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From: S THOMAS BUSH <stbush@iglou.com>
Subject: Elizabeth & Anastasia - A Love Story [repost] 3/8
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Elizabeth and Anastasia

by Tom Bombadil

(c) Jul 1996

Chapter 3 of 8

Disclaimer:  All the standard rules apply.  If you are offended by 
explicit descriptions of sex or the human body, if it is illegal to 
possess such materials at your location, if you are under-age by law 
in your location, or if somebody else thinks you might have too much 
fun reading it, stop right now and remove this text from your 
computer.

This is purely a work of fiction, with all characters and actions 
described by me coming straight out of my imagination.  As a work of 
fiction, it may not reflect my personal views on any of the activities 
or actions described, nor is it based on any type of real events in my 
life, or known to me in the lives of any of my friends or relatives.

You've been warned.

<<present>>  A pending decision, more revelations
<<past>>     Dinner and a show, bad coffee

**********************************************************************

<<past>>

Everything was set for Saturday.  The one regret Betty had was that 
she was forced to cancel another date, something she'd set up with a 
guy from her school.  After she promised to make it up to him another 
time, he'd agreed.  Not that he had much choice.

Robert, her date, was to pick her up at 5:30 before heading for the 
restaurant.  After an early dinner, they'd go to a show.  Later they'd 
play it by ear.  Stacy was a little short on details, like what her 
date was like, where they were going, and what movie they'd be 
seeing.  Betty really didn't care much about those details either.  
She just wanted to go out with Stacy again.  Maybe this time she would 
find out what was going on inside the other girl's head.  That's what 
was important.  As for the guys, if they were anything like the ones 
she knew, they could easily be ignored.

Right on time, there was a knock on the door.  Jonathan answered it.

"Hello, Mr. Brust?  I'm Robert.  Betty's date for tonight.  Is she 
here?"

"Hi Robert.  Come on in.  Betty said she'd be ready in a few minutes.  
Have a seat."

Jonathan liked the looks of this guy.  Big, maybe six-one, six-two, 
strong, well-developed muscles, a fair bit over 200 pounds, but with a 
gentle face.  Good looking, especially wearing the suit and tie.  It 
fit well, obviously tailored.  He was happy that his daughter was 
dating nice guys.

After a few minutes of conversation (pumping for info), it turned out
the guy was seventeen, in the same school as Stacy, got good grades, 
and was into football, rugby, and weight-lifting.  His name was 
Robert, not Rob, or Bob, as Jonathan mistakenly called him.  He 
surprised Jonathan by also admitting to liking the theatre, especially 
musicals, and about learning to play the flute.  It didn't seem to fit 
the jock image Jonathan had formed.

Betty came out into the living room.  Both of the men stared.

She had tried to make everything perfect for her date.  Her hair was 
brushed and styled and her makeup put on just so.  She was wearing a 
calf-length pale silver-grey dress which was very sleek and 
form-fitting, along with a matching vest/wrap, shoes, and purse.  In 
the daylight it didn't really go with her hair and skin, but later, in 
the evening, it would be spectacular.  Judging by the looks on those 
two guys faces, it was pretty good right now.

Jonathan recovered first since he was generally used to seeing his
daughter - but not used to seeing her look that good.

"My, don't you look fabulous today."

"Thanks, Dad."  She did a pirouette, flaring out the hem of her dress,
showing off a bit of her slim legs.  The heels she had on gave her
calves a bit more shape and dimension which made them even more 
beautiful.

Robert recovered his breath.  "Yes Betty.  You look stunning."  
Suddenly he grinned.  "Elizabeth, you are beautiful.  Stacy could 
never have prepared me for this moment.  Mere words could not do you 
justice.  You are a vision, sent from heaven.  Come, before my madness 
ends, your carriage awaits, and beyond that, dinner and the theater."

During this speech, he'd gone over, taken Betty's hand, and led her
out the door.  This was something new to both her and her father, and
neither were prepared for it.

"Farewell.  Your daughter's safe return will always be foremost in my
mind."

