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  “Okay, I’ll take care of it. Want me to look at the land for you?”

  “No, just make sure everything is clearly marked as to the property lines and all on the map. I gave your assistant a file folder about a year ago regarding it. It’s clearly marked Richardson on it. Just make sure the property marks line up okay?”

  “All set then. Is this anything special I should worry about?”

  “No, it’s a personal venture. Just hang on to the land for me.”

  “Okay, anything else?”

  Wanting to share some of her joy with someone she asked “Bet you can’t guess who I ran into last night?”

  “Dr. Monroe?” He didn’t even hesitate to ask. He knew how friendships were important to her. He didn’t know the details of why she had broken off contact with Grace last year just that it had hurt her.

  “How did you guess that?” She was quite taken aback.

  “Well the gala was for a medical center. How many doctor’s do you know?” He laughed at her.

  “Okay smarty pants, take care of my land deal.” Shaking her head at her brilliant son’s deductions.

  “Will do, I’ll email you the details. Later Mom, I love you!”

  “I love you too, bye” reaching over she pushed the speaker button off. Looking around the room towards the bathroom she saw Grace leaning against the bathroom doorway brushing her teeth and watching her. Smiling she said “Good Morning.”

  Grace returned the smile and replied “Good Morning.”

  Seeing that elfin smile again made Joan’s heart do flip flops. It had been too long. Looking about for something to put on to cover herself she noticed that Grace was wearing her bathrobe. Shrugging she headed to the dresser naked and pulled out underwear, a polo shirt, socks, and shorts. Then she headed for the bathroom. Grace was still in there brushing her teeth. “Is that my toothbrush your using?” She asked.

  “Yep,” came through a mouthful of paste and spit.

  “Oooh yuck” she replied laughing.

  Grace spit in the sink and washed the spit from the side. Rinsing the toothbrush she returned it to it’s spot in a cup. Turning to look at Joan as she held her clothes she asked “Yuck? Sharing a toothbrush is yuck?” she was grinning.

  “Well yeah, that’s kind of personal ya know?”

  Laughing she shook her head and reached over to kiss Joan. It was so nice to be there. So nice to have that ease back. Smiling she just looked at her for a moment.

  Joan took the opportunity to ask “Were you wearing blue contacts last night?” Her brown eyes were back.

  “Yes, I took them out, they were bothering my eyes.”

  “They made your eyes seem to match your suit.”

  “You noticed.”

  “I notice a lot about you.”

  Exchanging another kiss, Grace swatted Joan’s naked behind. Smiling that she had gotten Joan to jump she turned and left her the bathroom. As she left Joan called “Help yourself to any clothes in my dresser.”

  Joan put the clothes on the counter and turned on the shower. Waiting for it to heat up, she closed the door but did not shut it completely. She noted that her dress and Graces suit were both hanging over an empty towel rack. She turned back to take her shower and get rid of the make up on her face. It took over half an hour to wash out her braids.

  When she came out with a towel wrapped around her head holding in her braids she was dressed except for shoes. Padding into the kitchen on stocking feet she found Grace looking through her cupboards. “Something missing?”

  “You don’t seem to have any coffee or tea.”

  “That’s because I don’t use them.” She smirked, a dimple showing in her cheek.

  “Well then, what am I going to use to wake up?” So saying Grace yawned.

  Reaching into one of the open cupboards Joan grabbed the cocoa packets. Grace raised an eyebrow at her. Joan then reached into the refrigerator and pulled out some milk. She poured this into a machine that looked like a blender. Then she added four of the packets of cocoa. Plugging this machine into a socket she put a lid on the contraption and stood back.

  “I hope you like cocoa?” she asked.

  “That’s a hot cocoa maker?”

  “Yep.”

  “I’ve never heard of such a thing. I suppose though, they have machines for everything else, why not cocoa. How does it taste though?”

  “It’s pretty good. Especially when we’ve had a rainy cold morning down here at the beach.”

