Best Lesbian Romance 2009

by Radclyffe

  “Yeah, Marlene does a great job with her yard. Quite the green thumb,” a tall brunette drawled. Her dark eyes gave Lisa the once-over and her grin broadened a little. The woman at her side followed her look and stiffened.

  Lisa spotted her expression and grimaced. Dyke drama. Well, she should have expected it; all three lesbian groups in this town seemed to be much the same. This was what she got for moving from a real city to the Midwest. She thought about Mia back in New York and sighed. It was her own fault: she’d walked away from the perfect woman for the perfect job, and now the perfect woman had found someone else.

  That was the moment Marlene swept out of the house, a couple of overflowing bowls in her large hands. Several other women trailed after her carrying utensils and plates and even more food. Lisa looked at it all and wondered what the carb count was on a gallon of potato salad. Not to mention barbecue with corn and all the fixings. She’d better plan on racquetball three times this week instead of two if she ate more than a mouthful.

  That thought died away when she joined the line for food and met Marlene’s eyes. They were a deep brown, so dark she felt like she was falling into them. She pulled herself back out somehow and gave their hostess the first real smile she’d given anyone since she’d shown up. Marlene grinned back. “Having fun, Lisa? I’m so glad you were able to join us today.”

  “Definitely. And I love your garden! So many gorgeous flowers!” Lisa gushed, almost meaning it. There was something about this woman that made her wish she loved flowers and gardening and…Lisa forced her imagination a step back. Granted, Marlene was striking, though a tad more ripe than what Lisa usually went for: rounded curves, beautiful eyes, hair that cried out to have Lisa’s hands in it—silver streak and all. But that didn’t mean she had to get stupid over an almost complete stranger.

  Marlene’s expression turned sad as she looked around. “By the time I get back to it, most of it will have died off. Gotta enjoy it while it lasts.”

  Lisa nodded sympathetically. “Work tends to take over.”

  Marlene’s full lips quirked upward in something that wasn’t quite a smile. “I wish it was work. Unfortunately, there will be other obstacles to my gardening for a while. But don’t let me keep you from enjoying the gathering. We can chat later.”

  Lisa let the line carry her forward while she tried to figure out what Marlene was talking about. She found herself at a picnic table with the woman who’d been checking her out earlier and her girlfriend. Biting back a groan, she held out her hand to the girlfriend. “Hi, I don’t think we’ve met yet. I’m Lisa. I just moved here a couple of months ago.”

  The other woman hesitated a second and then took her hand. She immediately launched into a barrage of questions, calculated, Lisa guessed, to keep her from talking much to her partner. Finally, she got them both talking about things to do around town, and the tension eased.

  During a lull in the conversation, Lisa spotted Marlene standing by herself on the other side of the patio. Her expression was tired and wistful, and something in it made Lisa get up and walk over to her. “Are you okay?”

  “Just feeling a little off. I think a lot of it is having to leave this at the best time for gardening.” Marlene’s gesture took in the beds.

  “Are you going out of town or something?” Lisa ventured. Personal questions were always tricky in this part of the world.

  Marlene glanced back at her. “That’s right, you don’t know. I’ve got cancer. They’re sure they caught it in time, which is great. But it’ll be a couple of months of recovery time between the operation and everything else. I won’t be able to do much with this place for awhile. Probably get back to it just in time to pack it in for winter.”

  Lisa cringed before she realized she was doing it. Good thing she’d found out before she decided this woman was attractive enough to pursue. Then she felt a flicker of disgust at her own reaction. It was clear that Marlene had seen what she was thinking from the set of her shoulders and the way she looked away. Lisa realized her cheeks were growing hot at her own rudeness.

  For a few desperate seconds, she hunted for something polite to say and failed. Instead, she settled for trying to see the yard with a gardener’s eyes. She couldn’t manage it until she compared it to her own work. It would be nearly impossible to walk away from any project she’d put this much work into. And it was kind of pretty. As the thought struck home, the next words out of her mouth surprised even her. “When are you going in? Is there anything you need?”