He closed the door, leaving Jonathan alone and speechless in his
house.  Robert was grinning from ear to ear.

"Hi Betty.  I'm Robert, your date for tonight."

He led her down to his car.  'At least', she said to herself, 'it's
a nice normal car.'  If this was any indication, it would be an 
interesting evening.

She had no idea where Robert learned his manners from, but as she 
found out, he was a perfect gentleman all night.  This was a far cry 
from the normal guys she was used to dating.

"Betty, are you all right?  You haven't said anything since we left
your place."

"Oh.  Sorry Robert.  You sort of overwhelmed me a little."  Actually,
she was wondering where Stacy found this guy.  It had to be a setup, 
because guys like this don't go on blind dates, no matter how 
beautiful the girl is supposed to be.  What the hell was she up to?

"That's all right.  I guess I laid it on a bit thick back there.  I 
wanted to shock your father.  He pegged me as Mr. Dumb Jock as soon
as he saw me at the door.  I was also very impressed when I saw you.
You are truly a beautiful young lady.  You're going to make some 
person very happy one day."

"Flatterer."  Betty tried not to take him seriously, but she was
impressed by his earnestness and charm.  They chatted together all the
way to the restaurant.

It wasn't crowded yet, still being early, but it was getting busy.  
They spotted Stacy in a booth near the entrance.  Betty guessed that 
the guy sitting beside her was Jordan, the other half of this double 
date.  Their heads were together, him talking and her laughing.

He looked tall.  Sitting beside Stacy, he was two or three inches 
taller than her 5'11", so he was probably around 6'2" or 6'3".  He was 
long and lean, slim, but with hard muscles, black hair, and dark brown 
eyes.  Definitely good looking.

She was outfitted in a long blue dress, moderate heels, matching 
purse, and a very pretty sapphire necklace.  The dress was modest in 
design, covering her up almost completely from her shoulders to below 
her knees.  It was form-fitting enough to show off her graceful figure 
and included a belt to emphasize her slim waist.

When they came up, Jordan stood to greet Betty.  (Whoops - Betty only
came up to the middle of his chest.  Better make that 6'6" or more.)
He was also wearing a suit and tie and it looked great on him.  It was
obvious, even through the clothes, that he had a great body.  When the 
introductions were over, they all sat, Jordan beside Stacy and Robert 
beside Betty.

Jordan was also a very charming, genuinely nice person.  He was 
nineteen, going to college, and enrolled in an arts program.  He was 
heavily involved in theater and dance, played violin, banjo, flute and 
piano (all equally badly according to him) and worked out regularly 
with Robert in the weight room and on the track.

As soon as she thought it polite, she excused herself to the ladies 
room and dragged Stacy with her.

"Stacy!  I'm mad at you!  What the hell are you trying to do to me?  
Here I am, all set to spend an evening with you and a couple of dumb 
guys, and you throw these ringers in here.  What gives?"

Stacy looked very serious for a moment.  "You meant what you said, 
then, that you wanted to go out with me.  It wasn't a bad joke."

Now Betty was getting upset and confused.  "Yes I did mean it.  What 
did you think, that I was monkeying around or something?  Because if 
I've made a total fool of myself, I should go home now."

"I don't think you need to do that.  C'mere and give me a hug, right 
now."  The two girls embraced each other, neither saying anything.  It 
was something Betty hadn't expected, not this soon.  Holding the other 
girl in her arms did feel really nice.  She was soft and warm, and 
Betty's head fit so nicely on the taller girl's shoulder, just below 
her jaw.

There was also warmth and emotion being returned in the blonde's
tight hold.  Betty could feel this in those arms wrapped around her, 
and in the rapid heartbeat and breathing of the other girl.  It was 
the way one arm was holding her close by the waist, the other arm 
higher, near the shoulder, and the way her head dipped down and into 
Betty's hair that made her feel this was a lover's embrace, not a 
friends.  She returned in kind, pulling Stacy closer and gently moving 
her head against the taller girl's neck and shoulder, letting her know 
that this hug was being enjoyed.  Unexpected it might have been, but 
it was most pleasant, and told Betty everything she wanted to know.

