Just A Little Romance

by Mary Jane Russell

“Ha! Made you think about me, didn’t I?” Kelly leaned forward, placing a hand on each arm of Sam’s chair.

  “Damn hormones,” Sam said.

  “I can take care of that.” Kelly dropped her hands to Sam’s knees. She gently pushed Sam’s legs apart and moved her body between Sam’s legs, forcing Sam’s skirt to rise. She reached up and unbuttoned Sam’s Oxford shirt. “Nice.” Kelly looked appreciatively at the front-hook pink bra.

  Sam pulled Kelly to her and ran her hand inside Kelly’s work shirt as she kissed her. Kelly’s breasts were small and firm, a novelty to Sam when she looked at her own.

  “I take it you’re not dating anyone,” Kelly whispered in Sam’s ear.

  “Turd.” Sam pinched Kelly’s nipple through the Jockey undershirt.

  “You know I like that.” Kelly reached up Sam’s skirt and found panty hose and panty waistbands. Sam lifted herself up slightly in her chair as Kelly rolled down both layers all the way to Sam’s ankles. Kelly reached under Sam’s skirt and explored with her fingers.

  Sam grasped Kelly’s shoulders, willing her to plunge deep into her.

  Kelly teased and explored, then lowered her face to Sam’s clit.

  Sam rode the woman until she came slightly twice. Kelly opened Sam’s bra and sucked her nipples as she entered her with her fingers again.

  Sam leaned back in her chair and let everything go, feeling only what Kelly aroused in her. She climaxed in one big burst of sensation that hit her from head to toe.

  Sam looked at the ceiling, closing her eyes. Kelly rested her head in Sam’s lap, giving her a chance to come back to herself.

  “Damn, you don’t waste any time,” Sam said.

  Kelly leaned back as Sam kicked off shoes and undergarments. Sam stood and pulled Kelly to her feet. She spun Kelly around against the wall and pulled her shirt wide open, then unzipped her pants.

  Sam needed to taste and feel Kelly’s breasts. She pulled the neck of Kelly’s undershirt lower. How Sam loved women’s bodies and making love to women whether prolonged or like rapid fire when the chemistry was right. She ran her hand into Kelly’s pants and moaned at how wet Kelly was. She brought her hand to her mouth for a quick taste, then worked her fingers until Kelly pushed at her to stop. Sam kissed each nipple before backing away one step. She enfolded Kelly in a tender hug, nuzzling her neck and running her hands over Kelly’s back and bottom.

  “God, I wish passion was enough.” Kelly was short of breath as she spoke.

  “I’d hate to ruin excellent sex by dating,” Sam said simply.

  “Amen to that.” Kelly righted her clothes, then hooked Sam’s bra for her, adjusting her breasts in the cups. “Whew, I could start all over again just from helping with your bra.”

  “We’d end up fucking all night and have to explain ourselves to Tambor in the morning.”

  Kelly did her best imitation of Tambor’s offended look. She started giggling and Sam joined. They soon collapsed against each other, exhausted from laughing so hard.

  “Well, that put us in perspective,” Sam said. “I’m just so damn comfortable with you.”

  Kelly nodded. “I stopped to see you for a reason. I really didn’t know about Haley ending things, but I’ve seen KD downtown.”

  Sam raised one eyebrow.

  “Don’t do that, you’ll have me started on you again.” Kelly went to the side chair and sat before Sam’s desk.

  Sam returned to her executive chair. “I’ll sleep well tonight.” She sighed. “You were saying?”

  “I was trying to figure out how to tell you that I saw KD in a butch bar downtown, across the Manchester Bridge. She was drinking and snorting.”

  Sam grimaced.

  “Don’t start about where my buddies hang out.” Kelly put her feet up on Sam’s desk. “I’m clean. I intend to keep my job, and I do on occasion have to pee in a cup.”

  Sam held her hands up in submission.

  “KD didn’t see me, so I know she wasn’t blowing air up my skirt, so to speak.”

  Sam started to speak.

  Kelly continued quickly. “KD is pissed off big-time with you and talking revenge. She may leave town for a while to avoid the court date, but she’ll come back. You’d better be looking over your shoulder.”

