For Love of Laura

Grace Shawcross cursed up a blue streak when the books she was trying to artfully display tumbled and landed in a heap on the table.

“Wow, that was quite a mouthful.” There was laughter in the voice of Jamie Porter, her assistant.

Grace turned and gave him a sheepish smile. “Sorry. I’m all thumbs this morning.” She picked up a book that had slipped from the table onto the floor.

“Yeah, I’ve noticed that. Are you okay?” Jamie joined her at the table and started fixing the books.

Grace grimaced. “Today’s the day I meet my mother-in-law for the first time.” Her nerves were evident in her voice.

Jamie frowned. “I thought Laura’s parents were both dead?”

“Sarah is actually Laura’s god-mother, but she raised Laura. Sarah is as close to a mother as she has. Laura adores her.” She said the last quietly.

“And you’re worried that you won’t measure up?” Jamie guessed.

Grace sighed and her shoulders slumped. She could only nod as her stomach churned uncomfortably. At this rate, she was going to wind up with an ulcer before she even met the woman.

“So how come you’re just meeting her now? You and Laura have been together for nearly a year.” Finished with the display, Jamie moved to the counter and hoisted himself up to sit on it.

Grace turned to face him, and leaned back against the table. “Sarah’s a photographer, a bit of a vagabond. She spends most of her time traveling.” She looked down at the toes of her shoes. “What if she doesn’t like me? Laura thinks the world of her...”

Jamie jumped down from the counter and came to her. Without hesitation, he wrapped his arms around her and caught her up in a tight hug. “What’s not to like?” he asked, pressing a light kiss against her hair.

She laughed lightly and hugged him back.

“Hey, get your hands off my woman.” Grace and Jamie turned in unison at the statement and the jingle of the bell over the door.

Grace smiled as the unease in her stomach was replaced by the more familiar, and far more pleasant, flutter she always experienced when she saw her lover.

Releasing Grace and stepping back, Jamie laughed. “You don’t need to get the shotgun out, she’s not my type. Doesn’t have the right bits for a start.”

Laura grinned as she fairly bounced into the store. Grace had noticed a particular lightness in Laura’s step since she had found out that Sarah would be arriving to celebrate Laura’s thirtieth birthday. “Just as well for you. I don’t just use my scissors for cutting hair.”

As Jamie laughed, Laura pulled Grace into her arms. Grace shrieked in surprise as Laura dipped her low. “I’m very possessive of what’s mine.”

Laughing breathlessly, Grace punched Laura playfully on the arm. “You know I love it when you play cave woman, but not in front of the children!”

Laura pulled Grace back upright and gave her a theatrical leer. “Later.”

Jamie made a gagging sound and went to attend to the customer who had entered and was looking at Grace and Laura with undisguised interest.

Laura rolled her eyes. “Can I see you in private for a moment?”

Grace took her hand and led her back to the office. When the door closed behind Laura, Grace looked at her curiously. It surprised her when Laura closed the distance between them, a look of determination on her face.

When she reached Grace, Laura maneuvered her back until Grace’s butt bumped against the desk. Her hands went to Laura’s shoulders.

Grace smiled suddenly. “Oh, I see. Feeling a little frisky?”

Laura pushed her hips against Grace’s. “You got a problem with that?”

Heat flooded Grace. “Hell no.” She wound her arms around Laura’s waist and slipped her hands down the back of her hip-hugging jeans. She smiled when she saw Laura’s pupils dilate.

Laura was a few inches taller than Grace, and rail thin in comparison to Grace’s curves, but Laura still had no problem whatsoever lifting Grace until she was sitting on the edge of the desk. She lowered her hand to grasp hold of the bottom of Grace’s calf-length skirt and slowly raised it, sliding her hand along Grace’s stocking-clad leg. Grace gasped in anticipation, and she parted her legs so that Laura could settle between them.

Leaning in, Laura nibbled at Grace’s neck while her fingers teased Grace’s thigh around the lacy elastic holding up her stocking.

Grace arched her body into Laura, flexed her fingers into the firm muscles of Laura’s ass through the simple cotton panties Laura preferred.

A hum of pleasure sounded in Grace’s ear and Laura moved her hand until it cupped Grace’s mound, her thumb moving in hypnotic little circles over Grace’s silky panties. Grace moaned as heat and moisture gathered between her legs.

Grace pulled her hands out of Laura’s jeans and slid them under her shirt. Her fingers danced over Laura’s back, unhooked her bra when she reached it and moved one hand around to cup a small, high breast.

Laura’s breath hitched when Grace scraped a nail lightly over her rapidly hardening nipple. The intense pleasure on Laura’s face made Grace smile. Laura’s breasts were small, but they were hyper-sensitive. Grace recalled with a shiver the time she had brought Laura to a writhing orgasm just by using her tongue on Laura’s breasts.

“Oh, fuck, that’s good.” Laura’s voice was husky with her need. Her eyes were hooded, her lips parted and moist. She was beautiful.

Gaze falling on Laura’s lips again, Grace felt her mouth water with hunger. She leaned forward and brought their mouths together. Laura’s lips parted and Grace slipped her tongue in. Laura’s rose up to meet it and they twined together. Grace continued he attentions to Laura’s nipple until her lover was squirming and moaning into her mouth.

But Laura wasn’t so distracted that she forgot about Grace -- at least, not for long.

Slightly trembling fingers worked their way into Grace’s panties and slipped into her moist cleft. Grace’s hips moved with the strokes of Laura’s knowing fingers. She felt her orgasm begin in the tightening of her stomach and her breath came in shallow gasps.

“Laura, I’m... I’m... Oh fuck, oh fuck.”

Distantly, she heard Laura’s soft laughter. “I love your potty mouth.”

Grace couldn’t reply as her body shivered and jerked to climax. Every muscle strained, and for long seconds, she stopped breathing altogether. When she finally came back to full consciousness, she found Laura watching her with a soft smile.

“I love watching you come. So fuckin’ hot.” Laura pushed a stray lock of Grace’s hair back behind her ear.

Feeling languid and content, Grace lowered her hand from Laura’s breast to press between her lover’s legs. Even through her jeans, Grace could feel Laura’s heat. She moved her hand over the rough material until Laura was grinding against her hand, biting her lower lip as her own orgasm washed over her.

