by Lydia Rose
Kate smiled and nodded, “Just for a moment.”
Kelly looked at the long t-shirt that Kate wore. It showed the curves of her body that Kelly admired in clothes. Forcing her eyes to the floor, she walked into the bathroom. She brushed her teeth and washed her face, but realized that she hadn’t brought any clothes into the bathroom. Kelly shut the light in the bathroom and crept into the dark room. Hoping Kate was asleep, she walked over to the dresser. Her toe hit the corner of the dresser.
“Shit,” Kelly mumbled as she opened the top drawer. The light clicked on.
“What are you doing?” Kate asked, and then saw a half-naked Kelly standing there.
“I forgot to bring clothes into the bathroom with me,” she said, pulling out a shirt. “I’m sorry if I woke you.”
“You didn’t wake me.” Kate watched with a smile as Kelly struggled to put her shirt on.
Kelly walked over to the bed and pulled back the covers. “Thanks for turning on the light. I might have injured myself badly.” She got into bed.
Kate turned out the light. “Good night, Kelly.”
“Good night, Kate.”
CHAPTER 5
Kelly came down the stairs at ten o’clock the following morning and found Kate in the kitchen nursing a cup of coffee.
“Good morning.” She looked around. “Where is everyone?”
“Good morning, Kelly. The guys are playing golf and Mary and Meredith are at the mall.” Kate was already out of her chair. “I made a frittata this morning. Get a cup of coffee and I’ll heat up a plate for you.”
“Why didn’t you go to the mall with them?” Kelly asked, pouring her coffee.
“I told them that if you wanted to go, we could meet them somewhere,” Kate said, removing the heated plate from the microwave.
Kelly’s nose wrinkled before she spoke. “I’ve been shopping with those two. They’ll be gone the whole day.”
Kate laughed. “They said not to wait on lunch for them,” she added with a chuckle.
“I think I’d rather go sit on the beach, but you can go if you want to, Kate.”
“I’d rather go to the beach too,” Kate said as she took her seat again.
After breakfast, they changed into their bathing suits and walked up to the beach.
“Why would those two want to spend a beautiful day in a mall instead of at the beach?” Kelly asked with a shake of her head.
“They’re here all summer. They have plenty of time to sit on the beach.”
****
As they stepped onto the sand, they saw Reese sitting alone. She waved them over.
“Why don’t you join me?” Reese asked.
“Are you sure we won’t disturb you?” Kelly asked, not wanting to impose on Reese’s solitude. “I don’t need your wife coming up here and finding me sitting with you on the beach.”
“Don’t be silly. Jen doesn’t spend too much time sitting on the beach. Let me clue you in on Jen. She likes you Kelly, and that’s why she’s teasing you.”
“Kelly you don’t have to worry. Jennifer saw you strike out twice yesterday.” Kate giggled. “Well, three if you count me. She knows you have no game.”
“Great, now I have two of you picking on me.’
Reese chuckled along with Kate. “Besides, Jen’s working on a new book. So I doubt we’ll see her today.”
“Jennifer is a writer?” Kelly asked surprised. “Has she written anything I would have read?”
Reese went through the names of the books, and both Kelly and Kate acknowledged they had read ‘Harper’s Folly’ and also saw the movie.
“I can’t believe she wrote that,” Kelly said, and then realized that didn’t sound right. “I mean I laughed my ass off with that book. I think I may have read several of her other books, too. She’s a wonderful writer. I love her characters and she has such a way with a story.”
“She is a wonderful writer. So where is the rest of your group?” Reese asked.
Kate said, “Golf and...” They both said, “Shopping.” A laugh left both their mouths.
“Yes, I remember them doing a lot of shopping last summer,” Reese said with a laugh.
For the next two hours, the three women got to know each other better. Kelly was surprised to find that Reese ran her own law firm at such a young age. She told them about her marriage to Steve, and coming back to New Jersey after her divorce to help her dad in the law firm when he had heart trouble. Reese also told them about falling in love with Jennifer all those years ago, and how they reconnected three years ago. She wanted to tell them that she was pregnant, but decided to wait.
