by Lydia Rose
Sandy opened the menu, but before she could see anything the waitress appeared. “Can I start you out with something to drink?”
Nadine nodded at Sandy. “A glass of white wine, please.”
“I’ll have the same,” Nadine added.
Sandy opened the menu again and saw the prices listed. Her shoulders slumped and she looked over the menu at Nadine. “These prices are outrageous.”
Nadine laughed. “But wait until you taste the food. Can we split an appetizer?”
“Yes,” Sandy answered, not wanting to sound unappreciative. Her eyes spotted the seafood risotto and closed the menu.
“You know what you want?”
Sandy nodded. “The seafood risotto.”
“I’ve had that before. You’ll like it.”
“What are you going to have?” Sandy asked.
“Since you like fish, would you share the lobster appetizer?”
“I’ve never had lobster, but I’ll try it.”
The waitress returned with their drinks. “Are you ready to order?”
“What are your specials tonight?” Nadine asked looking up at the woman.
“We have a filet mignon with shrimp and-”
“You can stop right there,” Nadine said quickly. “I’ll have that.”
The waitress turned to Sandy. “I’ll have the seafood risotto.”
“And we will start out with the lobster appetizer.”
“What kind of dressing on your salads?”
“I’ll have the Italian.”
“Blue cheese for me,” Nadine added.
Nadine picked up her glass and held it in the center of the table. “To us and possibilities.”
Sandy smiled and clinked her glass with Nadine. “Yes. To us.”
The dinner was wonderful and so was the conversation. Sandy couldn’t believe she was sitting across from this beautiful woman who showed an interest in her. “Kate, the UPS driver, asked me for coffee last night,” Sandy said keeping her voice down. “It didn’t go well.”
“I’m so sorry, Sandy.”
“When I told her I hadn’t been with another woman…” Sandy hesitated to tell Nadine the truth, “she accused me of wanting to take her for a test spin.”
Nadine chuckled. “I’m sorry,” she said covering her mouth. “I shouldn’t laugh. Figures the big butch would think that.”
“What do you mean?” Sandy narrowed her eyes.
“Sorry. I’m sure she is hit on by a lot of straight women who want to see what it’s like on the other side.”
“The other side?”
“You know. Sex with a woman.” Just as the words left her mouth, the waitress brought their salads and appetizer. Nadine turned beet red. When she looked up, she saw Sandy was the same color. When the waitress left, Nadine leaned closer to Sandy. “I guess I should look around before saying something like that.”
“Have women wanted to take you for a test spin?”
“If they had, I would never bite. I wasn’t interested in being somebody’s plaything.” Nadine admitted.
Sandy nodded at her comment. “I guess I can understand why she got so angry at me.”
“She didn’t hurt you? I mean physically.”
Sandy shook her head. “No.” She looked at Nadine as she took a bite of the lobster. “So, you’re okay with the fact that I’ve never been with another woman?”
Nadine reached over and took her hand. “I rather like the fact that another woman has never touched you.”
“But I’m not a virgin.”
“I realize that. It still will be a lot of pressure on me when we make love because I don’t want to disappoint you.” Nadine realized what she had said and how she was presuming that they would eventually end up in bed together. “I’m sorry, Sandy. I keep putting my foot in my mouth. I don’t want you to think I’m being presumptuous that we are going to end up in bed together. I would hope someday that our relationship will progress to that, but I know you aren’t ready for that. I’m not sure I am either. I haven’t been with anyone since Kim.”
Sandy took her hand to stop Nadine’s rambling. “I know what you’re saying and I’m looking forward to that day too.”
“You are?” Nadine asked surprised as she squeezed Sandy’s hand.
“Of course. I already know what it’s like to dance with you and I’d like to know what making love to you is all about.”
Nadine took a big gulp of her water. “We’d better eat because all my blood has moved to the lower half of my body.”
Sandy’s answer was to giggle and she picked up her fork to continue eating.