Breaking apart, Stacy spoke first.

"You're partly right, and I apologize.  Those two guys are ringers.  I
had to know if you felt anything for me.  Either one of those guys
could charm the cuckoo out of his clock, and if you were more 
interested in them than in me, I'd know your true feelings.  I'm 
sorry."

"Apology accepted.  For the longest time, I didn't know if I was 
really attracted to you or not.  There was too much fear in there.  
Why did you wait so long before saying anything?"

"Betty, I think we should talk about this later, in private.  We've 
got two men out there waiting for their dates."

"Right.  You found them, you tell them that we're not interested.  
This was your idea."

"Not a chance!  I'm looking forward to dinner and a movie.  I don't 
get out much, and I'm gonna make the best of it.  Besides, I told you 
they were ringers.  They're safe.  Just enjoy the evening."

"What do you mean they're safe?  They've got wives or girlfriends or
something?  That doesn't stop men from trying, you know that."

"I'd better tell you then.  Remember, this is a secret just between
you, me, and them.  You promise to keep it that way?  All right.  No, 
they're not married, and they don't have girlfriends.  They're both 
gay."

"No!  You can't be serious!  I mean, those are two of the nicest guys 
I've ever met!"

"Believe it.  They've been serious with each other for years.  I said
they were safe."

"Oh, God.  What a loss to the female population.  Two great guys, just
poof, gone.  How come it's all the good ones that get snatched up 
first?"

That broke them both up, giggling and laughing.  

"Now Betty, be serious for a minute.  Those two guys are taking a real
chance with us.  They don't want to be found out.  Both of them date
regularly just to put on a good show.  They're too nice to be treated
badly.  You will keep their secret, won't you."

"Yes Stacy, I will.  They are nice guys."

When they finally  made it back to the table, Betty, feeling very 
daring, gave Robert a peck on the cheek.

"Sorry we were gone so long.  Did you miss me?"

Robert blushed, and Jordan looked like he might be a touch upset.  At
least, he did until Stacy gave him a smooch and started nibbling on 
his ear.  Betty winked at him and he smiled.

"So, what movie are we going to see?"  Stacy asked, looking around the
table.

Robert and Jordan looked at each other, then looked at Stacy.  At 
almost the same time they said "Movie?"

Using her most ferocious scowl, Stacy glared at Jordan.  "Don't you 
dare.  You promised me we'd be going to a movie.  I've been looking 
forward to this all week!"

The two guys looked at each other again.  Robert grinned and, using a 
very polite, almost Victorian English tone of voice, spoke.  "Mr. 
Jordan, did you promise Mademoiselle Stacy that this evening's 
entertainment would be highlighted by a moving picture?"

Jordan grinned back, looking at Robert, using the same sort of voice.
"I most certainly did not, Mr. Robert.  I haven't the foggiest idea 
where she could have gotten such a fanciful notion.  I certainly had 
no intention of going to a moving picture this evening.  You may 
inform her of that fact."

By this time, Robert, Jordan, and Betty were all grinning from ear to 
ear.  Stacy wasn't, because she'd been looking forward to one of her 
few evenings out.  There was something going on though, these two were
having just a bit too much fun.  She just didn't know what.

Betty was smiling because she thought she knew what this was about, 
and was getting very excited about it.  Robert's slip of the tongue 
back at her place had given her the clue she needed.

"Mademoiselle Stacy, Mr. Jordan informs me that he did not, in fact,
offer to take you to a moving picture.  Since he is a man of honor, I
believe him.  Now then, in order to clear up any misunderstandings, 
could you please tell me what his exact words were when he invited you 
out for the evening?"

There was definitely something going on, but she just couldn't figure 
it out.  It looked like even Betty was in on the joke.

"He said, and I quote, 'Stacy, how about double-dating next Saturday.
You, me, Robert, and one of your lady friends.  I feel like going 
out.  Nothing real fancy, just dinner and a movie.'  Now you tell me 
where that lets Mr. Not-So-Nice here off the hook."

