by Cruz, Sofia
It wasn't long before she heard a car outside. She started to unravel herself from Jessica to go answer the door, but barely made it up off the couch before David came striding into the room.
He sank into the nearest chair and Melanie retook her place beside Jessica, pulling her back into her arms. The three of them just stared at each other, lost in their own thoughts, none of them sure as to where to start.
David was the first to break the silence. "The ball's next week. It was always her favorite event of the year."
Jessica jumped up. "She's not dead, damn it! She's an hour and a half away with that...that..." but she couldn't seem to finish. Melanie reached up and tried to pull Jessica back onto the couch, but Jessica brushed her off and started pacing around the room, glaring at her uncle.
Watching, Melanie decided she felt a little better seeing Jessica mad, rather than tears. Jessica fired up was a lot closer to normal than seeing her cry. She watched her pace for a while, David staring at the floor, and her mine raced, trying to find a solution to Felicia's problem.
"What ball is that, David?" At this point, Melanie was just trying to break some of the tension that seemed to be squeezing all the air out of the room.
"The Halloween costume ball at the social club. The club is one of the oldest in the country. Most of the prominent families of this city have belonged to it since before the Civil War. Every year, at Halloween, they throw a party that's kind of a cross between a costume party and the old fashioned ball's they used to have back in the nineteenth and early twentieth century."
"You mean women wearing dresses with corsets and guys in bad white wigs?"
David laughed. "Yes, something like that."
"How big of a social event is this ball?"
"Well, it's one of the most popular events in the city every year, and you can always count on the fact that the who's who of the city will attend. These days, the club sells tickets as a community fund raiser, and all the proceeds go to several select charities."
Jessica was getting angry. What the hell was Melanie doing making small talk about some stupid party?
"So, really, every important person in town attends, right? Politicians, the D.A., members of the city's wealthiest families, people like that?"
"Yes." David studied Melanie's face and would swear he could see the wheels starting to turn. He remained silent, though, letting her work through her thoughts. He glanced over at Jessica, who was staring at Melanie looking as if she was ready to spit nails. He saw Jessica start to cross the room, so he held out a hand, silently asking her to stop. Jessica turned her glare on him, instead, but he held a finger to his lips and pointed at Melanie. He saw Jessica look back at Melanie, noticed that she had caught on, and let out a quiet sigh, settling back in his chair.
The trick would be proving that Lonna had set Felicia up. Melanie had known people like Lonna her whole life. They were arrogant and self centered, more in love with themselves than anyone, or anything else, on the planet. Eventually, it made them stupid. Give a fool enough rope and sooner or later, he ends up hanging himself, or herself, as the case may be.
"I've got an idea," she announced.
##
That night she and Jessica lay in bed, Jessica asleep in her arms. She'd tried to get something started, thinking that making love might help Jessica burn off some of her tension, but she just wasn't interested. She felt relieved when Jessica had at least let her hold her. She was afraid Jessica might have been too angry to let her, but that hadn't been the case, thank God.
She went over her plan again in her head. The three of them had stayed up late into the night, working out the kinks. So late, that David was spending the night in one of the many rooms. Jessica had offered him one near their own room, but David had given her a knowing smile and headed for the other side of the house.
David seemed ok with the fact that she and Jessica were a couple now, even happy about it, and that had been a relief too. Everything would change, though, if her plan failed. If she didn't get Felicia home, safe, keep her out of prison, then Melanie had no doubt that David's opinion of her would completely dissolve. She was afraid her and Jessica wouldn't survive it either. That terrified her as much as thinking that she wouldn't be able to protect Felicia, to get her away from Lonna.
Restless, she slipped out of bed, careful not to wake Jessica. Tip toeing out of the room, she went back downstairs and poured herself another drink. She walked through the doors that opened out onto the wrap around porch and plunked down on the porch swing. Pushing with her foot, she slowly rocked back and forth, sipping on her glass of Jack and staring out across the expansive yard.
Jessica woke up and instantly knew, without rolling over, that Melanie was gone. A little panicky, she jumped out of bed and went down to the kitchen. Finding it empty, her sense of panic increased, afraid that Melanie had left. Walking though the house, she saw the open French doors that led to the side porch. Getting closer to the doorway, she could hear the creak of the porch swing. Taking a hesitant step outside, she almost sighed with relief as she saw Melanie on the swing.
Feeling someone approach, Melanie looked up, yanking herself out of her trance, and smiled as she spotted Jessica standing nervously at the edge of the swing. She patted the empty space beside her and Jessica quickly took it, pulling her legs up under her and curling against her side. She wrapped her arm around Jessica's shoulders and pulled her in close. The fact that Jessica had come looking for her made her insanely happy, for some reason.
"I'm sorry," Jessica whispered.
"For what?"
"For not being in the mood earlier."
She laughed. She couldn't help it. "Oh, angel, don't ever apologize to me for that. There's no need for it. Besides, if you feel like you have to, then we have a problem."
