Hopes and Dreams

by P. J. Trebelhorn

  Dinner was indeed wonderful, although it wasn’t meat loaf. Riley had made a roasted chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy, broccoli, and an amazing chocolate cheesecake for dessert. Vic ate more than she should have, but it had all been so delicious. She helped with the dishes even though Riley protested, and then they made their way up to the roof to watch the sunset.

  “How would you feel about coming to visit me in the city?” Vic asked once they were settled, each with a glass of wine. Riley looked up at the sky but didn’t say anything. Vic was pretty sure what her major concern was, and she sought to alleviate any uneasiness. “Just for a couple of days, because I know you’re needed at work. And I have a guestroom, so there’s no pressure to share a bed. Unless you want to. It just can’t be the first two weeks I’m back, because I’m going to be swamped with Vanessa on her honeymoon and after being away for three weeks. My father is the boss, and honestly, he’s advocating for this.” She waved a hand between them, causing Riley to finally look at her. “So I’m pretty sure he’d be okay with me taking some time off if you came to visit.”

  “Sounds like you have it all figured out.” Riley gave her a tight smile.

  “I just don’t want this to end when I leave.” Vic spoke quietly, feeling as if she were to say the words too loud, they might actually come true. “I really do enjoy spending time with you, Riley, and I’d like to see where this might go between us. Please tell me you want the same thing.”

  Riley was still smiling, but it didn’t reach her eyes which caused a little concern for Vic. Riley looked like she wanted to say something, so Vic decided to wait her out. Besides, she felt she’d already rambled on enough.

  “Ask me again after the wedding reception, okay?”

  “Okay,” Vic said around the lump in her throat. She had the distinct feeling the reception might be the last time she ever saw Riley, and it actually made her heart hurt.

  Chapter Eighteen

  The next two weeks flew by for Riley, which didn’t really surprise her. After the dinner and sunset they’d shared, Vic had left with a simple kiss good night. The following Sunday and Monday, they’d gone out to dinner, once in Albany, and once at the diner in town again. Vic had come by the theater to see her a few times, and they’d spoken on the phone daily. Now here it was, the night before Vanessa’s wedding, and she was already regretting having to say good-bye to Vic after the reception.

  “Riley,” said Nancy as she stuck her head in the office. “The bachelorette party just pulled up outside.”

  Riley nodded at her as she felt her chest tighten. She wanted so badly to see Vic again, but she knew her heart was going to break when she left town in less than forty-eight hours. She stood and tried to straighten her hair and clothes before heading out to the front doors to greet the party. Well, to greet Vanessa, anyway, since the party was for her.

  Vic and Vanessa were the last two to walk in, and Riley smiled slightly when she saw Vanessa was blindfolded. Vic met her eyes and gave her a big smile.

  “Vic, where are we?” Vanessa asked. She sniffed at the air and Riley knew she would recognize the distinctive smell of a theater. Vanessa grabbed Vic’s arm and turned toward her. “Oh, my God, I smell popcorn. I love popcorn. Are we seeing a movie?”

  Riley almost laughed when Vanessa scrunched her nose up, because she was no doubt thinking the same thing Riley had. A movie theater was definitely an odd choice of venue to hold a bachelorette party.

  “We are,” Vic said as she removed the blindfold. Vanessa blinked a few times as she took in her surroundings. Her eyes stopped at the sign above the nearest theater door, then looked at Vic again with one eyebrow raised.

  “Have you noticed they’re only playing kid’s movies?”

  “On that screen, yes, but there are two other screens,” Riley said, and Vanessa looked at her for the first time.

  “Riley scored a copy of Fifty Shades of Grey for you,” Vic said with a grateful smile directed at Riley, who felt something in her chest melt.

  “Are you kidding me?” Vanessa practically screamed the words, and when Riley nodded in response, Vanessa threw her arms around her and squeezed her tightly. Vic met her eyes over Vanessa’s shoulder and held a hand out for Riley, who gripped it without hesitation. “You’re awesome.”

