by Lydia Rose
Catherine nodded with a smile and watched Sam walk out first. She couldn’t help but notice the long tan shorts and black t-shirt that showed a very fit torso. “Let’s go.” She picked up her purse. Sam opened her door and held out her hand so Catherine could get into the large truck. Once Sam came around to the driver’s side, she asked, “Where are we going?”
“Do you like pizza?”
“Yes, and in Indiana there was no such thing as good pizza,” Catherine chuckled.
“Well, I’m taking you to the best pizza in the area.”
“So what kind of cars have you gotten in to work on?” Catherine asked.
“A fifty six T-Bird and a sixty six mustang. My other worker, Tommy is on vacation and that’s why I was working all week.” Sam explained. “It was fun,” she said softly.
“Good. I’m glad you had a good time.” Catherine smiled as she stared out the window.
Sam pulled the truck into a parking space and stepped out of the truck. She was at Catherine’s side before she stepped out of the truck. Her hand went out for Catherine to take before she stepped down from the cab. Sam held the door open to the restaurant for Catherine to pass through first.
Catherine thought it had been a long time since anyone treated her this way. She couldn’t remember if Alan ever opened her car door and he certainly never held out his hand for her. She laughed in her head that she was being treated better by a lesbian than any man she had ever dated.
Sam led her to a table and they sat down. “What do you like on your pizza?”
“Anything, but anchovies,” Catherine said with a chuckle.
The waitress walked over. “What can I get for you?”
“A large number two and I’ll have a coke,” Sam nodded at Catherine.
“Coke is fine.”
The waitress nodded and walked away.
Someone came out of the kitchen and took notice of the two women. “Sam,” a man said and walked over. “It’s been too long.”
“Hi, Gino,” Sam looked up at the burly man. “Gino, this is Cate.”
Gino turned to her and held out his massive hand. “It’s so good to meet you, Cate.”
Catherine smiled. “You too, Gino. Sam tells me you make the best pizza in New Jersey.”
He smiled. “If you don’t love my pizza, I will make you something else.” The whole time Gino was at the table, he smiled at Cate. “It’s good to have you back, Sam. I’ll get your order ready.” He nodded to Cate and walked away.
“I guess you haven’t been here in a while,” Catherine said leaning over the table.
The waitress brought their drinks over and set them on the table.
“I was here three weeks ago,” Sam said with a shrug.
Catherine’s eyebrows furrowed. “Then what did he mean when he said, it was good to have you back?”
Sam looked at Catherine for a moment and then looked away. “He’s assuming you’re my date and I’ve finally gotten over losing Robin,” she said barely audible.
“Oh,” Catherine reached across the table and laid her hand on top of Sam’s. “I know that isn’t true about us, but I hope someday you’ll feel love again.”
Sam looked at the hand on hers. “I hope you find that too.”
“Okay, no more depressing talk. Let’s enjoy a Friday night and the best pizza in Jersey.”
The pizza was wonderful and Catherine couldn’t believe she ate three pieces. “I’m going to have to run farther tomorrow.” Her hands went to her belly.
“You’re like Robin. She was always worried about her weight and she didn’t have an ounce of fat on her,” Sam chuckled and was surprised that she spoke about Robin without tearing up.
“Tell me about Robin?” Catherine asked softly.
“When I met Robin she was working as a temp for my accountant. Robin was filling in for one of the women on maternity leave. I was taken with her the first time I saw her. She was just five feet tall and very feminine like you,” Sam said glancing at Catherine. “She had the deepest blue eyes I’ve ever seen and dark hair. We’d flirt when I came in, but I wasn’t sure she was gay so that’s as far as it went.” Sam chuckled. “After a month, I went into Phil’s office and when I came out, Robin was waiting for me.
“I guess you’ll never get the nerve to ask me out,” Robin said smiling.
Sam’s eyes opened wide as she watched the petite woman move closer.
