Winter's Harbor

by Aurora Rey

  As each batch of dough was completed, Alex covered the oversize bowls with clean towels and set them aside to rise. Lia moved frozen pieces of cookie dough from neatly stacked plastic bins to the sheet pans she’d lined with parchment. She put the first round into the oven and set the timer.

  “Do these need to be rotated halfway through?”

  “Nope. Welcome to the beauty of convection baking.”

  Lia sighed. “I think I have oven envy.”

  By a little after five, the bread dough was done and Lia was sliding the last of the cookies into the oven. The kitchen smelled amazing and Lia found herself awake and energized. She didn’t think she could do it every day, but she was having fun and was pretty sure it wasn’t only because she was with Alex.

  “And now we croissant.”

  Lia rubbed her hands together excitedly. “I cannot wait to learn from the master.”

  Alex smiled and pulled a tray from the refrigerator. “I hope you aren’t disappointed, but the dough is already made. It requires multiple steps and lots of downtime in between. We’ll get to roll and shape them, though.”

  “Of course. I’d love to learn start to finish one day, but today, I’m here to help.”

  “Excellent. Let me show you the first one, then you can have a go.” Alex floured the surface of the table and set the square of dough in the middle. She floured her rolling pin, smacked the dough a few times with it, then started rolling. While she worked, she explained the process of making it. “You sandwich a block of butter into the middle, roll it out, and then fold it in on itself. It’s the process of doing that over and over that gives you the flaky layers.”

  Lia nodded. It didn’t seem too complicated, but it was certainly labor intensive. She knew now why she’d never attempted them on her own. “Right. And we love those flaky layers.”

  “Indeed we do. So, once we’ve got the dough about a quarter-inch thick, we cut.” Using a pizza wheel, Alex cut the dough into long strips, then each strip into triangles. “Roll it up.” She took a triangle and rolled it between her fingers and the table, creating a log that was thick in the middle and skinny on both ends. “Move to the pan and shape.” She placed the dough on a tray, curving it and pinching the ends together.

  “Nice.”

  Alex wiggled her eyebrows. “Thank you. Now, you can leave them a little more crescent shaped, but since we also use them for sandwiches, I prefer more of a round. Ready to give it a try?”

  “Yes, please.” Alex stepped to the side and Lia took her place. She took one of the triangles and, using her fingertips, rolled it into a log. She moved it to the pan and shaped it. It wasn’t terrible, but next to Alex’s, it was lumpy and a little uneven. Lia frowned.

  “You’re so close. You just have to let your whole hand do the work.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Here, do one with me.” Alex moved closer to Lia at the table and placed her hands over Lia’s. She guided Lia’s fingers over the dough, rolling it in a single fluid motion from the tips of her fingers to the base of her palm.

  The croissant was perfect and Lia’s pulse was racing. She could feel Alex’s breasts pressing ever so lightly into her arm and Alex’s lips close to her ear. Unable to resist, she shifted slightly so that she was pressed against Alex’s pelvis. She was rewarded with a low moan.

  “Wow.” Her voice was barely above a whisper.

  “I fantasized about having you here, like this.”

  Lia’s breath caught. The wave of desire was hot and fast. It made her skin tingle and left a throbbing ache between her thighs. “I…um…really?”

  “Oh, yeah.”

  Alex’s mouth was on hers and Lia felt herself pressed between the table and Alex’s body. The next thing she knew, Alex’s hands were on her thighs, lifting her onto the table. She wrapped her legs around Alex’s waist while Alex started yanking at the buttons of Lia’s chef coat. She reached a hand in, cupping Lia’s breast.

  The arousal was so quick, the need so strong, Lia was caught off guard. She buried her hands in Alex’s hair while Alex finished with the buttons and ran her hands over Lia’s exposed torso. Her nipples tightened, aching for Alex’s touch.

  The sound of the back door slamming startled them both. Alex stepped back abruptly. “It’s Jeff.”

  “Oh, God.” Lia hopped down from the table and started doing up the buttons Alex had undone. She couldn’t decide if she should be amused or mortified. After a minute of banging around, Jeff appeared in the kitchen.

