Sophie’s Game

Part Three

By Mavis Applewater

December 2002

Disclaimers: Yes I know who they look like and trust me, it isn’t them. The story and its characters are the sole possession of the author and may not be reproduced, posted or sold without the author’s permission. So there! If for any reason real or imagined you are uncomfortable with graphic descriptions of a loving sexual relationship between two consenting adults and a chia pet (just kidding about the chia pet) do not read this story or anything else I have ever written. If for any reason it is illegal for you to view such material, I will be eternally grateful if you do not read my work until it is no longer a crime for you to do so.

A very special thank you goes out my beta reader Brunnhilda.

As always this is for Heather.

Part One

Sophie watched as her team warmed up and prepared to take the field. She glanced up to the stands, which were filled with parents, students and faculty. The team was doing better than ever and everyone had come out to watch, as the girls grew closer to the playoffs. Still there was only one face Sophie wanted to see, and there she was. Cal’s twinkling green eyes were watching her every move. She smiled at her lover, knowing that even in this day and age they had to be careful when it came to their relationship.

"You must be proud?" a friendly voice said from behind her.

Sophie spun around quickly, fearful that she had been caught ogling her lover. She smiled when she found Helen Baker standing behind her. Mrs. Baker had been a legend at Calvin Coolidge High School. When Sophie was just starting out at the school, Mrs. Baker had already been teaching English there for what seemed like a hundred years. Mrs. Baker was well known and loved in the small town. She held a firm belief in balance in the student’s lives. At one time, she had been the coach of the softball team that Sophie was now leading. Of course in Mrs. Baker’s day there was a strong resistance to allowing girls to play any sport where they might get dirty. She formed the school’s first softball team and later, coached their first championship team.

Mrs. Baker was an innovative educator that ruffled and smoothed many feathers over the years. She was also a master when it came to fund raising. It was said that the graceful, elderly woman could get blood from a stone. "Mrs. Baker, good to see you," Sophie beamed. "Come to give me a few pointers?"

"Perhaps," the elderly woman teased with a slight glimmer in her emerald eyes.

"Could I persuade you to sit on the bench and help me out?" Sophie offered, knowing that Mrs. Baker was champing at the bit at a chance to sit on the bench again and get her hands dirty. Plus, Sophie wasn’t foolish or arrogant enough not to realize that Mrs. Baker could still run circles around her.

"I’d love it," Mrs. Baker enthusiastically agreed. "If I get in your way just throw me back up to the bleachers."

"Not a chance," Sophie scoffed at the idea as she handed the woman her well-worn red baseball cap. "There wouldn’t be a team if it hadn’t been for you. And I can use all the help I can get."

Mrs. Baker really came to life during the game and the team easily stomped their opponents. "Thank you," Sophie said to the elderly woman as Mrs. Baker handed her back her beloved baseball cap.

"For what?" Mrs. Baker asked.

"After that first inning I wasn’t feeling very confident," Sophie confessed. "You did a great job helping us pull it together. Ever think about coming out of retirement?"

"Once in awhile, since Frank passed away last year," Mrs. Baker admitted with a hearty laugh.

Sophie’s face brightened as she felt Cal approaching her. She could always sense whenever her lover was nearby. "Great game Miss Barbas," Cal congratulated her, careful to keep her distance.

"Thank you Miss Masters," Sophie accepted the compliment as she caught the mischievous glint in her lover’s eyes. Sophie knew by the look in the small blonde’s eyes that she would be celebrating the victory tonight once they were home. First, she had a team of teenage girls to take out for pizza.

As she studied her lover’s face, her brow crinkled as something disturbed her. There was something familiar about her lover’s eyes that were reminding her of something, or rather someone else. Suddenly she realized that Mrs. Baker was standing beside her. "I’m sorry Mrs. Baker, do you know Miss Masters?" Sophie stammered out quickly.

"I don’t believe we’ve met," Mrs. Baker said politely as she offered Cal her hand, "Helen Baker."

"Caroline Masters," Cal responded brightly and shook the elderly woman’s small hand.

"Cal . . . I mean Miss Masters, is the one who is teaching your old class." Sophie supplied as she studied the two women carefully. There was something about seeing the two women together that Sophie just couldn’t put her finger on.

"I’ve heard a lot about you Mrs. Baker, in fact we are thinking of mounting Our Town this year for the senior class production. From what I understand, you are the lady I should talk to if I need help," Cal explained in a polite, yet enthusiastic tone.

"What do you need help with?" Mrs. Baker asked, her eyes twinkling at the thought of being able to offer a helping hand.

"Everything," Cal gushed, jumping at the chance to have the legendary Mrs. Baker offering her help.

"I need to get the girls and the gear stowed away," Sophie explained, "Why don’t the two of you talk and then Mrs. Baker, would you like to join the team for pizza?"

"Try and stop me," Mrs. Baker agreed. "Will you be joining us Miss Masters?"

"No," Cal politely declined.

Sophie often wished that her lover could join her and her team for the pizza parties they had after the games. But it would just be far too difficult to explain the English teacher’s presence. Sophie gathered up some of the equipment with the help of her team and left the two women talking about the upcoming production.

Later that night, after she had showered and dressed in a pair of boxer shorts and a well worn Boston Red Sox baseball jersey, she made her way into the bedroom. Her lover was wrapped in a short robe as she sat on top of the bed covers, grading papers. Sophie always found the sight of Cal in her wire-rimmed glasses poring over her papers positively endearing. Sophie leaned against the door-frame and just watched the blonde.

"Are you going to stand there all night or are you coming to bed?" Cal inquired without looking up from her students’ work.

"Just admiring the view," Sophie confessed as her lover looked up and smiled at her.

Sophie crossed the room and climbed up onto the bed. "Thomas Mann? This must be for you honors class?" Sophie noted as she peered down at the essays that Cal was grading.