When Laura slumped against her, Grace wrapped her arms around her shoulders and ran her fingers through Laura’s dark hair, cut in a short, choppy style.

“Did I ever tell you that I love these little visits of yours?” Grace inquired with a soft laugh.

Laura raised her head from Grace’s shoulder. “Are you feeling a bit more relaxed now?” At Grace’s questioning look, Laura grinned lazily. “Ever since you woke up this morning, you’ve been wound tight enough to snap.”

Grace tried -- and failed -- to look annoyed. “So this was an act of charity?” The corners of her lips twitched.

Gray eyes twinkled at Grace. “There’s no one I would rather sacrifice myself for.”

A decidedly unladylike snort escaped Grace. “When do we have to meet Sarah?” Funnily enough, mentioning the woman’s name caused only the slightest flutter of nerves in Grace’s stomach.

Laura looked at the clock on the wall. “In about half an hour.” A flash of panic must have shown on Grace’s face, because Laura leaned in, touched a gentle hand to Grace’s cheek. “She won’t bite.” Then, in a quiet, intimate whisper she said, “Only I’m allowed to do that.”

In spite of the fact that she’d only just come, Grace felt a flush of arousal heat her body.

Laura laughed. “Come on, we should go.”

Collecting her coat and bag, Grace followed Laura out of the office, unable to resist watching the gentle sway of her ass.

When they passed through the store, Jamie -- who had agreed to look after things for the day -- threw them a knowing look along with his wave, and Grace blushed.

They arrived at the train station with ten minutes to spare, and in those ten minutes, Grace managed to work herself up into a fairly decent freak-out.

Laura kept her hand on the small of Grace’s back the whole time, and while Grace found some comfort in the touch, her insides were back to churning uncomfortably.

They stood at the gate, and by the time the train pulled in, Laura was practically thrumming with excitement. Grace smiled. She felt some of her anxiety diminish in the face of her partner’s happiness.

“Oh, look, there she is!” Laura was actually jumping up and down, waving her arms about.

Grace was a little surprised. Laura was usually quite self-contained. Not exactly reserved, but she rarely bounced about with the enthusiasm of a five year old.

It was with even more amusement that Grace saw a woman rushing along the platform in their direction, waving frantically and dragging a wheelie case behind her.

The minute Sarah passed through the gate, Laura bounded forward and they were hugging and shrieking with joy, heedless of the attention they were attracting.

Reluctant to intrude, Grace hung back and watched the reunion. When they parted, Laura turned and seemed a little surprised that Grace was not beside her. She gestured for Grace to join them. Grace hesitated for moment, took a deep breath and walked over to Laura’s side.

Laura immediately wrapped an arm round Grace’s waist and said, with so much pride in her voice that Grace blushed, “This is Grace, isn’t she something?”

Sarah, a petite woman in her early fifties with short-cropped gray hair and deep blue eyes, looked her over for painfully long seconds, as if assessing her. Grace stood stiffly beside Laura. Reluctantly, Grace finally held out her hand.

“I’m pleased to meet you, Sarah,” she said in a very formal tone.

Sarah’s mouth slowly turned up at the corners. “I hope she’s not always this shy?” Sarah’s wink was comically lewd, but it still brought deep color to Grace’s cheeks.

Sarah laughed and pulled Grace into a hug. “Don’t worry, hon, if you’re good enough for my girl, you’re good enough for me.”

With a sense of relief, Grace returned the hug, if a little less enthusiastically.

Laura rubbed a hand up and down Grace’s back, and when she stepped back from Sarah, Grace was happy to lean into Laura’s warmth.

“Come on, let’s get you home,” Laura said, taking the case from Sarah’s hand. Smiling widely, Laura led the little group out to the parking lot.

“What do you mean, you’re not having a party? It’s your thirtieth birthday. You have to have a party, it’s the law.”

Grace and Laura laughed at Sarah’s words. They were sitting cross-legged on the floor around the coffee table, surrounded by the remains of Chinese take-out.

“Actually, I don’t think it is.” Laura reached for her glass and, noticing it was empty, picked up the wine bottle and tipped it over her glass. She frowned, obviously puzzled when nothing happened.

Grace took the empty bottle from Laura’s hand and replaced it with the fourth bottle of the evening. Laura gave her a slightly lopsided smile and refilled the three glasses.

“Well, it should be,” Sarah said, clinking her glass against Grace’s.

Grace blinked. “What should be?”

“A law.” Sarah poked her finger on the table for emphasis. “Having a thirtieth birthday party.”

“But we’re not having a party.” Laura was looking puzzled again. Grace smiled indulgently. Her lover was a total lightweight when it came to drinking.

“Didn’t we decide to have a nice, quiet dinner with friends?” Laura asked, looking at Grace with the intense concentration of the very drunk.

Grace leaned toward Laura, bumped their shoulders together. “You can have anything you want for your birthday.” She was feeling a little fuzzy-headed herself.

Sarah snickered. “Oh, yeah, she’s a keeper.”

Wrapping her arms around Grace, Laura rocked them back and forth. “Yeah, she’s my baby.”

“You are so drunk!” Grace giggled.

“You really should have a party,” Sarah reiterated. “At least one person for every year you have blessed the planet.”

Grace’s eyes widened. “Ooh, that’s a good idea. I like that.” She turned to Laura. “You like that, baby?”

But Laura, leaning against Grace’s shoulder, gave a little snuffling snore in response. Grace stroked Laura’s cheek, smiling softly when Laura leaned reflexively into the caress.

She turned to Sarah, who was looking tired herself. “Maybe we could meet for lunch tomorrow and talk about this some more?”

Sarah smiled. “That sounds like a plan. I’d like to do something special for her.”

Pleased, Grace nodded. In the last few hours, her nerves had vanished as she got to know Sarah. The fact that they both adored Laura was a pretty sound foundation to build a relationship on.

Grace moved and stroked Laura’s back. “Come on, Sleeping Beauty, time for bed.”

Laura opened tired eyes. “Hmm? Bed? You want to have a little fun?”

Grace blushed even as she laughed. “Why don’t we start by seeing if you can walk first?”

Laura nodded solemnly. “’Kay.” With Grace’s help, she got to her feet, a little unsteady, but able to stay upright. She wobbled over to Sarah and wrapped her up in a big hug. “It’s so good to have you here.”

