Disclaimer: All the characters of in this story are of my own creation. Any physical
resemblance the people in this story may have to real people is coincidental and no
infringement on anyones rights is intended.
Subtext Disclaimer: This story contains references to physical relationships between
consenting adults, who may happen to be of the same sex. If this offends you, or you are
under 18 years of age, or you reside in an area where this type of material is illegal,
read no more. There is plenty of general fanfic out there for you. Go find it.
Paradise Series #2.
Storyline: Hustle, bustle and headaches abound on a fictional Caribbean island as a
recently, nearly completed resort is brought to life and we follow the lives of the people
who are trying to make it happen. In the middle of it all is a closer look at two
strangers, two women, who are thrown together by outside forces and struggle to contend
with the problems they will have to share if the Paradise Beachside Resort is to open on
time, and their own emotions as strange happenings make them question themselves, and each
other.
Please send any comments to asdease1@gte.net
Enjoy, I hope.
WELCOME TO PARADISE
Chapter two
Written by FlyBigD
The deal struck, Holly bent forward to untie her shoes as she watched Teddy carry her
things to the house. Loaded down with everything she had brought with her, Holly marveled
at the ease with which Teddy seemed to bear the burden up the steep looking staircase. A
stray thought passing through her mind about the sunrise, she pulled off her shoes as she
gave the house at the top of the stairs a closer inspection with an architects eye.
Certainly not much to look at from the outside, it was a painted a dark green that matched
the surrounding foliage, which explained why Holly had never seen it the many times she
had surveyed the mountian from a distance. A fairly typical design found in the islands,
the house seemed sturdy enough for where it was located. Sitting on top of the garage,
that appeared to be cut out of the mountain, the foundation for the sides of the house
extending beyond the lower structure was solid rock instead of stilts. The front of the
house set back from the front of the garage by the width of a deck that looked like it
went all the way around. The stairs led up to the left side of the house and through the
wooden railing, she could see that the front door was in the center, but other than the
green colored tin roof, there wasnt much else she could see from that vantage point.
Curious for more and barefoot, Holly tucked her shoes under her arm and opened the door of
the truck. A wet muddy greeting for her toes, she winced at the feeling, then pulled her
briefcase from behind the seat. Holding the case up in the air, she high stepped her way
to the stairs where she found a chuckling Teddy.
A sidewalk was next on my list. Teddy made her apologies. Here,
holding out her hand, gimme your briefcase. You might need two hands for the first
step.
Holly looked down at the first step, which was about knee high and handed over her
briefcase without any questions, then she took hold of the railing with both hands as she
forcibly removed her right foot from the mud with a loud slurping noise. Her muddy foot
going on the first step, she glanced up at Teddy. Have you ever heard of
anti-skid? She asked, feeling the slipperiness of the wooden step.
Teddy gave her a raspberry and bent down to take her left hand. Come on. Im
getting soaked. Hands locked, she pulled back as Holly pushed off and together they
successfully got Holly up onto the step. Want me to walk behind you in case you
slip? She asked sarcastically as she let go of the blondes hand.
Hollys reaction was to take back her briefcase with a snatch, then proceed her
squishing, splatting, splashing way up the staircase unaided.
Her eyes following Hollys progress, Teddy shook her head as started upward. I
guess thats a no. She surmized.
Dryer than Teddy, but not by much, Holly walked under the overhang toward the front door
without being invited then stopped when she saw the home owners muddy boots sitting
beside the mat. Do you have someplace for me to clean my feet off? Asking
hopefully, she tried to wiggle some of the mud from between her toes.
Just a second. Opening the front door, Teddy reached inside for a beach chair.
Bringing it out, she set it up under the overhang next to Holly. Sit here and hold
your feet out. The runoff from the roof should have them clean in a minute.
The rain coming down in measured streams along the roof line, Holly moved the chair to
line up with one before she sat down. A look of concentration on her face, she stretched
her legs out and began shifting her feet back and forth in the falling water.
Teddy smiled in satisfaction. Ill get you a towel. She said as she wiped
her feet on the mat before going inside.
Alone on the deck, Holly swung her feet until they were clean. Lowering her legs, she kept
them clear of the big muddy puddle shed made. Waiting on the towel, her eyes came up
to look out over the railing and the panoramic picturesque view nearly knocked her out of
the chair. Though it was almost dark and the sky was filled with gray clouds, and her view
was partially obscured by the rain, it was still something to behold. Situated just above
the tops of the trees in front of her, the island spread out like a green carpet for as
far as the eye could see with the Caribbean continuing on to the dusky horizon. Awestruck
and speechless, her head turned slowly from side to the other, taking in the full expanse
of the incredible view. And there, way off in the distance, she saw the lights of the
Paradise above the layer of canopy. Though not nearly as beautiful as it was in
Teddys description, the sight still brought a smile to her lips as she stared at her
dream come true.
The towel in her hand, Teddy watched Holly from the front door with a smile of her own.
Yep. I had a really great view, till somebody came along and put a resort in the
way. Sighing dramatically, she shook her head. Just sucks now.
Suddenly crestfallen, Holly looked at the resort, thinking Teddy was serious and turned
around to make some kind of apology when she saw a smirk on the womans lips.
That wasnt nice. She informed her in a none to happy tone at getting
hooked.
Yea, well neither am I. She sneered and handed the blonde the towel. Ducking
back inside before Holly had time to say something, she began moving around the living
room removing the large sheets covering the furniture.
Holly dried her feet off, then stood up, putting them in the muddy puddle. Realizing what
shed done, she rolled her eyes, picked up her briefcase and walked to the door to
dry them off again. One hand leaning on the door jamb, she got her first glimpse of the
inside of Teddys house. Much better to look at than the outside, her expression
changed to one of intense curiosity when she saw the aquarium. Huge compared to anything
she had seen outside a real buy a ticket and watch the sharks swim overhead
kind of aquarium, at her first expert guess, she estimated it had to be at least twelve
feet long. Short of the floor and ceiling by only a foot, which with another expert guess
put it at ten feet tall because the ceiling had to be twelve, there were walkways on
either side leading to another room and as her curiosity led her closer, she frowned at
the paper cut out fish hanging from strings inside the empty tank. No water. No real fish.
No multi-colored fluorescent rocks at the bottom. Just the glass walls and paper fish.
Tapping the glass, she turned as she spoke. Teddy, is this supposed to be an
aquarium or some kind of pop art?
Arms full of bundled up dusty sheets, Teddy walked out of the dining room with one
trailing behind her. What? Spying Holly, she smiled. Oh, thats an
aquarium. She answered. I just havent gotten any fish yet. I only come
home a couple of times a year and fish are kind of picky when it comes to their feeding
habits. Rolling up the sheet she was dragging, she walked over to the aquarium.
Ill get it filled now that Im going to be home all the time.
The explanation made perfect sense. Holly backed up to get a visual comparison of where
the tank was with respect to the rest of the house. Its not over the
garage. She said mainly to herself. Thats why you had to build on the
rock. No conventional support would keep this from going through the floor when its
full. Nodding, she turned to look at Teddy. How many gallons is it?
Twelve hundred. Replying calmly, Teddy pointed to one of the walkways leading
around the tank. You can see what its sitting on from the other side. I
havent quite got the base boards finished in the bedroom.
Off before she thought about where she was going, Holly stared at the base as she went
through the make shift hallway that was four feet long. Making her way around, her view
was blocked by a set of mini blinds hanging down the other side of the tank. Glancing up
to find the string pull, she raised the gray slats half way, then squatted down to inspect
the space left open beneath the aquarium.
Teddy followed her, inspired by the show of curiosity and turned on the lights when Holly
asked where the switch was. Squatting down beside her, she pointed to the large concrete
slab supporting the tank. It goes a foot into the rock and there are bolts holding
the tank to the slab. She said without being asked.
So the slab wouldnt slip off the foundation and the tank wont slike off
the slab. Nodding in design appreciation, she went down on all fours to crawl to one
end. What about filtration and circulation?
