Sweet Carolina Girls Part 17

Harper was feeling high on life, when she stepped into the elevator at work, Wednesday morning. She didn't see Shelby at first, not until she saw the reflection of the tall dark woman. Shelby's eyes stared back from the stainless steel door, in front of Harper. The elevator car was quieter than usual, as many of the people in the car were acutely aware of the animosity between the two women. Harper just wanted the car to get to her floor, as quickly as possible.

The doors opened several floors below Harper's and she considered getting off right there and using the stairs, but the traffic out of the elevator pushed her back until there was no one left, but Shelby and a younger looking student. Harper hoped Shelby would maintain some civility. It didn't dawn on Harper that Shelby should have gotten off when the doors opened. When Harper glanced at Shelby, she realized how terrible she looked. Maybe Shelby was sick. She hadn't been at the game yesterday, so she might have come down with something.

It wasn't long before Harper realized it was a hangover that Shelby was struggling with. Shelby took one long step toward Harper and from her breath; Harper knew Shelby had been drinking.

Harper tried to head her off, "Shelby, you really don't want to do this here."

"Why not, everybody f.u.c.king knows. I'm the laughing stock of the department. Poor Shelby, she lost Lauren to a grad student."

"You didn't lose her to me. You lost her all by yourself." Harper looked apologetically at the young student, who was backing away to the other side of the car.

When the doors opened the student shot out of there like a bullet. Harper followed, with Shelby hot on her heels. "Stop right there Miss Lynch, I'm not done with you."

Harper stopped just outside of her lab. The people in the lab became aware of the excitement in the hall and started watching. Harper was beyond embarra.s.sed, which was quickly turning to anger.

Harper turned to Shelby, "Dr. West, I have nothing further to say to you. If you care to discuss this matter we will do so, but not here and not now."

Shelby came closer and lowered her voice, "Little girl, you have no idea what you're playing at."

Harper stiffened at the "little girl" comment, but let Shelby continue. If she wanted to ruin her career by making an a.s.s out of herself at work, then Harper was going to let her.

"Lauren and I did not have an affair, we had a marriage. When she's done with you, she'll be back."

Harper reached for the door handle, "You keep telling yourself that, if it helps you sleep at night."

Shelby grabbed Harper and spun her around. "You little b.i.t.c.h," she shouted.

At just that moment, the young student from the elevator reappeared with a security guard. He approached Shelby, "Dr. West, can I help you?"

Shelby released Harper's arm. She turned to the security guard all smiles, "No, everything is fine, John, just a misunderstanding."

Shelby glared at Harper one more time before she exited down the hall. Harper entered the lab where she was immediately surrounded by her lab mates. She told them it was nothing and tried to go on with her work, but couldn't get the image of the drunken, haggard Shelby out of her mind. Harper didn't text or call Lauren, and didn't mention the incident to her, until she was safely at home that evening.

Lauren was astounded that Shelby was drinking so much. Shelby had been adamant about not becoming an alcoholic or even a heavy drinker, considering she grew up in an alcoholic home. Lauren a.s.sured Harper again that she was done with Shelby, but she didn't like seeing her bottom out like this.

"Who knows," she said, playing with her salad, "she might snap out of it soon. I hope so. I don't want to see her ruin her career."

Harper swallowed a forkful of salad before adding, "I don't want to see her ruin mine."

Lauren comforted Harper, "If she tries anything now, it will be obvious to everyone what her ulterior motives are, besides, you are the star of the department right now. They don't want to lose your research project."

"You'd think she would consider that, since her job is to get grants for the department," Harper said as she rose to put their plates in the sink.

Lauren came up behind Harper at the sink and placed her arms around Harper's waist. "She's just mad right now, she'll get over it. She'll have to, because you have captured my heart and soul."

Harper turned around to face Lauren. Lauren leaned her body on Harper's. That was really all it took. The dishes would have to wait. Harper forgot all about Shelby. They were half-naked before they made it to the stairs.

