Dawn’s New Day

by TJ Thomas

  Cam opened the door. “Hey, Cindy.”

  “Hi, sweets.”

  Cam opened the door wider. “Want to see the place first?”

  Cindy stepped into the house. “Yes! I can’t believe it took you so long to ask.”

  Cam gave Cindy a quick tour of the house before heading out.

  *****

  As the first rays of sun peeked through the window, Dawn woke and stretched her whole body. She’d dreamt about a tall, dark, sexy woman. It didn’t take any time at all to picture Cam. She was all of those things and gorgeous. Cam is too handsome for her own good, and mine too for that matter. Dawn gave herself a moment to feel everything. Then she shook her head and climbed out of bed. It doesn’t matter how handsome my new neighbor is or how nice she seems. I am not going there. I’m not putting myself in that position ever again.

  She planned on working for a couple of hours before giving herself a break to plant some new annuals in the backyard. But first she needed coffee. As she passed through the living room, she glanced outside and saw a truck at Cam’s place. At that moment, she saw Cam and a stunning blonde walk out to the truck arm in arm. They appeared to be engaged in deep, intimate conversation with their heads close together.

  Cam opened the passenger side door for the blonde and walked around to climb in the driver’s side. Cam pulled down the driveway, and Dawn quickly lost sight of the vehicle as it rounded a curve in the road. Well, that makes things easier. Given this new information it should have been a piece of cake to put Cam out of her mind. She had a girlfriend. Therefore she was completely off limits. Even if Dawn dated, she wouldn’t ever date someone who was with someone else. So why couldn’t she forget about Cam? Dawn went back to the kitchen. She still needed coffee.

  Chapter Three

  The following weekend, Dawn was busy at her studio computer when the doorbell rang. She had spent the better part of the day working on a new T-shirt design. She wasn’t expecting anyone, but since Cam moved in next door, either June or Kate popped over occasionally to see if she wanted to join them. It hadn’t escaped her notice Cam was never the one who invited her over. She always had fun, especially with Kate and June, but she remained cautious around Cam.

  Dawn peeked through the peephole to see who was at the door. She smiled as she opened the door to Kate. “Well, hi there.”

  “Hi, yourself.”

  “Come in. What are you up to?”

  “We’re hanging out at Cam’s. She’s about to grill steaks, and we’re talking about going bowling afterward. We wondered if you’d be interested in joining us for either or both?”

  An image of the blonde she saw with Cam the other day floated through Dawn’s mind. She wondered why she never hung out with them. She hadn’t asked June or Kate about the woman because that would make her more important than she was. It shouldn’t matter. It didn’t. She wasn’t interested in Cam.

  “Earth to Dawn,” Kate said with humor in her voice.

  Kate’s voice brought Dawn back to reality. “What?” She covered as best she could. “Oh sorry, I was just thinking. I was working, but I love bowling even though I haven’t had a chance to go in ages. So, yeah sure, I need to finish a couple of things, and then I’ll head over.”

  “Great. We’ll see you in a little while then.”

  “Anything I can bring? A bottle of wine or a six-pack of beer?”

  “We never turn down alcohol of any kind, but we’d just love to see you. You don’t have to bring anything.”

  “Okay. Well, then, I’ll see you soon.” Dawn closed the door behind Kate. What am I getting myself into?

  Soon Dawn went to the bedroom where she quickly changed into dark jeans and a long-sleeved blouse. She grabbed a bag from the back of the closet. She stopped in the kitchen and opted to take a six-pack of beer. It was more appropriate for a night of steaks and bowling.

  Kate had left Cam’s front door open, so Dawn walked in, set her bag by the door, and closed the door behind her. She took the beer to the kitchen where she found June.

  “Hey, glad you could make it.” June wrapped Dawn in a warm embrace.

  “Sounds like fun. Should I put this in the fridge?” she asked, raising the six-pack.

  “Sure. The opener is on the counter, if you want to pop one open now.”

  Once Dawn opened a beer, she and June walked out back. Cam stood at the grill watching the steaks. Kate sat under the gazebo chatting with her. Cam looked over as she and June came outside. “Hi, Dawn.”

