by Jay, Donna
Once Claire shut off the car, Zoe reached for her hand. They sat facing each other in their seats. “I’m so confused right now. And sad, and sorry, and scared, and…”
A gentle smile softened Claire’s features. “Hush.” She pressed her index finger across Zoe’s lips. “There’s a kind soul I’d like to introduce you too.”
A black bird with a white bill, perching on a tree branch, chortled as they stepped out of the car into the warm summer day.
Claire retrieved the flowers and a blanket from the backseat, locked the car, then strolled along a path ahead of Zoe. As inappropriate as it was, Zoe couldn’t peel her eyes off the sensual sway of Claire’s hips or the way her short skirt clung to her thighs. She wanted to reach out and trace the gorgeous rose vine tattoo spanning Claire’s shoulders, red rosebuds visible either side of her shoestring tank top.
When Claire came to a stop, Zoe almost ploughed into her. Mesmerized by her actions, Zoe watched in awe.
First, Claire kissed two fingers, then gently laid them on top of the headstone and uttered something Zoe couldn’t make out. Then she removed dead flowers from a vase and replaced them with the pink and white bouquet.
An embarrassed blush rose up Zoe’s neck. She kicked herself for even considering Claire had a back-up fling. Thankfully, Claire had her back to Zoe so she didn’t witness Zoe’s shamed face.
Once she’d finished with what appeared to be some kind of ritual, Claire stepped back, unfolded the blanket and pulled Zoe down beside her.
The grass was warm and soft beneath them. Zoe crossed her ankles and leaned back on her hands. Squinting against the glare of sunlight, she read the engraved inscription across the top of the double headstone. In loving memory. The left-hand side was dedicated to Mr Kenneth Bankier, the right to Mrs Jane Bankier .
Claire took Zoe’s hand in her own and entwined their fingers. “By the time I met Mr Bankier, he was senile and didn’t talk a lot of sense, yet I felt like I’d known him forever.” Claire chuckled. “Mrs Bankier entertained me with tale after tale of their marriage. Apparently he could be a grumpy old bugger but she loved him with a passion. I don’t think she ever got over his death. They immigrated from England and she couldn’t have kids so the last few years of her life were lonely.”
While it was a heartfelt story, Zoe couldn’t fathom why Claire wanted to share something so dear to her, especially on route to kicking Zoe out of her life. “That’s very sweet.” Zoe cringed, the words sounded lame to her own ears.
Claire slid her sunglasses on top of her head. “Only my family knows what I’m about to tell you, Zoe.” Intense brown eyes bore into Zoe. “I didn’t earn the vineyard on my back, making porn like a sex queen.” Claire’s expression changed to one of warmth. She glanced back at the headstone and chuckled. “Sorry, Mr & Mrs B.”
Not knowing what secret Claire was about to impart had Zoe wound so tight she couldn’t even smile, let alone laugh at Claire’s slip of the tongue. A bead of sweat trickled down Zoe’s back.
“I used to work as a Receptionist at an aged care facility. There, I met these two wonderful people. About a year before Mr Bankier died, he started coming in for respite care. I hit it off with Mrs B. right away. Mr B. died around the time Amy and I broke up.”
Zoe’s heart constricted. For Claire to have suffered two such huge losses so close together must’ve been hell for her. Zoe put a hand on Claire’s shoulder. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Don’t be.” Claire rested her hand on top of Zoe’s, pinning it between her strong collarbone and soft palm. “I was blessed to have known them, in more ways than imaginable. It still blows my mind.” She shook her head.
More riddles, but Zoe didn’t question. Instead, she listened to the rustle of the trees, giving Claire all the time she needed to gather her thoughts. A gentle breeze blew through the graveyard and a plastic flower twirled on a metal spike on a nearby plot. Zoe smiled at the bittersweet memory of the yellow sunflower Claire had given her.
“I started making house calls and checking on Mrs Bankier.” Claire continued. “When her eyesight got so bad she failed her license re-test, I started taking her to get groceries. We became close, she had no family, never had kids. Long story short, I have these two to thank for where I am today. They left everything they had to me, in their will.”
As crazy as it sounded, Zoe didn’t doubt the truth of Claire’s words. Warmth flooded her heart, their generosity couldn’t have befallen a better human being.