Lauren ran in front of Harper, as she called out, "Come on. I have a twenty three year old grad student I want to lose my mind with."

Harper took the steps two at a time, "I've already lost mine."

They ended up having to put the dishes in the dishwasher the next morning. Harper arrived at work taking the stairs to the lab. She wanted no more confrontations with Shelby and she was going to work hard to keep it from happening. She had no reason to interact with Shelby except for the softball team and Harper planned on limiting her exposure to Shelby's rage.

Today was the day Lauren had scheduled to remove her property, from the home she had shared with Shelby. She was going to pack in the morning and meet the movers around noon. There wasn't much to pack, because Lauren said she didn't want most of what was there anyway. Just some clothes and some antique furniture that had been in her family for years. Shelby could have the rest. Hopefully she would be out of the house before Shelby came home. Lauren had seemed anxious to get this part over with when she kissed Harper goodbye in the driveway. Harper felt uneasy too.

Harper grabbed Lauren's hand, stopping her just as she turned away, "Lauren, I know we haven't been together very long, but you know I'm really in love with you, don't you?"

Lauren pulled her hand away and gently touched Harper's cheek, looking up at her, peering into Harper's eyes, "Don't be scared, baby. I'm not going to break your heart, I promise."

Harper relaxed a little and kissed her goodbye again. The uneasiness remained just below the surface all day. She kept in touch with Lauren through texts. The movers arrived on time and she was able to be out of the house by four o'clock. There had been no sign of Shelby, for that Harper thanked the Lord. Lauren said she would probably be able to make it to the game at seven, on time.

Harper went home, fed Jasper and played ball with him in the back yard for a half an hour and then dressed for the game. She arrived at the park very aware that she now had to face a Shelby, who had come home from work to find Lauren removed from her life. When Lauren arrived before Shelby, with a smile on her face and a lightness to her step, a feeling of relief washed over Harper. It had to be hard to separate from the past six years of your life. There was no sign that the day had dampened Lauren's feelings for Harper at all.

She skipped up and planted a kiss on Harper's cheek, "How ya' doin' gorgeous?"

"Better, now that you're here," Harper smiled.

Shelby made her entrance during the second inning, while the team was playing defense on the field. Harper noticed her talking to Jane, while she waited for another batter. She turned to see that Lauren had seen her too. In fact, the entire team was more interested in the animated conversation, between the two women in the dugout, than the batter at the plate. They gave up two runs, before getting the last batter out, and headed in from the field. Harper hung back and waited for Lauren to come in from left field. If there was to be a conflict, they would face Shelby together this time.

Abby was speaking to Shelby when Lauren and Harper entered the dugout. Harper heard Abby say, "Shelby, you need to get your s.h.i.+t together."

Shelby looked past Abby, at Lauren, slurring out, "Well, it's my ex and her new flavor of the month."

Harper ignored her, walked to the end of the dugout, got her bat and went to the on-deck circle. Lauren sat down by Dee and Chita, as if Shelby wasn't there.

Abby said to Shelby, "You're making a fool of yourself."

Julie even added, "Shelby, have some f.u.c.king self-respect."

Shelby, undeterred, focused on Lauren, "Did you enjoy dismantling the last six years of our lives today?"

Lauren did not stand up. She leaned forward to see around Dee and Chita and then smiling at Shelby said, "Yes, I did as a matter of fact." Lauren had clearly had enough of the Shelby show and so had Jane, evidently.

Jane walked over to the dugout, from the third base coaching box. She squared up with Shelby and said, "Shelby, if you can't leave your personal s.h.i.+t off the field, then I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

Shelby shot back, "I've been on this team for six years, make her leave," pointing at Harper.

Abby stepped in, "Shelby, you're drunk. Let me get Sandy to take you home."

Shelby said nothing else. She stormed out of the dugout and left the field. With the drama over for now, they got back to playing softball. Harper took her frustrations out on the first pitch she saw, after Shelby left. She nearly took the pitcher's head off with a line drive up the middle. The game went back and forth for a few innings until Harper's team eventually won by five runs. They were undefeated, even with all the drama going on.