Reese looked across the beach and leaned in to Kelly. “There’s Lisa with her parents.” She pointed. “Do you want to give it another shot?”
“No thank you, she wasn’t really my type anyway,” Kelly said with a smile that was not amused.
A voice caught their attention and the three women turned toward the voice.
“Casanova, what are you doing with my wife again?” Jennifer asked as she approached.
Kelly took her sunglasses off and looked at Jennifer. “I’m not doing anything. Would you please stop?”
Jennifer sat down on the sand. She looked at Kelly sternly and then began to laugh. “I’m just having fun.”
“I’ve had enough fun.”
“Okay, okay. I like the name Casanova for you, but I know you are far from what the name signifies.”
“Really funny, and I can get a girlfriend,” Kelly insisted.
Kate added, “Meredith told me she always had a woman on her arm.”
“By the way, your lovely wife told me about your writing. I’m a big fan. I’ll have to bring my copy of ‘Harper’s Folly’ for you to autograph.”
“It will be my pleasure, Kelly,” Jennifer said sincerely.
“Have you ever been in love, Kelly?” Reese asked.
Kelly thought for a moment. “Infatuated maybe, but,” as she shook her head, “no, I’ve never been head over heels in love.”
“How about you, Kate?” Jennifer asked.
“Once,” Kate said, barely above a whisper.
“What happened?” Reese asked, and then added, “If you want to share.”
“It was painful because basically it was one-sided,” Kate sighed. “I’m determined to change things.”
“You mean let this person know how you feel about them,” Jennifer added.
“No,” Kate looked at Jennifer and said, “to move on with my life.”
“Good for you,” Reese said, lightly touching Kate’s arm. “How about we go back for lunch?” she asked the group.
“Yes, we’ve got that leftover brisket to eat,” Kelly said.
“Keep that for another day. Come to our house,” Reese said, looking at Jennifer. “We have leftover barbecue chicken and salads.”
Kelly looked at Kate. “Sounds great,” she said, standing.
Reese picked up her chair, and Jennifer took down her umbrella.
“Aren’t you coming back after lunch?” Kate asked.
“Not today. I usually only spend half the day on the beach. I’m tired from the party yesterday. I think I’ll take a nap.”
“I could use a nap too,” Jennifer said with a grin.
“I don’t think Reese will be getting much rest,” Kelly said, and then put her hand over her mouth. “Sorry.”
After lunch Kelly and Kate returned to the beach alone. Neither Mary, Meredith, nor the guys had returned to house.
Once they were settled on the beach, Kelly said. “I’m sorry, Kate.”
Kate looked at her not understanding. “Sorry about what?”
“About this guy you’re in love with. I’m sorry he doesn’t love you back.”
“It doesn’t matter, Kelly. It was stupid to fall in love with someone that was and is unavailable.”
“Was he married when you first met?” Kelly asked, treading lightly with her questions.
“Not when we first met.”
<
br /> “What changed your mind about moving on with your life?” Kelly asked, not wanting to be too invasive.
“I’d forgotten how much in love Reese and Jennifer are. I didn’t spend too much time with them before,” Kate sighed. “Just a few minutes here and there, but you can see the love they have for one another.” She turned and looked at Kelly. “Don’t you want that too?”
“Of course I do. I’ve been looking for that most of my adult life. I think most of us want to find that kind of happiness. They seem so suited for each other. Do you want to tell me about this guy who let you go?” Kelly asked.
“Not today. Maybe someday I will,” Kate said softly.
Mary and Meredith showed up on the beach at two o’clock.
“Where are the guys?” Kelly asked.
“They met two guys this morning at the golf club and are playing another round.”
“You both are golf widows in the summer,” Kelly said, laughing.
“Don’t forget football widows in the winter,” Kate added.
“Hey, we make sacrifices for the men we love,” Meredith laughed. “Don’t we Mary?”
