Waking Up Gray

by R. E. Bradshaw

  While she was up, Lizbeth called Molly and Mazie to let them know Gray was okay. Molly was still entertaining the lovely Ms. Fox and working on Lizbeth’s plan. Of all the lesbians in the world, Molly had to pick Gray’s ex with whom to start an affair. Lizbeth didn’t tell Gray that little bit of information. She’d save that for later because it occurred to Lizbeth that, even though Molly was herself irresistibly cute, Dana sure got over wanting Gray back pretty quickly. She would hope the information wouldn’t affect Gray one way or another, but just in the off chance it would, Lizbeth would wait until Gray was stronger.

  Gray was awake. She ran her hand down Lizbeth’s side then back up to her breasts, kissing Lizbeth’s neck. Lizbeth remained as still as possible under Gray’s growing attempts to rouse her. Gray was determined and within minutes, Lizbeth lost her resolve, rolling over to see the sparkle had returned to Gray’s crystal blue eyes.

  Lizbeth teased her, “I suppose this means you have completely recovered.”

  “Well, I haven’t tried walking yet, but the rest of my parts seem to be in working order.”

  Lizbeth slid her knee between Gray’s thighs. Gray threw her muscular leg over Lizbeth. Lizbeth pressed her breasts into Gray’s chest. “Yeah, and what parts would those be?”

  Gray grinned. “The ones that woke up and realized you were in my bed, half clothed.”

  “If you can make it across the street, I’ll get completely unclothed,” Lizbeth said, tracing her index finger around Gray’s lips.

  Gray couldn’t seem to get Lizbeth close enough. She pulled Lizbeth tighter into her grasp. Her voice raspy with lust, she whispered against Lizbeth’s lips, “What about right here, right now?”

  Lizbeth shook her head no, but didn’t try to move away. Instead, she ground her hips into Gray’s. “No, because I’m not going to be able to control myself.”

  Gray’s breathing was growing more rapid. She kissed Lizbeth hard and deep, a kiss filled with want. She pulled away, catching her breath before saying, “Honey, I don’t think I can wait till after breakfast and you know Fanny will make us eat before we go.”

  Lizbeth pushed off Gray and slid out of the bed, leaving Gray staring in astonishment. “Then you’ll be motivated to eat quickly,” she said, beginning to dress.

  Gray flopped back hard on the pillows. “That’s so not fair.”

  “What’s not fair?” Lizbeth was almost finished dressing and Gray was still in the bed.

  “Doing that to me and then getting out of bed.”

  Lizbeth crawled like a tiger up Gray’s long body, pinning her beneath the covers. She hovered inches from Gray’s face. “I believe this will be the first time we’ve been together since you thought I had left you and I thought you had drowned, so I’m sure it’s going to be intense. I don’t intend to subject Fanny to that. These walls are thin.”

  “You got a point there. You do get pretty loud.” Gray giggled.

  Lizbeth popped her playfully on the shoulder. “Shhh, or I’ll cut you off.” An idle threat, Lizbeth knew. She wasn’t about to cut Gray off anytime soon. In fact, she would have conceded right there if she didn’t know for a fact that yes, she was going to make noise. They’d better keep the windows closed across the street or Fanny might hear her anyway.

  Gray knew it was an idle threat. Lizbeth could tell by the confident look on Gray’s face and the wicked grin that twitched in the corners of her mouth. “Cut me off, huh? Well, I guess I better do as you say then.”

  Lizbeth gave her a quick kiss on the lips and then let Gray up from under the covers. When Gray stood up gingerly on her injured feet, she teetered for just a second and then gained her balance.

  Lizbeth asked, wincing for Gray, “Do they hurt?”

  “Yes, but not all that bad. I’ve had worse. It’s just that first step is a killer.”

  “We should dress them again after breakfast.”

  Gray stepped over to Lizbeth, walking softly on the spots on her feet that hurt the least. She wrapped Lizbeth in her arms and said, “Yes, and then can we pleeeeease go to your house?” She drug the please out like a child begging for a toy.

  “Only if you’re a good girl,” Lizbeth teased.

  Gray took her hand and led Lizbeth toward the door. She grinned over a shoulder at Lizbeth. “Oh, I’ll be on my best behavior.”

