The heat and humidity hit Santana like a brick wall as she walked down the sidewalk. She had been walking for 10 minutes and she was starting to regret going for a walk in this heat but she kept walking because sweating like this made her feel alive. She hadn't really felt alive or much anything else for the past 2 months. The condensation was dripping off the bottle of water she was holding in her hand. She found herself walking faster as she started thinking about the subject she was so desperately trying to push out of her thoughts at least for a little while to give her tired mind a rest.
Brittany was glad it was time for her lunch break. She was walking back to the small mail truck she drove for her deliveries around Lima when she saw Santana walking towards her. Even though Brittany had only just met Santana a little while ago she would recognize her anywhere. Santana was the most beautiful woman Brittany had ever seen in her life. Brittany was about to smile and wave at Santana when she saw three young teenagers riding their bikes on the sidewalk behind Santana.
Brittany knew these three troublemakers well because they were always riding their bikes recklessly on sidewalk where people and kids were walking. Lima has a law that no one is to ride their bikes on the sidewalks, you are to get off your bike and push while you are on the sidewalk. These boys had been warned by the local police on several occasions about riding their bikes on the sidewalk.
Brittany was about to warn Santana about the boys speeding up on their bikes behind her but it was too late. The boys rode quickly around Santana with one of the boy's bikes hitting Santana's arm enough that her bottle of water fell on the sidewalk. The boys just laughed as they crossed the street before getting to Brittany.
Brittany saw Santana fall to her knees so she ran up to her quickly. "Santana, are you ok?" Santana didn't respond so Brittany was worried she was hurt badly. Brittany looked at Santana's arm where the boy's bike had hit here and she could see quite a nasty scrape. Brittany carefully put her hand under Santana's chin to lift her head up so she could see her face. Santana didn't resist and when Brittany saw the look on Santana's face all she wanted to do was pull her into a hug but she didn't. Santana's eyes looked so sad and scared almost child-like. Brittany knew she needed to get Santana off from the sidewalk.
"Santana, I'm going to help you up but if it hurts anywhere you let me know ok?" Santana didn't respond but Brittany decided to help up anyway. She put her arms on Santana's hips to help her get up. Once Santana was on her feet Brittany could see there was were scrapes on both of her knees as well. "How about I walk you back home? I would drive you in my mail truck but I'm not allowed to give people rides in it. Those boys need to be more careful where they are riding their bikes because some day someone could get seriously injured."
Santana suddenly came to life like she had been struck by lightning. "What the hell do you mean by that?"
"Nothing I was just saying someone could get seriously hurt because of the way they recklessly ride their bikes. Come on I'll walk you home." Brittany was a bit confused by Santana's sudden outburst.
"Just leave me the fuck the alone." Santana shouted and then started walking down the sidewalk towards her parent's home. Brittany stood there watching Santana walk away. Brittany felt her eyes starting to sting with tears but she managed to hold them back. She was only trying to help Santana and didn't understand why she yelled at her. Brittany was usually stronger than that and she had no idea why she was so hurt by Santana's words.
Santana didn't even remember the walk home but she found herself walking into the kitchen to get a bottle of water because she was beyond thirty. She drank the bottle of water down in one gulp. Santana turned around and came face to face with mother. The smile that was on Maribel's face quickly faded when she saw the scared in her daughter's eyes. It didn't take long for Maribel to notice the nasty scrape on Santana's arm and the scrapes on her knees. "What happened to you?" Maribel moved closer to look at Santana's injuries.
"Um…it's nothing to worry about I just tripped over my own two feet and fell on the sidewalk. I'm just going to go take a shower." Santana started to walk away from Maribel but she grabbed her arm.
"You know I can always tell when you're lying to me and right now you are lying to me. What really happened?"
Santana pulled her arm out of her mother's grasp. "I told you I tripped over my own two feet and fell. Now I'm going to take a shower because I'm all sweaty from my walk." Santana walked out of the kitchen and upstairs to the bathroom. She stood in front of the mirror and still couldn't look at her own reflection.
Santana spent the rest sitting on the couch watching TV. Maribel was happy when Santana did at least let her put some antibiotic ointment on her scrapes. She decided not to pressure Santana into telling her the truth about what had happened while she was out walking. Maribel knew Santana was emotionally fragile right now and she didn't want to make matters worse.
The next morning the doorbell rang at 11 AM and Maribel smiled before fixing a glass of iced tea. She opened the front door and there stood Brittany. "Good morning Brittany." Maribel held out the glass of iced tea for Brittany to take but she didn't take it.
"Good morning Mrs. Lopez. I didn't ring the doorbell for iced tea. I have large envelope for Santana that is Priority Overnight Mail. I need to have her sign for the envelope because it's marked confidential."
Maribel noticed Brittany wasn't acting like usual happy, friendly self. There was no smile on her face and blue eyes looked sad for some reason. "Brittany, I've told you before to please call me Maribel and it's extremely humid today so please take the iced tea."
"Thank you but I'm fine I have a bottle of water. I need Santana to sign for her envelope."
