Small Town Love

by M. M. Shapiro

  Chapter 6

  Aneko worked far too long. She thought of Gabrielle regularly and dreamt of her, often with sex-filled dreams. She even screwed up at work a few times thinking of the sexy Bandon chick. Gabrielle was right, if she worked too many hours consistently, she would grow to despise her work. After this job was over, she’d make changes, but she committed to busting her balls, and she laughed at that thought. She always went to bed dog-tired.

  With little time after sleep and work, Aneko had almost no time to try to discover where to live. She always enjoyed doing research. She wanted to be close to an ocean but didn’t like the east coast or gulf states. Since she was in Washington, she visited places within a day’s drive in that state. She saw places that were nice and beautiful, but nothing grabbed her to want to live there, including the climate not being conducive to her liking. And none of them had Gabrielle. She smiled at the name. Before bed, she sometimes played with herself so she’d come and drift to sleep.

  She loved the ocean but didn’t want to live too close. She’d want a garden, and if she lived on the heel of the sea, she’d grow very little or need a huge greenhouse, and of course, there was the fog. A greenhouse can’t make fog disappear. She’d have to ask Gabrielle how close to the ocean her place was.

  She longed for Gabrielle and called but only got voice mail.

  One night, Aneko went to bed tired from work and doing research on where to live. She slept well until a horrendous nightmare woke her. She went to the bathroom, ate a snack from the refrigerator, and returned to sleep, confident the dream was gone. A bit later, she woke sweating and yelling, in a sitting up position. She cried at the nightmare but calmed herself and went back to sleep, hugging her second pillow.

  About an hour later, she woke again after almost falling out of bed. She was afraid and crying from another bad dream. She turned the room lights on and reached for her phone. She called Gabrielle. The time was just past three A.M.

  Gabrielle answered, “Where’s the fire. I’m responding.”

  “Gabrielle, it’s Aneko. Are you awake?”

  “Yes, I’m here. Sorry. Is something wrong? Do you know what time it is?”

  Crying, Aneko mumbled, “Yes.”

  “What’s going on?”

  “I had a terrible dream, and it came to me three times. I woke, went back to sleep, it happened again and again. I was so afraid. I miss you. You’re the only one I can call.”

  “Do you want to tell me about it?”

  “Yes. I was driving my pick up and got in a high-speed accident. The truck spun and spun and crashed into a hillside. I was trapped. Emergency responders got there, but no one saw me in the truck. I was pounding on the windows and yelling. People looked in, but they didn’t see me. They were doing other things, and then a fire started. I couldn’t get out, and I was afraid. Then you were there, but you didn’t see me either.” She gasped. “Oh, Gabrielle.” She cried.

  “Okay, baby. It was just a dream.”

  “Then why did it come to me three times?”

  “I think your mind is overworked. It was terrible, but just your mind playing games. Take some deep breaths.”

  They talked more, and Aneko calmed.

  Gabrielle said, “Do you remember the first time we made love? It was fantastic to be with you, in your arms, to smell you. And we made each other come.”

  “You’ve filled a hole in my heart. I miss you.”

  “I miss you, too. The construction is coming along quickly on the new home. It has the eight-inch walls, and all the walls and roof are up. The sheetrock goes up tomorrow and the outside covering, the cement board to guard against fire. I’m going to take pictures tomorrow. I can’t wait for you to see it.” There was silence.

  “Oh, I’d like that. How close is it to the ocean?”

  “Two miles inland and at an elevation of two hundred feet. Safe from tsunami unless it’s a four-hundred-foot one like happened in Japan a few hundred years ago. Do you want me to drive up to you Saturday?”

  In a weak voice, Aneko said, “Yes, but I hate to make you drive so far.”

  “Better than driving to New Jersey?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I can start about four A.M. and get there pretty early. I can have a quick nap, and we can explore. Or have sex.”

  “Can we explore after sex?”

  Gabrielle laughed. “Of course, it’s your birthday.”

  “Um, no, it isn’t.”

  “Silly, we can pretend. I’ll take you to a restaurant, and we’ll say it’s your b-day and you’ll get a free dessert.”

