Chapter Text
The air was still crisp yet colder in the days of the fading autumn season. The atmosphere was now beginning to sing the hymns of an approaching winter even though the clear blue skies still hovered over New York City. Carol couldn’t help but think that this would be the perfect time for her and Therese to take a short road trip against the backdrop of landscapes illuminating the grand and beautiful shades of red, yellow and gold before they dissipate and usher in the new season. Last week, Carol wasn’t able to go with Therese to her photo walk in Prospect Park because she was sick. She felt dejected and wistful the whole day when they couldn’t go together. That day, Therese came by and surprised her in her apartment. Though it might just be a sweet and simple deed, Carol felt like she was the luckiest woman alive having Therese look at her lovingly even at her worst (and disgusting state, if she may say so). To make up for it, Carol planned a short trip for just the two of them around a few small towns in the New York state. Carol knew that Therese would absolutely adore taking photos of the autumn panorama that would befall her eyes along the road and in their destinations. It was the least she could do, and she too was psyched to see how Therese would react to the scenery. She had seen how breathtaking it was from her numerous drives up north even when she was still young. The only catch to this wonderful plan: Carol was going to surprise Therese. At first, it seemed like a failsafe plan.
Carol called Therese when early Saturday morning came. She was fully clad in her autumn wear even before the break of dawn.
“Wake up, darling.” Carol’s rich voice hummed on the phone.
“Babe, it’s quarter to five in the morning,” Therese’s eyes adjusted in the dark until she spotted the radio clock illuminating the numbers in light blue glow by her bedside table, “this better be an emergency.” Therese sounded cranky like she hadn’t rested in days. It was only now that Carol realized that Therese might have not had any decent sleep in days due to work. Maybe she won’t be up for the surprise road trip that she had planned.
“Don’t worry. It’s not…”
“Carol…” Therese’s voice was tinged with complaint and surrender-- as if she was accusing Carol of doing something she shouldn’t have. Carol’s anxiety grew. Maybe it wasn’t a great idea after all.
“I’m picking you up. We’re going somewhere.” The blonde hesitantly spoke. “Can you get dressed in half an hour?”
There was stillness on the other line. Carol bit her lip. She regretted having said it. Suddenly, Therese’s sleep-ridden voice came through once more.
“Shouldn’t I be doing the opposite of that?” Therese joked, and it made Carol calm down a little bit. A frisky Therese was a good sign. After Carol and Therese had gotten closer [very close indeed] in the previous weeks, Therese’s other side surfaced. At first meeting, the brunette was a somewhat meek but enchanting young woman who would have sudden bursts of courage to take the steps to show her interest. But as time passed and one got to know her better, Therese was actually playful and cocky-- sometimes even too bold that it doesn’t cease to surprise Carol. Therese giggled, and Carol breathed out a sigh of relief.
“Can you bring a change of clothes as well? Just good for a day.”
The younger woman restrained herself from making another naughty joke and she stifled it with a snicker.
“Sweetheart…” Carol’s tone was reprimanding yet cloying.
“What?” Therese mocked as she pretend to be standoffish.
“Shall I see you in a while?”
“Should I be dressed or undressed when you see me?” Therese snapped once more.
Carol’s silence signified that she was being serious.
“Ok… I got the memo. Geez.” Therese responded while crawling out of her pool of blankets.
The sun was still nowhere in sight when Carol had arrived in front of Therese’s apartment. Carol held tighter to her mink coat as the cold autumn air blew harder outside. She took a generous sip of her warm freshly brewed coffee, leaving a crimson lipstick mark on rim of the cup. Her breath was visible in the air when she exhaled. A few moments later, Therese hopped down from the porch of her apartment building with a bag full of her equipment slung to her back and a small blanket tucked underneath her arm. A huge smile was plastered on her face as soon as she saw her lover leaning on the side of the car. Carol hadn’t noticed Therese come out of the building. Therese took hold of the cup of coffee from Carol’s hands letting her hand warm Carol’s own. The smaller woman stood on the tip of her toes and swooped her other hand on the blonde’s nape to draw her close for a kiss. Carol was surprised as she felt suddenly all warm and fuzzy inside. She smiled into the kiss before they pulled away. Therese cocked a brow as she took a swig from Carol’s coffee, placing her lips where Carol’s lipstick mark was left. The younger woman, although she looked a bit enervated, managed to still be playful around her lover. The younger woman was clad in her usual leather jacket and Carol pointed it out.
