Homecoming (25 page)

***

Jill and Gerri hefted the picnic table up to put it back in its usual place. It was nearly dark, and the mosquitoes had gotten too annoying to ignore any longer. Her phone buzzed, and she pulled it out to take a look. Lizzie, who was inside, had texted, “Your cake sucked. I know where you can get a good one. Meet me at my apartment?”

Smirking, Jill wrote back. “I was going to ask if you didn’t. Mouth watering.”

They all said their goodbyes, with Jill and Lizzie the last to take off. Jill hugged her hosts, adding kisses to their cheeks, then Lizzie shook hands. Jill could tell no one was sure how friendly to be. These women were usually the hug-and-kiss type, but they were a little more formal around Lizzie. Probably because they couldn’t quite figure out where she stood with Jill. But they’d find out soon. She could feel this relationship starting to pick up momentum, and was almost sure she couldn’t stop it even if she wanted to.

As they walked down the drive, Jill stopped at her car, poised near the sidewalk. “I guarantee all three of my hosts are watching.”

“Let’s give them something to talk about,” Lizzie said, stepping forward. Jill gasped, then Lizzie stuck out her hand and shook Jill’s. A hand went to her shoulder, giving it a fond, avuncular squeeze. “See you around,” she said, looking surprisingly somber. Then she started to walk down the street to her car, while Jill tried not to let her gaze trail after her like a hungry dog.

***

Lizzie was waiting on the small front porch of her apartment building. Jill jogged the last fifty feet, then leapt up to the landing, depositing herself right next to Lizzie. “I’ve still got some spring in my step.”

“And a few screws loose.” Lizzie reached out and swept Jill’s hair off her shoulder, a tender touch that made her heart skip a beat. “I didn’t neaten up my apartment before I left, so try not to judge.”

“I’m not judgmental about neatness.” She laughed. “Total lie. But I’ll keep my judgment to myself. That’s almost as good, isn’t it?”

“I’ll accept it.” After they climbed the rickety stairs and went inside, Lizzie immediately went to open every window. “I have to keep the windows closed when I’m gone, so it gets stifling in here.”

“Why do you have to close them?”

“The guys downstairs are always out in the back, smoking something, and it comes right inside. When I’m home, I can put a fan in the window, but I’m not going to let one run while I’m gone. I paid attention when the Sugar Hill Fire Department came to school to lecture us about fire safety.”

“Do you want to change clothes? I can get the cake.”

“Yeah, if you don’t mind.” She started for her self-proclaimed bitchen, then said, “Is it okay if I put my pajamas on?”

“Uhm…” She felt a zing start at her hands and work its way up her arms and down her body. “Sure. Whatever. Be comfortable.”

“It’s too hot to put jeans on, and I don’t own a pair of shorts.” She was still talking when she took some clothes from what should have been a pantry, then moved to the bathroom and partially closed the door. “I should get some shorts, but I hate to spend my money on play clothes. I’ve got to have a lot of stuff for work—nice stuff. People don’t want to give you money if you look like you need it.”

Jill ignored the cereal bowl and glass sitting in the sink, having to exert extra energy to banish from her mind the fact that the glass had soda in it. What kind of animal drank soda for breakfast? But all of her dark thoughts vanished when Lizzie walked back into the bitchen, put a hand on Jill’s back, leaned around her, stuck a finger into the frosting and popped it into her mouth. “I thought your friends knew how to find a good bakery.”

“They do, but I think they reconsidered when they realized how many cakes they’d have to buy to feed that crowd. Not that I blame them. A couple of big sheet cakes from the grocery store costs a quarter of what a fancy one would.”

“They should have made cookies,” Lizzie said. “Or brownies. There’s no excuse for bad cake.”

Jill turned to present her with a plate, almost dropping it when she saw her “pajamas.” Sexy underwear was a much better term for it, and Jill was pretty sure she was now ready to move to Florida, dragging Lizzie along with her. This woman should never live anywhere that required flannel or wool. She was made for a silky camisole and some kind of clingy shorts that probably had a name. Other than smoking hot.

“Nice pajamas,” she said, managing what she hoped was a normal smile.

“Oh,” she said, grasping the hem of the camisole and tugging on it. “I don’t have summer pajamas. I had to put on some of my regular underwear.”