  “Are you quite all right?” Alex asked.

  “Perfectly fine. I just wanted to announce my presence in case anyone was indecent.” He winked at both of them, then breezed through the swinging door to start coffee and set up for opening.

  Lia giggled, then blushed. Alex looked like she was going to call after Jeff, but she didn’t. Given how close he’d come to finding them going at it, maybe she’d decided to let it go. She walked over to where Lia was standing and kissed her. “I’m really glad you’re here.”

  “Even though I’m more distraction than help?”

  “You are a distraction, but I’m having a hard time holding it against you.”

  Lia smiled. “I’ll be extra helpful now, I promise.”

  “I’ll hold you to it.”

  Alex cleaned up the mess they’d made and they started rolling croissants in earnest. They set the plain ones aside to rise and Alex showed Lia how to cut and roll the dough for the chocolate variety. Lia took over placing the long, thin bars of chocolate into each rectangle, rolling and placing the dough on the pan seam side down. Alex portioned out the bread dough, rolling it into loaves and putting it into the proofer for the second rise.

  They worked quietly now. Although Alex didn’t say so, it was clear they were behind schedule. She worked efficiently and with unwavering concentration. Even with the playfulness gone, Lia enjoyed watching her work. She had a level of focus that Lia couldn’t help but admire.

  The rest of the day flew by. When Darcy arrived at eight to start her prep, Lia went to the front to help Jeff, where he gave her a crash course in using the register. By the time Alex emerged at ten, Lia was calling orders to Jeff and chatting with customers like a pro. Alex watched her in amazement. Lia was a woman of many talents, and officially unlike any woman she’d ever been with. Because the crowd never really slowed, they took turns taking breaks to rest and refuel. Around three, a backup barista relieved Jeff and Darcy took over making sandwiches. Alex was impressed with Lia’s stamina, as well as the fact that she’d remained energetic and upbeat the entire time.

  “I don’t know how you do it,” Lia said as they climbed the stairs to Alex’s loft.

  “Well, in the busy season, I have a lot more regular help, so I’m much better at working only eight or nine hours at a stretch. And there’s definitely more opportunity to sit down for a few minutes.”

  “Oh, good. I was starting to fear that you were a machine.”

  “No, I’m beat, too. Speaking of, are you too exhausted to go out with me tonight? If you are, I totally understand.”

  “As long as it doesn’t involve dancing or making cappuccinos, I’m game. What did you have in mind?”

  Alex grinned. “Well, the reason everyone is in town, besides holiday shopping, is for the concert tonight. It’s the Gay Men’s Chorus Holiday Spectacular. I was hoping you’d go with me to that and then the lighting of the lobster pot tree.”

  “Lobster pot tree?”

  “Yes, it’s a giant pile of lobster traps that they decorate and light up like a Christmas tree. It’s very festive and very P-town.”

  “Okay, that’s something I have to see.”

  “I thought you might like that. You’re welcome to shower here if you want, and to borrow some more clothes.” The thought of sharing a shower with Lia made the muscles between her thighs clench.

  “As much as I’d like to shower with you, I fear it would lead to other things and we’d miss the festi
vities. Besides, if we’re going to see other people, it’s probably for the best that I’m wearing my own clothes.”

  Alex willed herself not to be disappointed. Did Lia not want people to know they were seeing each other? No, she probably just didn’t want to wear Alex’s clothes. Definitely not her style. It shouldn’t matter either way. It’s not like they were an item. “I’d very much like to drag you into the shower and to bed, but you’re right. Take your car home, and when you’re ready, just come back here and park. It’ll be easier than looking for another spot and we can walk over together.”

  Lia gathered her clothes, purse, and baggie of cell phone and rice. “Sounds like a plan. I had a lot of fun today, not to mention last night. Thank you for including me.”

  Alex shook her head. “No, it’s definitely me who should be thanking you. You were amazing, last night and today.”

  Lia shrugged, blushed. “I had a great teacher.”

