Waking Up Gray

by R. E. Bradshaw

  Fanny stopped walking. She had been a tall woman, like Gray, but time had stooped her. She looked long and hard at Lizbeth, before speaking.

  “Gray is tough as nails. She’s wild as the sea and smart. That made for quite a chore raisin’ her. She’s hard headed, but on the inside she’s fragile, like a child. Ya’ got yer work cut out for ya’ that’s for sure.” Fanny paused to chuckle, and added “But she’s mad for ya’, so that ought’a be good for something.”

  “I’m mad about her, too,” Lizbeth gushed. She couldn’t help herself. “I can’t think when I’m around her. She takes my breath away.”

  Fanny laughed. “Oh, I could tell that last Sunday. At least today you didn’t have the hymnal upside down.”

  #

  Lizbeth spent the afternoon cooking supper. She had invited both Gray and Fanny to join her. After church and dropping Fanny at her friend Marvina’s house, Lizbeth walked down to the Community Store. She ran into Jaye there, the blonde from the porch, who seemed to have intimate knowledge of Gray. She eyed Lizbeth suspiciously as she purchased the supplies she needed for spaghetti dinner. When Lizbeth got to the checkout counter, Jaye, who was working the cash register, finally got around to asking the question burning her little brain.

  “So, how long ya’ stayin’?”

  Lizbeth knew why she was asking and made sure Jaye got the message clearly. “You know, I think I’m going to stick around. I’ve become quite attached to this island and a few of its natives.”

  “I see,” Jaye commented with an eyebrow raised. “You sure keep Gray busy. Hadn’t seen her at the pub in a week.”

  “And that’s unusual?” Lizbeth had found a source willing to talk and she dug for information.

  Jaye was more than ready to spill the beans. Lizbeth could see the little wheels turning behind the younger woman’s eyes. She tried to scare Lizbeth off. “Oh, yeah, Gray’s a regular. She’s quite the party girl.” Jaye winked. “If you know what I mean.”

  Lizbeth braced herself against the counter as Jaye checked her groceries. “No, I don’t know what you mean. I’ve only known her a week. She didn’t strike me as the party type. Too laid-back.”

  Jaye was enjoying this too much. Her eyes sparkled at the thought of telling Lizbeth something that may upset her. “Yeah, she’s laid-back, most of the time, kinda sad actually, but if you catch her with a good buzz on, then that’s a different story.”

  “What does she do, dance naked on the bar?”

  “Now that might be worth paying for.” Jaye laughed. “No, she don’t get naked on the bar, but she’s a whole lot easier to get close to, if you know what I’m sayin’.”

  Lizbeth was growing annoyed and she didn’t know why. It was ridiculous for her to be angry over something Gray may have done before she met her. Still, she found Jaye’s growing innuendo offensive. Did this little tart believe they shared something in common, just because they obviously both had sex with Gray? Lizbeth refused to let her mind call it making love, because that’s what they did, not what Gray had done with the blond young thing in front of her. They were alone in the little store, but Lizbeth wasn’t sure if she wouldn’t have gone ahead and said it even if they weren’t.

  “Well, darlin’,” Lizbeth began with a smile, “I hope that you have fond memories of your time with Gray. I can imagine an event like that would be hard to forget, but she’s not going to be getting drunk and falling for your considerable charms anymore.”

  Jaye, who was more mature than she appeared, remarked unflustered, “Oh, I can see that as long as you’re around, she’s preoccupied. Good luck killing that ghost.”

  Lizbeth was intrigued. “And what ghost would that be?”

  “Whoever done that woman wrong did a real number on her head. You can see it in her eyes sometimes, her ghost is still there.”

  “Such wise observations from such a young soul.” Lizbeth relaxed. Jaye wasn’t an enemy.

  “Oh, I been studying Gray ever since she came back. I was eighteen the first time I met her. Took me years to get her to pay attention to me, you know. But I seen that far off look in my momma’s eyes and I know what that means. My worthless piece of shit father’s memory haunts that woman every day. Gray’s hurt bad, don’t want nobody close to her.”

  Lizbeth was overcome with sympathy for the young girl. “Oh, honey, you’re not in love with her, are you?”

  “In a way, I guess I am, but I’m smart enough to know that isn’t going to happen, so if you make her happy, I think that’s a good thing. If you don’t, she’ll still be at the end of the bar when you’re gone.”

