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The air was heavy and hot, pressing down on Van’s shoulders as she walked down the sidewalk. Taissa was lucky Van loved her this much, because this heat was almost unbearable. One more block and Van thought she might melt right into the pavement.
Then she saw the big sign for The Rabbit Corner and quickened her pace, eager to escape the heat and enter the cool cafe.
Van pulled the door open, and the immediate blast of cold air made her sigh in relief. The book cafe was packed, but most of the counter stools were available; only one woman was sitting there, drinking coffee and immersed in the book she was reading.
The shop was beautiful, and it smelled like toasted cinnamon and expensive espresso. Floor-to-ceiling mahogany bookshelves were crammed with everything from classic literature to modern thrillers, and most of the velvet armchairs were occupied by students with laptops or someone with a hardcover.
A cheerful blonde barista stepped up to the counter and greeted Van with a bright smile. "Hi, my name is Jean. What are you ordering today?" Van looked up; the girl was young and far too happy to be working in a cafe on a hot Sunday morning.
"Just coffee, please,” Van replied.
"Black? Sugar?"
"Yes to both, and could you tell one of the owners I need a word? Thanks."
"Sure." Jean hurried off, maybe worried about Van’s request to speak with the owners. She tucked Van's order ticket by the espresso machine and disappeared through the swinging glass doors that led toward the back offices and the stockroom.
While she waited, Van’s phone buzzed. It was a text from Taissa: Are you almost done?
Van began typing back: Yes, but I found the AC, so I’m staying here until the sun dies. She had just hit send when another barista, a teenage boy this time, gave Van her order, “That’ll be…”
"It’s on me, Dan," a familiar voice cut in.
Jackie marched toward Van, looking effortlessly stylish despite wearing a simple pink t-shirt with the Rabbit Corner logo. As she approached, Jackie pulled Van into a hug that smelled like expensive perfume and vanilla. "Hi, are you sure you don't want anything else? A croissant? A muffin? I can get you the official Yellowjacket discount."
"That's okay, thanks, JT. Can you sit down for a bit?"Van asked as Jackie hopped onto the stool next to her. "So, how is business, and where is your worst half?"
"Business is good. Busy, as you can see," Jackie said, her hands moving instinctively to straighten a stack of bookmarks and reorder the sugar packets on the counter.
She caught Dan staring at her from the other side of the espresso machine. Jackie clapped in his face. "Dan, focus! The sugar dispensers on the far end are practically empty. Could you please?"
"Right! Sorry! Yes, ma’am. I mean, Jackie." A bright-red Dan snatched the glass bottles off the counter and scurried away toward the back, nearly tripping over a "Staff Picks" display
Van chuckled, bringing the mug back to her lips. "You let Shauna deal with the people who supply your business?"
Jackie just shrugged, leaning her chin on her hand. "They're scared of her, honestly. And I don't like dealing with them.”
"Well, that makes sense. But what if they stop delivering because your wife is an absolute asshole?" Van teased before taking another long pull of her coffee.
Jackie rolled her eyes. "Don't call her that. And they won't, because we pay on time, and they’ve learned that if they don't talk back to Shauna, she doesn't bite. That’s a privilege reserved exclusively for me."
"Okay, gross." Van finished her coffee, the ceramic mug hitting the wood with a soft thud. She reached for her wallet and insisted on paying for it. "I feel like I’m robbing you, Taylor. Seriously, let me at least pay for Taissa’s cookies."
Jackie snatched the empty cup before Van could even find her credit card. "Please, don't be ridiculous, Van." She set the mug in a bus tub with a satisfied clink. "Stay put. Let me go grab those cookies from the 'special' batch for you.”
Jackie headed back toward the storage room just as Shauna opened the heavy back door and entered the shop, looking a little sweaty from the heat outside.
"Palmer," Shauna called out, her eyes narrowing playfully. "I hope you're paying for everything you're ordering at my café."
"Hello to you, too, Shipman." Van stood up from her stool and leaned over the counter to approach Shauna, who was tucking a clipboard and a stack of invoices behind the register. "Your wife said I can order anything I want and it's on the house."
Shauna could hear Jackie yell from the back, "I never said that!"
“Did you actually order already?” Shauna asked, her lips twitching into a small smirk.
“Yes. I only came here to say hi and pick up the cookies that you promised Tai.”
Jackie entered again from the back office, holding a small pink bag with a neat green bow, and handed it to Van with a flourish. “Here you go, my lady.”
"Thanks. So, what are you planning for Valentine's Day tomorrow? Something romantic, I hope," Van asked, taking the bag of cookies from Jackie.
"We're staying home, eating something, and saying 'I love you'. You know, the usual" Shauna answered while she gave the woman at the counter a refill of her coffee.
"Damn, guys, should I give you my condolences?" Van asked, looking pointedly at Jackie, who was always a romantic at heart and usually did the absolute most for Shauna.
