JCRM

Adrienne

My feet were up on the coffee table as I sat back on the sofa and contemplated the fire, a cup of green tea in my hands. I heard the water in the shower cut off and I smiled. This is definitely not how I thought I’d be spending my Friday night.

After dinner, I’d headed to the front desk to see what other accommodations were available since Jill’s room with its single twin bed wasn’t an option. I’d ended up renting a suite, figuring that space to relax was a good thing.

I’d guessed right when Jill had shown up at the door, suitcase in hand, pleased to see the sitting room, complete with sofa and a small gas fireplace. She’d pronounced it perfect then asked me whether I wanted to shower first or should she. I’d opted to go first, taking a quick shower while she ordered some tea and lit the fire.

“Ah, good. The tea is here,” Jill said as she came into the room.

“Came a few minutes ago. Was your….” I stopped as she came around the sofa towards the small table holding the tea service. The woman I was hopelessly in love with. The woman I never, ever thought would be anything more than a friend. Standing there, in her red pyjamas, pouring herself a cup of tea. In my hotel room. I thought I might pass out for a second.

“Ade?” she questioned.

“I…you take my breath away. You’re so incredibly beautiful to me.”

Jill looked at me, startled, and then blushed.

“Is it so surprising I find you beautiful?”

“No, it’s…not something I…thank you. I’m glad you do.”

“I do. As I was saying before you took my breath away, was the water pressure okay? I could spit harder than the water pressure I had in the shower.”

I watched her shoulders move slightly as she chuckled while she stirred a bit of milk into her tea. “You are so American at times. I’ve experienced far worse.”

“One of my pet peeves is poor water pressure.”

“Ah. I’ll try to remember.” Jill took a seat at the other end of the sofa, tucking her legs underneath, and gazing into the fire.“This was a very good idea.”

I shifted so I could face her. “I have one every now and then.”

She turned her head, giving me a look.

“Are you disputing I have good ideas, Dr. Marsden?” I teased.

“No, the frequency. I’d say it’s a bit more frequent than every now and then.”

I nodded and took a sip of my tea. She returned her gaze to the fire, a soft smile on her face, her eyes unfocused. I took the opportunity to study her profile as we sat in companionable silence. Not like I hadn’t already memorised every inch of her face.

A small scar ran vertically through her right eyebrow, about a quarter inch from midline, barely disrupting the line of her brow. Her nose was straight with a tiny bump on the bridge to the right. I’d often wondered if the bump and scar were related. Her smile was a bit crooked on the right, whereas my smile was a bit crooked on the left. Barely visible frown lines. Her lashes were long and so incredibly blonde as were her eyebrows.

“I’m glad you suggested this,” Jill said in a subdued tone as she continued to stare at the fire. “I need the quiet time to sort things in my mind.”

“The quiet. I….” I stopped as Jill turned her head and our eyes met. “I know we can talk. I mean, we have such incredible conversations. I’d wondered how it would feel to just be with you. It’s nice, peaceful…relaxing.”

“It is. When I told you I wanted you to take me to bed this afternoon…thank you for not,” she smiled wryly. “At least one of us was thinking clearly.”

“You’re welcome, I think, though I’m reasonably certain I was pretty freaked out.”

“I take it this hasn’t been a typical lesbian date so far.” Humour coloured Jill’s words.

“Not like any I’ve been on, but it’s been perfect for us.”

She scooted around to face me. “Why didn’t you ever say anything to me, Ade?”

I shrugged. “You’re…were married. I wasn’t going to go there.”

“Ever?”

“Had I known you’d left Paul?” I paused, thinking. “Speculation on my part, but I’m not sure, even then. I know you. You needed to figure things out on your own. This…relationship up until now has always been defined by how far you wanted to take it.”

“And now?”

“We both decide.”

She smiled, her voice soft as she said, “Good. We work well as a team.”

“We do,” I acknowledged.

