by Mj Williamz
“That’s what Connie’s for,” she said. “She’ll evaluate your skills and help match you with a suitable job.”
“But we keep hearing there are no jobs in today’s economy.”
Grey had to fight her frustration. It wasn’t an uncommon emotion to feel at her shelter, but she knew she couldn’t let it show. “This has to be something you’re willing to do, Martha. It’ll help build your self-esteem and your independence. Plus, it’ll keep you busy and your mind occupied.”
“I really have nothing to lose by meeting with her,” Martha said.
Well, it was something, anyway. Grey would settle for baby steps. And this was a huge baby step for Martha.
“That’s the attitude I want to hear,” Grey lied. “You have nothing to lose and so very much to gain.”
It was time for their session to end. Grey had more residents to see.
“I’ll talk to you Friday and you can let me know how your appointment goes. Sound good?”
“Okay. I’ll see you then.”
Grey turned back to her computer and jotted down her notes from the session. She closed her eyes and meditated for a few moments, making sure she let go of any negative emotions so she could project positivity to her residents.
Her next session was with Sally, their newest resident. She’d been with them a few days, and Grey had met with her every day. When she walked in, Grey was careful to keep her face neutral and not look shocked at the greens and blues of her face.
“How are you feeling?” Grey asked as she closed the door.
“Embarrassed.”
“Embarrassed? How so?”
“I can’t believe I let this happen to me.”
“You truly believe this was your fault?”
“I do. If I’d had dinner ready, this wouldn’t have happened.”
“Tell me then, Sally, why didn’t you have dinner ready?” Grey asked softly.
Tears that were brimming in Sally’s eyes burst loose and flowed freely down her face.
“I’m not agreeing with him, you understand,” Grey said. “I’m simply asking what you were doing that prevented you from having dinner ready.”
“I was cleaning the house. He insisted we buy a twenty-five-hundred-square-foot house for the two of us, and it takes time to clean it. I’d been doing laundry and cleaning all day. I had dinner going, but it wasn’t ready when he got home.”
“And he called to let you know he was on his way?”
“No.”
“So you had no idea what time you ‘had’ to have dinner done, did you?”
“No.”
“So how can you feel that you were responsible for not getting dinner done in time for him?”
Sally was sobbing. She buried her face in her hands, then jumped at the pain it caused.
“I should have. I just should have.”
“And if you’d had it done early and it was cold when he got home, what would have happened?”
Sally looked at her with sad eyes. Grey knew there would have been no way to make her husband happy. She just needed Sally to accept that and release her feelings of responsibility. She changed the subject.
“Have you checked in with your boss?”
Sally nodded and accepted the box of tissues Grey handed her. She wiped her nose and cringed at the pain.
“I told him I’d be out the rest of the week. But I won’t be able to take time off after that. How can I go to work looking like this?”
“Did you tell him what happened?”
“No. I told him I’d had an accident and wouldn’t be able to go to work.”
“Okay, well, we can have someone go in with you this week to talk to him, so he’ll at least be aware. How does that sound?”
“That would be good, I guess.”
“We’ll have a volunteer go with you. When would you like to do that?”
“I’ll call my boss to set up an appointment this afternoon.”
“Good. Now that that’s settled. What would you like to talk about next?”
“What am I going to do?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, when I leave here. What am I going to do?”
“Well, there’s no hurry, you know that. To leave here, I mean,” Grey said.
“But I can’t stay here forever.”
“You can stay here until you’re ready to leave.”
“When will that be?” Sally asked.
“Well, each person’s stay is different.”
“What if someone else needs this place more than me?”
“How can we decide who needs our services more? You need us right now and we’re here for you.”
“Still, it scares me to think of what lies ahead.”
“Why? What specifically scares you?”
“I don’t want to go back to him. But where else can I go? You’re going to kick me out when my time is up, and I’m not going to have anywhere to go and I’ll have to go back. And he’s going to be even madder than usual that I’ve been gone.”
Sally was sobbing hysterically. Grey moved to the couch and placed an arm around Sally’s shoulder.
“No one’s kicking you out,” she said. “And no one is going to make you go back to him. We’ll start working toward you getting your own place and being able to function on your own.”
“But how long will that take?”
“It will take as long as it needs to. There’s no time line here, Sally. We’re here for you until you’re ready. Please don’t worry about that. You’re welcome to stay here as long as you need to.”
Sally leaned against Grey and cried. Grey could feel the tension and fear in her and wished she could do more to reassure her. She simply held her and let her cry.
*
Boone spent the morning running errands for work. She stopped at the bank to make a deposit, then swung by the butcher’s to pick up ground beef for the lunch and dinner rushes. Her week had been slow so far, but they’d had a great weekend, so she didn’t worry about the lack of business. And it was Thursday, which meant two-for-one burger night. That always drew a crowd. Plus there was a preseason NFL game on, so she planned on a good night.
She returned to the bar in time for the kitchen crew to make burger patties out of the bulk ground beef she’d bought.
