How I Met Caroline

My name is Stephanie. At 25 years old I am recently out of a relationship with a guy whom I've known since we were in high school. Randy is a good catch for any other girl. For me, however, it just didn't feel right.

Little did I know as I walked along the shore of Lake Erie that summer Sa†urday morning that my life was about to change in a good way. The girl who was to change my life was coming towards me from the east.

Her strawberry-blond hair cascaded over her shoulders. Her full lips were painted orange. Just a hint of shadow adorned her green eyes. She stood 5'7" tall, eyeball to eyeball with me. Low-rise, straight-leg jeans and white halter crop top exposed her spectacular curves. For years I had entertained daydreams of girl on girl sex with such a woman. Needless to say, Randy was not privy to what was going on inside my head.

As the distance between me and her closed our eyes locked together. Have I seen her someplace? Does she know me? Do I look familiar to her?

Within handshake distance we both stopped in our tracks.

"I've seen you around the hospital. Are you a nurse?"

"Yes," I replied. I added that "I've been working there for 3 years."

"So what's your name?"

"Stephanie Mc Clellan," I said.

"Danielle Lafferty," she replied.

She added, "I work at the reception desk in G I M."

"How long?"

"Going on 8 years," she replied.

She turned around and we walked in the same direction. Like me, she loved a walk along this lake.

Conversation came easily. We chatted about recent incidents, people we both know (from work), music, tv shows and actors who star in them and our gym workouts.

She ended the conversation on a neutral note.

"I need to get going. I have errands to run and get ready for company tonight."

Who's the company?

As an after thought she added, "Tomorrow morning meet me for coffee, say about 9 o'clock."

Minutes after nine I found her waiting at a small table in Harmony Cafe and took my seat across from her. The conversation came easily. We made small talk over coffee with bagel and cream cheese.

Just 26, Danielle had been working at the hospital since the end of high school, her dream to write a novel not yet fulfilled. An voracious reader, she enjoys romance novels but also Danielle Steel and Nora Roberts.

"What kind of novel would you write," I asked.

"Lesbian romance," she replied.

Paydirt! She likes women.

"Do you have a favorite lesbian author?"

"Gerri Hill, Roslyn Sinclair, Radclyffee, Natalie Debrabandere are good reads."

She's openly gay and she's smokin' hot. How do I get her out of her panties?

"Sounds like quite a book collection."

"Tell me more about you."

I thought for a second or two. I'd reveal some details but keep others hidden.

"My X and I broke up two months ago. It broke my heart to leave him but it didn't feel right. He was an awesome boyfriend but I just couldn't stay with him."

She took the hint.

"I've always known that I'm gay. I remember kissing a girl for the first time when I was 15. Her name was Kelly."

"Did it last long?"

"About 2 months," said Danielle.

"Who broke it off?"

"She did," Danielle replied.

Has there been anyone since then?

Instead of asking that I said that "I've known Randal since we were in middle school."

In the weeks that followed Dani Latterty had been on my mind often. Stolen glances and the occasional coffee break together could give away that there was something between us.

The month of August was nearing an end. Mid morning on my day off saw me doing some house work, specifically laundry when my phone buzzed on the counter at 10 o'clock.

Caller Id indicated Danielle.

"Hi girlfriend," I said.

Though I didn't mean 'girlfriend' in the romantic sense, calling her that would take our friendship to another level.

"Are you enjoying your day off?"

"I'm doing housework. How much fun can it be?"

"I wish I could be there with you."

"That would be good," I replied.

"I love you."

This was the first time either of us had said that.

"I love you too."

We chatted for a few more minutes about nothing in particular while she sipped coffee ate a bagel at a caferteria table.

"I have to go back to work. There's probably a long line at the check-in counter."

"Bye bye, love you," I said ending the call.

She flashed a smile before disappearing.

Saturday a few days later was to be a dinner date, the venue being her apartment.

At 6 p.m. I parked in a spacious lot off Mentor Ave. Carrying a bag from the bakery I approached the two-story brick building.

Danielle answered the door after a few seconds. She was wearing a smokey-blue cross-front v-neck sleeveless dress that looked amazing.

"You look put together."

She smiled at the compliment and replied to it.

"You look very nice."

I held the bag of goodies out to her.

"What did you bring?"

"Brownies and Walnut brownies," I replied smiling.

"Leave those right on the counter."

Dani served an old fashioned New England boiled dinner, a meal that her mom likes to make

We settled side by side on the sofa and spent hours watching tv and cuddling until passions gave way to making out.

We made out for just minutes before we hurried to her bedroom removing and scattering clothes along the way.

Our fingers found every erogenous zone making us moan softly. As the tension increased moans grew louder. My climax came with a scream and a wide smile of satisfaction.

LIfe threw me a curve making me realize my insecurities. A few nights after our dinner she and I were sitting on her sofa listening to a novel, the audio emanating from her sound dock.

The knock on her door didn't bother me, until it did. Dani greeted her uninvited guest, a woman who looked older than us.

"Caroline what are you doing here?"

"I'm in town on business so I thought I would drop in."

Dani gave a slight nod so Caroline continued.

"We need to talk. I missed you."

"THis is not a good time."

The older woman didn't go away.

I didn't stick around to listen but instead headed for home.

The next few days at work things were very different between us. Anyone who knew us may have thought we had a fight.

Near the lohby entrance as I was leaving Dani stopped me.

"Stephanie you've been avoiding me. I want to know why."

"You're seeing that woman, aren't you."

"WHAT?."

There was a brief pause as we both searched for words.

"Caroline and I are just friends. You're the one I want in my life."