by Laney Webber
As she stepped over the threshold of Joanne’s house and into the crisp November night, she felt a little shaky on the outside, but on the inside, her heart put its hands on its hips. She patted her pocket where her stone sat.
Chapter Sixteen
Lee grabbed a hanger with a tan park shirt and another with the green pants that completed her uniform. Her boss had called an off-season Monday meeting, and her wrinkled clothes hung in the closet where she’d put them when she unpacked a couple of months ago. She ironed her uniform, using the tip of the iron on her State of New Hampshire State Parks patch and the small bar below, her manager patch. She should be reviewing her initial assessment notes for her park, but instead her mind was busy planning all the things she wanted to do with Jannika.
She found a tie and belt and was all set. It was warm for early November, so she grabbed a light jacket and headed out. Halfway to Concord, she stopped for gas and a black coffee. She’d had a great time over the weekend visiting with her sister and her parents. She helped the kids make a scarecrow woman with some of her mother’s old clothes and piles of leaves they raked. But she was glad when she saw the text from her boss about the morning meeting, and she left her sister’s on Sunday afternoon. She loved her new park.
Watts Lake State Park was one of the smaller parks in New Hampshire. There were fifteen campsites, two group camping areas, and a day use area near the beach. The park office had a small apartment upstairs which she could’ve used during the season for free and found a rental just for the winter, but it was too small, and anyway, she fell in love with the farm the first time she saw it. She’d spent the better part of September getting to know the park and the staff. Her predecessor stayed on until the end of the season to show her around, to teach her the park’s individual quirks and personality.
But now, she had four months off work, November through February. The downtime fed her introverted side. All summer she was the go-to person for every problem at the park. Since Shannon had passed away, she’d spent the winters doing some admin work a few days a week and worked on her carvings and other projects the rest of the time. This was her routine, and it fit her well. Comfortable, like an old pair of sweatpants and favorite camp T-shirt. She was hoping to work out a similar off-season schedule here, and this meeting would be a chance to discuss it with her boss. She was glad to have something to do instead of waiting around to hear how Jannika’s visit with her ex turned out.
She merged onto I-93. Bumper to bumper as far as she could see. She fingered her state issued ID and lanyard and remembered another lanyard eighteen years ago and a tall, striking girl with blond hair.
Lee was pulling in after a solo sunset canoe trip around the pond at Camp Pine Knoll. As she dragged her green canoe out of the water, she saw Jannika sitting with her back against a big old white pine. Her long tanned legs were stretched out straight in front of her, and Day-Glo green flip flops sat beside them. Jannika was running her thumb along the inside of the ID lanyard she wore around her neck.
Lee asked, “Hey, Jannika, why aren’t you at the rec hall watching the movie?”
Jannika walked up to her and slowly took the lanyard off her neck and put it around Lee’s. “You must have dropped this—I was keeping it safe for you,” she said. Then she tilted her head slightly, bit her bottom lip, and took off into the pines.
Lee had spent years in Girl Scout camps and everyone knew younger girls had crushes on older girls. But nothing had prepared her for Jannika Peterson during her final summer as a camp counselor. Lee wasn’t sure she was any better prepared now, eighteen years later. Those years had fine-tuned Jannika’s beauty and turned cute into incredibly sexy.
The parking lot at the state building was almost full. Lee was happy to have a small truck as she maneuvered into a tight space. She was halfway across the lot when her phone vibrated.
Hey there. I’m back. Got in late last night. Lots to talk about.
Lee didn’t know if that was good news or bad news. Her stomach tightened as she texted back. Good to hear from you. Headed into a meeting in Concord. Talk later?
Call me tonight. I’ll be home after six. I can’t wait to see you.
K
Lee turned off her phone for the meeting. This could turn out to be one of the best days of her life.
***
Jannika put her phone down. Still no word from Marcy about how her weekend went. She was getting worried.
She made some toast and tea for breakfast, plugged her phone into her speakers, and chose a New Age playlist. Sarah never ran out of suggestions for stress reducing music, herbs, and essential oils. Marcy’s face appeared on the screen as she was adjusting the volume. She pulled the jack from the phone and tapped Marcy’s image.
