Date: Thu, 19 Jul 2007 13:07:40 +0000 From: Ann Douglas Subject: The Open Door - FF (1/1) The Open Door by Ann Douglas (ann_douglas@hotmail.com) The heavy rain that had been falling for the last few hours continued to beat against the large bay window as Olivia Stone sat in the plush recliner, watching the droplets run down the glass. It had been raining on and off all week and while the annoyingly cheerful weather girl on channel 4 had promised clear skies for the weekend, it was already Friday night and it hardly seemed likely that they were in store for anything but more of the same. Originally, the forty-two-year-old blonde had intended to spend the night in front of the television with a fire going in the hearth and a glass of her favorite wine. TCM was running one of her favorite old movies tonight and with her daughter having left to go back to college early, Olivia had been looking forward to a quiet evening alone. It had been a busy week at the local hospital where she worked as a pediatric nurse and she was looking forward to a quiet night. However, when she had settled down in front of the television and turned on the remote, all she found was a blank screen. Calling the cable company, she'd gotten a recording that said they were having technical difficulties and service would be restored as soon as possible. Evidently, the storm had knocked out the cable connection somewhere along the line. She'd read a book for a while but eventually decided she really wasn't in the mood. Picking up the phone, she started to dial her best friend, Mindy's number, thinking that if nothing else, they could spend an hour or two trading the latest gossip. Mindy always had the best dirt on who was doing what with whom. Unfortunately, all she got was an answering machine and the recollection that Mindy had mentioned the possibility that she and her husband, Tom, might be going away for the weekend. The thought of Mindy and Tom frolicking the night away at some bed and breakfast reminded Olivia that intimate companionship was something she greatly missed in the two years since her divorce. Since becoming single again, she'd dated on and off, but in a town the size of Westington, her options had turned out to be quite limited. Not everyone really knew each other, but it was a good bet that everyone had a friend of a friend who knew someone who knew you. As a result, a fair number of the men she'd met in the last year knew, or knew someone who'd known Carl Stone. And if they did, they certainly knew he'd moved upstate after a really nasty divorce, the central issue of which had been that he'd been screwing his twenty-eight-year-old assistant every chance he could. Half of those who knew looked on her as someone desperate to land a new husband and the others saw her as a lonely divorcee who was an easy lay. As if there was no middle ground. With Mindy unavailable, Olivia briefly considered trying Sally Parks, another of her friends. Sally was going through a divorce and the two shared common ground. However, at the last moment, the blonde remembered that Sally was on her "men, who needs them" kick again and Olivia really wasn't in the mood for that tonight either. So it was just a glass of wine and watching the raindrops fall. An early bed seemed her best option, hoping tomorrow really did bring out the sun. Olivia had just shut down the fireplace when the telephone rang. Putting down her still half-full glass of wine, she picked it up and heard an almost hysterical young woman on the other end. At first, she thought it was her daughter and her heart skipped a beat. Then she realized that the voice wasn't Carol's but was nevertheless familiar. "Mrs. Stone, is Carol home?" the crying girl managed to control herself long enough to ask. "Kathleen, Kathleen Freeman?" Olivia asked as she finally placed the voice and the girl acknowledged her identity. "Oh Kathleen, I'm sorry but Carol left early this morning to go back to school. She wanted to stop and visit her father on the way." Despite the animosity between the two of them, Olivia and Carl had gone out of their way not to let it destroy each other's relationship with their only child. "Oh God," Kathleen said, reverting back to a tearful voice, "I was hoping she was home. I don't know who else to call." "Kathleen, what's wrong?" Olivia asked, her concern genuine. She had known the twenty-year-old since her daughter had met her back in their first year of high school. "I've had an accident," the girl managed to say. "I smashed up my car." "Are you alright?" Olivia quickly asked. "Is anyone else hurt?" "I'm just shaken up a little," Kathleen replied. "There was no one else in the car. I skidded off the road and hit a tree." "Thank God," Olivia said. "But the police are here and they keep asking me how many drinks I've had," the girl said as she began crying again. "I swear, I only had a few beers, I'm not drunk." "Where are you?" Olivia asked. "I'm out on Route 6, just past Miller's Crossing." Olivia quickly did the math and figured she could be there in just over ten minutes, even in the rain. She told Kathleen not to worry and that she'd be right there. Grabbing her raincoat and the car keys, Olivia started up her old Escort and heading down to the interchange that would put her on Route 6. She was glad she had only the half glass of wine because with the roads this wet, and visibility limited, it definitely wasn't a night to be driving impaired. -=-=-=-= It would've been hard to miss the accident site, even on a night like this. The flashing lights of the police cruiser and a tow truck were visible far down the road. Covering herself with an umbrella, Olivia got out and quickly found Kathleen. "Kathleen, are you okay?" she asked again, looking over the girl for any sign of injury. "I'm fine," Kathleen answered, her voice shaky and unconvincing. "What happened?" "I thought I saw someone or something in the road and tried to slow down," she explained. "Then I started skidding and couldn't stop." "Then it wasn't your fault," Olivia said. "I don't think the police believe me," Kathleen said. "Once they found out I was coming back from Gilhooley's, all they kept asking was how much I'd had to drink and when I told them they acted like they didn't believe me." Gilhooley's was a rather secluded bar and grill just outside of town. It was the sort of place people went to either drink in private or not be seen for other reasons. Carl, Olivia had later learned, was a frequent patron. "Kathleen, how many drinks did you have?" Olivia asked, "And I need you to tell me the truth, I can't help you otherwise." "Only two, I swear," Kathleen answered. "I went there to meet someone and it didn't really go well. That's why I left after only two drinks." Olivia's gut reaction was that Kathleen was telling the truth. Whether she could convince the on site officers of that was another thing. Working at the hospital, she had met just about every one wearing a badge in the county at one time or another. Hopefully the two that belonged to the cruiser over there were some of the more reasonable ones. Leaving Kathleen sitting inside the small kiosk that served as a waiting station for the county bus line, Olivia headed over to the closest figure in blue. The young man, who she guessed couldn't be much older than Kathleen, told him that she would have to talk to his partner, who at the moment was engaged in conversation with the tow truck driver. She had to wait a few minutes until he was finished. "Oh shit!" Olivia said under her breath when the senior officer turned around and headed back toward her. "Over fifty cops in this town and it would have to be him." The officer's face filled with a smile as he approached and she became more recognizable. It was a face Olivia knew well. "Well, well, well," the officer whose name tag read Hickman said as he stopped only a few feet in front of her, "I knew that