Ordinary People: A Love to Remember, #2

By Cassandra Barnes

"Ordinary People" is Book Two of the "Carmen & Rose: A Love to Remember" Series. Carmen La Pierre met Rose Oliver when she was working at Jiffy's Seven-Eleven Sunoco in Piney Knoll, North Carolina. For both, it was love at first sight and a love that was destined to grow with them. It is their destiny that becomes this book, ten years after their first meeting in Volume 1, "Secret Love".

They have survived a hurricane, homophobic relatives, robbery, a claustrophobic rural town - rebuilding their lives emotionally in creative ways, learning to grow together.

After all these years, they are still in love.

This volume is approximately 250 pages.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cassandra Barnes
• Release date: May 31, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393110019

Cassandra Barnes

Cass Barnes lives in northern Maine overlooking the Canadian border deep in the forests of Aroostook County. She writes novels, poetry and is an amateur photographer and jazz musician. She contributes to several Third World animal rescues and lives with a gray striped cat named Oscar. Cass is a lesbian who marched in the very first Gay Pride parade in Chicago. She graduated from Boston University magna cum laude in Sociology and attended Harvard for graduate school. She has been writing since childhood.  Cass is also an avid computer hardware and software hobbyist. She loves to create epic scenery and plots with lesbian characters that build in her mind over time. Like a good sauce, she would like her writing to add flavor to a brighter future for all lesbians. And, of course, some understanding. Welcome to my world!

Book preview

1| People Fall in Love in Mysterious Ways

Ten years ago, Carmen La Pierre met Rose Oliver in Jiffy’s 7-11 Sunoco. It could have been nothing much. It could have been just another brash kid for Carmen to ignore. Or a pretty but unreachable local lady for Rose – but for both women it was everything and the ordinary became extraordinary.

Making a life together seemed to come naturally with the things they had in common – hard work, love and intelligence. When Carmen quit work at Jiff’s, she and Rose started a small landscaping business that grew to something much bigger than they could ever have wished for. Their lives were complimented by their artistic and business talent. Shoot, honey, they got together as new acquaintances, became friends – stayed friends and became lovers.

They were sisters, friends, lovers, and recently related by legal contract – two different jellybeans in the same jellybean jar. Heretofore let it be known: Carmen had finally felt confident enough to sign a marriage contract with Rose – to Rosie’s great delight. That had been when Rose was touching thirty and Carmen close to sixty. For both of them, it was the gift of a lifetime. For Carmen it was a tough testament of her trust in the solid relationship they had built together as artists, business partners, a comedy act and emotional compatibility. All of which were important to both of them.

Rose was thirty-three now and Carmen an amazing sixty. Rose was twenty-two and Carmen fifty when they had met. Rosie was the romantic garden designer and botanist to Carmen’s financial and plain-ass planting skills within their business relationship. Carmen knew the weather and Rose could detect an invasive plant species in a millisecond. Together with their crew, they were the Green Goddess Landscaping Company and Living Décor Indoor Plants   administrators in their own home business.

The only real aching pain in the ass was still Rose’s closest and only known blood relative – Brittany Oliver – her mother. Many detailed truces were made with her between Carmen and Rose. And, many were broken. Continuously.

Problem: – Rose refused to come out to her mother. Her lesbian relationship with Carmen was still in one of their closets, waiting to pop out, but still locked up, securely sealed and mute. This was a truce – a truce between Rose and Carmen. Rose left Carmen and had taken off to the mountains at one point to try and figure out what she wanted to do about her mother’s aggressive manipulation without coming out to her like Carmen wanted her to. She finally convinced Carmen to sign a marriage contract, but she insisted on keeping her mother at a distance in terms of their relationship. She had not moved on that issue. Like the locals say about the basic wet, cold and wind elements that give birth to hurricanes – It’s gonna be there for a while – so be careful...

The townspeople of Piney Knoll knew Rose and Carmen weren’t related – but who knew everyone’s 3rd and 4th cousins once removed? So, what were they? Only a small group of their closest friends knew they were lesbians.

