In Memoriam

Dear Readers: I was inspired to write this story when I was listening to a respective of Roberta Flack (2/10/1937 - 2/24/2025) songs the day after she died. As I listened to this song I realized it could be the soundtrack of the love affair between two people. I began to write, what I believed would be a short story of the love affair between two women, but it blossomed into a much longer, much deeper story than I originally envisioned. This is a slow-burn romance with any sex scenes appearing at the halfway mark, and later, of the story. My thoughts concerning this song are voiced by the character Anna late in the story. There is also a quick reference to another of Ms. Flack's songs "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow", a great cover of the oft-recorded classic song written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin, by Angel's character in the latter half of the story. The song "The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face" written by Ewan MacColl. I hope you enjoy the story.

In Memoriam

(The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face)

The first time ever I saw your face

I thought the sun rose in your eyes

And the moon and the stars were the gifts you gave

To the dark and the endless skies, my love

To the dark and the endless skies

It had been a shitty day, just another in a long line of shitty days. It was around nine o'clock on a Friday night. I was already quite drunk and decided it was time to go to my little apartment and sleep it off. I stumbled off the barstool, slurred "Good Night" to Samuel behind the bar.

"Are you okay?"

"No."

"Do you need any help?"

I smiled at him, shook my head, and said "No. I am just going home to sleep. It's all of a block and a half. I'll be fine. Thanks though."

Samuel smiled, "You're welcome. Be careful in that block and a half. Take care Anna."

"I will," as I gave him a small wave and smile, as I began stumbling toward the door.

As I stepped out of the bar, I found out a cold October rain was falling. Fuck, just great. I was hurriedly trying to get my jacket on as I began my walk home.

The first time ever I saw her face I was still fighting to get my jacket on. She was with two other girls, and I caught just a flash of the most beautiful face I had seen as they walked by. Still struggling with my jacket, I turned my head to follow her as she walked by, and I promptly stumbled and tumbled to the sidewalk. Fuck!

My head hit the sidewalk hard enough that I saw stars and was stunned for a moment. As I lay there gathering what wits I had, a face appeared looking down at me.

"Are you okay?"

I got my eyes to focus as best they could and looked up to where the voice came from. It was that face, a halo of light surrounded it, a look of concern on its countenance.

"Are you an angel?"

"Oh my, no. I'm just a girl. You took a pretty good fall, and I wanted to find out if you were alright."

"I think I am. Other than being embarrassed at my clumsiness."

She snickered, "Try to sit up, please."

I started to sit up and the world began to spin, the heavenly face remaining stationary, intensely looking at me. I fell back to the ground, groaned, and said, "Maybe not."

She looked into my eyes, their intensity gathered all my attention, a small smile came across her mouth, and she said, "Let me help. I am going to slide you next to the building, with your help I hope, and lean you against the building. Okay?"

I mumbled, "Yes."

She reached down, grabbed my arm and slid her other arm around my waist, "I am going to pull you over to the building. It would be a great help if you used your feet to help push your body over."

"I think I can do that."

It was awkward, but we got my body next to the building, and she pulled me to a sitting position, leaning against the brick wall.

She looked into my eyes and said, "Stay right here. I will be right back. Do not try and get up!"

I nodded. She smiled, stood up and walked over to the other two girls she had been walking with, and a discussion ensued. It seemed to be a somewhat contentious discussion that ended with the other two girls shaking their heads in disagreement and I heard them telling her not to do it, and she replied, authority in her voice, that she was, and for them to continue on to wherever they were originally heading.

She turned around and walked back to where I was sitting up against the building.

I looked up at her, and said, "I am sorry. I didn't mean to cause an argument between you and your friends. I will be alright."

She frowned at me, "You are not alright. I told them I was going to get you home and then I would catch up with them. They think I am being stupid. I think I am being kind. What do you think?"

I was confused, and said, "Huh?"

She laughed, a lilting joyous sound, "Never mind, I was just teasing you. Besides, your vote wouldn't have counted anyway."

"Why not!"

She beamed a smile at me, "Because I had already made-up my mind."

I softly snickered at that, "I guess that answers that."

"It does, doesn't it?" laughing that wondrously joyful laugh. It insinuated itself within me. I felt a warmth course through my body when she laughed. It felt full of joy, and compassion.

She looked down at me again smiling, her halo was back, framing her head, my angel.

"We are going to get you up and standing. You ready for that?"

"Yes."

She reached down putting her hands in each of my armpits, and said, "On the count of three I am going to start lifting you, and you need to use your legs to help push you back to a standing position. Can you do that for me?"

"Yes, at least I think I can."

Her bright smile, her eyes intensely staring into my mine, "Oh, I am sure you can. One, two, three."

And up I went. My legs were wobbly, but we had gotten me back up standing, leaning against the building, but standing.

I giggled.

"What's so funny?"

"I see now why you kept having a halo appear around your head."

"Why?"

I kept giggling and just pointed up and behind her with my finger. She turned her head, saw what I was pointing at, and her infectious laugh came again, warming me.

We were under a streetlamp and every time she had leaned her head over mine, she blocked the bright direct light from the bulb, with the diffused light framing her head in a halo of softer light.

"I told you I was just a girl."

"No. You have been my angel. You are not going to change my mind."

Her broad smile lit up from my comment, "So, I guess I should not argue with you about this then?"

"Absolutely not," I said, with my own broad smile on my face.

"Okay, now some serious talk. I want to make sure you get home alright tonight. Do I need to call a ride?"

"No, I live just around the block."

"Convenient."

"Yeah. If one wishes to get a drink, or in my case, drunk."

"I will leave that alone for another time."

"There's another time?"

She smiled her smile, "Possibly. If you want."

"I think I would like that."

Still smiling, her eyes bright with mirth, she started pulling my jacket around my shoulders and got both my arms correctly placed into the sleeves, a process I had been unable to do, partially because of her.

"Put your arm around my waist," as she wrapped her arm around my shoulders.

Once we both got our arms around the other person, she said, "Where are we going?"

We were faced the correct direction, so I said, "Straight ahead, across the street, then left about halfway up the block."

"Ready?"

"As much as I am going to be, I think."

"Okay, we're off to see the wizard then."

I giggled and we started walking down the street. I was not all that steady, so she adjusted her walking pace, allowing for my ability to only walk slowly. As we walked, I instinctively laid my head against her shoulder, when I realized what I was doing I straightened my head and said "Sorry."

She laughed, "I don't mind at all. If it feels better to lean against me, do it all you want, it does not bother me."

"Thank you," and I laid my head back onto her shoulder as she tightened her arm wrapped around me.

We managed to navigate down the block and across the street.

"Left, right?" she asked.

"Left, not right."

Her laugh came freely, warmth flowed through my body, "I didn't phrase that question very well, did I?"

I giggled, "No, you did not."

We got to my apartment building, "This is it."

"Well, we need to get you dry and into bed."

"I can do that."

"Maybe, maybe not. Let me help you so that I know you are safely in bed, please."

"Okay. Thank you."

As we walked up the three floors of stairs, I realized I would not have been able to manage it by myself.

As we reached my floor, I sighed and said, "Thank you. You were right. I needed your help."

"Which one is your apartment?"

"3D. On the left, two doors down."

We got to the door; I fished out my key and unlocked the door. I turned to her and said, "Here we are, I'm okay now."

She scowled at me, "Dammit, no. I am going to make sure you are in bed and sleeping before I leave. No argument."

I giggled, "Okay, okay. I owe you so much already though."

"You owe me nothing. I am just helping someone who needs some help. That's what people do."

"Not all people."

"Those that don't are just selfish. When someone needs some help you help them, if you can, It is what being part of any society entails, to me anyway."

I snickered, "My angel."

"I am just a girl, like you."

"You are not like me. You are a much kinder and compassionate person than I am."

"Well, we can work on that," she said, with a snicker.

"Good luck at that."

"Shush, I know better. Now we need to get you out of these wet clothes, dried off, and into bed."

She pushed the door open into my crappy little apartment. It was a disaster, clothes, plates, glasses, papers lying all over the room. Nobody comes to my apartment, and I no longer care how it looks. Every once in a while I do clean it, but it has become less frequent as time has passed.

She said nothing but turned to me and began to remove my soaked jacket.

"What are you doing?"

"I am getting you out of this soaking wet jacket. Again, no argument!"

I sighed and helped her remove the jacket.

"Where?" she looked at me quizzically.

"Anywhere."

She snorted, shut the door and dropped the jacket on the floor. Then she walked me over to the closest chair that a person could sit on and gently pushed me down onto it. She kneeled and began to unlace my boots.

I started to say, "I can..."

She put her finger against my lips, "Shush! Let me do this."

I sighed, "Okay."

She got both my boots off, just tossing them a short distance away, and then she removed my wet socks.

"Your feet are freezing. Tell me where you towels are, and don't tell me you can do it, I want to!"

No more argument from me, I would just lose anyway, "There is a linen closet in the hallway next to the bathroom."

"Which is the bathroom?"

"The door on the left."

She got up, got a towel, and quickly returned and toweled off my feet, rubbing them even after they were dry, warming them up. I sighed and relaxed into the chair as she tended to my feet.

She stood up, reached her hand out to me for me to grab and pulled me out of the chair and took me into my bedroom. The were only two doors in the hall so it was obvious which was the bedroom.

Once there she said, "Stand still. I know I used this towel on your feet, but I am going to use it to dry your hair since you will definitely want to shower in the morning. Show me where you head is sore; I do not want to cause you any pain."

I ran my hands over my head, "Ow!", I found it, "Right there."

"Okay."

She started vigorously drying my hair, making sure she kept away from where my head hit the sidewalk. Once she got my hair dry everywhere else, she dried that portion of my head as gently as she could, it hurt, but not terribly.

"Now you get to do it yourself. Get your sleep clothes, grab another towel, go to the bathroom, strip down, dry yourself, and get dressed for bed. Can you do that for me?"

"Yes, I certainly can."

My walking skills had improved, I still wavered somewhat, but I was able to get my sleep attire, took the towel, and went into the bathroom, stripped, dried, and got into my sleeping clothes as ordered.

I came back to the bedroom, having left the towel and my wet clothes on the floor of the bathroom. She just pointed to the bed, the bedding pulled down, ready for me to go to sleep.

I just nodded, smiled, and climbed into the bed and pulled my bedding up around me.

I said, "Thank you so much for all your help and kindness. You really are my angel, you know that, right?"

"Okay, I won't argue with you. I was your angel tonight. Now, go to sleep. Once you are asleep, I will leave, locking the door behind me."

I was already beginning to doze off, I think I made some happy mews as she talked, then darkness.

And the first time ever I kissed your mouth

I felt the earth move in my hand

Like the trembling heart of a captive bird

That was there at my command, my love

That was there at my command, my love

When I woke up the next morning my head was banging like an o-daiko drum, from my drunkenness and my fall, last night. There was a tall glass of water sitting on my night table, a note under it said, "drink me", I chuckled and took a long drink. I noticed another piece of paper, with two aspirin caplets on it, that said "swallow me". I smiled, picked the caplets up, put them in my mouth, and finished drinking the water I swallowed them.

I stood up and nearly fell. I steadied myself; my legs were not fully stable, and I just stood there for a couple of minutes. As I stood, I put my hands in my hair to fluff it some from my sleeping and an "Ow" issued from my lips. I gently felt my head where it was tender, a small bump was there. I put some pressure on it and another "Ow" came from my lips. It might be a small bump, but it was painfully tender. There was no skin tear, just the bump. I was confused for a moment, then last night flooded into my foggy brain. I had fallen, thus the bump, and an angel had appeared to help me.

Fuck! I thought. An angel had come to my rescue, and I had no idea who she was. I had let her disappear without getting her name or any other information, other than that she claimed to be just a girl. Dammit!

I internally castigated myself for being so drunk and not thinking straight. I had let the best person I had met in a very long time help me and I will never know who she was. Shit!

Well, why not. My life sucked so why would I want to let something, someone, enter my life that, possibly, could brighten my life. What a dumbass I am. Fuck!

Well, there was nothing I could do about my stupidity, so I would have to just persevere onward in my life. My life just keeps getting better.

I glanced over at the clock on the night table, and it showed the time as eight-thirty-eight. At least I had gotten a decent night's sleep. My body had recovered, my legs were now doing as they should. Time to shower, clean the residue of last night from my body and welcome another dull, shitty day.

I stripped out of my sleep clothes and walked naked to the bathroom. When I entered the bathroom I saw my jacket, pants, and sweatshirt were hanging from the curtain rod to dry. I had to laugh as my bra was clasped together through a belt loop on my pants. My socks and panties were hung over the towel rack. Everything felt dry so, for now, I just tossed all my clothes into the hallway and grabbed a towel and a washcloth from the linen closet, putting the towel on the towel rack.

Once the water was warmed to the temperature I liked, hot, I stepped into the tub, pulling the shower curtain closed. Oh, did the water feel wonderful. The hot water seemed to quickly dissipate the residue from last night's adventure. I just stood there for a couple of minutes, relishing the feeling of the hot water flowing onto my ill-treated body.

I vigorously scrubbed my body with a soap-laden washcloth removing any reminder of the previous night. I put my head under the showerhead letting the water soak into my hair. I could feel a tinge of pain when the stream of water hit my tender bump, but it felt so good, that small inconvenience was barely noticeable. I shampooed my hair, using my fingers to scrub my scalp, taking care not to scrub across the bump. I laid my head back letting the water rinse the shampoo from my hair. As I stood running my hands through my hair to help rinse out the shampoo, I realized I was feeling much better.

I shut off the water, grabbed the towel and dried myself. I felt, almost, human again. My head still hurt but the pounding had lessened to just an annoying hangover headache. My body felt revived, at least, somewhat, anyway.

I hung the towel on the rack and walked naked back to my bedroom. I noticed that the clothing that had been on the floor yesterday was gone. I thought that was strange but left that to be figured out later.

I went to the dresser to get some clothes to wear. As I stood there, I looked at my body in the mirror over the dresser. I was too thin; my ribs were more visible than they should be. I knew it came from my diet, which sucked. I ate randomly and usually only two meals throughout the day, and what I ate was not the most nutritious food by any measure. My breasts were still winning the battle with gravity, smallish, but proud. My hips flared out, looking wider than they were, because my abdomen and waist were not as full as they should be. Diet. I was pleasant enough to look at, but I would look better if I took care of myself. But I didn't really care much anymore.

I opened my underwear drawer, grabbed a pair of blue high-cut panties and a black bra tossing them over onto the bed. I opened another drawer and pulled a pair of denim jeans, my usual attire, tossing them toward the bed. They fell short, landing on the floor. I shook my head, my life in a microcosm.

I put on the panties, bra, and jeans, I walked over to the closet and looked at my choice of shirts to wear. Not a wide variety, mostly sweatshirts, some lighter pullover shirts, and just a couple of button-down blouses. I decided to be different today and grabbed a turquoise, three-quarter sleeve, button-down blouse. Why? No idea.

Once dressed I was heading to the kitchen to brew some much-needed coffee. I entered the front room and stopped dead in my tracks. The chaos of crap strewn throughout the front room was gone. Clothes gone, plates and glasses gone, loose papers gone. I saw a stack of papers on my small dining table, so that solved one question.

I needed coffee more than I needed to figure out where all my mess went. I went into the kitchen, started a pot of coffee, opened the cupboard door where my cups were, and I got the answer as to where all my cups had gone. They were all put back into the cupboard. I pulled some down to look at and saw they had all been washed and put away. I opened all my cupboards. All the plates and glasses were cleaned and stored in their place. I opened my silverware drawer, all were cleaned and placed in my silverware tray.

It was then I noticed a garbage bag leaning against the counter where my sink sits. It was full and tied shut. I walked over and opened my garbage bin to see a new bag inside it that was about three-quarters full.

The countertops were also cleared of all the crap I had just left on them, and they had been wiped clean. As was my sink, empty and shiny clean. I looked at the storage in the cupboards on this side of the kitchen. All my pots and pans were washed and neatly stacked in a different figuration than I had them, but it was a better use of the space than I had had them prior.

Then I saw a note on the right side of the sink.

"I hope I put everything back in its place. I did rearrange your pots and pans; thought it worked better for ease of retrieval and storage."

I poured up a cup of coffee and walked over to the dining table and did a quick look through the neat stack of papers. Most of them could be tossed but there were some important papers that needed to be kept. There was another note.

"I threw away a lot of papers, but these I kept for you to decide if they were needed or not."

I stood there, looked at my front room and kitchen. They had not been this neat in months. A wave of embarrassment and shame flooded me. I knew who did this, my angel. I wondered how long she had stayed here last night while I slept.

My eyes welled and tears began to fall. Why would she do this. It's great but she should not have cleaned up my mess. I made it, it should have been me who cleaned it up. I grabbed a tissue from a box on my end table and dabbed my eyes dry. And I don't know who the hell she is, where she lived, where she worked, so there was no way I could thank her for what she had done.

I refilled my coffee cup and sat down on my couch, on a cushion that had been unavailable due to junk stacked on it. My tears continued to fall. I felt horrible that she had felt the need to clean my apartment as I lay sleeping off my drunkenness. My shame at my behavior was threatening to overwhelm me. My months of not caring about anything now hung over me as dark thunder clouds ready to unleash a deluge upon me.

I sat for a while drinking my coffee, long enough I poured myself another cup and sat back down on the couch. My tears had stopped, but now an anger at myself replaced the tears. I was existing but not living. I was just pretending the appearance of living and not making much of an effort at that, in all honesty. I needed to change. I have thought about this before but never made the effort to do so. The fact that it took my angel to shake me awake to the wasting of my life shook me to my core.

I made a promise to myself I would change. I would not live as if I didn't care anymore, even though I didn't care. That also had to change. People have setbacks and problems through their life and carry on living. Some, however, like me, give up. Somehow, I needed to get back into the game, exactly how I wasn't sure, but this time I was going to make a true effort at change.

I had drunk another cup of coffee. I got up and sat my cup by the coffeemaker as I needed to pee. I came back out to the front room after paying my coffee rental, poured another cup, and returned to the couch.

I sat and glanced around the room again. My emotions of gratitude, shame, and embarrassment welled up inside of me, my eyes welled again. I dabbed my eyes, no tears fell.

A soft knock on the door broke my pensive reverie. It took me a moment to fully realize what had disturbed me. I stood up and as I walked toward the door another soft knock came. I opened the door.

Her face. As I fell apart, I fell into her, wrapping my arms around her shoulders, mumbled, "My angel."

And the levee broke. I was sobbing into her shoulder; my body was racked with convulsions as I held her tight against me. Her arms wrapped around my waist, holding me tightly also, as she stood there while I cried like I hadn't cried in years.

One of her hands began to softly pet my hair. Soft, consoling words whispered in my ear. I am not sure how long we stood hugging each other while I wept. Eventually my tears slowed, and I got myself composed, releasing my arms from their fierce grip around her, and I looked up at her, her eyes moist, and I softly said, "Hi."

She laughed, that warmth delivering wonderful laugh, and said, "Hi, back."

I snickered, even as my breath hitched as my weeping slowed. I tightened my hug of her again, laying my head back on her shoulder.

We hugged silently for a few more moments, and she said, "Perhaps we should move into your apartment instead of standing in the hallway?"

I laughed, it felt so good to laugh, "Yeah, maybe we should."

We broke our embracement, she took ahold of my hand and led us into my apartment, softly shutting the door behind us.

"I have some fairly fresh brewed coffee. Would you like a cup?"

"That sounds wonderful."

"Go sit on the couch, since you made it available to sit on, and I will bring us both some coffee."

As she made her way to sit on the couch I quickly walked over and grabbed my cup from the coffee table then went into the kitchen to pour us both a cup of coffee.

"Do you put anything in your coffee?"

"No. I drink it black."

"That's probably a good thing. I have sugar and milk, the milk I am not sure you would want to drink," I said with a chuckle.

I returned to the couch with our coffee, placing her cup in front of where she was sitting on the couch, and I sat. I turned, pulling my legs up onto the couch so I could look at her. She saw me do so and turned to face me, pulling her legs up also.

She still had her light jacket on, and I noticed the right shoulder was very dark with moisture from my flood of tears.

I gasped and said, "Crap, I got your jacket all wet from my tears. We should wipe it dry, so you don't get any stains from the salt."

She glanced at her jacket, removed it, laying it on the back of the couch, and said "Later."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Don't worry about it. It's not like it is new, or expensive. It is just an older jacket I feel comfortable in."

"Still..."

"Don't worry, it's fine, besides we have other, more important topics to talk about."

"We do?"

She laughed, "Yes, we do. Like, maybe, you could tell me your name?"

I coughed from some coffee I was trying to swallow when she said that, "Anna. And yours?"

"You know it already. You have been calling me by my name since last night."

"I know I was drunk, but I do not remember you ever telling me your name."

She giggled, leaned over, opened her purse, brought out her wallet, removed a card of some sort, and handed it to me.

I looked at what she had handed me. It was her driver's license. Her name was Angel Elise Johnson. I stared at it for a few moments, a smiled came across my face, "I have, haven't I"

Angel nodded, "I thought I would let you see something official, so you didn't think I was pulling your chain."

I softly said, "You really are an Angel."

"That's my name, yes, but I am just a girl, Anna."

"Anna Winnifred Everson is my full name."

"Winnifred?"

"My grandmother's name."

"A, W, E. As in awesome."

I snorted, "I am far away from awesome."

"Not to me. And you just don't realize it yet."

"I don't feel very awesome, never had."

"You are. Well, we will have to work so you realize just how awesome a person your really are," Angel said, beaming her beautiful smile at me.

"That'll be hard work."

"I like challenges."

"You better have, because that is one helluva challenge."

"Anna, accept that I think you are awesome, that's the first step. Okay?"

"Okay. In my Angel's eyes I am awesome," I said, smiling at her.

Angel clapped her hands, laughed that laugh that brings such contentment to me, "Step one nailed."

I snickered, handing her back her driver's license, and asked, "Seriously now, why?" as I waved my hand around in the air encompassing my, now, clean front room and kitchen.

"Why I cleaned your house?"

"Yes."

"Because it needed it, badly," she snickered, "And I am a bit of a clean freak. I'm not phobic about it but messy does bother me."

"I feel ashamed that you felt you needed to clean-up my apartment."

"As you should," she chuckled, "Seriously, I had the time, so I did it."

"How long did you stay last night?"

"I got home about three this morning."

"Three in the morning! Why in the hell were you here that long?"

Angel sighed, "Anna, you were drunk, you had banged your head, I stayed to make sure you were alright. No concussion, or puking, or anything like that. I called my girlfriends and told them to continue on without me because I was taking care of you. They were kind of pissed. They told me I should just leave and join them to have some fun. I got pissed back at them and told them I was not going to leave until I felt assured you didn't have any serious injury. I told them that is what people do or should do anyway. But you don't even know her, they said. I replied, 'So what, a person in need of help is a person in need whether you know them or not'. Let's just say we agreed to disagree, and the conversation ended on that sour note.

"I knew I was going to be here for few hours so to kept busy I started cleaning up your apartment, checking on you about every 30 minutes to make sure you're breathing was normal. I even used my phone's flashlight and checked your skull wasn't bleeding, which happily it was not. You know you are almost unbearably cute when sleeping, even with the drooling?"

I blushed strongly, snickered, "Thanks, I think."

"Oh, I am being sincere."

"I'm surprised I didn't awaken from the light and the noise I am sure you made while cleaning."

"Anna, I could have run a vacuum, and I don't think you would have awakened. Which brings up a question, do you have a vacuum?"

"I did but it broke down and I haven't cared enough to get a new one."

Angel frowned, "You need to care. And not just about the vacuum, which you desperately need."

My stomach growled. I realized I was famished, "Are you hungry?"

Angel laughed, "I could eat. Though I think you may be hungrier from what I just heard."

I blushed again, "I really do need to eat. There is a greasy spoon diner a couple of blocks away. They actually serve pretty good food. They serve breakfast all day and I am jonesing for a big breakfast. My treat."

"Oh, I can pick-up the tab."

"The hell you will! It is the very least I can do after what you did for me."

Angel snickered, "Okay, I am not going to argue, you are buying."

I smiled at Angel, "Damn straight!"

"Let's have a breakfast then."

I got up, held out my hand for Angel to grab and helped her to stand. I picked up our empty cups, rinsed them, leaving them in the sink. I turned off the coffeemaker and said, "Let me grab my jacket, then we can walk over to the diner."

I put on a light jacket, grabbed the tied closed garbage sack from the kitchen as I joined Angel at the door.

As we stood at the door Angel said, "I was not sure what to do with the garbage bag. Do you have to trundle your garbage down the stairs every time?"

"No, there is a garbage drop but this bag is too filled to fit into the chute so yes I have to carry down."

"I am sorry, I was unaware."

"My dear Angel, carrying this bag down the stairs is a small inconvenience when compared to the time and effort you put in to fill it. It is not a problem whatsoever."

"So, what do you do if you have a piece of furniture you are wanting to place in your apartment?"

"There is a freight elevator tenants can use, but they are very strict about the use of it."

"Well, there's that I guess."

When we got down to the lobby, I told Angel to wait there while I went out the back door and threw the bag in the garbage container behind the building. When I got back to the lobby we headed off to the diner.

"You know I was afraid I would never see you again?"

"I am sorry. I should have left a note for you because I was planning to come back and make sure you were feeling alright, or at least as well as you could considering what occurred last night."

I chuckled, "Well, I think I am, mostly because of your care for me last night. I am overwhelmed by the fact you stayed with me for so long."

"As I told my girlfriends, I wanted to make sure you were not injured more than it appeared. Plus, I got to watch you sleep, cutie," she said with a broad smile.

"Oh, shush. I am not cute sleeping."

"How can you know, you are asleep. Trust me you are as cute as a kitten all curled up and sleeping."

"Yeah, right."

Angel stopped, put her hand on my cheek, turning my head to face her, "Anna, whether you believe it or not, you are a very attractive young woman. You may try and hide it, but, to me, it is obvious. You are as cute as a bug's butt."

I snickered, blushed, and said, "That is high praise, indeed."

"It is, indeed," Angel replied, giggling.