one of these days you'd come to your senses and call me back, but this is a little extreme, don't you think?" "Don't let that inflated ego of yours run away with itself, Ray," Olivia said. "The girl whose car is up on the hook is a friend of my daughter's. I just came out here to help her." "I think she might need a lawyer more than a nurse," Ray said as he looked at her with an approving eye. "We're about to take her in on suspicion of DWI." "Suspicion?" Olivia repeated, "Then you haven't taken a breathalyzer test yet." "Turns out the one we have with us is damaged," he explained, "that's why we're taking her back to the station. Trust me, I've stopped enough of these kids to know she's going to come in over the limit." "Come on Ray, give the girl a break," Olivia said as she saw her opening. "All she hit was a tree and for all you know, there was something out there in the road. God knows I've hit the brakes enough times out here when some animal jumped out in front of me." "You're asking me to disregard my duty," Ray said, trying to sound conscientious. "Like that's never happened before," Olivia countered, knowing full well how many times he'd let some big boobed bimbo off because she'd flashed some cleavage at him. "If nothing else, do it as a favor for me." "Well you know, I'm not the only one here," Ray pointed out. "My partner..." "That kid will do whatever you tell him and you know that," Olivia cut him off. "Okay, I'll give the kid a break," the officer say in a tone that implied he was relenting reluctantly, "but you have to do something for me in return." Their conversation went on for a few more minutes, with a look of first anger, then simple annoyance filling Olivia's face. Finally, she nodded her head in agreement and turned to walk back toward where she'd left Kathleen. "Okay, we're out of here," she told Kathleen as she stepped up to her. "But the police, my car?" a confused Kathleen asked. "You can check on your car over at Peterson's Garage tomorrow," Olivia said as she led the girl back to her own car. "The damage doesn't look as bad as you might think. Just the passenger side fender and one of the headlights." "But the police," the brunette repeated. "They said they were going to charge me with..." "Officer Hickman and I came to an understanding," Olivia said as she started the engine and pulled back onto the road. "All the official report is going to say is that you swerved to avoid an animal in the road and then lost traction in the rain. Since it wasn't your fault, there shouldn't be any problem with your insurance company paying for the repairs." "I don't know what to say," Kathleen said in a relief- filled voice. "Let's just forget it, okay," Olivia said. "I want to stop over at the hospital before we head home so that one of the doctors can check you out. Just to be sure." Grateful as she was, Kathleen gave no objection and given Olivia's connections, they only had a short wait before she was examined. Only three hours after Kathleen had first called, Olivia was pulling back into her driveway. "You can spend the night in Carol's room," Olivia said as she led Kathleen into the house. "I don't want to go further than we have to in this rain." Kathleen agreed with a smile, and thanked Olivia for the further offer of something hot to drink before she turned in. "Why don't you change into something dry while the tea kettle boils," Olivia also suggested. "There are some pajamas on Carol's bed and the two of you are about the same size." It only took about ten minutes for Kathleen to reappear back in the kitchen, now wearing a pair of cotton, unisex pajamas. She had also unpinned her dark hair so that it now hung down to just past her shoulders. Olivia estimation of her guest's size had failed to take into consideration a larger bust than her daughter. The buttons of her top seemed strained to contain their fullness and the outlines of her nipples were plain to see. "Oh well, it's only for the night," Olivia thought as she handed Kathleen one of the two cups of tea she'd prepared and motioned for the girl to join her at the kitchen table. "Mrs. Stone, I don't want to appear ungrateful but..." she started to say but was interrupted. "Olivia, please," the older woman said, "I think we passed the Mrs. Stone stage when you graduated from high school." "Okay, Olivia then," Kathleen started over. "I don't want to appear ungrateful, but I can't help but worry what you might have done to change that police officer's mind. He seemed pretty determined." "Pig headed is more like it," Olivia laughed as she sipped her tea. She paused a moment then gave Kathleen her answer. "Let's just say Ray Hickman and I have a history, one that he'd like to see continue," she said. "So in exchange for his agreeing to see things my way, I agreed to go out with him for dinner next weekend." "Just dinner?" "Well, there might be some other activities involved," Olivia admitted, with an expression that left little doubt as to what those might be, "but that's my concern, not yours." "But..." "That's the end of the discussion," Olivia said in the tone she usually reserved when she was putting her foot down with her own daughter. "Now it's been a long night so why don't we both turn in and get some sleep." Not wanting to argue with her benefactor, Kathleen took her advice and said her goodnights. As Olivia rinsed out the two tea mugs before heading up to her own bedroom, she thought again of the bargain she'd made with Ray. Of course the forty-six-year-old police officer expected more than just dinner. It was only the prospect of a very special dessert that finally changed his mind. What Kathleen had no way of knowing was that it would hardly have been the first time that the two of them made the beast with two backs. Ray Hickman had fallen into the second category of men she'd dated since the divorce. If she was honest with herself, there were times that assessment of her was right on target. She was hardly living a life of denial these last months and after all, a woman had needs as much as a man. And continuing in her honesty, she had to admit that putting aside whatever other character flaws Ray might have, he was definitely something else in bed. So maybe it hadn't been such a bad bargain after all. -=-=-=-= Much to Olivia's surprise, the morning did indeed bring the sun and clear skies. She let Kathleen sleep in, figuring that sleep was probably what she needed more than anything else. It was almost noon by the time she heard her stirring. When the shower shut off a few minutes later, she'd already put on a late breakfast. "I borrowed a blouse and skirt from Carol's dresser," Kathleen said as she walked into the kitchen. " My clothes weren't where I left them last night. I hope you don't mind." "Of course not," Olivia smiled as she laid a plate of bacon, eggs and hash browns on the table. "I tossed them in the washer while you were sleeping. They should be out of the dryer by the time you finish eating." "Oh you've done too much already," Kathleen insisted. "Nonsense," Olivia replied. "Besides, it's already made and it would be a shame to just toss it out." Kathleen gave in and despite her protest, quickly wolfed down everything on the plate. It had been a while since she had anything for breakfast other than just cereal and coffee. "So what have you been doing with yourself since the last time I saw you?" Olivia asked as she sat across from the young woman. "I didn't know that Carol and you still kept in touch after she went upstate to college." "Carol was one of the few people that still wanted to be my friend after high school," Kathleen said as she finished the last of her breakfast. "That's why I called her last night, I didn't know who else I could turn to. You know my parents won't even take my calls." That was something that Olivia would never be able to understand. No matter what Kathleen had done, and in her