by Amy DeMeritt
“I’ll teach you whatever you want.”
“I can’t wait.”
Maggie and Hudson share a sanguine look while Lana and Elli are still lost in each other’s eyes. They can see the love and commitment that is quickly growing between Lana and their daughter and it is a great relief for them. They have been very worried about Elli since Isabell died, even during the few times Elli was trying to build new relationships. Something about the way Elli and Lana look at each other feels familiar, like how Elli and Isabell used to look at each other – it’s a feeling they never saw in any other partner Elli has had.
The sound of her parents’ forks clinking with their plates as they continue to eat stirs Lana and Elli, bringing them back into focus. They break their soul penetrating gazes to return to their own meals, feeling elated.
“Elli was telling me the other night that this part of the shop used to be a nightclub.”
Hudson and Maggie release small conspiratorial laughs and nod. Hudson clears his throat, then confirms, “Yes, it was. I must say, it’s one of our proudest moments in our family history. Even after the eradication of prohibition, the club remained open for several years, till the fire in 1957, that is. After the fire, the club never reopened, mostly as a way to protect the family secret.”
“What started the fire? Was anyone hurt?”
“No one was hurt, thank goodness. Officially, it was caused by an electric iron being left on. However, we believe it was sabotage, even though my parents were never able to prove it. Prohibition spawned the formation of gangs and the mafia. At the time, there were many small clubs like the one here. And one by one, they were all meeting an unexpected accidental demise. With the end of prohibition, the big bars and clubs could open their doors again. They didn’t want any competition. Small clubs leant some discretion that the larger bars couldn’t, so the elites preferred them, but slowly, they were forced into the big clubs again. Some of the mafia-owned small underground clubs survived, of course, and offered a bit more privacy to those needing such a location to conduct their affairs.” He winks with a grin. “There was so much thrill and scandal back then. It was dangerous, of course, but there was something poetic and romantic about it as well.”
“I imagine it was dangerously intoxicating – the thrill and scandal, I mean. It’s very fascinating to hear about.”
Hudson nods with a cheeky grin as he takes a sip of wine. “It’s very fascinating. You girls will have to come over one night soon. We’ll share a bottle of wine and take a trip through time. The photographs that survived the fire are like little snapshots of the most enthralling scandalous stories of some of America’s most elite members of society.”
“That would be great. Who were some of the prominent figures to frequent the club here?”
Maggie makes a clicking sound with her tongue and shakes her head with a naughty grin. “You have to come over to find that out.”
Lana laughs and nods as she glances at Elli. “Okay, that’s fair.”
“How about your family, darling? Any fun scandals in the past?”
Lana laughs a little as she blushes and shakes her head. “Nothing so grand as running a popular speakeasy. There are rumors that one of my grandfather’s uncles was a crossdressing prostitute, but the family is torn on what to believe. Half of the family says my great-grandfather made it up because the brothers had a horrible falling out, while the other half of the family claims it’s completely true.”
“Now that is a juicy scandal. Have you ever tried to prove it? You know, research police records to see if he was ever picked up for soliciting?”
Lana laughs at Hudson and shakes her head. “No, I’ve never considered trying to prove or disprove it. I think it’s a fun what-if for the family to debate when everyone is together. Knowing the truth might actually ruin the charm of the rumor.”
“That’s a very interesting perspective. I’m not sure I could resist the urge to know every factual detail.”
“What about you? Would you have to know every detail?”
Lana regards Elli with a challenging curious grin. Elli finishes chewing and takes a sip of wine to wash her chicken pot pie down.
“That’s a difficult puzzle. Your great-grandfather supposedly created the lie to lash out at the brother, aye?”
“That is what some of the family would like us to believe, yes.”
“I think I would have to know, only because it’s being used as a way to tarnish a family member’s reputation, and not just a fun family anecdote. But it really depends on the nature of the family debates.”