"Mr. Jordan.  I ask you again.  Did you invite Mademoiselle Stacy out 
to dinner and a moving picture this evening?  The lady informs me that 
you did in fact promise her this, and has quoted you verbatim as 
proof."

"No, Mr. Robert, I did not.  However, I could not help but overhear 
your conversation with the lady, and I do believe that she 
misremembers our conversation.  A very slight flaw, but 
understandable.

"All right you two, cut the nonsense.  You've all had your laugh.  Now 
how about letting me in on your little secret.  Even Betty over there 
is ready to split a gut."

"Okay, okay.  Sheesh, can't a guy have a little fun anymore?  I mean, 
in this day and age, a little joking gets a guy into a lot of 
trouble.  What's the world coming to, anyway?  Is there no more mirth 
and merr..."  Stacy cut him off.

"SPILL IT, JACK, OR YOU'RE IN DEEP SHIT!"  Stacy was whispering, but
several people at nearby tables turned to look.

"Right.  One.  We're going to a show.  Two.  We're not going to a 
movie.  Betty, you tell her."

"Stacy, I think they're taking us to a real show.  A real one!"

"If you two are funnin' us girls, you'll be in it deep, with no 
shovel."

"Nope.  No funnin'.  Four tickets to go see Phantom of the Opera.  
Center aisle, twelve rows back.  Absolutely perfect."

"You miserable bastard!  Making me go through all that, just so you 
could pull off a stunt like this!  I oughtta knock your block off!"

Instead, she leaned over and gave Jordan a kiss on the cheek.

"Now you've really got me excited!  When do we go?"

"First dinner, then show.  It starts at eight, so we have plenty of 
time."


The rest of the evening was just as much fun.  The guys were 
delightful, the girls excited and happy, and the show was spectacular, 
as expected.  This was the first stage show Betty had ever been to, 
and it was fantastic.

By the time the show was over, it was too late for Stacy and Betty to
get together for a talk, so it would have to wait for later.  

When Robert dropped off Betty, he was again a gentleman.  He walked
her to her door and gave her a really nice goodnight kiss.  They stood
there for a while, his arms around her waist, her arms around his 
neck, almost kissing, but instead talking.

"Robert, you'd better be careful.  Keep this up, and some girl's gonna
fall in love with you."

"Well, Betty, I guess it would hafta be unrequited love, 'cause I'm
already taken."

"<sigh>  I guess I am too.  'Course, a few kisses now and then never 
hurt nobody, right?"

"So true.  As someone once said, a kiss is just a kiss."

"Y'know, I almost wish I'd met you before, well, you two."

"No, you don't.  Before I met Jordan, I was your prototypical 
ignoramus jock, dumb as a fencepost, blatantly stupid and unfeeling.  
He's the one that made me realize there was much more to life than 
pounding some other dumb jock into the dirt out on the field.  Now 
don't get me wrong, I still like doing that, but it's not the only 
thing in my life anymore."

"You're sure not the same as any of those dumb jocks I've dated.  
Well, I'd better go in now.  My dad's given up on peeking through the 
curtain.  Now he's standing there watching.  I think he's really 
curious.  This is the first time I've ever stood out here talking with 
my date after a goodnight kiss."

"Good.  I hope you leave him curious, especially after you tell him
where you went."

After another quick kiss and, well, just for show, yet another, they 
said goodnight.  Betty went inside to face her father.


He was sitting in his chair with his book, apparently reading.  Betty
wondered how he managed to get from the window to his chair so fast.

"Oh, hi.  You're home, and right on time, too.  How was your date?"

"He was really nice.  Robert and Jordan are both wonderful guys."

"So, what did you have for dinner, and what movie did you see?  I want
to know all the gory details."

"Dinner?  Oh, right.  Dinner.  Come to think of it, I don't remember 
what I had."

"Betty, what's going on?  You did go out for dinner, didn't you?"

"Yes, Dad.  We did go out to dinner.  It's just that Jordan told us 
what show we were going to see before we ordered.  I guess I was so 
excited I never paid any attention to that minor detail."