Sarah returned the hug, patting Laura’s back. “It’s good to be here, hon. Now, I think you should go to bed before you fall on your ass.” She grinned over Laura’s shoulder and winked.

Pulling out of the hug, Laura turned back to Grace. “Yeah, time for bed. Bed with my baby.”

Grace smiled and, on impulse, leaned in and hugged Sarah. Sarah returned the hug without hesitation.

“You’ll do,” Sarah said quietly, for Grace’s ears only, and Grace felt pleasure swell in her breast.

They said their goodnights and Grace led Laura through to their bedroom while Sarah headed for the guest bedroom.

Laura turned to Grace when they were behind the closed door. She sidled up to Grace in what Grace supposed was meant to be a seductive manner, but she tripped over her own foot, somewhat spoiling the move. Laughing, Grace caught Laura in her arms.

“Oh, baby, you really are drunk, aren’t you?”

Sighing, Laura nuzzled into Grace’s neck. “You know I love you, right?”

Grace nodded, undoing the buttons on Laura’s shirt. “I know, and I love you too.”

Straightening up as best she could, Laura took Grace’s face in her hands. “No, I mean I really love you. Really, really.”

Grace bit back a smile, pushed Laura’s shirt down her arms and went to work on her jeans. “I really, really love you too.” She lowered Laura’s jeans and helped her step out of them. When Laura was standing before Grace, wearing only her panties, her small, firm breasts not requiring a bra, Grace felt a shiver of arousal run through her body.

Even in her inebriated condition, Laura must have seen Grace’s reaction. She stepped closer, wriggled against Grace and cupped one of Grace’s more ample breasts in her hand. “Wanna fuck?”

Grace snorted. “You sweet-talker! Why don’t you get into bed and I’ll join you in a minute?”

Nodding, Laura dropped a quick kiss on Grace’s mouth and climbed into bed.

As Grace undressed, she watched with a fond smile as Laura’s eyelids drooped. By the time Grace climbed in beside her, Laura’s breath was coming in soft snores. Grace snuggled in beside her, wrapped an arm around Laura’s waist and smiled when Laura curled into her. Grace felt her own eyes become heavy and soon she was slipping into sleep too.

Grace woke with a start sometime later. She lay stiffly, listening for what had woken her, barely breathing. She was starting to relax again when a noise made her sit up. She extended her hearing, only to grimace when she heard the sound of retching.

She pushed aside the covers, grabbed her robe and headed for the door. “Oh, Laura.”

A murmur came from the other side of the room. Grace squinted in the dark and saw the bump that was Laura buried under the comforter.

Grace frowned and opened the door. She followed the sounds down the hallway to the bathroom.

“Sarah? Are you okay?” She tapped lightly on the door.

After a moment, there was the sound of water running, then the door opened to reveal a rather gray-looking Sarah.

“Are you okay?” Grace repeated.

Sarah waved a hand dismissively. “Too much wine.” She smiled sheepishly. “I guess Laura isn’t the only one who can’t hold her liquor.”

Grace smiled. “Why don’t you get back into bed and I’ll bring you some water?”

Sarah patted her on the arm. “Thanks, hon.” She shuffled across the hall to the guest room, looking oddly hunched and old.

In the kitchen, Grace filled a glass with cold water and took a bottle of Tylenol up to Sarah.

Sarah was lying back against the pillows, eyes closed. Grace placed the water and pills on the table by the bed and turned to leave quietly.

“You love her a lot, don’t you?” Grace turned in surprise at Sarah’s words.

“Yes, yes I do,” she replied softly.

Sarah nodded, her lips turning up at the corners and her eyes drifting closed again.

Grace closed the door behind her and went back to bed.

The next time she woke, the sun was peeking through the crack in the curtains.

Grace touched a soft kiss to Laura’s cheek and got out of bed. She made her way down to the kitchen to start the coffee, but as she got closer, the smell of freshly brewed coffee drifted to her nostrils.

She found Sarah in the kitchen, leaning against the sink and washing down a couple of pills with a glass of orange juice.

“How are you feeling this morning?” Grace took a mug down and filled it with coffee.

Sarah waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, don’t mind me. Never did learn my limits.” She smiled, but it was a strained expression. “So tell me, how is it that you can look so bright-eyed this morning? If I’m not mistaken, you had as much of that wine as us last night, but you didn’t have to be carried into bed or spend the night with your head down the john.”

Grace smiled. “I guess I have a high tolerance level.” She added sugar to the mug and sat at the table by the window.

“Don’t listen to her. She comes from a family of rampant alcoholics. They have a rite of passage they all go through at thirteen -- if they can’t drink their own weight in scotch, they get kicked out of the family.”

Grace laughed at Laura’s entrance, raised her mouth for a kiss.

“Morning, hon.” Laura, dressed in a tank top and sweats, perched on Grace’s knee and planted a kiss on her waiting mouth. “Why the hell did you let me drink so much last night? You know what it does to me.” She leaned her head against Grace’s shoulder. “Shit, I feel like a hamster in a blender.”

Grace ran a hand soothingly over Laura’s back, still laughing.

Sarah filled a tall glass with water and brought it to Laura. Laura mumbled her thanks and sipped from the glass.

“So, what are your plans for the day?” Grace asked -- Laura had taken a few days off work while Sarah visited.

Laura groaned. “Back to bed?”

“Oh, no.” Sarah, starting to look a little brighter, swallowed the last of her orange juice. “We’re going out for a nice long walk, then we’ll find somewhere to have breakfast and walk home. Then you can have a little nap while I have lunch with your better half.”

Laura raised her head from Grace’s shoulder. “You’re having lunch together? When was this decided?”

“When you were snoring drunkenly and drooling on my shoulder,” Grace said.

Laura nodded. “Oh, okay.” She rested her head back on Grace’s shoulder, but almost immediately, it popped up again. “Wait, I’m not invited?”

Sarah made a tut-tutting sound. “We can hardly dish the real dirt with you sitting right there now, can we?”

After looking at Grace for a long moment, Laura shrugged. “Okay, just so long as you don’t mention that time with the handcuffs and the chocolate sauce.”

Grace snorted at Sarah’s raised eyebrow and dislodged Laura none too gently from her lap.

“Well, unlike you two, I actually have work to get to.” She headed off for the shower, wishing that she could invite Laura to join her, but the thought of having sex while Sarah was in the house, wide awake and able to hear every little sound, was a bit inhibiting.

