Chapter Two

Even though they weren't going to break ground for at least three months, Abby wanted to get moving on the project immediately. She and Clancy spent three more afternoons together, plotting out details, and after they had gone over everything for the fifth time, Abby sighed and said, "We're going to have to redo the pool deck. With the rustic look of the stones, the smooth concrete doesn't cut it. I think we need to finish it with large, flat stones that'll mirror the wall." Clancy gave her a worried look, but Abby shrugged it off. "I was going to re-do it next year anyway."

Clancy dragged the toe of her boot along the weathered concrete. "How long have you had this surface?"

"Since we put the pool in. That's been … gosh, I guess it's been ten years."

"Really? You were pretty forward thinking to put in such a naturally shaped pool ten years ago. Quite a trend setter there, Ms. Graham."

"That's me," she said. "Actually, we had a forward-thinking pool designer. I'm glad we went with this look, though, especially now that we're going to have such a natural look with the wall."

Clancy looked up at the hill and squinted a little bit, her expression pensive. "It's gonna look great when the waterfall is finished. It'll look like a natural spring flowing down that hill and splashing into a cold blue pool."

"You can see it, can't you?" Abby asked.

The architect looked a little sheepish, then nodded. "Yeah, I can. Once I draw something - I can see it. I'm just waiting for the details to be filled in."

She was smiling so enthusiastically that Abby was caught up in her mood. "I can't wait to see it, too. When do we pick the materials for the deck?"

Clancy held up a hand. "Whoa! I don't do pools."

"Oh," Abby said, looking abashed. "Do you know someone who can do it?"

"Yeah, the same guy who's going to do the waterfall. My dad."

"Your dad?"

"Yep. I'm sub-contracting the plumbing for the waterfall to my dad. He can do the pool deck, too."

"Nepotism?" Abby asked, her tone teasing.

"Yeah, but only because he does great work and I'm sure you'll like him."

"I'm sure I will," Abby said, smiling at the earnest young woman. "Could you have him work up a quote for me?"

Clancy reached into her notebook. "I already did. I had a feeling you might want to do this."

Abby shook her head, immeasurably pleased by the young woman's thoroughness. "This looks fine," she said. "Let's add it to the job."

"You're gonna keep the whole family busy this fall," the younger woman said. "Do you need a good florist?"

"You know, I just might. You'd better give me your mom's card."

They spent the following Friday driving out to Irwindale to take their first look at boulders. Neither woman was impressed with the selection, so Clancy decided they'd have to head further out to find what they needed. It was a warm, smoggy afternoon, and the air conditioning in the truck was cranked as high as it could go. "Do you have anything else scheduled for today?" Abby asked.

Clancy spared a look at the clock on the dash and said, "Nothing major. I assumed we'd be here all afternoon."

"How about this evening?" Abby persisted. "Are you free for dinner?"

"Dinner?" the younger woman asked, looking a little blank. "You want to have dinner?"

Abby looked rather disconcerted and said, "It's no big deal. I thought -"

"I'd love to," Clancy interrupted. "I don't have many clients who treat me like a real person - who eats."

"You seem like a very real person," Abby assured her. "And I'd really like to pick your brain if you don't mind."

"About?"

"Well …" Abby hemmed a little and finally looked at the younger woman. "Would you be averse to talking about … sex?"

Clancy was only too happy to talk about sex - but she was sorely disappointed when she learned that Abby wanted to talk about her daughter's sex life. Still, she was very pleased that Abby trusted her enough to think of her as a confidant, rather than an employee.

They stopped at the local gourmet grocery store in South Pasadena and walked around the expansive place, trying to decide what to have. Abby insisted on buying the food, but she let Clancy purchase a nice, fruity zinfandel which she suggested would go well with the swordfish they had selected.

Back at the house, Abby fired up the grill while Clancy opened the wine and set it to chill. Then they sat on the shaded patio under the bougainvillea-covered pergola. Clancy had worked hard all week, and she felt a little stress leave her body now that the workweek was over. "Tell me about your daughter."

Abby smiled the warm, love-filled smile always present when she spoke of her children. "She's a delightful girl," she began, "and we've always been close. She didn't go through any of that adolescent rebellion that most girls torture their parents with."