  Marlene gave her a long, considered look, and for just an instant, Lisa felt butterflies in her stomach. It was as if the other woman was measuring her, seeing whether she was worth trusting. “It’s wonderful of you to offer,” she said at last, “but my mom and my ex and her partner are all coming into town to help out when I go in next Thursday. I think I’ll be okay.” She patted Lisa’s arm as if to take the sting from her words.

  Guess I didn’t pass the test. The realization bothered her more than it seemed like it should have. It wasn’t like she was up for playing nursemaid anyway. A card and some flowers would be just fine, enough to show friendly concern but not too much interest.

  A group of women converged on them then, all talking at once, and the connection, whatever it was, was broken. Lisa hung around a bit longer and helped clear the tables and wash up. It wasn’t something she normally did at these things, but this time it seemed necessary, important even.

  By the time she left, she’d been invited to two movie nights and an investment club meeting. She’d even given Marlene her phone number and told her to call if she needed anything. She knew it wasn’t too likely, but it was the thing to do, and she was determined to accomplish that much.

  Then she went home and thought about Marlene until she had to call her friends back home for a sanity check. She had a mild crush on a sick gardener, for God’s sake! Someone who did some kind of warm, fuzzy social service type job on top of that. She went for driven Type A corporate types like herself, always had. Anything else led to whiny fights about how she was never home, never had time. Someone from outside that environment never got it. She decided some overtime and a few hours of working out would soon put this Marlene thing, whatever it was, out of her head.

  And it might have, if that had been the last she’d seen of the other woman for a few months. But a few days later, her boss stopped by her desk looking worn and frazzled. “Lisa, I know this is last minute, but my kids and my wife all came down with the flu at the same time, and I’ve got to get home. Is there any chance you’d be willing to fill in for me at the Well of Hope benefit tonight?”

  Lisa’s eyebrows twitched upward despite her efforts to control them. The Well of Hope was the biggest benefit of the year for most of the city’s nonprofits, and her corporation was one of the sponsors. Getting selected to represent them was a big deal even if it was a completely black-tie event and she was wearing work drag. She looked down in horror at her inadequate navy suit and white blouse.

  “And of course you can take off now to go get ready. I know how inconvenient this will be.”

  It was as if he could read her mind. Lisa grinned up at him and nodded, “I’d be happy to, Frank. I’ll finish this up tomorrow and go wrestle my wardrobe into submission now. Hope the family feels better soon.” A few moments of enthusiastic thanks and instructions, and the big glossy invitation was all hers. She practically skipped out the door on her way to her favorite high-end department store.

  By the time she had finished acquiring a new dress and shoes and having her makeup done, it felt like her credit card was smoking around the edges. But it’ll be worth it, she told herself fiercely. If nothing else, it would get her noticed, and it couldn’t hurt to have Frank owe her a favor. Still, she couldn’t help thinking that it would have been nice to have a date to go with her. Mia would have been perfect, she thought with a sharp pang of regret. Or Marlene.

  She forced the image from her mind. Besides, out here in the hin
terlands, who knew how anyone would react if she showed up with a woman on her arm? Better to go stag and be all mysterious about it. She smiled at her compact mirror before she started up her car and headed over to the benefit.

  As it turned out, the Well of Hope was held in the former Masonic temple just outside downtown. Lisa handed her keys to the valet, straightened her wrap, and headed up the acres of white steps, an elaborately hewn marble sphinx on either side. When she finally got to the top, she found herself panting a little and stopped to admire the view.

  That was when she heard someone calling her name. Marlene stepped out of the lobby doors and walked toward her with a welcoming smile. The butterflies reappeared in Lisa’s stomach and did a slow tango, despite anything she could do to stop them. She kept the nerves from her voice, though, or at least she hoped she did. “Hi! What are you doing here? I’m a last minute sub for my boss, here representing Rapid Tech.” Sure, you don’t sound nervous at all, she mocked herself.

