Changing Tides
By Kanay

“Hey you!” the woman yelled with excitement.

“Hey, Karen. What’s up?”

“Where have you been hiding all week? I haven’t seen you since Monday morning.”

“In court,” Danni replied in frustration. “Michaels handed me two extra cases before he went on vacation and I might as well park my bed there for as much time as I’ve spent before the judge recently.”

Karen laughed. “I guess that’s why they pay you the big bucks,” she joked but Danni could only raise a brow at the insinuation. “You feel like catching up over some dinner tonight?”

“Can’t. I’ve got to prepare for Monday. Another big day in court.”

Karen nodded her head and felt sorry for her friend. She knew Danni had been working like a fiend lately, barely having enough time to squeeze in a few hours of sleep each night, and she strongly suspected it had more to do with her breakup several months ago rather than her strong work ethic. “Ok. Let me know if you change your mind.”

Before Danni could verbally respond, her assistant buzzed and she offered Karen a quick nod as she answered the call. “What is it Marcy?”

“You have an urgent phone call on line three. Cape May Memorial Hospital,” her assistant responded.

In an instant, all the blood in Danni’s face drained and she felt a wave of panic overcome her. “Thanks, Marcy.”

“What’s wrong?” Karen asked. She fully entered the room and waited a minute while Danni took the call, making sure her friend was all right and prepared to offer her shoulder in case things weren’t.

When Danni hung up the phone she looked as if she had just seen a ghost. “My mom’s in the hospital. I need to go to New Jersey.” She glanced around at the collection of work on her desk and nearly burst into tears. “I can’t do this anymore.”

Somehow Karen didn’t think she was talking about the work. “Give me those,” she said, taking the files from Danni’s hand. “You go to Jersey and I’ll take care of these. Don’t worry.” She placed a consoling hand on Danni’s shoulder. “You’ll get through this.”

“Thanks.”

Karen leaned over and offered Danni a strong hug in support. They had been friends since their first day in college, and that was nearly ten years ago. In all those years, Danni had barely spoken of her family, but the few things she did mention led her to believe Danni’s family was as dysfunctional as they came. After Danni briefly mentioned her mother’s condition a few weeks ago, she realized her mother had only a short while left. Cancer was like that. “Give me a call if you need anything. I mean it.”

“I will.”

Danni grabbed her keys and left the office. She knew the traffic from Philadelphia to Cape May on a Friday afternoon was going to be at least a two-hour drive. Not the ideal way to start her weekend. But then again, nothing in Danni’s life had been easy lately. Her breakup with Kim had been the start of it all. Shortly after that her mother was diagnosed with advanced cancer. She thought burying herself in her work would somehow make all the badness go away, but she was only kidding herself. The extra workload had piled up on her, leaving her isolated from any social interaction beyond that of the office, and her mother was consistently getting worse.

Behind the wheel in the safety of her car, away from prying eyes, she could let it all go. She didn’t have to be the strong one, the one everyone depended on. Quickly, she closed her eyes and lowered her head, but not before a stray tear had escaped and ran down her cheek. “Please give me strength to get through this.”

Sarah Bishop walked the empty row of stores that lined the boardwalk along the oceanfront. Cape May was beautiful this time of year. A couple months into the new year and the tiny tourist town resembled a ghost town more than the thriving vacation destination of thousands it saw each summer. Many of the locals closed their shops during the winter break, but she knew one person would always keep her shop open to service the needs of those who remained in the dead of winter.

“Good afternoon, stranger!”

Sarah smiled as she entered her friend’s shop. “Hello, Vicki.”

“It’s been a while. The ‘ol sweet tooth nagging for something rich again?”

“You know me too well.”

“How about some peanut butter this time? I whipped up a fresh batch this morning and I need a guinea pig…uh, I mean expert, to give me an honest opinion.”

Sarah closed her eyes at the thought and smiled. “Peanut butter fudge. You really know my weak spot don’t you?”

Vicki returned the smile at her favorite customer. Sarah may be approaching fifty, but Vicki swore she was worse than a kid when it came to her sweet tooth. How the auburn haired woman managed to keep her petite figure all these years was one of the biggest mysteries. “How’s the novel coming?” she asked as she cut into the block.

“Same as last time.”

“Still stuck, huh?”

“I’m not sure I can work with what I’ve got so far. It’s all a big mess and my editor is hounding me to get it done.”

“Maybe you need a change of scenery. Something new in your world might bring new inspiration. You never know.”

“Maybe,” Sarah considered.

“I’m sure it will work out. Just give it some more time. In the meantime, take a bite of this.” Vicki offered Sarah a rather large piece of fudge and the older woman’s eyes lit up.

“This is fabulous!” Sarah exclaimed after taking a bite.

“I thought you might like it. Should I wrap a pound for you?”

Sarah shook her head mischievously. “No, make it two.”

Vicki laughed. “You’re never going to snag a husband if you keep eating the way you do.”

Sarah rolled her eyes. “Why on Earth would I want one of those?” She had been in only two serious relationships her entire life, both ending on bad notes, and she decided a long time ago she was through with love. It was easier on the heart this way.

“By the way, my brother’s coming to visit again.”

“Oh? How is Woody?”

“He’s good. He’s looking for work- thinks he might finally make the move here. Maybe you two could have dinner one night. He should be in town tomorrow.”

Sarah tried to hide her objection to the idea. She didn’t want to hurt Vicki’s feelings, but she found Woody to be whiny and boring. The idea of spending an entire evening with the man was certainly not tempting to her in the least, and that wasn’t even taking into account her embarrassment being seen in public with him and that ridiculous facial tattoo he sported. “I’ll have to see how things go but I’ll give you a call.”

“There you are,” Vicki said, handing over a large box of her finest creation.

Sarah thanked her and paid her and they exchanged a few more pleasantries before she left.

Something new in my life, huh? The idea was certainly appealing, though how she would find time to get away she didn’t know. She tucked the box of fudge under her arm and headed for home, convinced that if she was truly meant to have a change her life then fate would somehow find a way to intervene and she completely dismissed the thought for now.

Over the course of the evening, the mild ocean breeze had turned into a bitter chill. As Danni sat alone on the beach listening to the surf crashing against the jetty, her thoughts were consumed with her mother’s deteriorating condition. The doctors had only given her a few more days, two weeks at most. Her bitter feelings towards her mother over the years had quickly turned into regret as she considered her mother might never recover. They didn’t have the best relationship. Her parents’ reaction about her sexuality when she had come out of the closet and the disappointment in their faces was heartbreaking enough, but when her father had disowned her on the spot, claiming that his only child was dead to him and he wished she had never been born, her mother’s silent reaction was nothing less than support for him and eventually they drifted apart. That was over ten years ago, just before she went off to college. She walked out of their lives that day, not even returning for his funeral when he died. Occasionally she would call her mother on the phone, just to hear her voice, but she never spoke up, and not once had she considered coming back home here to visit. The reality of losing her mother began to finally settle in before she even reached the hospital, but when she saw her mother lying in the bed with all those tubes and monitors, it was a wakeup call like no other. She’s dying.

Several hours later, when visiting hours had ended, she decided to leave the hospital rather than wait in the lobby all night. Despite her mother’s home being nearby, that was the last place she wanted to be, surrounded by all those memories. Deciding it would do her some good to get out and clear her head, she took a walk, but how she found herself at the beach was anyone’s guess. Perhaps it was the past calling out to her, the place she spent all her summers. It was this very beach she had so many fond memories of her childhood. But then her life had turned upside down in that one day she came out. That was the last summer she spent here, making sure that college- her way out of this small town- would be her savior and she wouldn’t have to ever come back. Now here she was, ten years later, losing the last of her family, and she knew once her business was done here she would never return again. With the last of her family gone there wouldn’t be a reason to come back. When her mother died she knew she would be truly alone in the world.

The tide began inching closer to her with each wave and she felt a few splashes of the salty water spray upon her face. Not sure where she was going to spend the night, she looked across the street. There was always the hotel down closer to the boardwalk, but that seemed too sterile for even her tonight. There were a number of Bed and Breakfasts made from the various Victorian homes that lined Ocean Street, but it was off-season and she wasn’t sure they were even open this time of year. The late hour didn’t help either. But then she saw a light on in one of them and decided to take a chance. The worst that could happen was they would send her away and she would simply check into the hotel.

When she approached the front of the house she was amazed by its charm. Although the street was dark, she could see it was an enormous house with all the classic features of early Victorian elegance. She remembered the houses along this street had always been a little run down, but that seemed like a lifetime ago. Clearly, whoever owned this house took great care in restoring its charisma, and it was undoubtedly the most attractive house on the block.

The light was still on inside and Danni saw a shadow move across the front window as she stepped onto the porch. She hesitated a brief moment before she knocked, unsure if the person inside would even open the door at this late hour.

“Who’s there?” a female voice inside the house asked a second before the porch light turned on.

“Uh…my name is Danni Jordan. I apologize stopping by so late but I was wondering if you had a room available this evening.”

A few seconds of silence passed before the door opened and the owner and her rather large dog, an attractive Irish Setter, officially greeted Danni. She felt odd standing there while the owner judged if it was safe to let her in, but when the older woman smiled and opened the door, a wave of relief washed over her.

“Come in. I don’t usually get guests this time of year, much less this time of night. I’m Sarah Bishop, and this here is Molly,” she said, addressing the dog. Sarah patted Molly on the head for reassurance and the dog left the room. “What brings you to Cape May this evening?”

Danni was a bit surprised at the woman’s friendliness as she forgot about that small town hospitality towards strangers, a far cry from life in the big city. Although she lived in the suburbs now, which were often considered safer, people still didn’t open their doors to strangers past dark. She remembered spending her summer nights in Cape May on the front porch of their house, waving at neighbors as they passed by on their twilight walks. Those days people felt safe strolling past sunset, chatting with strangers they passed along the way, and leaving the front door unlocked was common practice. But times were different then. Crime was practically unheard of, and as she continued recalling some of those memories she was brought out of her daze by the woman’s hand on her arm.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m sorry,” Danni explained. “It’s been a long day and I guess I spaced out.”

“That’s quite alright. Come in and let’s get you settled.” Sarah closed the door and guided Danni into the house, appreciating the younger woman’s beautiful physique. “I see you don’t have any bags. Will you be staying long?”

“I’m not sure. I was in such a rush that I hadn’t thought to pack anything before I left.”

Sarah smiled. “That’s fine. The bathroom in fully stocked and there’s a fresh bathrobe in the bedroom. We can handle the other details in the morning.” Sarah walked with her up the stairs and showed Danni her room. “I’m in the next room if you need anything,” she added, pointing down the hallway. “Last door on the right.”

Danni entered her room and turned to thank the woman for her kindness, but the warm smile Sarah offered her briefly caught her off guard. “…Thank you.”

Sarah nodded. “Goodnight then.”

Danni stood frozen in the entrance for a moment, sizing up the room she had been given. Surrounding the large king sized bed that would welcome even the pickiest guest were some of the most interesting decorations she had seen. Attractive statues, a tranquil tabletop fountain, even the paintings conveyed decorative taste, lacking that tacky composition that most hotels seemed to proudly display, and she was grateful she decided not to check into a hotel after all. Clearly, whoever had decorated this room not only had good taste but took a great deal of care in choosing pieces that complemented each other well.

As the day’s events began to set in and sleepiness soon started taking over her mind, she set the antique alarm clock and stripped off her clothes, crawling into bed. Even the sheets were impressive, downy soft and warm. Every tiny detail of this room soon caused it to become a small sanctuary from her distress and she fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

Next door, Sarah settled at her desk, briefly skimming the last set of notes she had written for her novel, and became preoccupied by the subtle noises in the other room. She wasn’t used to having guests this time of year but the distraction was pleasant. Normally she would have had one of her helpers staying in the house with her as guests arrived, mostly for security reasons, but there was something about Danni than comforted her. Perhaps it was that short-lived moment of detachment when she arrived, or maybe the gentle way she carried herself. Whatever it was, Sarah trusted her instincts enough to know Danni was a decent person, and subconsciously began typing as words began pouring out of her mind.

Snuggled against a pillow on the floor across the room, Molly sighed in her sleep. Sarah turned and smiled, not really sure what the cause of her happiness was but she felt more hopeful about her life tonight than she had in the past. She continued typing for another hour before Molly sighed again and Sarah took that as her cue to turn in herself. Before shutting down her computer, she quickly read the last line she had typed: “The woman’s icy blue eyes met hers with heated passion as they stared, almost challenging each other to make the first move.” Sarah smirked. Maybe Vicki had a point when she mentioned something new in her life would bring about a change she needed for the novel.

Sarah and Molly returned from their early morning run to find their guest had woken and was currently showering. For an instant Sarah considered driving to Vicki’s shop to pick up some breakfast but decided against it, unsure if Danni would even be staying that long or if she even ate breakfast at all. If her body type was any indication she ate nothing but healthy food. The tall, slender, statuesque figure she possessed gave her the appearance of someone who definitely took care of herself, and Sarah subconsciously placed her hand over her belly that had slightly rounded over the years. Pursing her lips in thought, she moved into the kitchen and took note of various food items in stock but remained unsure she wanted to subject anyone to her cooking and grimaced as she felt unprepared for guests so early in the year.

