“The location is fantastic,” Nina said. “But this strip mall has a few empty store fronts. Why is that?”
“This area is ripe for a turn-around,” Rikki said. “The stores that closed weren’t strong anchors anymore. I mean, Radio Shack?”
“True,” Nina said.
“My agency just leased a space in here to a vegan café,” Rikki said. “That’s going to do very well at this location. You add a classy, quaint, antique shop, and it’s only going to drive the popularity of all the properties up.” She looked at Daphne expectantly.
Nina nudged her in the back. “Do you have any questions?”
“Me? Uh, no,” Daphne said. “Not now. I think you’ve covered everything for the moment.”
Rikki looked at her watch. “Dang it. I’m late picking up my kids.”
“Give me the lock,” Nina said. “I’ll take care of it. I think Daphne would like to take a look around again.”
“You don’t mind?” Rikki said.
“No problem at all.”
As soon as Rikki closed the door behind her, Nina had a strange sensation—almost like she was a kid who’d sneaked off to do something she’d been specifically instructed not to. Maybe it was because she wasn’t often alone with Daphne. Her mind flashed to the last time they were alone in her guest room.
She’d meant to broach the subject of Daphne’s drunken statement the next day after she’d sobered up, but by then the shock of the moment had passed, and it seemed more convenient to let it go than to slice it open for examination.
“Let me take another look at that storeroom,” Daphne said, and Nina followed her lead.
* * *
Daphne stood in the back and stared at the empty, dusty shelving, imagining what it would feel like if the place were hers. How amazing would it be to walk into Trash to Treasure Antiques and Collectibles each morning instead of that atrocious call-center cubicle? But that would mean she was the boss…of everything…responsible for everything. She so wanted it to be real, but the enormity of the change left her weak in the knees.
“I’d give anything to see what you’re envisioning,” Nina said.
“Huh?”
“You look so intense, like you’re watching the future play out in a movie preview.”
“I wish I could get even a peek at how the future plays out. The whole thing is so surreal.”
Nina seemed to be creating her own narrative. “I’ll tell you what I see: a woman who’s finally come into her own…a businesswoman, an antique expert, a person who’s happier than she’s ever been because she’s independent and in control of her career and her life.”
Daphne leaned close as though trying to see the same picture. “Who is it?”
Nina laughed and gave her playful shove. “You, dummy. Well, future you.”
“Maybe stuff me in a time machine and set the dial for a hundred years from now.”
“I’m not even going to entertain those kinds of comments anymore, Daph. Self-deprecation is endearing to an extent, but you better mix that with some self-confidence, or your ass will be permanently enshrined in a customer-service chair at Sky-Hi Airlines. Is that what you want?”
“That is the complete opposite of what I want. But I’m terrified of quitting my job and then failing. Don’t most new businesses fail?”
“Statistically, that’s what they say,” Nina said. “But are you just a statistic?”
“No,” Daphne said meekly.
“I can’t hear you,” Nina said.
“No,” she said louder.
“No what?”
“No, I’m not a statistic. I’m gonna do it. As soon as I’m ready, which will be soon.”
Nina smiled. “I know you’ll do it when you’re ready. And I’ll be the first one in line cheering you on.” She then pulled Daphne in for a hug.
Daphne held on, resting her cheek on Nina’s shoulder. Out of nowhere, a wave of emotion crashed over her, saturating her with happiness for the store, sadness for Sophie, and a burgeoning love for Nina.
Nina gently pushed her back. “Hey.” She studied her eyes. “Now why are you crying?”
Daphne laughed through her tears, feeling like a fool. “I don’t know. I’m just a hot mess. I guess I’m feeling overwhelmed again.”
Nina dried Daphne’s tears with her sleeve. “It’s okay to cry if you need to. You’ve experienced a lot of fluctuation lately. But things will work out, Daph. Whatever happens, you’re strong enough to deal with it. And I’m here for you in any way you need me to.” She held Daphne’s face up in her hands. “You know that, right?”
