by Alex Slorra
“You know, you get way too much pleasure out of embarrassing me,” Anna whispered, as they headed back to the farmhouse.
“As I said before, know it and accept it.”
Although annoyed with Sarah and worried what Abbie was thinking, Anna really liked hearing the words “your girlfriend.” They sounded right.
Chapter Eleven
MONEY WAS ONE problem Mike didn’t have after being released from prison. He opened the door of the fridge and pulled out a bottle of Coors Light. He twisted off the cap and downed a third of the beer, before settling on the sofa. He had inherited the one-storey Michigan home along with twenty thousand dollars from his mother.
He placed the beer on the coffee table as Fox News blared on the TV. He picked up a brown envelope, ripped off one edge, and shook it until two passports fell out. Mike flicked through the worn one first. The fifteen-year-old passport had been resurrected. On the photo ID page, his father’s picture had been replaced with his own and the date of birth adjusted. The expiry date had also been changed. As long as it wasn’t checked too thoroughly at immigration control, he’d be able to use it. However, to be on the safe side, he’d have to carefully select his route to and from the UK.
He dropped it and picked up the second.
This passport had been his mother’s, but now, instead of a seventy-four-year-old woman, a blonde girl looked back at him. The picture had been lifted from the web. It was of his daughter, who he hadn’t seen in twelve years. And, thanks to the feckless social media platform she used, he knew where she lived. He’d even managed to make a fake account and, pretending to be a teenage girl, he’d got one of Abbie’s friends to add him. As a friend of a friend, he could see most of her posts. Using the details he’d discovered, he had persuaded Abbie to add his fake identity directly and from there get her phone number. Something he suspected would come in useful.
Finding someone with access to DHS systems had been the most difficult part and the bulk of the cost for the forgeries. He’d taken the word of a dark web anonymous hacker that the secure database records for the passports had also been modified to match.
He’d take Abbie back and punish Anna for surviving and sending him to prison.
ANNA WALKED AHEAD, stopping every now and then to allow the others to catch up. Perhaps the picnic had been a bad idea. It seemed like she was the only one who wanted to go on the walk to the unused strip of sand on the eastern shore. But she needed a way to get Jessica to let her guard down. The miracle worker always seemed more relaxed when they were outside. She wanted to know more about her and wanted to ask her questions to help her understand herself.
“You walk too fast,” Sarah said when she drew near.
“What are you complaining about? I’m carrying all the food.”
“Only because your A-type Gemini-ness wouldn’t let anyone else carry it for you.”
“Geminis aren’t A-types.”
“Then your birthday must be wrong.” Sarah extended a hand. “Let me carry the pack now.”
Anna shook her head. “No need, we’re here.” She pointed along a narrow path of sand cutting between shoulder-high mounds of tawny coastal grasses.
Behind Abbie and Katy, Jessica trailed with downcast eyes; she was lost in her own world. Anna wished she hadn’t kissed her. It seemed to create a wedge between them. I take that back. I’d do it again… I just hope she isn’t upset about it. Is she upset? It’s so hard to tell. She’s not said a word. She wanted the trip to the beach and a picnic to re-establish their connection, but the plan seemed to be failing. She let the backpack slide off her shoulders and handed it to Sarah. “Find a spot with the kids, I’ll catch up.”
“Whoa, a concession,” Sarah joked, took the backpack, and started down the path with Abbie and Katy following.
“You okay?” Anna asked when Jessica reached her.
Jessica gave a quick nod. They stood staring at each other, then Jessica surprised her by taking her arm. “Is the beach much further?” she asked as they navigated the narrow space with sand slipping under their shoes.
“No. Almost there.” Anna glanced at her. “Um, can we forget about the kiss and start again?” she said with a waver in her words.
Jessica smiled. “I don’t want to forget about it. It was heart-stopping.”
There was silence for the next dozen strides.
“I’m glad it wasn’t just me thinking that, since I’ve never kissed a woman before. Not like that anyway. Sorry, I—”
Jessica spun her around into her arms. “You have nothing to be sorry about, ever. Not to me.” The strength of her conviction made tears pool in Anna’s eyes.