  Lizbeth chuckled. “They grow such practical women on this island.”

  “No need to worry about something you got no control over,” Jaye answered with the wisdom of someone four times her age.

  Lizbeth marveled at the younger woman. “Jaye, you are going to be a lady to be reckoned with. I’ll keep my eye out for that ghost.”

  Jaye smiled. “If you stay, maybe we can be friends.”

  Lizbeth took her change from Jaye, but held Jaye’s outstretched hand for a moment. She gave the young girl’s hand a squeeze and said, “I’d like that very much.”

  #

  Lizbeth made one dish very well, meatballs and spaghetti sauce. She was an okay cook the rest of time and no one ever went hungry, but people raved about her meatballs. Luckily, the Community Store had everything she needed. She rushed around the little kitchen making sure everything would be perfect for the first meal she cooked for the two women who had sustained her for the past week. Gray just kept dragging her to Fanny’s for meals. Lizbeth had begun to feel guilty and wanted to repay them.

  Lizbeth was waiting on the porch, food ready and table set, when Gray came strolling up just after six thirty. As soon as Gray saw her, her face burst into a wide grin. Her pace picked up. Lizbeth could see by the look on Gray’s face that there was no need to remain in the rocking chair. She stood up and walked back into the cottage, stopping just inside the open front door.

  Gray came in the through the screen door and right into the house, where she located Lizbeth and wrapped her arms around her waist. She kissed and hugged Lizbeth a few moments, before saying, “I missed you.”

  It was thrilling to be wanted and missed. Lizbeth hadn’t felt that way in years. She could get used to this kind of greeting, each time they came back together after parting. Lizbeth stretched up her hands and ran her fingers through Gray’s hair, thick from the salt spray. She pulled Gray’s lips to hers and kissed her, letting Gray know she had missed her, too.

  Gray lifted her head and sniffed the air. “That smells delicious.”

  Still with her arms around Gray’s neck, Lizbeth said, “Everything’s ready. I just need to warm the bread. All we need is Fanny.”

  “I’m going to take a quick shower and then I’ll bring her over, okay?” Gray started to release her hold on Lizbeth and move toward the door.

  Lizbeth stopped her with, “Kiss me again.” Now that she had Gray in her arms, it was hard for Lizbeth to let her go, even for a quick shower.

  Gray obliged Lizbeth’s request, kissing her, and then she pried Lizbeth’s hands from her neck, saying, “I’ll be fast. Hold that thought.”

  Lizbeth let her go reluctantly and went to warm the bread. Soon Gray returned with Fanny in tow. They ooo-ed and ahh-ed over the meatballs, enough to make Lizbeth blush. She promised to show Fanny how to make them. When they finished eating, Lizbeth made Fanny and Gray stay seated while she cleared the table and loaded the dishwasher. Supper a complete success, Lizbeth felt wonderful as the three women went to the porch for evening sweet tea and a view of the sunset.

  The conversations Lizbeth had with both Fanny and Jaye were not far from Lizbeth’s mind all afternoon. Even now, she thought about how Gray brought out the protective streak in each woman. Neither of them wanted to see Gray get hurt and they seemed to hope that Lizbeth was the answer to waking Gray’s sleeping heart. No one but Lizbeth appe
ared to believe it was possible. Both Fanny and Jaye had wished Lizbeth good luck.

  Gray and Fanny prattled on about Gray’s day and tomorrow’s schedule. Gray kept Fanny informed about everything to do with the business. She had explained earlier to Lizbeth that she always wanted Fanny to know where she was and when to expect her, so if something went wrong Fanny would send the men out looking for her. Lizbeth didn’t think of Gray’s job as dangerous, but then accidents happen at sea all the time. Boats break down and go adrift, sandbars shift, storms erupt. Anything could render a boat inoperable, stranding its occupants in the elements.

  Just after the sun finally faded behind the trees, shading Howard Street in darkness, Fanny suggested it was time for her to go home. She was up before the sun every day and generally followed it to bed in the warmer months.

  “Well, Gray, will I see ya’ at breakfast?” Fanny cut right to the chase.

  Gray grinned out one side of her mouth. “Yes, Granfanny, I believe I will have breakfast with you.”

