Debbie was up and in the kitchen quietly making breakfast, brewing coffee and packing herself a lunch when Ashley's bedroom door opened, its hinges squeaking as it swung fully open. Whispers and a giggle announced the girls' arrival before they came around the corner.
Ashley was in a long sleep shirt, one that had once belonged to her father. Her hair was a mess, extra unruly from sleeping on the fancy up-do from the night before. She blushed when she saw Debbie, but left JJ's side to give her mom a hug. "Morning mom."
Debbie squeezed her daughter, "Morning sweetie. I didn't wake you, did I? I was trying to be quiet and let you two sleep in."
That comment had Ashley's cheeks turning a darker shade of pink and glancing furtively at JJ.
"No, we were already awake. Someone forgot to take bobby pins out of her hair and they ended up all over the pillows. Not the most comfortable thing to sleep on." JJ spoke up, wearing a grey wife beater and plaid pair of boxers. She came and gave Debbie a morning hug when the older woman waved her in.
"Well in that case, help yourselves to some coffee. You'll have to fend for yourselves for breakfast. I need to keep moving or I'll be late for work." Debbie continued to pack her lunch while Ashley and JJ decided between cereal or eggs and toast.
It was more fun than she'd ever admit, listening to the younger women. Debbie wanted to smile when JJ won Ashley over by suggesting she make the eggs so Ashley could enjoy her coffee while on toast duty. Not only were they willing to compromise with each other, they already had a rhythm to how they moved together in the kitchen. And she knew for a fact that they had a good rhythm elsewhere. Debbie would never share this with either girl, but she'd heard more of their activity last night than they would have wanted. Going to bed early had been her plan, since she did have to be in to work earlier than usual. However, that didn't mean she'd been able to fall asleep. Debbie had read a book for almost two hours before she finally fell asleep and in that time, got up to refill her bedside water. Passing Ashley's bedroom she'd heard enough to know what had, finally, occurred.
Part of her was elated that Ashley had found someone who loved her and whom she loved in return. That her daughter's partner was devoted to her entire well-being, and took care to ensure that at all times. Another part of her wanted to weep. Her daughter, her only baby was beginning to grow away from her in a permanent way. The way she looked at JJ made that very clear. Debbie sighed quietly and zipped her lunch bag. There was another, smaller part of her that ached with longing. She wanted what Ashley was discovering. Well, she really just wanted John back, with all the love of their marriage full and alive. Seeing the girls happy and in love brought the ache to the fore, made it more obvious what was missing in her own life.
"Alright ladies, I'm off to another day full of flowers, helping people brighten their days.one garden at a time. JJ, would you mind walking me out?" Debbie kissed Ashley on the head, her purse and lunch bag already on her shoulder.
"Sure. Let me just..." JJ bit her lip and tipped the hot skillet to slide a fully cooked egg onto a piece of buttered toast. "Perfect. Go ahead and eat while it's hot, Ashie." JJ slid the plate back to the blonde and followed Debbie out the front door barefoot.
Debra unlocked her small red truck and set her bags on the front seat before turning to JJ. She stared at the younger girl, mentally organizing her words. It took her long enough that JJ was getting nervous, her shoulders tightening the way they always did when she was a girl.
"Fifteen years ago I stopped a group of boys from bullying someone weaker than them. I was simply trying to be a good parent, be a good adult and stop a fight that should never have happened. I expected I'd bandage you up and send you on your way, never to see you again. Imagine my surprise when you not only came back to play with Ashley, but bonded with her and became friends. Best friends, even." Debra sighed and leaned against the open car door. "I know things have not been easy for you JJ. I should have stepped in again and done something more than worry about the rumors. It broke my heart to find out why you ran away, and I am so sorry."
JJ swallowed and shuffled her feet, looking down. "Ashley wanted me to tell you and Mr. Turner that night. I was too afraid to stay. And, honestly, you did everything you could have." JJ looked back up, stepping closer to Debbie and taking her hand for a second. "You and Mr. Turner gave me four years of amazing memories. You cared for me like I was your own daughter and that outweighs anything you might have tried to do. Not to mention, Ashley has pretty much always had my heart. I left it here, with her, all those years ago and only recently stopped pretending otherwise. If anything, I should say thank you for loving me when I needed it and for raising your daughter to be as accepting and loving as you."
Debbie patted JJ's hand and smiled. "You've grown into an amazing young woman, JJ. I can't take credit for that, but I'm so glad that fight broke out in my front yard and not someone else's. That day was the start of something important and I am beyond happy to see you and Ashley together. I could search the world over and never find another person who I'd trust with my daughter. I don't even feel the need to warn you to take care of her. I already know you will."
JJ let Debbie pull her into a tight hug, then watched the older woman climb into her truck, waving when she backed out and drove off.
JJ walked back into the house, shutting and locking the front door behind herself.
"What was that about?" Ashley asked, peeking out the front window, coffee in hand. JJ scratched her head, ruffling her hair. "I think I just got the parental seal of approval. Or re-got. Since apparently I've had it for years and had no idea."
Ashley giggled and gave JJ a side hug, warm mug held at a safe distance. "I was worried she'd give you that whole, 'respect my daughter or say hello to my shotgun' speech."
"Your mother owns a shotgun?" JJ sounded genuinely worried.
"Not to my knowledge. She didn't before my last semester of college, but I've been away for months, so who knows. Come eat. You're going to need all the energy you can get." Ashley beamed up at her girlfriend, her hand finding its way to JJ's bottom and squeezing.
"Mmm. Yes ma'am." JJ grinned back and stole a kiss before striding back to the stove.
The next two weeks flew by. Ashley started her part time summer job at the craft store. Her mornings were filled with shelf organization and customer support. Her afternoons were full of JJ. Every afternoon she went home, changed and either met JJ somewhere, drove to her house, or JJ was waiting to pick her up, that big black truck rumbling at the curb.
Hands down Ashley's favorite was when JJ picked her up. There was something exciting about climbing into that big beast and kissing JJ, who always had a grin and a kiss for her. Sometimes JJ had plans, bowling or a movie, but they always ended up in bed. They didn't always use the strap on, but Ashley was quickly starting to see what the appeal was.
It had really clicked when JJ had handed Ashley a dildo, one a little longer than they'd used before, and scooted herself away to the end of her bed. "Play with it. I'm just going to watch."
After working past a surprise bout of shyness Ashley had begun to play with herself, slowly working her body down that familiar path to orgasm. Using the fake cock had felt weird and a bit unnatural, but Ashley loved being filled, loved the weight of a cock inside her, the way its movement in and out rubbed at nerves and sensitive tissue she'd never be able to reach otherwise.
Her fourth orgasm seemed to be JJ's limit, the older girl no longer content to watch. JJ managed to wring a fifth orgasm out of Ashley that night, but only just. Ashley was still thinking of a way to get even with JJ for making her pass out completely after that last one.
