Seer

by Robin Roseau

  “Not here,” I said. “It’s a parking lot. Your place.”

  “Of course,” she said.

  She got in and directed me back to her house. When I pulled up to the security kiosk, she handed me a card key. “Wave this over the space below the speaker,” she said. I did, and a moment later, the gate began to open.

  “Does that get old?” I asked.

  “I have transmitters in my cars,” she said. “I have to drive slowly, but I’d do that anyway.” She paused. “You can park in front, or there is space in the garage.”

  “I’d like to come in,” I said. “You promised me ice cream. But I’m not spending the night. I didn’t invite you for a one night fling. I hope you’re not disappointed.”

  “I may have wanted you to stay,” she said, “but I wasn’t accepting an offer of a one night fling, either.”

  I parked where I had earlier, and Solange took my arm as we stepped up to the house. Once we were inside, she said, “Please leave your keys here in this bowl.” There was a table next to the front door with a small bowl on it. “In case someone needs to move your car.”

  I eyed her but did what she asked. Solange took my hand and began dragging me through the house. I laughed as I followed along behind her. She led the way into the basement, through a small maze, and to a industrial walk-in freezer. She opened it, peeking inside for a moment.

  “Making sure there are no dead bodies?”

  “Yep. You never know. Come on.” She opened the door wider and pulled me inside.

  It wasn’t a huge walk in freezer, I guess. There was just a single row down the middle with shelves on both sides and more at the end. The number of ice cream containers was truly impressive.

  “Seriously?” I asked.

  “I told you,” she said. She pulled me to the end. “This shelf has the new ones.” She turned to face me. “What do I get if I guess your favorite?”

  “What do you want?”

  “A kiss, of course.”

  “What do I get if you’re wrong?”

  “A kiss, of course.”

  I laughed. “All right,” I agreed. “But not in here.”

  “Okay…” She turned to her shelf. There were only a few flavors on her new shelf, but she had countless others to pick from. “I picked out four today that made me think of you, but I think this one is your favorite.” She grabbed one from the shelf and handed it to me.

  I glanced at it. “Vanilla?” I said. “Seriously? That’s my favorite?”

  She laughed. “No?”

  “Where will I get my kiss?”

  “I’m teasing,” she said. She took the vanilla back and handed me a fresh tin of mint chocolate chip. “This is your favorite.”

  I actually didn’t have a favorite. I had several I liked. “Are you making another joke, and you’re going to keep trying until you get to my favorite?”

  Her smile faded.

  “Oh, Solange, I’m teasing,” I said. “Because of the vanilla thing.” I paused. “You really bought these because they remind you of me?”

  She nodded, so I looked at the other flavors. There was cookies and cream and strawberry.

  “You get your kiss, Solange,” I said quietly. “The only one missing from my favorites is pistachio. I don’t have a single favorite, but these four are the ones I am most likely to buy.”

  Her smile returned.

  “If we’re having it over a brownie, perhaps the vanilla is best though.”

  She nodded, and we left the rest where they were. Once we exited the freezer, her arm went around my waist, and we walked through the house. I got more of the tour until we landed in the kitchen.

  “I want my kiss first,” she said, taking the ice cream from me and setting it aside. She stepped closer, one arm wrapping around my hip, the other cupping the back of my head. I tilted my face towards her and closed my eyes.

  Our lips touched, tentatively at first, then more insistently. It was an amazing kiss, one that left me panting, and I found myself pressing against her, molding our bodies together. She accepted my passion and returned it, holding me tightly and not releasing me, even when she finally relinquished my mouth.

  “Wow,” I said before laying my head against her shoulder, my face in her neck.

  “Yeah,” she said.

  We held each other for a while, but slowly we separated. I thought she might ask for another kiss, but she turned away not saying anything, and busied herself with warming a big brownie on a plate. She added ice cream and then dug out two spoons. There was a kitchen table with four chairs, so she led me there, and we sat down together, our knees touching. I reached for a spoon, but she pulled them both out of the way.