Even with a quiet marriage and a great reputation around Piney Knoll, Brittany Oliver could usually find some route of intimidation, especially now that Carmen’s curly auburn and sun-bleached hair was turning silver. Age was Brittany’s weapon. You could be too old or too young to be or do whatever in Britt’s opinion. But she was the perfect age...always.

Rose was aware her mother used personal traits to throw at just about anyone she was annoyed at...meaning when she wanted something. If it was up to Rosie, Britt was never going to know shit about her being a lesbian. Carmen, though, was not in that camp. No tents were put up there, no sticks for the fire were gathered...nothing.

Carmen felt that they would be protected by letting Britt know there were more boundaries. Rose felt that Carmen’s estimation of where Brittany would go with the information that they were not only lesbians, but lovers was just wishful thinking. Metaphorically, Rose knew her mom would probably blow up their household in as dramatic and picturesque way as possible.

Speaking of camp, let me introduce Carmen’s roommates, Alfonso Hernandez and Billy Ferguson – the latter, a distant cousin of Carmen – and the former, Billy’s significant other. Both boys were local gay livestock tenders at the Wickham Ranch – Alfie, carrying a ton of pretty cowboy swish, Billy, in love, finally settling down to a bestie.

Carmen gave up raising livestock when both her parents died of alcoholism and left her, and her brother Zachary, the big, three floor Victorian and some acreage. Zach knew Carmen and her household were gay, no problem for him or his wife and kids. Zachary willingly gave Carm his share of the estate. In terms of livestock, she was content with her rescue dog, Shepard. Not so Rosie and Bill. Rose had to have her Palomino, Holly, and a large brown cat called Tater. Billy had his smart-ass mare, Maizie (short for nothing but Amazing).

Carmen and Rosie’s friendship was just that, as well – amazing. Friendship was always the history that the two women kept dear. Romance grew in their words and minds like the wildflowers in their fields, rooted in that original attraction they had felt so long ago – and a forever foundation as solid as any lifelong friend. As Rose matured, she grew in admiration of Carmen’s strength and emotional balance.

Even her mother somewhat relied on Carmen’s knowledge of plants while screaming around town about Rose’s doctorate in botany (a change from an original ambition to go for an M.D.). Brittany couldn’t help it. Bragging was deep inside her DNA and so far, nobody had the T-cells to remove it. Of course, this embarrassed Rose, but her mother never cared. As far as she was concerned, Rose got all her achievements because of her – her money, her intelligence, her guidance.

Brittany never even noticed how much Carmen resented her big mouth and this was only one symptom of her egregious ego and intense sense of license to dominate her daughter’s life – and her daughter’s future. She had never changed since Rose’s fourteenth birthday. To her, Rose was a perpetual child that had not yet gone through puberty. She owned Rose’s arms and legs.

Now, what do you think of Carmen’s reaction to this?

Watcha’ doin’, gumdrop? asked Rosie, putting her chin on Carmen’s head and resting her arms around her as Carmen worked on some new planting arrangements for Indoor Décor planter boxes. Their indoor Green Goddess subsidiary had been so successful the last few winters, it had now grown to include year-round offerings with summer additions of elaborately designed outdoor planters as well.

Some stuff... answered Carmen, smiling and relaxing back into Rose’s arms.

As Carmen decided on a break and pushed away from her laptop, Rose moved one of Carm’s arms aside and shifted easily into her lap. Carmen encircled Rose this time with her own arms. Rose was still only about 95 pounds. It always felt sweet and fresh to hold her tiny sprite of a body. Her familiar bones. Carmen shifted her weight and moved her legs so that Rose fit closer against her. She moved deeper into that new space and forgot about her work.

She asked, What stuff? A new girlfriend from the Net?

Carmen almost spit in Rosie’s ear as the laughter pushed up from her belly. Shit, yeah! she answered with a laugh. I put her in my net as soon as she touched me at the check-out counter. That feeling’s been there for a while. She kissed the side of Rose’s throat, thinking about the day she had first noticed her at Jiff’s. Rose had unconsciously touched her arm as she spoke to her that first day, Carmen ringing up her purchases and pretending not to notice.

