Take Me As I Am

by JM Dragon

  “Why not tell me what she asked you and perhaps I can help?” Daisy gently tipped up the tear-stained face and smiled encouragingly at her.

  Thea gulped several times and then gave a weak watery smile and nodded. “She’s leaving and asked me to go with her,” Thea said tearfully. “What shall I do, Daisy?”

  Daisy gave her a rueful glance and smiled gently back at the face she loved. She was such a sweet child and it was heartbreaking to see her troubled so. “What does your heart tell you to do, child?”

  “My mind tells me I must marry George Andrews. My roots tell me I must marry George Andrews. My financial situation tells me I must marry George Andrews.” Thea spoke as if she was speaking to herself rather than the woman at her side.

  “But what does your heart tell you, Thea?” Daisy prompted her again.

  “My heart tells me to accept Joanna’s offer and leave with her and forget everything I have grown up with and feel comfortable with. To be a free spirit just like Joanna and travel and find my true path in life.” Thea lifted her head and looked at Daisy with a wrinkled forehead. “Can it be that simple, Daisy?”

  “Yes, it can.” Daisy grinned at the flowery description, but she could see the happiness the words brought to Thea’s face. It transformed it. Anyone who thought Joanna was bad for Thea, her expression alone would convince them that she was the opposite. “I think you have your answer, my child. I think the earlier you tell George the better. Don’t you think so?” Daisy coaxed the younger woman to look at her directly.

  “I could just leave with Joanna and let him find out that way.” Thea sighed heavily at the unwelcome prospect of telling George she wasn’t going to marry him.

  Daisy raised an eyebrow at the comment. “I never had you down as a coward, Thea.”

  “True, I have more of a backbone than that.”

  “Perhaps you should tell your friend that you’re going with her. When she walked in here a few minutes ago she looked deathly pale to me.” Daisy had watched the woman slowly come into the motel entrance, glance quickly around, and grimace at the coffee happily brewing. That was a first. She then turned the color of Thea’s eyes and headed for her room.

  Thea turned concerned eyes toward the older woman. “Did Joanna look ill or just upset?”

  Daisy patted her arm and smiled briefly. “Why not go and check on your friend and see for yourself. Then clear up the matter of your broken engagement.”

  Daisy chuckled as Thea rushed out of the room. “Well, I know what type of relationship those two could end up in by the way Thea ran out of here. The whole situation is quite romantic if it didn’t have George Andrews sitting in the middle of it.”

  †

  Thea could feel a sense of peace as if her soul had escaped its chains and was soaring free to meet whatever challenges the world threw in her path as she rapped gently on the door of room five. She waited impatiently for Joanna to open it but nothing happened. She knocked again tempted to barge in as she had once before. God, was it only two days ago? For her it seemed like a lifetime and that she had known Joanna forever.

  Thea knocked again and shouted, “Joanna.” With each passing moment, she was becoming increasingly frustrated. Perhaps Daisy had been wrong and Joanna had only come into the motel briefly and left again.

  Is she gone for good or is she just doing laundry? Maybe she is visiting John-Henry, or maybe she’s with that man from last night.

  Her last thought galvanized her into action she placed her passkey in the door, and opened it quietly before stepping inside.

  “Joanna? Joanna, are you here?” she asked from the doorway. When she heard a low moan, her heart rate increased. Was Joanna ill? She walked swiftly forward before seeing her friend spread-eagled on the king-sized bed. Her shirt was off and she was only wearing brief panties. She was lying on her stomach and the smooth back that came into view was like looking at creamy, blemish-free silk. Thea wondered what it would feel like to touch Joanna. Shaking her head from the thoughts that seemed to invade her mind when she was in close proximity to Joanna, she knelt at the front of the bed as close as possible to Joanna’s head.

  “Joanna, are you sick? Do you need a doctor?”

  Joanna peered blearily and groaned a little louder but still didn’t say anything.

  Thea was now very concerned. Joanna appeared drawn, pale, and the bloodshot eyes didn’t help. Thea had noticed them earlier, but hadn’t thought it fit to mention that in light of the tentative conversation between them.

