Where the Light Glows

by Dena Blake

“Seems to be.” She pulled her out the front door. “Come on. Let’s go celebrate.”

  Izzy followed Mel to her condo and waited as she pulled her car into the garage. When she motioned to Izzy to come into the house, she killed the engine, tossed her aviator sunglasses onto the dash, and met Mel at the door. She trailed her inside through the kitchen to the living room.

  “Just give me a few minutes to change, and I’ll be right back.” She picked up a remote, pushed one of the buttons, and a TV appeared from behind a mirror above the fireplace. “I have all the sports channels if you want to check out the highlights from last night.” She handed her the remote. “Try 983.”

  Izzy set the remote on the coffee table. The condo was beautiful, filled with art and landscape photography from the likes of Ansel Adams and Brett Weston. It was an extensive collection, yet not pretentious. Just like its owner. The artwork went well with the modern decor. Pictures of her family were scattered sporadically throughout the room, but Izzy saw none of Mel and her husband. She wandered back into the kitchen and gaped at the beautiful Viking six-burner with two large ovens. Also, a huge porcelain sink and a granite center island were perfect for meal prep and rolling dough. Izzy fingered the pots hanging from the rack above it and slipped one off the hook to feel its weight. She was way out of her league with this woman.

  “I thought you might be in here.” Mel had changed into a pair of white capris and a royal-blue V-neck shirt that enhanced her figure perfectly.

  “You really do know how to cook, don’t you?”

  “I like to, but I don’t know how good I am.”

  “Well, I guess we’ll find out later.” Izzy slid the pot back onto the hook.

  “Yes, I guess we will.” Mel smiled tentatively and led her to the front door. “Do you mind if we stop by my parents’ house? I told my mom I’d drop off these shoes I picked up for her last week.” She locked the door on their way out.

  “No, not at all.”

  “It’s just across the highway.”

  “In Tiburon?” Izzy slid into the driver’s seat.

  Mel nodded. “On Spring Lane. It’s easy to find.”

  “I know where it is. Is that where you grew up?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Are your—”

  “Yes, my parents are rich,” Mel blurted.

  Izzy pulled up one side of her lip. “I was going to ask if your folks are members of the yacht club.”

  “Oh.” She spoke hesitantly, as though she was embarrassed. “Yes. They’re very active in the local boating community.”

  “It’s a nice place. I used to work in the kitchen there.”

  “It is, but I didn’t spend much time there.”

  “Why not?”

  “I was too busy with school activities, and then there was college.”

  Mel pointed the house out as they went up the hill, and Izzy pulled into the cobblestone circle driveway. It wasn’t the smallest house on the hill, but it wasn’t the largest either.

  Mel got out of the car and headed to the door, then jogged back to the car and leaned down to look in the open window. “Come in with me.”

  “I can wait here.”

  “No, really. Come in. My dad’s probably not home, but I want you to meet my mom.” Mel waited for her to get out of the car.

  “Okay.” She followed her into the house but stopped at the edge of the living room. The whole room was glaringly bright. The walls, the furniture, the rugs, the lamps were all white, and with the sun shining through the floor-to-ceiling windows she felt snow-blind.

  Mel turned and saw she wasn’t following. “I know. I’m always afraid to touch anything in this room.” She walked back across the room, took her hand, and led her into the kitchen. “Mom, are you home?” she shouted.

  “I’m out back, dear.” The voice resonated through the screen door.

  “I just came by to drop off your shoes.” She lifted the bag and then set it on the cedar table. “Izzy, this is my mother, Cecilia. Mom, this is my friend Izzy.”

  “Nice to meet you, dear.” Cecilia tilted her head curiously. “How do you know my daughter?”

  Izzy stood at the edge of the deck, amazed by the view. “I cook for her a few times a week.” Izzy swung around and grinned, amazed at the resemblance between Mel and her mother. The lines in her face were a little deeper, but Cecilia was a beautiful woman too.

  Mel smiled and bumped her with her shoulder. “She owns Bella’s.”

  “Oh. Well, my daughter has good taste. The food there is wonderful.”

  “Thank you. You have a beautiful place here. I’d love to have a view like this.”