In the next heartbeat, Zoe remembered the unsettling events that had brought them here. Her stomach twisted into a painful knot. Shame washed over Zoe, she’d let Claire’s ex-lover cloud her judgment.
But the recording? She’d heard Claire threaten Amy. She’d seen the proof. The dildo on the floor. Coming up blank, Zoe finally asked the question she should’ve asked all along. “Why did you threaten Amy?”
Claire’s chest rose and fell as she exhaled a heavy sigh. “The yarn Amy spun you had some truth. She’s the one who did the filming, without my knowledge and certainly without my consent. When I discovered what she’d done, I was so distraught, filming her was the only way I could think of to get back at her. And you know what?” Claire let out a humourless chuckle.
As everything fell into place, Zoe finally understood the actual reason Amy had made the recording and it wasn’t because she’d been afraid of Claire. “She saw an opportunity to make another movie?”
“Correct, and again her actions have broken my heart. Anyway I just wanted you to know. Last night you were so distressed, I doubt you would’ve listened to reason.”
Mortified, Zoe realized the truth of Claire’s words. By the time Claire had said, “It’s not what you think,” Zoe had already fixated on Claire’s admission of threatening Amy and had gone off on a tangent.
Unaware of Zoe’s remorse, Claire climbed to her feet. “Come on. I’ll take you to town.”
“No, no, no!” Zoe almost hyperventilated. It couldn’t end like this. Not giving a damn if any of the other mourners were looking in their direction, she wrapped her arms around Claire’s ankles, holding on for dear life as if Claire was an anchor. “I’m so sorry. Can you ever forgive me?” She scrambled to her feet and locked eyes with Claire. “Please give me another chance. I promise I’ll never doubt you again.”
A beautiful smile lit up Claire’s face. She stroked Zoe’s hair. They stood breast to breast, hearts beating together. “I never wanted you to go. But, you needed to make that decision. And despite what I had to tell you, I didn’t know if it would make any difference. It doesn’t excuse what I did to get even with Amy.” Claire rested her forehead against Zoe’s. “You’ll always have a choice, I’ll never force you to do anything you don’t want to, or coerce you into changing your mind.”
Tenderness shone in Claire’s eyes, melting Zoe’s heart.
“I never should’ve doubted you.” She thought back to Amy’s tear streaked face, crocodile tears streaming down her cheeks. “Your ex could win an Oscar for her acting skills.”
Claire rolled her eyes. “You don’t need to tell me.”
Exhaust fumes wafted over them when an elderly couple pulled into the cemetery and putted past them. Claire tucked the blanket under one arm while keeping hold of Zoe’s hand with the other.
Hating herself for continuing to pry, but wanting everything out in the open, Zoe asked the other question that had been plaguing her. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“The timing never seemed right.” Claire raised an eyebrow. “What was I supposed to say?” There was a smile in her voice. “Hey if you’re ever watching lesbian porn and see someone that looks like me, it probably is.”
Conceding that Claire had a valid point, Zoe chuckled. “I bet you stole the show.” Then she sobered. “Is that why you don’t go out much?” Zoe walked behind Claire and kissed her shoulder blades. “And the reason you normally keep your tattoo covered?” She stepped back in front of Claire, surprised
to see unshed tears.
“Yes to both.” Claire sniffed and swiped at her eyes. “In the videos, the ones I know about, I have my back to the camera most of the time, so my tattoo is the most defining feature of my ‘character.’” She finger quoted the last word.
For a minute, Zoe was tempted to ask about Amy, if her face was on display, but then thought better of it. If it was, that was Amy’s problem, not hers.
“But you know what?” Claire straightened her spine, all trace of tears gone. “Amy did me a favour. I’m not going to hide anymore. I didn’t realize until this all blew up how much control Amy still had over my life.” She puffed her chest out like a gladiator. “I am woman, hear me roar. I will live in fear, no more.”
They both laughed, drawing glances from other people paying respects to the deceased. Zoe didn’t care what they thought, she could almost feel Mr & Mrs Bankier smiling down on them. Obviously they wanted nothing more than for Claire to be happy.
Claire yawned, giving Zoe a view of the back of her throat. “I don’t think I managed to get more than two hours sleep.”