"What possible movie could get you that excited?"

"That's just it, Dad!  It wasn't a movie!  He took me to a real show!
It was fantastic!  We saw Phantom of the Opera!  I've never seen 
anything like it!  He's promised me he'll take me to another show some 
day soon too!"

They sat there together, talking about the show and her date for more 
than an hour before Jonathan finally begged off, claiming he needed at 
least a couple hours sleep before morning.



**********************************************************************

<<present>>

"Okay.  Betty, I think what Joyce is saying is that if we want to keep 
seeing each other, and I certainly do, then you're going to have to 
move out of your father's house.  There's no way that I could come 
around there without him knowing about it, and he terrifies me.  I'm 
not sure I know where Joyce has in mind for you to go, but I think 
that's the only way we can have any time together."

"Well Stacy, you're mostly right, and I do know of one place where 
she'd be welcome, even if neither of you have thought of it yet.  You 
should move in together, of course."

Both looked at Joyce, a little stunned.  Then the corners of Stacy's 
mouth started to curl upward as she ran the idea around in her mind.

"No, I hadn't thought of that."

"Joyce, you think I should move out?  That would break my father's 
heart.  He does love me, I know, despite his yelling and arguing.  He 
really does.  I don't know if I could do this to him."

"Betty, it's time for some hard facts.  You don't know too much about 
why your mother left, do you?  You were only twelve at the time, and 
missed much of what happened around you."

"I know that she left dad to move in with another woman, in what dad 
calls 'an obscene lesbian affair'.  He's hated her ever since, blaming 
her for the breakup.  It's part of why I'm almost ashamed of what 
Stacy and I are doing.  It hurts him so much."

"That's part of it, but certainly not the whole story.  Now to fill 
you in on the parts your father never told you.  Like Patsy."

"I know she had something to do with it, but Dad never talks about 
what went on between the two of them before the breakup."

"Well, your father was having an affair with Patsy for almost two 
years before your mother found out.  After all the arguments and 
recriminations were over with, it ended up a stalemate.  Jonathan told 
your mother that he loved her, and only her, but she couldn't give him 
everything he needed.  Patsy made up for the things he was missing in 
his life, and he couldn't give her up.  So Marion would just have to 
understand.  He didn't see anything wrong with what he was doing, and 
she should be a better wife."

"Diana, that's the person your mom moved in with, by the way, had been 
your mother's friend for years.  We all knew Diana was bi-sexual, but 
since she never really came onto any of us, it was okay.  That's who 
your mother turned to for help and comfort.  Diana was not a person to 
put up with the B.S. your father was spewing, so she loudly and 
publicly dressed him down on several occasions.  Your mother wouldn't 
leave Jonathan though, because she did love him, and you, and didn't 
want to break up the family.  That changed very suddenly."

"Jonathan saw how Marion had been going over to Diana's more and 
more frequently.  He accused her of having a lesbian love affair on 
the side and trying to ruin all of their reputations.  Her answer was 
'So what if I am?  You've got your mistress, what's the problem?'  
That's when he became unglued, yelling and shouting at her, calling 
her a whore and a bitch and other things I won't repeat.  And that's 
when he hit her.  He apologized immediately, of course, saying he was 
sorry over and over again, that he didn't mean to do anything like 
that and he'd never do it again."

"Your mother was packed up and gone the next day, before Jonathan got 
home from work.  She did move in with Diana.  They had not been lovers 
before, but certainly were afterwards.  It was months before she could 
bring herself to talk to me about what happened.  That's when she made 
me promise to keep an eye out for you, to make sure you didn't end 
up like she did."

Betty sat quietly for a long time, picking at her dinner, thinking 
about what Joyce had told her, about what her Dad had said, and the 
way he was acting.  She had a hard time believing that he had actually 
hit her mother.  The parts about Patsy and her father's excuses for 
taking a mistress she had no trouble believing, since she had listened 
in on most of her parents' arguments, and had long since pieced 
together most of the story.