  #

  Fanny, true to form, had breakfast waiting downstairs. Lizbeth noticed that the dishes in the sink had been washed. Fanny was glad to have Gray home, safe and sound. After breakfast, Lizbeth washed the dishes while Fanny doctored Gray’s feet and put fresh bandages on them.

  When Gray winced at a particularly tender spot, Fanny said, “Ya’ gone soft in your old age. I pulled cactus thorns out of you when you were five and not a whimper.”

  “That’s ‘cause Billy was cuttin’ such a fuss,” Gray answered.

  Fanny chuckled. “Yes, he was a’squallin’ weren’t he? Learned his lesson ‘bout pushing you into cactus, I reckon.” Fanny continued to chuckle.

  Gray joined her, the two women lost in the memory. Lizbeth loved watching them together. There was such a bond between them, a bond of mutual respect and love. The angry words from yesterday morning had been forgotten.

  Lizbeth asked, “Why, Fanny? What did she do?”

  Fanny, now in full belly laughs, gathered herself and told Lizbeth, “Billy pushed Gray into a cactus bed. She got stuck up pretty good on her feet, but she walked out of that patch and punched Billy in the jaw, which sent him ass over tea kettle into the cactus bed.”

  Gray interrupted, through her own guffaws, “He had cactus thorns all over his back and butt. He cried like a baby.”

  “Is this the same Billy who took your gas?” Lizbeth asked.

  Gray shook her head back and forth, saying, “The very same. He’s still a pain in the ass.”

  Fanny quipped, with a chuckle, “I ‘magine he’s sorry, now.”

  Gray’s eyes twinkled. She said, sheepishly, “Yeah, I ‘magine so.”

  Lizbeth knew that look. Gray had done something. “Gray, what did you do to Billy down at the docks yesterday? Jaye said you made Billy sorry, but she didn’t elaborate.”

  Fanny and Gray exchanged mischievous looks. They were so much alike, their grins exactly mirroring each other. Gray looked down at the floor, unable to respond to Lizbeth’s question. She looked as if she were going to burst, trying to hold back the laughter. Fanny answered for her, through her own giggles.

  “Way I hear tell it, somebody down there told Gray it was Billy who took her gas and he was hiding behind the Community Store. She found ‘im, chased ‘im till she caught ‘im, and threw his butt off the end of the dock into the harbor.”

  Lizbeth feigned shock. “Gray, you didn’t?”

  Fanny wasn’t finished. “Well, that ain’t the end of it. Gray wouldn’t let him up out of the water, and she kept pelting him with rocks and shells from the shore, so he swam out further. Billy ain’t never been accused of havin’ much sense. Why he didn’t get in his truck and leave when he knew Gray was a lookin’ ‘im, I don’t know. What he did do was leave the keys in his truck.”

  Gray interjected, “Dumbass.”

  Fanny started whipping herself with laughter. “Gray drove that boy’s truck right down the boat ramp and into the water, got out, and threw the keys at him.”

  Lizbeth gasped. “Oh no, Gray, you didn’t.”

  Gray grinned at Lizbeth like a ten year old that won a playground fight. “Hell yeah, I did it. Teach him to mess with my stuff.”

  “But Gray, his truck! I mean… are you going to have to pay for his truck?”

  Gray laughed when she said, “Probably, but it was worth it.”

  Lizbeth giggled at Gray. “That was quite an expensive day for you. That temper of yours is going to write a check your butt can’t pay for, one of these days.”

  Gray didn’t miss a beat. “Yeah, well, I have a rich girlfriend and it was partly her fault.”

  Fanny
got into the mix. “A rich girlfriend with rich friends, sounds like to me. Did she tell you her friend flew her back down here in a private jet?”

  Gray looked surprised. “No, she didn’t.”

  “Molly is an old dear friend. Since, as you say, it was partly my fault, I was trying to get back here as quickly as possible before you did something stupid, but alas I was much too late.”

  “So you called Molly to fly you back down here?” Gray asked, knowing that meant Lizbeth had to have told someone other than her daughter about them, and that was a big step.

  “No, actually, Molly was at my house sobering me up when Dana came over and we found out what really happened.”

  Fanny seemed to fade to the background. Lizbeth was aware of her presence, but had grown comfortable speaking openly around her. It was impossible not to. Gray was so upfront about who she was, it helped Lizbeth relax.

