Women Study
Crossover
(To the reader, see my story, "Research and Analysis, Crossover", an aligned story.)
It looked like Doborah, Bowen, and I had finally gotten everything straightened out in our relationship...now a much more complicated three-way relationship...though satisfying to all of us, nonetheless. Deborah and I loved each other deeply and each of us loved Bowen, as he did both of us...But...Think of the flexibility!
Deborah cancelled her membership in the "Platinum" lesbian dating site mainly because she didn't want to risk exposure of her true identity. Unfortunately, the beginning of my relationship with her pointed out flaws in the site's anonymity scheme. Although Deborah never did find out that I had found her because I had been looking specifically for her (Female Rule #1, remember?), she still had her doubts...and rightly so...that someone of her stature could truly remain anonymous. Who would know that our "random" encounter would lead to she and I falling in love...even I didn't know that would happen...which would safeguard her identity. But NDA's notwithstanding, she felt it was too much of a risk to continue to take.
I, on the other hand, kept my membership, for a couple of reasons:
First, I still had friends who were members, Livinia and Debra, for instance. Even though they had gotten married, we still kept in touch over the website. Neither Livinia nor Debra had ever met Deborah as Gladys, or otherwise, so her anonymity was not at risk when them. With Deborah's and Bowen's full knowledge, I still occasionally engaged in having sex with them--individually and collectively. And there was poor benighted June with whom I kept in touch over the website. My hope was that she would find herself emotionally so we could continue into more intimate activities but neither she nor any others any idea about Deborah/Gladys.
Second, Deborah still had an adventurous spirit but it was the anonymity issue that held her back. I suggested that I could be her "point" woman. In other words, if I spotted a woman who I thought would be compatible with her/me/us, I would do the screening. If Deborah wanted to meet with her individually, or with me present, Deborah could wear her infamous balaclava mask. Appropriate explanations could be made to the new candidate and, if they accepted, all would be well. If not, then the new woman and I could carry on and not involve Deborah at all. It sounded like a "cloak and dagger", CIA, MI6 type of a ploy but it did work--but also backed up with other logistical protocols (remember the notorious "elevator protocols"?), including NDA's.
I met a woman on the website who I thought was deliciously intriguing. The name she used was "Tawney", which I thought matched well with my "Tanya". Her basic bio was:
"Asian-American female, 5'6" (1.7m)--I know I'm tall for someone of Asian extraction-- and all of 120lbs (about 55kg), no boob size to speak of--technically, I would suppose that I am like a 34AA --if there is any smaller cup size, then that would be me. I am 39 years old and decidedly not glamorous, but engaging. I'm seeking lesbian companionship with the potential of a long term relationship, though not necessarily an exclusive one. I am looking for someone in my age group, preferably a stable professional."
She sounded exotic and honest. I sent her a request.
Now, I learned a lot from my experience on the dating website. The primary thing I learned is to establish a relationship on the website before broaching the topic of a meet-up; the second, not to consider a sexual "hook-up" until the face to face meeting panned out. Sex after a first meeting was up in the air...sometimes a good idea, sometimes not. I had gone from first meeting straight to sex, but I found making provisional reservations to be a big help. This method also gave me a way to screen the women as candidates for Deborah/Gladys, too. In all modesty, I didn't mind be a "taster", if I might use that term, for Deborah.
So, "Tawney" and I exchanged a number of texts on the website. I eventually gave her the number to my "burner phone" which, I suggested, she use it only "tactically", that is just to coordinate actual, ongoing, activities. All the planning and conversations like that would be best done on the website.
Tawney was candid in our exchanges of texts/emails about her history: her failed hetero-sexual marriage, her failed lesbian relationship, and her long "dry" spell. She was honest, also, about her sexual dalliance with a young college student which added some "spice" to her sex life, but she was seriously intent on pursuing a meaningful lesbian relationship. She said that she had felt like a lesbian "prude" too long, and wanted to have some exciting encounters with women-- and maybe including men. She wasn't averse to participating in multi-partner sex. This sounded to me like a perfect person to bring in, all things being equal.
I met Tawney in a coffee bar as she told me beforehand that she wasn't much for drinking and that tobacco smoke made her ill. That's all good in my book. She was true to her word as to her appearance, not glamorous--largely true, more than a little butch looking with her short hair, and in her khaki's and, blue dress shirt--also true. She looked butch but she didn't act that way...there was a feminine spirit behind her facade.
"Tawney, I am so happy to meet you at last!" I cheerfully extended my hand partly to greet her but also to find out if she had a "killer" handshake....she didn't
"Let's get some coffee and get a booth in a corner so we can talk frankly without people eavesdropping, how does that sound?" I thought to myself that I sounded like an insurance salesman.
"Yes, I think that's a good idea, Tanya," she said mildly, but smiling, "one never knows who one might be hanging around."
Coffees in hand, we picked our table, and sat down. "Tawney, I am really impressed with your communications on the website," start off on a positive note, I told myself, "you are a very organized communicator."
"That's all part of my job, Tanya," she said modestly, "in fact it is a necessity in my job. My principals don't like to wade through a lot of verbiage to try to grasp something that can be simply and cogently communicated. Lord knows that there's enough crap that I have to go through. Why inflict that on others? Besides, my principals are busy people so, they count on me not to waste their valuable time."
"So, it's a school system you work for?" I was fishing.
"I'm sorry, Tanya, I can't say," her manner firm, "it's all confidential, NDA variety, perhaps even stronger than that. Still, I can only tell you generally what I do. My work partner does the research and I do the analysis."
"Well, I think that's wonderful that you have such an important job and treat it that way, too," I tried not to sound patronizing, and went on "and it sounds like your very good at it."
"You flatter me, Tanya," she said with some modesty, "my job is not my life, but I treat it seriously."