Dingo's Recovery

by Genevieve Fortin

  “What happened to your scarf?” Amanda asked in a whisper as she moved her hand from Joyce’s chest to her neck and caressed it with her fingertips. Joyce felt nothing but pleasure from the touch.

  “I figured I didn’t need it. You do love me for all I am, right? Crepy skin and all?”

  “I do. I was glad when you told your sister that. But I’m even happier you finally seem to believe it.”

  “Sometimes saying the words out loud makes them true. I don’t know.” Joyce moved closer to Amanda’s ear and continued, murmuring, “All I know is that I want your hands on me. I want you to take me. I want to be yours.”

  Amanda whimpered and started kissing her neck. “Should we move to the bedroom?”

  Joyce rose to her knees and slipped out of her sleeveless silk blouse in one easy movement before letting it fall to the ground. “No. Right here. Right now,” she added as she removed her bra and sent it to the concrete patio floor with her blouse.

  Her plea sufficed to convince Amanda to start kissing her nude breasts with skills that equalled her hunger. Joyce watched her nipple disappear into Amanda’s mouth and her arousal reached heights she couldn’t remember. She saw her move her tongue over one breast and gather the other in her hand and she didn’t care about her less than optimally tight skin. Amanda was enjoying it, feasting on it, and the sight made her pant and moan with desire. She felt wetness between her legs. She needed Amanda’s hand there, on her sex, inside her.

  Without pushing her away from her breasts, she unbuttoned her Capri pants and took Amanda’s free hand and plunged it into her underwear. “Take me,” she repeated in a ragged breath. She obeyed eagerly, easily finding her wetness and her opening. Joyce felt fingers slide inside her and she gasped loudly. She started riding her hand frantically, rubbing her sex on Amanda’s hand and wrist. The sensations were overwhelming. She felt perspiration on her forehead and on her chest. She breathed hard in rhythm with the waves of pleasure that rose through her until she reached climax and let her body fall onto Amanda. She gathered her in her arms and held her until she could breathe again, until she could use her muscles again and found the strength to state the obvious. “That was amazing.”

  “It really was,” she heard a giggling Amanda answer.

  Joyce lifted her head from Amanda’s shoulder so she could see her. Her smile was cheerful, her eyes were sparkling. She was happy. Simply yet completely happy. “I’m so in love with you,” she couldn’t help but declare. There was no point keeping it in. She was undeniably in love with this young, wonderful woman. Amanda’s expression changed. She looked surprised by her disclosure. Then her smile widened and tears of joy filled her eyes.

  “I’m in love with you too. Thank you so much for letting me…”

  “Don’t thank me yet. You don’t know how insatiable I am. I can’t blame you, though. I didn’t know it myself until now.”

  Amanda laughed. “I don’t think that will be a problem.”

  Joyce kissed her, slowly pressing their lips together, marvelling at how well they fit. “Perfect. Will you please stay the night? I can drive you to your place tomorrow before work so you can change.”

  “I’ll be happy to.”

  They went upstairs and set up Dingo in his crate. Joyce took off the rest of her clothes and watched Amanda undress. They climbed in bed together and made love for most of the night. Joyce let her explore all of her body. The light wasn’t on, yet she felt exposed. Exposed but never judged, which allowed her to move past any hesitation.

  She was Amanda’s. And Amanda wanted all of her, flaws included. Her love was unconditional, unlike Barbara’s. That had become evident when she’d faced Barbara earlier and decided on the spot to smash down her walls and let Amanda in once and for all. She was worth her trust. She wouldn’t run away.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Joyce was surprised when she received a call from Heather on Thursday morning asking her to come to her mother’s house for tea. If Barbara had called, she likely would have said no, but she was curious about Heather’s choice to get involved in their disagreement. It wasn’t like Heather to meddle in things that didn’t concern her, which made her believe her fight with Barbara must have affected her niece in some way. She’d never seen her mother and her godmother fight seriously, after all.

  Driving to Barbara’s house now, Joyce felt strong enough to face anyone, including her judgmental sister. Amanda had spent the night on Tuesday and Wednesday, and she was beyond happy. Their budding relationship was proving to be tender, loving, and easy. So easy now that Joyce had let go of her insecurities, realizing that she’d been the main obstacle to her own happiness. Yes, sometimes she still wondered what she was doing with a woman young enough to be her daughter, but when she did, she shook her head and reminded herself she was doing what she needed to do to make Joyce Allen happy. At last. She was no longer spending time and energy being a version of herself that could please her sister, her wife, or her circle of friends. She was being her true self, the Joyce Allen she’d almost forgotten. The fact that she made Amanda happy too was a welcome bonus and evidence to her that they were meant to be together.

