Ju-Ju Bowman's Sex Festival

By Lisa R Waite

A Novella.

Ju-Ju Bowan isn't sure she believes in true love. But when she runs a B&B for the summer, plans the first Stratford Sex Festival and has an affair with a much younger man, Ju-Ju finally learns what the swans have known all along.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lisa R Waite
• Release date: Jun 8, 2011
• ISBN: 9781458110404

Lisa R Waite

Lisa is an author, professional screenwriter, creative writing teacher and script consultant, who specializes in romantic comedies.She is a graduate of the Humber School for Writers' Creative Writing and Comic Script Writing programs. She is also a graduate of the UCLA Professional Program in Screenwriting, and the University of Washington Screenwriting Program. She is a member of the Pro-Series Alumni for Screenwriting U, the Northwest Screenwriters Guild, and has worked with top industry leaders. She has written three novels and over 10 romantic comedies, placed in and been a judge for major contests, and has over 10 years industry experience. She founded RomCom Entertainment in 2011, and is a true believer in love and happy endings.She lives in her house by the beach with her amazing husband, adorable son, and family dog.

Book preview

Part One

The Straight Arrow

~~

Well! What do you think?

Ju-Ju entered the kitchen and curtsied towards Mona, who was standing over the sink.

Oh darling, Mona dropped her dishtowel on the counter and moved toward her. It's divine! You look beautiful.

Thanks. I hope Eric likes it, she said touching the top of the veil. Her hair spun up around it in long brown locks.

He'd be crazy not to. You're going to be the most beautiful bride in all of Canada.

Ju- Ju laughed and tilted her head sideways, the way Eric says she does when she's embarrassed.

Sit, sit, sit! Let me get you something for breakfast. The crew has already been this morning. I wasn't sure that I'd be seeing you at all this morning. You must be famished. Getting beautiful can sure take a lot out of a girl. Mona walked over and pulled the chair out for her guest.

Oh no, Ju-Ju said waving her arms. I couldn't eat a thing.

What about some poached eggs on toast. My specialty, Mona said, walking over to the fridge and reaching in for the eggs.

Thanks for the offer Mona, but I'm trying to keep the weight down before the wedding, Ju-Ju said sitting on in the old oak kitchen chair. It's hard to believe that it's one week from today.

My advice, enjoy every minute of it. Getting married to my Stan was the happiest day of my life. I wish we had longer together, Mona said turning her back.

It was unclear to Ju-Ju whether she wiped a tear or a bead of sweat from her face. She was standing over the hot stove now, opening the oven, two worn oven mitts on her hands. If it was a tear, Ju-Ju understood that it was not to be noticed. Mona seemed to be one of those women, like a mule who could bear the brunt of its load. This was a language that Ju-Ju understood.

Here, she said setting the pan on a hot plate. Why don't you have a little piece of quiche? This morning’s leftovers. She took out a spatula and quickly moved a slice onto her bone china rose guest plate. Here, it's just a small piece. Besides, you're so thin you have nothing to worry about.

It smells amazing, Ju-Ju said, reaching for her fork. Too hard to resist.

Good! Now you just enjoy. I'll put another pot of coffee on, go collect the mail, switch over the laundry, and I'll be back in a jiff. Oh, and don't forget to take that veil off first. You don't want to get anything on it.

Ju-Ju watched the older lady walk down the hall and out of sight. She reached her hands up to the top of her head and removed the clip. The sheer white veil was thin and long. It had small flowers of white satin stitched into it, each adorned with small freshwater pearls. She wished that she had the chance to try it on with her dress, but had a pretty good idea it would go beautifully.

She picked up her fork and looked around the room. She hoped that Eric and her would have a kitchen just like this. With the morning sun streaming through the windows onto the old hard wood floors, it looked like a painting. The room was Victorian in style, and had all the comforts that a B&B should. The masculine oak table and buffet looked like they couldn't be moved without a fork-lift, but lined with dainty lace, tea cups, and silver sets they were a perfect blend of his and hers. Ju-Ju wondered for a moment about Mona's husband, and if that were in fact a tear in the cheery woman's eye. Then she wiped away one of her own. It was at times like these that she would give anything for just one more moment with her parents.

You haven't even touched a thing dear, Mona said as she walked back into the room. She had a pile of tea towels in one hand and a stack of mail in the other.

I was just about to, Ju-Ju said taking a bite of her now luke-warm ham and cheese quiche.

How do you take it? Mona said pouring the coffee into a small china teacup.

A little milk, please. Okay, whoa, that's great. Thanks.

As Ju-Ju ate her quiche, Mona took the seat beside her and leafed through the mail, one piece at a time sorting bills in one pile, junk mail in another, and the newspapers in the middle of the table. She scanned the front page of the Beacon Herald before moving it aside. Looks like the mayor is at it again, she said shaking her head. Oh, and look at what we have here, her voice rising in excitement as she handed the letter towards her guest. Pour vous Madame!

For me?

Ju-Ju took the letter in her hands and turned it over. No return address, but she recognized the hand writing instantly. It was from Eric. She quickly opened the envelope, and then the card. She read it to herself. When she finished she put the card down, and looked over at her host who was already reading the second page of the newspaper. And then she wiped away the tear from her eye, quickly, so as not to attract any attention. Mules speak their own language.

~~

Julie Bowman, better known as Ju-Ju except at work, stretched her naked body over the neatly made bed, in the Romeo and Juliet Room, at 2:30 in the afternoon on a clear blue-sky spring day.

Ju-Ju lay as still as she could. She was face down on the bed while the window breeze danced across her clammy naked skin. She moved her arms up above her head and spread her legs open into a V-shape; she was a starfish taking a nap. She could hear the kids playing out her window, she could hear neighbourhood dogs barking, she could hear crows fighting for territory in the tall evergreens, and she could hear the shower running from the As You Like It suite downstairs.

Her hair was still pinned up neatly, her up-do holding its own, her veil being used as a security blanket. She thought about Eric. She thought about the way he looked when he was having a cold - had to be ice-cold he said - shower after cutting the grass. She thought about how his tanned smooth skin looked wet, the way he night stumble upon her when his shower was done. She thought about the way his mouth felt between her legs, the weight of his body on top of hers. And then, came a knock at the door.

Yoo-hoo! You're going to be late for your next appointment dear. You want me to call the spa and tell them you're going to be a few minutes late? It's the Alexandra, right?

Ju-Ju Bowman held her breath and pretended to be asleep; perhaps because she didn't want to move, perhaps