  “Hi. Those steaks smell delicious. Thanks for having me over.”

  “Sure. Glad you could make it.” Conversation flowed easily as they shared the meal Cam prepared. Once dinner was finished, everyone pitched in to clean up and then they headed to June’s truck to go bowling. When June saw Dawn’s bowling bag, she laughed. “Uh-oh, Cam, looks like you might have some serious competition on your hands.”

  “I enjoy a challenge.”

  Dawn blushed but didn’t respond as she climbed into the backseat with Kate. Certainly Cam was being friendly, not flirting.

  Once in their lane, they quickly paired up, Cam and June versus Kate and Dawn, for two games. The first wouldn’t count; it was a warm-up. But the second game had teeth. The winning pair would pick the song the losing team had to sing at the karaoke bar attached to the bowling alley. Dawn had never wagered on bowling before, but she figured the worst that could happen was three minutes of humiliation.

  Well into the first round, it became obvious the teams were well matched and the next round could get interesting. Dawn hadn’t bowled in a long time, and the first round helped her to find her groove again. Kate and June were equally matched, so it came down to a competition between Cam and Dawn. Cam managed to keep it close until the sixth frame. Then Dawn started pulling away. Kate cheered Dawn on as she threw strike after strike. They won handily.

  Dawn and Kate shook hands with Cam and June. Dawn smiled as she ever so briefly touched Cam’s hand before pulling away. “Good game.”

  Cam shook her head at Dawn’s reaction to her. “That was an outstanding game, Dawn, where did you learn to bowl like that?”

  Dawn sat, already pulling off her bowling shoes. She shrugged. “I grew up in a tiny town. Not a lot to do on Friday and Saturday nights.”

  Kate sat next to Dawn. “So what song should we make them sing?”

  “I honestly have no idea. You should pick it.”

  “No way. We wouldn’t have won if it weren’t for you. Come on, let’s look through the book and pick something good.”

  Dawn and Kate had their heads close together bent over the song list when Cam and June found them crowded on one side of a small table. They had gotten more beer on their way over. When the two of them sat down, Kate laughed. “This is going to be good.”

  Dawn said nothing but smiled shyly.

  June asked, “So, what would you ladies like us to sing for you?”

  Kate slid the song request across the table. Cam and June grinned good-naturedly.

  Dawn did all she could to avoid making eye contact with any of them when Kate took the slip of paper to the DJ. They enjoyed the other performers until Cam and June’s names were called. As Cam and June stood to walk to the stage, Dawn risked a glance at Cam. Cam winked at Dawn and walked away. Dawn was caught by surprise. She gasped softly and her heart raced. She was busy chastising herself and the next thing she knew the music started. She looked toward the stage and was held in Cam’s gaze. Dawn laughed along with Kate as Cam and June hammed it up for the audience as they sang.

  Dawn couldn’t help but compare Cam to Lori. Lori was wickedly competitive. She suspected Cam was as well in different circumstances. But if tonight was any indication, she was also a very good sport. Her demeanor hadn’t changed at all as the game turned in Dawn’s favor. She’d never stopped laughing or the teasing banter. Unlike Lori, she had not gotten silently angry and sulked as Dawn took the lead. Not that Lori had ever bothered to go bowling with her, b
ut when they’d played other games Dawn found herself changing the way she played so Lori would have a chance to win. It couldn’t be obvious though, or she would have to deal with the aftermath. Dawn hadn’t needed to change anything about how she played tonight. She hadn’t had a moment of fear about what would happen if she won. She and Kate had beaten Cam and June handily, and she felt good about it. They didn’t detract from the victory. In fact they celebrated it with them. They held up their end of the bargain and helped her revel in the win.

  *****

  Dawn’s art reflected her world. Places, people, landscapes, animals, and all other things she found important or inspiring ended up in her pieces. Today, she was working on a simple neighborhood scene. There was the movement of children playing and moms pushing strollers, but also the stillness of people sitting on front porches chatting and flower gardens basking in the sun. She stepped back and studied the canvas. She’d been working for hours and the painting was almost done, but something was missing. She just couldn’t figure out what. Perhaps after a break it would come to her. She swirled her brushes in a jar and reached her arms up and stretched her whole body to work out the kinks. After cleaning her brushes, she glanced at her watch and realized it was late afternoon. It should be cool enough to work in the garden for a while.