"I'm going to have to think about this for a while.  Besides, I'm not 
sure I could manage living away from home.  I'd need a job, but I want 
to finish school and go to college.  Without dad's support, I don't 
think I could do it."

"You don't need to worry about that.  Your mother would be more than 
happy to help out in any way she can, financially or otherwise.  She 
does still love you, you know."

"Joyce, I haven't seen or spoken to my mother since she left, five
years ago.  I doubt she even remembers I'm alive."

"Well, that's more of your father's handiwork.  When your mother left, 
he forbade her from ever coming near him or his daughter again, saying 
she'd 'pervert your impressionable young mind' or some such nonsense.  
He threatened her with some nasty consequences if he ever found out 
that she had spoken to you."

"I get the impression you've been in contact with Betty's mother 
recently."  Stacy was looking at Joyce, still with that bit of a 
smile, wondering what other secret intrigues she had hidden away in 
her grey head.

"Well, yes, this morning actually."


**********************************************************************

<<past>>

Stacy called the next morning, inviting Betty out for coffee, saying
that they had to have a talk.  That afternoon Betty found herself
in a small, out-of-the-way cafe not too far from home.  The place was
almost deserted, with only one other patron and the waiter keeping the
establishment from feeling like a morgue.

This wasn't going to be fun.  Stacy looked too serious, and had 
ignored all attempts at conversation during the drive here.  She 
didn't know what to expect, so she waited for the older girl to 
start.

"Betty, this may get difficult, especially for you.  Please be 
patient, and think before you say anything.  I don't want any harsh 
words to ruin what... "  She trailed off for a moment.  "What do you 
think our relationship is, yours and mine, right now?  Please be 
honest, for both our sakes."

Feeling confused and a touch scared at how this started, Betty sipped 
on her coffee.  She took a few minutes to try and figure out how to 
respond to this question.

"I'm not sure how to answer you.  I've never fallen for another girl
before, so I have nothing to compare to.  If you were a guy, I'd hope
we'd be going steady soon.  It's not a crush, I've had those before, 
and this is different.  I don't know how to describe it.  That one 
night you took me out, it was one of the most pleasant evenings I've 
ever had.  It wasn't just the restaurant or the food or the wine.  It 
took me a long time to realize that I enjoyed that night because I was 
with you, and you were being completely yourself."

"God, this is gonna be hard.  Betty, I like you, and I'm attracted to 
you.  Nothing will change that.  I enjoy your company because you are 
a very nice person.  I just can't become serious with you, not now.  
When we went out that night, remember I said I'd broken up with my 
lover some months earlier?  Well, she came back that weekend and we 
patched up our differences.  We've been together ever since."

"Is that why you were so cold to me again?  Because you had your lover
back?  So why did you invite me out last night?"

"Betty, it's all because you are so hard to read!  You don't have the 
face or the body language to tell me how you feel!  I needed a safe 
way to find out if you were attracted to me or not.  There was no way 
for me to know that you'd fallen for me after one night.  Especially 
since a month had gone by without you saying or doing anything to 
encourage me."

"You didn't answer my question.  If you're going steady with someone,
why did you invite me out on a date?"

"I invited you because I have feelings for you, and I thought you 
might have some for me.  It was a very difficult thing for me to do.  
My lover satisfies my deeper physical needs, but isn't much 
emotionally.  And there's no way I could take her on a date like last 
night.  I was hoping that we could become close friends.  I need 
someone to talk to, to share time with, where I can relax and just be 
me.  That's what it was like with you when we went to Annabella's.  
I've missed that feeling ever since."

"But I tho..."  Betty paused for a minute.

"It looks like I have made a fool of myself.  I read more into those
two nights than I should have.  I am an inexperienced young girl, 
blundering around in things I don't understand."

"Don't say that!  You are not a fool.  I'm the one who should be
apologizing to you, the way I've acted."

"No, Stacy.  You've described what you want.  You want the same thing 
my father wanted.  You want to keep your lover, and you want to keep 
a mistress on the side, to satisfy those needs your lover can't."

