When Carol woke up that morning, she had an instantaneous moment of confusion as to her surroundings. But as her mind focused, she realized she was in Jen's bedroom. Jen was not there, but she could hear the shower running in the bathroom. "
I am going to have to get used to this 'early to rise' Jen.
" she thought.
Carol heard the water shut off and decided maybe she could get them some coffee. She was looking around the cupboards with no initial luck when Jen appeared with a towel around her head and a short robe covering her, partially. Carol had a clear view of Jen's legs. Also, the belt which sinched the robe still left a decent view of her cleavage. It was a welcome sight for Carol.
"Were you looking for something in particular?" Jen asked.
"I was looking to see if I could make us some coffee."
"If I get the stuff out, would you make it? I also have some English muffins you can put in the toaster. Not much but it's a start for the day. Then while you're doing that I can finish getting ready for work."
Carol agreed and Jen moved around and got out the coffee pot, some instant coffee, the toaster, and the English muffins. Jen went back to her bedroom to get dressed and Carol went about preparing their little breakfast.
Jen came back into the kitchen and Carol unabashedly gawked at her. "How does anyone get any work done at that school with you looking like that."
Jen smiled. She knew Carol was being overly generous with her complement, but it was nice to hear all the same. "I sit at a desk most of the day so people don't get to see me in all my glory." They both laughed.
Carol began putting things on the table for them. They had butter and jelly depending on what Jen wanted for her English muffin. Milk and sweetener were out for the coffee. They got their food and drink ready and began eating. At some point, Carol looked across the table and said, "Jen, the girls will be asking both of us what's going on with us. What do you feel comfortable telling them?"
"Well, I think at least we'll have to tell them that we're a bit more than friends based on what we know they already know."
"You mean friends with benefits?"
Jen recognized that touch of alarm in Carol's voice. Carol clearly had wanted more and so did Jen. But Jen was more sure of what Carol wanted than Carol was about Jen's wishes. Jen wanted to put her at ease. "I was hoping for a bit more than that."
"Oh, thank God."
Jen had picked up her coffee, but she had not started to drink it and that was a good thing. She put the cup down and started to laugh at Carol's reaction.
For her part, Carol turned beet red. She hadn't really wanted to say that out loud but it had left her mouth before she could think to stop it.
Carol kept her head down as she said "Sorry, that was meant to be internal monologue."
"It's okay Carol. And I am not laughing at you. At least not what you said or why. Maybe a little bit about how you said it. When Carol looked up at her and made eye contact, Jen continued, "If you're willing, I would like to say we try not to say anything and if they force us, we say we have started dating. Is that too far?"
"No. That's fine." Carol said a tad quickly. This time Jen did not laugh but she noticed how quickly the response had come.
Katie's graduation was now two months away and the wedding was only three months away. They'd have more time after those events. Besides, they had both agreed that they would enjoy the journey. But although left unsaid, there was an implicit destination for that journey. Dating seemed like a fair characterization. The rest would depend on how the journey went going forward.
Carol and Jen cleaned up their dishes. Then Jen had to go to work and Carol had to go home. They made plans that Jen would come to Carol's home that next weekend. She would come down Saturday morning, they'd go shopping and maybe a dinner and a movie. Then spend Saturday night over at Carol's and Jen would go home Sunday. They shared a brief kiss and were on their separate ways.
Carol had been driving for less than ten minutes when she got a call on her phone.
"
You have a call from...Jessica. Would you like to accept the call
?"
"Yes." As soon as the connection was made Carol started right in. "You are incorrigible. What did you do, set an alarm to wake yourself up so you could call this early?"
"
Actually, that is exactly what I did.
"
"And why did you think we were going to be eating dinner that late?"
"
What?
"
"You sent an eggplant emoji last night. Did you think we were going out for Italian food or something?"
Jessica laughed and said, "
Oh Carol. Sometimes I forget you are a little bit older than you are. It's actually a sexual reference. It wasn't Italian food I thought you would be eating last night.
"
"Oh. You're terrible young lady." Carol blushed. "What if Jen knew what that meant?"
"
Maybe she did. How did things go after the Grand Canyon and on the ride back?
"
Carol smiled to herself "
Think I'm older do you. I can play this game.
Then she said aloud, "We eggplanted."
Jessica broke out in full throated laughter. Carol blushed even more and said "What?"
"
Carol. I love that you tried. But that's just not how emojis work. But if you're telling me that you and Jen hooked up, that's awesome news.
"
Carol spent the rest of her hour plus drive home talking to Jessica about everything that happened with Jen. Now she finally had arrived home but she remained in the car to finish the call.
It had been very apparent throughout the call just how excited Carol was about where her relationship with Jen might be going. Jessica was tempted to suggest a little bit of caution but decided against it. Carol seemed so hopeful and things sounded very good. Bringing up a possible bad outcome might create a doubt that didn't need to be there. She had done her best to get this ball rolling, so it seemed the best plan was to let it keep rolling and see where it went.
"
I will see you in a few months at the wedding. But do me a favor. As it seems your dance card is going to be all filled up, would you make sure I'm sitting next to Megan at the reception. Unless of course she is bringing a plus one
"
"How do you know she's not my plus one? No, but seriously I will make sure you two sit together. It's the least I can do for the both of you. In fact, I guess I have to call her later on as well. We'll talk before you come in for the wedding. And Jessica, thank you for calling and thank you for caring."
"