Daphne closed the small space between them, coming in so hot with a kiss, their teeth banged together. It was a minor glitch that they got over instantly as Daphne kissed her passionately and with an uncharacteristic assertiveness that likely surprised Nina as much as it did her. It roared through Daphne, igniting her desire like a flash. She should’ve contained it the moment she felt herself giving in to the desire.
As though sensing her faltering, Nina grabbed hold of her head and held it as her tongue began exploring Daphne’s mouth. What was happening? A volcanic-like eruption of emotion and passion in Nina, too?
Nina wrapped her hands around Daphne’s ass and pushed herself closer. They were both breathing heavily, and Daphne tingled as her underwear grew wetter by the kiss. Nina pushed her against the counter and gripped her breasts, running her thumbs over her nipples straining through her shirt and bra.
Daphne whimpered as Nina rubbed her thigh between Daphne’s legs. Still, their mouths stayed on each other, licking and sucking as though they contained the last bit of pulp from a succulent fruit.
* * *
Forbidden fruit, Nina thought, as their dry-humping almost brought her to orgasm. Once again she was succumbing to the overpowering sensuality of another woman, but this time it was different. With Lacey, it had felt wrong and dirty as she’d explored her new, startling desires while still married to Zack. This time, beyond her sexual hunger for Daphne, Nina felt a connection to her soul. Her heart seemed to desire Daphne’s as much as her body craved hers. She was consumed.
Daphne grasped fistfuls of Nina’s hair and jerked her head back. “I’m so in love with you, Nina,” she whispered.
As she was about to confess her love for her, too, Daphne ran her tongue down her neck, and she shivered from Daphne’s hot breath on her skin. She reached for Daphne’s hand, about to shove it inside her pants.
“Hello?” The realtor called out as she came back inside.
Nina and Daphne launched back from each other and attempted to straighten out their hair and clothing as they rushed out of the back room.
“Oh. You’re still here,” Rikki said, her gaze darting between them.
“Yeah, uh-huh,” Nina said. “Daphne wanted to see what kind of inventory storage the space has.”
“Oh?”
“I think I want to lease it,” Daphne said.
Nina and the realtor whipped their heads toward her in unison.
“You do?” Nina said.
“Fantastic,” the realtor said before Daphne could respond. “I’ll call you tomorrow, and we can go over the application and all the details. I have to pick up my kids now. I just forgot this.” She held up her iPad case. Then she ushered them out along with her and locked up.
Nina started her car, and as she adjusted her seat belt and rearview mirror, a text from Lacey popped up on the console. She quickly cleared the screen but not quickly enough to prevent Daphne from seeing it.
“So what are you going to tell Rikki when she calls tomorrow?” Nina asked as she backed out of the parking space. “You can let it go to voice mail I suppose, but you’ll have to answer her eventually.”
“I’m telling her I want it,” Daphne replied, staring straight ahead.
“Really?” Nina finally looked at her.
“Yeah. Why? You don’t think I can do it?”
“What the hell, Daph? I’ve been
saying you can do it for months. I’ve wanted to scream that it’s about time and that you’re ready to give it a go, but I didn’t want you to have a meltdown.”
“I wouldn’t say I’m ready, but a moment ago it seemed like the right time.”
“It is the right time. You’re getting consistent traffic on your website, and having a commercial space people can walk into and actually see your merchandise is the final step.”
“This might be a trivial concern, but what am I supposed to use for money to get this going?”
“You’re leasing, not buying, so you won’t need a lot. First month’s rent, security deposit, and a few grand extra to tidy up the place. A small-business loan will more than cover it.”
“I stroll into a bank and ask for a loan, just like that?”
“Well, not just like that. We’ll tighten up that business plan we drafted. Look, financial institutions are eager to loan to women and minority business people. It’ll look good on paper if they ever need a government bailout.”
