Tuesday
Friend and foe alike: everybody respected Carol Ross Aird inside a courtroom. Her razor sharp mind, her unsparing way of questioning, her ability to dig up every obscure fact, detail or court ruling, all determined her reputation as a brilliant, sometimes ruthless lawyer. Therese could sense the anticipation in the courtroom when Carol left her chair and approached the suspect she was about to interrogate in a case of domestic violence. Therese had been surprised when Carol told her that although she was a corporate lawyer, she sometimes helped women that were caught up in civil or criminal cases.
“I sometimes volunteer at a women’s shelter as a favour to Abby. She is on the board of trustees there. “
The phone call that so abruptly had made an end to their unexpected, passionate embrace the previous afternoon, had been about the case. Freeing herself out of Therese’s arms Carol had apologized and told her she had to take it. She immediately switched into professional mode, answering the questions of the counsellor that guided the victim. Therese had retreated, at first to the table but in the end she had left the room when Carol, pacing agitatedly through the room, her phone pressed against her ear, seemed to have forgotten her presence.
“Mister Tucker?” Carol’s voice filled the entire courtroom. She was standing in front of the accused, a little, ferret like man who didn’t dare to look at her directly but instead focused on his hands, that were visibly shaking.
“I asked you why you deemed it necessary to not only lock up your wife after she came home from work, but also to confiscate the money she brought in from her job.”
Amused, Therese noticed how Carol used her tall frame to slightly lean over him, making him even smaller than he already must feel. He coughed and looked at the judge, seated next to the witness stand, as if seeking for help. He was met by a neutral gaze.
“I’m sorry”, Tucker whispered.
“What? I’m afraid I didn’t hear you properly …” , Carol brought her hand to her ear.
Fascinated, Therese followed Carol’s every move. My God, you are magnificent. She regretted that she was not allowed to use her camera in the courtroom.
Tucker shifted in his seat.
“I said I’m sorry, I didn’t ….”, his voice was still hardly audible.
“Ah, you’re sorry! Well, well.” Carol stepped back, turning to the public, raising her eyebrows. “Then I think the judge will know just what to do with you.” She returned to her seat, sitting down next to her client, a young Latin American woman. Taking the woman’s hand, she smiled encouragingly. Everything would be okay.
____________
“Do you ride?” It was a surprising question.
“On a horse?” Therese laughed. “You must have noticed by now I’m a city slicker.”
Carol shook her head.
“That’s not what I mean. Do you ride a bike?”
Still surprised, Therese nodded.
“After a morning like this I like to clear my head going outside. Will you join me?”
“Okay.”
They were in a taxi together, on their way back from the courthouse where, shortly after Carol had dealt with the unfortunate Mr. Tucker, the judge had ended the proceedings. Therese had stayed close to Carol, again allowed to use her camera, now to capture the image of another Carol she did not know. Surrounded by an enthusiastic group of women from the women’s shelter who had come to support her client, Carol was more relaxed and open than Therese had seen her before. Smiling, she courteously listened to the women thanking her for her work, hugging them, lacking her usual reticence. Therese had been thrilled to be so near to Carol and together be part of this exhilarating group.
Back at the house Carol took Therese to a small building at the end of the large garden. There were several bikes there and a closet with clothes and other equipment she could use. Carol took out a neon coloured jersey and black cycling shorts, holding them in front of the smaller woman.
“I think these should fit. There are shoes and helmets is several sizes, so try some on. I’ll be back in a minute.”
Therese managed to find the right shoes and was busy with adjusting one of the road bikes to her size when Carol returned. She was already in full attire and Therese marvelled at the way the tight red jersey and black shorts clung to her thin, lithe body. Carol’s eyes were hidden behind yellow sunglasses, but Therese could feel how her eyes followed every curve of her body.
“Do I look all right?” Therese hadn’t meant her question to sound seductive, but Carol’s slow smile convinced her of the opposite.
“Quite all right.”
After Therese had left Carol’s study the afternoon before, they had not been alone together. Rindy and Harge had joined them for dinner and Therese had spent her evening at the Salt Palace Convention Center to attend a very uninspiring Chamber of Commerce Meeting where Harge had been the key note speaker. This morning they had been picked up by Jeannette, Carol’s legal assistant, to bring them to the courthouse. Therese was acutely aware now of Carol’s presence.
“Carol …” She hesitated, not knowing how to approach her. Carol averted her gaze.
“Let’s go.”
They took the road that went past Carol’s house into the hills that were lining the district. Riding next to each other they silently enjoyed the fresh air and the warm sun on their backs. Therese easily adjusted to the black carbon Cannondale she had chosen and had quickly found out how to use the transmission. Carol’s bike was made to measure, a sleek and versatile extension to her elegant body.
Thirty minutes after they had started the road began to rise and Therese had to downshift, not accustomed to ride in the hills. Carol’s pace remained the same and Therese had to use more power to stay next to her. Soon, her breathing became laboured. Amused, Carol glanced at her panting companion.
“Are you all right, city slicker?”
Therese grunted, not willing to stay behind. Carol laughed and changed gear to keep in pace with her.
“I must admit. You’re doing far better than I thought. I cross these hills every week and I don’t think New York has gradients like these.”
“Been a bike courier… used to taking bridges… “ Therese couldn’t finish her sentence, shifted gear once again but kept going.
Smiling to herself Carol concluded once more that Therese was full of surprises. She admired her perseverance, this not giving up against her. A woman who no doubt would stick to her choices. Carol wondered what went on in Therese’s mind after their intimate talk at her study. The phone call from the shelter had made an abrupt and unwanted end to their embrace and Therese had retreated once it became clear that Carol would be on the phone for a long time. After that, Carol had concentrated on the case, not allowing herself to dwell on their conversation and most of all the consequences it might have. But she knew it was unavoidable that they would have to talk again.
After a few minutes they reached the top and Carol could not resist to accelerate in the last few meters to arrive there first. Sitting next to each other on a bench, they enjoyed the landscape, the snow-capped mountains, the shimmering Great Salt Lake in the distance. Drinking from their flasks and eating the bananas Carol had put in the back pocket of her jersey, they felt content, comfortable in a tentative friendship that went beyond sheer physical attraction.
Suddenly Therese jumped up, put on her helmet and grabbed her bike.
“See you at the house!”
She sprinted away, leaving a cursing Carol behind, with just a view on her quickly receding, black clad bottom.
______________________
Her head under the hard jets of the shower, Therese did not hear the door slide open and close. Suddenly she was aware of Carol behind her, pressed against her so close she could feel she was still wearing her cycling clothes. Carol let her right hand slip around Therese, resting it on her bare stomach. Leaning her head against Therese’s back she moved her other hand to her left breast, stroking it, making the nipple erect. Therese shuddered.
“Shhhhh.” Carol’s voice was like velvet, soothing her.
Carol’s right hand moved further down Therese’s body and Therese involuntarily lifted her hips, leaning into Carol, wanting those fingers on her, in her.
“Darling…”
Carol’s lips were against the nape of her neck, her left hand now cupping her other breast. And then Carol’s fingers at last found Therese’s center and while her head fell back against Carol’s chest she felt her body tighten around those fingers, making her come, quivering and, impossibly, crying.
Carol held her, rocking her gently until her orgasm subsided. Turning in her arms, Therese’s hands cupped Carol’s face. Her eyes were closed.
“Carol…”
Carol shrugged, her arms sliding to her sides.
“My God, I, I …”
Once again she slid open the shower door. Before Therese could stop her, she stormed out of the bathroom.
“Wait !”
There was no answer. Furious, Therese threw a shampoo bottle after her.
“O, fuck you, Carol.”