“What’s happening between us?” Anna said in a whisper, allowing her tears to fall.
“God, Anna.” Jessica pulled her into a tight hug. “Whatever you want.”
JESSICA TOOK A bite of the sandwich Anna had passed to her. They sat together on a small towel spread on the beach. It might have been the sound of the slow-breaking waves washing onto the pristine coast, or the invigorating sea air that had cleared Jessica’s mind.
It wasn’t until Jessica started to eat she remembered she’d gone without breakfast, and the cheese and tomato roll tasted divine, even with a peppering of sand.
She slipped her arm around Anna’s waist, and Anna, in turn, leaned against her.
The pair watched Sarah, Abbie, and Katy as they challenged the gods of the sea. They were in an epic battle with the waves, going as close as they dared when the water receded, then running backwards when a new wave broke onto the shore. The duel would only end one way: wet shoes, socks, and jeans. The sea can be cruel.
“I can see why you like it here,” Jessica said, between the girls’ screeches when they misjudged the speed and size of an incoming roller that soaked their shoes as they raced away from the cold salty water.
Anna turned and smiled. “On a day like today, yes. But many days aren’t like today. They are windy, cold or it’s grey or it does nothing but rain. You know, I suspect if you were here, I’d like those days as well.” She lifted Jessica’s bandaged hand and softly caressed her palm and fingers.
Jessica squeezed Anna closer to her, knowing she needed to say something. She couldn’t keep Anna in the dark. They were becoming way too close. “I’d love to spend more time here. But I’ve got to get clear of my problems in London. If I don’t, it’s not fair on you.”
“I’ve guessed that. But, you’ve not explained why?”
Jessica’s heart raced, and a dull headache began to pulse. Tell her, it’s not right to lead her on. “I…I’m wanted by the police.”
“Oh.”
Anna tensed and withdrew, letting go of her hand. After a few seconds, she asked, “What for?”
“Fraud, but I’ve done nothing wrong. Someone framed me. I know you have no way of believing me. But it’s true. I’d hoped my friend at work would uncover what had happened.”
“I see.” Anna’s voice had lost its wistfulness. “What kind of fraud?”
“They think I intentionally caused a quality issue. It resulted in the company losing half of its value on the stock market. They think I did it to make money from shares I own in a competing firm, but it’s not true. Chris has an idea that someone sabotaged my laptop. He’s trying to investigate it.”
Anna was quiet for a long time, forcing Jessica to look away and shift on the towel so they weren’t touching.
Out to the east, a band of dark clouds gathered on the horizon. The waves were getting bigger, and the wind had picked up. At least seven waves crashed and retreated before Anna said anything. “If you’re innocent, why’d you run from the police?”
“I guess I was scared. I knew no one would believe me. I have no way to prove it wasn’t me. Not to a jury anyway. But—” Jessica paused, trying to find the words to say how she felt. “I think there’s something else as well.”
“Like what?”
“I can’t be there anymore. Be what I was… I can’t face it, the
stress of it. Having to fight all the time just to breathe when everyone wants to destroy you because of what and who you are and what you have achieved. I was never good at dealing with the bad sides of people.” Jessica wiped away a tear on the sleeve of her jumper.
Anna let out a slow sigh. “Well, thanks for telling me. To be honest, I thought when we first met that it was likely to be something a lot worse.”
“And you still helped me?”
“I admit I debated it. But you convinced me.”
“How?”
“You have the most special eyes I’ve ever seen. You know, they must mean something.”
“It’s just heterochromia.”
“No. That’s a label. It’s a sign. I’m sure of it.”
Jessica was concerned. She shouldn’t think I’m special because of my eyes.
“Anna, you’ve been so kind to me, but the police will track my car and find out I’m here. I was thinking of leaving. I mean, I don’t want you and Abbie to get mixed up in this.”
