“Believe me, your fine. It’s just some friends of mine and they won’t care if you come half dressed.” Hesitating a moment she added, “Well, maybe the half-dressed part they would mind. But not in a bad way” she mused. They shared a laugh as they walked back to the Jaguar. Chatting about friends and their idiosyncrasies their conversation continued.
Grace headed the Jaguar back down Harbor Boulevard towards the convention center and past it heading in the other direction, further into Anaheim. Pulling through a residential area she parked in front of an old house that had been converted into apartments. You could see people were already there as several were standing on the steps with beers in their hands. As Grace and Joan walked up they parted to let them into the front door of the house. Taking their jackets was a guy that looked vaguely familiar to Joan. Grace led them into the living room to meet their host. People were sitting around on everything available - couches, the chairs, the tables, a few on the floors. Some were standing and chatting. The room was fairly full.
Suddenly a voice aimed directly at them “GRACE!” A short black headed woman with a very short haircut came towards them. Her face was the palest of white and she wore bright red lipstick. Her black hair was shaved as a man’s on the sides and she had a braided pony tail down the back. Her black hair was matched by black eyes; a very striking person. She was dressed in jeans and a tight sweater. Holding out her arms for a hug she grabbed Grace close. Joan looked on in amusement. Something she had noticed earlier finally making itself clear. Most of the people at this party were or had to be gay. Not that gays give off any strange vibes but just how they were behaving and looked made things apparent to Joan. The woman talking to Grace seemed vaguely familiar. When Grace turned to introduce Joan the woman surprised both of them by interrupting with “JOAN? My god I haven’t seen you in like 20 years!”
Surprised Joan looked closer. Thinking back 20 years to when she would know this woman. Indeed she did know her. They had worked together at a parts supply house.
“JO! Oh my goodness. I never thought I’d see you again. This is your house?” Joanne was a close friend once, one alienated by Joan’s ex-husband.
Grace was amazed that they knew each other. Further explanations revealed how they knew each other, how Grace and Joan had met.
Joanne pulled Joan over to others at the party. She knew several people, stunned to see them again after so long a time had passed. She saw Tina, Addie, and Ken, the guy who had taken her coat. All gay friends from the parts store. Another friend, Tracey, who hung out with all of them - straight and wild. Due to her relationship with her ex she hadn’t seen them forever. Thrilled they all talked and caught up. Grace stood back and listened.
Joan explained what she had been up to. She was divorced. Gave up on the parts house as it was a nowhere job. Went back to school. Raised the boys. There were three of them now. The friends were amazed as Joan had been the least likely to have children. They were all so excited to catch up. As parties go, this one went on and Grace wandered off to different friends and groups. She knew most everyone in the house. During the course of the evening Joanne and Joan found themselves alone and talking.
“I always wondered what happened with you,” Joanne stated.
“I looked for you but by the time I was free to do so, I couldn’t find a Joanne Chavez in the book. No one knew where you were either and I couldn’t find the others either.” Joan indicated Tina, Addie, Tracey, and Ken.
“Was it hard?” Jo asked.
Joan immediately knew what she meant; her marriage to Craig. It had been awful. They were young and Craig somehow made everything her fault. They were poor but he made it worse with his irresponsibility. Nodding in answer she took another gulp of her wine. Looking around for Grace absentmindedly. She saw her ensconced in a very undignified bean bag chair in the corner, surrounded by people all talking loudly.
Jo noted where her eyes had strayed. “You know she’s gay don’t you?”
Turning back to Joanne, Joan answered “Yes, I’d have to be pretty obtuse not to realize that at this point.”
“And you two just met today? Joan nodded. “I thought you were straight?”
“I am.”
“Then what be haps here?”
Smiling at the funky way of asking. Joan shook her head. “I don’t know to be honest. I just don’t know.” Looking again at the corner where Grace was she was in time to catch her eye and exchange a smile. One of those party smiles. Yes, I know where you are, Yes, I’m having a good time too.
It was about 11 o’clock when Grace came searching for Joan. Joan had met some of the most interesting people. Not just the few people she knew but others she had talked with, debated with, exchanged information with. Several were invited down to the convention. It was a relief finally to stop talking. She’d seen Grace around the party too they’d exchanged looks a few times. It was odd how intense those looks were.
