ROAD TRIP

By Mavis Applewater

yomavis@email.com

January 2003

Disclaimers: Yes I know who they look like and trust me it isn't them. The characters and story are the sole possession of the author and may not be reproduced, posted or sold without the author's permission. If for any reason real or imagined you are uncomfortable with graphic descriptions of two consenting adult women in a sexual situation then do not read this story or anything else I have ever written. If for any reason it is illegal for you to view such material then do not read this story until it is no longer a crime.

A special thank you goes out to my beta reader Joanne.

As always, this is for Heather.

*****

Veronica sat on the curb in front of the church thinking about that old saying, ‘Life is funny’. Funny wasn’t the way she would describe the events that had bombarded her life in the past two weeks. At the moment her life was far from funny - it was freaking hysterical. "It was a simple favor," she muttered bitterly. "Just keep one snotty overgrown brat away from her family for two weeks so she can marry some guy that looks like a Ken doll. That’s all I had to do."

"Hey, buddy, want to tell me why you look like you just lost your best friend?" Saul, who was in fact her best friend, asked as he planted his massive body next to her. "You did it. You outsmarted one of the richest guys in America and delivered the girl to the church on time. The boss is thrilled."

"Of course he’s thrilled; she’s marrying his idiot son," Veronica grumbled as her head slumped forward.

That was how it had all started. Veronica Walker was a gifted news photographer who had the misfortune of working for Benjamin McBride; Benjamin’s son, Maxwell, despite his good looks, was a complete moron. None of this should have made Veronica’s life a living hell but it seems that Max met and became engaged to one Elise Manning. The senior McBride was thrilled that his son, who had barely graduated from junior college after seven long years, had managed to become engaged to one of the richest women in America. This was great news for her boss since his only child had never held down a job and only seemed interesting in sleeping all day after drinking and dancing all night. Apparently this was how he’d met the debutant.

As Veronica sat stewing on the curb, the young couple was inside the church exchanging their vows. The bride’s parents were rushing over to stop the ceremony. It seems they didn’t approve of their little girl marrying someone who had no ambition to do anything beyond dancing badly to house music. Then again, since it wasn’t the first or second time their little angel had waltzed down the aisle, the negative reaction wasn’t a complete surprise.

"I never should have kissed her," Veronica confessed.

"What?" Saul blurted out just as the limo carrying the bride’s parents came to a screeching halt in front of the church. "Walker, what did you do?"

"I swear I was just trying to get her to shut up," the brunette absently muttered as Mr. and Mrs. Manning stormed up the stone steps and barged into the church.

"Veronica, what happened?" Saul squeaked out fearfully.

"That’s a very good question," Veronica said, acknowledging the man’s presence for the first time. "It all started when I was supposed to be going on vacation."

Two Weeks Earlier

Veronica was just finishing up in the darkroom at the small magazine she worked for. All she could think about was that soon she’d be done for the day and finally taking off on her overdue vacation. Whenever Veronica was about to take so much as a day off, McBride, the owner and editor, threw a last minute assignment at her. She loved being a news photographer but McBride didn’t pay any of them enough to justify the long hours. He was a good editor but probably the cheapest man on the face of the planet when it came to his staff. He had a way of cheating them out of everything on their expense reports as well as their vacation time.

She tossed her travel bag over her shoulder, having packed it the night before. She had reasoned that if she took it with her to the office then she could just hit the road and not stop at home first. That was how McBride had caught her the last time. She peeked out of the darkroom to look up and down the hallway. Seeing that the coast was clear, she stepped out of the room and turned to lock the door. Turning her back proved to be a mistake.

"Walker?" McBride cooed from behind her.

She flinched before spinning around to find her pudgy balding boss smiling up at her. "No," she asserted firmly.

"I was just going to say have a nice vacation," he said, blinking and looking hurt.

"Sorry." She almost laughed. "Thanks; see you in two weeks." She tried to brush past him before he could add anything further to the conversation.

"Oh, just one thing." He chuckled as he gave her a big grin.

"No," she flatly refused before he could talk her into flying off to Iran.

"Why so negative?" he gasped with a sad look. "I just wanted to tell you my son is getting married."

"Stewart?" she said in genuine surprise. "Really?"

"Surprised us too," McBride confessed.

"Well, congratulations. Just let me know where the happy couple is registered," she offered, hoping that this was going to be the end of the conversation. She made a move to get away from her boss.

"They’re not registered," he continued thoughtfully.

"Well, kids these days. Go figure," she offered as she managed to get two more steps away from him. "Gotta go."

"Just one thing, Veronica," McBride continued. Her stomach clenched, knowing it wasn’t a good thing when he used her first name. "The wedding is in two weeks."

"Fine. I’ll take the pictures," she agreed before he could ask. "I know it must be hard for kids just starting out." ‘Particularly when the groom doesn’t have a job,’ she thought in amusement.

"Oh no, you don’t have to do that," he quickly dismissed her offer. "Everything is taken care of. The wedding will be at St. Paul’s on Euclid Avenue two weeks from today."

"Great, I’ll see you there," she said quickly as she tried to make her escape.

"There’s just one thing," he repeated sweetly.

"What?" she asked as she shifted her heavy travel bag on her shoulder.

"If it’s not too much trouble, could you give the bride a lift to the church?" McBride asked shyly.

It was a strange request but if it meant she could take off for her vacation then why not agree? "Sure," Veronica agreed.

"You’re a life saver." He sighed in relief. "Here’s the address," he explained as he shoved a piece of paper into her hand before she could change her mind. "She’s waiting for you."

"What?" Veronica blurted out as she stared at him.

"Yeah, she’s already packed. In fact, you’re a little late picking her up," he continued in a flurry.

"Hold it," she shouted. "The wedding is in two weeks. Why am I picking her up today? You know what? It doesn’t matter since I’m on vacation."

"She’s going with you." He shrugged as if it was understood.

"Back up, little man," she growled. "Why would I take a complete stranger on vacation with me?"

"Because her parents are trying to call off the wedding," he explained dryly as if this was an everyday request, like picking up some donuts on your way to the office. "It seems they’re not as thrilled about the upcoming nuptials as we are."

"No kidding," Veronica snorted, thinking she wouldn’t be thrilled with the idea of her kid marrying Stewart either. "Maybe he’ll grow on them. I’m out of here."

"I’ll double your vacation pay," he blurted out, stopping her in her tracks.

"You’re offering money?" she inquired as she eyed him suspiciously. "What gives?"

"Nothing," he squeaked in his defense. "You’ll be helping out two kids in love. One of whom is my son. And I’ll throw in an extra wee of paid vacation."

"You’re up to something," she hissed.

"I want my son’s happiness. Is that so hard to believe?" he protested.

Looking back on things Veronica should have trusted her instincts and just walked away. But McBride had seemed genuine about his concerns regarding his son, and he’d thrown in more money that her depleted bank account sorely needed. She still didn’t know if it was the money or his whining that finally broke her down. She agreed to pose as Elise’s sorority sister and take her on her vacation. When she pulled up to the iron gate shielding the Manning estate from the rest of the world, the pieces began to fall into place. It was then that she realized that Elise’s father was none other than the Warren Manning who owned the building she worked in. In fact, she was pretty positive he owned the entire block.

"No wonder McBride wants to hide the girl before the wedding," she grumbled as she waited for the gates to open. "Probably doesn’t want her to change her mind or have her parents convince her to get a prenuptial agreement. Greedy old bastard," she added just as the gates swung open. She drove the Mercedes Benz that McBride had loaned her up to the grand home. It didn’t escape her attention that the man drove a very expensive car and wouldn’t pay for her meals when she traveled for him. The red convertible had been one of the factors that convinced Veronica to take the girl with her. "Two weeks locked up with a straight girl whining about not being able to see her boyfriend. I should just shoot myself now," she groused as she approached the front door.

She almost fell over when the butler escorted her into a house that looked more like a museum than someone‘s home. She quickly ran her cover story through her head as two well-dressed people approached her. "Good afternoon," the man greeted her.

"You must be Elise’s parents," she gushed with a fake smile. "I’m Ronnie. Ooops! I mean Veronica," she spoke without moving her lips.

"Warren and Glenda," the man unexpectedly extended her a warm welcome.

Veronica felt slightly guilty at how nice these two people seemed. "I don’t remember you from Elise’s days at Dartmouth," Glenda apologized.

"So sorry, I was just a wee bit ahead her," Veronica continued her charade. "But once a Kappa sister always a Kappa sister." It was the only truth Veronica had spoken since being welcomed into the Manning’s home. She had attended Dartmouth just a couple of years ahead of their daughter. But the closest she ever got to the Sigma Kappa house was to wrap toilet paper around it on Halloween or play around with a couple of bi-curious debutants.

