DECEMBER 18
I went to the office to approve expenditures and learn stuff about the town’s operations. Our landscaping manager was excited to show me how his crews prepared garden beds for winter. It was a struggle to pretend to be interested. I mean, I appreciated the work they did and the landscapes all around town were Disney World quality, but why did I have to learn how they did it?
I went to the office more than I wanted, and it made me grumpy.
When I got home from the office I found Daria practically bouncing with energy. “I’m volunteering at the senior center!” she announced.
“Good for you,” I praised and hugged her.
“The people are really nice and I get to help with all kinds of activities for the seniors!”
“Sounds like it will be perfect for you,” I said.
“I’m volunteering for eight hours a week. It’s not a lot, but at least it’s something to do other than shopping and working out,” she said. “How was your day?”
“Boring and frustrating,” I honestly let off steam. “They expect me to be interested in stuff like landscaping and construction, but I’m just not.”
Daria hugged me. “Keeping the town going is important work, Ellie,” she reasoned.
“I know, but I don’t want to do it,” I sulked.
She silently held me for a minute. “Are you still considering selling?”
I was, but I snapped, “I don’t want to talk about it, Daria.”
“Sorry.”
I sighed and apologized, “No, I’m sorry, honey. I am thinking about selling but nobody wants me to so it’s a touchy subject.”
My sister kissed my cheek and asked, “What can I do to take your mind off of work?”
I thought about it for a second and answered, “Make dinner naked.”
She tittered. “You have a one track mind.”
“It’s a fun track, little sister.” She loved when I called her little sister.
She stripped and I got an idea. I put an apron on her head and tied it in back. “I thought you wanted me naked,” she said.
“Wearing just the apron is even sexier than being naked.”
Daria rolled her eyes and turned a circle to let me see it all. “You’re the horniest girl I’ve ever met,” she joked. “Even hornier than boys!”
“I’ll take that as a compliment. You look fucking hot.” I pulled her to me and stroked her bare back.
“Are you going to let me make dinner, or do you have other things in mind?”
“Fuck dinner,” I responded. Lusty gravel was in my voice.
She giggled and wrapped her arms around my neck. “That’s what I thought. You’re a horny goat.”
==
DECEMBER 19
Daria invited her friend Ava to our apartment so I could meet her. “We’ve been best friends since kindergarten,” Daria explained.
“Are you nervous about telling her?”
She bit her lower lip. “Kind of.”
I hugged my girlfriend. “It will be fine,” I assured her. “She’ll be happy for us.”
“I hope so.”
“She’s not going to be jealous, is she?” I asked.
“No. We’re friends, not girlfriends. She’s engaged to a guy named Steve and they’re that couple that’s so over-the-top hot for each other that they make you want to slap them.”
“Like us?”
“We’re not like that,” Daria objected.
I just gave her a look.
“Okay, you’re like that. You’re a sex maniac,” she kidded.
“I wasn’t until I met you. You make me crazy.”
“I think you’ll like Ava,” my sister said, getting the conversation back on track. “You need more friends than just me.”
When Ava walked into our apartment, she had the same reaction that everyone has. “Oh my god!” she exclaimed. “It’s huge! And you have a river view. This place is insane!”
“Aw shucks, it’s nothing,” I joked.
“Ava, this is Ellie,” Daria introduced us.
We hugged and exchanged the usual “Pleased to meet you” pleasantries.
“Ava,” Daria began, “one reason I invited you here was to let you know that I moved in with Ellie. We’re a couple.”
Ava’s jaw dropped, but she quickly hugged her friend and yelped, “I’m so happy for you!”
Then she switched to hugging me. “And for you Ellie. You’re lucky to have Daria. Isn’t she great?”
“She is,” I agreed.
Daria was surprised by Ava’s quick acceptance. “On a scale of 1 to 10, how freaked out are you that I’m lesbian?” she asked her friend.
“Um, 2,” Ava replied.
“That’s all?”
“Yeah. Why would I freak out?”
“Because it’s supposed to be a stunning surprise.”
Ava shrugged. “You never really clicked with the guys you went out with. And it’s super cool that your girlfriend is filthy rich.”
“Ava!” Daria scolded.
“What? Beauty fades but wealth is forever. You aim high girl.”
I laughed. “I like you Ava,” I told her.
The three of us teamed up to prepare dinner in our apartment’s big posh kitchen. Ava watched us and observed, “Y’all are so natural together, like you’ve known each other for years.”
Daria leaned her shoulder against me. “We were made for each other.”
I smiled at the kinky hidden meaning behind my sister’s words.
“Two peas in a pod,” Ava agreed.
==
DECEMBER 20
Jack Warner asked me to stop by the office when I had a minute. When I arrived, he and Crystal joined me in my office. “What’s up?” I asked.
“There’s a Christmas tradition we haven’t discussed yet,” Crystal began. “On Christmas Day, the eldest member of the Wallace family gives a Christmas Message on the radio. The idea is to give an update on the town and wish everyone a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.”
“And now I’m the eldest member of the family,” I stated the obvious. “Does anyone listen to this thing?”
“The townspeople actually look forward to it,” Crystal surprised me by saying. “It’s a tradition they grew up with, and it helps cement the bonds of the Walkville community.”
“Ms Wallace, people are anxious to hear this year’s speech,” Jack Warner informed me. “Because you’ve made no public appearances, they want to hear what you have to say. I’ll have someone draft a short speech for you, if you’d like.”
I shrugged. “Okay. I’m used to being on stage in the band, so talking on the radio is no big deal.”
There was nothing else for me to do at the office, so I went to our mail center to pick up a package from Mom. She shipped my acoustic guitar, bless her.