"Don't be dramatic, Van. We are just tired. Honestly, the headache of making reservations and dressing up is just not worth it," Jackie answered and went to check on the table that a family had just emptied.
"I can't believe you guys are staying home. You're killing roman..." Van was interrupted by a loud gasp that came from the woman Shauna had just served.
Shauna and Van both looked at her, waiting to see if something was wrong. The lady saw their concerned faces, put the bookmark on her book, and said, "I didn't mean to do that so loud, but this book is incredible."
She lifted the book to show them what she was talking about.
Shauna's eyes widened when she saw the bee in the cover. She stepped closer, leaning over the counter with a sudden, intense focus. "Thank you. I'm Shauna. I’m actually the writer of that incredible book, because that's what you said, right? The book was incredible, right?"
The lady’s jaw dropped slightly as she looked from the author photo on the back cover to the woman standing in front of her. "Really? You wrote this? It’s exceptional. Do you work here?
Shauna shook her hand. "I’m one of the owners. You really liked it? Well, of course. Why would you lie? About the book, I mean."
The woman laughed at Shauna's antics and answered, "My name is Lianne, and I run a place called 'The Sapphire Meal' over on Kingstone Island. I usually don't read mystery novels, but I’m waiting for my husband to pick me up to head to the ferry, so I decided to give it a try. You’re a very talented writer, Shauna."
"Oh, I’ve heard of Sapphire. It's a big deal," Van interjected, speaking for the first time since Lianne had become Shauna's favorite person besides Jackie, of course.
"Thank you, but I want to talk about the book," Lianne said, focusing her attention back on Shauna.
"I mean, sure. What do you want to know? How do we start? Should I tell you about the process, or is there something specific you want to know? Do you want a spoiler or—?" Shauna started to ramble.
"Sorry about my friend here. This is the first time someone has genuinely complimented her book," Van said, looking at Shauna, trying to tell her mentally to calm down. Of course, Shauna's "focus channel" only ever worked for Jackie Taylor.
"Hey, I've received compliments before! I can't remember any of them right now, but the book is a bestseller, so I think…" Shauna began to ramble again, completely missing Van's hint.
But the connection still worked perfectly, because Shauna was suddenly interrupted by Jackie sliding back behind the counter.
"Hi, I’m Jackie—her wife, muse, captain, and the other owner of this place."
"You guys own this place together? That's so cute. I’m Lianne," Lianne said, shaking Jackie's hand with a warm smile.
"Thanks. So, what brings you to this side of the world?" Jackie asked, leaning against the counter.
"Well, I had to pick up some supplies for tomorrow night."
"Of course. Valentine's Day must be huge for your restaurant, right?" Van asked.
"Honestly, it is. We usually don't open on Mondays, but we got so many requests for reservations that we decided to open for the occasion," Lianne answered.
"So, romance isn't dead?" Van asked, looking pointedly at Shauna and Jackie.
"No. We got a lot of calls, but it's a more private event since it’s our first time celebrating Valentine's at the restaurant," Lianne explained, looking between the three of them. "But if you guys are free, you should come and enjoy."
"Oh, they are free," Van answered faster than either of them.
She earned a deadly look from Shauna. Yup, she's still scary. "Okay, guys, sorry for answering for you, but those aren't plans!” Van insisted, raising her hands in defense. “It took a lot to get you this far; you can't let love die!"
"Van, do you need anything else?" Shauna asked, annoyance creeping into her voice. She was ready to go back to the office. Van looked at Shauna and surrendered; there was nothing you could make Shauna do when she didn't want to do it.
"Oh, come on. Let me cook for you guys. I don't often get to cook for amazing power couples," Lianne said, leaning in with a wink.
Jackie perked up at the name. "Power couple? Do you hear that, Shauna? We still got it!” She high-fived Shauna, who couldn't help but chuckle at her wife's antics. “The best couple on the Yellowjackets, undefeated!"
Lianne laughed and placed a small envelope on the counter, taking Jackie's pen from her hand. "I’m going to leave the invitation here in case you change your mind. What name should I put?"
"Shipman-Taylor," Shauna said. "Taylor-Shipman," Jackie corrected at the exact same time.
"You've been together since the invention of television! How do you not know this already?" Van laughed.
Jackie and Shauna looked at each other. Then, Jackie answered, "Taylor-Shipman." Shauna sighed, and Van’s laughter grew louder.
Lianne signed the invitation and handed it to Shauna, then redirected her attention to Van. "I have one for you and your partner as well, in case you want to go join them."
“Nah, that’s okay. I already made plans with my wife because I'm a real lover," Van joked, "But can I drop your name when we visit another time?
"Sure thing." Lianne gave Jackie her pen back, put the invitation that Van rejected back in her purse, and grabbed the package she had resting at her feet. "Nice to meet you guys, and I hope I see you tomorrow. Goodbye." With a final wave, Lianne left.
