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  “Oh, look, there she is!” Laura was actually jumping up and down, waving her arms about.

  Grace was a little surprised. Laura was usually quite self-contained. Not exactly reserved, but she rarely bounced about with the enthusiasm of a five year old.

  It was with even more amusement that Grace saw a woman rushing along the platform in their direction, waving frantically and dragging a wheelie case behind her.

  The minute Sarah passed through the gate, Laura bounded forward and they were hugging and shrieking with joy, heedless of the attention they were attracting.

  Reluctant to intrude, Grace hung back and watched the reunion. When they parted, Laura turned and seemed a little surprised that Grace was not beside her. She gestured for Grace to join them. Grace hesitated for moment, took a deep breath and walked over to Laura’s side.

  Laura immediately wrapped an arm round Grace’s waist and said, with so much pride in her voice that Grace blushed, “This is Grace, isn’t she something?”

  Sarah, a petite woman in her early fifties with short-cropped gray hair and deep blue eyes, looked her over for painfully long seconds, as if assessing her. Grace stood stiffly beside Laura. Reluctantly, Grace finally held out her hand.

  “I’m pleased to meet you, Sarah,” she said in a very formal tone.

  Sarah’s mouth slowly turned up at the corners. “I hope she’s not always this shy?” Sarah’s wink was comically lewd, but it still brought deep color to Grace’s cheeks.

  Sarah laughed and pulled Grace into a hug. “Don’t worry, hon, if you’re good enough for my girl, you’re good enough for me.”

  With a sense of relief, Grace returned the hug, if a little less enthusiastically.

  Laura rubbed a hand up and down Grace’s back, and when she stepped back from Sarah, Grace was happy to lean into Laura’s warmth.

  “Come on, let’s get you home,” Laura said, taking the case from Sarah’s hand. Smiling widely, Laura led the little group out to the parking lot.

  * * *

  “What do you mean, you’re not having a party? It’s your thirtieth birthday. You have to have a party, it’s the law.”

  Grace and Laura laughed at Sarah’s words. They were sitting cross-legged on the floor around the coffee table, surrounded by the remains of Chinese take-out.

  “Actually, I don’t think it is.” Laura reached for her glass and, noticing it was empty, picked up the wine bottle and tipped it over her glass. She frowned, obviously puzzled when nothing happened.

  Grace took the empty bottle from Laura’s hand and replaced it with the fourth bottle of the evening. Laura gave her a slightly lopsided smile and refilled the three glasses.

  “Well, it should be,” Sarah said, clinking her glass against Grace’s.

  Grace blinked. “What should be?”

  “A law.” Sarah poked her finger on the table for emphasis. “Having a thirtieth birthday party.”

  “But we’re not having a party.” Laura was looking puzzled again. Grace smiled indulgently. Her lover was a total lightweight when it came to drinking.

  “Didn’t we decide to have a nice, quiet dinner with friends?” Laura asked, looking at Grace with the intense concentration of the very drunk.

  Grace leaned toward Laura, bumped their shoulders together. “You can have anything you want for your birthday.” She was feeling a little fuzzy-headed herself.

  Sarah snickered. “Oh, yeah, she’s a keeper.”

  Wrapping her arms around Grace, Laura rocked them back and forth. “Yeah, she’s my baby.”

  “You are so drunk!” Grace giggled.

  “You really should have a party,” Sarah reiterated. “At least one person for every year you have blessed the planet.”

  Grace’s eyes widened. “Ooh, that’s a good idea. I like that.” She turned to Laura. “You like that, baby?”

  But Laura, leaning against Grace’s shoulder, gave a little snuffling snore in response. Grace stroked Laura’s cheek, smiling softly when Laura leaned reflexively into the caress.

  She turned to Sarah, who was looking tired herself. “Maybe we could meet for lunch tomorrow and talk about this some more?”

  Sarah smiled. “That sounds like a plan. I’d like to do something special for her.”

  Pleased, Grace nodded. In the last few hours, her nerves had vanished as she got to know Sarah. The fact that they both adored Laura was a pretty sound foundation to build a relationship on.

  Grace moved and stroked Laura’s back. “Come on, Sleeping Beauty, time for bed.”