  “Lizbeth, you come along, too,” Fanny said, standing with a little difficulty. Gray noticed and stood to help her. “Old bones are achin’ today.” It was the first time Lizbeth had noticed Fanny acting her age, but her wit had ripened. She cracked, “Ain’t no use t’a ya’ playin’ meehonkey around me.”

  Lizbeth raised her eyebrows in question, which Gray saw and translated, “We shouldn’t play hide and seek around her. She’s fine with it.”

  “Ain’t nothing wrong with two people fallin’ in love. It’s the hate that ruins the world.” Lizbeth thought Fanny to be a very wise woman.

  Gray escorted her grandmother into her house and then returned.

  “Gray, is she okay with you being gone at night?”

  “Yeah, she’s fine. I asked her. Said she lived there alone before I came back and I check on her every morning. That’s why we have breakfast. She’s asleep most of the time I’m over here anyway.”

  With that settled, Lizbeth launched into the little plan she had been brewing. She wanted to see the island girl in her native habitat, Gaffer’s Sports Pub. Gray seemed so uninhibited to Lizbeth naturally, Jaye’s description of the loosened up party girl had her curiosity at peak interest. She knew they would have to come home early so Gray could sleep, before her Labor Day crowd tomorrow, but a few hours drinking beer with Gray sounded like fun.

  “Gray, let’s go to the pub. I want to drink some beer and listen to music.” Gray looked a little disappointed, so Lizbeth added quickly, “Who knows, the beer might make me lose the inhibitions I have left… if there are any.” Lizbeth gave Gray a look that said, “You don’t want to miss this.”

  Gray was up and out the door, calling over her shoulder, “Let me get some cash, I’ll be right back.”

  Lizbeth laughed. Motivating Gray had been easy.

  #

  Lizbeth had heard of Gaffer’s Sports Pub, one of Ocracoke’s few nightspots, but never been there. During the day and into the night the pub would serve food, beer, wine, and cocktails to hungry, thirsty tourists. A typical sports bar, TV’s lined the walls tuned to different sporting events. Live music did battle with big screen TVs and pool tables for the attention of the patrons. People dined on the deck or inside the bar. Lizbeth stood on the deck drinking the pale ale draft Gray had selected for her.

  Gray leaned back against the railing on the deck, letting the ocean breeze blow her hair back. The live music was just starting up and some of the people on the deck started heading in to hear the band or refresh their drinks. Mostly locals were left on the deck sipping their beers, so familiar with the band inside they didn’t need to look.

  Lizbeth turned around from where she had been gazing at the sea oats, and leaned against the railing with Gray. She saw Jaye across the deck and exchanged a smile and wave. Gray saw this and looked down at Lizbeth, who was grinning. It made Gray grin, too.

  “So, you’ve been visiting with some of the locals, I gather.”

  “We chatted at the store today,” Lizbeth said this as nonchalantly as possible, not wanting Gray to discover her ulterior motives for getting her to the pub. “She’s a lovely girl and as you said, not as young as she looks.”

  Gray’s eyebrow shot up, intrigued, she asked, “You got all that from a chat at the store? I wonder, what was the topic of conversation?”

  “Gray, you know she has a giant crush on you,” Lizbeth teased.

  Gray looked embarrassed. “Yeah, I know. I shouldn’t have gotten involved with her, but…”

  Lizbeth bailed her out. “She caught you in a moment of weakness.”

  Gray let out a big breath. “I was drunk, and Jesus… she was relentless.”

  “Who can blame her?” Lizbeth said. “She’s a young lesbian on this little island and a lesbian role model such as you moves back home. She really couldn’t help herself.” Lizbeth was enjoying watching Gray squirm.

  “I shouldn’t have let her think there was a chance. I don’t want to hurt her.”

  Lizbeth saw how honestly Gray did not want to cause Jaye any pain. She let her off the hook, somewhat. “She’s fine Gray. She knows she can’t have you. I think she’s satisfied with what she got.”

  “That must have been quite a chat.”

  Lizbeth said, over the top of her beer glass, “Enlightening.”

  “Hum. I don’t know if I like the sound of that.”

  Lizbeth drained her beer and presented the glass to Gray. “Shall we have another? You are trying to get me drunk and take advantage of me, aren’t you?”

