One Summer Night

by Gerri Hill

  During lunch, Jo learned that Kelly was staying in an apartment not far from where Jo lived and that the softball team was undefeated so far. Jo pretended not to be interested, but she took in every word. Each time those dark eyes 70

  flashed her way, she looked away quickly, feigning interest in the other tables around her. Kelly wasn't fooled.

  That afternoon, as Jo was making notes on her computer, Kelly stuck her head in.

  "What are you doing?" she asked.

  "Working," Jo said, without looking up.

  "Again?"

  "Always."

  "I'm going to Hippie Hollow. Want to go?"

  "No way," she said quickly. The last thing she wanted was to be swimming naked with Kelly in the lake. Lord, no!

  Kelly shrugged. "Suit yourself.” She left without a good-bye and Jo listened to her footsteps fade down the hall.

  But a swim did sound good. She picked up the phone, called Harry and invited herself over for dinner.

  They swam together in the lake, then took the boat out, and before she knew it, Jo was cruising by Hippie Hollow, wishing she had her binoculars. She searched for Kelly among the rocks, then felt foolish and sped away, smiling at her grandfather. He always laughed at her, saying that when she was out there swimming, she didn't like boats cruising by her looking for a cheap thrill!

  They ate on the deck in the twilight, watching the sun turn the water a rosy orange.

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  Chapter Nine

  The first day of classes were madness, as always. Half of her students did not yet have their books and as she went over the syllabus, she saw several of them frown and check their schedules, making sure they were in the right class.

  The routine was comforting to her. Every year it was the same and every year she gave an assignment the first day, eliciting groans from the students. She was not an easy teacher, never had been and she was proud of it.

  At twelve-thirty, Kelly stuck her head in Jo's office.

  "Have you had lunch?" she asked.

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  "Yes," Jo lied, eyeing the unopened bag of chips on her desk.

  "Okay. Just thought I'd ask.” Kelly shrugged and walked away. Jo wondered how her first day had gone and wished she had asked her.

  Every day that week, at exactly twelve-thirty, Kelly walked in and asked Jo to lunch. Each day, Jo declined.

  "You do eat, right?" Kelly finally asked on Friday.

  Jo smiled at her. "Yes.” She put her pen down, pushing away the papers she had been grading.

  "How's your first week been?" she asked.

  Kelly seemed surprised at her question. "It's been great.

  Terrific, actually. I've got some talented kids. Very inquisi-tive."

  "Good."

  They stared at each other in silence, then Kelly gave her a mocking smile. "I'm going out for Italian. Sure you don't want some?"

  "No."

  "Don't like Italian?" Kelly asked with a raised eyebrow.

  "I love it," she said.

  "Really?" Kelly asked softly, teasing.

  "We are talking about food, right?"

  "Of course," she said and left.

  Jo stared after her, smiling.

  When Jo returned to her office at three, there was a small box on her desk with a note. "Leftover lasagna. You must be starving for some Italian by now."

  She grinned and blushed and quickly turned around, expecting to find dark eyes mocking her from the doorway.

  There were none.

  She ate the lasagna while she graded her papers, refusing to think of the woman who had left it.

  Jo was the last one to leave, as it was Labor Day 73

  weekend, and she was probably the only one without plans.

  She spent the entire weekend with Harry at the lake, and he was thrilled to have her sleeping over. He made a huge breakfast on Saturday and they took their time over it, watching the lake crowd with boats and skiers. On Sunday, they got up before dawn and went down to the pier to fish.

  Two unlucky bass volunteered to be their brunch, and they were back at the house while the morning was still cool.

  They drank coffee on the deck, listening to the lake come alive.

  The next week, Kelly again stopped to ask her to lunch, and Jo always refused, but she had begun looking forward to the asking. If twelve-thirty came and went, she found she couldn't work until she heard footsteps outside her door, and she quickly picked up a pen and pretended to work. She had half a mind to accept one day, but each day she refused. It would do her no good to be alone with Kelly Sambino.

  The following Friday, Kelly stopped by. She didn't ask her to lunch. She asked Jo to dinner.