  She headed directly to the back door and pulled on her long-sleeve work shirt and floppy hat. She grabbed her gardening bucket and went around the house to weed the beds in the front yard where the shade already crept across the yard.

  Dawn noticed too late that Cam was out front working on her motorcycle. There was no gracious exit. She waved and tried to go about her weeding. She tried to ignore Cam, who was less than fifty feet away, but quickly realized that would be impossible as long as she was this close. Instead she decided to engage in neighborly conversation.

  Dawn set her tools in her bucket, stood, brushed the dirt from her knees, and peeled off her gloves. Then she headed toward Cam.

  Cam smiled. The genuine joy Dawn saw on Cam’s face disarmed her. She faltered. She shouldn’t get any closer. Cam hadn’t made any move to get to know her without June and Kate, and Dawn was grateful for that. She was still uneasy around Cam. There was a pull when she was around, but Dawn didn’t want to explore it. She would rather ignore it completely. Perhaps she should just leave it at that. But it felt weird to ignore Cam when she was so close, and if she couldn’t talk to her about a common interest, what kind of neighbor was she?

  Cam was in the jeans and tight black T-shirt she favored when she wasn’t at work. Cam didn’t even have to try to be enticing. Dawn shook her head, trying to dispel the thought. “You look happy.”

  “I am. It’s always a pleasure to see you.”

  Dawn didn’t miss the suggestive tone of Cam’s remark but chose to ignore it. She nodded toward the bike. “Is something wrong with it?”

  “Nah, I just like to tinker sometimes. You know, make sure she stays finely tuned.”

  “Sure.” Dawn ran her hand over the seat. “She’s a gorgeous machine.”

  “You know bikes?”

  “Yeah, I grew up with them. All the guys I hung out with had them. I learned about them to keep up. Then I learned to ride. We had a great dirt course just a couple of minutes outside of town. Of course once I got good, I figured out pretty quickly that beating them at their own game wasn’t good for maintaining friendships. Luckily, it didn’t matter to me. After a while, I just rode for fun. But that was years ago. I haven’t ridden in a long time.”

  “You have so many secrets, my red-haired friend.”

  Dawn laughed it off. “Not a secret, just something you didn’t know.”

  Cam wiped her hands on the rag she had nearby. “It’s a gorgeous day. Why don’t you let me take you for a ride? I’ve got an extra helmet in the garage.”

  Dawn’s heart beat hard in her chest. She was tempted, so tempted. She thought about feeling the power of the engine humming between her legs, the wind rushing by. She missed the sensations of riding a motorcycle, but there was no way she trusted herself to have that experience with Cam. To climb on a bike behind Cam, wrap her arms tightly around her, and feel her heat through the T-shirt she wore. No way. Dawn couldn’t risk what that might do to her. Simply thinking about it was enough to rev her engine. But temptation did take her as far as glancing at the garage. That’s when she saw the truck, Cam’s girlfriend’s truck. She must be in the house.

  “Thanks, but I should get back to my weeding,” she said, trying to back away graciously.

  “Dawn, what are you scared of?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You’re afraid to climb on this bike because it means you would have to get close to me. Why does that scare you?”

  Dawn’s cheeks flamed. She thought about mentioning the girlfriend. But that made it seem like she was jealous. “Just because I don’t feel like a ride today, you make it into something more than it is. It shouldn’t surprise me.” Okay, that was probably a little harsh.

  “What does that mean?” Cam asked.

  “Nothing, it doesn’t mean anything. Sorry, I just need to get back to my weeding. Enjoy your tinkering.”

  Dawn turned and walked away before Cam could respond.