While they waited for the valet to return their car, Nadine asked nervously, “It is still early. Would you like to come back to my house for a while so we can talk?”
“After the conversation we had during dinner, you want to take me back to your place?” Sandy asked trying to keep the humor out of her voice.
Nadine spun on her heels and looked at Sandy who was now starting to smile. “I give you my word I only want to talk.”
Sandy slipped her arm into Nadine’s arm. “I’m only teasing you.” She had no idea how this woman made her feel comfortable enough to joke with her, but she enjoyed the feeling.
The car pulled up and they drove back to the house. “Would you like something to drink?”
“I couldn’t eat or drink another thing. Sit down, please,” Sandy said patting the cushion next to her.
“What I wanted to tell you is that I’ve only loved one woman in my life. A woman that brought out the best parts of me.”
“Nadine, Kim will always be in your heart. I understand that, but I hope you will find it in yourself to allow me in too.” Her eyes opened wide at what she had just said. “Now I’m being presumptuous.”
“I’d like to try, Sandy. You are the first woman that I’ve met in the last three years that made me not want to spend the rest of my life alone.” Nadine was being truthful because she had no idea what Sandy had that changed everything.
“I think it is time for me to tell you my story.” Sandy took a deep breath as she tried to get her thoughts in order. “I knew I was attracted to women since I was sixteen years old. My best friend and I fell in love, but we both came from religious families. We stopped being friends so we wouldn’t be tempted. In college, I kept to myself and didn’t date anyone. When I was twenty-four I met Pete. He was the first man to show any interest in me. I knew if I didn’t want to be disowned, I had to pretend I was straight.” Nadine moved closer and took Sandy’s hand. “I ended up pregnant, but I didn’t want to marry him. My father wouldn’t hear of me having a baby without marriage.” Sandy turned and looked at Nadine. “It didn’t take long for Pete to lose the charm he had used on me. When Carly was five, Pete lost his job. He would sit around all day drinking. Carly was terrified of him and began to wet the bed.”
“Did he hurt either one of you?”
Sandy shook her head. “Pete was better with his mouth. He yelled and screamed. My father had passed away by this point. I did the only thing I could. I asked my mother if we could move in with her so I could divorce Pete.” Sandy was now smiling. “She gladly accepted us into her home.”
“Did Pete give you a hard time about the divorce?” Nadine asked squeezing her hand.
“Not at all. I didn’t ask for child support or really anything from him. I don’t even know where he is at this point.” Sandy looked at Nadine’s lips before she met her eyes. “I was struggling until this wonderful woman said she would hire me,” she said with a smile.
“Best decision I’ve ever made.” Nadine moved a little closer to Sandy. “May I kiss you?”
Sandy didn’t wait to give Nadine an answer before her lips met the woman who was beginning to steal her heart. Neither woman attempted to deepen the kiss to the point that they would lose control. When their lips broke apart, they looked at each other and smiled.
Nadine’s fingers came to her lips. “That was amazing,”
she said taking Sandy’s hand.
She watched the younger woman nod her head in agreement. “I can think of a bunch of other adjectives, but amazing is a good word.” Her hand came out and cupped Nadine’s cheek. “How about we go for mind-blowing?”
Their bodies crashed together in a heated kiss. Lips parted and tongues twirled in a dance heightening the arousal in both women. Unable to breathe, they parted.
“I would say that was mind-blowing,” Nadine said as Sandy laid her head on her chest. Sandy’s fingers began to make circles across her stomach absently. “If you keep doing that, I am going to explode.”
Sandy chuckled against her chest. “We wouldn’t want that. Maybe you should take me home now.”
“I think that’s a good idea.” Nadine stood up and held out her hand. “Thank you for going to dinner with me. I had a good time.”
“I’m so happy you called. After my coffee date with Kate, I needed something good to happen.”
“Well, I’m glad I was there to help,” she said holding out Sandy’s coat so she could slip into it.