"It's not like that at all!"

"No?  Well, physically or emotionally, I would only be a mistress.  I
can't be one.  I never would have thought you'd be like my father."

"Don't think of it like that!  It's not!  I want you to be my 
friend!"

"Is that the polite word for it in your circles?  Friend?  No, Stacy.
I can't be just your friend.  I don't know much, but I do know my own
feelings now.  It wouldn't work."

"Please Betty, don't say that.  Why are you making this so hard on 
me?  I care too much for you for this to happen!"

"You really don't understand, do you?  It's not just your feelings.  
It's mine too.  And you've just stepped all over mine.  I can't, I 
won't, share.  Anyway, I've had enough coffee for a long time.  I'll 
walk home from here.  Goodby, Stacy."

"No, Betty, please.  Not like this.  Please!"

Betty got up and left, ignoring Stacy's final words.  Her eyes were 
blurring, her throat tight and painful.  The walk home was difficult, 
as she was determined not to cry in public.  The humiliation, knowing 
what she'd unwittingly walked into, burned deep, almost as deep as her 
shame, realizing she was almost willing to go along with what Stacy 
wanted.  Knowing the suffering caused by such a triangle, having seen 
it in her father, mother, and Patsy, made that impossible.

The only break she got that day was when she got home - Dad was out.
Safely in her bedroom, she could think again.  Was Stacy really like 
her father?  She had a lover.  He'd had a wife.  She needed more than 
her lover could give.  He'd wanted more than his wife could give.  She 
wanted Betty to fill those needs.  He'd gotten Patsy to fulfill his.  
'It matches, I guess.'

Betty knew that she could never put herself in Patsy's position, being
the cause, however indirectly, of the breakup of a relationship.  Even
if the relationship was flawed.

Could she even imagine sharing her lover, whether Stacy, or anyone, 
with somebody else?  No ... never.  Besides, came a lonely whisper in 
the back of her mind, what if she were Stacy's lover.  Would Stacy 
take a mistress on her? 

Somewhere in with those thoughts came a resolution never to fall into 
a trap like this again.  

It was obvious now that Stacy was a mistake, something to be learned
from, something to move on from.  There was no way she could become
Stacy's lover, not after finding out what the older girl was looking
for.

Having made her decisions, it was time to get on with the rest of her
life.  There were only two things left to deal with.

There was an empty feeling in her chest.

Her cheek still tingled.


**********************************************************************

<<present>>

"Come on Joyce, how could you do this to me!  You've been talking with 
my mother and never told me about it?"

"Betty, I've talked with your mother at least once a week ever since 
she left.  We were close friends, and she was depending on me to look 
after her daughter.  I made a promise to keep it a secret until I felt 
the time was right for you to know.  She does still love you and wants 
you to be happy.  Your mother has also promised to help out in any way 
she can."

"This has been a very stressful day for you both, I'm sure.  I think 
we should get going.  You two are going to have to think about what's 
been said here.  Betty, you've probably got the hardest decision to 
make, so I think you should spend some time on it, a few days or 
possibly even weeks.  I think Stacy will be answering her phone from 
now on though."

"Yeah.  Elizabeth, no matter what happens or what you decide, just 
remember that I will still love you."  Stacy sealed that statement 
with a kiss.

Joyce had driven almost all the way home before Betty spoke.

"Joyce, do you think I could speak with my mother?"

"I'm sure she'd be very happy to talk with you.  Come over after
school tomorrow or Monday, and I'll see what I can arrange."

The rest of the drive was quiet.  When Betty walked in, her Dad 
was sitting up, watching TV.  After a few questions about dinner
and the restaurant, Betty excused herself, claiming she had homework.
What she wanted to do was think about everything that had happened. 