“Sweetheart, I know you look great in leather. But wouldn’t you feel cold with that?”
“I have your arms to keep me warm, right?” The brunette shot her a wink, and Carol could only snort at how ridiculous Therese’s comment was, but at the same time, she too was smitten and grateful-- grateful that even with Therese pummeled and exhausted with work that week, she still had time to spend with her. Carol turned to Therese and lingered on her lover with subtle smile on her lips.
“What?” Therese mockingly asked with a grin.
The blonde rolled her eyes with how dorky and cocky her girlfriend could be at the same time.
“You like it when I say those stuff, don’t ya?” Therese wiggled her shoulders on Carol’s arm.
“Oh, don’t flatter yourself, darling.”
Carol opened the passenger door for Therese and shot her a wink too before she slid into the driver’s side of the car. Therese threw her bag at the back seat and removed her jacket. She was already snuggled in her blanket like a burrito and Carol laughed.
“Breakfast or brunch? What do you want to eat?” Carol asked.
Therese just had devilish grin lining up her face. Carol knew what Therese meant.
“Don’t say you want to eat me. Therese, I’m serious.”
“I didn’t say anything,” Therese teased, “you’re the one putting words into my mouth.” She threw her hands up and pretended to be innocent.
Carol pinched Therese’s nose before the car pulled away.
“Where are we headed to?” The brunette asked.
“Anywhere.” Carol simply answered with a knowing smile.
As the sun slowly rose to the skies, wonder set fire in Therese’s eyes. She loved autumn so much. She adored it even more seeing the clusters of trees in the shades of crimson and sunshine embellishing the outskirts of the only home she knew. Carol would pullover if Therese caught sight of something beautiful and she wanted to photograph it. She was filled with joy seeing her lover like that. That was the very reason Carol took Therese in the spontaneous road trip. There was one moment when Therese was taking so long taking a photograph of a row of colonial houses with the backdrop of autumn leaves reflected on the lake. She didn’t notice that Therese was actually snapping shots of her. When she did notice that Therese’s full attentions was on her, she suddenly became very conscious. She ran over Therese trying to take hold of her camera.
“Let me see! I wasn’t ready!”
Therese was quick to take her camera away from Carol’s grasp. She flipped through the gallery and showed Carol a candid photo of her on the display screen flinging her hair towards the back.
“Don’t worry. You look beautiful.” Therese said as she looked at the Carol in front of her instead of the photo.
When Therese wasn’t looking intently at the sceneries they passed by, she playfully fed Carol with snacks since she was driving all the way through. Therese bit into the half of a club sandwich that Carol packed before allowing her to take a mouthful of it. Therese giggled when she saw Carol’s mouth slathered with mayonnaise.
“I won’t be wiping that.” Therese picked on Carol.
“My hands are on the wheel, darling. Can you do it for me?” The driver tried to put on her sweet charms. Therese easily gave in and wiped Carol’s mouth.
“You forgot a spot.”
“Where?” Flustered, Therese observed Carol’s face once more.
Carol turned quickly to Therese, pointed at her own lips and winked at her. Carol was urging her for a kiss. The young woman rolled her eyes. Her lover was playing her own game. Therese folded her arms pretending to be pissed that she was getting beaten at her game. Carol began singing along to the song that played randomly in the radio.
“ Baby, now that I’ve found you I won’t let you go…”
“God, you’re so cheesy, Carol. Stop!” Therese was not a big fan of country music. It surprised her that Carol knew the song.
“ I build my world around you, I need you so…” Carol sang with more gusto this time around. It was her time to tease Therese. She threw her hands up from the wheel at times, rested her hand on Therese’s lap and squeezed her cheek ever so lightly. The younger woman was a bit annoyed.
