Imprisoned Love

Just three days later, a hysterical Tiffany called her. “Sh-she's dead!” Tiffany wailed. “Who’s dead?” Vicki asked playing dumb. “R-Regina.” “Oh, I am so very sorry to hear that,” Vicki said with phony surprise. “What happened?” “She hit her head g-getting into the bathtub and it knocked her unconscious. Then she sl-slipped under the water and d-drowned.” Vicki had to put a hand over her mouth to suppress the laugh that threatened to bubble up from it. “Vicki, are you there?” Vicki took a deep breath. “I’m here, sweetie.” “I’m sorry to have to hit you with such depressing news like this.” “Oh no, don’t be. I want to be there for you, babe. When is the funeral?” “In two days.” “Want me to come pick you up and bring you to my place for a while?” She waited while Tiffany considered her proposal. “Yeah, I guess that’d b-be ok.” Once they entered Vicki’s house, Vicki led Tiffany to the couch where they sat down together. Vicki held her while she cried. “I feel so comfortable in your arms,” Tiffany said, sniffling as she lay her head on Vicki’s chest. “I’m glad you do,” Vicki said softly. There was no denying the fact that she too, enjoyed the closeness as she inhaled the flowery scent of Tiffany’s hair. The next few days seem to pass slowly. It was very frustrating for Vicki because all Tiffany wanted to do was be held. She was too depressed to let herself be taken. She had tried to insist to Tiffany that allowing herself sexual pleasure would help and that it’d be good to get Regina off her mind for a while, but she just couldn’t seem to get in the mood. Still, the sexual frustration was worth the hurt Regina’s death had caused Tiffany. A week after Regina’s funeral, Tiffany invited her over for dinner and to meet her family. Her mother and sister seemed eager to meet Vicki, but her father was not. He felt Tiffany belonged with a man. “Please just be happy for me and keep your opinions to yourself, Dad,” Tiffany begged. “She’s a really nice person. You’ll like her.” “Yeah, yeah, whatever,” her father had muttered. When Vicki did arrive, Tiffany ran out to greet her. “My mom and sister are looking forward to meeting you, but don’t expect much from Dad,” she warned her. “Oh, ok,” she said as if it was no big deal. “Is that your dad’s truck parked over there?” Tiffany turned towards the delivery truck that sat by the curb in front of the house. “Sure is. He delivers office supplies.” “Yeah, I think I remember you telling me something about that.” “What’s this?” she asked as they headed for the front door. “Just a flower arrangement I picked up today.” “It’s beautiful,” Tiffany said, taking the wrapped bushel from Vicki. Once inside the Knowles’ living room, Tiffany’s mother stood up to greet Vicki. “Well, hello there. It’s nice to finally get to meet you. Tiffany’s gone on and on about how wonderful you are,” she said. “It’s nice to meet you, too,” Vicki said as Gabrielle said hello from the couch where she held Josh and her father simply nodded a quick, curt greeting from his favorite chair. “She brought flowers,” Tiffany said. “Oh, how pretty,” said her mom. “I’ll take these into the kitchen and get them right into a vase. They’ll make a lovely centerpiece this evening at the table.” “You look like a policewoman,” Gabrielle said as Tiffany led Vicki towards the couch. “I do?” “Yeah,” Gabrielle said nodding, “your looks and the occupation seem to go well together, unlike if you said you were a teacher or a nurse.” “I guess that’s a good thing then,” Vicki said with a smile. “Vicki, would you like something to drink?” Tiffany’s mom asked, reentering the room. “No thanks,” Vicki replied just as Greta came running in to greet Vicki. “Vicki!” she cried out with delight. “Hi there, little lady! How ya doin’?” They had a hearty feast of roasted chicken, stuffing, homemade mashed potatoes, sweet corn, buttery biscuits, and chocolate cake for dessert. “That was delicious, Mrs. Knowles. You’re a wonderful cook,” Vicki told her. “Not me. Tiffany did most of it.” “Oh,” Vicki said with a smile as she turned to glance at Tiffany. After dinner, Gabrielle left and everyone else moved out onto the back patio to enjoy the sunset with coffee and tea. Not long afterward, Tiffany excused herself to tuck Josh and Greta in for the night while her mother ran in to answer the phone that had rung. This left Tiffany’s dad and Vicki alone. “You know, I cannot lie to you,” he eventually said. “I’m not going to sit here and make like I approve of this so-called relationship you got going with my daughter.” Vicki seemed untouched by his words, but he went on nonetheless. “With all due respect, I don’t fancy the idea of my daughter running around with a dyke and I do intend to get her away from you.” “Well, that’s rather contradictory, don’t you think, sir? You say ‘with all due respect’ then you refer to me as a dyke.” Anger surged through him, but only for a second, for he found Vicki’s defiant, confident, and challenging gaze to be rather unnerving. Unable to take the discomfort anymore, he stood up and went into the house with Vicki close on his heels. “Going out to tighten up the back wheel that keeps coming loose,” he told Tiffany’s mother as he briskly walked past her and out front where his rig stood. Her mother noted his expression, then turned to face Vicki who stood there with a smile fixed to her face. “I’m sorry if he’s not exactly an open-minded individual,” she told her. “Oh, that’s quite alright, ma’am. We all have things that make us uncomfortable.” “Yes, we do, but he gets rather ridiculous at times, though I do admit the little bigot’s a good man deep down.” Vicki chuckled. For about ten minutes, Tiffany, Vicki and her mom sat and gabbed in the living room. When Tiffany’s dad came into the house, he said he would wash his hands and then go back outside and put his tools away. “I’ll do it, Dad. That way I can show Vicki your truck,” said Tiffany after he’d washed up. “That is unless you fear you’ll get AIDS or something.” Tiffany’s father turned to face her sharply. “That’ll be enough, little lady,” he said as Tiffany’s mom laughed. “But yes, you’re welcome to go check it out. You can put my tools where I usually keep them on the floor of the passenger side.” “Ok.” “Thanks, Tiff. Meanwhile, I’ve got to turn in now, folks. Gotta hit the road before sunup.” “Good night, dear,” her mom told him as she and Vicki went out to the truck. Most of the tools were by the driver’s side of the truck, out of view from the house. Tiffany started picking up the smaller tools. In between the time it took her to carry them around to the passenger side and place them on the floor of the cab, Vicki grabbed a crowbar and quickly loosened the lug nuts on the back wheel on the driver’s side. She finished and stood up just as Tiffany rounded the truck’s back corner. “I was just bringing this around,” Vicki told her. “Oh, ok. I’ll throw that in and then – well – I know it may be rude to invite myself over to your place, but…” “You could never be rude about that,” Vicki interrupted. “My place is your place. Just say the word and away we go, girl.” “Ok, then if you don’t mind my spending the night with you, or at least most of it,” she said placing her forearms upon Vicki’s shoulders and clasping her hands behind her neck, “I’ll just leave word with Mom that I’m going with you.” “I’d be honored to take you, Miss.” The two giggled, kissed quickly, then went inside.