“Hey you, are you about ready to go?” Grace asked.
Smiling Joan nodded. They headed for Joanne and a last goodbye. Stay in touch. Don’t let it be so long. Joan gave Joanne and the other four one of her cards with her email address on it. Hugging each of them goodbye.
Grace helped her on with her coat and they walked out of the house. The immediate silence was loud. Almost overwhelming. They got into the car and just sat for a minute.
“That was odd” Grace indicated the house with a nod of her head.
“Yes, wasn’t it though. I haven’t seen those people for ages. I missed them.” Joan answered with a little smile.
“Were you involved with any of them?” Grace asked.
Laughing Joan answered “No, not possible. If you had known my ex you’d understand, we were all just friends at work.”
Joan looked at the house with a nostalgic wistfulness. Remembering the young people she had known then. The adults they had all become. Grace watched her face. Finally Joan turned and looked at Grace. Something seemed to connect between them. Almost an electrical current between their eyes.
Grace leaned forward and lightly kissed Joan on the lips. Joan felt a tug from somewhere below her belly button. She kissed Grace back. Opening their mouths the kiss deepened. Grace raised her hands and cupped Joan’s face holding her there. Joan raised her own hands and put them on the outside of Graces. Then she slid them along to Graces shoulders and under Graces hair. Pulling her head closer to Joan’s. They had been kissing heatedly and caressing each other for a while before Grace pulled her head up.
“For a first kiss that was something.” She panted slightly.
Stunned for a moment, Joan sat there looking deeply into Graces eyes. She had never. She had never, ever, had the thought of being attracted to another woman. But what she was feeling for this woman went beyond normal attraction. She felt it deep inside her. Her whole body was tingling in anticipation. Panting herself, she broke off eye contact, and leaned her forehead on Graces shoulder.
Grace kissed Joan’s forehead and just held her close. She’s shocked, thought Grace. She’s fighting this attraction. I know she feels it. I do too. I felt it at the show. I felt it at dinner. I felt it all through the party. Now, I feel lust like I’ve never felt it before. I want this woman. I NEED this woman. I have to take it slow though. She’s scared. She’s in virgin territory, pardon the pun.
Their breathing returned to normal. The windows on the Jag had all fogged up. Joan pulled her head off of Graces neck and looked into her face. Grace could see the puzzlement but she also could see the wanting in Joan’s eyes. Let her make the next move Grace thought. And Joan did. She took her hand and caressed Graces jaw line. Back and forth. Under Graces ear she lightly tickled with her fingers. Her eyes never left Graces. Joan could read the pleasure on Graces face from the caresses. Grace knew the minute that Joan decided to kiss her again. Heated caresses followed.
A loud noise outside the car attracted their attention. They reluctantly pulled apart. Both were panting. You could smel
l the want, the need, in the air. Both sat back in their bucket seats. Finally Grace turned to Joan. “Would you like to see my place?”
Joan knew what Grace was asking indirectly. It was a big step. Joan didn’t want to lose this person who had come into her life so suddenly. Not trusting herself to speak, Joan nodded.
Grace started up the Jag and pulled away from the curb after the efficient defogger had cleared the windows. Reaching out she touched Joan’s hand. Joan immediately took Graces hand in hers.
Off Harbor Boulevard she turned onto the 5 freeway heading south. Needing her hand to shift she released Joan’s. Immediately she recaptured it when she was done shifting. They resumed their conversation as though nothing had happened. Grace effortlessly pulled from the 5 freeway onto the 55 heading for Newport Beach where her apartment was located.
She told Joan about her apartment and how she had been fortunate to find it through friends who didn’t want to rent it out for summer rentals as it would get trashed. The money was nice but not the headaches. It was one of several they owned in a row. The apartments were actually on the islands in Newport Bay.
The 55 ended into Costa Mesa and they drove through to Newport Beach and over the bridge onto Balboa Island. Multi-Million dollar homes were on these islands. They were crammed into every available space.
Grace told Joan how lucky she was to live in the boonies as Joan had told her of Wisconsin. Joan lived in a central Wisconsin town called Wausau. She had moved there after her divorce with her three sons. She had a gallery there in an old converted building downtown. Her apartment was upstairs and convenient. Her sons were grown now. Her youngest in college. Her oldest had even made her a grandma last year.
