by Tanya Allan
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David buries his wife after she loses her fight against cancer. He is nearly 50, and their children are now grown up, so he breaks the news that he is going to undertake that which he wanted to do for as long as he could remember — a sex change. He had struggled with his transsexuality all his life, but his love for his wife and respect for her meant he just played the hand that he had been dealt, up to now, that is.
Meanwhile, in the USA, grizzled Police Chief John Collingwood comes to near breaking point. Stressed from his job, his grief over his dead wife, and the despair of near alcoholism, he embarks on a trip to the UK with his brother to seek out his family tree.
Two very different people find a very different future, they also find each other...
Tanya has a new website where she will display her latest works first and then to BigCloset TopShelf a few weeks later is here at Tanya Allan's Tales .
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The Legal Stuff: A Girl Can But Dream © 2006,2009,2010 Tanya Allan
This work is the property of the author, and the author retains full copyright, in relation to printed material, whether on paper or electronically. Any adaptation of the whole or part of the material for broadcast by radio, TV, or for stage plays or film, is the right of the author unless negotiated through legal contract. Permission is granted for it to be copied and read by individuals, and for no other purpose. Any commercial use by anyone other than the author is strictly prohibited, and may only be posted to free sites with the express permission of the author.
This work is fictitious, and any similarities to any persons, alive or dead, are purely coincidental. Mention is made of persons in public life only for the purposes of realism, and for that reason alone. Certain licence is taken in respect of medical procedures, terms and conditions, and the author does not claim to be the fount of all knowledge.
The author accepts the right of the individual to hold his/her (or whatever) own political, religious and social views, and there is no intention to deliberately offend anyone. If you wish to take offence, that is your problem.
This is only a story, and it contains adult material, which includes sex and intimate descriptive details pertaining to genitalia. If this is likely to offend, then don’t read it.
Please enjoy.
Chapter 5
Dee
I was preparing Boeuf Stroganoff for dinner, so while things just bubbled, I took Ed and John another beer. As I approached, they stopped talking, but I realised that Ed was looking smugly at his brother, who was unable to meet my gaze. I guessed they’d been talking about me.
“Some more beer, gentlemen?” I said.
“Thanks Dee, but you don’t need to wait on us,” John said.
“John tells me he's not coming to Wales with me,” Ed said, with a cheeky smile.
“Oh?” I said, and my heart raced a little as I looked at John.
John smiled again, I though he looked a little sheepish, as if he was a little boy caught out doing something he shouldn’t.
“I feel kinda outa line asking, but I was wondering if it would be okay to hang around here for a while longer? There’s so much to see and, well, I’m not here for very long,” he said, flushing slightly under his tan.
I didn’t want to show too much excitement, but I was so pleased. I was wondering how to ask him without offending his brother.
“Of course. Stay as long as you want. As I said, I like the company,” I said, smiling, but trying to sound as casual as I could. I went back to the kitchen quickly, so they couldn’t see my huge grin.
I laid the dining room table with the best silver, and opened a bottle of Cote du Rhone. I returned to the kitchen and finished everything off. I had prepared prawns fried in olive oil with garlic and chili, served with French bread. Followed by Boeuf Stroganoff, with rice, baby carrots, mange-tout and scallop potatoes. I had baked an apple pie for desert, and felt quite pleased with myself. Then I reflected on how a simple act of doing something I earned my living for so long could bring me so much pleasure. Then I realised that I desperately wanted to impress both men, but mainly John.
I shouted for them to come in for dinner.
As they walked into the dining room, I placed the sizzling prawns onto their mats.
I asked Ed to pour the wine, stating that the beer was in the fridge if they preferred. John joined me with some wine, but Ed stuck to his beers. They seemed to like the starter, while conversation flowed naturally. Ed was really into his ancestor hunt, wanting to track old Eileen Collingwood down. I cleared away the starters and brought out the main course.
I had to explain about the fillet of beef and what was in the recipe, as both men seemed very suspicious. I had not realised that if it wasn’t a steak, it probably wasn’t worth eating.
However, after a few mouthfuls they became effusive with their praise, and cleaned their plates. I had made a little extra, which they almost fought over. All the vegetables and side dishes were finished, so there is no greater compliment to a cook.
“Oh my God! I forgot the apple pie,” I shrieked. I rushed out and managed to catch it before it became too dark brown. I brought it in, but was surprised to see John looking very sombre.
“I’m sorry, was it something I said?” I asked.
“No, Dee. It’s me - Sally was always burning her apple pies. Just one of those silly memories,” John said, giving me a weak smile.
“Oh John, I am so sorry. I didn’t know,” I said, feeling awful, so I put my hand on his arm.
He took my hand and said, “There was no way you could have known. It isn’t your fault,” he said, gently squeezing my hand.
“I know. These bloody booby traps just spring out without any warning,” I said.
“That pie smells real good,” said Ed, changing the subject.
I dished up the pie, which we ate in a rather subdued mood. I gave them a coffee, cleared away the dishes and loaded the dishwasher. I was just washing up the pans when John appeared behind me, making me jump.
“Shit! You made me jump,” I said.
“Oh, I’m sorry Dee, I didn’t mean to,” he said, looking even more guilty.
