One Woman’s Treasure Read online

  “For sure. Listen. I have to get ready for a conference call in a few. I found a great place for happy hour this week. Are we on for Wednesday?”

  “Do you really have to ask?”

  Nina chuckled. “I’m glad I don’t. I’ve come to rely on our outings each week. They may not help my liver, but my psyche feels ever so refreshed.”

  “Me, too. For some reason, Wednesday seems like the day all the impatient travelers pick to call and yell at me.”

  “Jeez, I hope it wasn’t you I went off on when my flight was canceled during my last business trip.” Nina’s playful expression was too adorable.

  Daphne teased her back. “Your voice does sound kind of familiar. Now you go have the best conference call ever.” She framed her silly grin with two thumbs up.

  “We usually refer to those as ‘cancelled ones.’”

  “Fingers crossed.” Daphne ended the call and again found her disposition much bubblier than it had been before their chat. She packed the remnants of her lunch into her lunch bag and tossed out the trash. As she headed back to her cubicle, she’d hoped she hadn’t come across as a spaz. They’d been friends for a while now. What was it about Nina that still made Daphne so angsty about making an impression?

  Brilliant, successful, and sophisticated. Oh, yeah. That was it.

  * * *

  After she hung up with Daphne, Nina headed down the hall toward the conference room for the call between her staff and the northern California division. She sighed. After nearly twenty years in the health-insurance business, she was struggling to keep her enthusiasm level high enough. No matter what aspect of the company she’d involved herself in over the years, it all inevitably led to the same outcome: how to avoid paying claims.

  She silently thanked the universe for tossing Daphne into her life, even in the most unorthodox way imaginable. Nina had quickly become accustomed to her almost daily lunch phone call from Daphne, even on days she was too inundated with work to answer. Something about Daphne’s innocent motivations and uncomplicated ways always made her feel lighter after they spoke, like maybe the weight of the corporate world didn’t always have to rest on Nina’s shoulders.

  And Daphne herself was somewhat of an anomaly—plainly beautiful and funny yet virtually unaware of how attractive she was to others. An endearing touch of goofiness mixed with a wholesome simplicity, yet she could engage in an array of multi-faceted conversations. Her duality appealed to Nina.

  Chapter Nine

  Daphne showed up at the boat launch at the appointed time Saturday morning, her kayak strapped to the roof of her Subaru. When she got out, she inhaled the delicious aroma of salty summer air, the perfect potion after a long week of customer-service drudgery. She adjusted her sunglasses and glanced around for a familiar face. When her gaze landed on Max, an older acquaintance who frequented outdoor events on the local lesbian scene, she waved, not only because she was the only one in the group she’d felt comfortable talking to, but also for help getting her kayak down without impaling someone.

  “Daphne.” Max shrieked as she rushed over to her. “It’s been so long. We thought you might’ve gotten back with Savannah.”

  “Hi, Max,” she said as she slid out of her boa-constrictor hug that usually included a slip of the hand below the appropriate lower-back boundary line. Max was pushing seventy but seemed hornier than most women half her age. “You look great,” Daphne said once she’d broken free.

  “Oh, you’re just saying that.” Max lightly pinched her cheek with appreciation.

  “Honestly, I’m not. Your new haircut is so flattering.” She’d meant the compliment. Daphne hadn’t minded that Max groped her during nearly every greeting because she was quite attractive, but their thirty-plus-year age gap made a relationship impractical.

  “Well, thanks, honey,” Max replied. “I try to keep everything where it’s supposed to be, but you know…gravity.” She adjusted her boobs inside her bra. “Here. Let me help you get your boat down.”

  Daphne looked around and sighed. If only Nina were with her. Yes, she’d been acquainted with most of the six other women paddling to the island but not like she was with Nina. After only a few months, she truly felt like she’d known her forever. Their casual conversation flowed like an estuary into boundless emotional waters with little to no effort. Small talk, chitchat, and all-around general socializing had always drained Daphne, but with a confident, outgoing friend like Nina by her side, she would’ve been more relaxed as they navigated the various interactions together.