We resumed walking and I said, "Thank you, but I am nowhere as pretty as you are."

"Hogwash! You are every bit as pretty as I am, but you choose to believe you are not. And you present yourself to the world as you think. We are going to have to work on changing your self-image to one that is closer to the truth."

"Another rigorous challenge."

"Hah, I love a good challenge."

"Why do you want to change me?"

"I do not want to change you. Well, I do, but I do not want to change you into something you are not, but to change your perception of yourself and present the real you to the world."

"Why do keep insisting I am something I am not?"

"Because you are. We just need to convince you of who you really are."

I sighed, "Good luck."

"Luck has nothing to do with it."

With that comment we arrived at the diner. We went in, got seated, and began looking at the menu.

"Anna, I want you to know I do not want to change you. I do, however, want to help you change your perception of yourself. There is a wonderful young woman hiding in you, we need to bring that woman out."

"I still don't know how or why you think there is a different me."

Angel beamed her joyous smile at me, her vibrant green eyes full of life, "I have found that I am very perceptive with people. I seem to be able to see things in people that they themselves are unaware of. And you are one of the most unaware persons of just how wonderous you are as a person I have ever met."

Unconvinced I just slightly shook my head and looked at the menu. I knew what I was going to order but used looking at the menu to escape her eyes, an intensity burning behind them that was somewhat uncomfortable to me.

Our server arrived and asked if we were ready to order.

I said "Yes. Angel?"

She replied, "Yes."

I ordered a three-egg omelet with cheese and sausage, grits, and pancakes. I also requested a large orange juice and coffee.

Angel snickered, "Hungry?"

I blushed, giggled, and replied, "Yes."

Angel turned to the server, "Coffee for me also, and I would like an egg over medium, hash browns, and rye toast, please."

"Thank you," the server said and left to enter our order.

"Anna, you said you didn't care about a vacuum, but from what I see, and subtle hints from you, that you really don't care about much about living a life either. I know you haven't known me for even a day but, if you feel okay to tell me, what has made you not to care?"

I looked at Angel, her eyes still intense but subdued from how they looked a few minutes ago. My first response was that she was asking something that only close friends, even if they should, had a right to ask. As she said we had not known each other for even twenty-four hours and she was asking a very, very personal question.

But as I looked into her eyes, still intense, all I could see was only concern and caring showing. She had done so much for me in the hours since I initially met her, it felt like she was a longtime friend. Somehow, in those few hours, she had imbued a strong feeling within me of her caring, and friendship, toward me.

I felt safe with her. I wanted, needed, to open myself to her. To tell her why I had given up living for just existing, alive but joyless. Anything I told her she would hold close to her heart. It was just between us. I knew for certain she asked only out of caring for me. I needed someone to care for me, and there she was sitting across a diner's table. For the first time in a very long time, I felt someone cared about me; cared for me. I had to tell her. She needed to know. She would help me.

I gave a big sigh, "Okay. I will tell you my tale."

Angel gave me a small smile, "Thank you. I know it's not easy for you to open to someone, but I feel that I may be more than just someone to you. I really do care for, and about, you."

I nodded, "Strangely, in these few hours, I have come to feel that you are someone very special to me. Someone I need to have in my life, it feels almost like if I don't, my life might never change. And my life must change, that is obvious I now realize."

Angel gave me another small smile, "It does. You deserve a life with joy in it. Everybody has sadness in their life, unfortunately it is part of living, but there must be joy also or it means nothing, and despair overtakes one's life. And you, my awesome friend, need some joy desperately. I hope to bring joy back into your life, if you will let me."

"Please," I said, in an almost whisper, looking into her eyes. I am sure there was a look of desperation in my eyes, "I need some joy."

I could feel moisture filling my eyes. Angel reached into her purse and handed me a couple of tissues. I dabbed my eyes; no tears had fallen but the threat was near.

Our server came back with a carafe of coffee and my orange juice, "I will bring your meals shortly."

"Angel, I want you to know when I was sitting in my newly cleaned apartment drinking coffee this morning, I made myself a promise to keep my apartment clean. I was so ashamed that you cleaned my apartment that I promised that it would never again be in that state of disarray."

"Good for you! One step ahead. I did not intend to make you feel ashamed but maybe that was the push you needed."

I poured each of us a cup of coffee. I took a drink, and said, "Their coffee is very good also. I failed to mention that. It was an unexpected discovery I made a long time ago, and with good food this has been my go-to destination when I want to have a meal out."

Angel took a sip of her coffee, "This is good coffee."

Our server returned with our meals, and a holder with three types of syrup for my pancakes.

I looked at my plates of food and my stomach growled, loudly, which caused Angel to laugh.

I snickered, "Sorry."

Angel still giggling said, "Not to worry. You haven't eaten in quite a while. Grits, huh, are you from the South?"

I already had a mouthful of omelet, so I held up a finger as a sign I would answer after I swallowed my food.

"I am not; my mother was. So, we had grits often with our breakfast growing up, so I usually have them instead of hash browns for breakfast."

"Just curious."

For the next few minutes, we ate silently. I made myself eat slowly. I was so hungry if I had been by myself, I would have inhaled my food.

I had cleaned up one plate and was putting a pancake on the now empty plate, I asked Angel, "Would you like a pancake?"

She just smiled at me, and said, "No thank you. I ate a light breakfast this morning so what I have here is enough. Plus, you need to pack in some calories from not having eaten for so long."

I snickered, "Okay. Thought I would ask. They warm the maple syrup before they bring it out. It is a nice touch."

Angel brought her eyes to look directly at mine, "Now you have to do a difficult task. You need to, please, tell me why you have withdrawn from living.?"

I sighed deeply, looked into her eyes, shining intensely looking at me, and softly asked, "Can we do this at my apartment? I feel uncomfortable talking about it in public."

Angel replied, "Oh my yes. I did not mean to make you feel uneasy. It makes sense, of course we can talk back at your apartment."

"Thank you," as I put a second pancake on my plate, pouring some apricot syrup on this one.

Angel smiled and refilled our cups with coffee from the carafe.

We sat mostly silent, as I finished my meal. We both, it seemed, were busy with our own thoughts.

I laid my fork down, sighed as I finished my last pancake, and said, "I needed this. I feel much better now with some food in me."

Angel laughed lightly, "Of that, I am sure."

Our server came, asked if we needed anything else, and when we said no, she placed the bill on the table, thanking us for our patronage.

Angel's hand moved to toward the bill, and I said, "Don't even think about it. This is on me. I thought we had already agreed on that."

"Well, you can't blame a girl for trying," with a snicker.

We got up, I left a generous tip, and we went to the cashier. I paid the bill, and we left to walk back to my apartment. As we began walking back Angel slid her arm around mine, I gave her a look, she just smiled. So, we walked arm in arm back to my apartment. It felt nice, the contact with each other as we walked. I felt a warmth, with a barely noticeable tingle, from her arm against mine.

When we got back to my apartment and discarded our jackets, Angel sat on the couch and I went into the kitchen, and asked, "Would you like more coffee?"

"No thank you. I have had enough coffee, but a glass of water would be nice."

Water sounded good so I filled two glasses with water and joined her on the couch.

As I sat down, Angel shifted so she was facing me, her legs pulled up on the couch. I shifted so I was facing her.

She took a long drink of water, sighed, "That hit the spot," and placed her glass on a coaster on the coffee table.

I took a long drink also, "Oh yeah, I needed that," placing my glass on another coaster.

"So, are you ready to tell me why?"

A long, deep sigh, "Yes."

Angel reached over and took my hand in hers, "It will be okay."

"I hope. I am a bit apprehensive, to be honest."

"Understandable. Here I am, wanting you to divulge very personal, most likely painful, experiences from your life. Being somewhat uneasy, especially considering we just met, is not surprising. But know this, I am here for you, and what you tell me only helps me to try and help you."

"I know. I know you want to help me, but I am scared. No one has shown any interest in me for a long time."

Angel squeezed my hand, "I am deeply interested in you. I want to know you. Take your time, relax, I have all day."

"Oh, I hope it doesn't take all day!"

She giggled, "I am sure that it will not, but even if it does, I am here for you, for us."

Another deep sigh, "Thank you," and then was quiet as I took time forming my thoughts to properly give Angel my history. Angel sat quietly also, holding my hand, leaving me to my thoughts.

After a couple of minutes, I sighed, and started, "It all began about nine months ago. I had been in a relationship for nearly three months when the person abruptly ended it. We cared for each other, I don't think I was in love with them, but I did deeply care for them. I was devastated. I had no inkling there was any problems in our relationship large enough to break it off with such abrupt finality."

My breathing hitched, as I recalled the moment.

Angel said softly, "Relax, take a moment."

I did. I took a deep breath, steeled myself to continue, and began to speak again, "She..."

Shit! I was trying to be so careful not to disclose it was an affair with a woman. I had not intended to declare my sexuality at this time, not knowing how Angel felt about homosexuality.

Angel squeezed my hand again, and softly asked, "You are gay?"

I nodded, my moist eyes looking into her eyes, "I did not mean to bring up my sexuality. I have no idea how you feel about it, and the gender of the person has no bearing on how I felt about the relationship ending. I would have been just as distraught if it had been a man. But, yes, I am gay."

Looking at Angel as I said this, I thought I saw a quick flash of a small smile on her face. I was not sure; it came and went so quickly.

Angel reached over and grabbed some tissues from the box on the coffee table, handing them to me, seeing the wetness in my eyes. I noticed she kept one for herself.

"Anna, I care not as to who you date, man or woman makes no difference to me."

"You really do not care?"

"Not at all."

"Well, that is good to know. Another weight off my shoulders."

Angel leaned over and gave me as much a hug as she could considering our sitting positions, and whispered in my ear, "It makes no difference who you love, as long as you care for them honestly, gender is irrelevant. Take a moment to compose yourself and, please continue."

With that she sat back, continuing to hold onto my hand, and gave me a warm smile.

I sighed, took a couple of deep breaths, dabbed my eyes. My breathing returned to normal, so I resumed my tale, "Okay, she told me she had met someone else and wanted to be with them. I did not react well to her confession, and we left each other on very poor terms. Which was my fault. I have wanted to apologize to her for how I acted but I have never done so. So, I am not only carrying the sadness of the break-up, I also have my behavior weighing on me."

"Do you still wish to apologize?"

"I do."

"So, apologize."

"It is not that easy."

"I didn't say it was easy, but you need to apologize to her to truly put the whole relationship in the past. It is a sad thing to happen, but people break relationships apart all the time, it is part of life. Do you know how to reach her anymore?"

"I believe so."

"You need to contact her and apologize for your own sake."

"What if she doesn't accept my apology or won't even talk to me."

"Then that is on her. You made the effort, that's all you can do. Trust me, either outcome will be beneficial to you. And that is what important."

I sighed, "You are a hard taskmaster," I said with a small smile.

"I can be. You know I am right though, don't you?"

"Yes."

"Is there more?"

My breath hitched again, "Yes."

I reached out, grabbed my glass, and drank the last of my water. I started to get up and Angel put her hand on my thigh, stopping me from standing.

I looked over at Angel, her green eyes intently looking into my eyes, she asked, "Would you like some more water?"

"That was what I was getting up to get."

"Stay, compose yourself. I will get us both more water."

I sighed, watched her as she walked to the kitchen, a very pleasurable view. A little tingle ran through my body. I was infatuated with this woman.

As she returned to the couch, her long red hair hanging over her breasts, her body slimming somewhat down to her hips, flaring out into her toned, shapely legs, from what her yoga pants displayed. She walked elegantly, gracefully, with a hint of sensuality, the tingle rose to a higher level.

She smiled when she got back and placed the glasses on the coffee table, "Are you relaxed?"

I giggled, "Not really, but I am ready to continue."

Angel smirked at me, seemingly knowing what had made me disquieted. As she sat, her legs pulled up under her as she sat looking at me, "Go ahead. No better time than now."

I sighed, "Almost three weeks later my mother died from a heart attack. She was only fifty, so it was completely unexpected. I miss her terribly. I think about her all the time. It is so unfair that I lost her at such a young age. I know she was devastated that her daughters had become so far apart from each other. And I am partly to blame for that.

"My sister, Katherine, called me and gave me the news. Katherine and I were already somewhat estranged and after the funeral we got into a nasty row concerning mother's estate. It really was about nothing but we both let our animosity guide us and we haven't spoken since. I miss her. She is my older sister. She helped me navigate growing up. We were close until when I was sixteen, she was eighteen, and I came out to her and my mother.

"My mother, while surprised, was supportive of me. Katherine, on the other hand, was appalled. She said it was unnatural and a sin. We had grown up in a Christian household, but we weren't strongly religious. We attended church infrequently, usually just on important Christian dates, so her reaction of abhorrence toward me and my sexuality shocked me.

"Katherine was leaving for college in a couple of weeks and barely spoke a word to me the entire time. Our mother tried to broach the subject with her, in the hope we might be able to come to an understanding and be at least respectful and civil toward each other. It never came about, and Katherine left for college without saying goodbye to me. That was eight years ago.

"We infrequently talked, awkwardly and hesitantly, when something important concerning the family arose, but only then. So, when we were discussing certain aspects of the estate our animosity toward each other came out and we had a screaming, hateful confrontation. I left telling her to do whatever the hell she wanted to, I was done with her, she told me 'Good riddance'. Those are the last words I heard from her."

The tears were falling. I wiped my face. I looked at Angel, who was wiping her eyes, some tears had fallen from her also. She scooted over and pulled me into a hug. I wrapped my arms around her and just cried onto her shoulder. Her arms around me softened the sadness I felt. I knew she cared and felt the dark feelings that had surfaced while I talked.

We sat, hugging each other. I desperately needed to feel her loving arms around me. I calmed down after a while and we released each other.

We resumed our prior positions sitting on the couch, Angel looked at me, her green eyes clouded with moisture and sadness, "I feel for you Anna. I can only imagine the hurt this has brought to you."

I just nodded, wiping my tears away.

After a few minutes of sitting silently, I looked over at Angel and the left shoulder of her blouse was dark with moisture from my tears. I giggled softly, and said, "Shit, Angel we are going to need have a towel nearby when we talk, I soaked your shirt this time."

Angel gave a soft laugh, "Oh my awesome Anna, I am not concerned about my shirt, as with my jacket, it can be washed and be fine. What I am concerned about is you. That was a lot to have kept inside yourself for so long. You needed to tell someone what you just told me. I feel honored you picked me, and I hope your opening up to me brings you at least a modicum of solace."

"It did. The weight of this was wearing me down. And yes, it does help. I can only thank you for pushing me to unload this baggage I have carried around with me for so long."

"I hate to ask you this but what about your father? You have never mentioned him."

"I never knew my father. He died in a car accident about a month before I was born. Katherine has told me she believes she has a hazy memory about him, but she is not sure it is real or just a memory her mind made up."

"And your mother never remarried?"

"No. I asked once about that and she told me she had two wonderful daughters to raise, that was her priority over everything else. She raised us, with assistance from her parents, both financially and helping to care for us. My father's family also helped financially but they lived on the other side of the country and only were able to visit infrequently. My father also had insurance that also helped my mother. In fact, she was able to invest that money to help with our schooling.

"I never went to college. I was never interested in it. I think once everything fell apart when I came out, I felt I needed to get out into the world and get a job once I graduated high school. I believed being a student I would have too much free time to wallow in my misery. Working would keep my mind away from my inner turmoil, at least during the working day."

Angel nodded her head, "I can understand that, but I also feel you missed a chance to experience what can be a wonderful time of a young person's life."

"Perhaps, too late now though."

"It's never too late. But if you really aren't interested in college there is no reason to go."

"Yeah, I have no idea what I would even want to study. And I do enjoy my job."

"Anna are you ready for my thoughts concerning what you need to do to help to unpack the baggage you are carrying?"

I laughed, "No, but go ahead and tell me my next hard task."

"Anna, I feel one thing you need to do is to allow yourself to accept the death of your mother. People need to grieve when they lose a loved one. I am sure your mother's greatest desire for you was for you to be happy. So, yes, mourn her loss but also honor her wish for you to be happy. Allow yourself to be happy, that doesn't lessen your loss, but life goes on. You need to live your life. Your mother would never have wanted you to give up living. You need to live.

"The loss of someone very close to your heart is devastating, especially when they die at an age no one expects it to happen. So, you grieve the loss of a loved one. But you have to move on from the grief and live your life. Because if you don't, the loss can overwhelm you. Which, along with these additional sad events in your life, you have been overwhelmed. You need to change that.

"You will always mourn the loss of your mother, but you need to remember her as she was when she was alive. Remember all the important times when she helped you. How she consoled you in times you were saddened, or disappointed by life. That is what mothers do.

"While it is important to remember those times, I think it is just as important, maybe even more so, to remember the quiet, loving times you had with her. Maybe just sitting watching a sunset, taking care of a skinned knee, going out for ice cream, talking about the unimportant things that every day has, or any of the multitudes of times she was just there beside you, her love for you expressed in those small moments of everyday life. Remember those times also.

"Life has this balance of life and death, sorrow and joy, unfortunately there is bitter with the sweet. Don't let the bitter overwhelm the sweet. You will have sorrow and grief in your life, that's a given, it is inescapable. You have to face sorrow, accept it, and then allow the joy that life brings, and it does, into yourself and revel in that joy.

"Can you try to do that, for you, for me?"

"I need to, don't I?"

"I think it is imperative."

"I think I can do so."

"I think you can also."

I yawned widely, "Sorry, but I am getting tired."

Angel laughed that warmth giving laugh, "You had a hard night and a stressful day so far. I am almost done. Just two things left.

"Next concerning your sister. Call her. Just like I want you to call your former lover. I suspect Katherine wants to be closer to you also, but, like you, is afraid to take that first step. You said you miss her, call her, reach out. The same parameters apply to her as they do with former girlfriend. If she refuses, you made the effort, you reached out, that is all you can do. The fact you tried is what is important. As I said earlier, either outcome will be beneficial to you. I believe your sister will welcome the chance to repair the damage between you and her. I am confident she is as distraught with your relationship as you are."

I yawned again, my eyes were getting heavy, "Hell, what's one more difficult call. I can do this."

Angel laughed again at my yawn, "That's the spirit. One last task. It is easy though."

"Okay, hit me with your best shot."

"Get a vacuum!"

I laughed loudly, it felt good to laugh after all the serious conversation we had had.

Angel beamed a smile at me, "Sorry, one more item. Go to sleep, you need it."

With that she leaned over, put her hands on my cheeks, and kissed me on my forehead.

There's that tingle again. I smiled at her and wrapped my arms around her tightly. I just held her for a couple of minutes and released her.

Angel stood up, grabbed her glass of water, took a long drink, sighed and said, "Enjoy your nap. You earned it. I will make my exit now."

With that she gave a broad smile, walked to the kitchen and placed her glass on the counter. She put on her jacket, went to door, and giggling, said, "Ta ta for now." And disappeared out the door.

I got up, picked up my glass and drank what was left. I put the empty glass on the kitchen counter and went to my bedroom. I stripped down to my panties, slipped on a night shirt, crawled under the covers and was asleep in minutes.

I woke up early in the morning. My nap lasted about twelve hours. I stretched my body under the covers. My mind was clear, my body rested. I lay in bed for a few minutes thinking about what had transpired in twenty-four hours.

I had met, completely unexpectedly and under unusual circumstances, my Angel. She had watched over me after I fell and banged my head on the sidewalk, making sure I was alright. Then she came back yesterday, we talked. I opened myself to her unlike I had to anyone else, ever. Why?

I don't know. There was something about her that just made me feel safe and cared for when she was near me. And while ensconced in that secure aura I was unafraid to speak about my deepest fears and emotions. She listened; she pushed me to tell her what I needed to tell someone. She never judged, never reproached, always sympathetic, always compassionate.

She did give me two, well three, tasks. One was easy, it had no emotional toll associated with it, just entailed spending some money. The other two tasks were more difficult, a lot of emotional baggage came with them. She thought these tasks would make it so I could move on from this dark emotional state.

That was what I was going to do today. I was both excited and fearful concerning these two emotional tasks, but I felt I had to attempt them. I was tired of just existing; I wanted to live life. Especially living my life with my Angel in it. That was the driving force that propelled me to agree to undertake these tasks.

I got up, showered, got dressed, in my standard jeans and a jersey pullover. I looked at what I had to eat, not much, so I went about cleaning out my refrigerator of all the questionable foodstuff in it. I made a grocery list. It consisted, mostly, of nutritious, healthier food than I had been normally getting over the past several months. I wanted to make changes. I needed to make changes.

It was still too early to eat at my diner, so I decided to launder a load of clothes. My apartment had a stacked laundry tower, which was one reason I chose this apartment. I hated going to a laundromat.

While waiting for the load to complete its cycle I went into my bedroom and began to straighten my dresser drawers. I had been so uncaring about my life I had just tossed clothing items wherever there was room for them. I emptied every drawer onto my bed and sorted my clothing, putting like items together, neatly re-folded everything, and placed them in the correct, mentally designated drawer.

I turned on my smallish, smart TV, turned it to Spotify, chose one of my playlists, and played the music through the connected stereo. The volume level was low, it was early in the morning hours, and I sang along with the music. I have a decent singing voice, and this used to be one of my favorite ways to do chores, or just to pass some time. I had not bothered to do this very often over the past several months. It felt good.

As I finished putting the clothes in the dresser the washer finished its cycle. I put the washed clothes into the dryer, returned to my bedroom and proceeded to re-arrange my closet, singing along with the music. I even danced a little.

When my dryer completed its cycle, I pulled all the clothes out and either folded them, placing them in the correct drawer, or hung them in the closet, also placing them in the correct section.

When I finished, I sighed and sat on my bed for a moment and looked around. My bedroom had not looked this organized and tidy in many months. I smiled. It felt good.

The diner was now open, so I put my jacket on and walked the two blocks to it. I was just beginning to eat my breakfast when my phone chimed. I looked to see who was calling me at this early hour. It was Angel, my heart jumped.

"Hi Angel."

"Hi Anna. What are doing?"

"I am at the diner having breakfast again."

"Why the diner?"

"My choices at the apartment were slim. I cleaned out my fridge of all the questionable food which really put a damper on what I could eat so I came here. I am going grocery shopping later this morning. Why are you calling?"

"I wanted to see if I could drop by for about five minutes. I forgot to tell you something I wanted you to know."

"You can tell me now."

"No, I can't. I need to do it in person."

My heart dropped. Was she going to part from me?

"Is it bad news?"

I heard her giggle, "No not at all. At least I think it is good news."

"Okay, sure come over. Give me about thirty minutes to get back home."

"Yay! See you in thirty."

"Looking forward to it."

"So am I. Bye for now."

"Bye, Angel."

The prospect of seeing Angel again this morning made my already upbeat feelings jump several levels higher.

I ate quickly, paid the bill, and scurried home. I got there about five minutes before a knock came on the door. I think every nerve in my body was on high alert.

I opened the door, Angel smiled at me as she entered, her green eyes as intense as I had ever seen them. I shut the door and immediately wrapped my arms around her, hugging her tightly. We hugged for a moment before Angel backed off slightly, put her hand on my chin, lifted it so we were face to face, leaned into me, and kissed me.

I felt the earth move in my hand, like the trembling heart of a captive bird. My knees buckled slightly from the kiss. A soft, closed mouth kiss. Filled with caring and passion.

Angel started to say something, "I..."

I reacted to the kiss with my own instinctive needs. I returned her kiss with one of my own. My kiss was desperately passionate, like a starving person given food. I pressed my lips strongly against hers, my tongue pushing against her lips, which opened slightly, and I pushed my tongue into her mouth. Her mouth opened widely, and our tongues met, frantically greeting each other. We explored each of our mouths for several moments before we broke our kiss.

We both gasped, I started to say "What...", when she pulled me tightly to her and returned my desperate kiss with one of her own.

When we finally broke this last kiss, we both giggled.

I asked, my voice wavering, "What did you need to tell me?"

Angel sighed, her warm laugh coming next, and said, "Well, I think it is moot now."

I laughed, "Tell me anyway. I want to hear it."

Angel smiled, leaned back into me, gave me a quick soft kiss and backed off before I could respond, "Well, I was going to tell you I am gay also, and that I am attracted to you. I am smitten with you."

I gave her a broad smile, "I so wanted to hear that. I am smitten with you myself."

Angel frowned slightly, "I needed to tell you this. I couldn't wait, but I have to go now."

I giggled, "I am happy you couldn't wait to tell me. I was trying to figure out how to tell you about my feelings for you. I am sorry you have to go, but I am elated you felt you needed to tell me sooner than later."

Angel blushed slightly, "I will call you tonight, if that is okay, but I really do have to go."

"I will be home this evening, impatiently waiting for your call. Now, go."

We shared a quick chaste kiss. Angel turned and with a look over her shoulder went out the door.

I softly shut the door, leaning against it. My life has just experienced a massive sea change, and I could not be happier. Amazing how one's life can change completely in just a few hours.

And the first time ever I lay with you

I felt your heart so close to mine

And I knew our joy would fill the earth

And last 'til the end of time my love

And it would last 'til the end of time

I was finishing putting my new vacuum together when my phone chimed. It was Angel.

"Hi my Angel."

"Hi. How did your day go?"

"It has been a long day. It started with a wonderous, out of the blue, life-affirming, kiss. Then a couple more kisses. Then I went shopping and made two emotional phone calls."

"You made the calls! I am so happy to hear this. How did they go?"

"Surprisingly well. I made my apology to Valerie, my ex-girlfriend, and we parted on good terms this time. Then I called Katherine. We talked, we cried, we laughed. We were on the phone for a couple of hours. We made our peace. She is going to visit soon."

"That is good news! I so hoped what we wanted to happen would happen, and it sounds like it did."

"It did. Today has been one of the best days of my life. I need to thank you for pushing me to reach out. Oh, and I have a new vacuum."

Angel laughed, "Glad to hear that."

"I just finished putting it together, you know, attaching hoses, et cetera."

"Suck it up!" Angel said loudly, laughing.

I laughed, "That is next on the schedule."

"Anna, I called to invite you for dinner with me Wednesday evening. I am going to be out of town for the next four days and I would really like to see you before I leave. Are you able to see me then?"