Overjoyed with the turn of events, even though they still had a lot to discuss, Zoe twirled a lock of hair around her finger. “Me neither, maybe we should crawl into bed when we get home.”
“I like your way of thinking.” Claire shot Zoe a sinfully sexy wink as they strolled toward the car. “You’ve got a lot of licking…I mean sucking up to do.”
The words of a promise made Zoe feel like a wet mess. She must’ve been temporarily insane, or more accurately blinded by false words, to have even contemplated leaving such a complex woman. A woman she’d fallen head over heels in love with.
Back at the car, Claire popped the trunk. Zoe felt embarrassed seeing her backpack, a stark reminder she’d been about to flee. Without a word, Claire tossed the blanket on top and slammed the lid.
Rather than unlock the passenger door, Claire took Zoe’s hand in her own. “I also didn’t tell you about my inheritance so you wouldn’t think I’m a sugar mama.”
Zoe opened her mouth to protest.
Claire tapped her under the chin and chuckled. “I’m kidding. I’ve never thought that. Truth is, I found out about the will not long after I received the settlement from my breakup with Amy. I couldn’t risk her finding some kind of legality to get out of paying out what was rightfully mine, or worse, trying to claim some of my inheritance.”
The key fob beeped as the car doors clicked open. “Where’s your phone?” Claire asked.
Amused by the quick change of topic and cocky grin on Claire’s face, Zoe retrieved her phone out of the glove compartment and held it up. “Here.”
Without a reply, Claire snatched the phone out of Zoe’s hand, leaned the side of her head against Zoe’s, and extended her arm out in front of them. “Say elephant.”
A rush of utter happiness spread throughout Zoe’s body. She felt like she was on cloud nine as they chorused elephant, their accents lost in each other’s words.
Claire handed the phone to Zoe and Zoe gazed at the snapshot. They made a cute couple. Zoe with her pale skin and long hair, Claire with her short dark hair and olive complexion.
Pebbles crunched under Claire’s sandals as she scurried around to the driver side. Once there, she peered at Zoe over the rooftop with a grin from ear-to-ear. “Upload the picture to Facebook, send it to all your friends, tell everyone Zoe Anderson and Claire Evans are officially an item.”
A heady cocktail of relief and elation surged through Zoe. “You’re not an item Ms Evan’s, you are my girlfriend, my heart, my love.”
Like a stuntwoman, Claire flung herself across the bonnet of the car. Before Zoe knew what was happening, she was swept up in strong arms and spun in a circle. After setting her back on her feet, Claire kissed Zoe smack on the mouth, lips warm and wet. “I love you, Zoe Anderson.”
With her heart doing flip-flops, Zoe returned the sentiment. “I love you, too.”
The declaration was almost drowned out by a car whizzing by the front of the cemetery. The driver honked the horn. His passenger leaned out the window, grinning and shouting, “Get a room.”
They both giggled, and Claire waggled her eyebrows. “Sounds like a plan. Come on, let’s go home.”
As she climbed into the passenger seat, Zoe knew beyond the shadow of a doubt she’d follow Claire to the end of the earth. Home is where the heart is and Claire had stolen hers.
Epilogue
July 2016
Ten months after Amy had tried to wreak havoc, Claire still marvelled over the fact her ex-fiancée’s visit had turned out to be a blessing in disguise. She and Zoe had grown closer and closer with each passing day. Once Claire’s dirty little secret was no longer that, she’d come completely clean with Zoe about her irrational fears of being recognized on social media.
After Zoe’s reassurance that she couldn’t care less what anyone thought of Claire, and that it was highly unlikely anyone would tap her on the shoulder and say, “Hey, aren’t you so and so?” Claire had finally stopped worrying.
For a while, she’d plotted how to get revenge on Amy, until it dawned on her the woman wasn’t worth anymore of her time or energy. Besides, Claire already had the sweetest revenge possible, happiness.
***
Twenty-two hours after departing New Zealand, Claire got her first glimpse of Calgary. From high in the sky, it was similar to flying over Auckland.
The warmth of Zoe’s body seeped into Claire as she leaned over and peered out the window. “I used to think all the tall buildings, the motorway thick with traffic, looked spectacular from up here. Now, it just looks like a hive of ants scurrying around.”