“It’s alright, I was deep in thought,” I said.
“I came to apologise. You gave us a superb meal and I spoiled it at the end. I didn’t have to go all stupid,” he said. I loved the way he said it, pronouncing it as stoopid.
I put down my pan and took his hand.
“Oh John, you know you don’t have to apologise. I understand. I do exactly the same. Nearly every day something makes me cry. It could be a flower, a smell or a sound. Last week it was a piece of music. So why not an apple pie?” I told him.
He smiled, “Why are you so wonderful?” he asked.
“You don’t know me very well. I’m like you, a weak and foolish person, but I do understand, so that means a lot,” I said.
“You're damn right, there. Here, let me help you,” he replied, picking up a tea towel.
We finished the pans, so I cleaned the surfaces. It only took a minute. I caught him looking at me again.
“What?” I asked.
“I just want to say thanks. Thanks for the room and the food. The pie was great, just as good as Sally made. Thanks for your company, and for being understanding. But mainly thanks for just being there, I didn’t realise how bad I was.”
“Oh John, don’t be silly. It's a pleasure, really. Because it helps me too,” I said. I kissed him on the cheek and went to walk past him to the drawing room, but he held my hand, gently pulling me back to him.
He bent forward and, very tenderly, kissed me on the mouth. Before I knew what I was doing, my arms were round his neck and I was kissing him with so much passion, I didn’t know where it was coming from. Our tongues were exploring each other’s mouths, as his hands were grasping me tightly on my bottom. He pulled me close to him. I could feel him becoming aroused, so I pushed my pelvis tightly against him. One of his hands started to caress my right breast, and I felt my nipple harden under his touch.
I broke away, breathless and excited. I wanted him badly, as I never wanted anything before. I just wanted him to want me, but I was terrified of losing him.
He opened his mouth, but before he could speak, I placed my fingers against his lips.
“You were going to apologise. Don’t! I wanted that to happen, but it is me who should apologise,” I said.
He smiled, pulling me close to him again.
“I haven’t felt like this in years. Where are we going with this?” he asked frowning slightly. I sense we were both fumbling in the dark a bit.
“I don’t know. Where do you want it to go?”
He shrugged.
“Then let’s take things a day at a time. Okay?” I said.
“That suits me,” he said and then he kissed me again.
I wanted to tell him the truth, but I was terrified of losing him at this stage. I was so torn, as I didn’t want either of us to get hurt.
“John, I have to tell you.”
“What?”
My nerve went.
I shook my head.
“It’ll keep,” I said and kissed him.
The guys claimed they were very tired, as their body clocks were shot to hell. They were both in bed by half ten, so I went to bed as well. I lay awake for a long time, excited on the one hand that a man was so obviously interested in me, and I in him. I was desperately unhappy at the prospect of living a lie, or even worse, of telling him the truth and watching him walk away from me. I knew that I had to tell him, and tell him before anything got too serious.
I also rather hoped that he would pay me a nocturnal visit, but as two o'clock arrived, I knew he was too tired, so I drifted into an uneasy sleep.
I was up at seven the next morning, dressed in my jodhpurs and a pale pink blouse. I had taken some time to get my hair and make up look nice. This was like my first date, so I was excited.
I went down to the kitchen and boiled the kettle. I was just getting out some plates when a pair of strong arms gently engulfed me from behind and John kissed me on the nape of my neck. It sent tingles up my back.
“I have to tell you, those pants are the business,” he said. I laughed and turned round. Our lips met and we kissed for a long time.
Reluctantly, I broke off the kiss. He still held me close.
“Well, good morning. Did you sleep well? I asked.
“Too well. I got into bed, and the next thing it is seven a.m. I had half a mind to…” Then he stopped.
“I wanted you to, with more than half a mind,” I said, knowing what he was trying to say. He smiled and kissed me again.
“You look great, Dee. I really do like those pants,” he said.
“These are jodhpurs. You’re in England now. Pants are called underpants here; trousers or slacks are what you call pants,” I said.
“Whatever, you look real sexy in whatever you want to call them.”
“Do you want some breakfast?” I asked, changing the subject.
“Sure, what you got?”
“What do you want?”
“Are you on the menu?” he said, laughing. I stared at him, serious.
“Do you want me to be?”
He stared at me and slowly nodded. “I guess.”
“Then you may have to wait, how about some eggs and bacon to keep you going?” I said.
“Oh, okay. Thanks.”
“How do you like your eggs?”
“Dee, what have you done to me?” he said quietly. There was a slight tremor in his voice.
“What do you mean?”
“Why do I feel like a sixteen-year old on his first date?”
“Do you?”
“Yeah. I haven’t felt like this in years.”
Guilt over my secret hit me. I opened my mouth to tell him, but it didn’t come out.
“How about scrambled?” I asked instead, making him laugh.
“Sounds good to me.”
I busied myself with the bacon and eggs, so I got him to load the toaster and get the coffee. I opened a carton of orange juice and we sat at the kitchen table, like a real domesticated couple. I felt relaxed and safe in his company.
We munched in silence for a moment. I so wanted to tell him, yet was fearful of the consequences.
“You’ve done the same to me,” I said.
“What?”
“I feel like a girl on her first date.”
He laughed and took my hand.
