by Jamey Moody
“That would be hard.”
“It was, but I couldn’t complain about it because, once again, it was my own fault. I was so tired of worrying about what people would think and not being able to do much but work. That’s why I love working out so much. I could do that; I could sweat and not think about everything for a while. Then Tina was my lifesaver by insisting I go on this trip with her.”
“What happened when you got here?”
“At first I spent a lot of time on the beach and went in to Peaches to drink. Liz could tell I needed help—she has a way about her. After I had been here for a week, I noticed one morning that I felt good. I was more relaxed. I wouldn’t say happy, but I wasn’t constantly sad either. That’s when Liz offered me the job and I thought, why not? The restrictions weren’t like they were back home, and the people here are so welcoming.”
“I will agree that the people are welcoming—some more than others,” Riley said, smiling before she planted a gentle kiss on Alex’s lips.
“However, I thought life was good until this beautiful, redheaded, green-eyed goddess walked into Peaches and turned my world upside down.”
“Goddess?” Riley said chuckling. “Just so you know, her world was turned upside down, too. And babe, I understand that this is always going to be with you, but would you do me a favor?”
“Sure, name it.”
“When you start to feel blue, come to me. I don’t care what I’m doing or what’s going on, come to me. We’re doing this together now, and I’m here for you. I think what bothered me most was that I knew there was something you felt really bad about and you wouldn’t let me help you.”
“I realize that now. I thought, in my own way, that I was protecting you instead of letting you help me, but I don’t want to do this alone anymore.”
“You’re not alone. But there’s something you need to know, Kara called me right before your family got here to warn me”
“What do you mean warn you?”
Riley repeated her conversation with Kara and added, “I knew you would tell me, that’s why I didn’t press you and I didn’t want to ruin your visit with your family.”
Alex looked at Riley processing what she said, “You knew?”
“No baby, I didn’t know what it was, but I knew there was something, I could tell.”
“You could’ve done a background check then, but you didn’t.”
“Nope. There was no reason to. I trusted that you’d tell me, and you did.”
“Do you think Kara and all your friends know?”
“I doubt it. When I told Kara I was going to wait, she agreed.”
“But what happens when she finds out what it was?”
“It doesn’t matter, Alex.”
“It does Riley. These are your friends.”
“Any friend of mine worth having will respect my decision to be with who I love.”
Alex shook her head, “You hope they will, but…”
“Doesn’t matter. I love you and with you is where I want to be.”
Alex nodded and gave Riley a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
Riley took Alex in her arms and held her close. “Would you mind if we went to bed? I’m suddenly very tired. It’s been quite a day.”
Alex pulled back and said, “That would be fine with me. I think I’m emotionally and physically drained and couldn’t talk about one more thing.”
They walked hand in hand downstairs, went to bed, and fell asleep, legs and arms wrapped around each other.
Ten
The next few days they fell into a nice routine of work and play and felt closer than ever. Riley still had questions, and Alex answered the best she could. She wanted to understand the law and what was expected of Alex, but mostly she wanted to be supportive. Alex felt like a new person by being honest with Riley; knowing that Riley was by her side if this ever came out gave her great comfort and confidence.
Riley woke one morning with a brilliant idea, or at least she thought it was. She went looking for Liz knowing Alex had gone to St. Thomas to pick up supplies for the bar. She found Liz doing paperwork at one of the tables near the dance floor.
“Hi Liz, are you too busy for me to interrupt?” Riley said.
“Not at all. I welcome a reason to put this out of my mind for a bit.”
“I want to do something special for Alex,” Riley said taking a seat.
“Okay. What are you thinking?”
“Well, she told me that she dreads her birthday each year because that’s when she has to register. I’ve been trying to think of a way to make her birthday happy, and I think I’ve got it,” Riley said.
“Tell me!”
“I want to throw her a surprise birthday party. Now. I know it’s not close to her birthday, but we could celebrate it now and make it happy.”
“That sounds fun!”
“I know she wouldn’t go for a party if she knew, so that’s where the surprise comes in. Would you help me?”
“Of course, I will. Where and when do you want to have it?”
“It would be easiest to have it here on the patio. That way we wouldn’t have to close, and everyone from the bar could be here as well as friends.”
“That would work. How about a week from today? Would that give you enough time to get it together?”
“I think so, if you help me with the invitations. Is this a good day of the week?”
“Yeah, Wednesdays aren’t busy, and she usually goes to St. Thomas to pick up supplies, so she’ll be gone during the day. That should give us time to decorate. I’ll figure out some way to have her get back late enough that we can surprise her when she comes in,” said Liz, liking the idea more and more.
“Oh, this is going to be fun!” Riley said.
“This is a really nice thing you’re doing, Riley. I never knew that about her birthday. We usually celebrate, but now that I think about it, it’s always been low key.”
“How would you know if she didn’t tell you? She’s certainly not going to bring it up. I have been asking a lot of questions, and she’s been good to answer. She’s opened up a lot, and I’m so thankful she trusts me. That’s too much to hold inside,” explained Riley.