  “What are you talking about? You have a great view.” Mel rolled her eyes. “Stinson Beach is literally her backyard.”

  “I guess I can’t have them both, can I?”

  Izzy could see Cecilia’s gaze fix on her daughter. “What are you two up to today?”

  “We’re going to the city to pick up some fresh crab,” Mel said.

  “Mel is going to show me the proper way to cook an omelet.” She arched a brow and shot Mel a playful smirk, instantly rewarded by Mel’s dazzling smile.

  “Stop.” Mel’s cheeks pinked as she glanced back to her mother. “Do you want us to bring you some crab? I know how much you love it.”

  “No, dear. Don’t worry about that. You two just have a good time.”

  “Okay. Then we’ll go now.” Mel bent down and gave her mother a kiss on the cheek.

  “It was nice to meet you,” Izzy said with a wave.

  Mel’s mother smiled. “Come back anytime, Izzy.”

  Izzy followed Mel out the door to the car. “You must have something special,” Mel said as she slid into the passenger seat.

  “Why do you say that?” Izzy got into the car and fired the engine.

  “You got an invitation to come back.”

  The conversation in the car was easy, like they’d been friends for years. Izzy enjoyed seeing the fun, spirited side of Mel. She talked about her family and how she’d teased her tag-along brother when they were younger. How she and her friends had skipped school to take trips into the city when she finally got her license. Izzy was intrigued. She was learning that Mel wasn’t quite as straight-laced as she seemed to be.

  They were lucky enough to find a parking space in the garage near Pier 39. Izzy would have normally just tried to find a one-hour meter on the street within walking distance to Fisherman’s Wharf, but she wanted to spend every moment she could with Mel.

  They walked Pier 39, window-shopping as they strolled until they stopped to watch a juggler tossing pins into the air.

  “I learned how to do that when I was five,” Izzy said.

  “Really?”

  “No, but it would make a good story, wouldn’t it?” She grinned. “Couldn’t you just see little bitty me with my tiny hands throwing around those big pins?” Izzy motioned juggling with her hands. “Dodging them when they came falling out of the air at me?” She darted to the side, comically avoiding the imaginary pins.

  Mel jabbed her in the ribs with her elbow. “I can clearly see one hitting you on the head.”

  “Oh, is that why I’m like this?” She tilted her head and crossed her eyes.

  “Stop.” Mel gave her a shove and headed toward the musicians playing in the plaza. “I suppose you can play saxophone too.”

  “God, no. You have to be full of a lot of hot air for that.”

  “You probably wouldn’t have any trouble then, would you?” Mel chuckled.

  “And your point is?” Izzy’s brows rose.

  “No point, just an observation.” Mel raised an eyebrow too and cocked her head to the side.

  They wandered over to K-dock to see the sea lions. Some were sunbathing, but a few were entertaining the crowd. They barked loudly as they bobbed their heads back and forth. Watching Mel bark back at one of the larger sea lions was hilarious. She moved down the walkway, and the large ball of blubber paralleled h
er on the pier.

  “He’s barking at you.” Izzy howled.

  “He is not.” Mel moved farther down the pier, and the sea lion continued to move with her. “Maybe he is.” She ran down farther and watched as he dove into the water and jumped back on the pier across from her. “Oh my God, he is,” Mel squealed.

  “I think he wants you to be part of his harem.” Izzy was laughing so hard, she could hardly get the words out. “It must be your irresistible bark.”

  “I think we should get the crab now.” Mel grabbed Izzy’s hand and pulled her along behind her.

  “Should we pick up a couple of pounds of squid for your boyfriend?”

  Mel grinned and shook her head. “I’ve been hit on by some unusual characters, but that one’s a first.”

  “Well, at least you know you’ve still got it.” Izzy chuckled.

  They headed over to Alioto’s and bought a couple of cracked Dungeness crabs wrapped to go.

  “I’m kind of hungry after all that barking. How about you?”

  “Flirting always makes me hungry,” Mel quipped.

  “Come on. I know a place where we can get a great sandwich.”

  When they reached the parking garage, Izzy put the crab into the small cooler she’d placed in the trunk before she left her house. Then they got in the car and headed up to Ike’s Place on Sixteenth Street. Ike was an old friend of the family and had the best sandwiches in town.

