Summer of Dreams

by Lydia Rose

  “Hello, Riley. This is my daughter Sandy,” he said pointing to the young woman next to him. “My other daughter Pam is driving down and she’ll be here later.”

  Riley shook their hands and noticed that Sandy was probably in her twenties. Now she wondered how old his other daughter was. Forget it, Riley. You don’t need another fling. “Let me show you around,” Riley said as they followed her down the dock. She pointed out the bathroom and laundry facilities. They now walked over to the pool area. A smile automatically appeared on her face when she saw Shelby lying on a lounge chair. Her hand came up in a wave. “That is one of our guests enjoying the pool,” she said turning to Harry. They now walked over to the beach area. “We provide lounge chairs and umbrellas for your convenience. Riley now pointed at the restaurant. “You can eat at the restaurant or we have a barbecue area if you want to cook for yourselves. Of course, you are free to leave the marina for your meals,” she said with a laugh. Riley now noticed a tall brunette walking toward them.

  “Pam,” Sandy shouted as she ran toward her.

  The two women fell into each other’s arms. “It’s good to see you, kid. So how do you like the place?”

  “I like it.” Sandy led Pam over to their dad.

  “Hi, Dad,” she said allowing him to pull her into a big hug.

  “Riley, this is my other daughter Pam.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, Pam. I was just showing your family around the facility. If you have any questions, please let me know.” Her eyes scanned the woman behind her dark sunglasses. She figured Pam to be in her late twenties to early thirties. Her tall frame was model thin in her shorts and cotton top. The reddish brown hair hung loosely around her face and blue eyes bore into Riley. “I’ll let you get settled in and again if you have any questions, come to the office.” She turned and walked back to the office.

  Shelby sat up when she saw the tall woman approach the group that Riley was with. They obviously were new arrivals and she hadn’t missed the look Riley had given the tall woman.

  Riley walked into the office and closed the door against the heat outside. “So that’s the new people?” Ava asked still looking out the window.

  “Yeah.”

  “Which one is the wife?” Ava asked turning to Riley.

  “Neither. They are his daughters. Either divorced or a widower,” Riley said with a shrug.

  “He’s handsome,” Ava said now realizing she had said that out loud.

  Riley smiled. “I’ll introduce you to him, Mom.”

  Ava spun around. “Don’t you go playing matchmaker,” she said shaking her finger at her. “The daughters are beautiful. Especially the tall redhead.”

  Riley didn’t comment or her mother would be outside seeing what she could find out about the woman. “I hadn’t noticed,” Riley said not looking at her mother.

  Ava laughed out loud. “Right, and I am twenty years old. You noticed her. Who wouldn’t notice her? She must be nearly six feet tall. Do you think she’s a model?” Ava sighed watching the guests walk toward the parking lot. “She certainly is thin enough.”

  “Mom, would you please sit down before someone sees you spying.”

  “Shelby is now speaking with them.”

  Riley walked over to the window and watched the group talking. The redhead was smiling at Shelby and touched her arm as she spoke. A low growl escaped her mouth.

  “Did you just growl?”

  “No. I was clearing my throat,” she said lying.

  “Shelby is straight, but maybe the redhead isn’t,” Ava said still watching the group now walking toward the docks. “Or maybe Shelby isn’t so straight as she claims.” Riley growled again and left her mother watching the group until they disappeared from their view. She now walked over to Riley’s desk. “Do you like Shelby?” her mother asked staring down at her.

  “Yeah. I told you we were friends.”

  “Maybe you’d like it to be more?”

  “It doesn’t matter, Mom,” she said letting out a sigh.

  “I don’t want to see you get hurt, Riley.” Ava walked behind Riley and wrapped her arms around her daughter. “You are always getting involved with the wrong woman.” She now kissed the top of her head.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Riley walked to the parking lot and saw Shelby standing there. “Hi,” she said as she approached.

  “Hi, Riley. Let’s go. I am so hungry.” Shelby unlocked the car doors and got in. As they drove to the restaurant, Shelby chatted casually. “I was surprised to see new people check into the marina. Do you always get guests that check in late in the season?”