mind it wasn't very terrible, it was incomprehensible that her mother and father had totally disowned her. Kathleen's mother, June, had actually grown up in the same neighborhood as Olivia. They were never close friends, especially after June met Collin Brookes in her junior year of high school and through him found religion. Olivia had nothing against people who were serious about their faith, but she did have a problem with those who followed it fanatically and condemned anyone who didn't. She also thought June somewhat hypocritical in condemning her own daughter for her sexuality when it was pretty much common knowledge among the girls in their circle as to know many of the boys had found their way under June's blouse, at least in the pre-Collin days. From the story that Carol had shared with her mother, Kathleen hadn't just come out of the closet in the summer following graduation. It was more a case of the closet door being blown off. Collin and June Freeman had come home unexpectedly from a weekend retreat and found their only daughter naked in the living room in the arms of an equally nude older woman. That the woman turned out to be her former high school music teacher, Carrie Reynolds, only made matters worse. The fact that both were of legal age didn't prevent the Freemans from having the woman fired from her position. "Carol told me the story," Olivia said, letting Kathleen known that she didn't have to explain further. The girl seemed relieved that Kathleen already knew her secret and more importantly, it didn't seem to matter to her. Moving on, she concentrated on relating what she'd been doing since then. "With my parents taking away my college fund, I've been working at Parsons Bakery and going to classes at the community college," Kathleen explained. "My advisor says that if I keep my grades up the way I've been doing, I should be able to get a scholarship when I make the jump to a senior college." "That's wonderful," Olivia said with sincere admiration. She remembered how hard it was going back to school to get her nursing degree once her marriage began to crumble. They talked a while longer, mostly about school and Kathleen's plans for the future. Then the subject turned back to the events of last night. Olivia had to admit, her curiosity had gotten the better of her. "How did you wind up at Gilhooley's?" she asked. "I was meeting someone there," Kathleen said, repeating the answer she had given last night. 'Oh yes, that's right," Olivia reflected, "and if I remember correctly, you'd said it hadn't gone well." "No, we had an argument right off the bat," Kathleen confirmed, "and it went downhill from there." "Could I ask what the argument was about?" "I found out that she was still seeing her husband," Kathleen said. "She was married?" "Separated and getting a divorce," the younger woman explained, "or at least that was what she told me." "And what did she say when you confronted her?" "She said that as much as she loved being with me, she couldn't give up a man totally," Kathleen went on. "The thing was, I could've dealt with that. I wasn't looking for a permanent relationship. What I couldn't deal with was the fact that she'd been lying to me almost from the beginning." "I can relate to that," Olivia said, remembering how long Carl's affair with his assistant had gone on before she found out about it. "Olivia, as long as we are talking about last night again, I have to say something," Kathleen said. "Okay." "I'm really not comfortable with the idea that you agreed to sleep with that cop in order to get me out of trouble," she stated. "Well like I said last night, that's my concern and nothing for you to worry about," Olivia assured her, "and to be honest, it won't be the first time we've done it." "But you wouldn't be doing it now if not for me," Kathleen insisted. "If anyone should be sleeping with him, it should be me." "I thought you didn't like men," Olivia said in surprise, "at least sexually." "I don't," Kathleen replied, "I mean I did once but not anymore. I just thought that if anyone was going to have to pay to get me out of trouble it should be me." "Maybe you should be sleeping with me then," Olivia said, wondering as soon as the words came out of her mouth where they could've come from. Kathleen looked as surprised at hearing what she said as Olivia was in saying it. The older woman tried to quickly recover by saying she was only joking of course. The expression on Kathleen's face said she hadn't taken it as such. "Oh my God," Olivia thought, "she thought I was serious." There was a long moment of awkward silence that followed, until Olivia tried to defuse what she'd said. "Kathleen, I'm sorry, that was a poor joke on my part," she said, "How anyone could imagine that a beautiful young woman like you would have any interest in an old lady like me?" "You're hardly old," Kathleen said, her eyes lighting up as she spoke, "and I think you're the one who's beautiful." "I really don't know what to say," Olivia said after another long pause. At that moment, the loud buzzer from the dryer in the basement went off, giving Kathleen the chance to excuse herself to go and get her clothing. She reappeared a short while later, changed into her now clean outfit from last night. "I'd better be going," Kathleen said as she gathered up her bag and a few other things she had with her. "I really want to thank you again for everything you did for me. If there is anyway I can ever make it up to you, please just ask." With that, before Olivia could again say it had been nothing that Kathleen should be concerned about, the younger woman was out the door. Olivia watched from the window as she crossed the street and after a few minutes wait, caught the bus on the corner. -=-=-=-= All the rest of the day, regardless of how she tried to occupy herself, Olivia couldn't get Kathleen and what had happened out of her mind. Where in the world did that line about sleeping with her come from? Kathleen was hardly the first lesbian she'd ever met. There had been Norma Curtis back in high school. Of course no one knew she was gay until almost ten years after graduation so that probably didn't count. Then there was Mandy Norris, one of the EMT's at the hospital who was quite open about her sexuality. Yet despite an open invitation to take on all comers, Olivia had never had the slightest thought of taking her up on it. Of course the fact that Mandy was more masculine than most men she knew, Ray included, could've been a factor there. Olivia was barely familiar with the terms butch and fem, but knew enough to say that Kathleen definitely belonged in the latter category. The girl was beautiful, and when she thought about it, greatly resembled her mother back in their high school days. A girl like that could get any man, or woman in her case, which she wanted. And while, if Olivia let her fantasies run amuck for a moment and admit that if she were interested in a lesbian fling, a girl like Kathleen would be a heavenly partner, the big question would be, why would a girl like her want anyone like Olivia? It was true, she thought, that despite almost twenty years of marriage and a hard pregnancy, she still had a decent body and a pretty, if ordinary face. Okay, she was a little chunkier than the girl of eighteen that had married Carl Stone, but overall, she considered herself in better shape than many of her peers. Even the generous bust that had been the object of attention of many of her classmates back in their teens had held up rather well. It still caught men's attention and other women's envy. Then it hit her like a thunderclap, the answer was right in her face and she hadn't seen it. The teacher Kathleen had first been caught with, according to Carol, had to be at least ten to fifteen years older than her former student, and while Olivia had no idea who it was that she had met last night, the woman had been married and