“Well, we’re just going to have to wing it this time, aren’t we girl?” she asked Molly, who knew she was being spoken to by Sarah’s tone, if not the precise words, and wagged her tail as she patiently waited for her own breakfast.

“Good morning,” Danni said, announcing her presence. Her hair hadn’t quite dried yet and she was wearing the same suit from last night that seemed to give her an air of distinction in the morning light that Sarah hadn’t noticed.

“Good morning,” Sarah replied. “I was about to make some breakfast. What can I interest you in? I’ve got eggs, cereal, pancakes…”

“What do you recommend?”

Sarah laughed quietly. “I recommend I take you out for breakfast so you won’t be subjected to my cooking.” Danni looked a bit confused but smiled politely. “I usually hire someone to cook for the guests during the season but you caught me off guard.”

“I’m sorry—”

Sarah raised her hand. “It’s quite alright. I’ve never had guests this early in the year before but I’m happy to have the company.” Danni seemed to smile more genuinely this time and Sarah felt glad she hadn’t offended the woman. “So, what do you think about some eggs and toast?”

“That sounds wonderful.”

“Great. I’ll tell you what. I’ll lend you my hair dryer so you can finish what you were doing while I scare us up some breakfast.”

“Oh, you don’t need to do that. It’ll be fine.”

“I insist. It’s the least I could do, especially since you have no idea what you’re getting yourself into with breakfast,” Sarah joked again.

She quickly ran upstairs and retrieved her hair dryer and handed it to Danni, noticing for the first time how fragile the young woman looked, how distant she acted, almost as if she was a million miles away in her mind.

“Here you go. I’ll have coffee ready in five minutes.”

“Thank you.”

She handed the hair dryer to Danni, who quickly disappeared again, and began her cooking adventure. Although she had seen it prepared only once, she knew the exquisite dish her cook made one day last summer for some special guests was exactly the meal she wanted to offer Danni this morning. Within minutes, the delicious smell of French omelets had filled the air and Sarah had to admit that even she was tempted to taste the food.

Danni reemerged with an audible inhalation. “Something smells fabulous.”

“I only hope scents aren’t deceiving,” Sarah joked again, turning with two plates of food and placing them at the table.

For several moments the women sat and ate, making small talk about current events and hot topics in the news, feeling completely at ease with one another. It wasn’t until Danni had finished her entire meal in record time that she realized she had practically inhaled her food while Sarah still had half her breakfast remaining on her plate.

“I’m sorry. I’m usually more mannered than that but I haven’t eaten anything in over 24 hours and I guess I was starving.”

“So that’s it. And here I thought you were eating so fast because you wanted to shorten your suffering. Well, at least you’re still alive.”

Immediately, the young woman’s face turned pale and tears filled her eyes. Sarah knew she had said something wrong, she just wasn’t exactly sure what it was. She reached across the table and placed her hand over Danni’s. “Are you ok?”

Danni closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose with her free hand, shaking her head her response. “It’s my mother.”

As Sarah waited in silence, giving the woman the space she needed, Danni gathered her words before continuing in a somber lament.

“My mother’s dying. That’s why I’m here…in Cape May. I got the call yesterday and came here straight from work. I knew she was bad off, but I wasn’t expecting her to be so…” She was fighting the tears, barely holding them back when Sarah’s grip tightened on her hand, somehow giving her the strength she needed to continue.

“The doctors are only giving her a couple weeks at most but they told me she could go at any time. She wasn’t even conscious when I was there last night.”

“I’m so sorry,” Sarah whispered. “Is there anything I can do for you?”

Danni shook her head again. “No. I would like to extend my stay here though, if it’s not a problem.”

“Of course.”

Danni looked across the table, deep into Sarah’s eyes, and saw warmth unlike anything she had seen in a long time. “Thank you.”

Sarah could only stare back in nervous anticipation of what Danni’s future held for her. She remembered the pain of losing her own parents, how distraught she was, and the only thing that brought her through her pain was the strength and comfort of her friends. Sitting across from her now was a woman who, on the surface, seemed confident and brave, but she knew underneath it she saw a woman barely holding on. She had only met Danni last night, but she suspected Danni didn’t have very many people in her life she could confide in and something inside her wanted to be that source of comfort and strength for the younger woman.

“I should get going now,” Danni said, slowly standing from the table. “Visiting hours begin soon and I want to be there as long as I can, even if my mother isn’t aware I’m there.”

Sarah nodded and stood, walking with Danni to the front door. “She may not be conscious, Danni, but she will know you’re there.”

“They say that sometimes when you talk to the person, they can hear you, but I’m not even sure that’ll be true here.”

“Why not?”

“Last night was the first time I saw my mother in over ten years. We had a disagreement before I left for college and haven’t spoken since. She probably doesn’t even remember my voice.”

Danni’s confessional spilled from her lips so easily, almost as if she was talking about someone else’s life. However, despite the implication that she was unaffected by it all, falsely putting on a brave front, Sarah sensed the hurt within Danni. Softly, she put her hand on Danni’s arm and squeezed in reassurance. “A mother never forgets her child’s voice.”

With her free hand, she opened the door for Danni and stepped onto the porch with her, watching her go and making sure she was safely on her way before returning inside.

Just as soon as Danni’s car drove off, a large black Hummer pulled up in front of the house, the driver anxiously honking its horn to gain her attention. Of all the things she might expect to hear at this time of the morning, a car horn replicating the General Lee of Dukes of Hazard fame was not one of them. She had to squint to see through the tinted windows, but when she realized exactly who was behind the wheel she cringed. Oh hell.

The burly driver leapt from the vehicle and ran up the stairs to Sarah’s porch, lifting her off the ground as he pulled her into a tight bear hug and swung her around.

“I’ve missed you, Sarah!” he exclaimed.

She patted him squarely on the shoulder. “Woody…it’s been a while.”

“I was going to stop at Vicki’s house first but I couldn’t wait to see you.”

Sarah raised her brow in surprise. “You haven’t been to your sister’s house yet?”

“No, I’ve decided to stay here with you…if you’ve got the room that is.”

She didn’t know how she was going to worm her way out of this one. She could pretend she didn’t take guests this time of year, but with the town being so small, sooner or later everyone would know about Danni staying there. Gossip came and went faster than the tide in this town.

Be gracious, Sarah. “Of course I’ve got room.”

“Excellent! Let me get my bags. I’ll be inside in just a minute.”

Woody ran back to the car and retrieved enough bags to make Sarah believe he was staying the rest of the year season. They walked up the large flight of stairs and Sarah housed him in the room farthest from hers, at the opposite end of the house. This way he could have his own bathroom, she could still have her privacy, and seeing him greet her every time she opened her door wouldn’t torment her. Yes, this was definitely the way to go.

“You’ll have plenty of privacy down here, Woody,” she explained.

“I appreciate this, Sarah. If there’s anything I can do for you, please let me know.”

As the gracious host she was, Sarah simply smiled. She wanted to mention Danni staying in the house too, suggesting that he not be a pest around her, but decided to play it by ear for the moment. However, she did make a mental note to stop by Vicki’s shop today and have a word with the woman, perhaps even suggest she encourage her brother to stay with her instead. How this man got so far through life without having the crap beat out of him for being such an annoyance was beyond anything she could comprehend.

The hospital room was brightly lit but stank of disease and false hope. Sterile. Only twelve hours since she had last been here and Danni thought her mother’s condition had deteriorated even further.

She stood in the doorway for several minutes, sizing up the situation. Last night in that brief instance of sleep, her mother came to her in a dream. She wasn’t sure if it was her mother’s actual energy or her own subconscious talking to her, but the dream prepared her for the days to come. All her years of solitude, the building up and maintaining the fortitude and fearless attitude she made her own went out the window in an instant. Now, she felt as frail as her mother as she watched the older woman slowly passing before her eyes.

Danni moved closer to the bed and pulled a chair beside it, sitting down and taking her mother’s hand in her own.

Cold. Her hand was cold.

Feeling the diminished energy, Danni began rubbing her mother’s hand, forcing blood to pump to her extremities again. For years she had taken on the toughest cases her bosses would assign her, but seeing her mother like this, weak and so close to death, left her more vulnerable than she could handle. Perhaps it was the certainty Danni faced that left her so frightened. In court, there was always the chance her hard work would turn against her, somehow causing her to lose a case, and she could always appeal if she lost. But with her mother she knew the end was near, the inevitability of her death was real, and the permanence it would bring was lasting. There were no appeals with death.

For long moments she remained still, listening to the heart monitor being silenced out by her mother’s labored breathing.

Raspy. Struggling for breath and life.

She seemed to be drifting in and out of consciousness, mumbling words Danni couldn’t understand but recognized their importance.

“Momma, can you hear me?”

Her mother mumbled some more and pulled her hand away, keeping her eyes closed but reaching out for Danni’s face. She struggled for strength, and Danni knew the older woman was searching for answers. Without hesitation, she guided her mother’s hand to her face.

“Momma, it’s me. Can you hear me?” she repeated softly, but there was still no answer.

Her mother seemed to be in another place, so close to the brink of crossing over, and Danni felt all her attempts to communicate with her were useless. She closed her eyes in frustration, unwilling to give up so easily but uncertain how to proceed.

“Danni, is that you?”

Her mother’s voice was ragged and tired, struggling with every syllable.

Danni’s eyes burst open and looked into her mother’s face to see icy blue eyes looking back at her. “Yes, momma. I’m here.”

“I knew you would come.”

“I’m right here.” She kissed her mother’s hand. “I’m not leaving you.”

Not having eaten for several days, with nothing sustaining her but a few sips of water here and there along with the I.V. placed into her arm, the older woman was weak and maintained her pattern of drifting in and out of consciousness. She continued mumbling incoherent phrases Danni barely understood, struggling with words and thought, all the while her breathing becoming more labored as the time passed.

Hours later and Danni remained right by her mother’s side. A few times she had heard murmured names of past friends and relatives, all who had previously died, and in that instant Danni knew her mother’s time was nearing.

“Momma, I want to tell you something,” she whispered. She leaned in so close she could feel her mother’s hair ticking her nose as she whispered into her ear. “I’m sorry…I’m sorry for leaving…I’m sorry for not coming home…I’m sorry.”

“Frank…”

Frank? The only person Danni knew named Frank was her father and he died years ago. Tears began welling up in her eyes but contained them. She pulled back to look at her mother, perhaps try to understand what was happening, but her mother was clearly looking at something across the room, something Danni couldn’t see.

“Not yet, Frank.”

Danni sat and watched as her mother continued to talk to Frank. It scared the hell out of her, not knowing what to do or how to stop it, and she was forced to sit by and watch. Occasionally, she thought she felt an energy surge, like someone else was in the room, but when she turned her eyes to the door to see if someone was standing there no one ever was.

Several moments later, she allowed Danni to take her hand again. Her breathing had eased up, each breath a little more effortless than the previous one. Her eyes were glossy and alert, her concentration returned to Danni, and when she spoke again her words poured from her fluently.

“Danni, I never wanted to hurt you,” she confessed. “I stayed with your father, but I didn’t support his decision.”

“Shh, momma. Don’t talk now. Save your strength.”

“I tried finding you over the years.”

Danni’s tears were becoming harder to hold back.

“I wanted to tell you so bad,” her mother continued.

“Momma, it’s alright.” Danni leaned over and kissed her mother’s forehead. “It’s alright.”

A moment of silence passed between them as Danni felt her mother squeeze her hand. She knew her mother was suffering. Knowing her mother was as stubborn a woman as she was, Danni realized her mother was holding on for her sake and she silently wished it would all end soon.

“I need water.”

Danni kissed her mother’s hand and stood up, walking over to the door and paused before leaving.

“I’ll be right back, momma,” she explained, noticing for the first time since she had been here the peaceful look upon her mother’s face.

Down the hall just past the nurse’s station, she retrieved a pitcher of water and was about to make a quick phone call to Karen when she spotted the tiny chapel tucked into the end of the hall just past the gift shop. Without thought, she walked inside and took the front pew.

It only took a moment of silence before the calmness and serenity of the simple, yet beautiful, structure took over, offering her a sense of peace among the busyness of the hospital. A safe haven.

“Please, God,” Danni hesitated for a moment. It had been years since she last stepped foot into a church and for a brief moment she felt unworthy of being here, undeserving of anything she would pray for. But then she realized she wasn’t the one receiving what she asked for. Her mother was a very religious woman, attended mass every Sunday, and if anyone on this Earth deserved to have prayers answered for, it was her.

“Please, God. Take her soon,” she continued through crying eyes and harrowing breaths. The mere thought of willingly giving up her mother was horrific and she felt like a horrible daughter for asking it, but watching her mother suffer like this was unacceptable. She loved her mother too much and put her own needs aside. She would deal with her own suffering in the aftermath that followed, but she wanted her mother’s agony to end as quickly as possible. “She’s suffering. She doesn’t deserve this. Please…”

A commotion in the back of the chapel disrupted her thoughts. A grieving family had entered. An older woman crying hysterically while a younger man, probably her son, comforted her as they moved towards the front. Danni stood up and stole a quick glance at them as she left, ignoring the fleeting thought that she wished she had someone to comfort her through all this as she wiped away her own tears before exiting the chapel.

