“It’s quite a turnaround, eh?”
Lucy sat and contemplated her words. She knew Alexi was giving good advice. Lucy knew absolutely nothing about being in the gay community. And she certainly wasn’t likely to go into a gay club on her own.
“You’re right. I do need to see what’s out there. I think I’ll do some research on the Internet.”
“I’m sure you’ll get some information that way, but you also need to go out and meet other lesbians.”
“This is not going to be easy is it?”
“No, Mum it’s not, but it’s got to be done.”
“Okay, how are you going to set me up, as you so succinctly put it?”
“Do you remember Frankie, the painter and decorator?”
“Not really.” Lucy sat and thought for a moment and then realised who Alexi was referring to. “Oh, wait a minute yes, wasn’t she the one who painted the conservatory?”
“Yes, that’s her.”
“Your dad and I were away on holiday when you had that done. I didn’t actually meet her.”
“Oh yes, it was your anniversary and Dad surprised you with a week away in Scotland.” She laughed at the fact her parents never went anywhere exotic, or even abroad.
“Don’t scorn, it was a lovely holiday.”
“Anyway, Frankie's gay and I think—”
“You want to set me up with Frankie?” Lucy wasn’t at all sure about this.
“No, not Frankie. I was thinking she could maybe give you some idea of where to go. She could put you in touch with the local gay scene. I’m sure it would be easier coming from someone who knows all about it.”
Alexi was right, talking to someone who’d at least been out for a while, and knew the ropes as it were, was a much better idea. It was all very well googling things, but you never know where you’d end up.
“Okay it does sound like a better solution to my situation than what I was going to do.”
“I’ve still got her number, I’ll give her a call and—”
“I don’t want to meet her on my own.” Lucy was beginning to get very cold feet.
“I wouldn’t do that to you. I mean we could all meet here one evening when she’s free.”
“Yes that would be better and I’d feel more comfortable with you here. I mean I don’t even know her.”
“Leave it with me and I’ll let you know when. I take it you’re free most evenings?”
“Hang on a minute, let me check my social calendar.” She was quiet for a beat. “Yes I do have a bit of free time.”
They both laughed.
“I’m going to make a move, it’s been a long day and I need to sort myself out. I’ll drop you home first.”
LUCY GOT HOME, unpacked, and did all her washing. Anything else could wait as she wanted to get onto the Internet and do some research. While she waited for her laptop to boot up, she thought about what she and Alexi had talked about. She hoped this Frankie was nice and would help her to understand who she was and to fully come to terms with her new identity.
Before she went onto the Internet, Lucy downloaded the pictures of her holiday and was pleased with the results. There were a couple she’d get printed and framed. That made her think of her painting, and that she hadn’t even unpacked it yet.
She saved the pictures and went to get her painting. It was very well packaged, as Jamie had said, and it took some time to finally get all the bubble-wrap off.
Lucy took down the print hanging over the fireplace and replaced it with the painting. She stood back to admire it and mentally patted herself on the back for her good taste. It was the perfect place for it.
She went back to her laptop, checked her inbox, deleting all the junk mail and answering the others. She knew she was putting off doing her research and so she got a glass of courage-boosting wine and tapped lesbian into her search engine. She didn’t know why she was worried, it wasn’t as if anyone could see what she was doing.
It didn’t take long for the search to return god knows how many millions of results. There were sites where she could find out if she was a lesbian in ten easy steps, get ten great lesbian movies and find the perfect lover again in ten easy steps. There were many other more suspect sites to help her out, some of which were pornographic and she certainly wanted nothing to do with them.
Lucy sat looking at the various pages, but she was no wiser so she logged off.
Oh well, back to reality. I’d better get my stuff ready to go back to work on Monday.
She’d got a standing invite to go to Alexi and David’s for Sunday lunch, so she wanted to make sure the day was free. That meant getting things ready tonight.
