by Lydia Rose
“My brain just went blank.”
“Do you want to take a walk?” Catherine asked.
Sam looked at her with an eyebrow raised. “A walk?”
“Why?” Catherine’s hands rested against Sam’s chest. “Did you have something else in mind?”
“I don’t think my legs could carry me down the boardwalk.”
“Really?” Catherine’s hand went in between Sam’s legs and up the hem of the shorts. When she felt her wetness, she shivered. “I see.”
Sam closed her eyes as Catherine’s hands teased along the edge of her panties. “If you keep that up, I won’t be able to stand up either.”
“You know eventually we’re going to have to sit and talk with one another,” Catherine said moving her hand into the wetness.
“Talking is so overrated.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Catherine and Sam were lying across each other the following morning. “Would you like to go to the beach today?” Catherine asked.
“Sure. I think I can drag my body off you for a few hours,” Sam said laughing. Her cellphone rang and she rolled over to pick it up. “It’s Jessica.”
“Answer it.”
“Hi, Jess. How are you and Carol?”
“We’re good. Do you want to invite two friends over to go to the beach?”
“You want to come to the beach today?” Sam asked looking at Catherine.
Catherine nodded.
“Sure,” Sam said. “What time can I expect you?” she asked.
“We’ll be there by lunchtime and Carol and I will take care of lunch and we’ll bring steaks for the grill,” Jessica paused. “Will Cate be there?”
“Yes,” Sam said softly as Catherine’s hand traced along her breast with her fingers.
“Is she there now?” Jessica asked with a chuckle.
“Yes.”
“I can tell I’m interrupting. We’ll be there at noon.”
“See you,” Sam said already putting the phone on the end table. “We’ve got three hours,” she said taking Catherine into her arms.
****
“They’ll be here in an hour and we smell like sex. We better get up.” Sam was already throwing the covers back.
“I’ve got to go home and change,” Catherine said putting on the clothes she had scattered on the floor earlier.
“I thought you brought clothes with you?” Sam asked as she moved toward the bathroom.
“I did, but not for company.” Catherine said with a laugh. “Besides, I didn’t bring a bathing suit.” She looked at the floor. “I didn’t think we were going to leave the bed this weekend.”
Sam came over smiling. “Why didn’t you let me tell them to come another day?” Sam put her arm around Catherine.
“I want them to come over. It will be fun,” Catherine said moving into Sam’s arms.
“You go home and change and get your other things and I’ll clean up here.” Sam lifted Catherine’s chin. “Okay?”
Catherine nodded. “I’ll be back here before they get here.” She kissed Sam’s lips and left the bedroom.
Back at her house, Catherine jumped in the shower. The water rushed over her body and she replayed their lovemaking over in her head. It wasn’t just the act of making love, but the love she felt from Sam every time she touched her. How did she get to this age and not realize what her body had been craving all these years. Catherine put on her bathing suit, a pair of shorts and a tank top. Then she went into the second bedroom and looked for something to wear after they returned from the beach. As she moved through the rack, a light blue sundress caught her eye. “Perfect,” she said to the empty room. This should keep Sam’s heart revving until Carol and Jessica leave.
Catherine went back to Sam’s house. She walked into the house without knocking and went upstairs to put her dress away. Sam was in the kitchen when she returned to the first level of the house.
“Hi,” Catherine said when she walked into the kitchen.
Sam was nursing a cup of coffee. “Hey,” she got up from the island and went over to Catherine. “What took you so long?” Sam asked kissing her mouth.
“I took a shower and did my hair. I want to look good for your friends,” she said with a giggle.
“You don’t have to impress them. They’re coming to the beach.”
“I know, but I still want to look good for them and you.”
“You look good in anything you wear.” Her lips nibbled along Catherine’s neck. “But I like you best with nothing on.”
Catherine laughed and pushed Sam playfully away from her. “If you keep that up, your friends will find us in bed again.”
Sam crossed her arms. “Okay, I’ll be good,” she grinned, “only until they leave.”
****
Carol and Jessica arrived at noon. Sam met them outside and helped carry in the things they brought. Catherine was waiting in the living room.
“Hi, Jessica and Carol,” Catherine said as they walked in the door.
Jessica put the duffle bags down and Sam took the food to the kitchen.
Carol walked over to Catherine and hugged her. “It’s nice to see you again.”
Jessica also hugged Catherine. “Our friend looks so happy,” she said with a squeeze. “You obviously make her very happy.”
“She makes me happy too,” Catherine said showing a wide smile.
Carol held Jessica around the waist. “Thank you.”
Sam came out of the kitchen. “Let’s have lunch before we go to the beach.”
The three women followed Sam back to the kitchen.
“We hope you two didn’t have anything planned for today?” Carol asked.
Catherine blushed and Sam chuckled. “Nothing we can’t do later.”
“Don’t you love that ‘can’t keep your hands off each other’ stage?” Jessica added.
Catherine buried her face in her hands.
Sam knew the conversation was embarrassing Catherine, so she changed the subject. “Carol, I see you made potato salad. I love your salads. You two should open your own place.”