“I really hate this for her. You won’t find a better person than Alex, but sometimes good people do bad things. That doesn’t mean they’re bad people, and this shouldn’t follow her the rest of her life, but it will.”
“It will, but she’s not in it alone. She has us, and that makes a difference,” said Riley.
Liz nodded and smiled. “Let’s plan this party!”
A couple of days later Liz caught up with Riley on the beach. “Hey, would you like to go with me to the animal shelter? I’m volunteering for a few hours.”
“I’d love to! I volunteered back in Florida. I didn’t realize you had one here.”
“We have a small one. You’d be surprised how many stray animals there are on the islands. The director is a friend, and there should be a couple of other people there to invite to Alex’s party.”
“Oh good. So far Alex doesn’t have a clue. I have all the decorations hidden and ready to put up. I ordered food, too. That reminds me, I had a strange encounter while I was shopping for decorations.”
“What happened?”
“I overheard a conversation between two women. They were talking about their kids and volleyball. Did Alex coach a team or something?”
“No, Beverly did. There was a beach volleyball league for middle and high school kids last spring and Alex helped her out a few times. Why?”
“I thought I heard one of them say Alex really helped her daughter improve and the other said she wouldn’t let Alex anywhere near her kid. When they both saw me, they stopped talking and walked away.”
“Some people know about Alex. Most don’t have a problem because they got to know her before they found out, but there are a few that do. I don’t think Alex is aware of how many people do know.”
“I didn’t
tell her about it because I wasn’t sure they were talking about her but, I also knew it would make her feel bad.”
“It doesn’t happen often but, I hear things occasionally about her. People know not to say anything around me.”
“When she first told me, her fear was that I would leave, but also it really bothers her that it affects me too. I was upset with her for not telling me sooner and made her promise not to keep things from me. But now I don’t know what to do. If I tell her when something like that happens, she’ll be upset, but then again, that means I’m keeping things from her.”
“I see what you mean.”
“There’s obviously more to this than I thought.”
“Are those second thoughts?”
“Not at all. My future is with Alex, I feel it in my bones.”
“Why don’t you talk to her? Tell her that you don’t plan to share with her every time something is said because you know it will upset her and that’s not good for either one of you.”
“Ugh, I hate this. I’ll talk to her.”
Liz drove them to the shelter. As soon as she opened the car door Riley could hear a few random barks. Riley loved dogs and missed having one for the last year. She missed Benny, her Boston terrier that had died a year ago at age twelve. She had rescued him from the shelter, and he brought nothing but joy to her life.
They walked in the reception and office area and then through a door that led to the kennels. A woman that was around Riley’s age, she guessed, was petting and playing with a tan-colored mutt that was loving every second of the attention. She looked up, and a big smile grew on her face when she saw Liz.
“Look who’s here, Teddy! It’s our favorite friend, Liz,” she said, coming over to them.
“Hi Tessa, I’d like you to meet Riley James. Riley, this is Tessa, our shelter director.”
Tessa stuck out her hand. “Nice to meet you, Riley. Liz has told me about you.”
“Uh-oh,” Riley said, shaking Tessa’s hand. “I’m not sure if that’s a good thing.”
“It is. I’ve heard you’re helping out around Peaches,” Tessa replied.
“She’s helping out all right. Just ask Alex!” Liz said with a laugh.
“Liz!” Riley said.
“What? There’s nothing wrong with making people happy, and that’s what you both are doing. I didn’t say anything about how you put that silly smile on Alex’s face,” Liz said, still laughing.
Riley lowered her head.
“No big deal, Riley. I don’t know anyone that loves to tease and flirt more than Liz,” Tessa said pinning Liz with her eyes.
“Flirt. Why, Liz, whatever is Tessa talking about?” Riley asked, grateful the attention had been directed away from her.
Liz paused then said, “I’m not flirting. You simply take some of the things I say the wrong way.”
“Why don’t you go out with me and we’ll find out?” Tessa said.
“You know why,” Liz said softly and then added, “We’re here to help. What do we need to do first?”
Tessa met Liz’s eyes, seeming to decide to let it drop, whatever it was. Riley looked from one woman to the other, thinking she’d have plenty to ask Liz on the way back.
The shelter had room for around twenty dogs. There was a row of kennels that had wire mesh doors in the front and a doggie door at the back that allowed the dogs to go outside in a fairly large fenced area. Most of the dogs came inside when they heard Liz and Riley to see who the new voices belonged to. All of them wagged their tails, and some barked a greeting when Riley walked by. There were seven dogs and two cats currently residing at the shelter. Most of the dogs were medium to large mutts of various colors.
The three women pitched in to clean kennels and straighten up the storage area. Riley walked several of the dogs to give them more exercise than the fenced area allowed. Tessa joined her with another dog while Liz cleaned the room the cats were housed in.
“I’m glad I finally met you. Liz said you have really livened things up around Peaches,” Tessa said as they walked the dogs.
“I don’t know about that. Peaches seemed plenty lively the first time I walked in,” Riley said, chuckling.
“It has a laid back vibe to me. That’s what I like about it—that, and of course Liz.”
“Did I hear you right earlier about Liz going out with you?” Riley asked. “Not that it’s any of my business.”
