We’ll Meet Again Someday

The fall progressed, and the weather soon turned cooler. Running the heater still wasn’t necessary, but running the air conditioner during the daytime was no longer required either. Riana lay back in the bathtub and enjoyed the sweet aroma from her chocolate-scented bubble bath. A knock on the door a few minutes later made her open her eyes. “Yes?” Audra entered the bathroom and closed the door behind her. Riana shivered in the chilly air that drifted in with her. “I just wanted to thank you,” Audra said with a smile. Riana smiled back and studied Audra as she leaned against the sink counter. Clad in jeans and a T-shirt with hardly any makeup, she was still a turn-on. Although she knew one couldn’t help what they were attracted to, she still felt a sting of guilt for feeling the way she did, despite how amazingly well Audra was adjusting to life without her husband of so many years. Had the woman always been so resilient? “No problem,” said Riana. “Don’t worry, though. You won’t have to deal with the Christmas clean-up. That’s usually at my folks’ place, unlike Thanksgiving. Easter was usually at James’ parents’, and well…” Audra shrugged, knowing she need not say more. “I can see where it would seem strange after being used to certain traditions with certain people for so long,” Riana said softly. Audra stepped forward and knelt beside the tub. “Yeah, but we just have to move on, you know?” Riana nodded. She knew what it was like. She had lost a loved one, too. She just hadn’t handled it nearly as well. Audra put her hand in the warm bathwater. “Smells good,” she said. “It does,” Riana agreed. “And it’s so nice to be able to take a bath for once since the guesthouse only has a shower.” Audra’s look turned serious. “I was thinking…” “Yes?” “Why don’t you move in here? There’s really no reason to have you stay cramped in that little guesthouse anymore, and it’d really be nice to have you around. With me back on first shift, that means Emma and I would be gone all day, so you would have plenty of time to concentrate on entering sweeps and doing your cleaning without anyone around to get in your way.” Riana’s eyes widened with surprise. She hadn’t expected this at all. She cleared her throat. “I—uh—I guess we could talk about it. The spare bedroom is actually smaller than the guesthouse when you think about it, but it would be nice to be able to choose between showers and baths.” Audra’s expression turned serious once again. “Uh… I wasn’t exactly thinking of putting you in there. Actually, I was hoping you’d stay with me.” Riana hesitated. “But what about Emma? Wouldn’t she wonder why her mother’s housekeeper was sleeping with her? And so soon after losing her husband, her father?” Audra laughed nervously—or at least it seemed nervous to Riana. “Emma’s no one to worry about. She’s just a kid. We don’t owe her or anyone else any explanation for anything we do, Ri. And also, you could still use the spare bedroom as an office. You’d only be in the bedroom at night to sleep.” Riana’s mind churned. “Do you really think I still consider you just the housekeeper?” “What exactly do you consider me?” Riana asked. Normally, she didn’t like to put people on the spot, but in this case, she thought it best they be upfront with each other. “I consider you someone I care about very much. You’re smart. You’re beautiful. What’s not to admire?” “You sure seemed to hate me way back when,” Riana reminded her. “Yeah, but I think you know what was really going on. I’m sorry I didn’t deal with my feelings very well and that I made life hard for you.” “I got over it.” Audra chuckled. “Okay, since we’re playing True Confessions here, let me ask you something.” “Okay.” “What exactly do you consider me?” “The same as you consider me. I just…” Riana didn’t want to hurt Audra or sound ungrateful in any way, especially after all she had given her. But she didn’t want to lie either. “You just what?” Riana looked into Audra’s bright blue eyes. If she didn’t know better, she’d swear Audra’s expression was saying, Don’t you dare even think about telling me anything I don’t want to hear! “Well, despite the feeling being mutual, I just don’t know if mine run as deep as yours do. I’m flattered that you feel the way you do and even more shocked. You’re the last one I ever would have thought I’d be living with, let alone in a relationship with.” “Guess life really is full of surprises.” “It sure is.” “But I’ll do it.” Audra glanced at Riana, almost confused, as if she’d forgotten what they were discussing in the first place. “I’ll move in whenever you think the time is right, and we’ll see how it goes. If any of us feels uncomfortable, I can always move back into the guesthouse, right?” “Sure,” Audra said with a grin, though Riana doubted Audra would make moving back that easy. Outside in the hall, Emma walked away from the bathroom door, stepped into her room, and closed the door as quietly as she could. She frowned as she pondered what she’d just heard. She hadn’t heard much, but she’d heard enough. So her mother and Riana were actually in a relationship? Not that she had anything against gays, bisexuals, or lesbians, but her mother of all people?! Since when? Had this started before Dad died? The possibility angered her. Why else would they be talking about relationships, true confessions, and moving Riana into the house so soon after his death? The thought of Riana taking her father’s place in bed and basically trying to fill his shoes really bothered her. The guy hadn’t even been in the ground for more than a few months! How could her mother do this? She acted as if Dad had died years ago. How could she move on so quickly and easily? After the day of the accident, Emma hadn’t seen her mother cry again, and when she did, it was only when they had company. Laughter floated from the bathroom. Emma felt her anger growing. Then she heard the bathroom door open. “Just don’t forget the leftovers,” her mother said. “I won’t,” came Riana’s reply, barely audible since she was still in the bathroom. A knock on her door. “Yeah?” Audra opened the door. “How ya doing, sweetheart?” “Okay,” Emma said glumly. “Starting tomorrow, Riana’s going to be moving her things into the guestroom, just so you know.” Emma almost let out an audible sigh of relief. How silly of her to think her mother and Riana had become a pair! After all, her mother never struck her as the type to be interested in other women. If anything, she would have guessed her mother to be a bit anti-gay. Her mother was very picky when it came to all kinds of people, often finding a problem with just about everyone. So if she complained about others who were similar to her as often as she did, why wouldn’t she complain about those who were different? Glad to know Riana was only going to be a “roommate,” she said, “Oh, okay.” “So, just try to keep out of her way if you can.” “I will. Does she need any help, though?” “We’ll see. If you feel up to helping her and she wouldn’t mind some help, then sure. Either way, she’ll be spending most of the day moving things in, so by the time I get back from work and you from school, she’ll probably have most of it moved in. She doesn’t have much.” Audra left Emma to silently laugh at herself for thinking her mom and Riana were an item. Had her father’s death really made her lose perspective on the world and the people in it?