Could she move out on her father?  It would hurt him deeply, that she 
was sure of.  Could she go on with the way things were, only seeing 
Stacy at odd times, in secret, away from Dad?  That hadn't been 
working at all.  They had slowly moved apart, almost to the point of 
losing each other.  Besides, they'd be risking another confrontation.  
With the strange things her Dad was doing lately, she didn't know what 
to expect from him anymore.  If she moved out, she'd need a place to 
stay, probably with Stacy, and she'd need money, more than she was 
getting from her part-time job.  There were too many things that cost, 
and expecting Stacy to support her was just too much.  She did want to
finish high school and go to college.  Joyce's promises of help from
Mom were just a little too nebulous to really depend on.  Maybe if
she could talk to her mother, like they used to, it wouldn't be so 
bad.  Did her Dad really make it so Mom and her were completely 
separated?  That was a really scary thought.  If he could do that, he 
could do almost anything.

'Christ!  Why can't Dad just accept the fact that Stacy and I love 
each other.  It would make my life so much easier!'


School the next day was a little better.  At least she could 
concentrate on what the teachers were talking about.  A couple of her 
friends commented that she looked happier too, more like her usual 
self.  She did feel a lot better, knowing that Stacy loved her.

There was a surprise waiting for her when she got home.  Patsy, her
Dad's girlfriend, was there packing up his things for a trip.

"Lizzy!  How nice to see you again!  How's my sweet little girl 
doing?"

Betty put up with this, and the hug and kiss, without showing any of 
the distaste she felt.  Patsy was her usual self, bubbling over with 
false enthusiasm, talking a mile a minute, usually not even listening 
to herself.  Her smile never reached her eyes, and her ever-present 
giggle and laugh rarely seemed genuine.

"Johnny called me last night and told me we'd all be going to the 
beach for the weekend.  It sounded so wonderful, I just couldn't wait 
to get going.  I came over to pack his things so we'd all be ready to 
go as soon as lover-boy gets off work.  Isn't this exciting?  And so 
sudden!"

"Please, Patsy, my name is Elizabeth or Betty.  Not Liz, Lizzy, 
Lizbeth, Betsy, or any of those other nicknames you use.  I don't like 
them."

"Oh, that's okay.  You know I love you anyway Betsy.  Now you'd better 
go get packed up.  Your dad's leaving work early, so we'd better be 
ready to go soon."

"I won't be going to the beach.  It's just you two this time.  I hope 
you have lots of fun."

"Don't be silly.  Of course you're coming.  Johnny said it would be 
the three of us.  So don't give me any of that nonsense about not 
coming, and go get packed up.  You don't have much time to get ready 
you know."

"No, really, I'm not going to the beach.  I've got some things I need 
to do this weekend and can't get away."  This was partly true, since 
there was a basketball game set for Saturday.  Her coach had already
excused her from participating though, since she didn't seem mentally 
fit to play.

"Come on now, what kind of attitude is that.  We're both looking 
forward to spending a nice weekend with you.  He'll be heartbroken if 
he finds out you don't want to go.  You wouldn't want to do that to 
him, would you."

"Patsy, I already told him I wasn't going.  He didn't listen either.  
The only reason he set this up is because he thinks I need to get 
away."

"So what's wrong with that?  It just proves that he cares about you.  
It certainly wouldn't hurt you to do something to make him happy for a 
change, now would it.  I mean, how hard could it be, spending two 
glorious days in the sun, with lots of sand, the ocean, seabirds 
flying overhead, and all those delicious near-naked guys roaming all 
over the beach.  Most girls would be drooling at the prospect.  Now 
quit being silly and go get ready."

Patsy could be very persuasive when she wanted to be.  Betty knew, 
though, that the only reason Patsy was trying to convince her to go 
was because the trip would probably be off without her.  There was 
always an ulterior motive, usually selfish, behind anything she 
said.

"No Patsy, not this time.  Anyway, I've got some studying to do.  I'll
be in my room if you need anything."  She turned and headed for her 
room.  Patsy got in the last word, like usual.

"Your dad's not going to like this, Lizzy.  I hope you change your 
mind before he gets home."



**********************************************************************

<<End of chapter 3>>

Next chapter
<<present>>  Confrontation and a slap in the face, aftermath, 
             even more secrets
<<past>>     A long cold summer, a better fall, a Christmas card, 
             a dinner date


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