Just down-right honest and moral and friendly. He deserved to have a friend like you to care for him at the end. He would have hated being in a care home.”

  Gabrielle gave him a hug. “Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.” Then Gabrielle’s fire department pager went off. It reported a fire at a home. Matt waved his hand. “Go. We’ll hold the fort down while you go play with your fire buddies.”

  As she rushed out, she said, “Thanks, Matt. You’re a gem. If you were a lesbian, I’d marry you.”

  She ran to her truck and drove off with four-way lights flashing and the blue light on her dash. Luckily, everyone moved out of the way for her. She was close to the fire department and met other volunteers there, everyone putting on fire gear. They loaded into a rig that Gabrielle pulled out and she drove off. George, a volunteer, turned on the lights and siren. As they approached the traffic light at Eleventh Street, a citizen was in the middle of the intersection holding up side traffic, waving the fire rig through. Aneko later told Gabrielle no such thing would happen in California.

  They got to the fire, the first rig there. As the team they were, Gabrielle and another firefighter ran to an older man and woman standing in front. She asked, “Do you live here?” They nodded through their tears. “Is anyone else inside?”

  “No, we live alone.” The man’s voice broke. “I don’t know what happened or how it started, but the smoke alarm woke me from my nap. We called 911 and ran out.” He shook and sobbed.

  Other rigs arrived, and they hooked to fire hydrants since it was in the city, and they got the fi
re out in short order.

  Gabrielle took her helmet off and comforted the residents. “Do you want me to call anyone for you?”

  The woman said, “Yes, our son and daughter-in-law live just south of town.” She sighed. “We have nothing now. I didn’t even grab my cell phone.” She cried again.

  Gabrielle gave her phone to the man who was lucky to reach his son who often worked with heavy equipment and couldn’t hear his phone. Gabrielle waited with the couple, allowing them to sit in the fire rig until their son arrived. She turned them over to him, and each hugged Gabrielle. The woman pecked Gabrielle’s cheek.

  “Thank you for your kindness. It was your job to come put out the fire, but letting us use your phone and then staying with us is beyond the call of duty. What’s your name?” The woman cried again.

  “Gabrielle.” She cried with the woman.

  “We’re Rob and Alese Stone. We’ve lived her for thirty-five years.” She cried more. “And now we’ve lost our home.”

  Gabrielle said, “But you’re both alive, and the fire didn’t destroy the home. I’m sure you have insurance. You’ll recover. Everyone does. Take it one day at a time and refocus on life.”

  Mr. Stone planted a hand on Gabrielle’s shoulder. “That’s great advice. You’re an angel.”

  Gabrielle bit her lip, thinking of Aneko and Ray.

  That night, Aneko called her at 9.30.

  Gabrielle said, “You sound dead tired.”

  “I am. Worked fourteen hours today. I like it, but, well—”

  “If you work too much, it won’t be fun anymore. I’ve seen it happen.”

  “Good advice, I—” Aneko stopped talking.

  “Aneko, hey, you there?” Gabrielle checked her cell phone. She was still connected. She called out again. “Aneko, are you okay? Are you there?” She worried. Did she have a heart attack or stroke or did she just fall asleep? Time marched on, and she considered her options. They she heard groaning. She yelled as loud as she could, “Aneko, wake up!”

  “Huh? Oh, crap, I fell asleep. I’m so sorry, my Gabrielle.”