VII.

The remainder of Michelle's work week passed uneventfully. On Wednesday, Michelle stopped by Clay Pot Annie's during the noon hour.

"Oh, hon - I'm sorry, I can't go to lunch with you - I'm expecting a shipment," Kathie said regretfully, responding to Michelle's lunch invitation. "You can hang out here and talk to me, if you want."

Michelle followed Kathie around and they chatted as her cousin performed mundane duties related to plant care and inventory. "So, I guess you heard about Grandmama's diaries," Michelle said.

Kathie nodded. "So bizarre," she commented.

"Why?"

Kathie continued as she wrote something on a form attached to the clipboard she carried. Michelle was always amazed at Kathie's ability to do one thing while focusing on something else entirely. "It was like this big secret while she was alive - remember how much trouble we got into when we tried to sneak a peek at it?"

Michelle smiled at the memory. It was the only time they'd ever seen their Grandmama angry. "I guess you're wondering why she's giving it to us now."

Kathie nodded.

Michelle smiled secretively. "Did you ever read anything by Anais Min?" she asked.

"Hon, you know I'm not into all that classic lit stuff," Kathie replied as they entered a storeroom. Back in the shadows, someone was going through shipping crates. Kathie called out, "Is everything there?"

The figure looked up and emerged from the shadows. The woman was about their age - early twenties - not particularly tall, but compact and athletic looking. She had thighs like a wild mare, an ample bosom that threatened to burst through her polo shirt, and straw-coloured hair that hung down the sides of her head to her shoulders from under a red bandanna. Her high cheekbones gave her an aristocratic look, and her slightly slanted eyes were ice-blue.

"Ja," said the woman in what sounded like a Germanic or Scandinavian accent. "Got it right here," she added, handing a clipboard to Kathie. As the latter looked over the inventory, the blonde woman gazed at Michelle in a way that made her distinctly uncomfortable. Michelle smiled nervously and brushed the hair from her face.

"Hi, I'm Elsa," the woman said, sticking her hand straight out. Hesitantly, Michelle took it. Elsa's grip was firm, her handshake almost masculine.

"Michelle," she replied.

Kathy looked up. "Oh, I'm sorry," she said. "'Chelle, this is Elsa Gislissen - Elsa, my cousin Michelle."

Michelle nodded. "Hi, Elsa."

Kathie handed the clipboard back to Elsa. "Thanks, doll," she said, giving Elsa a quick half-hug from the side - which Elsa retuned with one arm around Kathie's waist.

They seem awfully chummy, thought Michelle with an irrational stab of jealousy.

Elsa looked at Michelle. "Sorry I can't chat - got some roses need to be refrigerated," Elsa replied as she turned to leave. "Nice to meet you!"

Kathie smiled at Elsa fondly, watching her as she left the storeroom.

"Friend of yours?"

"Huh?" asked Kathie, looking over at Michelle abruptly. "Elsa - oh, she's been a godsend." She grinned. "Or should I say, Freya-send?"

"I see."

Kathie continued her tasks as Michelle followed. "So, cousin - what did you do all weekend?"

"Nothing much," replied Michelle non-chalantly.

"You never did tell me how your evening on the town went."

"Not much to tell. I - I met someone down at Ashley's - "

At this, Kathie turned. "Really?" she said with a mischievous grin. "So - who's the lucky guy?"

"Oh no," said Michelle. "Nothing like that. I just made a new friend - and incidentally, it's a 'she'."

"Oh," said Kathie as they entered the main part part the store. She sounded disappointed. "Well - tell me about her."

"Not much to tell," Michelle replied. Only that she gave me the most intense orgasm of my life - "Her name's Lina Sandoval, she's from Cuba by way of Puerto Rico, and she sings with a band at a place called the 'Tin Lizzie' - "

At this, Kathie raised an eyebrow. "The 'Tin Lizzie,' eh?"

Michelle nodded. At that moment, they were walking past the refrigerator units where cut flowers were displayed. Elsa was busy sorting and straightening. She and Kathie exchanged smiles that Michelle could only describe as affectionate. Again, she felt a brief stab of jealousy.

"Kathie, is there something you want to tell me?"

"About what?"

"About - " Michelle had been on the verge of saying "Elsa," but instead said "the 'Tin Lizzie'?"

Kathie shrugged as they went behind the sales counter. A customer came up with some seed packets. "Hi, that do it for you?" The customer nodded as Kathie began ringing up the purchase. To Michelle, she said. "Ever been there?"

"The 'Tin Lizzie'? Never heard of it."

"I'm surprised." To her customer, Kathier said "Four-thirty-nine today." As the customer pulled out a checkbook, Kathie said to Michelle, "The place has been there practically since Lewis and Clark came out this way."

"Do you go there?"