  Taking Joan in her arms she murmured “mmmm” to that thought. She nuzzled Joan’s neck as Joan nuzzled hers. It was quiet except for the hot cocoa maker with it’s whizzing sound. Holding each other quietly was nice, very nice. Joan pulled back first.

  “Do you have any plans for today?”

  “Well tonight I have a party to go to but other than that the day is free.”

  “Would you like to walk on the beach and maybe stop for some lunch?”

  “Sounds good, anyplace special?”

  “Well I’m a regular at Jack’s, it’s a nice restaurant on the beach. Upstairs is for formal dining, downstairs is more laid back for the beach goers. More of a hamburger shack.”

  “This wouldn’t be the Jack that your manager mentioned would it?” Grace kept the jealousy she was feeling out of her voice. She had listened unashamedly at Joan’s conversations. Well, they’d not been together for a year. She couldn’t expect Joan to have remained celibate. Disappointment was what she was feeling. All over a damn misunderstanding.

  “You listened?” Joan asked surprised.

  “No, more like, couldn’t help hearing.” Actually Grace had been up for over an hour before Joan. She hadn’t had as much to drink and when she woke up she was disoriented until the previous night came rushing back. Turning to watch Joan sleep for awhile she smiled at the remembered passion. They both had been heated, impatient, wanting. It had been an incredible hour and Joan had seemed more experienced than she remembered, more adventurous. She examined Joan from head to waist where the sheet covered her. Joan was laying with her hands tucked under the pillow, her face towards Grace on the edge of the pillow. Her face was so serene in sleep. She snored a little as she slept. Her braids were laying haphazardly over her shoulder brushed away from her face but in long ropes across her back diagonally. Noticing Joan’s back Grace frowned in concern. Almost every rib could be seen clearly. This woman was almost skeletal. It was kind of eery in the light of day. She had noticed a slimmer Joan while making love with her but not this slim. This was sick.

  Turning over onto her back she stared up at the skylight for awhile thinking about her day. Finally she slipped out of bed and borrowed Joan’s robe. She hopped in the shower and used some of Joan’s wonderful smelling shampoo and conditioner, some sort of natural botanical stuff. It made her hair feel wonderful. So soft and satiny. When she brushed out her hair, it took her awhile to even find a brush tucked away in a drawer, Joan must not use it often, her hair dried quickly and very very lush, she removed her hair from the brush and dropped it in the waste bin. Her curls from her biannual perm looked so soft. She examined her face in the mirror and could see those darn contacts that had bothered her all evening. Retrieving her purse from the living room she took out her contact case and removed the blue contacts. Reaching for a second case she put in her normal clear contacts, relieved at the difference.

  She looked in the mirror again and thought she could see happiness. She knew she felt it. She was relieved that she and Joan had hashed things out last night, the ending of the evening was even better she thought smirking. Leaving the bathroom she went out to the living room and looked around in the light of day. The soft music was still playing around the room. Going into the studio she again examined the portrait. She stood there so long that she jumped when she heard “JOAN” coming from an intercom. Hurrying back to the bathroom she looked for and found Joan’s toothbrush. She ran water over it and filled the top with toothpaste, taking it to the door s
he watched as Joan woke up and fumbled at the intercom. She was still so sleepy. Grace listened with interest to both conversations, making no effort NOT to. Making no effort to brush her teeth either with the toothbrush in her hand. Joan so casually mentioned sending out $50,000. Gawd, was she really that rich? Grace had never asked. She felt it was none of her business. She supposed though that a woman who owned a gallery in Malibu would have money. Joan didn’t act like she had money though. Her clothes never indicated it. Grace hadn’t seen the new wardrobe yet. She saw Joan look around for her robe or something to wear. She was pleased when she looked up at her and said good morning. Grace returned to quickly brush her teeth.

  “Yes, Jack is the owner of Jack’s. He wants me to paint some art for his restaurants. All five of them.” She raised her eyebrows up and down and her eyes twinkled. She thought of something and the twinkle went out of her eyes.

  Grace noticed how quickly the twinkle left and wondered at it’s cause. “What?”

  “Well I should tell you that Jack’s become a close friend.”