There was nothing regular about that underwear. Jill wanted to get to the living room, but she was afraid her knees would buckle. She thought she had a better chance of making it if she went quickly, so she dashed across the tiny bitchen, seeking the stability of the sofa. Dropping onto the piece without a hint of grace, she moaned in dismay when Lizzie leaned over to pick up a roll of foil. Jill had noticed before how she bent like a dancer, from the waist, with her trailing leg kicking out behind her for balance. The peach-colored garment outlined her delectable ass so clearly, Jill had to look away. It just wasn’t right to ogle a woman like she desperately wanted to.

Lizzie walked over to the sofa, carrying her cake. She folded herself into a yoga-like pose as she settled close to Jill, facing her.

“Did you take a lot of dance lessons?” Jill managed. “You move like a ballerina.”

“Uh-huh,” she said, separating a large portion of the slice and spearing it with her fork. She eased the bite into her small mouth, then gave Jill a satisfied smile. “Don’t you love taking a
huge
first bite of something scrumptious? If I could get away with it, I’d eat with my hands and tear off a piece big enough to fill my mouth.”

“I won’t tell,” Jill said, suddenly needing to see Lizzie pick up the cake, ease it into her mouth and suck the frosting from her fingers. Where was this crazy stuff coming from? She hated bad table manners!

“I can behave,” she insisted. “But it’s more fun not to.”

“Dancing,” Jill said, feeling like she needed a punch to get her brain to track well enough to have a conversation. “When did you take lessons?”

“For a long time. Grade school. High school. College. A few things here and there since.” She took another bite, this one much more moderate. “When I and all of my artsy friends were deciding whether we’d be great novelists or poets or painters, I thought dance was my ticket to fame.” She let out a laugh. “Nearly every one of us is stuck in a cubicle somewhere.”

“You danced in college?”

“Uh-huh. Just fooling around. Nothing too serious.”

“But you took classes?”

“Uh-huh.” She slipped another bite of cake into her mouth. “I minored in it.”

Jill’s mouth dropped open. “That’s more than fooling around!”

“No, it’s not,” she said, shaking her head. “Minors are for subjects you like, but know you can’t do much with.” A laugh bubbled up. “Of course, that’s true of my art history major too.”

“I had no idea you were so artsy,” Jill said, having trouble imagining the Lizzie she knew with the woman she’d become.

“That’s because you didn’t know me,” she said, blithely. “But you have your chance now.” She took the last bite, turned her fork around and placed it in Jill’s mouth when she opened it. “An extra present for your birthday.”

Jill leaned forward. “Know what I’d really like as a present?”

“Uh-huh.” Lizzie’s breath was warm and chocolaty sweet, and a slight smile curled her beautiful lips. “You’re embarrassingly transparent.”

Jill took the plate from her hands and placed it on the floor. Then she put a hand behind her waist and pulled her close. Not as close as she would have liked. If she’d had Lizzie’s almost bare body pressed against her she knew she’d lose her mind. Instead, she pulled her just close enough to be able to merge their lips, sucking in a breath as they did.

Lizzie’s hands were soon tangled in her hair, fingers roaming up and down Jill’s scalp, sending a riot of tingles through her body. Sensation flooded her; every sense sharing in the pleasure. Pure, unadulterated pleasure. The best of all birthday gifts.

They slowly broke apart, with Lizzie swaying slightly, eyes closed, clearly wanting more.

Jill’s breath was ragged as she forced herself to keep her distance. “When can I see you again?” she whispered.

Those pretty eyes blinked slowly. “Any time you want,” she said, her voice so sexy Jill had to wrestle with her conscience to keep her hands to herself.

“I’ve got…something…” She stopped and took in a long, calming breath. “I can’t remember my schedule.” She took out her phone and looked at her calendar. “Wednesday?”

“Perfect. Come here? Go out?”

“Come to my house. The boys miss you.” She wrapped her in a hug, then realized she’d done just what she’d been avoiding. Lizzie’s nearly bare body was so unbelievably alluring she moved away in a second, unwilling to let herself get carried away.

“I hope you had a very happy birthday,” Lizzie said, placing one more brief kiss on Jill’s lips. “I think the Jill and Lizzie Weekend was a very big success.”