“...but darling I just can’t let youuuuu!” Carol sang louder.
To shut her up, Therese kissed Carol quickly when she had her lips puckered with the last word. A grin then appeared on Carol’s lips, feeling victorious.
Right before they knew it, sundown quickly turned into night. Along the highway, the pale yellow moon appeared bigger curled in between in the silky black blanket of sky and scintillating stars. Silhouettes of trees appeared in the distance, the colors of its leaves-- scarlets and golds, invisible now to the sight. The only conspicuous lights were the headlights ahead of them, but Carol unconsciously bit her lip and squinted her eyes when an opposite car passed by them. Therese noticed her beautiful companion fixated on the road forward. She smiled. Her gray eyes stood out in the dark, sharp like a fox’s but gentle like the radiance of the moon and the stars. How beautiful her subtleties are, she thought about her lover. Therese turned her attention back in the passing sceneries cloaked in the dimness of the night. She was taken by the silence, of the long road ahead where it was just her and Carol for miles and miles. Therese rolled down the window on her side, leaned towards it and stuck her head just enough to let the wonderful chill of the autumn breeze brush the tip of her nose and cheeks. There were days, Therese thought, when the universe felt like it chose to exist for her. Although it had sounded a bit conceited, now seemed to be like those days. Her loose tresses began blowing with the wind. She shut her eyes tight, letting the feeling of freedom wash over her, invigorate her. Truly, she felt everything all at once. She felt alive. Carol, for a second, took her eyes off the road and lingered on the brunette basking in the marvel of the cold autumn night. The young woman was still cozily wrapped up in her fleece blanket like a burrito. Her profile, still distinct underneath the pale light of the autumn moon. Her features were nothing short of stunning even in the remoteness of light. How Carol wished that the car would take control of itself so she can touch her lover, take her into her arms and adore every inch of her. Therese did feel Carol’s gaze upon her. Without opening her eyes and looking back at the older woman, Therese suddenly spoke: “Eyes on the road, babe.”
Carol shook her head and giggled. She couldn’t help it. For Carol, Therese was absolutely breathtaking, no matter how mundane her actions were. She couldn’t take her eyes off Therese.
“Of course, darling.” Carol spoke pretending to be defeated.
A few beats later, Carol stole another glance at Therese, now making sure that she didn’t drench Therese with a loving look, or at least a look that Therese hopefully wouldn’t notice. The young woman’s face was still turned to the open window. Her dark tresses still blowing with the wind. Carol felt her heart flutter as she caught sight of a smile peering on the corner of her lover’s lips. Carol knew right then and there that she wouldn’t mind the long road ahead with the young beauty by her side.
Half an hour later, street lights became more frequent in the road. It signified that they were nearing a bigger town.
“If we keep going you know we’ll end up in Canada, right?” Therese teased. Carol then decided that they would call it a night at that town. They checked in to a country-house style bed and breakfast near the center of the town. As soon as they got to their room, Therese stowed their bags by the foot of the bed before she collapsed face first on the pool of floral and white duvets and soft pillows. Carol laughed as she witnessed Therese’s antics. Therese turned around and blankly stared at the ceiling as she spread her arms wide. Carol strode by the windows and looked out the silent town.
“I can’t believe I haven’t told you yet.” Therese suddenly spoke.
“Haven’t told me what?” Carol turned her attention to Therese as the young woman propped her head on her arm and looked back at her.
“Dannie’s selling the coffee shop.” The young woman’s voice was sullen.
“Selling it? As far as I know, business seems to be going more than well. Why so sudden?”
“He’s moving to California-- out on a whim. He wants to live somewhere sunny.”
“That’s a waste. They make the best coffee in town-- at least that’s what I think.” Carol reminisced some of the time she spent there. Which coffee shop should she spend her aimless afternoons then if the ‘klatsch was gone?
“Me too.” Therese responded flatly, echoing Carol’s unspoken sentiments about the sudden closing of the shop.