At Sandy’s house, Nadine turned in her seat. “Can I call you tomorrow?”
“Yes. Please do.” Their bodies swayed toward each other as they kissed. They hated parting, but both women knew they had to. Sandy stopped just before she stepped into the house and waved.
“Time to go furniture shopping.” Nadine wore that smile the rest of the evening.
CHAPTER 39
“Hello, Mother,” Nadine said when she answered her phone in the morning.
“Hi, dear. Do you want to come to lunch today?” Eva asked brightly.
“Sure, Mom. I do want to talk to you about something anyway.”
“Is this about Sandy?” she asked, knowing the answer.
“Yes, Mom. I want to talk about Sandy.”
“Okay, dear. I’ll see you later.”
“Bye, Mom.”
Nadine washed the bowl from her cereal and went upstairs to take a shower. Looking around her bedroom, she knew she’d have to make a phone call on Monday to see who would take the furniture. “I’m so sorry, Kim,” she said looking at Kim’s picture. “I can’t make love to her on our bed.”
After Nadine returned to the lower floor, she peeked into the office. “What do you think, Kim? Will this make a nice little girl’s room?” She was now laughing. “I know I’m getting ahead of myself, but I like her. I really like her, Kim. Sandy deserves some happiness in her life and I hope I’m the one to do that.” Nadine felt self-conscious speaking to Kim as if she could hear her, but it had become a habit she had started since moving back into the house.
“Hi, Nadine. How are you today?” Sandy asked when she answered her phone.
“Hi. I’m okay.”
“What’s wrong?” Sandy asked wondering what had happened.
“Nothing. What are your plans for today?”
“I’m taking Carly and the twins to the movies in a little while. You?”
“Having lunch with my mother.”
“Oh,” Sandy said faintly.
Nadine chuckled. “Nothing to worry about. She just wants to know what’s going on with us.”
“You don’t think your dad will be angry that you’re dating me?”
“Not at all. He’s already told me how much he likes you.”
“Oh,” she said again.
“What are you doing for Thanksgiving?” Nadine asked changing the subject.
“I usually have dinner with mom and her friends from church.”
“Would you like to spend Thanksgiving with me?” Nadine asked hoping she would say yes. The pause caused her concern.
“I have Carly, Nadine.”
“Great. I would like to spend more time with her. I just go over to my parents’ home.”
“Are you sure your parents will want us there?”
“Yes, Sandy, but I’ll ask her today if that will make you feel better.”
“It will, Nadine.”
“Okay. I’ve got to run, but I’ll call you later.”
“Okay. Have fun at your parents’.”
“You too with the kids.”
*
“Mom, Dad,” Nadine called as she came into the house.
“Back here, dear,” Jennifer answered.
Joe came out of his den and gave Nadine a hug. “How are you doing, kiddo?”
“I’m good, Dad.”
“How is Sandy?” he asked with a smile.
Nadine responded with a grin. “She’s good too, Dad.”
“Do you want a cup of coffee?” Jennifer asked when she walked into the kitchen. Jennifer’s dark hair was pulled into a ponytail today. Her mother had kept her figure all these years and the jeans fit her body like a glove.
“Please,” Nadine answered taking a seat at the kitchen table.
Jennifer placed the cup in front of Nadine and sat down. “What do you want to talk about?”
“I took Sandy to dinner last night. We had a good time and then we came back to my place and talked.”
“Talked?” Jennifer asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Yes, Mother, just talked.” Her head shook as her eyes rolled. “I like her, Mom. A lot.”
“I know you do, dear. I saw that at the fundraiser,” Jennifer chuckled. “Especially when she was dancing with those men. I knew you wanted to go out on that dance floor and pull them away from her.”
“Yeah, I did,” Nadine admitted easily. “But I wasn’t ready for her yet.”
“What changed?” Jennifer asked.
“She went out on a coffee date with the UPS driver.”