Van turned to Jackie and Shauna. "Well, I've got to go home to my lovely wife. Thanks for the coffee and the cookies. Tai told me, like, ten times not to forget them. See you guys soon." Van fist-bumped Shauna and hugged Jackie, who had come around the counter to see her out.
Shauna was not a fan of big gestures or romance. People always assumed she was because she was a writer, but she didn't really have it in her. What Shauna liked was to make Jackie happy, so she was often outside of her comfort zone to achieve that.
Shauna also knew that Jackie loved to make her happy, so she was probably agreeing to stay home for Shauna. But Jackie was a social butterfly, and missing an opportunity to eat at a fancy restaurant and dress up for the occasion didn't seem right.
"Jax, do you want to go?" Shauna asked, holding the invitation up in the air
"That's okay, baby. We already agreed to stay home. You can romance me anytime you want," Jackie said, leaning in to give her a quick kiss.
Shauna stayed in a trance for a moment; even after years together, Jackie could still make her dumbfounded. Then she reacted and walked over to Jackie, who was telling Dan to check every sugar dispenser in the cafe. "Jackie, can we talk in the office, please?" she said, touching Jackie’s elbow lightly.
Shauna always tried to stay professional in front of the staff and customers. Jackie tried too, but she often failed. "Am I in trouble, Boss?" Jackie asked in a low, seductive tone that made Shauna stumble over her words.
"Jax... just please. Come with me."
"You got it, babe," Jackie said, following Shauna, but not before turning to see Dan standing still, looking at her. "Dan, if I come back to empty sugar dispensers, I swear you’re going to regret it."
The office was in the back of the bookstore. It was medium-sized, enough for two desks. Shauna had argued with Jackie that they didn’t need two desks; they could share, like they were sharing the responsibilities of the business. A month later, Shauna was in charge of putting in the order for the supplies at a very messy, sheets-everywhere desk.
Shauna opened the door for Jackie and closed it behind her. "Do you want to make out?" Jackie asked, confused but eager to please nonetheless.
"What? No. I mean, not now," Shauna answered, and Jackie's excitement deflated as she sat behind her own desk.
"Listen, it’s not that Van or Lianne got to me, but..."
"Shauna..."
"Wait, listen. They are sort of right. I don’t want to stop creating memories with you just because we’re too tired or we’re busy. And I was ready to eat reheated food and watch a movie with you, but this opportunity came straight to our door. So, I want us to go out tomorrow, eat expensive food, and dress up, okay? I want to do it. If you're saying no only because you think it's what I want, I need you to tell me, please."
Jackie's expression softened at Shauna’s words. "Babe, I don’t think we’re ever going to get bored with each other, but I do want to create more memories with you. You’re right. And maybe it's time we make more friends besides the Yellowjackets."
"Okay, great. We do have something to wear, right?"
"Yes, we can be presentable."
Shauna was going to leave, but then turned around to where Jackie was typing something on the computer. "Were you serious? About a make-out session right now?"
Jackie stopped typing immediately, "I’m always serious about making out with you. Come here."
_______
Shauna studied her reflection in the full-length mirror, adjusting the line of her collar. They had to leave early if they wanted to catch the ferry and make their reservation on time.
She smoothed the crisp lapel of her black pantsuit over the navy-blue silky shirt. She'd considered a dress but opted for the grounding comfort of trousers; covering her legs often felt like covering the instinct to run when she felt anxious.
She finished her makeup and put her hair into a loose ponytail. Stepping into the bathroom, she found Jackie leaning over the bathroom sink, applying the final touches. "Are you ready, Jax?"
"Yes, all done," Jackie answered, turning slowly. She looked stunning in a simple, short, sleek black dress and medium-high heels that lengthened her legs.
"Wowza, Shipman," Jackie breathed, her eyes tracing a slow, hungry path down Shauna’s suit. The look alone made Shauna's knees buckle.
"Thanks. You look beautiful, too," Shauna replied, her voice a little husky. "Maybe we should do this more often, huh?"
"We totally should." Jackie grinned, leaning in for a quick kiss before pulling away. She interlaced their fingers, tugging Shauna toward the door. "Let’s go, Shipman. The faster we get there, the faster we can come back, so I can take your clothes off.”
_____
“Do you want some music?” The taxi driver asked them once they were settled inside the cab.
“Yeah, sure,” Jackie answered, casting a quick glance at Shauna, knowing her wife was perfectly ready to ride the entire way in complete silence.
The music thumped on:
Lookin' hot, smellin' good, Groovin' like I'm from the hood. Over my shoulder, I blow you a kiss. Can you handle, handle this?
Jackie immediately started singing alongside the radio, clapping her hands softly on her knees.
I don't think you're ready for this jelly. I don't think you're ready for this jelly.
“C’mon, Shauna, take it!” Jackie urged, but before Shauna could say anything, the taxi driver interrupted them, his voice enthusiastic:
I don't think you're ready for this 'Cause my body too bootylicious for ya, babe.
“Sorry, I couldn't help myself! You guys have great energy,” the driver apologized, laughing.