“I do too.” She got to her feet, shakily. “See you Wednesday.” She reached the door before Lizzie got up and scampered down the stairs. It felt like Lizzie was a great big magnet, and she was a sliver of metal, unable to resist her powerful pull. She had to keep a little distance until she got comfortable with the whole thing. She laughed to herself as she walked towards her car. It was only a matter of time until she gave up the fight and was pulled right into her magnetic embrace.

***

On Wednesday, Jill was in the backyard, tending the grill, when Lizzie appeared on the driveway.

“Hey there,” she called out as she opened the gate and came across the grass.

Once again, she was dressed for work. She’d obviously expended a lot of time finding dresses that made her look professional, sophisticated, yet still a little playful. A very nice combination.

Jill stuck an arm out, and Lizzie moved right into her embrace.

“I could get used to this,” she said, tilting her chin to kiss Jill’s cheek. “Coming home from work, having a gorgeous woman cooking for me.” She turned her head to look at the grill. “Mmm, I love barbecued chicken.”

“I cook outside every night it’s not raining or snowing,” Jill said, only partially teasing. “The saddest day of the year for me is when I cover the grill and store it in the garage.”

“You don’t like anything about winter?” Lizzie patted her side as she pulled away.

“Oh, yeah, I like winter a lot. But I
love
summer.”

“We’ll have to think of something to do to make winter more appealing. I’ve got a few ideas…” She gave Jill a frankly sexual look, then walked to the back porch. “Mind if I get myself a drink?”

“Go for it. I’ve got three or four kinds of beer, and some wine.”

“Beer and barbecue’s the perfect combo. Be right back.”

Jill watched her go, so intent on her musings she missed the hot spot that had developed and had to rush to move things around.

Lizzie came back out and stood by her. “You look like you know what you’re doing.”

“I do. I spent a lot of time with your dad, watching his technique.”

A delighted smile curled her lips. “My dad? Really?”

“Yeah. He was always willing to teach—even outside of school.”

“He’s a good guy,” Lizzie said. “A really good guy.” Her expression darkened. “I’d give anything to go back in time and have him choose not to smoke.”

“Me too. I wish there was a way to cure him.”

“There’s not,” Lizzie said, sounding as pragmatic as her mother. “We just have to enjoy having him with us for as long as he stays.”

They stood together for a few minutes, each lost in her own private thoughts. Finally, Jill said, “I’m very glad you invited me to go to the baseball game. He probably doesn’t remember this, but your dad was one of the chaperones at the first Sox game I ever went to.”

“When you were in grade school?”

“I think it was eighth grade. Some school-sponsored thing. If you made straight A’s in fall term you got to go to a game. It was cool,” she said, remembering the singing and goofing around on the long bus trip.

“He was with you at your first,” Lizzie said quietly. “I hope we’re not taking him to his last.”

Her chin quivered as tears started to roll down her cheeks. Jill wrapped her in a hug, offering what comfort she could. “He’s got a lot of life in him yet. It won’t be the last. Promise.”

Lizzie’s body shivered, then she pulled away and went into the house. She emerged a minute later, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue. Her voice trembled as she spoke. “I wish you could promise that and have it be true. But no one knows how much time he’s got left. A bad infection could cut him down with no warning.”

“I know,” Jill said, grasping her hand and pulling her close for another hug. “All we have is hope, and I’ve got a lot of it.”

Lizzie’s body shivered again, and she pulled away to head back to the porch. “Can I set the table?”

“Sure. I’d like to eat out here, if that’s good for you.”

“It is. Be right back.”

Jill concentrated on her cooking, but was unable to stop thinking of Mike, and how attached Lizzie was to him. Sometimes she had to admit there was a benefit to having a distant relationship with her parents. It wasn’t much, but it was the only one she could think of.

***

The mosquitoes came out in force by the time they were finishing dinner, so they picked up their plates and dashed into the house, just missing being dive-bombed by an intrepid one on a mission.

“Mosquitoes are the only thing I don’t like about summer,” Jill said.

“They don’t bite me often. If there’s no one else around, one will force himself to take a hit, but I’m always the last choice.”

“Lucky devil.” Jill stood at the sink, rinsing plates and bowls, while Lizzie quickly loaded them into the dishwasher. She didn’t do it like Jill would, but having her jump in to help like she was part of the team was really nice. Jill could use the practice in letting go of details.