Stef - Chapter 1
"Sorry to keep you waiting. Hi, I'm Lena Adams the Assistant Vice Principal." Ms. Adams said, holding out her hand.
"Hi. I'm Stef Foster… its," Stef took the offered hand, mesmerized by the woman standing in front of her.
"So your son-" Ms. Adams began again.
Stef realized suddenly that she should mention her son's name but could not untwist her mind enough to make sense beyond, "Uh Brandon is Brandon." She also realized she was still holding the Assistant Vice Principal's hand and dropped it with a nervous laugh.
"Brandon," Ms. Adams repeated with a warm smile.
"Right," Stef agreed, nodding. She had no thoughts in her head. She realized she was not making the impression she hoped for.
"He will be starting kindergarten this fall." Ms. Adams stated
"Yes, he's five." Stef agreed.
"Great! Well I would be glad to give you a tour. Tell you about our school. Are we waiting for your husband to join?" Ms. Adams asked.
"Uh no, he's not, he uh he couldn't make it…." Stef stammered. "I'm sorry," she finished though she wasn't sure if she was apologizing because Mike wasn't there or because she was stammering her way through this whole conversation.
"Okay, well um… follow me," the Assistant Vice Principal said with a warm smile and turned to lead the way.
Stef followed, listening to the Assistant Vice Principal as she described the school. However, all she could focus on was the beauty of the woman in front of her. She was in a daze throughout the tour and left with a warm smile and a wish from Ms. Adams that Brandon would join the school.
Stef climbed into her car, put her hands on the steering wheel and took a deep breath. She wondered what was happening to her. She was a married woman, even if she wasn't happy. She had a son with her husband and her thoughts could not be on this woman. She was not gay. She was not a lesbian. She may have urgings in that direction but she had refrained from them her whole life and was not about to give into them. "Pull it together," she said aloud to herself. Took another deep breath to clear her head, started the car and drove away. She would have Brandon go to this school, but she would not think about Assistant Vice Principal Adams anymore.
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"Hello?" Stef answered her phone.
"Hello, is this Stef Foster?" Asked a voice Stef had not forgotten, despite trying desperately in the last week.
"Yes," Stef managed to say past the lump in her throat
"This is Lena Adams the Assistant Vice Principal from Anchor Beach Community Charter School. I was just calling to follow up on the tour last week. I just wanted to make sure to answer any further questions you might have. We could meet here at the school or if it would help I could meet you for coffee someplace closer to your home." Ms. Adams offered.
"Uh, well… sure… I mean yes," Stef wanted to see this woman again even though she knew she shouldn't; couldn't. "Coffee."
"Great! How about tomorrow? Say, 4:30 at Brew City? Will that work?"
"Yeah, uh… perfect. Th-thanks!" Stef stuttered.
"Wonderful! See you tomorrow Mrs. Foster."
Stef hung up her phone and sat heavily in the chair. What was she doing? What was she thinking? Why had she agreed? She wanted to kick herself. Did the staff really offer that to all parents? She assumed so. Why else would the assistant vice principal call and offer to meet?
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Stef walked into the coffee house and looked around. Ms. Adams gave a little wave and stood up from her seat to welcome Stef.
"I am glad we could meet again. I felt like I didn't give quite the tour that you deserve. I was very… distracted." Ms. Adams smiled warmly.
"No! The tour was great. You have a wonderful school. I fully plan on enrolling Brandon."
"Oh good, I am glad to hear that Mrs. Foster."
"Stef, please call me Stef.
"Absolutely Stef, if you will call me Lena.
"Lena," Stef let the name roll off her tongue. It felt perfect. Like she had been saying it all her life. Lena smiled warmly and Stef nearly melted. Her tongue froze to the roof of her mouth.
"So did you have any more questions, Stef?" Lena stressed Stef's name.
"Uh… Well, um… no not really," she shook her head.
"Coffee. Can I get you something?" Lena asked.
"Black would be fine."
"I will be right back." Lena rose and went to the counter and ordered coffees for the both of them. She seemed to be muttering to herself as Stef watched but she couldn't tell what she was saying.
The two of them sat there and talked long past when the coffees were gone. Lena asked about Brandon. That was a topic Stef could talk about forever. Lena just smiled and listened attentively. Then the topic turned to Lena and the school and how long she had been working there. Finally, Lena asked something that stopped Stef.
"So you are married? What does your husband do? How long have you been married?"
"He is a police officer too actually. That is how we met. We have been together 6 years. At the moment we are actually separated. Taking a little break to figure things out."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I am really sorry." Lena said, but she didn't exactly sound sorry.
Stef shrugged and said with an ironic half smile, "It will work out if it is meant to, I suppose."
The women had been talking for about two hours when suddenly Stef realized the time. She jumped up suddenly, "Oh no. I have to pick up Brandon from Mike's. I am so sorry. I have to go. I'm sorry."
"Of course, I can't believe how fast the time went. I am sorry to keep you so long." Lena apologized, also standing now.
"If you want, we could uh… get together again," Stef offered suddenly.
"I'd like that very much," Lena agreed with a glowing smile. "I'll call you."
Stef nodded, her face felt flush. She smiled back shyly and then turned to leave. At the door she turned back and gave Lena a small wave and then left.
Stef berated herself all the way to Mike's house. How could she possibly get together with Lena again? How could she offer that? She needed to stay away, not see her more! She wanted to scream at herself. She couldn't see her again. When Lena called next she would ignore it. She would come up with excuses. She would she told herself. She would be strong and be who she was supposed to be. And she was not gay. Not into women. She and Mike would work things out and be happy again. Brandon would have both of his parents together. Once Mike dealt with his drinking issues everything would be fine. Wouldn't they? Stef felt the image of Lena lodging itself in her mind. And it didn't seem to want to leave.