A few people came in around eleven thirty for an early lunch, but the lunch rush hit in earnest at noon. Boone was behind the bar helping pour drinks. They were busy, and she felt good.
“Hey, sis, how about a beer here?”
Boone turned and saw her brother sitting at the bar. He was tall and dark and looked remarkably like her.
“Hey, Tanner! How you doin’?” She handed him his favorite beer. Boone wasn’t close to her brother. She wasn’t close to anyone in her family, but her brother wasn’t an unknown at the bar.
“Are you sticking around? Or is this a one beer kinda stop?”
“Open a tab for me, sis. I’ll be here a while.”
Boone cringed inside but outwardly kept her cool.
“Sure thing, bro.”
She waited on other customers, and when the place cleared out again, she walked back over to Tanner.
“So, how’s Phoebe?” She asked about his wife. She was so quiet and reserved, where Tanner was loud and obnoxious. Boone wondered again how they ever got together.
“She’s doing great. Hey, did you see the Ducks on Saturday?”
“You know I did. You have the afternoon off?”
“I’m taking the afternoon off. I work too fucking hard.”
Boone bit her tongue. Tanner worked construction, and while she agreed that was hard work, he spent more time at her bar than he should, and she knew The Boonies wasn’t the only place he frequented. And he’d borrowed more than a few dollars from her over the years. She doubted he knew what hard work was. She wondered again what that sweet Phoebe saw in him.
“Take a load off, sis. Have a beer with me.”
“Maybe jus
t one.” She sat down and took a pull on her brew.
“So what’s new with you?” he asked.
“Not a thing. Workin’ and playin’. That’s about it.”
“You got a good life, Boone. No responsibilities. No worries. Must be nice.”
Boone nearly choked on her beer. No responsibilities? What the hell did he call owning her own business? She really didn’t like him sometimes. Well, most of the time. He reminded her a lot of their dad, whom she despised.
“I do have a good life,” she said. “But I’ve worked hard for it. Still do.”
“You call this work?” He motioned to the bar. “This is playtime, sis.”
“A lot of people do come here to play. And that’s a good thing.”
“You ready for another beer?” he asked. She found it amusing that he acted like he was buying her beer. She knew there was a ninety percent chance he’d leave without paying his tab. It wouldn’t be the first time. Nor the last, unfortunately.
“I’ve got some things to do,” she said. “Be sure to settle up when you’re finished.”
“You know it.”
“I’ll catch you later, Tanner.”
“Yeah. Later.”
She drove back to her house and changed into her swimsuit. She swam laps with determination, trying to relax after seeing her brother. She pushed herself hard so all she could focus on were her strokes as she cut through the water.
Thoughts of Tanner were long gone when she got out of the pool. All she had on her mind was the good time to be had at the bar watching football. She loved fall, and it was rapidly approaching. Summer was still clinging to the Pacific Northwest, a rare treat. But fall would be there soon and that meant even more football. Boone loved all sports, but football was her favorite.
She made it back to the bar at five thirty, in time to watch the pregame show. The place was packed and the kitchen staff were cranking out the two-for-one burgers. Boone smiled. Life was good.
She grabbed a beer and leaned against the bar, leaving the stools open for the paying customers. A group of men came in and asked about the Mariners game. Boone went behind the bar and put the game on a smaller television in the corner. The men were content and sat at a table to watch their team.
The two big screens were dedicated to the football game. The game was between an East Coast team and a Midwest team, so Boone normally wouldn’t have cared who won, but the former Ducks coach was leading the Eagles, so she was excited to see how they would fare. Many others in the bar seemed to have the same idea. When Chip Kelly came on the screen, the place erupted in cheers.
The place looked like it did when the Ducks played, with everyone wearing their Ducks gear to support Chip. Now they all had to wait and see if his awesome coaching from college would carry over to the pros.
There were a few people in Kansas City colors, but they were definitely the minority.
Boone made her way around the bar, making sure everyone was having fun and had everything they needed. She wasn’t above taking empty pitchers up to the bar to be refilled. Anything to keep the customers happy and coming back.
She wandered over to a table full of Chiefs fans and asked if they were having fun. One young woman smiled at her, her blue eyes twinkling.
“We kind of feel like we’re in hostile territory.” She laughed.
“Nothing hostile about this place. We’re a fun-loving group.”
“With a lot of Eagles fans.”
“Mostly Duck fans. Rooting for the Eagles ’cause of Chip Kelly.”
“Who’s he?” the brunette asked.
“Who’s Chip Kelly?” Boone laughed. “Only one of the greatest coaches ever in college football.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t follow college ball.”
Boone was at a loss. College ball was huge in Portland. She couldn’t imagine anyone not following it.
“You’re not from around here, are you?” she asked.
“Did my Chiefs jersey give me away?”
Boone laughed again. She liked this feisty woman with the laughing eyes and beautiful smile. And she liked the way she gave Boone shit. Boone deserved that question and took it in stride.
“I suppose there is that,” Boone said. “So how does someone from Kansas City end up watching a game in my lowly bar?”
“Your bar?”
