This Is Home
Sea Breeze
Unforgettable
by
Claire Decker
Table of Contents
This Is Home
Sea Breeze
Unforgettable
This Is Home
by Claire Decker
All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, including scanning, photocopying, or otherwise without prior written permission of the copyright holder. Copyright © 2015
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 1
Fiona Walters got out of her rental car and took a deep breath. It was a chilly March morning, one that reminded her of all those mornings she used to wake up at the crack of dawn and tend to their horses. That was a long time ago.
Just over 10 years ago Fiona drove away from her home, her mother's ranch, without looking back. She never thought she would come back either but her mother had left her the estate in her will.
That night that she drove away, leaving a cloud of dust behind her, Fiona remembered it like it was yesterday. She'd always known that she was attracted to women and she also somehow knew that it wasn't something that you shared with anyone.
Her mother, Ellen, had also grown up on the same ranch, about twenty-five miles outside of Billings, Montana. That small town lifestyle coupled with a religious upbringing made it impossible for Fiona to be who she really was.
On the night of her 18th birthday, Fiona decided to tell her mother that she was gay. It was a warm August night and Fiona went out to her mother who was sitting on the porch swing.
Fiona had been bottling up her feelings for so long, she didn't see the point in delaying things any further. She just blurted out, "Mom, I'm a lesbian."
There was no consoling her. She was emotional, livid in fact. How could her only child be destined for an eternity in hell?
That was all Fiona needed to hear. She ran back inside and threw all of her belongs into a suitcase. She left without saying another word to her mother and drove her pick-up cross country.
That was the last time she was here. Ten years ago.
When her mother's lawyer called Fiona to tell her the news that her mother had died, she didn't even flinch. There was a short moment where Fiona wondered what might have been if she'd gone back. What if she had brought her girlfriend with her to show her that being gay wasn't all that bad? But it was only a short, fleeting moment. After that Fiona felt relief.
The relief didn't last long though when her mother's lawyer informed her that Ellen had left her the entire estate which included the ranch, the horses, several vehicles and acres and acres of land.
Fiona knew she could never live out here again. She'd been living in Chicago for the last ten years. She had no interest in finding someone to rent the ranch either. She just wanted to sell it and get back to her business.
The good news was that Fiona was a realtor and one of the best in the state of Illinois. She would have no problem selling the ranch.
Fiona walked up the steps to her childhood home. The log cabin wasn't as big as she remembered it. It was all on one level with a large living room, kitchen area in the front and three bedrooms in the back of the house.
Fiona wandered around her old home, noticing the new items that dotted the house. To her surprise there were photos of her all over the cabin. On the mantel piece, there were photos of her from high school and a few photos of her with her favorite horse, Misty.
Why would her mother keep these never mind display them?
She sighed as she looked through the photos. She hadn't expected to get emotional but she could feel tears welling up in her eyes. Right, she thought, I better get down to business. If I'm going to sell this place, I need to take some photos.
Fiona closed the front door behind her and nearly jumped off the porch when she saw a blond woman sitting on the swing. "Oh my God!" Fiona said, her hand on her chest, trying to calm her heart rate. "You frightened me," she said to the stranger. "Do I know you?" Fiona asked the woman.
"No but you must be Fiona," the woman said standing up. "I'm Kim. I helped Ellen with the horses."
"Kim," Fiona said extending her hand. "Nice to meet you." Kim was attractive, in that country girl kind of way. She had shoulder length, blond hair and bright blue eyes. Her clothes were dirty and ripped but she still was extremely attractive.
"Nice to finally meet you," Kim said softly. "I'm sorry about your mother. She talked about you a lot."
"Really?" Fiona's eyebrows shot up. Maybe she was just saying that to be nice. There was no way her mother actually talked about her... well, not about anything good anyway.
Kim nodded. "I've been working here for almost ten years. I knew Ellen pretty well. She always talked about you. You were her only daughter."
"I'm sorry. I just find that hard to believe. When I left, it wasn't on good terms. I can't imagine her saying anything positive about me," Fiona said, hands on her hips. She wanted to get this place sold as soon as possible. This conversation was delaying things even if Kim was extremely beautiful.
"Well, I just thought you should know that your mother cared about you," Kim said tucking her blond hair behind her ears. "I feel like we're talking about two different women here," Kim said with a sad smile.
"We definitely are. She was a good mother but as soon as I told her I was gay she went insane. She didn't care about me or what I was going through. She basically told me I was going to hell. That was her reaction," Fiona told her.