“That’s all right,” Tessa said. “And yes I’ve been trying to get Liz to go out with me, but she won’t. She says it’s because of the age difference, but maybe she doesn’t like me that way.”
“Really? I wouldn’t think Liz would let something like that bother her.”
“I’ve asked her a couple of different times, but she says she’s too old for me. I’m not giving up, though.”
“Too old? That’s crazy. The more I get to know her, the more I wonder why she’s alone.”
“I know. She never goes out with anyone, and I’ve known her for quite a while.”
“I’ve heard people say the same thing about Alex, but that sure has changed. Maybe it will for you and Liz, too,” Riley said the matchmaking wheels turning in her head as they reached the shelter.
A woman was waiting when they went inside. “Hi Tessa,” she said, “I see we have a new volunteer.”
“Hi Karen, this is Riley. Riley, this is Karen,” Tessa said, gesturing to each woman.
“Nice to meet you, Riley,” Karen said, extending her hand.
Riley smiled. “Nice to meet you, Karen.”
“You’re new around here. Are you vacationing?”
“I am new, but I live here,” Riley said, liking the sound of that.
“Welcome! I’d be happy to show you around,” Karen answered.
“Thanks, that’s nice of you, but I sort of have my own personal tour guide,” said Riley, thinking of all the places Alex had taken her already.
“Oh, where are you living?”
“I live with Alex Adams,” Riley responded.
“I heard Alex had a girlfriend,” Karen said.
“That’s right, Karen, so don’t get any ideas,” Liz said, walking up behind Riley.
“I was simply being friendly, Liz,” said Karen.
“Yeah, I’m sure you were. The same way you’d like to be ‘friendly’ with all the lesbians on the Island,” Liz said using air quotes.
“Come on, Liz, don’t be like that.”
“Be like what? You know it’s true,” said Liz.
“I can’t help if I enjoy the company of a beautiful woman, and Riley, may I say, you are beautiful,” replied Karen.
“Thank you?” Riley said not knowing what to think.
“If things don’t work out with Alex, I’ll be glad to show you around.”
“See what I mean? Come on, Karen, you can help me with the cats,” Liz said leading Karen inside the shelter.
“That was weird,” Riley said to Tessa.
“Yeah, Karen is a little different, but she volunteers here all the time and I need the help,” said Tessa. “She’s really harmless. I think she’s just a little lonely. Come on, we have two more dogs to walk.”
When they got back and put the last two dogs in their kennel, they found Liz and Karen talking to someone new.
“Hey Tess, this is Sherry. She wanted to look at the dogs we have up for adoption. Sherry, this is Tessa, the shelter director.”
“Hi Sherry, I’d be glad to show you the sweethearts we have here,” Tessa said leading Sherry through the door to the kennels.
“I’ll help,” Karen said following them.
“Hopefully someone is about to have a new home,” Liz said.
“That would be awesome! But hey, what’s this about Tessa asking you out and you not going?” Riley said.
“That would be none of your concern,” Liz said looking away.
“Oh, no, you don’t. You’re the one that told Alex she needed to take a chance on me. So, what’s stopping you
from doing the same thing, Liz?”
“It’s not that simple, Riley. Tess and I have known one another a long time. We have a great friendship, and I don’t want to ruin that. Besides I’m too old for her.”
“What do you mean, too old? That’s crazy! You’re not too old to have a good time, share a meal, share some laughter,” Riley said.
“I don’t mean it that way, Riley. I mean I’m too old for Tess. She’s younger than you, for god’s sake.”
“So?”
“So, first I can’t imagine why she would want to go out with me,” Liz said, holding up her hand to keep Riley from speaking. “And what if we do and things progress? I don’t want Tess having to take care of an old woman someday. If we leave things as they are, then we get to continue our friendship and that is important to me.”
Riley nodded, understanding Liz’s reasoning. “I get what you’re saying, Liz. But you could be selling Tessa short. Maybe that’s what she’d want to do. We don’t know how long we have together with anyone.”
“I realize that, Riley, but if I ever held her back from anything, which my age could do someday, it would break my heart,” Liz said.
Riley knew she needed to drop this for now. “Let me just say this, and I’ll let it go for now. I’ve taken a pretty big chance here, and it is giving me more joy than I’ve ever known. If for some reason this doesn’t work with Alex, I won’t regret it because my heart has never been this full.”
Tessa walked into the room with Sherry and Karen, looking from Liz to Riley. She said quietly, “Is everything all right?”
Liz smiled and said, “Sure, Tess, everything is fine. Did you find a dog, Sherry?”
“I think maybe I have. I’m filling out an application and bringing it back tomorrow,” said Sherry.
“That’s great!” Riley exclaimed. While Tessa got Sherry the necessary paperwork Riley said, “Hey, we’re having a surprise birthday party for Alex on Wednesday, and I was hoping you all could come.”
Tessa looked up and said, “Isn’t Alex’s birthday in November?”
“It is,” Liz said, “but you know how Alex feels about parties and being the center of attention, so Riley is throwing a surprise party for her birthday early!”