“You get it!” Jackie exclaimed, leaning forward in her seat.
“Yes, I do.”
Shauna knew exactly where this was going and said, with a hint of panic in her tone, “I think we’re cutting it a bit close with the ferry.”
The taxi driver answered, speeding up slightly, “I’m not going to let my favorite people be late!”
They arrived at the ferry terminal at the exact moment the song was ending:
I don't think you're ready for this 'Cause my body too bootylicious for ya, baby.
“Thank you! That was fun. Shauna, tip him good,” Jackie said, grabbing her purse and flinging the door open.
“Oh, uh.” Shauna quickly pulled out the money she had ready and was calculating the tip. She frowned, realizing she only had a handful of singles. “Is this good? I didn’t know an impromptu karaoke session was going to happen.”
“Shauna, hurry, the ferry is leaving.”
“What? No, no, no”
They both bolted toward the ferry. As they came closer, Shauna realized the ferry wasn’t pulling away yet. She quickly checked her watch because she was certain they were late.
“We should jump. So, it’s romantic, like in the movies,” Jackie shouted excitedly.
“What? Jackie, it hasn’t even pulled out yet. And is that romantic or dramatic?”
“That depends on the music. C’mon, Shauna, let’s hold hands.”
They were running toward the boarding ramp holding hands when Jackie realized the path was too narrow for them to run side-by-side. “Okay, unhold hands!”
Shauna dropped her hand, and they kept running. She then watched as Jackie leapt dramatically onto the deck, screaming, “Power Couple!”
Shauna jumped next, realizing instantly that the leap was completely unnecessary, as there was virtually no distance between the ferry and the land, but she smiled, looking at Jackie. “Next time we’re doing it holding hands. And we just jumped in heels. How many people can say they’ve done that?
_________
Once they were on the ferry, they went to stand at the railing. Shauna realized it had been a good choice to go out tonight. She was with the love of her life under a beautiful sky full of stars, just water surrounding them, the wind whipping their hair. And to her right... Hold on just one second.
“Jax,” Shauna said, her tone tightening, pointing toward a distant landmass. “Does that look like Kingstone on our right?” The landscape, complete with the twinkling lights of downtown, looked exactly like the city they were meant to be sailing toward.
“Oh, yeah, it kinda does,” Jackie replied, frowning slightly.
“Well, it shouldn't be there. It should be in front of us because the ferry is heading in this direction,” Shauna said, gesturing across the bow.
Jackie took hold of Shauna’s hand. “Okay, baby, breathe. Let’s ask someone who works here.” A man in a crew uniform came close to the railing, passing them, and Jackie stopped him. “Excuse me, is this ferry headed to Kingstone?”
“We sure are,” he said easily, repacking a stack of orange life jackets.
“But we are not heading to the main ferry terminal,” Shauna replied, her voice strained. “It actually seems we’re going the other way.”
“That’s because we are. We’re going to Kingstown Harbor. That’s on the other side of the island, where people usually don’t go because it’s far from all the popular spots. Why are you two so dressed up to go to Kingstown Harbor?” The man finished talking, and the full extent of the mistake hit Shauna, bringing back her rising panic.
“Oh, you probably wanted to go to Kingstone,” he continued without waiting for a reply. He gave them a weak wave. “Anyway, Happy Valentine’s Day! No need to say it back, I’m stuck here, so my day is going terribly.” The man went back inside, leaving Jackie and Shauna standing alone, sharing a look of shock.
______
The ferry finally docked at Kingstown, and the crew lowered the ramp for the few passengers who were on board.
Shauna pulled her coat tighter, sighing at the scene in front of her. Kingstown was less a terminal and more a vast, empty concrete slab extending into the ocean. This place was utterly silent, broken only by the shrill cry of a few gulls wheeling overhead and the fading engine hum of the last few cars leaving the dock.
As they started walking, their high heels clicked loudly on the cold concrete, the sound unnervingly sharp in the quiet. Shauna shot a worried glance at Jackie, who was already frowning.
“Oh my god, Jax, I can’t believe we got the wrong ferry. Maybe I misread the schedule or something,” Shauna said, mad at herself for getting them into that situation.
“Okay, Shipman, let’s find a solution instead of lamenting about us not checking the schedule properly.” Jackie took Shauna’s hand and led them to the ticket booth. “Maybe we can take the ferry back to Kingstone or something.”
The ticket booth was in perfect condition despite its grimy surroundings, painted a bright yellow with a single window. Approaching it, Jackie asked the man behind it, “Hi, can we get two tickets for Kingstone, please?”
“No,” he said simply, not sparing them a glance. He just shrugged and kept his attention fixed on the computer in front of him.
Shauna’s jaw dropped as fury started to creep into her eyes “What do you mean NO? Look, man my wife and I got on the wrong ferry and we have dinner reservations in Kingstone”
“Well, you should have checked the schedule,” he replied, his voice flat, “because there are no more ferries today from here to there. But you can go back to the mainland.”
