“One of my first memories is my mother taking me to a Peter, Paul, and Mary concert. I still remember listening to them playing Puff the Magic Dragon and it was literal magic. When I was in high school I pretended to like Queen, and The Rolling Stones, and Pink Floyd, but Folk was still my true love, even when I wouldn’t admit it.”
Jeanine jumped in. “When I was in college I heard him playing one day in the quad. I’d never heard most of the music, but he played and sang with such depth and passion. I sat there and listened for, like, an hour. I wanted him so bad after that.”
“And you’ve had me ever since.”
They shared a kiss, eyes shining, and almost by reflex I reached out and took Sandy’s hand. Her thumb ran over my skin as she held it.
Bryan headed up to finish his set, starting with Puff, the Magic Dragon, which I hadn’t heard since I was a girl. I sat there, smiling, holding Sandy’s hand like it was the most natural thing in the world. Which it felt like it was.
Eventually the set ended, and After Bryan received all his due congratulations and well wishes from the assembly, we were left just the four of us at the table, sharing some wine and conversation.
Jeanine was talking, her hands waving in the air for dramatic effect. “So Sandy is just belting out ‘Dream Weaver’, and the girl she’s with is just trying to melt into the seats.”
Sandy pointed at Jeanine. “You fixed me up with her!”
“Yeah, and that’s the night I learned my lesson. Never again.”
Bryan sipped his scotch, looking at me. “She did it on purpose, acting the fool so that girl would never, ever call her again.”
“Really?” I looked at Sandy, who blushed and shrugged her shoulders.
“I didn’t like her. She wasn’t a nice person, and a little too butch-y for me, anyway. And I need to be able to be a goof around my partner. It’s an important part of my personality.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “I can’t imagine that. You’re always so serious.”
Sandy smirked at me, running a finger over my hand. “Can’t be serious all the time. I’d explode.”
“I think I’d like to see that.”
“Oh, you will, promise.”
I was lost in her eyes again. I don’t think I’d ever seen that shade of pale green, and it was mesmerizing, so much so that I almost jumped when Jeanine laughed and rejoined the conversation, pointing at Sandy. “Just be aware, if you do karaoke that girl cannot sing at all.”
I giggled and turned back to Sandy. “Karaoke it is then.”
“It’s a date.”
Sandy’s hand had closed over mine, and there was no one else on Earth again. After a moment I noticed Jeanine and Bryan give each other a look. Bryan cleared his throat. “Well, I have to finish getting my gear packed up. It’s getting late, and I’m not as young as I used to be.”
I glanced at my watch, which was showing half past eleven. “I should be getting home too. I told the kids I wouldn’t be very late.”
Sandy nodded, and we said our goodbyes to the others before heading out into the warm, late summer evening. Sandy held the door open for me, falling into step at my side once we were in the parking lot. Our hands brushed against each other, and moments later my palm was pressed firmly against hers.
“Jeanine told me what happened before you ran off to hide in the ladies’ room. She just assumed you knew.”
“That we were on a date? Yeah, I figured it out.”
“I was terrified, Melanie.”
“I won’t tell the other parents, promise.”
“No, not that. That I wouldn’t be able to convince you to stay. You leaving would have broken my heart.” We reached her SUV and she turned towards me, now taking both my hands in hers. “I had such a wonderful time tonight, with you.” Her eyes were already asking the question, without her usual confident air. I remembered the last time I’d seen it, the fear in Scott Peterson’s face when he’d asked me to Homecoming junior year. Bill had never wondered if I’d say ‘no’ to him.
I wish I’d said ‘yes’ to Scott, instead of the more popular varsity jackass I ended up going with. I wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice. “So did I. I’m glad I stayed.” I let my hands tighten in hers. My heart was thumping in my chest as I looked up at her eyes, watching her confidence return while my knees went weak. She moved closer to me, letting go of one hand so she could brush a strand of my dark hair behind my ear. My cheeks flushed and my eyes closed at her touch.
I felt her move, and when my eyes opened again she was closing the distance between us. I’d been mentally ready to accept another dinner invitation, or just to see her again, but I wasn’t ready for this. My eyes went wide as her lips touched mine, and I gave a surprised “Mmpf!” and pulled away.