  “With the croissants, maybe, but the rest was all you.” Alex kissed Lia firmly on the mouth and watched her as she went down the stairs. “Be careful getting home and I’ll see you in a bit.”

  At the bottom of the stairs, Lia turned to offer a wave. “I’ll be back in about an hour.”

  On the drive home, Alex’s words echoed in her mind. She couldn’t get over being thought of as a skilled lover. She pondered it the whole way home, during her shower, and while she got dressed. She realized just how much she’d inflated the chemistry between Dani and her. It also occurred to her that, had Dani not cheated on her, she might have lived the rest of her life settling and not even knowing it.

  Town was definitely hopping as she made her way back toward The Flour Pot, and Lia was grateful for the guaranteed parking spot. Alex was waiting for her and they enjoyed a leisurely stroll to Town Hall. Once there, they sat next to Jeff and Edwin, the guy Jeff had brought to Thanksgiving dinner. Both men were wearing bow ties. They made a cute couple and Lia hoped that Edwin stuck around.

  The concert was festive and gay. She could get used to being surrounded by so much gayness. It felt so comfortable, more comfortable than she ever felt at home after coming out and certainly more comfortable than New York. It was something she was going to have to consider when her lease expired in the spring.

  After the concert, she and Alex wandered over to watch the tree lighting. The crowd was large, but laid-back. There were plenty of visitors, but a lot of the crowd was local. It thrilled Lia to see and to say hello to faces that were becoming familiar. They ran into Jan from the real estate office and her wife, Lorraine. Stuart and Connie were there, too, along with their daughters, Maddie and Beth. Alex tucked Lia’s hand in her arm as they walked. It was sweet and romantic and, Lia realized, felt completely natural.

  “Hi, Alex.”

  Lia looked in the direction of the voice. It came from a woman she’d seen around town a couple of times, but didn’t know.

  “Hi, Sara. Good to see you.”

  Alex didn’t pull her arm away, nor did she stop walking. Lia couldn’t help but feeling, though, that the woman was more than a casual acquaintance. She didn’t want to seem nosy, but she was curious. “Does she live in town? She seems really familiar, but I can’t place her exactly.”

  “Who? Sara?”

  “Yeah.” Lia hoped she sounded casual.

  “She works at the gourmet grocery store in the East End.”

  “That’s it. If you want to talk to her, please don’t let me stop you.”

  “No, no. It’s cool. I’m here with you.”

  While it was exactly the right thing to say, Alex’s comment convinced Lia that Sara was, or at least had been, more than just a friend. It didn’t bother her, necessarily. If anything, it was reassurance that she and Alex were looking for the same thing.

  “Okay. I just didn’t want you to feel like you couldn’t.”

  Alex leaned over and kissed her temple. “Thanks. No need, but thanks.”

  As promised, there was a huge pyramid of lobster traps stacked in the open square. Although covered with large red bows, it didn’t look too much like a Christmas tree. When the lights were turned on, however, it sparkled and shined and a loud cheer went up from the crowd. As if on cue, it began to snow.

  “Welcome to Christmas in New England,” Alex said.

  Lia thought about the Christmas traditions of her childhood, and of the ones she had during her years with Dani. They certainly weren’t bad by any means, but they weren’t like this. It looked like she was developing a thing for New England.

  “I can’t think of anywhere I’d rather be.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  “I’ll see your quarter and raise you another.” Lia tossed fifty cents into the center of the table. She’d taken Stacia up on her offer of joining the poker group and had become a regular at the weekly games. Tonight, she was sitting on a full house and feeling confident.

  “I fold.” Stacia threw down her cards with a huff.

  “Same here,” Anita said.

  “Too rich for my blood.” Josie, a doctor friend of Jan’s, shook her head. She set her cards facedown on the table.

  “I don’t know. I think our little Southern belle might be bluffing. I call.” Jan tossed coins into the pot and then raised her eyebrow at Lia. “Three queens.”

  Lia slumped her shoulders dramatically. “I’ve only got three fours.” She laid them on the table faceup. Then, after a pause, she added her remaining cards. “And these two kings.”

