The Gold Cadillac Escalade pulled into the Denver Grand Hotel's reception area. The attendants held the car's rear door for the two ladies as they exited the SUV. Dede Watson had the handle of a small roller bag in her hand. She waited for Mary Jane Abernathy and the two walked into the hotel arm in arm. Mary Jane always enjoyed making an entrance when she was with Dede. The pair were attending Mary Jane's sorority alumni dinner event. At the check-in desk they signed in and received their key cards and moved to the elevators. They decided to take a room at the hotel instead of getting back home at one or two in the morning. The car would return the next day at 10:00 to pick them up.
"I guess you don't have to slip me a key card on the sly, darling," said Dede while they waited for the elevator.
"I think that that joke will get old soon, darling," said MJ as both women laughed.
The elevator stopped at their floor and they exited arm in arm. They dropped the bag, containing their clothes for the next day, in the room. Each took a turn at the mirror touching up makeup and hair. Dede was dressed in a pair of flowing black satin pants and a white blouse that emphasized her features. A black Jacket finished the outfit. A pair of red high heal shoes emphasized her six-foot height. One would not know that she was a homicide investigator but, in her handbag, along with an amount of cash, was her badge and the compact pistol. She normally carried it in her right boot when on duty. A small string of pearls was around her neck. MJ was in a pastel red cocktail dress. A pair of black high heel shoes covered her feet. Both wore their wedding rings. After checking each other out and taking the mandatory pictures, they left the room and went down to the lobby. They entered the hotel's banquet/meeting area along with a group of other women. There was a large banner "Sigma Sigma Delta welcomes Alums in their fight against Breast Cancer." Mary Jane picked up the registration packet with their name tags and door prize tickets. She pinned Dede with her name tag.
"Now your official," she said as she bent to kiss her wife.
"I still feel like a duck out of water, darling," replied Dede.
"They're just women they won't eat you," said MJ.
The pair moved to the bar and ordered cocktails. There was a display setup showing how the money the organization raised was spent. In the background a small group of musicians were playing. A woman approached and greeted MJ with a kiss on the cheek.
"Long time no see Mary Jane," said the tall woman in the black formal.
"Barbara Patterson, it has been a while. let me introduce you to my wife Dedra Ann Watson."
Barbara embraced Dede and kissed her on the cheek also. "I got the announcement it is a pleasure to meet you. Anyone that can put up with MJ Abernathy is a friend of mine."
"Don't say too much I don't want to lose my wife. We've only been married for about nine months," said MJ as she hugged Dede.
"OK I am putting my investigator hat on; how do you know each other?" asked Dede.
"We worked together for two years at Marketing Communications inc. That's where I found out that we were sorority sisters. As I remember you had a very tall man wrapped around your finger. Did that go anywhere?" asked MJ.
"Bradly is home with our daughter. Investigator what kind of investigations do you do Ms. Watson?" said Barbara.
"For friends it is Dede. I am the leader of the homicide unit of the Greene County Sheriff's department."
"Oh, that will lead to lots of interesting conversation I'm sure. You must tell me how you two met; was MJ a suspect in one of your cases?" asked Barbara.
"Nothing like that Barbara. We were staying in the same hotel in Chicago. I was teaching at the annual Marketing Society seminar and Dede was attending an FBI course. We met in the hotel bar late one evening and found out that we lived in the same area. It was love at first sight as they say. I was so infatuated that I kept plying her with martinis so she would not get up and leave," said MJ.
"Then there was the invitation with spare key card," said Dede.
"Now this sounds interesting. I have got to get all the good stuff," said Barbara as she grasped Dede's arm.
"Barbara that is for another time, I am here to relax with my wife," said MJ.
"Dede I am the editor of Sigma Sigma Delta alumna newsletter. Which is why I am here. I cover the all the group's events. I am always on the lookout for information about alums, she knows how to get in touch with me," said Barbara.
"Well, I can say, we made love that evening and into the morning. It felt good to fall in love with a beautiful woman like MJ," said Dede.
"Oh, this is good, just the kind of dirt, I mean information I need to spice up the newsletter," said Barbara as she scribbled something in a small notebook she was carrying. She kissed both women on the cheek and moved off into the crowd.
The room began to fill as more women checked in, some solo some with their significant others. MJ looked around and estimated over one hundred people attending the event. Mary Jane didn't realize that there were that many Sigma Sigma Delta alums in the Denver area. The sorority was mainly based on colleges along the east coast.
MJ and Dede were not the only lesbian couple; MJ spotted one or two others in the crowd. Barbara was shepherding a photographer around the room. She brought him over and he snapped several pictures of MJ and Dede, then moved on.
MJ and Dede moved to their assigned seats in the room and waited for the program to start. The table was set with six wine glasses at each place. The information in the announcement said that it would be a six-course dinner and a lecture. Waiters were circulating setting the first course and pouring the first wine.
Several women came up to MJ and greeted her like an old friend. MJ was reveling in seeing some old acquaintances who like her moved west after an east coast education. She also didn't mind introducing Dede to her acquaintances. Dede did feel a little like arm candy on display. But she was comfortable being with MJ.