  “I’ll get a doctor, Joanna. Please let me cover you up, you’re shaking.” Thea tugged at the edge of the sheet under Joanna and was surprised at how easily the sheet came free in her hands.

  The movement of the sheet and Thea’s words seemed to finally penetrate Joanna’s sub-conscious because she turned her head toward her coming within inches of contact.

  “Thea, it’s okay. I’m okay. I have a hangover.” Joanna held her head and gave Thea a tight smile.

  Thea gazed into the bloodshot eyes. “Hangover? You have a hangover?”

  Joanna gave her another feeble smile. “Yeah, I kinda tied one over on myself last night. Sorry you thought I was sick.”

  Thea couldn’t believe it. So possibly, all that Joanna had said earlier was probably not any more real than just something to forget once the hangover was gone. “I see. Well, I guess I’ll leave you to your hangover then.” Thea was feeling like a fool.

  “Thea, what is it?” Joanna moved closer.

  Thea stiffened when Joanna’s naked breasts brushed up against the fabric of her cotton shirt. Breathing had suddenly become increasingly difficult. She was annoyed at herself, at Joanna, and now her body that was once again showing signs of uncontrollable feelings.

  What’s going on with me? I need her as a friend, not a romantic interest. Besides she wouldn’t entertain that idea…she likes men.

  Thea closed her eyes to ward of the chaotic thoughts that trespassed on her mind and body. The beautiful woman pressed with unconcerned ease against her body increased the tempo of her heart.

  Could she hear that?

  “I thought you were sick and needed the doctor. I’m very sorry for disturbing you. I seem to make a habit of invading your privacy without permission.” The words tumbled past Thea’s lips unabated.

  She wanted to hear Joanna once again ask her to go with her on her travels, but she dared not ask and tempt the fates. While she didn’t know if Joanna had been genuine in her request, she still had hope and that would give her the strength to see George and terminate their business deal. That’s all it was could ever be for she didn’t like men that way.

  “You never disturb me, Thea. Thank you for your concern. I appreciate it,” Joanna murmured.

  Thea smiled at her shyly. “I guess I’ll go and get on with things then. Are you sure you don’t need anything?” Their eyes locked for several seconds and it seemed to Thea that an undecipherable message passed between them.

  “Yeah, I need to sleep it off, that’s all. I’ll catch up with you later. Would you have dinner with me early? Around six,” Joanna whispered.

  Thea heard the gentle question and it brought her senses out of hiding and soaring like an eagle in the sky. “Sure. I have some business to take care of this morning and then I’m free the rest of the day. If you want, we can have coffee any time.”

  Joanna grimaced. “Business?”

  “Yes, business.” Thea looked away and attempted to move from the vicinity of Joanna. However, the woman seemed to get a new lease of life. She quickly put a hand out and grasped Thea’s chin turning her face back so that they were mere inches away from one another.

  “Do you need a protector for this business?” Joanna asked in earnest.

  Thea smiled at the warmth flowing through Joanna’s fingers as she unconsciously smoothed the planes of Thea’s face with the tips. “Are you offering your services as protector to me again?” Thea couldn’t help the heat that traveled into her cheeks
at the soft caresses.

  “I guess I am. Would you like to take me up on the offer?”

  “How about you sleep and take me to dinner later.” Thea grinned. “I’ll be fine.”

  Joanna smiled as a tinge of color resurfaced and she withdrew her fingers. “Yeah. Okay. If you’re sure.”

  “I am.”

  “Then I’ll catch up with you later. I have laundry to do anyway. Can’t have me going around naked, can we?” she replied jovially.

  Thea chuckled at the thought and turned away quickly, Naked indeed.

  She never seems to be in all her clothes whenever I’m around.

  Then again, her bedroom was her domain and she probably didn’t expect visitors. “No, that we can’t. See you later and if you need me, just call.” Thea moved away from the bed and the beautiful woman sprawled out on it.

