Page 87 of In Her Own Way
“Me, too,” Jessica said and gestured to the food table. “I should help them get set up.”
Before she could move, Shanice and Marta came over for hugs. Shanice looked at Victoria. “Leo? Right, Daddy Vic?”
Victoria nodded and glanced at Marta who wore an ‘I’m sorry’ expression on her face.
“Birthday, Miss Jessica?”
“Oh, March 31st,” Jessica said.
“Oh, good, I didn’t miss it.” Victoria moved behind Jessica, wrapped her arms around her, and pulled her close. Did Victoria’s show of possession have anything to do with Marta standing right there? She wanted to think not but knew it did.
Shanice’s eyes had gone wide. A big smile lit her face. “Sun signs are in no way the full stories, but you are both fire signs and very compatible. Leo,” she said, turning toward Victoria, “needs a partner who is confident and will go after what she wants. And Aries,” Shanice continued, looking at Jessica, “needs a partner who can match their somewhat assertive, sometimes impulsive nature.”
“Like changing schools on a whim,” Jessica said and grimaced.
“Exactly that kind of thing,” Shanice said. She looked back at Victoria and asked, “Are you up for it, Daddy Vic?”
“Absolutely,” Victoria said and squeezed the woman in her arms.
“Good. I now pronounce you a good match,” Shanice said with a giggle. She turned toward Marta, raised both hands in the air to raise the roof, and said, “Soul patrol. Soul patrol. I told you, Mama.”
Marta just shook her head and let Shanice head over to help Pammy set up.
“So, Marta,” Victoria asked, “what’s with this community service thing thelittlesare doing?”
“I can’t even tell you whose idea it was, but when Shanice told me what they’d come up with, she said it was because they saw everyone doing stuff for them all the time and they wanted to give back.”
“Wow,” Victoria said. “That’s so enlightened of them.”
“I thought so, too.” Marta then touched Victoria on the arm and excused herself to greet Rikki and Bernadette.
“Well, how about that?” Victoria said, gesturing toward Shanice. “The stars are aligned in our favor.”
“I had no doubt,” Jessica said with a lascivious grin.
During the after-party lunch, Victoria and Jessica rarely left each other’s sides. As the gathering was winding down, Victoria started to get nervous. They hadn’t talked about where they would go from there. A hike? They just ate, so dinner out wasn’t right. A drive, maybe? Victoria couldn’t bear it if Jessica wanted to go home alone right now, but she would accept it.
They said their goodbyes to Madison and Miss Shasti. Madison apparently had a final exam the next day, but Victoria promised they’d spend some time together once her exams were all finished for the semester. She specifically mentioned the post-Christmas bird count and Madison hugged her long andhard. She then ran out the door without looking back. Victoria wasn’t sure, but it looked like there were tears in Madison’s eyes.
“She loves you,” Jessica said. “You have to move back here. You can’t stay away from that cuteness.”
“That’s not the only reason I’m moving back,” Victoria said. “A certain fiery Aries has my attention.”
Jessica wrapped her arms around Victoria’s neck. “Oh, please. Do go on.”
“I just have to figure out where to hang my hat.” Victoria didn’t want to start that worry chain, so she grinned at Jessica and asked, “Now what?”
“Mmm,” Jessica said. “Take me home.”
“Oh?” She wasn’t exactly sure what Jessica meant, and she was nervous about assuming.
“We’ve had two dates,” Jessica said. “That’s slow enough. I’m an Aries, and like Shanice said, I’m impulsive, so I want you to—” Her cheeks turned a delicious shade of red. “I’m going to explode if we don’t—”
“Mmm,” Victoria moaned low. “Let me give Tillman the keys to my truck.”
With assurances from both Tillman and Rowena that Tillman would in no way feel abandoned, Victoria wrapped up the bouquet of carnations, and they headed to Jessica’s cute Subaru Crosstrek. When Victoria got a look at the house where Jessica rented an apartment, dread filled her. The thing had once been regal but had clearly fallen into disrepair. She kept her observations to herself, but things didn’t get much better as they trekked down the dangerously sloped driveway from Jessica’s tenant parking spot at the top of the hill. It would be hazardous in icy winter conditions or wet weather. The giant crack near the garage doors said the foundation was shifting. There was no walkway around the side of the house to Jessica’s backdoor entrance, and they walked along a dirt path, sure to be muddyin the next rain or snow. Once inside, her analytical brain took in the sloping floor, the sticking door, and the peeling wallpaper. But she flung all that aside and took in the woman herself. Jessica was gorgeous in this late afternoon winter light.
The carnations were placed on the kitchen table, and coats hung up by the door. Victoria panicked. She didn’t want to assume or do anything Jessica didn’t want, so, she covered by asking, “What now?”