had to have been so a while if she had been separated, contemplating divorce. That wasn't something that usually happened if you've only been together a short time. If some women were attracted to older men, and vice versa, then why couldn't Kathleen be attracted to older women as well. "Well, that explains why she might be interested," Olivia said to herself, "but not what, if anything, I should do about it." Part of her mind, the logical part, gave her the easy answer. That she should do absolutely nothing. That she should leave things well enough alone and just go on. But the other part of her, the one that tended to act more in impulse, urged her to take a good long look at the situation. At an opportunity, that perhaps, she didn't want to let go by. What if the situation were a little different, she asked herself. What if that had been Martin Reid, the boy Carol had dated back in high school that had called last night. If he were the one who showed a sexual interest in her, how would she have handled it. Again the rational part of her tried to say she'd have acted no differently. But that was counterbalanced by the emotional side that, remembering what a hunk Martin had been, was sure she'd have been down on her knees with his cock in her mouth long before he had a chance to walk out that door. And it was an impressive cock, she remembered, having once almost walked in on Carol and him when she was doing that very thing. "Come on be sensible, Olivia," she said to herself as she tried to put the matter to rest. "Even if you wanted to do something about it, you don't even know where she lives now. You can't exactly call up Carol and ask for her phone number without having to explain why you wanted it. And any excuse you came up with would undoubtedly blow away the privacy you'd want to keep about it." However, her more precipitate side already had the answer to that small obstacle, reminding her that since Kathleen had called the house phone from her cell last night; the number would still be in the caller ID. "I should at least let her know that I'm not upset about anything we said to each other," Olivia justified. "She did seem a little troubled when she left." Dialing the number, Olivia was actually disappointed when it rang a few times and then dropped into voice mail. Not having any idea what kind of message to leave, she simple hung up. Circumstances had decided the issue. Or so she thought. Not two minutes later, the phone rang and when Olivia looked at the caller ID, she saw Kathleen's number. In her haste, she'd forgotten that it would work both ways. Trying to think of a believable, innocuous reason as to why she called, Olivia came up empty other than saying she simply wanted to make sure the girl was alright. Kathleen assured her that she was and thanked her for being so concerned. About to hang up, she asked Olivia if there was anything else and was told, no, she just wanted to check on her .. "No, wait a second," Olivia said before Kathleen could hang up, "there is one more thing. I was wondering if you don't have any plans for the evening if you'd like to come over and have dinner. Nothing special, just the two of us. I'd love to hear more about school and how you're making out." There was quiet on the other end as Kathleen thought about it for a few seconds. Then, much to Olivia's delight, she said she'd love to come over. They spent another minute or so discussing what she might like, then the older blonde hung up the phone. "It's only dinner," Olivia reassured herself, not wanting to let her flights of fancy run away with themselves. "Dinner and nice company for what otherwise would've been a lonely evening." -=-=-=-= The doorbell rang at half past six and Olivia opened the front door to find an apologetic Kathleen standing on the steps. It had been a while since she'd rode the bus, she explained, and it had taken longer to get to Olivia's from her apartment on the other side of town. "I should've told you to call for a cab," Olivia said, "I'd have been happy to pay for it." she added, thinking that perhaps the cost was the reason she hadn't. "I thought it might be better if I just took the bus," Kathleen said as she stepped inside, handing Olivia a paper bag with a bottle inside. "I brought this for you." "Oh you shouldn't have," Olivia said as she lifted the bottle out of the bag and was surprised to see that it was a rather expensive vintage. "Don't worry, I didn't have to pay for that," Kathleen said when she saw the look for surprise on her hostess's face. "It was a gift from my boss last Christmas that I never had the occasion to open. I figured it was the least I could do to thank you for last night." "Well we'll drink it together then," Olivia promised. She led the younger woman into the living room, telling her to make herself comfortable as she went to put the wine on ice. Dinner would be ready in just a minute Olivia said and if she wanted to take a minute to freshen up, she knew where the bathroom was. Kathleen took her up on the suggestion and as she walked out of the room, Olivia was slightly embarrassed to find herself staring at the young woman's ass. "Well it is a nice ass," she laughed silently, thinking how nice Kathleen looked in the white blouse and blue skirt she was wearing. Since she herself was only wearing a simple, flower patterned dress, Olivia was glad to see her guest hadn't dressed up for the occasion. Dinner was as simple as the dress, lamb chops, mashed potatoes, cream corn and biscuits. As she had with breakfast earlier that morning, Kathleen practically devoured everything on her plate. It made Olivia feel good to see her meager efforts so appreciated. "Did you call the garage about your car?" Olivia asked as she more slowly ate her own dinner. "Yes, I spoke to Mister Peterson himself and he told me not to worry about it," she replied between bites. "He said he'd already spoken to Mr. Franklin, he's the man I bought my insurance policy from, and got the okay to make the repairs. I should have my car back by the middle of next week." "That's good," Olivia said. "Actually, I think that's pretty incredible," Kathleen laughed, "that they got an okay already and went right to work on it. I would've thought it would've taken at least a week just to get the insurance company to say it wasn't my fault and that they'd cover the repairs." "Well, Josh Peterson and Charlie Franklin are both good guys," Olivia observed. "I went to school with both of them a hundred years ago." Kathleen laughed at the weak joke as Olivia remembered another thing Charlie and Josh had in common. Back in their teen years, both had dated June Freeman. She wondered if the remembrance of her charms had accounted for their quick service for her daughter. "Why don't you have a seat on the couch while I clear the table," Olivia said as they both finished. "I'll get a couple of glasses and we can try out that wine you brought." "I insist on helping," Kathleen said as she picked up both her own dishes and one of the serving plates. "Okay, just drop them into the dishwasher then while I get those glasses," Olivia smiled. -=-=-=-= "Hmm, this is good," Olivia said a short time later as the two of them sat on the couch, enjoying the wine. "It was nice of the Parsons to give it to you." "They've been so nice to me," Kathleen replied. "Not only giving me a job but making sure that I could work around my class schedule. In a way, they almost treat me like I was their daughter. Certainly a lot better than my parents ever did. At least since, well you know. They didn't even have a problem with that." Olivia had only been to Parsons Bakery a few times, preferring one much closer to her house. She remembered the couple that owned it as nice enough people who she guessed were in their late sixties by now. "How did they know what happened?" Olivia asked aloud, not realizing at first that she had since she