  “I just want you for dessert.”

  * * * *

  At three P.M. Saturday, Aneko got the call.

  “Hey, I’m two minutes away.” There was excitement in Gabrielle’s voice.

  She exclaimed, “Wheeeeee. Meet you out front.” She raced outside as Gabrielle pulled into a parking space in the parking lot of the apartment complex.

  “You said you were two minutes away.”

  “I lied.”

  They fell into each other’s grasp and held it for almost forever. Aneko sniffed Gabrielle’s scent in, savoring it. She ran her hands through Gabrielle’s hair. Wordless, they got her overnight bag and walked into the apartment.

  “You look tired.”

  “Yup. Started driving at four A.M. and drove through. Had protein bars to eat for lunch. I need a nap. May I use your couch?” Gabrielle smiled.

  “Oh, sorry, the couch is taken. You may use my bed. I’ll keep you company.” Aneko opened the door.

  “Yes, please. May I take a hot shower first?”

  “May I watch?”

  “Yes, please.” Gabrielle smiled, and they kissed.

  They chatted as Gabrielle undressed, including her plain panties and bra, and took the shower. Aneko helped her dry off, giving extra attention to her breasts, ass, and snatch. Arm in arm, they got into bed. They hugged and feel asleep that way after Aneko made herself naked.

  Later, Gabrielle woke Aneko, kissing her cheek and neck. Aneko opened her eyes, smiled, and returned the affection.

  “Hey. Did you sleep?”

  “Hell, yes, wonderfully when in your arms. I miss you. Any idea where you want to live?”

  “No, I only know where I don’t want to live. Don’t want Washington or California. Too many other states don’t have oceans, and I don’t want the east coast or the Gulf.” Her hands roamed to Gabrielle’s breasts. “I love your breasts. They are the perfect size. I don’t know why so many people say big breasts are best. I like smaller to mid-sized ones. I love these.” She bit and nibbled, making Gabrielle smile and moan.

  They kissed and hands roamed to backs, asses, and love boxes. Gabrielle put Aneko on her back and kissed and licked from chin to pubes. She buried her tongue in Aneko’s vagina and shoved it in. Aneko moaned and ran her fingers through Gabrielle’s hair. Gabrielle moved up and kissed Aneko.

  “Oh, I get to taste myself.” She went down on Gabrielle, who wiggled and squirmed. Then they shifted to sixty-nine.

  Aneko’s toes curled, and she dug her nails into Gabrielle’s ass, making her shove her snatch deeper into Aneko’s face. Within minutes, they both came and squealed.

  Breathing deep, they rested and hugged.

  “Ready to go out and explore?”

  Gabrielle kissed Aneko some more. “Sure. Will you buy me some frozen yogurt?”

  Aneko nodded and smiled.

  Chapter 7

  Gabrielle got off work late because the boss asked her to finish unloading a delivery truck. She worked as good as any man, being far from petite but still pretty. She drove home, grabbed two beers from the refrigerator, and left the trailer, heading for the home under construction.

  She saw Joseph wearing ear protection as he cut some boards. When he finished, she offered one of the beers.

  His eyes lit, and he said, “No, thank you. Not supposed to drink while I’m on the job.”

  She thrust it forwar
d. “I won’t tell the owner. Just this once.” He took it, and she twirled to take in the walls for the different rooms.

  He showed her the eight-inch outside walls. The sheetrock and outside siding was on. He said he made the garage two feet wider at no charge. “It is actually easier for me. I’d use full four by eight-foot pieces of plywood instead of having to cut them.”

  She pecked his cheek. “Thank you.”

  “I have some more to finish for today, so back to work.” He guzzled half the beer and set it down to the side. “Thanks. It hit the spot.”

  With a large smile, she walked the structure, imagining herself in the living room with a wood stove. She pranced into the garage and into one bedroom, and then another. She stopped and tilted her head in confusion.

  “What’s this room?” She tried to figure it out and caught Joseph between the cutting of boards. “Joseph, what’s this other room?”

  His eyes got big. “Oh, that, uh, I’m not sure. I’m just following the plan.”

