Chapter 39
“Are you sure you don’t want to go to the Ellis’s for brunch?” Stephanie asked her again. It was the fourth time today.
Court loved the Ellis family, but she didn't always attend the family events.
Sometimes she left it just for the family.
And if she went too often, Ji would start quizzing her about her love life, and setting her up if need be, or lately just asking probing questions about her intentions with Stephanie.
Court had learned long ago to put some distance between visits to keep that woman focused on her actual daughters and off her.
“I'm positive, Stephanie. And since you have the day off, I thought you said you wanted to spend it with me.” Court made what she hoped was her cutest pouty face for her.
Stephanie’s only response was a laugh, which was exactly what Court was looking for.
In the months since they started dating, this was the first entire day they were going to spend together.
Mostly, Stephanie had worked all weekend for the first few they were together since Jordan had covered for her the family weekend.
Then she worked at some point on the rest of the weekends, which usually turned into a lot since two of their newer instructors had stopped showing up.
Court tried to be understanding, but she wanted alone time with her girlfriend.
So today they were putting themselves first and spending the day alone, together.
Though Court had wanted to spend it at her place, Stephanie insisted she needed to do laundry, so they were at her place, meaning she’d been at Stephanie’s since Thursday to prepare for this weekend.
Together time was something they took seriously.
After getting out of bed late, they had lounged around the house, Stephanie doing laundry and Court watching her do it.
It was only after the first load that Court realized that some of her clothes were mixed in the loads as well.
She really couldn’t believe they were doing their laundry together already. That they were now that couple.
But now it was nearing lunch, and neither wanted to cook, because it seemed neither were all that good at it. That it had taken weeks to figure this out was amazing. Each had pushed during their early dates to go out to eat, all in an effort not to cook.
But today they were making something and, according to Stephanie, something healthy.
Which was why Stephanie was digging in her fridge, her nice butt wagging at Court as she did.
So far, Court was in no way getting tired of that butt.
Right now, she hated it was in the leggings, not bare for her to enjoy.
“I have lettuce and kale, so we can have a salad.” She came out with the stated greens.
“How about I call this number for pizza?” Court had her phone out and showed Stephanie the number she was thinking of. It was the woman’s favorite place.
“Court, healthy.” Scowling, she dropped the greens on the counter. “Dating you has turned my once clean diet into a few extra pounds.”
Smirking, she pulled Stephanie into her arms. “I like a few extra pounds on you. But I'm partial. I like you, and the more of you there is, the more there is to like.”
“Are you trying to make me fat?” She asked, with a pout of her own.
Taking the greens from her, she put them on the counter before pulling her close. “I’m trying to wine and dine you, Miss Bexley. I also like to try to work off those calories.”
Not moving away, Stephanie admitted, “I like working those off, too.”
As Court’s hand slipped under her shirt, the buzzer went off for the laundry. Stephanie pulled away, and dropped one last kiss on Court’s lips as she went to tend her laundry, or their laundry.
Court hated how much she liked this day with Stephanie. Even if it meant she’d have to eat a salad. It was a small price to pay to be with the woman she’d been changing her life for. Because dating the same woman for two months and still not wanting to bolt was not the old Court.
As Stephanie went to get the laundry, Court left the kitchen because she didn't want to be alone with the leafy greens in case they accidentally got thrown out. It happened often, and she was always blamed for it.
Before she could get rid of Court’s idea of filler food, there came a knock on the front door, and Court again hated Stephanie that didn’t live in a secure building.
Anyone can show up at any time. One glance down the hallway said that Stephanie hadn’t heard.
Without another thought, she went and opened the door.
It was probably a neighbor, not that she knew any of those.
She didn’t even know her neighbors, much less Stephanie’s.
Except when she opened the door, it wasn’t a neighbor, or friend even, it was Stephanie’s parents. They were probably just as shocked that she was there then that they were. None of them seemed overly happy to see each other again.
“Is Stephanie here?” Marlene asked, looking past Court to see if she was there, or just looking past her as if she wasn’t there.
“Yeah, she is. Come in.” Court said, stepping back, wishing she could go back to a minute before when she had forgotten they even existed.
“Stephanie told Marlene that you too were dating, but I told her that she must have heard wrong.” Calvin stated, using the same voice he used to use when she was in trouble. Though she hadn’t been with him much as a kid, he had managed to use that voice often.
That Stephanie had told them was a surprise. She hadn’t said she had. Which meant Court had no idea how long they had known, but at least she knew how they would react. Badly. Because if they weren’t exactly believing it so it hadn’t gone over very well.
“She heard correctly. We’re dating.” Court wasn’t letting anyone intimidate her.
She’d let herself be someone different the weekend at his house, but she wasn’t going to do that again. They already didn’t like her. It was better that they didn’t like the actual person she was. Then some made up person who was uncomfortable.
“This is unacceptable behavior on both your parts, you’re like family.” Marlene jumped in with.
