Chapter 9
Carla barely slept all night. She’d laid in bed with the sealed red envelope next to her, desperate to know what lay inside.
She waited till around 6am but couldn’t contain the excitement any longer. Sat up in bed, she carefully opened the red envelope and peered inside. Delicately, she pulled the little white card out between her finger and thumb, and read the beautiful gold lettering.
Carla Connor,
Breakfast at Roy’s 8am - on me.
Sorry I won’t be there,
but I’ll see you tonight.
Lisa ❤️
Carla couldn’t help but smile at the little card as she read it again, just to be sure she’d read it right.
8am couldn’t come soon enough. Just as she was about to push open the door to the café, she noticed a sign on the door window.
CLOSED FOR PRIVATE EVENT
RE-OPENING TOMORROW
THANK YOU.
Carla frowned at the note. Confused as to why Roy hadn’t said anything about closing up for the day.
Carla pushed the door open to be greeted by Roy and Ryan…and a little breakfast buffet all laid out on a couple of tables that had been pushed together. The whole place was decorated with lights and candles, it looked beautiful.
Carla smiled at them both, but she was still extremely puzzled. “What’s going on?” She gestured at the tables, food and the sign on the door, but couldn’t help the grin on her face widening at the thought that Lisa had gone to all this trouble for her.
“We thought we’d treat you to breakfast.” Ryan smiled. “Well, actually we cooked the breakfast but Lisa paid for the food, decorated the whole place, asked Roy if he would mind closing the café for a morning so she could borrow the space.” Roy nodded along as Ryan explained.
“Which actually worked out well, as we’ll close for the day because Ryan’s taking me to some kind of train exhibition.” They both looked at each other strangely, and Carla sensed there was more to the story than they were letting on.
“Oh that’s lovely. I’ll come with you both if you want. As long as I’m back for tonight, I’ve got plans…with Lisa.” Carla couldn’t stop smiling at every mention of the other woman’s name.
“Erm…” both men stared at each other.
“Come on, spit it out you two” Carla laughed at them, they were clearly hiding something now.
“Well actually…” Roy began. Ryan pulled out a red envelope out of his back pocket. “I’m not supposed to give you this until we’ve finished our food, so don’t tell Lisa.” Ryan whispered, as if Lisa was standing somewhere in the room, which she wasn’t, funnily. “So umm” Ryan continued. “You won’t be able to make the train exhibition with us because someone else has other things planned.” Ryan smiled, making his eyebrows dance.
“What planned?” Carla asked. “Have you lot been conspiring behind my back?” She raised an eyebrow, playfully as she came and sat down, pleased Roy and Ryan were joining her. They could talk about things over breakfast, she didn’t want to waste the food, the thoughts, the effort that had gone into everything.
Both men looked at each other again. They were really bad at hiding anything from Carla, so she put them out of their misery.
“Okay forget it, I’ll just play along.” Carla winked at them both as they seemed to now relax in their seats at the fact Carla seemed to want to stop interrogating them about Lisa’s plans.
They spent the morning together, laughing and joking and catching up. They touched on their move here and that all three of them were so much happier and care free but that also they had each other.
The conversation moved gently to Lisa, and Carla appreciated that there was no more said other than the fact that both Roy and Ryan only wanted Carla to be happy, they both liked Lisa from what they’d seen and from what Carla shared with them. Neither did not seem to bat an eye lid over the fact that Lisa was a woman - the only thing that touched close was when Roy sweetly told her that he of all people knew happiness could be found in the most unlikely places.
As they finished up, Roy & Ryan were insistent that Carla wasn’t to help them clear up and so they said they goodbyes.
Carla picked up the red envelope Ryan had shown her shortly after she arrived and as she left the cafe, she gently opened it, delicately pulling out the white card, again decorated with beautiful gold lettering.
I know I’m being a pain,
but it’ll all be worth it, I promise.
There’s a little ice sculpture walk along the beach today, if I can tempt you to stay out your cottage till about 3pm…
I know the boys are otherwise engaged 😉
I’m missing you today
Lisa ❤️
Carla could not stop grinning. She had no idea what she’d done to deserve this but she did wonder however, what Lisa was up to in her cottage. She didn’t mind in the slightest that obviously Ryan & Roy all had something to do with it too. She was wondering however, how she was ever going to beat this when it was her turn to take Lisa on their second date.
Carla had enjoyed her stroll on the beach. The weekday early afternoon had meant it was quiet.