"I’m afraid she’s still upset about this whole wedding nonsense," Mr. Manning explained in concern. "Maybe you can talk some sense into her?"

"It won’t matter. In two weeks I’ll be old enough to take over Grampy Cabot’s trust fund. You can’t stop me," a voice whined from above them.

Veronica’s eyes widened as she took in the small woman with long flowing blonde hair storming down the staircase. "But I promised to call off the wedding until I get back so I’ll see you on my birthday," Elise Manning continued. Two maids loaded down with enough baggage to clothe the Seventh Fleet followed behind her.

"Elise, you’ve only known this boy for a few days," her father tried to reason with her.

"Stewart; his name is Stewart," Elise furiously corrected her father.

"That crap is never going to fit in the car," Veronica muttered in disbelief. She blanched at her slip as Mr. Manning snorted in agreement.

"Quite right," Mrs. Manning agreed as she peered out the window. "Perhaps you should take the Lexus?"

"No," Elise flatly refused. "You’ll just activate that tracking device. I want to spend some time alone with . . .?"

"Veronica," the photographer interjected. ‘Geez, if this brat thinks she’s fooling anyone, she’s crazy,’ her mind reasoned as she caught the suspicious glances from the blonde’s parents. As Elise’s parents eyed her carefully, Veronica took a moment to take a quick glance at her new roomie. ‘You’re a lucky man, Stewart,’ she noted as her eyes drifted up the curve of the younger woman’s body to the swell of her breasts.

"We really need to get going," Elise‘s whining voice broke through the silence.

"Of course," Veronica agreed. The butler lugged the blonde’s luggage out to the car and somehow made it fit into the trunk, while Elise exchanged goodbyes with her parents.

"Where are you two gals off to?" Mr. Manning casually inquired.

"The quaintest little cabin in Maine," Veronica lied. She hated lying to this man; there was something in his eyes that called out to her. At that moment she had no doubt that she was working for the wrong side.

As they were descended the steps, Mr. Manning touched Veronica lightly on her arm. "Is there any way I can convince you to bring her back before her birthday?" he pleaded softly.

"I gave my word," she wearily whispered in response.

"I understand," he responded in a defeat tone.

As Veronica pulled the expensive car out onto the road, she knew that their act hadn’t fooled Elise’s parents and they probably would do everything in their power to track them down. Veronica secretly hoped that they would catch them. She hated deceiving the nice elderly couple; they were only trying to keep their child from making a terrible mistake. The only reason that Veronica was continuing with the charade was the reason she gave to Mr. Manning - she’d given her word. Despite the disdain she felt for her employer and his greedy nature, her word meant everything to her.

"Nice car," Elise said as she played with the radio.

"It’s McBride’s," Veronica grumbled as she sped quickly away from the posh neighborhood.

"Figures," Elise snorted as she looked up and down at Veronica’s well-worn jeans and old suede barn jacket.

Elise continued to play with the radio; Veronica mourned her decision to take the girl along with her. Her dislike for the pampered brat was growing with each passing minute. "I don’t think Daddy believed you," Elise pouted. Veronica cringed at the way the girl pronounced the word Daddy.

"No, he didn’t," Veronica agreed as she kept her eyes on the road. "He’s probably running the car plates now."

"Good luck to him." Elise laughed. "Since this isn’t your car, it’ll just lead him back to Stewart’s family and they won’t help him. And he won’t be able to figure out who you are," she added with a triumphant smile.

"Yes, he will," Veronica corrected her.

"Don’t be a silly goose," Elise scoffed. "I don’t even know who you are. How is Daddy going to find out?"

"He’ll start with McBride’s employees and then Dartmouth," Veronica explained.

"Well, good luck then," Elise snorted indignantly.

"I was telling the truth," Veronica snapped, knowing that the girl doubted that she could have attended the same prestigious College. "I would have been about two years ahead of you."

"What happened?" the blonde gasped, horrified by the revelation.

Veronica gripped the steering wheel as she pulled the car off the road. "Listen, you spoiled little snob. I’m a photojournalist who just wanted a vacation and some peace and quiet. Babysitting some brat with a bad dye job wasn’t my idea and I’d just as soon drop you off right here than be forced to listen to your constant whining for the next fourteen days," Veronica berated the stunned woman.

"Bad dye job?" Elise shot back. "I’ll have you know that this is my natural color."

"Right." Veronica laughed.

"It is," Elise hissed as she folded her arms across her chest defiantly. "Look, if you don’t want to help then you can just let me out here."

"Fine," Veronica beamed as she threw on the parking brake.

"I’m serious," Elise asserted. "I don’t need your help. I can do this all by myself."

"Fine," Veronica repeated as they glared at one another.

Elise continued to glare at her as Veronica extracted her luggage from the trunk and began to pile it on the side of the road. She knew that she wasn’t going to leave the blonde stranded but she figured if she called Elise’s bluff now then things would go a lot smoother. "What are you doing?" Elise flared as she climbed out of the car.

"I don’t want to help you," Veronica explained as she continued to unload the blonde’s designer bags. "You don’t want my help, so here you go. Enjoy your stay on Rt. 95."

"You’re insane," Elise stammered as she stared down at her luggage.

"What?" Veronica questioned her with sly smile. "So you do need my help."

"No," Elise snapped as she plopped her shapely backside down on one of her suitcases and folded her arms. "I’ll be just fine."

Veronica couldn’t believe the arrogance of this woman. She stared at her, waiting for the blonde to crumble. Even when Elise pulled out her cell phone and discovered it wasn’t working, the blonde still didn’t move from her spot. "Go on," Elise shooed her away.

"Fine by me, princess." Veronica laughed as she turned back towards the car. She walked slowly, fully expecting Elise to call out and toss in the towel. Veronica was slightly unnerved when she looked back as she opened the driver’s side door. Elise hadn’t moved an inch since she began her slow trek back to the car. Veronica wasn’t about to give in so she climbed into the car and waited. She watched the unmoving blonde in the rearview mirror.

Veronica released the parking brake, assuming that once she put the car in gear Elise would come running. The tall brunette couldn’t believe that the blonde just sat there as she pulled out into traffic. Veronica also couldn’t believe that her own stubborn pride had blinded her so much that she left the girl stranded on a busy highway. She took the first exit that would lead her back around and backtracked. Her heart caught in her throat as she spotted the semi stopped where she had left Elise. The blonde was standing on the foot rail of the passenger side, talking through the window.

Veronica pulled the Mercedes to a screeching halt behind the big rig. She flew out of the car and raced towards Elise. "What the hell are you doing?" she berated the smaller woman as she grabbed her by the scruff of the neck and pulled her down from the truck. Elise spun around and started slapping the brunette on her arms and shoulders. "Stop that," Veronica scolded her as she brushed her aside.

The brunette climbed up to the cab window. The large bearded man was laughing heartily. "I take it she doesn’t need a ride?" He laughed.

"No, thanks anyway," Veronica offered sheepishly.

"None of my business, but next time you two have a spat, don’t dump her somewhere dangerous again," he scolded her. "And I suggest you buy her a whole lot of flowers," he added with another laugh.

"Thanks," Veronica groaned as she climbed down. She waved to the driver as he pulled back into the busy Friday afternoon traffic.

When the tall brunette turned around she was horrified to see Elise standing by the side of the road with her thumb out. "Stop that!" she yelled furiously. Elise ignored her as she flipped her long blonde hair in an apparent effort to attract a ride. Veronica grabbed two of the blonde’s suitcases and tossed them back into the car. Then she stormed over and yanked the perky little blonde away from the side of the road. "Not that I care, but you really want your parents identifying your body parts after some psycho chops you up into little bits?" she screamed at the smaller woman.

Elise simply pursed her lips and glared at her. "That trucker seemed very nice," the blonde finally spat out.

"And Ted Bundy was a real charmer too," Veronica grumbled. "Now help me get your stuff back into the car."

"You took it out," Elise reasoned.

"Don’t start with me," Veronica cautioned her before turning back towards the expensive luggage. "I’m only going to put half in. If you don’t put the rest in, we’ll leave it here."

Elise was stomping and pouting like a small child as she helped load her belongings back into the sports car. It took some careful maneuvering to make everything fit, but they managed and were finally back on the road again. Neither of them spoke until Veronica finally slapped Elise’s hands away from the radio dial, the constant flipping from one station to the next was grating on what was left to her nerves.

"What was he laughing at?" Elise finally demanded with a huff.

"Who?" Veronica wearily responded.

"The trucker. He was laughing very hard and I just want to know what was so funny," Elise clipped.

"You hit like a girl," Veronica teased her. "Ouch!" she yelled as a solid punch connected with her arm and the car swerved slightly. "Are you trying to get us killed?"

"No," Elise said in an exaggerated tone. "I’m just proving that when I have to I can protect myself."