She returned to the hall and retrieved the pitcher of water, still very much preoccupied with her prayer as she continued the walk back to her mother’s room. But as she neared the room she saw one of the nurses come out with a somber look upon her face and shut the door behind her, and Danni froze in her tracks, partially in fear but mainly in relief. She knew in that instant her prayer had been answered. It broke her heart but her mother was finally at peace.

“That’s pure crap,” Sarah snapped, muttering under her breath as she frantically hit the backspace button on her keyboard. “This story is not coming as easy as it was the other night.”

From the corner of her eye she could see Woody coming into view and resisted the strong urge to roll her eyes.

“What’s all the commotion down here?” he asked.

“I’m sorry, Woody. I didn’t mean to disturb you.”

“It’s alright, Sarah. I was only communicating with the Great Spirit. I can do that anytime.”

Sarah began packing up her computer and tidying the desk by the window she frequently used. Overlooking the ocean often gave her great inspiration and this particular view could only be seen from the front of the house.

“I hope you aren’t stopping because I came down,” Woody said.

“Of course not. I need to clear my head before I can continue.”

“Oh? It sounds like you need some meditating. I can teach you how to contact the Great Spirit. You can learn a lot about yourself that way.”

“No, that’s alright, Woody. I think I’ll just go for a stroll along the beach before the sun sets.”

Woody pursed his lips while he remained deep in thought. “Well, if you change your mind…”

“Thanks for the offer. Perhaps another time.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” he added. “In the meantime, I’m going to prepare a health shake. Wheat grass and Elm bark. Can I interest you in one too?”

Sarah cringed at the thought of drinking anything made from grass and bark and shook her head. “You still drink that stuff? Honestly, Woody, it’s a wonder you haven’t turned into a tree yet,” she joked.

Woody blushed and smiled, sticking out his chest in a macho manner. “Well, sometimes I do feel like a mighty oak around the ladies.”

Sarah politely smiled back and quickly reached for her jacket before she let slip what she was really thinking about his virility.

“If the phone rings, let the machine answer. I’m expecting a call from my editor.”

Woody raised his hand to his forehead and saluted, annoying Sarah even further. Mighty oak? This time the urge to roll her eyes won and she gave in willingly.

Sarah casually strolled along the beach, taking in the sights and smells nature offered her this afternoon. There was something about the salty sea air on a cool day that never failed to please her senses. Combine that with the sound of crashing waves and seagulls flying overhead and she swore she was in paradise. Six months from now this beach would be crawling with people, but on a cool January afternoon she would be lucky if she came across one other person.

And then she spotted her.

Off in the distance, too far for the untrained eye to make out, she saw Danni sitting on the beach, her arms tucked around her knees. How she could tell for certain it was Danni she wasn’t sure, but she recognized Danni the same way she would have recognized an old friend. Perhaps it was because there were so few people in Cape May this time of year or maybe it was something else, she wasn’t sure, but she knew from merely looking at Danni that something was very wrong and she sped up her walk.

Several minutes of not being able to take her eyes off Danni, she finally arrived at the young woman’s side and knew immediately what had happened. Danni hadn’t said a single word, yet when she turned her face to meet Sarah’s, the tears running down her cheeks clarified Sarah’s suspicion.

“I’m so sorry, Danni.”

Sarah slumped down to the sand and put her arm around Danni for support. Surprisingly, the solitary woman Danni was had slowly given in to the comfort offered from someone else as she reached around Sarah and held onto her hard.

As precious moments lingered, Sarah settled close to Danni and remained silent, giving her the space she needed. She respected Danni enough not to pry but also knew that when Danni was ready to talk she would. Watching the waves crash against the jetty, they sat in silence together for nearly twenty minutes before Danni spoke.

“I grew up in Cape May.”

Sarah listened intently as Danni began speaking of her childhood, the summers she spent at this very beach, and how Cape May was the first place she ever considered home. In an odd sort of way, their lives ran a parallel course. Whereas Danni had grown up in a small town, she grew up in the big city and had never even seen the beach until she went to college. It was then that she swore she would never live in a large city again. Small beach towns were all she wanted. They were friendly, safe, and when she first visited Cape May about ten years ago she instantly fell in love with its charm.

“That strip of boardwalk over there,” Danni said, pointing off in the distance to their right, “there’s a small shop that used to make the best fudge in the state.”

Sarah smiled, knowing exactly which shop Danni referred to. Vicki’s store had been in her family since well before Vicki was born and it was no wonder their fudge had become the best. Years of practice will do that.

“My first job was right next to that shop and I would sneak over on my breaks and eat their samples,” Danni chuckled. “It’s a miracle I didn’t gain fifty pounds that summer.”

Danni paused again, and for several moments they listened to the surf pound as the tide inched closer with each wave.

“I swore when I left here I would never come back again. Even now, as I sit here in the midst of dealing with my mother’s death, all I can think about is getting away. I feel like a horrible daughter.”

Sarah placed a consoling hand on Danni’s shoulder. “Wanting to leave doesn’t make you horrible.”

“No? I can’t even pretend I’ve got other more important things to do. I don’t. My mother is dead. My family is gone. At this present moment I don’t even care about my job, which had been my life’s work until this morning. I just don’t care anymore. I feel lost.”

A comfortable silence fell between the women as Danni pondered her life and Sarah thought about the time her own parents had died. She was away at college with barely a month before graduation when she received the phone call from her aunt. It was a horrible crash, merely seeing pictures of the wreckage weeks later made her ill, but the police had assured her they went quickly. No pain. After her graduation, she came to Cape May for its serenity, a place to regather herself. It was meant to be a temporary escape from reality, but what she found instead was her new home.

“Changing tides. That’s where you’re at now.”

Danni looked at her with a confused expression, waiting for her to elaborate.

“Do you see that stretch of beach there?” Sarah asked, motioning towards the spot where the ocean foamed before it began retreating back into greater depths. “Those shells that litter the beach…they won’t be there tomorrow. The tide will come in and clean it up, taking all that back out to sea with it.”

“Is this some philosophical way of telling me death is inevitable?”

“Well, it is inevitable, but that’s not what I’m saying. Look, I don’t know if you’re a religious person or not, but what I mean is, nature knows when it’s time to come and clean up. Maybe your sense of being lost, not really knowing what’s in store for you, is really someone telling you to slow down until you find your way again.”

Danni thought about Sarah’s words for a moment. Somehow, through all the mess and uncertainty her life was in at this present moment, one thing stood out above the rest. This woman made sense.

“Maybe it’s time to face your past, Danni. Maybe it’s time to come home.”

“She loves me. She loves me not. She loves me.”

While delicious aromas and bubbling noises filled the air, the lighting set to minimum, and candles elegantly decorated the table, Woody leaned against the kitchen counter picking daisies petals in an attempt to pass the time until Sarah returned home. He had gone through most of the flowers Sarah had arranged in her assortment by the kitchen window, all ending with the same result: She loves me not. Before he could begin again with a fresh flower, a noise coming from the living room interrupted him and he went out to greet the object of his affection.

“Sarah, I’ve prepared us a—”

Noticing that Sarah was not alone hadn’t been what stopped him dead in his track. It was the infuriating memory that came rushing back at the glance of who stood beside her.

“What the hell are you doing back here?” he demanded, his glare pointing solely at Danni.

Sarah froze at the verbal attack, a combination of uncertainty about what had gotten into Woody and how he knew Danni continued baffling her. Unconsciously, she moved in front of Danni as he approached.

“I told you once already, you aren’t welcome here,” he barked at Danni.

Sarah raised her hands to hold him back while trying to remain between them as Danni tried to sidle past her to face her attacker. “What’s gotten into you, Woody?”

He glared at Danni for several seconds before focusing his attention on Sarah, who obviously seemed to be protecting her, though exactly why he wasn’t sure. If she knew what type of person Danni was, the self-centered, unscrupulous girlfriend-stealing lesbian of years past, she wouldn’t allow her to step foot in her home.

“Answer me,” she commanded, her own glare surpassing his.

Taking her by surprise, his answer came in the form of a searing kiss before she could push him away.

“Sarah, you have no idea what this dyke will do. She—”

“I should leave,” Danni muttered softly.

“Yeah, you should,” Woody agreed.

“No!” Sarah turned and took Danni by the arm, guiding her closer to the door and out of range from prying ears.

“I don’t know what’s going on here, how you two know each other, but I don’t want you to leave on account of him.”

“We have a…history, I guess you could call it,” Danni explained.

“Well, I don’t know what happened in your past, and I won’t force you to tell me, but I want you to know you’re welcome here as long as you want to stay.”

“You’re letting her stay?” Woody barked from across the room. “Did I hear you right? You’re letting that dyke stay in your home?”

Sarah turned, incensed beyond anything she had experienced in recent years, and put forth her most furious scowl, a look so intense she was convinced dodging a field of flying daggers would cause less damage.

“I think it’s best you leave, Woody,” she said, her tone remaining even despite her scathing anger.

For a moment Woody was dumbfounded. He stood frozen as if unsure he heard her right. Finally, he blinked a few times and stomped off without saying another word. Within minutes he had packed his belongings and when he returned downstairs he found Sarah waiting alone by the front door.

“I hope you two are very happy together,” he snapped, slamming the door as he left.

A moment later Sarah returned to the kitchen to find Danni eyeing up the meal Woody prepared.

“You know this doesn’t smell half bad,” she said, catching Danni off guard. “I think we should have ourselves a fine little meal here.”

“Are you sure you don’t want me to leave? It’s no problem. I can find another place to stay if you feel uncomfortable around me after that little fiasco.”

Sarah cocked her brow. “Not everyone from this town still lives in the Stone Age. Some of us have even seen an R rated movie or two,” she joked, pausing a moment before continuing.

“I don’t know you that well but I’m guessing you’ve been given a lot of grief, and that coming back here isn’t exactly the easiest thing for you. As far as I’m concerned, you are more than welcome in my home. Please, stay as long as you like. Alright, Danni?”

Danni blushed as she looked deeply into Sarah’s eyes. For a brief moment she sensed a connection between them, a connection she hadn’t felt with anyone. But as soon as she tried to hold on to the feeling it was gone. “Thank you.”

“Good. Now that we have that worked out, how about we dig into this meal? It smells fabulous!”

Sarah removed the plates from the table that Woody had set and began serving up heaving amounts onto them. She didn’t know about Danni, but it wasn’t every day she was served a fine meal like this, and judging from the aroma that filled the air she could only hope the taste didn’t disappoint. When she turned to set them at the table again she found that Danni had lit the candles and was in the process of dimming the lights.

“It seems a shame to ruin the setting, don’t you agree?” Danni asked, hoping Sarah wouldn’t see this as a seduction on her part.

“I agree.”

For several long moments the women ate in silence. While Sarah was dying to know the history between Danni and Woody, she didn’t pry. She had just assumed that since they had both grown up here it was inevitable they would know each other. In all probability they even went to the same school, though it was more likely she attended classes with Vicki rather than Woody since they were closer in age. At the mere thought of Woody’s name she became enraged with his behavior and swore to deal with him at a later time.

“Is he a friend of yours?” Danni asked, interrupting her thoughts.

“Woody? More like an acquaintance.”

“He’s part of the reason I left Cape May the way I did, vowing to never return.”

Sarah put down her fork and sipped her wine, intently hanging on Danni’s every word.

“As you already know, I’m a lesbian. When I was seventeen, he thought I stole his girlfriend.”

Sarah’s eyes lit up in surprise. “Did you?”

“Oh heck no! They were pretty much over when I happened into the picture. I was sitting alone on a bench watching the surf one night. I used to do that when I needed to gather my thoughts. I had just gotten accepted into the first two colleges of my choice and was weighing my options. She came and sat down next to me. You should have seen her, Sarah. She was a mess. Crying, scared, I had no idea what to do.”

“What happened?”

“Well, I’m not exactly sure on that part, but I calmed her down and we talked a fair bit. About an hour later Woody showed up and demanded she leave with him. She refused, and when he asked why she told him she was in love with me. Naturally it wasn’t true because I had just met her, but I had seen her around and to be honest the poor girl never looked so miserable as she did when she was with him.”

“You don’t think he beat her, do you?” Sarah asked.

“He’s a big guy and he’s always been a jerk, but I don’t think he’s like that. He did get in my face and tell me I would pay for that, but I left for college before he actually did anything to me.”

“So he never made good on his threat?”

“Well, not exactly. His family owns that fudge shop I told you about on the beach. Instead of going into the family business, he took the political route. He ran for city council and won. Within two months of him taking office, both my parents had lost their jobs. He claimed he was ‘restructuring’ but I know it was revenge for thinking I stole his girlfriend.”

Sarah rolled her eyes. She was never really fond of Woody, but hearing this only darkened her attitude towards him.

“The last I heard of him he had joined the military I think.”