Maribel knew something was definitely wrong with Brittany but she decided that maybe Brittany was just having a bad day. "Santana is still sleeping so I'll have to sign for her envelope."
"I'm sorry Mrs. Lopez but I need Santana to sign for it herself plus she needs to show me a form of photo id. This envelope has been marked confidential on it. So you can please wake her up because if she doesn't sign for the envelope I have to take it back to the post office immediately and that means I'll get behind on my delivery schedule."
"Confidential huh? It's probably papers from work and she is supposed to be resting and taking care of herself. I'll go wake her up." Maribel went upstairs and knocked on Santana's bedroom door but there was no answer so she knocked louder and called out to Santana. There still was no answer so Maribel tried opening the door but it was locked. She knocked one more time before giving up and going back down stairs.
"I'm sorry Brittany I can't get her to wake up. You're sure I can't just sign for the envelope?"
"No you can't sign for it it's policy. Please tell Santana to bring this form to the post office to pick up her envelope. I will be taking it back to the post office now." Brittany handed Maribel the form and started to walk away.
"Brittany, I know it's none of my business but are you ok? You aren't yourself today."
"I'm fine Mrs. Lopez. I didn't sleep too well last night. Have a good day."
Brittany could tell by the tone in Maribel's voice she was really concerned about her which made her feel bad. When Brittany found out she had a delivery for Santana that needed to be signed for she felt like asking if another postal carrier could deliver it. After the incident yesterday she didn't really want to see Santana. Brittany had thought about Santana the rest of day yesterday and all last night. Brittany didn't understand Santana's reaction to her when she tried to help her yesterday. Now today Maribel said Santana was supposed to be resting and taking care of herself. Something was going on with Santana, and Brittany for some reason couldn't get Santana out of her mind.
"Brittany you know the policy you are supposed to bring confidential, overnight envelopes directly back to the post office if the recipient isn't home to sign for it. You have written on this envelope that you attempted to deliver it at 11 AM and it is now 1 PM. That means this envelope sat in your mail truck for two hours while you finished delivering the mail on your route. What if the recipient had come in the post office during that time to pick up their envelope thinking it would be here because the form you left said it could be picked up here? Look, I get that it's hotter than hell out there but you just can't make a mistake like this. You've been an excellent mail carrier since you started working here so I'm going to let this go this time but if something like this happens again I will need to write you up for the infraction ok?"
Brittany's supervisor wasn't too pleased when she brought Santana's envelope back two hours after she attempted to deliver it. Brittany found herself thinking about Santana and totally forgot to return it to the post office as she continued delivering mail.
"I understand I'm so sorry I just got distracted thinking about things and forgot to bring the envelope back to the post office right away like I'm supposed to. I can be so blonde sometimes. I'm so sorry it won't happen again."
"I'm sure it won't happen again. Take your lunch break and get cooled off." Brittany supervisor walked away and she just stood there thinking for a moment before walking away to get take her lunch break.
Santana was in line waiting to pick up her envelope when she happened to overhear the conversation between Brittany and her supervisor. She felt bad for Brittany because if she had just gotten up when her mother knocked on her bedroom door Brittany wouldn't have gotten in trouble. Santana knew the law firm she worked for in New York City was going to mail some documents to her overnight so she should have made sure she was up to sign for them. Plus it really bothered Santana when she heard Brittany say she can be so blonde sometimes because she didn't want Brittany putting herself down like that. People may not realize it but the civil test you must take to work in the post office isn't easy and only the top scorers get jobs. Santana's thoughts were interrupted when it was her turn in line. She got her envelope and then went back home.
A week went by and Brittany didn't ring the doorbell once for iced tea even though the heat wave was still raging in Lima. Maribel was beginning to wonder what she might have said or done to offend Brittany. She voiced her concern to Santana who told her mother Brittany was probably just in a hurry and didn't have time to stop for a glass of iced tea. Santana didn't tell her mother about Brittany getting in trouble over her envelope or the incident with the boys on the bikes. She felt bad because her mother was a very nice person who wouldn't do anything to offend anyone on purpose and it hurt her to see her mother worrying what she had done to offend Brittany.
The Lopez family was going out to celebrate at Breadstix tonight because it's Maribel's birthday. Santana didn't feel like going out but it was her mother's birthday and they were going to Breadstix her all time favorite restaurant. As the hostess was sitting them Santana was walking behind her mother and she almost ran into her mother when she stopped abruptly at one of the tables.
"Oh hi Brittany."
Brittany looked up and saw Maribel standing there with Santana and man she had never seen before. "Hi Mrs. Lopez."
"Brittany please call me Maribel. You look very pretty tonight so I assume you are on a date so we will be heading to our table before your date comes back to your table."
Brittany suddenly found it difficult to look Maribel in the eyes. "Um…actually I got stood up. A friend set up me up on a blind date. I've never liked the idea of going on a blind date and now I really don't like it. My blind date probably heard I was a dumb blonde or something. I was just getting ready to leave. You enjoy your dinner."
Maribel felt sad for Brittany. "I'm sorry you got stood up. Why don't you join us for dinner? By the way this is my husband Jose and you have already met Santana."