  When she and Max reached the edge of the water, they laid her boat next to Max’s, its front half in the water. Preparing for the launch, Daphne straddled the boat, snapped her oar together, and fastened her life jacket. Max returned after gathering her waterproof essentials bag and invaded Daphne’s personal space once more.

  “There’s a woman I want you to meet,” she said, her lips grazing Daphne’s ear. “Her name is Brynne, and she’s gorgeous. You two will hit it off famously.”

  As Daphne tried to lean back, she lost her balance and fell ass-backward into her kayak, her feet dangling in the air.

  “My goodness,” Max said.

  “I’m okay.” Daphne casually checked to see if anyone else witnessed her clumsiness. “I got this. No worries.”

  As she tried to work herself upright, Max straddled the boat in front of her and helped yank her to her feet by the forearms. The force of her pull and the sloped angle on which they were standing propelled Max backward. Still clinging to Daphne, she stumbled back and fell into the shallow water, pulling Daphne down on top of her. The spectacle had drawn a small crowd around them, some obviously concerned for their safety, others laughing at their inadvertent display of slapstick.

  As they both made it to their feet, Daphne noticed the expression on one really cute woman standing closest to them—an amalgam of genuine concern and suppressed hysterics.

  “Daphne, this is Brynne,” Max said.

  “Brynne? Of course it is,” Daphne said in a sardonic drawl as she shook the woman’s extended hand.

  “You’re quite the acrobat.” Brynne was biting her lip in a clear attempt not to laugh.

  “Go ahead. Let it out,” Daphne said. “It can’t be healthy holding anything in that hard.”

  Brynne let out a chuckle. “I’m sorry. I’m not laughing that you fell. I mean, obviously, you both could’ve gotten hurt. It’s just that it was so perfectly choreographed.”

  Daphne smiled awkwardly and fixed her visor lower on her forehead, hoping the blush stinging her cheeks would be interpreted as sunburn.

  “I’m new to the group,” Brynne said. “If you don’t hate me for laughing at your tumble, maybe you wouldn’t mind shepherding me along today.”

  Daphne relaxed in the warmth of Brynne’s demeanor. “If you want to hang out with me after witnessing that, how could I not say yes?”

  After she and Brynne and Max secured each other’s boats fully into the water and paddled away from the dock, Daphne reflected on this latest development. Usually invisible to attractive women, in only the last three months, she’d won the interest of not one but two alluring ladies, one by stealing from her and the other by falling out of a kayak…while on land. A how-to dating handbook was clearly in her future.

  About an hour of paddling across the Sound, and the group reached their destination, an uninhabited dot of an island. They dragged their kayaks onto shore and assembled on the sand for a picnic lunch. While the others pulled out such delicacies as sushi rolls, tofu and kale salad, and micro-charcuterie plates from their cooler bags, Daphne hunched over and furtively unwrapped a peanut-butter-and-jelly Uncrustable.

  She wanted to sit next to Brynne after discovering how outgoing and talkative she was. That way she could just nod, laugh, and offer periodic “Oh, wows” whenever Brynne or someone else offered an insightful observation on politics, religion, or tiny winter dog sweaters. The introvert’s dream social scenario.

&n
bsp; After the group completed their expedition late in the afternoon, they went for drinks and apps at the marina restaurant. By this point, Daphne had stopped pining for her missing bestie, Nina, and become aware of Brynne. This woman absolutely checked all the same boxes as Nina: intelligent, fun personality, and sexy. And as a bonus box, they hadn’t polluted the dating waters by becoming friends first.

  Max, seated on the other side of Daphne, leaned toward her. “So what do you think of Brynne?”

  “She’s great. But could anyone really have a different answer for that question? She has more than a few admirers in the group.”

  “Are you among them?”

  Daphne bristled in defense. “Why are you asking me that?”