"Good to know," Veronica sighed as she flipped on the turn signal and began to slow the car down in order to take the next exit.

"Now what was he laughing at?" Elise demanded as they exited the highway.

"He thought we had a lover’s quarrel," Veronica explained in a bored tone.

"Why would he think that?" Elise scoffed. "I mean do I look gay?" She laughed and then looked around as Veronica pulled back onto the highway heading in the opposite direction.

"Do I?" Veronica retorted with a sultry purr.

"Of course not." Elise laughed as Veronica cringed. Suddenly the blonde’s laughter ceased. "Oh," Elise softly mumbled. Veronica curled her lips in disgust as she noticed her companion shift slightly away from her. "Why are we heading back?" the blonde asked in a panicked tone.

"Don’t worry. I’m not taking you back to your parents. Even though I think I should," Veronica explained. "I just realized that your father probably has tracked down my reservations in Maine."

"Daddy can be very resourceful," Elise agreed.

"Well, you don’t run an empire as big as your father’s without knowing what you’re doing," Veronica reasoned. "I’m sure running a check on my credit cards is small potatoes. From here on in we need to use cash and we need to trade in this car."

"Now how are we going to manage that?" Elise whined. "Why are you doing this when you agree with my parents?"

"Because I gave McBride my word," Veronica explained. "I don’t expect you to understand."

"I do understand," Elise fumed. "Daddy always said that your word is your pledge. If you can’t keep it, than you have no honor, and without honor you have no soul."

"Your father is a very wise man," Veronica concurred. "So why not listen to him about your marriage?"

"I love Stewart and I just know that if we wait Mommy and Daddy will try to keep us apart," Elise reasoned. "I miss Stewart," Elise whimpered.

"Oh brother, here we go," Veronica groaned.

For the next two and a half hours Veronica listened to the blonde’s nonstop rambling. According to Elise, Stewart was a saint. Between the rush hour traffic and the blonde’s endless chatter, Veronica’s head was pounding by the time she pulled into the driveway of a two-story house in the Lynnfield suburb.

"Why are we here?" Elise asked.

"Trading cars," Veronica explained. She climbed out of the sports car while Elise looked around in confusion.

Elise continued to rattle off questions and comments as Veronica rang the doorbell. The brunette ignored the blonde as best she could while she waited for Debbie to answer the door. Twenty minutes later she was trying to hand a very confused Debbie the keys to the Mercedes. "Let me see if I can get this - pardon the expression - straight. You want me to drive this beautiful car for the next two weeks while you take my minivan," Debbie repeated.

"A minivan?" Elise choked in horror.

"Yes, since your kids are spending the next two weeks with your ex, you won’t need the van. So enjoy the Mercedes," Veronica reasoned. "I’ll let my boss know from the road that you’re driving it."

"Are you sure he won’t mind?" Debbie asked cautiously as she ran her hands along the leather interior.

"Not when I explain it to him," Veronica reassured her.

"A minivan?" Elise repeated, still stunned by the idea.

"Where will you be going?" Debbie asked as they exchanged key rings.

"I can’t tell you," Veronica said flatly.

"You’re not involved in anything illegal, are you, Ronnie?" Debbie asked.

"No, just slightly insane," Veronica responded with a light laugh.

"A minivan?" Elise repeated once again.

"Is she alright?" Debbie asked in concern.

"Her?" Veronica groaned. "No," she added with a snort.

An hour later Veronica was returning to her table at the Mexican restaurant they’d stopped at on Route One. She’d used the pay phone to let McBride know that she’d left his car with a friend of hers. He was furious, but when she explained that it was the only way to keep Elise away from her family, he agreed. Elise was still sporting a stunned expressed as she sucked down her third strawberry margarita. "I need to call Stewart," the blonde murmured.

"No," Veronica informed her. "No calls, no cell phones, no nothing until I drop your butt off at the church in two weeks. Unless of course you want to go home and try to work things out with your parents?" she added, hoping that perhaps the blonde would reconsider her rash decision.

"No Stewie?" Elise slurred before she began to pout.

"Okay, no more tequila for you," Veronica reasoned as she snatched the glass from the blonde’s hand.

"No Stewie?" the blonde slurred once again.

"Time to go," Veronica quickly suggested. "Just in case someone is monitoring McBride’s calls."

"Right," the blonde shouted as she slapped her hands on the wobbling wooden table. "Back to the Batmobile, Robin."

Veronica guided the woman out of the restaurant. She had purposely parked the white minivan a few parking lots away by Pier One just in case. Loading the now badly singing blonde into the van proved to be an exercise in patience and agility. She finally abandoned the attempt to load her into the front and settled on strapping Elise into the back. She was about to offer to turn on the small television mounted on the ceiling when Elise promptly passed out.

Later that night Veronica was flipping through the channels on the television while she sat on her bed in the Malden Motel just off of Route One. While she munched on a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos, Elise snored loudly on the bed next to her. "This really is some great vacation," she muttered as she turned the volume up in an effort to drown out Elise’s thunderous snores. "Maybe next year I’ll go to Chernobyl."

The following morning the brunette harshly shook the still-slumbering blonde after exhausting all of the polite means of trying to awaken her. "Come on, Elise. We need to check out and get going," Veronica loudly pleaded.

"I’m up," Elise moaned as she lifted her head off her drool-stained pillow.

"We need to get going. It’s checkout time," Veronica asserted.

"Where are we?" Elise mumbled as she finally sat up. "What kind of place is this?"

"It’s a motel off Route One," Veronica explained as she tried pushing the blonde towards the bathroom.

"Good. Order us some breakfast. I’ll be much more human after a shower," Elise muttered as she climbed off the bed.

"Did you miss the part where I said this was a motel off Route One?" Veronica tried to reason with the woman. "Most of these places rent by the hour."

"Why would you only need a hotel room for an hour?" Elise yawned and stretched her arms above her head. Veronica enjoyed the view as the blonde’s shirt rode up, revealing her well-toned abdomen. The blonde’s movements halted as a blush covered her delicate features. Veronica was amused at the sight of the embarrassed woman suddenly realizing why someone would rent a hotel room for an hour. "Oh," she mumbled.

"Don’t bother with the shower; we don’t have time," Veronica informed her. "Just wash your face and brush your teeth."

"Why the rush?" Elise protested. "I thought you said most of these places rented by the hour?"

"I didn’t choose one of those places," Veronica tried to explain as she glared at her watch. "This place might not have room service, but there’s nothing crawling across the sheets."

Elise seemed to accept her explanation for the moment and complied with her request. After Veronica reloaded the minivan, she managed to convince Elise to ride in the back, hoping that the television with a built-in DVD player might keep the girl amused and she wouldn’t chatter on endlessly. "Where are we going?" Elise demanded.

"Cape Cod," Veronica supplied, thinking it was a reasonable question. She would have preferred that blonde ask her for the information and not demand it. "It’s off season and hopefully we can find a place that we can afford to hide out in for the next couple of weeks. Speaking of which, how much cash do you have on you?"

"Cash?" Elise blinked in confusion.

"You know, that green paper stuff most of us mere mortals carry around to pay for things," Veronica prodded her.

"Oh, just some pin money," Elise said with a shrug. "Why?"

"Because I only have what I was planning on spending on my vacation," Veronica explained. "Which isn’t much for two people to survive on without being able to use our credit cards."

"Are you quite certain we can’t use our credit cards?" Elise argued.

"Yes. Before I called McBride yesterday I called and canceled the cabin I had rented and the desk clerk told me there was some guy asking around for me," Veronica explained tersely. "So how much cash does ‘pin money’ translate into?"

"I don’t know." Elise shrugged. "I’ll have to look."

Veronica drove carefully through the bustling traffic on Route 128 while the blonde searched her belongings. "Three hundred and twenty dollars," Elise sadly informed her as if it was a mere pittance.

"That’s what you call pin money?" Veronica choked.

"Well, yes," Elise responded blandly. "It’s just in case of emergency. I’m bored," Elise huffed.

"Watch the television," Veronica suggested.

"It isn’t designed for reception, just playing DVD’s," Elise informed her an annoyed tone.

"So put in a DVD," Veronica instructed her.

"The only ones back here are for children," Elise argued.

"Perfect." Veronica chuckled.

"Fine, Miss Bossy," Elise agreed with an evil smile.

For the next hour Veronica was forced to endure listening to Barney sing. "Please put on the headphones," she begged once again.

"No," Elise flatly refused.