Kim burst out laughing. Fiona looked on in shock as she watched Kim. She had to bend over, clutching the wall, in order to stay upright. "I'm sorry," she said, trying to catch her breath. "Just give me a sec," Kim said before having another chuckle.
"Umm..." Fiona just stood there watching her with her mouth open. What sort of person laughs at that?
Kim was standing up again, her hand on her stomach. "I'm sorry. You must think that I'm the rudest person you've ever met. It's just that I'm gay and she never seemed to have any issues with it. I didn't exactly come out and tell her but she knew about various partners I've had. She even asked about them. Actually she invited one to dinner once."
Fiona jaw fell open again. That was not what she was expecting to hear. She didn't know whether to be happy that her mother came around or to be mad at this stranger who pretty much replaced her.
Kim realized that she might have hurt Fiona with that story. "I'm sure she tried to contact you. I mean, she talked about you all the time."
Fiona nodded silently. This is not what she needed. She was here on business. Sell the house, then leave.
"Look, it's fine. It's all in the past now," Fiona said wanting to move on. "You said you helped out with the horses. Were you employed by my mother?"
"Yes," Kim answered. "She hired me ten years ago. I was twenty years old and lost. I didn't know what to do with my life. Being gay here isn't exactly easy, as you know. I thought about leaving but your mom posted a job in the paper and I drove down here. That was it. I've been working here ever since."
"Well, I've got some bad news for you then," Fiona said bluntly. "I'm here to sell this place. I hope the new owners will keep the horses and you might be able to keep your job."
"You're selling the ranch? Just like that?" Kim asked. She was obviously emotionally tied to place, much more so than Fiona was.
"Yes. Just like that," Fiona said. "That's my job and I'm damn good at it. I expect to have this place sold in less than a month. I hope that's enough time for you to get another job, you know, just in case."
Fiona shook her head. "I have nothing here. My mother was the last connection I had to Montana. Once I get this deal done I'm heading back to Chicago. I will stay here while the ranch is on the market. That way I'll be immediately available for any showings but that's it."
Kim looked defeated. "Okay, if that's how you feel."
"It is," Fiona said.
Kim's eyes were watery. "I uh..." Kim started. "I've been living here for the last ten years," Kim said, trying not to cry. "Can I stay here while the ranch is on the market? I'll start looking for a new place to live today."
Fiona's brick walls nearly crumbled as she watched Kim. She was taking away this beautiful woman's home but there was nothing she could do. Fiona came here to sell her old house and forget about Montana once and for all.
"Sure," Fiona said. "I am sorry. I really am but this needs to happen. I can't hold on to this place."
Kim sniffled. "I understand. I'll stay out of your way."
Fiona wanted to say something comforting but Kim was already heading down the porch steps. Fiona watched her walk around to the back of the barn and she heard an engine start. Kim pulled out of the driveway in an old, beat up Toyota truck. Fiona smiled sadly. It reminded her of her life here all those years ago. She had driven practically the same truck.
Chapter 2
Fiona had brought in her bags and her laptop from her rental car and put them in what was her old bedroom. Nothing had changed. Her horse riding trophies still stood on a shelf above her desk. There were more pictures of Fiona and her favorite horse, Misty.
The bedroom across the hall was where Kim must be living. The master bedroom was further down the hallway. She'd have to sort through her mother's stuff today too. She needed the house to look tidier.
Fiona found a box on the top shelf of her closet. She went around her room putting the trophies and photographs in it. She left aside the photo of her and Misty outside the barn. That one she'd keep.
Fiona went out into the living room and did the same. She picked up any personal looking items and fired them into the box. If you want to sell a house, it needs to be presented properly. Having all those old photos and memorabilia around wasn't going to help.
Fiona looked up when she heard the key in the front door. She'd forgotten about Kim. The blond haired woman closed the door behind her and put the newspaper she was holding down on the kitchen counter.
"Hi, Fiona," Kim said quietly before sitting down on one of the bar stools in the kitchen.
Fiona sighed. Great, Kim must think I'm the devil, she thought. She's creeping around the place she calls home, trying not to wake the bear. I am such an ass, Fiona thought to herself.
"Kim, this is your home," Fiona said bringing the old, tattered box with her as she took a seat on the bar stool next to her. She put the cardboard box on the tiled counter. "I'm really sorry this is happening to you but it is. We're going to be living together for the next few weeks until I can sell this place. I want us to get along," Fiona said honestly.
Kim nodded. "I know. I'm just having trouble processing it all. First Ellen's death, now the house. I just need some time."
"Okay," Fiona agreed. She reached out to touch Kim's bare forearm. "If there's anything I can do to make this easier for you, just tell me."