Nina offered an encouraging smile as she drove, but Daphne continued to avoid eye contact. It almost seemed like she’d completely shut down emotionally, and with all that had come at her recently, Nina was afraid to risk opening the floodgates by asking what was wrong.
“I’m sure you’re really nervous about this decision, but trust me. You’re going to be so happy you gambled on yourself in the long run. And I’m here to help you any way I can.”
Daphne finally turned to Nina. “Shouldn’t you answer Lacey’s text?”
Nina froze. They clearly couldn’t ignore the kiss this time. “Daphne, I’m sorry. I don’t know what…”
“You don’t owe me an apology. I’m the one who kissed you.”
“Well, I kissed you back, and I shouldn’t have.”
“What would’ve happened if Rikki hadn’t forgotten her tablet?”
Nina exhaled heavily on that one. “I don’t know.” That was a lie. She knew exactly what would’ve happened.
“Why did you let me kiss you?”
“I don’t know.” As soon Nina heard herself say it, she knew how stupid and phony she sounded.
Daphne stared at her. “For a woman who’s hardly ever unsure about anything, two ‘I don’t knows’ in a row have to be some kind of record.”
“I kissed you back because I wanted to. I shouldn’t have, and what’s more, I shouldn’t have wanted to.”
“I don’t feel like antiquing today. Can you just take me home?”
Nina’s heart started racing. “Daph, let’s not let this ruin our friendship. I don’t want to lose you. I mean your friendship.”
“I don’t want to lose yours either. That’s why I need you to take me home. Now.”
Nina was quiet as she figured out where she needed to turn to comply with Daphne’s request. Should she have mentioned how badly she hadn’t wanted to drop her off? A mild panic rose in her. She should say something. But what?
“I can’t imagine what you must think of me,” she finally said.
“What do you mean?” Daphne’s head was resting against the passenger window.
“In spite of what it looks like, I’m really not a serial cheater. However, given my recent track record, I don’t quite know how to convince you of that, other than to say that until I met Lacey, I’d never been disloyal to anyone.”
Daphne shrugged. “The whole thing with Zack and Lacey I can sort of understand, even if I don’t condone cheating of any kind. But now that you have Lacey, what’s your excuse? Why would you risk your relationship by kissing someone like me?”
“Why are you saying it like that?”
“Like what?”
“Like you’re inferior to her, which you are so not.”
“Even if that were true, Lacey’s the woman you’ve wanted all along. I don’t get why you’re messing around with me.”
Nina opened her mouth to speak but stopped short of another “I don’t know” because that answer was no longer acceptable to either of them. Why was she doing it? Did she have actual romantic feelings for Daphne, or were her actions some sort of pushback against Lacey’s pressure to commit so soon?
“I guess I need to examine that question,” Nina said.
“Yeah. I’d say so.”
They remained quiet for the rest of the ride home, Nina because she felt she’d already said more than enough.
When she pulled into Daphne’s driveway, she half-hoped for an invitation in to continue their dialogue in a more positive direction, but Daphne’s expression, like she’d just been dumped at the prom, signaled that would not be happening.
“Will you let me know how you make out with Rikki tomorrow?”
Daphne nodded and got out of the car. “Thanks for everything,” she said and closed the door.
Once Daphne was inside, Nina slammed her palms against her steering wheel.
* * *
When Daphne closed the door, she leaned against it and allowed herself to cry, to really sob—a full-on, slide-down-the-wall-and-ugly-cry-into-her-hands release. The weirdest thing about the situation? As helpless and despondent as she felt, she’d never felt more alive. She was a giant kettle of emotion bubbling over with love, lust, sadness, hope, and complete terror. Everything was going wrong and right at exactly the same time, and all she’d wanted to do was run into her bedroom, lock the door, and the draw the shades down against the world. But instead she just sat on her floor bawling into her arms folded across her knees.