Veronica gripped the steering wheel tightly as she drove on. Finally she pulled into a rest stop and was free from Elise’s endless chatter about Stewart and Barney telling her that he loved her. "If I ever find the sick bastard who invented the big purple freak, I’m going to beat them to death," she muttered as she rushed to the ladies room. Her ire only grew when she failed to find Elise in the minivan. She searched the rest rooms and the vending machine area only to discover the annoying little blonde at the payphone. "I miss you too, Stewie," the blonde cooed into the telephone. Veronica didn’t miss the dim shadow that suddenly crossed the blonde’s face as she spoke to her fiancée. Unaware of Veronica’s presence, the blonde continued chatting for a while before hanging up the telephone. Elise frowned for a moment, lost in thought before turning around to find Veronica glaring at her. The blonde yelped in surprise.

"What are you doing? Eavesdropping?" Elise said accusingly.

"Nope," Veronica responded dryly.

"Oh, so now I get another lecture about how I’m ruining your vacation?" Elise snapped bitterly.

"You are," Veronica informed her. "I’d rather be relaxing by a fire in my nice little cabin reading Proust instead of acting like I’m James Freaking Bond trying to keep you away from your parents. What I don’t understand is why I’m babysitting you when you don’t care if you get caught or not."

"I had to talk to him," Elise argued. "This is the man I’m about to marry in a little over a week. Plus I seriously doubt that Daddy has wiretapped his telephone."

"Perhaps not," Veronica agreed. "If you were my kid, I would."

"Thank goodness you haven’t reproduced," Elise snapped as she stormed over to the minivan. Veronica followed the blonde, praying that Warren Manning was already on his way. "You’re just like my parents. They’re always telling me what to do. Why can’t they trust me? This isn’t like the other times."

"Other times?" Veronica stammered as she unlocked the minivan. "You’ve been engaged before?"

"Yes," Elise sheepishly admitted. "Twice."

"And your parents stopped the weddings?" Veronica asked against her better judgment as they climbed back into the van. She ignored the fact that Elise chose to sit up front with her.

"No," Elise responded in an evasive manner.

Veronica caught the car keys before they slipped out of her hand. Her jaw was hanging open as she turned towards the blonde. "You’ve been married twice?" she sputtered. "How old are you?"

"I’ll be thirty a week from Friday," Elise groaned. "Can you believe it? Thirty! It’s positively disgusting."

"So you’ll have had one husband per decade that you’ve been alive?" Veronica processed.

"What?" Elise choked as she held her chest. It was more than obvious to the brunette that her little friend hadn’t done the math before.

"It doesn’t matter," Elise argued, still gasping for air. "Stewart is the one. He’s bright, ambitious and . . ."

"Stewart?" Veronica laughed. "Stewart McBride?" She laughed once again as she started the van. "How long have you known him?"

"Eleven glorious days," Elise sighed as she smiled. There was something about the smile that just didn’t ring true. Perhaps it was the way it didn’t reach the blonde’s emerald eyes. The brunette seriously worried about the blonde’s future. She debated telling her the truth about Stewart then changed her mind; it was none of her business.

The rest of the trip proceeded much as the day before with Elise prattling on and on about Stewart. Veronica bit her tongue each time the girl told her something she knew was a lie. Stewart seemed to have weaved quite an interesting story about his life and achievements. Each time Veronica reminded herself that it really was none of her business. The only thing the tall brunette wanted was some peace and quiet, not the migraine that was keeping a steady beat with the techno music Elise had found on the radio. The only difference between her first day with Elise and the second day was that she didn’t abandon her by the side of the road.

Finally, just outside of Orleans, they found a cabin rental that was in their price range and looked respectable. They paid for the next thirteen days in cash plus a deposit. The small cabin was clean; it had a fireplace, electricity, no telephone, and one bed. "Houston, we have a problem," Veronica muttered when she realized they would be bunking together.

"I knew you weren’t paying attention," Elise grumbled from behind her as she dragged in a portion of her luggage. "We can’t afford one of the cabins with two beds. It’s this one with the full size or head back out on the road again."

"I can’t drive anymore," Veronica groaned. "I’m exhausted."

"Didn’t you sleep well last night?" Elise asked.

"No, I didn’t sleep at all last night," Veronica bitterly informed her as she tossed her share of the bags down onto the floor. "Someone’s snoring kept me awake all night."

"I don’t snore," Elise snapped, horrified at the very suggestion.

"Yeah, and your roots aren’t showing either." Veronica chuckled as the blonde’s hand flew up and covered her head.

"Well, this is going to be fun," Elise growled as she quickly stepped over to the mirror to examine her hair. "No television, no telephone, and since it’s the off season, everything remotely interesting is closed. You said you brought books - anything good?"

"Proust, Thomas Mann, and some trashy romances," Veronica informed her as she picked her one bag up off the floor.

"Now why do I think your trashy romance novels are a lot different from mine?" Elise said, smiling for the first time. Veronica was taken aback by how pretty Elise was when her face lit up. "Hey, I’m not complaining. After a couple days, I’ll probably be ready to read the back of a cereal box. Let’s unpack."

Veronica tore herself away from staring at Elise and dumped her bag onto the bed. "Done," she proudly announced.

"You’re a barbarian," Elise scolded her as she pushed the brunette aside and began to organize her things. "Why don’t you just climb into bed and I’ll unpack for both of us."

Veronica agreed to the suggestion as she tried to understand why her body still tingled from Elise’s body brushing against her own. "I must be tired," she reasoned.

"No small wonder with all the driving and no sleep," Elise concurred. "Go take a shower. I can handle this. Trust me; packing and unpacking are two things I do very well."

The first night in the cabin Veronica fell fast asleep while Elise read Swan’s Way by the fire the brunette had lit. She awoke a few hours later to find the blonde plastered against her body snoring loudly. She finally shoved the blonde to get her off of her. "What?" Elise sleepily groused.

"You were snoring," Veronica informed her.

"I don’t snore," Elise argued.

"Fine, then tell the moose in heat to get the hell out of here," Veronica snapped before rolling over. She tried to sleep but her body missed the feel of Elise pressing against it. "I’m in hell," the brunette finally concluded.

On day two of their captivity Elise almost set the cabin on fire while trying to light a fire in the fireplace. On day three they argued over bathroom privileges. On day four Elise started a brawl in the local bar when they went out to relax and enjoy each other’s company. Veronica had no idea why the blonde started swinging since it was her ass that the guy pinched. On day five Veronica went for a long walk to get away from the blonde’s endless chatter; she was almost tempted to keep going until she was back in Boston. On day six Veronica discovered that Elise was not only a snuggler in bed but a blanket thief as well; she seriously considered sleeping during the day and giving the annoying woman the bed at night. On day seven they called a truce and spent a relaxing day just reading and talking. The following two days proceeded in the same manner and Veronica was beginning to worry about how much she enjoyed being around the blonde and how much she really enjoyed sleeping next to her. By the tenth day Veronica realized that Elise hadn’t mentioned Stewart or the wedding since they’d arrived. Then she made the mistake of bringing it up. On day eleven they were no longer speaking after Veronica tried to clear up the misconceptions Elise possessed about her fiancée.

"But he’s in investments," Elise argued.

"The only thing that lazy pretty boy is invested in is living in his parents’ basement and sleeping all day until it’s time to go out to the clubs," Veronica corrected her.

"You don’t know him," Elise coldly responded.

"No, you don’t know him," Veronica regrettably concluded.

On the twelfth day, for some unknown reason, Veronica missed the sound of the blonde’s voice. So she apologized. "I’m sorry. It’s none of my business," she offered humbly.

"He’s out of work?" Elise shyly asked. "He lives with his parents?" Before Veronica could confirm the blonde’s suspicions, Elise came up with her own theory. "Well, with all the cutbacks these days, it’s not uncommon. He was probably too embarrassed to tell me."

"I know I’m going to regret this but here goes," Veronica carefully began. "To be cutback, you actually need to be doing something in the first place."

"What are you saying?" Elise asked in genuine concern.

"He’s never had a job. Not even a paper route," Veronica clarified.

"Never?" Elise stammered. "But with his education, he could be doing anything."

"Seven years of junior college?" Veronica inquired.

"What?" Elise asked as her face turned ashen. "It doesn’t matter. I love him," she quickly added.

The conversation regarding Stewart was over. They once again fell into a comfortable routine and Veronica realized that she was seriously lusting after her boss’ son’s fiancée. By the last day Veronica doubted her sanity when she decided to patch things up with Elise while the blonde resumed chatting nonstop. By the end of their last day together Veronica’s nerves were frayed. They were dressed for bed in nightshirts and boxer shorts sitting by the fire and Elise hadn’t stopped to breathe.

No longer able to listen to one more word about the color of the bridesmaid dresses, the tall brunette stood, walked over, and while Elise kept talking, captured her face in her hands and kissed the blonde. Somehow in Veronica’s overwrought imagination she’d convinced herself that she was only kissing the other woman to silence her and not to find out if it was as nice as she imagined it would be.