“It all happened so fast, it's kinda taken me by surprise.”
“What has?”
“Dee, I think I’m falling in love with you,” he said and kissed my fingers.
“I know that I'm falling in love with you, Big Jay,” I said, quietly.
“What happens now?”
I shrugged.
“John. I must tell you something,” I said, trying to get my speech sorted in my mind.
“What is it?” he said, and kissed my fingers again. Once again, I couldn’t tell him.
“I didn’t want you to go to Wales,” I said.
“Neither did I.”
We finished breakfast and washed up. I left a note for Ed as to where everything was, but John told me that Ed only has coffee for breakfast.
I put my boots on, slung on a body-warmer and picked up my hard hat. John appeared wearing a big white Stetson on his head. It suited him.
We walked up the lane to the stables. They were only a couple of hundred yards away. As we walked along, he took my hand, so we walked hand in hand. My heart gave a lurch, so I vowed to tell him as soon as an opportunity presented itself, or at least before the day ended.
We arrived at the stables, where Jilly, my friend’s daughter was just mucking out. There were eight stalls and all were or had been occupied. We helped her with the mucking out. Then we saddled up a mare called Daisy for me, and a large gelding called Star for John.
He looked every inch the cowboy, appearing very much at home in the saddle. We took the horses at a walk along the road for half a mile, and then through a gate and onto the bridleway. We followed this for a few miles, and then onto the open heath. I galloped Daisy to the top of a small hill, where there were half a dozen trees. John followed and we gave the horses a break under the trees.
I sat on a fallen tree, where I took off my helmet and body-warmer, as the sun was now quite warm.
John sat beside me and put his arms around me.
“It really is lovely here. I can’t get over how green it is. Arizona is so different,” he said.
I leaned back and rested against him. I loved him holding me. I never wanted this time to end. We just sat there, the horses grazing under the trees, their reins tied to prevent escape.
He kissed me and I responded. It was rather strange, as he was the first man to make me feel this way, and I had never kissed a man before him. I actually liked the experience, as I felt myself becoming sexually aroused.
John broke off and immediately apologised.
“What for? I was hoping you would kiss me again,” I said, and he smiled.
“I guess I felt that we were trampling on memories,” he said.
“Would Sally want you to remain a celibate?” I asked.
He laughed. “No, in fact she made me promise to remarry as soon as I found the right woman.”
I smiled. “Oh well, in that case, you’ll probably remain celibate. You're far too nice for most women,” I said.
“How about you?”
“Is that a proposal?” I said, teasing him.
He looked at me, smiling that gentle smile, “It wasn’t intended to be, I wondered what your husband would have wanted you to do,” he said.
“Me? I don’t know. I suppose I made a similar promise, but somehow I had sort of let it slip,” I said, aware that I had let another opportunity to tell him the truth pass by.
“I meant what I said, this morning. I think I've fallen in love with you, but I'm terrified of making a mistake, it's been so long,” he said.
“I know. Let’s just go slowly and carefully. I meant what I said too,” I said, trying to steel myself to tell him. I opened my mouth to tell him but he went and spoiled it by kissing me.
The moment passed and he broke away, stood up and untied his horse.
We remounted the horses and rode back to the stables, the long way. It was a lovely ride and he told me all about his Sally. He told me how they had met and of their time together, right up to the funeral. It was very emotional and he clearly had difficulty telling me.
“She was my strength. She was always there for me. I loved her to bits, and she was my best friend,” he said, to finish up.
I nodded. “That was the same as us,” I said, I didn’t need to say any more.
He looked at me.
“You're the first person I've been able to talk to. I’ve never shared this with anyone before,” he said.
I simply said nothing, but took his hand and gave it a squeeze.
“Thanks,” he said.
“I haven’t done anything.”
“You here, and that means everything,” he said, which choked me up completely.
We finally rode into the stable yard and rejoined the rest of the world. We wiped the horses down, returning them to their boxes, where Jilly fed and watered them.
“Will you be here tomorrow?” she asked. I looked at John. He grinned and nodded.
“Yes, if that’s alright?”
“That’s brilliant, it means I have two less to exercise. You two are doing me a real favour,” Jilly replied.
We walked slowly back to the house, it began to rain, I noticed that Ed had gone out, as the hire car was missing from the drive.
“I'm going to have a shower, I smell like a horse,” I told John.
I went up and took my riding clothes off, I was right, as I did smell like a horse. I stepped into the shower and turned on the water. I closed my eyes and let the hot water cascade off the top of my head and down onto my breasts. I started working out the best way to phrase my terrible secret so I didn’t cause him too much grief. No matter how I tried, I knew it would come as a devastating shock, and I considered, and rejected, not telling him.
I felt a draught, so I opened my eyes just as John opened the shower door. He too was naked.
“May I join you?” he asked, gently.
I reached out a hand and took his arm, stepping back as I pulled him in with me. He wrapped his arms around me and we kissed. I felt his penis stirring against my belly, so my knees almost turned to jelly. I had one hand behind his head and the other up in the small of his back. He really was a big man, as the top of his head was almost touching the showerhead.
I felt his hand caress the cheeks of my bum, while the other just held me close to him. I had often fantasised what it would feel like to be loved by a man, but the reality was so much better!