After a quick shower, Grace dried her hair and dressed in gray slacks and an oyster colored silk blouse.

She kissed Laura and made arrangements to meet Sarah for lunch before leaving to open up the store.

At lunchtime, Grace met Sarah at Mulberry, a small restaurant near the bookstore.

When Grace arrived, Sarah was already seated at a table by the window, throwing back a couple of pills with the aid of a glass of ginger ale.

Grace smiled knowingly as she slipped into the seat opposite Sarah. “Still hung over?” she asked, hanging her bag on the back of her chair.

Sarah rolled her eyes. “One of the many drawbacks to getting old.”

They attracted the attention of a young waiter and ordered their food. Grace chose lemon chicken and wild rice while Sarah ordered a simple, dressing-free salad.

“So, you think we should have a party for Laura?” Grace washed down a bite of chicken with a drink of club soda.

Sarah pushed a piece of lettuce around her plate with her fork. “I don’t want to spoil any plans you’ve made.” Sarah’s voice was quiet and sincere, but Grace could hear the unspoken ‘but.’

“I think a party would be a great idea.” Grace smiled when Sarah’s face lit up with pleasure.

“It’s not too short notice?” Sarah’s brow wrinkled in a small frown. “It’s only two days away.”

Grace shook her head and swallowed a mouthful of rice. “Don’t worry about that, I’ll do some phoning around this afternoon and corral the troops. Everyone will be happy to pitch in.”

Sarah’s eyes softened. “She has a lot of friends?”

On impulse, Grace reached a hand across the table and squeezed Sarah’s, feeling an unaccountable need to reassure her. “A lot of good friends.”

Sarah seemed quietly happy at this and squeezed Grace’s hand in return.

They returned to their meals, but instead of eating Sarah asked,” What about you? Tell me about yourself.”

Grace laid aside her fork and smiled widely. “Ah, the traditional interrogation. Are you going to ask me what my intentions are?”

“Would that be a problem?” Sarah was clearly trying to look very stern and serious, but the playful twinkle in her eyes gave her away.

“What would you like to know?” Food forgotten, Grace settled back in her chair, legs crossed, hands clasped and resting on her thigh.

Sarah paused in the act of pushing her food around her plate. “Tell me about your family.”

“I was a late child -- my parents were told they would never have children. My mom got pregnant when she was forty-three.” She laughed. “I came as quite a surprise to them.”

“Obviously a welcome one, if they gave you a name meaning blessing.”

Grace’s eyes widened in surprise that Sarah should know that, then she smiled a little sheepishly. “Yes, I was spoiled rotten.”

“What about your parents? What do they do?”

Grace’s smile faltered for a second. “Dad passed about five years ago.” Her mouth curved upward again, and her smile became indulgent. “Mom lives in a retirement community. She’s sort of the unofficial social director.”

Sarah mirrored Grace’s smile. “What does she think of you and Laura?”

Again, Grace felt the need to reassure Sarah. “Mom loves Laura. All the residents in the community do -- Laura goes over there every month, gives the ladies a makeover and the gents a shave and a trim.” She grinned. “A few of the old guys have a huge crush on her.”

Sarah’s eyes were warm with pleasure. “It sounds like she has a good life.” There was an odd tone to her voice that made Grace wonder.

Instead of inquiring, Grace answered, “Yes, she does. She’s loved.” For some unknown reason, it was important to Grace that Sarah should know this.

Sarah nodded. “Why don’t we have something sinful for dessert and talk more about this party?”

Grace signaled the waiter, but the smile on her lips felt suddenly a little forced, and a knot of unease settled in her stomach.

She spent the rest of the afternoon calling friends and organizing a party. As she had told Sarah, everyone she called was more than happy to contribute. By the time she put down the phone for the last time, not only did Grace have all the invitations issued and accepted, but all the food and drink was taken care of. She felt satisfied as she and Jamie locked up the store and headed home for the night.

“Would you zip me up?” Grace turned and presented her back to Laura. As she waited for Laura to do up her zip, Grace checked her hair and make-up in the mirror and smoothed her hands over the soft material of the off-the-shoulder dress in midnight blue.

Laura stepped up behind her, took hold of the zipper tab and pulled it slowly up, her warm fingers brushing over the skin of Grace’s back.

“You look great.” Laura dropped a kiss on Grace’s shoulder.

Grace shivered, the light touch and the low tone of Laura’s voice causing heat to settle between Grace’s legs. She leaned back against Laura.

“And you look hot as hell,” Grace replied, looking at their joint reflection in the mirror. Laura, who ‘did not do dresses,’ was wearing wide-legged black pants and a black halter top that showed off a tempting expanse of creamy skin. Her hair was stylishly mussed and her make-up so light it was nearly invisible -- except for the kohl outlining her smoky gray eyes.

“It’s my birthday, you know,” Laura muttered as she nibbled her way along Grace’s neck.

Grace bit her lip and her eyelids drooped. “Is that why all those people are coming here tonight?”

One of Laura’s hands slipped around to cup Grace’s breast, and the other moved down her thigh to grasp the material of the knee-length skirt. Oh so very slowly, she dragged the skirt up until she exposed the top of one of Grace’s stockings.

Laura emitted a soft moan. “Fuck, I love it that you wear stockings.” She eased her fingers inside the elasticized top and teased the skin of Grace’s thigh. Grace shuddered and pressed her thighs together. A wave of pleasure swept over her and she felt herself grow moist.

“Do we have time for you to give me my present?” Laura’s and traveled up Grace’s thigh and cupped her through her panties.

Grace gasped. “D-didn’t I already give you your present?” She gestured vaguely at the Celtic bracelet encircling Laura’s wrist.

“And I love it,” Laura replied, flicking a nail over Grace’s taut nipple through her dress. “But that’s the one I get to show off in public.”

“The other?” Grace pushed her hips into Laura’s hand.

Laura dipped one finger too briefly into Grace before withdrawing it again. “The other involves you, me and a pair of latex gloves.”

The moment broken, Grace snorted and pushed away. She smacked Laura lightly on the arm. “You are such a pervert.”

The doorbell rang then and Laura waggled her eyebrows suggestively. “So, we’ll take a raincheck on that, then?”