  "No. I've got plans," Jo said. It was true. Susan and Arnie had asked her over for steaks.

  "Oh. Someone special?"

  "Yes, as a matter fact," Jo said. It wasn't a lie.

  Kelly stared at her for a long moment, and Jo met her gaze.

  "Who?" Kelly asked.

  "That's none of your damn business," Jo said quickly.

  Let her think what she wanted.

  “Hot date?”

  “Perhaps.” Jo was aware that her voice was shaky.

  "Well, lucky you," Kelly said. "I guess I'll see you next week, then."

  Jo nodded, and Kelly left, whistling down the hall.

  Her last class was over at three, and she hurried home.

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  She wanted to relax in the creek before the neighbors got home, and she quickly donned a swimsuit and took her beer down to the water.

  Settling in her tube, toes skimming the cool water, she floated along lazily. The current in early September flowed at a snail's pace. It would soon be too cold for her to get in, but the temperature still climbed into the 90s these days.

  Another few weeks and the first cold front would blow in, bringing a promise of autumn and more comfortable weather.

  She wore jeans to Susan's and immediately wished she had worn shorts. She tugged at the blouse around her neck, feeling the sweat trickle under the collar. Turning into their drive, she slammed on her brakes and stared in disbelief at Kelly's Explorer. Damn her!

  Several seconds passed as she sat with the engine running, overwhelmed by indecision. She could always leave and call them with some excuse, but Susan would never forgive her. She got out and slammed the door, resigning herself to face the consequences. It was her own fault. She was the one who had implied to Kelly that she had a date tonight. Damn it all!

  She rang the doorbell and went inside. They were on the patio, and she could see the three of them sitting in lawn chairs, the charcoal already glowing. Susan waved to her through the glass, and Jo forced a smile, refusing to meet the amused eyes of Kelly Sambino.

  "Jo, how are you?" Arnie asked, already handing her a beer.

  "Good, Arnie. Thanks," she said, taking the bottle from him.

  "Hi," Kelly said, good-naturedly, and Jo gave her a quick smile, not meeting her eyes.

  "Hello."

  "Jo, Kelly tells me that you two have yet to do anything 75

  together. I'm surprised. You're both single and near the same age. Why haven't you taken Kelly out and shown her the town? You know, she doesn't know many people in Austin yet."

  Jo stared at Susan in silence. Was this her way of telling Jo that she knew Kelly was a lesbian, too? No. Susan was clueless. Just as she had been about Jo. She then slowly slid her eyes to Kelly.

  "I thought you knew quite a few people here, what with softball and all."

  "No, not really. No one special.” Kelly had an amused glint in her eye.

  Jo cursed under her breath. Damn her lies! Would she ever learn?

  "I see. Well, I'm not sure that we would have the same interests," she said vaguely.

  Susan seemed perplexed at the conversation and looked from one to the other.

  "Maybe not," Kelly said. "Do you like softball?"

  "Oh, sure she does. She has friends that play in the city league
," Susan offered, and Jo glared at her.

  "Really? Who? Maybe I know them," Kelly said innocently.

  "I doubt it.” Jo drained her beer. Why did this woman cause her to drink so?

  Kelly smiled, and Jo got up to take another beer from the cooler. How did she get herself into these messes?

  Susan went inside to get a dip and some chips while Arnie left them to check the charcoal. Jo looked out into the yard, ignoring the woman sitting next to her.

  "Are you enjoying yourself?" Kelly asked.

  "Immensely," Jo said dryly.

  "Yes, it is a special evening," she grinned.

  Jo ignored her.

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  "I'm sorry if I spoiled your night," Kelly said softly.

  Jo looked at her, surprised by her sincerity.

  "I shouldn't tease you so."

  "No, you shouldn't," Jo agreed.

  Kelly leaned forward suddenly and met Jo's eyes.

  "Do you think about that night?" she demanded.

  Jo drew in a sharp breath but didn't look away. She slowly shook her head, afraid to answer.

  "Why are you lying?"

  "If I think about that night, it's not in a pleasurable way,"

  she admitted.