thought it none of her business. "Well right after I started working at the bakery, my mother made it a point to stop by one day when I wasn't there and tell Mrs. Parsons just what kind of girl they had taken in," Kathleen answered, not finding the question inappropriate at all. "She further pointed out that even though they didn't belong to the same church, she was sure a God fearing woman like Mrs. Parsons wouldn't want to expose her family or her customers to such immorality." "And what did Mrs. Parsons say to that?" "Well, I don't know exactly," Kathleen grinned, "but Don Williams, who also works there part-time on the days I don't, said that my mother stormed out of the store like someone had set fire to her bible." "Well not everyone is as narrow minded as your parents," Olivia said, only partially managing to hide her reaction to the image of June that formed in her mind. "I notice that you don't seem to have a problem with my being a lesbian either," Kathleen said, the L word coming into conversation for the first time. "Well, I like to think I'm a little more opened minded than most people," Olivia noted. "Do you think you'd have the same reaction if it was Carol that night instead of Carrie Reynolds?" Kathleen unexpectedly asked, feeling a little of the wine's effect. "Do you know something that I don't?" Olivia asked in return, wondering if the question was anything more than hypothetical. "No, as far as I know, and even though she's not my type, I think I'd know, Carol is one hundred percent into guys and guys only," Kathleen said with a laugh. "I was just curious, that's all." "Well, I hope I would feel the same way about a lesbian daughter as a straight one," Olivia answered. "That I love her and the most important thing to me is that she was happy with her life." A sad look on Kathleen's face greeted that answer, brought on by the thought of how her own mother had answered that question. "I'm curious," Olivia said, feeling the wine and looking to change the subject. "Am I allowed to asked exactly what your type is?" The question caused Kathleen to hesitate a few moments as she wasn't sure how exactly to answer. Finally, she said that the answer was a little embarrassing, even strange. "Oh come on," Olivia smiled, "I've already admitted that I've fucked Ray Hickman. What could be more embarrassing than that?" Kathleen took a deep breath, then decided that she at least owed Olivia an honest answer. Another deep breath followed and she gave it. "You remember I told you that I was meeting someone last night?" "Yes, of course." "Well you know Sally Parks right?" "Certainly," Olivia answered automatically, it taking a long few seconds for the implication to sink in. "Oh my God!" she exclaimed when it did. "So now you know," Kathleen said as she drained the last of the glass. "I can't believe it," Olivia said, the image of the two of them in bed together appeared unbidden in her mind. "You and Sally being lovers." "Well, not exactly lovers," Kathleen said' "more just like girlfriends." "I don't understand," Olivia said, "what's the difference?" "I guess you could say we never really got past second base," Kathleen explained. "Which one of you wanted to wait?" Olivia asked curiously. "She did," Kathleen answered, "if it was up to me, she could've hit a home run the first night we went out. I guess that must make me a tramp in your eyes?" "No, not at all," Olivia quickly assured her, thinking how easily and quickly she had opened her legs for some of the men she'd dated since Carl left. In the case of Ray Hickman, she would definitely be ashamed to admit that she'd even let him fuck her ass and he didn't even have to get her drunk first as Carl used to do. "Now can I ask a question?" Kathleen asked. "Of course," Olivia replied. "Why did you invite me to dinner?" "No special reason," came a too quick reply. "Just to have some company, that's all." "Are you sure?" "What other reason could there be?" Olivia asked, a touch of defensiveness in her tone. "Oh, I don't know," Kathleen answered, then offering a suggestion to the contrary. "Maybe because you wanted to fuck me?" Olivia turned almost pale as her mouth opened to offer a denial. But no words were forthcoming. "Before you answer," Kathleen said, cutting off the words that she thought were about to appear. "Let me say something." Closing her mouth, Olivia nodded her agreement, acting as if she had indeed something to say. "First of all, I apologize if I've got this all wrong," Kathleen began. "That I'm making way too much of what might very well have been a stupid joke this morning. But I have to say, I hope I'm not. I'm hoping that maybe you were and still are having thoughts in that direction because I have to tell you something." Olivia took a short breath as what she only half considered as an idle fantasy quickly became all too real. "I have been infatuated with you almost from the first day Carol brought me home to meet you, long before I even knew why. Then, when I realized the why, you became the object of almost all my fantasies. You can't imagine how my heart stopped this afternoon when you made that joke. At the very possibility that you might be interested." Olivia was still searching for what to say. Up until a few minutes ago, this had all been just a flirtatious game. A what might be that she could look back on. Never did she imagine it could really happen. Lost in her own thoughts, it took a few moments for Olivia to realize that Kathleen had stopped talking and was waiting for a response. The problem was, the older woman wasn't sure yet she had one. Part of her said yes and part said no. "Kathleen, I'm not sure what to say," Olivia confessed. "I'll admit that yes I did have some thoughts in that direction, but I'm still not sure I really intended to act on them." "Then answer me a second question," Kathleen said. "What if it had been Martin Reid who called Carol last night instead of me and everything else was the same. That he had told you that he'd had sexual fantasies about you since he was a teenager. Would you have as much trouble making up your mind?" Having Kathleen unexpectedly come up with the very same argument she herself had postulated tossed Olivia for a loop. At first it made her more confused, but then, after considering it for a few moments, it seemed to make her decision more clear. "Olivia, I apologize, that was out of line," Kathleen then said, the tone of her voice changing greatly. "In fact, maybe I'm being way out of line about the whole thing. It might be better for both of us if I just went back home. I'm sorry if I offended you, especially after you went out of your way to help me." "Kathleen," Olivia said in a hushing tone, "do please shut up." "What?" "I do think that your mouth, pretty as it is, would be much better used if you were kissing me right now," Olivia said, her own lips forming a smile as she leaned closer to the other woman on the couch. -=-=-=-= Kathleen's kiss proved to be as soft and enticing as Olivia imagined it would be. A second and third kiss quickly followed, each more urgent then the last as a shared passion quickly grew. Olivia felt her body shiver as she felt the dark haired girl run her fingers across and then up her back until they reached the bare flesh of her neck. "Oh Olivia," Kathleen gasped as she paused for the briefest of moments. "You can't imagine how many times I'm thought about something like this. I'm almost afraid that I'm going to wake up any moment and discover it's just another dream." "This is not a dream," Olivia responded breathlessly as she pressed her lips once more against Kathleen's, surprising even herself at how quickly she had fallen into what was happening. It was not the first time Olivia had kissed another girl , or even the first time she'd had one's tongue in her mouth. Back in her junior high school days, when she and her friends were first beginning to