This is the continuation of the story "Autumn Surprise." Any resemblance to anyone alive or dead is strictly coincidental. This is purely a work of fiction.
A special thanks to my friend Amanda (not the Mandi in the story, but just as sweet!).
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Chapter 8
Kendra worked at the kitchen counter preparing dinner for her family. Kasey had invited Mandi to dinner with Kendra's blessing. Tonight Mandi would meet Craig for the first time. Kendra was nervous about being so close to her lover in the presence of her family. Since their return in October from a romantic weekend, Kendra and Mandi had not seen much of each other. Trying to find time to be alone had been a challenge. Mandi had a lot of school work, and Kendra had her family obligations. Craig had been working a lot of odd hours adding to the difficulty. In fact, Kendra began to suspect that Craig may be meeting someone on the side. Once she called and the man on the other end of the phone said he was not there. After the man found out it was Craig's wife calling, he said he forgot that Craig was still on duty and had to go down to x-ray.
Kendra on the other hand had been thinking of Mandi constantly. Mandi had let her hair grow past her shoulders and was truly a smoldering brown eyed beauty. Kendra had her hair cut to her shoulders with a bit of curl on the ends. Her hair was a shiny gold color which made her look like a goddess when contrasted with her deep tan. She and Lisa had been lying out daily in the solarium at the club. The solarium had a wonderful indoor pool and the sun blazing through the glass heated the area much like a deep summer sun. Kendra and Lisa dressed in bikinis and sipped on margaritas on many lazy afternoons. It felt so much like summer heat it was eerie. Kendra benefited from the solarium as she developed that rich tan without the hazards of the tanning bed.
Across town Mandi Ulrich was dressing for her dinner tonight with the Jarvis family. Kris was lying in bed studying for a final. Kris would be heading home to Dayton, Ohio at the end of the week. Kris was not sure if she would return to Bloomington as she was thinking of transferring to finish her degree somewhere else. Kris had recently reconnected with her old girlfriend and was thinking of restarting that relationship. She realized now that Mandi was in love with Kendra and it was for real. Kris knew any designs she herself had on Kendra was not a possibility now.
Mandi studied herself in the mirror. She was dressed in dark blue denim jeans with a white buttoned down shirt and a red pullover wool sweater. She wore a pair of white tennis shoes with no socks.
Kris studied Mandi. Mandi's beautiful brown hair flowed elegantly past her shoulders and she wore bangs across her forehead. Mandi was gorgeous. Her soulful brown eyes had a twinkle in them that Kris had not seen for such a long time.
"Well Mandi, are you nervous. I know I would be if I was sitting across from the husband of the woman I was banging."
Mandi frowned and turned to face her roommate. "Kris, I did not bang Kendra. We made love. It was deep and real. I have never felt connected as one with any other woman before. It was if we actually melted together while in the throes of passion. I tried to think of reasons why it would not work. I tried to rationalize Kendra as aging. I tried to convince myself that Kendra was too old for me, but I knew it was no use. She just became more attractive to me."
Kris looked up at her friend. "Mandi, I was jealous of you and Kendra. Kendra is so beautiful, and I admit to you I was smitten with her."
Mandi turned toward her friend. "What? You wanted Kendra for yourself?"
"Yes, I am sorry Man. I feel guilty about it. I guess that is why I jumped into bed with Lisa. I hoped that the lovely Lisa could take my mind off of Kendra. It didn't. I am sorry."
The two women had a conversation which was at times tense. Emotions ranged from anger to compassion for each other.
Mandi approached Kris. "Kris, we have been friends for so long, and we were once much more. I do hope you find the love of your life, and I appreciate that you feel you can be honest with me."
"Man, I am going to transfer back home. It is just too painful for me here. I sometimes have those old feelings for you and now I am in lust with your girlfriend. It is too much. I have been talking to Karen recently. She and I are thinking of giving it another go if I decide to return home."
Mandi looked at Kris. She realized that she was going to graduate next semester and move on. Mandi thought she and Kris would still have enough time with each other to say their goodbyes. She began to tear up.
"Oh Kris, I love you. I don't want to lose my best friend. The best friend I have ever had." The tears streamed down Mandi's face.
Kris stood up and took Mandi into her arms and held her tight. "Mandi, I will always be there for you. I am just a phone call away, and Ohio is just one state over. It is not like I am moving across the country but watching you and Kendra made me remember my first love. Karen was my true love. I ran away. Now it is time I stopped running and go home. I will always love you Man. I will be back if you need a friend."
Mandi and Kris held each other realizing that their lives will change drastically after this week. Mandi looked at the clock on the wall. It was a little after six, and dinner was at seven. She lightly kissed Kris on the lips and grabbed her coat as she left the dorm room.
Over at the high school, Kasey was putting away her clarinet as she was getting ready to head home. She was remembering telling her mom that she would like to invite Mandi to dinner. Kasey had been having an odd feeling about her mom and her mentor. Kendra often asked Kasey if she had seen Mandi or how Mandi was doing. She remembered the connection she felt between the two when she first brought Mandi home to meet her mom back in late summer. Mandi admitted she was a lesbian the first time she met Kasey. Kasey kept that little tidbit from her mother because she felt her mom was homophobic. Kasey now regrets that she brought Mandi home that fate filled evening. Kasey observed a difference in her mom once she, her brother and dad returned from their trip back in the fall. Kendra often starred off in the distance. She often caressed her own face or touched her lips while in this trance. Kasey knew that look. Kendra was in love. Her mom was having an affair but with whom? Kasey had this deep sickness in the pit of her stomach, and this dinner may answer some of her questions. Was her mom having a lesbian affair with a girl just a few years older than her daughter?
Kasey was in deep thought when her best friend and fellow band mate Cynthia Pruitt got her attention.
"Hey Grumpy, what are you thinking about?"
Kasey looked at her friend. Kasey and Cynthia, or Cindy as she likes to be called, have been friends since the sixth grade. When Kasey first met Cindy, she befriended her because she felt sorry for her. Cindy, while not fat, was chunky. She had the darkest jet black hair that flowed in a million curls down to her lower back, her face was round with a cute little button nose, thin lips, and memorizing hazel eyes. While Kasey stood, 5'9, Cindy stood 5'2 with a large curvy backside and thick legs. Kasey had C cup breast; she guessed that Cindy was a easily a D cup. Cindy often complained of headaches and Kasey wondered if it was due to the heavy breast pulling on the dark haired teen's bra straps. Cindy's breasts appeared to slow and weigh her down. It seemed that Cindy was always eating something. Today she was holding a chocolate bar. Cindy was not confident in her looks although Kasey had always thought Cindy was cute. Cindy called Kasey Grumpy because of Kasey's sarcastic attitude. Kasey called Cindy Sleepy because of her penchant for dozing during class.
"What do you think I am thinking about Sleepy, it's about dinner tonight?"
Mandi always shared her secrets with Cindy. She told Cindy about her suspicions concerning her mother and Mandi.