His penis was erect now, so I pressed myself as tightly against him as I could get. I felt myself become very aroused, and I ached with desire for him. I let my right hand drop and I held his penis. It was so hard and warm; I felt a tingle of anticipation. I wanted him inside me so much, as it was the single most important thing in my life at this moment. I had a momentary panic, as he was so big, I wondered if my new vaginal channel would be able to accommodate him.
He turned the water off and led me to my bed. He took two big towels off the towel rail and spread them onto the counterpane, while I slipped some lubricant where it mattered. I lay on the bed and opened my legs, pulling him on top of me. He kissed my breasts, as my nipples hardened under his caresses. His tongue danced from nipple to nipple, so I grabbed his head and kissed him desperately, I just wanted him to make love me.
He knelt between my legs and placed his hand gently on my vagina, caressing my clitoris until I no longer had to worry about whether or not I could achieve orgasm. I came, shuddering and squirming under his touch.
“I think I may be ready for you now,” I said.
He smiled and kissed me, sliding his penis where I so wanted it. He thrust it as far as it would go, right up to the hilt. As I felt his pubic hair rub against my clitoris, I gasped with pleasure. He started to make love to me slowly and ever so tenderly. I was in another world as he thrust and retracted slowly to start with, becoming faster and faster. I moved with him, and once we had the rhythm, it was as if we became one entity. I stroked his head, running my hands down his powerful, broad back, feeling the muscles ripple under his tanned skin. I wrapped my legs around him, as he pounded into me, faster and faster, deeper and deeper!
I felt myself coming again, so was almost screaming with breathless pleasure, I know I dug my nails into him as I climaxed, and he grabbed my bum, but just kept going faster.
His breath was coming faster now and he began to grunt with pleasure too. I managed to get my hand between his legs, and caressed his balls. He suddenly thrust deep inside me, giving an almighty shudder as he exploded his seed deep within me as I came for the third time, just at the same moment.
He seemed to collapse on top of me, so I just held him. I felt his penis shrink, and the sensations of this, together with the flow of combined juices almost brought me to a fourth orgasm.
He rolled off me and we lay on the towels, damp from the shower and from our mingled sweat. He propped himself on one elbow and reached out a hand and brushed the hair from my face.
“My God, you're beautiful,” he said. I took hold of his hand and kissed it.
“So are you,” I said, and for some reason started to cry.
He frowned, touching my tears with a finger.
“Dee, honey, what's the matter? I thought you wanted to.”
“Oh John. I did. It was the most wonderful thing that has happened to me for a very long time. It’s not anything you did. It’s me,” I said.
“You?” he said, as he stroked my hair.
“Yes me. I really wanted you, and I am so happy, but before we can go any further, there is something I have to tell you,” I said. I knew that I would have to tell him now. It wouldn’t be fair to him other wise.
“Look, John. What I am going to tell you will change the way you feel about me. I accept that. All I ask is that you don’t hate me too much. You see, I love you, and the last thing I want to do is hurt you. If I tell you, you may be hurt, but only a little, for you perhaps will be able to forget me. But if I don’t tell you and you find out later, the hurt will be so deep as to destroy both of us,” I told him. I was crying now, and he looked lost.
“Oh shit, this is so hard,” I said. I got off the bed and put on my robe.
I sat down on the stool by my dressing table.
“John, I was born on the 27th March 1956. I was named David John Adam Cartwright. I was born a male. The picture above the fireplace is of a wonderful woman, her name, when she died, a little over a year and a half ago, was Delia Cartwright, she was not my mother, as you assumed, but my wife. I was a transsexual, I have not always been what you see me as today.”
I just managed to complete my speech, before the emotion became too much, and I completely broke down. My chest heaving with sobs, I saw his shocked expression, and just managed to mutter, “Oh God, John, I am so sorry, please forgive me,” before I ran from the room and out of the house.
I didn’t know where I was going, but I just knew that I had to go away. I wanted to die, as I had found something so wonderful, and then immediately lost it. All because I didn’t want to live a lie!
I ran across the lawn in my bare feet and through the little gate into the meadow. I ran through the long grass, down to the river at the bottom. The rain was heavy now, but I was oblivious to everything.
I threw myself into the grass on the bank of the river, where I just wanted the earth to open and swallow me up.
Chapter 6
John
I sat on Dee’s bed, totally numb. When she said she wanted to tell me something, never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that it would have been that.
I don’t know how long I sat there, but once the shock wore off, I took a long hard look at myself and the situation we had gotten ourselves into. I initially felt tricked and betrayed. However, I then tried to analyse my feelings. It wasn’t she had pretended to be something she wasn’t, and she certainly hadn’t deliberately tricked me. I had followed my emotions, as she had, and it had led to us making love out of a mutual need.
I thought back, recalling several occasions where she had tried to tell me something, and then there was the ride and the sex. As I thought back, I realised that I’d been blind. She’d wanted to tell me, but I hadn’t allowed her to. I’d been so wrapped up in my own feelings, that I had never considered hers.
I thought about the sex. I realised that she was definitely a woman, as there was nothing the slightest bit male about her. I shook my head. This was all too much. I put on my jeans and shirt and slung on my boots. I went down stairs, but she had gone.