Lauren and Harper went straight home, after the game. Once safely inside they relaxed and tried to forget about Shelby's antics. Later, when they had just gotten in bed, Lauren told Harper she wanted to set up the studio during the upcoming weekend. Harper agreed to help her, but she wanted to take Lauren to the Alvin Ailey dancer's performance on Sunday afternoon.

"Oh, I love them. They're so beautiful and graceful," Lauren said.

Harper added, "And don't forget s.e.xy."

"Lauren, do you want me to come over, after work tomorrow? We can stay at the studio tomorrow night. Just take Jasper with you when you leave in the morning." Lauren already had food and bowls for Jasper, at the studio.

Lauren thought that was a great idea, "That will give us plenty of time to work on the studio, and then go help Alicia with the painting at the shelter, in the afternoon. We can come back here Sat.u.r.day night and go to the ballet on Sunday. Do you want to go to Abby's Sat.u.r.day night? We don't have to, but I haven't been in awhile. Alicia told me Shelby hasn't been going either."

"I'll do whatever you want to do," Harper said, but she was distracted by Lauren's naked body next to her.

Lauren chuckled at Harper, as Harper started to kiss her neck, "And what is it you want to do right now?"

Harper said nothing. She just dove under the covers.

Chapter Twenty.

By morning, Harper had decided to take a personal day. She called in, after breakfast, leaving instructions for her a.s.sistants. This totally amazed Lauren. She told Harper, Shelby would never have taken a personal day to help her in the studio. Harper needed a break. With all the c.r.a.p going down in her personal life, her first three weeks of work had been truly stressful. She looked forward to some manual labor.

And that's what it was. She and Lauren hung paintings to create more walls and moved Lauren's furniture into place. By Friday evening, they were exhausted and fell into bed after showering together and slept the sleep of babies, until Jasper woke them in the morning to be taken for a walk outside. Harper took Jasper out, while Lauren made them breakfast. There were a few more things to do before they left for the Women's shelter. They finished up just before lunchtime.

After loading Jasper into the Hummer, Harper pulled out of the warehouse with Lauren following behind her in the Tahoe. Lauren went to Sally's Drugstore on Benjamin St. to grab burgers for lunch. She would meet Harper at the shelter. Sally's burgers were legendary, but Harper had yet to have one. Lauren met Harper at the shelter. She brought cheeseburgers, with tomato and lettuce, and the burgers were simply, intensely satisfying.

They ate the burgers, sitting on the tailgate of the Hummer, with Jasper close at hand begging for a nibble. Alicia was there and waved to them. She had white house paint smeared across her face making her look like she was painted up for a ceremony. It appeared she had forgotten she had paint on her hands and wiped something off each cheek, applying the paint to her skin. Harper and Lauren pointed at her and laughed.

Soon Abby, Julie, Ellen, Becky, Jordan, Shy Lynn and even Dee and Chita were painting the shelter alongside Harper and Lauren. The husbands were left at home, because some of the women in the shelter might feel uncomfortable around men. B.J. was just too pregnant to come.

The women painted the entire outside and some of the rooms on the inside of the shelter. They played music and shook their b.u.t.ts to the rhythm, as they painted the afternoon away. By six o'clock, there was a small band of women, with matching white paint smeared on their smiling faces. Everyone agreed to meet at Abby's at eight. Laughing and waving at each other, they exited the shelter driveway.

At home, Harper and Lauren washed the paint off each other and dressed casually to go to Abby's later. Lauren fixed salads and sandwiches for them while Harper threw the baseball with Jasper. After they finished eating, J.R. called to check in and find out when they were ready to see another game. He even asked Harper to bring her grandmother to a game. He met her when Harper first started dating him and she was visiting Oklahoma. Checking her email box, Harper found a note from Jackie reading, "Glad you got the girl. She must be extra special because Harper Lynch doesn't do drama. She must be hot. Congratulations! Send pictures."