Clancy grinned and said, "Don't remind my mom. She's still mad at me for things I did fifteen years ago."

Abby cast a doubtful glance at the young woman and said, "She's angry about things you did when you were, what - eight?"

"I know I look like I'm twelve, but I'm going to hit the big 'three-o' this December."

Blinking in surprise, Abby said, "I mean this as a compliment, Clancy, but you could easily pass for twenty."

"I know, I know. I still get carded."

"You'll be glad for that in a few years," Abby reminded her.

Waiting a beat, Clancy asked, "How old are you?"

"I just turned forty-five," she said. At the slight widening of Clancy's eyes, she said, "I know. I look every day of it."

"No! Not at all," Clancy insisted. "You look much younger than that. Your face doesn't have a line on it. I thought you were around forty, but that's only because you told me you had a daughter in college."

"Thanks," Abby said, running a hand through her thick hair. "I think I look my age, but I could look younger if I dyed my hair. Most women start as soon as they see the first speck of gray." She shrugged and said, "I'm not most women."

"Our loss," Clancy said, smiling warmly.

It was such a nice night that Abby prevailed upon Clancy to accept a suit and go for a swim. The younger woman agreed and then tried her best not to be too blatant as she kept sneaking looks at her employer. Boy, you might look forty when you're dressed, but in a swimsuit, that's a thirty-year-old body.

The pair spent a few minutes slicing through the warm water, then Abby hopped out and poured a glass of wine for each of them, padding back and extending the plastic wine glass to Clancy. "Cheers," she said, slipping back into the water.

The wine felt lovely going down, and Clancy hung onto the deck by her arms, kicking her legs languidly.

Abby smiled furtively at the dark golden tan that marked Clancy's arms, contrasted with the relatively pale skin on her shoulders and back. "Willing to give me some advice about Hayley?"

"Sure. What's the issue?"

"Well, I'm both blessed and cursed because she tells me absolutely everything," Abby said. "She's always had the normal supply of boyfriends - none of them very serious. But now that she's in college, she's starting to show a bit of a wild streak, and I'm not sure how to react to it."

"Nose rings? Full-body tattoos?"

"No," Abby said. "But you could give me advice on the tattoo front."

"I only have one," Clancy assured her, sneaking a look at the armband of needlepoint ivy that ringed her bicep.

"It's nice," Abby said. "But, no, it's nothing like that." She paused for a moment. "She told me that she thinks it's time to start having sex. I was so flustered that I didn't know how to react."

Clancy cocked her head. "I'm not sure what you mean."

Abby treaded water slowly as she tried to organize her thoughts. "This is one of the many times I miss my husband. He was so good with Hayley. He knew exactly how to reach her without her thinking he was telling her what to do."

Clancy listened attentively as Abby continued her tale. "I think I've mentioned that Will and I hade two kids. Trevor is finishing up his master's degree in urban planning at M.I.T. Hayley is a freshman at UC Santa Cruz, majoring in something different every time I talk to her. She's young to be in college. Her sixth birthday was a day or two before school started, so she was the youngest in her class. She's gifted though, and we allowed her to skip third grade because she was so bored. In retrospect, that might have been a mistake. She's always tried to be as mature as her classmates - even when she wasn't. One year doesn't seem like a lot, but it can be a big difference at some critical ages. I'm afraid that the transition to college might be one of them."

"Mmm … that makes sense. I was one of the youngest in my class, too. I always felt like I had to struggle a little to keep up."

"Hayley's a great kid, as I said, but socially, she's always been a follower," Abby said. "I've done my best to try to build her self-confidence, but it's been slow to come. I'm afraid that she wants to experiment with sex because everyone else does."

Clancy eyed the older woman for a moment, an uncertain smile playing at her lips. "Isn't that why you did it?"

"No," Abby said, "not at all. I did it because I fell in love."

"Oh. Oh! I get it. You're upset because Hayley hasn't said she's in love!"

"Exactly," Abby agreed. "She's not even seeing anyone! She's simply decided that she wants to have sex, and she doesn't seem to care who she has it with! That's so unlike her, and that's what worries me."

"Yeah. I see that," Clancy said. "What did you say to her?"