Shauna’s fury died as fast as it came to be replaced by resignation and sadness. “Should we just head home?” Shauna asked Jackie.
“Absolutely not. I’m taking you to a romantic dinner,” Jackie answered, letting go of Shauna’s hand and turning her full attention to the man behind the booth. Jackie squared her shoulders and put on her most polite smile. One thing about Jackie Taylor? She loves a mission. “Are there any cabs or cars that can take us to Kingstone?”
“Of course, we have three cabs. Edwin, Kodiak, and Hannah,” The man said, paying more attention to them as he sat straighter in his chair. Jackie’s firm demeanor and the fancy clothes they were wearing had finally registered.
“You have three cabs?”Shauna repeated, her voice sharp with disbelief. She crossed her
arms, the frustration in her posture was clear.
“Okay, how can we get one of those?” Jackie said quickly before Shauna said something to set the man off. Her tone was confident, her smile tight, and her eyes were locked on him; she was ready to negotiate a deal.
“Well, Edwin and Hannah are married, so we can’t call them.”
“Why not?” Jackie asked, her brows knitting together.
“Because it's Valentine’s Day and you are not the only couple out on a romantic date.”
“I mean, not every couple is out for a romantic dinner,” Jackie said, getting exasperated by all the time they had already wasted. “Like, how sure are you about them being out? Some couples stay home and eat leftovers, you know.”
“Ew,” The man wrinkled his nose.
“What do you mean, 'Ew'?” Shauna said to the man
“Are you one of those autistic people? Why do you keep asking me to explain words?” the man asked Shauna sincerely, his tone utterly devoid of malice. “Anyway, Edwin and Hannah are probably deep in some woods celebrating their love, you know how they are.”
“No, I don’t know those people,” Jackie said, rolling her eyes. Her patience was thinning, but her voice stayed sharp. “How about the other one? Do you have his number?”
“Yes, I do, but Kodiak doesn’t drive at night. I don’t even know why I mentioned him,” he said, scratching his chin and thinking honestly about it. “I guess I couldn’t leave him behind, you know. It’s Kodiak, he can’t help it if he has night blindness, and you know what happened last time he tried to drive at this hour.”
“What? No, we don’t know because we’re not from here,” Shauna said, leaning over the booth and ready to beat the man until he gave her an honest solution to her problem.
“Ok, damn. Look, as far as I can see, you have two choices: Go back to the mainland or walk your way to Kingstone. It’s two miles anyway, and Kodiak is not driving, so the roads are safe.” The man said, ending the conversation and going back to his computer.
_______
Shauna looked in the direction the man pointed and started to walk in silence with Jackie by her side; she wasn’t saying anything either. Shauna couldn’t believe she read the schedule wrong, and now they were in this predicament where Jackie was trying to fix her mistake. She should have listened to Jackie and stayed at home. Stupid Van for getting in her head about treating her wife better, and stupid Lianne for giving her that invitation. No, that’s not fair. Lianne was nice and complimented her book.
"Shipman, stop beating yourself up in your head, please," Jackie said, bringing Shauna’s attention back to her. "We were running, and we didn't see the signs, and those schedules are difficult to read." Shauna sighed, looking at Jackie and the incredible softness in her eyes, which she couldn't understand how it was possible in this ridiculously fucked-up situation.
They reached the beginning of their path. It wasn’t paved, and it was poorly lit. The houses were few, and they seemed empty as far as they could see from where they were standing.
They started walking, and Jackie heard Shauna hiss in pain.
"Are you okay? Is there something wrong with your feet?" Jackie stopped walking and put a hand on Shauna's shoulder, making her stop too.
"Yes, these shoes. I haven't quite broken in these heels yet. Are we seriously supposed to walk two miles down that, Jax?" Shauna grumbled, her voice heavy with disbelief as she looked down at her footwear. "This is how horror movies start, by the way. If something happens, just run and leave me here."
Jackie rolled her eyes and smacked Shauna lightly in the shoulder. "Nonsense, Shipman. I'm not leaving you, and nothing is going to happen. And wait, you've had those shoes for five years at least! How is this possible?" Jackie asked in disbelief. She knew Shauna wasn't big on wearing heels, but she used them when necessary. Her wife prioritized comfort, usually opting for well-worn boots or Converse. But when an occasion demanded it—like a rare formal dinner out—Shauna always put the effort in. So, that can’t be.
"Yes, but I've only worn them once, probably."
"Why?"
"Because since we opened the cafe, the only thing we do is work, eat, have sex, and sleep," Shauna answered, shrugging and wincing with every step as she tried not to hiss from the pain in her feet.
"Oh my god. Van might be right; we're getting boring." Jackie’s panic tried to creep in, but she stopped it immediately. "We'll solve that later. Now, we get to the restaurant. Think about this as an adventure, just us, conquering the wilderness so we can go back home happily." She squeezed Shauna's hand and gave her a smile that's reserved only for her wife.