The metaphor made Claire’s skin crawl. She scratched an imaginary itch. “That’s the Saddle Dome, right?” Even though from so high in the sky she could’ve been pointing at anything, there was no mistaking the large building resembling a saddle.
Zoe clutched the armrest when the plane jolted through an air pocket, but her expression remained calm. “Yep. Home to the Calgary Flames. Concerts are held there too.” A cheeky smile formed on Zoe’s lips. “If we’d planned the trip for September, we could’ve booked tickets to see my namesake.”
Unsure who Zoe was referring to, Claire searched her brain for a rock star resembling her girlfriend. Coming up blank, she nailed Zoe with a look she hoped said spill .
A cute giggle erupted from Zoe. “Dolly Parton. You call me doll and, well, I could give Dolly a run for her money.” She jiggled her boobs and Claire burst out laughing.
After disembarking and making their way through customs, they strolled through the crowded terminal to where Zoe’s mom said she’d be waiting. Claire recognized the woman right away. Her mousey brown hair hung loosely around her shoulders, the length pushed back off her face by a pair of sunglasses. Clad in a short burgundy sundress with a plunging neckline, she looked closer to thirty than mid-forties.
Unlike Claire’s mother, Zoe’s mom didn’t wrap her daughter in her arms and pepper her with kisses. She held Zoe by the shoulders and gave her a quick peck on the cheek, then took a step back.
The affection Mrs Anderson’s embrace lacked couldn’t be missed in her eyes. “Oh my goodness, look at you, darling. You’re glowing!”
Zoe snaked her hand into Claire’s, the warmth of her palm soothing. “I owe it to this person.” She raised Claire’s hand in the air making Claire feel like she’d just received a gold medal. “Mom, meet Claire.” Zoe shot Claire a breath-taking smile before turning back to her mother.
A welcoming smile lit up Mrs Anderson’s eyes and Claire fought back the urge to hug the woman who’d brought her lover into the world and, God willing, would play a big part in their lives for many years to come.
“Nice to finally meet you in person. Zoe’s told me so much about you.”
Mrs Anderson pinned her daughter with a playful glare. “All good I hope?”
“Of course.” A mischievous grin crinkled Zoe’s nose
. “But thanks to your gift, Claire was onto you long ago."
Zoe’s mother, Val, folded her arms under her breasts, leaving no room for doubt who Zoe had inherited her ample cleavage from. “What gift?” She raised an eyebrow.
“The beaver panties.” A triumphant smile lit up Zoe’s eyes.
Quick as a fox, and with a sly wink at Claire, Mrs Anderson replied, “Wow, darling daughter. There are some things your mother doesn’t need to know. I’m glad they made a lasting impression though.”
Zoe’s smile morphed into an open mouthed gape. “Oh my word, Mother.”
Any worrisome thoughts Claire had had over whether she’d fit in with the Anderson’s or not, vanished.
“Come on, let’s get home.” Val pushed off the wall she’d been leaning against. “Your father and Ryan can’t wait to see you. I put them to work heating the grill and cooling the drinks. Plus, I didn’t think it would be fair for the entire family to pounce on Claire all at once.”
The thoughtful gesture enamoured Claire to the woman more and more by the second. The comments also made her wonder who wielded the paddle in the Anderson household.
Claire grabbed the handles to their suitcases and followed behind Zoe and her mother. Fresh air and sunshine revived her foggy brain the second they exited the terminal. She smiled, listening to the happy tone of Zoe’s voice floating over her shoulder.
“You don’t know how weird it feels, Mom, to leave home just after lunch on Saturday, travel for close to twenty-four hours and arrive in time for dinner on the same day.”
A thrill went through Claire hearing Zoe refer to the cottage, to New Zealand, as home.
***
After a refreshing shower and a change of clothes, Claire joined Zoe’s parents and brother on the back deck. The aroma wafting off the barbecue made her mouth water.
“Beer?” Mr Anderson asked, holding out a can.
The gentle tone of his voice accompanied by a broad smile made Claire feel at home. The brand of beer wasn’t one Claire had heard of, but the word lager had her accepting the offer. “Thanks.” She took the cold drink and leaned against the wooden rail enclosing three sides of the deck.