"I don't think I was coherent!" Abby said, starting to laugh. "I made some noises about love and commitment, but she told me that sex wasn't like that anymore. Now it was just another thing to do … like going to a movie or having dinner."

"Wow," Clancy murmured. "It was a big deal the first time I had sex. I guess things could have changed a lot since I was seventeen, but I think it's more likely that Hayley's trying to test you - you know - to see what your reaction is. I did that a lot at seventeen."

"I suppose you could be right," Abby said. "I hope that I can have a more rational talk with her before she grabs the first boy she sees and makes his day. That's not how I want her to experience sex."

"No, I'm sure it's not, but it's hard to have much control when they're out of the house, isn't it?"

"Damn, I wish she were a scientific prodigy. Then she would have wanted to go to Cal Tech, and I'd be able to watch her every move."

"I lived at home when I started having sex, Abby, and I'm sure my parents didn't know."

"Another theory down the drain," the older woman said, slipping beneath the water's surface.

"Where are you off to today?" Michael asked. Clancy'd gotten dressed and ready to go at 7:00 a.m. and was now anxiously looking out the window.

"Abby and I have an appointment to look at some rocks way the hell out in the City of Industry. She wanted to drive, so she's gonna come pick me up."

"She's not one of those old ladies who gets into the fast lane to go thirty-five is she?"

"You know …" Clancy gazed at her long-time friend, "for that I'm going to make you stay until she gets here. I want you to take a gander at this old lady."

"Happy to," he said. "Now that I know she's straight, I can size her up for sugar mama potential."

"Oh, charming," Clancy said.

Abby's knock interrupted their banter. "Ready to go?" she asked brightly when Clancy opened the door.

"Sure am, but come in and meet my roommate first."

Abby came into the room, and Michael quickly sized her up. He was a much better judge of age than Clancy was, since he was a hairstylist and made his living trying to help women at every stage of life look their best. Hmm … I can't fault Clancy for her choice this time. This one is a knockout! If I could get rid of that gray, she could pass for thirty or thirty-five.

"Michael Hamlin," he said, extending his hand. "Clancy's been raving about your project for weeks now. It's nice to finally meet you."

"Abby Graham. It's very nice to meet you, Michael. You'll have to come to the party we're going to have when we're finished."

"I'd love to. I never get to see Clancy's finished projects." He ran a hand through Clancy's close-cropped hair and said, "Don't forget, I'm gonna give you a shoe shine tonight."

When they walked down the narrow sidewalk to Abby's car, the older woman asked, "You make dates to have your friend shine your shoes?"

"Oh!" Clancy laughed heartily at the image of Michael taking a brush to her worn boots. "That's what he does to my hair," she said. "Michael's a hair stylist."

Abby glanced at the coloring she'd grown to appreciate. "Why on earth do you call it shoe shining?"

"Well, he puts a thick peroxide solution onto a long piece of cardboard and then kinda buffs my head with it. It actually looks a little like he's giving me a shoe-shine - on my head, of course."

Abby gave her a long look and said, "You know, it's a little extreme for someone my age - but I really like it on you. It gives you a certain je ne sais quoi. Blonde works really well with your skin tone."

"Thanks. But don't get any ideas. You should stay like you are. I think the silver in your hair is absolutely fantastic."

"Do you really?" Abby asked, sounding uncharacteristically tentative.

"Oh, yeah! It looks great against your tanned skin, and it's perfect with your eyes. I wouldn't change it for the world."

Abby snuck a glance at herself in the rear-view mirror when they got into the car. I don't think I will.

After a quick stop for coffee and scones, they set off. Clancy hadn't been sure what to expect, but the car Abby drove caught her a little by surprise. "How long have you had this beauty?"

Abby patted the dashboard of her brand-new, bright-red Lexus convertible. "I admit it," she said. "It was a mid-life crisis birthday gift. I've been feeling so stuck lately that I thought it might perk me up. I guess I was also trying to lure men by shamelessly exploiting one of their known weaknesses."

"It's a gorgeous car," Clancy agreed. "Has your plan worked?"

Abby sported a wry grin. "Not really. I'm still striking out with regularity."

Leaning back against the door in the small interior, Clancy let out a light chuckle. "I can believe a lot of things, Abby, but I can't believe that you don't have your pick of men."