“Dad, at what point after you met my mom have you treated Court like family?” Stephanie came into the room all spitfire and sass.
Court would have kissed her for defending her in any other situation. But she wasn’t sure aggravating their parents was the way to do that. The more distance between them, the harder it would be to bridge that gap in the future.
“We don’t have to justify his actions to you, Stephanie. Calvin went above and beyond with her for years. She isn’t his blood daughter or anything.” Marlene argued, causing her daughter to turn on her.
“No, he didn’t. Not after he met you, because you wouldn’t let him.
You who can’t get beyond her jealously of her mother to even accept his daughter.
Because he had a stupid crush on her mom for a while, you took out your anger on an innocent kid.
One that needed someone in her life that wasn’t her own cold, heartless mother. ”
“I'm not jealous of Helene. Why would I be?” Marlene sniffed at the idea, ignoring everything else she had said.
Calvin stepped closer to his wife. “We in no way treated Courtney differently than any of you kids.”
“It’s Court, Calvin, just Court. And are you trying to convince me or yourself?” Stephanie demanded, “She didn't even know you had a damn boat. Every summer was spent on that boat, but never when Court was there.”
“Stephanie, it’s okay.” Court grabbed the hand that was waving between them, and intertwined their fingers, admitting something she learned a long time ago, “Not everyone has to like me.”
Stephanie turned to her in surprise at those words. “I want everyone to like you, Court. I can’t even understand why anyone wouldn’t.”
“That’s what I love about you, your heart.” Court pulled her closer until she was pressed against his body, and Stephanie let it happen as everything around them fell away. No parents’ anger, no laundry, just them.
Court hadn’t said those words before, and it felt right to say them now, even with an audience. She’d fallen for her and fell hard and fast. Something that had never happened before, and if she’d noticed it was happening, she’d have stopped it. There was no place in her life for love.
The moment was broken when Stephanie was yanked away by her mom and her stern warning, “I won’t stand for this.
You’re not good enough for my daughter. I mean, look at you.
Are you living with her already? Using her?
Can’t you even see that, Stephanie? She wanted to ask Calvin for money.
That was the only reason she even came. I did my darndest to make sure they didn't get any alone time, and she could beg him for money. I knew she’d just waste it if she got any. ”
Stephanie glanced at her mom and actually laughed, which just made both her parents even more upset. They had no idea what they were even talking about. Being at her place one day didn’t equal living together.
“It’s true, Stephanie.” Calvin said with seriousness.
“First Court doesn’t live with me. In fact, we spend more time at her place than at mine because it’s nicer.
We’re only here today because I didn’t think it was fair to spend all of our time there.
Second, even though I don’t actually know how much Court makes a year, I believe it is far more than you two do, or ever have.
Seriously, she drives a BMW, a new one. Money is the last thing she wants from you, Calvin.
She wants the same thing she always wanted from you, time.
But that’s something you stopped offering her a long time ago. ”
Court stepped away from the woman. “Stephanie, it’s okay. They can believe what they want. They want what’s best for you, and they don’t see me as worthy.”
“You got that right, Courtney.” Marlene stated with a smirk because she had won.
Turning to the woman, Court stated, “It’s Court.
I have asked you a dozen times to call me by that name.
But instead of respecting my request, you disregard it and call me that name.
It’s a name I left behind when I realized that nobody in my life loved or wanted me.
A name that I was called in the month of hell I had to endure because you refused to let me live with you, Calvin.
The name that still haunts my nightmares. ”
Marlene turned her cold eyes on Court. “Courtney, I don’t care if you have money or not. That has never mattered to me. But you and Stephanie shouldn’t be dating.”
“I'm sorry. I love your daughter. Don’t worry, she was the last person I wanted to want to fall for. But you know what, you can’t decide who you love, nor can you two decided who I can’t love. It’s far too late for that.”
“Court.” Stephanie touched her shoulder.
Ignoring her, she went on, “If you want Stephanie to have to choose between you and me, I can’t stop that from happening.
I hope that she chooses me, because I would choose her every day.
But I understand if she chooses you. Because you see, I know what it’s like not to have a family.
To rely on strangers and friends to be my family.
I wouldn’t wish that on anyone, especially not the woman I love with my entire heart. ”
“I love you too.” Stephanie tried to grab her hand, but Court couldn’t, not now. Now she needed time. Time away from the anger and hate, time to settle her nerves.
“I need to think. Away from here.” Grabbing her jacket and hat from the hook by the door, Court knew she was shaking and knew that everyone saw it. Saw her weakness, and she hated it. “Call me if you choose me.”
Rushing out the door, she didn't listen or turn around. She needed space away from everyone. Being with Stephanie was so easy until Court was reminded of who she was. That Stephanie Bexley was a part of a time in her life she had put behind her. One she didn’t want to face ever again.
Instead, here she was, facing her worst fears.
Alone again.