"I will," Kim answered quietly. After a few seconds, she cleared her throat. "Have you thought about your mother's funeral and all the arrangements?"
"Thankfully, her will outlines exactly what she wanted. She's to be cremated and her ashes spread over Bighorn Canyon," Fiona said calmly.
Kim put her head in her hands and started to cry. Fiona sat there for a second. This woman is missing her mother more than she was. Still, she had to comfort her. She couldn't just sit there, watching.
Fiona got down off the stool and stood beside Kim. She wrapped her arms around Kim and gently rubbed her back. "Hey," Fiona said, "It's going to be okay." She kept her hand on Kim's back. "Why don't you come with me to Bighorn Canyon and we can spread her ashes together?"
Kim was still crying but she nodded. "I'd like that," she said, taking a deep breath. “I didn't want to intrude but if it's okay with you I'd like to be there."
"Of course," Fiona answered, her arms still wrapped around Kim. She was suddenly aware of how close they were to each other, how warm Kim's slender body felt up against her own. "Are you free Friday morning? We could go then."
"Sure. Friday is good," Kim answered, looking up to meet Fiona's eyes. "Thanks," she said quietly. "I don't know what happened. It just hit me all at once I guess."
Fiona took a step back and nodded. "It's fine. I wish there was more I could do. Anyway, I better get back to what I was doing," Fiona said, motioning towards the box.
"Okay," Kim said, reaching for the newspaper.
"I was going to cook dinner tonight. Do you eat meat?" Fiona asked.
"I eat just about anything. Whatever you're making is fine. Thanks," Kim said, offering her a small smile.
Fiona smiled back. She could feel the butterflies in her stomach and tried to shake them off. She didn't need any distractions right now. In less than a month, she'd hopefully be back in her apartment in Chicago.
Chapter 3
The next morning, Fiona sat on the leather couch in the living room with her feet up and her laptop open. The ad looked good. She'd taken some pretty good pictures. Normally, she'd have her usual photographer, Marcus, take photos of the property she was selling but she didn't want to bring him all the way out here.
She was happy with her pictures. She'd gotten the lighting right and now that the place had been de-cluttered, it looked quite spacious. She had walked around the property yesterday to take some shots of the green fields, the horses and or course the barn.
She was hoping a local would buy it, someone who wanted to expand or who at least appreciated horses. As cold and ambitious as Fiona could be, she didn't want to see Kim without a job.
Copy-writing was one of her strengths as a realtor. Not that many of her peers bothered with the marketing side of things. They thought of themselves as charming, good-looking, and charismatic. Personality sold houses they said.
While Fiona was attractive, she knew that you couldn't risk it all on her looks. She studied marketing and wrote incredibly appealing property listings. This could be her best work yet, probably because she knew the home and the area so well.
The listing had only been online since last night but she already had some clicks on her website. This is going to be an easy sale, she thought.
Fiona looked up from her laptop, as Kim came in the front door. “Hey Kim. You're up early.”
It was 8:30a.m. but Kim already looked like she'd put in a full day’s work. Apart from her sweaty brow and dirty shirt, she looked tired. Her eyes were red and Fiona couldn't help but feel like she was responsible.
“Just the usual routine. I like to get up around 5 and tend to the horses,” Kim said softly. “I'll just take a shower and then I'll be out of your way.”
“Kim, seriously. This is your home. Please don't feel like you need to avoid being here,” Fiona said.
Last night, Fiona had a relaxing evening with Kim. She really thought she was making progress. Kim was opening up to her and they even managed to forget the situation they were in for a while, laughing and telling stories about their high school years. Kim couldn't believe that she didn't remember Fiona at all. Even though they were two grades apart, she thought she should still have known who she was.
After dinner, Kim jumped off her seat. “I have the perfect solution.”
“What? Where are you going?” Fiona called after her. She got up to refill their wine glasses. She had no idea what Kim was up to but at least she seemed happier.
Kim came back to the kitchen with a navy, leather book in her hand.
“Oh, no,” Fiona said, putting t
he cork back in the bottle of wine. “Please tell me that's not what I think it is.”
“It is,” Kim said with a grin. “This is our yearbook, from my senior year.”
Fiona wondered what she looked like when she was sixteen. It couldn't be good, she thought.
They moved over to the couch in the living room and sat down in front of the open fire.
“Would you like to do the honors?” Kim asked playfully.
“No, no,” Fiona said with a sigh. “You can find it.”
Kim flipped through the old yearbook until she got to the sophomores. “You still use your mom's last name, right?”
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