  Mel scanned the large menu on the wall as the line moved just inside the door. “Oh, my. How do you decide what to get?”

  “Do you like turkey and avocado?”

  “Yes. That sounds good.”

  A familiar face came from behind the counter. “Izzy.” He drew her name out as he put his arms around her. “How’s the family?”

  “Hey, Ike. They’re good. We haven’t seen you in a while.”

  “Yeah. I’ve been kind of busy with this place. How’s Tony? Is he still working on his old Chevy?”

  “Yep. He loves that car.”

  “Too much, I think, huh?”

  “You still living at the beach?”

  “Yep. Lots of people in the snappers out there today.”

  “Seen any A-Frames lately?”

  “Yeah. The surf’s been looking pretty sweet. You should come out sometime.”

  “I’ll see what I can do and let you know.” He turned to Mel. “And who is this lovely young lady?”

  “This is my friend Mel. I promised her the best sandwich in the city.”

  “Iz, you’re too kind. What are you having today?”

  “I think we’re gonna get a couple of Barry Zs to go.”

  “Well, all right then.” He smiled and moved back behind the counter. “Two Barry Zs to go, on the house.”

  “Ike, please let me pay for them.”

  “Not gonna happen. My mother would never forgive me.” He slid the wrapped sandwiches across the top of the deli case. “Grab some chips and a couple of sodas on your way out.”

  “Thanks, Ike.” She grabbed the sandwiches. “I’ll tell Tony hello for you.”

  “You do that. In fact, tell him I’m gonna call him. I wanna see that car of his.”

  On the way to Tank Hill, Izzy explained to Mel that an A-Frame is the perfect wave that breaks really nicely, and snappers aren’t fish but the small waves on the shore. Izzy climbed out onto the rocks and extended her hand to Mel as she followed. They settled in on the edge of a rock and gazed out at the city. The view stretched from ocean to bay and as far north as Point Reyes.

  “Is this payback for the hike we took yesterday?” Mel said, breathlessly.

  “The thought crossed my mind, but no. It’s just someplace I thought you might like to see.” Izzy had been to Tank Hill many times before but had never shared it with anyone. She’d never had the slightest desire to do so until now. Somehow, she felt it would no longer be special if she let someone in on it who didn’t appreciate its beauty the way she did.

  “Wow. You can see the whole city from here.” Mel sounded almost giddy as she took in the beautiful view.

  “It’s one of my favorite places.” Izzy smiled at her reaction and then took a bite of her sandwich. It was exactly what she’d hoped for.

  “I can’t believe I’ve never been up here before.”

  “It’s kind of a locals’ place. There used to be a water tank up here that was built in the late eighteen hundreds and torn down sometime in the fifties. The city finally bought the land from private investors in 1977 and turned it into a protected space to prevent the area from being developed.”

  Mel finished her sandwich and tucked the trash into the empty bag, then shoved it under her leg to keep it from blowing off the rocks.

  The view of the city from Tank Hill was beautiful, and within an hour, the sun would slowly ease down, leaving an indescribable glow across the blend of urban structures that made up San Francisco. The Hill never failed to display the most beautiful sunsets.

  Mel linked her arm with Izzy’s as they sat in silence, just taking in the view. After a short while, Mel leaned her head on Izzy’s shoulder. “This is absolutely breathtaking,” she whispered. “I don’t know how you do it, Izzy, but you make me see the world in a totally new and different way.” She let out a long sigh and laced her fingers with Izzy’s like it was the most natural thing in the world.

  Izzy’s body warmed at Mel’s touch and the subtle jasmine smell of her hair flowing across her shoulder. Something had stirred deep inside her when she met Mel. She didn’t know if it was how Mel had opened up to her that night behind the restaurant or the way she listened intently to everything Izzy said. It was as though her next thought hung on her every word. The personal boundaries she’d held for herself had unlocked, and she’d known Mel would appreciate the marvel of this place just as she did. She would have no regrets about bringing Mel here to her special place.