  "No? It was very pleasurable, the way I remember it,"

  Kelly said softly. “I can still taste your lips, your skin. I can still remember what you felt like when I. . . . ”

  “Stop. Please,” Jo begged.

  Jo clenched her jaw and forced herself to look away from those deep brown eyes. Arnie’s return saved her from replying, and Kelly sat back in her chair, her eyes still resting on Jo.

  After dinner, they went out to the patio, each with a glass of wine. Jo was hoping that Kelly would leave first, so she wouldn't have to walk out with her, alone, but she didn't.

  They chatted about the first few weeks of school, and Jo wondered if Arnie ever got tired of all the college talk. She listened with interest as Kelly discussed her students and her style of teaching, so different from Jo's. Jo realized how boring she must be compared to Kelly. They had several of the same students, and she wondered if they compared the two teachers.

  Finally, it was time to leave and they walked out together, saying good-bye to Susan and Arnie inside. Jo walked immediately to her car, but Kelly followed.

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  "How long are we going to keep this up?" Kelly demanded.

  "I don't know what you mean," Jo said, as she unlocked her car.

  "This pretending that nothing happened between us."

  Jo turned on her. "I don't know what you want me to do," she said quietly. "I've tried to put it from my mind, but you show up here, throwing it in my face daily. I want to forget it, don't you see?"

  “Well, I can’t forget it,” Kelly stated. “I don’t want to forget it.”

  Kelly stepped closer, and Jo took a step back.

  “Something happened that night, Jo.”

  “No.”

  “Yes, it did.”

  Jo sighed. “That night proved only one thing. I was temporarily insane.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  "Because that wasn't me," Jo admitted. "I just don't do that. Not with someone like you.” She wanted to take the words back immediately.

  She saw the pain flash across Kelly's face, then she masked it, giving Jo a mocking smile. “Someone like me? Am I that bad?”

  “I’ve been told. . . well, that you see a lot of women at the same time.” Jo got angry. “And I hate the fact that I was just one more in a long line of hundreds, probably.”

  “Hundreds? Is that what you think?”

  Jo didn’t answer.

  “Well, no wonder you don’t want to have anything to do with me. I’m a bum, with a hell of a reputation,” she added quietly.

  Jo was sorry she had even brought this up. "I didn't mean...”

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  "Yes, you did. I'm sorry, Jo.” Kelly walked away. "I'll leave you alone. Let you forget all about it. Let you plead temporary insanity."

  She got in her Explorer and drove off, and Jo sat in her car for a very long time before leaving. She had hurt Kelly.

  All this time, she had pretended that Kelly didn't have feelings, but she did. Just as Jo did.

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  Chapter Ten

  She didn't see Kelly at all the next week, and, much as she hated to admit it, she missed her. She found herself looking for Kelly to stick her head in the doorway at lunch, asking her to go out when they both knew Jo wouldn't. But she never came. One day, Jo saw her walking down the hall, away from her, arms loaded with books. Jo almost called to her, but at the last moment she didn't. It was better this way.

  Betsy called and invited her to the softball game that week. Jo thought about going but declined. Instead, she spent another night alone, watching a meaningless movie on television and wishing she had gone to the stupid game. She couldn't keep avoiding her friends for fear of seeing Kelly.

  The next week, when Betsy called, Jo accepted. She had not spoken at all to Kelly since Susan’s dinner party and had 80

  only seen her the one time. She had half a mind to ask the dean if Kelly was still teaching there but knew that would only cause questions.

  The September evening was cool and pleasant. Jo drove with her sunroof open, the stars twinkling overhead as she sped down MoPac, denying the anticipation she felt. It had nothing to do with seeing Kelly, she insisted.

  She walked with her lawn chair to the field and squeezed in beside Betsy and Janis.

  "I haven't seen you in ages," Janis complained. "Why don't we go to dinner sometime?"

  "Let's do," Jo agreed. She had gotten there early for once. The players were just warming up, and she quickly located Kelly, who was tossing a ball back and forth with Kay.

  Kelly was smiling and chatting with Sharon, who was standing next to her, and Jo felt a tightening in her stomach.