  “I should have only gotten one spoon,” she said. “Will you let me feed you?”

  I nodded slowly then watched as she prepared the spoon, making sure to get a good mix of brownie and ice cream. She offered it to me, and I opened, letting her slide the spoon in.

  I held the sweet treat in my mouth and watched while she took her own.

  Back and forth we went until I had to beg off. “Enough for me,” I said.

  She set the rest aside, then climbed to her feet and washed her hands. “Will you come with me?” she asked. I let her take my hand, and she led me upstairs and to her bedroom.

  I stayed the night.

  Together

  I knew it was a dream. I was seated at a card table across from Dolores. I looked to my right, and Solange was there, studying her cards. I didn’t see who her partner was.

  My awareness expanded, and I could see more of the room. There were three tables of players. At another table, Dean was teasing Elsa, although I wasn’t sure about what. I didn’t recognize the room, but I knew we weren’t at my house. Elsa was partnered with Aubree. I didn’t see Gabby, and I knew she wasn’t there, but it was okay. She had something else to do that night.

  Then my focus narrowed to my own cards. I began folding my hand into a single stack, and I saw the queen of hearts. I cut my cards, moving them around, and folded them again, and still the card I saw was the queen of hearts. I did that over, and over, and each time, it was the queen of hearts.

  I knew that meant something important.

  My dreams did that, showing me something over and over. If this scene wasn’t a metaphor, when the actual scene occurred next week or next month or whenever it was, I wouldn’t be folding my cards that way.

  But the queen was important.

  Of course, the entire scene could be another metaphor, although it was too normal of a scene for that. The metaphors were usually a lot stranger than this.

  To my right, Solange bid eight clubs.

  The scene warped, and I didn’t get to see how it played out. Everyone clustered around me as I tallied all the scorecards. I didn’t see who won, but Solange won the booby prize. What was strange was Aubree’s excitement, and she was the one who handed out the wrapped prizes.

  Were we at Aubree’s house? I didn’t think so.

  “Go put that on,” Aubree ordered. Solange gave me a quick kiss then disappeared.

  I heard her say, “You have got to be kidding me!” And then I just knew I was about to see what Aubree had given her. I thought it was going to be really good.

  Instead, I woke up.

  * * * *

  “Good morning,” Solange said. She was caressing my bare shoulder. “You were dreaming.”

  I rolled over to face her. “Yeah,” I said. I smiled. Even after a night’s sleep, she was stunning. Inside, I was fuzzy headed, still partly asleep, but I thought about the dream. I thought about the implications of the dream.

  Solange and I had kissed, casually, as if we were accustomed to kissing.

  If this was a fling for her, it was going to be one with duration. I suddenly felt a great deal more confident. My smile broadened.

  “You seduced me,” I said.

  “I sure did. You didn’t struggle very hard, I will point out.”

  “As
I recall, I didn’t struggle at all. Whatever must you think of me?”

  “I think you’re a wonderful lover.” She rolled onto her back and stretched, exposing a goodly share of her body as she did so. I was pretty sure it was intentional. “I feel really good.”

  Solange was not beauty model curvy, but I liked the curves she had, and she gave me a good chance to look at them, right then. So of course I did, and I enjoyed it besides.

  When she rolled back, I said, “You did that on purpose. Tease.”

  “I’m not teasing,” she said. “You may have anything you see.”

  I was still not fully awake, and it took a moment for me to consider that. I knew I had morning breath, and I didn’t want to kiss her with it. So instead I moved over, rolling her onto her back, and snuggling tightly against her side. I let my fingers play with her skin.

  “Now who is teasing?”

  “Oh pah-lease,” I said. “If you’re not entirely satiated from last night, then you’re a nympho, and I couldn’t possibly keep up with you. Just admit it now.”