The kiss was more than nice as Elise’s soft warm lips melted against her own and the blonde’s hands came to rest on her hips. Veronica was lost in the sensation of Elise’s mouth responding to her kiss as the brunette parted the blonde’s lips with her tongue. Elise released a needy moan as they sank onto the floor in front of the fire. Veronica didn’t stop to think about what she was doing as her fingers slipped under the blonde’s nightshirt. Her fingers tingled from the feel of Elise’s skin dancing under her touch. The kiss deepened as Veronica continued to explore the blonde’s body.

Veronica was the one to moan this time as she felt Elise’s hands drifting down her back. They were gasping for air as the kiss came to a reluctant end. Veronica was a mass of confusion as she looked down at Elise. The smoky emerald gaze looking back at her erased any doubts from her mind. Elise reached up and cupped the brunette’s face, her lips parted. Veronica leaned down and reclaimed the blonde’s soft mouth as her hands continued to drift up Elise’s body. She slipped her thigh between the blonde’s as Elise trembled from her touch.

The brunette brushed aside all thoughts of how wrong it was to touch Elise and gave in to the fire burning inside her. Their hips began to sway slowly against one another as Veronica ended the kiss. Elise reached between them and without saying a word she removed her nightshirt. Veronica drank in the beauty of her lover’s half-naked body as her hands roamed freely across her skin. The subtle gasps Elise uttered fueled the brunette’s desire. Veronica brushed the palms of her hands across Elise’s dark nipples.

Elise’s arching body and her smoldering gaze encouraged Veronica to continue teasing her nipples. A shy tug on the hem of her nightshirt ceased her movements briefly. Veronica pulled away and removed her nightshirt. Elise’s eyes darkened as she ran her hands slowly along the brunette’s exposed flesh. Veronica inhaled sharply as her body quivered from the blonde’s touch.

Veronica cupped one of Elise’s firm breasts in the palm of her hand while the blonde was running her fingers along the swell of the brunette’s breasts. Veronica began to tease Elise’s nipple until she felt it harden from her touch. The blonde moaned once again as she brushed her thumbs across Veronica’s nipples. The brunette bit down on her bottom lip to keep from screaming out.

Veronica was reeling from Elise’s touch as she leaned down and began to kiss the blonde’s neck. Elise’s moans encouraged her to kiss her away up to her ear. She nibbled tenderly on the lobe as her lover continued to tease her now erect nipples. As they ground against each other, Veronica began to kiss her way across her lover’s soft white shoulders. She could feel the smaller woman’s desire caressing her thigh while her own passion painted her lover’s skin.

Her skin tingled as she felt Elise running her fingers through her long dark hair while Veronica’s mouth slowly tasted its way down the blonde’s body. She ran her tongue along the valley between Elise’s breasts as her lover’s hips thrust harder against her body. Veronica didn’t stop to think about her actions or how this beautiful young woman wriggling against her body was about to take her third husband; instead she flickered her tongue across a nipple before capturing it into the warmth of her mouth.

Elise’s body arched and her thigh pressed against Veronica’s aching center. The brunette hissed against her lover’s skin. She suckled her nipple greedily as her lover’s body thrust against her in a wild rhythm. She felt her lover trembling as she feasted on her breasts, moving from one to the other. Elise gripped her shoulders as she tried to guide the brunette to move even further down her body.

Veronica eagerly accepted the invitation and began to kiss her way down the blonde’s firm body. She tasted every inch of exposed flesh as her lover moaned with pleasure. She playfully dipped her tongue in the blonde’s navel before running it along the elastic band of Elise’s boxer shorts. Slowly Veronica lowered the flannel shorts down her lover’s body. She could feel Elise’s stomach quivering as she gently lowered the shorts. Once she freed the blonde of the last of her clothing, she flung the shorts aside and began to kiss her way up Elise’s legs.

Veronica worshiped the blonde’s legs with her mouth and hands until she cupped her firm round backside and nestled her body between Elise’s quivering thighs. The musky scent of her lover’s arousal assaulted her as she kissed the inside of her thighs. She looked up and found her lover watching her with a delighted smile. Elise cried out as Veronica dipped her tongue into her wetness and ran it along her sex.

Veronica licked and tasted her lover’s passion as the blonde draped her legs over the brunette’s broad shoulders. Veronica was lost in her lover’s taste as the blonde pressed herself closer to her. Veronica eagerly feasted upon Elise. She captured the blonde’s throbbing clit in her mouth as she pressed two fingers against the opening of her warm wet center. Elise jerked her hips, trying to capture Veronica’s fingers inside of her. The brunette entered her lover as she suckled her clit.

Veronica’s mouth and fingers moved in rhythm with Elise’s hips. She was drowning in her lover’s desire as she felt the blonde’s body tense around her. Veronica held her lover tightly as the blonde exploded against her. She continued to pleasure Elise as the blonde legs tightened around her. Elise was crying out in ecstasy when Veronica finally stilled her movements. The brunette rested her head against the blonde’s stomach as Elise rode out the last waves of passion.

Elise pulled her up into her arms and began kissing Veronica deeply. The smaller woman yanked the brunette’s shorts off and straddled the taller woman’s body. Veronica could feel the heat from the fire while her lover teased her clit with her fingers. Veronica mirrored her lover’s actions. They continued to kiss while they pleasured one another. Veronica was ready to explode when they entered each other’s wetness and began to plunge in and out of one another in perfect unison.

The sounds of their passion filled the tiny cabin as they exploded against each other. They still hadn’t spoken other than to cry out. They managed to stumble to the bed caressing the other’s body as they walked across the room. As they collapsed on the bed they melted into the other’s touch. Their bodies became one as they rocked wildly against one another. Elise proved to be an eager and apt student as they explored one another fully.

In the morning they pulled away from each other. They were unable to meet each other’s gaze as they showered separately, packed up the van, and drove off.

The present

"You didn’t talk at all?" Saul asked.

"Not a word," Veronica confirmed. "Not even when I dropped her off here. I’ve been sitting on the curb since I exchanged McBride and Debbie’s keys. Right now she’s in there getting married and I feel like a complete idiot."

"You’re doing the right thing, baby," Warren Manning shouted from inside the church just as the doors burst open. Veronica and Saul jumped to their feet.

Veronica’s eyes widened in surprise as Elise, dressed in a long white gown, came barreling out of the church followed by the entire wedding party and the few guests that had been invited. "Stop! You don’t want to do this!" the senior McBride pleaded.

True to form Elise spun around and tossed the bouquet at the pudgy man. "What’s going on?" Veronica asked bemusedly as Elise raced towards her.

"I can’t do this," the blonde blurted out.

"Then don’t," Veronica reassured her as her hands clasped the blonde’s hips.

"Okay," Elise agreed. "I don’t know what I want, but it isn’t him. I think it’s you. I’m not sure. All I know is that I really need to get out of here."

"Let’s go," Veronica offered as she took the blonde by the hand. "Wait! I don’t have a car."

"We can take the limo," Elise suggested. "It’s stocked with some very good champagne and two tickets to Aruba. Mind if I join you on your vacation again? I promise it’ll be a lot of fun this time."

The limo driver opened the door as Veronica led the bride over to the car. "Walker, you do this and you’re fired," McBride threatened her.

"I guess I’m fired," Veronica conceded before kissing Elise softly before a stunned crowd. She was surprised at the only two people who weren’t shocked. Elise’s parents were smiling at them. "They knew." She laughed. "Imagine that."

"Don’t worry about finding a job, Miss Walker," Warren Manning said with a wink. "You two have a nice vacation."

"Ready?" she asked the smiling Elise.

"I’m still not sure what I want, but I’m more than ready to find out," Elise vowed as she climbed into the limo, pulling the stunned brunette behind her.

The End

Time Heals All Wounds

July 2003

A very special thank you goes out to my beta reader, Mary.

As always this is for Heather.

*****

"Time heals all wounds," Kesi informed her best friend Vayle. The brunette sighed deeply as she listened to her dearest friend’s words, and decided that if one more person said that to her she was going to beat them with a stick. Vayle didn’t want the wounds to heal, she wanted her girlfriend back. "Okay let me put it another way," Kesi decided as Vayle’s demeanor grew more and more despondent. "She was a bitch who didn’t deserve you and you are better off without her."

"Now that is one I haven’t heard this week," Vayle blinked with surprise.

"Well maybe it is time for us to start telling you the truth," Kesi reasoned. "Penny was a bitch who ran around on you with anything that caught her eye. Frankly I’d be more concerned that she gave you something than seeing her sorry ass walking out."

"Wait," Vayle began to protest as Kesi held up her hand and cut off her words.

"Vayle all those nights you sat alone at night waiting for her to come home from work she was out with someone else," Kesi finally blurted out. "I tried to warn you. When you wouldn’t listen I stopped trying to tell you about her messing around."