  “She is that,” Vic said with a grin.

  “All right, ladies, the movie will start whenever you’re all ready.” Riley spoke loudly as she made her way behind the snack bar counter and held her arms out to her sides. “Refreshments have already been paid for, so just let us know what you want. Unfortunately, we don’t have a liquor license, so no alcoholic beverages are allowed.”

  A few women booed good-naturedly, and for the next few minutes they were slammed with orders for popcorn, candy, pretzel bites, and sodas. Once they were all inside the theater and settled in their seats, Riley ran upstairs and started the film. There were a few hoots and hollers as it began, but then they seemed to quiet down rather quickly to watch the movie. All but Vic, who Riley could see looking up at her.

  She made her way back downstairs and found Vic waiting for her next to the box office. Vic motioned her over, so she told Nancy where she was going and headed her way.

  “Can we talk outside for a moment?” Vic asked. Riley nodded and they headed out the door.

  “What’s up?” Riley asked as they stood next to each other, their backs against the wall.

  “I wanted to make one more plea for you to come visit me in the city.”

  Riley looked away, nervous about having to address what might or might not be happening between them. “I would really like to come visit you, but I’m not sure when I’d be able to get away. Summer is usually our busiest time, what with the kids being out of school and all.”

  “Yeah, I get it,” Vic said, looking more than a little disappointed. Riley allowed herself to be enveloped in a hug and they stood there holding each other for a few moments. “You’re still coming to the reception tomorrow, right?”

  “Just tell me what time, and I’ll be there.”

  “Actually, I’ll pick you up after the ceremony, around two.” Vic took a step back. “The reception is at the house, so you’re pretty much on the way from the church.”

  “You’re sure you don’t mind?”

  “Not at all,” Vic said with a smile and a shake of her head. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

  Riley nodded and watched Vic go back to the theater. Her eyes were glued to Vic’s tight ass, and just before she disappeared through the doors, Vic turned to look at her with a knowing grin. She was busted, and she totally didn’t care.

  * * *

  Riley finished all her work with about twenty minutes left before the last movie ended, so she decided to go into the bathroom to make sure there were plenty of paper products and soap for the next day. They had a cleaning crew that came every night after they closed, but she’d always liked to check those things herself. She noticed two of the stalls were occupied so she turned to leave.

  “What the hell is Victoria doing with Riley Warren?” came a voice Riley recognized as Harper Reynolds’s, Vanessa’s best friend from high school. She stopped in her tracks, unable to move. “I mean I get that they’re both lesbians, but isn’t there some kind of standard for a Thayer to uphold?”

  “She’s just having a bit of fun.” Vanessa’s voice. Riley knew she should leave. Now. She knew whatever she heard next wasn’t going to give her a warm fuzzy feeling, but she couldn’t get her feet to move. “Fun is all it ever is for Vic, you know? I honestly don’t think she’ll ever settle down with a woman. Our mother has certain expectations, and Vic knows it. She’ll fall in line someday, get married, and probably have children.”

  “But Riley? Certainly she could do better.” Harper sounded just as bitchy as she had twenty years ago, which surprised Riley. Harper was one of the members of that crew who was actually friendly toward her now. She brought her kids in for Saturday matinees on a regular basis.
Riley was surprised at the hurt she felt when she heard the words.

  “It isn’t as though there’s a big pool of lesbians to choose from in Wolf Bay.” Vanessa laughed, and so did Harper. The next words she heard though, made her blood run cold.

  “I’m pretty sure even the straight women would be up for a bit of fun with your sister, if you know what I mean.”

  A toilet flushed, and Riley was finally able to force her feet to move. She didn’t stop until she was in the office with the door closed. She leaned against it and fought to not let the tears fall, but it was a losing battle. She slid down to the floor and covered her head with her arms, crying quietly.