I looked in the kitchen and then I walked through the house. I saw the picture on the wall. I had assumed it to be of her mother, but now I knew who the woman was. I remembered that Dee had never once mentioned her husband, or a man’s name. I had just assumed. I smiled, how many young cops had I told never to assume anything?
I went back to her bedroom and sat on her bed, where I had recently had the most wonderful sexual experience. I could still smell her perfume, and I noticed a small journal on the bedside table. I picked it up. Feeling a real heel, I opened it to the most current entry, written the previous evening.
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I thought about the woman I had fallen for, realising with some surprise that nothing had really changed. Had she not told me, I would still be her lover, and who knows what else would have developed. No one would have been any the wiser, and we could have grown old very content. Yet, it was her honesty and goodness that had made her tell me. I respected her for that. Hell, I even loved her a little more for it.
If I was confused and hurt, how much worse would it be for her?
I looked out of the window and saw it was still raining. I started to worry about her now. Would she try something foolish?
I thought not, but I knew she was hurting and that I needed to stop that hurt, if I could, we could talk through the hurt and confusion once I knew she was safe.
I went downstairs and followed the route I thought I had seen her take. I went through her garden and out of a little gate into the meadow. There were the marks in the long grass where she had run, so I followed. She had run a long way, but I found her lying in the grass by a small river. She was sobbing, real big sobs, and wailing. Her robe was open so she was soaked to the skin, as I was.
I sat in the grass beside her. She was lying face down, not even aware that I was there.
I sat and watched her. She was beautiful, even though she was crying. I tried to see anything of the male in her, but just couldn’t. She was all-woman; from the top of her head, to her dainty painted toes. Her figure was an hourglass that went in and out in all the right places. Many a thirty-year old would have been happy with her muscle tone, complexion, skin and figure. Her breasts were perfectly formed, and as natural as any I had had the pleasure of seeing or touching. As for her lower regions, I could vouch for everything working perfectly there too.
I just saw a hurting girl, who needed me as much as I needed her.
I placed a hand on her shoulder, but she tried to shake me away.
“Hey, Honey,” I said. She still sobbed.
“Dee, listen to me. You’ve had your say, now hear me out,” I said, quite firmly.
“Oh John, I’m so sorry,” she said, but the tears just flowed.
“Dee, listen. I don’t care. Do you hear me? I really don’t care, I heard what you said, and I understand it all. But I love you for who you are, I don’t give a damn who or what you were. I love you as you are, with no conditions and no strings!”
The sobs subsided, as she rolled over and stared at me.
“What did you say?” she sort of whispered, incredulity in her voice.
“I love you Dee,” I said. “I love you as the person I met, not someone I never knew.”
She looked at me with a strange expression on her face.
“But how can you?” she asked, the incredulity still in her voice.
“Because I do,” I said.
“But you know what I was!”
“No, I don’t, not really, but so what? I just know what you are! I have just made love to a beautiful woman, and I happen to love and respect that woman. And, to me, right now, that is all that matters.”
I held my arms open to her and she literally flung herself into them, sobbing even harder. This time I knew the sobs were of relief and joy.
“Hey, Honey?”
“Mmmm?”
“I really like England and all, but do we really have to sit out here, in the wet, all day?”
She started to giggle and she looked at me. Even though I had seen her looking better than this, I knew that I still loved her, no conditions and no strings.
I kissed her and she stroked my face.
“I don’t deserve you,” she said.
“You deserve some happiness. Hell, even I deserve some happiness. What do you say we try to give each other some?” I asked, and she nodded.
“With all my heart,” she said.
“And, honey, no one else ever need know. I would never have guessed, so no one else will. Let’s just take things as far as we want to. Okay?”
She nodded. I stood up and helped her to her feet. We walked slowly back to the house. I took her upstairs and stripped the wet robe off her. I started the shower in her bathroom and placed her in the shower. I stripped off and joined her again.
She just clung to me, as the hot water streamed off us. I felt myself becoming aroused again and she got out. We wrapped ourselves in fresh towels and she sat on her bed.
She looked up at me, looking miserable and very vulnerable. Her towel fell open, so I sat beside her and helped her dry off. I kissed her, and she fell back onto the bed. We lay together in her bed, just enjoying holding each other close.
“Let me just say one thing. You are most definitely one hundred percent female,” I said.
She grinned and snuggled in close to me.
“I hoped and prayed that you would come to me, I so wanted you to say that you didn’t care. I couldn’t have gone on without telling you the truth,” she said.
“Look, Dee, I know how hard it was for you to tell me. I just wanted you to know that I respect you so much for telling me. It made me realise what a special kind of person you had to be. To risk being miserable just so I was not deceived at all.”
“Oh, John, I couldn’t go into any relationship without everything being open and honest. I just couldn’t do it. Even if you go back to the States in a couple of weeks and we never see each other ever again. I will know that the time we have together is not false,” she said.
“Okay, we got over that, so where do we go from here?” I asked.
“I don’t care, ten days with you is more than I ever dreamed possible. I’ll not make any demands on you at all,” she said, and I suddenly felt so tender towards her.
“You’ve had a real bum deal out of life.”
“Not any more, you’re my ace,” she said.