“My bar. I own the place.” She extended her hand. “I’m Boone.”
“Ah. As in The Boonies. Nice to meet you.” She took her hand. “I’m Ancella.”
“Nice to meet you, Ancella. Let me know if I can get you anything. I’ll be making the rounds.”
She turned to leave when she felt Ancella’s hand on her arm. She looked back.
“Do you have to make the rounds? You’re welcome to join us.”
“I tell you what. Let me make one more trip around the bar to see that everyone has what they need and then I’ll come back and hang out with you.”
Boone quickly cruised around the bar, checking for empty glasses and pitchers. She told her waitstaff which tables needed attention, then turned her own attention back to Ancella.
Ancella scooted over on her bench to afford Boone room to sit down. Boone was introduced to the rest of the Chiefs fans at the table and made polite conversation, all the time aware of the nearness of Ancella. She could smell her vanilla musk perfume, and it added to the warmth she was feeling being in her presence.
“So are you from Kansas City?” Boone asked.
“I’m actually from Overland Park, so yeah, pretty much.”
“I’ll have to take your word on that. I’m not too familiar with Kansas.”
“Well, I don’t have a dog named Toto or an Auntie Em, if those are your next questions,” Ancella said with a smile.
Boone once again laughed at the sharp wit, delivered so effortlessly and in good humor. She liked a smart woman, even if she was a smart-ass.
“Okay, so maybe I know enough about Kansas not to ask that.”
“And you?” Ancella said. “Are you Portland born and bred?”
“I actually grew up outside of Eugene and went to college there, then moved here after I graduated.”
“Eugene is the home of the Ducks, I take it?”
“Well, you know something about college football, after all.”
It was Ancella’s turn to laugh.
“No, I just see all these Duck shirts here, so I just assumed you were a Duck, too.”
“You’re a wise woman, aren’t you?”
“I can put two and two together.”
Boone stood. “Can I get you all another round?”
She took their orders and walked up to the bar. She ordered their drinks and told the bartender to put it on her tab. Then made sure they knew to get the drinks out to the table immediately.
“You didn’t have to do that,” Ancella said. “I mean, if you’re trying to impress me, relax, I’m already hooked.”
“Wow, smart, beautiful, and straightforward. I like those qualities in a woman.”
“Okay, now you’re just being a charmer.”
“Can’t I be straightforward, too?” Boone said.
“Fair enough,” Ancella said. “So, are you one of those fans who has to watch a game until the last play?”
“Are you suggesting we may be able to find something better to do than watch football?”
“I am.”
“My truck’s out back.”
CHAPTER THREE
“Oh my God, Boone!” Ancella cried out as she rode Boone’s fingers deep inside her. “Oh dear God. I don’t know what you’re doing, but don’t you dare stop!”
“Yeah? You like that? You want more?” Boone plunged her fingers as far as they would go. “You want more of this?”
“Oh God, yes. Please!”
Boone twisted her hand and stroked a different area in the depths of Ancella. The soft, silky area was very responsive, no matter where she rubbed her fingertips. Her pussy was tight, squeezing Boone, but Bo
one reveled in the feeling. She knew her knuckles rubbing against Ancella pleased her as much as her fingers.
Ancella arched her hips, taking her deeper. She thrust them round and round, allowing Boone to touch every spot inside her.
“Holy fuck, Boone. You sure know what you’re doing.”
Encouraged, Boone continued to fuck her with all she had.
“You’re so fucking hot,” Boone said. “Oh God, you’re fun.”
“I can’t take much more,” Ancella said.
“I bet you can.”
“No, please. I need to come, Boone. Please get me off.”
Boone focused her attention on the soft plushness at her fingertips and flicked her fingers against it. Her hand was cramping, yet she still gave it her all.
“Come for me, Ancella. Come for me now.”
“Oh yes, Boone. Oh dear God, YES!” she screamed.
Boone braced herself as Ancella’s center closed around her over and over, bruising her in its intensity. It was a small price to pay to give her such pleasure.
“How you doing?” Boone asked a few minutes later.
Ancella nodded.
“I’m going to pull my hand out now.”
Ancella nodded again.
Boone slowly withdrew her hand, happy at last to have it free of its confines. She lay next to Ancella and wrapped her arms around her.
“I don’t think I have any liquid left in my body,” Ancella said with a thick tongue. Boone laughed and handed her a glass of water.
“Much better. Thank you,” Ancella said.
“I aim to please.”
“You succeed.”
“Thank you.”
Boone pulled Ancella into her arms again and they fell into a fitful sleep.
Ancella shook Boone awake in the morning.
“Hey, handsome? Boone?”
“Hmm?” Sleep had a solid grip on Boone.
“Hey, Boone. I hate to do this, but I need to get home to get ready for work. I left my car at the bar. I need a ride. Boone? Are you awake?”
Boone stretched, the night before coming back to her.
“You sure you need to go right now?”
“I’m sorry, but I really do.”
Boone finally opened her eyes and saw that Ancella was already dressed.
“So I guess a repeat performance is out of the question, huh?”