become interested in boys, one of their prime concerns was what if it turned out that they weren't good kissers. After all, all the teen magazines said that was of paramount importance. So the simple solution seemed to be to practice on each other. Thus had been born the Tuesday and Thursday afternoon kissing lessons. Twice a week, for three months, small groups of girls gathered in Norma Curtis's basement and, after drawing lots to see who matched up with who, spent the better part of an hour practicing their kissing skills. Looking back on those sessions years later, it occurred to Olivia that the whole idea had originally been Norma's and since they'd been held at her house, she had been the only girl to attend every single practice. In hindsight, that alone should've told them all something about Norma. The fleeting memory of those long ago days reminded Olivia of something else as well. It had been of course just the luck of the draw, but as she remembered it, Olivia had found herself matched up with June Riley more than any other girl. That she was now making out with her daughter sent an illicit thrill though her, one that would only grow stronger as the night progressed. Olivia felt Kathleen's warm hand pressing against her left breast and let out a soft, quiet moan as her fingers closed around her nipple. Even through the twin materials of her dress and bra, the touch of the younger woman was more than electric. Kathleen grasped the zipper of Olivia's dress with the hand that had been stroking her neck, pulling it as far down as it would go. The print loosened around the blonde as the same hand glided down her back until it reached the clasp of her bra and with a practiced motion that most young men her age could only envy, undid it. Leaning forward, Kathleen kissed Olivia on the cheek, then moved down to her neck, even as her hands took hold of the sides of her dress, sliding it down as far as it would go. With the clasp already undone, the simple while bra hung half free, exposing a firm, rounded breast. Kathleen's hand again returned to Olivia's left breast, the now flesh to flesh contact causing her nipple to grow hard and erect. Kathleen continued to play with it for a few seconds, until her head dropped even further and she replaced the tips of her fingers with her lips. "Oh yes!" Olivia moaned even louder as she felt the pleasing wetness against her mound, a supplication repeated more then once in the minutes to come as Kathleen's nimble tongue brushed against her tip repeatedly, alternating with the delightful embrace of her eager mouth. At the same time, Kathleen shifted Olivia just far enough to expose her other breast, upon which she lavished equal treatment. The delightful warmth that spread out from both of them was unlike anything the older woman had felt before. Soft and sweet, so unlike any man she had been with. Filled with a desire to do the same to Kathleen, Olivia lifted her upward and, after delivering a passionate kiss, quickly worked to undo the buttons on her blouse. Equally eager, the brunette worked the buttons from the opposite direction and her top quickly found its way to the floor beside the couch. Light green lace covered a bosom equal to her own and Olivia wasted no time in reaching out to rest her hands against both orbs. The fabric was so sheer as to feel almost non- existent, the heat of her body evident right through it. It took but a moment for Olivia to work the catch between the hemispheres, freeing the bounty beneath. "My God, they are so beautiful," she gasped, remembering the days when she and her friends began to first develop and used to compare themselves against each other with secret glances in the showers and locker rooms. Her instant assessment was that none of the girls she'd spied on back then equaled Kathleen, not even her mother. Filled with excitement, Olivia pressed her face between the two mounds, taking hold of each and pressing them against her face. She then covered each of them with kisses, working her way back and forth, moving closer to the dark circles in the center with each repetition. Besides being darker than her own, Olivia noted that Kathleen's nipples were also both larger and thicker. They stood out like oversized erasers, drawing her mouth to them with a desire that only a newborn might match. Kathleen echoed Olivia's cries of before as the neophyte worked her tongue again around the curve of her breasts, her hands cupping the underside and squeezing them lightly. Reversing direction once more, she again brought her mouth to the center of each mound, drawing the stiff nipple between her lips, tickling it with the tip of her tongue and then gently biting down on it as well. "I can't believe you've never done this before," Kathleen offered between moans of appreciation. Yet the truth was, Olivia never had, not even in her dreams. At least not in any she remembered. After a few more minutes, Olivia released her hold on Kathleen's bounty and reached up and drew her head down to hers. Their kiss was the most passionate yet as their hands continued to caress their bodies even as their tongues entwined in each other's mouths. "I want to lick your pussy!" Olivia abruptly said, pulling herself back just far enough to slip out of Kathleen's embrace. "I want to taste and enjoy every bit of you." Kathleen smiled, she had seen this before. Normally, she preferred lovers with experience, but in the four years since she'd first been with a woman, there had been exceptions. For all practical purposes, this woman in her arms, despite being more than twice her age, was a virgin. And like a virgin, once she'd decided to give it up to someone, she couldn't wait to do it all. Climbing off the couch, Kathleen took a few moments to rid herself of the rest of her clothing. Olivia followed her example and stripped as well. They took a few long seconds to look at each other in their near nudity, taking in the fullness of what they'd previously only had scattered glimpses of. "I hope you're not disappointed," Olivia said as she felt Kathleen's eyes moving up and down her body. "Hardly," Kathleen smiled. "In fact, I was just hoping that I look half that good in twenty years." There was an old saying that before a young man was too carried away by a pretty young thing, they should take a good long look at her mother because the odds were that was where his lady love would be in twenty years. Many of Olivia's contemporaries had put on a pound or ten since high school, herself being no exception, but based on the last time she'd seen her, June Freeman had really let herself go. June had to be at least forty or fifty pounds heavier and looked as if she made no effort to reverse or at least ward off the effects of time. Somehow, Olivia couldn't imagine Kathleen letting herself go like that. "You were saying something about wanting to lick my pussy?" Kathleen said, noticing that Olivia had let her attention drift for a moment. The question had its desired effect and she quickly returned to the matter at hand. Glancing around the room for a moment, Kathleen's gaze settled on an oversized lounger on the opposite side of the room. She turned and walked over to it, giving her ass a little jiggle as she did, much to Olivia's amusement. Sitting down, she lifted both legs up onto the cushion, placed a hand against each thigh and pulled them apart. "We've already had dinner," she laughed, "so I guess you could consider this dessert." With a broad smile on her face, Olivia followed Kathleen across the room and dropped to her knees in front of the chair. She lifted her left hand and gently ran her fingers across the tightly trimmed mound before her. She found the flesh damp with excitement, a discovery that sent an even greater thrill across her breasts. "Just put your head right in there," Kathleen said with a sign as she enjoyed the brief touch. Olivia hesitated a few moments