  Graces heart took a plunge. It actually hurt. “How close” she managed to get out looking straight into Joan’s face for the answer.

  “Well he’s hit on me a few times. Kissed me once even. I explained to him that I wasn’t interested in taking our friendship to that level. I also implied that I had had a relationship last year that had gone bad and I was trying to get over that. I didn’t name names.” She could sense Grace’s unease and wished to reassure her. “Nothing ever happened, he IS just a friend.”

  Relieved to have this said, Grace smiled and hugged her close. “Sorry, I don’t have the right to make demands. It has been a year. For all you knew we were over and done with.”

  “Grace.” Joan pulled back. “Where are we going to go with this?” She knew how hurt she had felt, she could only imagine what Grace was feeling.

  “Well I’d like to think we are starting over. Clean slate. If we take it one step at a time we should do okay. I’d like to ask though that if you ever have doubts about us or me that you just ask?” She smiled a little ruefully referring to last year’s problem.

  Kicking herself mentally at her error she was relieved that Grace WAS willing to start over. “OK, total honesty, well not total.” she hedged and then squeaked at Grace squeezing her, “All right, all right” she smiled “I’ll talk I swear I will” she held up her right hand “honest indjun!”

  Grace took the opportunity to look at the hand grasping it before Joan could lower it. The glue had held the night through. The shower had taken some bits away and washed the smaller cuts clean, you could barely notice them. She was still annoyed that Joan wouldn’t go to the hospital though for stitches.

  “It worked” Joan said unnecessarily.

  “Your going to have to watch that for infection.” Grace stated solemnly. As a doctor she probably should have insisted that Joan go in. She didn’t want to start a fight though with the relationship just re-starting.

  “I will” she promised.

  Just then the hot cocoa stopped swirling, it was done. Joan reached into a cabinet for two mugs and poured hot frothing cocoa from the maker. There was enough for four so the rest she left in the maker. Handing Grace a mug she took her own to the bar counter and placed it down. She reached into the refrigerator and took out some bread and butter. “Would you like some toast?”

  “Yes, two please, I’m going to get some clothes on though first. You said I could help myself?” Grace placed her mug near Joan’s.

  “Sure, the dresser is your best bet.”

  Grace felt weird going through Joan’s clothes looking for something to wear. The bra’s were out as Joan was bigger than she. Underwear, all of it was sexy. She didn’t remember Joan having such eclectic tastes before. She found a fairly nice pair of panties that weren’t as sexy as the rest. A T-shirt and jeans that didn’t meet her ankles were next she was taller than Joan so that was to be expected. It was the style to wear jeans like this though she didn’t feel too uncomfortable in them. She checked in the closet and found that although she was taller than Joan her feet were at least two sizes smaller. A pair of flip flops for her feet she could manage. She draped the bathrobe over the bench at the end of the bed and headed for the kitchen.

  Joan looked at her over her mug as she came in the kitchen. “You look comfortable.” She said smiling.

  “I’ve noticed something about you. You’ve changed since last year.”

  “Well, it has been a long year you know.”

  “Yes but there is just something else. I remember things about you from before and then I see things that are definitely not what I remember.” She was not making sense she felt.

  Laughing a little, Joan put down her mug and reached for the toast she had buttered. Taking a bite she pushed a second plate to Grace. She reached into the refrigerator and handed Grace two jars of obviously home grown jelly. One of strawberry, one of grape. Joan reached in for a third jar and pulled out cherry which she placed on the counter. She continued the conversation as she pulled three spoons from the drawer and then three knives for the jelly. “Well people change.”

  “Yes, but this is subtle. I can’t put my finger on it all yet.” Grace reached for the cherry jelly and noticed a fake frown on Joan’s face.

  “Is it good change or bad change?” then with a frown “Hey, watch it, that’s my favorite.”

  Laughing a little she answered “Well, I SHARE.” Then “I think it’s a good change.”

  “Like what?”

  “Well your hair is obvious. Then there is the clothes. I don’t think you OWNED a gown such as the one you wore last night.” Joan was nodding in agreement as Grace went on, “your underwear is sexier.” Joan smirked. “Then you seem more self assured and then I hear about this Jack. Are you sure there is nothing there?”