  “I will. Oh and, Thea?”

  “Yes?” Thea had her hand on the door and waited for the question before she opened it.

  “I meant what I said earlier. Will you come with me when I leave?” Joanna looked up at the ceiling.

  Thea couldn’t help the smile that crossed her face. She wanted to go back and hug Joanna, but it wasn’t the time or place. That might be misconstrued in her current state of dress. “Yes,” she said in a quiet but decisive tone before proceeding out the door.

  †

  Jo continued to stare at the ceiling. She was stunned.

  Did she say yes?

  Had Thea really said yes? Thea had said yes.

  With that clear picture in her mind, Jo closed her eyes and although still feeling drained, tired with a sledgehammer working on her temples, she closed her eyes. A quiet joy filled her as sleep claimed her. Her dreamscape of green eyes that had once seemed to glow from a faceless person now had a visage and it was very welcoming to behold.

  †

  Thea had never felt this alive in all her twenty-nine years and it was all to do with her lone guest at the motel—Joanna. She was eternally grateful to whoever was looking out for her to have the woman enter her life at this stage. It could have been too late had she turned up a few weeks later.

  With a determined walk, she went toward the bank, unable to stop the happy grin plastered on her face. She entered the bank and smiled at the teller who gave her a quizzical look. It was rare that she ever set foot in the bank. George always visited her personally to deal with her account.

  “Ms. Danvers, it’s wonderful to see you. Congratulations on your engagement to Mr. Andrews. I hope you will be very happy,” Ted Wassle, the teller, said.

  Thea sneered inwardly knowing that everyone in town knew that George Andrews used his business rather than his personal attributes to get that result. “Thank you, Mr. Wassle. I wonder perhaps if Mr. Andrews is in and if he could spare me a few minutes.” Thea smiled at the teller, who had worked in the bank for as long as she could remember.

  “Sure thing, Ms. Danvers. He will certainly make time for you without a doubt. Please take a seat. I’m sure he will be with you shortly.” The teller immediately went to a door-marked private, knocked, and waited.

  Within two minutes Ted was back behind his counter and George was ushering Thea into his opulent office. It was obvious that there had been no expense spared with the furniture or the various pieces of office equipment.

  “My dear, this is an unexpected, but pleasant surprise.” He bent close to her and kissed her cheek.

  Thea had successfully turned her head to evade the lip-to-lip encounter, but couldn’t stop the impact on her cheek. She moved away to stand at the window that looked out across the town and wiped her cheek with the back of her hand.

  “George, I need to speak to you about our agreement.” Thea turned to face the rotund man whose face never ever seemed to be anything but streaming with perspiration.

  George eyed Thea with suspicion.

  While standing by the window she knew she was fidgeting nervously. This was a monumental moment in her life.

  “What is it? Do you need money for the preparations for our wedding? Never mind that, my dear, I have everything in hand and everything will be ready for a week from Saturday when we will be married.”

  Thea couldn’t believe her ears. The man had everything in hand? Everything! Obviously, he had been so confident that she would say yes that he went ahead and planned the affair.

  “No, George, that isn’t why I am here.” Thea gave him a quizzical look. Why had he been so sure of her saying yes? She hoped for the insurance payout yet the man was at her door immediately when she found they declined to pay. He didn’t know about that beforehand. Did he? Did he have a hand in the final decision?

  “Then, Thea, please tell me what’s on your mind?” George seated himself in a large plush office chair that would have been more at home in a house than an office.

  Thea looked at her motel from the window. At least for the moment it was hers until she had her say. After that, it would belong to the bank and the man seated in the room with her. It would be the last of her family heritage before her release to a new life. Thea cleared her throat to gain a controlled and confident tone. “George, I’m sorry, but I’ve been thinking about it and I can’t marry you.”

  “Thea, my dear, its just a few nervous jitters. I’m not giving you much time to get used to the idea and I appreciate that. Perhaps if we postpone the wedding until the following…week, then you will have gotten used to it?”