Grace bumped their hips as she passed Laura. “Keep dreaming, Birthday Girl.”

For the next three hours, Grace was barely able to snatch a moment alone with Laura. Grace watched her lover move through the crowd of their gathered friends, almost glowing at the attention, proudly introducing Sarah around.

Late in the evening, the party spilled out into the garden. Lanterns were lit and soft music drifted from speakers placed on the back porch.

Grace watched the couples on the dance floor, smiling at Jamie and his partner Nick moving together, holding each other close. They had only recently reunited after a long separation and seemed content to spend all their time in their own secluded little world.

Grace felt her hips begin to sway to the music. She jumped when she felt hands on her hips, but even without looking, she knew it was Laura.

“How about a dance for the birthday girl?” Laura wound her arms around Grace’s waist, pushed her hips into Grace’s ass.

“I thought you’d never ask.” Grace took one of Laura’s hands and led her out onto the grass.

They danced together to a couple of slow songs, then threw off their shoes and kicked up their heels to a few upbeat numbers.

A little out of breath, Grace excused herself and went to the kitchen to get the huge chocolate birthday cake. She put thirty candles on it and got Jamie and Nick to carry it out to the garden.

Laura blushed endearingly as their friends sang “Happy Birthday.” Grace sang as loudly as everyone else, but her voice trailed off when her eyes found Sarah in the crowd. Sarah was at the other side of the garden, sitting on a bench. Even in the darkness, lit only by the paper lanterns, Grace could tell that the woman was pale. Her shoulders were slumped and her chest was moving with the deep breaths she was taking. At the second Grace took her first step forward, Sarah raised her head and looked Grace right in the eye. Sarah glanced briefly at Laura, then back to Grace, and gave a sharp shake of her head. Grace hesitated before nodding in return.

Grace stood by Laura’s side as she cut the cake, smiling and cheering along with everyone else, but the first chance she got she headed over to Sarah.

Sarah was looking gray, and there were white lines bracketing her mouth, indicating that she was in pain.

“It wasn’t the wine, was it? That night you were sick.” Grace looked intently at Sarah.

Sarah’s eyes closed. She suddenly looked ten years older. “Not tonight, please. We’ll talk tomorrow.” Her eyes implored. “Let her have good memories of tonight.”

Grace could only agree. “You should go inside and lie down for a while. If Laura sees you like this she’ll know something’s wrong.”

With a nod, Sarah started to stand. “If you could just...”

As discreetly as possible, Grace helped Sarah into the house and up to the guest bedroom, where she settled her on the bed.

“Can I get you anything?” Grace asked, reluctant to leave Sarah like this.

“If you could get me a glass of water, please?” Sarah reached into the drawer in the nightstand and took out a pill bottle.

Grace wanted to ask questions, but knew that this was not the time. She left the bedroom, got a glass of water and returned. She handed the glass to Sarah and waited while she took the pills and set the glass on the nightstand.

“Go back to the party, sweetheart. Laura will miss you soon.” Sarah smiled at her, and Grace saw that some light was coming back into her eyes.

Grace nodded and moved reluctantly to the door. She paused there and looked back at Sarah. “We are going to talk about this.” Her voice was firm.

“As soon as we can get a moment alone. As I recall, the Princess likes to sleep late on a Sunday.” Sarah tried to smile, but it turned to a grimace.

Grace made to move back to the bed, but Sarah waved her away.

“Go back to the party, please. It’ll pass.”

Grace desperately wanted to know what it was, but she held her tongue.

She closed the door behind her and went back downstairs. She stood at the back door and watched Laura, a little tipsy, dancing barefoot on the grass, and smiled even as a sense of dread clutched at her.

The party broke up around three in the morning. Grace and Laura waved off their guests and went back to survey the disaster that has been their garden.

Jamie and Nick had insisted on staying behind to help out, but their help seemed to consist of seeing how far they could get their tongues down each other’s throats as they huddled together and made out like a couple of horny teenagers.

Laura snickered. “Hey, guys, take it somewhere else, will you? You’re making me a little queasy here.”

Grinning, Jamie pulled Nick up from the bench, making no attempt to hide the noticeable bulge in his jeans. Laura made a theatrical gagging sound.

“And you can point that somewhere else.”

Nick just snickered and shrugged at Jamie. “It’s always about the penis envy with dykes.”

In spite of the emotions churning through her, Grace had to laugh at the strangled sound Laura made.

Jamie took Nick’s hand and tugged him toward the door. “Come on, I think we should get out of here while we still have something worth envying. She’s packing scissors and she knows how to use them.”

As they passed Laura said, “Two words, boys -- multiple orgasms.”

The sound of laughter faded as Jamie and Nick moved through the house.

Laura turned to Grace with a wicked smile when they heard the front door close behind their friends. “Alone at last, my darling.”

“That is the worst English accent I’ve ever heard.”

Laura pulled her close. “I’ll ignore that insult to my acting skills, because you still owe me a birthday present.”

Eyes narrowing, Grace shot a warning look at her lover. “You come anywhere near me with rubber gloves and you’re sleeping on the couch, birthday or no birthday.”

Laura feigned a very disappointed expression. “Okay, no rubber gloves.” She lowered her head and touched their mouths together. “We’ll save that for Christmas when we can get some holly.”

Grace rolled her eyes. “Dear God, the mind boggles!”

“Lets go upstairs and I’ll really boggle your mind.” Laura took her hand and led her into the house.

Shaking her head in despair, Grace followed Laura up to their bedroom. As they passed the guest bedroom, Grace again felt a shiver of dread, but she determinedly pushed it aside. Tonight was Laura’s and nothing was going to spoil it.

Laura did indeed like to sleep in on a Sunday. This Sunday, after the rigors of the party and their own rather enthusiastic private celebration, Laura was still dead to the world, a mere bump under the comforter, when Grace left their room and went downstairs.

From the kitchen window, she saw Sarah in the garden with a trash bag, picking up the mess left behind by their guests.

Grace put on a pot of coffee and went out onto the porch.

“Sarah, why don’t you come in and join me for a coffee?”

Sarah looked at Grace, trepidation on her face. She looked quite a bit healthier than last night.

“Please,” Grace added quietly.

Nodding, Sarah let the bag fall onto the grass. She followed Grace into the kitchen and took a seat at the table while Grace poured coffee into two mugs, then joined her. Sarah wrapped her hands around the mug, her fingers tapping absently.