“I was in the shower, thinking about how our relationship’s progressed. I’ve concluded we’ve been dating. I certainly don’t get butterflies when I see V, or anyone else for that matter. Just you. And other than V, I don’t spend time with anyone in London unless it’s business related. Except for you. We may not have held hands or kissed but we’ve developed a very strong, solid relationship over the past year.”

“We have built something solid,” I agreed.

“Earlier, when you asked whether I trusted you…I do, Ade. Please believe that. I’ve a level of trust and intimacy with you…it’s staggering to me when I think about it,” Jill said with a slight shake of her head. “You know things about me I’ve never told anyone else. Important things. We’ve explored morals, ethics, values. How we view love, commitment, relationships, life. I know who you are on the inside. That’s the most important thing, isn’t it? Not whether I know the name of your childhood pet or even if you had one.”

The final piece of the puzzle for me. “It is.”

We sat quietly for a few minutes before I had to stretch out my left leg, issuing a small grunt as I did. It had fallen asleep. Extended, my foot was just inches from Jill.

“Between you and V, I walk amongst giants.”

“Hey, we’re not that tall. Victoria’s 5’10”. I’m only half an inch taller than she is.”

“‘Only’, she says. On a good day, I’m almost 5’ 3”. I have to use a bloody step stool to get things off the top cupboard shelf.” She looked down at her cup, then rose. “More tea?”

“I’m good, thanks.”

She refilled her cup from the pot, added a touch of milk and sat back down on the sofa, tucking her legs under her.

“Ade, what are your plans this weekend? For Monday?” she asked, picking up the spoon from the saucer on the coffee table and stirring her tea.

“Not much for the weekend. Some errands. A couple of meetings on Monday. Why?”

“I so rarely have three days off in a row. If you’re able, I’d like to cancel Cornwall and spend them with you.”

I’d rearrange heaven and earth if I had to. “Nothing on my calendar that can’t be rearranged, Jill. I’ll make a call in the morning to take care of it. Your nephews, sister, they won’t be disappointed?”

“Eh. I suspect everyone’s used to my cancelling by now,” she said, resigned then her expression morphed as she smiled and her eyes twinkled. “Good, so it’s settled. We have until Tuesday morning to complete this merger.”

“We do,” I agreed, returning her smile.

My other leg had fallen asleep so I stood and moved to the fire, feeling the unpleasant tingles as the blood started circulating again. Jill was quiet, her eyes focused on the flames again.

I have no idea how long I stood there, staring at the fire, until I felt Jill’s body press into my back, her arms going around my waist. I set my cup on the mantel and covered her hands with my own. My eyes closed as I savoured the contact, the feeling indescribable.

“I’ve never seen you in anything other than dress clothes,” she stated, her voice a bit husky.

“True. Suits, dresses, the occasional evening dress, but casual, no. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in anything else either. Definitely not pyjamas.”

“Is this what you normally wear to sleep?” she questioned.

“Uh, no,” I glanced down at the grey sweats I was wearing. It was the closest thing to pyjamas I had in my jump bag. Definitely not what I would’ve worn had I known how the night would end. “In bed, I sprawl. Take up as much room as I possibly can, usually starting in the centre and spreading out. Pyjamas just get in the way so I don’t wear anything.”

A slight groan. “How do you sleep with someone if you take up all the room?”

“I haven’t, Jill. Not in a while. We’ll figure it out.”

“How long?”

“Hmmm. About two years ago.”

“Really?”

I heard the surprise in her voice. “Yes, really. I’ve had the occasional date or three since I broke up with my last girlfriend, but no sex, much less actual sleeping together. It never felt right.”

“When was your last date?”

“The night I met you, after the WSA meeting.”

“Oh.”

I turned around in her arms, settling my hands on her hips, our faces inches from each other.

“Yeah…oh,” I murmured.

I kissed her softly, spending minutes exploring her mouth, immersed in her response.

“Oh my,” she breathed out as we broke apart.

Passion swept my nervousness away.

“Still scared?” I whispered, my forehead touching hers.

“Terrified,” she whispered back.

“Want to stop?”

“Take me to bed.”