  The women around the table erupted into laughter. Josie, who was sitting next to Jan, elbowed her in the ribs. “Looks like the little Southern belle just showed you how it’s done.”

  Lia gathered all of the change from the center of the table and began stacking it. “For what it’s worth, Jan, I’m a mean bluffer, too.” She looked at the first woman she met when she arrived in Provincetown, a woman who’d become both a friend and sort of a butch maternal figure. “You’re just no match for this girl. Bless your heart.”

  The laughter intensified and Jan grumbled. “I’ve been hustled.”

  “This is Lia’s third time playing with us.” Anita shook her head. “I don’t think you can call that hustling.”

  “She has a point,” Stacia said.

  Jan sniffed. “I can see where your loyalties lie.”

  Stacia shrugged and shuffled the cards for her deal. “I just call them as I see them.”

  While Stacia dealt, Anita turned to Lia. “A couple of us are indulging in a spa day this weekend. We’re going to get massages and sit in the sauna and pretend we’re somewhere tropical. Care to join us?”

  Lia smiled. Not only had she been welcomed into the poker group with open arms, she’d gotten to know all of the women in it. They joined her for coffee at the bakery, invited her to dinner, introduced her to their wives or, in Stacia’s case, husband. It was exactly the type of neighborhood feeling she’d so desperately missed while living in New York.

  “Thank you so much for the invitation, but I have plans with Alex.”

  “So, you and Alex have been spending a lot of time together?”

  The way Stacia framed the question, Lia couldn’t help but feel like she’d been waiting for an opening. “Some,” she said cautiously. “I go to the café most days to work, so…”

  Anita, an accountant, looked over the rim of her reading glasses. “Some? If the way I saw you looking at each other at the Holly Folly is any indication, it looks like a lot more than some.”

  Lia was unaccustomed to having people, other than Sally, eager to discuss her social life. While nice in principle, in reality it made her shift uncomfortably in her chair. “We’re…dating.”

  “Is the sex good?” Anita asked.

  “Anita!” Josie gave Anita a stern look.

  Lia blushed, but she couldn’t help the slow smile that spread across her face. She nodded. “Yeah. It is.”

  “Well, good for you.” Although she wouldn’t have solicited it, Josie was clearly going t
o enjoy the gossip once it was out there.

  “It’s good to know her reputation isn’t unfounded,” Anita said. It was clear that someone, although Lia couldn’t figure out who, kicked her under the table. Anita winced. “Sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.”

  “All she means,” Josie said, “is that Alex does well in the women department.”

  Jan chimed in. “Please don’t get the wrong idea. We love Alex. I consider her one of my closest friends.”

  “Oh, yes,” Stacia said. “Alex is a wonderful person. Pretty easy on the eyes, too, and I’m not even a lesbian.”

  Lia, even more unsure about being the center of attention when the topic of conversation was her sex life, scratched her temple. “But?”

  “But,” Jan said, drawing out the word for emphasis. “Alex has an unspoken policy of keeping things casual.”

  Lia cringed on the inside. She’d deduced as much from the way Jeff and some of the other people at the bakery teased her, from bumping into Sara at the tree lighting. “It’s okay. It’s definitely good to know. I’m happy keeping things casual anyway.”

  Lia heard herself say the words and they weren’t very convincing. Even though she’d made the decision to have a fling, it felt weird saying as much. Looking around the table, she didn’t think her friends were convinced either.

  “We just don’t want to see you get hurt.” At Anita’s words, everyone around the table nodded.

  “It really is okay.” Lia did her best to sound definitive. “Y’all know I just got out of a ten-year relationship. I’m in no position to start anything serious. I’m certainly not looking to fall in love.”

  Stacia reached over and squeezed her hand. “We know, dear. It’s just that falling in love isn’t always about whether or not you’re looking for it.”

  Lia squeezed it back and squared her shoulders. “It means a lot that y’all are looking out for me. Alex and I are having a good time, enjoying each other’s company. It’s exactly what I want. I promise I won’t get my heart broken.”