Abby's tanned skin flushed a little at the unexpected compliment. "I wish I were lying." She spared a moment to look at her friend, and Clancy could see how discouraged she seemed. "I thought I felt old when I found myself a widow the same week I turned forty. But that was nothing compared to how it feels to be unable to get a second date with a decent man."

Bridging the distance between their seats, Clancy placed her hand on Abby's shoulder. "You're serious."

"Yes, I'm completely serious," she said. "It's something that I'd never considered, Clancy. I mean, I don't think I'm among the world's most beautiful women, but I'll admit to coasting through my youth on my looks. I was always popular with boys, and I fended off more men than you would believe when Will and I were first together."

"I don't doubt it," Clancy said. "And don't be too quick to take yourself out of the running for the world's most beautiful women, either."

Abby gave her a quick look, then laughed softly. "You catch me by surprise, Ms. O'Connor. I'm never quite prepared for some of your comments."

"I'm telling it like I see it."

"Well." Abby was a little embarrassed by the compliment, and she quickly glossed over it. "I guess it didn't occur to me that my success with men would evaporate. I mean - in many ways, I'm a better catch than I was when I was thirty, but that doesn't seem to matter." She blew out a frustrated breath. "Every one of my friends has already introduced me to her 'A' list of eligible men. I'd guess that I've been on twenty dates in the past year. There wasn't one man - who I liked - who has called me for a second date."

"But … why?"

"My best friend finally told me the truth last night. A week ago, I went out with her favorite bachelor, and we seemed to hit it off. He didn't call - so I finally cornered her and insisted that she tell me what was going on." She gave Clancy a sad look and said, "Ellen admitted that Jeff told her he couldn't date someone who looked as old as he did."

"But you don't look old!" Clancy said. "You don't have a wrinkle on your entire face! And you act so young and vibrant! Jesus, Abby, you're such a catch, a guy would have to be insane not to want to go out with you!"

Abby patted her friend on the leg. "You're very good for my ego. Can I hire you to call me once a day and cheer me up?"

"No, but I'll do it for free," Clancy said, beaming at her.

"I really don't blame the men," Abby said. "Our culture worships youth. These are professional, power broker guys, and that quest for the best extends to women. Why choose a forty-five-year-old if you can get a twenty-five or thirty-year-old? It's the survival of the fittest in the dating game, Clancy."

"Sure it is," the younger woman agreed, "but everyone has a different notion about what qualities he finds most desirable. You haven't met a guy who's looking for quality. God, I don't like to date twenty-five-year-old women, and I'm not even thirty. I like a woman who has some depth, some experience."

"Mmm," Abby murmured. "I wish your philosophy would rub off on the men I've been dating. I'm afraid I'm going to have to start despoiling retirement homes."

Clancy's choking sounds were half laugh and half scone.

They drove along in silence for a while, both women lost in their thoughts. Clancy finally broke the silence when she asked, "Are you sure you're ready to start dating? Maybe you're not giving off the right vibes."

"Meaning?" Abby asked.

"Well, I don't mean to pry, but are you still grieving for your husband?"

Abby nodded slightly. "In a way, yes. I don't think I'll ever get over losing Will. But I honestly think I'm ready to love again."

"I thought that you might not be showing that you're into dating yet," Clancy said. "'Cause if you really acted interested, a quality guy wouldn't notice your hair color. Not every man wants a trophy."

"Hmm … you might be onto something. I have been down lately, and maybe that comes through."

"Why are you down?" Clancy asked, barely stopping herself from stroking Abby's thigh to soothe her.

Abby's hands gripped the wheel a little tighter, and Clancy could see a well-defined muscle flex in her forearm. "I'm feeling like I might never get another chance at love. I have friends - good friends. They keep me interested and involved in life. My kids make me very happy, and they visit as often as they can. But I miss the closeness that you can only find with a lover. I miss the intimacy … I miss being held at night ... and of course, I miss sex. But most of all, I miss head rubs." She sighed wistfully. "Will always stayed up later than I did, and most nights, he would read for a while. He always rubbed my head." She felt slightly embarrassed to reveal this small intimacy, but she forced herself to continue. "I don't know why, but that's the thing I miss the most. That slow, rhythmic head rub put me to sleep most nights for twenty years." Giving Clancy a quick glance, she allowed the pain to show fully in her expressive eyes. "How do you get over losing that?"