“Oh, they’re just silly things. The most agreed upon explanation for the rumor is that my great-grandfather’s brother was a homosexual and dressed like a woman when he went to visit his lover so they wouldn’t be found out and murdered.”
“See, that would be a thrilling and very fascinating story if that was the truth – even more so than him being a prostitute.”
Lana laughs at Hudson and shrugs a shoulder. “I agree, but I’m not sure how we would prove it. He was married to a woman and had three children. His living children and grandchildren deny all of the rumors. It’s only his siblings and their offspring who believe the rumors.”
“Very interesting.”
They continue talking about their families while they finish dinner, but after visiting for a couple of hours, Maggie and Hudson insist they should leave so Elli and Lana can have the rest of the evening to themselves.
After making sure her parents get in their car okay in the back alley, Elli finds Lana in the kitchen already cleaning up from dinner. She smiles and wraps her arms around Lana’s waist from behind while she’s washing dishes in the sink.
“My parents had a wonderful time. They really like you.”
Lana looks over her shoulder and kisses Elli’s lips. “It was perfect. I had a great time. Oh, and that chicken pot pie, it was delicious – literally the best I’ve ever had.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it, Sunshine. I made an extra for you take home.”
“What? Are you serious? Oh, my god, you’re the best.”
Lana spins in Elli’s arms and presses her lips against Elli’s. Her hands are wet and soapy, so she tries to keep them out to her sides, but as the soft sweet dance of their mouths escalates, her arms gradually move inward and wrap around Elli. Their torsos press flush with their groins just barely touching, exciting the nerves between their thighs. Lana releases a small sound at the contact and tightens her embrace. Her head becomes fuzzy with passion and heat, causing her to forget the soap suds on her hands as she runs both hands up through Elli’s short blonde hair, getting a firm grip on her short locks.
Elli’s hands firmly glide up Lana’s trim back, and down her sides, over her ribcage, down to her hips, causing Lana to release another sound and slump into her, losing some of her strength. As Elli’s hands grip Lana’s hips, her thumbs glide up under her tee shirt, grazing over Lana’s cool silky skin and angular hips.
A spark erupts in both of them, causing their mouths to stall in their kiss. Lana pulls her hands around to hold the sides of Elli’s neck while they look into each other’s glossy eyes. Elli’s thumbs continue to glide back and forth over Lana’s defined hipbones, causing the light blush in Lana’s cheeks to increase as Elli’s thumbs stoke the heat in her body.
With a last-ditch effort to keep from dragging Elli to her bedroom, Lana breathlessly bursts with the only subject she can think of that might stop her arousal driven instincts from escalating. “I’m taking a sabbatical from work for two months. Friday is my last day.”
Elli smiles, but she doesn’t stop tracing Lana’s hips. She gives Lana a light kiss on the lips, and reassures her, “I think that is a superb idea.”
Chapter Fifteen
After towel drying off, Elli walks over to her dresser to get a pair of underwear and a bra, but as she’s crossing her room, her eyes catch her naked body in the full-length body mirror hanging on the inside of the op
en closet door. She walks closer to the mirror and scans her body with anxiety filling her veins, causing doubts to wash over her mind.
Elli’s job is fairly physically demanding for her arms, shoulders, and back, giving those parts of her body a fit strong appearance without being too noticeably defined. She also walks a good bit around the shop and climbing the stairs often, as well as walking to as many stores or cafés as she can so she doesn’t have to fight for on-street parking in the city, so her legs are thick, while not being lumpy. Her stomach, however, could use some work. She runs a hand over her soft stomach and lightly pinches the bit of excess on her hips and near her belly button.
As her hands run over her hips, she remembers the feeling of Lana’s lovely delicate silky hips and how Lana reacted positively to her touch. Elli is a bit thicker than Lana, but that much is noticeable even fully dressed. Realizing this, and realizing Lana hasn’t run away yet, she reappraises herself with a full appreciative loving smile, deciding to accept and love herself just the way she is.