Where had she gotten the nerve to tell the real-estate agent she wanted to lease that space? To even dare to think about venturing out into the world as an independent businesswoman? What had gotten into her?
Nina. Nina was what had gotten into her.
And now after tasting the sweetness of truly living, she’d never be able to return to the uneventful life of an introverted underachiever that she’d mastered without even trying.
The thought made her stop convulsing. Her eyes finally quit clouding with tears. After wiping her cheeks and nose on her sleeve, she got up and made a plan.
But this time, she’d have to move ahead without Nina.
Chapter Seventeen
Nina reclined in her office chair, taking a moment for herself before leaving to meet Lacey for lunch downtown. She’d been trying to avert an ironic public-relations nightmare with the central California branch, whose hourly employees were threatening a walkout to protest their subpar health-insurance benefits. She’d rubbed her face in frustration so many times that morning she’d need to touch up her makeup before she left her office.
As an upper-management exec, Nina shuddered at the idea that her company, a health-insurance provider, was shortchanging its own employees on part of their benefits package. She was embarrassed for the company and especially embarrassed for herself as a high-level representative of it. Even though she wasn’t responsible for overseeing employee benefits packages, she truly felt for them and found it immensely difficult to prepare a statement for the media justifying the company’s policy, if it came to that.
This might end up a liquid lunch with Lacey.
As she freshened up in the washroom, she checked her phone, as she’d been doing for the last two weeks. Nothing from Daphne, and that bothered her. They’d never gone this long without talking—several days maybe, but never a week or more. Daphne had been visibly upset with her when she’d dropped her off after their storeroom kiss, so Nina had laid low, waiting to hear from her. Had that been a miscalculation? Maybe Daphne was waiting for her and wondering the same thing.
To hell with it. Enough was enough. She grabbed her phone and texted, “Hey, you. What’s going on in Daphne’s world?”
As soon as she hit send, she said out loud, “Daphne’s world? Jesus. Could you have been any cornier?” She shook her head at that, at her work dilemma, and at the conversation she’d been meaning to have with Lacey about her increasing frequency of sleepovers.
Yep. Definitely liquid at t
his lunch.
* * *
Sitting at the bar at Salerno’s, an upscale Italian restaurant, Nina salivated as she eyed the dirty martini the bartender was mixing her. After the first heavenly sip, she returned her eyes to the entrance for Lacey. She also watched for Daphne’s return text to pop up on her phone. Daphne was a reliably consistent text returner, usually within fifteen minutes. Instead of a text, Daphne called her.
Nina leapt off the bar stool and took the call in the hall near the restrooms. “Hi. What’s going on? How’s Sophie?”
“About the same, unfortunately. She was just transferred to Masonicare.”
“I’m so sorry,” Nina said. “How are you doing?”
“I’ve had a busy couple of weeks. I signed the lease the other day.”
Nina was floored, questioning whether she’d heard her correctly. “For the retail space?”
“Yeah. I was clearly temporarily insane when I did it, but Rikki was so helpful. She hooked me up with the small-business-loan officer she deals with. They’re moderately confident it’ll go through.”
“That’s…that’s terrific.” Nina forced herself to sound enthusiastic, but inside she was steaming. She’d been Daphne’s number-one cheerleader since day one. She’d ridden her regularly to get serious about believing in herself and pursuing the dream she’d let languish on her vision board for years. And now that she was ready to go, Daphne had completely cut her out.
“I can’t believe how relatively painless the whole process has been,” Daphne said. “Of course, it’s not set in stone yet. I can’t do anything without final loan approval, but Rikki’s been amazing.”
“You know Rikki’s taken.” Nina heard her words but couldn’t stop them from gushing out like cheap beer from the stomach of a fraternity pledge. “With a guy. She’s bi, just so you know.”
Silence.
Finally, Daphne said, “What does that have to do with anything we’re talking about?”
One Woman’s Treasure Page 18