“Me?” Carol said, “Never. I like my job.”
“What do you do?” Catherine asked.
“I have a nice boring accounting job. That’s where I met Sam.”
“Carol worked at the same firm where I met Robin,” Sam said.
“What about you Jess?”
“I’m a teacher. I teach fourth grade English.” Jessica said with a flick of her hand. “You’re a professor, right?”
“I am,” Catherine said.
“You should be starting soon,” Carol observed.
“Next week is my last week free before I have to report to the university,” Catherine answered.
“I took off next week so we can spend some time together before Cate’s too busy to spend time with me,” Sam said and then she felt the poke in her stomach. “Hey.”
“You act like I’m just going to walk away from you once I start working,” Catherine said with a grin.
“I mean it won’t be the same.”
Carol laughed. “Sam, you’re digging a bigger hole. I think you should quit while you’re behind.”
Everyone laughed as they cleaned up the kitchen to get ready for the beach.
Catherine went upstairs to take her shorts and shirt off. She came back down wearing a cover up. Sam’s eyes followed her down the stairs.
Carol nudged Jessica. “Sam, you’re drooling.”
Sam turned around and looked at them. “Huh?”
Carol and Jessica laughed. “Yeah, she’s in love,” they nodded.
Catherine looked at them and then at Sam whose neck was bright red. “Would you two lay off?” Now she wondered, was Sam really in love with her? Could she have fallen so fast and so hard after just a short period of time?
“Okay, let’s go.”
They settled on the beach and Carol was asking about her business. Catherine sat there thinking about what Carol had said before t
hey left the house. She wondered if Sam was really in love with her. Catherine knew Sam hadn’t said the words, but her actions spoke volumes. Then Catherine wondered if it was nothing more than lust.
Sam got up from her chair when she saw Catherine putting lotion on. She took the bottle and began to rub the lotion into her back without stopping her conversation with Carol and Jessica.
“Thank you,” Catherine said softly, noticing the looks Jessica and Carol were sharing.
“Have you met Cate’s parents yet?” Jessica asked.
Sam choked on the water she was drinking. “No.”
“What Sam meant to say was my parents live in Florida and no she hasn’t had the pleasure yet.”
Sam looked at Catherine. “Yes, that’s what I meant.”
“Do your parents know you two are dating?” Carol asked.
“That’s not really something you tell them over the phone,” Catherine said feeling suddenly under extreme scrutiny. Catherine knew she would have to tell her mother and father, but until she knew where this relationship was going, there was no need to say anything.
“Any other family?” Carol asked.
“I have a sister in North Jersey,” Catherine responded.
“Have you met Sam’s family?” Jessica asked.
Catherine turned toward Sam. “Where does your family live anyway?”
“We can tell they’ve spent a lot of time talking,” Carol said laughing.
“Well, I still think talking is overrated,” Sam said softly as she looked at Catherine. “My parents live in New York. I have a sister in Connecticut.”
“See the things you can learn when you speak with each other,” Jessica said giggling.
“My parents usually visit after Labor Day. My sister has two kids and she also works so it’s hard for her to get down here.” Sam looked at Catherine to see if she was angry.
“It’s my fault too. I never asked. I’m sorry, Sam. I should have been asking these questions a while ago.” Catherine reached for Sam’s hand.
“Nothing to forgive,” she said with a weak smile. “We’ve got plenty of time to find out things about each other.”
Catherine’s heart pounded. Sam was talking about being with her in the future. “We do,” Catherine said with a smile.
****
The four women came back to the house late in the afternoon. Carol and Catherine went outside while Jessica and Sam went upstairs to shower and change. Carol brought a bottle of wine and glasses as they went out the door.
“Seriously, Cate. It is so good to see Sam happy again,” Carol said taking Catherine’s hand.
“Sam’s made me very happy too. I was married for ten years and I haven’t been this happy in more years then I care to think about. Sam’s the sweetest person I’ve ever met.”
Carol patted Catherine’s hand. “You both deserve to be happy.”
Jessica and Sam came out the back door.
“Okay, you two can go get changed,” Sam offered. “Jessica, do you want a beer?”
“Sure,” Jessica said.
Sam followed Catherine and Carol back into the house. Sam reached out for Catherine as Carol left the room. She kissed her mouth. “I’ve been dying to do that all afternoon.”
Catherine smiled, “Me too.”
Jessica opened the patio door.
“I’ll be back,” Catherine said with one more kiss.
Jessica reached for two beers and handed one to Sam. They went back outside. “You love her, don’t you?”
Sam stared without answering.
“Don’t deny it. I can see it on your face, but don’t you think you’re rushing this?”
“Cate brought me back to life, Jess.”
“Do you trust that she’s not going to hurt you?”
“Yes,” Sam said quietly.
“Suppose she tells her parents and they don’t take it well or she never tells them? Can you go back to the closet?”
Sam thought about what Jessica was saying, but there was nothing Catherine had done to make her feel that she would hurt her.
