Heath was getting back into the swing of things intertwined with the experiences and memories of the Caribbean cruise. Two nights in a row Darby and he had passionate times. The second night, Darby wanted Heather, and surprisingly it was almost as passionate as the first. Darby’s years of distancing herself from Heather was now seeing the light of a new day.

The dinner with Marie Dubois Christiansen and her family was the first time out as Heather in their community. Marie had called and said it would be a formal seven-course dinner and everyone was asked to dress and be in their finest. Darby was insistent that meant a trip to Guinevere’s Salon and even paid owner Gwen to give Heather her attention, which meant confidential treatment. Gwen greeted Heather, “Ms. Anders will it be all right if I address you as Heather? I’m Gwen owner and your attendant today. And it is my understanding that we’ll give you the full treatment including pedicure/manicure, facial, and hair extensions, and reopening your ear piercings.”

“Stacy will be doing your nails and taking care of your ear piercings. Stacy and I know who you are Ms. Anders and hope you can become relaxed as more people I’m told will come to know this side of you. Your reputation as a serious and gifted photographer is even known here.”

“Thanks for being open with me,” Heath said, though keeping in character as Heather. Heath had kept his nails get a little long again and Stacy complimented how well he’d taken care of his hands and nails. She asked, “It is our understanding that Marie Dubois said she knows you. She is quite taken with your work and sees you as a true artist.”

Heather opens up and confesses, “My wife and I are having dinner with them tonight. They have a grand home that they’re bringing to new splendor. Being called a true artist doesn’t often happen with a photographer, I feel honored”

Heather says, “I’m intrigued by how you can do your work and visit so well. That is something that I like about being in fellowship with women.”

Gwen overhears and says, “I suspect the same can be true that women wish we could talk to men in regular conversations and not hear them discounting what we say, or making some sexual innuendo. I’m guessing if you come out there will be a chance to do that, if women can be comfortable with that… What would your wife say?”

“My eyebrows are just a smidgen fuller than what they were on the cruise.” Heather hadn’t planned to let it be known that she had been on a cruise. Gwen’s and Stacy’s eyes brightened up. “Say more,” Gwen asks.

Heather tried not to say anything, but Gwen said, “The salon is where a woman can unload her secrets and they stay with her beautician.”

Heather told her about dancing, having dinner, and even swimming but nothing more intimate. Erin thought she was home free; until she paid for her appointment and with a nice tip, and Gwen said, “I hope during your next appointment you will be willing to tell us more?”
=^_^=
Instead of Darby picking Heather up, it was their daughter Aubrey; she said, “I just had to see this side of you again. You look more comfortable and very attractive.” Aubrey tells me, “Sophia may want to visit with you alone. Your lifestyle coincides with research for her doctoral dissertation.”

When we get to our house, Heather sees that Darby went to her salon and looks beautiful as well. So beautiful, Heather saw her as a nicely wrapped present that wanted to unwrap and spoil her right there. “No, you don’t Heather, you’ll have to wait for another time. We are not canceling the evening; plus, your daughter is downstairs.”

As Darby insisted, she drove Christiansen’s, and when they arrived at the house Marie and Sophia were on the top step of the porch to receive them. Marie introduced her daughter Sophia and then she offered her arm to Darby and Sophia offered her arm to Heather. Darby’s talk with Marie was light talk about nice nothings.

Sophia said, “It is nice to meet you, I would enjoy getting to know you better.” Heather knowing what she might want, stumbled with her speech, and they said, “That would be nice.” She was unhappy with herself knowing Sophia might take it as an agreement to talk, and indeed she did.

Sophie looked to her parents, “I hope you won’t mind, but Heather agreed we might talk after dinner. It shouldn’t be longer than half an hour.”

The dinner was more eloquent than anything on the cruise and indeed it was a full seven-course dinner. Numerous times Sophia or his wife would give him guidance on which utensil to use.

William DuBois was quite the gentleman; he saw no mistakes and complimented Heath on his strength and ability to present himself so well. “It has been suggested by Marie that you might present yourself as Heather in your vocation. It might even be found as a blessing in the art world.”

Heather said, “Thank you. It is more relaxing to do this here with you being relatively new to our community. A young woman who’s getting married in the spring must have heard that same rumor. She’s messaged me that she would be happy to have Heather as her wedding photographer.”