"I don't know," Clancy murmured, a little overcome by the desolation she saw in her friend's gaze. "Maybe you don't, Abby, but that's no reason not to try again. There has to be someone out there who can give a woman a nice, soothing head rub."

Abby gave her a resigned smile and said, "Thank God Will left me with enough money to live well. I could always hire someone to rub my head. Lord knows there are stranger job descriptions out there."

"You'll find someone," Clancy insisted. "Someone who can soothe all of your stress away with the touch of his hand. I'm sure of it, Abby."

"You're going to have to have enough confidence for both of us," Abby said. "Mine's just about shot."

"I can do that," Clancy assured her. "I'm all about confidence."

This boulder-hunting trip had been even less successful than the last, and on the way home, Clancy delivered the bad news. "We're gonna have to get more creative with the boulders. I think we're unhappy with them because the ones we've seen are so round and smooth. They almost look manufactured."

"That's it exactly," Abby agreed. "They look more like concrete than stone."

"I don't think we're gonna find anything in Southern California; we're gonna have to go to the source. How do you feel about a road trip?"

"Road trip, huh?" Abby said with a grin crinkling her mouth. "That might be the ticket for chasing the blues away. Let me know when and where."

"You know," Abby said as they made their way back to the freeway, "I find that I talk about myself constantly when we're together. But I really don't know much about you. Tell me about the important milestones in your life."

"Okay. What do you want to know?"

"Tell me your coming out story," Abby said.

Clancy laughed. "You know the lingo, don't ya?

"Oh, my God, was I being too forward? I only wanted -"

"Abby, I'm teasing. Really. That's the kind of thing that lesbians usually get out of the way the first time they meet, and I think it's cool that you're not afraid to ask."

"I feel very comfortable with you, Clancy, and I'm interested in learning more about you. For most of my gay friends, coming out has been a very big deal."

I think that's true for many people," Clancy agreed. "But it wasn't for me. I realized I was gay when I was in high school, but the only person I told was Michael."

"You've known him that long?"

"Oh, yeah. We met when we were freshmen in high school. He's been my best buddy ever since. Anyway, I knew in high school, but I didn't have anyone to practice with. Near as I could tell, I was the only lesbian in the entire school."

"Oh, you poor thing!"

"It was hard, as a matter of fact, but I met someone when I was working with my dad, and we had a fairly brief, but very intense affair. It was a decent way to come out."

"You worked with your father?"

"Yeah. My parents didn't have the money to send me to college, and I didn't wanna be stuck with student loans my whole life, so I worked for my dad for four years. It was hard work, but I learned a lot, and it helped me decide that I couldn't stand to work at a trade. Being a woman in construction is a constant struggle," she said. "It's so much easier now that I'm the person who hires and fires."

"I can imagine," Abby said. "So - have you had the great love of your life yet?"

"God, I hope not! I've dated some nice people, slept with a few, liked a few of them well enough. But I've never felt the way I want to feel about a woman."

"How's that?" Abby asked.

"Like we help to complete each other," Clancy decided. "Like we're better together than we would be apart."

"I had that with Will," Abby said softly. "It's worth whatever you have to do to find it."

"That goes for both of us," Clancy told her. "I need to experience it for the first time, and you need to experience it again."

"No arguments." She looked at Clancy. "How did your parents take the news that you were gay?"

"It was hard for my mom," she said thoughtfully. "Very hard, as a matter of fact. Our relationship didn't suffer, but she struggled for years to be even moderately comfortable with it. She's fine with it now, I think. I mean, it's not something we discuss very much, but she seems to want me to find a partner."

"What about your dad?" Abby asked,

Grinning, Clancy said, "My dad's one of those guys who thinks his kid can do no wrong. I really can't imagine him giving me a hard time about anything. He's very cool with it. We even check out girls together."

"It must be nice to know that your father will support you, no matter what. I don't think my kids feel that way about me," Abby mused. "But I'd have to say that Will was like that - particularly with Hayley. It was so hard for her to lose her daddy."

Clancy gave her a looked filled with empathy, and said, "If she felt anything like I do about my dad, I can't imagine how hard it was for her. My dad's like my North Star - he's a constant guiding presence in my life."