“Yes, the Navy. Vicki talks about him all the time, though I think it’s more out of duty than honor.”

Danni’s eyes lit up. “Vicki’s still in town?”

“Of course. Who do you think put these handles on my waist? She runs the fudge shop these days.”

“I’ve got to stop in and see her before I leave town.”

A strange silence filled the air at the mention of Danni’s leaving. Sarah knew it would happen eventually, and she couldn’t even explain her sudden attachment to the young woman, but the thought of Danni leaving left her feeling a little empty inside.

“When do you think that might be?”

“Well, I’m going to have a very small ceremony on Monday so I’m guessing I should probably head back to the city Tuesday. I do have some things I need to take care of tomorrow at my mother’s house and I’m really not looking forward to going there by myself.” Danni admitted.

“If you’d like some company…” Sarah left the offer open.

Danni hardly pondered it before she agreed it might be a good idea. “I was thinking about heading over sometime in mid-morning. Is that too early for you?”

Sarah shook her head and, despite the reason for accompanying Danni, was actually looking forward to spending more time with her before she left.

“Hey, I have a few slices of cheesecake left from the other night. How about we wrap up this fine meal with some New York Cheesecake?”

Danni’s eyes lit up again and flashed a smile unlike any Sarah had ever seen before. “You really do know my weak spot, don’t you?”

“Ah, another cheesecake fan, hmm? Sometimes I think it’s better than making love,” Sarah confessed with a gentle blush. Though, as she allowed her eyes to casually graze over Danni’s body while she thought about someone making love to her, she began to think the cheesecake might lose that battle. “Two slices coming right up.”

The sun was shining bright on this early morning, a day that left Danni wishing she was anywhere but here, doing what she was about to do.

“Thank you for coming with me,” she said. “It’s always hard doing this stuff, but when you haven’t seen your mother in a decade it makes it that much harder.”

Sarah looked over as Danni handled the wheel and drove them through a windy stretch of road, maneuvering the curves with such ease it was as if she had driven this road daily. “I’m glad I can help. I know how difficult this can be.”

Minutes later Danni had pulled up in front of a small cottage home hidden behind a collection of giant oak trees. Sarah had lived in Cape May County for years but had no idea such a charming neighborhood even existed among the newer Victorian style homes the tourist county was famous for.

“Oh no,” Danni muttered under her breath.

Sarah followed Danni’s glance out the front windshield to a plump woman trotting toward them. “Friend of yours?”

“That’s my mother’s neighbor, Mrs. Spangler. She’s a bit of a windbag, and she thinks she knows everything, but she’s ok I guess. A small teaspoons kind of person you could say.”

Sarah followed Danni’s lead, getting out of the car and walking towards the woman to greet her. Given Danni’s reaction, she surmised it was in their best interest not to be trapped in the car with no escape. At least if they approached the woman they could always walk away when they had enough.

“Danni! It’s been too long!” Mrs. Spangler said as she grabbed the young woman and pulled her into a tight hug. “How have you been?”

“I’ve been well, thank you.” She looked in Sarah’s direction and introduced her to the older woman but Mrs. Spangler had no interest.

“I heard about your mother. I’m so sorry,” she continued. “She was a fine woman.”

Danni cautiously nodded, guarding her emotions from the other woman but Sarah managed to see right through them, see the hurt behind her protective walls.

“She never stopped talking about you, you know.” Mrs. Spangler persisted. “She was so proud of you when you graduated college…how beautiful you looked at the ceremony. And then when you got your first job in the big city…that’s all she talked about for weeks. She really did love you, Danni.”

Danni’s expression tightened and Sarah moved closer, rubbing her hand along Danni’s back in a show of support. Surprisingly, Danni moved into the touch, whether consciously or not was unclear, but Sarah knew in that instant she had to get Danni away from this woman for Danni’s peace of mind.

“We really should get started,” she whispered.

“Yes,” Danni agreed. She held out her hand and thanked Mrs. Spangler for her kind words, gesturing that they did have to begin or they would be here all day.

“If there’s anything you need you just let me know. I’ve made some homemade stew and there is plenty to go around if you girls get hungry.”

“Thank you,” Danni said as they parted, glad to be free of that scenario.

“Charming woman.”

Danni gave a sideways glance of disbelief at Sarah’s comment. “She doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”

“Oh?”

“No. My mother was never at my graduation, and she certainly didn’t know where I work.”

Suddenly, a tension between the women grew and Sarah realized Danni still harbored bitter feelings about the way her relationship with her mother had evolved. It was a pity, really, because she suspected that anyone who loved Danni would be able to accept her lifestyle, regardless of how set against it her own morals held.

Sarah allowed her mind to wander a couple minutes as the approached the house. The closer they got the more she recognized its charm. The flowerbed that lined the front of the house was prepared for spring planting, several lawn ornaments nicely decorated the enormous front yard, and when she listened closely she swore she heard a brook nearby.

“You grew up here?”

“Yeah. It’s not much but it was home.”

Danni opened the door and a flood of memories came rushing back. Her mother’s scent filled the air. Every piece of furniture had remained in its place. Even her mother’s collection of miniature angels still adorned the same place inside the curio cabinet. It was as if all those years had never passed.

“Are you sure you’re ok doing this? There are people you can hire to do this if you don’t feel up to it.”

“No,” Danni insisted. “This is my responsibility.”

Sarah nodded. She remembered the hardship of sorting her parents’ belongings after their death and was grateful for her friends’ help at the time. She wasn’t sure she could have coped otherwise.

“Let’s just get this over with. This place brings back too many memories.”

“I can start upstairs if you like,” Sarah suggested.

“Good idea. There are plenty of boxes in the closet at the end of the hall. Or at least there used to be. Since nothing down here seems to have changed I’m assuming things are the same up there too. Just throw all the clothes in boxes and I’ll have someone haul it away later. I’m going to sort through these drawers.”

Danni’s tone had turned authoritative in an instant and Sarah wondered if this was how Danni was in her job, completely different from the gentle, almost fragile woman she had come to know over the last few days. She watched carefully for a moment as Danni got down to business and began emptying the desk drawers, briefly catching a glimpse of an unsteady hand before Danni quickly regrouped and grabbed stacks of papers to sort. She could sense Danni’s distress, the tears beginning to well in her eyes, but Sarah fought off the urge to hug the woman and moved up the stairs. The sooner they finished, the sooner she could get Danni away from here.

Vicki sat alone at the tiny table in the back of the shop, reading one of her trashy romance novels as she downed the remaining bit of her morning coffee and dabbed at muffin crumbs on her plate. Soft music played in the background, but it did nothing to tune out the annoying ramblings Woody made as he moved about, slamming doors and mumbling to himself. For the most part she ignored it, convinced he wouldn’t be able to keep his annoyance to himself much longer, so she continued reading and put him out of her head as long as she could.

Until she heard a familiar name.

“…Danni Jordan.”

Finally, she put down her book and tuned into his ranting.

“…fix her ass. She’s not doing this to me again.”

“What are you barking about?” Vicki asked in a rather raised voice. “You’ve been bitching about something ever since you showed up here.”

Seconds later Woody appeared in the doorway looking rather ragged, unshaved and dressed shabby.

“I told that bitch not to come back here and she didn’t listen. Now she’s going to pay.”

“Who? What are you talking about?”

“Danni Jordan. That dyke who stole my girlfriend. She’s back and she’s trying to take Sarah away from me now.”

Vicki resisted the urge to laugh. She teased Sarah about Woody for years, playfully trying to hook them up, but she knew Sarah didn’t think of Woody that way. To think that he even had a chance with Sarah was one of the most absurd things she ever heard.

“Don’t you think you’re jumping to conclusions?”

Woody poured himself a cup of coffee and joined his sister at the table, half expecting her to serve him up some breakfast.

“Jumping to conclusions?” he barked. “She’s staying in Sarah’s house right this minute. It’s only a matter of time before she takes advantage of my woman, and when she does she’s going to know all about the Woodster.”

Vicki rolled her eyes. “What are you going to do?”

“Well for starters, I’m going to teach her not to screw with me. I already taught her a lesson for stealing my girlfriend when I had her parents fired from their jobs, but obviously this bitch doesn’t listen. She wants to play hardball, she’s going to get a lesson she won’t soon forget.”

“You son of a bitch!” Vicki barked. “You did have them fired. All those years I defended you. When people said it was payback for what she did to you I defended your sorry ass and now you’re telling me you fired them intentionally? What else have you done that I don’t know about?”

“I did what I had to do.”

“What you had to do?”

“She stole my girlfriend. My honor was at stake.”

Vicki shook her head in anger. “You dumb shit. Danni had nothing to do with your girlfriend leaving you. I’m the one who broke you two up. I had a little talk with her, warned her what a big jackass you really are, and when she told me you hit her I suggested she leave you because it would only get worse. Danni was the one who comforted her. She just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

“Why should I believe you? She’s a lying dyke. She’s trying to steal Sarah away from me now. She needs to be taught a lesson.”

“Get out of my shop. Pack up your shit and get out of here.”

Woody sat there speechless while Vicki stared at him with such intensity he swore she would burst into flames at any given moment. “What about my breakfast?”

“Breakfast? You want breakfast?” she picked up his coffee mug and threw it across the room, shattering it into a dozen pieces. “Next time I aim for your head. Now get the hell out of here before I really get angry.”

Sarah stood in the middle of the bedroom, surrounded by a couple dozen boxes filled with nothing but clothing and shoes. Along the way she had managed to pull out some pictures and photo albums, buried underneath old towels in the bottom dresser drawer, but how she managed to box herself in the middle of the room was unclear. For the most part, the room was packed up the way Danni wanted, but she wasn’t sure Danni was ready to be disturbed just yet so she occupied her time by looking through the albums.

Amazing, she thought. Every page, every photo, was of Danni. Baby pictures, school pictures, birthday parties, family vacations, random acts of silliness…it was Danni’s life. Sadly, the album photos stopped around the age Danni said she left home and ironically the empty pages remaining resembled the void in their relationship.

“Hey, how are you doing up here?” Danni asked from the doorway.

“I seem to have gotten myself into a bit of a mess,” Sarah admitted. “I’ve boxed myself in.”

Danni smiled as Sarah blushed at the situation. “What have you got there?” she asked when she noticed the photo albums.

“It looks like your life history in pictures. Care to come have a look?”

Without hesitation, Danni easily shoved a stack of boxes out of the way, making an entrance into the small circle Sarah found herself in, and sat beside Sarah on the bed. “I haven’t seen those in years.”

She ran her hand over the leather binding, still smooth to the touch, and carefully flipped open the top album. It was Danni’s tenth birthday party. She remembered it well; Half a dozen girls slept over that night and while the others talked about which boys in class they thought were cute, her mind was occupied with her friend Emily. Silently she flipped through the pages, bringing back the night in vivid color, and she let loose a tiny chuckle.

“See this girl,” she asked, pointing to a tiny blonde sitting next to her as her mother brought in the birthday cake. “I had the biggest crush on her. I can’t believe I didn’t know until years later I was a lesbian.”

Sarah smiled. “Maybe it didn’t dawn on you. I mean, haven’t we all had a crush on another girl from time to time?”

“Well, it should have been pretty obvious. All my friends had crushes on boys and boy bands, and here I was in high school listening to 80s music because I had crushes on people like Pat Benatar and Debbie Harry of Blondie. It doesn’t get more in your face than that.”

Danni’s mind drifted away a few minutes before closing the book. “I’m going to bring these with me.”

“What about these?” Sarah asked, holding up a few framed photos. She hadn’t had a chance to look at them too closely, but she thought she remembered seeing one of Danni’s college graduation.

“Let’s have a look.”

As Danni looked through them, her face slowly turned pale, nearly to the point of ghost-white.

“Are you alright?” Sarah asked, concerned by the sudden change.

“Have you seen these yet?”

“No, I didn’t get to look at them. Why?”

“These are my graduation pictures.”

“I thought you said she didn’t go to your graduation,” Sarah asked, slightly confused.

“I thought she didn’t. My first reaction was that she got copies somehow, but she was there.”

“How can you tell?”

Danni’s voice cracked when she spoke again. “My mother took these pictures herself.”

“Are you sure?”

“See this tiny smudge in the corner? It’s her thumb. She was famous for sticking her thumb in the way when she took pictures.”

Sarah looked into Danni’s eyes and saw a well of tears barely being held back. She wanted so badly to hug her and tell her it was ok to let it out.

“Oh my God!” Danni cried out in disbelief.

“What is it?”

For one long moment Danni just stared at the last framed photo on her lap. Sarah looked at it but didn’t really understand the meaning of Danni’s surprise. The picture had Danni centered, standing on some steps with several people around her, and as they all had their arms raised they all appeared to be celebrating.

“This was taken right after my first case.”

Sarah then realized they were standing on courthouse steps, probably in front of a news crew.

“I was assigned this case because I was new and we didn’t have a chance in hell of winning. At the end we got a break and everything turned around. Basically, that win started a major investigation into a long line of very corrupt police officers, leading all the way up to the Police Commissioner.”

“I remember reading about that. Drug smuggling and money laundering, wasn’t it? You mean you were responsible for bringing all that down?”

