Author's note: this is the third and final segment of the three-part story, "Forever, Brandywine."
Brooke's mother didn't say anything about the broken cot. Instead, together with Steve, she carried the busted mess out to the garbage. Brooke could hear her mom on the phone calling the bed company and ordering a replacement. When Mandy came in later that day and saw the cot leaning against the dumpster, she joked to Brooke that it smelled like tuna fish.
The girlfriends now had a routine, and they stuck to it the rest of the summer. When August arrived, they realized that they had only had a few more weeks together. It was depressing, though neither one of them expressed this feeling.
Brooke was turning twenty-one in August. She thought of maybe doing something memorable with Mandy. But what? The days passed without an answer. Then, while talking to Mandy on the phone, she had an idea.
"Say, have you ever been to Olde Towne?"
"No, is that the village with cafes and art galleries?"
"Yeah, I can't believe you've never been. They also have great restaurants and bars. During the day, there's a lot of families that visit it for fun, but at night it's a haven for many gay and lesbian couples."
"Really? Sounds great. When would we go?"
"I thought maybe we could go for my birthday. I'll talk to my mom and see if we can get off."
"We can get off on the phone. Talk dirty to me, bitch."
"Stop it. You know what I mean."
"Is it far?"
"About an hour, but we'll stay overnight at the Brandywine."
"What's that?"
"It's one of the quaint, cozy lodges they have there."
"Oh my! Share a room? With a door and a real bed? I can't believe it."
Brooke spoke to her mom later that day.
"Who are you going with?"
"Mandy."
"You two sure have been spending a lot of time together."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning that I was right. I told you that you would like her."
Brooke wanted to hug her mom and shout that she was crazy about Mandy but controlled herself.
"Sure, I can give you two off."
"Are you sure will you manage?"
"Don't forget that I'm a certified lifeguard too. So we'll get by."
"Thanks, mom."
Later Brooke excitedly called Mandy.
"It's all in order. We can go."
"How did you manage to pull that off?"
"It wasn't easy; Steve said he would only agree to work a double if I gave him a blow job."
"WHAT?"
"Yeah."
"You didn't agree to it, did you?"
"No, but I said he could fuck me in the ass while I ate your pussy."
"Oh yeah, sure, you expect me to believe that?"
"I'm just kidding, girl. I didn't even talk to Steve. My mom's a certified lifeguard, and she's going to cover for you."
"Wow, we're really going; this is going to be great. What should I pack?"
"I don't know, lover, not a lot of clothing."
This time it was Mandy's turn to buy new lingerie. She also shaved her pussy clean for Brooke's birthday present at the last minute.
Five days later, the lovers were in Mindy's red coupe.
"What do you have in the way of tunes?" asked Brooke. She looked through Mandy's CDs: Courtney Barnett, Norah Jones, Joan Jett.
"Hmm, we're eclectic."
"We're studying music therapy."
Brooke put on Joan Jett and turned it up loud. Mandy took the top down, accelerated to 75 m.p.h., and pointed her car towards Olde Towne.
They arrived late afternoon and parked in a lot near Brandywine Lodge, where they were staying.
"Let's see if we can check our bags early. Then we can walk around and not have to worry about anything."
Mandy agreed.
Brandywine Lodge was a beautiful three-story mansion converted into a hotel after the civil war. It had high ceilings, thick carpeting, and inviting love seats in the lobby. Enchanting paintings of beautiful nude women entwined in each other's arms hung on the walls.
Two older women were ahead of them, checking in and holding hands. Mandy reached for Brookes,' and they too held hands while waiting. Brooke's heart fluttered. She knew this was going to be perfect. Finally, the couple finished and walked away.
Brooke and Mandy stepped forward. The clerk was a gay man wearing matching gold hoop earrings.
"Hi, a room for two, please," Brooke asked.
The desk clerk peered at them. "One bed or two?"
"Uh, one, please."
"I thought so," he smiled and studied his computer screen. "Fabulous! You're in luck. We just had a cancellation and have a very comfy room available on the third floor with a king-sized bed. Would that work?"
Brooke and Mandy looked at each other and smiled. Brooke didn't even ask about the cost, handing over her credit card and driver's license.
He looked at the license, "Oh my, it's your birthday. Happy Birthday! I can give you our standard rate."
"That would be great. Thank you so much."
The clerk gave Brooke the keys.
"Oh, I almost forgot to tell you that the rooms on that floor have extra thick walls for your private pleasure," he winked. Mandy laughed, and Brooke almost creamed in her cutoffs.
Where to start? Everything looked so inviting. There was row after row of quaint-looking houses converted into art galleries, boutiques, and various shops with charming names painted on signs that hung above the door. Colorful flowers spilled from window boxes, and weeping willow trees shaded the walkways. Gay couples and cheerful friends gathered at tables, talking and laughing.
Mandy felt so delightfully comfortable that she let go of Brooke's hand and wrapped an arm around her lover's waist. They stopped in front of an old-fashioned locomotive to have their picture snapped.
"I want to see some galleries. What do you say?" Brooke looked at Mandy. She looked delicious when she smiled. Brooke leaned forward and kissed Mandy on the lips.
"Wow, I guess that was a yes," Mandy joked. Mandy offered her hand, and they walked into a nearby gallery.
Brooke bought a print showing a pair of lovers that cost 159.00.
"My credit card is going to melt from overuse," she told Mandy.
"Where are you going to hang it?"