"Sometimes." The customer handed Kathie a check. She examined it. "Could I see your driver's lisence or a bank card, please?"

"Lina invited me down there to hear her sing sometime." Michelle said.

The customer handed Kathie an ID card, which she looked at briefly. She then scribbled something on the check, pushed a button on the cash register and handed over a receipt. "Thanks for coming in," she said as her customer turned to leave. To Michelle: "I think you'll find it - interesting."

"Can't wait tot see it," replied Michelle.

"And I can't wait to meet this Lina," said Kathie, with an impish smile.

* * *

By Thurday night, Michelle was thoroughly exhausted. It was the twelve-to-fifteen hour days that allowed her to take off three and four days at a time, but they tended to wear on her.

It was past nine at night before she got home. I wonder if I'd be better off just doing the nine-to-five routine, she thought as she walked through the door, leaving it ajar behind her. She felt like just peeling off her clothes, brushing her teeth and falling into bed. Then she noticed the light on her answering machine.

Only one call...she pressed the "play messages" button.

*BEEP*

"Hola, mija - can't wait to see you tonight. I found a nice white wine for your trucchia - anyway, I see you after eleven-thirty. Ciau."

Shit, thought Michelle. She'd completely forgotten again.

She ran into the bedroom, stripped off her office clothes, and hit the shower. She emerged about twenty minutes later. It was almost ten. Maybe I can get a nap it before she gets here, Michelle thought. Just a short one...

Clad only in her towel, Michelle lay down on her bed...

...and found herself in an old hotel room. It looked vaguely like old photos she'd seen of the Port Landers Hotel Royale during its heyday in the nineteen-twenties and thirties. She sat up. The bed was a large brass one. The wainscotted room contained a couple of overstuffed chairs, an old-fashioned shaded floor lanp, and a dresser, a wardrobe and a vanity in the old art-deco style.

Except, the room and its furnishings looked almost new.

When Michelle looked down at herself, she was clad in a short, rose-coloured chemise. Slowly, she rose from the bed and walked over to the vanity, where she sat down.

The woman gazing back at her from the mirror was her - and yet not her. She had the same curly red hair - although it was cropped a lot shorter than she was normally inclined to wear it - and she had the same pale, peaches-and-cream complexion.

The eyes were wrong.

Instead of sapphire-blue, the eyes of Michelle's reflexion were deep brown.

Michelle reached up and ran a hand through her bobbed red coiffure. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

She got up and walked over. Slowly, she opened the door.

The man standing there wore a tuxedo and carried what appeared to be a small suitcase. He was tall, well-built, with a pencil moustache and intense dark eyes that gazed at her from the mahogany-skinned visage of an African prince.

Quickly, Michelle pulled the man into the room. He put down the small suitcase (his saxophone, Michelle thought) carefully. Michelle through her arms around him, fastening her mouth onto his and pulling him down onto the bed.

Gently, yet urgently, they pulled each other's clothes off. Soon, they were naked. The man's dark-skinned body was over her, his dark eyes shining with love as Michelle pulled his head down to hers. She gasped as he entered her. Grasping his buttocks, she wrapped her legs around him, pulling him deeper - deeper into her -

The man, the bed, the room all began dissolving around her...No! Please, no - thought Michelle reaching out -

- but the man was gone.

Again, Michelle found herself sitting on a bed, this time clad in a dress that had not been in fashion for almost eighty years. Again, the room and the furnishings, like her dress, were antique - but new.

Next to her on the bed was a woman - she looked somewhat Mediterranean, Italian, or possibly Greek. Her hair was also short - a sort of pageboy bob - and her eyes were gray.

They were also red from crying. Streaks of mascara ran down her cheeks.

Michelle reached up to feel her own hair. It was still short. Then, she realised her own cheeks were wet - and there was a horrible emptiness she felt inside.

Instinctively, she reached out to the other woman. They embraced, and the tears began to flow once more. Michelle looked into the other woman's eyes...

They kissed each other's lips - tentatively, at first. They kissed again, longer this time.

Michelle looked into the woman's eyes again. I love you, she thought. We'll always have one another.

Again, Michelle closed her eyes as she and the other woman combined their lips in a long, loving kiss. Lips parted, tongues entering timidly, seeking comfort in a love shared since girlhood, finding solace from a sorrow too great to either one to bear alone...their arms encircling each other, they lay down on the bed together...

When Michelle opened her eyes again, she was back in her own room, on her own bed. The towel had slipped away in the night - she was completely naked...but realised she was under the blanket. How...?

Daylight came in through the window and door that led out onto the deck.

Ohmigod, she thought. Lina...

She tried to get up - and realized someone's arm was around her. Slowly, she turned her head around.

Lina, clad in a sweatshirt and jeans, lay next to her atop the blanket., fast asleep.