Shauna exhaled sharply, frustration mixing with unease. "Yeah, you're right. Sorry for being an asshole about it."
"You'll make it up to me, I'm sure," Jackie said, winking at her. "Besides, we're probably almost there." Jackie turned around to see how far they'd walked. "Nevermind. I still can see the ticket booth."
"Jesus! Now we're going to be incredibly late just because I couldn't read a fucking schedule!" Shauna was frustrated, sweating, and limping heavily from the shoes. Can this get any worse?
"Shauna, if I hear you say the word schedule one more time, I'm going to murder you myself."
___
“Look”, Jackie suddenly stopped and pointed at the path in front of them, where a few houses could be seen, finally. “Someone has a light on.”
“So?”
“Someone is home. We can knock on their door. This is the countryside, babe, here people are nice… maybe they can give us a ride,” Jackie said fast. She was feeling genuinely sorry about Shauna’s feet.
“What? No, Jax.”
“Yes, Jax. No excuses, I can see the blood coming out of your feet, Shauna.”
"Please, I used to play a whole soccer game bleeding and in pain. This is nothing."
"First, I didn't like it then, and I don't like it now. And, we're getting old, Shauna; we shouldn't be experiencing any kind of pain unless it's pleasurable."
"Please, you sound like we're about to retire. We're in our thirties, Grandma. I still have a lot of stamina.”
“You sure do, babe.”
They stopped talking as they reached the source of the light, which was a trailer house. It looked clean and cozy from the outside. The entrance to the small yard had a wooden fence with a big sign that said “TRESPASSERS WILL BE SHEARED” with a poorly drawn scissor next to the letters. Every instinct inside Shauna told her they should leave and go back home, even though they had walked a lot and they were probably in the middle of the road.
“That’s a funny joke,” Jackie said, opening the wooden fence and walking inside, ready to knock at the door of the trailer house.
Shauna followed behind. “It’s not that funny when we don’t know these people, and we’re about to knock on their door in the middle of the night with nothing but dirt around it.”
They got close to the door, and when Jackie lifted her arm to knock on the door, they heard a loud “Baa” to their left. “You hear that, babe? Sheep. This is not a murderer, it’s just a hilarious sheep person.”
“Those are not mutually exclusive, but sure.”
“Anyway, I’m knocking.” Jackie was about to knock when they saw a light source behind them and footsteps crushing the dirt. A woman’s voice cut the silence, asking before they could even turn, “Can I help you?”
Jackie and Shauna turned and screamed to the source behind them, “Oh my god.”
It was a woman, the same height as them, probably in her mid-forties. By the clothes she was wearing, they can deduce that it was the person in charge of the sheep. She gave them a quick look and sigh “Let me guess, wrong ferry?
Jackie stopped squeezing Shauna’s hand before she started bleeding from her hands, too. Letting her heart find the normal rhythm, she asked, “How did you know?”
The woman pointed at both of them. “Those clothes are too fancy to be walking around here. It has happened more than once; those schedules are terribly made.”
“Right?” Jackie said enthusiastically
“Hi, I’m Shauna, and this is my wife Jackie.” Shauna felt a wave of relief; maybe Jackie was right, and people here were willing to help. Maybe they could save whatever was left of the night. “I don't know if this is rude or shitty of me to ask, but I’m just going to say it. Can you give us a ride into town?”
“My name is Tina, and I can do that. But no, until I catch Thelma and Louise.”
“What?”
“My two ewes. They escaped to steal carrots, and I can't leave them outside. So, you can help me get them inside, and then I’ll give you a ride.”
“Oh, that sounds easy,” Jackie said, “maybe even fun. It's not every day that you get to catch a sheep in the wild, right Ship?”
“Yeah, sure, let's get over with.”
“Great. Come this way.
—-------
They entered the hoop house, where the two criminals were trying to eat everything they could before getting captured.
“Okay, all you have to do is yell at them so they get scared and come toward me,” Tina said, standing in front of the door with the rope in her hands.
“Here, sheep! Go to mama, come on!” Jackie was trying a gentle approach, using a melodic voice to get the sheep to move in the direction she wanted.
“Come on, sheep! Go that way!” Shauna started shouting. “Move, move, move!” But the sheep were effortlessly avoiding her.
“Damn it, just move!” Shauna's frustration was rising. Then, she stepped on something brown and wet. “Shit,” she exclaimed.
“Seems like it,” Jackie said, looking at Shauna’s feet. She got distracted just long enough for the sheep to charge toward her, knocking her off balance.
“I’m okay! Covered in dirt and probably sheep poop, but fine,” Jackie said, taking Shauna’s hand to stand up. “I’m in the zone now. We can do this.”
“Ouch, sorry about that. But you’re right, the noise seems to be working,” Tina said, still standing in the same spot.
Shauna stayed rooted in the same spot after helping Jackie to her feet. She was getting incredibly upset. She was covered in dirt, shit, her shoes were uncomfortable, and she was bleeding.
