Page 78 of Broken Beyond Repair

What was going through the woman’s mind?

“Hey. Has Mum gone to bed?” Alex asked, poking his head out the patio door.

“Yes, she went up a little while ago.”

“Thanks for today. I know it was from Mum, but I guess it was your idea.”

“You’re welcome… on behalf of your mum… and me. She’ll come around about you becoming a chef, you know, and the best bit is, you get to spend every day proving her wrong. Show her you can make it to the top by getting there.”

Alex nodded. “I will.” He hesitated for a moment before adding “The best present was seeing Mum so happy. I have you to thank for that, too, don’t I?”

“I couldn’t possibly comment.”

Alex smiled at her. “Night.”

She couldn’t comment. Was she the reason Beatrice was brighter, lighter? She hoped so. It was more likely the weight of the divorce coming off her shoulders. Something like that hanging over you was enough to change you. Yes, she had something to do with it, but only incidentally. She had held a mirror up to Peter, that was all; held him accountable and then threatened and physically attacked him. She smiled as she recalled the moment. On behalf of all abused women, she’d served justice with a swift jab of the knee. It was a risky move to trick him, their only move. One that could have backfired yet hadn’t, and she had received her reward from Beatrice.

That hug.

That kiss.

Both were etched in her mind and her heart — on replay mode.

She didn’t feel ready for bed; her mind was still racing. With everyone else safely in their rooms, it was time to watchNancy. She couldn’t resist any longer. She needed more of Beatrice despite only saying goodnight to her half an hour ago. She settled herself on the sofa with the remainder of the second bottle of wine they’d opened that day.

Beatrice’s performance was as elegant and tasteful as her interior design. She was beyond perfection, inhabiting the body and soul of her character and a husky Southern accent.

The story was just as perfect. Two women in the grip of despair after losing their husbands in the Vietnam War found themselves crossing the boundary from friendship to something deeper. Both question their feelings as their grief, community, and Christian beliefs challenge them, all the while unable to restrain themselves physically from their overpowering attraction to each other.

Sydney watched as she reached the part she’d been waiting for — when the two women finally gave in to their desires. They laid themselves bare to each other, realising that the holds over them weren’t as powerful as their feelings for each other. She couldn’t take her eyes from Beatrice as her co-star undressed her.

She fanned herself with her hand, unable to cool the parts of herself that really needed cooling down at this moment. Her heart was pounding in her chest at the sight of Beatrice’s flesh, her breasts, her passion, the desire she was showing for her co-star. Every inch of her own body craved that passion, her touch. Parts of her burned at the very thought.

The kitchen light flicked on, making her jump from her skin. She grabbed the remote, hitting ‘Pause’ instead of ‘Stop’, and leaving Beatrice’s right breast on the screen.

Fuck!

Beatrice appeared behind her in nothing but a short, black slip.

“Sorry, I didn’t realise you were still up. I came down for some hot milk to help me sleep.”

Beatrice looked from Sydney to the screen. Sydney’s heart pounded even faster, poised for a reaction.

“Is that my breast, Sydney?” Beatrice asked, her tone unexpectedly jovial.

Finding herself unable to speak, she was grateful that Beatrice continued.

“Put it back on — assuming you were enjoying it.”

“Of course!” Sydney cursed the level of enthusiasm with which she’d replied.

“The ending is lovely. Would you like some tea?”

“Please,” Sydney replied, noticing the bottle of wine and her glass were now empty.

Beatrice busied herself in the kitchen, leaving Sydney to continue watching her very employer groan in pleasure in front of her on the television. She blinked, wondering if she was in one of those dreams again.

Beatrice appeared beside her minutes later and placed two mugs on the table.