  Laura opened tired eyes. “Hmm? Bed? You want to have a little fun?”

  Grace blushed even as she laughed. “Why don’t we start by seeing if you can walk first?”

  Laura nodded solemnly. “’Kay.” With Grace’s help, she got to her feet, a little unsteady, but able to stay upright. She wobbled over to Sarah and wrapped her up in a big hug. “It’s so good to have you here.”

  Sarah returned the hug, patting Laura’s back. “It’s good to be here, hon. Now, I think you should go to bed before you fall on your ass.” She grinned over Laura’s shoulder and winked.

  Pulling out of the hug, Laura turned back to Grace. “Yeah, time for bed. Bed with my baby.”

  Grace smiled and, on impulse, leaned in and hugged Sarah. Sarah returned the hug without hesitation.

  “You’ll do,” Sarah said quietly, for Grace’s ears only, and Grace felt pleasure swell in her breast.

  They said their goodnights and Grace led Laura through to their bedroom while Sarah headed for the guest bedroom.

  Laura turned to Grace when they were behind the closed door. She sidled up to Grace in what Grace supposed was meant to be a seductive manner, but she tripped over her own foot, somewhat spoiling the move. Laughing, Grace caught Laura in her arms.

  “Oh, baby, you really are drunk, aren’t you?”

  Sighing, Laura nuzzled into Grace’s neck. “You know I love you, right?”

  Grace nodded, undoing the buttons on Laura’s shirt. “I know, and I love you too.”

  Straightening up as best she could, Laura took Grace’s face in her hands. “No, I mean I really love you. Really, really.”

  Grace bit back a smile, pushed Laura’s shirt down her arms and went to work on her jeans. “I really, really love you too.” She lowered Laura’s jeans and helped her step out of them. When Laura was standing before Grace, wearing only her panties, her small, firm breasts not requiring a bra, Grace felt a shiver of arousal run through her body.

  Even in her inebriated condition, Laura must have seen Grace’s reaction. She stepped closer, wriggled against Grace and cupped one of Grace’s more ample breasts in her hand. “Wanna fuck?”

  Grace snorted. “You sweet-talker! Why don’t you get into bed and I’ll join you in a minute?”

  Nodding, Laura dropped a quick kiss on Grace’s mouth and climbed into bed.

  As Grace undressed, she watched with a fond smile as Laura’s eyelids drooped. By the time Grace climbed in beside her, Laura’s breath was coming in soft snores. Grace snuggled in beside her, wrapped an arm around Laura’s waist and smiled when Laura curled into her. Grace felt her own eyes become heavy and soon she was slipping into sleep too.

  * * *

  Grace woke with a start sometime later. She lay stiffly, listening for what had woken her, barely breathing. She was starting to relax again when a noise made her sit up. She extended her hearing, only to grimace when she heard the sound of retching.

  She pushed aside the covers, grabbed her robe and headed for the door. “Oh, Laura.”

  A murmur came from the other side of the room. Grace squinted in the dark and saw the bump that was Laura buried under the comforter.

  Grace frowned and opened the door. She followed the sounds down the hallway to the bathroom.

  “Sarah? Are you okay?” She tapped lightly on the door.

  After a moment, there was the sound of water running, then the door opened to reveal a rather gray-looking S
arah.

  “Are you okay?” Grace repeated.

  Sarah waved a hand dismissively. “Too much wine.” She smiled sheepishly. “I guess Laura isn’t the only one who can’t hold her liquor.”

  Grace smiled. “Why don’t you get back into bed and I’ll bring you some water?”

  Sarah patted her on the arm. “Thanks, hon.” She shuffled across the hall to the guest room, looking oddly hunched and old.

  In the kitchen, Grace filled a glass with cold water and took a bottle of Tylenol up to Sarah.

  Sarah was lying back against the pillows, eyes closed. Grace placed the water and pills on the table by the bed and turned to leave quietly.

  “You love her a lot, don’t you?” Grace turned in surprise at Sarah’s words.

  “Yes, yes I do,” she replied softly.

  Sarah nodded, her lips turning up at the corners and her eyes drifting closed again.