The bundle of sheets being dropped on the hardwood floor so Teddy could crawl after her,
she came up behind Holly and pointed to the space shed left at one end. There
is an electrical outlet for the pump. Its still in the box in the garage.
Pointing around Holly to two holes in the bottom of the tank, she laid down on her side.
Now see here. Thats where the hose goes in for the pump and that one is for
the drain plug. Its got an extension that will attach to this pipe. Tapping a
copper pipe sticking out of the floor. That runs under the floor to the outside of
the house.
Another couple of smiling nods and Holly sat up as a thought came to her. Twisting her
torso, she looked down at Teddy. Which came first? The aquarium or the house?
Teddy laughed. The aquarium. She admitted. I had to build the house
around it because I couldnt figure out a way to get it through the front door.
Holly chuckled and looked up at the tank. I dont think you could get this
through the front door of the Paradise. Shaking her head in wonder, she glanced back
at Teddy. So where did you get this thing and how did you get it up here?
Rolling onto her back, Teddy put her hands behind her head. Whats the
information worth to ya and how good are you at making ravioli from a can? She asked
with a flick of her eyebrows.
This time it was Hollys turn to laugh. A lot and does the can come with
instructions?
Ha! Theres one born every minute. Legs going in the air, she rolled up
to a sitting position. Do you want to shower and change first? Ive still got
some straightening to do.
The question raised several problems. First of all, Holly didnt have anything to
change into and secondly, that meant she would have to put on the same clothes if she took
a shower. Um. Was her response as she looked down at her damp clothes.
Dont worry about those. Teddy told her. Ill put them in the
laundry so theyll be ready in the morning.
And in the mean time? She asked, raising her eyes to look somewhat cautiously
at her hostess.
Teddy didnt get the problem for a second, then it hit her. Oh, uh, you
can wear something of mine, as long as you dont mind wrinkled and big. All my
clothes are in the bags.
Holly thought about it, then nodded. I think Id like a shower. Ive still
got mud between my toes. She noted with an indication to the dirty digits.
Alrighty, then. Hopping onto her feet, she stood up. One nickel tour and
then its the shower for you and some quick cleaning for me. Reaching her hand
down, she gave Holly some help getting up.
Another deal sealed and Holly was on her feet for the tour. Please hold all
questions until the end of the tour. She said in a faux tour guide voice and swept
her hand out to the side. Lead on.
Teddy straightened her dirty wet shirt, then made the same sweeping motion with her arm.
Bedroom.
Realization coming a little late, Holly turned around to see a large bedroom with a large
bed in it a short distance away and for some reason she couldnt explain, the thought
of being in Teddys bedroom made her overly warm. Losing some of her composure, she
snatched it back to give the room the same kind of attention she had given the aquarium. A
strictly professional, unemotional inspection. This is nice. Next.
And so the tour began, with Teddy taking the long strides necessary to get to the middle
of the bedroom where the opening to the bathroom was. Bathroom. She said and
stepped aside for Holly to give it a look.
Ready to be anywhere other than the bedroom, Holly stuck her head in the door for a quick
glance, then got sucked in by her curiosity. The outside walls were made out of those
glass masonry blocks from waist height on up. She walked into the room with a smile.
Oh, now I like this. She said quietly. This is nice. Running her
hand along the dark blue marble counter top, she watched the glass walls reflection
in the long mirror as she walked the length. Spying the standard amenities, the shower
caught her attention quickly. Merely a shoulder height wall at the far end of the room
made out of the same blocks, that and the outside wall were the only thing there were to
it. Open on either end with the same dark blue tiling on the rest of the floor running
through it, the plumbing was mounted on the inside of the outer wall. A muted vision of
the outside greenery to look at as you showered, she fingered the stainless steel soap
dish attached to the wall below the shower head thinking she could spend hours in here.
Then she realized someone on the outside could do the same of her as she showered.
As if reading Hollys mind, Teddy spoke up. Dont worry. Way up here, the
only thing that will be looking at you from the other side is the mosquitoes.
Standing inside the shower, Holly turned around to look over the wall at Teddy, who was
still by the doorway. Is everything in your house this exposed?
Teddy smiled and shrugged. Sort of. Its one of the advantages of not having
any neighbors. You dont have to lock your door, or even have doors, if you
dont want to. And besides, I live alone. Whose going to see me? She asked with
another shrug.
Holly rested her arms on top of the wall. What about when you gave guests, like
me?
Guests? She asked with a somewhat surprised expression, then she shook her
head and chuckled. Im sorry to laugh, but I picked this spot to avoid having
to put up with other people, Holly and to be honest, I didnt take anyone else into
consideration when I drew up the plans. Holding up one finger, she twitched it back
and forth. However, the few people I have had up here didnt seem to mind the
design. But, then again, Rolando and his wife never stayed long enough to take a shower,
sooooo, I guess you could say youre my guinea pig. Opening her eyes wide, she
put on a Cheshire cat grin.
The grin was too much and Holly shut her eyes to avoid having to look at it. I
dont know if I should feel privileged or make a run for it. She said in a tone
so dry the Sahara would have been envious. No response forthcoming, she opened her eyes to
see Teddy do a dance with her eyebrows. Sighing, she walked around the wall. Can I
at least get the rest of the tour before you strap on the electrodes?
Youre safe in here. Teddy assured her. I put them in the couch
cushions.
What have I gotten myself into. Holly asked herself as she put on her dismal,
resolved to her fate, slumped shouldered routine to shuffle past Teddy.
Come. Let me show you the rest of my laboratory.
**********
Holly tried to maintain her down trodden demeanor, but her curiosity was too strong and
there were too many questions to ask about Teddys choices in design, and decor. A
truly open air feel to the house, there were no doors to be found and no dead ends with
every room having two open doorways, though no doors. Not even the kitchen cabinets or the
pantry had doors and as Teddy explained, she liked it that way because she always knew
what was in them, but she did make two exceptions. The first was the laundry room, because
the washing machine was too noisy for Teddy to take a nap when it was running and the
refrigerator, for obvious reasons.
Gaining more insight into the woman she didnt know why she wondered about, Holly
thought she had a few things sorted until she was led onto the deck behind the house for
the final leg of the tour. Out there, her ideas were washed away by a cultured beauty
rivaling the natural one shed seen from the front of the house. An arbor running the
length of the back edge of the deck, was covered in roses of every color and night
blooming jasmine vines. The heady fragrances blending with tropical aromas, she was taken
aback at how hard it was to tell where one began and the other ended. So natural together
and so alluring, she stepped out from under the overhang without thinking about the
falling rain and she walked over to a wooden Adirondack patio chair set under the arbor to
sit down. In aural bliss, she closed her eyes and just breathed.
The preceeding happened before Teddy had a chance to say anything about the garden
shed created and it took her slightly off guard as she watched Holly walk out to the
chair and sat down and she stared at her for a minute in bewilderment. Then she stared a
minute more, expecting Holly to get up any second and come in out of the rain, but she
didnt. She just sat there getting wetter than she already was. Raising one hand and
a finger, she opened her mouth to remind the woman that there was plenty of water on the
inside of the house, but she let her arm drift slowly downward, and her mouth close as the
peaceful expression on Hollys face reminded her that unspoiled beauty should be left
unspoiled. A heavy sigh being lost amid the sound of the rain, she stood there in silence,
then a smile crept up as she thought of Rolando and the question hed asked her about
helping Holly to relax. What can I say? She thought the question. When Im good.
Im good. Her shoulders shaking with muffled laughter, Teddy shook her head too and
turned away to leave Holly to her unusual relaxation for awhile.
The thought of Rolando sparked another one and Teddy went inside to hunt down her cell
phone. Rummaging through her briefcase first, then her backpack, she found the phone
inside the leather container and dialed her friends number as she walked back to the
back to peer through the window at Holly. Hey, Rolando. Its Teddy.
