Chapter I
The quiet town of Stillwater, CO was where Molly Koban, a widow, sought refuge after the death of her husband. He had died after a five year long battle with cancer which required her constant attention. Their once warm and comforting home in Minneapolis, MN, had grown cold, haunted by memories that whispered in every corner. The couple had never been blessed with children and Molly, now alone, decided to start anew.
Molly had been born in Hong Kong and her birth name was Wong Yin Yee. At the time many young girls in Hong Kong would choose an English name, often someone they admired. The Breakfast Club was a popular movie when she was at that age and its star was Molly Ringwald. She really liked the name and took it for her own.
Molly was 49 but like many Chinese women did not look her age. She was of medium height with straight black hair and the almond eyes typical of many asians. She often wore a touch of lipstick or gloss which accentuated her full lips and gave her what some thought a voluptuous quality. Her breasts had always been large and had not sagged very much, but she was by nature modest and dressed so as not to call attention to them.
When she had met her husband, many years before, she had been an elementary school teacher. Molly discovered she could bring her qualifications up-to-date by taking internet courses from North Hennepin College. By the time she had finished her courses she had also sold her home in Minneapolis. Molly had decided to move to Colorado and wanted a small town because she knew it was easier to fit in compared to a big city. She responded to help-wanted ads for several towns in rural Colorado. The first one to respond was Rosemont Elementary school in the small city of Stillwater. Molly interviewed for the job and was accepted.
She was so impressed with Stillwater, which is a historic town nestled between a large lake and snow-covered mountains, that she decided to purchase a home there before the school term began.
Rosemont Elementary school is in a quaint, aging building with creaking floors and walls adorned with colorful drawings of children's dreams. Molly's classroom was filled with the curious faces of young children, each with a world of possibilities ahead. It was a stark contrast to the life she had known with her husband, a life that was now a distant echo.
One autumn morning, as Molly was arranging her classroom, she noticed a young teacher, Nikki Ferguson, bustling about in the corridor. Nikki was a recent graduate at 23, her enthusiasm for teaching evident in her bright eyes and the animated way she moved. Nikki, also new to the school and eager to make an impression, had heard about Molly, the only other new teacher hired that year, and wanted to meet her. She appeared at Molly's door, with a smile that was as warm as the autumn sun.
Nikki was an athletic looking girl with broad shoulders, slim hips and a very cute, tight, bottom. She was dressed in outdoor clothes: cargo pants and a plaid shirt that covered up her figure, and it was hard to know what shape her breasts were. Her skin was tanned and she wore her light brown hair in a single knotted braid. Molly found herself instantly drawn to her.
But Molly, who had spent the last 20 years in her husband's social circle, was a bit out of touch with modern lifestyles. If she had been she would have guessed there was a better than even chance that Nikki played for the other team -- that she was lesbian. If that had been her guess she would have been right, the outdoorsy looking girl who had grown up in mountains was attracted to other women.
"Hi Molly," she said, "I'm Nikki! Welcome to Rosemont Elementary!"
"Welcome to you Nikki, I hear you've just received your diploma too! How do you like Stillwater?" Molly said.
"I love it!" Nikki replied. "But I grew up close by and I'm so glad to have found a job here."
"Where did you go to school Nikki?" Molly asked.
"I got my BA from U Colorado in Boulder and my teaching diploma from Front Range College." Nikki replied.
"That must have been quite an experience!" Molly said. "Had you been away from home before?"
"No, it was my first time away." Nikki told her, "It was much more difficult than I thought and I really didn't expect it to cost as much as it did. With what I borrowed from my parents and my student loan I'm so far in debt I don't know if I will ever get out from under it." She reported wistfully.
"Molly," Nikki said, "class is about to start any minute, you need to get the classroom ready before they come." The younger girl began arranging the desks and chairs in preparation for class. Molly, grateful for the gesture, accepted Nikki's assistance, and in that simple moment, a connection was formed.
When they were done the two chatted comfortably until the bell rang and a crowd of young students streamed into the classroom.
Later, when Molly thought about their meeting she felt relieved she had met someone so nice soon after she moved into town. She really hoped they could be friends and had a strong feeling she'd like to see the young woman again.
Chapter II
While the first few weeks of school went by in a blur, Molly's wishes were granted and over the next few weeks their friendship deepened. Molly found herself drawn to Nikki's youthful exuberance and genuine love for teaching. She admired the way Nikki connected with the children, sparking their imaginations with stories and encouraging their questions with patience.
Lunch hours became their sanctuary, a respite from the challenges of the classroom. They would sit in the small staff room, sharing sandwiches and conversation. Molly told Nikki about how she had met her husband when she came to Minnesota from Hong Kong to attend University. She shared stories about her life in Minneapolis as the wife of a rich businessman, her annual vacations in the Caribbean, and luxury cruises.
Nikki shared with Molly her love of the outdoors, her ski touring expeditions to the nearby glaciers, kayaking trips and hiking the Pacific Trail along the west coast. And although they came from such different worlds they found genuine pleasure in each other's company.
Although she was quite open about her sexual orientation Nikki didn't bring up the subject with Molly and she began to wonder why. Perhaps she felt her leanings were so obvious that Molly should have picked up on them right away. Later she realized that she kept the topic to herself for fear of rejection.
Their lunches turned into evenings together. Stillwater has a number of very nice restaurants and Molly insisted on treating Nikki so they could sample them. Molly prided herself on her cooking, both American and Cantonese cuisine. Molly had bought a small house on the lake that used to be a cottage which had been winterized. It had a modern kitchen and dinner at Mollys became a part of their weekly routine.