“In a sense.”

For reasons unknown to her, Sarah suddenly felt very proud of Danni. She knew from the moment they met that Danni was intelligent, there was something about the way she carried herself that portrayed that, but this carried things to a whole new level.

“So your mother got a copy of a newspaper picture when she heard about it. She was proud. What’s so surprising about that?”

“What’s so surprising about that is that my mother is standing right here in this picture. She must have been in the courtroom the entire time and I didn’t even know it.”

Slowly, Danni traced her finger over the figure of an older woman, standing behind Danni and smiling proudly.

“There was no word of this case in the news until the last day. I didn’t even think she knew where I worked, and here she was all along watching me.”

“She was your mother, Danni. Of course she would know where you worked. You may have thought that because you walked out on her she had let you go, but it’s obvious from these photos she was never far away.”

And then, the shock she had been in broke and in an instant Danni’s tears trailed down her cheeks. “I miss her so much, Sarah.”

“I know you do.”

“I wish I could just tell her how sorry I am. For everything.”

“I’m sure she knew,” Sarah answered, pulling her into an embrace.

For long moments Sarah held onto Danni, running her hands up and down the younger woman’s back, comforting her. Danni’s tears grew fiercer as the moments dragged on, lavishing in the touch so familiar as she remembered her mother’s hugs before she let go of all the anger she had with herself. Her breathing became more strained as she futilely labored for uninhibited breaths. Listening to Danni like this, feeling the struggle within her, Sarah began to cry too. She wanted nothing more than to take away all Danni’s pain and continued caressing Danni’s back, occasionally running a gentle hand over the back of Danni’s head.

Then, somehow between the thought of comforting Danni and the act of caressing her back, Sarah’s hand accidentally slipped and grazed against the side of Danni’s breast. She realized what she did the instant it happened and Danni immediately pulled back at the sensation.

“I’m sorry,” Sarah offered.

The look in Danni’s eyes had suddenly changed. The once glossy blue orbs had turned into a fiery blue sapphire. Hungry.

“I didn’t mean—”

Danni’s fingers lightly brushed over Sarah’s lips, preventing her from further speaking. Her gaze moved ever so slowly from Sarah’s eyes to her lips, aching for the taste.

Sarah felt it too. The sensation of want and need and desire rolled into one emotion, beckoning her to deepen their connection. Danni began to move closer, slowly closing the space between their lips, and Sarah felt her eyes begin to close on their own. No conscious thought was involved. Mere seconds felt like an eternity, and the warmth of Danni’s breath on her lips sent tingly shivers up her spine in blissful anticipation of what was about to happen between them.

“Hello!”

A loud pounding at the front door snapped both women from the moment and caused them to jump back in surprise.

“Danni? Are you still in there?”

Danni offered Sarah an apologetic look, knowing that as much as she was about to kiss Sarah, Sarah was about to kiss her back.

“Mrs. Spangler,” Sarah sighed.

“We should probably get going. I think I’m done here. I can deal with the rest of this another time.”

Sarah agreed and picked up the framed photos while Danni grabbed the albums and led them back downstairs. On their way out the door Mrs. Spangler had offered them some lunch, explaining that she had an enormous pot of stew and hadn’t had company for ages, but neither woman felt up for her company and impending long winded stories at the moment. Instead, they headed back into town to pay a visit to Vicki.

Sarah found the trip itself back into town to be rather quick, being that Danni knew a shortcut that avoided main roads and ended right in the heart of downtown. While she wasn’t entirely sure why Danni was so quiet, she knew the reason for her own silence centered around those last moments back at the house. She had always considered herself a healthy heterosexual woman, but for the first time in her life she found herself deeply attracted to this other woman.

“Here we are,” Danni announced. She looked through the windshield to the row of stores and smiled. “Hasn’t changed one bit since I left.”

Sarah’s eyes remained on Danni’s face the entire time, paying no attention to the outside view, which was why she didn’t see Woody charging at the car from behind Danni.

“What the hell are you doing here, you flaming dyke?” he demanded with such a scathing tone as he pounded the window.

Sarah jumped out and ran around the car, gently pushing him away so Danni could get out. She managed to get him to walk off a few feet, but when Danni got out and approached them both, Woody turned and charged at her again.

He raised his fist in anger, shaking it wildly as he stormed in her direction. “I’m going to teach you, you slutty dyke.” In one instance, he swung his fist hard, intending to land a hard punch onto Danni. Instead, Sarah had managed to throw herself between his fist and Danni and took the blow herself.

Danni leaned over Sarah to protect her from another blow, shielding her from any further hits as she offered herself openly to the next one.

“See what you did?” he barked again.

Before Danni could answer, Vicki came running out and smacked him hard on the arm. “Why the hell did you hit her?”

Woody put on a facetious confused look. “I didn’t hit anybody. She tripped.”

Vicki leaned over to help Danni lift Sarah, who was still looking rather woozy. “Bullshit. I saw the whole thing from the window.”

Just then, in that teasing way brothers and sisters interact, Woody leaned over and whispered into her ear. “I’m your brother, Vicki. You really didn’t see anything, did you?”

Vicki snorted. “I saw more than you can imagine.”

For a brief moment a look passed between them. That look that spoke volumes without words, each clearly understood the other’s inference.

“Get out of here,” she ordered in a tone more biting than she had ever felt. Placing her arm around Sarah’s waist, she guided the older woman inside the shop. She brushed past Woody, carelessly bumping his arm as they moved past.

Danni remained behind. She stood eye to eye with Woody, her attention on Sarah as Vicki led her inside to rest. When the women were safely inside and out of earshot, she drew her attention back to Woody and offered him a look so hateful her eyes darkened to nearly black.

“If you touch her…if you talk to her…hell, if you so much as look at her—”

“You don’t know who you’re dealing with,” Woody snorted.

“No,” Danni warned. “It’s you who doesn’t know who you’re dealing with.”

At that she leaned in closely, placing her hand around his neck and shoulder, and whispered softly into his ear, “I know what you did to my parents, and if you think I’m going to sit by and watch you ruin Sarah, you’ve got another thing coming.”

Slowly, she tightened her grip on him, pressing her thumb hard into his jugular. “I will come after you and bring you down.”

Then, before he could even gather a response, she teasingly patted him on the shoulder and walked inside to check on Sarah. She had to badly fight the urge to punch him where he stood, but in the end her common sense won out and she passed it up. His day would come. She only hoped she could be there to see it.

Inside, Sarah sat at a small table by the window overlooking the ocean. Across the room, Danni could see she was a million miles away as she nursed a tall glass of water.

“Feeling better?”

Sarah turned in surprise at the welcomed intrusion. Although she was happy to see Danni, she had to force a smile.

“I didn’t think so,” Danni said, reading the other woman like a book. “You feel like talking?”

Sarah smirked and shrugged her shoulders. “I just don’t understand him, Danni. I’ve known Woody for years now and I’ve never seen him like this before. It’s as if he’s a completely different person.”

“He’s on a power trip,” Vickie announced as she entered the room with a fresh pot of coffee. “But that’s still no excuse. I apologize for my brother, Sarah.”

Sarah waved her hand. “Don’t be ridiculous. You can’t be held responsible for his actions.”

“No, but it’s like guilt by association.” Vickie took a closer look at Sarah’s cheekbone. “That’s going to bruise.”

Danni snuck in a closer look as well, agreeing, but joking that it would be a lovely shade of purple by the end of the week. Sarah’s soft smile confirmed that she had lightened the mood somewhat.

For the next hour the women sat around sipping coffee and eating a basket of muffins while Danni and Vickie rehashed on old times. Sarah listened intently as they told embarrassing stories about each other, but it wasn’t until Vickie had retold the events of finding Danni under the bleachers making out with the senior class president that Sarah took pity on Danni. The young woman had turned about five shades of red before settling on a rosy pink hue and she tried her hardest to suppress the erotic images coming to her mind.

“I think I’m going to use your bathroom if you don’t mind, Vicki.” She stood and rose, casually making her way across the room and through the archway that led to the rest of the building, quickly finding the bathroom and slipping inside to refresh her mind.

“You shouldn’t say stuff like that in front of Sarah,” Danni said, grimacing at the thought of offending the older woman. “She’s straight.”

Vickie leaned in and whispered, “Between you and me, I don’t think she’s as straight as you think.”

Danni laughed. “What are you talking about?”

“Haven’t you seen the way she’s been looking at you? She’s barely taken her eyes off you.”

“You’re insane!” Danni shouted, though she was finding it difficult to believe her own argument when she had nearly kissed the woman little more than an hour ago.

“Am I?” Vickie asked. “Look, all I’m saying is she’s acting like some love struck teenager, the only man in any aspect of her life just gave her a mean right hook, so you put the pieces together.”

“And just out of curiosity, how do you know so much about this?”

“Because,” Vicki began, slowly choosing her words and lowering her voice. “It was the same way I used to look at you.”

Danni’s jaw dropped open. “Are you saying you’re a les—”

“—No, but I did have one hell of a crush on you. You have that affect on women. I’ve known Sarah a long time now and I’ve never seen her like this before. Either Woody knocked her senseless or she has one hell of a crush on you.”

Again, images of Sarah’s lips closing in on hers raced through Danni’s mind and she unconsciously brought her fingertips to gently brush where Sarah’s lips would have met hers. She had been deep in thought when the soft hand lightly brushed over her back as Sarah returned.

“Did I miss anything?” Sarah asked.

Danni looked up into Sarah’s eyes while Vickie carefully averted hers, convinced Sarah had heard them talking. A moment later Danni rose, never losing the shared glance she held with Sarah. She studied Sarah as she stood at a towering height over the woman. “I believe I would like to leave now.”

Sarah could only nod her head, lost in the look they shared until Danni forcefully pulled her eyes away.

“I’ve got the funeral tomorrow and I don’t know if I’ll be by to see you before I leave,” Danni told Vickie. She reached in her pocket and pulled out a business card, scribbling her home number on the back. “It was good to see you again. Call me when you’re ever in Philly. We can have dinner or something.”

“That sounds good. Don’t be a stranger around here,” Vickie said. “Come back and see us from time to time.”

Vickie walked to the door with the women, showing them out before moving to the front window to watch them drive off. The sky had turned cloudy in the hour they had been inside, much like it had the last time Sarah had been here. It was typical weather for this time of the year. As she stood there watching the car drive off, she remembered an earlier conversation she had with Sarah.”

          “You’re never going to snag a husband if you keep eating the way you do.”

          “Why on Earth would I want one of those?”

And as she watched Danni’s car drive out of sight, she smirked to herself, suddenly realizing exactly why Sarah never wanted a husband, even if the older woman hadn’t yet realized it herself.

          “Mommy, come look! I’ve finished the sand castle.”

          “That’s beautiful, Danni. You’re so talented.”

Danni stood at the window watching the sky’s first light come into view as she recalled one of her most cherished childhood memories. The castle she built that day wasn’t very good. In fact, it paled in comparison to the castles she built over the coming years, but that day at the beach with her mother was one of her favorites. They had spent the entire day together, just the two of them, laughing, playing, simply enjoying being with one another. As she continued watching the sunrise, a dozen shades of pinks and purples slowly filled the sky, and she realized how easy everything was back then. The innocence of youth uninhibited by the responsibilities of adult life.

Life was beginning to stir down below. The morning commute had begun, shops along the beach were slowly lighting up, and the number of joggers along the beach had picked up. For the most part she remained numb to it all, allowing the memory to stay with her as long as it wanted, but it wasn’t until she spotted a familiar figure along the beach that she fully snapped out of the memory.

Not far from the house, Sarah and Molly had been running along the beach. They slowed to a snail’s pace at a spot almost directly in front of Sarah’s home and Sarah plopped onto the sand, looking out onto the ocean to watch the sun rise while Molly remained faithfully at her side. Danni wasn’t sure if this was their morning ritual or something they had done just for today, but there was something endearing about watching it. Slowly, the sadness she felt regarding her mother began to lift as she continued watching Sarah.

The minutes had flown by, and before Danni knew what had happened Sarah and Molly had gotten up and walked toward the house. Her mind had drifted to another place and time again, but not to her childhood. This time she had flashed on that moment at her mother’s house. That moment she nearly kissed Sarah. How beautiful she looked. That glow in Sarah’s blue eyes that sparkled. Subconsciously, she brought her fingers up to her lips and kissed their tips, imagining they were Sarah’s lips.

“Oh, God, Danni!” she called out, slamming her hand against her forehead when she realized what she was doing. “You’re losing your mind.”

Before she could berate herself further, the strong aroma of coffee had filled the air. Grateful for the distraction, she quickly threw on a robe and headed down to the kitchen.

The image of Sarah scurrying about the kitchen, frantically trying to get breakfast together, forced Danni to stop in her tracks. For the longest moment she quietly stood by and watched, awestruck by the beautiful woman Sarah was, even in the simplicity of preparing breakfast.

“Need some help?” she asked, finally announcing her presence.

Sarah half turned in surprise and smiled at first sight of Danni, that same glow she had yesterday very much present in her eyes this morning.