  Marlene looked amused, as if women always got gushy around her. Still, her eyes were warm, and she seemed pleased to see Lisa, at least as far as she could tell. “And I’m here representing WomenServe. I don’t know if you know about us yet, but we’re one of the largest local nonprofits working with women to provide job training, transitional housing, and other assistance. Your company is one of our biggest donors.”

  “Wow! That’s terrific!” Lisa nearly slapped her palm to her forehead. At this rate, she’d be lapsing into LOLspeak. I can haz hot nonprofit babe? Get a grip! “And what do you do there?”

  They were moving inside now. “I’m the acting exec, at least for another couple of weeks. Then I step down and the new director will take over.” Marlene’s face went very still, as if this was a speech she had practiced in order to get through it.

  Lisa reached out without thinking and squeezed Marlene’s arm lightly. It was a gesture that a friend would make, but even so it sent a shiver through her. And perhaps the other woman as well. Marlene met her eyes and her lips parted. For a moment, it felt like they were the only two people in the huge lobby.

  At least until the reminder came in the form of a lithe and tigerish dark-haired woman who walked up and claimed Marlene’s free arm like she had the right to it. “Hello,” teeth flashed in Lisa’s general direction. “We’ll need to go sit up front, Marlene. You ready?” Her tone suggested that it was more of a command than a request.

  Lisa yanked her hand away as if she’d been burned, but the feeling of Marlene’s skin beneath her fingers, the look in her eyes when they touched, lingered as she followed them into the hall. Marlene paused to let her catch up, deliberately slowing her impatient companion down. “This is Ana Martinez, the new executive director of WomenServe,” She inclined her head slightly at the dark-haired woman. “And this,” her smile growing warmer, “is Lisa Allen from Rapid Tech.”

  Lisa watched herself go from rival to donor in Ana’s mind in the blink of an eye. “Oh, I’m delighted to meet you! Is this your first time at the Well of Hope?” She soon found herself sitting next to them in the front row, making small talk with Ana while she wished she was talking to Marlene.

  She soon got her wish as more people began filling the seats and Ana left to go meet and greet. Marlene slid over. “I’m glad that part of the job is almost over with anyway. Always liked the hands-on stuff better than dealing with the donors.”

  Lisa raised an eyebrow and gave her a quizzical look. “Including present company?”

  Marlene laughed. “Oh, you’re a...friend, not like someone I have to hit up constantly to make the yearly budget.”

  “Well, that’s a relief,” Lisa exhaled sharply with a wry smile.

  Marlene smiled back. “And how are you enjoying life in the country?”

  “Is it that obvious?” Lisa made a face. “The Rapid Tech job was so great, I had to take it. It would have taken years longer for me to move up out East. But yeah, it is kind of a culture shock. I understand the State Fair is a big thing here?”

  “Boy howdy, that it is. We like a good livestock and crafts show out here,” Marlene’s voice took on the local rural accent, and Lisa giggled despite herself. Marlene smiled and added in her normal voice, “Tell you what. Come the week before Labor Day, we’ll go check out the Fair. I go every year to see the gardening exhibits. And the seed art. It’s a lot more fun than it sounds.”

  Lisa took a minute to run through a quick list of excuses in her head before she responded. Then she met Marlene’s eyes, and the words that she’d been about to say magically transformed themselves. “Sure, that sounds like fun. Food on a stick, you betcha.”

  After that, they had time to exchange quick smiles before the speeches started. By then, Marlene completely filled Lisa’s thoughts. At the tail end of the first speaker’s talk, she couldn’t help leaning over and whispering, “Do you want to get a drink or coffee after this?”

  Marlene gave her a sidelong glance and a half smile. “I’d like to take a raincheck on that. Unfortunately, I’m likely to be wiped out by the time this is done.”

  Lisa found herself blushing for the first time in years. Of course Marlene wasn’t going to be up for drinks after an exhausting evening. “I think I’d definitely like to try and reschedule,” she mumbled at last. “Whenever you’re up for it,” she made herself add.