Ahh, yes. Ive been expecting your call. Sitting at the dinner table,
Rolando excused himself with a wave to his wife, Maria. Walking into another room, he
closed the door behind him. And how did your second discussion with Ms. Curtis
go?
I havent had it yet. Rolling her eyes, Teddy left the window to pace
around the living room with her thumbnail between her teeth. Shes still
here.
Theodora, the sun has set. What is Holly still doing at your house? Sounding
rather fatherly.
Ya, see, thats the thing, Rolando. Back to the window for a peek, she
sighed. Shes still here because shes going to spend the night.
There was a long pause coming from the other end of the line and Teddy began pacing as she
started to explain. It was mostly her idea and it was raining, and we hadnt
had our discussion yet, so I kind of offered to let her stay on the couch tonight, so she
wouldnt have to drive down the mountain in the mud.
Hmmmmm. There is something youre not telling me. Doing some pacing of
his own, he had one hand on his hip. What arent you telling me?
Skipping over the part about her promising Holly a beautiful sunrise, she hedged her
answer with a question. Um, thats the other thing. Ya, see, Im getting
these weird vibes and I was wondering if you . . . uh . . . know if uh . . . you know . .
. um . . . is Holly gay? Dancing around the word, she said it as a whisper.
Gay? Why do you want to know if Holly is gay, Theodora and what do you mean by weird
vibes? What is going on up there? Halting his pacing, Rolando sat down to receive
the answers.
Teddy check out the window again and shook her head. Nothing, really. I brought her
in, gave her a quick tour and shes sitting out on the deck under the arbor.
So what are these weird vibes you spoke of and what do they have to do with Holly
being gay or not? He asked again.
Well. . . um . . . Teddy mumbled past her thumbnail. I not sure how to
explain it, but Im getting some mixed signals here and I dont know if
shes just being friendly or if shes hitting on me.
Laying his head back, Rolando frowned at the ceiling. How so.
Teddy sighed heavily before she went on. Trying to collect her thoughts for a coherant
explaination for him, she also tried to understand what had happened between them for
herself. I dont know, Rolando. She said quietly. Im not sure
I understand it myself, but its like . . . when she looks at me . . . sometimes . .
. its like shes not looking at me, but in me. Shaking her head
with dissatisfaction at the answer, she sighed again. Its like I can feel her
inside me when she looks at me and . . . its so weird, but Id swear I can feel
her feeling the same thing.
Rolando didnt like the explaination very much, but not for its oddity or
vaugeness. Theodora, you dont know this woman. You just met her today,
yes?
Yea, yea. She nodded. I never met her before I got off the plane.
And already you have brought her to your home. He continued, lifting his head.
Yea, yea, I know. Teddy realized where he was going. and I may be
jumping to conclusions, but . . .
Are you sure you are not asking if Holly is gay because . . .
No, no, no, no. She interrupted with a quick firmness. Look, I told you
I learned my lesson, okay. You dont need to go there and this isnt the same
thing. This is different. Her voice softening again, Teddy looked out the window at
Holly. I dont know what to make of her. I dont know what shes
after.
You mean you . . . Rolando started.
Rolando. Teddy interrupted again as her head fell into her hand. Is she
gay or not? Thats all I want to know, here. I dont need the third
degree.
If you want this information, why dont you ask your sources youself? He
came back with an attitude.
Oh, and that would look great, too, now wouldnt it. Getting fired up
again, she dropped her hand to glare at her reflection in the window. I cant
those kinds of questions.
And how do you think it will look for a very happily married man with five children
to ask those kinds of questions? Still with the attitude, he sat forward on the
seat.
A lot safer than it would be for me to ask. Teddy ground her teeth with
frustration. Look, Im not asking you to go into 007 mode, okay? Just tell me
what you know and Ill take it from there.
His dark blue eyes disappearing from view, Rolando sighed as he went against his
considerable better judgement. Alright. He sighed. Not that I have made
any specific inquiries into the subject, but to my knowledge, Holly is not gay. The only
persons I know of her having relationships were all men. However, from what I understand,
they were never very serious and once she became more involved with her work, she stopped
dating entirely. I assume she became too engrossed in her work to allocate the sufficent
time for such endeavors.
Didnt ask my ass. You sure as hell didnt get all that from her personnel
folder, you old snoop. She thought as her poor thumbnail got a good gnawing over the
information.
Hearing nothing from the other end, he listened harder and detected a series of sighs.
Teddy?
I heard ya. Teddy said quietly. So what do you think I should do?
At last. He thought and thought about it. Taking into consideration all factors, including
his friend, Rolando put on his Bond thinking cap and scratched his cheek. You
have already invited her to stay as your guest, so treat her accordingly, however, I would
keep it as professional as possible. As you said, you only met Holly today and though I
have found no information to insinuate any alterior motives, it is best to treat her as
you do everyone else. You can be her friend, her advisor, but anything extra attention is
asking for trouble if others were given the oportunity to make assumptions from unusual
behavior on your part. Whether she is or not gay does not change the fact that she is your
boss, Teddy. Shaking his head, he rubbed his forehead. And for goodness sake,
dont bring her back to your home. You have put your professional life at risk with
your private life before and that out come is still in question.
I know, Rolando. Youre right. Rolling her eyes at the truth in his words
and the mistakes shed made, Teddy took a deep breath to puff out her cheeks with its
release. Alright. Ill keep it friendly and no more slumber parties with people
I barely know.
Good. Rolando smiled as he relaxed. Standing, he moved to the door, placing
his had on the knob. Holly can benefit from your knowledge, Teddy, but it must be
preceived that she is seeking you out for it and keep in mind that she may not be the only
one vying for your time. My Maria was very displeased that you are not at our table this
evening.
Teddy chuckled. She got a hold of your rear end for not inviting me tonight,
didnt she?
Dont concern yourself with my body parts, Theodora. He said in his
fatherly tone again. I am informing my wife that you will be here tomorrow and I
will not be responsible for her actions if you disappoint her.
Cringing visibly, she shook it off with a laugh. Okay. Ill be there. She
said confidently, then added something to get her friend riled. Can I bring a
date?
NO you most certainly cannot! Theodora, I . . . Theodora? Theodora? Sighing,
he realized hed been disconnected. What will I do with that girl?
Teddy shut off her phone, placing it on the bar she had been using as cover to stare at
Holly with. In better spirits than she had been before calling Rolando, she whistled her
way to the back door, where she stood for a minute looking at Holly and wondering what was
going through her mind. The same placid expression giving no evidence to anything other
than complete peace, she was still tentative about putting an end to it, but she had to do
something. She couldnt leave Holly out in the rain all night and she wanted to get
on with getting settled in. So, walking quietly, she went out onto the deck, to where
Holly was and stared at her before speaking. A strange sense of contentment seeming to rub
off on her, she squatted down beside the chair to run one finger lightly across the back
of Hollys hand as her eyes stayed on the essence of tranquility. Holly.
As if waking from a pleasant dream, Holly opened her eyes slowly and turned her head to
look down at her hand. Lingering there a moment to enjoy the warm feel against her skin,
she looked up to see a warm smiling face beside her with its sea of sparkling blue.
Hi.
The smile she didnt know she had broadened at the sound. Hey. She said
quietly. Are you ready to come in now?
Immediately saddened, she sighed. Do I have to? Its so perfect here.
I know. Teddy nodded and broke their gaze to look at what she had created
surrounding them. I love it out here too, but, lowering her eyes, she shook
her head, you cant sleep in the rain. I tried it once. The mattress gets all
soggy.
Well, when you put it that way. Holly laughed softly. Leaning forward in the
chair, she stretched her arms over her head, arching her back.
Two full round breasts, barely veiled beneath wet white cotton, pressing invitingly
against their confines sent Teddy into a short regressive state of panic. Diverting her
eyes before she could get caught staring, she raised them above the neckline, back to
Hollys eyes as years of verbally side-stepping less than innocent offers with smooth
sincerity aided her in bringing her voice down to its normal register. Come
on. She said with a smile and stood. A nice hot shower will help get those
kinks out. Then its down to business.