As Danni made her way across the room she became more aware of Sarah’s odd behavior. The older woman hadn’t quite turned to fully face her and Danni knew immediately she had been hiding something. When she arrived at Sarah’s side, she instinctively reached for Sarah’s chin and turned the woman’s head. An enormous bruise had covered Sarah’s left cheekbone and her face had been very much swollen.

Danni lightly ran her fingers over the bruise, feeling the heat radiate within. “That was meant for me.”

Sarah looked up into Danni’s eyes, watching as they darkened with pain and concern, but any words she had didn’t quite make it to her mouth. Danni stepped closer, barely leaving space between their bodies, as she continued inspecting the bruise, and Sarah felt the beginning of butterflies in her stomach.

“How can I make this up to you?” Danni whispered, slightly tilting her head to get an even closer look. Even with this bruise she is flawless.

Lost in the moment with Danni so close, Sarah unconsciously closed her eyes and allowed the sensation to fill her up. Then, without thought, she moved her head toward Danni’s, the space between their lips closing.

Danni felt it too. The feeling was too strong to fight. There was no thought. There was only Sarah. Again, she could feel Sarah’s breath on her lips, begging her to cover them with her own.

Before she could fully enjoy the sensation, the toaster had popped and spoiled the moment, forcing both women to pull back in surprise at the intrusion.

Long moments of silence followed, each woman unsure how to react as they went about setting the table and serving the food. Danni considered it a distraction from reality, nothing more than a crush. On the other hand, Sarah’s inexperience left her confused. She had never really believed in love at first sight, but her body’s reaction to Danni contradicted that now.

Danni picked at the food on her plate more than she ate it. A hundred thoughts swirled in her head at once but none of them made much sense.

“How long have you been here?” she asked, not even sure where that question had come from. “In Cape May I mean. These were single family homes when I left and this entire block seems to have been turned into B&B’s since I’ve been gone.”

Sarah looked up and finished chewing. If Danni had been any other person she most likely would have given her standard answer of ten years. But she felt a true connection with Danni. Discussing her parents’ deaths wasn’t something she felt she could hide.

“The first time I was here was right after I graduated college,” she began. She took a sip of the steaming coffee, hoping it would give her strength as she recalled the time. “It was right after my parents died. I needed an escape. Cape May was everything I needed at that time of my life.”

“And you’ve been here ever since?”

“No,” Sarah whispered. Remembering her parents’ deaths never did come easy for her, but somehow she knew Danni needed to hear this story.

“I only spent a few months here. I had been locked into a job after graduation so I couldn’t stay. After about ten years, life in the big city took its toll so I quit my job and decided to do what I really love doing. I moved here shortly after and began writing. Running the B&B through the summers gets me through the year and allows me the opportunity to write when I want without the hassle of a 9-5 job.”

Sarah was hardly the first person in the world to lose her parents, but hearing the older woman discuss something so personal heightened the connection Danni felt with her, almost as if Sarah knew exactly the hurt and anger and confusion she was feeling right now. Another moment had passed as she dwelled on her whirl of emotions and it wasn’t until she looked at Sarah to see the other woman watching her so intently.

“Are you…I mean, if you don’t mind…Can you…” Danni couldn’t find the words. Maybe it was the silent strength the other woman gave her, or the mere company of a new friend, she wasn’t sure, but she knew that for whatever reason, she wanted Sarah with her today.

“Of course I can,” Sarah replied without hesitation.

She reached over and placed her hand on Danni’s, offering support. The next few hours would be tough for Danni, and she was making it her mission to see the young woman through this.

Sarah always found it grotesquely ironic that most funerals were held on bright sunny days. Today was no exception. The sky above was bright and clear and one could see for miles. There was a slight chill in the air, typical for mid winter, but the sunshine took away some of its bite. Off in the distance she could hear a family of birds singing. If she hadn’t known better she would have sworn it was a beautiful spring morning in April.

But then there was Danni.

Danni stood next to her, dazed and confused. Numb. Vacant in expression and stature. Sarah recognized it and knew it well, having been through it herself. Only she had family there beside her, friends who supported her, people who helped her through. Danni had no one. Not even her friends from Philadelphia had come to support her. Without thought, she took a step closer to Danni’s side.

Danni took her gaze off the coffin as she felt Sarah moving closer, allowing her eyes to scan the nameless crowd. She didn’t recognize a single person standing around her mother’s grave until her gaze returned to Sarah’s.

For the rest of the service Danni remained numb as she absently twirled a carnation in her fingers. Her mind had closed down while the minister spoke and she hadn’t heard a word he said. She was completely unaware the service had ended until a gentle hand upon her shoulder brought her back to the moment.

“Are you alright?” Sarah asked.

It took Danni a few seconds to register what was happening.

“Yes,” she muttered.

“Would you like a few minutes alone?”

Danni could only nod.

“I’ll go get the car.”

When Sarah was off in the distance Danni stepped closer to the grave. Suddenly, the courthouse photo flashed in her mind and a tear rolled down her cheek.

“If only I had known before now…”

In an instant, the poker face she sternly held through the service was gone. There was no need to hide, no need to be strong.

“Oh mom, I can’t believe we wasted all those years. I thought about you so much.”

Danni’s thoughts became erratic as her mind raced with memories, the carnation twirling faster as the seconds ticked on.

“There was so much I wanted to tell you…so many times I wanted to just stop by. I wanted you to meet my friends…see where I work…get to know what’s important in my life…even Sarah. I wish you could meet her. She’s been my strength through all this, mom. I barely know her but I feel like I need her.”

Danni looked up for a moment as the last of the crowd has driven off and that flash of panic returned to her in full force.

“I’m so scared, mom. Who were all these people? I didn’t even know anyone here.”

“That’s not true,” a soft voice called from behind.

Danni turned in surprise to find Sarah had returned. She looked so beautiful standing there, the sunlight outlining her silhouette. “I didn’t hear you.”

Sarah stepped closer. “I said that’s not true,” she added a little louder.

Through tearstained eyes Danni found herself unable to stop her smile at Sarah’s misunderstanding. “No, I meant I didn’t hear you come back.”

“Oh, I thought you meant—"

“I know. I couldn’t resist.”

Danni reached for Sarah’s hand and pulled the older woman to her side. “Mom, this is Sarah. The woman I mentioned.”

Sarah politely nodded her head out of respect. A moment of silence followed and she showed courtesy by allowing Danni this moment.

“I’m gonna go now, mom. We’ll talk again. I promise.”

Danni waited another moment before placing the flower on the casket and turned to leave.

Familiarity. On any given day Danni could draw a map of this town in her sleep, but the entire drive back to Sarah’s house was a blank to her. Streets and buildings that she knew like the back of her hand were nothing more than aberrations. The memories associated with them nothing more than a blur. It wasn’t until the she felt the intimate touch of Sarah’s hand upon her arm that she snapped from disorientation.

“We’re home,” Sarah announced.

As they got out and walked towards the front door Sarah kept a close eye on Danni, making sure she was ok. She pulled out the house key and inserted it into the lock, the click deafening in the silence. Pushing the door open, she moved aside, allowing Danni to enter first.

Sarah followed Danni in and gently pushed the door shut behind her asking, “Can I get you anything? A drink perhaps?”

Danni declined the offer with a soft shake of the head. Despite wanting Sarah’s company, the need for solitude outweighed comfort. She looked deep into Sarah’s eyes, searching for some sign the older woman knew what she needed. When Sarah gently gripped her arm and squeezed, Danni realized she had conveyed exactly what she had hoped.

Sarah nodded her understanding that Danni needed some time alone. As Danni turned away, Sarah watched her ascend the stairs, her heart aching for the young woman.

Danni walked the hallway to her bedroom, the corridor seaming unusually longer. When she opened the door to her room, the first thing her eyes rested on was the stack of photo albums she took from the house yesterday.

She walked over to the stack and took the top album to the bed, leafing through the pages that captured her teens. Her first day of high school…parties…vacations…her life in pictures was all there, ending suddenly with graduation as if she ceased to exist after that.

“You’re so stupid, Danni,” she mumbled with tear stained eyes. “All those years…you let your pride stand in the way…you should have called…stopped by…you never should have left.”

As the words slowly sunk in she finally broke down. Clutching the album close to her body, she cried for lost years, lost memories, and for the relationship with her mother she would never have. Within minutes, exhaustion overpowered her and she fell asleep with the book upon her chest.

Sarah sat in the living room at a small table she used for a desk while she worked on her novel. Looking up, she realized the sun had gone down and the only light in the room came from her computer monitor. Reading her novel’s latest entry, the aroma of a simmering stew had filled the air and her tummy began to rumble. Curious, she glanced at the wall clock. It was hardly past the dinner hour, but she hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast and it was long past lunch.

And then there was Danni.

She hadn’t eaten anything either, having been upstairs all afternoon. The afternoon had been mostly quiet and uneventful, and Sarah occasionally found her mind drifting back to Danni. Without thought, she went upstairs to check on her.

When she arrived at Danni’s door she leaned in, hoping to hear any hint the woman was awake. Nothing. Softly, she knocked on the door and waited. When a minute had passed and there was still no answer, Sarah carefully opened the door and peaked inside.

Danni was lying on her side across the bed, still clutching onto the photo album. Her pillow was darkened with tearstains and she was still wearing her funeral clothes.

Without thinking, she moved across the room and stood near the bed. Memories of her own experience began filtering through her thoughts and she understood perfectly well what Danni had gone through this afternoon. She looked down at Danni’s face and saw eyes fluttering and opening to icy blue orbs looking directly at her.

“I’m sorry,” she offered, holding out her hand in a surrendering gesture. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I wanted to let you know dinner is ready but there’s no rush. I’ll keep it warm on the stove and you can help yourself when you’re ready.”

Sarah barely waited for a response before turning to leave, embarrassed by her unprofessional behavior. If it had been anyone else she wouldn’t have entered the room, but something about Danni had pulled her in, needing to be there with her.

She returned downstairs and lit a fire. Within minutes she had a warm blaze blasting heat and light into the living room. Warming her hands by the fire, Sarah stood lost in thought as she recalled accounts of her peculiar behavior recently, especially the two times she nearly kissed Danni.

“I’m not disturbing you, am I?” a voice said from across the room.

Sarah turned quickly and saw Danni standing in the doorway, Molly walking over to greet her. “Not at all.”

“I was going to take a little walk along the beach. Do you want to come?”

Sarah moved to the table again and sat down. “I’d love to, but unfortunately I can’t. I need to work on my novel or my editor will have my head.”

Danni frowned, “I understand. Do you mind if I bring Molly?”

“Not at all.”

Danni snapped on Molly’s leash and headed out the door. Sarah turned her head and watched through the window as they slowly disappeared into the sunset. They look so good together, she admitted to herself. Nearly ten minutes had passed when she looked to the clock again. In a bout of frustration, she slapped her hand to the desk and jumped from her chair. This is ridiculous! she barked.

She walked to the fire, hoping the warmth returning to her frozen body would help her mind remain focused on her work.

What’s wrong with you? She’s a woman. You’ve never been attracted to women.

You aren’t gay.

Sarah swiftly rubbed her hands together over the flames.

You aren’t gay.

But you’ve never felt for a man this way either.

Molly’s sudden barking snapped her back to the moment. Curious, she walked to the window to find Danni and Molly playing fetch across the street on the beach. Her eyes roamed the tall figure across the street…studying the movements the woman made.

You’ve never felt this way for anyone, she corrected herself.

“We’re back,” Danni called out, barely audible over Molly’s excited bark.

Sarah looked to the door. Molly was happily coming towards her while Danni took her jacket off. She squatted down and pet Molly, the dog’s tail wagging excitedly at the attention she received. Her mind so focused on Molly for the moment, she wasn’t aware Danni had approached her. When she stood up again, only inches separated them and that all too familiar flutter of butterflies resurfaced in Sarah’s stomach.

Seconds felt like hours as anticipation filled the air. No words were spoken. No words were needed.

Danni raised her hand to Sarah’s face, gently stroking her jaw. She didn’t know what she would do if Sarah had backed away from the touch. Fortunately, she wouldn’t have to worry about that. Sarah hadn’t backed away at all. In fact, she moved into it, closing the remaining space between them.

Danni used her other hand to guide Sarah’s body to hers, curves melding into place as their bodies fit together perfectly. The hand that stroked Sarah’s jaw now found its way into her auburn hair, pulling Sarah’s face closer to hers.

Instinctually, Sarah closed her eyes at the touch and enjoyed the sensation. Fire. Explosives. Surges of lightning. It was all there in her mind’s eye. She felt her lips slowly part as Danni’s tongue entered her mouth, dancing with her own. She wanted to die right there, or at least fall to the ground but Danni’s grip strongly held her in place. Without thought, she brought her own hands up and caressed Danni’s head, running her fingers through the long blonde locks.

In that moment of becoming one, she was unable to tell who it was that moaned. Their bodies had melded into place, each finding refuge in the other, and all passage of time seamed to stop.

She continued nibbling Danni’s lower lip, occasionally sucking on it. She could feel Danni’s hands roaming the expanse of her body and passage over certain areas shot an electric pulse coursing through her veins, the excitement of finally touching this woman catching up to her.