“So, would you like to go out to dinner with me?” Robin asked smiling.
Sam nodded.
“So, that’s a yes?” Robin asked giggling.
“Yes, I would love to go to dinner with you.”
“We were inseparable after that,” Sam explained. “A year later, she became my bookkeeper for my business.”
“How long were you together?” Catherine asked softly.
“Ten years,” Sam answered grinning. “She was the best thing that ever happened to me.”
The waitress came over with their check and Sam reached for it before Catherine’s hand captured the slip. The two women went back to the truck and Sam was at her door holding it open.
As they rode back to Catherine’s house, Sam said, “Thank you for letting me tell you about Robin.”
“I’m happy that you told me. Robin sounds like she was a wonderful woman.”
“She was,” Sam said softly.
“I don’t think she’d want you to spend the rest of your life alone.”
“I wouldn’t have wanted her to be alone if it was me that died,” Sam sighed. “I just can’t see myself with someone else.”
“You’ll get there, sweetie. One day you’re going to meet a woman and fall head over heels just like you did with Robin. When you least expect it, love will find you again.”
“Yes, but I don’t want your friends trying to fix me up,” Sam said laughing.
“I know exactly what you mean,” Catherine laughed with her. “You’d rather it happened naturally instead of being forced into something.”
Sam almost reached for Catherine’s hand and pulled back and put it on the steering wheel. Her head screamed, where did that come from?
Catherine watched Sam’s hand come over to her, but as quickly as she reached, it stopped.
“Thanks for having dinner with me. The pizza was everything you promised. Are you working this weekend?” Catherine asked.
“Tomorrow morning until noon.”
“How about meeting me on the beach after you get off?” Catherine asked.
“I’ll text you after I get off work.” Sam glanced at Catherine.
“I’m not going to get a text that says sorry can’t make it?” Catherine asked again laughing.
“No,” Sam laughed too as she pulled into Catherine’s driveway. She got out of the truck and opened her door. “I had fun, Cate.”
“Would you like to come inside?”
“Thanks, but I think I’m going to go home and get some things done before bed.”
Catherine touched Sam’s arm. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Sam nodded. “Good night, Cate.” She waited until Catherine was inside the house before she pulled away. A smile appeared on her face automatically. She had a good time. Their conversation was never forced and she felt comfortable in Catherine’s company. Sam was very happy to have Catherine as her new friend.
Catherine walked into the tiny house and went into the bedroom to get ready for bed. Why can’t I meet a man like Sam? She chuckled to the empty room and went into the bathroom to take a shower.
CHAPTER SIX
Sam walked into her house at noon and instead of texting Catherine she called her.
“Hi,” Catherine said into the phone.
“Hi yourself. I just got in. I’ve got to take a shower and change. I’m going to have a bite to eat since I didn’t eat breakfast. Can I bring you something?”
“No thanks. I’ve munched on some fruit and I did eat breakfast,” Catherine said with a chuckle.
“Okay.
I’ll see you in a bit.”
Sam walked the two blocks to where she knew Catherine would be sitting. She stood at the entrance and scanned the beach for her. Catherine’s hand came up in a wave and she walked toward her carrying a chair and towel.
“Hey,” Sam said opening her chair and positioning it under the umbrella that Catherine had. Before she sat down, she took off her t-shirt.
Catherine’s eyes went immediately to the firm abs on Sam’s stomach. She sucked in a breath without realizing she had done so. Sam stared down at her. “Sorry, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a woman with abs like that.” The sports bra-type top with the board shorts showed Sam’s firm body.
Sam smiled, “That’s from lifting all those heavy car parts.”
Catherine looked down at her one piece dark blue suit and knew she’d never have a body like that. Even with all the running she did, her body remained soft and feminine except for the strong legs.
“How’s the water?” Sam asked.
“Nice. Would you like to take a dip?” Catherine asked.