  “Yeah, sometimes.” Riley wanted to ask Shelby what she thought of Pam, but was afraid of what she might say. They arrived at the restaurant and walked toward the entrance.

  At the hostess stand, Shelby gave her name and they were led to a booth overlooking the water. Both women automatically looked at the water before they perused the menu. “Nice view, isn’t it?”

  Riley nodded. “It is,” she answered realizing that this view allowed them a better open view of the bay than the marina did. “When do you go back to work?” Riley asked trying to fill the quiet.

  “Sunday morning,” Shelby said before her eyes drifted back to the menu.

  Shelby kept the conversation going easily telling her about her co-workers and things going on at the hospital. Riley commented when required, but basically she didn’t lead the conversation.

  The meal was delicious and now they were walking back to the car. “Are you all right, Riley?”

  “Yes. Why?” she asked looking at Shelby’s face.

  “You were awfully quiet tonight. You usually have plenty to say,” she said smiling.

  “Are you saying I talk too much?” Riley asked with her hand on her hip.

  “Not at all. It just seemed that you were somewhere else.”

  “I’m sorry. I guess I just have a lot on my mind.”

  “Is the marina doing okay?”

  “It is. I just….” Riley couldn’t finish.

  “You just?” Shelby asked trying to get Riley to talk to her. She now led them over to a bench that overlooked the water.

  “I guess I just thought I would be in a different place in my life at this age.” She turned on the bench and faced Shelby. “Do you know what I mean?”

  “I do, Riley,” Shelby said touching the hand that gripped the bench. “I thought I would be married and maybe had a kid,” she sighed. “I guess life had different ideas for me.”

  “You can still have a baby. You don’t have to wait to get married.”

  “Riley, I’m thirty-six years old. I can’t see myself being a single mother with the hours I work.” Shelby pursed her lips. “I miss being in love.”

  “Were you in love with your ex?” Riley asked not looking at her.

  “I thought I was, but I’m not sure anymore. I want someone that takes my breath away with just a word. Someone who can’t live without me in their life. I want my breath to catch when they walk into a room. Do you know what I mean?”

  Riley nodded. “I do, but I haven’t been able to find that either.”

  “Do you think it’s too late for us?” Shelby asked softly.

  “I hope not,” Riley said with a chuckle. “We can’t think like that. That would mean that we’ve given up and I don’t want to give up.”

  “You would think being a lesbian that it would be easier to find.”

  “It’s not. Women are just as fickle as men are.”

  “This conversation is too depressing. We need to go out and have some fun.” Shelby grabbed her arm. “We need to go dancing. Where can we go and have some fun?”

  Riley shrugged. “I don’t know where you would feel comfortable. The only bar I know is a gay bar.”

  “So let’s go there,” Shelby said already standing.

  “You want to go to a gay bar?” Riley asked not understanding.

  “Why not? This way I can enjoy myself without anyone
bothering me.”

  Riley laughed. “How are you going to find someone if we’re at a gay bar?”

  “Do you think Mr. Right is waiting for me at a bar?” She pulled on Riley’s arm. “Let’s go.”

  They walked into the bar and hit a wall of both men and women. “Oh wow,” Shelby said seeing the full bar.

  “Do you want to leave?” Riley asked into Shelby’s ear.

  “Heck no.”

  Riley shrugged and grabbed Shelby’s hand as they made their way through the crowd. Finally, at the bar they ordered their drinks.

  “This is unbelievable,” Shelby said leaning toward Riley to be heard over the music.

  “Riley Anderson.” A woman yelled and walked over to Riley. She pulled her into a tight hug. “It’s been so long since you were in here.”

  “Hello, Janet,” Riley said not disguising the frown on her face.

  “Dance with me, baby?” Janet asked grabbing Riley’s arm.

  Shelby now leaned over toward the two women. “I would appreciate it if you would take your hands off my girlfriend.” Both women looked at Shelby shocked by her authoritative voice. “Riley will be dancing, but only with me.”