"Hmm," Cal confirmed. She turned to Sophie and peered at her over the top of her eyeglasses. "I can’t believe you wear that to bed every night."

"And I love that you wear . . ." Sophie teased as she lightly lifted the edge of Cal’s robe and peered down at her gorgeous body, "nothing to bed."

"Pervert," Cal teased with a smile.

"Are you complaining?" Sophie quipped as she crawled in under the covers.

"No," Cal responded with a purr. "But I need to finish grading these," she added in a firm tone, "so keep your grabby little hands to yourself, Coach."

"Spoil sport," Sophie huffed as she pouted.

Cal laughed and returned her attention to her students’ work. Sophie picked up the paperback she had been reading from the nightstand and put on her own pair of reading glasses. "So what did you think of Mrs. Baker?" she asked her lover as she tried to find where she had left off in the book she was reading.

"She is fantastic," Cal gushed. "Is it true that she started the Drama department?"

"Yes," Sophie confirmed. "Along with most of the girls sports teams, the tutoring program, after-school work program, and she fought to bring sex education into the school system. This town certainly owes her a lot. She still tries to keep involved with things, more so now that her husband has passed away. They traveled a great deal once they both retired. He was a lawyer. Nice man."

"No kids?" Cal asked in surprise.

"They have a daughter," Sophie explained. "At least that is what I’ve heard. From the rumors I’ve heard, she was a bit of a wild child and ran away at a young age. Came back a few years ago. It’s a shame when you think about it."

"Speaking of families, you mother called while you were out," Cal explained as she continued to grade her papers. "She wants us to go down there for dinner on Sunday."

"Sounds nice. Did you accept for us?" Sophie asked with a smile. She really loved the way she and Cal had easily become a family and her parents and siblings instantly accepted the small blonde. She knew it had been hard for Cal being surrounded by her large and boisterous family after spending her childhood being bounced from foster homes and the orphanage.

"Of course," Cal responded with a smile of her own.

Sophie caught a familiar shadow in her lover’s eyes. "What’s wrong?" she asked as she returned her paperback and eyeglasses to the nightstand.

"Nothing," Cal answered with an unconvincing shrug and began putting away her paperwork.

"Caroline," Sophie pushed.

"Just something that happened this afternoon when I was talking to Mrs. Baker," Cal confessed as she removed her eyeglasses and put them on her own nightstand with her papers.

"What?" Sophie gently inquired.

"She asked if I was related to the Masters from Oakridge Drive," Cal explained and Sophie felt her heart drop.

"What did you say?" Sophie inquired carefully knowing that Cal’s heritage, or lack- there-of, was a very sensitive subject.

"What could I say?" Cal grumbled. "I told her that I wasn’t. I didn’t want to get into it by explaining that I have no idea."

Sophie waited to see if her lover would continue. The subject, other than a brief explanation of the foster homes and orphanage, had always been off-limits. Early on in their relationship, Sophie learned not to push her lover for details. She had no idea whether or not Cal’s parents had died, or if she had been given up at birth. She really knew nothing about how her lover ended up in an orphanage. And why wasn’t she eligible for adoption?

Sophie sat there in silence and watched the wheels spinning in her lover’s head. She held her breath, hoping that Cal was going to finally open up. Her heart was breaking as she watched the small blonde wipe away an errant tear. Sophie quickly wrapped the smaller woman up in a tender embrace. "I’m here for you" she reassured her lover. She placed a gentle kiss on the top of her blonde head.

Cal released a heavy sigh before pulling slightly away and nestling her head against Sophie’s chest. "I know that I have to talk to you about this," Cal admitted in a soft sad voice. "It is just so damn hard." Sophie rubbed her lover’s back in a reassuring manner, letting her know that she didn’t have to say anything if she didn’t want to. Sophie’s heart was breaking as her lover looked up at her with a lost look in her eyes.

Cal slowly pulled herself out of Sophie’s embrace and moved slightly away from her. She looked so sad as she crossed her legs beneath her and prepared herself. "I never knew my father," she began in sad voice. "I was just about six, and my mother and I had been driving for days. That wasn’t unusual for us. We often lived in the car. I still remember it. A smelly blue Dodge Dart. We stopped at the Sears in Boston. You know, the one that closed a few years back," Cal continued, as her voice grew distant. Sophie fought against the urge to stop her from telling her story. Instead she simply nodded and allowed her lover to continue. "She told me to wait for her in the toy department. I was thrilled," Cal said with a sad laugh. "I was to pick out a toy and to take my time since I had to stay there until she came and got me. She never came back."

Sophie’s eyes widened in horror as her lover choked out the last part. "What?" she gasped.

"She abandoned me," Cal explained as the tears began to well up in her emerald eyes. "I just stayed in the toy department all day waiting for her. I even fell asleep a couple of times. It wasn’t until it got late that security noticed me. Finally, at closing time they called the police. I knew my name, my birthday and I could even read and write a little bit more than I should have been able to at my age. But of course when they asked my mother’s name all I knew was that she was Mommy. They couldn’t track her down since we didn’t have an address. I never saw or heard from her again."

Sophie was furious. Who just dumps their kid at Sears and takes off without looking back? "Bitch," Sophie finally hissed.

"No kidding," Cal agreed. "I mean, she could have taken me to social services and signed me over to the state. Instead, she tells me to go pick out a present and takes off. And back then there wasn’t any surveillance equipment and tracking someone down was a lot harder. Of course as an adult I’ve been able piece together that she was a drunk and was probably abusing other substances as well."

"Caroline," Sophie whispered, and wrapped the small blonde up in her arms. She swallowed her anger and focused on comforting her lover.