  She chuckled.

  I snuggled tighter, and she wrapped her arm around my back, finding her own bare skin to play with. It felt really good, and I closed my eyes.

  “Solange,” I murmured. “I like you.”

  “I should hope so, or I’d wonder what we were doing last night.”

  “I’m being serious.”

  “I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m just really happy right now.”

  “Yeah, me too, but I’m being serious at the same time.”

  “Well, I like you, too, Sidney.”

  “I don’t share,” I said. I opened my eyes and looked up at her. “By that, I mean if this is the start of a relationship, it’s exclusive. No one else.”

  “I don’t share, either,” she said. “And yes, this is the start of a relationship.”

  “Good.” I closed my eyes again. “God, we’re a cliché. For the record, we’re not renting a U-haul just yet.”

  She chuckled, but then she said, “For the record, there is very little that is cliché about either of us, so if from time to time, it seems like it, there’s nothing wrong with that.”

  It took me a minute to think about that, and when I did, I was filled with more confidence. “Did you just call me unique?”

  “Yes, I did.”

  If it were even possible, I snuggled more tightly.

  “Did you have plans for the day?” I asked.

  “I did. I am not remotely interested in them. I would instead like to spend the day with you.”

  “I need exercise,” I said. “Would you like to learn how to ride a bike, or did you have something else you preferred?”

  “I was going to offer to teach you to water ski,” she said. “But I like your plan at least as much. Do I need to buy a bike?”

  “I’ll loan you one of mine. I can loan you clothes, too.”

  “I’m afraid I’ll hurt your bike if I fall.”

  “I’ll teach you on an old one,” I said. “But then once you have the hang of it, we can go for a ride, and you can use a better one. If we make a habit of it, you’ll want to buy shoes.”

  “They make shoes for biking?”

  “They make shoes for everything. Bicycle shoes have metal cleats on the bottom, and they clip into the pedals. That way, you can pull up on the pedals, too, giving you a stronger stroke, and your feet don’t slip off when you’re pedaling hard. Ironically, they’re called clipless pedals, even though you clip into them.”

  “Um. What happens when you come to a stop? Don’t you fall, if you can’t put your foot down?”

  “You clip out. The clips disengage if you twist your foot. The first time you do it, you might fall. Everyone falls at least once, or at least almost falls. Your automatic reaction to beginning to fall tends to unclip you, so it’s a matter of whether you are able to stop the fall or not. You’re not afraid of a scrape or two, are you?”

  “Yes,” she said, but I knew she wasn’t.

  We lay together for a minute. I felt amazingly good. I was worried my emotions would get well ahead of me. Heck, I was worried they already had. I knew she was brilliant. I knew she could converse on a variety of topics. I knew she was a good lover. But I didn’t know how she would treat me. I didn’t know if she was just slumming it for a while. Getting too attached could be dangerous.

  But my dreams were telling me something.

  “So…” she said. “Biking this morning. And then we can come back here for swimming, and I can teach you to water ski.”

  “Oh god,” I said.

  “If I’m going to make myself into a fool learning to ride a bike, you can be the fool on water skis,” she said.

  “All right,” I agreed. “You swim in the lake.”

  “Sometimes. There’s a pool, too.”

  “I didn’t see it.”

  “Your tour wasn’t very complete,” she admitted. “It’s sort of indoor/outdoor. I can use it year round.”

  “Somehow I don’t think that’s part of the original design of your ancestral home.”

  “It’s not,” she said with a chuckle. “I took liberties. I’ve always wanted a pool.”

  “Will you also teach me to drive the boat?”

  “Yes, but maybe not today.” She paused. “How much of you do I get this weekend?”

  “You had all of me last night,” I said. I opened my eyes and grinned up at her. “How much more do you want?”

  “Did you want to teach me this card game you play? If it’s a day of teaching each other things, maybe it’s fitting.”