"Are you trying to tell me that there were other women?" Vayle choked out in horror as a new set of tears welled up in her tired hazel eyes.

"Not just women," Kesi stood firm.

"Son of a . . .," Vayle sobbed as Kesi grabbed a pile of napkins from the table next to them and offered them to the sobbing brunette. "Why didn’t anyone tell me?"

"We tried," Kesi sighed in defeat. "You were so convinced that she walked on water that you didn’t want to listen. Didn’t you think it was strange that I work for the same company she does and I was always around?"

"Yeah but she said," Vayle protested not wanting to believe what she knew in her heart was the truth.

"Said what?" Kesi fumed. "Look she is gone and she isn’t coming back. If she tries to come back send her away. That woman is nothing but trouble."

The realization that the last two years of her life had been nothing but a lie filled the brunette with anger. She slammed her fist down onto the table cracking the crystal of her watch in the process. She glared down at the shattered remains of the watch that her grandmother had given her when she graduated from High School. "Well that’s just great," She managed to hiss as the tears burned her face.

A few weeks later Vayle was seeing things a little more clearly. Of course that was after several pints of Ben and Jerry’s and a lot of crying. She realized that Penny had in fact been using her since the very beginning, and was still trying to even after walking out. Vayle tried to be strong, but always seemed to be swayed by Penny’s hints at reconciliation.

It wasn’t until another month had passed that Vayle finally accepted the truth. One night she was waiting for the train at the Park Street Red Line stop when across the way she spotted Penny. She was just about to call out to her ex-lover when she noticed Bob a man Penny had introduced as a friend. There was no misinterpreting the interaction between Penny and Bob as they snuggled together. "Damn," Vayle muttered in a miserable tone as she stepped out of view and hid in the stairwell. She could still see the happy couple as they caressed and kissed. She didn’t board the train when it approached. Instead she lurked in the shadows and allowed three trains to pass until she finally boarded the train.

When she returned home that night she gathered up everything Penny had left behind and anything that reminded Vayle of her ex-lover and roasted them in her barbeque. Not the most mature course of action, but it did make her feel a lot better as she watched Penny’s date book going up in flames.

The following day she traveled down to Newbury Street in search of a watch repair shop that Kesi had recommended. The shop was quaint by the expensive standards of Newbury Street. She felt instantly at ease when the young blonde working behind the counter greeted her. The smaller woman examined the watch carefully before rendering her verdict.

"I can fix this, but it is going to take at least a week," The blonde informed her. "Can I ask what happened?"

"A misunderstanding with a table," Vayle muttered still feeling ashamed that she had allowed her anger to get the best of her. She was prone to outbursts. In fact she was better at hiding her feelings than expressing them.

"I see," The blonde chuckled. "And your watch lost the battle?"

"The table started it," Vayle offered in an attempt to hide her embarrassment.

"They can be quite the upstarts," The blonde teased her as she wrote out the repair order. "You must let me know where this trouble making table is located so I can be certain to avoid it."

"I think it has learned its lesson," Vayle played along.

"I just need your personal information and I can get started," The blonde inquired with a shy smile.

Vayle supplied the information as the blonde quickly wrote it down. She handed the brunette a claim stub. "I’ll call you when it is ready," The blonde continued as she handed Vayle her business card. "Here is my card if you have any questions."

Vayle’s hand trembled slightly as the blonde’s fingers lingered for just a moment. "Thank you Miss Sullivan," She squeaked out before stuffing the card in her pocket. She felt slightly short of breath once she stepped outside of the shop. She couldn’t help wondering if the attractive blonde was flirting with her? She dismissed the notion before heading off in search of a quick lunch so she could make it back to her office on time.

Over the following week Vayle found herself thinking about the blonde from the watch repair place. Jeanie Sullivan had certainly caught the accountant’s attention. Yet each time Vayle thought about it she once again dismissed the idea that the small blonde had been flirting. Vayle rationalized that Jeanie was simply being polite to a customer.

At the end of the week Vayle arrived at her office and sifted through the telephone messages her assistant had prepared. Most of them were business, with the exception of one from Kesi, about a dozen from her mother, a couple from Penny and one from McCormick’s informing her that her watch was ready. She threw away the messages from her mother, given that she had been avoiding her since the break up, and the messages from Penny knowing that if she spoke to her ex-lover she would explode.

She returned all of her business calls and emails before calling Kesi to set up dinner plans for the following evening. Then she debated on whether or not she should risk a call to her mother. She quickly shoved the absurd notion aside knowing that once her mother found out about the break up she wouldn’t be able to get her off of the telephone until quitting time. Vayle loved the quirky woman who claimed to be her mother, but then again she claimed to have Vayle’s best interest at heart.

For a brief moment Vayle pondered calling McCormick’s, then decided it would be silly to call just to tell Jeanie that she had received her message and would be picking up her watch. Later that day when she had been unable to find the time at lunch to head over to Newbury Street she once again considered calling the young blonde, and once again quickly brushed aside the notion. "I’ll just go after work," She reasoned as she worked through her lunch hour.

Around four o’clock her phone rang. As she answered it she had the overwhelming feeling of dread. "Vayle Tyler," She greeted her caller in a professional tone.

"Why are you avoiding me?" Came the all too familiar commanding voice. Vayle’s temple began to throb as her fears pounced down upon her.

"Hi mom," She offered trying to sound chipper.

"Don’t hi mom me," Her mother snorted. "What’s wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong," Vayle lied as she wondered if her mother had radar or something. "I’ve just been busy."

"Vayle Marie Tyler," Her mother quickly admonished her. "Don’t make me drag it out of you."

"Oh crap," Vayle grumbled as the throbbing slowly began to reach migraine proportions. "Fine," Vayle hissed as she braced herself. "Penny and I split up."

The flood gates opened and Simone Tyler was finally allowed to tell her daughter exactly what she thought of Penny. Vayle wasn’t surprised by her mother’s assault on Penny’s character; it wasn’t exactly a secret that Simone didn’t like Penny. But then again Vayle’s mother never cared for any of the women in her life. Truth be told before Vayle came out her mother wasn’t thrilled in her choices of boyfriends either. Of course after Vayle announced her homosexuality over Easter dinner, Simone had a change of heart regarding the boys in Vayle’s life.

After a good solid hour of listening to her mother harp on and on about Penny’s short comings, and reminding Vayle that her last boyfriend wasn’t such a bad guy, the brunette finally managed to end the telephone call. She turned her wrist to check the time and realized that she wasn’t wearing a watch. "Grrr," She growled as she glanced over at the clock on her desk and realized that it was after five o’clock.

She gathered up her belongings with lightening speed before rushing out of her office. As she flagged down a passing taxi she prayed that McCormick’s was still open. She tapped her foot nervously as the taxi was trapped in the mess that was Boston at rush hour. The conversation with her mother replayed in her head as she listened to the honking of car horns. "Like that is going to help," She muttered just as the driver honked the horn.

What troubled her most about the conversation with her mother was it did not qualify as a conversation. For a conversation two people should be speaking. The call from her mother was more like a character assassination. "And I thought Kesi had been harsh," She blew out a heavy sigh as she stared at the grid lock that encompassed her.

Once again out of habit she went to look at her watch. She scowled as she recalled that the reason she was spending a large chunk of change on a taxi was so that she could pick up her watch. She retrieved her cell phone from the confines of her briefcase, then extracted Jeanie Sullivan’s business card from her wallet. As she dialed the number she wondered just why she had placed the young blonde’s card in her wallet, it wasn’t as if she was going to need to call her again after her watch was fixed.

"McCormick’s," A husky male voice greeted her. Vayle was surprised for a moment before she gathered her wits and requested Jeanie.

"This is Jeanie Sullivan how may I help you?" The chirper voice greeted Vayle who suddenly relaxed into the sound of the blonde’s voice.

"Ms. Sullivan this is Vayle Tyler," She began suddenly feeling nervous. "I was just on my way over to your shop, but I seem to be stuck in traffic. How late are you open this evening?"

"No worries Ms. Tyler just get here when you can," Jeanie reassured her.

"Thank you," Vayle squeaked out as her throat became dry.

Vayle’s heart sank when she finally exited the taxi and saw the sign in the window turned to closed and the metal grates pulled down to cover and protect the windows. Just as she turned to walk away she heard her name being called. Vayle turned to find Jeanie waving to her from the slightly open doorway.

"I’m sorry to keep you waiting after hours," Vayle quickly apologized as Jeanie locked the door behind them.

"No need to apologize Ms. Tyler it is my pleasure," Jeanie reassured her as she stepped behind the counter.

"Vayle," The brunette quickly corrected her as she watched Jeanie unwrap a black felt cloth to reveal her watch.