Sam was already out of her chair and they walked to the surf’s edge. They both dove under a wave and swam away from shore. The water was rough and they rode the waves until they tired. As they swam toward shore, Sam reached out and took Catherine’s hand to make sure she stayed on her feet as they got out of the water.
“Thanks,” Catherine said with a laugh. “I fell before when I got out earlier.
“My pleasure, Cate.” She released Catherine’s hand as they stepped onto the sand.
They went back to the chairs and Catherine began to add suntan lotion to her body. Once Catherine covered the front of her body, Sam held out her hand.
“Let me put some on your back.” Sam stood up and added the lotion to the exposed skin on Catherine’s back.
As Sam moved back to her chair. “Let me do that for you,” Catherine said, already out of her chair. She squirted the lotion onto Sam’s back and began to rub it in. Catherine could feel the strong muscles in her back and then she began rubbing the lotion into her shoulders and down her arms.
“I can do that part, Cate,” Sam said reaching for the bottle.
“That’s okay. Let me finish while I have lotion on my hands. Her hands went from Sam’s shoulders to the top of her hands.
Sam tried not to enjoy the feeling of Catherine’s hands on her body. Her breathing began to increase and she took a deep breath to try and quell the blood leaving the upper part of her body. “Thank you, I can finish,” Sam said causing Catherine to stop.
Catherine handed the bottle to Sam and took a seat. She watched as Sam added lotion to her chest and abs. Once she began to rub the lotion on her legs, Catherine turned away to keep from staring. What the hell is that about?”
The two women sat quietly for a while. Both lost in their own thoughts until a voice called out from the beach. Amy was walking toward them.
“Hi, you two,” she said standing over them.
“Hey, Amy. Have a seat,” Catherine motioned to the blanket in front of her.
Amy sat down and looked at them. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, why?” Catherine asked.
“I don’t know. You two look strange.”
Catherine and Sam looked at each other and shrugged.
“Anyway. So what have you two been doing?” Amy asked.
“Working,” Sam said first.
“Not a lot,” Catherine said with a snicker. “Beach, running and reading. Have you been busy at work?”
“Yes. I only have a couple hours before I go back to work and I thought I would take a walk on the beach.” She looked at Catherine. “Thought I might find you two down here.”
Sam was unusually quiet and let Amy and Catherine control the conversation. Finally, Amy stood. “I’ve got to get back to the house. Let’s get together one night next week and have dinner,” she said to Catherine.
“Just give me a call.”
“Bye, Sam.”
“See you, Amy,” she finally said.
“Good bye.” Amy went back down the beach.
“I get the distinct impression that she would rather you and I didn’t hang out,” Sam said without realizing she had said the words out loud. Her hand went up to her mouth.
Catherine giggled. “You worry too much. She doesn’t control my life. I had a husband that tried to do that and you see I’m no longer married to him.” That was more information than Catherine wanted to share, but it was too late.
Sam looked at her face. “He wasn’t abusive?”
Catherine shook her head firmly. “Not at all. It’s just that he was older than me and thought he knew what was best. As if I didn’t have a brain in my head,” she sighed. “You can only put up with that attitude for so long.” Catherine turned in her chair. “How old are you, Sam?
“Thirty five.”
“I’ll be thirty nine this September. I guess that’s why we get along,” Catherine commented absently.
“What are you doing tonight?” Sam asked.
“Nothing. Why?”
“Would you like to come over and watch a movie with me?” she asked smiling.
“Sure.”
“I’ll make dinner,” Sam offered.
“You cook?”
Sam tilted her head as if she were insulted. “I’m a very good cook, thank you.”
“I didn’t mean anything by that. I was just surprised.”
“Why? Because I’m a lesbian, I can’t cook?” Sam asked, teasing Catherine.
Catherine blushed. “Of course, not. Don’t be silly. Forget what I said and I’ll start over. I would love to have dinner with you, Sam.”
****
Catherine decided to walk over to Sam’s house instead of bringing her car. She didn’t need the prying that Amy would surely have for her if she saw her car. She rang the bell and waited.