Rose moved her shoulder at the familiar sensation of Carmen’s breath on her hair, snickering, recognizing the kiss, snuggling back. Rose could feel Carm’s soft heartbeat on her ribs, her chest warm and encompassing.

The sound of I Don’t do Boys by Elektra rushed around them as the stereo gained amplitude from the other room. High male giggles hit their ears as the vibrations of musical movement swept around the two women. The tensions of the day fell away like dust motes scattering in a pond of bright afternoon light. Happiness overcame all of that.

Carmen and Rose were one person, moving subtly inside rhythms from the other room, quiet inside a shaft of late sun. At this moment a deep knowledge entwined their hearts. Ten years’ worth.

Both women were silent as they caressed each other. The music in the other room got louder. They could see the two figures of their slightly built roommates slow dancing to the downbeat from another song.

Rose got up and pulled at the sleeve of Carmen’s sweater with a grin. Carm followed Rose upstairs to their bedroom. A falsetto voice followed them with a silly boy-lisp, "Have fun, girlzzz..."

Rose said, in a muffled whisper, Sweetheart... The moon rose and cast its seductive shadows over the sensitive embraces of the two lovers, tangled in their blankets. They moved in familiar ways that always felt new and built on their memories like perennials planted long ago. Their tongues tasted like a cavern of scented lavender. Their mingled hair was downy and intimate.

Looking out the window – one could see the past and guess a close and warm future for their relationship. Things were not without rocks in the road but working together overcame almost all obstacles. And, they worked together well. There were no fights.

They had survived dangerous weather, aggressive male crushes, robbery and homophobes. Probably more. As besties, they posed a united front and easily learned to supplement each other’s strengths, forging a forever bond between them.

There was one thing, though, that still formed a painful fortress of risk and deception – Rose’s mother. She had never failed to spew some selfish demands at Rose throughout the decade she had lived with Carmen.

Any chance to invite herself over, she took it. She was a sneak and the definition of underhanded.

Britt had not minded her thirty days in the local jail, which she had spent after breaking a Restraining Order put on her at the beginning of Rose’s relationship. She had that much grit. Rose spelled that with a sh.... No one could step between Brittany and Rose without facing a barrage of imaginary figments about Mother’s Rights.

Britt knew how to throw her weight around and she had some to hurl, being a highly sought-after charity promoter, a Public Relations Agent who had made Time magazine. Well...not really. She had a small mention in a big general article on charity promotion companies highlighted by the magazine.

Rose felt her mother’s success was hypocritical considering her homophobia which teetered dangerously on top of her furious paranoid temper, which usually threatened everything including the dog and the cat. Poor Shepard – he hated her too and would growl and disappear whenever she was present. Tater, the cat, followed suit with a loud, whiny cat warning.

Everyone would cover their ears, cringing metaphorically, and think, Here it comes... when, somehow, Brittany was able to gain entrance to their home and (usually and very unfairly) would lay her acid eyes upon happy-campy little Alfonso and comment on his gentle person – his hair, his makeup. (Horrors! He was fine!) Britt would feel free to say anything she wanted to about his clothes, boots, hat, jewelry, slender hips – and voice. If her mind was any smaller, it would evaporate into thin air with a tiny pop ... hopefully leaving no trace.

Compared to Rose and Carmen’s perfect balance, loving feelings and happiness – it made Britt’s already dysfunctional brain’s rift between her left and right hemispheres seem as impassable as the Cumberland Gap in an ice storm.

In the past, Britt had somehow found it easier to break into Carmen and Rose’s barn than their house. The barn had no alarms, the house did. Brittany had a thing for Rose’s horse. She was a local dressage competitor and Holly, Rose’s mare, had a mild temperament and was very responsive in the ring. She and Britt had won quite a few small competitions that counted with the local upper-crust ladies. All on stolen time without Rose’s permission.

Rose had told her mother to use the horses from her own stable. They were equally as competent as Holly, but Britt loved to give Rose gifts (like the horse) and then use them for herself.