"Jackie says you must be hot. She wants pictures," she told Lauren.

Lauren leaned over Harper's shoulder and read the email. "So, you don't do drama? What does she mean?"

"I'm known for my non-confrontational personality. I usually walk away when things get too dramatic," Harper said, pulling Lauren down onto her lap, so she could look her in the face.

"I'm surprised you've lasted this long then, things have been rather dramatic around here," questioning Harper with her brow, her mouth pulled to one side in a forced smile.

"I said I usually walk away; like Jackie said, you must be extra special." Harper swept the bangs from Lauren's forehead and kissed her there.

Lauren laid her head on Harper's shoulder and let Harper just hold her. They remained there for a few minutes when Lauren said, "I'm sorry I didn't meet you sooner. I feel like I wasted so much time when I could have loved you."

Harper kissed the top of Lauren's head, "We'll make up the time. It already feels like I've loved you forever."

Lauren sat up. With pleading eyes, she said, "Please don't let Shelby's c.r.a.p scare you away. Sooner or later she'll get that I'm not available to her anymore."

Harper grinned, "Like Bette said, on The L Word, asome lesbians you have to break up with twice."

They arrived at Abby's around eight fifteen. Only the team and their significant others were present tonight. It was quieter and much more laid back this evening. James Taylor sang from the CD player, "Going to Carolina in my mind..." The song had new meaning to Harper now, since she was in Carolina. She sat with Lauren, in a love seat pulled near the others, making a conversation pit for the women. The entire team was there except for Shelby, a fact that made Harper extremely happy.

Late into the evening, the conversation eventually turned to Shelby's recent behavior.

Chita said it best, "Man, that chick is out of her mind."

Abby defended Shelby, "She's hurt and she's angry. Don't pa.s.s judgment, until you think about how you would behave, in her position."

Dee quipped, "I'd probably be f.u.c.king someone else by now, but that's just me."

Harper had to stifle a giggle.

Jordan, who had been quietly listening, said, "I feel sorry for her, no offense Lauren, but I don't know what I would do if Riley left me."

"You'd survive," Julie interjected dryly.

"I know it must be hard on her to see you so happy Lauren," Ellen added.

Lauren sighed, "Look, we know it's hard on her to see us together, but we only see her at softball and that will be over soon."

"Yes, but what about us, as friends. Do we have to not see you in order to see Shelby?" Alicia asked.

Harper spoke up, "That's entirely up to Shelby. If and when she stops attacking us, every time she sees us, then we'll come around."

Lauren added on, "Yeah, and eventually this will seem like it never happened."

"Don't most lesbian couples break up and then become best friends?" B. J. asked.

"I don't see that happening in this case," Julie said, dryly.

Abby looked concerned, "I'm worried about her driving and drinking, so much."

Harper squirmed in her seat and set her jaw. She hated people who drank and drove. She hated them to the core of her being. That's why Max had driven them tonight and every other night she drank. It was the responsible thing to do. Lauren must have felt Harper's anxiety. She placed her hand on Harper's thigh and patted it.

B.J. said, without thinking of Harper's story, "She's going to kill herself or worse, somebody else."

Lauren squeezed Harper's thigh. It suddenly dawned on everybody how uncomfortable they were making Harper. They all looked at her in silence. Finally, Abby said, "I'm sorry, I didn't think."

Harper sat up a little on the loveseat, "It's alright, really."

Down the sidewalk they all heard, at the same time, Shelby coming, with Leah, the T.A. from Abby's department, on her arm. They were obviously drunk, weaving and giggling, as they made their way toward the door of the pool house. The team stared out the windows toward the couple, all except Lauren and Harper, who were looking at each other.

"Do you want to go?" Lauren asked Harper.

"Yeah, let them get in here and then we'll beg off, okay," Harper said, taking Lauren's hand. Harper took a deep breath, steeling herself, against the coming storm.

"Hey, girls," Shelby said, entering the room. "You remember Leah, don't you?"

Abby spoke to Shelby, "Come in. Have a seat. We're just chatting."