The battle between the weak humans and the sea continued, with both Abbie’s and Katy’s jeans now wet up to their knees. The girls’ ear-piercing screams, whenever a wave broke, could have awakened Neptune himself. Sarah, standing between them and holding their hands, had managed to stay dry.
Anna wrapped her arms around Jessica’s neck and looked at straight at her. “Listen carefully, Jess. I care about you. There’s something special happening to me because of you.”
Jessica started to speak when Anna’s fingers touched her lips.
“I’m not ready to give you up. Miracles happen when you’re around. And I believe you. We’ll get this resolved. So, no leaving me in the night, okay… I couldn’t cope with that. Now, all you need to say is ‘Yes, Anna.’”
Tears rolled down Jessica’s cheeks. When Anna lifted her fingers away, Jessica repeated, “Yes, Anna.”
Loud squeals of laughter punctuated with swearing caused them both to look seaward. Sarah had fallen over and was on her hands and knees in the foam of a retreating breaker. “This is your fault, farm girl!” Sarah yelled in Anna’s direction.
Abbie and Katy’s boisterous hysterics were contagious, and Anna stifled a laugh by covering her mouth.
Jessica was concerned Sarah might get washed out to sea and rose to her feet, darting quickly over to help. By the time she got there, Sarah was already up and sloshing her way to the shore. The front of her shirt drooped with the weight of the absorbed seawater, while her jeans were soaked through.
Overtaking Jessica, Anna went to help her friend, but then stopped short on seeing how drenched she was. “Mer-thing, return to the sea from whence you came,” Anna ordered in a commanding tone as she gestured with a slashing motion of her arm towards the waves.
“Can I keep her as a pet?” Abbie asked, laughing as if her brain might explode.
Anna appeared to be considering the question, putting a hand on her chin. “Very well, child. The pond may be big enough.”
Abbie was the closest, and Sarah lunged towards her. “Come here for your hug!”
“No way!” Abbie turned tail with Katy following, leaving a spray of sand from the treads of their trainers as they blasted along the beach.
Sarah changed direction, targeting Anna with outspread arms. “You get the hug then.”
“No, you don’t.” Anna backed away and tore after the girls.
Jessica smiled, forgetting the seriousness of what she’d been discussing moments before. She handed their only towel to the mer-thing. “You better dry off.”
Sarah smiled back and took it. “For the record, I hate beaches.”
Jessica nodded. “You can have my sweater.” She pulled it off and offered it.
“That’s kind of you, but you’ll be cold in only a T-shirt.”
“I’m not wet. I’ll be fine.”
Sarah didn’t argue. She quickly unbuttoned her soaked shirt, dried off, and slipped on Jessica’s sweater. “That’s really kind. I knew I liked you.”
Katy and Abbie were now trying to escape Anna, who insisted she was going to sacrifice them to appease the sea gods.
Abbie whipped behind Jessica, using her as a buffer.
“No, you don’t. And, don’t use my girlfriend to protect you,” Anna said.
Abbie chuckled, while spinning circles around Jessica.
My girlfriend. The words caused a flutter. It wasn’t so much her use of the term. But more that Anna had said it in front of everyone. A strong emotion, a sense of belonging, overcame her.
“Abbie, get Jess!” Anna attacked while Abbie pushed on Jessica’s back. They were both attempting to shove her in the direction of a big wave that had crashed onto the beach.
They wrestled her towards the sea while Katy and Sarah hung back.
“You’re going in!” Anna insisted.
“I’m not!” Jessica tried to twist away. “Sarah, some help, please! I gave you my sweater!”
“Nope,” Sarah yelled back. “There’s a mer-thing code against intervening.”
The wave washed over their ankles and all three, spurred on by the icy water, spun around and raced to safety.
“Thanks for soaking my feet.” Jessica threw a strand of seaweed towards Abbie’s hair.
Abbie ducked out of its way, laughing.
Sarah had her hands on her hips. “Now that you’ve gotten that out of your system, can we go back?”
Anna nodded. “You guys go and get dry. I want to show Jessica the castle.” She turned to her. “If you’re okay doing that with wet feet?”