  “She asked me about you earlier. Since you’re here today, I’m assuming you’re still single.”

  “Oh, I’m still single.” Daphne finished her beer.

  “You should ask her out,” Max said. “Or at least get her number.”

  The suggestion weakened her spine. “Max, do you know anything at all about me?”

  “You’re a little shy,” she said with a shrug. “This I know, but wouldn’t this be the perfect opportunity to work on overcoming that trait?”

  “No.” Daphne shook her head. “No. Shy suits me just fine, thank you very much.” Daphne shook off the idea by turning back to the other conversation she’d been half following as though she’d never left it. When her phone vibrated, she checked it. It had to be a text from Nina.

  The phrase “Lacey texted me” appeared under Nina’s name in the text bar.

  Daphne’s stomach plummeted as her thumbs feverishly replied. “What did she say?” She watched the three undulating dots with a growing sense of foreboding as Nina responded.

  At first it was just a “how’s it going’” type of thing. Then she finally asked if we could meet for a drink and talk.

  The conversations and restaurant din faded into white noise in the background as Daphne’s brain processed the implications.

  What did you tell her?

  I haven’t replied. I just left her hanging.

  Daphne released her breath. Leaving Lacey hanging was a good sign.

  What are you going to tell her?

  I don’t know, I mean about meeting her. Probably that I need time to think about it.

  Daphne frowned. Nina sounded so wish-washy, something completely antithetical to her personality. What had it portended? Closure? Reconciliation? The latter would likely have an unfavorable impact on their friendship. If she reconciled with Lacey, she probably wouldn’t have the same interest in their friendship or the extra time for it. After a moment of tailspinning, she reassured herself that whatever Nina decided, she would fully support her friend.

  Well, what do you want to tell her? Do you want to see her? Daphne hit send, fearing the answer she was about to get.

  Tbh, I’m curious to know what she wants but not sure how I feel about seeing her again.

  Hmm. You should probably go with needing time to think first, especially if you’re not sure.

  I kind of would like to see her again…Nina typed the wide-eyed emoji.

  Brynne tapped her arm. “Everything okay?” Translation: stop being a rude asshole on your phone.

  “Oh, yes,” Daphne stammered. “I was just, uh…issue resolved so I’ll just…yeah.” She locked her phone and stuffed it into the pocket of her athletic shorts. Resting her chin on her knuckles, she pretended to be enthralled in the real-time conversation again, but inside she was dying to leave and call Nina on her way home.

  “We were just talking about why,” Brynne said, “even within the lesbian community, there’s still such a stigma surrounding dating rejection.”

  “Because rejection sucks?” Daphne offered.

  Brynne led the outbreak of laughter at Daphne’s unintentional quip. “Not untrue,” she said. “But as women supporting women and lesbians trying to make meaningful connections, we should free ourselves from that fear.”

  “Preach, sister,” Max said. As she leaned in to toast with everyone, her boob landed on Daphne’s upper arm.

  Brynne grinned. “I’m going to shatter that ceiling now…” She looked around the table and took a hearty sip of her drink “…by asking Daphne out for coffee, knowing full well she may reject my offer, as is her prerogative.”

  Suddenly, every set of eyes at the table trained on Daphne.

  Daphne’s face was aflame with self-consciousness. “Oh. That’s an actual question?”

  “Mmm-hmm,” Brynne muttered, still grinning.

  From the other side of her, Max kicked the outer part of her calf, eliciting a strangled groan that sounded like “sure.” The ladies at the table applauded, and Brynne smiled as she squeezed Daphne’s hand playfully.

  Daphne should’ve been ecstatic. Who knew she wouldn’t be? But the thought of being with Nina pulled at her. Were things about to change between her and her new best friend?

  She wanted to be positive, to stay in the moment, but her mind was a kayak taking on water as she contemplated losing their time together to Lacey.

