Mindf*cked

Josephine was given a tour of the house. Again, there was absolutely no sign of children living anywhere in the house. The master bedroom looked like a master bedroom usually looked—inhabited by adults. The second bedroom had a double bed with no signs of toys or anything else children of any age would have in their bedrooms. The room simply had one small dresser in it, and the decor was sparse and very adult-like. The third bedroom had nothing but a heap of boxes and other items, indicating that it was likely used as a storeroom. Josephine faced Palma. “You want to tell me what's really going on here?” Palma, casually leaning in the doorway with her arms folded across her chest, gave a sly grin. “Maybe it's what you wanted years ago.” Josephine's mind whirled with confusion. “What do you mean?” Palma turned and headed back to the kitchen. Josephine followed. “Well,” Palma said as they walked, “you had a crush on me, didn't you?” Josephine wasn't sure what she was implying but simply said, “Yeah, I guess.” “You guess?” “What I guess right now is that I have no idea what you're getting at and what you expect of me. If you don't really have any kids living here with you, why did you bring me here?” Palma's expression turned serious, yet there was a touch of softness present. “You don't think the reason I paid special attention to you in the past might have been because I not only actually gave a shit but maybe I liked you as well?” Josephine couldn’t think of anything to say at first. She was truly surprised to learn this. “Actually, that thought never occurred to me. I mean, I guess I might have thought there was something there, but I couldn't be sure if it was because I wanted there to be at the time or if there truly was. Either way, I understand that it was just an attraction thing and just for fun since we were happily taken and never intended to act on anything to begin with.” “So it was just for fun?” Josephine shrugged. “Just to pass the time?” “Well...” “Well, what?” “The attraction was real, but I loved my husband and knew I always would. But yeah, Palma, just because you love someone you're devoted to doesn't mean you still can't notice someone else's appearance, and I did. People are attracted to other people. Some of them, anyway.” “What are you saying?” Josephine went from surprised to confused. “What do you mean, what am I saying? I'm saying what I just said, aren’t I?” Palma chuckled. “Am I missing something?” “No,” Palma said almost playfully. She grabbed a bag of chips sitting on the counter, pulled a bag clip off of it, and reached inside. After she put a few chips in her mouth, she held the bag to Josephine. “No, thanks. I'm good for now after really stuffing myself like I did at dinner. Hey, Palma?” “Yeah?” Palma asked as she crunched on the salty delights. “Can we please cut to the chase so I can know exactly when I should be heading home? If you don't have a job for me, then I don't see any reason to stick around much longer.” Palma took on a pouty expression. “But I like your company.” Josephine thought a moment. “Okay, well, I love your house, kids occupying it or not. So do you still have a job for me here? If not, I guess I'm staying overnight and then flying home in the morning.” Having enough of the treats, Palma rolled the bag of chips back up and tossed it on the counter. “I have a job for you.” Josephine was almost afraid to hear what she wanted her to do. “Clean my house, cook my food, and be my little whore and sounding board. You know, a real live-in companion with benefits—and I mean real benefits.” All Josephine could do was stare at Palma, speechless. She didn't know whether to laugh or what. Palma was still attractive, and she didn't really have anything holding her in Cali. But how well did she really know the woman? She may have a caring, compassionate side, but there was also a degree of hardness about her that Josephine had always found a bit intimidating. Josephine considered herself a bit of a toughie who wouldn't back down if threatened by most people, but the thought of going up against Palma made her cringe. She knew the woman could break her in half as if she were a toothpick, and that she wasn’t one to piss off. She also wasn't sure that they had much in common. Palma seemed to be rather religious, and she wasn't. Most of the time, she wasn't even sure a god existed. But if all she was to do was cook, clean, play around in bed, and then listen to Palma verbally purge her thoughts, all for a beautiful place to live and the chance to continue working online and not have to get some other job that may include the boss from hell, maybe it was worth trying. “It's your call,” Palma said before walking into the spacious living room. She made herself comfortable on the couch, picked up a remote, and turned on a large-screen TV. Josephine sat down next to her. “Well, I'm usually willing to try almost anything once. But what if we don't get along?” Palma shrugged. “Then you leave,” she said as if it would be that simple. “You swear you'd be okay with that? Me leaving if I'm not comfortable here?” Keeping her eyes on the TV, she said, “Yep.” Josephine had money in savings. It would be enough to get a cheap trailer in a park somewhere if she needed to, as she told Palma. The problem was that the park would want to see proof of a regular income. If she were getting paid in the form of a free place to stay, then what proof would she have? She voiced these concerns to Palma. “I would be more willing to dive in and take a chance if I had a backup plan.” Palma turned and looked at her, expression neutral. “You just said you could buy an old trailer.” “Yeah, but these parks want space rent, and you have to pay for garbage collection and shit like that as well every month. Money for food would be a nice thing, too.” Palma glanced back at the TV, where a couple of phony-looking bleach blondes with a pound of makeup and fake boobs were arguing over a guy. Palma laughed heartily, Josephine not seeing the humor in the scene as the young women began to pull each other’s hair and throw objects and insults at each other. After a few more minutes of silence, Josephine said, “Okay, I'm in. Tell me what I gotta do.” “Go back to Cali in the morning, sell your house, set the money aside for if you decide you want out, and then come on back down.”