  Grace closed the door behind her and went back to bed.

  * * *

  The next time she woke, the sun was peeking through the crack in the curtains.

  Grace touched a soft kiss to Laura’s cheek and got out of bed. She made her way down to the kitchen to start the coffee, but as she got closer, the smell of freshly brewed coffee drifted to her nostrils.

  She found Sarah in the kitchen, leaning against the sink and washing down a couple of pills with a glass of orange juice.

  “How are you feeling this morning?” Grace took a mug down and filled it with coffee.

  Sarah waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, don’t mind me. Never did learn my limits.” She smiled, but it was a strained expression. “So tell me, how is it that you can look so bright-eyed this morning? If I’m not mistaken, you had as much of that wine as us last night, but you didn’t have to be carried into bed or spend the night with your head down the john.”

  Grace smiled. “I guess I have a high tolerance level.” She added sugar to the mug and sat at the table by the window.

  “Don’t listen to her. She comes from a family of rampant alcoholics. They have a rite of passage they all go through at thirteen -- if they can’t drink their own weight in scotch, they get kicked out of the family.”

  Grace laughed at Laura’s entrance, raised her mouth for a kiss.

  “Morning, hon.” Laura, dressed in a tank top and sweats, perched on Grace’s knee and planted a kiss on her waiting mouth. “Why the hell did you let me drink so much last night? You know what it does to me.” She leaned her head against Grace’s shoulder. “Shit, I feel like a hamster in a blender.”

  Grace ran a hand soothingly over Laura’s back, still laughing.

  Sarah filled a tall glass with water and brought it to Laura. Laura mumbled her thanks and sipped from the glass.

  “So, what are your plans for the day?” Grace asked -- Laura had taken a few days off work while Sarah visited.

  Laura groaned. “Back to bed?”

  “Oh, no.” Sarah, starting to look a little brighter, swallowed the last of her orange juice. “We’re going out for a nice long walk, then we’ll find somewhere to have breakfast and walk home. Then you can have a little nap while I have lunch with your better half.”

  Laura raised her head from Grace’s shoulder. “You’re having lunch together? When was this decided?”

  “When you were snoring drunkenly and drooling on my shoulder,” Grace said.

  Laura nodded. “Oh, okay.” She rested her head back on Grace’s shoulder, but almost immediately, it popped up again. “Wait, I’m not invited?”

  Sarah made a tut-tutting sound. “We can hardly dish the real dirt with you sitting right there now, can we?”

  After looking at Grace for a long moment, Laura shrugged. “Okay, just so long as you don’t mention that time with the handcuffs and the chocolate sauce.”

  Grace snorted at Sarah’s raised eyebrow and dislodged Laura none too gently from her lap.

  “Well, unlike you two, I actually have work to get to.” She headed off for the shower, wishing that she could invite Laura to join her, but the thought of having sex while Sarah was in the house, wide awake and able to hear every little sound, was a bit inhibiting.

  After a quick shower, Grace dried her hair and dressed in gray slacks and an oyster colored silk blouse.

  She kissed Laura and made arrangements to meet Sarah for lunch before leaving to open up the store.

  * * *

  At lunchtime, Grace met Sarah at Mulberry, a small restaurant near the bookstore.

  When Grace arrived, Sarah was already seated at a table by the window, throwing back a couple of pills with the aid of a glass of ginger ale.

  Grace smiled knowingly as she slipped into the seat opposite Sarah. “Still hung over?” she asked, hanging her bag on the back of her chair.

  Sarah rolled her eyes. “One of the many drawbacks to getting old.”

  They attracted the attention of a young waiter and ordered their food. Grace chose lemon chicken and wild rice while Sarah ordered a simple, dressing-free salad.

  “So, you think we should have a party for Laura?” Grace washed down a bite of chicken with a drink of club soda.

  Sarah pushed a piece of lettuce around her plate with her fork. “I don’t want to spoil any plans you’ve made.” Sarah’s voice was quiet and sincere, but Grace could hear the unspoken ‘but.’

  “I think a party would be a great idea.” Grace smiled when Sarah’s face lit up with pleasure.