Unaware that she had played the temptress, Holly rolled her head back to accuse Teddy of
lacking in the same field. Please. She replied drolly. My heart
cant stand the anticipation. Dropping her arms, she held out one hand to be
helped up.
Teddy didnt hesitate in taking Hollys hand in her own for another tantalizing
brush with soft warm skin because she had every intention of making it her last. Up
ya go.
Then it happened again, as Holly stood. There eyes, locked together, got closer together
and she saw something. A spark. A flicker. A flinty edge. Something. Something in
Teddys eyes made her aware of how hard her heart was beating and how hard it
suddenly became to breathe. And then it was gone. Like a shooting star in the desert sky,
it passed without a sound and then they were back to where they had never left.
And so, the door closed on the something behind blue eyes, and in the time that followed,
Teddy found conventional ways to busy herself away from the bedroom area while Holly took
her shower. One of her bags of clothing dumped unceremoniously onto the bedroom floor for
Holly to pick something to wear for the night, she took the other one, full of dirty
clothes, into the laundry room, along with the clothes Holly had doffed from the safety of
the bathroom, to be washed once they had both taken their showers. All the while her body
was going through the motions of menial activity, her mind was engaged in a tug of war.
Separating light colored garments from dark ones, Teddy sorted her reasoning. Conflicting
lines of thought dancing around conflicting emotions to an unsatisfactory end, but no
evident closure, except the two piles of clothes shed created and the knowledge that
nothing else would be allowed to form.
Washed, refreshed, relaxed, toweled off and sporting an ill-fitting, wrinkled t-shirt and
matching shorts with a pull-tie waist band, Holly made the tag with Teddy, for the other
woman to take shower. Business on the agenda, she opened her briefcase on the kitchen
counter to read some documents while she stirred the contents of a simmering pot of canned
ravioli in comfortable absorption.
To the contrary, Teddy stood naked, shoulders flexed, hands pressed onto warm glass as
cold water poured over her low hung head and down her body. The frigid temperature used as
a last, shocking measure to clear her head of fleeting glances and tingling touches, it
took ten minutes of the tactic to do the job. Resolved to no more close encounters of the
unexplainable kind and hopefully, whatever was behind them would go away if it wasnt
encouraged. Business experience, friendship and maybe some jokes thrown in on the side was
all she was going to offer her boss from now on. There would be no more letting sad
expressions obscure her judgment and she would get a grip on her reflexes, and stop
responding to mysterious, unsettling sensations brought on by soul searching stares.
Dressed in the same type of clothing as Holly, but with a much better fit, Teddy put her
plan into action. Keeping a slightly distant, but friendly air about herself, she shared
the no star meal with her boss on the living room couch as they went over the numbers for
her departmental supply orders. Then, moving to the floor when she broke out her laptop,
they sat side by side with the computer sandwiched in between two open briefcases on the
coffee table and she showed Holly some loose ends shed discovered in the system
before she had officially arrived.
Therein finding a snooping slip, Holly pounced on it and proceeded to ask Teddy a probing
question as to how she had avoided being seen on her previous visits to the resort and how
it came to be that the polished mahogany counter on the bar, residing back by the windows
Teddy had so graciously opened, so resembled the one the bar manager would be working
behind at the resort, since Holly had hand picked the perfect pieces of richly colored
wood, and therefore found it hard to believe that Teddy could have gotten a match to them
from any other source, besides misappropriation of corporate property.
Um. Was Teddys initial reaction. Then she tugged on her earlobe for
awhile and found a host of very interesting things to look at besides her accuser. I
have connections. She said at last, with a sly glance in Hollys direction.
Youve got sticky fingers. Holly corrected, though not too harshly and
she folded her arms across her chest for another question. Is there anything else
that walked off the site to find its little lost way, way up here?
Breaking into a smile, Teddy stopped tugging on her ear to scratch the back of her head.
Just some scrap I rescued from the dumpsters. Sounding more like a question
itself, she added a full set of pearly white to her innocent act. I recycled
it. She said with more conviction, though not much more.
She considered Teddys animated expression through thinly slitted eyelids.
Hmmmmmmm.
Teddy held the pose until Holly caved in with a sigh. Nice choice in mahogany, by
the way. She said as her smile softened into a playful grin.
Dont push it. Holly warned as a grudging smirk, then she pointed at the
laptop. Okay, what else have you got in there for me?
Seamlessly detouring back into business mode, Teddy walked Holly through minute details
the resort manager had overlooked through inexperience. Minor points and few, but ones
capable of creating major headaches if they remained unaddressed, she used a casual,
non-condescending tone for the tutorial. Fielding consequent intelligent questions and
offering advice for possible solutions, she was mildly surprised at how extensive
Hollys hunger for knowledge could be once she shed her desire for complete control.
Responsive, open and ready to learn what she didnt know she didnt know, Holly
had been hard under the learning curve from the beginning of the project to its
completion, with the pressure mounting to see her dream through to a working fruition.
Supposedly the price to pay for bringing the resort to life, the stress she had been under
was partially of her own creation for having been so possessive with the decision making
process, but as avenues of relief were pointed out, she could feel the burden lighten. The
leaning process an enjoyable one, the information flowing from Teddys brain was a
professional montage riddled with the witticisms Holly found less and less annoying as
more of the womans personality was revealed and Teddys wasnt the only
one she was learning about. The avenues or persons she would be delegating responsibility
to were described in candid appraisals when their department was covered in the
conversation. Personal likes, dislikes, strengths, weaknesses, quirks and flaws brought
her staff into the three dimensional and fell into three major categories, from
Teddys perspective. One - People who were reliable and responsible that you could
leave on their own to do their job. Two - People who were reliable and responsible, but
needed a little supervisory nudging every once in awhile to do their job. Three - People
who could work miracles after you zapped them in the ass with a cattle prod. The last
category being populated by only a few, Holly was thankful for that fact and for the
insight, though she was tempted to ask Teddy which category she fell into, but biting the
hand that was feeding you a wealth of knowledge wasnt a good idea when you were
wearing the womans clothes, and yours werent out of the dryer yet. So, with no
other recourse than to keep the question unspoken, she continued to play the dutiful
inquisitive student to Teddys professorship and as the hours wore on, she continued
to get more than she had bargained for. A personality balancing act yet to come, the
insight kept coming as well, once they had gone through every department. Then Teddy
wasnt so professional with her appraisals. Going into more background detail, Holly
learned what wasnt in the personnel files and how her cream of the crop staff had
risen to the top. Though most had gotten there the same way she had, through hard work,
that wasnt the case with everyone. A sparse handful had used methods that relied on
other peoples failure to boost them higher with the means not always justifying the
end result, just speeding it along.
The underbelly of personalities being exposed with a serious expression to give levity to
words of warning, Teddy added the reality check that some still considered themselves on
the rise, which put Holly directly in their sights. Dont get me wrong.
She said as a beginning to the end. Im not trying to give you the wrong
impression about them. They do know how to do their jobs and they are good at what they
do, and they do want the resort to be a success because it will make them look good. But,
if they can look better by making you look bad, theyll do it.
Holly took the words to heart and closed her eyes. God, they must have been in
heaven watching me run around for the last couple of months.
Most likely. Teddy admitted as she placed her hand on Hollys shoulder to
give it a gentle shake. But there aint no fat lady singing on the beach,
yet. Smiling when Holly opened her eyes, she winked. You didnt get
forewarning, but you know now.
And now? She asked with a sarcastic edge and laid her head back on the couch
to stare at the ceiling.
And now you show them whose boss. Tapping the shoulder her hand was on, she
turned sideways to face Holly. Look, Holly. You didnt fall off the turnip
truck yesterday and they know that. They know your rep and theyll test ya for
awhile, to find out what youre really made out of, but dont let it get to you.
Youve got what it takes to make it, you just have to stay one step ahead of them, so
they cant cut you off at the knees.