ALEXI RANG HER on Wednesday to say she’d arranged to meet up with Frankie this coming Friday if Lucy was still free, which she was of course seeing as how her social calendar was so—empty.
Maybe it will be full from now on. I could have a very busy calendar soon, maybe lots of dates.
She usually had at least one class she was taking. But at the moment she had unwanted free time and she didn’t want too much of that to think about the changes she was experiencing. Lucy was champing at the bit to explore her sexuality, and hopefully Frankie would help her do just that.
FRIDAY ARRIVED AND Lucy was filled with trepidation about the upcoming evening. She was glad Alexi was going to be there as well.
She had no idea what to wear and then gave herself a mental slap, as she was only going to the pub with her daughter to meet a friend of hers.
“Right, Lucy, calm down and stop acting like a nervous adolescent on a first date.”
But that’s what it was like for Lucy at the moment. She’d gone back in time to her first date with a boy, and how nervous she was waiting for him to turn up. But this wasn’t a date and that calmed her down.
Alexi was already in the pub when Lucy arrived, which was good as she didn’t fancy sitting on her own waiting.
“Hi, love, are you okay for a drink?”
“Yes, thanks.”
Lucy went to the bar and got herself a Southern Comfort with lemonade. She needed the lift the spirit would give her.
She sat down with Alexi at the table near the log fire. The nights were starting to get quite cool now.
“What time is Frankie arriving?”
“I told her we’d be here from seven-thirty and it’s only a little after that. She did say she was just finishing a job so she might be a little late.”
“Oh, okay.”
“Mum, we’re only meeting a friend. It’s not a blind date you know.”
“Ha, that’s what you say but what about Frankie and what she’s thinking?”
“Relax. I told her exactly what you wanted and she seemed very happy to help if she could.”
“Alexi, it’s good to see you again.” The deep voice behind Lucy made her jump.
“Hi, Frankie, it’s good to see you too.” Alexi got up and hugged Frankie.
“Frankie, this is my mum, Mum this is Frankie.”
Lucy also stood up to face the bearer of the voice.
“Never, she’s far too young to be your mum. Lucy, I’m very pleased to meet you,” Frankie said, and looked Lucy over slowly as she held her hand longer than good manners dictated.
Frankie was the same height as Lucy and didn’t look at all like a painter and decorator. Although Lucy wasn’t sure what one should look like. Any dealings she’d had with builders and their ilk were all big hairy lugs, with a butt cheek crack you could park a bike in. Lucy mentally smiled at the image in her head. Frankie was very attractive. She had high cheek bones and her auburn hair, which fell to just above her shoulders, had a natural wave to it. Frankie's beautiful grey eyes had golden flecks in them and twinkled as she watched Lucy’s appraisal of her. Lucy put Frankie in her mid to late forties, and someone who looked after herself. She was wearing a white t-shirt, which showed off her firm muscular forearms. Frankie's tight blue jeans allowed Lucy to detect the firm thighs beneath them.
They sat down and Frankie went to the bar after checking if they wanted refills.
“She seems very likeable.” Lucy’s nerves still hadn’t abated and Alexi grinned.
“She is but—”
“But, but what?”
“Nothing, I should let you make up your own mind about her.”
Before Lucy could ask more, Frankie came and sat at the table with her drink.
“So how’s business then, Frankie?” Alexi asked
“I’ve started my own company. I’ve got an office at the end of the high street with a workshop out the back. I’ve even got myself a receptionist and work is steady, even though we’re still in recession.”
“How long is it since you did our conservatory?” Alexi asked.
“It must be about four years, I think. I was working for a friend of yours.” Frankie said. “She ended up running off with that plasterer fella, Dickie, if I remember rightly.”
“Yes she did, but it didn’t last. I heard she was on her own living in Kent somewhere,” Alexi said.
“Okay, enough of the small talk. Let’s get down to why we’re all here.” Frankie got straight to the point.