"I wouldn't miss it."

"Good. I hoped you could. I was going to cook but I decided that I don't want to take the time and effort the night before I was taking a trip. So, I thought maybe Chinese delivery?"

"Oh, Chinese cuisine sounds nice."

"What do you like?"

"Oh, almost everything. My favorites are Pork Fried Rice, Egg Rolls, Garlic Chicken or Shrimp, Lo Mein, General Tso Chicken, Egg Drop Soup," I said.

"So, now that I know what your favorites are I can set-up a menu for us."

"When should I come over?"

"I am normally home by five-thirty, so any time after that. If something changes, I can let you know."

"So, say, six o'clock?"

"That sounds good."

"One problem."

"What?"

"I have no idea where you live."

Laughing, Angel said, "Oh, I was planning to text my address after we talked."

"That works," I said, also laughing.

"We can talk about your conversations from today. I want to hear all about them."

"Okay."

"One last item. Since this is a dinner date, while we are not going out, I want us both gussied-up. No jeans allowed. Dresses, or a skirt and blouse only. And I want us to put on our faces, hair done up, you know like we were going to a nice restaurant. Will you do that?"

I snickered, "I can do that. I might disappoint though. I rarely dress up, so I am not well practiced in the art of being all made-up."

"Oh, pshaw, I am sure you will be beautiful."

"I will do my best."

"That's all I can ask."

"Okay, six o'clock Wednesday night. Chinese cuisine, interesting discussions, and..." a slight pause, "more."

"This is a wonderful topper to an already great day. Be sure to text your address."

"I will as soon as we are done."

"Well, then say goodnight, and thank you for the dinner date invitation."

"You are most welcome. And good night."

"Good night my Angel."

A minute later my phone chimed I had a text message. It was from Angel. She had sent me her address, and it had a P. S., If you would like to you can bring an overnight bag, that way you could have your work-clothes and go to work from here.

I sat and stared at her text for a few moments, my heart palpitating. She was inviting me to stay overnight.

I texted her back: A sleepover?

Nearly immediately she replied: Yes. I am sure we will get some sleep.

I don't think I could possibly smile wider than I was at this moment.

I replied: Let me think about it.

Right back Angel replied: You need to think about it?!

I was laughing now; I am not sure I have ever been happier.

I replied: I thought about it. Okay, a sleepover could be fun.

Angel shot back: You minx!

I replied: Can't wait. See you Wednesday. Good night my Angel.

She sent back: I can't wait either. Good night my awesome Anna.

I sat back and gave a big sigh. Angel was planning an overnight stay. I knew what that meant. We were going to make love. Just thinking about it I was trembling in anticipation and anxiety. It has been a long time since I had been with anyone intimately, what if I screw it up. Too excited, too impatient, too fervent, in my passion.

Oh, quit it. Why do I worry so much. Angel will take care of me. She knows my feelings and emotions when we are together. She will guide me, soothe me, assure me, love me. Everything will be fine.

These thoughts of my Angel calmed me. We will make love to each other, and it will be what we both need and want. There is nothing to worry about.

I smiled. My faith in Angel was unshakeable, she had repeatedly proven that to me. It will be wonderous. There is nothing to worry about.

With that crisis resolved I got up and proceeded to vacuum my apartment. The amount of debris that came out of the carpets was astonishing, gross, and inexcusable. How had I allowed this situation to continue. The answer was easy; I didn't care. Well, I care now. Never again. Thank you, my Angel. You saved me. You have brought me back to living. I make this promise here and now; I will never allow myself to give up again.

A calmness washed over me. I was happy. I was at peace with myself, for the first time in a very long time. I grabbed a book. Yes, I had a book to read. I had gone to the library today also, got a card, and took a couple of recommended reads home.

I sat on the couch reading but not for long, I kept nodding off. The roller coaster ride of emotions I experienced today had used up most of my energy. It was only nine o'clock, but I closed the book, turned off the lights in the front room, and went to bed.

The next three days crawled by Wednesday night seemed like it would never arrive.

Work was okay. I found myself softly humming, or even more quietly, singing a song while I worked. I am the warehouse floor supervisor, I noticed my crew, two males, two females, giving me a look occasionally and if I looked at them, they just gave me a slight smile.

Nights were tough. Monday night I went out shopping for an outfit for Wednesday night. I have one dress, a nice little black dress good for almost any occasion that called for a dress, but this was not any occasion. It needed to be special. I also had a couple of skirts and decent blouses for the occasional times I wanted to wear something other than my normal jeans and pullover jersey.

I went to a dress shop I had visited a few times; I had purchased the LBD here. I was slowly walking through the racks of dresses, not seeing anything that seemed to be what I wanted. A young woman salesperson came over and asked if she could provide me any assistance. I smiled, and hesitantly, said I needed a dress, or a skirt and blouse combination, that was sexy but also somewhat conservative. She smiled, looked at me and asked if was for a man or a woman?

I was surprised by the question, blushed fully, and told her it was for a woman. Then I asked if there was really a distinction between the two. She said yes and no. What is generally considered as sexy seems to be mostly agreed on by both sexes, but with women less revealing attire can often be considered sexier, while men, no surprise, prefer the more revealing clothing.

I told her this was a first dinner date, and I wanted to be alluring but somewhat demure at the same time. She smiled at me and told me she was sure we could find something that would fill the bill. She walked us over to a rack of dresses I had not looked at yet. She pulled four different dresses out, held each of them in front of me, putting one back and said she thought any one of these three dresses would fit what I was looking for.

She took me to a changing room, handing me the dresses to try on. I put each on and in the end we both agreed one dress looked best on me. It was flattering for my body, it was comfortable, and it was beautiful, to me. The young woman told me I looked stunning in it, seemingly honest, not just saying it to get a sale.

Okay, dress picked out. I asked what color hosiery would be best for the dress. She told me nude would work well, but for a bolder look black would also work well. I ended up going with a basketweave pattern semi-sheer thigh high black hose.

Then, blushing, I asked if they had sexy lingerie. "Absolutely," she said and walked me over to their selection. I picked a hipster sheer lace pair.

I was done. I paid the bill, ouch. I thanked her for all her help, since I have no fashion sense, and with her advice I felt I got exactly what I had wanted for my special date. As I was leaving the young woman gave me a smile, and said, "Hope you have a very fun evening on your special dinner date."

I blushed furiously, snickered, "So do I! Thank you again for all your help. I would have been lost without it."

Smiling she said, "You are most welcome."

Finally, Wednesday arrived. I had arranged to leave work an hour early, I told them I had an appointment, which I did. I just didn't tell them my appointment was a dinner date with another woman, that I didn't need to be there until six o'clock, but I wanted to look as pretty as I could which might me a longer time to get dressed.

I stepped out of the shower, extra cleaned, freshly shaved legs and pits, refreshed and ready to get dressed. No bra was necessary as the dress had a bra in it. I brushed my teeth. I put on my scandalous sheer lace hipster panties; with a smile I saw the view giving someone looking at them hints of what lay underneath without blatantly displaying my pubis. I combed my pixie cut hair into a somewhat ordered look, unlike my normally let it have that bed hair look.

I stood in my panties and applied mascara, a hint of eye shadow and foundation. No lipstick, no blush, just the basics. I am not a big user of make-up, partially because I prefer a natural look and partially because I am not very experienced in correctly, and effectively, applying make-up. Once I finished, I did a look over and found it to be satisfactory. I thought so anyway.

Next the dress. It was the most expensive dress I had ever purchased. Considering how I looked in the dress it was worth the price. I pulled the dress down, made sure the crossed straps were laying correctly across the open back, and zipped up the short back zipper.

I stood looking at me in the dress. It fit me well. It was a Dusty Blue, A-line sleeveless knee-length cocktail dress. Princess-cut lace bodice with a halter neckline, a chiffon skirt that flowed gracefully down to my knees. I never had a dress that made me feel as attractive as this dress did. I put on a pair of gloss black, broad kitten heels pumps I had.

Enough gawking at myself. I grabbed an overnight bag, putting my work-clothes, my normally worn jacket, and essential toiletries into it. I grabbed my work boots and with the bag I went out to the front room. The night air was chilly, and I grabbed a mid-calf length coat I had. It was a bit more than needed but I wanted to hide my attire until inside Angel's home.

My throat was dry, nerves, so I drank a glass of water, picked up my bag and boots, and headed out the door.

I arrived at Angel's condo about five-forty-five. I sat in my parked car for a couple of minutes taking deep breaths to dampen my excitement and nervousness. I got out, and with my bag and boots, and got into the elevator, pushed the button with the numeral 3. I stood in front of door 302 for a moment, my nerves rising again, took another couple of deep breaths with a slow exhale to try and calm myself once again. I knocked on the door.

The door opened quickly, my Angel standing with her smile broadening as she saw me standing there.

"Anna, come in, come in," she said as stepped back to allow me to enter. She shut the door behind me.

Angel said, "Drop your bag and boots, and let's get your coat off."

I sat my bag and boots on the floor, unzipped my coat, and took it off. Angel stood still, her eyes coursing up and down my body for a couple of moments before she took my coat and hung it on a hook in her small foyer just inside the door.

She turned back to me, took a breath, and said, "Anna, you look beautiful. Your dress is stunning."

With her hand she gave the sign to turn around, I heard her gasp as I turning around, and when I was facing her, she smiled, "Do it again, faster, please." I turned once again, faster as she requested, and the skirt flared out as I rotated around.

She smiled, "That is a great dress. We need to go out and dance some night. This dress is made for that. I can only imagine how sexy you would look spinning and moving on a dance floor in this dress."

I smiled, blushing strongly, "I would enjoy that. This skirt flows so gracefully it would be fun to dance in it."

Angel giggled, "That is does. Give me a hug, please."

We hugged. We kissed, a soft chaste kiss.

Angel grabbed my bag, and said, "Grab your boots and we will put them in the bedroom."

My breath hitched slightly, thinking of being in her bedroom. Carnal thoughts quickly rose in my mind, and I pushed them down, for now anyway.

As we returned to the main room I looked around, "This is a very nice apartment. Much nicer than mine, but then again mine is cheap."

Angel laughed, "Thank you. I rather like the place also. Wine?"

"I am not a big wine drinker but sure, it sounds good actually."

"I have a Zinfandel I think you will like. It's a bit dry but after the first drink the initial dryness fades."

She gestured with her head toward a cozy little breakfast nook in her kitchen already set-up with a couple of plates, napkins, silverware, and chopsticks laying at the top of each plate.

"Which seat should I take."

"Doesn't matter."

I sat on the chair that more directly looked out to a little park nearby.

Angel came walking towards the nook, holding two glasses and a wine bottle, and said, petulantly, "That was where I wanted to sit."

"Oh, sorry," I started to stand.

Angel broke out into a laugh, that laugh I love so much, "Anna, sometimes you are just too easy to tease. Sit back down. I meant it when I said to just pick a chair. Though that is the better view."

I snickered, "Well, I am still getting to know you so sometimes I don't know if you are being serious or not."

As she placed a glass at my place setting, "Oh, you will know when I serious," she said with a giggle as she poured some wine into the glass.

She placed her glass, poured some wine in her glass, placed the bottle on the kitchen counter, and sat down. She was wearing a dark olive colored, mid-calf, wrap dress. The wrap met at the hip with the line of junction slightly diagonal as it traveled down the dress, giving a long area that acted as a leg slit, giving flashes of leg as she walked. Her legs were ensconced in sheer white hose. The dress also displayed a generous amount of cleavage. My eyes kept flicking down to her cleavage, displaying her full breasts in a not quite scandalous view of her assets.

"It seems someone is enjoying the view," Angel said, with a chuckle.

My eyes immediately snapped to look into her eyes, I could feel the strong blush blossoming at her statement. I had been caught.

I decided honesty was the only play I had, "There is no 'seems' about it, I can't stop taking glances at your breasts. They are very nice, especially when compared to my meager boobs," I said, with a giggle.

"I am sure your breasts are wonderful themselves. I must confess, I wore this dress purposedly to give you a view of my breasts. Is that bad?"

"Not to me it isn't. It is quite enjoyable," I giggled again. My blush had to be nearly as red as her hair.

"So, I am not being like a harlot."

I laughed, "Oh, you are being like a harlot, but in no way am I complaining. I take it as a compliment that you wish to show your sexiness to me."

Angel smiled, a soft sigh, "Oh good. I did want to be naughtily sexy for you."

"You succeeded, my Angel."

Her face began to blush at my statement. I took notice of her face; she had applied more make-up than I had but not overdone either. She had, of course, put on mascara, with a lightly applied eye shadow the same color of red as her hair. It accented her green eyes and whispered a reference to her hair. She had a little blush on her cheeks, and had red lipstick, lightly applied, again in an allusion to her hair. She had her hair in two under-braided pigtails, a look I find very enticing.

"Angel?"

"Yes?"

"How long does it take you to braid your hair like this? I love the look, by the way."

"I often braid my hair, sometimes just one ponytail, and, obviously, sometimes two. Over the years I have become proficient in braiding my hair, so anymore just a few minutes. I like the look myself, and it keeps my hair out of the way if need be. And tonight, Anna, I wanted it out of the way," she said, with a bit of a smirk.

I snickered at that, then said, "I think I need you to tutor me concerning make-up. You look very nice and the whole effect is effective and complimentarily to your natural beauty."

"I would be happy to do so. While you just do a basic use of make-up it works for you. Just so you know that."

"Thank you."

"Food's here!"

"How do you know that?"

"I just saw the delivery vehicle pull into the parking lot."

She got up, grabbed some money she had set out on the kitchen counter, and went to the door.

Angel came back with two bags full of food. I got up and came over to her to help. Angel said to just put it all out on the counter and we can just treat it as a buffet and go through putting what we wanted on our plate and eat at the nook table.

We had it all set out when Angel opened a drawer and pulled a couple towels out. She came to me, smiling, and told me to turn to face away from her. I did. Then Angel put a terry cloth bib on me, secured it around my neck with a Velcro closure. These weren't towels at all. I giggled.

Angel asked, "Why are you giggling?"

"I thought you has just grabbed a couple of towels. I didn't realize it was a bib until you put it on me."

She handed me the other bib, "Put mine on me please."

I put it on her and secured it, she turned back around to face me. We stood there for a moment looking at each with our bibs and broke out laughing.

When we finally got ourselves composed, Angel said, "We both have very nice dresses on and I, for one, really don't want to end up with a big spot of sweet and sour sauce on my dress, or yours."

"Okay, I understand that, and thank you, but you keep them on hand?"

She snickered, "I occasionally host a dinner party with people dressed in nice clothes, so I keep them on hand. On a couple of occasions I have had a guest decline wearing one and, unfortunately, accidents have occurred. Do we look silly? Yes, but I would rather look silly and not have a big marinara sauce spot on a nice outfit. Professional spot cleaning is expensive and does not always fully remove the stain. So, a little bit of looking silly is much more preferable to me than taking the chance of being a klutz and spill something on myself."

"Well then, I full heartedly want to look silly. This dress is spot clean only, and I have no experience in the cleaning something like this dress."

She beamed a smile at me, "Let's eat."

"Wait one moment, please."

She gave me a quizzical look.

"I want to hug you. Bib to bib."

Angel giggled, opened her arms to me, and we had a warm embrace.

After a couple of moments of hugging Angel whispered in my ear, "Anna, let's eat."

We broke our hug, went to the table, grabbed our plates and went through the line of food offerings taking what we wanted.

As we were returning to the table, I said, "These bibs are kind of long, aren't they?"

With a giggle Angel replied, "Lap protection."

"Oh yeah, duh."

We sat down, "Angel I have virtually no experience eating with chopsticks, so I hope you don't mind me using traditional silverware."

She laughed, that warm laugh, "I plan to use traditional silverware also. I can eat with chopsticks, but I am not proficient with them either."

We began to eat, I said, "This is good. Which restaurant is this from?"

"Three Kingdoms."

"I will need to remember that."

We ate for a few minutes in silence, enjoying the food, when I drank the last of my wine. I began to scoot my chair back, and Angel said, "Stop right there. I am the host, and I will get the wine. It should have been placed on the table in the first place."

Angel got up, grabbed the wine bottle, re-filled each of our glasses, and placed it on the table.

"Now, nobody has to get up," she said.

"You were right about the wine also. The first drink seemed to suck up all the moisture in my mouth, but subsequent drinks had no effect other than tasting good."

"Lots of wines have an acquired taste, this is one of them."

"Well, it seems I acquired it quickly," I snickered.

Angel snickering also, "So it seems."

We resumed eating. I finished what I had put on my plate, and, pushing my chair back and standing, I said, "Seconds."

Angel just giggled.

I filled my plate once again, and as I returned to my chair, Angel got up, snickered, "I second seconds."

As I worked through my second plate my pace of eating began to slow, I was getting full. Angel was doing the same.

I finished my food and drank the last of the wine in my glass. I sat, quietly, looking out at the park as Angel finished her food.

She was finished in just a couple of minutes and said, "Oh, I am full. Let's clean this up and then go sit in the main room."

I gathered the plates and used silverware rinsed them off, sitting them next to the sink, while Angel was busy packing up the food. She was putting half of everything in two separate containers.

"Plates and silverware in the dishwasher?"

"Yes, please."

I placed everything in the dishwasher, then walked over to Angel, put my arm around her waist, kissed her on the cheek, and said, "Thank you for a very enjoyable meal."

"You are most welcome. I am going to put the leftovers in the fridge, would you be so kind to discard the food boxes?"

"Sure," I looked around and didn't see a garbage can, "Eh, Angel I don't see a garbage can."

She laughed and pointed to a door that was between the fridge and the kitchen counter with her sink, oven and stove.

I walked over opened the door, and there sat a garbage can. I tossed all the food boxes into it. I had to compress it a little to make it all fit.

"Your garbage liner bag is full now."

"I will worry about that later, thank you."

"You are welcome."

Angel had finished putting the food into her fridge, turned around, looking at me, snickered, and said, "Come and give me a kiss. And then, maybe, we should take off our bibs."

I had forgotten I even still had my bib on. I went to Angel, laughing, we embraced and shared a passionate kiss. We broke our kiss and, giggling, removed our bibs. Angel said, "Just toss them on the counter. To be dealt with later."

Bibs on the counter, Angel went over to the table, grabbed the wine bottle and our glasses, "Follow me."

She led me out to the main room, placing the wine bottle on a coaster on a coffee table in front of a couch, a very comfortable looking couch. I could not help myself, her bib gone, my eyes went to her cleavage. I so want to touch, caress, kiss, grope those breasts.

"Eyes up!" Angel said, laughing as she said it.

My blush came on full. Caught again.

"Sorry."

"Don't be. But I did have to tease you."

Angel filled our glasses with the last of the wine, placing them on coasters. She sat on the couch, removed her shoes, and pulled her legs up on the couch. I sat, quickly removing my shoes, but I sat with my legs stretched out, with a sigh.

Angel looked at me, smiled, "Get enough to eat?"

"You think?"

"Your sigh, and you stretching your legs pointed to that conclusion," she replied with a smirk.

I giggled, "This is completely off point, but as you see me now, everything I am dressed in is new, just for you."

She softly gasped, "You should not have done that."

"Oh, yes, I most surely should have done so. I don't have much in the way of nice clothing. Of course, I have the ubiquitous little black dress almost every woman has for occasions that call for a nice dress. Plus, a couple of skirts and blouses for the times I want to wear something other than jeans but those are all the dressy clothes I own.

"I wanted something new, something sexy, something to make me feel pretty. You deserved to see me at my best on our first date, for all you have done for me. I hope I succeeded."

Angel wiped her eye, a tear was threatening to form and fall, "Oh, Anna, you did all that and more," she scooted over to me and kissed me passionately, this time her tongue invaded my mouth, dancing with mine. When she broke the kiss, I just gasped, loudly.

She beamed her smile at me and slid slightly away from me, closer to me than before, but not touching me.

"You were already pretty. I know you don't think you are attractive but, and I hate to tell you this, you are. In my eyes you are one of the most beautiful women I have ever met. But I am biased because I know, at least somewhat, the caring and compassion you possess within yourself, and that is part of your beauty to me."

It was my turn to wipe my eyes, too late, a tear was coursing down my cheek. I turned my body, pulling my legs up and wrapped my arms around her shoulders and hugged her tightly. She wrapped her arms around me, returning the embrace.

I whispered in her ear, "You are too kind."

"I call it as I see it."

"You know it is because of you, and your entrance into my life that the darkness I was living in has changed to a bright sunny day. How you knew the person hiding in the dark was the person I am becoming I will never know. I thought my darkness was my life. I owe you a great debt."

"As I told you Anna, I am very perceptive concerning people, and while you were well cloaked, I could feel what was there waiting to be found and brought out to the light. I confess that I underestimated just what you had hidden within yourself. I am very happy to have found what I have found. You are very special to me. Your being with me is payment for any debt you think you owe me."

More tears fell from both of us. Angel laughed, released me from her embrace, and said, "Let me get us some tissues."

I unwrapped my arms from around her and she got up walked to the kitchen counter and came back with the box of tissues, "Figured it was easier to just to bring the whole box," Angel said, with a laugh.

We both grabbed a couple of tissues and wiped away our tears and dried our faces.

"Time for a drink," Angel said as she reached for our wine glasses, handing me one and taking a drink from her glass.

I took a drink, "Oh yeah, I needed that."

She took my glass from me and set both glasses back on the table.

She sat back on the couch, her legs pulled up, looked into my eyes, and said, "Now tell me about your phone calls from Sunday."

I sighed, took a deep breath, "Okay."

I sat silent for a moment, gathering my thoughts, then started, "My first call was to Valerie..."

Angel interrupted, "The former girlfriend, right?"

"Correct. So, I sent a text to her, partially to confirm it was still her phone number, and partially to confirm she was willing to talk with me. I texted her that I wanted to call her and talk to her. I added it was a good thing I wanted to talk to her about. It went unresponded for several minutes before a text came back, saying 'OK.' Not a great reply, and the delay implied she was less than enthused about the call.

"I placed the call, which she picked up immediately. The conversation that follows is not verbatim, but it is close. Valerie?

"Yes.

"Valerie, I am calling to offer my apology for my reaction when you broke up with me. My behavior was inexcusable. You hurt me, deeply, and I lashed out. For that I apologize. It was wrong. You tried to be kind, in a situation that is never easy, and I ran roughshod over your attempted kindness. I am so sorry I did so. So, I am now asking you to accept my apology.

"There was a moment of silence, then Valerie replied, Anna, you hurt me, deeply, also. I do accept your apology, however. Our last meeting has lingered in my mind all these months. I thought about calling you to see if we could move on, but I didn't have the desire to face you again. I did not want to get into another hostile confrontation with you. So, yes, I accept your apology, and I am glad that you called. I always wanted to part as friends.

"We should have; I regret that I made so we did not. Are you still together with Iris?

"Yes.

"Are you happy?

"Yes, very much so. Anna, are you happy?

"I am glad to hear you, and Iris are still together, and happy. I say this sincerely. I have been in a bad place all these months. Which is not all your fault. I had some family problems also. But I am breaking out of that darkness I allowed myself to sink into. I met someone who is helping me to leave that dark place and rejoin the world. To live again. So, yes, I am happy. It has been a long time since I have felt this way.

"I heard about your mother passing, my condolences to you and Katherine. So, you have met someone. I am glad to hear that.

"Her name is Angel. I call her 'my Angel', because, to me, that is what she is.

"I am happy for you. You needed some happiness in your life.

"Thank you. And thank you for accepting my apology. If you are ever back this way you, and Iris, would be welcome to drop by and say hi.

"Thank you.

"I feel so much better having made this call and to have had this talk with you. So, stay happy and with that I say goodbye.

"You do the same. Thank you for the call. And goodbye to you, Anna."

I let out a deep breath, "It still affects me. But I am so happy we were able to mend our fences. I should have done this long ago. Thank you for pushing me to contact her."

"It wasn't much of a push. You wanted to do it. I just nudged the idea to a more important position in your mind."

"Well, thanks for the nudge then."

She smiled at me, and reaching out and grabbing our glasses, she said, "Time for another drink."

We both had a drink. I needed it.

She took both our glasses back and placed them back on the table.

"Okay. One more conversation to divulge to me."

I sighed deeply, "You know you can be a stern taskmaster at times."

"Sometimes one needs to be."

I stuck my tongue at her, sighed, and began.

"I called Katherine a couple of hours after talking to Valerie. I needed some downtime from my emotional conversation with her. I puttered around my apartment cleaning up any stray item that wasn't where it should be. I am becoming like you, my Angel, messy bothers me now. I sat and read a book for about an hour, then decided it was time to talk with my sister. I tentatively picked up my phone and sat looking at Katherine contact display for a minute or so, sighed and pushed the call button. It rang a couple of times before Katherine answered, 'Anna?'

"We ended up talking for over two hours. We talked, we cried, we laughed. In the end Katherine and I made a tentative date for a visit by her, she lives just a couple of hours away from me.

"I found out that when she was seventeen, she had started dating a young man who attended an extremely conservative evangelical church, and she began attending it services also. Kat told me she was floundering somewhat in life and this church seemed to offer something she unknowingly needed in her life. She kept this information from my mother and me, afraid we would react badly if we knew. Which we probably would have.

"As I have told you, we were not a religious family and both of us had problems with some of the tenets of most organized religions. While my mom agreed with the base concepts of what the Christian church espoused but had problems with how they excluded, and often condemned, those who did not agree completely with their beliefs. So we, as a family, generally only attended a church service during the high holidays.

"Of course, I had strong disagreement with a very basic tenet that most churches held, that homosexuality was wrong and those who practiced such a life were damned, unless they renounced their lifestyle. I was one of those that knew my sexuality early in life. By the time I was fourteen I knew I was a lesbian. I knew this but I did not disclose it to my family until I was sixteen.

"By the time I came out to my family Kat had become immersed into this very conservative church and that drove her strong revulsion of me and my lifestyle. Her reaction surprised both my mom and me, but we were unaware of her conversion to this church and its extremely conservative views. Kat's reaction drove a wedge between her and I, we barely conversed with each other from the time I divulged my sexual proclivity, and she left to attend college.