The sheep took advantage of her stillness and charged at Shauna. “Charged back at her,” Tina told Shauna as she avoided the hit.
“I don’t think I want to do that,” She sighed, defeated
“Thelma and Louise are a handful. They were overfed by the previous owner, and we have them on a diet. That’s why they break in here to steal the carrots.”
“Aww. Well, dieting is hard,” Jackie said, a look of genuine sympathy crossing her face as she looked the sheep straight in the eyes. “Maybe I’m hallucinating from hunger, but they look a bit like us, huh?”
“Jax, you’re losing it, I fear,” Shauna said, then looked at the sheep. “Wait, maybe you’re onto something.”
“Shooo. Go,” Jackie told the sheep, waving her arms.
“No, Jackie. It makes sense we are also wandering away from where we belong, and I think maybe I’m overfed too.” Shauna cleaned the bead of sweat that was forming on her forehead.
“We’re not sheep, Shauna. We’re an incredible, sexy, cute couple that was invited to a fancy dinner because the owner loved the story that your smart brain conjured up. We are having a little trouble getting there, but we’re amazing, and you’re definitely not overfed.”
While Jackie was giving her speech to Shauna, one of the sheep was about to charge at Jackie again. Shauna stepped firmly in front of her wife, making the sheep skid to a stop. “Go that way. You don’t belong here. Stay in your lane and stop wasting people’s time. You have to accept the hand that life gave you.”
Jackie put her hand on Shauna's chin, forcing her to look at her. “Baby, calm down,” she whispered. She took advantage of the fact that her heels brought her eye-to-eye with Shauna and kissed her softly. “It’s okay. We’re together, and that’s all that matters.”
Tina cleared her throat, holding the rope tight as she finally led the two submissive ewes toward their pen. “Well, look at that. I guess you’re making Thelma and Louise uncomfortable enough that they don’t want to share the same space as you anymore,” Tina said, nodding toward the now-captured sheep. “I know I am.”
___________
After Tina secured the sheep in their pen, she turned toward them. “Okay, I guess you earned that ride to the fancy restaurant. I’m sorry the girls got you all dirty and sweaty,” she said with a genuine smile. “Come on, let’s get in the truck.”
Tina opened the door to an ancient, rusted pickup and then stopped short, saying apologetically, “Oh shit. I forgot the passenger seats haven’t arrived yet.”
Shauna looked inside the cluttered cab and, indeed, it only had the driver’s seat. The rest was a chaotic mess of tools and burlap sacks.
“You can ride in the back,” Tina suggested, gesturing toward the open truck bed. “Maybe that’s better anyway, you know the breeze'll keep you fresh.”
Shauna approached the tailgate and peered over the edge. “Jax, this is full of mud and poop, plus a lot of hay.”
“Shauna, we are already covered in all of that,” Jackie said with a tired but playful shrug. “It can’t possibly get any worse. Help me up?”
Shauna sighed, but she put her hands around Jackie’s waist and hoisted her into the truck bed. Once Jackie was settled, Shauna swung herself up with a practiced, athletic grace.
“Mmm, that was sexy.”
“What?” Shauna asked, her brow furrowing as she tried to sit next to Jackie and far away from the poop and mud.
Jackie waited for Shauna to get seated properly before leaning in to kiss her cheek. “My oblivious wife. I adore you.” She turned and rapped her knuckles loudly against the roof of the cab. “We’re all seated! Hit the pedal!”
_____
When they were close to civilization, Shauna kissed the top of Jackie’s head as she cuddled into Shauna’s arm. “Maybe we should ask her to drop us off a block away? So we can clean up a bit before they see us?”
“Yeah... yeah, good idea. I think I have some wet wipes in my purse,” Jackie said, her voice thick with exhaustion.
Shauna knocked on the truck’s rear window, trying to tell Tina to pull over early, but with the rattle of the engine and the wind, it was hard for Tina to hear anything.
“What was that?” Tina yelled back.
“Could you drop us a block from the restaurant?”
“Huh?”
“Could you leave us a block…” Shauna trailed off as she looked over the side of the truck and saw the massive, glowing Sapphire Meal sign. “And you’re parking right next to it. Great.” The place was brilliantly illuminated, its heavy curtains closed to signal a private event.
“It’s fine. Let’s just shake off the dirt and get in,” Jackie insisted, standing up unsteadily and waiting for Tina to lower the tailgate.
“Thanks for your help tonight, and I hope you enjoy your fancy dinner,” Tina said, opening the tailgate.
Jackie turned to Shauna and said, “Let’s go, Shipman. You put me up, so you help me down.”
“Jax, I... Maybe we should go back. We’re disgusting,” then Shauna turned to Tina, “Can you take us to the terminal?”
“Tina, I’m sorry that we took you so far out of your way, but can you give me five minutes with my wife, please?” Jackie said gently. Tina nodded and retreated back inside the cab.