  Gray turned up her glass and finished its contents. The dashing grin appeared when she walked away, saying, “Yes, yes I am.”

  Several beers later, the deck had refilled with people. Lizbeth saw Holly across the deck and watched as her eyes traveled up and down Gray’s body. Holly realized Lizbeth was looking at her and smiled. Lizbeth smiled back with her best, “Look, but don’t touch,” smile. Holly nodded receipt of the unspoken message. People danced to the music coming out of the bar. The group of women from the black SUV that wanted Gray to come over appeared in the middle of the deck, drunk and looking for a party.

  Della, the one who had made no bones about the lust she had for Gray, spotted the two of them, and led the others straight to the railing. Della paid no attention to Lizbeth. She was drunk and had focused in on her prey. She stumbled up, throwing herself around Gray and hugging her too long, as far as Lizbeth was concerned. Gray smiled and hugged the woman back. Jaye had been right about the booze loosening Gray up. She was more animated and gregarious than usual. This gave Della hope and she continued to paw at Gray, and in Lizbeth’s opinion Gray wasn’t doing enough to discourage her. She seemed more amused than concerned about what Lizbeth was thinking.

  Della finally noticed Lizbeth and announced a little loudly, “Hope you don’t mind if I borrow your girlfriend for a minute.”

  Well, Lizbeth thought, she’s not too drunk to have noticed that. She wondered, for a second, how many other people there knew she was with Gray. It didn’t matter and it surprised her that she even gave it a thought. The matter at hand regained her attention. Oh, but Lizbeth did mind the other woman touching Gray. Over the years of being cheated on, Lizbeth had acquired quite an aversion to other women touching what was hers alone to have. Even the slightest friendly hug observed had become a suspicion, and this woman was not hugging Gray with friendly intentions.

  Some switch in Lizbeth’s head flipped. She had brought Gray down here to observe and had ended up in a panic of jealousy. It could have been the alcohol - she would blame it on that later - or it could have been the uncontrolled rage she had built up all those years of saying nothing when women pawed at James. Whatever made her do it, Lizbeth moved quickly and without hesitation, pulling Gray from the clutches of the drunken woman and laying a big ass kiss on her right there in front of God and everybody. She let go of a dazed Gray and turned to Della.

  “I’m sorry darlin’, but Gray is otherwise engaged,
indefinitely.”

  Holly, Jaye, and a few other men and women, presumably locals, began to clap and cheer. If an outsider was going to have Gray, they evidently had decided they would rather it be Lizbeth. She had passed some unspoken test. Gray still had an astounded look on her face, as Lizbeth lead her by the hand through the crowd and out of the pub. Lizbeth had staked her claim and now intended to take Gray home and ravish her. The adrenaline from the confrontation fueled her desires. Jealousy, Lizbeth found, was a powerful aphrodisiac.

  For the next several hours, Lizbeth lived up to her prediction. She lost the few inhibitions she had left with Gray, all over the little cottage. They had stumbled through the front door with Lizbeth already tearing at Gray’s clothes. Lizbeth took complete control for the first time in their lovemaking and Gray gave it up easily. The teacher was pleased with the student’s performance and fell asleep on Lizbeth’s stomach when they finally made it to the bed, spent and grinning. Lizbeth’s claim had been thoroughly staked.

  Chapter Eleven

  “Lord, have mercy. Look at you two.” Fanny’s chuckle accompanied her words as she poured the two younger women coffee. “Had a late night, I s’pose?” She giggled, enjoying herself.

  Lizbeth was hung-over. Gray didn’t look much better. They were both smiling, but weakly. Fanny passed out aspirin and orange juice, even though she continued to harass them.

  “You two ain’t as spry as you used to be. Cain’t be howlin’ at the moon like your younger days. It’ll catch up with ya’.”

  “A truer statement has not been spoken,” Lizbeth said weakly. She had gotten up with Gray, even though she wasn’t going with her today, because she felt guilty for getting her drunk.

  Fanny went to the refrigerator and removed a bottle of tomato juice. She began creating a concoction it appeared she was familiar with making for Gray. Lizbeth wondered how many times the older woman had put Gray back together after a night of drowning her sorrows. Lizbeth saw hot sauce and black pepper go in the mix and decided not to watch the rest. Fanny talked, or rather teased them, as she worked.