  “She won’t risk coming back to Virginia if she blows off a judge,” Sam said.

  Kelly shook her head. “That’s exactly why she’ll show up again. She’s one crazy, mean bitch.”

  Kelly looked at her watch. “Go home or you’ll miss your eleven o’clock news fix.”

  Sam fanned herself. “So much for afterglow.”

  Kelly chuckled as she started out of Sam’s office. She called over her shoulder, “You’re so full of shit.”

  Sam watched Kelly walk away and wished not for the first time that they could work as a couple.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  It wasn’t that Sam regretted going to her boss’s New Year’s Eve open house so much as it emphasized her lack of a significant other. “Oh, Lord, don’t start using that term,” Sam whispered to herself as she drove carefully across Richmond. She had nursed a single beer all evening and was more on the lookout for someone else’s driving after a party rather than being concerned about her own ability.

  “Significant other—sheesh.” Sam had decided long ago that whispering to herself wasn’t as bad as talking aloud to herself. Asking Kelly to go with her was out of the question. If nothing else, Kelly had a full agenda of parties to drop in on. To add insult to injury, Sam’s boss and his wife had given her a midnight hug and pat on the back.

  Sam turned into the subdivision from Route 60 and saw no other cars moving. She looked ahead along Paul’s street when she slowed at the intersection to turn onto her own. Paul’s house was dark. He was bar hopping downtown and hoping to strike it lucky. “For God’s sake, just be safe, my friend.” This she said aloud so that it would count in its full ability to ward off anything bad happening to Paul.

  Sam stared at Haley’s house before pulling into her own driveway. She caught a glimmer of light between closed blinds from a flickering television screen. Only Haley’s truck was parked in her driveway. “Good for you with being okay to stay in and by yourself tonight.” This, too, Sam said aloud. “Happy New Year, buddy.”

  Sam stopped in her driveway, forgoing the squealing of the overhead door track. Just as she was about to open her door, she caught a glimpse of movement out of the passenger window. Sam glanced about for a weapon—all her emergency equipment was in the trunk. “Not so smart,” she whispered.

  Sam opened her door with cell phone in hand and continued scanning the area beyond her car. She froze when she saw a tiny figure in a robe. “Ava?”

  “Oh, excuse me, have you seen Newman? I must find him before Donnie comes in from his date.” Ava walked slowly and in an erratic pattern.

  Sam wracked her brain. Newman? She stopped as she rounded the front of her car. Ava had once shown her a photograph of a husky with penetrating blue eyes that Max had given Don for his tenth birthday.

  “I let him out to do his business, and he hasn’t returned. Donnie can’t sleep unless Newman is on the foot of his bed.” Ava peered in the direction of the houses across the street and tried to whistle. “I never could do that.” She shrugged.

  Sam quickly did the math—Ava was forty years in her past. “Who am I, Ava?”

  Ava stopped and squinted in Sam’s direction. She frowned. “I thought you were one of Donnie’s teachers.” It was more of a question than an answer.

  “Why don’t you come inside with me?” Sam walked toward Ava. “I’m sure Newman is fine. He wouldn’t want you to catch a chill looking for him. Maybe he’s with Donnie. We’ll call and ask him.”

  “You can do that?” Ava’s worried expression lifted.

  “You bet. I know how to reach Donnie. I’m a friend of his.” Sam guided Ava to the front door of her house.

  “You’re awfully sweet. He ought to be out with you.” Ava
shivered. “I’m cold.”

  Sam rubbed Ava’s arms and shoulders as she led her to the sofa. She took the afghan from the back of the couch and wrapped it around Ava. “I’ll make us a cup of cocoa.”

  “Donnie will enjoy that when he gets home.” Ava rocked gently on the couch.

  Sam went to the kitchen and turned the ever ready kettle of water on to boil. She used the number for Don programmed into her cell phone.

  “Jacobs.” The voice was neither slurred nor happy to receive his first phone call of the year.

  “Don, it’s Samantha Moyer. I just came in and found your mother disoriented and wandering in her yard. I’ll stay with her the rest of the night but thought you ought to know.”