  How could she have been so fucking stupid? Of course Vic was only having fun with her. There was nothing meaningful there, even if Riley had tried to convince herself there was. It had been the same in high school. Her mother had told her the bullying she endured was “Just a bit of fun. Get over it.” She wasn’t so sure she could this time. This time her heart had gotten involved. God, at least she hadn’t slept with her. She banged her head against the door once and looked up at the ceiling, forcing herself to stop crying.

  She made the split decision that she would go to the reception with Vic as planned and act as though nothing was wrong. Then the next day Vic would leave, and she’d never have to see her again. No big deal. Just one more day to get through. She got to her feet and took a deep breath. She jumped when there was a knock on the door.

  “Riley, the last movie is over,” Nancy said. “Vic would like to talk to you.”

  “I’m too busy to talk, Nance,” she called out after scrambling into her chair at the desk so it wouldn’t sound like she was right by the door. “Tell her I’ll see her tomorrow.”

  She heard murmurs on the other side of the door, then there was silence. She let out the breath she’d been holding and dropped her forehead to the desk in front of her. Just one more day.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Vic had never been so happy to see a wedding ceremony come to an end. What a farce. Her parents—no, her mother—had been adamant about having a church wedding, even though they’d never gone to church a day in their lives. Churches made Vic antsy. She knew there was no good reason they should, but she’d just never felt comfortable in them. It felt as though she was being judged by a bunch of people she didn’t even know. Or, in this case, by a bunch of people she did know.

  She stuck around for the obligatory family and wedding party photos, but as soon as she had the chance, she took off for the parking lot and her car. Her mother had made some smart-ass remark before the ceremony about her looking like a groomsman since her tux was the same as theirs, but then her father had led Vera away and she hadn’t spoken to her again. Her father, on the other hand, had commented on how good he thought she looked.

  God, she couldn’t wait to see Riley.

  But then again, she was a little nervous about seeing her after the way the night before ended. She was trying to make herself believe Riley really had been in the middle of something and just didn’t have the time to say good night to her. But there was a voice in the back of her head telling her something was off.

  She looked at the house as she pulled into the driveway, half expecting Riley to be on her way out so Vic wouldn’t have to go to the door, but there was no movement she could see. She walked to the front door, her heart pounding. It didn’t help that she was still in her tux and it was close to ninety degrees outside. She used the back of her hand to wipe sweat from her face before knocking.

  She started really getting nervous when no one answered the door right away. When it did finally open, she was surprised to see Megan standing there and not Riley.

  “I’m here to take Riley to the wedding reception,” she said when Megan only stared at her, her eyes narrowed somewhat. Vic shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “Is there something wrong?”

  “Come in,” Megan said as she turned and walked toward the living room, leaving the door for Vic to close behind her.

  “Is she ready?”

  “Sit for a minute,” Megan said, patting the cushion next to her. “I want to ask you something.”

  Vic sat, but she felt warmer than she had outside despite the air conditioning of the house. She leaned forward, resting her forearms on her thighs. “Ask away.”

  “Are you a player?”

  Vic almost laughed before she noticed the serious look on Megan’s face, and she instinctually knew such a reaction would be a bad idea. She just stared at her, wondering what the hell was going on.

  “It’s a simple yes or no question, Vic,” she said after a moment. “Either you are, or you aren’t.”

  “No,” Vic said. “Did someone tell her I was?”

  “I don’t know.” Megan shrugged. She looked like she was being honest, but Vic couldn’t shake the thought someone said something to Riley the night before. “I’m asking for me. As the best friend protector.”

  “Okay,” Vic said, drawing the word out as she glanced toward the stairs. “Is she coming to the reception with me?”

  “As far as I know. She’s upstairs getting dressed.”

  Vic breathed a sigh of relief and nodded once.

  “You sure you aren’t a player?”

  “If I was, I probably wouldn’t still be hanging around,” Vic said, feeling as though she needed to be on the defensive now. “I’m sure she’s told you we haven’t slept together.”

  “Well, you are leaving tomorrow,” Megan pointed out.