  *

  The sun was long gone by the time they got back to the house. The ride home had been long, lengthened by Mel’s heightened sensitivity. Sitting on the hill watching the sunset together, so closely, almost intimately made her brutally aware of her essence. It had unlocked something deep inside, something that craved Izzy in every way.

  Mel’s hand trembled as she tried to put the key in the lock. Izzy’s warm hand wrapped around her own, and Mel gazed up into endless pools of blue. Still trembling, she turned to look at Izzy and let the bag of groceries drop to the ground. Her eyes dark, gaze steady, all Mel could do was focus on Izzy’s mouth, her full lips parted slightly. She reached up, ran her thumb across Izzy’s bottom lip, and wasn’t surprised at all when she felt Izzy’s hand hook behind her neck and pull her in for a soft kiss. She pulled away slightly, saw her deep-blue eyes filled with desire, and kissed her again.

  Izzy pressed her to the door, eliminating all space between them. Mel grabbed her shirt, pulled her closer. Izzy’s mouth opened, and Mel didn’t wait for an invitation. She pushed her tongue deep inside. She’d expected it to be good, but this kiss was long, slow, and erotically sensual. Every nerve ending in her body tingled, and she lost her bearings for a moment. Mel had never been so aroused. She felt the warmth of Izzy’s hand under her shirt and broke away. She pushed the door open, picked up the bag of groceries, and pulled Izzy inside. As they made their way through the living room, Mel saw light coming from the kitchen. She didn’t remember leaving it on when they’d left earlier. She turned the corner into the kitchen, ran smack dab into Jack, and shrieked.

  “It’s just me,” he said.

  “Oh, my God. You scared me.” She slapped her hand to her chest, the shock zapping her out of the erotic haze she was in.

  “Sorry, babe. Not my intention.” He pulled her into his arms and gave her a soft peck on the lips.

  “I thought you were going to be gone until next week?” Her evening had just been ruined.

  “Change of plans. I finished up early.” He glanced over her shoulder.

  Mel spun around
, heart still thundering. “You remember Izzy, don’t you?” She stuttered. “The chef at Bella’s?”

  “Oh, yeah. Great food there. Great food.”

  “Thanks,” Izzy said, setting the bag of groceries on the counter, her cheeks flushed¸ lips swollen. Mel put her hand to her mouth, knowing hers looked just the same.

  Jack put his hand on Mel’s arm and brushed it with his thumb. “I had a long flight today. I’m hungry and beat. What’s in the bag?” He didn’t wait for an answer before emptying its contents out onto the counter. He picked up the package of crab and tilted his head at Mel.

  “Izzy was going to show me how to make crab omelets.” She moved toward the sink.

  “Sounds great.” He observed Izzy. “Make yourself at home.”

  “Actually…” Izzy pinched her lips together. “I need to get to the restaurant and make sure everything’s running smoothly.”

  “I know what you mean. You can let someone else fill in, but you can never let go.” He reached for a bottle of wine from the rack and then searched for the corkscrew in the drawer. “Mel can probably handle the omelets. Can’t you, babe?”

  She turned to Izzy and saw her reaction to the distance she’d put between them. “Are you sure you can’t stay?” she asked and immediately saw the wall go up. She’d changed from the sweet, sensitive woman she’d just kissed to an aloof stranger. Mel instantly regretted her words.

  “No. I really need to get going.”

  Jack gave Izzy a nod. “Nice to see you again.”

  “Yeah. Nice to see you too,” Izzy said.

  “I’ll walk you out.” She brushed past her through the living room and opened the door.

  She waited to say anything more until they were outside on the porch. “I’m so sorry, Izzy. I didn’t know he was going to be here.” A pang of disappointment hit her deep inside. She’d had a wonderful day and was looking forward to cooking for Izzy tonight. Suddenly everything felt stilted and awkward.

  “No problem,” she said stiffly. “He is your husband.”

  Mel reached to touch her face, but Izzy turned and headed down the walk. “I really am sorry.”

  Izzy threw her a wave as she slid into her Jeep and closed the door. Izzy didn’t give her another glance as she backed out of the driveway. Then she was gone. He is your husband. Her reality hit her square in the face. Mel turned around and pressed her head to the door as the thought resonated in her head. That is going to change.