Then, as fate would have it, the telephone rang and startled both women to the point of quickly jumping away from each other. Sarah moved to answer the phone, expecting it to be her editor, but ended up passing off the phone to Danni when the called asked for her.

“It’s for you,” she explained, handing the phone out to Danni.

As Danni passed by she mouthed the words “I’m sorry,” but Sarah averted her gaze before she could see.

Sarah went into the kitchen to give Danni some time alone with her caller. She had barely begun rummaging through the cabinets when she heard Danni becoming upset on the phone. Feeling protective of the young woman, she reentered the room to check on Danni.

Danni had hung up the phone and turned with a start, a blank expression covered her face.

“I have to go,” she finally said.

“Can you at least stay for dinner?” Sarah practically begged.

“I can’t.”

Danni quickly turned and ran upstairs, taking two at a time. As Sarah returned to the kitchen in search of some liquid courage, she came across her favorite bottle of whiskey. She poured herself a glass and smiled as the warm liquid filtered down her throat.

“Sarah!” Danni shouted from the living room. “Are you in there?”

Sarah came out and found Danni’s bag by the front door.

“I’m sorry but I’ve got to head back. There’s an emergency at work,” she explained.

Sarah nodded and tried to act unaffected.

“Thank you so much, Sarah. For everything. I couldn’t have made it through this without you,” Danni said.

She opened the door and took a step towards the outside. “I’ll call you,” she added and closed the door behind her, shutting Sarah inside the house and out of her life. As she walked toward her car, the winter cold had made the tear running down her cheek more like ice than a tear. Driving off, she swore she didn’t think she would ever forget the look on Sarah’s face when she had taken the older woman into her arms and properly kissed her. Kissed her the way she had wanted to all weekend. Kissed her like a lover would. There was no doubt in her mind that Sarah was feeling it too.

In only a matter of minutes, Sarah had gone through such a broad range of emotions she didn’t know whether she was coming or going. Danni’s abrupt departure surely didn’t help matters any, and she brought her whiskey bottle out to the fireplace with her, pouring herself another glass of the liquid heat.

I’ll call you? The words echoed in her mind like a bad song. She thought for sure Danni felt the same thing she did, but Danni’s lack of caring when she left seemed to point to other ideas. Again, the third time in minutes, she poured herself a heaping glass of whiskey, not giving any thought to how she might feel in the morning.

Sarah began to stir as she sat back in her recliner, staring at the dimming fire wondering if this was how road kill felt. The room was dark and dismal, the curtains still drawn from last night, and a staleness to the air lingered as she considered standing up before the headache she had changed her mind. The rainy afternoon fit her mood perfectly, and she wasn’t sure which pounding was louder- the rain drumming on the roof or her own head pounding in remembrance of last night.

Staring at the empty whiskey bottle beside her, she heard it again. The loud ringing she heard wasn’t her head but rather the phone. Moaning involuntarily as she forced herself up, her body was letting her know its disapproval with her recent behavior.

“Next time I stop at one glass,” she muttered as she reached for the phone.

She picked up the phone and held her breath, hoping Danni had kept her word.

“Hello?” a woman on the other end said. “Is anyone there?”

“Yes, I’m here. Who is this?” Sarah asked.

“Ms. Bishop, this is Kimberly Thompson from McRoary Publishing. I’ve received your faxed work this morning and I’d like to meet with you in person to discuss it.”

Sarah had troubling absorbing all this new information. Kimberly Thompson? Faxed paperwork? She remembered working on her novel last night, but she hadn’t finished it before Danni left and…In a wave of panic, she looked across the room at her fax machine and sitting right beside it was the folder she kept her rough draft in.

“Oh shit!”

“Ms. Bishop? Is everything ok?”

Sarah smacked the front of her head in frustration. She had no memory of completing the remaining chapters and she sure as hell had no memory of faxing it to her editor. Her stupidity may have jeopardized her relationship with her publishing firm.

“Yes, everything is fine,” she whispered, attempting to brace herself for some bad news.

While they arranged a time and place to meet, Sarah began to suspect there was more going on here than a broken contract. It wasn’t until she hung up that it hit her: She was going to be in Philadelphia tomorrow.

While she walked to the bathroom she thought about her big day tomorrow. It had been a while since she was last in Philly, swearing to herself she would only come again for business. The memories were too hard, but the idea of seeing Danni again filled her with anticipation about the trip. Of course, she would have to look Danni up if she didn’t call before then, but she could always dig out the number Danni listed on her bill when she checked in.

She entered the bathroom and braced herself on the sink in front of the mirror as her head filled with doubts. Danni’s sudden disappearance last night had been less than encouraging in terms of them ever meeting again.

If she really cared she would have called by now, Sarah thought. But then again, it was an emergency.

Every thought Sarah had contradicted the one before it and her mind swirled.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” she barked, slamming her hand on the sink. The tired eyes reflecting back at her told of confusion and sadness.

“She’s a woman! You aren’t gay,” she reminded herself. She reached for the radio in frustration and turned on some music to tune out that little voice in her head that has not stopped talking about Danni since she left.

Stepping into the shower, Sarah began rinsing her body of any lingering reminders. Off came the smell of whiskey and smoke, but with it came Danni’s taste on her lips and scent on her clothes. Unconsciously, she closed her eyes and brought her fingers to her lips, kissing their tips. Her mind wandered back to last night, Danni’s warm hands caressing her as they kissed. No sooner had the fluttering in her tummy appeared that the stark reminder of Danni’s absence came flooding back and she dropped her hand to shut off the water.

“She’s not going to call,” she whispered, opening the door and stepping into the steamy room.

The mirror had fogged up and steam filled the air, and as Sarah towel dried herself she listened to the song playing on the radio.

          “…And the Mississippi's mighty
          But it starts in Minnesota
          At a place that you could walk across
          With five steps down
          And I guess that's how you started
          Like a pinprick to my heart
          But at this point you rush right through me
          And I start to drown …”

The words hit her hard. Constant reminders of Danni were everywhere, right down to the songs on the radio. There was no escaping it. No escaping her. Turning off the radio in frustration, Sarah noticed the rain had stopped and she decided a walk along the beach would clear her head.

She donned the running suit she kept in the bathroom closet and checked her reflection in the mirror before leaving.

Yup, still ugly, she joked. Sarah opened the door and stopped in her tracks when she saw Molly laying in front of Danni’s door.

“What’s the matter girl?” she asked, but Molly only briefly raised her head to acknowledge Sarah.

“You miss her too, don’t you?” Sarah walked down the hall and lightly tapped Molly on the bottom, ushering her downstairs. “Let’s go for a walk, Molly.”

Sarah grabbed Molly’s leash and they walked out the door. The cool air had a bite to it, typical for this time of year, but it felt refreshing after the night she had. The boardwalk was empty of tourists today and they had the entire beach to themselves. As they walked across the street Sarah had the feeling this was going to be a very long walk.

Danni stood at the window of her office, overlooking the city’s vast skyline. Although the sun was shining bright and cast a reflection off their crowns, enormous skyscrapers failed to hold their magnificence on this day as she continued staring out the window but looked right past them. Sprawled across her desk were piles of files, enough work to keep her mind consumed with work for weeks, but all she could think about was Sarah.

Last night hadn’t exactly turned out the way she would have hoped. Running out like that was the last thing she wanted. If she could have had only a little more time with Sarah…to hold her a couple extra minutes…to kiss her one more time…

“Hey,” a voice called out behind her. Startled by the intrusion, she turned and saw Karen coming towards her. “You busy?”

“Not really,” Danni answered, returning to her desk as she took a seat across from her friend.

“Sorry about calling you last night but Michaels was freaking out about the case.”

“I should have come right back anyway. I really wasn’t planning on staying down there as long as I had.”

“It’s only been a few days.”

“Yeah, but still. It’s not like I can just take off at a moment’s notice.”

Karen sat back for a moment and studied her friend, noticing that Danni had been acting different since she returned. “I’m sorry I couldn’t make it down for the funeral.”

Danni shrugged her shoulders. “It’s ok.”

Without knocking, Danni’s receptionist opened the door and poked her head in. “Danni, your 3:00 was bumped up to 1:00.”

“Marcy, when I’m with someone I would really appreciate it if you would buzz me,” Danni snapped. “I don’t like being interrupted.”

Karen watched as Marcy blushed in embarrassment for the reprimand, quickly apologizing before shutting the door behind her.

“You ok?” she asked once they were alone again.

“I’m fine,” Danni snapped again, smacking her hand on her desk in a fit of rage. “I’ve just got a lot on my mind,” she added when she realized how juvenile her behavior must have looked.

“Hey, it’s understandable. You’ve been under a lot of stress. You’re up to your eyeballs in work. Anyone else would have lost it a long time ago.”

Danni knew she was right but had a hard time accepting it. She always prided herself on patience, even under the most ominous circumstances. She casually glanced at the wall clock and pursed her lips with annoyance.

“I’d love to stay and chat, Karen, but I’ve got less than thirty minutes before I meet with a client.”

Danni stood and picked up a stack of files, not waiting for Karen’s response as she stuffed them into her briefcase and headed for the door.

“How about lunch tomorrow?” Karen asked.

“Can’t. I’ve got to be in court.”

“Dinner then?”

“We’ll see. If the judge grants a Continuance then I’ll have some time. If not I’ll be holed up in here for God knows how long.”

Karen smiled. She knew the process well, and with the judges she’s had to deal with in her own cases there was no telling which way they were thinking until they opened their mouths. “I’ll keep my fingers crossed.”

Karen watched intently as Danni stormed out of her office, sensing there was something besides her mother’s death bothering her friend this afternoon.

The time passed almost instantaneously for Sarah as she and Molly walked from their house to Vicki’s shop. Obviously her mind had been on other things because at one point along their walk Molly had been forced to bark to get her attention. Her mind had been so consumed in thought that she hadn’t noticed the tide along that part of the beach was too close for them to walk without treading the waves and they were forced onto the boardwalk right before reaching the fudge shop.

She unleashed Molly and they went inside, Vicki coming out to greet her first customer in hours.

“Hey. What brings you out on a day like this?” she asked.

“Honestly, I have no idea,” Sarah answered, motioning to the table as she walked towards it. As she looked out the window overlooking the ocean, her mind raced with thoughts too numerous to process.

Vicki took the cue and poured them both a cup of steaming coffee, flipping the closed sign on the door and locking it. When she joined Sarah at the table a moment later she merely sat and sipped her coffee, studying the older woman as she struggled with her emotions.

“Are you feeling ok? You look like hell.”

Sarah thought about the question. Physically, she felt fine. She had more energy than she should have, considering the hangover she had only a short while ago. Emotionally…now that was an entirely different story. She was happy and sad, confused and miserable, yet overjoyed at the same time.

“I’m not sure,” Sarah stated blankly.

Suddenly, it hit her. Vicki looked around briefly on the off chance she was wrong and Danni came walking through the door. But when she didn’t see Danni come staggering in she bluntly asked, “Where’s Danni?”

Sarah came out of her fog and focused her attention on Vicki. “Why do you ask?”

“Well I heard you two have been almost inseparable this weekend. I was wondering if she was still in town.”

Sarah looked down to her hands, unsure how to answer. She wasn’t sure she could talk about Danni right now. Not without getting overly emotional.

“What’s going on with you?” Vicki asked, concern evident in her tone.

“I’m just a little preoccupied I guess. I have to meet with my editor tomorrow and I’m not looking forward to it.”

“Why not?”

Sarah paused a moment, taking a long sip of her coffee. It was an interesting blend- rich, yet not exactly gourmet. “I have to go to Philadelphia.”

“So? It’s only a two hour drive.”

“It’s not the drive. It’s the history.”

Vicki paused to sip from her own mug while she contemplated the situation. She knew Sarah had worked in Philadelphia for quite some time before moving to Cape May, but beyond that Sarah never talked much of her life in the City. “What kind of history?”

“Well, for starters,” Sarah began. “That’s where my parents are buried.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know. Look, if you don’t want to talk about it we can talk about something else.”

“No, it’s alright.” Sarah took a long, slow sip from her mug, savoring the rich flavor. “My dad was in the navy and arranged a transfer to the naval base there so they could be near me after I graduated. I was locked into a job immediately after graduation and I guess they figured I would never get free time to visit them.”

“That’s normal. I never told anyone this but my parents wanted to sell this shop before Woody was elected to City Council. They mainly stuck it out to keep the family all in one place. Soon after he took office, the business really boomed. After they died I didn’t have the heart to sell the place.”

“I had no idea.”

“Yeah well, it’s not something I like to talk about, especially with the way Woody turned out. I really am sorry for what happened the other day.”

“It’s not your fault,” Sarah added, brushing off the memory.

“Alright, so your parents are buried in Philly. It must have been hard working in the City all those years when you really haven’t dealt with the pain of losing them.”

Sarah grimaced. “It’s not just my parents. My best friend died in that accident with my parents.”

Vicki immediately picked up on the change of tone in Sarah’s voice when she mentioned Jaime, her voice almost cracking.