"Kat told me she stayed with this church until her senior year in college. She said the church became more and more stringent in its beliefs, and as she had seen a more diverse universe at college, which had changed her view of the world, she left the church. She had broken up with her boyfriend a couple years prior to this.

"As she told me, 'I was a fucking, no I was a non-fucking virgin at the age of twenty-two'. I chuckled at that statement and told her there was nothing wrong with that. Kat told me she knew that but now with a different, call it a broader perspective, she wanted to experience what she had so far missed in life.

"However, that was easier said than done. The teachings of that church were ingrained within her and she struggled to balance those beliefs with her new view of the world. She started seeing a counselor in her senior year and continued seeing a therapist after her graduation. It took a couple of years before she was comfortable with her desires in life and the dogma of the church.

"She has had two relationships with men now. Both were long-term loving relationships, but both ended. If she should find that someone who is right for her, she will welcome it, but it is not a priority in her life. She is comfortable with herself now and is happy.

"Which brings to us to our mother's death and our argument concerning the estate which caused our complete separation from each other. It was a stupid confrontation between us over small shit and who got what. I am the one who decided it was enough and left. All I wished for then was half of the monetary inheritance and she could have everything else. Kat agreed and that was where we stood for these past nine months.

"I told her how I had quit caring about life after our separation. Losing Valerie, my mother, and my sister, left me empty and lost. I knew I was as guilty as anyone, if not more, concerning the two relationships that ended so close together. My guilt was eating away at me, nothing mattered, life sucked. I was in a very dark place when 'my Angel' came into my life.

"I told her about you and what you have done to help me reawaken and began living life once again. I told her it was your insistence that I needed to confront my past and make it right for you and Valerie. I told her that you might have saved my life, Kat gasped when I told her that. I hurriedly said that I was now on a path to happiness, the darkness had mostly receded, and that you were the reason.

"We both apologized to each other. I told her I was fine with the whole estate mess as it ended. It wasn't worth losing a sister and I did not want to continue not having her in my life. This was our big cry moment. We both sobbed over the phone for some minutes, and we finally calmed down Kat told me she felt the same way.

"We both professed our love for each other. Right now, she is planning to visit me in two weeks. And she insists she meets you so she can thank you in person for helping her little sister to enjoy life once again.

"Are you ready to meet another Everson woman?"

Angel laughed, "It seems I have to be. Honestly, I look forward to meeting Katherine."

I smiled at her, leaned over and hugged her tightly. A couple of tears leaked out, running down my cheeks and I whispered to her, "Thank you, again, for everything you have done for me. I hate to think what may have happened if you had not come into my life. It is the single, most important, accident I have had in my life."

Angel whispered back, "Maybe it wasn't an accident."

I leaned back, looked in her eyes, "What are you saying?"

"Just that you hear often of people having something happen to them, seemingly a coincidence, that brought to them what they needed. Perhaps it is providence. Strange things happen to people all the time. Who's to say. Maybe there is karma, a spiritual force, something unexplainable, a life-force we cannot detect. Just maybe?"

I smiled, "Maybe. If so, I hit the jackpot."

Angel laughed her laugh, "Maybe. Time for a drink."

She grabbed our glasses from the coffee table, handed me my glass, which I drained in one long drink.

I sighed, leaned back into the couch, "I needed that."

"I am sure you did. You have had to talk about two very emotional conversations. I am so proud of you. It took courage to face your fears and the results of your actions, take responsibility for them, and work to correct them."

"Which I probably would never have done without your intervention into my life."

"Thank you. Would you like some wine?"

"I think three glasses is enough. I am going to get some water, but first I need to use a bathroom."

"Use the en suite in my bedroom."

I blushed, "Uh, you may want me to use a different bathroom."

Angel looked at me, "Why... Oh," she chuckled, "There is a bathroom down the hall the second door on the left."

As I got up, I said, "Thank you," as she continued chuckling.

I shook my head and went on my way to the bathroom.

Just as I got to the bathroom door, I heard Angel call out, "Turn the fan vent on! I need to follow you after a few minutes time."

Chuckling, I replied, "Will do. And I changed my mind. I would like another glass of wine."

I heard Angel laugh, "Okay."

As I returned to the main room, I saw a glass of wine, and two glasses of water, sitting on the coffee table, with Angel sitting on the couch, her legs pulled up, with a smile and a glass of wine in her hand.

As I sat, grabbing my glass of wine, Angel chuckled, "I was opening another bottle of wine when you said you would like another glass. Just thought you should know I was planning to ply you with another glass of wine. Was I bad?"

Laughing, "Yes. It is a little unnerving how well you read me. Thank you for the wine though."

"You are welcome. Now slide over and give me a kiss."

I took a drink, placed my glass on the table, slid near Angel, leaned in and gave her a very passionate kiss.

When we broke the kiss, Angel sighed, "That was wonderful. Now I am going to visit the guest bathroom myself. Be right back."

I sat thinking about how my life had changed in just a handful of days. The appearance of my Angel in my life was overwhelming to me. I have not felt so positive about my life in years. If there is force out there that occasionally interferes with a person's life in an attempt to make it better, I have no idea why I was chosen to be one of those lucky people. If everything is random, I should have been playing the lottery this past week, maybe I would be a millionaire. But, if that had happened, I would not be as happy as I am right now. Whatever the truth may be, it did not matter, I was happy, and how it came about was irrelevant.

I was smiling as Angel returned, "Why the smile?"

"You."

Her eyes welled, and she motioned for me to stand up, I did, and she embraced me tightly. I wrapped my arms around her shoulders in return, pulling myself even tighter against her body. We stood there, just hugging each other for several minutes.

When we parted, Angel wiped her eyes, and said, "I feel the same about you."

We sat back down. I sighed and took a needed drink of water.

"Perhaps, we should take our drinks and retire to my boudoir?" Angel asked.

My voice hitched slightly, "I would like that."

"So would I."

We got up. We both grabbed our wine and water glasses and walked to her bedroom.

Her bedroom was nicely appointed. A queen-sized bed, with an ivory-colored upholstered tufted button headboard was centered against the wall directly opposite from the entry. Night tables flanked the bed. A matching dresser sat against the wall to the right of the bed, with a matching wardrobe armoire standing against the wall left of the door. A small desk and chair sat against the right wall. Two wingback chairs, matching fabric to the headboard were placed to the left of the bed. With a small table between them, the chairs faced a large bank of eight-foot-high windows, that overlooked a small meadow bordered by mature trees, with a French double-door that opened to a small balcony.

As I took in the view of her bedroom, this was high-end furniture, and the room was spectacular. My little bedroom in my apartment was nowhere close to her furnishings. Two of my bedrooms would easily fit in this room. I was taken aback by the room. I know I had been in it earlier, but that was just to drop off my bags, and I had not truly taken in the room in its entirety.

As I stood there, still holding my glasses, I thought to myself, this room, well, the whole condo spoke of wealth.

Angel brought me out of my thoughts, saying, "Anna, you can put your glasses down."

I walked to the night table left of the bed, in a semi-daze, and sat my water glass down. I took a drink of my wine, placed that glass down, and with my voice having come back, "Wow, now this is a bedroom. My little bedroom is wretched compared to this."

"It is still just a bedroom."

"One hell of a bedroom."

Angel laughed, mirth in her eyes, "It is still just bedroom. Don't feel bad about your bedroom. It fills the same function as mine."

I looked at her, "I can't help it. I don't think I have ever been in a bedroom even close to the beauty of this one. I am amazed by it."

Angel came over and wrapped her arms around me, hugging me tightly, and whispered in my ear, "I don't want you to feel sad or unworthy. People live as they can. I can afford this. I know many people would not be able to. You do what you need to do. It has no bearing as to who you are in any way. You are not less a person just because you may not have the wealth others have. Believe me, your wealth is you. You are a wonderful, smart, caring, empathic person. There are a lot of wealthy people money-wise that are poor when compared to the riches you possess."

I began to cry, holding onto Angel tightly.

She just held me as I had my moment of tears. As my tears began to slow, I looked into her eyes, the intensity of them was a full beam. She beamed a smile at me, "Anna, that is how I see you. And you know I am very perceptive when it comes to people. So, know that your wealth is a much more important wealth than monetary wealth."

"How did I get so lucky to have you be in my life?"

"Dumb luck? Or maybe something else, like you deserved to have me in your life. I know I feel honored, and so happy, that you have come into my life."

Tears, again. From both of us. We held each other for several more minutes, silently, needing to feel the other. Our bodies pressed together reassuring us of our feelings toward each other.

We finally released each other, and Angel reached over and grabbed some tissues from the nearby night table. We both wiped our eyes and cheeks looking at each other, then we both began giggling. The laughter lessened the intensity of our emotions and we both relaxed.

Angel snickered, and asked, "Are we done being all serious and stuff?"

I nodded, still giggling, "All done."

"Good! No more tears?"

"Can't promise that, but I will try. No more tears, except maybe some happy tears."

"Happy tears only allowed from hereon."

Angel looked at me with obvious, even to me, desire in her eyes, smiled, "Sit on the bed for a couple minutes while I go back and turn off all the lights in the other rooms, confirm the door is locked and bolted, and turn the fan vent off in the guest bathroom."

I snickered at the fan vent reference, "I can turn that off."

"No, I'll get it. I want you to sit and relax, please?"

"Okay," as I reached for my wine glass and sat at the edge of the bed.

Angel smiled broadly, gave me the thumbs up sign, and quickly walked out of the room.

When she returned, she smiled at me, as she walked over to the night table on the right side of the bed, turned on the lamp there. It was a soft, dim, warm light.

As she walked back to the bedroom door, she said, "Okay Anna, now you can help. Please turn on the lamp on the night table you are sitting by."

As I turned on the lamp, Angel turned off the overhead lights. The bedroom settled into a dark room with a pool of soft light surrounding the bed and the immediate area around the bed.

"So much better," Angel said, as she approached me as I sat on her bed.

She stood directly in front of me, and proceeded to remove her dress, tossing it on the bed beside where I sat. She was braless. I gasped. Her teardrop full breasts were a wonder. Quarter-sized areolas, medium pink, with pencil eraser size, erect, pink nipples. Standing there in just her panties and thigh-high stockings. Her high cut white lace panties gave just a hint of what was underneath them.

Looking down on me, I was agog seeing the vision of her nearly naked body, she smiled, and said, "Would you like to finish the job?"

I looked up at her, still enthralled, and nodded rapidly. I reached out and hooked my fingers into her panties and slowly pulled them down to her feet. I slid off the bed onto my knees and, with her hands on my head, I lifted one foot, removing her panties from around it, then repeated the process on her other foot.

Her pubic hair trimmed in a bikini cut, while the inverted triangle above her pubis was a natural length. Her pubic hair was the same radiant red color as her hair. I snickered.

Angel asked, "Why are you giggling?"

"Sorry, but the old saying 'the carpet matches the curtains' popped into my mind and it made giggle."

Angel laughed, "It is all natural."

I wrapped my arms around her waist, just above her buttocks, and pulled myself against her. My face lay against her abdomen, her hands on my head, slowly running her fingers through my short hair. I could faintly smell her aroma.

I said, "It may be all natural, but it is super natural!"

Oh my god, just how big a goof can I be.

Angel laughed, "Just natural, my dear Anna."

My face pressed against her I could feel a warmth radiating from her abdomen, her fingers still playing with my hair, seemingly passing a wave of calm, gentle, affection, into me. It was a feeling I had never felt in any of my intimate encounters previously. I felt safe, cared for, awash in a feeling of contentment, knowing she was here for me.

I was in love with her.

No, that cannot be possible. I barely know her. I have known her for all of six days. I could not have fallen in love with her. Not this quickly. While my mind was busy saying it was too fast, I wasn't really in love with her, it was just the moment; my heart knew differently.

I had fallen in love with her. Without a doubt.

"Are you going to finish?" Angel asked.

I looked up at her, smiled, and began to pull down the stocking on her left leg, gently lifting her foot, and tossing the stocking onto the floor. Then I repeated the process with her right leg. When I was done, I slowly stood up, my hands caressing her body as I rose.

When I was fully standing my hands went to her full breasts. I hefted them, feeling their weight, squeezing them, rubbing my palms against her nipples. They were the largest breasts I had ever touched. Soft moans came from Angel as I explored her breast with my hands. As I groped her breasts, I gave her a passionate, tongue dancing kiss. She responded in kind. We both sighed audibly when we broke our kiss.

Angel smiled, and said, "My turn."

I moved away from her to give her some room to undress me. My body was trembling, while it wasn't the first time I was going to be naked in front of another woman in an intimate situation, it was going to be the first time I was naked for my Angel.

Angel put her hands on my shoulders and gently me turned around so she could get to the back zipper. Slowly she pulled the zipper down, my trembling increasing in strength as the zipper moved slowly down until it was fully opened. She started gently raising my arms up, which I quickly moved them up fully for her to remove my dress. She put under the skirt, sliding up to the bodice. My body's trembling continued as she gently pushed it up my raised arms. Once the bodice was past my head the skirt portion was easily removed.

Holding the dress, Angel said, "Such a beautiful dress. I feel special it was worn just for me."

I turned back around to face her, "That's why I bought and wore it for you. You are very special to me."

She smiled at me, walked over to one of the chairs, and carefully laid it on the back of the chair so it hung freely, reducing the chance of any wrinkles occurring.

Once she was done making sure my dress was safely situated, she walked over to where her dress lay on the bed, picked it up, walked back and nonchalantly tossed it on the other chair. My eyes were glued to her as she did this fully naked. Her breasts swaying gently as she walked, my arousal jumped a couple of levels as I watched her moving around naked.

As she was returning to the bed, I saw her glance at her panties and hose casually tossed on the carpet and snickered softly. She smiled at me, eyes taking a quick look at my bare breasts, as she walked to the other side of the bed, and said, "Help me pull the bedding down, please."

With the bedding pushed down, I looked over at her, and said, "Well, are you going to finish what you started?"

She had started coming around the bed already, she gave me a broad smile, "I'm on my way to do just that."

Angel stood in front of me, leaned in and we kissed, softly, a kiss that conveyed the affection each of us held for the other.

"Sit on the bed," Angel said, "Then lay back, please."

I did as she requested. As I lay there Angel took ahold of my left leg and straightened it out, my foot resting on her abdomen. She leaned towards me; her hands placed on each side of my stocking and slowly began to pull it down my leg. As she pulled it down my leg her nails gently grazed my skin, tendrils of arousal arose from my leg racing throughout the rest of my body. I moaned; my eyes locked on to her intense vibrant green eyes as she so slowly pulled my stocking down to my foot.

She lifted my foot away from her body, fully removing the stocking, she placed my foot back against her body and heedlessly tossed my stocking aside. My eyes followed the stocking's path, a black ribbon wafting through the air as whispered it way to the floor.

She slowly, reverently, placed my foot on the floor, then proceeded to repeat the process with my right leg. I don't know how much time passed as she did this, it felt like several minutes, my legs had started to tremble as she removed the stockings. My body was on tenterhooks from the slow, tender touching of her on my skin.

My Angel smiled at me as she finished the removal of my stockings and had placed both of my feet back onto the floor. She pushed my legs apart enough so that she could stand beside the bed, then she hooked her fingers into each side of my panties and began their inevitable descent down my legs. Again, her nails grazed my skin as my panties slowly descended down my legs. As my panties traveled down my legs, she slowly stepped back to allow my legs to come together as my panties tingled their way down my thighs and calves to my feet, once again resting on her abdomen.

She tenderly lifted each foot off her body to free my panties from my body. They floated through the air silently as they were tossed aside, to land somewhere on the floor.

Angel moved in between my legs again, her eyes now looking at the most intimate part of my body on display between my spread legs. She gasped. I moaned. My body continued to tremble from her delicate caressing of my legs as she had removed what clothing I still had on. Now, like she was for me, my naked body lay on the bed displayed completely free from any concealment.

Angel looked over what lay before her. Her eyes taking in every inch of my body as if to burn it into her memory. We stayed like this, her standing, me laying half on the bed, my feet on the floor, for some time. Silently we both looked at our nakedness for the first time.

Angel finally broke the silence, her voice raspy, "I have wanted to see you like this since that Saturday morning we spent together. It was worth the wait."

I opened my mouth to speak, but before I got any words out Angel quickly said, "Don't do it. Do not disparage yourself. Your body is beautiful to me. That is all that matters. Accept that I think you are beautiful, physically, and as a person."

I shut my mouth. How she knew I was going to just that I don't know, but she did.

Angel snickered, "You are wondering how I knew what you were going to say. Anna, my A. W. E. some Anna, you almost always refuse a compliment. You need to adjust your self-image. Allow yourself to like yourself. You are more than you think you are. And I am here to tell you are way, way more than you think you are. So, from now on, any compliments from me will be accepted with a smile and a 'Thank you'."

I looked into her intensely green eyes, smiled, and softly said, "Thank you," contritely.

She smiled sweetly at me, "Do me a favor and move up onto the bed so I can lay next to you, please."

I smiled and scooched myself to where I was laying on my back in the center of her bed.

She laid next to me on her side, her breasts pressing against my left arm and breast. She reached over and with a finger to my chin she gently pushed against it, so my face faced hers.

"Anna do not feel apologetic or remorseful, you did nothing wrong. You had a lot of unpleasant events happen to you in a very short time frame. They shook you badly, as they would have anyone else. You just have some self-esteem issues we are working on correcting. I care deeply for you, and I know; I feel, what lies inside of you. You have hidden the best parts of you, so that way, maybe, you won't be hurt again. We've been working to bring those aspects out of hiding. I know I have been demanding. That's because of how I feel about you. And, I have to say you have been working hard to change yourself. Very hard, I am impressed how you hard you have been trying to change."

I opened my mouth, then I shut it.

I stayed quiet for a few moments. My eyes welled, but no tears fell.

Then I looked into her eyes, smiled, and said, "Thank you."

Angel snickered, beamed a broad smile at me, "Oh, be still my beating heart."

That got us both laughing. It ended up being a feedback loop for both of us. It was a boisterous, cathartic, laugh fest. After a few minutes we both calmed down, a chuckle sneaking out of one of us, would start another laughing jag before we both couldn't laugh anymore. We lay there breathing deeply. The tension was gone. An atmosphere of loving, tranquil cheerfulness surrounded us.

"Anna, do you know what's going to happen now"

"No. What's going to happen now?"

Angel snickered, "I am going to make love to you."

The arousal that had dampened during our last bit of conversation came back, still more of a hint than true arousal. It flooded throughout my body. I could feel the sensitivity of skin increase. I felt a twinge in my vagina. It was not going to take much to get my body all ramped up.

I snickered, "Be still my beating heart."

Angel giggled, "Actually, I want to do the opposite!"

"Please do."

Angel slid her body over onto mine. Our breasts pressing together, our pubis mounds meshing against each other. Her body laying against mine felt sublime. I wrapped my arms around her shoulders, my legs wrapped around her waist.

She had her hands softly playing with my hair, her lips slowly descending, giving me a delicate kiss. A barely audible moan escaped from my lips. Angel's vibrant eyes locked on my eyes. A slight smile slowly appeared, just before her lips descended upon mine once again.

This kiss was not at all delicate. Her tongue reached out to my lips, playfully pushing against my lips, demanding entry. My mouth acquiesced to her demands and opened, allowing her tongue entry into my mouth. Her tongue probed the whole of my mouth it could reach, as my tongue chased it. Angel relented and allowed our tongues to dance as lover's tongues have danced since the kiss has existed.

Angel broke the kiss, we both took a deep breath, and our tongues were once again dancing together. The hint of arousal that was there at the beginning of our kissing was blooming, coursing through my body alerting my nerves that something wonderful was happening.

Another deep breath for us both. Angel pulled her body up, straddling my body, sitting on her knees, her butt resting against my pelvis, causing my arms and legs to release her from their embrace. She leaned forward; her hands now pressed against my cheeks as we kissed passionately once again. We continued our kissing for several minutes before Angel's lips left mine, causing a moan from me, and began to kiss her way across my cheek to my ear.

Her lips pressed against my ear, her tongue wetting the outside of my ear, her warm breath softly grazing my hair. She did this for a few moments before her mouth moved down slightly and sucked my earlobe into her mouth, her tongue flicking against it. I gasped; my back arched slightly.

Angel sat back up, as her fingers lightly traced paths down my neck, goosebumps rising, tingles running throughout my body. Her fingers continued slowly, softly, tracing paths down my torso. As they approached my breasts, they slowly traced the outlines of my breasts, and gave my breasts a soft squeeze, I moaned. Her fingers circled my breasts outlines again, then circled my areolas, her nails dragging against the mounds of my breasts, her fingers purposely avoiding my areolas and nipples, which happened to be screaming to be touched and fondled.

Her lips and tongue began their descent downward on my body. Down my neck, slowly, onward they went, ever so slow, to the middle of my chest, touching and licking the interior side of my breasts, again not touching the areas of my breasts that needed to be touched. Her slow descent, her fingers, tongue and lips, awakening every nerve receptor in my body making it tremble and goosebumps arising where she touched my body.

It was erotic. It was exhilarating. It was exasperating. It was wonderful. My body continuing to tremble, my hips now instinctively undulating against Angel's body. She was touching every part of my body with either her hands, her nipples, or her mouth. She was moving with deliberation.

As she moved on down to my pubis mons, her fingers lightly moving in small circular motions, from my hips to my pubic hair, furrowing through the hair, then back out to my hips, and eventually down my thighs. Again, deliberately avoiding my sexual organs.

Her body shifted again. Her legs straightened out between my legs; her torso was again pressed against my body. Her stiff nipples pressed into my skin; nipples, lips and tongue followed the paths her fingers had traced on my body. My trembling was insistent, increasing in strength as her slow, deliberate touching of my body continued to heighten my arousal.

When she had kissed every part of my abdomen and pelvic region, except where I so needed her to touch me, those vibrant, intensely green eyes boring into my eyes, a sly smile on her face, she shifted her body again. Back to sitting on her bent legs. She gently placed my left foot on her shoulder and began to slowly graze her nails from the junction of my legs and hips, up my thighs, my calf, to my foot. When her hands reached my foot, she gave it a quick, but thorough, massage. Then gently returned my leg to lay on the bed.

She repeated the same process with my right leg. Her massages to my feet had not only felt marvelous, but it had given my body a rest, letting me relax, my arousal level reducing. She knew my body needed an interval of rest from her intensely erotic journey of my body.

Her hands then began their journey back up my legs. Not softly, but pressing firmly into my flesh, giving my legs a massage as they moved their way back to my pelvis. She gave me a broad smile. I sighed deeply, took in a couple of deep breaths, my quivering quieted somewhat, my hips stilled. My arousal state reduced somewhat, the feeling of being overwhelmed dissipated. I gave her a small smile back.

Onward up my body her hands went. No more light caresses. She pressed her fingers firmly into my flesh, more of a quick massage, as they moved up from my pubis to my abdomen, to my chest. Once her hands reached my chest, she gave each of my breasts a good squeeze, rubbing her palms across my aroused nipples. I gasped.

Then she firmly pinched each of my extended nipples, a sharp twinge of pain ran through my body, quickly followed by a strong pulse of pleasure. While she pinched my nipples, she began to pull them also. Again, a twinge of pain, followed by a much more intense wave of pleasure. My back arched, I moaned, as she continued pinching and pulling my nipples.

She released my nipples after several moments of pleasurable torture and began gently swirling her hands across my breasts, her palm rubbing against my nipples the whole time she was moving her hands across my breasts. My state of arousal was rapidly increasing. My body began trembling again, my breathing becoming shallow and frequent, my hips undulating against Angel's body sitting between my legs.

With her hands (wo)manhandling my breasts, Angel leaned down and began her journey upward on my body with her lips and tongue, kissing her way from my pubic hair to just below my chest. My trembling increased, my arousal increasing all the while.

Her left hand released itself from my breast and her mouth encapsulated as much as it could, sucking it into her mouth, her tongue licking and flicking my sensitive nipple, flooding with yet another wave of pleasure. I pushed my breast against her mouth as hard as I could, my hands on the back of her head, applying more pressure onto my breast. Moans issued from my mouth almost continuously. My hips undulating stronger against her thighs. It was building.

Angel switched breasts with her mouth and proceeded to ravish my right breast. I gasped at the change, then the string of moans resumed. My whole body is trembling. No other lover had ever taken me on such a sensual journey. It was building, rapidly.

Angel's mouth released my breast with a wet plop, her body began to slide up my body as her mouth and tongue moved up my neck, her stiff nipples dragging against my body until they met my aroused nipples. A shock wave coursed through my body feeling her nipples pressing mine. A loud moan.

Her mouth reached mine and a passionate tongue wrestling, breathtaking kiss ensued. We continued to kiss for several minutes, occasionally taking a quick break to catch a breath.

We finally give each of us a break from the kissing, and Angel whispered, her voice raspy, in my ear, "I love your thick, so sensitive nipples. I could play with them all night."

I just groaned.

Angel gave me a soft kiss and began her wet return journey down my body, stopping at my breasts to torment them once again for several minutes. My trembling was beginning to feel more like convulsions, my breathing rapid, continuous moans and soft incoherent words from my mouth. I could feel a strong release of fluid in my vagina. The smell of my aroma was heavy in the air. It was building.

Angel finally left my breasts and began a quick journey down my body, dragging her tongue against my body as she approached my vulva. First her mouth and tongue travelled through my pubic hair, her nose following, furrowing its way through my hair.

Her hands pushed my legs as far apart as she could, then I felt her thumbs spread my labia apart, her breath cool to the pink inner flesh of my vagina. Then she gave my entire slit a lick with her flattened tongue pressed against my exposed vagina. I gasped loudly, my body hitched strongly, my legs instinctively straitened and lifted themselves into the air, in a pornographic manner, shaking like branches in a strong wind. It was building. It was close.

Angel gave me two more licks to the length of my slit, then pushed it into my vagina. I groaned, loudly. My body definitely convulsing now. My hips were humping forcibly against her face, my legs swaying in the air as she continued penetrated my vagina with her tongue. It was very close.