“But she hasn’t told her family about you?”
“We haven’t been together as a couple that long. I can understand Cate waiting,” Sam insisted.
“We both know friends who have gotten involved with straight women and they never set one foot out of that closet. The affair is fine as long as no one finds out about it.”
“Cate’s best friend knows about us. She lives next door,” Sam said pointing.
“How did she take it?” Jessica asked.
“Not well initially. She’s okay now.”
“That could be her family, but they may never be okay with it. I know it’s tough to keep your hands off each other, but you’ve got to see if there’s something outside of the bedroom.”
“We were friends before lovers. There is something outside of the bedroom,” Sam said holding quotation marks over her head.
“Good. I really like Cate. Carol and I will do anything you need to make sure this relationship works out.”
Sam finally smiled. “Thank you.” She looked up when the patio door opened. Catherine walked outside wearing a blue sundress. Sam’s mouth suddenly felt dry and she reached for her beer. Catherine took a seat next to her. “You look sexy.”
“Thank you,” Catherine said with a smile.
“Where’s my wife?” Jessica asked standing. She went into the house.
Sam leaned over and nuzzled against Catherine’s neck. “Are you wearing underwear?”
“I guess you’ll just have to find out later,” Catherine said in a husky voice.
“Ooh, what you do to me woman,” Sam said with a moan.
Carol and Jessica came out of the house carrying plates of food. They had cheese and crackers and a plate that had tomatoes, mozzarella and basil.
“What a nice snack you two have put together,” Catherine said. “We should be the ones serving you.”
Sam’s heart squeezed tightly as Catherine spoke of the house as if the couple were living together.
“We’re used to doing this. Usually, Sam has nothing in the refrigerator except a couple of beers and water.” Carol looked at Catherine. “Obviously, you’ve had something to do with all the food.”
“We like to cook,” Catherine said as Jessica spit up her beer.
“Things have certainly changed around here, Sam.”
“For the better,” Sam said looking at Catherine.
The rest of the afternoon was pleasant with Sam’s friends. They teased Sam and Sam teased them back. All around, Catherine enjoyed herself.
Sam closed the door on her friends and went back to Catherine who was still sitting in the backyard. She watched from the patio door and knew Catherine was worried about something.
“Penny for your thoughts,” Sam said as she opened the door. She moved a lounge chair over next to her.
“It’s nothing,” Catherine said absently.
The two women sat there quietly and Sam waited for Catherine to offer her thoughts.
“I think I’ll call my sister during the week and invite them down on Saturday,” Catherine finally said.
“Does she have kids?”
“A daughter. Stacy is ten.”
“Are you worried about telling your family about us?” Sam asked.
“My sister can be critical at times. We used to be close as kids, but then I haven’t lived here in eighteen years.”
“You don’t have to tell her, Cate,” Sam offered even though she didn’t want to hide from Catherine’s family. They would never have a good relationship if they had to live with everyone thinking they were just friends.
Catherine showed a grateful smile. “If I don’t have the courage to tell my sister, then I don’t have the courage to live as a lesbian.”
Sam knew that was true, but she kept that to herself. Sam reached for Catherine’s hand and the other hand began moving along her dress.
“You’ve been dying to know
, haven’t you?” Catherine asked laughing.
“You are so right.”
****
Catherine and Sam spent Monday and Tuesday running in the morning and the beach after lunch. Their evenings were spent cuddled up on the couch.
Wednesday morning, Sam had to run to her business because Harry had called. “I’ll be back as soon as I can,” Sam said before she left the house.
“Take your time. I’ll be fine.” Catherine went out to the backyard with her Kindle, but decided to try her sister. “Hey, sis,” Catherine said when she picked up the phone.
“Hi, stranger,” Patty said with a laugh. “So how does it feel to be home?”
“I don’t know why I stayed away so long.” Catherine took a deep breath. “I called to see if you and Bob wanted to come for the weekend?”
“I’ll talk to Bob, but that sounds great. Stacy is in camp so it will give us a chance to get away,” Patty said showing her enthusiasm.
“There’s something I wanted to tell you, Pat.”
Patty interrupted. “Is there something wrong?”
“No. I hope you won’t think so.”
“What is it, Cate? Spit it out.”
“I’ve been dating someone.”
“That’s great. So why don’t you sound happy?”
“Pat, I am happy. Very happy.” Just say it. “I’m dating a woman.”
There was silence on Patty’s end of the phone.
“Are you still there?” Catherine asked.
“Yes. I was just picking myself up off the floor. Are you kidding?”
“No, Patty.”
“How did this happen?”
“It just happened. She’s everything I’ve always wanted in a man, but never found.” Catherine knew her words were closer to the truth then she ever admitted before.
“I can’t wait to meet this woman that swept you off your feet. I should be shocked, but somehow I’m not.”
“What do you mean you’re not shocked?”
“I always wondered if you and Amy had something going.”
Catherine laughed. “I just found out recently that she did have a crush on me back then. I had no idea.”
“Obviously, you weren’t paying attention. Even mom asked me.”