  “You know what?” Vic stood and began to pace in the small area in front of the coffee table. “I understand that you guys hate the person I was back in high school. I totally get that, and honestly, I hate her too. But I’ve changed. As I’m sure you and everyone else has as well. I’m not out to hurt anyone, least of all Riley. I’ve had feelings for her since high school, okay?”

  “You told me that, too,” Riley said as she walked up behind her. Vic turned to face her, startled. Riley shook her head. “I’m just not sure I believe you though.”

  “I don’t know what I can say or do to convince you my interest in you in genuine.” Vic wanted to reach out and touch her cheek but thought better of it and shoved her hands in her pockets instead. “Are you breaking our date?”

  “No, I said I’d go, and I will. You’ll be gone tomorrow, so let’s go and have some fun.” She turned and headed for the door. “Later, Megan.”

  They were silent on the ride to the house, and Vic thought she’d never felt more uncomfortable in her life. There were so many things she wanted to say, but she came to the conclusion the only possible way to prove to Riley she was being honest was to show her the journal she’d kept in high school. There was no guarantee she’d believe her even then, but Vic didn’t know what else to do.

  Her mother had hired a valet service to park everyone’s cars, so Vic handed off her keys. For her mother, it wasn’t enough to be having the reception at what most would consider a mansion dropped into the predominantly depressed community. Vera stopped at nothing to impress her peers. It wasn’t as though she’d bothered to invite any of the people of Wolf Bay, other than the few Vanessa had insisted on having there. The ones who’d been in the wedding party. She sighed as she went to open the car door for Riley. At least she’d waited for her to do that simple thing. Maybe it was a good sign.

  “I’m sure it was a beautiful ceremony,” Riley said as they walked toward the front door arm in arm. “You look very handsome in your tuxedo.”

  “Thank you,” Vic said as she looked again at the simple outfit Riley was wearing. She’d look good in anything, but the slacks she had on hugged her perfectly in all the right places, and the blouse was a light green, which really accentuated her hazel eyes. “You are, as always, very beautiful.”

  Riley smiled at her, and Vic finally felt some of the tension surrounding them slip away. She took a deep breath and stopped short of reaching for the doorknob to enter the house. She turned and fac
ed Riley, taking her hands in hers and looking her in the eye.

  “Just so you aren’t caught off guard, my mother will no doubt be very standoffish with you. If we’re lucky. If we aren’t, she might actually be hostile toward you. Don’t let it get to you, okay?” She did reach out then and brushed a lock of hair out of Riley’s eyes. “I won’t leave your side the entire time, I promise. Just know that my father is very happy you’re going to be here, and he’ll be on our side.”

  “Okay, that isn’t at all daunting,” Riley said with a chuckle. “Should I have brought my boxing gloves?”

  “That might not have been a bad idea,” Vic said with a wink as she opened the door and they walked in. It seemed as though there were people in every room, even though Vic knew the actual reception was being held in the backyard. They made their way through the house, stopping briefly to say hello to a few people Vic hadn’t seen in years.

  Her father saw them when they walked outside and smiled as he walked toward them. He hugged Vic and then looked at Riley, his smile huge. It made him look younger than his sixty-three years.

  “You must be Riley,” he said, taking her hand between both of his. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. I’m Vic’s father, Garret. Do you know many people here?”

  “Dad, most of these people aren’t from Wolf Bay,” Vic said with an apologetic smile for Riley. “Hell, I don’t know most of these people.”

  “I don’t either, if I’m being honest. I’m not even sure your mother does. I think they’re just on some great list she found of the best people to have at your party.” He laughed, and Vic and Riley joined him. Vic didn’t doubt he was right, at least to a certain degree. These were no doubt people who her mother wanted to look good in front of.

  “Have you been hitting the open bar, Dad?” Vic asked with a playful nudge to his shoulder.

  “Damn right. I’m paying for it, so why shouldn’t I?” He leaned in closer so only the two of them could hear him. “And it’s the only way I can deal with your mother at one of her parties.”