  “I can be there in fifteen minutes.” His tone actually softened, surprising Sam.

  “I think it would be a shock to her to see you my age instead of the teenager she’s expecting home. I’ll put her to bed and you can see how she is in a few hours. It’s your call. She’s not in any pain and there’s no compromise of speech or body that I can see.” Sam gave him time to think.

  “Her mind’s getting worse. None of us wants to discuss it,” Don finally said. “Surely you’ve noticed.”

  Sam glanced into the living room. Ava had settled into the corner of the sofa and dozed off. “Yes. I chalked it up to being almost eighty.”

  “I’ll be there at eight. I’ll bring breakfast. Thank you.” Don disconnected.

  Sam made two cups of cocoa and returned to the living room. Ava opened her eyes but didn’t move and motioned the cup away.

  “I was outdoors and not myself, wasn’t I, Sam?” Ava asked.

  Sam nodded, relieved to be recognized.

  “I’ve been able to hide it longer than I thought.” She glanced about her house. “What will become of all my books? What will I do without them?” She spoke of the hardbacks as the lifelong friends they were.

  “Don’t worry about that now. Don is coming over in the morning. You two will talk through this.” Sam shuddered at the thought of anyone having to sort through Ava’s belongings.

  “I’ve had a good life. The good and the bad balanced, actually tipped in the direction of good. I still want more time, though. Is that greedy?” Ava’s eyes filled with tears.

  “Good heavens, no. Have you told your doctor about these spells?” Sam asked.

  “I’ve been on Aricept for six months. Don knows. That’s why I’ve practiced so much on you, Haley, and Paul. I wanted to be able to reassure Don that the medicine was working and I could live on my own. It’s very mild Alzheimer’s. Of course, that’s akin to thinking yourself a little pregnant.” Ava sat upright and took the cup of cocoa to sip. “Delicious.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” Sam asked gently.

  “I didn’t want you worrying about me any more than you already do, child. I also didn’t want you analyzing my every movement and word.” Ava took a deep breath. “I’m very tired.”

  “I’ll help you to bed.” Sam set her cup on the coffee table and waited for Ava to finish.

  “I want you to do something for me.” Ava waited after she stood to make sure she had her balance.

  “Anything.”

  “You are too caring a person to be alone, Sam. The right one is there in front of you if you will stop chasing every skirt that lifts in your direction or pair of hiking boots that catches your eye.” Ava held on to Sam’s arm.

  “Ava!”

  Ava chuckled. “You know what I mean. Quality of life is everything. Quality of love is just as important. Think about that and choose your next woman friend accordingly.”

  “You make it sound so simple. How is it that you’re so smart and I’m not?” Sam escorted Ava to her bedroom.

  “You really don’t expect me to answer that, do you?” Ava winked as Sam held the blanket up for her to slide into bed.

  “I’ll be on the sofa. Thanks for giving me something else to think about instead of sleeping.” Sam tucked the covers around the small, frail body.

  “Sweet dreams, dear. You know I love you like a daughter.” Ava cupped Sam’s face in her hand when Sam bent to give her a kiss on the cheek.

  Sam could no longer contain her tears as she returned to the living room. She could not lose Ava.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  Sam was proud of herself. So far each weekday of this year, she had arrived at work less than an hour early and stayed no more than an hour late. She spent evenings and weekends at home and stayed productively busy. She organized kitchen cabinets and bedroom closets, resulting in considerable donations to Goodwill. She exercised. She read. She talked to Haley and Paul by telephone. She dropped in on Ava in person each day at varying times. She watched quality television. She did not, however, troll on the Internet.

  “He keeps telling me that his teacher has it in for him,” Tambor said as she turned off her computer.

  “Go. I understand,” Sam said without glancing up from her desk.

  “I couldn’t get an appointment after five.” Tambor stood in Sam’s door with car keys in hand.

  “You’re only leaving two hours early. Enjoy it and don’t show it on your time sheet. Take Deuce out to dinner afterward.” Sam looked up. “Nothing is more important than your son. Any problem at school had best be worked out quickly now before it escalates. Middle school is when classes and permanent records start to take a real toll on what he’ll do after he graduates.”