Elli hasn’t had much reason to dress up for the past few years, so it was difficult to decide what to wear to dinner tonight. She knows Lana has at least a handful of nice pant and skirt suits, so she assumes she also has nice dresses and blouses, but she has no idea what Lana will opt for this evening. The restaurant choice feels like a test for her, as if Lana is trying to see if she can enjoy the finer things in life and clean up nicely. Lana has only seen her in pants, so Elli decides she should wear a dress to show Lana she can comfortably wear either.
After slipping into the knee length black dress with a wraparound waist and short sleeves, Elli steps in front of the mirror again to scan her body. She has already tried on the dress a few times, but her anxiety keeps sprouting small threads of doubt, causing her to fret over whether or not she chose wisely for her evening attire.
She exhales hard and quickly grabs her low strappy heels and closes the closet, hiding the mirror so she can stop obsessing over her reflection. Elli finishes her evening look with a delicate gold chain with a single square diamond hanging just a few inches above her modestly exposed cleavage, small square diamond stud earrings, and a fine gold bracelet on her left wrist.
With a small black clutch purse tucked under her arm, Elli takes a deep breath, then walks downstairs. Before she can sit in a chair to wait for Lana, there’s an eager knock on the door. She opens the door and Lana’s face spreads into a huge approving smile.
“Elli…” She walks inside, looking pleasantly overwhelmed. She takes both of Elli’s hands in hers and scans Elli’s body, head to toe. “You are beautiful.”
“Thank you, so are you. I love this suit.”
Lana is dressed in a light gray slim fit suit with a pressed white-collar button-down shirt tucked in and low-heeled black ankle boots.
Elli giggles and lifts Lana’s gaze with a gentle lift of her chin. Lana blushes as her smile widens.
“I’m sorry, I’m staring. You’re just… I wasn’t expecting this. I thought, well, I don’t know. I wondered, but I wasn’t sure.” Lana laughs and shakes her head as she blushes beet red. “I’m sorry, I’m babbling. Anyway, you’re beautiful. Are you ready to go?”
“Thank you, Sunshine. Yes, I’m ready.”
Elli turns to lead them outside, but Lana quickly tugs her back, wrapping both arms around her and pressing her lips against Elli’s giggling mouth. After they share a short, soft kiss, Lana releases a content sigh and takes Elli’s hand, allowing them to leave the shop.
The drive through the city is mostly quiet, save for the sounds of the city and the low radio, but the unspoken words in their frequent glances, shy smiles, and light squeezes of their entwined hands speak volumes of how happy they are.
As they take their seats across from each other at the square table in the elegant modern restaurant, Lana reaches both of her hands across the table. Elli places her hands in Lana’s and laughs a little from the giddy joy ignited in her belly from the affectionate look in Lana’s eyes.
“I shouldn’t be surprised when you’re so beautiful wearing a work apron, but you are really dazzling tonight.”
Elli’s entire body warms from the boost of confidence from Lana’s admiring eyes and sincere words. “Thank you, Sunshine. I thought you might appreciate it if I left the apron at home tonight.”
Elli winks and Lana laughs. “I like seeing you in your work apron, but I really like this look as well.”
Lana gives Elli’s hands a light squeeze, then slowly releases them so they can pick up their menus.
“How was your day? Were you busy?”
“Aye, a bit. Saturdays are always busy. You know how it is, as a working woman, your weekends are your only time to get your errands done. Saturdays mostly comprise of pick-ups and drop-offs. I don’t get too much actual work done on Saturdays. Though, I suppose I would if I kept longer shop hours on Saturdays, but I too have my own errands I must do.”
“And you need to rest. It must be tiring working in the shop all by yourself for six days a week. How often do you work after hours?”
“Most nights. Mum and Dad come to help on occasions when things get too overwhelming, but eventually…” Elli trails off, not wanting to finish the sentence as to not bring the mood down, but Lana finishes for her, saying, “Eventually, they won’t be able to help anymore.”
Elli nods and diverts her eyes from the sympathetic look Lana is giving her and scans her menu.