Rolling her head to the side, Holly gave Teddy a tired look. Thats easy for
you to say. Youre the one with the mile of legs.
Teddy glanced down at Hollys legs with a chuckle. Oh, I dont know. I
wouldnt under estimate that set of U.S. Grade A pistons youve got, if I were
you. They look like they could do some serious damage. Poking a firm thigh with one
finger, she shook her head. Nope, you wont find me looking for a kick in the
ass from them anytime soon.
Alright. Alright. Chuckling against her will, Holly lifted her head off the
cushion. So, tell me, swamy. How do you propose I use my pistons, as you call them,
to stay ahead of the game?
Just keep your eyes open for what I showed you. Teddy said and moved her gaze
back to the laptop. Theyll let loose ends like that dangle to see if
youll catch them and if you dont, theyll tie them up at the last minute,
and make sure everybody knows you missed it. Turning back to Holly, she shrugged.
You catch it before it becomes a problem and hold them accountable for it dangling
in the first place and theyll back off once they see its gonna be their asses
on the line.
Play the heavy, huh? She asked not liking the proposition very much.
Not really. Taking her hand off Hollys shoulder, Teddy balled it into a
fist to rest her temple on. These arent bad people, Holly. They arent
evil. Theyre just people who dont believe in themselves enough to stand up
without standing on somebody else. Its not the best of traits, but it isnt
incurable. Softening her tone, she smiled. Its been my experience that
if you let someone know what theyre worth by themselves, theyll usually stop
trying to get noticed by pushing everybody else down.
Holly returned the smile. And whats your experience with people who hoard all
the toys, instead of pushing people down?
Teddys reply to Hollys not so obscure reference to herself was made in an
easy, practical tone. Them you snatch up by the hair of the head and drag em
out behind the wood shed, and beat their little asses like a red-headed step child till
they get in a sharing mood.
Her eyes got a little round with frankness of the answer. The Paradise doesnt
have a wood shed. She noted.
The dumpsters are full of scrap wood. Was spoken with a confident smile.
Ill build one.
I was afraid of that.
**********
Thus the evening ended late and was filled with things to give Holly food for serious
thought as she lay on her side staring at the empty aquarium. A borrowed pillow under her
head, a clean sheet over her body and a plastic egg turner for protection against
mosquitoes, she wondered about the woman the items belonged to, and how Teddy could have
made such a change in her, in such a short period of time.
Antsy to meet Teddy at first and mildly perturbed to have her presence essentially forced
on her, Holly was now having a hard time imagining herself without the tall brunette
sleeping on the other side of closed gray mini-blinds. Such was the impact Teddy had made,
though Holly was only starting to realize the full extent of it, now that she didnt
have those blue eyes to distract her. They had made an impact too, but she wasnt
quite ready to analyze the feelings she got when she looked into them. It was better,
safer, to leave that alone till a time when they werent so close at hand and she
could do some rational thinking, rather than just falling into them everytime they turned
her way. No, she would stick to the business side of their relationship for now and think
about how she was going to apply the information shed learned. So she did. Holly
thought about what she had learned with the aroma of jasmine in bloom, the jungle and the
sound of gently falling rain on both to ease her toward slumber, with the egg turner
clutched in her hand, held close to her heart.
Teddy wasnt sleeping either, to begin with. She lay in bed awake, on her back, hands
behind her head, staring at the blades of the ceiling fan going slowly around as her mind
replayed the day. The events clear, not all were completely understood and as she tried to
make sense of those, her thoughts kept coming back to their source. The blonde sleeping on
her couch. The woman who she knew was trouble waiting to happen. The person she was going
to be working for and the owner of a pair of green eyes that sent a tremor down her spine
everytime they looked at her.
She had walked into what she thought was a known situation, albeit against her will and
was now stuck with an unknown factor. Holly. A factor that was going to have to be handled
carefully if she was going to retain a professional balance to their relationship because
to do otherwise was too dangerous. It was better to just forget about the tingling
sensations and the whole weirdness of the day, and get on with the business of being a bar
manager. And who was to say the heart murmurs would last? Maybe, come morning, the new
would be worn off and there wouldnt be any more close encounters of the Holly kind.
They would go their separate ways and nothing would ever come of the soul searching stares
that had made her forget to breathe. Keep it friendly. Keep it professional. Keep it safe
and keep Holly away from the house.
**********
The dawn came without a glorious entrance. To be more precise, it barely came at all.
Hidden from view behind a dismal layer of gray clouds still drizzling rain, the sun
breached the horizon with a disappointed sigh, rather than a sizzle. Standing alone on the
front deck of the house, Teddy watched nothing happen for fifteen minutes. Hoping for the
glorious sunrise she had promised and was ready to deliver the moment the clouds broke,
she finally went inside when it became obvious she was not going to be able to give Holly
a spectacular wake up call. Already dressed for work in a pair of baggy shorts and another
wrinkled t-shirt, she trudged through the living room to the kitchen where a steaming pot
of coffee was waiting to be guzzled by a woman who had spent most of the night tossing and
turning from visions of pure trouble. The trouble still asleep on the couch, Teddy gave
Holly a glance on her way into the bedroom with her cup of liquid stimuli and
couldnt stop herself from smiling. The egg turner still in Hollys hand, the
utensil didnt detract from a sight worth getting up early to see. Blonde hair
tousled from sleep, it partially covered Hollys face that looked as peaceful as it
had when she had been out in the garden the night before and to Teddy, seemed almost
angelic.
Move along. Move along. Nothing for you here. Teddy told herself when she discovered
herself going down a street she wasnt supposed to be on. Finishing the trek to the
bedroom, the coffee got a couple of sips before the cup went on the dresser and Teddy went
to work folding her clean, wrinkled clothes, and putting them away. Another exercise in
keeping busy, thoughts of Holly still wandered into her mind as she considered how long
she should let her guest sleep. An early riser herself, she didnt know Hollys
morning habits, though she suspected that as driven as she was about the resort, she was
probably up before now and on her way. Hmmm. Sidling up to one side of the
tank, Teddy peeked around it at the sleeping figure. So peaceful. So sweet. So how do I
wake her up without scaring the shit out of her? The lights are already on, so thats
out. Ive walked through there five times and she never moved. I could throw
something at her. Hmmmm? Looking down at the folded shirt she had in her
hands, she thought about it, then looked at Holly again. No. Shed probably try to
beat it to death with the egg turner. Might get some of the wrinkles out though. Oh, stop
it. Think, Teddy. What gets you up in the morning. Ahhhhhhhh. Turning her head, she smiled
at her steaming cup of coffee. Maybe a couple whiffs of go-go juice will do the trick?
Placing the shirt on the dresser, Teddy stole through the living room one more time to
pour another cup of coffee from the pot. The bait in one hand, she waved the other over
the cup to spread fragrant fumes around the room before she set the cup on the table in
front of Holly. A couple more passes of her hand for the direct approach and she left the
bait to see if it got any attention from the safety of the bedroom. Opening the
mini-blinds a little bit, she sipped her coffee as she watched Holly through the cardboard
fish hanging in the aquarium.
It took a minute for the smell of coffee to override the fading scent of jasmine, but
eventually the aroma broke through Hollys unconsciousness. Opening one eye, then the
other, she stared at the cup for another minute as her mind tried to sort out what it was,
why it was there and why she had an egg turner in her hand. The latter the answer to the
former, she sat up slowly and put the utensil down to do a paltry combing job on her hair
as she scratched her head with both hands. A big sigh, some small smacking noises and her
hands came down to wrap themselves around the cup. As the smell filled her lungs the
closer the cup came to her lips, she closed her eyes for the first taste of caffinated
elixir.
Hook, line and sinker. Teddy thought with a satisfied smile. Cup in hand, she walked
around the tank. Morning.
Jet black and scalding her tongue, the first sip was swallowed and followed by another
before Holly lowered the cup. Morning. She said with a gruff morning voice,
then cleared her throat to give it another try as she opened her eyes.