Jessica shrugged. “Sure.”
The group separated. Jessica and Anna headed along the coast southward to where Lindisfarne Castle stood above the land. The wind had swelled to a strong breeze, and the sky was darkening as angry clouds swept in from the east.
“ABOUT THE GIRLFRIEND thing,” Anna said. They walked in the same stride and Jessica seemed to relax as they continued along the footpath. “I couldn’t think of another way to describe you to Abbie.” I couldn’t have just called her a friend. If Abbie caught us holding hands or, heaven forbid, kissing. What on earth would she think? Stop, you know you wanted to see how everyone would react… God, I’m so contriving.
“I don’t mind. We’ve shared a lot already. I understand the sentiment, and it’s sweet.”
“Phew, I was starting to doubt myself.”
Anna needed to find out more about this woman who had suddenly become very important to her. Beyond what she was discovering about herself, when Jessica was around, magical things happened that were changing her life for the better.
“So, how do you know how to fix roofs?” Anna asked.
“My father was a builder. I used to spend a lot of time with him. I was always a bit of a tomboy. And, really, it was a way to avoid mixing with my peers.”
“You didn’t like them?”
“I didn’t understand them.”
Anna could easily imagine Jessica being a bit of a loner. “So, where did you grow up? Family?”
Jessica glanced at her. “I was born in Yorkshire but grew up in Enfield. My parents moved there for work. But I only have my brother now.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault.”
Silence persisted until Jessica took her hand. “Continue with the interrogation, Supreme Inquisitor.”
Anna smiled at this. “Okay. When did you know you were gay?”
Jessica laughed. “Oh my God, you skipped quite a few questions there.”
“You don’t need to answer. I was just curious.”
“I’m teasing. It’s okay. Well, I guess when Myra Bedi moved in a few doors down. I was fifteen.”
“I see, um so, how did you know that you…?” Anna was unsure how to ask the next question, and her cheeks flushed. She wanted to understand how people found out they were gay and how she’d missed this glaring fact about herself. Because, after the kiss this morning and how she felt about Jessica, she knew who s
he was. In some ways, this was comforting as it explained the discord she had felt in her past relationship. But, on the other hand, it was terrifying; uncharted territory that she had no idea how to navigate.
“Did you want to ask how I knew I was a lesbian?”
Anna nodded. “Yeah. That.”
“I just knew. But, I guess, if you want something more concrete, I was the prince and Myra, a few doors down, was the princess in my fantasies. I didn’t have to make it that way. It was what I felt and dreamed. Before that, I didn’t think of anyone.”
“So what happened?”
Jessica sighed and tightened her fingers around Anna’s. “Let’s just say it wasn’t a Disney ending.”
Anna knew she was dipping into the fragile, anxious Jessica. “Your turn,” she said with a smile.
“Sorry?”
“Your turn to grill me.”
“Oh.”
“Go on, ask me anything.”
“All right. Why are you so beautiful? On the inside and outside.”
“I’m sure I’m not.” Anna knew she must now be beet red.
“You’re stunning. Sometimes I can’t believe you’re standing next to me. It’s like I’m gate-crashing a Pre-Raphaelite painting.”
Anna hesitated; no one had ever said something so flattering. “I…don’t… Hey! Those are not really questions. And you’re embarrassing me.”
Jessica frowned. “You’re right. They’re facts, and I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”
Anna took her arm, in place of her hand, and curled herself around it. She pressed her head against Jessica’s shoulder as they walked. “Jess…”
“Yes?”
“You know, when you say things like that, I end up completely yours?” Anna waited for a response. She hadn’t meant to put her on the spot, but she knew she had. One answer would mean Jessica wasn’t interested in her, another would mean she was. She cursed herself for being so indirectly direct.
Halting, Jessica turned towards Anna, gathered her and kissed her. The noise of the wind stopped, the cold piercing through her clothes was replaced with heat, and her heart ached.
Once their lips were no longer pressed to each other’s, Anna stayed captivated by Jessica’s unique eyes. “You don’t need to gate-crash,” she said.