Melanie looked down into Jessica's face and those beautiful green eyes that she'd swear she could see sparkle, even here in the dark. Leaning over, she brushed her lips over Jessica's.
"I should be apologizing. I screwed up today."
"How so?"
"By not throwing Felicia over my shoulder and bringing her home."
"No! You did the right thing, the best thing. Felicia was right. If you had brought her home, she would have been met by the police and dragged off to jail. Lonna wouldn't have wasted any time turning her in. No, you did the right thing, walking away. Now Lonna doesn't know that we know the whole truth, and we have room to take the proper steps, and do it right, not rushed."
Melanie sucked in a breath, fighting back tears. Jessica had no idea how much it helped to hear her say what she said. She felt Jessica lay her arm over her stomach and pull her a little closer.
Jessica could feel all the tension in Melanie and knew there was something else wrong. "What is it?" she asked, tugging on Melanie's body as she asked.
"I don't even know what this bitch looks like, yet I can't get the image out of my head of her with Felicia. Of her..." Melanie couldn't make herself finish.
Sitting up, Jessica pulled the glass out of Melanie's hand and set in on the porch. She wrapped both her arms around Melanie and pulled her down against her, guiding Melanie's head to rest on her chest as she stretched both of them out, so they were lying across the seat of the swing. She kissed the top of Melanie's head.
"I know, cher, I know. I can't help but think the same things, but you're not to blame. No one's to blame except that...that...bitch, Lonna Tassin. And you and I, love, are going to see to it that she pays for it. With everything she's got and then some."
Melanie heard the steel conviction in Jessica's voice and felt reassured. Sinking into Jessica, she closed her eyes. She tried to remember the last time somebody held her and promised her everything would be all right, and came up blank.
"Don't let go, Jessica. Not tonight."
"I won't, I promise. Not ever." She held Melanie in her arms and they both fell asleep in the porch swing.
##
It was Devil's Nigh
t. Tomorrow was the Halloween Ball and, quite possibly, their one and only chance to get Felicia out of trouble and back home. Melanie was stretched out on the leather sofa in Jessica's room. She'd started a fire in the hearth and was lying there watching the flames flicker. It was the end of October and she was amazed at how warm it still was. There was just a little dampness in the air tonight, just enough of a slight chill to warrant a small fire, but nowhere near as cold as it could be back home. She could remember Halloween's when it had snowed.
Staring into the fire, she listened to Jessica bustling around the room. She was getting their costumes together for tomorrow night and had already modeled one of the ones she was thinking of wearing.
Melanie grabbed the back of the sofa and pulled herself up a little, curious as to what Jessica was doing, as she'd been listing to the rustling of clothes for the last five minutes. Peeking over the top, she saw Jessica standing in the doorway of her closet, fusing with two sets of costumes. She was wearing a half-slip in an eggshell color and a matching pair of silk French cut panties. That's why Melanie had retreated to the sofa, in an effort to keep her hands to herself.
"I thought you had already decided on a costume?"
"These are for you."
"Oh." Watching the way the silk panties moved over Jessica's firm, round little ass, Melanie decided it was best to lay back down.
Jessica was watching Melanie out of the corner of her eye and smiled as Melanie shook her head and disappeared behind the sofa again.
"Depending on which one I choose, I might have to change my costume again."
"Which one did you choose," Melanie's voice drifted over the couch and across the room.
"Well, since you're obviously not going to do it..." Jessica couldn't suppress the tiny grin.
"Oh, ok. What are my options?" Again, Melanie stayed stretched out on the couch.
"Zorro, or The Phantom of the Opera." Jessica watched Melanie's head pop back up over the top of the couch and tried not to laugh. It made her think of that game at the arcade where all those little groundhogs jumped up and you had to try and hit them with this big mallet.
"I thought this was some old fashioned ball. I figured I'd just wear a tux, or something."
"No, silly. It's a little more modern than that." Jessica reached for the hangers the two outfits sat on and pulled them out of the closet. Walking about half way towards the couch, she held them up so neither one dragged on the floor, and let Melanie have a look.
On a huff, Melanie stood up and walked over to inspect the costumes. She was paying more attention to the masks than anything else. If she was hidden well enough, she could move around during the party with a relative amount of freedom.
"There's hats for both of these costumes, aren't there?"
Jessica nodded yes and gestured towards the bed where both hats sat. Melanie stood, quietly debating, when a breeze drifted through the partially opened balcony doors, causing Jessica's slip to ripple over her. She watched Jessica's nipples perk up at the cool air and, even though she held a sleeve of each costume in each hand, her eyes were riveted to Jessica's chest.
Jessica hadn't noticed that Melanie's attention had been diverted and gave an impatient "humph". Her arms were getting tired.
"Pick one already."
"Uh, yeah. Ok. Uh, how about Zorro?" At this point, Jessica could have been suggesting a pig costume and Melanie would have said yes.