  Gray didn’t seem to care that Fanny was there either. She asked, “This Molly knows who I am?”

  “Yes, as a matter of fact, she knew before you did.”

  Gray grinned. “You told her about me?”

  “Molly has some expertise in that area. The use of the jet I believe she called my welcome to the family gift.” Lizbeth winked at Gray.

  Gray understood. “So you freaked out and called your lesbian friend, huh?”

  Lizbeth laughed. “Yeah, something like that.”

  Fanny finally broke their little bubble by standing and saying, “Lawd, y’all go on get out of my kitchen, fore ya’ start makin’ googoo eyes at each other.”

  During all those hours waiting to find out if Gray was all right, Lizbeth had gone over to the cottage, unpacked her things, and turned on the air conditioning. Lizbeth helped Gray hobble across the street and put her in the bed upstairs. Explaining she needed a shower, she went back downstairs, under protest from Gray. By the time she returned, Gray had fallen asleep. She may have been feeling better, but she was far from recovered from her ordeal in the Sound.

  Lizbeth dressed quietly and then went back downstairs. Gray needed the rest and she would have probably awoke if Lizbeth got into the bed with her. As much as Lizbeth wanted to do just that, she resisted and went in search of her cell phone. If her plan was going to work, she had to make a few phone calls. She dreaded the first one, but she made it anyway and got the results she wanted. The second call went without a hitch, as well. When she hung up, Lizbeth immediately called Molly with the news.

  “I did it, Molly,” she exclaimed.

  Molly knew how hard that first call had been to make. She tried to make light of it, for Lizbeth’s sake. “How is James these days?”

  “I don’t know. I didn’t ask him. I got straight to the point and he jumped at the deal. He’s waiting for you to call him.” Lizbeth felt like she needed another shower after talking with her ex-husband, but it had been worth it.

  Molly was nothing if not efficient. “I drew up the papers already. He agreed to the exact numbers we discussed?”

  “Yes, exactly what we talked about.”

  “All right then, I’ll call him as soon as we hang up. You’re going to need to sign some things to make it official.” She paused, and then added, “Lizbeth, you’re sure about this? I mean this is much more of a commitment than the usual lesbian U-Haul routine.”

  Lizbeth giggled. “Enlighten me, Molly. What is the usual lesbian U-Haul routine?”

  “It’s an old joke. What does a lesbian bring on the second date? A U-Haul.”

  “So, I guess this makes it official. I’m a lesbian,” Lizbeth declared.

  “Welcome, sister,” Molly said, followed by a laugh. She asked after a moment, “Did you tell James?”

  “No, let him figure it out on his own. It’ll be more shocking that way.”

  Both women laughed.

  Lizbeth continued, “My cousins are willing to sell. They both have kids in college and the money in a lump sum would really help them out.”

  “That’s great, Lizbeth. I’ll call you when the papers are ready for you to sign. How’s Gray?”

  “Gray is exhausted, but she’s going to be fine. She’s asleep upstairs.” Lizbeth paused, but couldn’t resist the dig. “And how is the lovely Miss Fox?”

  Molly hesitated. Lizbeth heard Molly sigh, accompanied by a little nervous laugh. “Lizbeth, I… well, uh…”

  “She’s still there, isn’t she?”

  “Yes, she doesn’t have to be back at the vet clinic until next Monday, so… I talked her into staying. I’m going to fly back to Texas with her Saturday.”

  “Oh, Lord, Molly. Is it that good?” Lizbeth wasn’t angry. She found the whole thing funny, but she couldn’t let Molly off the hook that easily.

  Molly shot back, “I could ask you the same thing.”

  “Touché!”

  “You know this is all your fault anyway,” Molly said, adding, “If you had stayed on the other side of the heterosexual fence, I would be blissfully unaware of the existence of the lovely Miss Fox, as you called her.”

  “Okay,” Lizbeth said, with a sigh of contrition. “I’ll stop complaining. I just hope this plays itself out soon. I’m not sure I’m up for a lifetime of lesbian inter-connectivity.”

  Molly let out a laugh. “Oh, Lizbeth, you know being a lesbian is like that game Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, only ours is called Six Degrees of Martina.”