Shauna hopped off the truck bed and helped Jackie down. “Jackie, let’s just go in, eat, and go back home,” she said, angrily brushing off the dirt clinging to her clothes.
Jackie reached out, framing Shauna’s face with her hands to force her to look up. “Baby, if you want to go back, we can go back. But I just want you to know that if we leave, it’s because we're tired and dirty, and not because of whatever it’s on your mind right now.” She slid her hands down to Shauna's shoulders, then trailed them down her arms to interlace their fingers.
“Shauna, I’m not a mind reader, and I don’t know why you got this idea in your head, but…”
“It’s just...” Shauna started softly, then trailed off, her jaw tight.
“What?”
“I’m always hearing Van and Taissa making plans together, and Lottie and Nat planning a trip to some different country. I even hear about Mari and Akilah doing something romantic together. But us? We put everything we had into that café, and even though it became successful, we’re still in the same spot. Us, as a couple. As Jackie and Shauna.” Shauna took a deep breath. “The first thing I suggested when I remembered Valentine’s Day was coming was staying at home. I couldn’t even bring myself to make dinner, so I suggested leftovers.”
Shauna was visibly agitated now, and tears started to blur her vision. “Damn it, Jackie! We celebrated our anniversary last year by renting a movie and then passing out in the middle of it because I was exhausted from writing. Last Valentine’s, we did inventory because we messed it up, so we ate croissants and drank coffee. So, yes, it's frustrating. And I’m pissed that when I finally decided we should celebrate our love, everything, and I mean everything, went to shit. Fuck, we haven’t even eaten yet.”
Shauna finished her outburst, and Jackie let her take a breath before talking again. “Shauna Marie Shipman, I could spend the rest of my life counting sugar packets and romance books as long as it’s next to you.”
Shauna let out a shaky, wet chuckle as the first few tears finally spilled over. It wasn't a sob; it was the sound of someone who was exhausted, frustrated, and realized how absurd they must look. Shauna wiped at her eyes, her laugh catching in her throat. “Even if we’re covered in sheep shit?”
“Damn, I should’ve put that in my vows”
Shauna let out one last shaky breath, the tension finally leaving her shoulders. She leaned in and kissed her. A slow, lingering kiss that tasted like salt. “Want to just go home?” Shauna whispered against her lips.
“Yes, please,” Jackie replied, her voice soft and relieved.
Shauna turned back toward the truck, swinging herself up into the bed with a quick jump. She reached down, extending both hands to Jackie. Jackie took them, bracing herself as Shauna hoisted her up with ease, pulling her close.
Once they were settled, Jackie leaned over the side to speak to Tina. As she looked through the window, she saw her quickly wiping her cheeks with the back of her hand, pretending to be very interested in the truck’s dashboard.
“Tina?” Jackie asked gently. “I’m so sorry for the change of plans, but could you take us back to the ferry station instead? We’ll pay you for the ride, of course.”
“Don’t worry about that, Ma’am,” Tina answered, her voice a little thicker than before. She kept her eyes fixed straight ahead on the glowing sign of The Sapphire Meal “Just hold on tight.”
_____
The morning sun hit the room at an angle, illuminating on the floor the leftover dishes from last night that they'd been too tired to care about.
Shauna stirred as her phone rang on the nightstand. She tried to move, but Jackie was a warm, heavy weight draped across her, their limbs entangled under the sheets.
Shauna reached out and answered it with a sleepy, "Hello?"
"Shauna, it's Sarah. I have the news," her editor’s voice came through, excited. "The board loved the draft. The sequel to Hive Habits is officially a go. We’re moving straight to production. You’re done, Shauna. It’s happening."
"That’s... that’s amazing, Sarah. Thank you." Shauna felt a massive weight lift off her chest. She had been living in the world of that book for so long, and now, it was finally out of her hands.
She set the phone back down and felt Jackie stir against her. Jackie nuzzled into the crook of Shauna’s neck, her voice a soft, muffled whisper. "Who was that?"
"Sarah," Shauna said, shifting to look at her wife’s sleepy face. "The book is approved. It's a go, Jax."
Jackie’s eyes opened slowly, a proud, beautiful smile spreading across her face. "Told you that smart brain of yours was sexy. My famous author wife." She leaned up, kissing Shauna’s jaw. "So... does this mean I finally get you back? No more staring at a computer screen for hours?"
“Actually,” Shauna said, tucking a stray lock of hair behind Jackie’s ear. “It means we’re taking a break. A real one. I’m going to call Jen today to see if she can handle the café for a few weeks. I think she’s ready.”
Jackie’s brow arched in curiosity. "A break? Where to?"
"Paris," Shauna whispered, watching Jackie’s eyes light up. "No sheep, no shit, and definitely no ferries. Just us. I want to take you to the real version of the dinner we missed last night."
Jackie didn't even hesitate; she pulled Shauna down for a deep, breathless kiss. "Paris? God, I love it when you're decisive.”