Her tongue left my slit, replaced by a finger gently inserted into my vagina, her tongue moving up to my, now exposed, clit. Loud moans and 'ohs' streaming from my mouth. It was approaching.

Angel surrounded my clit with her lips, sucking it into her mouth, her tongue flicking it rapidly. It arrived.

I cried out, my legs dropping to the bed allowing my body to arch itself over the bed. I was shaking violently; my body and mind flooded with sensations of pleasure.

Angel continued lavishing my clit and a second finger entered my vagina, her fingers now rapidly moving back and forth within my vagina. I was being taken to a place I have never experienced in my life. An orgasm that was continuing to grow ever stronger as her manipulation of my body pushed me ever higher.

I cried out again, much louder than before. My orgasm crested at a level I didn't know even existed. Everything went dark. I felt my vagina released a copious amount of fluid, my body falling on to the bed, my breath erratic, shallow, as I gasped for more.

I felt Angel remove her mouth from my clit, her fingers slowly removing themselves from my vagina, and her body sliding up my body until she was laying fully on me. She slid off to my side, an arm and leg laying across my body, hugging me as my body continued to climax.

Angel continued to hug me as my body slowly began its descent from the height of my orgasm. My convulsions were now back to trembling, my breathing, while not fully back to normal, was letting me inhale more air into my lungs. My heartbeat was slowing.

A few more minutes passed before I opened my eyes, turned my head to look at Angel. She smiled; her vibrant green eyes locked on my eyes. I turned my body onto my side and slid myself tight against her body, wrapping an arm and a leg around her body. I leaned my head onto her shoulder and sighed.

We lay there quietly as I slowly came down from the heights of pleasure she had pushed me to.

My body was mostly back to normal after several more minutes with us just silently hugging each other. I could feel the loving care Angel was holding me with. I hoped she was feeling the same sensation from me, as that was what I was feeling for her.

My head still tucked against her shoulder, I softly said, "Angel, you took me to heights of pleasure I have never felt before."

"I hoped you enjoyed it," a soft snicker.

"Absolutely. It was a fucking marvelous ride."

Angel just laughed.

"You know I get to try and do that to you, right?"

"I would like that."

"That said, it may be a while before I am ready to try."

"Do you want to close your eyes for a time?"

"I think maybe so. But first I need a drink of water."

"Stay there. I am happy to get you a glass of water, since I am somewhat responsible for your thirst."

I laughed, "Somewhat! Try you are completely responsible. I am not complaining, just noting who was responsible for what."

Angel laughed, "Okay, I will take the blame."

She gave me a soft push to let herself get up and get me a glass of water.

Suddenly I felt it was imperative to pee. I got up and walked, a bit wobbly, to the bathroom. As I began to pee, I heard my Angel call out, "Anna where are you?"

I laughed, "I am in the bathroom. I desperately needed to pee. I'll be back directly."

"Oh, okay."

Finished peeing, wiped, and flushed the toilet. I walked back out to the bathroom, no wobbling this time. My Angel was sitting on the bed, a glass of water waiting for me on the night table. I walked over and took a long drink of water, "Oh, I needed that. Thank you."

"You are welcome."

I took another drink, emptying the glass, placing it back on the table, I smiled at Angel, "I feel much better now."

"I'm glad to hear so."

"You know what that means?" I said, with a chuckle.

Angel looked at me quizzically for a moment, then her smile beamed at me, a little snicker, "My turn?"

"Very good. Got it on the first try!"

I quickly walked over to her, semi-tackled her, pushing her down on the bed, laying my body on hers and gave her a passionate tongue dancing kiss, which she returned with equal passion. When I broke the kiss, breathing was a requirement, and I inhaled deeply, as did Angel.

We both giggled. I gave her a gentle kiss and said, "Let's get your whole body on the bed so I can attend to you properly."

I stood back up; Angel scooched her body fully up on and to the center of the bed. She gave a small gasp and moved slightly further over on the bed.

"There's a cold wet spot there," she said with a snicker.

"Hmm, I wonder how that got there?"

We both giggled. I clambered on to the bed and walked over on my knees to where her body lay on the bed, placing my legs in between hers, which she voluntarily spread apart to allow me to do so. I laid against her body, leaning my head in to give her another passionate kiss.

I was neither as slow nor as gentle as Angel was to me, in my lovemaking with her. I did, however, spend abundant time ravishing her breasts, as I am enthralled by her incredible full breasts. I went for arousal with my every action. I wanted to bring her to a momentous climax. From her reaction I was successful. I brought her to two orgasms; the second one rocked her.

I was holding Angel against my body, as she did with me, as her body calmed itself from that intensive second orgasm. Her body shivering against mine, soft moans, her arms wrapped around me. I whispered soft gentle words of love in her ears as we lay together.

Angel recovered after several minutes, her voiced hitched slightly when softly said, "That was unbelievable. You are well versed in how to pleasure a woman. Wow."

"Right back at you, my Angel."

"Now I am the one that wants to close their eyes, but first I need to pee also."

"I will be here."

While she was in the bathroom, I turned off the lamp on the side of the bed I was closest to. I pulled up the bedding over me, her portion laying on top of me to let her ease into the bed and I could lay them over her.

She approached the bed with broad smile, "I am going to sleep well tonight."

I said, "I hate to put a dampener on your sleep, but would you be so kind as to set your alarm for six in the morning? My phone is in the other room, and I don't want to get up. I will if you would prefer for me to just set my phone alarm."

"I will set the alarm clock. I would wake up either way. It doesn't bother me to do so at all."

"Can I be the big spoon? That way I can fall asleep with a hand on your breast."

Angel laughed, "You didn't get enough breast time earlier?"

I giggled, "I don't think I will ever have too much Angel breast time."

"Works for me."

She sat on the bed, set the alarm, turned off the lamp, laid down, her back facing me, scooting over until our bodies were pressed against each of us. I put the bedding gently over her, and putting my arm under the covers, I cupped my hand to loosely hold her breast as we fell asleep.

Angel sighed, "That feels nice."

"I agree."

"Tonight was everything, and more, than I hoped for Anna."

"It was the best night I have ever had. Thank you for everything Angel. And I am not talking just about tonight, but everything you have done for me."

"It has been my very great honor to have helped and pleased you, my dear."

I gave her a soft kiss on her neck, "It is time for me to go to sleep. My body is drained."

Angel snickered, "You are not the only one. Goodnight, Anna."

"Goodnight, my Angel."

A soft snicker, a little push of her body into mine, making sure we were as tight together as we could be. I was asleep in moments.

The alarm went off way too early, or so it seemed. I was in the midst of another comforting dream and reluctantly forced myself to wake up. I felt movement in the bed, the alarm stopped, and I opened my eyes to see two green eyes, full of mirth, staring at me.

"Good morning, my sweet."

"Good morning, my Angel."

She leaned in and gave me a soft kiss.

I sighed, "But I don't want to go to work," I murmured like a petulant young child.

Angel laughed, threw back the bedding that covered me, reached over and slapped my butt check, hard, "But you have to, my dear."

"Ow! But I want to lay here with you."

"I have to leave in a couple of hours anyway so you wouldn't get much more naked laying together."

"I know," I sighed loudly.

I rolled over to the side of the bed and got up, rubbing my butt cheek that had a red area where Angel had spanked me, "You know if spanking is allowed, watch out in the future!"

Giggling Angel replied, "Promises, promises."

I thought about bounding onto the bed and engaging in a moot spanking fight, but I knew I had to shower and get ready for work, the spanking would have to wait.

I started walking to the bathroom, when Angel asked, "If we are good little girls can we share a shower. I promise to be good."

I turned and looked at her, she was sitting on the edge of the bed, with this oh, so, innocent look on her face that I burst out laughing.

I waved my hands at her, "Okay, come on. But remember we must be good little girls."

"I promised," she said as she got skipped her way to me.

Her attitude and enthusiasm had me laughing hard now. She put her arm around my waist and together we walked into the shower.

Surprisingly, we both mostly behaved, other than our breasts were soaped and cleaned for an inordinate amount of time. All the time we were in the shower there was laughter, soft moans, hugs, and soft kisses. It was the best shower I had ever had.

We dried each other off, and while I started to get dressed for work, Angel threw a robe on, heading out of the bedroom, without looking back she said, "Making breakfast."

Once I was dressed, I went to the kitchen, smelling fresh coffee brewing, and asked if I could do anything to help.

Angel tending to some scrambled eggs, said, "If you would please toast some bread for us that would be a help."

"Toasting bread is a specialty of mine."

Angel chuckled.

Soon we sat down to scrambled eggs with cheese, toast, and, most importantly, hot freshly brewed coffee. We both must have been ravenous, I know I was, as hardly a word was spoken as we ate.

As we finished, I sighed, "Thank you, Angel. I didn't realize how hungry I was. The eggs were wonderful."

She giggled, "And the toast was done to perfection."

I laughed, got up, grabbed the coffee pot and refilled both of our cups. I sat the pot back on the warming plate and sat back down, "Angel, would you please send me a text when you safely arise at your destination today?"

She smiled, "I was planning to do so anyway. So, yes, I will be sure to drop a text to you."

"Thank you."

"Why not just leave your dinner date clothes here? I will take care of them, and you don't have to drive around with baggage in your car, other than your overnight bag. It isn't like you won't be back here. Or so I hope."

"Wild horses couldn't stop me."

Angel chuckled, "I knew that, but I wanted to hear it from you. And well answered, if you ask me."

"Oh, Angel, I meant it. You are very special to me. Honestly, I can't wait until we are together again. Not just for the sex either, which is very nice, but just being near you is the most important part of my life right now."

She beamed a wonderful smile, "And you to me."

As I sat there in a bubble of good feelings, so welcome after such a long time of darkness, Angel got up, grabbed the pot and refilled our cups. We sat there, silently, drinking our coffee, just enjoying our being together with each other.

I finished my coffee, stood up, and started grabbing my plate and silverware, when Angel said, "Leave them there I will take care of everything."

"Okay. I'll put my boots on and head out then."

"Hey, we've got leftover food, does your work have a fridge you can store it in and take it home?"

"It does. Would you be so kind as to get it out while I get my boots on?"

"I can do that."

I got my boots on and laced up, ready to go, Angel came out with a bag containing the food.

"Thank you. I am going to miss you, my Angel."

"It's only four days. But, to be honest, I will miss you also. Can I call you at night."

"That would be great."

We hugged each other tightly, exchanged a couple of kisses, and out the door I went.

Angel called me every night she was gone. Friday night I told her about how one of my floor crew, Marcus, came to my office and asked what was going on with me. He and the others had noticed that my behavior had changed, that I was happy. I told them I had met you and how you got me to confront my problems, well that, and how we had become to care about each other in just these few days.

Most of the crew knew how my behavior had changed earlier this year. Something had happened. They, of course, knew about my mother's death but were unaware of the two other incidents that had occurred at near the same time. I gave them a short summary of what happened, how it had crushed my spirit, and that I had come to not care about living a life. That I was just existing.

They were glad to hear I was working to change my mindset, and that it was working. And that they all wanted to meet you.

Angel sighed dramatically and, in jest, said "Oh goodness, now you want me to meet your co-workers."

"Yes, I do. And they really want to meet the woman that helped me start caring about living again."

Angel snickered, "I would be happy to meet them all."

We talked for a few more minutes before we hung up.

When we talked Saturday night Angel asked me if I would like to spend Sunday night with her. She said she might be tired but just sleeping with me beside her would make her happy. I told her I would enjoy just sleeping with her also.

Two weeks later Katherine called and asked if we could spend some time together Sunday evening and Monday. She told me she had made a hotel reservation for Sunday night. She had an interview on Monday with an HR member of the insurance company she worked for, concerning possibly becoming the manager of the branch office in my town. Of course, I told her I would be happy to spend some time with her. She also wanted to meet Angel, if that was alright with me. I told her I would really like her to meet Angel.

She told me she had taken Tuesday off also, so she could spend more time with me and asked if she could stay overnight with me Monday night. I told her sure, but all I had was a double bed which might be a bit too cramped for two, but I could sleep on the couch. Kat told me she would sleep on the couch. I told her no. She needed to have a good night's sleep and that I had slept on the couch many a time.

I called her back the next night and told her I was able to take Monday and Tuesday off also since I had family visiting. She was delighted to hear that. She tried again to get me to let her sleep on the couch, but, again, I told her no. She confirmed my address and told me she should be in town around four that afternoon. "Great," I said, "I'll see you then."

Angel spent Saturday night with me. We made love, each bringing the other to multiple orgasms, and fell asleep exhausted early on Sunday morning. I love sleeping with her in my small bed, we have to sleep with our bodies touching each other's as we sleep. Being a bit cramped sleeping with her was very pleasurable.

We slept in after our very active night, which extended into the early morning hours. When we awoke, we showered together, while we did get each other clean, we also played around until the warm water ran out. I suggested we eat breakfast at our favorite diner, she agreed. It was almost ten in the morning before we got to the diner.

While we ate Angel said, "Why don't you and Katherine stay with me Monday night? Everybody will have a bed to sleep in, no couches needed. Do you think she would have a problem if we slept together?"

"I don't know. I don't think so. She seems to have accepted my sexuality, but I will be sure and ask her and let you know."

"I hope she agrees. I want to get to know her and staying overnight gives us more time to get to know each other."

"I hope so also."

We went back to my apartment and decided to take a walk in a park nearby. It was a nice November day, cool, no wind, and no precipitation. We walked around the park twice, at a leisurely pace, holding hands. We didn't talk much. We just enjoyed walking together in a park on a beautiful day.

We got back around two in the afternoon. We both had to take a constitutional bathroom visit when we returned to my apartment, which caused some giggles.

I poured us both a glass of white wine. We sat on the couch relaxing and watched some hokey Hallmark rom-com. Talking, making up our own dialogue for the movie, laughing often. Near the end my phone chimed, it was Kat.

"Hi, Anna. I am about ten minutes away from your apartment."

"Great! I'll be here."

I looked over at Angel, and said, "That was Kat. She said she's about ten minutes away."

Angel smiled, "I had better get my stuff and vamoose."

"You don't want to stay a while?"

"You two need to spend some time together. I will see her whether you two decide to stay at my place or not. Either way I do want to meet her."

I sighed, "Okay. You're probably right, we need some time together first."

Angel gathered what she needed, putting on her coat and shoes. At the door I hugged her, we kissed, then I squeezed her again, "I will let you know what Kat thinks about staying with you tomorrow."

Another quick kiss, and Angel left.

Minutes later a knock on the door, I opened it and there Kat stood, smiling.

I gave her a hug, which was immediately reciprocated by her.

Kat looked around the apartment, "I am not trying to be mean or judgmental, but this apartment is kind of crappy."

I chuckled, "It is. But it is cheap. It's just me, and it has everything I need. When I rented it, I didn't care. I rented it in the midst of a dark period of my life. I moved out of a much nicer place after my break-up with Valerie because of all the memories. I saw the listing for this apartment, it was all I needed at the time, so I took it."

Kat stepped up to me and gave me a hug. "I am sorry, I really am. Maybe not when it happened, but my perspective has changed since then and I am sorry your relationship ended."

I took this as a good time to bring up staying with Angel on Monday night.

"Speaking of relationships, Angel wanted me to ask you if you would be willing to stay at her condo Monday night? She wants to meet you and thought that it would be a good opportunity for you two to get to know each other. And everybody would have a bed to sleep in! I will sleep with Angel. Are you comfortable with Angel and myself sleeping together?"

"A few years ago, I would never have agreed to such an arrangement, but, as you know, my thoughts about homosexual relationships have changed. So, I have no problems if you two sleep in the same bed."

"I promise we will behave," I said, with a snicker.

Kat laughed, "Yes, please. The sounds of sex between you two might be more than I could comfortably handle."

We both went into a laughing binge for a couple of minutes.

I wiped my eyes, "Kat, I am so happy we have been able to overcome our long animosity between us. I am really, really happy to have my sister back in my life."

Kat, wiping her eye, her voiced hitched slightly, "So am I. I missed you, Anna."

I chuckled, "One minute were laughing our asses off, the next minute we're crying."

"That's sisters for you," and pulled me into a tight hug.

She released herself from our hug, "Speaking of your Angel, is she a very attractive red-haired woman with one of the most welcomingly sincere smiles I have ever seen?"

"That's my Angel."

"As I was getting out of my car, I saw her come out of the building, our eyes met, and she gave me that marvelous smile as she walked to her car. I almost gasped aloud when she flashed that smile."

"It's hard to resist."

"I can only imagine."

Katherine took us out for dinner. She wanted Mexican food, so I took her to my favorite Mexican restaurant. It was a wonderful dinner. The food was good, and we had such fun talking to each other, like the sisters we were all those years ago. The emotions running through my body were almost overwhelming. This was one of the happiest moments in my life. I had a sister again, and so did Kat.

We got back to my apartment, I turned on the stereo, streaming some calm, soothing music and we talked about everything and nothing, reinforcing our newly reforged sisterhood. This evening was one of the most significant moments of my life.

We both were getting sleepy by nine o'clock. The night, while one amazing night, had also been an emotionally draining night. As Kat was getting ready to return to the hotel she was staying at, I asked if she would like to see where I worked. She did. Her interview wasn't until eleven o'clock the next morning, it was going to be a working lunch. I told her the warehouse could be a dusty environment so if we went early enough, she could come back here and get showered and dressed.

Kat called me at six-thirty the next morning wanting to know if she should come over. I told sure, I had woken early and had showered. She said she would call when she arrived at my building.

We got to the warehouse just after seven-thirty in the morning, our hours of work were from seven o'clock in the morning to four o'clock in the afternoon. I had just introduced Kat to Marcus when Fran from the front office came towards me, walking fast, and asked if I could take a call from one of the trucking companies we warehouse goods for and ship them to their customers. She told me she knew I wasn't scheduled to work but Carl from Emmit and Sons was on the phone, pissed about some mistake concerning a shipment, and Fran didn't know the ins and outs of the actual process of how we picked and loaded their material to be shipped out.

I told her, yeah, I would talk with him. I turned to Marcus, asked if he was able to spend some time with Kat and give her a tour of our facility. He told me he was ahead of schedule and that, yes, he could give her a tour. I asked Kat if that was okay, she said it was fine. I hustled to my office and got on the line with Carl.

It took about twenty minutes to smooth Carl's feathers and come to an agreement which both companies could live with. By the end of the call, he had calmed down, thanked me, and I apologized for the error. Before we ended the call we even had a little laugh. I had always liked Carl; he was usually even-tempered, fair in his requests, and nice person to work with.

I buzzed Fran's phone and told her everything had been straightened out to both our companies' satisfaction. She apologized for asking me to work on a day off, but it had been a situation she could not handle, she had seen my car in the parking lot and took a chance I would be willing to help. I told her no problem, a few unpaid minutes of work didn't bother me, and I would much rather solve a problem than make the customer have to wait for someone who could resolve the situation to return his call later.

I went back onto the floor looking for Kat and Marcus, finally finding them in Bay 4. They were both laughing about something as I approached them. I told Marcus I could take over with the tour. He smiled, told me it was no trouble, and that it was nice to meet my sister. He told me what he had shown her and that everybody else on the warehouse floor had met Kat also.

We continued on, with me giving Kat some additional information of how the operation ran, and then showed her my office, which was at an elevated level, which gave me the ability to see most of the warehouse and loading bays. She listened and asked some relevant questions, showing she had been attentive during the tour.

We left to return to my apartment by eight thirty giving her ample time to get clean and dressed for her interview. While I was driving Kat mentioned that Marcus was cute, had been nice to her, and was funny to boot.

Later that week Marcus approached me and told me he enjoyed being with her. He thought she was smart, funny, and pretty. He asked me if she took the job here, if it would be alright with me if he asked her out on a date. I told him I had no problem with him asking her out. I told him I was not her protector, she was a grown woman, and it was strictly her decision as to whether or not she dated him. I did tell him that, if asked, I would recommend she go out with him.

I didn't tell her until she moved to town, having accepted both the job offer, and his asking her out on a date, that he had asked me about you and him dating after the morning you toured the warehouse.

Kat returned to my apartment around two thirty that afternoon. She was excited. She told me the interview went very well. There were two HR people at the working lunch, and she told me they both seemed to be impressed with her, and, in her mind, it looked like she was going to be offered the job. I gave a loud hurrah and gave her a big hug.

She picked up her overnight bag, which she had left near the door after changing into the clothes she had brought for her interview. She went to the bathroom and came back having changed into more comfortable clothing.

I called Angel to ask if we should come to her condo. She ecstatically said absolutely we should come over now.

We were at Angel's door in thirty minutes. Angel opened the door, smiling broadly, stepped back so Kat and I could come in. She gently shut the door, turned and gave me a hug. She looked over at Kat and said, "You must be Katherine?"

Kat smiled back at her, "I am. Please, Kat is fine. Everybody calls me that."

"Kat," Angel asked, "Is it okay if I hug you also?"

Kat nodded, and they shared a quick, familial hug.

"I am happy to meet Anna's sister. Are you sure it is okay with us spending the night together?"

Kat answered, "It's fine. I have wanted to meet the Angel that helped Anna and myself to get back together after all this time. Which, by the way, I want to thank you. It has been wonderful to reconnect with my sister, who has not been part of my life for way too long."

They shared another hug. This embrace was more than a familial hug, it was a hug full of emotion and caring between two people.

Angel said, "Kat, it was the two of you that made the reconciliation happen. All I did was give Anna a little nudge, to do something she had wanted to do, even though she may not have realized so until I gently pushed her to confront the situation. It took courage, and love, on both of you behalf's to take the step to heal the wounds you both had."

This time it was Kat's and my turn to hug each other tightly, a couple of tears fell from both of our eyes.

Angel giggled, "Well, I didn't mean to make you two cry," as she walked over to an end table that had a box tissues, grabbing a few, and returning to us, giving each of us a tissue. I noticed she kept one for herself.

Then Angel said, "Enough emotional discussion. It is time for fun; and for Kat and me to get to know each other. It's a girl's night!"

We all laughed at that.

I asked, "What is scheduled for this girl's night?"

Angel laughed, "I have no idea. Other than I thought I would treat us to dinner out. I was going to cook but changed my mind and decided I didn't want to take the time and effort. This way we can just enjoy a night together with nobody having to work. Are you hungry? We could have an early dinner then come back here, have some wine, and, maybe, play games or something?"

I said I was hungry, not having had lunch. Angel admitted to the same. We both looked at Kat, she just laughed and said she could eat, her lunch had been a light meal.

Angel took Kat by the hand and took her down the hall. She pointed out the bathroom and then showed her the bedroom she was going to occupy. Angel had grabbed Kat's overnight bag and set it on the bed for her.

While she did that, I took my bag to Angel's bedroom and left it on the floor near her dresser.

We went to a family restaurant nearby. The meal was fun. The food was good. We talked and laughed throughout the meal. Overall, an enjoyable dinner with friends.

When we were back at her condo she asked if we would like some wine. Wine sounded good so she pulled out a Bordeaux and poured up three glasses that she placed on the dining table. One glass at the head of the table and then one each at each neighboring chair.

We all sat down, took a drink, and Angel said, "What game should we play? I don't have a wide selection, Scrabble?"

I immediately said, "No. I suck at that game. Kat and I played it when we were young. I would place words like 'dog', 'home', 'desk', and Kat would drop down a word like 'Quixotic'."

Kat started laughing, "You are never going to let that go, are you?"

Laughing, I said, "Nope, never."

We all sat for a couple of minutes having a good laugh.

"Catan?" Angel said, "Three-handed Cribbage?"

Kat said, "I have never played Catan, but I have played Cribbage often."

I nodded, and said, "Cribbage works for me also."

Angel got up, walked to the hallway and opened what I thought was a closet, but it was a storage closet with shelves. She grabbed a cribbage board and a deck of cards, returning to the table with a big smile, "Cribbage it is!"

So, we spent the rest of the night, ostensibly playing Cribbage, which we did, but most of the time was taken by the three of us talking, laughing, and drinking wine. It was a night of enjoying the company of each other. A diversion from the world outside. Three people enjoying a casual, intimate evening. No intrusion of all the electronic distractions we are surrounded by these days, other than Angel did turn on her stereo and streamed soft classical music as we played.

By nine thirty we were all getting sleepy. I think we were all a bit buzzed by the bottle and half of wine we drank while we played cards and talked. Kat was the first to say it was time for her to retire, which Angel and I agreed with. While Angel picked up the Cribbage board and playing cards and returned them to storage closet, Kat and I rinsed the glasses, sitting them in the sink. Angel re-corked the open bottle and put it in the refrigerator.

We all said goodnight to each other, Angel and me each giving Kat a hug, and went to our respective bedrooms.

I let Angel use the en suite bedroom first. While she did her night routine, I got out a sleep shirt, tossed it on the bed, and my toiletry bag for my turn in the bathroom.

Angel came back into the bedroom; told me it was my turn. I went to the bathroom, removed all my clothes except my panties, peed, washed my hands and face, and brushed my teeth.

When I came out, I put my clothes and toiletry bag on top of my overnight bag and turned to go to bed. I saw a sight I had not expected. Angel was sitting naked on the bed, leaning on a pillow against the headboard, a towel placed under her butt extending out between her partially spread legs. She was smiling broadly, her arms held out, and said, "Come, sit with me."

I walked over, giggling, and said, "Remember I told Kat we would behave."

"I know, but I failed to disclose an important adverb, namely 'badly'."

I got onto the bed, shaking my head, "Angel we have to behave, I am not the quietest person during sex."

Angel snickered, "Oh, I know that. Just come lay back against me, please. Kat will not hear anything, I promise."

I moved my body up and put my back against her body, her arms enveloping me, her erect nipples pressing into my back.

She whispered into my ear, "You will probably want to remove your panties, or you may have very wet panties when I am done with you."

"But..."

"No buts, please just remove them, that's why the towel is here, no wet spot."

Reluctantly, I removed my panties and tossed them just off to the side of the bed.

"Angel, do you think we should be doing anything sexual? I don't want to cause Kat any discomfort."

She whispered into my ear, "I am sure. She won't hear anything. You will have to be quiet, that is your job tonight."