As they drove down a street on the island they came to a security booth. The officer looked up and saw Grace. Waving he pushed a button that opened the gate. They pulled up in front of Graces apartment and she parked the Jaguar. Grace walked up to her front door and unlocked it; opening it she let Joan precede her into the front room. Grace showed her around. To Joan’s right was a kitchenette to her left the living room. Further into the living room a hallway that led elsewhere. Opening her blinds onto a beautiful water frontage Joan asked about the dock in front of the apartment.
“You have a boat?”
“No, I always wanted one. Just never took the time to actually GET one.” Grace smiled.
Grace went into the kitchen and pulled out a bottle of wine. Holding it aloft to show Joan she silently asked if Joan wanted some. Joan nodded and Grace proceeded to fill two wine glasses full. Carrying the wine bottle under her arm and the two wine glasses in her hands she went to sit on the sofa. Joan joined her there. Grace handed her one of the glasses, a deep emerald green with cuts in the crystal. Joan found her hand was shaking a little. Grace noted that as well.
“Relax.”
“I don’t know why I’m so nervous.” Joan lied.
“Don’t you?” Grace raised her eyebrows in question.
Smiling wryly down in to her glass Joan lifted it for a drink. It ended up being quite a gulp and she almost choked. Coughing and laughing she did indeed relax. They resumed their conversation. The talk was easy and non-invasive. Just two people getting to know one another.
Joan told her about living in CA all those years ago. Repeating some of the story that had been told at the party. She told a very small amount about her disastrous marriage. How she had only been 18 when she married. Her first son born at 19. Her second at 21 and her third at 23. By then the marriage had turned very sour.
“What can I say? I was young, naive, and in love with the idea of a happily ever after marriage. The sad thing is once he drained my bank account he went after my mom’s and once that was gone, so was he.”
“Actually, the happily ever after is what a lot of people dream for. They don’t realize that Cinderella or Snow White probably had stretch marks, that their nails broke washing the castle, and that they got fat with age and children.” They shared a laugh at the image this portrayed.
It was relaxing and the time flew. It was 1:00 before they knew it. For Joan it was even later with the time difference. Stifling a yawn, she put down her empty glass. The wine bottle was now empty with their concerted efforts. Joan realized something right then. Her apparent prejudice against psychiatrists and psychologists was gone or at least against this particular one. Grace was easy to talk to. Not only that, Joan liked hearing what she had to say. It wasn’t judgmental. Her life hadn’t been any easier than Joan’s. She was human. She was real. Looking over at Grace she realized how much she liked this person. How attracted she was to this person. How much she wanted to BE WITH this person.
Grace had been watching Joan throughout the afternoon and evening. Talking with her at the show she immediately sensed Joan’s diverse intelligence. That had drawn her immediately. Her body was attractive as well. She had to be about 5’7”. Just 2” shorter than Grace’s 5’9”. She held herself tall and walked with an easy going gate. Her incredibly long brown hair was held back with clips and it flowed past her waist. The red streaks in it looked natural and were. The clothes she wore flowed along her body. She wasn’t thin by any stretch of the imagination. She was big boned but not fat. Her face was round but well defined with high cheekbones. Dark green eyes were framed by dark brown thick eyelashes and eyebrows. Her nose was cute and not too long. Her lips drew you in. It was her smile though that really made her pretty. Her teeth weren’t perfectly straight. She wasn’t beautiful but when she laughed it made her seem so.
Grace had watched her as they talked all evening. She was unconscious about the flow of her own body movements. Grace thought of this as her artistic movements. Joan would have laughed and called these her autistic movements had she but known Graces thoughts. Grace watched her effortlessly fit into the party and chat with the people she had known. Making new friends from complete strangers. She hadn’t been the life of the party but her diverse interests made her easy to talk to. She drew people to her. A lot of people would have had trouble just fitting in at a stranger’s party, especially a gay stranger’s party. Not Joan. It hadn’t troubled her in the slightest.
The more she watched and listened and talked the more aware of the attraction she became. Kissing Joan in the car had scared her. She was scared that she had frightened off this intelligent, amazing, woman. So far though Joan didn’t show any signs of bolting. Grace was determined to proceed with care. She wanted to KNOW this woman, intimately.