"Like the ski resort?" Jeanie inquired playfully as she handed the delicate thin band silver watch over to Vayle.

"Kind of," Vayle responded as she studied the craftsmanship of her now completely restored watch. "More like my mother’s twisted sense of humor. In fact she is the reason I am so late. I got trapped on the telephone with her."

"Well if it was anything like a telephone call from my mother I bet you have a screaming headache by now," Jeanie reassured her with slight grin.

"To say the least," Vayle conceded as she handed her watch back to Jeanie. "It is beautiful. I’m very impressed Ms. Sullivan."

"Jeanie," The blonde quickly corrected her. "And thank you," She added as she wrapped the watch up and placed it in a box. "I love the inscription on the back. Time is a treasured gift."

"My grandmother," Vayle smiled at the memory of her teenage mind trying to understand what her grandmother was trying to tell her. "She gave me that watch the day I graduated from High School. I had no idea what the inscription meant back then. After she died I realized that she was trying to get me to appreciate each moment, and to live each moment to the fullest."

"And have you?" Jeanie prodded her as she handed her the bill.

"Not recently," Vayle conceded with a heavy sigh as she handed Jeanie her credit card. Vayle inhaled sharply as their fingers brushed. She shook her head as a warm sensation shimmered through her body.

"Maybe you should start listening to your grandmother?" Jeanie suggest in a coy tone as she began to process Vayle’s credit card.

"Maybe I should?" Vayle whispered as she allowed her gaze to travel up and down the smaller woman whose back was to her. "But that would mean I couldn’t take any more calls from my mother."

"That bad huh?" Jeanie laughed as she turned back towards Vayle. The brunette quickly diverted her gaze blushing slightly as she leaned against the glass display case. "This should only take a couple minutes," She added pointing to the credit card machine.

"Not really," Vayle snickered. "But my family can be a little bit of a three ring circus. What about yours?" Vayle had no idea why she had just asked Jeanie such a personal question. She was about to apologize when the petite blonde broke out with a hearty laugh.

"My family is a Springer show waiting to happen," Jeanie laughed heartily.

"Oh come on," Vayle coaxed her as she felt her body temperature rising from the playful gleam in Jeanie’s blue eyes.

"I don’t get along with my step-mother," Jeanie offered coyly.

"That isn’t that unusual," Vayle shrugged.

"Or my step-father," Jeanie added.

"Again not that uncommon," Vayle answered curious to see where this was leading.

"But since they use to be my aunt and uncle I play nice at least when my parents are around," Jeanie smirked.

"What?" Vayle stammered out as her brow knitted in confusion.

"My mother’s sister broke up my parent’s marriage," Jeanie explained as she tore off the receipt that the machine had just printed. "She hates my mother and is always putting her down. Then my father’s brother married my mother when she was on the rebound. Basically neither of my parents is happy, but then again they made each other miserable."

"Well not exactly a Springer show," Vayle teased as she signed the sales slip. "For that I think you need to marry a cousin and have an affair with an exotic dancer."

"Well I have no intention of marrying my cousin who is also my step brother," Jeanie laughed as she wiggled eye brows in a playful manner.

"Oh, but your having an affair with an exotic dancer," Vayle played along her body tingling as their fingers brushed once again.

"Not anymore," Jeanie quipped as Vayle was once again captured by the blonde’s captivating smile. "So what happened with your mother today?"

"Oh that," Vayle shrugged. "I just got dumped and now mom can finally tell me what an evil bitch my girlfriend was," Vayle offered casually as she slipped her credit card back into her wallet. She held her breath as she waited for Jeanie’s response. She said a silent prayer as that she hadn’t misinterpreted the young blonde.

"Was she?" Jeanie finally asked.

"Yes," Vayle conceded suddenly unable to look at Jeanie. She slipped the watch from its box and slid it onto her wrist.

"Are you going to start listening to her?" Jeanie asked in a sultry tone that made Vayle’s head jerk up. She stumbled backward when she found herself lock in a fiery gaze.

"Who?" She asked as she swallowed hard. She watched as Jeanie stepped out from behind the counter and approached her. As Jeanie neared her Vayle was unable to break eye contact with the smaller woman.

"Your grandmother?" Jeanie asked as she closed the gap between them and ran her fingers along the delicate band of the wrist watch.

"I’m not certain I remember how," Vayle answered. Her body trembled as Jeanie’s fingers lingered against her wrist. She could feel her pulse racing beneath Jeanie’s touch as she felt her stomach clench.

"I could help you," Jeanie offered her voice sending a delightful tremor down Vayle’s spine as she reached up and cupped the stunned brunette’s face. Vayle leaned into Jeanie’s touch. The strange pounding in her ears frightened her as she realized it was from the rapid beating of her heart. She licked her dry lips with anticipation as she felt Jeanie guiding her closer. Her eyes fluttered shut as she felt Jeanie’s breath on her skin.

Vayle was paralyzed as she felt Jeanie’s soft lips greeting her own. She was still stunned by the tenderness of the kiss that somehow sent a shock wave through her system. She was unable to move or open her eyes even as she felt Jeanie stepping slightly away.

She finally blinked open her eyes when she felt Jeanie’s fingers lacing with her own. She was greeted by Jeanie’s charming smile and warm gaze. "What else did your Grandmother tell you?" Jeanie asked softly as she caressed the back of Vayle’s hands with her thumbs.

"She Uhm," Vayle choked out as she cleared her throat. "She said that you should never take a gift for granted and the best gifts were meant to be shared. At the time I thought she was just trying to get me to play nice with my sister."

"Is that what you think now?" Jeanie encouraged her as Vayle fought to control her breathing. There was something about standing so close to Jeanie that was throwing her off balance.

"I can’t think right now," Vayle whimpered honestly as she felt Jeanie’s body leaning into her own. "This is happening too fast," She blurted out as she broke away from Jeanine’s inviting touch. Her body felt cold as she stepped out of the smaller woman’s embrace.

"Fair enough," Jeanie gently offered allowing Vayle to catch her breath.

"I have to go," She stammered out as she rushed out of the tiny shop. The moment she stepped outside she knew that she had made a mistake.

She stumbled away from the store and slumped against the brick wall of a neighboring store. She began muttering to herself as she closed her eyes. She berated herself for leaving while arguing that it was the right thing to do. People gave her curious looks as they passed her on the dimly lit street while she debated with herself.

She took a deep breath and pushed away from the wall. Her heart sank as she noticed the metal grate over the front door of McCormick’s had been pulled down. "She’s gone," She whispered suddenly feeling heartbroken.

"You know someone is going to call the cops if you keep standing out here talking to yourself," Jeanie’s voice broke through her ramblings.

"Who are you?" Vayle asked with a mix of bewilderment and amazement as she turned to find Jeanie smiling at her.

"I’m Jeanie Sullivan," She introduced herself. "I come from a screwed up family, but I’m basically harmless. I fix watches and clocks and I love each gear and wheel. I find everything about time pieces completely fascinating. I live alone except for my dog Buddy, who I need to get home to before he makes a mess. I liked kissing you and want to do it again. But if you don’t want to then that is okay. That is who I am."

Vayle stared at the smaller woman with astonishment. "Walk with me," Jeanie offered, her smile once again creeping into Vayle’s heart. The taller woman was unable to speak so she simply followed Jeanie through the busy streets of Boston. She was at a loss as to why she was simply following this stranger, but helpless to turn away.

The panic she felt earlier seized her when they entered Jeanie’s townhouse. The panic quickly ebbed when she was greeted by Buddy who was a large black lab. Buddy sniffed her quickly. Since he nuzzled up against her she could only assume that he approved. Jeanie cooed and cuddled Buddy as she snapped the leash onto his collar.

Vayle simply followed them as Jeanie led her oversized puppy out for his evening stroll. When they returned to the modest townhouse Vayle stood watching as Jeanie tended to Buddy’s needs. "Why am I here?" Vayle finally asked when Jeanie kicked off her shoes and plopped down onto her sofa.

"That is entirely up to you," Jeanie offered simply as she patted the spot next to her.

Vayle shrugged off her coat and placed her briefcase down on the coffee table. She then kicked off her shoes and joined her beguiling companion on the sofa. "Figured it out yet?" Jeanie chuckled.

"Nope," Vayle sighed as she felt Jeanie’s hand caressing her arm.

"Then kiss me again," Jeanie suggested. "That should tell you everything you need to know."

"Kisses can be wrong," Vayle argued as she felt her body warming from Jeanie’s touch.

"No always," Jeanie protested as her hand drifted to Vayle’s waist.

"You just want to make out," Vayle chastised her as she felt her stomach muscles dancing from Jeanie soft caresses.

"Well yeah," Jeanie laughed as Vayle leaned closer to the captivating blonde. "But I also believe that what your grandmother said was true, time is a treasure."