I whispered back, "What's your job?"

"To make you orgasm."

"But I can't promise I will be quiet."

"Oh, I have faith in you."

With her right hand she reached up to my chin and turned my face to hers. Her green eyes had an intensity in them that I hadn't seen in them before. She leaned into me and gave me a soft kiss. I thought it was going to be a quick chaste kiss, but she continued to kiss me, slowly increasing the passion behind the kiss, her tongue coming out and knocking on my lips. My lips opened, welcoming her tongue into my mouth. Angel continued the kiss, our tongues doing their dance, my arousal began to level up rapidly. This passionate kiss finally ended, I sighed, loudly, when the kiss broke.

Angel whispered, "Remember, quiet is the name of tonight."

"Angel," I whispered, "I can't help myself. You always bring the strongest reactions from my body. I seem to be unable to keep my desire, and my full body response of being with you, under control. The range of exhilaration you spark is more than I have felt before and sometimes I just have to release sounds to release some of the intensity of my feelings."

"Keep trying. If you find yourself unable to be quiet, kiss me, scream in my mouth."

With that she kissed me zealously, my lips and mouth responded instinctively. My tongue pursuing hers in a chase of passion. Suddenly she sucked my tongue forcibly, her lips holding my tongue hostage as she sucked on my tongue, her mouth sliding back and forth over the length of my outstretched tongue.

When she began sucking my tongue her hands moved up to my breasts, her fingers rolling my stiffened nipples. I felt her legs move, placing themselves inside my spread legs, sliding down to my knees and pushing my legs to spread as wide as I could. I felt my labia reluctantly part themselves, my fluid resisting their separation, until they slowly relented and opened my vulva to expose my most intimate pink flesh to the world. I moaned loudly, mostly muffled by her mouth while she continued holding my tongue hostage.

Her fingers went from rolling my nipples between them, to a strong pinch, while she pulled them away from my chest. I cried out, again her mouth muffling the sound. I arched my back pushing my breasts harder against her molesting fingers and hands. My body started trembling, my hips undulating against the air.

I had to break the kiss so I could take a deep breath, releasing a soft moan as the refreshing air rushed into my body. I whispered, "Oh my god, Angel."

She giggled, her fingers still abusing my breasts and nipples, "You are doing good at being quiet, well, for the most part anyway."

Her fingers released my nipples from her pinching, and the rush of blood back into them overwhelmed me with both a welcome release and an overwhelming surge of arousal coursing through my body.

Trembling ever harder, my breath rapid, my pelvis humping, instinctively, nothing. I could feel perspiration releasing from my skin.

Softly, in a whisper, Angel said, "I love your nipples. Thick, extended, so sensitive to my touch. While I know they raise your arousal level, they do so to me."

With that her fingers pinched both nipples, pulling them outward. Her mouth surrounded mine, again muffling a cry from the renewed assault on my breasts. She held my nipples pinched and pulled away from my body, as strong reverberations ran their course through my body. My vulva was beginning to release a higher amount of lubricating fluid, I could feel it beginning to run down my slit, slowly travelling to my anus, pooling slightly and dripping on the well-placed towel. Angel once again released my nipples. Another rush of wonderful release and arousal.

Angel leaned into me to share another passionate kiss, our tongues melding together in our dance of love. Her left hand returned to firmly groping my breast and running her palm against my nipple. I had just started wondering where her right hand was when I was hit by a thunderbolt as her hand caressed my vulva. Another muffled outcry, my sheen of perspiration becoming more notable, my body was shaking now, and my vulva finally had something to strongly undulate against.

With her left hand continuing to play with my breast, my nipple sending strong feelings of arousal to my body, I now had her other hand gently, slowly caressing my vulva. A fingertip occasionally intruding slightly inside my labia and traversing the length of my slit. My body was now on the fast track to an orgasm of undetermined strength other than, oh no. I know there was no way I was going to be able stifle a loud vocal response when it crested.

My body shaking furiously, my hips humping her hand strongly and rapidly, my sheen of perspiration was beading up and beginning to flow across my skin. I gasped out to Angel, "You need to kiss me, now!"

As she leaned back into me, kissing me hard, a finger slipped into my vagina. My back arched even more, pressing my breast into her hand as it continued with its groping of my breast. My legs pulled up to where my feet were flat on the bed. Her legs responded by pushing them even farther apart, my vulva now as lewdly displayed as possible. Her finger fucking my vagina rapidly, her palm intermittingly pressing against my clit.

The orgasm hit me. A surge of pleasure flooded through my body. My loud outcry muffled by our kiss. As my body trembled, my mind awash with sensations from my orgasm, my hips moving rapidly against her hand pressed against my vulva, Angel slowed her fingering of my vagina as my orgasm crested.

As my body was just beginning to recede from the crest of my orgasm, Angel, the imp, slid her other hand to my vulva and began to rub against my uncovered clit and slid two fingers inside my vagina, fucking me rapidly once again.

We were still kissing so my scream was barely audible as my body jumped another couple of levels of orgasmic heights. Whatever my body was doing it was uncontrollable by me, my mind only concentrating on the magnificently overpowering orgasm that Angel had pushed my body to experience. All I could do was immerse myself into this ocean of pleasure, passion, and love.

When I opened my eyes I saw my Angel's face, her intense green eyes shining brightly as she looked into my eyes, she smiled, "Hi, you're back."

I smiled weakly and nodded.

"You did very well at keeping quiet. I knew you could."

I replied, my voice raspy, "I screamed, I cried out, I moan loudly. Just how is that being quiet?" with a soft laugh.

"You kept your head and let me know when you knew you were going to be loud. We then both worked to keep any outcry's to a very acceptable level. That's keeping it quiet in my book. Anna, I never thought you would be able to stay quiet all on your own, considering what I had planned for you. I know I would not have been able not to cry out just on my own. We worked together, even with you under strong pressure from my actions, to make any vocalizations mild. So, I say you were very quiet."

"So, this was a test?" my voice a bit testy.

"No! Well, maybe a little. But everything I did to, and with, you was lovemaking with caring and deep affection from me. I guess it was kind of a pressure test, but I prefer to consider it as learning how well we work together. I think we did amazingly well. Especially you. You get a gold star!" she said, with a snicker.

I looked at her, silently for a minute.

A look of concern came across her face, "Oh Anna, did I hurt you doing this. That's the last thing in the world I would want to do. Please, forgive me."

I continued to look at her silently until I could not help myself and a small smile showed on my face, "Angel there is nothing to forgive. I am not angry, maybe, mildly surprised. But, if I was going to be tested, I can't think of a more pleasurable way to find out how I, and my lover, work together. One caveat however."

Angel looked at me, with a smile, and raised eyebrows, "A caveat?"

I nodded, "Yes. Payback is a bitch," and started laughing.

Angel began laughing and wrapped her arms and legs tightly around my body.

We sat like that for a few moments silently, until I said, "I have to pee, get a drink of water, and dry myself off."

Angel released her hold on me, and I raised my body from against hers, she said, "Feel me, feel my pussy."

I thought it was a strange request, but I reached out my hand and pressed against her vulva. Angel gasped, and I felt how wet she was, "I wanted you to know I had my own little orgasm watching you react as I played with you. I wanted you to know that your arousal was not alone. This was two people expressing their caring for each other. Perhaps it was a little strange, but I wanted you to know it was not some cold lab test on my behalf. I did what I did with affection, and I wanted you to have a momentous climax. That is really what the whole thing was about. And it seems I was successful with the whole momentous climax outcome."

I giggled, leaned into her, and we shared a gentle loving kiss, "That is what I would call an understatement."

As I got off the bed Angel said, "Wait," and lifted her butt off the bed, grabbing the towel from underneath her. She held it up and looked at it, chuckled, and showed it to me. There were two distinct wet spots. A smaller one, Angel's, and a quite larger spot, mine, I also chuckled.

Angel quickly wiped her vulva and tossed the towel my way, "Use it if you want or get a clean one. When you are done just leave it, or them, on the bathroom counter."

"Okay," I gave her a smile and went on my way to the bathroom.

When I came back out from the bathroom Angel was sitting on the edge of the bed, dressed in a nightshirt and panties.

She stood up and said, "You made me need to pee. Your nightshirt and panties are laid out on the bed for you. I'll be back soon."

As we walked by each other she slapped my naked butt, giggled, and ran to the bathroom.

When she slapped my butt I said, "Ow!" a bit loudly. I giggled also and hoped that I had not disturbed Kat.

Angel came back shortly; I was stretched out on the bed waiting. She beamed her wonderful smile at me and as she got into bed she said, "Slide over so I can cuddle my girlfriend."

I scooted over, and we spooned each other. Angel's arm and leg lay across my body. A feeling of peace flowed into me, I was lying with the woman I loved, who had just brought me to two of the best orgasms I had ever experienced. A smile came to my face, a soft sigh of contentment, and I fell asleep almost immediately upon laying my head on the pillow.

When I awoke, I was laying splayed out on the bed. A bed that I was the only occupant of. I sighed, smiled thinking about last night, stretched my body on the bed, and got out of bed. I went over to my bag pulled out fresh panties, a pair of sleep pants, a bra, and a gray pullover jersey crewneck long-sleeved sweatshirt. I laid them out on the bed and went to the bathroom to shower.

As I walked into the main room, I saw Kat and Angel, standing near the windows looking over the nearby park, in a tight hug.

I said loudly, feigning anger, "Katherine Olivia Everson! Are you trying to steal my girlfriend!"

Both Kat and Angel gave a little jerk, spooked by my loud statement, not aware I was up and in the room.

They released each other from the hug. Kat turned to me, her eyes moist, a trail of a tear shown on her cheek, "What? No! We were..."

I laughed, interrupted her, and said, "You have been talking to Angel, haven't you?"

Kat nodded, "Yes, we have just been talking. Why do you say that?"

"I can see you have cried a little. Conversations with Angel often end up with some tears."

Kat snickered, "She is very perceptive. Angel has given me some insight concerning some emotional burdens I carry. She brought a fresh perspective on how I could better deal with certain issues I have been dealing with."

I started walking toward Kat, "Oh, Kat, take her thoughts to heart. She is very astute in her advice and suggestions," as I wrapped my arms around Kat, and gave her a firm hug. As we hugged, I whispered in her ear, "Just look at us now. It was her advice that got us where we are now; sisters again."

We broke our hug, both with a couple of tears running down our cheeks. A hand reached in between us holding several tissues.

Kat and I both broke out laughing, each grabbing a couple, and dried our faces.

Laughing, I said, "See, empirical evidence."

Kat and I turned to Angel standing there, her eyes moist, and we both hugged her, causing Angel to chuckle.

We hugged for a short time and Angel stepped back, and said, "Okay, serious talk is over. It's time for breakfast."

I looked over at Angel, "How long have you been up?"

"About ninety minutes. Kat came in about an hour ago. You, however, were sleeping the sleep of the dead. You must have been exhausted."

Angel looked at me, mouthed 'badly', smiled, "Coffee?"

I snorted when she mouthed 'badly', as it caused a quick remembrance of last night's activities.

Kat gave us a look and asked me, "What?"

I smiled, giving Angel the evil eye, "Private joke we have."

Kat snickered, shook her head slightly, "Whatever."

Angel, chuckling all the way to the kitchen, pulled a cup from the cabinet, filled it, and two cups already sitting on the counter with coffee.

"Come, have some coffee, and I will brew a new pot since we had a sleepy girl that got up late."

Kat and I grabbed a cup and sat across from each other at the kitchen table. Kat's back facing the kitchen.

Angel got a new pot brewing, leaned on the far side of the kitchen counter, "More caffeine soon, for our sleepy girl," again mouthing 'badly'.

I almost snorted coffee all over the table. Kat looked at me, then turned and looked at Angel, leaning on the kitchen counter, her broad warming smile on full display, an innocent look on her face, and shrugging her shoulders. Kat turned, looked at me, shook her head again, "You two are as bad as we used to be in our youth Anna."

I smiled at Kat, "I remember us being like that. It's a wonderful feeling, this closeness between Angel and me. I never thought I would experience that silent dialogue, like we had, again."

Angel said, "I have a feeling you are going to have two people who silently converse with you soon."

Kat and I looked at each other, smiled, blushed, and wiped our eyes again.

"Okay," Angel said, "Breakfast? Omelet with bacon, grits, and some fruit?'

Kat gave me a surprised look, "Grits? Is Angel from the south?"

I shook my head, "No. She knows how I, we, like grits from our youth, and is being hospitable by offering them," I looked at Angel, her thoughtfulness of offering grits surprised me, smiled broadly, "You continue to surprise me my Angel. I believe Kat and I would love to have some grits with breakfast. Thank you."

Angel, still smiling her warming smile, her eyes with a touch of moisture, "You're welcome."

Then she stood up straight, slapped her hands on the counter, making Kat and I both jump in our chairs, "All hands-on deck, we have a meal to make. One of you two get to cook the grits, I never have before, and if they come out," with a glance at me, "badly, it won't be my fault."

I returned her glance, shook my head, giggling, she was having too much fun with that word this morning.

I looked at Kat, who was shaking her head again, mystified over our private joke, "Rocks, paper, scissors?"

She laughed, "No. I volunteer to make the grits."

We had a wonderful, leisurely breakfast. The food was delicious, Angel even had some grits with her meal. A meal full of conversation and laughter, and coffee. We sat around the table continuing our relaxed conversation and enjoying coffee long after we had finished our meal. Angel even confessed that she liked grits as a breakfast side dish, maybe not every breakfast, but often.

The topic of Thanksgiving came up, as it was just over a week away. Kat apologized, saying she had already agreed to share the holiday with some friends, but did say they would be fine if she didn't attend. Both Angel and I told her to stay with her friends. We had just seen her, and we planned, insisted actually, to see her at Christmas. Kat agreed, she seemed to be slightly taken by surprise of the invitation, which both Angel and I said where else should she be on Christmas but with us. More tissues were needed and used.

Hugs all around as Kat and I prepared to leave. As Angel and I hugged, I whispered in her ear, "Payback," she laughed out loud. Kat just stood there shaking her head at our antics with each other.

I helped Kat carry her baggage to her car. We hugged each other tightly. We both had to wipe our eyes as we said goodbye.

"Kat, I love you. I am joyous we have overcome our differences and are sisters again."

"Oh, Anna, so am I. I am sure we will become even closer as time goes by. Tell Angel thank you and goodbye from me again. You have a very special woman that cares deeply for you. Treat her right. You are very lucky that you two found each other. I feel lousy about not being here for Thanksgiving."

"Don't. You will be here for Christmas. Enjoy your holiday as you planned, and we will see you again in just over a month. And you are right, Angel is a very special person. I am lucky."

"You deserve it, Anna."

We hugged again. I watched as she pulled out of the parking lot, one last wave as she headed home.

Angel and I awoke Thanksgiving morning to a raging blizzard. The weather forecast had warned it was very likely our town would be hit directly by this very strong storm. Angel called her grandmother, told her to just stay at home and ride out the storm. She promised we would all get together soon, and that she would see us and Kat at Christmas.

Angel and I spent the next two days watching the fury of this storm as it released its wrath upon our town. We decided not to cook what she had planned for Thanksgiving, saving it instead for a nice dinner with her grandmother once the storm passed and the town opened back up to business as usual.

We cooked modest meals together. Healthy, nutritious, light meals. We spent our time playing some games, reading silently, sitting next to each other, watching a couple of movies, we talked, a lot, and we slept often because we had sex multiple times over these two days, at various times each day. I don't think there was a part of our bodies that the other did not become intimately acquainted with. For me, it was one of the best Thanksgiving's I ever had. A quiet, contemplative, loving two days of exploring each other, physically, mentally, emotionally. I have never spent such an intense exploration of myself and another human being. At the end of these two days of tumultuous, raucous, untamed nature outside, inside I was at peace, accepting of who I was. My inner turmoil which had haunted me for the last several months was gone. I was happy, happier than I could remember ever being. I was in love with this wonderfully insightful, caring woman. A love that was now embedded within every cell of my body. In other words, I was hopelessly, completely, eternally hers for better or worse. Oh, that sounds serious. Because it is.

On Thanksgiving Day we were naked in bed, after a little nap, recovering from a very physical bout of lovemaking, Angel told me her complete life story. Some I knew, but a lot was new to me.

Her parents died in a single car crash when Angel was three months old. Her grandmother, Anima, was taking care of Angel while they were going to be away for two days. Both her mother and father were only children and on her father's side his parents were killed overseas, the grandfather was in the diplomatic service, and they were killed when a violent insurrection erupted in the country he was stationed. So, Anima was given custody of Angel.

Her mother, Joan, named her Angel because she and her husband, Michael, had struggled to bear a child for several years without success. They had come to the conclusion that they were never going to be able to have children, then Joan, at age twenty-six, became pregnant, and named her daughter Angel as she felt the child was heaven-sent.

Angel told me her childhood was one of happiness. She has no memories of her parents other than what Anima told her. Her grandmother was a gentle soul, Angel's words, and raised her in a home of love and caring.

Angel went to college, graduated with a business administration degree and went on to get an MBA. At the age of twenty-four she was appointed to the board of a charitable nonprofit foundation that her great-grandparents founded. The next year, due to the sudden death of the current CEO, she was elected by the board to be the new CEO. The family ties and history with the foundation were the determining factor in her appointment. She told me there was some grumbling that she was appointed, but after eighteen months in the position she had been fully accepted by the board.

The foundation's objective is to help women, in any of multiple different situations, with financial help, counselling, job placement, child caring needs, and whatever else may be needed to help women in need.

She told me, which I did not know, but suspected, she comes from a substantially wealthy family. While she is given a salary, a hefty salary, she gives it all back to foundation as she is independently wealthy and has no need for her salary. Angel suspects her returning her salary might have been part of the reason she was appointed CEO.

She told me as she grew up, especially once she hit her teenage years, Anima continually lectured her, with kindness, that the kind of wealth our family is a gift to help others and not to be lorded over other people. She raised Angel on a frugal budget. While she was raised without want for the necessities of life, she grew up as most people do, sometimes wanting something that Anima thought was unnecessary or flaunting of their financial situation. She gave Angel an allowance, an allowance which was a normal amount for most families, which Angel could use as she wished. If Angel wanted something expensive, she either had to save up her allowance, or she could do additional chores around the house, or do some charitable work for a low hourly wage that her grandmother set.

As almost any young person, Angel felt, at times, her grandmother was just being cruel, or too stingy with her money. A few arguments arose about this topic, but by the time Angel was in high school these arguments ceased as Angel saw how some well-off people behaved and came to understand what her grandmother was working to instill in her granddaughter. Angel told me that is how she has lived her adult life. She has been tempted to spend money that really did not need to be spent and, usually, she snickered at the caveat of usually, because she did occasionally spend money she didn't need to spend. Her condo was one example. It was more than she needed but she fell in love with it and, especially, the wall of windows overlooking the park. She sighed, and said sometimes she felt some guilt, but she also realized that she generally kept her expenditures on the frugal path her grandmother instilled in her.

As she talked about her grandmother, I could feel the love and appreciation she had for Anima. It was palpable. I was anxious to meet this woman.

I found out that Angel spends some time meditating every day. She doesn't consider it meditation; she calls it her 'gathering her peace'. She told me it's usually just a thirty-minute time of quiet introspective thinking, but if something is bothering it sometimes takes her longer.

She looked into my eyes, her intensely green eyes keeping my eyes locked on hers, she told me that I held the record time she spent trying to find her peace. After she left that first Saturday we were together, when she got back home it took her over two hours to finally find her peace, her concern for me was that strong.

I know this is surprising, but it brought tears to me, and I wrapped myself around her naked body as tightly as I could, which she returned. When I calmed down, I whispered in her ear, "I'm sorry I caused you such concern, but know it was you, and the caring and concern you showed for me that drove me to accept and attempt the tasks we talked about that day. It was your caring that made me want to not only try those tasks, but to make them completed. It was you, Angel, who has put me on this path of living life. It was you."

Angel knew words were not needed, she just pulled me tighter against her body. We lay there silently, feeling the warmth of our bodies against each other, and the feelings that went along with our embrace.

Christmas dawned. A cold, still, cloudless day. A blanket of snow covered the ground. It was a beautiful winter day.

I woke as the sun began to peek over the horizon. I quietly, gently got out of bed, not wanting to disturb Angel. I went to a closet in the hallway where I had placed a box, with a 'Do Not Open' warning taped to the top of the box. I went into the main room and laid out three 'ugly' Christmas sweaters across the back of the couch. One for Angel, Katherine, and Anima. I was already adorned with my ugly sweater, a pair of red sleep pants, and green socks. I looked like a Christmas dork, I loved it.

I started brewing coffee. As it brewed, I stood at the wall of windows looking out over a pristine, stunning panoramic of just how beautiful winter can be. As I stood there, I heard steps coming my way, an arm laid across my shoulders, and, in a soft voice, Anima, said, "Merry Christmas, Anna. What a beautiful day we have for Christmas."

I turned my head, gave her a kiss on her cheek, and said, "Merry Christmas, Anima. I have been standing letting the beauty soak into my thoughts. I have some coffee ready; would you like a cup?"

"That would be nice."

"I'll be right back."

I went into the kitchen and poured two cups of hot, freshy brewed coffee. The best way to start the morning, in my opinion. As I returned to where she stood, I thought about how special a person Angel's grandmother was. I had finally met her two weeks ago. She came over for dinner with Angel and me.

She was in her early seventies, her once red hair now gray, her green eyes were twins to Angel's. She was a bit slim, but her body had held up well as she aged. For a person in her seventies, she was still an attractive woman. However, her real beauty was who she was.

She had a joyous glint, seemingly always, in her still vibrant, intense green eyes. She had a cheerfulness about her. Her lips, almost always, in a small smile. She laughed often, and freely. She was, generally, a quiet person. When she did converse, she spoke quietly. Though she spoke softly, I quickly learned to listen attentively to her, as she often brought out insights about the conversation that put a new, or a slightly different perspective, concerning whatever topic a conversation was about. She did not put these thoughts as how people should think about the topic, but as a different way to look at what was being discussed. Her perspective always conveyed a caring for people, an empathy toward others, that kindness was, perhaps, the most important aspect of life. Her perspective of life, and what living meant, had already shifted my views concerning what was important in life. Between her and Angel, my mindset about people, life, living, had dramatically changed. For the better.

I handed her a cup, she wrapped her hands around it, soaking up the heat radiating from the hot liquid, taking a small sip. She sighed.

"Thank you, Anna."

"You are most welcome."

I held my cup in one hand and put my arm around her waist, pulling her slightly closer to me. We stood there, silently, happy to be close to each other and look out at the beautiful morning beginning this day.

Between sips of coffee Anima would lean her head against my shoulder. As we stood there touching each other's body I felt a current of emotion flow between us. Without ever saying it she knew I had adopted her as my grandmother, and I knew she had adopted me as another granddaughter. It was the best Christmas present I could have asked for.

We were broken from our reverie by a couple of snickers from the main room. I turned my head to see Angel and Kat standing by the couch looking at the sweaters I had laid out.

Angel asked, while snickering, "What are these?"

I chuckled, "Those are everybody's ugly Christmas sweaters."

Kat, giggling, said, "We are supposed to wear these?"

I replied. "Absolutely," pointing to the sweater I already had on.

A collective sigh from the other three women, I snickered.

"They are all the same size so they should fit any of us. Anima they might be a little big for you."

Anima smiled, "Who cares. They're Christmas sweaters!"

"See, someone likes them!"

Kat looked over at me, "Anna, we all like them. They are a gift from you. A fun gift," she said as she pulled on a sweater with a goofy reindeer on it.

Angel came towards me as she was finishing putting on her sweater, with a wild caricature of Mrs. Claus, kissed me, shared one of her warming smiles, "Thank you. I love it."

Anime, her oversized sweater showing elves wrapping presents, hugged me, "Thank you."

Angel said, "Well, we all look goofily seasonal now. Thank you, Anna. Let's have a cup of coffee and make oatmeal for breakfast."

We all got a cup of coffee, and I started another pot brewing.

We had a joyous breakfast of oatmeal, toast, and fruit. A meal full of laughter and love between four women, who had become close friends, for Angel and me something more.

When breakfast was over, and everything cleaned up, Angel produced a bottle of Champagne and a pitcher of orange juice, "Mimosa's for all!"

A resounding chorus of "Yea!" resulted.

We all went into the main room, Angel said, "Kat, Anima, and I, get to sit on the couch. You, Anna, as the youngest here gets to be our gift elf."

I pouted for a second, then smiled, and laughing I went to the presents under the tree picked a package for each and brought them over. I sat, all alone, so sad, on a chair and we all began to unwrap our presents. I say unwrap, but it was a flurry of tearing the wrapping from the exterior of the box holding inside it our gift.

We had decided that one gift from each was all that was needed. Kat and I had decided prior that we both wanted to start a journal so Kat's gift to me was a leather-bound journal, as mine to hers was the same. Anima gave me a button down, white blouse with ruffles at the neck, aside the buttons down the shirt, and at the end of the cuffs of puffy sleeves. Angel's box was small, I gave her a look before I opened the box, she just smiled. Inside was a silver necklace with 'Angel wings' and where the wings met was a small bright green emerald.

I gasped, my eyes welled and just sat there staring at it.

Kat finally said, "Well, put it on, instead of just sitting and staring at it."

I snickered, looked over at Angel, "Put it on me, please."

Angel got up, grabbed my hand and took me to a mirror in her foyer and put it around my neck closing the clasp. We stood there looking at it and my eyes lost the battle, and a few tears fell as I looked at the necklace, the wings laying just below the gap where my collarbones come together. It was beautiful.

Angel whispered, "I will always be with you."

That started the flood. Kat came over with a handful of tissues which we all put to work. I turned and hugged Angel, tears still falling, "I will never be without it around my neck."

Angel snorted, "Oh yes you will. You can't sleep with it, and you better not wear it at work. All the rest of the time I expect to see it adorning that beautiful neck of yours."

Anima looked at me, once I detached myself from Angel. She softly traced it with her finger, "It is so pretty. And around your neck it becomes beautiful."

Damn, Anima sparked the well again, my tears falling again, and we hugged each other.