  “You made the plans. What aren’t you telling me? It’s about eleven feet by eleven feet.” She threw one hand on her hip.

  Joseph grinned. “I want an attorney.”

  “No attorney. Tell me.”

  “Well, it’s the third bedroom, and is actually ten by twelve.”

  She barked. “Joseph! I can’t afford the extra square footage. I told you that. I told you to just replace what burned, a two-bedroom home. I told you.” Her eyes moistened.

  Joseph moved close and hugged her. “Gabby, uh, sorry, Gabrielle, it’s not costing you an extra penny. You have an anonymous benefactor who is paying for it. I don’t think you realize what people think of you. You’re an angel on Earth. You’ve helped and served so many people.”

  “Who is it?”

  “Girl, do you not understand the meaning of the word anonymous?” He let out a crooked smile.

  “But—”

  He planted his hands on her shoulders. “Sometimes it’s best to just accept what’s happening and say thank you. Sometimes you don’t look the gift horse in the mouth, okay?”

  She nodded and buried her face in his chest. “I’m not that special.”

  “Yes, you are. You’ve been special since you were a little girl. When you were six, you organized a garage sale for that little girl with cancer and you got extra donations. Rumor has it you’re doing the same thing next weekend for Jeff Northrup to pay his medical bills. Gabrielle, you’ve done a lot. You’ve done more, tons more, than the average person. You are an angel on Earth. You love everyone, and everyone who knows you loves you. How many people have you pulled out of fires? How many lives have you saved? Gabrielle, it’s time for payback, okay?”

  She nodded. “Thank you. Thank you to everyone. I appreciate it. Will I ever find out?”

  “Maybe. Maybe not.”

  She went to bed that night and called Aneko. “Hey.”

  “Hey, what’s up?”

  She told Aneko about the extra bedroom and what Joseph said.

  “Sounds like he’s right. Just accept it.”

  They talked about when Gabrielle would move in and how excited she was. Aneko told her about her work, how tired she was, and when she’d visit Bandon again.

  The next day after work, Gabrielle sat in her pickup down the street under a huge overhanging tree. After a while, Karl left, walking his dog. She waited another few minutes and walked to his door and rang the bell.

  His wife, Paige, answered the door. “Oh, hello, Gabby. You just missed Karl. He’s walking the dog and will be gone a while.”

  She smiled. “I know, but I came to see you.”

  She got a concerned look on her face, and her mouth hung open. “Oh?” She invited her in.

  Gabrielle swallowed and took a deep breath. “I’ll get to the point. It’s time for Karl to retire from the fire department.”

  Paige sat back in the sofa. “He told me he couldn’t climb in the window at the last fire when you saved those two little girls. I’m so sorry, Gabby.”

  She didn’t bother to tell Paige she was going by Gabrielle now. “He’s going to be seventy. No shame to retire.”

  Paige leaned forward. “He’ll be eighty. He lies and says seventy, but he’ll be eighty. He looks young in part because he still has most of his hair. I don’t tell anyone, but I worry about him going to fires.”

  “Paige, it’s time. I suggest putting your foot down and insist he retire and that’s all there is to it.”

  She looked about and grinned. “He runs the house. Always has.”

  “I’m sure there are times you get your way. Tell him to retire, please. It’s better than him getting hurt or getting another firefighter hurt. I love him, he’s a friend, and I have to ask you to do this. Otherwise, I have to go to the chief and have him forced out, and I don’t want that. We’ll throw him a BBQ retirement party.”

  “Oh, he likes BBQs.” She swallowed. “You’re right. It’s time. I’ll talk to him at dinner tonight.”

  They chatted about things, and Gabrielle told her about Aneko, wishing she lived in Bandon.

  “If you pray, God might hear your prayers.”

  “I never pray for myself, only others. I think it’s selfish.”

  Paige hugged her. “You deserve it. Karl likes you, he respects you, and says he wants to marry you.” She chuckled.

  * * * *

  The next Saturday, Gabrielle got up early to run the garage sale for Jeff Northrup at his place. She was there a few days during the week to price things and get balloons. He had heart surgery with limited insurance. That left him with over $100,000 in medical bills. He was the type who would never file bankruptcy to shed himself of the costs.