“Jaime and I met in college and hit it off right away. We were inseparable until she met her boyfriend, who to this day I am still convinced was not good enough for her. He was decent and treated her right, but she deserved so much more than he could offer.”

“Sounds like you two were pretty close. Almost like sisters.”

“Well, yes and no. And I certainly wouldn’t call the connection we had sisterly. It went deeper than that.”

“How so?”

Sarah took another drawn out sip while she gathered her thoughts. “I felt protective of her. I wanted to give her everything her boyfriend couldn’t. I would have given her the world if I could. I wouldn’t say she was gorgeous by normal standards. She was…unique, and to some people that made her strange, but they didn’t see in her what I did. She deserved the best and settled for what she could get.”

Vicki began to suspect Sarah’s feelings for Jaime went deeper than the older woman realized.

“The day it happened I was studying for finals. I was behind in one of my classes and stressed out because my parents were coming to visit. She offered to pick them up from the airport for me so I could have a few more hours before they arrived.” Sarah allowed her mind to drift back to that day for the first time in ages. “It was raining and road conditions were bad. It should have been me in the car that day, Not her.”

Vicki placed a consoling hand on Sarah’s. “You can’t blame yourself. You didn’t know and you certainly couldn’t have prevented it.”

“I know. I lost so much that day.” Sarah’s eyes welled up with tears while she tried to hold them back. “And then, of course, there’s Danni.”

“What about her?” Vicki asked, curiosity getting the better of her now.

“Last night…I kissed Danni…I mean she kissed me…I mean…I don’t know what I mean.”

Sarah couldn’t hold back her emotions any longer and finally broke down.

“Aren’t you going to say something?” Sarah asked finally.

“It took you that long to kiss her? Jesus, Sarah. You need some lessons in love,” Vicki joked, lightening the mood. “I knew the other day there was something going on between you two. I just can’t believe you didn’t see it.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The other day when you were here. It was all over your faces…the way you looked at each other.”

Sarah’s surprised expression conveyed her confusion. “But I’m not gay.”

Vicki sipped her coffee again as she carefully chose the direction she wanted to go. “How can you be sure?”

“Well, for starters I’ve never been attracted to a woman before.”

“But men don’t turn you on either,” Vicki countered.

Sarah blushed at the accusation. “I wouldn’t go that far.”

“When was the last time you slept with a man?”

“I really don’t think that’s relevant to this situation.”

Vicki smirked. “My point is, it’s been a long time and we both know it. You’re an attractive, intelligent, healthy woman, Sarah. You’re at your sexual peak. You should be out there bonking your brains out!”

“Point taken,” Sarah admitted.

“Ok, so it’s been a while for you. You’ve pretty much given up on love, at least for a while. And then comes Danni. Tell me you haven’t been thinking about her since she left.”

Sarah sat in silence for what seemed an eternity. Danni’s been all you’ve thought about. You even got yourself drunk over her. Over a woman leaving you.

“You can’t do it, can you?” Vicki asked. She reached out and rested her hand on Sarah’s in support. “It’s been a while since I saw Danni, but if she’s anything like she used to be you’d be a fool not to let yourself go for it.”

“Are you suggesting I become a lesbian?”

“No. I’m suggesting you let yourself feel what you’re fighting. Don’t think of her as a woman. Don’t give her a label. Think of her as Danni.”

Sarah pondered her words for a few moments before standing up to leave. She had a lot to think about before tomorrow. Snapping Molly’s leash back on, they headed towards the door before Vicki stopped them.

“Hey,” she called out. Vicki tossed a freshly packed bag of Sarah’s favorite flavor fudge. “Maybe this will help you think,” she added then winked.

“Thanks,” Sarah replied with a huge grin.

“Seriously, you know I’m here if you ever want to talk.”

“I know.”

Vicki watched quietly as Sarah and Molly left. The sky still remained dark and threatening but she had the feeling that a little sunshine was shining in Sarah’s soul right now. “Say hi to her for me,” she called out as the door shut behind them.

The morning commute went smoothly for Sarah as she drove herself out of Cape May and into Philadelphia for her lunch meeting with her editor. The meeting itself was exciting, yet nerve racking, as she had no memory writing the final chapters of her novel the night Danni left her. But that’s not what had her excited today. After a couple hours in front of her mirror this morning, obsessing over this suit and those shoes and changing her mind half a dozen times, she finally chose an outfit that complemented her: a navy blue suit stylishly cut in just the right places to flatter her figure. Not that her editor would even take notice, but after realizing there wasn’t a way she could be in the same city as Danni and not arrange to catch up with her she wanted to look her best. As she lingered over seeing Danni again, she absently reached into her purse and pulled out her mobile phone, dialing the number she memorized after tracking down Danni’s law firm.

“Hello, I’m trying to reach Danni Jordan,” she said to the woman who answered.

“I’m sorry but she’s in a meeting,” the woman replied.

“Can you tell me when she’ll be back in the office? I’m calling from out of state.”

A moment of silence ensued while Sarah assumed the woman was checking Danni’s availability.

“It looks like she won’t be back until late in the afternoon. Would you like her to return your call?”

Sarah tried to hide her disappointment. Instead of leaving a call back number, she confirmed the firm’s address and ended the call, focusing on what she would say when they finally caught up again. Could she really let her feelings for Danni shine through as Vicki suggested, or would she continue to suppress them out of fear? Luckily, she still had plenty of time before she had to make that decision.

A couple hours later, she arrived at the restaurant and met up with her editor, who had been waiting by the bar with drink in hand.

“So good to finally meet you, Sarah,” she said, greeting her in the informal way that made them seem more like old friends than business associates to the untrained eye.

“It’s good to meet you too, Ms. Thompson,” Sarah replied, offering to shake the other woman’s hand.

“I’m a fan of your last book- absolutely loved it.” She placed a hand on Sarah’s shoulder with one hand and picked up her drink with the other. “Let’s go and have lunch.”

As if on cue, she nodded to the hostess and began making their way through the barrage of tables filled with business professionals of every sort.

Sarah followed the women to a table in the far corner, away from the noise and hassle of everyday business into their own secluded location.

Quickly, Ms. Thompson turned and Sarah nearly bumped into her as she wasn’t expecting her to stop so suddenly.

“Will you excuse me for a minute? I’ve got to say hello to someone,” she explained, disappearing without waiting for Sarah’s answer.

Sarah continued following the hostess to the table and waited patiently, oblivious to another meeting across the room.

“Ms. Jordan, I am beginning to have serious doubts about your ability to handle my case,” a man sitting at a small table explained. “Your reputation precedes you, but your attitude this week regarding my case has me a little nervous about retaining you as my attorney.”

Danni sat back in her chair and regarded the man as professionally as she could at this moment. She had worked her ass off on his case these past few days and anyone else would have given up by now. Despite the lack of evidence, she had a feeling he was innocent and set out to prove it.

“As I’ve explained already, Mr. Nichols, your case is no less important than the highest profile cases I’ve worked on, and I assure you I am working with my associates around the clock. We will be prepared in time.”

The burly man joined her in sitting back, studying her reaction to his threat of pulling out. “I just feel you’ve been distracted lately. You haven’t even returned my phone calls this week.”

Danni’s anger began to stir. Surely he had to realize he wasn’t the only client she had and that the world didn’t revolve around him. Or didn’t he? She pursed her lips and sighed, looking off into the distance while her mind raced for another approach. If she lost this client and the potential for millions it brought with him she knew her boss wouldn’t be too pleased.

And then she saw her.

Sitting alone in the corner was Sarah. She had to blink a few times, hardly believing what her eyes saw. Had her mind been so wrapped up in Sarah these past few days that she was now seeing things?

“That’s exactly what I mean,” he continued. “You haven’t heard a single thing I just said.”

Danni snapped out of the daze she was in and focused her attention back on the man before her. She had to wrap this up and find out why Sarah was in the city…why Sarah was dining alone…why Sarah hadn’t even called.

“I’ll tell you what, Mr. Nichols. Give me a few more days, and if at the end of that time you feel I’m still not doing my job then I will personally step back from this case and you won’t be charged one cent for services rendered so far.”

Her eyes were on Mr. Nichols but her attention was divided between him and Sarah. She could feel the anticipation building at an enormous rate.

He cocked his brow while he carefully studied her offer. “You’ve got two days.”

Before Danni could respond, he stood up and walked away in a huff. But she didn’t care. She quickly gathered her belongings and stuffed them into her briefcase haphazardly. The bill hadn’t arrived yet and she wasn’t about to wait for it so she tossed a few bills on the table and promptly made her approach across the room.

Sarah remained at the table slightly bored, tapping a spoon on her water glass to entertain herself while she waited for her business associate to return. She considered ordering a drink but she knew she would have one with lunch and didn’t want the abundance of alcohol to hinder her visit with Danni later.

“So sorry I made you wait,” Ms. Thompson said as she made her way back to the table. She placed a hand on Sarah’s shoulder and allowed it to gently stroke her upper arm as she took the seat opposite her. “I spotted some old friends and had to say hello.”

Sarah forced a smile, slightly uncomfortable at the touch but brushed it off without dwelling on it.

“So, shall we get into the heart of the matter at hand?” Ms. Thompson asked. She placed her hands over Sarah’s, cupping them informally as her excitement grew. “I love what you’ve done with your new novel. It’s got the most amazing lesbian subtext to it!”

The shattering crash of dropped dishes across the room prevented Sarah from responding right away. Like everyone else in the restaurant, she turned in surprise to look in the direction of the crash, but all she saw was sight of a waiter looking dumbfounded while Danni apologized profusely. From this distance she could see Danni was upset, but when Danni turned and they made eye contact, icy blue eyes darkened and Danni rushed out the door.

Without thought, Sarah grabbed her purse and nearly knocked her chair to the floor as she stood up.

“I’m sorry but I need to reschedule,” she explained, not waiting for a response as she rushed out the door after Danni. Precious seconds ticked away and she had to sidestep the mess of broken dishes littering the floor, and by the time she reached the street there was no sign of Danni in any direction.

Danni marched through the maze of cubicles and nearly run down several people as she headed back to her office and slammed the door behind her. Running into Sarah unexpectedly should have been a pleasing experience, but to see her dining with her ex lover was too much. She hadn’t remained on good terms with Kim, but to know the woman was spending time with Sarah… The mere thought of Sarah with anyone else engulfed her with jealousy.

Seconds later, Karen came in without knocking and quickly closed the door behind her.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” she demanded.

Barely able to contain her fury over Sarah, Danni could only turn and glare.

“Nothing!” she barked.

“Don’t give me that. You nearly sent me out the window when you stormed by. You’ve been holed up in here for two days now and the first time you leave you come back in a rage. I’ve known you a long time, Danni, and I know this isn’t about work. Or your mother dying. What’s going on?”

Only when she saw the sincere pleading in Karen’s eyes did her glare softened and she gave in. “It’s about a woman.”

“You’ve got your panties in a bunch over a woman?” Karen sighed loudly, knowing that when Danni fell, she fell hard. “Well you better get over her. You’re on a big case and the head honchos aren’t very forgiving.”

“I don’t care about them. I don’t even care about this job… She’s all I can think about.” Danni shook her head in disbelief. “Am I insane?”

Karen watched for a moment, unsure if Danni knew the extent of how far gone she was as she struggled with her feelings, the tugging of emotions evident on her face. “If I didn’t know any better I’d say you’re in love.”

“Oh that’s ridiculous! I barely know the woman.”

I barely know her, yet I feel like I’ve known her forever. Danni’s mind wandered as she dwelt on how comfortable it was just being with Sarah, and she wasn’t even aware a goofy smile had washed over her face.

“Well, what’s her name?”

Danni smiled at her obvious behavior. “Sarah.”

“And when do I get to meet Sarah?” Karen asked.

Before Danni could go into detail about the encounter at the restaurant, her secretary buzzed her. Normally she would have reamed Marcy for breaking her number one rule, interrupting when she was with someone, but today she was grateful for Marcy’s noncompliant way.

“What is it, Marcy?”

“There’s someone here to see you.”

Danni sighed heavily, not mentally prepared to deal with any surprises. “I’m in a meeting.”

“She say’s it’s important.”

“I’m in a meeting, Marcy.”

Before Danni let the intercom button down she had heard the familiar voice in the background.

“It’s Sarah Bishop, Ms. Jordan,” Marcy announced simultaneously as Sarah burst through the door.

Danni and Karen both turned in shock, but it was Danni’s eyes that caught Sarah’s attention.

“Danni, please? I need to speak with you.” Sarah begged.

A long awkward silence fell, and when Danni and Sarah both hadn’t broken eye contact, Karen excused herself from the room and took Marcy with her.

“Please, Danni?” Sarah pleaded. She slowly walked across the room, obliterating any personal space they had, and stopped within inches of Danni. “Please?”

Danni was furious and could barely contain her rage. She held her hand up to hold off Sarah and tried her hardest to keep from yelling as she spoke.

“How could you sneak behind my back and have lunch with her. Were you going to sneak home too, without even telling me you came to the city?”

“I didn’t sneak anywhere,” Sarah explained. “I was going to stop by your office this afternoon anyway