"I love you," she whispered into the small blonde’s ear as her lover clung to her. Sophie covered both of them with a blanket and for one of the few times in their relationship, she simply held the small blonde until they both fell asleep.

Part Two

"Where are you going?" Sophie mumbled from beneath the covers early one Sunday morning a few weeks later. She wrapped her long arms around Cal’s squirming body.

"Honey, I have to get up," Cal protested and leaned her naked body against Sophie’s.

"No," Sophie whispered in her ear, "it’s Sunday."

Sophie loved Sundays when they had nothing to do but lay in bed all day or simply sit around in their sweats and read the paper. Her fingers danced lightly across her lover’s firm abdomen. They both had been far too busy over the last few weeks with Sophie’s team making the playoffs and Cal preparing the senior class play. The tall brunette was craving some quality time with her lover. Cal had seem so vulnerable since she had told Sophie about how her mother had abandoned her thirty years earlier.

The only thing Sophie wanted to do on this bright and sunny Sunday morning was show her lover how much she loved her. She missed touching the small blonde during these times when their careers demanded too much from both of them. She knew that Cal missed it as well.

"We can’t," Cal protested with a giggle.

"You didn’t just say that," Sophie retorted with a fierce growl and dug her fingers into her lover’s sensitive side, tickling her furiously.

Cal was laughing hysterically as Sophie continued her assault and flipped the smaller woman onto her back. "We can’t," Cal repeated as Sophie captured the blonde’s hands above her head.

"You keep saying that," Sophie groaned before she captured her lover’s warm inviting lips and her body sank into Cal’s. The kiss deepened as Cal wrapped her legs around Sophie’s waist. She could feel the blonde’s desire seeping through the material of her boxer shorts. "Why do you keep saying that?" Sophie panted hotly in Cal’s ear once the kiss came to a reluctant end.

"Because," Cal whimpered as Sophie began to nibble on her earlobe.

"Hmm?" Sophie whispered before she dipped her tongue into her lover’s ear and pressed her stomach against the blonde’s center.

Cal’s hips began to sway against her body, and Sophie shifted her hands so that she was still holding the blonde’s wrists tightly above her head with one hand while her other one began to travel down Cal’s squirming body. Sophie kissed her way down Cal’s neck savoring the taste of her skin, while the blonde’s hips thrust against her.

"I want you," Sophie whispered against her lover’s skin as she kissed the valley between the blonde’s breasts.

As she slowly circled one of Cal’s nipples with her tongue, she felt her lover’s hips moving in a sensual rhythm beneath her. She suckled Cal’s erect nipple into the warmth of her mouth while her lover’s hips sway urgently against her body. Her lover’s moans fueled her desire and Sophie suckled her nipple greedily.

Sophie could feel her own clit pulsating as she released her lover’s wrists. She needed to feel all of the smaller woman. While she cupped her lover’s firm breasts and teased her nipple with her teeth and her tongue, her other hand drifted down Cal’s wriggling body. She cupped the blonde’s firm backside and their bodies moved in a sensual rhythm. She could feel her lover’s wetness dripping onto her fingers as they ground against one another urgently.

Sophie’s body was humming with desire as she massaged Cal’s ass and thrust against her. She loved it when they made love with such urgency and need, each of them fanning the flames of desire deep within the other. She felt her lover’s tiny hands tugging on the waistband of her boxer shorts as Sophie’s fingers tried to dip into her lover’s wetness.

"You are so wet," Sophie gasped and released Cal’s nipple from her mouth, shifting her longer body so that their clits were pressing together. The sound of the doorbell ringing made the leggy brunette freeze. "No," Sophie growled as Cal giggled beneath her.

"Sorry," Cal sheepishly offered, "I tried to tell you that Mrs. Baker is coming over to help me with the play."

Sophie grimaced as she unwrapped her lover’s legs from her body. She watched as Cal’s eyes drifted to the alarm clock resting on the nightstand. "Shit, she is early." Cal complained as she climbed out from under Sophie. The brunette’s body instantly chilled as her lover climbed off of the bed.

"Sure, throw me out of bed for an older woman," Sophie quipped as she climbed off the bed and watched her lover’s naked body racing around the bedroom.

"Eww!" Cal grimaced. "Mrs. Baker is nice enough, but that would be like making a pass at Mrs. Claus. Shit!" Cal repeated as she continued to scramble around the bedroom.

"You know for an English teacher, you do use some colorful expressions," Sophie commented wryly as she quickly pulled on a pair of jeans.

"Honey, can you open the door for Mrs. Baker while I get cleaned up?" Cal asked in exasperated voice.

Sophie agreed. She quickly cleaned up her own ruffled appearance. She closed the bedroom door behind her as her lover continued to run around releasing a stream of curses. Sophie was nervous as she approached the door to their apartment. Mrs. Baker seemed like an understanding woman; still the way some people reacted to her sexuality could be surprising.

"Coming," Sophie called out and scrambled towards the door.

She opened the door to find a very surprised looking Mrs. Baker loaded down with papers in boxes, looking back at her. "Good Morning, Mrs. Baker," Sophie greeted her. Then she helped the elderly woman with her bundles.

"Helen," The tiny little woman corrected her as Sophie assisted her into the apartment. "For a moment there I thought I had the wrong address," Mrs. Baker said with a knowing smile.

"Caroline is just taking a quick shower." Sophie explained in a slightly nervous tone as she placed Mrs. Baker’s belongings down on the coffee table. ‘Probably a cold one.’ The coach mentally gloated knowing that she had gotten her lover all hot and bothered.

"I’m early," the elderly woman confessed. "Nasty habit of mine. I didn’t realize that the two of you were roommates?"

"Uhm yeah," Sophie stammered, not missing the way the older woman stressed the last word. "I was just going to make some coffee would you like some?"

"That would be lovely," Mrs. Baker accepted.