“How sick are you?” Grace asked quietly. She was grateful that Sarah didn’t try to make any denials.

“About as sick as it gets. The doc says I have maybe a month.” Her voice was matter-of-fact, like she’d had enough time to come to terms with the news.

Grace sagged back in her chair in shock. “A month? But how... what?” Her first thought was how devastated Laura was going to be.

Sarah took a sip of her coffee. “Cancer. With treatment, maybe two or three months.”

It was hardly good news, but Grace seized on it none the less. “When do you begin treatment?”

Sarah reached a hand across the table to touch Grace’s. “I don’t. I’ve spent the last year in hospitals having chemo, and the best it did was put the damn thing into remission for a while. No more hospitals. No more treatment. I don’t want the time I have left to be hooked up to machines with poison flowing through my veins.”

“A year?” Grace leaned forward. “You’ve been having treatment for a year and you didn’t tell Laura? Why?”

Sarah just smiled softly. “Because I didn’t want her to know. And I still don’t want her to know,” she finished pointedly.

Grace shook her head vehemently. “You can’t keep this from her. She needs to know.”

“Why?” Sarah raised an eyebrow. “So that she can start grieving now? There will be plenty of time for tears; I won’t make her shed one more than she has to.”

Realization hit Grace. “You want me to keep it from her. You want me to lie to her.”

“Not lie, just don’t tell her.” She looked at Grace with pleading eyes. “Please, Grace. Let her be happy for as long as possible.”

Grace got up from the table and walked to the other side of the kitchen, running her fingers through her hair. “This isn’t fair, Sarah. You can’t ask me to keep something like this from Laura. How am I supposed to live with her with a secret like that between us?” But in spite of her words, Grace could already feel her resistance crumbling. This news was going to devastate Laura. Was Sarah so wrong in wanting to keep it from her for as long as possible? But how could Grace look at Laura every day, knowing...?

Suddenly Sarah was standing in front of her. Grace hadn’t even heard her move.

“Please, Grace.”

Grace sighed and closed her eyes. She nodded her reluctant agreement, feeling as though she had just made some kind of deal with the devil.

On Monday afternoon, Grace stood in the train station watching Laura bid her farewell to Sarah.

They had spent most of Sunday, after the big clean up, lounging around the house, talking, listening to music and pigging out on the leftover food from the party. Grace had gotten to know more about Sarah: her work, her travels, how she had given it up for years and gone into teaching when she became Laura’s guardian, and the more she heard, the more she liked Sarah. But at that moment, watching Laura hug her godmother for what was likely the last time, Grace could quite easily have hated the woman. Rationally, Grace knew that this was probably one of the hardest, saddest moments of Sarah’s life, but Grace found it difficult to be rational knowing that in a few short weeks her lover was going to have to suffer through getting the news that the only mother she had ever really known had died alone in some hospice -- knowing that, for the next few weeks, she, Grace, would have to face Laura with this horrible secret between them.

When Sarah hugged her, she whispered in Grace’s ear, “I couldn’t have wished for anyone better for my girl. Take good care of her for me.”

Grace returned the hug and felt tears sting her eyes. “Thank you for your blessing and for making her what she is.”

Sarah squeezed Grace tightly before stepping back. She took her case, and with one last brief hug for Laura, she made her way along the platform to the train.

They stayed until the train had pulled out and disappeared from sight. Grace heard Laura sigh. She took Laura’s hand and squeezed it.

“Come on, baby, let’s go home.”

Laura looked at her in surprise. “Don’t you have to go into the store?”

“Jamie can hold down the fort today.” She linked her arm through Laura’s and led her out of the station to the parking lot.

When they were in the car Grace turned to Laura and smiled. “We have the house to ourselves.”

Laura’s grin was downright lecherous. “We don’t have to be quiet.”

“Oh, I don’t know, I think there was something kinda erotic about making love in silence.” In spite of it all, Grace could feel her body start to tingle.

“So what are we waiting for?” Laura waved her hand in the direction of the ignition. “Drive, woman!”

In the days and weeks that followed, Grace’s anxiety rose almost hourly. Every mail delivery or ring of the telephone set her nerves on edge. She found herself being more solicitous than normal with Laura: sending flowers to the salon, turning up out of the blue to take her to lunch, buying her little gifts of Godiva chocolates and CDs. She even got as far as going to a travel agent to book a week in the Bahamas for them, but the only thing that stopped her was the idea that they might miss the phone call.

If Laura felt smothered by Grace’s attention, then she said nothing -- although she did express some curiosity, which Grace explained away by asking if it was wrong to spoil her lover.

Grace knew, of course, that every gift, every surprise was an attempt to assuage her own guilt. She also knew that no amount of chocolate was going to do that, but it didn’t stop her.

There was a kind of desperation to their love-making. Grace was so determined to make it good for Laura that she ignored her own needs. Laura, even though she didn’t understand why, refused to allow this, and it became something of a battle for dominance. It added an edge to their sex-life that had never been there before -- and not an altogether pleasant one.

Grace was strung so tight that she thought there were moments when she might actually break. The need to confide in someone was like a physical pain, but Grace found that she couldn’t. It felt like it would be the ultimate betrayal of Laura.

When the call finally came, three long weeks after Sarah’s departure, there was almost a sense of relief for Grace.

But any relief she felt vanished in a heartbeat when she saw Laura, who had answered the call, slide to the floor, turn as pale as a ghost and stare in stunned silence into the air.

Grace took the phone from her, quickly finished the call with the nurse and then sat beside Laura on the floor and held her tight.

It was only that night, when they were lying in bed, that Laura finally broke down. Grace could only hold her as sobs racked her slender body, her own pain a cold hand around her heart.

Had Sarah been wrong to want to put off Laura’s terrible grief for as long as possible?

Grace stroked Laura’s hair back from her tear-bathed face. “I’m so sorry, baby,” she whispered, feeling useless in the face of such pain.

“W-why didn’t she tell me? She must have known. She must have.”

Guilt clawed at Grace. “She didn’t want you to hurt any more than you absolutely had to.”

Laura burrowed closer into Grace, her sobs receding until they were loud hiccups.

“She loved you so much.”