As she arrived back at the cottage, making sure she was no earlier than 3pm, there was a little red bow attached to the door handle. She smiled at the little gesture Lisa had obviously left, and a nervous feeling in the pit of her stomach overwhelmed her slightly as she wondered what lay at the other side of the door.
She unlocked the door and stepped inside. Carla was blown away at what presented her. Lisa had put up all the pictures that she’d previously framed around the cottage, then created a “memory wall” with all Carla’s photos of family and friends - which really only consisted of Roy, Ryan, and her best friend Michelle. There was a few others too of a younger looking man and woman and an older looking man and woman which Lisa had parked the thought to ask Carla about them later on.
Over on the dining room table was the most beautiful bouquet of flowers, already in the vase and of course a little red envelope poking out of it. Carla chuckled to herself. Opening this one, it read:
If you’ve got this far, then I must be doing something right. I hope you like what I’ve done, and can now call it more home.
Roy & Ryan helped me with this one too - insistent that they kept all this a secret.
Not long left to wait now, I’ll pick you up at 7pm. Wear something warm.
I can’t wait to see you.
Lisa ❤️
PS - I’m not accepting any payment for anything. You’ve played along with me today and if I’m lucky enough, will still come on a date with me tonight. That’s more than enough for me.
Carla felt emotional with the last card. In fact, the whole day so far had been emotional, she was beginning to realise how much everything meant to her but decided she needed to compose herself and get ready. She was overwhelmed by all Lisa’s gestures, the time she was giving her, all the efforts. No one had ever been this generous, kind and loving to Carla before. 7pm really couldn’t come soon enough.
There was a light knock on the door. Carla had managed to settle her nerves from earlier but then they all came flooding back. Her heart was racing and her legs seemed to turn to jelly. Pull yourself together. Carla said to herself, taking a deep breath before she moved to the door to open it.
“Your chariot awaits, Miss Connor.” Lisa was stood in front of a beautiful grey horse and carriage. She was well wrapped up, in her winter coat, slim jeans and brown boots but Carla still thought she looked gorgeous. Carla opted for a similar look, with a long black winter coat, black jeans and black boots.
You could see the colour of Lisa’s eyes glowing, under the fairy lights that were wrapped around the carriage. Lisa held out her hand, for Carla to take as the coachman was waiting with the carriage door open for the two ladies to enter.
Carla was blown away yet again. She had no idea what the detective had planned, but never once would she have even anticipated anything like this.
“This here” Carla gestured with her hand “is for us?” She asked, trying to conceal the excitement in her voice, but judging by the look on Lisa’s face, she hadn’t disguised it too well.
“Yes, Carla Connor. This is for us. Now, are you joining me?” Lisa asked her softly, still holding her hand out for Carla to take.
Carla placed her hand in Lisa’s, and Lisa gestured Carla to enter the carriage first, the coachmen ensuring both ladies got up into the carriage safely and then he gently closed the door behind them.
“Where are we going?” Carla asked Lisa with a beaming smile.
“Now, that would be telling.” Lisa replied, biting her bottom lip. As she looked Carla up and down, she softly said “you look breathtaking, Carla Connor.”
Carla blushed at the words that passed Lisa’s lips and Carla gestured “you don’t scrub up so bad yourself, for a copper” Carla winked, and they both laughed.
“We have about 45 minutes together in here, and then we arrive at our destination. So…” Lisa took a breath as she wrapped her arm around the back of Carla’s waist, and she felt the other woman lean into her “I believe it’s your turn to keep asking.” Lisa intent on making sure the two of them kept their little game going.
“I understand you were married but, do you have a “the one that got away?” Carla asked Lisa, as she rested her head on her shoulder. She could feel the gentle touch of Lisa’s hand and arm around her waist. With Carla’s left hand, she reached over for Lisa’s free hand and intertwined their fingers.
“No…Becky was the love of my life. I thought we’d be together forever. I couldn’t imagine my life with anyone else. I suppose it’s the good ones that always get taken first” Carla hummed in agreement and with that, Lisa sensed a shift in Carla’s movement.
“You know you can tell me anything, right?” Lisa suggested. “If at any point you ask me a question that you also want to answer, or my answer prompts you with feelings that you want to share, please don’t hold them back Carla, because you’re scared of it being my time to share. I really, really mean it when I say I want to know you, I want to know all of you.” Lisa was soft and sincere as she spoke, releasing her fingers from Carla’s hand, and using them to lift Carla’s chin off her shoulder, to look her in the eyes and make sure Carla knew she meant every word.