Abby wiped away the tears that had started to fall and murmured, "She was thirteen when Will died. I thank God every day that we've only gotten closer because of his death."

"What did he die of, Abby? Was it sudden?"

She nodded and shifted in her seat. Clancy saw her swallow. "I kissed him goodbye at 8:00 a.m. on April 29th. He was pronounced dead at 9:00." She met Clancy's gaze and added, "Massive coronary."

"Did he have a history of heart trouble?"

"No. He was in fantastic shape. He'd been an athlete his whole life, had low cholesterol, a very low pulse. He was mister health food," she said, some of the inflection coming back to her voice. "But he had a congenital heart defect that hadn't been detected during his medical exams. It could have been fixed if they had known about it - but they didn't," she finished quietly.

Clancy gave her friend a quick look to make sure she was okay to continue to talk about the issue. Abby looked composed and open, so she said, "I've always wondered what would be worse - to lose someone quickly or to have to see someone die slowly. My grandfather died a slow, lingering, painful death, and it was really awful to watch him fade away."

Abby gave her a look and shook her head. "I don't know which would be worse, to be honest. I've done it the quick way, and I've gotta tell you, it sucks, too."

They were close to home when Clancy said, "Let's not let this day be a waste. Wanna have lunch together?"

"Sure." Abby smiled. "Where would you like to go?"

"Let's stop somewhere and pick up some salads or sandwiches. I wanna dine alfresco."

After picking up a pair of fruit salads, they went to Clancy's favorite outdoor dining spot. "I hate to admit this," Abby said, "but I honestly don't remember the last time I visited Descanso Gardens. This was a great idea."

"Well, we're both plant junkies," Clancy reminded her. "What better place to soothe the soul a little bit?"

They found an empty picnic table and sat down to enjoy their meal. "I brought my children here when they were small," Abby recalled. "They always liked the tulips for some reason."

"Oh, I do, too," Clancy said. "I was up here at least four times in February. I guess I like them because so few people around here bother to put them into their landscapes."

"I usually put in a couple of hundred - running them down both sides of the drive," Abby said. "But I didn't do it this year. I let a lot of things slide once Hayley left for school."

"You don't seem to have let many things slide," Clancy said. "Your schedule is busier than mine, and you don't have a full-time job."

"I need to stay busy. I play golf three times a week, tennis twice, and I'm very involved in a few charities. My hobbies are what've kept me sane. The sports keep the adrenaline pumping, and the charity work helps remind me of how wonderful my life really is."

"Tell me about your charities," the younger woman said.

"Well, I have a few that I'm passionate about, but lately, one is taking up all of my time. I'm in charge of the entertainment for the Children Living With Cancer Carnival. It's our major fundraiser for the year, and every year it becomes a bigger production."

"I've heard about the carnival," Clancy said. "Isn't that the one all the Hollywood celebrities go to?"

"That's the one," Abby said. "Luckily, I'm not on the committee that secures the 'talent' to participate. I do the nitty-gritty work. Getting the booths set up, hiring the food concessionaires, the clowns and jugglers and face painters. It's very unglamorous, but I enjoy it."

"When is the carnival?" Clancy asked.

"It's next Sunday, and I'm getting to the panic stage."

"Need an assistant? I'm very good at following directions."

Abby looked at her friend for a moment. "Are you serious?"

"Completely. I know that a million things can go wrong at a big event. I'd love to help out."

"I'd be thrilled to have the help," Abby said. "It's incredibly generous of you to offer."

Making a dismissive gesture, the younger woman said, "No big deal. I'm guessing that Saturday is the worst day for you, right?"

"Yeah. Set-up is the worst. Something always goes wrong."

"I'm your woman," Clancy said. "What time do we start?"

Saturday morning quickly turned into Saturday afternoon, and the vendor who'd been hired to set up the booths was nowhere to be found. Abby had been calling and paging the company frantically, but they were obviously ignoring her calls. Clancy got on the phone and tried to find another vendor, but they both knew the chances of finding someone to put up fifty booths on a moment's notice was nil. Finally, at nearly three o'clock, the truck arrived. The vendor had sent only four men, and from Clancy's experienced perspective, it seemed he'd picked up the first four guys he'd seen hanging out on the corner of one of the home centers, looking for day labor.