“Mum wants to try going to some decent clubs or pubs, to meet other women and make friends. Somewhere she won’t get hassled too much. I thought maybe you could help her.”
“Of course I can, if that’s what you really want, Lucy.”
“Yes I do. I need to make sure this is who I am.”
“Well you’re in luck, it’s Saturday tomorrow and I usually meet up with some friends in our local gay pub. Maybe you’d like to come
along?”
“Oh, Mum that would be great, wouldn’t it?”
“Er—yes—that would be fine, if I’m not going to upset your plans,” Lucy said, not really sure about going out so soon. She’d only been back a week, but then if she left it until another time, would she chicken out? Perhaps she should grab the bull by the horns and go for it.
“Lucy you’re not going to upset anything. I’d love for you to come and join us. The more the merrier.”
“Well, if you’re sure, then I’d like to come along, thank you. Oh god what should I wear?” Lucy asked, suddenly worried she’d look out of place.
“Anything you want, there’s no dress code. Jeans, skirt, dress, whatever you think you’ll be comfortable in,” Frankie answered.
“You’ll have a great time.”
“I’m sure I will, love. Do I have to be home at a certain time, Mum?” Lucy asked.
“Oh yes, or you’ll be grounded young lady.”
“Do you want to join us, Alexi, you’re more than welcome?”
Lucy was aghast, as she really didn’t want her daughter with her on her first excursion to a gay pub.
“No thanks, Frankie. I think Mum will be better off without me hanging around.”
“If you’re sure, and don’t worry I won’t keep her out late,” Frankie said, and then turned to Lucy. “Let’s meet outside here at about nine, and we’ll set off for the pub. We can share a cab, which means we don’t have to worry about having a drink or two.”
THE FOLLOWING EVENING, Lucy wondered if she’d done the right thing in accepting Frankie’s offer to go out. She didn’t sense it was anything more than a friendly offer, but she would soon find out. To be fair, Frankie was a very attractive woman and they’d both given each other the once over. Lucy wasn’t sure how she’d react though if Frankie suggested going back for coffee. She wasn’t sure why that mattered, she was a free agent and could do what she wanted. Although she did realise thinking with her libido at her age was probably not a good thing.
Lucy found that funny, but the realisation that she needed to behave in a manner she wouldn’t regret, pulled her back to her senses. Lucy’s whole life had been spent doing the right thing and trying to please people. The trouble with that was she often ended up not doing what she wanted.
“Well bugger it! If I want to go out and have anonymous sex, I will,” Lucy said, although she wasn’t sure how much she actually believed her own words, or whether she would act on them. Maybe the situation wouldn’t present itself anyway. Frankie was at least fifteen or more years younger than Lucy. Age is just a number. If she was a man she’d get slapped on the back, but because she was a woman she’d be labelled a cradle snatcher.
Maybe the women at the bar would be young and totally out of her league. Then again, wasn’t that why she was going, to hook up with someone? Lucy thought about that for a few minutes and came to the conclusion that part of her was going out for that very reason. She’d made love with one woman and now she wanted more. Actually she wanted to make sure it wasn’t a holiday thing, a moment in time that was going to remain exactly that. Lucy was fairly sure of how she felt about her attraction to women, because she was now noticing them and not clinging onto the fact that maybe it was only Jamie who made her feel this way. There was a part of her that didn’t want to be attracted to other women, but Lucy knew differently. She had realised that life as a lesbian wasn’t going to be easy, that she would come up against prejudice throughout the rest of her life. She wondered how people she’d known a long time would deal with this when she told them. Maybe she wouldn’t tell them. Maybe she’d let them figure it out. It would be so easy to turn her back on this new found life and carry on as before. Not having to worry about going against the norm. But that wasn’t an option as far as she was concerned. The passion she’d felt with Jamie wasn’t something she was going to turn her back on. She wanted to taste more of her kisses, to feel her arms around her and her soft caresses, but at the moment that was not to be. So Lucy would do what Jamie suggested. She’d go and explore what was to be a new chapter in her life and see what would happen.