We heard the sound of a car on gravel. Ed had arrived back.
“What do we do?” I asked.
“Shut the door and come back to bed,” she said. Her confidence was returning.
As it happened, we didn’t go back to bed. She changed into a white dress. I slung on a dry shirt and another pair of jeans. We went down stairs and found Ed spreading documents all over the dining room table.
Dee put our wet clothes into the dryer, and went back up stairs to dry her hair and put some makeup on.
“Get wet, Big Jay?” Ed asked.
“Yeah, we were just caught out and got soaked. But we had a real good ride. What you got there?”
“This is the family tree of the Collingwoods. I found old Eileen Collingwood and she had the whole lot in her old family Bible. Henry had three brothers and four sisters. She had all the details of all the brothers and sisters and their families. I was able to fill in the American side, and she was real interested. We can now trace the family back to 1420. Isn’t this exciting?” Ed said.
Dee came in looking radiant, but giving no hint of the trauma she had gone through. I began to see that I had been right, she was a strong person, albeit with vulnerabilities.
She came over to me and gently rested her hand on my arm. I got the message. She wanted Ed to know how the land lay, so I put my arm around her and kissed her. I thought Ed’s jaw would hit the floor.
“Do you want lunch here, or shall we go to have lunch out. I thought that we could have a look round Corfe this afternoon, what do you chaps want to do?” she said.
“I have to meet the Rector at two. He's letting me have a look at the parish records. I may be able to fill in some of the gaps,” said Ed.
“Well, let’s eat here. John and I will go to Corfe later. I’ll get some lunch out. I hope cold snacks are okay, it’s all I’ve got,” she said, going into the kitchen.
Ed was quick, “Hey buddy boy, so you and Dee are an item?” he said.
“Something like that,” I said.
“I thought that might happen. I have to admit to being surprised at the speed, but I’m pleased for you, she’s just what you need.”
“Yeah, I guess she is at that,” I said, smiling.
We sat in the kitchen and had some fresh rolls with ham and cheese. She had some lettuce and tomatoes from the garden, with fresh raspberries with cream to follow. Washed down by some beer, it was a veritable feast.
Ed scuttled off to meet his Rector friend, so Dee drove us to Corfe. It had stopped raining, so we went and had a look around the ruined castle. Dee was rather subdued, having lost some of her earlier sparkle. We looked around the shops, and came to a small gemstone shop.
I noticed a pair of pendant earrings in the window. They were blue, the exact same blue as her eyes. So I dragged her into the store and bought them for her.
They were beautiful and matched her eyes perfectly.
“I can’t take these, John. They are far too expensive,” she said.
“Dee. You have made us welcome in your home, you have fed us and become our friend. These are a poor token of the value of what you have done for us. Not least the love you give me,” I said.
She almost started to cry, so I paid and we left. As we walked down the street, I caught her admiring the earrings in shop windows. She grinned, and I saw that some of her sparkle had returned.
Ed and I took her out for a meal that evening. Ed drove us to the town of Swanage to a small restaurant that specialised in seafood, and being from a part of Arizona that is about as far from the ocean as you can get, I had to confess that my knowledge of fresh seafood was limited. Ed was a keen fisherman, as he and some buddies would go off for a weeks fishing, but nothing prepared us for the meal we had.
We had a huge bowl of fresh mussels cooked in their shells in a wine and herb stock to start, followed by sea bass and salmon en croute (in pastry), and then a bramble sorbet, that slid down real nice at the end. We had a bottle of chilled white wine, while Ed stuck to his beer. Dee wore a very elegant black dress, and I noticed she was wearing her new earrings. She looked beautiful, and I kept looking to see any hint of the person she said used to be. I just couldn’t see anything other than an elegant, sophisticated lady, whom I now knew I loved dearly.
Ed was single minded about his quest and, frankly, he was beginning to bore the pants off me. Dee was charming with him, actually managing to sound interested when she asked him questions.
But the food was so good, that even Ed shut up while we ate. I had never eaten mussels before. It was interesting, as the ‘liquor’ at the bottom of the bowl was almost the best part.
Three hours later, we left the restaurant, feeling well fed and relaxed. Dee took us along the front, where there was a beach. She took her shoes off and paddled in the gently lapping water. I was nice walking along the beach, in the cool of the evening.
I saw a group of young men messing about near an ice cream kiosk, a couple of hundred yards away. They were clearly under the influence, and were shouting and being what drunk young men often managed to be, a real pain is the ass.
A single English Bobby, with his high helmet and bright yellow florescent jacket walked towards them. One man, deciding that alcohol made him very brave, started to swear at the officer. One of his friends started to try to drag him away, but the game had started.
I walked towards the group, I heard Ed telling Dee that he would go get the car.
One of the men knocked the officer’s helmet off, so the officer grabbed the man, obviously attempting to arrest him. The other two then tried to pull their friend free. There was a lot of shouting and swearing, and the officer, who appeared very young, looked increasingly concerned. Every time he tried to talk into his personal radio, the men grabbed it off him.
I approached the group, slowly. I saw the man the officer was now holding, try to punch the officer, while the others continued to try to pull him free.
I walked over and said to the Constable, “I’m an off-duty officer, it looks like you need some assistance.”