I looked over at Angel, "Thank you is such an understatement as to how I feel about your gift. But thank you is all I can say," having to wipe my eyes yet again.

Angel smiled, "You are welcome. Merry Christmas, my dear."

We shared another quick hug.

Kat gave Anima a warm gray angora sweater, and Angel gave her a pair of attractive, functional snow boots. I gave her a leather-bound special edition of her favorite novel, Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice".

Anima gave Angel a gray double breasted, calf-length, spring/fall overcoat. Angel tried it on, it was quite attractive on her. Kat gave Angel a card that had a number to reference with Spotify, that gave her their individual premium plan for a year. She knew Angel listened to calming music during her 'gathering her peace' sessions, in addition to other music during the day.

I gave Angel a "Jane Austen" retro, full sweep, semi-sheer, cotton nightgown that she could use for her 'peace' sessions, or just as a nightgown to wear. I knew she usually wore a gown when she did her sessions. I happened upon this when I was looking for the book I gave Anima. Angel held it out in front of her, a smile on her face, and said, "It is wonderful Anna. I love the cut and the flowing aspect of the material. I think I will model this just with you. It looks like it may not be the most discreet gown one could wear."

We all laughed.

"Thank you, Anna. I can't wait to put it on."

"You are welcome, Merry Christmas."

With that we all said, loudly, "Merry Christmas to all!"

Angel took all out glasses and filled them with another serving of Mimosa.

Angel came out with a tray and we each took a glass. Angel sat the tray on the coffee table, she looked at me and said, "Scoot your chair over next to the couch, please. Because it is time to watch "It's a Wonderful Life."

I scooted the chair next to the couch and said, "First, I need to visit the bathroom."

It turned out we all needed to, but it didn't take too long with two bathrooms, for all of us to do so.

The day was a day of camaraderie, laughter, talk, some silent moments, just a quiet, enjoyable morning into the early afternoon. In the early afternoon Angel and Anima started preparing the evening's dinner. Kat and I were regulated to prepping chores, as those two were a controlled whirlwind in the kitchen. They were both better cooks than either Kat or me, and they had a practiced routine from years of being together in a kitchen.

As everything was cooking, Kat and I both showered, while Angel and her grandmother talked quietly sitting on the couch.

At four thirty Angel recruited me for kitchen duty with her. She started a pot of water heating as I began peeling potatoes. I was mostly finished peeling when Angel came over and began quartering the peeled potatoes. As I finished with the peeling, I joined Angel and soon the mass of potatoes were in the pot boiling.

About twenty minutes later we sat down to a dinner of roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, a raw veggie tray, and dinner rolls. We each had a glass of water and a glass of wine.

We ate our meal leisurely, talking amongst ourselves, with many oohs and ahhs issued, as we ate. Angel and Anima, mostly, presented us with a delicious Christmas dinner.

Once we finished our meal, we all got busy in the kitchen. Kat and I rinsed all the plates and silverware putting them in the dishwasher, then began washing and drying all the pots and pans used for cooking. While we busied ourselves with the dishes Angel and Anima took care of the leftovers.

We were done cleaning up the kitchen in about forty-five minutes. Angel put a pumpkin pie she had made the day before into the oven to warm it. Anima made some whipped cream, and we sat around the table enjoying a wonderful dessert, that none of us needed but all of us thoroughly enjoyed.

We quickly cleaned up what had been used in the making and eating our dessert. We decided to play some hearts. We all had some more wine, Angel streamed instrumental Christmas music, we played cards and chatted for a couple of hours.

Yawns became commonplace, along with chuckles, and we all decided it was time to go to bed. Everybody hugged everybody, wishing Merry Christmas and sincere thank yous, for the presents we all received.

As Kat and Anima retired to their respective bedrooms, Angel told me to go ahead and get ready for bed while she rinsed the wine glasses and left them to dry on a towel on the counter.

When I finished my nightly routine and came out of the bathroom Angel was sitting on the bed holding another small, wrapped package.

I smiled at her, "Another present?"

She nodded, looking at me with a strange look on her face.

"Is there something wrong Angel?"

She shook her head, and softly said, "I need to tell you something."

My mind automatically panicked, what was wrong, was she breaking us apart? My heart began beating rapidly, my throat dry, I rasped, "What is it, Angel?"

She looked up at me, and seeing my consternation, "Oh, Anna, it is nothing bad. In fact, I find it absolutely wonderful," she said, her warming smile forming as she talked.

"You are driving me crazy. Just tell me Angel, please."

"Well, you may already know this. I have fallen in love with you. There, I finally said it."

Of course, tears welled in my eyes, "Oh my goodness Angel, why do you seem distressed about telling me you love me?"

"While I am usually quite perceptive, especially with you, I am not exactly sure how you feel about me."

"Wow, how can you not know! Angel, remember our first dinner date here, that Wednesday night before you left town for four days?"

She looked up at me, her eyes moist, softly, said, "Of course."

"Do you remember how I hugged you while I was on my knees and had just removed your panties seeing your nearly naked body for the first time?"

"Yes."

"As I hugged you, I felt a warmth from your body. A warmth of emotion, a warmth of caring, a warmth of passion, a warmth of safety, a warmth of being at peace with myself for the first time in my adult life. It immersed my body and at that moment I knew I loved you; undeniably, incontrovertibly, I was yours. Forever."

"Why didn't you say anything?" Angel asked, her voice soft, wavering.

"Why? I had been in your presence all of one day, if that long. There was no way I was going to blurt out that I was in love with you. I didn't hide it, though I never spoke the words. I did not want to scare you by declaring how I felt in such a short time. I felt I needed to wait until I knew you felt the same way. I can't believe you couldn't feel it."

"I have never been in love with anyone in a sexual, intimate, lover relationship. I guess I was afraid."

"A wonderful woman like you has never been in love with someone in a non-familial way?"

Her voice quivering, she quietly said, "No."

"But you have been with a woman sexually, right?"

"Yes, with four or five." she stopped for a moment, "Five. But all were more like friends with benefits. There was caring and passion but no deep emotional connection with any of them. Those two girls I was with the night we met were two of them. While the affairs usually carried on for weeks or months, it was casual. Sex for sex's sake. While the affairs lasted over time, the sex was infrequent. We were friends and at times we would engage in sexual relations, but it was never like us, where sex is an important component of our relationship. I guess I was waiting to find you. Our intimate coupling is part and parcel of us. It reinforces what we feel for each other. It has passion and desire for sure, but it also has a deep emotional aspect with it. I now know I love you."

"Angel, you thought I probably knew that you loved me. Yes and no. I was never sure, but your behavior towards me pointed to the fact you loved me. When did you realize you loved me?"

"Thanksgiving. Those two days with you were one of the happiest times in my life. Amid a winter blizzard, roaring its fury; I felt calm, at peace, while a tumultuous natural event surrounded us. I knew it was mostly because you were there, beside me. Just your presence near me made me feel so many different emotions. I felt safe, peaceful, cared for, loved. I had felt these feelings being with you before, but over those two plus days, your constant presence caused me to reflect on the how my emotions had grown, sometimes to an overwhelming level, whenever I am near you, and I realized I was in love with you."

"Well, now we both know we love each other," I said, a broad smile emerging upon my face.

"Will you still love me tomorrow?"

"Oh, my Angel. I loved you yesterday, I love you today, I will love you tomorrow. I am not going anywhere. Why would you even ask that?"

Angel sighed, her eyes looking into mine. There was a tinge of fear and confusion visible within them, "Because I am scared. I have never felt these emotions before in my life. It is strange to me that I feel so deeply for you, and that I am frightened by those same emotions that make me love you."

I giggled between the tears that were falling from both of our eyes and said, "This is the first time you have shown some fragility and fallibility to me. I had come to believe you did not have these feelings. It makes me love you even more. Now stand up. We need to hug each other."

She giggled, placed the box on the bed, stood up and we embraced each other tightly. Emotions long kept within us, now known to each of us. It was singularly the most emotional, tender, loving embrace we had ever had. We stood tightly embraced for several minutes, our newly stated feelings and emotions coursing through each of us, letting us become comfortable with this new definition of our relationship. Tears flowed.

Eventually we released each other. A soft, tender, loving kiss. We broke our kiss. Then we both joyously giggled as these feelings flowed through our body and soul, realigning everything we meant to each other.

I grabbed some tissues from the box on the night table. I handed some to Angel and we both wiped our eyes and cheeks cleaning the tear residue off both of our faces. We both laughed, a cleansing, restorative laugh. We had traversed a deeply emotional moment and had come out for the better.

Angel said, "I am finally going to the bathroom to get ready for bed. Open your gift and tell me what you think when I come back."

I nodded, she turned and headed to the bathroom. I sat on the bed for a couple of moments, reviewing in my mind what had just occurred. We were in love with each other; openly, fully, both a bit frightened, but now facing who we were together.

I ripped the wrapping paper from around the small box, opened it, and inside was a piece of cardboard, folded back against itself. The top section was colored green with red capital letters carefully written in block form. I did not understand the meaning of the letters; D N R Y L. I turned the cardboard piece over and saw there was a small piece of tape holding the folded back sections together.

I pulled one side up, easily making the tape release. I opened the folded ends and inside of this obvious handmade container were two keys, the heads at opposite ends, taped to the cardboard. The interior of the two flaps was also colored green with neatly written in cursive the following words, 'When you can live with me'.

I understood that sentence. A smile creased my face. More damn tears were forming.

I heard a sound, looked up, and saw Angel leaning against the bathroom door jam, her bright, warming smile in full force, "What do you think?"

"You want me to move in with you?"

"Duh," she giggled, "What do you think?"

The tears that had been threatening crested my eyelids, streaming down my cheeks, "Really?"

"Oh, my goodness, Anna. It isn't rocket science, it is a very direct question. An easy yes or no declaration is all that is needed. What do you think?"

I wiped my eyes quickly with a tissue, and enthusiastically loudly said, "Yes!"

Angel's eyes brightened intensely, her smile as broad as it could be, a giggle, "See that wasn't at all hard to answer."

I laughed, still sitting on the bed, tears still falling, "I do have one question. What the hell does DNRYL mean."

Angel, now approaching me, laughed boisterously, "Do Not Renew Your Lease."

I began to laugh loudly. I had mentioned to Angel a while back my apartment's lease was ending in January and I wasn't sure if I wanted to renew or find other housing. I guess I now knew the answer to that question.

I stood up as Angel came to me, and we had another hug.

When we released each other, I looked into her burning bright green eyes, and said, "This has become a monumental Christmas for me, no, for us. One I will never forget. Our lives are going to change drastically. It's a little scary, but a positive step forward in our lives. I can't wait to be here with you every day, and every night," I waggled my eyebrows at the last part.

Angel laughed, "It is a little scary. But I am also more excited by all the possibilities that will open for us. The prospect of 'every night' excites me, also."

I grabbed some tissues from the night table and Angel, and I wiped our eyes and cheeks free of the evidence of our recent crying.

"Come, my Angel, lie with me. Wrap your arms around me. Hold me. Let me feel your love for me. I want to immerse myself in your warmth. I want you to lie with me, so we both can feel the caring and love flowing from one to the other."

I awoke to a soft kiss and whispered words, "I love this."

I opened my eyes to see Angel's bright green eyes staring at me. I scooted up in the bed to where I was sitting, wiping the sleep away from my eyes, and I saw Angel standing wearing the nightgown I had given her for Christmas.

The bodice encased her bare breasts. While the fullness of her breasts was obvious, their definition was only hinted at behind the sheer fabric. Her nipples, however, were visibly extended. Their shape and size were obvious, pushing against the fabric. I giggled.

I made a circular motion with a finger. Angel smiled and twirled herself in a circle. The fabric beneath the bodice flared out, flowing in answer to her movement. While the fabric was semi-sheer the lower part of her body was only indistinctly suggested, through the full sweeping fabric.

"I think you are right; it is not the most discreet nightgown. The lower part is fine, but the chest area does display a more defined outline of your chest, especially your aroused nipples."

Angel laughed, "I saw that in the mirror. I think my nipples will be extended most of the time. It doesn't help that I feel very sexy in the nightgown. I mean it is full length gown, which usually doesn't translate to sexy, but I feel sexy wearing this. I think it is because of the hint of sensuality hidden beneath the fabric that makes me feel alluring, desirable."

I snickered, "On my behalf it does all that, alluring, seductive, sensual. I may have problems not behaving around you when you have this on."

Angel gave me a broad smile, "Another reason to like this gown. Come over and hug me, please."

We showered together, got dressed, and went out to the main room. Anima was already there, she gave us a smile, "Good morning. Coffee is brewing."

Angel and I both gave her a hug and a "Good morning."

We were sitting around the kitchen table, talking and enjoying a cup of coffee when Kat came into the main room, seeing us she smiled, "Good morning."

We all replied the same, as she poured herself a cup of coffee, and joined us at the kitchen table.

We decided on oatmeal, toast, and fruit for breakfast. Angel and I prepared the meal. After the kitchen was cleaned up, we decided to take a walk through the nearby park, as it was another beautiful winter's day.

We spent the day quietly. A light lunch. Some more card games. Anima reading her Jane Austen novel I had given her for Christmas while Angel, Kat, and I watched "Miracle on 34th Street".

I decided a nap was needed; Angel joined me. We got back up around four in the afternoon and went out to the main room. Kat was sitting drinking a cup of coffee in one of the chairs that looked out the windows, motioned to the coffee maker, to let us know there was a fresh pot. Angel pulled up a chair from the kitchen table, while nodding to me to sit in the other armchair by the windows. We had each poured a cup of coffee before we sat down.

Kat said, "I had an interesting phone call awhile back."

I looked over at her, "Do tell?"

"It was Marcus, from your work, and asked if I would like to go out for dinner with him tonight. I asked him how he knew my phone number, and that I was in town. He chuckled and told me a little birdie told him," looking directly at me.

I had to snicker, "Chirp."

"Why?"

I replied, "Well, you both told me you were interested in the other after our visit to my work. I mentioned earlier this week that you were coming here for Christmas. He asked if it would be okay if he called you. I told him I had no problems with that and gave him your phone number. Should I have not?"

"No, it's fine. I was just surprised to hear from him."

"Are you going?"

"I told him probably yes, but I wanted to make sure there no other plans concerning tonight."

Angel said, "No special plans. A reprise of last night's dinner, then whatever."

I said, "Call him Kat. See what happens. Maybe love is in the air tonight," with a chuckle.

I gave Angel a quick glance, she was blushing, keeping her head down, knowing I was referring to our conversation last night.

Kat laughed, "I don't know about that, but I would like to get to know Marcus better. So, no problems?"

Angel said, "None here."

I agreed.

Kat gave a slight smile, "Okay, I will give him a call back."

She got up and walked to the bedroom she was using.

Angel looked at me, "You can be an imp at times. The 'love is in the air', comment embarrassed me."

"I don't think Kat had any idea you were embarrassed. I was just teasing you. But don't think for a second that I regard our declarations of our love for each other at all slight. They mean all the world to me. But, yes, sometimes I can be impish. It was just a little poke at you, and, a reminder that love was in the air, at least last night."

"Our words last night mean all the world to me also. I love you, Anna."

"As I do you."

Kat came back, a little flushed, and told us she was going to have dinner with Marcus.

"Yea! I hope it is an enjoyable evening for you," I said.

Angel said, "So do I!"

Kat smiled, "Thanks. I am looking forward to it. I need to go and get ready. Marcus should be here in about an hour to pick me up."

Angel, Anima, and I enjoyed a reprise of our Christmas dinner, finishing the leftovers. After taking care of all the dishes we played cards, with instrumental Christmas music playing softly in the background. After a little over an hour of card playing, we decided to watch "Love, Actually".

Once the movie ended, we all got ready for bed. Angel was dimming the lights in the main room when Kat returned from her dinner with Marcus. She told us it was a very nice evening. They had agreed to get together again the next time she was in town.

The next afternoon was goodbyes. Kat hugged everybody, thanked Angel for her hospitality, and for a lovely Christmas dinner. She thanked us all for her presents and left to return home. I was next. I hugged Angel and Anima, thanks all around, another round of hugs, and I left for my apartment. Angel gave her grandmother a ride home after I had left.

The first week of January I notified the landlords I would not be renewing my lease and would out of the apartment at the of the month. Since it was a furnished rental all I had to pack was my clothes, and a small number of other miscellaneous personal items, including my new vacuum. Angel said it was a reminder of where I was when we first met, and how far I had progressed since then. Angel said she had more than enough towels, so she took mine and gave them to her charity to be given away to anybody who needed them.

Angel notified the condo managers that I was going to move in with her, and we hoped there was a garage available for me. We got lucky, and for the first time since I had a car, I had a garage to park my car in.

The second week Kat called and told us she had been given the manager position in the branch office in our town. She asked if we knew any realtors. Angel said she knew one from her charity. So, Angel got Kat's guidelines as to what she was looking for in an apartment.

So, the last two weeks of January were busy for us, moving me into her condo, and checking available apartments that met Kat's wants and budget. We ended up sending her videos of three apartments that matched up well with her budget and needs. She liked one in particular, and asked if there was any way it could be held until she could come to town and personally tour it. If it was what she needed, to hopefully make arrangements for renting it. Angel's realtor agreed to put a hold on that apartment until Kat could visit.

Kat visited the last week of January. We viewed the apartment she liked from our videos, and from our input from having been physically inside the apartment. While it wasn't the perfect apartment for Kat, it was close, and she made all the financial arrangements. The first weekend of February Kat came to town with a U-Haul truck filled with her belongings, her car on a car trailer towed behind the truck.

Marcus, Angel, and I all helped move her belongings into the apartment. Being around Marcus and Kat it was obvious there was a connection between them. I was happy for Kat.

Angel and I got married in the second week of August that year. It was a small affair. Kat was my maid of honor, Anima for Angel. My work crew were there. I had invited Valerie and Iris, and was pleasantly surprised when they confirmed they would attend. Angel had fifteen guests, mostly from her foundation, with three of her friends 'with benefits', all of whom seemed to be genuinely happy for her.

We rented one of the shelters in the park our condo overlooked. It was a hot day, with a slight cooling breeze. It was a casual affair. No weddings gowns, just semi-formal for Angel and I, everyone else in casual summer dresses, or, for the four men there, in nice pants, button-down shirts, and ties.

A clergyman, from a non-denominational church Angel frequented, officiated the wedding. Angel and I wrote our own vows. Our first dance as a married couple, I call it a dance, but it was more a tightly embraced shuffle. Not because we can't dance but because the song I wanted and Angel, who was not familiar with the song agreed, after I played it for her. It is a very gentle, slowly paced love song. In my opinion, one of the best love songs ever recorded.

So, tightly embraced, we shuffled to Roberta Flack's "The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face", as I quietly sang the song to my Angel as we danced. When the song ended both Angel and I had tears falling on our cheeks.

While the DJ played soft music, people danced, the poor men in attendance were kept busy dancing by the women. Many of the women danced with another woman since the ratio of men to women was low, also some of them were lesbian and danced with their partner.

While Marcus was kept busy on the dance floor, he made an effort to dance with Kat as often as he could. They had become a serious romantic couple, obviously both in love with the other. I danced with Marcus once, we softly talked between us as we danced, and Marcus told me another wedding might not be far off, at least so it seemed to him. He asked me not to say anything to Kat, which I promised our conversation would be confidential. I was ecstatic for them both.

Marcus was not the only person who told me a wedding might be on the horizon. Valerie told me, while we danced together, she and Iris were talking about getting married. I told her I was happy for her and Iris, which I was, as there were no longer any bitter feelings between us. I made her promise to invite Angel and me whenever a date was decided. Angel and I attended their wedding that next March.

Angel and I went to New York City for our honeymoon. It was just four days, but we crammed as much as we could in the four days. We did pretty good at catching all the major, and some not so well-known, tourist attractions.

When we got back home, exhausted, we rested for the next two days, recovering from our whirlwind tour of the city. The evening of our second day back at home Angel sat me down saying she needed to talk to me concerning what I had just married into.

I knew she had wealth, but I had no idea just how much wealth until that evening. She had a binder full of papers, and over the course of three hours she gave me the highlights of her estate. She told me as time went by, I would be fully informed of the details, but for now she wanted to give me an overview of, now, our financial situation.

Angel, and now me, had an estate approaching twenty million dollars. I gasped when she told me what our worth was.

This was old money she said. Her family, over a few generations, had accumulated and sold real estate property, then turned around and invested their profits in other real estate, stocks, and bonds. She told me Anima was also wealthy, somewhat more than us.

Her family had always felt their wealth was a gift to be shared. The charity foundation the family had established many years ago had over ten million worth of holdings and the profits from them were used to fund their charitable efforts.

Angel told me that while she had a seat on the board and was currently the CEO, I would need to become familiar with the foundation and all its workings, because I could end up holding her seat on the board, should something happen to her, or if she relinquished it to concentrate strictly on being the CEO. Anima also held a seat on the board.

I told Angel I have no training, or knowledge, concerning high-level financial matters. She smiled at me, "You will. Over the next few months you are going to get an education. This binder is yours to keep and read. I know you will be lost with some of the terms and information in these papers, but we are going to through them together and fill your brain with all kinds of knowledge. So, are you ready for studying and learning about financial one-o-one and beyond?"

"I am willing to try. Hopefully I am smart enough."

"Oh, Anna, you are more than smart enough to comprehend everything in these papers. I promise you that, though at times, it may overwhelm you. But I will be by your side, and we will make you, if not an expert, a very savvy person when it comes to financial matters."

"Fingers-crossed," I replied, with a snicker.

"In fact, your first test is tonight."

"Tonight! I haven't even had a chance to study these papers!"

"This test is a hands-on example of how to integrate diverse items into a cohesive unit that works together towards a common goal."

"Okay. I guess I can try."

"Oh, I know you will excel in this exercise."

"Thanks for believing in me. I will do my best."

Angel snickered, her warming smile beaming at me, "Okay, let me set the parameters and see if you can integrate these diverse items into the desired positive outcome. I have one mouth, two lips, one tongue, two breasts, two nipples, one clitoris, and one vagina. You have one mouth, two lips, one tongue, two hands, and ten fingers which you need to use to make my items consolidate themselves into the desired outcome. If you do well, I will do the same exercise on your diverse units."

I started laughing, "This is the first test I have ever been happy to take."

Angel laughed, scooted back her chair, stood up, and said, "I thought you might," as she turned and started walking to our bedroom.

Without looking back, she said, "Please turn off the lights, check that the door is locked, and come into the testing room. It is time to integrate!"

Oh my god, sex as a test. This was one test I knew I would nail it. I did.

Angel reciprocated by passing her exam. Just to be sure we both understood the process and purpose of this exercise, we did it all again.

In mid-December I became Warehouse Supervisor, replacing Howard who had taken a position with another company. Warehouse Supervisor is more of a paper shuffling position than the Floor Crew Supervisor, which was a more hands-on on the warehouse floor job. Marcus took over my position, we hired a new young man to replace Marcus on the warehouse floor crew.

At first, I wasn't sure if the move was the best for me. I liked working on the floor. On the floor you did your work in your bay, mostly by yourself. The work was physical, not exhausting, but it kept you going, so when the day was done you knew you had worked. The Floor Supervisor position was less on the floor, more paperwork, but still you did physical floor work for about half of the day, helping wherever help was needed.

The Warehouse Supervisor position was mostly office work, only occasionally did you get to work the floor. But, as I settled into my new position, I found myself liking the job. Sure, I was now the connection between the wants and directions of the front office, and the needs and wants of the floor workers. On a couple of occasions, I had to flex my supervisory position over the floor crew concerning changes the front office dictated, which caused some discomfort between myself and the floor crew.

On the other hand, I spent some time looking at the overall operation of the warehouse and found myself reorganizing how the bays were stocked and operated by the floor crew. With input from Marcus, we came up with a reorganization proposal for the entire warehouse floor and how the floor crew's time on the floor could be better utilized.

After meeting with the floor crew who agreed, after a couple of beneficial tweaks they suggested were included in our proposal. Marcus and I approached management and made our pitch for our reorganization of the warehouse layout and how the floor crew did their work.

We presented our proposal in mid-January and were given the go-ahead to begin implementing the changes at the beginning of February. This included overtime for the floor crew to work Saturdays for up to six weeks to make the necessary changes to the warehouse floor to implement our plan.

Marcus and I were salaried employees so there was no overtime pay for us, in fact I was told I didn't even need to be there, but I insisted I should be there as it was my initiative that started the whole process. Management told me it was my choice if I wanted to be there, which I did. We completed the re-organization in five weeks. It was a long five weeks with an additional day added to the work week but once we were done, including having to correct a couple of bugs that came to light while we were making the changes.

I was also attending a night class, Angel's idea, every Wednesday, at our local junior college, in a beginning finance class. Plus, Angel's weekly introduction to the financial aspects of the foundation she ran.

By the time March arrived I was running on empty. I got through the last week of working on Saturdays, barely, and finally my life got back to it's new normal.

Angel was proud as a peacock of me. I had instituted a new way we ran the warehouse I worked at, I was acing my night class, and our weekly introduction to how her foundation operated was going well. I was just happy I didn't die. That's not really true though, I was proud of myself also, and Angel's support and pride in what I was accomplishing was like getting a gold star on every homework paper.

I garnered an A grade in my college introductory financial class. Angel and my weekly sessions continued. Finance interested me, and Angel told me I had an intuitive thought process concerning the ins and outs of financial theory and practice.

Kat came over one day in mid-May and told Angel and me that she and Marcus were going to marry at the end of June. I asked her if she thought they were moving too fast. Kat told us that she and Marcus had talked about that and that both of them felt it was right, even though they would have been together as a couple for only five months by the time of their wedding. Marcus was moving in with Kat after the wedding since he had a one-bedroom bachelor apartment.

Angel and I gave her our enthusiastic congratulations, since they had discussed the short time they had been together, they both felt the same about getting married, so they considered the length of time they had been together was a moot point.

Kat asked me to be her matron of honor which, of course, I agreed to be.

Kat had contacted the pastor that officiated our wedding about having their wedding at his church, which he told them it would be fine. Kat said she had liked his perspective with us, and since she had not yet found a church to attend holding it in his church seemed best.