Carla looked down, reaching back for Lisa’s hand, using it as comfort for what she was about to share. “He was called Liam.” Carla spoke softly and quietly. “It’s all very complicated. I was in love with him but with someone else at the time and he chose to marry someone else. I know he loved me too though. He was killed in a hit and run. I later found out that the man I married had organised the hit and run that killed Liam.” Carla exhaled a huge breath she didn’t realise she was holding in.
Carla could feel Lisa shaking next to her. “Becky was killed in a hit and run.” Lisa whispered. Carla lifted her head from Lisa’s shoulder in order to bring her in for a cuddle, and she placed a gentle kiss on top of the other woman’s head, wrapping her up in her arms tightly. “I’m sorry” Carla whispered in Lisa’s ear.
After their cuddle, they readjusted back to their previous positions. “I hope you don’t think differently of me” Carla offered.
“How do you mean?” Lisa asked, confusion filling her voice.
“That I had an affair…that I’ve had affairs” emphasising the last word, to make it clear to Lisa there hadn’t been just one.
“I’m passing no judgement on your past Carla, we all have one. If you passed judgement on my past, as a bad wife, then I don’t even think you’d want to pursue me either.” Lisa suggested.
“There’s nothing you, Lisa Swain, could tell me about yourself that would make me like you any less.” Carla assured her.
“Did you just admit you like me Carla Connor?” Lisa quirked her eyebrow.
“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t.” Carla looked deep into Lisa’s eyes, but their gaze was cut short when the carriage came to a stop. The coachman stood down and opened the carriage door for the two ladies.
Lisa stepped out first, and turned to hold her hand out for Carla to help her step down to join her.
When Carla reached the floor, she realised her feet were on sand and when she looked up, she saw a pathway mapped out in pebbles that led down to an area filled with fairy lights and candles. She glanced over her shoulder just to the right and she could see the sun setting just over the ocean.
“Lisa, this is beautiful.” Carla said, in awe of what the other woman had done for her.
“I’d be lying if I said I’ve done it all on my own though” Lisa said shyly as two male figures started to walk towards them from the area that was lit up with candles and fairy lights.
Carla looked puzzled as the two men appeared within eyesight. “Roy? Ryan? Wha-?” Carla was utterly bewildered. “I thought you two were at some train exhibition.” Carla shot a playful look at them both.
Lisa blushed as Carla caught them all out. Carla thought it was sweet though how she’d recruited Roy & Ryan’s help.
“I arranged the horse and carriage myself, but I needed help to set up everything down here. I’ve got a little private picnic for us at the end, but I asked these two if they’d help me set everything up on the beach, and look after it all for us while we had a little time together in the carriage. I didn’t want anything getting stolen or vandalised so…” Lisa felt the heat rising in her cheeks even more.
Carla was in shock, but she felt even more blessed than she did this morning, that neither man had still not questioned the two women about how they may or may not feel about each other. Carla just felt so much joy to have such loving and accepting people in her life.
“Come on Roy, let’s leave them to it” Ryan gestured, smiling, throwing Lisa a cheeky wink and doing that silly dancing thing with his eyebrows at Carla again.
“Right you are” Roy replied.
Carla gave them both a hug and a kiss before they headed off home.
Lisa offered her hand to Carla, and Carla intertwined their fingers as they walked up the pebbled path that had been laid out for them both to walk up. A cute little picnic blanket and basket laid waiting at the end for them both.
“Lisa this is incredible. I hope you know that there’s no way I can beat this for our second date” Carla jested.
“You mean to say, I get a second date already?” Lisa threw her a playful look.
“Lisa, as if I would deny you a second date after all of this” Carla gestured with her hands.
“It’s not a competition Carla” Lisa replied, softly as they reached the picnic blanket, Lisa sat first and tapped the space next to her for Carla to join her.
Lisa opened the basket, laid their food out and then popped the cork on the bottle of red wine, pouring two glasses full and handing one to Carla.
“Cheers” Lisa clinked Carla’s glass and Carla said cheers in return.
Both women spent the next 30 minutes or so enjoying the food and the wine, before Lisa pulled out an extra blanket from the basket and moved a couple of cushions next to each other.
“What else have you got in that basket of tricks of yours?” Carla asked playfully.
“Wouldn’t you like to know” Lisa quirked her eyebrow. A little groan passed Carla’s lips, a little louder than she’d hoped. She felt weak at the knees when Lisa looked at her like that and she was mostly glad she was already sitting down.