Gently, Michelle removed Lina's arm. Lina stirred a little, but continued snoring softly.

Michelle found the towel under the blanket. Gingerly, she slipped out from under the blanket and wrapped herself in the towel again. Then, she sat on the edge of the bed and watched Lina sleeping for several minutes.

Sweet Goddess, she's adorable, Michelle thought. Suddenly, she wanted to reach out, just run her fingers through Lina's hair...

Lina stirred. Slowly, her eyes opened. "Hola," she murmured sleepily.

"Hi yourself," Michelle replied. "I'm sorry - "

"It's alright, mija."

Again, the two women just gazed at one another. Finally, Michelle spoke. "Pardon my asking, but - how'd you get in last night?"

Lina giggled. "You left the door open."

Michelle thought about it and realised she had indeed forgotten to shut her door the night before.

Lina continued: "You should be careful about that. You never know who might walk in."

Michelle nodded. She reached over and held her hand against Lina's cheek. "So, you come in and find me asleep, wearing nothing but a towel...I'm surprised you didn't try to take advantage of me," she grinned.

Lina sat halfway up. "That wouldn't be any fun," she said. Then, she leaned forward so the tip of her nose touched Michelle's. With a wide smile, she said "When we make love, I want you wide...awake."

"And what makes you think we're going to make love?" Michelle asked.

With that, Lina drew back. Still smiling a "Mona Lisa" smile, she replied, "You've told me."

"What?"

Again, Lina leaned forward. "You tell me every time you look at me, mija."

In mock irritation, Michelle picked up a pillow. "In your dreams, girl - " she swung at Lina with the pillow. Giggling, Lina picked up another pillow and started swatting at Michelle with it. The two of them giggled as they bounced around the bed, pillow fighting.

Suddenly, Lina grabbed Michelle around the waist. Laughing and panting, the two of them rolled around the bed, wrestling and tickling each other...

...until Michelle's towel fell away.

Suddenly, both of them froze. Michelle was mortified. Quickly, she grabbed the towel and covered herself.

Lina looked at her in frank admiration. "Mija, you have nothing to be embarassed about."

Again, the two women gazed at one another. Two powerful impulses fought each other in Michelle's consciousness...

Finally, she stood up, wrapped the towel around herself and said, "Well, I promised you a portobella trucchia, didn't I?"

As Michelle began to saunter out of the room casually, Lina said, "How long are you going to deny yourself?"

Michelle stopped. For a moment, she neither moved, nor spoke. Finally, she said, "Lina - I - I like you - "

Lina rose and went over to Michelle, placing a hand on her silky bare shoulder. "Mija, I like you also - "

Michelle turned. She looked as if she wanted to cry. "I - I'm sorry, Lina. I just - I can't - "

Lina nodded. "I suppose I should go - "

"Oh, god, no!" Michelle said abruptly, throwing her arms around Lina. "Please, stay...I'm - I'm just not ready for this..." She looked down.

She felt Lina's hand under her chin. Tenderly, Lina raised her face up so she could see her eyes. "That's all you needed to say." She smiled gently. "It's okay." Slowly, gently, Lina kissed Michelle's lips - again, not passionately, but lightly and lovingly. Then she stepped back. "Tengo hambre, mija - go make that trucchia you promised."

Michelle chuckled. Before she left the bedroom, she hugged Lina. "Thanks," she said.

* * *

The afternoon found the two women sitting together on the little deck outside Michelle's bedroom, sipping the Chardonnay Lina had brought. The sun was out, sparkling on the waters of Landers Bay and the great Pacific Ocean beyond. Sailboats and sailboarders darted back across the bay, skittering to get out of the path of the occasional freighter heading out to sea, or ferry.

"So, how long were you and Tony together?" Michelle was asking.

Lina sighed. "I've known Antonio since I was a little girl in San Juan," she said. "He was so big...strong..." She smiled sadly, looking over at Michelle. "He was my protector."

"Do you love him?"

"It's not that simple, mija."

The two women where quiet a moment, looking out at the town and the bay beyond. Michelle drained her wineglass, then held the bottle out to Lina. Lina shook her head, so Michelle poured the last bit into her glass.

"Why did you break it off?"

Again, Lina looked distinctly uncomfortable. "Something about our culture...Latino men...you have to understand." Michelle looked over at her. Lina continued: "Do you know what machisimo means?"

Michelle rolled her eyes. "The 'man's disease,'" she laughed bitterly. "I don't think it's confined to the Latino population."

Lina said, "It's not just that. You see...in Latin countries, a woman must prove her womanhood by being pure...virtuous. Mamá used to say that in Cuba, she couldn't spend time with a boyfriend without the family around to chaperone."

Michelle nodded. "It's different for guys, I guess."