  * * *

  Nina lay stretched out on a lounge chair around her mother’s in-ground pool, an umbrella shading her from the July sun. After a slew of texts from Daphne and the anticipation Lacey had stirred in her, Nina needed this afternoon of simple summer bliss to recharge. She’d tossed her phone between her feet as though it were a live grenade and finally settled her hyperactive brain. With eyes closed, she smiled to herself, listening to Noah splash around in the pool as he voiced a variety of characters in his imaginary aquatic world.

  Perched on the edge of the diving board, he shouted, “Mom, watch this.”

  Her eyes popped open at the dread that phrase usually inspired in mothers of boys. “Be careful, honey,” she said. “Whatever you’re planning to do, make sure your head clears the board.”

  “Are you watching?”

  “Yes, I am.”

  He began bouncing on the edge of the board, several times to catch air, then vaulted himself out over the pool, doing some kind of twisting maneuver before he hit the water.

  “Jesus,” she muttered to herself as she waited for her daredevil to resurface.

  “How was that?” He blew the dripping water away from his mouth as he swam toward her.

  She pretended to hold up a score card. “That was a solid nine point five.”

  “Wait,” he said, climbing out of the pool. “Let me try for a perfect ten.”

  “No, baby. That’s okay. Remember how we agreed no emergency room this summer? Why don’t you practice your laps instead.”

  “Okay.” He jumped back into the pool. “I’m hungry.”

  “Gram’s making lunch now. We’re gonna eat in a few. Come out and have something to drink.”

  He climbed the ladder, grabbed a juice pouch from a cooler, and sprawled out with his phone on a lounge chair next to hers. Nina followed his cue and reached for her phone, hoping one quick glance would calm her mind as it raced again.

  Another text from Lacey. The latest one had a cricket GIF and basically said if Nina didn’t want to meet her, she understood and had no hard feelings. Lacey was clearly doing recon work. Daphne had called it. She must’ve wanted to get back together. Nina assumed so, anyway. Why else would she want to talk in person?

  With a deep breath, she opened the text and limbered her thumbs as she plotted her reply.

  Hey, sorry, Nina typed. I just got these, she lied. We can meet sometime if you want.

  She impressed herself with the stellar level of indifference she’d managed.

  Lacey’s instant reply surprised her. Cool. When are you free?

  Wow. Okay. This was really happening.

  Whenever.

  That had to grind Lacey’s gears. Who knew passive-aggression toward the woman who broke her heart could feel so uplifting?

  Could you narrow it down a tad?

  Mission accomplished. She then admoni
shed herself to tone it down.

  “Mom,” Noah said, drawing her out of her head. “Can Cody and I sleep over at Gram’s tonight?”

  “Wait, what?” She looked over at him, but he was still staring down at his phone. “Does Gram know anything about this?”

  “She’ll say yes if you say yes.”

  “How is Cody getting here?”

  “His mom will drop him off.”

  “Okay. If Gram doesn’t mind, it’s fine with me.”

  “Thank you,” he said and ran inside to work his magic on Nina’s mother.

  Nina returned to her phone.

  Does tonight at eight at Sweet Life wine bar narrow it down enough?

  Lol. To the finest of points. Looking forward to it.

  Me, too.

  Nina immediately thought of Daphne. She wanted to call her with this latest development, but she was probably still out with her kayaking friends. She sighed. She’d have to settle for a text imploring her to call the moment she was free.

  * * *

  After a cool shower, Daphne slipped into fresh shorts and a T-shirt and collapsed on the sofa to reflect on her intriguing day. As she rubbed aloe gel on her burnt arms, her thoughts ricocheted between Brynne and her call with Nina on the way home. Nina was practically hyperventilating as she regaled her about her texts with Lacey and the fairy-tale possibilities in their upcoming date. She’d never heard her so wound up about anything before. Lacey’s spell still clearly had her in its clutches.

  She then thought about how Brynne, a woman who performed flirtation like it was an art. She’d walked Daphne to her car and kept the conversation going even though it seemed it had run its natural course.