"Fine." Jessica turned around and went to hang the costumes back in the closet. She hung the Zorro outfit on the hook inside the closet door and started fussing with it.
"Actually, this works out good because I think I'd rather wear my Spanish peasant costume. It's not as bulky and cumbersome as the fancy ball gown."
Jessica chatted away, but Melanie had stopped listening a while ago. Walking over to the closet, she gently pulled Jessica away and turned her around so they were facing each other. She wrapped her arms around her waist, holding her close, and started to slowly twirl them around the room.
"You know, I think tomorrow will be the first time we've ever actually danced together."
"It's our first time together in public, too," Jessica said softly as she rested her hands on Melanie's upper arms, just below her shoulders, and leaned back a little so she could see Melanie's face. She and Felicia had been out to the community for years, but she could never tell just how open Melanie was about being a lesbian. Part of her was afraid that Melanie would be uncomfortable being a couple, openly in public, and was worried that it would strain their new relationship.
"Good. I'm going to enjoy making it quite clear that Jessica Matthews is officially off the market," Melanie said with a grin. She felt Jessica relax in her arms and knew she had guessed right at the cause of some of her tension. Jessica rested her head against Melanie's shoulder and they continued to waltz around the room.
After a few minutes of comfortable silence, Jessica spoke up. "I think I'm getting dizzy, cher."
"Ah. That's all part of my devious plot to get you into bed."
Jessica leaned back again and made Melanie stand still. "Don't you think we have too much to do tonight to have time for another distraction?"
The two of them, plus David, had been busy all week getting organized for tomorrow night, but she and Jessica had still found time to take a few breaks. Melanie smiled at the memories. Sometimes it had been sweet and slow, either making love here in Jessica's bedroom, or on the couch downstairs, or even one time one the porch swing. Other times things had been really heated; quick, hungry couplings that had taken place on the floor and other assorted pieces of furniture. Melanie remembered one time when they'd crawled on top of the kitchen counter and had devoured each other. The thought had her smile turning into a wicked grin.
"One more distraction shouldn't hurt," and she leaned down to steal a kiss, but Jessica pulled her head back to avoid it. She tried to pull free of Melanie's arms, but she wouldn't let go.
"Melanie," she chastised. "We have a lot more to do."
"You bet we do," and tried again to steal another kiss, but Jessica wouldn't let her.
"Come on, angle, have mercy. You're driving me insane prancing around the room in this outfit."
Jessica felt herself getting irritated. "This isn't some 'outfit', Melanie. It's my underwear, and I'm trying to get ready for tomorrow. You should be doing the same." Again she tried to pull away, but couldn't.
"It certainly is 'some outfit', Jessica, and it's driving me nuts." She tried to nuzzle Jessica's neck, but was again refused. Giving an exasperated moan, she let go long enough to grab Jessica's hand and pulled her towards the full-length mirror that sat in its own frame beside the balcony doors.
Standing a few steps back from it, Melanie pulled Jessica around in front of her and wrapped her arms around her waist again, so that they were both facing the mirror. Melanie leaned forward so she could whisper, and nibble, in Jessica's ear.
"Take a good look at yourself, Jessica, and tell me how I'm suppose to ignore that."
Teasing Jessica's ear with her teeth and tongue, she glanced at the mirror and watched Jessica study herself. She couldn't help but chuckle as she watched Jessica's face in the mirror. She looked like some kid trying to give her homework serious attention.
One of Melanie's hands drifted down to rest on the top of Jessica's thigh, then began to gently caress her leg, occasionally drifting towards the inside of her thigh, but not lingering for long.
"Look at how beautiful you are, angel, all slim and toned. You've got an athlete's body, and you're skins so soft." Her hand drifted over Jessica's hip. "And you've got curves in all the best places."
That same hand came up to brush some of Jessica's hair back, exposing her neck. Melanie bent her head to nipple on it.
"And your hair. It's this deep, vibrant red, all soft and curly." She buried her face in it and inhaled.
"Mmmm. It smells so good, too. Like gardenias, and something else."
"Lilacs," Jessica
whispered.
"Ummm. Lilacs. Well, that explains the other day."
"What?"
Melanie smiled against Jessica's curls. She had her undivided attention now. "Well, the other day I was in the yard, and walked past one of your lilac bushes. I got incredibly horny, for some reason. Now I know why." Jessica chuckled and Melanie enjoyed the feel of Jessica's body gently vibrating against her.
She went back to nibbling on Jessica's ear, her eyes meeting Jessica's in the mirror. "And your eyes. They're so green. They sparkle like emeralds. I love watching them turn all dark when you get fired up, or watch them turn smoky when you're turned on. I could lose entire days, in those eyes, and never even notice."
She drift back and forth between teasing Jessica's earlobe with her tongue, and nibbling on her neck. She kept both arms wrapped around Jessica's waist, holding her tight. She watched in the mirror as Jessica laid her hands on her arms, slowly stroking them, and laid her head back against Melanie's shoulder.