Sophie made a quick exit into the kitchen. As she brewed the coffee she wondered why her lover had invited the elderly woman over to their home? Even if the laws of the state supported them she knew that many people were still uncomfortable with the idea of homosexuals teaching their children. Once the coffee was ready Sophie brought out a tray with the appropriate condiments and two steaming cups of coffee. She spotted Mrs. Baker looking at the collection of photos cluttering up their bookshelves. Most of them were of her and her family but several were of her and Cal together. ‘Oh well if she didn’t know before she knows now.’ The brunette reasoned as she placed the tray down onto the coffee table.

"Relax," Mrs. Baker scolded her as she crossed over and placed a comforting hand on the softball coach’s arm, "after all the years I taught English do you honestly think this is the first time I discovered that a couple of my colleagues were roommates?" She added a wink to her statement that instantly put the tall brunette at ease.

"Sorry, just reflex," Sophie confessed, then blew out a sigh of relief. "It’s just that people can be funny."

"They can be down right hysterical," Mrs. Baker quipped. "Frank was a civil rights lawyer and some of things we saw just disgusted us. I almost lost my job more than once for marching on Washington."

"Get out," Sophie smiled at the courageous woman who was now seated on the sofa.

"Oh yes," Mrs. Baker confirmed with a smile as she added cream and sugar to her coffee. Her emerald eyes twinkled up at Sophie as she stirred her coffee.

Mrs. Baker’s eyes once again threw Sophie. There was something hauntingly familiar about them. She shook the troublesome thoughts from her head when she realized that the elderly woman was speaking to her. "I’m sorry, what?" Sophie stammered in an apologetic tone.

"I was just saying that I noticed you have a really large family," Mrs. Baker repeated in a gentle tone.

"Yes," Sophie said with a brilliant smile.

"Why are there no pictures of Caroline’s family?" the older woman asked.

"Speaking of which, I’m just going to check on her," Sophie quickly blurted out as she made her escape. She liked Mrs. Baker but she had no intention of bringing up Cal’s childhood. She smiled when she entered the bedroom and found her lover dressed in a pair of jeans and an emerald blouse that brought out the color of her eyes.

"I’m sorry about this," Cal apologized. "When I invited her over to work, I assumed that you would have a practice."

"Gave the girls the weekend off since they been working so hard lately," Sophie explained. "Plus, I wanted to spend some time with you."

"Oh Baby, I’m sorry," Cal whispered and wrapped her arms around the tall brunette’s waist.

"Don’t worry about it," Sophie shrugged. "I know that you have a lot to do before the play opens and Mrs. Baker can be an invaluable asset. And don’t worry, she is beyond cool with our living situation."

"You told her?" Cal asked with surprise.

"I didn’t have to," Sophie confessed. "She doesn’t miss a trick." She hesitated for a moment, wondering if she should say anything to her lover about Mrs. Baker’s comment regarding the photos? "I think I should warn you, she was asking why you don’t have any family photos," she finally said, not wanting her lover to be caught off guard.

"She does that a lot," Cal groaned. "She keeps asking me about where I grew up and things like that."

"What have you told her?" Sophie asked, surprised by Mrs. Baker’s interest.

"Nothing," Cal responded with a shrug. "I don’t think it is any of her business. It just surprises me since she doesn’t strike me as a nosy person."

"She isn’t," Sophie mumbled, finding the entire situation more than a little odd.

"Speaking of our guest, I should get out there before she thinks we’ve abandoned her," Cal said with a smile before she gave Sophie a quick kiss on the cheek.

Sophie decided to spend the rest of the day at the gym since her plans had been altered. Later, she returned home and found Cal and Mrs. Baker working. She decided to take a long shower. The entire day she couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling she had about Mrs. Baker’s curiosity regarding Cal. She could feel the pieces falling into place and for Cal’s sake she hoped that she was wrong.

Part Three

Weeks later, Sophie was sitting at her desk in her tiny office clearing away the last of the season’s paperwork. Her team was now the State Champions and everything was going great. This weekend was the senior class play, and after that she and Cal would have a lot more time together. A shy knock on her office door disrupted her pleasant thoughts. "Come in," she called out. She was surprised to see Helen Baker entering her office. "Mrs. Baker," she greeted the older woman in pleasant tone. "Come to reclaim your old office?"

"I didn’t have an office," Mrs. Baker teased, "I had a clipboard and a whistle."

"Have a seat," Sophie graciously offered. She liked Mrs. Baker, but the woman’s constant appearance in Cal’s life was beginning to worry the brunette. Cal seemed to love working with the energetic woman, but she was bothered by the way Mrs. Baker still tried to pry into her personal life.

"So what brings you by?" Sophie inquired carefully. "Want to congratulate me again?" she teased.

"Yes," Mrs. Baker responded with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

Sophie could see that something was troubling the normally energetic woman and her heart was pounding, fearing that she knew what was wrong. It was her eyes. It hadn’t taken Sophie long to figure out why they seemed so familiar to her. She also had watched Cal and Mrs. Baker when they worked together. Sophie’s fears grew each time she saw them together. "That isn’t why you are here, is it?" the brunette finally asked in a grave tone of voice.

"Caroline," Mrs. Baker began in a troubled tone. "What can you tell me about her family?" the older woman asked in a shaky voice.

"Oh please, don’t do this." Sophie choked out, terrified that Cal’s world was going to come crashing down around her.

Sophie watched in horror as Mrs. Baker’s hand went up and pressed against her trembling lips. "You’re right," Mrs. Baker finally choked out. "It is probably my overactive imagination or wishful thinking. It is just, sometimes the way she walks or crinkles her nose, so many mannerisms that she has reminds me of Frank or some other member of my family. But it couldn’t be possible; when Maureen came back to us a few years ago she said she had had a miscarriage. My daughter ran away when she was a teenager. She was pregnant. We had offered to stand by whatever decision she made but she was running around with the wrong crowd and drinking and God knows what else."