  “It takes four,” I said. “We’d have to share each other, and after just discussing how we don’t share.”

  “Brat,” she called me. “We can just spend the evening together if you want.”

  “If you’re serious about the cards, I can make some calls.”

  “If you can find one more, I bet Aubree would like to learn.”

  “Afraid to be outnumbered by my friends?” I asked. “Calling in reinforcements?”

  She smiled, but didn’t answer.

  “All right,” I said. I kissed the side of her neck then scrambled away, rolling out of the bed on the far side, then began looking for my phone.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Looking for my phone.”

  “It’s in your purse on the dresser,” she said, pointing. I followed her finger and, still naked, padded to the dresser. Sure enough, my purse was waiting for me. I found my phone, then noticed Solange was watching me.

  “What?” I asked.

  “You have a hot body. I want it.”

  “I have a forty-four-year-old body. It’s hardly hot.”

  “It’s entirely hot,” she said. “Come back to bed and let me fondle it.”

  I giggled and stretched, letting her get a good look. I didn’t have a hot body. I biked, but I also liked to eat. So I was in shape, but not obsessive shape.

  I returned my attention to my phone. It was too early to call, but I felt safe sending Dolores a text. “Free tonight? Want to help teach someone to play 500?”

  I set my phone down and turned back to look at Solange. She was watching me intently.

  “You look like you’re thinking about eating me,” I said.

  “Maybe I am.” Her gaze traveled down, and I knew where she was looking. I turned sideways and began to blush.

  “I need to. Um.”

  She didn’t say anything but instead pointed to a closed door. I walked to it and found it led to a bathroom. I’d been too busy to notice last night, but once I got to thinking about it, I realized I really, really had to go.

  While I was in there, I cleaned up a little, poking at my hair. I didn’t want to take too many liberties, so I didn’t go looking for a brush. I left the room. Solange was still in bed, but sitting up, and she had her own phone.

  “You got a response,” she said. “I hope you don’t mind. I glanced at it. And Aubree said ‘yes’ as well.
She needs details.”

  I stepped to the dresser. Dolores had texted back. “Sure. Call me.”

  She answered on the second ring. “Good morning,” she answered.

  “I hope my text didn’t wake you.”

  “No. I was awake, staring at my phone and wondering if it was too early to call you. I had just decided it was when I got your text. Who are we teaching?”

  I paused, suddenly nervous. “I had a date last night.”

  “Oh, excellent!” Dolores replied. “How was it?”

  “I’m standing in her bedroom.”

  Dolores was quiet for a moment. “So, I take it that means it went really well.” She chuckled. “Do all lesbians move that quickly? I take it if we’re teaching her to play cards, it’s not a one-night stand.”

  “Yes, it went well. Yes, pretty much, lesbians move quickly. And no, it’s not a one-night stand.”

  I glanced at Solange. She was smiling softly while watching me.

  “I suppose she’s right there, listening to you.”

  “Yep. I think she’s amused.” Solange nodded agreement.

  “Is she hot?”

  “Stunning, Dolores. She’s absolutely stunning.”

  Solange grinned and preened a little.

  “Was that for my benefit or hers?” Dolores asked with a chuckle. “Sucking up to her already?”

  “Just sharing the truth. So. Tonight. I was thinking my place for dinner.”

  “Hmm,” Dolores replied. “How about if I host instead? That way when you two want to go do what bunnies do, you aren’t stuck trying to toss the guests out of the house. You can show off your culinary skills another night.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yeah,” she said. “Arrive between five and six, and don’t worry about bringing anything. I know how you are about drinking and driving, so we’ll make it a no-alcohol evening.”

  “You’re a doll,” I said. I relayed the plans to Solange, and she nodded.

  “Do we have a fourth?” Dolores asked.

  “Yes. Someone named Aubree. She’s a lawyer, too.”

  “Ooh, you found yourself a lawyer,” Dolores said. “Is she rich?”