Lisa began to lay down, throwing the blanket over her and with her head on one cushion, tapped the place next to her for Carla to join her. Carla tucked herself under the blanket with Lisa, but instead of resting her head on the next cushion, she laid her head on Lisa’s chest and wrapped her arm around Lisa’s waist.
“Is this okay?” Carla asked.
Lisa pulled Carla in closer and whispered “it’s more than okay” into Carla’s ear.
“The photos you have that I put up for you today, can I ask who the others are? That aren’t Roy & Ryan obviously” Lisa laughed nervously.
Carla smiled sadly and Lisa sensed a shift in her movement again, but she gave her time to answer. “Can we park that one? I will tell you, but it’s a difficult one. A really difficult one.”
“Yeah of course we can. How about we just lay here for a little while?” Lisa suggested gently. She wasn’t expecting an answer from Carla, the fact that she cuddled into her more, said it all.
They laid in companionable silence for a while, as they let their dinner settle. The bottle of wine started to take effect and Carla was feeling a little cheeky.
“Have you ever been skinny dipping?” Carla sat up as she asked Lisa who was still laid next to her.
Lisa crocked her eyebrow “what are you suggesting Carla Connor?”
“Answer the question, detective.” Carla’s voice was laced with intent, trying to play with Lisa’s policing side, wondering if the detective would play along with such a thing.
Lisa knew she would never have entertained anything like this ever, but she revelled in the side that Carla brought out of her. At times, she felt like a whole new woman. She felt like she was learning about herself all over again, in so many different ways. She felt happier and lighter and it was all down to the woman sitting next to her.
Admittedly, the wine also helped what she was about to do next. “Close your eyes and count to 30…and I’ll answer your question” Lisa’s eyes darkened and Carla obliged.
As Carla closed her eyes and started counting, Lisa started undressing very quickly, suddenly conscious that if she took too much time, Carla would see her half naked and she wasn’t sure she was ready for that - they hadn’t even shared their first kiss yet - of which Carla had tried but Lisa had stopped her insisting they had their first date first.
Undressed now, left just in her bra and boxers, Lisa pulled out two towels from the picnic basket then as she heard Carla almost reach 30, she ran as fast as she could dropping the towels just before reaching the sea and ran into the ocean, screaming.
Carla reached 30 and horrified by Lisa’s screaming quickly shot up but was stopped in her tracks, eyes wide in shock as she saw the blonde woman just heading into the ocean in what she was absolutely sure was her bra and boxers, but her eyes hadn’t quite adjusted from being closed tight as she counted at the other woman’s request.
“Lisa what are you doing? You’ll get arrested!” Carla shouted, laughing as she ran towards the other woman.
“There’s no one around here to arrest me, and I’m not going to arrest myself. Now, are you just going to stand there and stare or are you going to join me?” She said, treading water. Her hair began to curl as it rested in the water, and Carla was taken aback even more by her beauty.
“The question was have you ever been skinny dipping, not do you want to go skinny dipping!” Carla barked back, still in shock.
“Well, if you must know, no I’ve never been skinny dipping, but now I can say I have” Lisa gloated in her response and tried Carla again, a different approach this time. “It’s freezing in here, I really would like you to join me” Lisa seductively asked this time.
Carla didn’t think she’d ever been so turned on in her life. “Turn around” Carla asked.
Lisa obliged, kindly. Knowing that Carla hadn’t stared her down as she’d undressed and also knowing that Carla couldn’t see anything beneath her neck, while she was treading water in the sea, felt it only fair. Especially when she didn’t want to make the other woman feel uncomfortable.
Carla undressed, down to her own bra and knickers and placed her clothes next to the towels that Lisa had left for them, rolling her eyes playfully at the fact the other woman had even brought towels in the first place.
Carla slowly entered the body of water, coming up behind Lisa, gently placing her hands on her hips.
Lisa turned around, understanding that was her cue to, now that Carla was fully submerged in the water with her.
“Hi” Lisa spoke softly, as her eyes met Carla’s.
“I can’t believe you made me do this.” Carla said as she shot her a playful look.
“I’ve really enjoyed tonight. Since I met you Carla, I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun” Lisa smiled in to the other woman’s eyes.
“You are quite something, Lisa Swain” Carla replied, her voice soft and tender. Carla knew feelings when she felt them and she knew what she felt for this incredible woman went far beyond friendship.
Carla had never been with another woman before, but she wasn’t phased by it, she was confident in herself as a woman and confident in her sexuality. Yes, she felt incredibly nervous, but she put this down to the fact that she’d never felt so deeply for someone else before, not the fact that Lisa was a woman.