  Joyce parked her car in front of Barbara’s house, looked at it, and cringed. She’d always hated her sister’s house. Extravagantly large and aseptic, it completely lacked personality and could have belonged to any rich owner. Nothing in the cold stone exterior walls or in the generic landscaping gave any clue about the house’s owners. The interior wouldn’t help a stranger solve the puzzle either. Not even one family portrait could be found in it. Barbara rarely invited her sister there, preferring her surprise visits to Joyce’s instead, and Joyce liked it that way.

  She walked to the front door and rang the doorbell. Heather opened the door and invited her in before they shared a warm hug. “You look great, Aunt Joyce. Being in love suits you.”

  “Thank you. I feel great. Although I’m a little curious about this meeting.”

  “I know you must be, and you know I usually mind my own business, but I couldn’t stand by and do nothing here. You’ve always been in my life. I’ve learned as much from you as I’ve learned from my parents. And I still need you.”

  “Oh, Heather, I hope you know that I will always be in your life. Even if your mother can never accept my relationship with Amanda and we can’t get past this, I will always be there for you.”

  “I know, but I need you in my mother’s life too.”

  Joyce raised her eyebrows to show her puzzlement. She didn’t understand what Heather was saying.

  “You might not know this, but you’re kind of like a natural circuit breaker for my mother.”

  Joyce started to laugh. “What?”

  “You keep her from going too far. Just by your presence. It’s hard to explain but all I know is that even as a kid I could see that my mom was calmer when she was around you. Funny, easygoing. My mom’s at her best when she’s with you, and I’m afraid what not having you in her life might do to her. She’s been wound up so tight since you started dating Amanda no one can talk to her.”

  “I understand, but I can’t sacrifice my own happiness for her sake anymore. She’s doing this to herself.”

  “I know. And I think she’s starting to realize it too.”

  “Hm. Somehow I doubt that. How?”

  “Are you two going to stay by the door talking about me all day?” Barbara asked as she approached them. “My lovely daughter spent the night trying to make me see the light. That’s how. Now if you’ll join me on the back porch for tea, we can chat a little more about what a bitch I am. Maybe once you’ve both emptied your bag I’ll be allowed to go to sleep.”

  Barbara turned around to lead the way to the back of the house. Heather rolled her eyes and Joyce giggled at her niece’s expression and whispered, “Well, this will be fun.” Then they both followed Barbara.

  Once on the porch, they sat in white rattan chairs and Heather poured tea. “I’m sorry to disappoint you,
but I don’t have a bag to empty. I said all I had to say,” Joyce started, not sure what Barbara and Heather expected of her.

  “Oh, that was just Mom playing the victim. Wasn’t it, Mom? She’s the one who has something to say to you,” Heather replied with a stern look toward her mother.

  Barbara sighed heavily. “I hadn’t realized I was already at the age when the parent becomes the child. When did I become so old, sis?”

  “Will you quit creating diversion? There’s no age to act like a child and that’s exactly what you’re doing,” Heather added with exasperation.

  “All right, all right. Geez, I was just trying to be humorous. What’s wrong with that?”

  “She didn’t come here to hear your bad jokes, Mom.”

  “Actually I’m not quite sure what I’m doing here yet,” Joyce interjected, putting an end to the banter between mother and daughter.

  “Fine, I’ll get straight to it,” Barbara started. She sat stiffly in her chair and took a deep breath. “I can’t let you shut me out of your life, Joy. I need my baby sister too much. I don’t like you dating a woman Heather’s age, and I can’t promise I’ll ever like it, but if it means I can keep my relationship with you, I can promise never to comment about it again.” Barbara looked at Heather, who jerked her head as if to indicate there was more to say. “Oh, and I can promise to be polite to Amanda.” Barbara looked to Heather again, who smiled at her with pride.

  “Are you saying all of this because Heather asked you?” Joyce couldn’t help probing.

  Barbara turned back to her and shook her head. “No. Heather did insist. A lot. But you know me well enough to know it wouldn’t have changed anything in the end if I didn’t think she’s right. I can’t lose you. I’m used to my baby sister seeing things my way, but I can’t stop seeing you simply because you don’t agree with me for the first time in your life. So what do you say?”

  “Well, I really do wish you could see how good Amanda is for me, but I guess what you’re offering is a beginning.”

  “So we’re still sisters?”

  Joyce chuckled, “Of course, silly. You’ll always be my big sister. I have one condition, though.”

  “Okay,” Barbara said with apprehension. “What is it?”

  “Next time you stop by and I don’t answer the front door, don’t come in the house, even if the door is unlocked. Can you add that to your promises?”