Jose reached his hand out to shake Brittany's hand. "It's nice to meet you Brittany. Now I put a face to the name when Maribel talks about Brittany the mail carrier. Please join us for dinner. It's Maribel's birthday so we are celebrating."
Brittany noticed Santana had been looking down at the floor the whole time they stood there. "It's nice to meet you too Dr. Lopez. (Brittany knew he was a doctor because all of his mail came addressed that way) And Happy Birthday Mrs. Lopez. Thank you for the dinner invitation but I don't want to intrude on your family celebration plus I'm wouldn't be very good company. I've had a tough day and just want to go home. Enjoy your dinner."
Maribel noticed the hostess was standing there getting impatient waiting to take them to their table. "Thanks for the birthday wish and I hope tomorrow is a better day for you."
The Lopez family followed the hostess to their table and they ordered their drinks. Santana couldn't stand it any longer so she looked over towards Brittany's table and saw that she was just getting up to leave. After a few moments Santana suddenly got up from the table. "I'll be right back." Her parents looked at one another confused when Santana walked towards the exit.
"Brittany", Santana shouted as she saw Brittany walking towards her car. Brittany stopped and turned around to see who was calling her name. When she saw it was Santana she wasn't quite sure how she felt about it but she stood there and watched as Santana walked up to her.
When Santana reached Brittany neither woman spoke at first until Santana decided she should talk first since she was the one who followed Brittany to the park lot. "I wanted to tell you I'm sorry."
Brittany waited for Santana to say more but when she didn't she had to ask the obvious question. "What exactly are you sorry for Santana?"
"I'm sorry for a couple of things. I'm sorry for yelling at you the day you helped me when that kid on the bike hit my arm and I'm sorry you got in trouble when you didn't return my envelope to the post office like you were supposed to. I should've been up waiting for you because I knew I would be getting the envelope. I'm sorry."
Brittany stood there confused. "I accept you apologies but I have one question. How did you know I got in trouble over not returning the envelope?"
"I just happen to be in line at the post office waiting to pick up my envelope and I overheard your conversation with your supervisor. By the way you aren't some dumb blonde. I heard you say that twice now, at the post office when talking to your supervisor and tonight when you were talking about your blind date."
Brittany felt embarrassed because she had no idea Santana overheard her getting in trouble. "I got into trouble over your envelope because I didn't follow policy which was my fault regardless if you should've gotten up to sign for it or not. I know I shouldn't put myself down it's just difficult not too when you lived with someone for 3 years who put you down almost every day."
Santana noticed the hurt in Brittany's eyes when she talked about living with someone for 3 years who put her down. "No one should ever put you down. And for the record the guy you stood you up tonight on your blind date is a fool because no man in his right mind would stand up a beautiful blonde like you."
Brittany felt her cheeks getting warm hearing Santana say she was beautiful. "Actually my blind date wasn't with a man it was with a woman."
Santana for some reason felt like smiling, "Oh, I see. Well she was a fool then."
Brittany's cheeks continued to be warm, "You didn't seemed shocked when I said it was a woman."
Santana shrugged her shoulders. "Why would it shock me? I prefer women too. Does that shock you?"
Brittany was shaking her head, "No not really."
"Well there you go neither one of us is shocked to find out we are lesbians. How about you come join my parents and me for dinner? I know my mother would really enjoy it. To be honest with you she has been trying to figure out what she had said or done to offend you since you don't ring the doorbell for iced tea anymore and you started calling her Mrs. Lopez. I know it's because of me but please don't take my mistakes out on my mother. I have caused her enough worry the past couple of months."
Brittany felt bad hearing that Maribel thought she had offended her in some way. "I'm sorry I upset your mother I didn't mean to. I'll make sure she knows she didn't offend me in anyway. I've just had a lot on my mind lately. You'd better get back inside to your parents. Thanks for asking me to join you but like I told your mother earlier I wouldn't be very good company tonight. I'll see you around."
Santana found herself disappointed that Brittany wouldn't join them for dinner but she understood. "Yeah, I'll see you around I guess. If I get anymore envelopes from work I'll make sure I'm up to sign for them. I really wish you'd join us for dinner because my parents can act like lovesick teenagers sometimes and I'll end feeling like a third wheel."
Brittany laughed, "I'll see you later Santana."
Santana watched Brittany walked towards her car and then she turned and walked back into the restaurant. When she sat back down at the table her mother asked her where she had been. She told her that she just needed some fresh air. Her mother gave her a sympatric look thinking she needed fresh air because she was feeling anxious about the accident that had happened a couple of months ago and the reason Santana was spending some time in Lima with her parents.
They were all three looking at their menus and suddenly looked up when they heard someone talking, "Um…I hope it's ok I've changed my mind. I love to have dinner with your family and celebrate your birthday Maribel". Brittany stood there with a smile on her face.
Maribel smiled back at Brittany. "Of course dear sit down there next Santana."
After Brittany sat down next Santana they both gave each other a little smile which didn't go unnoticed by Maribel.
TBC