“I waited all night for you to call me, you booger,” Marcy said.
“I was waiting for you.”
“We suck,” Marcy said.
“Yes, we suck, and yes, I did it. It was hard and wonderful. I felt…I feel like I took a piece of me back. Did you see your mom?”
“I did and it was great. She was great. I was nervous, shit, I was nervous. I kept touching that damn stone.”
“Me too. Tell me.”
“I told her. She suspected. I kind of got pissed because she suspected and never said anything. She got all teary and I started to panic, but she thought I was sick or I’d gotten into some kind of trouble or something. She felt bad for not being there for me. I started to get pissed again about that, because she never seemed open to hearing about me. But then I thought about Amy and how I want to have a regular life. I know I’m supposed to give my mom space to adjust and all that stuff, but I couldn’t help myself and I told her about Amy.”
“Marce, that’s amazing. How did she react?”
“She looked kinda gobsmacked, but put up a good front. She was really trying. I think we can be close again. It felt like when I was a kid, and she was there for me. Always in my corner. It felt like that.” Marcy sniffed.
“Oh, Marce. I’m so happy for you. I’ve got goose bumps. And I’m so proud of you for being so brave. And wow, that’s huge.”
“Thanks. More about me later. And you? And Joanne?”
“I stopped to see Edgar first. He was great, as always. He had a find to show me. You should’ve seen it. It was—”
“Nick. Hello, Nick? Joanne?”
“Sorry. I went to the hospital first, then met her at the house later. She tried to somehow make the breakup my fault, but I said what I needed to say. I was shaking inside, but it felt really good after I said it and drove away. It feels finished.”
“And then there’s Lee,” Marcy said.
“And then there’s Lee. I love that you’re my friend.” Jannika sat back on the couch and bumped her husky-dog slippers together. “I texted her this morning and she’s calling me tonight. What about you?”
“She’s calling you, you knucklehead? Invite her over or go over to her house. We’re both past the age of playing hard to get. I’m driving to the South Shore to go over financials with one of the restaurants. Next weekend my mom is planning a dinner at the house and I’m going to do it all over again with my dad. I’ll have my mom right there, so it doesn’t feel as scary. I’ve got this crazy dream that we’ll all be together at this big old wedding someday soon.”
Jannika stood up and bumped the coffee table, spilling tea on an issue of Publishers Weekly. “What? What wedding? Whose wedding?”
“I haven’t told anyone. Amy and I haven’t talked about marriage, but she’s it. She’s the one, I feel it. When I’m on the road, all I think about it my future with her, what we’ll be doing in three years, ten years, twenty years. I see us at our wedding, and I see my parents there, both of them.” Marcy whispered, “I’ve never felt this way about anyone, Nick. Never.”
“I’m so happy for you, but isn’t this kind of fast, even by lesbian standards?”
“Maybe, but I don’t care. I haven’t asked her yet. I want every
thing with my parents to be sorted out. I’ll let you—”
Marcy’s phone cut out. She must have hit the tunnel. Jannika hung up and waited a few minutes, but Marcy didn’t call back. She was happy for her, but she and Amy had been seeing each other for only a few weeks, and the jump to marriage seemed like an Olympic leap. She cleaned up her spill and left for the bookstore.
It turned out to be a very slow day, and Jannika left Sarah in charge and went home a couple of hours before closing. She got home and settled on the couch with an ARC from one of her favorite mystery writers.
***
Jannika patted the coffee table in search of her phone which was ringing and vibrating. She didn’t know what time it was, or what day it was, for that matter. Lee’s number flashed on the screen. She must have fallen asleep.
“Hey.” She rubbed the top of her head and sat up on the couch, willing her body to wake up. She removed her book from under her left thigh.
“Hey yourself.”
“I was thinking, actually Marcy did the thinking for me today and suggested I tell you about what happened with Joanne in person, not over the phone, and she’s right.” Maybe a leap was sometimes necessary.