Vayle turned to Jeanie and felt her body ignite. She cupped Jeanie’s face in her hands. "Kiss me," The blonde repeated in a breathy tone. Once again Vayle was helpless to resist. She captured Jeanie’s lips and fell into a lingering kiss. As their tongues caressed one another she realized that Jeanie was right.

Vayle had been kissed before, passionately with a deep fiery intensity and not once had she felt as if she was a part of someone else until that moment. With each stroke of Jeanie’s tongue Vayle felt herself falling deeper. Her body craved more as she felt Jeanie’s hands caressing her hips.

Unable to resist her body she lowered Jeanie down onto the sofa never breaking the soul searing kiss as she covered the blonde’s body with her own. Jeanie moaned into the warmth of her mouth as their bodies melded together.

"Wow," She panted as the kiss ended. Her lips were burning from the fiery exchange. She was mesmerized as she gazed down upon the blonde. Jeanie laced her fingers through Vayle’s long, dark hair and drew her in for another kiss. Vayle’s senses were reeling as she not only from the passion but a promise as they kissed again and again.

Vayle caressed Jeanie’s face with her fingers as she once again gazed down upon this woman who was a complete enigma to her. Vayle had certainly felt passion and raw desire before, yet at that moment she felt something deeper. Something that had been missing yet she still didn’t understand what it was?

Her fingers drifted down Jeanie’s neck and down along the opening of her silk blouse. As she watched the rise and fall of Jeanie’s breast she decided to simply enjoy whatever happened from that moment on. She felt shy as she brushed the swell of Jeanie’s breast. Her shyness vanished when she felt the smaller woman’s hands cupping her bottom and drawing her closer.

Her fingers gently slipped beneath the soft material of Jeanie’s blouse. She smiled as she gazed down at Jeanie only to see desire mixed with shyness clouding her crystal blue eyes. Vayle knew that Jeanie’s eyes were a reflection of her own. A mix of passion and uncertainty filling each of them as Vayle allowed her fingers to caress Jeanie.

Vayle leaned down and kissed her way along Jeanie’s chin as she began to open the buttons on the blonde’s blouse. As each button was freed Vayle’s mouth and tongue drifted lower. She kissed the blonde’s neck as she opened her blouse. She felt Jeanie’s hips rising against her body. Her own body swayed in response as she ran her tongue along the valley between Jeanie’s breasts.

"I can’t believe this is happening," Jeanie moaned as Vayle‘s thigh slipped between the blonde’s legs.

"We can stop," Vayle murmured against Jeanie’s skin.

"I can’t," Jeanie whimpered helplessly.

"Neither can I," Vayle responded breathlessly before her tongue slipped beneath the confines of Jeanie’s bra and lightly brushed against her nipple.

She continued to lightly caress the bud with her tongue as she felt Jeanie’s body moving against her own. Unable to control her desire her hips moved sensually against Jeanie’s body. She could feel her clit throbbing as her wetness grew. Her hands caressed Jeanie’s soft flesh as her lover’s moans filled the room. Her hands drifted up along Jeanie’s body.

She drew her lover closer and caressed her back. She released the clasp of her lover’s bra unable to endure the barrier hindering her touch. As Jeanie’s body arched she guided the garment up freeing her lover’s breasts. She cupped one of Jeanie’s breasts in the palm of her hand feeling the bud hardening from her touch. Then she slowly circled its twin with the tip of her tongue.

Jeanie clasped the back of her head and guided Vayle to take more of her. Vayle moaned with delight as she captured the blonde’s nipple in her mouth and began to suckle it. Vayle’s growing need for release was only surpassed by the need to pleasure her lover. She teased Jeanie’s nipple with her teeth and her tongue as her fingers teased the other one.

Vayle lavished each nipple as her lover’s body rocked against her. Vayle’s own desire was screaming for release as she began to lick and taste her way down Jeanie’s body. She clenched her thighs in an effort to cool her own needs. Still her body craved more as she dipped her tongue in her lover’s navel.

She could hear Jeanie moaning her name over and over again as she slipped her hands up under the blonde’s skirt. She found herself kneeling on the floor as she lifted the hem of Jeanie’s skirt up. She was lost in a haze of desire as she lowered the blonde’s pantyhose and underwear in one fluid motion.

"This is insane," Jeanie groaned as Vayle kissed her thighs and cupped her ass.

"I know," Vayle agreed as she drank in her lover’s scent.

In a moment of clarity Vayle withdrew before she could taste the sweet nectar that was drawing her in. Each of them steadied their breathing. Vayle remained kneeling on the floor as Jeanie lowered her skirt and sat up. Vayle smiled up at Jeanie whose face was flushed with desire.

"Oh boy," Jeanie panted as she brushed back her long, blonde hair. "I’ve never done anything like this before, even when I kissed you earlier tonight. Trust me that was completely out of character for me."

"I believe you," Vayle chuckled as she blushed. "So now what? Do I walk out the door and we try to do this the adult way or . . ?" Her words lingered as she felt herself being drawn in once again.

"I can’t ask you leave," Jeanie gasped in bewilderment.

"I can’t seem to go," Vayle confessed as Jeanie laced her fingers through the brunette’s hair.

"Then promise me that we will go out on a real date," Jeanie implored her as she drew Vayle closer and reclaimed her lips.

"I promise," Vayle vowed as she lowered the zipper of the blonde’s skirt and slowly removed it. As she draped Jeanie’s legs over her shoulders she was amazed that this stranger had sent her into such a tailspin. Her worries vanished as she licked the passion from the inside of Jeanie’s trembling thighs.

Jeanie clutched her shoulders as Vayle ran her tongue along the blonde’s sex. She parted her lover as she teased her engorged clit with tip of her tongue. "Oh God Vayle," Jeanie whimpered as Vayle suckled her clit deeply. Vayle murmured with pleasure as Jeanie pressed her wetness deeper against her skin.

Vayle drank in her lover’s essence as she pressed her fingers against the warm wet opening of the blonde’s center. "Yes," Jeanie hissed as her hips thrust forward. Vayle filled her lover as she teased her clit with her teeth. Vayle’s fingers and tongue pleasured her lover until Jeanie’s body exploded against her touch.

Vayle could feel her own body quivering in response. Jeanie pulled her up and kissed Vayle deeply before she began to tug at the brunette’s clothing. Vayle gave herself over to the blonde’s insistent touch until each of them was free from all barriers. She was clinging to the arm of the sofa as Jeanie pleasured her with her mouth and hands. Vayle cried out as she felt her body giving in to her desires.

They snuggled up on the sofa and the strangest thing happened. As they held one another the room filled with a strange awkwardness. "My grandmother was right," She muttered as Jeanie looked up at her with confusion and a hint of sadness. "It is a treasured gift. And I think we just wasted it."

"I know," Jeanie agreed in a sullen tone. "I just couldn’t stop."

"Neither could I," Vayle agreed as she kissed the top of Jeanie’s head. They had rushed everything and somehow spoiled their beginning.

"We could try again?" Jeanie suggest hopefully.

"You mean forget tonight ever happened?" Vayle asked.

"Hell no," Jeanie chuckled.

"It’s your smile," Vayle found herself saying as she smiled in response. "I can’t resist it."

"Are you willing to get to know the person behind the smile?" Jeanie asked slowly. "Would you keep your promise and take me out on a date?"

"Yes," Vayle readily agreed.

"One thing you should know," Jeanie cautioned her. "I don’t sleep with someone on the first date."

"Huh?"

"I don’t," Jeanie confirmed. "And I don’t do one night stands. There is no way I’m going to let someone who can kiss me like you do turn into a one night stand."

Six months later after a romantic dinner Vayle was being led into Jeanie’s bedroom for the first time. Where they slowly undressed one another and caressed the other’s body until they melted into one another’s tender embrace. They made love slowly until the fire consumed them. After six long frustrating months they finally gave themselves to one another. Vayle felt alive as she felt her lover’s body rising against her touch. She felt like it was the first time when she drank in Jeanie’s passion.

"I think I knew," Vayle murmured as she cradled her lover in her arms.

"Knew what?" Jeanie murmured against her skin.

"That I was in love the first time you kissed me," Vayle announced for the first time. She waited for her surprised lover to say something.

"I knew that I loved you the first moment I saw you," Jeanie said proudly.

"You couldn’t have known then," Vayle teased.

"I did," Jeanie vowed. "But, all in all, I’m glad that we spent the last six months getting to know one another."

"Hmm," Vayle murmured. "That’s not what you said that night we went to that carnival," She teased. "But I wouldn’t waste a single moment that I spent getting to know you."

"Neither would I," Jeanie agreed before placing a promising kiss on Vayle’s trembling lips.

The End