  Tambor nodded. “I don’t remember grade school being so intense.”

  “Hell, I remember playing marbles. Try telling that to your son if you want to see him roll his eyes.” Sam waved Tambor off.

  “Hope you didn’t lose all of them.” Tambor laughed as she left the building.

  “No, my marbles are safely saved in a glass jar for display.” Sam found her place in the business plan she was reviewing from a possible tenant. Something about it looked too cookie cutter. There must be a new Web site for fill-in-the-blank forms for businesses. Sam heard the thump of the double front doors. “I thought I told you to go already.”

  “Well, I just got here.” A woman who was not Tambor answered. Her response was accompanied by a boy’s giggle.

  “I’m so sorry.” Sam quickly stood and walked around her desk toward the front office of the building that doubled as a foyer, as well as admin and reception. She stopped short in the doorway of her office.

  Lisa looked at Sam and burst out laughing. “That just about sums up how I feel about seeing you here. Please tell me you’re just visiting.”

  At Lisa’s side was a barely teen boy with blond hair and brown eyes whose head already reached above Lisa’s shoulder. He was rapidly making his way through the magazines on the circular coffee table. “No good ones, Mom.”

  Sam mentally steeled herself not to argue with Lisa. “It’s my job to manage this facility. Are you two lost?” She sounded a little too hopeful. “Who might this be with you?”

  Lisa drew the boy in front of her and placed a hand on each shoulder. “This is Alex, my youngest. Thirteen. Knows everything. We stopped on our way to a movie and dinner. His dad’s taking his older brother to an away basketball game, so I have a bonus weeknight with him.” Lisa managed not to laugh at Sam again. “I’m here on purpose. One of my patients told me about this place and how helpful it is for anyone who has a small business idea.”

  Sam relaxed. “That’s the best kind of advertising for us.” She angled her head. “Truce? I’m actually fairly good at my job.”

  Lisa extended her hand. “Absolutely.”

  Sam held out her hand to Alex. “I’m Sam.”

  “She’s Ms. Moyer.” Lisa frowned at Sam.

  “I’m going outside, Mom.” Alex made it sound like a statement rather than asking permission.

  “Five minutes,” Lisa said. She removed her coat.

  “You want to start your own business?” Sam waited until Alex was through the doors.

  Lisa looked around and sat down at
one of the chairs at the low, round table in the reception area. She glanced at the scattering of business magazines. “I didn’t know there were such publications. Yes, I want to start a part-time business and see if I can eventually go full time with it.”

  Sam sat opposite Lisa and waited for her to continue.

  “No wisecracks?” Lisa asked.

  “I’m not quite as much of a smart ass when I’m not nervous about being in an ER with me or one of my friends hurt.” Sam was surprised by how much she wanted Lisa to be impressed with the business incubator.

  “I heard that,” Lisa said. “I’m burned out at the hospital. Ten years in trauma is longer than most people last.”

  Sam nodded.

  Lisa took a deep breath. “I love to cook. I’m self-taught. I became hooked on haute cuisine when I started watching all the shows on the Food Network. I’ve done a little catering on my downtime—just meals for patients or parties for friends. Everyone always raves about the food. Even my exes tell me I ought to cook for a living.” She waited for a reaction.

  “I know that decent, affordable caterers are hard to find,” Sam said. She would not rise to the easy barb.

  “My idea for a business isn’t exactly catering.” Lisa leaned forward. “I think there’s a genuine need for someone who prepares good, healthy meals. Meals that could be picked up by professionals on their way home or delivered to someone shut-in from age or illness. Meals that are tailored for an age group or health restriction.”

  “Kind of a healthy gourmet-to-go?” Sam asked.

  “Exactly.”

  Alex returned on time and sat in the chair closest to Lisa. “I like to cook, too. Mom lets me experiment.”

  “Good for you,” Sam said. She looked at Lisa and winked. “Years from now, the women in his life will thank you.” There was nothing effeminate about the boy.

  “He treats it as a science project. He’s actually the one who got me started. We began cooking together to help him understand dry measurements. We realized we had found something we both enjoyed doing together under his dad’s watchful eye.”