Sandy’s face immediately twisted into a grimace. “God, Melanie, I’m sorry. I just, I’m sorry. Please don’t be angry.” I could see the fear in eyes, and that she was mentally berating herself. That’s an expression I knew very well.
“No, it’s okay. I, um, I just wasn’t expecting that.”
“Obviously.” A small, unsure smile returned to her face. “Melanie?” She gently touched my cheek with two fingers, and it took everything I had not to sigh and lean into the contact. “Do I have any chance here? Are you attracted to me at all?”
I guess this was my chance. All I had to do was say “no” and she’d back off, and I could go back to my lonely, boring life. But it would be safe. If anyone ever found out it’d be a scandal at my parent’s country club, and my mother may never forgive me for that. I could hear them now.
“Did you hear? Helen Sullivan’s daughter is gay!”
“You mean Melanie? So that’s why Bill divorced her! Ha, I wonder what Helen did to screw Melanie up as a child?”
“I heard they’re born that way, which means there’s something wrong with the mother. Something wrong with the bitch, something wrong with the pup.”
Peeling laughter sounded in my head as the gossip tore through my imagination at breakneck speed, everything my mother had ever done to improve and cement her social standing unraveling as my unnaturalness destroyed her life.
“Melanie?” Sandy’s voice cut through my reverie, and I looked up at her. Her eyes were kind, but serious.
“I can’t.” I almost choked over the words.
“What are you afraid of?”
I thought about denying I was afraid, but it seemed pointless. “Lots of things.”
“Tell me one.”
I figured I’d start with the most obvious. “Paige. Can you imagine how mortified she’d be? What the other parents would say?”
A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “I don’t care what the other parents would say. And I’m pretty sure Paige would get over it. Especially if her mother were happy.”
“But you’re her coach!”
“And if I wanted to date her, that would be an issue. But, as much as I like her, I’m not interested in dating your daughter.” The lilt of her voice let me know she was kidding, but the serious undertone was still there. “But you still haven’t actually answered my first question. Set aside everything else. Can you do that? No embarrassed daughter or disapproving mother. No cares in the world. Just you and me, here together. Are you attracted to me?”
Tears were stinging my eyes, my head hanging as she spoke. She’d moved almost imperceptibly closer, but I could tell. Her presence was so real that I was almost able to forget who I was, what I was. I almost was able to believe this stunning woman in front of me actually wanted me. But that wasn’t possible. It just wasn’t.
“Melanie.” She lifted my chin until my teary eyes met hers. There was such tenderness and longing there that my face just kept rising, and I lifted it to hers as she pressed her lips to mine for a second time. This time, though, I couldn’t help but respond in kind.
My heart melted inside my chest as heat flooded through me. Sandra’s hand slid around to my back, pulling me towards her until our bodies were flush together. My palm came to rest on her hip, feeling the curve of her waist. My lips moved against hers, pleasure thrumming through me, and I felt wonderful. Eventually she pulled away, and I felt the silly smile suddenly stretching my cheeks. I tried, quite unsuccessfully, to keep from giggling.
“I like that sound.” She brushed my cheek with the back of her fingers, which made my whole face flush even more.
I tittered again, hunching my shoulders. “You make me nervous.”
She grinned wickedly. “Just nervous?”
I blushed harder, if that were possible. “Among other things.”
“Really? Excited?” I nodded as her hand caressed the back of my head. “Passionate?” I couldn’t even move; I was so lost in her eyes. She pressed her lips to my cheek, her breath warm in my ear. “Because that’s how you make me feel, Melanie.”
I gave a little whimper, my desire overcoming everything else as my face turned towards the lips of the woman holding me, and my body seemed to go boneless as we kissed again. My mouth opened, and her gentle tongue caressed mine with almost reverent delicacy. We just stood there kissing, me leaning against her in the moonlight. Okay, it was probably more streetlamps, but I like to think it was moonlight.
Eventually Sandra pulled away, my head resting in the palm of her hand. “Oh, I have to take you home, don’t I?”
I nodded. “Yeah, it’s getting late. My kids…”
“Yeah, I know. Can I see you again?”
I answered before I could talk myself out of it. “Yes.”
“That’s good.” The smile that lit up her face was breathtaking.