It must have been something in Grace’s voice that alerted Laura. Her body suddenly became stiff and motionless; she even seemed to stop breathing.

When she raised her head and looked at Grace, it seemed to confirm her budding suspicions.

“You knew.” Her voice was flat, stunned.

“Laura...” But Grace got no further. Laura leapt out of the bed with almost unnatural speed. She looked at Grace with wide, accusing eyes.

“Oh, God. You knew.”

Grace threw back the comforter and got out of bed. “Laura...” she tried again, moving to her lover, holding out her hands. But Laura knocked her hands away as anger glared hotly in her eyes and her body became so tense it almost shook.

“Don’t touch me,” Laura spat out. “I can’t believe you kept something this huge from me... I just... how?” Grace suspected that the tears on Laura’s cheeks now were more from anger than grief.

“She practically begged me, baby. Please try to understand,” Grace implored, trying again to get close to Laura, but again Laura stepped back out of her reach.

“Understand? Understand what, baby?” She practically spat the word and Grace flinched. “Shall I tell you what I understand? I understand that you robbed me of the last three weeks of my mother’s life. You robbed me of a proper goodbye. I should have been there with her, at the end. But because of you, I wasn’t. Because of you, she died alone.” Laura’s words ended on a ragged sob.

Grace wanted to plead her case, to tell Laura that if anyone had denied her then it was Sarah, but she knew that laying any blame at Sarah’s door right then would be monumentally wrong. Not to mention stupid.

“I don’t think she wanted you to see her like that, remember her like that,” Grace reasoned quietly.

Laura spun away, the movement jerky with agitation. “You shouldn’t have done it, Grace.” Her voice was soft, giving Grace some hope that she was getting through even a little.

But when she turned back to Grace, her gray eyes were cold. “I’ll never forgive you for this.” It was somehow more ominous spoken quietly than it would have been if Laura had screamed the words.

Grace watched with rising panic as Laura pulled on jeans and a sweater, slipped her bare feet into a pair of sneakers and went to the closet, where she took out a bag and began stuffing clothes into it haphazardly.

“What are you doing?” Grace moved to her side, but Laura kept packing, refusing to look at her. “Please, Laura, don’t go like this; we need to talk.”

“Right now, I don’t even want to be around you, much less talk to you.” Laura swung the bag over her shoulder and headed for the door.

Grace had never felt more powerless in her life. “Wait, where are you going?”

Pausing and looking over her shoulder, Laura said, “I have a funeral to arrange. I’m taking the car.”

Grace could only watch as Laura walked away. She heard the jingle of car keys, the slam of the front door, and then... nothing. Feeling suddenly numb, she sat down on the edge of the bed and waited for the pain that would surely come.

The telephone was once again the enemy. Every time it rang, Grace froze, her heart stopped beating and her breath became lodged in her throat until she was light-headed, then she would spring into action and snatch up the receiver.

Every time it wasn’t Laura, Grace hated the instrument a little bit more.

She spent all of Tuesday pacing up and down the living room, eyes constantly flicking between the phone and the front door, ears pricking up at the sound of every car engine passing through the street.

Jamie was once again looking after the store. Somewhere in her subconscious there was a little niggle of guilt about this, but it was completely overwhelmed by the mounting anxiety that made Grace’s hands tremble and her heartbeat irregular. Panic was a time bomb in her stomach, threatening to explode at any second.

Grace desperately tried to hold it together, telling herself that Laura would be back, over and over again, like a mantra -- or a prayer. But every time she whispered the words, a voice in her head taunted her with the reply “Of course she’ll come back. She has to collect her things, doesn’t she?”

Jamie came by on Wednesday evening, Grace having once again called to let him know that she wouldn’t be in. The second he saw Grace he grimaced. Grace could only imagine what she looked like: hair un-brushed, dark circles of exhaustion under her eyes, and wearing the pajamas she had gone to bed in two nights before. Without a word, he pulled her into a hug right there on the front porch.

For the next two hours, Jamie listened to her rant, alternating between guilt at herself and anger at Sarah.

He made her some food and sat across the table from her until she had eaten at least half of the meal -- Grace would later be unable to recall exactly what had been on the plate Jamie had set before her.

“So, now you just wait?” Jamie asked, sipping from a mug of coffee. “Go quietly out of your mind as you wait for the sound of a key in the lock?”

Grace pushed her plate away. “I don’t see that I have much option.”

Jamie sighed. “Well, you could, you know, stop feeling sorry for yourself, get off your ass and go to her. Make sure that she doesn’t have to go through the funeral alone.”

Anger flared in Grace. She pushed away from the table and glared at Jamie. “Feeling sorry for myself? Is that what you think?” She spun away, pacing agitatedly around the kitchen, hands clenching and unclenching. “Were you here? Did you see her face? No. No, you didn’t.” She dragged a hand through already unkempt hair. “I may be losing the only woman I have ever really loved, and I’m rapidly coming to hate a dead woman. So yes, maybe I am feeling a little fuckin’ sorry for myself.” Her chest was rising and falling rapidly with the effort of breathing.

Jamie just watched her until she ran out of steam and dropped back into the chair opposite. When she finally looked at him, he said, “Do you want to borrow my car?”

With a watery smile, Grace nodded.

Grace walked along the hotel hallway, her legs seeming to become weaker with every step she took. Her body felt flushed with nerves and her chest tight. She stopped outside room 602 and raised her hand to knock, but she hesitated and lowered her hand to wipe a sweaty palm on the material of her skirt. She took a deep breath and raised her hand again. This time, she forced herself to tap her knuckles against the door and waited for a reply. She felt a bead of perspiration break out on her forehead and had the strong urge to turn and run. What if Laura turned her away, told her that it was over? It was too painful to even contemplate.

She heard muffled footsteps behind the door and swallowed convulsively, tugging on the hem of her jacket to straighten it, as if she was going to her first ever job interview.

When the door opened, Grace only just managed to stifle the gasp that rose in her throat. Laura looked ill. Her eyes were dark and sunken, her pallor ashen. Was it possible that she could have lost weight in just three days? Grace wanted more than anything to take her lover in her arms and hold her until some of the life came back into her.

Laura looked at her blankly then stepped to the side and made a tired gesture with her hand for Grace to enter. Grace ached for her. If her week had been bad, then Laura’s had clearly taken bad to new heights.