longer, her outstretched fingers parting the folds of Kathleen's sex as she studied the prime example of womanhood. She'd never seen a pussy this close before, aside of course, from the magazines and videos that she knew Carl had hidden in the basement closet. The sight was fascinating, the scent of the younger woman's arousal intoxicating. "It's so pretty," Olivia observed as her fingers brushed against Kathleen's emerging clit. Dropping her head back a little, Olivia ran her tongue up along the inside of the brunette's thighs. Kathleen let out another, even louder sigh as the blonde ran a teasing tongue up her leg, skirting the edge of her enflamed pussy and then down her other leg. She reversed direction and repeated the action a few more times, each bringing the tip of her tongue closer to her prize. Only to pull away at the last possible second. "Lick me," Kathleen cried out in a moan mixed with frustration and anticipation. "Lick my fuckin' pussy!" If this had been a man in front of her, Olivia might've felt a little like a cockteaser at that moment. She had no idea what you might call it with you were with another woman - cunt- teaser?" Regardless, it was time to move on. Her tongue pressed forward, slipping between the wet folds of Kathleen's pussy. The taste of her sex filled her mouth, so very different from that of her own, which she had occasion to taste more than a few times. The reality of what she was doing tripled her excitement, even as her tongue moved in deeper, running up and down the length of her passage. "Oooooo," Kathleen softly moaned, repeating it three or four times before adding a definitive , "oh yes!" as she shifted her body to give Olivia better access. A steady stream of encouragement continued to spill from Kathleen's lips as, with a feather-like touch, Olivia worked herself back and forth, bringing forward the first stirrings of an embryonic orgasm. She had no real idea what she was doing, only that she seemed to be doing it right. Going on the theory that what felt good to her would also feel good to Kathleen seemed to have been the right choice. "Oh baby, keep going," Kathleen echoed as she ran her outstretched hand through Olivia's blonde hair, "you're going to make me come!" Olivia continued to savor the sweet nectar that flowed richly across her tongue, thinking it a treat that she had needlessly overlooked in her life. Kathleen writhed in ecstasy as the older woman enthusiastically explored the deepness of her being, her soft lips and nimble tongue bringing forth an amalgamation of delights. "Oh fuck, yes!" Kathleen moaned loudly as Olivia's tongue again flicked over her clit, driving ever closer to the edge. She was amazed at how the neophyte cunnilingist had mastered the art of pleasing another woman. Joyous at the result, but still amazed. The twenty-year-old's body began to shudder as the orgasmic pressure that had been steadily building within her became too much to contain. She tried to hold it back just a little longer, eager to prolong her ecstasy, but it was too much to contain. Just as Olivia's lips closed once more around her engorged clit, the dam shattered with ferocious force. "Oooooooohhhhh!" Kathleen cried as powerful spasms shook her body. Holding her quaking flesh tight against her own, Olivia continued to work her tongue deep inside Kathleen, burying her own moans of pleasure in her now saturated mound. She felt the brunette's thighs press against the sides of her face as her orgasm peaked, subsided, then peaked a second time. Incredibly, a third time followed until, finally drained, the body against her relaxed. Extricating herself from between Kathleen's legs, Olivia rose to her feet, pausing just long enough to plant a kiss on each of the sitting woman's breasts. Then, wrapping a hand behind her head to pull her closer, she kissed Kathleen on the mouth, sharing the lingering fruits of the climax she had brought about. "I hope that was okay," Olivia said as their lips parted and she slipped into Kathleen's lap. "Okay?" Kathleen asked incredulously, her body still shuddering in the aftermath of her release. "That was fantastic. It was like my most secret dream come true." Wrapping her arms around Kathleen, Olivia kissed her again, pressing her body against hers. This time the kiss was slow and leisurely, their caresses lovingly tender. "I can't wait to do the same to you," Kathleen said in a voice full of promise when their lips finally separated. "Just as soon as I get my breath back," she added with a laugh. "While you're doing that," Olivia suggested with another kiss, this one short but just as sweet, "maybe we should move this to one of the bedrooms. We might be just a little more comfortable." -=-=-=-= Even though Carol's room was closer, Olivia instead led the equally naked young woman up the stair to the master bedroom above. Somehow, she considered, it wouldn't be right to make love in her daughter's bed, especially with one of her best friends. Despite all of her visits to this house over the years, Kathleen had never seen Olivia's bedroom before. It meant a lot to her to be invited into it now. She would be even more impressed if she'd known that no other lover since her husband had ever seen it before. It was her private place, one that she guarded seriously The furniture was all heavy oak, with a king sized four- poster dominating the center of the room. Olivia walked to one side of the bed, and Kathleen the other. Together they pulled down the heavy comforter, exposing the smooth sheets beneath. Sharing a smile, they climbed onto the bed from opposite ends, meeting in the center as they shared yet another kiss. Their mouths still locked in a kiss, Kathleen pressed Olivia down on the bed, pressing her body on top of her. Her kisses continued, working their way down across the older woman's collar, down between the valley between her breasts and then back and forth across her breasts themselves. Every so often, she would close her lips around the stiff nipples at the center of each, the tip of her tongue washing across them, guiding their length into her mouth. "Oh God, Kathleen, don't stop," Olivia pleaded as she tilted her head back as her hands spread across the back of the younger woman's head, "whatever you do, don't stop!" A small smile formed at the corner of the brunette's mouth as she found some humor in the thought that such a thing was possible. That, having had her secret fantasy come to life, she might simply walk away from it. As her lips worked their magic, Kathleen had simultaneously used her hands to cup and squeeze Olivia's mounds. Skillfully, her fingers danced across the excited flesh, applying just the right mix of hard and soft touches. As a nipple once more disappeared into her mouth, the twenty-year-old slipped her right hand down between the legs of the woman beneath, her fingers now dancing across the lightly haired mound with equal dexterity. "Oh yes, baby, fuck me!" Olivia cried out as she felt two fingers slide into the depths of her sex. "Fuck me hard!" After a few repetitions, a third and fourth finger followed and the movements of all became a blur. Olivia felt electrified, her body bucking back and forth to meet the thrust of Kathleen's hand with matching vigor. It felt like it had gone on for hours, but in reality, it had been less than half of one. A seeming eternity during which Olivia had teetered on the edge of climax. An edge she hurtled over short minutes later as her body exploded in orgasmic splendor. Her body quaking uncontrollably as wave upon wave of pleasing delights washed over her. Kathleen held her tight, savoring her climax as their flesh pressed tightly together. "That was..." Olivia started to say, and then paused as she realized that she really didn't have the words to describe what she'd just experience. "I know," Kathleen smiled in return, not needing any words. "But that was just a