  Kelly’s pants clung to her thighs and Jo vividly remembered how they looked without pants on, how lean and smooth they were. She closed her eyes and looked away.

  "Let's try that Mexican food place out by your house,"

  Betsy suggested

  "The Palacios Cafe? I've been there with Harry. It's very good," Jo said.

  "How about one day next week?"

  "Okay, sure.”

  The players took the field. Kelly jogged to third, oblivious to Jo sitting there. She smoothed the dirt around the bag, pounded her glove and yelled encouragement to Sharon on the mound. Jo was taken back to that early June day, that hot summer day when she saw Kelly for the first time. The attraction she felt then was nothing compared to what she felt now. Her eyes stayed glued to Kelly, following her every movement as she charged a ground ball and threw to first, long arm whipping the ball ahead of the runner.

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  Kelly’s first time up, she lined a clean single up the middle, then raced to second as the center fielder bobbled the ball. Jo watched as Kelly’s long legs carried her gracefully to the bag. She finally looked away, embarrassed. People might start to notice her staring.

  "Want a beer?" Betsy asked.

  "Yes, please. I forgot to bring any."

  "We've got plenty," she said and handed her one, her eyes missing little.

  Jo stood and cheered with the rest when Kelly hit a long fly ball over the center fielder's head that rolled all the way to the fence. Kelly jogged around third and followed Kay to the plate and it was only then that she saw Jo. She paused and their eyes met for an instant before Kelly looked away and slapped hands with her teammates. They won easily.

  Of all the things that Jo had wondered about, Kelly's age was not one of them. Now, as she watched her, she tried to guess. She was very fit, which could be misleading. Was she even thirty? The question stayed with her as the spectators mingled with the players after the game. The next two teams took the field, and the fans moved their chairs out of the way, leaning them against a tree as they drank beer and talked about
the game.

  Kelly didn't come talk to her, and Jo was hurt. But who could blame her? Jo talked to Kay and Deb and covertly watched Kelly chatting with Betsy and Janis. She should go over, she thought, excusing herself from Kay and walking toward them. Kelly watched her, but she didn't smile, not even when Jo smiled first.

  "You had a good game," she said.

  "Thanks," Kelly replied as she took a beer from Betsy.

  "Only one home run tonight, Sambino. You're slipping,"

  Betsy teased.

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  She smiled briefly and shrugged apologetically. Sharon joined them and Betsy and Janis turned to her, leaving Kelly and Jo standing alone.

  "How old are you?" Jo asked suddenly.

  "What?" Kelly was surprised.

  "How old are you?" she asked again.

  "Why?"

  "Because I don't know."

  Kelly leaned forward and grinned. "Don't worry. You didn't rob the cradle."

  Jo blushed and looked away. "That's not why I was asking," she said quietly.

  "No? I thought you needed another reason to hate yourself."

  "No. I have plenty, thank you," she said before she could stop herself. She expected Kelly to offer a quick retort, but instead, she gave Jo her usual mocking smile.

  "I'm thirty-five. Old enough to know better," she said and turned away.

  Jo watched her leave, carrying her bat and glove in one hand, the beer still clutched in the other.

  "Why is she leaving already?" Sharon asked.

  Jo just shrugged, her eyes following the lone figure to the parking lot. A car pulled alongside her, and Kelly bent down to talk to the driver through the open window. Jo watched as Kelly walked around the car and got in. As the car turned, Jo recognized Lucy, Deb's friend, and her heart clutched painfully.

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  Chapter Eleven

  September crawled by, at least for Johanna. Her classes seemed a drudgery this semester, the usual joy in teaching was somehow missing. She found herself just going through the motions and had to mentally stop and kick herself every once in awhile. She worked late, she was organized to the point of being absurd . . . still dull and boring. Predictable.

  Oh, she had gone out to dinner with Betsy and Janis, and had even gone to another softball game, but she and Kelly had not spoken. Their eyes met once, when Kelly had walked to the plate to bat, but that was all. It was enough, really. Just that one look had caused Jo's heart to tighten in her chest, caused her to remember every detail of their lovemaking. The image of them lying together, naked, on 84