“Hi,” Sam said when she opened the door. “I didn’t hear your car.” She glanced in the driveway and didn’t see her vehicle. “You walked?”
“Can I come in?” Catherine asked with a grin.
Sam stepped out of the way. Catherine waited for Sam to close the door, but she just stood there.
“Are you ashamed to have people know that you’re coming to my house?” Sam asked with her arms across her chest.
“Of course not.” She pointed next door. “It’s Amy’s prying that I don’t need.”
“Is she afraid I’m going to seduce you?” Sam asked, still standing in the same place. “Please know that I would never do that.”
Catherine walked up to Sam and pulled her arms away from her chest. Then she closed the door. “I’m not ashamed to be seen with you. I don’t care if people think we’re a couple. I think Amy is jealous because I’m spending more time with you than her.” Catherine’s hand came up and touched Sam’s arm. “I have more in common with you than her.”
Sam finally smiled and led Catherine to the kitchen.
They sat in the kitchen enjoying the dinner that Sam had prepared. “You have such a lovely kitchen here,” Catherine said.
“We updated it after we bought the house. Robin loved to cook and she’s the one who did all this.” Sam took a bite and continued, “I don’t like to cook for just myself,” she said.
Catherine looked down at the baked chicken, rice and fresh string beans and chuckled. “This is very good and this is the way we all should eat in the summer. Now I know how you keep your body so slim.”
“It’s not intentional. I’m a basic cook and that’s all. Robin could whip up the most elegant meals that our friends would drool over.” Sam’s eyes lowered. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had anyone over for dinner.”
Catherine touched her hand. “I’m honored to be here, Sam.”
Sam didn’t volunteer that no one had been entertained in the house since Robin’s death. She didn’t want a reminder of the life she once had.
Sam reached for Catherine’s plate when they finished, but
she was already out of the chair. “You don’t have to wait on me. I can help.”
The two women rinsed the dishes and put them in the dishwasher.
“Cate, go into the living room and I’ll bring the coffee.”
Catherine walked into the living room and immediately gravitated to the pictures on the mantle. She picked up the frames and studied the people. There were pictures of Sam and Robin on vacation, on the beach with friends. As her hand reached for the next photo, Sam reached out from behind her and snatched the frame from her hand.
“Hey,” Catherine said spinning around. “Why did you do that?”
Sam held the frame behind her back and shook her head.
“What, are you naked in that photo?” Catherine asked grinning. She moved closer to Sam who backed up. Catherine was standing in front of Sam now. “You’re going to show me that picture.”
“No, I’m not,” Sam said shaking her head, but her face showed a grin.
This drove Catherine on to see the photo. She reached behind Sam and tried to take the frame out of her hand. Sam moved the frame over her head. Catherine’s body was pressed against Sam as she reached for the frame. Sam kept it out of her reach.
“You’re not going to see it. So give up,” Sam said laughing.
“I’m not giving up,” Catherine answered. She tried a new strategy. Catherine began to tickle Sam’s stomach.
“No fair.” Sam was laughing. She pulled Catherine into her body hoping to stop the torturing session.
Catherine stopped tickling Sam as her body molded into the taller woman. Her head was pressed against Sam’s breasts and she felt the firm stomach against her body.
“Do you give up?” Sam asked still laughing.
Catherine nodded and Sam released the hold she had on her body. “If you don’t want me to see the picture, I’ll wait until you are ready.”
Sam took a step back and left the room with the frame. She went into the kitchen and put the photo in one of the top cabinets. Then her hand went automatically to her stomach where Catherine had been tickling her. She swore she could still feel the heat of Catherine’s body pressed against her own.
Catherine was in the living room having similar thoughts. Her body fit so well against Sam. The feel of Sam’s strength against her body caused a tinge of arousal without thought. Her body still felt overheated and flushed when Sam came back into the room.