  “Sorry, babe. I didn’t know Riley was taken.” Janet leaned over to Riley and whispered, “When you get tired of her, come see me.”

  Riley leaned into Shelby. “Thank you for the offer, but I am perfectly content.”

  “Suit yourself,” Janet said and disappeared into the crowd.

  “Thanks,” Riley said not realizing that Shelby was still holding her hand.

  “I saw the look on your face,” Shelby chuckled. “I knew you needed help.”

  “Janet is nice, but she is very, uh, persistent.”

  Shelby laughed. “I understand. I’ve met men like that too.”

  Hearing Shelby’s words brought her back to reality. Shelby is straight and she pulled her hand out of her grasp.

  Shelby looked out into the crowd and then turned to Riley. “Would you dance with me?” Riley didn’t answer and just looked at her. “Or should I go find Janet and see if she will dance with me?”

  Riley took her hand again and they made their way to the dance floor. The music was pounding and they bumped into each other more than once from the crowd around them. Shelby was wearing a big smile as her hands waved in the air showing how much fun she was having. The song ended and the music slowed down. Riley began to walk away when Shelby grabbed her arm. “One more dance, Riley,” she said with pleading eyes.

  As Shelby pulled her close to her body, she asked into her ear, “What are you doing?”

  Shelby leaned back and looked at Riley’s face. “Having fun. Aren’t you having a good time?”

  “You’re straight,” she said loud enough for Shelby to hear her.

  “So that means I can’t dance with you?” Her face frowned and then the smile began to appear.

  Riley didn’t say anything as they danced to the music. Once the song ended, Riley took her hand and led her off the floor and back to the bar. Shelby looked at Riley trying to read her expression. “Do you think I’m toying with you?”

  “I don’t know what the hell is going on,” Riley admitted.

  “I’ll let you in on one of my secrets.” She leaned toward Riley. “I don’t do casual sex. So if you think I’m looking to take you for a spin, you would be wrong.”

  “Okay,” she said into Shelby’s ear, but she was still confused. Shelby was looking at her differently tonight and it made her head spin.

  They danced to several more songs before they fought their way to the exit. Both women had switched to soda for the last two hours so they could drive home safely. “That was so much fun. Thank you, Riley for bringing me here.”

  “I’m glad you had a good time.”

  “We have to do that again.”

  “Anytime,” Riley answered, but she wasn’t sure if she could take much more of Shelby against her body without wanting more from her.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Riley was just stepping out of the office when Stewart trapped her between the office and the stairs. “Hey, Stu.”

  “Riley, I just saw your girlfriend getting into a kayak with that redhead.”

  Riley looked at his face and wrinkled her brow. “Uh, my what?”

  “Don’t try to deny it. Shelby told me this morning that she’s gay.”

  “She did?” Riley asked thinking she had just stepped into the twilight zone. First last night and now this.

  “Yeah. She said she didn’t tell me before because she didn’t want to hurt my feelings.” Stewart crossed his arms over his chest. “So what did you do to her that you pissed her off enough to go out with someone else this morning?”

  “Stewart, Shelby isn’t my girlfriend.”

  “Oh, so that’s the problem. You turned her down and now the redhead slipped in.” Stewart turned to walk away, but turned around. “I think you are a fool to let someone like that get away.”

  Riley stood on the steps just staring as he walked away until her mother said, “Is there something you would like to tell me, Riley?”

  Riley stepped back into the office and closed the door. “No.”

  “So is Shelby gay or not? You stayed out pretty late with her last night.” Ava was moving closer to Riley as their conversation continued.

  “I think she just told Stu that so he would leave her alone.” Or I think so.

  Ava picked up the binoculars that lay on the shelf and walked to the back window. “Yep, she’s out there all right.”

  “Mom, it’s none of our business who Shelby decides to spend her time with.”

  “But you like her,” Ava said walking back to Riley.

  “Yeah, but only as my friend.” Say that enough times and maybe you’ll believe it.