"Oh crap," Sophie groaned as she sunk into her chair. Maureen Baker was probably living proof that you could do everything right for your children and they still could end up walking down the wrong path in life. "Helen you just put me in a very difficult position," she finally said in a weary tone.

"It is possible?" Mrs. Baker sputtered out in a hopeful tone. "She could be my granddaughter?" The look of pride in the elderly woman’s life broke Sophie’s heart.

"I honestly don’t know," Sophie admitted. "All I do know is that I need to talk to Cal. I have no idea how this is going to affect her. She’s been through more than you can imagine. And keeping her from being hurt is my main concern."

"Thank you," Helen responded softly.

"Have you tried talking to your daughter about this?" Sophie asked as she fought against the urge to find Maureen Baker and beat her within an inch of her miserable life.

"Yes," Helen said sadly. "I asked her about the miscarriage. She’s lying. I just know it. Of course over the years my daughter has become an accomplished liar. Even though she’s pulled her life together, at times she is still that angry teenager who ran away. I don’t know what to do. Maybe I should just let Caroline alone and not say anything?"

"I don’t think I can keep this from her," Sophie said with regret. One the one hand, she knew that Caroline might be happy to finally find her family. On the other hand, she might completely freak out. The other problem she had now was how was the dear, sweet Helen Baker going to handle finding out her only child just abandoned her granddaughter? "This is a mess."

"What is?" her lover’s voice inquired innocently from the doorway.

Sophie’s jaw dropped as she turned to see her lover standing in the doorway smiling at her. Sophie panicked. How much of the conversation had the small blonde heard? "Helen, I was wondering where you had run off to?" Cal continued in an innocent tone.

Sophie and Mrs. Baker simply stared at the confused blonde. "What is going on?" Cal finally demanded as she looked down at her dress in an effort to try and figure out why the two of them were staring at her?

"Do you want me to stay?" Mrs. Baker addressed the nervous coach in a comforting tone.

"No," Sophie responded sadly.

Mrs. Baker simply nodded and left the office without saying goodbye to either of them. "What the hell is going on?" Cal demanded as Sophie began to pace nervously around her office.

"You should sit," Sophie finally said in a weak tone.

"I so don’t like where this is going," Cal trembled in response and slid down into the chair that Mrs. Baker had just vacated.

Part Four

An agonizing hour later Cal still sat in the same chair with her face buried in her hands. Sophie had finished telling her everything and was now sitting in silence waiting for Cal to say something. She watched as her lover finally raised her head. The movement seemed to be physically painful for the small blonde. "No," Cal finally said in a flat tone. Sophie cringed at the lack of emotion in her lover’s voice.

"Honey?" Sophie offered gently as she placed a comforting hand on the blonde’s shoulder. The brunette yanked her hand away when she felt her lover flinch from her touch.

"I can’t do this," Cal said. Her breathing seemed to become labored, then she stood suddenly and briskly avoided Sophie as the tall brunette tried to reach out to her. "You don’t understand," Cal flared as she spun around and glared at the helpless brunette. "You have no idea what it is like to look around a room and see someone who has green eyes and blonde hair and wonder if a part of you comes from this stranger. I can’t do it anymore. I can’t get my hopes up again and I don’t want to meet my mother. As far as I’m concerned I don’t have one. I don’t have a family and I don’t need one."

Sophie flinched at the harshness of her lover’s words. "You have me," the brunette asserted, hurt that her lover didn’t seem to know that she was her family. Sophie’s heart crashed as she watched her lover break down into tears. Without hesitation Sophie wrapped the sobbing woman up in her arms.

"You are all that I need," Cal choked out as she clung tightly to Sophie.

Sophie held her lover tightly until the tiny woman couldn’t cry anymore. She drove them both home and tucked her lover into bed and crawled in next to her. She held Cal tightly as the blonde was once again overcome with tears. Sophie simply held her while she whispered soothing words.

Part Five

A few days later, the pandemonium of Helen’s questions seemed to have dissipated as the three of them seemed to accept the unspoken agreement to just not talk about the unsettling events. Mrs. Baker and Cal continued to work together on the play. At times there seemed to be tension between the two, yet most of the time the two fell into the same friendly banter they had shared before.

It was closing night of Our Town and Sophie was standing in the corridor at the theater chatting away with some of her students and their parents. She kept a watchful eye out for Cal, still not convinced that she was all right with everything that had happened.

"Miss Barbas," Cal greeted her as she approached.

"Excellent show," Sophie congratulated her lover as she carefully kept her distance.

"Thank you," Cal responded and Sophie’s heart skipped a beat when she caught the familiar gleam in her lover’s eyes.

Sophie smiled, knowing that the look meant that Cal couldn’t wait until the closing night celebration was over so they could be alone. While the blonde chatted with the parents and students that surrounded them, Sophie allowed her glance to waver and drink in her lover’s body.

"You should really be proud of Marissa," Cal said to the once uncaring girl’s parents. "I hear she is doing well on the Basketball team."

As Cal continued to chat with other parents and students Sophie watched on with pride. Suddenly she saw Cal’s face turn ashen as she stopped talking in mid-sentence. Sophie followed Cal’s eyes. In the large crowd of people she spotted Mrs. Baker in what seemed to be a heated conversation with a small blonde. Sophie turned to her lover. "Excuse me," Cal blurted out before scrambling back down the corridor in the opposite direction of Mrs. Baker.

Sophie quickly followed. She searched the dressing rooms and everywhere she could think of, without finding her lover. She had to admit the small blonde was quick on her feet. Finally, she stepped out the back door. She blew out a sigh of relief when she found her lover leaning against the wall. Her arms were folded across her chest as she shivered uncontrollably.