“I don’t sacrifice, since Matt makes it up to me big time for his outside pleasures.”
The women laughed at Mary’s comment.
“Our husbands are taking us out for dinner tonight. Would you like to come with us?” Mary asked.
“No. You two go have a romantic dinner with your husbands,” Kate answered before Kelly could respond.
“What are you two going to do tonight?” Meredith asked.
“If Kelly is interested, I thought we would go to the boardwalk in Point,” Kate said, looking at Kelly for assurance.
“Haven’t been there in years,” Kelly said with a smile.
“We can have pizza and sausage sandwiches. Even stop in at one of the bars and have a drink. Is that okay with you?”
“Sounds like fun,” Kelly said, nodding her head.
Neither woman noticed the glances the two sisters shared while they listened to Kate’s plans.
CHAPTER 6
Kate and Kelly left the house at seven thirty. They left the couples still getting ready for their romantic dinner.
“I hope you weren’t disappointed that we aren’t going to dinner with the group?” Kate asked.
“Not at all, I liked your idea. As I said earlier, I haven’t been to the boardwalk in years. It’ll be fun. Do you want to go on the rides?” Kelly asked with a grin.
“I think this time we can skip the rides.”
The two women stood in front of a stand and looked at the menu.
“I can’t decide between the pizza and the sausage sandwich,” Kate said, staring at the pizza.
“Look at the size of the slices. Why don’t we have the slice cut in half and also have the sandwich cut too? This way we can have both.”
“Great idea.”
They sat and ate their meal and watched the people on the boardwalk walking by.
“It’s crowded for a Sunday night, don’t you think?” Kate asked.
“It’s the summer. A lot of people are off this time of year.”
After dinner, they couldn’t resist having a custard cone. At eight thirty they walked into one of the beach front bars. They took a seat at the end of the bar and ordered two martinis. The music volume was turned up and people began to dance. Kelly nursed her drink as Kelly ordered another.
A tap on Kelly’s shoulder turned her in her seat.
“Would you like to dance?” he asked into her ear to be heard over the music.
“Thank you, but no,” Kelly said as nicely as she could.
He turned to Kate who already held up her hand. “No thanks.”
As he began to walk away, he mumbled, “Dykes.”
Kate laughed and said. “It’s lesbians. Keep walking,”
Kelly’s jaw dropped. “Are you okay?”
“I didn’t come here to be hit on,” Kate said, motioning to the bartender for another drink.
“Slow down, Kate, we’re going to be here a while.”
Kelly could tell that Kate wasn’t much of a drinker because by the time she was on her third drink, her words were slurred.
“I think we should call it a night, Kate.” Kelly said, yelling into Kate’s ear.
Kate’s body was moving to the music. “No, I want to stay awhile.” She finished the drink in one swallow. “Let’s dance,” Kate said, trying to get off the stool.
As Kate’s feet hit the ground she swayed into Kelly’s arms.
“Are we going to slow dance?” Kate asked inches from Kelly’s face.
“Yes, we are. Hold on just a moment.” Kelly paid their bill and ushered Kate toward the door.
“Where are we going?” Kate asked, unable to stop the movement of Kelly leading her out the door.
Kelly got Kate to the car, and before she got in on her side of the car, she was fast asleep. She looked at Kate and said, “How am I going to get you out of this car?”
Luckily when she pulled up to the house, Reese and Jennifer were sitting on their front porch. She pulled the car into the driveway and stepped out. “Hi,” she said leaning on the car door. “Jennifer, I need your help with Kate.” She pointed to the sleeping woman.
“What did you do to her, Casanova?” Jennifer asked as she stepped off the porch.
“She kept ordering martinis. I tried to get her to slow down, but...” Kelly’s hands came up in frustration.
“Honey, can you open the front door for us?” Jennifer asked, handing her the keys.
Jennifer lifted Kate out of the car with ease, and then Kelly stood on the other side. They got Kate into the house and up the stairs. Reese pulled back the covers on the bed and sat her down.