Heather shared, “We’ve known her since she was a young friend of our youngest Aubrey. I need to know that I could do it without being a distraction.”

Sophia suggested, “I’d just recommend you look nice and just blend in with all the other women who will be looking their best. It would be interesting if you would see the wedding any differently from Heather’s perspective?”

It was a short while after the dinner was over and they had made their way to lounge and waited for dessert. Sophia stepped over to Heather, “May I show you the grounds? I hear you have had some input into what mother and dad are doing out here.”

Sophia guided Heather outside to a bench underneath a grand tree, where they sat to talk. Sophia spread her shawl on the bench and waved to sit. Sophia asked, “Would you please tell me more about yourself and how Heather has finally emerged?”

Heather took a breath, “I probably have always been, at least I can’t remember a time I wasn’t. If I hadn’t met and fallen in love with Darby; I might have surfaced long ago. My life would have been very different. But my love for Darby has always been strong; she’s still the love of my life.”

“Darby had been deathly sick and my daughter and I took care of her. I think Darby at first, lived to see our son Calvin and Carla get married and then it was for Kent and Ann. After that, she became quite poor and many others thought she’d die. I thought she might, but I couldn’t let go. Her heart did stop once or twice, but she said I was an angel and told her she’d live. She knew I was transgender; she credited my being so sensitive and caring as part of her recovery.”

Sophia asked when Heather paused, “Heather, were you there to care for her?”

“There was a day she was doing well, and I needed a time as Heather. Then all of a sudden she fell and I raced to her, and she pressed an alert for Aubrey. Darby was more shocked by the fall than badly hurt. But she was very weak as I cradled her until she was all right and carried her back to bed as Aubrey came back in. Aubrey knew about me and was okay with what happened. I changed and was soon back there. Not much was said after that until earlier in spring. Darby and Aubrey became more vocal and accepting of Heather.”

Come Mother’s Day, we made it a special day for Darby, as well as our two daughters-in-law. Come that night Darby asked what I wanted of Father’s Day. I had let my hair down and said, I wanted a special dress. Come Memorial Day that dress became a Dignity Cruise to the Caribbean for transwomen and cross-dressers. She sent her best friend with me, and insisted I have an intimate time as Heather with a man.”

Sophia blushed but a little. Sophia said, “A mutual friend of Mom and yours said he was going on a similar cruise. Was it Walter Bush who became your friend?”

Heather stopped the conversation, “That’s enough. I won’t reveal any particulars other than my wife knows.”

Sophia asked, “Could I be your confidant whom you tell what you’re unable to tell others?”

Heather was holding back, and Sophia wouldn’t push her. Heather tried to talk about other things, such as the grand tree, and make small talk. She couldn’t go back to the group yet. Finally, she said, “Darby acknowledged my experience to be like a sixteen to twenty-year-old girl’s first time. What she didn’t say, it would be like a switch that had been flicked on; but doesn’t go off. I know and can’t take it back and won’t say anything.”

Sophia calmly took a breath, and said, “Thanks for trusting me.” She said, “I shouldn’t hug you, but if you want to hug me and collect yourself, please do.” Heather without hesitation hugged Sophia and did not let go for a good minute.

“Thanks,” she said.
=^_^=
It was now mid-October and Heath/Heather had been busy. Things had set to a new normal. It had been Labor Day when Heather came out. Today wasn’t the first day Heather was working, but it was the first time she would see Laura face to face. Aubrey’s friend since childhood. Heather insisted that Laura bring her Fiancée Chad. Heather welcomed the two and said, “Laura, I needed to make sure Chad would be comfortable with me being your photographer.”

Chad spoke up, “You need not worry, Laura told me about you, but at the university, we have become quite accepting of a wide variety of people. You remind me of a professor Laudon we have in women’s studies. I’ve even taken a course from her.”

Laura said, “I’ve taken him around town and shown him some of your work as well as shown him my cousin Audra’s wedding album. You took the pictures for her wedding. I’m just tickled to see you face to face. Aubrey used to laugh when I told her you could have been one of Barbie’s friends. Did she already know about this side of you?”

