The Ladies on Carrick Road by Kate Sweeney

Author:Kate Sweeney [Sweeney, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Intaglio Publications
Published: 2018-10-12T22:00:00+00:00

“This is like a supper club back home.” Jackie sat next to Claire.

“I know.” Rose settled next to Mel. “It reminds me of the places in Wisconsin. So quaint. Mel and I fell in love with this when we first came down here.”

Mel picked up the menu. “They sure love their barbecue around here.”

“What’s a supper club?” Claire looked up. “What? I’ve never heard of them.”

“It’s a Midwest thing,” Mel said.

“It’s a restaurant usually in a vacation spot,” Rose said. “Sometimes it’s the only upscale place in a rural area. It’s more casual and homey with simple menus and a fish fry on Friday night.”

Jackie laughed. “Good old fish fry. Plenty of tartar sauce.”

They settled on a barbecue sampler platter with beer all around. Jackie stole a glance at Claire while she chatted away with Rose. Claire had a great laugh. It was not too loud but contagious. She’d be great in a comedian’s audience. Rose kept filling her with stories, and Claire kept laughing.

Mel sat back, drank her beer, and smiled. “I could listen to your aunt all night.”

Jackie picked up a rib. “You have no choice.”

“True,” Mel agreed.

“So,” Claire said, finishing her beer. “Tell me how you met.”

“Are you sure it’s safe?” Jackie asked, looking at Rose.

Rose laughed. “For now, yes. But first, I want to apologize about your room.”

“Why don’t I believe you?” Claire asked.

Rose opened her mouth, then shut it.

“Amazing,” Mel said. “I’ve never seen you speechless.”

“There’s no need to apologize,” Claire said.

“Yes, there is,” Jackie countered, wagging a rib bone at Rose.

“It’s fine with both of us, Rose,” Claire said. “We’re both adults.”

“Wonderful,” Rose said with a sly grin.

“I just think we should get to know each other a little better before we wash each other’s back.”

Jackie nearly choked on her barbecue. Mel leaned over and slapped her on the back.

“Are you all right?” Rose asked sweetly.

Jackie grabbed her napkin while glaring. “I’m fine.”

“So you’ll get to know each other,” Rose said with a flourish. “Not like when we were young, eh, Mel?”

“I hear the wistful tone and a story coming on,” Jackie said.

“Oh, shush.” Rose let out a happy sigh, regarding Claire. “The seventies. We were still talking about Woodstock. Oh, the music. Fresh out of college when lesbians didn’t care about convention. Watergate and Nixon said he wasn’t a crook, no one believed him. The war in Vietnam was raging, and so were our hormones. Oh, what a time we had.” She leaned back and sighed once again. “I started teaching little rugrats and had a rollicking time. Then I met this one. Took her years and years before she realized she was in love with me.”

Mel laughed. “I wasn’t looking for anyone. I was content with my job and the occasional date. I had no idea how much I loved you until you weren’t around anymore.”

“What happened?” Claire asked.

“She had cold feet,” Rose said. “Her heart was on the roam…”

“Ah, the song,” Claire said.

“Yep. I had to let her go,” Rose said seriously, if she could be serious.

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