warm-up, something to take the edge off. Now I really want to make you feel good." Unsure for the moment as to how anything could feel any better than what she'd first experienced, Olivia quickly got her answer as Kathleen again shifted position and brought her head down between the blonde's legs. Olivia instantly realized how silly she felt for not understanding and moved to correct her confusion. Reaching downward with her own hands, she spread her pussy lips wide, giving Kathleen the fullest view of that which she had dreamed so often about. A dream she wasted no time in acting upon as she pressed forward, the tip of her tongue moving quickly and deeply inside Olivia. In a single fluid motion, Kathleen worked her way up along the length of her sex and focused her attentions on Olivia's excited clit. "Mother of God!" Olivia cried out, thinking that perhaps this was God's greatest gift to the female sex. It was perhaps a reflection of the men she been sleeping with since Carl had left, but practically none of them had been too concerned about pleasing a woman orally. Not even Ray, who took his fucking quite seriously, ever bothered giving it more than cursory notice. That, she promised herself in a mental note, was something that was definitely going to change. However, that was a thought for the future and it was the here and now that demanded her attention as Kathleen repeatedly ran her tongue against Olivia's clit, striking it with a wanton desire that made Olivia feverish as well. Feverish with desire for more from this woman's tongue. She now understood the true nature of Kathleen's dream. This was the kiss she had dreamed of. Kathleen took the hardened clit between her lips and sucked on it, feeling Olivia's body respond to her efforts. She knew she was driving her lover insane with orgasmic feelings. Looking up for a moment, she studied Olivia as she sucked. Olivia was playing with her own breasts, moaning and tossing her head back and forth, keeping time with each new cascading wave. The breakers crashing across Olivia's small frame were reflected in Kathleen's. With her face pressed tightly between Olivia's legs, Kathleen was free to use both hands to attend to her own needs. There were few women as uniquely tuned to their own bodies as Kathleen, and few could bring themselves to the edge of orgasm as quickly. It wasn't long before both women were again teetering on the edge. Then in a burst of fire, Olivia came with sighs and squeals. Kathleen was rewarded for her efforts with the nectar of Olivia's orgasm. A sweet treat she savored as her dream came true. "Yes, yes, oh yes." Olivia kept gasping as her body surrendered to the forces radiating from her pussy. Two or three heartbeats later, Kathleen's body also erupted in a similar conflagration and both women rocked back and forth in the embrace of Aphrodite for what seemed like an eternity. Then Olivia fell back on the bed exhausted, Kathleen collapsed alongside it in a comparable state. -=-=-=-= The morning found the two of them along side each other on the bed, naked and enjoying the warmth of each other's body. Twice during the night they had awakened, and they had made love again both times. "Good morning," Olivia said as she leaned over and kissed Kathleen softly. "Good morning yourself," Kathleen smiled back as she responded to the kiss. "Last night was amazing," Olivia said softly as she ran her hand alongside the younger woman's face. "It was, wasn't it," Kathleen laughed, "and this morning wasn't that bad either." she added. Olivia laughed too. Technically, she had to agree, the third time they'd made love it had indeed been morning. "So where do we go from here?" Olivia asked as she sat up, the sheet that had covered her breasts falling from around them. "Where do you think we go?" Kathleen asked in turn, lifting herself up with similar results. "I'm not sure," came her reply. "Well do you see me moving in here and the two of us living happily ever after?" Kathleen asked. Olivia took a long look at the young woman she had spent the night with having the maddest, most passionate sex of her life with. But, try as she might, she couldn't imagine a life with her. It would lead to so many complications that she didn't think she could deal with. Feeling just a little bit selfish at that thought she averted her eyes rather than look into Kathleen's. "Hey!" Kathleen said in a voice louder than expected as she reached out and took Olivia's face by the chin, lifting it back upward. "Don't start going all regretful on me." "I don't feel regretful," Olivia said, "It's just that I don't... I mean I..." "That you don't see the two of us as a couple," Kathleen said, finishing the sentence for her. Olivia's silence said that was exactly what she meant. "And that's fine," Kathleen grinned, "cause believe me, I don't either." "You don't?" "No, I don't," Kathleen repeated and then added after a beat, "What made you think that I did?" "I just thought, well you did say you'd fantasized about me for long time." "About fucking you," Kathleen laughed, "not showing up the next day with a moving van holding everything I own." "Oh," Olivia said, surprised how that single word could hold both relief and disappointment. Silence held sway for a long moment as Kathleen swung her legs over the side and stood up, looking around the floor for where she left her clothes. Then she remembered they had all been left downstairs. "So where do we go from here?" Olivia asked, repeating her question. "Well, if you're talking about the very immediate future," Kathleen said as she turned back to Olivia, "I would think a shower would be in order. I don't want to speak for you, but I definitely need one." It wasn't until she sat back on the bed and took her hand that Olivia realized that Kathleen was making a joke. "Seriously," she smiled as she held her softly, "we don't go anywhere that you don't want to. Like I said, I don't see us as a couple, but I do see the two of us as friends, and if you like, friends with benefits." "Then we could do this again?" "Baby, do you think that I'm going to let a hot piece of ass like you get away from me?" Kathleen said, leaning in to kiss her again. "I'd have to be out of my mind. Unless of course I was wrong about Carol going that way, but you're pretty certain of that aren't you?" This time Olivia knew she was being played with and just nodded her head that she was. "Well in that case, I guess I'll have to settle for you," Kathleen smiled. "But what am I going to do about Ray?" Olivia asked, the thought of giving up cock for good suddenly seeming quite disconcerting. "Fuck Ray!" Kathleen said. "I'm not sure I could give up men..." "You're not getting it," Kathleen smiled. "I said fuck Ray, and anyone else you want to. I'm hardly a paragon of exclusivity and I hardly expect you to be either." "Then I can..." "Have your cock and eat pussy too," Kathleen grinned. "I don't know what else to say." "Well, you can sit there and think about that if you want," Kathleen said as she again climbed off the bed. "I wasn't kidding about what I said before about needing a shower." She took a few steps toward the master bathroom, then stopped and turned when she got to the door. "If you like, you can join me and wash my back," she smiled. "And if you are good, I've even let you wash my front." she added before slipping inside, leaving the door open. The open door was symbolic of many things, and it didn't take Olivia long to decide that she wasn't going to let it close with her on the other side. END Comments are the life blood of any amateur writer, the currency in which they are paid. It only takes a few minutes to send off a few lines, which is little to ask for in exchange for hours spent creating a story. So be sure to take those few minutes, it can only result in more and better stories in the future. Ann Douglas Web Page http://www.asstr.org/~Ann_Douglas/