Lana watches Elli for a few moments. She can see the weight of responsibility and fear of failure sitting just below a thin mask of strength and it causes Lana’s heart to reach out to her. She wants to hold Elli and tell her everything will be okay, but she can’t; she doesn’t know that it will be. How she hasn’t seen the end of the branch before now, she doesn’t understand, especially with how much they have discussed Elli’s family history and how the business has been passed down to each new generation.
Lana’s eyes tear up as she realizes that Elli has already gone through menopause, so she’s unable to bear a child of her own to raise and train as her heir. Elli’s options are very limited and time is running out. Trying to adopt as a single parent is damn near impossible. She would need a partner, whether to adopt or for artificial insemination. Even if Elli was to meet someone and have a child within a couple of years, Elli will be approaching retirement age just when the child will be graduating high school. She won’t be able to retire till much later, unless another family member takes over the shop, which would probably break Elli’s heart to see happen.
“Elli?”
Without looking up from her menu, Elli asks, “Aye, Sunshine?”
“Will you look at me?” Elli slowly looks up and puts on her best brave smile, using all of her willpower to hide the storm of emotions she’s dealing with. “I just want you to know, or actually remind you, I’m looking for the same things you’re looking for. I’m in this relationship hoping we’ll be able to build what we both want – a family.”
Elli’s eyes mist over as her forced smile transforms into a sincere one. “I know, Sunshine. I’m sorry for my moment of melancholy. How about we get back on track for a beautiful evening, aye? How was your day?”
“Well, like you said, the weekends are mainly used for running errands. I had to go grocery shopping and go to the dry cleaners this morning. Then I cleaned my apartment and did some other laundry.”
“Sounds like a busy day. I hope you’re not too tired to go to the theatre after dinner.”
“No, I’m really looking forward to that. I know I had to read Hamlet in high school and in college, but I don’t think I have seen a live performance of it before.”
“I’ve seen it several times by playgroups covering the entire spectrum of skill and reputation. The best production I’ve ever seen was in London while I was on holiday a few years ago.”
“When is the last time you visited London?”
“Since I took over the shop, I’m only able to get there a fe
w times a year. The last trip was about six or seven months ago. I’m well overdue for a holiday, I dare say.”
Lana smiles as she blushes and bites the inside of her cheek, preventing herself from blurting out the suggestion they take a vacation together while she’s on sabbatical.
Not wanting to allow the subject to completely die, but not willing to be so frank and ask outright, Lana simply says, “It’s been awhile since I took a vacation, but I guess I’m technically going to be on vacation for two months.”
“Aye, you have a rare opportunity to spread your wings and see the world, if you want to. Do you have any ideas for how you’ll spend your time off? Are you going to travel?”
Elli’s anxiety has piqued at the possibility that Lana will want to use her sabbatical to globetrot, leaving her behind just at the start of their relationship.
“I hope this doesn’t make me sound like a stalker, but I was really hoping to be able to spend more time with you in the shop – finish my boots and learn whatever you’re willing to teach me. Maybe I’ll get good enough to actually help you so you’re not so busy every day. I’m open to the idea of a vacation, but I don’t want to go alone.”
“So, I’ll see you in the shop on Monday?”
“If you’re okay with it, I would love that.”
“I’ll be looking forward to it.”
***
“Here you are, Sunshine, as promised, my Uncle Akron’s honey mead – The Stinger.”
Lana accepts the stemless wineglass with an excited smile as Elli sits down next to her on the couch.
“It smells just like honey but with a hint of liquor.” Lana swirls the intensely clear golden liquid in her glass, then slowly takes a sip. “Oh, that is incredible. I can see why it would be easy to get flat on your butt drunk off of this.”
Elli laughs and nods. She takes a sip of the mead and savors it on her tongue for several moments before swallowing. As the liquid trails down her throat, it warms her chest and belly, bringing back so many comforting happy memories of sharing a bottle of mead with family and friends in London.