“Kate, can you hear me?” Reese said into her face.
Kate’s eyes opened for a moment. “Hi. Do you want to dance? I asked Kelly, but she didn’t want to.”
Kelly giggled with Jennifer as they watched from the other side of the room.
“Honey, I’m going to help you get out of these clothes. Okay?” Reese asked.
Kate nodded, but stopped Reese’s hands. “Some guy wanted to dance with us. He called us dykes, and I told him we were lesbians and to get lost.”
The giggles began again.
“Would you two leave us alone so I can get her changed?” Reese said, craning her head to see them.
“Okay honey, we’re going.” Jennifer ushered Kelly from the room.
“I’m glad you two were home,” Kelly said, waving her hand across her forehead. “She’s small, but that would have been dead weight.”
“Why didn’t you stop her from drinking?” Jennifer asked, frustrated.
“I tried, but she wouldn’t listen.” Kelly breathed in deeply. “One minute we’re having a good time and the next she’s having too much to drink. Do you think this is about that guy she’s in love with?”
Jennifer looked at Kelly with a smirk on her face. “I thought you were smarter than that, Casanova,” Jennifer said shaking her head.
Reese came down the stairs. “Kate’s all tucked in for the night. There’s a bottle of water on the nightstand for when she wakes up.”
“Thank you both for your help.”
“It wasn’t that long ago that my mother had to help Jennifer to bed. Remember, honey?” Reese said, taking Jennifer’s arm.
“Yes, I remember someone didn’t warn me that the sweet tea was spiked,” Jennifer said, pointing at Reese and then smiled at Kelly. “It was all because of a woman.” Her head nodded toward Reese. “Heartache does strange things to us, as you can see from Kate.”
“Come on, honey. Let Kelly get to bed, too.” Reese ushered Jennifer toward the door.
“Thanks again,” Kelly called out as they left.
She went up the stairs carrying a water bottle and walked into the darken room. Kelly took off her clothes and put on a t-shirt and a pair of boxers. As she pulled back the sheets, she heard Kate moan.
“I think I’m going to be sick,” Kate said, sitting up.
Kelly was at her side immediately. “Hold on, let’s get you into the bathroom before you let go.” She flipped on the light and lifted the lid on the toilet.
The martinis might have gone down smooth, but they came up with a vengeance. Over and over Kate vomited until she had nothing left. Kelly helped her stand, and sat her on the closed toilet seat.
“Don’t go away,” Kelly said as she went in search of a washcloth. She came back with the washcloth and the bottle of water. Kelly dampened the cloth and washed Kate’s face. Then she handed her the bottle of water. “Drink some of this. You’ll feel better.” Kelly opened the medicine cabinet hoping to find a bottle of aspirins. “Great,” she said as she handed two pills to Kate.
“I’m so embarrassed. I don’t even remember coming home.” Kate held her head in pain.
“Jennifer helped me get you into the house and Reese got you into your pajamas.” Kelly lifted Kate up. “Let’s get you back to bed. I’d like to say you’ll feel better in the morning, but I doubt that.”
“I’m sorry for spoiling our evening.” Kate began to cry. “I wanted us to have a good time.”
“Don’t cry, Kate,” Kelly said, wiping her tears. “I had a good time.” She laid her back on the bed when she heard voices in the hallway. “Get some sleep.” Kelly opened the bedroom door and saw Meredith.
“Hi,” Meredith said as she stepped into the hallway. “You left your car in the driveway. Dave moved it for you.”
“Come downstairs with me a minute,” Kelly said leading her toward the stairs.
“What’s wrong?” Meredith asked as they went into the living room.
“Kate had a little too much to drink. She doesn’t drink much does she?”
“I’ve never seen her drunk,” Meredith insisted.
“She had three martinis in a short period of time. I had to get Jennifer to help me get her into the house.”
“I’m shocked,” Meredith said, surprised.
“I just wanted to let you know so no one would say anything in the morning. She will be mortified enough without anyone teasing her.”