I hope you will enjoy my story and comment on what you liked and perhaps didn't like to help me improve.
Many of my stories, originate in memories and events in my life. All contain a combination of real and fictional characters with names changed as appropriate to protect the 'guilty.' They are often memoirs spiced with a kinky imagination.
This story began with the publication of JUDITH. I wrote JUDITH at the request of a friend who wanted to tell the story of her first interracial relationship. When I finished writing it, I thought that Judith A. Williams and Richard Jones had finished telling their story. It seems I was wrong, there is more. JUDITH Part 2 is a continuation of their story. Enjoy!
From JUDITH (Part 1)
Cheryl, the innkeeper, extended her hand and said, "Let me show you to your room," as Richard handed her the room key. She was talking about the history of the inn and other small talk and she glanced at the number on the key tag. She mentioned that the inn was old, dated back nearly to the Revolutionary War, and had one suspected haunted room. She smiled and said "Unless you want a change, you will be staying in that same room." She quickly followed up with the fact that the room was haunted in a good way and returning guests often requested the room and reported that a dream they had in it, invariably a good dream, had not long after come true.
As she opened the door, Richard thanked her, entered the room and commented that he needed a good dream and was looking forward to it. Richard did have a dream about that night, about Cheryl.
The next day Richard and Judith danced, talked to mutual old friends, drank perhaps a little too much, and eventually the wedding celebration was ending. They were still together as they danced the last dance. Uncharacteristically verbally awkward, Richard asked if she didn't have a ride, if he might see her home?
Judith smiled and said, "I don't live far away. If you like, you can walk me home." As they walked they talked. She explained that she and her mom lived close to each other and close to her business, never saying what her business was.
They were walking by the inn that he was staying at and Richard attempted small talk by telling her how nice it was and how the staff were welcoming and gracious. She smiled and mentioned that she worked at the inn in college and how Cheryl, the current owner, had become a very good friend. She told him that even as a child she remembered it being an inn and how she had often dreamt of one day owning it.
As they walked on she told him that her mom's house was only a little more than a block away and gestured that they should head that way. Richard was confused and asked like a disappointed little boy, "Your mom's?" Judith had been in this situation before and knew what she had to say, the not so hidden meaning she wanted to convey, "Mom watched my little girl, Melanie while I was at the wedding. I need to visit mom for a while before I take Mel home."
Richard had no expectations, not really, hopes maybe, but no real expectations. He asked, "Do you live nearby? Will you be ok in the dark getting home without a car? I would be happy to get my car, wait until you are ready, and then take you and Melanie home."
Judith pointed toward the marina docks that extended from just across the road, "See the lights at the tops of the masts? Find the one that reaches highest into the sky and chases stars and under it is my home." He realized when she squeezed his hand that they had been walking holding hands. For how long?
Judith let go of his hand, turned toward a house on the right and asked, "If you are staying the weekend and you want to come by tomorrow night I'm told I make great lasagna?"
This ploy had played out for Judith before. Tell them you are a single mom and quickly before they can think about it, test to see if they are still interested.
Richard answered in a heartbeat, "I was going home tomorrow morning but now I'm staying to eat my favorite pasta dish with a beautiful woman." She smiled and when he asked if he could bring wine she said yes.
He quickly followed with an awkward question about Melanie and asked if she thought it would be appropriate for him to bring something for her. She liked that he asked. She liked that he implied that having dinner with Melanie would be ok, but answered, "It's nice that you asked, but Mel with be at my moms."
After an awkward moment of silence she took the initiative and kissed him, just a nice on the lips kiss with one warm hand on the side of his face the other on his jacket sleeve.
As he turned and started to walk back to the inn she mentioned, "Don't forget to tell Cheryl you'll be staying."
A few more steps and when he turned she was gone. When he arrived at the inn, less than five minutes later, Cheryl was behind the desk. After saying hello, he asked if he could extend his stay. She smiled and said, "already taken care of, you can stay as long as you like. If you need anything just call me. This is my cell number." She handed him a business card.
On the card was of course the name of the inn and address and in the lower right corner was her name, Cheryl Stone -- Innkeeper with her phone number. He thanked her and as he walked toward the stairs he glanced again at the card and noticed the other name on the card in the upper right corner, Judith A.Williams -- Innkeeper.
He turned back to Cheryl and asked, "Did Judith just call you and mention my reservation?"
She did not answer directly but smiled and said, "That card has her number on it as well if you need it. Have a nice night, sweet dreams, Richard." He noticed that she called him Richard and not Mr. Jones.
When he entered his room he picked up his phone and searched the internet, "Bay View Inn." There it was, "Owners: Judith A. Williams and Cheryl Stone." As he looked at the web page he saw pictures that included both Judith and Cheryl, sometimes individually, sometimes together, sometimes in the foreground, sometimes in the background at an event. There was one picture of them together in the background holding hands. When he looked at that picture he felt deep inside, something intuitive, something that told him he was looking at a picture not only of business partners but a picture of a couple. He flashed back to his dream of the night before and smiled at the possibilities.
Richard had a second dream that night about meeting Judith at the wedding.
