WIDOWED MOTHER FINDS LOVE CH. 4 pt. 2

WIDOWED MOTHER FINDS LOVE CH. 4 pt. 2

When they were in the car, Michelle unloaded. "And what in the hell was that all about? Did you ever think I might have a reason for not kissing you in public?" Michelle shouted at the unconcerned Linda,
who fired back with.

"If it's for any other reason then you're ashamed of me."

"I didn't say that!"

"Well. Then why wouldn't you want to kiss me? It's the first thing I want to do when I see you!"

"Damn it, Linda, I was trying to protect you from becoming the office freak show. I've been there" Michelle tried to reason with Linda.

"Michelle Elisabeth. I'm a big girl, and I'm more than capable of dealing with the small, minded people of the world as long as I have you, we can face anything together." Linda humbled her lover.

"Who, told you my middle name? Daddy? I will kill him. Sugar, I have lived this lifestyle a lot longer than you I know how people can react."

"Is that all I am to you a lifestyle? I thought we were lovers and soon-to-be partners I guess I should have warned you, there is no middle ground for me. That day on the beach when you said you wanted sex with that bubble-headed blond, I was so jealous I could not see straight. That is when I knew I loved you. That's why I risked everything to see if you loved me too." Linda knew this argument had been building for days.

"Linda Marie, I do love you I cannot help it! But public displays like that can ruin your professional life I have seen it before. I'm trying to protect you, you silly Bitch!" Michelle did not know how to stop the fight; both of their emotions were too close to the surface. So, taking a risk of her own, she allowed herself to let them loose.

"I don't want half of you I want no, I need all of you. Don't you get it?"

Linda argued back.

"What if they fire you? What then?" Michelle tried to reason with her bullheaded, mate.

"So, what if they do? It is not like I need that job I can retire anytime I want. Sweetie, I am not poor. Besides, I am the best at what I do I can always take my listings to somewhere else." Linda said, finally starting the car.

They traveled in silence for a few minutes and then Linda put it all on the line. "Babe I love you, and only you. I am not going to hide that from anyone. You need to decide if you can deal with that. I love you enough to give you the space to figure it out. But the bottom line is, I am an all-or-nothing kind of girl. I am ready to make a commitment to you for the rest of my life. You need to know if you want the same things. I will not be your girl Friday. For me it has to be all or nothing!"

"Damn when I see my father, he's a dead man I do not know what I am going to do with you. I knew from that first day that if you cared for me that I could love you forever I guess it's time to put up or shut up. “Michelle looked out the window "Can you drop me off at my shop Sugar? I've got some thinking to do." Michelle knew she had lost.

She just needed to find a way to admit it to Linda gracefully.

"If that's what you want? Remember, I do love you I'll be waiting for you at home you'll know where to find me." Linda said holding back tears. She pulled in front of the dress shop and pulled over. She kissed Michelle softly. "I'll talk to you later." She let her get out and drove away to her appointment.

The pain in Linda's eyes tore Michelle's heart in two. Dashing tears out of her own eyes, as she stalked into the shop and went into the back. Seeing Sheryl, she told the girl to watch the front.

Sheryl, seeing her boss's tears, instantly asked. "What happened? Is Linda, okay? Who's hurt?"

"What am I going to do with her?" Michelle screamed out her frustration "I try and protect her, and she throws a fit. Doesn't she know what can happen if they label her gay or lesbian?"

"Wow, what happened?" Sheryl had never seen her boss out of control before.

"I went to get her for lunch. What does she do? She blasts all my attempts to protect her out of the water. Doesn't she know some people will never understand?"

"Oh, wow, Um, Michelle, I don't think she cares I mean I know what I saw that first day. She was a woman who knew what she wanted and was willing to do whatever it took to get it."

"Even if it's in public and people will talk about her behind her back?" Michelle asked the sky.

"Well Duh! She did not know or care that you could close the blinds.

She would not have stopped unless you said you did not love her. I heard that much. I do not think she knows how. That's my take on her." Sheryl wondered what it was about love that made people so stupid. "You just have to figure out if you can stand that much love. I know there are a lot of people who'd kill to have someone love them that deeply."

Across town, Linda was facing her boss. He called her into the office as soon as she walked in. Linda knew she was going to have to face the music, but she knew she was in control.

"Yes, Bill?" She asked politely, as she sat down.

"Linda, you've been a good employee for years. Why would you put your job at risk by that inappropriate display of affection?"

"What display? Do you mean kissing my girlfriend hello when she picked me up for lunch? I didn't know there was a policy against that."

Linda asked confused.

"You know what I mean. We are a public business. That kind of behavior will not be tolerated." Bill said sternly.

"Excuse me?" Linda got up and went to the file cabinet. She pulled out a piece of paper and stormed back into Bill's office leaving the door open. Slapping the document down in front of her boss, she stated.

"According to this document, that everyone must sign, this business is an equal opportunity employer. That means you cannot discriminate against anyone for their race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation." She waited until Bill closed the door before going on.

"Go ahead and fire me I am sure I can take my listings somewhere else. I know Happy Homes, or any of them that have tried to get me to switch, would love to hire me. I have three of my listings in escrow.

You would still have to pay me, and all my listings leave with me. Then I will tell your wife about you and Denise. You know the slut you have been fucking for the last year, who could not sell a house to save her life. Don't threaten me, Bill!"

Bill was shocked. He never expected Linda to show so much determination. She had been a quiet, productive worker since he hired her. He knew over half of his income came from her listings.

And she was not done.

"I'm going home. Take a few days to figure out if you really want to fire me, I have a girlfriend. Get over it! I found someone who makes me happy. She is much better for me than you trying to pimp me out to that sleaze-ball Peter. If he looks cross-eyed in my direction again, I will file a sexual harassment complaint. Talk it over with the lawyers and we can meet again. Hopefully, you will have regained your composure by then. If Michelle and I are together, I will kiss her hello just like any of the married people in this office. We are doing nothing wrong, and I won't be intimidated!" She did not wait for an answer as she grabbed her stuff and headed home.

By the time she got home, she could barely see. She went straight to her room and slammed the door. She did not want to deal with anyone else. Kim came in as the door slammed. She wondered what happened as she listened.

"Mom? Are you crying?"

Michelle knew she had, some crow to eat. She wanted to go straight to Linda, but life got in the way. First, she forgot her car was still at Linda's work. Then a rush dress order came in, that she had to finish.

Over the next three days, Michelle only got a few hours of sleep. She tried to call, but no one answered. She did not want to leave a message this was too important.

To be continued