They both got caught up in each other’s eyes, noses almost touching but as their hands met under the water, and their fingers intertwined, they could both hear the clip-clop of the horse drawn carriage nearing.
Lisa buried her head in Carla’s neck and groaned at the fact that was their ride home. “I will get to kiss you before the end of the night, Carla Connor.”
“Only if you play your cards right, after brushing me off yesterday” Carla quipped back as she flicked water at Lisa.
“Hey!” Lisa jested as she flicked water back at Carla. “You have no idea how much I wanted that kiss” Lisa’s breath hitched and Carla looked back at her, adoringly.
Carla being the more confident one, started to stride out the water, well and truly aware that Lisa’s eyes were burning into her as she watched her leave the water. Lisa was left stunned at how beautiful the other woman looked in her matching red set. Carla wrapped herself in a towel, before she spun and turned to Lisa whose cheeks shot up the same colour as Carla’s underwear and she quickly looked away.
Carla smirked as she caught Lisa’s colour in her cheeks. She held up the towel for Lisa, who was still neck deep in the water. “Come here, I won’t look I promise” Carla said gently, as she closed her eyes but still holding up the towel for the other woman.
Lisa nervously swam up and walked out the water. Taking the towel from Carla, drying herself off and then wrapping herself in it.
“You can open your eyes now” Lisa said softly.
As they both re-dressed, giving each other as much privacy as they could, Lisa took Carla’s hand and led her back to their carriage.
“I really don’t want tonight to end” Carla spoke softly. Lisa smiled at her. Carla saw the way Lisa looked at her, she had a sparkle in her eyes that she hoped she’d been the cause of.
Deep down, Carla was scared. She had feelings for Lisa and even though she thought she’d read all the signs correctly, she didn’t know for sure how Lisa felt about her - which was the doubt talking.
As they approached the carriage, Carla pulled on Lisa’s hand to stop her for a moment. “Would you mind if we walked home?” Carla suggested lightly, not wanting to hurt Lisa’s feelings in all the effort she’d gone to. “Just, walking means it’ll take longer and I’d just like a little bit more privacy with you.”
Lisa couldn’t help but smile at Carla’s attempt to drag the night out just a little bit longer. “Give me one minute.” Lisa said gently as she approached the coachman, gave him what looked like a little tip, and off he rode.
“Thank you” Carla took Lisa’s hand again.
A smile tugged on both their lips as they walked back, hand in hand to Carla’s cottage.
They spent most of the walk home in a comfortable silence, although Lisa could tell that something was playing on Carla’s mind. “So, are you going to tell me what’s going on?” Lisa asked gently, turning to Carla as they approached Carla’s front door.
Carla looked down, then back up again and into Lisa’s eyes. “I like you, Lisa Swain. I like you…a lot and it absolutely terrifies me-“ Lisa cut her off as she grabbed Carla’s other hand, stood slightly on her tip toes, gently nudged her nose with Carla’s playfully, until a slight smile was tugging on Carla’s lips, then she closed her eyes and kissed her softly on the lips.
“Still terrified?” Lisa asked, searching Carla’s eyes.
“Mmm…a little less” Carla said as she scrunched her nose slightly.
Lisa raised her eyebrow and leaned in again, desperate to be able to breathe in the other woman’s scent once again.
Carla really, felt like her whole world made sense in this very moment. Lisa’s lips were warm and soft, and Carla’s heart raced so fast, she felt like it was going to explode. She closed her eyes as she saw Lisa leaning in again.
This time, Lisa gently released their intertwining fingers and placed her hands delicately on Carla’s cheeks, softly brushing them with her thumbs, she closed her eyes again and she pressed her lips a little harder to Carla’s this time, the hunger inside her deepening. She felt Carla’s hands slide round her back, pulling her in closer. Lisa tickled Carla’s bottom lip with her tongue, and Carla parted her lips slightly, inviting Lisa in. Their kiss deepened, border lining passionate but remained soft and gentle.
As Lisa pulled away slightly, Carla wobbled, completely weak at the knees now.
“Steady” Lisa whispered as she giggled at Carla’s reaction to their kiss, gently kissing the end of her nose.
Carla’s cheeks flushed but she didn’t hide it from Lisa at all this time. “The perfect end to a perfect date.” Carla offered. “Although if you’re going to keep kissing me like that, I’m going to need to sit down each time.”
“Oh trust me, there’s way more to come.” Lisa winked at her. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Carla Connor.”
Carla leaned against her front door as she watched the other woman head home. She really didn’t how she could have got so lucky.