  That, of course, was the moment when Marlene got called to the stage to accept one award and give out another. Lisa watched her, saw the way she glanced around the room, poised and elegant before the large crowd. This was a woman she’d like to have at her side at these events, she realized. Then as she listened to Marlene speak about what WomenServe had accomplished in the last year, she considered that perhaps warm fuzzy jobs were harder than they seemed. Maybe it was the same with gardening.

  The awards ended shortly after that. She didn’t have another opportunity to talk to Marlene alone that evening, though they often found themselves in the same groups. Once Marlene laughed at one of Lisa’s jokes, the lines of strain erased for the moment from her face. Lisa thought she’d like to be able to do that more often. The notion surprised her, almost more than anything else that had happened that evening.

  But not quite as much as the next morning when she found herself at the local florist’s, buying a houseplant. If someone had asked, she couldn’t have said why she did it. Generally speaking, she wasn’t a plant and flowers or even pet person. Forget children. All of the above took too much work, took too much time away from what was really important: work.

  Still, the plant looked pretty in her condo window, and she followed all the directions so she thought it could survive at least a couple of months in her care. Maybe longer since it seemed to be something that would flower every year. It made her think of Marlene and her garden. But then so did just about everything else right now. She found herself circling the date Marlene was checking into the hospital on her backup desk calendar. “Send flowers and a card,” the note said. She wondered if going to visit would be too much.

  She pictured Marlene without hair, even though she hadn’t said anything about chemo. That was almost a deal breaker, enough to make her walk away from whatever it was between them. But she remembered watching Marlene laugh at the benefit. Surely it wouldn’t kill her to make herself useful somehow. Women went into remission from cancer all the time. Why not Marlene?

  Wednesday rolled around, and she remembered to pull Marlene’s number off the brunch list and call to leave a message. Truthfully, she hadn’t thought about much of anything else when she wasn’t busy at work. How should she sound? Clingy was bad. So was assuming that Marlene felt the same thing that Lisa felt. Finally she settled on the slightly generic: “Hi. This is Lisa. I just wanted to call and let you know I’m hoping things go really well tomorrow.”

  Then she ordered flowers and a card from an organic flower company that she found online. Marlene would appreciate that touch when they showed up in her room, or so she hoped.

 
After that, Lisa found herself searching the Web for gardening information and tips, casually at first and then with the kind of dedication she usually reserved for work projects. At first, she couldn’t have said why she did it. It wasn’t like she was planning on acquiring a new hobby or something. But she remembered the look on Marlene’s face when she looked around the garden, and it made her ache a little.

  By Saturday, she violated every dating rule she had by driving past Marlene’s house. It didn’t look like anyone was home, no cars in the driveway or lights on inside. She debated just going up and knocking but couldn’t bring herself to do it. Instead, she went home and called the brunch coordinator to see if she’d heard anything yet.

  That got her a second invite to movie night and the information that Marlene was doing reasonably well, at least according to her mother. Lisa declined movie night but ended up going after all. Sunday disappeared in a wave of overtime until the next Wednesday evening rolled around and she found herself driving past Marlene’s place again.

  Even to her uneducated eye, the yard didn’t look too happy. She pulled up outside and went and rang the doorbell. No answer. She scanned the yard. Several drooping flowerbeds stared back at her reproachfully. Well, she could turn on a hose and splash some water around; it wasn’t rocket science.

  Lisa went around to the side of the house looking for the hose and the faucet. What she found was an intricate and complicated system of hoses and sprinkler heads that left her baffled. Eventually, though, with a certain amount of quiet swearing, she figured out how to turn it on. The nearest head then splashed water all over her suit, and she got one heel stuck in the resulting mud before she got out of range.

  Still, once she stopped being irritated about that part of it, she noticed that the garden smelled nice as it got wet. She stood watching the sprinklers for a few moments, oblivious to the fact that she’d acquired an audience. Instead, she slipped off her heels and picked them up before she walked down the path to see if the whole garden was getting watered. There was something peaceful about it, even with the gravel digging into her feet. And what was another pair of stockings, more or less?