  Dawn stabbed the spade into the dirt with more force than necessary. Damn, she irritates me! Just because I don’t want to go for a motorcycle ride she thinks I have the hots for her, like she’s God’s gift to women or something. It couldn’t be as simple as I don’t feel like going for a ride? So maybe it’s true that I don’t want to get too close. She has a girlfriend. She shouldn’t be flirting with me. Geesh. Just because she offered me a ride on her bike doesn’t mean she wants to get in my pants. Maybe she was just being friendly because I expressed an interest in motorcycles. This is just too complicated.

  Dawn yanked weed after weed from the earth and shook the soil from their roots. Her mind whirred in circles. I was only trying to be a friendly neighbor. Look where that got me, more confused than before. Why the hell does Cam have to be so damn attractive? This isn’t getting me anywhere. I just need to go back to work and get my mind off her. As Dawn flashed back on the piece she’d been painting, it hit her, and she knew what was missing. After she finished weeding, she’d go back into the studio and paint a woman working on her motorcycle. That would complete the painting nicely. But damn if it didn’t irritate the hell out of her.

  For a second, Cam thought about going after her. Maybe we should just have it out and get whatever is standing between us out of the way. I’m ready to have that conversation, but I bet Dawn isn’t, and without two willing participants we won’t get anywhere.

  She let Dawn go. She watched her pull her gloves back on and attack the few weeds that dared sprout since she last tended the front garden. Cam suspected if Dawn wasn’t dead set on making a point, she would have simply gone inside and finished her weeding later. She turned back to her bike, whistling. She seemed to be getting under Dawn’s skin.

  It wasn’t actually her goal to irritate Dawn. She simply wanted to get to know her better. The exchange they had just now was the first one Dawn had initiated since the day they met. Cam wanted to figure out a way to learn more about Dawn without scaring her away. They were neighbors, and she didn’t want to be at odds with anyone who lived that close.

  *****

  Cam and Kate had a standing lunch date for Wednesdays when Kate came downtown for classes. Cam was still close with both June and Kate and most often saw them together, but she also regularly got together with each separately to maintain her individual connections. As she waited for Kate, Cam caught herself staring into space again. This wasn’t like her. At work, she was usually focused and efficient.

  Over the past few weeks, she found her mind wandering at the most inopportune times, during meetings, while talking to her staff, even talking to her boss. This wasn’t good. She couldn’t stop thinking about Dawn. She intrigued her as few women had. Dawn had develo
ped a quick and easy rapport with June and Kate, but whenever Cam was around it was different. She was quiet and reserved. She wasn’t unfriendly. She just seemed to keep her distance. Dawn had a strong, sturdy wall around her, and Cam couldn’t seem to get around or through. It puzzled her.

  It had always been easy for her to put women at ease, get them talking. Dawn was different. There had to be a way to loosen her reserve. Thankfully, Cam was stopped from meandering down this uncertain path for the eleventeenth time by a knock on her office door.

  “Hey,” Kate said. “You look totally lost in thought. Where were you?”

  Cam locked her computer screen. “Trying to solve a complex problem.”

  “Do you need some time? I’ve got a few things I can do.”

  “No. Maybe a distraction will help. Let’s go.”

  Cam and Kate walked down University Avenue, in the heart of Hillcrest, to one of their favorite Thai restaurants and grabbed a booth.

  Once settled, Kate said, “Confession time. You don’t daydream, so what’s going on?”

  “I wish I knew,” she said, exhaling deeply and sinking into the bench.

  Kate leaned close and put her hand on Cam’s arm. “Is everything okay?”

  “Yes. Everything’s fine. It’s just that…this is going to sound strange, but here goes…I can’t figure Dawn out.”

  “What do you mean?” Kate asked.

  “Okay, so hear me out. She’s intelligent, smokin’ hot, talented, funny, and fun to be around, but I don’t think she ever goes out. It’s like she doesn’t have a life outside of her house.”

  “Maybe she’s busy getting ready for her show. Or maybe she goes places when you’re at work.”

  “I thought about that, but she seems to have time to garden and hang out with us when we ask. When you came in I was thinking about how reluctant she is to engage me in conversation. Everything seems to be easy between her and you and June. But between her and me it’s…different.” Cam groaned. “I sound pathetic.”