Morning.
Sleep good? The hostess inquired, though she didnt get any closer to her
guest than the other side of the coffee table.
Holly nodded and sat back, holding her coffee close to her chin. I always sleep good
when its raining.
I used to. Want some breakfast?
Her eyes bloodshot from sleep, Holly gave Teddy an intrigued look. Have you gone
grocery shopping since I fell asleep? She asked over the cup as she took another
sip.
Teddys eyes shifted from one side to the other, then back to Holly. Hmmmm. Biting
sarcasm for breakfast. This could only mean one thing. Youre not a morning
person, are you?
Do I look like a morning person to you? Holly asked blandly, sure that she did
not look like something she was not.
Will you fire me if I answer that honestly? She asked with a smile.
Hugging the cup to her, Holly growled.
Just checking. Shrugging she turned around to go back into the bedroom.
Note to self. Never talk to Holly before shes finished her first cup of
coffee.
Unamused, but on her way to being fully awake, the guest sat quietly sipping her morning
brew until the cup was empty. At that time, her hostess miraculously reappeared.
Want some breakfast? Teddy asked, holding back a chuckle.
Holly smiled. How about another cup of coffee instead?
I can do that. She nodded and came forward to take the cup from Holly.
You want this one black too?
Happily caffienated, she nodded as she handed over her prized possession to be refilled.
Yes, please.
Oooo and manners to boot. Putting on an impressed expression, Teddy made her
way around the table and couch staring down into the empty cup. I wonder why it
never works like that for me?
Would you kick me out in my pajamas if I answered that honestly? Chuckling as
her head rotated around to follow Teddys progress.
Teddy stopped dead in her tracks to give the blonde a glare. Your clothes are on the
counter in the bathroom next to a travel toothbrush I used to clean gum off my
shoes. She said, then stuck out her tongue and continued on her way.
Holly brightened, then winced, then laughed. Enough with the visuals. I get the
hint. Im going. Moaning as she pried herself off the couch, she rubbed her
eyes, one by one, on her way into the bathroom where she found her clothes and a
toothbrush in an unopened box. Taking the box in her hand, she shook it next to her ear,
then checked it carefully for tampering. No sign of regluing to be seen, it went back on
the counter to be used once she had answered the call of Mother Nature.
The cup refilled and back on the coffee table, Teddy folded the sheet while she was there,
placing the frumpled square on top of her pillow with a pat. Then she made a round trip
with the egg turner, dropping it in the sink as she passed by on the way to the laundry
room to do the clothes switch between washer and dryer. Starting another load in the wash,
she picked up the ones she had pulled out of he dryer in large bundle, filling her arms.
Im coming into the bedroom! She shouted as she shifted the clothes to
block her view of the bathroom before she ever got through the living room.
Holly was fully dressed in her own clothes by this time and came to the entrance to the
bedroom with the tooth brush sticking out of her mouth, to watch Teddy as she came in.
Are those transfer requests ready for me to sign? She asked, though not quite
that clearly, through a mouthful of foaming toothpaste.
Her reflexes nearly getting the best of her, Teddy started to turn her head, then stopped
herself. Yea, theyre in my briefcase. She said, her back turned to Holly
as she dropped the load onto the pile already established on the floor. Do you want
to sign them now? Asking on her way out through the other opening.
Her subject gone in a flash, Holly came out of the bathroom to give her answer from the
opening Teddy had entered through. Pulling the toothbrush out of her mouth, she pointed it
at Teddy and tilted her head back to keep from spitting white foam all over the floor.
No, but Id like to know who Im hiring first, if thats okay?
This time Teddy couldnt keep herself from looking and what met her eyes when she
turned around wasnt arousing, it was humorous, and maybe a little scary. Sure.
We can go over them. She chuckled. Now get back in the bathroom before I call
the rabies control unit.
Unable to do much else as retaliation, in went the toothbrush and back went Holly to the
bathroom with a quick turn of her head.
Teddy was more amused at the display of attitude and laughed as she began to move around
the living room, collecting what she would be taking to work. The briefcase closest to
her, she put it by the front door, then had to hurry to find her backpack when she heard
the phone start ringing from inside it. Having put the phone in there while she was
waiting for Holly to wake up, she followed the sound to the leather bags location.
Flipping open the flap to dig through some personal belongings before the little black
phone appeared in her hand. Hello. She said without thinking who would be
calling her that early in the morning.
Lord have mercy, youngin. Why didnt you call me to let me know you got
yourself there in one piece? Minnie has been having fits worrying about you. Maxwell
Joseph Patterson IV bellowed in his deep, deep baritone voice with its southern drawl.
I had to call the resort to keep her from calling out the Coast Guard.
Hello, Max. A playful smile on her lips, Teddy picked up the back pack as she
spoke and carried it to the front door. I made it and Im sorry for worrying
Minnie. Holly caught me coming off the plane and put me to work. I havent even
finished unpacking yet.
Well, well, well, well, now that makes two of ya. He said and dropped the
volume a notch. Ive been trying to reach her since this morning to find out
what happened to you. Where has that little lady gotten off to? If shes sleeping in
that office again . . . Ive told her about that.
Max, calm down. Shaking her head, Teddy plopped down on the couch and put her
feet up. Holly is fine. Shes here with me. She gave me a ride home yesterday
and stayed so we could get some more work done. A patronizing tone in her voice, she
rolled her eyes when he snorted. I thought you liked dedication?
Dedication can be damned when it comes to not knowing if yall are dead along
the roadside somewhere. Gruff, yet caring, Max let out a sigh. Im too
old to have to run you young things down, Teddy.
I know, Max. She said guiltily. Im sorry. I should have called and
youre not that old.
Im seventy-eight, this May, so dont you try to tell me whos old
and who aint. Ill be old if it suits me. Just gruff this time.
And only when it suits you. Teddy added with a chuckle. Funny how your
age never comes up when youre out there island hopping.
Shoosh, you. Max scolded his younger cousin. You mind your manners and
be mindful of your elders.
Teddy broke out into a belly shaking laugh. What are you going to do, Max? Tell my
Mama on me?
You just keep on with that smart mouth, Theodora Adele Cooper. He warned her.
And Ill put your Mama on a plane right now, so you can tell her face to face
why you dont think shes important enough to give your number to.
Suddenly the laughter stopped and Teddys eyes got big around. Oops. Ive
been meaning to do that.
Uh huh. Thats what I thought. Gloating, Max waggled a finger at the
receiver. You better get off this phone and get on to her. Shes called Minnie
twice this morning, wonder where her child was and you know how she is when she gets
stirred up.
Teddy knew all to well and grimaced at the idea of having to call her mother. Yea, I
know. Ill call her, Max.
You better and you better give her your number because Im gonna call ten
minutes from now and if her number aint busy or if she dont tell me shes
talked to you, Im putting her on the first bird headed south. Back to
bellowing, he nodded once for effect. And your Daddy, too.
Alright! Alright! Im calling. Im calling. She said as multiple
groans. Bye, Max.
You take care, Teddy and Ill call you in a couple of days to see how things
are working out.
Okay, fine, bye. Pushing the off button before he could get his salutations
in, Teddy dialed her parents number, then closed her eyes to brace for the worst as
she brought the phone to her ear.
Holly came out of the bedroom spit, rinsed, hair in a pony tail and ready for her next cup
of coffee. Seeing the filled container on the coffee table, she also noticed Teddy and her
expression. Whats the matter? She asked as she picked up the cup.
Sitting on pins and needles, Teddy raised her hand to Holly, but didnt reply other
wise. Hi, Mom. Sorry I didnt call yesterday. Bringing her hand down to
cover her closed eyes, she held the phone away from her ear as her mother started yelling.
Ow. I said I was sorry.