“A man or woman?” Jennifer asked with wide eyes.
“A woman.” She saw her mother release the breath she had been holding. “It didn’t go well. Thankfully for me. The woman treated her like crap.”
“How do you know?” Jennifer now asked with narrow eyes.
“I was there with Cheryl.”
“What do you mean you were there?”
“I heard them make the date and I got there before they did.”
“You spied on her?” Jennifer crossed her arms over her chest.
“Yeah, but I had to know if I blew it,” Nadine admitted blushing.
“You could have told her you were interested and asked her to break the date.”
Nadine looked at her mother. Then realized what an idiot she had been. “If I had thought about that, I would have done it.”
“Did you tell her?”
“Tell her what?”
“That you were there spying.” Her arms uncrossed.
“No,” she answered in a whisper.
“If you like her that much, you should tell her the truth.”
“Suppose she gets pissed?”
“She might, but you can’t start out a relationship with a lie.”
“Do you think Kim would mind that I’m dating someone?” Nadine asked choking back the tears.
“Honey, wherever Kim is,” Jennifer smiled, “I’m sure she is very happy that you can find love again.” Her hand pressed softly onto her daughter’s. “Try and remember that, honey.”
By the time Nadine left her mother’s house she knew she had to tell Sandy what she had done, but she was scared also.
“Hi,” Sandy said when she picked up the phone.
“How was the movie?” Nadine asked avoiding what she really had to ask.
“The kids enjoyed it. Are you okay? You sound funny.”
“I’m almost to your house. Would you come outside so we can talk?”
“About what?” Sandy asked starting to worry.
“I’ll tell you when I get there. I just pulled into your driveway.” Nadine listened as the call was disconnected and she wondered if Sandy was going to come outside. She watched the front door open and Sandy was slipping into her coat.
Taking the seat next to Nadine, she asked, “Are you breaking up with me? We’ve only been out once. You could have told me on the phone. You didn’t
have to drag me out in the cold to do this.”
Nadine put her hand on Sandy’s hand that was waving to get her to calm down. “I’m not here to break up with you. I came to tell you something and I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.”
Sandy interrupted again. “Are you firing me?”
“Sandy, calm down and let me tell you.” She crossed her arms over her chest and waited for Nadine to continue.
“I knew you had that coffee date with Kate,” Nadine paused a moment, “and I was there with Cheryl.”
“I suppose you heard everything she said to me?” Nadine nodded without speaking. “Why didn’t you say something? Why didn’t you stand up for me?” Sandy reached for the handle. “If you had told me that you liked me but needed some time, I would have understood.” She blew out a breath. “You ignored me after the fundraiser and let me think you had no interest in me.” The car door opened, but Nadine reached for her hand.
“I’m sorry. I was an idiot. I was scared, Sandy.” Nadine watched as Sandy turned and met her eyes. “I liked you a lot and I was afraid.” Her brown eyes filled with tears. “I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I wish you would.”
Sandy sat back and closed the car door. “See that wasn’t so hard. You could have said that and I would have told Kate I wasn’t interested.”
“I screwed up, but I didn’t want to start our relationship with a lie.” Nadine wiped the tear that dropped onto her cheek.
“I like you a lot too, Nadine.” Sandy got up on one knee and kissed Nadine softly. “I forgive you.”
Nadine pulled Sandy into her body. “Thank you. I will never do anything like that again.”
“You better not,” Sandy said before dropping another kiss on her lips. “You might want to hide our relationship from the people we work with, but please don’t shut me out.”
“I won’t. I promise.”
The promise was sealed with another kiss.
CHAPTER 40
Nadine got to the office a half hour later than she normally would. She had been busy making phone calls about the things she wanted to donate and it took longer than expected. Her eyes went to the receptionist desk and she spotted Sandy on the phone. Their eyes met as she got closer and Nadine winked. The call ended and Nadine greeted her. “Good morning, Sandy.” The wink appeared again.