It could be that she would meet someone who’d sweep her off her feet, and she’d live happily ever after. Alternatively she could just have a good time, enjoy herself and take it day by day.
“That sounds like a good idea, Lucy. Let’s go out with Frankie tonight and see where it takes me.”
I thought I was getting over the talking to myself phase.
She went upstairs and had a shower after which she opened her wardrobe to find something suitable for her first night out on the scene. Surveying the meagre collection of clothes hanging there she had to admit there wasn’t much to choose from. There were lots of work clothes and posh casual stuff, but nothing in the way of really casual. Lucy spied a light blue shirt hanging there and realised it was one of Brian’s she’d borrowed on a permanent basis. She laid it on the bed and resumed her search. All she had to do was find something to go with the top.
Lucy grinned as she thought the women she was going to meet might appreciate her arriving in just a shirt. Deciding decorum would win, she fished out a pair of well-worn jeans. They were her favourites, a very faded light blue and almost worn down at the knees. She loved to wear them as they fitted like a second skin being so soft and comfortable, plus they would go well with the blue shirt.
Lucy put on a sexy matching set of underwear.
Ooh you little hussy, but best to be prepared, you never know what might happen.
Lucy tried on the outfit. She surveyed herself in the mirror and thought she looked very good. Tucking the shirt in she left just enough buttons undone to hint at her cleavage. She looked good even to her own eyes.
Both the shirt and jeans needed pressing, which she did, hanging them up in her bedroom while she tended to her face and hair. Lucy was very lucky in that department, as her hair was thick and lustrous needing the minimum of attention. Her skin was flawless except for a few freckles across the bridge of her nose. Lucy wasn’t one for wearing foundation and lots of make-up, eschewing that for moisturiser and a small amount of eye shadow.
Lucy put some perfume on and got dressed, adding a pair of trainers rather than more formal shoes. Then she had to decide whether to take a handbag or not, asking herself why she needed one at all. She only needed somewhere to put
her money and house key. She could use her jeans pockets for that. It was a mild night so the only other thing she added to her outfit was a light jacket.
She had just enough time to do a final check in the mirror, before it was time to leave.
LUCY PAID THE taxi driver and saw Frankie standing outside the pub to meet her.
“Wow, Lucy, you scrub up well,” Frankie said, looking at Lucy as if she wanted to jump her bones right there in the pub car park. Lucy felt as if she’d been physically touched, and her stomach clenched. Startled to have had such a strong physical reaction to Frankie, she smiled as naturally as she could, although she was sure it came across as a deer caught in the headlights.
“Why thank you kindly,” Lucy said, trying for a southern belle drawl and failing miserably.
“You’re nervous aren’t you?”
“And I thought I was doing such a good job of hiding it.”
“Come on let’s have a quick drink before we go and you can tell me what’s bothering you,” Frankie said gently and led the way into the pub.
“What do you want?”
“An orange juice please.”
Frankie went to the bar, leaving Lucy to ponder on her reaction to Frankie’s open appraisal.
Frankie was a good looking woman who obviously took care of herself. Tonight she was wearing black jeans and a white button down shirt that made her look very androgynous with feminine curves. Lucy looked at her talking to the barmaid, Jenny, who seemed to be flattered by Frankie's attention. She was charismatic, even with straight women.
Lucy knew Jenny was straight as she and her husband ran the pub together. But then what did that prove, she’d also been married. Frankie turned toward Lucy as if she’d sensed her scrutiny and smiled. Lucy returned it and watched as Frankie came back with their drinks.
“Okay, luscious Lucy,” Frankie said, as she took a sip of her drink and watched Lucy blush. “What is it you’re worried about?”
Lucy decided honesty was the best policy. “I’m not sure exactly, but being with you scares me.”
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