Lina nodded. "A man needs to prove his manhood by sleeping with as many women as possible."

Michelle laughed. "Honey, it's the same thing here."

"I couldn't live that way." Lina looked away. A tinge of bitterness crept into her voice: "I couldn't be like mamá, raising my brothers and sisters, cooking, cleaning, entertaining, always the proper dama, while papá went out and slept with his little putas."

Again there was a moment of silence. Michelle reached over and took Lina's hand. "I didn't know you had brothers and sisters."

Lina nodded. "Two of each."

"Tell me about them."

"Another time."

Michelle decided not to press the matter further. "I was an only child."

"Lo siento, mija," said Lina.

"It wasn't so bad. My cousin lived right across the street until I was fourteen."

"Were you close."

"We still are." Michelle looked over at Lina affectionately. "I hope you can meet Kathie soon."

"I'd like that."

* * *

Afterwards, Lina and Michelle cuddled on the sofa, watching taped episodes of The Young At Heart. Moudrakis' divorce case had taken a bizarre twist when Suzette had been found shot in her apartment - and his son Niko was the prime suspect. Now, Niko was in jail for attempted murder (though protesting his innocence), while Suzette lay comatose in a hospital bed, her life hanging by a thread. Unfortunately, until she recovered (or died), Moudrakis was in legal limbo.

"I see why you get hooked on these 'soaps'," Lina commented, who had quickly gotten drawn into the storylines. "Do you think Suzette will recover?"

"Depends," said Michelle dryly. When Lina looked at Michelle questioningly, she elaborated: "Melinda Dodd - "

"Who's Melinda?" asked Lina, bewildered. There had been many characters to keep track of already.

"Melinda Dodd is the actress."

"What actress?"

Michelle chuckled. "She's the actress who plays Suzette - "

"Oh, I see - "

Michelle tapped on Lina's head playfully. "Hel-loh! It's a TV show!"

"I forgot," Lina admitted sheepishly.

Michelle chuckled again and shook her head. "Anyway, Melinda Dodd's contract is coming up for renewal. She wants a big raise."

Lina nodded. "I think I understand."

After the last tape ended, Lina got up from the sofa and looked over at a wall clock. "I better get going."

"Sure you don't want to stay for dinner?" asked Michelle, rising.

Lina slipped an arm around Michelle. "I told the guys I'd come down and run some new tunes before the gig tonight."

Michelle nodded. She waited at the door while Lina picked up her purse and her keys. She came up and slipped her arms around Michelle.

"You'll call me soon?"

Michelle nodded. They gazed at each other for a moment. Finally, Michelle leaned forward - with unaccustomed boldness - and fastened her mouth on Lina's. The two of them shared a lavish, mouth-filling, tongue-tangling, lip-sliding, five-minute kiss. They finally parted, and Michelle circled Lina's lips with her tongue one last time for good measure.

Lina sighed, her eyes still closed. For a moment, Michelle was afraid she was going to collapse like a rag doll. Finally, however, she reccovered. "Oh, mija..." she sighed. She opened her eyes and pulled Michelle's head forward. Once again, they shared a long, deep kiss...

Ten minutes later, Michelle finally pushed Lina away gently. "You're never going to make that rehearsal," she said.

"You're right," said Lina. She grasped the doorknob firmly and turned it - but not before planting one last kiss on Michelle's mouth. "Let's do this again soon." Michelle smiled, and Lina left, closing the door behind her.

Quickly, Michelle ran to the front window and watched Lina as she walked across the street. Lina turned and looked up, blowing a kiss at Michelle. Michelle held up a hand...

...at that moment, she helt as though her heart was going to pop out of her chest.

* * *

Michelle wandered around her apartment for awhile in a bit of a daze -- a wonderful daze. She straightened the place up, made the bed, then put on a favorite sun-dress, wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses and went out for a late afternnon walk in Bayview Park.

She felt as if she were floating, and went about with what some people might have considered a "dopey" grin on her face. Even when a couple of teenage boys playing "catch" with a football ran into her knocking her down and took off without so much as an apology, it was as if she hardly noticed. An elderly man hurried over.

"Miss, are you all right?" he asked, offering Michelle his arm.

Still in a daze, Michelle looked up. "Huh?"

"I said, are you all right?"

"Oh -- uh, yes, thanks...I'm fine..." she allowed the old man to help her up, gave him a peck on the cheek, then went on her way.

Gradually, a familiar tune began to swirl around in Michelle's brain. It was from the musical she'd been in her senior year of high school (she'd sung in the chorus) -- a charming little tale about a small village in Scotland that appeared only once every hundred years. Michelle began to hum the tune, then finally started singing out loud:

"What a day this has been...what a rare mood I'm in...
Why it's almost like being in love..."