Lee said, “I was about to put dinner in the oven. Why don’t you come over and I’ll feed you.”
“I love a woman who wants to feed me. Yes. I’ll be there in an hour—not too late for dinner?”
“I can’t wait to see you, Jannika.”
“Me too. And Lee?”
“Yes?”
“Call me Nick.”
Chapter Seventeen
The smell of baked apples and cinnamon greeted Jannika as Lee opened the door to the farmhouse. Lee looked into her eyes.
“Come on in, Nick.” Lee smiled and opened the door wider.
Jannika’s heart grew in her chest and her stomach fluttered. “I like the way you say that.” She touched Lee’s arm. Then it occurred to her that Lee was waiting, had been waiting, since she’d left for Maine. That’s why her jaw looked so tight. Lee took her coat and hung it in the entryway.
“I roasted a chicken and some vegetables, and you probably smelled dessert on your way in. Apple pie. I made it with the apples we picked last week.”
“Can the food wait a little while longer?”
“Sure, I just took the chicken and veggies out of the oven. Let me cover the chicken.” Lee went into the kitchen.
Jannika followed Lee, then took her hand and stepped closer. They were inches apart. Jannika’s heart pounded. Lee’s steady gaze both grounded her and excited her.
“I finally feel like I have closure on that relationship. I wish I hadn’t had to go to Maine to know that. But I did.”
“Are you okay?” Lee stepped even closer to her.
“Sort of emotionally drained but excited at the same time, if that makes sense. And I felt the urge to let out some of my emotion through my driving, but I didn’t. I drove safely. It was important that I tell you that. I missed you.” She couldn’t tell whose palm was getting sweaty, hers or Lee’s.
“I’m glad you went to Maine, and thank you for telling me about the driving. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t concerned about that. I missed you too.”
Jannika saw the color rise on Lee’s cheeks and felt her face grow warm as well. “I think you should put the chicken in the fridge.”
“You do?”
“Yes, I do.” She took one more step and their lips met. Their kiss was slow and hungry. She felt the tip of Lee’s tongue part her lips and her tongue answered back.
Jannika’s hand ran through Lee’s hair and up the back of her neck, caressing it and pulling Lee closer. Lee wrapped her arms around Jannika and her hands moved up Jannika’s back and slowly made their way down again to her waist. They lingered at the small of her back, moving in slow, small circles as they kissed. The tips of her fingers slid beneath the waistband of Jannika’s jeans.
“Chicken.” Jannika stepped away from Lee. She was breathless and her clothes felt too tight as every part of her body longed for Lee’s touch.
Lee opened the refrigerator door and held it open with her leg while she reached for the roasting pan.
“Let me help.” Jannika took a couple of potholders from hooks on the wall near the stove, grabbed the roasting pan, and put in on the bottom shelf of the fridge.
“Now forget the damn chicken.” Lee swooped an arm around Jannika’s waist again and ran hot kisses along her collarbone and up the side of her neck. Her tongue found Jannika’s ear, and she ran the tip of it along the outside curve.
Jannika moaned and her knees threatened to buckle. Lee held on tighter as they stumbled through the kitchen on their way to the living room, kicking off shoes, knocking a bunch of bananas off the kitchen counter, and rolling along the hallway walls, kissing. Lee’s back was against the hallway wall and Jannika’s hands crept under her T-shirt.
“Nick.”
Jannika felt Lee’s hot breath on her neck and Lee kissed her again and they turned. Now Jannika’s back was against the wall. Lee’s body pressed against her and part of Jannika couldn’t believe this was happening. How many years’ worth of Leslie fantasies had she stored up? And here she was with Leslie—no, with Lee, beautiful, sexy Lee, who wanted her as much as she wanted her.
They made it to the doorway of the living room and tried to make it to the couch. Lee pushed the coffee table out of the way with her foot and grabbed a throw blanket off the arm of the couch with one hand and held Jannika’s hand with the other. Jannika started to unbutton her shirt and Lee stopped her.
Lee looked at Jannika with eyes filled with desire. “I want you in my bed. Can you make it upstairs?” Her voice was husky and low.