  Thea’s stomach roiled at the very thought of marrying the man in front of her. She had a better offer—it might not be permanent—but it was a solution. One that she couldn’t refuse. Her heart would wither and die if she did.

  “No, Mr. Andrews, it’s not nerves and delaying the wedding won’t help at all. I’m not going to marry you.” Thea’s voice raised a fraction as jitters were starting to move to the surface of her emotions.

  Perhaps I should’ve brought Joanna with me as my protector.

  The mere thought of Joanna eased her fears. She looked at the man who was now bristling with anger, his face turning bright red.

  “I don’t accept that, Thea. You will marry me and that’s final.” His whole body shook with rage.

  His angry and arrogant assumption that she had no choice in the matter made Thea’s anger surface. “Go to hell, George. I’m not marrying you and that’s final.”

  “If you don’t marry me, I will instigate the foreclosure clause your father agreed to and that means you will lose the motel immediately,” he snarled.

  “I know,” Thea acknowledged. She had already cleared all her personal belongings out of the hotel.

  “Just like that. You’re giving up something you have nurtured and cherished for years. I don’t believe it. Who’s put you up to it?” George exploded.

  Unable to stop herself, Thea shivered at the harshness of the tone. She could see by the sneer on his face he had seen it and was taking pleasure in her discomfiture. “No one put me up to it. I decided that marrying you wouldn’t make me happy and if I had to lose the motel, so be it,” Thea said in a mildly aggressive tone.

  “It was Bascome, wasn’t it?”

  “No one in this town put me up to it so you can leave them alone.”

  “You’re lying to me. It was probably both John-Henry and Lucy, they tried to help you out once before but I put the dampener on their good Samaritan-ship,” he spat. “You know I’m going to find out sooner or later, so tell me,” he shouted.

  “It hasn’t anything to do with either of them. I told you it was my idea and that’s the end of it. Serve whatever papers you need to and I will sign the mortgage deed to the bank. Goodbye, Mr. Andrews.” Thea turned for the door. A sweaty hand on her bare arm stopped her.

  “There’s no way I’m letting you leave here until I know who talked you out of marrying me?”

  “It wasn’t anyone. Let go of me, Mr. Andrews, I’m leaving.” His vice-like grip on her arm hurt, but she refused to give him the satisfaction of knowing that.


  George didn’t take his hand from her arm as he stared at her with what looked like comprehension on his face. “Get out of my sight, you worthless piece of trash. But remember this, Thea.” He voice shook with rage. “I do not take rejection well, so beware.” He spit at her and his spittle made a small track down her face.

  Not giving him the satisfaction of letting him know that the words had scared her and letting him see her revulsion of his action, Thea rushed out the door. Within thirty seconds, she was breathing in the morning air. Her hand shakily went to her left cheek and she wiped at the moisture in disgust. She certainly needed another shower.

  †

  Livid, George stomped around his office cursing and swearing while occasionally slapping his hand against his desktop. There was no doubt that the whore drifter who sang in the bar was the culprit. Thea hadn’t said it, but she had given it away in that comment about it not being anyone from the town. How could it have been? He had the town sewn up except for the bar and diner owners. Thea was his and she was going to regret ever having met that drifter. He’d see to it that she was a drifter again. That was a promise.

  He sucked in a calming breath, walked briskly to his desk, and placed a call. “I have a job for you and I want it done this afternoon. There better not be any mistakes as to who sent you. I want the bitch to know exactly who and why,” George said caustically. “Let me know when it’s done.” He slammed the phone down.

  “Revenge they say is sweet and for a spurned lover to get his revenge surely that must be even sweeter,” he said to the audience of an empty room.

  †

  Jo pushed herself off the bed and picked up her laundry lethargically. She’d been up about half an hour, had coffee, and showered. That was as near normal as she could be at three in the afternoon. Her stomach felt hollow and sore, but she guessed that was with the retching she’d done after breakfast. At least the pounding in her head was gone. She had a set in a few hours at the bar and planned to let John-Henry know she was leaving in two days.