Taking a look at Abby, who was nearly faint with worry, Clancy said, "Leave this to me. By the end of the day, the booths will all be up."

"But, Clancy -!"

"I know what I'm doing, Abby. There must be a million things you have to do. I suggest you get to them and let the master work." She gave her friend a very confident, very engaging smile, and the older woman immediately felt some of her anxiety fade.

"Are you sure you can do this, Clancy? I don't want to doubt you, but without those booths - we're in deep trouble."

"I give you my word," the younger woman said, gazing directly into Abby's eyes.

"That's good enough for me," Abby said, impulsively giving Clancy a hug. "I'll stay out of your way."

You can stay right here if you'll throw in a few more of those hugs, the landscaper thought wistfully, before she focused her attention on the massive job that lay before her.

Luckily, the lighting crew had finished by the time night fell, and the portable towers provided plenty of light for the construction crew to continue working into the night. At eleven o'clock, Abby found Clancy perched upon a sturdy, yellow ladder that read "O'Connor Landscaping." "Hi," the older woman said, trying to stifle a yawn. "I bet you haven't had a thing to eat, have you?"

"Nope." Clancy smiled down at her. "But I'm on number forty-nine. When I hit fifty, I'm gonna be at MacDonald's faster than you can say 'Big Mac.'"

Abby looked behind the architect and saw a large generator, then noticed that Clancy was using a nail gun. "Did you bring those things with you?" she asked.

"No. I called my guys and had them bring some tools up. I sent those useless idiots from the booth company home. Make sure you deduct a substantial amount from the bill."

"Clancy! You brought your crew up here?"

"Sure. They know what they're doing, and they're trustworthy. Why not?"

"Damn, I don't know what I would have done without you," the older woman said. "No one on my committee has any experience with this type of thing."

"Well, we're about done, so find your wallet. You owe me dinner, Ms. Graham, and I'm gonna hold out for the super size!"

Abby went back to the portable trailer she'd had set up as an on-site office and started to gather her things. By the time she was ready to leave, Clancy was, too. Approaching the architect from behind, Abby saw the young woman reach into her wallet and take out every bill she had. She divided her money up among the men, laughing and speaking quietly. The men all shook her hand and got back into the truck they'd come in, calling out a goodbye as they drove away.

"How much did today cost you?" Abby asked, approaching quietly.

"Oops!" The landscaper turned and shrugged her shoulders. "Not too much. I haven't been able to spare much for charity until now. But now that I'm making a little more money, I'm happy to make a donation - and give my guys a little extra money for the week."

"Let me pay you back," Abby said, "I have a budget for this, Clancy."

"No, no, I'd really like to do this for the organization. They do good work."

"Are you sure?" the older woman asked. "I've imposed on you so much already."

"You haven't imposed on me one bit," Clancy insisted. "I did this because I wanted to. I feel good about it," she said, looking around at the perfectly constructed booths.

Abby sidled up and put her arm around the blonde's shoulders, looking around with her. "I've always maintained that you get so much more than you give when you help others."

"I agree completely," Clancy said. "Now, let's get out of here so you can have the satisfaction of buying me dinner."

"It's a deal. But friends don't let friends eat fast food. We'll go someplace where we can use utensils and cloth napkins."

"You're teaching me a whole new way of life." She grinned charmingly and said, "I think I like it."

The event was over at six o'clock on Sunday night, and by the time the last guest had gone, both Abby and Clancy were ready for bed. The younger woman stood up and stretched, almost able to touch the ceiling of the small trailer. "Well, I guess it's time to start dismantling everything, huh?"

"God, no! We have a crew to take care of the organization's things, and the vendors are each responsible for their own takedown. They'll all send crews tomorrow. I'll come up to supervise, but it usually goes smoothly."

"We're really done for the day?" Clancy asked, her body aching from constant activity.

"Yep. Well, as soon as we have dinner, that is. How about a big pizza, a cold beer, and a hot tub?"

"That's a lesbian dream date!" Clancy said, laughing heartily.

"Then grab your things," Abby said. "'Cause you've got a date."

I wish I did, Clancy thought, her crush on the older woman growing stronger with each passing day.