Laura asked, “Would you be open to taking a picture of me when I’ve selected my wedding gown and I’m being fitted? I feel like I can trust you to get a little closer than I’d allow you as Heath. I hope that doesn’t offend Heath.”

Heather’s reply was simply put, “That is fine, I am getting more requests; like yours most are simple and it is nice to the accepted as a female photographer.

Heather was to rendezvous with Walter, she’d been with him once since the cruise but this was their first overnight. Heather still has mixed feelings about being with Walt, but she likes having dinner and then retreating to have an intimate night with him. The foreplay and oral sex took some time as they agreed to enjoy their evening. Walt responded to how things we going. “You seem more assured of yourself, and it seems more agreeable to you.” She had taken more delight as she pleased Walter and herself. His semen had filled her mouth and she took her time to enjoy him and was looking forward to having intercourse and reaching an orgasm.

Heather had awakened at 4:00 a.m. and Walt pleased her again, but this time she was to be on top of him.

Darby had made appointments for her and Heather to see a gynecologist in a larger community. Dr. Jennifer Reid was older than Heath, and she had hospital rights as well as her practice. Though Dr. Reid had a good size staff in her private practice with other doctors and personnel. It was she who met with Darby and Heather Anders. Darby was asking about reassignment surgery for Heather.

Dr. Jennifer agreed that the surgery was better the younger she was and the more time she had to enjoy it. “There are several surgeries Heather can have, but there is no guarantee she will find her relationship with you any more enjoyable.”

Dr. Jennifer was upfront and asked, “Darby have you told Heather one of the reasons, you want to discuss this now?” She turned to Heather, “Do you know why Darby feels the need that this be talked about now?” When Heather shook her head ‘no’ like it was a surprise. Dr. Jennifer said, “She wants to tell you to go on with your life, her personal physician has seen signs that her cancer might be coming back.”

It was Heath who broke down in the doctor’s office. He was upset that Darby chose this way to tell him. But he knew she needed to have control over how she was to face this possibility. They had talked about it, but Darby had only learned of her cancer having come back.

Darby’s cancer was already at level three and showed it was in an aggressive form this time.

All the family was together to hear about the return of her cancer; once again with a poor prognosis of three to six months of life expected. It was as Heath that he presented himself. Darby, however, made it known there would be times that she wanted Heather to attend and be with her.

Calvin spoke up, “While everyone knows what I think; I will have no problem with any of us being there for Mother and one another. Carla has agreed to remind me if I get out of line. We’re a family in this.”

It was Kent who asked if there was to be someone else involved. And with that question, he turned to their father.

It was a week later that Heath received and call from Sophia Christiansen. “I heard about your wife’s cancer coming back, and mother suggested I call you. Besides how she is doing; I want to find out how you are doing. That includes the needs of Heather as well.”

He said, “I am deeply touched by the thoughtfulness of you and your mother. Darby is quite sick already, but we’re rallying around her. I can’t separate being Heath and Heather at a time like this. But first and foremost I’m her husband and here for her twenty-four, seven.

Sophia asked, “Have others heard from you, and how you’re doing?”

Heath said, “Sorry for my frankness, but I don’t have time for complications at this point. I’m putting all my love and energy into being there for Darby and to beat this. Where I’ll be and if others will be there when she is well again, I don’t have the foggiest.”

Sophia being about nine years older than Aubrey, and understanding of things was a help in being there. We would talk now and then.

Darby’s cancer had slowed in its progression.

Carla gave birth to a son named Caleb, and Ann and Kent were expecting their first child come the first of the year.

Heath/Heather was in charge of foot and back rubs almost every day for Darby, with a few for Ann as the baby’s birth neared. Heather was there twice when Calvin came by, once little Rose, Caleb, and Carla with him. Heather was caught by surprise when Calvin went and hugged Heather.

Rose had asked where Grandpa was and was surprised that Grandpa looked like a grandma. Heather was wondering if this was a show for Darby but decided to warmly accept things for the present and Darby’s sake.

Come February, Darby had rallied a little, and both the new grandchildren were being baptized in private ceremonies as Darby was being kept away from crowds with the flu and a virus going around.

Two days later, Darby’s health took a turn, and was back in the hospital…

To be continued…