  “Grace, Jack is ONLY a friend. I considered him for about 3 seconds. Yes, I’ve been very lonely this last year but I had no desire to SEE anyone that way. After the spa I wanted to improve myself. I’d been lacking and just plain lazy in a lot of ways for too many years. Maybe I just wanted to grow up. You were the first person in years who took an interest in ME, only ME. At first some of it was to impress you. Since that didn’t come about the way I had hoped I let it be about ME. I haven’t been out a lot this past year really. Few people have seen me other than a jog or walk on the beach. I’ve been a hermit” she admitted this with a self deprecatory smile “but I am more confidant because I like what I’ve done for and to myself.” She took a bite of her jelly toast. She reached into the refrigerator again and looked for her orange juice. Remembering she looked up and saw it sitting on the living room coffee table from last night. She reached instead for a carafe of apple juice and poured two glasses for them.

  “Are you happy?” Grace wondered in all that Joan had told her. She finished her first piece of toast and reached for the mug of hot chocolate. It had cooled a little so she could drink it. It was very chocolate and good.

  “No” she looked directly at Grace as she said this “I realized how lonely I really was. I needed friends and family about occasionally. I’ve lived like a monk in a monastery. I was grateful to be making friends with Jack and a couple others at the restaurant. The friends I had when I lived here years ago have gone on to their own lives. I thought about contacting you but I was so hurt, so very hurt. Now I’m just grateful your here now.” Her eyes teared up and Grace leaned across to hug her.

  “Let’s just put that behind us okay?”

  Joan nodded and blinked away the tears. Smiling she finished her first piece of toast “Do you want some fruit or anything else?”

  “No, this is fine. Do you always eat so light?” She was remembering the ribs she saw this morning.

  “No, I usually have a banana or a fruit cup or both with this and yogurt. Most days that is. Somedays I forget though.”

  “You forget more than somedays don’t you?” She asked gently. She didn’t wa
nt to antagonize her.

  “I don’t know. It depends on what I’m working on at the moment. If I feel the need to work I head into the studio. I eat whenever I remember.” She shrugged it off as being no account.

  “That isn’t healthy you know?” She chided.

  “Well, it just happens. It isn’t intentional. I’ll catch up eventually.” She shrugged, she really didn’t worry about it except when it made her light headed.

  Grace let it drop and they began discussing the day. Grace wanted her to come with her to the party that evening. Joan wasn’t sure she wanted to. Being a hermit the last year had given her a calmness. Last night had really been a big deal for her. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to go out that evening too.

  They discussed it as they walked on the beach. They could link arms here and not feel self conscious. Grace had more of a problem about public displays than Joan did but even she couldn’t resist just holding Joan even if it was elbow to elbow. They walked for more than an hour before heading back. Grace wasn’t used to this much or this kind of exercise. The ocean breeze was wonderful and cleared their heads. Joan still had been a bit under the weather from drinking too much the previous evening. She’d noticed that the level of champagne and orange juice was lower than expected as she threw them away. Joan took them to Jacks, downstairs. She introduced the waitress to Grace mentioning that Grace was her best friend. They weren’t there fifteen minutes before a very fit bearded man came rushing over.

  “Joan” he said, obviously delighted.

  She stood up and he hugged her, trying to kiss her on the lips but she turned her head so he brushed her cheek. Smiling at eluding him she introduced Grace. He noticed immediately how she lit up for Grace.

  “Ah, this must be the unhappy love affair you had last year, yes?” He grinned as he seated Joan and then sat himself at the table.

  Shocked Joan could only stare.

  He laughed outright at her face. “Come come Joan, I’m not stupid. This is a beautiful woman. You’ve been unhappy for as long as I’ve known you, not that that hasn’t been to my benefit eh?” What he alluded to Joan had no idea. “Now this is the happiest I’ve ever seen you, she must be the reason, right?” His hands gestured as he spoke. Happy in his declaration he was so sure of himself.