  They both laughed and Heather looked at them with perplexity. “You have my word,” Barbara said through laughter mixed with tears.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Amanda was discussing Mrs. Johnson’s cat with Doug behind the reception desk when Joyce arrived with Dingo for their last Friday morning appointment. Amanda’s throat tightened up at the thought and she remembered that fateful morning she’d met Ms. Allen and her basenji. She’d known back then her life wouldn’t be the same, but she couldn’t have imagined everything they’d go through and how happy she would be almost three months later.

  “Amanda,” Joyce said quietly with a nod and a smile before she turned to Doug. “Good morning, Doug.” Joyce and Amanda had already exchanged their own “good mornings” earlier in Joyce’s bed. Amanda felt her cheeks heat up at the memory.

  “Good morning, Joyce,” Doug answered. “We’re looking forward to tomorrow.”

  “So are we.” Doug and his wife were coming over to Amanda’s condo for dinner, which thrilled her almost as much as it made her nervous. She wondered how long it would take before Barbara shared a meal with them in her turn. She wasn’t looking forward to that meal, but she knew Joyce was. She’d been so delighted about her visit to Barbara’s yesterday. It was definitely a step in the right direction. Amanda felt relieved that she wouldn’t lose her sister because of her. Although she realized Barbara’s attitude wasn’t her fault, she couldn’t help but feel responsible.

  “Well, I have to get to my patient, but I hope you have a great day. See you tomorrow,” Doug said as he scratched his head and turned around to leave the reception area.

  “Great, see you tomorrow,” Joyce answered to Doug’s back. She then turned to Jacqueline. “We’ll sit in the waiting room.”

  “Actually, Dingo can come with me, if you don’t mind,” Amanda offered. “I’ll take him in the back for his X-rays and Isabelle will come to get you once I’ve looked at them. Okay?”

  “Perfect,” Joyce answered as she handed Dingo’s lead to Amanda. Their hands brushed against each other and a wave of electricity passed through Amanda’s body, the same kind of energy she’d felt the first day she’d met Joyce when they’d shaken hands. She wondered if that sensation would ever fade. She didn’t think it would. It might evolve, take different forms, but it wouldn’t fade.

  “Let’s go find out if you’re all better,” she said to Dingo, who obediently walked by her side.

  “I hope your vet was as good as Amanda and you got better too,” Joyce told the injured basset hound in the framed poster hanging on the wall in front of her. She’d spent a lot of time with that dog in the past twelve weeks. He’d become a friend of some sort. So much had happened in that time. “I bet you didn’t think you’d ever see me this happy that first time we met, huh?” Joyce chuckled before she continued her conversation with the framed art. “I must say your mood hasn’t changed much, though.” She laughed harder.

  “Are you all right, Ms. Allen?” Isabelle asked, smiling but obviously concerned.

  “Oh yes. I’m great. Just talking to an old friend. You’re ready for me?”

  “Yes, we are, if you will follow me.”

  “Of course.”

  Joyce followed Isabelle to the exam room, but to her surprise, the young vet tech didn’t stay. She simply opened the door for her and closed it behind her, leaving Joyce alone with Amanda and Dingo. Amanda was scratching Dingo’s neck and whispering something in his ear. His tail was wagging frantically. “What are you two up to?” Joyce asked.

  Amanda turned to her with the widest smile, “I was telling Dingo he needs to stop frowning now that he’s one hundred percent back to normal. But I guess he’s stuck that way,” she said through giggles as Dingo licked her cheek.

  “I’m afraid he is, but will my smile do? That’s such wonderful news.” Joyce walked to the table and hugged Amanda. Then she grabbed Dingo’s face and kissed his nose.

  “I also told him we’d go on a hike this evening. It’d be the perfect way to celebrate his recovery, don’t you think?”

  “Absolutely,” Joyce agreed. She grabbed Amanda’s face in a similar way she had Dingo’s and kissed her mouth. “Thank you for making him all better, Doctor Carter.”

  “That kiss is what I was hoping for when I asked Isabelle to give us time alone.”

  Joyce laughed. “Oh really? Then you might like the next kiss. This one is to thank you for making me all better too.” Joyce pressed her lips to Amanda’s again and wrapped her arms around her neck, pulling her tightly against her mouth. Isabelle or even Doug could walk in, she wouldn’t care. All she cared about was this kiss and making sure it expressed the depth of her gratitude to Amanda. When she broke the kiss, she moved her mouth to her ear to whisper, “I love you.”

  “I love you too, but I don’t see how I made you better,” Amanda whispered back.

  “You don’t? You not only helped me find my true self but you showed me it was okay to be that person. That’s a kind of recovery too, don’t you think?”

  “If that’s the case then I think we both recovered with Dingo in some way. I may have helped you see it was okay to be you, but you taught me I could love another human being. That’s huge.”

  Joyce looked into Amanda’s eyes and saw them glisten with tears. “This one is to celebrate our recovery, then,” she murmured against Amanda’s lips before she kissed her again.

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