“If I had the money, I’d buy it.” Therese began to have whimsical thoughts about the place.
“Why do you want to buy it?” Carol walked lazily towards the bed and sat beside Therese.
“It’s just that…” Therese averted her eyes from Carol. “You know…” She continued with a smirk on her face like she was about to say something silly. “That’s where we met.”
Therese felt how sentimental her words were. Carol understood why Therese was distressed. The coffee shop was where they had their first memories together. She understood her lover’s anguish. It resonated with her own.
“But we can keep making on memories together… new ones.”
Therese knew what Carol meant. Today was one of the best days she has had in awhile-- she has EVER had, if she need to go to that stretch.
“We’ll have more days like this.” Carol assured her as she extended her hand on Therese’s.
The younger woman smiled. She sat up and toyed with Carol’s hand on her own.
“I know.”
The two lingered on each other’s gazes after the grin on their faces dissipated. The night grew more silent but they both felt their hearts pounding loudly, like each beat would reverberate through the four corners of the room. Therese looked down at her fingers threaded with Carol’s. They fit perfectly. The blonde caressed the side of Therese’s face as she leaned her forehead on her lover’s. She shut her eyes and whispered faintly with a tinge of eagerness,
“Do you… want to?”
She got her answer as Therese grazed her thumb over Carol’s quivering lips and kissed her softly. The younger woman took her lover’s hand and allowed her to trace her collarbones and her chest. She then watched Carol’s hands slowly unbutton her light blue chambray shirt and peeling it off from her shoulders.
“I never looked like that.” Carol spoke as she beheld Therese’s nakedness. Her eyes drenched Therese’s exposed skin with longing.
The two were soon intertwined in each other’s bareness, so close that neither could recognize where their own body began and the other’s ended. Carol’s breath was warm on Therese’s neck. Therese bit her lower lip as Carol’s hands cupped her bosom and squeezed it lightly. Though it was palpable how much they wanted-- needed each other’s touch, they moved in a pace where their desire for each other trickled and would then surge moments later. Carol’s insatiable hand coursed through the side of Therese’s body before her tapered fingers entered the younger woman. A moan escaped Therese as she held on tighter to Carol’s back.
“Faster,” Therese urged but Carol didn’t cave in just yet. The blonde’s lips strayed from Therese’s neck and made a stream of kisses, along with her tongue, from the brunette’s chest, to her stomach and to her inner thighs. Therese held Carol’s hands as the blonde’s mouth met the young woman’s damp folds. Therese felt like her head spun and her heart was going to pound out of her chest.
“I’m going to come.” Therese muttered under her breath. Carol didn’t stop-- her eyes, emblazoned with desire as they shot up to glance at Therese. Carol felt Therese tightening. Therese bit her lip but she couldn’t hold back her moan, weakened by the flood of pleasure. Therese, a little bit breathlessly, looked at Carol lovingly before she tasted herself on the woman’s lips. Carol finally laid beside Therese and she allowed the smaller woman to envelope her in an embrace. Chest to chest, she could still feel her lover’s heartbeat quickening until it gradually decelerated and became in sync with the beating of her own. Their naked silhouettes were draped exquisitely by the pale moon-cast blue that peeped from the window and raced across the dim room. Therese tucked a loose lock of hair away from Carol’s face before placing a delicate peck on the woman’s lips. She wanted to tell her that she loved her, but saying those three words seemed to never come close to what she truly felt about Carol. She remembered perusing a poetry book in Carol’s apartment last week while her lover was asleep. A line from a poem stood out for her--
“we loved with a love that was more than love.”
It made her ponder-- even the great minds could never seem to concretely fathom what love was, the feeling of it, the depth of it. Having her arms weave around Carol with their bodies only leaving minute spaces between them, Therese knew nothing could ever perfectly explain how deeply she felt. She was only at the mercy of believing how effortlessly they gravitated to each other in that fateful afternoon at the coffee shop-- and how they must be meant for each other. Because maybe she and Carol were not just lovers, they were love.