  “It’s not too short notice?” Sarah’s brow wrinkled in a small frown. “It’s only two days away.”

  Grace shook her head and swallowed a mouthful of rice. “Don’t worry about that, I’ll do some phoning around this afternoon and corral the troops. Everyone will be happy to pitch in.”

  Sarah’s eyes softened. “She has a lot of friends?”

  On impulse, Grace reached a hand across the table and squeezed Sarah’s, feeling an unaccountable need to reassure her. “A lot of good friends.”

  Sarah seemed quietly happy at this and squeezed Grace’s hand in return.

  They returned to their meals, but instead of eating Sarah asked,” What about you? Tell me about yourself.”

  Grace laid aside her fork and smiled widely. “Ah, the traditional interrogation. Are you going to ask me what my intentions are?”

  “Would that be a problem?” Sarah was clearly trying to look very stern and serious, but the playful twinkle in her eyes gave her away.

  “What would you like to know?” Food forgotten, Grace settled back in her chair, legs crossed, hands clasped and resting on her thigh.

  Sarah paused in the act of pushing her food around her plate. “Tell me about your family.”

  “I was a late child -- my parents were told they would never have children. My mom got pregnant when she was forty-three.” She laughed. “I came as quite a surprise to them.”

  “Obviously a welcome one, if they gave you a name meaning blessing.”

  Grace’s eyes widened in surprise that Sarah should know that, then she smiled a little sheepishly. “Yes, I was spoiled rotten.”

  “What about your parents? What do they do?”

  Grace’s smile faltered for a second. “Dad passed about five years ago.” Her mouth curved upward again, and her smile became indulgent. “Mom lives in a retirement community. She’s sort of the unofficial social director.”

  Sarah mirrored Grace’s smile. “What does she think of you and Laura?”

  Again, Grace felt the need to reassure Sarah. “Mom loves Laura. All the residents in the community do -- Laura goes over there every month, gives the ladies a makeover and the gents a shave and a trim.” She grinned. “A few of the old guys have a huge crush on her.”

  Sarah’s eyes were warm with pleasure. “It sounds like she has a good life.” There was an odd tone to her voice that made Grace wonder.

  Instead of inquiring, Grace answered, “Yes, she does. She’s loved.” For some unknown reason, it was important to Grace that Sarah should kno
w this.

  Sarah nodded. “Why don’t we have something sinful for dessert and talk more about this party?”

  Grace signaled the waiter, but the smile on her lips felt suddenly a little forced, and a knot of unease settled in her stomach.

  * * *

  She spent the rest of the afternoon calling friends and organizing a party. As she had told Sarah, everyone she called was more than happy to contribute. By the time she put down the phone for the last time, not only did Grace have all the invitations issued and accepted, but all the food and drink was taken care of. She felt satisfied as she and Jamie locked up the store and headed home for the night.

  * * *

  “Would you zip me up?” Grace turned and presented her back to Laura. As she waited for Laura to do up her zip, Grace checked her hair and make-up in the mirror and smoothed her hands over the soft material of the off-the-shoulder dress in midnight blue.

  Laura stepped up behind her, took hold of the zipper tab and pulled it slowly up, her warm fingers brushing over the skin of Grace’s back.

  “You look great.” Laura dropped a kiss on Grace’s shoulder.

  Grace shivered, the light touch and the low tone of Laura’s voice causing heat to settle between Grace’s legs. She leaned back against Laura.

  “And you look hot as hell,” Grace replied, looking at their joint reflection in the mirror. Laura, who ‘did not do dresses,’ was wearing wide-legged black pants and a black halter top that showed off a tempting expanse of creamy skin. Her hair was stylishly mussed and her make-up so light it was nearly invisible -- except for the kohl outlining her smoky gray eyes.

  “It’s my birthday, you know,” Laura muttered as she nibbled her way along Grace’s neck.

  Grace bit her lip and her eyelids drooped. “Is that why all those people are coming here tonight?”

  One of Laura’s hands slipped around to cup Grace’s breast, and the other moved down her thigh to grasp the material of the knee-length skirt. Oh so very slowly, she dragged the skirt up until she exposed the top of one of Grace’s stockings.