Putting two and two together quickly, Holly quickly excused herself into the kitchen where
she pretended to be interested in what was in the cabinets. Then she pretended about what
was in the refrigerator, then the oven and finally she came back in the living room for
her briefcase so, at least she could get some work done. Setting up camp at the dining
table, she went over the mental notes she had made last night, turning them into a long
hand version for future reference. Deep in thought and fairly oblivious to her
surroundings, Holly broke out of it when she was sure she heard a phone ringing somewhere.
Damn. Teddy mumbled away from the mouth piece of the cell phone she was still
on. Holly? Can you get that, please?
Sure. Holly replied as she came out of the dining room to stare at her
hostess. Where is it coming from?
Teddy pointed in rapid repeats at the aquarium in agitation. Bedroom in the
nightstand.
Bedroom in the night stand. Okay. She said aloud with a why
didnt I think of that nod, then off she went to find the phone. The path ripe
with hazards, like a huge pile of clothes in her way, she stepped over them to go to one
of the two nightstands on either side of the bed. Opening the only drawer, there was no
phone, so she tried the cabinet underneath and no phone. So, then it was either hop over
the pile again or crawl over the bed. Holly opted for the bed and went across on all fours
to check the other piece of furniture. Nothing in the top drawer, she finally found the
phone in the lower cabinet and flopped down on her stomach to answer it. Hello,
Teddy Coopers residence. Holly speaking.
Holly? Rolando asked tentatively, because he knew where the phone she was on
was located in the bedroom, next to the bed.
Yes. Can I help you? She asked in return, until the voice struck a familiar
Latin chord. Rolando?
Yes, yes, its me. Um, good morning, Holly. Where is Theodora? Asking,
though he didnt really want to, Rolando searched his living room for someplace to
hide if he got the wrong answer.
Good morning to you, too. Propping up on one elbow. Shes in the
living room on her cell phone. Is there something I can help you with, Rolando or would
you like to leave a message for Teddy? I think shes going to be on the phone for
awhile.
No, no, that wont be necessary. He said quickly, with a relieved sigh.
Merely inform her that I called, if you would be so kind . . . and . . . what time
can I tell the staff to expect the pleasure of your company this morning? Using up
his morning quota of charm, Rolando wiped the light layer of sweat off his upper lip.
The staff? Holly asked herself, more than him. What are you doing at
work already?
No, Im not at work. Im at home. He clarified, then cleared his
throat. However, I believe that, perhaps, some of the staff may have already
arrived. I was offering to phone in and tell them what time to expect your arrival.
Holly frowned at the way he was acting. Rolando, is there something wrong with
you?
Not to my knowledge, Holly. Rolando said with certainty. How are
you?
Fine. She said with as much conviction and the frown. Hang on a
second. Scooting her legs around to a sitting position, she put the phone down on
the bed and got up to go into the living room. Seeing Teddy still on the phone, she waved
her hand to get noticed.
Teddy noticed her and put her hand over the mouth piece of the phone she was on.
What? Who was on the phone?
Its Rolando. Holly informed her, with a thumb over the shoulder. I
think you should talk to him. Hes sounding sort of . . . strange. She said,
for lack of a better word.
Teddys chin dropped to her chest with the news. I dont need this, this
morning. She moaned. Head rolling from side to side, she sighed several times before
she made the monumental effort of getting off the couch. Her parents ranting in one ear,
she sulked her way into the bedroom to have Rolando talk into her other ear. Picking up
the phone, she sighed her greeting. Yes, Rolando?
Theodora, why have you not left for work yet? It is getting late. Rolando
demanded.
Because Im trying to explain to my parents that I havent forgotten they
exist, thats why. She shot back. Ill get there when I get
there.
And what about Holly? She is overdue at this very moment. He announced.
This will not look good, Theodora and what was she doing in your bedroom? I thought
we had agreed to keep her out of your personal areas.
Too many straws being laid on the camels back, too early in the morning, Teddy growled at
Rolando. Ill talk to you later. She said and bent down to hang up on
him, then addressed her gene pool. Hey! Hey! Hello! Yea, thanks. Look, Ive got
to get to work now. Ill call you tonight, okay? Right. Yessssss. Ill do that.
Bye. The cell phone got turned off and tossed on the bed right before Teddy fell
beside it face first.
Holly squelched the urge to yell timber and shook her head instead. Did
I say welcome to paradise yet?
Teddy lolled her head to the side with a scowl to show Holly. Dont think that
just because youre my boss, that I wont kill you. Because I will. This is all
your fault.
Come again? Pointing at herself, Holly walked over to the bed and fell
backwards to lay beside Teddy. How is this my fault? She asked as she rolled
onto her side.
Taking up the same position, Teddy pointed an accusing finger at her boss. If
Id taken a taxi, like I wanted to, instead of you bringing me home, I
wouldnt have forgotten to call Max and my parents. Youre the one who
kept me busy working all damned night.
Now wait a doggone . . . She started in defense, then paused to chew on her
bottom lip. . . . okay. Ill take the blame for keeping you preoccupied,
but, having a sudden burst of inspiration, she shook a finger in Teddys face,
you had all afternoon to make those calls before you got here. So there.
Teddy gave it a second thought and fell on her stomach again. Damn. She
groaned into the mattress. Im doomed.
Poor baby. Holly chuckled and gave Teddy a consolatory pat on the back, that
turned into a sympathetic rub, before the woman popped up like a cork out of a champagne
bottle. What?
Her back still a blaze from where Holly had touched her, Teddy hid her blush behind a
sudden dramatic search for something in the safety of the living room. Shoes. Where
are my shoes. We gotta get to work. Lots of things to do. She blurted out.
Empty handed and confused, Holly sat up, then slid off the bed to follow the woman gone
crazed. Whats the matter with you?
Nothing. She lied and went down on all fours to search under the couch.
I just remembered that weve got a lot of work to do today and I thought we
should be getting to it. Gotta earn that paycheck, ya know.
I know that. Holly said and put her hands on her hips. I also know that
your shoes are in the bedroom.
Oh. Teddy mumbled as she pulled her arm from beneath the couch. Good . .
. uh . . . thanks. Why dont you get your stuff together while I go put them
on? She suggested as she stood. Straightening out a few of the many wrinkles in her
shirt, she flashed a smile before hot footing it back into the bedroom.
Holly didnt follow this time. Rather she stood there staring at where Teddy had
apparently just jumped off the deep end. Would somebody like to explain what just
happened here? She asked the air and threw her hands up. Because either
Im missing something really big, or youve got personality problems we need to
address.
I dont have any personality problems. Teddy called out as the first shoe
went on. Im just in a hurry to get to work.
Since when? Holly asked with an incredulous overtone. A few minutes ago
you were asking me if I wanted breakfast and now youre kicking me out the
door. Her head cocked to the side, she started around the aquarium.
Im not kicking you out. One shoe tucked under her arm and the other one
on, she slid her foot off the bed by the strings and hopped towards the living room.
Well, what is it then? Coming through the opening, Holly frowned when she
walked into an empty bedroom.
Ive got a lot to do. Teddy said to an empty living room. Her head on a
swivel, she turned around to go back into the bedroom when Hollys voice came from
there.
And you just remember that? Right out of the blue? Holly went back the way she
had come when she heard Teddys voice coming from the living room and walked into the
space to find no Teddy.
In the bedroom without Holly, Teddy finally let go of her shoe laces. Things come to
me like that sometimes. She said softly and slowly as her foot was slowly lowered to
the floor. Whered she go? Turning around again, she headed for the
living room.
What? Another u-turn and Holly was on her way back into the bedroom.
I feel like Im in a Charlie Chan movie. She said, then caught sight of
her target out of the corner of her eye. Turning her head, she looked through the empty
aquarium as Holly walked by it on the opposite end and going in the opposite direction.
God, I am in a Charlie Chan movie. She thought and sighed as she stuck her head from
behind the tank to stare at Holly when she cleared her end. You think we can cut the
B movie stunts long enough for me to get my shoes on?
Spotting her quarry down the length of the tank, Holly sighed. Are you going to stay
in one place once you get them on?
Living room. Was Teddys terse reply.