"Hey," Sophie offered shyly as she approached the smaller woman.

"Hey," Cal responded as she blew out a heavy breath. "Somehow I didn’t think I’d recognize her if I ever saw her again. She hasn’t really changed that much. Except that she doesn’t seem to be drunk."

Sophie stood there and for a brief moment debated on whether or not to wrap her lover up in her arms or to run back inside and beat Maureen Baker senseless. "Are you sure?" Sophie inquired carefully.

"Oh yeah," Cal responded in a heavy tone. "That’s my mother."

Sophie was holding her lover tightly before she was even aware of the fact that she had moved. "It’s okay," Cal reassured her as she looked up into the brunette’s crystal blue eyes.

"Really?" Sophie questioned the smaller woman doubtfully.

"Yes," Cal asserted firmly. "I can either hide out here like the frightened little girl she left behind or I can enjoy the night with my kids. I want to enjoy this night. Just stick close by though."

"Deal," Sophie agreed, and placed a tender kiss on the top of her lover’s head.

Sophie remained true to her word and was practically glued to her lover’s side as she mingled with the parents and then later when they were taking down the sets. Mrs. Baker reappeared but kept her distance. Cal had to run off and do something just as Sophie was helping put away the last of the set. "That is one of things I like best about this play," Mrs. Baker commented as she approached the softball coach. "What’s that Mrs. Baker?" Sophie commented with a smile as she looked around to ensure that Cal wasn’t around.

"Not much to strike on closing night," Mrs. Baker said with a smile.

Sophie took comfort in the fact that Mrs. Baker seemed much more relaxed. That, and the woman she had been arguing with had seemed to vanish.

"What is it?" Mrs. Baker questioned her.

"That woman you were arguing with earlier, was that your daughter?" Sophie bluntly inquired.

"You saw her?" Mrs. Baker asked nervously. "I told her not to come. Even if I’m wrong about everything, I do not wish to upset Caroline any further than I already have. Caroline didn’t see her did she?"

"Yes," Cal’s voice startled them both.

Sophie immediately crossed the stage to stand protectively next to her lover. "It is all right," Cal reassured them. "I don’t want to talk about this now," she explained and nodded to the students who were still milling about. "The only thing that concerns me at this moment is that I need more chaperones for the cast party. But since the two of you just volunteered that isn’t a problem any longer."

"Hey?" Sophie protested.

"I’d be happy to," Mrs. Baker readily agreed. "I’ll need a ride since I’m not allowed to drive any longer."

"Not a problem, Sophie will drive you," Cal offered.

"Hey?" Sophie pouted once again.

"Oh quit your pouting Coach," Cal chastised her with a playful swat. "It is just a couple of hours. All you need to do is make sure no one drinks or makes out."

"All right," Sophie grumbled as Mrs. Baker chuckled.

Once they were at the cast party, everyone seemed to relax and enjoy the event. They made certain that the teenagers didn’t enjoy it too much. "Are you sure that you are all right?" Sophie whispered in Cal’s ear just loud enough to be heard over the music the students were dancing to.

"No," Cal confessed. "But I can’t let it tarnish tonight. The kids were great and I’m having a good time. I’ll deal with everything else later. I have to admit that whether I’m related to her or not, I am very happy to have Helen in my life," she admitted with a smile. She pointed to the elderly woman who was dancing with a group of students.

Later Mrs. Baker seemed to be fading and Sophie agreed to drive her home while Cal stayed behind and helped Julie Steiner, her assistant director, clean up the mess from the party that Julie had graciously opened up her home for. Sophie and Mrs. Baker chatted idly on the drive back to her home. They were careful to avoid the subject of her daughter until Sophie pulled her truck up in front of the small house.

"Great, the Gestapo is waiting." Mrs. Baker muttered as she opened the door the truck.

Sophie was confused and rushed around to assist Mrs. Baker out of the large vehicle. "Mother, where have you been?" an angry voice greeted them.

"My goodness Maureen, I am over twenty-one," Mrs. Baker scolded her rapidly approaching daughter. "I offered to chaperone the cast party," she explained further in a weary tone.

"Mother, you do too much," the younger woman chastised her. Sophie chewed on the inside of her mouth in an effort to keep herself from going ballistic. She took one glance at the demur blonde and knew that she was Cal’s mother.

"Give it a rest Maureen," Mrs. Baker scolded her daughter. "Thank you for the ride. And say goodnight to Caroline for me," she offered to Sophie gently.

The tall brunette didn’t miss the shadow that clouded Maureen’s features at the mention of her lover’s name. "I will," Sophie promised and shoved her hands deep inside the pockets of her coat while she glared at Maureen. ‘That’s right, you should feel guilty.’ The brunette’s mind screamed as she continued to glare at Maureen.

"Mom, what is going on?" Maureen asked in confusion as she shrank away from Sophie’s icy stare.

"Goodnight Mrs. Baker," Sophie offered before her anger took over and she blurted out everything to the unsuspecting woman standing before her.

"Helen," Mrs. Baker corrected her, "good night Sophie." The elderly woman gave the startled brunette a hug.

Sophie accepted the kind gesture for what it was. Even if Cal weren’t her granddaughter, the three of them were a family. "Good night," Sophie whispered before climbing back into her truck and driving home.

While she waited for Cal, the tall brunette showered and changed into some comfortable clothing. She was tired and could only imagine how exhausted poor Cal was after the stress of the past few days. Sophie was just starting to relax. She sipped a cup of tea while stretching out on the sofa. The doorbell startled her and she almost spilled her tea. "Now what?" she grumbled as she went over to the door and peered through the peephole. "You’ve got to be kidding me!" Sophie snarled as she unlocked the door and flung it open. "What are you doing here?" she barked at the stunned Maureen Baker.