This drove Carmen crazy. It was far worse on her mental health than her made-up conversations with her dog – which always made perfect sense to her – Shep always coming out of the discussion for the better. Talking to her dog was a learning experience that involved sensitivity and caring (along with a lot of slippery intuition in terms of the dog’s answers or opinions).

Sensitivity and caring were two qualities missing in any unfortunate conversation with Brittany. It was far more likely that one would see vitriol and two-facedness. One face for Carmen and another for Rose.

So, this led to further episodes of Being Straight for Brittany, where Britt would find some subversive way to put herself first, no matter what Rose had to say. It was okay (whatever she did) if it was all about her. The code was e-g-o.

Rose was the only open restaurant on Christmas day in terms of her mother, who demanded accessibility to her at all times. If you know what I mean. Britt felt she could pull a chair up to Rose’s table whenever she wanted to. Anywhere, any time.

Carmen was not of like mind, to say the least. Rose’s excuses of, "But it’s my mother..."  generally caused the only friction in an otherwise perfect relationship. That perfection was constantly threatened by Brittany. Her relationship with the two women was brittle. If Britt was happy, everyone was happy. Rose tried to time her contacts with her mother in a defensive way so that Carmen was not in the middle, but that did not always work out.

CARMEN HEARD BILLY and Alfonso climb the stairs. She continued making love with Rose. Then she heard laughter obviously aimed at her door.

Silly Billy... she grunted rather indelicately; her distracted attention was pulled to the driveway. There had been a phantom of a noise.

"You actually did tell your mother she couldn’t use Holly in her dressage, right?"

Uh, yeah, she knows... Rose laughed to the side. But it fucking has to be her trying to get in again...

You heard that, too?

Rose frowned. The wind seemed to pick up when her expression changed from laughter to anger in the wink of an eye.

Oh, oh, thought Carmen, hoping her own attention on the calmly rising moon would cancel Rose’s calling up any storms with that ferocious attitude anticipating another fight with her mother.

So...they had both heard some movement outside.

Carmen’s heart sank with a leaden feeling. Rose covered her face with her hands and muffled the word, Fuck! Just then, Carmen’s ulcer acted up. A huge belch ripped up her windpipe and tore into the air like a Rocket Propelled Grenade. Rose screamed slightly at the eruption and poked herself in the eye from the surprise.

Fuck, really, Carmen?!

Sorry – ulcer.

A crunching, rolling noise interrupted their conversation, louder this time. Both Carmen and Rose’s heads followed the faint noises, deliberately creeping along their drive. Both of them noted the bumps in the passage as whatever-it-was pulled over their slightly uneven drive. They both reached their front windows at the same time, right in time to see Holly’s kidnapped, shiny, tan ass leaving...locked inside a horse carrier. The mare flicked her tail when they both noticed her at the same time, as if she knew they were watching from upstairs.

She did it again... commented Carmen, forcefully poking Rose in the shoulder with her finger until Rose responded, Ow! and moved away with a frown.

She fucking stole your horse, continued Carmen, shaking her head.

I could shoot her, answered Rose.

"Wish someone would."

Get ready for the photos and the texts from her dressage. If she wins, it will be a dinner, said Rose, who got whiney and curled up into a fetal position, naked, underneath the window.

I bet she thanks us, like she did the last time, Carmen commented in angry, ironic tones as she got up and put a blanket over Rose’s shivering, little body, still on the floor.

Gruesome... said Rose as she wrapped herself up and moving back to their bed.

Scary... answered Carmen, flopping down next to her and sliding under the covers. Feeling angry but trying to control her stomach, Carmen curled up, her back to Rose. Rose, still naked, spooning tight up against Carmen, starting to warm up.

Carm rode Holly often and was pissed that Britt (evil-devil-worshipper that she was) took her away – even for a few days. After all, she let Rose ride Maizie, which was Billy’s horse, but living in her barn. She was just pissed in general. Bad way to end the day. Damn her!

Rose’s baby-soft breasts felt good against her back, soothing her concern, making her swallow her remorse