  Ava laughed. “Your mouth keeps saying that, but your eyes are saying something else.”

  Riley stared down at her mother. “Well, it really doesn’t matter, does it, Mom?”

  “I’m so sorry, baby.” Ava pulled Riley into a hug. “I like her and I think she would have been so good for you, but she isn’t gay.”

  Riley pulled out of her mother’s grasp. “I’m going to do my rounds.” She left the office and hoped no one stopped her since she really wanted to be left alone. Riley walked over to her house and went into the house and pulled a bottle of beer from the refrigerator. Popping off the top, she carried the bottle out to the back porch. She sat down on the steps and took a long swallow.

  *

  Shelby was enjoying being out on the bay again. Her eyes scanned the water and her excitement increased. “Look, Pam, a manatee.”

  Pam paddled until they were close enough to get a look at the large creature, but not so close that they were afraid it would turn over the kayak. “This is the first time I’ve seen one. You must bring me luck,” she said with a slight laugh.

  “This is so much fun,” Shelby added.

  “Are you single?” Pam asked laying the paddle across her lap.

  “I am,” Shelby said dipping her paddle into the water.

  “Would you go to dinner with me one night?” Pam asked leaning closer to Shelby’s back.

  “Pam, I would love to go to dinner with you, but you may have the wrong idea about me.” Shelby swallowed and turned her head so she could see Pam. “I’m straight.”

  “Really?” Pam asked through a snort and watched as Shelby lowered her head to her chest. “I’m sorry, Shelby. I thought you were gay.” She leaned closer to Shelby so she could touch her shoulder. “What about Riley? Didn’t you go out with her last night?”

  “As friends, Pam.” Shelby rested her hand on the one that sat on her shoulder.

  Pam sat back in her seat. “You had me fooled. I felt my gaydar ping off you when we met.” She shook her head. “I must be out of practice.”

  “It’s okay, Pam. You wouldn’t be the first woman to say that to me, but I’ve never been with a woman.” That’s what she told Pam
, but that wasn’t the whole truth. She had once kissed a woman. Well it was really a girl, but it just didn’t do it for her. Shelby smiled. When was that? Twenty years ago. Oh my god, I’m old.

  “We can still go to dinner if you want,” Pam offered.

  Shelby let her off the hook. “That’s okay, Pam. You don’t owe me anything.”

  As Riley’s eyes gazed out onto the water, she saw a kayak heading toward the shore. The kayak got closer and she recognized them. Both women were laughing as they paddled closer to the shore. Pam jumped out of the kayak and brought the front onto the sand. Her hand now came out and she helped Shelby out of the kayak. They unzipped their life jackets and stored them in the kayak before Pam gave Shelby a hug. “Thanks for keeping me company out there.”

  “I enjoyed myself, Pam.” Shelby’s eyes came up and she saw Riley. A smile immediately came to her face and her hand came up in a wave.

  Pam moved closer to Shelby. “For a straight woman, your face lights up when you see our marina owner.”

  Shelby turned and looked at Pam stunned. “I told you we’re friends.”

  “Uh huh,” Pam said pulling the kayak further up the sand for storage.

  “We are,” Shelby said following behind Pam. Her eyes never drifted over to Riley as they walked toward the docks. She jumped onto the boat and began gathering a new set of clothes and her toiletries. Back on the dock and hidden behind sunglasses she looked to see if Riley was still on the back porch. She wasn’t surprised to see she wasn’t there and headed for the showers.

  Riley walked into the restaurant and saw her mother sitting at the bar eating a sandwich. “Hey,” she said taking the seat next to her.

  “Hi, sweetie.” Ava put her sandwich down and turned to Riley. “I’m sorry, Riley. You know I only want what’s best for you.”

  “I know, Mom. I only wish I knew what that was.”

  *

  Riley had just gotten out of her car when Randy called out to her. Her hand waved as she approached the back of his SUV.

  “Hi, Riley. Would you help me get this TV to my boat?”

  “Sure, Randy. They both lifted the heavy box out of the back and placed it on the wagon that awaited them.