"Miss Barbas," Maureen gasped. "I hate to disturb you, but I’m worried about my mother. I found your address in her book. The two of you seem close and I was wondering if you could talk to me?" the woman blurted out in a single breath.

The way the smaller woman explained everything in a single breath and strode into the apartment eliminated all doubt in the taller woman’s mind that she was Cal’s mother.

"Lady, you have no idea how unwelcome you are in my home," Sophie growled as she tried to reign in her anger so she could get rid of the woman before her lover returned.

"I just need a moment of your time," the woman pleaded. Sophie stared at her in disbelief. "Something has been bothering her for weeks now and she only seems to be getting worse. If you are close to my mother, then you already know that I threw away a lot of years and nearly lost my parents for good. There are things I’ve done that I can’t even tell her about."

"She already knows," Sophie flared out before she could stop herself. Quickly she regained her control. "Look go home and talk to your mother. Or keep lying, I don’t care, the only thing I care about is that you leave before . . ."

"Too late," Cal’s voice cut her off as the small blonde stepped into their living room.

Sophie braced herself for whatever was about to happen. She rushed to her lover’s side and was relieved not to see anger or sadness in the blonde’s eyes. There was a sense of relief and closure lurking in her emerald orbs. "Get out," Cal instructed the confused woman standing in front of them.

"Who are you?" Maureen inquired in a bewilder tone that angered Sophie.

"The fact that your mother knew and you don’t, tells me everything I need to know," Cal explained calmly. Her words echoing Sophie’s thoughts of how this woman failed to recognize her own child.

Maureen still seemed to be failing to understand just what was happening. "My name is Caroline Masters and I believe that both my lover and myself have asked you to leave our home," Cal supplied in a cold tone. Sophie watched as Maureen still failed to grasp what she had just been told. Then the woman’s eyes that were so much like her lover’s filled with tears. She opened her mouth to speak. "Just go," Cal asserted in a firm tone. Maureen choked back a sob and simply nodded in response.

"I’m sorry," Maureen choked out as she walked out the door.

Sophie walked over and closed the door before returning to her lover who had kept her back to the door. The tall brunette wrapped her arms around the smaller woman from behind. Cal released a tense breath. "I always wondered what I would say to her," Cal said softly as she leaned into Sophie’s embrace. "It felt good to tell her to get out. And it didn’t. Does that make sense?"

"Yes," Sophie confirmed as she kissed the top of the blonde’s head.

"Thank you," Cal said tenderly as she gently stroked the taller woman’s forearm.

"For what?" Sophie asked as she nestled closer to her lover’s body.

"I saw the look you were giving her and I know that you just wanted to pummel her," Cal explained with an amused smirk.

"Don’t you?" Sophie asked in an incredulous tone.

"No," Cal responded sincerely. "All the years of hurt and anger just slipped away when I told to just go. Strange really. I know that this isn’t over and there is going to be a lot of fallout."

"I’m here for you," Sophie reassured her.

"Speaking of which, I should give Helen a call and let her know that everything has hit the proverbial fan," Cal said in a heavy tone.

Sophie didn’t leave the blonde’s side as she called Helen to warn her that Maureen had been there and was one her way back. Sophie rubbed her lover’s shoulders while she talked to the older woman. Sophie suggested that Cal go to bed and get some sleep but the blonde was far too worked up. So Sophie threw on a grubby pair of sneakers and took her lover for a long walk. Neither of them spoke during the walk around their quiet neighborhood. Despite the silence, Sophie never felt closer to her lover.

Part Six

"Work, damn it!" Sophie screamed at the computer that was sitting on her desk in her office.

"Yeah, that will get it to do what you want," she heard her lover chuckling.

Sophie instantly snapped up and she saw her lover leaning in the doorway. "I love when you where a dress," Sophie said absently as her gaze instantly dropped to her lover’s legs.

"Pervert," Cal teased before she turned and closed the door, then made her way over to where Sophie was seated and deposited herself on the tall brunette’s lap. Sophie released a sigh as she felt her lover’s firm backside wiggling in her lap. "Now, what are we trying to get your computer to do?"

Sophie didn’t respond to her lover’s question as she nuzzled her face against her. "Who cares?" Sophie murmured as she began to place soft inviting kisses along her lover’s neck. "I love it when you visit me after school lets out," Sophie whispered as she felt her lover shiver from her touch.

In the past week, their lives had spun out of control. Still, they became closer than either thought possible. With one exception, the emotional strain hadn’t given either of them the strength or the time for the intimacy that they both craved. "Do you have any appointments?" Cal gasped while Sophie’s fingers ran along the gentle curve of her body.

"No," Sophie said as she began to nibble on her lover’s sensitive earlobe. "Season’s over and we are all alone," the eager brunette added before dipping her tongue into her lover’s ear. Cal released a strangled whimper as she gripped the armrests of the chair that they were sharing.

Encouraged by the soft sounds and the way that the blonde was squirming against her body, Sophie’s hands drifted lower. She ran her fingers along her lover’s nylon clad thighs and delighted in the feel of her lover’s skin trembling from her gentle exploration. Her lover’s breathing grew heavier as Sophie’s fingers slipped up and under the hem of her dress. She could feel her own desire growing as the blonde instinctively parted her thighs.

Sophie turned the chair towards her desk as her hands drifted further up along the cool nylon material of the blonde’s pantyhose while her mouth continued to feast on Cal’s neck. The blonde’s head fell back, offering more of her skin up for the brunette to taste while Sophie lifted the hem of Cal’s skirt higher up her body.

