Jodie stood outside Beth’s apartment contemplating the front door. Andrew had told her he would tell Beth that she was joining them on their vacation and that everything would be fine. But Andrew didn’t know anything about the underlying energies that lay between the two women and she felt it was only fair to speak to the beautiful dentist, to let her decide. Beth had just finished packing and had poured herself a glass of wine when her doorbell rang.
“Hello Beth.” It had been two months since they had last seen each other, two months since Beth had fixed her tooth and it felt like yesterday. Jodie knew as soon as the beautiful dentist opened the door that the current that flowed between them was just as strong if not stronger than it was when they last met.
“What the hell are you doing here?” a shocked Beth blurted out. No I don’t want to see her, I can’t see her.
“Beth I need to speak to you.”
“Well go ahead.” I’m not asking her in, I can’t.
“Can we maybe talk inside?”
Beth gave the attractive American a glaring look then stood aside allowing her to enter along with the electrical force field that encompassed them both. Closing the door Beth walked through to her lounge followed closely by Jodie.
“Can I get you a glass of wine or a coffee? Not that you’ll be staying long enough to drink it.”
“Always so rude to me Beth.”
Beth left the lounge and returned with a glass of wine, handing it to the attractive American. “What are you doing here?”
“I have a problem,” then after a slight hesitation, “I think you do as well.”
“Jodie the only problem I have is you being here, I don’t have a problem when I don’t see you.” Of course I have a problem when I don’t see her, I miss her but I don’t want to.
“You’re not going to like this Beth.”
“Well it can’t be any worse than you being here.”
“Andrew has asked me to go on vacation with you.”
Beth froze, No, No, No. I can’t deal with this, I can’t.
“Why would Andrew ask you to go with us? Are you not meant to be returning to the U.S tomorrow?”
“All flights to the U.S are cancelled due to a suspected terrorist threat,”
Beth finished the sentence for her. “And Andrew didn’t want to leave you here on your own at Christmas.”
“Exactly, but Beth I mean it I would rather stay here than cause you any grief.”
Beth shot the attractive American a darting look. “Oh you’ve already caused me enough grief.” Shit. I can’t be around her, it’s too strong, I can’t. “Jodie I’m going to be honest with you, I don’t know if I could cope going away with you, it’s hard enough being in the same room as you.”
“I know, why do you think I came to see you, I’m not sure I could either.”
Oh well at least we agree on something, Beth thought to herself they had both been honest.
Jodie stood up, “I am sorry for bothering you Beth.” She started to walk towards the door.
“Wait, sit back down just now.”
She sat back down and took a drink of the wine that Beth had poured for her.
“This is ridiculous.”
Jodie didn’t say anything, wanting Beth to make the decision, it was up to her, the beautiful dentist held all the cards.
“I must be mad. Come with us, but Jodie there must be conditions and I mean for the two of us.” How can there be conditions for something we have no control over?
“Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
I can’t wait to hear this. The attractive American smiled at Beth but received a stern look in return. This did not faze Jodie. “Okay Beth fire away with your ‘conditions’.”
“Keep a safe distance from each other whenever possible and try not to irritate me too much which I know will be just about impossible, all you have to do is open your mouth.”
Jodie started to laugh, “Really?”
“Yes really.” Beth was looking at Jodie, thinking that her smile and laughter came so naturally to her, it’s a part of her.
“Is there anything else or is it just the two?” Jodie was still smiling.
“There is one other but I’ll let you know when you break it.”
Jodie knew what the other condition was and didn’t need the beautiful dentist to tell her. Finishing the last of her wine she put the glass down. “Thank you Beth that was lovely.” She stood. “I’d better be going.”
Beth stood up also, “Yes.”
As the two women walked out of the lounge heading to the front door, Jodie stopped and looked at the beautiful dentist, she spoke softly, gently. “You know Beth that neither of us are responsible for this, you also know that your ‘conditions’ are not going to prevent the inevitable. Neither of us has any control over what is happening or what’s in front of us.”
Beth knew exactly what Jodie was saying, her reply was as soft as Jodie’s words, “Jodie I do want to prevent what you say is inevitable, I suggest you focus on doing the same, and we might just make it through this vacation.”
“Goodnight Beth.” Jodie opened the front door.
“Goodnight Jodie.”
The attractive American walked out, not daring to look back at the beautiful dentist as she closed the door behind her.
Beth returned to the lounge and poured herself the last of the wine. Shit! Shit! Shit! What the hell have I done?
She went to bed just after 10pm, her head spinning she was not sure if it was the wine, the attractive American or a combination of the two. Sleep was elusive. Thoughts of Jodie kept her awake, their last conversation played on repeat. Who are you her kidding? Conditions! Bloody hell Beth what were you thinking?
When she did eventually drop off Jodie was still in her mind but something was different, for the first time her dreams became more sexual in nature, so powerful that she woke up. I don’t want to have a relationship with her, I know she will disrupt my life, I don’t need that, I don’t need her, she’s not good for me.
Jodie had walked back to the hotel replaying everything that had been said at Beth’s. She was glad that the two of them had been honest with each other but she felt scared, scared because Beth was going to try and control what was happening between them and Jodie knew she wouldn’t be able to, neither of them could. When she got into bed feeling emotionally exhausted, she tossed and turned weighing up the pros and cons of going on this vacation. Of course, she wanted to go, she wanted to be beside Beth. The alternative was to eventually get back to the U.S and try to forget about her, but that was never going to happen, her heart would not allow that.
Jodie arrived at the airport for 6.30am. She was on the same flight as her friends and Beth but she had to inform the airline she was booked with to fly back to New York that she was going away and would not need a flight for another week. The airline estimated US flights would be running again within the next couple of days though they were expecting a backlog and advised Jodie to rebook when she was ready. The cancelled flight ticket had been credited back into her company’s account. She had half an hour before she was meeting everyone else so found a Starbuck’s and sat, waiting and remembering.
Debs Thorburn-Loudon 