The ceremony went flawlessly. Kat and Marcus honeymooned in the Bahamas for a week. While they were gone, I put Melissa as floor crew supervisor with my assistance. Melissa did well in the position for no prior experience. I was impressed by her performance.

The day after our first wedding anniversary Angel asked me, "How do you feel about children?"

"As in us having a child?"

"Yes."

"Honestly I have not thought about having children."

"I would really like to have a child, or two. I would like to carry the baby."

"Me, as a mother. I need to think about that. I am not sure I would be a good candidate for motherhood."

"Why? Because you had some problems in life?"

"Because of how I responded to those problems."

"Oh Anna, you are a very different woman now then you were when we first met."

I kissed her, "Thanks to you. But yes, I am a different woman. Are you okay if I need some time to think this over?"

"I only guided you; you made the changes yourself. Of course I am fine with you taking some time. It is a big decision. It has been in the back of my mind since we got married, but it came to the foreground over the last couple of weeks. I weighed every pro and con that I could think of, and in the end, the thought of bringing a new life into our life, and the love we would have for our child was the single greatest reason to have a child."

I thought about being a mother. It was a daunting thought. Having a child to rear is a complete life-change. Every aspect of your life is affected. Angel's thought about the love we would have for a child, and, hopefully, the child would love us back, was a strong motivation for bringing a child into our lives.

The most important, to me, reason for not having a child was that your life shifted entirely to the care and upbringing of said child. I had begun my own journey of discovering who I was and who I could be after years of living aimlessly. Meeting and falling in love with Angel had set me on this journey and now to suddenly have another person in my life that demanded the whole of me to re-focus from my journey to their journey.

I talked with Angel about my reservations and, of course, she shared her perspective to me. She suggested that instead of thinking about how a child in our life would derail my nascent journey of discovering who I was, it would become three journeys comminglingly along the path of discovering who we were.

Her suggestion that having a child would not completely override my own journey of discovery but instead it would compliment and expand each of ours concurrently as we grew together pushed me over the edge to agree that Angel and I should become parents.

While I agreed that we should have a baby I had two caveats. First, if the child was female, I wanted a particular name as her given name, and secondly, I wanted us to try and have our child have red hair and green eyes. Since both are recessive genes, the donor would have to have both attributes, which doesn't ensure the outcome but gives it the best odds. Angel happily agreed to both conditions, with one small change concerning the child's name. A change that was easy for me to agree with.

So, starting in September we began seeing an OB-GYN. Angel had done research concerning IVF, and since she was going to be the bearer I let her make all the decisions about how the procedure was handled. Angel wanted natural IVF, no ovarian stimulation, just one egg taken just before ovulation, then fertilized with the donor's sperm and if an embryo develops it is then transferred to the uterus. The doctor told her that the odds of success with this procedure were not very good. Angel smiled, and said, "I have faith."

The week before Thanksgiving an embryo was implanted in Angel's uterus. Not surprisingly, considering we are talking about my Angel, the embryo attached itself to her uterine wall and a successful implantation resulted. Our OB-GYN was pleasantly surprised that the procedure was successful on the first attempt. I was not surprised. When it comes to Angel, I have faith.

In September I enrolled for the next level night course in Finance at our local junior college. Angel and I continued with her educating me concerning the bolts and nuts of how the foundation operated. My job had settled into a daily routine after all the hustle and bustle instituting the warehouse reorganization Marcus and I had proposed.

In mid-February we visited our OB-GYN for a first trimester appointment. The pregnancy was progressing normally.

Two days later we got a call from the OB-GYN requesting us to visit her as something had arisen that needed to be discussed. She had juggled her schedule, and we had an appointment set-up for two days later. She told us that some test results from our recent appointment revealed that Angel had cancer, and this next appointment would include a consulting Oncologist. She tried to keep it as calm and routine as she could, explaining that the full diagnosis and therapy options would be discussed in our new appointment.

Angel and I did not hear this news with the calmness our doctor had tried to infuse in her phone conversation. We both cried, a lot. Angel was deeply distraught over the possibility that the pregnancy would not continue. After our first conversation we did calm down somewhat, knowing that there was nothing we could do until the appointment. Two of the worst days in my life. The anguish it was causing Angel was obvious and there was little I could do to console her.

The Oncologist detailed Angel's cancer, telling us it was a particularly virulent, aggressive form of cancer. The treatment would consist of intensive Chemotherapy coupled with radiation therapy. This course of treatment would demand termination of her pregnancy. Angel asked if she agreed to this treatment would it cure the cancer. The Oncologist told us that there was no cure but starting the treatment as soon as possible would give Angel four to five years of life. Angel asked if she did not start the treatment could the pregnancy continue without harm to the fetus. Both doctors concurred that pregnancy could proceed without harm to the fetus. Angel asked if she could breastfeed the baby without this therapy. Again, both doctors said that should not be a problem.

Angel then asked if continuing the pregnancy and a minimum of six months of breastfeeding would the treatment still be effective. The Oncologist said no. Another year without any treatment would, most likely, give her twelve to twenty-four months, at best. If we chose this route after birth and breastfeeding the only option left was Palliative care. We told them we needed to discuss between ourselves before we could decide how we wanted to proceed. They understood and we had a new appointment set for a week from then.

"I am not going to terminate this pregnancy," Angel said.

"It will shorten your life."

"I know. But if I terminate this pregnancy, I cannot have another."

"I could."

"That is one option, but I want to give birth to this person growing inside my body. To me, it is imperative. I want to experience childbirth, and this is my only chance. Anna, you have ability to give birth whenever you want, I do not."

"But it will shorten your life."

"It will. But what would my quality of life be like? Terminating the pregnancy would devastate me. The Chemo and radiation treatments would rack my body. I don't want to live four or five additional years with a body only half there. I know it would let us be together longer. Anna, I love you. I do not want to shorten our time together, but I would rather live wholly, and watch our child grow up. Even if it is just a year. I would be able to breastfeed our child. I would, most likely, get to see the child walk, and hear it's first word and more. For me that is what is most important. Experiencing those moments with the child and the wife I dearly love more than compensate for any additional living pumped up full of chemicals; weakened, tired, and depressed due to not having given birth. What life I have left is immeasurably a better life not taking the offered treatment."

I sat in silence for a few moments, tears falling, wiped away with a tissue, before I gave my Angel a small smile, and with a cracking voice I said, "It looks like you're having a baby."

Angel beamed that warming smile at me, tears also coursing down her cheeks, "So it seems."

"You know I am going to hug you and cry on your shoulder when we go to bed tonight?"

"I do. I know you will need to, and I welcome your hug. And, sadly, your tears also."

Angel had ordered the same Chinese meal we had had that first night we had made love with each other. We had known we had to talk tonight after our appointment with the doctors earlier in the day. Angel remembered exactly what she ordered that night that changed my life forever. I asked her how she remembered the menu for that dinner, she told me that it was one of the most important moments in her life, she would never forget what she had ordered for dinner, or everything that had followed our dinner. Tears again. It was a night of tears.

At our follow-up appointment with our OB-GYN and the Oncologist we gave them our decision. The Oncologist tried not to show his disagreement, failing miserably, and accepted our decision. He briskly said it was our decision, that he was no longer needed here, and left the office.

Our OB-GYN apologized for his attitude, saying his perspective is focused on trying to cure or, at least, delay the inevitable end. She said he is not unfeeling but doesn't really understand why someone not wanting to do all they can to extend life.

Then she gave us a smile, and said, "Personally, I believe you made the correct decision. So, now we have a pregnancy to take care of. I feel we should have a monthly appointment just to ensure the pregnancy progresses as it should. Are you agreeable to this?"

We were. So, for the next six months we had an appointment every month. In the fifth month Angel was given an ultrasound, which our OB-GYN said disclosed the sex of our baby and asked us if we wanted to know the sex. We both nodded. It was a girl.

In a quirk of fate Angel delivered a healthy six-pound fourteen-ounce baby girl on our second wedding anniversary, officially born at three thirty-three a. m. Angel handled the birthing amazingly well. Only as the crowning started did she cry out in pain, with full delivery completed within just a few minutes. Overall, it had been a ten-hour delivery, ending with a very vocal girl, held by Angel, that quickly began suckling her breast. Angel and our baby girl were given an all's well health prognosis.

Our OB-GYN gave us the name of a Pediatric doctor that was accepting new patients, and that she knew him personally and professionally and that he was a very good at his job.

Angel stayed in the hospital for the rest of the day and was released the next morning. We had made a deal that Angel would pump her breasts for milk that could be stored to allow me to take some feeding times, allowing Angel to get some extra sleep overnight. Though it was usually both of us being awake, since the crib was in our shared bedroom. We both wanted each of us to be involved with the feeding of our child. Angel would watch as I warmed her milk and fed the baby, smiling all the time.

Kat and Anima visited us frequently, so they could hold, and coo about and with, our beautiful baby daughter. Angel was a natural mother, her love for our child seemed endless.

The depth of the love I had for our daughter surprised me. I knew I would love this child, but the depth of my emotions exceeded what I had expected. Holding this small human being was amazing, something I had never felt before in my life. This little person had become the most important person in my life. I love Angel very deeply, don't get me wrong, but the unconditional love that flowed from this small person was overwhelming to me. I mentioned this to Angel, and she replied she felt the same.

As September arrived it found big changes in our family. I had reluctantly tendered my resignation as Warehouse Supervisor when our daughter was born, as I wanted to spend as much time with Angel as I could. I recommended that Marcus take my position, and that Melissa take over Marcus' position as Warehouse Floor Supervisor. The company agreed and made it so. Angel had also resigned from her position as CEO, and she turned her seat on the board over to me. Some of the board was rankled by my being placed as a board member. Angel told me not to worry about those who thought I was not qualified; they would find out soon enough just how qualified I was. I continued taking another night class in financial studies, and Angel continued tutoring me about, well everything, concerning the foundation she had been CEO of. All the while watching our infant becoming a baby.

Angel asked me who I was planning to vote for to become the new CEO of her families' foundation. Four board members had announced that they wished to be considered for the position. I told her I thought either Brenda or Eleanor would be the best for the position, but that was I leaning toward Eleanor as I felt she was more grounded and pragmatic as far as what the foundation needed in its CEO. Angel smiled broadly at me and told me those were her feelings also. In a close vote Eleanor was voted in as the new CEO. Angel also told me that it would probably be my turn as CEO sooner than later. I demurred at that, but she just snickered and told me that after being on the board for a while the members would come to see me as astute and qualified for the position as she did.

It had been a year since we had been given the news of her cancer and Angel still did not show adverse effects. We had, at the advice of our OB-GYN, contacted a Palliative care company concerning setting up a schedule for an in-home visiting nurse.

We met Susan, an RN with considerable experience of caring for cancer patients. Susan was a middle-aged woman, kind, caring, and with a sly sense of humor. We clicked immediately and Susan became a frequent visitor, at first professionally, then some visits just as a friend.

Her first visit was a getting to know Angel visit. How she was feeling, and if she had any needs to be addressed. Angel told her she was feeling fine, with no signs of any changes, so far anyway. Susan also talked with me, asking about how I was doing and if there was anything I needed as far as my own mental and physical well-being. I told her not at this time. That we have had a lot of time to prepare ourselves for the inevitable outcome of her disease. She told us both not to be reticent concerning any problems we were experiencing, that was why she was here.

Susan set up a weekly appointment for now as we seemed to be getting along fine. Her frequency of visits would probably increase as time went by, and if anything unexpected happened she was always on call.

Our daughter was, according to our pediatrician, developing normally, and by all signs was a healthy, happy baby.

Our family experienced our first Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays as a family of three, no longer just two women in love. Marcus, Kat, and Anima all spent both holidays with us, with our daughter getting most of the attention, with which she had no problem. Of course she had no idea about anything concerning the holidays, she just knew new people were around her and she enjoyed all the attention given to her.

Angel was still breastfeeding but since February we had started introducing solid food, granted smushed, but still solid food. Our daughter had been reluctant at first, but with patience and small portions that gradually became larger portions, she now enjoyed having complementary foods with her breastmilk.

By May it seemed our daughter's hair had settled on being red, perhaps not as vibrant as Angel's, but red anyway. Her eyes also seemed to settle on being the same intensely green as Angel's. We had gotten lucky, particularly for me as I was the one who had been insistence to play the genetic game to try and get those two traits. Angel downplayed our luck, but I could see she was as happy as I was that our daughter resembled her appearance.

Our daughter began crawling, truly crawling, during May also, a big month for us. Crawling and babbling nonsensical sounds filled Angel and I with joy. Our baby was growing into a toddler.

Then it happened. In late July she took her first steps. Angel and I both shed a few happy tears as we watched her first tentative steps. It was not long before we had to keep an eagle eye on her as she quickly became quite comfortable with walking, sometimes surprising us with her speed, even as she still wobbled as she walked.

Just after our second anniversary another milestone arrived. One morning in late August she spoke her first true word, "Moms". That it was we called ourselves whenever we talked to her, moms this, moms that. More happy tears.

Over the last two months Angel had become increasingly fatigued during the day, needing to rest more often. Susan told us it was the cancer; her body was beginning to lose the battle. What surprised Susan was that Angel was not experiencing any significant pain. Which Susan said while it happened, maybe not rare, but definitely infrequently, and we should consider it a godsend, as normally the pain can be debilitating to the patient and cause deep anguish to family members.

Angel stopped being able to breastfeed in July. At least she had been able to provide eleven months of breastmilk. Our daughter did not understand why she didn't get her breastmilk anymore; we tried to explain it to her as best we could, but it was a concept that our child was not old enough to understand. Though she whined about no more milk she continued eating soft solid food, thank goodness.

In late September it was becoming obvious that Angel was approaching her death. Kat was able to take family leave from her work, and either her or Anima, or both, were with me as Angel's health continued deteriorating. Susan was also with us as often as she could be.

On the morning of October ninth, I was sitting in one of the chairs in our bedroom. I had moved the chair near our bed a couple of days ago so I could be near her, knowing the end was near. I was relaxing with my eyes closed, not asleep but not fully awake either, when I heard Angel softly say, "Anna."

My eyes opened immediately, Angel looked so frail, her once bright green eyes now just a soft echo of their once brilliance. I got up and sat on the bed next to her, "Yes, Angel, do you need something?"

"Can you help me to slide up the bed, so I am sitting up?"

I smiled, "Absolutely."

I pulled her, now so light, against my body, holding her to me while I positioned a couple of pillows against the headboard, and slid her back against the pillows.

She sighed deeply, and softly said, "Thank you."

I nodded, smiled, and said, "You are welcome."

A small, seemingly forced, smile came across her face, a tear falling onto her cheek, "It's my time."

I knew this instinctively. I knew it. I replied softly, "I know," wiping her tear away with my thumb.

She sat silent for a moment, which I used to grab some tissues from the box on the night table, knowing they were going to be needed.

"Anna, my love, you can't quit. You have a wonderful child that needs you, all of you. You cannot quit like you had when we first met. Our child needs you now more than ever. I know you will be a wonderful mother."

Now I had tears falling upon my cheeks. I wiped them away with a tissue, "My Angel, I promise you that I will not quit. As you have told me before, I am not the woman I used to be. I know I will have to be here, all of me, to raise this wonderful child you bore for us."

"Anna, you know my greatest desire is for you to be happy. I want you to know this; if you find love again, embrace it, don't turn away from it. Know that I want you to be loved, and for you to love."

"That may be difficult for me, but with time I may again be able to love someone else. But I will never love anybody as I have loved you."

As I finished speaking, our walking, talking, gift came hustling into the bedroom. A bundle of energy smiling and crying out, "Moms!"

She came up to me and held her arms out for me to pick her up. I picked her up, gave her a big hug. She looked over at Angel, and held her arms out to her, saying "Moms!" again.

I looked over at Angel also, she gave me a slight nod, and I gently held our daughter as she wrapped her arms around Angel and gave her a hug.

Kat came into the bedroom as Angel was hugging our child, "I'm sorry. I was picking up some plates from breakfast and wasn't watching her close enough and she took off to see you two."

Angel smiled at Kat as our daughter continued to hug her, and said, "This is not a problem. I am overjoyed to have another chance to hug her. You don't need to apologize."

I gently removed our little hugger and handed her to Kat, "We need some time, please."

Kat nodded and holding our child, she turned to leave the bedroom as "Moms!" once again crescendoed through the bedroom. Kat softly shut the door as she left the room.

Angel softly said, "I love her so."

"She's hard not to love," I said, with a soft chuckle.

"You are going to have to care for her all by yourself now."

"I won't be alone. Kat and Anima will be my side when I need them to be."

Angel nodded and smiled. She was already fatigued. More tears fell, more tears were wiped away.

"Angel, I am going to need something from you also."

"What can I do?"

"You can watch over her."

Angel smiled, "I will do that. I might even keep an eye on a certain young woman who showed me what it is to love and be loved by someone."

"I would appreciate that also."

Suddenly a grimace came across her face, her already dimmed green eyes dimmed even more, the room seemed to darken slightly, and, barely audible, she whispered, "It was the best I could get," a soft sigh, "It was all I...", her lips kept moving but whatever she may have spoken was too quiet for me to hear. A look of intense sadness washed across her face. A few tears fell from her eyes, her hand squeezed mine slightly tighter.

I wiped her face with the tissue I had, "Angel, what do you mean 'it was the best I could get'?"

She lay silent for a few moments. Her eyes closed, while I continued softly wiping the tears from her face. The room brightened up back to the level it had been. Her eyes opened, no longer as dim as they had been.

Her voice a little stronger, she said, "I'm sorry I mixed my words up. My mind is a bit cloudy. I was trying to say you were the best I could have ever asked for. You, and our beautiful daughter, is all I could ask for. I love you both more than anyone I have ever loved before."

I smiled at her, her green eyes, having brightened a bit, looking into my eyes, she smiled weakly at me. The intense sadness that had come across her face for a moment was gone. I didn't fully believe she had mixed up her words. I think she was referring to something else, but what, I had no idea.

But I kept my smile, acted as I accepted what she said, "Oh, my Angel, I feel the same. I have never felt a love as the love I have for you, and our wonderful daughter."

A wry smile, another light squeeze on my hand, "You saying that makes me so happy."

I leaned in, gave a very soft kiss, "I will always love you."

"As I will you."

We looked into each other's eyes, no words, just our emotions showing on our faces.

"Goodbye, Anna."

"Goodbye, my Angel"

She smiled slightly, her eyes slowly closed, her hand lying still in my hand. She was gone.

I pulled her to me, put a pillow down where her head would lay and slid her body back down the bed and laid her head onto the pillow. I put her hands on her chest and pulled the cover up and over her.

Softly, again, "I love you, my Angel. Goodbye. I will miss you terribly."

I turned and went out of the bedroom, softly closing the door. Kat saw me, she stood up and held her arms out as I collapsed against her, sobbing.

Twenty-two months passed. During these passing months I continued with my education, taking courses online from our state college concerning finance, which included a class specially concerned with charitable, non-profit organizations. I still held a seat on the board, Eleanor continued as CEO, doing a good job as CEO.

I had sold the condo, the memories weighed on me, and I also wanted our growing young child to have a yard she could play in, without having to take her to a park. I found a three-bedroom, two and a-half bath, house in a small housing district near the outskirts of our town. The house had originally been a four-bedroom, but the original buyers converted one bedroom into an office, which was something I wanted and needed. It had a large backyard for Angelina, and it also had a detached mother-in-law house. While it was detached it was close to the house with an enclosed walkway to a rear door near the kitchen of the main house.

I had invited Anima to live with us using the third bedroom, but she asked if she could live in the mother-in-law house. I told her if she felt more comfortable doing so, I was fine with her living there. She said that way she could have some privacy, as Angelina and I would also. She spends most of the day, and most meals, with us but when she wants, or needs, to be alone she can do so. It has been wonderful with her being there. We get along very well. She gets to see her granddaughter as much as she wants, and she is available to watch Angelina when I need to be somewhere else.

I had, in just the last couple of weeks, enrolled Angelina in a daycare center for the morning hours. I did this since Angelina was a single child. I wanted her to be in a social environment, to learn how to behave around, and share with other children. I hoped she would make some friends also. At first, she resisted and fussed about having to go there, but within a week she looked forward to going to the center. I was relieved that she accepted attending the daycare so quickly, as the first couple of days had been troublesome getting her ready and leaving her at the center.

Angelina Joy Johnson turned three years old a week ago. I had not brought her to the gravesite before feeling it would not mean much to her when she was younger. Angelina was a precocious young girl, and I now thought the meaning of visiting the gravesite of her mother, my wife, would be understood by her. I had waited for a week so her Birthday could be celebrated without a visit to the cemetery being part of the celebration.

The day before the visit we had our talk about life and death.

"Do you remember your other Moms?"

"Not really. But I do know I look like her!" She knew this from the pictures of Angel in our house.

"Yes, you do, very much so," a couple of tears coursed down my cheeks. I wiped them with my hand.

"So why are you crying?"

"Because I loved her, like I love you, but she died, and I miss her. Do you know what that means?"

Angelina shook her head no.

I looked into her eyes, a slight smile, "Well, do you remember when your toy bunny could not move its ears or hop because the battery had run out of power?"

"Yes."

"That is what happened to your other mother. Unlike your toy people can't put in another battery. People don't really have a battery, but our body has parts that act like your toy's battery. Our heart is the closest part we have that is kind of a battery. You know where your heart is, right?"

Angelina nodded, and put her hand on her chest, "It's inside here."

"That's very good Angelina. And if our heart runs out of power, our body no longer works just like your bunny, and that is what we call dying. All people die, everybody's battery runs out of power. It usually happens when a person gets old, but it can happen anytime in a person's life. Angel, your other mother, was one who's heart ran out of power, and died at a younger age than usual. Do you understand what I am saying?"

She nodded. "Everybody runs out of power?"

"Yes, everybody runs out of power and dies."

"I don't want to run out of power. I don't want to... die?"

"Yes, that is what it is called. Nobody wants to die but everybody does. Dying, running out of power, is part of being alive."

"I don't like that part."

I pulled her tight to me, "Nobody does, my dear."

"That sucks."

I couldn't help myself, but I snorted and snickered, and exclaimed, "Angelina! Where did you hear that?"

"From you, and Aunt Kat."

"There are better words to use, but since it's out, yes it sucks. But you have a long, long time before you need to worry about dying. Okay?"

"Okay."

"Tomorrow we, and Kat, are going to visit the cemetery. That's where people are put when they die. I know it will be strange and new to you, but you are becoming a big girl, and this is part of growing up."

This morning after breakfast Kat, five months pregnant with her and Marcus' first child, came to the house. She had two small bouquets of flowers, one for Angel and one for our mother.

Before we left I asked Kat to give me some time alone at Angel's grave, which meant she would need to hold onto Angelina while I was at the grave. She told me that was no problem.

I rose from my kneeling position I had been in while I softly sang our love song to her. I turned and nodded to Kat, who was standing a few feet away with my daughter, and they approached the gravesite.

I had a piece of paper with Angelina spelled out, she knew her name when she saw it. I also had my name on the paper so I could show her how she her name contained all or part of both Angel's name and mine.

I turned my head and pointed at the headstone, and said, "When people die, we bury the body in the ground and mark it with what is called a headstone. That way people know someone died. We write their name and their birth date and the day they died on it. It is a memorial to the person who died. Then those people who loved the person can come to the grave, that is what this called," as I waved my hand over Angel's grave, "and remember the person as they were in life."

Angelina started to cry, and she said, "But I don't remember her."

"That's okay. You were very young when she passed away, that is another way to say die, they passed away. You don't have to remember the person to come to their grave. Even though you don't remember her, you loved her, and she loved you."

"So, it is okay for me to be here?"

"It is most certainly okay for you to be here. Angel is part of our family, and family can always visit a grave even if they don't remember the person."

I wiped her eyes with a tissue I had, for the tears I knew I would shed.

"I know this is a lot to understand, and as you get older it will make more sense to you. But I thought you were old enough to come here and learn about people dying and how we visit their graves to remember them, or to honor them even if you don't remember them. Do you understand what I am telling you?"

"A little."

"We can talk about it more again once we get back home if you want to talk about it more."

"Okay."

"Now, Angelina, do you see the name on the headstone?"

She nodded.

I pulled out the paper with our names on it. I told her she was named after both Angel and me. I pointed to Angel's name on the headstone. I showed her the paper and said, "This is your name, right?"

She nodded.

I folded the paper so that only Angel was visible, "Do you see her name on the headstone, and how it is part of your name?"

She looked at the headstone, then looked down at the folded paper, she smiled, "I see it! I have her name in mine!"

"You do."

Then I showed her my name on the paper, Anna, spelled out and told her this was my name. I folded it so just the 'na' was visible and asked her if she saw it in her name. She looked at her name on the paper for a moment, then she smiled again, "I have part of your name in my name too!"

"Very good, Angelina. Now you know why we named you Angelina."

"I like that moms. I have two names in mine."

"We are going to put the flowers you are holding into it, as a sign we were here and that we love and miss her. Okay?"

She nodded. I took her hand and walked her over to the small flower vase near the headstone. We had given her the small bouquet to hold when we arrived.

"Put the flowers into the glass, please."

Angelina did, and I poured some water into the vase.

"You did that very well. Now we are going to visit your grandmother's grave. You never met her; she died before you were born. She is Aunt Kat's and my mother, and we are going to pay our respects, that is what people call it, to her as we just did here with your mother. Are you okay doing this with us?"

"Yes. I want to be with you as you pay spect?"

"Respect. That means we care for them."

"I want to pay respect with you and Aunt Kat."

I gave her a hug, "Angelina, I know this is a lot to hear about, but it is a part of life. You have been really good. I am proud of you. Like I said, we can talk more about everything later at home, if you want."

I looked over at Kat, her eyes moist, and said, "Please take Angelina and start towards our mother's grave. I am going to stay here for another moment and will catch up with you."

Kat nodded, took Angelina's hand in her's and began walking away.

Softly I said, "Angel, I miss you. I love you."

With that I sang the last words of our love song.

"The first time ever I saw your face, your face, your face, your face."