She walked into the room and stood in the middle of the floor, watching Laura close the door behind her. She turned to Grace, and with that same, horribly blank expression, asked “How did you know where I was?” Her voice was flat, emotionless.

Grace gripped the handles of her bag tightly in her fist and felt her toes curl in her shoes as she fought the urge to go to Laura. “The nurse at the hospice told me. I… I know you didn’t want me here, but I had to come. I’m so sorry, baby…” She stopped abruptly as the endearment slipped naturally from her lips.

But the anger she expected from Laura wasn’t forthcoming. Instead, Laura turned toward the bed and picked up several folded sheets of paper. She brought them to Grace and simply held them out. When Grace took them, Laura turned and went to stand by the window. The light shining through the window outlined her slender frame and Grace saw that her jeans were hanging a little lower on her hips than normal. She looked down at the papers in her hand so that she didn’t have to look at the slump of Laura’s shoulders, and found that it was a letter. She knew from the very first words that the letter was from Sarah.

My Darling Girl,

Do you have any idea how much joy and happiness you have brought to my life since you came to me? It breaks my heart to know that, as you read this letter, you will be grieving and in pain. That is the last thing I ever wanted for you, and for that reason I didn’t tell you about my illness. I wanted our last days together to be happy, not filled with tears. I know that you are probably angry with me right now for not telling you, but I wanted to put off your pain for as long as possible…

The letter was four pages long, but Grace couldn’t read anymore as the words began to swim before tear-blurred eyes. She raised her head and looked at Laura again, and could stand it no longer. She dropped her bag and the letter onto the bed and moved to stand behind Laura. Without giving herself time for second thoughts, she wrapped her arms around Laura’s waist and pulled them tightly together. Laura did nothing to fight the embrace, rather, she leaned back against Grace, turned her head so that their cheeks were touching.

“I’ve missed you.” Laura’s voice was rough, as if she hadn’t used it for a while.

Grace tightened her arms further and touched her lips softly to the side of Laura’s neck. “Oh, baby. You have no idea how scared I’ve been. Please, please forgive me…”

A ragged sob escaped Laura. She turned in Grace’s arms.

“I’ve missed you so much,” Laura whispered and lowered her head until their lips were touching. She brought her hands up to cup Grace’s face and ground their mouths together in an almost desperate kiss. Grace felt her own teeth forced uncomfortably against the tender flesh inside her mouth, but made no attempt to break the contact. Instead, her arms tightened around Laura’s slender body and she just held on, her mouth opening when Laura’s tongue pushed between her lips.

Laura delved deeply, breathing raggedly through her nose. She lowered her hands to Grace’s shoulders and shoved her jacket down her arms, letting it fall to the floor, then insinuated one hand inside the scooped neckline of Grace’s shirt. Grace heard a tearing sound, but if she thought to say anything, it was instantly lost as Laura’s hand cupped her breast. She kneaded it a little too firmly, but any pain was lost as her fingernail scraped over Grace’s nipple. Grace tore her mouth from Laura’s and gulped in air, but Laura was on her again in a second, ravaging her mouth, clutching at her breast.

Laura moved away just long enough to sweep Grace’s shirt over her head. She reached for the front clasp on Grace’s bra and when it didn’t give way immediately, she ripped it open. Grace gasped in shock as her breasts spilled into Laura’s waiting hands. The desire on Laura’s face was raw, visceral. Her eyes shone with some emotion that was foreign to Grace – even in their wildest encounters, she had never seen Laura like this.

“Laura, baby, slow down, we have all night…” Grace tried to make her voice soothing, but Laura just shook her head.

“Now. I want you now.” Spinning them around, she pushed Grace none too gently so that she landed on the bed, the breath forced from her lungs by the fall and the surprise. Laura moved quickly, straddling Grace and lowering her head to suck a nipple into the warm heat of her mouth.

Grace moaned and arched her back, her hands gripping Laura’s thighs as her lover dragged her tongue over and around her cresting nipple, even as her hand slid down Grace’s body and dragged her skirt up her legs. Without preamble she pushed aside Grace’s panties and drove a long finger inside her.

Grace felt tears sting the back of her eyes. Laura hadn’t hurt her, but there was nothing tender in her touch. This was not the lover Grace knew.

Releasing Grace’s breast, Laura moved back up her body and took her mouth in another hard, punishing kiss, her fingers moving determinedly between Grace’s legs, parting her lips and stroking roughly.

“Laura, Laura, please, baby, please stop,” Grace pleaded when she was able to turn her head to the side. She felt a tear escape and run down the side of her face.

Above her, Laura seemed to freeze. One hand was still on Grace’s breast, the other inside her panties, but there was no movement -- Grace couldn’t even hear the sound of breathing. She slowly turned her head back and looked up at Laura. Her lover’s eyes were wide with something like shock. She brought the hand that had been on Grace’s breast up to Grace’s face and touched the moisture under her eye. The room was so quiet that Grace was sure she could hear their hearts beating.

Then, suddenly, Laura was moving. She pulled away from Grace as though she had been burned and stumbled backward, only stopping when she bumped into the dresser. Grace could see the trembling start in Laura’s body, watched it increase until Laura couldn’t seem to stand any longer. She slumped to the floor, her beautiful face a mask of horror.

Grace pushed up from the bed and, heedless of her state of undress, rushed across the room to drop to her knees in front of Laura. Laura shrank back when Grace reached out to her.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry…” The words fell from Laura’s lips as she shook. Over and over again. “I’m sorry.”

Grace pulled her lover into her arms and held her, burying her face in Laura’s hair. “Ssh, baby. It’s okay.” She rocked back and forth, as if comforting a child.

Clutching at Grace, Laura slowly began to calm. “I wouldn’t hurt you. I promise I wouldn’t ever…”

“I know, I know.” Grace placed gentle, loving kisses on Laura’s hair and felt her relax in her arms. Finally, looking so young and vulnerable, Laura lifted her head and met Grace’s eyes.

“Take me home, Gracie. I want to be in our house, in our bed with you. I don’t ever want to be anywhere else.”

Grace felt tears run down her face, but had to give a little laugh. “I think I can manage to live like that.”

She held Laura against her, sending up a prayer of thanks to any deity who might be listening for giving her this second chance. Laura would be fragile for a while, but Grace would be there with her every step of the way. There was nowhere she would rather be.