Sophie captured her lover’s lips in a fiery kiss as she ran her hands along the blonde’s firm abdomen. As their tongues engaged in a sensual kiss, Sophie could feel her own wetness gathering in her jeans as her lover’s hips swayed urgently against her body. Sophie adored making love to this energetic woman who had stolen her heart. At times she regretted that the first time they were intimate was in the school locker room. Then again, she would never forget the intense passion that had taken control of them that day. Or the way Cal’s body felt against her own as the tall brunette had her pressed up against the lockers.

As her lover moaned and the memories of making love to her filled her senses, Sophie began to lower Cal’s pantyhose down her hips. There was no mistaking the smoky gaze her lover was giving her as the kiss came to a reluctant end. Sophie guided her lover to stand and lean against her desk. "Yes," Cal whimpered, Sophie remained seated behind her while she lifted the blonde’s dress up to her waist and lowered her pantyhose to her trembling knees.

Sophie ran her hands along her lover’s firm backside while Cal gripped the edge of her desk and thrust her hips backwards. The brunette could see how much her lover wanted her as she ran her tongue along the smaller woman’s flesh. Cal was trembling and panting heavily as Sophie took her time savoring the taste of her skin. "Please," Cal finally begged and parted her thighs even further.

It was an offer the tall coach could not refuse as she ran her fingers along the blonde’s slick folds. She wanted to take her time but their need was too great, her fingers were coated with her lover’s desire. She stroked Cal’s throbbing clit with her fingers as she dipped her tongue into her wetness.

Cal cried out with need as Sophie pressed her tongue against the opening of her warm wet center. Sophie teased her clit harder as she curled her tongue and entered her lover. She felt Cal’s body trembling against her skin as she plunged deeper inside of her while she continued to tease her clit and massage her firm ass. She knew that her lover was speaking, but was so lost in the feel of the blonde’s body that she had no idea what the smaller woman was saying.

She plunged in and out of her lover’s wetness as Cal thrust urgently against her demanding more with each sway of her body. Sophie was squirming in her chair as she drove her lover closer to the edge, her own desire screaming out for attention. Cal whimpered once again as Sophie’s touch left her body.

The brunette stood quickly and lowered her jeans and underwear. "Need to feel you," Cal pleaded as she still clung to the edge of the desk. Sophie responded by pressing her body inside of Cal’s, filling the smaller woman with her own desire as she tightly clasped her hips. Sophie rode against her lover’s quivering body as the blonde begged her for more.

Sophie released a sharp gasp as she felt their clits brushing together and they moved in a wild rhythm. Unable to hold back any longer she reached between their gyrating bodies and dipped her fingers deep inside her lover. Sophie leaned her body against her lover’s back, while she plunged in and out of her wetness and stroked her pulsating clit with her thumb.

Sophie felt her own body nearing the edge as her lover reached up and roughly pulled her down and captured her in a fiery kiss. They continued to rock against each other as the musky aroma of their passion filled the tiny office. Cal broke away from the kiss as her body shook and she began to bang on the desk as she cried out in ecstasy.

Sophie watched as her lover’s head fell forward and her body exploded. She thought that her lover never looked more beautiful then when she was completely captured in the throes of passion. Sophie slowed her movements, allowing the smaller woman to catch her breath. Sophie slowly removed her touch from her still trembling lover. She lifted her fingers to her lips and tasted her lover’s desire. She moaned and her eyes fluttered shut as she drank in Cal’s nectar. Her eyes blinked open as she felt her lover clasping her hips.

She found Cal had turned around and was now lowering Sophie’s jeans further down her body. "I want you," Cal hissed with desire and cupped the brunette’s mound. She began to tease her with the heel of her hand. Sophie had no choice but to give her body over to her lover’s needs. She held onto her lover’s shoulders as she felt one of Cal’s hands drifting up under her T-shirt, while she continued to tease her wetness with her other hand.

She felt her lover’s nimble fingers releasing her bra as the blonde parted her and began to tease her clit with her other hand. "I love you," Cal murmured before yanking the brunette’s shirt up and capturing one of her nipples in her mouth while she captured her throbbing clit between her fingers.

Sophie cried out as Cal tugged on her nipple with her teeth while teasing her clit with the same intensity. Sophie’s knees became weak when she felt Cal’s fingers pressing against the opening of her center. Sophie was struggling to breathe as her lover’s fingers filled her body. She fought to remain standing as her own hands began to roam the smaller woman’s body.

Sophie’s hips swayed against her lover’s touch as she felt Cal’s tongue flickering across her nipples, driving her closer to the edge. She wanted to touch every inch of her lover’s body as she rocked against her tiny hand. "I need to feel you explode," Cal urged her. She teased her clit while she added another digit deep inside of Sophie. The brunette couldn’t stand and fell slightly forward pressing her lover against the hard surface of her desk.

As Cal drove her closer to the edge, Sophie reached between them and once again began to tease her lover’s clit. They melted against one another as Sophie filled her lover. Sophie raised her body slightly so she wouldn’t crush the smaller woman. They were staring deeply into each other’s eyes as they became lost in pleasuring one another until they cried out in unison.

Each of them was gasping for air as she trembled against the other’s body. Sophie looked down at her lover, whose face was still flushed with desire. They both laughed slightly as they began to slip away from each other. "There is something wrong with us," Sophie teased as they began to adjust their clothing.

"Whatever do you mean?" Cal teased back, and climbed off of the desk and adjusted her dress.

"We live only three blocks away," Sophie tried to explain as she steadied her still trembling body.

"Excellent point," Cal beamed. "Let’s go home," the small blonde added in husky tone that sent a shiver down the brunette’s spine. "I’d like to discuss this matter with you in more detail."

Sophie’s eyes lit up as she quickly grabbed up her belongings and ushered her lover out of the office without bothering to lock up or shut down her computer. She raced the smaller woman out to the faculty parking lot. They were eager to continue the conversation in the privacy of their own home.

The End

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