Jannika saw a look of concern mix with the fire in Lee’s eyes. The look caused her stomach to contract and she caught her breath as she nodded her consent. “Yes.”
Lee slid an arm around her waist and led her up the stairs to her bedroom.
They stood next to the old pineapple four-poster bed and Jannika once again started to unbutton her shirt. Lee gently wrapped her fingers around Jannika’s.
“Let me.” Lee kissed each of her fingers before releasing them, then kissed her lightly on her cheek, her jawline, and her neck. The kisses moved to the hollow at the base of her collarbone and inside the collar of her shirt. Lee ran the tip of her finger along Jannika’s collarbone, down the edge of her shirt to the first button.
Jannika’s lips parted and she hummed a low moan. Her back arched toward Lee.
Lee placed a lingering kiss above each button as she unbuttoned it. Her lips traced a line along Jannika’s skin to the next button and Jannika felt Lee’s hot breath on her skin. Lee unbuttoned the second button with a kiss, then the third and the fourth. Jannika’s hands ran through Lee’s hair as her back arched and her knees wobbled.
“Lee.” Jannika was having a hard time speaking and standing up. As if Lee read her mind, she unbuttoned the final button, slid the shirt over Jannika’s shoulders, and reached around to unfasten her bra.
“You are so beautiful.” Lee’s gaze traveled over Jannika.
Jannika felt beautiful, desirable, and strong under Lee’s gaze. She grabbed hold of the bottom of Lee’s T-shirt and pulled it up and over Lee’s head. Lee slid off her jeans and Jannika unzipped her own pants and started pulling them down. Lee took Jannika’s hand and guided her down onto the bed as she kissed her. Lee then somehow managed to slide the rest of Jannika’s clothes off her body. Jannika laughed. Lee crept back onto the bed, knees straddling Jannika’s waist.
Any guardedness left Jannika as Lee gazed down at her.
Lee leaned over and kissed her lips, then followed her jawline with kisses. She paused and whispered in her ear as she slid her body on top of Jannika’s. “I want to make love to you, Nick.” Lee wrapped an arm around Jannika and they rolled onto their sides, facing each other.
Jannika felt Lee’s words travel down her body like a caress.
They k
issed while Lee’s hand traced long lines down Jannika’s back. Lee’s kisses made their way to Jannika’s neck again. The tip of Lee’s tongue barely touched Jannika’s skin as she kissed her way down to her breasts. The pulse between Jannika’s legs grew stronger and her hips jerked as Lee’s kisses met her breast. Lee moaned and the vibration of the moan ran through Jannika’s body in a direct line to the wetness between her legs. Her back arched and Lee’s mouth found Jannika’s hard nipple. Lee gently held Jannika’s hips and moved her from her side to her back. Lee’s lips never lost contact with the nipple she caressed with her tongue. Lee caressed both breasts while her mouth worked Jannika’s nipple.
“Lee, I…I’m…” Jannika panted and ground her hips into the bedcovers. She was trying to keep some kind of focus on her own hands touching Lee’s firm back and shoulders. She moved her hands up to touch the sides of Lee’s breasts just as Lee moved her kisses down Jannika’s ribcage to her right hipbone. Her mind lost focus again and all thought left her head. She was immersed in her body’s reactions to Lee touching, kissing, sucking, and moving her naked body on top of Jannika’s nakedness. Lee’s hard nipples made trails of sensation down Jannika’s stomach and thighs as Lee slid down her body and kissed all around Jannika’s hipbone.
Lee raised her head and looked up at Jannika whose neck was arched and face was full of desire.
“Hey, Nick.”
“Mmmm.” Jannika’s hips flexed and her hands found Lee’s face.
“I want you, Nick.”
Jannika moaned.
“I wanted to make slow wonderful love to you, and I promise I will, but not right now. You’re driving me crazy and I want to taste you and make you come. You’re pretty close, aren’t you?”
“Oh, Lee, yes. Yes, please.” Jannika’s hands gave Lee the signal to move lower and she parted her legs wider. She moaned again and her breath came in short gasps.