Watching her hide the yawn she suddenly realized how late it was for Joan. Apologizing she offered her the couch or the bed, whichever Joan preferred.
Caught off balance she stammered her reply “but I thought, I thought that you...” and she trailed off. Blushing at her apparent misunderstanding Joan turned slightly away.
Realizing that Joan was embarrassed Grace quickly went to reassure her. Leaning over on the couch she caught her by the shoulder and turned her back. Joan’s head rose to look her in the face. “I didn’t want to do anything that you didn’t want to do. Okay?”
Nodding but mute Joan looked for that spark she had seen before. It was there in Graces eyes. Again something seemed to reach out between them. Joan leaned slightly forward and met Grace halfway in a searing kiss. It didn’t end. Before she knew it Joan found herself pushed back on the couch with Grace half over her. She could feel the desire in her own body. Her crotch was wet with it and pulsing. Grace’s beautiful body was pressed against her own and her hands were caressing her. Joan’s own hands were kneading Graces shoulders, pulling at her, sliding down her back to pull her even more on top of Joan. Grace deepened the kisses, drawing a half moan from Joan. Panting heavily Grace pulled back. Looking deep in Joan’s eyes she asked “Are you sure?”.
Joan whispered breathlessly “Very.”
At this Grace stood up, pulling herself up and off Joan. It took a second to get her balance. Looking down at a bewildered Joan she held out her hand and pulled Joan up and off the couch
. Planting a kiss on her lips Grace led Joan down the hallway. Her bedroom was decorated with modern furniture. Cold and sterile. A small lamp was switched on by the bedside. Joan could see into a bathroom across from the bed.
Leading Joan to the bedside she took her in her arms and just held her. Joan relaxed in her arms, pulled slightly back and looked up into Graces face. Bending slightly Grace met Joan in a kiss. It wasn’t enough for either of them. Grace quickly began to undress Joan. Joan tried to follow suit but was nervous and inept. Stilling Joan’s shaking hands, Grace put the hands on Grace’s body in mute appeal for caresses. This Joan did understand, want, and could do. Swiftly Grace took off Joan’s flowing blouse. Underneath was a satin push up bra. Surprised at this Grace took the time to kiss along the top of Joan’s breasts. Throwing the blouse to a chair, Grace unhooked the bra from in front and Joan’s breasts spilled out into Graces face. Grace buried her nose between them.
Joan was watching with a detached air. She wasn’t sure what to do with herself. Grace obviously knew what she was doing and Joan tried to follow her lead. Joan’s hesitant hand on Graces body was doing more than Joan realized. Grace was already losing control. She took deep breathes and calmed herself. She didn’t want to scare Joan at the intensity of her passion. Not yet. Not when it was all so new to Joan.
“Are you all right?” Joan asked.
“Yes, it’s just that I want you. Immensely. But I don’t want to frighten you.” Grace breathed in her ear.
“It’s all right, I’m not frightened. If something doesn’t feel right, I’ll let you know.”
With that Grace felt much better and began raining kisses down Joan’s neck and chest, leading to her breasts that were spilt out of the bra. Pulling the bra off the rest of the way, Grace threw it on the blouse. Reaching for Joan’s pants fastener Joan stopped her. Grace looked up to see the desire flooding Joan’s eyes. Joan reached to remove the blazer that Grace was wearing. That too wound up on the chair. Joan gently began unfastening the buttons to Graces baby blue blouse, a lot more competent and not shaking now. Her fingertips grazed Graces flesh. Pushing the blouse off her shoulders the whole thing was stopped because they hadn’t unfastened the buttons at the wrists. Grace was effectively trapped in her own blouse. Joan’s shoulders began to shake with laughter. After a moment of frustration, Grace joined her in laughing at their predicament. This eased the tension a bit and relaxed both of them. Pulling the blouse back on she quickly released her wrists and threw off the blouse. After a moment’s hesitation Joan unfastened the bra holding in Graces breasts. This too was discarded. Joan stopped, uncertain and nervous. Grace lifted her chin with one finger and gently kissed her, which soothed her fears, igniting more of her passion. Joan wasn’t sure how this immense attraction had come about but she wanted this woman more than she could bear. In short order they were both standing there naked. Joan shyly looked everywhere but AT Graces body. Grace had no qualms and looked lustfully over Joan’s.
To Love a Shooting Star Page 25