  Gabrielle collected tons of items from friends and businesses to sell, and she had an awesome list. She knocked on the door.

  Jeff answered. “Gabrielle, there’s no way I can ever thank you.”

  “Of course there is, Jeff. Send emails to heaven and Santa and say I’ve been a very very good girl.” She grinned. “How are you?”

  “I’m getting better and stronger each day. I feel great and am learning how to improve my diet. Not that I have a problem with booze, but it’s been over two months since my last drink. I exercise now. Not too much, but I exercise. Proud of me?” He smiled.

  She patted his head. “Let’s get to work.”

  When the weekend was done, Gabrielle collected over four thousand dollars, including donations. She could solicit a donation from a corpse. No one could say no to her. It was mostly in cash, some wrote checks for donations, and she handed it over to Jeff.

  Leaning on his cane, he grabbed her and kissed her cheek. “This is more than a drop in the bucket. You are so fantastic, Gabrielle. I love you. If you were rich and single, I’d marry you.”

  “I’d have to be straight, too.”

  He chuckled. “That’s not an issue. You can have a girlfriend on the side.”

  She drove home, tired and happy. She called Aneko, and they chatted.

  * * * *

  Tuesday when Gabrielle got off work, she drove home. At the door of the trailer was a box addressed to her. She opened it as she sat on the single tiny bed in the old trailer. She gasped as she extracted six pair of panties and bras, some sexier than the others, but they were all awesome. One was a rose-colored triangle push up bra. Another was a navy blue padded full figure bra. Each had matching panties. There was a black and red lacy baby doll bra with skimpy panties that made her box twitch. All the others were stellar, too.

  She gushed and called. “Aneko, the box came. Everything is so wonderful. So sexy. I love you. Thank you so much for sending them, but they are so damned expensive.”

  “Baby, I can afford it. They are paying me hugely for this job. I know you’ve always bought as inexpensive as you could. Time to enjoy life a little, eh?”

  “You’re so wonderful.”

  Aneko crowed, “I can’t wait to see you model all those for me. I’m wet thinking abo
ut you.”

  Gabrielle asked, “Do you want to have phone sex?”

  “Maybe.” She giggled.

  Chapter 8

  Time was winding down. Aneko’s job in Washington would take two weeks longer than planned, but that’s the way jobs like that went. The company that hired her changed their minds and wanted upgrades.

  It meant Aneko worked longer days and had little time to chat with Gabrielle. Gabrielle felt so alone. She said she’d accept when Aneko moved on and settled in some other place, but that was a lie. Gabrielle hated to lose her and admitted she was committed to staying in the Bandon area. After all, she was born and raised there. She cried herself to sleep on more than one night, and even moving into the new house that Joseph built only lifted her spirits for a few minutes. She didn’t want to ask for help, so she moved all her things from the tiny trailer into the new home. Her mind again returned to Ray. She smiled, grateful for what he did for her and all the money he left her. He was a good man, and she was glad she had been a part of his life.

  She wasn’t in the mood to have a house-warming party, but it was a wonderful home. She was grateful to the anonymous donor who paid for the bigger home and to Joseph. He’s usually two years out with building homes, but he got hers done quickly.

  She spent two thousand dollars to buy some furniture, but the rest was locked away in investments. She was afraid she’d spend it or give it away if it were too available.

  She moped her way through each day. No doubt, she’d miss Aneko.

  On Friday, she was depressed. She called Joy Boston to chat. “Hey, how’s it going?”

  Joy crowed with excitement. “Michelle and I are dating. Her husband understands. They’ll eventually divorce, but she’s still living at home.” She sighed. “And she’s so marvelous. We get along so well, and we have so much in common, more than just as friends like we were. We even finish each other’s sentences.”

  “Joy, that’s great. I am so happy for you two kids.”

  “And she’s taking me line dancing tonight at the Grange. I’ve never done that, but I want to. Why don’t you come with us? You’ll have fun, and it’ll take your mind off Aneko.”