  Lizbeth followed Molly into peals of laughter. After catching her breath, Lizbeth managed to say, “And the web grows larger every day. With Gray’s track record, I’m probably now connected up and down the eastern seaboard and part of the southwest.”

  Molly’s laughter subsided only enough for her to gasp out, “Well, I never imagined we’d be connected this way.”

  “Not in my wildest dreams,” Lizbeth said, trying to calm her breathing. She thought she heard Gray stirring upstairs. “I think I hear Gray moving around. I better go. Just call me after you get those papers signed. Maybe Gray and I can drive up next week and you can meet her.”

  Molly, still catching her breath, said, “Okay, I’ll call… and Lizbeth, I’m really happy for you.”

  “Thanks for everything. See you soon.”

  Lizbeth hung up. She was in the kitchen, so she started up the hallway and ran into a limping, sleepy-eyed Gray, holding onto the walls.

  “What are you doing up?” Lizbeth went to her.

  Gray wasn’t fully awake. She mumbled, “Bathroom,” and headed for the door.

  “Are you hungry?” Lizbeth let Gray pass and followed her to the bathroom door.

  Gray nodded her head yes, but didn’t speak. The exhaustion had really set in during her most recent nap. Lizbeth left Gray in the bathroom and went to the kitchen. Luckily, she hadn’t thrown out the food when she left. She managed to put together clam chowder and grilled cheese sandwiches for them. While she worked on the menu, Gray joined her in the kitchen, sitting with her head lying on her crossed arms on the table. Lizbeth glanced at her occasionally. She could see how much the ordeal with the boat had taken out of Gray. She was emotionally and physically drained. Her spurt of energy this morning had been false bravado.

  Lizbeth set out the lunch and sat down across from Gray, who had raised her head and sat staring at the food in front of her.

  “Gray, honey, eat something.”

  Gray answered in a voice husky with fatigue, “I will. I just can’t seem to wake up.”

  “If you don’t want to eat now, I’ll just put this away. You can go back to sleep.”

  Lizbeth reached for Gray’s plate. Gray reached out and took her hand. “No, just give me a minute.” She didn’t let go of Lizbeth.

  Lizbeth waited silently while Gray gathered her energy. She watched Gray’s eyes slowly brighten and when she eventually grinned, Lizbeth relaxed her worry and started to eat.

  Gray shook her head, as if shaking off the cobwebs that clouded her brain. “Wow, I was really out of it. Thanks for lunch,” she said, releasing Lizbeth’s ha
nd and diving into her plate.

  “After lunch, you should go lie back down. You’re exhausted.”

  Gray swallowed, chasing the grill cheese down with water. “I will, if you come with me.” She winked.

  Lizbeth scoffed at her, “You are so full of it. You barely have the energy to lift that sandwich to your mouth.”

  “I’m sorry I fell asleep when you were in the shower.” Gray sounded as if she was afraid Lizbeth was disappointed.

  Lizbeth reassured her, “Gray, I’ll be here when you feel better. I’m not going anywhere. In fact, we need to talk about that.”

  Gray raised an eyebrow, her sandwich hanging out of her mouth as she froze for a second.

  Lizbeth grinned at the expression on Gray’s face. She was so childlike it was constantly endearing. “Honey, swallow,” Lizbeth said, chuckling at her big baby. “I just got off the phone with Molly, the friend that flew me back here. She’s not only a friend, she’s my attorney.” Lizbeth let that sink in, then went on. “I’m about to make a blind leap of faith here and I hope it’s what you want, too.” She hesitated, because she and Gray had never gotten around to talking about the future.

  Gray, who had finally swallowed, spoke up. “Why do you need an attorney? Are you going to make me sign a pre-nup? Exactly how much money do you have, anyway?”

  “As of today,” Lizbeth smiled. “Enough so that neither one of us ever has to work another day in our lives, and is that some backhanded way of asking me to marry you?”

  Gray looked stunned. “What?”

  “Asking me if I wanted you to sign a pre-nup. You don’t need a pre-nup if there are no nuptials. Get my drift?”

  Gray’s countenance darkened. “We’ve both been married before and it meant nothing to them. Is it necessary to go through a ceremony that in the end had no bearing on the future?”

  “Gray, I’m not that old fashioned. It doesn’t matter to me. What does matter is a commitment to each other. Do you want me to move down here?”