I turned to the two men who were still trying to free their colleague.
“You two, back off, or you will be arrested. Do it NOW!” I shouted, and moved towards them.
They looked startled, so for a moment let go of their friend.
“Okay officer, get your man out of here,” I said to the constable.
“You two, stand very still, because interfering with an arrest will get you both busted,” I said, and they stood looking warily at me.
The officer called for back up, then he handcuffed the man he had arrested.
The other two looked at their friend, now on his knees with handcuffs on. Then they saw a blue light on a rapidly approaching police vehicle.
“Now, go home, sober up and thank your lucky stars that it ain’t you in the handcuffs,” I said. After a moment’s uncertain hesitation, they turned and walked away.
“You okay?” I asked the young Bobby.
“Thanks. You are American, aren’t you?” he said.
“Good guess. I'm Chief John Collingwood of the Midhurst Police Department, Arizona,” I said, producing my I.D. and badge.
“Chief? Shit! I mean, thanks very much for your help, sir,” he stammered.
“No problem. It was a pleasure. I couldn’t let you get the shit kicked out of you, now could I?”
A police van arrived and two officers got out. They helped the young drunk into the back. I noticed that Dee had come over, grinning at me.
“You just can’t resist being a hero, can you? Save a damsel in distress in the morning, and then swoop to the aid of the constabulary in the evening,” she said.
“Back home on Krypton, I’m just another weakling,” I said, grinning. Dee kissed me.
“What was that for?”
“For being you. For seeing and doing the right thing,” she said.
“Excuse me, sir?” the young officer interjected.
“Yeah?”
“Sir, did you see any of the incident?”
“Yeah, I saw the guy you arrested knock your helmet off and call you a fucking dickhead,” I said.
He grinned, “Is it possible you could make a statement to that effect?” he asked.
“Sure. When, now?”
“It would probably be easier, unless you are staying nearby?”
I looked at Dee.
“Do it now. It will be over and done with then,” she said.
“If you and your wife want, we can give you a lift to the station,” the officer said, just as Ed arrived in the Mercedes.
Dee smiled at me, but made no attempt to correct the officer’s mistaken assumption. We were both old enough to be his parents, and we were both wearing wedding rings.
We followed the police van to the station, and it only took ten minutes. The senior officer at the station was a female Inspector, the equivalent to a Lieutenant in the US, called Caroline Mercer. Caroline showed me round the station, and gave me a spare helmet plate from the Dorset Police. I promised to send her some patches after I got home and gave her my card. I explained that I was only going to be in the country for a couple of weeks. She said that if he didn’t plead guilty, she would be very surprised. But in any event, she didn’t think that I’d be required for court.
Ed drove us back to Hutchings Cottage, where Dee offered us a nightcap. She gave me a single malt scotch and Ed, ever the cultured caveman, had another beer. I sat on the sofa, savouring the excellent Scotch.
Ed drank his beer and excused himself, as he told us he was setting off for Wales early the next morning. This came as news to me, as I had thought he was taking off at the weekend.
“How come? I thought you planned to go down there on Friday or Saturday,” I asked.
He grinned at me. “I called him today. It seems that there is a Beer Festival starting tomorrow, so I thought, what the hell, you don’t have one of them every day. So, as you guys are getting along so well, I thought I’d leave you to it,” he said.
“So when are you coming back?” Dee asked.
“I have no fixed plans. I have your number. I’ll call you this Sunday, to let you know what's going on and then, if necessary, the following week before we’re due to fly out. I’d like to come back for a couple of days, to tie up a couple of small loose ends on the family tree, but they aren’t vital. I've left the details of the pub on your hall table by the phone if you need to contact me.”
I looked at Dee and caught her smile.
“Anyway, goodnight folks, and thanks Dee, for making us so welcome,” Ed said.
“It’s a pleasure. What time are you getting up?” Dee said.
“Oh, early, around seven,” he replied.
“I’ll be up. I’ll get you some breakfast. John and I are going riding again at half past,” she told him.
“Oh, that would be good. Thanks. Well, goodnight,” he said, and went upstairs.
“Another whisky?” she asked me.
“No, but thanks. I must try to keep my intake down. I got rather familiar with old Mr Scotch recently,” I replied. It was amazing the secrets that I shared with her. I suppose in comparison to her secret, they were not that large, but still, she managed to get me to open up better than anyone else.
She came and sat next to me on the sofa, folding her legs up underneath her. I found myself constantly amazed at just how naturally feminine she was. I still could not quite believe that she could ever have been anything other than what she was now.
I put an arm around her shoulders and she snuggled in close to me.
“You make me feel so good,” she said.
“That’s because you are,” I said.
“Sarah tells me that somehow I managed to acquire all Delia’s grace,” she said. It was the first time she had mentioned her.
“How did your kids react when you told them?” I asked.
“Oh God, that was so hard. I gathered them in the drawing room in our old home and just came out with it. Delia, bless her, wrote them all a letter before she died. I don’t know what she wrote, but after I told them, I went outside and waited to see what happened. They all read their letters, and all have been wonderfully supportive. I’m very lucky,” she said.
“You have a habit of just coming out with it, and then going outside,” I said, with a smile.