Fine. A not too happy Holly said and made what she hoped would be her last
u-turn for the morning.
Using the wall as a brace, Teddy tied her shoe. Sliding the other black leather item over
her bare foot, she left the laces untied as she went back into the bedroom to shut off the
bathroom light and the lamp on the nightstand, and to pick up her cell phone off the bed.
Two streams of light filtering in from either side of the tank, she came out of the
darkness and found Holly pacing around the living room. Now, what was your problem
again? She asked on her way through to the kitchen where she unplugged the coffee
maker and shut off the lights.
My problem? She asked and spun around in time to see Teddy disappear into the
rear hallway. Im not the one who has the Sybil complex here. Raising her
voice, she walked over to the opening as the lights went out.
I dont have a complex and if your next question is if Im on some type of
medication? The answer is no. Teddy said calmly as she came out of the darkness once
more. Moving past the blonde, she turned the corner towards the dining room.
Then what is it with you? Stepping out of the way, she followed Teddy into the
dining room.
Ready to turn off those lights as well, Teddy waited when she saw Hollys briefcase
on the table. You wanna get your stuff so we can get out of here? She asked,
pointing to the case.
Openly gawking, Holly shook her head. Yes, fine, whatever. She said in
frustrated confusion. Let me get my things and Ill get the hell out of your
hair. Picking up the paper shed been studying, she tossed them in the case,
then slammed it closed. Grabbing the handle, she snatched the case off the table and
looked up at her icy hostess. You know . . . She started angrily, then paused
for a moment and eventually sighed. Did I do something wrong?
No, you havent done anything wrong. Im just ready to go to work. You
wanna join me? Teddy asked and made a valiant attempt for it to sound insolent so
Holly would go back to being mad, but it backfired when Hollys expression turned sad
before she looked away. Oh, dont do that to me. Dont look like that. How am I
supposed to stick to my plan when you look like that?
Holly was still confused when she moved her gaze back to the brunette. Teddys face a
blank slate, she couldnt read anything from it, though she thought there was
something else in those blue eyes. Im sorry Ive over stayed my
welcome. She said softly. I just thought we were getting along. I mean, I know
we had some harsh words in the truck, but I thought we had gotten past them. I thought
when we . . . last night . . . I guess I read too much into it. I thought, maybe, we were
going to be friends and then this morning . . . but, I . . . thank you for your help.
Im sorry for taking up so much of your time. It wont happen again.
Dropping her eyes, she started for the front door.
Holly, wait. Slapping her forehead in a doomed kind of way, Teddy rubbed it
hard as she walked over to the blonde. Wheres Rolando when I need him?
What? Staring at her feet, Holly looked up when she saw Teddys shoes
come into view.
Weighed down by her emotions and shot through the heart with a guilty arrow from the look
in Hollys eyes, Teddy took a deep breath. Look, Holly. She started and
had to stop to take another breath. Im not crazy and I dont have
multiple personalities. Im just tired is all. I didnt get much sleep last
night and it can make me cranky sometimes. Laying her hands on Hollys
shoulders, she looked into sea green and smiled. Im sorry if I made you feel
unwelcome because I really wasnt trying to. I dont get a lot of practice with
this guest thing, ya know? I havent really lived here before and maybe I might have
been feeling a little touchy about having somebody in the house with me my first night
back, but it doesnt have anything to do with you personally.
Holly nodded as her worries were put to rest with gentle urging and honesty in blue eyes.
Okay. Smiling faintly, she chuckled. Since you put it like that.
Good. Patting one shoulder, Teddys smile grew as she turned her guest
towards the front door. Now get out. She laughed and gave Holly a gentle
shove. Weve got things to do, places to go and people to annoy.
Alright. Alright. Sighing as she opened the front door, Holly stepped out onto
the front deck. I guess the party is over. Back to the grindstone.
Thats right. Teddy snapped as she bent down to pick up her things. The
backpack going over one shoulder, she picked up her briefcase and stood up.
Were burning daylight, as Max likes to say.
Not yet, were not. Holly replied as she stepped out a little further to
look around at the dark sky overhead. The sun isnt even up yet.
Yes, it is. Flipping off the lights before she closed the front door behind
her, she pointed to her far left and the eastern horizon. It came up about an hour
ago.
Glancing over her shoulder at Teddy, Holly then followed the direction she was indicating
with her eyes. Staring out at a pitch black sea that she could barely see at all, she
walked a short distance towards the end of the house. No sun in sight, she caught a faint
orange glimpse between the clouds, then saw it disappear. Her shoulders slumping,
she walked the rest of the way to the end of the deck. I missed it? I missed my
sunrise?
Shadowing the blonde, Teddy could feel Hollys disappointment seeping into her.
No. She said softly. You didnt miss it, Holly. It never happened.
I waited out here, looking for it so I could wake you up, but the clouds never broke
clear. Lowering her eyes from the sky, she studied Hollys profile in the dark
and place a gentle hand on her shoulder. Im sorry I couldnt give you
your sunrise, but itll come up again.
Disappointed, yet hopeful, Holly raised her eyes to meet Teddys. You
wouldnt consider selling me the lot next door, would you? I dont have any pets
and Id be a really, really quiet neighbor.
Sorry, Holly. Cant do that. Zoning restrictions. Smiling and shaking her
head, Teddy used one hand to turn Holly around. But I tell ya what I will do.
She said as she guided her boss away from the railing, towards the other end of the house
and the stair case. How about I give ya an open invitation to come back and see your
sunrise as many times as you want? Saying the words she had so recently vowed not
to, she made matters worse by doing what she said she wouldnt. Taking Hollys
hand in hers she gave it a squeeze and a slow shake back and forth. If you think
youve got what it takes to stand the company, that is?
You dont scare me, Teddy Cooper. Holly smiled brightly. Im
on to that tough girl image youve got going on. It may give everybody else the cold
sweats, but it doesnt fool me for a second.
Teddy spun around at that, to walk backwards. Uh huh. She said and pulled on
Hollys arm. Stopping as Holly came to her, she stood up straight to stare intently
down into surprised green eyes. Are you so sure about that? An edgy tone in
her voice, she waited for Holly to recoil away from her and felt a flush of heat when,
instead of backing up, Holly moved her hand to slowly lace their fingers together.
Surprised, but undaunted, Holly met the stare with an intensity all her own.
Im sure.
The bluff gone horribly wrong, Teddy suddenly found herself snared in a trap of her own
making. Nowhere to run. No way to run, now that she had left the door wide open, she stood
rooted to the spot, held fast by the magnet of Hollys body heat that prickled her
skin. Eyes so green, so deep, so intense staring at her and lips so close, so soft, so
tempting, she could feel them touching hers. Nearly winded by the closeness, she
parted her lips slowly to inhale a series of short, hot breaths before swallowing her
desires in a moistureless gulp. Holly. She said, her voice far below the
volume of her own heart beating. Youre standing on my foot. A statement
spoken in truth, it served its dual purpose when Teddy was released from her bonds to
breathe again.
Perhaps too guileless to see the inferno before her. Perhaps too innocent to see the ploy
for what it was. Perhaps to embarassed by her own willingness to be a part of it, Holly
broke the exchange to look down at her feet. Her foot on top of one of Teddys, she
stepped back. Sorry. She said and continued to retreat until she was forced to
let go Teddys hand. Did I hurt you?
No. She said softly and rubbed her thumb across the finger tips that had been
held by Hollys hand. You ready to go?
Smoothly, easily, Hollys eyes rose again. Are you sure I didnt hurt
you?
Tough girls got tough feet. Falling back into step, Teddy smiled. Come
on. Beckoning with her hand, she turned in what seemed to her, slow motion as if
having to turn away at all was a physical chore that dragged on forever.
One step behind, Holly followed Teddy down the steps. Another moment for the record books
gone in an instant, they seemed to be getting stronger, though their meaning was still
lost on the blonde with the sweating palms.
**********
To be continued - Part 3
Thanks for reading.
FlyBigD