Page 45 of James

She nodded vigorously. “Yes, that!”

“Fancy meeting you here.” She held out her hand. “I’m Suzie Kaspar.”

James took her hand in his. “James Black.” Then he gestured to his friend, “And Chris Smith.”

Suzie offered Chris her hand to shake, but he turned the back of her hand upwards and kissed it instead.

Suzie let out a startled laugh, blushing as she composed herself and gestured to her children. “These are my children, Tim and Abby.”

“Mom, he already knew our names.” Tim turned to James. “How do you know our names, sir?”

James was impressed the boy had caught that. “That’s because I know your aunt, and she’s told me a lot about you two.”

Both Chris and Suzie made startled noises, looked at each other and then gaped at James. Almost simultaneously, Chris burst out with a triumphant "Laundromat Lady has a sister!" while Suzie playfully slapped her forehead and exclaimed, "Well, of course,James!" Their eyes met once more, exchanging a knowing glance before their faces blossomed into shared smiles.

Suzie recovered from her surprise and asked the men, “Why don’t you join us? Laura has been wanting us to meet you, James, and I bet our father will want to meet you, too.” She gestured to the table where the older man was sitting, oblivious to the encounter.

Abby started bouncing up and down. “Oh yes, will you? Please?” She stretched the word and folded her hands as if in prayer.

“If you’re sure you don’t mind us barging in on a family dinner?” James asked.

“No problem.” Suzie turned and gestured. “Please. Come join us. The more the merrier.”

Chris and James walked with Tim and Suzie. Abby, of course, was already rushing toward her grandfather. She had a lot of force for such a small body.

As Chris pulled over two extra chairs, Laura emerged from the restroom. Suzie caught her attention with a wave, and said, “Look who I found.”

Laura’s puzzled smile of greeting became a perfect O of surprise when James turned around, and his cock immediately hardened at the thought of using that pink wet mouth. She rushed over and he pulled her at once into his embrace, not only shielding his erection, butholding her again in his arms where she belonged. Win-win. He rested his chin on her shoulder and offered his hand to the sitting man. “You must be Laura’s father. I’m James Black.”

Dan stood and gave him a firm, friendly shake. “Dan Turner, James. I’ve been wanting to meet you for some time, to thank you for looking after my daughter in the tornado. Mrs. Beatrice told me how dangerous it was that night and how you kept coming back to the laundromat looking for Laura. So,” he drawled, looking the two of them, still embracing, up and down with a broad smile. “Are you twotogether-together yet?”

Laura blustered, pink to the tips of her ears, then almost desperately changed the subject. “Mrs. Beatrice? You mean Mrs. Shepherd from the laundromat?”

Now it was Dan’s turn to blush. He cleared his throat, fussing with his plate, and said, “Ah yeah, about that … I’ve been meaning to tell you.” He rubbed his hand through his thinning hair. “I, well, I have been seeing Mrs. Beatrice for a couple of months now and, ah…”

The women exchanged glances before their focus returned to Dan Turner.

Laura pulled herself together first, “Well, Dad, that’s wonderful. She seems like a lovely lady to me. How is her ankle, by the way?”

“Much better, thank you,” said a rough, rolling voice behind her. “I would have told you sooner if you’d come around to the laundromat, but I suppose you’ve found another, as you young folks tend to do during your times of inconvenience. There was customer loyalty in my day, but times do change, I suppose. You’re looking quite well, my dear, you and your gentleman friend both.”

Laura turned and Dan leapt up to offer his armas Mrs. Shepherd joined them, looking much brighter and years younger than the last time Laura had seen her. Dan took her peacoat and hat – a tattered felt cloche with a few perky beaded feathers and a fresh dahlia, as big as a fist, brightening up the headband – and pulled out her chair for her, stealing a kiss when she offered her cheek. It felt strange to see her outside of the laundromat, and there was something else, something about her mouth, with its shiny coating of lipstick in a demure shade of candied plum. Then Laura’s arm dropped to the discrete patch on the older woman’s arm, just peeking from the sleeve of her autumnal dress, and she realized what was missing.

Mrs. Shepherd followed her gaze to the nicotine patch and shrugged. “I wouldn’t want to be indulging my vices around Mr. Dan’s grandchildren. Hello, young sir, young lady!”

“Hello, Mrs. Beatrice,” the kids chorused as Suzie stared at them in astonishment.

“It’s a filthy habit anyhow. Besides, I figured I might just want to stick around a little longer. Been a month. It’s getting easier. I can finally keep up with him on our morning runs, when I stay over. I know he slows down some for me,” she added, leaning toward Laura. “He doesn’t think I know, but I know.”

“When you…” Suzie echoed faintly.

Mrs. Shepherd gave her a long look, then said, “For a young lady with two children, I’m a surprised you haven’t been told, but all right. When a man and a woman love each other very much —”

“Okay,” Suzie said quickly. “Yes, I know that part!”

“I’m so happy for you,” Laura exclaimed, sliding into her chair and forcing James to sit beside her to keep hisinsistent arousal under the table. “We’re happy for you both, aren’t we, sis?”

“Well, yes,” Suzie stammered, beginning to smile. “I thought… Well, never mind what I thought, I’m so glad I was wrong. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Shepherd!”

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