She smiled, a rather sad smile I thought.
“I’m sorry. If you don’t want to talk about it, then…”
“No, John, I must. It helps. You see, I haven’t really spoken to anyone about her since I started on my great adventure. So like you, I have an awful lot bottled up inside,” she said.
“Did she know about you, I mean about your, um, er…” I didn’t quite have the words.
“She knew what I was long before we married. She was a saint, so for twenty-five years, I had a fully contented life. But when she died, I knew what I had to do,” she said.
“This is all a bit weird. Did you tell her, or did she just find out?”
“I told her. I couldn’t go into a relationship with that kind of secret, could I?” she said, smiling.
I smiled too. “Where have I heard that before? Your honesty is going to get you into trouble one day,” I told her.
“I know. I thought it had today,” she said, looking at me. “I thought I had frightened you away. It was almost too much, I wanted to die.”
I saw a tear start to well up in her eye.
“Hey, I told you, it’s over. No more secrets left now. We just look forward, not back, except for the good memories, so we help each other with coming to terms with the sad ones, okay, honey?” I said.
“Okay. I love the way you speak. No one ever called me ‘honey’ before. I like it,” she said.
“Good,” I said, kissing her. She returned the kiss very tenderly.
“I heard your brother call you Big Jay. What did Sally call you?”
“She called me Jay, or honey, or John, or who hasn’t wiped their feet?” I said, and she laughed.
“Would you rather I didn’t call you any of those?” she asked.
“Honey, you can call me what the hell you like, I got no problem with any of them,” I said.
“Well, I'm off to bed. We’ve got some riding to do tomorrow. I only hope the weather is nice. What do you fancy doing after the ride?”
“I don’t give a damn, as long as I’m with you,” I said, and she laughed again.
I stood up, taking my glass into the kitchen while she switched out the lights. I followed her upstairs. She opened her bedroom door and turned to face me.
“I don’t quite know how to say this,” she said.
I kissed her. “If you need company tonight, I’ll be happy to oblige, but if you want to be alone, I understand,” I said.
“I have to be honest, I don’t ever want to be alone again,” she said, so I kissed her again.
“I’ll get my things,” I said and went to my room and collected the tee shirt and shorts that I slept in. I picked up my wash and shaving kit, and went into her room. She was already in her bathroom, so I changed. She came out wearing a real pretty nightdress.
“All yours,” she said, with a lovely smile.
I went into the bathroom, peed, had a wash and cleaned my teeth. I came out and switched out the main light.
Her bed was a king size, with a cute awning above it, with material drapes hanging down at the head. There was a light each side, and the light on the right was on.
“Which side do you like?” she asked.
I had to think for a moment.
“I’m not fussy, I used to sleep on the left,” I said.
“Good, I used to sleep on the right,” she said, lifting up the duvet.
I got in and tried to relax. This was the first time I had got into bed with anyone since Sally died. It was going to take some getting used to.
Dee snuggled down and said, “Light!”
“Okay,” I said, so she turned it out.
I lay there a while. I could hear her breathing softly. Then she started to giggle.
I smiled. “Okay, what’s so funny?” I asked.
“Us. Aren’t we ridiculous?” she said.
“Why?”
“It has been so long since we shared a bed with anyone, we’re all stiff and tense,” she said, still chuckling.
“I know how to solve that,” I said.
“Oh, how?”
I reached for her, pulling her gently to me, I found her mouth in the dark and kissed her. Her hands were all over me, so it wasn’t long before I lost my shorts and tee shirt, she lost her nightdress and we were making love.
We then slept naked and relaxed, entwined with each other. We made love again before her alarm went off at seven, and then we made love again. I felt completely shattered, I was behaving like a teenager, but hadn’t the stamina.
End of Part 3
To Be Continued...
Comments
Love Blossoms
It is fun to watch the love blossom. The acceptance of John and her family is heartwarming.
A warm and lovely story.
As always,
Dru
As always,
Dru
A Girl Can But Dream: Part 3
True Love will blossom, no matter the trauma, as shown, here. :)
May Your Light Forever Shine
May Your Light Forever Shine
Exactly what I am dealing with now.
There are people in my life right now who do not know and I shudder to think what will happen the day they tumble to it. Of course the sect of Islam I am in is supposed to accept me completely due to a ruling by the supreme leader of that sect. Well, being people, who knows what will happen. I do think that if I am about to become intimate with a man, then I will have to tell him and that is completely contrary to what the others I know in my sect tell me. And, I would be just as shattered as Dee.
Three years ago, there was a man named Allen, and everytime he touched me I just puddled. We were very close to becoming Married and he suddenly died of a stroke. That hurt very badly.
Tanya, this story is so very real for me. There is a Cowboy named John, and when he walked into Hala's life, he was similarly wonderful and kind to her about her little plumbing problem. This is so romantic, I just know that I will dream about it tonight.
Thank you.
Khaduge
It is funny,
before I transitioned I don't think this story would have held my interest, not allowing myself to be girly and all that. Now I can't put it down. Good story, better writing.
Looks like the hard part is done. So will they choose to live together? I think yes. The sheriff is going to bring back a preety bride it seems.
What a warm, sweet story.
What a warm, sweet story.
Nothing else to say
Cefin